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Zephaniah 2:4 — Word Study

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WLCכִּ֤י עַזָּה֙ עֲזוּבָ֣ה תִֽהְיֶ֔ה וְאַשְׁקְל֖וֹן לִשְׁמָמָ֑ה אַשְׁדּ֗וֹד בַּֽצָּהֳרַ֙יִם֙ יְגָ֣רְשׁ֔וּהָ וְעֶקְר֖וֹן תֵּעָקֵֽר׃ ס

BSAForkîy GazaʻAzzâh [the strong city] will behâyâh abandonedʻâzab [forsaken, left desolate] and AshkelonʼAshqᵉlôwn [a major Philistine city] left in ruinsshᵉmâmâh [a desolation, wasted] AshdodʼAshdôwd [a powerful Philistine city] will be driven outgârash [expelled, forced to leave] at noontsôhar [midday, when the sun is high] and EkronʻEqrôwn [one of the five major cities of the Philistines] will be uprootedʻâqar [rooted up, completely destroyed]

Word
Listen & take awayZephaniah 2
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 4 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 (te.'a.Ker) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Zephaniah 2:4quick helps
In a sentenceGod declares judgment against key Philistine cities.
Who is speakingZephaniah, a prophet, conveying God's message.
Where we areA prophecy concerning the fate of Philistine cities.
The hard wordעֲזוּבָ֣ה
Take awayThese cities will face total destruction.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause subjectעַזָּה verbעָזַב 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 — Zephaniah 2:4

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

Context — The Prophecy Against the Philistinesgenerated

3Seek the LORD, all you humble of the earth who carry out His justice. Seek righteousness; seek humility. Perhaps you will be sheltered on the day of the LORD’s anger.
4For Gaza will be abandoned, and Ashkelon left in ruins. Ashdod will be driven out at noon, and Ekron will be uprooted.
5Woe to the dwellers of the seacoast, O nation of the Cherethites! The word of the LORD is against you, O Canaan, land of the Philistines: “I will destroy you, and no one will be left.”
6So the seacoast will become a land of pastures, with wells for shepherds and folds for sheep.

Zephaniah 2:4 presents a dire warning about the fate of Philistine cities, specifically Gaza, Ashkelon, Ashdod, and Ekron. The prophecy emphasizes their impending desolation and abandonment as a consequence of God's judgment. This reflects the broader theme of divine retribution against nations that oppose Israel, as seen throughout the prophetic literature in the Old Testament.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Jeremiah 25:20all the mixed tribes; all the kings of Uz; all the kings of the Philistines: Ashkelon, Gaza, Ekron, and the remnant of Ashdod;
2Jeremiah 47:1–7This is the word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet about the Philistines before Pharaoh struck down Gaza.
3Ezekiel 25:15–17This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Because the Philistines acted in vengeance, taking vengeance with malice of soul to destroy Judah with ancient hostility,
4Amos 1:6–8This is what the LORD says: “For three transgressions of Gaza, even four, I will not revoke My judgment, because they exiled a whole population, delivering them up to Edom.
5Zechariah 9:5–7Ashkelon will see and fear; Gaza will writhe in agony, as will Ekron, for her hope will wither. There will cease to be a king in Gaza, and Ashkelon will be uninhabited.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 8 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word עֲזוּבָ֣ה, 'a.zu.Vahgenerated

The word עָזַב (azab) is a verb meaning to forsake or abandon. In this context, it indicates that Gaza will be left desolate, highlighting the severity of the judgment against it.

The participle form used here emphasizes the ongoing state of abandonment. This word conveys a sense of finality, indicating that Gaza will not recover, and it underscores the seriousness of God's pronouncement.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, where the BSB uses abandoned for עֲזוּבָ֣ה, matching the KJV and ASV.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The verse consists of several clauses, with the main action being the abandonment of Gaza. The structure emphasizes the sequential judgment upon each city, illustrating the extent of God's wrath.

The finite verbs תִֽהְיֶ֔ה and יְגָ֣רְשׁ֔וּ govern their respective subjects, creating a clear picture of the fate awaiting each city.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates עֲזוּבָ֣ה as διηρπασμένη, indicating a state of being seized or taken away, which aligns with the concept of abandonment but adds a nuance of forceful removal.

This choice reflects a broader interpretation of the judgment, suggesting not just abandonment but a violent act of destruction against these cities.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Zephaniah 2:4 tells us that Gaza will be abandoned, Ashkelon left in ruins, Ashdod will be driven out at noon, and Ekron will be uprooted. This verse emphasizes God's judgment against these Philistine cities, signaling their complete destruction.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean that Gaza will be abandoned?

It signifies that Gaza will be left desolate and forsaken, indicating God's judgment against it.

Why are these cities specifically mentioned?

These cities were significant Philistine strongholds, and their destruction symbolizes God's power over nations opposing Israel.

What is the significance of the timing mentioned in the verse?

The mention of noon emphasizes the certainty and clarity of the judgment, as it will happen in broad daylight.

How does this verse relate to other prophetic messages?

It reflects a common theme in the prophets where God declares judgment against nations that have harmed His people.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. What can we learn about God's justice from the fate of these cities?
  2. How does understanding the historical context of Gaza, Ashkelon, Ashdod, and Ekron deepen our comprehension of this prophecy?
  3. In what ways can we apply the message of judgment in our own lives today?
  4. How does this prophecy encourage us to seek righteousness and justice in our communities?

