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Proverbs 31:8 — Word Study

Depth

WLCפְּתַח־ פִּ֥יךָ לְאִלֵּ֑ם אֶל־ דִּ֝֗ין כָּל־ בְּנֵ֥י חֲלֽוֹף׃

BSAOpenpâthach [to speak on behalf of, to utter words for] your mouthpeh [lips, edge of something] for those with no voiceʼillêm [mute, unable to speak, dumb] forʼêl the causedîyn [judgment, legal suit, plea] of allkôl [everything, every person] the dispossessedbên [those appointed to destruction, left desolate, marginalized by society]

Word
Listen & take awayProverbs 31
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 8 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 (cha.Lof) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Proverbs 31:8quick helps
In a sentenceThe verse calls for advocacy on behalf of those who cannot speak for themselves.
Who is speakingThe speaker is addressing an audience, urging them to take action.
Where we areThis verse is part of a larger discourse on justice and moral responsibility.
The hard wordאִלֵּם
Take awaySpeak up for those in need.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbפָּתַח The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
How rare are these words?in the Old Testament

1 of 8 occurs nowhere else in the Old Testament — a word chosen on purpose.

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 31:8

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 — The Call for Justicegenerated

7Let him drink and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
8Open your mouth for those with no voice, for the cause of all the dispossessed.
9Open your mouth, judge righteously, and defend the cause of the poor and needy.
10A wife of noble character, who can find? She is far more precious than rubies.

Proverbs 31:8 emphasizes the importance of using one's voice to advocate for those who are marginalized and unable to speak for themselves. This call to action is situated within a passage that highlights the responsibility to judge righteously and defend the cause of the poor and needy, as seen in the surrounding verses.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Proverbs 24:7–11Wisdom is too high for a fool; he does not open his mouth in the meeting place.
21 Samuel 19:4–7Then Jonathan spoke well of David to his father Saul and said to him, “The king should not sin against his servant David; he has not sinned against you. In fact, his actions have been highly beneficial to you.
31 Samuel 20:32“Why must he be put to death?” Jonathan replied. “What has he done?”
41 Samuel 22:14–15Ahimelech answered the king, “Who among all your servants is as faithful as David, the king’s son-in-law, the captain of your bodyguard who is honored in your house?
5Esther 4:13–16he sent back to her this reply: “Do not imagine that because you are in the king’s palace you alone will escape the fate of all the Jews.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 11 references, hung on the phrase they belong to

such, etcPsalm 79:11

The Key Word פָּתַח, pe.tach-generated

The verb פָּתַח (pathach) means 'to open' and is used here in the imperative form, urging the listener to take action by speaking out. It conveys a sense of urgency and responsibility to articulate the needs of those who cannot do so themselves.

This word can also imply the act of engraving or carving, suggesting that the words spoken should be carefully considered and impactful, much like intricate designs on important objects.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

The translations generally agree on the meaning of the verse, emphasizing the need to speak for those without a voice.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The finite verb פְּתַח (open) governs the entire verse, with several phrases detailing the object and purpose of the action. The structure emphasizes the imperative nature of the call to speak up.

The sentence is built around a command, with a clear focus on the subjects who are to be defended and the cause they represent.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates פָּתַח as ἄνοιγε (anoige), which also means 'to open.' This choice reflects a direct correspondence to the Hebrew meaning, maintaining the imperative call to action.

The Greek translation captures the urgency of the command, emphasizing the need to advocate for those who cannot speak for themselves.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Proverbs 31:8 calls on individuals to use their voices to advocate for those who cannot speak for themselves. This verse emphasizes the importance of justice and defending the marginalized, aligning with the surrounding context of moral responsibility.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean to 'open your mouth'?

It means to speak out and advocate for those who cannot speak for themselves, particularly the marginalized and oppressed.

Who are the 'dispossessed' mentioned in this verse?

