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Psalms 102:4 — Word Study

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WLCהוּכָּֽה־ כָ֭עֵשֶׂב וַיִּבַ֣שׁ לִבִּ֑י כִּֽי־ שָׁ֝כַ֗חְתִּי מֵאֲכֹ֥ל לַחְמִֽי׃

BSAI evenkîy

Word
Listen & take awayPsalms 102
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 4 is in this chapter.
Hebrew ↓ Download MP3 The Masoretic text of this chapter, read aloud. Read by Abraham Shmuelof, courtesy of Audio Scriptures International. Chapter divisions by the Academy of Ancient Languages..
Say the word Each Hebrew word carries its transliteration (lach.Mi) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Psalms 102:4quick helps
In a sentenceThe psalmist expresses deep emotional pain, comparing his heart's affliction to withered grass.
Who is speakingThe psalmist, reflecting on his suffering.
Where we areThis verse is part of a lament, where the psalmist describes his distress.
The hard wordוַיִּבַ֣שׁ
Take awayThe psalmist's heart is troubled, leading to a loss of appetite.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbכִּי 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 — Psalms 102:4

Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.

Context — A Lament of Distressgenerated

3For my days vanish like smoke, and my bones burn like glowing embers.
4My heart is afflicted, and withered like grass; I even forget to eat my bread.
5Through my loud groaning my flesh clings to my bones.
6I am like a desert owl, like an owl among the ruins.

Psalm 102:4 is part of a larger lament where the psalmist articulates feelings of despair and isolation. The imagery of withered grass emphasizes the depth of his emotional and physical suffering. This verse highlights the connection between emotional pain and physical well-being, suggesting that deep sorrow can lead to neglect of basic needs, such as eating.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Psalm 6:2–3Be merciful to me, O LORD, for I am frail; heal me, O LORD, for my bones are in agony.
2Psalm 42:6O my God, my soul despairs within me. Therefore I remember You from the land of Jordan and the peaks of Hermon— even from Mount Mizar.
3Psalm 55:4–5My heart murmurs within me, and the terrors of death assail me.
4Psalm 69:20Insults have broken my heart, and I am in despair. I looked for sympathy, but there was none, for comforters, but I found no one.
5Psalm 77:3I remembered You, O God, and I groaned; I mused and my spirit grew faint. Selah

The Key Word וַיִּבַ֣שׁ, vai.yi.Vashgenerated

The word וַיִּבַ֣שׁ (vai.yi.Vash) is a verb in the sequential imperfect tense, indicating an ongoing action or state. It means 'to wither' or 'to dry up', often used in the context of plants losing vitality due to lack of water. Here, it metaphorically describes the psalmist's heart, which is suffering and losing its strength.

This verb conveys a sense of desiccation, emphasizing the psalmist's emotional state. The choice of this word illustrates the severity of his affliction, as it suggests not just a temporary feeling of sadness, but a profound and debilitating sorrow that affects his entire being.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The verse consists of a main clause led by the verb וַיִּבַ֣שׁ, and it has withered, which governs the subject לִבִּ֑י (my heart). The structure emphasizes the psalmist's heart as the focal point of his suffering, with additional phrases providing context about his emotional state and physical neglect.

The Hebrew word order places the subject before the verb, highlighting the heart's affliction as the primary concern, while the prepositional phrases elaborate on the cause and effect of this emotional state.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates וַיִּבַ֣שׁ with the Greek word καπνὸς (kapnos), which means 'smoke'. This choice may suggest a more transient or ephemeral state, contrasting with the more permanent sense of withering in the Hebrew text.

This difference in translation could indicate a nuanced interpretation of the psalmist's emotional state, suggesting that his suffering is not only deep but also fleeting, like smoke that dissipates.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Psalm 102:4 expresses the psalmist's deep sorrow, comparing his troubled heart to withered grass. He feels so afflicted that he forgets to eat, illustrating how emotional pain can affect physical well-being.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean that the psalmist's heart is afflicted?

It indicates deep emotional pain, suggesting that the psalmist is experiencing significant distress.

How does the imagery of withered grass relate to the psalmist's feelings?

The imagery reflects loss of vitality and strength, paralleling the psalmist's emotional state.

Why does the psalmist forget to eat?

