Deuteronomy 19:21

וְ לֹ֥א

וְ

Prefix — connector and (sometimes: but, so, then)

לֹ֥א

Particle not

Dictionary form: לֹא · loh

Particle — Negative

In the KJV here: and shall not

not ×882 neither ×399 no ×282 nor ×215 shall not ×205 thou shalt not ×116 is not ×102 and not ×86

More options

not — Default negation; fits nearly every context.

no — Use before nouns or as a standalone negative.

never — Emphasizes total or timeless negation.

nor — Use in paired or continued negative clauses.

neither — Use when negating two elements together.

none — Negates a noun or quantity; no one/nothing.

BDB4266 H3808

לֹא or לוֺא adverb not (Arabic , Aramaic לָא, , Sabean לא, Ass. lâ; not in Ethiopic: compare Kö^{ii. 1. 236} Walker^{AJSL 1896, 237 ff.}) — לוֺא, according to Masora (Fr^{MM 248}), 35 t., besides בְּלוֺא 6 t., and הֲלוֺא, the orthography of which varies much (ib.^{p. 251}), e.g. in Samuel always הֲלוֺא, in Chronicles always הֲלֹא, on the whole הֲלוֺא 141 t., הֲלֹא 128 t.; twice, according to Masora, written לו (Qr לֹא), 1Sam 2:16; 1Sam 20:2, once לה Deut 3:11 Kt: — not — denying objectively, like οὐ (not μὴ = אַל): —

1. in predication:
a. with a verb; so most frequently, and nearly always
(a) with the finite tenses, whether perfect (Gen 2:5 b Gen 4:5 etc.) or imperfect (Gen 3:4; Gen 8:21; Gen 8:22 etc.); in short circumstantial clauses, as Gen 44:4 לא הרחיקו, Isa 40:20 לֹא יִמּוֺט, and with a final force Isa 41:7; Exod 28:32 (see Ges^{«GKC:156»§ 156}. 3 R. b, c Dr^{§ 162}). Governing two closely connected verbs (Dr^{§ 115}, לא) Exod 28:43 וְלֹא יִשְׂאוּ עָוֺן וָמֵתוּ, Lev 19:12; Lev 19:29b Deut 7:25; Deut 7:26; Deut 19:10; Deut 22:1 and elsewhere; and two parallel clauses (Ges^{«GKC:152»§ 152}. 3) Isa 23:4b Ps 9:19; Ps 44:19; Job 3:1 and elsewhere With the imperfect, especially with 2 person, לֹא often expresses (not, like אַל, a deprecation, do not . . ., let not . . ., but) a prohibition, as Gen 2:17 לֹא תאֹכַל מִמֶּנּוּ thou shall not eat of it, Gen 3:1; Gen 3:3; Exod 20:3 לֹאיִֿהְיֶה לְךָ there shall not be to thee, etc., vExod 20:13 לא תגנב, etc. With the coh. and jussive moods (which are negatived regularly by אַל), it occurs only exceptionally (Ges^{«GKC:109»§ 109}. 1 b R. 1), Gen 24:8; 1Sam 14:36; 2Sam 17:12; 2Sam 18:14; 1Kgs 2:6; Ezek 48:14.
(b) with the infinitive (which is negatived by בִּלְתִּי, q. v.), only once, in בְּלֹא (4 a), and with לְ, in the sense of cannot, or must not; Judg 1:19 כי לא להורישׁ for it was not (possible) to dispossess, etc. Amos 6:10 לא ׳להזכיר בשׁם י, 1Chr 5:1; 1Chr 15:2 (Dr^{§ 202. 2}); compare Aramaic לָא Dan 6:9; Ezra 6:8. On its use with the participle, see b c.
(c) לא always negates properly the word immediately following: hence, in a verbal sentence, where this is not the verb, some special stress rests upon it, Gen 32:29 לֹא יַעֲקֹב ׳יֵאָמֵר עוֺד וג not Jacob shall thy name be called any more, but Israel, Gen 45:8 לֹא אַתֶּם שְׁלַחְתֶּם אֹתִי Not ye (in our idiom: It is not ye who) have sent me hither, but God, Exod 16:8; 1Sam 8:7 כִּי לֹא ׳אֹתְךָ מָאָסוּ כִּי אֹתִי וג, Ps 115:17 without a following correcting clause, Gen 38:9; Num 16:29 שְׁלָחָנִי׃ ׳לֹא י Not ׳י (but another) hath sent me, Deut 32:27 לֹא פָּעַל זֹאת ׳י, 1Chr 17:4; Deut 8:9; Isa 28:28 לא לנצח ֗֗֗ not for ever (but only for a while) . . . (so Isa 57:16; Ps 9:19; Ps 49:18; Ps 103:9 but Isa 13:20 לא תשׁב לנצח is, will not be inhabited for ever), Isa 43:22; Job 13:16; Job 32:9 hence rhetorically, insinuating something very different, not named, 2Kgs 6:10 not once, and not twice (but repeatedly), Ezra 10:13; Jer 4:11 a wind לֹא לְזָרוֺת וְלוֺא לְהַָבר׃ not to winnow, and not to cleanse (but to exterminate), Isa 45:13; Isa 48:1b Josh 24:12; Dan 11:20; Dan 11:29; Job 34:20 לֹא בְיָד (but by a Divine agency: compare Dan 2:34 also Job 20:26 אֵשׁ לֹא נֻפָּ֑ךְ fire not blown upon [but kindled from heaven], Lam 4:6 and אין Isa 47:14).
(d) standing alone:
(a) אִםלֹֿא if not, Gen 18:21 וְאִםלֹֿא אֵדָֽעָה׃, Gen 29:49; Gen 42:16; Job 9:24; Job 24:25 (β) הֲאִ֗֗֗םלֿא, or not, Gen 24:21 waiting to know דַּרְכּוֺ אִםלֹֿא ׳הַהִצְלִיחַ י, Gen 27:21; Gen 37:32; Exod 16:4; Num 11:23; Deut 8:2; Judg 2:22 (compare אִם אַיִן, אַיִן 2 d β, δ). In answer to a question or request, to deny, or decline, Nay, Nö: Judg 12:5 ויאמר לא, Hag 2:12 לא אדני Gen 23:11; Gen 42:10; 1Sam 1:15 +; often followed by כי, Nö for . . . = Nö but . . ., Gen 18:15 ויאמר לֹא כִּי צָחָ֑קְתְּ, Gen 19:2; Josh 5:14; Josh 24:21; 1Sam 2:16 Qr (see Dr), 1Sam 10:19 (ᵐ5 MSS), 2Sam 16:18; 2Sam 24:24; 1Kgs 3:22 (twice in verse) +; Job 23:6 (strangely). (compare, in deprecation, אַל.)
(e) with an interrogative force, which however does not lie in לא as such, but (as in other cases) in the contrast with a preceding clause, or in the tone of voice (compare וְ 1 f; Ew^{§ 324 a} Ges^{«GKC:150»§ 150}. 1 Dr^{1Sam 11:12}): Jonah 4:11 ׳אַתָּה חַסְתָּוַ֗֗֗אֲנִי לֹא אָחוּס וג, Job 2:10; Job 22:11; Exod 8:22; 2Kgs 5:26; Jer 49:9 (|| Obad 1:5 הֲלוֺא), Mal 2:15; Lam 3:38 and in passages, exegesis or text. doubtful (see Commentaries), 1Sam 20:14; 2Sam 23:5 (but see Bu), Hos 10:9 (Ew We), Hos 11:5 (Ew), Job 14:16b (but ᵐ5 Ew Di תַעֲבֹר), Lam 1:12 (Ew Ke), Lam 3:36 (Ke Bä).
b. with adjectives and substantive:
(a) Gen 2:18 לֹא טוֺב הֱֶיוֺת הָאָדָם לְבַדֹּו not good is man's being alone, Exod 18:17 + often
(b) Exod 4:16 לֹא אִישׁ דְּבָרִים אָנֹכִי, Amos 7:14 לא נביא אנכי, Num 23:9 לֹא אִישׁ אֵל וִיכַזֵּב, Deut 17:15 (see אשׁר

2. b) Deut 20:20; Deut 32:47; 1Sam 15:29; 2Sam 18:20 לֹא אִישׁ בְּשׂרָה אַתָּה הַיּוֺם, 2Sam 21:2; 1Kgs 22:33; 2Kgs 6:19 לא זִה הדרך, Mic 2:10; Isa 27:11; Hos 8:6 והמה לא אלהים Jer 2:11; Jer 16:20; 2Kgs 19:18; 1Kgs 19:11 (twice in verse) לֹא ׳בָרַעַשׁ י, Deut 30:12; Deut 30:13; Job 15:9; Job 28:14 לֹא בִי הִיא (|| אֵין עִמָּדִי)s, Ps 74:9; Jer 5:10 המה ׳לוא לי, Jer 10:16; Deut 32:21 בָּנִים לֹא אֵמוּן בָּם, Jer 10:14; Hab 1:14; Job 16:17; Job 38:26 מִדְבָּר לֹא אָדָם בּוֺ; 1Kgs 22:17 לֹא אֲדֹנִים לָאֵלֶּה, Jer 49:31; Ps 22:3 וְלֹא דוּמִיָּה לִי, Job 18:17; Job 18:19; Job 29:12 ולא עֹזֵר לו, Job 30:13; Job 33:9; Jer 2:19 וְלֹא פַחְדָּתִי אֵלַיִךְ and (that) my terror reached not unto thee, Job 21:9 absolute Gen 29:7 לֹאעֵֿתִ הֵאָסֵף הַמִּקְנֶה (Hag 1:2), Num 20:5; 2Kgs 4:23 לא חדשׁ ולא שׁבת, Isa 44:9; Jer 5:12 ויאמרו לוא הוא, Job 9:32; Job 22:16; Job 36:26; Job 41:2; Prov 19:7 (si vera lectio) מְרַדֵּף אֲמָרִים לֹאהֵֿמָּה words which are not, which are nought.
(c) with the participle לֹא is rare, a finite verb being usually preferred (Exod 34:7 וְנַקִּה לֹא יְנַקֶּה: Ew^{§ 320 c} Dr^{§ 162}): 2Sam 3:34 יָדֶיךָ לֹא אֲסֻרוֺת, Ezek 4:14; Ezek 22:24; Deut 28:61; Ps 38:15 כְּאִישׁ אֲשֶׁר לֹא שֹׁמֵעַ who is not hearing, Job 12:3; Job 13:2 לֹא נֹפֵל אָנֹכִי מִכֶּם, Zeph 3:5 (very anomalous); 1Kgs 10:21 לא is probably textual error In וְהוּא לֹא שׂנֵא לוֺ or לא שׂנא הוא לו, Deut 4:42; Deut 19:4; Deut 19:6; Josh 20:5 (compare אֹיֵב Num 35:23), שׂנֵא is best construed as a substantive, he being a not-hater to him afore-time. — In most of the cases under b, c, אין could have been employed; but the negation by לֹא is more pointed and forcible.

