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Proverbs 27:24 — Word Study

Depth

WLCכִּ֤י לֹ֣א לְעוֹלָ֣ם חֹ֑סֶן וְאִם־ נֵ֝֗זֶר לְד֣וֹר וָדֽוֹר׃

BSAforkîy richeschôçen [wealth, treasure] [are] notlôʼ foreverʻôwlâm [to the age, always] nor doesʼim a crownnezer [consecration] [endure] to everydôwr generationdôwr [period of time, group of people]

Word
Listen & take awayProverbs 27
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 24 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 (ve.dor) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Proverbs 27:24quick helps
In a sentenceProverbs warns that wealth and status are temporary.
Who is speakingThe author of Proverbs, offering wisdom on life.
Where we areA reflection on the fleeting nature of material possessions.
The hard wordחֹסֶן
Take awayWealth and crowns do not last; they are not guaranteed.
7 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause subjectחֹסֶן 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 27:24

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 Wealth and Statusgenerated

23Be sure to know the state of your flocks, and pay close attention to your herds;
24for riches are not forever, nor does a crown endure to every generation.
25When hay is removed and new growth appears and the grain from the hills is gathered,
26the lambs will provide you with clothing, and the goats with the price of a field.

Proverbs 27:24 teaches that material wealth and authority are not everlasting. The surrounding verses emphasize the importance of being diligent and aware of one's resources, contrasting the transient nature of riches with the enduring value of wisdom and diligence. This passage serves as a reminder to focus on what truly lasts.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Proverbs 23:5When you glance at wealth, it disappears, for it makes wings for itself and flies like an eagle to the sky.
2Zephaniah 1:18Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to deliver them on the Day of the LORD’s wrath. The whole earth will be consumed by the fire of His jealousy.” For indeed, He will make a sudden end of all who dwell on the earth.
31 Timothy 6:17–18Instruct those who are rich in the present age not to be conceited and not to put their hope in the uncertainty of wealth, but in God, who richly provides all things for us to enjoy.
4James 1:10But the one who is rich should exult in his low position, because he will pass away like a flower of the field.
52 Samuel 7:16Your house and kingdom will endure forever before Me, and your throne will be established forever.”

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 7 references, hung on the phrase they belong to

richesJames 1:10

The Key Word חֹסֶן, Cho.sengenerated

The word חֹסֶן (cho.sen) refers to wealth or riches, connoting material abundance. It appears in the context of caution against placing trust in material possessions, as they are not reliable.

This noun is singular and absolute, indicating a specific type of wealth. In this verse, it emphasizes the idea that riches are temporary and should not be relied upon for security.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

The translations generally agree, rendering חֹסֶן as riches in all versions: BSB, KJV, ASV, YLT, WEB, and BBE.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The sentence begins with a conjunction כִּי, for, which introduces the reason for the assertion that follows. The structure consists of two main clauses: the first discusses the fleeting nature of wealth, while the second addresses the impermanence of a crown.

The finite verbs govern the clauses, with לֹא negating the permanence of both wealth and crown, highlighting their temporary nature.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates חֹסֶן as πλοῦτος, meaning wealth, which aligns closely with the Hebrew meaning but emphasizes material abundance.

The choice of παραδίδωσιν for נֵזֶר suggests a focus on the act of giving or presenting, which may imply a different nuance in the context of authority or dedication.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Proverbs 27:24 teaches that wealth and crowns do not last forever. The verse reminds us to be aware of the temporary nature of material possessions and status, encouraging a focus on enduring values instead.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does the verse teach about wealth?

It warns that wealth is not permanent and should not be relied upon for security.

How does this verse relate to the concept of a crown?

A crown symbolizes authority or status, which also does not endure through generations.

Why is it important to understand the temporary nature of riches?

Recognizing the fleeting nature of wealth can help us prioritize lasting values and relationships over material possessions.

What can we learn from this verse about our priorities?

