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Proverbs 30:10 — Word Study

Depth

WLCאַל־ תַּלְשֵׁ֣ן עֶ֭בֶד אֶל־ אֲדֹנָ֑יו פֶּֽן־ יְקַלֶּלְךָ֥ וְאָשָֽׁמְתָּ׃

BSADo notʼal [refrain from, cease] slanderlâshan [accuse falsely, speak evil of] a servantʻebed [slave, bondservant] toʼêl his masterʼâdôwn [lord, ruler] orpên he will curse youqâlal [possibly, lest, bring into contempt, condemn] and you will bear the guiltʼâsham [as a result, be found guilty, suffer punishment]

Word
Listen & take awayProverbs 30
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 10 is in this chapter.
Hebrew ↓ Download MP3 The Masoretic text of this chapter, read aloud. Read by Abraham Shmuelof, courtesy of Audio Scriptures International. Chapter divisions by the Academy of Ancient Languages..
Say the word Each Hebrew word carries its transliteration (ve.'a.Sha.me.ta) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Proverbs 30:10quick helps
In a sentenceThe verse warns against slandering a servant, highlighting the potential consequences of such actions.
Who is speakingThe speaker addresses the reader directly, advising them on their behavior towards others.
Where we areThis is part of a collection of wise sayings, offering practical guidance for daily conduct.
The hard wordתַּלְשֵׁ֣ן
Take awaySpeaking ill of others can lead to serious repercussions.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbלָשַׁן 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 30:10

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 — Practical Wisdom in Proverbsgenerated

9Otherwise, I may have too much and deny You, saying, ‘Who is the LORD?’ Or I may become poor and steal, profaning the name of my God.
10Do not slander a servant to his master, or he will curse you, and you will bear the guilt.
11There is a generation of those who curse their fathers and do not bless their mothers.
12There is a generation of those who are pure in their own eyes and yet unwashed of their filth.

Proverbs 30:10 advises against slandering a servant to his master, warning that such actions may lead to curses and guilt. This verse is part of a larger discourse on the importance of integrity and respect in relationships, echoing themes found throughout the book of Proverbs, which emphasizes wise living and the consequences of one's words and actions.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Proverbs 24:23These also are sayings of the wise: To show partiality in judgment is not good.
2Deuteronomy 23:15Do not return a slave to his master if he has taken refuge with you.
31 Samuel 22:9–10But Doeg the Edomite, who had stationed himself with Saul’s servants, answered: “I saw the son of Jesse come to Ahimelech son of Ahitub at Nob.
41 Samuel 24:9and said to Saul, “Why do you listen to the words of men who say, ‘Look, David intends to harm you’?
51 Samuel 26:19Now please, may my lord the king hear the words of his servant: If the LORD has stirred you up against me, then may He accept an offering. But if men have done it, may they be cursed in the presence of the LORD! For today they have driven me away from sharing in the inheritance of the LORD, saying, ‘Go, serve other gods.’

The Key Word תַּלְשֵׁ֣ן, tal.Shengenerated

The verb לָשַׁן (lashan) means to slander or accuse falsely. It is derived from a root that conveys the idea of using the tongue, and it specifically refers to the act of speaking ill of someone. In this verse, it emphasizes the harm that can come from careless or malicious speech.

The Hiphil form indicates causation, suggesting that slander not only harms the subject but also has repercussions for the speaker. The warning here is clear: to speak evil of someone can lead to dire consequences, both socially and morally.


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 תַּלְשֵׁ֣ן, you slander, which governs the structure. It is followed by a noun phrase עֶ֭בֶד, a servant, and a prepositional phrase אֶל־ אֲדֹנָ֑יו, to his master, indicating the direction of the slander.

