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Isaiah 64:12 — Word Study

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WLCהַעַל־ אֵ֥לֶּה תִתְאַפַּ֖ק יְהוָ֑ה תֶּחֱשֶׁ֥ה וּתְעַנֵּ֖נוּ עַד־ מְאֹֽד׃ ס

BSA¿ onha.'al- these [things]'E.leh will you restrain yourselftit.'a.Pak O YahwehYah.weh will you be silent?te.che.Sheh and will you afflict? usu.te.'a.Ne.nu up to'ad- muchnessme.'Od

Word
Listen & take awayIsaiah 64
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 12 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 (me.'Od) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Isaiah 64:12quick helps
In a sentenceThe speaker questions whether the LORD will hold back and remain silent in the face of their suffering.
Who is speakingThe speaker addresses God directly, expressing a deep concern over their plight.
Where we areThis verse is part of a lament, reflecting on the suffering of the people and calling for God's attention.
The hard wordתִתְאַפַּ֖ק
Take awayThe people are pleading with God to act and not ignore their distress.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbH662 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 — Isaiah 64:12

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 — A Lament to the LORDgenerated

9Do not be angry, O LORD, beyond measure; do not remember our iniquity forever. Oh, look upon us, we pray; we are all Your people!
10Your holy cities have become a wilderness. Zion has become a wasteland and Jerusalem a desolation.
11Our holy and beautiful temple, where our fathers praised You, has been burned with fire, and all that was dear to us lies in ruins.
12After all this, O LORD, will You restrain Yourself? Will You keep silent and afflict us beyond measure?

Isaiah 64:12 is a heartfelt plea from the people of Israel, expressing their anguish and desperation. They reflect on their suffering and question whether the LORD will remain silent in the face of their afflictions. This verse is situated within a larger context of lament, where the people acknowledge their sins and implore God for mercy, as seen in the preceding verses (Isaiah 64:9-11).


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Isaiah 42:14“I have kept silent from ages past; I have remained quiet and restrained. But now I will groan like a woman in labor; I will at once gasp and pant.
2Psalm 10:1Why, O LORD, do You stand far off? Why do You hide in times of trouble?
3Psalm 74:10–11How long, O God, will the enemy taunt You? Will the foe revile Your name forever?
4Psalm 79:5How long, O LORD? Will You be angry forever? Will Your jealousy burn like fire?
5Psalm 80:3–4Restore us, O God, and cause Your face to shine upon us, that we may be saved.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 9 references, hung on the phrase they belong to

Wilt thou refrain thyself for these things, O LORD? wilt thou hold thy peace, and afflict us very sore?Isaiah 42:14 Psalm 10:1 Psalm 74:10–11 Psalm 79:5 Psalm 80:3–4 Psalm 83:1 Psalm 89:46–51 Zechariah 1:12 Revelation 6:10

The Key Word תִתְאַפַּ֖ק, tit.'a.Pakgenerated

The verb תִתְאַפַּ֖ק (*tit.'a.Pak*) is a Hithpael form, indicating a reflexive action, meaning 'will you restrain yourself?' It conveys a sense of self-control or holding back, particularly in the context of divine action.

The choice of this verb emphasizes the emotional plea of the speaker, as they are asking God to refrain from inaction amidst their suffering. It reflects the tension between the people's expectations of God's intervention and their current experience of silence.


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 verse is structured around three finite verbs: תִתְאַפַּ֖ק (will you restrain), תֶּחֱשֶׁ֥ה (will you be silent), and תְעַנֵּ֖נוּ (will you afflict us). Each verb is followed by its respective subject, creating a series of direct questions to God.

The use of direct address emphasizes the urgency of the plea, while the parallel structure of the questions highlights the speaker's desperation for God's response.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Isaiah 64:12 is a cry from the people to the LORD, asking if He will hold back from acting in their time of distress. They wonder if God will remain silent and allow them to suffer greatly. This verse is part of a larger lament where the people are seeking God's attention and help.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does the speaker mean by asking if the LORD will restrain Himself?

The speaker is questioning whether God will choose to hold back His intervention during their suffering, expressing a feeling of abandonment.

Why do the people feel the need to plead with God?

The people feel overwhelmed by their afflictions and believe that only God can alleviate their suffering, prompting them to seek His mercy.