We should focus on what truly matters in life, rather than being consumed by the pursuit of wealth and status.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. How can I ensure that I do not place my trust in temporary things like wealth?
  2. What are some lasting values that I can focus on instead of material possessions?
  3. In what ways can I encourage others to seek enduring rather than fleeting things?
  4. How does understanding the temporary nature of life affect my daily decisions?

Commentators on this verse — 7 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Proverbs 27:24 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

For riches [are] not for ever,.... A man cannot be assured of the continuance of them; they are uncertain things, here today and gone tomorrow: wherefore, though a man has a considerable share of

Read John Gill on Proverbs 27 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

For riches are not for ever: and doth the crown endure to every generation? For riches are not forever - therefore they are not to be depended on to the neglect of thy flocks.

Read Robert Jamieson on Proverbs 27 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Riches; or, treasure. The sense is, What thou dust now possess, or hast laid up, will not last always, but will soon be spent, if thou dost not take care to preserve and improve it. The crown; by which he understands a condition of the greatest honour and plenty. If a man had the wealth of a kingdom, without provident care and due diligence it would quickly be brought to nothing. Hence the greatest kings have minded husbandry, as Solomon, Uzziah, and others.

Read Matthew Poole on Proverbs 27 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Proverbs 27:24 For riches [are] not for ever: and doth the crown [endure] to every generation?Ver. 24. For riches endure not for ever.] Whether they be riches of inheritance or of purchase, they will waste without good husbandry. The royalty of Solomon could not have consisted for all his riches, had he not been frugal. Our Henry III merited to be called Regni dilapidator, a waste kingdom. But what a great husband, perhaps too great, was Louis XI of France, of whom ye shall find in the chamber of accounts a reckoning of two shillings for new sleeves to his old doublet, and three half pence for liquor to grease his boots (A.D. 1461)! Pertinax, the emperor, also was a singular good husband…

Read John Trapp on Proverbs 27 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(24) For riches are not for ever.—Comp. Proverbs 23:5. So it is well to have a sure source of income, like husbandry or cattle-feeding, upon which to fall back.

Read Charles John Ellicott on Proverbs 27 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 24. For riches are not for ever] All other kinds of property are very transitory. Money and the highest civil honours are but for a short season. Flocks and herds, properly attended to, may be multiplied and continued from generation to generation. The crown itself is not naturally so permanent.

Read AdamClarke on Proverbs 27 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

24. Riches are not for ever — This assigns a good reason for the preceding. Wealth, though now abundant, does not necessarily stay for ever.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Proverbs 27 →

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

for riches are not forever, nor does a crown endure to every generation.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

for riches are not forever, nor does the crown endure to all generations.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

for riches are not forever, nor does a crown endure to every generation.

NETBNew English Translation2006

for riches do not last forever, nor does a crown last from generation to generation.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

For riches are not for ever: and doth the crown endure to every generation?

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

For riches are not for ever; And doth the crown endure unto all generations?

RVARevised Version, American1894

For riches are not for ever; and doth the crown endure unto all generations?

NWBWebster's Bible1833

For riches are not for ever: and doth the crown endure to every generation?

GNVGeneva Bible1599

For riches remaine not alway, nor the crowne from generation to generation.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

for wealth is not for ever; and doth the crown [endure] from generation to generation?

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

For riches [are] not to the age, Nor a crown to generation and generation.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

For riches [are] not for all time, || Nor a crown to generation and generation.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

For property endureth not for ever, nor doth the crown remain for all generations.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

for wealth is not forever. Does a crown endure for all generations?

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

For thou shalt not always have power: but a crown shall be given to generation and generation.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

for wealth doesn't last forever—is a crown passed down through all generations?

BBEBible in Basic English1949

For wealth is not for ever, and money does not go on for all generations.

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.

