Psalms 107:38 — Word Study
WLCוַיְבָרֲכֵ֣ם וַיִּרְבּ֣וּ מְאֹ֑ד וּ֝בְהֶמְתָּ֗ם לֹ֣א יַמְעִֽיט׃
BSAHe blesses thembârak▸ [praises and honors] and they multiplyrâbâh▸ [increase and grow] greatlymᵉʼôd [exceedingly, very much] He does notlôʼ [never, under no circumstances] let their herdsbᵉhêmâh [livestock, cattle, animals] diminishmâʻaṭ▸ [become less, decrease]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וַיְבָרֲכֵ֣ם | and he blessed them | Verb piel sequential imperfect third person masculine singular, suffix |
| וַיִּרְבּ֣וּ | and they multiplied | Verb, Qal, sequential imperfect third person masculine plural |
| מְאֹ֑ד | exceedingly | Adv |
| וּ֝בְהֶמְתָּ֗ם | and cattle their | Conjunction, noun common feminine singular construct, suffix |
| לֹ֣א | not | Particle |
| יַמְעִֽיט׃ | he made few | Verb, Hiphil, imperfect third person masculine singular |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | He blesses them, and they multiply greatly; He does not let their herds diminish. |
| KJV | He blesseth them also, so that they are multiplied greatly; and suffereth not their cattle to decrease. |
| ASV | He blesseth them also, so that they are multiplied greatly; And he suffereth not their cattle to decrease. |
| YLT | And He blesseth them, and they multiply exceedingly, And their cattle He doth not diminish. |
| WEB | He blesses them also, so that they are multiplied greatly. He doesn’t allow their livestock to decrease. |
| BBE | He gives them his blessing so that they are increased greatly, and their cattle do not become less. |
The translations all align on the meaning of God's blessings and their effects.
The structure consists of a main clause followed by two subordinate clauses that elaborate on the results of God's blessing.
6 commentators on this verse
Gill, Poole, Trapp, Cambridge & more — read them ›
clause
verbרָבָה
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
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 107:38
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 — God's Provision and Blessingsgenerated
Psalms 107:38 reflects on God's blessings, illustrating how His favor leads to the flourishing of His people. This verse emphasizes the abundance of their livestock and the assurance that God prevents their decrease, highlighting His protective care and provision. The surrounding verses describe the fruitful outcomes of their labor, reinforcing the theme of divine blessing and prosperity.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalm 128:1–6 | Blessed are all who fear the LORD, who walk in His ways! |
| 2 | Genesis 1:28 | God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and every creature that crawls upon the earth.” |
| 3 | Genesis 9:1 | And God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth. |
| 4 | Genesis 12:2 | I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. |
| 5 | Genesis 17:16–20 | And I will bless her and will surely give you a son by her. I will bless her, and she will be the mother of nations; kings of peoples will descend from her.” |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 17 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — בָּרַךְ, barakgenerated
The verb בָּרַךְ (*barak*) is a piel form, indicating an active and intentional blessing. It is rooted in the concept of kneeling, which conveys humility and reverence. In this context, it signifies God's favor and honor bestowed upon His people, leading to their growth and increase.
This blessing is not merely a wish; it is an active expression of God's will to enrich and multiply His people. The nuance of the word encompasses both the act of blessing and the resulting abundance, showing the deep connection between divine favor and human flourishing.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
All translations agree on the core message of God's blessings leading to multiplication and the preservation of livestock.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The verse is structured around three main actions: the blessing of God, the multiplication of the people, and the prevention of decrease in their herds. The finite verb יְבָרֲכֵ֣ם (He blesses them) initiates the sentence, establishing God's active role.
Following this, the verbs יִּרְבּ֣וּ (they multiplied) and יַמְעִֽיט (he made few) are linked to the subjects and objects, creating a clear cause-and-effect relationship between God's blessing and the resulting abundance.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, the Hebrew בָּרַךְ is rendered as αὐτούς (G848), which means 'them.' This choice reflects a direct translation of the blessing aspect, emphasizing the recipients of God's favor.
