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Proverbs 22:28 — Word Study

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WLCאַל־ תַּ֭סֵּג גְּב֣וּל עוֹלָ֑ם אֲשֶׁ֖ר עָשׂ֣וּ אֲבוֹתֶֽיךָ׃

BSADo notʼal [remove, pass beyond] movenâçag an ancientʻôwlâm [old, long-standing] boundary stonegᵉbûwl [landmark, border] whichʼăsher [that] your fathersʼâb [ancestors, forefathers] have placedʻâsâh [set, established]

Word
Listen & take awayProverbs 22
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 28 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 ('a.vo.Tei.kha) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Proverbs 22:28quick helps
In a sentenceThe verse warns against altering established boundaries set by previous generations.
Who is speakingThe author of Proverbs, advising the reader on respecting ancestral traditions.
Where we areThis verse is part of a collection of wise sayings, focusing on moral and ethical conduct.
The hard wordגְּב֣וּל
Take awayRespect for the past is crucial for maintaining order and stability.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbסוּג 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 22:28

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 Conduct and Relationshipsgenerated

26Do not be one who gives pledges, who puts up security for debts.
27If you have nothing with which to pay, why should your bed be taken from under you?
28Do not move an ancient boundary stone which your fathers have placed.
29Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will be stationed in the presence of kings; he will not stand before obscure men.

Proverbs 22:28 advises against the removal of ancient boundary stones, emphasizing the importance of respecting the established limits set by ancestors. This instruction is part of a broader discourse on wise living, where the author connects moral integrity with the preservation of heritage. The surrounding verses also address financial responsibility and the consequences of reckless behavior, creating a cohesive theme of prudence and respect for tradition.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Proverbs 23:10Do not move an ancient boundary stone or encroach on the fields of the fatherless,
2Deuteronomy 19:14You must not move your neighbor’s boundary marker, which was set up by your ancestors to mark the inheritance you shall receive in the land that the LORD your God is giving you to possess.
3Deuteronomy 27:17‘Cursed is he who moves his neighbor’s boundary stone.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’
4Job 24:2Men move boundary stones; they pasture stolen flocks.

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


The Key Word גְּב֣וּל, ge.Vulgenerated

The word גְּב֣וּל (ge.Vul) refers to a boundary or border, indicating a defined territory. It suggests a physical limit, such as the borders of land, and carries implications of stability and order within a community. The parsing as a masculine singular construct shows it functions to specify a particular boundary.

In this verse, the emphasis on not moving the boundary stone underscores the importance of maintaining the established order that has been passed down through generations. It serves as a reminder of the value of heritage and the wisdom of previous generations.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

The translations generally agree on the meaning of the verse, with all versions reflecting the prohibition against moving ancient boundaries.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main verb תַּ֭סֵּג (Ta.seg), meaning 'you displace,' governs the clause, with the subject implied as 'you.' The structure is straightforward, emphasizing the action of not moving the boundary stone.

The Hebrew word order places the negative particle אַל (al) at the beginning, highlighting the prohibition. This structure effectively conveys the seriousness of the warning against altering established boundaries.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates גְּב֣וּל as ὅρια (horia), which also means 'boundaries' or 'limits.' This choice reflects a consistent understanding of the term's significance in both the Hebrew and Greek contexts.

The use of μὴ () for the negative particle aligns with the Hebrew אַל, maintaining the prohibition's strength across translations.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Proverbs 22:28 warns against moving ancient boundary stones that your ancestors have set. This verse teaches us to respect the traditions and limits established by those who came before us, emphasizing the value of heritage and stability in our lives.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean to not move an ancient boundary stone?

It means to respect the established limits and traditions set by previous generations, which are important for maintaining order and stability.

Why are boundary stones significant?

Boundary stones represent the defined limits of land and property, serving as a reminder of heritage and the rights of ownership.

How does this verse relate to modern life?

It encourages us to honor the values and traditions of our ancestors, which can guide our decisions and actions today.

What can we learn from respecting boundaries?

Respecting boundaries fosters a sense of community, stability, and continuity, which are essential for harmonious living.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what ways can I honor the traditions and values passed down from my ancestors?
  2. How do I maintain boundaries in my own life, whether personally or in my community?
  3. What are some examples of boundaries that should not be moved in today's society?
  4. How can I ensure that I respect the heritage and wisdom of those who came before me?

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

Early Church Fathers referenced this verse to discuss the importance of adhering to established traditions and the teachings of ancestors.

