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Proverbs 25:28 — Word Study

Depth

WLCעִ֣יר פְּ֭רוּצָה אֵ֣ין חוֹמָ֑ה אִ֝֗ישׁ אֲשֶׁ֤ר אֵ֖ין מַעְצָ֣ר לְרוּחֽוֹ׃

BSALike a cityʻîyr [without walls] whose wallschôwmâh are broken downpârats [to break through, burst out] is a manʼîysh [individual, person] whoʼăsher does notʼayin controlmaʻtsâr [have restraint over, rule] his temperrûwach [spirit, emotions, mind]

Word
Listen & take awayProverbs 25
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 (le.ru.Cho) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Proverbs 25:28quick helps
In a sentenceA man without self-control is like a city that has been broken down and left vulnerable.
Who is speakingThe wise teacher of Proverbs, using a metaphor to illustrate a point.
Where we areThis verse is part of a collection of proverbs that offer wisdom on self-control and its importance.
The hard wordמַעְצָ֣ר
Take awaySelf-control is essential for personal security and stability.
7 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause subjectחוֹמָה verbפָּרַץ The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
How rare are these words?in the Old Testament

1 of 9 occurs nowhere else in the Old Testament — a word chosen on purpose.

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 25:28

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 — The Importance of Self-Controlgenerated

25Like cold water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land.
26Like a muddied spring or a polluted well is a righteous man who gives way to the wicked.
27It is not good to eat too much honey or to search out one’s own glory.
28Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who does not control his temper.

Proverbs 25:28 compares a man who lacks self-control to a city that has been broken down, emphasizing the vulnerability that comes from not managing one's emotions. This verse is part of a broader discussion in Proverbs about the value of wisdom and the dangers of losing control, similar to the warnings found in Proverbs 16:32 and Proverbs 22:24.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Proverbs 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.
2Proverbs 22:24Do not make friends with an angry man, and do not associate with a hot-tempered man,
31 Samuel 20:30Then Saul’s anger burned against Jonathan, and he said to him, “You son of a perverse and rebellious woman! Do I not know that you have chosen the son of Jesse to your own shame and to the disgrace of the mother who bore you?
41 Samuel 25:17Now consider carefully what you must do, because disaster looms over our master and all his household. For he is such a scoundrel that nobody can speak to him!”

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

He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.Proverbs 16:32 Proverbs 22:24 1 Samuel 20:30 1 Samuel 25:17

The Key Word מַעְצָ֣ר, ma'.Tzargenerated

The Hebrew word מַעְצָר (*ma' tsar*) refers to control or restraint, derived from a root meaning to govern or manage. In this verse, it describes the ability to manage one's emotions effectively, highlighting the importance of self-control in personal conduct.

This word is used only once in the Bible, emphasizing its significance in the context of self-discipline. The parsing as a masculine singular noun indicates that it refers to an individual’s capacity for restraint.


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

One main verb governs the whole verse — אֵ֣ין, there is not — with two noun phrases following: the first describes the state of the city, and the second describes the man. The structure emphasizes the comparison between the two subjects.

The Hebrew word order places the man and his lack of control at the end, which serves to highlight the consequence of losing self-control, paralleling the vulnerability of the city.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint uses the Greek word ἀτείξιστος to translate חוֹמָ֑ה, indicating a city that is defenseless. This choice emphasizes the idea of a city that cannot protect itself, mirroring the condition of a person lacking self-restraint.

The Greek translation reflects a similar understanding of the metaphor, reinforcing the connection between self-control and personal security.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Proverbs 25:28 compares a man who cannot control his temper to a city that has been broken down. Just as a city without walls is vulnerable to attack, a person without self-control is exposed to emotional turmoil and conflict.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean to have self-control?

Self-control refers to the ability to manage one's emotions and reactions, especially in difficult situations.

Why is self-control important?

Self-control is important because it helps maintain personal security and stability, preventing emotional outbursts that can lead to conflict.

How can I improve my self-control?

Improving self-control can involve practicing mindfulness, setting clear goals, and seeking accountability from others.

What are the consequences of lacking self-control?

Lacking self-control can lead to negative outcomes such as damaged relationships, poor decision-making, and emotional distress.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what situations do I struggle to maintain self-control, and how can I address those challenges?
  2. How does understanding this proverb help me recognize the importance of managing my emotions?
  3. What are some practical steps I can take to develop greater self-control in my life?
  4. How can I support others in cultivating self-control and emotional resilience?

