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Psalms 116:7 — Word Study

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WLCשׁוּבִ֣י נַ֭פְשִׁי לִמְנוּחָ֑יְכִי כִּֽי־ יְ֝הוָ֗ה גָּמַ֥ל עָלָֽיְכִי׃

BSAReturn to your restshûwb [to a state of peace, come back, a place of quietness, peaceful home] O my soulnephesh [the essence of a person, living being] forkîy the LORDYᵉhôvâh [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] has been goodgâmal [dealt bountifully, treated well] to youʻal [upon you, in your life]

Word
Listen & take awayPsalms 116
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 ('a.La.ye.khi) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Psalms 116:7quick helps
In a sentenceThe psalmist calls his soul to return to a place of peace, acknowledging the goodness of the LORD.
Who is speakingThe psalmist, addressing his own soul.
Where we areA personal reflection on the soul's rest and God's benevolence.
The hard wordשׁוּבִ֣י
Take awayThe call to return to rest is rooted in the acknowledgment of God's goodness.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause subjectיהוה verbנֶפֶשׁ 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 116:7

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 — A Reflection on God's Goodnessgenerated

6The LORD preserves the simplehearted; I was helpless, and He saved me.
7Return to your rest, O my soul, for the LORD has been good to you.
8For You have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling.
9I will walk before the LORD in the land of the living.

Psalm 116:7 expresses a deep personal plea from the psalmist to his own soul, urging it to return to a state of rest. This verse is part of a larger passage that reflects on God's deliverance and care, emphasizing how the LORD has preserved and treated him well. The psalmist's acknowledgment of God's goodness serves as the foundation for his call to rest.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Psalm 95:11So I swore on oath in My anger, “They shall never enter My rest.”
2Jeremiah 6:16This is what the LORD says: “Stand at the crossroads and look. Ask for the ancient paths: ‘Where is the good way?’ Then walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it!’
3Jeremiah 30:10As for you, O Jacob My servant, do not be afraid, declares the LORD, and do not be dismayed, O Israel. For I will surely save you out of a distant place, your descendants from the land of their captivity! Jacob will return to quiet and ease, with no one to make him afraid.
4Matthew 11:28–29Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
5Hebrews 4:8–10For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 8 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word שׁוּבִ֣י, shu.Vigenerated

The Hebrew word שׁוּב (shuwb) means to return or turn back, encompassing both literal and figurative meanings. It is often used in contexts of repentance and restoration, indicating a return to a previous state or a change in direction.

In this verse, the imperative form addresses the psalmist's soul directly, suggesting a conscious decision to return to a place of peace and rest. This reflects a personal relationship with God and an understanding of His benevolence.


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.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main finite verb is שׁוּבִ֣י, return, which governs the entire verse. The structure is straightforward, with the psalmist addressing his soul and providing the reason for this call to return.

The clause structure emphasizes the relationship between the call to rest and the acknowledgment of God's goodness, creating a clear and direct appeal.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates שׁוּב as ἐπίστρεψον, which conveys the same idea of returning. This choice aligns closely with the Hebrew meaning, maintaining the focus on the act of returning.

This translation choice underscores the continuity of the message across both Hebrew and Greek texts, emphasizing the importance of returning to a place of peace.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Psalm 116:7 encourages the psalmist's soul to return to a state of rest, recognizing that the LORD has been good to him. This verse highlights the importance of finding peace and comfort in God's faithfulness.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean to return to rest?

Returning to rest signifies a return to peace and tranquility, both physically and spiritually, often in recognition of God's goodness.

Why does the psalmist address his soul?

The psalmist addresses his soul to encourage self-reflection and to remind himself of God's faithfulness, fostering a deeper connection with his inner self.

What does the phrase 'the LORD has been good to you' imply?

This phrase acknowledges God's kindness and benevolence, suggesting that the psalmist has experienced God's blessings and care in his life.

How can this verse apply to our lives today?

This verse encourages individuals to seek rest and peace in God, especially during times of distress, by remembering His goodness and faithfulness.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what areas of my life do I need to return to a state of peace?
  2. How can I remind myself of the ways God has been good to me?
  3. What practices can help me cultivate a sense of rest in my daily life?
  4. How does acknowledging God's goodness impact my emotional and spiritual well-being?

