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Psalms 107:4 — Word Study

Depth

WLCתָּע֣וּ בַ֭מִּדְבָּר בִּישִׁימ֣וֹן דָּ֑רֶךְ עִ֥יר מ֝וֹשָׁ֗ב לֹ֣א מָצָֽאוּ׃

BSASome wanderedtâʻâh [in a solitary way, lost] in desertmidbâr wastelandsyᵉshîymôwn [a desolate and empty place, wilderness] findingmâtsâʼ [to discover, to attain] nolôʼ pathderek [way of life, road] to a cityʻîyr [a place of dwelling, settlement] in which to dwellmôwshâb [to reside, to sit]

Word
Listen & take awayPsalms 107
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 4 is in this chapter.
Hebrew ↓ Download MP3 The Masoretic text of this chapter, read aloud. Read by Abraham Shmuelof, courtesy of Audio Scriptures International. Chapter divisions by the Academy of Ancient Languages..
Say the word Each Hebrew word carries its transliteration (ma.Tza.'u) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Psalms 107:4quick helps
In a sentenceSome people wandered in a desolate wilderness, unable to find a path to a place to live.
Who is speakingThe psalmist, reflecting on the experiences of the people.
Where we areThis verse describes a state of wandering and searching for a home.
The hard wordתָּע֣וּ
Take awayWandering leads to emptiness and a search for belonging.
7 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbתָּעָה 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 107:4

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

Context — The Experience of Wanderinggenerated

3and gathered from the lands, from east and west, from north and south.
4Some wandered in desert wastelands, finding no path to a city in which to dwell.
5They were hungry and thirsty; their soul fainted within them.
6Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and He delivered them from their distress.

Psalm 107:4 reflects on the plight of those who wander in desolate places, illustrating a deeper spiritual truth about the human condition. The psalmist describes how some people find themselves lost in the wilderness, longing for a city where they can settle and find peace. This theme resonates throughout the psalm, highlighting the need for divine guidance and the longing for a place to call home.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Psalm 107:40He pours out contempt on the nobles and makes them wander in a trackless wasteland.
2Genesis 21:14–16Early in the morning, Abraham got up, took bread and a skin of water, put them on Hagar’s shoulders, and sent her away with the boy. She left and wandered in the Wilderness of Beersheba.
3Numbers 14:33Your children will be shepherds in the wilderness for forty years, and they will suffer for your unfaithfulness until the last of your bodies lies in the wilderness.
4Deuteronomy 8:15He led you through the vast and terrifying wilderness with its venomous snakes and scorpions, a thirsty and waterless land. He brought you water from the rock of flint.
5Deuteronomy 32:10He found him in a desert land, in a barren, howling wilderness; He surrounded him, He instructed him, He guarded him as the apple of His eye.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 9 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word תָּעָה, ta.'Ugenerated

The verb תָּעָה (ta'ah) means to wander or go astray, both physically and morally. It captures the sense of being lost, whether in a literal sense or in a broader ethical context. The parsing as a perfect third person common plural indicates that this action is completed in the past, describing a collective experience of wandering.

This word can also imply causing someone to err or stumble, which adds a layer of meaning to the experience of wandering. The use of this term in the context of the wilderness emphasizes the feelings of isolation and disorientation faced by those who are lost.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

All translations agree that the people wandered in a wilderness and found no path to a city.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The verse features a main clause with the finite verb תָּע֣וּ, they wandered, followed by a series of phrases that elaborate on their condition and the lack of a path. The structure highlights the progression from wandering to the absence of a destination.

The order of the Hebrew words emphasizes the state of being lost, with the wilderness described first, leading into the search for a city.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates תָּעָה as ἐπλανήθησαν (epplanēthēsan), which also means 'they wandered' but carries a nuance of being led astray. This choice indicates a broader interpretation of wandering as not just physical but also a moral or spiritual deviation.

