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Proverbs 3:5 — Word Study

Depth

WLCבְּטַ֣ח אֶל־ יְ֭הוָה בְּכָל־ לִבֶּ֑ךָ וְאֶל־ בִּֽ֝ינָתְךָ֗ אַל־ תִּשָּׁעֵֽן׃

BSATrustbâṭach [have confidence, rely completely] inʼêl the LORDYᵉhôvâh [Yehovah, the Lord God] with allkôl [everything, your entire being] your heartlêb [your innermost thoughts, feelings, and will] and leanshâʻan [rest, depend] notʼal [in no way, never] onʼêl your own understandingbîynâh [limited, human, insight, discernment]

Word
Listen & take awayProverbs 3
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 5 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 (ti.sha.'En) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Proverbs 3:5quick helps
In a sentenceThis verse encourages complete trust in the LORD and warns against relying on one's own limited understanding.
Who is speakingThe author of Proverbs, traditionally attributed to Solomon, addresses the reader directly.
Where we areThis verse is part of a larger section that provides wisdom on how to live a life pleasing to God.
The hard wordבְּטַ֣ח
Take awayTrusting in God involves relying on Him fully, rather than depending on human insight.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbבָּטַח 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 3:5

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 — Wisdom for Livinggenerated

4Then you will find favor and high regard in the sight of God and man.
5Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding;
6in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.
7Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and turn away from evil.

Proverbs 3:5 is part of a passage that offers guidance on how to navigate life with divine wisdom. The verses surrounding it emphasize the importance of trusting God, acknowledging Him in all ways, and avoiding self-reliance. This theme resonates throughout the book of Proverbs, where wisdom is portrayed as a guiding principle for a fulfilling life.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Proverbs 22:19So that your trust may be in the LORD, I instruct you today—yes, you.
2Job 13:15Though He slay me, I will hope in Him. I will still defend my ways to His face.
3Psalm 37:3–5Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.
4Psalm 62:8Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts before Him. God is our refuge. Selah
5Psalm 115:9–11O Israel, trust in the LORD! He is their help and shield.

The Key Word בְּטַח, be.Tachgenerated

The word בָּטַח (batach) is a verb meaning to trust or have confidence. It conveys a sense of security and boldness, suggesting that one should place complete faith in God. The parsing indicates that it is an imperative form, calling the reader to action.

This command to trust is directed at the second person masculine singular, making it personal and direct. The use of the word in this context emphasizes the necessity of relying on God fully, as opposed to leaning on one's own understanding, which is inherently limited.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

The translations agree on the essence of the verse, emphasizing trust in the LORD and the rejection of self-reliance.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main verb בְּטַח (trust) governs the entire verse, with two phrases following it: a prepositional phrase indicating the object of trust and a clause that advises against leaning on one's own understanding. This structure highlights the contrast between trusting God and relying on oneself.

The sentence construction emphasizes a direct command followed by an explanation of what not to do, creating a clear and instructive guideline for the reader.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates בְּטַח as ἐπὶ (epi), meaning 'upon' or 'on'. This choice reflects a similar concept of placing trust or reliance on God.

The Greek rendering maintains the focus on dependence, aligning closely with the Hebrew intent of the verse.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Proverbs 3:5 tells us to trust in the LORD with all our heart and not to depend on our own understanding. This verse encourages us to rely completely on God for guidance in our lives.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean to trust in the LORD?

To trust in the LORD means to have complete confidence in Him, relying on His wisdom and guidance rather than our own limited understanding.

Why should we not lean on our own understanding?

Leaning on our own understanding can lead to misguided decisions, as our perspective is limited and flawed. Trusting in God ensures we follow a path aligned with His will.

How can I apply this verse in my daily life?

You can apply this verse by actively seeking God's guidance in your decisions, praying for wisdom, and making a conscious effort to rely on Him rather than your own judgment.

What are some examples of trusting God?

Examples include seeking His counsel in times of trouble, being patient in uncertainty, and believing that He has a plan for your life, even when things seem unclear.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what areas of your life do you find it hardest to trust God completely?
  2. How can you remind yourself to lean on God rather than your own understanding in daily decisions?
  3. What are some specific ways you can acknowledge God in all your ways?
  4. Can you think of a time when trusting God led to a positive outcome in your life?

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

The comments from early Christian writers reflect on the importance of trusting God and not relying on human strength, drawing lessons from this verse.

