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Psalms 107:23 — Word Study

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WLCיוֹרְדֵ֣י הַ֭יָּם בָּאֳנִיּ֑וֹת עֹשֵׂ֥י מְ֝לָאכָ֗ה בְּמַ֣יִם רַבִּֽים׃

BSAOthers wentyârad [who sail, those that set sail] out to seayâm [the great waters] in shipsʼŏnîyâh [a fleet, vessels] conductingʻâsâh [doing business, occupying] trademᵉlâʼkâh [work, employment] on the mightyrab [great, many] watersmayim [the seas, the deep]

Word
Listen & take awayPsalms 107
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 23 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 (ra.Bim) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Psalms 107:23quick helps
In a sentenceThe psalm describes those who venture out to sea in ships, engaging in trade on vast waters.
Who is speakingThe psalmist, reflecting on the experiences of sailors.
Where we areThis verse is part of a larger reflection on God's works and the experiences of people.
The hard wordיוֹרְדֵ֣י
Take awayThe act of sailing and trading is portrayed as a significant human endeavor.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbיָרַד 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 107:23

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

Context — The Experiences of Sailorsgenerated

22Let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving and declare His works with rejoicing.
23Others went out to sea in ships, conducting trade on the mighty waters.
24They saw the works of the LORD, and His wonders in the deep.
25For He spoke and raised a tempest that lifted the waves of the sea.

Psalm 107:23 describes the actions of those who go out to sea, emphasizing the adventurous spirit of sailors who engage in trade on the mighty waters. This verse is part of a larger narrative that reflects on God's providence in the lives of various people, including those who travel by sea. It highlights the beauty and danger of the ocean, as well as the human endeavor to conduct business across vast waters.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Psalm 48:7With a wind from the east You wrecked the ships of Tarshish.
2Ezekiel 27:26Your oarsmen have brought you onto the high seas, but the east wind will shatter you in the heart of the sea.
3Acts 27:9–28By now much time had passed, and the voyage had already become dangerous because it was after the Fast. So Paul advised them,
4Revelation 18:17For in a single hour such fabulous wealth has been destroyed!” Every shipmaster, passenger, and sailor, and all who make their living from the sea, will stand at a distance

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 4 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word יוֹרְדֵ֣י, yor.Deigenerated

The word יוֹרְדֵ֣י (yor.Dei) is a participle derived from the root יָרַד (yarad), meaning 'to go down.' In this context, it refers to those who go down to the sea, suggesting a descent into the depths of the waters. The participle form indicates an ongoing action, emphasizing the continuous nature of their sailing.

This word captures the essence of sailors embarking on a journey, highlighting both the physical act of sailing and the metaphorical descent into the unknown. The use of the participle also suggests that this is a common experience for many, reflecting a shared human activity.


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. The BSB uses went out to sea, which is echoed in the KJV and ASV, capturing the essence of the sailors' journey.

Where they part company is in the rendering of רַבִּֽים — the BSB retains mighty, while the ASV, KJV, and others use great, emphasizing the vastness of the waters.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main verb is יוֹרְדֵ֣י (yor.Dei), which governs the action of the clause, describing those who embark on the sea. The structure of the verse includes a noun phrase detailing the subject, followed by a prepositional phrase that specifies the location of their action.

The Hebrew word order emphasizes the sailors and their action, with the prepositional phrase בְּמַ֣יִם (be.Ma.yim) indicating the waters as the setting for their trade.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates יוֹרְדֵ֣י as καταβαίνοντες (katabainontes), which also means 'those who go down.' This choice reflects a similar understanding of the action of sailing, emphasizing the descent into the sea.

The Greek word θάλασσαν (thalassan) is used for הַ֭יָּם, indicating a direct correspondence in meaning, as both refer to the sea.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Psalm 107:23 describes sailors who go out to sea in ships to conduct trade on the mighty waters. This verse highlights the adventurous spirit of those who engage in maritime activities, reflecting both the beauty and danger of the ocean.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean to go out to sea in ships?

