Proverbs 29:18 — Word Study
WLCבְּאֵ֣ין חָ֭זוֹן יִפָּ֣רַֽע עָ֑ם וְשֹׁמֵ֖ר תּוֹרָ֣ה אַשְׁרֵֽהוּ׃
BSAWhere [there is] noʼayin [absence of, lacking] ◂visionchâzôwn [revelation from God, prophetic insight] the peopleʻam [a nation, community] cast off restraintpâraʻ▸ [reject, abandon, self-control, moral boundaries] but blessed [is]ʼesher [happy, joyful] he who keepsshâmar [obey, guard] the Lawtôwrâh [instruction, divine guidance]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| בְּאֵ֣ין | when there not | Preposition, noun common masculine singular construct |
| חָ֭זוֹן | [is] vision | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
| יִפָּ֣רַֽע | it is let loose | Verb, Niphal, imperfect third person masculine singular |
| עָ֑ם | a people | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
| וְשֹׁמֵ֖ר | and [one who] keeps | Conjunction, verb qal participle (active) masculine singular |
| תּוֹרָ֣ה | [the] law | Noun common, feminine singular absolute |
| אַשְׁרֵֽהוּ׃ | how blessed [is] he | Noun common masculine plural construct, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Where there is no vision, the people cast off restraint; but blessed is he who keeps the Law. |
| KJV | Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he. |
| ASV | Where there is no vision, the people cast off restraint; But he that keepeth the law, happy is he. |
| YLT | Without a Vision is a people made naked, And whoso is keeping the law, O his happiness! |
| WEB | Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; but one who keeps the law is blessed. |
| BBE | Where there is no vision, the people are uncontrolled; but he who keeps the law will be happy. |
The translations agree on the essential meaning of the verse, particularly regarding the concepts of vision and the Law.
The verse is structured with a main clause followed by a consequence and a contrasting statement about the blessedness of those who keep the Law.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
subjectחָזוֹן
verbפָּרַע
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 29:18
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 in Proverbsgenerated
Proverbs 29:18 emphasizes the necessity of divine vision for maintaining moral order within a community. Without prophetic insight, people tend to abandon restraint, leading to chaos. The verse contrasts this with the blessing that comes from adhering to God's Law, which provides guidance and structure. This theme of the importance of divine revelation is echoed throughout the book of Proverbs, as seen in the surrounding verses that discuss discipline and the consequences of neglecting wisdom.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 Samuel 3:1 | And the boy Samuel ministered to the LORD before Eli. Now in those days the word of the LORD was rare and visions were scarce. |
| 2 | Hosea 4:6 | My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you as My priests. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children. |
| 3 | Amos 8:11–12 | Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord GOD, when I will send a famine on the land— not a famine of bread or a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the words of the LORD. |
| 4 | Matthew 9:36 | When He saw the crowds, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. |
| 5 | Romans 10:13–15 | for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 14 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — חָזוֹן, Cha.zongenerated
The Hebrew word חָזוֹן (chazown) means 'vision' and refers to divine revelations, often received through dreams or prophecy. It signifies a form of communication from God, conveying important insights or directives for the community.
In this verse, חָזוֹן highlights the critical role of prophetic insight in guiding the people. The absence of such vision leads to a breakdown in moral boundaries, emphasizing the necessity of divine guidance for a well-ordered society.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
All translations agree on the meaning of חָזוֹן as 'vision' and the consequences of its absence.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The verse contains multiple clauses, with the main clause stating the condition of vision's absence: בְּאֵ֣ין חָ֭זוֹן (when there is no vision). This is followed by the consequence for the people: יִפָּ֣רַֽע עָ֑ם (the people cast off restraint).
The structure emphasizes the cause-and-effect relationship between the absence of divine vision and the moral state of the people, culminating in the blessedness of those who keep the Law.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates חָזוֹן as ἐχηγητὴς, which conveys a sense of guidance or leadership. This choice suggests a focus on the role of prophetic insight as a guiding force for the people.
