Become

The original-language words that the Berean Standard Bible translates with one of these: become, became, becomes, becoming. 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 “become” or one of its forms.

• הָיָה hâyâh254
• γίνομαι gínomai99
• מָלַךְ mâlak75
• יָלַד yâlad42
• טָמֵא ṭâmê10
• מְאֹד meôd8
• εἰμί eimí8
• חָלָה châlâh7
• חָרָה chârâh6
• γεννάω gennáō6
• גָּדַל gâdal5
• מֶלֶךְ melek4

Compare the Hebrew words side by side Compare the Greek words side by side

Hebrew and Aramaic words (Old Testament)

• הָיָה hâyâhfall out, come to pass, become, betranslated this way 254 times of its 2,848 uses · Strong’s H1961Verb  ·  Translated: will be 206, become 178, came 169, was 151

  Genesis 2:7 Then the LORD God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed the breath of life into his nostrils, and the man became a living being.

  Exodus 2:10 When the child had grown older, she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became her son. She named him Moses and explained, “I drew him out of the water.”

  Full study and all 2,573 verses →
• מָלַךְ mâlakbe or become king, or queen, reigntranslated this way 75 times of its 340 uses · Strong’s H4427Verb  ·  Translated: reigned 132, became king 68, reign 36, king 32

  1 Samuel 13:1 Saul was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned over Israel forty-two years.

  2 Samuel 5:4 David was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years.

  Full study and all 283 verses →
• יָלַד yâladbear, bring forth, begettranslated this way 42 times of its 484 uses · Strong’s H3205Verb  ·  Translated: father 111, born 57, bore 52, gave birth 44

  Genesis 5:4 And after he had become the father of Seth, Adam lived 800 years and had other sons and daughters.

  1 Chronicles 14:3 And David took more wives in Jerusalem and became the father of more sons and daughters.

  Full study and all 395 verses →
• טָמֵא ṭâmêbe or become uncleantranslated this way 10 times of its 158 uses · Strong’s H2930Verb  ·  Translated: unclean 47, defiled 38, defile 23, pronounce him unclean 10

  Leviticus 5:3 Or if he touches human uncleanness— anything by which one becomes unclean— even if he is unaware of it, when he realizes it, he is guilty.

  Numbers 19:22 Anything the unclean person touches will become unclean, and anyone who touches it will be unclean until evening.”

  Full study and all 141 verses →
• מְאֹד meôdmuchness, force, abundance, exceedinglytranslated this way 8 times of its 195 uses · Strong’s H3966Adverb  ·  Translated: greatly 28, very 12, was very 8, exceedingly 8

  Genesis 4:5 but He had no regard for Cain and his offering. So Cain became very angry, and his countenance fell.

  Exodus 1:7 but the Israelites were fruitful and increased rapidly; they multiplied and became exceedingly numerous, so that the land was filled with them.

  Full study and all 186 verses →
• חָלָה châlâhbe weak, sicktranslated this way 7 times of its 75 uses · Strong’s H2470Verb  ·  Translated: ill 8, sick 8, grievous 5, sought 4

  Judges 16:7 Samson told her, “If they tie me up with seven fresh bowstrings that have not been dried, I will become as weak as any other man.”

  1 Kings 14:1 At that time Abijah son of Jeroboam became ill,

  Full study and all 73 verses →
• חָרָה chârâhburn, be kindledtranslated this way 6 times of its 89 uses · Strong’s H2734Verb  ·  Translated: burned 26, angry 15, kindled 11, furious 6

  Genesis 30:2 Jacob became angry with Rachel and said, “Am I in the place of God, who has withheld children from you?”

  Numbers 22:27 When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she lay down under Balaam, and he became furious and beat her with his staff.

  Full study and all 87 verses →
• גָּדַל gâdalgrow up, become greattranslated this way 5 times of its 115 uses · Strong’s H1431Verb  ·  Translated: great 14, grew 10, grown 7, greater 7

  Genesis 24:35 “The LORD has greatly blessed my master, and he has become rich. He has given him sheep and cattle, silver and gold, menservants and maidservants, camels and donkeys.

  Ecclesiastes 2:9 So I became great and surpassed all in Jerusalem who had preceded me; and my wisdom remained with me.

  Full study and all 114 verses →
• מֶלֶךְ melekkingtranslated this way 4 times of its 2,416 uses · Strong’s H4428Noun  ·  Translated: king 1,810, kings 267, king's 134, royal 58

  1 Samuel 18:22 Then Saul ordered his servants, “Speak to David privately and tell him, ‘Behold, the king is pleased with you, and all his servants love you. Now therefore, become his son-in-law.’”

