אָסַף
ʼâçaph · H622 · Hebrew · 200 occurrences
Meanings
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to gather, to be assembled
Process by which humans come together from different places and form a group for a common purpose, such as for a meeting or for war
ExamplesGenesis 34:30 Then Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, “You have brought trouble on me by making me repulsive among the inhabitants of the land, among the Canaanites and the Perizzites; and since my men are few in number, they will band together against me and attack me, and I will be destroyed, I and my household!”
Genesis 49:1 Then Jacob summoned his sons and said, “Assemble yourselves, so that I may tell you what will happen to you in the days to come.
Exodus 32:26 Moses then stood at the gate of the camp, and said, “Whoever is for the LORD, come to me!” And all the sons of Levi gathered together to him.
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to gather, to assemble, to accumulate, to harvest
To bring together people, animals, plants, and/or other things from different places for a common purpose
ExamplesGenesis 6:21 “As for you, take for yourself some of every food that is edible, and gather it to yourself; and it shall be food for you and them.”
Genesis 29:3 When all the flocks were gathered there, they would roll the stone from the mouth of the well and water the sheep. Then they would put the stone back in its place on the mouth of the well.
Genesis 29:7 Then he said, “Look, it is still high day; it is not time for the livestock to be gathered. Water the sheep, and go, pasture them.”
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to bring up the rear, to form the rear guard
To march behind a group of travellers to gather the stragglers and keep the group safe from those who might attack from behind
ExamplesNumbers 10:25 Then the flag of the camp of the sons of Dan, by their armies, which formed the rear guard for all the camps, set out, with Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai over its army,
Joshua 6:9 And the armed men went ahead of the priests who blew the trumpets, and the rear guard came after the ark, while they continued to blow the trumpets.
Joshua 6:13 Then the seven priests carrying the seven trumpets of rams’ horns in front of the ark of the LORD went on continually, and blew the trumpets; and the armed men went ahead of them, and the rear guard came after the ark of the LORD, while they continued to blow the trumpets.
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to accept, to receive, to take in
To accept a person or animal into one's home or community
ExamplesExodus 9:19 “So now, send word, bring your livestock and whatever you have in the field to safety. Every person and animal that is found in the field and is not brought home, when the hail comes down on them, will die.”’”
Numbers 12:14 But the LORD said to Moses, “If her father had only spit in her face, would she not be put to shame for seven days? Have her shut outside the camp for seven days, and afterward she may be received again.”
Numbers 12:15 So Miriam was shut outside the camp for seven days, and the people did not move on until Miriam was received again.
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to return
To move back to the place where one comes from
ExamplesNumbers 11:30 Then Moses returned to the camp, both he and the elders of Israel.
Psalm 104:22 When the sun rises they withdraw, And they lie down in their dens.
Isaiah 60:20 “Your sun will no longer set, Nor will your moon wane; For you will have the LORD as an everlasting light, And the days of your mourning will be over.
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to take back, to withdraw
To cause something to move back to the place where it came from
ExamplesGenesis 49:33 When Jacob finished commanding his sons, he drew his feet into the bed and breathed his last, and was gathered to his people.
Job 34:14 “If He were to determine to do so, If He were to gather His spirit and His breath to Himself,
Psalm 104:29 You hide Your face, they are terrified; You take away their breath, they perish And return to their dust.
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Literally: to return; hence: to die and rejoin one's ancestors (to return, to rejoin (one's ancestors), to die)
ExamplesGenesis 25:8 Abraham breathed his last and died at a good old age, an old man and satisfied with life; and he was gathered to his people.
Genesis 25:17 These are the years of the life of Ishmael, 137 years; and he breathed his last and died, and was gathered to his people.
Genesis 35:29 Then Isaac breathed his last and died, and was gathered to his people, an old man of ripe age; and his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.
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to cause to return, to cause to rejoin one's ancestors, to cause to die
Literally to cause to return, hence to cause someone to die and rejoin their ancestors
Examples2 Kings 22:20 ‘Therefore, behold, I am going to gather you to your fathers, and you will be gathered to your grave in peace, and your eyes will not look at all the devastation that I am going to bring on this place.’” So they brought back word to the king.