Desert FathersThe Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks 4th–5th c.
Once some brothers came to visit Antony, and Joseph was with them. Antony, wanting to test them, began to speak about holy Scripture.
Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 3 →
BedeCommentary on Proverbs c. 673–735
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, etc. Do not be afraid that you cannot observe the divine commands due to your own weakness, nor again suppose that you can fulfill them by your own strength,
Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 3 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Proverbs 3:5 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart,.... Not in a creature, the best, the holiest, and the highest; not in any creature enjoyment, as riches, strength, and wisdom; nor in any outward privilege,

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

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding - which latter cannot preserve thee.

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

Trust in the Lord; wholly and securely rely upon God’ s promises and providence for help and relief in all thine affairs and dangers. Lean not unto thine own understanding; think not to accomplish thy designs by the strength of thine own wit without God’ s blessing. Under this one kind of carnal confidence, which is most frequent and most plausible, he understands and forbids all other confidences in bodily strength, wealth, friends, &c.

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

Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.Ver. 5. Trust in the Lord.] To trust in God is to be unbottomed of thyself, and of every creature, and so to lean upon God, that if he fail thee thou sinkest. Confidence is the least, and yet the best we can render to the Lord, for hereby we acknowledge his sovereignty, and set the crown upon his head, as it were. See Judges 9:15. And lean not to thine own understanding.] Which, because men do, hence it is, many times, that the fairest blossoms of their endeavours wither, and the unprobablest things do come to pass. God loves to confute men in their confidences, as he did the Philistines in their…

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

Verse 5. Trust in the Lord with all thine heart] This is a most important precept: 1. God is the Fountain of all good. 2. He has made his intelligent creatures dependent upon himself. 3. He requires them to be conscious of that dependence. 4. He has promised to communicate what they need. 5. He commands them to believe his promise, and look for its fulfilment. 6. And to do this without doubt, fear, or distrust; "with their whole heart." Lean not unto thine own understanding] אל תשען al tishshaen, do not prop thyself. It is on GOD, not on thyself, that thou art commanded to depend. He who trusts in his own heart is a fool.

Read AdamClarke on Proverbs 3 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

5. unto] Rather, upon, R.V. The confidence is to be complete both in degree and in extent: “with all thy heart,” “in all thy ways.” This teaching of trust in God, “anticipates,” as the Speaker’s Commentary points out, the doctrine of faith. Fides est fiducia.

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

In preaching “trust in God” the moralist anticipates the teaching that man is justified by faith.

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

5. Here follow precepts bearing more directly on man’s duty to God, and especially as to the regulation of the mind and thoughts in respect to him.

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

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding;

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Trust in Yahweh with all your heart, and don’t lean on your own understanding.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding;

NETBNew English Translation2006

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

¶ Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

Trust in Jehovah with all thy heart, And lean not upon thine own understanding:

RVARevised Version, American1894

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart, and lean not upon thine own understanding:

NWBWebster's Bible1833

Trust in the LORD with all thy heart; and lean not to thy own understanding.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and leane not vnto thine owne wisdome.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

Confide in Jehovah with all thy heart, and lean not unto thine own intelligence;

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

Trust unto Jehovah with all thy heart, And unto thine own understanding lean not.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

Trust to YHWH with all your heart, || And do not lean to your own understanding.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

Trust in the Lord with all thy heart: and upon thy own understanding do not rely.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Trust in Yahweh with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding;

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

Have confidence in the Lord with all thy heart, and lean not upon thy own prudence.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

Put your trust totally in the Lord—don't rely on what you think you know!

BBEBible in Basic English1949

Put all your hope in God, not looking to your reason for support.

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.

clauseverbבְּטַ֣חtrustprepositional phrase · prepositionalאֶלtoיְ֭הוָהYahwehprepositional phrase · prepositionalבְּwithnoun phraseכָלallnoun phraseלִבֶּ֑heartךָyourוְandclauseprepositional phrase · prepositionalאֶלtonoun phraseבִּֽ֝ינָתְunderstandingךָ֗your.ownadverbialאַלdo.notverbתִּשָּׁעֵֽןdepend

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 eight of the nine words matched. The Septuagint's translation reflects the same core message, though its word order differs.

