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Zephaniah 1:11 — Word Study

Depth

WLCהֵילִ֖ילוּ יֹשְׁבֵ֣י הַמַּכְתֵּ֑שׁ כִּ֤י נִדְמָה֙ כָּל־ עַ֣ם כְּנַ֔עַן נִכְרְת֖וּ כָּל־ נְטִ֥ילֵי כָֽסֶף׃

BSAWailyâlal [howl, mourn] O dwellersyâshab [inhabitants, residents] of the HollowMaktêsh [Maktesh, a deep valley] forkîy allkôl [every one of] your merchantsʻam [traders, business people] will be silenceddâmâh [cut off, destroyed] allkôl [every one of] who weigh outnᵉṭîyl [laden with, bearing] silverkeçeph [money, wealth] will be cut offkârath [destroyed, eliminated]

Word
Listen & take awayZephaniah 1
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 11 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 (Kha.sef) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Zephaniah 1:11quick helps
In a sentenceZephaniah calls the inhabitants of a valley to wail because their merchants will be silenced.
Who is speakingThe prophet Zephaniah, addressing the people living in the Hollow.
Where we areThis verse is part of a prophecy concerning impending judgment and destruction.
The hard wordהֵילִ֖ילוּ
Take awayThe call to wail emphasizes the seriousness of the coming judgment.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbיָלַל The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
How rare are these words?in the Old Testament

2 of 12 occur nowhere else in the Old Testament — words chosen on purpose.

Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.

Deep Study — Zephaniah 1:11

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 Judgment on the Merchantsgenerated

10On that day,” declares the LORD, “a cry will go up from the Fish Gate, a wail from the Second District, and a loud crashing from the hills.
11Wail, O dwellers of the Hollow, for all your merchants will be silenced; all who weigh out silver will be cut off.
12And at that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps and punish the men settled in complacency, who say to themselves, ‘The LORD will do nothing, either good or bad.’
13Their wealth will be plundered and their houses laid waste. They will build houses but not inhabit them, and plant vineyards but never drink their wine.

Zephaniah 1:11 is a call to lamentation directed at the inhabitants of the Hollow, a valley in Jerusalem. This prophecy warns that their merchants will be silenced, indicating a significant loss of livelihood and stability. The surrounding verses describe the broader context of impending disaster and the consequences of complacency among the people, as seen in Zephaniah 1:10 and Zephaniah 1:12.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Jeremiah 4:8So put on sackcloth, mourn and wail, for the fierce anger of the LORD has not turned away from us.”
2Jeremiah 25:34Wail, you shepherds, and cry out; roll in the dust, you leaders of the flock. For the days of your slaughter have come; you will fall and be shattered like fine pottery.
3Ezekiel 21:12Cry out and wail, O son of man, for the sword is wielded against My people; it is against all the princes of Israel! They are tossed to the sword with My people; therefore strike your thigh.
4Joel 1:5–13Wake up, you drunkards, and weep; wail, all you drinkers of wine, because of the sweet wine, for it has been cut off from your mouth.
5Zechariah 11:2–3Wail, O cypress, for the cedar has fallen; the majestic trees are ruined! Wail, O oaks of Bashan, for the dense forest has been cut down!

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 10 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word הֵילִ֖ילוּ, hei.Li.lugenerated

The word הֵילִ֖ילוּ (hei.Li.lu) is a Hiphil imperative, meaning to wail or howl. It expresses an urgent call for mourning, reflecting deep emotional distress in response to a dire situation.

This verb appears in the context of judgment, emphasizing the gravity of the circumstances that the inhabitants of the Hollow must face. The onomatopoeic nature of the word captures the essence of a mournful cry, making it a fitting choice for the prophet's message.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

In this study, we compare the verse as rendered in the Berean Standard Bible (BSB) with other translations.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The finite verb הֵילִ֖ילוּ (hei.Li.lu) governs the main clause, calling for the inhabitants to wail. Two additional clauses follow, providing the reasons for their mourning: the silencing of merchants and the cutting off of those who weigh silver.

The structure emphasizes the imperative nature of the command, with the subjects and objects clearly defined, leading to a direct and impactful message.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates הֵילִ֖ילוּ as θρηνήσατε (thrēnēsate), which also means to mourn or lament. This choice reflects a similar emotional tone, aligning with the Hebrew intent while adapting to the Greek audience's understanding.

The use of a word that conveys mourning underscores the seriousness of the situation faced by the inhabitants of the Hollow.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Zephaniah 1:11 calls the residents of the Hollow to wail because their merchants will be silenced. This verse highlights the impending judgment and loss that the people will face, emphasizing the seriousness of the situation.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean to wail in this context?

To wail here signifies a deep mourning and lamentation over the loss of livelihood and the coming judgment.

Who are the 'dwellers of the Hollow'?

The 'dwellers of the Hollow' refers to the inhabitants of a specific valley in Jerusalem, known for its merchants.

