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Proverbs 7:23 — Word Study

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WLCעַ֤ד יְפַלַּ֪ח חֵ֡ץ כְּֽבֵד֗וֹ כְּמַהֵ֣ר צִפּ֣וֹר אֶל־ פָּ֑ח וְלֹֽא־ יָ֝דַ֗ע כִּֽי־ בְנַפְשׁ֥וֹ הֽוּא׃ פ

BSAuntilʻad an arrowchêts piercespâlach [strikes through] his liverkâbêd [the heaviest organ, seat of emotions] like a birdtsippôwr [a little bird, sparrow] dartingmâhar [hastening, rushing] intoʼêl a snarepach [a net, trap] notlôʼ knowingyâdaʻ [unaware, without understanding] ithûwʼ will cost him his lifenephesh [soul, living being]

Word
Listen & take awayProverbs 7
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 23 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 (Hu') — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Proverbs 7:23quick helps
In a sentenceThe passage warns of the dangers of temptation, illustrating the consequences of succumbing to it.
Who is speakingA father addressing his sons, offering wisdom about avoiding destructive paths.
Where we areIn a section of Proverbs that discusses the allure of temptation and its deadly consequences.
The hard wordיְפַלַּ֪ח
Take awayThe imagery of an arrow piercing highlights the sudden and fatal nature of succumbing to temptation.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause subjectחֵץ verbפָּלַח 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 7:23

Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.

Context — Wisdom on the Dangers of Temptationgenerated

22He follows her on impulse, like an ox going to the slaughter, like a deer bounding into a trap,
23until an arrow pierces his liver, like a bird darting into a snare— not knowing it will cost him his life.
24Now, my sons, listen to me, and attend to the words of my mouth.
25Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways; do not stray into her paths.

Proverbs 7:23 warns that giving in to temptation can lead to dire consequences, likening it to an arrow striking unexpectedly. The father encourages his sons to heed his words and avoid the paths that lead to destruction, as seen in the surrounding verses. This passage serves as a reminder of the importance of discernment and self-control in the face of temptation.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Numbers 25:8–9followed the Israelite into his tent, and drove the spear through both of them—through the Israelite and on through the belly of the woman. So the plague against the Israelites was halted,
2Proverbs 1:17How futile it is to spread the net where any bird can see it!
3Ecclesiastes 9:12For surely no man knows his time: Like fish caught in a cruel net or birds trapped in a snare, so men are ensnared in an evil time that suddenly falls upon them.
4Proverbs 9:18But they do not know that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 4 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word יְפַלַּ֪ח, ye.fa.Lachgenerated

The verb יְפַלַּ֪ח (ye.fa.Lach) is in the imperfect tense, indicating an action that will occur. It conveys the idea of piercing or cleaving, suggesting a sudden and impactful action. This word is often used in contexts that involve breaking through or penetrating something, which emphasizes the severity of the consequence described.

In this verse, it vividly illustrates the fatal outcome of succumbing to temptation, as the arrow pierces the liver, a vital organ. The Piel stem of the verb indicates a more intense action, reinforcing the urgency and danger of the situation.


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 יְפַלַּ֪ח governs the sentence, with the subject חֵ֡ץ (arrow) and the object כְּבֵד֗וֹ (his liver) following it. The structure emphasizes the action of piercing as the focal point of the verse.

The sentence also includes a simile comparing the action to a bird darting into a snare, which adds a layer of imagery and highlights the suddenness of the danger.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates יְפַלַּ֪ח as πεπληγὼς, meaning 'having been struck.' This choice suggests a completed action, emphasizing the fatal outcome of yielding to temptation.

The use of πεπληγὼς indicates a focus on the consequence of the action rather than the action itself, which may reflect a different interpretive nuance in the Greek tradition.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Proverbs 7:23 warns that giving in to temptation can lead to dire consequences, comparing it to an arrow striking someone unexpectedly. The father advises his sons to listen to his words and avoid paths that lead to destruction, reminding them of the importance of discernment.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does the arrow represent in this verse?

The arrow symbolizes the sudden and deadly consequences of giving in to temptation, illustrating how quickly one can fall into danger.

Why is the liver specifically mentioned?

The liver is referred to as the heaviest organ and is often associated with emotions in biblical texts, highlighting the severity of the injury caused by temptation.

What does the comparison to a bird darting into a snare signify?

This comparison illustrates the impulsive and unaware nature of those who succumb to temptation, unaware of the danger they are entering.

How can this verse apply to modern life?

This verse serves as a warning about the dangers of impulsive decisions and the importance of being aware of the potential consequences of our actions.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. What are some temptations I face that could lead to harmful consequences?
  2. How can I develop better discernment to avoid falling into traps like the one described in this verse?
  3. In what ways can I support others in recognizing and resisting temptation?
  4. What practical steps can I take to ensure I am aware of the dangers around me?