2 Chronicles 34:28 “Behold, I will gather you to your fathers, and you will be gathered to your grave in peace, so your eyes will not see all the evil which I am bringing on this place and its inhabitants.”’” And they brought back word to the king.
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to be taken away, to die, to perish
Process by which a person or animal is removed from existence; either in a natural and peaceful manner or in an unnatural and violent way
ExamplesIsaiah 57:1 The righteous person perishes, and no one takes it to heart; And devout people are taken away, while no one understands. For the righteous person is taken away from evil,
Hosea 4:3 Therefore the land mourns, And everyone who lives in it languishes Along with the animals of the field and the birds of the sky, And even the fish of the sea disappear.
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to take away, destroy or sweep away
The action by which someone removes another person from existence, by a usually unnatural death, aggression, hardship, disaster, destruction or direct divine intervention, often as punishment
Examples1 Samuel 15:6 But Saul said to the Kenites, “Go, get away, go down from among the Amalekites, so that I do not destroy you along with them; for you showed kindness to all the sons of Israel when they went up from Egypt.” So the Kenites got away from among the Amalekites.
Psalm 26:9 Do not take my soul away along with sinners, Nor my life with men of bloodshed,
Jeremiah 8:13 “I will certainly snatch them away,” declares the LORD. “There will be no grapes on the vine And no figs on the fig tree, And the leaf will wither; And what I have given them will pass away.”’”
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to take away, to withdraw
Action by which someone brings an event to an end
ExamplesGenesis 30:23 So she conceived and gave birth to a son, and said, “God has taken away my disgrace.”
Psalm 85:3 You withdrew all Your fury; You turned away from Your burning anger.
Isaiah 4:1 For seven women will take hold of one man on that day, saying, “We will eat our own bread and wear our own clothes, only let us be called by your name; take away our disgrace!”
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to cure
Literally: to take away a person from a disease; hence: to cure someone from a disease
Examples2 Kings 5:3 And she said to her mistress, “If only my master were with the prophet who is in Samaria! Then he would cure him of his leprosy.”
2 Kings 5:6 And he brought the letter to the king of Israel, which said, “And now as this letter comes to you, behold, I have sent Naaman my servant to you, so that you may cure him of his leprosy.”
2 Kings 5:7 But when the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and said, “Am I God, to kill and to keep alive, that this man is sending word to me to cure a man of his leprosy? But consider now, and see how he is seeking a quarrel against me.”
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to take away, to destroy, to sweep away
To remove or take away, meaning to remove things completely
ExamplesZephaniah 1:2 “I will completely remove all things From the face of the earth,” declares the LORD.
How it’s used In 10 roles
Every occurrence, grouped by the words it is grammatically related to.
the word studied the word it goes with
Who or what does itSubject
188 occurrences in 62 groups
- Not stated: he, she or it 29
- Not stated: you (one person) 26
- Not stated: they 21
- Not stated: you (more than one) 12
- Not stated: I 9
- בֵּןson 7
- Other words · 49 groups that occur once or twice (63) 63
What it acts on, or what is saidObject
93 occurrences in 65 groups
- וֹhim 6
- עַםpeople 5
- ךָּyou 5
- זָקֵןelder, old 4
- אִישׁman, person, each 4
- תְּבוּאָהyield 4
- Other words · 55 groups that occur once or twice (69) 69
With prepositionsPrepositional phrases
88 occurrences in 66 groups
- אֵלto, toward+ עַםpeople 10
- אֵלto, toward+ וֹhim 6
- לto/for+ מִלְחָמָהwar, battle 4
- אֵלto, toward+ יְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִםJerusalem 3
