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Job 7:4 — Word Study

Depth

WLCאִם־ שָׁכַ֗בְתִּי וְאָמַ֗רְתִּי מָתַ֣י אָ֭קוּם וּמִדַּד־ עָ֑רֶב וְשָׂבַ֖עְתִּי נְדֻדִ֣ים עֲדֵי־ נָֽשֶׁף׃

BSAWhenʼim I lie downshâkab [to rest, to sleep] I thinkʼâmar Whenmâthay [how long, at what time] will I get upqûwm But the nightʻereb [evening, period of darkness] and I toss and turnsâbaʻ [am filled with tossings, to and fro] untilʻad [till, as far as] dawnnesheph [twilight, morning light]

Word
Listen & take awayJob 7
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 4 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 (Na.shef) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Job 7:4quick helps
In a sentenceJob expresses his sleeplessness and longing for dawn amidst his suffering.
Who is speakingJob, lamenting his condition.
Where we areIn the midst of Job's reflections on his pain and despair.
The hard wordנְדֻדִ֣ים
Take awayJob is restless and longs for the end of the night.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause subjectעֶרֶב verbשָׁכַב The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
How rare are these words?in the Old Testament

1 of 11 occurs nowhere else in the Old Testament — a word chosen on purpose.

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 — Job 7:4

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 — Job's Lamentgenerated

3So I am allotted months of futility, and nights of misery are appointed me.
4When I lie down I think: ‘When will I get up?’ But the night drags on, and I toss and turn until dawn.
5My flesh is clothed with worms and encrusted with dirt; my skin is cracked and festering.
6My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle; they come to an end without hope.

Job 7:4 captures Job's anguish as he lies awake at night, contemplating his suffering and yearning for the dawn. This verse is part of a larger lament where Job expresses feelings of futility and misery, as seen in the preceding and following verses, which highlight his physical and emotional distress.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Job 7:13–14When I think my bed will comfort me and my couch will ease my complaint,
2Job 17:12They have turned night into day, making light seem near in the face of darkness.
3Job 30:17Night pierces my bones, and my gnawing pains never rest.
4Deuteronomy 28:67In the morning you will say, ‘If only it were evening!’ and in the evening you will say, ‘If only it were morning!’—because of the dread in your hearts of the terrifying sights you will see.
5Psalm 6:6I am weary from groaning; all night I flood my bed with weeping and drench my couch with tears.

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


The Key Word נְדֻדִ֣ים, ne.du.Dimgenerated

The word נְדֻדִ֣ים (nedudim) is a noun that refers to restlessness or tossing and turning, particularly during sleeplessness. It is derived from the root נָדַד (nadad), which conveys the idea of being tossed about or unsettled.

In this verse, it describes Job's state of being unable to find rest as he struggles with his thoughts during the night. The use of the plural form emphasizes the intensity and multiplicity of his restless thoughts.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

All translations agree on the rendering of נְדֻדִ֣ים as 'restlessness' or similar terms.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The verse contains several clauses, with the main action centered around the finite verb שָׁכַ֗בְתִּי, I lay down. The structure shows Job's introspection as he expresses his thoughts and feelings sequentially.

The clauses are interconnected, with Job's lying down leading to his contemplation of when he will arise, followed by the description of the prolonged night and his restless tossing.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates שָׁכַ֗בְתִּי as κοιμηθῶ (koimēthō), which means 'I will sleep.' This choice implies a focus on Job's desire for rest, contrasting with his current state of unrest.

The LXX also captures the essence of נְדֻדִ֣ים with ὀδυνῶν (odynōn), suggesting pain or distress, which aligns with Job's overall lament.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Job 7:4 describes Job's sleeplessness and his longing for the dawn. He expresses his frustration as he lies down, wondering when he will get up, while the night feels endless and he tosses and turns in restlessness.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does Job mean by 'restlessness'?

Job is expressing his inability to find peace or rest during the night, highlighting his emotional and physical turmoil.

Why does Job long for dawn?

Dawn symbolizes hope and relief from his suffering; he yearns for the end of the night and the possibility of a new day.

How does this verse relate to the overall theme of Job's suffering?