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Proverbs 7:23 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

Till a dart strike through his liver,.... The fountain of blood, and so of life; which, being pierced through and poured out, is certain death, Lamentations 2:11; the meaning is, till he is slain

Read John Gill on Proverbs 7 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

Till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life. Till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it (is) for his life.

Read Robert Jamieson on Proverbs 7 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

His liver, i.e. his vital parts, whereof the liver is one. Till his life be lost, as it is explained in the next clause. Knoweth not; which may be referred either to a foolish and inconsiderate young man; or to the silly bird to which he is compared, which comes to the same thing.

Read Matthew Poole on Proverbs 7 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Proverbs 7:23 Till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it [is] for his life.Ver. 23. Till a dart strike through his liver,] i.e, Filthy lust, that fiery dart of the devil, pointed and poisoned (as the Scythian darts are said to be) with the gall of asps and vipers. Philosophers place lust in the liver. Mathematicians subject the liver to Venus; the poets complain of cupid’ s wounding them in that part. “ Cor sapit, et pulmo loquitur, fel commovit iras: Splen ridere facit, cogit amare iecor." Or, as some sense it, Till the adulterer be, by the whore’ s husband or friends, or by the hand of justice, deprived of life; perhaps in the very act…

Read John Trapp on Proverbs 7 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(23) Till a dart strike through his liver.—These words must be taken in a parenthesis. That it is for his life.—i.e., at the cost of it, when “his flesh and body are consumed,” and remorse has seized upon him (Proverbs 5:11).

Read Charles John Ellicott on Proverbs 7 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

23. dart] Rather, arrow, R.V.; sagitta, Vulg. The LXX. have ἢὡςἔλαφοςτοξεύματιπεπληγὼςεἰςτὸἧπαρ.

Read Cambridge on Proverbs 7 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The first clause does not connect itself very clearly with the foregoing, and is probably affected by the corrupt text which makes it perplexing.

Read Albert Barnes on Proverbs 7 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

22, 23. He goeth after her — The participle äåìêְ, (holekh,) goeth, involves its own nominative, which may as well be an indefinite one, he who, or whoever; and the teacher may not so much intend to

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Proverbs 7 →

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

until an arrow pierces his liver, like a bird darting into a snare— not knowing it will cost him his life.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Until an arrow strikes through his liver, as a bird hurries to the snare, and doesn’t know that it will cost his life.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

until an arrow pierces his liver, like a bird darting into a snare—not knowing it will cost him his life.

NETBNew English Translation2006

till an arrow pierces his liver – like a bird hurrying into a trap, and he does not know that it will cost him his life.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

Till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

Till an arrow strike through his liver; As a bird hasteth to the snare, And knoweth not that it is for his life.

RVARevised Version, American1894

Till an arrow strike through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

Till a dart striketh through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Till a dart strike through his liuer, as a bird hasteth to the snare, not knowing that he is in danger.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

till an arrow strike through his liver: as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for its life.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

Till an arrow doth split his liver, As a bird hath hastened unto a snare, And hath not known that it [is] for its life.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

Until an arrow splits his liver, || As a bird has hurried to a snare, || And has not known that it [is] for its life.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

Till an arrow cleaveth through his liver; as a bird hasteneth into the snare, and knoweth not that it is done to take his life.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

until an arrow pierces through its liver. He was like a bird rushing into a snare. He did not know that it would cost his life.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

Till the arrow pierce his liver: as if a bird should make haste to the snare, and knoweth not that his life is in danger.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

until an arrow pierces its liver, like a bird flying into a trap, he's unaware he will pay with his life.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

Like a bird falling into a net; with no thought that his life is in danger, till an arrow goes into his side.

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.

clauseעַ֤דuntilclauseverbיְפַלַּ֪חit.will.piercesubjectחֵ֡ץan.arrownoun phrase · objectכְּֽבֵד֗liverוֹhisclauseprepositional phrase · prepositionalכְּasclauseverbמַהֵ֣רhurriessubjectצִפּ֣וֹרa.birdprepositional phrase · prepositionalאֶלintoפָּ֑חa.trapוְandclauseadverbialלֹֽאnotverbיָ֝דַ֗עhe.knowsclause · objectכִּֽי(dm).thatclauseprepositional phrase · predicateבְ[is].fornoun phraseנַפְשׁ֥lifeוֹhissubjectהֽוּאit

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 7:23 states, "until an arrow pierces his liver, like a bird darting into a snare— not knowing it will cost him his life." The Septuagint shows a similar sentiment but does not provide a direct word-for-word correspondence, indicating that while there is thematic agreement, the phrasing differs significantly. The Samaritan Pentateuch and the Dead Sea Scrolls do not provide additional evidence for this specific verse, so we cannot confirm their alignment or differences with the Masoretic Text.

