Proverbs 28:4 — Word Study
WLCעֹזְבֵ֣י ת֭וֹרָה יְהַֽלְל֣וּ רָשָׁ֑ע וְשֹׁמְרֵ֥י ת֝וֹרָ֗ה יִתְגָּ֥רוּ בָֽם׃ פ
BSAThose who forsakeʻâzab [reject, abandon] the lawtôwrâh [instruction, Torah] praisehâlal▸ [celebrate, honor] the wickedrâshâʻ [morally wrong, guilty] but those who keepshâmar [obey] the lawtôwrâh [instruction, guiding principles] resistgârâh▸ [contend with, oppose]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| עֹזְבֵ֣י | [those who] forsake | Verb, Qal, participle (active) masculine plural common |
| ת֭וֹרָה | [the] law | Noun common, feminine singular absolute |
| יְהַֽלְל֣וּ | they praise | Verb, Piel, imperfect third person masculine plural |
| רָשָׁ֑ע | [the] wicked | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
| וְשֹׁמְרֵ֥י | and [those who] keep | Conjunction, verb qal participle (active) masculine plural common |
| ת֝וֹרָ֗ה | [the] law | Noun common, feminine singular absolute |
| יִתְגָּ֥רוּ | they engage in strife | Verb, Hithpael, imperfect third person masculine plural |
| בָֽם׃ פ | with them | Preposition, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, but those who keep the law resist them. |
| KJV | They that forsake the law praise the wicked: but such as keep the law contend with them. |
| ASV | They that forsake the law praise the wicked; But such as keep the law contend with them. |
| YLT | Those forsaking the law praise the wicked, Those keeping the law plead against them. |
| WEB | Those who forsake the law praise the wicked; but those who keep the law contend with them. |
| BBE | Those who have no respect for the law give praise to the evil-doer; but such as keep the law are against him. |
Where they part company is in their rendering of the key terms related to forsaking and keeping the law.
The sentence presents a clear contrast between two groups, emphasizing their differing responses to the law.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbעָזַב
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
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 28:4
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 Righteousness and Justicegenerated
Proverbs 28:4 contrasts two groups of people: those who forsake the law and those who keep it. The former are depicted as praising the wicked, while the latter are shown as resisting them. This verse highlights the moral implications of one's relationship with the law, suggesting that adherence to divine instruction leads to a stance against wrongdoing. The surrounding verses further explore themes of leadership, integrity, and understanding justice, emphasizing the importance of moral guidance in society.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 Samuel 23:19–21 | Then the Ziphites came up to Saul at Gibeah and said, “Is not David hiding among us in the strongholds at Horesh, on the hill of Hachilah south of Jeshimon? |
| 2 | Psalm 10:3 | For the wicked man boasts in the cravings of his heart; he blesses the greedy and reviles the LORD. |
| 3 | Psalm 49:18 | Though in his lifetime he blesses his soul— and men praise you when you prosper— |
| 4 | Jeremiah 5:30 | A horrible and shocking thing has happened in the land. |
| 5 | Matthew 3:15 | “Let it be so now,” Jesus replied. “It is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness in this way.” Then John permitted Him. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 26 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — עָזַב, 'o.ze.Veigenerated
The word עָזַב (azab) is a verb that means to forsake or abandon. It indicates a deliberate choice to leave something behind, often implying a sense of neglect or rejection. In this context, it describes those who choose to abandon the law, which is foundational to moral behavior.
The participle form indicates an ongoing action, suggesting that forsaking the law is a continual state for those who do so. This abandonment leads to an alignment with the wicked, highlighting the consequences of neglecting divine instruction.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb of the verse is יְהַֽלְל֣וּ, they praise, which governs two clauses: one describing those who forsake the law and another describing those who keep it. The structure emphasizes the contrast between the two groups and their respective actions.
The first clause introduces the subjects who forsake the law, while the second clause presents those who keep the law, indicating a clear dichotomy in behavior and moral stance.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates עָזַב as ἐγκαταλείποντες, which conveys a similar meaning of abandonment. This choice reflects the translators' understanding of the moral implications of forsaking the law.
For תּוֹרָה, the Greek word used is νόμον, indicating a focus on the legal aspect of the instruction, aligning with its role in guiding behavior.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Proverbs 28:4 contrasts those who abandon the law with those who keep it. Those who forsake the law celebrate the wicked, while those who uphold it resist them. This highlights the importance of following divine instruction in making moral choices.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
To forsake the law means to abandon or reject the guidance and instruction it provides, leading to a moral alignment with wrongdoing.
