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2 Samuel 22:8 — Word Study

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WLCוַיִּתְגָּעַ֤שׁ וַתִּרְעַשׁ֙ הָאָ֔רֶץ מוֹסְד֥וֹת הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם יִרְגָּ֑זוּ וַיִּֽתְגָּעֲשׁ֖וּ כִּֽי־ חָ֥רָה לֽוֹ׃

BSAThen the earthʼerets [land, ground] shookgâʻash and quakedrâʻash [trembled violently] the foundationsmôwçâdâh [starting point, base] of the heavensshâmayim [sky, visible universe] trembledrâgaz [were shaken with fear] they were shakengâʻash [quaked, agitated] becausekîy He burned with angerchârâh [was incensed, furious, zeal, strong emotion]

Word
Listen & take away2 Samuel 22
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 8 is in this chapter.
Hebrew ↓ Download MP3 The Masoretic text of this chapter, read aloud. Read by Abraham Shmuelof, courtesy of Audio Scriptures International. Chapter divisions by the Academy of Ancient Languages..
Say the word Each Hebrew word carries its transliteration (lo) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
2 Samuel 22:8quick helps
In a sentenceThe earth and heavens react violently to God's anger.
Who is speakingDavid, expressing his distress and God's powerful response.
Where we areA poetic description of God's might in response to cries for help.
The hard wordגָּעַשׁ
Take awayGod's anger can cause the very foundations of creation to tremble.
5 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Ellicott, Cambridge & more — read them › clause verbגָּעַשׁ The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
How rare are these words?in the Old Testament

Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.

Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.

Deep Study — 2 Samuel 22:8

Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.

Context — God's Response to Distressgenerated

7In my distress I called upon the LORD; I cried out to my God. And from His temple He heard my voice, and my cry for help reached His ears.
8Then the earth shook and quaked; the foundations of the heavens trembled; they were shaken because He burned with anger.
9Smoke rose from His nostrils, and consuming fire came from His mouth; glowing coals blazed forth.
10He parted the heavens and came down with dark clouds beneath His feet.

2 Samuel 22:8 depicts a dramatic response from the earth and heavens as David calls upon the LORD in distress. This verse illustrates the power of God and His ability to shake creation itself in response to human cries for help, emphasizing His sovereignty and the seriousness of His anger. The surrounding verses describe the context of David's plea and God's intervention, reinforcing the theme of divine power and protection.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Judges 5:4O LORD, when You went out from Seir, when You marched from the land of Edom, the earth trembled, the heavens poured out rain, and the clouds poured down water.
2Psalm 18:7Then the earth shook and quaked, and the foundations of the mountains trembled; they were shaken because He burned with anger.
3Psalm 77:18Your thunder resounded in the whirlwind; the lightning lit up the world; the earth trembled and quaked.
4Psalm 97:4His lightning illuminates the world; the earth sees and trembles.
5Habakkuk 3:6–11He stood and measured the earth; He looked and startled the nations; the ancient mountains crumbled; the perpetual hills collapsed. His ways are everlasting.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 10 references, hung on the phrase they belong to

foundationsJob 26:11 Nahum 1:5

The Key Word גָּעַשׁ, vat.ga.'ashgenerated

The verb גָּעַשׁ (ga'ash) means to shake or quake. It conveys intense movement or instability, often used in the context of natural disasters like earthquakes. Here, it illustrates how the earth reacts violently to God's anger, highlighting the power of His presence.

The Hithpael form of this verb indicates a reflexive action, suggesting that the earth itself is actively shaking in response to an external force, which in this case is God's anger. This choice of verb emphasizes the dramatic nature of the event.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main verb is יִרְגָּ֑זוּ, they trembled, which governs the entire verse. The structure features multiple clauses that describe the actions of the earth and heavens, emphasizing the sequence and intensity of the events.

The Hebrew word order places the actions of the earth and heavens at the forefront, highlighting their immediate response to God's anger. This arrangement draws attention to the dramatic nature of the scene.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates גָּעַשׁ as ἐταράξθη (etaraxthē), which means to disturb or agitate. This choice indicates a slight widening of meaning, focusing on the disturbance caused by God's anger rather than just the shaking itself.

The translation of הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם as οὐρανοῦ (ouranou) maintains the reference to the heavens but aligns with the Greek understanding of the celestial realm.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

2 Samuel 22:8 describes how the earth shook and quaked, and the foundations of the heavens trembled because of God's anger. This imagery shows the power of God and how even creation responds to His emotions.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean that the earth shook and quaked?

This phrase indicates a powerful reaction from creation itself, suggesting that God's anger has a profound impact on the world.

Why does the verse mention the foundations of the heavens?

The foundations of the heavens refer to the underlying structure of the sky or universe, emphasizing that even the celestial realm is affected by God's power.

What is the significance of God's anger in this verse?

