Hebrew Dictionary and Vocabulary

Note to myself I did not begin this until Ex. 38:15 & 23; I had to split this into two parts during Job 4, 12/97

I will try to be consistent and pronounce ו as w but  as v-v; and ב as ^bv and  as b (not that this is totally accurate; I am shooting for consistency here).

However, I ran into a bit of a conundrum when determining how to relay the pronunciation to the reader. Do you give the pronunciation as cake or as kayk (or kāk)? Do we go with ode, ohd, or ōd? Whereas, most of the time I strive for some sort of consistency (even where there really is none originally), with the pronunciations, I have decided to go with a common English word (e.g., cake) where appropriate, letters without diacritical markings wherever possible, and diacritical markings where I see no other alternative.

The masculine of an adjective might refer to the moral or philosophical ramifications and the feminine gender might refer to the consequences of the word.

In a parenthetical reference, like (Job 9:7), the word does not occur in this verse, it is just being contrasted with the word actually found in this verse. Bolded references will be used when the word gets a full treatment in that verse (I didn’t begin this until Joshua 6). Joshua 2:3 6:2 10:8

*will mean that all references are listed here.

Preface: The problem with most lexicons is they tend to focus more upon this is how we have always translated this word; we find it in this passage used in this way and that passage translated that way. These lexicons often do not search for a consistent rendering of any given word; nor do they always examine the Scripture with the intent of narrowing down the number of ways an ancient Hebrew word can be brought into the English. Furthermore, there are some words which have one meaning outside of Scripture, but took on a technical theological meaning when used in Scripture (a good English equivalent of this is the word rapture; which means one thing originally in the secular world (ecstatic joy or delight) and has come to mean something related, but different in the world of theology (it refers to the time when the Lord will descend from heaven with a shout and the dead in Christ will rise first; then we who are alive with join Him and be forever in the heavenlies). A reasonable Hebrew example is kâphar (ר ַפ ָ), which means to cover but has come to take on the more technical translation of atone when found in Scripture (however, in this case, I think the literal meaning is best left in Scripture).

I have followed the order of Brown, Driver and Briggs, the reason being that they group the cognates together, which makes it easier to confirm some meanings.

This is a list of words covered in reasonable detail in my exegesis of the Old Testament:

1.      א       ʾAleph [pronounced AW-lef] (1) Written ʾ and not pronounced

1.        Letter:

2.        Masculine_noun: which means freshness, fresh green. The first prepositional phrase is in its freshness, translated by Young as in its budding; this is the only time this word occurs, although we find a very similar word in Exodus for young ears of barley; so the idea of youngness is implied. Freshness, budding = Strong’s #3 BDB #1.

3.        Masculine_noun: which means fresh, young ears [of barley]. Job 8:12; young ears of barley = Strong’s #24 BDB #1.

4.        Verb: ʾâbad (אָבַד) [pronounced aw^b-VAHD], which means to be lost, to lose oneself, to wander; to perish, to be destroyed; to be ready to perish, to be wretched [miserable or unfortunate]. It means to perish (Lev. 26:38 Esther 4:16 Joel 1:11); to lose (1Sam. 9:3). This verb is usually rendered to perish, and finding it in 1Sam. 9:3 where it clearly means to lose gives us a better understanding of its nuance. in the Piel it means to destroy (Num. 33:52 Deut. 12:2–3); in the Hiphil it means to cause to languish, to cause the destruction of, to put to death (Num. 24:19 Joshua 7:7). Strong's #6 BDB #1. Lev. 23:30 Num. 33:52 Deut. 4:26 7:24 26:5 Joshua 7:7 23:15 Judges 5:31 1Sam. 9:3, 20 Job 3:3 11:20 14:19 18:17 20:7 2Sam. 1:27 Psalm 2:12 10:16 21:10 68:2 73:27 83:17 142:4 146:4

