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Psalms 112:7 — Word Study

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WLCמִשְּׁמוּעָ֣ה רָ֭עָה לֹ֣א יִירָ֑א נָכ֥וֹן לִ֝בּ֗וֹ בָּטֻ֥חַ בַּיהוָֽה׃

BSAHe does notlôʼ [will not, shall not] fearyârêʼ [be afraid of, have anxiety about] badraʻ [evil, adverse] newsshᵉmûwʻâh [tidings, reports] his heartlêb [inner being, mind] is steadfastkûwn [fixed, established] trustingbâṭach [having confidence, faith] in the LORDYᵉhôvâh [Yehovah, the covenant God]

Word
Listen & take awayPsalms 112
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 7 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 (ba.Yah.weh) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Psalms 112:7quick helps
In a sentenceThe righteous person remains unshaken by negative reports, as their heart is steady in faith.
Who is speakingThe psalmist, reflecting on the character of the righteous.
Where we areThis verse is part of a psalm celebrating the blessings of the righteous.
The hard wordשְׁמוּעָה
Take awayTrust in God provides stability in the face of adversity.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbיָרֵא 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 112:7

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 Blessings of the Righteousgenerated

6Surely he will never be shaken; the righteous man will be remembered forever.
7He does not fear bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD.
8His heart is assured; he does not fear, until he looks in triumph on his foes.
9He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever; his horn will be lifted high in honor.

Psalm 112:7 presents a portrait of the righteous individual who remains calm and composed amidst troubling news. This verse emphasizes the steadfastness of their heart and their unwavering trust in the LORD, contrasting the fear that often accompanies bad news. The surrounding verses further illustrate the stability and enduring nature of the righteous, as seen in Psalm 112:6 and Psalm 112:8.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Psalm 27:1–3The LORD is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life— whom shall I dread?
2Psalm 34:4I sought the LORD, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears.
3Psalm 56:3–4When I am afraid, I put my trust in You.
4Proverbs 1:33But whoever listens to me will dwell in safety, secure from the fear of evil.”
5Proverbs 3:25–26Do not fear sudden danger or the ruin that overtakes the wicked,

The Key Word שְׁמוּעָה, shmuw`ahgenerated

The word שְׁמוּעָה (shmuw`ah) is a feminine noun derived from the root שָׁמַע (to hear), meaning a report or announcement. It encompasses various forms of news, including tidings and rumors, often related to communication and information sharing.

In this verse, it refers specifically to bad news, indicating that the righteous person does not allow such reports to instill fear. The parsing as a noun in the singular form suggests a specific instance of news, reinforcing the personal nature of the experience.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against. The BSB uses bad, which is also reflected in the KJV and ASV, both of which maintain the sense of negativity associated with the news.

Where others part company with the BSB they part company over the word רָעָהevil is chosen by the ASV, KJV, and others, while the BSB and several modern translations opt for bad, highlighting a slight variation in the interpretation of the severity of the news.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The finite verb יִירָ֑א (yi.Ra'), meaning 'he will be afraid,' governs the structure of the verse, with a negation and two phrases describing the subject's heart and trust. The main clause is supported by a prepositional phrase indicating the source of fear and a noun phrase that describes the heart's condition.

The word order emphasizes the negation לֹ֣א (lo'), placing it at the beginning of the clause to highlight the absence of fear in the face of bad news.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates שְׁמוּעָה as ἀκοῆς (akoēs), meaning 'hearing' or 'report.' This choice reflects a focus on the act of receiving news rather than the content itself, which can imply a broader interpretation of how one responds to information.

The translation of רָעָה as πονηρᾶς (ponēras) emphasizes the moral implications of the bad news, aligning with the negative connotations of evil.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Psalm 112:7 tells us that a righteous person does not fear bad news. Their heart is steady and trusting in the LORD. This reflects a deep confidence in God's care and provision, even when faced with troubling circumstances.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean that the righteous person does not fear bad news?

It means that they maintain their composure and trust in God, regardless of negative reports or circumstances.

How can someone develop a steadfast heart?

