BIBLE DICTIONARY + WORD STUDY
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 · H4912
ma.shal — proverb
1) proverb, parable 1a) proverb, proverbial saying, aphorism 1b) byword 1c) similitude, parable 1d) poem 1e) sentences of ethical wisdom, ethical maxims
31 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →GREEK · G3942
paroimia — proverb
παροιμία, -ας, ἡ (πάροιμος, by the way), [in LXX. Pr title Pro.1:1 25:1, (מָשַׁל) subscr., Sir.6:35 8:8 18:29 39:3 47:17 * ;] 1. a wayside saying (Hesych.; see LS, see word), a byword, maxim, proverb: 2Pe.2:22. 2. In NT, of figurative discourse (as מָשַׁל, Isa.14:4, al.), a parable, allegory: Jhn.10:6 16:25, 29 (see Abbott, Essays, 82 ff.).† SYN.: παραβολή, q.v (AS)
4 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H8010
she.lo.moh — Solomon
A king of the tribe of Judah living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 2Sa.5.14; son of: David (H1732) and Bathsheba (H1339); brother of: Shammua (H8051H), Shobab (H7727) and Nathan (H5416); half-brother of: Amnon (H0550), Chileab (H3609), Absalom (H0053), Adonijah (H0138), Shephatiah (H8203), Ithream (H3507), Ibhar (H2984), Elishua (H0474), Nepheg (H5298H), Japhia (H3309I), Elishama (H0476H), Eliada (H0450), Eliphelet (H0467), Tamar (H8559H), Elpelet (H0467I), Nogah (H5052) and Jerimoth (H3406N); married to daughter_of_Pharaoh (H6547P) and Naamah (H5279A); father of: Taphath (H2955), Basemath (H1315) and Rehoboam (H7346); also called Jedidiah at 2Sa.12.25; § Solomon = "peace" son of David by Bathsheba and 3rd king of Israel; author of Proverbs and Song of Songs
261 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →GREEK · G3735
oros — mountain
ὄρος, -ους, τό [in LXX chiefly, and very freq., for הַר ;] a mountain: Mat.4:8 17:1, Mrk.9:2, Jhn.4:20, 2Pe.1:18, al.; opposite to βουνός, Luk.3:5 (LXX); ὄ. τ. ἐλαιῶν, Mat.21:1 24:3, al. (see: ἐ.); ὄ. Σιών (Σ., prob. in gem appos.), Heb.12:22, Rev.14:1; ὄ. Σινά, Act.7:30, 38 Gal.4:24-25; τὸ ὄ., of the hill district as distinct from the lowlands, esp. the hills above the Sea of Galilee, Mat.5:1 8:1, Mrk.3:13 6:46, al.; τὰ ὄ., Mat.18:12, Mrk.5:5, Heb.11:38, Rev.6:14, al.; proverbially (cf. Rabbinic, הדים עקר), of overcoming difficulties, accomplishing marvels, ὄρη μεθιστάνειν, 1Co.13:2, cf. Mat.17:20 21:21, Mrk.11:23 (AS)
62 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →GREEK · G3850
parabolē — parable
παραβολή, -ῆς, ἡ (παραβάλλω), [in LXX (cf. McNeile, Mt., 185): Num.23:7, Deu.28:37, Psa.44:14, Pro.1:6, Eze.12:22, al. (מָשַׁל), Sir.47:17 (חִידָה), al. mutt. in Sir, Wis.5:3 ;] 1. a placing beside, juxtaposition (Polyb., al.). 2. a comparing, comparison (Plat., Arist., al.). 3. a comparison, illustration, analogy, figure (Arist., al.) : Mat.24:32, Mrk.3:23, Heb.9:9 11:19; specif. of the pictures and narratives drawn from nature and human life which are characteristic of the synoptic teaching of our Lord, a parable: Mat.13:3, 10 Mrk.4:2, 10, Luk.8:4, 9-11, al.; with genitive ref., Mat.13:18, 36 4 4 Like Heb. מָשַׁל (1Ki.10:12, Pro.1:6, Sir.3:29, al.), = παροιμία, a proverb or gnomic saying: Luk.4:23 5:36 6:39 SYN.: παροιμία (see Abbott, Essays, 82 ff.) (AS)
48 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →GREEK · G4687
speirō — to sow
σπείρω [in LXX chiefly for זָרַע ;] to sow (seed): absol., Mat.6:26 13:3-4, 18 25:24, 26, Mrk.4:3-4, Luk.8:5 12:24, Jhn.4:36, 2Co.9:10; with accusative of thing(s), Mat.13:24, 27 13:37, 39, Mrk.4:32, Luk.8:5, 1Co.15:36-37; before εἰς, Mat.13:22, Mrk.4:18; ἐν, Mat.13:24, 31; ἐπί, with genitive, Mrk.4:31; ἐπί, with accusative, Mat.13:20, 23, Mrk.4:16, 20; παρά, with accusative, Mat.13:19. Metaphorical: 1Co.9:11 15:42-44, Gal.6:7-8, Jas.3:18; in proverbial sayings, Mat.25:24, 26, Luk.19:21-22, Jhn.4:37, 2Co.9:6, Gal.6:7; in interpretation of parables, Mat.13:19-23 Mrk.4:14-20 † (AS)
41 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →GREEK · G3618
