Genesis 44:7

וַ יֹּֽאמְר֣וּ

וַ

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

יֹּֽאמְר֣וּ

Root word said, saying, saith, say, spake, …

Dictionary form: אָמַר · aw-MAHR

וַ

Vav-consecutive (wayyiqtol) The וַ prefix — vav with patach plus a doubling dagesh in the next letter — flips this verb into story-telling past: translate "and (he) ___ed", not "will ___".

Verb — Qal, Sequential Imperfect (Wayyiqtol), third person masculine plural simple action — "he did" story-telling past — try "and he ___ed" the built-in subject is "they"

In the KJV here: and they said

said ×947 saying ×718 and said ×688 saith ×527 and he said ×343 then said ×139 say ×122 and say ×119

More options

say — Most versatile; fits nearly any context or register.

declare — Emphasizes formal or authoritative pronouncement.

tell — Prefer when communication to an audience is stressed.

speak — Highlights the act of oral expression itself.

command — Use when the utterance carries directive force.

think — Fits internal or reflective speech contexts.

BDB557 H559

אָמַר₅₂₈₇ verb utter, say (MI, Phoenician אמר, Aramaic אֲמַר, Ethiopic I. 2 shew, declare, Arabic command; perhaps √ אמר originally = be or make prominent, hence Hithpa`el below, אָמִיר; Sabean אמר lofty, epithet of king JHMordtm^{ZMG 1876, 37}; compare Dl^{Pr 28} who thinks original meaning hell, sichtbar sein, whence Assyrian amâru, see, & shew, declare, say) — Qal Perfect ׳א Gen 3:1 +, etc.; Imperfect יאֹמַר Gen 31:8 +; וַיּאֹ֫מֶר Gen 1:3 +; וַיּאֹמַ֑ר Gen 14:19 +; in Job always וַיּאֹ֑מַר Job 3:2 +; 3 feminine singular תּאֹמַר Gen 21:12 +; תּאֹמֵר֑ Prov 1:21 1 singular אֹמַר Gen 22:2 +; אוֺמְרָה Ps 42:10 וָאֹמַר Gen 20:13 +; וָאוֺמַר Neh 2:7; Neh 2:17; Neh 2:20 3 masculine plural יאֹמְדוּ Exod 4:1 + etc.; suffix יֹמְרוּךָ Ps 139:20 2 masculine plural תֹּמְדוּ 2Sam 19:14 ( compare Kö^{i. p. 385}); Imperative (אֱמָרֿ) אֱמֹר Gen 45:17 +, etc.; Infinitive absolute אָמוֺר Exod 21:5 +; construct אֱמֹר Ezek 25:8 +; (הַ)אֲמֹר Job 34:18 but read הָאֹמֵר ᵐ5 ᵑ9 Di, or better הֶאָמֹר Infinitive absolute with ה interrogative compare Ew :§ 328 d; suffix אָמְרִי Josh 6:10 +; אֲמָרְכֶם Jer 23:38 אֱמָרְכֶם Mal 1:7 +; לֵאמֹר Gen 1:22 +, etc.; Participle active אֹמֵר Gen 32:10 +, etc.; passive הֶאָמוּר Mic 2:7, but this grammatically indefensible, read הֶאָמוֺר, Infinitive absolute with ה interrogative, see Dr^{Expositor, April, 1887, 263}.

1. Say (subject God Gen 3:1 + or man Gen 32:5, serpent Gen 3:1, ass Num 22:28, horse יאֹמַר הֶאָח Job 39:25 etc.; inanimate things, personified Job 28:14 compare vJob 28:22 etc.; so in allegory or fable Judg 9:8; 2Kgs 14:9 etc.; especially in narration, וַיּאֹמֶר etc., Gen 4:6 + very often): mostly followed by thing said, either substantive Jer 14:17 (c. clause app.) Deut 27:16f.; Judg 12:6 pronoun Gen 44:16; 2Kgs 20:14 +; or (usually) clause Gen 1:3; Gen 3:1; Gen 37:20 + often (oratio recta [direct speech]); with adverb thus, so Gen 32:5; Num 20:14; 1Kgs 20:3; 1Kgs 20:5 + often; especially ׳כֹּה אָמַר י Exod 5:1; Exod 7:17; Exod 8:1; Exod 8:20; 1Chr 17:4 + often; the person addressed usually introduced by אֶל Gen 3:1; Gen 15:7; Gen 22:7; Lev 21:1; 2Sam 3:7; 1Kgs 12:5; 1Kgs 12:23, or לְ Gen 3:13; Gen 4:15; 1Sam 20:2; 2Sam 2:21; 1Kgs 14:2 + often; rarer combinations are, בְּאָזְנֵי ׳א Isa 49:20 (compare Isa 5:9 & see דבר); לִפְנֵי ׳א Ezek 28:9 לְעֵינֵי ׳א Deut 31:7; Josh 10:12; Jer 28:11 בְּ ׳א Joel 2:17; Ps 126:2, where בְּ local; in all cases usually followed by direct object of words said, Exod 19:25 being very singular; Gen 4:8 the object-clause has probably fallen out, compare Vrss Di; = mention, name, designate Gen 22:2; Gen 22:3; Gen 43:27; Gen 43:29; Exod 32:13; Num 14:40; 1Sam 10:16; 1Sam 16:3; 2Sam 6:22; Neh 6:19 compare Ps 139:20 יֹמְרוּךָ לִמְזִמָּה speak of thee for falsehood (but many, as Hup Pe Dy Che, read יַמְרוּךָ); = tell, declare, proclaim, (followed by direct object only) Ps 40:11; Ezek 13:7 in reply to question = answer Exod 12:27; Josh 4:7; 1Kgs 9:9; Jer 5:19; Jer 22:9. The object spoken of may be referred to by אֶל 2Kgs 19:32; Jer 22:18; Jer 27:19, or לְ Gen 20:13 אִמְרִי לִֹי say of me, etc. Deut 33:9; Judg 9:54; Isa 5:20; Ps 3:3; Ps 71:10, very rarely by a simple accusative Isa 3:10 (where read probably for אִמְרוּ, אַשְׁרֵי), except after אֲשֶׁר where the words used follow (compare אֲשֶׁר 4 d) Gen 3:17; Num 10:29; Num 14:31; Deut 28:68; Judg 7:4; 1Sam 9:17; 1Sam 9:23b 1Kgs 8:29; Lam 4:20 compare Num 21:16; 2Kgs 17:12; 2Kgs 21:4, & (two extreme cases) Isa 8:12; Lam 2:15 (see Dr^{Sm i. 24, 5}); ֶהאָמוּר Mic 2:7 read infinitive absolute with ה interrogative הֶאָמוֺר (see above) shall one say ? shall it be said ? After another verb of saying, introducing thing said: Deut 21:7; Deut 25:9; Deut 27:15; Song 2:10 +, even after אמר Gen 22:7; Lev 21:1; Jer 34:2; Esth 7:5 +; especially infinitive לֵאמֹר, after דבר Gen 8:15, צוה Gen 2:16, ענה Gen 44:16, ברך Gen 1:22, נשׁבע Gen 24:7, נדר Gen 28:20, etc.; after אמר 2Sam 3:18; 1Kgs 12:23; Ruth 4:4; 1Chr 21:18 +; after שׁלח 2Chr 35:21, שׁוּב Gen 32:7 compare also Gen 28:6; Gen 9:5; Gen 13:8; Gen 17:4; Deut 13:7; Judg 8:15; 1Sam 23:2; 1Kgs 13:3; Jer 32:3; Jer 37:9 +; also when subject of לֵאמֹר differs from that of pre-ceding clause Gen 31:1; Gen 38:13; Gen 38:24 etc.; after שׁמע Isa 37:9 = 2Kgs 19:9.

2. Say in the heart (= think) בלבב ׳א Deut 8:17 compare 1Kgs 12:26; Ps 10:6; Ps 10:11; Ps 10:13; Ps 14:1; Ps 35:25; Isa 14:13; Isa 47:8; Isa 47:10; Isa 49:21; Eccl 2:1; Eccl 2:15; Eccl 3:17; Eccl 3:18 לִלְבָבָם ׳א Hos 7:2 אֶללִֿבּוֺ ׳א Gen 8:21 said unto his heart (to himself), subject ׳י, compare 1Sam 27:1 אָֽמְרָה נַפֲשִׁי Lam 3:24 thence ׳א alone Gen 20:11; Gen 26:9; Num 24:11; Ruth 4:4; 1Sam 20:26; 2Sam 5:6; 2Sam 12:22; 2Kgs 5:11 followed by clause with כִּי Judg 15:2 in particular = desire מַהתּֿאֹמַר נַפְשְׁךָ 1Sam 20:4 compare Esth 2:13 followed by infinitive = purpose, Exod 2:14 thinkest thou to kill me, as thou killedst the Egyptian ? Josh 22:33; 1Sam 30:6; 1Kgs 5:19; 2Chr 28:10; 2Chr 28:13 expect 2Sam 21:16 he expected to slay David 2Chr 13:8; 2Chr 32:1.

3. Promise (followed by infinitive) 1Chr 27:23; 2Chr 21:7; Esth 4:7 (id. + ל of person) 2Kgs 8:19; Neh 9:15 (followed by accusative of direct object + ל of person + infinitive of purpose) Neh 9:23.

4. Command (especially late) followed by אֶלֿ of per-son addressed, Num 15:38; 1Chr 21:18 followed by ל Josh 11:9; 2Sam 16:11; 2Kgs 4:24; Job 9:7; Ps 106:34 (see below אֲשֶׁר 8 e); followed by infinitive 1Sam 24:11; 1Chr 21:17; 2Chr 1:18; 2Chr 29:27; 2Chr 29:30; 2Chr 31:11; 2Chr 35:21; Esth 1:17; Esth 4:13; Esth 4:15; Esth 6:1; Esth 9:14 followed by infinitive + ל of pers, 2Chr 14:3; 2Chr 29:21; 2Chr 31:4; followed by accusative direct object 2Chr 29:24 the king commanded the burnt-offering and the sin-offering, compare 1Kgs 5:20; Esth 2:15 followed by clause with אשׁר = that Neh 13:19 id. + ל of person vNeh 13:22 followed by clause with כִּי Job 36:10 absolute 1Sam 16:16 (read however probably יאמרו for יאמר, compare Dr); also Ps 105:31; Ps 105:34; Ps 107:25; 1Chr 14:12; 2Chr 24:8; Neh 13:9; Neh 13:19 (all followed by verb consecutive); command by letter עִםהַֿסֵּפֶר ׳א Esth 9:25 (followed by imperfect); appoint, assign לוֺ ׳לֶחֶם א 1Kgs 11:18 = threaten followed by infinitive Deut 9:25; Ps 106:23. Niph`al Perfect נֶאֱמַר Dan 8:26 Imperfect יֵאָמֵר Gen 22:14 +; יֵאָ֫מֶר לוֺ Isa 4:3 יֵאָמַ֑ר Gen 10:9 +; וַיֵּאָמַ֑ר Josh 2:2 be said, told Gen 10:9; Gen 22:14; Ps 87:5; Jer 4:11; Jer 16:14 (all absolute, indefinite subject, of current saying); so said in a book Num 21:14 be related, told, of vision Dan 8:26 said, told to (followed by ל indirect object) Josh 2:2; Hos 2:1 (twice in verse); Zeph 3:16 either so, or told concerning Num 23:23; Ezek 13:12 (אֶלֿ); יֵאָמֵר לָכֶם = ye shall be called (it shall be said to you) Isa 61:6 (|| תִּקָּרְאוּ), compare Isa 4:3; Isa 19:18; Isa 32:5 (|| יִקָּרֵא ל) Isa 62:4 (twice in verse); hence be called, of Tophet לֹאיֵֿאָמֵר עוֺד הַתֹּפֶת Jer 7:32 subject שֵׁם Gen 32:29; Job 34:31 כִּי אֶלאֵֿל הֶאָמַר, Rabb (compare AV) treat הֵאָמַר as Niph`al Infinitive for לְהֵאָמֵר, but against grammar; the form as it stands is Qal Perfect, אֶלאֵֿל being prefixed to the interrogative for emphasis (compare Jer 22:15; Jer 23:26; Neh 13:27), see Dr^{§ 9} Di and others; Hoffm., however, reads הֵאָמֵר infinitive absolute = imperative 'so must one speak (it be spoken) to God.' Hiph`il Perfect avow, avouch Deut 26:17 הֶאֱמַרְתָּ הַיּוֺם לִהְיוֺת לְךָ לֵאלֹהִים ׳אֶתיֿ; vDeut 26:18 ׳וי הֶאֱמִירְךָ היום להיות לוֺ לְעַם (literally cause to declare, i.e. through agency of Moses; on this & other interpretations see Di). Hithpa`el Imperfect יִתְאַמְּרוּ Ps 94:4 subject כָּלפֹּֿעֲלֵי אָ֑וֶן act proudly, boast (|| יַבִּיעוּ יְדַבְּרוּ עָתָק probably also 2 masculine plural תִּתְיַמָּ֑רוּ Isa 61:6 (in good sense, followed by בְּ of thing gloried in) ᵑ6 ᵑ9 ᵑ7 & compare ᵐ5; Ges^Comm. so De Che Kö^{i. 457 f.} (from [ימר] exchange Thes Hi Kn Ew Di; but see ימר, מור).

BDB9309 H560 H559

אֲמַר₇₁ verb say, tell, command (Biblical Hebrew אָמַר); —

Pe Perfect 3 masculine singular ׳א Dan 2:12 +, אֲמַ֑ר Dan 7:1 3 feminine singular אֲמֶ֫רֶר Dan 5:10 (K^{§ 38, 1 a}); 1 singular אַמְרֵת Dan 4:5 1 plural אֲאַ֫רְנָא Dan 5:4; Dan 5:9, etc.; Imperfect 3 masculine singular יֵאמַר (K^{§ 41}) Dan 2:7 +; 2 masculine plural תֵּאמְרוּן Jer 10:11, etc.; Imperative masculine singular אֱמַר Jer 2:4 +; masculine plural אֱמַרוּ Jer 2:9 Infinitive לְמֵאמַר vJer 2:9, לְמֵמַ֑ר Ezra 5:11 (K^{§ 41 a}); Participle אְמַר Dan 2:5 + often, plural אָֽמְרִין Dan 3:4; Ezra 5:3 +; —

1. say (often in phrase answer and say): followed by oratio recta [direct speech] (only), Dan 2:7; Dan 2:10 + 13 t. Daniel; Ezra 5:11 + ל person Dan 2:5; Dan 3:14 + 14 t. Daniel [plural with indefinite subject for passive Dan 4:28], Ezra 5:15 + קְָדָס person Dan 2:9; Dan 5:17; Dan 6:13; Dan 6:14 + כֵּן Dan 4:11; Dan 7:23, כֵּן with ל person Ezra 5:8; Dan 2:24; Dan 2:25; Dan 6:7, compare Dan 7:5 + כְּנֵמָא with ל person Ezra 5:4; Ezra 5:9 + כִּדְנָךְ with ל person Jer 10:11 followed by accusative of thing + עַל person against whom Dan 3:29.

2. relate, tell: followed by accusative of thing Dan 4:6; Dan 4:15; Dan 7:1, + ל person Dan 2:4; Dan 2:9; Dan 2:7; Dan 7:16 (accusative of thing omitted), + קְָדָם person Dan 2:36; Dan 4:4; Dan 4:5.

3. command: followed by infinitive Dan 2:12; Dan 2:46 + 6 t. Daniel; followed by finite verb Dan 5:29; Dan 6:17; Dan 6:23 followed by ל person + or. rect. Dan 3:4 [pl. with indefinite subject, for passive, K^{§ 76 e}, so Dan 4:23].

said, saying, saith, say, spake, …

ʾāmar

to say (used with great latitude)

to say, speak, utter

(Qal) to say, to answer, to say in one's heart, to think, to command, to promise, to intend

אֵלָ֔י ו

אֵלָ֔י

Preposition unto, to, into, upon, against, …

ו

Suffix — pronoun his / him / it

Dictionary form: אֵל · ale

Preposition

In the KJV here: unto him

unto ×2370 to ×907 into ×230 upon ×112 against ×104 and to ×103 in ×63 unto him ×58

More options

to — Default directional/dative preposition; broadest everyday use.

toward — Emphasizes movement or orientation in a direction.

into — Stress entry or transition; spatial or metaphorical penetration.

against — Adversarial or oppositional context; hostility or pressure.

upon — Contact or imposition on a surface or person.

concerning — Topical/referential; use when the sense is 'about' or 'regarding'.

BDB420 H413

אֶל (nearly always followed by Makkeph), in poetry אֱלֵי (compare עֲלֵי, עֲדֵי), but only in Job ( 1Sam 3:22; 1Sam 5:26; 1Sam 15:22; 1Sam 29:19), with suffix אֵלַי, אֵלֶיךָ, אֵלַיִךְ, etc. אֵלֵינוּ, אֲלֵיכֶם & (5 t.) אֲלֵכֶם, אֲלֵיהֶם & אֲלֵהֶם (both very often); once אֵלֵימוֺ Ps 2:5, אֲלֵיהֶן, once אֲלֵהֶן Exod 1:19 (Assyrian ilî, Arabic ), preposition denoting motion to or direction towards (whether physical or mental).

1. of motion to or unto a person or place Gen 2:19; Gen 2:22; Gen 3:19; Gen 8:9; Gen 14:22; Gen 16:9 etc., after every kind of verb expressing motion (בּוֺא, הָלַךְ, יָצָא etc.) So with נָתַן to give (though ל is here more common) Gen 21:14; Gen 35:4; Deut 13:2 +; מָכַר to sell Deut 37:36, etc. Metaph. Jer 2:19 וְלֹא פַחְדָּתִי אֵלַיִךְ and that my fear (cometh) not unto thee (compare Job 31:23). — Peculiarly Gen 6:16 אֶל אַמָּה unto the length of a cubit, etc. And metaphor in the phrase אֶלֿ(אֱלֵיֿ)גִּיל unto exultation Hos 9:11; Job 3:22. Once, exceptionally (si vera 1.) = even: Job 5:5 וְאֶלמִֿצִּגִּים יִקָּחֵהוּ and even out of thorns he taketh it. Sometimes pregnant, as Isa 66:17; Jer 41:7 זָנָה אֶל commit whoredom (by going) to Num 25:1; Ezek 16:26; Ezek 16:28; Ezek 16:29 דָּרֵשׁ אֶל seek (by resorting) to one (that is, for oracles) Deut 18:11; Isa 8:19; Isa 11:10 +; חָבַר אֶל join together (& come) unto Gen 14:3 הִשְׁכִּים אֶל rise early (and go) to Gen 19:27; Gen 24:11 הִבְרִיח אֶל made to kneel down at; Gen 47:18 תַּם אֶל i.e. has been made over to; פָּחַד אֶל to come in fear to Hos 3:5; Mic 7:17. Opposite is מִן, as מִןהַֿקָּצֶה אֶלהַֿקָּצֶה from end to end Exod 26:28 מִפֶּה אֶלפֶּֿה Ezra 9:11 (synonym 2Kgs 21:16 פֶּה לָפֶה). And of time (rare) מֵעֵת אֶלעֵֿת 1Chr 9:25 מִיּוֺם אֶליֿוֺם Num 30:15 (P) 1Chr 16:23 (in the || Ps 96:2 מִיּוֺם לְיוֺם).

2. Where the limit is actually entered, into, Gen 6:18 and thou shalt enter into the ark Gen 7:1; Gen 19:3; Gen 41:21; Gen 42:17 & so after verbs of throwing, casting, putting Gen 37:22 (הִשְׁלִיךְ) Gen 39:20 וַיִּתְּנֵהוּ אֶלבֵּֿית הַסֹּהַר put him into the prison house, Exod 28:30 (Lev 8:8) Deut 23:25 so after קָבַר to bury Gen 23:19; Gen 25:9; Gen 49:29 שָׂחַט to squeeze Gen 40:11 מָחָה to blot out Num 5:23, etc.; metaphor Gen 6:6 was pained into or unto his heart, שָׂם אֶללֵֿב, הֵשִׁיב to place, bring. into ( = lay to) heart Deut 4:39; 2Sam 19:20 and elsewhere In connection with a number or multitude into which something enters, in among: 1Sam 10:22 behold he had hid himself אֶלהַֿכֵּלִים in among the baggage, Jer 4:3 sow not אֶלקֹֿצִים in among thorns.

3. Of direction towards anything:
(a) of physical acts or states, as Gen 30:40 נָתַן פְּנֵי הַצּאֹן אֶל, Gen 39:7 נָשָׂא עֵינָיו אֶל, Exod 25:20; Num 6:26, נָשָׂא פָנָיו אֶל (2Kgs 9:32 differently), 2Kgs 24:1 שָׁת פָּנָיו אֶל, Josh 8:18; Ps 28:2; 1Kgs 8:29; 1Kgs 8:30 (to pray towards) v1Kgs 8:38 pregnantly חָרֵד אֶל to tremble (turning) to Gen 42:28, תָּמַהּ אֶל to, wonder (turning) towards Gen 43:33; Isa 13:8, פָּחַד אֶל Jer 36:16: without a verb פָּנִים אֶלפָּֿנִים face to face Gen 32:31 +; פֶּה אֶלפֶּֿה Num 12:8 כִּיאֵֿינֶנּוּ אֵלַי Gen 31:5 the face of Laban, that he is not toward me; ׳אֶלפֿ ׳עֵינֵי י the eyes of ׳י are towards . . . Ps 34:16 (compare Ps 33:18).
(b) with words such as אָמַרto say to Gen 3:1 + often, דִּבֶּר Gen 8:15 + often, קָרָא Gen 19:5, הִחְפַּלֵּל Gen 20:17 etc., שָׁמַע to hearken to Gen 16:11, הִלֵּל to praise to Gen 12:15 (compare Ezek 13:19 חִלֵּל אֶל to profane to), הִזְכִּיר Ezek 40:14.
(c) with words expressing the direction of the mind, as קִוָּה to wait Ps 27:14 +; יִחַל to hope Isa 51:5 נָשָׂא נֶפֶשׁ אֶל to lift up the soul (i.e. set the desire) towards Deut 24:15; Ps 25:1 שָׂם לֵב אֶל, שָׁת to set the heart (mind) to Exod 9:21 and elsewhere; לָמַד אֶל to accustom oneself to Jer 10:2 חָרֵד אֶל to shew fear towards 2Kgs 4:13; Gen 43:30; Deut 28:32 and thy eyes כָּלוֺת אֲלֵיהֶם failing (with longing) towards them, Lam 4:17; Isa 63:15; 2Sam 3:8; 1Kgs 14:13; Ps 40:6 alone, as predicate, directed or disposed towards, Gen 3:16; Gen 4:7; 2Kgs 6:11 who of ours is towards (i.e. favours) the king of Syria? Hos 3:3 וְגַםאֲֿנִי אֵלָֽיִח׃ Ezek 36:9; Hag 2:17; Jer 15:1 (אֵין נַפְשִׁי אֶל).

4. Where the motion or direction implied appears from the context to be of a hostile character, אֶל = against: Gen 4:8 אֶלהֶֿבֶל ׳וַיָּקָם קand Cain rose up against Abel (so 1Sam 24:8) 1Sam 22:12; Exod 14:5; Num 32:14 with נִקְבַּץ Josh 10:6, הָלַךְ Judg 1:10; Judg 20:30 with בָּא of calamity, etc., coming to or upon any one Gen 42:21; Judg 9:57; 1Sam 2:34; 1Kgs 14:10 +; Isa 2:4; Isa 3:8 their tongue and doings are ׳אֶליֿ Isa 32:6 (לְדַבֵּר אֶל) Hos 7:15 (compare Nah 1:9) Hos 12:5 וַיָּשַׂר אֶלמַֿלְאָךְ and he strove against the angel. Here also belongs in particular the phrase הִנְנִי אֶל ֗֗֗ Behold I am against (thee, you, etc.) Nah 2:14; Nah 3:5; Jer 21:13 (Jer 23:30-32 על) Jer 50:31; Jer 51:25; Ezek 13:8; Ezek 13:20; Ezek 21:8; Ezek 29:10; Ezek 30:22; Ezek 34:10; Ezek 35:3; Ezek 38:3; Ezek 39:1 (Ezek 5:8; Ezek 26:3; Ezek 28:22; Ezek 29:3 על: on Ezek 36:9 see above)

5. Unto sometimes acquires from the context the sense of in addition to, as Lev 18:18 thou shalt not take אִשָּׁה אֶל אֲחוֺתָהּ a woman to, in addition to, her sister, Josh 13:22 (|| Num 31:8 על); 1Sam 14:34 at eat אֶלהַֿחָם together with the blood (1Sam 14:32 & generally עַל); 1Kgs 10:7 הוֺסִיף אֶל (generally עַל); Jer 25:26; Ezek 7:26 שְׁמוּעָה אֶל שְׁמוּעָה || (עלׅ; Ezek 44:7; Lam 3:41 let us lift up לְבָבֵנוּ אֶלכַּֿפָּ֑יִם our hearts together with the hands (compare , Qor 4:2; W^{AG ii. § 51 c}).

