Psalms 140:3

Hebrew Bible (Masoretic) numbering: 140:4

שָֽׁנֲנ֣וּ לְשׁוֹנָם֮ כְּֽמוֹ נָ֫חָ֥שׁ חֲמַ֥ת עַכְשׁ֑וּב תַּ֖חַת שְׂפָתֵ֣ימוֹ סֶֽלָה

They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent; adders' poison is under their lips. Selah.

Connections

Psalms 58:4

חֲמַת-לָמוֹ כִּדְמוּת חֲמַת-נָחָשׁ כְּמוֹ-פֶתֶן חֵרֵשׁ יַאְטֵם אָזְנֽוֹ׃

Their poison is like the poison of a serpent: they are like the deaf adder that stoppeth her ear;

Romans 3:13

τάφος ἀνεῳγμένος ὁ λάρυγξ αὐτῶν ταῖς γλώσσαις αὐτῶν ἐδολιοῦσαν ἰὸς ἀσπίδων ὑπὸ τὰ χείλη αὐτῶν·

Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:

2 Corinthians 11:3

φοβοῦμαι δὲ μήπως ὡς ὁ ὄφις Εὕαν ἐξηπάτησεν ἐν τῇ πανουργίᾳ αὐτοῦ οὕτως φθαρῇ τὰ νοήματα ὑμῶν ἀπὸ τῆς ἁπλότητος τῆς εἰς τὸν Χριστόν

But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

Proverbs 23:32

אַחֲרִיתוֹ כְּנָחָשׁ יִשָּׁךְ וּֽכְצִפְעֹנִי יַפְרִֽשׁ׃

At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.

Jeremiah 9:3

וַֽיַּדְרְכוּ אֶת-לְשׁוֹנָם קַשְׁתָּם שֶׁקֶר וְלֹא לֶאֱמוּנָה גָּבְרוּ בָאָרֶץ כִּי מֵרָעָה אֶל-רָעָה׀ יָצָאוּ וְאֹתִי לֹֽא-יָדָעוּ נְאֻם-יְהוָֽה׃

And they bend their tongues like their bow for lies: but they are not valiant for the truth upon the earth; for they proceed from evil to evil, and they know not me, saith the LORD.

Jeremiah 9:5

וְאִישׁ בְּרֵעֵהוּ יְהָתֵלּוּ וֶאֱמֶת לֹא יְדַבֵּרוּ לִמְּדוּ לְשׁוֹנָם דַּבֶּר-שֶׁקֶר הַעֲוֵה נִלְאֽוּ׃

And they will deceive every one his neighbour, and will not speak the truth: they have taught their tongue to speak lies, and weary themselves to commit iniquity.

Isaiah 59:3

כִּי כַפֵּיכֶם נְגֹאֲלוּ בַדָּם וְאֶצְבְּעוֹתֵיכֶם בֶּֽעָוֹן שִׂפְתֽוֹתֵיכֶם דִּבְּרוּ-שֶׁקֶר לְשׁוֹנְכֶם עַוְלָה תֶהְגֶּֽה׃

For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness.

Matthew 12:34

γεννήματα ἐχιδνῶν πῶς δύνασθε ἀγαθὰ λαλεῖν πονηροὶ ὄντες ἐκ γὰρ τοῦ περισσεύματος τῆς καρδίας τὸ στόμα λαλεῖ

O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.

James 3:6

καὶ ἡ γλῶσσα πῦρ· ὁ κόσμος τῆς ἀδικίας οὕτως ἡ γλῶσσα καθίσταται ἐν τοῖς μέλεσιν ἡμῶν ἡ σπιλοῦσα ὅλον τὸ σῶμα καὶ φλογίζουσα τὸν τροχὸν τῆς γενέσεως καὶ φλογιζομένη ὑπὸ τῆς γεέννης

And the a tongue is a fire, world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.

Psalms 57:4

נַפְשִׁי׀ בְּתוֹךְ לְבָאִם אֶשְׁכְּבָה לֹהֲטִים בְּֽנֵי-אָדָם שִׁנֵּיהֶם חֲנִית וְחִצִּים וּלְשׁוֹנָם חֶרֶב חַדָּֽה׃

My soul is among lions: and I lie even among them that are set on fire, even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword.

Genesis 3:13

וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה אֱלֹהִים לָאִשָּׁה מַה-זֹּאת עָשִׂית וַתֹּאמֶר הָֽאִשָּׁה הַנָּחָשׁ הִשִּׁיאַנִי וָאֹכֵֽל׃

And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.

Isaiah 59:13

פָּשֹׁעַ וְכַחֵשׁ בַּֽיהוָה וְנָסוֹג מֵאַחַר אֱלֹהֵינוּ דַּבֶּר-עֹשֶׁק וְסָרָה הֹרוֹ וְהֹגוֹ מִלֵּב דִּבְרֵי-שָֽׁקֶר׃

In transgressing and lying against the LORD, and departing away from our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood.

Psalms 64:3

אֲשֶׁר שָׁנְנוּ כַחֶרֶב לְשׁוֹנָם דָּרְכוּ חִצָּם דָּבָר מָֽר׃

Who whet their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words:

Proverbs 12:18

יֵשׁ בּוֹטֶה כְּמַדְקְרוֹת חָרֶב וּלְשׁוֹן חֲכָמִים מַרְפֵּֽא׃

There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.

Psalms 52:2

הַוּוֹת תַּחְשֹׁב לְשׁוֹנֶךָ כְּתַעַר מְלֻטָּשׁ עֹשֵׂה רְמִיָּֽה׃

Thy tongue deviseth mischiefs; like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.

Psalms 59:7

הִנֵּה׀ יַבִּיעוּן בְּפִיהֶם חֲרָבוֹת בְּשִׂפְתוֹתֵיהֶם כִּי-מִי שֹׁמֵֽעַ׃

Behold, they belch out with their mouth: swords are in their lips: for who, say they, doth hear?

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Psalms 140:3

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Niqqud

Cantillation

Masoretic Phrasing

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.

שָֽׁנֲנ֣וּ לְשׁוֹנָם֮ Tsinnor — a lesser break כְּֽמוֹ נָ֫חָ֥שׁ Ole We-Yored — the strongest pause of a poetic verse חֲמַ֥ת עַכְשׁ֑וּב Atnach — a major pause — here second to ole we-yored תַּ֖חַת שְׂפָתֵ֣ימוֹ סֶֽלָה Silluq — end of the verse

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Word Parts

שָֽׁנֲנ֣וּ

Root word sharp, whet, sharpened, diligently, pricked

Dictionary form: שָׁנַן · shaw-NAHN

Vowels & Accents

Hebrew Alephbet

Grammar Vqp3cp

Verb — Qal, Perfect (Qatal), third person plural simple action — "he did" completed action — try "he ___ed" or "he has ___ed" the built-in subject is "they"

שָֽׁנֲנוּ

Speech Verb Stem Qal Type Perfect (Qatal) Person Third Person Number Plural

Verb Chart

Full verb chart

In English

In the KJV here: they have sharpened

are sharp ×2 and a sharp ×1 and i was pricked ×1 and thou shalt teach them diligently ×1 i whet ×1 sharp ×1 they have sharpened ×1 whet ×1

More options

sharpen — Core meaning; best for physical or metaphorical sharpening.

hone — Implies careful, deliberate sharpening; suits tools or skills.

whet — Modernized KJV form; still natural for whetstone contexts.

teach diligently — Use in Deut 6:7 instructional/repetition sense.

pierce — For contexts of being stung or pricked emotionally or physically.

instill deeply — Suits repeated, incisive teaching or impressing on the mind.

Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)

BDB8890 H8150

[שָׁנַן] verb whet, sharpen (compare Arabic id.; Aramaic שְׁנִינָא, sharp, etc.; Ethiopic [] III, 2, contend, litigate; hence שֵׁן tooth, Late Hebrew id., Assyrian šinnu, Arabic , Ethiopic Aramaic שִׁנָּא, ); —

Qal whet, sharpen: Perfect 1 singular אִם שַׁנּוֺתִ֫י בְּרַק חַרְבִּי (Ges^{«GKC:67ee»§ 67ee}) Deut 32:41, of ׳י's preparation for judgment; 3 plural (כַחֶרֶב) שָֽׁנְנוּ לְשׁוֺנָם Ps 64:4; Ps 140:4 of uttering sharp words; Passive participle שְׁנוּנִים sharpened, of arrows, Isa 5:28; Ps 45:6, figurative of tongue Ps 120:4, of false witness Prov 25:18. Pi`el Perfect consecutive וְשִׁנַּנְתָּם לְבָנֶיךָ Deut 6:7 i.e. teach the words incisively, German 'einschärfen.' Hithpo`el Imperfect 1 singular Ps 73:21 in my kidneys אֶשְׁתּוֺנָ֑ן I was pierced (of poignant envy).

BDB9975 H8127 H8150

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

Strong's Definition H8150

sharp, whet, sharpened, diligently, pricked

šānan

to point (transitive or intransitive); intensively, to pierce; figuratively, to inculcate

to sharpen, whet

(Qal) to whet, sharpen

Variations 7 forms of this word

Translations 8 English renderings

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Word Parts

לְשׁוֹנָ ם֮

לְשׁוֹנָ

Root word tongue, tongues, language, bay, wedge, …

ם֮

Suffix — pronoun their / them

Dictionary form: לָשׁוֹן · law-SHONE

Vowels & Accents

Hebrew Alephbet

Grammar Ncbsc/Sp3mp

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

לְשׁוֹנָ	Speech Noun Type Common Gender Both Number Singular State Construct
ם	Speech Suffix Type Pronominal Person Third Person Gender Masculine Number Plural

In English

In the KJV here: their tongues

tongue ×22 my tongue ×7 and their tongue ×6 the tongue ×6 and the tongue ×5 his tongue ×5 of the tongue ×4 their tongue ×4

More options

tongue — Most direct equivalent; fits literal and figurative uses.

language — Prefer when referring to a people's speech or dialect.

speech — Good for contexts emphasizing spoken communication or rhetoric.

flame — Use for tongue-shaped fire imagery (e.g., Isa 5:24).

bay — Geographical use; tongue of water or land (e.g., Josh 15:2).

wedge — Use for wedge/bar of metal (e.g., Josh 7:21, 24).

Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)

BDB4473 H3956

לָשׁוֺן noun masculine^{Josh 7:21} and (more often) feminine^{Isa 28:11} tongue (Late Hebrew id.; also Assyrian lišânu; Arabic ; Ethiopic ; Aramaic לִשָּׁן, לִישָּׁן, (all li-); Zinjirli לשן DHM^{Sendsch. 59}); — absolute ׳ל Exod 4:10 +; הַלָּשֹׁן Josh 15:2 construct לְשׁוֺן Josh 7:21 +; suffix לְשׁוֺנִי 2Sam 23:2 לְשֹׁנוֺ Exod 11:7 + 2 t.; לְשׁוֺנוֺ Judg 7:5; Esth 1:22 לְשׁוֺנְךָ Ps 34:14 לְשׁוֺנְכֶם Isa 59:3, etc.; plural לְשֹׁנוֺת absolute Ps 31:21; Isa 66:18 construct Zech 8:23 suffix לְשֹׁנֹתָם Gen 10:20; Gen 10:31 —

1. tongue of men,
a. used in lapping Judg 7:5 cleaving to the palate (חֵק), in thirst Lam 4:4, so as to produce dumbness Job 29:10 (|| קוֺל נֶחְבָּא), Ps 137:6; Ezek 3:26 (|| נֶאֱלַם); cleaving to jaws (מַלְקוֺחַ) Ps 22:16 בַּצָּמָא נָשָׁ֑תָּה ׳ל Isa 41:17 their tongue for thirst is parched; תִּמַּק בְּפִיהֶם ׳לְ Zech 14:12 (of ׳י's judgment); a choice morsel is held ׳תַּחַת ל Job 20:12 (figurative of mischief), compare Ps 10:7 (ready to be uttered), Ps 66:17 (|| פֶּה), Song 4:11.
b. usually as organ of speech, both good and bad (especially Psalms, Proverbs, often || פֶּה, שָׂפָה); — ׳כְּבַד ל Exod 4:10 (J) heavy of tongue; ׳מַעֲנֵה ל Prov 16:1, מִלָּתוֺ עַללְֿשׁוֺנִי 2Sam 23:2, compare Prov 31:26; Ps 139:4 (׳בִּל), הֲיֵשׁ בִּלְשׁוֺנִי עַוְלָה Job 6:30 ׳מָוֶת וְחַיִּים בְּיַד ל Prov 18:21, compare Prov 21:23; Prov 25:15 of (false) prophets, ׳הַלֹּקְהִים ל Jer 23:31 subject of verb of speaking, בֶּר Di — בִחִכִּי דִּבְּרָה לְשׁוֺנִי Job 33:2; Ps 12:4; Ps 37:30 compare (Jer 9:7 below and) ֗֗֗ תְּמַהֵר ׳ל לְדַבֵּר Isa 32:4, לְשׁוֺנִי עֵט סֹפֵר מָהִיר Ps 45:2, i.e. as swift as a rapid scribe's stylus; subject of הָגָה Isa 59:3; Job 27:4; Ps 35:28; Ps 71:24 subject of נִשְׁבַּע Isa 45:23 תִּהַלַךְ בָּאָרֶץ ׳ל Ps 73:9 of hostile speech, insolence, etc., Josh 10:21 (J E; object of I. חָרַץ q. v., compare 3 below), Jer 18:18; Isa 3:8 ׳זַעַם ל Hos 7:16 (but text dubious, compare We Now), חֶרֶב חַדָּה ׳ל Ps 57:6, compare Ps 64:4 כְּמוֺ ׳נָחָשׁ שָֽׁנְנוּ ל Ps 140:4 תָּקוּם אִתָּךְ ׳כָּללֿ Isa 54:17 ׳הֶאֱרִיךְ ל Isa 57:4 further, Jer 9:2; Jer 9:4 as instrument of seductive flattery (הֶחֱלִיק), without בְּ, Ps 5:10; Prov 28:33, compare ׳נָכְרִיָּה חֶלְקַת לָ Prov 6:24. of falsehood Ps 78:36 (compare below); of slander (compare לושֵׁן) ׳רָגַל עַללֿ Ps 15:3, אִישׁ לָשׁוֺןPs 140:12, compare סָ֑תֶר ׳לְ Prov 25:33 ׳חָטָא בְּל Ps 39:2 compare Ps 64:9 (text dubious, see Hup Che Bae); moral qualities ascribed to: — as arrogant Ps 12:5 (compare vPs 12:4 above); as devising injuries, ׳הַוּוֺת תַּחְשֹׁב ל Ps 52:4, compare הַוֺת ׳לְ Prov 17:4 תַּצְמִיד מִרְמָה ׳ל Ps 50:19 nectere fraudem; ׳מֵרָ֑ע נְצֹר ל Ps 34:14 ׅ || (וּשְׂפָתֶיךָ מִדַּבֵּר מִרְמָה; often of lying tongue: לְשׁוֺן שֶׁקֶר Prov 6:17; Prov 12:19; Prov 21:6; Prov 26:28; Ps 109:2 מִרְמָה ׳לְ Ps 52:6 רְמִיָּה ׳לָ Mic 6:12; Ps 120:2; Ps 120:3 תַּרְמִית ׳לְ Zeph 3:13 תַּהְפֻּכוֺת ׳לְ Prov 10:31, and ׳נֶהְפָּךְ בִּל Prov 17:20 עֲרוּמִים׳ל Job 15:5 also מִרְמָה דִּבֵּ֑ר ׳ל Jer 9:7 on the other hand צַדִּיק ׳לְ Prov 10:20 חֲכָמִים ׳ל Prov 12:18; Prov 15:2 ׳מַרְפֵּה לָ vProv 15:4 לִמּוּדִים ׳לְ Isa 50:4. — Note phrases ׳שׁוֺט ל Job 5:21 scourge of (the) tongue, רִיב לְשֹׁנוֺת Ps 31:21 פַּלַּג לְשׁוֺנָם Ps 55:10: also ׳בַּעַל הַלּ Eccl 10:11 (of serpent-charmer), and ׳וַתֵּעֲלוּ עַלשְֿׂפַת ל Ezek 36:3. — On tongue of ׳י (once), see 4 below
c. organ of singing, subject of רָנַן Ps 51:16; Ps 126:2; Isa 35:6, עָנָה Ps 119:172.