This verse encapsulates Job's deep anguish and despair, reflecting his struggle with his circumstances and the longing for relief.

What can we learn from Job's expression of restlessness?

Job's honesty about his pain encourages us to acknowledge our own struggles and seek understanding and comfort during difficult times.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. What are some of the restless thoughts that keep me awake at night?
  2. How do I cope with feelings of despair or restlessness in my life?
  3. In what ways can I find hope during my own dark nights?
  4. How does Job's experience resonate with my own struggles?

The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it

Gregory the Dialogist comments on Job's longing for dawn, illustrating the universal human experience of yearning for relief from suffering.

Gregory the DialogistMorals on the Book of Job, Book VIII c. 540–604
When I lie down, I say, When shall I arise? and again I look for the evening. For in the night, day is desired, in the day, evening is longed for;
Early Church Fathers on Job 7 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Job 7:4 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

When I lie down, I say, when shall I arise,.... Or, "then I say", c.

Read John Gill on Job 7 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

When I lie down, I say, When shall I arise, and the night be gone? and I am full of tossings to and fro unto the dawning of the day.

Read Robert Jamieson on Job 7 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

When I lie down, to get some rest and sleep. The night, Heb. the evening; the part put for the whole, as it is . To and fro; from side to side in the bed, as men in grievous pains of body or anxiety of mind use to be. Unto the dawning of the day; so this Hebrew word is used also @; .

Read Matthew Poole on Job 7 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Job 7:4 When I lie down, I say, When shall I arise, and the night be gone? and I am full of tossings to and fro unto the dawning of the day.Ver. 4. When I lie down, I say, When shall I arise? &c.] Here is a graphic description of a wearisome night. The night is most laborious and irksome to sick people: then they revolve their troubles, and being free from visits of friends, they visit their own afflictions, and study their own distempers freely; then they lie all night wishing for day, telling the clock, hearkening for the cock (that natural clock), tossing to and fro unto the dawning of the day, not able to get the least wink of sleep, that nurse of nature, and sweet parenthesis of men’ s…

Read John Trapp on Job 7 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(4) When I lie down, I say.—Or, When I lie down, then I say, When shall I arise? But the night is long, and I am filled with tossings to and fro till the morning twilight.

Read Charles John Ellicott on Job 7 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 4. When I lie down] I have so little rest, that when I do lie down I long for the return of the light, that I may rise. Nothing can better depict the state of a man under continual afflictions, which afford him no respite, his days and his nights being spent in constant anguish, utterly unable to be in any one posture, so that he is continually changing his position in his bed, finding ease nowhere: thus, as himself expresses it, he is full of tossings.

Read AdamClarke on Job 7 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

4, 5. A graphic account of his condition under his malady. Job 7:4 should probably be rendered, When I lie down I say, When shall I arise? And the night stretches out, and I am full of tossings, &c. At evening he longs for morning (Deuteronomy 28:67), but the night seems to him to prolong itself, and he tosses restlessly till the daybreak.

Read Cambridge on Job 7 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

When I lie down - I find no comfort and no rest on my bed. My nights are long, and I am impatient to have them passed, and equally so is it with the day.

Read Albert Barnes on Job 7 →

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

When I lie down I think: ‘When will I get up?’ But the night drags on, and I toss and turn until dawn.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

When I lie down, I say, ‘When will I arise, and the night be gone?’ I toss and turn until the dawning of the day.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

When I lie down I think: ‘When will I get up?’ But the night drags on, and I toss and turn until dawn.

NETBNew English Translation2006

If I lie down, I say, ‘When will I arise?’, and the night stretches on and I toss and turn restlessly until the day dawns.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

When I lie down, I say, When shall I arise, and the night be gone? and I am full of tossings to and fro unto the dawning of the day.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

When I lie down, I say, When shall I arise, and the night be gone? And I am full of tossings to and fro unto the dawning of the day.