What is the significance of the merchants being silenced?

The silencing of merchants indicates a loss of economic stability and prosperity, reflecting the broader consequences of divine judgment.

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

This verse is part of Zephaniah's warning about impending judgment on Jerusalem and its inhabitants, urging them to recognize the seriousness of their situation.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what ways do I see the consequences of complacency in my own life?
  2. How can I respond to God's call for repentance and awareness of my surroundings?
  3. What does mourning look like in my community, and how can I support those in distress?
  4. How do I understand the relationship between economic stability and spiritual health in this passage?

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

Early commentators like Jerome and Richard Challoner reference this verse to discuss the lamentation of the inhabitants and the implications for the people of Canaan.

JeromeVerse 11. c. 347–420
Ululate, inhabitants of the ball: all the people of Canaan are silent. LXX: Mourn, you who inhabit the broken one: for all the people of Canaan are compared.
Early Church Fathers on Zephaniah 1 →
Richard Challoner 1691–1781
The Morter: Maktesh. A valley in or near Jerusalem The people of Chanaan: So he calls the Jews, from their following the wicked ways of the Chanaanites.
Early Church Fathers on Zephaniah 1 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Zephaniah 1:11 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

Howl, ye inhabitants of Maktesh,.... The name of a street in Jerusalem, as Aben Ezra; perhaps it lay low in the hollow of the city, and in the form of a mortar, from whence it might have its name, as

Read John Gill on Zephaniah 1 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

Howl, ye inhabitants of Maktesh, for all the merchant people are cut down; all they that bear silver are cut off.

Read Robert Jamieson on Zephaniah 1 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Howl, cry aloud, and bitterly, ye inhabitants of Maktesh: some read it appellatively: the mortar in which of old, before the corn-mill was known and used, they did pound and beat their corn for bread; they also pounded spices. Others say it is the lower town, or valley of Cedron in Jerusalem, a deep valley that surrounded the mountain of the temple, to which, fancied like a deep mortar, they gave the name Maktesh. All the merchant people; who were wont either to lodge in this place when they came to trade, or, if Jewish merchants, dwelt there, which was much to the advantage of the place; but now, by the invasion of the land, and by the siege, all trade is cut off, and many merchants either…

Read Matthew Poole on Zephaniah 1 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Zephaniah 1:11 Howl, ye inhabitants of Maktesh, for all the merchant people are cut down; all they that bear silver are cut off.Ver. 11. Howl, ye inhabitants of Maktesh] Or, of the mortar, or of the low and hollow place, of the base town, where grain was ground in mortars, before mills were in use. These are here called upon to "turn their laughter to mourning, and their joy into heaviness, to weep and howl for the evils that shall come upon them," James 4:9; James 5:1, but especially for their sins, the cause of those miseries; for God’ s judgments upon sinners are feathered from themselves: as a fowl shot with an arrow feathered from her own body. For all the merchant people are cut down]…

Read John Trapp on Zephaniah 1 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(11) Maktesh.—Better, the mortar, a term indicating probably some part of the city lying in a hollow: perhaps that part which was in the valley of Tyropœon. This quarter is described by Josephus as “full of houses” (B.J. V. iv. § 1). Hence some detect in the name “mortar” an allusion to the noisy din of the commerce here conducted. The name occurs here only. Some suppose that it is a term coined by Zephaniah, to signify how everything in Jerusalem should be bruised to pieces as in a mortar. Merchant people.—Literally, people of Canaan, a phrase used elsewhere for traders and merchants, and therefore not to be restricted to its original signification here. All they that bear…

Read Charles John Ellicott on Zephaniah 1 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 11. Maktesh] Calmet says this signifies a mortar, or a rock in form of a mortar, and was the name of a quarter of Jerusalem where they hulled rice, corn, &c., according to St. Jerome. Some think the city of Jerusalem is meant, where the inhabitants should be beat and pounded to death as grain is pounded in a mortar. Newcome translates it, the lower city, and considers it the valley in Jerusalem, which divided the upper from the lower city. They that bear silver] The merchants, moneychangers, usurers, rich men.

Read AdamClarke on Zephaniah 1 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

11. ye inhabitants of Maktesh] The term Maktesh is rendered “hollow-place,” Judges 15:19, and mortar, Proverbs 27:22. Some depression or valley in the city is referred to: Hitzig thinks of that between Acra and the Temple area, and others of the valley of the Tyropœon or cheese-makers, a depression, now filled up with the rubbish of many centuries, which ran from north to south, dividing the city into two parts. The probability is that the Maktesh lay in the northern part of the city. It was on this side that Jerusalem was most liable to attack, and the prophet has in view throughout an invasion by a foe from the north. all the merchant people] lit. the people of Canaan. The Canaanites or…

Read Cambridge on Zephaniah 1 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Howl, ye inhabitants of Maktesh - Literally, “Mortar” , “in which,” Jerome says, “corn is pounded; a hollow vessel, and fit for the use of medical men, in which properly ptisans are wont to be beaten (or made).