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Zephaniah 2:4 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

For Gaza shall be forsaken,.... Therefore seek the Lord; and not to the Philistines, since they would be destroyed, to whom Gaza, and the other cities later mentioned, belonged; so Aben Ezra connects

Read John Gill on Zephaniah 2 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

For Gaza shall be forsaken, and Ashkelon a desolation: they shall drive out Ashdod at the noon day, and Ekron shall be rooted up. For.

Read Robert Jamieson on Zephaniah 2 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

For; it is time to seek some refuge, high time to seek it in God, for your neighbours, as well as you, shall be destroyed, there shall he no refuge for you among your neighbours. Gaza; a chief city of the Philistines, very strong by its situation, and by art fortified; a frontier toward Egypt, and not full three miles from the sea. Shall be forsaken; when the conquering army of the Chaldeans shall come against it, shall be forsaken either by the flight or captivity of the inhabitants. Ashkelon; another of the strong cities of the Philistines, which fell to the tribe of Dan, and was a maritime town. A desolation; utterly wasted, so the abstract doth imply. They; Babylonians: see . Shall…

Read Matthew Poole on Zephaniah 2 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Zephaniah 2:4 For Gaza shall be forsaken, and Ashkelon a desolation: they shall drive out Ashdod at the noon day, and Ekron shall be rooted up.Ver. 4. For Gaza shall be forsaken, and Askelon, &c.] Here is dainty rhetoric in the original. This prophet was (as Quintilian saith a good orator ought to be) Vir bonus, dicendi peritus, a good man, and a master of speech. The Hebrew tongue seemeth to have been in the prime and flourish when Isaiah, Micah, and Zephaniah prophesied, like as the Latin was about Cicero’ s time. The Philistines are here threatened, for a terror to the impenitent Jews, who should taste of the same whip, and for the comfort of the godly, who should be hid when these their…

Read John Trapp on Zephaniah 2 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(4-15) Jehovah’s chastisement of foreign powers. These Divine visitations are introduced somewhat abruptly. The connection is perhaps that they are intended to lead God’s people to repent, and put their faith in Him who orders the destinies of all mankind. Also, as being inflicted on hostile peoples, they are in Israel’s favour, and ought therefore to elicit gratitude. But more especially are they all steps towards the establishment of Jehovah’s supremacy, and the inclusion of the Gentiles in His kingdom upon earth. (Comp. Zephaniah 2:11; Zephaniah 3:9, et seq.) This part of the Divine sentence is presented in three strophes of four verses each—viz., the chastisement of Philistia (Zephaniah…

Read Charles John Ellicott on Zephaniah 2 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 4. Gaza shall be forsaken] This prophecy is against the Philistines. They had been greatly harassed by the kings of Egypt; but were completely ruined by Nebuchadnezzar, who took all Phoenicia from the Egyptians; and about the time of his taking Tyre, devastated all the seignories of the Philistines. This ruin we have seen foretold by the other prophets, and have already remarked its exact fulfilment.

Read AdamClarke on Zephaniah 2 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

4–15. The judgment of the Day of the Lord upon the nations The nations on whom the impending judgment shall fall are: (1) the Philistines (Zephaniah 2:4-7); (2) Moab and Ammon (Zephaniah 2:8-15); (3) Cush or the Ethiopians (Zephaniah 2:12); and (4) Assyria (Zephaniah 2:13-15). In relation to Judah the four nations named lay respectively west, east, south, and north. The passage appears to be written in the rhythm of the ḳ ?inah or Elegy, though in some verses the rhythm is imperfect. Comp. Ezekiel 19. Cambridge Bible, and more fully, Budde in the Zeitsch. für Alttest. Wissensch., 1882, to whom is due the merit of discovering the true nature of the Elegiac rhythm.

Read Cambridge on Zephaniah 2 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

For - As a ground for repentance and perseverance, he goes through Pagan nations, upon whom God’s wrath should come.

Read Albert Barnes on Zephaniah 2 →

The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company

Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.

Modern formal

BSBBerean Standard Bible2020

For Gaza will be abandoned, and Ashkelon left in ruins. Ashdod will be driven out at noon, and Ekron will be uprooted.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

For Gaza will be forsaken, and Ashkelon a desolation. They will drive out Ashdod at noonday, and Ekron will be rooted up.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

For Gaza will be abandoned, and Ashkelon left in ruins. Ashdod will be driven out at noon, and Ekron will be uprooted.

NETBNew English Translation2006

Indeed, Gaza will be deserted and Ashkelon will become a heap of ruins. Invaders will drive away the people of Ashdod by noon, and Ekron will be overthrown.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

¶ For Gaza shall be forsaken, and Ashkelon a desolation: they shall drive out Ashdod at the noon day, and Ekron shall be rooted up.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

For Gaza shall be forsaken, and Ashkelon a desolation; they shall drive out Ashdod at noonday, and Ekron shall be rooted up.