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

Early church fathers like Basil of Caesarea and Ambrose of Milan reference this verse to discuss the soul's rest and God's goodness.

Basil of CaesareaHOMILIES ON THE Psalms 22 c. 330–379
“Turn, O my soul, into your rest: for the Lord has been bountiful to you.” The brave contestant applies to himself the consoling words, very much like Paul, when he says, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course,
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 116 →
Basil of CaesareaHOMILIES ON THE Psalms 22 c. 330–379
“For he has delivered my soul from death: my eyes from tears, my feet from falling.” He describes the future rest by a comparison with things here.
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 116 →
Ambrose of MilanDEATH AS A GOOD 9:38-39 c. 339–397
For it is clear that the soul does not die with the body, because it is not of the body. And that it is not of the body Scripture teaches us in many ways.
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 116 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Psalms 116:7 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

Return unto thy rest, O my soul,.... To a quiet and tranquil state after much distress (k); a soliloquy, an address to his own soul to return to God his resting place, as Kimchi; or to Christ, whose

Read John Gill on Psalms 116 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the LORD hath dealt bountifully with thee. Return unto thy rest ( limªnuwchaayªkiy (H4496)), O my soul.

Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 116 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Unto thy rest; unto that tranquillity of mind and cheerful confidence in God’ s promises and providence which thou didst once enjoy.

Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 116 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Psalms 116:7 Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the LORD hath dealt bountifully with thee.Ver. 7. Return unto thy rest, O my soul] The psalmist had been at a great deal of unrest, and much off the hooks, as we say; now, having prayed (for prayer hath vim pacativum, a pacifying property), he calleth his soul to rest, and rocketh it asleep in a spiritual security. Oh, learn this holy art; acquaint thyself with God, acquiesce in him, and be at peace; so shall good be done unto thee, Job 22:21 Sis Sabbathum Christi (Luther). For the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee] Of Sertorius it is said, that he performed his promises with words only. And of the Emperor Pertinax, that he was magis…

Read John Trapp on Psalms 116 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(7) Return . . .—In a very different spirit from the fool’s address to his soul in the parable. The psalmist’s repose is not the worldling’s serenity nor the sensualist’s security, but the repose of the quiet conscience and the trusting heart.

Read Charles John Ellicott on Psalms 116 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 7. Return unto thy rest, O my soul] God is the centre to which all immortal spirits tend, and in connexion with which alone they can find rest. Every thing separated from its centre is in a state of violence; and, if intelligent, cannot be happy. All human souls, while separated from God by sin, are in a state of violence, agitation, and misery. From God all spirits come; to him all must return, in order to be finally happy. This is true in the general case; though, probably, the rest spoken of here means the promised land, into which they were now returning. A proof of the late origin of this Psalm is exhibited in this verse, in the words למנוחיכי limenuchaichi, "to thy rest," and…

Read AdamClarke on Psalms 116 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

7–9. The Psalmist encourages himself with the recollection of God’s mercy.

Read Cambridge on Psalms 116 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Return unto thy rest, O my soul - Luther, “Be thou again joyful, O my soul.” The meaning seems to be, “Return to thy former tranquility and calmness; thy former freedom from fear and anxiety.” He had

Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 116 →

The verse in English, compared — 16 translations, and where they part company

Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.

Modern formal

BSBBerean Standard Bible2020

Return to your rest, O my soul, for the LORD has been good to you.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Return to your rest, my soul, for Yahweh has dealt bountifully with you.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

Return to your rest, O my soul, for the LORD has been good to you.

NETBNew English Translation2006

Rest once more, my soul, for the Lord has vindicated you.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the LORD hath dealt bountifully with thee.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

Return unto thy rest, O my soul; For Jehovah hath dealt bountifully with thee.

RVARevised Version, American1894

Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the LORD hath dealt bountifully with thee.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

Return to thy rest, O my soul; for the LORD hath dealt bountifully with thee.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Returne vnto thy rest, O my soule: for the Lord hath bene beneficiall vnto thee,

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for Jehovah hath dealt bountifully with thee.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

Turn back, O my soul, to thy rest, For Jehovah hath conferred benefits on thee.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

Return, O my soul, to your rest, || For YHWH has conferred benefits on you.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

Return, O my soul, unto thy rest; for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

My soul can return to its resting place, for Yahweh has been good to me.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

I can once again be at peace because the Lord has been good to me.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

Come back to your rest, O my soul; for the Lord has given you your reward.

