Word study
Begin
14 Hebrew and 14 Greek words behind this English word
The original-language words that the Berean Standard Bible translates with one of these: began, beginning, begin, begun, begins, beginnings. 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 “begin” 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)
- חָלַל châlalbore, piercetranslated this way 45 times of its 138 uses · Strong’s H2490Verb · Translated: began 24, profaned 24, profane 14, defile 10Full study and all 129 verses →
Genesis 4:26 And to Seth also a son was born, and he called him Enosh. At that time men began to call upon the name of the LORD.
Numbers 16:46 Moses said to Aaron, “Take your censer, place fire from the altar in it, and add incense. Go quickly to the congregation and make atonement for them, because wrath has come out from the LORD; the plague has begun.”
- רֵאשִׁית rêshîthbeginning, chieftranslated this way 14 times of its 49 uses · Strong’s H7225Noun · Translated: firstfruits 12, beginning 11, best 7, first 6Full study and all 47 verses →
Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Deuteronomy 11:12 It is a land for which the LORD your God cares; the eyes of the LORD your God are always on it, from the beginning to the end of the year.
- רֹאשׁ rôshheadtranslated this way 11 times of its 570 uses · Strong’s H7218Noun · Translated: head 200, heads 113, chief 31, top 29Full study and all 530 verses →
Exodus 12:2 “This month is the beginning of months for you; it shall be the first month of your year.
Numbers 10:10 And on your joyous occasions, your appointed feasts, and the beginning of each month, you are to blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings and peace offerings to serve as a reminder for you before your God. I am the LORD your God.”
- רִאשׁוֹן rishônformer, first, chieftranslated this way 10 times of its 171 uses · Strong’s H7223Adjective · Translated: first 85, beginning 10, former 9, former things 6Full study and all 164 verses →
2 Samuel 7:10 And I will provide a place for My people Israel and will plant them so that they may dwell in a place of their own and be disturbed no more. No longer will the sons of wickedness oppress them as they did at the beginning
1 Chronicles 17:9 And I will provide a place for My people Israel and will plant them so that they may dwell in a place of their own and be disturbed no more. No longer will the sons of wickedness oppress them as they did at the beginning
- תְּחִלָּה techillâhbeginningtranslated this way 8 times of its 20 uses · Strong’s H8462Noun · Translated: beginning 8, first 4, first time 2, earlier 2Full study and all 20 verses →
Ruth 1:22 So Naomi returned from the land of Moab with her daughter-in-law Ruth the Moabitess. And they arrived in Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest.
2 Samuel 21:9 And he delivered them into the hands of the Gibeonites, and they hanged them on the hill before the LORD. So all seven of them fell together; they were put to death in the first days of the harvest, at the beginning of the barley harvest.
- קוּם qûmarise, stand up, standtranslated this way 4 times of its 594 uses · Strong’s H6965Verb · Translated: rise 68, got 61, set 44, Get 42Full study and all 570 verses →
1 Chronicles 22:16 in gold and silver, bronze and iron— craftsmen beyond number. Now begin the work, and may the LORD be with you.”
Ezra 3:2 Then Jeshua son of Jozadak and his fellow priests, along with Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and his associates, began to build the altar of the God of Israel to sacrifice burnt offerings on it, as it is written in the Law of Moses the man of God.
- הָיָה hâyâhfall out, come to pass, become, betranslated this way 3 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 →
- אָכַל âkaleattranslated this way 3 times of its 784 uses · Strong’s H398Verb · Translated: eat 341, ate 64, eaten 63, consumed 39Full study and all 696 verses →
Joshua 5:12 And the day after they had eaten from the produce of the land, the manna ceased. There was no more manna for the Israelites, so that year they began to eat the crops of the land of Canaan.
1 Samuel 1:18 “May your maidservant find favor with you,” said Hannah. Then she went on her way, and she began to eat, and her face was no longer downcast.
