Job 12:25

יְמַֽשְׁשׁוּ חֹ֥שֶׁךְ וְלֹא א֑וֹר וַ֝יַּתְעֵ֗ם כַּשִּׁכּֽוֹר
They grope in the dark without light, and he maketh them to stagger like a drunken man.
Select a Hebrew word above to see its details.

In the KJV here: man
it ×144 him ×95 them ×83 thee ×59 me ×53 unto him ×35 you ×28 he ×22

יְמַֽשְׁשׁוּ
יְמַֽשְׁשׁוּ
Root word grope, searched, felt, gropeth, feel
Dictionary form: מָשַׁשׁ · maw-SHAHSH

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

In the KJV here: they grope
and grope ×1 and he felt him ×1 and searched ×1 grope ×1 gropeth ×1 they grope ×1 thou hast searched ×1 which may be felt ×1
More options
grope — Best for blind or disoriented searching by touch.
feel around — Informal; emphasizes tentative, exploratory touch.
search by touch — Clearer when the method of searching needs emphasis.
run one's hands over — Vivid; suits deliberate tactile examination.
touch — Broader, neutral term when context makes intent clear.
pat down — Colloquial; fits searching a person's body specifically.

BDB4889 H4959

BDB4888 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB4890

[מָשַׁשׁ] verb feel, grope (Late Hebrew id. Pi`el; Arabic feel; Ethiopic Di166; Aramaic , מְשַׁשׁ Pa`el, Palpel — see also ימשׁ, II. מושׁ); —

Qal Imperfect 3 masculine singular suffix יְמֻשֵּׁנִי Gen 27:12 perhaps my father will feel me; וַיְמֻשֵּׁהוּ vGen 27:22 and he felt of him (both J). Pi`el Perfect 2 masculine singular מִשַּׁשְׁתָּ; Imperfect 3 masculine singular יְמַשֵּׁשׁ Deut 28:29, וַיְמַשֵּׁשׁ Gen 31:34 3 masculine plural יִמַשְׁשׁוּ Job 5:4; Job 12:25 Participle מְמַשֵּׁשׁ Deut 28:29 — feel over or through, grope: —
1. לָבָּן אֶתכָּֿלהָֿאֹהֶל ׳וַיְמ Gen 31:24 and Laban felt through the whole tent (i.e. searched it); so (object כֵּלַי) vGen 31:37 thou hast felt through all my possessions (or baggage; both E).
2. grope, of blind Deut 28:29b (in simile), periphrase conjectural, וְהָיִיתָ מְמַשֵּׁשׁDeut 28:29 a and thou shalt become one that gropes at noonday (figurative of judicial blindness); compare Job 5:14; Job 12:25. Hiph`il Imperfect וְיָמֵשׁ חשֶׁךְ Exod 10:21 that one may feel (the) darkness; read also Imperative suffix הֲמִשֵׁנִי (for והימשׁני, see ימשׁ, p. 413 above) Judg 16:26 and let me touch the pillars (2 accusative)

מִשְׁתֶּה see שׁתה. מֵת see מות. p 559,1059

grope, searched, felt, gropeth, feel
māšaš
to feel of; by implication, to grope
  • to feel, grope
    • (Qal) to feel, grope
      • "(Piel) to feel over or through, grope
      • to feel through
        • "to grope
      (Hiphil) to feel

חֹ֥שֶׁךְ
חֹ֥שֶׁךְ
Root word darkness, dark, obscurity, night
Dictionary form: חֹשֶׁךְ · hoh-SHEK

Noun — Common, masculine singular, absolute state

In the KJV here: in the dark
darkness ×21 of darkness ×10 in darkness ×8 the darkness ×6 in the dark ×4 with darkness ×3 and darkness ×2 in the darkness ×2
More options
darkness — Most direct rendering; works in nearly all contexts.
dark — Nominal use; natural in phrases like 'in the dark'.
obscurity — Prefer when emphasizing hiddenness or anonymity.
gloom — Evokes oppressive or foreboding atmosphere; poetic contexts.
shadow — Softer nuance; suits metaphorical or protective imagery.
night — Use only when context clearly equates darkness with nighttime.