RVARevised Version, American1894

When I lie down, I say, When shall I arise? but the night is long; and I am full of tossings to and fro unto the dawning of the day.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

When I lie down, I say, When shall I arise, and the night be gone? and I am full of tossings to and fro to the dawning of the day.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

If I layed me downe, I sayde, When shall I arise? and measuring the euening I am euen full with tossing to and from vnto the dawning of the day.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

If I lie down, I say, When shall I rise up, and the darkness be gone? and I am full of tossings until the dawn.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

If I lay down then I said, 'When do I rise!' And evening hath been measured, And I have been full of tossings till dawn.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

If I lay down, then I have said, When do I rise, || And evening has been measured? And I have been full of tossings until dawn.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

When I He down, I say, When shall I arise, and the night be gone? and I am wearied with tossings about till the dawn of day.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

When I lie down, I say to myself, 'When will I get up and when will the night be gone?' I am full of tossing to and fro until the day's dawning.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

If I lie down to sleep, I shall say: When shall arise? and again I shall look for the evening, and shall be filled with sorrows even till darkness.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

When I go to bed I ask, ‘When shall I get up?’ But the night goes on and on, and I toss and turn until dawn.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

When I go to my bed, I say, When will it be time to get up? but the night is long, and I am turning from side to side till morning light.

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.

clauseclauseאִםifclauseverbשָׁכַ֗בְתִּיI.lay.downוְandclauseverbאָמַ֗רְתִּיI.will.sayclause · objectadverbialמָתַ֣יwhen?verbאָ֭קוּםwill.I.ariseוּandclauseverbמִדַּדit.will.continuesubjectעָ֑רֶבeveningוְandclauseverbשָׂבַ֖עְתִּיI.will.be.surfeitedobjectנְדֻדִ֣יםrestlessness(es)prepositional phrase · prepositionalעֲדֵיuntilנָֽשֶׁףtwilight

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 largely agree in their wording, with a close correspondence in the translation of the key terms. The Septuagint's word order differs, but it conveys the same core meaning as the Hebrew.

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

אִם־ שָׁכַ֗בְתִּי וְאָמַ֗רְתִּי מָתַ֣י אָ֭קוּם וּמִדַּד־ עָ֑רֶב וְשָׂבַ֖עְתִּי נְדֻדִ֣ים עֲדֵי־ נָֽשֶׁף׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
אִם־ἐὰνשָׁכַ֗בְתִּיκοιμηθῶוְאָמַ֗רְתִּיλέγωאָ֭קוּםἀναστῶוּמִדַּד־πότεעָ֑רֶבἑσπέραוְשָׂבַ֖עְתִּיδὲנְדֻדִ֣יםὀδυνῶνעֲדֵי־ἕωςנָֽשֶׁף׃πρωί

10 of the 11 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.

Job 7:4אִםififאִםשָׁכַבI lay downI lay downשָׁכַבאָמַרand I will and I will sayאָמַרמָתַיwhen?when?מָתַילֵבwill I ariswill I ariseלֵבמָדַדand it willand it will conמָדַדעֶ֫רֶבeveningeveningעֶ֫רֶבשָׂבֵעַand I will and I will be sשָׂבֵעַנְדוּדrestlessnesrestlessnessנְדוּדעַדuntiluntilעַדנֶ֫שֶׁףtwilighttwilightנֶ֫שֶׁףעָרַבto grow dato grow darkעָרַבנָשַׁףto blowto blowנָשַׁףנָדַדto wanderto wanderנָדַדעַדperpetuityperpetuityעַדחֵןfavorfavorחֵןיֵשׁtherethereיֵשׁעָרֵלuncircumciuncircumcisedעָרֵלמִשְׁכָּבbedbedמִשְׁכָּבכֹּהthusthusכֹּהיהוהYHWH/GodYHWH/Godיהוהאָבַלto mournto mournאָבַלנֶ֫דֶרvowvowנֶ֫דֶרעֵדwitnesswitnessעֵדדָּרוֹםsouthsouthדָּרוֹםקָדִיםeasteastקָדִיםטָמֵאto defileto defileטָמֵאבֹּ֫קֶרmorningmorningבֹּ֫קֶרלֶ֫חֶםfoodfoodלֶ֫חֶם
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 Job 7:4

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.