  1 Samuel 18:26 When the servants reported these terms to David, he was pleased to become the king’s son-in-law. Before the wedding day arrived,

  Full study and all 1,901 verses →
• יָדַע yâdaknowtranslated this way 4 times of its 914 uses · Strong’s H3045Verb  ·  Translated: know 453, known 53, knows 48, knew 38

  Exodus 2:14 But the man replied, “Who made you ruler and judge over us? Are you planning to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?” Then Moses was afraid and thought, “This thing I have done has surely become known.”

  Leviticus 4:14 when they become aware of the sin they have committed, then the assembly must bring a young bull as a sin offering and present it before the Tent of Meeting.

  Full study and all 863 verses →
• בָּאַשׁ bâashbe evil, badtranslated this way 4 times of its 17 uses · Strong’s H887Verb  ·  Translated: become a stench 4

  1 Samuel 13:4 And all Israel heard the news: “Saul has attacked an outpost of the Philistines, and now Israel has become a stench to the Philistines!” Then the people were summoned to join Saul at Gilgal.

  2 Samuel 10:6 When the Ammonites realized that they had become a stench to David, they hired twenty thousand Aramean foot soldiers from Beth-rehob and Zoba, as well as a thousand men from the king of Maacah and twelve thousand men from Tob.

  Full study and all 17 verses →
• מוּךְ mûkbe low, depressed, grow poortranslated this way 4 times of its 5 uses · Strong’s H4134Verb  ·  Translated: becomes destitute 3, becomes impoverished 1, poor to pay 1

  Leviticus 25:25 If your brother becomes impoverished and sells some of his property, his nearest of kin may come and redeem what his brother has sold.

  Leviticus 25:35 Now if your countryman becomes destitute and cannot support himself among you, then you are to help him as you would a foreigner or stranger, so that he can continue to live among you.

  Full study and all 5 verses →
• רוּם rûmbe high, exalted, risetranslated this way 3 times of its 185 uses · Strong’s H7311Verb  ·  Translated: exalted 23, exalt 18, lift 14, raised 10

  Exodus 16:20 But they did not listen to Moses; some people left part of it until morning, and it became infested with maggots and began to smell. So Moses was angry with them.

  Deuteronomy 8:14 then your heart will become proud, and you will forget the LORD your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.

  Full study and all 180 verses →
• חָזַק châzaqbe or grow firm, strong, strengthentranslated this way 3 times of its 290 uses · Strong’s H2388Verb  ·  Translated: strong 37, made repairs 22, strengthened 16, repaired 15

  Judges 1:28 When Israel became stronger, they pressed the Canaanites into forced labor, but they never drove them out completely.

  2 Chronicles 26:15 And in Jerusalem he made skillfully designed devices to shoot arrows and catapult large stones from the towers and corners. So his fame spread far and wide, for he was helped tremendously until he became powerful.

  Full study and all 264 verses →
• שָׁחַת shâchathgo to ruin (?)translated this way 3 times of its 145 uses · Strong’s H7843Verb  ·  Translated: destroy 58, destroyed 13, corrupt 7, corrupted 5

  Deuteronomy 31:29 For I know that after my death you will become utterly corrupt and turn from the path I have commanded you. And in the days to come, disaster will befall you because you will do evil in the sight of the LORD to provoke Him to anger by the work of your hands.”

  Judges 2:19 But when the judge died, the Israelites became even more corrupt than their fathers, going after other gods to serve them and bow down to them. They would not give up their evil practices and stubborn ways.

  Full study and all 135 verses →
• הָלַךְ hâlakgo, come, walktranslated this way 3 times of its 1,461 uses · Strong’s H1980Verb  ·  Translated: go 338, went 173, walk 116, Come 84Full study and all 1,299 verses →
• עַד adas far as, even to, up to, until, whiletranslated this way 3 times of its 1,111 uses · Strong’s H5704Preposition  ·  Translated: until 348, to 278, far 48, forever 43Full study and all 1,024 verses →
• בּוֹא bôcome in, come, go in, gotranslated this way 3 times of its 2,442 uses · Strong’s H935Verb  ·  Translated: come 358, came 298, bring 209, brought 201Full study and all 2,217 verses →
• קָדַשׁ qâdashbe set apart, consecratedtranslated this way 3 times of its 169 uses · Strong’s H6942Verb  ·  Translated: consecrate 40, consecrated 33, dedicated 10, sanctifies 8

  Leviticus 6:18 Any male among the sons of Aaron may eat it. This is a permanent portion from the food offerings to the LORD for the generations to come. Anything that touches them will become holy.”

