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Psalms 119:45 — Word Study

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WLCוְאֶתְהַלְּכָ֥ה בָרְחָבָ֑ה כִּ֖י פִקֻּדֶ֣יךָ דָרָֽשְׁתִּי׃

BSAAnd I will walkhâlak [in a broad and spacious way, at liberty] in freedomrâchâb [without restraint, in a wide place] forkîy I have soughtdârash [diligently inquired, asked for] Your preceptspiqqûwd [commands, divine instructions, laws]

Word
Listen & take awayPsalms 119
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 45 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 (da.Ra.she.ti) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Psalms 119:45quick helps
In a sentenceThe psalmist expresses his commitment to walk freely, motivated by his diligent seeking of God's precepts.
Who is speakingThe psalmist, affirming his personal relationship with God.
Where we areIn the middle of a meditation on God's law and its impact on life.
The hard wordפִקֻּדֶ֣יךָ
Take awayFreedom comes from seeking and adhering to divine instruction.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbדָּרַשׁ 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 119:45

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 — Meditation on God's Lawgenerated

44I will always obey Your law, forever and ever.
45And I will walk in freedom, for I have sought Your precepts.
46I will speak of Your testimonies before kings, and I will not be ashamed.
47I delight in Your commandments because I love them.

Psalm 119:45 is part of a longer reflection on the significance of God's laws and commands. The psalmist emphasizes the joy and freedom that comes from following God's precepts, which are seen as guiding principles for a fulfilling life. This section of Psalm 119 highlights the relationship between obedience to God's word and the resulting liberty experienced by the believer.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Psalm 119:133Order my steps in Your word; let no sin rule over me.
2Luke 4:18“The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to release the oppressed,
3John 8:30–36As Jesus spoke these things, many believed in Him.
4James 1:25But the one who looks intently into the perfect law of freedom, and continues to do so—not being a forgetful hearer, but an effective doer—he will be blessed in what he does.
5James 2:12Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 12 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word פִקֻּדֶ֣יךָ, fi.ku.Dei.chagenerated

The word פִּקּוּד (piqqud) refers to divine instructions or commandments. It is derived from a root meaning to appoint, indicating that these are mandates set by God. The noun appears in the plural form, emphasizing the collective nature of God's laws as guiding principles for living.

In this verse, the psalmist states he has sought God's precepts, indicating a diligent pursuit of understanding and adhering to these divine instructions. This pursuit is linked to the freedom he experiences in his walk, illustrating the transformative power of engaging with God's commandments.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

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


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main verb in this verse is אֶתְהַלְּכָ֥ה, I will walk, which governs the entire structure. The sentence includes a prepositional phrase בָרְחָבָ֑ה (in a broad place) describing the manner of walking, followed by a causal clause introduced by כִּ֖י (for), which explains the reason for this freedom.

The structure emphasizes the connection between the act of walking in freedom and the seeking of God's precepts, showing that the psalmist's liberty is directly linked to his commitment to divine instruction.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

In the Septuagint, the Hebrew verb אֶתְהַלְּכָ֥ה is rendered as ἐπορευόμην (I was walking), which conveys a similar meaning but may suggest a continuous action rather than a future intention. This choice indicates a slight shift in focus from the psalmist's commitment to a description of ongoing behavior.

The term for פִקֻּדֶ֣יךָ is translated as σου (your), which maintains the personal aspect of the precepts but does not directly reflect the plural nature of the commandments as in the Hebrew.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Psalm 119:45 expresses the psalmist's commitment to walk freely because he has diligently sought God's commands. This verse highlights the connection between following divine instruction and experiencing true freedom in life.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean to walk in freedom?

Walking in freedom refers to living a life unencumbered by restrictions, guided by the principles and commands of God.

How can seeking God's precepts lead to freedom?

Seeking God's precepts involves understanding and applying His laws, which can lead to a more fulfilling and liberated life.

What are God's precepts?

God's precepts are His commandments or instructions meant to guide believers in their conduct and relationship with Him.

