Word study
Act
17 Hebrew and 6 Greek words behind this English word
The original-language words that the Berean Standard Bible translates with one of these: acts, act, acted, acting. English often uses one word where Hebrew or Greek has several, each with its own shade of meaning. Under each word are verses where it is translated this way; choose the word itself for its full study: every verse, how else it is translated, the forms it takes and what the dictionaries say.
At a glance
How often each original word is translated “act” or one of its forms.
Compare the Hebrew words side by side Compare the Greek words side by side
Hebrew and Aramaic words (Old Testament)
- דָּבָר dâbârspeech, wordtranslated this way 51 times of its 1,244 uses · Strong’s H1697Noun · Translated: word 342, words 299, acts 51, Chronicles 42Full study and all 1,120 verses →
- עָשָׂה âsâhdo, maketranslated this way 48 times of its 2,478 uses · Strong’s H6213Verb · Translated: done 292, made 265, make 143, did 112Full study and all 2,206 verses →
Exodus 12:35 Furthermore, the Israelites acted on Moses’ word and asked the Egyptians for articles of silver and gold, and for clothing.
- מָעַל mâalact unfaithfully, treacherouslytranslated this way 8 times of its 33 uses · Strong’s H4603Verb · Translated: unfaithful 13, acts 3, acted unfaithfully 2, acting unfaithfully 2Full study and all 33 verses →
Leviticus 5:15 “If someone acts unfaithfully and sins unintentionally against any of the LORD’s holy things, he must bring his guilt offering to the LORD: an unblemished ram from the flock, of proper value in silver shekels according to the sanctuary shekel; it is a guilt offering.
Numbers 5:6 “Tell the Israelites that when a man or woman acts unfaithfully against the LORD by committing any sin against another, that person is guilty
- רָשַׁע râshabe wicked, act wickedlytranslated this way 8 times of its 34 uses · Strong’s H7561Verb · Translated: condemn 7, acted wickedly 6, condemned 3, wickedly departed 2Full study and all 34 verses →
1 Kings 8:47 and when they come to their senses in the land to which they were taken, and they repent and plead with You in the land of their captors, saying, ‘We have sinned and done wrong; we have acted wickedly,’
2 Chronicles 6:37 and when they come to their senses in the land to which they were taken, and they repent and plead with You in the land of their captors, saying, ‘We have sinned and done wrong; we have acted wickedly,’
- צְדָקָה tsedâqâhrighteousnesstranslated this way 7 times of its 158 uses · Strong’s H6666Noun · Translated: righteousness 114, right 13, righteous acts 7, vindication 5Full study and all 150 verses →
Judges 5:11 the voices of the singers at the watering places. There they shall recount the righteous acts of the LORD, the righteous deeds of His villagers in Israel. Then the people of the LORD went down to the gates:
1 Samuel 12:7 Now present yourselves, so that I may confront you before the LORD with all the righteous acts He has done for you and your fathers.
- גְּבוּרָה gebûrâhstrength, mighttranslated this way 5 times of its 60 uses · Strong’s H1369Noun · Translated: strength 15, power 8, mighty acts 5, his might 5Full study and all 60 verses →
Deuteronomy 3:24 “O Lord GOD, You have begun to show Your greatness and power to Your servant. For what god in heaven or on earth can perform such works and mighty acts as Yours?
Psalm 106:2 Who can describe the mighty acts of the LORD or fully proclaim His praise?
- רָעַע râabe evil, badtranslated this way 4 times of its 97 uses · Strong’s H7489Verb · Translated: wicked 9, harm 8, evil 8, evildoers 8Full study and all 97 verses →
1 Kings 16:25 But Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD and acted more wickedly than all who were before him.
2 Kings 21:11 “Since Manasseh king of Judah has committed all these abominations, acting more wickedly than the Amorites who preceded him, and with his idols has caused Judah to sin,
- פֶּשַׁע peshatransgressiontranslated this way 4 times of its 93 uses · Strong’s H6588Noun · Translated: transgressions 41, transgression 25, rebellion 9, rebellious acts 4Full study and all 90 verses →
Leviticus 16:16 So he shall make atonement for the Most Holy Place because of the impurities and rebellious acts of the Israelites in regard to all their sins. He is to do the same for the Tent of Meeting which abides among them in the midst of their impurities.