God's anger signifies His response to injustice or distress, and the trembling of the earth illustrates the seriousness of His emotions.

How does this verse relate to other biblical passages about God's power?

This verse connects with other passages that depict God's might, such as in Psalm 18:7, where the earth also reacts to His presence.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. How do I understand God's anger in relation to His love?
  2. In what ways can I see God's power at work in my life?
  3. What does it mean for creation to respond to God's emotions?
  4. How can I apply the lessons from this verse about God's might in my daily life?

Commentators on this verse — 5 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on 2 Samuel 22:8 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations of heaven moved and shook, because he was wroth. [See comments on Psalms 18:7].

Read John Gill on 2 Samuel 22 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations of heaven moved and shook, because he was wroth. Then the earth shook and trembled. The imagery of this highly poetical passage is supposed by Dr.

Read Robert Jamieson on 2 Samuel 22 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(8) Of heaven.—Psalms 18, “of the hills.” The thought is the same, but the strong poetic figure by which the mountains are spoken of as “the pillars of heaven” (comp. Job 26:11) is softened in the psalm.

Read Charles John Ellicott on 2 Samuel 22 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

8–16. The manifestation of Jehovah for the discomfiture of David’s enemies Earthquake and storm are regarded as the visible manifestations of Divine Power: and therefore God’s interposition for the deliverance of His servant from the perils that surrounded him is described as accompanied by terrible phenomena in nature. We have here an ideal description of a Theophany, based on the description of the Theophany at Sinai. See Exodus 19:16-18; and cp. Psalms 68:8; Psalms 77:16-18; Judges 5:4-5. It is not indeed impossible that David refers to some occasion when his enemies were scattered by the breaking of a terrible storm (cp. Joshua 10:11; 1 Samuel 7:10): but we have no record of such an…

Read Cambridge on 2 Samuel 22 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

8. Quakes and shakes — There is a similar play upon the words in the Hebrew — gaash and raash.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on 2 Samuel 22 →

The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company

Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.

Modern formal

BSBBerean Standard Bible2020

Then the earth shook and quaked; the foundations of the heavens trembled; they were shaken because He burned with anger.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Then the earth shook and trembled. The foundations of heaven quaked and were shaken, because he was angry.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

Then the earth shook and quaked; the foundations of the heavens trembled; they were shaken because He burned with anger.

NETBNew English Translation2006

The earth heaved and shook; the foundations of the sky trembled. They heaved because he was angry.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations of heaven moved and shook, because he was wroth.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

Then the earth shook and trembled, The foundations of heaven quaked And were shaken, because he was wroth.

RVARevised Version, American1894

Then the earth shook and trembled, the foundations of heaven moved and were shaken, because he was wroth.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

Then the earth shook and trembled: the foundations of heaven moved and shook, because he was wroth.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Then the earth trembled and quaked: the foundations of the heauens mooued and shooke, because he was angrie.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

Then the earth shook, and quaked; The foundations of the heavens trembled And shook because he was wroth.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

And shake and tremble doth the earth, Foundations of the heavens are troubled, And are shaken, for He hath wrath!

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

And the earth shakes and trembles, || Foundations of the heavens are troubled, || And are shaken, for He has wrath!

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

Then shook and trembled the earth; the foundations of the heavens were moved; and they shook, because he was wroth.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Then the earth shook and trembled. The foundations of the heavens trembled and were shaken, because God was angry.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

The earth shook and trembled, the foundations of the mountains were moved, and shaken, because he was angry with them.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

The earth shook to and fro; the foundations of the heavens trembled, shaking because of his anger.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

Then the earth was moved with a violent shock; the bases of heaven were moved and shaking, because he was angry.

Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.


The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank

This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.

וַandclauseverb phrase · verbיִּתְגָּעַ֤שׁit.shook.back.and.forthוַandתִּרְעַשׁ֙it.quakednoun phrase · subjectהָtheאָ֔רֶץearthclausenoun phrase · subjectמוֹסְד֥וֹתthe.foundationsnoun phraseהַofשָּׁמַ֖יִםthe.heavensverbיִרְגָּ֑זוּthey.trembledוַandclauseverbיִּֽתְגָּעֲשׁ֖וּthey.shook.back.and.forthכִּֽי(dm)clauseverbחָ֥רָהit.burnedprepositional phrase · prepositionalלֽtoוֹhim

Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.


The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran

The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint agree on the wording of 2 Samuel 22:8. Both texts convey the same dramatic imagery of the earth and heavens trembling in response to God's anger.