What is the significance of the phrase 'afflict us beyond measure'?

This phrase emphasizes the severity of the suffering the people are experiencing, indicating that it feels unbearable and excessive.

How does this verse relate to the overall message of Isaiah?

This verse reflects the themes of lament and the yearning for God's presence and action in the midst of suffering, which are prevalent throughout the book of Isaiah.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what areas of my life do I feel like God is silent or distant?
  2. How can I express my feelings of distress to God in prayer?
  3. What does it mean for me to trust in God's timing when I feel overwhelmed?
  4. How can I support others who are experiencing suffering and may feel abandoned?

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Isaiah 64:12 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

Wilt thou refrain thyself for these things, O Lord?.... From delivering us out of our troubles and miseries, and taking vengeance on our enemies, and showing thy zeal for thine own glory; or, as

Read John Gill on Isaiah 64 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

Wilt thou refrain thyself for these things, O LORD? wilt thou hold thy peace, and afflict us very sore? Wilt thou refrain thyself for these (things), O Lord?

Read Robert Jamieson on Isaiah 64 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Wilt thou refrain thyself for these things, viz. that are done by the Babylonians? do none of these things move thee to take vengeance on them? Wilt thou hold thy peace; wilt thou be as one that regards not? Wilt thou be still, and suffer them? And afflict us very sore: see : for these our sins, or for these our sufferings; shall we feel the smart of it, that have done no such things, but have been sufferers under the Babylonians? to which God answers in the next chapter.

Read Matthew Poole on Isaiah 64 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Isaiah 64:12 Wilt thou refrain thyself for these [things], O LORD? wilt thou hold thy peace, and afflict us very sore?Ver. 12. Wilt thou refrain thyself for these things?] Or, Canst thou contain thyself at these things? No, he cannot; witness his answer hereunto. The obstinate Jews do in vain still recite these words in their synagogues, as Jerome here noteth. Wilt thou hold thy peace?] And by thy silence seem to consent to the enemy’ s outrages and our calamities? Habet acrimoniam, saith Hyperius. There is some sharpness in these short questions; and yet because they were full of faith and fervency, they were highly accepted in heaven. And afflict us very sore?] Heb., Usque valde? Unto…

Read John Trapp on Isaiah 64 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(12) Wilt thou refrain . . .?—The final appeal to the fatherly compassion of Jehovah reminds us of the scene when Joseph could not “refrain” (Genesis 45:1), and natural tenderness would find a vent. Could the God of Israel look on the scene of desolation, and not be moved to pity?

Read Charles John Ellicott on Isaiah 64 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

12. refrain thyself] See ch. Isaiah 63:15.

Read Cambridge on Isaiah 64 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Wilt thou refrain thyself - Wilt thou refuse to come to our aid? Wilt thou decline to visit us, and save us from our calamities? Wilt thou hold thy peace - Wilt thou not speak for our rescue, and command us to be delivered?

Read Albert Barnes on Isaiah 64 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

12. Wilt thou refrain thyself — That is, refuse to render aid in such extremity. It seems like a tender, deprecating, but not hopeless, remonstrance. It does not express despair.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Isaiah 64 →

The verse in English, compared — 8 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

After all this, O LORD, will You restrain Yourself? Will You keep silent and afflict us beyond measure?

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Will you hold yourself back for these things, LORD? Will you keep silent and punish us very severely?

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

Wilt thou refrain thyself for these things, O LORD? wilt thou hold thy peace, and afflict us very sore?

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

Wilt thou refrain thyself for these things, O Jehovah? wilt thou hold thy peace, and afflict us very sore?

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Wilt thou holde thy selfe still at these things, O Lord? wilt thou holde thy peace and afflict vs aboue measure?

Simplified

BBEBible in Basic English1949

In view of all this, will you still do nothing, O Lord? will you keep quiet, and go on increasing our punishment?

FBVFree Bible Version2020

In view of all this, are you still going to refuse to help us? Are you going to stay quiet and punish us so severely?

Strictly literal

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

For these dost Thou refrain Thyself, Jehovah? Thou art silent, and dost afflict us very sore!

T4T (Translation for Translators) is not shown above. It restates the passage rather than the verse, so there is no line of English to set beside the others — which is a fact about that translation, not a fault in it.