Origen of AlexandriaCOMMENTARY ON THE SONG OF SONGS, PROLOGUE c. 185–253
Nonetheless, it is clear that many examples, which we never read in those Scriptures that we deem canonical but nonetheless are found in the apocryphal books and are shown clearly to have been taken from them,
Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 22 →
Origen of AlexandriaLETTER TO JULIUS AFRICANUS 5 c. 185–253
Consider whether it would not be well to remember the words, “You shall not remove the ancient landmarks which your fathers have set.” Nor do I say this because I hesitate to examine the Jewish Scriptures,
Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 22 →
Acacius of BeroeaLETTER TO CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA 2 c. 322–435
We reject all the doctrines introduced recently either through letters or through pamphlets as confusing the common people, since we are content with the ancient legislation of the fathers and obey the one who said,
Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 22 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Proverbs 22:28 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

Remove not the ancient landmark which thy fathers have set. Or, "the ancient border" or "boundary" (n); by which lands, estates, and inheritances, were marked, bounded, and distinguished; set by

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

Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set. Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set.

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

Landmark, whereby the lands of several possessors were distinguished and divided. Do not enrich thyself with the injury of other men; do not invade the rights of others.

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

Proverbs 22:28 Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set.Ver. 28. Remove not the ancient landmark.] Unless ye covet a curse. Let levellers look to it, and know that property is God’ s ordinance; that magistracy is the hedge of a nation; and that "he that breaks a hedge, a serpent shall bite him"; that the ministry is Christ’ s own institution; and that lay preachers may look to speed as Nadab and Abihu, as Uzzah and Uzziah, or as other usurpers: ερμαπολεως.

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

(28) Remove not the ancient landmark.—The stones marking the boundaries of the fields: evidently a not uncommon crime, from the earnestness with which it is forbidden. (Comp. Proverbs 23:10; Deuteronomy 19:14; Deuteronomy 27:17.)

Read Charles John Ellicott on Proverbs 22 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 28. Remove not the ancient landmark] Do not take the advantage, in ploughing or breaking up a field contiguous to that of thy neighbour, to set the dividing stones farther into his field that thou mayest enlarge thy own. Take not what is not thy own in any case. Let all ancient divisions, and the usages connected with them, be held sacred. Bring in no new dogmas, nor rites, nor ceremonies, into religion, or the worship of God, that are not clearly laid down in the sacred writings. "Stand in the way; and see, and ask for the old paths, which is the good way, and walk therein; and ye shall find rest for your souls;" Jeremiah 6:16. But if any Church have lost sight of the genuine…

Read AdamClarke on Proverbs 22 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

28. Comp. Proverbs 23:10; Deuteronomy 19:14.

Read Cambridge on Proverbs 22 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

A protest against the grasping covetousness Isaiah 5:8 which is regardless of the rights of the poor upon whose inheritance men encroach (compare the margin reference).

Read Albert Barnes 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

Do not move an ancient boundary stone which your fathers have placed.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Don’t move the ancient boundary stone which your fathers have set up.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

Do not move an ancient boundary stone which your fathers have placed.

NETBNew English Translation2006

Do not move an ancient boundary stone which was put in place by your ancestors.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

Remove not the ancient landmark, Which thy fathers have set.

RVARevised Version, American1894

Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Thou shalt not remooue the ancient bounds which thy fathers haue made.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

Remove not the ancient landmark which thy fathers have set.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

Remove not a border of olden times, That thy fathers have made.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

Do not remove a border of ancient times, || That your fathers have made.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have established.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Do not remove the ancient boundary stone that your fathers have set.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

Pass not beyond the ancient bounds which thy fathers have set.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

Don't move ancient boundary markers that your forefathers put in place.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

Let not the old landmark be moved which your fathers have put in place.

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.

clauseadverbialאַלdo.notverbתַּ֭סֵּגdisplacenoun phrase · objectnoun phraseגְּב֣וּלa.boundaryעוֹלָ֑םof.antiquityrelpאֲשֶׁ֖רwhichclauseverbעָשׂ֣וּthey.madenoun phrase · subjectאֲבוֹתֶֽיancestorsךָyour

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 on the wording and meaning of this verse, with all seven words matching in the Hebrew text. This consistency indicates a shared understanding of the importance of respecting ancestral boundaries.