RVARevised Version, American1894

For Gaza shall be forsaken, and Ashkelon a desolation: they shall drive out Ashdod at the noonday, and Ekron shall be rooted up.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

For Gaza shall be forsaken, and Ashkelon a desolation: they shall drive out Ashdod at the noon day, and Ekron shall be rooted up.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

For Azzah shall be forsaken, and Ashkelon desolate: they shall driue out Ashdod at the noone day, and Ekron shalbe rooted vp.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

For Gazah shall be forsaken, and Ashkelon shall be a desolation; they shall drive out Ashdod at noonday, and Ekron shall be rooted up.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

For Gaza is forsaken, And Ashkelon [is] for a desolation, Ashdod! at noon they do cast her forth, And Ekron is rooted up.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

For Gaza is forsaken, || And Ashkelon [is] for a desolation, || Ashdod! At noon they cast her forth, || And Ekron is rooted up.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

For Gazzah shall become forsaken, and Ashkelon a desolate place: Ashdod shall they drive out at the noon of day, and Ekron shall be rooted up.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

For Gaza will be abandoned, and Ashkelon will turn into a devastation. They will drive out Ashdod at noon, and they will uproot Ekron!

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

For Gaza shall be destroyed, and Ascalon shall be a desert, they shall cast out Azotus at noonday, and Accaron shall be rooted up.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

Gaza will be abandoned, Ashkelon will become desolate, Ashdod will be emptied by noon, Ekron will be ripped up.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

For Gaza will be given up and Ashkelon will become waste: they will send Ashdod out in the middle of the day, and Ekron will be uprooted.

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.

כִּ֤י(dm)clauseclausesubjectעַזָּה֙Gazaobjectעֲזוּבָ֣הabandonedverbתִֽהְיֶ֔הit.will.beוְandclausesubjectאַשְׁקְל֖וֹןAshkelonprepositional phrase · prepositionalלִ[willשְׁמָמָ֑הbecome].(into).a.desolationclauseclauseאַשְׁדּ֗וֹדAshdodclauseprepositional phrase · prepositionalבַּֽatnoun phrasetheצָּהֳרַ֨יִם֙noontide(s)verbיְגָ֣רְשׁ֔וּpeopleobjectהָwill.drive.it.outוְandclausesubjectעֶקְר֖וֹןEkronverbתֵּעָקֵֽרit.will.be.plucked.up

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


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

The Masoretic Text presents the prophecy as a direct statement from God, while the Septuagint aligns closely with it, differing only slightly in word order. The Dead Sea Scrolls show partial restoration, indicating some textual loss but maintaining the core message.

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

כִּ֤י עַזָּה֙ עֲזוּבָ֣ה תִֽהְיֶ֔ה וְאַשְׁקְל֖וֹן לִשְׁמָמָ֑ה אַשְׁדּ֗וֹד בַּֽצָּהֳרַ֙יִם֙ יְגָ֣רְשׁ֔וּהָ וְעֶקְר֖וֹן תֵּעָקֵֽר׃ ס

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
כִּ֤יδιότιעַזָּה֙γάζαעֲזוּבָ֣הδιηρπασμένηתִֽהְיֶ֔הἔσταιוְאַשְׁקְל֖וֹןἀσκαλὼνלִשְׁמָמָ֑הἀφανισμόνבַּֽצָּהֳרַ֙יִם֙μεσημβρίαςיְגָ֣רְשׁ֔וּהָἐκριφήσεταιוְעֶקְר֖וֹןακκαρωνתֵּעָקֵֽר׃ סἐκριζωθήσεται

10 of the 11 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

כי עזה עזובה תהיה [ואשקלון] לשממה אשדוד [בצהרים] יגרשו׳ה ועקרון תעקר

5 words on the leather — 4 partly restored, 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.

Zephaniah 2:4כִּיforforכִּיעַזָּהGazaGazaעַזָּהעָזַבabandonedabandonedעָזַבהָיָהit will beit will beהָיָהאַשְׁקְלוֹןand Ashkeloand Ashkelonאַשְׁקְלוֹןשְׁמָמָה[will becom[will become] aשְׁמָמָהאַשְׁדּוֹדAshdodAshdodאַשְׁדּוֹדצֹ֫הַרat the noonat the noontideצֹ֫הַרגָּרַשׁpeople willpeople will driגָּרַשׁעֶקְרוֹןand Ekronand Ekronעֶקְרוֹןעָקַרit will be it will be plucעָקַרשָׁקַלto weighto weighשָׁקַלשָׁדַדto ruinto ruinשָׁדַדצָהַרto pressto pressצָהַרעָקַרto uprootto uprootעָקַרעַזstrongstrongעַזהָוָאto fallto fallהָוָאשָׁמֵםdevastateddevastatedשָׁמֵםאַשְׁקְלוֹןAshkelonAshkelonאַשְׁקְלוֹןאַשְׁדּוֹדAshdodAshdodאַשְׁדּוֹדעַזָּהGazaGazaעַזָּהיָדַעto knowto knowיָדַענוּסto fleeto fleeנוּסחָרְבָּהdesolationdesolationחָרְבָּהמִדְבָּרmouthmouthמִדְבָּרמָשַׁשׁto feelto feelמָשַׁשׁחֹ֫שֶׁךְdarknessdarknessחֹ֫שֶׁךְאַלְמָנָהwidowwidowאַלְמָנָהשָׁקַטto quietto quietשָׁקַט
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 2:4

One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.

Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.

for Gaza abandoned it will be and Ashkelon [will become] a desolation Ashdod at the noontide people will drive out it and Ekron it will be plucked up
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
for Gaza abandoned it will be and Ashkelon [will become] a desolation Ashdod at the noontide people will drive out it and Ekron it will be plucked up
עַזָּה֙'a.Zah Gaza H5804 Noun proper
21× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Azzah is another name for Gaza, a Philistine city in southwest Palestine, meaning 'the strong' in Hebrew.
Amplified meaning
the strong city
Tyndale gloss
Gaza
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עַזָּה (Azzah) refers to Gaza, a significant Philistine city located in the southwest of Palestine. The word is derived from a root meaning 'strong.' It is noted in various lexicons as a proper noun, specifically identifying this ancient location.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עַזָּה n.pr.loc. Gaza;—Philistine city, southernmost of the famous five cities

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5804 עַזָּה Gaza

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5804 `Azzah az-zaw'

feminine of 5794; strong; Azzah, a place in

Palestine:--Azzah, Gaza.

see HEBREW for 05794

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עַזָּה (az.zah) — Gaza.

§ Azzah = "the strong"

another name for 'Gaza', a city of the Philistines located in the extreme southwest of Palestine close to the Mediterranean

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-proper — Noun proper
HNpl
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ga'-za (`azzah, "strong"; Septuagint Gaza; Arabic Ghazzeh):

One of the five chief towns of Philistia and probably the oldest, situated near the coast in lat. 31 degrees 30' and about 40 miles South of Jaffa. It is on a hill rising 60 to 200 ft. above the plain, with sand dunes between it and the sea, which is about 2 1/2 miles distant. The plain around is fertile and wells abound, and, being on the border of the desert between Syria and Egypt and lying in the track of caravans and armies passing from one to the other, it was in ancient times a place of importance. The earliest notices of it are found in the records of Egypt.

Thothmes III refers to it in the account of his expedition to Syria in 1479 BC, and it occurs again in the records of the expedition of Seti I in 1313 BC (Breasted, History of Egypt, 285, 409).

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Gaza

Called also Azzah, which is its Hebrew name (Deut. 2:23; 1 Kings 4:24; Jer. 25:20), strong, a city on the Mediterranean shore, remarkable for its early importance as the chief centre of a great commercial traffic with Egypt. It is one of the oldest cities of the world (Gen. 10:19; Josh. 15:47). Its earliest inhabitants were the Avims, who were conquered and displaced by the Caphtorims (Deut. 2:23; Josh. 13:2, 3), a Philistine tribe. In the division of the land it fell to the lot of Judah (

for Gaza abandoned it will be and Ashkelon [will become] a desolation Ashdod at the noontide people will drive out it and Ekron it will be plucked up
עֲזוּבָ֣ה'a.zu.Vah abandoned H5800 Verb · Qal · participle (passive) feminine singular
215× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Forsaken means to loosen or relinquish something, often implying abandonment. In the Bible, the word appears in Psalm 22:1, where David cries out to God, saying my God, why have you forsaken me. The term signifies a sense of desperation and isolation.
Amplified meaning
forsaken, left desolate
Tyndale gloss
Forsaken
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עָזַב (azab) is a Hebrew verb meaning to leave, forsake, or let loose. It encompasses a range of actions from abandoning or neglecting to setting free. The entries suggest it can also imply restoration or repair, though this aspect is less emphasized. Notably, the term can describe both active and passive states, such as being forsaken or deserted.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עָזַב 213 vb. leave, forsake, loose

Qal

leave, c. acc.

leave, abandon, forsake

let loose, set free, let go

Niph.

be left to

be forsaken, of house of God

Pu. (or Qal pass.) be deserted, of city

base

[עָזַב] vb. restore, repair (?);—Qal Ne 3:8

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5800a עָזַב leave, forsake, loose .. leave, c. acc.

. leave, abandon, forsake

. let loose, set free, let go

. . be left to

. be forsaken, of house of God

. (or Qal pass.) be deserted, of city

H5800b עָזַב restore, repair(?)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5800 `azab aw-zab'

a primitive root; to loosen, i.e. relinquish, permit,

etc.:--commit self, fail, forsake, fortify, help, leave

(destitute, off), refuse, X surely.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עָזַב (a.zav) — to leave: forsake.

1) to leave, loose, forsake

1a) (Qal) to leave

1a1) to depart from, leave behind, leave, let alone

1a2) to leave, abandon, forsake, neglect, apostatise

1a3) to let loose, set free, let go, free

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be left to

1b2) to be forsaken

1c) (Pual) to be deserted

עָזַב (a.zav) — to restore.

1) to restore, repair

1a) (Qal) to repair

עָזַב (a.zav) — to leave: release.

1) to leave, loose, forsake

1a) (Qal) to leave

1a1) to depart from, leave behind, leave, let alone

1a2) to leave, abandon, forsake, neglect, apostatise

1a3) to let loose, set free, let go, free

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be left to

1b2) to be forsaken

1c) (Pual) to be deserted

עָזַב (a.zav) — Forsaken.

This name means to restore, repair

Another name of ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)

עָזַב (a.zav) — to leave: neglect.

