Menu

Proverbs 29:5 — Word Study

Depth

WLCגֶּ֭בֶר מַחֲלִ֣יק עַל־ רֵעֵ֑הוּ רֶ֝֗שֶׁת פּוֹרֵ֥שׂ עַל־ פְּעָמָֽיו׃

BSAA mangeber [great] who flatterschâlaq [smoothly deceives, says nice things to] his neighborrêaʻ [friend, companion] spreadspâras [stretches out, lays] a netresheth [trap, snare] forʻal his feetpaʻam [steps, path]

Word
Listen & take awayProverbs 29
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 5 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 (pe.'a.Mav) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Proverbs 29:5quick helps
In a sentenceA man who flatters his neighbor is setting a trap for himself.
Who is speakingThe wise teacher, warning against deceitful speech.
Where we areIn a collection of proverbs that provide practical wisdom for daily living.
The hard wordמַחֲלִ֣יק
Take awayFlattery can lead to one's own downfall.
6 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbחָלַק 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 29:5

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 for Livinggenerated

4By justice a king brings stability to the land, but a man who exacts tribute demolishes it.
5A man who flatters his neighbor spreads a net for his feet.
6An evil man is caught by his own sin, but a righteous one sings and rejoices.
7The righteous consider the cause of the poor, but the wicked have no regard for such concerns.

Proverbs 29:5 is part of a series of sayings that highlight the importance of integrity and the dangers of deceitful behavior. In this context, the teacher contrasts the stability brought by just leadership with the pitfalls of flattery, illustrating the broader theme of moral conduct in society. This proverb serves as a cautionary reminder of how one's words can have significant consequences.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Proverbs 7:5–21that they may keep you from the adulteress, from the stranger with seductive words.
2Proverbs 20:19He who reveals secrets is a constant gossip; avoid the one who babbles with his lips.
3Proverbs 26:24–25A hateful man disguises himself with his speech, but he lays up deceit in his heart.
42 Samuel 14:17–24And now your servant says, ‘May the word of my lord the king bring me rest, for my lord the king is able to discern good and evil, just like the angel of God. May the LORD your God be with you.’”
5Job 17:5If a man denounces his friends for a price, the eyes of his children will fail.

The Key Word גֶּ֭בֶר, Ge.vergenerated

The word גֶּבֶר (geber) refers to a man, particularly one who is strong or valiant. It emphasizes qualities of strength and capability, often used in poetic contexts to describe a person of valor. This word appears frequently in the Bible, highlighting its significance in character descriptions.

In this verse, it denotes not just any man, but a 'great man,' suggesting a person of influence or power. The parsing indicates it is a masculine singular noun, emphasizing the individual nature of the subject.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

The translations agree on the rendering of the verse, consistently portraying the act of flattery and its consequences.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main clause is governed by the finite verb מַחֲלִיק, who flatters, with a noun phrase as the subject: גֶּ֭בֶר, a man. The structure includes prepositional phrases that elaborate on the relationships involved, specifically the neighbor and the net being spread.

The sentence emphasizes the action of flattery leading to a trap, showing how the components are interconnected through their roles in the overall meaning.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

In the Septuagint, the Hebrew word מַחֲלִיק is rendered as παρασκευάζεται, which means 'is prepared' or 'is made ready.' This choice suggests a more active sense of the flattery being a deliberate act that sets up the trap.

The translation reflects a nuanced understanding of the original Hebrew, emphasizing the intentionality behind the act of flattery.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Proverbs 29:5 warns that a man who flatters his neighbor is setting a trap for himself. Flattery can lead to deceit and ultimately cause harm to relationships. This proverb serves as a reminder to be cautious with our words and to value honesty.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean to flatter someone?

To flatter someone means to compliment them insincerely, often to gain favor or manipulate them.

Why is flattery considered dangerous?

Flattery can undermine trust and lead to manipulation, causing harm to both the flatterer and the person being flattered.

How can I avoid being flattered or flattering others?

Being aware of the intent behind compliments and focusing on sincere communication can help avoid flattery.

What are some examples of flattery in everyday life?

