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Psalms 106:24 — Word Study

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WLCוַֽ֭יִּמְאֲסוּ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ חֶמְדָּ֑ה לֹֽא־ הֶ֝אֱמִ֗ינוּ לִדְבָרֽוֹ׃

BSAThey despisedmâʼaç [rejected with contempt] the pleasantchemdâh [desirable, highly valued] landʼerets they did notlôʼ believeʼâman [have faith, trust] His promisedâbâr [word, covenant agreement]

Word
Listen & take awayPsalms 106
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 24 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 (lid.va.Ro) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Psalms 106:24quick helps
In a sentenceThe people rejected the desirable land and did not trust in God's promise.
Who is speakingThe psalmist reflects on the actions of the Israelites.
Where we areThis verse is part of a recounting of Israel's failures in the wilderness.
The hard wordמָאַס
Take awayRejecting God's gifts can lead to a lack of faith.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbמָאַס 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 106:24

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 — Israel's Rebellion in the Wildernessgenerated

23So He said He would destroy them— had not Moses His chosen one stood before Him in the breach to divert His wrath from destroying them.
24They despised the pleasant land; they did not believe His promise.
25They grumbled in their tents and did not listen to the voice of the LORD.
26So He raised His hand and swore to cast them down in the wilderness,

Psalms 106:24 recounts how the Israelites, despite witnessing God's miracles, rejected the land He promised them. This reflects a broader theme of disbelief and disobedience throughout their journey. The psalmist highlights their failure to appreciate the goodness of God's provision, leading to dire consequences as seen in the surrounding verses.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Genesis 25:34Then Jacob gave some bread and lentil stew to Esau, who ate and drank and then got up and went away. Thus Esau despised his birthright.
2Numbers 13:32So they gave the Israelites a bad report about the land that they had spied out: “The land we explored devours its inhabitants, and all the people we saw there are great in stature.
3Numbers 14:31But I will bring your children, whom you said would become plunder, into the land you have rejected—and they will enjoy it.
4Matthew 22:5But they paid no attention and went away, one to his field, another to his business.
5Hebrews 12:16See to it that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his birthright.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 14 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word מָאַס, Vai.yim.'a.sugenerated

The verb מָאַס (ma'ac) means to reject or despise. It conveys a sense of contempt and spurning, indicating a deliberate choice to turn away from something valuable. The parsing as a sequential imperfect third person masculine plural shows that this action was taken collectively by the people.

This word emphasizes the gravity of their rejection, as it is not merely a passive disregard but an active contempt for what was offered to them. In this context, it highlights the Israelites' failure to recognize the significance of the land they were given.


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 main verb, יִּמְאֲסוּ, they rejected, governs the structure of the verse, indicating the action taken by the subjects. Two phrases follow: a prepositional phrase describing what was rejected and a clause that details their lack of belief.

The sentence structure emphasizes the rejection first, followed by the reason for their actions, creating a clear cause-and-effect relationship between their disdain for the land and their disbelief in God's promise.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates מָאַס as ἐχουδένωσαν, which also carries the meaning of rejecting or treating with contempt. This choice reflects a similar understanding of the Israelites' actions, emphasizing their disdain for God's provision.

The Greek word for חֶמְדָּה is ἐπιθυμητήν, which suggests a longing or desire, aligning with the Hebrew's connotation of something precious and valued.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Psalms 106:24 tells us that the Israelites despised the land that was promised to them and did not believe in God's promise. This reflects their lack of faith and appreciation for what God had given them.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean that they despised the pleasant land?

It means that the Israelites rejected the land God had given them, showing contempt for His gift and failing to recognize its value.

Why did they not believe His promise?

Their disbelief stemmed from a lack of faith and trust in God, despite witnessing His miracles and provisions.

What are the consequences of rejecting God's gifts?

Rejecting God's gifts can lead to spiritual consequences, such as loss of blessings and a hardened heart towards His promises.

