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Psalms 119:125 — Word Study

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WLCעַבְדְּךָ־ אָ֥נִי הֲבִינֵ֑נִי וְ֝אֵדְעָ֗ה עֵדֹתֶֽיךָ׃

BSAIʼănîy [your humble servant, one who serves you] am Your servantʻebed give me understandingbîyn [grant me, enable me to have, discernment, wisdom to know] that I may knowyâdaʻ [learn, perceive, ascertain by seeing] Your testimoniesʻêdâh [divine witness, unchanging word, instructions]

Word
Listen & take awayPsalms 119
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 125 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 ('e.do.Tei.kha) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Psalms 119:125quick helps
In a sentenceThe psalmist identifies himself as God's servant and asks for understanding to know God's testimonies.
Who is speakingThe psalmist, expressing his humble position before God.
Where we areIn a meditation on the relationship between the servant and God, emphasizing the need for divine insight.
The hard wordעַבְדְּךָ־
Take awayUnderstanding is sought to grasp God's instructions.
7 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Trapp, AdamClarke & more — read them › clause subjectאֲנִי 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 119:125

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 Prayer for Understandinggenerated

124Deal with Your servant according to Your loving devotion, and teach me Your statutes.
125I am Your servant; give me understanding, that I may know Your testimonies.
126It is time for the LORD to act, for they have broken Your law.
127Therefore I love Your commandments more than gold, even the purest gold.

Psalm 119:125 is part of a larger meditation on the psalmist's relationship with God and His laws. The psalmist expresses his identity as a servant of God and seeks understanding to better comprehend God's testimonies. This verse highlights the importance of divine insight in living according to God's will, as seen in the surrounding verses that emphasize God's loving devotion and commandments.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Psalm 119:94I am Yours; save me, for I have sought Your precepts.
2Psalm 86:16Turn to me and have mercy; grant Your strength to Your servant; save the son of Your maidservant.
3Psalm 116:16Truly, O LORD, I am Your servant; I am Your servant, the son of Your maidservant; You have broken my bonds.
4Romans 6:22But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the fruit you reap leads to holiness, and the outcome is eternal life.
5Psalm 119:34–66Give me understanding that I may obey Your law, and follow it with all my heart.

The Key Word עַבְדְּךָ־, 'av.de.kha-generated

The word עֶ֫בֶד (*ebed*) means 'servant' or 'slave', and it reflects a range of roles including that of a servant to God or a human master. In this context, it emphasizes the psalmist's humble position as a servant of the Lord, indicating dedication and submission.

The parsing as a noun in the singular construct form shows that it is a specific reference to the psalmist's role. This word often denotes a person in service, particularly in a religious context, indicating a relationship of dependence and loyalty.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

Translations generally agree on the meaning of the verse, conveying the psalmist's plea for understanding as a servant of God.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The structure of the verse centers around the finite verb הֲבִינֵ֑נִי, give me understanding, which governs the request for knowledge. The subject is the psalmist, and two clauses follow: one requesting understanding and the other expressing the desire to know God's testimonies.

The word order emphasizes the psalmist's identity as a servant, placing it at the beginning, which highlights his humble position and sets the tone for the request that follows.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

In the Septuagint, the Hebrew word עֶ֫בֶד is rendered as σού, which maintains the servant theme but can imply a broader sense of belonging to God. This choice reflects the translators' understanding of the servant's role in relation to divine authority.

The verb הֲבִינֵ֑נִי corresponds to με, indicating a direct request for understanding, which aligns closely with the Hebrew intent.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Psalm 119:125 shows the psalmist asking God for understanding so he can know God's testimonies. He identifies himself as God's servant, emphasizing his desire to learn and follow God's instructions.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean to be a servant of God?

Being a servant of God implies a relationship of submission and dedication to God's will, often involving a commitment to follow His commandments.

Why is understanding important in this verse?

Understanding is essential for the psalmist to know and follow God's testimonies, which guide his life and actions.

How does this verse relate to other parts of Psalm 119?

This verse reflects the overarching theme of Psalm 119, which emphasizes the importance of God's laws and the desire for wisdom to follow them.

