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Proverbs 5:18 — Word Study

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WLCיְהִֽי־ מְקוֹרְךָ֥ בָר֑וּךְ וּ֝שְׂמַ֗ח מֵאֵ֥שֶׁת נְעוּרֶֽךָ׃

BSAMay your fountainmâqôwr [spring of water, source of happiness] behâyâh blessedbârak [praised, honored by God] and may you rejoicesâmach [be glad, delight] in the wifeʼishshâh [woman, partner] of your youthnâʻûwr [early years, young age]

Word
Listen & take awayProverbs 5
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 18 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 (ne.'u.Re.kha) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Proverbs 5:18quick helps
In a sentenceThe verse expresses a blessing for a fruitful life and joy in marital love.
Who is speakingThe speaker is a wise teacher, advising on the joys of marriage.
Where we areThis is part of a section on fidelity and the blessings of marriage.
The hard wordבָר֑וּךְ
Take awayThe verse emphasizes the importance of joy in marriage and the blessings that come from it.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbהָיָה 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 5:18

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 on Marriage and Fidelitygenerated

17Let them be yours alone, never to be shared with strangers.
18May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth:
19A loving doe, a graceful fawn— may her breasts satisfy you always; may you be captivated by her love forever.
20Why be captivated, my son, by an adulteress, or embrace the bosom of a stranger?

Proverbs 5:18 encourages the reader to appreciate and cherish the blessings of marriage. It highlights the joy found in a loving partnership, particularly in the context of one's youth, and serves as a reminder to remain faithful and devoted to one's spouse. This section of Proverbs offers practical wisdom on the importance of fidelity and the rewards of a loving relationship, as seen in the surrounding verses that caution against infidelity and promote marital satisfaction.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Ecclesiastes 9:9Enjoy life with your beloved wife all the days of the fleeting life that God has given you under the sun—all your fleeting days. For this is your portion in life and in your labor under the sun.
2Malachi 2:14–15Yet you ask, “Why?” It is because the LORD has been a witness between you and the wife of your youth, against whom you have broken faith, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 2 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word בָר֑וּךְ, va.Rukhgenerated

The Hebrew word בָּרַךְ (barak) is built from a root meaning 'to kneel' and conveys the idea of blessing or praising. It encompasses a range of meanings, including to honor or show favor, and is often used in the context of divine blessings.

In this verse, it is used in a passive participle form, indicating that the fountain is to be blessed by God. This underscores the idea that blessings are bestowed from a higher power, highlighting the importance of divine favor in the context of marriage.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

The translations agree on the key terms in this verse, with all versions reflecting the concepts of blessing and joy in marriage.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The finite verb יְהִֽי־ (yehi), meaning 'may it be,' governs the structure of the verse, introducing two phrases that express blessings and desires. The first phrase describes the fountain being blessed, while the second expresses the joy found in marriage.

The structure emphasizes the connection between the blessings of life and the joy of marital love, with the verb leading the thought and the subsequent phrases providing clarity on what is being blessed and rejoiced in.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates יְהִֽי־ as ἔστω (estō), which also conveys a sense of wishing or commanding that something may be. This choice aligns with the Hebrew intention of invoking a blessing.

The Greek word for 'blessed' in the Septuagint is ἰδία, which similarly carries the connotation of something being set apart or honored, reinforcing the idea of divine favor in the context of marriage.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Proverbs 5:18 expresses a wish for your fountain to be blessed and for you to find joy in your wife. This verse highlights the importance of appreciating marital love and the blessings that come with it.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean for the fountain to be blessed?

It signifies that one's source of happiness and life, represented by the fountain, is favored by God, leading to a fruitful and joyful life.

Why is the focus on the wife of youth?

This emphasizes the importance of cherishing the partner chosen in one's younger years, highlighting the value of lifelong commitment and love.

How can this verse apply to modern relationships?

It encourages individuals to appreciate their partners and seek joy in their relationships, fostering a sense of gratitude and devotion.

What is the significance of joy in marriage?