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.

clauseclauseהַ?clauseprepositional phrase · prepositionalעַלonאֵ֥לֶּהthese.[things]verbתִתְאַפַּ֖קwill.you.restrain.yourselfclauseיְהוָ֑הO.Yahwehclauseclauseverbתֶּחֱשֶׁ֥הwill.you.be.silent?וּandclauseverbתְעַנֵּ֖willobjectנוּyou.afflict.us?prepositional phrase · prepositionalעַדup.toמְאֹֽדmuchness

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


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

The Masoretic Text is the primary witness for this verse, and it remains consistent with the Hebrew text found in other ancient manuscripts, showing no significant variations.

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

הַעַל־ אֵ֥לֶּה תִתְאַפַּ֖ק יְהוָ֑ה תֶּחֱשֶׁ֥ה וּתְעַנֵּ֖נוּ עַד־ מְאֹֽד׃ ס

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.

Isaiah 64:12עַל¿ on¿ onעַלאֵ֫לֶּהthese [thinthese [things]אֵ֫לֶּהאָפַקwill you rewill you restraאָפַקיהוהO YahwehO Yahwehיהוהחָשָׁהwill you bewill you be silחָשָׁהעָנָהand will yoand will you afעָנָהעַדup toup toעַדמְאֹדmuchnessmuchnessמְאֹדאֵלthesetheseאֵלהָיָהto beto beהָיָהעוּןto dwellto dwellעוּןעַלheightheightעַלעַדperpetuityperpetuityעַדאוּדfirebrandfirebrandאוּדכִּפֶּרto atoneto atoneכִּפֶּרכִּסֵּאthronethroneכִּסֵּאתּוֹלֵדוֹתgenerationgenerationתּוֹלֵדוֹתאַלּוּףtametameאַלּוּףחָשָׁהbe silentbe silentחָשָׁהנְאֻםutteranceutteranceנְאֻםצָבָאarmyarmyצָבָאאָפַקto refrainto refrainאָפַקחָרַשׁto plow/plto plow/plotחָרַשׁצוֹםfastfastצוֹםמָתַיhowhowמָתַיעֶ֫רֶבeveningeveningעֶ֫רֶב
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 Isaiah 64:12

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.

¿ on these [things] will you restrain yourself O Yahweh will you be silent? and will you afflict? us up to muchness
הַעַל־ha.'al- ¿ on H5921 Particle · preposition
5,774× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means on or above something, like a physical object or a situation. It can also imply a sense of responsibility or accountability, as in being on behalf of someone.
Tyndale gloss
upon
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word עַל (*al*) is a preposition meaning 'upon' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including 'on account of,' 'beside,' 'above,' and 'against.' It can indicate physical placement, emotional burdens, or duties imposed on a person. The entries also note its use in idiomatic expressions and with verbs of motion. There is a mention of its function as a conjunction in certain contexts.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as

base

עַל, עָ֑ל

subst. height

As prep. upon, and hence on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against

Upon, of the substratum upon which an object in any way rests, or on which an action is performed

of clothing, etc., which any one wears

With verbs of covering or protecting, even though the cover or veil be not over or above the thing covered, but around or before it

Of what rests heavily upon a person, or is a burden to him

Of a duty, payment, care, etc., imposed upon a person, or devolving on him

על is used idiom. to give pathos to the expression of an emotion, by emphasizing the person who is its subject, and who, as it were, feels it acting upon him

חָיָה עַל to live upon (as upon a foundation or support)

Read the full entry →
Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5921a עַל, עָ֑ל . As prep. upon, and hence on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against . Upon, of the substratum upon which an object in any way rests, or on which an action is performed . — . of clothing, etc., which any one wears

. With verbs of covering or protecting, even though the cover or veil be not over or above the thing covered, but around or before it

. Of what rests heavily upon a person, or is a burden to him

. Of a duty, payment, care, etc., imposed upon a person, or devolving on him

. על is used idiom. to give pathos to the expression of an emotion, by emphasizing the person who is its subject, and who, as it were, feels it acting upon him

. חָיָה עַל to live upon (as upon a foundation or support)