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

אַל־ תַּ֭סֵּג גְּב֣וּל עוֹלָ֑ם אֲשֶׁ֖ר עָשׂ֣וּ אֲבוֹתֶֽיךָ׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
אַל־μὴתַּ֭סֵּגμέταιρεגְּב֣וּלὅριαעוֹלָ֑םαἰώνιαאֲשֶׁ֖רעָשׂ֣וּἔθεντοאֲבוֹתֶֽיךָ׃σου

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 22:28אַלmay notmay notאַלסוּגyou displacyou displaceסוּגגְּבוּלa boundary a boundary ofגְּבוּלעוֹלָםantiquityantiquityעוֹלָםאֲשֶׁרwhichwhichאֲשֶׁרעָשָׂהthey madethey madeעָשָׂהאָבancestors yancestors yourאָבגָּבַלto borderto borderגָּבַלעָלַםto concealto concealעָלַםלֹאnotnotלֹאחָתַתto to be dto to be dismayחָתַתיָרֵאto fearto fearיָרֵאגְּבוּלborder: boborder: boundarגְּבוּלרֵעַneighborneighborרֵעַפֵּאָהsidesideפֵּאָהקָדִיםeasteastקָדִיםעַדperpetuityperpetuityעַדדּוֹרgenerationgenerationדּוֹרצָוָהto commandto commandצָוָהמְלָאכָהworkworkמְלָאכָהתּוֹעֵבַהabominatioabominationתּוֹעֵבַהקָבַרto buryto buryקָבַראֵםmothermotherאֵם
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 22:28

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.

may not you displace a boundary of antiquity which they made ancestors your
אַל־'al- may not H408 Particle
724× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Means not or nothing, used to express negation, as in the phrase do not or let not be.
Amplified meaning
remove, pass beyond
Tyndale gloss
not
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אַל (al) is a negative particle meaning 'not' or 'no,' often used to express a wish or prohibition rather than an objective fact. It can also function as a noun meaning 'nothing.' The lexicons highlight its use in various contexts, including deprecative forms, but do not show significant disagreement.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אַל adv. of negation, denying however, not objectively as a fact, but subjectively as a wish, expressing therefore a deprecation or prohibition

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H408 אַל adv. of negation, denying however, not objectively as a fact, but subjectively as a wish, expressing therefore a deprecation or prohibition

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

408 'al al

a negative particle (akin to 3808); not (the qualified

negation, used as a deprecative); once (Job 24:25) as a noun,

nothing:--nay, neither, + never, no ,nor, not, nothing

(worth), rather than.

see HEBREW for 03808

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אַל (al) — not.

1) not, no, nor, neither, nothing (as wish or preference)

1a) do not, let not (with a verb)

1b) let there not be (with a verb understood)

1c) not, no (with substantive)

1d) nothing (as substantive)

Aramaic equivalent: al (אַל "not" H0409)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Part — Particle
HTn
may not you displace a boundary of antiquity which they made ancestors your
תַּ֭סֵּגTa.seg you displace H5253 Verb · Hiphil · jussive second person masculine singular
9× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means to move away or retreat, often implying a turning back from something. It appears in various forms, such as departing or removing something. This concept is seen in the lives of biblical figures like Moses, who had to remove himself from a situation.
Tyndale gloss
to remove
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word סוּג (*sug*) primarily means to move away or backslide. It can refer to actions like retreating, turning back, or being displaced. The entries indicate its use in various forms, including Qal, Niph, Hiphil, and Hophal, covering meanings from personal backsliding to the removal of boundaries.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[סוּג, seldom שׂוּג] vb. move away, backslide

Qal backslide, prove recreant to י׳

Niph.

refl. turn oneself away, turn back

be turned or driven back, be repulsed

Hiph.

usu. of displacing, moving back a boundary mark

remove, carry away

Hoph. and justice is driven back

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5253 סוּג, seldom שׂוּג move away, backslide

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5253 nacag naw-sag'

a primitive root; to retreat:--departing away, remove, take

(hold), turn away.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נָסַג (na.sag) — to remove.