Read Albert Barnes on Zephaniah 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

BSBBerean Standard Bible2020

Wail, O dwellers of the Hollow, for all your merchants will be silenced; all who weigh out silver will be cut off.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Wail, you inhabitants of Maktesh, for all the people of Canaan are undone! All those who were loaded with silver are cut off.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

Wail, O dwellers of the Hollow, for all your merchants will be silenced; all who weigh out silver will be cut off.

NETBNew English Translation2006

Wail, you who live in the market district, for all the merchants will disappear and those who count money will be removed.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

Howl, ye inhabitants of Maktesh, for all the merchant people are cut down; all they that bear silver are cut off.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

Wail, ye inhabitants of Maktesh; for all the people of Canaan are undone; all they that were laden with silver are cut off.

RVARevised Version, American1894

Howl, ye inhabitants of Maktesh, for all the people of Canaan are undone: all they that were laden with sliver are cut off.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

Howl, ye inhabitants of Maktesh, for all the merchant people are cut down; all they that bear silver are cut off.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Howle ye inhabitants of the lowe place: for the companie of the marchants is destroyed: all they that beare siluer, are cut off.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

Howl, ye inhabitants of Maktesh; for all the people of Canaan are cut down, all they that are laden with silver are cut off.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

Howl, ye inhabitants of the hollow place, For cut off hath been all the merchant people, Cut off have been all bearing silver.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

Howl, you inhabitants of the hollow place, || For all the merchant people have been cut off, || All carrying silver have been cut off.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

Wail, ye inhabitants of the mortar-street, for destroyed are all the trading people; cut off are all that were laden with silver.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Wail, inhabitants of the Market District, for all the merchants will be ruined; all those who weigh out silver will be cut off.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

Howl, ye inhabitants of the Morter. All the people of Chanaan is hush, all are cut off that were wrapped up in silver.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

Those who live in the Market District will wail in sorrow, for all the merchants are destroyed, along with those who trade in silver.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

Because of the downfall of all the people of Canaan: all those who were weighted down with silver have been cut off.

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.

clauseclauseverbהֵילִ֖ילוּwailclausenoun phraseיֹשְׁבֵ֣יO.inhabitantsnoun phraseהַofמַּכְתֵּ֑שׁthe.Mortarכִּ֤י(dm)clauseverbנִדְמָה֙it.will.be.destroyednoun phrase · subjectכָּלallnoun phraseעַ֣םthe.peopleכְּנַ֔עַןof.Canaanclauseverbנִכְרְת֖וּthey.will.be.cut.offnoun phrase · subjectכָּלallnoun phraseנְטִ֥ילֵי[the].weighersכָֽסֶףof.silver

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 in their wording, with the Septuagint providing a direct translation of the Hebrew terms. The Dead Sea Scrolls fragment partially matches the Masoretic Text, indicating consistency in the core message, although some words were restored by an editor.

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

הֵילִ֖ילוּ יֹשְׁבֵ֣י הַמַּכְתֵּ֑שׁ כִּ֤י נִדְמָה֙ כָּל־ עַ֣ם כְּנַ֔עַן נִכְרְת֖וּ כָּל־ נְטִ֥ילֵי כָֽסֶף׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
הֵילִ֖ילוּθρηνήσατεיֹשְׁבֵ֣יκατοικοῦντεςהַמַּכְתֵּ֑שׁκατακεκομμένηνכִּ֤יὅτιנִדְמָה֙ὡμοιώθηכָּל־πᾶςעַ֣םλαὸςכְּנַ֔עַןξαναανנִכְרְת֖וּἐχωλεθρεύθησανכָּל־πάντεςנְטִ֥ילֵיἐπηρμένοιכָֽסֶף׃ἀργυρίῳ

12 of the 12 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 — Mur88a copy a thousand years older than the Leningrad Codex

[המכתש] כי נדמה כל עם כנען נכרתו [כל] [נטילי] [כסף]

10 words of the verse are on this fragment — 1 partly restored, 4 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.

Zephaniah 1:11יָלַלwailwailיָלַליָשַׁבO inhabitanO inhabitants oיָשַׁבכָּתַשׁthe Mortarthe Mortarכָּתַשׁכִּיforforכִּידָּמָהit will be it will be destדָּמָהכֹּלallallכֹּלעַם[the] peopl[the] people ofעַםכְּנַ֫עַןCanaanCanaanכְּנַ֫עַןכָּרַתthey will bthey will be cuכָּרַתכֹּלallallכֹּלנָטִיל[the] weigh[the] weighers נָטִילכֶּ֫סֶףsilversilverכֶּ֫סֶףכָּלַלto perfectto perfectכָּלַלעָמַםto darkento darkenעָמַםכָּנַעbe humblebe humbleכָּנַענָטַלto liftto liftנָטַלכָּסַףto longto longכָּסַףמַכְתֵּשׁhollowhollowמַכְתֵּשׁעֵדָהcongregaticongregationעֵדָהעֲבֹדָהserviceserviceעֲבֹדָהתַּרְשִׁישׁTarshishTarshishתַּרְשִׁישׁסָפַדto mournto mournסָפַדבֶּ֫טַחsecuritysecurityבֶּ֫טַחכְּנַעֲנִיCanaanitesCanaanitessכְּנַעֲנִייָדַעto knowto knowיָדַעמָשַׁלto likento likenמָשַׁליָבִיןJabinJabinיָבִיןשִׁלוֹShilohShilohשִׁלוֹבְּרִיתcovenantcovenantבְּרִיתאֲשֵׁרָהAsherahAsherahאֲשֵׁרָה
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 Zephaniah 1:11