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

Early commentators have referenced this verse to illustrate the dangers of lacking self-control, using the metaphor of a defenseless city to emphasize the risks involved.

John Cassian c. 360–435
The example and image used in this text, which compares a person with a city that is broken down and without walls, demonstrates how dangerous it is for a monk to be deprived of [selfcontrol].
Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 25 →
John CassianCONFERENCE 2:4 c. 360–435
The illustration and image in the passage quoted shows, by comparing it to a city that is destroyed and without walls, how injurious the absence of [self-control] is in a monk.
Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 25 →
BedeCommentary on Proverbs c. 673–735
"As a city broken down and without walls," etc. For if it does not have the wall of silence, the city of the mind lies open to the darts of the enemy.
Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 25 →

Commentators on this verse — 7 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Proverbs 25:28 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

He that [hath] no rule over his own spirit,.... His affections and passions, puts no restraint, unto them, as the word signifies; no guard against them, no fence about them, to curb his curiosity, to

Read John Gill on Proverbs 25 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.

Read Robert Jamieson on Proverbs 25 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Over his own spirit; over his passions, and especially his anger, Which is signified by this word, . Is like a city that is broken down, and without walls; exposeth himself to manifold dangers and mischiefs.

Read Matthew Poole on Proverbs 25 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Proverbs 25:28 He that [hath] no rule over his own spirit [is like] a city [that is] broken down, [and] without walls.Ver. 28. He that hath no rule over his own spirit.] Cui non est cohibitio in spiritum suum, that reigns not in his unruly affections, but suffers them to run riot in sin, as so many headstrong horses, or to ride upon the backs one of another, like cattle in a narrow shoot. This man being not fenced with the wall of God’ s fear, lies open to all assaults of Satan and other enemies; as Laish; or Hazor, that had neither gates nor bars; or the Hague in Holland, which the inhabitants will not wall, as desiring to have it counted rather the principal village of Europe than a…

Read John Trapp on Proverbs 25 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(28) Like a city that is broken down, and without walls.—Exposed to the assault of every temptation.

Read Charles John Ellicott on Proverbs 25 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

28. In this verse again, both A.V. and R.V. change without apparent reason the order of the clauses in the Hebrew.

Read Cambridge on Proverbs 25 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

28. Hath no rule — No restraint or control over his spirit, his temper, his passions. “That refraineth not his appetite.” — Geneva Bible.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Proverbs 25 →

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

Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who does not control his temper.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Like a city that is broken down and without walls is a man whose spirit is without restraint.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who does not control his temper.

NETBNew English Translation2006

Like a city that is broken down and without a wall, so is a person who cannot control his temper.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

He whose spirit is without restraint Is like a city that is broken down and without walls.

RVARevised Version, American1894

He whose spirit is without restraint is like a city that is broken down and hath no wall.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

A man that refraineth not his appetite, is like a citie which is broken downe and without walles.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

He that hath no rule over his own spirit is [as] a city broken down, without walls.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

A city broken down without walls, [Is] a man without restraint over his spirit!

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

A city broken down without walls, || [Is] a man without restraint over his spirit!

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

Like a city that is broken in, and is without walls: so is the man that hath no control over his spirit.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

A person without self-control is like a city breached and without walls.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

As a city that lieth open and is not compassed with walls, so is a man that cannot refrain his own spirit in speaking.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

Someone without control is as exposed as a town whose walls have been breached.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

He whose spirit is uncontrolled is like an unwalled town which has been broken into.

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.

clausenoun phrase · predicatenoun phraseעִ֣ירa.cityפְּ֭רוּצָהbroken.intoclausepredicateאֵ֣יןthere.[is].notsubjectחוֹמָ֑הa.wallnoun phrase · subjectאִ֝֗ישׁa.personrelpאֲשֶׁ֤רwhomclausepredicateאֵ֖יןthere.[is].notsubjectמַעְצָ֣רcontrolprepositional phrase · prepositionalלְfornoun phraseרוּחֽspiritוֹhis

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 largely agree in their wording, with 7 of the 9 words matched. The Septuagint's translation captures the essence of the Hebrew text, although its word order differs.

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

עִ֣יר פְּ֭רוּצָה אֵ֣ין חוֹמָ֑ה אִ֝֗ישׁ אֲשֶׁ֤ר אֵ֖ין מַעְצָ֣ר לְרוּחֽוֹ׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
עִ֣ירπόλιςפְּ֭רוּצָהκαταβεβλημένηאֵ֣יןκαὶחוֹמָ֑הἀτείξιστοςאִ֝֗ישׁἀνὴρאֲשֶׁ֤רὃςאֵ֖יןοὐ

7 of the 9 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.