The sentence then presents two clauses: the consequence of slandering, יְקַלֶּלְךָ֥, he should curse you, and the result, וְאָשָֽׁמְתָּ, and you will be held guilty. This structure emphasizes the cause-and-effect relationship of the actions described.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates תַּלְשֵׁ֣ן as παραδῷς, which means 'to hand over' or 'to betray.' This choice suggests a broader interpretation of the act of slandering, implying a betrayal of trust rather than just mere accusation.

The use of δεσπότου for אֲדֹנָ֑יו highlights the authority of the master, reinforcing the seriousness of the relationship between the servant and the master.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Proverbs 30:10 warns against slandering a servant to his master. It emphasizes that such actions can lead to the servant cursing the slanderer, resulting in guilt for the one who spoke ill.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What is the main warning in this verse?

The verse warns against slandering a servant, indicating that such actions can lead to negative consequences for the speaker.

Why is slandering a servant particularly cautioned against?

Slandering a servant can undermine their relationship with their master and lead to repercussions for the one who speaks ill, as it disrupts social harmony and trust.

What does it mean to bear guilt?

To bear guilt means to be held responsible for wrongdoing, often implying that punishment or consequences will follow.

How does this verse relate to other teachings in Proverbs?

This verse aligns with the broader themes in Proverbs about the importance of wise speech and the consequences of our words, as seen in other passages that emphasize integrity and respect.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what ways can I ensure my words uplift rather than harm others?
  2. How can I practice integrity in my speech, especially in difficult situations?
  3. What are some examples of slander I might encounter in daily life, and how should I respond?
  4. Why is it important to consider the consequences of our words before speaking?

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Proverbs 30:10 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

Accuse not a servant unto his master,.... Wrongly, rashly, and without any foundation, nor for any trifling thing; unless it be in a case of moment and importance, when his master's business is sadly

Read John Gill on Proverbs 30 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

Accuse not a servant unto his master, lest he curse thee, and thou be found guilty.

Read Robert Jamieson on Proverbs 30 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Accuse not a servant, to wit, maliciously, rashly, or without just and sufficient cause; for otherwise, in some cases, this may be not only lawful, but a duty, as when a servant lives wickedly, or robs his master, or the like, A servant; whose condition is in itself mean and miserable, and therefore thou shouldst not make it worse without great and apparent necessity. Curse thee; desire God to curse and punish thee, which though it may be sinful in him, yet being deserved by thee, thou hast reason to fear and expect. Be found guilty by God, who is ready to plead the cause of the afflicted, and upon strict search shall find thee guilty, and punish thee accordingly.

Read Matthew Poole on Proverbs 30 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Proverbs 30:10 Accuse not a servant unto his master, lest he curse thee, and thou be found guilty.Ver. 10. Accuse not a servant unto his master.] Unless it be in an ordinance, for the benefit of both. Much less may we falsely accuse wives to their husbands - as Stephen Gardiner and other courtparasites did King Henry VIII his wives to him of adultery, heresy, conspiracy, &c.; children to their parents - as the Jesuits, the Pope’ s bloodhounds, did Charles, eldest son of Philip, King of Spain, for suspicion of heresy, whereupon he was murdered by the cruel Inquisition; one friend to another; a sin that David could not endure; and Christ, the Son of David, as deeply disliked it in the…

Read John Trapp on Proverbs 30 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(10) Accuse not a servant—i.e., a slave, thus making his already hard life still more intolerable. And thou be found guilty before God of having wronged him, and so have to bear the punishment.

Read Charles John Ellicott on Proverbs 30 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 10. Accuse not a servant] Do not bring a false accusation against a servant, lest thou be found guilty of the falsehood, and he curse thee for having traduced his character, and in his turn traduce thine. In general, do not meddle with other people's servants.

Read AdamClarke on Proverbs 30 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

10. Accuse not] Lit. tongue not; i.e. use not thy tongue against. Comp. Psalms 101:5, where the same Heb. word is used in the same sense. lest he curse thee &c.] lest thy charge against him being not truth but “slander,” he imprecate upon thee a curse, which being not “causeless” (Proverbs 26:2) will come upon thee because thou art “held guilty.”

