Word study
Without
16 Hebrew and 14 Greek words behind this English word
The original-language words that the Berean Standard Bible translates with “without”. 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 “without” 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)
- לֹא lônottranslated this way 78 times of its 4,657 uses · Strong’s H3808Adverb · Translated: no 309, not 269, never 218, will not 156Full study and all 3,775 verses →
Genesis 31:27 Why did you run away secretly and deceive me, without even telling me? I would have sent you away with joy and singing, with tambourines and harps.
Exodus 15:22 Then Moses led Israel from the Red Sea, and they went out into the Desert of Shur. For three days they walked in the desert without finding water.
- אַיִן ayinnothing, noughttranslated this way 56 times of its 744 uses · Strong’s H369Adverb · Translated: there is no 55, no 54, without 54, nothing 40Full study and all 660 verses →
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.”
Exodus 12:30 During the night Pharaoh got up — he and all his officials and all the Egyptians — and there was loud wailing in Egypt; for there was no house without someone dead.
- חִנָּם chinnâmout of favourtranslated this way 16 times of its 31 uses · Strong’s H2600Adverb · Translated: without cause 12, nothing 3, needless 2, cost me nothing 2Full study and all 30 verses →
Exodus 21:2 If you buy a Hebrew servant, he is to serve you for six years. But in the seventh year, he shall go free without paying anything.
Job 2:3 Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one on earth like him, a man who is blameless and upright, who fears God and shuns evil. He still retains his integrity, even though you incited Me against him to ruin him without cause.”
- בְּלִי belîwearing outtranslated this way 16 times of its 55 uses · Strong’s H1097Adverb · Translated: without 16, lack 6, accidentally 3, nothing 2Full study and all 54 verses →
Job 6:6 Is tasteless food eaten without salt, or is there flavor in the white of an egg?
Psalm 63:1 A Psalm of David, when he was in the Wilderness of Judah. O God, You are my God. Earnestly I seek You; my soul thirsts for You. My body yearns for You in a dry and weary land without water.
- תָּמִים tâmîmcomplete, soundtranslated this way 11 times of its 91 uses · Strong’s H8549Adjective · Translated: unblemished 39, blameless 16, without blemish 11, perfect 6Full study and all 85 verses →
Exodus 29:1 “Now this is what you are to do to consecrate Aaron and his sons to serve Me as priests: Take a young bull and two rams without blemish,
Leviticus 3:1 “If one’s offering is a peace offering and he offers an animal from the herd, whether male or female, he must present it without blemish before the LORD.
- בִּלְתִּי biltînot, excepttranslated this way 4 times of its 104 uses · Strong’s H1115Preposition-l · Translated: not 12, no 8, nothing 4, without 4Full study and all 101 verses →
2 Kings 10:11 So Jehu killed everyone in Jezreel who remained of the house of Ahab, as well as all his great men and close friends and priests, leaving him without a single survivor.
Jeremiah 44:7 So now, this is what the LORD God of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: Why are you doing such great harm to yourselves by cutting off from Judah man and woman, child and infant, leaving yourselves without a remnant?
- לָא lânottranslated this way 3 times of its 71 uses · Strong’s H3809Adverb · Translated: no 10, not 9, cannot 4, without 3Full study and all 56 verses →
Ezra 6:9 Whatever is needed— young bulls, rams, and lambs for burnt offerings to the God of heaven, as well as wheat, salt, wine, and oil, as requested by the priests in Jerusalem— must be given to them daily without fail.
Daniel 2:45 And just as you saw a stone being cut out of the mountain without human hands, and it shattered the iron, bronze, clay, silver, and gold, so the great God has told the king what will happen in the future. The dream is true, and its interpretation is trustworthy.”
- אֶפֶס ephesthe two extremitiestranslated this way 3 times of its 39 uses · Strong’s H657Noun · Translated: ends 13, none 4, Nevertheless 2, and 2Full study and all 39 verses →
Job 7:6 My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle; they come to an end without hope.
Proverbs 26:20 Without wood, a fire goes out; without gossip, a conflict ceases.
- שֶׁקֶר sheqerdeception, disappointment, falsehoodtranslated this way 3 times of its 104 uses · Strong’s H8267Noun · Translated: lies 18, lying 16, false 12, falsely 10Full study and all 100 verses →
Psalm 35:19 Let not my enemies gloat over me without cause, nor those who hate me without reason wink in malice.
Psalm 38:19 Many are my enemies without cause, and many hate me without reason.