Why is the psalmist's seeking emphasized?

The emphasis on seeking indicates a proactive and diligent approach to understanding God's will and living according to His guidance.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what areas of my life do I need to seek God's guidance more diligently?
  2. How can I experience greater freedom by following God's commands?
  3. What does it mean for me to walk in a broad and spacious way?
  4. How can I encourage others to seek God's precepts in their lives?

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

The early church fathers often referenced this verse to discuss the relationship between divine law and human freedom. Here is a quotation from Augustine of Hippo, who reflects on the significance of walking at liberty through adherence to God's precepts.

Augustine of HippoExposition on Psalms 119 354–430
"And I walked at liberty: for I sought Your precepts" [Psalms 119:45]...."And I walked at liberty." Here the copulative conjunction, "and," is not used as a connecting particle;
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 119 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Psalms 119:45 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

And I will walk at liberty,.... Not in licentious way, but in Gospel liberty, under the influence of the free spirit; where is liberty, in the exercise of grace and discharge of duty.

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

And I will walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts. And I will walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts - Hebrew, 'I will walk at large:' the same Hebrew root [ raahab (H7294)] as in Psalms 119:32,

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

I will walk at liberty; or, I shall walk at large, as it is in the margin; I shall be delivered from all my present straits, both of the outward and inward man, and enjoy great freedom and comfort in thy ways.

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

Psalms 119:45 And I will walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts.Ver. 45. And I will walk at liberty] In the full latitude of thy commandments, and not by wilful wickedness ensnare and ensnarl myself, as those do who, in the fulness of their sufficiency are in straits, and in pursuit of their lusts do pierce themselves through with many sorrows. The Italian senseth it, I will walk in peace of conscience.

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

(45) At liberty.—See margin. Literally, in a large place. (See Psalms 119:32; comp. Proverbs 4:12.)

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

Verse 45. I will walk at liberty] When freed from the present bondage, we shall rejoice in obedience to thy testimonies; we shall delight to keep all thy ordinances.

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

45. And I will walk at liberty] Lit. in a broad place, for God’s commandment is “exceeding broad”; its observance is no restraint but the truest freedom. Or the meaning may be, Let me walk at liberty, free from the constraint of anxiety and persecution. Cp. Psalms 119:32; Psalms 118:5. I seek] Or, I have studied, given diligent heed to.

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

And I will walk at liberty - Margin, “at large.” Luther renders it, “freely.” The Septuagint, “in a broad place.” The Hebrew word means “wide, broad, large, spacious.” The reference is to that which

Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 119 →

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

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

Modern formal

BSBBerean Standard Bible2020

And I will walk in freedom, for I have sought Your precepts.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

I will walk in liberty, for I have sought your precepts.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

And I will walk in freedom, for I have sought Your precepts.

NETBNew English Translation2006

I will be secure, for I seek your precepts.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

And I will walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

And I shall walk at liberty; For I have sought thy precepts.

RVARevised Version, American1894

And I will walk at liberty; for I have sought thy precepts.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

And I will walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

And I will walke at libertie: for I seeke thy precepts.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

And I will walk at liberty, for I have sought thy precepts;

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

And I walk habitually in a broad place, For Thy precepts I have sought.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

And I habitually walk in a broad place, || For I have sought Your precepts.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

And I will walk in an open space; for thy precepts have I sought.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

I will walk securely, for I seek your instructions.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

I shall live in freedom, for I have committed myself to obeying you.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

So that my way may be in a wide place: because my search has been for your orders.

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.