Masoretic TextLeningrad Codex, c. AD 1008 — the text this page is built on

וַיִּתְגָּעַ֤שׁ וַתִּרְעַשׁ֙ הָאָ֔רֶץ מוֹסְד֥וֹת הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם יִרְגָּ֑זוּ וַיִּֽתְגָּעֲשׁ֖וּ כִּֽי־ חָ֥רָה לֽוֹ׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
וַיִּתְגָּעַ֤שׁἐταράξθηוַתִּרְעַשׁ֙ἐσείσθηהָאָ֔רֶץγῆמוֹסְד֥וֹתθεμέλιαהַשָּׁמַ֖יִםοὐρανοῦיִרְגָּ֑זוּσυνεταράξθησανוַיִּֽתְגָּעֲשׁ֖וּἐσπαράξθησανכִּֽי־ὅτιחָ֥רָהἐθυμώθηלֽוֹ׃κύριος

10 of the 10 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.

Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.


The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with

This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.

2 Samuel 22:8גָּעַשׁand it shooand it shook baגָּעַשׁרָעַשׁand it quakand it quakedרָעַשׁאֶ֫רֶץthe earththe earthאֶ֫רֶץמוֹסָד[the] found[the] foundatioמוֹסָדשָׁמַיthe heavensthe heavensשָׁמַירָגַזthey tremblthey trembledרָגַזגָּעַשׁand they shand they shook גָּעַשׁכִּיforforכִּיחָרָהit burnedit burnedחָרָהוֹto himto himוֹמוֹסָדfoundationfoundationמוֹסָדחָרַרto scorchto scorchחָרַרחָרָהto contendto contendחָרָהרָעַשׁto shaketo shakeרָעַשׁמוֹסָדfoundationfoundationמוֹסָדזְעָקָהoutcryoutcryזְעָקָהרָגַזto trembleto trembleרָגַזכְּנַ֫עַןCanaanCanaanכְּנַ֫עַןמִצְרַ֫יִם(Sea of) E(Sea of) Egyptמִצְרַ֫יִםגָּעַשׁto shaketo shakeגָּעַשׁגְּעָרָהrebukerebukeגְּעָרָהעוֹףbirdbirdעוֹףכּוֹכָבstarstarכּוֹכָבשַׁאֲנָןsecuresecureשַׁאֲנָןיָדַעto knowto knowיָדַעאַףfacefaceאַףיוֹנָהJonahJonahיוֹנָה
meets it a little oftener than chancemeets it far oftener than chancebuilt from the same roottwo words of the verse share ita word of this versea related word

Lexicons — every word in 2 Samuel 22:8

One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.

Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.

and it shook back and forth and it quaked the earth [the] foundations of the heavens they trembled and they shook back and forth for it burned to him
וַיִּתְגָּעַ֤שׁvat.ga.'ash and it shook back and forth H1607 Verb · Hithpael · sequential imperfect third person masculine singular
9× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This verb means to shake or agitate violently, and can describe natural events like earthquakes or the turmoil of the sea. It is used to convey a sense of intense movement or instability.
Tyndale gloss
to shake
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

גָּעַשׁ (ga`ash) is a Hebrew verb meaning to shake or quake. It encompasses various forms, including shaking violently, being convulsed, and reeling back and forth. The word appears in contexts related to agitation or disturbance, particularly in the Qal and Pual forms, indicating both active shaking and a state of being shaken.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[גָּעַשׁ] vb. shake, quake

Qal quake of earth at theoph.

Pu. be shaken up, convulsed

Hithp. shake back and forth, toss or reel to and fro

Hithpo. reel to and fro

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1607 גָּעַשׁ

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1607 ga`ash gaw-ash'

a primitive root to agitate violently:--move, shake, toss,

trouble.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

גָּעַשׁ (ga.ash) — to shake.

1) to shake, quake

1a) (Qal) to shake

1b) (Pual) to be shaken up, convulsed

1c) (Hithpael) to shake back and forth, toss or reel to and fro

1d) (Hithpoel) to reel to and fro

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3fs — Verb · Hithpael · sequential imperfect third person masculine singular
Hc/Vtw3ms
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

forth: "Forth," adverb (from "for"), signifies movement

(1) forward,

(2) out of,

(3) beyond a certain boundary.

In a few instances in the Old Testament it is the translation of the preposition `al, properly "above," "upon" (2Ki 11:15; 2Ch 23:14; Am 7:17 the King James Version), and of chuts, "without" (Ge 39:13; Jud 19:25). "Forth" is often used as an expletive of various verbs, as "break (forth)," "bring (forth)," "call (forth)," etc. In the Gospel of John it is the translation of exo, "without," as "Lazarus, come forth" (11:43; so 15:6; 19:4 the King James Version…

and it shook back and forth and it quaked the earth [the] foundations of the heavens they trembled and they shook back and forth for it burned to him
וַתִּרְעַשׁ֙va.tir.'Ash and it quaked H7493 Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person feminine singular
30× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this word means to shake or quake, often describing the earth or sky trembling with fear. It's used in the books of Psalms and Isaiah, describing God's power and majesty.
Amplified meaning
trembled violently
Tyndale gloss
to shake
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

רָעַשׁ (ra`ash) is a Hebrew verb meaning to quake or shake. It describes actions such as trembling or moving, often due to fear, and can also refer to the springing of a horse. The verb appears in different forms, including Qal (to shake), Niphal (to be made to quake), and Hiphil (to cause to quake or leap).

