Lamentations 3:16

וַיַּגְרֵ֤ס בֶּֽחָצָץ֙ שִׁנָּ֔י הִכְפִּישַׁ֖נִי בָּאֵֽפֶר
He hath also broken my teeth with gravel stones, he hath covered me with ashes.
Select a Hebrew word above to see its details.

וַ יַּגְרֵ֤ס
וַ
Prefix — connector and (sometimes: but, so, then)
יַּגְרֵ֤ס
Root word breaketh, broken
Dictionary form: גָּרַס · ɡaw-RAHS

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: he hath also broken
breaketh ×1 he hath also broken ×1
More options
crush — Most natural modern word for grinding/breaking hard objects.
grind — Implies pulverizing; fits teeth or millstone imagery well.
shatter — Emphasizes violent, sudden breaking into pieces.
break in pieces — Slightly more literal; good for poetic or formal contexts.
smash — Colloquial and forceful; suits vivid, dramatic passages.

BDB1765 H1638

BDB1764 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB1766

[גָּרַס] verb be crushed (Aramaic [be crushed,] perish) —

Qal Perfect 3 feminine singular גָָּֽרְסָה Ps 119:20 figurative נַפְשִׁי לְ ׳ג my soul is crushed (i.e. perisheth: compare Syriac) with longing for (compare כָּלָה לְ). Hiph`il Imperfect וַיַּגְרֵס בֶּחָצָץ שִׁנָּ֑י Lam 3:16 and he hath crushed my teeth with gravel, figurative of divine chastisement.

breaketh, broken
gāras
to crush; also (intransitively and figuratively) to dissolve
  • to be crushed, be broken
    • (Qal) to be crushed
      • "(Hiphil) to crush, break (the teeth)

בֶּֽ חָצָץ֙
בֶּֽ
Prefix — preposition in, at, by, with + "the" (the article is absorbed into the prefix)
חָצָץ֙
Root word arrows, gravel, stones
Dictionary form: חָצָץ · haw-TSAWTS

Noun — Common, masculine singular, absolute state

In the KJV here: with gravel stones
thine arrows ×1 with gravel ×1 with gravel stones ×1
More options
gravel — Best general rendering; small stones in most contexts.
grit — Vivid for harsh, abrasive contexts (e.g. Lam 3:16).
pebble — Prefer when individual small stones are in view.
arrow — Use only where poetic context demands a projectile sense.
gravel stone — Slightly more formal; mirrors compound KJV phrase modernized.
sharp stone — Emphasizes cutting quality; suits judgment or suffering imagery.

BDB3042 H2687

BDB3041 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB3043

חָצָץ noun [masculine] gravel (as divided, comminuted; Aramaic חֲצִיצָא, ) — only absolute ׳ח Prov 20:17; Lam 3:16 [חֲצָצֶיךָ Ps 77:18 see חֵץ]. — ׳יְמַלֵּאפִֿיהוּ ח Prov 20:17 figurative of a liar; שִׁנָּ֑י ׳וַיַּגְרֵס בח Lam 3:16 and he hath crushed my teeth with gravel-stones, figurative of ׳י's dealings with sufferer.

arrows, gravel, stones
ḥāṣāṣ
properly, something cutting; hence, gravel (as grit); an arrow
  • gravel

שִׁנָּ ֔י
שִׁנָּ
Root word teeth, ivory, tooth, sharp, tooths, …
֔י
Suffix — pronoun my / me
Dictionary form: שֵׁן · shane

Noun — Common, both dual, construct state dual — a natural pair ("two ___"); "___ of …" — bound to the next word

In the KJV here: my teeth
tooth ×8 of ivory ×7 his teeth ×4 teeth ×3 the teeth ×3 whose teeth ×3 their teeth ×2 thy teeth ×2
More options
tooth — Standard singular form; broadly applicable in most contexts.
tusk — Prefer when referring to animal ivory or projecting teeth.
ivory — Use in material/trade contexts; e.g. ivory thrones or goods.
fang — Vivid choice for predatory or threatening imagery.
crag — Geological sense; a sharp rocky outcrop or pointed cliff.
prong — Useful for sharp, tooth-like projections on objects or terrain.