oikodomeō — to build
οἰκοδομέω, -ῶ (οἰκοδόμος), [in LXX chiefly for בָּנָה ;] to build a house, to build: absol., Luk.11:48 14:30 17:28; οἱ οἰκοδομοῦντες, the builders (as Psa.118:22, בָּנָה), Mat.21:42, Mrk.12:10, Luk.20:17, 1Pe.2:7" (LXX) ; ἐ π ̓ ἀλλότριον θεμέλιον οἰ., proverb., Rom.15:20; with accusative of thing(s), Gal.2:18; πύργον), Mat.21:33, Mrk.12:1, Luk.14:28; ἀποθήκας, Luk.12:18; ναόν, Mrk.14:58; pass., Jhn.2:20; οἰκία, Luk.6:48; with accusative of thing(s) before dative of person(s) (cf. Gen.8:20, Eze.16:24), Luk.7:5, Act.7:47, 49; accusative before ἐπί, Mat.7:24, 26 Luk.6:49; πόλιν ἐπ ̓ ὄρους, Luk.4:29; of rebuilding, or restoring, Mat.23:29 26:61 27:40, Mrk.15:29, Luk.11:47, Metaphorical, τ. ἐκκλησίαν, Mat.16:18; of the growth of Christian character (cf. בָּנָה, in Psa.28:5, Jer.24:6, al.), to build up (AV, edify): absol., Act.20:32, 1Co.8:1 10:23; with accusative of person(s), 1Co.14:4, 1Th.5:11; pass., Act.9:31, 1Co.14:17, 1Pe.2:5; of blameworthy action (AV, embolden), 1Co.8:10 (cf. ἀν-, ἐπ-, συν-οικοδομέω).† οἰκο-δόμος, -ου, ὁ (οἶκος + δέμω, to build), [in LXX for בָּנָה, etc. ;] a builder: Act.4:11.† (AS)
38 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →GREEK · G4716
stauros — cross
σταυρός, -oῦ, ὁ 1. an upright pale or stake (Hom., Hdt., Thuc., al.) 2. In late writers (Diod., Plut., al.) of the Roman instrument of crucifixion, the Cross: of the Cross on which Christ suffered, Mat.27:32, 40 27:42, Mrk.15:21, 30 15:32, Luk.23:26, Jhn.19:17, 19 19:25, 31, Col.2:14, Heb.12:2; θάνατος σταυροῦ, Php.2:8; τ. αἷμα τοῦ σ., Col.1:20. Metaphorical, in proverbial sayings: αἴρειν (λαμβάνειν, βαστάζειν) τὸν σ., Mat.10:38 16:24, Mrk.8:34 10:21, 15:21, Luk.9:23 14:27 (for an interesting ex. of metaphorically use in π., see MM, xxiii) By meton., for Christ's death on the Cross: 1Co.1:17, Gal.5:11 6:12, 14, Eph.2:16, Php.3:18; ὁ λόγος ὁ τοῦ σ., 1Co.1:18.† (AS)
27 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →GREEK · G3135
margaritēs — pearl
μαργαρίτης, -ου, ὁ a pearl: Mat.13:45-46, 1Ti.2:9, Rev.17:4 18:12, 16 21:21 (-ῖται, WH); proverbially, Mat.7:6.† (AS)
8 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →GREEK · G2574
kamēlos — camel
κάμηλος, -ου, ὁ, ἡ [in LXX for גָּמַל ;] camel: Mat.3:4, Mrk.1:6; in proverbs, Mat.19:24 23:24, Mrk.10:25, Luk.18:25 (on the seel. κάμιλος, see WH, Notes, 151).† κάμιλος, see: κάμηλος, and cf. Thayer; LS, s.v (AS)
6 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H3882
liv.ya.tan — Leviathan
a sea monster, dragon 1a) large aquatic animal such as crocodile 1b) perhaps the extinct dinosaur, plesiosaurus, exact meaning unknown, 1c) a mythical or proverbial creature
5 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H384
i.ti.el — Ithiel
A man living at the time of Exile and Return, only mentioned at Neh.11.7; son of: Jeshaiah (H3470K); father of: Maaseiah (H4641U) § Ithiel = "God is with me" 1) the disciple to whom Agur gave proverbs 2) a Benjamite in Nehemiah's time
2 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H3927
le.mu.el — Lemuel
A man living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at Pro.31.1 § Lemuel = "for God" 1) the name of an unknown king to whom his mother addressed the prudential maxims contained in some of the Proverbs 1a) might be same as king Solomon
2 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H930
be.he.mot — Behemoth
Behemoth This name means perhaps an extinct dinosaur 1a) a Diplodocus or Brachiosaurus, exact meaning unknown 1b) hippopotamus 1c) a mythical or proverbial creature
1 tagged verse occurrence · see every occurrence →GREEK · G20917
paroimiazō — to make proverbial
1. to make proverbial :—;Pass. to pass into a proverb, become proverbial , (Plato Philosophus) 2. Mid. to speak in proverbs , (Plato Philosophus) (ML)
0 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →GREEK · G21355
psammos — sabulum.
