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Proverbs 7:26 — Word Study

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WLCכִּֽי־ רַבִּ֣ים חֲלָלִ֣ים הִפִּ֑ילָה וַ֝עֲצֻמִ֗ים כָּל־ הֲרֻגֶֽיהָ׃

BSAForkîy [because of this reason] she has brought manyrab [caused to fall, cast down, a multitude, a great number] downnâphal to deathchâlâl [the state of being dead, eternal separation] her slainhârag [killed, wounded] are manyʻâtsûwm [countless, innumerable] in numberkôl [a great multitude, an army]

Word
Listen & take awayProverbs 7
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 26 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 (ha.ru.Gei.ha) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Proverbs 7:26quick helps
In a sentenceThe verse warns of the destructive influence of a seductive woman, highlighting the many who have fallen to death because of her.
Who is speakingThe speaker is a father figure, likely Solomon, advising his sons about the dangers of temptation.
Where we areThis verse is part of a warning against immoral relationships, emphasizing the consequences of straying from wisdom.
The hard wordחֲלָלִ֣ים
Take awayThe seductive woman leads many to ruin, and her victims are countless.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbנָפַל 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 7:26

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 — Warning Against Temptationgenerated

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.
26For she has brought many down to death; her slain are many in number.
27Her house is the road to Sheol, descending to the chambers of death.

Proverbs 7:26 warns of the dangers posed by a seductive woman, illustrating how she has led many to their demise. The surrounding verses emphasize the importance of heeding wisdom and avoiding paths that lead to destruction. This passage serves as a cautionary tale, reminding readers of the consequences of yielding to temptation, similar to the warnings found in Proverbs 6:33 and Judges 16:21.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Proverbs 6:33Wounds and dishonor will befall him, and his reproach will never be wiped away.
2Judges 16:21Then the Philistines seized him, gouged out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza, where he was bound with bronze shackles and forced to grind grain in the prison.
32 Samuel 3:6–8During the war between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner had continued to strengthen his position in the house of Saul.
42 Samuel 12:9–11Why then have you despised the command of the LORD by doing evil in His sight? You put Uriah the Hittite to the sword and took his wife as your own, for you have slain him with the sword of the Ammonites.
51 Kings 11:1–2King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women along with the daughter of Pharaoh—women of Moab, Ammon, Edom, and Sidon, as well as Hittite women.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 9 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word חֲלָלִ֣ים, cha.la.Limgenerated

The word חֲלָל (chalal) means 'slain' or 'pierced,' often used in contexts of fatal wounding. It conveys the idea of being killed or profaned, indicating a state of death or destruction. The parsing as an adjective suggests it describes the state of those who have been killed.

In this verse, it specifically refers to those who have fallen victim to the seductive woman's influence, highlighting the severity of her actions and the consequences they bring.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses the term slain, aligning with the KJV and the WEB. These versions emphasize the fatal outcome of the seductive woman's actions.

Where translations differ, they do so primarily in the rendering of רַבִּ֣ים. The BSB, FBV, and NETB use many, while the KJV and ASV opt for cast down or caused to fall, reflecting different interpretations of the Hebrew.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The finite verb הִפִּ֑ילָה, she has made fall, governs the main clause, with two noun phrases following: רַבִּ֣ים and חֲלָלִ֣ים, which serve as the object and subject respectively. This structure emphasizes the action of the verb and its direct consequences.

The word order in Hebrew places the emphasis on the action of causing to fall, followed by the multitude of those affected, illustrating the gravity of the situation.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

In the Septuagint, the Hebrew חֲלָלִ֣ים is rendered as τρώσασα, which means 'having wounded.' This choice narrows the meaning slightly, focusing on the act of wounding rather than the broader implications of being slain.

The Greek translation captures the essence of the original Hebrew while also implying a more active role of the woman in inflicting harm.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Proverbs 7:26 warns that a seductive woman has caused many to die, emphasizing that her victims are numerous. This verse highlights the dangers of temptation and the serious consequences of straying from wisdom.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean that she has brought many down to death?

It means that her seductive ways have led many people to ruin and destruction, both physically and spiritually.

Why is the number of her slain described as many?