Flattery can occur in various situations, such as in personal relationships, workplaces, or social settings, where someone may use excessive praise to influence others.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what ways have I seen flattery affect relationships around me?
  2. How can I ensure my compliments are genuine and not manipulative?
  3. What are some practical steps I can take to promote honesty in my interactions?
  4. How can I recognize when I am being flattered or manipulated by others?

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

Bede comments on this verse, noting the dangers of deceitful words and how they can lead to traps in relationships.

BedeCommentary on Proverbs c. 673–735
The man who speaks with flattering and deceitful words to his friend, etc. He who praises his neighbor with deceitful words, indeed sets traps for him, so that by the danger of cautious work, as he becomes more careless with words,
Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 29 →

Commentators on this verse — 6 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Proverbs 29:5 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

A man that flattereth his neighbour,.... That speaks smooth things to him gives him flattering titles, speaks fair to his face, highly commends him on one account or another: spreadeth a net for his

Read John Gill on Proverbs 29 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

A man that flattereth his neighbour spreadeth a net for his feet. A man that flattereth his neighbour spreadeth a net for his feet - (Prov.

Read Robert Jamieson on Proverbs 29 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

A man that flattereth his neighbour, that praiseth or applaudeth another in a sinful state or course, spreadeth a net for his feet; kills him under a pretence of kindness; is an occasion of his sin, and consequently of destruction, which possibly he may design to accomplish by that means.

Read Matthew Poole on Proverbs 29 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Proverbs 29:5 A man that flattereth his neighbour spreadeth a net for his feet.Ver. 5. A man that flattereth his neighbour, &c.] A smooth boots, as the word signifies, a butterspoken man, or a divided man, for a flatterer’ s tongue is divided from his heart. Glaber.

Read John Trapp on Proverbs 29 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 5. Spreadeth a net for his feet.] Beware of a flatterer; he does not flatter merely to please you, but to deceive you and profit himself.

Read AdamClarke on Proverbs 29 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

5. Flattereth — Literally, makes smooth. “Speaks smoothly.” — Stuart. “Speaking flatteringly about his neighbour.” — Miller. A flatterer may generally be suspected of some sinister design.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon 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

BSBBerean Standard Bible2020

A man who flatters his neighbor spreads a net for his feet.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

A man who flatters his neighbor spreads a net for his feet.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

A man who flatters his neighbor spreads a net for his feet.

NETBNew English Translation2006

The one who flatters his neighbor spreads a net for his steps.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

A man that flattereth his neighbour spreadeth a net for his feet.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

A man that flattereth his neighbor Spreadeth a net for his steps.

RVARevised Version, American1894

A man that flattereth his neighbour spreadeth a net for his steps.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

A man that flattereth his neighbor spreadeth a net for his feet.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

A man that flattereth his neighbour, spreadeth a net for his steps.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

A man that flattereth his neighbour spreadeth a net for his steps.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

A man taking a portion above his neighbour, Spreadeth a net for his own steps.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

A man taking a portion above his neighbor, || Spreads a net for his own steps.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

A man that flattereth his neighbor spreadeth a net for his steps.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

A man who flatters his neighbor is spreading a net for his feet.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

A man that speaketh to his friend with flattering and dissembling words, spreadeth a net for his feet.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

Those who flatter their friends lay a net to trip them up.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

A man who says smooth things to his neighbour is stretching out a net for his steps.

Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.


The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank

This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.

clausenoun phrase · subjectגֶּ֭בֶרa.manadjective phraseclauseverbמַחֲלִ֣יק[who].flattersprepositional phrase · prepositionalעַלtonoun phraseרֵעֵ֑neighborהוּhisobjectרֶ֝֗שֶׁתa.netverbפּוֹרֵ֥שׂ[is].spreadingprepositional phrase · prepositionalעַלonnoun phraseפְּעָמָֽיfootstepsוhis

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 align closely in meaning, with six of the eight words matching. The Septuagint's rendering demonstrates a consistent interpretation of the original text, maintaining the core message about the dangers of flattery.