This suggests that his emotional suffering is so intense that it overshadows his basic needs.

What can we learn from this verse about the connection between emotions and physical health?

It highlights how emotional distress can manifest in physical symptoms, such as loss of appetite.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what ways have I experienced emotional pain affecting my physical health?
  2. How can I recognize when my emotional state is impacting my daily life?
  3. What steps can I take to care for my emotional well-being?
  4. How can I support others who may be feeling similarly afflicted?

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

Early Church Fathers commented on this verse, often relating it to themes of penitence and human suffering.

Cyril of JerusalemCatechetical Lecture 2:12 c. 313–386
So then the prophet comforted David as we have seen, but that blessed man, though he received most gladly the assurance, “The Lord has put away your sin,” did not, king as he was, draw back from penitence.
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 102 →
John ChrysostomON THE EPISTLE TO THE Hebrews 9:8 c. 347–407
And after humility of mind, there is need of intense prayers, of many tears, tears by day and tears by night, for, he says, “every night will I wash my bed, I will water my couch with my tears.
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 102 →
Augustine of HippoExposition on Psalms 102 354–430
Look back to Adam, whence the human race sprung. For how but from him was misery propagated? Whence but from him is this hereditary poverty? Let him then, who in his own body was at one time in despair, now that he is set in Christ's body,
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 102 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Psalms 102:4 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

My heart is smitten, and withered like grass,.... Like grass in the summer solstice (d), which being smitten with the heat of the sun, or by some blast of thunder and lightning, is dried up, and

Read John Gill on Psalms 102 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

My heart is smitten, and withered like grass; so that I forget to eat my bread. My heart - the seat of vital power.

Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 102 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Like grass; which is smitten and withered by the heat of the sun, either whilst it stands, or after it is cut down. I forget to eat my bread, because my mind is wholly swallowed up with the contemplation of my own miseries.

Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 102 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Psalms 102:4 My heart is smitten, and withered like grass; so that I forget to eat my bread.Ver. 4. My heart is smitten] Blasted with thine indignation, that ventus urens et exsiccans. So that I forget to eat my bread] I am stomachless, through want of that heat that my heart should supply.

Read John Trapp on Psalms 102 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(4) Smitten.—As by the sun. Exactly as in Hosea 9:16. So that I forget.—Better, for I have forgotten, &c. For this mark of deep sorrow comp. 1 Samuel 1:7; 1 Samuel 20:34, &c. (Comp. Homer, Iliad, xxiv. 129.)

Read Charles John Ellicott on Psalms 102 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 4. My heart is smitten, and withered like grass] The metaphor here is taken from grass cut down in the meadow. It is first smitten with the scythe, and then withered by the sun. Thus the Jews were smitten with the judgments of God; and they are now withered under the fire of the Chaldeans.

Read AdamClarke on Psalms 102 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

4. My heart is smitten like grass, and withered; Yea, I forget to eat my bread. His heart, the centre of vital force and vigour, is dried up like a plant struck by the fierce heat of the sun and withered (Psalms 121:6; Hosea 9:16). Sorrow and sickness have deprived him of all appetite for food. Cp. 1 Samuel 1:7-8; Job 33:20.

Read Cambridge on Psalms 102 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

My heart is smitten - Broken; crushed with grief. We now speak of “a broken heart.” Even death is often caused by such excessive sorrow as to crush and break the heart.

Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 102 →

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

My heart is afflicted, and withered like grass; I even forget to eat my bread.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

My heart is blighted like grass, and withered, for I forget to eat my bread.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

My heart is afflicted, and withered like grass; I even forget to eat my bread.

NETBNew English Translation2006

My heart is parched and withered like grass, for I am unable to eat food.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

My heart is smitten, and withered like grass; so that I forget to eat my bread.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

My heart is smitten like grass, and withered; For I forget to eat my bread.

RVARevised Version, American1894

My heart is smitten like grass, and withered; for I forget to eat my bread.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

My heart is smitten, and withered like grass; so that I forget to eat my bread.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Mine heart is smitten and withereth like grasse, because I forgate to eate my bread.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

My heart is smitten and withered like grass; yea, I have forgotten to eat my bread.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

Smitten as the herb, and withered, is my heart, For I have forgotten to eat my bread.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

Struck as the herb, and withered, is my heart, || For I have forgotten to eat my bread.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

(102:5) Struck [by heat] like the herb and dried up is my heart; for I forget to eat my bread.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

My heart is crushed, and I am like grass that has withered. I forget to eat any food.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

Who redeemeth thy life from destruction: who crowneth thee with mercy and compassion.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

I'm like grass that's dried up, withered away—I even forget to eat!