How can we avoid making the same mistake as the Israelites?

We can cultivate gratitude and faith, recognizing the value of what God provides and trusting in His promises.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what ways do I recognize and appreciate the blessings God has given me?
  2. How can I strengthen my faith to trust in God's promises more fully?
  3. What are some examples in my life where I may have rejected God's gifts?
  4. How can I encourage others to see the value in what God provides?

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

Early Church Fathers have commented on this verse, highlighting the Israelites' scorn for the promised land as a lesson on faith and trust in God's provisions.

Augustine of HippoExposition on Psalms 106 354–430
"Yea, they thought scorn of that pleasant land" [Psalms 106:24].
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 106 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Psalms 106:24 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

Yea, they despised the pleasant land,.... Or "land of desire" (r); the land of Canaan; a very delightful and desirable country, the glory of all lands, a land that abounded with everything for necessity and pleasure.

Read John Gill on Psalms 106 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

Yea, they despised the pleasant land, they believed not his word: (1) The people's distrust of the Lord's word as to Canaan after hearing the spies' report (Psalms 106:24-27).

Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 106 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Despised; preferring Egypt and the former bondage before it, ,4, and not thinking it worthy of a little hazard and difficulty in taking the possession of it. The pleasant land, Canaan; which was so not only in truth, ,12 Jer 3:19 , but even by the relation of those spies who discouraged them from entering into it. His word, i.e. his promise of giving them the land, and subduing all their enemies before them; which they knew by late and manifold experience that God was both able and willing to do.

Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 106 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Psalms 106:24 Yea, they despised the pleasant land, they believed not his word:Ver. 24. Yea, they despised the pleasant land] Heb. The land of desire, flowing with milk and honey, sumen totius terrae, as one calleth it; Egypt they preferred before it, though it were a gage of heaven; as Cardinal Bourbon did his part in Paris, before his part in paradise. They believed not his word] sc. That he would, or indeed could, give them that good land. He that believeth not maketh God a liar.

Read John Trapp on Psalms 106 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(13-33) These twenty verses cover the desert wanderings, beginning with the discontented spirit mentioned in Exodus 15:23.

Read Charles John Ellicott on Psalms 106 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

24–27. A fifth instance of Israel’s sin; their unbelief and cowardice on the return of the spies (Numbers 13:14).

Read Cambridge on Psalms 106 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Yea, they despised the pleasant land - Margin, as in Hebrew, “land of desire.” That is, a country “to be desired,” - a country whose situation, climate, productions, made it desirable as a place of abode.

Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 106 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

24. They despised the pleasant land—And so God despised and rejected them. So, in later times, they despised Christ and his offer of eternal life, and were again, and more fatally, despised and rejected.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Psalms 106 →

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

They despised the pleasant land; they did not believe His promise.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Yes, they despised the pleasant land. They didn’t believe his word,

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

They despised the pleasant land; they did not believe His promise.

NETBNew English Translation2006

They rejected the fruitful land; they did not believe his promise.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

Yea, they despised the pleasant land, they believed not his word:

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

Yea, they despised the pleasant land, They believed not his word,

RVARevised Version, American1894

Yea, they despised the pleasant land, they believed not his word;

NWBWebster's Bible1833

Yes, they despised the pleasant land, they believed not his word:

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Also they contemned that pleasant land, and beleeued not his worde,

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

And they despised the pleasant land; they believed not his word,

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

And they kick against the desirable land, They have not given credence to His word.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

And they kick against the desirable land, || They have not given credence to His word.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

And they despised the pleasant land, they believed not in his word;

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Then they despised the fruitful land; they did not believe his promise,

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

These have seen the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

Later the people refused to enter the Promised Land; they didn't trust him to do as he'd promised.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

They were disgusted with the good land; they had no belief in his word;

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.