6. Metaphor in regard to, concerning, on account of : thus הִתְאַבֵּל to mourn concerning 1Sam 15:35 הִנָּחֵם to repent as regards 2Sam 24:16 דָּרַשׁ to inquire 1Kgs 14:5 הִתְפַּלֵּל to pray with regard to 1Sam 1:27; 2Kgs 19:20 צָעַק to cry 2Kgs 8:3 (2Kgs 8:5 על); נֶעֳצַב be pained 1Sam 20:34 נִחַם to comfort 2Sam 10:2 more generally 1Kgs 16:13; 1Kgs 21:22 אֶלנֶֿפֶשׁ on account of, for the sake of, one's life 1Kgs 19:3; 2Kgs 7:7 (Gen 19:17 על). (עַל is more common in this sense.) And specially with verbs of saying, narrating, telling, etc. with regard to, as אָמַר Gen 20:2; Isa 29:22; Isa 37:21; Isa 37:33 +; דִּבֶּר 2Sam 7:19; Jer 40:16 b; סִפֵּר Ps 2:7; Ps 69:27 צִוָּה Isa 23:11 שָׁמַע Ezek 19:4 הַשְּׁמוּעָה אֶל the report regarding. . . 1Sam 4:19. (Not frequently, ext. in the case of אָמַר.)

7. Of rule or standard, according to (rare): אֶלפִּֿי ֗֗֗ according to the command of, Josh 15:13; Josh 17:4; Josh 21:3 (generally עַלפִּֿי); אֶלנָֿבוֺן according to what is fixed = of a certainty 1Sam 23:23; 1Sam 26:4 (see Dr): perhaps Ps 5:1; Ps 80:1 (Ps 45:1 עַל).

8. Expressing presence at a spot, against; at, by, not merely after verbs expressing or implying motion (compare 1, Gen 24:11), as Josh 11:5 and they came and encamped together אֶלמֵֿי מֵרוֺם at the waters of Merom, 1Sam 5:4 cut off (and fallen) on to the threshold, 2Sam 2:23 and elsewhere and smote him אֶלהַֿחֹמֶשׁ in or on the belly, Deut 33:28; Exod 29:12; Lev 4:7 but also in other cases, as Josh 5:3 and he circumcised the Israelites אֶל against, at the hill of the foreskins, Josh 22:11 have built an altar אֶל גְּלִילוֺת הַיַּרְדֵּן by the districts of Jordan, Judg 12:6 & 2Sam 18:4 אֶליַֿד at the side of (elsewhere לְיַד, עַל יַד), 1Kgs 13:20 as they were sitting אֶלהַֿשֻּׁלְחָן at the table, 2Kgs 11:14 אֶלהַֿמֶּלֶךְ by the king, Jer 41:12 and found him by the great waters, etc., Jer 46:10 אֶלנְֿהַר פְּרָת by the Euphrates, Ezek 3:15; Ezek 11:11; Ezek 17:8; Ezek 31:7; Ezek 40:18; Ezek 43:3; Ezek 47:7; Ezek 48:12.

9. Prefixed to other preps. it combines with them the idea of motion or direction to: thus אֶלאַֿחֲרֵי 2Sam 5:23; 2Kgs 9:18; 2Kgs 9:19 סֹב אֶלאַֿחֲרַי turn to behind me, Zech 6:5 (where אֶל is pleonastic, probably due to clerical error; note יצא אל before & after); אֶלבֵּֿין in between Ezek 31:10; Ezek 31:14 אֵלבֵּֿינוֺת similarly Ezek 10:2 ׳אֶלמִֿבֵּית לְ to (the part) within (see below בַּיִת), in within Lev 16:15; 2Kgs 11:15 || have her forth in within the ranks; אֶלמֿוּל see מוּל; ׳אֶלמִֿנֶּגֶב לְ unto the south of Josh 15:3 ׳אֶלמִֿחוּץ לְ to the outside of Lev 4:12; Lev 4:21 +; אֶלנֹֿכַח to the front of Num 19:4 אֶלתַּֿחַת Judg 6:19; 1Kgs 8:6 and elsewhere (see below תַּחַת).

Note I. — In Gen 20:13 אֶלכָּֿלהַֿמָּקוֺם אֲשֶׁר נָבוֺא ׳שָׁמָּה אִמְרִילִֿי וג; Num 33:54 ׳אֶלאֲֿשֶׁר וג; Prov 17:8 (compare Deut 16:6); — אֶל appears to be used by a species of attraction; the idea of motion involved in the relative clause influencing illogically the beginning of the sentence and causing אֶל to be used instead of בְּ. In Deut 31:14 אֵלֵיהֶם, as pointed, can only be from אַיִל III or IV (q. v.); if the word be taken as the Pronoun with suffix (Hi Ke), אֲלֵיהֶם must be read.

Note 2. — There is a tendency in Hebrew, especially manifest in Samuel Kings Jeremiah Ezekiel, to use אֶל in the sense of עַל; sometimes אֶל being used exceptionally in a phrase or construction which regularly, and in accusative with analogy, has עַל; sometimes, the two prepositions interchanging, apparently without discrimination, in the same or parallel sentences. Thus
(a) Josh 5:14 וִיִּפֹּל אֶלפָּֿנָיו; 1Sam 13:13 אֶתמַֿמְלַכְתְּךָ אֶליִֿשְׂרָאֵל ׳הֵקִים י; 1Sam 14:34 (see below 5); 1Sam 17:3 עֹמְדִים אֶלהָֿהָר (contractee עַל Deut 11:29); Deut 19:16; 2Sam 6:3; 2Sam 20:23 (contracted 2Sam 8:16) 1Kgs 13:29; 1Kgs 18:46 (contracted 2Kgs 3:15 על) Jer 35:15; Ezek 7:18.
(b) Judg 6:37 and upon (עַל) all the earth let there be dryness, vJudg 6:39 let there be dryness on (אֶל) the fleece; 1Sam 14:10 come up עָלֵינוּ, v1Sam 14:12 come up אֵלֵינוּ; 1Sam 16; 1Sam 18:10 צָלַח אֶל, 1Sam 10:6 and elsewhere צָלַח עַל; 1Sam 25:17 evil is determined אֶלאֲֿדֹנֵינוּ וְעַל כָּלבֵּֿיתוֺ; v1Sam 25:25; 1Sam 27:10; 2Sam 2:9 וַיַּמְלִכֵהוּ אֶל וְ֗֗֗אֶל וְ֗֗֗אֶל וְ֗֗֗עַל וְ֗֗֗עַל וְ֗֗֗עַל; 2Sam 3:29 יָחֻלוּ עַל ֗֗֗ וְאֶל ֗֗֗ 2Kgs 8:3 & 5; 2Kgs 3; Jer 19:15; Jer 25:2; Jer 26:15 ye lay innocent blood עֲלֵיכֶם וְאֶלהָֿעִיר הַזּאֹת; Jer 27:19; Jer 28:8; Jer 33:14; Jer 34:7; Jer 36:31; Jer 37:13; Jer 37:14; Ezek 18:6; Ezek 18:11 & 15; Ezek 21:12 etc. Ps 79:6 (Jer 10:25 על twice). It is probably that this interchange, at least in many cases, is not original, but due to transcribers.

[Note]

Conversely, though not with the same frequency, עַל occurs where analogy would lead us to expect אֶל, or even in juxtaposition with אֶל, as 1Sam 1:10 הִתְפַּלֵּל עַל to pray to (1Sam 1:26 אֶל); v1Sam 1:13; 1Sam 25:25 אֶלעַ֗֗֗ל; 1Kgs 20:43 וַיֵּלֶךְ עַלבֵּֿיתוֺ (1Kgs 21:4 אֶל); Isa 22:15; Jer 11:2; Jer 23:35; Jer 31:12. compare Dr^{Sm i. 13, 13}; ii. 8, 7; 15, 4.

unto, to, into, upon, against, …

ʾēl

near, with or among; often in general, to

to, toward, unto (of motion)

in among

לָ ֚מָּה

לָ

Prefix — preposition to, for

֚מָּה

Particle turns the sentence into a question

Dictionary form: מָה · maw

Particle — Interrogative

In the KJV here: wherefore

what ×268 why ×81 wherefore ×64 how ×44 and what ×35 wherein ×12 and why ×10 him what ×9

More options

what — Default interrogative; fits most direct questions.

why — Use when context implies reason or motive.

how — Use when manner or degree is in view.

for what reason — Formal alternative to 'why'; clarifies rhetorical force.

wherein — Replaces archaic form; for 'in what respect'.

whatever — Use for indefinite or relative pronoun contexts.

BDB4521 H1767 H4078 H4100

מַדַּי (i.e. מַהדַּֿי) 2Chr 30:3, see מה 1 e.

מִדֵּי see דַּי.

מִדְיָן, מְדִינָה see דין.

מִדְיָנִים see I. מדון. מְדֹכָה see דוך.

מַדְמֵן, I, II. מַדְמֵנָה, מַדְמַנָּה see דמן.

מְדָן see דין. מְדָנִים see מדון, מִדְיָנִי.

מַדַּע, מֹדַע, מֹדַ֫עַת see ידע.

[מַדְקָרָה], plural construct מַדְקְרוֺת see דקר.

מַדְרֵגָה see דרג. מְדֻרָה see דור.

[מִדְרָךְ] see דרך. [מִדְרָשׁ] see דרשׁ.

[מְדֻשָׁה] see דושׁ.

BDB4522 H4100 H4078

מָה, rarely מָהֿ (e.g. Gen 31:43; Josh 22:16; Judg 8:1), מַהֿ, מַהּ , מֶה, מַּ ( Exod 4:2; Isa 3:15; Mal 1:13; 1Chr 15:13; 2Chr 30:3), מָ (only in מָהֵם Ezek 8:6 Kt., Qr. מָה הֵם) — on the distinction in the use of these forms, see Ges^{«GKC:37»§ 37} —

pronoun interrogative and indefinite what? how? aught; used of things, as מִי of persons (Aramaic , מָא, Arabic ; probably apocope from a longer form with n or nt, Assyrian minû (Dl^{HWB 417 f.}), Ethiopic ment; compare W^{CG 123 ff.} K?:ii. 368): —

1. interrogative what ?
a. in a direct question, before either verbs or nouns Gen 4:10 מֶה עשׂית what hast thou done ? Gen 15:2 מהתֿתןלֿי what wilt thou give me ? Exod 3:13 מַהשְּֿׁמוֺ, Exod 12:26; Exod 13:14 and so very often: מַההִֿיא Zech 5:6 מה אלה Zech 1:9 מָה אַתָּה רֹאֶה Jer 1:11; Amos 7:8 +; Jl Amos 4:14 מה אתם לי; Judg 18:8 מה אתם see Commentaries, vJudg 18:24 מה לי עוד what have I still ? Isa 21:11 מהמֿלילה what (= how much) of the night (is past) ? = as what ? (qualem ?) Hag 2:3 (compare מִי Amos 7:2); to express surprise, Job 9:12 who shall say to him, מה תעשׂה what doest thou ? Job 22:13; Eccl 8:4; Isa 45:9; Isa 45:10 followed by כִּי, Gen 20:10 מה ראית כי עשׂית what hadst thou in view, that thou hast done, etc.? Gen 31:36; Exod 16:7 וְנַחְנוּ מָה כִּי and what are we, that . . .? Exod 32:21; Num 22:28; Hab 2:18, etc. Note in particular —
(a) מָה is followed sometimes by a substantive in apposition (against Arabic usage, which does not permit this: W^{AG. ii. § 170}), so that it becomes virtually an adjective: מַהבֶּֿצַע what profit . . .? Gen 37:26; Ps 30:10; Mal 3:14; Isa 40:8 מַהדְּֿמוּת, Mal 1:13; Ps 89:48 זְכָראֲֿנִי מֶה חָ֑לֶד (inverted for חֶלֶד אָ֑נִי מַה) remember (of) what (short) duration I am, Eccl 1:3; Eccl 5:10; Eccl 5:15; Eccl 6:8; Eccl 6:11 (Da^{§ 8, R. 2 K?:iii. 23 f.}); as exclamation, Ps 89:48b Job 26:14. And with the substantive idiomatically at the end (in Arabic preceded then by : W^{AG. ii. § 49. 7}), 1Sam 26:18 ומַהבֿידי רעה and what is there in my hand, evil ? 1Sam 20:10 (see 3), 2Sam 19:29; 2Sam 24:13; 2Sam 1:16; מהמֿצאו אבותיכם בי עָוֶל, Eccl 11:2; Esth 6:3.
(b) מַהזֶּֿה what now ? 1Sam 10:11, contracted מַזֶּה Exod 4:2 (זֶה 4 c); Gen 3:13 מַהזּֿאֹת עָשִׂיתָ; Gen 12:18; Gen 29:25 מַהזּֿאֹת עָשִׂיתָה לִּי; similarly Gen 26:10; Gen 42:28 +, either what, now, hast thou done ? or what is this that thou hast done ? (see זֶה 4 d).
(c) לְּךָ מַהֿ what to thee ? i.e. what aileth thee ? or what dost thou want ? Gen 21:17 מַהלָּֿךְ הָגָר; Josh 15:18; 2Sam 14:5; 1Kgs 1:16; 2Kgs 6:28; Ezek 18:2 (accents); followed by כִּי, Judg 18:23 מהלֿך כי נזעקת, Gen 20:9 (compare 1Sam 11:5 לעם כי יבכו מה), Isa 22:1 מַהלָּֿךְ כִּי עָלִיתְ (compare τί παθὼν, τοῦτο ποιεῖς;), Ps 114:5 without כִּי Isa 3:15 (compare Qor 57:8; 57:10); with a participle, Jonah 1:6 what is it to thee as a sleeper ? (accusative: Da^{§ 70 a} cites Qor 74:50), Ezek 18:2 (if אתם be treated as strengthening לכם).
(d) פֹה (לִי) מַהלְּֿךָ = what hast thou (have I) here ? Judg 18:3; 1Kgs 19:9; Isa 22:16; Isa 52:5.
(e) in the genitive, Jer 8:9 וְחָכְמַתמֶֿה לָהֶם, and wisdom of what (= what kind of wisdom) is theirs ? Num 23:3 (see below 3).
b. often in an indirect question, as after ראה, Gen 2:19 to see מהיֿקראלֿו what he would call it, Gen 37:20 וְנִרְאֶה מהיֿהיו חלֹמֹתיו to what his dreams will come, Num 13:19f.; Hab 2:1 הִכִּיר Gen 31:32 ידע Gen 39:8; Exod 2:4 לדעת מהיֵּֿעָשֶׂה לו, Exod 16:15; Exod 32:1; Job 34:4 שׁמע Num 9:8 ׳וְאשׁמעה מהיֿצוה י (compare Ps 85:9), 2Sam 17:5 פֹּרַשׁ Num 15:34 שׁאל 1Kgs 3:5; 2Kgs 2:9 הֵבִין Job 6:24; Job 23:5: Num 13:18 מה היא וראיתם את הארץ, Ps 39:5; Isa 41:22 הראשׁנות מָה הֵנָּה הַגִּידוּ. — In some such cases it approximates in meaning to the simple rel., as Jer 7:17; Jer 33:24; Mic 6:5; Mic 6:8; Job 34:33.
c. = of what kind ? (German was für ein ... ?), with an insinuation of blame, or reproach, or contempt: Gen 37:10 מה החלום הזה what is this dream which thou hast dreamt? Gen 44:15; Josh 22:16; Judg 8:1; Judg 15:11; Judg 20:12; 1Sam 29:3 מָה הָעִבְרִים האלה, 1Kgs 9:13 מה העדים האלה אשׁר נתתה לי, 2Kgs 9:22; 2Kgs 18:19.
d. מה is often used in questions to which the answer little, or nothing, is expected, and it thus becomes equivalent to a rhetorical negative (compare הֲ b, מִי f c):
(a) Gen 23:15 land worth 400 shekels..., מה היא what is it ? (i.e. it is something quite insignificant), Gen 27:37; Judg 8:3 עשׂות ככם ומהיֿכלתי, Judg 14:18; Hos 9:5; Hos 10:3; Ps 30:10; Ps 56:5; Job 15:9; Job 16:6; Job 21:21; Job 22:13; Job 22:17; Lam 2:13; Song 5:9 מַהאדּוֺדֵךְ מִדּוֺד what is thy beloved (more) than a(nother) beloved ? || לא, 1Kgs 12:16 מַהלָּֿנוּ חֵלֶק בְּדָוֺד וְלֹאנַֿחֲלָה בְּבֶן יִשַׁי (2Sam 20:1 ׳אֵיןלָֿנוּ חֵלֶק וג), Job 16:6.
(b) followed by כִּי (כִּי 1 f), Gen 20:9; Gen 37:26 מַהבֶּֿצַע כִּי נַהֲרֹג what profit (is it) that we should slay him ? Exod 16:7; Num 16:11; Hab 2:18; 2Kgs 8:13 what is thy servant, the dog, that he should do, etc.? and often in poetry, as Ps 8:5 מָה אנושׁ כי תזכרנו what is man that thou rememberest him ? Job 6:11 מַהכֹּֿחִי כִּי אֲיַחֵל, vJob 6:11 b Job 7:17; Job 15:12f; Job 15:14; Job 16:3; Job 21:15 + (compare ׳מִ f b). Hence,
(c) in the formula of repudiation, or emphatic denial, (וְלָכֶם) מַהלִּֿי וָלָךְ what is there (common) to me and to thee ? i.e. what have I to do with thee ? Judg 11:12; 2Sam 16:10 מה לי ולכם, 2Sam 19:23; 1Kgs 17:18; 2Kgs 3:13; 2Chr 35:21 compare Josh 22:24; 2Kgs 9:18; 2Kgs 9:19 rather differently, without וְ, Jer 2:18 ׳מה לך לדרך מ what is there to thee with reference to the way to Egypt ? Hos 14:9 מַהאלּוֺ לַעֲצַבִּים, compare Ps 50:16 (לְסַפֵּר); with את, Jer 23:28 מַהלַֿתֶּבֶן אֶתהַֿבָּר beside (or in comparison with) the wheat ? compare τί ἐμοὶ(ἡμῖν)καὶ σοί; Matt 8:29; Mark 5:7; John 2:4 and Arabic
e. = whatsoever (compare מִי g):
(a) Judg 9:48 ראיתם עשׂיתי מהרו עשׂו כמוני מה אתם, literally what do you see (that) I have done ? hasten, and do like me (= whatever ye see, etc.), 2Sam 21:4 אעשׂה לכם מה אתם אמרים, Job 6:24 with the apodosis introduced by וְ, 1Sam 20:4 מה תאמר נפשׁך ואעשׂה לך; Esth 5:3 בַּקָּשָׁתֵךְ ֗֗֗ וְיִנָּתֵן לָךְ מַהֿ, vEsth 5:6; Esth 7:2; Esth 9:12 hence in the late and strange idiom of Chronicles, it sinks twice almost to the rel. what, 1Chr 15:13 כי לְמַבָּרִאשׁוֺנָה לא אתם because ye were not (employed) for what was at first (on the former occasion), J. etc., 2Chr 30:3 לְמַדַּי according to what was sufficient (= in sufficient numbers), compare Esth 9:26.
(b) -מַהשֶּֿׁ (late: frequently in Mishna, etc.), whatever, what (compare מִי אֲשֶׁר, מִי
g. end): Eccl 1:9 מַהשֶּֿׁהָיָה הוּא שֶׁיִּהְיֶה, literally what is that which hath been ? it is that which shall be (= whatever hath been, it is that which shall be), vEccl 1:9; Eccl 3:15; Eccl 3:22; Eccl 6:10; Eccl 7:24; Eccl 8:7; Eccl 10:14.

2. Used adverbially:
a. as an interrogative:
(a) how ? especially in expressing what is regarded as an impossibility, Gen 44:16 מַהנִּֿצְטַדָּ֑ק how shall we justify ourselves ? Num 23:8 (twice in verse); 1Sam 10:27 מַהיּֿשִׁעֵנוּ זֶה, 2Kgs 4:43; Job 9:2; Job 25:4 (twice in verse); Job 31:1 I made a covenant with my eyes, ׳וּמָה אֶתְבּוֺנֵן עַל ב and how should I look upon a maid ? (ᵐ5 οὐ, ᵑ9 non), Prov 20:24 דַּרְכּוֺ וְאָדָם מַהיָּֿבִין; in an indirect question, Exod 10:26; Ps 39:5 ֵאדְעָה מֶהחָֿדֵל אָ֑נִי; מַהזֶּֿה, how, now ? (in surprise), Gen 27:20 מַהזֶּֿה מִהַרְתָּ לִמְצאֹ בְּנִי, Judg 18:24; 1Kgs 21:5; 2Kgs 1:5.
(b) why ? Exod 14:15 אֵלַי מַה תִּצְעַק, Exod 17:2 (twice in verse); 2Kgs 6:33; 2Kgs 7:3; Ps 42:6 מַהתִּֿשְׁתּוֺחֲחִי עלי, Job 15:12 +; Song 8:4 I adjure you מַהתָּֿעִירוּ וּמַהתְּֿעוֺרֲרוּ, why will ye stir up, etc.? (i.e. do not: || אִם Song 2:7; Song 3:5). — The transition from the interrogative to the negative, to which in Hebrew there is an approximate (see above: especially 1Kgs 12:16; Job 31:1; Song 8:4), is in Arabic complete, being there used constantly in the sense of not (compare Walker^{Hebraica. xii. 244 ff.}; Kö^{iii, 478}).
b. as an exclamation, how ...! with adjectives and verbs, Gen 28:17 מַהנּֿוֺרָא הַמָּקוֺם הַזֶּה how dreadful is this place! Gen 38:29; Num 24:5 מַהטֹּֿבוּ אֹהָלֶיךָ, Isa 52:7; Ps 3:2 מה רבו, Ps 8:2 מה אדיר, Ps 21:2; Ps 36:8, etc., Song 4:10 (twice in verse); Song 7:2 ironically, 2Sam 6:20; Jer 2:33; Jer 2:36; Job 26:2; Job 26:3.