What can we learn from the psalmist's request?

The psalmist's request teaches us the value of seeking God's guidance and understanding in our lives, recognizing our dependence on Him.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what ways can I identify myself as a servant of God in my daily life?
  2. How can I seek understanding of God's word more actively?
  3. What steps can I take to better know and follow God's testimonies?
  4. How does understanding God's instructions impact my relationship with Him?

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

Early church fathers such as Augustine of Hippo reference this verse to discuss the need for divine understanding in following God's commands.

Augustine of HippoExposition on Psalms 119 354–430
"I am Your servant. O grant me understanding, that I may know Your testimonies" [Psalms 119:125]. This petition must never be intermitted.
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 119 →
Augustine of HippoLETTER 177 354–430
There has to be a distinction between the law and grace. The law knows how to command; grace, how to help. The law would not command if there were no free will, nor would grace help if the will were sufficient.
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 119 →
John CassianCONFERENCE 3:15 c. 360–435
The blessed David asks the Lord for that very understanding by which he can recognize God’s commands, which he well knew were written in the book of the law,
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 119 →

Commentators on this verse — 7 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Psalms 119:125 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

I [am] thy servant,.... Not only by creation, but by grace; and as he had a work to do, he desires to know what it was; and as it was proper he should know his Master's will, he applies to him for

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

I am thy servant; give me understanding, that I may know thy testimonies.

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

Psalms 119:125 I [am] thy servant; give me understanding, that I may know thy testimonies.Ver. 125. I am thy servant, give me understanding] I have voluntarily hired myself unto thee, chosen the things that please thee, and taken hold of the covenant, loving to be thy servant, Isaiah 56:4; Isaiah 56:6. Now, this is all the wages I crave of thee, "Give me understanding," &c. This David speaketh, saith one, in a real and heavenly complement with his Maker. That I may know thy testimonies] Work done in the dark must be undone again; David, therefore, would fully know his Master’ s mind, that he might acceptably do it.

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

Verse 125. I am thy servant] See on Psalms 119:94.

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

121–128. Ayin. It is time for Jehovah to interpose on behalf of His servant, but the faithlessness of men only confirms his love for the law.

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

I am thy servant - See the notes at Psalms 116:16. Give me understanding, that I may know thy testimonies - Since I am thy servant, instruct me in the knowledge of thy will.

Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 119 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

ò, Ayin.121-128. Leave me not to mine oppressors—Let “him that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall.” Such is the line of thought in this division. In the pressure of evil the strongest has feelings of weakness.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon 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

I am Your servant; give me understanding, that I may know Your testimonies.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

I am your servant. Give me understanding, that I may know your testimonies.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

I am Your servant; give me understanding, that I may know Your testimonies.

NETBNew English Translation2006

I am your servant. Give me insight, so that I can understand your rules.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

I am thy servant; give me understanding, that I may know thy testimonies.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

I am thy servant; give me understanding, That I may know thy testimonies.

RVARevised Version, American1894

I am thy servant, give me understanding; that I may know thy testimonies.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

I am thy servant; give me understanding, that I may know thy testimonies.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

I am thy seruant: graunt mee therefore vnderstanding, that I may knowe thy testimonies.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

I am thy servant; give me understanding that I may know thy testimonies.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

Thy servant [am] I — cause me to understand, And I know Thy testimonies.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

I [am] Your servant—cause me to understand, || And I know Your testimonies.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

I am thy servant: give me understanding, that I may know thy testimonies.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

I am your servant; give me understanding so that I may know your covenant decrees.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

I am your servant. Please give me discernment so I can understand your instructions.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

I am your servant; give me wisdom, so that I may have knowledge of your unchanging word.

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.

clausenoun phrase · predicateעַבְדְּservantךָ[am].yoursubjectאָ֥נִיIclauseverbהֲבִינֵ֑giveobjectנִיme.understandingוְ֝soclauseverbאֵדְעָ֗הthat.I.may.knownoun phrase · objectעֵדֹתֶֽיtestimoniesךָyour

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


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

The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint agree on the wording of this verse, with all five words matched in the Hebrew and Greek versions. This consistency underscores the shared understanding of the psalmist's plea for divine insight.