The use of ἐπληθύνθησαν (G4129) for וַיִּרְבּ֣וּ indicates a focus on the act of increasing, aligning with the Hebrew meaning while also suggesting a more passive reception of growth.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Psalms 107:38 tells us that God blesses His people, leading to their growth and abundance. He ensures that their livestock does not decrease, highlighting His care and provision for them.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It means that God shows favor and care, leading to their prosperity and growth.
God's blessing ensures that their herds remain abundant and do not diminish.
Multiplication signifies God's favor and the flourishing of His people, reflecting His provision.
We learn that God is a provider who actively blesses His people, leading to their increase and well-being.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways have I experienced God's blessings in my life?
- How can I recognize and appreciate the abundance that comes from God?
- What steps can I take to ensure I am a good steward of the blessings I receive?
- How does understanding God's provision influence my faith and trust in Him?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Early church fathers, like Augustine, have commented on this verse, emphasizing God's blessings and their significance.
"And He blessed them, and they were multiplied exceedingly, and their cattle were not diminished" [Psalms 107:38]. This stands.Early Church Fathers on Psalms 107 →
Commentators on this verse — 6 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Psalms 107:38 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleHe blesseth them also, so that they are multiplied greatly,.... Not only their fields and vineyards are blessed with an increase, but these husbandmen themselves; as man at his first creation was bid
Read John Gill on Psalms 107 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BiblePreserves them from abortion and deadly diseases, and on the contrary causeth them to increase, as he said in the former branch, which is here repeated in other words, after the sane manner.
Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 107 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsPsalms 107:38 He blesseth them also, so that they are multiplied greatly; and suffereth not their cattle to decrease.Ver. 38. He blesseth them also, &c.] See Proverbs 10:12 Psalms 127:1 James 4:15. They are out that rest in natural causes.
Read John Trapp on Psalms 107 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges38. In this and the preceding verse there may be an allusion to Leviticus 26:20; Leviticus 26:22.
Read Cambridge on Psalms 107 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleHe blesseth them also - In the manner immediately specified. So that they are multiplied greatly - This was regarded as one of the highest blessings which God could confer, and hence, it was so often
Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 107 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible33-42. These verses comprehend the last two strophes, the first ending with Psalms 107:38, and the latter with Psalms 107:42. The whole comprises a description of what God can do in his sovereign grace and judgment with a nation.
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
He blesses them, and they multiply greatly; He does not let their herds diminish.
He blesses them also, so that they are multiplied greatly. He doesn’t allow their livestock to decrease.
He blesses them, and they multiply greatly; He does not let their herds diminish.
He blessed them so that they became very numerous. He would not allow their cattle to decrease in number.
Tyndale line
He blesseth them also, so that they are multiplied greatly; and suffereth not their cattle to decrease.
He blesseth them also, so that they are multiplied greatly; And he suffereth not their cattle to decrease.
He blesseth them also, so that they are multiplied greatly; and he suffereth not their cattle to decrease.
He blesseth them also, so that they are multiplied greatly; and suffereth not their cattle to decrease.
For he blesseth them, and they multiplie exceedingly, and he diminisheth not their cattell.
Strictly literal
And he blesseth them, so that they are multiplied greatly; and he suffereth not their cattle to decrease.
And He blesseth them, and they multiply exceedingly, And their cattle He doth not diminish.
And He blesses them, and they multiply exceedingly, || And He does not diminish their livestock.
He also blesseth them, and they multiply greatly, and he suffereth not their cattle to diminish.
He blesses them so they are very numerous. He does not let their cattle decrease in number.
Simplified
He takes care of them, and their numbers increase dramatically—their cattle too!
He gives them his blessing so that they are increased greatly, and their cattle do not become less.
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.
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 closely in wording, with the Septuagint providing a direct correspondence for each Hebrew word. The Dead Sea Scrolls show some restoration, but the essential content matches the Masoretic Text.
וַיְבָרֲכֵ֣ם וַיִּרְבּ֣וּ מְאֹ֑ד וּ֝בְהֶמְתָּ֗ם לֹ֣א יַמְעִֽיט׃
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.
[ויברכ׳ם] [וירבו] [מאוד] ובהמת׳ם [לא] [ימעיט]
nothing on the leather here — 1 partly restored, 5 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.
Lexicons — every word in Psalms 107:38
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.