The translation highlights the importance of receiving divine direction, aligning with the Hebrew understanding of vision as essential for moral order.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Proverbs 29:18 tells us that when there is no vision or revelation from God, people lose self-control. However, those who keep the Law are blessed. This verse highlights the importance of divine guidance for maintaining order and morality in a community.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Having no vision refers to the lack of divine revelation or insight, leading to a breakdown in moral and social order.
Keeping the Law involves obeying God's instructions, which leads to a well-ordered life and community, resulting in happiness and blessing.
Vision is crucial as it provides guidance and direction, helping to maintain moral boundaries and prevent chaos.
The contrast emphasizes the dire consequences of lacking divine insight compared to the blessings that come from following God's guidance.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what areas of my life do I need to seek God's vision or guidance?
- How can I better adhere to God's Law in my daily actions?
- What are the consequences I see in society when there is a lack of moral vision?
- How can I encourage others to seek divine insight and maintain self-control?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
The commentary from Bede discusses the consequences of failing to provide prophetic insight, emphasizing the importance of divine guidance for maintaining discipline and order.
When prophecy fails, the people will be scattered, etc. Because indeed, when priestly instruction ceases, the discipline of the divine law will immediately dissolve, for the people ought to reach the rewards of blessedness.Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 29 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Proverbs 29:18 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleWhere [there is] no vision, the people perish,.... That is, "no prophecy", as the Vulgate Latin version renders it; and which is often the sense of the word, as the vision of Isaiah is the prophecy
Read John Gill on Proverbs 29 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryWhere there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he. Where (there is) no vision, the people perish.
Read Robert Jamieson on Proverbs 29 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleNo vision, i.e. no prophecy, for the prophets were anciently called seers, , i.e. no public preaching of God’ s law or word, (as appears by the opposite clause,) which is called prophecy, , &c., where the people are destitute of the means of instruction. The people perish, because they want the only means of salvation. Or, is made naked; stripped of their best ornaments, God’ s favour and protection, as this word is taken, . He that keepeth the law: this he saith rather than he that hath vision, which the laws of opposition might seem to require, to teach us that, although the want of God’ s word be sufficient for men’ s destruction, yet the having, and hearing, or reading of it is not…
Read Matthew Poole on Proverbs 29 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsProverbs 29:18 Where [there is] no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy [is] he.Ver. 18. Where there is no vision the people perish.] Or, Are barred of all virtue; laid naked and open to the dint of divine displeasure; scattered, worsted, and driven back. Great is the misery of those Brazilians, of whom it is said that they are sine fide, sine rege, sine lege, without faith, king, or law. And no less unhappy those Israelites about Asa’ s time, that for a long season had been "without the true God, and without a teaching priest, and without law." Then it was that God’ s "people were destroyed for lack of knowledge"; and not long after, that they sorrowfully…
Read John Trapp on Proverbs 29 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(18) Where there is no vision.—No revelation of God’s will (Isaiah 1:1), when God teaches none by His Spirit that they may instruct others. So it was in the evil days of Eli (1 Samuel 3:1), and Asa (2 Chronicles 15:3). The people perish.—Or, run wild. (Comp. Hosea 4:6.) But he that keepeth the law.—The teaching of those whom God has instructed (Comp. Isaiah 1:10.)
Read Charles John Ellicott on Proverbs 29 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 18. Where there is no vision] My old MS. Bible, following the Vulgate, translates: Whan prophecye schal failen, the peple schal ben to scatered. Where Divine revelation, and the faithful preaching of the sacred testimonies, are neither reverenced nor attended, the ruin of that land is at no great distance. But he that keepeth the law, happy is he.] Go how it may with others, he shall be safe. So our Lord: "Blessed are they who hear the word of God, and keep it."
Read AdamClarke on Proverbs 29 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges18. vision … law] “The vision is the actual contact between God and the human spirit, which is the necessary condition of any direct revelation; the law is the recorded result of such a revelation, either passed from mouth to mouth by tradition or written permanently in a book. We may then a little amplify the proverb for the sake of exposition: ‘Where there is no living revelation, no perceived contact between man and God, there the bonds which hold society together are relaxed and broken; but he that holds by the revelation that has been given, obeying the law, so far as it has been presented to him, happy is he.’ ” Horton. It was this keeping the law, as they had received it, which was…
Read Cambridge on Proverbs 29 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleVision - The word commonly used of the revelation of God’s will made to prophets. Compare Isaiah 1:1; Nahum 1:1.
