Word study

Back

32 Hebrew and 11 Greek words behind this English word

The original-language words that the Berean Standard Bible translates with one of these: back, backs, backed. 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 “back” 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)

  • שׁוּב shûbturn back, returntranslated this way 169 times of its 1,007 uses · Strong’s H7725Verb  ·  Translated: return 218, returned 105, restore 62, turn 56

    Genesis 14:7 Then they turned back to invade En-mishpat (that is, Kadesh), and they conquered the whole territory of the Amalekites, as well as the Amorites who lived in Hazazon-tamar.

    Exodus 4:7 “Put your hand back inside your cloak,” said the LORD. So Moses put his hand back inside his cloak, and when he took it out, it was restored, like the rest of his skin.

    Full study and all 920 verses →
  • בּוֹא bôcome in, come, go in, gotranslated this way 28 times of its 2,442 uses · Strong’s H935Verb  ·  Translated: come 358, came 298, bring 209, brought 201

    Genesis 42:19 If you are honest, leave one of your brothers in custody while the rest of you go and take back grain to relieve the hunger of your households.

    Exodus 19:7 So Moses went back and summoned the elders of the people and set before them all these words that the LORD had commanded him.

    Full study and all 2,217 verses →
  • הָלַךְ hâlakgo, come, walktranslated this way 18 times of its 1,461 uses · Strong’s H1980Verb  ·  Translated: go 338, went 173, walk 116, Come 84

    Genesis 29:7 “Look,” said Jacob, “it is still broad daylight; it is not yet time to gather the livestock. Water the sheep and take them back to pasture.”

    Exodus 5:4 But the king of Egypt said to them, “Moses and Aaron, why do you draw the people away from their work? Get back to your labor!”

    Full study and all 1,299 verses →
  • אָחוֹר âchôrthe hinder side, back parttranslated this way 14 times of its 29 uses · Strong’s H268Noun  ·  Translated: back 11, behind 4, backward 3, hindquarters 2

    Exodus 26:12 As for the overlap that remains of the tent curtains, the half curtain that is left over shall hang down over the back of the tabernacle.

    Psalm 78:66 He beat back His foes; He put them to everlasting shame.

    Full study and all 29 verses →
  • אֵל êlmotion totranslated this way 11 times of its 4,199 uses · Strong’s H413Preposition  ·  Translated: to 1,941, to me 285, to you 149, to him 137

    Genesis 8:9 But the dove found no place to rest her foot, and she returned to him in the ark, because the waters were still covering the surface of all the earth. So he reached out his hand and brought her back inside the ark.

    Exodus 19:8 And all the people answered together, “We will do everything that the LORD has spoken.” So Moses brought their words back to the LORD.

    Full study and all 3,455 verses →
  • פָּנָה pânâhturntranslated this way 10 times of its 128 uses · Strong’s H6437Verb  ·  Translated: turned 27, turn 21, facing 11, turn back 4

    Numbers 14:25 Now since the Amalekites and Canaanites are living in the valleys, turn back tomorrow and head for the wilderness along the route to the Red Sea.”

    Deuteronomy 1:40 But you are to turn back and head for the wilderness along the route to the Red Sea.”

    Full study and all 122 verses →
  • אַחַר acharbehindtranslated this way 8 times of its 556 uses · Strong’s H310Preposition  ·  Translated: after 123, behind 56, and after 22, after that 19

    Genesis 19:17 As soon as the men had brought them out, one of them said, “Run for your lives! Do not look back, and do not stop anywhere on the plain! Flee to the mountains, or you will be swept away!”

    Joshua 8:20 When the men of Ai turned and looked back, the smoke of the city was rising into the sky. They could not escape in any direction, and the troops who had fled to the wilderness now turned against their pursuers.

    Full study and all 533 verses →
  • עֹרֶף ôrephback of neck, necktranslated this way 7 times of its 23 uses · Strong’s H6203Noun  ·  Translated: necks 9, neck 4, backs 4, back 3

    Joshua 7:8 O Lord, what can I say, now that Israel has turned its back and run from its enemies?

    2 Chronicles 29:6 For our fathers were unfaithful and did evil in the sight of the LORD our God. They abandoned Him, turned their faces away from the dwelling place of the LORD, and turned their backs on Him.

    Full study and all 23 verses →
  • גֵּו gêvbacktranslated this way 6 times of its 7 uses · Strong’s H1460Noun  ·  Translated: back 4, backs 2, among 1

    Proverbs 10:13 Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning, but a rod is for the back of him who lacks judgment.

    Isaiah 38:17 Surely for my own welfare I had such great anguish; but Your love has delivered me from the pit of oblivion, for You have cast all my sins behind Your back.

    Full study and all 7 verses →
  • לָקַח lâqachtaketranslated this way 5 times of its 938 uses · Strong’s H3947Verb  ·  Translated: take 247, took 245, taken 40, get 26

    Genesis 27:45 until your brother’s rage against you wanes and he forgets what you have done to him. Then I will send for you and bring you back from there. Why should I lose both of you in one day?”

