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Proverbs 22:15 — Word Study

Depth

WLCאִ֭וֶּלֶת קְשׁוּרָ֣ה בְלֶב־ נָ֑עַר שֵׁ֥בֶט מ֝וּסָ֗ר יַרְחִיקֶ֥נָּה מִמֶּֽנּוּ׃

BSAFoolishnessʼivveleth [silliness, ridiculous behavior] [is] bound upqâshar [tied, deeply rooted] in the heartlêb [feelings, will, intellect] of a childnaʻar [youth, young person] [but] the rodshêbeṭ [staff] of disciplinemûwçâr [correction, guidance] drives it farrâchaq [removes, creates distance] from himmin

Word
Listen & take awayProverbs 22
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 15 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 (mi.Me.nu) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Proverbs 22:15quick helps
In a sentenceThis verse highlights the inherent foolishness in children and the corrective role of discipline.
Who is speakingThe wise teacher, likely Solomon, addressing the importance of guidance for youth.
Where we areThis verse is part of a collection of proverbs focused on wisdom and discipline.
The hard wordאִוֶּלֶת
Take awayDiscipline is necessary to guide children away from their foolish tendencies.
7 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause subjectאִוֶּלֶת verbקָשַׁר 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 22:15

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 Discipline in Proverbsgenerated

14The mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit; he who is under the wrath of the LORD will fall into it.
15Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far from him.
16Oppressing the poor to enrich oneself or giving gifts to the rich will surely lead to poverty.
17Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise— apply your mind to my knowledge—

Proverbs 22:15 discusses the nature of foolishness in children and the need for discipline. The verse emphasizes that foolishness is an inherent trait in the hearts of children, suggesting that without guidance, they may continue in their folly. The surrounding verses also address the consequences of foolish behavior and the importance of wise counsel, as seen in Proverbs 22:14 and Proverbs 22:16.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Job 14:4Who can bring out clean from unclean? No one!
2Psalm 51:5Surely I was brought forth in iniquity; I was sinful when my mother conceived me.
3John 3:6Flesh is born of flesh, but spirit is born of the Spirit.
4Ephesians 2:3All of us also lived among them at one time, fulfilling the cravings of our flesh and indulging its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature children of wrath.
5Proverbs 13:24He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him diligently.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 9 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word אִוֶּלֶת, 'I.ve.letgenerated

The word אִוֶּלֶת ('ivveleth) is a feminine noun meaning foolishness or silliness. It conveys a sense of absurdity and is often used to describe ridiculous behavior, indicating a lack of wisdom or understanding.

This term is rooted in a broader concept of folly and is used throughout the scriptures to highlight the need for wisdom and correction. The parsing as a singular noun indicates that it is treated as a singular concept, emphasizing the idea of foolishness as a trait.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

The translations agree on the meaning of the verse, consistently rendering אִוֶּלֶת as foolishness and שֵׁבֶט as rod.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The finite verb קְשׁוּרָ֣ה (ke.shu.Rah) governs the main idea of the verse, indicating that foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child. The structure emphasizes the relationship between foolishness and the heart, highlighting the need for discipline.

The sentence is composed of a main clause followed by a contrasting clause, which illustrates the corrective action of the rod of discipline in relation to the foolishness inherent in a child.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates אִוֶּלֶת as ἄνοια (anoia), which also means folly or lack of understanding. This choice reflects a similar emphasis on the absurdity of foolishness.

The Greek word ῥάβδος (rhabdos) for שֵׁבֶט indicates a rod or staff, reinforcing the idea of discipline as a tool for correction.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Proverbs 22:15 tells us that foolishness is a natural part of a child's heart, and that discipline is necessary to help them grow away from it. This verse emphasizes the importance of guidance in shaping a child's character.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean that foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child?

It suggests that children naturally possess foolish tendencies, which need to be addressed through guidance and discipline.

Why is discipline important for children?

