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Psalms 119:10 — Word Study

Depth

WLCבְּכָל־ לִבִּ֥י דְרַשְׁתִּ֑יךָ אַל־ תַּ֝שְׁגֵּ֗נִי מִמִּצְוֹתֶֽיךָ׃

BSAWith allkôl [my entire being, everything] my heartlêb [inner self, feelings, will, and intellect] I have sought Youdârash [searched for, worshiped, asked] do notʼal [let it not be] let me strayshâgâh [wander, err, go astray] from Your commandmentsmitsvâh [laws, teachings, guidelines]

Word
Listen & take awayPsalms 119
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 10 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 (mi.mitz.vo.Tei.kha) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Psalms 119:10quick helps
In a sentenceThe psalmist expresses a heartfelt commitment to seeking God and a plea to remain faithful to His commandments.
Who is speakingThe psalmist, speaking personally about their relationship with God.
Where we areIn a section of Psalm 119 that emphasizes the importance of God's word and commandments.
The hard wordדְרַשְׁתִּ֑יךָ
Take awayThe pursuit of God is total, and the desire to stay true to His teachings is paramount.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause 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 119:10

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 Pursuit of God’s Commandmentsgenerated

9How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to Your word.
10With all my heart I have sought You; do not let me stray from Your commandments.
11I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against You.
12Blessed are You, O LORD; teach me Your statutes.

Psalm 119:10 is part of a meditation on the importance of adhering to God's word. The psalmist emphasizes a deep, personal quest for God, underlining the necessity of His commandments in guiding one's life. This verse captures a moment of vulnerability and earnestness, as the psalmist seeks divine help to remain steadfast in faith amidst the challenges of life.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Psalm 119:2–34Blessed are those who keep His testimonies and seek Him with all their heart.
2Psalm 78:37Their hearts were disloyal to Him, and they were unfaithful to His covenant.
31 Samuel 7:3Then Samuel said to all the house of Israel, “If you are returning to the LORD with all your hearts, then rid yourselves of the foreign gods and Ashtoreths among you, prepare your hearts for the LORD, and serve Him only. And He will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines.”
42 Chronicles 15:15And all Judah rejoiced over the oath, for they had sworn it with all their heart. They had sought Him earnestly, and He was found by them. So the LORD gave them rest on every side.
5Jeremiah 3:10Yet in spite of all this, her unfaithful sister Judah did not return to Me with all her heart, but only in pretense,” declares the LORD.

The Key Word דְרַשְׁתִּ֑יךָ, de.rash.Ti.khagenerated

The verb דָּרַשׁ (darash) means to seek or inquire, and in this context, it conveys a sense of earnest searching for God. The form used here is the perfect tense, indicating a completed action in the past with ongoing relevance. This reflects the psalmist's continuous effort to connect with God.

The addition of the suffix indicates that the seeking is directed towards God, emphasizing a personal relationship. This word encompasses not just a casual search, but a deep, worshipful pursuit, highlighting the psalmist's commitment to understanding and following God's ways.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

The translations of this verse agree that the psalmist has sought God with all their heart and expresses a desire not to stray from His commandments.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main verb of the verse is דְרַשְׁתִּ֑יךָ, I have sought You, which is the focal point of the psalmist’s declaration. It is supported by a prepositional phrase indicating the depth of the seeking, בְּכָל־לִבִּי, with all my heart, and followed by a negative imperative אַל־תַּ֝שְׁגֵּ֗נִי, do not let me stray, which expresses a plea.

The structure highlights the psalmist's heartfelt commitment and the urgency of the request. The arrangement emphasizes the seeking first, followed by the desire for guidance, which reflects the priorities of the psalmist's spiritual journey.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

In the Septuagint, the Hebrew דְרַשׁ is rendered as ζητήσω, meaning 'I will seek.' This choice emphasizes an active pursuit of God, aligning with the overall theme of seeking divine guidance.

The Greek translation maintains the integrity of the original Hebrew meaning while adapting it to the Greek linguistic context, which may suggest a broader sense of seeking not just knowledge but a relationship with God.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Psalm 119:10 expresses a deep desire to seek God wholeheartedly and a plea not to stray from His commandments. The psalmist emphasizes the importance of God's laws in their life and seeks divine assistance to remain faithful.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean to seek God with all my heart?

