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Psalms 7:14 — Word Study

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WLCהִנֵּ֥ה יְחַבֶּל־ אָ֑וֶן וְהָרָ֥ה עָ֝מָ֗ל וְיָ֣לַד שָֽׁקֶר׃

BSAto establishkûwn article/utensilkᵉlîy deathmâveth arrowchêts to burn/pursuedâlaq to workpâʻal

Word
Listen & take awayPsalms 7
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 14 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 (Sha.ker) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Psalms 7:14quick helps
In a sentenceThe wicked man is portrayed as one who is deeply engaged in evil, producing trouble and lies.
Who is speakingThe psalmist, reflecting on the nature of wickedness.
Where we areThis verse is part of a meditation on divine justice and the fate of the wicked.
The hard wordיְחַבֶּל־
Take awayWickedness leads to a cycle of evil actions resulting in falsehood.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbלְ 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 — Psalms 7:14

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 Nature of the Wickedgenerated

13He has prepared His deadly weapons; He ordains His arrows with fire.
14Behold, the wicked man travails with evil; he conceives trouble and births falsehood.
15He has dug a hole and hollowed it out; he has fallen into a pit of his own making.
16His trouble recoils on himself, and his violence falls on his own head.

Psalm 7:14 presents a vivid picture of the wicked man, illustrating how his actions are intertwined with evil. The psalmist emphasizes that this man is not only engaged in wrongdoing but is also actively producing trouble and falsehood. This verse is part of a larger discourse on the consequences of wickedness, as seen in the surrounding verses, which highlight the inevitable downfall of the wicked through their own actions.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Job 15:20–35A wicked man writhes in pain all his days; only a few years are reserved for the ruthless.
2Isaiah 33:11You conceive chaff; you give birth to stubble. Your breath is a fire that will consume you.
3Isaiah 59:4–5No one calls for justice; no one pleads his case honestly. They rely on empty pleas; they tell lies; they conceive mischief and give birth to iniquity.
4James 1:15Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

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

Behold, he travaileth with iniquity, and hath conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood.Job 15:20–35 Isaiah 33:11 Isaiah 59:4–5 James 1:15

The Key Word יְחַבֶּל־, ye.cha.bel-generated

The verb יְחַבֶּל (*yechabel*) means 'he is in labor with' and is derived from the root חָבַל (*chabal*), which conveys the idea of twisting or being in pain, similar to the labor of childbirth. This word is used to describe the intense effort and turmoil associated with evil actions.

The Piel form indicates a deliberate and intense action, suggesting that the wicked man is not merely experiencing evil but is actively engaged in its creation. This verb captures the essence of the wicked man's struggle and the destructive nature of his actions.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

In this study, we refer to the Berean Standard Bible (BSB) as the primary text for comparison.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The structure of the verse is governed by a series of verbs that describe the actions of the wicked man: יְחַבֶּל, הָרָה, and יָלַד. Each verb introduces a new aspect of his actions, creating a flow that illustrates the progression from laboring with evil to giving birth to falsehood.

The verbs are sequentially perfect, indicating completed actions that build upon one another, highlighting the cumulative effect of the wicked man's deeds.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

In the Septuagint, the translation for יְחַבֶּל־ is rendered as ἐν (*en*), suggesting a focus on the state of being rather than the action of laboring. This choice may reflect a broader interpretation of the wicked man's condition rather than the specific act of travailing.

This translation choice indicates a slightly different emphasis compared to the Hebrew, where the action of laboring with evil is more pronounced.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Psalm 7:14 describes a wicked man who is deeply involved in evil actions. He conceives trouble and gives birth to lies. This verse highlights the destructive nature of wickedness and its consequences.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean that the wicked man 'travails with evil'?

It means that the wicked man is actively engaged in wrongdoing, putting in effort to produce evil outcomes.

How does this verse relate to the consequences of wickedness?

The verse illustrates that the actions of the wicked lead to trouble and falsehood, indicating a cycle of negative consequences.

What is the significance of the word 'falsehood' in this context?

Falsehood represents the ultimate product of the wicked man's actions, highlighting the deceptive nature of his character.

How can this verse inform our understanding of morality?

It serves as a warning about the nature of wickedness and the importance of integrity, as engaging in evil leads to destructive outcomes.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. What are some ways I see wickedness manifesting in the world today?
  2. How can I guard against the temptation to engage in actions that lead to falsehood?
  3. In what ways can I promote truth and integrity in my community?
  4. How does understanding the consequences of wickedness affect my choices and actions?