BBEBible in Basic English1949

My heart is broken; it has become dry and dead like grass, so that I give no thought to food.

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.

clauseverbהוּכָּֽהit.has.been.struckprepositional phrase · prepositionalכָ֭likenoun phrase(the)עֵשֶׂבvegetationוַandclauseverbיִּבַ֣שׁit.has.witherednoun phrase · subjectלִבִּ֑heartיmyכִּֽי(dm)clauseverbשָׁ֝כַ֗חְתִּיI.have.forgottenprepositional phrase · prepositionalמֵfromclauseverbאֲכֹ֥לeatingnoun phrase · objectלַחְמִֽfoodיmy

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 content, with six of the eight words matched. The Septuagint's wording reflects a different structure and choice of terms, particularly in the rendering of וַיִּבַ֣שׁ, which introduces a slightly different nuance.

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

הוּכָּֽה־ כָ֭עֵשֶׂב וַיִּבַ֣שׁ לִבִּ֑י כִּֽי־ שָׁ֝כַ֗חְתִּי מֵאֲכֹ֥ל לַחְמִֽי׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
הוּכָּֽה־ὅτιכָ֭עֵשֶׂבὡσεὶוַיִּבַ֣שׁκαπνὸςלִבִּ֑יκαὶשָׁ֝כַ֗חְתִּיμουמֵאֲכֹ֥לὡσεὶ

6 of the 8 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.

Psalms 102:4נָכָהit has beenit has been strנָכָהעֵ֫שֶׂבlike vegetalike vegetationעֵ֫שֶׂביָבֵשׁand it has and it has withיָבֵשׁלֵבheart myheart myלֵבכִּיforforכִּישָׁכַחI have forgI have forgotteשָׁכַחאָכַלfrom eatingfrom eatingאָכַללֶ֫חֶםfood myfood myלֶ֫חֶםלָחַםto fightto fightלָחַםלֵבָבheartheartלֵבָבמַכָּהwoundwoundמַכָּהפְּלִשְׁתִּי(Sea of th(Sea of the) Phפְּלִשְׁתִּידֶּ֫שֶׁאgrassgrassדֶּ֫שֶׁאיָבֵשׁto witherto witherיָבֵשׁחָרֵבto dryto dryחָרֵבחָסֵרlackinglackingחָסֵרחָכָםwisewiseחָכָםיָדַעto knowto knowיָדַענֵ֫צַחperpetuityperpetuityנֵ֫צַחשָׁתָהto drinkto drinkשָׁתָהלֶ֫חֶםfoodfoodלֶ֫חֶםפַּתmorselmorselפַּתשָׂבֵעַto satisfyto satisfyשָׂבֵעַ
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 Psalms 102:4

One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.

Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.

it has been struck like vegetation and it has withered heart my for I have forgotten from eating food my
הוּכָּֽה־hu.kah- it has been struck H5221 Verb · Hophal · perfect third person masculine singular
500× 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 to strike or hit something, and it's used in many different ways, like in Exodus when God strikes down the Egyptians. It can also mean to punish or destroy, as seen in Isaiah. The word is used to describe God's judgment.
Tyndale gloss
to smite
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

נָכָה (nakah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to strike or smite, encompassing a range of actions from lightly hitting to fatal blows. It appears in various forms, indicating actions like attacking, punishing, or causing disease. The entries suggest its use in both literal and figurative contexts, including divine judgment and applause. There is no significant disagreement among the lexicons regarding its meanings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[נָכָה] 501 vb. smite (not in Qal)

Niph. and he shall be smitten [struck by weapon in battle] and die

Pu. both be smitten down by the hail

Hiph.

lit., smite (with a single, non-fatal, blow), strike

smite repeatedly, beat a man

and they clapped hands (in applause)

give a thrust (with fork) into pot; strike roots

rarely smite (in battle) so as (merely) to wound

smite, of sun

Smite fatally

Smite = attack, attack and destroy a company

Of God

smite with a plague, disease, etc.

