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Psalms 122:6 — Word Study

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WLCשַׁ֭אֲלוּ שְׁל֣וֹם יְרוּשָׁלִָ֑ם יִ֝שְׁלָ֗יוּ אֹהֲבָֽיִךְ׃

BSAPrayshâʼal [ask, inquire of God] for the peaceshâlôwm [completeness, wellness, friendship, shalom] of JerusalemYᵉrûwshâlaim [the city of peace] May those who love youʼâhab [have affection for, are devoted to, God, the Almighty] prospershâlâh [be at rest, secure, happy, live peacefully]

Word
Listen & take awayPsalms 122
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 6 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 ('o.ha.Va.yikh) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Psalms 122:6quick helps
In a sentenceThe psalmist calls for prayer for Jerusalem's peace, linking love for the city to prosperity.
Who is speakingThe psalmist, addressing the community, urges them to pray.
Where we areThis verse is part of a psalm celebrating Jerusalem and its significance.
The hard wordשַׁ֭אֲלוּ
Take awayPrayer for peace is a communal responsibility tied to love.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbשָׁאַל 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 122:6

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 Call for Jerusalem's Peacegenerated

5For there the thrones of judgment stand, the thrones of the house of David.
6Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May those who love you prosper.
7May there be peace within your walls, and prosperity inside your fortresses.”
8For the sake of my brothers and friends, I will say, “Peace be within you.”

Psalms 122:6 emphasizes the importance of praying for the peace of Jerusalem, a city deeply significant to the Israelites. The psalmist connects the well-being of the city to the prosperity of those who love it, highlighting a communal aspect of faith and devotion. This verse encourages the community to seek the welfare of their capital, reflecting a broader theme of unity and care for one another.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Psalm 51:18In Your good pleasure, cause Zion to prosper; build up the walls of Jerusalem.
2Psalm 137:6–7May my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth if I do not remember you, if I do not exalt Jerusalem as my greatest joy!
3Jeremiah 51:50You who have escaped the sword, depart and do not linger! Remember the LORD from far away, and let Jerusalem come to mind.”
4John 17:21that all of them may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I am in You. May they also be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.
5Ephesians 4:3and with diligence to preserve the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 9 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word שַׁ֭אֲלוּ, Sha.'a.lugenerated

The word שָׁאַל (sha'al) is a verb meaning to ask or inquire, often used in the context of seeking a favor or requesting something. It encompasses a range of meanings, including seeking counsel or consulting deities. In this verse, it is an imperative, urging the community to actively seek peace for Jerusalem.

The use of the imperative form indicates a strong call to action, emphasizing the importance of this prayer in the life of the community. The psalmist is not merely suggesting prayer; he is commanding it as a vital part of their relationship with God and their city.


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 verse consists of two main clauses. The first clause is an imperative verb שַׁ֭אֲלוּ, ask, which directs the audience to pray for peace. The second clause expresses a wish or blessing regarding those who love Jerusalem, using the verb יִ֝שְׁלָ֗יוּ, may they be at ease.

The structure highlights the action of prayer as a communal obligation, with the blessings flowing to those who have affection for the city. The imperative verb at the beginning emphasizes urgency and importance.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates שַׁ֭אֲלוּ as ἐρωτήσατε (G2065), meaning ask. This choice reflects a direct appeal to the community to seek peace actively, aligning with the Hebrew imperative.

The Greek word εἰρήνην (G1515) for peace corresponds to שְׁל֣וֹם, showing a consistent theme of wholeness and well-being in both texts.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Psalms 122:6 encourages the community to pray for the peace of Jerusalem, linking the city's well-being to the prosperity of those who love it. This reflects the importance of unity and care for one another in faith.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean to pray for the peace of Jerusalem?

To pray for the peace of Jerusalem means to seek the well-being and safety of the city, which is central to the Jewish faith and identity.

How does love for Jerusalem relate to prosperity?

The verse suggests that those who love Jerusalem will experience prosperity, indicating a spiritual and communal connection between affection for the city and personal well-being.

Why is Jerusalem referred to as the city of peace?

Jerusalem is called the city of peace because it is seen as a place where God's presence dwells, and it symbolizes completeness and harmony in the biblical narrative.