5.        Masculine_noun: which means destruction. Strong’s #8 BDB #2.

6.        Feminine_noun: which means lost thing. Strong’s #9 BDB #2.

7.        Masculine_noun: which means destruction. Strong’s #12 & #13 BDB #2.

8.        Feminine_noun: ʾăbaddôwn (ן-בֲא) [pronounced ub-ahd-DOHN], which means destruction, ruin, perishing, abyss; and is transliterated ʾAbaddôn. Possibly a proper noun. The place of ruin in Sheol; a place of the lost dead. Strong’s #11 BDB #2. The Doctrine of Sheol

9.        Verb1: ʾâbâh (הָבָא) [pronounced aw-^BVAWH], which means to be willing, to consent. It is a verb always found with a negative (except in Job 1:19 39:9). In the Qal perfect, it generally means would; in the Qal imperfect it means consent, yield, willing. Strong’s #14 BDB #2. Deut. 13:8 29:20 Judges 11:17 19:25 20:13b 1Sam. 15:9 22:17 26:23 31:4 2Sam. 2:21 6:10 Psalm 81:11

10.      Adjective: ʾeb^eyôn (ןי׃ב∵א) [pronounced ebv^e-YOHN], which means destitute, in want, needy, poor, bankrupt. Strong’s #34 BDB #2. The Doctrine of the Poor and the Needy 1Sam. 2:8 Job 5:16 Psalm 12:5

11.      Masculine_noun: which means reed, papyrus. The kind of ships mentioned here is also a mystery. However, Gesenius matches the word with reed, bullrush, papyrus, from an Arabic use of the same word. Although there is not 100% agreement, this is the most likely renderings. Strong’s #16 BDB #3. Job 3:26

12.      Verb2: which means to decide, he who decides. Strong’s #none BDB #3.

13.      Masculine_noun: ʾâb (אָב) [pronounced aw^bv], which means father, both as the head of a household or the head of a clan. Therefore, it can refer to a grandfather or great grandfather. However, it can also mean founder, civil leader or military leader. Strong’s #1 BDB #3. Joshua 14:1 Judges 1:14 2:1, 10 9:1 17:10 Ruth 4:17a 1Sam. 2:25 9:3, 20 10:2, 12 12:6, 15 14:1, 51 17:15, 25 18:18 19:2 20:1 22:1 23:17 24:11, 21 2Sam. 2:32 6:21 7:12 1Chron. 8:10, 29 12:17, 28 15:12 Psalm 68:5 89:26 95:9 103:13 106:6 fix all of this from ^bv to b

14.      Masculine_proper_noun: ʾĂbîyʾel (ל∵אי.בֲא) [pronounced u^b-vee-EL], which means El (God) is [my] father. An ancestor of Saul’s. Strong’s #22 BDB #3. 1Sam. 9:1 14:51 1Chron. (8:29)

15.      Masculine_proper_name: which means my father has gathered and is transliterated . Strong’s #23&43 BDB #4.

16.      Feminine_proper_noun: ʾăbîygâyil (ל̣יָגי.בֲא) [pronounced a^b-vee-GAW-yil], which means my father is joy and is transliterated Abigal. There are two spellings of this name. Strong’s #26 BDB #4. 1Sam. 25:3 27:3 2Sam. 2:2 3:3

17.      Masculine_proper_noun: which means my father is judge and is transliterated . Strong’s #27 BDB #4.

18.      Masculine_proper_noun: which means my father took knowledge and is transliterated . Strong’s #28 BDB #4.

19.      Masculine_proper_noun: ʾĂbîyyâh (הָ̣ב ֲא) [pronounced u^b-vee-YAW], which means Yah is [my] father and is transliterated Abijah. Strong’s #29 BDB #4. 1Sam. 8:2

20.      Masculine_proper_noun: which means he is my father and is transliterated . Strong’s #30 BDB #4.

21.      Masculine_proper_noun: which means my father is majesty and is transliterated . Strong’s #31 BDB #4.

22.      Masculine_proper_noun: which means my father is might and is transliterated . Masculine and feminine. Strong’s #32 BDB #4.