2. Not in predication:
a. coupled to an adjective to negative it, like the Greek ἀ‐, but usually by way of litotes: Hos 13:13 בן לאחֿכם an unwise son, Ps 36:5 דֶּרֶךְ לֹא טוֺב a way not good, Ps 43:1 גוי לא חסיד, Prov 16:29; Prov 30:25; Prov 30:26; Ezek 20:25; 2Chr 30:17 : Isa 16:14 לוֺא כַבִּיר, compare Isa 10:7 לֹא מְעַט.
b. with a participle Jer 2:2 ארץ לא זרועה, Jer 18:15 (the finite verb is more common: see Isa 62:12 עִיר לֹא נֱעֶזָ֫בָה (compare Isa 54:11), Jer 6:8 אֶרֶץ לוֺא נוֺשָׁ֫בָה, Jer 15:18; Jer 22:6; Jer 31:18; Zeph 2:1).
c. Gen 15:13 בארץ לא להם, Jer 5:19; Hab 1:6 מִשְׁכָּנוֺת לֹאלֿוֺ, Prov 26:17 רִיב לֹאלֿוֺ.
d. with a substantive, in poetry, forming a kind of compound, expressing pointedly its antithesis or negation (German un- is sometimes used similarly): Deut 32:5(?). 17. 21 a they made me jealous בְּלֹא אֵל with a not-God (with what in no respect deserved the name of God), v^b בְּלֹא עָם i.e. with an unorganized horde, Amos 6:13 הַשְּׂמֵחִים לְלֹא דָבָר i.e. at a thing which is not, an unreality (of their boasted strength), Isa 10:15 כְּהָרִים מַטֶּה לֹא עֵץ like a rod's lifting up what is no wood (but the agent wielding it), Isa 31:8 חרב לא אישׁ, חרב לא אדם, Isa 55:2 בלוא לחם for what is not bread, בלוא לשׂבעה for what is not for satiety, Jer 5:7 וַיּשָּֽׁבְעוּ בְּלֹא אֱלֹהִים by not-gods, in late prose 2Chr 13:9 כֹּהֵן לְלֹא אֱלֹהִים; Ps 44:13 תִּמְכֹּר עַמְּךָ בְּלֹאהֿוֺן for no-value (i.e. cheaply), Prov 13:23; Job 10:12 צלמות וְלֹא סְדָרִים darkness and disorder; so לֹאעַֿמִּי Hos 1:9; Hos 2:25: still more pregnantly Job 26:2 a מֶהעָֿזַרְתָּ לְלֹאכֹֿחַ (poetic for לאשׁר אין לו כח) the powerless, vJob 26:2b; vJob 26:3a (Ew^{§ 286 g} Ges^{«GKC:152»§ 152}. 1 n.), Job 39:16 הִקְשִׁיחַ בָּנֶיהָ לְלֹא לָהּ useth hardly her young ones (making them) into none of hers; and even Hab 2:6 הַמַּרְבֶּה לֹאלֿוֺ what is not his own (compare Job 18:15 מִבְּלִי לוֺ). compare with a verb, and ellipse of אשׁר, Isa 65:1 לְלֹא שָׁאָ֑לוּ to those who have not asked, v^b Jer 2:8 אַחֲרִי לֹא יוֺעִילוּ, vJer 2:11b; also לֹא רֻחָ֫מָה Hos 1:6; Hos 1:8; Hos 2:25, and probably Job 31:31 לֹא נִשְׂבָּ֑ע (perfect in p.) one not satisfied.
e. in circumstantial clauses (Dr^{§ 164}), in poetry and rare: qualifying a substantive, 2Sam 23:4 בֹּקֶר לֹא עָבוֺת a morning without clouds, Job 12:24 בְּתֹהוּ לֹא דֶרֶךְ in a pathless waste, Job 38:26a; and a verb Job 34:24 יָרֹעַ כַּבִּרִים לֹא חֵקֶר without inquiry, Ps 59:4 לא פשׁעי ולא חטאתי (compare vPs 59:4 בלי עון), in late prose, twice, 1Chr 2:30; 1Chr 2:32 וימת לא בנים (אֵין and בְּלִי, q. v., are more usual in such cases).

3. Once (according to many MSS), as a substantive, Job 6:21 כִּיעַֿתָּה הֱיִיתֶם לֹא for now are ye become nothing, Hi De Kö (compare Dan 4:32 (Aramaic) כְּלָה חֲשִׁיבִין, ᵑ7 here כְּלָא הֲוֵיתוּן, and אַל Job 24:25); but reading fluctuates (Orientals לֹא, Qr לו, Westerns, Baer (see pp. 37, 56) לוֺ ['now are ye become that,' namely the נַחַל אַכְזָב of vJob 24:15]; but even לוֺ yields a forced sense; and text is probably wrong: Mich Ew Ol Sgf Bu כֵּןלִ֗֗֗י (ᵐ5 ᵑ6 also read לִי); Bö Di כִּילְ֗֗֗אָ֑יִן. compare Kö^{ii. 1. 236 f}.

4. With prefixes: —
a. בְּלֹא₃₁ (chiefly in poetry or late), according to the varying significance of בְּ:
(a) usually with not = without, Jer 22:13 בונה ביתו בלאֿ צדק without justice (|| בלא משׁפט; so Ezek 22:29; Prov 16:8), Isa 55:1 (twice in verse); Prov 19:2; Job 8:11 הֲיִגְאֶהגֹּֿמֶא בְּלֹא בִצָּה without mire || כלי מים, Job 30:28 בְּלֹא חַמָּה (=not through the sun), Lam 1:6 וילכו בלאכֿח, Num 35:22 בְּלֹא אֵיבָה ֗֗֗ בְּלֹא צְדִיָּה, vNum 35:23 (followed by infinitive) בְּלֹא רְאוֺת, 2Chr 21:20; Eccl 10:11; Ps 17:1 תְּפִלָּתִי בְּלֹא שִׂפְתֵי מִרְמָה; used more freely in Chronicles, 1Chr 12:18 בְּלֹא חָמָס בְּכַפָּֽי׃, v.1Chr 12:34 בְּלֹא לֵב וָלֵב, 2Chr 30:18 בְּלֹא כַכָּתוּב. With ellipse of rel., Lam 4:14 בְּלֹא יוּכְלוּ יִגְּעוּ without (that) men are able to touch, etc.
(b) of time, in not, i.e. outside of, Lev 15:25 בלא עֶתנִֿדָּתָהּ, before Job 15:32 בלאיֿומו, Eccl 7:17 בְּלֹא עִתֶּךְ׃.
(c) where לֹא belongs to the following word, and is only accidentally preceded by ב (see above 2 d), Deut 32:21 (twice in verse); Jer 5:7; Prov 13:23 בלא משׁפט through injustice; with בְּ pretii, Ps 44:13; Isa 55:2 (twice in verse); Jer 2:11 בְּלוֺא יוֺעִיל for (that which) profiteth not.

b. הֲלֹא nonne ? Gen 4:7 + often Inviting, as it does, an affirmative answer, it is often used,
(a) especially in conversation, for pointing to a fact in such a way as to arouse the interest of the person addressed, or to win his assent: Gen 13:19 Is not the whole land before thee ? Gen 19:20; Gen 20:5; Gen 27:36; Gen 29:25; Exod 4:11 Who maketh dumb or deaf, etc. Do not I ? Exod 33:16; Judg 4:6; Judg 4:14; Judg 8:2; Judg 9:28; Judg 9:38; 1Sam 9:20; 1Sam 9:21; 1Sam 15:17 etc.; with a verb in 1 person, Josh 1:9 הלא צויתיך, Judg 6:14 הלא שׁלחתיך, 1Sam 20:30; 2Sam 19:23; Ruth 2:9: similarly in a poetical or rhetorical style, Judg 5:30 הלא ימצאו יחלקו שׁלל, Isa 8:19; Isa 10:8; Isa 10:9; Isa 10:11; Isa 28:25; Isa 29:17; Isa 40:21; Isa 40:23; Isa 42:24; Isa 43:19 etc., Job 4:6; Job 4:21; Job 7:1; Job 10:10; Job 10:20, etc. (β) it has a tendency to become little more than an affirm. particle, declaring with some rhetorical emphasis what is, or might be, well known: Deut 3:11 הֲלֹה הִיא בְרַבַּת בְּנֵי עַמּוֺן, Deut 11:30; 1Sam 21:12 הלוא ׳זה דוד וג (compare 1Sam 29:3; 1Sam 29:5; 2Sam 11:3), 2Sam 23:19; 2Sam 26:1; 2Sam 15:35 it is thus nearly = הִנֵּה (ᵐ5 sometimes represents it by ιδου, as Josh 1:9; Judg 6:14; Ruth 2:9; 2Sam 15:35); so especially in the phrase of the compiler of Kings, And the rest of the acts of . . ., הֲלֹא הֵם (הֵמָּה) כְּתוּבִים are they not written in, etc. ? 1Kgs 11:41; 1Kgs 14:29 + often (with which there interchanges הִנָּם כְּתוּבִים 1Kgs 14:19; 2Kgs 15:11; 2Kgs 15:26; 2Kgs 15:31, which is generally used by the Chronicles, 2Chr 16:11; 2Chr 20:34, etc.), Josh 10:13 (compare 2Sam 1:18 הִנֵּה), 1Kgs 8:53 ᵐ5, Esth 10:2; Ps 56:14 (strangely: contr. Ps 116:8). — הֲלֹא הִנֵּה Hab 2:13; 2Chr 25:26 (הִנָּם). — On Judg 14:15, see הֲ 1 end.

c. וָלֹ֕א and not=and if not, 2Sam 13:26; 2Kgs 5:17. compare וָּיֵשׁ.
d. כְּלוֺא Obad 1:16 והיו כלוא היו, poetic for כאשׁר, as though they had not been.

e. לְלֹא without, literally in the condition of no . . . 2Chr 15:3 (compare לְאֵין, also in Chronicles). Elsewhere לא belongs to the following word, Amos 6:13; 2Chr 13:9; Isa 65:1 (twice in verse); Job 26:2; Job 26:3; Job 39:16 (see above 2 d).

Note. — Fifteen times, according to Masora (see De^{Ps 100. 3} Fr^{MM 247} Str^{Prol. Cr. 84}), לא is written by error for לוֺ, namely Exod 21:8; Lev 11:21; Lev 25:30; 1Sam 2:3; 2Sam 16:18; 2Kgs 8:10; Isa 9:2; Isa 63:9; Ps 100:3; Ps 139:16; Job 13:15; Job 41:4; Prov 19:7; Prov 26:2; Ezra 4:2 (always with Qr לוֺ). The passages must be considered each upon its own merits: in some לוֺ yields a preferable sense; but this is not the case in all. There is the same קרי (rightly) on Isa 49:5; 1Chr 11:20 but these were not considered to rest upon equal authority, and are hence not reckoned with the fifteen. — In Judg 21:22 (see GFM), 1Sam 13:13; 1Sam 20:14 (twice in verse), and in Job 9:33 לֹא יֵשׁ, read probably לֻא for לֹא.

BDB4344 H3808

לוֺ (Kt 1Sam 2:16; 1Sam 20:2), לוֺא, see לֹא.

BDB9632 H3808 H3809

לָא (לָה Dan 4:32) adverb not (Biblical Hebrew לא; Aramaic of Têma, Egyptian, etc., לא; Nerab ל (Lzb³⁰¹ Cook^{G1. 67}); ᵑ7 לָא; Syriac ); — not Jer 10:11; Dan 2:5; Dan 2:9; Dan 2:10, etc.; before a participle (so rarely in Biblical Hebrew, 1 b c), Dan 2:27; Dan 2:43; Dan 3:16; Dan 4:4; Dan 4:6; Dan 4:15 +, so v.Dan 4:32 וְכָלדָּֿאְרֵי אַרְעָא כְּלָה חֲשׁיבִין; are as men not accounted of (so Bev Behrm Marti, compare Isa 53:8 ᵑ7 בסירין ולא חשׁיבין; > most 'accounted as nothing,' for which no analogy, yet compare Ps 39:6 ᵑ7); followed by אִיתַי, see אִיתַי. With infinitive and לְ Dan 6:9 דִּי לָא לִהַשְׁנָיָה which it is not to alter = which is not to be altered (compare v.Dan 6:16), Ezra 6:8 (K^{§ 67, 1} Dr^{§ 202, 2}.; compare Isa 35:6 ᵑ7, D^{Aramaic Dialektproben, p. 1}). With interr. הֲלָא Dan 3:24; Dan 4:27; Dan 6:13.

BDB9640 H3809 H3861 H518 H2006 H3808 H3588

II. לָהֵן conjunction except, but (from לָא and הֵן 'not if' (compare Hebrew אם לא Gen 24:38); so Nabataean and Egyptian Aramaic להן Cooke^{217, 219, 241} S-C^{Pap. C 6, 7} +; lâinnî, however Soc^{Arab. Dial.} see Marokko 44, Anm. 103; ᵑ7 אִילָּהֵין Gen 32:28; Gen 43:3 and elsewhere); —

1. after a negative (= Biblical Hebrew כִּי אִם, q. v.):
a. except Dan 2:11; Dan 3:28; Dan 6:6; Dan 6:8.
b. but (German sondern) Dan 2:30.