The term indicates that her influence has affected a large number of people, suggesting the widespread nature of her destructive actions.

How does this verse relate to the overall message of Proverbs?

This verse serves as a warning about the dangers of temptation and immorality, a recurring theme throughout Proverbs that encourages wisdom and discernment.

What can we learn from this warning?

We can learn the importance of being vigilant against temptations that lead us away from wisdom and the consequences of yielding to such influences.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what ways have I seen the destructive influence of temptation in my own life or in the lives of others?
  2. How can I guard myself against falling into similar traps as described in this verse?
  3. What steps can I take to seek wisdom and avoid paths that lead to destruction?
  4. How can I help others who may be struggling with temptation and its consequences?

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

Early commentators like Hippolytus of Rome and Bede reference this verse to discuss the dangers of temptation and the consequences of yielding to it.

Hippolytus of RomeHippolytus Exegetical Fragments c. 170–235
You have seen her mischief. Wait not to admit the rising of lust; for her death is everlasting. And for the rest, by her words, her arguments in sooth, she wounds, and by her sins she kills those who yield to her.
Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 7 →
BedeCommentary on Proverbs c. 673–735
And all the mighty men were slain by her. As Solomon himself, the wisest of men, as Samson, the strongest, as David, the most gentle, were ensnared by the trap of women, just as Origen was by heretical doctrine,
Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 7 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Proverbs 7:26 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

For she hath cast down many wounded,.... Wounded in their name, character, and reputation; in their bodies by diseases; and in their souls by guilt, shame, and horror, through a compliance with her

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

For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her. For she hath cast down many wounded; yea, many strong (men) have been slain by her - as Solomon himself subsequently was (Nehemiah 13:26).

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

Strong men; men that excel others, either, 1. In bodily strength, upon which they presume, which yet is wasted, and by degrees ruined, by these courses. Or, 2. In wisdom, and fortitude, and resolution; whereby he implies how much more necessary it is for a weak and foolish young man to use all possible care and diligence to avoid this mischief.

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

Proverbs 7:26 For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong [men] have been slain by her.Ver. 26. For she hath cast down many.] That have let in death at those windows of wickedness, those loop holes of lust; that have died of the wound in the eye. Aliorum perditio tua sit cautio - Seest thou another man shipwrecked, look well to thy tacklings. Yea, many strong men have been slain by her.] The valour of man hath oft been slaved by the wiles of a woman. Witness many of your greatest martialists, who conquered countries, and were vanquished of vices, being captivarum suarum captivi. The Persian kings commanded the whole world, and were commanded by their concubines. So was Alexander…

Read John Trapp on Proverbs 7 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 26. For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her.] That is, such like women have been the ruin of many. חללים chalalim, which we render wounded, also signifies soldiers or men of war; and עצמים atsumim, which we render strong men, may be translated heroes. Many of those who have distinguished themselves in the field and in the cabinet have been overcome and destroyed by their mistresses. History is full of such examples.

Read AdamClarke on Proverbs 7 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

26. many strong] This is the rendering of a single Heb. word, which may mean mighty, as it usually does, or (comp. the use of the verb in Psalms 40:5; Psalms 40:12 [Hebrews 6, 13]) many. Lit. mighty ones, or numerous ones, are all her slain, i.e. the whole number of those slain by her amount to a mighty host, as it is happily rendered in R.V. The thought is not so much of the individual strength of her victims as of their great number, as the parallelism indicates: ἀναρίθμητοίεἰσινοὒςπεφόνευκε, “numberless are they whom she has slain,” LXX.

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

The house of the harlot is now likened to a field of battle strewn with the corpses of the many slain.

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

26. For she — That is, such women. She is taken representatively. The sentiment is: Innumerable mighty men, or mighty hosts, have thus been brought to ruin. If the strong are slain, how can you escape, if enticed into the snare?

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

For she has brought many down to death; her slain are many in number.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

for she has thrown down many wounded. Yes, all her slain are a mighty army.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

For she has brought many down to death; her slain are many in number.

NETBNew English Translation2006

for she has brought down many fatally wounded, and all those she has slain are many.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

For she hath cast down many wounded: Yea, all her slain are a mighty host.