  Numbers 16:38 As for the censers of those who sinned at the cost of their own lives, hammer them into sheets to overlay the altar, for these were presented before the LORD, and so have become holy. They will serve as a sign to the Israelites.”

  Full study and all 151 verses →
• אָנַף ânaphbe angrytranslated this way 3 times of its 14 uses · Strong’s H599Verb  ·  Translated: angry 9, become angry 2, angry enough 1, grew angry 1

  1 Kings 8:46 When they sin against You — for there is no one who does not sin — and You become angry with them and deliver them to an enemy who takes them as captives to his own land, whether far or near,

  2 Chronicles 6:36 When they sin against You— for there is no one who does not sin— and You become angry with them and deliver them to an enemy who takes them as captives to a land far or near,

  Full study and all 14 verses →
• שָׁכַר shâkarbe, or beocme, drunk, drunkentranslated this way 2 times of its 19 uses · Strong’s H7937Verb  ·  Translated: drunk 7, get drunk 2

  Genesis 9:21 But when he drank some of its wine, he became drunk and uncovered himself inside his tent.

  Nahum 3:11 You too will become drunk; you will go into hiding and seek refuge from the enemy.

  Full study and all 19 verses →
• הָרָה hârâhconceive, become pregnanttranslated this way 2 times of its 43 uses · Strong’s H2029Verb  ·  Translated: conceived 28, conceive 6, pregnant 2, became pregnant 2

  Genesis 19:36 Thus both of Lot’s daughters became pregnant by their father.

  Genesis 38:18 “What pledge should I give you?” he asked. She answered, “Your seal and your cord, and the staff in your hand.” So he gave them to her and slept with her, and she became pregnant by him.

  Full study and all 42 verses →
• שָׁרַת shârathminister, servetranslated this way 2 times of its 94 uses · Strong’s H8334Verb  ·  Translated: minister 32, serve 9, ministering 6, ministers 6

  Genesis 39:4 Joseph found favor in his sight and became his personal attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household and entrusted him with everything he owned.

  Genesis 40:4 The captain of the guard assigned them to Joseph, and he became their personal attendant. After they had been in custody for some time,

  Full study and all 88 verses →
• פָּרָה pârâhbear fruit, be fruitfultranslated this way 2 times of its 29 uses · Strong’s H6509Verb  ·  Translated: fruitful 17, make you fruitful 3

  Genesis 47:27 Now the Israelites settled in the land of Egypt, in the region of Goshen. They acquired property there and became fruitful and increased greatly in number.

  Exodus 23:30 Little by little I will drive them out ahead of you, until you become fruitful and possess the land.

  Full study and all 28 verses →
• בּוּשׁ bûshbe ashamedtranslated this way 2 times of its 125 uses · Strong’s H954Verb  ·  Translated: ashamed 40, put to shame 36, shame 10, disgraced 8

  Judges 3:25 So they waited until they became worried and saw that he had still not opened the doors of the upper room. Then they took the key and opened the doors— and there was their lord lying dead on the floor.

  2 Kings 8:11 Elisha fixed his gaze steadily on him until Hazael became uncomfortable. Then the man of God began to weep.

  Full study and all 112 verses →
• עָבַד âbadwork, servetranslated this way 2 times of its 286 uses · Strong’s H5647Verb  ·  Translated: serve 110, served 44, worship 32, work 9

  2 Samuel 10:19 When all the kings who were subject to Hadadezer saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they made peace with Israel and became subject to them. So the Arameans were afraid to help the Ammonites anymore.

  1 Chronicles 19:19 When Hadadezer’s subjects saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they made peace with David and became subject to him. So the Arameans were unwilling to help the Ammonites anymore.

  Full study and all 259 verses →
• חָמַם châmambe or become warmtranslated this way 2 times of its 20 uses · Strong’s H2552Verb  ·  Translated: warm 4, keep warm 3, grew hot 2, hot 2

  2 Kings 4:34 Then Elisha got on the bed and lay on the boy, mouth to mouth, eye to eye, and hand to hand. As he stretched himself out over him, the boy’s body became warm.

  Ezekiel 24:11 Set the empty pot on its coals until it becomes hot and its copper glows. Then its impurity will melt within; its rust will be consumed.

  Full study and all 18 verses →
• הָבַל hâbalact emptily, become vaintranslated this way 2 times of its 4 uses · Strong’s H1891Verb  ·  Translated: became worthless 2, false hope 1, filling you with false hopes 1

  2 Kings 17:15 They rejected His statutes and the covenant He had made with their fathers, as well as the decrees He had given them. They pursued worthless idols and became worthless themselves, going after the surrounding nations that the LORD had commanded them not to imitate.