Joy in marriage is portrayed as a divine blessing, essential for a fulfilling and harmonious relationship.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. How can I actively show appreciation for my partner in our relationship?
  2. What are some ways I can cultivate joy and happiness in my marriage?
  3. How does this verse encourage me to reflect on my commitments and relationships?
  4. In what ways can I honor the blessings I have received in my life and marriage?

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

Early Christian writings reference this verse to emphasize the sanctity of marriage and the blessings of fidelity.

Apostolic ConstitutionsApostolic Constitutions (Book VI), Section 5, XXIX c. 375–380
You wives, be subject to your own husbands, and have them in esteem, and serve them with fear and love, as holy Sarah honoured Abraham.
Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 5 →
BedeCommentary on Proverbs c. 673–735
"Let your fountain be blessed," etc. Maintain such temperance with the woman you married in your youth, even in old age, that by faithful chastity you may rightly gain a blessing in your offspring.
Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 5 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Proverbs 5:18 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

Let thy fountain be blessed,.... Thy wife; make her happy by keeping to her and from others; by behaving in a loving, affable, and respectful manner to her; by living comfortably with her, and

Read John Gill on Proverbs 5 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth. Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth. The first clause refers to Proverbs 5:16, the second to Proverbs 5:17.

Read Robert Jamieson on Proverbs 5 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Thy fountain; thy wife, as the next clause explains it. Be blessed; she shall be blessed with children; for barrenness was esteemed a curse and reproach, especially among the Israelites. Or rather, she shall be a blessing and a comfort to thee, as it follows, and not a curse and a snare, as a harlot will be. Rejoice with the wife; seek not to harlots for that delight which God alloweth thee to take with thy wife. So here he explains the foregoing metaphor, and applies it to his present design. Of thy youth; which thou didst marry in her and thine own youthful days, with whom therefore in all reason and justice thou art still to satisfy thyself, even when she is old. Or he mentions youth…

Read Matthew Poole on Proverbs 5 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Proverbs 5:18 Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth.Ver. 18. Let thy fountain be blessed.] Or, Thy fountain shall be blessed, thy wife shall be fruitful, as Psalms 128:3, that psalm for Solomon, whose many wives brought him but few children. We read but of one son that he had, who was none of the wisest neither, and two daughters, both of them subjects. Our Henry VIII, though blameworthy for women too, was more happy in King Edward his son, that orbis deliciae, and his two daughters, both sovereigns of an imperial crown. Rejoice with the wife of thy youth.] As Isaac did, who was the most loving husband that we read of in Holy Writ. Ezekiel’ s wife was "the…

Read John Trapp on Proverbs 5 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(18) Let thy fountain . . .—As a reward for purity of life, the blessing of a numerous offspring is invoked. (Comp. Psalms 128:3, where the wife is a “fruitful vine,” and the children numerous and flourishing like olive-branches.)

Read Charles John Ellicott on Proverbs 5 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 18. Let thy fountain be blessed] יהי מקורך ברוך yehi mekorecha baruch. Sit vena tua benedicta. Thy vein; that which carries off streams from the fountain of animal life, in order to disperse them abroad, and through the streets. How delicate and correct is the allusion here! But anatomical allusions must not be pressed into detail in a commentary on Scripture.

Read AdamClarke on Proverbs 5 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

15–19. The remedy against sin is to be found in the holy estate which God has ordained. “The resemblance between the two Books (the Song of Solomon and the Book of Proverbs) in their treatment of this subject is singularly striking.” Speaker’s Comm., ad loc.

Read Cambridge on Proverbs 5 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

18. Let thy fountain be blessed — That is, with offspring, so much desired in the East, as they ought to be everywhere.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Proverbs 5 →

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

May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth:

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Let your spring be blessed. Rejoice in the wife of your youth.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth:

NETBNew English Translation2006

May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in your young wife –

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

Let thy fountain be blessed; And rejoice in the wife of thy youth.

RVARevised Version, American1894

Let thy fountain be blessed; and rejoice in the wife of thy youth.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Let thy fountaine be blessed, and reioyce with the wife of thy youth.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

Let thy fountain be blessed; and have joy of the wife of thy youth.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

Let thy fountain be blessed, And rejoice because of the wife of thy youth,

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

Let your fountain be blessed, || And rejoice because of the wife of your youth,

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

Thy fountain will be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth,—

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

May your fountain be blessed and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth,

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

Let thy vein be blessed, and rejoice with the wife of thy youth:

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

May your spring of water be blessed, and may you enjoy the wife you married when you were young.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

Let blessing be on your fountain; have joy in the wife of your early years.

