Psalms 1:4 — Word Study
WLCלֹא־ כֵ֥ן הָרְשָׁעִ֑ים כִּ֥י אִם־ כַּ֝מֹּ֗ץ אֲֽשֶׁר־ תִּדְּפֶ֥נּוּ רֽוּחַ׃
BSANotlôʼ sokên [certainly not, in no way] the wickedrâshâʻ [morally wrong, guilty of sin] Forkîy [they are]ʼim like chaffmôts [comparable to, similar to, the loose outer covering of grain, worthless] driven offnâdaph▸ [blown away, dispersed] by the windrûwach [a blast of air]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| לֹא־ | not | Particle |
| כֵ֥ן | [are] so | Adverb |
| הָרְשָׁעִ֑ים | the wicked [people] | Particle, noun common masculine plural absolute |
| כִּ֥י | that | Particle |
| אִם־ | except | Particle |
| כַּ֝מֹּ֗ץ | [they are] like the chaff | Preposition, noun common masculine singular absolute |
| אֲֽשֶׁר־ | which | Particle |
| תִּדְּפֶ֥נּוּ | it drives about it | Verb qal imperfect third person feminine singular, suffix |
| רֽוּחַ׃ | wind | Noun common, feminine singular absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Not so the wicked! For they are like chaff driven off by the wind. |
| KJV | The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. |
| ASV | The wicked are not so, But are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. |
| YLT | Not so the wicked: But — as chaff that wind driveth away! |
| WEB | The wicked are not so, but are like the chaff which the wind drives away. |
| BBE | The evil-doers are not so; but are like the dust from the grain, which the wind takes away. |
Where they part company is in the emphasis on the nature of the wicked — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence structure emphasizes the contrast between the wicked and the righteous, with the main clause immediately stating the negation.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
subjectרוּחַ
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
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 — Psalms 1:4
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — The Contrast of the Righteous and the Wickedgenerated
Psalm 1:4 presents a vivid contrast between the righteous and the wicked. The righteous are likened to a tree planted by water, flourishing and fruitful, while the wicked are described as chaff, lacking substance and driven away by the wind. This imagery emphasizes the ultimate fate of the wicked, who will not endure in the face of judgment, as further elaborated in verses 5 and 6.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalm 35:5 | May they be like chaff in the wind, as the angel of the LORD drives them away. |
| 2 | Job 21:18 | Are they like straw before the wind, like chaff swept away by a storm? |
| 3 | Isaiah 17:13 | The nations rage like the rush of many waters. He rebukes them, and they flee far away, driven before the wind like chaff on the hills, like tumbleweeds before a gale. |
| 4 | Isaiah 29:5 | But your many foes will be like fine dust, the multitude of the ruthless like blowing chaff. Then suddenly, in an instant, |
| 5 | Hosea 13:3 | Therefore they will be like the morning mist, like the early dew that vanishes, like chaff blown from a threshing floor, like smoke through an open window. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 6 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — רָשָׁע, ra.sha'generated
The word רָשָׁע (ra.sha') refers to individuals who are morally wrong or guilty of sin. It conveys a sense of moral failure and wrongdoing, often used to describe those who oppose God's commands or live unrighteously.
In this verse, the term highlights the nature of the wicked, contrasting their fate with that of the righteous. The parsing indicates that it is a masculine plural noun, emphasizing a group of people characterized by their wickedness.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
The translations largely agree on the rendering of the verse.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The structure of the verse is built around the finite verb תִּדְּפֶ֥ן, it drives, which governs the subject רֽוּחַ (wind) and describes the action taken upon the wicked. The sentence begins with a negation, establishing the contrast with the righteous.
The word order emphasizes the wicked's lack of stability, with the subject and verb closely linked, highlighting their fate as transient and driven away.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, the Hebrew word רָשָׁע is rendered as ἀσεβεῖς (asebeis), which means 'ungodly' or 'wicked.' This choice underscores the moral implications of the text, indicating a broader view of wickedness that aligns with Greek moral philosophy.