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Psalms 7:14 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

Behold, he travaileth with iniquity,.... Is full of it, and big with it, as a woman with child, and eagerly desires to bring it forth, and is in pain till he commits it; and hath conceived mischief;

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

Behold, he travaileth with iniquity, and hath conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood. He traveleth ... and hath conceived mischief ... falsehood.

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

He, i.e. the wicked, as is undeniably manifest from the matter and context. Conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood: this metaphor noteth his deep design, and continued course, and vigorous endeavours for the doing of mischief, and his restlessness and pain till he have accomplished it.

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

Psalms 7:14 Behold, he travaileth with iniquity, and hath conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood.Ver. 14. Behold, he travaileth with iniquity] Heb. he shall travail, or he continually travaileth; he taketh as great pains to go to hell as a travailing woman doth to be delivered. And hath conceived mischief] See Job 15:35, And brought forth falsehood] Or, a lie, that is, a disappointment. See Isaiah 26:18. The Jews have a proverb, Quicquid genuit mendacium, dispellit maledictio (R. Solomon).

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

(14) Behold, he travaileth.—The poet’s thought recurs to the calumniator, whose sin has deserved all this Divine wrath, and he sees the truth that God’s judgments are not arbitrary, but follow naturally on sin as its consequence. The verb “travaileth” gives the general figure, which is elaborated in the two clauses which describe the stages of conception and pregnancy. (For the image, comp. Job 15:35.)

Read Charles John Ellicott on Psalms 7 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 14. He travaileth with iniquity] All these terms show the pitch of envy, wrath, and malevolence, to which Saul had carried his opposition against David. He conceived mischief; he travailed with iniquity; he brought forth falsehood-all his expectations were blasted.

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

14–16. The punishment of the wicked described from another point of view as the natural result of his own actions. He falls into the snare which he laid for others.

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

Behold, he travaileth with iniquity - The wicked man does. The allusion here is to the pains and throes of child-birth; and the idea is, that the wicked man labors or struggles, even with great pain,

Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 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

Behold, the wicked man travails with evil; he conceives trouble and births falsehood.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Behold, he travails with iniquity. Yes, he has conceived mischief, and brought out falsehood.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

Behold, the wicked man travails with evil; he conceives trouble and births falsehood.

NETBNew English Translation2006

See the one who is pregnant with wickedness, who conceives destructive plans, and gives birth to harmful lies –

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

Behold, he travaileth with iniquity, and hath conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

Behold, he travaileth with iniquity; Yea, he hath conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood.

RVARevised Version, American1894

Behold, he travaileth with iniquity; yea, he hath conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

Behold, he travaileth with iniquity, and hath conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Beholde, hee shall trauaile with wickednes: for he hath conceiued mischiefe, but he shall bring foorth a lye.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

Behold, he travaileth with iniquity, yea, he hath conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood:

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

Lo, he travaileth [with] iniquity, And he hath conceived perverseness, And hath brought forth falsehood.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

Behold, he travails [with] iniquity, || And he has conceived perverseness, || And has brought forth falsehood.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

(7:15) Behold, he travaileth with wrong doing; but he hath conceived mischief, and bringeth forth falsehood.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Think about the one who is pregnant with wickedness, who conceives destructive plans, who gives birth to harmful lies.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

And in it he hath prepared the instruments of death, he hath made ready his arrows for them that burn.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

See how the wicked conceive evil! They are pregnant with trouble. They give birth to dishonesty.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

That man is a worker of evil; the seed of wrongdoing has given birth to deceit.

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.

clauseclauseהִנֵּ֥הthere!clauseclauseverbיְחַבֶּלhe.is.in.labor.withobjectאָ֑וֶןwickednessוְandclauseverbהָרָ֥הhe.conceivesobjectעָ֝מָ֗לmischiefוְandclauseverbיָ֣לַדhe.brings.forthobjectשָֽׁקֶרfalsehood

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


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

The Masoretic Text (MT) reads: הִנֵּ֥ה יְחַבֶּל־ אָ֑וֶן וְהָרָ֥ה עָ֝מָ֗ל וְיָ֣לַד שָֽׁקֶר׃. The Septuagint matches the MT word-for-word, confirming the integrity of the text. The Dead Sea Scrolls contain a partial text with some words supplied by an editor, indicating some textual damage but no significant variation in meaning.