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

גֶּ֭בֶר מַחֲלִ֣יק עַל־ רֵעֵ֑הוּ רֶ֝֗שֶׁת פּוֹרֵ֥שׂ עַל־ פְּעָמָֽיו׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
גֶּ֭בֶרὃςמַחֲלִ֣יקπαρασκευάζεταιעַל־ἐπὶרֶ֝֗שֶׁתδίκτυονעַל־τοῖςפְּעָמָֽיו׃ἑαυτοῦ

6 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 29:5גֶּ֫בֶרa mana manגֶּ֫בֶרחָלַק[who] flatt[who] flattersחָלַקעַלtotoעַלרֵעַneighbor hineighbor hisרֵעַרֶ֫שֶׁתa neta netרֶ֫שֶׁתפָּרַשׂ[is] spread[is] spreadingפָּרַשׂעַלononעַלפַּ֫עַםfootsteps hfootsteps hisפַּ֫עַםגָּבַרto prevailto prevailגָּבַרעַלheightheightעַליָרַשׁto possessto possess: posיָרַשׁפָּעַםto troubleto troubleפָּעַםבֵּית־עֵ֫קֶדHouse of SHouse of Shepheבֵּית־עֵ֫קֶדכִּפֶּרto atoneto atoneכִּפֶּרכִּסֵּאthronethroneכִּסֵּאחָלָץloinloinחָלָץסָכַןbe usefulbe usefulסָכַןשָׁלָלspoilspoilשָׁלָלגּוֹרָלallottedallottedגּוֹרָלנָאַףto commit to commit adultנָאַףאִישׁmanmanאִישׁפָּרַשׂto spreadto spreadפָּרַשׂשַׁ֫חַתpit: gravepit: graveשַׁ֫חַתרֶ֫שֶׁתnetnetרֶ֫שֶׁתסוּךְto fenceto fenceסוּךְשֶׁ֫בַעsevensevenשֶׁ֫בַע
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 29:5

One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.

Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.

a man [who] flatters to neighbor his a net [is] spreading on footsteps his
גֶּ֭בֶרGe.ver a man H1397 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
65× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for a great man or warrior, emphasizing strength or ability to fight, used to describe a person of valor. It is translated as 'man' or 'mighty' in the KJV. In the Bible, it appears in various contexts, including descriptions of strong leaders.
Amplified meaning
great
Tyndale gloss
great man
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

גֶּ֫בֶר (geber) refers to a man, particularly one who is strong or valiant, often distinguished from women and children. The term is used primarily in poetic contexts and emphasizes the qualities of strength and warrior-like attributes. It is derived from a root meaning to be strong, and lexicons highlight its use in describing a mighty or capable individual.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

גֶּ֫בֶר 66 n.m. man;—man as strong, disting. fr. women, children, and non-combatants whom he is to defend, chiefly poetic

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1397 גֶּ֫בֶר man;—man as strong, disting. fr. women, children, and non-combatants whom he is to defend, chiefly poetic

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1397 geber gheh'-ber

from 1396; properly, a valiant man or warrior; generally, a

person simply:--every one, man, X mighty.

see HEBREW for 01396

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

גָּבֶר (ga.ver) — great man.

man, strong man, warrior (emphasising strength or ability to fight)

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

See ANTHROPOLOGY.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Man

(1.) Heb. ‘Adam, used as the proper name of the first man. The name is derived from a word meaning “to be red,” and thus the first man was called Adam because he was formed from the red earth. It is also the generic name of the human race (Gen. 1:26, 27; 5:2; 8:21; Deut. 8:3). Its equivalents are the Latin homo and the Greek anthropos (Matt. 5:13, 16). It denotes also man in opposition to woman (Gen. 3:12; Matt. 19:10).