1) to move away, backslide, move, go, turn back

1a) (Qal) to backslide, prove recreant to

1b) (Hiphil)

1b1) to displace, move back

1b2) to remove, carry away

1d) (Hophal) to be driven back, be moved back

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Hiphil-Juss-2ms — Verb · Hiphil · jussive second person masculine singular
HVhj2ms
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
may not you displace a boundary of antiquity which they made ancestors your
גְּב֣וּלge.Vul a boundary of H1366 Noun common · masculine singular construct
240× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to a boundary or border, like the borders of the Promised Land in Numbers 34:1-12. It can also mean a region or territory, as in the borders of Israel in 1 Kings 8:65.
Amplified meaning
landmark, border
Tyndale gloss
border: boundary
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

גְּבוּל (gbuwl) refers to a border or boundary, often implying a defined territory. It can denote a physical limit, such as a coast or landmark, and can also have figurative uses, like a region of darkness. The word is derived from a root meaning 'cord' and encompasses various meanings related to boundaries and territories.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

גְּבוּל 240 n.m. border, boundary, territory

border, boundary

territory (enclosed within boundary)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1366 גְּבוּל border, boundary, territory

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1366 gbuwl gheb-ool'

or (shortened) gbul {gheb-ool'}; from 1379; properly, a cord

(as twisted), i.e. (by implication) a boundary; by extens. the

territory inclosed:--border, bound, coast, X great, landmark,

limit, quarter, space.

see HEBREW for 01379

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

גְּבוּל (ge.vul) — border: boundary.

: boundary

1) border, territory

1a) border

1b) territory (enclosed within boundary)

1c) region, territory (of darkness) (fig.)

Also means: ge.vul (גְּבוּל ": area" H1366H)

גְּבוּל (ge.vul) — border: area.

: area

1) border, territory

1a) border

1b) territory (enclosed within boundary)

1c) region, territory (of darkness) (fig.)

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…

may not you displace a boundary of antiquity which they made ancestors your
עוֹלָ֑םo.Lam antiquity H5769 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
438× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means forever or always, describing something that lasts an eternity. It is used in the Bible to describe God's eternal nature and his lasting promises.
Amplified meaning
old, long-standing
Tyndale gloss
forever: antiquity
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עוֹלָם (owlam) refers to concepts of long duration, antiquity, and futurity, encompassing meanings like eternity and perpetual existence. It is derived from a root meaning 'concealed' or 'the vanishing point.' The term is used to describe both ancient times and an indefinite future, indicating continuity and everlastingness.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עוֹלָם 439 n.m. long duration, antiquity, futurity

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5769 עוֹלָם long duration, antiquity, futurity

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5769 `owlam o-lawm'

or lolam {o-lawm'}; from 5956; properly, concealed, i.e. the

vanishing point; generally, time out of mind (past or future),

i.e. (practically) eternity; frequentatively, adverbial

(especially with prepositional prefix) always:--alway(-s),

ancient (time), any more, continuance, eternal, (for,

(n-))ever(-lasting, -more, of old), lasting, long (time), (of)

old (time), perpetual, at any time, (beginning of the) world

(+ without end). Compare 5331, 5703.

see HEBREW for 05956

see HEBREW for 05331

see HEBREW for 05703

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עוֹלָם (o.lam) — forever: enduring.

: enduring/eternal

1) long duration, antiquity, futurity, for ever, ever, everlasting, evermore, perpetual, old, ancient, world

1a) ancient time, long time (of past)

1b) (of future)

1b1) for ever, always

1b2) continuous existence, perpetual

1b3) everlasting, indefinite or unending future, eternity

עוֹלָם (o.lam) — Everlasting.

This name means long duration, everlasting, perpetual

Another name of ye.ho.vah (יהוה "LORD" H3068G)

עוֹלָם (o.lam) — forever: any time.

: any_time

1) long duration, antiquity, futurity, for ever, ever, everlasting, evermore, perpetual, old, ancient, world

1a) ancient time, long time (of past)

1b) (of future)

1b1) for ever, always

1b2) continuous existence, perpetual

1b3) everlasting, indefinite or unending future, eternity

עוֹלָם (o.lam) — forever: antiquity.

: old/ancient

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absolute
HNcmsa
may not you displace a boundary of antiquity which they made ancestors your
אֲשֶׁ֖ר'a.Sher which H834 Particle
5,500× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word is a conjunction that connects ideas and events in the Bible, like in the book of Genesis, where it's used to describe the relationship between God and His creation.
Amplified meaning
that
Tyndale gloss
which
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word אֲשֶׁר (*asher*) is a relative pronoun that can mean 'who,' 'which,' or 'that.' It serves various grammatical functions, including as an adverb or conjunction, indicating relationships between clauses, places, or conditions. Variants like בַאֲשֶׁר (*ba-asher*), מֵאֲשֶׁר (*me-asher*), and כַּאֲשֶׁר (*ka-asher*) expand its usage to specific contexts such as location, causation, and time.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֲשֶׁר part. of relation A sign of relation, bringing the clause introduced by it into relation with an antecedent clause.