Read the full entry →
Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5921 `al al

properly, the same as 5920 used as a preposition (in the

singular or plural often with prefix, or as conjunction with a

particle following); above, over, upon, or against (yet always

in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great

variety of applications (as follow):--above, according

to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, X as, at, because

of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, X both

and, by (reason of), X had the charge of, concerning for, in

(that), (forth, out) of, (from) (off), (up-)on, over, than,

through(-out), to, touching, X with.

see HEBREW for 05920

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עַל (al) — upon.

prep

1) upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against

1a) upon, on the ground of, on the basis of, on account of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of, as regards

1b) above, beyond, over (of excess)

1c) above, over (of elevation or pre-eminence)

1d) upon, to, over to, unto, in addition to, together with, with (of addition)

1e) over (of suspension or extension)

1f) by, adjoining, next, at, over, around (of contiguity or proximity)

1g) down upon, upon, on, from, up upon, up to, towards, over towards, to, against (with verbs of motion)

1h) to (as a dative)

[כִּי] עַל [כֵּן] ([ki] al [ken]) — as.

conj

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HTi/R — Particle · preposition
HTi/R
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Easton's Bible Dictionary

On

Light; the sun, (Gen. 41:45, 50), the great seat of sun-worship, called also Bethshemesh (Jer. 43:13) and Aven (Ezek. 30:17), stood on the east bank of the Nile, a few miles north of Memphis, and near Cairo, in the north-east. The Vulgate and the LXX. Versions have “Heliopolis” (“city of the sun”) instead of On in Genesis and of Aven in Ezekiel. The “city of destruction” Isaiah speaks of (19:18, marg. “of Heres;” Heb. ‘Ir-ha-heres, which some MSS. read Ir-ha-heres, i.e., “city of the sun”) may be the name given to On, the prophecy being that the time will come when that city which was known as the “city of the sun-god” shall become the “city of destruction” of the sun-god, i.e., when idolatry shall cease, and the worship…

Smith's Bible Dictionary

(abode or city of the sun), a town of lower Egypt, called BETH-SHEMESH in (Jeremiah 43:13) On is better known under its Greek name Heliopolis. It was situated on the east side of the Pelusiac branch of the Nile, just below the point of the Delta, and about twenty miles northeast of Memphis. The chief object of worship at Heliopolis was the sun, whose temple, described by Strabo, is now only represented by the single beautiful obelisk, of red granite so feet 2 inches high above the pedestal which has stood for more than 4000 years, having been erected by Usirtesen, the second king of the twelfth dynasty. Heliopolis was anciently famous for its learning, and Eudoxus and Plato studied under its priests. The first mention of this place in the Bible is in the history of Joseph, to whom we read Pharaoh gave "to wife Asenath the daughter…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

See HELIOPOLIS.

Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary

pain; force; iniquity

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
¿ on these [things] will you restrain yourself O Yahweh will you be silent? and will you afflict? us up to muchness
אֵ֥לֶּה'E.leh these [things] H428 Particle
746× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word is used to point out specific people or things, like saying 'these' or 'those'. It appears in the book of Genesis, where God says 'let there be light' and separates the light from the darkness.
Tyndale gloss
these
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אֵ֫לֶּה (el-leh) means 'these' and is used in various grammatical contexts, often in apposition to a noun with a pronoun suffix. It can appear with or without the definite article and is sometimes paired with other terms like וְאֵלֶּה (and these). The word conveys a sense of proximity or specification, referring to particular items or people.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֵ֫לֶּה pr.pl.m. & f. these

in appos. to a subst. with a pron. suff. (always without the article)

repeated, אלה … ואלה, these … those

with the art. (but only after a subst. determined likewise by the art.)

with preps.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H428 אֵ֫לֶּה these . in appos. to a subst. with a pron. suff. (always without the article)

. repeated, אלה … ואלה, these … those

. with the art. (but only after a subst. determined likewise by the art.)

. with preps.

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

428 'el-leh ale'-leh

prolonged from 411; these or those:--an- (the) other; one

sort, so, some, such, them, these (same), they, this, those,

thus, which, who(-m).

see HEBREW for 0411

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֵ֫לֶּה (el.leh) — these.