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.

clauseverbיְהִֽיmay.it.benoun phrase · subjectמְקוֹרְspringךָ֥yourobjectבָר֑וּךְblessedוּ֝andclauseverbשְׂמַ֗חrejoiceprepositional phrase · prepositionalמֵfromnoun phraseאֵ֥שֶׁתthe.wifenoun phraseנְעוּרֶֽyour.youth(s)ךָyour

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 this verse, with five out of six words matching. The Septuagint's wording reflects a similar understanding of the blessings articulated in the Hebrew text.

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

יְהִֽי־ מְקוֹרְךָ֥ בָר֑וּךְ וּ֝שְׂמַ֗ח מֵאֵ֥שֶׁת נְעוּרֶֽךָ׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
יְהִֽי־ἔστωבָר֑וּךְἰδίαוּ֝שְׂמַ֗חσυνευφραίνουמֵאֵ֥שֶׁתγυναικὸςנְעוּרֶֽךָ׃σου

5 of the 6 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 5:18הָיָהmay it bemay it beהָיָהמָקוֹרspring yourspring yourמָקוֹרבָּרַךְblessedblessedבָּרַךְשָׂמַחand rejoiceand rejoiceשָׂמַחאִשָּׁהfrom [the] from [the] wifeאִשָּׁהנְעוּרִיםyouth youryouth yourנְעוּרִיםקוּרto digto digקוּרנַ֫עַרyouthyouthנַ֫עַרהָוָאto fallto fallהָוָאאִישׁmanmanאִישׁאֱנוֹשׁhumanhumanאֱנוֹשׁיָבֵשׁto witherto witherיָבֵשׁחַיalivealiveחַיאָרַרto curseto curseאָרַרגִּילto rejoiceto rejoiceגִּילשִׂמְחָהjoyjoyשִׂמְחָהטַףchildchildטַףנָכְרִיforeignforeignנָכְרִידַּדbreastbreastדַּדזָנָהto fornicato fornicateזָנָה
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 5:18

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.

may it be spring your blessed and rejoice from [the] wife of youth your
יְהִֽי־ye.hi- may it be H1961 Verb · Qal · jussive third person masculine singular
3,562× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for to be means to exist or come into being. It is used to describe something that happens or comes to pass, like in Genesis where God creates the world.
Tyndale gloss
to be
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word הָיָה (hayah) is a primitive root meaning to exist or become, and it encompasses a range of meanings including to happen, occur, and come to pass. It is often used in narrative contexts, particularly in phrases like "and it came to pass." The word can also denote a state of being or existence, and it appears frequently in various forms throughout the Old Testament.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

הָיָה 3570 vb. fall out, come to pass, become, be

Qal

Fall out, happen

occur, take place, come about, come to pass

esp. & very oft., come about, come to pass

וַיְהִי and it came to pass that, most often (c. 292 t.)

rarely also Pf. c. וְ conj. וְהָיָה

less oft. וְהָיָה Pf. consec. and it shall come to pass, or frequentat. came to pass (repeatedly, etc.)

Come into being, become

abs., in lively narrative, arise, appear, come

sq. prep.

become

sq. pred. noun (to be viewed as implicit accus.)

sq. pred. adj.

become like

sq. pred. לְ pers.

sq. לְ pred.

oft. c. לְ pred. לְ pers.

with עַל and לְ

sts. c. לְ pers. only = became the property of, come into the possession of

Be (often with subbordinate idea of becoming)

exist, be in existence

abide, remain, continue

with word of locality, be in or at a place, be situated, stand, lie

as copula, joining subj. & pred.

Read the full entry →
Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1961 הָיָה fall out, come to pass, become, be .. . . Fall out, happen

. occur, take place, come about, come to pass

. esp. & very oft., come about, come to pass . . וַיְהִי and it came to pass that, most often (c. 292 t.)