Read Cambridge on Proverbs 30 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Accuse not a servant - The prayer in Proverbs 30:8 does not shut out, sympathy with those who are less favored. Even the slave has a right to protection against frivolous or needless accusation.

Read Albert Barnes on Proverbs 30 →

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

Do not slander a servant to his master, or he will curse you, and you will bear the guilt.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

“Don’t slander a servant to his master, lest he curse you, and you be held guilty.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

Do not slander a servant to his master, or he will curse you, and you will bear the guilt.

NETBNew English Translation2006

Do not slander a servant to his master, lest he curse you, and you are found guilty.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

Accuse not a servant unto his master, lest he curse thee, and thou be found guilty.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

Slander not a servant unto his master, Lest he curse thee, and thou be held guilty.

RVARevised Version, American1894

Slander not a servant unto his master, lest he curse thee, and thou be held guilty.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

Accuse not a servant to his master, lest he curse thee, and thou be found guilty.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Accuse not a seruant vnto his master, lest he curse thee, when thou hast offended.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

Speak not too much about a servant to his master, lest he curse thee, and thou be held guilty.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

Accuse not a servant unto his lord, Lest he disesteem thee, and thou be found guilty.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

Do not accuse a servant to his lord, || Lest he disapprove of you, and you are found guilty.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

Do not calumniate a servant unto his master: lest he curse thee, and thou incur guilt.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Do not slander a slave before his master, or he will curse you and you will be held guilty.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

Accuse not a servant to his master, lest he curse thee, and thou fall.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

Don't slander a servant to his master, or he will curse you and you'll suffer for it.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

Do not say evil of a servant to his master, or he will put a curse on you, and you will get into trouble.

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.

clauseadverbialאַלdo.notverbתַּלְשֵׁ֣ןslanderobjectעֶ֭בֶדa.slaveprepositional phrase · prepositionalאֶלtonoun phraseאֲדֹנָ֑יmaster(s)וhisפֶּֽןlestclauseverbיְקַלֶּלְheobjectךָ֥should.curse.youוְandclauseverbאָשָֽׁמְתָּyou.will.be.held.guilty

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


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

The Masoretic Text of Proverbs 30:10 reads: "אַל־ תַּלְשֵׁ֣ן עֶ֭בֶד אֶל־ אֲדֹנָ֑יו פֶּֽן־ יְקַלֶּלְךָ֥ וְאָשָֽׁמְתָּ׃" The Septuagint also aligns closely with the Masoretic Text, matching all eight words in a word-by-word correspondence, though the order and articles differ due to the nature of Greek syntax. There are no significant differences in meaning or content between these witnesses for this verse.

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

אַל־ תַּלְשֵׁ֣ן עֶ֭בֶד אֶל־ אֲדֹנָ֑יו פֶּֽן־ יְקַלֶּלְךָ֥ וְאָשָֽׁמְתָּ׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
אַל־μὴתַּלְשֵׁ֣ןπαραδῷςעֶ֭בֶדοἰκέτηνאֶל־εἰςאֲדֹנָ֑יוδεσπότουפֶּֽן־μήποτεיְקַלֶּלְךָ֥σεוְאָשָֽׁמְתָּ׃ἀφανισθῇς

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.