Read Albert Barnes on Proverbs 29 →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
Where there is no vision, the people cast off restraint; but blessed is he who keeps the Law.
Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; but one who keeps the law is blessed.
Where there is no vision, the people cast off restraint; but blessed is he who keeps the Law.
When there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint, but the one who keeps the law, blessed is he!
Tyndale line
Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.
Where there is no vision, the people cast off restraint; But he that keepeth the law, happy is he.
Where there is no vision, the people cast off restraint: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.
Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.
Where there is no vision, the people decay: but he that keepeth the Lawe, is blessed.
Strictly literal
Where there is no vision the people cast off restraint; but happy is he that keepeth the law.
Without a Vision is a people made naked, And whoso is keeping the law, O his happiness!
A people is made naked without a vision, || And whoever is keeping the Law, O his blessedness!
Without a prophetic vision a people become unruly; but when it observeth the law, then will it be happy.
Where there is no prophetic vision the people run wild, but the one who keeps the law is blessed.
From the Latin
When prophecy shall fail, the people shall be scattered abroad: but he that keepeth the law is blessed.
Simplified
Without a revelation from God, the people go out of control, but those who keep the law are happy.
Where there is no vision, the people are uncontrolled; but he who keeps the law will be happy.
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 largely agree in content, with six out of seven words matching in translation. This indicates a consistent understanding of the verse's message across these ancient texts.
בְּאֵ֣ין חָ֭זוֹן יִפָּ֣רַֽע עָ֑ם וְשֹׁמֵ֖ר תּוֹרָ֣ה אַשְׁרֵֽהוּ׃
6 of the 7 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Proverbs 29:18
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.
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.
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
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
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
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
Prep | Part — Preposition · noun common masculine singular constructHR/Ncmsc
חָזוֹן (chazown) means 'vision' and encompasses various forms of divine communication, including dreams, revelations, and oracles. It can refer to visions experienced in ecstatic states or during the night, and it is also used as a title for prophetic books.
חָזוֹן n.m. vision
vision, as seen in the ecstatic state
vision, in the night
divine communication in a vision, oracle, prophecy
vision, as title of book of prophecy
base
H2377 חָזוֹן vision
2377 chazown khaw-zone'
from 2372; a sight (mentally), i.e. a dream, revelation, or
oracle:--vision.
see HEBREW for 02372
חָזוֹן (cha.zon) — vision.
1) vision
1a) vision (in ecstatic state)
1b) vision (in night)
1c) vision, oracle, prophecy (divine communication)
1d) vision (as title of book of prophecy)
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa
vizh'-un (chazon, chizzayon, mar'ah; horama, optasia): Psychologists find that man is prevailingly and persistently "eye-minded." That is, in his waking life he is likely to think, imagine and remember in terms of vision. Naturally then, his dreaming is predominantly visual; so strongly visual, we are told, that it is not rare to find dreams defined as "trains of fantastic images." Whether man was made this way in order that God might communicate with him through dreams and visions is hardly worth debating; if the records of human life, in the Bible and out of it, are to be trusted at all, there is nothing better certified than that God has communicated with man in this way (Ps 89:19; Pr 29:18; compare Am 8:11,12;
Vision
(Luke 1:22), a vivid apparition, not a dream (comp. Luke 24:23; Acts 26:19; 2 Cor. 12:1).
A supernatural presentation of certain scenery or circumstances to the mind of a person either while awake or asleep, Isa 6:1-13 Eze 1:1-28 Da 8:1-27 Ac 26:13. See DREAM.
פָּרַע (para') is a Hebrew verb that primarily means to let go or neglect, with implications of loosening or exposing. It can also denote acting as a leader, as noted in Judges 5:2. The entries suggest a range of meanings from allowing freedom to causing a lack of restraint, with some lexicons emphasizing leadership and others focusing on neglect.
[פָּרַע] vb. denom. act as leader, lead(?);—only Ju 5:2
ref
פָּרַע vb. let go, let alone
Qal
let go, let loose, people, i.e. remove restraint from them
let alone = avoid; = neglect; = refrain
Niph. the people is let loose, lacks restraint.