כִּ֤י(dm)clauseadverbialלֹ֣אnotprepositional phrase · predicateלְ[is]עוֹלָ֣םforeversubjectחֹ֑סֶןwealthוְandclauseאִםifclausesubjectנֵ֝֗זֶרa.crownprepositional phrase · predicateלְ[is].tonoun phraseד֣וֹרa.generationוָandדֽוֹרa.generation

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


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

The Masoretic Text states, "for riches are not forever, nor does a crown endure to every generation," which emphasizes the temporary nature of wealth and status. The Septuagint largely agrees with the Masoretic Text, as seven of the eight words correspond closely, although the specific wording and structure may differ due to translation choices. There are no significant differences noted in the Samaritan Pentateuch or the Dead Sea Scrolls for this verse, suggesting a strong consistency across these ancient witnesses.

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

כִּ֤י לֹ֣א לְעוֹלָ֣ם חֹ֑סֶן וְאִם־ נֵ֝֗זֶר לְד֣וֹר וָדֽוֹר׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
כִּ֤יὅτιלֹ֣אοὐלְעוֹלָ֣םαἰῶναוְאִם־οὐδὲנֵ֝֗זֶרπαραδίδωσινלְד֣וֹרγενεᾶςוָדֽוֹר׃γενεάν

7 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 27:24כִּיforforכִּילֹאnotnotלֹאעוֹלָם[is] for ev[is] for everעוֹלָםחֹ֫סֶןwealthwealthחֹ֫סֶןאִםand ifand ifאִםנֵ֫זֶרa crowna crownנֵ֫זֶרדּוֹרto a generato a generationדּוֹרדּוֹרand a generand a generatioדּוֹרדּוּרדּוּרעָלַםto concealto concealעָלַםחסןto hoardto hoardחסןנָזַרto dedicatto dedicateנָזַרזֵ֫כֶרmemorialmemorialזֵ֫כֶריָדַעto knowto knowיָדַעיָכֹלbe ablebe ableיָכֹלעוֹדstillstillעוֹדעַדperpetuityperpetuityעַדדּוֹרgenerationgenerationדּוֹרחֵןfavorfavorחֵןיֵשׁtherethereיֵשׁצִיץflowerflowerצִיץעֵדוּתtestimonytestimonyעֵדוּת
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 27:24

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.

for not [is] for ever wealth and if a crown to a generation and a generation
כִּ֤יki for H3588 Particle
4,483× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A conjunction used to show cause or connection, as in Genesis 2:23 where Adam says the woman is bone of his bone because she was taken out of him. It is often translated as 'for', 'because', or 'since'.
Tyndale gloss
for
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כִּי (ki) is a conjunction primarily meaning 'that,' 'for,' or 'when.' It indicates causal relationships and can express conditions like 'if' or 'though.' The word is versatile, appearing in various contexts to convey certainty, exception, or concession. Notably, it can combine with other particles to modify its meaning, such as in the phrase כִּי אם־ (ki im), meaning 'that if.'

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כִּי conj. that, for, when

that

Of time, when, of the past

elsewhere כִּי has a force approximating to if, though it usu. represents a case as more likely to occur than אִם

when or if, with a concessive force, i.e. though

Because, since

base

כִּי אם־

each part. retaining its independent force, and relating to a different clause:

that if

for if

(About 140 t.) the two particles being closely conjoined, and relating to the same clause—

limiting the prec. clause, except

the if being neglected, and treated as pleonastic, so that the clause is no longer a limitation of the preceding clause but a contradiction of it: but rather, but

after an oath, surely

base

כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3588a כִּי that, for, when . that

. . Of time, when, of the past

. elsewhere כִּי has a force approximating to if, though it usu. represents a case as more likely to occur than אִם

. when or if, with a concessive force, i.e. though

. Because, since

H3588b כִּי אם־ . each part. retaining its independent force, and relating to a different clause: . that if

. for if

. (About 140 t.) the two particles being closely conjoined, and relating to the same clause— . limiting the prec. clause, except

. the if being neglected, and treated as pleonastic, so that the clause is no longer a limitation of the preceding clause but a contradiction of it: but rather, but

. after an oath, surely

H3588c כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3588 kiy kee

a primitive particle (the full form of the prepositional

prefix) indicating causal relations of all kinds, antecedent

or consequent; (by implication) very widely used as a relative

conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by

other particles annexed:--and, + (forasmuch, inasmuch,

where-)as, assured(-ly), + but, certainly, doubtless, + else,

even, + except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, +

nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then,

therefore, + (al- )though, + till, truly, + until, when,

whether, while, whom, yea, yet.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כִּי (ki) — for.