    Numbers 13:20 Is the soil fertile or unproductive? Are there trees in it or not? Be courageous and bring back some of the fruit of the land.” (It was the season for the first ripe grapes.)

    Full study and all 890 verses →
  • עָלָה âlâhgo up, ascend, climbtranslated this way 5 times of its 873 uses · Strong’s H5927Verb  ·  Translated: go 118, went 107, brought 56, come 42

    Genesis 44:34 For how can I go back to my father without the boy? I could not bear to see the misery that would overwhelm him.”

    Judges 16:31 Then Samson’s brothers and his father’s family came down, carried him back, and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the tomb of his father Manoah. And he had judged Israel twenty years.

    Full study and all 807 verses →
  • שָׁלַם shâlambe complete, soundtranslated this way 4 times of its 109 uses · Strong’s H7999Verb  ·  Translated: repay 20, fulfill 14, make restitution 7, made peace 6

    Exodus 22:4 If what was stolen is actually found alive in his possession— whether ox or donkey or sheep— he must pay back double.

    Isaiah 65:6 Behold, it is written before Me: I will not keep silent, but I will repay; I will pay it back into their laps,

    Full study and all 106 verses →
  • אֲחֹרַנִּית ăchôrannîthbackwardstranslated this way 4 times of its 7 uses · Strong’s H322Adverb  ·  Translated: back 3, backward 2, turned away 1, go back 1

    1 Kings 18:37 Answer me, O LORD! Answer me, so that this people will know that You, the LORD, are God, and that You have turned their hearts back again.”

    2 Kings 20:10 “It is easy for the shadow to lengthen ten steps,” answered Hezekiah, “but not for it to go back ten steps.”

    Full study and all 6 verses →
  • סוּג sûgmove away, backslidetranslated this way 4 times of its 14 uses · Strong’s H5472Verb  ·  Translated: turned 3, repelled 2, turned back 2

    Psalm 35:4 May those who seek my life be disgraced and put to shame; may those who plan to harm me be driven back and confounded.

    Zephaniah 1:6 and those who turn back from following the LORD, neither seeking the LORD nor inquiring of Him.”

    Full study and all 14 verses →
  • שָׁם shâmthere, thithertranslated this way 3 times of its 551 uses · Strong’s H8033Adverb  ·  Translated: there 309, from there 42, and there 38, where 29

    Genesis 24:8 And if the woman is unwilling to follow you, then you are released from this oath of mine. Only do not take my son back there.”

    Deuteronomy 19:12 the elders of his city must send for him, bring him back, and hand him over to the avenger of blood to die.

    Full study and all 502 verses →
  • גַּו gavbacktranslated this way 3 times of its 3 uses · Strong’s H1458Noun  ·  Translated: back 2, backs 1

    1 Kings 14:9 You have done more evil than all who came before you. You have proceeded to make for yourself other gods and molten images to provoke Me, and you have flung Me behind your back.

    Nehemiah 9:26 But they were disobedient and rebelled against You; they flung Your law behind their backs. They killed Your prophets, who had admonished them to return to You. They committed terrible blasphemies.

    Full study and all 3 verses →
  • מֹתֶן môthenwaist, loinstranslated this way 3 times of its 39 uses · Strong’s H4975Noun  ·  Translated: waist 12, around his waist 4, side 4, backs 3

    Psalm 66:11 You led us into the net; You laid burdens on our backs.

    Ezekiel 29:7 When Israel took hold of you with their hands, you splintered, tearing all their shoulders; when they leaned on you, you broke, and their backs were wrenched.

    Full study and all 37 verses →
  • יָצָא yâtsâgo or come outtranslated this way 2 times of its 1,035 uses · Strong’s H3318Verb  ·  Translated: brought 108, went 103, go 82, came 78

    Genesis 8:7 and sent out a raven. It kept flying back and forth until the waters had dried up from the earth.

    Genesis 43:31 Then he washed his face and came back out. Regaining his composure, he said, “Serve the meal.”

    Full study and all 975 verses →
  • 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 151

    Exodus 4:4 “Stretch out your hand and grab it by the tail,” the LORD said to Moses, who reached out his hand and caught the snake, and it turned back into a staff in his hand.

    Full study and all 2,573 verses →
  • יְרֵכָה yerêkâhflank, sidetranslated this way 2 times of its 28 uses · Strong’s H3411Noun  ·  Translated: rear 4, ends 3, far 3, two back 2

    Exodus 26:23 and two frames for the two back corners of the tabernacle,

    Exodus 36:28 and two frames for the two back corners of the tabernacle,

    Full study and all 28 verses →
  • הָפַךְ hâphakturn, overturntranslated this way 2 times of its 93 uses · Strong’s H2015Verb  ·  Translated: turned 27, turn 7, changed 4, overthrew 3

    Judges 20:41 Then the men of Israel turned back on them, and the men of Benjamin were terrified when they realized that disaster had come upon them.