Proverbs 30:10אַלmay notmay notאַללָשַׁןyou slanderyou slanderלָשַׁןעֶ֫בֶדa slavea slaveעֶ֫בֶדאֶלtotoאֶלאָדוֹןmaster hismaster hisאָדוֹןפֶּן־lestlestפֶּן־קָלַלhe should che should curseקָלַלאָשַׁםand you wiland you will beאָשַׁםלָשׁוֹןtonguetongueלָשׁוֹןעָבַדto serveto serveעָבַדפָּנָהCorner (GaCorner (Gate)פָּנָהלֹאnotnotלֹאחָתַתto to be dto to be dismayחָתַתיָרֵאto fearto fearיָרֵאאָמָהmaidservanmaidservantאָמָהשִׁפְחָהmaidservanmaidservantשִׁפְחָהפָּלַלto prayto prayפָּלַליִרְמְיָ֫הJeremiahJeremiahיִרְמְיָ֫הבִּיpleasepleaseבִּיחֵןfavorfavorחֵןפָּגַעto fall onto fall onפָּגַעשָׁכַחto forgetto forgetשָׁכַחבֶּן־יְמִינִיBenjaminitBenjaminiteבֶּן־יְמִינִיעֹלyokeyokeעֹלצַרnarrownarrowצַר
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 30:10

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.

may not you slander a slave to master his lest he should curse you and you will be held guilty
אַל־'al- may not H408 Particle
724× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Means not or nothing, used to express negation, as in the phrase do not or let not be.
Amplified meaning
refrain from, cease
Tyndale gloss
not
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אַל (al) is a negative particle meaning 'not' or 'no,' often used to express a wish or prohibition rather than an objective fact. It can also function as a noun meaning 'nothing.' The lexicons highlight its use in various contexts, including deprecative forms, but do not show significant disagreement.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אַל adv. of negation, denying however, not objectively as a fact, but subjectively as a wish, expressing therefore a deprecation or prohibition

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H408 אַל adv. of negation, denying however, not objectively as a fact, but subjectively as a wish, expressing therefore a deprecation or prohibition

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

408 'al al

a negative particle (akin to 3808); not (the qualified

negation, used as a deprecative); once (Job 24:25) as a noun,

nothing:--nay, neither, + never, no ,nor, not, nothing

(worth), rather than.

see HEBREW for 03808

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אַל (al) — not.

1) not, no, nor, neither, nothing (as wish or preference)

1a) do not, let not (with a verb)

1b) let there not be (with a verb understood)

1c) not, no (with substantive)

1d) nothing (as substantive)

Aramaic equivalent: al (אַל "not" H0409)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Part — Particle
HTn
may not you slander a slave to master his lest he should curse you and you will be held guilty
תַּלְשֵׁ֣ןtal.Shen you slander H3960 Verb · Hiphil · jussive second person masculine singular
2× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Lashan means to slander or accuse someone falsely, like the lies spread about Jesus. It's about using words to hurt or deceive others.
Amplified meaning
accuse falsely, speak evil of
Tyndale gloss
to slander
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

לָשַׁן (lashan) is a verb that means to slander or to use the tongue, derived from the root meaning to lick. It specifically refers to the act of calumniating or accusing others. The word appears in contexts such as Psalms 101:5 and Proverbs 30:10.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[לָשַׁן] vb. denom. use the tongue, only specif. slander

Po‛el ψ 101:5

Hiph. Pr 30:10.

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3960 לָשַׁן vb. denom. use the tongue, only specif. slander

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3960 lashan law-shan'

a primitive root; properly, to lick; but used only as a

denominative from 3956; to wag the tongue, i.e. to

calumniate:--accuse, slander.

see HEBREW for 03956

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

לָשַׁן (la.shan) — to slander.

1) to use the tongue, slander

1a) (Poel) to slander

1b) (Piel) to slander

1c) (Hiphil) to accuse

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Hiphil-Juss-2ms — Verb · Hiphil · jussive second person masculine singular
HVhj2ms
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

slan'-der (substantive, dibbah, "slander"; diabolos, "slanderer"; verb raghal, "to slink about" as a talebearer, lashan, "to use the tongue," "to slander"; diaballo, "to calumniate," "to slander"; and other words): Slander (etymologically a doublet of "scandal," from OFr. esclandre, Latin scandalum, "stumblingblock") is an accusation maliciously uttered, with the purpose or effect of damaging the reputation of another. As a rule it is a false charge (compare Mt 5:11); but it may be a truth circulated insidiously and with a hostile purpose (e.g. Da 3:8, "brought accusation against," where Septuagint has diaballo, "slander"; Lu 16:1, the same Greek word). Warnings, condemnations and complaints in reference to this sin are very…