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

עַ֤ד יְפַלַּ֪ח חֵ֡ץ כְּֽבֵד֗וֹ כְּמַהֵ֣ר צִפּ֣וֹר אֶל־ פָּ֑ח וְלֹֽא־ יָ֝דַ֗ע כִּֽי־ בְנַפְשׁ֥וֹ הֽוּא׃ פ

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
יְפַלַּ֪חπεπληγὼςכְּֽבֵד֗וֹἧπαρכְּמַהֵ֣רδὲאֶל־εἰςפָּ֑חπαγίδαוְלֹֽא־οὐκיָ֝דַ֗עεἰδὼςכִּֽי־ὅτιבְנַפְשׁ֥וֹψυξῆςהֽוּא׃ פτρέξει

10 of the 13 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 7:23עַדuntiluntilעַדפָּלַחit will pieit will pierceפָּלַחחֵץan arrowan arrowחֵץכָּבֵדliver hisliver hisכָּבֵדמָהַרas hurriesas hurriesמָהַרצִפּוֹרa birda birdצִפּוֹראֶלintointoאֶלפַּחa trapa trapפַּחלֹאand notand notלֹאיָדַעhe knowshe knowsיָדַעכִּיthatthatכִּינֶ֫פֶשׁ[is] for li[is] for life hנֶ֫פֶשׁהוּאititהוּאחָצַץto divideto divideחָצַץצָפַרto departto departצָפַרפָּחַחto ensnareto ensnareפָּחַחנָפַשׁbe refreshbe refreshedנָפַשׁעַדperpetuityperpetuityעַדכָּבֵדheavyheavyכָּבֵדמָתַיhowhowמָתַיעֶ֫רֶבeveningeveningעֶ֫רֶבשָׁנַןto sharpento sharpenשָׁנַןבָּרַקto use ligto use lightninבָּרַקיֹתֶ֫רֶתlobelobeיֹתֶ֫רֶתכִּלְיָהkidneykidneyכִּלְיָהאֲבִיגַ֫יִלAbigailAbigailאֲבִיגַ֫יִלכַּדjarjarכַּדפַּחsnaresnareפַּחעוּףto flyto flyעוּףפָּלַלto prayto prayפָּלַליִרְמְיָ֫הJeremiahJeremiahיִרְמְיָ֫ה
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 7:23

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.

until it will pierce an arrow liver his as hurries a bird into a trap and not he knows that [is] for life his it
עַ֤ד'ad until H5704 Preposition
1,261× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means until or as far as, describing a point in time or space. It's used in the Bible to set boundaries or limits, like in Exodus when describing the Israelites' journey.
Tyndale gloss
till
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עַד (ad) primarily functions as a preposition, adverb, or conjunction meaning 'until,' 'up to,' or 'as far as.' It can denote spatial, temporal, or degree-related contexts, such as 'even to' or 'while.' The entries indicate its use in poetry and in various combinations, but there is no significant disagreement among the lexicons regarding its meanings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עַד, in poetry עֲדֵי prep. as far as, even to, up to, until, while

prep.

of space

Of time

Of degree

conj.

until

While

Of degree, to the point that, so that even (rare)

עַד לְ, a strengthened form for עַד. Thus

of space

Of time

Of degree

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5704 עַד, in poetry עֲדֵי as far as, even to, up to, until, while . prep. . of space

. Of time

. Of degree

. conj. . until

. While

. Of degree, to the point that, so that even (rare)

. עַד לְ, a strengthened form for עַד. Thus . of space

. Of time

. Of degree

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5704 `ad ad

properly, the same as 5703 (used as a preposition, adverb or

conjunction; especially with a preposition); as far (or long,

or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during,

while, until) or degree (equally with):--against, and, as,

at, before, by (that), even (to), for(-asmuch as),

(hither-)to, + how long, into, as long (much) as, (so) that,

till, toward, until, when, while, (+ as) yet.

see HEBREW for 05703

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עַד (ad) — till.

prep

1) as far as, even to, until, up to, while, as far as

1a) of space

1a1) as far as, up to, even to

1b) in combination

1b1) from...as far as, both...and (with 'min' -from)

1c) of time

1c1) even to, until, unto, till, during, end

1d) of degree

1d1) even to, to the degree of, even like

conj

2) until, while, to the point that, so that even

Aramaic equivalent: ad (עַד "till" H5705)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep — Preposition
HR
until it will pierce an arrow liver his as hurries a bird into a trap and not he knows that [is] for life his it
יְפַלַּ֪חye.fa.Lach it will pierce H6398 Verb · Piel · imperfect third person masculine singular
5× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To cleave means to slice or break open something, like cutting through a material or piercing an object, as seen in various KJV translations.
Amplified meaning
strikes through
Tyndale gloss
to cleave
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

פָּלַח (palach) is a Hebrew verb meaning to cleave or slice. It encompasses actions like breaking open, piercing, and plowing. The word is built from a primitive root and appears in various forms, including Qal and Piel, indicating different nuances of cleaving or cutting.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[פָּלַח] vb. cleave

Qal of cleaving, ploughing

Pi.

cleave open, through

cause to cleave open

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6398 פָּלַח

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6398 palach paw-lakh'

a primitive root; to slice, i.e. break open or

pierce:--bring forth, cleave, cut, shred, strike through.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

פָּלַח (pa.lach) — to cleave.