23.      Masculine_proper_noun: which means my father is goodness and is transliterated . Strong’s #36 BDB #4.

24.      Masculine_proper_noun: ʾĂbîyţâl (לָטי.בֲא) [pronounced uhb-ee-TAWL], which means my father is [the] dew; father of dew and is transliterated Abital. Strong’s #37 BDB #4. 2Sam. 3:4

25.      Masculine_proper_noun: which means a father is El and is transliterated . Strong’s #39 BDB #4.

26.      Masculine_proper_noun: ʾĂbiymelek^e (אֲבִימֶלֶךְ) [pronounced u^b-vee-MEH-lek], which means my father is king. Abimelech should never have been the ruler of Israel; if anyone should have been in that time period, it was his father. So, every time you read his name in the next chapter, when he rules over Israel, keep in mind, it isn’t him, but his father who should be king. Strong’s #40 BDB #4. Judges 8:31 9:intro 1Chron. 18:16 Psalm 34:inscription

27.      Masculine_proper_noun: ʾăbîynâdâb (בָדָני.בֲא) [pronounced u^b-vee-naw-DAWB], which means my father is noble and is transliterated Abinadab. Strong’s #41 BDB #4. 1Sam. 7:1 16:8 17:13 31:2 2Sam. 6:3

28.      Masculine_proper_noun: ʾĂbîynôʿam (ם-עֹני.בֲא) [pronounced u^b-vee-noh-ĢAHM], which means my father is a delight; father of pleasantness; transliterated Abinoam. Father of Barak. Strong’s #42 BDB #4. Judges 4:6

29.      Masculine_proper_noun: ʾăbîynêr (ר̤ני.בֲא) [pronounced u^b-vee-NAYR], which means my father is Ner or my father is a lamp, and is transliterated Abner. Strong’s #74 BDB #4. 1Sam. 14:50 17:55 20:25 26:5 2Sam. 2:8 3:6

30.      Masculine_proper_noun: ʾăbîyrâm (אֲבִירָם) [pronounced up^b-vee-RAWM], which means [the] Exalted One is my father and is transliterated Abiram. Strong’s #48 BDB #4. Psalm 106:17

31.      Masculine_proper_noun: Strong’s #87 BDB #4.

32.      Masculine_proper_noun: ʾAb^erâhâm (אַבְרָהָם) [pronounced ahb^ve-raw-HAWM], which means father of a multitude, chief of a multitude; transliterated Abraham. Strong’s #85 BDB #4. 1Chron. 16:13 Psalm 47:9

33.      Feminine_proper_noun: which means my father is a wanderer; transliterated . Strong’s #49 BDB #4.

34.      Masculine_proper_noun: which means my father is rescue; my father is opulence; transliterated . Strong’s #50 BDB #4.

35.      Masculine_proper_noun: which means my father is a wall; transliterated . Strong’s #51 BDB #4.

36.      Masculine_proper_noun: ʾăbîyshay (אֲבִישַי) [pronounced ub-^vee-SHAH-ee], which means my father is Jesse and is transliterated Abishai. Strong’s #52 BDB #5. 1Sam. 26:6 2Sam. 2:18, 24 10:10 1Chron. 18:12

37.      Masculine_proper_noun: ʾĂbîyshâlôwm (םלָשי.ב ֲא) [pronounced ub-ee-shaw-LOHM], which means my father is peace and is transliterated . Strong’s #53 BDB #5. 2Sam. 3:3

38.      Masculine_proper_noun: ʾeb^eyâthâr (אֶבְיָתָר) [pronounced eb^e-yaw-THAWR], which means the Great One is father; my father is great and is transliterated Abiathar. Strong’s #54 BDB #5. 1Sam. 22:20 23:6 30:7 2Sam. 8:17 1Chron. 15:11

39.      Interjection: which means oh! [an exclamation of pain]. Strong’s #17 BDB #5.

40.      Feminine_noun: which means slaughter. Probably an error in Ezra 21:20.* Strong’s #19 BDB #5.

41.      Verb: which means to turn?. In the Hiphil, it means to roll, to roll up. Strong’s #55 BDB #5.

42.      Verb: ʾâbal (ל ַב ָא) [pronounced aw-^BVAHL], which means to mourn, lament. In the Hithpael, it means to act like a mourner, to go through the motions and ceremonies of mourning, to mourn. Strong’s #56 BDB #5. 1Sam. 6:19 15:35 16:1 Job 14:22