Discipline helps to correct foolish behavior and guide children towards wisdom, allowing them to grow and learn from their mistakes.

How does this verse relate to other teachings on discipline?

This verse aligns with other biblical teachings that emphasize the necessity of correction and guidance in raising children, as seen in Proverbs 13:24.

Can foolishness be corrected?

Yes, through proper discipline and guidance, children can learn to overcome their foolish tendencies and develop wisdom.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what ways have I seen foolishness manifest in my own life or the lives of children around me?
  2. How can I apply discipline in a loving and constructive way to guide others?
  3. What are some practical ways to teach wisdom to children?
  4. How does understanding my own foolish tendencies help me in guiding others?

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

The early church fathers referenced this verse to discuss the nature of wisdom and the importance of discipline in upbringing, illustrating the ongoing relevance of these teachings.

BedeCommentary on Proverbs c. 673–735
"Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child," etc. We know many children endowed with wisdom; for Jeremiah undertook the ministry of prophecy as a child.
Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 22 →

Commentators on this verse — 7 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Proverbs 22:15 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

Foolishness [is] bound in the heart of a child,.... That is, sin, the greatest of all folly; this is naturally in the heart of man; it is in the heart of a child, it is in him from his infancy; it is

Read John Gill on Proverbs 22 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.

Read Robert Jamieson on Proverbs 22 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Is bound; is fixed and settled there, as being born with him, and rooted in his very nature, and not plucked up without great difficulty and diligence. The rod of correction shall drive it far from him; the smart of punishment makes him weary of his sin, and watchful against it.

Read Matthew Poole on Proverbs 22 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Proverbs 22:15 Foolishness [is] bound in the heart of a child; [but] the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.Ver. 15. Foolishness is bound in the heart, &c.] As a pack or fardle is bound to a horse’ s back. Error and folly be the knots of Satan, wherewith he ties children to the stake to be burnt in hell. Better see their brains dashed out against the stones, saith one, than suffer the ignorance of God to abide in their heads. Therefore, that we may loose the bands of death and works of the devil, parents must bring their sons in their arms, and their daughters upon their shoulders, to the house of God, that they may learn to know him. They must also see to their profiting, and…

Read John Trapp on Proverbs 22 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(15) Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child.—Self-will is meant. (See above on Proverbs 1:7.) Children have to be taught to yield their wills to others.

Read Charles John Ellicott on Proverbs 22 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

15. bound] Better, bound up, R.V. Comp., for the force of the Heb. word, Genesis 44:30.

Read Cambridge on Proverbs 22 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

15. Foolishness — Probably meaning perverseness, rather than folly. Ignorance, weakness, inclination to evil, corruption of heart, are maladies which accompany all men from their birth.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Proverbs 22 →

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

Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far from him.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Folly is bound up in the heart of a child; the rod of discipline drives it far from him.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far from him.

NETBNew English Translation2006

Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far from him.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; But the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.

RVARevised Version, American1894

Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Foolishnesse is bounde in the heart of a childe: but the rodde of correction shall driue it away from him.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

Folly is bound in the heart of a child; the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

Folly is bound up in the heart of a youth, The rod of chastisement putteth it far from him.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

Folly is bound up in the heart of a youth, || The rod of discipline puts it far from him.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

When folly is bound fast to the heart of a lad, the rod of correction must remove it far from him.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far away.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, and the rod of correction shall drive it away.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

Children are naturally foolish; physical correction helps them to see sense.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

Foolish ways are deep-seated in the heart of a child, but the rod of punishment will send them far from him.

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.

clausesubjectאִ֭וֶּלֶתfoolishnessverbקְשׁוּרָ֣ה[is].boundprepositional phrase · prepositionalבְin.[the]noun phraseלֶבheartנָ֑עַרof.a.youthclausenoun phrase · subjectשֵׁ֥בֶטa.rodמ֝וּסָ֗רof.disciplineverbיַרְחִיקֶ֥itobjectנָּהwill.put.it.far.awayprepositional phrase · prepositionalמִמֶּֽfromנּוּhim

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


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

The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint agree in their wording for this verse, with all eight words matched in the Hebrew and Greek translations. This consistency suggests a shared understanding of the concepts of foolishness and discipline.