3. indefinite pronoun anything, aught, Num 23:3 וּדְבַרמַֿהיַּֿרְאֵנִי וְהִגַּדְתִּי לָ֑ךְ and he will shew me the matter of aught, and I will tell thee (= if he shew me... I will, etc., Dr^{§ 149}), 1Sam 19:3 וְרָאִיתִי מָה וִהִגַּדְתִּי לָ֑ךְ = and if I see aught, I will, etc., 1Sam 20:10 אוֺ מַהיַּֿעַנִךָ אָבִיךָ קָשָׁה if perchance thy father shall answer thee aught that is harsh (order, 1 a a), 2Sam 18:22 וִיהִימָֿה אָרוּצָהנָּֿא but let there happen what may (literally aught), I will run, v2Sam 18:23 (compare Job 13:13 וְיַעֲבֹר עָלַי מָה), vJob 13:29 וְלֹא יָדַעְתִּי מָה (compare Prov 9:13), Prov 25:8. compare Kö^{iii. § 65.}

4. With prepositions:
a. בַּמָּה₉, בַּמֶּה₁₉ wherein ? Exod 22:26; Judg 16:5; 1Sam 14:38 (indirect question; We בְּמִי); and so according to the various senses of בְּ: whereby ? Gen 15:8; Exod 33:16; Mal 1:2; Mal 1:6; Mal 1:7; Mal 2:17; Mal 3:7-8 wherewith ? 1Sam 6:2; 2Sam 21:3; Mic 6:6 by what means ? Judg 16:5 וּבַמֶּה נוּכַל לוֺ; at what (worth) ? Isa 2:22 for what ? 2Chr 7:21 (|| 1Kgs 9:8 עלמֿה).
b. יַעַן מֶה Hag 1:9 because of what ?
c. כַּמָּה, כַּמֶּה, properly the like of what ? (Arabic , Syriac ); hence
(a) how much ? how many ? ׳כַּמָּה יְמֵי וגו Gen 47:8; 2Sam 19:35; Ps 119:84; Job 13:23 עַד כַּמֶּה פְעָמִים 1Kgs 22:16 (= 2Chr 18:15); כַּמָּה how often ? Job 21:17 (i.e. how seldom !); in an indirect question, how much ? Zech 2:6 (twice in verse). As an exclamation, Zech 7:3 as I have done זֶה כַמֶּה שָׁנִים now (זֶה 4 i), how many years ! Ps 78:40 כַּמָּה how often !
(b) for how long ? Ps 35:17 כמה תראה, Job 7:19.
d. לָ֫מָּה, לָמָ֫ה (לָמָ֫ה mostly before the gutturals א, ה, ע and ׳י [i.e. אֲדֹנָי], but twice besides, Ps 42:10; Ps 43:2 לָ֫מָּה also occurs before guttural, in five places noted by Masoretes on Ps 43:2, namely 1Sam 28:15; 2Sam 2:22; 2Sam 14:31; Ps 49:6; Jer 15:18, and before ךְ Gen 4:6; 2Sam 14:13; 2Sam 24:3; Eccl 2:15), לָ֫מָה Job 7:20, לָ֫מֶה 1Sam 1:8 (3 t. in verse), for what reason ? why? Gen 4:6 למה חרה לך why art thou angry ? Gen 24:31, etc.; often strengthened by זֶה (זֶה 4 e), Gen 18:13; Gen 32:30 (= Judg 13:18) למה זה תשׁאל לשׁמי, Judg 33:15; Exod 2:20; Exod 5:22; Exod 17:3, etc., Jer 6:20; Jer 20:18 +; Gen 25:22 זה אנכי אם כן למהֿ if so, why, then, am I ? (why do I continue to live ?); = to what purpose (followed by לִ person), Gen 27:46 למה לי חיים, Isa 1:11; Jer 6:20; Amos 5:18 למה זה ׳לכם יום י, Job 30:2 in an indirect question, 1Sam 6:3; Dan 10:20. Note especially
(a) in expostulations, Gen 12:18 למה לא הגדת לי why didst thou not tell me, etc. ? vGen 12:19; Gen 29:25; Gen 31:27; Gen 42:1; Gen 43:6; 1Sam 21:15; 1Sam 22:13; 1Sam 24:10; Ps 22:2; Ps 44:24; Ps 44:25; Ps 74:1; Ps 74:11 + often;
(b) with an imperfect, often deprecating, or introducing rhetorically, the reason why something should, or should not, be done, why should . . .? 1Sam 19:5; 1Sam 19:17; 1Sam 20:8 but to thy father (emphatic) למה זה תביאני, why shouldst thou bring me ? 1Sam 20:32 מה עשׂה למה יומת why should he be put to death ? 2Sam 13:26; 2Sam 16:9; 2Sam 20:19; 2Kgs 14:10, etc.: in such cases, it approximates in meaning to lest (compare Phoenician CIS^{i. 2, 21} יסגרינם אלנם לָםָ ne tradant eos dii), and is in ᵐ5 often rendered by μήποτε, as Gen 27:45 למה אשׁכל why should I be bereaved, etc. ? Exod 32:12 יאמרו מצרים למה Neh 6:3; Ps 79:10; Ps 115:2; Eccl 7:16, μή, Jer 40:15, ἵνα μή, Gen 47:19; 2Sam 2:22; 2Chr 25:16; Eccl 5:5; Eccl 7:17, or ὅπως μή, Joel 2:17 (in 1Sam 19:17; 2Sam 13:26, paraph. by εἰ μή); and, connected with the foregoing sentence by אשׁר, or שֶׁ, in late, or dialect., Hebrew it actually has that meaning, Dan 1:10 אֲשֶׁר לָמָּה יִרְאֶה lest he see, Song 1:7 שַׁלָּמָ֫ה אֶהְיֶה lest I become (so in Aramaic לְמָה דִּי Ezra 7:23, דִּילְמָא ᵑ7, Syriac , both regularly = lest).
e. עַדמָֿה (Ps 4:3 עַדמֶֿה) until when ? how long ? Num 24:22 (aposiop.), Ps 4:3; Ps 79:5; Ps 89:47 in indirect question, Ps 74:9 (compare עד אנה, עד מתי). feminine עַלמָֿה, and עַלמֶֿה, upon what ? Job 38:6; 2Chr 32:10 upon what ground ? wherefore ? Num 22:32 עַלמָֿה הִכִּיתָ אֶתאֲֿתֹנְךָ, Deut 29:23 (compare 1Kgs 9:8; Jer 22:8), Isa 1:5; Jer 8:14; Jer 9:11; Jer 16:10; Ezek 21:12; Ps 10:13; Job 13:14 (probably dittograph from vJob 13:13); עלמֿהזֿה Neh 2:4. In an indirect question, Job 10:2 הוֺדִיעֻנִי עַל מַהתְּֿרִיבֻנִי, Esth 4:5 לָדַעַת מַהזֶּֿה וְעַלמַֿהוֶּֿה.

BDB8356 H834 H7945 H4100

שֶׁ, also ( Gen 6:3 [? see 4 a], Judg 5:7 (twice in verse); Song 1:7; Job 19:29 [?]) שַּׁ , שָׁ in שָׁאַתָּה Judg 6:17, and שְׁ in שְׁהוּא Eccl 2:22, שְׁהֵם Eccl 3:18 (elsewhere before guttural שֶׁ, as שֶׁאֲנִי Song 1:6; Eccl 2:18, שֶׁאֵין Ps 146:3, שֶׁהֵם Song 6:5; Lam 4:9, שֶׁעַל Judg 7:12; Judg 8:26, שֶׁרּאֹשִׁי Song 5:2), relative particle who, which, that, etc. (constantly in Late Hebrew; Aramaic of Nerab, Ldzb^{371, 445}; Assyrian sha; Phoenician אש (regularly), also sometimes ש (Ldzb^{227 f.}): according to Ges Ew^{§ 181 b} Ol^{p. 439} Sta^{§ 176 e, abbreviated} from אֲשֶׁר; more probably (Sperling [see אֲשֶׁר], Kö^{ii. 323 f.}) an original demonstrative particle), synonym with אֲשֶׁר, but in usage limited to late Hebrew, and passages with north Palestinian colouring, namely Judg 5:7 (twice in verse) [אֲשֶׁר vJudg 5:27], Judg 6:17; Judg 7:12; Judg 8:26; 2Kgs 6:11 (see 4 c), Jonah 1:7; Jonah 1:12; Jonah 4:10 [אֲשֶׁר 11 t.], Ps 122:3; Ps 122:4; Ps 123:2; Ps 124:1; Ps 124:2; Ps 124:6; Ps 129:6; Ps 129:7; Ps 133:2; Ps 133:3; Ps 135:2; Ps 135:8; Ps 135:10; Ps 136:23; Ps 137:8; Ps 137:9; Ps 144:15; Ps 146:3; Ps 146:5; Lam 2:15; Lam 2:16; Lam 4:9; Lam 5:18; Ezra 8:20; 1Chr 5:20; 1Chr 27:27 Canticles (uniformly, except in title Song 1:1); Ecclesiastes (68 t.; אֲשֶׁא 89 t.); also (dubious) Gen 6:3; Gen 49:10 (שֶׁלֹּה ᵐ5 ᵑ6 ᵑ7), Job 19:29 and in the proper name (q. v.) מִישָׁאֵל and מְתוּשָׁאֵל. — In usage, שֶּׁ is in the main parallel with אֲשֶׁר, namely

1. as pronoun who, which, whom, Judg 7:12 כַּהוֺל שֶׁעַל שְׂפַת הַיָּם (compare חוֺל c), Ps 122:3; Ps 124:6 etc.; him whom, that which, etc., Song 1:7; Song 3:1; 1Chr 27:27; Eccl 1:11; Eccl 6:3 וְרַב שֶׁיִּהְיוּ יְמֵי חַיָּיו and much (verb) is that which his days amount to (Hi De and others), vEccl 6:10 הוּא שֶּׁ that which Eccl 1:9 (twice in verse); in the genitive, אַשְׁרֵי שֶּׁ Ps 137:8; Ps 137:9; Ps 146:5. — On מַהשֶּּֿׁ in Eccl = whatever, what, see מָה 1 e b.

2. as a connecting link; = where (compare אֲשֶׁר p. 81, and 4 b β), מְקוֺם שֶּׁ Eccl 1:7; Eccl 11:3 (compare מְקוֺם אֲשֶׁר Gen 39:20 +: Ges^{«GKC:130c»§ 130c}), whither Ps 122:4 (שֶׁשָּׁם ֗֗֗ ), when Song 8:8; Eccl 12:3 בַּיּוֺם שֶּׁ (compare ib. 4 b a).

3.as a conjunction (compare אֲשֶׁר 8); —
a. that, after רָאָה Eccl 2:13; Eccl 3:18, יָרַע Eccl 1:17; Eccl 2:14; Eccl 9:5; Job 19:19 (?), דִּבֶּר Eccl 2:15, אָמַר Eccl 8:14, עָשָׂה אוֺת Judg 6:17 as subject of sentence, Eccl 3:13; Eccl 5:15 also in the phrases, (a) what is ... that ? Song 5:9 (usually כִּי; see מָךְ 1 d b), מֶה הָיָה שֶּׁ how comes it that ... ? Eccl 7:10
(b) Song 3:4 כִּמְעַט שֶׁעָבַרְתּת מֵהֶם hardly (was it) that (German kaum dass) I had passed, etc., Eccl 7:14 עַל דִּדבְרַת שֶׁלּאֹ יִמְצָא to the intent that ..., Eccl 5:15 כָּלעֻֿמַּת שֶׁבֶּא exactly as ..., Eccl 12:9 תֵר שֶׁ besides that, עַד שֶּׁ (עַד ּ Judg 5:7) until that Ps 123:2; Song 2:7; Song 2:17 + (see III. עַד II 1 a a and b; compare Late Hebrew Yoma Song 5:1), while Song 1:12 (ib. 2 d); עָשָׂהשֶּׁ to make or cause that ..., Eccl 3:14 (compare Ezek 36:27).
b. involving a reason (compare אֲשֶׁר 8 c), because, since, Song 1:6 (twice in verse); Song 5:2; Eccl 2:18 b. Hence שֵׁלָּמָה Song 1:7 since why ? = lest (see מָה 4 d b).

4. compounds:
a. בְּשֶּׁ , i. q. בַּאֲשֶׁר c (p. 84a) in that, seeing that, Eccl 2:16 also (according to ᵑ0 ᵐ5 ᵑ6 Hu De) Gen 6:3 בְּשַׁגַּם הוּא בָשָׂר because that he also is flesh; but see שָׁגַג.
b. כּשֶּׁ , i. q. כַּאֲשֶׁר p. 455: — (a) according as Eccl 5:14; Eccl 12:7 (b) when (so often in Late Hebrew, as Ab Eccl 1:8 (3 t. in verse); Eccl 1:14) Eccl 9:12; Eccl 10:3.
c. מִשֶּּׁ , i. q. מֵאֲשֶׁר a (p. 84:a), 2Kgs 6:12 מִי מִשֶּׁלָּנוּ who of those that are ours ? (but Klo Kmp^Kau Benz מְגַלֵּנוּ who betrays us ? compare ᵐ5); Eccl 5:4 than that (compare מֵאֲשֶׁר Eccl 3:22), + Eccl 2:24 (read מִשֶּׁיּאֹכַל with Ew De, etc.; compare Eccl 3:22).
d. שֶׁל, like אֲשֶׁרלְ (אֲשֶׁר 7 b), a mark of the genitive: thrice, adding slight emphasis to the suffix, Song 1:6 = Song 8:12 כַּרְמִי שֶׁלִּי my vineyard (literally my vineyard, which is mine), Song 3:7 מִטָּתוֺ שֶׁלִּשְׁלֹמֹה (so often in Late Hebrew, but without any special emphasis, as Aboth Song 1:12 הֲוֵי מתלמידיווּ שׁלאֿהרן be of Aaron's disciples, Song 2:1 שְׂכָרָן שֶׁלמִֿצְוֺת, vSong 2:2; Song 3:2 הֲוֵי מתפלל בשׁלומהּ שׁלמֿלכות; compare in Syriac, as Luke 6:42 my words, Nö^{§ 225}). And with בְּ, בְּשֶׁל literally through that which belongs to or concerns, pleonastic for on account of (a late, unidiomatic translation of Aramaic בְּרִיל, from בְּ, דִּי, and לְ, as in Onk Gen 12:13 בדילי on my account, Gen 30:27; Gen 39:5 בְּדִיל יוֺסֵף, בְּדִיל מָא on account of what ? Judg 8:1; 2Sam 9:1; 1Kgs 11:12; 1Kgs 11:39, etc.), Jonah 1:7 בְּשֶׁלְּמִי on account of whom ? (|| vJonah 1:8 בַּאֲשֶׁר לְמִי; probably a gloss), vJonah 1:12 בְּשֶׁלִּי an account of me (ᵑ7 בְּדִיל מַן, בְּדִילִי); Eccl 8:17 בְּשֶׁל אֲשֶׁר יַעֲמֹל הָאָדָם לְבַקֵּשׁ on account of (the fact) that (= seeing that) man labours, etc. (unidiomatic translation of Aramaic בְּדִיל דְּ because that, as Gen 6:3 בְּדִיל דְּאִינוּן בִּסְרָא, Gen 39:9 בְּרִיל דְּאַתְּ אִיתְּתֵיהּ [for Hebrew בַּאֲשֶׁר אַתְּ אִשְׁתּוֺ]; Palmyrene בדיל די Ldzb²³³, — in Tariff Gen 1:4 (Cooke^{N. Semitic Inscr. 320}) = ἐπειδή).

[שֹׁא] see [ שׁוֺא].

BDB9652 H3964 H4101 H4100

מָה (מָא Ezra 6:8) pronoun interrogative and indefinite what? (Biblical Hebrew מָה; Nabataean מה; Zinjirli מ; ᵑ7 מא; Syriac ; Arabic : compare W^{CG 124 f.}); —

1. what ? Dan 4:32 מה עבדת.

2. whatever, what (compare Biblical Hebrew 1 b end) Dan 2:22 ידע מח בחשׁוכא knoweth what is in darkness, Ezra 6:9: so מָה דִּי (compare דִּי 1 b: so Nabataean; Palmyrene מא די, מדי, Lzb³⁰⁶ Cooke^{320, 332}) Dan 2:28; Dan 2:29 (twice in verse); Dan 2:45; Ezra 6:8 למא די תעבדון with regard to what ye shall do, Ezra 7:18 (= whatsoever).

3. with prefixes:
a. כְּמָה how! Dan 3:33 (twice in verse).
b. לְמָה why? (compare Biblical Hebrew לָמָּה) Ezra 4:22 be not slack herein: why should damage grow, etc., virtually = lest damage grow (ᵐ5 μή ποτε), Ezra 7:23 די למה להוא קצף for why should there be wrath ? = lest [ᵐ5 μή ποτε] there be wrath (compare ᵑ7 דִּילְמָא, Syriac lest: and see מָה 4 d b, p. 554:a).
c. עלמֿה wherefore? Dan 2:15.

what, why, wherefore, how, wherein, …

mâ

properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and even relatively, that which); often used with prefixes in various adverbial or conjunctive senses

(interr pron) what, how, of what kind

(interrogative)

what?

how, how now

wherein?, whereby?, wherewith?, by what means?

how much?, how many?, how often?

יְדַבֵּ֣ר

Root word spake, speak, spoken, said, speaking, …

Dictionary form: דָבַר · daw-BAHR

Verb — Piel, Imperfect (Yiqtol), third person masculine singular intensive — "he really / thoroughly did" not-yet-complete action — try "he will ___" or "he ___s" the built-in subject is "he (or it)"

In the KJV here: saith

spake ×193 speak ×100 hath spoken ×39 he spake ×29 and spake ×27 have spoken ×26 to speak ×20 and speak ×18

More options

speak — Most versatile modern rendering; fits nearly all contexts.

say — Prefer for short, direct speech or quotation introductions.

tell — Use when emphasis is on conveying information to someone.

declare — Suits formal, public, or solemn proclamations.

talk — More conversational; good for dialogue or extended exchange.

announce — Best when the speech is a public or official pronouncement.

BDB1815 H1696

[דָּבַר]₁₁₄₂ verb speak (original meaning dubious; range in order Thes is conjectural and not comprehensive enough; treiben MV does not explain Arabic or Hebrew usage, but only Aramaic A meaning go away, sustained by Arabic go away with it, would best explain the four branches of usage: — (1) Arabic depart, perish, IV. retreat, figurative retrograde, decline; passing away, death; Assyrian dabâru, Pi`el drive away, Bez^{Orient. Diplom, Vocab.}, Dibbara, pest-god, Hpt. in KAT^{2. 500}, דֶּבֶר pestilence. (2) Arabic follow behind, in time, place, or station; part behind, back, דְּבִיר hindmost chamber of temple. (3) Syriac lead, guide, cattle, sheep, government, take a wife, = Aramaic דְּבַר; Syriac , Aramaic דַּבָּר leader; Syriac , Aramaic דַּבָּרָא guidance; Syriac , Aramaic דַּבְרָא, Hebrew דֹּבֶר; Syriac , Aramaic מַדְבְּרָא, Hebrew מִדְבָּר pasture, wilderness; Arabic , Syriac , Aramaic דַּבַּרְתָא, Hebrew דְּבוֺרָה swarm of bees, may be in this line, as led by their queen, so Thes. (4) Arabic consider the end or issue (of an affair), relate (a story or tradition); consider, plan against; Phoenician דבר speak; Hebrew דִּבֶּר etc. Synonym of אָמַר say, as Aramaic מַלֵּל with אֲמַר; Greek λαλεῖν, λέγειν; Lat loqui, dicere; German reden, sagen) —

Qal₄₁ only infinitive (once ?) & participle: Infinitive suffix בְּדָבְרֶ֑ךָ (by attraction to בְּשָׁפְטֶ֑ךָ for usual Piel) Ps 51:6 Participle דֹּבֵר Exod 6:29 + 30 t.; plural דֹּבְרִים Num 36:5; Ps 109:20 construct דֹּבְרֵי Ps 5:7 + 3 t.; feminine דֹּבְרוֺת Num 27:7; Ps 31:19 passive דָּבֻר Prov 25:11 — speak, absolute Num 27:7; Num 32:27; Num 36:5 (P) Ps 51:6 (?); דָּבָר דָּבֻר word spoken Prov 25:11 with accusative of thing דֹּבֵר דָּבָר speaking a word Job 2:13 אמת Ps 15:2, תמים Amos 5:10, (מ)ישׁרים Prov 16:13; Isa 33:15, צדק Isa 45:19, שׁלום Esth 10:3; Ps 28:3, שׁקר(יםׅ Ps 63:12; Ps 101:7; Jer 40:16, כזב Ps 5:7; Ps 58:4, רע Ps 109:20, נבלה Isa 9:16, הַוַּת נפשׁו Mic 7:3 with אֶל of person, unto Gen 16:13 (J) Exod 6:29 (P) Jer 38:20; Jer 40:16; Dan 10:11; Jonah 3:2 בְּאָזְנֵי in the ears of Deut 5:1; Jer 28:7 עַל concerning, about Ps 31:19; Ps 109:20; Jer 32:42 (sometimes rendered against, but dubious); עִם with Ps 28:3 הַמַּלְאָךְ הַדֹּבֵר בִּי the angel that spake with me (as a prophet, an instrument of communicating with Israel) Zech 1:9; Zech 1:13; Zech 1:14; Zech 2:2; Zech 2:7; Zech 4:1; Zech 4:4; Zech 4:5; Zech 5:5; Zech 5:10; Zech 6:4 (see preposition בְּ III. 2 Ew^{§ 217 f.} (3)). Niph`al₄ Perfect נִדְבְּרוּ Mal 3:16, נִדְבָּ֑רוּ Ps 119:23, נִדְבַּרְנוּ Mal 3:13 Participle הַנִּדְבָּרִים Ezek 33:30 reciprocal sense, speak with one another, talk, absolute Mal 3:16 with בְּ, against Ps 119:23; Ezek 33:30 with עַל, concerning, about Mal 3:13 (RV against, see Ew^{§ 217 i}.) Pi`el₁₀₈₉ Perfect דִּבֶּר Gen 12:4 +, דִּבֵּ֑ר Gen 21:1 + (on דִּבֶּ֑ר Exod 12:25; Deut 26:19 see Bö^{§ 1021 d} (1) Kö^{i, 188}); Imperfect יְדַבֵּר Gen 44:7 +, יְדַבֶּרֿ Gen 44:18 +; תְּדַבְּרוּן Gen 32:20, תְּדַבֵּר֑וּן Ps 58:2 Imperative דַּבֵּר Gen 24:38 +, דַּבֶּרֿ Exod 11:2 +; Infinitive דַּבֵּר Gen 24:50 +, דַּבֶּרֿ Isa 59:13 +; Participle מְדַבֵּר Gen 27:6 +; feminine מְדַבֶּרֶת 1Sam 1:13 +; — (הַדִּבֵּר Jer 5:13, infinitive Ki⁴⁸, probably Ol^{§ 182 e} Kö^{§ 23 (5)}, perhaps MV; but more probably a noun, as Ges^{«GKC:52»§ 52} (2), Anm. 3 Ew^{§ 156 a}, dubious perfect as Sta^{§ 222}; בְּיוֺם דִּבֶּר Exod 6:28; Num 3:1; Deut 4:15 תְּחִלַּת דִּבֶּרֿ Hos 1:2, infinitive Ki⁴⁸ Bö^{§ 987} (7) Kö^{§ 23} (5); but more probably perfect, as Ges^{«GKC:52»§ 52} (2). Anm. 3); — speak,

1. absolute Deut 18:17 + (throughout the literature) usually with לֵאמֹר, less frequently וַיּאֹמֶר: 2Kgs 18:28 +, compare the phrases ) דברתי׳אני (י Ezek 5:13 + 18 t. Ezekiel; דבר ׳כי י Isa 1:2; Isa 21:17; Isa 22:25; Isa 24:3; Isa 25:8; Jer 13:15; Joel 4:8; Obad 1:18 דבר ׳כי פי י Isa 1:20; Isa 40:5; Isa 58:14; Mic 4:4 פי ידבר Ps 49:4 (י)דבר פי Ps 66:14; Ps 145:21 השׁכם ודבר Jer 7:13; Jer 25:3; Jer 35:14 עוד זה מדבר Job 1:16; Job 1:17; Job 1:18.

2. with accusative of thing, very frequently, ׳ד את הדברים האלה Exod 20:1; Deut 5:19 +; לָמָּה תְּדַבֵּר עוֺד דְּבָרֶיךָ why speakest thou any more of thy affairs ? 2Sam 19:30 עַד אִםדִּֿבַּרְתִּי דְּבָרָ֑י until I have told my errand Gen 24:33 seldom followed by דָּבָר indefinite; as דָּבָר ׳ד Isa 58:13 speak a (mere, empty) word; so probably also דְּבָרִים ׳ד Hos 10:4 with other nouns, e.g. דבר קשׁות spake rough words Gen 42:7; Gen 42:30 (E); גבהה ׳ד proud words 1Sam 2:3 טבות friendly words Jer 12:6 טוב 1Sam 19:4; 1Kgs 22:13; Esth 7:9 שׁקר Isa 59:3 +, כזב Dan 11:27, אמת Jer 9:4 +, שׁוא Ps 12:3 +; דבר שׁיר utter, sing a song Judg 5:12 משׁל 1Kgs 5:12 יְהוּדִית the Jewish language Neh 13:24 סרה rebellion Deut 13:6; Jer 28:16; Jer 29:32.