A steadfast heart is developed through faith and trust in God, often strengthened through prayer, scripture, and community support.

What role does trust in God play in facing adversity?

Trust in God provides a foundation of peace and assurance, allowing individuals to navigate challenges without succumbing to fear.

Are there examples in the Bible of people who faced bad news without fear?

Yes, examples include David in the Psalms, who often expressed his trust in God amid trials, and Daniel, who remained faithful despite facing threats.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what areas of my life do I need to trust God more deeply?
  2. How can I cultivate a steadfast heart in the face of challenges?
  3. What bad news have I encountered recently, and how did I respond?
  4. How can I support others who are struggling with fear or anxiety?

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

Early church fathers, such as Augustine, reference Psalm 112:7 to discuss the nature of faith and fear in the life of the believer.

Augustine of HippoExposition on Psalms 112 354–430
"He will not be afraid of any evil hearing; for his heart stands fast and believes in the Lord" [Psalms 112:7].
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 112 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Psalms 112:7 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

He shall not be afraid of evil tidings,.... Either respecting things temporal; the death of friends, loss of substance, public calamities, wars and rumours of wars, commotions, confusions,

Read John Gill on Psalms 112 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD. He shall not be afraid of evil tidings - because, whatever evil may befall, God can and will overrule it to good (Romans 8:28).

Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 112 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Of evil tidings; at the report of approaching calamities and judgments of God, at which the wicked are so dismayed and affrighted. Trusting in the Lord; casting all his care upon God, and securely relying upon his providence and promise.

Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 112 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Psalms 112:7 He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD.Ver. 7. He shall not be afraid of evil tidings] When the miserly miscreant is ready to make away himself, for fear of what evil may follow, this man is undaunted and unappalled. The fear of God so ballasteth his heart, that he floateth steadily; and blow what wind it will, he saileth safe to the port. Fides famem non formidat, Faith feareth no famine, nor anything else; when as a sound of fear is ever in the wicked man’ s ears, Job 15:4 His heart is fixed] viz. Upon the promise of God; and hence he hath a spiritual security, a blessed sabbath of spirit; he is freed, if not from the common…

Read John Trapp on Psalms 112 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(7) The story of Job, when the messengers of ill succeeded one another so fast, is an illustration of the truth of this verse. “A good conscience before God” is the best “armour against fate.” “Virtue is bold, and goodness never fearful.”— : Measure for Measure.

Read Charles John Ellicott on Psalms 112 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 7. He shall not be afraid of evil tidings] He knows that God governs the world, therefore he fears not for futurity. And as to the calumnies of men, he fears them not, because his heart is fixed - determined to walk in the path of duty, whatever persecutions he may suffer, for he trusts in the Lord.

Read AdamClarke on Psalms 112 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

7. Since he has a clear conscience and a quiet trust, he is not tortured by presentiments of evil, like the wicked man, Job 15:20 ff.; Proverbs 10:24. fixed] i.e. steadfast, as Psalms 57:7.

Read Cambridge on Psalms 112 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

He shall not be afraid of evil tidings - Of bad news; of reverses and losses; of the destruction of his ship at sea, or his property by land; of disaster by flood, by famine, by war.

Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 112 →

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

He does not fear bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

He will not be afraid of evil news. His heart is steadfast, trusting in Yahweh.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

He does not fear bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD.

NETBNew English Translation2006

He does not fear bad news. He is confident; he trusts in the Lord.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: His heart is fixed, trusting in Jehovah.

RVARevised Version, American1894

He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

He will not be afraide of euill tidings: for his heart is fixed, and beleeueth in the Lord.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

He shall not be afraid of evil tidings; his heart is fixed confiding in Jehovah;

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

Of an evil report he is not afraid, Prepared is His heart, confident in Jehovah.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

He is not afraid of an evil report, || His heart is prepared [and] confident in YHWH.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

Of an evil report shall he not be afraid: his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

He does not fear bad news; he is confident, trusting in Yahweh.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

Raising up the needy from the earth, and lifting up the poor out of the dunghill:

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

They aren't afraid of bad news because they rely totally on the Lord.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

He will have no fear of evil news; his heart is fixed, for his hope is in the Lord.