. rarely also Pf. c. וְ conj. וְהָיָה

. less oft. וְהָיָה Pf. consec. and it shall come to pass, or frequentat. came to pass (repeatedly, etc.)

. Come into being, become . . abs., in lively narrative, arise, appear, come

. sq. prep.

. become . sq. pred. noun (to be viewed as implicit accus.)

. sq. pred. adj.

. become like

. sq. pred. + לְ pers.

. sq. לְ pred.

. oft. c. לְ pred. + לְ pers.

. with עַל and לְ

. sts. c. לְ pers. only = became the property of, come into the possession of

. Be (often with subbordinate idea of becoming) . exist, be in existence

. abide, remain, continue

Read the full entry →
Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1961 hayah haw-yaw

a primitive root (compare 1933); to exist, i.e. be or become,

come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or

auxiliary):--beacon, X altogether, be(-come), accomplished,

committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint,

fall, + follow, happen, X have, last, pertain, quit

(one-)self, require, X use.

see HEBREW for 01933

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

הָיָה (ha.yah) — to be.

1) to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out

1a) (Qal)

1a1) ---

1a1a) to happen, fall out, occur, take place, come about, come to pass

1a1b) to come about, come to pass

1a2) to come into being, become

1a2a) to arise, appear, come

1a2b) to become

1a2b1) to become

1a2b2) to become like

1a2b3) to be instituted, be established

1a3) to be

1a3a) to exist, be in existence

1a3b) to abide, remain, continue (with word of place or time)

1a3c) to stand, lie, be in, be at, be situated (with word of locality)

1a3d) to accompany, be with

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to occur, come to pass, be done, be brought about

1b2) to be done, be finished, be gone

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Juss-3ms — Verb · Qal · jussive third person masculine singular
HVqj3ms
may it be spring your blessed and rejoice from [the] wife of youth your
מְקוֹרְךָ֥me.kor.Cha spring your H4726 Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
18× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Maqor means a fountain or a source of water, like a spring or a well. It can also refer to the source of happiness, wisdom, or life. This term is used to describe a source of something valuable or life-giving.
Amplified meaning
spring of water, source of happiness
Tyndale gloss
fountain
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מָקוֹר (maqowr) refers to a source or fountain, typically of water, but also extends to figurative meanings such as joy, wisdom, and progeny. It can denote a spring, the flow of blood, or even the source of menstruation. The term is derived from a root meaning 'to dig' and is associated with various contexts in the Old Testament.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מָקוֹר n.m. spring, fountain (app. orig. well)

spring of water

fig. of eye

source of menstruous blood

= flow of blood after child-birth

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4726 מָקוֹר

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4726 maqowr maw-kore'

or maqor {maw-kore'}; from 6979; properly, something dug,

i.e. a (general) source (of water, even when naturally

flowing; also of tears, blood (by euphemism, of the female

pudenda); figuratively, of happiness, wisdom,

progeny):--fountain, issue, spring, well(-spring).

see HEBREW for 06979

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מָקוֹר (ma.qor) — fountain.

1) spring, fountain

1a) spring

1a1) of source of life, joy, purification (fig.)

1b) of the eye (fig.)

1c) source (of menstruous blood)

1d) flow (of blood after child birth)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
HNcmsc/Sp2ms
may it be spring your blessed and rejoice from [the] wife of youth your
בָר֑וּךְva.Rukh blessed H1288 Verb · Qal · participle (passive) masculine singular
330× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To bless means to praise or honor God, often by kneeling in worship. In the Bible, people bless God and God blesses people, showing favor and care for them, as seen in the story of Abraham and his descendants.
Amplified meaning
praised, honored by God
Tyndale gloss
to bless
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word בָּרַךְ (*barak*) is built from a primitive root meaning 'to kneel' and encompasses a range of meanings including 'to bless' and 'to curse.' It can refer to blessing God or men, as well as the act of kneeling in adoration. The entries note that it can also imply a curse in certain contexts, reflecting a nuanced use in greetings and farewells.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[בָּרַךְ] 329 vb. kneel, bless

