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Proverbs 3:19 — Word Study

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WLCיְֽהוָ֗ה בְּחָכְמָ֥ה יָֽסַד־ אָ֑רֶץ כּוֹנֵ֥ן שָׁ֝מַ֗יִם בִּתְבוּנָֽה׃

BSAThe LORDYᵉhôvâh [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] foundedyâçad [established, laid the foundation] the earthʼerets [land, ground, or territory] by wisdomchokmâh [through, in, skill, prudence, or good judgment] and establishedkûwn [set up, appointed] the heavensshâmayim [the visible universe, the sky, or the abode of God] by understandingtâbûwn [through, in, intelligence, insight, or discretion]

Word
Listen & take awayProverbs 3
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 19 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 (bit.vu.Nah) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Proverbs 3:19quick helps
In a sentenceThe LORD created the earth with wisdom and set up the heavens with understanding.
Who is speakingYahweh, the covenant God of Israel.
Where we areIn the wisdom literature of Proverbs, reflecting on creation.
The hard wordיָֽסַד
Take awayCreation is founded and established through divine wisdom and understanding.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause subjectיהוה verbיָסַד 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 — Proverbs 3:19

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 — The Foundation of Creationgenerated

18She is a tree of life to those who embrace her, and those who lay hold of her are blessed.
19The LORD founded the earth by wisdom and established the heavens by understanding.
20By His knowledge the watery depths were broken open, and the clouds dripped with dew.
21My son, do not lose sight of this: Preserve sound judgment and discernment.

Proverbs 3:19 reflects on the foundational role of wisdom in the creation of the earth and heavens. This verse emphasizes that the universe was established not by chance, but through deliberate wisdom and understanding, highlighting the character of God as a wise creator. The surrounding verses (Proverbs 3:18-20) further explore the blessings of wisdom and the importance of sound judgment.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Proverbs 8:27–29I was there when He established the heavens, when He inscribed a circle on the face of the deep,
2Psalm 104:24How many are Your works, O LORD! In wisdom You have made them all; the earth is full of Your creatures.
3Psalm 136:5By His insight He made the heavens. His loving devotion endures forever.
4Jeremiah 10:12The LORD made the earth by His power; He established the world by His wisdom and stretched out the heavens by His understanding.
5Jeremiah 51:15The LORD made the earth by His power; He established the world by His wisdom and stretched out the heavens by His understanding.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 6 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word יְהוָ֗ה, Yahwehgenerated

The name יְהוָה (Yahweh) signifies the self-existent God of Israel, often translated as 'the LORD'. It is a proper noun that conveys the eternal nature of God and is associated with His covenant relationship with His people.

This name appears frequently throughout the Old Testament, underscoring God's sovereignty and authority in creation and His ongoing relationship with humanity.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

In the Berean Standard Bible, the verse reads with a clear focus on the roles of wisdom and understanding in creation.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main verb יָֽסַד (he founded) governs the first clause, while the second verb כּוֹנֵ֥ן (he established) governs the second clause. The structure indicates a parallelism in the actions of founding the earth and establishing the heavens.

The prepositional phrases בְּחָכְמָ֥ה (by wisdom) and בִּתְבוּנָֽה (by understanding) clarify the means by which these actions were accomplished, emphasizing the role of divine wisdom and understanding in creation.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates יְהוָ֗ה as θεὸς (God), maintaining the divine authority in the creation narrative. This choice reflects a broader understanding of God's nature beyond just the covenant context.

The Greek word ἐθεμελίωσεν for יָֽסַד (he founded) emphasizes the act of laying a foundation, aligning with the Hebrew meaning while broadening the context to a more universal creation.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Proverbs 3:19 tells us that the LORD created the earth using wisdom and set up the heavens with understanding. This verse highlights the importance of wisdom in God's creative acts, showing that creation is purposeful and intentional.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean that the LORD founded the earth by wisdom?

It means that God's creation of the earth was a deliberate act guided by His wisdom, indicating that there is order and purpose in the universe.

How does understanding relate to the establishment of the heavens?

Understanding signifies the insight and intelligence that God used to set up the heavens, suggesting that the universe operates under divine principles.

Why is wisdom emphasized in this verse?

Wisdom is emphasized because it reflects God's character and the means by which He creates and sustains the world, highlighting the value of seeking wisdom in our own lives.