וְandclauseverbאֶתְהַלְּכָ֥הI.will.walk.aboutprepositional phrase · prepositionalבָinnoun phrasethe.broadרְחָבָ֑הplaceכִּ֖י(dm)clausenoun phrase · objectפִקֻּדֶ֣יpreceptsךָyourverbדָרָֽשְׁתִּיI.have.sought

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


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

The Masoretic Text reads, "וְאֶתְהַלְּכָ֥ה בָרְחָבָ֑ה כִּ֖י פִקֻּדֶ֣יךָ דָרָֽשְׁתִּי," which translates to, "And I will walk in freedom, for I have sought Your precepts." The Septuagint matches the Masoretic Text in meaning, though its word order differs due to its Greek structure. The Dead Sea Scrolls, specifically 1Q10 and 4Q89, contain fragments that confirm the Masoretic Text's reading but require editorial restoration for completeness. Notably, 11Q5 offers a slightly different spelling with "ברחובי׳ה" instead of "בָרְחָבָ֑ה," but the overall meaning remains consistent across the witnesses.

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

וְאֶתְהַלְּכָ֥ה בָרְחָבָ֑ה כִּ֖י פִקֻּדֶ֣יךָ דָרָֽשְׁתִּי׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
וְאֶתְהַלְּכָ֥הἐπορευόμηνבָרְחָבָ֑הπλατυσμῷכִּ֖יὅτιפִקֻּדֶ֣יךָσουדָרָֽשְׁתִּי׃ἐχεζήτησα

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.

Dead Sea Scrolls — 1Q10a copy a thousand years older than the Leningrad Codex

[ואתהלכה] [ברחבה] [כי] פקדי׳ך [דרשתי]

1 word on the leather — 4 supplied entire by an editor.

Dead Sea Scrolls — 4Q89a copy a thousand years older than the Leningrad Codex

[ואתהלכה] ברחבה [כי] [פקדי׳ך] [דרשתי]

1 word on the leather — 4 supplied entire by an editor.

Dead Sea Scrolls — 11Q5a copy a thousand years older than the Leningrad Codex

ואתהלכה ברחובי׳ה כי פקודי׳כה דרשתי

5 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 119:45הָלַךְand I will and I will walkהָלַךְרָחָבin the broain the broad plרָחָבכִּיforforכִּיפִּקּוּדprecepts yoprecepts yourפִּקּוּדדָּרַשׁI have sougI have soughtדָּרַשׁרָחַבto enlargeto enlargeרָחַבפָּקַדto reckon:to reckon: listפָּקַדהָלַךְto walkto walkהָלַךְדֶּ֫רֶךְway: roadway: roadדֶּ֫רֶךְחֻקָּהstatutestatuteחֻקָּהעָרַרto stripto stripעָרַרשָׁמֵןrichrichשָׁמֵןיָדַעto knowto knowיָדַעשִׂיחַto museto museשִׂיחַנָצַרto watchto watchנָצַרבַּעַלבַּעַללֵבָבheartheartלֵבָב
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 119:45

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.

and I will walk about in the broad place for precepts your I have sought
וְאֶתְהַלְּכָ֥הve.'et.ha.le.Khah and I will walk about H1980 Conjunction · verb hithpael infinitive construct first person common singular
1,549× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Means to walk or go, used in many different contexts in the Bible. It can describe physical movement, but also spiritual or emotional journeys. Appears in various forms, such as 'to go' or 'to walk'.
Amplified meaning
in a broad and spacious way, at liberty
Tyndale gloss
to go: walk
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

הָלַךְ (halak) means 'to go,' 'come,' or 'walk,' and covers a wide range of literal and figurative uses, including aspects of life and death. It can describe physical movement, moral conduct, and even influence on character. The verb appears in various forms, such as Qal, Piel, and Hithpael, indicating different nuances like leading or traversing.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

הָלַךְ 1546 vb. go, come, walk

Qal Impf. usually (629 t.) as if from ילך

lit.

of persons

Also of animals, in similar meanings and combinations

in like manner of inanimate things

The inf. abs. is often used

as in other vbs., quite independently

to intensify meaning of finite form

most noteworthy is the joining of the Inf. abs.

with a following Inf. abs. denoting a simutaneous action or process, and so emphasizing duration or continuance

with a foll. vb. fin. c. ו consec. (rare)

in cases where vb. fin. is foll. by Inf. abs. adj. denoting progress, advance

twice, where vb. fin. is not הלך, but another vb. denoting motion

quite by itself

13 t. the Inf. abs. = Imv. & is followed by Pf. consec.

akin to the use of Inf. abs. are some instances of Pt.