if I lay down and I will say when? will I arise and it will continue evening and I will be surfeited restlessness until twilight
אִם־'im- if H518 Particle
1,070× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word is used to express conditions or questions, like if or whether. It can also be used to make oaths or express wishes, as in Oh that! It appears in various forms in the KJV, including if, though, and when.
Tyndale gloss
if
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אִם (im) is a Hebrew conjunction primarily meaning 'if' and is used in various contexts, including conditional clauses and interrogative situations. It can also express negation, alternatives, or exceptions, and appears frequently in the Old Testament. The lexicons note its use in oaths and its ability to connect different clauses, sometimes altering their meanings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אִם conj.

hypoth. part. if

Interrog. part.

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H518a אִם conj. . hypoth. part. if

. Interrog. part.

H518b 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

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

518 'im eem

a primitive particle; used very widely as demonstrative, lo!;

interrog., whether?; or conditional, if, although; also Oh

that!, when; hence, as a negative, not:--(and, can-,

doubtless, if, that) (not), + but, either, + except, +

more(-over if, than), neither, nevertheless, nor, oh that, or,

+ save (only, -ing), seeing, since, sith, + surely (no more,

none, not), though, + of a truth, + unless, + verily, when,

whereas, whether, while, + yet.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אִם (im) — if.

: if/whether_or/though

1) if

1a) conditional clauses

1a1) of possible situations

1a2) of impossible situations

1b) oath contexts

1b1) no, not

1c) if...if, whether...or, whether...or...or

1d) when, whenever

1e) since

1f) interrogative particle

1g) but rather

[כִּי] אם (ki im) — if: except.

1) except if

1a) but if

אִם (im) — if: surely no.

: surely_no

1) if

1a) conditional clauses

1a1) of possible situations

1a2) of impossible situations

1b) oath contexts

1b1) no, not

1c) if...if, whether...or, whether...or...or

1d) when, whenever

1e) since

1f) interrogative particle

1g) but rather

אִם (im) — if: surely yes.

: surely_yes

1) if

1a) conditional clauses

1a1) of possible situations

1a2) of impossible situations

1b) oath contexts

1b1) no, not

1c) if...if, whether...or, whether...or...or

1d) when, whenever

1e) since

1f) interrogative particle

1g) but rather

אִם (im) — if: until.

: until/except

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj — Particle
HTc
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
if I lay down and I will say when? will I arise and it will continue evening and I will be surfeited restlessness until twilight
שָׁכַ֗בְתִּיsha.Khav.ti I lay down H7901 Verb · Qal · perfect first person common singular
212× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To lie down can mean to rest, sleep, or have sexual relations, and is used in various contexts throughout the Bible. It can also mean to relax or be at rest.
Amplified meaning
to rest, to sleep
Tyndale gloss
to lie down: lay down
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word שָׁכַב (shakab) is a primitive root meaning 'to lie down.' It covers a range of meanings including resting, lodging, engaging in sexual relations, and lying down in death. The word appears in various forms, such as Qal, Niphal, Pual, Hiphil, and Hophal, indicating different nuances of lying down. Notably, it can also figuratively mean to relax.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שָׁכַב 212 vb. lie down

Qal

lie down

= lodge (for night)

of sexual relations, lie with

lie down in death

esp. in phr. lie down with his fathers

fig. = relax

Niph. Pu. = be lain with (sexually; subj. women), only as Qr for Kt [שָׁגֵל] Niph. Pu. q.v.

Hiph. lay

Hoph. laid

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7901 שָׁכַב lie down .. lie down

. = lodge (for night)

. of sexual relations, lie with

. . lie down in death

. esp. in phr. lie down with his fathers

. fig. = relax

. Pu. = be lain with (sexually; subj. women), only as Qr for Kt [שָׁגֵל] Niph. Pu. q.v.

. lay

. laid

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7901 shakab shaw-kab'

a primitive root; to lie down (for rest, sexual connection,

decease or any other purpose):--X at all, cast down,

((lover-))lay (self) (down), (make to) lie (down, down to

sleep, still with), lodge, ravish, take rest, sleep, stay.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שָׁכַב (sha.khav) — to lie down: lay down.