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.

clauseclausenoun phraseנַ֭פְשִׁmy.selfיmyclauseverbשׁוּבִ֣יreturnprepositional phrase · prepositionalלִtonoun phraseמְנוּחָ֑יְyour.restingכִיplace(s)כִּֽי(dm)clausesubjectיְ֝הוָ֗הYahwehverbגָּמַ֥לhe.has.dealt.bountifullyprepositional phrase · prepositionalעָלָֽיְtowardsכִיyou

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


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

The Masoretic Text matches the Septuagint closely, with all seven words corresponding directly. The Dead Sea Scrolls show partial agreement, with some words restored by an editor, but the essential message remains intact across these witnesses.

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

שׁוּבִ֣י נַ֭פְשִׁי לִמְנוּחָ֑יְכִי כִּֽי־ יְ֝הוָ֗ה גָּמַ֥ל עָלָֽיְכִי׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
שׁוּבִ֣יψυξήנַ֭פְשִׁיἐπίστρεψονלִמְנוּחָ֑יְכִיεἰςכִּֽי־ὅτιיְ֝הוָ֗הκύριοςגָּמַ֥לεὐηργέτησένעָלָֽיְכִי׃σε

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

Dead Sea Scrolls — 4Q96a copy a thousand years older than the Leningrad Codex

[שובי] [נפש׳י] [למנוחי׳כי] כיא יהוה גםל [עלי׳כי]

3 words on the leather — 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 116:7שׁוּבreturnreturnשׁוּבנֶ֫פֶשׁO self myO self myנֶ֫פֶשׁמְנוּחָהto resting to resting placמְנוּחָהכִּיforforכִּייהוהYahwehYahwehיהוהגָּמַלhe has dealhe has dealt boגָּמַלעַלtowards youtowards youעַלנָפַשׁbe refreshbe refreshedנָפַשׁהָיָהto beto beהָיָהמָנוֹחַManoahManoahמָנוֹחַעַלheightheightעַלשְׁבִיתcaptivitycaptivityשְׁבִיתחָרוֹןburning anburning angerחָרוֹןבָּקַשׁto seekto seekבָּקַשׁחַיalivealiveחַיעַדperpetuityperpetuityעַדנוּחַto restto restנוּחַיָדַעto knowto knowיָדַענְאֻםutteranceutteranceנְאֻםצָבָאarmyarmyצָבָאפֶּ֫רַחflowerflowerפֶּ֫רַחכִּפֶּרto atoneto atoneכִּפֶּרכִּסֵּאthronethroneכִּסֵּא
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 116:7

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.

return O self my to resting place your for Yahweh he has dealt bountifully towards you
שׁוּבִ֣יshu.Vi return H7725 Verb · Qal · imperative second person feminine singular
1,057× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to return or turn back, and can be used literally or figuratively. It is often used to describe someone returning to God or repenting from sin, as seen in the book of Psalms and the prophets.
Amplified meaning
to a state of peace, come back, a place of quietness, peaceful home
Tyndale gloss
to return: return
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word שׁוּב (shuwb) means to turn back or return, covering a wide range of contexts including physical, spiritual, and relational. It can denote returning to a previous state, repenting, or even apostatizing. The entries describe various forms and uses, including bringing back, restoring, and refreshing. Notably, it can also imply a change in course of action.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שׁוּב 1056 vb. turn back, return

Qal 683;—turn back, return:

turn back

return, come or go back

esp. return unto

of dying

of revival from death

fig. of human relations:

return to leader, king

= change so as to appoach (in purpose, desire)

turn, i.e. resort to

return to a physical condition

abs. = change course of action

fig., specif. of spiritual relations:

turn back from God = apostatize

of י׳, turn away

turn back to God (= seek penitently)

abs. repent

turn back from evil

of י׳

of י׳, return (to shew favour)

of inanimate things (sts. personified, or treated as things of life):

denoting repetition, etc.

trans.

