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Psalms 119:35 — Word Study

Depth

WLCהַ֭דְרִיכֵנִי בִּנְתִ֣יב מִצְוֹתֶ֑יךָ כִּי־ ב֥וֹ חָפָֽצְתִּי׃

BSADirect medârak [lead, guide] in the pathnâthîyb [road, way] of Your commandmentsmitsvâh [laws, teachings] forkîy [because, since] I find delightchâphêts [experience, take pleasure in, joy, happiness, having a desire to follow]

Word
Listen & take awayPsalms 119
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 35 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 (cha.Fa.tze.ti) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Psalms 119:35quick helps
In a sentenceThe psalmist seeks guidance in following God's commandments, finding joy in the path they provide.
Who is speakingThe psalmist, expressing a personal plea for direction.
Where we areIn a meditation on the importance of God's laws, specifically in Psalm 119:35.
The hard wordחָפָֽצְתִּי
Take awayDelight in God's commandments leads to a fulfilling path.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbחָפֵץ 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 119:35

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 Plea for Guidancegenerated

34Give me understanding that I may obey Your law, and follow it with all my heart.
35Direct me in the path of Your commandments, for there I find delight.
36Turn my heart to Your testimonies and not to covetous gain.
37Turn my eyes away from worthless things; revive me with Your word.

Psalm 119:35 expresses the psalmist's desire for divine guidance in following God's commandments. The psalmist acknowledges that true delight is found in adhering to these laws, emphasizing the relationship between obedience and joy. This plea for direction is part of a broader meditation on the significance of God's teachings throughout Psalm 119.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Psalm 119:27–36Make clear to me the way of Your precepts; then I will meditate on Your wonders.
2Ezekiel 36:26–27I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.
3Philippians 2:13For it is God who works in you to will and to act on behalf of His good purpose.
4Hebrews 13:21equip you with every good thing to do His will. And may He accomplish in us what is pleasing in His sight through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
5Psalm 23:3He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for the sake of His name.

The Key Word הַ֭דְרִיכֵנִי, Had.ri.khe.nigenerated

The verb הַ֭דְרִיכֵנִי (Had.ri.khe.ni) is a Hiphil imperative form, meaning 'lead me' or 'guide me'. It is derived from the root דָּרַךְ (darakh), which means 'to tread' or 'to walk'. This word conveys a sense of direction and purpose, indicating a request for divine assistance in navigating life's path.

In this context, the psalmist is not merely asking for guidance but is expressing a deep desire to be led in the way of God's commandments, which he associates with joy and fulfillment.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The finite verb הַ֭דְרִיכֵנִי (Had.ri.khe.ni) governs the main clause, with a prepositional phrase בִּנְתִ֣יב (bin.Tiv) specifying the path and a second clause providing the reason for the request. This structure emphasizes the connection between the plea for guidance and the delight found in obedience.

The Hebrew word order places the verb first, highlighting the urgency of the request, followed by the path and the rationale for seeking direction.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

In the Septuagint, the Hebrew verb הַ֭דְרִיכֵנִי is rendered as με (me), which means 'me'. This choice indicates a direct appeal for personal guidance.

The translation maintains the personal nature of the request, underscoring the psalmist's desire for God to lead him in the way of His commandments.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Psalm 119:35 expresses a desire for God to guide the psalmist in following His commandments. The psalmist finds joy in this path, emphasizing the connection between obedience to God's laws and personal delight.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean to be directed in the path of God's commandments?

Being directed in the path of God's commandments means seeking guidance to follow His laws and teachings, which lead to a fulfilling and joyful life.

Why does the psalmist find delight in God's commandments?

The psalmist finds delight in God's commandments because they provide guidance, purpose, and a sense of fulfillment in living according to God's will.

How can I apply this verse to my life?

You can apply this verse by actively seeking God's guidance in your decisions and striving to follow His commandments, finding joy in the process.

What are some examples of God's commandments?

Examples of God's commandments include the moral and ethical teachings found in the Torah, such as the Ten Commandments, which guide behavior and relationships.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what areas of my life do I seek God's guidance, and how can I be more open to His direction?
  2. What commandments of God bring me the most joy, and how can I incorporate them into my daily life?
  3. How does understanding the path of God's commandments change my perspective on challenges I face?
  4. What practical steps can I take to follow God's commandments more closely?

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 necessity of divine assistance in following God's commandments.

Augustine of HippoExposition on Psalms 119 354–430
But since he has no power to do even this, save he be aided by Him who commands him to do what He commands, "Make me," he adds, "to go in the path of Your commandments,
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 119 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Psalms 119:35 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

Make me to go in the path of thy commandments,.... Lead, guide, direct me in the path, and use me to it; work in me both to will and to do; give both ability and a willing mind to walk therein; by

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

Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight. Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight. Thou who hast given me the will, give me the power to perform.

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

Make me to go, by directing my mind into the right way, by inclining my will, and strengthening my resolution. For therein do I delight: forsake not him who delighteth in the: and in thy service; and as thou hast wrought in me to will work in me also to do.