What is the significance of communal prayer in this verse?

The call for communal prayer emphasizes the collective responsibility of the community to seek peace and well-being, highlighting the importance of unity in faith.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what ways can I actively pray for peace in my community, similar to the call for Jerusalem's peace?
  2. How can I express my love for my city or community in practical ways?
  3. What does prosperity mean to me, and how can I align my actions with this verse's teaching?
  4. How does this verse encourage me to think about my relationships with others in my community?

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

The early church fathers, including Augustine of Hippo, reference this psalm to emphasize the importance of seeking peace for Jerusalem, reflecting its significance in both Jewish and Christian traditions.

Augustine of HippoExposition on Psalms 122 354–430
He at once adds, as unto the seats themselves, "Enquire ye the things that are for the peace of Jerusalem" [Psalms 122:6].
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 122 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Psalms 122:6 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem,.... This is said to the persons that solicited the psalmist to go into the house of the Lord; to the truly godly among the tribes that went thither to worship; to his

Read John Gill on Psalms 122 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.

Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 122 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem; in whose prosperity both your civil and your religious privileges are deeply concerned. They shall prosper; or, let them prosper; the future being taken imperatively, as is very frequent. The Lord grant them prosperity and all happiness.

Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 122 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Psalms 122:6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.Ver. 6. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem] Peace is a voluminous mercy, and must therefore be prayed for, peace both of conscience and of country. It is well with bees when they make a noise in the hive; but with men, when they are at quiet in Church and State. Among the Persians he that offered sacrifice prayed not only for himself, but for all his countrymen, and especially for the king (Herodot. lib. i.). They shall prosper that love thee] And out of love, pity and pray for thee.

Read John Trapp on Psalms 122 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(6, 7) It is impossible in English to reproduce the effect of the original in these references to the usual greetings of the East, since at the same time they contain alliterations and a play on the name of Jerusalem. There is first the challenge to the body of pilgrims to give the customary salutation, and then it is taken up in a threefold wish, varied each time. Then follows the reason of this unanimous and hearty prayer: “Ask for the peace of the city of peace; prosperity be to thy lovers, peace within thy walls, prosperity in thy palaces.”

Read Charles John Ellicott on Psalms 122 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 6. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem] שלום shalom signifies both peace and prosperity. Let her unanimity never be disturbed; let her prosperity ever be on the increase! They shall prosper that love thee.] In the peace and prosperity of the city, they shall find their peace and their prosperity; and even on this ground they should love the city, and labour to promote its best interests. There is a remarkable alliteration in this verse, the letter shin frequently recurring. שאלו שלום ירושלם ישליו אהביך Shaalu shelom yerushalam yishlayu ohabeycha. "Ask ye the prosperity of Jerusalem; they shall be quiet that love thee." There are remarkable specimens of similar alliteration to be found in…

Read AdamClarke on Psalms 122 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

6–9. The recollection of the past glories of Jerusalem leads the Psalmist to pray and bid others pray for her future welfare. A new era of hope seems to be opening before her.

Read Cambridge on Psalms 122 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem - The prosperity, the welfare of Jerusalem - for peace is everywhere the image of prosperity and happiness. Compare Psalms 51:18.

Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 122 →

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

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May those who love you prosper.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Those who love you will prosper.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May those who love you prosper.

NETBNew English Translation2006

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem! May those who love her prosper!

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: They shall prosper that love thee.

RVARevised Version, American1894

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Pray for the peace of Ierusalem: let them prosper that loue thee.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

Ask ye the peace of Jerusalem, At rest are those loving thee.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

Ask [for] the peace of Jerusalem, || Those loving you are at rest.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

Pray ye for the peace of Jerusalem; may those that love thee prosper.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem! “May those who love you have peace.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

Pray that Jerusalem may be at peace. May everyone who loves Jerusalem be kept safe.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

O make prayers for the peace of Jerusalem; may they whose love is given to you do well.