The translation of כַּ֝מֹּ֗ץ as ὡς (hōs), meaning 'like,' maintains the simile used in the Hebrew, reinforcing the comparison between the wicked and chaff.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Psalm 1:4 tells us that the wicked are not like the righteous. Instead, they are compared to chaff, which is the worthless outer covering of grain that is blown away by the wind. This illustrates their lack of stability and substance.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
This comparison indicates that the wicked lack substance and stability, being easily blown away and not enduring like the righteous.
Psalm 1 contrasts the destinies of the righteous and the wicked, emphasizing that the righteous will prosper while the wicked will ultimately perish.
The term 'wicked' highlights moral wrongdoing and guilt, indicating those who oppose God's ways and live unrighteously.
Wind symbolizes instability and transience, illustrating how the wicked are easily dispersed and lack permanence.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways do I see the contrast between the righteous and the wicked in today's world?
- How can I ensure that I am rooted like the tree mentioned in the previous verse, rather than being like chaff?
- What are some examples of moral choices I face that could align me with the wicked or the righteous?
- How does understanding the fate of the wicked influence my actions and decisions?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Early Church Fathers commented on this verse to illustrate the fate of the wicked compared to the righteous. Their insights are drawn from various works, emphasizing the moral implications of the text.
The ungodly have no possible hope of having the image of the happy tree applied to them. The only lot that awaits them is one of wandering and winnowing, crushing, dispersion and unrest;Early Church Fathers on Psalms 1 →
It follows: Not so the wicked, not so; but like dust which the wind drives away from the face of the earth; this is, not so as the blessed man, who is blessed because he has not walked in the counsel of the wicked,Early Church Fathers on Psalms 1 →
Now let us see what Scripture says about the sinner, the wicked man. 'Not so the wicked.' Those universal rewards the just man receives, the wicked man will not receive.Early Church Fathers on Psalms 1 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Psalms 1:4 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleThe ungodly [are] not so,.... They are not as the good man is; their manner and course of life are different; they walk in the counsel of ungodly men, like themselves, and take counsel against the
Read John Gill on Psalms 1 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryThe ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. (Job 21:18; Hosea 13:3; cf.
Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 1 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleThe ungodly are not so; their condition is far differing from the former. But are like the chaff; in regard either, 1. Of their sinful disposition. They are vain and frothy, unprofitable and hurtful, without any root of true and solid goodness, without any certain end or constant course, tossed to and fro with every wind of their own lusts or temptations. Or rather, 2. Of their wretched condition. They are restless and unquiet in their own minds and consciences; their seeming felicity, in which they please and pride themselves, hath no firm foundation, but quickly vanisheth and fleeth away, as chaff doth before the wind, and their end is to be burned: see .
Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 1 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsPsalms 1:4 The ungodly [are] not so: but [are] like the chaff which the wind driveth away.Ver. 4. The ungodly are not so] Not like any such tree before described, but rather like the cypress tree, which, the more it is watered, is the less fruitful; or like the cyparit tree, whereof Pliny writeth that it is good for nothing, no, not for show, shadow, or smell. St Jude saith, they are trees indeed, but such as are twice dead, pulled up by the roots, Judges 1:12. Twice dead they are said to be, 1. Because a spiritual death is so great a death that it may well go for two. 2. Because those ungodly ones were dead, both in regard of fruit and leaves, truth of grace and any outward actings of…
Read John Trapp on Psalms 1 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(4) The ungodly.—Better, Not so the ungodly. But are like.—They shall be winnowed out of the society of the true Israel by the fan of God’s judgment. The image is a striking one, although so frequent as almost to have become a poetical commonplace (Habakkuk 3:12; Joe 3:14; Jeremiah 51:33; Isaiah 21:10). (See Bible Educator, iv. 4.)