2. = language Deut 28:49; Jer 5:15 and later, namely: Ezek 3:5; Ezek 3:6 (׳כִּבְדֵי ל, || עִמְקֵי שָׂפָה, but strike out ᵐ5 Manuscripts Co Sgfr^KauAT), Isa 28:11 (|| אַחֶרֶת ׳ל, לַעֲגֵי שָׂפָה, figurative of ׳י's unintelligible dealings); ׳עַם ֗֗֗ נִלְעַג ל Isa 33:19 (|| עִמְקֵי שָׂפָה); Isa 66:18 (|| גּוֺיִם), Zech 8:23; Gen 10:5; Gen 10:20; Gen 10:31 (all P), Neh 13:24; Esth 1:22 (twice in verse); Esth 3:12; Esth 8:9 (twice in verse); Dan 1:4.

3. tongue of animals: dog Exod 11:7 (J; object of I. חָרַץ q. v.; compare 1 b), Ps 68:24 adder Job 20:16 (subjectof תַּהֲרֹג); crocodile Job 40:25.

4. tongue of fire, devouring, כֶּאֱכֹל קַשׁ לְשׁוֺן אֵשׁ Isa 5:24 compare of ׳י, וּלְשׁוֺנוֺ כְּאֵשׁ אֹכָ֑לֶת Isa 30:27 (|| שְׂפָתָיו מָֽלְאוּ זַעַם).

5. = (tongue-shaped) wedge of gold Josh 7:21; Josh 7:24 (JE).

**So Assyrian lišânu; see Meissn^{ZAW xxlii {1905}, 151 f.} Johns^{Assyrian Deeds 2, 281}.

6. = (tongue-shaped) bay of sea Isa 11:15; Josh 15:2; Josh 15:5; Josh 18:19 (all P).

BDB9646 H3956 H3961

לִשָּׁן noun masculine^{Dan 3:7} tongue (ᵑ7 Syriac; see Biblical Hebrew לָשׁוֺן, √ לשׁן ); — tongue = language, figurative for people: absolute ׳עַם אֻמָּה וְל Dan 3:29 plural emphatic וְלִשָּׁנַיָּא ׳א ׳ע vDan 3:4 vDan 3:7 v.Dan 4:31; Dan 5:19; Dan 6:26; Dan 7:14 (compare Biblical Hebrew לָשׁוֺן 2, Isa 66:18).

מָא see מָה. below

Strong's Definition H3956

tongue, tongues, language, bay, wedge, …

lāšôn

the tongue (of man or animals), used literally (as the instrument of licking, eating, or speech), and figuratively (speech, an ingot, a fork of flame, a cove of water)

tongue

tongue (of men)

tongue (literally)

Variations 47 forms of this word

Translations 51 English renderings

Tongue

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Word Parts

כְּֽמוֹ

Preposition as, like, thee, him, it, …

Dictionary form: כְּמוֹ · keh-MOH

Vowels & Accents

Hebrew Alephbet

Grammar R

Preposition

כְּֽמוֹ

Speech Preposition

In English

In the KJV here: like

as ×23 like ×9 like him ×7 like unto thee ×7 like thee ×5 as i ×4 like it ×4 as thou ×3

More options

like — Most natural, versatile choice for comparisons in modern prose.

as — Slightly more formal; suits poetic or elevated register.

similar to — Explicit similarity; good when likeness needs emphasis.

just as — Stresses close correspondence; fits parallel or climactic clauses.

comparable to — More analytical tone; useful in didactic or wisdom contexts.

in the same way as — Adverbial use; clarifies manner rather than identity.

Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)

BDB3872 H3644

כְּמוֺ adverb and conjunction like, as, when (literally the like of what (namely) . . ., a pleonastic form of כְּ (see מוֺ), and, like it, properly a substantive: compare Aramaic כְּמָא like Ps 78:68 Levy, usually כְּמָא דְּ like as; (i.e. ) like what, like, usually followed by like as; Samaritan ; Arabic Ethiopic kama, like as, Di Gr^{§ 63 a} Sabean כמו^{ZMG 1883, 394}) — used

1. (56 t.) as an independent word (except Gen 19:15; Neh 9:11, only in poetry);

2. as an equivalent for כְּ before suffixes, always before light ones, and occasionally before heavy ones (see כְּ at the beginning): —

1. a. adverb, as poetic synonym of כְּ, like, as, Exod 15:5 they went down כמואֿבן like a stone (hence in prose Neh 9:11), vNeh 9:8 (Ps 78:13), Isa 30:22; Isa 51:6 (see כֵּן), Isa 26:17 כְּמוֺ חָרָח תַּקְרִיב לָלֶרֶת (see כְּ 1 c (2), on the construct: so Isa 41:25; Ps 58:5; Ps 58:9), vIsa 26:18 we have brought forth the like of, as it were, wind, Jer 13:21; Jer 15:18; Jer 50:26; Ezek 16:57 (כמו עת as at the time of: see כְּ Note), Hos 7:4; Hos 8:12; Hos 13:7; Hab 3:14 (as it were), Zech 9:15; Zech 10:2; Zech 10:7 (as with wine: see ib.) Elsewhere chiefly in Psalms (19 t.) and Job (11 t.), as Ps 29:6; Ps 61:7; Ps 63:6; Ps 78:69; Ps 79:5; Ps 88:6; Ps 90:9; Job 6:15; Job 10:22 (twice in verse); Job 12:3 כמו אלה the like of these things, Job 14:9; Song 6:10; Song 7:2; Lam 4:6 כמו רגע (in prose כרגע). Repeated, like כְּ ֗֗֗ כְּ, Ps 58:10 and answered by כֵּן Isa 26:17. — Ps 58:8b כמו יתמוללו, as it were is against usage of כמו (with a verb), and yields a lame sense: read perhaps ׳ית [חָצִיר] כמו (Lag Che); Ps 73:15 if I said, אֲסַפְּרָה כְמ֑וֺ, the text is untranslateable, the rendering thus for כמו being indefensible: probably הֵנָּה has dropped out before the following ׃הִנֵּה for כְּמוֺ הֵנָּה the like of these things, compare Job 23:14 כָּהֵנָּה, and Job 12:3 above b. conjunction = כַּאֲשֶׁר: (a) of time, once, Gen 19:15 כְּמוֺ עָלָה הַשַּׁחַר when the dawn arose; (β) of mode, according as, Zech 10:8 וְרָבוּ כְּמוֺ רָבוּ Prov 23:7 (answered by כֵּן). — For 2 (before suffixes), see עכּ.

Strong's Definition H3644

as, like, thee, him, it, …

kĕmô

as, thus, so

(adv) like, as, the like of which

Variations 26 forms of this word

Translations 64 English renderings

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Word Parts

נָ֫חָ֥שׁ

Root word serpent, serpents

Dictionary form: נָחָשׁ · naw-HOHSH

Vowels & Accents

Hebrew Alephbet

Grammar Ncmsa

Noun — Common, masculine singular, absolute state

נָחָשׁ

Speech Noun Type Common Gender Masculine Number Singular State Absolute

In English

In the KJV here: a serpent

the serpent ×7 a serpent ×6 serpent ×4 like a serpent ×3 serpents ×3 of a serpent ×2 and a serpent ×1 for out of the serpents ×1

More options

snake — Most natural modern word; prefer in narrative contexts.

serpent — Slightly formal; good for poetic or symbolic passages.

viper — Implies danger or venom; use when threat is emphasised.

reptile — Broader biological term; rarely the best fit contextually.

Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)

BDB5136 H5175

I. נָחָשׁ noun masculine^{Gen 3:1} serpent (Late Hebrew id.; Arabic serpent, viper (Lane^{406 anything} hunted) is compare by Lag^{M, i, 230}; BN 50, 188 Ba^{Es 48}, but improbable; Arabic see below [נָחַשׁ below; on formation compare Lag^{BN 50}); — absolute ׳נ Amos 5:19 +; construct נְחַשׁ Num 21:9 + 2 t.; plural נְחָשִׁים Num 21:6; Jer 8:17 —

1. serpent:
a. as biting, Amos 5:19; Eccl 10:8, in spite of charm (לַחַשׁ) vEccl 10:11 [compare Ecculs Eccl 12:13], Jer 8:17 (+ צִפְעֹנִים; figurative of enemies); so הַנְּחָשִׁים הַשְׁרָפִים Num 21:6 (deadly; J E; compare Jacob^{Arab. Dicht. iv. 10 ff.}), and singular vNum 21:9, also (collective) vNum 21:7 compare שָׂרָף ׳נ Deut 8:15 (+ עַקְרָב); ׳נ figurative of oppressor, מִשֹּׁרֶשׁ נָחָשׁ יֵצֵא צֶפַע וּפִרְיוֺ שָׂרָף מְעוֺפֵף Isa 14:29 figurative of Dan Gen 49:17 (poem in J; || שְׁפִיפֹן); ׳הֲמַת נ Ps 58:5 (simile of perniciousness of ungodly), compare ׳נ Ps 140:4 simile of effect of wine Prov 22:32 (|| צִפִעֹנִי).
b. rod becomes ׳נ Exod 4:3 (J), compare Exod 7:15 (E); ׳עֲלֵי צוּר דֶּרֶךְ נ Prov 30:19.
c. ׳נ (apparently) as hissing Jer 46:22 (in simile, compare Gie); as eating dust Isa 65:25 compare Mic 7:17 (in simile; see also Gen 3:14).
d. as crafty tempter Gen 3:1; Gen 3:2; Gen 3:4; Gen 3:13; Gen 3:14.

2. (הַ)נְּחשֶׁת ׳נ, bronze image of serpent Num 21:9 (twice in verse); 2Kgs 18:4 (compare נְחֻשְׁתָּן).

3. mythological בָּרִחַ ׳נ Job 26:13 fleeing serpent, of eclipse-dragon (compareלִנְיָתָן Job 3:6); also בּרִחַ ֗֗֗ ׳לִוְיָתָן נ עֲקַלָּתוֺן ׳לִוְיָתָן נ Isa 27:1 (symbolic of world-powers); ׳נ of sea-monster Amos 9:3. — ׳נ with verb נָשַׁךְ bite Num 21:6 + 8 t. On supernatural character of serpents in Arabic belief see Nö^{Zeitschr. Für Völkerpsychol. i.(1860), 412-416} RS^{Kinship 197, Semitic i. 421 f.}, 2d ed, 442 We^{Skizzen iii.147, Arab. Heid. 2, 152 f.} Jacob^{Arab. Dicht. iv. 5}

Strong's Definition H5175

serpent, serpents

nāḥoš

a snake (from its hiss)

serpent, snake

serpent

Variations 13 forms of this word

Translations 12 English renderings

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Word Parts

חֲמַ֥ת

Root word fury, wrath, poison, furious, displeasure, …

Dictionary form: חֵמָה · hay-MAW

Vowels & Accents

Hebrew Alephbet

Grammar Ncfsc

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

חֲמַת

Speech Noun Type Common Gender Feminine Number Singular State Construct

In English

In the KJV here: poison

my fury ×12 wrath ×9 fury ×6 and in my fury ×4 in fury ×4 his fury ×3 in my fury ×3 the wrath ×3

More options

rage — Strong, visceral anger; vivid and immediate in feel.

fury — Modernized KJV staple; intense, explosive outburst of anger.

wrath — Formal register; suits divine or judicial anger contexts.

indignation — Moral outrage; good for righteous or measured anger.

fierce anger — Emphatic phrase; use when intensity needs reinforcing.

venom — Captures the 'poison' sense; use in figurative or literal toxin contexts.

Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)

BDB2838 H2534

חֵמָא see חֵמָה below יחם.

BDB2852 H2534 H2529 H2552

חֵמָה wrath, see below יחם; חֵמָה Job 29:6, see חֶמְאָה; חַמָּה, חַמָּן, חַמּוֺן, חַמַּת see below חמם. below

BDB3521 H2534

חֵמָה (once חֵמָא):121 noun feminine heat, rage (for יְחֵמָה ֗֗֗ ; Late Hebrew id.; Aramaic יַחְמָא poison, heat, wrath, poison, Brock^{Lex. 116}, also Nö^{§ 103}; Arabic poison, Lane⁶⁵¹; Assyrian imtu, spittle, breath, poison, Dl^{HWB 78} Muss-Arn^{CD 62}) — absolute חֵמָה Nah 1:2 + 39 t.; חֵמָא Dan 11:44 construct חֲמַת Gen 27:44 + 25 t.; suffix חֲמָתִי Jer 4:4 + 36 t.; חֲמָֽתְךָ Jer 10:25 + 8 t.; חֲמָתֶ֑ךָ Ps 88:8; Ps 89:47 חֲמָתוֺ Isa 51:17 + 8 t.; חֲמָתָם Job 6:4 plural חֵמוֺת Prov 22:24, חֵמֹת Ps 76:11 —

1. heat:
a. fever, חֲמַת מִיַּיִן Hos 7:5 fever from wine, wine-fever (on stative construct see Ges^{«GKC:130»§ 130}, 1).
b. venom, poison (figurative): חֲמַת זֹחֲלֵי עָפָר Deut 32:24 תַּנִּינִים ׳ח vDeut 32:33 נָחָשׁ ׳ח Ps 58:5 compare vPs 58:5 עַכְשׁוּב ׳ח Ps 140:4 poison of arrows (of ׳י) Job 6:4.

2. burning anger, rage:
a. of man: Gen 27:44 (J), 2Sam 11:20; 2Kgs 5:12; Esth 1:12; Esth 2:1; Esth 3:5; Esth 5:9 (against, עַל), Esth 7:7; Esth 7:10; Ps 37:8 (|| אַף), Ps 76:11 (yet on text see Che), Prov 6:34; Prov 15:1; Prov 15:18 (אִישׁ חֵמָה man of rage = raging or wrathful man), Prov 16:4; Prov 19:19 (׳גְּדָלאח Qr = one great in rage, see De Now), Prov 27:4 (|| אַף), Isa 51:13 (twice in verse); Ezek 23:25 אִישׁ חֵמוֺת Prov 22:24 (|| בַּעַל אָ֑ף); בַּעַל חֵמָה Prov 29:22 (|| אִישׁ אַף); חֵמָה עַזָּה strong rage Prov 21:14 (|| אַף); חֲמַת רוּחִי Ezek 3:14 the rage of my spirit.
b. of the he-goat in Daniel's vision, בַּחֲמַת כֹחוֺ Dan 8:6 in the fury of his power.
c. of God (׳י), often Jeremiah, Isa², Ezekiel, Psalms: Jer 4:4 + 16 t. Jeremiah; 2Kgs 22:13; 2Kgs 22:17; Isa 27:4 (Hi Ew Di Du; on other interpretations, and on text see Di), Isa 63:5; Lam 2:4; Ezek 5:13 + 29 t. Ezekiel; Num 25:11 (P), 2Chr 12:7; 2Chr 34:21; 2Chr 34:25; 2Chr 36:16; Ps 59:14; Ps 79:6; Ps 88:8; Ps 89:47; Ps 106:23; Job 21:20 apparently also Job 19:29; Job 36:18 see Di; often || אַף Mic 5:14; Deut 9:19; Deut 29:22; Isa 42:25 (אַפּוֺ as appositive, + עֱזוּז מִלְחָמָה), Isa 63:3; Isa 63:6; Dan 9:16; Ps 6:2; Ps 78:38; Ps 90:7 לְהָשִׁיב בְּחֵמָה אַפּוֺ Ps 66:15 (|| וְגַעֲרַתוֺ בְּלַהֲבֵיאֵֿשׁ), + Jer 23:19; Jer 30:23 of the whirlwind of ׳י; || אַף + קֶצֶף גָּדוֺל Deut 29:27; Jer 21:5; Jer 32:37 || אַף + תֹּכְחוֺת חֵמָה Ezek 5:15, compare תּוֺכְחוֺת חֵמָה alone Ezek 25:17 || חֲרוֺן אַפּוֺ Nah 1:6; Lam 4:11 || קֶצֶף Isa 34:2 (of fury against, על ), Ps 38:2 || גְּעָרָה Isa 51:20 || גְּמוּל Isa 59:18 || קִנְאָה Ezek 36:6, compare חֵמָה גְדוֺלָה קִנֵּאתִי Zech 8:2 (|| קִנְאָה גדולה); דַּם חֵמָה וְקִנְאָה Ezek 16:38 (on text see Co); חֲמַת קֶ֑רִי Lev 26:28 rage of meeting, i.e. encountering them in rage; כּוֺס חֲמָתוֺ(ת־ִיׅ Isa 51:17; Isa 51:22 the cup of his (my) fury; כּוֺס הַיַּיִן הַחֵמָה הַזּאֹת Jer 25:15 בַּעַל חֵמָה a possessor of fury = furious Nah 1:2 (|| נֹקֵם, אֵל קִנּוֺא). [חֵמָה עַל = rage against one: Isa 34:2; 2Chr 28:9. — Vbs. used with חֵמָה are:

2. a.: שׁוּב Gen 27:44, הֵשִׁיב Prov 15:1, עָלָה 2Sam 11:20, בָּעַר Esth 1:12, שָׁכַךְ Esth 2:1; Esth 7:10

2. c.: הֵשִׁיב turn away wrath of ׳י Num 25:11; Ps 106:23; Jer 18:20 (but הָשִׁיכ בְּחֵמָה אַפּוֺ Isa 66:15 to recompense his anger in fury, give it as requital); ׳י ׳ח is kindled against one יצת ב Niph`al 2Kgs 22:13; 2Kgs 22:17 it burns בָּֽעֲרָה Jer 4:4; Jer 21:12; Jer 44:6; Ps 89:47 arises עלה 2Chr 36:16, compare as object of עלה Hiph`il Ezek 24:8 is poured out נִתְּכָה בְ 2Chr 12:7; 2Chr 34:21; 2Chr 34:25; Jer 7:20 נִתְּכָה עַל Jer 42:18 (twice in verse); Jer 44:6 נִתְּכָה כָאֵשׁ Nah 1:6 ׳י pours it out שָׁפַךְ אֶל Ps 79:6 שָׁפַךְ עַל Isa 42:25; Jer 10:25; Ezek 7:8; Ezek 9:8; Ezek 14:19; Ezek 16:38 (according to Co's conjecture), Ezek 20:8; Ezek 20:13; Ezek 20:21; Ezek 22:22; Ezek 30:15; Ezek 36:18 שָׁפַךְ כָּאֵשׁ Lam 2:4 חֵמָה שְׁפוּכָה Ezek 20:33; Ezek 20:34 בְ ׳הֵנִיחַ ח bring to rest (i.e. satisfy) one's fury upon Ezek 5:13; Ezek 16:42; Ezek 24:13 ׳כִּלָּה ח Lam 4:11 + בְּ Ezek 5:13 I have accomplished my fury upon them (in their case), Ezek 6:12; Ezek 13:15.]

יַחְמוּר see below IV. חמר

יַחְמַי see below חמה

BDB9578 H2534 H3179

יחם (√ of following; see Biblical Hebrew יָחַם, whence חֵמָה).

Strong's Definition H2534

fury, wrath, poison, furious, displeasure, …

ḥēmâ

heat; figuratively, anger, poison (from its fever)

heat, rage, hot displeasure, indignation, anger, wrath, poison, bottles

heat

fever

Variations 36 forms of this word

Translations 74 English renderings

Wrath

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Word Parts

עַכְשׁ֑וּב

Root word adders

Dictionary form: עַכְשׁוּב · ak-SHOOB

Vowels & Accents

Hebrew Alephbet

Grammar Ncmsa

Noun — Common, masculine singular, absolute state

עַכְשׁוּב

Speech Noun Type Common Gender Masculine Number Singular State Absolute

In English

In the KJV here: adders

adders ×1

More options

viper — Most familiar modern term for a venomous snake.

adder — Modernized KJV form; still widely recognized today.

asp — Poetic or elevated register; suits biblical poetry contexts.

venomous snake — Plain descriptive phrase; maximizes clarity for general readers.

Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)

BDB6063 H5919

עַכְשׁוּב noun masculine usually asp, viper (so ᵐ5 ᵑ9; perhaps conject. from sense and || נָחָשׁ), but perhaps = (? corrupt for) עַכָּבִישׁ spider (q. v.; compare ᵑ7^{on the passage}); — ׳חֲמַת ע Ps 140:4 a viper's (? spider's) venom is under their lips (see especially Che and references).

עַל see עלה עֹל see III. עלל.

Strong's Definition H5919

adders

ʿakšûb

an asp (from lurking coiled up)

asp, viper

asp, viper

Variations 1 forms of this word

Translations 1 English renderings

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Word Parts

תַּ֖חַת

Preposition under, stead, for, instead, place, …

Dictionary form: תַּחַת · ta-HAHT

Vowels & Accents

Hebrew Alephbet

Grammar R

Preposition

תַּחַת

Speech Preposition

In English

In the KJV here: is under

under ×138 in his stead ×70 for ×51 and under ×20 from under ×20 instead of ×13 beneath ×12 instead ×11

More options

under — Default spatial sense; below or beneath something.

beneath — Slightly more emphatic or literary than 'under'.

instead of — Substitution sense; one thing replacing another.

in place of — Substitution sense; slightly more formal than 'instead of'.

because of — Causal sense; use when context implies consequence or reason.

in exchange for — Commercial or reciprocal contexts; stresses equivalence.

Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)

BDB9138 H8478

תַּחַת noun [masculine] the under part (Arabic id.), hence as adverb accusative and preposition underneath, below, instead of (so Arabic , Sabean תחת, Ethiopic Phoenician תחת (Lzb³⁸⁵); Biblical Aramaic ᵑ7, תְּחוֺת, Palmyrene in מן לתחת Tariff Gen 1:4 (Cooke³²⁰), Syriac ); —

1. as adverb accusative Gen 49:25 (= Deut 33:13) the deep רֹבֶצֶת תָּ֑חַת that coucheth beneath; more usually with מִן, מִתָּחַת literally off (מִן 1 c) the under part = beneath, Exod 20:4 (= Deut 5:8) בָּאָרֶץ מִתָּ֑חַת (so Deut 4:39; Josh 2:1l 1Kgs 8:23 [both D²], Isa 51:6), Deut 33:27; Judg 7:8; Amos 2:9; Isa 14:9; Job 18:16; Ezek 47:1b II. as preposition; so construct, and with suffix (usually in the plural, and so literally in the parts underneath) תַּחְתַּי Hab 3:16+, חַתֵּנִי (compare בַּעֲדֵנִי, עוֺדֶנִּי: Ges^{«GKC:103d»§ 103d}) 2Sam 22:37; 2Sam 22:40; 2Sam 22:48 (Ps 18:37; Ps 18:40; Ps 18:48 תַּחְתָּ֑י); תַּחְתֶּיךָ; תַּחְתָּיו (Kt תַּחְתּוֺ 2Sam 2:23; 2Sam 3:12; 2Sam 16:8; Job 9:13), תֵּחְתֶּיהָ Lev 13:23 + 16 t., תַּחְתֶּ֫נָּה (compare אֵינֶנָּה, עוֺדֶנָּה) Gen 2:21 תַּחְתֵּינוּ 1Sam 14:9; Ps 47:4 תַּחְתֵּיהֶם Josh 2:14; Amos 2:13 תַּחְתֵּיהֶם Num 16:31; 1Kgs 20:24; 1Chr 4:41; 1Chr 5:22; 2Chr 12:10 (for תַּחְתָּם 1Kgs 14:27), תַּחְתָּם Deut 2:12 + 10 t., תַּחְתֵּקהֶן Jer 28:13 —