: lay_down/lie_with

1) to lie down

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to lie, lie down, lie on

1a2) to lodge

1a3) to lie (of sexual relations)

1a4) to lie down (in death)

1a5) to rest, relax (fig)

1b) (Niphal) to be lain with (sexually)

1c) (Pual) to be lain with (sexually)

1d) (Hiphil) to make to lie down

1e) (Hophal) to be laid

שָׁכַב (sha.khav) — to lie down: sleep.

: sleep/rest

1) to lie down

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to lie, lie down, lie on

1a2) to lodge

1a3) to lie (of sexual relations)

1a4) to lie down (in death)

1a5) to rest, relax (fig)

1b) (Niphal) to be lain with (sexually)

1c) (Pual) to be lain with (sexually)

1d) (Hiphil) to make to lie down

1e) (Hophal) to be laid

שָׁכַב (sha.khav) — to lie down: have sex.

: have_sex

1) to lie down

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to lie, lie down, lie on

1a2) to lodge

1a3) to lie (of sexual relations)

1a4) to lie down (in death)

1a5) to rest, relax (fig)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Perf-1cs — Verb · Qal · perfect first person common singular
HVqp1cs
if I lay down and I will say when? will I arise and it will continue evening and I will be surfeited restlessness until twilight
וְאָמַ֗רְתִּיve.'a.Mar.ti and I will say H559 Verb · Qal · sequential perfect first person common singular
5,309× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to say or speak, and it's used in many different ways in the Bible. It can mean to command, promise, or think, and it's translated in the KJV as 'answer', 'appoint', or 'command'.
Tyndale gloss
to say
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

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

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

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.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

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)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-1cs — Verb · Qal · sequential perfect first person common singular
Hc/Vqq1cs
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
if I lay down and I will say when? will I arise and it will continue evening and I will be surfeited restlessness until twilight
מָתַ֣יma.Tai when? H4970 Particle
43× 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 'when' or 'how long', often used to ask about time or duration, like in Genesis when asking how long a task will take.
Amplified meaning
how long, at what time
Tyndale gloss
how
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מָתַי (mathay) is an adverb meaning 'when?' It is derived from an unused root that suggests extension, particularly in relation to time. The word is used interrogatively to ask about timeframes, such as 'how long?' or 'until when?'. It appears in contexts that require a temporal inquiry.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מָתַי 43 interrog.adv. when?

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4970 מָתַי when?

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4970 mathay maw-thah'ee

from an unused root meaning to extend; properly, extent (of

time); but used only adverbially (especially with other

particle prefixes), when (either relative or

interrogative):--long, when.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מָתַי (ma.tay) — how.

1) when?

1a) with prep

1a1) against when?, until when?, how long?, after how long?

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Part — Particle
HTi
if I lay down and I will say when? will I arise and it will continue evening and I will be surfeited restlessness until twilight
אָ֭קוּם'A.kum will I arise H6965 Verb · Qal · imperfect first person common singular
628× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Qum means to rise or stand up, used in various contexts like rising to power or standing firm, as seen in Jeremiah and Ezra.
Tyndale gloss
(Leb)-kamai
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word קוּם (qum) is a primitive root meaning 'to rise' and encompasses a range of actions such as standing, becoming powerful, and establishing. It can imply a sudden or hostile rise, as well as the act of fulfilling or confirming something. The entries also note various grammatical forms, indicating its use in different contexts, including raising up or causing to stand.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

לֵב קָמָי prob. late Atbash Je 51:1.

ref

קוּם 628 vb. arise, stand up, stand

Qal 460

arise

arise, in hostile sense (oft. with idea of suddenness)

arise, abs., = become powerful

arise = come on the scene, appear, of leader, prophet

arise for, i.e. to become

arise for action

arise (out of inaction), introducing some specific deed

esp. arise = start, make a move, to go somewhere

stand

Pi.

fulfil

confirm, ratify

confirm, establish

impose, an obligation

Pō‛l. raise up

Hithpō‛l. raise oneself, = rise up

Hiph.