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


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

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

Proverbs 25:28עִירa citya cityעִירפָּרַץbroken intobroken intoפָּרַץאַ֫יִןthere notthere notאַ֫יִןחוֹמָה[is] a wall[is] a wallחוֹמָהאִישׁa persona personאִישׁאֲשֶׁרwhomwhomאֲשֶׁראַ֫יִןnotnotאַ֫יִןמַעְצָרcontrolcontrolמַעְצָררוּחַ[belongs] t[belongs] to spרוּחַעוּרto rouseto rouseעוּראַ֫יִןwhere?where?אַ֫יִןעָצַרto restraito restrainעָצַררִיחַto smellto smellרִיחַאֱנוֹשׁhumanhumanאֱנוֹשׁאִשָּׁהwomanwomanאִשָּׁהכְּמוֹlikelikeכְּמוֹמִגְרָשׁpasturepastureמִגְרָשׁלָכַדto captureto captureלָכַדגָּדֵרwallwallגָּדֵרפֶּ֫רֶץbreachbreachפֶּ֫רֶץמִגְדָּלtowertowerמִגְדָּלרֵעַneighborneighborרֵעַצָוָהto commandto commandצָוָהנְשָׁמָהbreathbreathנְשָׁמָהקָדִיםeasteastקָדִים
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 25:28

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.

a city broken into there not [is] a wall a person whom not control [belongs] to spirit his
עִ֣יר'ir a city H5892 Noun common · feminine singular construct
1,090× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this word refers to a city or town, often a place with a wall or a watchman. It is used to describe a settlement or encampment, like the city of Ai, which is mentioned in the book of Joshua. The word is used to identify specific locations in the Bible.
Amplified meaning
without walls
Tyndale gloss
excitement
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word עִיר (*'iyr*) has meanings related to both excitement and city. It can denote excitement, particularly of terror or rage, as well as refer to a city or town, indicating a place that is guarded or inhabited. The entries suggest a broad application, from fortified cities to simple encampments. There is a specific mention of a man named Ir in 1 Chronicles 4:12.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עִיר n.[m.] excitement;—of terror; of rage

base

עִיר 1092 n.f. city, town

city, town, abode of men

of fortress in a city

appar. fortified place, of any size

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5892a עִיר excitement;—of terror; of rage H5892b עִיר city, town . city, town, abode of men

. of fortress in a city

. appar. fortified place, of any size

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5892 `iyr eer

or (in the plural) par {awr}; or ayar (Judges 10:4)

{aw-yar'}; from 5782 a city (a place guarded by waking or a

watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or

post):--Ai (from margin), city, court (from margin), town.

see HEBREW for 05782

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עִיר (ir) — excitement.

1) excitement, anguish

1a) of terror

עִיר (ir) — city.

1) city, town (a place of waking, guarded)

1a) city, town (a place of waking, guarded)

1a) city, town

עִיר (ir) — City (of On).

Combined with on (אֹן "On" H0204)

This name means city, town

Another name of on (אֹן "On" H0204)

עִיר (ir) — Ir-.

#A man of the tribe of Judah living at the time of Divided Monarchy, only mentioned at 1Ch.4.12;

son of: Tehinnah (H8468)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular construct
HNcfsc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

sit'-i (`ir, qiryah; polis):

I. THE CANAANITE CITY

1. Origin

2. Extent

3. Villages

4. Sites

5. External Appearance

6. General

II. THE CITY OF THE JEWISH OCCUPATION

1. Tower or Stronghold

2. High Place

3. Broad Place

4. Streets

5. General Characteristics

III. STORE CITIES

IV. LEVITICAL CITIES

LITERATURE

I. The Canaanite City.

1. Origin:

The development of the Canaanite city has been traced by Macalister in his report on the excavation at Gezer (Palestine Exploration Fund Statement, 1904, 108 ff). It originated on the slopes of a bare rocky spur, in which the Neolithic Troglodytes quarried their habitations out of the solid rock, the stones therefrom being used to form a casing to the earthen ramparts, with which the site was afterwards surrounded and which served as a protection against the intrusion of enemies. Later Semitic intruders occupied the site, stone houses were built, and high stone defense…