Read Charles John Ellicott on Psalms 1 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 4. The ungodly are not so] The Vulgate and Septuagint, and the versions made from them, such as the AEthiopic and Arabic, double the last negation, and add a clause to the end of the verse, "Not so the ungodly, not so; they shall be like the dust which the wind scatters away from the face of the earth." There is nothing solid in the men; there is nothing good in their ways. They are not of God's planting; they are not good grain; they are only chaff, and a chaff that shall be separated from the good grain when the fan or shovel of God's power throws them up to the wind of his judgments. The manner of winnowing in the eastern countries is nearly the same with that practiced in various…
Read AdamClarke on Psalms 1 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges4–6. The character and destiny of the wicked.
Read Cambridge on Psalms 1 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleThe ungodly are not so - literally, “Not thus the wicked.” For the word ungodly, see the notes at Psalms 1:1.
Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 1 →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
Not so the wicked! For they are like chaff driven off by the wind.
The wicked are not so, but are like the chaff which the wind drives away.
Not so the wicked! For they are like chaff driven off by the wind.
Not so with the wicked! Instead they are like wind-driven chaff.
Tyndale line
The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.
The wicked are not so, But are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.
The wicked are not so; but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.
The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.
The wicked are not so, but as the chaffe, which the winde driueth away.
Strictly literal
The wicked are not so; but are as the chaff which the wind driveth away.
Not so the wicked: But — as chaff that wind driveth away!
Not so the wicked: But [they are] as chaff that wind drives away!
Not so the wicked; but they are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.
The wicked are not so, but are instead like the chaff that the wind drives away.
From the Latin
Not so the wicked, not so: but like the dust, which the wind driveth from the face of the earth.
Simplified
But it's not like that for the wicked! They are like chaff, blown away by the wind.
The evil-doers are not so; but are like the dust from the grain, which the wind takes away.
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.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint agree closely in wording, with all nine Hebrew words matched in the Greek translation. This consistency indicates a shared understanding of the text's meaning across these traditions.
לֹא־ כֵ֥ן הָרְשָׁעִ֑ים כִּ֥י אִם־ כַּ֝מֹּ֗ץ אֲֽשֶׁר־ תִּדְּפֶ֥נּוּ רֽוּחַ׃
9 of the 9 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.
Lexicons — every word in Psalms 1:4
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.
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.'
לֹא or לוֹא adv. not
base
H3808 לֹא or לוֹא not
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.
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)
Part — ParticleHTn
The Hebrew word כֵּן (*ken*) is built from the root meaning 'set upright.' It functions as an adjective meaning 'right,' 'veritable,' or 'honest,' and as an adverb meaning 'so,' 'therefore,' or 'thus.' It appears in various contexts, often indicating manner or relation, and is used in phrases like 'forasmuch as.'
כֵּן adj. right, veritable, honest
right
veritable, true
pl. concr. honest (men)
base
כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as
base
כֵּן adv. so
base
H3651a כֵּן adj. right, veritable, honest H3651b כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as H3651c כֵּן so
3651 ken kane
from 3559; properly, set upright; hence (figuratively as
adjective) just; but usually (as adverb or conjunction)
rightly or so (in various applications to manner, time and
relation; often with other particles):--+ after that
(this, -ward, -wards), as ... as, + (for-)asmuch as yet, + be
(for which) cause, + following, howbeit, in (the) like
(manner, -wise), X the more, right, (even) so, state,
straightway, such (thing), surely, + there (where)-fore, this,
thus, true, well, X you.
see HEBREW for 03559
כֵּן (ken) — right.
adv
adj
1) right, just, honest, true, veritable
1a) right, just, honest
1b) correct
1c) true, veritable
[כִּי עַל] כֵּן ([ki al] ken) — as.
adv
forasmuch as, since
כֵּן (ken) — so.