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

אִ֭וֶּלֶת קְשׁוּרָ֣ה בְלֶב־ נָ֑עַר שֵׁ֥בֶט מ֝וּסָ֗ר יַרְחִיקֶ֥נָּה מִמֶּֽנּוּ׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
אִ֭וֶּלֶתἄνοιαקְשׁוּרָ֣הἐχῆπταιבְלֶב־καρδίαςנָ֑עַרνέουשֵׁ֥בֶטῥάβδοςמ֝וּסָ֗רπαιδείαיַרְחִיקֶ֥נָּהμακρὰνמִמֶּֽנּוּ׃αὐτοῦ

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

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


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

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

Proverbs 22:15אִוֶּ֫לֶתfoolishnessfoolishnessאִוֶּ֫לֶתקָשַׁר[is] bound[is] boundקָשַׁרלֵבin [the] hein [the] heart לֵבנַ֫עַרa youtha youthנַ֫עַרשֵׁ֫בֶטa rod ofa rod ofשֵׁ֫בֶטמוּסָרdisciplinedisciplineמוּסָררָחַקit will putit will put farרָחַקמִן־from himfrom himמִן־אֱוִילfool(ish)fool(ish)אֱוִילנָעַרto shaketo shakeנָעַריָסַרto disciplto disciplineיָסַרלֵבָבheartheartלֵבָבמֵןstringstringמֵןכְּסִילfoolfoolכְּסִילמוּסָרdisciplinedisciplineמוּסָרקֶ֫שֶׁרconspiracyconspiracyקֶ֫שֶׁרזִמְרִיZimriZimriזִמְרִיחָסֵרlackinglackingחָסֵרחָכָםwisewiseחָכָםאֲבִישָׁלוֹםAbsalomAbsalomאֲבִישָׁלוֹםקָטָןsmallsmallקָטָןחֲצִיhalfhalfחֲצִימְנַשֶּׁהMosesMosesמְנַשֶּׁהתּוֹכֵחָהrebukerebukeתּוֹכֵחָהעָ֫וֶלinjusticeinjusticeעָ֫וֶלרָחַקto removeto removeרָחַק
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 22:15

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.

foolishness [is] bound in [the] heart of a youth a rod of discipline it will put far away it from him
אִ֭וֶּלֶת'I.ve.let foolishness H200 Noun common · feminine singular absolute
25× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means foolishness or silliness, describing someone's ridiculous behavior. It is used to convey a sense of absurdity or nonsense, as seen in the KJV translations of folly and foolishness.
Amplified meaning
silliness, ridiculous behavior
Tyndale gloss
folly
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אִוֶּ֫לֶת 25 n.f. folly

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H200 אִוֶּ֫לֶת

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

200 'ivveleth iv-veh'-leth

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

see HEBREW for 0191

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אִוֶּ֫לֶת (iv.ve.let) — folly.

foolishness, folly

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular absolute
HNcfsa
foolishness [is] bound in [the] heart of a youth a rod of discipline it will put far away it from him
קְשׁוּרָ֣הke.shu.Rah [is] bound H7194 Verb · Qal · participle (passive) feminine singular
44× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this verb means to tie or bind something, like when God bound Isaac in Genesis 22:9. It can also mean to conspire or make an alliance, as in 2 Samuel 15:31. The KJV translates it as bind or conspire.
Amplified meaning
tied, deeply rooted
Tyndale gloss
to conspire
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

קָשַׁר (qashar) is a Hebrew verb meaning to bind or tie together, both physically and mentally, as in forming a league or conspiring. The entries describe its various uses, including binding fast or being bound up, and it appears in different grammatical forms. Notably, it is used in the context of relationships, such as the life of Jonathan being bound to David's.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

קָשַׁר vb. bind, league together, conspire

Qal

bind

league together, conspire

Niph. the life of Jonathan was bound up with the life of D.