2. without a negative: however, but Ezra 5:12.

not, no, neither, nor, none, …

lōʾ

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

not, no

not (with verb—absolute prohibition)

תָח֖וֹס

Root word spare, pity, spared, regard, pitied

Dictionary form: חוּס · hoos

Verb — Qal, Imperfect (Yiqtol), third person feminine singular simple action — "he did" not-yet-complete action — try "he will ___" or "he ___s" the built-in subject is "she (or it)"

In the KJV here: pity

spare ×11 pity ×4 and spare ×1 hast had pity ×1 he shall spare ×1 pitied ×1 regard ×1 shall have no pity ×1

More options

spare — Most natural fit; withholding harm or punishment.

show pity — Emphasizes emotional compassion toward the vulnerable.

have mercy — Stronger relational warmth; suits divine or kingly contexts.

show compassion — Broader empathy; good when mercy feels too formal.

take pity — Colloquial; suits narrative or direct speech well.

regard — Cooler, cognitive sense; useful when emotion is understated.

BDB2626 H2347

[חוּס] verb pity, look upon with compassion (Aramaic , חוּס pity, spare; Assyrian —û s, in proper names compare Dl^{Pr 181}) —

Qal Perfect 3 feminine singular חָסָה Ezek 16:5, 2 masculine singular חַ֫סְתָּ Jonah 4:10 Imperfect 3 masculine singular יָחוּס Jer 21:7 יָחֹס Ps 72:13 3 feminine singular תָּחוּס Isa 13:18 תָּהוֺס Deut 7:16 + 9 t.(Ges^{«GKC:72»§ 72} R 4 Bö^{§ 1133}(2)); תָּחֹס Gen 45:20; Ezek 9:5 וַתָּ֫חָס 1Sam 24:11; Ezek 20:17 1 singular אָחוּס Jer 13:14 + 2 t.; Imperative חוּ֫סָה Joel 2:17; Neh 13:22: —
a. of the eye, עין, (לא) תח(ו)ס על the eye shall (not) look with compassion, pity, upon Deut 7:16; Deut 13:9; Deut 19:13; Deut 20:17 לא חסה עָלַיִךְ עין Ezek 16:5 עֵינְכֶם אַלתָּֿחֹס עַלכְּֿלֵיכֶםGen 45:20 (R^JE) let not your eye look with regret upon your stuff; with ellipsis of עַיִן 1Sam 24:11 (but read וָאָחֻס, for וַתָּחָס ᵐ5 ᵑ6 ᵑ7 We Klo Dr); with ellipsis of על Deut 19:21; Deut 25:12; Ezek 5:11; Ezek 7:9; Ezek 8:18; Ezek 9:10 (אל) ע֯ל תחס עיני֯כם Ezek 9:5
b. of God חוסה על Neh 13:22; Joel 2:17 לא אחוס על נינוה Jonah 4:11 ellipsis of עַל Jer 13:14; Ezek 24:14.
c. of man: the Messianic king עלדַּֿל וְאֶבְיוֺן Ps 72:13 he shall have pity on poor and needy, Nebuchadrezzar עליהם (i.e. on Zedekiah and the people) Jer 21:7 Jonah, על הקיקיון Jonah 4:10. — See also חמל.

חוֺףsee below II. חפף.

spare, pity, spared, regard, pitied

ḥûs

properly, to cover, i.e., (figuratively) to compassionate

(Qal) to pity, have compassion, spare, look upon with compassion

עֵינֶ ֑ךָ

עֵינֶ

Root word eyes, sight, eye, seemeth, colour, …

֑ךָ

Suffix — pronoun your / you (one man)

Dictionary form: עַיִן · ah-YIN

Noun — Common, both singular, construct state "___ of …" — bound to the next word

In the KJV here: thine eye

in the sight ×109 mine eyes ×45 thine eyes ×42 his eyes ×39 in thy sight ×26 the eyes ×22 in the eyes ×20 eye ×16

More options

eye — Core anatomical meaning; singular, most versatile starting point.

sight — Prefer for phrases like 'in the sight of'; perception sense.

spring — Use when the referent is a water source, not a body part.

appearance — Suits contexts describing color, resemblance, or visual quality.

presence — Idiomatic in phrases meaning 'before someone'; relational nuance.

opinion — For idioms like 'in his own eyes'; subjective judgment sense.

BDB5892 H5772 H5771 H5869

[עוֺנָה] Qr, [ עֵינָה] Kt noun feminine only suffix Hos 10:10: Qr plural עוֺנֹתָם Baer, singular עוֺנָתָם Ginsb; > עֵינֹתָם Kt; but read עֲוֺנֹתָם, see עָוֺן 1 a..

BDB5893 H5869

עֹוֵן Kt 1Sam 18:9 see עין.

עִוְעִים see below I. עוה.

BDB6014 H5869

I. עַ֫יִן₈₅₉ noun feminine^{Gen 3:7} and (Zech 3:9; Zech 4:10 Albr^{ZAW xvi (1896), 75}) masculine eye (ancient Semitic word; √ and relation to II. ׳ע unknown; Late Hebrew id.; Phoenician ען; ᵑ7 עֵינָא, עַיְינָא Palmyrene עינא Zinjirli suffix עיני, עינך Syriac ; Assyrian ênu, enu, Tel Amarna suffix inaya and (apparently Canaanite gloss —inaya; Arabic ; Ethiopic ); — absolute ׳ע Exod 21:4 +, construct עֵין vExod 21:26 +; suffix עֵינִי Gen 44:21 + (2Sam 16:12 read עָנְיִי Vrss Comm.), עֵינְךָ Deut 7:16 +, עֵינֵנוּ Ps 35:21 (2Sam 20:6 see נצל Hiph`il); suffix 3 masculine plural עֵינָם Isa 13:18 (Zech 5:6 read עֲוֺנָם ᵐ5 We Gr Now), עֵינֵמוֺ Ps 73:7 (but read עֲוֺנָמוֺ see Commentaries); usually dual עֵינַיִם Gen 20:16 +, עֵינָ֑יִם Isa 3:16 +, especially construct עֵינֵי Gen 3:7 +, עֵנֵי Isa 3:8 suffix עֵינַי Gen 31:10 +, עֵינֶיךָ Judg 6:17 +, etc. (Hos 10:10 read עֲוֺנֹתָם compare ᵐ5 ᵑ9 Che We Gr Now); — eye:

1. literally as physical organ,
a. of man Exod 21:6 (3 t. in verse) (E), Gen 3:6 (J) +, Lev 21:20; Lev 24:20 (twice in verse); Lev 26:16 (H; very rarely P, e.g. Deut 34:4; Deut 34:7), 2Kgs 4:34 (twice in verse) +; once שְׁתֵּי עֵינַי Judg 16:28.
b. anthropomorph. of ׳י Ps 33:18; Ps 34:16 +.
c. of idols Ps 115:5; Ps 135:16.
d. of beasts Gen 30:41 (J), Job 40:24 (hippop., si vera lectio, but probably corrupt Di Siegf Bu Du where see conjectures), Job 41:10 (crocodile); bird Job 28:7; Job 39:29; .
e. in wheels Ezek 1:18 compare Ezek 10:12 on stone Zech 3:9 (all in visions). feminine subject of ראה see Gen 45:12 (twice in verse) (E), + (often Deuteronomy), with חזה Ps 11:4 men see ׳בְּע Deut 3:27; 2Kgs 7:12 +; especially ׳נָשָׂא ע + ראה Gen 13:10; Gen 10:14 (J) +; compare לְכָלמַֿרְאֵה עֵינֵי הַכֹּהֵן Lev 13:12 = as far as the priest can see, ׳מַרְאֵה ע Deut 28:34 what is seen by the eyes = vDeut 28:67; Eccl 6:9.
g. as affected by sleep, see שֵׁנָה below [יָשֵׁן].
h. as weeping, מְקוֺר דִּמְעָה ׳ע Jer 8:23, נִגְּרָה ׳ע Lam 3:49, ׳דָּֽלְפָה ע Job 16:20 see also Jer 31:16; Ps 116:8, and ירד Qal 3 c. i. as growing dim, see I. כָּהָה, חָשַׁךְ 3; with כָּבֵד Gen 48:10 (E), קוּם 1Sam 4:15; 1Kgs 14:4, שָׁעַע Isa 32:3; Isa 6:10 (Hiph`il); with כָּלָה pine, languish, see ׳כ Qal 2 b, Pi`el 2 b, with דָּאַב Ps 88:10, עָשַׁשׁ Ps 6:8; Ps 31:10, דָּלַל Isa 38:14.
j. with פָּקַח open, after sleep Job 27:19, sleep of death 2Kgs 4:35 = keep awake Prov 20:13 (opposed to שֵׁנָה); of new power of vision Gen 3:5; Gen 3:7 (J), given by God Gen 21:19 (E), 2Kgs 6:17 (twice in verse); so (with וַיְגַל) Num 22:31 (JE); = give sight to blind 2Kgs 6:20 (twice in verse); Isa 35:5; Isa 42:7; Ps 146:8 of God (׳י) opening his eyes, ׳פָּקַח ע 2Kgs 19:16 = Isa 37:17; Dan 9:18, + עַלֿ Jer 32:19; Zech 12:4; Job 14:3 עַל {abbrev}שִׂי֥֥ ע Gen 44:21 (J) Jer 39:12; Jer 40:4, + לטובה Jer 24:6, + לרעה Amos 9:4 with פָּתַח + אֶלֿ 1Kgs 8:29 = 2Chr 6:20; 1Kgs 8:52; Neh 1:6, + ל 2Chr 6:40; 2Chr 7:15 + infinitive Neh 1:6. — Num 24:3; Num 24:15 see שׁתם
k. ׳אוֺר ע etc., = revive, see אור

verb Qal, Hiph`il; noun, 10.

1. ׳קָרַץ ע = wink Ps 35:19; Prov 10:10, ׳בְּע ׳ק Prov 6:13. masculine ׳יִרְזְמוּן ע Job 15:12 i.e. roll (in anger).
n. ׳ל ׳לָטַשׁ ע Job 16:9 whet eyes against = 'look daggers at.'
o. put out eye, see עִוֵּר, נקר
p. as feature of beauty, ׳יְפֵה ע Deut 16:12 compare Song 4:9; Song 7:5, יוֺנִים ׳ע Song 1:15; Song 4:1 and Song 5:12 (כְּיוֺנִים); on other hand, לֵאָה רַכּוֺת ׳ע Gen 29:17 (E); ׳וַתָּשֶׂם בַּפּוּךְ ע 2Kgs 9:30 (see פּוּךְ), compare Jer 4:30, ׳כָּחַל ע Ezek 23:40 paint the eyes .
q. apple of the eye, see אִישׁוֺן, [בָּבָה], בַּת

6. r. ׳גַּבֹּת ע Lev 14:9 eyebrows.
s. ׳חַכְלִילִי ע מִָיּ֑יִן Gen 49:12, ׳חַכְלִילוּת ע Prov 23:29 (see ׳ח); ׳מְאוֺר ע Prov 15:30, see Toy.

2. a. eyes as shewing mental qualities: arrogance גַבְהוּת ׳ע Isa 2:11, גְבֹהִים ׳ע Isa 5:15, ׳גְּבַהּעֿ Ps 101:5, ׳תִּפְאֶרֶת רוּם ע Isa 10:12 with רוּם also Ps 18:28 (so read also || 2Sam 22:28 Hup HPS), 2Sam 131:1; Prov 6:17; Prov 21:4 humility, ׳שַׁח ע Job 22:29 mockery, תִּלְעַג לְ ׳ע Prov 30:17 compare בְּ ׳רָעָה ע Deut 15:9 (grudging), Deut 28:54; Deut 28:56 (id.); especially (עַל) אַלתָּֿחֹס ׳ע not have pity on Deut 7:16 + 4 t. Deuteronomy; Ezek 5:11 + 8 t. Ezekiel; Isa 13:18, also Gen 45:20 (E; = not regret); compare ׳נֹחַם יִסָּתֵר מֵע Hos 13:14.
b. ׳מַחְמַד ע Ezek 24:16 desire of the eyes, so vEzek 24:21 vEzek 24:25 ׳שִׁקּוּצֵי ע Ezek 20:7 abominations of the eyes, so vEzek 20:8. — Ps 73:7 see חֵלֶב.

