Menu

Psalms 108:13 — Word Study

Depth

WLCבֵּֽאלֹהִ֥ים נַעֲשֶׂה־ חָ֑יִל וְ֝ה֗וּא יָב֥וּס צָרֵֽינוּ׃

BSAour enemiestsar [adversaries, those who oppose us]

Word
Listen & take awayPsalms 108
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 13 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 (tza.Rei.nu) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Psalms 108:13quick helps
In a sentenceThe psalmist expresses confidence that with God's help, they will act courageously and defeat their foes.
Who is speakingThe psalmist, addressing God and the community.
Where we areIn a context of seeking divine assistance against enemies, highlighting reliance on God.
The hard wordחָ֑יִל
Take awayWith God, we find strength to act boldly and overcome opposition.
4 commentators on this verse Jamieson, AdamClarke, Cambridge, Barnes & more — read them › clause subjectמִן verbלְ 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 108:13

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 — Confidence in God's Deliverancegenerated

10Who will bring me to the fortified city? Who will lead me to Edom?
11Have You not rejected us, O God? Will You no longer march out, O God, with our armies?
12Give us aid against the enemy, for the help of man is worthless.
13With God we will perform with valor, and He will trample our enemies.

Psalm 108:13 expresses the psalmist's assurance that with God's support, they will act with strength and courage against their adversaries. This verse is part of a plea for divine intervention, emphasizing that human efforts are inadequate without God's backing. The surrounding verses highlight a sense of urgency and reliance on God's power, as seen in Psalm 108:10-12, where the psalmist questions who will lead them against their fortified enemies.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Psalm 18:29–34For in You I can charge an army, and with my God I can scale a wall.
2Psalm 118:6–13The LORD is on my side; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?
3Psalm 144:1Blessed be the LORD, my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle.
42 Chronicles 20:12Our God, will You not judge them? For we are powerless before this vast army that comes against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.”
51 Corinthians 15:10But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace to me was not in vain. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.

The Key Word חָ֑יִל, Cha.yilgenerated

The Hebrew word חָ֑יִל (chayil) signifies strength, might, or valor. It encompasses physical, moral, and military strength, and is often used to describe the power of God or the might of an army. The parsing as a masculine singular noun indicates that it is a concrete concept of strength, often associated with courageous action.

This term appears frequently in contexts that denote bravery and capability in battle, reflecting both the physical prowess of warriors and the moral integrity required for leadership. In this verse, it underscores the psalmist's call to act valiantly with God's assistance.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses perform with valor, a phrase that captures the essence of חָ֑יִל as strength and courage.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main verb in the verse is נַעֲשֶׂה, we will do, which governs the action of performing with strength. The structure includes a prepositional phrase indicating the source of strength, and a noun phrase that identifies the enemies being trampled.

The Hebrew word order places emphasis on the action of doing, highlighting the psalmist's confidence in God's support as the foundation for their courage.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates בֵּֽאלֹהִ֥ים as δὸς (dos), which means 'give.' This choice reflects a focus on divine provision, emphasizing the necessity of God's help in achieving victory.

The translation of יָב֥וּס as θλίψεως (thlipsēos) indicates a broader understanding of the enemies as sources of distress, aligning with the psalmist's plea for divine intervention.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Psalm 108:13 assures us that with God’s help, we will act bravely and defeat our enemies. This verse emphasizes the importance of divine support in overcoming challenges and highlights the psalmist's confidence in God's strength.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean to perform with valor?

To perform with valor means to act courageously and with strength, especially in the face of adversity, relying on God for support.

Why is God referred to as our strength in this verse?

God is referred to as our strength because He empowers us to face challenges and provides the necessary support to overcome our enemies.

How can we apply the message of this verse in our lives?

We can apply this message by trusting in God’s strength when facing difficulties and acting bravely in our own lives, knowing that we are not alone.

What does the term 'enemies' refer to in this context?