It refers to the act of embarking on a maritime journey, often for the purpose of trade or exploration.

Why is the sea described as mighty?

The term 'mighty' emphasizes the vastness and power of the waters, which can be both beautiful and dangerous.

What kind of trade is being conducted?

The trade likely involves various goods and commodities transported across the sea, reflecting the economic activities of the time.

How does this verse relate to the overall theme of Psalm 107?

This verse illustrates the experiences of people in different situations, emphasizing God's providence and the varied human endeavors in life.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. What does the sea represent in my life, and how can I navigate its challenges?
  2. How do I see God's hand in the activities I engage in, like work or trade?
  3. What adventures have I embarked on that required faith and courage?
  4. In what ways can I appreciate the beauty and power of nature, as reflected in this psalm?

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

The early church fathers referenced this verse to discuss the nature of human endeavors and God's providence in various situations, illustrating the significance of maritime trade.

Augustine of HippoExposition on Psalms 107 354–430
..."They who go down on the sea in ships, doing their business on the mighty waters" [Psalms 107:23]; that is, among many peoples.
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 107 →
Desert FathersThe Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks 4th–5th c.
[Syncletica] also said, ‘We have no security in this world. The Apostle said, “Let him that thinks he stands, take heed lest he fall” (1 Cor. 10:12).
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 107 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Psalms 107:23 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

They that go down to the sea in ships,.... This is the fourth instance of persons in distress crying to the Lord for help, and, having it, are laid under obligation to praise him; the case of

Read John Gill on Psalms 107 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters; They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters; These see the works of the Lord - another image of

Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 107 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Go down to the sea; he saith go down, either because the sea or the shore of it is commonly lower than their habitations from whence they come, or than the natural or artificial banks which are raised to prevent the inundation of the waters; or because the sea is lower than the earth, as may be gathered from the rivers which run down into it. Do business; whose occupation lies there, either as merchants or as mariners.

Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 107 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Psalms 107:23 They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters;Ver. 23. They that go down to the sea in ships] Here we have a fourth specimen or instance of God’ s gracious and wise dispensations towards men, in their trading or trafficking by sea. These are said to go down to sea, because the banks are above it; but the water is naturally higher than the land, and, therefore, sailors observe that their ships fly faster to the shore than from it. But what a bold man, saith the poet, was he that first put forth to sea! (Horat. Od. lib. 1, 3.) Illi robut, et aes triplex Circa pectus erat, qui fragilem truci Commisit pelago ratem Primus, nec timuit praecipitem Africum…

Read John Trapp on Psalms 107 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 23. They that go down to the sea in ships] This is the FOURTH comparison. Their captivity was as dangerous and alarming as a dreadful tempest at sea to a weather-beaten mariner.

Read AdamClarke on Psalms 107 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

23–32. A fourth example of Jehovah’s goodness, in the deliverance of sailors caught in a storm. The Targ.[62] refers it to the voyage of Jonah, and some expressions suggest that Jonah 1, 2 may have been in the poet’s mind; but the reference is quite general. Addison (Spectator, No. 489) comments on the sublimity of the Psalmist’s description of the storm. [62] Ed. Lagarde. The text in Walton’s Polyglott does not contain the gloss.

Read Cambridge on Psalms 107 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

They that go down to the sea in ships - The scene here changes again.

Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 107 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

23. Go down to the sea—The expression supposes the sea lower than the land, lying in hollow depths prepared for it. Job 38:10-11; Psalms 104:8; Isaiah 42:10.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Psalms 107 →

The verse in English, compared — 16 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

Others went out to sea in ships, conducting trade on the mighty waters.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Those who go down to the sea in ships, who do business in great waters,

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

Others went out to sea in ships, conducting trade on the mighty waters.