3. Figurative of mental and spiritual faculties, acts and states:
a. ׳תִּפָּקַחְנָה ע Gen 3:5; Gen 3:7 (J) Isa 42:7, ׳גְּלּוּי ע Num 24:4; Num 24:16 (JE); also ׳טַח מֵרְאוֺת ע Isa 44:18 ׳אֶליֿ ׳ע Ps 123:2 (see vPs 123:2 vPs 123:2 for origin of figurative), +; of ׳י, Ps 33:18 (i.e. his favour) Ps 34:16 (id. +.
b. הַזִּנוֺת ׳ע Ezek 6:9 ׳תִּשְׂבַּע ע Eccl 1:8; Eccl 4:8 ׳שָֽׁאֲלוּ ע Eccl 2:10 לְֹנכַח יַבִּיטוּ ׳ע Prov 4:25 ׳טוֺבעֿ Prov 22:9 = bountiful, רַע עָ֑יִן Prov 23:6 = niggardly one, so Prov 28:22 eye as avenue of temptation Job 31:1; Job 31:7 ׳שִׁית ע Ps 17:11 = designation
c. especially בְּעֵינֵי, with adjective and intransitive verbs, in the view, opinion, of Gen 16:4; Gen 16:5 (J), Gen 21:11; Gen 21:12 (E), Gen 34:18 (P), + often; with active verb 2Sam 10:3 = 1Chr 19:3; Esth 1:17; Esth 3:6 ׳הַטּוֺב בְּע Gen 16:6; Gen 19:14 (J), +, i.e. what one pleases, Num 36:6 (P) whom they please; ׳הַיָּשָׁר בְּע Deut 12:8; Deut 12:25 +, ׳הַטּוֺב וְהַיָּשָׁר בְּע vDeut 12:28; Josh 9:25 (D), ׳הָרַע בְּע Judg 2:11; Judg 3:7; Deut 4:25 + especially D and Kings (R^D); so לְנֶגֶד עיניו 2Sam 22:25 = Ps 18:25 אַחֲרֵי עֵינֵיכֶם Num 15:39 = according to your wish, fancy (+ לְבַבְכֶם).
d. ׳נֶעְלָם מֵע Lev 4:13 i.e. hid from knowledge of, so Num 5:13 (both P), Job 28:21 ׳מֵע Num 15:24 (P) without the knowledge of; מִן ׳אַעְלִים ע Isa 1:15 = disregard, pay no attention; compare Lev 20:4 (H) Ezek 22:26 without מִן, absolute, Prov 28:27 ׳נִסְתְּרוּ מֵע Isa 65:16, ׳וַיַּסְתֵּר עָמָל מֵע Job 3:10 בּוֺ ׳אַעְלִים ע (i.e. בַּכֹּפֶר) 1Sam 12:3 (נעלים sandals + ענו בי ᵐ5 Th We Kit, compare Ecclus^{xlvi. 19}; Bu HPS insert ענו בי); ׳הַשֹּׁחַד יְעַוֵּר ע Deut 16:19, compare ׳כְּסוּת ע Gen 20:16 (E).

4. Transferred meanings:
a. visible surface of earth Exod 10:5; Exod 10:15 (J) Num 22:5; Num 22:11 (JE).
b. appearance Lev 13:5 (P; reading בְּעֵינוֺ Di Kau Dr-Wh), vLev 13:37 (P; reading id.), vLev 13:55 (P) Num 11:7 (twice in verse) (JE); so apparently dual 1Sam 16:7.
c. gleam, sparkle (of metal, jewels, etc.) Ezek 1:4; Ezek 1:7; Ezek 1:16; Ezek 1:22; Ezek 1:27; Ezek 8:2; Ezek 10:9; Dan 10:6 of wine Prov 23:31.

5. Other phrases are: ׳תַּחַת ע ׳ע Exod 21:24 (E) = Lev 24:20 (H), = ׳בְּע ׳ע Deut 19:21, all = an eye for an eye; ׳בְּע ׳ע = eye to eye, Num 14:14 (P) Isa 52:8 (figurative), compare תִּרְאֶינָה ׳אֶתעֿ ׳וְע Jer 32:4; Jer 34:3 especially לְעֵינֵי in the presence of, in full view of Gen 42:24 (E) Gen 47:19 (J) Exod 4:30 (J) Num 19:5 (P), + oft; of business transaction Jer 32:12 (twice in verse); Gen 23:11; Gen 23:18 (P); so ׳נֶגֶד ע Joel 1:16, ׳לְנֶגֶד ע Job 4:16, and even ׳בְּע 1Sam 21:14; Ezra 3:12 ׳נִגְרַזְתּי מִנֶּגֶד ע Ps 31:23 ׳בֵּין ע = on the forehead Exod 13:9; Exod 13:16 (JE) Deut 6:8; Deut 11:18; Deut 14:1; Dan 8:5; Dan 8:21.

BDB6016 H5869 H5871 H5878 H5875 H5883 H5886 H8179

II. עַ֫יִן noun feminine spring (of water) (connection with I. ׳ע dubious; Late Hebrew id., Phoenician ען; Assyrian ênu, înu; Arabic ; Ethiopic ; Palmyrene עינא, ᵑ7 עֵינָא, עַיְינָא; Syriac ); — absolute ׳ע 1Sam 29:1 +, עָ֑יִן Gen 49:22 +, הָעַ֫יְנָה Gen 24:16; Gen 24:45 construct עֵין vGen 24:13 +; plural עֲיָנֹת Deut 8:7, וֺת- 2Chr 32:3 construct עֵינוֺת Exod 15:27 = Num 33:9, עִינוֺת Prov 8:28 (Ges^{«GKC:93v»§ 93v}); — spring Gen 16:7; Gen 24:16; Gen 24:29; Gen 24:30; Gen 24:42; Gen 24:45 (all J) Gen 49:22 (poem in J), 1Sam 29:1 עֵין חַמַּיִם Gen 16:7; Gen 24:13; Gen 24:43 (J), compare Exod 15:27 (J) Num 33:9 (P); ׳נַחֲלֵי מַיִם ע וּתְחֹמֹת Deut 8:7 מֵימֵי הָעֲיָנוֺת 2Chr 32:3 תְּהוֺם ׳ְ Prov 8:28 (i.e. of the sea); figurative עֵין יַעֲקֹב Deut 33:28 (poem), i.e. Jacob's descendants. Particular springs are:
a. חֲרֹד ׳ע Judg 7:1 (on location compare GFM).
b. הַקּוֺרֵא ׳ע (partridge-spring) Judg 15:19 (compare id.).
c. רֹגֵּל ׳ע near Jerusalem (early sanctuary RS^{Sem i. 157, 2nd ed. 172}) 2Sam 17:17 compare 1Kgs 1:2, on border of Judah Josh 15:7, and Benjamin Josh 18:16.
d. הַתַּנִּין ׳ע (dragon-spring) Neh 2:13 (= c ? so RS^l.c.). — On שַׁעַר הָעַיִן Neh 2:14; Neh 3:15; Neh 12:37 see שַׁעַר

BDB8929 H8179 H5869

שַׁ֫עַר₃₇₃ noun masculine^{2Sam 18:24} (feminine^{Isa 14:31} in personification, Albr^{ZAW xvi (1896), 86}) gate; — ׳שׁ absolute Judg 9:40 +, construct Gen 22:17 +; with ה locative, שָׁ֑עְרָה Isa 28:6 +; plural שְׁעָרִים 2Sam 18:24 +, construct שַׁעֲרֵי 1Sam 17:52 +; suffix שְׁעָרֶיךָ Deut 12:15 +, שַׁעֲרֵיהֶם Ezek 21:20; Ezek 48:34, etc.; —

1. a. gate, entrance to city, shut (סָגַר) by night Josh 2:5; Josh 2:7 (JE), compare Isa 45:1, opened (פָּתַח) by day Neh 7:3, compare Isa 60:11 for entrance (בּוֺא), and exit (יָצָא) Jer 17:19; Jer 17:20; Jer 17:21; Jer 17:24; Jer 17:25; Jer 17:27; Lam 4:12; Ezek 26:10 +; ׳עָבַר שׁ Mic 2:13 pass out through (disregard accents), ׳בַּשׁ ׳ע Isa 62:10 with bars Ps 147:13 attacked Ezek 21:20; Ezek 21:27, compare Isa 28:6; Mic 1:9; Mic 1:12; 1Sam 17:52 on Judg 5:8; Judg 5:11 see Commentaries; burned (by foe) Jer 19:27; Jer 51:58; Neh 1:3; Neh 2:3; Neh 2:13; Neh 2:17 as giving control, possession, of city, אֹיְבָיו ׳יָרַשׁ אֵת שׁ Gen 22:17; Gen 24:60 (J); ׳פֶּתַח הַשּׁ Judg 9:40 + (see ׳פ), ׳דַּלְתוֺת הַשּׁ 1Sam 21:14 + (see ׳ד 3); ׳פֶּתַחהַֿשּׁ Judg 18:16; Judg 18:17 of farm or village; so of camp Exod 32:26; Exod 32:27 (J). In cities, elaborate structure, with roof 2Sam 18:24, upper chamber 2Sam 19:1 compare שְׂאוּ שְׁעָרִים רָאשֵׁיכֶם Ps 24:7; Ps 24:9 write laws ׳בִּשׁ Deut 6:9 ( + עַלמְֿזֻזוֺת בֵּיתֶ֑ךָ), Deut 11:20 (+id..); ׳בְּתוֺךְ הַשּׁ 1Sam 9:18, ׳אֶלאתּוֺךְ הַשּׁ 2Sam 3:27 ׳(לְ)יַד שׁ as public, 1Sam 4:18, + v1Sam 4:13 ᵐ5 Th We Dr and others, compare 2Sam 15:2; 2Sam 18:4; Prov 8:3 (|| מְבוֺא פְתָחִים).
b. particular gates of Jerusalem are: (1) אֶפְרַיִם ׳שׁ 2Kgs 14:13 || 2Chr 25:23; Neh 8:16; Neh 12:39 (2) הָאַשְׁפֹּת ׳שׁ Neh 2:13; Neh 3:14; Neh 12:31 = הָֽשְׁפוֺת ׳שׁ Neh 3:13 (3) בִּנְיָמִין ׳שׁ Jer 37:13; Jer 38:7; Zech 14:10 (4) הַגַּיִא ׳שׁ Neh 2:13; Neh 2:15; Neh 3:13; 2Chr 26:9 (5) הַדָּגִים ׳שׁ Zeph 1:10; Neh 3:3; Neh 12:39; 2Chr 33:14 (6) בֵּין הַחֹמֹתַיִם ׳שׁ 2Kgs 25:4 = Jer 52:7 compare Jer 39:4 (7) החרסות ׳שׁ Jer 19:2 (8) הַיְשָׁנָה ׳שׁ Neh 3:6; Neh 12:39 (9) הַמִּזְרָךְ ׳שׁ Neh 3:29 (10) הַמַּטָּרָה ׳שׁ Neh 12:39 (11) ׳הַמָּ֑יִם שׁ Neh 8:1; Neh 8:3; Neh 8:16 (12) הַמַּיִם לַמִּזְרָ֑ח ׳שׁ Neh 3:26,compare Neh 12:37 (13) הַמִּפְקָ֑ד ׳שׁ Neh 3:31 (14) הָעַיִן ׳שׁ Neh 2:14; Neh 3:15; Neh 12:37 (15) הַסּוּסִים ׳שׁ Jer 31:40; Neh 3:28 (compare 3 b); (16) הַפִּנָּה ׳שׁ 2Kgs 14:13 || 2Chr 25:23 (read הַפִּנָּה for הַפּוֺנֶה), Jer 31:38; 2Chr 26:9 probably = הַפִּנִּים ׳שׁ Zech 14:10 (17) הַצּאֹן ׳שׁ Neh 3:1; Neh 3:32; Neh 12:39 (18) הָרִאשׁוֺן ׳שׁ Zech 14:10 — on sites and related to each other see RS-GASm^{Ency. Bib. JERUSALEM} Conder^{Hast. DB id.} Buhl^{G 133 ff.} Bd^{Pal. under the word} Murray^{Hd. Bk, under the word} BeRy^{Ne p. 182 ff.} Gu^ZPV, especially v (1882). 7 ff. viii (1885), 245 ff. Comm.^{on the passage variant} reading
c. of Ezekiel's holy city, שַׁעֲרֵי הָעִיר Ezek 48:31, three on each side, named for tribes, vEzek 48:31 vEzek 48:31 vEzek 48:31 vEzek 48:31 + 12 t. Ezek 48.