1) that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since

1a) that

1a1) yea, indeed

1b) when (of time)

1b1) when, if, though (with a concessive force)

1c) because, since (causal connection)

1d) but (after negative)

1e) that if, for if, indeed if, for though, but if

1f) but rather, but

1g) except that

1h) only, nevertheless

1i) surely

1j) that is

1k) but if

1l) for though

1m) forasmuch as, for therefore

כִּי [אם] (ki im) — that if: except.

1) except if

1a) but if

1b) even though

כִּי [עַל כֵּן] (ki [al ken]) — for as that: since.

1) that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since

1a) that

1a1) yea, indeed

1b) when (of time)

1b1) when, if, though (with a concessive force)

1c) because, since (causal connection)

1d) but (after negative)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj — Particle
HTc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

for (ki (conjunction), le, from 'el (preposition), and various other words. In the New Testament also the words are various, chiefly gar, kai gar, hoti (conjunctions); anti apo eis dia (accusative), epi (dative and accusative), peri (genitive), pros (genitive and accusative), huper (genitive) (prepositions)): the English Revised Version and the American Standard Revised Version give in many cases more literal or more accurate renderings than those in the King James Version.

In the New Testament the most important preps. from a doctrinal point of view are anti, "face to face," "over against," "instead," "on behalf of," peri, "around," "about," "concerning," huper, "over," "on behalf of." The first has been claimed as stating the substitutionary nature of Christ's sacrifice as contrasted with huper and peri, more frequently used of it. But, although anti in the New Testament often means…

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
for not [is] for ever wealth and if a crown to a generation and a generation
לֹ֣אlo' not H3808 Particle
5,170× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for not or no is used to indicate absence or negation, as when God says no to the Israelites' requests, or when they disobey His commands.
Tyndale gloss
not
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

לֹא (lo') is a Hebrew word meaning 'not' or 'no.' It serves as a simple negation and can imply absence or prohibition. The word can also be used in various contexts, often combined with other particles for emphasis or clarification. Its Aramaic equivalent is לָא (la), which also means 'not.'

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

לֹא or לוֹא adv. not

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3808 לֹא or לוֹא not

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3808 lo' lo

or lowi {lo}; or loh (Deut. 3:11) {lo}; a primitive particle;

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often

used with other particles (as follows):--X before, + or else,

ere, + except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never,

no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), (X as though...,(can-), for) not (out

of), of nought, otherwise, out of, + surely, + as truly as, +

of a truth, + verily, for want, + whether, without.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

לֹא (lo) — not.

1) not, no

1a) not (with verb-absolute prohibition)

1b) not (with modifier-negation)

1c) nothing (subst)

1d) without (with particle)

1e) before (of time)

Aramaic equivalent: la (לָא "not" H3809)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Part — Particle
HTn
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
for not [is] for ever wealth and if a crown to a generation and a generation
לְעוֹלָ֣םle.'o.Lam [is] for ever H5769 Preposition · 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
to the age, always
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
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
HR/Ncmsa
for not [is] for ever wealth and if a crown to a generation and a generation
חֹ֑סֶןCho.sen wealth H2633 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
5× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means wealth or riches, like treasure or riches stored up. In the book of Proverbs, it warns against trusting in wealth instead of God. It's about having valuable possessions.
Amplified meaning
wealth, treasure
Tyndale gloss
wealth
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word חֹ֫סֶן (*chocen*) refers to wealth or treasure. It is derived from a related root and encompasses meanings like riches and strength. The entries consistently highlight its association with material abundance.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

חֹ֫סֶן n.m. wealth, treasure

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2633 חֹ֫סֶן wealth, treasure

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2633 chocen kho'-sen

from 2630; wealth:--riches, strength, treasure.