NETBNew English Translation2006

Some traveled on the sea in ships, and carried cargo over the vast waters.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters;

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

They that go down to the sea in ships, That do business in great waters;

RVARevised Version, American1894

They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters;

NWBWebster's Bible1833

They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business on great waters;

GNVGeneva Bible1599

They that goe downe to the sea in ships, and occupie by the great waters,

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters,

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

Those going down [to] the sea in ships, Doing business in many waters,

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

Those going down [to] the sea in ships, || Doing business in many waters,

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

They who go down to the sea in ships, who do business on great waters;—

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Some travel on the sea in ships and do business overseas.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

Those who set sail in ships, crossing the seas to earn their living,

BBEBible in Basic English1949

Those who go down to the sea in ships, who do business in the great waters;

Word by word, the decisions they made

רַבִּֽים׃ra.Bim many H7227 2 different renderings
greatASV BBE DBY GNV ILT KJV NWB RVA WEB
manyLSV YLT

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.

clauseclauseverbיוֹרְדֵ֣י[those.who].went.downnoun phrase · adverbialהַ֭ofיָּםthe.seaprepositional phrase · prepositionalבָּinאֳנִיּ֑וֹתshipsclauseverbעֹשֵׂ֥י[who].didobjectמְ֝לָאכָ֗ה(of).businessprepositional phrase · prepositionalבְּon.[the]noun phraseמַ֣יִםwatersרַבִּֽיםmany

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


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

The Masoretic Text matches the Septuagint closely, with all seven words corresponding directly. The Dead Sea Scrolls also align with the MT, though some words are restored, indicating that the core message remains consistent across these texts.

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

יוֹרְדֵ֣י הַ֭יָּם בָּאֳנִיּ֑וֹת עֹשֵׂ֥י מְ֝לָאכָ֗ה בְּמַ֣יִם רַבִּֽים׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
יוֹרְדֵ֣יκαταβαίνοντεςהַ֭יָּםθάλασσανבָּאֳנִיּ֑וֹתπλοίοιςעֹשֵׂ֥יποιοῦντεςמְ֝לָאכָ֗הἐργασίανבְּמַ֣יִםὕδασιרַבִּֽים׃πολλοῖς

7 of the 7 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.

Dead Sea Scrolls — 4Q88a copy a thousand years older than the Leningrad Codex

[יורדי] [הים] באוניות [עשי] מלאכה במים [רבים]

2 words on the leather — 1 partly restored, 4 supplied entire by an editor.

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 107:23יָרַד[those who][those who] wenיָרַדיָםthe seathe seaיָםאֳנִיָּהin shipsin shipsאֳנִיָּהעָשָׂה[those who][those who] didעָשָׂהמְלָאכָהbusinessbusinessמְלָאכָהמַיon [the] waon [the] watersמַירַבmanymanyרַברָבַבto multiplto multiplyרָבַבאֳנִיfleetfleetאֳנִימַלְאָךְmessengermessengerמַלְאָךְשְׁאוֹלhell: Sheohell: SheolשְׁאוֹלבּוֹרpitpitבּוֹרסוּףreedreedסוּףפֵּאָהsidesideפֵּאָהתַּרְשִׁישׁTarshishTarshishתַּרְשִׁישׁעֶצְיוֹןEzion-gebeEzion-geberעֶצְיוֹןמְלָאכָהworkworkמְלָאכָהתּוֹעֵבַהabominatioabominationתּוֹעֵבַהעֲבֹדָהserviceserviceעֲבֹדָהשָׁבַתto ceaseto ceaseשָׁבַתרָחַץto wash: wto wash: washרָחַץשָׁתָהto drinkto drinkשָׁתָהנְבוּזַרְאֲדָןNebuzaradaNebuzaradanנְבוּזַרְאֲדָןטַבָּחguardguardטַבָּח
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 107:23

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.