    Psalm 78:9 The archers of Ephraim turned back on the day of battle.

    Full study and all 91 verses →
  • קָנָה qânâhget, acquiretranslated this way 2 times of its 82 uses · Strong’s H7069Verb  ·  Translated: buy 16, bought 13, purchased 7, acquire 6

    Ruth 4:4 I thought I should inform you that you may buy it back in the presence of those seated here and in the presence of the elders of my people. If you want to redeem it, do so. But if you will not redeem it, tell me so I may know, because there is no one but you to redeem it, and I am next after you.” “I will redeem it,” he replied.

    Nehemiah 5:8 and said, “We have done our best to buy back our Jewish brothers who were sold to foreigners, but now you are selling your own brothers, that they may be sold back to us!” But they remained silent, for they could find nothing to say.

    Full study and all 75 verses →
  • שָׁלַח shâlachsendtranslated this way 2 times of its 829 uses · Strong’s H7971Verb  ·  Translated: sent 334, send 126, go 43, sending 19

    1 Samuel 6:2 the Philistines summoned the priests and diviners, saying, “What shall we do with the ark of the LORD? Tell us how to send it back to its place.”

    2 Samuel 11:12 “Stay here one more day,” David said to Uriah, “and tomorrow I will send you back.” So Uriah stayed in Jerusalem that day and the next.

    Full study and all 783 verses →
  • אָמַר âmarutter, saytranslated this way 2 times of its 4,555 uses · Strong’s H559Verb  ·  Translated: said 1,531, says 576, say 352, replied 341Full study and all 3,827 verses →
  • מָנַע mânawithhold, hold backtranslated this way 2 times of its 29 uses · Strong’s H4513Verb  ·  Translated: withheld 7, withhold 5, denied 2, withholds 2

    1 Samuel 25:26 Now, my lord, as surely as the LORD lives and you yourself live, since the LORD has held you back from bloodshed and from avenging yourself with your own hand, may your enemies and those who seek harm for my lord be like Nabal.

    Ezekiel 31:15 This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘On the day it was brought down to Sheol, I caused mourning. I covered the deep because of it; I held back its rivers; its abundant waters were restrained. I made Lebanon mourn for it, and all the trees of the field fainted because of it.

    Full study and all 29 verses →
  • צָמַח tsâmachsprout, spring uptranslated this way 2 times of its 33 uses · Strong’s H6779Verb  ·  Translated: sprouted 4, grow 4, sprout 4, spring 4

    2 Samuel 10:5 When this was reported to David, he sent messengers to meet the men, since they had been thoroughly humiliated. The king told them, “Stay in Jericho until your beards have grown back, and then return.”

    1 Chronicles 19:5 When someone came and told David about his men, he sent messengers to meet them, since the men had been thoroughly humiliated. The king told them, “Stay in Jericho until your beards have grown back, and then return.”

    Full study and all 32 verses →
  • חָיָה châyâhlivetranslated this way 2 times of its 265 uses · Strong’s H2421Verb  ·  Translated: live 96, lived 24, was 17, revive 14

    2 Kings 8:5 And Gehazi was telling the king how Elisha had brought the dead back to life. Just then the woman whose son Elisha had revived came to appeal to the king for her house and her land. So Gehazi said, “My lord the king, this is the woman, and this is the son Elisha restored to life.”

    Nehemiah 4:2 before his associates and the army of Samaria, saying, “What are these feeble Jews doing? Can they restore the wall by themselves? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they complete it in a day? Can they bring these burnt stones back to life from the mounds of rubble?”

    Full study and all 254 verses →
  • נָשָׂא nâsâlift, take, carrytranslated this way 2 times of its 642 uses · Strong’s H5375Verb  ·  Translated: bear 49, lift 45, lifted 41, carried 38Full study and all 601 verses →
  • מֶלֶךְ melekkingtranslated this way 2 times of its 2,416 uses · Strong’s H4428Noun  ·  Translated: king 1,810, kings 267, king's 134, royal 58Full study and all 1,901 verses →
  • גַב gabbacktranslated this way 2 times of its 13 uses · Strong’s H1354Noun  ·  Translated: rims 3, defenses 2, mounds 2Full study and all 11 verses →
  • חָשַׂךְ châsakwithhold, refraintranslated this way 2 times of its 27 uses · Strong’s H2820Verb  ·  Translated: withheld 3, restrained 3, restrain 2, restrains 2Full study and all 27 verses →
  • נָתַן nâthangive, put, settranslated this way 2 times of its 1,957 uses · Strong’s H5414Verb  ·  Translated: give 326, gave 206, given 187, put 135Full study and all 1,785 verses →

Greek words (New Testament)

How to study a word well
  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. Look at how it is translated. A word rendered five different ways has a wider meaning than any one English word can carry.
  4. 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.
  5. See what it keeps company with. The words that appear beside it again and again show how the Bible itself connects ideas.
  6. Then read the dictionaries. They give the considered view of scholars, with their evidence.
  7. 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.