H3925 H3925
To learn, study (Qal); to teach, instruct, train (Piel); a teacher (Piel ptcp.); trained, accustomed (Pual/passive)
A verb whose meaning pivots on the Hebrew stem system: in the Qal it means 'to learn' or 'become accustomed to,' while in the Piel it means 'to teach' or 'train.' Arabic preserves the same stem-voice contrast beautifully — تَعَلَّمَ (Form V, middle-reflexive) for learning versus عَلَّمَ (Form II, causative) for teaching. The Piel participle (מְלַמֵּד) became the standard word for 'teacher' in later Hebrew, and the passive forms describe someone who has been disciplined or trained, as with the warriors 'trained for war' in 1 Chronicles 5:18 and Song of Solomon 3:8.
1. Piel: teach, instruct — The dominant Piel sense: actively teaching, instructing, or training someone. This is the causative counterpart to the Qal — the teacher's side of the learning relationship. Arabic عَلَّمَ (Form II causative) and Korean 가르치다 consistently confirm the causative-teaching semantics. Especially prominent in Deuteronomy, where Moses is commanded to teach Israel God's statutes (Deut 4:1, 4:10, 4:14), and in the Psalms, where the psalmist asks God directly: 'Teach me your statutes' (Ps 119:12, 26, 64, 68). 52×
AR["عَلَّمْتِ","عَلِّمْنِي","لِ-التَّعليمِ","لِ-يُعَلِّمُوا","لِأُعَلِّمَكُمْ","لِتُعَلِّمَ","لِيُعَلِّمَ","وَ-عَلِّمْنِي","وَعَلَّمُوا","وَعَلِّمْنِي"]·ben["-আমাকে-শেখাও","আমাকে-শিক্ষা-দিন","আর-শিক্ষা-দিল","এবং-আমাকে-শিক্ষা-দিন","ও-শেখাও","শিক্ষা-দিতে","শিখানোর-জন্য","শিখিয়েছ","শিখিয়েছিলে","শেখাও","শেখাও-আমাকে","শেখাতে"]·DE["lehren","lehren-mich","und-lehren","und-lehren-mich","zu-lehren","zu-teach"]·EN["(you-have-taught)","and-teach-me","and-they-taught","have-taught","teach-me","to-teach"]·FR["enseigner","et-enseigner","et-à-enseigner","à-enseigner","à-teach"]·heb["ו-ילמדו","ו-למדני","ל-למד","לימדת","למדני"]·HI["-सिखाने-के-लिए","और-सिखा-मुझे","और-सिखाया","सिखा-मुझे","सिखाने-के-लिए","सिखाने-को","सिखाया-तूने"]·ID["Dan-mengajar","ajarkanlah-kepadaku","ajarlah-aku","dan-ajarkanlah-kepadaku","dan-mengajar","kamu-ajarkan","mengajar","untuk-mengajar"]·IT["a-insegna","a-insegnare","e-insegnami","e-insegnare","insegnami","insegnare","insegno'"]·jav["Lan-sami-mulang","Mugi-mulang-kula","kangge-mulang","kanggé-mulang","kanggé-mulangaken","lan-mulangi-kula","lan-sami-mulang","mugi-mulang-kula","mulang","mulang-kula","mulangi-kula","panjenengan-mucal","saha-wulanga-kula","supados-mulangaken","wulanga-kula"]·KO["(네가-가르쳤다)","가르쳤다","가르치기-위하여","가르치기를","가르치라","가르치소서","가르치소서-나-를","그리고-가르쳤다","그리고-가르치소서","그리고-가르치소서-나-를","나-에게-가르쳐-주소서","에-가르치도록"]·PT["Ensina-me","e-ensina-me","e-ensinaram","ensina-me","ensinaste","para-ensinar"]·RU["(научила-ты)","для-научения","и-научи-меня","и-учили","научи-меня","научила","учить","чтобы-учить"]·ES["Enséñame","enseñaste","enséñame","para-enseñar","y-enseñaron","y-enséñame"]·SW["kufundisha","kuwafundisha","kwa-kufundisha","na-kunifundisha","na-unifundishe","na-wakafundisha","nifundishe","uliwafundisha","umefundisha","unifundishe"]·TR["Ve-öğrettiler","ve-öğret-bana","ve-öğrettiler","öğret-bana","öğretmek","öğretmek-için","öğrettin"]·urd["اور-سکھا-مجھے","اور-سکھایا","اور-مجھے-سکھا","سکھا-مجھے","سکھانے-کو","سکھایا","لَ-سِکھانے","مجھے-سکھا"]