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

עַבְדְּךָ־ אָ֥נִי הֲבִינֵ֑נִי וְ֝אֵדְעָ֗ה עֵדֹתֶֽיךָ׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
עַבְדְּךָ־σούאָ֥נִיεἰμιהֲבִינֵ֑נִיμεוְ֝אֵדְעָ֗הγνώσομαιעֵדֹתֶֽיךָ׃σου

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

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


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

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

Psalms 119:125עֶ֫בֶד[am] servan[am] servant yoעֶ֫בֶדאֲנִיIIאֲנִיבִּיןgive undersgive understandבִּיןיָדַעso let me kso let me knowיָדַעעֵדָהtestimoniestestimonies youעֵדָהעָבַדto serveto serveעָבַדאָֽנֹכִ֫יIIאָֽנֹכִ֫יעֵדwitnesswitnessעֵדעֵדָהcongregaticongregationעֵדָהאָמָהmaidservanmaidservantאָמָהשִׁפְחָהmaidservanmaidservantשִׁפְחָהנְאֻםutteranceutteranceנְאֻםיָדַעto knowto knowיָדַעדַּ֫עַתknowledgeknowledgeדַּ֫עַתחָכָםwisewiseחָכָםאֲנִיIIאֲנִיבִּיןto understto understandבִּיןנָצַרto watchto watchנָצַרחֹקstatute: 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 119:125

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.

[am] servant your I give understanding me so let me know testimonies your
עַבְדְּךָ־'av.de.kha- [am] servant your H5650 Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
801× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to a servant or slave, often in the context of serving God or a human master. It can also describe a prophet or Levite. The KJV translates it as bondage, bondman, or servant.
Tyndale gloss
servant/slave
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word עֶ֫בֶד (*ebed*) means 'slave' or 'servant' and encompasses various roles, including household servants, subjects, and worshippers of God. It can also refer to Israel as a collective servant of God and is used in polite address among equals. The word is derived from a root meaning 'to work' or 'to serve'.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עֶ֫בֶד 799 n.m. slave, servant

slave, servant of household

Subjects, of chief

Servants, worshippers of God

Servant of י׳, in a special sense

Israel as a people is servant of י׳

In polite address of equals or superiors the Hebrews used עַבְדְּךָ thy servant = 1 pers. sing., I

Phrases

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5650 עֶ֫בֶד slave, servant . slave, servant of household

. Subjects, of chief

. Servants, worshippers of God

. Servant of י׳, in a special sense

. Israel as a people is servant of י׳

. In polite address of equals or superiors the Hebrews used עַבְדְּךָ thy servant = 1 pers. sing., I

. Phrases

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5650 `ebed eh'-bed

from 5647; a servant:--X bondage, bondman, (bond-)servant,

(man-)servant.

see HEBREW for 05647

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עֶ֫בֶד (e.ved) — servant/slave.

1) slave, servant

1a) slave, servant, man-servant

1b) subjects

1c) servants, worshippers (of God)

1d) servant (in special sense as prophets, Levites etc)

1e) servant (of Israel)

1f) servant (as form of address between equals)

Aramaic equivalent: a.vad (עֲבַד "servant/slave" H5649)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
HNcmsc/Sp2ms
[am] servant your I give understanding me so let me know testimonies your
אָ֥נִי'A.ni I H589 Pronoun
874× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word is a simple way of saying 'I' or 'me', often used for emphasis. It is used by people like David in the Psalms to express their thoughts and feelings. The word is a basic part of the Hebrew language.
Amplified meaning
your humble servant, one who serves you
Tyndale gloss
I
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אֲנִי, transliterated as aniy, is a first-person singular pronoun meaning 'I' or 'me.' It is often used for emphasis and can also imply possession, as in 'mine' or 'myself.' The word is derived from a form that indicates self-reference, and it appears in various contexts throughout the Old Testament.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֲנִי, אָ֑נִי pron. 1s. comm. I

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H589 אֲנִי, אָ֑נִי I

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

589 'aniy an-ee'

contracted from 595; I:--I, (as for) me, mine, myself, we, X

which, X who.

see HEBREW for 0595

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֲנִי (a.ni) — I.