1. under, beneath, Gen 7:19 הַשָּׁמַיִם תַּחַת כָּלֿ under the whole heaven (so Deut 2:25; Deut 4:19; Job 28:24; Job 37:3; Job 41:3; Dan 9:12), Dan 18:4 הָעֵץ ׳ת, Dan 21:15; Dan 24:2 + often; Job 30:14 שׁוֺאָה ׳תּ under the crash they roll themselves against me; הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ ׳ת Eccl 1:3; Eccl 1:9; Eccl 1:13 + often Ecclesiastes (so in Phoenician, Cooke^{4. 7; 5. 12}). With לְ 2Chr 4:3 תַּחַת לוֺ, Song 2:6 = Song 8:3 לְראֹשִׁי ׳ת. Idiomatic
a. תַּחַת הָהָר at the foot of the mountain, Exod 24:4; Deut 4:11, so Deut 3:17 ׳אַשְׁדֹּת הַפִּסְגָּה ת Josh 11:3; Josh 11:17 +; figurative Ps 18:37 תַּחְתָּ֑י תַּרְחִיד אְעָדַי thou broadenest mysteps under me, Job 36:15 רַחַב לאֹ מוּצָק תַּחְתֶּיךָ (so read for תחתיה, Di Bu) breadth unstraitened is beneath thee.
b. ׳הַלָּשׁוֺן ת, of something held there as a dainty morsel, and ready, when needed, to be brought out, figurative of sweetness Song 4:11, of evil Ps 10:7 ׳לְשֹׁנוֺ עָמָל וָאָוֶן ת, Job 20:12 (so שְׁפָתֵימוֺ ׳ת Ps 140:4), of praise Ps 66:17 לְשֹׁנוֺ ׳וְרוֺמַם ת (synonym בִּגְרוֺנָם Ps 149:6).
c. ׳תַּחַת פ:
(a) of subjection, Ps 18:40 תַּחְתָּ֑י תַּכְּ רִיעַ קָמַי, vPs 18:48 (compare Ps 47:4; Ps 144:2), Ps 45:6; Job 9:13.
(b) of a woman, אִישָׁתּ ׳ת, i.e. under his authority, Num 5:19; Num 5:20; Num 5:29, so Ezek 23:5 תַּחְתַּי being under me = being mine (figurative of Israel as ׳י's spouse), compare ὕπανδρος Rom 7:2, and Qor 66:10.
(c) of being burdened or oppressed under, Isa 24:5 the earth יָֽשְׁבֶיהָ ׳הָֽנְפָה ת, Prov 30:21 שָׁלוֺשׁ רָגְזָה אֶרֶץ ׳ת, vProv 30:22 vProv 30:23; Hab 3:7 אָיֶן ׳ת i.e. (si vera 1.) suffering under calamity.
d. ׳יַד פ ׳ת, of authority or control, Gen 41:35 יַד פַּרְעֹה ׳וְיִצְבְּרוּ בָר ת; Judg 3:30 (compare Ps 106:42), 1Sam 21:4; 1Sam 21:5 (strike out אֶל; dittograph חֹל), v.1Sam 21:9; Isa 3:6.
e. ׳רַגְלֵי פ ׳ת, of subjection or conquest, Ps 8:7 רַגְלָיו כֹּל ׳שַׁתָּה ת, Ps 18:39; Ps 47:4; Lam 3:34, compare Mal 3:31.

2. what is under one, the place in which one stands: hence as accusative,
a. with reflexive pronoun, idiomatic, in one's place, where one stands, Exod 16:29 תַּחְתָּיו שְׁבוּ אִישׁ abide every one in his place, Lev 13:23; Lev 13:28; Josh 5:8; Josh 6:5; Josh 6:20; Judg 7:21; 1Sam 14:9 וְעָמַדְנוּ תַחְתֵּינוּ we will remain where we are, 2Sam 2:23 וַיָּמָת תַּחְתָּו he died where he was (compare Jer 38:9 [read וּמֵת]), Jer 7:10; Isa 25:10; Isa 46:7; Amos 2:13; Hab 3:16 וְתַחְתַּי אֶרְגָּ֑ז I tremble where I stand, Zech 12:6; Zech 14:10; Job 36:20; Job 40:12 תַּחְתָּם
b. in transferred sense, in place of, instead of: (a) Gen 2:18; Gen 4:25 הֶבֶל ׳ת instead of Abel, Gen 22:13 בְּנוֺ ׳ת, Gen 30:2 אלהיס אנכי ׳הֲת (compare Gen 50:19), Gen 44:33; 2Sam 19:1 + often; Job 16:4; Isa 3:24; Isa 55:13; Isa 61:3; Isa 61:7 of one succeeding to the place of another, תַּחְתָּיו וַיִּמְחֹ Gen 36:33-49 1Kgs 8:20; 1Kgs 11:43; 1Kgs 14:20 + often, Deut 2:12; Deut 2:21 וַיֵָּֽשְׁבוּ תַחְתָּם, Lev 16:32; 1Kgs 2:35 +; Ps 45:17 in place of thy fathers (whom thou mayest therefore forget) will be thy children. compare in Ph CIS^i.3.9 (Cooke³⁰). Sq. infinitive Isa 60:15 הֱיוֺתֵח ׳ת instead of thy being . . . Peculiarly Job 34:26 (si vera lectio)= as if they were, like; but text very dubious; Bi Bu תָּחֵת חֲמָתוֺ רְשָׁעִ֑ים his wrath breaketh in pieces the wicked. (b) in particular, of things mutually interchanged, in place of, in exchange or return for: Gen 30:15 דּוּדָאֵי בְנֵח ׳ת in return, for thy son's love-apples, Exod 21:23) גֶפְשׁlife for life, vExod 21:24 vExod 21:25 vExod 21:26 vExod 21:27 vExod 21:36 v.Exod 22:37, Josh 2:14 נַפְשֵׁנוּ תַחְתֵּיכֶם לָמוּת, 1Sam 2:20; 1Kgs 20:39 נפשׁו ׳נפשׁך ת, v1Kgs 20:42 (compare 2Kgs 10:24), 2Kgs 21:2; Isa 43:3; Isa 43:4 often with verbs of requiting, Gen 44:4 טוֺבָם ׳לָ֫מּה שִׁלַּמְתֶּם רָעָה ת why have ye rewarded evil in exchange for good ? 1Sam 25:21; 2Sam 16:12; 2Sam 19:22; Ps 35:12 טוֺבָה ׳יְשַׁלְּמוּנִי דָעָה ת, Ps 38:21a; Ps 109:4; Ps 109:5; Prov 17:3 +; Jer 5:19 תַּחַת מֶה in return for what? (compare עַלמֶֿה Jer 22:8; Deut 29:23; 1Kgs 9:8). So followed by infinitive Ps 38:21b.

3. as conjunction: a. תַּחַת אֲשֶׁר:
(a) instead of that (German. anstatt dass), Deut 28:62 הֱיִיתֶם ׳א ׳ת instead of that ye were..., instead of your being.., Ezek 36:34. (b) in return for (the fact) that, because that (ᵐ5 ἀνθ’ ὧν Amos 1:3 + often), Num 25:13 ׳אֲשֶׁר קִנָּא לא ׳ת, Deut 21:14; Deut 22:29; Deut 28:47; 1Sam 26:21; 2Kgs 22:17 = 2Chr 34:25; Isa 53:12; Jer 29:19; Jer 50:7; 2Chr 21:12.
b. תַּחַת כִּי Deut 4:37 (but ? read : וֶַתּחִי as end of vDeut 4:36), Prov 1:29. compare עֵקֶב אֲשֶׁר (כִּיׅ. III compounds: —

1. אֶלתַּֿחַת, after a verb of motion:
a. (in) under, Judg 6:19 וַיּוֺצֵא אֶלֿ הָאֵלָה ׳ת, 1Kgs 8:6 (|| 2Chr 5:7), Jer 3:6; Jer 38:11 (on 1Sam 21:5 see II. 1 d); after קָרָא Zech 3:10: so ׳לְ ׳אֶלתֿ Ezek 10:2.
b. into the place of, Lev 14:42.