1) to cleave, slice

1a) (Qal) to cleave, plow

1b) (Piel)

1b1) to cleave open or through

1b2) to cause to cleave open

1b3) to slice, pierce

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Piel-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Piel · imperfect third person masculine singular
HVpi3ms
until it will pierce an arrow liver his as hurries a bird into a trap and not he knows that [is] for life his it
חֵ֡ץchetz an arrow H2671 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
53× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
An arrow is a sharp object shot from a bow, used for hunting or battle, like those used by archers in the book of Judges. It can also symbolize God's powerful judgment.
Tyndale gloss
arrow
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

חֵץ (chets) means 'arrow,' primarily found in poetic and prophetic contexts. It is derived from a root meaning 'to pierce' and can imply a wound or refer to a thunderbolt in a figurative sense. The word also encompasses related terms like 'dart' and 'shaft,' indicating its use in various forms of weaponry.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

חֵץ n.m. arrow, mostly poet. and proph.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2671 חֵץ arrow, mostly poet. and proph.

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2671 chets khayts

from 2686; properly, a piercer, i.e. an arrow; by

implication, a wound; figuratively, (of God) thunder-bolt; (by

interchange for 6086) the shaft of a spear:--+ archer, arrow,

dart, shaft, staff, wound.

see HEBREW for 02686

see HEBREW for 06086

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חֵץ (chets) — arrow.

arrow

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

ar'-o. See ARCHERY; ARMOR.

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

Used by the Jews both in hunting and in war; sometimes merely a sharpened reed, sometimes feathered, barbed, and even poisoned, Job 6:4. The bow was of various forms and materials, and many could be used only by the strongest men, Ps 18:34. Arrows were used to convey fire to an enemy’s house, and for divination, Eze 21:21. The word is applied symbolically to children, Ps 127:4,5; to the lightning, Ps 18:14 Hab 3:11; to sudden calamities, Job 6:4 Ps 38:2 91:5

Nave's Topical Bible

→ (A weapon)

→ Used in hunting Ge 21:20; 27:3

→ Used in war 1Sa 31:3; 2Sa 22:15; 1Ki 22:34; 2Ki 19:32; Ps 7:13; Isa 22:3; Jer 51:3

→ Divination by Eze 21:21

→ Shot by Jonathan as a sign to David 1Sa 20:20-42

→ Shot by Joash as a sign against the Syrians 2Ki 13:14-19

until it will pierce an arrow liver his as hurries a bird into a trap and not he knows that [is] for life his it
כְּֽבֵד֗וֹke.ve.Do liver his H3516 Noun common feminine singular construct · suffix
14× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for liver, it refers to the heaviest organ in the body, as seen in biblical descriptions of animal sacrifices. It is often translated as liver in the KJV. This term appears in Leviticus and other books discussing ritual practices.
Amplified meaning
the heaviest organ, seat of emotions
Tyndale gloss
liver
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כָּבֵד (kabed) refers specifically to the liver, noted for being the heaviest organ in the body. The entries consistently describe it as such, with a reference to its significance in the context of bodily functions, particularly in Lamentations 2:11.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כָּבֵד n.m. La 2:11 liver (explained by Thes (quoting Galen) as the heavy organ, par excellence, of the body)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3516 כָּבֵד

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3516 kabed kaw-bade'

the same as 3515; the liver (as the heaviest of the

viscera):--liver.

see HEBREW for 03515

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כָּבֵד (ka.ved) — liver.

1) the liver

1a) the liver (as the heaviest organ)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fs | Suff — Noun common feminine singular construct · suffix
HNcfsc/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."

until it will pierce an arrow liver his as hurries a bird into a trap and not he knows that [is] for life his it
כְּמַהֵ֣רke.ma.Her as hurries H4116 Preposition · verb piel infinitive construct common
68× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means to hurry or do something quickly, like when someone is in a rush. It can also mean to buy something by paying a price. The Bible uses it in Genesis.
Amplified meaning
hastening, rushing
Tyndale gloss
to hasten
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מָהַר (mahar) primarily means to hasten or hurry, conveying a sense of urgency or quickness. It can describe being anxious or impetuous, as well as the act of preparing or bringing something quickly. Additionally, it has a secondary meaning related to acquiring something by payment. The lexicons agree on these definitions without notable disagreement.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[מָהַר] vb. hasten

Niph. be hurried = anxious, disturbed; hasty, precipitate; impetuous

Pi.

hasten, make haste = go or come quickly

hasten vb.

trans. hasten, = prepare quickly; = bring quickly; = do quickly

base

מָהַר vb. denom. acquire by paying purchase-price

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4116a [מָהַר] hasten . be hurried = anxious, disturbed; hasty, precipitate; impetuous

. . hasten, make haste = go or come quickly

. hasten vb.