The dispossessed refers to those who have been marginalized or left desolate by society, often lacking the means to defend themselves.

Why is it important to speak for the mute?

Speaking for the mute is crucial as it ensures that their needs and rights are represented, promoting justice and compassion in society.

How can I apply this verse in my life?

You can apply this verse by actively advocating for those in need in your community, using your voice to support justice and equality.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what situations have I seen people unable to speak for themselves, and how can I help them?
  2. What are some practical ways I can advocate for justice in my community?
  3. How does this verse challenge me to use my voice more effectively?
  4. What does it mean to me personally to defend the cause of the dispossessed?

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

The verse has been referenced by early commentators, including Bede, who emphasizes the importance of speaking for those who cannot advocate for themselves.

BedeCommentary on Proverbs c. 673–735
Open your mouth for the mute, etc. For the cause of the poor, who cannot speak for themselves in judgment, remember to speak, and take care to defend those who, with the view of the heavenly fatherland,
Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 31 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Proverbs 31:8 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

Open thy mouth for the dumb,.... Not who are naturally so, but who cannot speak in their own behalf, either through want of elocution, or knowledge of the laws; or who are bashful, timorous, and

Read John Gill on Proverbs 31 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction. Open thy mouth for the dumb - i:e., for those who cannot defend themselves in the courts of justice.

Read Robert Jamieson on Proverbs 31 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Open thy mouth, speak freely and impartially, as becomes a king and judge to do, for the dumb; for such as cannot speak in their own cause, either through ignorance and infirmity, or because of the dread of their more potent adversaries, or of the majesty of the king sitting in judgment. Such as are appointed to destruction; who without such succour from the judge are like to be utterly ruined, whom therefore both justice and charity oblige thee to preserve.

Read Matthew Poole on Proverbs 31 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Proverbs 31:8 Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.Ver. 8. Open thy mouth for the dumb,] i.e., Speak wisely and freely for those that either cannot or may not speak for themselves. Thus Nicodemus spoke for our Saviour; Paphnutius in the council for the married clergy; Pliny to Trajan for the persecuted Christians; the Elector of Saxony for Luther, &c. Oecolampadius saith that wise men only open their mouths, for a fool’ s mouth is never but open. Hence, κεχηνοτες, gapers, are put for fools in Lucian and Aristophanes. Oecolamp. in Job xxxiii.

Read John Trapp on Proverbs 31 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(8) Open thy mouth for the dumb.—Who cannot from timidity or ignorance plead his own cause, and who would therefore be crushed by his antagonist. Such as are appointed to destruction.—Certain to perish if left unaided. Comp. Job’s account of his exertions for victims of high-handed oppression, an ever recurring evil under weak despotic governments (Job 29:12, sqq.).

Read Charles John Ellicott on Proverbs 31 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 8. Open thy mouth for the dumb] For such accused persons as have no counsellors, and cannot plead for themselves. Are appointed to destruction.] בני חלוף beney chaloph, variously translated, children of passage - indigent travellers; children of desolation - those who have no possessions, or orphans. I believe it either signifies those who are strangers, and are travelling from place to place, or those who are ready to perish in consequence of want or oppression.

Read AdamClarke on Proverbs 31 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

8. for the dumb] for all who cannot plead their own cause. such as are appointed to destruction] Lit. the sons of passing away. We may understand this either of those who are in danger of ruin by being condemned to loss of life or goods; or of those who are left desolate (R.V. text), and have no one to plead their cause. Comp. “the fatherless children and widows, and all that are desolate and oppressed.”

Read Cambridge on Proverbs 31 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

In contrast with the two besetting sins of Eastern monarchs stands their one great duty, to give help to those who had no other helper.

Read Albert Barnes on Proverbs 31 →

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

Open your mouth for those with no voice, for the cause of all the dispossessed.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Open your mouth for the mute, in the cause of all who are left desolate.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

Open your mouth for those with no voice, for the cause of all the dispossessed.