Pi.

bind on (as ornament)

bind fast

Pu. = Qal 1 c.

Hithp. conspire

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7194 קָשַׁר bind, league together, conspire .. bind

. league together, conspire

. the life of Jonathan was bound up with the life of D.

. . bind on (as ornament)

. bind fast

. = Qal 1 c.

. conspire

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7194 qashar kaw-shar'

a primitive root: to tie, physically (gird, confine, compact)

or mentally (in love, league):--bind (up), (make a)

conspire(-acy, -ator), join together, knit, stronger, work

(treason).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

קָשַׁר (qa.shar) — to conspire.

1) to bind, tie, bind together, league together, conspire

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to bind, confine

1a2) to league together, conspire

1b) (Niphal) to be bound, be bound up

1c) (Piel)

1c1) to bind on

1c2) to bind fast

1c3) to bind, tie

1c4) to bind to oneself

1d) (Pual) robust, vigorous (participle)

1e) (Hithpael) to conspire

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Inf-c — Verb · Qal · participle (passive) feminine singular
HVqsfsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

See BIND.

foolishness [is] bound in [the] heart of a youth a rod of discipline it will put far away it from him
בְלֶב־ve.lev- in [the] heart of H3820 Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct
595× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Leb refers to the heart, but also represents feelings, will, and intellect in the Bible. It is used figuratively to describe the center of something, and is often translated as heart or mind. Leb is a complex concept that encompasses emotions and thoughts.
Amplified meaning
feelings, will, intellect
Tyndale gloss
heart
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word לֵב (lev) means 'heart' and encompasses the inner man, mind, will, and emotions. It refers to the center of feelings, intellect, and moral character, as well as the seat of appetites and courage. The entries suggest a broad range of meanings related to human experience and thought, with a specific mention of its use in Jeremiah 51:1.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

לֵב 599 n.m. (f.) inner man, mind, will, heart

seldom of things in the midst of the sea

elsewhere of men

the inner man in contrast with the outer

the inner man, indef., soul, comprehending mind, affections and will

specific reference to mind

spec. ref. to inclinations, resolutions and determinations of the will

spec. ref. to conscience

[various]

for the man himself

as seat of appetites

as seat of emotions and passions

seat of courage

base

לֵב קָמָי prob. late Atbash Je 51:1.

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3820a לֵב inner man, mind, will, heart . seldom of things in the midst of the sea

. elsewhere of men . the inner man in contrast with the outer

. the inner man, indef., soul, comprehending mind, affections and will

. specific reference to mind

. spec. ref. to inclinations, resolutions and determinations of the will

. spec. ref. to conscience

. [various]

. for the man himself

. as seat of appetites

. as seat of emotions and passions

. seat of courage

H3820b לֵב קָמָי prob. late Atbash

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3820 leb labe

a form of 3824; the heart; also used (figuratively) very

widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect;

likewise for the centre of anything:--+ care for, comfortably,

consent, X considered, courag(-eous), friend(-ly), ((broken-),

(hard-), (merry-), (stiff-), (stout-), double) heart((-ed)), X

heed, X I, kindly, midst, mind(-ed), X regard((-ed)), X

themselves, X unawares, understanding, X well, willingly,

wisdom.

see HEBREW for 03824

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

לֵב (lev) — heart.

1) inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding

1a) inner part, midst

1a1) midst (of things)

1a2) heart (of man)

1a3) soul, heart (of man)

1a4) mind, knowledge, thinking, reflection, memory

1a5) inclination, resolution, determination (of will)

1a6) conscience

1a7) heart (of moral character)

1a8) as seat of appetites

1a9) as seat of emotions and passions 1a10) as seat of courage

לֵב (lev) — Leb.