BDB8891 H8127

BDB8890 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB8892

I. שֵׁן noun feminine1Sam 2:13 (yet masculine 1Sam 14:5 compare Dr) tooth, ivory; — ׳שׁ absolute Exod 21:24 +, construct vExod 21:27 +, ׳שֶׁן Deut 32:24 suffix שִׁנּם Exod 21:27 dual שִׁנַּיִם Prov 10:26, construct שִׁנֵּי Jer 31:29 +; suffix שִׁנֵּיהֶם Ps 124:6, שִׁנֵּימוֺ Ps 58:7, etc.; —

1. tooth:
  a. of man, Exod 21:27 (3 t. in verse) (E), Num 11:33 (J), Gen 49:12 (poem in J), Amos 4:6; Song 4:2; Song 6:6, רֹעָה ׳שׁ Prov 25:19, see II. רעע 2; of lex talionis, ׳תַּחַת שׁ ׳שׁ Exod 21:24 (E), Lev 24:20 (H), ׳שֵׁן בְּשׁ Deut 19:21 irritated by acid Prov 10:26, dulled by it (in proverb of inherited guilt) Jer 31:29; Jer 31:30; Ezek 18:2 ׳חָרַק שׁ Lam 2:16; Job 16:9; Ps 35:16; Ps 112:10, see חָרַק; אֶשָּׂא בְשָׂרִי בְשִׁנָּ֑י Job 13:14 = risk my life (strike out עַלמָֿה, dittograph; || אָשִׂים בְּכַּ פִּי נַפְשִׁי); בְּעוֺר שִׁנָּ֑י Job 19:20, see מָלַט Hithpa`el (other conjectures see Di Bi Bu Du).
  b. of beasts : Deut 32:24, crocodile Job 41:6, locusts Joel 1:6 (teeth of lions); especially figurative of false prophets Mic 3:5, of foes Zech 9:7, oppressors Job 29:17, wicked Job 4:10; Ps 3:8; Ps 58:7; Ps 124:6 of their weapons Prov 30:14; Ps 57:5 of Israel shattered by ׳י.
  c. tooth of a fork, tine, 1Sam 2:13 (compare DrSm. 291); of cliff, שֵׁן הַסֶּלַע1Sam 14:4 (twice in verse), compare Job 39:28, הַשֵּׁן 1Sam 14:5.
2. ivory, of commerce, קַרְנוֺת שֵׁן Ezek 27:15 (i.e. tusks?); as material, ׳מִטּוֺת שׁ Amos 6:4, ׳כִּסֵּאשֿׁ 1Kgs 10:18 = 2Chr 9:17, ׳בֵּית הַשּׁ 1Kgs 22:39, compare Amos 3:15, ׳הֵיכְלֵי שׁ Ps 45:9, also Ezek 27:6; Song 5:15; Song 7:5.

BDB9975 H8127 H8150

BDB9974 | BIBLICAL ARAMAIC | BDB9976

שׁנן (√ of following; see Biblical Hebrew [שָׁנַן], שֵׁן).

teeth, ivory, tooth, sharp, tooths, …
šēn
a tooth (as sharp); specifically ivory; figuratively, a cliff
  • tooth, ivory
    • tooth
      • of man, lex talionis, beast
      tooth, tine (of fork)"ivory
      • as material
        • "of commerce
      sharp pointed rock

הִכְפִּישַׁ ֖נִי
הִכְפִּישַׁ
Root word covered
֖נִי
Suffix — pronoun my / me
Dictionary form: כָּפַשׁ · kaw-PAHSH

Verb — Hiphil, Perfect (Qatal), third person masculine singular causative — "he made (someone) do" completed action — try "he ___ed" or "he has ___ed" the built-in subject is "he (or it)"

In the KJV here: he hath covered
he hath covered ×1
More options
cover — Most direct modern equivalent; broadly applicable.
wrap — Suggests enveloping or enclosing completely.
conceal — Emphasizes hiding or obscuring from view.
smother — Implies overwhelming or suppressing beneath a covering.