2. a. gate = space inside gate, as public meeting-place, market 2Kgs 7:1; 2Kgs 7:18, place of public well 2Sam 23:15; 2Sam 23:16 = 1Chr 11:17; 1Chr 11:18, where elders, judges, king, sat officially Deut 21:19; Deut 22:15; Amos 5:12; Amos 5:15; Isa 29:21; 2Sam 18:24; 2Sam 19:9; 1Kgs 22:10 = 2Chr 18:9; Gen 19:1 (J) Prov 24:7; Job 5:4; Job 31:21; Ruth 4:1 (twice in verse); Prov 31:23; Prov 31:31, etc.; of conqueror Jer 1:15 apparently = ׳רְחוֺב שׁ Gen 19:2 (J) Neh 8:16; 1Chr 9:16 + (see I. ׳ר); Gen 34:20 (P) one came unto gate (בָּא אֶלֿ), so ׳בָּאֵי שׁ Gen 23:10; Gen 23:18 (P) those entering the gate, i.e. having citizens' rights; also went out (to), ׳יָצָא שׁ Job 29:7 (i.e., in this case, from his own house, outside the city), hence ׳כָּליֹֿצְאֵי שׁ Gen 34:24 (twice in verse) (P; compare also הוֺצִיא אֶלֿ Deut 21:19; Deut 22:15; Deut 22:24); hence = body of citizens, עַמִּי׳כָּלשֿׁ Ruth 3:11.
b. hence also = city Isa 14:31 (|| עִיר), Ps 87:2, etc.
c. specifically in Deuteronomy, בִּשְׁעָרֶיךָ in thy gates, i.e. thy cities, towns, etc., Deut 5:14 = Exod 20:10; Deut 12:12; Deut 12:15; Deut 12:17; Deut 12:21 + 22 t. Deuteronomy + 1Kgs 8:37 (read ׳בְּאַחַד שׁ, compare Deut 18:6; Deut 23:17, so ᵐ5 ᵑ6 modern), so || 2Chr 6:28, + (perhaps) Jer 14:2 (but Jer 15:7; Nah 3:13 figurative of gates as entrance to land); of private house, שַׁעֲרֵי צַדִּיק Prov 14:19 (perhaps compare Judg 18:16 1 a above).

3. a. gate of royal castle or palace 2Kgs 9:31; Jer 22:2; Jer 22:4; Neh 2:8; Esth 2:19 + 10 t. Esther; specifically (of king of Judah), סוּר ׳שׁ 2Kgs 11:6 = הַיְסוֺד ׳שׁ 2Chr 23:5 (see ׳ס, ׳יס), הָרָצִים ׳שׁ 2Kgs 11:19, ׳אַחַר הָר ׳הַשּׁ v2Kgs 11:6 ׳הַסּוּסִים בֵּית הַמּ ׳שׁ 2Chr 23:15 ( = ׳מְבוֺא הַסּ || 2Kgs 11:16); apparently of official residence, יְהוֺשֻׁעַ ׳פֶּתַח שׁ 2Kgs 23:8.
b. of temple Jer 7:2 (twice in verse); 1Chr 9:23; 1Chr 16:42 + 12 t. Chronicles, including ׳שַׁעֲרֵי מַחֲנוֺת י 2Chr 31:2 (see מַחֲנֶה 1, p. 334), compare Ps 100:4; Ps 118:20, שַׁעֲרֵי צֶדֶק vPs 100:19 specifically בִּנְיָמִין הָעֶלְיוֺן ׳שׁ Jer 20:2, and (omit ׳בִּנְי) 2Kgs 15:35 = 2Chr 27:3; Ezek 9:2; 2Chr 23:20, הֶחָדָשׁ ׳(בֵּית) י ׳שׁ Jer 26:10; Jer 36:10, הַפְּנִימִית הַפּוֺנֶה ׳שׁ צָפוֺנָה Ezek 8:3 compare vEzek 8:14, Ezek 8:5, הַקַּדְמֹנִי ׳הַמִּזְבֵּחַ שַׁעַר בֵּית י ׳שׁ Ezek 10:19; Ezek 11:1 שַׁלֶּכֶת ׳שׁ 1Chr 26:16 שַׁעַר הַמֶּלֶח 1Chr 9:18.
c. of Ezekiel's temple and courts Ezek 40:3; Ezek 40:6; Ezek 44:11; Ezek 44:17 + 67 t. Ezek 40-47.
d. of court of tabernacle (P), הֶחָצֵר ׳שׁ Exod 27:16; Exod 35:17 + 6t. Exodus + Num 4:36.

4. figurative הַשָּׁמַיִם ׳זֶה שׁ Gen 28:17 (E; || בֵּית אֱלֹהִים); plural שַׁעֲרֵי שְׁאוֺל Isa 38:10 מָֿוֶת׳שׁ Job 38:17; Ps 9:14; Ps 107:18 צַלְמָוֶת ׳שׁ Job 38:17.

BDB9761 H5869 H5870

[עַ֫יִן] noun feminine^{Ezra 5:5} eye (see Biblical Hebrew I. ׳ע); — construct עֵין Ezra 5:5 (of God); plural (K^{§ 51, 1}) of horn, עַיְנִין Dan 7:8; Dan 7:20 of man, dual construct עַיְנֵי vDan 7:8, suffix עַיְנַי Dan 4:31.

eyes, sight, eye, seemeth, colour, …

ʿayin

an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape)

eye

eye

of physical eye

נֶ֣פֶשׁ

Root word soul, life, souls, lives, persons, …

Dictionary form: נֶפֶשׁ · neh-PESH

Noun — Common, both singular, absolute state

In the KJV here: but life

my soul ×101 soul ×38 his soul ×28 thy soul ×28 the souls ×23 the soul ×21 thy life ×16 my life ×15

More options

soul — Broad default; fits spiritual or inner-self contexts.

life — Prefer when physical existence or survival is in view.

being — Good for 'living being'; avoids religious overtones.

person — Use when נֶפֶשׁ refers to a countable individual or body.

self — Reflexive contexts: 'with all your self / whole self.'

appetite — Fitting for desire, craving, or longing passages.

BDB5310 H5315

נֶ֫פֶשׁ₇₅₆ noun feminine^{Gen 49:6} (so even Gen 2:19; Num 31:28; 1Kgs 19:2 see Albr^{ZAW xvi (1896), 42} SS) soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, appetite, emotion, and passion (Eccl 3:18; Eccl 4:1 (twice in verse); Eccl 4:2 (twice in verse); Eccl 13:12; Eccl 14:11); — ׳נ Gen 1:20 +; נָ֑פֶשׁ Gen 37:21 +; suffix נַפְשִׁי Gen 12:13 +; plural נְפָשׁוֺת Ezek 13:18 + 13 t.; נְפָשֹׁת Exod 12:4; Lev 27:2 construct נַפְשׁוֺת Gen 36:6 + 4 t.; נַפְשֹׁת Lev 21:11 נְפָשִׁים Ezek 13:20 (but read חָפְשִׁים, see Co Berthol Toy); suffix נַפְשׁוֺתָם 2Sam 23:17 +; נַפְשֹׁתָם Num 17:3 +: —

1. = that which breathes, the breathing substance or being = ψυχή, anima, the soul, the inner being of man:
a. distinguished from ׃בָּשָׂר מִנֶּפֶשׁ וְעַד בָּשָׂר Isa 10:18 הַנֶּפֶשׁ עִם הַבָּשָׂר Deut 12:23 from שְׁאֵר Prov 11:17 from בֶּטֶן body Ps 31:10.
b. both the inner נפשׁ and the outer בשׂר are conceived as resting on a common substratum: אַךְ בְּשָׂרוֺ עָלָיו יִכְאָ֑ב וְנַפְשׁוֺ עָלָיו תֶּאֱבָֽל׃ Job 14:22 only his flesh upon him is in pain, and his soul upon him mourneth; compare Ps 42:5; Ps 42:7; Ps 131:2; Job 30:16; Lam 3:20 [see עַל 1 d], all poetical (compare 6 c).
c. ׳נ departs at death and returns with life: וַיְתִי בְּצֵאת נַפְשָׁהּ כִּי מֵתָה Gen 35:18 (E) and it came to pass when her soul was going forth (for she died); נָָֽפְחָה נַפְשָׁהּ Jer 15:9 she breathed out her soul, compare 1Kgs 17:21; 1Kgs 17:22; Job 11:20; Job 31:39.
d. often desired that the נפשׁ may be delivered: from Sh®°ôl Ps 16:10; Ps 30:4; Ps 49:16; Ps 86:13; Ps 89:49; Prov 23:14 from שַׁחַת, the pit of Sh®°ôl, Isa 38:17; Job 33:18; Job 33:22; Job 33:28; Job 33:30.

2. The נפשׁ becomes a living being: by God's breathing נשׁמת חיים into the nostrils of its בשׂר; of man Gen 2:7 (J); by implication of animals also Gen 2:19 (J); so Ps 104:29; Ps 104:30 compare Ps 66:9 man is נֶפֶשׁ חַיָּה, a living, breathing being Gen 2:7 (J); elsewhere נפשׁ חיּה always of animals Gen 1:20; Gen 1:24; Gen 1:30; Gen 9:12; Gen 9:15; Gen 9:16 (all P), Ezek 47:9 so נפשׁ החיּה Gen 1:21; Gen 9:10 (both P), Lev 11:10; Lev 11:46 (H); נפשׁ השׁרצת Lev 11:46 (H); נפשׁ כל חי Job 12:10. נפשׁ is frequently used with the verb ׃חיה וחיתה נפשׁ Gen 12:13; Gen 19:20 (both J), 1Kgs 20:32 (E), Ps 119:175; Jer 38:17; Jer 38:20 חֵי נַפְשְׁךָ 1Sam 1:26; 1Sam 17:55; 1Sam 20:3; 1Sam 25:26; 2Sam 11:11; 2Sam 14:9; 2Kgs 2:2; 2Kgs 2:4; 2Kgs 2:6; 2Kgs 4:30 (all J E); compare ׳יְחַיֶּה נ 1Kgs 20:31 (E), Ezek 18:27; Ps 22:30 also Gen 19:19; Isa 55:3; Prov 3:22.