Hiph.
cause people to refrain
shew lack of restraint
base
H6544a פָּרַע vb. denom. act as leader, lead(?) H6544b פָּרַע let go, let alone
6544 para` paw-rah'
a primitive root; to loosen; by implication, to expose,
dismiss; figuratively, absolve, begin:--avenge, avoid, bare,
go back, let, (make) naked, set at nought, perish, refuse,
uncover.
פָּרַע (pa.ra) — to lead.
to lead, act as leader
פָּרַע (pa.ra) — to neglect.
1) to let go, let loose, ignore, let alone
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to let go, let loose
1a2) to let alone, avoid, neglect
1a3) to loosen
1b) (Niphal) to be let loose, be loosened of restraint
1c) (Hiphil)
1c1) to cause to refrain
1c2) to show lack of restraint
1c3) to let loose restraints
V-Niphal-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Niphal · imperfect third person masculine singularHVNi3ms
עַם (am) primarily means 'people' or 'nation,' referring to a collective group, often in the context of tribes such as those of Israel. It can also denote kinsmen or compatriots. The term appears in various contexts, including military and familial references. There is a mention of a specific individual named Ammi in Song of Solomon 6:12.
עַם, עָם 1810 n.m. people
a people, nation
= smaller units
= common people
people in gen., persons
phrases
base
[עַם] n.[m.] kinsman (on father's side)
base
H5971a עַם, עָם people H5971b עַם kinsman (on father's side)
5971 `am am
from 6004; a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a
tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or
attendants; figuratively, a flock:--folk, men, nation,
people.
see HEBREW for 06004
עַם (am) — people.
: people/nation
1) nation, people
1a) people, nation
1b) persons, members of one's people, compatriots, country-men
עַם (am) — kinsman.
kinsman, kindred
עַם (am) — Ammi.
A man living at the time of United Monarchy, only mentioned at Sng.6.12
§ kinsman, kindred
עַם (am) — People's (Gate).
§ kinsman, kindred
עַם (am) — (Ibleam)-am.
Combined with yiv.le.am (יִבְלְעָם "Ibleam" H2991)
§ kinsman, kindred
עַם (am) — Amaw.
This name means nation, people
עַם (am) — people: soldiers.
: soldiers/army
1) nation, people
1a) people, nation
1b) persons, members of one's people, compatriots, country-men
עַם (am) — people: creatures.
: creatures
1) nation, people
1a) people, nation
1b) persons, members of one's people, compatriots, country-men
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa
pe'-p'-l: In English Versions of the Bible represents something over a dozen Hebrew and Greek words. Of these, in the Old Testament, `am, is overwhelmingly the most common (about 2,000 times), with le'om, and goy, next in order; but the various Hebrew words are used with very little or no difference in force (e.g. Pr 14:28; but, on the other hand, in Ps 44 contrast verses 12 and 14). Of the changes introduced by the Revised Version (British and American) the only one of significance (cited explicitly in the Preface to the English Revised Version) is the frequent use of the plural "peoples" (strangely avoided in the King James Version except Re 10:11; 17:15), where other nations than Israel are in question. So, for instance, in Ps…
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 singularHC/Vqrmsa
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…
אֶ֫שֶׁר (esher) refers to happiness or blessedness, often used as an interjection to express joy. It is derived from a related root and appears primarily in a masculine plural form. The entries consistently highlight its meaning related to happiness and blessing.
[אֶ֫שֶׁר, or אָשָׁר] n.[m.] happiness, blessedness
base
H835 [אֶ֫שֶׁר, or אָשָׁר] happiness, blessedness
835 'esher eh'-sher
from 833; happiness; only in masculine plural construction as
interjection, how happy!:--blessed, happy.
see HEBREW for 0833
אֶ֫שֶׁר (e.sher) — blessed.
1) happiness, blessedness
1a) often used as interjection
1b) blessed are
N-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine plural construct · suffixHNcmpc/Sp3ms
ha: The fifth letter of the Hebrew alphabet; transliterated in this Encyclopedia as "h." It came also to be used for the number 5. For name, etc., see ALPHABET.