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Psalms 119:171 — Word Study

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WLCתַּבַּ֣עְנָה שְׂפָתַ֣י תְּהִלָּ֑ה כִּ֖י תְלַמְּדֵ֣נִי חֻקֶּֽיךָ׃

BSAMy lipssâphâh [to utter, speak forth] pour forthnâbaʻ [to bubble, gush forth] praisetᵉhillâh [a song of praise, hymn] forkîy [because, since] You teach melâmad [to guide, instruct] Your statuteschôq [decrees, laws, divine rules]

Word
Listen & take awayPsalms 119
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 171 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 (chu.Kei.cha) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Psalms 119:171quick helps
In a sentenceThe psalmist expresses a desire for his lips to overflow with praise because God teaches him His laws.
Who is speakingThe psalmist, speaking directly to God.
Where we areIn a section of Psalm 119 that focuses on the importance of God's teachings.
The hard wordתַּבַּ֣עְנָה
Take awayPraise is an expression of gratitude for divine instruction.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Trapp, Ellicott & more — read them › clause verbנָבַע 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 119:171

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 Importance of God's Teachingsgenerated

170May my plea come before You; rescue me according to Your promise.
171My lips pour forth praise, for You teach me Your statutes.
172My tongue sings of Your word, for all Your commandments are righteous.
173May Your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen Your precepts.

Psalm 119:171 is part of a larger meditation on the psalmist's relationship with God's laws. The verses surrounding it emphasize a deep yearning for divine guidance and the joy that comes from understanding God's decrees. This section highlights the transformative power of God's teachings in the life of the believer.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Psalm 119:7I will praise You with an upright heart when I learn Your righteous judgments.
2Psalm 50:23He who sacrifices a thank offering honors Me, and to him who rights his way, I will show the salvation of God.”
3Psalm 71:17–23O God, You have taught me from my youth, and to this day I proclaim Your marvelous deeds.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 3 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word תַּבַּ֣עְנָה, ta.Ba'.nahgenerated

The verb נָבַע (naba`) is a Hiphil imperfect form meaning 'may they pour forth.' It conveys the idea of bubbling up or gushing forth, suggesting a spontaneous and abundant expression of praise.

In this context, the psalmist's lips are depicted as a source of praise, indicating that the act of praising God is both a response to His instruction and a natural overflow of gratitude. The Hiphil form indicates that this action is initiated by an external influence, namely God's teaching.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

Translations generally agree on the meaning of the verse, with terms like pour forth and praise consistently used across versions such as the BSB, KJV, ASV, YLT, WEB, and BBE.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main verb of the verse is תַּבַּ֣עְנָה, may they pour forth, which governs the subject שְׂפָתַ֣י, my lips, and the object תְּהִלָּ֑ה, praise. This structure emphasizes the action of the lips as they express praise.

The clause structure reflects a cause-and-effect relationship, where the act of praising is directly linked to God's teaching, indicated by the conjunction כִּ֖י, for.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates תַּבַּ֣עְנָה as ἐχερεύχαιντο, which suggests a similar meaning of 'to cry out' or 'to call out.' This choice emphasizes the vocal expression of praise.

This rendering aligns with the overall theme of the psalm, which highlights the importance of vocalizing one's gratitude and devotion to God.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Psalm 119:171 expresses the psalmist's desire for his lips to overflow with praise because God teaches him His laws. This verse highlights the joy of learning from God and the natural response of gratitude through praise.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean for my lips to pour forth praise?

It means expressing gratitude and adoration to God, often through song or spoken words, as a response to His teachings.

Why is teaching important in this verse?

Teaching is essential because it guides the believer in understanding God's laws, which inspires a heartfelt response of praise.

How can I express praise in my life?

You can express praise through prayer, singing, and sharing your gratitude for God's guidance and teachings.

What role do God's statutes play in my relationship with Him?

God's statutes provide direction and understanding, helping you to live in a way that honors Him and reflects His character.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what ways can I ensure that my praise for God is a natural overflow of my understanding of His teachings?
  2. How does learning about God's statutes deepen my relationship with Him?
  3. What are some specific ways I can express my gratitude to God for His guidance?
  4. How can I encourage others to praise God for His teachings in their lives?

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

The early Church Fathers, such as Augustine of Hippo, comment on this verse to emphasize the importance of divine teaching in inspiring praise.