NETBNew English Translation2006

Open your mouth on behalf of those unable to speak, for the legal rights of all the dying.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

Open thy mouth for the dumb, In the cause of all such as are left desolate.

RVARevised Version, American1894

Open thy mouth for the dumb, in the cause of all such as are left desolate.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Open thy mouth for the domme in the cause of all the children of destruction.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

Open thy mouth for the dumb, for the cause of all those that are left desolate.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

Open thy mouth for the dumb, For the right of all sons of change.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

Open your mouth for the mute, || For the right of all sons of change.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

Open thy mouth for the dumb, for the cause of all fatherless children.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Speak for those who cannot speak, for the causes of all who are perishing.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

Open thy mouth for the dumb, and for the causes of all the children that pass.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

Speak up for those who have no voice, for the rights of those marginalized by society.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

Let your mouth be open for those who have no voice, in the cause of those who are ready for death.

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.

clauseverbפְּתַחopennoun phrase · objectפִּ֥יmouthךָyourprepositional phrase · prepositionalלְfor.[the]אִלֵּ֑םdumbprepositional phrase · prepositionalאֶלtonoun phraseדִּ֝֗ין[the].causenoun phraseכָּלof.allnoun phraseבְּנֵ֥י[the].sonsחֲלֽוֹףof.passing.away

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 their wording, with a close correspondence between the Hebrew and Greek texts. The Septuagint retains the essential message of the Hebrew, indicating a consistent understanding of the verse across these traditions.

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

פְּתַח־ פִּ֥יךָ לְאִלֵּ֑ם אֶל־ דִּ֝֗ין כָּל־ בְּנֵ֥י חֲלֽוֹף׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
פְּתַח־ἄνοιγεפִּ֥יךָσὸνלְאִלֵּ֑םθεοῦאֶל־καὶדִּ֝֗יןκρῖνεכָּל־πάνταςחֲלֽוֹף׃ὑγιῶς

7 of the 8 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.

Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.


The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with

This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.

Proverbs 31:8פָּתַחopenopenפָּתַחפֶּהmouth yourmouth yourפֶּהאִלֵּםfor [the] dfor [the] dumbאִלֵּםאֶלtotoאֶלדִּין[the] cause[the] cause ofדִּיןכֹּלallallכֹּלבֵּן[the] sons [the] sons ofבֵּןחֲלוֹףpassing awapassing awayחֲלוֹףדִּיןto judgeto judgeדִּיןפָּאָהto cleaveto cleaveפָּאָהאָלַםbe dumbbe dumbאָלַםכָּלַלto perfectto perfectכָּלַלבָּנָהto buildto buildבָּנָהחָלַףto passto passחָלַףפָּתַחto opento openפָּתַחפִּתּוּחַengravingengravingפִּתּוּחַדָּלdoordoorדָּלאֹמֶרwordwordאֹמֶרחֵרֵשׁdeafdeafחֵרֵשׁפָּלַלto prayto prayפָּלַליִרְמְיָ֫הJeremiahJeremiahיִרְמְיָ֫העֵדָהcongregaticongregationעֵדָהעֲבֹדָהserviceserviceעֲבֹדָהעַמּוֹןAmmonAmmonעַמּוֹןרְאוּבֵןReubenReubenרְאוּבֵן
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 31:8

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.

open mouth your for [the] dumb to [the] cause of all [the] sons of passing away
פְּתַח־pe.tach- open H6605 Verb · Qal · imperative second person masculine singular
144× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This verb means to engrave or carve, and is used in Exodus to describe the intricate carvings on the furniture of the tabernacle.
Amplified meaning
to speak on behalf of, to utter words for
Tyndale gloss
to open
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

פָּתַח (pathach) is a Hebrew verb meaning 'to open' and can refer to various actions such as opening doors, loosening restraints, or engraving. It has different forms, including Qal (to open), Niphal (to be opened), and Piel (to engrave). The entries highlight its literal and figurative uses, but there is some overlap in meaning regarding its applications in opening and engraving.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

