Hebrew · H3899, H905, H2421, H120 · unreviewed

לֹא עַל-הַלֶּחֶם לְבַדּוֹ יִחְיֶה הָאָדָם

Food (for man or beast), especially bread , or grain (for making it) · properly, separation ; by implication, a part of the body, branch of a tree, bar for carrying; figuratively, chief of a city; especially (with prepositional prefix) as an adverb, apart , only , besides · to live , whether literally or figuratively; causatively, to revive · ruddy i.e. a human being (an individual or the species, mankind , etc.)

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Words in this compound — expand to study each participant

לֶחֶם H3899 food (for man or beast), especially bread , or grain (for making it)
Pronunciation leḥem
Staple sustenance representing basic human need; metaphorically signifies livelihood, covenant provision, and dependence on God.
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בַּד H905 properly, separation ; by implication, a part of the body, branch of a tree, bar for carrying; figuratively, chief of a city; especially (with prepositional prefix) as an adverb, apart , only , besides
Pronunciation bad
Root meaning of separation extending to isolated units: limbs, branches, bars—hence "alone" or "only
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חָיָה H2421 to live , whether literally or figuratively; causatively, to revive
Pronunciation chayah
Encompasses both physical survival and spiritual vitality; God's exclusive power to revive and restore life.
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אָדָם H120 ruddy i.e. a human being (an individual or the species, mankind , etc.)
Pronunciation ʾādām
Humanity defined by earthly origin: from dust (ʾădāmâ), emphasizing creatureliness and mortality rather than divinity.
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What does לֹא עַל-הַלֶּחֶם לְבַדּוֹ יִחְיֶה הָאָדָם (lo al ha-lechem levaddo yichyeh ha-adam) mean in the Bible?

לֶחֶם · בַּד · חָיָה · אָדָם is a Hebrew word meaning "Not by bread alone does the human being live — the definitive statement of divine-word dependence".

Full entry for לֹא עַל-הַלֶּחֶם לְבַדּוֹ יִחְיֶה הָאָדָם (H3899, H905, H2421, H120) · Browse the biblical lexicon

Meaning

Not by bread alone does the human being live — the definitive statement of divine-word dependence
Grammatical Forms

How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.

Sources