To seek God with all your heart means to pursue Him earnestly and wholeheartedly, prioritizing your relationship with Him above all else, as highlighted in Deuteronomy 4:29.

Why is it important not to stray from God's commandments?

Straying from God's commandments can lead to moral and spiritual confusion. The commandments provide guidance and direction for living a life that is pleasing to God, as seen in Psalm 119:11.

How can I seek God more effectively?

Seeking God can be enhanced through prayer, studying His word, and being part of a community that encourages spiritual growth, as demonstrated throughout the Psalms.

What does it mean to have a 'whole heart' in this context?

Having a 'whole heart' signifies total commitment and sincerity in the pursuit of God, indicating that one is not divided in their affections or priorities.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what areas of my life do I need to seek God more earnestly?
  2. How can I ensure that I am not straying from God's commandments?
  3. What practices can help me keep my heart focused on God?
  4. How does understanding the commandments as guidance change my perspective on obedience?

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

The early church fathers, including Augustine of Hippo, referenced this verse to highlight the importance of seeking God wholeheartedly and adhering to His commandments.

Augustine of HippoExposition on Psalms 119 354–430
"With my whole heart," he says, "have I sought you; O repel me not from Your commandments" [Psalms 119:10].
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 119 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Psalms 119:10 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

With my whole heart have I sought thee,.... Not himself, his own honour and applause, as formal worshippers and self-righteous persons do; but the Lord and his glory, his face, his presence, and

Read John Gill on Psalms 119 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. With my whole heart have I sought thee.

Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 119 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Deny me not thy grace and assistance, which I have so sincerely and earnestly desired, and laboured to obtain. Let me not wander, Heb. do not make me to wander, to wit, by leading me into temptation, by withdrawing thy grace, which is necessary to keep me from wandering.

Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 119 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Psalms 119:10 With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.Ver. 10. With my whole heart have I sought thee] And that of a child little, being nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, 1 Timothy 4:6. I did all the wills of God, and so became a man after his own heart, Acts 13:22. O let me not wander] As I shall surely, if thou but withdraw thy grace; for I subsist merely by thy manutension.

Read John Trapp on Psalms 119 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(10) With my whole heart . . .—The self-mistrust of the second clause is a proof of the reality of the first. “Lord, I believe; help thou my unbelief,” is another form of this.

Read Charles John Ellicott on Psalms 119 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 10. With my whole heart have I sought thee] 4. He must seek God; make earnest prayer and supplication to him for Divine light, for a tender conscience, and for strength to walk uprightly. 5. His whole heart; all his affections must be engaged here, or he cannot succeed. If he keep any affection for the idol or abomination; if his heart do not give it before the Lord, he may make many prayers, but God will answer none of them. 6. He must take care to keep in the path of duty, of abstinence and self-denial; not permitting either his eye, his hand, or his heart to wander from the commandments of his Maker.

Read AdamClarke on Psalms 119 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

10. Cp. Psalms 119:2 b. O let me not wander &c.] Let me not err through ignorance or inadvertence (Psalms 119:67; Psalms 19:12). My intention is good, but my knowledge is imperfect and my strength is small. “The self-mistrust of the second clause is a proof of the reality of the first” (Aglen).

Read Cambridge on Psalms 119 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

With my whole heart have I sought thee - See the notes at Psalms 119:2.

Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 119 →

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

With all my heart I have sought You; do not let me stray from Your commandments.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

With my whole heart I have sought you. Don’t let me wander from your commandments.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

With all my heart I have sought You; do not let me stray from Your commandments.

NETBNew English Translation2006

With all my heart I seek you. Do not allow me to stray from your commands!

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

With my whole heart have I sought thee: Oh let me not wander from thy commandments.