I (first pers. sing. -usually used for emphasis)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Pron — Pronoun
HPp1bs
[am] servant your I give understanding me so let me know testimonies your
הֲבִינֵ֑נִיha.vi.Ne.ni give understanding me H995 Verb hiphil imperative second person masculine singular · suffix
170× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To understand or discern, this verb means to separate mentally and know something with your mind, as seen in Proverbs where it talks about gaining insight.
Amplified meaning
grant me, enable me to have, discernment, wisdom to know
Tyndale gloss
to understand
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

בִּין (biyn) is a Hebrew verb meaning to discern or understand. It encompasses a range of meanings including perceiving, considering, and teaching, with various forms indicating different nuances, such as being intelligent or discreet. The entries highlight its use in contexts requiring mental separation or insight, but do not present any significant disagreement among lexicographers.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

בִּין vb. discern

Qal

perceive

understand, know (with mind)

observe, mark, give heed to, distinguish, consider (with attention)

have discernment, insight, understanding

Niph. be intelligent, discreet, discerning, distinguish, have understanding

Po. he attentively considereth him

Hiph.

understand

give heed to, attend to, observe, discern

give understanding, make understand, teach

Hithp.

shew oneself attentive, consider diligently

get understanding, understand

shew oneself to have understanding

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H995 בִּין discern .. perceive

. understand, know (with mind)

. observe, mark, give heed to, distinguish, consider (with attention)

. have discernment, insight, understanding

. be intelligent, discreet, discerning, distinguish, have understanding

. he attentively considereth him

. . understand

. give heed to, attend to, observe, discern

. give understanding, make understand, teach

. . shew oneself attentive, consider diligently

. get understanding, understand

. shew oneself to have understanding

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

995 biyn bene

a primitive root; to separate mentally (or distinguish),

i.e.(generally) understand:--attend, consider, be cunning,

diligently, direct, discern, eloquent, feel, inform, instruct,

have intelligence, know, look well to, mark, perceive, be

prudent, regard, (can) skill(-full), teach, think, (cause,

make to, get, give, have) understand(-ing), view, (deal)

wise(-ly, man).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בִּין (bin) — to understand.

1) to discern, understand, consider

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to perceive, discern

1a2) to understand, know (with the mind)

1a3) to observe, mark, give heed to, distinguish, consider

1a4) to have discernment, insight, understanding

1b) (Niphal) to be discerning, intelligent, discreet, have understanding

1c) (Hiphil)

1c1) to understand

1c2) to cause to understand, give understanding, teach

1d) (Hithpolel) to show oneself discerning or attentive, consider diligently

1e) (Polel) to teach, instruct

2) (TWOT) prudent, regard

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Hiphil-Impv-2ms | Suff — Verb hiphil imperative second person masculine singular · suffix
HVhv2ms/Sp1bs
[am] servant your I give understanding me so let me know testimonies your
וְ֝אֵדְעָ֗הve.'e.de.'Ah so let me know H3045 Conjunction · verb qal infinitive construct first person common singular
945× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for to know means to ascertain by seeing, and is used in many senses, including to learn, perceive, and recognize, as seen in various KJV translations.
Amplified meaning
learn, perceive, ascertain by seeing
Tyndale gloss
to know
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יָדַע (yada`) is a Hebrew verb meaning 'to know,' encompassing a wide range of senses including perception, recognition, and experience. It can refer to knowing someone intimately or being skilled in a task. The word has various forms, indicating actions such as making known or being made known. Lexicons note its use in both literal and figurative contexts, but there is no significant disagreement among them.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יָדַע 943 vb. know

Qal

know, learn to know

perceive

perceive and see; find out and discern

discriminate, distinguish

know by experience

recognize, admit, acknowledge, confess

consider

not know = not expect

know a person, be acquainted with

know a person carnally, of sexual intercourse

know how, to do a thing, be able to do it

be skilful in

abs. have knowledge, be wise

Niph.