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Inf-c — Verb · Qal · participle (passive) feminine singular
HVqsfsa
for Gaza abandoned it will be and Ashkelon [will become] a desolation Ashdod at the noontide people will drive out it and Ekron it will be plucked up
תִֽהְיֶ֔הtih.Yeh it will be H1961 Verb · Qal · imperfect third person feminine singular
3,562× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for to be means to exist or come into being. It is used to describe something that happens or comes to pass, like in Genesis where God creates the world.
Tyndale gloss
to be
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word הָיָה (hayah) is a primitive root meaning to exist or become, and it encompasses a range of meanings including to happen, occur, and come to pass. It is often used in narrative contexts, particularly in phrases like "and it came to pass." The word can also denote a state of being or existence, and it appears frequently in various forms throughout the Old Testament.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

הָיָה 3570 vb. fall out, come to pass, become, be

Qal

Fall out, happen

occur, take place, come about, come to pass

esp. & very oft., come about, come to pass

וַיְהִי and it came to pass that, most often (c. 292 t.)

rarely also Pf. c. וְ conj. וְהָיָה

less oft. וְהָיָה Pf. consec. and it shall come to pass, or frequentat. came to pass (repeatedly, etc.)

Come into being, become

abs., in lively narrative, arise, appear, come

sq. prep.

become

sq. pred. noun (to be viewed as implicit accus.)

sq. pred. adj.

become like

sq. pred. לְ pers.

sq. לְ pred.

oft. c. לְ pred. לְ pers.

with עַל and לְ

sts. c. לְ pers. only = became the property of, come into the possession of

Be (often with subbordinate idea of becoming)

exist, be in existence

abide, remain, continue

with word of locality, be in or at a place, be situated, stand, lie

as copula, joining subj. & pred.

Read the full entry →
Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1961 הָיָה fall out, come to pass, become, be .. . . Fall out, happen

. occur, take place, come about, come to pass

. esp. & very oft., come about, come to pass . . וַיְהִי and it came to pass that, most often (c. 292 t.)

. rarely also Pf. c. וְ conj. וְהָיָה

. less oft. וְהָיָה Pf. consec. and it shall come to pass, or frequentat. came to pass (repeatedly, etc.)

. Come into being, become . . abs., in lively narrative, arise, appear, come

. sq. prep.

. become . sq. pred. noun (to be viewed as implicit accus.)

. sq. pred. adj.

. become like

. sq. pred. + לְ pers.

. sq. לְ pred.

. oft. c. לְ pred. + לְ pers.

. with עַל and לְ

. sts. c. לְ pers. only = became the property of, come into the possession of

. Be (often with subbordinate idea of becoming) . exist, be in existence

. abide, remain, continue

Read the full entry →
Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1961 hayah haw-yaw

a primitive root (compare 1933); to exist, i.e. be or become,

come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or

auxiliary):--beacon, X altogether, be(-come), accomplished,

committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint,

fall, + follow, happen, X have, last, pertain, quit

(one-)self, require, X use.

see HEBREW for 01933

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

הָיָה (ha.yah) — to be.

1) to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out

1a) (Qal)

1a1) ---

1a1a) to happen, fall out, occur, take place, come about, come to pass

1a1b) to come about, come to pass

1a2) to come into being, become

1a2a) to arise, appear, come

1a2b) to become

1a2b1) to become

1a2b2) to become like

1a2b3) to be instituted, be established

1a3) to be

1a3a) to exist, be in existence

1a3b) to abide, remain, continue (with word of place or time)

1a3c) to stand, lie, be in, be at, be situated (with word of locality)

1a3d) to accompany, be with

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to occur, come to pass, be done, be brought about

1b2) to be done, be finished, be gone

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Imperf-3fs — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person feminine singular
HVqi3fs
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

See TESTAMENT.

Nave's Topical Bible

→ THE MENTAL FACULTY

Freedom of, recognized by God Ge 4:6-10; De 5:29; 1Ki 20:42; Isa 1:18-20; 43:26; Jer 36:3,7; Joh 7:17

See BLESSINGS, CONTINGENT UPON OBEDIENCE

See CHOICE

See CONTINGENCY

→ OF GOD, THE SUPREME RULE OF DUTY Mt 6:10; 12:50; 26:39,42; Mr 3:35; 14:36; Lu 11:2; 22:42; Joh 4:34; 5:30; 6:38-40; Ac…

for Gaza abandoned it will be and Ashkelon [will become] a desolation Ashdod at the noontide people will drive out it and Ekron it will be plucked up
12× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Ashkelon was a major city in ancient Palestine, southwest of Jerusalem. It was a key Philistine city, mentioned in the books of Joshua and Amos. The KJV translates it as 'Ashkelon' or 'Askalon'.
Amplified meaning
a major Philistine city
Tyndale gloss
Ashkelon
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אַשְׁקְלוֹן (ashqlown) refers to Ashkelon, a Philistine city located southwest of Jerusalem. The name is thought to derive from a term meaning 'weighing-place' or 'mart.' It is also noted that the name may imply 'the fire of infamy: I shall be weighed.'

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אַשְׁקְלוֹן n.pr.loc. a city of the Philistines

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H831 אַשְׁקְלוֹן

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

831 'Ashqlown ash-kel-one'

probably from 8254 in the sense of weighing-place (i.e.

mart); Ashkelon, a place in Palestine:--Ashkelon, Askalon.

see HEBREW for 08254

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אַשְׁקְלוֹן (ash.qe.lon) — Ashkelon.