Those who keep the law resist the wicked by adhering to moral principles and opposing actions that contradict those principles.
The law serves as a guiding principle for moral behavior, and forsaking it leads to negative consequences, while keeping it fosters righteousness.
This verse is part of a larger discussion on righteousness and justice, emphasizing the importance of moral integrity in leadership and society.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways have I seen the consequences of forsaking moral principles in my life or community?
- How can I actively keep the law and resist influences that lead me away from righteousness?
- What practical steps can I take to uphold the guiding principles of the law in my daily decisions?
- How does understanding the law as instruction change my perspective on moral choices?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Clement of Alexandria references this verse in discussing moral philosophy, highlighting the implications of living according to divine instruction.
The Stoics laid down their doctrine on the basis that the goal is to live according to nature, using the word nature improperly rather than “God,” since nature applies to plants, crops, trees and stones.Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 28 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Proverbs 28:4 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleThey that forsake the law praise the wicked,.... Who are like them; who forsake and transgress the law, as they do; every like loves its like; wicked men delight in sin, the transgression of the law, and in those that do it.
Read John Gill on Proverbs 28 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryThey that forsake the law praise the wicked: but such as keep the law contend with them. They that forsake the law praise the wicked - naturally, as resembling themselves.
Read Robert Jamieson on Proverbs 28 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleThey that forsake the law, that live in the contempt of and disobedience to God’ s law, praise the wicked; honour their persons, contrary to ; freely and familiarly associate themselves with them, and approve of their sinful courses; all which proceeds from their great likeness to them. Contend with them; are so far from praising or applauding them, that they severely rebuke them, and to the utmost of their power oppose them in their wicked enterprises.
Read Matthew Poole on Proverbs 28 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsProverbs 28:4 They that forsake the law praise the wicked: but such as keep the law contend with them.Ver. 4. They that forsake the law praise the wicked.] As Machiavel doth Caesar Borgia, that bipedum nequissimum, proposing him for a pattern to all Christian princes; as Onuphrius (the Pope’ s biographer), doth Hildebrand or Gregory VII, in five books written of his noble acts and great virtues; whom Cardinal Benno truly describeth to have been a murderer, an adulterer, a conjurer, a schismatic, a heretic, and every way as bad as might be. Epiphanius tells us that there were a sort of brain sick heretics that extolled Cain, and were therefore called Cainites. They also commended the…
Read John Trapp on Proverbs 28 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(4) They that forsake the law praise the wicked.—The mark of extreme wickedness. (Comp. Romans 1:32.) But such as keep the law contend with them.—Just as the sight of ill-doing was the one thing which roused our Lord to wrath, while insults and wrongs offered to Himself were passed by unnoticed.
Read Charles John Ellicott on Proverbs 28 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 4. They that forsake the law] He that transgresses says, in fact, that it is right to transgress; and thus other wicked persons are encouraged.
Read AdamClarke on Proverbs 28 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges4. the law] not in its Jewish form, “The Law,” sc. of Moses, but in its wider sense; and so in Proverbs 28:7; Proverbs 28:9, below. See Introd. p. 13.
Read Cambridge on Proverbs 28 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible4. Contend with them — “Are angry with.” — Gesenius. “Rouse up themselves against them.” — Stuart. “Make war upon them.” — Miller. Some think this proverb relates to the preceding.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Proverbs 28 →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
Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, but those who keep the law resist them.
Those who forsake the law praise the wicked; but those who keep the law contend with them.
Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, but those who keep the law resist them.
Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, but those who keep the law contend with them.
Tyndale line
They that forsake the law praise the wicked: but such as keep the law contend with them.
They that forsake the law praise the wicked; But such as keep the law contend with them.
They that forsake the law praise the wicked: but such as keep the law contend with them.
They that forsake the law praise the wicked: but such as keep the law contend with them.
They that forsake the Law, prayse the wicked: but they that keepe the Law, set themselues against them.
Strictly literal
They that forsake the law praise the wicked; but such as keep the law contend with them.
Those forsaking the law praise the wicked, Those keeping the law plead against them.
Those forsaking the Law praise the wicked, || Those keeping the Law plead against them.
They that forsake the law praise the wicked; but such as observe the law contend with them.
Those who forsake the law praise wicked people, but those who keep the law fight against them.
From the Latin
They that forsake the law, praise the wicked man: they that keep it, are incensed against him.
Simplified
People who reject the law praise the wicked, but those who keep the law fight against them.