RVARevised Version, American1894

For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, all her slain are a mighty host.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

For she hath cast down many wounded: yes, many strong men have been slain by her.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

For shee hath caused many to fall downe wounded, and the strong men are all slaine by her.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

for she hath cast down many wounded, and all slain by her were strong.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

For many [are] the wounded she caused to fall, And mighty [are] all her slain ones.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

For many [are] the wounded she caused to fall, || And mighty [are] all her slain ones.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

For many deadly wounded hath she caused to fall: yea, very numerous are all those slain by her.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

She has caused many people to fall down pierced; her dead victims are very many.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

For she hath cast down many wounded, and the strongest have been slain by her.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

For she has brought down and destroyed a lot of men; she's killed so many.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

For those wounded and made low by her are great in number; and all those who have come to their death through her are a great army.

Word by word, the decisions they made

רַבִּ֣יםra.Bim many H7227 3 different renderings
manyBSB FBV GNV MSB NETB ULB WEB
cast downASV DBY DRA KJV NWB RVA
caused to fallILT LSV YLT

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.

כִּֽי(dm)clausenoun phrase · objectרַבִּ֣יםmanyחֲלָלִ֣יםslain.[ones]verbהִפִּ֑ילָהshe.has.made.fallוַ֝and.[are]clausepredicateעֲצֻמִ֗יםnumerousnoun phrase · subjectכָּלallnoun phraseהֲרֻגֶֽיher.killedהָ[men]

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


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

The Masoretic Text reads כִּֽי־ רַבִּ֣ים חֲלָלִ֣ים הִפִּ֑ילָה וַ֝עֲצֻמִ֗ים כָּל־ הֲרֻגֶֽיהָ׃, and this aligns closely with the Septuagint, which matches five of the seven words. The differences in word order and articles reflect the distinct syntactical choices in Greek.

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

כִּֽי־ רַבִּ֣ים חֲלָלִ֣ים הִפִּ֑ילָה וַ֝עֲצֻמִ֗ים כָּל־ הֲרֻגֶֽיהָ׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
רַבִּ֣יםπολλοὺςחֲלָלִ֣יםτρώσασαהִפִּ֑ילָהκαταβέβληκενוַ֝עֲצֻמִ֗יםἀναρίθμητοίהֲרֻגֶֽיהָ׃πεφόνευκεν

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

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


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

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

Proverbs 7:26כִּיforforכִּירַבmanymanyרַבחָלָלslain [onesslain [ones]חָלָלנָפַלshe has madshe has made faנָפַלעָצוּםand [are] nand [are] numerעָצוּםכֹּלallallכֹּלהָרַגkilled [menkilled [men] heהָרַגרָבַבto multiplto multiplyרָבַבחָלַלto boreto boreחָלַלכָּלַלto perfectto perfectכָּלַלפָּלַלto prayto prayפָּלַלעָצֹםbe vastbe vastעָצֹםחֶ֫רֶבswordswordחֶ֫רֶביָדַעto knowto knowיָדַענְבוּזַרְאֲדָןNebuzaradaNebuzaradanנְבוּזַרְאֲדָןטַבָּחguardguardטַבָּחגּוֹרָלallottedallottedגּוֹרָלחָלָלslain: kilslain: killedחָלָלרַבmanymanyרַבגּוֹיGentileGentileגּוֹיעֵדָהcongregaticongregationעֵדָהעֲבֹדָהserviceserviceעֲבֹדָהבָּחוּרyouthyouthבָּחוּר
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 7:26

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.

for many slain [ones] she has made fall and [are] numerous all killed [men] her
כִּֽי־ki- for 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'.
Amplified meaning
because of this reason
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
Conj — Particle
HTc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

for (ki (conjunction), le, from 'el (preposition), and various other words. In the New Testament also the words are various, chiefly gar, kai gar, hoti (conjunctions); anti apo eis dia (accusative), epi (dative and accusative), peri (genitive), pros (genitive and accusative), huper (genitive) (prepositions)): the English Revised Version and the American Standard Revised Version give in many cases more literal or more accurate renderings than those in the King James Version.