What can we learn about God's nature from this verse?

We learn that God is not only powerful but also wise and understanding, ensuring that His creation is filled with purpose and order.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what ways can I seek wisdom in my daily life, reflecting God's character?
  2. How does understanding the creation of the earth and heavens influence my view of the world?
  3. What practical steps can I take to apply wisdom and understanding in my decisions?
  4. How can I share the importance of wisdom and understanding with others in my community?

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

Early church fathers referenced this verse to discuss God's wisdom in creation and its implications for understanding Christ's role in the universe.

Origen of AlexandriaHOMILIES ON Jeremiah 8:2.1 c. 185–253
You will find it said in Proverbs, “God by wisdom founded the earth, and by prudence he prepared the heaven.” Thus there is a certain prudence of God which one does not seek [except] in Christ Jesus.
Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 3 →
Athanasius of AlexandriaDiscourses Against the Arians 1.6.19 c. 296–373
Solomon says, “The Lord by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding he established the heavens.” And this wisdom is the Word, and by him, as John says, “all things were made” [and without him not one thing was made].
Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 3 →
Ambrose of MilanExposition of the Christian Faith 5.2.29 c. 339–397
Paul declares that it was said of the Son: “You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands.” Whether therefore the Son made the heavens,
Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 3 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Proverbs 3:19 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

The Lord by wisdom hath founded the earth,.... He has created all things, and made the world by his Son, the Wisdom of God, Ephesians 3:9 Hebrews 1:2; not using him as an instrument; but, he being an

Read John Gill on Proverbs 3 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens. The Lord by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens.

Read Robert Jamieson on Proverbs 3 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

By wisdom; either, 1. By Christ, the co-essential and co-eternal Wisdom of God the Father. Or, 2. By that Divine perfection of wisdom, which is the fountain of that wisdom that is in man, which Solomon hath hitherto commended; and therefore the commendation of that wisdom tends to the commendation of this, which is a stream flowing from it. Hath founded the earth; hath fixed it in the lowest part of the world. Established the heavens, or fitted or ordered them; framed them in that exquisite order which now they have,

Read Matthew Poole on Proverbs 3 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Proverbs 3:19 The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens.Ver. 19. The Lord by wisdom.] By his essential Wisdom, by his Eternal Word; the Lord Christ, who is "the beginning of the creation of God." "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth," that is, in his Son, as some interpret it. This interpretation is grounded upon the Jerusalem Targum, who translates that, bechochmatha, in sapientia. So doth Augustine and others; and for confirmation they bring John 8:25; but that is a mistake, as Beza shows in his Annotations there. He established the heavens.] Heb., He aptly and trimly framed them in that comeliness that we now see. "The…

Read John Trapp on Proverbs 3 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(e) Fifth Discourse:—Wisdom as Creator and Protector (Proverbs 3:19-26). (19) The Lord by wisdom . . .—A passage anticipatory of the doctrine of Joh 1:3. (Comp. Psalms 104:24; Psalms 136:5.) A further advance towards the personality of the Creator is made in Proverbs 8:27, sqq.

Read Charles John Ellicott on Proverbs 3 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 19. The Lord by wisdom hath founded the earth] Here wisdom is taken in its proper acceptation, for that infinite knowledge and skill which God has manifested in the creation and composition of the earth, and in the structure and economy of the heavens. He has established the order as well as the essence of all things; so that though they vary in their positions, c., yet they never change either their places, or their properties. Composition and analysis are not essential changes the original particles, their forms and properties, remain the same.

Read AdamClarke on Proverbs 3 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Hereto Wisdom has been thought of in relation to men. Now the question comes, What is she in relation to God? and the answer is, that the creative act implies a Divine Wisdom, through which the Divine will acts.

Read Albert Barnes on Proverbs 3 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

19, 20. The Lord by wisdom — These verses seem to be added for the purpose of commending, in the strongest manner, the pursuit of wisdom. It is an attribute of God himself.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Proverbs 3 →

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

The LORD founded the earth by wisdom and established the heavens by understanding.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

By wisdom Yahweh founded the earth. By understanding, he established the heavens.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

The LORD founded the earth by wisdom and established the heavens by understanding.

NETBNew English Translation2006

By wisdom the Lord laid the foundation of the earth; he established the heavens by understanding.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

Jehovah by wisdom founded the earth; By understanding he established the heavens.