- אֵלto, toward+ עִירcity, town 3
- מִןfrom+ צָרַעַתskin disease 3
- Other words · 59 groups that occur once or twice (72) 72
With adverbsAdverbs
20 occurrences in 8 groups
- לֹאnot 9
- שָׁםthere 3
- אַחַרafter, behind 2
- יַחַדtogether 2
- אָזat that time 1
- אַלnot, do not 1
Whose, or of whatGenitive or possessive
4 occurrences in 4 groups
- רָעָבfamine, hunger 1
- וֹhim 1
- כֶםyou 1
- הֶםthem 1
What it doesIt is the subject
5 occurrences in 4 groups
- הָלַךְto go, to walk 2
- הָיָהto be, to become 1
- כָּבַסto wash 1
- אָכַלto eat, to devour 1
What is done to itIt is the object
6 occurrences in 5 groups
- אָמַרto say 2
- יָדַעto know 1
- אָמַןto believe, to be faithful, to trust 1
- רָאָהto see 1
- בִּיןto understand, to discern 1
What it is said to bePredicate
2 occurrences in 2 groups
- אַיִןthere is no, not 1
- מִיwho? 1
What is said to be itIt is the predicate
2 occurrences in 2 groups
- אֱלֹהִיםGod, gods 1
- מִשְׁפָּטjustice, judgment, ordinance 1
After prepositionsPrepositional phrases
9 occurrences in 4 groups
- כlike/as 4
- בin/on/with 2
- לto/for 2
- עַדto, as far as, until 1
When two words share a role, as in “Paul and Barnabas said”, the verse appears under each, so a section’s counts can add up to more than the number of occurrences.
MACULA Greek Linguistic Datasets, available at https://github.com/Clear-Bible/macula-greek/, licensed CC BY 4.0; MACULA Hebrew Linguistic Datasets © 2022-2024 by Biblica, Inc., CC BY 4.0. Westminster Leningrad Codex (tanach.us). OpenScriptures Hebrew Bible morphology (hb.openscriptures.org), CC BY 4.0.
Near synonyms 7 words
- קָהַל qâhal · H6950 · to gather together, to assemble, to gather
- Both words denote gathering or assembling. אָסַף (ʼâçaph, H622) has a broader range, also meaning to consume, destroy, fetch, lose or recover, while קָהַל (qâhal, H6950) is more specialized for gathering; their core sense of assembling people or things overlaps.
- אָגַר ʼâgar · H103 · to gather in, to harvest
- The candidate lexeme and the target lexeme are both genuine gathering or collecting verbs; the target lexeme’s extended senses (consume, destroy, recover) show broader semantic reach, but its core ‘gather, assemble’ sense overlaps directly with the candidate lexeme’s narrower ‘gather’ meaning, making the two real near-synonyms describing the same action of collecting.
- קָשַׁשׁ qâshash · H7197 · to gather, to come together, to collect
- Both words are verbs of gathering. אָסַף (ʼâçaph, H622) has a broad range including gathering and assembling, while קָשַׁשׁ (qâshash, H7197) is narrower; they are distinct words that can substitute for each other in the sense of gathering.
- כָּנַס kânaç · H3664 · to gather, to assemble, to curl up
- אָסַף (ʼâçaph, H622) and כָּנַס both denote gathering or assembling actions—distinct Hebrew words for similar gathering or collecting.
- יָעַד yâʻad · H3259 · to be set, to be placed, to be directed
- יָעַד (yâʻad, H3259) centers on appointment/meeting/agreement with gathering as one manifestation (often reflexive "gather selves"), while אָסַף (ʼâçaph, H622) is a broad, high-frequency gathering/collecting verb spanning physical assembly, retrieval, and destruction.
- צָבַר tsâbar · H6651 · to heap up, to pile up, to store up
- אָסַף (ʼâçaph, H622) has a very broad semantic range (gather, consume, destroy, receive, recover, and more) across many domains, while צָבַר (tsâbar, H6651) is narrowly focused on “gather, heap up”; the shared sense of gathering or collecting is a genuine overlap, though modest given אָסַף (ʼâçaph, H622)'s much greater breadth.
- קָבַץ qâbats · H6908 · to come together, to gather, to assemble
- Both words center on the action of gathering or assembling, with substantial overlap; they are two distinct Hebrew words that can substitute for each other in this sense.
In the other Testament 2 words
- συνάγω synágō · G4863 · to gather together, to call together, to store
- Greek συνάγω renders Hebrew אָסַף across the semantic range of gathering/assembling, with both conveying the core action of bringing dispersed entities together into a collective unit.