The Greek term ἐρήμῳ (erēmō), used for 'wilderness', aligns with the desolation described in the Hebrew, emphasizing the emptiness of the place.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Psalm 107:4 describes how some people wandered in a desolate wilderness, unable to find a path to a city where they could dwell. This verse illustrates feelings of being lost and the human longing for a place to call home, emphasizing the need for guidance.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean to wander in the wilderness?

Wandering in the wilderness symbolizes a state of confusion and searching for direction, often reflecting a deeper spiritual struggle.

Why is the wilderness described as desolate?

The wilderness is described as desolate to highlight the emptiness and isolation experienced by those who are lost, emphasizing the need for a place of belonging.

What does the city represent in this verse?

The city represents a place of safety, community, and belonging, contrasting with the desolation of the wilderness.

How can this verse apply to our lives today?

This verse can apply to our lives by reminding us of the times we feel lost or directionless, and the importance of seeking guidance and a sense of belonging.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what areas of my life do I feel like I am wandering or lost?
  2. How can I seek guidance when I feel directionless?
  3. What does a 'city' represent for me in my spiritual journey?
  4. How can I help others who are feeling lost or desolate?

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

Early church fathers referenced this verse to illustrate the spiritual journey of wandering and the need for divine guidance.

Gregory of NyssaAGAINST EUNOMIUS 2:15 c. 335–395
Prophetic language affirms that the conversion of those in error is the work of God. For “they went astray in the wilderness in a thirsty land,” the psalmist says, and then he adds, “So he led them forth by the right way,
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 107 →
Augustine of HippoExposition on Psalms 107 354–430
"They wandered in the wilderness, in a dry place, they found not the way of a city to dwell in" [Psalms 107:4].
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 107 →
Ammon of HadrianopolisLETTER OF BISHOP AMMON 28 4th c.
Many other monks coming from Phbow by boat reached the island, and we were three hundred in number. About the eighth hour of the twenty-sixth of the month of Athyr, Theodore called all of us and gathered us near himself,
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 107 →

Commentators on this verse — 7 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Psalms 107:4 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way,.... Not the people of Israel, as the Targum.

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

They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way; they found no city to dwell in.

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

They wandered in the wilderness; mistaking their way, which they might easily do in the vast and sandy deserts of Arabia. No city to dwell in; or rather, no city or town inhabited, where they might refresh themselves, as travellers used to do; for they did not go into the wilderness to seek for a city or habitation there, but only intended to pass through it, as appears by the context, and by the nature of the thing.

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

Psalms 107:4 They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way; they found no city to dwell in.Ver. 4. They wandered in the wilderness, &c.] This is a sad case, Mendicum patria amissa laribusque vagari. Pλαγχθοσυνηςουκεστικακωτεροναλλοβροτοισι. And yet this is the case of all God’ s redeemed ones while they are here, Hebrews 11:38 1 Peter 2:12. Per varios casus per tot discrlmina rerum Tendimus in patriam veram vitamque perennem.

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

Verse 4. They wandered in the wilderness] Here begins the FINEST comparison: the Israelites in captivity are compared to a traveller in a dreary, uninhabited, and barren desert, spent with hunger and thirst, as well as by the fatigues of the journey, Psalms 107:5.

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

4–9. First example of Jehovah’s lovingkindness to men: the deliverance of travellers who had lost their way in the desert and were on the point of perishing, doubtless a common experience. Cp. Job 6:18-20.

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

They wandered in the wilderness - On their return from Babylon; or, when God was conducting them again to their own land.

Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 107 →

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

Some wandered in desert wastelands, finding no path to a city in which to dwell.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

They wandered in the wilderness in a desert way. They found no city to live in.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

Some wandered in desert wastelands, finding no path to a city in which to dwell.

NETBNew English Translation2006

They wandered through the wilderness on a desert road; they found no city in which to live.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way; they found no city to dwell in.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

They wandered in the wilderness in a desert way; They found no city of habitation.