3. with persons:
a. rarely accusative יָָֽכְלוּ דַבְּרוֺ לְשָׁלֹם they could [not] speak unto him peaceably Gen 37:4 (J; but Ew^{§ 282 a} about him); וַיְדַבֵּר ֗֗֗ אֹתָם Num 26:3 (P, but text corrupt see Di; not satisfactory explanation yet given, possibly read אִתָּם see d).
b. most frequently with אֶל throughout the literature: Gen 8:15 +; compare phrases אֶל משֶׁה לֵאמֹר ׳וַיְדַבֵּר י Exod 6:10 + 87 t. P; but אל משׁה לך ׳וידבּר י Exod 32:7; Exod 33:1 (JE); דבּר אל אהרן Lev 6:18 + 8 t. (P); ישׂראל דבר אל בני Exod 6:9 + 38 t. (P); elsewhere, Exod 19:6 (E) Deut 1:3; Deut 4:45 (D); אל (כל) העדה ׳ד Exod 12:3; Lev 19:2; Num 16:24; Num 16:26 (P); אל לב ׳ד speak unto one's heart Gen 24:45, i.e. to oneself, compare also על לִבָּהּ ׳ד 1Sam 1:13, see 5 below; אל is used inexactly for על 1Sam 3:12; 1Kgs 16:12; Isa 16:13; Jer 27:13; Jer 30:4; Jer 33:14; Jer 36:7; Jer 36:31; Jer 40:2; Jer 50:1; Jer 51:12; Jer 51:62 where it is rendered concerning or against.
c. with לְ speak to 1Kgs 2:19; Ezek 32:21; Dan 2:4 ליהוה speak, sing to Yahweh words of a song Josh 10:12 (D) 2Sam 22:1 (= Ps 18:1 title); in D, דבר ל promise to, in phrases ) ל׳כאשׁר דבר(י Deut 1:11; Deut 1:21; Deut 6:3; Deut 9:3; Deut 10:9; Deut 11:25; Deut 12:20; Deut 15:6; Deut 18:2; Deut 26:18; Deut 27:3; Deut 29:12; Josh 13:14; Josh 13:33; Josh 22:4; Josh 23:5; Josh 23:10 (all D); אשׁר דבר ל Deut 9:28; 1Kgs 8:24; 1Kgs 8:25; 1Kgs 8:26 (= 2Chr 6:15; 2Chr 6:16; 2Chr 6:17). — דבר ל Gen 24:7; Gen 28:15; Gen 49:28; Exod 32:34 (J) Josh 9:21 (P) Judg 14:7; 2Sam 23:3; Isa 30:10; Zech 9:10 usually rendered speak to, but often rather promise to. הֲיֵשׁ לְדַבֶּרלָֿךְ אֶלהַֿמֶּלֶךְ is it possible to speak for thee unto the king ? 2Kgs 4:13 (by attraction to לַעֲשׂוֺת לָךְ).
d. with אֵת speak with Gen 17:3; Gen 17:22; Gen 17:23; Gen 21:2; Gen 23:8; Gen 34:6; Gen 34:8; Gen 35:13; Gen 35:15; Exod 25:22; Exod 31:18; Exod 34:29; Exod 34:33; Exod 34:34; Exod 34:35; Num 3:1; Num 7:89; Josh 22:15; Josh 22:21 (all P) Gen 35:14; Gen 41:9; Gen 42:7; Gen 45:15; Josh 17:14 (all E) Deut 5:21 sources of Samuel Kings Chronicles, 2Sam 3:27; 2Sam 7:7 = 1Chr 17:6; 1Kgs 8:15 = 2Chr 6:4; 1Kgs 22:24 = 2Chr 18:23; 2Chr 10:10 ( = אל 1Kgs 12:10) Jer 5:5; Jer 7:22; Jer 9:7; Jer 35:2; Jer 38:25; Jer 3:22; Jer 3:24; Jer 3:27; Jer 14:4; Jer 20:3; Jer 44:5; compare phrases דבר חד את אחד speak one with another Ezek 33:30 דבר משׁפטים את speak judgments with, usually = give judgment against, (not Jer 12:1), Jer 1:16; Jer 4:12; Jer 12:1; Jer 39:5; Jer 52:9 (= 2Kgs 25:6); דבר טבות את speak kindly with 2Kgs 25:28 = Jer 52:32.
e. with עִם speak with, (not P), Gen 29:9; Gen 31:24; Gen 31:29; Exod 19:9; Exod 20:19 (twice in verse); Exod 20:22; Exod 33:9; Num 11:17; Num 22:19; Josh 24:27 (all J E) Deut 5:4; Deut 9:10; Judg 6:17; 1Sam 9:25 (ᵐ5 Th We Dr וַיִּרְבְּדוּ לְ spread a couch for) 1Sam 17:23; 2Sam 13:22; 1Kgs 1:14; 1Kgs 1:22; 2Kgs 6:33; 2Kgs 18:26; 2Chr 9:1 (= אֶל 1Kgs 10:2) Neh 9:18; Esth 6:14; Jer 32:4; Dan 8:18; Dan 9:22; Dan 10:11; Dan 10:15; Dan 10:17; Dan 10:19; Hos 12:5 דִּבַּרְתִּי אֲנִי עִם לִבִּי I spake, communed with my heart Eccl 1:16. feminine לִפְנֵי before, in the presence of Exod 6:12; Num 36:1 (P) Judg 11:11; 1Kgs 3:22; Esth 8:3.

4. with בְּ
a. instrumental, דבר בְּ speak with, by, or by means of a person (see above Qal near the end) Num 12:2 (twice in verse); Num 12:6; Num 12:8 (E) 2Sam 23:2 (compare Dr), 1Kgs 22:28 = 2Chr 18:27; Hab 2:1 בְּשֵׁם דִּבֶּר speak in the name of Exod 5:23 (J) Deut 18:19; Deut 18:20 (twice in verse); Deut 18:22; 1Chr 21:19; Jer 20:9; Jer 26:16; Jer 29:23; Jer 44:16; Dan 9:6; Zech 13:3 ביד by the hand of Num 17:5; Num 27:23; (P) 1Sam 28:17; 1Kgs 8:53 + 13 t. Kings, 2Chr 10:15 (= 1Kgs 12:15) Isa 20:2; Jer 37:2; Jer 50:1; Ezek 38:17.
b. local (figurative), בְּאָזְנֵי in the ears of Gen 20:8 (E) Exod 11:2; Deut 32:44 (J) Gen 23:16; Num 14:28; Josh 20:4 (P) Deut 31:28; Deut 31:30; Judg 9:2; Judg 9:3; 1Sam 8:21; 1Sam 11:4; 1Sam 25:24; 2Sam 3:19 (twice in verse); Jer 26:15; Prov 23:9 בלב דבר speak in the heart Eccl 2:15.
c. of the object, speak of, about (preposition בְּ IV. e Ew^{§ 217 f}, (2)) Deut 6:7; Deut 11:19; 1Sam 19:3; 1Sam 19:4; Ps 119:46; Ps 122:8 propose for (a wife) 1Sam 25:39 (compare Song 8:8).
d. of hostility, against (Ew^{§ 217 f}, (1)) Num 12:1; Num 12:8; Num 21:5; Num 21:7 (E) Job 19:18; Ps 50:20; Ps 78:19.
e. of price, בְּנַפְשׁוֺ at the cost of his life 1Kgs 2:23 (see בְּ III. 3).

5. with עַל, of the object concerning or about which one speaks Gen 18:19; Num 10:29 (J) Josh 23:14 (D) Judg 9:3; 1Sam 25:30; 1Kgs 2:4; 1Kgs 2:27; 1Kgs 5:13 (twice in verse); 1Kgs 14:2; 1Kgs 22:23 (= 2Chr 18:22), 2Kgs 10:10; 2Kgs 19:21 = Isa 37:22; 1Chr 22:11; 2Chr 23:3; Jer 1:16; Jer 18:7; Jer 18:8; Jer 18:9; Jer 42:19. It may have this sense in most if not all of the following, where RV renders 1Kgs 2:18; 1Kgs 2:19; Esth 7:9; Jer 18:20 for; 2Chr 32:16; Neh 6:12; Jer 11:17; Jer 16:10; Jer 25:13; Jer 26:13; Jer 26:19; Jer 35:17; Ezek 36:5; Dan 9:12; Dan 11:36; Hos 7:13; Amos 3:1 against; and 1Kgs 9:5; 2Kgs 22:19; Jer 10:1; Jer 19:15 unto (על is used for אל unto 2Chr 32:19; Jer 6:10; Jer 25:2; Jer 26:2; Hos 12:11); compare the phrase דבר על לב speak upon the heart, speak kindly, comfort Gen 34:3; Gen 50:21 (E) Judg 19:3; Ruth 2:13; 1Sam 1:13 (seemingly from context על for אל, to her heart, to herself, see Dr), 2Sam 19:8; 2Chr 30:22; 2Chr 32:6; Isa 40:2; Hos 2:16.

6. with infin. דבר לעשׂות promise to do Exod 32:14 (J) Deut 1:14; Ezek 6:10; Jonah 3:10 דבר לתת promise to give Deut 19:8 דבר למחות threaten to blot out 2Kgs 14:27 compare דבר להזהיר i.e. so as to warn Ezek 3:18; Ezek 33:8.

Note. — וַתָּקָם וַתְּדַבֵּר אֶתכָּֿלזֶֿרַע הַמַּמְלָכָה 2Chr 22:10 ᵐ5 ἀπώλεσε, ᵑ9 interfecit, scribal error for וַתְּאַבֵּד 2Kgs 11:1. Other explanations: plot against, waylay (Arabic ) Thes MV; pronounce sentence, elliptical וַתְּדַבֵּר מִשְׁפָּטִים Ges^Hdw Rob; but compare VB. —

Pu`al Imperfect בַּיּוֺם שֶׁיְּדֻבַּרבָּֿהּ in the day when she may be spoken for Song 8:8 (see Pi`el 4 c); Participle נִכְבָּדוֺת מְדֻבָּר בָּךְ glorious things are being spoken in thee (RV Pe MV of thee) Ps 87:3. Hithpa`el Participle מִדַּבֵּר = מִתְדַּבֵּר with accusative מִדַּבֵּר הַדָּבָר הַזֶּה speaking this word 2Sam 14:13 ׳שָׁמַע (אֵת הַקּוֺל) מִדַּבֵּר אֶל heard (the voice, or) one speaking unto Num 7:89 (P) Ezek 2:2; Ezek 43:6 (Di Num 7:89 would read מְדַבֵּר after ᵐ5; the meaning not appreciably different from Piel; the Hithpa`el difficult to reconcile with אֶל). Hiph`il Imperfect וַיַּדְבֵּר עַמִּים תַּחְתָּי Ps 18:48 (2Sam 22:48 has וּמֹרִיד for rare וַיַּדְבֵּר), יַדְבֵּר עַמִּים תַּחְתֵּינוּ Ps 47:4 either (compare Aramaic דַּבַּר) leads subject (so Ges coegit, De Now), or (compare Arabic turn the back, retreat) puts to flight, figurative for subdues (so Hi).

spake, speak, spoken, said, speaking, …

dābar

perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue

to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing

(Qal) to speak

to speak

אֲדֹנִ ֔י

אֲדֹנִ

Root word a name — transliterate it ("My lord")

֔י

Suffix — pronoun my / me

Dictionary form: אָדוֹן · aw-DONE

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

In the KJV here: my lord

my lord ×100 his master ×20 my master ×17 of my lord ×15 the lord ×9 let my lord ×6 our lord ×6 thy lord ×6

More options

master — Best for household/servant relationships and ownership contexts.

lord — Modernized KJV form; suits formal or elevated contexts.

owner — Prefer when emphasizing legal possession of property or people.

sir — Polite address; fits direct speech with respectful tone.

ruler — Good when authority over a group or territory is in view.

supervisor — Contemporary workplace register; for employer-employee dynamics.

BDB125 H113 H136

אָדוֺן noun masculine^{Mal 3:1} lord (Phoenician אדן) — ׳א Ps 12:5 + construct אֲדוֺן Josh 3:11 +; plural אֲדֹנִים Isa 26:13 +; construct אֲדֹנֵי Deut 10:17 +; suffix אֲדֹנֵינוּ 1Sam 25:14 + etc.; (אֲדֹנִי, אֲדֹנַי, אֲדֹנָי are variations of Masoretic pointing to distinguish divine reference from human. Plural, with few except an intensive plural of rank; word takes suffix as plural in all other person; so doubtless here. Orig. reading probably in all cases אֲדֹנַי (see Dalm^{Der Gottesname Adonaj}; Lag^{BN 188 makes} אֲדֹנָי an Aramaic formative); אֲדֹנִי now found in J 51 t.; in E Gen 31:35; Gen 32:19; Gen 42:10; Exod 21:5 in P Gen 23:6; Gen 23:11; Gen 23:15; Num 36:2 (twice in verse); often Samuel & Kings; in Chronicles only in sources, 1Chr 21:3 (3 t. in verse); 1Chr 21:23 (= 2Sam 24:3; 2Sam 24:22) 2Chr 2:13; 2Chr 2:14 Isaiah & Jeremiah only in historical parts Isa 36:8; Isa 36:9; Isa 36:12; Jer 37:20; Jer 38:9 elsewhere Dan 1:10; Dan 10:16; Dan 10:17; Dan 10:19; Dan 12:8; Zech 1:9; Zech 4:4; Zech 4:5; Zech 4:13; Zech 6:4; Ps 110:1; Judg 4:18; Judg 6:13; Ruth 2:13 בִּי אֲדנָי Exod 4:10; Exod 4:13; Josh 7:8 (J) Judg 6:15; Judg 13:8 is referred to God, but בִּי אֲדנִי Gen 43:20; Gen 44:18; Num 12:11 (J) 1Sam 1:26; 1Sam 25:24; 1Kgs 3:17; 1Kgs 3:26 reference to human superiors. There is uncertainty as to אֲדֹנָ֯י Gen 18:3; Gen 19:18 אֲדֹ֯נַי Gen 19:2) —

1. singular lord, master (1) reference to men:
(a) superintendent of household, or of affairs Gen 45:8; Gen 45:9 (E) = Ps 105:21
(b) master Ps 12:5
(c) king Jer 22:18; Jer 34:5 (2) reference to God, הָאָדוֺן יהוה the Lord Yahweh (see יהוה) Exod 23:17; Exod 34:23 (Cov't codes); אֲרוֺן כָּלהָֿאָרֶץ Lord of the whole earth Josh 3:11; Josh 3:13 (J) Ps 97:5; Zech 4:14; Zech 6:5; Mic 4:13 צֻבָאוֺת ׳י ׳הָא, earlier Isa 1:24; Isa 3:1; Isa 10:33; Isa 19:4 (אֲדֹנָי Isa 10:16 in common MT; not Massora, doubtless scribal error); ׳הָא Mal 3:1 אָדוֺן Ps 114:7.

2. plural lords, kings Deut 10:17 = Ps 136:3; Isa 26:13 elsewhere intensive plural of rank, lord, master, (1) reference to men:
(a) proprietor of hill Samaria 1Kgs 16:24
(b) master Gen 40:7 (E) Exod 21:4 (twice in verse); Exod 21:6; Exod 21:8; Exod 21:32 (Cov't code) Gen 24:9 + (J, 11 t.) Deut 23:16; Judg 19:11; Judg 19:12 + 13 t. Samuel & Kings; Job 3:19; Ps 123:2; Prov 25:13; Prov 27:18; Prov 30:10; Isa 24:2; Amos 4:1; Zeph 1:9; Mal 1:6 (twice in verse);
(c) husband Judg 19:26; Judg 19:27; Ps 45:12
(d) prophet 2Kgs 2:3; 2Kgs 2:5; 2Kgs 2:16
(e) governor Neh 3:5
(f) prince Gen 42:10; Gen 42:30; Gen 42:33 (E) Gen 44:8 (J) 1Sam 29:10
(g) king Gen 40:1 (E) Judg 3:25 + 40 t. Samuel & Kings; Chronicles only in sources 1Chr 12:19 compare 1Sam 29:4; 2Chr 13:6; 2Chr 18:16 = 1Kgs 22:17; Isa 19:4; Isa 22:18; Isa 36:12; Isa 37:4; Isa 37:6; Jer 27:4 (2) reference to God Mal 1:6 אֲדֹנֵי הָאֲדֹנִים Lord of lords Deut 10:17 = Ps 136:3 אֲדֹנֵינוּ Ps 135:5; Ps 147:5; Neh 8:10 אֲדֹנֵינוּ ׳י Ps 8:2; Ps 8:10; Neh 10:30 ׳אֲדֹנַיִח י Isa 51:22 (probably = thy husband, Yahweh); אֲדֹנָיו Hos 12:15 (possibly error for אֲדֹנָי).

3. suffix 1 singular (אֲדֹנַי) אֲדֹנִי (1) reference to men: my lord, my master, (a) master Exod 21:5 (Cov't code) Gen 24:12 +, Gen 44:5 (J, 20 t.) 1Sam 30:13; 1Sam 30:15; 2Kgs 5:3; 2Kgs 5:20; 2Kgs 5:22; 2Kgs 6:15
(b) husband Gen 18:12 (J);
(c) prophet 1Kgs 18:7; 1Kgs 18:13; 2Kgs 2:19; 2Kgs 4:16; 2Kgs 4:28; 2Kgs 6:5; 2Kgs 8:5
(d) prince Gen 42:10 (E), Gen 23:6; Gen 23:11; Gen 23:15 (P), Gen 43:20; Gen 44:18 +, Gen 47:18, + (J, 12 t.); Judg 4:18
(e) king 1Sam 22:12 + (Samuel & Kings 75 t.);
(f) father Gen 31:35 (E);
(g) Moses Exod 32:22; Num 11:28; Num 12:11; Num 32:26; Num 32:27 (J); Num 36:2 (twice in verse) (P);
(h) priest 1Sam 1:15; 1Sam 1:26 (twice in verse);
(i) theophanic angel Josh 5:14; Judg 6:13
(j) captain 2Sam 11:11
(k) general recognition of superiority Gen 24:18; Gen 32:5 + Gen 33:8 +; Gen 44:7 + (J, 13 t.), Ruth 2:13; 1Sam 25:24 + (15 t.); (2) reference to God: אֲדֹנָי
a. my Lord Gen 20:4 (? E) Exod 15:17 (Samaritan יהוה) elsewhere in Hexateuch, J; Gen 18:3(?); Gen 18:27; Gen 18:30; Gen 18:31; Gen 18:32; Gen 19:2; Gen 19:18(?) Exod 4:10; Exod 4:13; Exod 5:22; Exod 34:9; Num 14:17; Josh 7:8 also Judg 6:15; Judg 13:8 not Samuel; 1Kgs 22:6; 2Kgs 19:23 not Chron. except memorials Ezra 10:3 (reference to Ezra) Neh 1:11; Neh 4:8 Wisdom Literature only Job 28:28 (doubtless scribal error for יהוֺה of many MSS.); not Hosea; Isa 37:24; Isa 38:14; Isa 38:16 (historical part); exile Isa 49:14 (compare Isa 51:22); Mic 1:2; Ps 16:2 + (47 t., chiefly this sense, except below
b.; compare אֱלֹהַי וַאדֹנָי my Lord and my God Ps 35:23 (writers that use אֱלֹהִים seldom use אֲדֹנָי);
b. Adonay proper name of God, parallel with Yahweh, substitution for it often by scribal error, & eventually supplanting it. In earlier Isa 3:17 + (19 t. seeming to belong here), Amos 7:7; Amos 7:8; Amos 9:1; Ezek 18:25; Ezek 18:29; Ezek 33:17; Ezek 33:20; Ezek 21:14 (probably ׳אֲדֹנָי י as in usual phrase); Zech 9:4; Mal 1:12; Mal 1:14; Lam 1:14 + (14 t.) Ps 2:4; Ps 37:13; Ps 78:65; Ps 90:17 (? יהוה) Ps 110:5 (Dalman puts most of these below
(a); — many cases are doubtful); 1Kgs 3:10; 1Kgs 3:15 (Masoretic אדני for יהוה compare Dalm 2Kgs 7:6 Dalm rightly questions; he reads יהוה). The phrases אֲדֹנָי אֱלֹהַי Ps 38:16; Ps 86:12, Adonay my God; אֲדֹנָי הָאֱלֹהִים Dan 9:3, אֱלֹהֵינוּ ׳א Dan 9:9; Dan 9:15, הָאֵל ׳א Dan 9:4 favour taking ׳א Dan 1:2; Dan 9:7; Dan 9:8 (יהוה ?) vDan 9:16 vDan 9:17 vDan 9:19 vDan 9:19 vDan 9:19 as the divine name.

4. אֲדֹנָי יהוה
(a) my Lord Yahweh (see יהוה) Gen 15:2; Gen 15:8 (JE) Josh 7:7 (J, ᵐ5 omit ׳י) Deut 3:24; Deut 9:26; Judg 6:22; Judg 16:28; 2Sam 7:1 (6 t.) 1Kgs 2:26; 1Kgs 8:53 probably Amos 3:7; Amos 3:8; Amos 7:2; Amos 7:4; Amos 7:5; Amos 9:8; Jer 1:6; Jer 4:10; Jer 14:13; Jer 32:17; Jer 32:25; Ezek 4:14; Ezek 8:1; Ezek 9:6; Ezek 11:13; Ezek 20:49; Ezek 37:3 (׳יָדַע כִּי אֲני א ׳י) Ezek 13:9; Ezek 23:49; Ezek 24:24; Ezek 28:24; Ezek 29:16 inappropriate in mouth of God; strike out אֲדֹנָי (Co) or read אֱלֹהֵיכֶם ׳י (Dalm); Mic 1:2; Zeph 1:7; Obad 1:1; Zech 9:14; Ps 71:5; Ps 71:16; Ps 73:28
(b) apparently proper name Adonay Yahweh Isa 25:8; Jer 44:26 exile Isa 40:10 + (10 t., but Isa 61:1; Isa 61:11 read יהוה, ᵐ5);
(c) uncertain whether
(a) or
(b) in prophetic formula אָמַר ׳י ׳א Isa 7:7; Isa 28:16; Isa 30:15; Isa 49:22; Isa 51:4; Isa 65:13; Jer 7:20; Amos 1:8; Amos 3:11; Amos 5:3; Amos 7:6; Obad 1:1 Ezekiel (131 t.); ׳י ׳נְאֻם א Isa 56:8; Jer 2:22; Amos 3:13; Amos 4:5; Amos 8:3; Amos 8:9; Amos 8:11 Ezekiel (80 t.); ׳י ׳דְּבַראֿ Ezek 6:3; Ezek 25:3; Ezek 36:4 ׳י ׳נִשְׁבַּע א Amos 4:2; Amos 6:8 ׳י ׳כֹּה הִרְאַנִי א Amos 7:1; Amos 7:4; Amos 8:1.

5. יהוה אֲדֹנָי Yahweh my Lord Ps 68:21; Ps 109:21; Ps 140:8; Ps 141:8; Hab 3:9.

6. אֲדֹנָי יהוה צְבָאוֺת
(a) my Lord Yahweh ‚. (see צבאות) Ps 69:7; Amos 9:5; Isa 10:23; Isa 22:5; Isa 22:12; Isa 28:22 compare ׳אֱלֹהֵי הַצְבָאוֺת א ׳י, Yahweh, the God of Hosts my Lord Amos 5:16
(b) a divine name, Adonay, Yahweh ‚. Jer 46:10 (twice in verse); Jer 50:25
(c) uncertain are ׳צ ׳י ׳כֹּה אָמַר א Isa 10:24; Isa 22:14; Isa 22:15 ׳נְאֻם א ׳צ ׳י Isa 3:15; Jer 2:19; Jer 49:5; Jer 50:31.

lord, master, masters, lords, owner, …

ʾādôn

sovereign, i.e., controller (human or divine)

firm, strong, lord, master

lord, master

reference to men

superintendent of household, of affairs

the Lord God

reference to men

proprietor of hill of Samaria

Lord of lords

reference to men

master

my Lord, my Lord and my God

כַּ דְּבָרִ֖ים

כַּ

Prefix — preposition like, as + "the" (the article is absorbed into the prefix)

דְּבָרִ֖ים

Root word word, words, thing, acts, things, …

Dictionary form: דָּבָר · daw-BAWR

כַּ

Hidden "the" כַּ = the preposition + the article הַ squeezed together: the "a" vowel under the prefix is the swallowed "the". Translate "like the ___".

Noun — Common, masculine plural, absolute state plural — usually add "-s"

In the KJV here: words

the word ×142 the words ×132 thing ×103 words ×92 of the acts ×43 things ×42 of the chronicles ×37 word ×36

More options

word — Best for divine speech, commands, or prophetic utterances.

matter — Prefer when context is a topic, affair, or issue.

thing — Broad default when no specific semantic fits better.

message — Use when content is being conveyed from a sender.

account — Fits historical or narrative contexts, e.g. royal records.

decree — Best for official, authoritative, or legal pronouncements.