Word by word, the decisions they made

רָ֭עָהRa.'ah bad H7451 2 different renderings
evilASV BBE DBY ILT KJV LSV NWB RVA WEB YLT
badBSB FBV MSB NETB ULB

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 · prepositionalמִfromnoun phraseשְּׁמוּעָ֣הnew[s]רָ֭עָהbadadverbialלֹ֣אnotverbיִירָ֑אhe.will.be.afraidclauseverbנָכ֥וֹן[is].steadfastnoun phrase · subjectלִ֝בּ֗heartוֹhisclausepredicateבָּטֻ֥חַtrustingprepositional phrase · prepositionalבַּinיהוָֽהYahweh

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 align closely, with all eight words matched. The Dead Sea Scrolls show partial restoration, but the key terms for bad news and the righteous heart are consistent with the Masoretic Text.

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

מִשְּׁמוּעָ֣ה רָ֭עָה לֹ֣א יִירָ֑א נָכ֥וֹן לִ֝בּ֗וֹ בָּטֻ֥חַ בַּיהוָֽה׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
מִשְּׁמוּעָ֣הἀκοῆςרָ֭עָהπονηρᾶςלֹ֣אοὐיִירָ֑אφοβηθήσεταιנָכ֥וֹןἑτοίμηלִ֝בּ֗וֹαὐτοῦבָּטֻ֥חַἐλπίζεινבַּיהוָֽה׃κύριον

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 — 4Q98fa copy a thousand years older than the Leningrad Codex

[משמועה] [רעה] [לא] יירא נכון לב׳ו בטח [ביהוה]

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

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


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

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

Psalms 112:7שְׁמוּעָהfrom new[s]from new[s]שְׁמוּעָהרַעbadbadרַעלֹאnotnotלֹאיָרֵאhe will be he will be afraיָרֵאכּוּן[is] steadf[is] steadfastכּוּןלֵבheart hisheart hisלֵבבָּטַחtrustingtrustingבָּטַחיהוהin Yahwehin Yahwehיהוהרָעַעbe evilbe evilרָעַעהָיָהto beto beהָיָהשָׁמֵםbe desolatbe desolate: deשָׁמֵםלֵבָבheartheartלֵבָבחָסָהto seek reto seek refugeחָסָהחָכְמָהwisdomwisdomחָכְמָהמַעֲלָלdeeddeedמַעֲלָלנחםto be sorrto be sorry: coנחםיָכֹלbe ablebe ableיָכֹלעוֹדstillstillעוֹדחָתַתto to be dto to be dismayחָתַתאַלnotnotאַלתֵּבֵלworldworldתֵּבֵלכִּסֵּאthronethroneכִּסֵּאחָסֵרlackinglackingחָסֵרחָכָםwisewiseחָכָםמָגֵןshieldshieldמָגֵןשֶׁ֫קֶרdeceptiondeceptionשֶׁ֫קֶר
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 112:7

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.

from new[s] bad not he will be afraid [is] steadfast heart his trusting in Yahweh
מִשְּׁמוּעָ֣הmi.she.mu.'Ah from new[s] H8052 Preposition · noun common feminine singular absolute
27× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means news or a report, often referring to a message or announcement, like the tidings of Jesus' birth in the Gospel of Luke.
Amplified meaning
tidings, reports
Tyndale gloss
tidings
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שְׁמוּעָה (shmuw`ah) refers to a report or announcement, encompassing meanings such as news, rumor, and tidings. It is derived from the root of שָׁמַע (to hear). The word appears in contexts related to communication and information sharing.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שְׁמוּעָה n.f. report report

= mention

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8052 שְׁמוּעָה report

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8052 shmuw`ah sehm-oo-aw'

feminine passive participle of 8074; something heard, i.e. an

announcement:--bruit, doctrine, fame, mentioned, news,

report, rumor, tidings.

see HEBREW for 08074

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שְׁמוּעָה (she.mu.ah) — tidings.