RVARevised Version, American1894

They wandered in the wilderness in a desert way; they found no city of habitation.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way; they found no city to dwell in.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

When they wandered in the desert and wildernesse out of the waie, and founde no citie to dwell in,

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

They wandered in the wilderness in a desert way, they found no city of habitation;

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

They wandered in a wilderness, in a desert by the way, A city of habitation they have not found.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

They wandered in a wilderness, in a desert by the way, || They have not found a city of habitation.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

They wandered about in the wilderness, in the desert path; they could not find an inhabited city:

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

They wandered in the wilderness on a desert road and found no city in which to live.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

I will praise thee, O Lord, among the people: and I will sing unto thee among the populations.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

They wandered in the desert wilderness, unable to find a way to a city where they could live.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

They were wandering in the waste places; they saw no way to a resting-place.

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.

clauseverbתָּע֣וּthey.wandered.aboutprepositional phrase · prepositionalprepositional phraseבַ֭innoun phrasetheמִּדְבָּרwildernessprepositional phraseבִּinnoun phraseישִׁימ֣וֹןa.desolate.placeדָּ֑רֶךְof.a.wayclausenoun phrase · objectעִ֥ירa.cityמ֝וֹשָׁ֗בof.dwellingadverbialלֹ֣אnotverbמָצָֽאוּthey.found

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 on the wording of this verse, with all eight words matched. The Dead Sea Scrolls also reflect a similar structure but contain some restored words, confirming the overall consistency of the text across these witnesses.

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

תָּע֣וּ בַ֭מִּדְבָּר בִּישִׁימ֣וֹן דָּ֑רֶךְ עִ֥יר מ֝וֹשָׁ֗ב לֹ֣א מָצָֽאוּ׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
תָּע֣וּἐπλανήθησανבַ֭מִּדְבָּרἐρήμῳבִּישִׁימ֣וֹןἀνύδρῳדָּ֑רֶךְὁδὸνעִ֥ירπόλεωςמ֝וֹשָׁ֗בκατοικητηρίουלֹ֣אοὐξמָצָֽאוּ׃εὗρον

8 of the 8 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.

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

תעו במדבר בישימון דרך עיר מושב לוא מצאו

3 words on the leather — 5 partly restored.

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 107:4תָּעָהthey wanderthey wandered aתָּעָהמִדְבָּרin the wildin the wilderneמִדְבָּריְשִׁימוֹןin a desolain a desolate pיְשִׁימוֹןדֶּ֫רֶךְa waya wayדֶּ֫רֶךְעִירa city ofa city ofעִירמוֹשָׁבdwellingdwellingמוֹשָׁבלֹאnotnotלֹאמָצָאthey foundthey foundמָצָאדָבַרto speak: to speak: speakדָבַריָשַׁםbe desolatbe desolateיָשַׁםדָּרַךְto treadto treadדָּרַךְעוּרto rouseto rouseעוּריָשַׁבto dwellto dwellיָשַׁבאָשַׁרto blessto blessאָשַׁרשָׁגָהto wanderto wanderשָׁגָהצִןZinZinצִןסִינַיSinaiSinaiסִינַיחֲכִילָהHachilahHachilahחֲכִילָהשָׁקַףto lookto lookשָׁקַףפָּנָהCorner (GaCorner (Gate)פָּנָהצָפוֹןZaphonZaphonצָפוֹןמִגְרָשׁpasturepastureמִגְרָשׁלָכַדto captureto captureלָכַדמַאֲכָלfoodfoodמַאֲכָלפַּ֫עַםbeatbeatפַּ֫עַםיָכֹלbe ablebe ableיָכֹל
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 107:4

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

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

they wandered about in the wilderness in a desolate place of a way a city of dwelling not they found
תָּע֣וּta.'U they wandered about H8582 Verb · Qal · perfect third person common plural
50× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means to go astray or wander, and can be used physically or morally. It can also mean to cause someone to err or stumble.
Amplified meaning
in a solitary way, lost
Tyndale gloss
to go astray
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

תָּעָה (ta`ah) is a Hebrew verb that means to wander or go astray, both physically and ethically. It can refer to being led astray, as in a moral sense, or to the effects of intoxication. The word has various forms, including Qal (to err), Niphal (to be made to wander), and Hiphil (to cause to wander).