Those who have no respect for the law give praise to the evil-doer; but such as keep the law are against him.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint agree in their wording for this verse, with all eight words matched. This consistency suggests a shared understanding of the moral teachings present in the text.
עֹזְבֵ֣י ת֭וֹרָה יְהַֽלְל֣וּ רָשָׁ֑ע וְשֹׁמְרֵ֥י ת֝וֹרָ֗ה יִתְגָּ֥רוּ בָֽם׃ פ
8 of the 8 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Proverbs 28:4
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.
עָזַב (azab) is a Hebrew verb meaning to leave, forsake, or let loose. It encompasses a range of actions from abandoning or neglecting to setting free. The entries suggest it can also imply restoration or repair, though this aspect is less emphasized. Notably, the term can describe both active and passive states, such as being forsaken or deserted.
עָזַב 213 vb. leave, forsake, loose
Qal
leave, c. acc.
leave, abandon, forsake
let loose, set free, let go
Niph.
be left to
be forsaken, of house of God
H5800a עָזַב leave, forsake, loose .. leave, c. acc.
. leave, abandon, forsake
. let loose, set free, let go
. . be left to
. be forsaken, of house of God
. (or Qal pass.) be deserted, of city
H5800b עָזַב restore, repair(?)
5800 `azab aw-zab'
a primitive root; to loosen, i.e. relinquish, permit,
etc.:--commit self, fail, forsake, fortify, help, leave
(destitute, off), refuse, X surely.
עָזַב (a.zav) — to leave: forsake.
1) to leave, loose, forsake
1a) (Qal) to leave
1a1) to depart from, leave behind, leave, let alone
1a2) to leave, abandon, forsake, neglect, apostatise
1a3) to let loose, set free, let go, free
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be left to
1b2) to be forsaken
1c) (Pual) to be deserted
עָזַב (a.zav) — to restore.
1) to restore, repair
1a) (Qal) to repair
עָזַב (a.zav) — to leave: release.
1) to leave, loose, forsake
1a) (Qal) to leave
1a1) to depart from, leave behind, leave, let alone
1a2) to leave, abandon, forsake, neglect, apostatise
1a3) to let loose, set free, let go, free
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be left to
1b2) to be forsaken
1c) (Pual) to be deserted
עָזַב (a.zav) — Forsaken.
This name means to restore, repair
Another name of ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)
עָזַב (a.zav) — to leave: neglect.
V-Qal — Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine plural commonHVqrmpc
תּוֹרָה (towrah) encompasses concepts of direction, instruction, and law, particularly relating to divine or human guidance. It refers to legal directives, customs, and teachings, including the Decalogue and the Pentateuch. The entries highlight its use in various contexts, such as prophetic and priestly instruction, but do not present significant disagreement among lexicons.
תּוֹרָה n.f. direction, instruction, law
instruction
law (prop. direction)
custom, manner
base
H8451 תּוֹרָה direction, instruction, law . instruction
. law (prop. direction)
. custom, manner
8451 towrah to-raw'
or torah {to-raw'}; from 3384; a precept or statute,
especially the Decalogue or Pentateuch:--law.
see HEBREW for 03384
תּוֹרָה (to.rah) — instruction.
1) law, direction, instruction
1a) instruction, direction (human or divine)
1a1) body of prophetic teaching
1a2) instruction in Messianic age
1a3) body of priestly direction or instruction
1a4) body of legal directives
1b) law
1b1) law of the burnt offering
1b2) of special law, codes of law
1c) custom, manner
1d) the Deuteronomic or Mosaic Law
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular absoluteHNcfsa
Law
A rule of action. (1.) The Law of Nature is the will of God as to human conduct, founded on the moral difference of things, and discoverable by natural light (Rom. 1:20; 2:14, 15). This law binds all men at all times. It is generally designated by the term conscience, or the capacity of being influenced by the moral relations of things.
(2.) The Ceremonial Law prescribes under the Old Testament the rites and ceremonies of worship. This law was obligatory only till Christ, of whom these rites were typical, had finished his work (Heb. 7:9, 11; 10:1; Eph. 2:16). It was fulfilled rather than abrogated by the gospel.
(3.) The Judicial Law, the law which directed the civil policy of the Hebrew nation.
