Quick Definition
to test
Strong's Definition
to test (especially metals); generally and figuratively, to investigate
Derivation: a primitive root;
KJV Usage: examine, prove, tempt, try (trial).
TWOT Reference: 230
Outline of Biblical Usage
Septuagint (LXX) Greek Equivalents
This Hebrew word is translated by the following Greek words in the Septuagint:
STEPBible — Tyndale Abridged Hebrew Lexicon
בָּחַן (ba.chan) — to test. 1) to examine, try, prove 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to examine, scrutinise 1a2) to test, prove, try (of gold, persons, the heart, man of God) 1b) (Niphal) to be tried, proved 1c) (Pual) to make a trial
UBS Dictionary of Biblical Hebrew
verb · בֹּחַן
Test | verb qal | ≈ חזה · חקר · נסה · פקד · צרף · ראה
to test = action by which humans or deities examine the character of other humans or deities by having them engage in a certain activity, ◄ as a goldsmith tests the quality of a precious metal by smelting it in the fire
GEN 42:15 · 1CH 29:17 · JOB 7:18 · JOB 34:36 · PSA 7:10 · PSA 11:4 · PSA 11:5 · PSA 17:3 · PSA 26:2 · PSA 81:8 · PSA 95:9 · PSA 139:23 · PRO 17:3 · JER 6:27 · JER 11:20 · JER 12:3 · JER 17:10 · JER 20:12 · EZK 21:18 · MAL 3:10 · MAL 3:15
Test | Good | verb qal | ≈ צרף
to refine = causative action by which a goldsmith improves the quality of a precious metal by smelting it in the fire and so removing all contaminants; ≈ often used as a metaphor for purging evil from the hearts of humans
Test | Just | verb qal, verb nif
to refine = causative action by which deities improve the character of humans by leading them through difficult circumstances, ◄ like a goldsmith improves the quality of a precious metal by smelting it in the fire and so removing all contaminants
1 EZK 21:18 NRSV NJPS "consider" = [1b] | RSV NIV "testing" REB "test" GNT CEV "I am testing" = בֹּחַן
UBS Dictionary of Biblical Hebrew © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon
[בָּחַן] vb. examine, try Qal examine, scrutinize, try
prove, test, try
Niph. to be tried, proved
Pu. the trial has been made
base