adv
1) so, therefore, thus
1a) thus, so
1b) just so
1c) therefore
1d) so...as (paired with adv)
1e) then
1f) forasmuch as (in phrase)
1g) (with prep)
1g1) therefore, this being so (specific)
1g2) hitherto
1g3) therefore, on this ground (general)
1g4) afterwards
1g5) in such case
Aramaic equivalent: ken (כֵּן "thus" H3652)
Adv — AdverbHD
so (co', although the Hebrew might be pointed cewe'; Assyrian Sib'u; Septuagint Segor, Soa; Manetho, Seuechos; Latin Sevechus; Herodotus (ii. 137 ff), Sabakon): In all probability the "Sabaeo" of Herodotus, the Shabaka, who founded the Ethiopian dynasty, the XXVth of Egyptian kings. His date is given as 715-707 BC (Flinders Petrie, History of Egypt, III, 281 ff), but we may suppose that before his accession to the throne he was entitled to be designated king, as being actually regent. To this So, Hoshea, king of Israel, made an appeal for assistance to enable him to throw off the yoke of the Assyrian Shalmaneser IV (2Ki 17:3). But Hoshea's submission to So brought him no advantage, for Shalmaneser came up throughout all the land and laid siege to Samaria. Not long after the fall of Samaria, So ventured upon an eastern campaign, and…
So
(Nubian, Sabako), an Ethiopian king who brought Egypt under his sway. He was bribed by Hoshea to help him against the Assyrian monarch Shalmaneser (2 Kings 17:4). This was a return to the policy that had been successful in the reign of Jeroboam I.
"So, king of Egypt," is once mentioned in the Bible -- (2 Kings 17:4) So has been identified by different writers with the first and second kings of the Ethiopian twenty-fifth dynasty, called by Manetho, Sabakon (Shebek) and Sebichos (Shebetek).
King of Egypt, made an alliance with Hoshea king of Israel, and promised him assistance; but was unable to prevent Shalmaneser king of Assyria from taking Samaria and subverting the kingdom, B. C. 721, 2Ki 17:4. See PHARAOH.
So is believed to have been the Servetus or Sabaco II of secular history, the second king of the Ethiopian or twenty-fifth dynasty, and the predecessor of Trihakah. A singular fact has been brought to light by the recent explorations at Nineveh, corroborating the Scripture record the more forcibly, because unexpected and direct. The Bible shows that Egypt and Assyria, though remote, were often in conflict during the height of the Assyrian ruins power, and that So was at war with Shalmaneser. After war comes the treaty of peace; and as the Bible prepares us to suppose such treaties were made, the Assyrian ruins…
רָשָׁע (rasha`) refers to someone who is wicked or criminal, encompassing meanings such as guilty and ungodly. It is derived from a root that implies moral wrongdoing. The term is used to describe individuals who are hostile to God or guilty of sin against others.
רָשָׁע 263 adj. wicked, criminal
base
H7563 רָשָׁע wicked, criminal
7563 rasha` raw-shaw'
from 7561; morally wrong; concretely, an (actively) bad
person:--+ condemned, guilty, ungodly, wicked (man), that did
wrong.
see HEBREW for 07561
רָשָׁע (ra.sah) — wicked.
1) wicked, criminal
1a) guilty one, one guilty of crime (subst)
1b) wicked (hostile to God)
1c) wicked, guilty of sin (against God or man)
Art | Adj — Particle · noun common masculine plural absoluteHTd/Ncmpa
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.'
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
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
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.
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)
Conj — ParticleHTc
אִם (im) is a Hebrew conjunction primarily meaning 'if' and is used in various contexts, including conditional clauses and interrogative situations. It can also express negation, alternatives, or exceptions, and appears frequently in the Old Testament. The lexicons note its use in oaths and its ability to connect different clauses, sometimes altering their meanings.
אִם conj.
hypoth. part. if
Interrog. part.
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
H518a אִם conj. . hypoth. part. if
. Interrog. part.