Qal

kneel down

bless

Niph. bless oneself

Pi.

bless God, adore with bended knees

God blesses

men bless men

salute, greet, with an invocation of blessing

bless, with the antithetical meaning curse from the greeting in departing, saying adieu to, taking leave of; but rather a blessing overdone and so really a curse as in vulgar English as well as in the Shemitic cognates

Pu.

pass. to be blessed, adored

prospered by God

have prosperity invoked, by Balaam

in gratitude

Hiph. and he made his camel kneel

Hithp. bless oneself, congratulate oneself in his heart

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1288 בָּרַךְ kneel, bless .. kneel down

. bless

. bless oneself

. . bless God, adore with bended knees

. God blesses

. men bless men

. salute, greet, with an invocation of blessing

. bless, with the antithetical meaning curse from the greeting in departing, saying adieu to, taking leave of; but rather a blessing overdone and so really a curse as in vulgar English as well as in the Shemitic cognates

. . pass. to be blessed, adored

. prospered by God

. have prosperity invoked, by Balaam

. in gratitude

. and he made his camel kneel

. bless oneself, congratulate oneself in his heart

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1288 barak baw-rak'

a primitive root; to kneel; by implication to bless God (as

an act of adoration), and (vice-versa) man (as a benefit);

also (by euphemism) to curse (God or the king, as treason):--X

abundantly, X altogether, X at all, blaspheme, bless,

congratulate, curse, X greatly, X indeed, kneel (down),

praise, salute, X still, thank.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בָּרַךְ (ba.rakh) — to bless.

1) to bless, kneel

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to kneel

1a2) to bless

1b) (Niphal) to be blessed, bless oneself

1c) (Piel) to bless

1d) (Pual) to be blessed, be adored

1e) (Hiphil) to cause to kneel

1f) (Hithpael) to bless oneself

2) (TWOT) to praise, salute, curse

Aramaic equivalent: be.rakh (בְּרַךְ "to bless" H1289)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Inf-c — Verb · Qal · participle (passive) masculine singular
HVqsmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

bles'-ed (barukh): Where God is referred to, this word has the sense of "praise," as in 1Sa 25:32, "Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel." But where man is in mind it is used in the sense of "happy" or "favored," and most frequently so in the Psalms and the Gospels, as for example, "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the wicked" (Ps 1:1); "Blessed art thou among women" (Lu 1:42); "Blessed are the poor in spirit" (Mt 5:3).

See BEATITUDES.

may it be spring your blessed and rejoice from [the] wife of youth your
וּ֝שְׂמַ֗חu.se.Mach and rejoice H8055 Conjunction · verb qal imperative second person masculine singular
155× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This verb means to rejoice or be glad, often used in a religious sense, like when the Israelites rejoiced at the dedication of the temple in 1 Kings 8:66.
Amplified meaning
be glad, delight
Tyndale gloss
to rejoice
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שָׂמַח (samach) is a Hebrew verb meaning to rejoice or be glad. It can express joy in everyday life, religious contexts, or even exultation. The verb has different forms: Qal (to rejoice), Piel (to cause to rejoice), and Hiphil (to make glad). The entries indicate a range of meanings related to joy and merriment.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שָׂמַח, שָׂמִ֑חַ 154 vb. rejoice, be glad

Qal 126

in common life

rejoice religiously

subj. י׳

Pi. cause to rejoice, gladden

Hiph. = Pi.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8055 שָׂמַח, שָׂמִ֑חַ rejoice, be glad

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8055 samach saw-makh'

a primitive root; probably to brighten up, i.e.

(figuratively) be (causatively, make) blithe or

gleesome:--cheer up, be (make) glad, (have, make) joy(-ful),

be (make) merry, (cause to, make to) rejoice, X very.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שָׂמַח (sa.mach) — to rejoice.