In this context, 'enemies' refers to those who oppose us or present challenges, whether they are physical adversaries or metaphorical struggles we face in life.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what areas of my life do I need to rely more on God's strength?
  2. How can I demonstrate courage in my daily actions, trusting in God's help?
  3. What challenges am I currently facing that require me to act with valor?
  4. How can I encourage others to find strength in God during difficult times?

Commentators on this verse — 4 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Psalms 108:13 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

Wilt not thou, O God, who hast cast us off? and wilt not thou, O God, go forth with our hosts?

Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 108 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 13. Through God we shall do valiantly] From him we derive our courage, from him our strength, and by him our success. [For the ANALYSIS, see the Psalms 57:1-11 (note) and Psalms 60:1-12 (note). Also see introduction to Psalms 108:1-13 (note)].

Read AdamClarke on Psalms 108 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

13. Through God] Cp. Psalms 56:4. we shall do valiantly] Cp. Numbers 24:18; Psalms 118:15-16. shall tread down our enemies] Cp. Psalms 44:5; Psalms 18:42, note. R.V. adversaries, cp. Psalms 108:11.

Read Cambridge on Psalms 108 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Through God we shall do ... - This also is taken from Psalms 60:12, without change. Thus the psalm, though made up of parts of two separate psalms, is complete and continuous in itself.

Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 108 →

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

With God we will perform with valor, and He will trample our enemies.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Through God, we will do valiantly, for it is he who will tread down our enemies.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

With God we will perform with valor, and He will trample our enemies.

NETBNew English Translation2006

By God’s power we will conquer; he will trample down our enemies.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

Through God we shall do valiantly: for he it is that shall tread down our enemies.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

Through God we shall do valiantly: For he it is that will tread down our adversaries.

RVARevised Version, American1894

Through God we shall do valiantly: for he it is that shall tread down our adversaries.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

Through God we shall do valiantly: for he will tread down our enemies.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Through God we shall doe valiantly: for he shall treade downe our enemies.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

Through God we shall do valiantly; and he it is that will tread down our adversaries.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

In God we do mightily, And He doth tread down our adversaries!

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

We do mightily in God, || And He treads down our adversaries!

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

(108:14) Through God shall we do valiantly; for he it is that will tread down our adversaries.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

We will triumph with God's help; he will trample down our enemies.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

May his posterity be cut off; in one generation may his name be blotted out.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

Our strength is in God, and he will crush our enemies.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

With God we will do great things; for by him will our haters be crushed underfoot.

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.

clauseprepositional phrase · prepositionalבֵּֽinאלֹהִ֥יםGodverbנַעֲשֶׂהwe.will.doobjectחָ֑יִלstrengthוְ֝andclausesubjectה֗וּאheverbיָב֥וּסhe.will.tread.downnoun phrase · objectצָרֵֽיfoesנוּour

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


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

The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint largely agree in content, with five out of six words matched. The differences in word order and structure in the Septuagint reflect its unique interpretive choices rather than significant variations in meaning.

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

בֵּֽאלֹהִ֥ים נַעֲשֶׂה־ חָ֑יִל וְ֝ה֗וּא יָב֥וּס צָרֵֽינוּ׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
בֵּֽאלֹהִ֥יםδὸςחָ֑יִלἡμῖνוְ֝ה֗וּאἐκיָב֥וּסθλίψεωςצָרֵֽינוּ׃ματαία

5 of the 6 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.

Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.


The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with

This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.