43.      Masculine_noun: which means mourning. Strong’s #60 BDB #5.

44.      Adjective1: ʾâbêl (ל̤בָא) [pronounced aw^b-VAYL], which means mourning. Strong’s #57 BDB #5.

45.      Feminine_noun2: ʾâbêl (ל̤בָא) [pronounced aw^b-VAYL], which ostensibly means meadow. Our problem is that Strong’s #58 BDB #5. 1Sam. 6:18

46.      Adverb: which means verily, of a truth. Strong’s #61 BDB #6.

47.      Masculine_noun3: which means camel. Strong’s #none BDB #6.

48.      Feminine_noun: ʾeben (ן∵ב∵א) [pronounced EH^B-ven], which means stone. It is found over 250 times in the Old Testament and is consistently translated stone with few exceptions; stones were used for weights and carried around in a bag to use possibly with a scale (see Prov. 11:1 16:11). Also in the masculine. Strong's #68 BDB #6. Lev. 20:27 (changed slightly) 1Sam. 4:1b 6:14, 18 7:12 14:33 17:40 20:19 25:37 2Sam. 5:11 1Chron. 12:2 Zech. 12:3

49.      Proper_noun: ʾEben (ן∵ב∵א) [pronounced EH^B-ven], which means stone and is transliterated Eben. It is found over 250 times in the Old Testament and is consistently translated stone. Strong's #68 BDB #6. Because of the definite article, this word would not be a construct. Then we have the definite article again followed by the masculine singular noun ʿêzer (ר∵זֵע) [pronounced ĢAY-zer], which means help. Strong’s #5828 BDB #740. This gives us: ...beside the stone the help... Since this cannot be a construct relationship, our other option is that this is a proper noun, which is what this appears to be, and it is transliterated either Ebenezer or Eben-ezer. Strong’s #72 BDB #7. 1Sam. 4:1b 5:1 7:12

50.      Masculine_noun: which means wheel, disc. Strong’s #70 BDB #7.

51.      Verb: which means to feed, to fatten. Strong’s #75 BDB #7.

52.      Masculine_noun: ʾêbûwç (סב̤א) [pronounced ay-BOOCE], which means crib, manger, feeding trough. Strong’s #18 BDB #7. (2Sam. 5:11)

53.      Masculine_noun: which means granary. Strong’s #3965 BDB #7.

54.      Proper_noun: ʾi^bv^etsân (ןָצ ב ̣א) [pronounced i^bv-TSAWN], which is very similar to a city in Issachar. However, we have no idea what the root stands for, if anything. Strong’s #78 BDB #7. Judges 12:8

55.      Masculine_noun: which means dust. Strong’s #80 BDB #7.

56.      Feminine_noun: which means powders. Probably a collective noun. SOS 3:6.* Strong’s #81 BDB #7.

57.      Verb: which means to wrestle. Strong’s #79 BDB #7.

58.      Masculine_noun: ʿêber (ר∵ב̤א) [pronounced ay-BEHR], which means pinions. Strong’s #83 BDB #7.

59.      Feminine_noun: ʾeb^erâh (הָרב∵א) [pronounced ehb^e-RAW], which means feather, wing; pinion [of bird (ostrich, eagle, dove) of God (metaphorically)]. Strong’s #84 BDB #7. Psalm 68:13

60.      Verb: which means to fly. Strong’s #82 BDB #7.

61.      Adjective: which means strong. Strong’s #46 BDB #7. Psalm 132:2

62.      Adjective: ʾabbîyr (רי ̣ ַא) [pronounced ahb-BEER], which means mighty, valiant, mighty ones. This certainly refers to Sisera’s horses, or to Sisera’s cavalry. Strong’s #47 BDB #7. Judges 5:22 1Sam. 21:7 Psalm 78:25

63.      Masculine_proper_noun: ʾăgâg (גָגֲא) [pronounced uh-GAWG], which means violent? and is transliterated Agag. Strong’s #90 BDB #8. 1Sam. 15:8