BDB3219 H2822

BDB3218 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB3220

ח֫שֶׁךְ noun masculineExod 10:21 darkness, obscurity — absolute חשֶׁךְ Gen 1:2 + 75 t. (+ Ezek 8:12 strike out Co A B etc.); construct id. Exod 10:22 suffix חָשְׁכִּי Ps 18:29 = 2Sam 22:29 —

1. darkness (opposed to אוֺר) literal Gen 1:2; Gen 1:4 (P), Isa 45:7; Job 26:10; Eccl 2:13, compare in imprecation Job 3:4; Job 3:5 (וצלמות ׳ח) = לילה Gen 1:5; Gen 1:18 (P), compare Josh 2:5 (JE), Isa 45:19; Job 17:12; Job 24:16; Job 38:19; Ps 104:20 darkness in mines Job 28:3 of extraordinary darkness, in Egypt Exod 10:21 (twice in verse) (E); אֲֿפֵלָה׳ח Exod 10:22 (E), Ps 105:28, from pillar of cloud Exod 14:20 at Mt. Sinai Deut 4:11; Deut 5:20 of clouds of theophany 2Sam 22:12 = Ps 18:12 of darkness in death, or She'ô l, 1Sam 2:9; Job 10:21 (וצלמות ׳אֶרֶץ ח), Job 17:13; Job 18:18; Ps 88:13; Prov 20:20 (׳אִישׁוֺן ח = extreme of darkness).
2. = secret place(s) Isa 45:3; Job 12:22 (|| צלמות); = hiding-place Job 34:22 (|| id.), compare Ps 139:11; Ps 139:12 — on Ezek 8:12, see above
3. figurative,
  a. = distress Isa 5:30; Isa 9:1; Isa 29:18 (figurative of blindness), Isa 42:7; Isa 49:9; Isa 58:10; Isa 59:9; Isa 60:2; Lam 3:2; Mic 7:8; Ps 18:29 = 2Sam 22:29; Job 15:22; Job 15:23; Job 15:30; Job 20:26; Job 22:11; Job 23:17; Job 29:3; Ps 107:10; Ps 107:14 (in both || צלמות), Ps 112:4; Eccl 5:16; Eccl 11:8.
  b. = dread, terror, symbolic of judgment Amos 5:18; Amos 5:20; Zeph 1:15; Nah 1:8; Ezek 32:8; Joel 2:4; Joel 3:4.
  c. = mourning Isa 47:5.
  d. = perplexity Job 5:14; Job 12:25; Job 19:8 confusion Ps 35:6.
  e. = ignorance Job 37:19; Eccl 2:14. feminine = evil, sin Isa 5:20 (twice in verse); Prov 2:13.
  g. = obscurity Eccl 6:4 (twice in verse).

BDB9549 H2822

BDB9548 | BIBLICAL ARAMAIC | BDB9550

חשׁך (see Biblical Hebrew חֹשֶׁךְ darkness, √ חשׁך).

darkness, dark, obscurity, night
ḥōšek
the dark; hence (literally) darkness; figuratively, misery, destruction, death, ignorance, sorrow, wickedness
  • darkness, obscurity
    • darkness
      • "secret place

וְ לֹא
וְ
Prefix — connector and (sometimes: but, so, then)
לֹא
Particle not
Dictionary form: לֹא · loh

Particle — Negative

In the KJV here: without
not ×882 neither ×399 no ×282 nor ×215 shall not ×205 thou shalt not ×116 is not ×102 and not ×86
More options
not — Default negation; fits nearly every context.
no — Use before nouns or as a standalone negative.
never — Emphasizes total or timeless negation.
nor — Use in paired or continued negative clauses.
neither — Use when negating two elements together.
none — Negates a noun or quantity; no one/nothing.