3. The נפשׁ (without חיה noun or verb) is specified:
a. a living being whose life resides in the blood [so in Arabic We^{Skizzen iii. 217 G.} Jacob^{Arab. Dicht. iv. 9 f.}] (hence sacrificial use of blood, and its prohib. in other uses; first in D), Deut 12:23; Deut 12:24 only be sure that thou eat not the blood, for the blood is the living being (הַדָּם הוּא הַנֶּפֶשׁ); and thou shalt not eat the living being with the flesh (הַנֶּפֶשׁ עִם הַבָּשָׂר); thou shalt pour it upon the earth as water; this is enlarged in H, Lev 17:10; Lev 17:11; Lev 17:12; Lev 17:14 and in P Gen 9:4; Gen 9:5, compare Jer 2:34.
b. a serious attack upon the life is an attack upon this inner living being 2Sam 1:9; Jer 4:10; Jonah 2:6; Ps 69:2; Ps 124:4; Ps 124:5; Job 27:3.
c. נפשׁ is used for life itself 171 t., of animals Prov 12:10, and of man Gen 44:30 (J); נפשׁ תחת נפשׁ life for life Exod 21:23 (E), Lev 24:18 (H), 1Kgs 20:39; 1Kgs 20:42; 2Kgs 10:24 נפשׁנו תחתיכם Josh 2:14 (J); נפשׁ בנפשׁ Deut 19:21 בנפשׁ for the life of 2Sam 14:7; Jonah 1:14 שׂם נפשׁ בכף put life in one's own hand Judg 12:3; 1Sam 19:5; 1Sam 28:21; Job 13:14 חרף נפשׁו למות Judg 5:18 risked his life to die; בנפשׁ at the risk of life Num 17:3 (P), 2Sam 23:17 = 1Chr 11:19 (twice in verse), 1Kgs 2:23; Prov 7:23; Lam 5:9 בקּשׁ נפשׁ Exod 4:19 (J), 1Sam 20:21; 1Sam 22:23 (twice in verse); 1Sam 23:15; 1Sam 25:29; 2Sam 4:8; 2Sam 16:11; 1Kgs 19:10; 1Kgs 19:14; Jer 4:30; Jer 11:21; Jer 19:7; Jer 19:9; Jer 21:7; Jer 22:25; Jer 34:20; Jer 34:21; Jer 38:16; Jer 44:30 (twice in verse); Jer 46:26; Jer 49:37; Ps 35:4; Ps 38:13; Ps 40:15; Ps 54:5; Ps 63:10; Ps 70:3; Ps 86:14; Prov 29:10 ׳שׁאל נ 1Kgs 3:11 = 2Chr 1:11; 1Kgs 19:4 = Jonah 4:8 הִכָּה נפשׁ smite mortally Gen 37:21 (J), Deut 19:6; Deut 19:11; Jer 40:14; Jer 40:15 ׳לקח נ 1Kgs 19:4; Jonah 4:3; Ps 31:14; Prov 1:19 הִצִּיל נֶפֶשׁ מִמָּוֶת deliver life from death Josh 2:13; Ps 33:19; Ps 56:14 מלּט נפשׁ1Sam 19:11; 2Sam 19:6 (4 t. in verse); 1Kgs 1:12 (twice in verse); Jer 48:6; Jer 51:6; Jer 51:45; Ezek 33:5; Amos 2:14; Amos 2:15; Ps 89:49; Ps 116:4 פדה ׳נ 2Sam 4:9; 1Kgs 1:29; Ps 34:23; Ps 49:16; Ps 55:19; Ps 71:23 ׳שׁמר נ Ps 25:20; Ps 97:10; Job 2:6; Prov 13:3; Prov 16:17; Prov 19:16; Prov 22:5.

4. The נפשׁ as the essential of man stands for the man himself:
a. paraphrase for personal pronoun especially in poetry and ornate discourse, 70 t.; (1) נַפְשִׁי = me: אל תבא נפשׁי Gen 49:6 let me not enter (poem in J); מות ישׁרים ׳תָּמֹת נ Num 23:10 let me die, etc. (poem); תָּמוֺת נַפְשְׁי Judg 16:30 (J); אמרה נפשׁי Lam 3:24 I say. (2) נַפְשְׁךָ = thee: לְאֻמִּים תַּחַת נַפְשֶׁ֑ךָ Isa 43:4 peoples instead of thee; אָֽמְרוּ לְנַפְשֵׁךְ Isa 51:23. (3) נַפְשׁוֺ = he: נפשׁו בטוב תלין Psalms he will not dwell in good circumstances. (4) נַפְשֵׁנוּ = we: נַפְשֵׁנוּ כְּצִפּוֺר נִמְלְטָה מִפַּח יוֺקְשִׁים Ps 124:7. (5) נַפְשָׁם = they, them: נַפְשָׁם בַּשְּׁבִי הָלָ֑כָה Isa 46:2 they are gone into captivity; אוי לנפשׁם Isa 3:9.
b. = reflexive, self, 53 t.: אסר על נפשׁ bind oneself Num 30:3; Num 30:5 (twice in verse); Num 30:6; Num 30:7; Num 30:8; Num 30:9; Num 30:10; Num 30:11; Num 30:12 ׳לְעַנֹּת נ Num 30:14 to afflict oneself . (1) נַפְשִׁי = myself: לא אדע נפשׁי Job 9:21 I know not myself. (2) נַפְשְׁךָ = thyself: ׳שׁמר נ Deut 4:9 keep thyself. (3) נַפְשׁוֺ = himself: ׳אהב כנ 1Sam 18:1; 1Sam 18:3; 1Sam 20:17 loved as himself. (4) נַפְשָׁהּ = herself: ׳צדּקה נ Jer 3:11 justified herself. (5) נַפְשָׁם = themselves: ׳הציל נ deliver themselves Isa 47:14; Ezek 14:14; Ezek 14:20. (6) נַפְשְׁכֶם, נַפְשֹׁתֵיכֶם = yourselves: ׳אַלתַּֿשִּׁאוּ נ Jer 37:9 deceive not yourselves, also Jer 42:20; Jer 44:7 ׳ענּה נ Lev 16:29; Lev 16:31; Lev 23:27; Lev 23:32; Num 29:7 (P); ׳נשׁמרתם לנ Deut 4:15; Josh 23:11 (D). (7) נַפְשׁוֺתֵינוּ = ourselves: ׳על נ Jer 26:19 against ourselves.
c. = person of man, individual, 144 t., first in D²; especially in H, P, and kindred writers: (1) with אָדָם: אדם ׳נ Lev 24:17 opposed to בהמה ׳נ Lev 24:18 (both H), and so אדם ׳נ human persons Num 31:35; Num 31:40; Num 31:46 (P) 1Chr 5:21; Ezek 27:13. Elsewhere without אדם: ברכה ׳נ Prov 11:25 one who blesses; רְמִיָּה ׳נ Prov 19:15 idle person; ׳תחת נ ׳נ person in place of person, Job 16:4 כפּר ׳על נ Exod 30:15; Exod 30:16; Num 15:28; Num 31:50 (all P) Lev 17:11 (H). (2) נפשׁ = person, any one: Deut 24:7; Deut 27:25; Prov 28:17; Ezek 18:4 (3 t. in verse); Ezek 33:6 elsewhere only H P: Lev 2:1; Lev 4:2; Lev 4:27; Lev 5:1; Lev 5:2; Lev 5:4; Lev 5:15; Lev 5:17; Lev 5:21; Lev 7:18; Lev 7:20; Lev 7:21; Lev 7:25; Lev 7:27; Lev 23:29; Lev 23:30 (twice in verse); Num 5:6; Num 15:27; Num 15:30; Num 19:22; Num 31:19; Num 31:28; Num 35:11; Num 35:15; Num 35:30 (twice in verse); Josh 20:3; Josh 20:9 (all P), Lev 17:10; Lev 17:12; Lev 17:15; Lev 20:6 (twice in verse); Lev 22:6; Lev 22:11 (all H); ׳נכרתה הנ הַהִוא מן that person shall be cut off from: only in Gen 17:14; Exod 12:15; Exod 12:19; Exod 31:14; Lev 7:20; Lev 7:21; Lev 7:27; Num 9:13; Num 15:30; Num 15:31; Num 19:13; Num 19:20 (all P), Lev 19:8; Lev 22:3 (both H). (3) נפשׁ collective for persons, in enumerations: Deut 10:22; Josh 10:28; Josh 10:30; Josh 10:32; Josh 10:35; Josh 10:37 (twice in verse); Josh 10:39; Josh 11:11 (all D²) Jer 43:6; Jer 52:29; Jer 52:30 (twice in verse); Ezek 22:25 elsewhere only Gen 12:5; Gen 46:15; Gen 46:18; Gen 46:22; Gen 46:25; Gen 46:26 (twice in verse); Gen 46:27 (twice in verse); Exod 1:5 (twice in verse); Exod 12:16; Num 31:35; Num 31:40 (all P). (4) נְפָשׁוֺת persons Gen 36:6; Exod 12:4; Exod 16:16; Num 19:18 (all P), Lev 18:29; Lev 20:25; Lev 27:2 (all H), 2Kgs 12:5; Prov 11:30; Prov 14:25; Ezek 13:18 (3 t. in verse); Ezek 13:19 (twice in verse); Ezek 13:20 (twice in verse); Ezek 17:17; Ezek 18:4; Ezek 22:27 (נפשׁים Ezek 13:20 see above). (5) נפשׁ = deceased person, sometimes with מֵת, נֶפֶשׁ מֵת Num 6:6 (P), נַפְשֹׁת מֵת (ᵐ5 ᵑ6 נֶפֶשׁ) Lev 21:11 (H); usually without מֵת, נפשׁ (ה)אדם Num 9:6; Num 9:7; Num 19:11; Num 19:13 (P); or simply נפשׁ, Lev 19:28; Lev 21:1; Lev 22:4 (all H) Num 5:2; Num 6:11; Num 9:10 (all P); elsewhere only Hag 2:13.

5. נפשׁ = seat of the appetites, in all periods (46 t.) —
a. hunger: רְעֵבָה ׳נ hungry soul Ps 107:9; Prov 27:7 with noun or verb of שׂבע satisfy Isa 56:11; Isa 58:10; Jer 50:19; Ezek 7:19; Ps 63:6; Ps 107:9; Prov 13:25; Prov 27:7 ׳מתוק לנ Prov 16:24 sweet to the taste.
b. thirst: עֲיֵפָה ׳נ weary soul Prov 25:25; Jer 31:25 כארץ עיפה ׳נ Ps 143:6 ׳צמאה נ Ps 42:3; Ps 63:2.
c. appetite in general: יַקִּיפוּ עָלָיו ׳אֹיְבַי בנ Ps 17:9 my enemies compass me about with greed; הִרְחִיבָה שְׁאוֺל נַפְשָׁהּ וּפָֽעֲרָה פִיהָ Isa 5:14 Sh®°ôl enlarged her appetite, etc., compare Hab 2:5; Prov 23:2 בַּעַל נֶפֶשׁ; Ecclesiastes uses נפשׁ only in the sense of a, b, c; the נפשׁ craves, lacks, and is filled with good things: Eccl 2:24; Eccl 4:8; Eccl 6:2; Eccl 6:3; Eccl 6:7; Eccl 6:9; Eccl 7:28.

6. = ׳נ seat of emotions and passions (151 t.) —
a. desire: ׳אִוְּתָה נ soul desires Deut 12:20; Deut 14:26; 1Sam 2:16; 2Sam 3:21; 1Kgs 11:37; Job 23:13; Prov 13:4; Prov 21:10; Mic 7:1 ׳תַּאֲוַת נ Ps 10:3; Isa 26:8 ׳אַוַּת נ Deut 12:15; Deut 12:20; Deut 12:21; Deut 18:6; 1Sam 23:20; Jer 2:24 so also לנפשׁ according to one's desire Deut 21:14; Ps 78:18; Jer 34:16 כנפשׁ Deut 23:25 האח נפשׁנו ah, our desire Ps 35:25 בנפשׁ at one's desire Ps 105:22; Ezek 16:27 יָָֽצְאָה ׳נ בְדַבְּרוֺ Song 5:6 ׳נשׂא נ lift up the soul, desire Deut 24:15; 2Sam 14:14 (read אליהם, not אלהים), Ps 24:4; Ps 25:1; Ps 86:4; Ps 143:8; Prov 19:8; Jer 22:27; Jer 44:14; Hos 4:8.
b. abhorrence, loathing: ׳געלה נ soul abhorreth Lev 26:11; Lev 26:15; Lev 26:30; Lev 26:43 (H) Jer 14:19 בחלה בי ׳וגם נ Zech 11:8 and their soul also fell a loathing against me.
c. sorrow and distress: ׳מרי נ bitter, gloomy, discontented of soul Judg 18:25 (E) 2Sam 17:8; Job 3:20; Prov 31:6 ׳מר נ 1Sam 22:2 compare Job 7:11; Job 10:1; Isa 38:15; Ezek 27:1 ׳עָֽגְמָה נ Job 30:35 grieved; ׳אגמי נ sad of soul Isa 19:10 ׳תבכה נ my soul shall weep Jer 13:17 ירעה ׳נ his soul trembleth Isa 15:4 ׳צרת נ distress of soul Gen 42:21 (E).
d. joy: תגיל ׳נ my soul rejoiceth Ps 35:9; Isa 61:10 ׳שׂמּח נ rejoice the soul Ps 86:4 also Ps 94:19; Ps 138:3; Prov 29:17.
e. love: ׳אהבה נ my soul loveth Song 1:7; Song 3:1; Song 3:2; Song 3:3; Song 3:4 ׳יְדִדוּת נ darling of my soul Jer 12:7 ׳ב ׳דבקה נ his soul clave unto Gen 34:3 (J), with אחרי Ps 63:9 חשׁקה ׳ב ׳נ soul is attached to Gen 34:8 (P). feminine alienation, hatred, revenge: מן ׳תֵּקַע נ the soul is alienated from Jer 6:8; Ezek 23:17; Ezek 23:18 מן ׳נקעה נ Ezek 23:18; Ezek 23:22; Ezek 23:28 ׳שְׂנֻאי נ hated of soul 2Sam 5:8 (Qr); ׳שׂנאה נ Ps 11:5; Isa 1:14.
g. other emotions and feelings: ׳השׁיב נ bring back soul Lam 1:11; Lam 1:19 (i.e. revive, compare with שׁוּב 1Kgs 17:21f.), hence figurative refresh, cheer, v1Kgs 17:16; Ps 19:8; Prov 25:14; Ruth 4:15 ׳שׁובב נ Ps 23:3 ׳מַחְמַל נ your souls' compassion Ezek 24:21 ׳קצרה נ soul was impatient Num 21:4 (E), Judg 10:16; Judg 16:16; Zech 11:8 כי ׳אאריך נ that I should prolong my patience Job 6:11 הגר ׳ידעתם אתנֿ ye know the feeling of the stranger Exod 23:9 (R^D).