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

בְּטַ֣ח אֶל־ יְ֭הוָה בְּכָל־ לִבֶּ֑ךָ וְאֶל־ בִּֽ֝ינָתְךָ֗ אַל־ תִּשָּׁעֵֽן׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
אֶל־ἐπὶיְ֭הוָהθεῷבְּכָל־ὅλῃלִבֶּ֑ךָκαρδίᾳוְאֶל־ἐπὶבִּֽ֝ינָתְךָ֗σῇאַל־μὴתִּשָּׁעֵֽן׃ἐπαίρου

8 of the 9 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 3:5בָּטַחtrusttrustבָּטַחאֶלtotoאֶליהוהYahwehYahwehיהוהכֹּלwith allwith allכֹּללֵבheart yourheart yourלֵבאֶלand toand toאֶלבִּינָהown understown understandiבִּינָהאַלmay notmay notאַלשָׁעַןyou dependyou dependשָׁעַןהָיָהto beto beהָיָהכָּלַלto perfectto perfectכָּלַלבִּיןto understto understandבִּיןחָסָהto seek reto seek refugeחָסָהלֵבָבheartheartלֵבָבלֹאnotnotלֹאפָּלַלto prayto prayפָּלַליִרְמְיָ֫הJeremiahJeremiahיִרְמְיָ֫המָגֵןshieldshieldמָגֵןשֶׁ֫קֶרdeceptiondeceptionשֶׁ֫קֶרנְאֻםutteranceutteranceנְאֻםצָבָאarmyarmyצָבָאעֵדָהcongregaticongregationעֵדָהעֲבֹדָהserviceserviceעֲבֹדָהחָסֵרlackinglackingחָסֵרחָכָםwisewiseחָכָםשֵׂ֫כֶלunderstandunderstandingשֵׂ֫כֶלחָכְמָהwisdomwisdomחָכְמָה
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 3:5

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.

trust to Yahweh with all heart your and to own understanding your may not you depend
בְּטַ֣חbe.Tach trust H982 Verb · Qal · imperative second person masculine singular
120× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To trust means to have confidence or faith in something or someone, like the Israelites trusting in God to lead them through the desert, as seen in Psalm 23.
Amplified meaning
have confidence, rely completely
Tyndale gloss
to trust
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

בָּטַח (batach) is a Hebrew verb meaning to trust or have confidence. It conveys a sense of security and boldness, both in a personal sense and when causing others to feel secure. The entries indicate its use in different forms, such as Qal and Hiphil, covering aspects of trust and confidence.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

בָּטַח vb. trust

Qal

trust

be confident

Hiph. cause to trust, make secure

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H982 בָּטַח trust . trust

. be confident

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

982 batach baw-takh'

a primitive root; properly, to hie for refuge (but not so

precipitately as 2620); figuratively, to trust, be confident

or sure:--be bold (confident, secure, sure), careless (one,

woman), put confidence, (make to) hope, (put, make to) trust.

see HEBREW for 02620

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בָּטַח (ba.tach) — to trust.

1) to trust

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to trust, trust in

1a2) to have confidence, be confident

1a3) to be bold

1a4) to be secure

1b) (Hiphil)

1b1) to cause to trust, make secure

2) (TWOT) to feel safe, be careless

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Impv-2ms — Verb · Qal · imperative second person masculine singular
HVqv2ms
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Nave's Topical Bible

→ See FAITH

Torrey's New Topical Textbook

- God is the true object of

Ps 65:5

- The fear of God leads to

Pr 14:26

- ENCOURAGEMENTS TO

. The everlasting strength of God

Isa 26:4

. The goodness of God

Na 1:7

. The loving-kindness of God

Ps 36:7

. The rich bounty of God

1Ti 6:17

. The care of God for us

1Pe 5:7

. Former deliverances

Ps 9:10; 2Co 1:10

- Should be with the whole heart

Pr 3:5

- Should be from youth up

trust to Yahweh with all heart your and to own understanding your may not you depend
אֶל־'el- to H413 Preposition
5,518× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means 'to' or 'toward', showing direction or movement. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus, to indicate where someone is going. The KJV translates it in various ways, like 'about', 'according to', or 'against'.
Tyndale gloss
to(wards)
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word אֶל (el) is primarily a preposition indicating motion towards or direction to a person or place. It can also imply entering a limit, presence at a location, or a hostile direction (against). Additionally, it may express concepts such as concerning, in addition to, or according to. The entries highlight its versatility in both physical and metaphorical contexts.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֶל (nearly always followed by Makkeph),

prep. denoting motion to or direction towards (whether physical or mental).of motion to or unto a person or place

Where the limit is actually entered, into

Of direction towards anything

Where the motion or direction implied appears from the context to be of a hostile character, אֶל = against

Unto sometimes acquires from the context the sense of in addition to

Metaph. in regard to, concerning, on account of

Of rule or standard according to (rare)