RVARevised Version, American1894

With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

With my whole heart haue I sought thee: let me not wander from thy commandements.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

With my whole heart have I sought thee: let me not wander from thy commandments.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

With all my heart I have sought Thee, Let me not err from Thy commands.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

I have sought You with all my heart, || Do not let me err from Your commands.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

With all my heart have I sought thee: oh let me not wander astray from thy commandments.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

With my whole heart I seek you; Do not let me stray from your commandments.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

I worship you sincerely; please don't let me stray from your commands.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

I have made search for you with all my heart: O let me not go wandering far from your teaching.

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 · prepositionalבְּwithnoun phraseכָלallnoun phraseלִבִּ֥heartיmyverbדְרַשְׁתִּ֑יIobjectךָseek.youclauseadverbialאַלdo.notverbתַּ֝שְׁגֵּ֗allowobjectנִיme.to.strayprepositional phrase · prepositionalמִfromnoun phraseמִּצְוֺתֶֽיcommandmentsךָyour

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 six of the six words matched. The Dead Sea Scrolls show one word on the leather and several others restored by an editor, indicating a degree of preservation despite some textual restoration.

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

בְּכָל־ לִבִּ֥י דְרַשְׁתִּ֑יךָ אַל־ תַּ֝שְׁגֵּ֗נִי מִמִּצְוֹתֶֽיךָ׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
בְּכָל־ὅλῃלִבִּ֥יμουדְרַשְׁתִּ֑יךָσεאַל־μὴתַּ֝שְׁגֵּ֗נִיμεמִמִּצְוֹתֶֽיךָ׃σου

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

Dead Sea Scrolls — 4Q90a copy a thousand years older than the Leningrad Codex

[בכל] לב׳י דרשתי׳ך [אל] [תשג׳ני] [ממצותי׳ך]

1 word 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 119:10כֹּלwith allwith allכֹּללֵבheart myheart myלֵבדָּרַשׁI seek youI seek youדָּרַשׁאַלmay notmay notאַלשָׁגָהyou allow tyou allow to stשָׁגָהמִצְוָהfrom commanfrom commandmenמִצְוָהכָּלַלto perfectto perfectכָּלַללֵבָבheartheartלֵבָבצָוָהto commandto commandצָוָהלֹאnotnotלֹאעֵדָהcongregaticongregationעֵדָהעֲבֹדָהserviceserviceעֲבֹדָהחָסֵרlackinglackingחָסֵרחָכָםwisewiseחָכָםבַּעַלבַּעַלחָתַתto to be dto to be dismayחָתַתיָרֵאto fearto fearיָרֵאשֵׁכָרstrong dristrong drinkשֵׁכָרתָּעָהto go astrto go astrayתָּעָהחֻקָּהstatutestatuteחֻקָּהחֹקstatute: dstatute: decreeחֹק
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 119:10

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.

with all heart my I seek you may not you allow to stray me from commandments your
בְּכָל־be.khol with all H3605 Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct
5,415× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for 'all' or 'everything' is used throughout the Bible, like in Genesis 1:31, where God sees all He has made as very good. It encompasses the entirety of something, whether people, things, or situations.
Amplified meaning
my entire being, everything
Tyndale gloss
all
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כֹּל (kol) means 'all' or 'the whole.' It can refer to totality, including every person or thing, and is often used with a following genitive to specify what is included. The term can also denote a broader sense of everything in existence or all circumstances of life. The lexicons do not show significant disagreement on its meanings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כֹּל once כּוֹל n.m. the whole, all

with foll. gen. (as usually) the whole of, to be rendered, however, often in our idiom, to avoid stiffness, any or every

Absolutely:

without the art., all things, all

with the art. הַכֹּל

where the sense is limited by the context to things (or persons) just mentioned

in a wider sense, all, whether of all mankind or of all living things, the universe, or of all the circumstances of life (chiefly late)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3605 כֹּל once כּוֹל the whole, all . with foll. gen. (as usually) the whole of, to be rendered, however, often in our idiom, to avoid stiffness, any or every

. Absolutely: . without the art., all things, all

. with the art. הַכֹּל . where the sense is limited by the context to things (or persons) just mentioned

. in a wider sense, all, whether of all mankind or of all living things, the universe, or of all the circumstances of life (chiefly late)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3605 kol kole

or (Jer. 33:8) kowl {kole}; from 3634; properly, the whole;

hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a

plural sense):--(in) all (manner, (ye)), altogether, any

(manner), enough, every (one, place, thing), howsoever, as

many as, (no-)thing, ought, whatsoever, (the) whole,

whoso(-ever).

see HEBREW for 03634

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כֹּל (kol) — all.