base

בַאֲשֶׁר

in (that) which

adv. in (the place) where

conj. in that, inasmuch as

on account of whom?

base

מֵאֲשֶׁר

from (or than) that which

adv. from (the place) where

conj. from (the fact) that …, since

base

כַּאֲשֶׁר conj. according as, as, when

according to that which, according as, as

with a causal force, in so far as, since

with a temporal force, when

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H834a אֲשֶׁר part. of relation A sign of relation, bringing the clause introduced by it into relation with an antecedent clause. H834b בַאֲשֶׁר . in (that) which

. adv. in (the place) where

. conj. in that, inasmuch as

. on account of whom?

H834c מֵאֲשֶׁר . from (or than) that which

. adv. from (the place) where

. conj. from (the fact) that …, since

H834d כַּאֲשֶׁר conj. according as, as, when . according to that which, according as, as

. with a causal force, in so far as, since

. with a temporal force, when

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

834 'aher ash-er'

a primitive relative pronoun (of every gender and number);

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction)

when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.:--X after, X

alike, as (soon as), because, X every, for, + forasmuch, +

from whence, + how(-soever), X if, (so) that ((thing) which,

wherein), X though, + until, + whatsoever, when, where

(+ -as, -in, -of, -on, -soever, -with), which, whilst, +

whither(- soever), who(-m, -soever, -se). As it is

indeclinable, it is often accompanied by the personal pronoun

expletively, used to show the connection.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֲשֶׁר (a.sher) — which.

A: 1) (relative part.)

1a) which, who

1b) that which

2) (conj)

2a) that (in obj clause)

2b) when

2c) since

2d) as

2e) conditional if

B: Beth+ 1) in (that) which

2) (adv)

2a) where

3) (conj)

3a) in that, inasmuch as

3b) on account of

C: Mem+ 1) from (or than) that which

2) from (the place) where

3) from (the fact) that, since

D: Kaph+

1) (conj.), according as, as, when

1a) according to that which, according as, as

1b) with a causal force: in so far as, since

1c) with a temporal force: when

בַאֲשֶׁר (ba.a.sher) — in which.

1) in (that) which

2) (adv)

2a) where

3) (conj)

3a) in that, inasmuch as

3b) on account of

מֵאֲשֶׁר (me.a.sher) — whence.

1) from (or than) that which

2) from (the place) where

3) from (the fact) that, since

כַּאֲשֶׁר (ka.a.sher) — as which.

conj

1) according as, as, when

1a) according to that which, according as, as

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Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Rel — Particle
HTr
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
may not you displace a boundary of antiquity which they made ancestors your
עָשׂ֣וּ'a.Su they made H6213 Verb · Qal · perfect third person common plural
2,629× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This verb means to make or do something, and is used over 2,600 times in the Bible. It is first used in Genesis 1:7 to describe God's creation of the world and is also used in Exodus 31:5 to describe the work of skilled craftsmen.
Amplified meaning
set, established
Tyndale gloss
to make
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עָשָׂה (asah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to do or make, encompassing a wide range of actions such as producing, preparing, and observing. It can refer to both concrete and abstract activities, including making offerings and attending to tasks. The verb also has forms indicating passive meanings, such as being made or offered. Notably, the Piel form refers to pressing or squeezing.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עָשָׂה 2622 vb. do, make

Qal 2524

do (1560 t.)

deal with

oft. in phr. do kindness with

abs. act, act with effect

make (670 t.)

produce, yield

prepare, esp. of dressing and cooking food

make offering

attend to, put in order

observe, celebrate, religious festival

acquire property of various kinds

appoint priests

bring about of י׳’s effecting a deliverance

use

spend, pass, days of life

Niph.

97be done

be made, of concr. things

be produced from vine

be prepared, of food

be offered

be observed, passover

be used

Pu. I was made

base

[עָשָׂה] vb. Pi. press, squeeze

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6213a עָשָׂה do, make .. . do (1560 + t.)

. deal with

. oft. in phr. do kindness with

. abs. act, act with effect

. . make (670 + t.)