. trans. hasten, = prepare quickly; = bring quickly; = do quickly

H4116b מָהַר vb. denom. acquire by paying purchase-price

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4116 mahar maw-har'

a primitive root; properly, to be liquid or flow easily, i.e.

(by implication); to hurry (in a good or a bad sense); often

used (with another verb) adverbially, promptly:--be carried

headlong, fearful, (cause to make, in, make) haste(-n, -ily),

(be) hasty, (fetch, make ready) X quickly, rash, X shortly,

(be so) X soon, make speed, X speedily, X straightway, X

suddenly, swift.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מָהַר (ma.har) — to hasten.

1)(Qal) to hasten

1a) (Niphal) to be hurried, be anxious

1a) hasty, precipitate, impetuous

1b) (Piel)

1b1) to hasten, make haste

1b2) hasten (used as adverb with another verb)

1b3) to hasten, prepare quickly, do quickly, bring quickly

מָהַר (ma.har) — to buy.

acquire by paying purchase-price

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | V-Piel-Inf-a — Preposition · verb piel infinitive construct common
HR/Vpcc
until it will pierce an arrow liver his as hurries a bird into a trap and not he knows that [is] for life his it
צִפּ֣וֹרtzi.Por a bird H6833 Noun common · both singular absolute
40× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means a little bird, often hopping, and is used to describe a sparrow or fowl in the Bible, such as in Psalm 84:3.
Amplified meaning
a little bird, sparrow
Tyndale gloss
bird
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

צִפּוֹר (tsippowr) means 'bird' and can refer to a singular bird or birds collectively. It is derived from a root meaning 'to hop' and is associated with small birds like sparrows. The Aramaic equivalent is צְפַר (tse.phar).

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

צִפּוֹר, צִפֹּר 40 n.f. bird

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6833 צִפּוֹר, צִפֹּר bird

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6833 tsippowr tsip-pore'

or tsippor {tsip-pore'}; from 6852; a little bird (as

hopping):--bird, fowl, sparrow.

see HEBREW for 06852

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

צִפּוֹר (tsip.por) — bird.

1) bird, fowl

1a) bird (singular)

1b) birds (coll)

Aramaic equivalent: tse.phar (צְפַר "bird" H6853)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-cs — Noun common · both singular absolute
HNcbsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Easton's Bible Dictionary

Bird

Birds are divided in the Mosaic law into two classes, (1) the clean (Lev. 1:14-17; 5:7-10; 14:4-7), which were offered in sacrifice; and (2) the unclean (Lev. 11:13-20). When offered in sacrifice, they were not divided as other victims were (Gen. 15:10). They are mentioned also as an article of food (Deut. 14:11). The art of snaring wild birds is referred to (Ps. 124:7; Prov. 1:17; 7:23; Jer. 5:27). Singing birds are mentioned in Ps. 104:12;

until it will pierce an arrow liver his as hurries a bird into a trap and not he knows that [is] for life his it
אֶל־'el- into 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
until it will pierce an arrow liver his as hurries a bird into a trap and not he knows that [is] for life his it
פָּ֑חPach a trap H6341 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
27× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to a thin, flat piece of metal, like a plate. It can also describe a net used for catching animals, spread out like a thin sheet of metal.
Amplified meaning
a net, trap
Tyndale gloss
snare
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

פַּח (pach) refers to both a bird trap and a metal plate. It is derived from a root meaning to spread out or pound thin, indicating its use as a snare or a thin sheet of metal. The word can also figuratively represent calamities or plots. The entries consistently highlight these two primary meanings without significant disagreement.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

פַּח n.m. bird-trap

base

[פַּח] n.[m.] plate of metal

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6341a פַּח bird-trap H6341b פַּח plate of metal

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6341 pach pakh

from 6351; a (metallic) sheet (as pounded thin); also a

spring net (as spread out like a lamina):--gin, (thin) plate,

snare.

see HEBREW for 06351

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

פַּח (pach) — snare.

1) bird trap, trap, snare

1a) bird trap (literal)

1b) of calamities, plots, source or agent of calamity (fig.)