[those who] went down the sea in ships [those who] did business on [the] waters many
יוֹרְדֵ֣יyor.Dei [those who] went down H3381 Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine plural common
381× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To go down or descend, like going to a lower place or falling. It appears in Genesis and Exodus, describing people and things moving downwards.
Amplified meaning
who sail, those that set sail
Tyndale gloss
to go down
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word יָרַד (yarad) means to come or go down, covering various contexts such as descending from mountains, going to battle, or sinking in water. It can also refer to divine manifestations descending or being prostrated. The word has different forms including Qal, Hiphil, and Hophal, which indicate various nuances of bringing down or being brought down.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יָרַד 380 vb. come or go down, descend

Qal 306

come or go down

go down (usu. from mountain or hill-country into plain), to battle

go down to (acc.) threshing-floor

go down (abs.) from Palestine to Egypt

from Jerusalem

from altar

go down

= sink, in water

go down to She’ôl

fig. going down (dissolving) in tears

= be prostrated

of divine manifestations: descend

of inanimate things

Hiph.

cause to come or go down

bring down

send down rain = cause to flow down

= lay prostrate to (acc.) threshing-floor

bring down to She’ôl

take down (from cart)

let down

Hoph.

be brought down

be taken down

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3381 יָרַד come or go down, descend .. . come or go down

. go down (usu. from mountain or hill-country into plain), to battle

. go down to (acc.) threshing-floor

. go down (abs.) from Palestine to Egypt

. from Jerusalem

. from altar

. go down

. = sink, in water

. go down to She’ôl

. fig. going down (dissolving) in tears

. = be prostrated

. of divine manifestations: descend

. of inanimate things

. . cause to come or go down . bring down

. send down rain = cause to flow down

. = lay prostrate to (acc.) threshing-floor

. bring down to She’ôl

. take down (from cart)

. let down

. . be brought down

. be taken down

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3381 yarad yaw-rad'

a primitive root; to descend (literally, to go downwards; or

conventionally to a lower region, as the shore, a boundary,

the enemy, etc.; or figuratively, to fall); causatively, to

bring down (in all the above applications); -X abundantly,

bring down, carry down, cast down, (cause to) come(-ing) down,

fall (down), get down, go(-ing) down(-ward), hang down, X

indeed, let down, light (down), put down (off), (cause to,

let) run down, sink, subdue, take down.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יָרַד (ya.rad) — to go down.

1) to go down, descend, decline, march down, sink down

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to go or come down

1a2) to sink

1a3) to be prostrated

1a4) to come down (of revelation)

1b) (Hiphil)

1b1) to bring down

1b2) to send down

1b3) to take down

1b4) to lay prostrate

1b5) to let down

1c) (Hophal)

1c1) to be brought down

1c2) to be taken down

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal — Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine plural common
HVqrmpc
[those who] went down the sea in ships [those who] did business on [the] waters many
הַ֭יָּםHai.yom the sea H3220 Particle · noun common masculine singular absolute
396× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Refers to a large body of water like the Mediterranean Sea or a sea in general, sometimes specifically the west or seaward direction.
Amplified meaning
the great waters
Tyndale gloss
(Mt. Ephron in the) West
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יָם (yam) means 'sea' and refers to various large bodies of water, including the Mediterranean, Red, and Dead Seas, as well as the Sea of Galilee. It can also denote a mighty river like the Nile and has geographical implications, indicating directions such as west or south. The term is derived from a root meaning to roar, suggesting the noise of breaking surf.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יָם 390 n.m. sea

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3220 יָם sea

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3220 yam yawm

from an unused root meaning to roar; a sea (as breaking in

noisy surf) or large body of water; specifically (with the

article), the Mediterranean Sea; sometimes a large river, or

an artifical basin; locally, the west, or (rarely) the

south:--sea (X -faring man, (-shore)), south, west (-ern,

side, -ward).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יָם (yam) — sea.

: sea

1) sea

1a) Mediterranean Sea

1b) Red Sea

1c) Dead Sea

1d) Sea of Galilee

1e) sea (general)

1f) mighty river (Nile)

1g) the sea (the great basin in the temple court)

1h) seaward, west, westward

יָם (yam) — sea: west.

: west

1) sea

1a) Mediterranean Sea

1b) Red Sea

1c) Dead Sea

1d) Sea of Galilee

1e) sea (general)

1f) mighty river (Nile)

1g) the sea (the great basin in the temple court)

1h) seaward, west, westward

יָם (yam) — (Mt. Ephron in the) West.