1) report, news, rumour

1a) report, news, tidings

1b) mention

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-fs — Preposition · noun common feminine singular absolute
HR/Ncfsa
from new[s] bad not he will be afraid [is] steadfast heart his trusting in Yahweh
רָ֭עָהRa.'ah bad H7451 Adj
662× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Ra means bad or evil, referring to moral or natural harm. It describes adversity, affliction, or distress, and is often used to convey a sense of misery or injury.
Amplified meaning
evil, adverse
Tyndale gloss
bad: harmful
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

רַע (ra) is a Hebrew word meaning bad or evil, encompassing a range of negative qualities such as distress, misery, and ethical wrongdoing. It can describe unpleasantness, harm, or low value, and is used in various contexts, including emotional states and moral judgments. The entries also note its comparative form, indicating worse than or worst. The word has feminine forms, such as רָעָה (ra.ah), which similarly convey concepts of evil and distress.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

רַע 228 adj. bad, evil

bad, disagreeable, malignant

bad, unpleasant, giving pain, unhappiness, misery

evil, displeasing

bad of its kind

bad, , i.e. of low value

מִן comp., worse than

sad, unhappy

devise evil (hurtful) device

bad, unkind, vicious in disposition or temper

ethically bad, evil, wicked

base

רַע 126 n.m. evil, distress, misery, injury, calamity

evil, distress, adversity

evil, injury, wrong

ethical evil

base

רָעָה 310 n.f. evil, misery, distress, injury

evil, misery, distress

evil, injury, wrong

ethical evil

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7451a רַע bad, evil . bad, disagreeable, malignant

. bad, unpleasant, giving pain, unhappiness, misery

. evil, displeasing

. bad of its kind

. bad, , i.e. of low value

. + מִן comp., worse than

. sad, unhappy

. devise evil (hurtful) device

. bad, unkind, vicious in disposition or temper

. ethically bad, evil, wicked

H7451b רַע evil, distress, misery, injury, calamity . evil, distress, adversity

. evil, injury, wrong

. ethical evil

H7451c רָעָה evil, misery, distress, injury . evil, misery, distress

. evil, injury, wrong

. ethical evil

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7451 ra` rah

from 7489; bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral):--

adversity, affliction, bad, calamity, + displease(-ure),

distress, evil((- favouredness), man, thing), + exceedingly, X

great, grief(-vous), harm, heavy, hurt(-ful), ill (favoured),

+ mark, mischief(-vous), misery, naught(-ty), noisome, + not

please, sad(-ly), sore, sorrow, trouble, vex,

wicked(-ly, -ness, one), worse(-st), wretchedness, wrong.

(Incl. feminine raaah; as adjective or noun.).

see HEBREW for 07489

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

רַע (ra) — bad: harmful.

: harmful

adj

1) bad, evil

1a) bad, disagreeable, malignant

1b) bad, unpleasant, evil (giving pain, unhappiness, misery)

1c) evil, displeasing

1d) bad (of its kind-land, water, etc)

1e) bad (of value)

1f) worse than, worst (comparison)

1g) sad, unhappy

1h) evil (hurtful)

1i) bad, unkind (vicious in disposition)

1j) bad, evil, wicked (ethically)

1j1) in general, of persons, of thoughts

1j2) deeds, actions

רַע (ra) — bad: evil.

1) evil, distress, misery, injury, calamity

1a) evil, distress, adversity

1b) evil, injury, wrong

1c) evil (ethical)

רָעָה (ra.ah) — distress: harm.

: harm

1) evil, misery, distress, injury

1a) evil, misery, distress

1b) evil, injury, wrong

1c) evil (ethical)

רַע (ra) — bad: evil.