Psalm 25:7 Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my rebellious acts; remember me according to Your loving devotion, because of Your goodness, O LORD.
- שָׁחַת shâchathgo to ruin (?)translated this way 4 times of its 145 uses · Strong’s H7843Verb · Translated: destroy 58, destroyed 13, corrupt 7, corrupted 5Full study and all 135 verses →
Deuteronomy 4:16 that you do not act corruptly and make an idol for yourselves of any form or shape, whether in the likeness of a male or female,
Isaiah 1:4 Alas, O sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a brood of evildoers, children who act corruptly! They have forsaken the LORD; they have despised the Holy One of Israel and turned their backs on Him.
- שֶׁפֶט shepheṭjudgementtranslated this way 2 times of its 16 uses · Strong’s H8201Noun · Translated: judgments 8, judgment 6, acts of judgment 2Full study and all 16 verses →
Exodus 6:6 Therefore tell the Israelites: ‘I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians and deliver you from their bondage. I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment.
Exodus 7:4 Pharaoh will not listen to you. Then I will lay My hand on Egypt, and by mighty acts of judgment I will bring the divisions of My people the Israelites out of the land of Egypt.
- זוּד zûdbe presumptuoustranslated this way 2 times of its 10 uses · Strong’s H2102Verb · Translated: cooking 1, treated israel with arrogance 1, acts willfully 1, presumptuously 1Full study and all 10 verses →
Exodus 21:14 But if a man schemes and acts willfully against his neighbor to kill him, you must take him away from My altar to be put to death.
Nehemiah 9:10 You performed signs and wonders against Pharaoh, all his officials, and all the people of his land, for You knew they had acted with arrogance against our fathers. You made a name for Yourself that endures to this day.
- עֲלִילָה ălîlâhwantonness, deedtranslated this way 2 times of its 24 uses · Strong’s H5949Noun · Translated: deeds 12, actions 3, shameful conduct 2, acts 2Full study and all 24 verses →
Psalm 14:1 For the choirmaster. Of David. The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt; their acts are vile. There is no one who does good.
Ezekiel 20:44 Then you will know, O house of Israel, that I am the LORD, when I have dealt with you for the sake of My name and not according to your wicked ways and corrupt acts, declares the Lord GOD.”
- תּוֹעֵבַה tôêbahabominationtranslated this way 2 times of its 116 uses · Strong’s H8441Noun · Translated: abominations 52, detestable 30, abomination 14, detests 3Full study and all 111 verses →
Jeremiah 44:22 So the LORD could no longer endure the evil deeds and detestable acts you committed, and your land became a desolation, a horror, and an object of cursing, without inhabitant, as it is this day.
Ezekiel 33:26 You have relied on your swords, you have committed detestable acts, and each of you has defiled his neighbor’s wife. Should you then possess the land?’
- הָיָה hâyâhfall out, come to pass, become, betranslated this way 2 times of its 2,848 uses · Strong’s H1961Verb · Translated: will be 206, become 178, came 169, was 151Full study and all 2,573 verses →
- הָלַךְ hâlakgo, come, walktranslated this way 2 times of its 1,461 uses · Strong’s H1980Verb · Translated: go 338, went 173, walk 116, Come 84Full study and all 1,299 verses →
Leviticus 26:24 then I will act with hostility toward you, and I will strike you sevenfold for your sins.
Leviticus 26:41 and I acted with hostility toward them and brought them into the land of their enemies— and if their uncircumcised hearts will be humbled and they will make amends for their iniquity,
- סָכַל sâkalbe foolish, or a fooltranslated this way 2 times of its 8 uses · Strong’s H5528Verb · Translated: acted foolishly 2, foolishly 2, foolish thing 1, played the fool 1Full study and all 8 verses →
1 Samuel 13:13 “You have acted foolishly,” Samuel declared. “You have not kept the command that the LORD your God gave you; if you had, the LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel for all time.
2 Chronicles 16:9 For the eyes of the LORD roam to and fro over all the earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose hearts are fully devoted to Him. You have acted foolishly in this matter. From now on, therefore, you will be at war.”