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.

wail O inhabitants of the Mortar for it will be destroyed all [the] people of Canaan they will be cut off all [the] weighers of silver
הֵילִ֖ילוּhei.Li.lu wail H3213 Verb · Hiphil · imperative second person masculine plural
30× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means to wail or howl, expressing strong emotions like sadness or pain, used to describe a loud, mournful cry.
Amplified meaning
howl, mourn
Tyndale gloss
to wail
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יָלַל (yalal) is a Hebrew verb meaning to howl or wail, often with a wailing tone. It is classified as a primitive root and appears in the Hiphil form, indicating an action of making a howling sound. The entries consistently emphasize its onomatopoeic nature, reflecting the sound associated with the action.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[יָלַל] vb. Hiph. howl, make a howling (onomatop.)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3213 [יָלַל] Hiph. howl, make a howling (onomatop.)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3213 yalal yaw-lal'

a primitive root; to howl (with a wailing tone) or yell (with

a boisterous one):--(make to) howl, be howling.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יָלַל (ya.lal) — to wail.

(Hiphil) to howl, wail, make a howling

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Hiphil-Impv-2mp — Verb · Hiphil · imperative second person masculine plural
HVhv2mp
wail O inhabitants of the Mortar for it will be destroyed all [the] people of Canaan they will be cut off all [the] weighers of silver
יֹשְׁבֵ֣יyo.she.Vei O inhabitants of H3427 Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine plural common
1,079× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This verb means to sit or dwell, and can also mean to remain or abide. It's used in the Bible to describe people living in a place or staying with someone, like in the book of Genesis.
Amplified meaning
inhabitants, residents
Tyndale gloss
to dwell
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יָשַׁב (yashab) is a Hebrew verb meaning to sit, remain, or dwell. It encompasses a range of actions from simply sitting down to more complex ideas like establishing a home or causing a place to be inhabited. The entries indicate various forms, including Qal (to sit), Niphal (to be inhabited), and Hiphil (to cause to dwell). There is an Aramaic equivalent, יְתִב (ye.tiv), meaning 'to dwell'.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יָשַׁב 1090 vb. sit, remain, dwell

Qal

sit

sit, sit down

sit down

sit = be set (as a jewel)

remain, stay, tarry

with special emphasis of qualifying phr.

dwell, have one’s abode

of a land or city, sit, abide, seated in its place, fig. for be inhabited

Niph. be inhabited, of land

Pi. and they shall set their encampments in thee

Hiph.

cause to sit

cause to abide

cause to dwell

cause cities to be inhabited

marry (prop. give a dwelling to)

Hoph. and ye be made to dwell alone in the midst of the land

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3427 יָשַׁב sit, remain, dwell

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3427 yashab yaw-shab'

a primitive root; properly, to sit down (specifically as

judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to

remain; causatively, to settle, to marry:--(make to)

abide(-ing), continue, (cause to, make to) dwell(-ing), ease

self, endure, establish, X fail, habitation, haunt, (make to)

inhabit(-ant), make to keep (house), lurking, X marry(-ing),

(bring again to) place, remain, return, seat, set(- tle),

(down-)sit(-down, still, -ting down, -ting (place) -uate),

take, tarry.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יָשַׁב (ya.shav) — to dwell.

1) to dwell, remain, sit, abide

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to sit, sit down

1a2) to be set

1a3) to remain, stay

1a4) to dwell, have one's abode

1b) (Niphal) to be inhabited

1c) (Piel) to set, place

1d) (Hiphil)

1d1) to cause to sit

1d2) to cause to abide, set

1d3) to cause to dwell

1d4) to cause (cities) to be inhabited

1d5) to marry (give an dwelling to)

1e) (Hophal)

1e1) to be inhabited

1e2) to make to dwell

Aramaic equivalent: ye.tiv (יְתִב "to dwell" H3488)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal — Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine plural common
HVqrmpc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ov:

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

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

OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]

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

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

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

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

Lamentations 3:1.