וַֽ֭andclauseverbיִּמְאֲסוּthey.rejectedprepositional phrase · prepositionalבְּ(in).[the]noun phraseאֶ֣רֶץlandחֶמְדָּ֑הof.desireclauseadverbialלֹֽאnotverbהֶ֝אֱמִ֗ינוּthey.believedprepositional phrase · prepositionalלִ(to)noun phraseדְבָרֽwordוֹhis

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 agree in their wording for this verse, with all six words matched. This indicates a consistent understanding of the rejection of the land and the subsequent disbelief in God's promise.

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

וַֽ֭יִּמְאֲסוּ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ חֶמְדָּ֑ה לֹֽא־ הֶ֝אֱמִ֗ינוּ לִדְבָרֽוֹ׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
וַֽ֭יִּמְאֲסוּἐχουδένωσανבְּאֶ֣רֶץγῆνחֶמְדָּ֑הἐπιθυμητήνלֹֽא־οὐκהֶ֝אֱמִ֗ינוּἐπίστευσανלִדְבָרֽוֹ׃αὐτοῦ

6 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.

Psalms 106:24מָאַסand they reand they rejectמָאַסאֶ֫רֶץ[the] land [the] land ofאֶ֫רֶץחֶמְדָּהdesiredesireחֶמְדָּהלֹאnotnotלֹאאָמַןthey believthey believedאָמַןדָּבָרword hisword hisדָּבָרדָבַרto speak: to speak: speakדָבַרחֶ֫מֶדdelightdelightחֶ֫מֶדיָמַןto turn rito turn rightיָמַןיַעַןbecausebecauseיַעַןכְּנַ֫עַןCanaanCanaanכְּנַ֫עַןמִצְרַ֫יִם(Sea of) E(Sea of) Egyptמִצְרַ֫יִםצְבִיbeautybeautyצְבִיכְּלִיarticle/utarticle/utensilכְּלִייָכֹלbe ablebe ableיָכֹלעוֹדstillstillעוֹדאוֹתsign: mirasign: miraculouאוֹתיֶ֫תֶרremainderremainderיֶ֫תֶרסֵ֫פֶרscroll: doscroll: documenסֵ֫פֶר
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 106:24

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.

and they rejected [the] land of desire not they believed word his
וַֽ֭יִּמְאֲסוּVai.yim.'a.su and they rejected H3988 Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine plural
76× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To spurn or reject something is what this Hebrew word means. In Genesis 37:35, it is used to describe how Jacob felt when his sons told him Joseph had died.
Amplified meaning
rejected with contempt
Tyndale gloss
to reject
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מָאַס (ma'ac) is a Hebrew verb primarily meaning to reject or despise. It can also denote the action of flowing or running in its Niph'al form. The entries highlight its usage in contexts of refusal and disdain, with no significant disagreement among lexicons regarding its meanings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[מָאַס] vb. reject

Qal

reject, refuse

despise

Niph. be rejected

base

[מָאַס] vb. Niph. flow, run

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3988a מָאַס reject H3988b מָאַס Niph. flow, run

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3988 ma'ac maw-as'

a primitive root; to spurn; also (intransitively) to

disappear:--abhor, cast away (off), contemn, despise, disdain,

(become) loathe(some), melt away, refuse, reject, reprobate, X

utterly, vile person.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מָאַס (ma.as) — to reject.

1) to reject, despise, refuse

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to reject, refuse

1a2) to despise

1b) (Niphal) to be rejected

מָאַס (ma.as) — to flow.