H518b 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
518 'im eem
a primitive particle; used very widely as demonstrative, lo!;
interrog., whether?; or conditional, if, although; also Oh
that!, when; hence, as a negative, not:--(and, can-,
doubtless, if, that) (not), + but, either, + except, +
more(-over if, than), neither, nevertheless, nor, oh that, or,
+ save (only, -ing), seeing, since, sith, + surely (no more,
none, not), though, + of a truth, + unless, + verily, when,
whereas, whether, while, + yet.
אִם (im) — if.
: if/whether_or/though
1) if
1a) conditional clauses
1a1) of possible situations
1a2) of impossible situations
1b) oath contexts
1b1) no, not
1c) if...if, whether...or, whether...or...or
1d) when, whenever
1e) since
1f) interrogative particle
1g) but rather
[כִּי] אם (ki im) — if: except.
1) except if
1a) but if
אִם (im) — if: surely no.
: surely_no
1) if
1a) conditional clauses
1a1) of possible situations
1a2) of impossible situations
1b) oath contexts
1b1) no, not
1c) if...if, whether...or, whether...or...or
1d) when, whenever
1e) since
1f) interrogative particle
1g) but rather
אִם (im) — if: surely yes.
: surely_yes
1) if
1a) conditional clauses
1a1) of possible situations
1a2) of impossible situations
1b) oath contexts
1b1) no, not
1c) if...if, whether...or, whether...or...or
1d) when, whenever
1e) since
1f) interrogative particle
1g) but rather
אִם (im) — if: until.
: until/except
Conj — ParticleHTc
מוֹץ (mots) means chaff, specifically the lightweight husks separated from grain during threshing. It is often depicted as being driven by the wind and is used metaphorically in contexts such as the fate of the wicked (Job 21:18) and the power of nations (Isaiah 17:13). The term appears in several Old Testament verses, highlighting its symbolic significance.
[מוֹץ], מֹץ n.m. Is 29:5 chaff;—מ׳ abs. Ho 13:3 + 6 t.; cstr. Is 17:13;—chaff, always as driven by wind, and alw. c. כְּ, in sim.; of wicked Jb 21:18 (∥ תֶּבֶן לִפְנֵי רוּחַ), cf. ψ 1:4 35:5 Ho 13:3; of hostile nations Is 17:13 (מ׳ הָרִים), 29:5 (∥ אָבָק דַּךְ); hyperb. of Judah's power, גְּבָעוֹת כַּמֹּץ תָּשִׂים Is 41:15 (∥ תָּדוּשׁ הָרִים וְתָדֹק); of passing time, יוֹם Zp…
Read the full entry →H4671 [מוֹץ], מֹץ chaff
4671 mots motes
or mowts (Zephaniah 2:2) {motes}; from 4160; chaff (as
pressed out, i.e. winnowed or (rather) threshed
loose):--chaff.
see HEBREW for 04160
מוֹץ (mots) — chaff.
1) chaff
1a) always as driven by wind
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absoluteHRd/Ncmsa
chaf: Four different words have been translated "chaff" in the Old Testament:
(1) mots, is found in Job 21:18; Ps 1:4; 35:5; Isa 17:13; 29:5; 41:15; Ho 13:3; Ze 2:2.
(2) chashash, occurs in two verses (Isa 5:24; 33:11). Compare "chashish," an Arabic word which, as commonly used, denotes grass either standing or cut, green or dry, although, strictly speaking, dry or cut grass alone. In the Revised Version (British and American) Isa 5:24 the translation is "dry grass."