BDB1816 H1697

דָּבָר₁₄₃₉ noun masculine speech, word — Gen 18:14 + 446 t.; construct דְּבַר Gen 12:17 + 361 t.; suffix דְּבָרִי Num 11:23 + (suffixes 66 t.); singular in all 875 t.; plural דְּבָרִים Exod 4:10 + 182 t.; construct דִּבְרֵי Gen 24:30 + 253 t.; suffix דְּבָרָיו Gen 37:8 (suffixes 127 t.); plural in all 564 t.; —

I. singular speech, discourse, saying, word, as the sum of that which is spoken:

1. of men,
a. נְבוֺן דָּבָר discreet in speech 1Sam 16:18 שְׂפָתַיִם ׳ד speech of lips Ps 59:13, mere talk Isa 36:5 (= 2Kgs 18:20) Prov 14:23 (compare Ps 17:4 speech of God's lips); דָּבָר מָר bitter speech Ps 64:4 כָּזָב ׳ד lying speech Prov 30:8 דְּבָֽרְךָ טוֺכ thy saying is good 1Sam 9:10 וּדְבַר אַבְנֵר הָיָה עִם and the speech of Abner had been with the elders of Israel 2Sam 3:17 (compare 1Kgs 1:7); אמר הדבר הזה say this saying Jer 23:38; Jer 31:23 compare Jer 13:12; Jer 14:17 (of God), 1Sam 8:10 (׳דִּבְרֵי י).
b. word of command, (הַ)מֶּלֶךְ ׳ד 1Chr 21:4; 1Chr 21:6; Esth 1:12 + 6 t. Esther; Eccl 8:4 compare 2Chr 30:5; 2Chr 31:5; Dan 9:23; Dan 9:25 מַלְכוּת ׳ד royal edict Esth 1:19 כדבר עשׂה do according to the command of Gen 44:2; Gen 47:30; Exod 8:9; Exod 8:27; Exod 12:35; Exod 32:28 (J) Lev 10:7 (P) Judg 11:10; Ezra 10:5; Neh 5:12; Neh 5:13 compare 2Sam 17:6 (word of counsel), 1Kgs 3:12 (request), 1Kgs 17:13 (proposal; on these meanings see below)
c. message, report, tidings, וַיִּשְׁמַע הָעָם אֶתהַֿדָּבָר הָרָע הַזֶּה and the people heard this evil report Exod 33:4 (JE) compare 1Kgs 20:12 אמת (היה) הדבר the report was true 1Kgs 10:6 = 2Chr 9:5 עַד בּוֺא דָבָר מֵעִמָּכֶם until word come from you 2Sam 15:28 ויגע הדבר אל מלך נינוה Jonah 3:6 הֵשִׁיב דָּבָר return or bring word, report Gen 37:14; Num 13:26; Num 22:8 (J) Deut 1:22; Deut 1:25; Josh 14:7; Josh 22:32 (D) 1Kgs 2:30; 1Kgs 20:9; 2Kgs 22:9; 2Kgs 22:20 (= 2Chr 34:16; 2Chr 34:28), but answer 1Sam 17:30; 2Sam 3:11; 2Sam 24:13 (= 1Chr 21:12), 1Kgs 12:6; 1Kgs 12:9 (= 2Chr 10:6; 2Chr 10:9), 2Chr 12:16; Neh 2:20; Prov 18:13; Prov 27:11; Isa 41:28; Ezek 9:11 (Dr^{Sm, p, 190 explains the phrase as} turn back with a word); compare דבר (לא) ענה answer something or nothing 1Kgs 18:21; 2Kgs 18:36; Ps 119:42; Isa 36:21; Jer 44:20 see IV. 6; דברים השׁיב return words Exod 19:8 (E) Prov 24:26 see

III. 1. d. advice, counsel, בדבר בלעם by advice of Balaam Num 31:16 (P), compare Judg 20:7; 2Sam 19:44; Esth 5:5.
e. request, אמתו of his maid, עבדו of his servant 2Sam 14:15; 2Sam 14:22.
f. promise, לא יחל דברו he shall not break his word Num 30:3 (P), compare הקים דבר perform a promise Neh 5:13, see also 2 b. g. charge, complaint, אם אמת היה הדבר הזה if this charge be true Deut 22:20 compare Deut 13:15; Deut 17:4, שׂים דבר בְּ 1Sam 22:15, שׂים עלילות דברים לְ Deut 22:14; Deut 22:17.
h. decision, sentence, דְּבַר הַמִּשְׁפָּט the sentence of judgment Deut 17:9 compare vDeut 17:10 vDeut 17:11.
i. theme, story, רָחַשׁ לִבִּי דָּבָר טוֺב my heart swells with a good theme Ps 45:2 דְּבַרגְּבוּרוֺת the story of his great might Job 41:4.

2. word of God, as a divine communication in the form of commandments, prophecy, and words of help to his people, used 394 times. This word is communicated in several ways:
a. אל ׳ויהי דבר י then the word of Yahweh came unto 1Sam 15:10; 2Sam 7:4 (compare אלהים 1Chr 17:3), 1Kgs 6:11; 1Kgs 13:20; 1Kgs 16:1; 1Kgs 17:2; 1Kgs 17:8; 1Kgs 21:17; 1Kgs 21:28; 2Chr 11:2 (compare האלהים 1Kgs 12:22): compare 1Chr 22:8 (על by confusion), Isa 38:4; Jer 1:4 + 20 t. Jeremiah, Ezek 3:16 + 41 t. Ezekiel; Jonah 1:1; Jonah 3:1; Hag 2:20; Zech 4:8; Zech 6:9; Zech 7:4; Zech 7:8; Zech 8:1 (without אל) vZech 8:18 אל ׳י ׳היה ד Gen 15:1; 2Chr 12:7; Jer 25:3 + 4 t. Jeremiah; Ezek 1:3 + 7 t. Ezekiel; Dan 9:2; Zech 1:1; Zech 1:7; Zech 7:1 אל ׳י ׳הנה ד Gen 15:4; 1Kgs 19:9 היה אל ׳י ׳ד 2Sam 24:11; 1Kgs 16:7; 1Kgs 18:1; 2Kgs 20:4; Ezek 24:20 ביד ׳י ׳היה ד Hag 1:1; Hag 2:1; Hag 2:10 ביד ׳י ׳ויהי ד Hag 1:3 אשׁר ׳י ׳היה אל ד Hos 1:1; Joel 1:1 Micah; Zeph 1:1 ׳י ׳אליו אשׁר היה ד 1Kgs 18:31; Jer 1:2 ׳אל יר ׳י ׳אשׁר היה ד Jer 14:1; Jer 46:1; Jer 47:1; Jer 49:34 (see אשׁר 6 a); הדבר אשׁר היה אל Jer 7:1 + 11 t. Jeremiah; ׳י ׳את ד 2Kgs 3:12; Jer 23:28; Jer 27:18 compare אֵלַי דָּבָר יְגֻנָּב unto me a word was brought by stealth Job 4:12, compare ׳וְטֶרֶם יִגָּלֶה אֵלָיו דְּבַר י and the word of Yahweh was not yet revealed unto him 1Sam 3:7. Yahweh also sends his word שׁלח Ps 107:20; Ps 147:18; Isa 9:7; Jer 42:5 (compare plural Zech 7:12) and makes it an object of vision ראה Jer 2:31; Jer 38:21 (compare plural Ezek 11:25), חזה Isa 2:1 it is also commanded צוה Exod 16:16; Exod 16:32; Exod 35:4; Lev 8:5; Lev 9:6; Lev 17:2; Num 30:2; Num 36:6 (P) Deut 4:2; Deut 13:1; Deut 15:15; Deut 4:10 (D) 1Chr 16:15 (= Ps 105:8) Neh 1:8; Jer 7:23, compare הדברים אשׁר צוה Exod 35:1; Lev 8:36 (P) Exod 19:7 (E) Deut 6:6.
b. Yahweh confirms his word of promise Deut 9:5; 1Sam 1:23 (where read דְּבָרֵךְ thy word according to ᵐ5 ᵑ6 & Dr), 1Kgs 2:4; 1Kgs 6:12; 1Kgs 8:20; Jer 29:10; Jer 33:14, and his word of warning 1Kgs 12:15; Dan 9:12 his word stands for ever Isa 40:8 it is settled for ever in heaven Ps 119:89 he remembers his holy word דבר קדשׁו Ps 105:42 (compare דִּבְרֵי קָדְשׁוֺ Jer 23:9); he himself Joel 2:11, the angels Ps 103:20, and forces of nature Ps 148:8 עשׂה דברו do his word of command; by his word the heavens were made Ps 33:6 it is near his people, in their mouth and heart Deut 30:14 a lamp to their feet Ps 119:105. II. saying, utterance, sentence, as a section of a discourse: —

1. of men,
a. דָּבָר בְּעִתּוֺ a word in due season Prov 15:23 compare Job 4:2; Prov 12:25 commonly in plural, דִּבְרֵי (הַ)שִּׁירָ(הׅ words of the song (i.e. its lines of poetry) Deut 31:30; Deut 32:44; Ps 18:1 (= 2Sam 22:1) Ps 137:3 הלל בדברי דויד to sing praises with the words of David (his psalms) 2Chr 29:30 דִּבְרֵי חֲכָמִים sentences of the wise Prov 1:6; Prov 22:17; Eccl 9:17; Eccl 12:11 these sayings are commonly written, compare דברי האגרת words of the letterEsth 9:26 הדברים עתיקים the records are ancient 1Chr 4:22 דִּבְרֵי (ה)סֵפֶר Isa 29:11; Isa 29:18; Jer 29:1.
b. title of writings: דִּבְרֵי קֹהֶלֶת Eccl 1:1, אגור ׳ד Prov 30:1, למואל ׳ד Prov 31:1, ירמיהו ׳ד Jer 1:1, so Amos 1:1; Neh 1:1 compare in appended phrase or clause, Jer 51:64, איוב ׳ד Job 31:40.
c. in Chronicles name of a work: החזים ׳ד 2Chr 33:18; 2Chr 33:19, שׁמעיה ׳בד 2Chr 12:15, יהוא ׳בד 2Chr 20:34, ׳שׁמואל על ד 1Chr 29:29 נתן ׳על ד 1Chr 29:29; 2Chr 9:29, גד על ׳ד 1Chr 29:29. (It is not certain whether writings of prophets or histories about them are referred to; in the latter case they are acts, IV. 2, see Dr^{Intr 497}.)

2. of God: עֲשֶׂרֶת הַדְּבָרִים the ten words (sentences in the tables) Exod 34:28 (JE) Deut 4:13; Deut 10:4, referred to as הדברים Exod 34:1 (JE) Deut 4:10; Deut 4:36; Deut 5:19; Deut 9:10; Deut 10:2 of commands of covenant code Exod 24:3; Exod 24:4; Exod 24:8 compare Exod 34:27 (JE); of Deuteronomic code Deut 17:19 (+ 16 t. D) 2Kgs 22:11; 2Kgs 23:3-24 (compare 2Chr 34:19-31) Jer 11:2-8; Jer 34:18 the law-book of Joshua Josh 24:26 (E); of the code of Ezra Ezra 7:11; Ezra 9:4; Neh 8:9; Neh 8:13 the words of Yahweh written by Jeremiah Jer 25:13; Jer 36:4-32; Jer 51:61 the words of the book of Daniel Dan 12:4; Dan 12:9 commands in general 1Sam 15:11; Ps 50:17; Ps 119:57; Ps 119:130; Ps 119:139 promises 2Sam 7:28; Neh 9:8, compare 1Chr 25:5; 2Chr 36:16. III. a word, words: —

1. of men: שָׂפָה אֶחָ֑ת וּדְבָרִים אֲחָדִים one lip, and one and the same words Gen 11:1 (J); אֵין אֹמֶר וְאֵין דְּבָרִים no speech and no words Ps 19:4 אִישׁ דְּבָרִים man of words, ready in speech, Exod 4:10 (J); רב דברים multitude of words Job 11:2; Prov 10:19; Eccl 5:2 קְחוּ עִמָּכֶם דְּבָרִים take with you words Hos 14:3 דבר(י) (ה)שׁקר lying word(s) Exod 5:9; Exod 23:7 (E) Prov 13:5; Prov 29:12; Isa 59:13; Jer 7:4; Jer 7:8 דִּבְרֵי רוּחַ words of wind, vain words Job 16:3 וּמַהשֶּֿׁמֶץ דָּבָר נִשְׁמַעבּֿוֺ and what a whisper of a word we hear of him! Job 26:14.

2. of God. It is difficult to determine how many of the following should come under

II. 2. The plural for words of God is relatively seldom: Gen 20:8; Exod 19:6; Num 12:6; Josh 3:9 (E) Exod 4:28; Exod 4:30; Num 11:24 (J) Deut 18:19; Josh 23:14 (D) 1Sam 3:18; 1Sam 8:10; 1Sam 15:1; 2Chr 11:4; Job 42:7; Prov 30:6; Isa 31:2; Dan 10:11; Amos 8:11; Mic 2:7 apart from Jer 3:12 + 30 t. Jeremiah; Ezek 2:7 + 4 t. Ezekiel; Zech 1:6 + 4 t. Zechariah. IV. matter, affair, thing about which one speaks: —

1. business, occupation: דְּבַר הַמֶּלֶךְ king's business 1Sam 21:9 לְכָלדְּֿבַר for every matter of 1Chr 26:32; 1Chr 27:1; 2Chr 19:11 דְּבָרֶיךָ לְכָלֿ for all thine affairs 1Chr 28:21 דבר המזבח Num 18:7 דָּבָר אֵיןלָֿהֶם עִם they had not dealings with Judg 18:7; Judg 18:28 דְּבַריֿוֺם בְּיוֺמוֺ the task or portion of a day in its day, daily duty or due Exod 5:13; Exod 5:19 (E) Exod 16:4 (J) Lev 23:37 (P) 1Kgs 8:59; 2Kgs 25:30; 1Chr 16:37; 2Chr 8:13 (ביום) v2Chr 8:14; 2Chr 31:16; Ezra 3:4; Neh 11:23; Neh 12:47; Jer 52:34; Dan 1:5 דבר שׁנה בשׁנה 1Kgs 10:25; 2Chr 9:24.

2. plural acts construct דִּבְרֵי 1Kgs 11:41 (twice in verse); 1Chr 29:29; 2Chr 12:15; 2Chr 16:11 דְּבָרָיו his acts 2Chr 13:22; 2Chr 35:27 especially in phrases, הַיָּמִים וְיֶתֶר דִּבְרֵי ֗֗֗ עַלסֵֿפֶר דִּבְרֵי and the rest of the acts of . . . in the book of the chronicles (daily record of events) of 1Kgs 14:29 + 32 t. Kings; וְיֶתֶר דִּבְרֵי 2Chr 13:22 + 8 t. Chronicles, וְיֶתֶר דְּבָרָיו 2Chr 28:26, שְׁאָר דִּבְרֵי 2Chr 9:29 are referred to various sources; compare also במספר דברי הימים 1Chr 27:24, בדברי דויד 1Chr 23:27, עלדֿברי מלכי ישׂראל 2Chr 33:18: דברים טובים good deeds 2Chr 12:12; 2Chr 19:13 דִּבְרֵי עֲוֺנֹת acts of iniquity Ps 65:4 (De, Fälle von Missethaten); דִּבְרֵירָֿע evil deeds Jer 5:28. It is used of God, only in כל דבריו לא יענה Job 33:13, אֹתוֺתָיו ׳ד Ps 105:27, נִפְלְאֹתֶיךָ ׳ד Ps 145:5.

3. matter, affair: דבר אוריה affair of Uriah 1Kgs 15:5 שׁרשׁ דבר root of the matter Job 19:28 מה היה הדבר how went the matter ? 1Sam 4:16; 2Sam 1:4 compare Ruth 3:18 סבב את פני הדבר change the face of the matter 2Sam 14:20 דִּבְרֵי הָאֲתֹנוֺת the matter of the asses 1Sam 10:2 זה דבר הרצח this is the case of the slayer Deut 19:4 לְכָלדְּֿבָרָיו 1Kgs 6:38 as to all its particulars.

4. events, things: in the phrase, אחר הדברים האלה after these things (events in time) Gen 15:1; Gen 22:1; Gen 40:1 (E) Gen 39:7 (J) 1Kgs 17:17; 1Kgs 21:1; Ezra 7:1; Esth 2:1; Esth 3:1 האלה אחרי הדברים Gen 48:1; Josh 24:29 (E) Gen 22:20 (J) 2Chr 32:1.

5. cause, case for judicial investigation: כִּייִֿהְיֶה לָהֶם דָּבָר if they have a case Exod 18:16 compare Exod 18:22; Exod 22:8 בעל דברים one having a case Exod 24:14, compare בדבר משׁפט 2Chr 19:6 דְּבָרֶיךָ טוֺבִים וּנְכֹחִים pleas, good and right 2Sam 15:3 compare Josh 20:4.

6. something, anything (indefinite): עשׂה דבר do a thing Gen 22:16 + (frequent); עשׂה דברים Isa 42:16 + (less frequent); דבר ׳היפלא מי Gen 18:14 compare Jer 32:17; Jer 32:27 לא ֗֗֗ דבר nothing 1Kgs 5:7; 1Kgs 10:3; + (frequent), אין דבר Exod 5:11 (E) Num 20:19; 1Sam 20:21 ׳לא דבר מ nothing of Exod 9:4 (J) Josh 8:35; Josh 11:15; Josh 21:45; Josh 23:14 (D); כל דבר anything Num 31:23; Deut 23:20 +; דבר רע Ps 141:4 +; טוב ׳ד 1Kgs 14:13 +; דְּבַרמָֿה whatsoever Num 23:3 (E); עֶרְוַת דבר Deut 23:15 naked-ness of a thing, i.e. unclean or unseemly thing (indecency in camp); so of a wife Deut 24:1.

7. way, manner: זֶה דְּבַר הַשְּׁמִטָּה this is the manner of the release Deut 15:2 (compare SI¹); כֵּן דְּבַר הַמֶּלֶךְ so was the way of the king Esth 1:13 הזה כדבר after this manner, thus Gen 18:25; Gen 32:20; Gen 44:7 (JE) 2Sam 15:6; Ezra 10:5; Neh 5:12; Neh 5:13 with (עשׂה), 1Sam 9:21; 2Sam 14:3; 2Sam 17:6 (דבר), 1Sam 17:27; 1Sam 17:30; Isa 8:20 (אמר), Neh 6:4; Neh 6:5 (שׁלח), Neh 6:4 (השׁיב) compare 1Sam 17:30; 2Kgs 7:19 (היה) (peculiar to D, כדבר הרע הזה such a wicked deed as this Deut 13:12; Deut 19:20, כדבר הגדול הזה Deut 4:32); כדברים האלה עשׂה thus and thus did he Gen 39:19 (J) 1Sam 2:23 (but usually the plural = these words).

8. reason, cause: זֶּה דְבַרהַֿמַּס 1Kgs 9:15 זה הדבר אשׁר this is the reason why Josh 5:4 (D) 1Kgs 11:27 so 1Sam 17:29 AV RV, was it not but a word ? Th Ke RVm VB Dr; עַל דְּבַר ֗֗֗ because of, for the sake of Gen 20:11; Gen 20:18 (E) Gen 12:17; Gen 43:18; Exod 8:8 (J) Num 17:14 (P) Ps 45:5; Ps 79:9, עַל דִּבְרֵי Jer 14:1 עַלדִּֿבְרֵיכֶם for your sakes Deut 4:21, עַל דְּבַר אשׁר Deut 22:24 (twice in verse); Deut 23:5; 2Sam 13:22.

word, words, thing, acts, things, …

dābār

a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause

speech, word, speaking, thing

speech

Breakdown unavailable for this word. Dictionary form: אֵלֶּה · ale-LEH

Noun — Common, plural plural — usually add "-s"

In the KJV here: these

these ×407 and these ×70 of these ×31 those ×26 are these ×21 now these ×21 these things ×7 in these ×6

More options

these — Most common modern rendering; use for nearby or just-listed items.

those — Use when referencing items more distant in context.

these things — Adds slight emphasis when referencing a list or concepts.

such — Use when אֵלֶּה has a qualitative or categorical sense.

the following — Useful when introducing an enumerated list ahead.

BDB424 H428

אֵ֫לֶּה ( Rabb אֵלּוּ, Aramaic אִלֵּין, & compd. with and in , ) pronoun plural masculine & feminine these, in usage the plural of זֶה.
a. Gen 2:4 & often: in apposition to a substantive with a pronominal suffix (always without the article) Exod 9:14 (read with Hi. אֵלֶּה בְּךָ for אֶללִֿבְּךָ) Exod 10:1 אֹתֹתַי אֵלֶּה these my signs, Exod 11:8; Deut 11:18; 1Kgs 8:59; 1Kgs 10:8; 1Kgs 22:23; 2Kgs 1:13; Jer 31:21; Ezra 2:65; Neh 6:14 in the genitive 2Kgs 6:20; Isa 47:9; Deut 18:12; Ps 15:5 and after כל Gen 14:3 + often Standing alone in a neuter sense, these things (rare in best prose, & not very common in poetry), with עָשָׂה Deut 18:12; Deut 22:5; Deut 25:16; 2Sam 23:17; 2Sam 23:22; Ps 15:5 +; with other verbs Ezra 9:1; Isa 44:21; Isa 47:7; Jer 13:22; Hos 14:10; Ps 42:5; Ps 50:21; Ps 107:43; Job 8:2 with אֶתֿ Num 15:13; Isa 48:14 with כָּלֿ Judg 13:23; Isa 66:2 +; see also some of the cases with prepositions below
d. אלה may point indifferently to what follows, Gen 6:9; Gen 10:1; Gen 25:7; Gen 25:12; Gen 25:13; Ps 42:5 or to what has preceded, Gen 9:19; Gen 10:20; Gen 10:31; Gen 10:32; Gen 25:4; Lev 21:14; Lev 22:22; Ps 15:5 = such as these (τοιαῦτα), Ps 73:12; Job 18:21.
b. repeated, אלהו֗֗֗אלה, these . . . those Deut 27:13; Josh 8:22; Isa 49:12 (3 t.) Ps 20:8 +.
c. with the art. (but only after a substantive determined likewise by the article) הָאֵלֶּה Gen 15:1 + often.

**in Josh 17:9 עָרִים הָאֵלֶּה, read הֶעָרִים, compare Josh 17:12; Josh 19:8; Josh 19:16; Josh 19:31; Josh 19:48, etc.
d. with prepositions: בְּאֵלֶּה Lev 25:54; Lev 26:23; 1Kgs 22:11 (7 t.), בָּאֵלֶּה 1Sam 16:10; 1Sam 17:39 לְאֵלֶּה Lev 11:24 (4 t), לָאֵלֶּה 1Kgs 22:17 (5 t.); מֵאֵלֶּה Gen 9:19 (16 t.); עַד אֵלֶּה Lev 26:18 עַלאֵֿלֶּה on account of these things Isa 57:6; Isa 64:11; Jer 5:9 and elsewhere; כְּאֵלֶּה Job 16:2; Jer 10:16 = Jer 51:19, כָּאֵלֶּה Gen 27:46; Lev 10:19 (things like these, so Isa 66:8; Jer 18:13) Num 28:24 P (compare Ezek 45:25) 2Kgs 25:17 = Jer 52:22, כְּמוֺאֵֿלֶּה Job 12:3.

BDB9303 H459 H1836 H428

אִלֵּין (אִלֵּן Dan 2:44; Dan 6:7) demonstrative pronoun plural these (plural of דְּנָה, q. v.: Palmyrene אלן (Lzb^{264 Eph. i. 343, 345} Cooke²⁶); ᵑ7 אילין; Mandean עלין (Nö^{M 89 f.}); Talmud (with emphatic hâ prefixed, W^CG:109) הָאִלֵּין: see further below Biblical Hebrew אֵלֶּה, and add Egyptian Aramaic אלו Cooke²⁶); — these, only Daniel: Dan 2:40 דִּי מְרָעַע כָּלֿ, נִלֵּין, vDan 2:44 כָּלאִֿלֵּן מַלְכְוָתָא, Dan 6:3 אֲחַדְֵַּרְפְּנַיָּא אִלֵּין (so v.Dan 6:7), Dan 7:17 אִלֵּיץ חֵיוָתָא.

these, those, things, this, them, …

ʾēlle

these or those

these

used before antecedent

חָלִ֙ילָ ה֙

חָלִ֙ילָ

Particle an exclamation — "behold!", "oh!"