This name means sea, seaward, westward

Another name of eph.ron (עֶפְרוֹן "(Mount )Ephron" H6085H)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Art | N-ms — Particle · noun common masculine singular absolute
HTd/Ncmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

se (yam; thalassa; in Ac 27:5 pelagos): The Mediterranean is called ha-yam ha-gadhol, "the great sea" (Nu 34:6; Jos 1:4; Eze 47:10, etc.); ha-yam ha-'acharon, "the hinder," or "western sea" (De 11:24; 34:2; Joe 2:20; Zec 14:8); yam pelishtim, "the sea of the Philis" (Ex 23:31); the King James Version translates yam yapho' in Ezr 3:7 by "sea of Joppa," perhaps rightly.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

The sea, yam , is used in Scripture to denote-- "The gathering of the waters," "the Ocean." (Genesis 1:2,10; 30:13) etc. Some portion of this, as the Mediterranean Sea, called the "hinder," the "western" and the "utmost" sea, (11:24; 34:2; Joel 2:20) "sea of the Philistines," (Exodus 23:31) "the great sea," (Numbers 36:6,7; Joshua 15:47) "the sea." Genesis49:13; Psal 80:11 Also frequently of the Red Sea. (Exodus 15:4) [RED SEA SEA] Inland lakes termed seas, as the Salt or Dead Sea. [See the special article] Any…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

The Hebrews give the name of sea to any large collection of water, Job 14:11; as to the lakes of Tiberias and Asphaltites, and also to the rivers Nile and Euphrates, Isa 11:15 18:2 21:1 Jer 51:36,42. The principal seas mentioned in Scripture are the following:

1. The GREAT SEA, the Mediterranean, called also the Hinder or Western Sea. Indeed, the Hebrew word for sea, meaning the Mediterranean, is often put for the west. The Great Sea is 2,200 miles long, and in the widest part 1,200 miles in width. In many places it is so deep as to give no soundings. It is little affected by tides, but is often agitated by violent winds. The prevailing direction of the wind in spring is from the southeast and southwest and from the northeast…

Nave's Topical Bible

→ Creation of Ge 1:9,10; Ps 95:5; 148:4,5

→ Lake Galilee calmed by Jesus Mt 8:24-26; Mr 4:37-39

→ Jesus walked upon Lake Galilee Mt 14:25-31

→ The Dead, to be given up by the, at the resurrection Re 20:13

→ SYMBOLICAL

In Daniel' s vision Da 7:2,3

In John' s apocalyptic vision Re 4:6; 8:8,9; 10:2,5,6,8; 13:1; 15:2; 16:3; 21:1

[those who] went down the sea in ships [those who] did business on [the] waters many
בָּאֳנִיּ֑וֹתbo.'o.ni.Yot in ships H591 Preposition · noun common feminine plural absolute
31× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for ship or fleet is used in the Bible to describe a vessel that sails on the water. It appears in Numbers 24:24 and Proverbs 30:19, often referring to the men who sail on these ships, known as seamen.
Amplified meaning
a fleet, vessels
Tyndale gloss
fleet
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אֳנִיָּה (oniyah) is a feminine noun meaning 'a ship.' It is derived from the root word for 'ship' and can refer to both the vessel itself and its crew, including seamen. The term appears in contexts related to maritime activities.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֳנִיָּה n.f. unit. a ship

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H591 אֳנִיָּה a ship

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

591 'oniyah on-ee-yaw'

feminine of 590; a ship:--ship((-men)).

see HEBREW for 0590

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֳנִיָּה (o.niy.yah) — fleet.

1) ship

1a) men of ships, seamen

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-fp — Preposition · noun common feminine plural absolute
HR/Ncfpa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Easton's Bible Dictionary

Ships

Early used in foreign commerce by the Phoenicians (Gen. 49:13). Moses (Deut. 28:68) and Job (9:26) make reference to them, and Balaam speaks of the “ships of Chittim” (Num. 24:24). Solomon constructed a navy at Ezion-geber by the assistance of Hiram’s sailors (1 Kings 9:26-28; 2 Chr. 8:18). Afterwards, Jehoshaphat sought to provide himself with a navy at the same port, but his ships appear to have been wrecked before they set sail (1 Kings 22:48, 49; 2 Chr. 20:35-37).