פַּח (pach) — plate.

plate (of metal)

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

(moqesh; thera, literally, "hunting," used metaphorically in Psalms and Romans as "trap"): Any of the methods for taking birds; see SNARE; NET; GIN, etc. It is probable that a trap was more particularly a hole in the ground covered with twigs, concealed by leaves and baited with food. Such devices were common in taking the largest animals and may have been used with birds also. Trap is mentioned frequently in connection with snare and in such manner as to indicate that they were different devices: "Know for a certainty that Yahweh your God will no more drive these nations from out of your sight; but they shall be a snare and a trap unto you" (Jos 23:13). Another such reference will be found in Ps 69:22:

"Let their table before them become a snare;

Nave's Topical Bible

→ General scriptures concerning Jos 23:13; Job 18:10; Jer 5:26

until it will pierce an arrow liver his as hurries a bird into a trap and not he knows that [is] for life his it
וְלֹֽא־ve.lo'- and not H3808 Conjunction · particle
5,170× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for not or no is used to indicate absence or negation, as when God says no to the Israelites' requests, or when they disobey His commands.
Tyndale gloss
not
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

לֹא (lo') is a Hebrew word meaning 'not' or 'no.' It serves as a simple negation and can imply absence or prohibition. The word can also be used in various contexts, often combined with other particles for emphasis or clarification. Its Aramaic equivalent is לָא (la), which also means 'not.'

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

לֹא or לוֹא adv. not

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3808 לֹא or לוֹא not

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3808 lo' lo

or lowi {lo}; or loh (Deut. 3:11) {lo}; a primitive particle;

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often

used with other particles (as follows):--X before, + or else,

ere, + except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never,

no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), (X as though...,(can-), for) not (out

of), of nought, otherwise, out of, + surely, + as truly as, +

of a truth, + verily, for want, + whether, without.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

לֹא (lo) — not.

1) not, no

1a) not (with verb-absolute prohibition)

1b) not (with modifier-negation)

1c) nothing (subst)

1d) without (with particle)

1e) before (of time)

Aramaic equivalent: la (לָא "not" H3809)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | Part — Conjunction · particle
HC/Tn
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
until it will pierce an arrow liver his as hurries a bird into a trap and not he knows that [is] for life his it
יָ֝דַ֗עya.Da' he knows H3045 Verb · Qal · perfect third person masculine singular
945× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for to know means to ascertain by seeing, and is used in many senses, including to learn, perceive, and recognize, as seen in various KJV translations.
Amplified meaning
unaware, without understanding
Tyndale gloss
to know
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יָדַע (yada`) is a Hebrew verb meaning 'to know,' encompassing a wide range of senses including perception, recognition, and experience. It can refer to knowing someone intimately or being skilled in a task. The word has various forms, indicating actions such as making known or being made known. Lexicons note its use in both literal and figurative contexts, but there is no significant disagreement among them.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יָדַע 943 vb. know

Qal

know, learn to know

perceive

perceive and see; find out and discern

discriminate, distinguish

know by experience

recognize, admit, acknowledge, confess

consider

not know = not expect

know a person, be acquainted with

know a person carnally, of sexual intercourse

know how, to do a thing, be able to do it

be skilful in

abs. have knowledge, be wise

Niph.

be made known, be or become known, of things

make oneself known of pers.

be perceived

be instructed

Pi. cause to know

Pu. known

Hiph. make known, declare

Hoph. made known

Hithp. make oneself known

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3045 יָדַע know .. . know, learn to know

. perceive

. perceive and see; find out and discern

. discriminate, distinguish

. know by experience

. recognize, admit, acknowledge, confess

. consider

. not know = not expect

. know a person, be acquainted with

. know a person carnally, of sexual intercourse

. . know how, to do a thing, be able to do it

. be skilful in

. abs. have knowledge, be wise

. . be made known, be or become known, of things

. make oneself known of pers.

. be perceived

. be instructed

. cause to know

. known

. make known, declare

. made known

. make oneself known

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3045 yada` yaw-dah'

a primitive root; to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing);

used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally,

euphemistically and inferentially (including observation,

care, recognition; and causatively, instruction, designation,

punishment, etc.) (as follow):--acknowledge, acquaintance(-ted

with), advise, answer, appoint, assuredly, be aware,

(un-)awares, can(-not), certainly, comprehend, consider, X

could they, cunning, declare, be diligent, (can, cause to)

discern, discover, endued with, familiar friend, famous, feel,

can have, be (ig-)norant, instruct, kinsfolk, kinsman, (cause

to let, make) know, (come to give, have, take) knowledge, have

(knowledge), (be, make, make to be, make self) known, + be

learned, + lie by man, mark, perceive, privy to, X

prognosticator, regard, have respect, skilful, shew, can (man

of) skill, be sure, of a surety, teach, (can) tell,

Read the full entry →
Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יָדַע (ya.da) — to know.