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

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

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

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

wail O inhabitants of the Mortar for it will be destroyed all [the] people of Canaan they will be cut off all [the] weighers of silver
הַמַּכְתֵּ֑שׁha.makh.Tesh the Mortar H4389 Particle · noun common masculine singular absolute
1× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Maktesh is a Hebrew word for a deep hollow or valley in Jerusalem. It is used in books like Zechariah to describe a specific place. The word is about a location in Jerusalem.
Amplified meaning
Maktesh, a deep valley
Tyndale gloss
Mortar
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מַכְתֵּשׁ (maktesh) refers to a mortar or a deep hollow, specifically a location in Jerusalem. It is derived from a root meaning to pound or bray, indicating its function as a place for grinding. The term is associated with a valley or hollow in the greater Jerusalem area.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מַכְתֵּשׁ n.m. mortar (place of pounding, braying)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4389 כָּתַשׁ

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4389 Maktesh mak-taysh'

the same as 4388; dell; the Maktesh, a place in

Jerusalem:--Maktesh.

see HEBREW for 04388

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מַכְתֵּשׁ (makh.tesh) — Mortar.

§ Maktesh = "a mortar" or "deep hollow"

a hollow or valley evidently in the greater Jerusalem area

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Art | N-ms — Particle · noun common masculine singular absolute
HTd/Ncmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

mor'-ter (medhokhah (Nu 11:8), makhtesh (Pr 27:22)): A hollowed stone or vessel in which grain or other substance was pounded or beaten with a pestle. The Israelites used a mortar in which to beat the manna in the wilderness (Nu 11:8), and Pr 27:22 declares, "Though thou shouldst bray a fool in a mortar with a pestle .... yet will not his foolishness depart from him," i.e. it is inherent and ineradicable. Some have supposed an allusion to an oriental mode of punishment by pounding the criminal to death in a mortar, but this is unlikely. In illustration of Pr 27:22 such proverbs are quoted as "Though you beat that loose…

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Mortar

(Heb. homer), cement of lime and sand (Gen. 11:3; Ex. 1:14); also potter’s clay (Isa. 41:25; Nah. 3:14). Also Heb. ‘aphar, usually rendered “dust,” clay or mud used for cement in building (Lev. 14:42, 45).

Mortar for pulverizing (Prov. 27:22) grain or other substances by means of a pestle instead of a mill. Mortars were used in the wilderness for pounding the manna (Num. 11:8). It is commonly used in Palestine at the present day to pound wheat, from which the Arabs make a favourite dish called kibby.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

(Genesis 11:3; Exodus 1:14; Leviticus 14:42,45; Isaiah 41:25; Ezekiel 13:10,11,14,15; 22:28; Nehemiah 3:14) The various compacting substances used in Oriental buildings appear to be -- Bitumen, as in the Babylonian structures; Common mud or moistened clay; A very firm cement compounded of sand, ashes and lime, in the proportions respectively of 1,2,3, well pounded, sometimes mixed and sometimes coated with oil, so as to form a surface almost impenetrable to wet or the weather. In Assyrian and also Egyptian brick buildings, stubble or straw, as hair or wool among ourselves, was added to increase the tenacity.

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

This well-known utensil was employed by the Hebrews in preparing manna for use, Nu 11:8. Large iron mortars, for pounding grain, have been used by the Turks in the execution of criminals; but it is not known that the Jews ever practiced this mode of punishment. To this day a favorite article of food in Syria is prepared by pounding meat for hours in an iron mortar, and adding grain and spice while the process of "braying" goes on, Pr 27:22.

wail O inhabitants of the Mortar for it will be destroyed all [the] people of Canaan they will be cut off all [the] weighers of silver
כִּ֤יki 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'.
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
wail O inhabitants of the Mortar for it will be destroyed all [the] people of Canaan they will be cut off all [the] weighers of silver
נִדְמָה֙nid.Mah it will be destroyed H1820 Verb · Niphal · perfect third person masculine singular
15× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To cease or be destroyed is the meaning of this Hebrew word, which can also mean to be silent or fail. It is used in Psalms and Isaiah to describe the end of something. God's power can bring about destruction.
Amplified meaning
cut off, destroyed
Tyndale gloss
to cease
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

דָּמָה (damah) is a Hebrew verb that means to cease or cause to cease, and it encompasses ideas of cutting off, destroying, or perishing. It can be used in different forms, such as the Qal (active) and Niphal (passive), indicating actions like ceasing or being cut off. The entries consistently highlight its association with destruction and silence.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[דָּמָה] vb. cease, cause to cease, cut off, destroy

Qal

intr. cease

cause to cease, cut off, destroy

Niph. be cut off, destroyed, ruined

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1820 [דָּמָה] cease, cause to cease, cut off, destroy

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1820 damah daw-mam'

a primitive root; to be dumb or silent; hence, to fail or

perish; trans. to destroy:--cease, be cut down (off), destroy,

be brought to silence, be undone, X utterly.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

דָּמָה (da.mah) — to cease.