BDB4171 H3728

BDB4170 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB4172

[כָּפַשׁ] verb only Hiph`il make bent, press or bend together (Late Hebrew Hiph`il id.; כָּפַשׁ furnish a vessel with a bent rim, כּוֺפֶשׁ a broad-rimmed vessel; Arabic have bent or crooked feet; Tel Amarna kappâšu, sole of foot DlHWB 348 (doubtfully), but infinitive from כבשׁ according to WklTel Am. Letters, Vocab.); —

Hiph`il Perfect 3 masculine singular suffix בָּאֵפֶרהִכְפִּישַׁנִי Lam 3:16 he made me cower in the ashes.

covered
kāpaš
to tread down; figuratively, to humiliate
  • (Hiphil) to make bent, press or bend together, to cover over
    • "to cause to bend down
    • (Hiphil) to humble

בָּ אֵֽפֶר
בָּ
Prefix — preposition in, at, by, with + "the" (the article is absorbed into the prefix)
אֵֽפֶר
Root word ashes
Dictionary form: אֵפֶר · ay-PER

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

Noun — Common, masculine singular, absolute state

In the KJV here: me with ashes
and ashes ×6 ashes ×5 the ashes ×3 in ashes ×1 in the ashes ×1 like ashes ×1 me with ashes ×1 on ashes ×1
More options
ashes — Direct modern equivalent; works in nearly all contexts.
ash — Singular collective form; suits poetic or compact phrasing.
cinders — Emphasizes charred remnants; slightly more vivid register.
ash heap — Contextual; ideal when mourning or degradation is in view.
dust and ashes — Captures idiom of human frailty and mortality.
ruins — Metaphorical use; when total destruction is the focus.

BDB683 H665

BDB682 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB684

אֵ֫פֶר noun [masculine] ashes (as light, flying?) — ׳א absolute Gen 18:27 +; construct Num 19:9; Num 19:10 — ashes of red heifer, used in purifications Num 19:9; Num 19:10 on head, as sign of humiliation 2Sam 13:19 contrition Dan 9:3 (|| צוֺם, שַׂק), Jonah 3:6 (|| שַׂק) compare Job 42:6 (׳עָפָר וא), Isa 58:5 (|| שַׂק); mourning Esth 4:1; Esth 4:3 (|| שַׂק) compare Job 2:8 (׳ישׁב בתוך הא), Jer 6:26 (|| שַׂק), Ezek 27:30 (|| עפר); in simile scattereth hoarfrost ׳כָּא Ps 147:16 but also as filthy, loathsome ׳כעפר וא Job 30:19 (Di simile of mourning, grief), as worthless, ׳מִשְׁלֵי א Job 13:12 proverbs of ashes; figurative of worthlessness Isa 44:20 insignificance ׳עפר וא Gen 18:27 ignominy Ezek 28:18; Mal 3:21 distress & sorrow כַּלָּחֶם אָכָ֑לְתִּי ׳א Ps 102:10 (so Assyrian compare ZimBP 42) compare Lam 3:16; Isa 61:3 (פְּאֵר תַּחַת אֵפֶר).

ashes
ʾēper
ashes
  • ashes
    • "vain, fallacious (figuratively)

The cantillation accents are the Masoretes' punctuation: each group below ends at a pausing accent. Translate a group as one unit.
וַיַּגְרֵ֤ס בֶּֽחָצָץ֙ Pashta — a lesser break שִׁנָּ֔י Zaqef Qatan — a strong break הִכְפִּישַׁ֖נִי Tipeha — a lesser break בָּאֵֽפֶר Silluq — end of the verse