- ἐπισυνάγω episynágō · G1996 · to cause to come together, to gather together, to gather (at)
- Greek ἐπισυνάγω carries the intensified prefix ἐπι- emphasizing 'gathering upon/to' a specific location, whereas Hebrew אָסַף has broader semantic range including consumption and destruction senses absent from the Greek compound; ἐπισυνάγω (episynágō, G1996) represents a more spatially-focused subset of אָסַף (ʼâçaph, H622)'s gathering semantics.
Semantic domains 7 entries
- Gather002003002013
- אָסַף is the ordinary verb for gathering, as Noah told to gather food of every kind for himself and the animals.
- Safe002003003019
- The word is used of gathering someone in for safekeeping or shelter, bringing them into protection.
- Associate002003002002
- It can describe a company being gathered or brought together as one body.
- Move002002001012
- The word also describes withdrawing or drawing back, a movement of gathering oneself away.
- Non-Exist002002002006
- אָסַף can carry the sense of being taken away or removed, as something brought to an end or consumed.
- End002003003010
- The word describes the closing or finishing of a matter, gathering something to its conclusion.
- Strong002001001063
- It is used idiomatically of gathering courage or strength, mustering oneself for a task.
Word family 8 words
Words formed from the same root. They share a form, not always a meaning.
Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon H622. asaph אָסַף200 verb gather, remove (Assyrian asâpu, DlPr 45) — Qal Perfect אָסַף…
אָסַף200 verb gather, remove (Assyrian asâpu, DlPr 45) —
Qal Perfect אָסַף Gen 30:23 +; אָסַפְתָּ Psa 85:4, etc.; Imperfect יֶּאֱסֹף 2Ki 5:3; יַאַסְפֵנִי Psa 27:10, etc.; also וַיֹּסֶף 2Sa 6:1-2;masculine singular תֹּסֵף Psa 104:29; Psa 104:1singular אֹסְפָה Mic 4:6; so probably (suffix) אִֹספְךָ 1Sa 15:6 (read אֹסִפְךָ) see Köi. 382 DrSm; Imperative אֱסֹף Num 21:16 + אֶסְפָה Num 11:16; Num 11:2feminine singular אִסְמִּי Jer 10:17; אִסְפוּ Psa 50:5 +; Infinitive absolute אָסֹף Jer 8:13 + (Hiph`il, from סוף according to BaNB 73); construct אֱסֹף 2Ki 5:7 +; אָסְמְּךָ Exo 23:16; אָסְמְּכֶם Lev 23:39; Participle active אֹסֵף Num 19:10; אֹסִפְךָ 2Ki 22:20; 2Ch 34:28 (pointed אִֹספְךָ i.e. Hiph`il; compare Köl.c.); אֹסְפָם Psa 39:7; passive plural construct אֲסֻפֵי Eze 34:29; —
1 gather, collect (a) persons Gen 29:22; Gen 42:17 (followed by אֶלֿ) Exo 3:16; Exo 4:29; Num 11:16, Num 11:24; Num 21:16; Jos 2:18 (followed by אֶלֿ + הֿ locative) Jos 24:1 (followed by הֿ locative; all these J E); 1Sa 5:8, 1Sa 5:11; 2Ki 23:1 (followed by אֶלֿ) Jos 2:16; Isa 11:12; Zep 3:8; Hab 2:5; Eze 11:17 (all || קבץ) +; collect men, people, armies, etc., for fighting Num 21:23 (E) Jdg 11:20; 1Sa 17:1; 2Sa 10:17; 2Sa 12:29 +; compare Zec 14:2 (followed by עַלֿ against); (b) once object beasts Jer 12:9; (c) things, especially fruits ofearth Exo 23:10, Exo 23:16 (Cov't code) Lev 25:3, Lev 25:20, Lev 25:39 (H) Deu 11:14; Deu 16:13; Deu 28:38; Isa 17:5; Jer 40:10, Jer 40:12; Job 39:12; Psa 39:7; compare Rth 2:7 (|| לקט glean); the quails Num 11:32 (twice in verse); food in General (מַאֲכָל) Gen 6:21 (followed by אֶלֿ); eggs Isa 10:14; money 2Ki 22:4; 2Ch 24:11; ashes of red heifer Num 19:9-10, chariots 1Ki 10:26; 2Ch 1:14, etc.; of fisherman (בְּמִכְמַרְתּוֺ, in metaphor) Hab 1:15; of collecting wind Pro 30:4 בְּחָפְנָיו׳א רֿוּחַ מִי.