1) to cease, cause to cease, cut off, destroy, perish

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to cease

1a2) to cause to cease, destroy

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be cut off

1b2) to be undone, be cut off at sight of the theophany

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Niphal-Perf-3ms — Verb · Niphal · perfect third person masculine singular
HVNp3ms
wail O inhabitants of the Mortar for it will be destroyed all [the] people of Canaan they will be cut off all [the] weighers of silver
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
every one of
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
wail O inhabitants of the Mortar for it will be destroyed all [the] people of Canaan they will be cut off all [the] weighers of silver
עַ֣ם'am [the] people of H5971 Noun common · masculine singular construct
1,873× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A people or nation is what this Hebrew word represents, like the nation of Israel in Exodus 33:13. It can also mean a tribe, troops, or attendants, and is used to describe a group of people gathered together. The word is often used to refer to the people of God.
Amplified meaning
traders, business people
Tyndale gloss
Amaw
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עַם (am) primarily means 'people' or 'nation,' referring to a collective group, often in the context of tribes such as those of Israel. It can also denote kinsmen or compatriots. The term appears in various contexts, including military and familial references. There is a mention of a specific individual named Ammi in Song of Solomon 6:12.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עַם, עָם 1810 n.m. people

a people, nation

= smaller units

= common people

people in gen., persons

phrases

base

[עַם] n.[m.] kinsman (on father's side)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5971a עַם, עָם people H5971b עַם kinsman (on father's side)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5971 `am am

from 6004; a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a

tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or

attendants; figuratively, a flock:--folk, men, nation,

people.

see HEBREW for 06004

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עַם (am) — people.

: people/nation

1) nation, people

1a) people, nation

1b) persons, members of one's people, compatriots, country-men

עַם (am) — kinsman.

kinsman, kindred

עַם (am) — Ammi.

A man living at the time of United Monarchy, only mentioned at Sng.6.12

§ kinsman, kindred

עַם (am) — People's (Gate).

§ kinsman, kindred

עַם (am) — (Ibleam)-am.

Combined with yiv.le.am (יִבְלְעָם "Ibleam" H2991)

§ kinsman, kindred

עַם (am) — Amaw.

This name means nation, people

עַם (am) — people: soldiers.

: soldiers/army

1) nation, people

1a) people, nation

1b) persons, members of one's people, compatriots, country-men

עַם (am) — people: creatures.

: creatures

1) nation, people

1a) people, nation

1b) persons, members of one's people, compatriots, country-men

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

ov:

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

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

OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]

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

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

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

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

Lamentations 3:1.

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

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

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

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

wail O inhabitants of the Mortar for it will be destroyed all [the] people of Canaan they will be cut off all [the] weighers of silver
כְּנַ֔עַןke.Na.'an Canaan H3667 Noun proper
94× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Canaan was a son of Ham and the name of the country where he lived, which is now modern-day Israel. The Canaanites were known for being merchants and traders, as seen in Genesis and other books.
Tyndale gloss
Canaan
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כְּנַ֫עַן (ke.na.an) refers to both Canaan, the son of Ham, and the land west of the Jordan River where the Israelites settled, as well as the term for merchant or trader. The word is associated with lowland and trade, particularly linked to the Canaanites and Phoenicians. There is a distinction made between its use as a proper noun and as a common noun for merchants.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כְּנַ֫עַן 90 n.pr.m. et terr. Canaan

as n. pr. m., son of Ham

land, W. of Jordan, into wh. Hebrews came, and where they settled, subduing the inhabitants

the coast, esp. Phoenicia

base

כְּנַ֫עַן n.[m.] merchant(s) (because Canaanites, esp. Phoenicians, were traders)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3667a כְּנַ֫עַן Canaan . as n. pr. m., son of Ham

. . land, W. of Jordan, into wh. Hebrews came, and where they settled, subduing the inhabitants

. the coast, esp. Phoenicia

H3667b כְּנַ֫עַן merchant(s)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3667 Kna`an ken-ah'-an

from 3665; humiliated; Kenaan, a son a Ham; also the country

inhabited by him:--Canaan, merchant, traffick.

see HEBREW for 03665

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כְּנַ֫עַן (ke.na.an) — Canaan.

§ Canaan = "lowland"

the land west of the Jordan peopled by the descendants of Canaan and subsequently conquered by the Israelites under Joshua

כְּנַ֫עַן (ke.na.an) — merchant.

merchant, trader

Also means: ke.na.a.ni (כְּנַעֲנִי "merchant" H3669B)

כְּנַ֫עַן (ke.na.an) — Canaan.

A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.9.18;

son of: Ham (H2526);

brother of: Cush (H3568), Egypt (H4714) and Put (H6316);

father of: Sidon (H6721), Heth (H2845), Jebusite (H2983), Amorite (H0567), Girgashite (H1622), Hivite (H2340), Arkite (H6208), Sinite (H5513), Arvadite (H0721), Zemarite (H6786) and Hamathite (H2577)

§ merchant, trader

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HNpl — Noun proper
HNpl
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Easton's Bible Dictionary

Canaan

(1.) The fourth son of Ham (Gen. 10:6). His descendants were under a curse in consequence of the transgression of his father (9:22-27). His eldest son, Zidon, was the father of the Sidonians and Phoenicians. He had eleven sons, who were the founders of as many tribes (10:15-18).