7. נפשׁ is used occasionally for mental acts + לבב (see 10); possibly also alone, owing to unconscious assimilation by late writers; but most, if not all, examples may be otherwise explained: נפשׁי ידעת מאד Ps 139:14 my soul knoweth well (or I know well; compare 4a); בלא לא טוב ׳דעת נ Prov 19:2 that the soul be without knowledge is not good (but RVm desire without knowledge, compare 6 a); ׳דעה חכמה לנ Prov 24:14 know wisdom for thy soul (or according to thy desire, compare 6 a); ׳אל תדמי בנ Esth 4:13 think not in thy soul (or in thyself, compare 4 b); כמו שׁער ׳בג Prov 23:7 as he reckoneth in his soul (but RV in himself, compare 4 b); ׳מה תאמר נ 1Sam 20:4 (but AV RV following ᵐ5 ἐπιθυμεῖ = תְּאַוֶּה; see 6 a).

8. נפשׁ for acts of the will is dubious: אם ישׁ נפשׁכם (את) if it is your purpose Gen 23:8 (P) 2Kgs 9:15 (or if it is your desire, 6 a); ׳בחרה נ my soul chooseth Job 7:15 ׳מאנה נ my soul, refuseth Job 6:7; Ps 77:3 חפצה ׳נ their soul delighteth in Isa 66:3 רצתה ׳נ my soul delighteth in Isa 42:1 (all perhaps emotional, 6 b, d, g).

9. נפשׁ = character is still more dubious: בּוֺ ׳לאֹיָָֽֿשְׁרָה נ Hab 2:4 his soul is not right in him (but ᵐ5 οὐκ εὐδοκεῖ ἡ ψυχή μου ἐν αὐτῷ [εὐδοκεῖ = רצתה], see

6.); נַפְשִׁי לאֹ מְטֻמָּאָה Ezek 4:14 my soul hath not (or I have not, 4 a) been polluted.

10. ׳נin D, when used with לבב, is assimilated to it, and shares with it the meanings of 7, 8, 9; and so in later writers influenced by D (unless we may think that ׳ל is used of intellect, while ׳נ is used of the feelings): thus, בכל לבב ובכל נפשׁ (see לבב): with דרשׁ Deut 4:29; 2Chr 15:12 עשׂה Deut 26:16 אהב Deut 6:5; Deut 13:4; Deut 30:6 ידע Josh 23:14 עבד Deut 10:12; Deut 11:13; Josh 22:5 שׁמע בקלו Deut 30:2 שׁוב אל Deut 30:10; 1Kgs 8:48 = 2Chr 6:38; 2Kgs 23:25 שׁמר מצות 2Kgs 23:3 = 2Chr 34:31 הלך לפני1Kgs 2:4 and Deut 11:18; 1Sam 2:35; 1Chr 22:19; 1Chr 28:9; Jer 32:41; Ps 13:8; Prov 2:10; Prov 24:12. Note. — In three cases is generally found closer approach to supposed radical meaning breath: —
a. שׁמן וקטרת ישׂמח לב ומתק רעהו מעצת נפשׁ Prov 27:9. Ges (after Döderlein) renders a. ׳מעצת נ more than odorous trees, so later edds., even Buhl; but ᵑ9 De SS transpose) מֵעֲצַת רֵעֵהוּ ׳וּמֶתֶק נ. ᵐ5 Hi Bi ומתקרעה = the soul is rent asunder by cares. In any case נפשׁis || לב, compare

10. b. נַפְשׁוֺ גֶּחָלִים תְּלַהֵט Job 41:13 his breath kindleth coals (of the crocodile).The piece is one of the latest in the book; primitive meaning hardly in such a passage; context favours reference to passion or fury; perhaps below 6 f, his passion or fury kindleth coals.
c. בָּתֵּי הַנֶּפֶשׁ Isa 3:20 perfume boxes; meaning evident from context; but not necessarily scent (breath)-boxes; may be 6 a, boxes of desire, or 5, boxes exciting the sense of smell; = smelling boxes or bottles. No sufficient evidence in Biblical Hebrew, therefore, for meaning breath, odour. — See, for complete study of נֶפֶשׁ (all passages), Br^{JBL 1897,17 ff}.

BDB7797 H7307 H5315 H3824 H1320 H3820

רוּחַ₃₇₈ noun feminine^{Gen 41:8} (less often masculine^{Exod 10:13} +) breath, wind, spirit; — absolute ׳ר Gen 8:1 +, ר֑וּחָה Jer 52:23 construct רוּחַ Gen 6:17 +; suffix רוּחִי vGen 6:3 +, רוּחֲךָ Ps 104:30 +, etc.; plural רוּחוֺת vPs 104:4 +, רֻחוֺת Jer 49:36, רוּחֹת Num 16:22; Num 26:16 (see Br^{רוח in O.T., JBL xix (1900), 132 ff.}, full statement of all passages); —

1. breath of mouth or nostrils (33 t.):
a. רוּחַ פִּיו Job 15:30 breath of his mouth, compare Job 19:17 רוּחַ אַפֵּינוּ Lam 4:20 (figurative of king), of idols לֹא רוּחַ בָּם Jer 10:14 = Jer 51:17, Hab 2:19; Ps 135:17 compare Job 9:18.
b. as mere breath: compare 2 e. דִּבְרֵירֿוּחַ Job 16:3 i.e. windy words; נוֺאָשׁ לְרוּחַ אִמְרֵי Job 6:26, הַנְּבִיאִים יִהְיוּ לְרוּחַ Jer 5:13.
c. as word of command: (1) of God: (נעשׂו) בְּרוּחַ פִּיו כָּלֿ צְבָאָםPs 33:6, compare Isa 34:16 (|| פֶּה); (2) of Messianic king: בְּרוּחַ שְׂפָתָיו יָמִית רָשָׁע Isa 11:4.
d. as hard breathing through the nostrils in anger: (1) of God: מֵרוּח אַפּוֺ יִכְלוּ Job 4:9; Exod 15:8 (poem), 2Sam 22:16 = Ps 18:16; Isa 30:28; Isa 59:19 (2) of man: רוּחַ עָרִיצִים Isa 25:4.
e. as sign and symbol of life: רוּחַ חַיִּים breath of life Gen 6:17; Gen 7:15 (P); נִשְׁמַת רוּחַ חַיִּים בְּאַפָּיו Gen 7:22 (P); Ezek 37:5, compare vEzek 37:6 vEzek 37:8 vEzek 37:9 vEzek 37:9 vEzek 37:9 vEzek 37:10 vEzek 37:14 (breath or spirit), Eccl 3:19.

2. wind (117 t.):
a. wind of heaven: Gen 8:1 (P) Exod 15:10 (E) Num 11:31 (J) 1Kgs 18:45 +, Jer 10:13, thence Jer 51:16; Ps 135:7 ׳רוּחַ י Hos 13:15; Isa 40:7, compare Job 26:13 (Di Bu); רוּחַ (ה)קָדִים east wind Exod 10:13 (twice in verse); Exod 14:21 (J) Ps 48:8; Jer 18:17; Ezek 17:10; Ezek 19:12; Ezek 27:26; Jonah 4:8 צָפוֺן ׳ר north wind Prov 25:23 יָם ׳ר sea wind (west wind) Exod 10:19 (J); . הַיּוֺם ׳ר day wind, evening wind Gen 3:8 (J; compare Song 2:17; Song 4:6); אַרְבַּע רוּחוֺת four winds Jer 49:36; Ezek 37:9 (quarters?) Dan 8:8; Dan 11:4 (figurative quarters; compare b), Zech 2:10; Zech 6:5 רוּחַ סְעְרָה storm wind Ps 107:25; Ps 148:8; Ezek 1:4 (סְעָרוֺת ׳ר), Ezek 13:11; Ezek 13:13 רוּחַ סֹעָה rushing wind Ps 55:9 (read possibly סערה Hup); בַּעְיָם רוּחוֺ Isa 11:15 (read ׳בְּעֹצֶם ר, see עֲיָם, עֹצֶם), etc; wind personified: כַּנְפֵי רוּחַ 2Sam 22:11 = Ps 18:11; Ps 104:3, compare Hos 4:19; Ps 104:4.
b. quarter (of wind), side: רוּחַ הַקָּדִים Ezek 42:16 east side; רוּחַ הַצָּפוֺן vEzek 42:17 north side; רוּחַ הַדָּרוֺם vEzek 42:18 south side; רוּחַ הַיָּם vEzek 42:19 west side; אַרְבַּע רוּחוֺת vEzek 42:20; 1Chr 9:24 four sides; ר֑וּחָה Jer 52:23 on the sides.
c. breath of air: שָׁאֲפוּ רוּחַ כַּתַּנִּים Jer 14:6 רוּחַ לֹא יָבֹא בֵּינֵיהֶם Job 41:8.
d. air, gas, from womb (dubious): כְּמוֺ יָלַדְנוּ רוּחַ Isa 26:18 (Di, e); רוּחֲכֶם אֵשׁ תֹּאכַלְכֶם (RV breath) Isa 33:11 (Du, 3 c).
e. vain, empty thing: רוּחַיָּי֑ Job 7:7 my life is wind; דַּעַת רוּחַ Job 15:2 רוּחַ וָתֹהוּ נִסְכֵּיהֶם Isa 41:29 רְעוּת רוּחַ striving for wind Eccl 1:14; Eccl 2:11; Eccl 2:17; Eccl 2:26; Eccl 4:4; Eccl 4:6; Eccl 6:9 compare Eccl 1:17; Eccl 4:16; Eccl 5:15.