In combination with other verbal forms

Fig.; the most common uses follow; in most the origin in a literal meaning is evident:

pass away, die

Read the full entry →
Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1980 הָלַךְ go, come, walk .Impf. usually (629 t.) as if from ילך . lit. . of persons

. Also of animals, in similar meanings and combinations

. in like manner of inanimate things

. The inf. abs. is often used . as in other vbs., quite independently

. to intensify meaning of finite form

. most noteworthy is the joining of the Inf. abs. . with a following Inf. abs. denoting a simutaneous action or process, and so emphasizing duration or continuance

. with a foll. vb. fin. c. ו consec. (rare)

. in cases where vb. fin. is foll. by Inf. abs. + adj. denoting progress, advance

. twice, where vb. fin. is not הלך, but another vb. denoting motion

. quite by itself

. 13 t. the Inf. abs. = Imv. & is followed by Pf. consec.

. akin to the use of Inf. abs. are some instances of Pt.

. In combination with other verbal forms

Read the full entry →
Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1980 halak haw-lak'

akin to 3212; a primitive root; to walk (in a great variety

of applications, literally and figuratively):--(all) along,

apace, behave (self), come, (on) continually, be conversant,

depart, + be eased, enter, exercise (self), + follow, forth,

forward, get, go (about, abroad, along, away, forward, on,

out, up and down), + greater, grow, be wont to haunt, lead,

march, X more and more, move (self), needs, on, pass (away),

be at the point, quite, run (along), + send, speedily, spread,

still, surely, + tale-bearer, + travel(-ler), walk (abroad,

on, to and fro, up and down, to places), wander, wax,

(way-)faring man, X be weak, whirl.

see HEBREW for 03212

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

הָלַךְ (ha.lakh) — to go: went.

: went/go[away]

1) to go, walk, come

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to go, walk, come, depart, proceed, move, go away

1a2) to die, live, manner of life (fig.)

1b) (Piel)

1b1) to walk

1b2) to walk (fig.)

1c) (Hithpael)

1c1) to traverse

1c2) to walk about

1d) (Niphal) to lead, bring, lead away, carry, cause to walk

הָלַךְ (ha.lakh) — to go: come.

: come[nearer]

1) to go, walk, come

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to go, walk, come, depart, proceed, move, go away

1a2) to die, live, manner of life (fig.)

1b) (Piel)

1b1) to walk

1b2) to walk (fig.)

1c) (Hithpael)

1c1) to traverse

1c2) to walk about

1d) (Niphal) to lead, bring, lead away, carry, cause to walk

הָלַךְ (ha.lakh) — to go: walk.

: walk/move

1) to go, walk, come

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to go, walk, come, depart, proceed, move, go away

1a2) to die, live, manner of life (fig.)

1b) (Piel)

1b1) to walk

1b2) to walk (fig.)

1c) (Hithpael)

1c1) to traverse

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Hithpael-1cs — Conjunction · verb hithpael infinitive construct first person common singular
HC/Vtc1cs
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

a-bout': The use of this word as a preposition, in the sense of "around," is confined to the Old Testament. In the New Testament, generally an adverb, for Greek hos or "hosei." The Revised Version (British and American) adopts it in several idiomatic translations of mello, referring to what is about to be, i.e. on the point of occurring, or immediately impending, amending the King James Version, in Ac 5:35; 27:2; Re 12:4, etc.

and I will walk about in the broad place for precepts your I have sought
בָרְחָבָ֑הva.re.cha.Vah in the broad place H7342 Preposition
21× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means broad or wide, describing something that is roomy or spacious. It can also mean proud or arrogant, and is used to describe a person's attitude. In the KJV, it is translated as broad or large.
Amplified meaning
without restraint, in a wide place
Tyndale gloss
broad: wide
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