פָּתַח vb. open

Qal open sack

Niph. be opened

Pi. be opened

free, i.e. ungird, camels

loosen (and remove) sack-cloth

open gates, doors

Hithp. loosen thee the fetters of thy neck

base

[פָּתַח] vb. Pi. engrave

Pu. stones engraved with the engravings of a signet.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6605a פָּתַח open .open sack

. be opened

. be opened . free, i.e. ungird, camels

. loosen (and remove) sack-cloth

. open gates, doors

. loosen thee the fetters of thy neck

H6605b פָּתַח Pi. engrave

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6605 pathach paw-thakh'

a primitive root; to open wide (literally or figuratively);

specifically, to loosen, begin, plough, carve:--appear, break

forth, draw (out), let go free, (en-)grave(-n), loose (self),

(be, be set) open(-ing), put off, ungird, unstop, have vent.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

פָּתַח (pa.tach) — to open.

1) to open

1a) (Qal) to open

1b) (Niphal) to be opened, be let loose, be thrown open

1c) (Piel)

1c1) to free

1c2) to loosen

1c3) to open, open oneself

1d) (Hithpael) to loose oneself

Aramaic equivalent: pe.tach (פְּתַח "to open" H6606)

פָּתַח (pa.tach) — to engrave.

1) to carve, engrave

1a) (Piel) to engrave

1b) (Pual) to be engraved

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Impv-2ms — Verb · Qal · imperative second person masculine singular
HVqv2ms
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

o'-p'-n: In the Old Testament represents chiefly pathach, but also other words, as galah, "to uncover"; of the opening of the eyes in vision, etc. (thus Balaam, Nu 22:31; 24:4; compare Job 33:16; 36:10; Ps 119:18; Jer 32:11,14). In the New Testament the usual word is anoigo (of opening of mouth, eyes, heavens, doors, etc.). A peculiar word, trachelizomai (literally, to have the neck bent back, to be laid bare), is used for "laid open" before God in Heb 4:13.

open mouth your for [the] dumb to [the] cause of all [the] sons of passing away
פִּ֥יךָPi.kha mouth your H6310 Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
498× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this Hebrew word refers to the mouth, lips, or edge of something, and can also mean a portion or side of something. It is often used to describe speech or the act of speaking. This word appears in various forms, such as mouth, lip, or edge.
Amplified meaning
lips, edge of something
Tyndale gloss
lip
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word פֶּה (*peh*) means 'mouth' and encompasses various meanings, including the mouth of a person or animal, as well as openings or orifices. It can also refer to speech, edges, and portions. Additionally, it denotes a weight equal to one third of a shekel, found in 1 Samuel 13:21.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

פֶּה 485 n.m. mouth

mouth, of man, organ of eating and drinking

external organ

much oftener, as organ of speech, of man

as laughing; panting

of God

of idols

of musical instr. = sound

of animals; hence of edge of sword

mouth = opening, orifice

extremity, end

= portion

with preps.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6310 פֶּה mouth . . mouth, of man, organ of eating and drinking

. external organ

. . much oftener, as organ of speech, of man

. as laughing; panting

. of God

. of idols

. of musical instr. = sound

. of animals

. mouth = opening, orifice

. . extremity, end

. = portion

. with preps.

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6310 peh peh

from 6284; the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether

literal or figurative (particularly speech); specifically

edge, portion or side; adverbially (with preposition)

according to:--accord(-ing as, -ing to), after, appointment,

assent, collar, command(-ment), X eat, edge, end, entry, +

file, hole, X in, mind, mouth, part, portion, X (should)

say(-ing), sentence, skirt, sound, speech, X spoken, talk,

tenor, X to, + two-edged, wish, word.

see HEBREW for 06284

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

פֶּה (peh) — lip.