Torrey's New Topical Textbook

- Probably originated from the ark made by Noah

Ge 7:17,18

- Antiquity of, among the Jews

Ge 49:13; Jud 5:17

- DESCRIBED AS

. Gallant

Isa 33:21

. Large

Jas 3:4

. Strong

Isa 23:14

. Swift

Job 9:26

- Solomon built a navy of

1Ki 9:26

- MENTIONED IN SCRIPTURE

. Of Chittim

Nu 24:24; Da 11:30

. Of Tarshish

Isa 23:1; 60:9

Thompson Chain Reference topics

Nu 24:24; 1Ki 9:26; 22:48; 2Ch 8:18; 9:21; 20:36; Isa 60:9; Jon 1:3

Ac 20:13; 27:2,41

[those who] went down the sea in ships [those who] did business on [the] waters many
עֹשֵׂ֥י'o.Sei [those who] did H6213 Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine plural common
2,629× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This verb means to make or do something, and is used over 2,600 times in the Bible. It is first used in Genesis 1:7 to describe God's creation of the world and is also used in Exodus 31:5 to describe the work of skilled craftsmen.
Amplified meaning
doing business, occupying
Tyndale gloss
to make
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עָשָׂה (asah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to do or make, encompassing a wide range of actions such as producing, preparing, and observing. It can refer to both concrete and abstract activities, including making offerings and attending to tasks. The verb also has forms indicating passive meanings, such as being made or offered. Notably, the Piel form refers to pressing or squeezing.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עָשָׂה 2622 vb. do, make

Qal 2524

do (1560 t.)

deal with

oft. in phr. do kindness with

abs. act, act with effect

make (670 t.)

produce, yield

prepare, esp. of dressing and cooking food

make offering

attend to, put in order

observe, celebrate, religious festival

acquire property of various kinds

appoint priests

bring about of י׳’s effecting a deliverance

use

spend, pass, days of life

Niph.

97be done

be made, of concr. things

be produced from vine

be prepared, of food

be offered

be observed, passover

be used

Pu. I was made

base

[עָשָׂה] vb. Pi. press, squeeze

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6213a עָשָׂה do, make .. . do (1560 + t.)

. deal with

. oft. in phr. do kindness with

. abs. act, act with effect

. . make (670 + t.)

. produce, yield

. prepare, esp. of dressing and cooking food

. make offering

. attend to, put in order

. observe, celebrate, religious festival

. acquire property of various kinds

. appoint priests

. bring about of י׳’s effecting a deliverance

. use

. spend, pass, days of life

. . be done

. . be made, of concr. things

. be produced from vine

. be prepared, of food

. be offered

. be observed, passover

. be used

. I was made

H6213b עָשָׂה Pi. press, squeeze

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6213 `asah aw-saw'

a primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and

widest application (as follows):--accomplish, advance,

appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth,

bruise, be busy, X certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal

(with), deck, + displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in)

execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, + feast, (fight-)ing man, +

finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go

about, govern, grant, great, + hinder, hold ((a feast)), X

indeed, + be industrious, + journey, keep, labour, maintain,

make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, + officer, pare,

bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure,

provide, put, requite, X sacrifice, serve, set, shew, X sin,

spend, X surely, take, X thoroughly, trim, X very, + vex, be

(warr-)ior, work(-man), yield, use.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עָשָׂה (a.sah) — to make: do.