be made known, be or become known, of things

make oneself known of pers.

be perceived

be instructed

Pi. cause to know

Pu. known

Hiph. make known, declare

Hoph. made known

Hithp. make oneself known

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3045 יָדַע know .. . know, learn to know

. perceive

. perceive and see; find out and discern

. discriminate, distinguish

. know by experience

. recognize, admit, acknowledge, confess

. consider

. not know = not expect

. know a person, be acquainted with

. know a person carnally, of sexual intercourse

. . know how, to do a thing, be able to do it

. be skilful in

. abs. have knowledge, be wise

. . be made known, be or become known, of things

. make oneself known of pers.

. be perceived

. be instructed

. cause to know

. known

. make known, declare

. made known

. make oneself known

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3045 yada` yaw-dah'

a primitive root; to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing);

used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally,

euphemistically and inferentially (including observation,

care, recognition; and causatively, instruction, designation,

punishment, etc.) (as follow):--acknowledge, acquaintance(-ted

with), advise, answer, appoint, assuredly, be aware,

(un-)awares, can(-not), certainly, comprehend, consider, X

could they, cunning, declare, be diligent, (can, cause to)

discern, discover, endued with, familiar friend, famous, feel,

can have, be (ig-)norant, instruct, kinsfolk, kinsman, (cause

to let, make) know, (come to give, have, take) knowledge, have

(knowledge), (be, make, make to be, make self) known, + be

learned, + lie by man, mark, perceive, privy to, X

prognosticator, regard, have respect, skilful, shew, can (man

of) skill, be sure, of a surety, teach, (can) tell,

Read the full entry →
Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יָדַע (ya.da) — to know.

1) to know

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to know

1a1a) to know, learn to know

1a1b) to perceive

1a1c) to perceive and see, find out and discern

1a1d) to discriminate, distinguish

1a1e) to know by experience

1a1f) to recognise, admit, acknowledge, confess

1a1g) to consider

1a2) to know, be acquainted with

1a3) to know (a person carnally)

1a4) to know how, be skilful in

1a5) to have knowledge, be wise

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be made known, be or become known, be revealed

1b2) to make oneself known

1b3) to be perceived

1b4) to be instructed

1c) (Piel) to cause to know

1d) (Poal) to cause to know

1e) (Pual)

1e1) to be known

1e2) known, one known, acquaintance (participle)

1f) (Hiphil) to make known, declare

1g) (Hophal) to be made known

1h) (Hithpael) to make oneself known, reveal oneself

Aramaic equivalent: ye.da (יְדַע "to know" H3046)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-1cs — Conjunction · verb qal infinitive construct first person common singular
HC/Vqc1cs
[am] servant your I give understanding me so let me know testimonies your
עֵדֹתֶֽיךָ׃'e.do.Tei.kha testimonies your H5713 Noun common feminine plural construct · suffix
26× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to a divine testimony or witness, always in the plural form, and is used to describe God's laws. It appears in books like Exodus and Deuteronomy, emphasizing God's instructions. The word is about God's guidance.
Amplified meaning
divine witness, unchanging word, instructions
Tyndale gloss
witness
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עֵדָה (edah) refers to 'testimony' or 'witness' and is noted for being used only in the plural form in the context of divine testimonies. It is derived from the feminine form of another Hebrew word, עֵד (ed), which also relates to witness. The entries consistently emphasize its technical sense in legal and religious contexts.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עֵדָה n.f. testimony, witness

base

[עֵדָה] n.f. only pl. MT testimonies

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5713a עֵדָה testimony, witness H5713b עֵדָה only pl. MT testimonies

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5713 `edah ay-daw'

feminine of 5707 in its techn. sense; testimony:--

testimony, witness. Compare 5712.

see HEBREW for 05707

see HEBREW for 05712

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עֵדָה (e.dah) — witness.

testimony, witness

עֵדָה (e.dah) — testimony.

always plural and always of laws as divine testimonies

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fp | Suff — Noun common feminine plural construct · suffix
HNcfpc/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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