Nave's Topical Bible

→ Comes from the evil heart Lu 6:45

→ Often arises from hatred Ps 109:3

→ Idleness leads to 1Ti 5:13

→ Evil people addicted to Ps 50:20

→ Hypocrites habitually Pr 11:9

→ A characteristic of the Devil Re 12:10

→ Wicked people love Ps 52:4

→ Those who indulge in, are fools Pr 10:18

→ Women warned against Tit 2:3

Torrey's New Topical Textbook

- An abomination to God

Pr 6:16,19

- Forbidden

Ex 23:1; Eph 4:31; Jas 4:11

- INCLUDES

. Whispering

Ro 1:29; 2Co 12:20

. Backbiting

Ro 1:30; 2Co 12:20

. Evil surmising

1Ti 6:4

. Tale-bearing

Le 19:16

. Babbling

Ec 10:11

. Tattling

1Ti 5:13

. Evil speaking

may not you slander a slave to master his lest he should curse you and you will be held guilty
עֶ֭בֶד'E.ved a slave H5650 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
801× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to a servant or slave, often in the context of serving God or a human master. It can also describe a prophet or Levite. The KJV translates it as bondage, bondman, or servant.
Amplified meaning
slave, bondservant
Tyndale gloss
servant/slave
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word עֶ֫בֶד (*ebed*) means 'slave' or 'servant' and encompasses various roles, including household servants, subjects, and worshippers of God. It can also refer to Israel as a collective servant of God and is used in polite address among equals. The word is derived from a root meaning 'to work' or 'to serve'.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עֶ֫בֶד 799 n.m. slave, servant

slave, servant of household

Subjects, of chief

Servants, worshippers of God

Servant of י׳, in a special sense

Israel as a people is servant of י׳

In polite address of equals or superiors the Hebrews used עַבְדְּךָ thy servant = 1 pers. sing., I

Phrases

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5650 עֶ֫בֶד slave, servant . slave, servant of household

. Subjects, of chief

. Servants, worshippers of God

. Servant of י׳, in a special sense

. Israel as a people is servant of י׳

. In polite address of equals or superiors the Hebrews used עַבְדְּךָ thy servant = 1 pers. sing., I

. Phrases

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5650 `ebed eh'-bed

from 5647; a servant:--X bondage, bondman, (bond-)servant,

(man-)servant.

see HEBREW for 05647

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עֶ֫בֶד (e.ved) — servant/slave.

1) slave, servant

1a) slave, servant, man-servant

1b) subjects

1c) servants, worshippers (of God)

1d) servant (in special sense as prophets, Levites etc)

1e) servant (of Israel)

1f) servant (as form of address between equals)

Aramaic equivalent: a.vad (עֲבַד "servant/slave" H5649)

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

Slave

Jer. 2:14 (A.V.), but not there found in the original. In Rev. 18:13 the word “slaves” is the rendering of a Greek word meaning “bodies.” The Hebrew and Greek words for slave are usually rendered simply “servant,” “bondman,” or “bondservant.” Slavery as it existed under the Mosaic law has no modern parallel. That law did not originate but only regulated the already existing custom of slavery (Ex. 21:20, 21, 26, 27; Lev. 25:44-46; Josh. 9:6-27). The gospel in its spirit and genius is hostile to slavery in every form, which under its influence is gradually disappearing from among men.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

The institution of slavery was recognized, though not established, by the Mosaic law with a view to mitigate its hardship and to secure to every man his ordinary rights. I. Hebrew slaves. -- The circumstances under which a Hebrew might be reduced to servitude were-- (1) poverty; (2) the commission of theft; and (3) the exercise of paternal authority. In the first case, a man who had mortgaged his property, and was unable to support his family, might sell himself to another Hebrew, with a view both to obtain maintenance and perchance a surplus sufficient to redeem his property. (Leviticus 25:25,39) (2) The commission of theft rendered a person liable to servitude whenever restitution could not be made on the scale prescribed by the law. (Exodus 22:1,3) The thief was bound to work…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