: lip/mouth

peh

1) mouth

1a) mouth (of man)

1b) mouth (as organ of speech)

1c) mouth (of animals)

1d) mouth, opening, orifice (of a well, river, etc)

1e) extremity, end pim

2) a weight equal to one third of a shekel, occurs only in 1Sa 13:21

פֶּה (peh) — lip: edge.

: edge

peh

1) mouth

1a) mouth (of man)

1b) mouth (as organ of speech)

1c) mouth (of animals)

1d) mouth, opening, orifice (of a well, river, etc)

1e) extremity, end pim

2) a weight equal to one third of a shekel, occurs only in 1Sa 13:21

פֶּה (peh) — lip: word.

: word/command

peh

1) mouth

1a) mouth (of man)

1b) mouth (as organ of speech)

1c) mouth (of animals)

1d) mouth, opening, orifice (of a well, river, etc)

1e) extremity, end pim

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
HNcmsc/Sp2ms
open mouth your for [the] dumb to [the] cause of all [the] sons of passing away
לְאִלֵּ֑םle.'i.Lem for [the] dumb H483 Preposition
6× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word describes someone who is mute or unable to speak, often translated as dumb. In the Bible, it is used to describe people who are unable to communicate verbally, like the man healed by Jesus.
Amplified meaning
mute, unable to speak, dumb
Tyndale gloss
mute
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אִלֵּם (illem) means 'dumb' or 'unable to speak.' It is derived from a root that indicates speechlessness. The entries consistently describe it as mute or silent, with no significant disagreement among the lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אִלֵּם adj. dumb, unable to speak

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H483 אִלֵּם dumb, unable to speak

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

483 'illem il-lame'

from 481; speechless:--dumb (man).

see HEBREW for 0481

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אִלֵּם (il.lem) — mute.

mute, silent, dumb, unable to speak

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | Adj — Preposition
HR/Aamsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

dum (alam, 'illem, literally, "tied in the tongue"; kophos): Used either as expressing the physical condition of speechlessness, generally associated with deafness, or figuratively as meaning the silence produced by the weight of God's judgments (Ps 39:2-9; Da 10:15) or the oppression of external calamity (Ps 38:13). As an adjective it is used to characterize inefficient teachers destitute of spirituality ("dumb dogs," Isa 56:10). The speechlessness of Saul's companions (Ac 9:7) was due to fright; that of the man without the wedding garment was because he had no excuse to give (

Dumb

From natural infirmity (Ex. 4:11); not knowing what to say (Prov. 31:8); unwillingness to speak (Ps. 39:9; Lev. 10:3). Christ repeatedly restored the dumb (Matt. 9:32, 33; Luke 11:14; Matt. 12:22) to the use of speech.

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
open mouth your for [the] dumb to [the] cause of all [the] sons of passing away
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
open mouth your for [the] dumb to [the] cause of all [the] sons of passing away
דִּ֝֗יןDin [the] cause of H1779 Noun common · masculine singular construct
20× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Judgment or a legal suit is the meaning of this word, used to describe a cause, plea, or dispute in the Bible.
Amplified meaning
judgment, legal suit, plea
Tyndale gloss
judgment
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

דִּין (din) primarily means 'judgment' and encompasses concepts such as legal suits, causes, and strife. It can also refer to a throne of judgment or government. The word is built from a root related to justice and legal proceedings, and its Aramaic equivalent is also דִּין.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

דִּין n.[m.] judgment

throne of judgment

cause, plea

judgment, condemnation

strife

government

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1779 דִּין judgment . throne of judgment

. cause, plea

. judgment, condemnation

. strife

. government

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1779 duwn doon

from 1777; judgement (the suit, justice, sentence or

tribunal); by impl. also strife:--cause, judgement, plea,

strife.

see HEBREW for 01777

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

דִּין (din) — judgment.