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.

clauseverbשַׁ֭אֲלוּask.fornoun phrase · objectשְׁל֣וֹםthe.peaceיְרוּשָׁלִָ֑םof.Jerusalemclauseverbיִ֝שְׁלָ֗יוּmay.they.be.at.easenoun phrase · subjectאֹהֲבָֽיִ[thoseךְwho].love.you

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 שַׁ֭אֲלוּ שְׁל֣וֹם יְרוּשָׁלִָ֑ם יִ֝שְׁלָ֗יוּ אֹהֲבָֽיִךְ׃, which aligns closely with the Septuagint, where four out of five words correspond directly. The Dead Sea Scrolls also reflect similar wording, although some words are partly restored.

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

שַׁ֭אֲלוּ שְׁל֣וֹם יְרוּשָׁלִָ֑ם יִ֝שְׁלָ֗יוּ אֹהֲבָֽיִךְ׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
שַׁ֭אֲלוּἐρωτήσατεשְׁל֣וֹםεἰρήνηνיְרוּשָׁלִָ֑םιερουσαλημאֹהֲבָֽיִךְ׃σε

4 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 — 11Q5a copy a thousand years older than the Leningrad Codex

שאלו שא שלום ירושלים [ישליו] אוהבי׳ך

3 words on the leather — 2 partly restored, 1 supplied entire by an editor.

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


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

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

Psalms 122:6שָׁאַלask forask forשָׁאַלשָׁלוֹם[the] peace[the] peace ofשָׁלוֹםיְרוּשָׁלִַ֫JerusalemJerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִַ֫שָׁלָהmay they bemay they be at שָׁלָהאָהֵב[those who][those who] lovאָהֵבשָׁלֵםto completto completeשָׁלֵםיְרוּשְׁלֵםJerusalemJerusalemיְרוּשְׁלֵםיָרָאto shootto shootיָרָאשְׁאֵלָהpetitionpetitionשְׁאֵלָהיֵהוּאJehuJehuיֵהוּאמָלַךְto reignto reignמָלַךְחוֹמָהwallwallחוֹמָהלֹאnotnotלֹאשָׂנֵאto hateto hateשָׂנֵא
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 122:6

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.

ask for [the] peace of Jerusalem may they be at ease [those who] love you
שַׁ֭אֲלוּSha.'a.lu ask for H7592 Verb · Qal · imperative second person masculine plural
171× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To ask or inquire, this Hebrew word is used in the Bible to describe seeking information or requesting something. It can also mean to beg or borrow, and is used in many different contexts throughout the Old Testament. The KJV translates it as ask, beg, or borrow.
Amplified meaning
ask, inquire of God
Tyndale gloss
to ask
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שָׁאַל (sha'al) means to ask or inquire, often in the context of requesting a favor or borrowing. It covers a range of uses, including seeking counsel, consulting deities, and even begging. The verb can appear in different forms, such as asking for oneself or granting requests. There is a noted Aramaic equivalent, שְׁאֵל (she.el), meaning 'to ask'.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שָׁאַל 170 vb. ask, inquire

Qal

ask, ask for

specif. ask as a fovour, for temporary use, i.e. borrow

in weakened sense, seek, desire (late)

inquire of

inquire of, consult, deity, oracle, etc.

in weakened sense, seek, desire (late)

Niph. ask for oneself

Pi.

inquire carefully

beg, practise beggary

Hiph. (prop. let one ask [successfully], give, or lend, on request, then) grant, make over to (as a favour, with or without request)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7592 שָׁאַל ask, inquire .. . ask, ask for

. specif. ask as a fovour, for temporary use, i.e. borrow

. in weakened sense, seek, desire (late)

. . inquire of

. inquire of, consult, deity, oracle, etc.

. in weakened sense, seek, desire (late)

. ask for oneself

. . inquire carefully

. beg, practise beggary

. (prop. let one ask [successfully], give, or lend, on request, then) grant, make over to (as a favour, with or without request)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7592 sha'al shaw-al'

or shael {shaw-ale'}; a primitive root; to inquire; by

implication, to request; by extension, to demand:--ask

(counsel, on), beg, borrow, lay to charge, consult, demand,

desire, X earnestly, enquire, + greet, obtain leave, lend,

pray, request, require, + salute, X straitly, X surely, wish.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שָׁאַל (sha.al) — to ask.