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[רָעַשׁ] vb. quake, shake

Qal quake, shake

Niph. is made to quake

Hiph.

cause to quake

cause (horse) to spring, leap (like locust)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7493 [רָעַשׁ] quake, shake

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7493 ra`ash raw-ash

a primitive root; to undulate (as the earth, the sky, etc.;

also a field of grain), partic. through fear; specifically, to

spring (as a locust):--make afraid, (re-)move, quake, (make

to) shake, (make to) tremble.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

רָעַשׁ (ra.ash) — to shake.

1) to quake, shake

1a) (Qal) to quake, shake

1b) (Niphal) to be made to quake

1c)(Hiphil)

1c1) to cause to quake

1c2) to cause to spring or leap (of horse)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3fs — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person feminine singular
Hc/Vqw3fs
and it shook back and forth and it quaked the earth [the] foundations of the heavens they trembled and they shook back and forth for it burned to him
הָאָ֔רֶץha.'A.retz the earth H776 Particle · noun common feminine singular absolute
2,504× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The land or earth refers to the soil or ground, and can also mean a country, territory, or region. In the Bible, it is used to describe the earth and its inhabitants, and is often translated as 'land' or 'country'.
Amplified meaning
land, ground
Tyndale gloss
land: soil
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אֶ֫רֶץ (erets) is a feminine noun meaning 'earth' or 'land.' It encompasses various meanings, including the whole earth, specific territories like Canaan, and even inhabitants of the land. It can refer to soil, ground, or regions, and is used in phrases related to distance and the living. There is a note on the plural form אֲרָצוֹת, which mainly appears in later texts to denote multiple lands.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֶ֫רֶץ n. f. & (seld.) m. earth, land

earth, whole earth (opp. to a part)

earth, opp. to heaven, sky

earth = inhabitants of earth

land =

country, territory

district, region

trial territory

piece of ground

specif. land of Canaan, or Israel

= inhabitants of land

used even of Shᵉʼôl

ground, surface of ground

soil, as productive

אֶרֶץ in phrases

people of the land

in measurements of distance

the country of the plain, level or plain country

land of the living

end(s) of the earth

pl. אֲרָצוֹת is almost wholly late; it denotes lands, countries, often in contrast to Canaan, lands of the nations, etc.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H776 אֶ֫רֶץ n. f. & (seld.) m. earth, land . . earth, whole earth (opp. to a part)

. earth, opp. to heaven, sky

. earth = inhabitants of earth

. land = . country, territory

. district, region

. trial territory

. piece of ground

. specif. land of Canaan, or Israel

. = inhabitants of land

. used even of Shᵉʼôl

. . ground, surface of ground

. soil, as productive

. אֶרֶץ in phrases . people of the land

. in measurements of distance

. the country of the plain, level or plain country

. land of the living

. end(s) of the earth

. pl. אֲרָצוֹת is almost wholly late; it denotes lands, countries, often in contrast to Canaan, lands of the nations, etc.

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

776 'erets eh'-rets

from an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth

(at large, or partitively a land):--X common, country, earth,

field, ground, land, X natins, way, + wilderness, world.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֶ֫רֶץ (e.rets) — land: country/planet.

: country/field

1) land, earth

1a) earth

1a1) whole earth (as opposed to a part)

1a2) earth (as opposed to heaven)

1a3) earth (inhabitants)

1b) land

1b1) country, territory

1b2) district, region

1b3) tribal territory

1b4) piece of ground

1b5) land of Canaan, Israel

1b6) inhabitants of land

1b7) Sheol, land without return, (under) world

1b8) city (-state)

1c) ground, surface of the earth

1c1) ground

1c2) soil

1d) (in phrases)

1d1) people of the land

1d2) space or distance of country (in measurements of distance)

1d3) level or plain country

1d4) land of the living

1d5) end(s) of the earth

1e) (almost wholly late in usage)

1e1) lands, countries

1e1a) often in contrast to Canaan

אֶ֫רֶץ (e.rets) — land: soil.

: soil

1) land, earth

1a) earth

1a1) whole earth (as opposed to a part)

1a2) earth (as opposed to heaven)

1a3) earth (inhabitants)

1b) land

1b1) country, territory

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Art | N-cs — Particle · noun common feminine singular absolute
HTd/Ncfsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

urth ('adhamah, 'erets, 'aphar; ge, oikoumene):

In a hilly limestone country like Palestine, the small amount of iron oxide in the rocks tends to be oxidized, and thereby to give a prevailing reddish color to the soil. This is especially the case on relatively barren hills where there is little organic matter present to prevent reddening and give a more blackish tinge.