: do/perform

1) to do, fashion, accomplish, make

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to do, work, make, produce

1a1a) to do

1a1b) to work

1a1c) to deal (with)

1a1d) to act, act with effect, effect

1a2) to make

1a2a) to make

1a2b) to produce

1a2c) to prepare

1a2d) to make (an offering)

1a2e) to attend to, put in order

1a2f) to observe, celebrate

1a2g) to acquire (property)

1a2h) to appoint, ordain, institute

1a2i) to bring about

1a2j) to use

1a2k) to spend, pass

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be done

1b2) to be made

1b3) to be produced

1b4) to be offered

1b5) to be observed

1b6) to be used

1c) (Pual) to be made

עָשָׂה (a.sah) — to press.

(Piel) to press, squeeze

עָשָׂה (a.sah) — to make.

: make(OBJECT)

1) to do, fashion, accomplish, make

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to do, work, make, produce

1a1a) to do

1a1b) to work

1a1c) to deal (with)

1a1d) to act, act with effect, effect

1a2) to make

1a2a) to make

1a2b) to produce

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal — Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine plural common
HVqrmpc
[those who] went down the sea in ships [those who] did business on [the] waters many
מְ֝לָאכָ֗הme.la.Khah business H4399 Noun common · feminine singular absolute
167× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Means work or employment, like a job or business, and is used to describe someone's occupation or the result of their labor, as seen in the Bible's description of various professions and industries.
Amplified meaning
work, employment
Tyndale gloss
work
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מְלָאכָה (mla'kah) refers to work or occupation, encompassing various aspects such as business, craftsmanship, and service. It can denote both the act of working and the products resulting from labor. The term also extends to public and political business. There is a slight variation in emphasis among lexicons, with some highlighting its non-servile nature.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מְלָאכָה 167 n.f. occupation, work

occupation, business

property in which one is occupied

work as something done or made

workmanship

service, use

public business

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4399 מְלָאכָה occupation, work . occupation, business

. property in which one is occupied

. work as something done or made

. workmanship

. service, use

. public business

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4399 mla'kah mel-aw-kaw'

from the same as 4397; properly, deputyship, i.e. ministry;

generally, employment (never servile) or work (abstractly or

concretely); also property (as the result of

labor):--business, + cattle, + industrious, occupation,

(+ -pied), + officer, thing (made), use, (manner of)

work((-man), -manship).

see HEBREW for 04397

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מְלָאכָה (me.la.khah) — work.

1) occupation, work, business

1a) occupation, business

1b) property

1c) work (something done or made)

1d) workmanship

1e) service, use

1f) public business

1f1) political

1f2) religious

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

biz'-nes: Is the rendering of four Hebrew words:

(1) mela'khah, in Ge 39:11 (the American Standard Revised Version "work"); 1Ch 26:29,30; 2Ch 13:10 (the American Standard Revised Version "in their work"); 17:13 (the American Standard Revised Version "many works"); Ne 11:16,22; 13:30 (the American Standard Revised Version "in his work"); Es 3:9; Ps 107:23; Pr 22:29; Da 8:27.

[those who] went down the sea in ships [those who] did business on [the] waters many
בְּמַ֣יִםbe.Ma.yim on [the] waters H4325 Preposition · noun common masculine plural absolute
581× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means water, referring to a liquid or a source of refreshment. It appears in the Bible as a literal and figurative term, including references to wasting or urine. The word is used in various contexts, such as in Genesis and Leviticus.
Amplified meaning
the seas, the deep
Tyndale gloss
Water (Gate)
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מַי (mayim) is a Hebrew word meaning 'water' and is used in the plural form. It encompasses various meanings, including literal water, urine, and metaphorical uses related to refreshment or danger. The entries indicate it is derived from a primitive noun and is primarily referenced in contexts involving water.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[מַי] 580 n.m. only pl. מַ֫יִם waters, water

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4325 מַי only pl. מַ֫יִם waters, water

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4325 mayim mah'-yim

dual of a primitive noun (but used in a singular sense);

water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen:--+

piss, wasting, water(-ing, (-course, -flood, -spring)).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מַי (ma.yim) — water.

1) water, waters

1a) water

1b) water of the feet, urine

1c) of danger, violence, transitory things, refreshment (fig.)

מַי (ma.yim) — Water (Gate).