Pō‛l.

bring back

fig. restore, refresh

restore, repair

lead away (enticingly)

shew turning = apostatize

Hiph. 353 cause to return, bring back

bring back into bondage

put back

= draw back

= give back, restore

= relinguish

= give in payment, requital

bring one back (from dead)

bring back heart

= refresh

Read the full entry →
Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7725 שׁוּב turn back, return .—turn back, return: . turn back

. return, come or go back

. esp. return unto

. . of dying

. of revival from death

. fig. of human relations: . return to leader, king

. = change so as to appoach (in purpose, desire)

. turn, i.e. resort to

. return to a physical condition

. abs. = change course of action

. fig., specif. of spiritual relations: . turn back from God = apostatize

. of י׳, turn away

. turn back to God (= seek penitently)

. abs. repent

. turn back from evil

. of י׳

. of י׳, return (to shew favour)

. of inanimate things (sts. personified, or treated as things of life):

. denoting repetition, etc.

. trans.

. . bring back

. . fig. restore, refresh

. restore, repair

. lead away (enticingly)

. shew turning = apostatize

. cause to return, bring back . . bring back into bondage

. put back

. = draw back

. = give back, restore

. = relinguish

. = give in payment, requital

Read the full entry →
Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7725 shuwb shoob

a primitive root; to turn back (hence, away) transitively or

intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily

with the idea of return to the starting point); generally to

retreat; often adverbial, again:--((break, build, circumcise,

dig, do anything, do evil, feed, lay down, lie down, lodge,

make, rejoice, send, take, weep)) X again, (cause to) answer

(+ again), X in any case (wise), X at all, averse, bring

(again, back, home again), call (to mind), carry again (back),

cease, X certainly, come again (back), X consider, +

continually, convert, deliver (again), + deny, draw back,

fetch home again, X fro, get (oneself) (back) again, X give

(again), go again (back, home), (go) out, hinder, let, (see)

more, X needs, be past, X pay, pervert, pull in again, put

(again, up again), recall, recompense, recover, refresh,

relieve, render (again), requite, rescue, restore, retrieve,

Read the full entry →
Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שׁוּב (shuv) — to return: return.

: return

1) to return, turn back

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to turn back, return

1a1a) to turn back

1a1b) to return, come or go back

1a1c) to return unto, go back, come back

1a1d) of dying

1a1e) of human relations (fig)

1a1f) of spiritual relations (fig)

1a1f1) to turn back (from God), apostatise

1a1f2) to turn away (of God)

1a1f3) to turn back (to God), repent

1a1f4) turn back (from evil)

1a1g) of inanimate things

1a1h) in repetition

1b) (Polel)

1b1) to bring back

1b2) to restore, refresh, repair (fig)

1b3) to lead away (enticingly)

1b4) to show turning, apostatise

1c) (Pual) restored (participle)

1d) (Hiphil) to cause to return, bring back

1d1) to bring back, allow to return, put back, draw back, give back, restore, relinquish, give in payment

1d2) to bring back, refresh, restore

1d3) to bring back, report to, answer

1d4) to bring back, make requital, pay (as recompense)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Impv-2fs — Verb · Qal · imperative second person feminine singular
HVqv2fs
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
return O self my to resting place your for Yahweh he has dealt bountifully towards you
נַ֭פְשִׁיNaf.shi O self my H5315 Noun common feminine singular construct · suffix
754× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for soul or living being, used in the Bible to describe the essence of a person or animal. It encompasses the ideas of life, breath, and vitality, and is translated as 'soul' or 'creature' in the KJV. This word is central to biblical concepts of humanity and existence.
Amplified meaning
the essence of a person, living being
Tyndale gloss
soul
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word נֶ֫פֶשׁ (*nephesh*) broadly means 'soul' or 'living being,' encompassing concepts like life, self, person, desire, and emotion. It is derived from the root meaning 'to breathe' and signifies both physical and mental aspects of existence. The lexicons note its use in various contexts, including as the seat of appetites and emotions, though its application to will and character is uncertain.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

נֶ֫פֶשׁ 756 n.f. soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, appetite, emotion, and passion

= that which breathes, the breathing substance or being

The נפשׁ becomes a living being

The נפשׁ is specif.

