Word study
Grow
25 Hebrew and 7 Greek words behind this English word
The original-language words that the Berean Standard Bible translates with one of these: grew, grow, grown, grows, growing. 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 “grow” 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)
- גָּדַל gâdalgrow up, become greattranslated this way 25 times of its 115 uses · Strong’s H1431Verb · Translated: great 14, grew 10, grown 7, greater 7Full study and all 114 verses →
Genesis 21:8 So the child grew and was weaned, and Abraham held a great feast on the day Isaac was weaned.
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.”
- עָלָה âlâhgo up, ascend, climbtranslated this way 11 times of its 873 uses · Strong’s H5927Verb · Translated: go 118, went 107, brought 56, come 42Full study and all 807 verses →
Genesis 41:22 In my dream I also saw seven heads of grain, plump and ripe, growing on a single stalk.
Deuteronomy 29:23 All its soil will be a burning waste of sulfur and salt, unsown and unproductive, with no plant growing on it, just like the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboiim, which the LORD overthrew in His fierce anger.
- צָמַח tsâmachsprout, spring uptranslated this way 9 times of its 33 uses · Strong’s H6779Verb · Translated: sprouted 4, grow 4, sprout 4, spring 4Full study and all 32 verses →
Exodus 10:5 They will cover the face of the land so that no one can see it. They will devour whatever is left after the hail and eat every tree that grows in your fields.
Leviticus 13:37 If, however, in his sight the scaly outbreak is unchanged and black hair has grown in it, then it has healed. He is clean, and the priest is to pronounce him clean.
- הָלַךְ hâlakgo, come, walktranslated this way 8 times of its 1,461 uses · Strong’s H1980Verb · Translated: go 338, went 173, walk 116, Come 84Full study and all 1,299 verses →
Exodus 19:19 And as the sound of the ram’s horn grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and God answered him in the thunder.
- עָטַף âṭaphturn asidetranslated this way 5 times of its 16 uses · Strong’s H5848Verb · Translated: faint 3, grows faint 3Full study and all 15 verses →
Psalm 77:3 I remembered You, O God, and I groaned; I mused and my spirit grew faint. Selah
Isaiah 57:16 For I will not accuse you forever, nor will I always be angry; for then the spirit of man would grow weak before Me— the breath of life I have made.
- חָזַק châzaqbe or grow firm, strong, strengthentranslated this way 4 times of its 290 uses · Strong’s H2388Verb · Translated: strong 37, made repairs 22, strengthened 16, repaired 15Full study and all 264 verses →
Joshua 17:13 However, when the Israelites grew stronger, they put the Canaanites to forced labor; but they failed to drive them out completely.
2 Chronicles 13:21 But Abijah grew strong, married fourteen wives, and became the father of twenty-two sons and sixteen daughters.
- קָדַר qâdarbe darktranslated this way 4 times of its 17 uses · Strong’s H6937Verb · Translated: grow dark 3, sorrow 2, mourn 2, darken 2Full study and all 17 verses →
1 Kings 18:45 Meanwhile, the sky grew dark with clouds and wind, and a heavy rain began to fall. So Ahab rode away and went to Jezreel.
Jeremiah 4:28 Therefore the earth will mourn and the heavens above will grow dark. I have spoken, I have planned, and I will not relent or turn back.”
- רָבָה râbâhbe, or become, much, many, greattranslated this way 4 times of its 219 uses · Strong’s H7235Verb · Translated: multiply 39, multiplied 23, many 15, much 10Full study and all 207 verses →
Deuteronomy 8:13 and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all that you have is multiplied,
Job 39:4 Their young ones thrive and grow up in the open field; they leave and do not return.
- רְבָה rebâhgrow greattranslated this way 4 times of its 6 uses · Strong’s H7236Verb · Translated: grew large 2, promoted 1, become great 1, grown 1Full study and all 5 verses →
Daniel 4:11 The tree grew large and strong; its top reached the sky, and it was visible to the ends of the earth.
Daniel 4:20 The tree you saw that grew large and strong, whose top reached the sky and was visible to all the earth,
- שָׁמַן shâmangrow fattranslated this way 3 times of its 5 uses · Strong’s H8080Verb · Translated: grew fat 2, becoming fat 1, calloused 1, grown fat 1Full study and all 4 verses →
Deuteronomy 32:15 But Jeshurun grew fat and kicked— becoming fat, bloated, and gorged. He abandoned the God who made him and scorned the Rock of his salvation.