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

תָּעָה vb. err

Qal

physically wander about

of intoxication

ethically

Niph.

be made to wander about, as a drunkard

ethically: be led astray

Hiph.

physically cause to wander about

of intoxication

mentally and morally, cause to err, mislead

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8582 תָּעָה err .. physically wander about

. of intoxication

. ethically

. . be made to wander about, as a drunkard

. ethically: be led astray

. . physically cause to wander about

. of intoxication

. mentally and morally, cause to err, mislead

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8582 ta`ah taw-aw'

a primitive root; to vacillate, i.e. reel or stray (literally

or figuratively); also causative of both:--(cause to) go

astray, deceive, dissemble, (cause to, make to) err, pant,

seduce, (make to) stagger, (cause to) wander, be out of the

way.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

תָּעָה (ta.ah) — to go astray.

1) to err, wander, go astray, stagger

1a) (Qal) to err

1a1) to wander about (physically)

1a2) of intoxication

1a3) of sin (ethically)

1a4) wandering (of the mind)

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be made to wander about, be made to stagger (drunkard)

1b2) to be led astray (ethically)

1c) (Hiphil) to cause to wander

1c1) to cause to wander about (physically)

1c2) to cause to wander (of intoxication)

1c3) to cause to err, mislead (mentally and morally)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Perf-3cp — Verb · Qal · perfect third person common plural
HVqp3cp
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

a-bout': The use of this word as a preposition, in the sense of "around," is confined to the Old Testament. In the New Testament, generally an adverb, for Greek hos or "hosei." The Revised Version (British and American) adopts it in several idiomatic translations of mello, referring to what is about to be, i.e. on the point of occurring, or immediately impending, amending the King James Version, in Ac 5:35; 27:2; Re 12:4, etc.

they wandered about in the wilderness in a desolate place of a way a city of dwelling not they found
בַ֭מִּדְבָּרVa.mid.bor in the wilderness H4057 Preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
271× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The wilderness refers to a desert or open field, like the one the Israelites wandered in after leaving Egypt. It can also mean a place of solitude or a region without many people. In the Bible, it is often associated with the journey to the Promised Land.
Tyndale gloss
mouth
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מִדְבָּר (midbar) primarily means 'mouth' in the sense of an organ of speech, but it also refers to 'wilderness' or 'desert.' The word is derived from a root meaning to drive, suggesting open fields for pasturing cattle. It encompasses various forms of uninhabited land and is notably used in contexts related to the wilderness, such as the Wilderness of Sinai.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[מִדְבָּר] n.m. mouth, as organ of speech, Ct 4:3

ref

מִדְבָר 270 n.m. wilderness

tracts of land, used for the pasturage of flocks and herds

uninhabited land

large tracts of such land bearing various names, in certain districts of which there might be towns and cities

fig.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4057a מִדְבָּר mouth, as organ of speech H4057b מִדְבָר wilderness

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4057 midbar mid-bawr'

from 1696 in the sense of driving; a pasture (i.e. open

field, whither cattle are driven); by implication, a desert;

also speech (including its organs):--desert, south, speech,

wilderness.

see HEBREW for 01696

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מִדְבָּר (mid.bar) — mouth.

1) mouth

1a) mouth (as organ of speech)

מִדְבָּר (mid.bar) — wilderness.

1) wilderness

1a) pasture

1b) uninhabited land, wilderness

1c) large tracts of wilderness (around cities)

1d) wilderness (fig.)

מִדְבָּר (mid.bar) — Wilderness (of Sinai).

This name means wilderness, uninhabited land

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

wil'-der-nes.