Easton's Bible Dictionary

City

The earliest mention of city-building is that of Enoch, which was built by Cain (Gen. 4:17). After the confusion of tongues, the descendants of Nimrod founded several cities (10:10-12). Next, we have a record of the cities of the Canaanites, Sidon, Gaza, Sodom, etc. (10:12, 19; 11:3, 9; 36:31-39). The earliest description of a city is that of Sodom (19:1-22). Damascus is said to be the oldest existing city in the world. Before the time of Abraham there were cities in Egypt (Num. 13:22). The Israelites in Egypt were employed in building the “treasure cities” of Pithom and Raamses (Ex. 1:11); but it does not seem that they had any cities of their own in Goshen (Gen.…

a city broken into there not [is] a wall a person whom not control [belongs] to spirit his
פְּ֭רוּצָהPe.ru.tzah broken into H6555 Verb · Qal · participle (passive) feminine singular
49× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To break through means to burst out or force one's way, like when a baby is born or a wall is broken down. This word is used in many situations, like when God breaks through to help someone or when a crowd breaks out in violence.
Amplified meaning
to break through, burst out
Tyndale gloss
to break through
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

פָּרַץ (parats) is a Hebrew verb meaning to break through or burst out, with applications that range from literal actions like breaking open to figurative uses such as increasing or spreading. It can describe violent actions, breaches, or the act of breaking away. The entries suggest a variety of contexts, including mining and the dispersion of visions.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

פָּרַץ vb. break through

Qal

break or burst out

break through, down (from without)

break into

break open, a mining shaft

break up, break in pieces

break out (violently) upon

use violence

break over [limits], increase

burst open, intrans., of wine vats

spread, i.e. become known

Niph. no vision spread abroad

Hithp. slaves who break away

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6555 פָּרַץ break through .. break or burst out

. break through, down (from without)

. break into

. break open, a mining shaft

. break up, break in pieces

. break out (violently) upon

. use violence

. break over [limits], increase

. burst open, intrans., of wine vats

. spread, i.e. become known

. no vision spread abroad

. slaves who break away

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6555 parats paw-rats'

a primitive root; to break out (in many applications, direct

and indirect, literal and figurative):--X abroad, (make a)

breach, break (away, down, -er, forth, in, up), burst out,

come (spread) abroad, compel, disperse, grow, increase, open,

press, scatter, urge.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

פָּרַץ (pa.rats) — to break through.

1) to break through or down or over, burst, breach

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to break or burst out (from womb or enclosure)

1a2) to break through or down, make a breach in

1a3) to break into

1a4) to break open

1a5) to break up, break in pieces

1a6) to break out (violently) upon

1a7) to break over (limits), increase

1a8) to use violence

1a9) to burst open 1a10) to spread, distribute

1b) (Niphal) to be broken through

1c) (Pual) to be broken down

1d) (Hithpael) to break away

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Inf-c — Verb · Qal · participle (passive) feminine singular
HVqsfsa
a city broken into there not [is] a wall a person whom not control [belongs] to spirit his
אֵ֣ין'ein there not H369 Noun common · masculine singular construct
789× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means nothing or not, often used to indicate the absence of something, as in Genesis 1:2 where the earth was without form. It emphasizes the idea of something lacking or non-existent.
Tyndale gloss
nothing
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אַ֫יִן (ayin) primarily means 'nothing' or 'nought' and serves as a negative particle indicating absence or negation, such as 'is not' or 'there is not.' It can also express lack of possession or existence. The word is derived from a root meaning to be non-existent, and it appears frequently in various grammatical constructions.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אַ֫יִן, אָ֑֫יִן cstr. אֵין subst. prop. nothing, nought

to nothing, as nothing

cstr. אֵין, very freq. as particle of negation, is not, are not, was not, were not

אֵין לְ׳, with subst., or pron., there is (was) not to … = … have, has, had, etc. not

in circumst. clauses

with inf. and ל׳, it is not to …

with prefixes

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H369 אַ֫יִן, אָ֑֫יִן cstr. אֵין subst. prop. nothing, nought . to nothing, as nothing

. cstr. אֵין, very freq. as particle of negation, is not, are not, was not, were not

. אֵין לְ׳, with subst., or pron., there is (was) not to … = … have, has, had, etc. not

. in circumst. clauses

. with inf. and ל׳, it is not to …

. with prefixes

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

369 'ayin ah'-yin

as if from a primitive root meaning to be nothing or not

exist; a non-entity; generally used as a negative

particle:--else, except, fail, (father-)less, be gone,

in(-curable), neither, never, no (where), none, nor, (any,

thing), not, nothing, to nought, past, un(-searchable),

well-nigh, without. Compare 370.

see HEBREW for 0370

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אַ֫יִן (a.yin) — nothing.