'Adhamah (compare 'adham, "a man," and Adam) is from 'adham, "to be red," and is used in the senses: "earth" (Ex 20:24), "land" (Ps 105:35), a "land" or country (Isa 14:2), "ground" (Ge 4:11), "the earth" (Ge 7:4).

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Earth

(1.) In the sense of soil or ground, the translation of the word adamah’. In Gen. 9:20 “husbandman” is literally “man of the ground or earth.” Altars were to be built of earth (Ex. 20:24). Naaman asked for two mules’ burden of earth (2 Kings 5:17), under the superstitious notion that Jehovah, like the gods of the heathen, could be acceptably worshipped only on his own soil.

(2). As the rendering of ’erets, it means the whole world (Gen. 1:2); the land as opposed to the sea (1:10). Erets also denotes a country (21:32); a plot of ground (23:15); the ground on which a man stands (33:3); the inhabitants of the earth (6:1; 11:1); all the world except Israel (

Smith's Bible Dictionary

The term is used in two widely-different senses: (1) for the material of which the earth’s surface is composed; (2) as the name of the planet on which man dwells. The Hebrew language discriminates between these two by the use of separate terms, adamah for the former, erets for the latter. Adamah is the earth in the sense of soil or ground, particularly as being susceptible of cultivation. (Genesis 2:7) Erets is applied in a more or less extended sense-- (1) to the whole world, (Genesis 1:1) (2) to land as opposed to sea, (Genesis 1:10) (3) to a country, (Genesis 21:32) (4) to a plot of ground, (Genesis 23:15) and (5) to…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

In both Hebrew and Greek the same word is used to denote the earth as a whole, and a particular land. Only the context can enable us to decide in which of these senses it is to be taken in a given passage.

Thus in Mt 27:45 we might, so far as the original word is concerned, render either "there was darkness over all the land," or over all the earth. The expression "all the earth" is sometimes used hyperbolically for a large portion of it, Ezr 1:2. The word is used of the whole world, etc. In a moral sense, earthly is opposed to what is heavenly, spiritual and holy, Joh 3:31 1Co 15:47 Col 3:2

and it shook back and forth and it quaked the earth [the] foundations of the heavens they trembled and they shook back and forth for it burned to him
מוֹסְד֥וֹתmos.Dot [the] foundations of H4146 Noun common · feminine plural construct
5× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means a foundation or base, like the starting point of a building. It appears in Psalm 11:3 and is also used in Proverbs 8:29 to describe the earth's foundation. This concept is key to understanding God's creation.
Amplified meaning
starting point, base
Tyndale gloss
foundation
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מוֹסָד (mowcadah) means 'foundation' and is a feminine form of another word for foundation, מוֹסָד (mosad). The entries consistently define it as a base or foundation, with no significant disagreement among the lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[מוֹסָד] n.m. foundation

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4146 [מוֹסָד] foundation

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4146 mowcadah mo-saw-daw'

or mocadah {mo-saw-daw'}; feminine of 4144; a

foundation:--foundation.

see HEBREW for 04144

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מוֹסָדָה (mo.sa.dah) — foundation.

foundation

Another spelling of mo.sad (מוֹסָד "foundation" H4144)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-cp — Noun common · feminine plural construct
HNcfpc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ov:

(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.

English usagewhat the translators’ English meant
Webster's Dictionary (1828), Webster's Unabridged (1913), Webster's Dictionary (1806)

OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]

1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.

I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.

For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.

It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.

Lamentations 3:1.

The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.

Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.

That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.

Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…

and it shook back and forth and it quaked the earth [the] foundations of the heavens they trembled and they shook back and forth for it burned to him
הַשָּׁמַ֖יִםha.sha.Ma.yim the heavens H8064 Particle · noun common masculine plural absolute
421× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for heaven or sky, it refers to the visible universe and the abode of God. It is often used in the Bible to describe the dwelling place of celestial bodies.
Amplified meaning
sky, visible universe
Tyndale gloss
heaven
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word שָׁמַיִם (*shamayim*) is a dual noun meaning 'heavens' or 'sky.' It refers to the visible heavens where celestial bodies are found, as well as the abode of God. The dual form may suggest both the arch of the sky and the higher ether. It is noted in contexts such as Elijah's ascent in a whirlwind.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[שָׁמַי] n.m. only pl. שָׁמַיִם 421 heavens, sky

visible heavens, sky, where stars, etc., are

phrases

as abode of God

Elijah taken up הַשּׁ׳ in whirlwind

הַשּׁ׳ personified in various relations

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8064 שָׁמַי only pl. שָׁמַיִם heavens, sky . . visible heavens, sky, where stars, etc., are

. phrases

. . as abode of God

. Elijah taken up הַשּׁ׳ in whirlwind

. הַשּׁ׳ personified in various relations

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8064 shamayim shaw-mah'-yim

dual of an unused singular shameh {shaw-meh'}; from an unused

root meaning to be lofty; the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps

alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds move, as well

as to the higher ether where the celestial bodies

revolve):--air, X astrologer, heaven(-s).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שָׁמַיִם (sha.ma.yim) — heaven.