§ Leb- = "heart of"

(probably a cryptic name for Babylon by Atbash)

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

ov:

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

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

OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]

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

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

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

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

Lamentations 3:1.

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

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

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

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

foolishness [is] bound in [the] heart of a youth a rod of discipline it will put far away it from him
נָ֑עַרNa.'ar a youth H5288 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
239× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the original Hebrew, this word means a young person, either a boy or a girl, from infancy to adolescence. It is used to describe the servants and attendants who worked for kings and other important people in the Old Testament, like King David's servants.
Amplified meaning
youth, young person
Tyndale gloss
youth
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

נַ֫עַר (na`ar) generally refers to a boy, lad, or youth, covering ages from infancy to adolescence. It can also imply a servant or retainer and, in some contexts, may refer to a girl of similar age. The term appears in various forms across different lexicons, with Brown-Driver-Briggs noting its usage as a shaking or scattering.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

נַ֫עַר 239 n.m. 1. boy, lad, youth. 2. retainer (not in P)

boy, lad, youth (c. 133 t.)

servant, retainer (c. 105 t.)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5288a נַ֫עַר usu. interpr. as a shaking, scattering H5288b נַ֫עַר, נַ֫עַר . boy, lad, youth

. retainer

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5288 na`ar nah'-ar

from 5287; (concretely) a boy (as active), from the age of

infancy to adolescence; by implication, a servant; also (by

interch. of sex), a girl (of similar latitude in age):--babe,

boy, child, damsel (from the margin), lad, servant, young

(man).

see HEBREW for 05287

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נַ֫עַר (na.ar) — youth.

1) a boy, lad, servant, youth, retainer

1a) boy, lad, youth

1b) servant, retainer

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absolute
HNcmsa
foolishness [is] bound in [the] heart of a youth a rod of discipline it will put far away it from him
שֵׁ֥בֶטShe.vet a rod of H7626 Noun common · masculine singular construct
190× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means a stick or staff, but also a clan or tribe, and can refer to a symbol of authority or a tool for punishing. It is used in the Bible to describe the rods used by shepherds or the scepters of kings.
Amplified meaning
staff
Tyndale gloss
tribe
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שֵׁ֫בֶט (shebet) refers to both a physical object and a social group. It can mean a rod, staff, or sceptre, often associated with authority or punishment, as well as a tribe or clan. The word is built from a root likely meaning to branch off, indicating both literal and figurative uses.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שֵׁ֫בֶט 189 n.m. 1. rod, staff, club, sceptre. 2. tribe

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7626 שֵׁ֫בֶט 1. rod, staff, club, sceptre. 2. tribe

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7626 shebet shay'-bet

from an unused root probably meaning to branch off; a scion,

i.e. (literally) a stick (for punishing, writing, fighting,

ruling, walking, etc.) or (figuratively) a clan:--X

correction, dart, rod, sceptre, staff, tribe.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שֵׁ֫בֶט (she.vet) — tribe: staff.

: staff

1) rod, staff, branch, offshoot, club, sceptre, tribe

1a) rod, staff

1b) shaft (of spear, dart)

1c) club (of shepherd's implement)

1d) truncheon, sceptre (mark of authority)

1e) clan, tribe

שֵׁ֫בֶט (she.vet) — tribe.

: tribe

1) rod, staff, branch, offshoot, club, sceptre, tribe

1a) rod, staff

1b) shaft (of spear, dart)

1c) club (of shepherd's implement)

1d) truncheon, sceptre (mark of authority)

1e) clan, tribe

שֵׁ֫בֶט (she.vet) — tribe: javelin.

: javelin

1) rod, staff, branch, offshoot, club, sceptre, tribe

1a) rod, staff

1b) shaft (of spear, dart)

1c) club (of shepherd's implement)

1d) truncheon, sceptre (mark of authority)

1e) clan, tribe

שֵׁ֫בֶט (she.vet) — tribe: ruler.