ה֙

Suffix poetic ending — no change in meaning

Dictionary form: חָלִילָה · haw-lee-LAW

Particle — Interjection

In the KJV here: god forbid

god forbid ×7 far be it ×4 forbid ×3 be it far ×2 that be far ×2 for him be it far ×1 forbid it ×1 unto him god forbid ×1

More options

absolutely not — Strong, clear modern refusal; broadly useful.

never — Emphatic negation; good for solemn or rhetorical contexts.

may it never be — Retains optative prayer-like tone of the Hebrew.

perish the thought — Idiomatic; suits conversational or emphatic dialogue.

by no means — Formal register; fits legal or covenant speech.

unthinkable — Exclamatory; useful when speaker expresses moral horror.

BDB2787 H2486

חָלִ֫ילָה substantive with ה locative, used as exclamation literally ad profanum! i.e. far be it (for me, thee, etc.) ! (see Ba^{NB 136}) — ׳ח Gen 44:7 + 17 t., חָלִלָה Gen 18:25b + 2 t. — alone, 1Sam 14:45; 1Sam 20:2 elsewhere with לְ person: Gen 18:25b (J), 1Sam 2:30; 1Sam 20:9; 1Sam 22:15 + מִן and infinitive of act deprecated Gen 18:25 a Gen 44:7; Gen 44:17 (all J), Josh 24:16 (E), 1Sam 12:23; 2Sam 23:17 + מִמֶּנּוּ ל (peculiarly) Josh 22:29 (P; = from it, even to rebel); + אִם (= surely not) 2Sam 20:20 (׳ח ׳ח), Job 27:5 strengthened idiomatically by מיהוה, ׳לִי מִיּ׳ח followed by מִן and infinitive 1Sam 26:11; 1Kgs 21:3 + 2Sam 23:17 (read מיהוה, ᵐ5^L ᵑ6 ᵑ7) = 1Chr 11:19 (מאלהי) followed by אִם 1Sam 24:7 לָאֵל מֵרֶשַׁע ׳ח Job 34:10.

forbid, far, it

ḥālîlâ

literal for a profaned thing; used (interj.) far be it!

far be it (from me), God forbid that, let it not be

לַ ֽעֲבָדֶ֔י ךָ

לַ

Prefix — preposition to, for

ֽעֲבָדֶ֔י

Root word servants, servant, bondmen, manservant, bondage, …

ךָ

Suffix — pronoun your / you (one man)

Dictionary form: עֶבֶד · eh-BED

Noun — Common, masculine plural, construct state plural — usually add "-s"; "___ of …" — bound to the next word

In the KJV here: that thy servants

thy servant ×90 his servants ×68 thy servants ×56 servants ×53 my servant ×40 the servant ×40 his servant ×30 and his servants ×22

More options

servant — Broadest, most neutral choice for most contexts.

slave — Emphasizes legal ownership; use when bondage is explicit.

attendant — Highlights personal service to a superior; courtly contexts.

subject — Good for political/royal contexts; stresses subordination.

worker — Downplays social status; use cautiously, may be too weak.

bondservant — Retains covenantal nuance; useful in theological passages.

BDB5735 H5650

I. עֶ֫בֶד₇₉₉ noun masculine slave, servant (on formation Lag^{BN 77}); — ׳ע Gen 9:25 +, עָ֑בֶד Gen 44:10 +; suffix עַבְדִּי Gen 26:24 +; עַבְדְּךָ Gen 19:19 +; עַבְדֶּ֫ךָ Gen 18:3 +; plural עֲבָדִים Gen 9:25 +, עַבְדֵי Gen 21:25 +, suffix עֲבָדַי Lev 25:42 +, עַבְדֵיכֶם Josh 9:11 +, etc.; —

1. slave, servant of household Gen 39:17; Gen 39:19; Gen 41:12; Gen 50:2; Exod 21:2 +; man-servant, || אמה Exod 20:10; Lev 25:6; Deut 5:14; Job 31:13 +; || שׁפחה Gen 12:16; Gen 32:6; Jer 34:11; Isa 14:2 +; + אדון Deut 23:16; Isa 24:2; Mal 1:6 +; מִקְנַת כֶּסֶף Exod 12:44 or יְלִיד בַּיִת Jer 2:14 עֶבֶד עֲבָדִים servant of servants, humblest servant, Gen 9:25 בֵּית עֲבָדִים house of slaves, especially Israel in Egypt Exod 13:3; Exod 13:14 (D ?) Deut 5:6; Deut 6:12; Deut 7:8; Deut 8:14; Deut 13:6; Deut 13:11; Josh 24:17; Judg 6:8; Jer 34:13; Mic 6:4 וזכרת כי עבד היית מצרים ב(ארץׅ and thou shalt remember that thou wast a slave in (the land of) Egypt Deut 5:15; Deut 15:15; Deut 16:12; Deut 24:18; Deut 24:22 king of Babylon is slave to ׳י Jer 25:9; Jer 27:6; Jer 43:10 the borrower to the lender Prov 22:7 figurative of beast Job 40:28 of things Gen 47:19.

2. Subjects, of chief Gen 26:15; Gen 26:19; Gen 26:25; Gen 26:32; Gen 27:37; Gen 32:17 (twice in verse) +; of king Gen 21:25; Exod 7:28; Exod 7:29; 1Kgs 9:27; Deut 29:1 +; vassal kings 2Sam 10:19 tributary nations 2Sam 8:2; 2Sam 8:6; 2Sam 8:14 = 1Chr 18:2; 1Chr 18:6; 1Chr 18:13 specifically officers of king 1Sam 19:1; 1Sam 21:8; 2Sam 11:13; Prov 14:35 +; עַבְדֵי פַרְעֹה Gen 40:20; Gen 41:10 שָׁאוּל ׳ע 1Sam 16:17; 1Sam 18:22; 1Sam 28:7 הַמֶּלֶךְ ׳ע 1Kgs 1:47; Esth 3:3 +; עֶבֶד הַמֶּלֶךְ 2Kgs 22:12 = 2Chr 34:20 (a court offical); opposed to שַׂר Prov 19:10; Eccl 10:7 מֶלֶךְ Prov 30:22 ambassadors Num 22:18; 2Sam 10:2 soldiers of army 1Sam 17:8; 1Sam 25:10; 2Sam 2:12, + officers of army 1Sam 29:3; 1Kgs 11:26; 2Kgs 25:8; Isa 36:9.

3. Servants, worshippers, of God: עַבְדֵי יהוה 2Kgs 9:7; 2Kgs 10:23; Isa 54:17, compare Gen 50:17; Isa 56:6 עֲבָדָיו Deut 32:36 = Ps 135:14; Isa 65:15; Isa 66:14; Ps 34:23; Ps 69:37; Neh 2:20 || עַמּוֺ Ps 105:25 compare Deut 32:43 עֲבָּדַי Isa 65:8; Isa 65:9; Isa 65:13 (twice in verse); Isa 69:13; Isa 69:14 עֲבָדֶיךָ 1Kgs 8:23; Isa 63:17 (|| שִׁבְטֵי נחלתך), Ps 89:51; Ps 90:13; Ps 90:16; Ps 102:15; Ps 102:29; Ps 119:91; Ps 79:2; Ps 79:10 (|| חֲסִידֶיךָ); delivered from Egypt Lev 25:42; Lev 25:55 (twice in verse); Lev 26:13 (P); עַבְדְּךָ Ps 119:125; Ps 143:2, || בֶּןאֲֿמָתֶ֑ךָ Ps 86:16; Ps 116:16 (twice in verse); specifically angels Job 4:18 and ancient worthies, patriarchs Exod 32:13 (J) Deut 9:27 Abraham Gen 26:24 (J) Ps 105:6; Ps 105:42 Isaac Gen 24:14 (J); Jacob, Israel Ezek 28:25; Ezek 37:25; 1Chr 16:13 Moses Exod 14:31; Josh 18:7 (J) Num 12:7; Num 12:8 (E) Deut 34:5 (?) Josh 1:1; Josh 1:2; Josh 1:7; Josh 1:13; Josh 1:15; Josh 8:31; Josh 8:33; Josh 9:24; Josh 11:12; Josh 11:15; Josh 12:6 (twice in verse); Josh 13:8; Josh 14:7; Josh 22:2; Josh 22:4; Josh 22:5 (all D), 1Kgs 8:53; 1Kgs 8:56; 2Kgs 18:12; 2Kgs 21:8; 1Chr 6:34; 2Chr 1:3; 2Chr 24:6; 2Chr 24:9; Neh 1:8; Neh 9:14; Neh 10:30; Ps 105:26; Mal 3:22; Dan 9:11 Joshua Josh 24:29 (E) Judg 2:8 Caleb Num 14:24 (J); Job Job 1:8; Job 2:3; Job 42:7; Job 42:8 (3 t. in verse); David 2Sam 3:18; 2Sam 7:5; 2Sam 7:8; 2Sam 7:26 + 27 t.; Hezekiah 2Chr 32:16 Zerubbabel Hag 2:23 Eliakim Isa 22:20. — The צֶמַח Zech 3:8 compare Zech 6:12 is also servant of ׳י as Messianic builder of temple (see Br^{MP 442 ff}).

4. Servant of ׳י, in a special sense: of Levitical singers using benedictions in temple Ps 113:1; Ps 134:1; Ps 135:1 usually of prophets, עֲבָדַי הַנְּבִיאִים my servants the prophets 2Kgs 9:7; 2Kgs 17:13; Jer 7:25; Jer 26:5; Jer 29:19; Jer 35:15; Jer 44:4; Ezek 38:17; Zech 1:6 עֲבָדָיו הַנְּבִיאִים 2Kgs 17:23; 2Kgs 21:10; 2Kgs 24:2; Jer 25:4; Amos 3:7; Dan 9:10 עֲבָדֶיךָ הנביאים Ezra 9:11; Dan 9:6 specifically Ahia 1Kgs 14:18; 1Kgs 15:29 Elijah 2Kgs 9:36; 2Kgs 10:10 Jonah 2Kgs 14:25 Isaiah Isa 20:3 עַבְדּוֺ, || מלאכיו Isa 44:26 as one calling to fear ׳י Isa 50:10.

5. Israel as a people is servant of ׳׃י יִשְׂרָאֵל Isa 41:8; Isa 41:9; Isa 44:21 (twice in verse); Isa 49:3; Ps 136:22 יעקב Isa 44:1; Isa 44:2; Isa 45:4; Isa 48:20; Isa 46:27; Isa 47:28 עַבְדִּי = עֶבֶד יהוה, || מַלְאָכִי, as having a mission to the nations Isa 42:19 (twice in verse); and chosen as witness of ׳י Isa 43:10. But there is also an ideal servant chosen and endowed with the divine Spirit to be a covenant of Israel and a light of the nations Isa 42:1 (compare vIsa 42:2-6); formed to bring back Jacob, raise up the tribes, and become salvation to the end of the earth Isa 49:5; Isa 49:6; Isa 49:7 bearing the sins of all as a lamb and a trespass-offering, and yet prospering and justifying many as interposing martyr Isa 52:13; Isa 53:11: many understand of ideal Israel, contrasted with the actual; al. of personified || with Zion the wife and mother, distinguished from unworthy Israel as Zion from her apostate children; al. of ideal prophetic writer; al. of ideal prophetic person; al. (especially in Isa 53) of an actual prophecy known to writer and his readers; [in any case it is Messianic, see Matt 8:16; Matt 8:17; Matt 12:16-21; Luke 4:17-22; Phil 2:5-11]; see De^{Isa ii. 174} Da^{Expos. 1884, 358 ff.} Di Du Che and others on Isa 42; Isa 53, Dr^{Is 168 ff.} Br^{MP 345 ff.}, also Gie^{Beitr. 146 ff.} Berthol^{Isa 53}.

6. In polite address of equals or superiors the Hebrews used עַבְדְּךָ thy servant = 1 person singular, I, Gen 18:3; 1Sam 20:7; 1Sam 20:8 (twice in verse); 2Kgs 8:13 +; עֲבָדֶיךָ thy servants = we Gen 42:11; Isa 36:11 also עַבְדּוֺ his servant = I, 1Sam 26:18; 1Sam 26:19; 2Sam 14:22; 2Sam 24:21 +; also in addressing God, especially in prayer Exod 4:10; Num 11:11; Judg 15:18; 1Sam 3:9; 1Sam 3:10; 1Sam 25:39; 2Sam 24:10; Ps 19:12; Ps 19:14; Ps 27:9; Ps 31:17; Ps 35:27; Ps 69:18; Ps 109:28; Ps 143:2 +.

7. Phrases are: עבד (היה), with לְ person, become servant to Gen 9:26; Gen 9:27; Gen 44:10; Gen 44:16; Gen 44:17; Gen 44:33; Gen 47:19; Gen 47:26 (J) Deut 6:21; Deut 15:17; 2Sam 8:14; 2Kgs 17:3; 2Kgs 24:1; 1Chr 18:2; 1Chr 18:6; 1Chr 18:13; 2Chr 10:7; Prov 11:29; Prov 12:9; Prov 22:7 היה לעבד, with לְ person, Gen 44:9 (J) Gen 50:18 (E) 1Sam 8:17; 1Sam 17:9 (twice in verse); 1Sam 27:12; 2Sam 8:2; 2Sam 8:6; Jer 34:16 כבשׁ לעבדים 2Chr 28:10; Neh 5:5; Jer 34:11 ׳לקח לע Gen 43:18 (J) 2Kgs 4:1; Job 40:28.

BDB9746 H5649 H5650

[עֲבַד D^p.105, or עֲבֵד K^{§ 54, 3.} γ)] noun masculine slave, servant (Biblical Hebrew עֶ֫בֶד); — construct עֲבֵד Dan 6:21 servant of God; plural suffix of king, עבדיך Kt (K^{§ 53 Anm. b})), עַבְדָּךְ Qr Ezra 4:11, עַבְדָךְ Qr Dan 2:4 suffix of God, עַבְד֫וֺתִי, Dan 3:26; Dan 3:28; Ezra 5:11, of king Dan 2:7.

servants, servant, bondmen, manservant, bondage, …

ʿebed

a servant

slave, servant

slave, servant, man-servant

מֵ ֽעֲשׂ֖וֹת

מֵ

Prefix — preposition from, out of

ֽעֲשׂ֖וֹת

Root word do, made, done, did, make, …

Dictionary form: עָשָׂה · aw-SAW

Verb — Qal, Infinitive Construct, construct state simple action — "he did" try "to ___" or "___ing"

In the KJV here: should do

did ×123 do ×108 made ×86 to do ×85 and do ×61 he did ×59 and he made ×54 and thou shalt make ×45

More options

do — Broadest default; fits commands, descriptions, and narrative.

make — Prefer when the result is a crafted or constructed object.

perform — Good for rituals, duties, vows, or formal acts.

carry out — Emphasizes completing a directive or plan.

execute — Suits legal, judicial, or administrative actions.

accomplish — Highlights successful completion of a goal.

BDB6428 H6213

I. עָשָׂה₂₆₂₂ verb do, make (Late Hebrew = Biblical Hebrew; MI^{23, 26} עשתי, l.³; l.⁹ ואעש, l.²⁴ Imperative עשו; Old Hebrew proper name עשיו, אלעשה, מעשיהו; not Aramaic, and not certainly found in South Semitic languages; on Sabean see especially DHM^{SB Berl. Akkadian 1886, 849}); —

Qal₂₅₂₄ Perfect 3 masculine singular Gen 3:1 +, suffix עָשָׂהוּ Hos 8:6 +; 3 feminine singular עָֽשְׂתָה Deut 22:21 +, וְעָשָׂת consecutive Lev 25:21 2 masculine singular עָשִׂיתָ Gen 3:14 +, etc.; Imperfect 3 masculine singular יַעֲשֶׂה Gen 18:25 +, וַיַּעֲשֶׂה 1Kgs 16:25 + 3 t., וַיַּעַשׂ Isa 5:2 +; יַעֲשֵׂה Isa 64:3, 2 masculine singular תַּעֲשֶׂה 1Sam 10:8, תַּעֲשֵׂה Gen 26:29; Josh 7:9, jussive (with אַל) תַּעַשׂ Gen 22:12 +, תַּעֲשֵׂה 2Sam 13:12; Jer 40:16 Qr (Kt תַּעַשׂ); 1 singular אֶעֱשֶׂה Gen 2:18 +, וָאֶעֱשֶׂה Ezek 20:14; Dan 8:27, וָאַעַשׂ Deut 10:3 + 4 t. Ezekiel; etc.; Imperative masculine singular עֲשֵׂה Judg 10:15 +; feminine singular עֲשִׂי Jer 6:26 +, etc.; Infinitive absolute עָשׂה Jer 44:17 +; עָשׂוֺ Jer 7:5 + 2 t. (Jer 4:18 van d. H. עָשׂוּ); construct עֲשׂוֺת Gen 2:4 +, עֲשׂה Gen 50:20 + 2 t., עֲשׂוֺ Gen 31:28, suffix עֲשׂתוֺ Gen 41:32 +, עֲשׂהוּ Exod 18:18, etc.; Participle active עשֶֹׁה Isa 5:5 +, suffix הָעשֹׁוֺ Job 40:19 (but see below); plural עשִֹׁים Gen 24:49 +; suffix עשָֹׁ֑י Job 35:10 (yet see Ges^{«GKC:124k»§ 124k}), etc.; passive עָשׂוּי Exod 3:16 +, הֶעָשׂוּ Job 41:25 (Ges^{«GKC:75k»§ 75k}); feminine עֲשׂוּיָה Ezek 21:20 +, etc.; —

I. 1. do (1560 + t.):
a. (1) with accusative active Gen 3:14 (J) Gen 20:10 (E) + often; do right in eyes of ׳י 2Kgs 12:3; 2Kgs 14:13 +, evil 2Kgs 8:18; 2Kgs 8:27 + (compare I. עַיִן 3 c); do God's commands, statutes, etc., Deut 16:12; Deut 30:8; Num 15:39 (P); חַיִל ׳ע 1Sam 14:48 + do might, i.e. mightily, valiantly; Prov 31:39 do efficiency, i.e. efficiently; = commit (offence) Lev 20:13 (H), Deut 20:18 followed by מִן particle, וְעָשָׂה מֵאַחַת מֵהֵנָּה Lev 4:2 and shall do a single one of them (things prohibited; see מִן 3 b
(d)), compare ׳וְעָשׂוּ אַחַת מִכָּלמִֿצְוֺת י vLev 4:13 vLev 4:22; Lev 5:17 (all P); do = perform a work, with accusative of congnate meaning with verb מַעֲשֶׂה Exod 18:20; Exod 23:12 (E), also (׳י subject) Deut 11:7; Dan 9:14; Eccl 3:11 with accusative מְלָאכָה Gen 2:2 (twice in verse) (J), Exod 20:9; Exod 20:10 = Deut 9:13 (10 Words); with accusative דְּרָכֶיךָ Isa 58:13 מְלוּכָה עַל ׳ע 1Kgs 21:7 = exercise sovereignty over; of ׳י performing signs (אֹתֹת) Josh 24:17 (E), Num 14:11; Num 14:22 (JE), Deut 11:3, so Moses Exod 4:17 and (מֹפְתִים) vExod 4:21. (2) do something to one (ל person) Gen 20:9 (E), Judg 9:56 +; with עַל reflexive Jer 26:19 do evil against ourselves; especially ׳י subject, with לְ, do good to Exod 18:9 (E), 2Kgs 8:66, or evil Gen 42:28 (E); in phrase so may God do to me, etc. 1Sam 3:17; 2Kgs 6:31 + (see יסף

Hiph`il 1.). (3) do something for one (ל person) Gen 30:31; 1Kgs 11:8 +, direct object omitted 1Sam 20:4 + ל of thing Judg 21:7; Judg 21:16 what shall we do for them, for wives ? with עַל person Neh 5:19 with dativus ethicus [dative of interest] (ל) 1Sam 10:7 with לְ, of ׳י doing kindness for 1Sam 22:3 executing vengeance for Judg 11:36 (+ מִן of enemy); ׳י doing a sign (אוֺת) for Judg 6:17 (elsewhere נָתַן אוֺת לְ), compare עֲשֵׂהעִֿמִּי אוֺת לְטוֺבָה Ps 86:17. (4) do something (in relation or intercourse) wilth (אֵת person), ׳י subject Deut 1:30 all that he did with you, Deut 10:21 (compare Ps 86:17 above), human subject 2Chr 24:24 (object שְׁפָטִים), Ruth 2:11. (5) seldom with ב, usually of executing judgment upon 1Sam 28:18; Isa 48:14, more generally Esth 1:15 what shall we do with the queen ? also, subject ׳י, Ezek 25:11; Ezek 28:26; Ps 149:7; Ps 149:9; Num 33:4 (on false gods); in good sense, ׳חֲסָדִים בּ ׳ע Neh 13:14. (6) of ׳י doing the justice (מִשְׁפַּט) of any one, i.e. maintaining his cause 1Kgs 8:45; 1Kgs 8:49; Ps 9:5. (7) with adverb do thus, כֹּה, Josh 6:14 (JE), according to, כְּ Gen 6:22 (P), Gen 18:21 (J), 1Kgs 2:6 accusative as, כַּאֲשֶׁר Gen 27:19 (J); Exod 1:17 (E) +; with בְּ of manner, Judg 9:16a, Ezek 8:18; Ezek 25:15.
b. work for (ל of thing) Gen 30:30 (J); with ל person 1Sam 14:6; Ezek 29:20 (for ׳י); work in (ב) gold or other material 1Kgs 7:14; 2Chr 2:6; 2Chr 2:13; Exod 31:4; Exod 31:5; Exod 35:32 (all P); with בָּהּ (i.e. בָּעֲבֹדָה) Exod 5:9 (J) in toil; work with (עִם) God 1Sam 14:45, so probably of God's working with (אֵת) Moses and Aaron 1Sam 12:6 (usually appoint); with אֵת with (of person in whose company, in whose field Ruth 2:19 (twice in verse) (gleaning); work בְּחֵפֶץ כַּפֶּיהָ Prov 31:13 without preposition Exod 36:1; Neh 3:28.

2. deal with, with עִם, 2Chr 2:2; Dan 1:13 (כַּאֲשֶׁר accusative as); with אֵת, Ezek 20:44; Ps 109:21; Ezek 22:14; Zeph 3:19 (perhaps; Gr Now insert כָּלָה, see II 1 g), + כְּ Jer 21:2, + בְּ of manner Ezek 23:25; Ezek 23:29 with לְ person + בְּ Ezek 25:12 with בְּ person, Jer 18:23; Dan 11:7, + כְּ according to Neh 9:24; Esth 3:11.

3. often in phrase, do kindness (חֶסֶד) with: with (עִמָּדִ) עִם Gen 19:19; Gen 24:12; Gen 12:14 (J), Judg 1:24; Judg 8:35; 1Sam 15:6; 2Sam 2:5; 2Sam 10:2 = 1Chr 19:2 +; with עַל, 1Sam 20:8 (but read עִם Vrss We Dr and others); absolute, Ps 109:16 object חֶסֶד + אֱמֶת, with עִם, Josh 2:14 (JE) Judg 9:19; 2Sam 2:6 with אֵת with, Gen 24:49; Gen 32:11; Gen 47:29 (all J); with לְ, Exod 20:6 = Deut 5:10; 2Sam 22:51 = Ps 18:51 so טוֺב ׳ע, with עִם, Gen 26:29 (J), compare Judg 8:35; Judg 9:16 with אֵת with, 1Sam 24:19; 2Sam 2:6.

4. absolute act, act with effect, especially of ׳י, 1Kgs 8:32; 1Kgs 8:39; Jer 14:7; Ezek 20:9; Ezek 20:14; Ezek 20:22; Ps 22:32; Ps 37:5; Ps 52:11; Dan 9:19 of men 2Chr 31:21; Dan 8:12; Dan 8:24; Dan 11:28; Dan 11:30; Dan 11:32 with ל of person Ezek 31:11.