In the New Testament the most important preps. from a doctrinal point of view are anti, "face to face," "over against," "instead," "on behalf of," peri, "around," "about," "concerning," huper, "over," "on behalf of." The first has been claimed as stating the substitutionary nature of Christ's sacrifice as contrasted with huper and peri, more frequently used of it. But, although anti in the New Testament often means…

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
for many slain [ones] she has made fall and [are] numerous all killed [men] her
רַבִּ֣יםra.Bim many H7227 Adj
454× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means a chief or captain, someone in charge. It is used in 2 Samuel 23:19 to describe a great and powerful man. The idea is one of leadership and authority.
Amplified meaning
caused to fall, cast down, a multitude, a great number
Tyndale gloss
many
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

רַב (rav) means much, many, or great, often used in contrast to מְעַט (me'at). It can describe abundance in quantity or rank and is also used as a noun for chief or captain. The word conveys a range of meanings from numerous to exceedingly, and it can function as both an adjective and a noun.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

רַב 429 adj. much, many, great

(oft. opp. מְעַט)

much: of substances

esp. of collectives, numerous

pl. many

רַב as subst. coll. pers.

cstr. = abounding in

מִן comp. = more numerous than

רַב = abundant, enough

as adv. much, exceedingly

less oft. great

base

רַב 49 n.m. chief

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7227a רַב much, many, great . (oft. opp. מְעַט) . . much: of substances

. esp. of collectives, numerous

. pl. many

. רַב as subst. coll. pers.

. cstr. = abounding in

. + מִן comp. = more numerous than

. רַב = abundant, enough

. as adv. much, exceedingly

. less oft. great

H7227b רַב chief

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7227 rab rab

by contracted from 7231; abundant (in quantity, size, age,

number, rank, quality):--(in) abound(-undance, -ant, -antly),

captain, elder, enough, exceedingly, full, great(-ly, man,

one), increase, long (enough, (time)), (do, have) many(-ifold,

things, a time), ((ship-))master, mighty, more, (too, very)

much, multiply(-tude), officer, often(-times), plenteous,

populous, prince, process (of time), suffice(-lent).

see HEBREW for 07231

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

רַב (rav) — many.

adj

1) much, many, great

1a) much

1b) many

1c) abounding in

1d) more numerous than

1e) abundant, enough

1f) great

1g) strong

1h) greater than

adv

1i) much, exceedingly

רַב (rav) — chief.

captain, chief

Aramaic equivalent: rav.re.van (רַבְרְבָן "noble" H7261)

רַב (rav) — (Sidon) the Great.

Combined with tsi.don (צִידוֹן "Sidon" H6721H)

§ captain, chief

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adj — Adj
HAampa
English usagewhat the translators’ English meant
Webster's Dictionary (1828), Webster's Unabridged (1913), Webster's Dictionary (1806)

MANY, adjective men'ny.

1. Numerous; comprising a great number of individuals.

Thou shalt be a father of many nations. Genesis 17:4.

Not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. 1 Corinthians 1:26.

MANY are the afflictions of the righteous. Psalms 34:12.

It is often preceded by as or so, and followed by so, indicating an equal number.

As many books as you take, so many shall be charged to your account.

So many laws argue so many sins.

It is followed by as.

As many as were willing-hearted brought bracelets. Exodus 34:1.

It precedes an or a, before a noun in the singular number.

Full many a gem of purest ray serene.

2. In low language, preceded by too, it denotes powerful or much; as, they are too many for us.

MANY, noun men'ny. A multitude; a great number of individuals; the people.

O thou fond many

The vulgar and the many are fit only to be led or driven.

for many slain [ones] she has made fall and [are] numerous all killed [men] her
חֲלָלִ֣יםcha.la.Lim slain [ones] H2491 Adj
94× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word describes something or someone that has been profaned or hurt, like in Numbers 35:33. It can also mean to be pierced or wounded, as in physically harmed.
Amplified meaning
the state of being dead, eternal separation
Tyndale gloss
slain: killed
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

חָלָל (chalal) primarily means 'pierced' or 'slain,' often in a context of fatal wounding. It can also refer to something that is 'profaned' or 'defiled.' The word is built from the root associated with piercing and carries both literal and figurative meanings related to death and pollution.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

חָלָל 90 n.m. pierced

pierced, fatally wounded

slain

base

חָלָל adj. profaned

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2491a חָלָל pierced H2491b חָלָל profaned

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2491 chalal khaw-lawl'

from 2490; pierced (especially to death); figuratively,

polluted:--kill, profane, slain (man), X slew, (deadly)

wounded.

see HEBREW for 02490

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חָלָל (cha.lal) — slain: killed.