The word is properly used, in Scripture as elsewhere, to express a definite commandment laid down by any recognized authority; but when the word is used with the article, and without any words of limitation, it refers to the expressed will to God, and in nine cases out of ten to the Mosaic law, or to the Pentateuch of which it forms the chief portion. The Hebrew word torah (law) lays more stress on its moral authority, as teaching the truth and guiding in the right way; the Greek nomos (law), on its constraining power as imposed and enforced by a recognized authority. The sense of the word, however, extends its scope and assumes a more abstracts character in the writings of St. Paul. Nomos , when used by him with the article, still refers in general to the law of Moses; but when used without the article, so as to embrace any manifestation of "law," it includes all powers which act on…
In the Bible, signifies sometimes the whole word of God, Ps 19:7-11 119:1-176 Isa 8:20; sometimes the Old Testament, Joh 10:34 15:25, and sometimes the five books of Moses, which formed the first of the three divisions of the Hebrew Scriptures, Lu 24:44 Ac 13:15. The Pentateuch was probably "the law," a copy of which every king was to transcribe for himself and study, and which was to be made known to young and old, in public and in private, De 6:7 17:18,19 31:9-19,26. In other places the Mosaic institutions as a whole are intend by "the law," in distinction from the…
The Hebrew word הָלַל (halal) is a primitive root that encompasses meanings related to shining, boasting, and foolishness. It can signify to praise or celebrate, often in a clamorously foolish manner, and includes the idea of making a boast or being made a fool of. The entries indicate a range of uses, from expressing God's favor to acting madly.
[הָלַל] vb. shine
Qal when it, viz. his lamp, shone upon my head, fig. of God’s favour.
Hiph. flash forth light
base
[הָלַל] vb. be boastful, Pi. praise
Qal be boastful
Pi.
praise man or woman
usually praise י׳
appar. boast, make one’s boast
Pu. be praised
Hithpa. glory, boast, make one’s boast
Po‛el make into a fool, make a fool of
Po‛al of laughter I said, It is mad (folly)
Hithpo. act madly, or like a madman
base
H1984a הָלַל shine H1984b הָלַל be boastful, Pi. praise H1984c הָלַל be boastful, Pi. praise .be boastful
. . praise man or woman
. usually praise י׳
. appar. boast, make one’s boast
. be praised
. glory, boast, make one’s boast
.make into a fool, make a fool of
.of laughter I said, It is mad (folly)
. act madly, or like a madman
1984 halal haw-lal'
a primitive root; to be clear (orig. of sound, but usually of
color); to shine; hence, to make a show, to boast; and thus to
be (clamorously) foolish; to rave; causatively, to celebrate;
also to stultify:--(make) boast (self), celebrate, commend,
(deal, make), fool(- ish, -ly), glory, give (light), be (make,
feign self) mad (against), give in marriage, (sing, be worthy
of) praise, rage, renowned, shine.
הָלַל (ha.lal) — to shine.
1) to shine
1a) (Qal) to shine (fig. of God's favour)
1b) (Hiphil) to flash forth light
הָלַל (ha.lal) — to boast: praise.
: praise
1) to praise, boast, be boastful
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to be boastful
1a2) boastful ones, boasters (participle)
1b) (Piel)
1b1) to praise
1b2) to boast, make a boast
1c) (Pual)
1c1) to be praised, be made praiseworthy, be commended, be worthy of praise
1d) (Hithpael) to boast, glory, make one's boast
הָלַל (ha.lal) — to be foolish.
1) (Poel) to make a fool of, make into a fool
1f) (Hithpoel) to act madly, act like a madman
הָלַל (ha.lal) — to boast: boast.
: boast
1) to praise, boast, be boastful
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to be boastful
1a2) boastful ones, boasters (participle)
1b) (Piel)
1b1) to praise
1b2) to boast, make a boast
1c) (Pual)
1c1) to be praised, be made praiseworthy, be commended, be worthy of praise
V-Piel-Imperf-3mp — Verb · Piel · imperfect third person masculine pluralHVpi3mp
praz (tehillah, "psalm," "praise," todhah, "confession" "thanksgiving," shabhach, "to praise" "glorify," zamar, yadhah, "to stretch out the hand," "confess"; aineo, epaineo, (epainos):
1. Its Meaning:
The word comes from the Latin pretium, "price," or "value," and may be defined generally as an ascription of value or worth. Praise may be bestowed upon unworthy objects or from improper motives, but true praise consists in a sincere acknowledgment of a real conviction of worth. Its type may be seen in the representation given in the Apocalypse of the adoration of God and of the Lamb, which is inspired by a sense of their worthiness to be adored (Re 4:11; 5:12).