64.      Feminine_noun: ăguddâh (הָֻגֲא) [pronounced uh-good-DAW], which means a bunch, a bundle, a band. Ex. 12:22 2Sam. 2:25 Isa. 58:6 Amos 9:6.* Strong’s #92 BDB #8. The Doctrine of Fasting (Isa. 58:6) 2Sam. 2:25

65.      Masculine_noun: which means nuts. Strong’s #93 BDB #8.

66.      Masculine_noun: which means a drop. Strong’s #96 BDB #8.

67.      Verb: which means to be troubled, to be sad. Strong’s #none BDB #8.

68.      Masculine_noun: ʾăgam (ם ַג ֲא) [pronounced uh-GAHM], which means pool, pond. It also means troubled. Strong’s #98 BDB #8.

69.      Adjective: which means sad. Strong’s #99 BDB #8.

70.      Masculine_noun1: ʾag^emôn (ןֹמג-א) [pronounced ag^e-MOHN], which means a reed, a rush, a bullrush. Strong’s #100 BDB #8. The Doctrine of Fasting (Isa. 58:5)

71.      Masculine_noun2: ʾag^emôn (ןֹמג-א) [pronounced ag^e-MOHN], which means pot, cauldron. Job 41:20.* Strong’s #100 BDB #8. Ancient Jewish Cooking Vessels

72.      Verb: which means to be circular, to be round. Strong’s #none BDB #8.

73.      Masculine_noun: which means a bowl, a basin. Strong’s #101 BDB #8.

74.      Masculine_noun: which means a band, an army. Strong’s #102 BDB #8.

75.      Verb1: which means to gather. Strong’s #103 BDB #8.

76.      Verb2: which means to pay, to hire. Strong’s #none BDB #8.

77.      Feminine_noun: ʾăgôwrath (ת-רגֲא) [pronounced uh-goh-RAHTH], which means payment, coin, piece. Strong’s #95 BDB #8. 1Sam. 2:36*

78.      Feminine_noun: which means letter. Strong’s #107 BDB #8.

79.      Verb: ʾâdab (ב-דָא) [pronounced aw-DA^BV], which means to grieve, to pine away. This word is found only here and has no real cognates. This means that this meaning is a reasonable guess. Strong’s #109 BDB #9. 1Sam. 2:33*

80.      Verb: which means to make, to produce. Strong’s #none BDB #9.

81.      Masculine_noun: ʾâdâm (אָדָם) [pronounced aw-DAWM], which means a man, a human being, mankind, Adam. It can be the proper name for Adam, another name for man or a name for the human race, e.g., human being, mankind. In both instances, ʾâdâm can be in the singular and preceded by a definite article. Individual man with a definite article: Gen. 2:7–8; without a definite article: Gen. 2:5. Mankind with a definite article: Gen. 6:1, 5, 6 Num. 5:6. Strong's #120 BDB #9. Lev. 24:17 Judges 16:7 18:7 1Sam. 15:29 16:7 17:32 25:29 26:19 2Sam. 7:14 1Chron. 16:21 Job 7:20 20:4 21:4 24:9 Psalm 21:10 56:12 57:4 40:11 68:18 73:5 89:47 105:14 118:6 146:3

82.      Feminine_noun: ʾădâmâh (אֲדָמָה) [pronounced uh-daw-MAWH], which means ground, soil, dirt, earth, tillable earth, land, surface of the earth. Strong's #127 BDB #9. (cp Strong’s #776 BDB #75). Deut. 4:15–18 11:21 1Sam. 4:12 20:15 2Sam. 1:2 9:10 Job (14:8) Psalm 105:35 146:4

83.      Proper_noun_location: city in Naphtali. Strong’s #128 BDB #10.

84.      Proper_noun_location: a vale in Siddim. Strong’s #126 BDB #10.

85.      Proper_noun_location: a pass in Naphtali. Strong’s #129 & 5346 BDB #10.

86.      Verb: which means to be red, to be ruddy. Strong’s #119 BDB #10.