1) these

1a) used before antecedent

1b) used following antecedent

Aramaic equivalent: el.leh (אֵלֶּה "these" H0429)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HTm — Particle
HTm
¿ on these [things] will you restrain yourself O Yahweh will you be silent? and will you afflict? us up to muchness
תִתְאַפַּ֖קtit.'a.Pak will you restrain yourself H662 Verb · Hithpael · imperfect second person masculine singular
7× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to restrain or abstain from something, often used in the context of self-control or discipline. It can also mean to force oneself to do something, as seen in the actions of those who persevere through difficult times.
Tyndale gloss
to refrain
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אָפַק (aphaq) is a Hebrew verb meaning to hold or be strong. It primarily conveys the idea of restraining oneself or holding back, particularly in the Hithpael form. The entries emphasize its reflexive nature, indicating self-control or compulsion.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[אָפַק] vb. hold, be strong—only Hithp.

force, compel oneself

restrain oneself, refrain

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H662 אָפַק hold, be strong

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

662 'aphaq aw-fak'

a primitive root; to contain, i.e. (reflex.) abstain:--force

(oneself), restrain.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אָפַק (a.phaq) — to refrain.

1) to hold, be strong, restrain, hold back

1a) (Hithpael)

1a1) to restrain oneself, refrain

1a2) to force, compel oneself

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HVti2ms — Verb · Hithpael · imperfect second person masculine singular
HVti2ms
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
¿ on these [things] will you restrain yourself O Yahweh will you be silent? and will you afflict? us up to muchness
יְהוָ֑הYah.weh O Yahweh H3068 Noun proper
6,528× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Yehovah is another name for God, often translated as 'the Lord'. It is a national name for God in the Jewish faith. This name is used throughout the Old Testament.
Tyndale gloss
The Lord
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) is the proper name of the God of Israel, often rendered as Jehovah or the Lord. It signifies the self-existent or eternal nature of God. The name is closely associated with the revelation to Moses in Exodus 3:12-15 and is used in conjunction with other terms to denote sacred places. Some scholars suggest it derives from a root meaning 'to bring into being.'

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יהוה c. 6823 i.e. יַהְוֶה n.pr.dei Yahweh, the proper name of the God of Israel—(1. MT יְהֹוָה 6518 (Qr אֲדֹנָי), or יֱהֹוִה 305 (Qr אֱלֹהִים) 2. Many recent scholars explain יַהְוֶה as Hiph. of הוה (= היה) the one bringing into being, life-giver)

יהוה is not used by E in Gn, but is given Ex 3:12-15 as the name of the God who revealed Himself to Moses at Horeb

יהוה is used with אלהים and suffixes, especially in D

the phrase † אֲנִי יהוה is noteworthy

יהוה is also used with several predicates, to form sacred names of holy places of Yahweh

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3068 יהוה i.e. יַהְוֶה n. pr. dei Yahweh, the proper name of the God of Israel

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3068 Yhovah yeh-ho-vaw'

from 1961; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish

national name of God:--Jehovah, the Lord. Compare 3050, 3069.

see HEBREW for 01961

see HEBREW for 03050

see HEBREW for 03069

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — LORD.

Jehovah = "the existing One"

1) the proper name of the one true God

1a) unpronounced except with the vowel pointings of a.do.na (אֲדֹנָי "Lord" H0136)

יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — The Lord.

Another name of ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)

יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — (Jerusalem of) the Lord.

Combined with ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HNpt — Noun proper
HNpt
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
¿ on these [things] will you restrain yourself O Yahweh will you be silent? and will you afflict? us up to muchness
תֶּחֱשֶׁ֥הte.che.Sheh will you be silent? H2814 Verb · Qal · imperfect second person masculine singular
16× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to be silent or quiet, and is used in the Bible to describe stillness or inactivity, as seen in the book of Psalms. It can also mean to hold peace or keep silence. In some cases, it is used to show respect or reverence.
Tyndale gloss
be silent
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

חָשָׁה (chashah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to be silent, quiet, or still. It can express inactivity or the act of causing silence in others. The entries indicate its use primarily in poetic and later texts, with forms in both the Qal and Hiphil stems, highlighting its versatility in conveying stillness or quietness.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[חָשָׁה] vb. be silent, inactive, still (chiefly poet. and late)

Qal be silent

Hiph.

exhibit silence, be silent

shew inactivity

causat. make still, quiet

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2814 חָשָׁה be silent, inactive, still (chiefly poet. and late) .be silent

. . exhibit silence, be silent

. shew inactivity

. causat. make still, quiet

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2814 chashah khaw-shaw'

a primitive root; to hush or keep quiet:--hold peace, keep

silence, be silent, (be) still.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חָשָׁה (cha.shah) — be silent.