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

Psalms 119:35 Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight.Ver. 35. Make me to go in the path] Which I shall soon forsake if thou guide me not. Te duce vera sequor, te duce falsa nego. For therein do I delight] After the inward man, Romans 7:22. Thou hast given me to will, give me also to work what is well pleasing in thy sight.

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

(35) Path.—From root to tread, the trodden way, plain with the track of all the pious pilgrims’ feet of past times.

Read Charles John Ellicott on Psalms 119 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

33–40. Hç. A series of prayers for instruction guidance and strength.

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

Make me to go in the path ... - That is, Incline me to it; so direct me that I shall thus walk. It is an acknowledgment of his dependence on God, that he might be able to carry out the cherished purposes of his soul.

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

ä, He.33-40. Teach me… thy statutes—The trouble has passed, and entrance upon active and responsible life is contemplated. The writer sees the form of knowledge and of truth in the law.

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

Direct me in the path of Your commandments, for there I find delight.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Direct me in the path of your commandments, for I delight in them.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

Direct me in the path of Your commandments, for there I find delight.

NETBNew English Translation2006

Guide me in the path of your commands, for I delight to walk in it.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; For therein do I delight.

RVARevised Version, American1894

Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for in that do I delight.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Direct mee in the path of thy commandements: for therein is my delite.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

Make me to walk in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

Cause me to tread in the path of Thy commands, For in it I have delighted.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

Cause me to tread in the path of Your commands, || For I have delighted in it.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

Guide me on the path of thy commandments; for therein do I find my delight.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Guide me in the path of your commandments, for I delight to walk in it.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

Lead me to follow your commands, for this is what I love to do

BBEBible in Basic English1949

Make me go in the way of your teachings; for they are my delight.

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.

clauseverbהַ֭דְרִיכֵleadobjectנִיmeprepositional phrase · prepositionalבִּinnoun phraseנְתִ֣יבthe.pathnoun phraseמִצְוֺתֶ֑יyour.commandmentsךָyourכִּי(dm)clauseprepositional phrase · prepositionalב֥inוֹitverbחָפָֽצְתִּיI.delight

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 הַ֭דְרִיכֵנִי בִּנְתִ֣יב מִצְוֹתֶ֑יךָ כִּי־ ב֥וֹ חָפָֽצְתִּי׃. This consistency across witnesses reinforces the significance of the psalmist's plea for guidance.

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

הַ֭דְרִיכֵנִי בִּנְתִ֣יב מִצְוֹתֶ֑יךָ כִּי־ ב֥וֹ חָפָֽצְתִּי׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
הַ֭דְרִיכֵנִיμεבִּנְתִ֣יבτρίβῳמִצְוֹתֶ֑יךָσουכִּי־ὅτιב֥וֹαὐτὴνחָפָֽצְתִּי׃ἠθέλησα

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.

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 119:35דָּרַךְlead melead meדָּרַךְנָתִיבin [the] pain [the] path oנָתִיבמִצְוָהcommandmentcommandments yoמִצְוָהכִּיforforכִּיוֹin itin itוֹחָפֵץI delightI delightחָפֵץצָוָהto commandto commandצָוָההֵידָדshoutshoutהֵידָדיֶ֫קֶבwinewineיֶ֫קֶבגָּדַרto wall upto wall up/offגָּדַראֹ֫רַחwaywayאֹ֫רַחחֻקָּהstatutestatuteחֻקָּהחֹקstatute: dstatute: decreeחֹקיָדַעto knowto knowיָדַעיְקָרpreciousnepreciousnessיְקָרדַּ֫עַתknowledgeknowledgeדַּ֫עַת
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 119:35

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.

lead me in [the] path of commandments your for in it I delight
הַ֭דְרִיכֵנִיHad.ri.khe.ni lead me H1869 Verb hiphil imperative second person masculine singular · suffix
62× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To tread means to walk or step on something, and is used in the Bible to describe various actions, such as treading a press or leading an army. In Exodus 15:6 and Psalm 60:12, the word is used to describe God's power and leadership, highlighting His ability to guide and direct His people.
Amplified meaning
lead, guide
Tyndale gloss
to tread
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

דָּרַךְ (darakh) is a Hebrew verb meaning to tread or march. It encompasses a range of actions including walking, leading, and bending a bow. The word appears in various forms, such as Qal and Hiphil, indicating both simple and causative actions. Notably, it can refer to treading down or guiding others.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

דָּרַךְ vb. tread, march

Qal

tread, march, march forth

tread upon

tread wine- (or oil-) press

tread (i.e. bend) the bow

Hiph.

tread, tread down

tread (bend) the bow

causat. cause to tread or march, lead

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1869 דָּרַךְ tread, march

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1869 darak daw-rak'

a primitive root; to tread; by implication, to walk; also to

string a bow (by treading on it in bending):--archer, bend,

come, draw, go (over), guide, lead (forth), thresh, tread

(down), walk.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

דָּרַךְ (da.rakh) — to tread.