→ Song of Moses, after the passage through the Red Sea Ex 15:1-19
→ Of Miriam Ex 15:21
→ Of Deborah, after defeating the Canaanites Jud 5
→ Of Hannah 1Sa 2:1-10
→ Of David
Celebrating his deliverance from the hand of Saul 2Sa 22
On bringing the ark of the covenant to Zion 1Ch 16:8-36
At the close of his reign 1Ch 29:10-19
→ The chorus when Solomon brought the ark of the covenant into the temple 2Ch 5:13
→ Psalms of, for God' s goodness to Israel Ps 46; 48; 65; 66; 68; 76; 81; 85; 98; 105; 124; 126; 129; 135; 136
→ See the Scriptures below
רָשָׁע (rasha`) refers to someone who is wicked or criminal, encompassing meanings such as guilty and ungodly. It is derived from a root that implies moral wrongdoing. The term is used to describe individuals who are hostile to God or guilty of sin against others.
רָשָׁע 263 adj. wicked, criminal
base
H7563 רָשָׁע wicked, criminal
7563 rasha` raw-shaw'
from 7561; morally wrong; concretely, an (actively) bad
person:--+ condemned, guilty, ungodly, wicked (man), that did
wrong.
see HEBREW for 07561
רָשָׁע (ra.sah) — wicked.
1) wicked, criminal
1a) guilty one, one guilty of crime (subst)
1b) wicked (hostile to God)
1c) wicked, guilty of sin (against God or man)
Adj — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa
The Hebrew word שָׁמַר (*shamar*) is a primitive root meaning to keep, guard, or observe. It encompasses a wide range of actions including protecting, waiting for, and celebrating obligations like the Sabbath. The verb appears in various forms, indicating nuances such as being on guard or refraining from certain actions. It is used extensively in the Old Testament, reflecting both physical and moral vigilance.
שָׁמַר 465 vb. keep, watch, preserve
Qal 425
keep, have charge of
keep, guard, captives
hence, watch for, wait for
watch, observe
keep, retain, of storing up (food)
keep within bounds, restrain
observe, celebrate
keep sabbath
of other obligations
observe = follow dictates of (prudence, justice, kindness, wisdom)
sts. י׳ subj.
keep, reserve, weeks of harvest
Niph.
36be on one's guard
keep oneself, refrain, abstain
be kept, guarded
Pi. those paying regard to false vanities
Hithp. I kept myself from
base
H8104 שָׁמַר keep, watch, preserve .. . keep, have charge of
. keep, guard, captives
. hence, watch for, wait for
. watch, observe
. . keep, retain, of storing up (food)
. keep within bounds, restrain
. . observe, celebrate
. keep sabbath
. of other obligations
. observe = follow dictates of (prudence, justice, kindness, wisdom)
. sts. י׳ subj.
. keep, reserve, weeks of harvest
. . be on one's guard
. keep oneself, refrain, abstain
. be kept, guarded
. those paying regard to false vanities
. I kept myself from
8104 shamar shaw-mar'
a primitive root; properly, to hedge about (as with thorns),
i.e. guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc.:--beward,
be circumspect, take heed (to self), keep(-er, self), mark,
look narrowly, observe, preserve, regard, reserve, save
(self), sure, (that lay) wait (for), watch(-man).
שָׁמַר (sha.mar) — to keep: obey.
: obey/observe
1) to keep, guard, observe, give heed
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to keep, have charge of
1a2) to keep, guard, keep watch and ward, protect, save life
1a2a) watch, watchman (participle)
1a3) to watch for, wait for
1a4) to watch, observe
1a5) to keep, retain, treasure up (in memory)
1a6) to keep (within bounds), restrain
1a7) to observe, celebrate, keep (sabbath or covenant or commands), perform (vow)
1a8) to keep, preserve, protect
1a9) to keep, reserve
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be on one's guard, take heed, take care, beware
1b2) to keep oneself, refrain, abstain
1b3) to be kept, be guarded
1c) (Piel) to keep, pay heed
1d) (Hithpael) to keep oneself from
שָׁמַר (sha.mar) — to keep: guard.
: guard
1) to keep, guard, observe, give heed
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to keep, have charge of
1a2) to keep, guard, keep watch and ward, protect, save life
1a2a) watch, watchman (participle)
Conj | V-Qal — Conjunction · verb qal participle (active) masculine plural commonHC/Vqrmpc
תּוֹרָה (towrah) encompasses concepts of direction, instruction, and law, particularly relating to divine or human guidance. It refers to legal directives, customs, and teachings, including the Decalogue and the Pentateuch. The entries highlight its use in various contexts, such as prophetic and priestly instruction, but do not present significant disagreement among lexicons.
