1 Samuel

1 Samuel 2:3–5

³Do not boast so proudly,

or let arrogance come from your mouth,

for the LORD is a God who knows,

and by Him actions are weighed.

⁴The bows of the mighty are broken,

but the feeble are equipped with strength.

⁵The well-fed hire themselves out for food,

but the starving hunger no more.

The barren woman gives birth to seven,

but she who has many sons pines away.

Word by word

Each English word or phrase beside the Hebrew it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Do not	אַל־	’al-	Adverb	H408 prohibition, do not . . ., let not . . .
boast	תַּרְבּ֤וּ	tar·bū	Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine plural	H7235 be, or become, much, many, great
so proudly	גְּבֹהָ֣ה	gə·ḇō·hāh	Adjective - feminine singular	H1364 high, exalted
or let arrogance	עָתָ֖ק	‘ā·ṯāq	Noun - masculine singular	H6277 forward, arrogant
come	יֵצֵ֥א	yê·ṣê	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular	H3318 go or come out
from your mouth	מִפִּיכֶ֑ם	mip·pî·ḵem	Preposition-m; Noun - masculine singular construct; second person masculine plural	H6310 mouth
for	כִּ֣י	kî	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
the LORD	יְהוָ֔ה	Yah·weh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3068 Yahweh
is a God	אֵ֤ל	’êl	Noun - masculine singular construct	H410 god
who knows	דֵּעוֹת֙	dê·‘ō·wṯ	Noun - feminine plural	H1844 knowledge
and by Him	וְלֹא	wə·lō	Conjunctive waw; Preposition; third person masculine singular	H3808 not
actions	עֲלִלֽוֹת׃	‘ă·li·lō·wṯ	Noun - feminine plural	H5949 wantonness, deed
are weighed	נִתְכְּנ֖וּ	niṯ·kə·nū	Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person common plural	H8505 regulate, measure, estimate

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
The bows	קֶ֥שֶׁת	qe·šeṯ	Noun - feminine singular construct	H7198 bow
of the mighty	גִּבֹּרִ֖ים	gib·bō·rîm	Adjective - masculine plural	H1368 strong, mighty
are broken	חַתִּ֑ים	ḥat·tîm	Adjective - masculine plural	H2844 terror, fear
but the feeble	וְנִכְשָׁלִ֖ים	wə·niḵ·šā·lîm	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine plural	H3782 stumble, stagger, totter
are equipped	אָ֥זְרוּ	’ā·zə·rū	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural	H247 gird, encompass, equip
with strength	חָֽיִל׃	ḥā·yil	Noun - masculine singular	H2428 strength, efficiency, wealth, army

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
The well-fed	שְׂבֵעִ֤ים	śə·ḇê·‘îm	Adjective - masculine plural	H7649 sated, satisfied, surfeited
hire themselves out	נִשְׂכָּ֔רוּ	niś·kā·rū	Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person common plural	H7936 hire
for food	בַּלֶּ֙חֶם֙	bal·le·ḥem	Preposition-b, Article; Noun - masculine singular	H3899 bread, food
but the starving	וּרְעֵבִ֖ים	ū·rə·‘ê·ḇîm	Conjunctive waw; Adjective - masculine plural	H7457 hungry
hunger no more	חָדֵ֑לּוּ	ḥā·ḏêl·lū	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural	H2308 cease
The barren woman	עֲקָרָה֙	‘ă·qā·rāh	Adjective - feminine singular	H6135 barren
gives birth to	יָלְדָ֣ה	yā·lə·ḏāh	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular	H3205 bear, bring forth, beget
seven	שִׁבְעָ֔ה	šiḇ·‘āh	Number - masculine singular	H7651 seven
but she who has many	וְרַבַּ֥ת	wə·rab·baṯ	Conjunctive waw; Adjective - feminine singular construct	H7227 much, many, great
sons	בָּנִ֖ים	bā·nîm	Noun - masculine plural	H1121 son
pines away	אֻמְלָֽלָה׃	’um·lā·lāh	Verb - Pual - Perfect - third person feminine singular	H535 be weak, languish

Other passages that speak to the same thing. Point at one to read it.

1 Samuel 2:3 1 Kings 8:39 · Proverbs 8:13 · Proverbs 24:12 · Jude 1:15–16 · Hebrews 4:12 · Proverbs 16:2 · Psalm 94:4 · Psalm 147:5 · Isaiah 37:23 · Psalm 44:21 · 1 Samuel 16:7 · Psalm 94:7–10

1 Samuel 2:4 Psalm 76:3 · Psalm 37:15 · Philippians 4:13 · Psalm 46:9 · 2 Corinthians 12:9 · Isaiah 10:4 · Hebrews 11:34 · Psalm 37:17 · 2 Corinthians 4:9–10 · Jeremiah 37:10

1 Samuel 2:5 Psalm 113:9 · Luke 1:53 · Jeremiah 15:9 · Psalm 34:10 · Isaiah 54:1 · Luke 16:25 · 1 Samuel 1:6 · 1 Samuel 1:20 · Galatians 4:27

Cross-references from OpenBible.info, used under CC BY 4.0. The best-supported references for each verse are shown.

Scripture text: Berean Standard Bible.