BDB4266 H3808

BDB4265 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB4267

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

1. in predication:
  a. with a verb; so most frequently, and nearly always
   (a) with the finite tenses, whether perfect (Gen 2:5 b Gen 4:5 etc.) or imperfect (Gen 3:4; Gen 8:21; Gen 8:22 etc.); in short circumstantial clauses, as Gen 44:4 לא הרחיקו, Isa 40:20 לֹא יִמּוֺט, and with a final force Isa 41:7; Exod 28:32 (see Ges«GKC:156»§ 156. 3 R. b, c Dr§ 162). Governing two closely connected verbs (Dr§ 115, לא) Exod 28:43 וְלֹא יִשְׂאוּ עָוֺן וָמֵתוּ, Lev 19:12; Lev 19:29b Deut 7:25; Deut 7:26; Deut 19:10; Deut 22:1 and elsewhere; and two parallel clauses (Ges«GKC:152»§ 152. 3) Isa 23:4b Ps 9:19; Ps 44:19; Job 3:1 and elsewhere With the imperfect, especially with 2 person, לֹא often expresses (not, like אַל, a deprecation, do not . . ., let not . . ., but) a prohibition, as Gen 2:17 לֹא תאֹכַל מִמֶּנּוּ thou shall not eat of it, Gen 3:1; Gen 3:3; Exod 20:3 לֹאיִֿהְיֶה לְךָ there shall not be to thee, etc., vExod 20:13 לא תגנב, etc. With the coh. and jussive moods (which are negatived regularly by אַל), it occurs only exceptionally (Ges«GKC:109»§ 109. 1 b R. 1), Gen 24:8; 1Sam 14:36; 2Sam 17:12; 2Sam 18:14; 1Kgs 2:6; Ezek 48:14.
   (b) with the infinitive (which is negatived by בִּלְתִּי, q. v.), only once, in בְּלֹא (4 a), and with לְ, in the sense of cannot, or must not; Judg 1:19 כי לא להורישׁ for it was not (possible) to dispossess, etc. Amos 6:10 לא ׳להזכיר בשׁם י, 1Chr 5:1; 1Chr 15:2 (Dr§ 202. 2); compare Aramaic לָא Dan 6:9; Ezra 6:8. On its use with the participle, see b c.
   (c) לא always negates properly the word immediately following: hence, in a verbal sentence, where this is not the verb, some special stress rests upon it, Gen 32:29 לֹא יַעֲקֹב ׳יֵאָמֵר עוֺד וג not Jacob shall thy name be called any more, but Israel, Gen 45:8 לֹא אַתֶּם שְׁלַחְתֶּם אֹתִי Not ye (in our idiom: It is not ye who) have sent me hither, but God, Exod 16:8; 1Sam 8:7 כִּי לֹא ׳אֹתְךָ מָאָסוּ כִּי אֹתִי וג, Ps 115:17 without a following correcting clause, Gen 38:9; Num 16:29 שְׁלָחָנִי׃ ׳לֹא י Not ׳י (but another) hath sent me, Deut 32:27 לֹא פָּעַל זֹאת ׳י, 1Chr 17:4; Deut 8:9; Isa 28:28 לא לנצח ֗֗֗ not for ever (but only for a while) . . . (so Isa 57:16; Ps 9:19; Ps 49:18; Ps 103:9 but Isa 13:20 לא תשׁב לנצח is, will not be inhabited for ever), Isa 43:22; Job 13:16; Job 32:9 hence rhetorically, insinuating something very different, not named, 2Kgs 6:10 not once, and not twice (but repeatedly), Ezra 10:13; Jer 4:11 a wind לֹא לְזָרוֺת וְלוֺא לְהַָ˜בר׃ not to winnow, and not to cleanse (but to exterminate), Isa 45:13; Isa 48:1b Josh 24:12; Dan 11:20; Dan 11:29; Job 34:20 לֹא בְיָד (but by a Divine agency: compare Dan 2:34 also Job 20:26 אֵשׁ לֹא נֻפָּ֑ךְ fire not blown upon [but kindled from heaven], Lam 4:6 and אין Isa 47:14).
   (d) standing alone:
   (a) אִםלֹֿא if not, Gen 18:21 וְאִםלֹֿא אֵדָֽעָה׃, Gen 29:49; Gen 42:16; Job 9:24; Job 24:25 (β) הֲאִ֗֗֗םלֿא, or not, Gen 24:21 waiting to know דַּרְכּוֺ אִםלֹֿא ׳הַהִצְלִיחַ י, Gen 27:21; Gen 37:32; Exod 16:4; Num 11:23; Deut 8:2; Judg 2:22 (compare אִם אַיִן, אַיִן 2 d β, δ). In answer to a question or request, to deny, or decline, Nay, Nö: Judg 12:5 ויאמר לא, Hag 2:12 לא אדני Gen 23:11; Gen 42:10; 1Sam 1:15 +; often followed by כי, Nö for . . . = Nö but . . ., Gen 18:15 ויאמר לֹא כִּי צָחָ֑קְתְּ, Gen 19:2; Josh 5:14; Josh 24:21; 1Sam 2:16 Qr (see Dr), 1Sam 10:19 (ᵐ5 MSS), 2Sam 16:18; 2Sam 24:24; 1Kgs 3:22 (twice in verse) +; Job 23:6 (strangely). (compare, in deprecation, אַל.)
   (e) with an interrogative force, which however does not lie in לא as such, but (as in other cases) in the contrast with a preceding clause, or in the tone of voice (compare וְ 1 f; Ew§ 324 a Ges«GKC:150»§ 150. 1 Dr1Sam 11:12): Jonah 4:11 ׳אַתָּה חַסְתָּוַ֗֗֗אֲנִי לֹא אָחוּס וג, Job 2:10; Job 22:11; Exod 8:22; 2Kgs 5:26; Jer 49:9 (|| Obad 1:5 הֲלוֺא), Mal 2:15; Lam 3:38 and in passages, exegesis or text. doubtful (see Commentaries), 1Sam 20:14; 2Sam 23:5 (but see Bu), Hos 10:9 (Ew We), Hos 11:5 (Ew), Job 14:16b (but ᵐ5 Ew Di תַעֲבֹר), Lam 1:12 (Ew Ke), Lam 3:36 (Ke Bä).
  b. with adjectives and substantive:
   (a) Gen 2:18 לֹא טוֺב הֱֶיוֺת הָאָדָם לְבַדֹּו not good is man's being alone, Exod 18:17 + often
   (b) Exod 4:16 לֹא אִישׁ דְּבָרִים אָנֹכִי, Amos 7:14 לא נביא אנכי, Num 23:9 לֹא אִישׁ אֵל וִיכַזֵּב, Deut 17:15 (see אשׁר
2. b) Deut 20:20; Deut 32:47; 1Sam 15:29; 2Sam 18:20 לֹא אִישׁ בְּשׂרָה אַתָּה הַיּוֺם, 2Sam 21:2; 1Kgs 22:33; 2Kgs 6:19 לא זִה הדרך, Mic 2:10; Isa 27:11; Hos 8:6 והמה לא אלהים Jer 2:11; Jer 16:20; 2Kgs 19:18; 1Kgs 19:11 (twice in verse) לֹא ׳בָרַעַשׁ י, Deut 30:12; Deut 30:13; Job 15:9; Job 28:14 לֹא בִי הִיא (|| אֵין עִמָּדִי)s, Ps 74:9; Jer 5:10 המה ׳לוא לי, Jer 10:16; Deut 32:21 בָּנִים לֹא אֵמוּן בָּם, Jer 10:14; Hab 1:14; Job 16:17; Job 38:26 מִדְבָּר לֹא אָדָם בּוֺ; 1Kgs 22:17 לֹא אֲדֹנִים לָאֵלֶּה, Jer 49:31; Ps 22:3 וְלֹא דוּמִיָּה לִי, Job 18:17; Job 18:19; Job 29:12 ולא עֹזֵר לו, Job 30:13; Job 33:9; Jer 2:19 וְלֹא פַחְדָּתִי אֵלַיִךְ and (that) my terror reached not unto thee, Job 21:9 absolute Gen 29:7 לֹאעֵֿתִ הֵאָסֵף הַמִּקְנֶה (Hag 1:2), Num 20:5; 2Kgs 4:23 לא חדשׁ ולא שׁבת, Isa 44:9; Jer 5:12 ויאמרו לוא הוא, Job 9:32; Job 22:16; Job 36:26; Job 41:2; Prov 19:7 (si vera lectio) מְרַדֵּף אֲמָרִים לֹאהֵֿמָּה words which are not, which are nought.
   (c) with the participle לֹא is rare, a finite verb being usually preferred (Exod 34:7 וְנַקִּה לֹא יְנַקֶּה: Ew§ 320 c Dr§ 162): 2Sam 3:34 יָדֶיךָ לֹא אֲסֻרוֺת, Ezek 4:14; Ezek 22:24; Deut 28:61; Ps 38:15 כְּאִישׁ אֲשֶׁר לֹא שֹׁמֵעַ who is not hearing, Job 12:3; Job 13:2 לֹא נֹפֵל אָנֹכִי מִכֶּם, Zeph 3:5 (very anomalous); 1Kgs 10:21 לא is probably textual error In וְהוּא לֹא שׂנֵא לוֺ or לא שׂנא הוא לו, Deut 4:42; Deut 19:4; Deut 19:6; Josh 20:5 (compare אֹיֵב Num 35:23), שׂנֵא is best construed as a substantive, he being a not-hater to him afore-time. — In most of the cases under b, c, אין could have been employed; but the negation by לֹא is more pointed and forcible.