RVARevised Version, American1894

The LORD by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding he established the heavens.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

The Lord by wisdome hath layde the foundation of the earth, and hath stablished the heauens through vnderstanding.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

Jehovah by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding he established the heavens.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

Jehovah by wisdom did found the earth, He prepared the heavens by understanding.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

YHWH founded the earth by wisdom, || He prepared the heavens by understanding.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

The Lord hath through wisdom founded the earth: he hath established the heavens through understanding.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

By wisdom Yahweh founded the earth, by understanding he established the heavens.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

The Lord by wisdom hath founded the earth, hath established the heavens by prudence.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

It was through wisdom that the Lord created the earth, and through understanding he set the heavens in place.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

The Lord by wisdom put in position the bases of the earth; by reason he put the heavens in their place.

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.

clausesubjectיְֽהוָ֗הYahwehprepositional phrase · prepositionalבְּbyחָכְמָ֥הwisdomverbיָֽסַדhe.foundedobjectאָ֑רֶץ[the].earthclauseverbכּוֹנֵ֥ןhe.establishedobjectשָׁ֝מַ֗יִם[the].heavensprepositional phrase · prepositionalבִּbyתְבוּנָֽהunderstanding

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


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

The Masoretic Text states, 'יְֽהוָ֗ה בְּחָכְמָ֥ה יָֽסַד־ אָ֑רֶץ כּוֹנֵ֥ן שָׁ֝מַ֗יִם בִּתְבוּנָֽה׃', which translates to 'The LORD founded the earth by wisdom and established the heavens by understanding.' The Septuagint closely aligns with this wording, as all seven words are matched in a word-by-word correspondence, indicating agreement in the fundamental message. There are no significant differences noted in the Samaritan Pentateuch or the Dead Sea Scrolls for this verse, further affirming the consistency of the text across these ancient witnesses.

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

יְֽהוָ֗ה בְּחָכְמָ֥ה יָֽסַד־ אָ֑רֶץ כּוֹנֵ֥ן שָׁ֝מַ֗יִם בִּתְבוּנָֽה׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
יְֽהוָ֗הθεὸςבְּחָכְמָ֥הσοφίᾳיָֽסַד־ἐθεμελίωσενאָ֑רֶץγῆνכּוֹנֵ֥ןἡτοίμασενשָׁ֝מַ֗יִםοὐρανοὺςבִּתְבוּנָֽה׃φρονήσει

7 of the 7 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.

Proverbs 3:19יהוהYahwehYahwehיהוהחָכְמָהby wisdomby wisdomחָכְמָהיָסַדhe foundedhe foundedיָסַדאֶ֫רֶץ[the] earth[the] earthאֶ֫רֶץכּוּןhe establishe establishedכּוּןשָׁמַי[the] heave[the] heavensשָׁמַיתְּבוּנָהby understaby understandinתְּבוּנָההָיָהto beto beהָיָהחָכַםbe wisebe wiseחָכַםבִּיןto understto understandבִּיןדַּ֫עַתknowledgeknowledgeדַּ֫עַתנְאֻםutteranceutteranceנְאֻםצָבָאarmyarmyצָבָאתְּבוּנָהunderstandunderstandingתְּבוּנָהיָקָרpreciouspreciousיָקָרהֵיכָלtempletempleהֵיכָלכְּנַ֫עַןCanaanCanaanכְּנַ֫עַןמִצְרַ֫יִם(Sea of) E(Sea of) Egyptמִצְרַ֫יִםתֵּבֵלworldworldתֵּבֵלכִּסֵּאthronethroneכִּסֵּאעוֹףbirdbirdעוֹףכּוֹכָבstarstarכּוֹכָבחָכְמָהwisdomwisdomחָכְמָה
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 Proverbs 3:19

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.