וַיַּגְרֵס בֶּֽחָצָץ שִׁנָּי הִכְפִּישַׁנִי בָּאֵֽפֶר׃
16
He hath also broken my teeth with gravel stones, he hath covered me with ashes.
Cross References

Proverbs 20:17

עָרֵב לָאִישׁ לֶחֶם שָׁקֶר וְאַחַר יִמָּֽלֵא-פִיהוּ חָצָֽץ׃
17
Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.

Jeremiah 6:26

בַּת-עַמִּי חִגְרִי-שָׂק וְהִתְפַּלְּשִׁי בָאֵפֶר אֵבֶל יָחִיד עֲשִׂי לָךְ מִסְפַּד תַּמְרוּרִים כִּי פִתְאֹם יָבֹא הַשֹּׁדֵד עָלֵֽינוּ׃
26
O daughter of my people, gird thee with sackcloth, and wallow thyself in ashes: make thee mourning, as for an only son, most bitter lamentation: for the spoiler shall suddenly come upon us.

Psalms 3:7

קוּמָה יְהוָה׀ הוֹשִׁיעֵנִי אֱלֹהַי כִּֽי-הִכִּיתָ אֶת-כָּל-אֹיְבַי לֶחִי שִׁנֵּי רְשָׁעִים שִׁבַּֽרְתָּ׃
7
Arise, O LORD; save me, O my God: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly.

Psalms 58:6

אֱֽלֹהִים הֲרָס-שִׁנֵּימוֹ בְּפִימוֹ מַלְתְּעוֹת כְּפִירִים נְתֹץ׀ יְהוָֽה׃
6
Break their teeth, O God, in their mouth: break out the great teeth of the young lions, O LORD.

Jonah 3:6

וַיִּגַּע הַדָּבָר אֶל-מֶלֶך נִֽינְוֵה וַיָּקָם מִכִּסְאוֹ וַיַּעֲבֵר אַדַּרְתּוֹ מֵֽעָלָיו וַיְכַס שַׂק וַיֵּשֶׁב עַל-הָאֵֽפֶר׃
6
For word came unto the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and he laid his robe from him, and covered him with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.

Luke 11:11

τίνα δὲ ὑμῶν τὸν πατέρα αἰτήσει ὁ υἱὸς ἄρτον μὴ λὶθον ἐπιδώσει αὐτῷ εἰ καὶ ἰχθύν μὴ ἀντὶ ἰχθύος ὄφιν ἐπιδώσει αὐτῷ
11
If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?

Matthew 7:9

ἢ τίς ἐστιν ἐξ ὑμῶν ἄνθρωπος ὃν ἐὰν αἰτήσῃ ὁ υἱὸς αὐτοῦ ἄρτον μὴ λίθον ἐπιδώσει αὐτῷ;
9
Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?

Job 2:8

וַיִּֽקַּֽח-לוֹ חֶרֶשׂ לְהִתְגָּרֵד בּוֹ וְהוּא יֹשֵׁב בְּתוֹךְ-הָאֵֽפֶר׃
8
And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal; and he sat down among the ashes.

Job 4:10

שַֽׁאֲגַת אַרְיֵה וְקוֹל שָׁחַל וְשִׁנֵּי כְפִירִים נִתָּֽעוּ׃
10
The roaring of the lion, and the voice of the fierce lion, and the teeth of the young lions, are broken.

Psalms 102:9

כִּי-אֵפֶר כַּלֶּחֶם אָכָלְתִּי וְשִׁקֻּוַי בִּבְכִי מָסָֽכְתִּי׃
9
For I have eaten ashes like bread, and mingled my drink with weeping,
Lamentations 3:15
Read Lamentations 3
Lamentations 3:17