The נפשׁ as the essential of man stands for the man himself

נפשׁ = seat of the appetites, in all periods (46 t.)

נ׳ = seat of emotions and passions

נפשׁ is used occasionally for mental acts

נפשׁ for acts of the will is dub.

נפשׁ = character is still more dub.

נ׳ in D

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5315 נֶ֫פֶשׁ soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, appetite, emotion, and passion . = that which breathes, the breathing substance or being

. The נפשׁ becomes a living being

. The נפשׁ is specif.

. The נפשׁ as the essential of man stands for the man himself

. נפשׁ = seat of the appetites, in all periods (46 t.)

. נ׳ = seat of emotions and passions

. נפשׁ is used occasionally for mental acts

. נפשׁ for acts of the will is dub.

. נפשׁ = character is still more dub.

. נ׳ in D

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5315 nephesh neh'-fesh

from 5314; properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of

(abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal,

accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or mental):--any,

appetite, beast, body, breath, creature, X dead(-ly), desire,

X (dis-)contented, X fish, ghost, + greedy, he, heart(-y),

(hath, X jeopardy of) life (X in jeopardy), lust, man, me,

mind, mortally, one, own, person, pleasure, (her-, him-, my-,

thy-)self, them (your)-selves, + slay, soul, + tablet, they,

thing, (X she) will, X would have it.

see HEBREW for 05314

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נֶ֫פֶשׁ (ne.phesh) — soul.

1) soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion

1a) that which breathes, the breathing substance or being, soul, the inner being of man

1b) living being

1c) living being (with life in the blood)

1d) the man himself, self, person or individual

1e) seat of the appetites

1f) seat of emotions and passions

1g) activity of mind

1g1) uncertain

1h) activity of the will

1h1) uncertain

1i) activity of the character

1i1) uncertain

נֶ֫פֶשׁ (ne.phesh) — soul: life.

1) soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion

1a) that which breathes, the breathing substance or being, soul, the inner being of man

1b) living being

1c) living being (with life in the blood)

1d) the man himself, self, person or individual

1e) seat of the appetites

1f) seat of emotions and passions

1g) activity of mind

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-cs | Suff — Noun common feminine singular construct · suffix
HNcfsc/Sp1bs
return O self my to resting place your for Yahweh he has dealt bountifully towards you
לִמְנוּחָ֑יְכִיlim.nu.Cha.ye.khi to resting place your H4496 Preposition · noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
22× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means a resting place or a state of quietness, like a peaceful home, as described in the Bible. It can also refer to marriage as a source of comfort and rest. Rest is the main idea.
Tyndale gloss
resting
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מְנוּחָה (menuchah) refers to a resting place or rest, derived from the root word for repose. It encompasses meanings such as comfort, ease, and quietness, and can also imply a sense of consolation, particularly in the context of matrimony. The term is feminine and is related to other Hebrew words for rest.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מְנוּחָה, מְנֻחָה n.f. resting-place, rest

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4496 מְנוּחָה, מְנֻחָה resting-place, rest

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4496 mnuwchah men-oo-khaw'

or mnuchah {men-oo-khaw'}; feminine of 4495; repose or

(adverbially) peacefully; figuratively, consolation

(specifically, matrimony); hence (concretely) an

abode:--comfortable, ease, quiet, rest(-ing place), still.

see HEBREW for 04495

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מְנוּחָה (me.nu.chah) — Nohah.

This name means rest, resting place

Another name of ma.na.chat (מָנַ֫חַת "Manahath" H4506A)

מְנוּחָה (me.nu.chah) — resting.

1) resting place, rest

1a) resting place

1b) rest, quietness

Also means: nu.ach (נוּחַ "rest" H5118)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HR/Ncmpc/Sp2fs — Preposition · noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
HR/Ncmpc/Sp2fs
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
return O self my to resting place your for Yahweh he has dealt bountifully towards you
כִּֽי־ki- for H3588 Particle
4,483× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A conjunction used to show cause or connection, as in Genesis 2:23 where Adam says the woman is bone of his bone because she was taken out of him. It is often translated as 'for', 'because', or 'since'.
Tyndale gloss
for
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כִּי (ki) is a conjunction primarily meaning 'that,' 'for,' or 'when.' It indicates causal relationships and can express conditions like 'if' or 'though.' The word is versatile, appearing in various contexts to convey certainty, exception, or concession. Notably, it can combine with other particles to modify its meaning, such as in the phrase כִּי אם־ (ki im), meaning 'that if.'