1) to ask, enquire, borrow, beg

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to ask, ask for

1a2) to ask (as a favour), borrow

1a3) to enquire, enquire of

1a4) to enquire of, consult (of deity, oracle)

1a5) to seek

1b) (Niphal) to ask for oneself, ask leave of absence

1c) (Piel)

1c1) to enquire, enquire carefully

1c2) to beg, practise beggary

1d) (Hiphil)

1d1) to be given on request

1d2) to grant, make over to, let (one) ask (successfully) or give or lend on request (then) grant or make over to

Aramaic equivalent: she.el (שְׁאֵל "to ask" H7593)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Impv-2mp — Verb · Qal · imperative second person masculine plural
HVqv2mp
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…

ask for [the] peace of Jerusalem may they be at ease [those who] love you
שְׁל֣וֹםshe.Lom [the] peace of H7965 Noun common · masculine singular construct
237× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word for peace, shalom, means completeness, wellness, and friendship, and is often used to describe God's relationship with humanity, as seen in the covenant with the Israelites. It encompasses physical and spiritual health, prosperity, and harmony.
Amplified meaning
completeness, wellness, friendship, shalom
Tyndale gloss
Peace
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שָׁלוֹם (shalom) conveys a range of meanings including completeness, soundness, welfare, and peace. It can refer to physical safety and health, as well as emotional states like tranquility and friendship, particularly in human relationships and with God. The word is derived from a root meaning 'to be complete' and is used in various contexts, including greetings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שָׁלוֹם 237 n.m. completeness, soundness, welfare, peace

completeness in no.

safety, soundness, in body

welfare, health, prosperity

peace, quiet, tranquility, contentment

peace, friendship

peace from war

as adj. those at peace with him

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7965 שָׁלוֹם completeness, soundness, welfare, peace

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7965 shalowm shaw-lome'

or shalom {shaw-lome'}; from 7999; safe, i.e. (figuratively)

well, happy, friendly; also (abstractly) welfare, i.e. health,

prosperity, peace:--X do, familiar, X fare, favour, + friend,

X great, (good) health, (X perfect, such as be at)

peace(-able, -ably), prosper(-ity, -ous), rest, safe(-ty),

salute, welfare, (X all is, be) well, X wholly.

see HEBREW for 07999

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שָׁלוֹם (sha.lom) — peace.

: peace

1) completeness, soundness, welfare, peace

1a) completeness (in number)

1b) safety, soundness (in body)

1c) welfare, health, prosperity

1d) peace, quiet, tranquillity, contentment

1e) peace, friendship

1e1) of human relationships

1e2) with God especially in covenant relationship

1f) peace (from war)

1g) peace (as adjective)

שָׁלוֹם (ye.ho.vah sha.lom) — Peace.

This name means completeness, peace

Another name of ye.ho.vah (יהוה "LORD" H3068G)

שָׁלוֹם (sha.lom) — peace: well-being.

: well-being

1) completeness, soundness, welfare, peace

1a) completeness (in number)

1b) safety, soundness (in body)

1c) welfare, health, prosperity

1d) peace, quiet, tranquillity, contentment

1e) peace, friendship

1e1) of human relationships

1e2) with God especially in covenant relationship

1f) peace (from war)

1g) peace (as adjective)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular construct
HNcmsc
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…

ask for [the] peace of Jerusalem may they be at ease [those who] love you
יְרוּשָׁלִָ֑םye.ru.sha.Lim Jerusalem H3389 Noun proper
643× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Jerusalem is the capital city of Palestine, also known as the city of peace. It was the chief city of the united kingdom and the nation of Judah after the split.
Amplified meaning
the city of peace
Tyndale gloss
Jerusalem
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫͏ם (Yruwshalaim) refers to Jerusalem, the capital city of Palestine. The name is thought to derive from terms meaning 'founded peaceful' and is linked to its two main hills. It is described as the chief city of the united kingdom and the nation of Judah.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫͏ם, יְרוּשָׁלַ֫יִם 644 n.pr.loc. Jerusalem

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3389 יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫͏ם, יְרוּשָׁלַ֫יִם Jerusalem

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3389 Yruwshalaim yer-oo-shaw-lah'-im

rarely Yruwshalayim {yer-oo- shaw-lah'-yim}; a dual (in

allusion to its two main hills (the true pointing, at least of

the former reading, seems to be that of 3390)); probably from

(the passive participle of) 3384 and 7999; founded peaceful;

Jerushalaim or Jerushalem, the capital city of

Palestine:--Jerusalem.

see HEBREW for 03390

see HEBREW for 03384

see HEBREW for 07999

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם (ye.ru.sha.laim) — Jerusalem.

