Genesis 43:28 — Word Study
WLCוַיֹּאמְר֗וּ שָׁל֛וֹם לְעַבְדְּךָ֥ לְאָבִ֖ינוּ עוֹדֶ֣נּוּ חָ֑י וַֽיִּקְּד֖וּ וַיִּֽשְׁתַּחֲוּֽוּ׃
BSAYour servantʻebed [devoted one, bondslave] our fatherʼâb [parent, patriarch] is wellshâlôwm [in good health, at peace] they answeredʼâmar▸ He is stillʻôwd [yet, continuing] alivechay [living, in possession of life] And they bowed downqâdad▸ [prostrated themselves, showed respect] to honor himshâchâh▸ [show respect, pay homage]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וַיֹּאמְר֗וּ | and they said | Verb, Qal, sequential imperfect third person masculine plural |
| שָׁל֛וֹם | health | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
| לְעַבְדְּךָ֥ | [belongs] to servant your | Preposition, noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
| לְאָבִ֖ינוּ | to father our | Preposition, noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
| עוֹדֶ֣נּוּ | still he | Suffix |
| חָ֑י | [is] alive | Adj |
| וַֽיִּקְּד֖וּ | and they bowed low | Verb, Qal, sequential imperfect third person masculine plural |
| וַיִּֽשְׁתַּחֲוּֽוּ׃ | and they bowed down | Verb pilpel, sequential imperfect third person masculine plural |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | “Your servant our father is well,” they answered. “He is still alive.” And they bowed down to honor him. |
| KJV | And they answered, Thy servant our father is in good health, he is yet alive. And they bowed down their heads, and made obeisance. |
| ASV | And they said, Thy servant our father is well, he is yet alive. And they bowed the head, and made obeisance. |
| YLT | and they say, 'Thy servant our father [is] well, he is yet alive;' and they bow, and do obeisance. |
| WEB | They said, “Your servant, our father, is well. He is still alive.” They bowed down humbly. |
| BBE | And they said, Your servant, our father, is well, he is still living. And they went down on their faces before him. |
Where they part company is שָׁל֛וֹם — see How Translations Differ.
The main clause is followed by reported speech and a predicate, with a concluding action that emphasizes respect.
5 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
subjectשָׁלוֹם
verbאָמַר
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
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 — Genesis 43:28
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 — Joseph's Reunion with His Brothersgenerated
Genesis 43:28 captures the moment when Joseph's brothers assure him of their father's well-being. They respond to Joseph's inquiry with confirmation that their father is still alive, demonstrating both their concern and respect. This verse highlights the emotional dynamics between Joseph and his brothers as they navigate their complex family relationships.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Genesis 43:26 | When Joseph came home, they presented him with the gifts they had brought, and they bowed to the ground before him. |
| 2 | Genesis 37:7–9 | We were binding sheaves of grain in the field, and suddenly my sheaf rose and stood upright, while your sheaves gathered around and bowed down to mine.” |
| 3 | Exodus 18:7 | So Moses went out to meet his father-in-law and bowed down and kissed him. They greeted each other and went into the tent. |
| 4 | 2 Samuel 1:2 | On the third day a man with torn clothes and dust on his head arrived from Saul’s camp. When he came to David, he fell to the ground to pay him homage. |
| 5 | 2 Samuel 14:4 | When the woman from Tekoa went to the king, she fell facedown in homage and said, “Help me, O king!” |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 7 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — שָׁל֛וֹם, sha.Lomgenerated
The Hebrew word שָׁלוֹם (shalom) means peace and encompasses a sense of completeness and wellness. It reflects both physical health and emotional tranquility, often used in greetings and blessings. In this context, it assures Joseph of their father's good condition.
This word is more than just a statement of health; it implies a holistic sense of well-being that includes harmony in relationships, making it a significant term in the Hebrew Bible.