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

3. Once (according to many MSS), as a substantive, Job 6:21 כִּיעַֿתָּה הֱיִיתֶם לֹא for now are ye become nothing, Hi De Kö (compare Dan 4:32 (Aramaic) כְּלָה חֲשִׁיבִין, ᵑ7 here כְּלָא הֲוֵיתוּן, and אַל Job 24:25); but reading fluctuates (Orientals לֹא, Qr לו, Westerns, Baer (see pp. 37, 56) לוֺ ['now are ye become that,' namely the נַחַל אַכְזָב of vJob 24:15]; but even לוֺ yields a forced sense; and text is probably wrong: Mich Ew Ol Sgf Bu כֵּןלִ֗֗֗י (ᵐ5 ᵑ6 also read לִי); Bö Di כִּילְ֗֗֗אָ֑יִן. compare Köii. 1. 236 f.
4. With prefixes: —
  a. בְּלֹא31 (chiefly in poetry or late), according to the varying significance of בְּ:
   (a) usually with not = without, Jer 22:13 בונה ביתו בלאֿ צדק without justice (|| בלא משׁפט; so Ezek 22:29; Prov 16:8), Isa 55:1 (twice in verse); Prov 19:2; Job 8:11 הֲיִגְאֶהגֹּֿמֶא בְּלֹא בִצָּה without mire || כלי מים, Job 30:28 בְּלֹא חַמָּה (=not through the sun), Lam 1:6 וילכו בלאכֿח, Num 35:22 בְּלֹא אֵיבָה ֗֗֗ בְּלֹא צְדִיָּה, vNum 35:23 (followed by infinitive) בְּלֹא רְאוֺת, 2Chr 21:20; Eccl 10:11; Ps 17:1 תְּפִלָּתִי בְּלֹא שִׂפְתֵי מִרְמָה; used more freely in Chronicles, 1Chr 12:18 בְּלֹא חָמָס בְּכַפָּֽי׃, v.1Chr 12:34 בְּלֹא לֵב וָלֵב, 2Chr 30:18 בְּלֹא כַכָּתוּב. With ellipse of rel., Lam 4:14 בְּלֹא יוּכְלוּ יִגְּעוּ without (that) men are able to touch, etc.
   (b) of time, in not, i.e. outside of, Lev 15:25 בלא עֶתנִֿדָּתָהּ, before Job 15:32 בלאיֿומו, Eccl 7:17 בְּלֹא עִתֶּךְ׃.
   (c) where לֹא belongs to the following word, and is only accidentally preceded by ב (see above 2 d), Deut 32:21 (twice in verse); Jer 5:7; Prov 13:23 בלא משׁפט through injustice; with בְּ pretii, Ps 44:13; Isa 55:2 (twice in verse); Jer 2:11 בְּלוֺא יוֺעִיל for (that which) profiteth not.