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

הִנֵּ֥ה יְחַבֶּל־ אָ֑וֶן וְהָרָ֥ה עָ֝מָ֗ל וְיָ֣לַד שָֽׁקֶר׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
הִנֵּ֥הκαὶיְחַבֶּל־ἐνאָ֑וֶןαὐτῷוְהָרָ֥הσκεύηעָ֝מָ֗לθανάτουוְיָ֣לַדαὐτοῦשָֽׁקֶר׃τοῖς

7 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.

Dead Sea Scrolls — 5/6hev1ba copy a thousand years older than the Leningrad Codex

ול׳ו הכין כלי מות [חצי׳ו] [לדלקים] יפעל

5 words on the leather — 2 supplied entire by an editor.

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.

Psalms 7:14הִנֵּהthere!there!הִנֵּהחָבַלhe is in lahe is in labor חָבַלאָ֫וֶןwickednesswickednessאָ֫וֶןהָרָהand he concand he conceiveהָרָהעָמָלmischiefmischiefעָמָליָלַדand he brinand he brings fיָלַדשֶׁ֫קֶרfalsehoodfalsehoodשֶׁ֫קֶרעָמַלto toilto toilעָמַלשָׁקַרto dealto dealשָׁקַרהֵןlook!look!הֵןאַ֫יִןnothingnothingאַ֫יִןנֶ֫גַעplagueplagueנֶ֫גַעחֲלוֹםdreamdreamחֲלוֹםיָתוֹםorphanorphanיָתוֹםפָּעַלto workto workפָּעַלעָמָלtroubletroubleעָמָללֵאָהLeahLeahלֵאָהיָלַדto begetto begetיָלַדאָ֫וֶןevil: wickevil: wickednesאָ֫וֶןשֶׁ֫לַחShelahShelahשֶׁ֫לַחהָרָהto conceivto conceiveהָרָהעֵדwitnesswitnessעֵדנָבָאto prophesto prophesyנָבָא
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 Psalms 7:14

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.

there! he is in labor with wickedness and he conceives mischief and he brings forth falsehood
הִנֵּ֥הhi.Neh there! H2009 Particle
843× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word is an expression that means 'behold' or 'look', often used to draw attention to something. It appears in Genesis and Isaiah, and is translated as 'behold' or 'lo' in the KJV.
Tyndale gloss
behold
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

הִנֵּה (hinneh) is a Hebrew word meaning 'behold' or 'lo!' It serves as a demonstrative particle used to draw attention, appearing in contexts such as Genesis 19:2. The word is derived from a prolongation of another Hebrew term, but the entries do not provide further details on its usage beyond this.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

הִנֵּה, once הִנֶּה־ Gn 19:2, demonstr.part. lo!, behold!

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2009 הִנֵּה, הִנֶּה־ lo!, behold!

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2009 hinneh hin-nay'

prolongation for 2005; lo!:--behold, lo, see.

see HEBREW for 02005

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

הִנֵּה (hin.neh) — behold.

behold, lo, see, if

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HTj — Particle
HTj
there! he is in labor with wickedness and he conceives mischief and he brings forth falsehood
יְחַבֶּל־ye.cha.bel- he is in labor with H2254 Verb · Piel · imperfect third person masculine singular
27× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This verb means to be in labor or to twist in pain, like a woman giving birth. It can also mean to corrupt or destroy something. In the KJV, it is translated in various ways, including 'travail' or 'corrupt'.
Tyndale gloss
to pledge
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

חָבַל (chabal) is a Hebrew root meaning to bind or pledge, often in the context of taking a pledge. It also conveys the ideas of destruction or corruption, as well as the physical act of writhing or travailing, particularly in childbirth. The lexicons note its use in various forms, including to spoil or be ruined, but do not indicate significant disagreement among them.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[חָבַל] vb. bind, pledge

Qal

bind

bind by taking a pledge of

Niph. Impf. becometh pledged to it

Pi. writhe, twist, hence travail

base

חָבַל vb. act (ruinously) corruptly

Qal act corruptly against

Niph. Impf. shall be ruined

Pi. ruin, destroy

Pu. be ruined, broken

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2254a חָבַל bind, pledge .. bind

. bind by taking a pledge of

. Impf. becometh pledged to it

H2254b חָבַל act (ruinously) corruptly .act corruptly against

. Impf. shall be ruined

. ruin, destroy

. be ruined, broken

H2254c חָבַל bind, pledge . writhe, twist, hence travail

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2254 chabal khaw-bal'

a primitive root; to wind tightly (as a rope), i.e. to bind;

specifically, by a pledge; figuratively, to pervert, destroy;

also to writhe in pain (especially of parturition):--X at all,

band, bring forth, (deal) corrupt(-ly), destroy, offend, lay

&Š to (take a) pledge, spoil, travail, X very, withhold.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חָבַל (cha.val) — to pledge.