The Hebrew word בָּרַךְ (*barak*) is built from a primitive root meaning 'to kneel' and encompasses a range of meanings including 'to bless' and 'to curse.' It can refer to blessing God or men, as well as the act of kneeling in adoration. The entries note that it can also imply a curse in certain contexts, reflecting a nuanced use in greetings and farewells.
[בָּרַךְ] 329 vb. kneel, bless
Qal
kneel down
bless
Niph. bless oneself
Pi.
bless God, adore with bended knees
God blesses
men bless men
salute, greet, with an invocation of blessing
bless, with the antithetical meaning curse from the greeting in departing, saying adieu to, taking leave of; but rather a blessing overdone and so really a curse as in vulgar English as well as in the Shemitic cognates
Pu.
pass. to be blessed, adored
prospered by God
have prosperity invoked, by Balaam
in gratitude
Hiph. and he made his camel kneel
Hithp. bless oneself, congratulate oneself in his heart
base
H1288 בָּרַךְ kneel, bless .. kneel down
. bless
. bless oneself
. . bless God, adore with bended knees
. God blesses
. men bless men
. salute, greet, with an invocation of blessing
. bless, with the antithetical meaning curse from the greeting in departing, saying adieu to, taking leave of; but rather a blessing overdone and so really a curse as in vulgar English as well as in the Shemitic cognates
. . pass. to be blessed, adored
. prospered by God
. have prosperity invoked, by Balaam
. in gratitude
. and he made his camel kneel
. bless oneself, congratulate oneself in his heart
1288 barak baw-rak'
a primitive root; to kneel; by implication to bless God (as
an act of adoration), and (vice-versa) man (as a benefit);
also (by euphemism) to curse (God or the king, as treason):--X
abundantly, X altogether, X at all, blaspheme, bless,
congratulate, curse, X greatly, X indeed, kneel (down),
praise, salute, X still, thank.
בָּרַךְ (ba.rakh) — to bless.
1) to bless, kneel
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to kneel
1a2) to bless
1b) (Niphal) to be blessed, bless oneself
1c) (Piel) to bless
1d) (Pual) to be blessed, be adored
1e) (Hiphil) to cause to kneel
1f) (Hithpael) to bless oneself
2) (TWOT) to praise, salute, curse
Aramaic equivalent: be.rakh (בְּרַךְ "to bless" H1289)
Conj | V-Piel-ConsecImperf-3ms | Suff — Verb piel sequential imperfect third person masculine singular · suffixHc/Vpw3ms/Sp3mp
רָבָה (rabah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to increase or multiply, encompassing ideas of becoming great, numerous, or abundant. It has various forms, including Qal (to become many), Piel (to make large), and Hiphil (to make much). The word also appears in a context related to shooting in Genesis 21:20. There is a noted Aramaic equivalent, רְבָה.
[רָבָה] 225 vb. be, or become, much, many, great
Qal 59
become many, numerous
be great
grow great (Aramaism)
Pi. 4 make large, increase
Hiph. 162
H7235a רָבָה be, or become, much, many, great .. become many, numerous
. . be great
. grow great (Aramaism)
. make large, increase
. . make much or many
. make great, obj. pers.
H7235b רָבָה shoot
7235 rabah raw-baw'
a primitive root; to increase (in whatever respect):--(bring
in) abundance (X -antly), + archer (by mistake for 7232), be
in authority, bring up, X continue, enlarge, excel,
exceeding(-ly), be full of, (be, make) great(-er, -ly,
X -ness), grow up, heap, increase, be long, (be, give, have,
make, use) many (a time), (any, be, give, give the, have) more
(in number), (ask, be, be so, gather, over, take, yield) much
(greater, more), (make to) multiply, nourish, plenty(-eous), X
process (of time), sore, store, thoroughly, very.
see HEBREW for 07232
רָבָה (ra.vah) — to multiply.
1) be or become great, be or become many, be or become much, be or become numerous
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to become many, become numerous, multiply (of people, animals, things)
1a2) to be or grow great
1b) (Piel) to make large, enlarge, increase, become many
1c) (Hiphil)
1c1) to make much, make many, have many
1c1a) to multiply, increase
1c1b) to make much to do, do much in respect of, transgress greatly
1c1c) to increase greatly or exceedingly
1c2) to make great, enlarge, do much
Aramaic equivalent: re.vah (רְבָה "to grow great" H7236)
רָבָה (ra.vah) — to shoot.