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


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


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

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

BDB4344 H3808

BDB4343 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB4345

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

BDB9632 H3808 H3809

BDB9631 | BIBLICAL ARAMAIC | BDB9633

לָא (לָה Dan 4:32) adverb not (Biblical Hebrew לא; Aramaic of Têma, Egyptian, etc., לא; Nerab ל (Lzb301 CookG1. 67); ᵑ7 לָא; Syriac ); — not Jer 10:11; Dan 2:5; Dan 2:9; Dan 2:10, etc.; before a participle (so rarely in Biblical Hebrew, 1 b c), Dan 2:27; Dan 2:43; Dan 3:16; Dan 4:4; Dan 4:6; Dan 4:15 +, so v.Dan 4:32 וְכָלדָּֿאְרֵי אַרְעָא כְּלָה חֲשׁיבִין; are as men not accounted of (so Bev Behrm Marti, compare Isa 53:8 ᵑ7 בסירין ולא חשׁיבין; > most 'accounted as nothing,' for which no analogy, yet compare Ps 39:6 ᵑ7); followed by אִיתַי, see אִיתַי. With infinitive and לְ Dan 6:9 דִּי לָא לִהַשְׁנָיָה which it is not to alter = which is not to be altered (compare v.Dan 6:16), Ezra 6:8 (K§ 67, 1 Dr§ 202, 2.; compare Isa 35:6 ᵑ7, DAramaic Dialektproben, p. 1). With interr. הֲלָא Dan 3:24; Dan 4:27; Dan 6:13.

BDB9640 H3809 H3861 H518 H2006 H3808 H3588

BDB9639 | BIBLICAL ARAMAIC | BDB9641

II. לָהֵן conjunction except, but (from לָא and הֵן 'not if' (compare Hebrew אם לא Gen 24:38); so Nabataean and Egyptian Aramaic להן Cooke217, 219, 241 S-CPap. C 6, 7 +; lâinnî, however SocArab. Dial. see Marokko 44, Anm. 103; ᵑ7 אִילָּהֵין Gen 32:28; Gen 43:3 and elsewhere); —

1. after a negative (= Biblical Hebrew כִּי אִם, q. v.):
  a. except Dan 2:11; Dan 3:28; Dan 6:6; Dan 6:8.
  b. but (German sondern) Dan 2:30.
2. without a negative: however, but Ezra 5:12.

not, no, neither, nor, none, …
lōʾ
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
  • not, no
    • not (with verb—absolute prohibition)
      • "not (with modifier—negation)"nothing (subst)"without (with particle)"before (of time)

א֑וֹר
א֑וֹר
Root word light, day, lights, morning, sun, …
Dictionary form: אוֹר · ore

Noun — Common, both singular, absolute state

In the KJV here: light
light ×23 the light ×13 and the light ×6 for light ×5 as the light ×4 for a light ×4 in the light ×4 is light ×3
More options
light — Modernized from KJV; universally applicable, most neutral.
radiance — Emphasizes luminous quality; suits poetic or hymnic contexts.
brightness — Highlights intensity; good for glory or divine-light passages.
daylight — Concrete, temporal nuance; fits dawn or morning contexts.
gleam — Softer, momentary flash; suits lightning or brief light imagery.
illumination — Abstract or metaphorical; suits wisdom or guidance contexts.