§ Jerusalem = "teaching of peace"

the chief city of Palestine and capital of the united kingdom and the nation of Judah after the split

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-proper — Noun proper
HNpl
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

je-roo'-sa-lem:

I. THE NAME

1. In Cuneiform

2. In Hebrew

3. In Greek and Latin

4. The Meaning of Jerusalem

5. Other Names

II. GEOLOGY, CLIMATE AND SPRINGS

1. Geology

2. Climate and Rainfall

3. The Natural Springs

III. THE NATURAL SITE

1. The Mountains Around

2. The Valleys

3. The Hills

IV. GENERAL TOPOGRAPHY OF JERUSALEM

1. Description of Josephus

2. Summary of the Names of the Five Hills

3. The Akra

4. The Lower City

5. City of David and Zion

V. EXCAVATIONS AND ANTIQUITIES

1. Robinson

2. Wilson, and the Palestine Exploration Fund (1865)

3. Warren and Conder

4. Maudslay

5. Schick

6. Clermont-Ganneau

7. Bliss and Dickie

8. Jerusalem Archaeological Societies

VI. THE CITY'S WALLS AND GATES

1. The Existing Walls

2. Wilson's Theory

3. The Existing Gates

4. Buried Remains of Earlier Walls

5. The Great Dam of the Tyropoeon

6. Ruins of Ancient Gates

7. Josephus' Description of the Walls

8. First Wall

9. Second Wall

10. Third Wall

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Jerusalem

Called also Salem, Ariel, Jebus, the “city of God,” the “holy city;” by the modern Arabs el-Khuds, meaning “the holy;” once “the city of Judah” (2 Chr. 25:28). This name is in the original in the dual form, and means “possession of peace,” or “foundation of peace.” The dual form probably refers to the two mountains on which it was built, viz., Zion and Moriah; or, as some suppose, to the two parts of the city, the “upper” and the “lower city.” Jerusalem is a “mountain city enthroned on a mountain fastness” (comp. Ps. 68:15, 16; 87:1; 125:2; 76:1, 2; 122:3). It stands on the edge of one of the highest table-lands in Palestine, and is surrounded on the south-eastern, the southern, and the western sides by deep and precipitous ravines.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

(the habitation of peace), Jerusalem stands in latitude 31 degrees 46’ 35" north and longitude 35 degrees 18’ 30" east of Greenwich. It is 32 miles distant from the sea and 18 from the Jordan, 20 from Hebron and 36 from Samaria. "In several respects," says Dean Stanley, "its situation is singular among the cities of Palestine. Its elevation is remarkable; occasioned not from its being on the summit of one of the numerous hills of Judea, like most of the towns and villages, but because it is on the edge of one of the highest table-lands of the country. Hebron indeed is higher still by some hundred feet, and from the south, accordingly (even from Bethlehem), the approach to Jerusalem is by a slight descent. But from any other side the ascent is perpetual; and to the traveller approaching the city from the east or west it must always have presented the appearance beyond any other capital…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

The chief city of the Holy Land, and to the Christian the most illustrious in the world. It is situated in 31 degrees 46’43" N. lat., and 35 degrees 13’ E. long. on elevated ground south of the center of the country, about thirty-seven miles from the Mediterranean, and about twenty-four from the Jordan. Its site was early hallowed by God’s trial of Abraham’s faith, Ge 22:1-24 2Ch 3:1. It was on the border of the tribes of Benjamin and Judah, mostly within the limits of the former, but reckoned as belonging to the latter, because conquered by it, Jos 15:8 18:16,28 Jud 1:18. The most ancient name of the city was Salem, Ge…

ask for [the] peace of Jerusalem may they be at ease [those who] love you
יִ֝שְׁלָ֗יוּyish.La.yu may they be at ease H7951 Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine plural
5× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Shalâh means to be at rest or secure, often translated as to prosper or be happy. It is about being at ease or safe.
Amplified meaning
be at rest, secure, happy, live peacefully
Tyndale gloss
to prosper
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שָׁלָה (shalah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to be tranquil or at ease, often associated with prosperity and security. It can denote being quiet or having rest. The entries indicate its use in various forms, including Qal and Niph, with a notable reference in Job 3:26. An Aramaic equivalent is also mentioned.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[שָׁלָה, שָׁלֵו] vb. be quiet, at ease