smite = chastise, or send judgment upon

of God’s destroying palaces

Hoph. be smitten

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5221 נָכָה smite (not in Qal) . and he shall be smitten [struck by weapon in battle] and die

. both be smitten down by the hail

. . . lit., smite (with a single, non-fatal, blow), strike

. smite repeatedly, beat a man

. and they clapped hands (in applause)

. give a thrust (with fork) into pot; strike roots

. rarely smite (in battle) so as (merely) to wound

. smite, of sun

. Smite fatally

. Smite = attack, attack and destroy a company

. Of God . smite with a plague, disease, etc.

. smite = chastise, or send judgment upon

. of God’s destroying palaces

. be smitten

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5221 nakah naw-kaw'

a primitive root; to strike (lightly or severely, literally

or figuratively):--beat, cast forth, clap, give (wounds), X

go forward, X indeed, kill, make (slaughter), murderer,

punish, slaughter, slay(-er, -ing), smite(-r, -ing), strike,

be stricken, (give) stripes, X surely, wound.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נָכָה (na.khah) — to smite.

1) to strike, smite, hit, beat, slay, kill

1a)(Niphal) to be stricken or smitten

1b) (Pual) to be stricken or smitten

1c) (Hiphil)

1c1) to smite, strike, beat, scourge, clap, applaud, give a thrust

1c2) to smite, kill, slay (man or beast)

1c3) to smite, attack, attack and destroy, conquer, subjugate, ravage

1c4) to smite, chastise, send judgment upon, punish, destroy

1d) (Hophal) to be smitten

1d1) to receive a blow

1d2) to be wounded

1d3) to be beaten

1d4) to be (fatally) smitten, be killed, be slain

1d5) to be attacked and captured

1d6) to be smitten (with disease)

1d7) to be blighted (of plants)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HVHp3ms — Verb · Hophal · perfect third person masculine singular
HVHp3ms
it has been struck like vegetation and it has withered heart my for I have forgotten from eating food my
כָ֭עֵשֶׂבKha.'e.sev like vegetation H6212 Preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
33× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means vegetation or grass, representing growth and new life. It is used in Genesis 1:11 to describe the creation of plants and in Psalm 23:2 to describe a peaceful landscape.
Tyndale gloss
vegetation
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עֵ֫שֶׂב (‘eseb) refers to herbs, grass, or any tender green plants. The word is derived from a root meaning to glisten or be green. It encompasses vegetation in general, and its Aramaic equivalent is עֲשַׂב (‘asav), which also means grass.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עֵ֫שֶׂב n.m. herb, herbage

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6212 עֵ֫שֶׂב herb, herbage

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6212 `eseb eh'seb

from an unused root meaning to glisten (or be green); grass

(or any tender shoot):--grass, herb.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עֵ֫שֶׂב (e.sev) — vegetation.

herb, herbage, grass, green plants

Aramaic equivalent: a.sav (עֲשַׂב "grass" H6211B)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HRd/Ncmsa — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
HRd/Ncmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Nave's Topical Bible

→ Created on the third day Ge 1:11; 2:5

→ For food Ge 1:29,30

it has been struck like vegetation and it has withered heart my for I have forgotten from eating food my
וַיִּבַ֣שׁvai.yi.Vash and it has withered H3001 Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singular
59× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to wither or dry up, like a plant without water. It can also mean to be ashamed or disappointed. The Bible uses it to describe things that have lost their freshness or vitality.
Tyndale gloss
to wither
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יָבֵשׁ (yabesh) primarily means to be dry or to wither. It can refer to something that is dried up or lacking moisture, as well as the act of drying something out. The word has different forms, including Qal (to be dry), Piel (to make dry), and Hiphil (to dry up). It conveys a sense of desiccation or loss of vitality.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יָבֵשׁ vb. be dry, dried up, withered

Qal

be dry, dried up without moisture

be dried up

Pi. make dry, dry up

Hiph. dry up, make dry

dry up water

make dry, wither

exhibit dryness

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3001 יָבֵשׁ be dry, dried up, withered

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3001 yabesh yaw-bashe'

a primitive root; to be ashamed, confused or disappointed;

also (as failing) to dry up (as water) or wither (as

herbage):--be ashamed, clean, be confounded, (make) dry (up),

(do) shame(-fully), X utterly, wither (away).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יָבֵשׁ (ya.vesh) — to wither.