2 gather an individual into company of others: (a) object person especially gather to one's father 2Ki 22:20 (עַלאֲֿבֹתֶיךָ) = 2Ch 34:28 (אֶלֿ; both || Niph`al of same verb q. v. ); hence also (b) bring, object person 1Sa 14:52 (on form here see Dr) 2Sa 11:27 (both followed by אֶלֿ), association, responsibility, protection being implied; also of stray ox or sheep Deu 22:2 (followed by אֶלתּֿוֺח); hence also (c) take up, care for, subject ׳י Psa 27:10 (compare perhaps Isa 40:11 קבץ); (d) draw up the feet upon the bed (אֶלֿ) Gen 49:33.
3 bring up the rear of Isa 58:8 י ׳כְּבוֺד יַאַסְפֶ֑ךָ i.e. be thy rear-guard (|| צִדְקֶ֑ךָ לְפָנֶיךָ הָלַח) — Isa 52:12 has Pi`el מְאַסִּפְכֶם q. v.
4 gather and take away, remove, withdraw 1Sa 14:19 (object hand), Jer 10:17 (bundle, followed by מִן), leprosy 2Ki 5:11 (see צרע); compare also ׳א מִצָּרַעַת, remove (set free) a man from leprosy 2Ki 5:3; 2Ki 5:6; 2Ki 5:7; Gen 30:23; Isa 4:1 (reproach), Psa 85:4 (wrath, || הֵשִׁיב), Jer 16:5 (peace, followed by מִן), Joe 2:10; Joel 4:15 (light), Psa 26:9 (נֶפֶשׁ) so Jdg 18:25; Psa 104:29 (רוּחַ) see also Job 34:14 (followed by אֶלֿ); hence destroy 1Sa 15:6 object person); passive רָעָב אֲסֻפֵי destroyed with hunger Eze 34:29; also Infinitive absolute Jer 8:13; Zep 1:2 (joined with הֵסִיף from סוף, see Köi. 445; considered Hiph`il Infinitive absolute by BaNB 73 see above)
Niph`al Perfect נֶאֱסַף Num 27:13 + נֶאֶסְפָה Jer 48:33 etc.; Imperfect יֵאָסֵף Exo 9:19 +; וַיֵּאָ֫סֶף Gen 25:8 +; יֵאָסֵפ֑וּן Psa 104:22 etc.; Imperative הֵאָסֵף Deu 32:50; הֵאָֽסְפִי Jer 47:6; הֵאָֽסְפוּ Gen 49:1 +; Infinitive absolute הֵאָסֹף 2Sa 17:11 (on form compare BaNB 74); construct הֵאָסֵף Gen 29:7; Num 12:15; Participle נֶאֱסָף Gen 49:29; נֶאֱסָפִים 1Sa 13:11; Isa 13:14; נֶאְסָפִים Isa 57:1; —
1 assemble, be gathered, reflexive (a) subject men Gen 49:1 (|| קבץ Gen 49:2), Isa 43:9 (|| קבץ), 2Ch 30:3 (followed by לְ) 2Ch 30:13 (followed by accusative of location), Ezr 3:1; Ezr 9:4; Neh 8:1, Neh 8:13 (all followed by אֶלֿ) Neh 9:1; Neh 12:28; earlier mostly of assembling for war Gen 34:30 (followed by עַלֿ), Jos 10:5; Jdg 6:33; Jdg 9:6; Jdg 10:17 || נצעק), Jdg 20:11 (followed by אֶלֿ) Jdg 20:14 (followed by הֿ locative), 1Sa 13:11 (followed by accusative of location) +; (b) subject flocks, etc. Gen 29:3 (passive; followed by שָׁמָּה) Gen 29:7; Gen 29:8 (all J); fish Num 11:22 (compare Habakkuk 1:25 Qal); (c) inanimate subject herbs Pro 27:25; water 2Sa 14:14 (in simile); bones for burial Jer 8:2; compare Jer 25:33 (bodies of slain) see also Eze 29:5 (|| קבץ which Co reads קבר), apparently = compose, arrange for burial. **So יֵאָסֵף Job 27:19; but read probably יֹאסִף = יוֺסִף (Exo 5:7), ᵑ6 ᵐ5 Ew De Di Du. 2 passive of Qal