Chaff
The refuse of winnowed corn. It was usually burned (Ex. 15:7; Isa. 5:24; Matt. 3:12). This word sometimes, however, means dried grass or hay (Isa. 5:24; 33:11). Chaff is used as a figure of abortive wickedness (Ps. 1:4; Matt. 3:12). False doctrines are also called chaff (Jer. 23:28), or more correctly rendered “chopped straw.” The destruction of the wicked, and their powerlessness, are likened to the carrying away of chaff by the wind (Isa. 17:13;
the husk of corn or wheat which was separated from the grain by being thrown into the air, the wind blowing away the chaff, while the grain was saved. The carrying away of chaff by the wind is an ordinary scriptural image of the destruction of the wicked and of their powerlessness to resist God’s judgments. (Psalms 1:4; Isaiah 17:13; Hosea 13:3; Zephaniah 2:2)
The Hebrew word אֲשֶׁר (*asher*) is a relative pronoun that can mean 'who,' 'which,' or 'that.' It serves various grammatical functions, including as an adverb or conjunction, indicating relationships between clauses, places, or conditions. Variants like בַאֲשֶׁר (*ba-asher*), מֵאֲשֶׁר (*me-asher*), and כַּאֲשֶׁר (*ka-asher*) expand its usage to specific contexts such as location, causation, and time.
אֲשֶׁר part. of relation A sign of relation, bringing the clause introduced by it into relation with an antecedent clause.
base
בַאֲשֶׁר
in (that) which
adv. in (the place) where
conj. in that, inasmuch as
on account of whom?
base
מֵאֲשֶׁר
from (or than) that which
adv. from (the place) where
conj. from (the fact) that …, since
base
כַּאֲשֶׁר conj. according as, as, when
according to that which, according as, as
with a causal force, in so far as, since
with a temporal force, when
base
H834a אֲשֶׁר part. of relation A sign of relation, bringing the clause introduced by it into relation with an antecedent clause. H834b בַאֲשֶׁר . in (that) which
. adv. in (the place) where
. conj. in that, inasmuch as
. on account of whom?
H834c מֵאֲשֶׁר . from (or than) that which
. adv. from (the place) where
. conj. from (the fact) that …, since
H834d כַּאֲשֶׁר conj. according as, as, when . according to that which, according as, as
. with a causal force, in so far as, since
. with a temporal force, when
834 'aher ash-er'
a primitive relative pronoun (of every gender and number);
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction)
when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.:--X after, X
alike, as (soon as), because, X every, for, + forasmuch, +
from whence, + how(-soever), X if, (so) that ((thing) which,
wherein), X though, + until, + whatsoever, when, where
(+ -as, -in, -of, -on, -soever, -with), which, whilst, +
whither(- soever), who(-m, -soever, -se). As it is
indeclinable, it is often accompanied by the personal pronoun
expletively, used to show the connection.
אֲשֶׁר (a.sher) — which.
A: 1) (relative part.)
1a) which, who
1b) that which
2) (conj)
2a) that (in obj clause)
2b) when
2c) since
2d) as
2e) conditional if
B: Beth+ 1) in (that) which
2) (adv)
2a) where
3) (conj)
3a) in that, inasmuch as
3b) on account of
C: Mem+ 1) from (or than) that which
2) from (the place) where
3) from (the fact) that, since
D: Kaph+
1) (conj.), according as, as, when
1a) according to that which, according as, as
1b) with a causal force: in so far as, since
1c) with a temporal force: when
בַאֲשֶׁר (ba.a.sher) — in which.
1) in (that) which
2) (adv)
2a) where
3) (conj)
3a) in that, inasmuch as
3b) on account of
מֵאֲשֶׁר (me.a.sher) — whence.
1) from (or than) that which
2) from (the place) where
3) from (the fact) that, since
כַּאֲשֶׁר (ka.a.sher) — as which.
conj
1) according as, as, when
1a) according to that which, according as, as
HTr — ParticleHTr
נָדַף (nadaph) is a primitive root meaning to drive or disperse. It covers actions like driving away or being driven about, with forms in both the Qal and Niphal stems. The word suggests a sense of movement or force, as seen in its glosses from various lexicons.