1) to make dry, wither, be dry, become dry, be dried up, be withered

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to be dry, be dried up, be without moisture

1a2) to be dried up

1b) (Piel) to make dry, dry up

1c) (Hiphil)

1c1) to dry up, make dry

1c1a) to dry up (water)

1c1b) to make dry, wither

1c1c) to exhibit dryness

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Hc/Vqw3ms — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singular
Hc/Vqw3ms
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

with'-erd (nabhel, "to fade away," "to be dried up"):

(1) Used figuratively to express leanness of soul, spiritual impotence, a low condition of spiritual life, a lack of moral nourishment: "My heart is smitten like grass, and withereth" (Ps 102:4). The contrasting figure emphasizes this idea: "All my fountains are in thee" (Ps 87:7). Also Ps 1:3, where the freshness and beauty of the righteous man's life are thus described: "And he shall be like a tree planted by the streams of water, .... whose leaf also doth not wither." In the New Testament xeraino, "to wither," is used to carry out the same idea of moral decay, or malnutrition of soul (Mt 13:6; 21:19).

it has been struck like vegetation and it has withered heart my for I have forgotten from eating food my
לִבִּ֑יli.Bi heart my 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.
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
HNcmsc/Sp1bs — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
HNcmsc/Sp1bs
it has been struck like vegetation and it has withered heart my for I have forgotten from eating food my
כִּֽי־ki- for H3588 Particle
4,483× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A conjunction used to show cause or connection, as in Genesis 2:23 where Adam says the woman is bone of his bone because she was taken out of him. It is often translated as 'for', 'because', or 'since'.
Tyndale gloss
for
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כִּי (ki) is a conjunction primarily meaning 'that,' 'for,' or 'when.' It indicates causal relationships and can express conditions like 'if' or 'though.' The word is versatile, appearing in various contexts to convey certainty, exception, or concession. Notably, it can combine with other particles to modify its meaning, such as in the phrase כִּי אם־ (ki im), meaning 'that if.'

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כִּי conj. that, for, when

that

Of time, when, of the past

elsewhere כִּי has a force approximating to if, though it usu. represents a case as more likely to occur than אִם

when or if, with a concessive force, i.e. though

Because, since

base

כִּי אם־

each part. retaining its independent force, and relating to a different clause:

that if

for if

(About 140 t.) the two particles being closely conjoined, and relating to the same clause—

limiting the prec. clause, except

the if being neglected, and treated as pleonastic, so that the clause is no longer a limitation of the preceding clause but a contradiction of it: but rather, but

after an oath, surely

base

כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3588a כִּי that, for, when . that

. . Of time, when, of the past

. elsewhere כִּי has a force approximating to if, though it usu. represents a case as more likely to occur than אִם

. when or if, with a concessive force, i.e. though

. Because, since

H3588b כִּי אם־ . each part. retaining its independent force, and relating to a different clause: . that if

. for if

. (About 140 t.) the two particles being closely conjoined, and relating to the same clause— . limiting the prec. clause, except

. the if being neglected, and treated as pleonastic, so that the clause is no longer a limitation of the preceding clause but a contradiction of it: but rather, but

. after an oath, surely

H3588c כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3588 kiy kee

a primitive particle (the full form of the prepositional

prefix) indicating causal relations of all kinds, antecedent

or consequent; (by implication) very widely used as a relative

conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by

other particles annexed:--and, + (forasmuch, inasmuch,

where-)as, assured(-ly), + but, certainly, doubtless, + else,

even, + except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, +

nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then,

therefore, + (al- )though, + till, truly, + until, when,

whether, while, whom, yea, yet.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כִּי (ki) — for.

1) that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since

1a) that

1a1) yea, indeed

1b) when (of time)

1b1) when, if, though (with a concessive force)

1c) because, since (causal connection)

1d) but (after negative)

1e) that if, for if, indeed if, for though, but if

1f) but rather, but

1g) except that

1h) only, nevertheless

1i) surely

1j) that is

1k) but if

1l) for though

1m) forasmuch as, for therefore

כִּי [אם] (ki im) — that if: except.