- מְאֹד meôdmuchness, force, abundance, exceedinglytranslated this way 2 times of its 195 uses · Strong’s H3966Adverb · Translated: greatly 28, very 12, was very 8, exceedingly 8Full study and all 186 verses →
2 Samuel 24:10 After David had numbered the troops, his conscience was stricken and he said to the LORD, “I have sinned greatly in what I have done. Now, O LORD, I beg You to take away the iniquity of Your servant, for I have acted very foolishly.”
1 Chronicles 21:8 Then David said to God, “I have sinned greatly because I have done this thing. Now I beg You to take away the iniquity of Your servant, for I have acted very foolishly.”
Greek words (New Testament)
- ποιέω poiéōI do, maketranslated this way 9 times of its 544 uses · Strong’s G4160Verb · Translated: do 50, done 44, doing 40, made 34Full study and all 494 verses →
Matthew 7:24 Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.
Luke 6:47 I will show you what he is like who comes to Me and hears My words and acts on them:
- δικαίωμα dikaíōmaa thing pronounced to be justtranslated this way 3 times of its 10 uses · Strong’s G1345Noun · Translated: regulations 2, righteous acts 2Full study and all 10 verses →
Romans 5:18 So then, just as one trespass brought condemnation for all men, so also one act of righteousness brought justification and life for all men.
Revelation 15:4 Who will not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before You, for Your righteous acts have been revealed.”
- περιπατέω peripatéōI walk, conduct my lifetranslated this way 2 times of its 95 uses · Strong’s G4043Verb · Translated: walk 35, walking 14, walked 6, walks 5Full study and all 88 verses →
Romans 14:15 If your brother is distressed by what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy your brother, for whom Christ died.
Colossians 4:5 Act wisely toward outsiders, redeeming the time.
- ἀνομία anomíalawlessness, iniquitytranslated this way 2 times of its 14 uses · Strong’s G458Noun · Translated: lawlessness 7, wickedness 5, lawless acts 2Full study and all 13 verses →
Romans 4:7 “Blessed are they whose lawless acts are forgiven, whose sins are covered.
Hebrews 10:17 Then He adds: “Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.”
- πράσσω prássōI do, fare, requiretranslated this way 2 times of its 36 uses · Strong’s G4238Verb · Translated: done 8, do 4, to do 3, practice 2Full study and all 34 verses →
Acts 3:17 And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders.
2 Corinthians 12:21 I am afraid that when I come again, my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved over many who have sinned earlier and have not repented of their acts of impurity, sexual immorality, and debauchery.
- ἔργον érgonwork, labor, action, deedtranslated this way 2 times of its 163 uses · Strong’s G2041Noun · Translated: works 51, deeds 44, work 32, actions 6Full study and all 153 verses →
Galatians 5:19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery;
Jude 1:15 to execute judgment on everyone, and to convict all the ungodly of every ungodly act of wickedness and every harsh word spoken against Him by ungodly sinners.”
How to study a word well
- Start from the verse, not the dictionary. Find which Hebrew or Greek word stands in the verse you are studying. One English word often translates several different original words.
- Read every place the word is used. A word means what its writers used it to mean. The list of verses and the count by book show its range, and who uses it most.
- Look at how it is translated. A word rendered five different ways has a wider meaning than any one English word can carry.
- Notice the form. A command is not a statement, and a passive verb is something done to the subject. The form in your verse is part of the meaning.
- See what it keeps company with. The words that appear beside it again and again show how the Bible itself connects ideas.
- Then read the dictionaries. They give the considered view of scholars, with their evidence.
- Come back to the verse. Context decides. A word does not carry every one of its meanings into every verse, and where a word came from does not settle what it means in a sentence written centuries later.
Scripture text and translation counts: Berean Standard Bible. Full entry: Brown, Driver and Briggs, A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament (1906, public domain), in the digital edition Brown-Driver-Briggs Enhanced by unfoldingWord (Joel Ruark, J. de Joode), based on data by Eliran Wong and Stephen Ku; its additions are used under CC BY 4.0. Strong’s Hebrew Dictionary: Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible Project, CC BY 4.0. Hebrew-to-English verse numbering: original work of the Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible available at https://github.com/openscriptures/morphhb, CC BY 4.0. We reformatted the data, linked the references to this site’s Bible text and left out words in other scripts that the source holds only as images. These are historical reference works; an entry gives its authors’ view, and a word’s meaning in any verse depends on how it is used there.