(Niphal) to flow, run

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3mp — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine plural
Hc/Vqw3mp
and they rejected [the] land of desire not they believed word his
בְּאֶ֣רֶץbe.'E.retz [the] land of H776 Preposition · noun common feminine singular construct
2,504× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The land or earth refers to the soil or ground, and can also mean a country, territory, or region. In the Bible, it is used to describe the earth and its inhabitants, and is often translated as 'land' or 'country'.
Tyndale gloss
land: soil
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֶ֫רֶץ n. f. & (seld.) m. earth, land

earth, whole earth (opp. to a part)

earth, opp. to heaven, sky

earth = inhabitants of earth

land =

country, territory

district, region

trial territory

piece of ground

specif. land of Canaan, or Israel

= inhabitants of land

used even of Shᵉʼôl

ground, surface of ground

soil, as productive

אֶרֶץ in phrases

people of the land

in measurements of distance

the country of the plain, level or plain country

land of the living

end(s) of the earth

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

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

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

. earth, opp. to heaven, sky

. earth = inhabitants of earth

. land = . country, territory

. district, region

. trial territory

. piece of ground

. specif. land of Canaan, or Israel

. = inhabitants of land

. used even of Shᵉʼôl

. . ground, surface of ground

. soil, as productive

. אֶרֶץ in phrases . people of the land

. in measurements of distance

. the country of the plain, level or plain country

. land of the living

. end(s) of the earth

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

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

776 'erets eh'-rets

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

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

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

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

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

: country/field

1) land, earth

1a) earth

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

1a2) earth (as opposed to heaven)

1a3) earth (inhabitants)

1b) land

1b1) country, territory

1b2) district, region

1b3) tribal territory

1b4) piece of ground

1b5) land of Canaan, Israel

1b6) inhabitants of land

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

1b8) city (-state)

1c) ground, surface of the earth

1c1) ground

1c2) soil

1d) (in phrases)

1d1) people of the land

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

1d3) level or plain country

1d4) land of the living

1d5) end(s) of the earth

1e) (almost wholly late in usage)

1e1) lands, countries

1e1a) often in contrast to Canaan

אֶ֫רֶץ (e.rets) — land: soil.

: soil

1) land, earth

1a) earth

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

1a2) earth (as opposed to heaven)

1a3) earth (inhabitants)

1b) land

1b1) country, territory

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-cs — 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…

and they rejected [the] land of desire not they believed word his
חֶמְדָּ֑הchem.Dah desire H2532 Noun common · feminine singular absolute
21× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew term describes something that brings great joy and pleasure, like a precious gift. It's used in the Bible to talk about the good things in life that bring happiness and fulfillment. In Genesis and Psalms, it describes the delight of being in a loving relationship.
Amplified meaning
desirable, highly valued
Tyndale gloss
desire
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

חֶמְדָּה (chemdah) refers to desire or delight, and is associated with desirableness and preciousness. It is a feminine form derived from חֶמֶד (chemed). The entries indicate that it encompasses both the concept of longing for something and the quality of being desirable.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

חֶמְדָּה n.f. id. [h.de.ab]—desire of Israel

base

[חֲמוּדָה] n.f. desirableness, preciousness

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2532a חֶמְדָּה desire, delight H2532b חֲמוּדָה desirableness, preciousness

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2532 chemdah khem-daw'

feminine of 2531; delight:--desire, goodly, pleasant,

precious.

see HEBREW for 02531

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חֶמְדָּה (chem.dah) — desire.

desire, that which is desirable

חֲמוּדָה (cha.mu.dah) — desirable thing.

desirableness, preciousness

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular absolute
HNcfsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

de-zir': The verb "to desire" in the Scriptures usually means "to long for," "to ask for," "to demand," and may be used in a good or bad sense (compare De 7:25 the King James Version). the Revised Version (British and American) frequently renders the more literal meaning of the Hebrew. Compare Job 20:20, "delight"; Pr 21:20, "precious"; Ps 40:6, "delight"; aiteo (except Col 1:9), and erotao (except Lu 7:36) are rendered "to ask" and zeteo, "to seek" (compare Lu 9:9 et. al.). The Hebrew kacaph, literally, "to lose in…