see HEBREW for 02630

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חֹ֫סֶן (cho.sen) — wealth.

riches, treasure, wealth

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absolute
HNcmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Nave's Topical Bible

→ See RICHES

for not [is] for ever wealth and if a crown to a generation and a generation
וְאִם־ve.'im- and if H518 Conjunction · particle
1,070× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word is used to express conditions or questions, like if or whether. It can also be used to make oaths or express wishes, as in Oh that! It appears in various forms in the KJV, including if, though, and when.
Tyndale gloss
if
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אִם (im) is a Hebrew conjunction primarily meaning 'if' and is used in various contexts, including conditional clauses and interrogative situations. It can also express negation, alternatives, or exceptions, and appears frequently in the Old Testament. The lexicons note its use in oaths and its ability to connect different clauses, sometimes altering their meanings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אִם conj.

hypoth. part. if

Interrog. part.

base

כִּי אם־

each part. retaining its independent force, and relating to a different clause:

that if

for if

(About 140 t.) the two particles being closely conjoined, and relating to the same clause—

limiting the prec. clause, except

the if being neglected, and treated as pleonastic, so that the clause is no longer a limitation of the preceding clause but a contradiction of it: but rather, but

after an oath, surely

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H518a אִם conj. . hypoth. part. if

. Interrog. part.

H518b כִּי אם־ . each part. retaining its independent force, and relating to a different clause: . that if

. for if

. (About 140 t.) the two particles being closely conjoined, and relating to the same clause— . limiting the prec. clause, except

. the if being neglected, and treated as pleonastic, so that the clause is no longer a limitation of the preceding clause but a contradiction of it: but rather, but

. after an oath, surely

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

518 'im eem

a primitive particle; used very widely as demonstrative, lo!;

interrog., whether?; or conditional, if, although; also Oh

that!, when; hence, as a negative, not:--(and, can-,

doubtless, if, that) (not), + but, either, + except, +

more(-over if, than), neither, nevertheless, nor, oh that, or,

+ save (only, -ing), seeing, since, sith, + surely (no more,

none, not), though, + of a truth, + unless, + verily, when,

whereas, whether, while, + yet.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אִם (im) — if.

: if/whether_or/though

1) if

1a) conditional clauses

1a1) of possible situations

1a2) of impossible situations

1b) oath contexts

1b1) no, not

1c) if...if, whether...or, whether...or...or

1d) when, whenever

1e) since

1f) interrogative particle

1g) but rather

[כִּי] אם (ki im) — if: except.

1) except if

1a) but if

אִם (im) — if: surely no.

: surely_no

1) if

1a) conditional clauses

1a1) of possible situations

1a2) of impossible situations

1b) oath contexts

1b1) no, not

1c) if...if, whether...or, whether...or...or

1d) when, whenever

1e) since

1f) interrogative particle

1g) but rather

אִם (im) — if: surely yes.

: surely_yes

1) if

1a) conditional clauses

1a1) of possible situations

1a2) of impossible situations

1b) oath contexts

1b1) no, not

1c) if...if, whether...or, whether...or...or

1d) when, whenever

1e) since

1f) interrogative particle

1g) but rather

אִם (im) — if: until.

: until/except

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | Conj — Conjunction · particle
HC/Tc
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
for not [is] for ever wealth and if a crown to a generation and a generation
נֵ֝֗זֶרNe.zer a crown H5145 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
25× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for consecration or a crown, often referring to a Nazirite vow, where someone dedicates themselves to God. This concept appears in Numbers 6 and is associated with unshorn locks or a royal chaplet. In the Bible, it symbolizes a person's commitment to God.
Amplified meaning
consecration
Tyndale gloss
consecration: Nazirite vow
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word נֵ֫זֶר (*nezer*) is derived from a root meaning 'to separate' and encompasses concepts of dedication, particularly in the context of the Nazirite vow. It refers to items associated with consecration, such as a crown or unshorn hair, and can denote the status of a high priest or a Nazirite. The entries consistently highlight its meanings related to separation and dedication.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