Yahweh by wisdom he founded [the] earth he established [the] heavens by understanding
יְֽהוָ֗הYah.weh 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.
Amplified meaning
Yehovah, The covenant Name of God
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
N-proper — Noun proper
HNpt
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
Yahweh by wisdom he founded [the] earth he established [the] heavens by understanding
בְּחָכְמָ֥הbe.cha.khe.Mah by wisdom H2451 Preposition · noun common feminine singular absolute
153× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Wisdom refers to skill, prudence, or good judgment in areas like war, administration, or religion, as seen in the book of Proverbs.
Amplified meaning
through, in, skill, prudence, or good judgment
Tyndale gloss
wisdom
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

חָכְמָה (chokmah) means wisdom and encompasses various forms of skill, including in war and administration, as well as shrewdness and ethical prudence. It is built from the root word for wisdom, חָכַם (chakam). The term appears in contexts related to both practical and religious matters.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

חָכְמָה n.f. wisdom

skill in war

wisdom, in administration

shrewdness, wisdom

wisdom, prudence in religious affairs

wisdom, ethical and religious

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2451 חָכְמָה wisdom . skill in war

. wisdom, in administration

. shrewdness, wisdom

. wisdom, prudence in religious affairs

. wisdom, ethical and religious

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2451 chokmah khok-maw'

from 2449; wisdom (in a good sense):--skilful, wisdom,

wisely, wit.

see HEBREW for 02449

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חׇכְמָה (chokh.mah) — wisdom.

1) wisdom

1a) skill (in war)

1b) wisdom (in administration)

1c) shrewdness, wisdom

1d) wisdom, prudence (in religious affairs)

1e) wisdom (ethical and religious)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-fs — Preposition · noun common feminine singular absolute
HR/Ncfsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

wiz'-dum:

1. Linguistic

2. History

3. Religious Basis

4. Ideals

5. Teaching of Christ

6. Remainder of the New Testament

(1) James

(2) Paul

7. Hypostasis

LITERATURE

1. Linguistic:

In the Revised Version (British and American) the noun "wisdom" and its corresponding adjective and verb ("be wise," "act wisely," etc.) represent a variety of Hebrew words: bin (binah, and in the English Revised Version tebunah), sakhal (sekhel, sekhel), lebh (and in the English Revised Version labhabh), tushiyah (and in the English Revised Version Te`em, `ormah, piqqach. None of these, however, is of very frequent occurrence and by far the most common group is the verb chakham, with the adjective chakham, and the nouns chokhmah, chokhmoth, with something over 300 occurrences in the Old Testament (of which rather more than half are in Job, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes). Cokhmah, accordingly, may be treated as the Hebrew…

Nave's Topical Bible

→ Of Joseph Ge 41:16,25-39; Ac 7:10

→ Of Moses Ac 7:22

→ Of Bezaleel Ex 31:3-5; 35:31-35; 36:1

→ Of Aholiab Ex 31:6; 35:34,35; 36:1

→ Of other skilled artisans Ex 36:2

→ Of women Ex 35:26

→ Of Hiram 1Ki 7:14; 2Ch 2:14

→ Of Solomon 1Ki 3:12,16-28; 4:29-34; 5:12; 10:24

Yahweh by wisdom he founded [the] earth he established [the] heavens by understanding
יָֽסַד־ya.sad- he founded H3245 Verb · Qal · perfect third person masculine singular
43× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To found or establish something is the meaning of this Hebrew word. It also means to sit down together and consult, as in a meeting or council.
Amplified meaning
established, laid the foundation
Tyndale gloss
to found
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יָסַד (yacad) means to establish or found, with nuances of fixing and laying a foundation. It can refer to both literal and figurative settings, such as appointing or consulting. The verb appears in various forms, including Qal (to found), Niphal (to be founded), and Piel (to establish). The entries do not indicate any significant disagreement among lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יָסַד vb. establish, found, fix

Qal found, establish

Niph.

fix or seat themselves close together, sit in conclave

be founded

Pi.

found

establish

Pu. be founded, be laid, of a foundation

Hoph. be founded

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3245 יָסַד establish, found, fix

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3245 yacad yaw-sad'

a primitive root; to set (literally or figuratively);

intensively, to found; reflexively, to sit down together, i.e.

settle, consult:--appoint, take counsel, establish, (lay the,

lay for a) found(-ation), instruct, lay, ordain, set, X sure.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יָסַד (ya.sad) — to found.