Expressing presence at a spot, against, at, by, not merely after verbs implying motion

Prefixed to other preps. it combines with them the idea of motion or direction to

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H413 אֶל (nearly always followed by Makkeph), . of motion to or unto a person or place

. Where the limit is actually entered, into

. Of direction towards anything

. Where the motion or direction implied appears from the context to be of a hostile character, אֶל = against

. Unto sometimes acquires from the context the sense of in addition to

. Metaph. in regard to, concerning, on account of

. Of rule or standard according to (rare)

. Expressing presence at a spot, against, at, by, not merely after verbs implying motion

. Prefixed to other preps. it combines with them the idea of motion or direction to

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

413 'el ale

(but only used in the shortened constructive form sel {el});

a primitive particle; properly, denoting motion towards, but

occasionally used of a quiescent position, i.e. near, with or

among; often in general, to:--about, according to ,after,

against, among, as for, at, because(-fore, -side), both...and,

by, concerning, for, from, X hath, in(- to), near, (out) of,

over, through, to(-ward), under, unto, upon, whether,

with(-in).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֶל (el) — to(wards).

1) to, toward, unto (of motion)

2) into (limit is actually entered)

2a) in among

3) toward (of direction, not necessarily physical motion)

4) against (motion or direction of a hostile character)

5) in addition to, to

6) concerning, in regard to, in reference to, on account of

7) according to (rule or standard)

8) at, by, against (of one's presence)

9) in between, in within, to within, unto (idea of motion to)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep — Preposition
HR
trust to Yahweh with all heart your and to own understanding your may not you depend
יְ֭הוָהYah.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 Lord 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
trust to Yahweh with all heart your and to own understanding your may not you depend
בְּכָל־be.khol with all H3605 Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct
5,415× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for 'all' or 'everything' is used throughout the Bible, like in Genesis 1:31, where God sees all He has made as very good. It encompasses the entirety of something, whether people, things, or situations.
Amplified meaning
everything, your entire being
Tyndale gloss
all
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כֹּל (kol) means 'all' or 'the whole.' It can refer to totality, including every person or thing, and is often used with a following genitive to specify what is included. The term can also denote a broader sense of everything in existence or all circumstances of life. The lexicons do not show significant disagreement on its meanings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כֹּל once כּוֹל n.m. the whole, all

with foll. gen. (as usually) the whole of, to be rendered, however, often in our idiom, to avoid stiffness, any or every

Absolutely:

without the art., all things, all

with the art. הַכֹּל

where the sense is limited by the context to things (or persons) just mentioned

in a wider sense, all, whether of all mankind or of all living things, the universe, or of all the circumstances of life (chiefly late)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3605 כֹּל once כּוֹל the whole, all . with foll. gen. (as usually) the whole of, to be rendered, however, often in our idiom, to avoid stiffness, any or every

. Absolutely: . without the art., all things, all

. with the art. הַכֹּל . where the sense is limited by the context to things (or persons) just mentioned

. in a wider sense, all, whether of all mankind or of all living things, the universe, or of all the circumstances of life (chiefly late)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3605 kol kole

or (Jer. 33:8) kowl {kole}; from 3634; properly, the whole;

hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a

plural sense):--(in) all (manner, (ye)), altogether, any

(manner), enough, every (one, place, thing), howsoever, as

many as, (no-)thing, ought, whatsoever, (the) whole,

whoso(-ever).

see HEBREW for 03634

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כֹּל (kol) — all.

1) all, the whole

1a) all, the whole of

1b) any, each, every, anything

1c) totality, everything

Aramaic equivalent: kol (כֹּל "all" H3606)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct
HR/Ncmsc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ol: Used in various combinations, and with different meanings.

(1) All along, "Weeping all along as he went" (Jer 41:6), i.e. throughout the whole way he went, feigning equal concern with the men from Shiloh, etc., for the destruction of the Temple, so as to put them off their guard.

(2) All in all, "That God may be all in all" (1Co 15:28, Greek: panta en pasin, "all things in all (persons and) things"). "The universe, with all it comprises, will wholly answer to God's will and reflect His mind" (Dummelow).

(3) All one, "It is all one" (Job 9:22), "it makes no difference whether I live or die."

(4) At all, "If thy father miss me at all" (1Sa 20:6), "in any way," "in the least."