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 יֹּאמְר֗וּ, they said, which governs the rest of the sentence. The structure includes a prepositional phrase indicating possession, a predicate describing the state of their father, and two verbs indicating actions of respect.
Hebrew word order places emphasis on the subject and predicate, making it clear that the brothers are both affirming their father's health and expressing their deference to Joseph.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates יֹּאמְר֗וּ as εἶπαν (eipan), meaning 'they said.' This choice maintains the directness of the Hebrew statement while aligning with the Greek style of reporting speech.
For שָׁל֛וֹם, the LXX uses ὑγιαίνει (hygiainei), which emphasizes health rather than peace, suggesting a more focused interpretation of the father's condition.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Genesis 43:28 shows Joseph's brothers telling him that their father is well and still alive. They bow down to show respect to Joseph, highlighting their acknowledgment of his position.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
In this context, שָׁל֛וֹם means that their father is in good health and at peace, indicating his overall well-being.
The brothers bow down to honor Joseph, recognizing his authority and their respect for him.
Their father's well-being is a source of relief and joy for the brothers, reflecting their concern for family and the emotional weight of their reunion.
This verse illustrates the themes of family loyalty and respect, as the brothers not only affirm their father's health but also show deference to Joseph, their brother who has risen to power.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- How do I express respect and honor to those in authority in my life?
- What does it mean to me that well-being encompasses peace and completeness?
- In what ways can I show concern for my family members' health and happiness?
- How can I navigate complex family relationships with respect and care?
Commentators on this verse — 5 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Genesis 43:28 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleAnd they answered, thy servant our father [is] in good health, he [is] yet alive,.... Which is an answer to both his questions; and by calling their father Joseph's servant, he did obeisance to him
Read John Gill on Genesis 43 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryAnd they came near to the steward of Joseph's house, and they communed with him at the door of the house, No JFB commentary on these verses.
Read Robert Jamieson on Genesis 43 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleThy servant; by which expression delivered in Jacob’ s name, and by his order, Jacob himself made obeisance to him, as was foretold, .
Read Matthew Poole on Genesis 43 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsGenesis 43:28 And they answered, Thy servant our father [is] in good health, he [is] yet alive. And they bowed down their heads, and made obeisance. Ver. 28.
Read John Trapp on Genesis 43 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(28) They bowed down.—This was the literal fulfilment of the first dream concerning the eleven sheaves making obeisance. As their business in Egypt was to buy corn, there was a fitness also in their being represented as sheaves.
Read Charles John Ellicott on Genesis 43 →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
“Your servant our father is well,” they answered. “He is still alive.” And they bowed down to honor him.
They said, “Your servant, our father, is well. He is still alive.” They bowed down humbly.
“Your servant our father is well,” they answered. “He is still alive.” And they bowed down to honor him.
“Your servant our father is well,” they replied. “He is still alive.” They bowed down in humility.
Tyndale line
And they answered, Thy servant our father is in good health, he is yet alive. And they bowed down their heads, and made obeisance.
And they said, Thy servant our father is well, he is yet alive. And they bowed the head, and made obeisance.
And they said, Thy servant our father is well, he is yet alive. And they bowed the head, and made obeisance.
And they answered, Thy servant, our father, is in good health, he is yet alive: and they bowed their heads and made obeisance.
Who answered, Thy seruant our father is in good health, he is yet aliue: and they bowed downe, and made obeysance.
Strictly literal
And they said, Thy servant our father is well; he is yet alive. And they bowed, and made obeisance.
and they say, 'Thy servant our father [is] well, he is yet alive;' and they bow, and do obeisance.
And they say, “Your servant our father [is] well, he is yet alive”; and they bow, and pay respect.
And they answered, Thy servant, our father, is in good health, he is yet alive. And they bowed down their heads, and prostrated themselves.
They said, “Your servant our father is well. He is still alive.” They prostrated themselves and bowed down.
From the Latin
And they answered: Thy servant our father is in health, he is yet living. And bowing themselves they made obeisance to him.