Augustine of HippoExposition on Psalms 119 354–430
"My lips shall burst forth praise: when You have taught me Your righteousnesses" [Psalms 119:171]. We know how God teaches those who are docile unto God.
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 119 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Psalms 119:171 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

My lips shall utter praise,.... Like water flowing from a fountain, as the word (m) signifies.

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

My lips shall utter praise, when thou hast taught me thy statutes. My lips shall utter praise - literally, 'shall pour forth praises as from a bubbling, overflowing fountain' (Psalms 19:2, note; 78:2).

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

Psalms 119:171 My lips shall utter praise, when thou hast taught me thy statutes.Ver. 171. My lips shall utter praise] Eructabunt labia mea hymnum. A metaphor either from a fountain casting out waters; vel a ructu qui eibum copiosum sequitur. Semper, et hilariter.

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

TAU. (171) Shall utter.—Better, preserving the metaphor of the Hebrew, pour forth a stream of praise.

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

Verse 171. My lips shall utter praise] תהלה tehillah, a song of praise.

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

169–176. Tâv. Concluding petitions for understanding and deliverance, for the grace of thankfulness, for help and guidance.

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

My lips shall utter praise, when thou hast taught me thy statutes - The sentiment here is the same as in Psalms 119:7.

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

ú, Tav.169-176. Let thine hand help me—Finally, the two great wants of man, strength of soul to live righteously and deliverance from outward evils, are rehearsed. The writer is persecuted for his faith.

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

My lips pour forth praise, for You teach me Your statutes.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Let my lips utter praise, for you teach me your statutes.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

My lips pour forth praise, for You teach me Your statutes.

NETBNew English Translation2006

May praise flow freely from my lips, for you teach me your statutes.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

My lips shall utter praise, when thou hast taught me thy statutes.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

Let my lips utter praise; For thou teachest me thy statutes.

RVARevised Version, American1894

Let my lips utter praise; for thou teachest me thy statutes.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

My lips shall utter praise, when thou hast taught me thy statutes.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

My lippes shall speake praise, when thou hast taught me thy statutes.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

My lips shall pour forth praise when thou hast taught me thy statutes.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

My lips do utter praise, For Thou dost teach me Thy statutes.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

My lips utter praise, || For You teach me Your statutes.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

My lips shall utter praise; because thou wilt teach me thy statutes.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

May my lips pour out praise, for you teach me your statutes.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

Let me pour out my words of praise, for you teach me what to do.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

Let my lips be flowing with praise, because you have given me knowledge of your rules.

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.

clauseverbתַּבַּ֣עְנָהmay.they.pour.forthnoun phrase · subjectשְׂפָתַ֣lipsיmyobjectתְּהִלָּ֑הpraiseכִּ֖י(dm)clauseverbתְלַמְּדֵ֣youobjectנִיteach.menoun phrase · second objectחֻקֶּֽיdecreesךָyour

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


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

The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint align closely, with all words matched. The Dead Sea Scrolls also support the same wording, confirming the consistency of this verse across ancient witnesses.

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

תַּבַּ֣עְנָה שְׂפָתַ֣י תְּהִלָּ֑ה כִּ֖י תְלַמְּדֵ֣נִי חֻקֶּֽיךָ׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
תַּבַּ֣עְנָהἐχερεύχαιντοשְׂפָתַ֣יμουתְּהִלָּ֑הὕμνονכִּ֖יὅτανתְלַמְּדֵ֣נִיμεחֻקֶּֽיךָ׃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 — 11Q5a copy a thousand years older than the Leningrad Codex

תבענה שפת׳י תהלה ל׳כה כי תלמד׳ני חוקי׳כה

7 words on the leather.

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 119:171נָבַעmay they pomay they pour fנָבַעשָׂפָהlips mylips myשָׂפָהתְּהִלָּהpraisepraiseתְּהִלָּהכִּיforforכִּילָמַדyou teach myou teach meלָמַדחֹקdecrees youdecrees yourחֹקסָפָהto snatchto snatchסָפָההָלַלto shineto shineהָלַלחָקַקto decreeto decreeחָקַקשָׂפָהlipslipsשָׂפָהפֶּהliplipפֶּהיְרִיעָהcurtaincurtainיְרִיעָהלָשׁוֹןtonguetongueלָשׁוֹןתִּפְאָרָהbeautybeautyתִּפְאָרָהשִׁירsongsongשִׁיריָדַעto knowto knowיָדַעחֹקstatute: dstatute: decreeחֹקלָמַדto learn: to learn: teachלָמַדמִצְוָהcommandmencommandmentמִצְוָה
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 119:171