1) all, the whole

1a) all, the whole of

1b) any, each, every, anything

1c) totality, everything

Aramaic equivalent: kol (כֹּל "all" H3606)

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

ol: Used in various combinations, and with different meanings.

(1) All along, "Weeping all along as he went" (Jer 41:6), i.e. throughout the whole way he went, feigning equal concern with the men from Shiloh, etc., for the destruction of the Temple, so as to put them off their guard.

(2) All in all, "That God may be all in all" (1Co 15:28, Greek: panta en pasin, "all things in all (persons and) things"). "The universe, with all it comprises, will wholly answer to God's will and reflect His mind" (Dummelow).

(3) All one, "It is all one" (Job 9:22), "it makes no difference whether I live or die."

(4) At all, "If thy father miss me at all" (1Sa 20:6), "in any way," "in the least."

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
with all heart my I seek you may not you allow to stray me from commandments your
לִבִּ֥יli.Bi heart my 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 self, feelings, will, and intellect
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/Sp1bs
with all heart my I seek you may not you allow to stray me from commandments your
דְרַשְׁתִּ֑יךָde.rash.Ti.kha I seek you H1875 Verb qal perfect first person common singular · suffix
164× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To seek or ask is the meaning of this Hebrew word, often used to describe seeking God or worshiping him. It can also mean to investigate or enquire about something.
Amplified meaning
searched for, worshiped, asked
Tyndale gloss
to seek
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

דָּרַשׁ (darash) is a Hebrew verb meaning to seek or inquire. It encompasses a range of actions from frequenting a place to consulting deities in prayer and worship. The word can imply a diligent search or demand, and it appears in both Qal and Niphal forms, indicating various nuances of seeking and being sought. The entries do not present any significant disagreement.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

דָּרַשׁ 162 vb. resort to, seek

Qal

(tread a place,) resort to, frequent

seek, consult, inquire of

seek deity in prayer and worship

seek, with idea of demanding, require

inquire, investigate (a matter)

ask for, require, demand

seek with application, study, follow, practise

seek with care, care for

Niph.

let oneself be inquired of, consulted, only of God

be sought out

be required, of blood

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1875 דָּרַשׁ resort to, seek

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1875 darash daw-rash'

a primitive root; properly, to tread or frequent; usually to

follow (for pursuit or search); by implication, to seek or

ask; specifically to worship:--ask, X at all, care for, X

diligently, inquire, make inquisition, (necro-)mancer,

question, require, search, seek (for, out), X surely.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

דָּרַשׁ (da.rash) — to seek.

1) to resort to, seek, seek with care, enquire, require

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to resort to, frequent (a place), (tread a place)

1a2) to consult, enquire of, seek

1a2a) of God

1a2b) of heathen gods, necromancers

1a3) to seek deity in prayer and worship

1a3a) God

1a3b) heathen deities

1a4) to seek (with a demand), demand, require

1a5) to investigate, enquire

1a6) to ask for, require, demand

1a7) to practice, study, follow, seek with application

1a8) to seek with care, care for

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to allow oneself to be enquired of, consulted (only of God)

1b2) to be sought, be sought out

1b3) to be required (of blood)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Perf-1cs | Suff — Verb qal perfect first person common singular · suffix
HVqp1cs/Sp2ms
with all heart my I seek you may not you allow to stray me from commandments your
אַל־'al- may not H408 Particle
724× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Means not or nothing, used to express negation, as in the phrase do not or let not be.
Amplified meaning
let it not be
Tyndale gloss
not
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אַל (al) is a negative particle meaning 'not' or 'no,' often used to express a wish or prohibition rather than an objective fact. It can also function as a noun meaning 'nothing.' The lexicons highlight its use in various contexts, including deprecative forms, but do not show significant disagreement.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אַל adv. of negation, denying however, not objectively as a fact, but subjectively as a wish, expressing therefore a deprecation or prohibition

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H408 אַל adv. of negation, denying however, not objectively as a fact, but subjectively as a wish, expressing therefore a deprecation or prohibition

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

408 'al al

a negative particle (akin to 3808); not (the qualified

negation, used as a deprecative); once (Job 24:25) as a noun,

nothing:--nay, neither, + never, no ,nor, not, nothing

(worth), rather than.

see HEBREW for 03808

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אַל (al) — not.