146cause to arise, raise

raise, set up, stones

erect, build

fig, of setting up law

raise up = bring on the scene

raise up = rouse, stir up

instigate, build

fig, of setting up law

raise up = constitute

cause to stand

Hoph. be raised up

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6965a לֵב קָמָי prob. late Atbash H6965b קוּם arise, stand up, stand .. arise

. arise, in hostile sense (oft. with idea of suddenness)

. arise, abs., = become powerful

. arise = come on the scene, appear, of leader, prophet

. arise for, i.e. to become

. . arise for action

. arise (out of inaction), introducing some specific deed

. esp. arise = start, make a move, to go somewhere

. stand

. . fulfil

. . confirm, ratify

. confirm, establish

. impose, an obligation

. raise up

. raise oneself, = rise up

. . cause to arise, raise

. . raise, set up, stones

. erect, build

. fig, of setting up law

. raise up = bring on the scene

. . raise up = rouse, stir up

. instigate, build

. fig, of setting up law

. raise up = constitute

. cause to stand

. be raised up

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6965 quwm koom

a primitive root; to rise (in various applications, literal,

figurative, intensive and causative):--abide, accomplish, X

be clearer, confirm, continue, decree, X be dim, endure, X

enemy, enjoin, get up, make good, help, hold, (help to) lift

up (again), make, X but newly, ordain, perform, pitch, raise

(up), rear (up), remain, (a-)rise (up) (again, against), rouse

up, set (up), (e-)stablish, (make to) stand (up), stir up,

strengthen, succeed, (as-, make) sure(-ly), (be) up(-hold, -

rising).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

קָמָי (qa.may) — (Leb)-kamai.

Combined with lev (לֵב "Leb" H3820B)

§ -Kamai = "my adversary"

Leb-kamai, i.e., people of Gambulai

קוּם (qum) — to arise: rise.

: rise/get_going

1) to rise, arise, stand, rise up, stand up

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to arise

1a2) to arise (hostile sense)

1a3) to arise, become powerful

1a4) to arise, come on the scene

1a5) to stand

1a5a) to maintain oneself

1a5b) to be established, be confirmed

1a5c) to stand, endure

1a5d) to be fixed

1a5e) to be valid

1a5f) to be proven

1a5g) to be fulfilled

1a5h) to persist

1a5i) to be set, be fixed

1b) (Piel)

1b1) to fulfil

1b2) to confirm, ratify, establish, impose

1c) (Polel) to raise up

1d) (Hithpael) to raise oneself, rise up

1e) (Hiphil)

1e1) to cause to arise, raise

1e2) to raise, set up, erect, build

1e3) to raise up, bring on the scene

1e4) to raise up, rouse, stir up, investigate

1e5) to raise up, constitute

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Imperf-1cs — Verb · Qal · imperfect first person common singular
HVqi1cs
if I lay down and I will say when? will I arise and it will continue evening and I will be surfeited restlessness until twilight
וּמִדַּד־u.mi.dad- and it will continue H4058 Verb · Piel · sequential perfect third person masculine singular
51× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To measure means to stretch or extend something, like a line or a boundary. In the Bible, it is used to describe God's measurements for the tabernacle and temple. It can also mean to assess or evaluate something.
Tyndale gloss
to measure
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מָדַד (madad) is a Hebrew verb meaning to measure or stretch. It encompasses various forms, including measuring length or distance, extending, and being measured. The word appears in different contexts, such as dry measures and figurative uses related to waters and requital. Notably, it can also refer to the act of extending oneself, as seen in its usage in the Old Testament.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מָדַד 53 vb. measure

Qal

measure of length, distance

of dry measure

fig. of measuring waters; of requital

Niph. be measured

Pi.

extend, continue (= make extent or continuation)

measure, measure off

Po. measured

Hithpo. measured (= extended, stretched) himself upon the boy

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4058 מָדַד measure .. measure of length, distance

. of dry measure

. fig. of measuring waters; of requital

. be measured

. . extend, continue (= make extent or continuation)

. measure, measure off

. measured

. measured (= extended, stretched) himself upon the boy

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4058 madad maw-dad'

a primitive root: properly, to stretch; by implication, to

measure (as if by stretching a line); figuratively, to be

extended:--measure, mete, stretch self.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מָדַד (ma.dad) — to measure.