Simplified
“Yes, your servant our father is still alive, and is well,” they replied and bowed low in respect.
And they said, Your servant, our father, is well, he is still living. And they went down on their faces before him.
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.
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 closely, with all eight words matching. However, the Samaritan Pentateuch differs in several words, including יֹּאמְר֗וּ (say) and adds a blessing, indicating a variation in the tradition.
וַיֹּאמְר֗וּ שָׁל֛וֹם לְעַבְדְּךָ֥ לְאָבִ֖ינוּ עוֹדֶ֣נּוּ חָ֑י וַֽיִּקְּד֖וּ וַיִּֽשְׁתַּחֲוּֽוּ׃
8 of the 8 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.
ויאמרו שׁלום לעבדך לאבינו עודנו חי ויאמר ברוך האישׁ ההוא לאלהים ויקדו וישׁתחוו
8 words differ from the Masoretic Text: יאמר (say), ברוך (bless), ה (the), אישׁ (man), ה (the), הוא (he)
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.
Lexicons — every word in Genesis 43:28
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.
אָמַר (amar) is a Hebrew verb meaning 'to say' or 'to utter,' with a broad range of uses including to promise, command, or even boast. It appears in various forms, such as in the Qal (to say), Niphal (to be told), and Hiphil (to avow). The entries highlight its versatility in both spoken and internal contexts, though no specific verse is noted.
אָמַר 5287 vb. utter, say
Qal
Say
Say in the heart (= think)
Promise
Command (esp. late)
Niph. be said, told
Hiph. avow, avouch (lit. cause to declare)
Hithp. act proudly, boast
base
H559 אָמַר utter, say .. Say
. Say in the heart (= think)
. Promise
. Command (esp. late)
. be said, told
. avow, avouch (lit. cause to declare)
. act proudly, boast
559 'amar aw-mar'
a primitive root; to say (used with great
latitude):--answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call,
certify, challenge, charge, + (at the, give) command(-ment),
commune, consider, declare, demand, X desire, determine, X
expressly, X indeed, X intend, name, X plainly, promise,
publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), X still, X
suppose, talk, tell, term, X that is, X think, use (speech),
utter, X verily, X yet.
אָמַר (a.mar) — to say.
1) to say, speak, utter
1a) (Qal) to say, to answer, to say in one's heart, to think, to command, to promise, to intend
1b) (Niphal) to be told, to be said, to be called
1c) (Hithpael) to boast, to act proudly
1d) (Hiphil) to avow, to avouch
Aramaic equivalent: a.mar (אֲמַר "to say" H0560)
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3mp — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine pluralHc/Vqw3mp
שָׁלוֹם (shalom) conveys a range of meanings including completeness, soundness, welfare, and peace. It can refer to physical safety and health, as well as emotional states like tranquility and friendship, particularly in human relationships and with God. The word is derived from a root meaning 'to be complete' and is used in various contexts, including greetings.
שָׁלוֹם 237 n.m. completeness, soundness, welfare, peace
completeness in no.
safety, soundness, in body
welfare, health, prosperity
peace, quiet, tranquility, contentment
peace, friendship
peace from war
as adj. those at peace with him
base
H7965 שָׁלוֹם completeness, soundness, welfare, peace
7965 shalowm shaw-lome'
or shalom {shaw-lome'}; from 7999; safe, i.e. (figuratively)
well, happy, friendly; also (abstractly) welfare, i.e. health,
prosperity, peace:--X do, familiar, X fare, favour, + friend,
X great, (good) health, (X perfect, such as be at)
peace(-able, -ably), prosper(-ity, -ous), rest, safe(-ty),
salute, welfare, (X all is, be) well, X wholly.
see HEBREW for 07999
שָׁלוֹם (sha.lom) — peace.