1) to bind

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to bind

2) to take a pledge, lay to pledge

2a) (Qal) to hold by a pledge, take in pledge, hold in pledge

2b) (Niphal) to give a pledge, become pledged

חָבַל (cha.val) — to destroy.

1) to destroy, spoil, deal corruptly, offend

1a) (Qal) to spoil, corrupt, offend

1b) (Niphal) to be ruined

1c) (Piel) to destroy, ruin

1d) (Pual) to be ruined, be broken

Aramaic equivalent: cha.val (חֲבַל "to destroy" H2255)

חָבַל (cha.val) — be in labour.

1) to bring forth, travail

1a) (Piel) to writhe, twist, travail

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HVpi3ms — Verb · Piel · imperfect third person masculine singular
HVpi3ms
there! he is in labor with wickedness and he conceives mischief and he brings forth falsehood
אָ֑וֶן'A.ven wickedness H205 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
77× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to evil, wickedness, or trouble, often describing idolatry or iniquity, and is used in various KJV translations to convey a sense of wrongdoing.
Tyndale gloss
evil: wickedness
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אָ֫וֶן (aven) encompasses meanings related to trouble, sorrow, and wickedness. It may also refer to idolatry and the concept of vanity or nothingness. The entries suggest a range of negative connotations, including affliction and iniquity, indicating a strong moral or ethical dimension. There are no significant disagreements among the lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אָ֫וֶן 85 n.m. trouble, sorrow, wickedness

trouble, sorrow

idolatry

trouble of iniquity, wickedness

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H205 אָ֫וֶן trouble, sorrow, wickedness

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

205 'aven aw-ven'

from an unused root perhaps meaning properly, to pant (hence,

to exert oneself, usually in vain; to come to naught);

strictly nothingness; also trouble. vanity, wickedness;

specifically an idol:--affliction, evil, false, idol,

iniquity, mischief, mourners(-ing), naught, sorrow, unjust,

unrighteous, vain ,vanity, wicked(-ness). Compare 369.

see HEBREW for 0369

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אָ֫וֶן (a.ven) — evil: wickedness.

1) trouble, wickedness, sorrow

1a) trouble, sorrow

1b) idolatry

1c) trouble of iniquity, wickedness

Also means: a.ven (אָ֫וֶן ": trouble" H0205H)

אָ֫וֶן (a.ven) — evil: trouble.

1) trouble, wickedness, sorrow

1a) trouble, sorrow

1b) idolatry

1c) trouble of iniquity, wickedness

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

wik'-ed-nes:

1. In the Old Testament:

The state of being wicked; a mental disregard for justice, righteousness, truth, honor, virtue; evil in thought and life; depravity; sinfulness; criminality. See SIN. Many words are rendered "wickedness." There are many synonyms for wickedness in English and also in the Hebrew. Pride and vanity lead to it: "All the proud, and all that work wickedness (rish`ah) shall be stubble" (Mal 4:1). Akin to this is the word `awen, "iniquity," "vanity": "She eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and saith, I have done no wickedness" (Pr 30:20). Then we have the word hawwah, meaning "mischief," "calamity," coming from inward intent upon evil: "Lo, this is the man that made not God his strength, but trusted in the abundance of his riches, and strengthened himself in…

there! he is in labor with wickedness and he conceives mischief and he brings forth falsehood
וְהָרָ֥הve.ha.Rah and he conceives H2029 Verb · Qal · sequential perfect third person masculine singular
43× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To conceive or become pregnant, as seen in the story of Sarah and Abraham in Genesis 17, where Sarah conceives Isaac in her old age. This word is used to describe the miracle of birth and new life.
Tyndale gloss
to conceive
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word הָרָה (*harah*) primarily means to conceive or become pregnant, as noted in various lexicons. It can refer to both literal and figurative conception, and includes nuances such as bearing a child or devising something. The entries also indicate different grammatical forms, including Qal, Pual, and Poel, which reflect various aspects of the root meaning.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

הָרָה vb. conceive, become pregnant

Qal

lit. conceive, become pregnant

metaph.