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כִּי conj. that, for, when

that

Of time, when, of the past

elsewhere כִּי has a force approximating to if, though it usu. represents a case as more likely to occur than אִם

when or if, with a concessive force, i.e. though

Because, since

base

כִּי אם־

each part. retaining its independent force, and relating to a different clause:

that if

for if

(About 140 t.) the two particles being closely conjoined, and relating to the same clause—

limiting the prec. clause, except

the if being neglected, and treated as pleonastic, so that the clause is no longer a limitation of the preceding clause but a contradiction of it: but rather, but

after an oath, surely

base

כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3588a כִּי that, for, when . that

. . Of time, when, of the past

. elsewhere כִּי has a force approximating to if, though it usu. represents a case as more likely to occur than אִם

. when or if, with a concessive force, i.e. though

. Because, since

H3588b כִּי אם־ . each part. retaining its independent force, and relating to a different clause: . that if

. for if

. (About 140 t.) the two particles being closely conjoined, and relating to the same clause— . limiting the prec. clause, except

. the if being neglected, and treated as pleonastic, so that the clause is no longer a limitation of the preceding clause but a contradiction of it: but rather, but

. after an oath, surely

H3588c כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3588 kiy kee

a primitive particle (the full form of the prepositional

prefix) indicating causal relations of all kinds, antecedent

or consequent; (by implication) very widely used as a relative

conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by

other particles annexed:--and, + (forasmuch, inasmuch,

where-)as, assured(-ly), + but, certainly, doubtless, + else,

even, + except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, +

nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then,

therefore, + (al- )though, + till, truly, + until, when,

whether, while, whom, yea, yet.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כִּי (ki) — for.

1) that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since

1a) that

1a1) yea, indeed

1b) when (of time)

1b1) when, if, though (with a concessive force)

1c) because, since (causal connection)

1d) but (after negative)

1e) that if, for if, indeed if, for though, but if

1f) but rather, but

1g) except that

1h) only, nevertheless

1i) surely

1j) that is

1k) but if

1l) for though

1m) forasmuch as, for therefore

כִּי [אם] (ki im) — that if: except.

1) except if

1a) but if

1b) even though

כִּי [עַל כֵּן] (ki [al ken]) — for as that: since.

1) that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since

1a) that

1a1) yea, indeed

1b) when (of time)

1b1) when, if, though (with a concessive force)

1c) because, since (causal connection)

1d) but (after negative)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj — Particle
HTc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

for (ki (conjunction), le, from 'el (preposition), and various other words. In the New Testament also the words are various, chiefly gar, kai gar, hoti (conjunctions); anti apo eis dia (accusative), epi (dative and accusative), peri (genitive), pros (genitive and accusative), huper (genitive) (prepositions)): the English Revised Version and the American Standard Revised Version give in many cases more literal or more accurate renderings than those in the King James Version.

In the New Testament the most important preps. from a doctrinal point of view are anti, "face to face," "over against," "instead," "on behalf of," peri, "around," "about," "concerning," huper, "over," "on behalf of." The first has been claimed as stating the substitutionary nature of Christ's sacrifice as contrasted with huper and peri, more frequently used of it. But, although anti in the New Testament often means…

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
return O self my to resting place your for Yahweh he has dealt bountifully towards you
יְ֝הוָ֗הYah.weh Yahweh H3068 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 Name of 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
N-proper — Noun proper
HNpt
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
return O self my to resting place your for Yahweh he has dealt bountifully towards you
גָּמַ֥לga.Mal he has dealt bountifully H1580 Verb · Qal · perfect third person masculine singular
37× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This verb means to wean a child or to treat someone well or poorly. It can also mean to ripen or bear fruit, and is translated as bestow, recompense, or requite in the KJV.
Amplified meaning
dealt bountifully, treated well
Tyndale gloss
to wean
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

גָּמַל (gamal) is a Hebrew root meaning to deal fully or adequately with someone, which includes concepts like recompensing or rewarding. It also specifically refers to weaning a child and can denote the ripening of fruit, particularly almonds. The entries consistently highlight these meanings without significant disagreement.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