: peace
1) completeness, soundness, welfare, peace
1a) completeness (in number)
1b) safety, soundness (in body)
1c) welfare, health, prosperity
1d) peace, quiet, tranquillity, contentment
1e) peace, friendship
1e1) of human relationships
1e2) with God especially in covenant relationship
1f) peace (from war)
1g) peace (as adjective)
שָׁלוֹם (ye.ho.vah sha.lom) — Peace.
This name means completeness, peace
Another name of ye.ho.vah (יהוה "LORD" H3068G)
שָׁלוֹם (sha.lom) — peace: well-being.
: well-being
1) completeness, soundness, welfare, peace
1a) completeness (in number)
1b) safety, soundness (in body)
1c) welfare, health, prosperity
1d) peace, quiet, tranquillity, contentment
1e) peace, friendship
1e1) of human relationships
1e2) with God especially in covenant relationship
1f) peace (from war)
1g) peace (as adjective)
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa
helth (shalom, yeshu`ah, 'arukhah; riph'uth, 'arukhah; soteria, hugiaino): Shalom is part of the formal salutation still common in Palestine. In this sense it is used in Ge 43:28; 2Sa 20:9; the stem word means "peace," and is used in many varieties of expression relating to security, success and good bodily health. Yeshu`ah, which specifically means deliverance or help, occurs in the refrain of Ps 42:11; 43:5, as well as in Ps 67:2; in the American Standard Revised Version it is rendered "help." Riph'uth is literally, "healing," and is found only in Pr 3:8. Marpe' also means healing of the body, but is used in a…
The Hebrew word עֶ֫בֶד (*ebed*) means 'slave' or 'servant' and encompasses various roles, including household servants, subjects, and worshippers of God. It can also refer to Israel as a collective servant of God and is used in polite address among equals. The word is derived from a root meaning 'to work' or 'to serve'.
עֶ֫בֶד 799 n.m. slave, servant
slave, servant of household
Subjects, of chief
Servants, worshippers of God
Servant of י׳, in a special sense
Israel as a people is servant of י׳
In polite address of equals or superiors the Hebrews used עַבְדְּךָ thy servant = 1 pers. sing., I
Phrases
base
H5650 עֶ֫בֶד slave, servant . slave, servant of household
. Subjects, of chief
. Servants, worshippers of God
. Servant of י׳, in a special sense
. Israel as a people is servant of י׳
. In polite address of equals or superiors the Hebrews used עַבְדְּךָ thy servant = 1 pers. sing., I
. Phrases
5650 `ebed eh'-bed
from 5647; a servant:--X bondage, bondman, (bond-)servant,
(man-)servant.
see HEBREW for 05647
עֶ֫בֶד (e.ved) — servant/slave.
1) slave, servant
1a) slave, servant, man-servant
1b) subjects
1c) servants, worshippers (of God)
1d) servant (in special sense as prophets, Levites etc)
1e) servant (of Israel)
1f) servant (as form of address between equals)
Aramaic equivalent: a.vad (עֲבַד "servant/slave" H5649)
Prep | N-ms | Suff — Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHR/Ncmsc/Sp2ms
אָב (av) means 'father' and encompasses various roles such as the literal father of an individual, God as the father of His people, and the head of a household or clan. It can also refer to an ancestor, originator of a profession, or a figure of respect and protection. Notably, it can imply a ruler or chief in later contexts.
אָב 1101 n.m. father
father of individual
of God as father of his people
head of household, family or clan
ancestor
originator or patron of a class, profession, or art
fig. of producer, generator
fig. of benevolence & protection
term of respect & honor
specif., ruler, chief (late)
base
H1 אָב father . father of individual
. of God as father of his people
. head of household, family or clan
. ancestor
. originator or patron of a class, profession, or art
. fig. of producer, generator
. fig. of benevolence & protection
. term of respect & honor
. specif., ruler, chief (late)
1 'ab awb
a primitive word; father, in a literal and immediate, or
figurative and remote application):--chief,
(fore-)father(-less), X patrimony, principal. Compare names
in "Abi-".