Askelon or Ashkelon = "the fire of infamy: I shall be weighed"

a maritime city of the Philistines, southwest of Jerusalem

Also named: esh.qe.lo.ni (אֶשְׁקְלוֹנִי "Ashkelon" H0832)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | N-proper — Conjunction · noun proper
HC/Npl
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ask'-ke-lon, esh'-ka-lon, as'-ke-lon (the King James Version Eshkalon, (Eshkalonites; Jos 13:3); Askelon, (Jud 1:18; 1Sa 6:17; 2Sa 1:20); 'ashqelon; modern Askelan): A maritime town between Jaffa and Gaza, one of the five chief cities of the Philistines. The Ashkelonites are mentioned by Joshua (Jos 13:3), and the city was taken by the tribe of Judah (Jud 1:18). One of the golden tumors (the King James Version "emerods") sent back with the ark by the Philistines was from Ashkelon (1Sa 6:17).

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Ashkelon

=Askelon=Ascalon, was one of the five cities of the Philistines (Josh. 13:3; 1 Sam. 6:17). It stood on the shore of the Mediterranean, 12 miles north of Gaza. It is mentioned on an inscription at Karnak in Egypt as having been taken by king Rameses II., the oppressor of the Hebrews. In the time of the judges (Judg. 1:18) it fell into the possession of the tribe of Judah; but it was soon after retaken by the Philistines (2 Sam. 1:20), who were not finally dispossessed till the time of Alexander the Great. Samson went down to this place from Timnath, and slew thirty men and took their spoil. The prophets foretold its destruction (

→ Also called ASKELON

→ One of the five chief cities of the Philistines Jos 13:3

→ Captured by the people of Judah Jud 1:18

→ Samson kills thirty men of Jud 14:19

→ Emerods (tumors, R. V.) of 1Sa 6:17

→ Prophecies concerning Jer 25:20; 47:5,7; Am 1:8; Zep 2:4,7; Zec 9:5

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
for Gaza abandoned it will be and Ashkelon [will become] a desolation Ashdod at the noontide people will drive out it and Ekron it will be plucked up
לִשְׁמָמָ֑הlish.ma.Mah [will become] a desolation H8077 Preposition · noun common feminine singular absolute
57× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to the state of being devastated or wasted, often used to describe the results of war or God's judgment. In Ezekiel 33:28, it describes the desolation of Israel. It's about a place being left empty and destroyed.
Amplified meaning
a desolation, wasted
Tyndale gloss
Desolate
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שְׁמָמָה (shmamah) refers to devastation or waste, often implying desolation. It is a feminine form derived from a related root, and can also denote astonishment. The entries indicate that it encompasses meanings of both devastation and desolation, with variations in spelling noted. The term appears in contexts related to destruction.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שְׁמָמָה 55 n.f. a devastation, waste

base

שִׁמָמָה v. foregoing [v.ea.ac]

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8077a שְׁמָמָה a devastation, waste H8077b שִׁמָמָה v. foregoing [8077a]

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8077 shmamah shem-aw-maw'

or shimamah {shee-mam-aw'}; feminine of 8076; devastation;

figuratively, astonishment:--(laid, X most) desolate(- ion),

waste.

see HEBREW for 08076

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שְׁמָמָה (she.ma.mah) — devastation.

devastation, waste, desolation

Also means: shi.me.mah (שִֽׁמְמָה "desolation" H8077B)

שִֽׁמְמָה (shi.me.mah) — desolation.

devastation, waste, desolation

Another spelling of she.ma.mah (שְׁמָמָה "devastation" H8077A)

שִֽׁמְמָה (shi.me.mah) — Desolate.

devastation, waste, desolation

Another name of ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-fs — Preposition · noun common feminine singular absolute
HR/Ncfsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Thompson Chain Reference topics

as a result of sin

(1) Of Israel

Isa 1:8; 24:12; Jer 2:15; 9:11; 12:11; 19:8; La 1:4; 5:18

Eze 20:26; 33:28; Am 7:9; Mic 3:12; Mt 23:38

--SEE Barrenness,

Wicked Forsaken, SIN

(2) Of Heathen Nations

Isa 13:9; 15:1; Jer 25:12; 49:9; 49:17; Eze 25:13; 29:12; 30:14

for Gaza abandoned it will be and Ashkelon [will become] a desolation Ashdod at the noontide people will drive out it and Ekron it will be plucked up
אַשְׁדּ֗וֹד'ash.Dod Ashdod H795 Noun proper
17× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Ashdod refers to a powerful Philistine city on the Mediterranean Sea, west of Jerusalem. It is mentioned in the Bible as a major city. The name means powerful.
Amplified meaning
a powerful Philistine city
Tyndale gloss
Ashdod
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אַשְׁדּוֹד (Ashdod) refers to a major Philistine city located on the Mediterranean Sea, west of Jerusalem. The name is derived from a root meaning 'ravager' or 'powerful.' It appears in various contexts in the Old Testament, highlighting its significance in ancient Palestine.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אַשְׁדּוֹד n.pr.loc. Ashdod

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H795 אַשְׁדּוֹד Ashdod

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

795 'Ashdowd ash-dode'

from 7703; ravager; Ashdod, a place in Palestine:--Ahdod.

see HEBREW for 07703

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אַשְׁדּוֹד (ash.dod) — Ashdod.