(2.) Heb. ‘ish, like the Latin vir and Greek aner, denotes properly a man in opposition to a woman (1 Sam. 17:33;

→ CREATED Ge 1:26,27; 2:7; 5:1,2; De 4:32; Job 4:17; 10:2,3,8,9; 31:15; 33:4; 35:10; Ps 8:5; 100:3; 119:73; 138:8; 139:14; Ec 7:29; Isa 17:7; 42:5; 43:7; 45:12; 64:8; Jer 27:5; Zec 12:1; Mal 2:10; Mr 10:6; Heb 2:7

See CREATED IN THE IMAGE OF GOD, below

a man [who] flatters to neighbor his a net [is] spreading on footsteps his
מַחֲלִ֣יקma.cha.Lik [who] flatters H2505 Verb · Hiphil · participle (active) masculine singular
65× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To smooth means to make something slippery or deceitful, like in Proverbs where it warns against flattery. It can also mean to divide or separate something, like an inheritance.
Amplified meaning
smoothly deceives, says nice things to
Tyndale gloss
to divide
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

חָלַק (chalaq) is a Hebrew verb with two primary meanings: to divide or share, and to be smooth or slippery. It encompasses actions like apportioning, distributing, and even plundering, as well as the state of being smooth. The entries indicate a range of uses in different grammatical forms, including reflexive and passive. Notably, the lexicons also emphasize the figurative use of smoothness in relation to deceit.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

חָלַק vb. divide, share

Qal

divide, apportion

assign, distribute

assign, impart

share

divide up = plunder the temple

Niph. Impf.

reflex. divide oneself

pass. be divided

trans. assign, distribute

Pi.

divide, apportion

assign, distribute

scatter

Pu. be divided, of land

Hithp. divide land among themselves

Hiph. to receive a portion

base

חָלַק vb. be smooth, slippery

Qal smooth, slippery

Hiph. make smooth

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2505a חָלַק divide, share .. divide, apportion

. assign, distribute

. assign, impart

. share

. divide up = plunder the temple

. Impf. . reflex. divide oneself

. pass. be divided

. trans. assign, distribute

. . divide, apportion

. assign, distribute

. scatter

. be divided, of land

. divide land among themselves

. to receive a portion

H2505b חָלַק be smooth, slippery

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2505 chalaq khaw-lak'

a primitive root; to be smooth (figuratively); by implication

(as smooth stones were used for lots) to apportion or

separate:--deal, distribute, divide, flatter, give, (have,

im-)part(-ner), take away a portion, receive, separate self,

(be) smooth(-er).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חָלַק (cha.laq) — to divide.

1) to divide, share, plunder, allot, apportion, assign

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to divide, apportion

1a2) to assign, distribute

1a3) to assign, impart

1a4) to share

1a5) to divide up, plunder

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to divide oneself

1b2) to be divided

1b3) to assign, distribute

1c) (Piel)

1c1) to divide, apportion

1c2) to assign, distribute

1c3) to scatter

1d) (Pual) to be divided

1e) (Hiphil) to receive a portion or part

1f) (Hithpael) to divide among themselves

חָלַק (cha.laq) — to smooth.

1) to be smooth, slippery, deceitful

1a) (Qal) to be smooth, slippery

1b) (Hiphil)

1b1) to be smooth

1b2) to flatter

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Hiphil — Verb · Hiphil · participle (active) masculine singular
HVhrmsa
a man [who] flatters to neighbor his a net [is] spreading on footsteps his
עַל־'al- to H5921 Preposition
5,774× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means on or above something, like a physical object or a situation. It can also imply a sense of responsibility or accountability, as in being on behalf of someone.
Tyndale gloss
upon
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word עַל (*al*) is a preposition meaning 'upon' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including 'on account of,' 'beside,' 'above,' and 'against.' It can indicate physical placement, emotional burdens, or duties imposed on a person. The entries also note its use in idiomatic expressions and with verbs of motion. There is a mention of its function as a conjunction in certain contexts.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as

base

עַל, עָ֑ל

subst. height

As prep. upon, and hence on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against

Upon, of the substratum upon which an object in any way rests, or on which an action is performed

of clothing, etc., which any one wears

With verbs of covering or protecting, even though the cover or veil be not over or above the thing covered, but around or before it

Of what rests heavily upon a person, or is a burden to him

Of a duty, payment, care, etc., imposed upon a person, or devolving on him

על is used idiom. to give pathos to the expression of an emotion, by emphasizing the person who is its subject, and who, as it were, feels it acting upon him