1) judgment

1a) judgment

1b) cause, plea

1c) condemnation, judgment

1d) dispute, legal suit, strife

1e) government

Aramaic equivalent: din (דִּין "judgment" H1780)

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

ov:

(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.

English usagewhat the translators’ English meant
Webster's Dictionary (1828), Webster's Unabridged (1913), Webster's Dictionary (1806)

OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]

1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.

I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.

For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.

It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.

Lamentations 3:1.

The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.

Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.

That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.

Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…

open mouth your for [the] dumb to [the] cause of all [the] sons of passing away
כָּל־kol- all H3605 Noun common · masculine singular construct
5,415× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for 'all' or 'everything' is used throughout the Bible, like in Genesis 1:31, where God sees all He has made as very good. It encompasses the entirety of something, whether people, things, or situations.
Amplified meaning
everything, every person
Tyndale gloss
all
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כֹּל (kol) means 'all' or 'the whole.' It can refer to totality, including every person or thing, and is often used with a following genitive to specify what is included. The term can also denote a broader sense of everything in existence or all circumstances of life. The lexicons do not show significant disagreement on its meanings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כֹּל once כּוֹל n.m. the whole, all

with foll. gen. (as usually) the whole of, to be rendered, however, often in our idiom, to avoid stiffness, any or every

Absolutely:

without the art., all things, all

with the art. הַכֹּל

where the sense is limited by the context to things (or persons) just mentioned

in a wider sense, all, whether of all mankind or of all living things, the universe, or of all the circumstances of life (chiefly late)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3605 כֹּל once כּוֹל the whole, all . with foll. gen. (as usually) the whole of, to be rendered, however, often in our idiom, to avoid stiffness, any or every

. Absolutely: . without the art., all things, all

. with the art. הַכֹּל . where the sense is limited by the context to things (or persons) just mentioned

. in a wider sense, all, whether of all mankind or of all living things, the universe, or of all the circumstances of life (chiefly late)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3605 kol kole

or (Jer. 33:8) kowl {kole}; from 3634; properly, the whole;

hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a

plural sense):--(in) all (manner, (ye)), altogether, any

(manner), enough, every (one, place, thing), howsoever, as

many as, (no-)thing, ought, whatsoever, (the) whole,

whoso(-ever).

see HEBREW for 03634

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כֹּל (kol) — all.

1) all, the whole

1a) all, the whole of

1b) any, each, every, anything

1c) totality, everything

Aramaic equivalent: kol (כֹּל "all" H3606)

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

ol: Used in various combinations, and with different meanings.

(1) All along, "Weeping all along as he went" (Jer 41:6), i.e. throughout the whole way he went, feigning equal concern with the men from Shiloh, etc., for the destruction of the Temple, so as to put them off their guard.

(2) All in all, "That God may be all in all" (1Co 15:28, Greek: panta en pasin, "all things in all (persons and) things"). "The universe, with all it comprises, will wholly answer to God's will and reflect His mind" (Dummelow).

(3) All one, "It is all one" (Job 9:22), "it makes no difference whether I live or die."

(4) At all, "If thy father miss me at all" (1Sa 20:6), "in any way," "in the least."

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
open mouth your for [the] dumb to [the] cause of all [the] sons of passing away
בְּנֵ֥יbe.Nei [the] sons of H1121 Noun common · masculine plural construct
4,943× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this word means a son or descendant, and can also refer to a grandson, nation, or quality. It appears in 1 Chronicles 24, describing a Levite named Beno. The word is used to show family relationships and inheritance.
Amplified meaning
those appointed to destruction, left desolate, marginalized by society
Tyndale gloss
son: child
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

בֵּן (ben) means 'son' or 'male child' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including descendants, young animals, and even figurative uses like sparks or arrows. It can refer to members of a tribe or class and is used in various contexts throughout the Old Testament, such as in 1 Chronicles 24:26. The word is derived from a root meaning 'to build' and implies a connection to family or lineage.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