Nave's Topical Bible

→ SPIRITUAL De 4:29; Ps 9:1; 17:1; 22:26; 24:6; 25:5,15; 27:8,14; 33:20; 34:10; 37:4,7,9,34; 39:12; 40:1,8; 42:1-11; 51:1-17; 62:1; 63:1,8; 68:28; 69:3,32; 70:4; 81:10; 84:2; 86:11,12,16; 94:19; 105:4; 118:17; 119:2,10,20,40,77,88,116,117,122,133,149,156; 123:1,2; 130:5,6; 143:5,6; Pr 2:3-5; 8:17,34; Isa 8:17,19; 26:8,9; 40:31; 55:1,2,6; Jer 29:13; La 3:25,26,41; Ho 10:12; Hab 3:2; Mt 5:6;

and they rejected [the] land of desire not they believed word his
לֹֽא־lo'- not H3808 Particle
5,170× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for not or no is used to indicate absence or negation, as when God says no to the Israelites' requests, or when they disobey His commands.
Tyndale gloss
not
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

לֹא (lo') is a Hebrew word meaning 'not' or 'no.' It serves as a simple negation and can imply absence or prohibition. The word can also be used in various contexts, often combined with other particles for emphasis or clarification. Its Aramaic equivalent is לָא (la), which also means 'not.'

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

לֹא or לוֹא adv. not

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3808 לֹא or לוֹא not

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3808 lo' lo

or lowi {lo}; or loh (Deut. 3:11) {lo}; a primitive particle;

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often

used with other particles (as follows):--X before, + or else,

ere, + except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never,

no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), (X as though...,(can-), for) not (out

of), of nought, otherwise, out of, + surely, + as truly as, +

of a truth, + verily, for want, + whether, without.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

לֹא (lo) — not.

1) not, no

1a) not (with verb-absolute prohibition)

1b) not (with modifier-negation)

1c) nothing (subst)

1d) without (with particle)

1e) before (of time)

Aramaic equivalent: la (לָא "not" H3809)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Part — Particle
HTn
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and they rejected [the] land of desire not they believed word his
הֶ֝אֱמִ֗ינוּhe.'e.Mi.nu they believed H539 Verb · Hiphil · perfect third person common plural
106× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to be faithful or trustworthy, as seen in the KJV translations. It can also mean to support or confirm something, and is used in passages like Psalm 37:3 to describe trusting in God. The concept of faithfulness is central to the book of Proverbs.
Amplified meaning
have faith, trust
Tyndale gloss
be faithful
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אָמַן (aman) is a Hebrew root meaning to support or confirm, with applications ranging from nurturing (as a foster parent or nurse) to establishing trust and reliability. It encompasses concepts of faithfulness, permanence, and assurance. The entries highlight its use in various forms, including verbs and nouns, but do not indicate any significant disagreement among lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[אָמַן] vb. confirm, support

Qal

as vb. support, nourish

as subst. foster-father

foster-mother, nurse

pillars, supporters of the door

Niph.

carried by nurse

made firm, sure, lasting

confirmed, established, sure

verified, confirmed

reliable, faithful, trusty

Hiph.

stand firm

trust, believe

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H539 אָמַן confirm, support .. as vb. support, nourish

. as subst. foster-father

. foster-mother, nurse

. pillars, supporters of the door

. . carried by nurse

. made firm, sure, lasting

. confirmed, established, sure

. verified, confirmed

. reliable, faithful, trusty

. . stand firm

. trust, believe

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

539 'aman aw-man'

a primitive root; properly, to build up or support; to foster

as a parent or nurse; figuratively to render (or be) firm or

faithful, to trust or believe, to be permanent or quiet;

morally to be true or certain; once (Isa. 30:21;

interchangeable with 541) to go to the right hand:--hence,

assurance, believe, bring up, establish, + fail, be faithful

(of long continuance, stedfast, sure, surely, trusty,

verified), nurse, (-ing father), (put), trust, turn to the

right.

see HEBREW for 0541

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אָמַן (a.man) — be faithful.

1) to support, confirm, be faithful

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to support, confirm, be faithful, uphold, nourish

1a1a) foster-father (subst.)