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.

may they pour forth lips my praise for you teach me decrees your
תַּבַּ֣עְנָהta.Ba'.nah may they pour forth H5042 Verb · Hiphil · imperfect third person feminine plural
11× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To bubble means to gush forth, like water or words, and can also mean to utter good or bad things, as seen in various KJV translations.
Amplified meaning
to bubble, gush forth
Tyndale gloss
to bubble
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

נָבַע (naba`) is a primitive root meaning to gush forth or bubble up. It encompasses actions like flowing, pouring out, and emitting, with uses in both literal and figurative contexts, including the utterance of words. The entries indicate that it can also refer to producing a foul odor, as in belching forth.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[נָבַע] vb. flow, spring, bubble up, poet. and late

Qal a flowing wady

Hiph. pour out, emit, cause to bubble, belch forth

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5042 נָבַע

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5042 naba` naw-bah'

a primitive root; to gush forth; figuratively, to utter (good

or bad words); specifically, to emit (a foul odor):--belch

out, flowing, pour out, send forth, utter (abundantly).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נָבַע (na.va) — to bubble.

1) to flow, pour out, pour, gush forth, spring, bubble up, ferment

1a) (Qal) to flow

1b)(Hiphil) to pour out, emit, cause to bubble, belch forth

1b1) to pour out

1b2) to cause to bubble, ferment

1b3) to pour forth, emit, belch forth

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Hiphil-Imperf-3fs — Verb · Hiphil · imperfect third person feminine plural
HVhi3fp
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

forth: "Forth," adverb (from "for"), signifies movement

(1) forward,

(2) out of,

(3) beyond a certain boundary.

In a few instances in the Old Testament it is the translation of the preposition `al, properly "above," "upon" (2Ki 11:15; 2Ch 23:14; Am 7:17 the King James Version), and of chuts, "without" (Ge 39:13; Jud 19:25). "Forth" is often used as an expletive of various verbs, as "break (forth)," "bring (forth)," "call (forth)," etc. In the Gospel of John it is the translation of exo, "without," as "Lazarus, come forth" (11:43; so 15:6; 19:4 the King James Version…

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
may they pour forth lips my praise for you teach me decrees your
שְׂפָתַ֣יse.fa.Tai lips my H8193 Noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
176× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to lips or language, and can also mean the edge or border of something. It is used in the Bible to describe the shore of a sea or the edge of a cup.
Amplified meaning
to utter, speak forth
Tyndale gloss
lips
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word שָׂפָה (*saphah*) encompasses meanings related to 'lip,' 'speech,' and 'edge.' It is derived from concepts of termination, suggesting boundaries like the edge of a vessel or the bank of a river. The word can refer to physical lips, language, or the edges of various objects, including shores.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שָׂפָה 176 n.f. lip, speech, edge

lip

language

edge: shore of sea; bank of river

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8193 שָׂפָה lip, speech, edge . lip

. language

. edge: shore of sea; bank of river

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8193 saphah saw-faw'

or (in dual and plural) sepheth {sef-eth'}; probably from

5595 or 8192 through the idea of termination (compare 5490);

the lip (as a natural boundary); by implication, language; by

analogy, a margin (of a vessel, water, cloth, etc.):--band,

bank, binding, border, brim, brink, edge, language, lip,

prating, ((sea-))shore, side, speech, talk, (vain) words.

see HEBREW for 05595

see HEBREW for 08192

see HEBREW for 05490

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שָׂפָה (sa.phah) — lips.

: lips/mouth

1) lip, language, speech, shore, bank, brink, brim, side, edge, border, binding

1a) lip (as body part)

1b) language

1c) edge, shore, bank (of cup, sea, river, etc)

שָׂפָה (sa.phah) — lip: words.

: words/language

1) lip, language, speech, shore, bank, brink, brim, side, edge, border, binding

1a) lip (as body part)

1b) language

1c) edge, shore, bank (of cup, sea, river, etc)

שָׂפָה (sa.phah) — lip: edge.