2. מִתַּחַת (= ὑπ’ ἐκ):
a. alone, from under, from beneath as מִתַּחַת הַשָּׁמַיִם Gen 1:7, and especially after such verbs as שִׁחֵת Gen 6:17, מָחֶה Exod 17:14; Deut 9:14; Deut 25:19; Deut 29:19; 2Kgs 14:27, הֶאֲבִיד Deut 7:24, compare Lam 3:66; Ezek 47:1 a מִפְּתַּן ׳מִתּ הַבַּיִת, Prov 22:27 לָ֫מָּה יִקַח מִשְׁכָּֽבְּךָ מִּתַּחְתֶּיךָ; Exod 6:6; Exod 6:7 סִבְלוֺת מִצְרַיִם ׳מִתּ, Hos 4:12 אֱלֹהֵיהֶם ׳וַיִּזְנוּ מִתּ (compare II. 1 c a, b); ׳יַד פ ׳מִתּ (compare II. 1 d) from under the hand (power) of ... Exod 18:10; 2Kgs 8:20; 2Kgs 8:22; 2Kgs 13:5; 2Kgs 17:7 +; מִתַּחְתָּיו (compare II. 2 a) from his place Exod 10:23; Zech 6:12. Rarely = תַּחַת or ׳מִתַּחַת לְ, Gen 1:9 (P) Ezek 1:8; Ezek 42:9; Ezek 46:23; Job 26:5.
b. ׳מִתַּחַת לְ (opposed to ׳מִמַּעַל לְ) under, beneath: Gen 1:17 ׳הַמַּיִם אֲשֶׁר מִתּ לָרָקִיעַ, Exod 20:4 הַמַּיִם מִתַּחַת לָאָרֶץ (so Deut 4:18; Deut 5:8), Judg 3:16 לְמַדָּיו ׳מִתּ, Jer 38:12 +; of locality, Gen 35:8 לְבֵיתְאֵל ׳מִתּ, 1Sam 7:11; 1Kgs 4:12.
c. ׳לְמִתַּחַת לְ ( compare מִן 9 b), id quod ׳מִתַּחַת לְ 1Kgs 7:32.

BDB9998 H8460 H8478 H8479

תְּחוֺת preposition under (Biblical Hebrew תַּחַתּ; ᵑ7 תְּחוֺת, Syriac , , adverb ; Palmyrene מן לתחת Cooke³²⁰); — Dan 7:27 תְּחוֺת כָּלשְֿׁמַיָּא (compare Biblical Hebrew II. 1); in plural with suffix (as Biblical Hebrew, Syriac, ᵑ7) Dan 4:9 תְּחֹתֹהִי (so ᵑ7^Onk Lev 15:10: Dalm^{§ 47, 2}), vLev 15:18. With מִן, Jer 10:11 מִן תְּחוֺת שְׁמַיָּא (compare Biblical Hebrew III. 2); suffix Dan 4:11 מִןתַּֿחְתּוֺהִי (the form as Syriac adverb above, unless a Hebraizing punct.).

Strong's Definition H8478

under, stead, for, instead, place, …

taḥat

the bottom (as depressed); only adverbially, below (often with prepositional prefix underneath), in lieu of, etc

the under part, beneath, instead of, as, for, for the sake of, flat, unto, where, whereas

(n m) the under part

at the foot of (idiom)

in one's place, the place in which one stands (idiom with reflexive pronoun)

Variations 50 forms of this word

Translations 91 English renderings

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Word Parts

שְׂפָתֵ֣י מוֹ

שְׂפָתֵ֣י

Root word lips, bank, brim, edge, language, …

מוֹ

Suffix — pronoun their / them

Dictionary form: שָׂפָה · saw-PAW

Vowels & Accents

Hebrew Alephbet

Grammar Ncfdc/Sp3mp

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

שְׂפָתֵי	Speech Noun Type Common Gender Feminine Number Dual State Construct
מוֹ	Speech Suffix Type Pronominal Person Third Person Gender Masculine Number Plural

In English

In the KJV here: their lips

lips ×20 my lips ×11 his lips ×10 the bank ×8 the lips ×7 of his lips ×6 the edge ×6 of my lips ×5

More options

lip — Primary anatomical sense; most broadly applicable.

edge — Prefer for spatial/geographical contexts like riverbanks.

bank — Best for river or water's edge contexts.

shore — Use specifically for sea or lake margins.

language — Prefer when the sense is speech community or tongue.

speech — Use when emphasizing spoken words or manner of talking.

Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)

BDB8298 H8193

שָׂפָה₁₇₆ noun feminine [masculine Exod 28:32, edge, compare Albr^{ZAW xvi (1896), 76}], lip, speech, edge; — absolute ׳שׂ Gen 11:1 +, construct שְׂפַת vGen 11:7 +; suffix שְׂפָתוֺ 1Kgs 7:23 +, etc.; oftener dual שְׂפָתַיִם Isa 6:5 +, construct שִׂפְתֵי Ps 12:4 +; suffix שְׂפָתַי Jer 17:16 +, suffix 3 masculine plural שְׂפָתֵימוֺ Ps 59:13; Ps 140:4; Ps 140:10, etc.; plural (in poetry and late) construct שִׂפְתוֺת Eccl 10:12, suffix שִׂפְתוֺתֶיךָ etc. Ps 45:3; Ps 59:8; Isa 59:3; Song 4:3; Song 4:11; Song 5:13 —

1. lip:
a. usually (c. 108 t.) human organ of speech (often || פֶּה, לָשׁוֺן rarely [only late poetry] חֵךְ: 10 t. Job; 25 t. Psalms; 45 t. Proverbs): (1) Isa 29:13; Lev 5:4 (P), Job 13:6; Mal 2:6; Ps 12:5; Prov 5:3 +; ׳דַּל שׂ Ps 141:3 (see דָּל); ׳אִישׁ שׂ Job 11:2 = a talker, ׳אֱוִיל שׂ Prov 10:8 = one talking folly, so vProv 10:10 (ᵑ0; but see Toy); טְמֵא שְׂפָתַיִם Isa 6:5 (twice in verse) compare vIsa 6:7; Dan 10:16 ׳עֲרַל שׂ Exod 6:12; Exod 6:30 (P; unskilled in speech); ׳עִקֵּשׁ שׂ Exod 19:1 ׳פֹּתֶה שׂ Exod 20:19 see [ פָּתָה] p. 834; ׳מוֺצָא שׂ i.e. utterance, Deut 23:24; Jer 17:16; Num 30:13 (P), Ps 89:35, ׳רוּחַ שׂ Isa 11:4 (of Messianic king), ׳דְּבַר שׂ Ps 59:13; Prov 14:23 +, = mere, empty, word 2Kgs 18:20 = Isa 36:5 ׳תְּבוּאַת שׂ Prov 18:20, ׳נוב שׂ Isa 57:19 (thanksgiving), compare Hos 14:3 (ᵐ5 ᵑ6 and most פְּדִי for פָּרִים); of flattery, ׳חֵלֶק שׂ Prov 7:21, שְׂפַת חֲלָקוֺת Ps 12:3; Ps 12:4 compare שִׂפְתֵי מִרְמָה Ps 17:1, שֶׁקֶר ׳שׂ Ps 31:9 + 4 t., שְׂפַת אָוֶן Prov 17:4 poison beneath (compare לָשׁוֺן) Ps 140:4 (figurative); ׳פֶּשַׁע שׂ Prov 12:13 ׳לְזוּת שׂ Prov 4:24 אֱמֶת ׳שׂ Prov 12:19, יָ֑תֶר ׳שׂ Prov 17:7, צֶדֶק ׳שׂ Prov 16:13, דַּעַת ׳שׂ Prov 14:7; Prov 20:15 ׳חֵן שׂ Prov 22:11 שָׂפָה בְרוּרָה Zeph 3:9 רְנָנוֺת ׳שׂ Ps 63:5 i.e. lips that shout for joy; with verbs: ׳פָּתַח שׂ (to speak) Job 11:5; Job 30:20 (Gi vJob 30:21), compare Ps 51:17, ׳מִפְתַּח שׂ Prov 8:6 ׳פָּשַׁק שׂ Prov 13:3 i.e. prate; מָֽלְאוּ זַעַם ׳שׂ Isa 30:27 ׳שׂ subject of דִּבֶּר Isa 59:3; Prov 24:2 ׳נָשָׂא עַלשֿׂ Ps 16:14 ׳קָרַץ שׂ Prov 16:30 = backbite; ׳אָטַם שׂ Prov 17:28 = keep silence, so ׳חָשַׂךְ שׂ Prov 10:19, כָּלָא ׳שׂ Ps 40:10. (2) lips moving in speech, with נוּעַ 1Sam 1:13, נִיד Job 16:5. (3) transition to meaning speech, עָלָה עַלשְֿׂפַת לָשׁוֺן Ezek 36:3 = ability to speak Job 12:20.
b. organ of laughter Job 8:21.
c. of insulting grimace ׳הִפְטִיר בְּשׂ Ps 22:8.
d. quivering in terror Hab 3:16.
e. feature of beauty Song 4:3 (scarlet). feminine place of bridle 2Kgs 19:28 = Isa 37:29 (see מֶתֶג).
g. receiving kiss Prov 24:26 compare Song 4:11 and (in figurative) Song 7:10.
h. of divine speech, ׳מִצְוַת שׂ Job 23:12, ׳דְּבַר שׂ Ps 17:4.