3. spirit, as that which breathes quickly in animation or agitation = temper, disposition (76 t.; so, distinctively, as compared with נֶפֶשׁ and לֵבָב):
a. spirit, animation, vivacity, vigour: לֹא הָיָה בָהּ עוֺד רוּחַ 1Kgs 10:5 = 2Chr 9:4 מַהזֶּֿה רוּחֲךָ סָרָה 1Kgs 21:5 וַתְּחִי רוּחַ Gen 45:27 (E); וַתָּשָׁב רוּחוֺ Judg 15:19; 1Sam 30:12.
b. courage: ׳לֹא הָיָה בָם עוֺד ר Josh 5:1 נְגִידִים ׳יִבְצֹר ר Ps 76:13 מִצְרַיִם ׳וְנָָֽבְקָה ר Isa 19:3 תתעטּף רוּחִי Ps 77:4; Ps 142:4; Ps 143:4 לֹא קָמָה ׳עוֺד ר Josh 2:11 אִישׁ יְכַלְכֵּל מַחֲלֵהוּ ׳ר Prov 18:14.
c. temper, especially anger: ׳רוּחַ רָעָה בֵּין וגו Judg 9:23 אָז רָֽפְתָה רוּחָם Judg 8:3 משֵׁל בְּרוּחוֺ Prov 16:32, compare Prov 25:28; Prov 29:11; Job 15:13 הֵנִיחוּ אֶתרֿוּחִי Zech 6:8; Eccl 7:9; Eccl 10:4.
d. impatience or patience: קֹצֶר רוּחַ Exod 6:9 (P) impatience, hastiness of temper, compare (of ׳י) Mic 2:7 קְצַררֿוּחַ Prov 14:29 (|| אֶרֶךְ אַפַיִם); הֱצִיקַתְנִי רוּחַ בִּטְנִי Job 32:18 (Du breath; Di Bu divine spirit, compare vJob 32:8); אִם מַדּוּעַ לֹאתִֿקְצַר רוּחִי Job 21:4 ׳הֲקָצַר רוּחַ י Mic 2:7 ׳אֶרֶךְ ר Eccl 7:8.
e. spirit, disposition, as troubled, bitter, or discontented; וַתִּפָּעֶם רוּח(וׅ (his) spirit was troubled Gen 41:8 (E) Dan 2:3, compare vDan 2:1 מֹרַת רוּחַ Gen 26:35 (P) bitterness of spirit; ׳עֲצוּבַת ר Isa 54:6, compare Ezek 3:14; Job 6:4. feminine as crushed: וְכִהֲתָה כָלרֿוּחַ Ezek 21:12, compare Isa 61:3; Prov 15:4; Prov 15:13; Prov 17:22; Prov 18:14; Ps 143:7.
g. disposition of various kinds, often unaccountable and uncontrollable impulse: הֵעִיר אֶתרֿוּחַ 1Chr 5:26 (twice in verse); 2Chr 21:16; 2Chr 36:22; Ezra 1:1; Ezra 1:5; Jer 51:11; Hag 1:14 (3 t. in verse); הִנְנִי נ(וֺ)תֵן בּוֺ רוּח2Kgs 19:7 = Isa 37:7; Num 14:24 (J; see עִם 4 b), Mal 2:15 (twice in verse); Mal 2:16; Deut 2:30 רוּחַ קִנְאָה jealous disposition Num 5:14 (twice in verse); Num 5:30 (P); רוּחַ וְנוּנִים Hos 4:12; Hos 5:4 רוּחַ עִוְעִיםIsa 19:14 רוּחַ מִשְׁפָּט Isa 28:6 אִישׁ אֲשֶׁר רוּחַ אֱלהִֹרם בּוֺ (administrative) Gen 41:38 (E); קַר רוּחַ אִישׁ הְּבוּנָה Prov 17:27.
h. prophetic spirit: יְהוֺשֻׁעַ אִישׁ אֲשֶׁרֿ רוּחַ בּזֹNum 27:18 (P; or g, as Gen 41:38); רוּחַ אֵלִיָּהוּ עַלאֱֿלִישָׁע2Kgs 2:15, compare v2Kgs 2:9 רוּחַ תַּרְדֵמָה spirit of deep sleep (ecstatic, compare Gen 2:21; Gen 15:12, but Di and others g, as Isa 19:14) Isa 29:10; Mic 2:11 רוּחַ הַטֻמְאָה Zech 13:2 (of lying prophets), compare Ezek 13:3.

4. spirit of the living, breathing being, dwelling in the בָּשָׂר of men and animals, || נֶפֶשׁ (25 t.):
a. gift and creation of God: יֹצֵר רוּחַ אָדָם בְּקִרְבּוֺ Zech 12:1 רוּחַ אֱלוֺהַּ בְּאַפִּי Job 27:3, compare Isa 42:5.
b. God preserves it: פְּקֻדָּֽתְךָ שָֽׁמְרָה רוּחִי Job 10:12, compare Job 12:10 אֱלֹהֵי הָרוּחֹת לְכָל בָּשָׂ֑ר Num 16:22; Num 27:16 (P); תֹּכֵן רוּחוֺת Prov 16:2.
c. it is therefore God's spirit: Gen 6:3 (J; see דִּין near the end).
d. it departs at death: Ps 78:39 (Dr a wind that passeth away 2 e); חַיֵּי רוּחִי Isa 38:16 (Di principle of life), Ps 146:4 especially Ps 104:29; Ps 104:30; Job 17:1; Job 34:14 (compare vJob 34:15), Isa 57:16; Eccl 8:8 (twice in verse) (wind Wild); אֵינְךָ יוֺדֵעַ מַהדֶּֿרֶךְ הָרוּחַ Eccl 11:5, compare Eccl 3:21 over ag. הָרוּחַ תָּשׁוּב אֶלהָֿאֱלֹהִים אֲשֶׁר נְתָנָהּ Eccl 12:7 בְּיָָֽדְךָ אַפְקִיד רוּחִי Ps 31:6.
e. disembodied being (dubious, Di Du breath of wind): וְרוּחַ עַלפָּֿנַי יַחֲלֹף Job 4:15.

5. spirit as seat of emotion = נֶפֶשׁ:
a. desire (possibly 3 g), Isa 26:9 (|| נֶפֶשׁ).
b. sorrow, trouble (probably 3 e), Job 7:11 (|| נֶפֶשׁ). — 1Sam 1:15 see קָשֶׁה.

6. occasionally, (and late) = seat or organ of mental acts, || לֵב, or synonym with it: רוּחַ חָכְמָה Exod 28:3; Deut 34:9 (both P; probably 3 g); תּעֵי רוּחַ Isa 29:24, compare Job 20:3 (Hi Bu Du wind of Job's words), Ps 77:7 (ᵐ5 Symm ᵑ6 Jerome troubled disposition); רוּחַ יהוה Isa 40:13 come into mind (compare לֵב Isa 65:17; Jer 3:16 +); 1Chr 28:12.

7. rarely of the will; also = רוּחַ נָכוֺן לֵב Ps 51:12 (= לֵב נָכוֺן Ps 57:8 (twice in verse) +); רוּחַ נְדִיבָה vPs 51:14 נָָֽדְבָה רוּחוֺ Exod 35:21 (P; compare נְדִיב לֵב Exod 35:5; Exod 35:22 (P) 2Chr 29:31).

8. רוּחַ especially of moral character; also = ׃לֵב רוּחַ חֲדָשָׁהEzek 11:19; Ezek 18:31; Ezek 36:26 רוּחִי vEzek 36:27; Isa 59:21 (רוּחִי, || דְּבָרַי; but probably prophetic spirit 9 b); לֵב חָדָשׁ Ezek 18:31; Ezek 36:26 נְכֵה רוּחַ Isa 66:2 דַּכְּאֵי רוּחַ Ps 34:19 (compare לֵב נִדְכָּאִים Isa 57:15); מִשֵּׁבֶר רוּחַ Isa 65:14 (compare 3 f); רוּחַ נִשְׁבָּרֶה Ps 51:19 (|| לֵב נִשְׁבָּר, compare נִשְׁבְּרֵי לֵב Ps 34:19; Isa 61:1); Ps 32:2; Prov 11:13; Prov 16:18; Ps 78:8; Eccl 7:8 (compare גְּבַהּלֵב Prov 16:5); שְׁפַל רוּחַ Prov 16:19; Prov 29:23; Isa 57:15 רוּחַ שְׁפָלִים vIsa 57:15 (compare 3 f).

9. spirit of God (94 t.; not D or Jeremiah or any Deuteronomic writer; conception of its activity in inspiring prophecy probably discredited from abuse by false prophets, see נביא, נבא):
a. as inspiring ecstatic state of prophecy, Num 11:17; Num 11:25 (twice in verse); Num 11:26; Num 11:29 (J), 1Sam 10:6; 1Sam 10:10 (compare v1Sam 10:5), 1Sam 19:20; 1Sam 19:23 as inciting to deeds of frenzy, in the ecstatic state; hence conceived as אֱלֹהִים רָעָה ׳ר 1Sam 16:15 (twice in verse); 1Sam 16:16, = ׳רָעָה מֵאֵת י ׳ר v1Sam 16:14 = רָעָה ׳א ׳צלח ר 1Sam 18:10 (other narrative) = רָעָה ׳י ׳ר 1Sam 19:9 ׳א ׳ר 1Sam 16:23 = רוּחַ הָרָעָה v1Sam 16:23, compare הָרוּחַ 1Kgs 22:21 = שֶׁקֶר ׳ר v1Kgs 22:22 v1Kgs 22:23 = 2Chr 18:20; 2Chr 18:21; 2Chr 18:22 = ׳רוּחַ י 1Kgs 22:24 = 2Chr 18:23 compare also (in earlier prophets) אִישׁ הָרוּחַ, i.e. one possessed by the spirit in the ecstatic state, || הַנָּבִּיא Hos 9:7 ׳רוּחַ י Mic 3:8 (|| בֹּחַ) is probably gloss (We Now); וְלֹא רוּחִי Isa 30:1 רוּחַ dealing with Ezek.: Ezek 2:2; Ezek 3:12; Ezek 3:14; Ezek 3:24; Ezek 8:3; Ezek 11:1; Ezek 11:5; Ezek 11:24 (Co gloss), Ezek 37:1; Ezek 43:5 (all implying ecstatic state of vision), compare Elijah 1Kgs 18:12; 2Kgs 2:16.
b. spirit as impelling prophets to utter instruction or warning (higher and later conception): transition probably Num 24:2; 2Sam 23:2; 1Chr 12:18 elsewhere in Chronicles: 2Chr 15:1; 2Chr 20:14; 2Chr 24:20 distinctly in Isa², Isa 48:16, compare Isa 61:1 so of ancient prophets, Zech 7:12; Neh 9:30 compare, of future prophetic gift, Joel 3:1; Joel 3:2.
c. imparting warlike energy, and executive and administrative power: (1) to שֹׁפְטִים, מוֺשִׁיעִים, מְלָכִים, of ancient Israel: וַתְּהִי רוּחַ על ׳י Judg 3:10; Judg 11:29, compare Judg 6:34; Judg 13:25; Judg 14:6; Judg 14:19; Judg 15:14; 1Sam 11:6; 1Sam 16:13; 1Sam 16:14 so also עַד יֵעָרֶה עָלֵינוּ רוּחַ מִמָּרוֺם Isa 32:15 (2) resting upon Messianic king: Isa 11:2 (3 t. in verse); upon servant of ׳י, Isa 42:1.
d. late, as endowing men with various gifts: technical skill Exod 31:3; Exod 35:31 (P); understanding Job 32:8 (|| נִשְׁמַת שַׁדַּי); poured out by divine wisdom Prov 1:23.
e. as energy of life: רוּחַ אֱלֹהִים מְרַחֶפֶת עַלפְּֿנֵי הַמָּ֑יִם Gen 1:2 (P); רוּחַ אֵל עָשָׂ֑תְנִי Job 33:4 (|| נִשְׁמַת שַׁדַּי); as vital power, opposed to בָשָׂר: Isa 31:3 in cherubic chariot: Ezek 1:12, compare vEzek 1:20 vEzek 1:21; Ezek 10:17 reviving Israel Ezek 39:29; Zech 12:10; Isa 44:3. feminine = ancient angel of the presence and later Shekina: קָדְשׁוֺ ׳ר Isa 63:10; Isa 63:11 = ׳י ׳ר vIsa 63:14 (= מַלְאַךְ פָּנָיו vIsa 63:9), compare Ps 106:33 so also קָדְשְׁךָ ׳ר Ps 51:13 (in national prayer), compare Neh 9:20; Ps 143:10 prophets of restoration conceive of the divine spirit as standing in their midst and about to fulfil all divine promises: רוּחִי עֹמֶדֶת בְּתוֺכֲכֶם Hag 2:5; Zech 4:6 this conception culminates in רוּחַ = divine Presence, and as such omnipresent, Ps 139:7 (|| פָּנֶיךָ; compare vPs 139:8).

soul, life, souls, lives, persons, …

nepeš

properly, a breathing creature, i.e., animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or mental)

soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion

that which breathes, the breathing substance or being, soul, the inner being of man

dubious

dubious

dubious

בְּ נֶ֗פֶשׁ

בְּ

Prefix — preposition in, at, by, with

נֶ֗פֶשׁ

Root word soul, life, souls, lives, persons, …

Dictionary form: נֶפֶשׁ · neh-PESH

Noun — Common, both singular, absolute state

In the KJV here: shall go for life