Word study
Good
13 Hebrew and 14 Greek words behind this English word
The original-language words that the Berean Standard Bible translates with one of these: good, goods. 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 “good” 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)
- טוֹב ṭôbpleasant, agreeable, goodtranslated this way 277 times of its 538 uses · Strong’s H2896Adjective · Translated: good 249, better 72, prosperity 19, good things 12Full study and all 499 verses →
Genesis 1:4 And God saw that the light was good, and He separated the light from the darkness.
Exodus 3:8 I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey— the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites.
- יָטַב yâṭabbe good, well, glad, pleasingtranslated this way 21 times of its 110 uses · Strong’s H3190Verb · Translated: good 14, well 8, pleased 8, go well 6Full study and all 106 verses →
Genesis 34:18 Their offer seemed good to Hamor and his son Shechem.
Exodus 1:20 So God was good to the midwives, and the people multiplied and became even more numerous.
- בָּשַׂר bâsarbear tidingstranslated this way 10 times of its 23 uses · Strong’s H1319Verb · Translated: proclaim 4, herald of good news 3, proclaim the news 2, brings good news 2Full study and all 21 verses →
2 Samuel 4:10 when someone told me, ‘Look, Saul is dead,’ and thought he was a bearer of good news, I seized him and put him to death at Ziklag. That was his reward for his news!
Isaiah 40:9 Go up on a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good news. Raise your voice loudly, O Jerusalem, herald of good news. Lift it up, do not be afraid! Say to the cities of Judah, “Here is your God!”
- טוּב ṭûbgood things, goods, goodnesstranslated this way 7 times of its 32 uses · Strong’s H2898Noun · Translated: goodness 11, best 4, good things 3, prosperity 3Full study and all 31 verses →
Genesis 24:10 Then the servant took ten of his master’s camels and departed with all manner of good things from his master in hand. And he set out for Nahor’s hometown in Aram-naharaim.
Deuteronomy 6:11 with houses full of every good thing with which you did not fill them, with wells that you did not dig, and with vineyards and olive groves that you did not plant— and when you eat and are satisfied,
- רְכוּשׁ rekûshproperty, goodstranslated this way 6 times of its 28 uses · Strong’s H7399Noun · Translated: possessions 13, goods 6, property 3, wealth 3Full study and all 27 verses →
Genesis 14:11 The four kings seized all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their food, and they went on their way.
2 Chronicles 20:25 Then Jehoshaphat and his people went to carry off the plunder, and they found on the bodies an abundance of goods and valuables — more than they could carry away. They were gathering the plunder for three days because there was so much.
- כְּלִי kelîarticle, utensil, vesseltranslated this way 5 times of its 282 uses · Strong’s H3627Noun · Translated: articles 59, utensils 32, weapons 20, furnishings 15Full study and all 255 verses →
Genesis 31:37 You have searched all my goods! Have you found anything that belongs to you? Put it here before my brothers and yours, that they may judge between the two of us.
Exodus 22:7 If a man gives his neighbor money or goods for safekeeping and they are stolen from the neighbor’s house, the thief, if caught, must pay back double.
- טוֹב ṭôbpleasing, goodtranslated this way 4 times of its 19 uses · Strong’s H2895Verb · Translated: merry 3, done well 3, better 2, good 2Full study and all 19 verses →
2 Samuel 3:19 Abner also spoke to the Benjamites. Then he went to Hebron to tell David all that seemed good to Israel and to the whole house of Benjamin.
Psalm 119:71 It was good for me to be afflicted, that I might learn Your statutes.
- בְּשׂוֹרָה besôrâhtidingstranslated this way 3 times of its 6 uses · Strong’s H1309Noun · Translated: good news 2, for 1, take good news 1, reward 1Full study and all 6 verses →
2 Samuel 18:20 But Joab replied, “You are not the man to take good news today. You may do it another day, but you must not do so today, because the king’s son is dead.”
2 Kings 7:9 Finally, they said to one another, “We are not doing what is right. Today is a day of good news. If we are silent and wait until morning light, our sin will overtake us. Now, therefore, let us go and tell the king’s household.”
- הוֹן hônwealth, sufficiencytranslated this way 3 times of its 26 uses · Strong’s H1952Noun · Translated: wealth 15, Enough 2, wealth of goods 2, riches 2Full study and all 26 verses →
Proverbs 1:13 We will find all manner of precious goods; we will fill our houses with plunder.
Ezekiel 27:12 Tarshish was your merchant because of your great wealth of goods; they exchanged silver, iron, tin, and lead for your wares.
- מָה mâhwhat? how? aughttranslated this way 2 times of its 708 uses · Strong’s H4100Interrogative · Translated: what 313, why 183, how 80, many 5Full study and all 618 verses →
Genesis 25:32 “Look,” said Esau, “I am about to die, so what good is a birthright to me?”
Genesis 27:46 Then Rebekah said to Isaac, “I am weary of my life because of these Hittite women. If Jacob takes a Hittite wife from among them, what good is my life?”
- גָּמַל gâmaldeal fully or adequately with, deal out totranslated this way 2 times of its 35 uses · Strong’s H1580Verb · Translated: weaned 8, rewarded 5, done 3, repay 2Full study and all 31 verses →
Psalm 13:6 I will sing to the LORD, for He has been good to me.
Psalm 116:7 Return to your rest, O my soul, for the LORD has been good to you.
- שֵׁם shêmnametranslated this way 2 times of its 769 uses · Strong’s H8034Noun · Translated: name 553, names 65, named 61, him 20Full study and all 703 verses →
- חֵפֶץ chêphetsdelight, pleasuretranslated this way 2 times of its 38 uses · Strong’s H2656Noun · Translated: desire 7, delight 6, pleasure 4, desired 3Full study and all 37 verses →
Isaiah 46:10 I declare the end from the beginning, and from ancient times what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and all My good pleasure I will accomplish.’