Jer 2:14; Re 18:13. See SERVANT.

may not you slander a slave to master his lest he should curse you and you will be held guilty
אֶל־'el- to H413 Preposition
5,518× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means 'to' or 'toward', showing direction or movement. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus, to indicate where someone is going. The KJV translates it in various ways, like 'about', 'according to', or 'against'.
Tyndale gloss
to(wards)
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word אֶל (el) is primarily a preposition indicating motion towards or direction to a person or place. It can also imply entering a limit, presence at a location, or a hostile direction (against). Additionally, it may express concepts such as concerning, in addition to, or according to. The entries highlight its versatility in both physical and metaphorical contexts.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֶל (nearly always followed by Makkeph),

prep. denoting motion to or direction towards (whether physical or mental).of motion to or unto a person or place

Where the limit is actually entered, into

Of direction towards anything

Where the motion or direction implied appears from the context to be of a hostile character, אֶל = against

Unto sometimes acquires from the context the sense of in addition to

Metaph. in regard to, concerning, on account of

Of rule or standard according to (rare)

Expressing presence at a spot, against, at, by, not merely after verbs implying motion

Prefixed to other preps. it combines with them the idea of motion or direction to

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H413 אֶל (nearly always followed by Makkeph), . of motion to or unto a person or place

. Where the limit is actually entered, into

. Of direction towards anything

. Where the motion or direction implied appears from the context to be of a hostile character, אֶל = against

. Unto sometimes acquires from the context the sense of in addition to

. Metaph. in regard to, concerning, on account of

. Of rule or standard according to (rare)

. Expressing presence at a spot, against, at, by, not merely after verbs implying motion

. Prefixed to other preps. it combines with them the idea of motion or direction to

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

413 'el ale

(but only used in the shortened constructive form sel {el});

a primitive particle; properly, denoting motion towards, but

occasionally used of a quiescent position, i.e. near, with or

among; often in general, to:--about, according to ,after,

against, among, as for, at, because(-fore, -side), both...and,

by, concerning, for, from, X hath, in(- to), near, (out) of,

over, through, to(-ward), under, unto, upon, whether,

with(-in).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֶל (el) — to(wards).

1) to, toward, unto (of motion)

2) into (limit is actually entered)

2a) in among

3) toward (of direction, not necessarily physical motion)

4) against (motion or direction of a hostile character)

5) in addition to, to

6) concerning, in regard to, in reference to, on account of

7) according to (rule or standard)

8) at, by, against (of one's presence)

9) in between, in within, to within, unto (idea of motion to)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep — Preposition
HR
may not you slander a slave to master his lest he should curse you and you will be held guilty
אֲדֹנָ֑יו'a.do.nov master his H113 Noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
333× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word ʼâdôwn refers to a lord or master, and can be used to describe human leaders or God. It emphasizes the person's power and control over others or things, and is often translated as lord or master.
Amplified meaning
lord, ruler
Tyndale gloss
lord
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word אָדוֹן (*'adown*) means 'lord' and is derived from a root meaning to rule. It covers a range of meanings, referring to both human and divine authority, including terms like master, king, and superintendent. Variations exist for divine references, such as אֲדֹנָי (*Adonai*), distinguishing God from human lords.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אָדוֹן n.m. lord (אֲדֹנִי, אֲדֹנַי, אֲדֹנָי are variations of Mass. pointing to distinguish divine reference fr. human. Pl., with few exc. an intens. pl. of rank; word takes sf. as pl. in all other pers.; so doubtless here. Orig. reading prob. in all cases אֲדֹנַי; אֲדֹנִי now found in J 51 t.)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H113 אָדוֹן lord

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

113 'adown aw-done'

or (shortened) adon {aw-done'}; from an unused root (meaning

to rule); sovereign, i.e. controller (human or divine):--

lord, master, owner. Compare also names beginning with

"Adoni-".