This name means water, refreshment

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-mp — Preposition · noun common masculine plural absolute
HR/Ncmpa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

wo'-terz (mayim, plural of may, "water"; in the New Testament hudor, "water"; kindunois potamon (2Co 11:26), the King James Version "perils of waters," is in the Revised Version (British and American) "perils of rivers"): In the New Testament there is frequent reference to the water of baptism. Pilate washes his hands with water to signify his guiltlessness. Jesus tells the Samaritan woman of the living water. The Lamb shall guide the redeemed unto fountains of waters of life.

The uses of mayim are well classified in BDB, especially the figurative references, as follows: a symbol of distress, "when thou passest through the waters" (Isa 43:2); of force, "like the breach of waters" (2Sa 5:20); of that which is overwhelming, "a…

[those who] went down the sea in ships [those who] did business on [the] waters many
רַבִּֽים׃ra.Bim many H7227 Adj
454× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means a chief or captain, someone in charge. It is used in 2 Samuel 23:19 to describe a great and powerful man. The idea is one of leadership and authority.
Amplified meaning
great, many
Tyndale gloss
many
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

רַב (rav) means much, many, or great, often used in contrast to מְעַט (me'at). It can describe abundance in quantity or rank and is also used as a noun for chief or captain. The word conveys a range of meanings from numerous to exceedingly, and it can function as both an adjective and a noun.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

רַב 429 adj. much, many, great

(oft. opp. מְעַט)

much: of substances

esp. of collectives, numerous

pl. many

רַב as subst. coll. pers.

cstr. = abounding in

מִן comp. = more numerous than

רַב = abundant, enough

as adv. much, exceedingly

less oft. great

base

רַב 49 n.m. chief

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7227a רַב much, many, great . (oft. opp. מְעַט) . . much: of substances

. esp. of collectives, numerous

. pl. many

. רַב as subst. coll. pers.

. cstr. = abounding in

. + מִן comp. = more numerous than

. רַב = abundant, enough

. as adv. much, exceedingly

. less oft. great

H7227b רַב chief

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7227 rab rab

by contracted from 7231; abundant (in quantity, size, age,

number, rank, quality):--(in) abound(-undance, -ant, -antly),

captain, elder, enough, exceedingly, full, great(-ly, man,

one), increase, long (enough, (time)), (do, have) many(-ifold,

things, a time), ((ship-))master, mighty, more, (too, very)

much, multiply(-tude), officer, often(-times), plenteous,

populous, prince, process (of time), suffice(-lent).

see HEBREW for 07231

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

רַב (rav) — many.

adj

1) much, many, great

1a) much

1b) many

1c) abounding in

1d) more numerous than

1e) abundant, enough

1f) great

1g) strong

1h) greater than

adv

1i) much, exceedingly

רַב (rav) — chief.

captain, chief

Aramaic equivalent: rav.re.van (רַבְרְבָן "noble" H7261)

רַב (rav) — (Sidon) the Great.

Combined with tsi.don (צִידוֹן "Sidon" H6721H)

§ captain, chief

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adj — Adj
HAampa
English usagewhat the translators’ English meant
Webster's Dictionary (1828), Webster's Unabridged (1913), Webster's Dictionary (1806)

MANY, adjective men'ny.

1. Numerous; comprising a great number of individuals.

Thou shalt be a father of many nations. Genesis 17:4.

Not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. 1 Corinthians 1:26.

MANY are the afflictions of the righteous. Psalms 34:12.

It is often preceded by as or so, and followed by so, indicating an equal number.

As many books as you take, so many shall be charged to your account.

So many laws argue so many sins.

It is followed by as.

As many as were willing-hearted brought bracelets. Exodus 34:1.

It precedes an or a, before a noun in the singular number.

Full many a gem of purest ray serene.

2. In low language, preceded by too, it denotes powerful or much; as, they are too many for us.

MANY, noun men'ny. A multitude; a great number of individuals; the people.

O thou fond many

The vulgar and the many are fit only to be led or driven.

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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