BDB237 H216

BDB236 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB238

אוֺר121 noun masculineGen 1:3 (feminineJob 36:32; Jer 13:16) light (Assyrian urru = ûru Dlw). — absolute Gen 1:3 +; construct Judg 16:2 +; suffix אוֺרִי Ps 27:1, etc.; plural אוֺרִים Ps 136:7 —

1. light as diffused in nature, light of day Gen 1:3; Gen 1:4; Gen 1:5 (P) Job 3:9; Job 38:19 +.
2. morning light, dawn, אוֺר הַבֹּקֶר light of the morning Judg 16:2; 1Sam 14:36; 1Sam 25:34; 1Sam 25:36; 2Sam 17:22; 2Kgs 7:9; Mic 2:1 בֹּקֶר ׳א 2Sam 23:4 (poem of David); ׳עַדהָֿא Judg 19:26 (compare עַדהַֿבֹּקֶר vJudg 19:25); לָאוֺר Job 24:14 מִןהָֿאוֺר עַד מַחֲצִית הַיּוֺם from dawn till mid-day, Neh 8:3 compare Prov 4:18.
3. light of the heavenly luminaries; הַלְּבָנָה ׳א, || הַחַמָּה ׳א moonlight & sunlight Isa 30:26 כּוֺכְבֵי אוֺר stars of light Ps 148:3 מְאוֺרֵי אוֺר luminaries of light Ezek 32:8 אוֺרִים = מְאוֺרִים Ps 136:7 so עֲלֵיאֿוֺר in sunshine Isa 18:4 the sun itself Job 31:26.
4. daylight אוֺר רְשָׁעִים light of the wicked Job 38:15 (their work-day being the night); יוֺם אוֺר a day of light Amos 8:9 (= a clear, sunshiny day).
5. lightning Job 36:32; Job 37:3; Job 37:11; Job 37:15 compare Hab 3:11.
6. light of lamp Prov 13:9; Jer 25:10 of crocodile's hot breath Job 41:10.
7. light of life חַיִּים ׳א Job 33:30; Ps 56:14 compare אוֺר Job 3:16; Job 3:20.
8. light of prosperity Job 22:28; Job 30:26; Ps 97:11; Lam 3:2.
9. light of instruction נֵר מִצְוָה וְתוֺרָה אוֺר Prov 6:23 the commandment is a lamp and instruction a light; so the Messian. servant is אוֺר גּוֺיִם Isa 42:6; Isa 49:6 compare עַמִּים ׳א Isa 51:4 the advent of Messiah is shining of great light Isa 9:1 (twice in verse).
10. light of face אוֺר פָּנִים = bright, cheerful face (of men) Job 29:24 betokening king's favour Prov 16:15 (compare עֵינַיִם ׳א Ps 38:11); of God = his shining, enlightening, favouring face Ps 4:7; Ps 44:4; Ps 89:16.
11. Yahweh is יִשְׂרָאֵל ׳א Isa 10:17, as source enlightenment & prosperity; light & salvation Ps 27:1 light to guide Mic 7:8 compare Ps 43:3 everlasting light of Zion, instead of sun & moon Isa 60:19; Isa 60:20 house of Jacob is to walk in his light Isa 2:5.

light, day, lights, morning, sun, …
ʾôr
illumination or (concrete) luminary (in every sense, including lightning, happiness, etc.)
  • light
    • light of day
      • "light of heavenly luminaries (moon, sun, stars)"day-break, dawn, morning light"daylight"lightning"light of lamp"light of life"light of prosperity"light of instruction"light of face (figuratively)"Jehovah as Israel's light

וַ ֝יַּתְעֵ ֗ם
וַ
Prefix — connector and (sometimes: but, so, then)
֝יַּתְעֵ
Root word err, astray, wander, wandered, erred, …
֗ם
Suffix — pronoun their / them
Dictionary form: תָּעָה · taw-AW

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 — Hiphil, Sequential Imperfect (Wayyiqtol), third person masculine singular causative — "he made (someone) do" story-telling past — try "and he ___ed" the built-in subject is "he (or it)"

In the KJV here: and he maketh them to stagger
to err ×4 went astray ×4 err ×3 and causeth them to wander ×2 they wandered ×2 and he maketh them to stagger ×1 and wandered ×1 are out of the way ×1
More options
wander — Best for physical roaming or aimless movement.
go astray — Moral or spiritual deviation; modernizes KJV 'went astray'.
stray — Concise; suits both physical and moral contexts.
err — Intellectual or moral mistake; fits doctrinal contexts well.
lead astray — Causative sense; use when subject misleads others.
stagger — Prefer for drunkenness or disorientation imagery.