2. language (see לָשׁוֺן), Gen 11:1; Gen 11:6; Gen 11:7 (twice in verse); Gen 11:9; Ps 81:6 ׳עַם עִמְקֵי שׂ Ezek 3:5; Ezek 3:6; Isa 33:19, ׳לַעֲגֵי שׂ Isa 28:11 שְׂפַת כְּנַעַן Isa 19:18 (i.e. Hebrew).

3. edge: shore of sea Gen 22:17 (J) + 7 t.; bank of river Gen 41:3; Gen 41:17 (E) + 5 t., of wady (נַחַל) Deut 2:36 + 7 t.; lip (bank) of אָבֵל מְחוֺלָה Judg 7:22 compare GASm^{G 400}; brim of vessel 1Kgs 7:23 (twice in verse) + 7 t.; edge of altar Ezek 43:13 of curtains (in pairs) Exod 26:4 (twice in verse) (P) + 6 t.; of חשֶׁן, toward ephod Exod 28:26 = Exod 39:19 (P); of round opening in robe (יִהְיֶה) לְפִיו ׳שׂ Exod 28:32 = Exod 39:23 (P).

Strong's Definition H8193

lips, bank, brim, edge, language, …

śāpâ

the lip (as a natural boundary); by implication, language; by analogy, a margin (of a vessel, water, cloth, etc.)

lip, language, speech, shore, bank, brink, brim, side, edge, border, binding

lip (as body part)

Variations 49 forms of this word

Translations 71 English renderings

Lips

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Word Parts

סֶֽלָה

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

Dictionary form: סֶלָה · seh-LAW

Vowels & Accents

Hebrew Alephbet

Grammar Tj

Particle — Interjection

סֶֽלָה

Speech Particle Type Interjection

In English

In the KJV here: selah

selah ×62 themselves selah ×3 thee selah ×2 for me selah ×1 for us selah ×1 me selah ×1 of it selah ×1 them selah ×1

More options

selah — Retained as a recognized liturgical/musical term.

[pause] — Signals a musical or reflective break in the text.

[interlude] — Suggests a musical break between sections.

[rise] — Some scholars read it as a cue to lift instruments or voice.

[reflection] — Emphasizes meditative pause for the reader or worshiper.

Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)

BDB5613 H5542

סֶ֑לָה verb lift up (voices in ברוך לעולם), or exalt (׳לעולם י) (Imperative of סָלַל (compare Prov 4:8; Ps 68:5 חִגָּיוֺן סלה Ps 9:17, see ׳הִגּ), properly סֹ֑לָּה, סֶ֑לֶה possibly Qr = נֶצַה, Hexapla σελ but compare הֶ֑רָה Ew⁵⁵⁴ Kö^{ii. 1, 539}; ᵐ5 Symm Theod διάψαλμα, explanation Suidas μέλους ἐναλλαγή; Theodoret, Hippolytus μέλους μεταβολή (compare Hexapla Hab 3:3 μεταβολὴ δια ψάλματος; Syriac, Hexapla Aq עוניתא in 5 Psalms, Field in Ps 38:12); ᵐ5 adds διάψαλμα e.g. Ps 2:2; Ps 34:11; Ps 94:15, after final editing of Hebrew Psalter; so on same principles as in MT; used therefore with full knowledge that it indicated some kind of interruption or change in the regular rendering. סלה is used in שמונה עשרה after Benedictions 3, 18, and after other early Jewish prayers, shewing knowledge, approximately ; Aq gives αἐί (Theod. also Ps 9:17); Sexta διαπαντός (except Ps 20:4 εἰς τέλος); Quinta εἰς τοὺς αιὦνας Jerome semper, ᵑ7 usually לעלמא, לעלמין; but Ps 39:6 לחיי עלמא, Ps 44:9 לעלמי עלמין, Ps 48:9 עד עלמי עלמין, Ps 49:14 לעלמא דאתי; uniform tradition best explained by closing contents of the Benedictions, מהעולם ועד העולם. So Jerome classes sela with amen and salom; and Jacob of Edessa in BarHebr. Ps 10:1 compare Christian Amen of the people after Gloria); — this interpretation agrees with usage: 71 t. in 39 Psalms, 3 t. Hab 3 (taken from Minor Psalter למנצח, see נצח); it occurs at end of Hab 3:9; Hab 24:10; Hab 46:12 (omitted by ᵐ5), Hab 9:21 (ᵐ5 combines 9 and 10); elsewhere at close of strophe, Hab 3:3; Hab 3:5; Hab 4:3; Hab 4:5; Hab 7:6; Hab 9:17; Hab 24:6; Hab 32:4; Hab 32:5; Hab 32:7; Hab 39:6; Hab 39:12; Hab 46:4; Hab 46:8; Hab 47:5; Hab 48:9; Hab 49:13 (so read ᵑ0 vHab 49:14 by error) vHab 49:16; Hab 50:6; Hab 52:5; Hab 52:7; Hab 54:5; Hab 59:6; Hab 59:14; Hab 61:5; Hab 62:5; Hab 62:9; Hab 66:4; Hab 66:7; Hab 66:15; Hab 67:5; Hab 68:20; Hab 76:4; Hab 76:10; Hab 77:4; Hab 77:10; Hab 77:16; Hab 81:8; Hab 82:2; Hab 83:9; Hab 84:5; Hab 84:9; Hab 88:8; Hab 88:11; Hab 89:38; Hab 89:46; Hab 140:4; Hab 140:6; Hab 140:9; Hab 143:6 or where citations have been made, Hab 44:9; Hab 55:8; Hab 57:7; Hab 60:6; Hab 67:2; Hab 68:8; Hab 68:33; Hab 89:5; Hab 3:3; Hab 3:9 or where extracts might be made for liturgical purposes, Ps 20:4; Ps 21:3; Ps 55:20; Ps 75:4; Ps 85:3; Ps 87:3; Ps 87:6; Ps 89:49 so Ps 57:3 (ᵐ5 for ᵑ0 vPs 57:4) Hab 3:13. — Of Psalms with סֶלָה, 23 used in Elohistic Psalter, 28 in Director's Psalter, 39 in final editing of Psalter. These editors found it in earlier Psalters. Davidic Psalter uses 20 of them, so few in proportion that it is not characteristic of this Psalter; but Korahite 9 (out of 12), and Asaph 7 + Hab 80:8 [ᵐ5] (probably 8 out of 12); apparently it came into use in time of these editors. In Diretor's Psalter musical terms are added to 19 of the 28 it uses (and only to ten others, of which some could hardly use סלה); Psalms with סלה all (except 61, 81) name the kind of Psalm in title: 3 מִכְתָּם, 7 מַשְׂכִּיל, 10 שִׁיר, 26 (27) others מִזְמוֺר, Hab 3 תְּפִלָּה; ׳ס is especially frequent with שִׁיר and מַשְׂכִּיל, terms associated with musical rendering. It probably came into use in late Persian period in connection with Psalms used with musical accompaniment in public worship, to indicate place of benedictions. It was not added by later editors to other psalms; but was revived in first century B.C., and continued in use for some time (see Jacob^{ZAW xvi (1896), 129 f.} Br^{JBL 1809} EGBriggs^{AM. J. Semitic Lang. Oct. 1899, 1 ff.}).

Strong's Definition H5542

selah

selâ

suspension (of music), i.e., pause

to lift up, exalt

Selah

a technical musical term probably showing accentuation, pause, interruption

Variations 3 forms of this word

Translations 10 English renderings

Psalms 140:2

Read Psalms 140

Psalms 140:4