[נָדַף] vb. drive, drive asunder
base
H5086 [נָדַף] drive, drive asunder
5086 nadaph naw-daf'
a primitive root; to shove asunder, i.e. disperse:--drive
(away, to and fro), thrust down, shaken, tossed to and fro.
נָדַף (na.daph) — to drive.
1) to drive, drive away, drive asunder
1a) (Qal) to drive about
1b)(Niphal) to be driven, be driven about
V-Qal-Imperf-3fs | Suff — Verb qal imperfect third person feminine singular · suffixHVqi3fs/Sp3ms
רוּחַ (ruach) means breath, wind, or spirit. It encompasses various meanings, including the breath of life, emotional disposition, and the spirit of God. The term can refer to both physical phenomena, like wind, and abstract concepts, such as moral character or mental acts. Notably, it is used frequently in the context of divine inspiration and the Holy Spirit.
רוּחַ 378 n.f. (less oft. m.) breath, wind, spirit
breath of mouth or nostrils (33 t.)
wind (117 t.)
spirit, as that which breathes quickly in animation or agitation = temper, disposition (76 t.)
spirit of the living, breathing being
spirit as seat of emotion
occasionally (and late) = seat or organ of mental acts
rarely of the will
רוּחַ esp. of moral character
spirit of God (94 t.)
base
H7307 רוּחַ breath, wind, spirit . breath of mouth or nostrils (33 t.)
. wind (117 t.)
. spirit, as that which breathes quickly in animation or agitation = temper, disposition (76 t.)
. spirit of the living, breathing being
. spirit as seat of emotion
. occasionally (and late) = seat or organ of mental acts
. rarely of the will
. רוּחַ esp. of moral character
. spirit of God (94 t.)
7307 ruwach roo'-akh
from 7306; wind; by resemblance breath, i.e. a sensible (or
even violent) exhalation; figuratively, life, anger,
unsubstantiality; by extension, a region of the sky; by
resemblance spirit, but only of a rational being (including
its expression and functions):--air, anger, blast, breath, X
cool, courage, mind, X quarter, X side, spirit((-ual)),
tempest, X vain, ((whirl-))wind(-y).
see HEBREW for 07306
רוּחַ (ru.ach) — spirit.
: spirit
1) wind, breath, mind, spirit
1a) breath
1b) wind
1b1) of heaven
1b2) quarter (of wind), side
1b3) breath of air
1b4) air, gas
1b5) vain, empty thing
1c) spirit (as that which breathes quickly in animation or agitation)
1c1) spirit, animation, vivacity, vigour
1c2) courage
1c3) temper, anger
1c4) impatience, patience
1c5) spirit, disposition (as troubled, bitter, discontented)
1c6) disposition (of various kinds), unaccountable or uncontrollable impulse
1c7) prophetic spirit
1d) spirit (of the living, breathing being in man and animals)
1d1) as gift, preserved by God, God's spirit, departing at death, disembodied being
1e) spirit (as seat of emotion)
1e1) desire
1e2) sorrow, trouble
1f) spirit
1f1) as seat or organ of mental acts
1f2) rarely of the will
1f3) as seat especially of moral character
N-cs — Noun common · feminine singular absoluteHNcfsa
wind (anemos:
1. Causes:
Unequal distribution of heat in the atmosphere causes currents of air or wind. The heated air rises and the air from around rushes in. The direction from which a current comes determines its name, as west wind coming from the West but blowing toward the East. When two currents of air of different directions meet, a spiral motion sometimes results.
See WHIRLWIND.
2. West Wind:
In Palestine the west wind is the most common. It comes from the sea and carries the moisture which condenses to form clouds, as it is turned upward by the mountains, to the cooler layers of the atmosphere. If the temperature reached is cool enough the cloud condenses and rain falls. Elijah looked toward the West for the "small cloud," and soon "the heavens grew black with clouds and wind" (1Ki 18:44 f). "When ye see a cloud rising in the…