1. sand , so called from its loose, crumbling nature (from ψάω); (Odyssey by Homer), etc.:—;proverbial, ψάμμος ἀριθμὸν περιπέφευγεν (Pindar) 2. ἡ ψ. the sandy desert of Libya, (Herdotus Historicus) Both ψάμμος and ψάμαθος sometimes drop ψ and become ἄμμος, ἄμαθος. (ML)
0 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →GREEK · G6187
akinētos — fixed
1. unmoved, motionless , of Delos, (Oracle quoted in Herdotus Historicus); ἐξ ἀκινήτου ποδός without stirring a step, (Sophocles Tragicus) 2. idle, sluggish , (Aristophanes Comicus) 3. unmoved, unaltered , of laws, (Thucydides), etc. 4. immovable, hard to move , (Plato Philosophus):—;adverb, ἀκινήτως ἔχειν to be immovable , (Plato Philosophus), etc. 5. not to be stirred or touched, inviolate , Lat. non movendus, τάφος (Herdotus Historicus): proverbial of sacred things, κινεῖν τὰ ἀκίνητα (Herdotus Historicus); also τἀκίνητα φράσαι (Sophocles Tragicus) 6. of persons, not to be shaken, steadfast, stubborn , (Sophocles Tragicus) (ML)
0 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →GREEK · G6190
akmē — at this moment
1. a point, edge : proverbial, ἐπὶ ξυροῦ ἀκμῆς on the rasor's edge (see. ξυρόν); ἀμφιδέξιοι ἀκμαί the fingers of both hands, (Sophocles Tragicus); ποδοῖν ἀκμαί the toes, (Sophocles Tragicus) 2. the highest point of anything, the bloom, flower, prime , of man's age, Lat. flos aetatis, ἀκμὴ ἥβης (Sophocles Tragicus); ἀκμὴ βίου (Xenophon Historicus); ἐν ἀκμῆι εἶναι = ἀκμάζειν, (Plato Philosophus); ἀκμὴν ἔχειν, of corn, to be ripe, (Thucydides); also of time, ἀ. ἦρος the spring- prime , (Pindar); ἀ. θέρους mid -summer, (Xenophon Historicus); ἀ. τῆς δόξης (Thucydides); periphrastic like βία, ἀκμὴ Θησειδᾶν (Sophocles Tragicus) 3. like καιρός, the best, most fitting time , [variant datesTragica Adespota; ἔργων, λόγων ἀκμή the time for doing, speaking, (Sophocles Tragicus); ἀκμή ἐστι, with infinitive, 'tis high time to do, (Aeschulus Tragicus); ἐπ᾽ ἀκμῆς εἶναι, with infinitive, to be on the point of doing, (Euripides); ἐπ᾽ αὐτὴν ἥκει τὴν ἀκμήν 'tis come to the critical time , (Demosthenes Orator) 4. ἀκμήν, accusative of ἀκμή, used as adverb, just , (Xenophon Historicus) 5. yet, still , (Theocritus Poeta Bucolicus) (ML)
0 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →GREEK · G6972
drus — an oak
1. originally a tree (which indeed comes from the same Root), commonly the oak , Lat. quercus, (Homer), etc.; sacred to Zeus, who gave his oracles from the oaks of Dodona, (Odyssey by Homer);—;hence, αἱ προσήγοροι δρύες (Aeschulus Tragicus):—;proverbial, οὐ γὰρ ἀπὸ δρυός ἐσσι οὐδ᾽ ἀπὸ πέτρης thou art no foundling from tree or rock, i. e. thou hast parents and a country, (Odyssey by Homer); οὐ νῦν ἐστιν ἀπὸ δρυὸς οὐδ᾽ ἀπὸ πέτρης ὀαρίζειν 'tis no time now to talk at ease from tree or rock, (Iliad by Homer) 2. of other trees, πίειρα δρῦς the resinous wood (of the pine), (Sophocles Tragicus); of the olive, (Euripides) 3. metaphorically a wornout old man , [variant datesAnthology Palantina (ML)
0 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →GREEK · G7594
hepsō — to bake
1. to boil, seethe , (Herdotus Historicus), attic: proverbial of useless labour, λίθον ἕψεις (Aristophanes Comicus); with genitive partitive, ἥψομεν τοῦ κορκόρου we boiled some pimpernel, (Aristophanes Comicus):—;Pass. to be boiled , (Herdotus Historicus) 2. of metals, to smelt, refine , (Pindar) 3. metaphorically, γῆρας ἀνώνυμον ἕψειν to cherish an inglorious age, (Pindar) (ML)
0 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →GREEK · G7629