חָיָה עַל to live upon (as upon a foundation or support)

Read the full entry →
Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5921a עַל, עָ֑ל . As prep. upon, and hence on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against . Upon, of the substratum upon which an object in any way rests, or on which an action is performed . — . of clothing, etc., which any one wears

. With verbs of covering or protecting, even though the cover or veil be not over or above the thing covered, but around or before it

. Of what rests heavily upon a person, or is a burden to him

. Of a duty, payment, care, etc., imposed upon a person, or devolving on him

. על is used idiom. to give pathos to the expression of an emotion, by emphasizing the person who is its subject, and who, as it were, feels it acting upon him

. חָיָה עַל to live upon (as upon a foundation or support)

Read the full entry →
Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5921 `al al

properly, the same as 5920 used as a preposition (in the

singular or plural often with prefix, or as conjunction with a

particle following); above, over, upon, or against (yet always

in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great

variety of applications (as follow):--above, according

to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, X as, at, because

of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, X both

and, by (reason of), X had the charge of, concerning for, in

(that), (forth, out) of, (from) (off), (up-)on, over, than,

through(-out), to, touching, X with.

see HEBREW for 05920

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עַל (al) — upon.

prep

1) upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against

1a) upon, on the ground of, on the basis of, on account of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of, as regards

1b) above, beyond, over (of excess)

1c) above, over (of elevation or pre-eminence)

1d) upon, to, over to, unto, in addition to, together with, with (of addition)

1e) over (of suspension or extension)

1f) by, adjoining, next, at, over, around (of contiguity or proximity)

1g) down upon, upon, on, from, up upon, up to, towards, over towards, to, against (with verbs of motion)

1h) to (as a dative)

[כִּי] עַל [כֵּן] ([ki] al [ken]) — as.

conj

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep — Preposition
HR
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
a man [who] flatters to neighbor his a net [is] spreading on footsteps his
רֵעֵ֑הוּre.'E.hu neighbor his H7453 Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
188× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A neighbor or friend is what this word means, describing someone close to you. It can also refer to a companion, fellow citizen, or another person, and is often translated as brother or friend.
Amplified meaning
friend, companion
Tyndale gloss
neighbor
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

רֵעַ (rea`) refers to a friend, companion, or fellow, emphasizing close associations such as brotherhood or intimacy. It can also denote a neighbor or another person in a broader sense. The word is derived from a root meaning 'to associate.'

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

רֵעַ 187 n.m. friend, companion, fellow

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7453 רֵעַ friend, companion, fellow

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7453 rea` ray'-ah

or reya2 {ray'-ah}; from 7462; an associate (more or less

close):--brother, companion, fellow, friend, husband, lover,

neighbour, X (an-)other.

see HEBREW for 0reya2

see HEBREW for 07462

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

רֵעַ (re.a) — neighbor.

1) friend, companion, fellow, another person

1a) friend, intimate

1b) fellow, fellow-citizen, another person (weaker sense)

1c) other, another (reciprocal phrase)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
HNcmsc/Sp3ms
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

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

a man [who] flatters to neighbor his a net [is] spreading on footsteps his
רֶ֝֗שֶׁתRe.shet a net H7568 Noun common · feminine singular absolute
22× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A net used for catching animals, but also a symbol of judgment or a trap. In the book of Ecclesiastes, it describes a net that can snare people. The tabernacle even had a network of bronze for its altar.
Amplified meaning
trap, snare
Tyndale gloss
net
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

רֶ֫שֶׁת (resheth) means 'net' and is derived from a root meaning to catch animals. It encompasses various types of nets, including those for judgment and traps for people. The term is specifically noted for its use as a brazen network for the altar in the tabernacle.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

רֶ֫שֶׁת n.f. net

net

brazen network for altar of tabern.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7568 רֶ֫שֶׁת net . net

. brazen network for altar of tabern.

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7568 resheth reh'-sheth

from 3423; a net (as catching animals):--net(- work).

see HEBREW for 03423

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

רֶ֫שֶׁת (re.shet) — net.