רָחָב (rachab) means wide or broad, covering both physical dimensions and metaphorical uses like pride or arrogance. It is derived from the root word רָחַב (rachav), which also conveys a sense of spaciousness. The entries consistently highlight its meanings as broad or wide, with a note on its use to describe arrogance.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

רָחָב adj. wide, broad

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7342 רָחָב wide, broad

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7342 rachab raw-khawb'

from 7337; roomy, in any (or every) direction, literally or

figuratively:--broad, large, at liberty, proud, wide.

see HEBREW for 07337

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

רָחָב (ra.chav) — Broad.

§ broad, wide

רָחָב (ra.chav) — broad: wide.

broad, wide

Also means: ra.chav (רָחָב ": arrogant" H7342I)

רָחָב (ra.chav) — broad: arrogant.

broad, wide

A sub-meaning of ra.chav (רָחָב ": wide" H7342H)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | Adj — Preposition
HRd/Aafsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

plas: Normally for maqom, Old Testament, and topos, New Testament, but in the King James Version "place" represents a great number of Hebrew and Greek words, often used with no difference in force (e.g. 2Ch 35:10,15). the Revised Version (British and American) has made few changes, but occasionally has attempted to specialize the meaning (Ge 40:13; Job 37:8; Ac 8:32; Jas 3:11, etc.).

and I will walk about in the broad place for precepts your I have sought
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'.
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
and I will walk about in the broad place for precepts your I have sought
פִקֻּדֶ֣יךָfi.ku.Dei.cha precepts your H6490 Noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
24× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to a precept or commandment from God, like a law or statute. It appears in the Bible as a mandate or instruction, and is translated in the KJV as commandment, precept, or statute, emphasizing its importance as a divine instruction.
Amplified meaning
commands, divine instructions, laws
Tyndale gloss
precept
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

פִּקּוּד (piqqud) refers to a precept or mandate, specifically one that is appointed by God. It is derived from a root meaning to appoint and is used in a plural form to collectively denote commandments or statutes within the Law.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[פִּקּוּד] 24 n.m. precept

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6490 [פִּקּוּד] precept

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6490 piqquwd pik-kood'

or piqqud {pik-kood'}; from 6485; properly, appointed, i.e. a

mandate (of God; plural only, collectively, for the

Law):--commandment, precept, statute.

see HEBREW for 06485

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

פִּקּוּד (piq.qud) — precept.

precept, statute

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-mp | Suff — Noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
HNcmpc/Sp2ms
and I will walk about in the broad place for precepts your I have sought
דָרָֽשְׁתִּי׃da.Ra.she.ti I have sought H1875 Verb · Qal · perfect first person common singular
164× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To seek or ask is the meaning of this Hebrew word, often used to describe seeking God or worshiping him. It can also mean to investigate or enquire about something.
Amplified meaning
diligently inquired, asked for
Tyndale gloss
to seek
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

דָּרַשׁ 162 vb. resort to, seek

Qal

(tread a place,) resort to, frequent

seek, consult, inquire of

seek deity in prayer and worship

seek, with idea of demanding, require

inquire, investigate (a matter)

ask for, require, demand

seek with application, study, follow, practise

seek with care, care for

Niph.

let oneself be inquired of, consulted, only of God

be sought out

be required, of blood

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1875 דָּרַשׁ resort to, seek

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1875 darash daw-rash'

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

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

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

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

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

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

דָּרַשׁ (da.rash) — to seek.

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

1a) (Qal)

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

1a2) to consult, enquire of, seek

1a2a) of God

1a2b) of heathen gods, necromancers

1a3) to seek deity in prayer and worship

1a3a) God

1a3b) heathen deities

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

1a5) to investigate, enquire

1a6) to ask for, require, demand

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

1a8) to seek with care, care for

1b) (Niphal)

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

1b2) to be sought, be sought out

1b3) to be required (of blood)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Perf-1cs — Verb · Qal · perfect first person common singular
HVqp1cs
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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