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אָדוֹן (a.don) — lord.

1) firm, strong, lord, master

1a) lord, master

1a1) reference to men

1a1a) superintendent of household, of affairs

1a1b) master

1a1c) king

1a2) reference to God

1a2a) the Lord God

1a2b) Lord of the whole earth

1b) lords, kings

1b1) reference to men

1b1a) proprietor of hill of Samaria

1b1b) master

1b1c) husband

1b1d) prophet

1b1e) governor

1b1f) prince

1b1g) king

1b2) reference to God

1b2a) Lord of lords (probably = "thy husband, Yahweh")

1c) my lord, my master

1c1) reference to men

1c1a) master

1c1b) husband

1c1c) prophet

1c1d) prince

1c1e) king

1c1f) father

1c1g) Moses

1c1h) priest

1c1i) theophanic angel

1c1j) captain

1c1k) general recognition of superiority

1c2) reference to God

1c2a) my Lord, my Lord and my God

1c2b) Adonai (parallel with Yahweh)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-mp | 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."

may not you slander a slave to master his lest he should curse you and you will be held guilty
פֶּֽן־pen- lest H6435 Particle
133× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word is used to express caution or warning, similar to saying 'lest' or 'beware that'. It is often used in the Bible to advise against certain actions or to warn of potential consequences.
Tyndale gloss
lest
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

פֶּן־ (pen) is a conjunction meaning 'lest' or 'not,' often used to express a warning or fear of a potential negative outcome. It is derived from a root meaning 'removal' and is typically found in constructions that indicate a precautionary context. The entries consistently emphasize its adverbial use in cautionary statements.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

פֶּן־ 133 (alw. with Makkeph) conj. (adverting or deprecating), lest

with impf.

with Pf., the result feared being conceived as having possibly already taken place

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6435 פֶּן־ (alw. with Makkeph) (adverting or deprecating), lest . with impf.

. with Pf., the result feared being conceived as having possibly already taken place

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6435 pen pane

from 6437; properly, removal; used only (in the construction)

adverb as conjunction, lest:--(lest) (peradventure),

that...not.

see HEBREW for 06437

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

פֶּן־ (pen) — lest.

conj

1) lest, not, beware lest

adv

2) lest

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj — Particle
HTc
may not you slander a slave to master his lest he should curse you and you will be held guilty
יְקַלֶּלְךָ֥ye.ka.lel.Cha he should curse you H7043 Verb piel imperfect third person masculine singular · suffix
82× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word qalal means to make something light or easy, but it can also mean to curse or bring into contempt. It appears in various forms throughout the Old Testament, including in the books of Exodus and Psalms.
Amplified meaning
possibly, lest, bring into contempt, condemn
Tyndale gloss
to lighten
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word קָלַל (qalal) is a primitive root meaning to be light or trifling, covering a range of senses from being swift to being of little account. It can also mean to curse or treat with contempt. The verb appears in various forms, including Qal, Niphal, Piel, and Hiphil, indicating different nuances such as making light or being lightly esteemed.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[קָלַל] 82 vb. be slight, swift, trifling

Qal

be slight, of water, be abated

be swift

trifling, i.e. of little account

Niph.

shew oneself swift

appear trifling

be lightly esteemed

Pi. curse (prop. make contemptible)

Pu. be cursed

Hiph.

make light, lighten

treat with contempt

Pilp.

shake

(peculiarly) whet

Hithpalp. reflex. of 1: hills shook themselves

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7043 קָלַל be slight, swift, trifling .. be slight, of water, be abated

. be swift

. trifling, i.e. of little account

. . shew oneself swift

. appear trifling

. be lightly esteemed

. curse (prop. make contemptible)