- נָבָא nâbâprophesytranslated this way 3 times of its 114 uses · Strong’s H5012Verb · Translated: prophesy 50, prophesied 25, prophesying 22, prophesies 9Full study and all 101 verses →
1 Samuel 19:20 he sent messengers to seize him. But when they saw the group of prophets prophesying, with Samuel leading them, the Spirit of God came upon them, and Saul’s messengers also began to prophesy.
1 Samuel 19:21 When this was reported to Saul, he sent more messengers, but they began to prophesy as well. So Saul tried again and sent messengers a third time, and even they began to prophesy.
- קֶדֶם qedemfront, east, aforetimetranslated this way 2 times of its 85 uses · Strong’s H6924Noun · Translated: east 35, old 13, eastern 5, east side 4Full study and all 82 verses →
Psalm 78:2 I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things hidden from the beginning,
Proverbs 8:23 From everlasting I was established, from the beginning, before the earth began.
- קָצֶה qâtsehend, extremitytranslated this way 2 times of its 88 uses · Strong’s H7097Noun · Translated: end 25, ends 14, edge 9, outskirts 6Full study and all 81 verses →
Joshua 18:15 On the south side the border began at the outskirts of Kiriath-jearim and extended westward to the spring at the Waters of Nephtoah.
Ezekiel 25:9 therefore I will indeed expose the flank of Moab beginning with its frontier cities — Beth-jeshimoth, Baal-meon, and Kiriathaim — the glory of the land.
- רָעָה rââhpasture, tend, grazetranslated this way 2 times of its 170 uses · Strong’s H7462Verb · Translated: shepherd 42, shepherds 39, feed 18, graze 8Full study and all 146 verses →
Genesis 41:2 when seven cows, sleek and well-fed, came up from the river and began to graze among the reeds.
Genesis 41:18 when seven cows, well-fed and sleek, came up from the river and began to graze among the reeds.
- מָלַךְ mâlakbe or become king, or queen, reigntranslated this way 2 times of its 340 uses · Strong’s H4427Verb · Translated: reigned 132, became king 68, reign 36, king 32Full study and all 283 verses →
2 Samuel 2:10 Saul’s son Ish-bosheth was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and he reigned for two years. The house of Judah, however, followed David.
1 Kings 16:11 As soon as Zimri began to reign and was seated on the throne, he struck down the entire household of Baasha. He did not leave a single male, whether a kinsman or friend.
- בָּכָה bâkâhweep, bewailtranslated this way 2 times of its 110 uses · Strong’s H1058Verb · Translated: wept 44, weep 22, weeping 21, mourned 4Full study and all 100 verses →
2 Kings 8:11 Elisha fixed his gaze steadily on him until Hazael became uncomfortable. Then the man of God began to weep.
Job 2:12 When they lifted up their eyes from afar, they could barely recognize Job. They began to weep aloud, and each man tore his robe and threw dust in the air over his head.
Greek words (New Testament)
- ἄρχομαι árchomaiI begintranslated this way 70 times of its 78 uses · Strong’s G756Verb · Translated: began 58, beginning 7, begin 3, begins 2Full study and all 78 verses →
Matthew 4:17 From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”
Mark 1:45 But the man went out and openly began to proclaim and spread the news. Consequently, Jesus could no longer enter a town in plain view, but He stayed out in solitary places. Yet people came to Him from every quarter.
- ἀρχή archḗruler, beginningtranslated this way 31 times of its 55 uses · Strong’s G746Noun · Translated: beginning 31, rulers 5, first 3, rule 2Full study and all 55 verses →
Matthew 19:4 Jesus answered, “Have you not read that from the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’
Mark 1:1 This is the beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
- ἔπω épōto speak or say (by word or writing)translated this way 6 times of its 962 uses · Strong’s G2036Verb · Translated: said 426, asked 95, told 88, replied 69Full study and all 891 verses →
Mark 3:23 So Jesus called them together and began to speak to them in parables: “How can Satan drive out Satan?
- διδάσκω didáskōI teachtranslated this way 5 times of its 97 uses · Strong’s G1321Verb · Translated: teach 34, teaching 26, taught 24, began to teach 5Full study and all 91 verses →
Matthew 21:23 When Jesus returned to the temple courts and began to teach, the chief priests and elders of the people came up to Him. “By what authority are You doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave You this authority?”