Psalms 108:13אֱלֹהִיםin Godin Godאֱלֹהִיםעָשָׂהwe will dowe will doעָשָׂהחַ֫יִלstrengthstrengthחַ֫יִלהוּאand heand heהוּאבּוּסhe will trehe will tread dבּוּסצַרopponents oopponents ourצַרחוּלto twist: to twist: trembחוּלצוּרto confineto confineצוּראֱלֹהַּgodgodאֱלֹהַּאַחֵרanotheranotherאַחֵראֲרוֹןarkarkאֲרוֹןמְלָאכָהworkworkמְלָאכָהתּוֹעֵבַהabominatioabominationתּוֹעֵבַהגִּבּוֹרmighty manmighty manגִּבּוֹרשַׂרrulerrulerשַׂרטָמֵאuncleanuncleanטָמֵאעֵתtimetimeעֵתצַרnarrownarrowצַרדָּםbloodbloodדָּםמְצוּקָהdistressdistressמְצוּקָהבּוּסto trampleto trampleבּוּס
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 108:13

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.

in God we will do strength and he he will tread down opponents our
בֵּֽאלֹהִ֥יםbe.lo.Him in God H430 Preposition · noun common masculine plural absolute
2,603× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for God, elohim, refers to the one supreme God, and is sometimes used to show respect to judges or magistrates. It is also used to describe angels or mighty beings. This word is closely related to the name of the Lord, Yahweh, and is often translated as God or gods in the Bible.
Tyndale gloss
God
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אֱלֹהִים (elohiym) is a plural noun meaning 'gods' or 'God,' often referring to the supreme deity in the Old Testament. It encompasses divine beings, rulers, and judges, reflecting divine majesty and power. The term can also denote angels and is used in a superlative sense. Notably, it is sometimes combined with יהוה (YHWH), the personal name of God.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֱלֹהִים 2570 n.m.pl.

pl. in number.

rulers, judges, either as divine representatives at sacred places or as reflecting divine majesty and power

divine ones, superhuman beings including God and angels

angels

gods

pl. intensive

god or goddess

godlike one

works of God, or things belongng to him

God

הָאֱלֹהִים the (true) God

אֱלֹהִים = God

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H430 אֱלֹהִים n. m. pl. . pl. in number. . rulers, judges, either asdivine representatives at sacred places or as reflecting divine majesty and power

. divine ones, superhuman beings including God and angels

. angels

. gods

. pl. intensive . god or goddess

. godlike one

. works of God, or things belongng to him

. God

. הָאֱלֹהִים the (true) God

. אֱלֹהִים = God

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

430 'elohiym el-o-heem'

plural of 433; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically

used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the

supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to

magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative:--angels, X

exceeding, God (gods)(-dess, -ly), X (very) great, judges, X

mighty.

see HEBREW for 0433

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֱלֹהִים (e.lo.him) — God.

This name means "gods" (plural intensive-singular meaning), "God"

Another name of ye.ho.vah (יהוה "LORD" H3068G)

אֱלֹהִים (e.lo.him) — (LORD)-Elohe.

Combined with ye.ho.vah (יהוה "LORD" H3068)

אֱלֹהִים (e.lo.him) — (Gibeath)-elohim.

Combined with giv.ah (גִּבְעָה "Gibeath" H1389)

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

god ('Elohim, 'El, [`Elyon], Shadday, Yahweh; Theos):