Deut 4:1, Deut 4:10, Deut 4:14, Deut 5:31, Deut 6:1, Deut 11:19, Deut 20:18, Deut 31:19, Deut 31:22, 2 Sam 1:18, 2 Sam 22:35, 2 Chr 17:7 (+38 more)
▼ 3 more senses below
Senses
2. Qal: learn, study — The basic Qal sense: to learn, study, or become habituated. The reflexive-middle character of this sense is confirmed by Arabic تَعَلَّمَ (Form V) and Swahili -jifunza (reflexive 'teach oneself'). It covers both positive learning — studying God's commands so as to fear the LORD (Deut 14:23, 17:19) — and negative learning, such as adopting the abominable practices of the nations (Deut 18:9, Ps 106:35). Isaiah 26:10 warns that the wicked, even when shown grace, will not learn righteousness. 23×
AR["أَتَعَلَّمَ","أَتَعَلَّمْ","بِ-تَعَلُّمِي","تَتَعَلَّمَ","تَتَعَلَّمُوا","تَتَعَلَّمْ","تَعَلَّمَ","تَعَلُّمًا","وَ-تَعَلَّموا","وَتَعَلَّمَ","وَتَعَلَّمُوهَا","وَيَتَعَلَّمُونَ","يَتَعَلَّمَ","يَتَعَلَّمُوا","يَتَعَلَّمُونَ"]·ben["-যখন-আমি-শিখি","আমি-শিখি","আমি-শিখেছি","আর-শিখল","এবং-তারা-শিখল","এবং-তোমরা-শিখবে","এবং-শিখবে","তারা-শিখবে","তারা-শেখে","তুমি-শিখবে","তুমি-শেখ","শিখ","শিখতে","শিখবে","শিখবে-","শিখবে-তারা","শিখেছে","সে-শিখে"]·DE["[ילמדון]","[למדתי]","du-soll-lernen","du-wird-lernen","er-soll-lernen","ich-möchte-learn","lehren","lehrte","lernt","sie-moege-lernen","sie-wird-lernen","und-du-soll-lernen-ihnen","und-lehren","und-lernen","und-sie-learned","wann-ich-learn"]·EN["I-have-learned","I-might-learn","and-he-learned","and-learn","and-they-learned","and-you-shall-learn-them","he-shall-learn","learn","learning","shall-learn","they-may-learn","they-shall-learn","they-will-learn","when-I-learn","will-they-learn","you-shall-learn","you-will-learn"]·FR["dans-enseigner","enseigner","et-apprendre","et-enseigner","et-tu-devra-apprendre-eux","il-devra-apprendre","ils-fera-apprendre","ils-pourra-apprendre","tu-devra-apprendre","tu-fera-apprendre"]·heb["אלמד","ב-למדי","ו-ילמד","ו-ילמדו","ו-למדו","ו-למדתם","ילמד","ילמדו","ילמדון","למדו","למדתי","למוד","תלמד","תלמדו"]·HI["और-सीखा-उसने","और-सीखे","और-सीखें","और-सीखो","मेरे-वचन","वे-सीखेंगे","सीखते-हैं","सीखना","सीखी","सीखे","सीखें","सीखेंगी","सीखेंगे","सीखेंगे-","सीखेगा","सीखो"]·ID["akan-mereka-belajar","aku-belajar","belajar","belajar-","dan-belajar","dan-belajarlah","dan-ia-belajar","dan-mereka-belajar","dia-belajar","kamu-belajar","ketika-aku-mempelajari","mereka-akan-belajar","mereka-belajar","sungguh-sungguh"]·IT["e-imparare","e-insegnare","e-insegno'","e-tu-dovra-imparare-loro","egli-dovra-imparare","essi-fara-imparare","essi-possa-imparare","imparate","insegnare","insegno'","tu-dovra-imparare","tu-fara-imparare"]·jav["badhé-sinau","kawula-sinau","