See DESERT; JUDAEA, WILDERNESS OF; WANDERINGS OF ISRAEL.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Wilderness

(1.) Heb. midhbar, denoting not a barren desert but a district or region suitable for pasturing sheep and cattle (Ps. 65:12; Isa. 42:11; Jer. 23:10; Joel 1:19; 2:22); an uncultivated place. This word is used of the wilderness of Beersheba (Gen. 21:14), on the southern border of Palestine; the wilderness of the Red Sea (Ex. 13:18); of Shur (15:22), a portion of the Sinaitic peninsula; of Sin (17:1), Sinai (Lev. 7:38), Moab (Deut. 2:8), Judah (

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

See DESERT.

Nave's Topical Bible

→ Wandering of the Israelites in, see ISRAEL

→ Typical of the sinner' s state De 32:10

→ Jesus' temptation in Mt 4:1; Mr 1:12,13; Lu 4:1

→ See DESERT

they wandered about in the wilderness in a desolate place of a way a city of dwelling not they found
בִּישִׁימ֣וֹןbi.shi.Mon in a desolate place of H3452 Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct
13× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Jeshimon, or wilderness, refers to a desolate or empty place, often a desert. It is a place of solitude and emptiness, as described in the Bible.
Amplified meaning
a desolate and empty place, wilderness
Tyndale gloss
wilderness
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יְשִׁימוֹן (yshiymown) refers to a desolate or waste area, often translated as wilderness or desert. The word is derived from a root meaning 'to be desolate' and encompasses the idea of a solitary, uninhabited place. It is notably used in the context of desolate regions in the Old Testament.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יְשִׁימוֹן n.m. waste, wilderness

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3452 יְשִׁימוֹן waste, wilderness

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3452 yshiymown yesh-ee-mone'

from 3456; a desolation:--desert, Jeshimon, solitary,

wilderness.

see HEBREW for 03456

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יְשִׁימוֹן (ye.shi.mon) — Jeshimon.

§ waste, wilderness, desert, desolate place

יְשִׁימוֹן (ye.shi.mon) — wilderness.

waste, wilderness, desert, desolate place

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct
HR/Ncmsc
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…

they wandered about in the wilderness in a desolate place of a way a city of dwelling not they found
דָּ֑רֶךְDa.rekh a way H1870 Noun common · both singular absolute
708× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Derek refers to a road or path, and can also mean a way of life or manner of action. It is often used to describe a journey or direction, and can be used figuratively to describe a person's character or moral path.
Amplified meaning
way of life, road
Tyndale gloss
way: road
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

דֶּ֫רֶךְ (derek) means way, road, or journey, and can refer to both literal paths and figurative courses of life or actions. It encompasses various aspects such as direction, manner, and moral character, often highlighting the nature of one's conduct. The term is used in both positive and negative contexts, reflecting the moral implications of one's path.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

דֶּ֫רֶךְ 715 n.m. way, road, distance, journey, manner

way, road, path

journey

of direction, almost or quite = toward

way, manner

fig. of course of life, or action, undertakings

of moral action and character

of duty

specif.: in good sense

oftener in bad sense

way of י׳

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1870 דֶּ֫רֶךְ way, road, distance, journey, manner . way, road, path

. journey

. of direction, almost or quite = toward

. way, manner

. fig. of course of life, or action, undertakings

. . of moral action and character

. of duty

. specif.: in good sense

. oftener in bad sense

. way of י׳

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1870 derek deh'-rek

from 1869; a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of

life or mode of action, often adverb:--along, away, because

of, + by, conversation, custom, (east-)ward, journey, manner,

passenger, through, toward, (high-) (path-)way(-side),

whither(-soever).

see HEBREW for 01869

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

דֶּ֫רֶךְ (de.rekh) — way: conduct.

: conduct/lifestyle

1) way, road, distance, journey, manner

1a) road, way, path

1b) journey

1c) direction

1d) manner, habit, way

1e) of course of life (fig.)

1f) of moral character (fig.)

דֶּ֫רֶךְ (de.rekh) — Way.

This name means way, road

דֶּ֫רֶךְ (de.rekh) — (King's) Highway.

This name means way, road

Combined with me.lekh (מֶ֫לֶךְ "King's" H4428I)

דֶּ֫רֶךְ (de.rekh) — way: direction.