1) to know

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to know

1a1a) to know, learn to know

1a1b) to perceive

1a1c) to perceive and see, find out and discern

1a1d) to discriminate, distinguish

1a1e) to know by experience

1a1f) to recognise, admit, acknowledge, confess

1a1g) to consider

1a2) to know, be acquainted with

1a3) to know (a person carnally)

1a4) to know how, be skilful in

1a5) to have knowledge, be wise

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be made known, be or become known, be revealed

1b2) to make oneself known

1b3) to be perceived

1b4) to be instructed

1c) (Piel) to cause to know

1d) (Poal) to cause to know

1e) (Pual)

1e1) to be known

1e2) known, one known, acquaintance (participle)

1f) (Hiphil) to make known, declare

1g) (Hophal) to be made known

1h) (Hithpael) to make oneself known, reveal oneself

Aramaic equivalent: ye.da (יְדַע "to know" H3046)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Perf-3ms — Verb · Qal · perfect third person masculine singular
HVqp3ms
until it will pierce an arrow liver his as hurries a bird into a trap and not he knows that [is] for life his it
כִּֽי־ki- that H3588 Particle
4,483× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A conjunction used to show cause or connection, as in Genesis 2:23 where Adam says the woman is bone of his bone because she was taken out of him. It is often translated as 'for', 'because', or 'since'.
Tyndale gloss
for
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כִּי (ki) is a conjunction primarily meaning 'that,' 'for,' or 'when.' It indicates causal relationships and can express conditions like 'if' or 'though.' The word is versatile, appearing in various contexts to convey certainty, exception, or concession. Notably, it can combine with other particles to modify its meaning, such as in the phrase כִּי אם־ (ki im), meaning 'that if.'

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כִּי conj. that, for, when

that

Of time, when, of the past

elsewhere כִּי has a force approximating to if, though it usu. represents a case as more likely to occur than אִם

when or if, with a concessive force, i.e. though

Because, since

base

כִּי אם־

each part. retaining its independent force, and relating to a different clause:

that if

for if

(About 140 t.) the two particles being closely conjoined, and relating to the same clause—

limiting the prec. clause, except

the if being neglected, and treated as pleonastic, so that the clause is no longer a limitation of the preceding clause but a contradiction of it: but rather, but

after an oath, surely

base

כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3588a כִּי that, for, when . that

. . Of time, when, of the past

. elsewhere כִּי has a force approximating to if, though it usu. represents a case as more likely to occur than אִם

. when or if, with a concessive force, i.e. though

. Because, since

H3588b כִּי אם־ . each part. retaining its independent force, and relating to a different clause: . that if

. for if

. (About 140 t.) the two particles being closely conjoined, and relating to the same clause— . limiting the prec. clause, except

. the if being neglected, and treated as pleonastic, so that the clause is no longer a limitation of the preceding clause but a contradiction of it: but rather, but

. after an oath, surely

H3588c כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3588 kiy kee

a primitive particle (the full form of the prepositional

prefix) indicating causal relations of all kinds, antecedent

or consequent; (by implication) very widely used as a relative

conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by

other particles annexed:--and, + (forasmuch, inasmuch,

where-)as, assured(-ly), + but, certainly, doubtless, + else,

even, + except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, +

nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then,

therefore, + (al- )though, + till, truly, + until, when,

whether, while, whom, yea, yet.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כִּי (ki) — for.

1) that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since

1a) that

1a1) yea, indeed

1b) when (of time)

1b1) when, if, though (with a concessive force)

1c) because, since (causal connection)

1d) but (after negative)

1e) that if, for if, indeed if, for though, but if

1f) but rather, but

1g) except that

1h) only, nevertheless

1i) surely

1j) that is

1k) but if

1l) for though

1m) forasmuch as, for therefore

כִּי [אם] (ki im) — that if: except.

1) except if

1a) but if

1b) even though

כִּי [עַל כֵּן] (ki [al ken]) — for as that: since.

1) that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since

1a) that

1a1) yea, indeed

1b) when (of time)

1b1) when, if, though (with a concessive force)

1c) because, since (causal connection)

1d) but (after negative)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HTc — Particle
HTc
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
until it will pierce an arrow liver his as hurries a bird into a trap and not he knows that [is] for life his it
בְנַפְשׁ֥וֹve.naf.Sho [is] for life his H5315 Preposition · noun common feminine singular construct · suffix
754× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for soul or living being, used in the Bible to describe the essence of a person or animal. It encompasses the ideas of life, breath, and vitality, and is translated as 'soul' or 'creature' in the KJV. This word is central to biblical concepts of humanity and existence.
Amplified meaning
soul, living being
Tyndale gloss
soul
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word נֶ֫פֶשׁ (*nephesh*) broadly means 'soul' or 'living being,' encompassing concepts like life, self, person, desire, and emotion. It is derived from the root meaning 'to breathe' and signifies both physical and mental aspects of existence. The lexicons note its use in various contexts, including as the seat of appetites and emotions, though its application to will and character is uncertain.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

נֶ֫פֶשׁ 756 n.f. soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, appetite, emotion, and passion

= that which breathes, the breathing substance or being

The נפשׁ becomes a living being

The נפשׁ is specif.