II. 1. make (670 + t.):
a. with object concrete, ark Gen 8:6, altar Gen 13:4, idols Judg 18:24; Judg 18:31 +, etc.
b. often of God's making (creating) Gen 3:1 (J), Gen 1:7; Gen 1:16; Gen 1:25 (P), Neh 9:6; Job 9:9; Prov 8:26; 2Chr 2:11; Ps 95:5 +; making man Ps 100:3; Ps 119:73 (made by God's hands), in the womb Job 31:15 (twice in verse); making, constituting, nation Deut 26:19; Deut 32:6; Deut 32:15 participle suffix עשֵֹׁהוּ his Maker Isa 17:7; Prov 14:31; Prov 17:5 (הָעשֹׁוֺ Job 40:19 is improbable, most read הֶעָשָׂוּי, with various interpretation of following words); עשֶֹׁךָ Isa 51:13, עשֵֹׁנִי Job 32:23 (Ginsb; vJob 32:22 van d. H. Baer), עשֵֹׁנוּ Ps 95:6 so apparently plural participle עשָֹׁ֑י Job 35:10, עשַֹׁיִךְ Isa 54:5 (Ges^{«GKC:124k»§ 124k} explanation as sg.).
c. make something, with לְ reflexive, make for thee Exod 20:4; Deut 9:12; Deut 10:1 +, for (ל) another 1Sam 2:19; 2Sam 7:11; 1Kgs 2:24 +; object מִשְׁתֶּה banquet Gen 40:20; Esth 5:4, also (no ל) Gen 29:22 (E) Judg 14:10; Esth 5:5; Esth 5:12 and (figurative, ׳י subject) Isa 25:6 with ל of thing, Deut 22:8 with ל of animal Gen 33:17 (J).
d. make a name (שֵׁם) for oneself (ל) 2Sam 7:9; 1Chr 17:8, also (no ל) 2Sam 8:13 a new heart for oneself (ל) Ezek 18:31.
e. make war with (אֶת) Gen 14:2; Josh 11:18 (D); with עִם, Deut 20:12; Deut 20:20; 1Chr 5:10; 1Chr 5:19 absolute 1Chr 22:8 with ל reflexive Prov 24:6 participle עשֵֹׁה מִלְחָמָה 2Chr 11:1; 2Chr 26:11; 2Chr 26:13 make peace, with ל person Josh 9:15 (J); אִתִּי בְרָכָה ׳ע 2Kgs 18:31 make an agreement with me. feminine with ב, ׳פֶּרֶץ בּ ׳ע Judg 21:15 ׳י brought a catastrophe upon (compare פרץ).
g. with 2 accusative, make something out of (accusative mater.) Exod 25:18; Exod 28:13; Exod 37:17; Exod 37:24; Song 3:10; Deut 10:3 +; make something into something (Ges^{«GKC:117ii»§ 117ii}) Hos 8:4; Gen 27:9; Judg 17:4; Num 11:8; Num 17:3; Ps 104:4 make something כָּלָה, i. e. utterly destroy it Nah 1:8; Zeph 1:18; Ezek 20:17; Neh 9:31 c. passive participle as 2nd accusative Exod 38:7 they made it נְבוּב לֻחֹת hollow with boards, Exod 39:9 but also with accusative + לְ, Hos 2:10 gold they made into (ל) the Baal, Judg 8:27; Exod 27:3 (P), Deut 9:14; Jer 37:15; Ezek 4:9; Isa 44:17; Isa 44:19 make something for (ל person), + מִן of material Song 3:9.

2. produce, yield: of grain, yielding meal Hos 8:7 (twice in verse), vineyard, grapes Isa 5:2 (twice in verse); Isa 5:4 (twice in verse); Isa 5:10, tree, fruit 2Kgs 19:30 = Isa 37:31; Hos 9:16; Jer 12:2; Jer 17:8; Ezek 17:23 (all figurative), Gen 1:11; Gen 1:12 (P); branches Job 14:9 and (figurative) Ezek 17:8 land, fruit Lev 25:21 compare Hab 3:17, absolute Gen 41:47 of seed Isa 5:10, vine, shoots Ezek 17:6 (figurative); of cows, yielding milk Isa 7:22 hippop. producing fat Job 15:27.

3. prepare, especially of dressing and cooking food, Gen 18:7; Gen 18:8; Judg 6:19; Judg 13:5; 1Sam 25:18 (passive), 2Sam 12:4 (twice in verse); Gen 27:14; Gen 27:17; Gen 27:31; 2Sam 13:5; 2Sam 13:7; 1Kgs 17:12; Exod 12:39 (+ ל reflexive); a bullock for sacrifice (see below) 1Kgs 18:23; 1Kgs 18:25; 1Kgs 18:26 כְּלֵי גוֺלָה Ezek 12:3 (+ ל reflexive); a chamber Neh 13:7 prepare to build (+ ל person and infinitive).

4. make offering, e.g. עוֺלָה Judg 13:16; Jer 33:18; Lev 16:24, עוֺלָה וָזֶבַח 2Kgs 5:17 (+ ל of deity), הַחַטָּאת Lev 14:19, אִשֶּׁה Num 15:3; Num 15:14, various offerings 1Kgs 8:64; Lev 9:22; Ezek 45:17; Ezek 46:2 +; + ׳לי to ׳י Lev 17:9 +; also with accusative of thing sacrificed (perhaps originally prepare or provide, see above) Ezek 43:25 (twice in verse); Ezek 46:15; Lev 14:30; Lev 15:15; Lev 15:30; Lev 16:9; Num 6:11; Num 6:17; Ps 66:15 (+ ל of deity) +; absolute = offer sacrifice Exod 10:25 (E + ׳לי), to (ל) heathen gods 2Kgs 17:32.

5. attend to, put in order: pare (the nails) Deut 21:12 wash (feet) 2Sam 19:25 trim (beard) v.2Sam 19:25 (compare French faire la barbe, German die Haare machen).

6. observe, celebrate, religious festival, e.g. passover Exod 12:48; Num 9:4; Num 9:6; Num 9:13; Josh 5:10, also (+ ׳לי) Exod 12:48; Num 9:10; Num 9:14 (all P), Deut 16:1 +; sabbath Exod 31:16; Deut 5:15 feast of weeks Deut 16:10, booths Deut 16:13, Purim Esth 9:21; Esth 9:27, etc.

7. acquire property of various kinds (compare 'make money') Gen 12:5; Gen 31:5 (J), Isa 15:7; Jer 17:11; Jer 48:36; Deut 8:18; Ezek 22:18; Ezek 28:4 (twice in verse); Ezek 38:12; 2Chr 32:29; Eccl 2:8 + ל reflexive Deut 8:17; 2Sam 15:1; 1Kgs 1:5 of fruits from vineyards, etc. Ps 107:37.

8. appoint priests 1Kgs 12:31; 1Kgs 13:33; 2Chr 2:17 (all + מִן source), a feast 1Kgs 12:32; 1Kgs 12:33 (+ ל person); ordain a sacrifice Num 28:6, a festal day Ps 118:24 institute, אוֺב וְיִדְּעֹנִי ghost and familiar spirit 2Kgs 21:6 = 2Chr 33:6 (compare Dr^{Deut 18:11}).

9. bring about, of ׳י's effecting a deliverance Exod 14:13 (לָכֶם), 1Sam 11:13; 2Sam 23:10 (insert also || 1Chr 11:13 Dr), v1Chr 11:12 cause, followed by clause with שֶׁ Eccl 3:14.

10. use, לִמְלַאכְתּוֺ ׳וְע 1Sam 8:16 passive Exod 38:24.

11. spend, pass, days of life Eccl 6:12. Niph`al₉₇ Perfect 3 masculine singular נַעֲשָׂה Judg 16:11 +; 3 feminine singular נֶעֶשְׂתָה 2Sam 17:23 +, etc.; Imperfect 3 masculine singular יֵעָשֶׂה Gen 29:26 +, 3 feminine singular with ו subordinate וְתֵעָשׂ Esth 5:6; Esth 7:2; Esth 9:12 (Ges^{«GKC:109»§ 109} f.), etc.; Infinitive construct הֵעָשׂוֺת Esth 9:1; Esth 9:14, etc., Participle נַעֲשֶׂה Neh 5:18, etc.; —

1. be done (passive of Qal I 1):
a. subject מְלָאכָה Judg 16:11 (with ב instrumental), Neh 6:16 (with מֵאֵת אֱלֹהִים ), vNeh 6:9; Exod 12:16 + 4 t.; subject omitted Ezek 44:14, indefinite Esth 4:1 with כֵּן Esth 9:14 be done, כַּתּוֺרָה Ezra 10:3 be committed, of offence, Deut 13:15; Num 15:24; Eccl 4:1 + 3 t.; with negative not (yet) done, i.e. future Isa 46:10 be accomplished, performed, fulfilled Ezek 12:35; Ezek 12:38; Dan 11:36; Esth 5:5; Esth 7:2; Esth 9:12 be executed, carried out, of sentence Eccl 8:11, decree Esth 9:1 be followed, of counsel 2Sam 17:28 nearly = occur Eccl 1:9 (twice in verse); Eccl 1:13; Eccl 9:3; Eccl 9:6, subject מַעֲשֶׂה Eccl 1:14; Eccl 2:17; Eccl 4:3; Eccl 8:9; Eccl 8:17, subject הֶבֶל vEccl 8:14, עִנְיָן vEccl 8:15.
b. Imperfect with negative, is (are) not done, not according to usage, of flagrant offences Gen 20:9 (E), Gen 29:26 (with כֵּן), Gen 34:7 (both J), 2Sam 13:12 (כֵּן); hence (P) not to be done, forbidden by ׳י Lev 4:2; Lev 4:13; Lev 4:22; Lev 4:27; Lev 5:17.
c. be done to, with ל of animal 1Sam 11:7 (כֹּה); ל person Exod 2:4 (E) Exod 21:31 (E; כַּמִּשְׁפָּט), Isa 3:11; Jer 5:13 (כֹּה), Lev 24:19 (H; כֵּן), Num 15:34 (P) + 8 t.; be done for, ל person Judg 11:37; Esth 6:3, עִם person vEsth 6:3 ל of thing Num 15:11 (כָּכָה).
d. be done upon, against (ב) Dan 9:12.

2. (passive of Qal II):
a. be made, of conr. things 1Kgs 10:20 = 2Chr 9:19 (throne), Jer 3:16 (ark), 2Kgs 12:14; Ezek 43:18; Exod 25:31; Num 4:36 (P); with accusative mat; Lev 2:7.
b. be produced from (מִן) vine Num 6:4.
c. be prepared, of food Exod 12:16; Lev 6:14; Lev 7:9 (all P), Neh 5:18 (twice in verse).
d. be offered, מִנְחָה Lev 2:8; Lev 2:11, kid Num 28:15; Num 28:24.
e. be observed, passover 2Kgs 24:22; 2Kgs 24:23 (ל of deity) = 2Chr 35:18; 2Chr 35:19 Purim Esth 9:28. feminine be used + ל of thing Lev 7:24 (P); Lev 13:51 (P) Ezek 15:5 (twice in verse). Pu`al Perfect 1 singular עֻשֵּׂיתִי Ps 139:15 I was made.

BDB6436 H6213

II. [עָשָׂה] verb Pi`el press, squeeze (Late Hebrew עִשָּׂה Pi`el compel; ᵑ7 עַסִּי Pa`el crush, gnash (teeth); compare Arabic compress a woman); — Perfect 3 plural עִשּׂוּ דַּדֵּי בְּתוּלִים Ezek 23:3; Ezek 23:8 (unchaste act); Infinitive construct בַּעֲשׂוֺתדַּ֗֗֗דַּיִךְ vEzek 23:21 read Pi`el בְּעַשּׂוֺת (Ew Co Toy, and others).

do, made, done, did, make, …

ʿāśâ

to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application

to do, fashion, accomplish, make

(Qal)

to do, work, make, produce

to do

to make

to be done

כַּ דָּבָ֥ר

כַּ

Prefix — preposition like, as + "the" (the article is absorbed into the prefix)

דָּבָ֥ר

Root word word, words, thing, acts, things, …

Dictionary form: דָּבָר · daw-BAWR

כַּ

Hidden "the" כַּ = the preposition + the article הַ squeezed together: the "a" vowel under the prefix is the swallowed "the". Translate "like the ___".

Noun — Common, masculine singular, absolute state

In the KJV here: according to thing

the word ×142 the words ×132 thing ×103 words ×92 of the acts ×43 things ×42 of the chronicles ×37 word ×36

More options

word — Best for divine speech, commands, or prophetic utterances.

matter — Prefer when context is a topic, affair, or issue.

thing — Broad default when no specific semantic fits better.

message — Use when content is being conveyed from a sender.

account — Fits historical or narrative contexts, e.g. royal records.

decree — Best for official, authoritative, or legal pronouncements.

BDB1816 H1697

דָּבָר₁₄₃₉ noun masculine speech, word — Gen 18:14 + 446 t.; construct דְּבַר Gen 12:17 + 361 t.; suffix דְּבָרִי Num 11:23 + (suffixes 66 t.); singular in all 875 t.; plural דְּבָרִים Exod 4:10 + 182 t.; construct דִּבְרֵי Gen 24:30 + 253 t.; suffix דְּבָרָיו Gen 37:8 (suffixes 127 t.); plural in all 564 t.; —

I. singular speech, discourse, saying, word, as the sum of that which is spoken:

1. of men,
a. נְבוֺן דָּבָר discreet in speech 1Sam 16:18 שְׂפָתַיִם ׳ד speech of lips Ps 59:13, mere talk Isa 36:5 (= 2Kgs 18:20) Prov 14:23 (compare Ps 17:4 speech of God's lips); דָּבָר מָר bitter speech Ps 64:4 כָּזָב ׳ד lying speech Prov 30:8 דְּבָֽרְךָ טוֺכ thy saying is good 1Sam 9:10 וּדְבַר אַבְנֵר הָיָה עִם and the speech of Abner had been with the elders of Israel 2Sam 3:17 (compare 1Kgs 1:7); אמר הדבר הזה say this saying Jer 23:38; Jer 31:23 compare Jer 13:12; Jer 14:17 (of God), 1Sam 8:10 (׳דִּבְרֵי י).
b. word of command, (הַ)מֶּלֶךְ ׳ד 1Chr 21:4; 1Chr 21:6; Esth 1:12 + 6 t. Esther; Eccl 8:4 compare 2Chr 30:5; 2Chr 31:5; Dan 9:23; Dan 9:25 מַלְכוּת ׳ד royal edict Esth 1:19 כדבר עשׂה do according to the command of Gen 44:2; Gen 47:30; Exod 8:9; Exod 8:27; Exod 12:35; Exod 32:28 (J) Lev 10:7 (P) Judg 11:10; Ezra 10:5; Neh 5:12; Neh 5:13 compare 2Sam 17:6 (word of counsel), 1Kgs 3:12 (request), 1Kgs 17:13 (proposal; on these meanings see below)
c. message, report, tidings, וַיִּשְׁמַע הָעָם אֶתהַֿדָּבָר הָרָע הַזֶּה and the people heard this evil report Exod 33:4 (JE) compare 1Kgs 20:12 אמת (היה) הדבר the report was true 1Kgs 10:6 = 2Chr 9:5 עַד בּוֺא דָבָר מֵעִמָּכֶם until word come from you 2Sam 15:28 ויגע הדבר אל מלך נינוה Jonah 3:6 הֵשִׁיב דָּבָר return or bring word, report Gen 37:14; Num 13:26; Num 22:8 (J) Deut 1:22; Deut 1:25; Josh 14:7; Josh 22:32 (D) 1Kgs 2:30; 1Kgs 20:9; 2Kgs 22:9; 2Kgs 22:20 (= 2Chr 34:16; 2Chr 34:28), but answer 1Sam 17:30; 2Sam 3:11; 2Sam 24:13 (= 1Chr 21:12), 1Kgs 12:6; 1Kgs 12:9 (= 2Chr 10:6; 2Chr 10:9), 2Chr 12:16; Neh 2:20; Prov 18:13; Prov 27:11; Isa 41:28; Ezek 9:11 (Dr^{Sm, p, 190 explains the phrase as} turn back with a word); compare דבר (לא) ענה answer something or nothing 1Kgs 18:21; 2Kgs 18:36; Ps 119:42; Isa 36:21; Jer 44:20 see IV. 6; דברים השׁיב return words Exod 19:8 (E) Prov 24:26 see

III. 1. d. advice, counsel, בדבר בלעם by advice of Balaam Num 31:16 (P), compare Judg 20:7; 2Sam 19:44; Esth 5:5.
e. request, אמתו of his maid, עבדו of his servant 2Sam 14:15; 2Sam 14:22.
f. promise, לא יחל דברו he shall not break his word Num 30:3 (P), compare הקים דבר perform a promise Neh 5:13, see also 2 b. g. charge, complaint, אם אמת היה הדבר הזה if this charge be true Deut 22:20 compare Deut 13:15; Deut 17:4, שׂים דבר בְּ 1Sam 22:15, שׂים עלילות דברים לְ Deut 22:14; Deut 22:17.
h. decision, sentence, דְּבַר הַמִּשְׁפָּט the sentence of judgment Deut 17:9 compare vDeut 17:10 vDeut 17:11.
i. theme, story, רָחַשׁ לִבִּי דָּבָר טוֺב my heart swells with a good theme Ps 45:2 דְּבַרגְּבוּרוֺת the story of his great might Job 41:4.

2. word of God, as a divine communication in the form of commandments, prophecy, and words of help to his people, used 394 times. This word is communicated in several ways:
a. אל ׳ויהי דבר י then the word of Yahweh came unto 1Sam 15:10; 2Sam 7:4 (compare אלהים 1Chr 17:3), 1Kgs 6:11; 1Kgs 13:20; 1Kgs 16:1; 1Kgs 17:2; 1Kgs 17:8; 1Kgs 21:17; 1Kgs 21:28; 2Chr 11:2 (compare האלהים 1Kgs 12:22): compare 1Chr 22:8 (על by confusion), Isa 38:4; Jer 1:4 + 20 t. Jeremiah, Ezek 3:16 + 41 t. Ezekiel; Jonah 1:1; Jonah 3:1; Hag 2:20; Zech 4:8; Zech 6:9; Zech 7:4; Zech 7:8; Zech 8:1 (without אל) vZech 8:18 אל ׳י ׳היה ד Gen 15:1; 2Chr 12:7; Jer 25:3 + 4 t. Jeremiah; Ezek 1:3 + 7 t. Ezekiel; Dan 9:2; Zech 1:1; Zech 1:7; Zech 7:1 אל ׳י ׳הנה ד Gen 15:4; 1Kgs 19:9 היה אל ׳י ׳ד 2Sam 24:11; 1Kgs 16:7; 1Kgs 18:1; 2Kgs 20:4; Ezek 24:20 ביד ׳י ׳היה ד Hag 1:1; Hag 2:1; Hag 2:10 ביד ׳י ׳ויהי ד Hag 1:3 אשׁר ׳י ׳היה אל ד Hos 1:1; Joel 1:1 Micah; Zeph 1:1 ׳י ׳אליו אשׁר היה ד 1Kgs 18:31; Jer 1:2 ׳אל יר ׳י ׳אשׁר היה ד Jer 14:1; Jer 46:1; Jer 47:1; Jer 49:34 (see אשׁר 6 a); הדבר אשׁר היה אל Jer 7:1 + 11 t. Jeremiah; ׳י ׳את ד 2Kgs 3:12; Jer 23:28; Jer 27:18 compare אֵלַי דָּבָר יְגֻנָּב unto me a word was brought by stealth Job 4:12, compare ׳וְטֶרֶם יִגָּלֶה אֵלָיו דְּבַר י and the word of Yahweh was not yet revealed unto him 1Sam 3:7. Yahweh also sends his word שׁלח Ps 107:20; Ps 147:18; Isa 9:7; Jer 42:5 (compare plural Zech 7:12) and makes it an object of vision ראה Jer 2:31; Jer 38:21 (compare plural Ezek 11:25), חזה Isa 2:1 it is also commanded צוה Exod 16:16; Exod 16:32; Exod 35:4; Lev 8:5; Lev 9:6; Lev 17:2; Num 30:2; Num 36:6 (P) Deut 4:2; Deut 13:1; Deut 15:15; Deut 4:10 (D) 1Chr 16:15 (= Ps 105:8) Neh 1:8; Jer 7:23, compare הדברים אשׁר צוה Exod 35:1; Lev 8:36 (P) Exod 19:7 (E) Deut 6:6.
b. Yahweh confirms his word of promise Deut 9:5; 1Sam 1:23 (where read דְּבָרֵךְ thy word according to ᵐ5 ᵑ6 & Dr), 1Kgs 2:4; 1Kgs 6:12; 1Kgs 8:20; Jer 29:10; Jer 33:14, and his word of warning 1Kgs 12:15; Dan 9:12 his word stands for ever Isa 40:8 it is settled for ever in heaven Ps 119:89 he remembers his holy word דבר קדשׁו Ps 105:42 (compare דִּבְרֵי קָדְשׁוֺ Jer 23:9); he himself Joel 2:11, the angels Ps 103:20, and forces of nature Ps 148:8 עשׂה דברו do his word of command; by his word the heavens were made Ps 33:6 it is near his people, in their mouth and heart Deut 30:14 a lamp to their feet Ps 119:105. II. saying, utterance, sentence, as a section of a discourse: —

1. of men,
a. דָּבָר בְּעִתּוֺ a word in due season Prov 15:23 compare Job 4:2; Prov 12:25 commonly in plural, דִּבְרֵי (הַ)שִּׁירָ(הׅ words of the song (i.e. its lines of poetry) Deut 31:30; Deut 32:44; Ps 18:1 (= 2Sam 22:1) Ps 137:3 הלל בדברי דויד to sing praises with the words of David (his psalms) 2Chr 29:30 דִּבְרֵי חֲכָמִים sentences of the wise Prov 1:6; Prov 22:17; Eccl 9:17; Eccl 12:11 these sayings are commonly written, compare דברי האגרת words of the letterEsth 9:26 הדברים עתיקים the records are ancient 1Chr 4:22 דִּבְרֵי (ה)סֵפֶר Isa 29:11; Isa 29:18; Jer 29:1.
b. title of writings: דִּבְרֵי קֹהֶלֶת Eccl 1:1, אגור ׳ד Prov 30:1, למואל ׳ד Prov 31:1, ירמיהו ׳ד Jer 1:1, so Amos 1:1; Neh 1:1 compare in appended phrase or clause, Jer 51:64, איוב ׳ד Job 31:40.
c. in Chronicles name of a work: החזים ׳ד 2Chr 33:18; 2Chr 33:19, שׁמעיה ׳בד 2Chr 12:15, יהוא ׳בד 2Chr 20:34, ׳שׁמואל על ד 1Chr 29:29 נתן ׳על ד 1Chr 29:29; 2Chr 9:29, גד על ׳ד 1Chr 29:29. (It is not certain whether writings of prophets or histories about them are referred to; in the latter case they are acts, IV. 2, see Dr^{Intr 497}.)

2. of God: עֲשֶׂרֶת הַדְּבָרִים the ten words (sentences in the tables) Exod 34:28 (JE) Deut 4:13; Deut 10:4, referred to as הדברים Exod 34:1 (JE) Deut 4:10; Deut 4:36; Deut 5:19; Deut 9:10; Deut 10:2 of commands of covenant code Exod 24:3; Exod 24:4; Exod 24:8 compare Exod 34:27 (JE); of Deuteronomic code Deut 17:19 (+ 16 t. D) 2Kgs 22:11; 2Kgs 23:3-24 (compare 2Chr 34:19-31) Jer 11:2-8; Jer 34:18 the law-book of Joshua Josh 24:26 (E); of the code of Ezra Ezra 7:11; Ezra 9:4; Neh 8:9; Neh 8:13 the words of Yahweh written by Jeremiah Jer 25:13; Jer 36:4-32; Jer 51:61 the words of the book of Daniel Dan 12:4; Dan 12:9 commands in general 1Sam 15:11; Ps 50:17; Ps 119:57; Ps 119:130; Ps 119:139 promises 2Sam 7:28; Neh 9:8, compare 1Chr 25:5; 2Chr 36:16. III. a word, words: —

1. of men: שָׂפָה אֶחָ֑ת וּדְבָרִים אֲחָדִים one lip, and one and the same words Gen 11:1 (J); אֵין אֹמֶר וְאֵין דְּבָרִים no speech and no words Ps 19:4 אִישׁ דְּבָרִים man of words, ready in speech, Exod 4:10 (J); רב דברים multitude of words Job 11:2; Prov 10:19; Eccl 5:2 קְחוּ עִמָּכֶם דְּבָרִים take with you words Hos 14:3 דבר(י) (ה)שׁקר lying word(s) Exod 5:9; Exod 23:7 (E) Prov 13:5; Prov 29:12; Isa 59:13; Jer 7:4; Jer 7:8 דִּבְרֵי רוּחַ words of wind, vain words Job 16:3 וּמַהשֶּֿׁמֶץ דָּבָר נִשְׁמַעבּֿוֺ and what a whisper of a word we hear of him! Job 26:14.