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
trust to Yahweh with all heart your and to own understanding your may not you depend
לִבֶּ֑ךָli.Be.kha heart your H3820 Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
595× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Leb refers to the heart, but also represents feelings, will, and intellect in the Bible. It is used figuratively to describe the center of something, and is often translated as heart or mind. Leb is a complex concept that encompasses emotions and thoughts.
Amplified meaning
your innermost thoughts, feelings, and will
Tyndale gloss
heart
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word לֵב (lev) means 'heart' and encompasses the inner man, mind, will, and emotions. It refers to the center of feelings, intellect, and moral character, as well as the seat of appetites and courage. The entries suggest a broad range of meanings related to human experience and thought, with a specific mention of its use in Jeremiah 51:1.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

לֵב 599 n.m. (f.) inner man, mind, will, heart

seldom of things in the midst of the sea

elsewhere of men

the inner man in contrast with the outer

the inner man, indef., soul, comprehending mind, affections and will

specific reference to mind

spec. ref. to inclinations, resolutions and determinations of the will

spec. ref. to conscience

[various]

for the man himself

as seat of appetites

as seat of emotions and passions

seat of courage

base

לֵב קָמָי prob. late Atbash Je 51:1.

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3820a לֵב inner man, mind, will, heart . seldom of things in the midst of the sea

. elsewhere of men . the inner man in contrast with the outer

. the inner man, indef., soul, comprehending mind, affections and will

. specific reference to mind

. spec. ref. to inclinations, resolutions and determinations of the will

. spec. ref. to conscience

. [various]

. for the man himself

. as seat of appetites

. as seat of emotions and passions

. seat of courage

H3820b לֵב קָמָי prob. late Atbash

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3820 leb labe

a form of 3824; the heart; also used (figuratively) very

widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect;

likewise for the centre of anything:--+ care for, comfortably,

consent, X considered, courag(-eous), friend(-ly), ((broken-),

(hard-), (merry-), (stiff-), (stout-), double) heart((-ed)), X

heed, X I, kindly, midst, mind(-ed), X regard((-ed)), X

themselves, X unawares, understanding, X well, willingly,

wisdom.

see HEBREW for 03824

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

לֵב (lev) — heart.

1) inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding

1a) inner part, midst

1a1) midst (of things)

1a2) heart (of man)

1a3) soul, heart (of man)

1a4) mind, knowledge, thinking, reflection, memory

1a5) inclination, resolution, determination (of will)

1a6) conscience

1a7) heart (of moral character)

1a8) as seat of appetites

1a9) as seat of emotions and passions 1a10) as seat of courage

לֵב (lev) — Leb.

§ Leb- = "heart of"

(probably a cryptic name for Babylon by Atbash)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
HNcmsc/Sp2ms
trust to Yahweh with all heart your and to own understanding your may not you depend
וְאֶל־ve.'el- and to H413 Conjunction · preposition
5,518× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means 'to' or 'toward', showing direction or movement. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus, to indicate where someone is going. The KJV translates it in various ways, like 'about', 'according to', or 'against'.
Tyndale gloss
to(wards)
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word אֶל (el) is primarily a preposition indicating motion towards or direction to a person or place. It can also imply entering a limit, presence at a location, or a hostile direction (against). Additionally, it may express concepts such as concerning, in addition to, or according to. The entries highlight its versatility in both physical and metaphorical contexts.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֶל (nearly always followed by Makkeph),

prep. denoting motion to or direction towards (whether physical or mental).of motion to or unto a person or place

Where the limit is actually entered, into

Of direction towards anything

Where the motion or direction implied appears from the context to be of a hostile character, אֶל = against

Unto sometimes acquires from the context the sense of in addition to

Metaph. in regard to, concerning, on account of

Of rule or standard according to (rare)

Expressing presence at a spot, against, at, by, not merely after verbs implying motion

Prefixed to other preps. it combines with them the idea of motion or direction to

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H413 אֶל (nearly always followed by Makkeph), . of motion to or unto a person or place

. Where the limit is actually entered, into

. Of direction towards anything

. Where the motion or direction implied appears from the context to be of a hostile character, אֶל = against

. Unto sometimes acquires from the context the sense of in addition to

. Metaph. in regard to, concerning, on account of

. Of rule or standard according to (rare)

. Expressing presence at a spot, against, at, by, not merely after verbs implying motion

. Prefixed to other preps. it combines with them the idea of motion or direction to

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

413 'el ale

(but only used in the shortened constructive form sel {el});

a primitive particle; properly, denoting motion towards, but

occasionally used of a quiescent position, i.e. near, with or

among; often in general, to:--about, according to ,after,

against, among, as for, at, because(-fore, -side), both...and,

by, concerning, for, from, X hath, in(- to), near, (out) of,

over, through, to(-ward), under, unto, upon, whether,

with(-in).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֶל (el) — to(wards).