: evil

adj

1) bad, evil

1a) bad, disagreeable, malignant

1b) bad, unpleasant, evil (giving pain, unhappiness, misery)

1c) evil, displeasing

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adj — Adj
HAafsa
from new[s] bad not he will be afraid [is] steadfast heart his trusting in Yahweh
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.
Amplified meaning
will not, shall not
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
from new[s] bad not he will be afraid [is] steadfast heart his trusting in Yahweh
יִירָ֑אyi.Ra' he will be afraid H3372 Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singular
315× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to fear or revere, and is used to describe being afraid or standing in awe of something, like God's power. It appears in the Bible to convey a sense of respect or reverence. In the KJV, it's translated as 'affright' or 'reverence'.
Amplified meaning
be afraid of, have anxiety about
Tyndale gloss
to fear
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יָרֵא (yare') is a Hebrew verb meaning to fear or be afraid, encompassing a range of meanings from reverence and honor to causing terror. It appears in various forms, including Qal (to fear), Niphal (to be fearful), and Piel (to terrify). The entries highlight its moral and emotional dimensions, emphasizing awe and respect, particularly in relation to the divine.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יָרֵא vb. fear

Qal

fear, be afraid

stand in awe of

fear, reverence, honour

Niph.

be fearful, dreadful

cause astonishment and awe

inspire reverence, godly fear, and awe

Piel. make afraid, terrify

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3372 יָרֵא fear .. fear, be afraid

. stand in awe of

. fear, reverence, honour

. . be fearful, dreadful

. cause astonishment and awe

. inspire reverence, godly fear, and awe

. make afraid, terrify

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3372 yare' yaw-ray'

a primitive root; to fear; morally, to revere; caus. to

frighten:--affright, be (make) afraid, dread(-ful), (put in)

fear(-ful, -fully, -ing), (be had in) reverence(-end), X see,

terrible (act, -ness, thing).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יָרֵא (ya.re) — to fear.

: frightening(DANGER)

1) to fear, revere, be afraid

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to fear, be afraid

1a2) to stand in awe of, be awed

1a3) to fear, reverence, honour, respect

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be fearful, be dreadful, be feared

1b2) to cause astonishment and awe, be held in awe

1b3) to inspire reverence or godly fear or awe

1c) (Piel) to make afraid, terrify

2) (TWOT) to shoot, pour

יָרֵא (ya.re) — to fear: revere.

: awesome(god)

1) to fear, revere, be afraid

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to fear, be afraid

1a2) to stand in awe of, be awed

1a3) to fear, reverence, honour, respect

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be fearful, be dreadful, be feared

1b2) to cause astonishment and awe, be held in awe

1b3) to inspire reverence or godly fear or awe

1c) (Piel) to make afraid, terrify

2) (TWOT) to shoot, pour

Also means: ya.re (יָרֵא ": frightening" H3372)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singular
HVqi3ms
from new[s] bad not he will be afraid [is] steadfast heart his trusting in Yahweh
נָכ֥וֹןna.Khon [is] steadfast H3559 Verb · Niphal · participle (active) masculine singular
217× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This verb means to set something up or establish it, like setting up a tent or appointing someone to a position, as seen in Isaiah 7:14.
Amplified meaning
fixed, established
Tyndale gloss
to establish: prepare
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כּוּן (kuwn) is a Hebrew verb meaning to establish or prepare. It encompasses a range of meanings, including to be firm, to fix, to direct, and to be ready, with applications in both literal and figurative contexts. The entries indicate various forms of the verb, such as Niph'al (to be established) and Hiph'il (to establish), but there is a note on a noun form, נָכוֹן (nakhon), meaning 'blow'.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[כּוּן] 218 vb. prob. be firm, only in der. conj.

Niph.

be set up, established, fixed

in a moral sense, be directed aright, of ways

prepare, be ready

pass. be prepared, of judgments

Hiph.

establish, set up

fix, so as to be ready, make ready, prepare, a gift

provide for, provide, furnish

direct one's face toward

arrange, order

Hoph.

be established, of throne

be prepared for

Po‛lēl.

set up, establish

constitute, make, a man (in womb)

fix, so as to be ready

direct

Po‛lal. be established

Hithpo‛l. be established

base

נָכוֹן n. [m.] = blow Jb 12:5

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3559a כּוּן prob. be firm, only in der. conj. . . be set up, established, fixed

. in a moral sense, be directed aright, of ways

. prepare, be ready

. pass. be prepared, of judgments

. . establish, set up

. . fix, so as to be ready, make ready, prepare, a gift

. provide for, provide, furnish

. direct one's face toward

. arrange, order

. . be established, of throne

. be prepared for

. . set up, establish

. constitute, make, a man (in womb)