1) to be silent, quiet, still, inactive

1a) (Qal) to be silent, be still

1b) (Hiphil)

1b1) to be silent, exhibit silence

1b2) to show inactivity, be inactive

1b3) to make silent, make quiet, cause to be still

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HVqi2ms — Verb · Qal · imperfect second person masculine singular
HVqi2ms
¿ on these [things] will you restrain yourself O Yahweh will you be silent? and will you afflict? us up to muchness
וּתְעַנֵּ֖נוּu.te.'a.Ne.nu and will you afflict? us H6031 Conjunction · verb piel second person masculine singular · suffix
82× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To afflict or oppress someone, making them feel low or depressed. In the Bible, it can also mean to humble oneself, as seen in Psalm 35:13. It involves being put down or becoming weak.
Tyndale gloss
be occupied
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עָנָה (anah) is a Hebrew verb with a range of meanings related to affliction and humility. It can denote being occupied, as well as being bowed down, depressed, or afflicted. The word has various forms, including ways to humble oneself or to afflict others, and it appears in contexts of discipline and humility, particularly in relation to fasting.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[עָנָה] vb. be occupied, busied with

base

[עָנָה] vb. be bowed down, afflicted

Qal

be put down or become low, of song of triumph

be depressed, downcast

be afflicted

Niph.

humble oneself

be afflicted

Pi.

humble, mishandle, afflict

humble, a woman by cohabit.

afflict as a discipline

humble, weaken

Pu.

be afflicted, in discipline by God

be humbled by fasting

Hiph. afflict, in discipline

Hithp.

humble oneself

be afflicted

humble oneself in fasting

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6031a עָנָה be occupied, busied with H6031b עָנָה be bowed down, afflicted .. be put down or become low, of song of triumph

. be depressed, downcast

. be afflicted

. . humble oneself

. be afflicted

. . humble, mishandle, afflict

. humble, a woman by cohabit.

. afflict as a discipline

. humble, weaken

. . be afflicted, in discipline by God

. be humbled by fasting

. afflict, in discipline

. . humble oneself

. be afflicted

. humble oneself in fasting

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6031 `anah aw-naw'

a primitive root (possibly rather ident. with 6030 through

the idea of looking down or browbeating); to depress literally

or figuratively, transitive or intransitive (in various

applications, as follows):--abase self, afflict(-ion, self),

answer (by mistake for 6030), chasten self, deal hardly with,

defile, exercise, force, gentleness, humble (self), hurt,

ravish, sing (by mistake for 6030), speak (by mistake for

6030), submit self, weaken, X in any wise.

see HEBREW for 06030

see HEBREW for 06030

see HEBREW for 06030

see HEBREW for 06030

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עָנָה (a.nah) — be occupied.

(Qal) to be occupied, be busied with

עָנָה (a.nah) — to afflict.

1) to afflict, oppress, humble, be afflicted, be bowed down

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to be put down, become low

1a2) to be depressed, be downcast

1a3) to be afflicted

1a4) to stoop

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to humble oneself, bow down

1b2) to be afflicted, be humbled

1c) (Piel)

1c1) to humble, mishandle, afflict

1c2) to humble, be humiliated

1c3) to afflict

1d4) to humble, weaken oneself

1d) (Pual)

1d1) to be afflicted

1d2) to be humbled

1e) (Hiphil) to afflict

1f) (Hithpael)

1f1) to humble oneself

1f2) to be afflicted

Aramaic equivalent: a.nah (עֲנָי "to afflict" H6033)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HC/Vpu2ms/Sp1bp — Conjunction · verb piel second person masculine singular · suffix
HC/Vpu2ms/Sp1bp
English usagewhat the translators’ English meant
Webster's Dictionary (1828), Webster's Unabridged (1913), Webster's Dictionary (1806)

US, pronoun objective case of we.

Give us this day our daily bread.