I. INTRODUCTION TO THE GENERAL IDEA

1. The Idea in Experience and in Thought

2. Definition of the Idea

3. The Knowledge of God

4. Ethnic Ideas of God

(1) Animism

(2) Fetishism

(3) Idolatry

(4) Polytheism

(5) Henotheism

(6) Pantheism

(7) Deism

(8) Semitic Monolatry

(9) Monotheism

II. THE IDEA OF GOD IN THE OLD TESTAMENT

1. The Course of Its Development

2. Forms of Its Manifestation

(1) The Face or Countenance of God

(2) The Voice and Word of God

(3) The Glory of God

(4) The Angel of God

(5) The Spirit of God

(6) The Name of God

(7) Occasional Forms

3. The Names of God

(1) Generic

(2) Attributive

(3) Yahweh

4. Pre-prophetic Conceptions of God

(1) Yahweh Alone Is the God of Israel

(a) His Early Worship

(b) Popular Religion

(c) Polytheistic Tendencies

(i) Coordination

(ii) Assimilation

(iii) Disintegration

(d) No Hebrew Goddesses

(e) Human Sacrifices

Easton's Bible Dictionary

God

(A.S. and Dutch God; Dan. Gud; Ger. Gott), the name of the Divine Being. It is the rendering (1) of the Hebrew ’El, from a word meaning to be strong; (2) of ’Eloah_, plural _’Elohim. The singular form, Eloah, is used only in poetry. The plural form is more commonly used in all parts of the Bible, The Hebrew word Jehovah (q.v.), the only other word generally employed to denote the Supreme Being, is uniformly rendered in the Authorized Version by “LORD,” printed in small capitals. The existence of God is taken for granted in the Bible. There is nowhere any argument to prove it. He who disbelieves this truth is spoken of as one devoid of understanding (Ps. 14:1).

The arguments generally adduced by theologians in proof of the being of God are:

(1.) The a priori argument, which is the testimony afforded by reason.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

(good). Throughout the Hebrew Scriptures two chief names are used for the one true divine Being--ELOHIM, commonly translated God in our version, and JEHOVAH, translated Lord . Elohim is the plural of Eloah (in Arabic Allah); it is often used in the short form EL (a word signifying strength , as in EL-SHADDAI, God Almighty, the name by which God was specially known to the patriarchs. (Genesis 17:1; 28:3; Exodus 6:3) The etymology is uncertain, but it is generally agreed that the primary idea is that of strength, power of effect , and that it properly describes God in that character in which he is exhibited to all men in his works, as the creator, sustainer and supreme governor of the world. The plural form of Elohim has given rise to much discussion. The fanciful idea that it…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

This name, the derivation of which is uncertain, we give to that eternal, infinite, perfect, and incomprehensible Being, the Creator of all things, who preserves and governs all by his almighty power and wisdom, and is the only proper object of worship. The proper Hebrew name for God is JEHOVAH, which signifies He is. But the Jews, from a feeling of reverence, avoid pronouncing this name, substituting for it, wherever it occurs in the sacred test, the word ADONAI, Lord; except in the expression, ADONAI JEHOVAH, Lord Jehovah, for which they put, ADONAI ELOHIM, Lord God. This usage, which is not without an element of superstition, is very ancient, dating its origin some centuries before Christ; but there is no good ground for assuming its existence in the days of the inspired Old Testament writers. The proper word for God is ELOHIM, which is plural in its form, being thus used to signify…

in God we will do strength and he he will tread down opponents our
נַעֲשֶׂה־na.'a.seh- we will do H6213 Verb · Qal · imperfect first person common plural
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.
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
HVqi1cp — Verb · Qal · imperfect first person common plural
HVqi1cp
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

See TESTAMENT.

Nave's Topical Bible

→ THE MENTAL FACULTY

Freedom of, recognized by God Ge 4:6-10; De 5:29; 1Ki 20:42; Isa 1:18-20; 43:26; Jer 36:3,7; Joh 7:17

See BLESSINGS, CONTINGENT UPON OBEDIENCE

See CHOICE

See CONTINGENCY

→ OF GOD, THE SUPREME RULE OF DUTY Mt 6:10; 12:50; 26:39,42; Mr 3:35; 14:36; Lu 11:2; 22:42; Joh 4:34; 5:30; 6:38-40; Ac…

in God we will do strength and he he will tread down opponents our
חָ֑יִלCha.yil strength H2428 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
246× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word represents strength, might, or power, whether physical, financial, or military. In the Bible, it's used to describe the strength of God or the wealth of a nation, as seen in Deuteronomy 8:17-18.
Tyndale gloss
Helech
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word חַ֫יִל (*chayil*) encompasses meanings related to strength, efficiency, wealth, and army. It is derived from a root meaning force and can refer to physical might, moral virtue, or resources. The entries consistently highlight its application to soldiers and military forces, with no significant disagreement noted among the lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