(2.) The country which derived its name from the preceding. The name as first used by the Phoenicians denoted only the maritime plain on which Sidon was built. But in the time of Moses and Joshua it denoted the whole country to the west of the Jordan and the Dead Sea (Deut. 11:30). In Josh. 5:12 the LXX. read, “land of the Phoenicians,” instead of “land of Canaan.”

Smith's Bible Dictionary

(Ca’nan) (low, flat). The fourth son of Ham, (Genesis 10:6; 1 Chronicles 1:8) the progenitor of the Phoenicians [ZIDON, OR SIDON], and of the various nations who before the Israelite conquest people the seacoast of Palestine, and generally the while of the country westward of the Jordan. (Genesis 10:13; 1 Chronicles 1:13) (B.C. 2347.) The name "Canaan" is sometimes employed for the country itself.

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

1. The son of Ham, and grandson of Noah, Ge 9:18. His numerous posterity seem to have occupied Zidon first, and thence spread into Syria and Canaan, Ge 10:15-19 1Ch 1:13-16. The Jews believe that he was implicated with his father in the dishonor done to Noah, Ge 9:20-27, which was the occasion of the curse under which he and his posterity suffered, Jos 9:23,27 2Ch 8:7,8 2. The land peopled by Canaan and his posterity, and afterwards given to the Hebrews. This country has at different periods been called by various names, either from its inhabitants or some…

Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary

merchant; trader; or that humbles and subdues

wail O inhabitants of the Mortar for it will be destroyed all [the] people of Canaan they will be cut off all [the] weighers of silver
נִכְרְת֖וּnikh.re.Tu they will be cut off H3772 Verb · Niphal · perfect third person common plural
288× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to cut or destroy something, but it also has a special meaning related to making a covenant or agreement. In Genesis 15:18, God makes a covenant with Abram, symbolized by cutting animals in half, showing the seriousness of the promise. This word is used to describe important agreements and alliances.
Amplified meaning
destroyed, eliminated
Tyndale gloss
to cut: cut
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כָּרַת (karath) is a Hebrew verb meaning to cut off, cut down, or make a covenant. It encompasses a range of actions from physically cutting to forming alliances, often implying destruction or elimination. The verb appears in various forms, indicating different nuances such as being cut off or destroyed. Notably, it can also refer to the act of making a covenant, which traditionally involved cutting flesh.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כָּרַת 291 vb. cut off, cut down

Qal

cut off

cut down

hew, timber

cut, or make a covenant

Niph.

be cut off

be cut down

be chewed between the teeth

be cut off, in a more general sense fail

Pual

be cut off

be cut down

Hiph.

cut off, flattering lips

cut off, destroy the life of

cut down, destroy, cities

take away

permit to perish

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3772 כָּרַת cut off, cut down .. cut off

. cut down

. hew, timber

. cut, or make a covenant

. . be cut off

. be cut down

. be chewed between the teeth

. be cut off, in a more general sense fail

.. be cut off

. be cut down

. . cut off, flattering lips

. cut off, destroy the life of

. cut down, destroy, cities

. take away

. permit to perish

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3772 karath kaw-rath'

a primitive root; to cut (off, down or asunder); by

implication, to destroy or consume; specifically, to covenant

(i.e. make an alliance or bargain, originally by cutting flesh

and passing between the pieces):--be chewed, be

con-(feder-)ate, covenant, cut (down, off), destroy, fail,

feller, be freed, hew (down), make a league ((covenant)), X

lose, perish, X utterly, X want.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כָּרַת (ka.rat) — to cut: cut.

: cut/fell

1) to cut, cut off, cut down, cut off a body part, cut out, eliminate, kill, cut a covenant

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to cut off

1a1a) to cut off a body part, behead

1a2) to cut down

1a3) to hew

1a4) to cut or make a covenant

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be cut off

1b2) to be cut down

1b3) to be chewed

1b4) to be cut off, fail

1c) (Pual)

1c1) to be cut off

1c2) to be cut down

1d) (Hiphil)

1d1) to cut off

1d2) to cut off, destroy

1d3) to cut down, destroy

1d4) to take away

1d5) to permit to perish

1e) (Hophal) cut off

כָּרַת (ka.rat) — to cut: make(covenant).