1) to measure, stretch

1a) (Qal) to measure

1b) (Niphal) to be measured

1c) (Piel)

1c1) to extend, continue

1c2) to measure, measure off

1d) (Po) measured

1e) (Hithpolel) to extend oneself, stretch oneself

Also means: mid.dad (מָדַד "to extend" H4059)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Hc/Vpq3ms — Verb · Piel · sequential perfect third person masculine singular
Hc/Vpq3ms
if I lay down and I will say when? will I arise and it will continue evening and I will be surfeited restlessness until twilight
עָ֑רֶב'A.rev evening H6153 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
134× 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 evening or sunset, like when God created daylight and darkness in Genesis. It refers to the time of day, often marking the end of a workday. This word is used in many verses, including Exodus and Psalms.
Amplified meaning
evening, period of darkness
Tyndale gloss
evening
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עֶ֫רֶב (ereb) refers to the time of day known as evening or dusk, originally associated with sunset. It can also denote night, particularly in poetic contexts. The phrase 'between two evenings' suggests a time frame between sunset and darkness.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עֶ֫רֶב 131 n.[m.] (sun)set, evening

evening, orig. sunset

du. in phrase between two evenings, i.e. prob. between sunset and dark

(late poet.) = night

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6153 עֶ֫רֶב (sun)set, evening . . evening, orig. sunset

. du. in phrase between two evenings, i.e. prob. between sunset and dark

. (late poet.) = night

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6153 `ereb eh'-reb

from 6150; dusk:--+ day, even(-ing, tide), night.

see HEBREW for 06150

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עֶ֫רֶב (e.rev) — evening.

1) evening, night, sunset

1a) evening, sunset

1b) night

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absolute
HNcmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Easton's Bible Dictionary

Evening

The period following sunset with which the Jewish day began (Gen. 1:5; Mark 13:35). The Hebrews reckoned two evenings of each day, as appears from Ex. 16:12: 30:8; 12:6 (marg.); Lev. 23:5 (marg. R.V., “between the two evenings”). The “first evening” was that period when the sun was verging towards setting, and the “second evening” the moment of actual sunset. The word “evenings” in Jer. 5:6 should be “deserts” (marg. R.V.).

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

The Hebrews reckoned two evenings in each day; as in the phrase, "between the two evenings," Ex 12:6 Nu 9:3 28:4. In this interval the Passover was to be killed, and the daily evening sacrifice offered, Ex 29:39-41, Hebrew. According to the Carites, this time between the evenings is the interval from sunset to complete darkness, that is, the evening is the interval from sunset to complete darkness, that is, the evening twilight. Compare De 16:6. According to the Pharisees and the rabbins, the first evening began when the sun inclined to descend more rapidly, that is, at the ninth hour; while the second or real evening commenced at sunset. See DAY.

if I lay down and I will say when? will I arise and it will continue evening and I will be surfeited restlessness until twilight
וְשָׂבַ֖עְתִּיve.sa.Va'.ti and I will be surfeited H7646 Verb · Qal · sequential perfect first person common singular
97× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To satisfy means to fill someone with enough of something, like food or desire, and can also mean to have too much of something.
Amplified meaning
am filled with tossings, to and fro
Tyndale gloss
to satisfy
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שָׂבֵעַ (saba`) means to be sated or satisfied, particularly in relation to food. It can also imply having one's desires fulfilled or being surfeited with excess. The verb has various forms, including Qal, Piel, and Hiphil, which cover meanings from simply being full to enriching or satisfying others. The entries indicate a focus on both literal and figurative senses of satisfaction.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[שָׂבֵעַ], שָׂבַע 96 vb. be sated, satisfied, surfeited

Qal 79

be sated (with food), esp. human subj.

more gen., be sated, have desire satisfied

have in excess, be surfeited with

Niph. Pt. sated

Pi. satisfy

Hiph.

satisfy (esp. with material blessings), subj. י׳

c. acc. of food pers., י׳ subj.

י׳ subj.