  Jeremiah 2:5 This is what the LORD says: “What fault did your fathers find in Me that they strayed so far from Me? They followed worthless idols, and became worthless themselves.

  Full study and all 4 verses →
• מוּת mûthdietranslated this way 2 times of its 771 uses · Strong’s H4191Verb  ·  Translated: die 198, died 152, dead 89, put to death 47Full study and all 694 verses →
• קָצַף qâtsaphbe wrothtranslated this way 2 times of its 33 uses · Strong’s H7107Verb  ·  Translated: angry 18, grew angry 2, provoked 2

  Esther 1:12 Queen Vashti, however, refused to come at the king’s command brought by his eunuchs. And the king became furious, and his anger burned within him.

  Isaiah 8:21 They will roam the land, dejected and hungry. When they are famished, they will become enraged; and looking upward, they will curse their king and their God.

  Full study and all 32 verses →
• גָּבַהּ gâbahhbe high, exaltedtranslated this way 2 times of its 34 uses · Strong’s H1361Verb  ·  Translated: proud 4, high 4, soar 2, haughty 2Full study and all 33 verses →
• שָׁמֵם shâmêmbe desoleted, appalledtranslated this way 2 times of its 85 uses · Strong’s H8074Verb  ·  Translated: appalled 17, desolate 10, deserted 5, desolation 4Full study and all 81 verses →
• הָוָא hâvâcome to pass, become, betranslated this way 2 times of its 51 uses · Strong’s H1934Verb  ·  Translated: he 5, was 4, be 3, happen 3Full study and all 43 verses →
• אָלַם âlambindtranslated this way 2 times of its 9 uses · Strong’s H481Verb  ·  Translated: silent 2, mute 2Full study and all 9 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 →
• מָשַׁל mâshalrepresent, be liketranslated this way 2 times of its 17 uses · Strong’s H4911Verb  ·  Translated: like 3, speak a parable 2Full study and all 16 verses →
• אָלַח âlachbe corrupttranslated this way 2 times of its 3 uses · Strong’s H444Verb  ·  Translated: become corrupt 2, corrupt 1Full study and all 3 verses →
• חָכַם châkambe wisetranslated this way 2 times of its 27 uses · Strong’s H2449Verb  ·  Translated: wise 13, wiser 2, skillfully 2, become wise 2Full study and all 26 verses →
• מַחְסוֹר machsôrneed, thing needed, povertytranslated this way 2 times of its 13 uses · Strong’s H4270Noun  ·  Translated: need 4, poverty 3, lack 2, become poor 2Full study and all 13 verses →
• יָאַל yâalbe foolishtranslated this way 2 times of its 4 uses · Strong’s H2973Verb  ·  Translated: become fools 2, foolishly 1, played the fool 1Full study and all 4 verses →
• רָפָא râphâhealtranslated this way 2 times of its 65 uses · Strong’s H7495Verb  ·  Translated: heal 22, healed 16, heals 5, physicians 3Full study and all 61 verses →

Greek words (New Testament)

• γίνομαι gínomaiI come into being, am borntranslated this way 99 times of its 544 uses · Strong’s G1096Verb  ·  Translated: become 58, came 42, became 34, happened 28Full study and all 515 verses →
• εἰμί eimíI am, existtranslated this way 8 times of its 2,236 uses · Strong’s G1510Verb  ·  Translated: is 523, are 214, was 183, am 83Full study and all 1,922 verses →
• γεννάω gennáōI beget, bring forth, give birth totranslated this way 6 times of its 96 uses · Strong’s G1080Verb  ·  Translated: father 39, born 37, become your father 3Full study and all 65 verses →
• πλουτέω ploutéōI become richtranslated this way 3 times of its 12 uses · Strong’s G4147Verb  ·  Translated: rich 4, become rich 3, grown wealthy 2, gives richly 1Full study and all 12 verses →
• κραταιόω krataióōI strengthen, confirm, grow strongtranslated this way 2 times of its 4 uses · Strong’s G2901Verb  ·  Translated: became strong 2, strong 1, strengthen 1Full study and all 4 verses →
• ὀργίζω orgízōI irritate, provoke, am angrytranslated this way 2 times of its 8 uses · Strong’s G3710Verb  ·  Translated: enraged 3, angry 2, became angry 2, anger 1Full study and all 8 verses →
• δουλόω doulóōI enslavetranslated this way 2 times of its 8 uses · Strong’s G1402Verb  ·  Translated: enslaved 2, become slaves 2, bound 1, make myself a slave 1Full study and all 8 verses →

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.