: ruler

1) rod, staff, branch, offshoot, club, sceptre, tribe

1a) rod, staff

1b) shaft (of spear, dart)

1c) club (of shepherd's implement)

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

ov:

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

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

OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]

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

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

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

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

Lamentations 3:1.

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

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

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

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

foolishness [is] bound in [the] heart of a youth a rod of discipline it will put far away it from him
מ֝וּסָ֗רmu.Sar discipline H4148 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
50× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew term means discipline or correction, often used to describe God's guidance. In Psalm 50:17, it warns against rejecting God's discipline, while in Proverbs 1:7, it emphasizes the importance of discipline in gaining wisdom. It involves learning from mistakes.
Amplified meaning
correction, guidance
Tyndale gloss
discipline
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מוּסָר (mūsar) refers to discipline, chastening, and correction, particularly of a moral nature. It encompasses concepts like reproof, warning, and instruction, and can also imply restraint or bonds. The entries consistently highlight its focus on moral and instructional aspects, with no significant disagreement among the lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מוּסָר n.m. discipline (of the moral nature), chastening, correction

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4148 מוּסָר discipline (of the moral nature), chastening, correction

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4148 muwcar moo-sawr'

from 3256; properly, chastisement; figuratively, reproof,

warning or instruction; also restraint:--bond, chastening

((-eth)), chastisement, check, correction, discipline,

doctrine, instruction, rebuke.

see HEBREW for 03256

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מוּסָר (mu.sar) — discipline.

: discipline/punishment

1) discipline, chastening, correction

1a) discipline, correction

1b) chastening

מוּסָר (mu.sar) — discipline: instruction.

: instruction

1) discipline, chastening, correction

1a) discipline, correction

1b) chastening

מוּסָר (mu.sar) — discipline: bonds.

: bonds/noose

1) discipline, chastening, correction

1a) discipline, correction

1b) chastening

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

dis'-i-plin (mucar): In the King James Version only in Job 36:10, where it refers to moral discipline, the strenuous cultivation of the righteous life; the Revised Version (British and American) "instruction." the Revised Version (British and American) in 2Ti 1:7 has "discipline" for a Greek word (sophronismos) meaning "sobering"; in 2Ti 3:16 margin, for Greek paideia, "instruction." In classic Greek paideia means "education," mental culture. Through the influence of the Septuagint, which translates the Hebrew mucar by paideia, the meaning of "chastisement" accompanies paideia in the New Testament. Compare Heb 12:5,7,8,11.

Nave's Topical Bible

→ Of armies, for disobedience of orders Jos 7:10-26; Jud 21:5-12

→ See ARMIES

→ CHURCH DISCIPLINE

See CHURCH, DISCIPLINE IN

foolishness [is] bound in [the] heart of a youth a rod of discipline it will put far away it from him
יַרְחִיקֶ֥נָּהyar.chi.Ke.nah it will put far away it H7368 Verb hiphil imperfect third person masculine singular · suffix
57× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To remove or go far away, as in Genesis 21:16 where Hagar is sent away by Abraham. It means to create distance or separate oneself from something or someone.
Amplified meaning
removes, creates distance
Tyndale gloss
to remove
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word רָחַק (rachaq) is a primitive root meaning to be or become far or distant. It encompasses various forms, including intransitive meanings like receding and transitive meanings such as removing or sending away. The entries indicate uses in different stems, including Qal (to be distant), Piel (to send far away), and Hiphil (to cause to be distant).

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

רָחַק vb. be, or become, far, distant

Qal be far, distant

Pi. send far away

Hiph.

dir. caus. make, or exhibit, distance, be gone for

indir. caus. remove, put far away

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7368 רָחַק be, or become, far, distant

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7368 rachaq raw-khak'

a primitive root; to widen (in any direction), i.e.