נֵ֫זֶר n.m. ψ 132:18 consecration, crown, Naziriteship

crown (sign of consecration)

woman’s hair (orig. prob. of long hair as sign of consecration, as in Nazirite vow)

consecration

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5145 נֵ֫זֶר, נֶזֶר

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5145 nezer neh'-zer

or nezer {nay'-zer}; from 5144; properly, something set

apart, i.e. (abstractly) dedication (of a priet or Nazirite);

hence (concretely) unshorn locks; also (by implication) a

chaplet (especially of royalty):--consecration, crown, hair,

separation.

see HEBREW for 05144

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נֵ֫זֶר (ne.zer) — consecration: Nazirite vow.

1) consecration, crown, separation, Nazariteship

1a) crown (as sign of consecration), earring

1a1) stones of a crown, diadem, stones of charming

1b) woman's hair

1c) consecration

1c1) of high priest

1c2) of Nazarite

נֵ֫זֶר (ne.zer) — consecration: crown.

1) consecration, crown, separation, Nazariteship

1a) crown (as sign of consecration), earring

1a1) stones of a crown, diadem, stones of charming

1b) woman's hair

1c) consecration

1c1) of high priest

1c2) of Nazarite

נֵ֫זֶר (ne.zer) — consecration: hair.

1) consecration, crown, separation, Nazariteship

1a) crown (as sign of consecration), earring

1a1) stones of a crown, diadem, stones of charming

1b) woman's hair

1c) consecration

1c1) of high priest

1c2) of Nazarite

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

kroun: The word crown in the Old Testament is a translation of five different Hebrew words, and in the New Testament of two Greek words. These express the several meanings, and must be examined to ascertain the same.

1. In Hebrew:

The five Hebrew words are as follows:

(1) qodhqodh, from qadhadh;

(2) zer, from zarar;

(3) nezer, or nezer, both from nazar;

(4) aTarah, from `atar;

(5) kether, from kathar.

(1) Qodhqodh means "the crown of the head," and is also rendered in the King James Version "top of the head," "scalp," "pate." It comes from qadhadh, meaning "to shrivel up," "contract," or bend the body or neck through courtesy. Both the Revised Version (British and American) and the American Standard Revised Version, in De 28:35 and 33:16, translation it "crown" instead of "top" as in the King James Version. Jacob in his prophecy concerning…

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Crown

(1.) Denotes the plate of gold in the front of the high priest’s mitre (Ex. 29:6; 39:30). The same Hebrew word so rendered (ne’zer) denotes the diadem worn by Saul in battle (2 Sam. 1:10), and also that which was used at the coronation of Joash (2 Kings 11:12).

(2.) The more general name in Hebrew for a crown is ’atarah, meaning a “circlet.” This is used of crowns and head ornaments of divers kinds, including royal crowns. Such was the crown taken from the king of Ammon by David (2 Sam. 12:30). The crown worn by the Assyrian kings was a high mitre, sometimes adorned with flowers. There are sculptures also representing the crowns worn by the early Egyptian and…

Smith's Bible Dictionary

This ornament, which is both ancient and universal, probably originated from the fillets used to prevent the hair from being dishevelled by the wind. Such fillets are still common; they gradually developed into turbans, which by the addition of ornamental or precious materials assumed the dignity of mitres or crowns. Both the ordinary priests and the high priest wore them. The crown was a symbol of royalty, and was worn by kings, (2 Chronicles 23:11) and also by queens. (Esther 2:17) The head-dress of bridegrooms, (Ezekiel 24:17; Isaiah 61:10) Bar. 5:2, and of women, (Isaiah 3:20) a head-dress of great splendor, (Isaiah 28:5) a wreath of flowers, (Proverbs 1:9; 4:9) denote…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

There are two distinct Hebrew terms rendered crown. The one represents such headdresses as we should designate coronet, band, miter, tiara, garland, etc. The other is generally applied to the headdresses of kings.

The former was a simple fillet or diadem around the head, variously ornamented. Newly-married persons of both sexes wore crowns on their wedding-day, So 3:11 Eze 16:12.