The נפשׁ as the essential of man stands for the man himself

נפשׁ = seat of the appetites, in all periods (46 t.)

נ׳ = seat of emotions and passions

נפשׁ is used occasionally for mental acts

נפשׁ for acts of the will is dub.

נפשׁ = character is still more dub.

נ׳ in D

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5315 נֶ֫פֶשׁ soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, appetite, emotion, and passion . = that which breathes, the breathing substance or being

. The נפשׁ becomes a living being

. The נפשׁ is specif.

. The נפשׁ as the essential of man stands for the man himself

. נפשׁ = seat of the appetites, in all periods (46 t.)

. נ׳ = seat of emotions and passions

. נפשׁ is used occasionally for mental acts

. נפשׁ for acts of the will is dub.

. נפשׁ = character is still more dub.

. נ׳ in D

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5315 nephesh neh'-fesh

from 5314; properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of

(abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal,

accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or mental):--any,

appetite, beast, body, breath, creature, X dead(-ly), desire,

X (dis-)contented, X fish, ghost, + greedy, he, heart(-y),

(hath, X jeopardy of) life (X in jeopardy), lust, man, me,

mind, mortally, one, own, person, pleasure, (her-, him-, my-,

thy-)self, them (your)-selves, + slay, soul, + tablet, they,

thing, (X she) will, X would have it.

see HEBREW for 05314

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נֶ֫פֶשׁ (ne.phesh) — soul.

1) soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion

1a) that which breathes, the breathing substance or being, soul, the inner being of man

1b) living being

1c) living being (with life in the blood)

1d) the man himself, self, person or individual

1e) seat of the appetites

1f) seat of emotions and passions

1g) activity of mind

1g1) uncertain

1h) activity of the will

1h1) uncertain

1i) activity of the character

1i1) uncertain

נֶ֫פֶשׁ (ne.phesh) — soul: life.

1) soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion

1a) that which breathes, the breathing substance or being, soul, the inner being of man

1b) living being

1c) living being (with life in the blood)

1d) the man himself, self, person or individual

1e) seat of the appetites

1f) seat of emotions and passions

1g) activity of mind

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-cs | Suff — Preposition · noun common feminine singular construct · suffix
HR/Ncfsc/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."

until it will pierce an arrow liver his as hurries a bird into a trap and not he knows that [is] for life his it
הֽוּא׃ פHu' it H1931 Pronoun
1,879× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word is a pronoun meaning 'he', 'she', or 'it', used to refer to a person or thing. It is used in the Bible to emphasize a subject or make it clear who is being talked about.
Tyndale gloss
he/she/it
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

הוּא (hu) is a third-person singular pronoun meaning he, she, or it, used for emphasis or when no verb is present. It can also refer to oneself or serve as a demonstrative pronoun. The word has various nuances, including resuming the subject with emphasis or expressing it unobtrusively. It can indicate 'that' or 'those' when used with the definite article.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

הוּא m. הִיא f., pron. of the 3rd ps. sing. he, she, used also (in both genders) for the neuter it

an emph. he (she, it, they), sometimes equivalent to himself (herself, itself, themselves), or (esp. with the art.) that (those)

It resumes the subj. with emph.

Where, however, the pron. follows the pred., its position gives it the minimum of emphasis, and it expresses (or resumes) the subject as unobtrusively as possible

It anticipates (as it seems) the subject

As an emph. predicate, of God

In a neuter sense, that, it (of an action, occurrence, matte, etc.)

With the art.: so regularly when joined to a subst. defined itself by the art.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1931 הוּא, הִיא he, she, used also (in both genders) for the neuter it . an emph. he (she, it, they), sometimes equivalent to himself (herself, itself, themselves), or (esp. with the art.) that (those)

. It resumes the subj. with emph.

. Where, however, the pron. follows the pred., its position gives it the minimum of emphasis, and it expresses (or resumes) the subject as unobtrusively as possible

. It anticipates (as it seems) the subject

. As an emph. predicate, of God

. In a neuter sense, that, it (of an action, occurrence, matte, etc.)

. With the art.: so regularly when joined to a subst. defined itself by the art.

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1931 huw' hoo

of which the feminine (beyond the Pentateuch) is hiyw {he}; a

primitive word, the third person pronoun singular, he (she or

it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also

(intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same;

sometimes (as demonstrative) this or that; occasionally

(instead of copula) as or are:--he, as for her, him(-self),

it, the same, she (herself), such, that (...it), these, they,

this, those, which (is), who.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

הוּא (hu) — he/she/it.

pron 3p s

1) he, she, it

1a) himself (with emphasis)

1b) resuming subj with emphasis

1c) (with minimum emphasis following predicate)

1d) (anticipating subj)

1e) (emphasising predicate)

1f) that, it (neuter) demons pron

2) that (with article)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Pron — Pronoun
HPp3ms
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
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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