1) nothing, not, nought n

1a) nothing, nought neg

1b) not

1c) to have not (of possession) adv

1d) without w/prep

1e) for lack of

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Part — Noun common · masculine singular construct
HNcmsc
a city broken into there not [is] a wall a person whom not control [belongs] to spirit his
חוֹמָ֑הcho.Mah [is] a wall H2346 Noun common · feminine singular absolute
133× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A wall of protection, like the walls of Jerusalem, provided safety and security for the people. It appears in the Bible as a physical barrier. The Israelites built walls around their cities for defense.
Tyndale gloss
wall
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

חוֹמָה (chowmah) refers to a wall, typically understood as a protective barrier. It is derived from a root meaning to join, and is often used to describe city walls or the walls of buildings. The term can also be applied figuratively, such as in reference to the waters of the Red Sea.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

חוֹמָה 133 n.f. wall (as protection)

usu. term for wall of city

wall of a building

fig. of waters of Red Sea

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2346 חוֹמָה wall (as protection)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2346 chowmah kho-maw'

feminine active participle of an unused root apparently

meaning to join; a wall of protection:--wall, walled.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חוֹמָה (cho.mah) — wall.

wall

חוֹמָה (cho.mah) — (Broad) Wall.

wall

Combined with ra.chav (רָחָב "Broad" H7342)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular absolute
HNcfsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

wol.

See ARCHITECTURE; CITY; FORTIFICATION; HOUSE; JERUSALEM; VILLAGE.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Wall

Cities were surrounded by walls, as distinguished from “unwalled villages” (Ezek. 38:11; Lev. 25:29-34). They were made thick and strong (Num. 13:28; Deut. 3:5). Among the Jews walls were built of stone, some of those in the temple being of great size (1 Kings 6:7; 7:9-12; 20:30; Mark 13:1, 2). The term is used metaphorically of security and safety (Isa. 26:1; 60:18; Rev. 21:12-20). (See FENCE.)

a city broken into there not [is] a wall a person whom not control [belongs] to spirit his
אִ֝֗ישׁ'Ish a person H376 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
individual, person
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
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absolute
HNcmsa
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
a city broken into there not [is] a wall a person whom not control [belongs] to spirit his
אֲשֶׁ֤ר'a.Sher whom 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.
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

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Rel — Particle
HTr
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
a city broken into there not [is] a wall a person whom not control [belongs] to spirit his
אֵ֖ין'ein not H369 Noun common · masculine singular construct
789× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means nothing or not, often used to indicate the absence of something, as in Genesis 1:2 where the earth was without form. It emphasizes the idea of something lacking or non-existent.
Tyndale gloss
nothing
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אַ֫יִן (ayin) primarily means 'nothing' or 'nought' and serves as a negative particle indicating absence or negation, such as 'is not' or 'there is not.' It can also express lack of possession or existence. The word is derived from a root meaning to be non-existent, and it appears frequently in various grammatical constructions.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אַ֫יִן, אָ֑֫יִן cstr. אֵין subst. prop. nothing, nought

to nothing, as nothing

cstr. אֵין, very freq. as particle of negation, is not, are not, was not, were not

אֵין לְ׳, with subst., or pron., there is (was) not to … = … have, has, had, etc. not

in circumst. clauses

with inf. and ל׳, it is not to …

with prefixes

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H369 אַ֫יִן, אָ֑֫יִן cstr. אֵין subst. prop. nothing, nought . to nothing, as nothing

. cstr. אֵין, very freq. as particle of negation, is not, are not, was not, were not

. אֵין לְ׳, with subst., or pron., there is (was) not to … = … have, has, had, etc. not

. in circumst. clauses

. with inf. and ל׳, it is not to …

. with prefixes

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

369 'ayin ah'-yin

as if from a primitive root meaning to be nothing or not

exist; a non-entity; generally used as a negative

particle:--else, except, fail, (father-)less, be gone,

in(-curable), neither, never, no (where), none, nor, (any,

thing), not, nothing, to nought, past, un(-searchable),

well-nigh, without. Compare 370.

see HEBREW for 0370

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אַ֫יִן (a.yin) — nothing.