: make(covenant)

1) to cut, cut off, cut down, cut off a body part, cut out, eliminate, kill, cut a covenant

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to cut off

1a1a) to cut off a body part, behead

1a2) to cut down

1a3) to hew

1a4) to cut or make a covenant

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be cut off

1b2) to be cut down

1b3) to be chewed

1b4) to be cut off, fail

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Niphal-Perf-3cp — Verb · Niphal · perfect third person common plural
HVNp3cp
wail O inhabitants of the Mortar for it will be destroyed all [the] people of Canaan they will be cut off all [the] weighers of silver
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
every one of
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
wail O inhabitants of the Mortar for it will be destroyed all [the] people of Canaan they will be cut off all [the] weighers of silver
נְטִ֥ילֵיne.Ti.lei [the] weighers of H5187 N-mp
1× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Laden means carrying a heavy load, like the Israelites carrying the tabernacle in the wilderness, as described in the book of Exodus.
Amplified meaning
laden with, bearing
Tyndale gloss
laden
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

נָטִיל (ntiyl) is an adjective meaning 'laden.' It appears only in the plural construct form, specifically noted in Zephaniah 1:11. The word is derived from the root word for bearing, נָטַל (natal), which also relates to the concept of being burdened.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[נָטִיל] adj. laden, only pl. cstr. Zp 1:11

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5187 נָטִיל, נְטִיל

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5187 ntiyl net-eel'

from 5190; laden:--that bear.

see HEBREW for 05190

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נָטִיל (ne.til) — laden.

laden

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-mp — N-mp
HAampc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ov:

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

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

OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]

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

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

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

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

Lamentations 3:1.

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

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

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

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

wail O inhabitants of the Mortar for it will be destroyed all [the] people of Canaan they will be cut off all [the] weighers of silver
כָֽסֶף׃Kha.sef silver H3701 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
403× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Silver or money, often referring to payment or wealth, like the silver talents in Matthew 25. It can also describe silver as a valuable metal or ornament.
Amplified meaning
money, wealth
Tyndale gloss
silver: money
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כֶּ֫סֶף (ke.seph) refers to silver and money, derived from a root meaning 'to be pale.' It encompasses various aspects of silver, including its use as a metal, ornament, and a measure of wealth or value. The term appears in contexts related to payment and price, indicating its significance in transactions.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כֶּ֫סֶף 402 n.m. silver, money

= silver ore, raw silver

silver as bright, shining

silver, as wealth

silver as spoil of war

silver as merchandise

silver as costly gift

silver as material

silver as measure of weight and value

among vbs. and phr.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3701 כֶּ֫סֶף silver, money

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3701 keceph keh'-sef

from 3700; silver (from its pale color); by implication,

money:--money, price, silver(-ling).

see HEBREW for 03700

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כֶּ֫סֶף (ke.seph) — silver: money.

: money/payment/silver

1) silver, money

1a) silver

1a1) as metal

1a2) as ornament

1a3) as colour

1b) money, shekels, talents

כֶּ֫סֶף (ke.seph) — silver: price.

: price

1) silver, money

1a) silver

1a1) as metal

1a2) as ornament

1a3) as colour

1b) money, shekels, talents

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

sil'-ver (keceph; argurion, arguros): Silver was known in the earliest historic times. Specimens of early Egyptian and Babylonian silver work testify to the skill of the ancient silversmiths. In Palestine, silver objects have been found antedating the occupation of the land by the Hebrews. This metal was used for making all kinds of ornamental objects. In the mound of Gezer were found bowls, vases, ladles, hairpins, rings and bracelets of silver. The rings and settings for scarabs or seals were commonly of this metal. The first mention of silver in the Bible is in Ge 13:2, where it says that Abraham was rich in cattle, in silver and gold. At that time it was commonly used in exchange in the form of bars or other shapes. Coins of that metal were of a much later date (Ge 20:16

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Silver

Used for a great variety of purposes, as may be judged from the frequent references to it in Scripture. It first appears in commerce in Gen. 13:2; 23:15, 16. It was largely employed for making vessels for the sanctuary in the wilderness (Ex. 26:19; 27:17; Num. 7:13, 19; 10:2). There is no record of its having been found in Syria or Palestine. It was brought in large quantities by foreign merchants from abroad, from Spain and India and other countries probably.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

In very early times silver was used for ornaments, (Genesis 24:53) and for vessels of various kinds. Images for idolatrous worship were made of silver or overlaid with it, (Exodus 20:23; Hosea 13:2); Habb 2:19 Bar. 6:39, and the manufacture of silver shrines for Diana was a trade in Ephesus. (Acts 19:24) But its chief use was as a medium of exchange, and throughout the Old Testament we find "silver" used for money, like the French argent . Silver was brought to Solomon from Arabia, (2 Chronicles 9:14) and from Tarshish, (2 Chronicles 9:21) which supplied the markets…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

One of the precious metals and the one most commonly used as coin among all nations. It is first mentioned in Scripture in the history of Abraham, Ge 13:2 20:16 23:16, and was used in constricting the tabernacle, Ex 26:19,32, and afterwards the temple, 1Ch 29:4. In employing it as a medium of trade, the ancient Hebrews weighed it out, instead of having coins. In the times of the New Testament there were coins. See SHEKEL, and MONEY.

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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