: killed

1) slain, fatally wounded, pierced

1a) pierced, fatally wounded

1b) slain

Also means: cha.lal (חָלָל ": wounded" H2491H)

חָלָל (cha.lal) — profaned.

adj

1) (CLBL) profaned

1a) defiled, profaned (by divorce)

חָלָל (cha.lal) — slain: wounded.

: wounded

1) slain, fatally wounded, pierced

1a) pierced, fatally wounded

1b) slain

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adj — Adj
HAampa
for many slain [ones] she has made fall and [are] numerous all killed [men] her
הִפִּ֑ילָהhi.Pi.lah she has made fall H5307 Verb · Hiphil · perfect third person feminine singular
435× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means to fall, and it's used in many ways, like falling down, failing, or being defeated. It appears in books like Genesis and Isaiah. God's people often fell away from Him, but He always offered a way back.
Tyndale gloss
to fall: fall
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

נָפַל (naphal) is a Hebrew verb meaning 'to fall,' encompassing a wide range of applications, including falling by accident, experiencing violent death, or going to ruin. It can also refer to prostrating oneself, attacking, or causing someone to fall. The term appears in various contexts throughout the Old Testament, often indicating physical or metaphorical downfall.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

נָפַל 433 vb. fall, lie

Qal 366

fall, by accident

Esp. of violent death

fig. = go to ruin, perish, etc.

fig. = experience calamity

fall, of a city

Fall prostrate

fall = prostrate oneself before

fall upon one's neck, in embrace

Fall upon = attack

desert or fall away to, go over to

Fig., of deep sleep

Other idiomatic uses

= lie; = lie prostrate

Hiph.

cause to fall

Of causing death; = overthrow, bring to destruction

Esp. of casting lot

Fig., let drop, cause to fail

cause deep sleep to fall

Other idioms

Hithp. throw, or prostrate oneself

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5307 נָפַל fall, lie .. fall, by accident

. . Esp. of violent death

. fig. = go to ruin, perish, etc.

. fig. = experience calamity

. fall, of a city

. . Fall prostrate

. fall = prostrate oneself before

. fall upon one's neck, in embrace

. . Fall upon = attack

. desert or fall away to, go over to

. Fig., of deep sleep

. Other idiomatic uses

. = lie; = lie prostrate

. . cause to fall

. Of causing death; = overthrow, bring to destruction

. Esp. of casting lot

. Fig., let drop, cause to fail

. cause deep sleep to fall

. Other idioms

. throw, or prostrate oneself

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5307 naphal naw-fal'

a primitive root; to fall, in a great variety of applications

(intransitive or causative, literal or figurative):--be

accepted, cast (down, self, (lots), out), cease, die, divide

(by lot), (let) fail, (cause to, let, make, ready to) fall

(away, down, -en, -ing), fell(-ing), fugitive, have

(inheritance), inferior, be judged (by mistake for 6419), lay

(along), (cause to) lie down, light (down), be (X hast) lost,

lying, overthrow, overwhelm, perish, present(-ed, -ing), (make

to) rot, slay, smite out, X surely, throw down.

see HEBREW for 06419

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נָפַל (na.phal) — to fall: fall.

: fall/drop/fail

1) to fall, lie, be cast down, fail

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to fall

1a2) to fall (of violent death)

1a3) to fall prostrate, prostrate oneself before

1a4) to fall upon, attack, desert, fall away to, go away to, fall into the hand of

1a5) to fall short, fail, fall out, turn out, result

1a6) to settle, waste away, be offered, be inferior to

1a7) to lie, lie prostrate

1b) (Hiphil)

1b1) to cause to fall, fell, throw down, knock out, lay prostrate

1b2) to overthrow

1b3) to make the lot fall, assign by lot, apportion by lot

1b4) to let drop, cause to fail (fig.)