1a1b) foster-mother, nurse

1a1c) pillars, supporters of the door

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be established, be faithful, be carried, make firm

1b1a) to be carried by a nurse

1b1b) made firm, sure, lasting

1b1c) confirmed, established, sure

1b1d) verified, confirmed

1b1e) reliable, faithful, trusty

1c) (Hiphil)

1c1) to stand firm, to trust, to be certain, to believe in

1c1a) stand firm

1c1b) trust, believe

Aramaic equivalent: a.man (אֲמַן "to trust" H0540)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Hiphil-Perf-3cp — Verb · Hiphil · perfect third person common plural
HVhp3cp
and they rejected [the] land of desire not they believed word his
לִדְבָרֽוֹ׃lid.va.Ro word his H1697 Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
1,442× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A word or thing, like a matter or affair, as seen in the book of Chronicles where it refers to the events and words of kings. It can also mean a cause or reason for something.
Amplified meaning
word, covenant agreement
Tyndale gloss
Chronicles
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

דָּבָר (dabar) means 'word' or 'speech' and encompasses a range of meanings including discourse, saying, and matter. It can refer to anything spoken or a topic of discussion, extending to concepts like business or affairs. The entries consistently highlight its use in various contexts, but do not indicate any significant disagreement among lexicographers.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

דָּבָר 1439 n.m. speech, word

sg. speech, discourse, saying, word, as the sum of that which is spoken

sg. saying, utterance, sentence, as a section of a discourse

sg. a word, words

sg. matter, affair, thing about which one speaks

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1697 דָּבָר speech, word . sg. speech, discourse, saying, word, as the sum of that which is spoken

. sg. saying, utterance, sentence, as a section of a discourse

. sg. a word, words

. sg. matter, affair, thing about which one speaks

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1697 dabar daw-baw'

from 1696; a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or

thing; adverbially, a cause:--act, advice, affair, answer, X

any such (thing), because of, book, business, care, case,

cause, certain rate, + chronicles, commandment, X

commune(-ication), + concern(-ing), + confer, counsel, +

dearth, decree, deed, X disease, due, duty, effect, +

eloquent, errand, (evil favoured-)ness, + glory, + harm, hurt,

+ iniquity, + judgment, language, + lying, manner, matter,

message, (no) thing, oracle, X ought, X parts, + pertaining, +

please, portion, + power, promise, provision, purpose,

question, rate, reason, report, request, X (as hast) said,

sake, saying, sentence, + sign, + so, some (uncleanness),

somewhat to say, + song, speech, X spoken, talk, task, + that,

X there done, thing (concerning), thought, + thus, tidings,

what(-soever), + wherewith, which, word, work.

see HEBREW for 01696

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

דָּבָר (da.var) — word.

: word/speech/command

1) speech, word, speaking, thing

1a) speech

1b) saying, utterance

1c) word, words

1d) business, occupation, acts, matter, case, something, manner (by extension)

דָּבָר (da.var) — word: speaking.

: speaking

1) speech, word, speaking, thing

1a) speech

1b) saying, utterance

1c) word, words

1d) business, occupation, acts, matter, case, something, manner (by extension)

דָּבָר (da.var) — word: thing.

: thing/matter

1) speech, word, speaking, thing

1a) speech

1b) saying, utterance

1c) word, words

1d) business, occupation, acts, matter, case, something, manner (by extension)

דָּבָר (da.var) — word: promised.

: promised/duty

1) speech, word, speaking, thing

1a) speech

1b) saying, utterance

1c) word, words

1d) business, occupation, acts, matter, case, something, manner (by extension)

דָּבָר (da.var) — word: deed.

: deed

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-ms | Suff — Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
HR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

hiz: Used often in the King James Version with reference to a neuter or inanimate thing, or to a lower animal (Ge 1:11, "after his kind"; Le 1:16, "pluck away his crop"; Ac 12:10, "of his own accord"; 1Co 15:38, "his own body"), etc. the Revised Version (British and American) substitutes "its."

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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