1) to, toward, unto (of motion)

2) into (limit is actually entered)

2a) in among

3) toward (of direction, not necessarily physical motion)

4) against (motion or direction of a hostile character)

5) in addition to, to

6) concerning, in regard to, in reference to, on account of

7) according to (rule or standard)

8) at, by, against (of one's presence)

9) in between, in within, to within, unto (idea of motion to)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | Prep — Conjunction · preposition
HC/R
trust to Yahweh with all heart your and to own understanding your may not you depend
בִּֽ֝ינָתְךָ֗bi.na.te.kha own understanding your H998 Noun common feminine singular construct · suffix
38× 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 understanding or discernment, like having wisdom or knowledge. It appears in books like Proverbs and Psalms, guiding people to make good decisions.
Amplified meaning
limited, human, insight, discernment
Tyndale gloss
understanding
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

בִּינָה (biynah) means understanding and encompasses the act, faculty, and object of knowledge, even personified in some contexts. It is derived from the root meaning to discern or comprehend. The Aramaic equivalent is בִּינָה (H0999).

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

בִּינָה n.f. understanding

the act

the faculty

the object of knowledge

personified

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H998 בִּינָה understanding . the act

. the faculty

. the object of knowledge

. personified

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

998 biynah bee-naw'

from 995; understanding:--knowledge, meaning, X perfectly,

understanding, wisdom.

see HEBREW for 0995

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בִּינָה (bi.nah) — understanding.

1) understanding, discernment

1a) act

1b) faculty

1c) object

1d) personified

Aramaic equivalent: bi.nah (בִּינָה "understanding" H0999)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fs | Suff — Noun common feminine singular construct · suffix
HNcfsc/Sp2ms
trust to Yahweh with all heart your and to own understanding your may not you depend
אַל־'al- may not H408 Particle
724× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Means not or nothing, used to express negation, as in the phrase do not or let not be.
Amplified meaning
in no way, never
Tyndale gloss
not
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אַל (al) is a negative particle meaning 'not' or 'no,' often used to express a wish or prohibition rather than an objective fact. It can also function as a noun meaning 'nothing.' The lexicons highlight its use in various contexts, including deprecative forms, but do not show significant disagreement.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אַל adv. of negation, denying however, not objectively as a fact, but subjectively as a wish, expressing therefore a deprecation or prohibition

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H408 אַל adv. of negation, denying however, not objectively as a fact, but subjectively as a wish, expressing therefore a deprecation or prohibition

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

408 'al al

a negative particle (akin to 3808); not (the qualified

negation, used as a deprecative); once (Job 24:25) as a noun,

nothing:--nay, neither, + never, no ,nor, not, nothing

(worth), rather than.

see HEBREW for 03808

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אַל (al) — not.

1) not, no, nor, neither, nothing (as wish or preference)

1a) do not, let not (with a verb)

1b) let there not be (with a verb understood)

1c) not, no (with substantive)

1d) nothing (as substantive)

Aramaic equivalent: al (אַל "not" H0409)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Part — Particle
HTn
trust to Yahweh with all heart your and to own understanding your may not you depend
תִּשָּׁעֵֽן׃ti.sha.'En you depend H8172 Verb · Niphal · jussive second person masculine singular
22× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To lean means to support oneself or trust in something, like God. In Psalm 37:7, it means to rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him. This concept is central to the biblical idea of trust and faith.
Amplified meaning
rest, depend
Tyndale gloss
to lean
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שָׁעַן (sha`an) is a Hebrew verb primarily meaning to lean or support oneself. It is noted in the Niphal form, indicating a reflexive action of relying or trusting, particularly in a figurative sense of trusting in God. The entries consistently emphasize the themes of leaning and support.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[שָׁעַן] vb. Niph. lean, support oneself

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8172 שָׁעַן Niph. lean, support oneself

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8172 sha`an shaw-an'

a primitive root; to support one's self:--lean, lie, rely,

rest (on, self), stay.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שָׁעַן (sha.an) — to lean.

1) to lean on, trust in, support

1a) (Niphal) to lean, lean upon, support oneself

1a1) of trust in God (fig)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Niphal-Juss-2ms — Verb · Niphal · jussive second person masculine singular
HVNj2ms
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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