1) except if

1a) but if

1b) even though

כִּי [עַל כֵּן] (ki [al ken]) — for as that: since.

1) that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since

1a) that

1a1) yea, indeed

1b) when (of time)

1b1) when, if, though (with a concessive force)

1c) because, since (causal connection)

1d) but (after negative)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj — Particle
HTc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

for (ki (conjunction), le, from 'el (preposition), and various other words. In the New Testament also the words are various, chiefly gar, kai gar, hoti (conjunctions); anti apo eis dia (accusative), epi (dative and accusative), peri (genitive), pros (genitive and accusative), huper (genitive) (prepositions)): the English Revised Version and the American Standard Revised Version give in many cases more literal or more accurate renderings than those in the King James Version.

In the New Testament the most important preps. from a doctrinal point of view are anti, "face to face," "over against," "instead," "on behalf of," peri, "around," "about," "concerning," huper, "over," "on behalf of." The first has been claimed as stating the substitutionary nature of Christ's sacrifice as contrasted with huper and peri, more frequently used of it. But, although anti in the New Testament often means…

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
it has been struck like vegetation and it has withered heart my for I have forgotten from eating food my
שָׁ֝כַ֗חְתִּיSha.Khach.ti I have forgotten H7911 Verb · Qal · perfect first person common singular
102× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To forget something means to mislay it or be oblivious to it. This Hebrew word is used in the Bible to describe when people forget things, like God's commands. The KJV translates it as 'to forget' or 'at all'.
Tyndale gloss
to forget
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word שָׁכַח (shakach) means 'to forget' and encompasses various nuances such as ignoring or ceasing to care. It can appear in different forms, including Qal (to forget), Niphal (to be forgotten), and Hiphil (to cause to forget). The entries highlight its primitive root nature and its usage in contexts where memory or attention is lacking.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שָׁכַח 102 vb. forget

Qal 86 forget

Niph. be forgotten

Pi. י׳ hath caused to forget

Hiph. to make my people forget my name

Hithp. they were forgotten in the city.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7911 שָׁכַח forget

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7911 shakach shaw-kakh'

or shakeach {shaw-kay'-akh}; a primitive root; to mislay,

i.e. to be oblivious of, from want of memory or attention:--X

at all, (cause to) forget.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שָׁכַח (sha.khach) — to forget.

1) to forget, ignore, wither

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to forget

1a2) to cease to care

1b) (Niphal) to be forgotten

1c) (Piel) to cause to forget

1d) (Hiphil) to make or cause to forget

1e) (Hithpael) to be forgotten

Aramaic equivalent: she.khach (שְׁכַח "to find" H7912)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HVqp1cs — Verb · Qal · perfect first person common singular
HVqp1cs
it has been struck like vegetation and it has withered heart my for I have forgotten from eating food my
מֵאֲכֹ֥לme.'a.Khol from eating H398 Preposition · verb qal infinitive construct common
810× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means to eat or devour, and it's used in many stories, including when Jesus fed the 5000 with fish and bread in the book of Matthew. It's about taking in nourishment and being satisfied.
Tyndale gloss
to eat
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אָכַל (akal) means 'to eat' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including literal consumption by humans and animals, as well as figurative uses like devouring by fire or destruction. It can describe actions such as feeding or causing to eat, and it also appears in contexts of oppression and destruction. The verb has various forms, indicating different subjects and nuances.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אָכַל 806 vb. eat

Qal

eat, human subject

of beasts, birds, etc., eat, devour

fig. of fire, devour, consume

of sword, devour, slay

in genl., devour, consume, destroy

fig. of oppression, devour the poor

Niph.

be eaten by man

be devoured by fire, consumed

be wasted, destroyed, of flesh

Pu. be consumed

Hiph.

cause to eat, feed with

cause to devoure, obj. sword

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H398 אָכַל eat .. eat, human subject

. of beasts, birds, etc., eat, devour

. fig. of fire, devour, consume

. of sword, devour, slay

. in genl., devour, consume, destroy

. fig. of oppression, devour the poor

. . be eaten by man

. be devoured by fire, consumed

. be wasted, destroyed, of flesh

. be consumed

. . cause to eat, feed with

. cause to devoure, obj. sword

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

398 'akal aw-kal'

a primitive root; to eat (literally or figuratively):--X at

all, burn up, consume, devour(-er, up), dine, eat(-er, up),

feed (with), food, X freely, X in...wise(-deed, plenty), (lay)

meat, X quite.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אָכַל (a.khal) — to eat.