: direction

1) way, road, distance, journey, manner

1a) road, way, path

1b) journey

1c) direction

1d) manner, habit, way

1e) of course of life (fig.)

1f) of moral character (fig.)

דֶּ֫רֶךְ (de.rekh) — way: road.

: road/route

1) way, road, distance, journey, manner

1a) road, way, path

1b) journey

1c) direction

1d) manner, habit, way

1e) of course of life (fig.)

1f) of moral character (fig.)

דֶּ֫רֶךְ (de.rekh) — way: journey.

: journey

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-cs — Noun common · both singular absolute
HNcbsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

wa ('orach, orcha', 'erets, bo', derekh, halikhah, ma`galah, nathibh; hodos, parodos, poreia, tropos; "highway," mecillah, meclul; diexodoi ton hodon): The list just cited contains only a portion of the words translated "way" or "highway" in the King James Version. Most of them have the primary meaning of "road," "customary path," "course of travel" (Ge 3:24; Ex 23:20; Nu 20:17, etc.). By a very easy and natural figure "way" is applied to the course of human conduct, the manner of life which one lives (Ex 18:20; 32:8; Nu 22:32; 1Sa 8:3;

Of sin, broad Mt 7:13

Jesus is the Joh 14:6; Heb 9:8

Doctrines taught by Christ Ac 9:2; 19:23; 22:4; 24:14,22

they wandered about in the wilderness in a desolate place of a way a city of dwelling not they found
עִ֥יר'ir a city of H5892 Noun common · feminine singular construct
1,090× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this word refers to a city or town, often a place with a wall or a watchman. It is used to describe a settlement or encampment, like the city of Ai, which is mentioned in the book of Joshua. The word is used to identify specific locations in the Bible.
Amplified meaning
a place of dwelling, settlement
Tyndale gloss
excitement
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word עִיר (*'iyr*) has meanings related to both excitement and city. It can denote excitement, particularly of terror or rage, as well as refer to a city or town, indicating a place that is guarded or inhabited. The entries suggest a broad application, from fortified cities to simple encampments. There is a specific mention of a man named Ir in 1 Chronicles 4:12.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עִיר n.[m.] excitement;—of terror; of rage

base

עִיר 1092 n.f. city, town

city, town, abode of men

of fortress in a city

appar. fortified place, of any size

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5892a עִיר excitement;—of terror; of rage H5892b עִיר city, town . city, town, abode of men

. of fortress in a city

. appar. fortified place, of any size

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5892 `iyr eer

or (in the plural) par {awr}; or ayar (Judges 10:4)

{aw-yar'}; from 5782 a city (a place guarded by waking or a

watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or

post):--Ai (from margin), city, court (from margin), town.

see HEBREW for 05782

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עִיר (ir) — excitement.

1) excitement, anguish

1a) of terror

עִיר (ir) — city.

1) city, town (a place of waking, guarded)

1a) city, town (a place of waking, guarded)

1a) city, town

עִיר (ir) — City (of On).

Combined with on (אֹן "On" H0204)

This name means city, town

Another name of on (אֹן "On" H0204)

עִיר (ir) — Ir-.

#A man of the tribe of Judah living at the time of Divided Monarchy, only mentioned at 1Ch.4.12;

son of: Tehinnah (H8468)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular construct
HNcfsc
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…

they wandered about in the wilderness in a desolate place of a way a city of dwelling not they found
מ֝וֹשָׁ֗בmo.Shav dwelling H4186 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
44× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A seat can refer to a physical place of sitting or a gathering of people, like an assembly. It can also mean a dwelling place or location, and is sometimes used to describe a group of people living together.
Amplified meaning
to reside, to sit
Tyndale gloss
seat
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מוֹשָׁב (mowshab) refers to a seat or dwelling-place, encompassing meanings such as assembly, location, and the act of dwelling. It can denote both a physical site and an abstract concept of a session or time of dwelling. The word suggests a community of dwellers or those who sit together.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מוֹשָׁב n.m. seat, assembly, dwelling-place, dwelling, dwellers

seat

sitting = those sitting, sitting company or assembly

dwelling-place of people, tribe, etc.

alm. = abstr. dwelling

= house

situation of city; location of image

time of dwelling

coll. = those dwelling

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4186 מוֹשָׁב seat, assembly, dwelling-place, dwelling, dwellers . . seat

. sitting = those sitting, sitting company or assembly

. . dwelling-place of people, tribe, etc.