1b5) to cause to fall

1c) (Hithpael)

1c1) to throw or prostrate oneself, throw oneself upon

1c2) to lie prostrate, prostrate oneself

1d) (Pilel) to fall

נָפַל (na.phal) — to fall: deserting.

: deserting

1) to fall, lie, be cast down, fail

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to fall

1a2) to fall (of violent death)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Hiphil-Perf-3fs — Verb · Hiphil · perfect third person feminine singular
HVhp3fs
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

fol (vb.): The idea of falling is most frequently expressed in Hebrew by naphal, but also by many other words; in Greek by pipto, and its compounds. The uses of the word in Scripture are very varied. There is the literal falling by descent; the falling of the countenance in sorrow, shame, anger, etc. (Ge 4:5,6); the falling in battle (Ge 14:10; Nu 14:3, etc.); the falling into trouble, etc. (Pr 24:16,17); prostration in supplication and reverence (Ge 17:3; Nu 14:5, etc.); falling of the Spirit of Yahweh (Eze 11:5

for many slain [ones] she has made fall and [are] numerous all killed [men] her
וַ֝עֲצֻמִ֗יםva.'a.tzu.Mim and [are] numerous H6099 Conjunction
31× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means mighty or powerful, often describing something as strong or numerous. It is used in the Bible to describe God's power and strength.
Amplified meaning
countless, innumerable
Tyndale gloss
mighty
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עָצוּם (atsuwm) is an adjective meaning mighty or numerous. It conveys strength and power, often in the context of numbers. The word is derived from a root meaning to be powerful, and it appears in various contexts in the Old Testament, emphasizing might and abundance.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עָצוּם 31 adj. mighty, numerous

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6099 עָצוּם mighty, numerous

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6099 `atsuwm aw-tsoom'

or matsum {aw-tsoom'}; passive participle of 6105; powerful

(specifically, a paw); by implication, numerous:--+ feeble,

great, mighty, must, strong.

see HEBREW for 06105

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עָצוּם (a.tsum) — mighty.

1) mighty, vast, numerous

1a) mighty, strong (in number)

1b) numerous, countless

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | Adj — Conjunction
HC/Aampa
for many slain [ones] she has made fall and [are] numerous all killed [men] her
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
a great multitude, an army
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
for many slain [ones] she has made fall and [are] numerous all killed [men] her
הֲרֻגֶֽיהָ׃ha.ru.Gei.ha killed [men] her H2026 Verb qal participle (passive) masculine plural common · suffix
167× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To kill or slay with intent, as seen in the Bible when God instructs the Israelites to destroy certain nations. This word is used in various forms, including to murder or destroy. It appears in books like Exodus and Deuteronomy.
Amplified meaning
killed, wounded
Tyndale gloss
to kill
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

הָרַג (harag) is a Hebrew verb meaning to kill or slay, often implying ruthless violence. It encompasses a range of meanings including murder, destruction, and being killed. The entries indicate its use in various contexts, such as wholesale slaughter in battle or divine judgment. The verb appears in different forms, including Qal, Niphal, and Pual, indicating various nuances of killing.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

הָרַג vb. kill, slay

Qal

kill, slay, implying ruthless violence

hence of wholesale slaughter after battle

of God’s slaying in judgment

rarely of judicial killing by men (at God’s command)

of killing beasts

of killing by beasts

quite general

destroy, ruin

Niph.

shall priest and prophet be slain in the sanctuary?

pass. of Qal 1 b

Pu. be slain

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2026 הָרַג kill, slay

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2026 harag haw-rag'

a primitive root; to smite with deadly intent:--destroy, out

of hand, kill, murder(-er), put to (death), make (slaughter),

slay(-er), X surely.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

הָרַג (ha.rag) — to kill.

1) to kill, slay, murder, destroy, murderer, slayer, out of hand

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to kill, slay

1a2) to destroy, ruin

1b) (Niphal) to be killed

1c) (Pual) to be killed, be slain

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Inf-c | Suff — Verb qal participle (passive) masculine plural common · suffix
HVqsmpc/Sp3fs
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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