BDB9217 H8582

BDB9216 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB9218

תָּעָה verb err (|| form of טָעָה, q. v.; Aramaic (sometimes) תְּעָא, תְּעִי id.; Late Hebrew = Biblical Hebrew (rare)); —

Qal Perfect 3 masculine singular ׳ת Isa 21:4 1 singular תָּעִ֫יתִי Ps 119:110; Ps 119:176, etc.; imperfect 3 feminine singular תֵּתַע Gen 21:14; Prov 7:25 3 masculine plural יִתְעוּ Isa 35:8 +; Infinitive construct תְּעוֺת Ezek 44:10 +; Participle תֹּעֶה Gen 37:15 +, etc.; —
1. physically, wander about, absolute Exod 23:4 (E) Isa 35:8; Isa 53:6; Job 38:41; Ps 119:176 with ב location Gen 21:14; Gen 37:15 (JE), Prov 7:25; Ps 107:4 with ל location Isa 47:15 accusative of location Isa 16:8.
2. of intoxication, with בְּ of wine Isa 28:7 מן of wine vIsa 28:7 figurative of perplexity, subject לבב Isa 21:4.
3. ethically, absolute Ezek 44:10; Ezek 48:11 (3 t. in verse); Ps 58:4, probably Prov 14:22 (compare חוטא vProv 14:21, but Bu Toy go astray to ruin); תֹּעֵי רוח Isa 29:24, תֹּעֵי לבב Ps 95:10 with מן Ps 119:110; Prov 21:16, מֵאַחֲרַי Ezek 14:11, מֵעָלַי Ezek 44:10; Ezek 44:15.
Niph`al 1. be made to wander about, as a drunkard: Infinitive construct הִתָּעוֺת Isa 19:14.
2. ethically: Perfect 3 masculine singular נִתְעָה be led astray Job 15:31 (with בשׁוֺא). Hiph`il Perfect 3 masculine singular הִתְעָה Hos 4:12 (We הִתְעָם); Imperfect וַיֶּ֫תַע 2Chr 33:9 suffix וַיַּתְעֵם Job 12:24 +; Participle מַתְעֶה Isa 30:28 +; —
1. physically: cause to wander about: absolute Isa 30:28 (of bridle, in figure), Prov 10:17; Jer 50:6 (accusative of people as sheep); accusative of person Prov 12:26 with מן location Gen 20:13 (E), ב location Job 12:24 = Ps 107:40.
2. of intoxication, Isa 19:13; Isa 19:14; Job 12:25.
3. mentally and morally: cause to err, mislead: absolute Isa 3:12; Isa 9:15; Hos 4:12 with accusative of person Amos 2:4; Mic 3:5; 2Kgs 21:9 = 2Chr 33:9; Jer 23:13; Jer 23:32 with ב object Jer 42:20 (so Gf; Ke and others (so Prov 10:17) intransitive err at cost of; ᵐ5 Ew Du Co הֲרֵעֹתֶם); with מן of ׳י Isa 63:17.

err, astray, wander, wandered, erred, …
tāʿâ
to vacillate, i.e., reel or stray (literally or figuratively); also causative of both
  • to err, wander, go astray, stagger
    • (Qal) to err
      • to wander about (physically)
        • "of intoxication"of sin (ethically)"wandering (of the mind)
      (Niphal)
      • to be made to wander about, be made to stagger (drunkard)
        • "to be led astray (ethically)
      (Hiphil) to cause to wander
      • to cause to wander about (physically)
        • "to cause to wander (of intoxication)"to cause to err, mislead (mentally and morally)

כַּ שִּׁכּֽוֹר
כַּ
Prefix — preposition like, as + "the" (the article is absorbed into the prefix)
שִּׁכּֽוֹר
Root word drunken, drunkards, drunk, drunkard, man
Dictionary form: שִׁכּוֹר · shik-KORE

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

Adjective — masculine singular, absolute state

In the KJV here: like a drunken
himself drunk ×2 like a drunken ×2 drunken ×1 like a drunkard ×1 like a drunken man ×1 of a drunkard ×1 she had been drunken ×1 the drunkards ×1
More options
drunk — Most natural modern adjective; fits most contexts.
drunkard — Noun form; use for habitual or characterful references.
intoxicated — Slightly formal; suits legal or narrative prose.
inebriated — Elevated register; use for ironic or literary effect.
heavy drinker — Idiomatic noun; softens moral judgment slightly.
sot — Vivid, contemptuous noun for a habitual drunkard.

BDB8682 H7910

BDB8681 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB8683

שִׁכֹּר, שִׁכּוֺר adjective drunken (BaNB § 134 b); — absolute שִׁכֹּר 1Sam 25:36, שִׁכּוֺר 1Kgs 16:9 +, feminine שִׁכֹּרָה, 1Sam 1:13, pluralשִׁכּוֺרִים Joel 1:5, construct שִׁכֹּרֵי Isa 28:1; Isa 28:3 — drunken: 1Sam 25:36, ׳אִישׁ שׁ Jer 23:9, ׳שֹׁתֶה שׁ 1Kgs 16:9 drinking (and) drunken, 1Kgs 20:16 as substantive = drunken one, drunkard Isa 28:1; Isa 28:3; Prov 26:9, plural Joel 1:5 (|| שֹׁתֵי יַיִן); in simile Isa 19:14; Job 12:25; Ps 107:27, and (of earth) Isa 24:20 feminine of drunken woman 1Sam 1:13.