1) heaven, heavens, sky

1a) visible heavens, sky

1a1) as abode of the stars

1a2) as the visible universe, the sky, atmosphere, etc

1b) Heaven (as the abode of God)

Aramaic equivalent: sha.ma.yin (שָׁמַ֫יִן "heaven" H8065)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Art | N-mp — Particle · noun common masculine plural absolute
HTd/Ncmpa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

hev'-'nz (shamayim; ouranoi): On the physical heavens see ASTRONOMY; WORLD. Above these, in popular conception, were the celestial heavens, the abode of God and of the hosts of angels (Ps 11:4; 103:19-21; Isa 66:1; Re 4:2; 5:11; compare Da 7:10), though it was recognized that Yahweh's presence was not confined to any region (1Ki 8:27). Later Judaism reckoned seven heavens. The apostle Paul speaks of himself as caught up into "the third heaven," which he evidently identifies with Paradise (2Co 12:2).

See HEAVENLY.

and it shook back and forth and it quaked the earth [the] foundations of the heavens they trembled and they shook back and forth for it burned to him
יִרְגָּ֑זוּyir.Ga.zu they trembled H7264 Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine plural
41× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this word means to shake or tremble with strong emotions like fear, anger, or excitement. It can also mean to provoke or disturb someone, causing them to become agitated. The KJV Bible translates it in various ways, including 'tremble', 'quake', and 'rage'.
Amplified meaning
were shaken with fear
Tyndale gloss
to tremble
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

רָגַז (ragaz) is a Hebrew verb meaning to tremble or quake, often in response to strong emotions like anger or fear. It can describe both a state of agitation and the act of causing agitation in others. The entries indicate its use in various forms, including Qal, Hiphil, and Hithpael, covering a range of emotional responses.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

רָגַז vb. be agitated, quiver, quake, be excited, perturbed

Qal quake

Hiph. cause to quake, disquiet, enrage

Hithp. excite oneself

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7264 רָגַז be agitated, quiver, quake, be excited, perturbed .quake

. cause to quake, disquiet, enrage

. excite oneself

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7264 ragaz raw-gaz'

a primitive root; to quiver (with any violent emotion,

especially anger or fear):--be afraid, stand in awe,

disquiet, fall out, fret, move, provoke, quake, rage, shake,

tremble, trouble, be wroth.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

רָגַז (ra.gaz) — to tremble.

1) tremble, quake, rage, quiver, be agitated, be excited, be perturbed

1a)(Qal) to quake, be disquieted, be excited, be perturbed

1b) (Hiphil) to cause to quake, disquiet, enrage, disturb

1c) (Hithpael) to excite oneself

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Imperf-3mp — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine plural
HVqi3mp
and it shook back and forth and it quaked the earth [the] foundations of the heavens they trembled and they shook back and forth for it burned to him
וַיִּֽתְגָּעֲשׁ֖וּvai.yit.ga.'a.Shu and they shook back and forth H1607 Verb · Hithpael · sequential imperfect third person masculine plural
9× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This verb means to shake or agitate violently, and can describe natural events like earthquakes or the turmoil of the sea. It is used to convey a sense of intense movement or instability.
Amplified meaning
quaked, agitated
Tyndale gloss
to shake
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

גָּעַשׁ (ga`ash) is a Hebrew verb meaning to shake or quake. It encompasses various forms, including shaking violently, being convulsed, and reeling back and forth. The word appears in contexts related to agitation or disturbance, particularly in the Qal and Pual forms, indicating both active shaking and a state of being shaken.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[גָּעַשׁ] vb. shake, quake

Qal quake of earth at theoph.

Pu. be shaken up, convulsed

Hithp. shake back and forth, toss or reel to and fro

Hithpo. reel to and fro

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1607 גָּעַשׁ

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1607 ga`ash gaw-ash'

a primitive root to agitate violently:--move, shake, toss,

trouble.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

גָּעַשׁ (ga.ash) — to shake.

1) to shake, quake

1a) (Qal) to shake

1b) (Pual) to be shaken up, convulsed

1c) (Hithpael) to shake back and forth, toss or reel to and fro

1d) (Hithpoel) to reel to and fro

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Hithpael-ConsecImperf-3ms — Verb · Hithpael · sequential imperfect third person masculine plural
Hc/Vtw3mp
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

forth: "Forth," adverb (from "for"), signifies movement

(1) forward,

(2) out of,

(3) beyond a certain boundary.

