[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/spoil.html) [home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/) / [The Judaism dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/) / spoil [← S](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/S/) # spoil «spoil» in Mova's judaism dictionary: **to ruin it or make it worse** — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples, with 5 sentences of Mova's corpora that use it. ### part of speech verb (spoil, spoils, spoiled or spoilt, spoiling); noun (the spoils — rare) ### meaning for a pupil 1) To spoil something means to ruin it or make it worse. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/spoil/#m1) 2) Food spoils when it goes bad and is no longer safe to eat. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/spoil/#m2) 3) To spoil a child means to give them everything they want, so they may expect too much. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/spoil/#m3) 4) To spoil also means to treat someone kindly in a special way. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/spoil/#m4) 5) Spoil can also mean goods taken by force, such as loot after a battle or raid. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/spoil/#m5) ### sense in the lessons In the Tanakh and Jewish tradition: In the Torah, spoil is what is taken in war from a defeated people, such as animals, goods and captives. Sometimes it is shared out among the fighters and the community. The Prophets also tell of cities being spoiled and of dividing spoil, as in Deborah's song, and Jeremiah uses "spoiling" for the ruin of a city like Horonaim. Interpretation: The law of war spoil in Numbers 31 shows that it was divided between the soldiers and the rest of the people, and part was given to the priests and Levites. Commentators note that taking it was allowed only under God's command. In the primary lessons: In everyday life, food spoils if left out of the fridge; milk smells sour and bread goes mouldy. In stories and films, a spoiler tells the ending and spoils the surprise. In manners lessons, a spoiled child sulks when they don't get their way. Phrases: spoil the fun, spoil the surprise, spoiled rotten, a spoilsport, spoiler. ### examples - And they took all the spoil, and all the prey, both of man and of beast. (Torah NUM.31.11, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/spoil/#x1) - But all the cattle, and the spoil of the cities, we took for a prey unto ourselves. (Torah DEU.3.7, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/spoil/#x2) - The sons of Jacob came upon the slain, and spoiled the city, because they had defiled their sister. (Torah GEN.34.27, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/spoil/#x3) - Hark! a cry from Horonaim, spoiling and great destruction! (Prophets JER.48.3, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/spoil/#x4) - 'Are they not finding, are they not dividing the spoil? (Prophets JDG.5.30, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/spoil/#x5) - And he brought forth the spoil of the city, exceeding much. (Prophets 2SA.12.30, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/spoil/#x6) - The rain spoiled our picnic. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/spoil/#x7) - Don't tell me the ending, you'll spoil it! [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/spoil/#x8) - Milk spoils quickly if you leave it in the sun. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/spoil/#x9) - His grandparents spoil him with sweets. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/spoil/#x10) - Don't be a spoilsport; come and play. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/spoil/#x11) - One mean comment spoiled her day. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/spoil/#x12) - Throw away food that has spoiled. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/spoil/#x13) - Mum spoiled us with pancakes on Sunday. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/spoil/#x14) - The Ass was asked to divide the spoil. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/spoil/#x15) ### note Past: spoiled or spoilt (spoilt is more British). «Spoilt/spoiled child» is a criticism. A spoiler is something that gives away a story's ending. Spoiled food can make you ill; when in doubt, throw it out. ### In the corpora - [The sons of Jacob came upon the slain, and spoiled the city, because they had defiled their sister.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/torah/jps/GEN.1083/) - [Benjamin is a wolf that raveneth; in the morning he devoureth the prey, and at even he divideth the spoil.'](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/torah/jps/GEN.1626/) - [And they took all the spoil, and all the prey, both of man and of beast.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/torah/jps/NUM.1105/) - [only the cattle we took for a prey unto ourselves, with the spoil of the cities which we had taken.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/torah/jps/DEU.81/) - [But all the cattle, and the spoil of the cities, we took for a prey unto ourselves.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/torah/jps/DEU.90/) ### Trees and pragmatics [Every meaning and example of «spoil» parsed by Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/spoil/), each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.