Pu. a man hath been conceived

Po. conceive, contrive, devise

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2029 הָרָה conceive, become pregnant

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2029 harah haw-raw'

a primitive root; to be (or become) pregnant, conceive

(literally or figuratively):--been, be with child, conceive,

progenitor.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

הָרָה (ha.rah) — to conceive.

1) to conceive, become pregnant, bear, be with child, be conceived, progenitor

1a)(Qal) to conceive, become pregnant

1b) (Pual) to be conceived

1c) (Poel) to conceive, contrive, devise

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Hc/Vqq3ms — Verb · Qal · sequential perfect third person masculine singular
Hc/Vqq3ms
there! he is in labor with wickedness and he conceives mischief and he brings forth falsehood
עָ֝מָ֗ל'a.Mal mischief H5999 Noun common · both singular absolute
55× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to trouble or hard work that causes worry or pain, whether physical or mental, like the struggles of the Israelites in the book of Exodus.
Tyndale gloss
trouble
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עָמָל (amal) refers to trouble, labor, or toil. It encompasses a range of meanings including physical and mental effort, as well as sorrow and mischief. The word is built from a root that conveys the idea of wearing effort and can imply grievance or wickedness. It appears in contexts related to suffering and toil.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עָמָל n.m. f. trouble, labor, toil

trouble (∥ sorrow): one’s own suffering

trouble, mischief, as done to others

toil, labour (late in Heb.)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5999 עָמָל trouble, labor, toil

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5999 `amal aw-mawl'

from 5998; toil, i.e. wearing effort; hence, worry, wheth. of

body or mind:--grievance(-vousness), iniquity, labour,

mischief, miserable(-sery), pain(-ful), perverseness, sorrow,

toil, travail, trouble, wearisome, wickedness.

see HEBREW for 05998

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עָמָל (a.mal) — trouble.

1) toil, trouble, labour

1a) trouble

1b) trouble, mischief

1c) toil, labour

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HNcbsa — Noun common · both singular absolute
HNcbsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

mis'-chif: The word, in the sense of "hurt" or "evil" befalling, plotted against, or done to, anyone, represents a variety of Hebrew terms (e.g. 'acon, the King James Version Ge 42:4; 44:29; Ex 21:22; ra`, 1Sa 23:9; 2Sa 16:8; 1Ki 11:25, etc.; `amal, Ps 7:14,16; 10:7,14; Pr 24:2, etc.). Sometimes the Revised Version (British and American) changes the word, as to "evil" (Ex 32:12,22); in Ac 13:10, to…

Thompson Chain Reference topics

1Sa 23:9; Ne 6:2; Job 15:35; Ps 10:7; 36:4; Pr 4:16

Pr 6:14; 24:2; Ac 13:10

\\--SEE Malice (2), CRUELTY

there! he is in labor with wickedness and he conceives mischief and he brings forth falsehood
וְיָ֣לַדve.Ya.lad and he brings forth H3205 Verb · Qal · sequential perfect third person masculine singular
496× 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 give birth or beget a child, like when Eve gave birth to Cain in Genesis 4:1. It can also mean to help someone give birth, like a midwife. This word is used in many KJV translations, including Genesis and Isaiah.
Tyndale gloss
to beget
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word יָלַד (*yalad*) means to bear, bring forth, or beget, and it encompasses various forms of childbirth and lineage declaration. It can refer to both the act of giving birth and the role of a midwife. The entries also note its use in contexts of distress and wicked behavior, as well as in reference to birthdays.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יָלַד 497 vb. bear, bring forth, beget

Qal

bear, bring forth

less often beget

of both parents

Niph. be born

Pi. cause (or help) to bring forth, viz., assist or tend as midwife

Pu. be born

Hiph.

beget (a father a child)

bear

Hoph. day of one's being born = birthday

Hithp. declared their pedigree

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3205 יָלַד bear, bring forth, beget .. bear, bring forth

. less often beget

. of both parents

. be born

. cause (or help) to bring forth, viz., assist or tend as midwife

. be born

. . beget (a father a child)

. bear

. day of one's being born = birthday

. declared their pedigree

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3205 yalad yaw-lad'

a primitive root; to bear young; causatively, to beget;

medically, to act as midwife; specifically, to show

lineage:--bear, beget, birth((-day)), born, (make to) bring

forth (children, young), bring up, calve, child, come, be

delivered (of a child), time of delivery, gender, hatch,

labour, (do the office of a) midwife, declare pedigrees, be

the son of, (woman in, woman that) travail(-eth, -ing woman).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יָלַד (ya.lad) — to beget.