1) to eat, devour, burn up, feed

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to eat (human subject)

1a2) to eat, devour (of beasts and birds)

1a3) to devour, consume (of fire)

1a4) to devour, slay (of sword)

1a5) to devour, consume, destroy (inanimate subjects - ie, pestilence, drought)

1a6) to devour (of oppression)

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be eaten (by men)

1b2) to be devoured, consumed (of fire)

1b3) to be wasted, destroyed (of flesh)

1c) (Pual)

1c1) to cause to eat, feed with

1c2) to cause to devour

1d) (Hiphil)

1d1) to feed

1d2) to cause to eat

1e) (Piel)

1e1) consume

Aramaic equivalent: a.khal (אֲכַל "to devour" H0399)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HR/Vqcc — Preposition · verb qal infinitive construct common
HR/Vqcc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Easton's Bible Dictionary

Eating

The ancient Hebrews would not eat with the Egyptians (Gen. 43:32). In the time of our Lord they would not eat with Samaritans (John 4:9), and were astonished that he ate with publicans and sinners (Matt. 9:11). The Hebrews originally sat at table, but afterwards adopted the Persian and Chaldean practice of reclining (Luke 7:36-50). Their principal meal was at noon (Gen. 43:16; 1 Kings 20:16; Ruth 2:14; Luke 14:12). The word “eat” is used metaphorically…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

The Jews would have considered themselves polluted by eating with people of another religion, or with any who were ceremonially unclean or disreputable-as with Samaritans, Joh 4:9, publicans, Mt 9:11, or Gentiles, Ac 10:28 Ga 2:12. Eating together was an established token of mutual confidence and friendship, a pledge of friendly relations between families, which their children were expected to perpetuate. The rites of hospitality were held sacred; and to this day, among the Arabs, a fugitive is safe for the time, if he gains the shelter of even an enemy’s tent. The abuse of hospitality was a great crime, Ps 41:9.

Nave's Topical Bible

→ The host acting as waiter Ge 18:8

→ Favored guests served a double portion Ge 43:34

→ Table used in Jud 1:7

→ Sitting at table Ex 32:6

→ Reclining on couches Am 6:4,7; Lu 7:37,38; Joh 13:25

→ Ablutions before Mt 15:2

→ See FEASTS

→ See FOOD

→ See GLUTTONY

it has been struck like vegetation and it has withered heart my for I have forgotten from eating food my
לַחְמִֽי׃lach.Mi food my H3899 Noun common both singular construct · suffix
298× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word refers to food, especially bread or grain. It's used throughout the Bible to describe meals, sacrifices, and daily life, highlighting the importance of food in ancient Israelite culture.
Tyndale gloss
food
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

לֶ֫חֶם (lechem) means bread or food, encompassing items like grain and provisions for both humans and animals. It is derived from a related root and is used in various contexts, particularly in the Old Testament. The entries consistently emphasize its primary association with bread, though they also acknowledge its broader meaning as food.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

לֶ֫חֶם 296 n.m. and (rarely) f. bread, food

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3899 לֶ֫חֶם bread, food

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3899 lechem lekh'-em

from 3898; food (for man or beast), especially bread, or

grain (for making it):--((shew-))bread, X eat, food, fruit,

loaf, meat, victuals. See also 1036.

see HEBREW for 03898

see HEBREW for 01036

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

לֶ֫חֶם (le.chem) — food.

: food(eating)

1) bread, food, grain

1a) bread

1a1) bread

1a2) bread-corn

1b) food (in general)

לֶ֫חֶם (le.chem) — food: bread.

: bread/loaf

1) bread, food, grain

1a) bread

1a1) bread

1a2) bread-corn

1b) food (in general)

לֶ֫חֶם (le.chem) — food: allowance.

: allowance

1) bread, food, grain

1a) bread

1a1) bread

1a2) bread-corn

1b) food (in general)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HNcbsc/Sp1ms — Noun common both singular construct · suffix
HNcbsc/Sp1ms
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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