: edge/border/opening

1) lip, language, speech, shore, bank, brink, brim, side, edge, border, binding

1a) lip (as body part)

1b) language

1c) edge, shore, bank (of cup, sea, river, etc)

שָׂפָה (sa.phah) — lip: shore.

: shore/bank(of_sea/river)

1) lip, language, speech, shore, bank, brink, brim, side, edge, border, binding

1a) lip (as body part)

1b) language

1c) edge, shore, bank (of cup, sea, river, etc)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fd | Suff — Noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
HNcmpc/Sp1bs
may they pour forth lips my praise for you teach me decrees your
תְּהִלָּ֑הte.hi.Lah praise H8416 Noun common · feminine singular absolute
57× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Tehillah means praise or a song of praise, often directed towards God. It can also refer to a hymn or an act of public praise, acknowledging God's qualities or deeds.
Amplified meaning
a song of praise, hymn
Tyndale gloss
praise
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word תְּהִלָּה (*tehillah*) means praise, specifically in the form of a song or hymn. It encompasses acts of adoration and thanksgiving directed towards God, as well as general public praise and the qualities of God that warrant such praise. The word is derived from a root meaning to laud.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

תְּהִלָּה n.f. praise, song of praise

praise, adoration, thanksgiving, paid to י׳

the act of general, public, praise

praise-song, as title

qualities, deeds, etc., of י׳, demanding praise

renown, fame, glory

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8416 תְּהִלָּה praise, song of praise . praise, adoration, thanksgiving, paid to י׳

. the act of general, public, praise

. praise-song, as title

. qualities, deeds, etc., of י׳, demanding praise

. renown, fame, glory

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8416 thillah teh-hil-law'

from 1984; laudation; specifically (concretely) a

hymn:--praise.

see HEBREW for 01984

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

תְּהִלָּה (te.hil.lah) — praise.

1) praise, song or hymn of praise

1a) praise, adoration, thanksgiving (paid to God)

1b) act of general or public praise

1c) praise-song (as title)

1d) praise (demanded by qualities or deeds or attributes of God)

1e) renown, fame, glory

1e1) of Damascus, God

1e2) object of praise, possessor of renown (fig)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular absolute
HNcfsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

praz (tehillah, "psalm," "praise," todhah, "confession" "thanksgiving," shabhach, "to praise" "glorify," zamar, yadhah, "to stretch out the hand," "confess"; aineo, epaineo, (epainos):

1. Its Meaning:

The word comes from the Latin pretium, "price," or "value," and may be defined generally as an ascription of value or worth. Praise may be bestowed upon unworthy objects or from improper motives, but true praise consists in a sincere acknowledgment of a real conviction of worth. Its type may be seen in the representation given in the Apocalypse of the adoration of God and of the Lamb, which is inspired by a sense of their worthiness to be adored (Re 4:11; 5:12).

2. With Man as Its Object:

Man may be the object of praise, and may receive it either from God or from his fellow-men. In the former case (

→ Song of Moses, after the passage through the Red Sea Ex 15:1-19

→ Of Miriam Ex 15:21

→ Of Deborah, after defeating the Canaanites Jud 5

→ Of Hannah 1Sa 2:1-10

→ Of David

Celebrating his deliverance from the hand of Saul 2Sa 22

On bringing the ark of the covenant to Zion 1Ch 16:8-36

At the close of his reign 1Ch 29:10-19

→ The chorus when Solomon brought the ark of the covenant into the temple 2Ch 5:13

→ Psalms of, for God' s goodness to Israel Ps 46; 48; 65; 66; 68; 76; 81; 85; 98; 105; 124; 126; 129; 135; 136

→ See the Scriptures below

Torrey's New Topical Textbook

- God is worthy of

2Sa 22:4

- Christ is worthy of

Re 5:12

- God is glorified by

Ps 22:23; 50:23

- Offered to Christ

Joh 12:13

- Acceptable through Christ

Heb 13:15

- IS DUE TO GOD ON ACCOUNT OF

. His majesty

Ps 96:1,6; Isa 24:14

. His glory

Ps 138:5; Eze 3:12

. His excellency

Ex 15:7; Ps 148:13

. His greatness

may they pour forth lips my praise for you teach me decrees your
כִּ֖יki 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'.
Amplified meaning
because, 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
may they pour forth lips my praise for you teach me decrees your
תְלַמְּדֵ֣נִיte.la.me.De.ni you teach me H3925 Verb piel imperfect second person masculine singular · suffix
86× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To learn or teach in the Bible means to guide someone, like using a rod to direct an animal. It is about instructing or training someone, as seen in Proverbs and Psalms. Teaching is an important theme in the Bible.
Amplified meaning
to guide, instruct
Tyndale gloss
to learn: teach
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