hēmionos — the mule
1. a half-ass , i. e. a mule , (Homer), etc.:—; proverbial, ἐπεὰν ἡμίονοι τέκωσι, i. e. never, (Herdotus Historicus) 2. the ἡμ. ἀγροτέρα of (Iliad by Homer) 2. 851 is probably the wild ass. 3. as adjective, βρέφος ἡμίονον a mule- foal, (Iliad by Homer); ἡμ. βασιλεύς a mule- king, half-Mede half-Persian, (Oracle quoted in Herdotus Historicus) (ML)
0 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →GREEK · G8015
kiōn — a monumental pillar
1. a pillar , Lat. columna, (Odyssey by Homer): a flogging-post , (Sophocles Tragicus); proverbial, ἔσθιε τοὺς Μεγακλέους κίονας eat the pillars of his hall, for being a spendthrift, he had nothing else left to give, (Aristophanes Comicus) 2. in plural the pillars guarded by Atlas , which keep heaven and earth asunder, (Odyssey by Homer); whereas in (Herdotus Historicus) Mount Atlas is ὁ κίων τοῦ οὐρανοῦ. 3. a columnar grave-stone , [variant datesAnthology Palantina (ML)
0 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →GREEK · G8144
kōpē — an oar
1. any handle: 2. the handle of an oar , and generally an oar , (Odyssey by Homer), attic; νερτέρᾳ προσήμενος κώπῃ, = θαλαμίτης, metaphorically of a man of low rank, (Aeschulus Tragicus); παραπέμπειν ἐφ᾽ ἕνδεκα κώπαις, a proverb of dubious origin, meaning "to escort with all the honours, " (Aristophanes Comicus):—;poetry to express ships, σὺν κώπᾳ χιλιοναύτᾳ, of Agamemnon's fleet, (Euripides) 3. the handle of a sword, the haft, hilt , Lat. capulus, (Homer) 4. the handle of a key , (Odyssey by Homer) 5. the haft of a torch , (Euripides) (ML)
0 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →GREEK · G8326
mēchanē — a machine
1. = Lat. machina: 2. an instrument, machine for lifting weights and the like, (Herdotus Historicus); μ. Ποσειδῶνος, of the trident, (Aeschulus Tragicus); λαοπόροις μ., of Xerxes' bridge of boats, (Aeschulus Tragicus) 3. an engine of war, (Thucydides) 4. a theatrical machine , by which gods were made to appear in the air, (Plato Philosophus): hence proverbial of any sudden appearance, ὥσπερ ἀπὸ μηχανῆς (cf. Lat. deus ex machina), (Demosthenes Orator) 5. any contrivance , for doing a thing, (Herdotus Historicus), etc.: in plural μηχαναί, shifts, devices, arts, wiles , (Hesiod), attic; μηχαναῖς Διός by the arts of Zeus, (Aeschulus Tragicus); proverbial, μηχαναὶ Σισύφου (Aristophanes Comicus):—;Phrases, μηχανήν or μηχανὰς προσφέρειν (Euripides); εὑρίσκειν (Aeschulus Tragicus), etc.:—;with genitive, μ. κακῶν a contrivance against ills, (Euripides); but, μ. σωτηρίας a way of providing safety, (Aeschulus Tragicus) 6. οὐδεμία μηχανή [ ἐστι] ὅπως οὐ, with future, (Herdotus Historicus); also, μὴ οὐ, with infinitive, (Herdotus Historicus) 7. in adverb, phrases, ἐκ μηχανῆς τινος in some way or other, (Herdotus Historicus); μηδεμιῆι μηχανῆι by no means whatsoever, (Herdotus Historicus) (ML)
0 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →A trite maxim; a similitude; a parable. The Hebrew word thus rendered (mashal) has a wide signification. It comes from a root meaning “to be like,” “parable.” Rendered “proverb” in Isa. 14:4; Hab. 2:6; “dark saying” in Ps. 49:4, Num. 12:8. Ahab’s defiant words in answer to the insolent demands of Benhadad, “Let not him that girdeth on his harness boast himself as he that putteth it off,” is a well known instance of a proverbial saying (1 Kings 20:11).
Source: Easton’s Bible Dictionary (1897). Historical dictionary wording reflects the scholarship and language of its era.