. fix, so as to be ready

. direct

. be established

. be established

H3559b נָכוֹן n. [m.] = blow

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3559 kuwn koon

a primitive root; properly, to be erect (i.e. stand

perpendicular); hence (causatively) to set up, in a great

variety of applications, whether literal (establish, fix,

prepare, apply), or figurative (appoint, render sure, proper

or prosperous):--certain(-ty), confirm, direct, faithfulness,

fashion, fasten, firm, be fitted, be fixed, frame, be meet,

ordain, order, perfect, (make) preparation, prepare (self),

provide, make provision, (be, make) ready, right, set (aright,

fast, forth), be stable, (e-)stablish, stand, tarry, X very

deed.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כּוּן (kun) — to establish: prepare.

: prepare/direct

1) to be firm, be stable, be established

1a) (Niphal)

1a1) to be set up, be established, be fixed

1a1a) to be firmly established

1a1b) to be established, be stable, be secure, be enduring

1a1c) to be fixed, be securely determined

1a2) to be directed aright, be fixed aright, be steadfast (moral sense)

1a3) to prepare, be ready

1a4) to be prepared, be arranged, be settled

1b) (Hiphil)

1b1) to establish, set up, accomplish, do, make firm

1b2) to fix, make ready, prepare, provide, provide for, furnish

1b3) to direct toward (moral sense)

1b4) to arrange, order

1c) (Hophal)

1c1) to be established, be fastened

1c2) to be prepared, be ready

1d) (Polel)

1d1) to set up, establish

1d2) to constitute, make

1d3) to fix

1d4) to direct

1e) (Pulal) to be established, be prepared

1f) (Hithpolel) to be established, be restored

נָכוֹן (na.khon) — blow.

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Niphal — Verb · Niphal · participle (active) masculine singular
HVNrmsa
from new[s] bad not he will be afraid [is] steadfast heart his trusting in Yahweh
לִ֝בּ֗וֹli.Bo heart his H3820 Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
595× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Leb refers to the heart, but also represents feelings, will, and intellect in the Bible. It is used figuratively to describe the center of something, and is often translated as heart or mind. Leb is a complex concept that encompasses emotions and thoughts.
Amplified meaning
inner being, mind
Tyndale gloss
heart
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word לֵב (lev) means 'heart' and encompasses the inner man, mind, will, and emotions. It refers to the center of feelings, intellect, and moral character, as well as the seat of appetites and courage. The entries suggest a broad range of meanings related to human experience and thought, with a specific mention of its use in Jeremiah 51:1.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

לֵב 599 n.m. (f.) inner man, mind, will, heart

seldom of things in the midst of the sea

elsewhere of men

the inner man in contrast with the outer

the inner man, indef., soul, comprehending mind, affections and will

specific reference to mind

spec. ref. to inclinations, resolutions and determinations of the will

spec. ref. to conscience

[various]

for the man himself

as seat of appetites

as seat of emotions and passions

seat of courage

base

לֵב קָמָי prob. late Atbash Je 51:1.

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3820a לֵב inner man, mind, will, heart . seldom of things in the midst of the sea

. elsewhere of men . the inner man in contrast with the outer

. the inner man, indef., soul, comprehending mind, affections and will

. specific reference to mind

. spec. ref. to inclinations, resolutions and determinations of the will

. spec. ref. to conscience

. [various]

. for the man himself

. as seat of appetites

. as seat of emotions and passions

. seat of courage

H3820b לֵב קָמָי prob. late Atbash

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3820 leb labe

a form of 3824; the heart; also used (figuratively) very

widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect;

likewise for the centre of anything:--+ care for, comfortably,

consent, X considered, courag(-eous), friend(-ly), ((broken-),

(hard-), (merry-), (stiff-), (stout-), double) heart((-ed)), X

heed, X I, kindly, midst, mind(-ed), X regard((-ed)), X

themselves, X unawares, understanding, X well, willingly,

wisdom.

see HEBREW for 03824

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

לֵב (lev) — heart.

1) inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding

1a) inner part, midst

1a1) midst (of things)

1a2) heart (of man)

1a3) soul, heart (of man)

1a4) mind, knowledge, thinking, reflection, memory

1a5) inclination, resolution, determination (of will)

1a6) conscience

1a7) heart (of moral character)

1a8) as seat of appetites

1a9) as seat of emotions and passions 1a10) as seat of courage

לֵב (lev) — Leb.

§ Leb- = "heart of"

(probably a cryptic name for Babylon by Atbash)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
HNcmsc/Sp3ms
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

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

from new[s] bad not he will be afraid [is] steadfast heart his trusting in Yahweh
בָּטֻ֥חַba.Tu.ach trusting H982 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
120× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To trust means to have confidence or faith in something or someone, like the Israelites trusting in God to lead them through the desert, as seen in Psalm 23.
Amplified meaning
having confidence, faith
Tyndale gloss
to trust
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

בָּטַח (batach) is a Hebrew verb meaning to trust or have confidence. It conveys a sense of security and boldness, both in a personal sense and when causing others to feel secure. The entries indicate its use in different forms, such as Qal and Hiphil, covering aspects of trust and confidence.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

בָּטַח vb. trust

Qal

trust

be confident

Hiph. cause to trust, make secure

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H982 בָּטַח trust . trust

. be confident

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

982 batach baw-takh'

a primitive root; properly, to hie for refuge (but not so

precipitately as 2620); figuratively, to trust, be confident

or sure:--be bold (confident, secure, sure), careless (one,

woman), put confidence, (make to) hope, (put, make to) trust.

see HEBREW for 02620

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בָּטַח (ba.tach) — to trust.

1) to trust

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to trust, trust in

1a2) to have confidence, be confident

1a3) to be bold

1a4) to be secure

1b) (Hiphil)

1b1) to cause to trust, make secure

2) (TWOT) to feel safe, be careless

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Inf-c — Noun common · masculine singular absolute
HNcmsa
from new[s] bad not he will be afraid [is] steadfast heart his trusting in Yahweh
בַּיהוָֽה׃ba.Yah.weh in Yahweh H3068 Preposition · noun proper
6,528× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Yehovah is another name for God, often translated as 'the Lord'. It is a national name for God in the Jewish faith. This name is used throughout the Old Testament.
Amplified meaning
Yehovah, the covenant God
Tyndale gloss
The Lord
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) is the proper name of the God of Israel, often rendered as Jehovah or the Lord. It signifies the self-existent or eternal nature of God. The name is closely associated with the revelation to Moses in Exodus 3:12-15 and is used in conjunction with other terms to denote sacred places. Some scholars suggest it derives from a root meaning 'to bring into being.'

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יהוה c. 6823 i.e. יַהְוֶה n.pr.dei Yahweh, the proper name of the God of Israel—(1. MT יְהֹוָה 6518 (Qr אֲדֹנָי), or יֱהֹוִה 305 (Qr אֱלֹהִים) 2. Many recent scholars explain יַהְוֶה as Hiph. of הוה (= היה) the one bringing into being, life-giver)

יהוה is not used by E in Gn, but is given Ex 3:12-15 as the name of the God who revealed Himself to Moses at Horeb

יהוה is used with אלהים and suffixes, especially in D

the phrase † אֲנִי יהוה is noteworthy

יהוה is also used with several predicates, to form sacred names of holy places of Yahweh

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3068 יהוה i.e. יַהְוֶה n. pr. dei Yahweh, the proper name of the God of Israel

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3068 Yhovah yeh-ho-vaw'

from 1961; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish

national name of God:--Jehovah, the Lord. Compare 3050, 3069.

see HEBREW for 01961

see HEBREW for 03050

see HEBREW for 03069

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — LORD.

Jehovah = "the existing One"

1) the proper name of the one true God

1a) unpronounced except with the vowel pointings of a.do.na (אֲדֹנָי "Lord" H0136)

יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — The Lord.

Another name of ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)

יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — (Jerusalem of) the Lord.

Combined with ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-proper — Preposition · noun proper
HR/Npt
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
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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