חַ֫יִל 244 n.m. strength, efficiency, wealth, army

strength, usu. physical

ability, efficiency, often involving moral worth

wealth

force, army

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2428 חַ֫יִל strength, efficiency, wealth, army

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2428 chayil khah'-yil

from 2342; probably a force, whether of men, means or other

resources; an army, wealth, virtue, valor, strength:--able,

activity, (+) army, band of men (soldiers), company, (great)

forces, goods, host, might, power, riches, strength, strong,

substance, train, (+)valiant(-ly), valour, virtuous(-ly), war,

worthy(-ily).

see HEBREW for 02342

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חַ֫יִל (cha.yil) — strength: soldiers.

: soldiers/army

1) strength, might, efficiency, wealth, army

1a) strength

1b) ability, efficiency

1c) wealth

1d) force, army

חֵילֵךְ (che.lek) — Helech.

§ Helech = "your army"

a place near Arvad and Gammad

חַ֫יִל (cha.yil) — strength.

: strong

1) strength, might, efficiency, wealth, army

1a) strength

1b) ability, efficiency

1c) wealth

1d) force, army, soldiers/army

חַ֫יִל (cha.yil) — strength: rich.

: rich/wealth

1) strength, might, efficiency, wealth, army

1a) strength

1b) ability, efficiency

1c) wealth

1d) force, army

חַ֫יִל (cha.yil) — strength: worthy.

: worthy

1) strength, might, efficiency, wealth, army

1a) strength

1b) ability, efficiency

1c) wealth

1d) force, army

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HNcmsa — Noun common · masculine singular absolute
HNcmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Nave's Topical Bible

→ A title given to Jehovah 1Sa 15:29

in God we will do strength and he he will tread down opponents our
וְ֝ה֗וּאve.Hu' and he H1931 Conjunction · pronoun
1,879× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word is a pronoun meaning 'he', 'she', or 'it', used to refer to a person or thing. It is used in the Bible to emphasize a subject or make it clear who is being talked about.
Tyndale gloss
he/she/it
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

הוּא (hu) is a third-person singular pronoun meaning he, she, or it, used for emphasis or when no verb is present. It can also refer to oneself or serve as a demonstrative pronoun. The word has various nuances, including resuming the subject with emphasis or expressing it unobtrusively. It can indicate 'that' or 'those' when used with the definite article.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

הוּא m. הִיא f., pron. of the 3rd ps. sing. he, she, used also (in both genders) for the neuter it

an emph. he (she, it, they), sometimes equivalent to himself (herself, itself, themselves), or (esp. with the art.) that (those)

It resumes the subj. with emph.

Where, however, the pron. follows the pred., its position gives it the minimum of emphasis, and it expresses (or resumes) the subject as unobtrusively as possible

It anticipates (as it seems) the subject

As an emph. predicate, of God

In a neuter sense, that, it (of an action, occurrence, matte, etc.)

With the art.: so regularly when joined to a subst. defined itself by the art.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1931 הוּא, הִיא he, she, used also (in both genders) for the neuter it . an emph. he (she, it, they), sometimes equivalent to himself (herself, itself, themselves), or (esp. with the art.) that (those)

. It resumes the subj. with emph.

. Where, however, the pron. follows the pred., its position gives it the minimum of emphasis, and it expresses (or resumes) the subject as unobtrusively as possible

. It anticipates (as it seems) the subject

. As an emph. predicate, of God

. In a neuter sense, that, it (of an action, occurrence, matte, etc.)

. With the art.: so regularly when joined to a subst. defined itself by the art.