Isaiah 53:10 Yet it was the LORD’s will to crush Him and to cause Him to suffer; and when His soul is made a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, and the good pleasure of the LORD will prosper in His hand.
Greek words (New Testament)
- ἀγαθός agathósgoodtranslated this way 89 times of its 99 uses · Strong’s G18Adjective · Translated: good 79, good things 7, clear 3, anything good 2Full study and all 88 verses →
Matthew 5:45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
Mark 10:17 As Jesus started on His way, a man ran up and knelt before Him. “Good Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
- καλός kalósbeautiful, good, worthytranslated this way 64 times of its 99 uses · Strong’s G2570Adjective · Translated: good 64, better 9, right 5, noble 4Full study and all 89 verses →
Matthew 3:10 The axe lies ready at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
Mark 4:8 Still other seed fell on good soil, where it sprouted, grew up, and produced a crop — one bearing thirtyfold, another sixtyfold, and another a hundredfold.”
- εὐαγγελίζω euangelízōI bring good news, preach good tidingstranslated this way 17 times of its 54 uses · Strong’s G2097Verb · Translated: preached 8, preach the gospel 8, proclaiming the good news 4, preaching the gospel 4Full study and all 52 verses →
Matthew 11:5 The blind receive sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.
Luke 1:19 “I am Gabriel,” replied the angel. “I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.
- ἀγαθοποιέω agathopoiéōI do that which is goodtranslated this way 9 times of its 10 uses · Strong’s G15Verb · Translated: good 6, doing good 3, right 1Full study and all 9 verses →
Mark 3:4 And He asked them, “Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?” But they were silent.
Luke 6:9 Then Jesus said to them, “I ask you, which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?”
- καλῶς kalōswell, nobly, rightlytranslated this way 5 times of its 34 uses · Strong’s G2573Adverb · Translated: well 14, good 4, correctly 3, right 3Full study and all 34 verses →
Matthew 12:12 How much more valuable is a man than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.”
Luke 6:27 But to those of you who will listen, I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
- συμφέρω symphérōI collect, am profitable totranslated this way 4 times of its 17 uses · Strong’s G4851Verb · Translated: better 6, good 3, helpful 2, beneficial 2Full study and all 17 verses →
1 Corinthians 7:35 I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but in order to promote proper decorum and undivided devotion to the Lord.
Hebrews 12:10 Our fathers disciplined us for a short time as they thought best, but God disciplines us for our good, so that we may share in His holiness.
- εὐδοκία eudokíagood-will, favortranslated this way 3 times of its 9 uses · Strong’s G2107Noun · Translated: well-pleasing 2, desire 2, good pleasure 2, favor rests 1Full study and all 9 verses →
Ephesians 1:5 He predestined us for adoption as His sons through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of His will,
Philippians 2:13 For it is God who works in you to will and to act on behalf of His good purpose.
- ἁπλοῦς haploûssingle, simple, soundtranslated this way 2 times of its 2 uses · Strong’s G573Adjective · Translated: good 2Full study and all 2 verses →
Matthew 6:22 The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light.
Luke 11:34 Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are good, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are bad, your body is full of darkness.
- δοκέω dokéōI think, seem, appear, it seemstranslated this way 2 times of its 62 uses · Strong’s G1380Verb · Translated: think 17, thinks 6, thought 5, seems 4Full study and all 61 verses →
Luke 1:3 Therefore, having carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus,
Acts 15:28 It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond these essential requirements:
- ὑγιαίνω hygiaínōI am welltranslated this way 2 times of its 12 uses · Strong’s G5198Verb · Translated: sound 8, healthy 1, good health 1, safe and sound 1Full study and all 12 verses →
Luke 7:10 And when the messengers returned to the house, they found the servant in good health.
3 John 1:2 Beloved, I pray that in every way you may prosper and enjoy good health, as your soul also prospers.
- μαρτυρέω martyréōI witness, testifytranslated this way 2 times of its 75 uses · Strong’s G3140Verb · Translated: testify 26, testified 15, testifies 9, commended 4Full study and all 72 verses →
Acts 10:22 “Cornelius the centurion has sent us ,” they said. “He is a righteous and God-fearing man with a good reputation among the whole Jewish nation. A holy angel instructed him to request your presence in his home so he could hear a message from you.”
3 John 1:12 Demetrius has received a good testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself. We also testify for him, and you know that our testimony is true.
- εὐαγγέλιον euangélionthe good news, the gospeltranslated this way 2 times of its 74 uses · Strong’s G2098Noun · Translated: gospel 72, good news 2Full study and all 72 verses →
Acts 20:24 But I consider my life of no value to me, if only I may finish my course and complete the ministry I have received from the Lord Jesus — the ministry of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.
Romans 10:16 But not all of them welcomed the good news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?”
- χρηστός chrēstósuseful, gentle, pleasant, kindtranslated this way 2 times of its 7 uses · Strong’s G5543Adjective · Translated: kind 2, good 2, easy 1, better 1Full study and all 7 verses →
1 Corinthians 15:33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good character.”
1 Peter 2:3 now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.
- ὄφελος óphelosadvantage, gain, profittranslated this way 2 times of its 3 uses · Strong’s G3786Noun · Translated: good 2, gain 1Full study and all 3 verses →
James 2:14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone claims to have faith, but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?
James 2:16 If one of you tells him, “Go in peace; stay warm and well fed,” but does not provide for his physical needs, what good is that ?
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.