1) nothing, not, nought n

1a) nothing, nought neg

1b) not

1c) to have not (of possession) adv

1d) without w/prep

1e) for lack of

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HNcmsc — Noun common · masculine singular construct
HNcmsc
a city broken into there not [is] a wall a person whom not control [belongs] to spirit his
מַעְצָ֣רma'.Tzar control H4623 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
1× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means control or restraint, like having power over something. It is used to describe ruling or governing, as seen in the Bible's book of Proverbs. It implies a sense of authority and management.
Amplified meaning
have restraint over, rule
Tyndale gloss
restraint
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מַעְצָר (ma`tsar) refers to restraint or control. It is derived from the root meaning to control, and is used in contexts such as Proverbs 25:28, which describes a person lacking self-control.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מַעְצָר n.[m.] restraint, control;—מ׳ Pr 25:28 a man whose spirit is without control.

done

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4623 מַעְצָר

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4623 ma`tsar mah-tsawr'

from 6113; subjectively, control:--rule.

see HEBREW for 06113

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מַעְצָר (ma.tsar) — restraint.

restraint, control

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absolute
HNcmsa
a city broken into there not [is] a wall a person whom not control [belongs] to spirit his
לְרוּחֽוֹ׃le.ru.Cho [belongs] to spirit his H7307 Preposition · noun common feminine singular construct · suffix
378× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this word for spirit refers to the breath of life, the wind, or a person's mind and emotions, as seen in the book of Ezekiel.
Amplified meaning
spirit, emotions, mind
Tyndale gloss
spirit
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

רוּחַ (ruach) means breath, wind, or spirit. It encompasses various meanings, including the breath of life, emotional disposition, and the spirit of God. The term can refer to both physical phenomena, like wind, and abstract concepts, such as moral character or mental acts. Notably, it is used frequently in the context of divine inspiration and the Holy Spirit.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

רוּחַ 378 n.f. (less oft. m.) breath, wind, spirit

breath of mouth or nostrils (33 t.)

wind (117 t.)

spirit, as that which breathes quickly in animation or agitation = temper, disposition (76 t.)

spirit of the living, breathing being

spirit as seat of emotion

occasionally (and late) = seat or organ of mental acts

rarely of the will

רוּחַ esp. of moral character

spirit of God (94 t.)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7307 רוּחַ breath, wind, spirit . breath of mouth or nostrils (33 t.)

. wind (117 t.)

. spirit, as that which breathes quickly in animation or agitation = temper, disposition (76 t.)

. spirit of the living, breathing being

. spirit as seat of emotion

. occasionally (and late) = seat or organ of mental acts

. rarely of the will

. רוּחַ esp. of moral character

. spirit of God (94 t.)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7307 ruwach roo'-akh

from 7306; wind; by resemblance breath, i.e. a sensible (or

even violent) exhalation; figuratively, life, anger,

unsubstantiality; by extension, a region of the sky; by

resemblance spirit, but only of a rational being (including

its expression and functions):--air, anger, blast, breath, X

cool, courage, mind, X quarter, X side, spirit((-ual)),

tempest, X vain, ((whirl-))wind(-y).

see HEBREW for 07306

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

רוּחַ (ru.ach) — spirit.

: spirit

1) wind, breath, mind, spirit

1a) breath

1b) wind

1b1) of heaven

1b2) quarter (of wind), side

1b3) breath of air

1b4) air, gas

1b5) vain, empty thing

1c) spirit (as that which breathes quickly in animation or agitation)

1c1) spirit, animation, vivacity, vigour

1c2) courage

1c3) temper, anger

1c4) impatience, patience

1c5) spirit, disposition (as troubled, bitter, discontented)

1c6) disposition (of various kinds), unaccountable or uncontrollable impulse

1c7) prophetic spirit

1d) spirit (of the living, breathing being in man and animals)

1d1) as gift, preserved by God, God's spirit, departing at death, disembodied being

1e) spirit (as seat of emotion)

1e1) desire

1e2) sorrow, trouble

1f) spirit

1f1) as seat or organ of mental acts

1f2) rarely of the will

1f3) as seat especially of moral character

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-cs | Suff — Preposition · noun common feminine singular construct · suffix
HR/Ncfsc/Sp3ms
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

hiz: Used often in the King James Version with reference to a neuter or inanimate thing, or to a lower animal (Ge 1:11, "after his kind"; Le 1:16, "pluck away his crop"; Ac 12:10, "of his own accord"; 1Co 15:38, "his own body"), etc. the Revised Version (British and American) substitutes "its."

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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