2. of God. It is difficult to determine how many of the following should come under

II. 2. The plural for words of God is relatively seldom: Gen 20:8; Exod 19:6; Num 12:6; Josh 3:9 (E) Exod 4:28; Exod 4:30; Num 11:24 (J) Deut 18:19; Josh 23:14 (D) 1Sam 3:18; 1Sam 8:10; 1Sam 15:1; 2Chr 11:4; Job 42:7; Prov 30:6; Isa 31:2; Dan 10:11; Amos 8:11; Mic 2:7 apart from Jer 3:12 + 30 t. Jeremiah; Ezek 2:7 + 4 t. Ezekiel; Zech 1:6 + 4 t. Zechariah. IV. matter, affair, thing about which one speaks: —

1. business, occupation: דְּבַר הַמֶּלֶךְ king's business 1Sam 21:9 לְכָלדְּֿבַר for every matter of 1Chr 26:32; 1Chr 27:1; 2Chr 19:11 דְּבָרֶיךָ לְכָלֿ for all thine affairs 1Chr 28:21 דבר המזבח Num 18:7 דָּבָר אֵיןלָֿהֶם עִם they had not dealings with Judg 18:7; Judg 18:28 דְּבַריֿוֺם בְּיוֺמוֺ the task or portion of a day in its day, daily duty or due Exod 5:13; Exod 5:19 (E) Exod 16:4 (J) Lev 23:37 (P) 1Kgs 8:59; 2Kgs 25:30; 1Chr 16:37; 2Chr 8:13 (ביום) v2Chr 8:14; 2Chr 31:16; Ezra 3:4; Neh 11:23; Neh 12:47; Jer 52:34; Dan 1:5 דבר שׁנה בשׁנה 1Kgs 10:25; 2Chr 9:24.

2. plural acts construct דִּבְרֵי 1Kgs 11:41 (twice in verse); 1Chr 29:29; 2Chr 12:15; 2Chr 16:11 דְּבָרָיו his acts 2Chr 13:22; 2Chr 35:27 especially in phrases, הַיָּמִים וְיֶתֶר דִּבְרֵי ֗֗֗ עַלסֵֿפֶר דִּבְרֵי and the rest of the acts of . . . in the book of the chronicles (daily record of events) of 1Kgs 14:29 + 32 t. Kings; וְיֶתֶר דִּבְרֵי 2Chr 13:22 + 8 t. Chronicles, וְיֶתֶר דְּבָרָיו 2Chr 28:26, שְׁאָר דִּבְרֵי 2Chr 9:29 are referred to various sources; compare also במספר דברי הימים 1Chr 27:24, בדברי דויד 1Chr 23:27, עלדֿברי מלכי ישׂראל 2Chr 33:18: דברים טובים good deeds 2Chr 12:12; 2Chr 19:13 דִּבְרֵי עֲוֺנֹת acts of iniquity Ps 65:4 (De, Fälle von Missethaten); דִּבְרֵירָֿע evil deeds Jer 5:28. It is used of God, only in כל דבריו לא יענה Job 33:13, אֹתוֺתָיו ׳ד Ps 105:27, נִפְלְאֹתֶיךָ ׳ד Ps 145:5.

3. matter, affair: דבר אוריה affair of Uriah 1Kgs 15:5 שׁרשׁ דבר root of the matter Job 19:28 מה היה הדבר how went the matter ? 1Sam 4:16; 2Sam 1:4 compare Ruth 3:18 סבב את פני הדבר change the face of the matter 2Sam 14:20 דִּבְרֵי הָאֲתֹנוֺת the matter of the asses 1Sam 10:2 זה דבר הרצח this is the case of the slayer Deut 19:4 לְכָלדְּֿבָרָיו 1Kgs 6:38 as to all its particulars.

4. events, things: in the phrase, אחר הדברים האלה after these things (events in time) Gen 15:1; Gen 22:1; Gen 40:1 (E) Gen 39:7 (J) 1Kgs 17:17; 1Kgs 21:1; Ezra 7:1; Esth 2:1; Esth 3:1 האלה אחרי הדברים Gen 48:1; Josh 24:29 (E) Gen 22:20 (J) 2Chr 32:1.

5. cause, case for judicial investigation: כִּייִֿהְיֶה לָהֶם דָּבָר if they have a case Exod 18:16 compare Exod 18:22; Exod 22:8 בעל דברים one having a case Exod 24:14, compare בדבר משׁפט 2Chr 19:6 דְּבָרֶיךָ טוֺבִים וּנְכֹחִים pleas, good and right 2Sam 15:3 compare Josh 20:4.

6. something, anything (indefinite): עשׂה דבר do a thing Gen 22:16 + (frequent); עשׂה דברים Isa 42:16 + (less frequent); דבר ׳היפלא מי Gen 18:14 compare Jer 32:17; Jer 32:27 לא ֗֗֗ דבר nothing 1Kgs 5:7; 1Kgs 10:3; + (frequent), אין דבר Exod 5:11 (E) Num 20:19; 1Sam 20:21 ׳לא דבר מ nothing of Exod 9:4 (J) Josh 8:35; Josh 11:15; Josh 21:45; Josh 23:14 (D); כל דבר anything Num 31:23; Deut 23:20 +; דבר רע Ps 141:4 +; טוב ׳ד 1Kgs 14:13 +; דְּבַרמָֿה whatsoever Num 23:3 (E); עֶרְוַת דבר Deut 23:15 naked-ness of a thing, i.e. unclean or unseemly thing (indecency in camp); so of a wife Deut 24:1.

7. way, manner: זֶה דְּבַר הַשְּׁמִטָּה this is the manner of the release Deut 15:2 (compare SI¹); כֵּן דְּבַר הַמֶּלֶךְ so was the way of the king Esth 1:13 הזה כדבר after this manner, thus Gen 18:25; Gen 32:20; Gen 44:7 (JE) 2Sam 15:6; Ezra 10:5; Neh 5:12; Neh 5:13 with (עשׂה), 1Sam 9:21; 2Sam 14:3; 2Sam 17:6 (דבר), 1Sam 17:27; 1Sam 17:30; Isa 8:20 (אמר), Neh 6:4; Neh 6:5 (שׁלח), Neh 6:4 (השׁיב) compare 1Sam 17:30; 2Kgs 7:19 (היה) (peculiar to D, כדבר הרע הזה such a wicked deed as this Deut 13:12; Deut 19:20, כדבר הגדול הזה Deut 4:32); כדברים האלה עשׂה thus and thus did he Gen 39:19 (J) 1Sam 2:23 (but usually the plural = these words).

8. reason, cause: זֶּה דְבַרהַֿמַּס 1Kgs 9:15 זה הדבר אשׁר this is the reason why Josh 5:4 (D) 1Kgs 11:27 so 1Sam 17:29 AV RV, was it not but a word ? Th Ke RVm VB Dr; עַל דְּבַר ֗֗֗ because of, for the sake of Gen 20:11; Gen 20:18 (E) Gen 12:17; Gen 43:18; Exod 8:8 (J) Num 17:14 (P) Ps 45:5; Ps 79:9, עַל דִּבְרֵי Jer 14:1 עַלדִּֿבְרֵיכֶם for your sakes Deut 4:21, עַל דְּבַר אשׁר Deut 22:24 (twice in verse); Deut 23:5; 2Sam 13:22.

word, words, thing, acts, things, …

dābār

a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause

speech, word, speaking, thing

speech

Breakdown unavailable for this word. Dictionary form: זֶה · dzeh

Noun — masculine singular

In the KJV here: this

this ×576 and this ×44 in this ×40 of this ×39 is this ×31 these ×21 that ×17 as it is this ×10

More options

this — Default demonstrative; nearest referent in context.

that — Use when referent is more distant or already mentioned.

such — Highlights quality or kind rather than identity.

here — Adverbial use; marks location or present moment.

the same — Emphasizes identity or continuity with prior referent.

it — Pronominal use; when זֶה substitutes for a noun.

BDB6199 H6258 H2088 H2009 H5704 H3588

עַתָּ֫ה₄₃₅ (also Ezek 23:43; Ps 74:6 עת Kt, Qr עַתָּה), עָ֑֫תָּה Gen 32:5 +, adverb of time, now (properly accusative of [`int],עֵת (Kö^{ii. 260}), at the time, in particular of the present time, i.e. now; compare German zur Zeit, Arabic at the time, i.e. now); — now:

1. a. Gen 12:19 ועתה הנה אשׁתך and now, behold thy wife, Gen 22:12 כי עתח ידעתי now, I know (so Exod 18:11; Judg 17:13; 1Kgs 17:24 [עַתָּה זֶה], Ps 20:7), Gen 26:22; Gen 26:29; Gen 27:36; Gen 31:13; Gen 31:28, etc., Exod 5:5 הך רבים עתה עם הארץ; whether in opposed to past time, as Gen 32:11; Josh 14:11 כְּכֹחִי אָז וּכְכֹחִי עָ֑תָּה, Judg 11:8; 1Kgs 12:4; Isa 1:21 ועתה מרצחים, Isa 16:14; Hos 2:9 כִּי טוֺב לִי אָז מַעָ֑תָּה, Hos 13:2, Job 30:1 +, or to future, as Num 24:17 אֶרְאֶנּוּ ולא עתה, Judg 8:6 חֲכַף עַתָּהכְּֿיָדֶ֑ךָ ׳זֶבַח וצ, 1Sam 2:16 כִּי עַתָּה תִּתֵּן; = after all Num 22:38; Judg 8:2 = now at last 2Sam 24:16; 1Kgs 19:4; 2Kgs 19:25; Hos 7:2; Jer 4:12 and in the phrase מעתה ועד עולם Isa 9:6; Isa 59:21; (see below), Ps 113:2; Ps 115:18; Ps 121:8; Ps 125:2; Ps 131:3.
b. of the imminent or impending future: Gen 19:9 עַתָּה נָרַע לְךָ מַהֶם. Gen 29:32 כי עתה יאהבני אישׁי, vGen 29:34; Exod 6:1 עתה תראה, Num 11:23; Num 22:4; 2Sam 20:6; Isa 33:10 (Ps 12:6), Isa 43:19; Isa 49:19; Amos 6:7 לכן עתה יִגְלוּ, Isa 49:19; Mic 7:4; Mic 7:10; Dan 10:20 and especially ἀσυνδέτως in Hosea, introducing a punishment, Hos 4:16 ׳וגו ׳עתה יִרְעֵם י Hos 5:7; Hos 8:8; Hos 8:13 (Jer 14:10), Jer 10:2.
c. of a time ideally present (= then, from our point of view): Isa 29:22 לא עתה יבושׁ יעקב, v^b Hos 10:3; Mic 4:9; Mic 4:10; Mic 4:11; Mic 4:14; Mic 5:3.
d. describing a present state = as things are: 1Sam 8:5 thou art old, etc., עתה שִׂימָה לנו מלך, 1Sam 9:6; 1Sam 13:12; 1Sam 14:30; 1Sam 25:7b; 1Sam 27:1 now I shall be swept away one day, etc., 2Kgs 18:20; 2Kgs 18:25; Job 6:21; Job 14:16; Job 16:7.
e. with an Imperative, as an encouragement, implying that the time has come for the exhortation or advice to be followed, Gen 31:13 עתה קים צא, Exod 18:19 עתה שְׁמַע בקולי, Num 22:11; Deut 2:13; 1Sam 30:8.

2. Phrases:
a. עַתָּה זֶה (זְה 4 h) 1Kgs 17:24; 2Kgs 5:22.
b. ועתה and, now, or now, therefore (וְ 4), drawing a conclusion, especially (compare 1 e) a practical one, from what has been stated: Gen 3:22 and now (since man has once been disobedient), lest he put forth his hand, etc., Gen 20:7; Gen 20:23 וְעַתָּה הִשָּֽׁבְעָה לִי הֵ֫נָּה, Gen 27:3; Gen 27:8 ועתה בני שְׁמַע בקולי, Gen 30:30; Gen 31:16; Gen 31:44; Gen 37:20 + often, Isa 5:3; Isa 5:5; Ps 2:10; Gen 11:6 ׳ועתה לאֹיִֿבָּצֵר מֵהֶם וגו, Gen 31:30; Gen 45:8; 2Sam 19:11; Ps 39:8 ועתה מַהקִּֿזִּיתִי אֲדֹנָי, Isa 52:5,
c. וְעַתָּה הִנֵּה stating the ground on which some conclusion or action is to be based, Exod 3:9; Josh 14:10 (twice in verse); 1Sam 12:2; 1Sam 24:21; 1Kgs 1:18; Jer 40:4 (with ועתה usually repeated afer the הנה-clause).
d. גם עתה Gen 44:10; 1Sam 12:16; 1Kgs 14:14; Joel 2:12; Job 16:19.
e. מֵעַתָּה from now, henceforth, Jer 3:4; Isa 48:6; Dan 10:17 (according to some, here = from just now), 2Chr 16:9 מעתה ועד עוּלּסּ, see above 1 a end. feminine עַדעַֿתָּה until now, Gen 32:5, ׳וֶאֵחַר עדעֿ, Deut 12:9 ׳אל הנחלה לא באתם עד ע (opposed to the future), 2Kgs 13:23 especially after clause with מִן, 2Kgs 46:34 ׳מִנְּעוּרֵינוּ וְעַדעֿ (2Sam 19:8; Ezek 4:14), Exod 9:18; 2Kgs 8:6; Ruth 2:7.
g. כִּי עַתָּה for in this case, in our idiom, for them (עתה pointing to a condition assumed as a possible contingency: compare Dr^{§ 141, 142}); (a) Exod 9:15 כי עתה ׳שׁלחתי וגו for then (if the intention expressed in vExod 9:14 had not existed) I should have put forth my hand, etc., Num 22:29 כי עתה הֲרַגְתִּיךְ, 1Sam 13:13; Job 3:13 followed by imperfect Job 6:3 for then (if it were weighed, vJob 6:2) it would be heavier, etc., Job 13:19 for then would I be silent and die; (b) after a protasis, surely then Gen 31:42 + (see כִּי 1 d b, p. 472). — Note. Read כְּמוֺ עַתָּ) (ᵐ5 ᵑ9) as now, for כְּמוֺ עֵת Ezek 16:57, עַתָּ נִשְׁבַּרְתְּ (ᵐ5 ᵑ6 ᵑ9) now art thou broken ! for עֵת נִשְׁבֶּרֶת Ezek 27:34, and probably עַתָּ בָּא (Hi We Kö Now, compare ᵐ5 ᵑ6) for עֶתבּֿאֹ Hag 1:2 also עַתָּה for אַתָּה 1Kgs 1:20, and אַתָּה for עַתָּה v1Kgs 1:18b 2Sam 18:3.

BDB9422 H1668 H2090 H2088

ד

דָּא demonstrative pronoun feminine this (= Biblical Hebrew זֹה: Zinjirli Têma, Cappadocian, Egyptian Aramaic זא, Nabataean דא, Palmyrene דה (Lzb^{264: Eph. i. 323} Cooke²⁶), ᵑ7 דא: see further below Biblical Hebrew זֶה. The corresponding masculine is דְּנָה); — this, Dan 4:27 הֲלָא דָיא בַּבֶל רַבְּתָא, Dan 5:6 דָּא לְדָא נָ֧קְשָׁן one striking against another, similarly Dan 7:3 (compare זֶה 1 b), vDan 7:8 בְקַרְנָאדָֿא.

BDB9440 H1768 H2088 H834

דִּי particle of relation, who, which, that, used also as mark of genitive and conjunction that, because (Aramaic of Nineveh, Babylonian, Zinjirli, Nerab, Cilicia, Têma, Egypt, ןי (Lzb^{267. 446} RES³⁶¹ S-C^{Pap. A 2} +); Nabataean, Palmyrene די; ᵑ7 דְּ (except in compounds, as דִּילִי mine, דִּילֵיהּ his); Samaritan ; Syriac ; Ethiopic za: of same origin as Arabic possessor of [compare below Biblical Hebrew זֶה]. Properly a demonstrative that [compare זֶה; in Ethiopic ze is 'this', za 'which']; but this being referred by usage to something preceding becomes equivalent to the relative who, which, used, however, more widely than Hebrew אֲשֶׁר); —

1. as rel. who, which (construed like אֲשֶׁר): a. Jer 10:11; Dan 2:11 דִּי מְדָֽרְהוֺן whose dwelling, vDan 2:24 דִּי מַנִּי מַלְבָּא whom the king had appointed, vDan 2:26 ׳דִּי שְׁמֵהּ בּ whose name was B., Dan 4:5; Dan 5:12; Dan 5:23, etc.; = that which Dan 2:23 = him that Ezra 7:25; Ezra 6:15; Dan 7:17 דִּת אִנוּן אַרְבַּע which are four (see אִנּוּן). Following pronoun of 2 person (compare אֲשֶׁר 3), Dan 2:37 thou, O king ..., דִּי ֗֗֗ יְהַב לָח to whom... hath given, Dan 4:19; Dan 4:6 as to whom I know, etc. (compare אֲשֶׁר 4 d end). Sq. תַּמָּה = where Ezra 6:1, so דִּי alone Ezra 6:3; Dan 2:38 of time, בְּעִדָּנָא דִּי at the time when, etc., Dan 3:5; Dan 3:15. With the predicate an infinitive with לְ, Dan 6:9 כְּתָבָא דִּי לָא לְהַשְׁנָיָה which is not to be changed, Ezra 6:8 a place- or other determination, Dan 3:20 valiant men בְחֵילֵהּ that were in his army, Dan 5:2 הֵיכְלָא דִּי בִירוּשְׁלֵב, Dan 7:20; Ezra 4:24; Ezra 5:6; Ezra 6:2; Ezra 6:6 compare Dan 2:25; Dan 5:13; Dan 7:7; Ezra 7:23. דִּי לָא = without, Ezra 6:9; Ezra 7:22 (so דְּלָא ᵑ7 Gen 15:2; Exod 21:11); compare Dan 2:34; Dan 2:45.
b. מָן דִּי, מָה דִּי (compare in late Hebrew ׳מַהשֶּֿׁ, מַה 1 e b) whoever, whatever, so Dan 3:6; Dan 3:11 יִפֵּל ָ(מןדִּֿילָֿא whoever does not fall down, Dan 4:14 לְמָן דִּי יִצְבֵּא to whomsoever he willeth, v.Dan 4:22 v.Dan 4:29; Dan 5:21 מָה דִי whatever (or simply what), Dan 2:28 מָה דִּי לֶהֱוֵא what will be, vDan 2:29 vDan 2:29 vDan 2:45; Ezra 6:8; Ezra 7:18. — compare K^{§ 103.}

2. as mark of the genitive, Dan 2:15 שׁליטא די מלכא properly the captain, that of the king = the king's captain (a genuine Aramaic idiom: so ᵑ7 דְּ, Syriac constantly), vDan 2:19 vDan 2:25 vDan 2:49 + often: the substantive in such cases may be either in the emphatic state (determined), as ll. cc. Ezra 4:15; Ezra 5:2, etc., or in the absolute state (undetermined), Dan 5:5; Dan 7:4; Dan 7:9; Dan 7:10 נְהַר דִּי נוּר; or it may have a pleonastic suffix, Dan 2:20 שְׁמֵהּ דִּי אֱלָהָא literally his name, that of God = God's name, vDan 2:44; Dan 3:8; Dan 3:25; Dan 3:26; Dan 4:23, etc. (so also ᵑ7 Syriac). To circumscribe an adjective, especially in specification of the material: Dan 2:38 thou art רֵאשָׁה דִּי דַהֲבָא the head of gold, vDan 2:39; Dan 3:1; Dan 5:7; Dan 5:16; Ezra 5:14; Ezra 6:4 +; as predicate Dan 2:32 רֵאשֵׁהּ דִּידְֿהַב טָב his head (was) of fine gold, vDan 2:33; Dan 7:19 with a pronoun Dan 2:20 wisdom and might דִּילֵֿהּ הִיא are his; compare Dan 6:27 וּמַלְכוּתֵהּ דִּילָֿא תִתְחַבַּל his kingdom (is one) which shall not be destroyed, Dan 7:14. — See further K^{§ 81.}

3. as conjunction (compare אֲשֶׁר 8):
a. that (quod), after verbs of knowing, Dan 2:8; Dan 2:9, seeing Dan 2:45; Dan 3:27, hearing Dan 5:14, etc.; introducing the subject of a sentence, יְדִיעַ ֗֗֗ דִּי ֗֗֗ Dan 3:18; Ezra 4:13; Dan 2:47 מִןקְֿשֹׁט דִּי ֗֗֗ True is it that . . . (compare אָמְנָם כִּי Job 12:2).
b. = in that, inasmuch as, whereas: Dan 2:41 and whereas (דִּי) thou sawest, etc. . . . it shall be adivided kingdom, vDan 2:43; Dan 4:20; Dan 4:23 as a connecting link$ = seeing that, because, for (compare אֲשֶׁר 8 c) Dan 2:9; Dan 2:20b; Dan 2:23b; Dan 2:47b; Dan 4:15; Dan 6:24b.
c. that (ut), after verbs of asking Dan 2:16, commanding Dan 3:10; Dan 3:29, expressing a purpose Dan 4:3; Dan 5:15; Ezra 4:15; Ezra 6:10 +; דִּי לָא that not (ne) Dan 2:18; Dan 3:28; Dan 6:18 (on דִּי לְמָה lest Ezra 7:23, see מה).
d. prefixed to direct narr. (like כִּי 1 b, and sometimes אֲשֶׁר 8 a γ, and ὅτι recitativum), Dan 2:25 and said thus unto him דִּיהַֿשְׁכַּחַת (that) I have found, etc., Dan 5:7; Dan 6:6; Dan 6:14.

4. with prepositions and other prefixes:
a. כְּ דִי (like Hebrew כַּאֲשֶׁר; so Egyptian Aramaic כזי, Palmyrene, Nabataean כדי, Lzb²⁹³ SAC^{G1 62, 63} Cooke^{369 b RES:361}; ᵑ7 כַּד, Syriac ); a according as, Dan 2:43 b. so soon as, when, Dan 3:7; Dan 5:20; Dan 6:11; Dan 6:15.
b. מִןדִּֿי: a. because that, Dan 3:22; Ezra 5:12 (compare מֵאֲשֶׁר Isa 43:4); b. from (the time) that, after (ex quo), Dan 4:23; Ezra 4:23.
c. עַד דִּי until, Dan 2:9; Dan 2:34; Dan 4:30; Dan 7:22 = ere that Dan 6:25.
d. עַל דִּי Dan 3:19 is not a conjunction, but means above that which ...
e. for עַל דִּבְרַת דִּי and כָּלקֳֿבֵל דִּי see [ דִּבְרָה] and קֳבֵל.

this, that, side, these, hence, …

ze

the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that

this, this one, here, which, this...that, the one...the other, another, such

(alone)

this one

this

this, such

then

wherein, which, those who

in this (place) here, then

Word Breakdown

Vowels & Accents

Grammar C/Vqw3mp

Verb Chart

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Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)

Strong's Definition H559

Word Breakdown

Vowels & Accents

Grammar R/Sp3ms

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Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)

Strong's Definition H413

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Vowels & Accents

Grammar R/Ti

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Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)

Strong's Definition H4100

Word Breakdown

Vowels & Accents

Grammar Vpi3ms

Verb Chart

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Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)

Strong's Definition H1696

Word Breakdown

Vowels & Accents

Grammar Ncmsc/Sp1cs

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Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)

Strong's Definition H113

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Vowels & Accents

Grammar Rd/Ncmpa

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Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)

Strong's Definition H1697

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Vowels & Accents

Grammar Td/Pdxcp

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Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)

Strong's Definition H428

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Vowels & Accents

Grammar Tj/Sh

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Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)

Strong's Definition H2486

Word Breakdown

Vowels & Accents

Grammar R/Ncmpc/Sp2ms

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Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)

Strong's Definition H5650

Word Breakdown

Vowels & Accents

Grammar R/Vqc

Verb Chart

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Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)

Strong's Definition H6213

Word Breakdown

Vowels & Accents

Grammar Rd/Ncmsa

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Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)

Strong's Definition H1697

Word Breakdown

Vowels & Accents

Grammar Td/Pdxms

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Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)

Strong's Definition H2088

Masoretic Phrasing

KJV