Nehemiah 9:25 They captured fortified cities and fertile land and took houses full of all goods, wells already dug, vineyards, olive groves, and fruit trees in abundance. So they ate and were filled; they grew fat and delighted in Your great goodness.
- יָסַף yâsaphaddtranslated this way 3 times of its 202 uses · Strong’s H3254Verb · Translated: again 36, add 23, longer 20, severely 12Full study and all 198 verses →
1 Samuel 18:29 he grew even more afraid of David. So from then on Saul was David’s enemy.
Job 17:9 Yet a righteous one holds to his way, and the one with clean hands grows stronger.
- יָגַע yâgatoil, grow or be wearytranslated this way 3 times of its 26 uses · Strong’s H3021Verb · Translated: wearied 6, weary 5, labor 4, wear 2Full study and all 25 verses →
2 Samuel 23:10 but Eleazar stood his ground and struck the Philistines until his hand grew weary and stuck to his sword. The LORD brought about a great victory that day. Then the troops returned to him, but only to plunder the dead.
Isaiah 40:31 But those who wait upon the LORD will renew their strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint.
- שְׁנָא shenâtranslated this way 3 times of its 20 uses · Strong’s H8133Verb · Translated: changed 5, different 5, change 2Full study and all 20 verses →
Daniel 5:6 his face grew pale and his thoughts so alarmed him that his hips gave way and his knees knocked together.
Daniel 5:9 Then King Belshazzar became even more terrified, his face grew even more pale, and his nobles were bewildered.
- חָשַׁךְ châshakbe, grow darktranslated this way 3 times of its 17 uses · Strong’s H2821Verb · Translated: darkened 3Full study and all 17 verses →
Job 3:9 May its morning stars grow dark; may it wait in vain for daylight; may it not see the breaking of dawn.
Lamentations 5:17 Because of this, our hearts are faint; because of these, our eyes grow dim—
- יָעַף yâaphbe weary, fainttranslated this way 3 times of its 8 uses · Strong’s H3286Verb · Translated: grow tired 2, weary 2, faint 1, grows faint 1Full study and all 8 verses →
Isaiah 40:28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary; His understanding is beyond searching out.
Isaiah 40:30 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall.
- 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 2Full study and all 18 verses →
Exodus 16:21 Every morning each one gathered as much as was needed, and when the sun grew hot, it melted away.
Psalm 39:3 My heart grew hot within me; as I mused, the fire burned. Then I spoke with my tongue:
- קָצַר qâtsarbe shorttranslated this way 2 times of its 46 uses · Strong’s H7114Verb · Translated: reap 14, harvesters 6, short 4, harvesting 3Full study and all 45 verses →
Numbers 21:4 Then they set out from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea, in order to bypass the land of Edom. But the people grew impatient on the journey
Zechariah 11:8 And in one month I dismissed three shepherds. My soul grew impatient with the flock, and their souls also detested me.
- קָצַף qâtsaphbe wrothtranslated this way 2 times of its 33 uses · Strong’s H7107Verb · Translated: angry 18, grew angry 2, provoked 2Full study and all 32 verses →
Deuteronomy 1:34 When the LORD heard your words, He grew angry and swore an oath, saying,
Esther 2:21 In those days, while Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate, Bigthan and Teresh, two of the king’s eunuchs who guarded the entrance, grew angry and conspired to assassinate King Xerxes.
- זָקֵן zâqênbe or become oldtranslated this way 2 times of its 27 uses · Strong’s H2204Verb · Translated: old 24, grew old 1, Jehoiada was old 1, grow old 1Full study and all 26 verses →
1 Samuel 8:1 When Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons as judges over Israel.
Job 14:8 If its roots grow old in the ground and its stump dies in the soil,
- 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 →
Ezekiel 28:5 By your great skill in trading you have increased your wealth, but your heart has grown proud because of it.
Ezekiel 28:17 Your heart grew proud of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor; so I cast you to the earth; I made you a spectacle before kings.