י׳ subj., c. acc. of beasts

enrich

sate, glut (with the undesired)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7646 שָׂבֵעַ, שָׂבַע be sated, satisfied, surfeited .. be sated (with food), esp. human subj.

. more gen., be sated, have desire satisfied

. have in excess, be surfeited with

. Pt. sated

. satisfy

. . . satisfy (esp. with material blessings), subj. י׳

. c. acc. of food + pers., י׳ subj.

. י׳ subj.

. י׳ subj., c. acc. of beasts

. enrich

. sate, glut (with the undesired)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7646 saba` saw-bah'

or sabeay {saw-bay'-ah}; a primitive root; to sate, i.e. fill

to satisfaction (literally or figuratively):--have enough,

fill (full, self, with), be (to the) full (of), have plenty

of, be satiate, satisfy (with), suffice, be weary of.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שָׂבֵעַ (sa.va) — to satisfy.

1) to be satisfied, be sated, be fulfilled, be surfeited

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to be sated (with food)

1a2) to be sated, be satisfied with, be fulfilled, be filled, have one's fill of (have desire satisfied)

1a3) to have in excess, be surfeited, be surfeited with

1a3a) to be weary of (fig)

1b) (Piel) to satisfy

1c) (Hiphil)

1c1) to satisfy

1c2) to enrich

1c3) to sate, glut (with the undesired)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-1cs — Verb · Qal · sequential perfect first person common singular
Hc/Vqq1cs
if I lay down and I will say when? will I arise and it will continue evening and I will be surfeited restlessness until twilight
נְדֻדִ֣יםne.du.Dim restlessness H5076 Noun common · masculine plural absolute
1× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[נְדוּד] n.[m.] tossing of sleeplessness, only pl. Jb 7:4

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5076 נְדוּד

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5076 nadud naw-dood'

passive participle of 5074; properly, tossed; abstractly, a

rolling (on the bed):--tossing to and fro.

see HEBREW for 05074

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נְדוּד (na.dud) — tossing.

tossing (of sleeplessness)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HNcmpa — Noun common · masculine plural absolute
HNcmpa
if I lay down and I will say when? will I arise and it will continue evening and I will be surfeited restlessness until twilight
עֲדֵי־'a.dei- until 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.
Amplified meaning
till, as far as
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
Prep — Preposition
HR
if I lay down and I will say when? will I arise and it will continue evening and I will be surfeited restlessness until twilight
נָֽשֶׁף׃Na.shef twilight H5399 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
12× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Twilight, or the time of dawn or dusk when the breeze prevails, marking the beginning or end of the day. This term is used to describe the dark or light periods.
Amplified meaning
twilight, morning light
Tyndale gloss
twilight
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

נֶ֫שֶׁף (nesheph) refers to twilight, specifically the time of day when the evening breeze is felt. It encompasses both evening and morning twilight, indicating a transition period between day and night. The word is derived from a root that means 'breeze,' highlighting its connection to the atmospheric changes during these times.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

נֶ֫שֶׁף n.m. twilight (prop. twilight-breeze)

evening twilight

morning twilight

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5399 נֶ֫שֶׁף twilight (prop. twilight-breeze) . evening twilight

. morning twilight

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5399 nesheph neh'-shef

from 5398; properly, a breeze, i.e. (by implication) dusk

(when the evening breeze prevails):--dark, dawning of the day

(morning), night, twilight.

see HEBREW for 05398

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נֶ֫שֶׁף (ne.sheph) — twilight.

1) twilight

1a) evening twilight

1b) morning twilight

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absolute
HNcmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

twi'-lit (nesheph): The twilight of Palestine is of short duration, owing to the low latitude, there being scarcely more than an hour between sunset and complete darkness. It is a distinct boundary between daytime and the darkness. The people of Palestine still give the time of an event as so many hours before or after sunrise or sunset: "David smote them from the twilight even unto the evening of the next day" (1Sa 30:17), and "They rose up in the twilight to go" (2Ki 7:5). The word is evidenly used in the sense of darkness in "the stars of twilight" (Job 3:9) and "The adulterer waiteth for the twilight" (Job 24:15). the King James Version has "twilight" in

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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