Qal

be (have) quiet

be at ease, prosper

Niph. be not negligent

Hiph. do not mislead me

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7951 שָׁלָה, שָׁלָה, שָׁלֵו, שָׁלַו

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7951 shalah shaw-law'

or shalav (Job 3:26) {shaw-lav'}; a primitive root; to be

tranquil, i.e. secure or successful:--be happy, prosper, be

in safety.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שָׁלָה (sha.lah) — to prosper.

1) to be at rest, prosper, be quiet, be at ease

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to be or have quiet

1a2) to be at ease, prosper

Aramaic equivalent: she.lah (שְׁלֵה "safe" H7954)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Imperf-3mp — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine plural
HVqi3mp
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ez (sha'anan, shal'anan, chiefly, "at ease"):

Used 19 times in the Old Testament and once in the New Testament, most frequently meaning tranquillity, security or comfort of mind; in an ethical sense, indicating carelessness or indifference with reference to one's moral or religious interests.

The prophet Jeremiah used the phrase as an indication of national or tribal indifference: "Moab hath been at ease from his youth" (Jer 48:11); "I am very sore displeased with the nations that are at ease" (Zec 1:15). Frequent allusions are made also by various prophets to individuals or groups of individuals, as "Woe to them that are at ease in Zion" (Am 6:1); "Rise up, ye women that are at ease" (

ask for [the] peace of Jerusalem may they be at ease [those who] love you
אֹהֲבָֽיִךְ׃'o.ha.Va.yikh [those who] love you H157 Verb qal participle (active) masculine plural common · suffix
211× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To love means to have affection for someone or something, including family, romance, or God. It can also describe being a friend or having appetite for things like food or wisdom.
Amplified meaning
have affection for, are devoted to, God, the Almighty
Tyndale gloss
to love: lover
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word אָהֵב (*'ahab*) means 'to love' and encompasses various forms of affection, including human love for others, love for God, and even appetites for things like food and wisdom. It can also refer to friendship and divine love towards humanity, particularly Israel. The entries indicate that it can function in different grammatical forms, such as participles for 'lovely' or 'loveable'.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אָהֵב 216 vb. love

Qal

human love to human object

less oft. of appetite

love to God

esp. Pt.

of divine love

Niph. Pt. pl. lovely, loveable

Pi.

friends

lovers

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H157 אָהֵב love

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

157 'ahab aw-hab'

or raheb {aw-habe'}; a primitive root; to have affection for

(sexually or otherwise):--(be-)love(-d, -ly, -r), like,

friend.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אָהֵב (a.hav) — to love: lover.

: lover

1) to love

1a) (Qal)

1a1) human love for another, includes family, and sexual

1a2) human appetite for objects such as food, drink, sleep, wisdom

1a3) human love for or to God

1a4) act of being a friend

1a4a) lover (participle)

1a4b) friend (participle)

1a5) God's love toward man

1a5a) to individual men

1a5b) to people Israel

1a5c) to righteousness

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) lovely (participle)

1b2) loveable (participle)

1c) (Piel)

1c1) friends

1c2) lovers (fig. of adulterers)

2) to like

Also means: a.hav (אָהֵב ": friend" H0157H)

אָהֵב (a.hav) — to love: friend.

: friend

1) to love

1a) (Qal)

1a1) human love for another, includes family, and sexual

1a2) human appetite for objects such as food, drink, sleep, wisdom

1a3) human love for or to God

1a4) act of being a friend

1a4a) lover (participle)

1a4b) friend (participle)

1a5) God's love toward man

1a5a) to individual men

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal | Suff — Verb qal participle (active) masculine plural common · suffix
HVqrmpc/Sp2fs
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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