kula-sinau","lan-panjenengan-sinau","lan-piyambakipun-sinau","lan-sinau","menawi-kula-sinau","panjenengan-sinau","piyambakipun-sadaya-sinau","piyambakipun-sinau","sinau","sinau-","sinau-tenan"]·KO["그들이-배우도록","그들이-배우리라","그리고-배우도록","그리고-배우라","그리고-배웠나이다","그리고-배웠다","나는-배웠다","배우는-것을","배우라","배우려고","배우리라","배우리라-네가","배울-것이다-","배울-때에-나-는","배웠으니"]·PT["aprenda","aprendais","aprendam","aprendas","aprendendo","aprenderam","aprenderem","aprenderás","aprenderão","aprenderão-","aprendesse","aprendi","e-aprenderam","e-aprendereis","e-aprenderão","e-aprendeu","quando-aprender"]·RU["будут-учиться","и-изучите","и-научатся","и-научились","и-научился","когда-научусь-я","научатся","научатся-","научившись","научились","научился","научиться-мне","они-научатся","учились","учился","учись","учитесь"]·ES["al-aprender-yo","aprenda","aprendan","aprendas","aprenderán","aprenderás","aprendiendo","aprendieron","aprendí","y-aprendan","y-aprendieron","y-aprendió","y-los-aprenderéis"]·SW["ajifunze","hawatajifunza","jifunza","jifunze","kujifunza","na-akajifunza","na-mjifunze","na-wajifunze","na-wakajifunza","nijifunze","ninapojifunza","ujifunze","wajifunze","wanajifunza","watajifunza","watajifunza-"]·TR["ogrendiler","ogrenecekler","ogrenecekler-","ve-öğrendi","ve-öğrendiler","ve-öğrenin","ve-öğrensinler","öğrendim","öğrendiğimde","öğrenecekler","öğreneceksin","öğrenesin","öğreneyim","öğrenirlerse","öğrenmek","öğrenmeyin","öğrensin","öğrensinler-diye"]·urd["اور-سیکھا","اور-سیکھنے-لگے","اور-سیکھو","اور-سیکھیں","بہت","تُو-سیکھے","سیکھتے-ہوئے","سیکھتے-ہیں","سیکھو","سیکھوں","سیکھی-میں-نے","سیکھیں","سیکھیں-گے","سیکھے","وہ-سیکھیں","وہ-سیکھیں-گے","وہ-سیکھے"]
Deut 4:10, Deut 5:1, Deut 14:23, Deut 17:19, Deut 18:9, Deut 31:12, Deut 31:13, Ps 106:35, Ps 119:7, Ps 119:71, Ps 119:73, Prov 30:3 (+11 more)
3. Piel participle: teacher, instructor — The substantivized Piel participle functioning as a noun: 'teacher, instructor.' Distinguished from the active verbal sense by nominal syntax — it takes the article and possessive suffixes (מְלַמְּדַי, 'my teachers,' Prov 5:13; Ps 119:99). Psalm 94:10 asks rhetorically, 'He who teaches mankind knowledge — shall he not reprove?' and Psalm 18:34 (= 144:1) praises God as the one 'who trains my hands for battle.' 6×
AR["أُعَلِّمُكَ","المُعَلِّمُ","الْمُعَلَِمُ","مُعَلِّمِيَّ","وَ-لِمُدَرِّبِيَّ","يُعَلِّمُ"]·ben["আমার-শিক্ষকদের-চেয়ে","ও-আমার-গুরুদের-কাছে","যিনি-তোমাকে-শিক্ষা-দেন","যিনি-শিক্ষা-দেন","যিনি-শেখান"]·DE["[ולמלמדי]","der-einer-training","er-der-lehrt","lehren","mein-teachers","training"]·EN["and-to-my-instructors","he-who-teaches","my-teachers","the-one-training","training","who-teaches-you"]·FR["de-enseigner","enseigner","et-enseigner-moi","le-enseigner"]·heb["ה-מלמד","ו-ל-מלמדי","מלמד","מלמדיי","מלמדך"]·HI["और-सिखानेवालों-अपने-की-ओर","जो-सिखाता-है","तुझे-सिखाने-वाला","सिखाता","सिखानेवाला"]·ID["Melatih","dan-kepada-pengajar-pengajarku","guru-guruku","yang-mengajar","yang-mengajar-engkau"]·IT["e-per-insegnare-mio","insegnare","insegno'"]·jav["Ingkang-mucal","Ingkang-mulang","Mulang","guru-kula","ingkang-mulang-panjenengan","lan-dhateng-kang-mulang-kula"]·KO["가르치시는-이-가","가르치시는-이이시라","그-가르치시는-분이시라","그리고-나-의-가르치는-자-들-에게","나-의-스승들-보다","네게-가르치는-자이니"]·PT["Que-ensina","e-a-meus-instrutores","ensinando-te","meus-mestres","o-que-ensina"]·RU["и-к-учителям-моим","научающий","научающий-","учащий","учащий-тебя","учителей-моих"]·ES["el-que-enseña","el-que-te-enseña","enseñadores-de-mí","y-a-mis-instructores"]·SW["Anafundisha","anayefundisha","anayemfundisha","mkufunzaye","na-kwa-walimu-wangu","wote"]·TR["ogretirim-sana","ve-eğitmenlerime","öğreten","öğretmenlerimden"]·urd["اور-سکھانے-والوں-میرے-کو","اپنے-استادوں-سے","تجھے-سکھانے-والا","جو-سکھاتا-ہے","سکھانے-والا"]
4. Pual/Qal passive: trained, accustomed — The passive forms (Pual and Qal passive participle): trained, disciplined, accustomed. Used of warriors 'trained for war' bearing shield and sword (1 Chr 5:18), skilled musicians (1 Chr 25:7), and Solomon's armed escort 'trained in warfare' (Song 3:8). Spanish adiestrado ('trained, skilled') and Swahili -zoezwa ('accustomed, drilled') capture this disciplined-readiness nuance. Jeremiah 31:18 uses it memorably of Ephraim as an 'untrained calf' whom God must discipline. 6×
AR["الْمُتَعَلِّمِينَ-","مُتَعَلَّمَةً","مُدَرَّبَةٌ","مِلُمّْدِي","وَ-مُتَدَرِّبينَ","يُرَوَّضْ"]·ben["ও-শিক্ষিত","প্রশিক্ষিত","শিক্ষিত","শিক্ষিতদের","শেখানো"]·DE["[מלמדה]","[מלמדי]","lehren","lehrte","und-lehren"]·EN["and-trained-of","trained","trained-in-","trained-of"]·FR["enseigner","et-enseigner","instruits"]·heb["ו-למודי","לומד","מלומדה","מלומדי","מלומדת","מלמדי"]·HI["और-सीखे-हुए","सिखाई-हुई","सिखाए-हुए-","सिखाया-हुआ","सीखे-हुए"]·ID["dan-yang-terlatih-","terlatih","terlatih-dalam","yang-dipelajari"]·IT["e-insegnare","insegnare"]·jav["dipun-gladhi","ingkang-dipun-apalaken","kang-dilatih","kang-dipunlatih","lan-ingkang-wasis","sinau-"]·KO["그-와-배운-자들-의","길들여진","배운-것이다","배운-자들-의","훈련받은-자들-이라"]·PT["e-treinados-de","ensinada","ensinado","instruídos-em","treinados-na"]·RU["заученной","и-обученных","обученная","обученные","обученных-","приученный"]·ES["adiestrada","adiestrado","aprendido","instruidos-en","los-instruidos-en-","y-adiestrados-en"]·SW["aliyefunzwa","amefunzwa","na-waliofunzwa","waliofunzwa","waliyofundishwa"]·TR["egitilmis","eğitilmiş","ogretilmis","ve-eğitilmiş-","öğretilmiş-"]·urd["اور-سیکھے-ہوئے","سدھائی-ہوئی","سکھائے-ہوئے","سکھایا-ہوا"]
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† לָמַד vb. exercise in, learn (NH id., be accustomed to, learn; Aramaic לְמַד (rare) learn; Syriac ܠܡܰܕ Pa. accustom, combine; Ettaph. be taught, etc.; Assyrian lamâdu, learn, DlProl 29);— Qal Pf. 3 ms. ל׳ Is 26:10; 1 s. לָמַדְתִּי Pr 30:3 + 3 times Pf.; Impf. 3 ms. יִלְמַד Dt 17:19; 1 s. אֶלְמְדָה ψ 119:73; 3 pl. יִלְמְדוּן Dt 4:10 + 12 times Impf.; Imv. לִמְדוּ Is 1:17; Inf. abs. לָמֹד Je…