- בִּלְעֲדֵי bilădêapart from, except, withouttranslated this way 2 times of its 17 uses · Strong’s H1107Preposition · Translated: but me 5, cannot 2, other 2, besides 2Full study and all 16 verses →
Genesis 41:44 And Pharaoh declared to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh, but without your permission, no one in all the land of Egypt shall lift his hand or foot.”
Jeremiah 44:19 “Moreover,” said the women, “when we burned incense to the Queen of Heaven and poured out drink offerings to her, was it without our husbands’ knowledge that we made sacrificial cakes in her image and poured out drink offerings to her?”
- אַל alprohibition, do not . . ., let not . . .translated this way 2 times of its 662 uses · Strong’s H408Adverb · Translated: do not 400, and do not 41, not 29, no 24Full study and all 559 verses →
Genesis 45:9 Now return quickly to my father and tell him, ‘This is what your son Joseph says: God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me without delay.
Proverbs 25:9 Argue your case with your neighbor without betraying another’s confidence,
- מַצָּה matstsâhunleavened bread, or cake(s)translated this way 2 times of its 53 uses · Strong’s H4682Noun · Translated: unleavened bread 37, unleavened 11, without leaven 2, along with unleavened bread 1Full study and all 42 verses →
Leviticus 6:16 Aaron and his sons are to eat the remainder. It must be eaten without leaven in a holy place; they are to eat it in the courtyard of the Tent of Meeting.
Leviticus 10:12 And Moses said to Aaron and his remaining sons, Eleazar and Ithamar, “Take the grain offering that remains from the food offerings to the LORD and eat it without leaven beside the altar, because it is most holy.
- תֹּם tômcompleteness, integritytranslated this way 2 times of its 22 uses · Strong’s H8537Noun · Translated: integrity 14, without taking special aim 2Full study and all 22 verses →
1 Kings 22:34 However, a certain man drew his bow without taking special aim, and he struck the king of Israel between the joints of his armor. So the king said to his charioteer, “Turn around and take me out of the battle, for I am badly wounded!”
2 Chronicles 18:33 However, a certain man drew his bow without taking special aim, and he struck the king of Israel between the joints of his armor. So the king said to his charioteer, “Turn around and take me out of the battle, for I am badly wounded!”
- רֵיקָם rêqâmemptily, vainlytranslated this way 2 times of its 16 uses · Strong’s H7387Adverb · Translated: empty-handed 9, empty 5, without cause 2Full study and all 16 verses →
Psalm 7:4 if I have rewarded my ally with evil, if I have plundered my foe without cause,
Psalm 25:3 Surely none who wait for You will be put to shame; but those who engage in treachery without cause will be disgraced.
- כִּי kîburning, brandingtranslated this way 2 times of its 3,991 uses · Strong’s H3588Conjunction · Translated: for 1,770, that 572, because 523, when 194Full study and all 3,583 verses →
- חָלַל châlalbore, piercetranslated this way 2 times of its 138 uses · Strong’s H2490Verb · Translated: began 24, profaned 24, profane 14, defile 10Full study and all 129 verses →
Isaiah 56:2 Blessed is the man who does this, and the son of man who holds it fast, who keeps the Sabbath without profaning it and keeps his hand from doing any evil.”
Isaiah 56:6 And the foreigners who join themselves to the LORD to minister to Him, to love the name of the LORD, and to be His servants — all who keep the Sabbath without profaning it and who hold fast to My covenant—
Greek words (New Testament)
- χωρίς chōrísapart from, withouttranslated this way 23 times of its 38 uses · Strong’s G5565Preposition · Translated: without 21, apart 7, without using 2, besides 2Full study and all 35 verses →
Matthew 13:34 Jesus spoke all these things to the crowds in parables. He did not tell them anything without using a parable.
Mark 4:34 He did not tell them anything without using a parable. But privately He explained everything to His own disciples.
- μή mḗnot, lesttranslated this way 18 times of its 411 uses · Strong’s G3361Adverb · Translated: not 284, no 44, without 18, Otherwise 9Full study and all 381 verses →
Matthew 9:36 When He saw the crowds, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
Luke 11:42 Woe to you Pharisees! For you pay tithes of mint, rue, and every herb, but you disregard justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without neglecting the former.
- μηδείς mēdeísno one, nothingtranslated this way 6 times of its 54 uses · Strong’s G3367Adjective · Translated: nothing 15, no one 14, no 7, without 6Full study and all 54 verses →
Luke 4:35 But Jesus rebuked the demon. “Be silent!” He said. “Come out of him!” At this, the demon threw the man down before them all and came out without harming him.