Mark 1:21 Then Jesus and His companions went to Capernaum, and right away Jesus entered the synagogue on the Sabbath and began to teach.
- λαλέω laléōI speak, saytranslated this way 4 times of its 291 uses · Strong’s G2980Verb · Translated: speak 69, spoke 36, speaking 31, spoken 27Full study and all 268 verses →
Matthew 9:33 And when the demon had been driven out, the man began to speak. The crowds were amazed and said, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel!”
Mark 7:35 Immediately the man’s ears were opened and his tongue was released, and he began to speak plainly.
- περιπατέω peripatéōI walk, conduct my lifetranslated this way 4 times of its 95 uses · Strong’s G4043Verb · Translated: walk 35, walking 14, walked 6, walks 5Full study and all 88 verses →
Mark 5:42 Immediately the girl got up and began to walk around (she was twelve years old). And at once they were utterly astounded.
John 5:9 Immediately the man was made well, and he picked up his mat and began to walk. Now this happened on the Sabbath day,
- διακονέω diakonéōI wait at table, servetranslated this way 3 times of its 37 uses · Strong’s G1247Verb · Translated: serve 6, serves 6, ministered 5, served 4Full study and all 32 verses →
Matthew 8:15 So He touched her hand, and the fever left her, and she got up and began to serve Him.
Mark 1:31 So He went to her, took her by the hand, and helped her up. The fever left her, and she began to serve them.
- ἀνοίγω anoígōI opentranslated this way 2 times of its 75 uses · Strong’s G455Verb · Translated: opened 38, open 20, opens 3, standing open 2Full study and all 74 verses →
Matthew 5:2 and He began to teach them, saying:
Acts 10:34 Then Peter began to speak: “I now truly understand that God does not show favoritism,
- γογγύζω gongýzōI whisper, murmur, grumbletranslated this way 2 times of its 7 uses · Strong’s G1111Verb · Translated: began to grumble 2, grumbling 2, complained 1, whispering 1Full study and all 7 verses →
Matthew 20:11 On receiving their pay, they began to grumble against the landowner.
John 6:41 At this, the Jews began to grumble about Jesus because He had said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.”
- ζητέω zētéōI seek, search for, desiretranslated this way 2 times of its 117 uses · Strong’s G2212Verb · Translated: seek 17, seeking 14, looking 11, trying 9Full study and all 114 verses →
Mark 14:11 They were delighted to hear this, and they promised to give him money. So Judas began to look for an opportunity to betray Jesus.
Luke 22:6 Judas consented, and began to look for an opportunity to betray Jesus to them in the absence of a crowd.
- διαγογγύζω diagongýzōI murmur greatly, continue murmuringtranslated this way 2 times of its 2 uses · Strong’s G1234Verb · Translated: began to grumble 2Full study and all 2 verses →
Luke 15:2 So the Pharisees and scribes began to grumble: “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
Luke 19:7 And all who saw this began to grumble, saying, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinful man!”
- γίνομαι gínomaiI come into being, am borntranslated this way 2 times of its 544 uses · Strong’s G1096Verb · Translated: become 58, came 42, became 34, happened 28Full study and all 515 verses →
- αἰώνιος aiṓnioseternal, unendingtranslated this way 2 times of its 70 uses · Strong’s G166Adjective · Translated: eternal 65, began 2, ages past 1, good 1Full study and all 68 verses →
2 Timothy 1:9 He has saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works, but by His own purpose and by the grace He granted us in Christ Jesus before time began.
Titus 1:2 in the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began.
- πρῶτον prōtonfirst, beforetranslated this way 2 times of its 48 uses · Strong’s G4412Adverb · Translated: first 43, begin 1, Jew 1, begins 1Full study and all 48 verses →
Luke 10:5 Whatever house you enter, begin by saying, ‘Peace to this house.’
1 Peter 4:17 For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who disobey the gospel of God?
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.