1) not, no, nor, neither, nothing (as wish or preference)

1a) do not, let not (with a verb)

1b) let there not be (with a verb understood)

1c) not, no (with substantive)

1d) nothing (as substantive)

Aramaic equivalent: al (אַל "not" H0409)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Part — Particle
HTn
with all heart my I seek you may not you allow to stray me from commandments your
תַּ֝שְׁגֵּ֗נִיtash.Ge.ni you allow to stray me H7686 Verb hiphil imperfect second person masculine singular · suffix
21× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means to wander or stray, often used to describe someone who has made a moral mistake or is drunk, like in Proverbs 5:23. It can also mean to lead someone astray.
Amplified meaning
wander, err, go astray
Tyndale gloss
to wander
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שָׁגָה (shagah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to stray or err, often in a moral or mental sense. It can refer to wandering off course, committing sins of ignorance, or leading others astray. The entries highlight its use in both a literal and figurative context, including the idea of intoxication or being enraptured.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[שָׁגָה] vb. go astray, err

Qal

err, stray, of flock

swerve, meander, reel or roll

go astray

specif. commit sin of ignorance, inadvertence

Hiph. lead astray

lit.

mentally = mislead

morally

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7686 [שָׁגָה] go astray, err .. err, stray, of flock

. swerve, meander, reel or roll

. go astray

. specif. commit sin of ignorance, inadvertence

. lead astray . lit.

. mentally = mislead

. morally

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7686 shagah shaw-gaw'

a primitive root; to stray (causatively, mislead), usually

(figuratively) to mistake, especially (morally) to transgress;

by extension (through the idea of intoxication) to reel,

(figuratively) be enraptured:--(cause to) go astray, deceive,

err, be ravished, sin through ignorance, (let, make to)

wander.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שָׁגָה (sha.gah) — to wander.

1) to go astray, stray, err

1a)(Qal)

1a1) to err, stray

1a2) to swerve, meander, reel, roll, be intoxicated, err (in drunkenness)

1a3) to go astray (morally)

1a4) to commit sin of ignorance or inadvertence, err (ignorantly)

1b) (Hiphil)

1b1) to lead astray

1b2) to lead astray, mislead (mentally)

1b3) to lead astray (morally)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Hiphil-Juss-2ms | Suff — Verb hiphil imperfect second person masculine singular · suffix
HVhi2ms/Sp1bs
with all heart my I seek you may not you allow to stray me from commandments your
מִמִּצְוֹתֶֽיךָ׃mi.mitz.vo.Tei.kha from commandments your H4687 Preposition · noun common feminine plural construct · suffix
182× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means a command or law given by God or humans, as seen in the Bible's rules and guidelines. It appears in books like Exodus and Deuteronomy. The commandments guide people's actions.
Amplified meaning
laws, teachings, guidelines
Tyndale gloss
commandment
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מִצְוָה (mitsvah) means 'commandment' and can refer to commands from both humans and God. It encompasses laws, ordinances, and precepts, indicating a range of directives within religious and moral contexts. The term is derived from a root meaning to command, linking it to the broader framework of divine law.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מִצְוָה 181 n.f. commandment

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4687 מִצְוָה commandment

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4687 mitsvah mits-vaw'

from 6680; a command, whether human or divine (collectively,

the Law):--(which was) commanded(-ment), law, ordinance,

precept.

see HEBREW for 06680

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מִצְוָה (mits.vah) — commandment.

1) commandment

1a) commandment (of man)

1b) the commandment (of God)

1c) commandment (of code of wisdom)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-fp | Suff — Preposition · noun common feminine plural construct · suffix
HR/Ncfpc/Sp2ms
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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