לָמַד (lamad) is a Hebrew verb meaning to learn or teach. It encompasses the ideas of exercising in a skill, being trained, and instructing others. The root suggests a connection to motivation or incentive, as seen in the context of teaching with a rod. The verb appears in various forms, including Qal (to learn), Piel (to teach), and Pual (to be taught).

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

לָמַד vb. exercise in, learn

Qal learn something

Piel teach

Pual trained; taught

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3925 לָמַד exercise in, learn .learn something

.teach

.trained; taught

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3925 lamad law-mad'

a primitive root; properly, to goad, i.e. (by implication) to

teach (the rod being an Oriental incentive):(un-) accustomed,

X diligently, expert, instruct, learn, skilful, teach(-er, -

ing).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

לָמַד (la.mad) — to learn: teach.

: teach

1) to learn. teach, exercise in

1a) (Qal) to learn

1b) (Piel) to teach

1c) (Pual) to be taught, be trained

Also means: la.mad (לָמַד ": learn" H3925H)

לָמַד (la.mad) — to learn: learn.

: learn

1) to learn. teach, exercise in

1a) (Qal) to learn

1b) (Piel) to teach

1c) (Pual) to be taught, be trained

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Piel-Imperf-2ms | Suff — Verb piel imperfect second person masculine singular · suffix
HVpi2ms/Sp1bs
may they pour forth lips my praise for you teach me decrees your
חֻקֶּֽיךָ׃chu.Kei.cha decrees your H2706 Noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
127× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means a decree or law given by God, like the Ten Commandments. It appears in books like Exodus and Deuteronomy, guiding the Israelites' actions. This concept is essential to understanding God's expectations.
Amplified meaning
decrees, laws, divine rules
Tyndale gloss
statute: decree
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

חֹק (choq) refers to something prescribed, such as a statute, ordinance, or limit. It encompasses a range of meanings, including prescribed tasks, portions, and decrees, whether from God or man. The plural form, חֻקִּים, denotes multiple enactments or statutes. The entries consistently emphasize its legal and prescriptive nature.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

חֹק 127 n.m. something prescribed, a statute or due

prescribed task

prescribed-portion or allowance of food

action prescribed for oneself, resolve

prescribed due of the priest from offerings

prescribed limit, boundary

enactment, decree, ordinance of either God or man

pl. חֻקִּים enactments, statutes of a law

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2706 חֹק something prescribed, a statute or due . prescribed task

. prescribed-portion or allowance of food

. action prescribed for oneself, resolve

. prescribed due of the priest from offerings

. prescribed limit, boundary

. enactment, decree, ordinance of either God or man

. pl. חֻקִּים enactments, statutes of a law

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2706 choq khoke

from 2710; an enactment; hence, an appointment (of time,

space, quantity, labor or usage):--appointed, bound,

commandment, convenient, custom, decree(-d), due, law,

measure, X necessary, ordinance(- nary), portion, set time,

statute, task.

see HEBREW for 02710

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חֹק (choq) — statute: decree.

: decree

1) statute, ordinance, limit, something prescribed, due

1a) prescribed task

1b) prescribed portion

1c) action prescribed (for oneself), resolve

1d) prescribed due

1e) prescribed limit, boundary

1f) enactment, decree, ordinance

1f1) specific decree

1f2) law in general

1g) enactments, statutes

1g1) conditions

1g2) enactments

1g3) decrees

1g4) civil enactments prescribed by God

חֹק (choq) — statute: portion.

: portion

1) statute, ordinance, limit, something prescribed, due

1a) prescribed task

1b) prescribed portion

1c) action prescribed (for oneself), resolve

1d) prescribed due

1e) prescribed limit, boundary

1f) enactment, decree, ordinance

1f1) specific decree

1f2) law in general

1g) enactments, statutes

1g1) conditions

1g2) enactments

1g3) decrees

1g4) civil enactments prescribed by God

חֹק (choq) — statute: allotment.

: allotment/boundary

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-mp | Suff — Noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
HNcmpc/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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