§ Ashdod = "powerful"

a major Philistine city on the Mediterranean Sea west from Jerusalem, modern Esdud

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-proper — Noun proper
HNpl
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ash'-dod ('ashdodh; Azotos; modern Esdud): One of the five chief cities of the Philistines. The name means stronghold or fortress, and its strength may be inferred by the fact that Psammetik I, of Egypt, besieged it for many years (Herodotus says 29). Some of the Anakim were found there in the days of Joshua (Jos 11:22), and the inhabitants were too strong for the Israelites at that time. It was among the towns assigned to Judah, but was not occupied by her (Jos 13:3; 15:46,47). It was still independent in the days of Samuel, when, after the defeat of the Israelites, the ark was taken to the house of Dagon in Ashdod (1Sa 5:1,2). We have no account of its being occupied even by David, although he defeated the Philistines many…

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Ashdod

Stronghold, a Philistine city (Josh. 15:47), about midway between Gaza and Joppa, and 3 miles from the Mediterranean. It was one of the chief seats of the worship of Dagon (1 Sam. 5:5). It belonged to the tribe of Judah (Josh. 15:47), but it never came into their actual possession. It was an important city, as it stood on the highroad from Egypt to Palestine, and hence was strongly fortified (2 Chr. 26:6; Isa. 20:1). Uzziah took it, but fifty years after his death it was taken by the Assyrians (B.C. 758). According to Sargon’s record, it was captured by him in B.C. 711. The only reference to it in the New…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

One of the five chief cities of the Philistines, assigned to the tribe of Judah, but never conquered by them, Jos 13:3; 15:47; 1Sa 5:1; 6:17; Ne 4:7. Here stood the temple of Dagon; and hither the ark was first brought, after the fatal battle at Ebenezer, 1Sa 5:1. It was called by the Greeks Azotus. And belonged to Judea in the time of Christ. Here Philip preached the gospel, Ac 8:40. At the present day, it is a miserable village, still called Esdud.

Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary

effusion; inclination; theft

for Gaza abandoned it will be and Ashkelon [will become] a desolation Ashdod at the noontide people will drive out it and Ekron it will be plucked up
בַּֽצָּהֳרַ֙יִם֙ba.tzo.ho.Ra.yim at the noontide H6672 Preposition · noun common masculine dual absolute
24× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to a roof or a window, and can also mean noon or midday, likely due to the sun shining through a window at that time. It is used in descriptions of buildings and daily routines in the Bible.
Amplified meaning
midday, when the sun is high
Tyndale gloss
midday
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word צֹ֫הַר (tsohar) primarily means 'midday' or 'noon,' referring to a specific time of day. It also has a secondary meaning related to 'roof,' though this interpretation is uncertain. The entries indicate that it is derived from a root meaning 'light,' suggesting a connection to brightness.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[צֹ֫הַר] n.[m.] only pl., midday, noon

base

צֹ֫הַר n.f. prob. roof;—Gn 6:16.

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6672a צֹ֫הַר only pl., midday, noon H6672b צֹ֫הַר prob. roof

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6672 tsohar tso'-har

from 6671; a light (i.e. window): dual double light, i.e.

noon:--midday, noon(-day, -tide), window.

see HEBREW for 06671

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

צֹ֫הַר (tso.har) — midday.

1) noon, midday

1a) noon (as specific time of day)

1b) noon (in simile as bright of happiness, blessing)

צֹ֫הַר (tso.har) — roof.

2) roof

2a) meaning uncertain

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-mp — Preposition · noun common masculine dual absolute
HRd/Ncmda
for Gaza abandoned it will be and Ashkelon [will become] a desolation Ashdod at the noontide people will drive out it and Ekron it will be plucked up
יְגָ֣רְשׁ֔וּהָye.Ga.re.Shu.ha people will drive out it H1644 Verb piel imperfect third person masculine plural · suffix
47× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to drive out or expel, often used in the context of divorce or being forced to leave a place, as seen in the story of Israel's exile. It can also mean to trouble or cast out. In the Bible, it appears in books like Genesis and Exodus.
Amplified meaning
expelled, forced to leave
Tyndale gloss
to drive out: drive out
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

גָּרַשׁ (garash) is a Hebrew verb meaning to drive out or cast out. It encompasses a range of actions including expelling, divorcing, and thrusting away. The verb appears in various forms, such as Qal (to cast out) and Niphal (to be driven away). Notably, it can refer to both physical expulsion and the act of divorce.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[גָּרַשׁ] vb. drive out, cast out

Qal cast out, thrust out

Niph. be driven away

Pi. drive out, away

Pu. subj. Israelites; subj. despised and miserable outcasts

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1644 גָּרַשׁ drive out, cast out

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1644 garash gaw-rash'

a primitive root; to drive out from a possession; especially

to expatriate or divorce:--cast up (out), divorced (woman),

drive away (forth, out), expel, X surely put away, trouble,

thrust out.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

גָּרַשׁ (ga.rash) — to drive out: drive out.

: drive out

1) to drive out, expel, cast out, drive away, divorce, put away, thrust away, trouble, cast up

1a) (Qal) to thrust out, cast out

1b) (Niphal) to be driven away, be tossed

1c) (Piel) to drive out, drive away

1d) (Pual) to be thrust out

Also means: ga.rash (גָּרַשׁ ": divorce" H1644H)

גָּרַשׁ (ga.rash) — to drive out: divorce.