The crowns of kings were sometimes white fillets, bound round the forehead, the ends falling back on the neck; or were made of gold tissue, adorned with jewels. That of the Jewish high priest was a fillet, or diadem, tied with a ribbon of a hyacinth color, Ex 28:36 39:30. Occasionally the crown was of pure gold, and was worn by kings,

for not [is] for ever wealth and if a crown to a generation and a generation
לְד֣וֹרle.Dor to a generation H1755 Preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
167× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to a period of time or a generation of people. It is used in the Bible to describe a group of people living at the same time. In the book of Psalms, it describes a generation of people who follow God.
Tyndale gloss
generation
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word דּוֹר (dor) encompasses meanings related to a period or generation, often emphasizing the transitory nature of life. It can refer to a specific age, a class of people living at a certain time, or a dwelling place. The entries suggest a focus on both the temporal and spatial aspects of existence.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

דּוֹר, דֹּר n.m. period, generation, dwelling

period, age, generation, mostly poet.

of men living at a particular time (period, age), generation, as transitory

generation characterized by quality or condition, class of men

dwelling-place, habitation

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1755 דּוֹר, דֹּר period, generation, dwelling . period, age, generation, mostly poet.

. of men living at a particular time (period, age), generation, as transitory

. generation characterized by quality or condition, class of men

. dwelling-place, habitation

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1755 dowr dore

or (shortened) dor {dore}; from 1752; properly, a revolution

of time, i.e. an age or generation; also a dwelling:--age, X

evermore, generation, (n-)ever, posterity.

see HEBREW for 01752

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

דּוֹר (dor) — generation.

1) period, generation, habitation, dwelling

1a) period, age, generation (period of time)

1b) generation (those living during a period)

1c) generation (characterised by quality, condition, class of men)

1d) dwelling-place, habitation

Aramaic equivalent: dar (דָּר "generation" H1859)

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

jen-er-a'-shun (Latin generatio, from genero, "beget"):

(1) The translation

(a) of dor, "circle," "generation," hence, "age," "period," "cycle": "many generations" (De 32:7);

(b) the people of any particular period or those born about the same time: "Righteous before me in this generation" (Ge 7:1); "four generations" (Job 42:16);

(c) the people of a particular class or sort, with some implied reference to hereditary quality; the wicked (De 32:5; Pr 30:11); the righteous (Ps 14:5; 112:2).

(2) toledhoth, "births," hence

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Generation

Gen. 2:4, “These are the generations,” means the “history.” 5:1, “The book of the generations,” means a family register, or history of Adam. 37:2, “The generations of Jacob” = the history of Jacob and his descendants. 7:1, “In this generation” = in this age. Ps. 49:19, “The generation of his fathers” = the dwelling of his fathers, i.e., the grave. Ps. 73:15, “The generation of thy children” = the contemporary race. Isa. 53:8, “Who shall declare his generation?” = His manner of life who shall declare? or rather = His race, posterity, shall be so numerous that no one shall be able to declare it.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

In the long-lived patriarchal age a generation seems to have been computed at 100 years, (Genesis 15:16) comp. Genesis15:13 and Eccl 12:40 But subsequently the reckoning was the same which has been adopted by modern civilized nations, viz. from thirty to forty years (Job 42:16) (Generation is also used to signify the men of an age or time, as contemporaries, (Genesis 6:9; Isaiah 53:8) posterity , especially in legal formulae, (Leviticus 3:17) etc.; fathers, or ancestors. (Psalms 49:19)