Us , pron. [OE. us, AS. s; akin to OFries. & OS. s, D. ons, G. uns, Icel. & Sw. oss, Dan. os, Goth. uns, L. nos we, us, Gr. we, Skr. nas us. . Cf. Nostrum, Our.] The persons speaking, regarded as an object; ourselves; — the objective case of we. See We. “Tell us a tale.” Chaucer.

Give us this day our daily bread. Matt. vi. 11.

Us, pron. oblique case of we

¿ on these [things] will you restrain yourself O Yahweh will you be silent? and will you afflict? us up to muchness
עַד־'ad- up to H5704 Preposition
1,261× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means until or as far as, describing a point in time or space. It's used in the Bible to set boundaries or limits, like in Exodus when describing the Israelites' journey.
Tyndale gloss
till
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עַד (ad) primarily functions as a preposition, adverb, or conjunction meaning 'until,' 'up to,' or 'as far as.' It can denote spatial, temporal, or degree-related contexts, such as 'even to' or 'while.' The entries indicate its use in poetry and in various combinations, but there is no significant disagreement among the lexicons regarding its meanings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עַד, in poetry עֲדֵי prep. as far as, even to, up to, until, while

prep.

of space

Of time

Of degree

conj.

until

While

Of degree, to the point that, so that even (rare)

עַד לְ, a strengthened form for עַד. Thus

of space

Of time

Of degree

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5704 עַד, in poetry עֲדֵי as far as, even to, up to, until, while . prep. . of space

. Of time

. Of degree

. conj. . until

. While

. Of degree, to the point that, so that even (rare)

. עַד לְ, a strengthened form for עַד. Thus . of space

. Of time

. Of degree

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5704 `ad ad

properly, the same as 5703 (used as a preposition, adverb or

conjunction; especially with a preposition); as far (or long,

or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during,

while, until) or degree (equally with):--against, and, as,

at, before, by (that), even (to), for(-asmuch as),

(hither-)to, + how long, into, as long (much) as, (so) that,

till, toward, until, when, while, (+ as) yet.

see HEBREW for 05703

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עַד (ad) — till.

prep

1) as far as, even to, until, up to, while, as far as

1a) of space

1a1) as far as, up to, even to

1b) in combination

1b1) from...as far as, both...and (with 'min' -from)

1c) of time

1c1) even to, until, unto, till, during, end

1d) of degree

1d1) even to, to the degree of, even like

conj

2) until, while, to the point that, so that even

Aramaic equivalent: ad (עַד "till" H5705)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HR — Preposition
HR
¿ on these [things] will you restrain yourself O Yahweh will you be silent? and will you afflict? us up to muchness
מְאֹֽד׃ סme.'Od muchness H3966
300× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Meod means 'much' or 'very' and is used to emphasize something. It can mean 'exceedingly' or 'greatly' and is often used to show strong feelings or actions.
Tyndale gloss
much
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מְאֹד (m`od) refers to concepts of muchness, force, and abundance. It serves as an adverb meaning exceedingly or greatly, often used to intensify other words. The entries highlight its use in various idioms to express magnitude or degree, with a focus on might and intensity.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מְאֹד n.m. muchness, force, abundance, exceedingly

force, might

in diff. idioms (298 t.) to express the idea of exceedingly, greatly, very (whether of magnitude or degree)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3966 מְאֹד muchness, force, abundance, exceedingly . force, might

. in diff. idiomns (298 t.) to express the idea of exceedingly, greatly, very (whether of magnitude or degree)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3966 m`od meh-ode'

from the same as 181; properly, vehemence, i.e. (with or

without preposition) vehemently; by implication, wholly,

speedily, etc. (often with other words as an intensive or

superlative; especially when repeated):--diligently,

especially, exceeding(-ly), far, fast, good, great(-ly), X

louder and louder, might(-ily, -y), (so) much, quickly, (so)

sore, utterly, very (+ much, sore), well.

see HEBREW for 0181

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מְאֹד (me.od) — much.

adv

1) exceedingly, much

subst

2) might, force, abundance

n m

3) muchness, force, abundance, exceedingly

3a) force, might

3b) exceedingly, greatly, very (idioms showing magnitude or degree)

3b1) exceedingly

3b2) up to abundance, to a great degree, exceedingly

3b3) with muchness, muchness

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HAcmsa
HAcmsa
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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