: divorce

1) to drive out, expel, cast out, drive away, divorce, put away, thrust away, trouble, cast up

1a) (Qal) to thrust out, cast out

1b) (Niphal) to be driven away, be tossed

1c) (Piel) to drive out, drive away

1d) (Pual) to be thrust out

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Piel-Imperf-3mp | Suff — Verb piel imperfect third person masculine plural · suffix
HVpi3mp/Sp3fs
for Gaza abandoned it will be and Ashkelon [will become] a desolation Ashdod at the noontide people will drive out it and Ekron it will be plucked up
וְעֶקְר֖וֹןve.'ek.Ron and Ekron H6138 Conjunction · noun proper
22× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Names the city of Ekron, one of the five major cities of the Philistines, mentioned in 1 Samuel 5:10 as a place where the Ark of the Covenant was taken. This city played a significant role in biblical history. It was later given to the tribe of Dan.
Amplified meaning
one of the five major cities of the Philistines
Tyndale gloss
Ekron
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עֶקְרוֹן (Eqrown) refers to a Philistine city in ancient Palestine, known as one of the five principal cities of the Philistines. The name may mean 'emigration' or 'torn up by the roots.' It is located in the lowlands of Judah and was later assigned to the tribe of Dan.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עֶקְרוֹן 22 n.pr.loc. Eḳrôn;—Philistine city, one of the famous five

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6138 עֶקְרוֹן

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6138 `Eqrown ek-rone'

from 6131; eradication; Ekron, a place in Palestine:--Ekron.

see HEBREW for 06131

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עֶקְרוֹן (eq.ron) — Ekron.

Ekron = "emigration" or "torn up by the roots"

the most northerly of the 5 principal cities of the Philistines; located in the lowlands of Judah and later given to Dan

Also named: eq.ro.ni (עֶקְרוֹנִי "Ekron" H6139)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | N-proper — Conjunction · noun proper
HC/Npl
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Easton's Bible Dictionary

Ekron

Firm-rooted, the most northerly of the five towns belonging to the lords of the Philistines, about 11 miles north of Gath. It was assigned to Judah (Josh. 13:3), and afterwards to Dan (19:43), but came again into the full possession of the Philistines (1 Sam. 5:10). It was the last place to which the Philistines carried the ark before they sent it back to Israel (1 Sam. 5:10; 6:1-8). There was here a noted sanctuary of Baal-zebub (2 Kings 1: 2, 3, 6, 16). Now the small village Akir. It is mentioned on monuments in B.C. 702, when Sennacherib set free its king, imprisoned by Hezekiah in Jerusalem, according to the Assyrian record.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

(torn up by the roots; emigration), one of the five towns belonging to the lords of the Philistines, and the most northerly of the five. (Joshua 13:3) Like the other Philistine cities its situation was in the lowlands. It fell to the lot of Judah. (Joshua 15:45,46; Judges 1:18) Afterwards we find it mentioned among the cities of Dan. (Joshua 19:43) Before the monarchy it was again in full possession of the Philistines. (1 Samuel 5:10) Akir , the modern representative of Ekron, lies about five miles southwest of Ramleh . In the Apocrypha it appears as ACCARON. 1Macc 10:89 only.

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

The most northern city of the Philistines, allotted to Judah by Jos 15:45, but afterwards given to Da 12:13, though it does not appear that the Jews ever peaceably possessed it. It is memorable for its connection with the captivity of the ark and its restoration to the Jews, 1Sa 5:10 6:1-18. The fly-god was worshipped here, 2Ki 1:2. Its ruin was foretold, Am 1:8 Zep 2:4 Zec 9:5,7. Robinson found its site at the Moslem village Akir, some ten miles northeast of Ashdod. There are no ruins.

Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary

barrenness; torn away

for Gaza abandoned it will be and Ashkelon [will become] a desolation Ashdod at the noontide people will drive out it and Ekron it will be plucked up
תֵּעָקֵֽר׃ סte.'a.Ker it will be plucked up H6131 Verb · Niphal · imperfect third person feminine singular
7× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To hamstring means to cut or pluck up something, especially by the roots. In the Bible, it can also mean to exterminate or destroy something completely, like in the book of Judges.
Amplified meaning
rooted up, completely destroyed
Tyndale gloss
to uproot
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עָקַר (aqar) is a Hebrew verb meaning to uproot or pluck up, particularly by the roots. It can also refer to hamstringing horses. The entries indicate its use in various forms, such as Qal and Niphal, with references to Ecclesiastes 3:2 and Zephaniah 2:4.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[עָקַר] vb. denom. pluck or root up

Qal Ec 3:2

Niph. Zp 2:4

ref

עִקֵּר vb. Pi. denom. hamstring horses

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6131a עָקַר vb. denom. pluck or root up H6131b עִקֵר vb. Pi. denom. hamstring horses

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6131 `aqar aw-kar'

a primitive root; to pluck up (especially by the roots);

specifically, to hamstring; figuratively, to

exterminate:--dig down, hough, pluck up, root up.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עָקַר (a.qar) — to uproot.

1) to pluck up, root up

1a) (Qal) to pluck up, root up

1b) (Niphal) to be plucked up

Aramaic equivalent: a.qar (עֲקַר "be uprooted" H6132)

עִקֵּר (iq.qer) — to hamstring.

1) to cut, hamstring

1a) (Piel) to cut, hamstring

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Niphal-Imperf-3fs — Verb · Niphal · imperfect third person feminine singular
HVNi3fs
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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