. be cursed

. . make light, lighten

. treat with contempt

. . shake

. (peculiarly) whet

. reflex. of 1: hills shook themselves

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7043 qalal kaw-lal'

a primitive root; to be (causatively, make) light, literally

(swift, small, sharp, etc.) or figuratively (easy, trifling,

vile, etc.):--abate, make bright, bring into contempt,

(ac-)curse, despise, (be) ease(-y, -ier), (be a, make, make

somewhat, move, seem a, set) light(-en, -er, -ly, -ly

afflict, -ly esteem, thing), X slight(-ly), be swift(-er),

(be, be more, make, re-)vile, whet.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

קָלַל (qa.lal) — to lighten.

1) to be slight, be swift, be trifling, be of little account, be light

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to be slight, be abated (of water)

1a2) to be swift

1a3) to be trifling, be of little account

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be swift, show oneself swift

1b2) to appear trifling, be too trifling, be insignificant

1b3) to be lightly esteemed

1c) (Piel)

1c1) to make despicable

1c2) to curse

1d) (Pual) to be cursed

1e) (Hiphil)

1e1) to make light, lighten

1e2) to treat with contempt, bring contempt or dishonour

1f) (Pilpel)

1f1) to shake

1f2) to whet

1g) (Hithpalpel) to shake oneself, be moved to and fro

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Piel-Imperf-3ms | Suff — Verb piel imperfect third person masculine singular · suffix
HVpi3ms/Sp2ms
may not you slander a slave to master his lest he should curse you and you will be held guilty
וְאָשָֽׁמְתָּ׃ve.'a.Sha.me.ta and you will be held guilty H816 Verb · Qal · sequential perfect second person masculine singular
35× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To be guilty means to have done something wrong and deserve punishment, as seen in the story of Adam and Eve in Genesis 3:8-10.
Amplified meaning
as a result, be found guilty, suffer punishment
Tyndale gloss
be guilty
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אָשַׁם (asham) means to offend or be guilty, covering actions like committing an offense or trespass. It can also imply suffering punishment or being declared guilty. The entries indicate that it can denote both personal guilt and the consequences of wrongdoing, with some nuances in how it is used in different grammatical forms.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אָשַׁם, אָשֵׁם vb. offend, be guilty

commit an offence, a trespass, do a wrong, or an injury

be or become guilty

be held guilty, bear punishment

Niph. suffer punishment

Hiph. declare them guilty

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H816 אָשַׁם, אָשֵׁם offend, be guilty

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

816 'asham aw-sham'

or mashem {aw-shame'}; a primitive root; to be guilty; by

implication to be punished or perish:--X certainly, be(-come,

made) desolate, destroy, X greatly, be(-come, found, hold)

guilty, offend (acknowledge offence), trespass.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אָשַׁם (a.sham) — be guilty.

1) to offend, be guilty, trespass

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to do wrong, offend, trespass, commit an offense, do injury

1a2) to be or become guilty

1a3) to be held guilty

1a4) to be incriminated

1b) (Niphal) to suffer punishment

1c) (Hiphil) to declare guilty

2) (TWOT) to be desolate, acknowledge offense

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-2ms — Verb · Qal · sequential perfect second person masculine singular
Hc/Vqq2ms
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

gil'-ti: In addition to the general discussion under GUILT (which see), several New Testament passages demand special notice because the word "guilty" is not used in the principal sense of blameworthy, but with one of the two lesser meanings noted above which go to make up the complete idea. In 3 of these passages the King James Version renders "guilty" and the Revised Version (British and American) gives another rendering. In Mt 26:66 the King James Version, Jesus' foes declare he is "guilty of death" (enochos, "liable to"). Here "guilty" simply means the one who is legally held, and the reference is not to the blame but to the consequence. This is a true use of the word in the lower and legal sense. It does not correspond with our higher usage, and so we have it in the Revised Version (British and American) "worthy of death." So…

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

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