(Qal) to shoot
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3mp — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine pluralHc/Vqw3mp
מְאֹד (m`od) refers to concepts of muchness, force, and abundance. It serves as an adverb meaning exceedingly or greatly, often used to intensify other words. The entries highlight its use in various idioms to express magnitude or degree, with a focus on might and intensity.
מְאֹד n.m. muchness, force, abundance, exceedingly
force, might
in diff. idioms (298 t.) to express the idea of exceedingly, greatly, very (whether of magnitude or degree)
base
H3966 מְאֹד muchness, force, abundance, exceedingly . force, might
. in diff. idiomns (298 t.) to express the idea of exceedingly, greatly, very (whether of magnitude or degree)
3966 m`od meh-ode'
from the same as 181; properly, vehemence, i.e. (with or
without preposition) vehemently; by implication, wholly,
speedily, etc. (often with other words as an intensive or
superlative; especially when repeated):--diligently,
especially, exceeding(-ly), far, fast, good, great(-ly), X
louder and louder, might(-ily, -y), (so) much, quickly, (so)
sore, utterly, very (+ much, sore), well.
see HEBREW for 0181
מְאֹד (me.od) — much.
adv
1) exceedingly, much
subst
2) might, force, abundance
n m
3) muchness, force, abundance, exceedingly
3a) force, might
3b) exceedingly, greatly, very (idioms showing magnitude or degree)
3b1) exceedingly
3b2) up to abundance, to a great degree, exceedingly
3b3) with muchness, muchness
Adv — AdvHAcmsa
בְּהֵמָה (bhemah) refers to a beast or animal, typically denoting domesticated livestock or cattle, and occasionally wild beasts. It is derived from a root that suggests being mute, implying a 'dumb beast.' The term encompasses all living creatures other than humans, with a specific mention of large quadrupeds.
בְּהֵמָה 187 n.f. beast, animal, cattle
of living creatures other than man
opp. also to wild beasts
rarely of wild beasts, esp. carnivora
base
H929 בְּהֵמָה beast, animal, cattle . of living creatures other than man
. opp. also to wild beasts
. rarely of wild beasts, esp. carnivora
929 bhemah be-hay-maw'
from an unused root (probably meaning to be mute); properly,
a dumb beast; especially any large quadruped or animal (often
collective):--beast, cattle.
בְּהֵמָה (be.he.mah) — animal.
1) beast, cattle, animal
1a) beasts (coll of all animals)
1b) cattle, livestock (of domestic animals)
1c) wild beasts
Conj | N-fs | Suff — Conjunction · noun common feminine singular construct · suffixHC/Ncfsc/Sp3mp
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.'
לֹא or לוֹא adv. not
base
H3808 לֹא or לוֹא not
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.
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)
Part — ParticleHTn
The Hebrew word מָעַט (ma`at) means to diminish or become small. It can refer to being few in number or making something smaller or fewer. The entries indicate its use in various forms, including Qal, Piel, and Hiphil, covering both intransitive and causative meanings.
[מָעַט] vb. be or become small, diminished, few
Qal be too small for a lamb
Pi. become few
Hiph. make small or few, diminish
base
H4591 מָעַט be or become small, diminished, few .be too small for a lamb
. become few
. make small or few, diminish
4591 ma`at maw-at'
a primitive root; properly, to pare off, i.e. lessen;
intransitively, to be (or causatively, to make) small or few
(or figuratively, ineffective):--suffer to decrease,
diminish, (be, X borrow a, give, make) few (in number, -ness),
gather least (little), be (seem) little, (X give the) less, be
minished, bring to nothing.
מָעַט (ma.at) — to diminish.
1) to be or become small, be few, be diminished
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to diminish
1a2) to be too small
1b) (Piel) to become few
1c) (Hiphil)
1c1) to make small, make few, diminish
1c2) to give less
V-Hiphil-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Hiphil · imperfect third person masculine singularHVhi3ms