drunken, drunkards, drunk, drunkard, man
šikkôr
intoxicated, as a state or a habit
  • drunken
    • drunken
      • "drunkard, drunken one (subst)

This book is chanted to the poetic accent system (used only in Job, Psalms, and Proverbs). Each group below ends at one of its pausing accents — translate a group as one unit.
יְמַֽשְׁשׁוּ חֹ֥שֶׁךְ וְלֹא א֑וֹר Atnach — the verse's main pause — take a breath here וַ֝יַּתְעֵ֗ם Revia Mugrash — a lesser break כַּשִּׁכּֽוֹר Silluq — end of the verse

יְמַֽשְׁשׁוּ-חֹשֶׁךְ וְלֹא-אוֹר וַיַּתְעֵם כַּשִּׁכּֽוֹר׃
25
They grope in the dark without light, and he maketh them to stagger like a drunken man.
Cross References

Job 5:14

יוֹמָם יְפַגְּשׁוּ-חֹשֶׁךְ וְכַלַּיְלָה יְֽמַשְׁשׁוּ בַֽצָּהֳרָֽיִם׃
14
They meet with darkness in the daytime, and grope in the noonday as in the night.

Psalms 107:27

יָחוֹגּוּ וְיָנוּעוּ כַּשִּׁכּוֹר וְכָל-חָכְמָתָם תִּתְבַּלָּֽע׃
27
They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits' end.

Isaiah 24:20

נוֹעַ תָּנוּעַ אֶרֶץ כַּשִּׁכּוֹר וְהִֽתְנוֹדְדָה כַּמְּלוּנָה וְכָבַד עָלֶיהָ פִּשְׁעָהּ וְנָפְלָה וְלֹא-תֹסִיף קֽוּם׃
20
The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall be removed like a cottage; and the transgression thereof shall be heavy upon it; and it shall fall, and not rise again.

Isaiah 19:14

יְהוָה מָסַךְ בְּקִרְבָּהּ רוּחַ עִוְעִים וְהִתְעוּ אֶת-מִצְרַיִם בְּכָֽל-מַעֲשֵׂהוּ כְּהִתָּעוֹת שִׁכּוֹר בְּקִיאֽוֹ׃
14
The LORD hath mingled a perverse spirit in the midst thereof: and they have caused Egypt to err in every work thereof, as a drunken man staggereth in his vomit.

1 John 2:11

ὁ δὲ μισῶν τὸν ἀδελφὸν αὐτοῦ ἐν τῇ σκοτίᾳ ἐστὶν καὶ ἐν τῇ σκοτίᾳ περιπατεῖ καὶ οὐκ οἶδεν ποῦ ὑπάγει ὅτι ἡ σκοτία ἐτύφλωσεν τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς αὐτοῦ
11
But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.

Isaiah 59:10

נְגַֽשְׁשָׁה כַֽעִוְרִים קִיר וּכְאֵין עֵינַיִם נְגַשֵּׁשָׁה כָּשַׁלְנוּ בַֽצָּהֳרַיִם כַּנֶּשֶׁף בָּאַשְׁמַנִּים כַּמֵּתִֽים׃
10
We grope for the wall like the blind, and we grope as if we had no eyes: we stumble at noonday as in the night; we are in desolate places as dead men.

Deuteronomy 28:29

וְהָיִיתָ מְמַשֵּׁשׁ בַּֽצָּהֳרַיִם כַּֽאֲשֶׁר יְמַשֵּׁשׁ הַֽעִוֵּר בָּֽאֲפֵלָה וְלֹא תַצְלִיחַ אֶת-דְּרָכֶיךָ וְהָיִיתָ אַךְ עָשׁוּק וְגָזוּל כָּל-הַיָּמִים וְאֵין מוֹשִֽׁיעַ׃
29
And thou shalt grope at noonday, as the blind gropeth in darkness, and thou shalt not prosper in thy ways: and thou shalt be only oppressed and spoiled evermore, and no man shall save thee.

Genesis 19:11

וְֽאֶת-הָאֲנָשִׁים אֲשֶׁר-פֶּתַח הַבַּיִת הִכּוּ בַּסַּנְוֵרִים מִקָּטֹן וְעַד-גָּדוֹל וַיִּלְאוּ לִמְצֹא הַפָּֽתַח׃
11
And they smote the men that were at the door of the house with blindness, both small and great: so that they wearied themselves to find the door.

Acts 13:11

καὶ νῦν ἰδού χεὶρ τοῦ κυρίου ἐπὶ σέ καὶ ἔσῃ τυφλὸς μὴ βλέπων τὸν ἥλιον ἄχρι καιροῦ παραχρῆμά δὲ ἐπέπεσεν ἐπ' αὐτὸν ἀχλὺς καὶ σκότος καὶ περιάγων ἐζήτει χειραγωγούς
11
And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand.
Job 12:24
Read Job 12