BIBLE DICTIONARY + WORD STUDY

Borrow

Original Hebrew / Aramaic / Greek connected to this term

How to read this: there is rarely one magic “true meaning” hidden behind an English word. A lexicon records a word’s semantic range. The intended meaning is narrowed by grammar, sentence, author, historical usage and context.

HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H7592

שָׁאַל

sha.al — to ask

1) to ask, enquire, borrow, beg 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to ask, ask for 1a2) to ask (as a favour), borrow 1a3) to enquire, enquire of 1a4) to enquire of, consult (of deity, oracle) 1a5) to seek 1b) (Niphal) to ask for oneself, ask leave of absence 1c) (Piel) 1c1) to enquire, enquire carefully 1c2) to beg, practise beggary 1d) (Hiphil) 1d1) to be given on request 1d2) to grant, make over to, let (one) ask (successfully) or give or lend on request (then) grant or make over to Aramaic equivalent: she.el (שְׁאֵל "to ask" H7593)

156 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →

GREEK · G1155

δανείζω

daneizō — to lend/borrow

δανίζω (late form of cl. -είζω, Rec., Bl., § 3; Thackeray, Gr., 85f.) [in LXX chiefly for לוה (Pro.19:17) ;] to lend money on interest: Luk.6:34, 35; mid., to borrow: Mat.5:42.† SYN.: κίχρημι (see: χράω), to lend in a friendly way. (AS)

3 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →

GREEK · G20203

δανίζω

danizō — to lend/borrow

to lend/borrow

0 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →

GREEK · G8378

ναυτικός

nautikos — mariner

1. seafaring, naval , ὁ ν. στρατός opposite to ὁ πεζός, (Herdotus Historicus); ν. λεώς (Aeschulus Tragicus); στόλος (Sophocles Tragicus); ν. ἐρείπια wrecks of ships , (Aeschulus Tragicus); ν. ἀναρχία among the seamen , (Euripides):—; τὸ ναυτικόν a navy, fleet , (Herdotus Historicus), etc. 2. of persons, skilled in seamanship, nautical , ναυτικοὶ ἐγένοντο became a naval power , (Thucydides) 3. ἡ ναυτική (i.e. τέχνη); navigation, seamanship , (Herdotus Historicus); so, τὰ ναυτικά (Plato Philosophus);—;but, τὰ ναυτικά, also, naval affairs naval power , (Thucydides) 4. at Athens, ναυτικόν technically meant money borrowed or lent on bottomry , (Xenophon Historicus), etc. (ML)

0 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →

Historical dictionary entry

The Israelites “borrowed” from the Egyptians (Ex. 12:35, R.V., “asked”) in accordance with a divine command (3:22; 11:2). But the word (sha’al) so rendered here means simply and always to “request” or “demand.” The Hebrew had another word which is properly translated “borrow” in Deut. 28:12; Ps. 37:21. It was well known that the parting was final. The Egyptians were so anxious to get the Israelites away out of their land that “they let them have what they asked” (Ex. 12:36, R.V.), or literally “made them to ask,” urged them to take whatever they desired and depart. (See LOAN.)

Scripture references

Source: Easton’s Bible Dictionary (1897). Historical dictionary wording reflects the scholarship and language of its era.

Compare other reference traditions

Look up Borrow in Smith’s Bible Dictionary and ISBE →