1) to tread, bend, lead, march

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to tread, march, march forth

1a2) to tread on, tread upon

1a3) to tread (a press)

1a4) to tread (bend) a bow

1a5) archer, bow-benders (participle)

1b) (Hiphil)

1b1) to tread, tread down

1b2) to tread (bend with the foot) a bow

1b3) to cause to go, lead, march, tread

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Hiphil-Impv-2ms | Suff — Verb hiphil imperative second person masculine singular · suffix
HVhv2ms/Sp1bs
lead me in [the] path of commandments your for in it I delight
בִּנְתִ֣יבbin.Tiv in [the] path of H5410 Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct
26× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this word means a path or road that people walk on, like a beaten track. It appears in books like Isaiah and Jeremiah, referring to a traveler's journey. The word is used to describe a way or pathway.
Amplified meaning
road, way
Tyndale gloss
path
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

נָתִיב (nathiyb) refers to a path or pathway, emphasizing a trodden track. It can denote both a physical path and the concept of travel or a traveler. The feminine form נְתִיבָה (nethiybah) shares the same meaning. The word is derived from an unused root meaning to tramp.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

נָתִיב n.m. path, pathway

base

נְתִיבָה n.f. id. [n.gd.ab];—path

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5410a נָתִיב path, pathway H5410b נְתִיבָה id. [5410a]

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5410 nathiyb naw-theeb'

or (feminine) nthiybah {neth-ee-baw'}; or nthibah (Jeremiah

6:16) {neth-ee-baw'}; from an unused root meaning to tramp; a

(beaten) track:--path((-way)), X travel(-ler), way.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נָתִיב (na.tiv) — path.

1) trodden with the feet, path, pathway

2) path, pathway, traveller

נְתִיבָה (ne.ti.vah) — path.

1) trodden with the feet, path, pathway

2) path, pathway, traveller

Also means: na.tiv (נָתִיב "path" H5410A)

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

ov:

(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.

English usagewhat the translators’ English meant
Webster's Dictionary (1828), Webster's Unabridged (1913), Webster's Dictionary (1806)

OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]

1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.

I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.

For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.

It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.

Lamentations 3:1.

The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.

Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.

That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.

Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…

lead me in [the] path of commandments your for in it I delight
מִצְוֹתֶ֑יךָmitz.vo.Tei.kha commandments your H4687 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
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
N-fp | Suff — Noun common feminine plural construct · suffix
HNcfpc/Sp2ms
lead me in [the] path of commandments your for in it I delight
כִּי־ki- for H3588 Particle
4,483× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A conjunction used to show cause or connection, as in Genesis 2:23 where Adam says the woman is bone of his bone because she was taken out of him. It is often translated as 'for', 'because', or 'since'.
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
lead me in [the] path of commandments your for in it I delight
ב֥וֹvo in it H9033 Preposition · suffix
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

וֹ (o) — him.

Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 3rd person masculine singular

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HR/Sp3ms — Preposition · suffix
HR/Sp3ms
lead me in [the] path of commandments your for in it I delight
חָפָֽצְתִּי׃cha.Fa.tze.ti I delight H2654 Verb · Qal · perfect first person common singular
74× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This verb means to be pleased with something or someone. In the Bible, it describes God's delight in his people and their desire to follow him, like in Psalm 51.
Amplified meaning
experience, take pleasure in, joy, happiness, having a desire to follow
Tyndale gloss
to delight in
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

חָפֵץ (chaphets) is a Hebrew verb meaning to delight in or take pleasure in something. It can refer to both human desire and divine pleasure, indicating a sense of inclination or favor. The word is also noted to mean to bend down, though this usage is rare. The entries suggest a range of meanings focused on desire and pleasure.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

חָפֵץ vb. delight in

base

[חָפַץ] vb. bend down—only Qal Jb 40:17

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2654a חָפֵץ delight in H2654b חָפֵץ bend down

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2654 chaphets khaw-fates'

a primitive root; properly, to incline to; by implication

(literally but rarely) to bend; figuratively, to be pleased

with, desire:--X any at all, (have, take) delight, desire,

favour, like, move, be (well) pleased, have pleasure, will,

would.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חָפֵץ (cha.phets) — to delight in.

1) to delight in, take pleasure in, desire, be pleased with

1a) (Qal)

1a1) of men

1a1a) to take pleasure in, delight in

1a1b) to delight, desire, be pleased to do

1a2) of God

1a2a) to delight in, have pleasure in

1a2b) to be pleased to do

חָפַץ (ch.ph) — to sway.

1) to move, bend down

1a) (Qal) to bend down

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Perf-1cs — Verb · Qal · perfect first person common singular
HVqp1cs
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

de-lit' (verb, chaphets, ratsah, sha`a`; sunedomai): "To delight" is most frequently expressed by chaphets, which means originally "to bend" (compare Job 40:17, "He moveth his tail"), hence, "to incline to," "take pleasure in." It is used of God's pleasure in His people (Nu 14:8; 2Sa 22:20; Ps 18:19, etc.), and in righteousness, etc. (Isa 66:4; Jer 9:24; Mic 7:18, etc.), also of man's delight in God and His will (Ps 40:8; 73:25; the King James Version and the…

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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