1) net

1a) net

1a1) for catching

1a2) of judgment (fig)

1a3) of leaders leading people to sin

1a4) as a trap for man

1b) network (brazen-for altar of tabernacle)

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

See FISHING; FOWLER.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Net

In use among the Hebrews for fishing, hunting, and fowling. The fishing-net was probably constructed after the form of that used by the Egyptians (Isa. 19:8). There were three kinds of nets. (1.) The drag-net or hauling-net (Gr. sagene), of great size, and requiring many men to work it. It was usually let down from the fishing-boat, and then drawn to the shore or into the boat, as circumstances might require (Matt. 13:47, 48). (2.) The hand-net or casting-net (Gr. amphiblestron), which was thrown from a rock or a boat at any fish that might be seen (Matt. 4:18; Mark 1:16). It was called by the Latins funda. It was of circular form, “like the top of a tent.” (3.) The…

Smith's Bible Dictionary

[See FISHING]

Nave's Topical Bible

→ Of checker work 1Ki 7:17

→ Hidden in a pit Ps 35:7,8

→ Set for birds Pr 1:17

→ Wild animals Isa 51:20

→ Fish caught in Mt 4:18-21; 13:47; Lu 5:4; Joh 21:6-11

→ See SNARE

→ FIGURATIVE Job 18:8; 19:6; Ps 9:15; 10:9; 25:15; 31:4; 35:7,8; 57:6; 66:11; 140:5; 141:10; Pr 12:12; 29:5; Ec 7:26; 9:12;

a man [who] flatters to neighbor his a net [is] spreading on footsteps his
פּוֹרֵ֥שׂpo.Res [is] spreading H6566 Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine singular
67× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means to spread or break something apart, like scattering or stretching out. It is used to describe physical and figurative actions in the Bible.
Amplified meaning
stretches out, lays
Tyndale gloss
to spread
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

פָּרַשׂ (paras) is a Hebrew verb meaning to spread out or scatter. It encompasses actions like breaking apart, dispersing, and stretching forth. The word appears in various forms, including Qal (to spread), Niphal (to be scattered), and Piel (to scatter). The entries collectively highlight its use in contexts of spreading or scattering, but do not provide specific verse references.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

פָּרַשׂ vb. spread out, spread

Qal

spread out

spread

Niph. they shall be scattered

Pi.

spread out

= scatter

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6566 פָּרַשׂ spread out, spread

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6566 paras paw-ras'

a primitive root; to break apart, disperse, etc.:--break,

chop in pieces, lay open, scatter, spread (abroad, forth,

selves, out), stretch (forth, out).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

פָּרַשׂ (pa.ra.s) — to spread.

1) to spread, spread out, stretch, break in pieces

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to spread out, display

1a2) to spread over

1b) (Niphal) to be scattered, be spread out

1c) (Piel)

1c1) to spread out

1c1) to scatter

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal — Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine singular
HVqrmsa
a man [who] flatters to neighbor his a net [is] spreading on footsteps his
עַל־'al- on H5921 Preposition
5,774× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means on or above something, like a physical object or a situation. It can also imply a sense of responsibility or accountability, as in being on behalf of someone.
Tyndale gloss
upon
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word עַל (*al*) is a preposition meaning 'upon' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including 'on account of,' 'beside,' 'above,' and 'against.' It can indicate physical placement, emotional burdens, or duties imposed on a person. The entries also note its use in idiomatic expressions and with verbs of motion. There is a mention of its function as a conjunction in certain contexts.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as

base

עַל, עָ֑ל

subst. height

As prep. upon, and hence on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against

Upon, of the substratum upon which an object in any way rests, or on which an action is performed

of clothing, etc., which any one wears

With verbs of covering or protecting, even though the cover or veil be not over or above the thing covered, but around or before it

Of what rests heavily upon a person, or is a burden to him

Of a duty, payment, care, etc., imposed upon a person, or devolving on him

על is used idiom. to give pathos to the expression of an emotion, by emphasizing the person who is its subject, and who, as it were, feels it acting upon him