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1931 huw' hoo

of which the feminine (beyond the Pentateuch) is hiyw {he}; a

primitive word, the third person pronoun singular, he (she or

it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also

(intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same;

sometimes (as demonstrative) this or that; occasionally

(instead of copula) as or are:--he, as for her, him(-self),

it, the same, she (herself), such, that (...it), these, they,

this, those, which (is), who.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

הוּא (hu) — he/she/it.

pron 3p s

1) he, she, it

1a) himself (with emphasis)

1b) resuming subj with emphasis

1c) (with minimum emphasis following predicate)

1d) (anticipating subj)

1e) (emphasising predicate)

1f) that, it (neuter) demons pron

2) that (with article)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HC/Pp3ms — Conjunction · pronoun
HC/Pp3ms
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ha: The fifth letter of the Hebrew alphabet; transliterated in this Encyclopedia as "h." It came also to be used for the number 5. For name, etc., see ALPHABET.

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
in God we will do strength and he he will tread down opponents our
יָב֥וּסya.Vus he will tread down H947 Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singular
12× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To trample or tread down something, like an enemy or an undesirable thing. This word can also mean to reject or despise something. It appears in various forms throughout the Old Testament, often in the context of war or conflict.
Tyndale gloss
to trample
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

בּוּס (buwc) means to tread down or trample, with applications both literal and figurative. It includes various forms such as rejecting or desecrating, and it can describe actions of warriors or the movements of infants. The word covers a range of meanings related to being trampled or polluted.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[בּוּס] vb. tread down, trample

Qal tread down, trample (of warriors)

Pol. tread down, in bad sense

Hithpol. of the blind movements of infant’s limbs, kick out (this way and that), fig. of Jerusalem.

Hoph. pass. trodden down

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H947 בּוּס tread down, trample

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

947 buwc boos

a primitive root; to trample (literally or

figuratively):--loath, tread (down, under (foot)), be

polluted.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בּוּס (bus) — to trample.

1) to tread down, reject, trample down

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to tread down, trample (of warriors)

1a2) of rejection (fig.)

1b) (Polel)

1b1) to tread down (in bad sense)

1b2) to desecrate

1c) (Hithpolel)

1c1) to tread

1c2) to kick out

1c2a) of infants' blind movements

1c2b) of Jerusalem (fig.)

1d) (Hophal) to be trodden down

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HVqi3ms — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singular
HVqi3ms
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
in God we will do strength and he he will tread down opponents our
צָרֵֽינוּ׃tza.Rei.nu opponents our H6862 Noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
109× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means hard or narrow, often referring to trouble or a tight spot, like an adversary or affliction. It can also mean a small stone or pebble, such as flint, and is used in various biblical contexts to describe challenges.
Amplified meaning
adversaries, those who oppose us
Tyndale gloss
narrow
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word צַר (tsar) is built from the root meaning 'narrow' or 'tight.' It encompasses a range of meanings including 'distress,' 'adversary,' and 'hard pebble' or 'flint.' The term can refer to physical tightness or metaphorical trouble, as well as an enemy or foe. It appears in contexts of anguish and tribulation, with a specific verse reference in Isaiah 5:28.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

צַר adj. narrow, tight

base

צַר n.[m.] straits, distress

base

צַר 68 n.m. adversary, foe

base

צַר n.[m.] hard pebble, flint;—Is 5:28

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6862a צַר narrow, tight H6862b צַר straits, distress H6862c צַר adversary, foe H6862d צַר hard pebble, flint

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6862 tsar tsar

or tsar {tsawr}; from 6887; narrow; (as a noun) a tight place

(usually figuratively, i.e. trouble); also a pebble (as in

6864); (transitive) an opponent (as crowding):--adversary,

afflicted(-tion), anguish, close, distress, enemy, flint, foe,

narrow, small, sorrow, strait, tribulation, trouble.

see HEBREW for 06887

see HEBREW for 06864

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

צַר (tsar) — narrow.

narrow, tight

צַר (tsar) — distress.

straits, distress

צַר (tsar) — enemy.

adversary, foe, enemy, oppressor

צַר (tsar) — hard.

hard pebble, flint

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-ms — Noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
HNcmpc/Sp1bp
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.

Everything we make is available for free because of a generous community of supporters.

Donate