1) to bear, bringforth, beget, gender, travail

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to bear, bring forth

1a1a) of child birth

1a1b) of distress (simile)

1a1c) of wicked (behaviour)

1a2) to beget

1b) (Niphal) to be born

1c) (Piel)

1c1) to cause or help to bring forth

1c2) to assist or tend as a midwife

1c3) midwife (participle)

1d) (Pual) to be born

1e) (Hiphil)

1e1) to beget (a child)

1e2) to bear (fig. -of wicked bringing forth iniquity)

1f) (Hophal) day of birth, birthday (infinitive)

1g) (Hithpael) to declare one's birth (pedigree)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Hc/Vqq3ms — Verb · Qal · sequential perfect third person masculine singular
Hc/Vqq3ms
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

forth: "Forth," adverb (from "for"), signifies movement

(1) forward,

(2) out of,

(3) beyond a certain boundary.

In a few instances in the Old Testament it is the translation of the preposition `al, properly "above," "upon" (2Ki 11:15; 2Ch 23:14; Am 7:17 the King James Version), and of chuts, "without" (Ge 39:13; Jud 19:25). "Forth" is often used as an expletive of various verbs, as "break (forth)," "bring (forth)," "call (forth)," etc. In the Gospel of John it is the translation of exo, "without," as "Lazarus, come forth" (11:43; so 15:6; 19:4 the King James Version…

there! he is in labor with wickedness and he conceives mischief and he brings forth falsehood
שָֽׁקֶר׃Sha.ker falsehood H8267 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
113× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to deception or falsehood, often implying a sense of betrayal or disappointment. It's used in the Bible to describe lies, false testimony, or deceitful behavior, like in Psalm 116:11, where the psalmist says all men are liars.
Tyndale gloss
deception
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שֶׁ֫קֶר (sheqer) refers to deception, falsehood, and disappointment. It encompasses various forms of deceit, including fraud and wrongful testimony. The word is built from the root associated with untruths and can imply sham or lying. It is used in contexts involving false prophets and general dishonesty.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שֶׁ֫קֶר 113 n.m. deception, disappointment, falsehood

deception, what deceives, disappoints, and betrays one

deceit, fraud, wrong

injurious falsehood, in testimony

falsity, of false or self-deceived prophets

lie, falsehood, in gen.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8267 שֶׁ֫קֶר deception, disappointment, falsehood . deception, what deceives, disappoints, and betrays one

. deceit, fraud, wrong

. injurious falsehood, in testimony

. falsity, of false or self-deceived prophets

. lie, falsehood, in gen.

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8267 sheqer sheh'-ker

from 8266; an untruth; by implication, a sham (often

adverbial):--without a cause, deceit(-ful),

false(-hood, -ly), feignedly, liar, + lie, lying, vain

(thing), wrongfully.

see HEBREW for 08266

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שֶׁ֫קֶר (she.qer) — deception.

1) lie, deception, disappointment, falsehood

1a) deception (what deceives or disappoints or betrays one)

1b) deceit, fraud, wrong

1b1) fraudulently, wrongfully (as adverb)

1c) falsehood (injurious in testimony)

1c1) testify falsehood, false oath, swear falsely

1d) falsity (of false or self-deceived prophets)

1e) lie, falsehood (in general)

1e1) false tongue

1f) in vain

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

fols'-hood.

See LYING.

Nave's Topical Bible

→ General scriptures concerning Ex 20:16; 23:1; Le 6:2-7; 19:11,12,16; Job 13:4; 21:34; 27:4; 31:5,6,33; 36:4; Ps 5:6,9; 10:7; 12:2,3; 28:3; 31:18; 34:13; 36:3; 50:19,20; 52:2-5; 55:21,23; 58:3; 59:12; 62:4; 63:11; 101:5,7; 109:2; 116:11; 119:29,69,163; 120:2-4; 144:8,11; Pr 2:12-15; 3:3; 6:12,13,17-19; 10:9,10,18,31; 11:9; 12:17,19,20,22; 13:5; 14:5,8,25; 17:4,7; 19:5,9,22,28; 20:17; 21:6; 26:18,19,24-26,28; 27:14; Ec 5:6; Isa 28:15; 32:7; 57:11; 59:3,4,12,13; 63:8;

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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