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

Besides the common acceptation of this word, as signifying race, descent, lineage, it is used for the history and genealogy of a person, as in Ge 5:1, "the book of the generations of Adam," that is, the history of Adam’s creation and of his posterity. So in Ge 2:4, "The generations of the heavens and of the earth," that is, their genealogy, so to speak, the history of the creation of heaven and earth; also in Mt 1:1, "The book of the generation of Jesus Christ," that is, the genealogy of Jesus Christ," that is, the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the history of his descent and life. "The present generation" comprises all those who are now alive; "This generation shall not pass till all be fulfilled," some now living shall witness the…

for not [is] for ever wealth and if a crown to a generation and a generation
וָדֽוֹר׃ve.dor and a generation H1755 Conjunction · noun common masculine singular absolute
167× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to a period of time or a generation of people. It is used in the Bible to describe a group of people living at the same time. In the book of Psalms, it describes a generation of people who follow God.
Amplified meaning
period of time, group of people
Tyndale gloss
generation
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word דּוֹר (dor) encompasses meanings related to a period or generation, often emphasizing the transitory nature of life. It can refer to a specific age, a class of people living at a certain time, or a dwelling place. The entries suggest a focus on both the temporal and spatial aspects of existence.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

דּוֹר, דֹּר n.m. period, generation, dwelling

period, age, generation, mostly poet.

of men living at a particular time (period, age), generation, as transitory

generation characterized by quality or condition, class of men

dwelling-place, habitation

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1755 דּוֹר, דֹּר period, generation, dwelling . period, age, generation, mostly poet.

. of men living at a particular time (period, age), generation, as transitory

. generation characterized by quality or condition, class of men

. dwelling-place, habitation

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1755 dowr dore

or (shortened) dor {dore}; from 1752; properly, a revolution

of time, i.e. an age or generation; also a dwelling:--age, X

evermore, generation, (n-)ever, posterity.

see HEBREW for 01752

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

דּוֹר (dor) — generation.

1) period, generation, habitation, dwelling

1a) period, age, generation (period of time)

1b) generation (those living during a period)

1c) generation (characterised by quality, condition, class of men)

1d) dwelling-place, habitation

Aramaic equivalent: dar (דָּר "generation" H1859)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Conjunction · noun common masculine singular absolute
HC/Ncmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

jen-er-a'-shun (Latin generatio, from genero, "beget"):

(1) The translation

(a) of dor, "circle," "generation," hence, "age," "period," "cycle": "many generations" (De 32:7);

(b) the people of any particular period or those born about the same time: "Righteous before me in this generation" (Ge 7:1); "four generations" (Job 42:16);

(c) the people of a particular class or sort, with some implied reference to hereditary quality; the wicked (De 32:5; Pr 30:11); the righteous (Ps 14:5; 112:2).

(2) toledhoth, "births," hence

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Generation

Gen. 2:4, “These are the generations,” means the “history.” 5:1, “The book of the generations,” means a family register, or history of Adam. 37:2, “The generations of Jacob” = the history of Jacob and his descendants. 7:1, “In this generation” = in this age. Ps. 49:19, “The generation of his fathers” = the dwelling of his fathers, i.e., the grave. Ps. 73:15, “The generation of thy children” = the contemporary race. Isa. 53:8, “Who shall declare his generation?” = His manner of life who shall declare? or rather = His race, posterity, shall be so numerous that no one shall be able to declare it.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

In the long-lived patriarchal age a generation seems to have been computed at 100 years, (Genesis 15:16) comp. Genesis15:13 and Eccl 12:40 But subsequently the reckoning was the same which has been adopted by modern civilized nations, viz. from thirty to forty years (Job 42:16) (Generation is also used to signify the men of an age or time, as contemporaries, (Genesis 6:9; Isaiah 53:8) posterity , especially in legal formulae, (Leviticus 3:17) etc.; fathers, or ancestors. (Psalms 49:19)

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

Besides the common acceptation of this word, as signifying race, descent, lineage, it is used for the history and genealogy of a person, as in Ge 5:1, "the book of the generations of Adam," that is, the history of Adam’s creation and of his posterity. So in Ge 2:4, "The generations of the heavens and of the earth," that is, their genealogy, so to speak, the history of the creation of heaven and earth; also in Mt 1:1, "The book of the generation of Jesus Christ," that is, the genealogy of Jesus Christ," that is, the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the history of his descent and life. "The present generation" comprises all those who are now alive; "This generation shall not pass till all be fulfilled," some now living shall witness the…

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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