(intransitively) recede or (transitively) remove (literally or

figuratively, of place or relation):--(a-, be, cast, drive,

get, go, keep (self), put, remove, be too, (wander), withdraw)

far (away, off), loose, X refrain, very, (be) a good way

(off).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

רָחַק (ra.chaq) — to remove.

v

1) to be or become far, be or become distant, be removed, go far away

1a) (Qal) to be far, be distant

1b) (Piel) to send far away, extend

1c) (Hiphil)

1c1) to make or exhibit distance, be gone far

1c2) to remove, put far away

2) (Niphal) loose

v inf (as adv)

3) at a distance

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Hiphil-Imperf-3ms | Suff — Verb hiphil imperfect third person masculine singular · suffix
HVhi3ms/Sp3fs
foolishness [is] bound in [the] heart of a youth a rod of discipline it will put far away it from him
מִמֶּֽנּוּ׃mi.Me.nu from him H4480 Preposition · suffix
1,189× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means a portion or part of something, and is often used to show the relationship between things, like from or out of something.
Tyndale gloss
from
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word מִן־ (*min*) is a preposition meaning 'from' or 'out of,' indicating separation or origin. It covers various uses, including temporal references, comparisons, and causal relationships. Additionally, it can denote a portion when used as a noun מֵן (*men*). The entries highlight its versatility in expressing different nuances of separation and position.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מִן־, and מִ, before יְ, prep. expressing the idea of separation, hence out of, from, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not

with verbs expressing (or implying) separation or removal

from, against

מן also, without a verb of similar significance, sometimes expresses the idea of separation, away from, far from

of position, off, on the side of, on

Out of, Gk. ἐκ, Lat. ex

Partitively

Of time—

as marking the terminus a quo, the anterior limit of a continuous period from, since

as marking the period immediately succeeding the limit after

towards, to

(וְעַד) עַד … מִן from … even to

In comparisons, beyond, above

מן is prefixed to an infin.:

with causal force, from, on account of, through

after verbs implying restraint, prevention, cessation, etc.

with a temporal force, since, after

Once as a conj. before a finite verb. that

In compounds:

base

Read the full entry →
Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4480a מִן־, מִ, prep. expressing the idea of separation, hence out of, from, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not . with verbs expressing (or implying) separation or removal . from, against

. מן also, without a verb of similar significance, sometimes expresses the idea of separation, away from, far from

. of position, off, on the side of, on

. Out of, Gk. ἐκ, Lat. ex

. Partitively

. Of time— . as marking the terminus a quo, the anterior limit of a continuous period from, since

. as marking the period immediately succeeding the limit after

. towards, to

. (וְעַד) עַד … מִן from … even to

. In comparisons, beyond, above

. מן is prefixed to an infin.: . with causal force, from, on account of, through

. after verbs implying restraint, prevention, cessation, etc.

. with a temporal force, since, after

. Once as a conj. before a finite verb. that

Read the full entry →
Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4480 min min

or minniy {min-nee'}; or minney (constructive plural)

{min-nay'}; (Isaiah 30:11); for 4482; properly, a part of;

hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses (as

follows):--above, after, among, at, because of, by (reason

of), from (among), in, X neither, X nor, (out) of, over,

since, X then, through, X whether, with.

see HEBREW for 04482

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מִן־ (min) — from.

prep

1) from, out of, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not, more than

1a) from (expressing separation), off, on the side of

1b) out of

1b1) (with verbs of proceeding, removing, expelling)

1b2) (of material from which something is made)

1b3) (of source or origin)

1c) out of, some of, from (partitively)

1d) from, since, after (of time)

1e) than, more than (in comparison)

1f) from...even to, both...and, either...or

1g) than, more than, too much for (in comparisons)

1h) from, on account of, through, because (with infinitive)

conj

2) that

Aramaic equivalent: min (מִן־ "from" H4481)

מֵן (men) — portion.

n.m.

portion

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | Suff — Preposition · suffix
HR/Sp3ms
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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