. alm. = abstr. dwelling

. = house

. situation of city; location of image

. time of dwelling

. coll. = those dwelling

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4186 mowshab mo-shawb'

or moshab {mo-shawb'}; from 3427; a seat; figuratively, a

site; abstractly, a session; by extension an abode (the place

or the time); by implication, population:--assembly, dwell

in, dwelling(-place), wherein (that) dwelt (in), inhabited

place, seat, sitting, situation, sojourning.

see HEBREW for 03427

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מוֹשָׁב (mo.shav) — seat.

1) seat, assembly, dwelling-place, dwelling, dwellers

1a) seat, sitting, those sitting, sitting company or assembly

1b) dwelling place, dwelling

1c) situation, location

1d) time of dwelling

1e) those dwelling, dweller

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absolute
HNcmsa
they wandered about in the wilderness in a desolate place of a way a city of dwelling not they found
לֹ֣אlo' 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
they wandered about in the wilderness in a desolate place of a way a city of dwelling not they found
מָצָֽאוּ׃ma.Tza.'u they found H4672 Verb · Qal · perfect third person common plural
455× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Matsa means to find or attain something, whether it is a physical object, a person, or a condition, as seen in various KJV translations.
Amplified meaning
to discover, to attain
Tyndale gloss
to find
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מָצָא (matsa') is a Hebrew verb meaning to find or attain. It encompasses a range of actions, including discovering something lost, encountering someone, or coming upon a situation. The word can also imply being present or sufficient. Lexicons note various forms and uses, including Qal, Niphal, and Hiphil, which indicate different nuances of finding and encountering.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מָצָא 452 vb. attain to, find

Qal

find

find out

= come upon, light upon

noteworthy phrases

Niph. pass. of Qal, be found

Hiph.

cause to find, attain

cause to light upon, come upon, come

cause to encounter

present unto

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4672 מָצָא attain to, find

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4672 matsa' maw-tsaw'

a primitive root; properly, to come forth to, i.e. appear or

exist; transitively, to attain, i.e. find or acquire;

figuratively, to occur, meet or be present:--+ be able,

befall, being, catch, X certainly, (cause to) come (on, to, to

hand), deliver, be enough (cause to) find(-ing, occasion,

out), get (hold upon), X have (here), be here, hit, be left,

light (up-)on, meet (with), X occasion serve, (be) present,

ready, speed, suffice, take hold on.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מָצָא (ma.tsa) — to find.

1) to find, attain to

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to find

1a1a) to find, secure, acquire, get (thing sought)

1a1b) to find (what is lost)

1a1c) to meet, encounter

1a1d) to find (a condition)

1a1e) to learn, devise

1a2) to find out

1a2a) to find out

1a2b) to detect

1a2c) to guess

1a3) to come upon, light upon

1a3a) to happen upon, meet, fall in with

1a3b) to hit

1a3c) to befall

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be found

1b1a) to be encountered, be lighted upon, be discovered

1b1b) to appear, be recognised

1b1c) to be discovered, be detected

1b1d) to be gained, be secured

1b2) to be, be found

1b2a) to be found in

1b2b) to be in the possession of

1b2c) to be found in (a place), happen to be

1b2d) to be left (after war)

1b2e) to be present

1b2f) to prove to be

1b2g) to be found sufficient, be enough

1c) (Hiphil)

1c1) to cause to find, attain

1c2) to cause to light upon, come upon, come

1c3) to cause to encounter

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Perf-3cp — Verb · Qal · perfect third person common plural
HVqp3cp
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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