. produce, yield

. prepare, esp. of dressing and cooking food

. make offering

. attend to, put in order

. observe, celebrate, religious festival

. acquire property of various kinds

. appoint priests

. bring about of י׳’s effecting a deliverance

. use

. spend, pass, days of life

. . be done

. . be made, of concr. things

. be produced from vine

. be prepared, of food

. be offered

. be observed, passover

. be used

. I was made

H6213b עָשָׂה Pi. press, squeeze

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6213 `asah aw-saw'

a primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and

widest application (as follows):--accomplish, advance,

appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth,

bruise, be busy, X certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal

(with), deck, + displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in)

execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, + feast, (fight-)ing man, +

finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go

about, govern, grant, great, + hinder, hold ((a feast)), X

indeed, + be industrious, + journey, keep, labour, maintain,

make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, + officer, pare,

bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure,

provide, put, requite, X sacrifice, serve, set, shew, X sin,

spend, X surely, take, X thoroughly, trim, X very, + vex, be

(warr-)ior, work(-man), yield, use.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עָשָׂה (a.sah) — to make: do.

: do/perform

1) to do, fashion, accomplish, make

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to do, work, make, produce

1a1a) to do

1a1b) to work

1a1c) to deal (with)

1a1d) to act, act with effect, effect

1a2) to make

1a2a) to make

1a2b) to produce

1a2c) to prepare

1a2d) to make (an offering)

1a2e) to attend to, put in order

1a2f) to observe, celebrate

1a2g) to acquire (property)

1a2h) to appoint, ordain, institute

1a2i) to bring about

1a2j) to use

1a2k) to spend, pass

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be done

1b2) to be made

1b3) to be produced

1b4) to be offered

1b5) to be observed

1b6) to be used

1c) (Pual) to be made

עָשָׂה (a.sah) — to press.

(Piel) to press, squeeze

עָשָׂה (a.sah) — to make.

: make(OBJECT)

1) to do, fashion, accomplish, make

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to do, work, make, produce

1a1a) to do

1a1b) to work

1a1c) to deal (with)

1a1d) to act, act with effect, effect

1a2) to make

1a2a) to make

1a2b) to produce

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Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Perf-3cp — Verb · Qal · perfect third person common plural
HVqp3cp
may not you displace a boundary of antiquity which they made ancestors your
אֲבוֹתֶֽיךָ׃'a.vo.Tei.kha ancestors your H1 Noun common feminine plural construct · suffix
1,213× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In Hebrew, this word means father, whether literal or figurative. It is used to describe God as the father of his people, as well as human fathers like Abraham. The word is about a paternal relationship or authority.
Amplified meaning
ancestors, forefathers
Tyndale gloss
father
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אָב (av) means 'father' and encompasses various roles such as the literal father of an individual, God as the father of His people, and the head of a household or clan. It can also refer to an ancestor, originator of a profession, or a figure of respect and protection. Notably, it can imply a ruler or chief in later contexts.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אָב 1101 n.m. father

father of individual

of God as father of his people

head of household, family or clan

ancestor

originator or patron of a class, profession, or art

fig. of producer, generator

fig. of benevolence & protection

term of respect & honor

specif., ruler, chief (late)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1 אָב father . father of individual

. of God as father of his people

. head of household, family or clan

. ancestor

. originator or patron of a class, profession, or art

. fig. of producer, generator

. fig. of benevolence & protection

. term of respect & honor

. specif., ruler, chief (late)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1 'ab awb

a primitive word; father, in a literal and immediate, or

figurative and remote application):--chief,

(fore-)father(-less), X patrimony, principal. Compare names

in "Abi-".

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אָב (av) — father.

1) father of an individual

2) of God as father of his people

3) head or founder of a household, group, family, or clan

4) ancestor

4a) grandfather, forefathers - of person

4b) of people

5) originator or patron of a class, profession, or art

6) of producer, generator (fig.)

7) of benevolence and protection (fig.)

8) term of respect and honour

9) ruler or chief (spec.)

Also means: av (אַב "father" H0002)

אָב (av) — (Huram)-abi.

A man living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Ki.7.13; also called Huram-abi (KJV: "Huram my father's") at 2Ch.2.13; 4.16;

Combined with chi.ram (חִירָם "Hiram" H2438H)

אָב (av) — father of.

The father of Gibeon, also known as Abiel - a man of the tribe of Benjamin living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Sa.9.1;

son of: Zeror (H6872C); married to Maacah (H4601N);

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Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-mp | Suff — Noun common feminine plural construct · suffix
HNcfpc/Sp2ms
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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