Acts 10:20 So get up! Go downstairs and accompany them without hesitation, because I have sent them.”
- ἔχω échōI have, hold, possesstranslated this way 5 times of its 624 uses · Strong’s G2192Verb · Translated: has 63, have 52, with 35, you have 29Full study and all 560 verses →
Matthew 22:12 ‘Friend,’ he asked, ‘how did you get in here without wedding clothes?’ But the man was speechless.
Mark 6:34 When Jesus stepped ashore and saw a large crowd, He had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And He began to teach them many things.
- ἄνομος ánomoslawless, sinful, illegaltranslated this way 3 times of its 9 uses · Strong’s G459Adjective · Translated: lawless 3, without 3, transgressors 1, outside 1Full study and all 6 verses →
1 Corinthians 9:21 To those without the law I became like one without the law (though I am not outside the law of God but am under the law of Christ), to win those without the law.
- ἄτιμος átimoswithout honor, despisedtranslated this way 2 times of its 4 uses · Strong’s G820Adjective · Translated: without honor 2, dishonored 1, less honorable 1Full study and all 4 verses →
Matthew 13:57 And they took offense at Him. But Jesus said to them, “Only in his hometown and in his own household is a prophet without honor.”
Mark 6:4 Then Jesus said to them, “Only in his hometown, among his relatives, and in his own household is a prophet without honor.”
- ἀφόβως aphóbōsfearlesslytranslated this way 2 times of its 4 uses · Strong’s G870Adverb · Translated: without fear 2, nothing to fear 1, shamelessly 1Full study and all 4 verses →
Luke 1:74 deliverance from hostile hands, that we may serve Him without fear,
Philippians 1:14 And most of the brothers, confident in the Lord by my chains, now dare more greatly to speak the word without fear.
- οὐ ouno, nottranslated this way 2 times of its 704 uses · Strong’s G3756Adverb · Translated: not 470, no 123, never 26, nothing 12Full study and all 643 verses →
- δωρεάν dōreánas a free gift, without payment, freelytranslated this way 2 times of its 9 uses · Strong’s G1432Adverb · Translated: freely 5, without reason 1, free of charge 1, nothing 1Full study and all 8 verses →
John 15:25 But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: ‘They hated Me without reason.’
2 Thessalonians 3:8 nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. Instead, in labor and toil, we worked night and day so that we would not be a burden to any of you.
- ἀκατάκριτος akatákritosuncondemnedtranslated this way 2 times of its 2 uses · Strong’s G178Adjective · Translated: without a trial 2Full study and all 2 verses →
Acts 16:37 But Paul said to the officers, “They beat us publicly without a trial and threw us into prison, even though we are Roman citizens. And now do they want to send us away secretly? Absolutely not! Let them come themselves and escort us out!”
Acts 22:25 But as they stretched him out to strap him down, Paul said to the centurion standing there, “Is it lawful for you to flog a Roman citizen without a trial?”
- ἄφωνος áphōnossoundless, voiceless, speechless, dumbtranslated this way 2 times of its 4 uses · Strong’s G880Adjective · Translated: silent 1, mute 1, without meaning 1, without speech 1Full study and all 4 verses →
1 Corinthians 14:10 Assuredly, there are many different languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning.
2 Peter 2:16 But he was rebuked for his transgression by a donkey, otherwise without speech, that spoke with a man’s voice and restrained the prophet’s madness.
- ἄμωμος ámōmosblamelesstranslated this way 2 times of its 9 uses · Strong’s G299Adjective · Translated: blameless 3, unblemished 3, without fault 1, without blemish 1Full study and all 9 verses →
Philippians 2:15 so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine as lights in the world
1 Peter 1:19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or spot.
- ἄνευ áneuwithout, without the cooperation or knowledge oftranslated this way 2 times of its 3 uses · Strong’s G427Preposition · Translated: without 2, apart 1Full study and all 3 verses →
1 Peter 3:1 Wives, in the same way, submit yourselves to your husbands, so that even if they refuse to believe the word, they will be won over without words by the behavior of their wives
1 Peter 4:9 Show hospitality to one another without complaining.
- ἄνυδρος ánydroswithout water, drytranslated this way 2 times of its 4 uses · Strong’s G504Adjective · Translated: arid 2, without water 2Full study and all 4 verses →
2 Peter 2:17 These men are springs without water and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them.
Jude 1:12 These men are hidden reefs in your love feasts, shamelessly feasting with you but shepherding only themselves. They are clouds without water, carried along by the wind; fruitless trees in autumn, twice dead after being uprooted.
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.