In a few instances in the Old Testament it is the translation of the preposition `al, properly "above," "upon" (2Ki 11:15; 2Ch 23:14; Am 7:17 the King James Version), and of chuts, "without" (Ge 39:13; Jud 19:25). "Forth" is often used as an expletive of various verbs, as "break (forth)," "bring (forth)," "call (forth)," etc. In the Gospel of John it is the translation of exo, "without," as "Lazarus, come forth" (11:43; so 15:6; 19:4 the King James Version…

and it shook back and forth and it quaked the earth [the] foundations of the heavens they trembled and they shook back and forth for it burned to him
כִּֽי־ki- for H3588 Particle
4,483× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A conjunction used to show cause or connection, as in Genesis 2:23 where Adam says the woman is bone of his bone because she was taken out of him. It is often translated as 'for', 'because', or 'since'.
Tyndale gloss
for
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כִּי (ki) is a conjunction primarily meaning 'that,' 'for,' or 'when.' It indicates causal relationships and can express conditions like 'if' or 'though.' The word is versatile, appearing in various contexts to convey certainty, exception, or concession. Notably, it can combine with other particles to modify its meaning, such as in the phrase כִּי אם־ (ki im), meaning 'that if.'

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כִּי conj. that, for, when

that

Of time, when, of the past

elsewhere כִּי has a force approximating to if, though it usu. represents a case as more likely to occur than אִם

when or if, with a concessive force, i.e. though

Because, since

base

כִּי אם־

each part. retaining its independent force, and relating to a different clause:

that if

for if

(About 140 t.) the two particles being closely conjoined, and relating to the same clause—

limiting the prec. clause, except

the if being neglected, and treated as pleonastic, so that the clause is no longer a limitation of the preceding clause but a contradiction of it: but rather, but

after an oath, surely

base

כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3588a כִּי that, for, when . that

. . Of time, when, of the past

. elsewhere כִּי has a force approximating to if, though it usu. represents a case as more likely to occur than אִם

. when or if, with a concessive force, i.e. though

. Because, since

H3588b כִּי אם־ . each part. retaining its independent force, and relating to a different clause: . that if

. for if

. (About 140 t.) the two particles being closely conjoined, and relating to the same clause— . limiting the prec. clause, except

. the if being neglected, and treated as pleonastic, so that the clause is no longer a limitation of the preceding clause but a contradiction of it: but rather, but

. after an oath, surely

H3588c כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3588 kiy kee

a primitive particle (the full form of the prepositional

prefix) indicating causal relations of all kinds, antecedent

or consequent; (by implication) very widely used as a relative

conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by

other particles annexed:--and, + (forasmuch, inasmuch,

where-)as, assured(-ly), + but, certainly, doubtless, + else,

even, + except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, +

nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then,

therefore, + (al- )though, + till, truly, + until, when,

whether, while, whom, yea, yet.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כִּי (ki) — for.

1) that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since

1a) that

1a1) yea, indeed

1b) when (of time)

1b1) when, if, though (with a concessive force)

1c) because, since (causal connection)

1d) but (after negative)

1e) that if, for if, indeed if, for though, but if

1f) but rather, but

1g) except that

1h) only, nevertheless

1i) surely

1j) that is

1k) but if

1l) for though

1m) forasmuch as, for therefore

כִּי [אם] (ki im) — that if: except.

1) except if

1a) but if

1b) even though

כִּי [עַל כֵּן] (ki [al ken]) — for as that: since.

1) that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since

1a) that

1a1) yea, indeed

1b) when (of time)

1b1) when, if, though (with a concessive force)

1c) because, since (causal connection)

1d) but (after negative)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj — Particle
HTc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

for (ki (conjunction), le, from 'el (preposition), and various other words. In the New Testament also the words are various, chiefly gar, kai gar, hoti (conjunctions); anti apo eis dia (accusative), epi (dative and accusative), peri (genitive), pros (genitive and accusative), huper (genitive) (prepositions)): the English Revised Version and the American Standard Revised Version give in many cases more literal or more accurate renderings than those in the King James Version.

In the New Testament the most important preps. from a doctrinal point of view are anti, "face to face," "over against," "instead," "on behalf of," peri, "around," "about," "concerning," huper, "over," "on behalf of." The first has been claimed as stating the substitutionary nature of Christ's sacrifice as contrasted with huper and peri, more frequently used of it. But, although anti in the New Testament often means…

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and it shook back and forth and it quaked the earth [the] foundations of the heavens they trembled and they shook back and forth for it burned to him
חָ֥רָהCha.rah it burned H2734 Verb · Qal · perfect third person masculine singular
91× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To be incensed means to be very angry or furious, like a fire burning. It describes strong emotions like anger, zeal, or jealousy, and is used to express intense feelings in the Bible.
Amplified meaning
was incensed, furious, zeal, strong emotion
Tyndale gloss
to be incensed
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