גָּמַל vb. 1. deal fully or adequately with, deal out to. 2. wean. 3. ripen

Qal

deal out to, do to

deal bountifully with

recompense, repay, requite

wean a child (complete his nursing)

trans. ripen, bear ripe (almonds)

Niph. be weaned

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1580 גָּמַל 1. deal fully or adequately with, deal out to. 2. wean. 3. ripen

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1580 gamal gaw-mal'

a primitive root; to treat a person (well or ill), i.e.

benefit or requite; by implication (of toil), to ripen, i.e.

(specifically) to wean:--bestow on, deal bountifully, do

(good), recompense, requite, reward, ripen, + serve, mean,

yield.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

גָּמַל (ga.mal) — to wean.

1) to deal fully with, recompense

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to deal out to, do to

1a2) to deal bountifully with

1a3) to recompense, repay, requite

2) (Qal) to wean a child (Niphal) to be weaned

3) (Qal) to ripen, bear ripe (almonds)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Perf-3ms — Verb · Qal · perfect third person masculine singular
HVqp3ms
return O self my to resting place your for Yahweh he has dealt bountifully towards you
עָלָֽיְכִי׃'a.La.ye.khi towards you H5921 Preposition · suffix
5,774× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means on or above something, like a physical object or a situation. It can also imply a sense of responsibility or accountability, as in being on behalf of someone.
Amplified meaning
upon you, in your life
Tyndale gloss
upon
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word עַל (*al*) is a preposition meaning 'upon' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including 'on account of,' 'beside,' 'above,' and 'against.' It can indicate physical placement, emotional burdens, or duties imposed on a person. The entries also note its use in idiomatic expressions and with verbs of motion. There is a mention of its function as a conjunction in certain contexts.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as

base

עַל, עָ֑ל

subst. height

As prep. upon, and hence on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against

Upon, of the substratum upon which an object in any way rests, or on which an action is performed

of clothing, etc., which any one wears

With verbs of covering or protecting, even though the cover or veil be not over or above the thing covered, but around or before it

Of what rests heavily upon a person, or is a burden to him

Of a duty, payment, care, etc., imposed upon a person, or devolving on him

על is used idiom. to give pathos to the expression of an emotion, by emphasizing the person who is its subject, and who, as it were, feels it acting upon him

חָיָה עַל to live upon (as upon a foundation or support)

Read the full entry →
Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5921a עַל, עָ֑ל . As prep. upon, and hence on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against . Upon, of the substratum upon which an object in any way rests, or on which an action is performed . — . of clothing, etc., which any one wears

. With verbs of covering or protecting, even though the cover or veil be not over or above the thing covered, but around or before it

. Of what rests heavily upon a person, or is a burden to him

. Of a duty, payment, care, etc., imposed upon a person, or devolving on him

. על is used idiom. to give pathos to the expression of an emotion, by emphasizing the person who is its subject, and who, as it were, feels it acting upon him

. חָיָה עַל to live upon (as upon a foundation or support)

Read the full entry →
Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5921 `al al

properly, the same as 5920 used as a preposition (in the

singular or plural often with prefix, or as conjunction with a

particle following); above, over, upon, or against (yet always

in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great

variety of applications (as follow):--above, according

to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, X as, at, because

of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, X both

and, by (reason of), X had the charge of, concerning for, in

(that), (forth, out) of, (from) (off), (up-)on, over, than,

through(-out), to, touching, X with.

see HEBREW for 05920

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עַל (al) — upon.

prep

1) upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against

1a) upon, on the ground of, on the basis of, on account of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of, as regards

1b) above, beyond, over (of excess)

1c) above, over (of elevation or pre-eminence)

1d) upon, to, over to, unto, in addition to, together with, with (of addition)

1e) over (of suspension or extension)

1f) by, adjoining, next, at, over, around (of contiguity or proximity)

1g) down upon, upon, on, from, up upon, up to, towards, over towards, to, against (with verbs of motion)

1h) to (as a dative)

[כִּי] עַל [כֵּן] ([ki] al [ken]) — as.

conj

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | Suff — Preposition · suffix
HR/Sp2fs
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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