אָב (av) — father.
1) father of an individual
2) of God as father of his people
3) head or founder of a household, group, family, or clan
4) ancestor
4a) grandfather, forefathers - of person
4b) of people
5) originator or patron of a class, profession, or art
6) of producer, generator (fig.)
7) of benevolence and protection (fig.)
8) term of respect and honour
9) ruler or chief (spec.)
Also means: av (אַב "father" H0002)
אָב (av) — (Huram)-abi.
A man living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Ki.7.13; also called Huram-abi (KJV: "Huram my father's") at 2Ch.2.13; 4.16;
Combined with chi.ram (חִירָם "Hiram" H2438H)
אָב (av) — father of.
The father of Gibeon, also known as Abiel - a man of the tribe of Benjamin living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Sa.9.1;
son of: Zeror (H6872C); married to Maacah (H4601N);
Prep | N-ms | Suff — Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHR/Ncmsc/Sp1bp
עוֹד (owd) primarily denotes a sense of iteration or continuance, functioning mostly as an adverb meaning 'still,' 'yet,' or 'again.' It can also imply addition or repetition, as in 'more' or 'besides.' The word appears in various contexts throughout the Old Testament, emphasizing persistence or continuation.
עוֹד and (14 t.) עֹד subst. a going round, continuance, but used mostly as adv. acc. still, yet, again, besides
base
H5750 עוֹד and (14 t.) עֹד subst. a going round, continuance, but used mostly as adv. acc. still, yet, again, besides
5750 `owd ode
or rod {ode}; from 5749; properly, iteration or continuance;
used only adverbially (with or without preposition), again,
repeatedly, still, more:--again, X all life long, at all,
besides, but, else, further(-more), henceforth, (any) longer,
(any) more(-over), X once, since, (be) still, when, (good,
the) while (having being), (as, because, whether, while) yet
(within).
see HEBREW for 05749
עוֹד (od) — still.
subst
1) a going round, continuance
adv
2) still, yet, again, besides
2a) still, yet (of continuance or persistence)
2b) still, yet, more (of addition or repetition)
2c) again
2d) still, moreover, besides
Aramaic equivalent: od (עוֹד "still" H5751)
Adv | Suff — SuffixHAcmsc/Sp3ms
ha: The fifth letter of the Hebrew alphabet; transliterated in this Encyclopedia as "h." It came also to be used for the number 5. For name, etc., see ALPHABET.
The Hebrew word חַי (*chay*) means 'alive' or 'living' and covers a range of meanings related to life, including living beings, vitality, and freshness. It can refer to God, animals, vegetation, and even concepts like appetite and community. Variants include חַיָּה (*chayyah*), meaning 'living thing' or 'animal,' and חַיִּים (*chayim*), which emphasizes life and sustenance.
חַי adj. alive, living
of God, as the living one, the fountain of life
of man
of animals, alive, living
animals and man
(dub.) of vegetation, as thorns, green
of water, fresh
(dub.) lively, active
reviving
base
[חַי] n.[m.] kinsfolk, pl. sf. 1 S 18:18
ref
חַיָּה n.f. living thing, animal
animal
in general
wild animals, on account of their vital energy and activity
living beings, of the cherubic chariot
life, only in late poetry
appetite, activity of hunger
revival, renewal
base
חַיָּה n.f. community
base
חַיִּים n.m. pl. abstr. emph. life
life: physical
life: as welfare and happiness in king's presence
sustenance, maintenance
base
H2416a חַי alive, living . . of God, as the living one, the fountain of life
. of man
. of animals, alive, living
. animals and man
. (dub.) of vegetation, as thorns, green
. of water, fresh
. (dub.) lively, active
. reviving
H2416b חַי kinsfolk H2416c חַיָּה living thing, animal . animal . in general
. wild animals, on account of their vital energy and activity
. living beings, of the cherubic chariot
. life, only in late poetry
. appetite, activity of hunger
. revival, renewal
H2416d חַיָּה community H2416e חַיִּים pl. abstr. emph. life . life: physical
. life: as welfare and happiness in king's presence
. sustenance, maintenance
2416 chay khah'-ee
from 2421; alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water,
year), strong; also (as noun, especially in the feminine
singular and masculine plural) life (or living thing), whether
literally or figuratively:--+ age, alive, appetite, (wild)
beast, company, congregation, life(-time), live(-ly), living
(creature, thing), maintenance, + merry, multitude, + (be)
old, quick, raw, running, springing, troop.