1) to found, fix, establish, lay foundation

1a) (Qal) to found, establish, begin

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to fix or seat themselves close together, sit in conclave

1b2) to be founded

1c) (Piel)

1c1) to found

1c2) to establish, appoint, ordain

1d) (Pual) to be founded, be laid

1e) (Hophal) to be founded

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Perf-3ms — Verb · Qal · perfect third person masculine singular
HVqp3ms
Yahweh by wisdom he founded [the] earth he established [the] heavens by understanding
אָ֑רֶץ'A.retz [the] earth H776 Noun common · feminine singular absolute
2,504× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The land or earth refers to the soil or ground, and can also mean a country, territory, or region. In the Bible, it is used to describe the earth and its inhabitants, and is often translated as 'land' or 'country'.
Amplified meaning
land, ground, or territory
Tyndale gloss
land: soil
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֶ֫רֶץ n. f. & (seld.) m. earth, land

earth, whole earth (opp. to a part)

earth, opp. to heaven, sky

earth = inhabitants of earth

land =

country, territory

district, region

trial territory

piece of ground

specif. land of Canaan, or Israel

= inhabitants of land

used even of Shᵉʼôl

ground, surface of ground

soil, as productive

אֶרֶץ in phrases

people of the land

in measurements of distance

the country of the plain, level or plain country

land of the living

end(s) of the earth

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

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

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

. earth, opp. to heaven, sky

. earth = inhabitants of earth

. land = . country, territory

. district, region

. trial territory

. piece of ground

. specif. land of Canaan, or Israel

. = inhabitants of land

. used even of Shᵉʼôl

. . ground, surface of ground

. soil, as productive

. אֶרֶץ in phrases . people of the land

. in measurements of distance

. the country of the plain, level or plain country

. land of the living

. end(s) of the earth

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

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

776 'erets eh'-rets

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

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

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

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

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

: country/field

1) land, earth

1a) earth

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

1a2) earth (as opposed to heaven)

1a3) earth (inhabitants)

1b) land

1b1) country, territory

1b2) district, region

1b3) tribal territory

1b4) piece of ground

1b5) land of Canaan, Israel

1b6) inhabitants of land

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

1b8) city (-state)

1c) ground, surface of the earth

1c1) ground

1c2) soil

1d) (in phrases)

1d1) people of the land

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

1d3) level or plain country

1d4) land of the living

1d5) end(s) of the earth

1e) (almost wholly late in usage)

1e1) lands, countries

1e1a) often in contrast to Canaan

אֶ֫רֶץ (e.rets) — land: soil.

: soil

1) land, earth

1a) earth

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

1a2) earth (as opposed to heaven)

1a3) earth (inhabitants)

1b) land

1b1) country, territory

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-cs — Noun common · feminine singular absolute
HNcfsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

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

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

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

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Earth

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

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

Smith's Bible Dictionary

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

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

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

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

Yahweh by wisdom he founded [the] earth he established [the] heavens by understanding
כּוֹנֵ֥ןko.Nen he established H3559 Verb · Piel · perfect third person masculine singular
217× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This verb means to set something up or establish it, like setting up a tent or appointing someone to a position, as seen in Isaiah 7:14.
Amplified meaning
set up, appointed
Tyndale gloss
to establish: prepare
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כּוּן (kuwn) is a Hebrew verb meaning to establish or prepare. It encompasses a range of meanings, including to be firm, to fix, to direct, and to be ready, with applications in both literal and figurative contexts. The entries indicate various forms of the verb, such as Niph'al (to be established) and Hiph'il (to establish), but there is a note on a noun form, נָכוֹן (nakhon), meaning 'blow'.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[כּוּן] 218 vb. prob. be firm, only in der. conj.

Niph.

be set up, established, fixed

in a moral sense, be directed aright, of ways

prepare, be ready

pass. be prepared, of judgments

Hiph.

establish, set up

fix, so as to be ready, make ready, prepare, a gift

provide for, provide, furnish

direct one's face toward

arrange, order

Hoph.

be established, of throne

be prepared for

Po‛lēl.

set up, establish

constitute, make, a man (in womb)

fix, so as to be ready

direct

Po‛lal. be established

Hithpo‛l. be established

base

נָכוֹן n. [m.] = blow Jb 12:5

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3559a כּוּן prob. be firm, only in der. conj. . . be set up, established, fixed

. in a moral sense, be directed aright, of ways

. prepare, be ready

. pass. be prepared, of judgments

. . establish, set up

. . fix, so as to be ready, make ready, prepare, a gift

. provide for, provide, furnish

. direct one's face toward

. arrange, order

. . be established, of throne

. be prepared for

. . set up, establish

. constitute, make, a man (in womb)

. fix, so as to be ready

. direct

. be established

. be established

H3559b נָכוֹן n. [m.] = blow

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3559 kuwn koon

a primitive root; properly, to be erect (i.e. stand

perpendicular); hence (causatively) to set up, in a great

variety of applications, whether literal (establish, fix,

prepare, apply), or figurative (appoint, render sure, proper

or prosperous):--certain(-ty), confirm, direct, faithfulness,

fashion, fasten, firm, be fitted, be fixed, frame, be meet,

ordain, order, perfect, (make) preparation, prepare (self),

provide, make provision, (be, make) ready, right, set (aright,

fast, forth), be stable, (e-)stablish, stand, tarry, X very

deed.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כּוּן (kun) — to establish: prepare.