- סָפִיחַ sâphîachoutpouring ?translated this way 2 times of its 5 uses · Strong’s H5599Noun · Translated: aftergrowth 2, grows 2, torrents 1Full study and all 5 verses →
2 Kings 19:29 And this will be a sign to you, O Hezekiah: This year you will eat what grows on its own, and in the second year what springs from the same. But in the third year you will sow and reap; you will plant vineyards and eat their fruit.
Isaiah 37:30 And this will be a sign to you, O Hezekiah: This year you will eat what grows on its own, and in the second year what springs from the same. But in the third year you will sow and reap; you will plant vineyards and eat their fruit.
- קָמָה qâmâhstanding graintranslated this way 2 times of its 10 uses · Strong’s H7054Noun · Translated: standing grain 6, grown 2, grainfield 1, grain 1Full study and all 8 verses →
2 Kings 19:26 Therefore their inhabitants, devoid of power, are dismayed and ashamed. They are like plants in the field, tender green shoots, grass on the rooftops, scorched before it is grown.
Isaiah 37:27 Therefore their inhabitants, devoid of power, are dismayed and ashamed. They are like plants in the field, tender green shoots, grass on the rooftops, scorched before it is grown.
- כָּהָה kâhâhbe or grow dim, fainttranslated this way 2 times of its 9 uses · Strong’s H3543Verb · Translated: weak 2, faded 2Full study and all 9 verses →
Job 17:7 My eyes have grown dim with grief, and my whole body is but a shadow.
Isaiah 42:4 He will not grow weak or discouraged before He has established justice on the earth. In His law the islands will put their hope.”
- 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 78Full study and all 975 verses →
- עָתַק âthaqmove, proceed, advancetranslated this way 2 times of its 9 uses · Strong’s H6275Verb · Translated: moved 3Full study and all 9 verses →
Job 21:7 Why do the wicked live on, growing old and increasing in power?
Psalm 6:7 My eyes fail from grief; they grow dim because of all my foes.
Greek words (New Testament)
- αὐξάνω auxánōI cause to increase, become greater, growtranslated this way 14 times of its 23 uses · Strong’s G837Verb · Translated: grow 5, grew 4, grows 3, continued to spread 3Full study and all 23 verses →
Matthew 6:28 And why do you worry about clothes? Consider how the lilies of the field grow: They do not labor or spin.
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.”
- ἀναβαίνω anabaínōI go up, mount, ascendtranslated this way 3 times of its 82 uses · Strong’s G305Verb · Translated: went 27, going 8, ascended 6, go 4Full study and all 78 verses →
Matthew 13:7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the seedlings.
Mark 4:7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the seedlings, and they yielded no crop.
- 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 →
Acts 4:4 But many who heard the message believed, and the number of men grew to about five thousand.
Acts 23:10 The dispute grew so violent that the commander was afraid they would tear Paul to pieces. He ordered the soldiers to go down and remove him by force and bring him into the barracks.
- αὔξησις aúxēsisincreasing, increase, growthtranslated this way 2 times of its 2 uses · Strong’s G838Noun · Translated: grows 1, causes it to grow 1Full study and all 2 verses →
Ephesians 4:16 From Him the whole body, fitted and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love through the work of each individual part.
Colossians 2:19 He has lost connection to the head, from whom the whole body, supported and knit together by its joints and ligaments, grows as God causes it to grow.
- παχύνω pachýnōI fattentranslated this way 2 times of its 2 uses · Strong’s G3975Verb · Translated: grown callous 2Full study and all 2 verses →
Matthew 13:15 For this people’s heart has grown callous; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them.’
Acts 28:27 For this people’s heart has grown callous; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them.’
- πλουτέω ploutéōI become richtranslated this way 2 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 →
Revelation 3:17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have grown wealthy and need nothing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked.
Revelation 18:3 All the nations have drunk the wine of the passion of her immorality. The kings of the earth were immoral with her, and the merchants of the earth have grown wealthy from the extravagance of her luxury.”
- ἐκκακέω ekkakéōI am faint, am wearytranslated this way 2 times of its 6 uses · Strong’s G1573Verb · Translated: lose heart 3, grow weary 2, discouraged 1Full study and all 6 verses →
Galatians 6:9 Let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
2 Thessalonians 3:13 But as for you, brothers, do not grow weary in well-doing.
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.