חָרָה (charah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to burn or be kindled, particularly in the context of anger or zeal. It encompasses various forms, including to glow, grow warm, or become incensed. The entries indicate its use in different stems, such as Qal (to burn), Niphal (to be angry), and Hiphil (to kindle). The lexicons do not present significant disagreement.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

חָרָה vb. burn, be kindled, of anger

Qal

of man

of God

Niph. be angry with

Hiph. burned with zeal (?) in repairing; and kindled his anger against me

Hithp. heat oneself in vexation.—The foll. forms are somewhat dub.: how canst thou hotly contend (in a race) with the horses?; because thou strivest eagerly (to excel) in cedar

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2734 חָרָה burn, be kindled, of anger

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2734 charah khaw-raw'

a primitive root (compare 2787); to glow or grow warm;

figuratively (usually) to blaze up, of anger, zeal,

jealousy:--be angry, burn, be displeased, X earnestly, fret

self, grieve, be (wax) hot, be incensed, kindle, X very, be

wroth. See 8474.

see HEBREW for 02787

see HEBREW for 08474

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חָרָה (cha.rah) — to be incensed.

1) to be hot, furious, burn, becomeangry, be kindled

1a) (Qal) to burn, kindle (anger)

1b) (Niphal) to be angry with, be incensed

1c) (Hiphil) to burn, kindle

1d) (Hithpael) to heat oneself in vexation

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Perf-3ms — Verb · Qal · perfect third person masculine singular
HVqp3ms
and it shook back and forth and it quaked the earth [the] foundations of the heavens they trembled and they shook back and forth for it burned to him
לֽוֹ׃lo to him H9033 Preposition · suffix
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

וֹ (o) — him.

Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 3rd person masculine singular

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HRd/Sp3ms — Preposition · suffix
HRd/Sp3ms
Sources on this page. Lexicons and dictionaries imported from the CrossWire SWORD modules — Abbott-Smith, Strong's, Dodson, the Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones, Robinson and Packard, Webster and Cawdrey. Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (Harper, 1889 — Grimm’s Wilke’s Clavis Novi Testamenti, translated, revised and enlarged by Joseph Henry Thayer) is public domain and is set here from the Internet Archive page scan greekenglishlex00grim; it is uncorrected OCR, marked as such on the entry itself, and the Strong’s numbers — which Thayer’s own edition does not carry — were matched by lemma against the other modules on this page. Trench’s Synonyms of the New Testament (Macmillan, 1880) and Moulton and Milligan’s Vocabulary of the Greek Testament (Hodder & Stoughton, 1930, which entered the United States public domain on 1 January 2026) are set from Internet Archive page scans synonymsofnewtes00treniala and vocabularyofgree00mouluoft, and are likewise uncorrected OCR matched to Strong’s numbers by lemma. Trench treats a group of words at once, so the same essay stands on the page of each word it compares. The Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary is © 1993 and is used here by permission for non-commercial use, www.teknia.com/greek-dictionary. The full Liddell-Scott-Jones and the Hebrew word data (TAHOT) come from STEPBible.org, CC BY 4.0. Brown-Driver-Briggs is the OpenScriptures digitisation, public domain. Syntax analysis is the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (biblicalhumanities.org); the concordance and morphology are built from the tagged Nestle 1904 text. Septuagint occurrences use the Open Scriptures Septuagint lemma index, derived from CCAT (University of Pennsylvania) and the Rahlfs 1935 dataset by Eliran Wong, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 — used here on a non-commercial ministry site. Greek of Josephus and Barnabas from the Perseus Digital Library, CC BY-SA 4.0. Commentaries and the Ante-Nicene Fathers are public-domain texts hosted on this site. Everyday Greek from the Duke Databank of Documentary Papyri, CC BY 3.0, with dates and provenance from the Heidelberger Gesamtverzeichnis. Philo and the Apostolic Fathers from Open Greek and Latin (First1KGreek), CC BY-SA 4.0. The apparatus and the fifth Greek column are the SBL Greek New Testament, © 2010 SBL and Logos Bible Software, CC BY 4.0. The Latin is the Clementine Vulgate (public domain); the Syriac New Testament is the ETCBC edition (MIT licence). The Hebrew behind the Greek is computed here from the Septuagint index and TAHOT, not taken from any aligned edition. The translation spread and the per-word edition marks come from the Translators Amalgamated Greek NT (STEPBible, CC BY 4.0); clause roles from the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (CC BY-SA 4.0); place identifications and their confidence from OpenBible.info Bible Geocoding (CC BY 4.0), with map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors. Gospel parallels are computed here from shared uncommon vocabulary, not taken from any printed harmony. Cross references are the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and the subject headings are Nave’s Topical Bible, both public domain. Works under Creative Commons licences are used unchanged apart from markup removal.

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