חָיָה עַל to live upon (as upon a foundation or support)

Read the full entry →
Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5921a עַל, עָ֑ל . As prep. upon, and hence on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against . Upon, of the substratum upon which an object in any way rests, or on which an action is performed . — . of clothing, etc., which any one wears

. With verbs of covering or protecting, even though the cover or veil be not over or above the thing covered, but around or before it

. Of what rests heavily upon a person, or is a burden to him

. Of a duty, payment, care, etc., imposed upon a person, or devolving on him

. על is used idiom. to give pathos to the expression of an emotion, by emphasizing the person who is its subject, and who, as it were, feels it acting upon him

. חָיָה עַל to live upon (as upon a foundation or support)

Read the full entry →
Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5921 `al al

properly, the same as 5920 used as a preposition (in the

singular or plural often with prefix, or as conjunction with a

particle following); above, over, upon, or against (yet always

in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great

variety of applications (as follow):--above, according

to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, X as, at, because

of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, X both

and, by (reason of), X had the charge of, concerning for, in

(that), (forth, out) of, (from) (off), (up-)on, over, than,

through(-out), to, touching, X with.

see HEBREW for 05920

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עַל (al) — upon.

prep

1) upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against

1a) upon, on the ground of, on the basis of, on account of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of, as regards

1b) above, beyond, over (of excess)

1c) above, over (of elevation or pre-eminence)

1d) upon, to, over to, unto, in addition to, together with, with (of addition)

1e) over (of suspension or extension)

1f) by, adjoining, next, at, over, around (of contiguity or proximity)

1g) down upon, upon, on, from, up upon, up to, towards, over towards, to, against (with verbs of motion)

1h) to (as a dative)

[כִּי] עַל [כֵּן] ([ki] al [ken]) — as.

conj

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HR — Preposition
HR
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Easton's Bible Dictionary

On

Light; the sun, (Gen. 41:45, 50), the great seat of sun-worship, called also Bethshemesh (Jer. 43:13) and Aven (Ezek. 30:17), stood on the east bank of the Nile, a few miles north of Memphis, and near Cairo, in the north-east. The Vulgate and the LXX. Versions have “Heliopolis” (“city of the sun”) instead of On in Genesis and of Aven in Ezekiel. The “city of destruction” Isaiah speaks of (19:18, marg. “of Heres;” Heb. ‘Ir-ha-heres, which some MSS. read Ir-ha-heres, i.e., “city of the sun”) may be the name given to On, the prophecy being that the time will come when that city which was known as the “city of the sun-god” shall become the “city of destruction” of the sun-god, i.e., when idolatry shall cease, and the worship…

Smith's Bible Dictionary

(abode or city of the sun), a town of lower Egypt, called BETH-SHEMESH in (Jeremiah 43:13) On is better known under its Greek name Heliopolis. It was situated on the east side of the Pelusiac branch of the Nile, just below the point of the Delta, and about twenty miles northeast of Memphis. The chief object of worship at Heliopolis was the sun, whose temple, described by Strabo, is now only represented by the single beautiful obelisk, of red granite so feet 2 inches high above the pedestal which has stood for more than 4000 years, having been erected by Usirtesen, the second king of the twelfth dynasty. Heliopolis was anciently famous for its learning, and Eudoxus and Plato studied under its priests. The first mention of this place in the Bible is in the history of Joseph, to whom we read Pharaoh gave "to wife Asenath the daughter…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

See HELIOPOLIS.

Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary

pain; force; iniquity

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
a man [who] flatters to neighbor his a net [is] spreading on footsteps his
פְּעָמָֽיו׃pe.'a.Mav footsteps his H6471 Noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
118× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to a beat or stroke, like a footstep or a blow. It can also mean a time or occurrence, and is used in the Bible to describe things like a single step or a repeated action.
Amplified meaning
steps, path
Tyndale gloss
beat
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

פַּ֫עַם (pa'am) refers to a beat or stroke, and encompasses meanings such as foot, anvil, and occurrence. It can denote a footstep or time, indicating repetitions like once, twice, or thrice. The word is built from a root that suggests various applications related to rhythm and timing.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

פַּ֫עַם 118 n.f. beat, foot, anvil, occurrence

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6471 פַּ֫עַם beat, foot, anvil, occurrence

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6471 pa`am pah'-am

or (feminine) pa;amah {pah-am-aw'}; from 6470; a stroke,

literally or figuratively (in various applications, as

follow):--anvil, corner, foot(-step), going, (hundred-)fold,

X now, (this) + once, order, rank, step, + thrice, ((often-)),

second, this, two) time(-s), twice, wheel.

see HEBREW for 06470

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

פַּ֫עַם (pa.am) — beat.

1) stroke, beat, foot, step, anvil, occurrence

1a) foot, hoof-beat, footfall, footstep

1b) anvil

1c) occurrence, time, stroke, beat

1c1) one time, once, twice, thrice, as time on time, at this repetition, this once, now at length, now...now, at one time...at another

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fp | Suff — Noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
HNcmpc/Sp3ms
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

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

Sources on this page. Lexicons and dictionaries imported from the CrossWire SWORD modules — Abbott-Smith, Strong's, Dodson, the Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones, Robinson and Packard, Webster and Cawdrey. Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (Harper, 1889 — Grimm’s Wilke’s Clavis Novi Testamenti, translated, revised and enlarged by Joseph Henry Thayer) is public domain and is set here from the Internet Archive page scan greekenglishlex00grim; it is uncorrected OCR, marked as such on the entry itself, and the Strong’s numbers — which Thayer’s own edition does not carry — were matched by lemma against the other modules on this page. Trench’s Synonyms of the New Testament (Macmillan, 1880) and Moulton and Milligan’s Vocabulary of the Greek Testament (Hodder & Stoughton, 1930, which entered the United States public domain on 1 January 2026) are set from Internet Archive page scans synonymsofnewtes00treniala and vocabularyofgree00mouluoft, and are likewise uncorrected OCR matched to Strong’s numbers by lemma. Trench treats a group of words at once, so the same essay stands on the page of each word it compares. The Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary is © 1993 and is used here by permission for non-commercial use, www.teknia.com/greek-dictionary. The full Liddell-Scott-Jones and the Hebrew word data (TAHOT) come from STEPBible.org, CC BY 4.0. Brown-Driver-Briggs is the OpenScriptures digitisation, public domain. Syntax analysis is the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (biblicalhumanities.org); the concordance and morphology are built from the tagged Nestle 1904 text. Septuagint occurrences use the Open Scriptures Septuagint lemma index, derived from CCAT (University of Pennsylvania) and the Rahlfs 1935 dataset by Eliran Wong, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 — used here on a non-commercial ministry site. Greek of Josephus and Barnabas from the Perseus Digital Library, CC BY-SA 4.0. Commentaries and the Ante-Nicene Fathers are public-domain texts hosted on this site. Everyday Greek from the Duke Databank of Documentary Papyri, CC BY 3.0, with dates and provenance from the Heidelberger Gesamtverzeichnis. Philo and the Apostolic Fathers from Open Greek and Latin (First1KGreek), CC BY-SA 4.0. The apparatus and the fifth Greek column are the SBL Greek New Testament, © 2010 SBL and Logos Bible Software, CC BY 4.0. The Latin is the Clementine Vulgate (public domain); the Syriac New Testament is the ETCBC edition (MIT licence). The Hebrew behind the Greek is computed here from the Septuagint index and TAHOT, not taken from any aligned edition. The translation spread and the per-word edition marks come from the Translators Amalgamated Greek NT (STEPBible, CC BY 4.0); clause roles from the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (CC BY-SA 4.0); place identifications and their confidence from OpenBible.info Bible Geocoding (CC BY 4.0), with map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors. Gospel parallels are computed here from shared uncommon vocabulary, not taken from any printed harmony. Cross references are the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and the subject headings are Nave’s Topical Bible, both public domain. Works under Creative Commons licences are used unchanged apart from markup removal.

Everything we make is available for free because of a generous community of supporters.

Donate