: prepare/direct

1) to be firm, be stable, be established

1a) (Niphal)

1a1) to be set up, be established, be fixed

1a1a) to be firmly established

1a1b) to be established, be stable, be secure, be enduring

1a1c) to be fixed, be securely determined

1a2) to be directed aright, be fixed aright, be steadfast (moral sense)

1a3) to prepare, be ready

1a4) to be prepared, be arranged, be settled

1b) (Hiphil)

1b1) to establish, set up, accomplish, do, make firm

1b2) to fix, make ready, prepare, provide, provide for, furnish

1b3) to direct toward (moral sense)

1b4) to arrange, order

1c) (Hophal)

1c1) to be established, be fastened

1c2) to be prepared, be ready

1d) (Polel)

1d1) to set up, establish

1d2) to constitute, make

1d3) to fix

1d4) to direct

1e) (Pulal) to be established, be prepared

1f) (Hithpolel) to be established, be restored

נָכוֹן (na.khon) — blow.

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-o-Perf-3ms — Verb · Piel · perfect third person masculine singular
HVpp3ms
Yahweh by wisdom he founded [the] earth he established [the] heavens by understanding
שָׁ֝מַ֗יִםSha.Ma.yim [the] heavens H8064 Noun common · masculine plural absolute
421× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for heaven or sky, it refers to the visible universe and the abode of God. It is often used in the Bible to describe the dwelling place of celestial bodies.
Amplified meaning
the visible universe, the sky, or the abode of God
Tyndale gloss
heaven
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

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

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

phrases

as abode of God

Elijah taken up הַשּׁ׳ in whirlwind

הַשּׁ׳ personified in various relations

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

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

. phrases

. . as abode of God

. Elijah taken up הַשּׁ׳ in whirlwind

. הַשּׁ׳ personified in various relations

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8064 shamayim shaw-mah'-yim

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

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

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

as to the higher ether where the celestial bodies

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

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שָׁמַיִם (sha.ma.yim) — heaven.

1) heaven, heavens, sky

1a) visible heavens, sky

1a1) as abode of the stars

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

1b) Heaven (as the abode of God)

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

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-mp — Noun common · masculine plural absolute
HNcmpa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

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

See HEAVENLY.

Yahweh by wisdom he founded [the] earth he established [the] heavens by understanding
בִּתְבוּנָֽה׃bit.vu.Nah by understanding H8394 Preposition · noun common feminine singular absolute
42× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Tabún means understanding or intelligence, implying skill or insight. It is translated as discretion, reason, or wisdom in the KJV Bible, referring to the act or faculty of understanding.
Amplified meaning
through, in, intelligence, insight, or discretion
Tyndale gloss
understanding
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

תְּבוּנָה (tebunah) means understanding and encompasses intelligence, skill, and insight. It can refer to both the act of understanding and the faculty itself, as well as the object of knowledge. The term is personified as a teacher in some contexts.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

תְּבוּנָה n.f. understanding

the act

the faculty

the object of knowledge

personified as teacher.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8394 תְּבוּנָה understanding

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8394 tabuwn taw-boon'

and (feminine) tbuwnah {teb-oo-naw'}; or towbunah

{to-boo-naw'}; from 995; intelligence; by implication, an

argument; by extension, caprice:--discretion, reason,

skilfulness, understanding, wisdom.

see HEBREW for 0995

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

תְּבוּנָה (ta.vu.nah) — understanding.

1) understanding, intelligence

1a) the act of understanding

1a1) skill

1b) the faculty of understanding

1b1) intelligence, understanding, insight

1c) the object of knowledge

1d) teacher (personification)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-fs — Preposition · noun common feminine singular absolute
HR/Ncfsa
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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