בֵּן 4870 n.m. son

son, male child, born of a woman

children (male and female)

youth, young men

the young of animals

of plant shoots

fig. of lifeless things, sparks, stars, arrows

member of a guild, order or class

of animals son of (the) herd

ב׳ as n. relat. followed by word of quality, characteristic, etc.

n. relat. of age

base

בְּנוֹ 1 Ch 24:26, 27 as n.pr.m. in AV, RV, but render: the sons of Jaaziah his son, & the sons of Merari by Jaaziah his son, cf. VB & Be Öt.

done

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1121a בֵּן son . son, male child, born of a woman

. children (male and female)

. youth, young men

. the young of animals

. of plant shoots

. fig. of lifeless things, sparks, stars, arrows

. . member of a guild, order or class

. of animals son of (the) herd

. ב׳ as n. relat. followed by word of quality, characteristic, etc.

. n. relat. of age

H1121b בְּנוֹ as n. pr. m. in AV, RV, but render: the sons of Jaaziah his son, & the sons of Merari by Jaaziah his son

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1121 ben bane

from 1129; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the

widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship,

including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition,

etc., (like 1, 251, etc.)):--+ afflicted, age, (Ahoh-)

(Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-)ite, (anoint-)ed one, appointed to,

(+) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-)ian, one born,

bough, branch, breed, + (young) bullock, + (young) calf, X

came up in, child, colt, X common, X corn, daughter, X of

first, + firstborn, foal, + very fruitful, + postage, X in, +

kid, + lamb, (+) man, meet, + mighty, + nephew, old, (+)

people, + rebel, + robber, X servant born, X soldier, son, +

spark, + steward, + stranger, X surely, them of, + tumultuous

one, + valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth.

see HEBREW for 01129

see HEBREW for 01

see HEBREW for 0251

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בֵּן (ben) — son: child.

: child/son

בְּנוֹ (be.no) — Beno.

A man of the tribe of Levi living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Ch.24.26;

son of: Jaaziah (H3269);

brother of: Shoham (H7719), Zaccur (H2139I) and Ibri (H5681)

§ Beno = "his son"

the sons of Jaaziah and the sons of Merari by Jaahziah (his son)

בֵּן (ben) — son: descendant/people.

: descendant, people, tribe, nation

A sub-meaning of ben (בֵּן ": child" H1121)

§ : child/son

בֵּן (ben) — son: young animal.

: calf/lamb/young(ANIMAL)

A sub-meaning of ben (בֵּן ": child" H1121)

§ : descendant

בֵּן (ben) — son: type of.

: rebel/son(Belial)

A sub-meaning of ben (בֵּן ": child" H1121)

§ : people/men/nation/tribe

בֵּן (ben) — son.

: [inheriting]son/heir

A sub-meaning of ben (בֵּן ": child" H1121)

בֵּן (ben) — son: warrior.

: warrior/son(strong)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-mp — Noun common · masculine plural construct
HNcmpc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

See SON, SONS.

English usagewhat the translators’ English meant
Webster's Dictionary (1828), Webster's Unabridged (1913), Webster's Dictionary (1806)

OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]

1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.

I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.

For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.

It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.

Lamentations 3:1.

The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.

Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.

That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.

Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…

open mouth your for [the] dumb to [the] cause of all [the] sons of passing away
חֲלֽוֹף׃cha.Lof passing away H2475 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
1× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

חֲלוֹף n.m. a passing away, vanishing—Pr 31:8

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2475 חֲלוֹף

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2475 chalowph khal-ofe'

from 2498; properly, surviving; by implication (collectively)

orphans:--X destruction.

see HEBREW for 02498

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חֲלוֹף (cha.loph) — destruction.

destruction, passing away, vanishing, appointed to destruction

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HNcmsa — Noun common · masculine singular absolute
HNcmsa
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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