1) to rejoice, be glad

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to rejoice

1a2) to rejoice (arrogantly), exult (at)

1a3) to rejoice (religiously)

1b) (Piel) to cause to rejoice, gladden, make glad

1c) (Hiphil) to cause to rejoice, gladden, make glad

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-Impv-2ms — Conjunction · verb qal imperative second person masculine singular
HC/Vqv2ms
may it be spring your blessed and rejoice from [the] wife of youth your
מֵאֵ֥שֶׁתme.'E.shet from [the] wife of H802 Preposition · noun common feminine singular construct
781× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for woman, used to describe a female person, wife, or animal, appears in many biblical passages, including Genesis and Exodus, and is often translated as woman, wife, or female.
Amplified meaning
woman, partner
Tyndale gloss
woman
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אִשָּׁה (ishshah) means 'woman,' 'wife,' or 'female.' It can refer to a woman in general, a wife in relation to a man, or the female of animals. The term also has distributive and reciprocal uses, indicating 'each woman' from her neighbor. The word is derived from the masculine forms אִישׁ (ish) and אִישָׁה (ishah), indicating a broad range of meanings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אִשָּׁה 773 n.f. woman, wife, female

woman

Wife (woman belonging to a man, usually cstr. or sf.)

Female of animals

With distrib. & recipr. sense, each woman from her neighbor; each one

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H802 אִשָּׁה woman, wife, female . woman

. Wife (woman belonging to a man, usually cstr. or sf.)

. Female of animals

. With distrib. & recipr. sense, each woman from her neighbor; each one

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

802 'ishshah ish-shaw'

feminine of 376 or 582; irregular plural, nashiym

{naw-sheem'}; a woman (used in the same wide sense as

582):--(adulter)ess, each, every, female, X many, + none,

one, + together, wife, woman. Often unexpressed in English.

see HEBREW for 0376

see HEBREW for 0582

see HEBREW for 0582

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אִשָּׁה (ish.shah) — woman.

: woman

1) woman, wife, female

1a) woman (opposite of man)

1b) wife (woman married to a man)

1c) female (of animals)

1d) each, every (pronoun)

אִשָּׁה (ish.shah) — woman: wife.

: wife/widow

1) woman, wife, female

1a) woman (opposite of man)

1b) wife (woman married to a man)

1c) female (of animals)

1d) each, every (pronoun)

אִשָּׁה (ish.shah) — woman: another.

: another

1) woman, wife, female

1a) woman (opposite of man)

1b) wife (woman married to a man)

1c) female (of animals)

1d) each, every (pronoun)

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

ov:

(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.

English usagewhat the translators’ English meant
Webster's Dictionary (1828), Webster's Unabridged (1913), Webster's Dictionary (1806)

OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]

1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.

I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.

For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.

It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.

Lamentations 3:1.

The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.

Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.

That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.

Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…

may it be spring your blessed and rejoice from [the] wife of youth your
נְעוּרֶֽךָ׃ne.'u.Re.kha youth your H5271 Noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
47× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this Hebrew word refers to the state of being young or a group of young people, as seen in Isaiah 47:12. It describes a stage of life, like childhood or adolescence. This concept is also mentioned in Jeremiah 31:19.
Amplified meaning
early years, young age
Tyndale gloss
youth
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

נְעוּרִים (na`uwr) refers to youth or early life, encompassing both the state of juvenility and young people collectively. It appears in the plural form and has a feminine counterpart, נְעוּרוֹת (na`ur), which carries the same meaning. The term is notably used in Jeremiah 32:30.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

נְעוּרִים n.[m.]pl. youth, early life

base

[נְעוּרוֹת] n.[f.]pl. id. [n.ei.ae];—only Je 32:30 (fig. of nation).

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5271a נְעוּרִים youth, early life H5271b נְעוּרוֹת id. [5271a]

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5271 na`uwr naw-oor'

or naur {naw-oor'}; and (feminine) nturah {neh- oo-raw'};

properly, passive participle from 5288 as denominative; (only

in plural collectively or emphatic form) youth, the state

(juvenility) or the persons (young people):--childhood,

youth.

see HEBREW for 05288

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נְעוּרִים (na.ur) — youth.

youth, early life

Also means: na.ur (נְעוּרוֹת "youth" H5271B)

נְעוּרוֹת (na.ur) — youth.

youth, early life

Another spelling of na.ur (נְעוּרִים "youth" H5271A)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-cs | Suff — Noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
HNcmpc/Sp2ms
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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