2; (a) be gathered to one's fathers אֶלאֲֿבוֺתָיו׳נֶא Jdg 2:10; elsewhere to one's people אֶלעַֿמָּיו (all P) Gen 25:8, Gen 25:17; Gen 35:29 (|| וַיָּמָת וַיִּגְוַע) Gen 49:29, Gen 49:33 (|| גוע), Num 20:24, Num 20:26 (|| מות Num 27:13 (twice in verse); Num 31:2; Deu 32:50 (twice in verse) (both || מות); also אֶלקִֿבְרֹתֶיךָ 2Ki 22:20 2Ch 34:28 both || Qal q. v.); hence also (b) be brought in (into association with others, etc.) Num 12:14-15, (E) of Miriam, after leprosy; also reflexive betake oneself, of Moses Num 11:30 (E), compare 2Sa 17:13 (both followed by אֶלֿ); even with inanimate subject Jer 47:6 אֶלתַּֿעְרֵח הֵאָֽסְפִי (addressed to sword); of man & beast brought home (followed by הֿ locative) for protection Exo 9:19.
3 Pass. of Qal
4; be taken away, removed, perish, of men Isa 57:1 (twice in verse) (|| אבד); fish Hos 4:3; gladness Isa 16:10; Jer 48:33 (followed by מִן); also reflexive, withdraw itself, of moon Isa 60:20 (|| שׁמשׁ בוא).
Pi`el Participle מְאַסֵּף Num 10:25 +; מְאָֽסְפָיו Isa 62:9 (so BD see Kö i. 201); מְאַסִּפְכֶם Isa 52:12; —
1 gather harvest Isa 62:9 (|| קבץ); bodies for burial Jer 9:21.
2 take in, receive into (followed by בַּיְתָה) Jdg 19:15, Jdg 19:18.
3 as substantive rearguard, rearward Num 10:25 (P) Jos 6:9, Jos 6:13 (both E); figurative of God Isa 52:12.
Pu`al Perfect וְאֻסַּף (cons.) Isa 33:4; Zec 14:14 etc.; Participle מְאֻסָּף Eze 38:12 — be gathered, of men Isa 24:22; Hos 10:10 (followed by עַל against), Eze 38:12; booty Isa 33:4; wealth Zec 14:14.
Hithpa`el Infinitive הִתְאַסֵּף Deu 33:5 gather themselves.
Brown, Driver and Briggs, A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament (1906), public domain
Topical studies with this word 7 entries
Meanings adapted from the UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament, © United Bible Societies, CC BY-SA 4.0 and the UBS Dictionary of Biblical Hebrew (from the Semantic Dictionary of Biblical Hebrew), © United Bible Societies, CC BY-SA 4.0; MACULA Greek Linguistic Datasets, available at https://github.com/Clear-Bible/macula-greek/, licensed CC BY 4.0; MACULA Hebrew Linguistic Datasets © 2022-2024 by Biblica, Inc., CC BY 4.0. Westminster Leningrad Codex (tanach.us). OpenScriptures Hebrew Bible morphology (hb.openscriptures.org), CC BY 4.0.
Sources
eRhema lexical overview, based on the UBS Dictionary of Biblical Hebrew and the UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament (© United Bible Societies, CC BY-SA 4.0) and Macula Hebrew and Greek (Clear Bible, CC BY 4.0); released under CC BY-SA 4.0
New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org.