see HEBREW for 02421
חַי (chay) — alive.
adj
1) living, alive
1a) green (of vegetation)
1b) flowing, fresh (of water)
1c) lively, active (of man)
1d) reviving (of the springtime)
Aramaic equivalent: chay (חַי "living" H2417)
חַי (chay) — kinsfolk.
kinsfolk
חַיָּה (chay.yah) — living thing.
1) living thing, animal
1a) animal
1b) life
1c) appetite
1d) revival, renewal
Aramaic equivalent: che.va (חֵיוָא "beast" H2423)
חַיָּה (chay.yah) — community.
community
חַיִּים (chay.yim) — life.
1) life (abstract emphatic)
1a) life
1b) sustenance, maintenance
Adj — AdjHAamsa
a-liv' (chai, "living"; zao, "to live," anazao, "to live again"): These Hebrew and Greek originals are the chief terms for life in both Testaments. They cover all life, including soul and spirit, although primarily referring to physical vitality. Striking examples may be cited: "Is your father yet alive?" (Ge 43:7); "To whom he also showed himself alive" (Ac 1:3). Often used of God: "the living God" (Jos 3:10); also of the resurrection life: "In Christ shall all be made alive" (1Co 15:22); of the soul's regenerate life: "Reckon .... yourselves .... alive unto God," "as those that are alive from the dead" (Ro 6:11:13 the…
קָדַד (qadad) is a primitive root meaning to bow down or stoop, often in a gesture of deference. The entries consistently emphasize the physical act of bending the body or neck, particularly in relation to bowing the head.
[קָדַד] vb. bow down
base
H6915 קָדַד
6915 qadad kaw-dad'
a primitive root; to shrivel up, i.e. contract or bend the
body (or neck) in deference:--bow (down) (the) head, stoop.
קָדַד (qa.dad) — to bow.
(Qal) to bow down
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3mp — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine pluralHc/Vqw3mp
The Hebrew word שָׁחָה (*shachah*) is a primitive root meaning to bow down or prostrate oneself, particularly in homage to a superior or in worship before God. It can also imply a figurative sense of being depressed by anxiety. The entries highlight its use in various contexts, including worship of both God and false gods.
[שָׁחָה] 172 vb. bow down
Qal bow down
Hiph. fig., anxiety depresses it
Hithpa‛lēl
bow down, prostrate oneself, before a monarch or superior, in homage, etc.
before God, in worship
before other gods
base
H7812 שָׁחָה bow down .bow down
. fig., anxiety depresses it
.. bow down, prostrate oneself, before a monarch or superior, in homage, etc.
. before God, in worship
. before other gods
7812 shachah shaw-khaw'
a primitive root; to depress, i.e. prostrate (especially
reflexive, in homage to royalty or God):--bow (self) down,
crouch, fall down (flat), humbly beseech, do (make) obeisance,
do reverence, make to stoop, worship.
שָׁחָה (sha.chah) — to bow.
1) to bow down
1a) (Qal) to bow down
1b)(Hiphil) to depress (fig)
1c) (Hithpael)
1c1) to bow down, prostrate oneself
1c1a) before superior in homage
1c1b) before God in worship
1c1c) before false gods
1c1d) before angel
Conj | V-v-ConsecImperf-3ms — Verb pilpel · sequential imperfect third person masculine pluralHc/Vvw3mp