תּוֹרָה n.f. direction, instruction, law
instruction
law (prop. direction)
custom, manner
base
H8451 תּוֹרָה direction, instruction, law . instruction
. law (prop. direction)
. custom, manner
8451 towrah to-raw'
or torah {to-raw'}; from 3384; a precept or statute,
especially the Decalogue or Pentateuch:--law.
see HEBREW for 03384
תּוֹרָה (to.rah) — instruction.
1) law, direction, instruction
1a) instruction, direction (human or divine)
1a1) body of prophetic teaching
1a2) instruction in Messianic age
1a3) body of priestly direction or instruction
1a4) body of legal directives
1b) law
1b1) law of the burnt offering
1b2) of special law, codes of law
1c) custom, manner
1d) the Deuteronomic or Mosaic Law
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular absoluteHNcfsa
Law
A rule of action. (1.) The Law of Nature is the will of God as to human conduct, founded on the moral difference of things, and discoverable by natural light (Rom. 1:20; 2:14, 15). This law binds all men at all times. It is generally designated by the term conscience, or the capacity of being influenced by the moral relations of things.
(2.) The Ceremonial Law prescribes under the Old Testament the rites and ceremonies of worship. This law was obligatory only till Christ, of whom these rites were typical, had finished his work (Heb. 7:9, 11; 10:1; Eph. 2:16). It was fulfilled rather than abrogated by the gospel.
(3.) The Judicial Law, the law which directed the civil policy of the Hebrew nation.
The word is properly used, in Scripture as elsewhere, to express a definite commandment laid down by any recognized authority; but when the word is used with the article, and without any words of limitation, it refers to the expressed will to God, and in nine cases out of ten to the Mosaic law, or to the Pentateuch of which it forms the chief portion. The Hebrew word torah (law) lays more stress on its moral authority, as teaching the truth and guiding in the right way; the Greek nomos (law), on its constraining power as imposed and enforced by a recognized authority. The sense of the word, however, extends its scope and assumes a more abstracts character in the writings of St. Paul. Nomos , when used by him with the article, still refers in general to the law of Moses; but when used without the article, so as to embrace any manifestation of "law," it includes all powers which act on…
In the Bible, signifies sometimes the whole word of God, Ps 19:7-11 119:1-176 Isa 8:20; sometimes the Old Testament, Joh 10:34 15:25, and sometimes the five books of Moses, which formed the first of the three divisions of the Hebrew Scriptures, Lu 24:44 Ac 13:15. The Pentateuch was probably "the law," a copy of which every king was to transcribe for himself and study, and which was to be made known to young and old, in public and in private, De 6:7 17:18,19 31:9-19,26. In other places the Mosaic institutions as a whole are intend by "the law," in distinction from the…
גָּרָה (garah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to stir up or cause strife. It appears in the Piel form, indicating the act of stirring up conflict, and in the Hithpael form, which suggests engaging in strife or exciting oneself against an opponent. The root conveys a sense of contention and meddling.
[גָּרָה] vb. only Pi. stir up strife, Hithp. engage in strife
base
H1624 [גָּרָה] only Pi. stir up strife, Hithp. engage in strife
1624 garah gaw-raw'
a primitive root; properly, to grate, i.e. (figuratively) to
anger:--contend, meddle, stir up, strive.
גָּרָה (ga.rah) — to stir up.
1) to cause strife, stir up, contend, meddle, strive, be stirred up
1a) (Piel) to stir up strife, excite strife
1b)(Hithpael)
1b1) to excite oneself against, engage in strife
1b2) to excite oneself (against foe), wage war
V-Hithpael-Imperf-3mp — Verb · Hithpael · imperfect third person masculine pluralHVti3mp
→ General scriptures concerning Ge 13:8; 45:24; De 1:12; Ps 31:20; 55:9; 80:6; Pr 3:20; 6:12-14,16-19; 10:12; 13:10; 15:18; 16:28; 17:1,14,19; 18:6,19; 19:13; 20:3; 21:19; 22:10; 23:29,30; 25:8,24; 26:17,20,21; 27:15; 28:25; 29:22; 30:33; Isa 41:11,12; 58:4; Hab 1:3; Mt 5:25,39-41; 10:34-36; 12:25; 18:15-17; Mr 3:24,25; Lu 11:17; 12:51-53,58,59; Ro 2:8…
הֶם (hem) — them.
Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 3rd person masculine plural
HR/Sp3mp — Preposition · suffixHR/Sp3mp