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Psalms 13:6 — Word Study

Depth

WLCאָשִׁ֥ירָה לַיהוָ֑ה כִּ֖י גָמַ֣ל עָלָֽי׃

BSAI will singshîyr [as an individual, personally, praise, rejoice] to the LORDYᵉhôvâh [Yehovah, my Savior] forkîy [because, since] He has been goodgâmal [the Almighty, my Deliverer, continually, graciously, kind, dealt bountifully] to meʻal [toward me, on my behalf]

Word
Listen & take awayPsalms 13
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 ('a.Lai) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Psalms 13:6quick helps
In a sentenceThe psalmist expresses gratitude to the LORD for His goodness.
Who is speakingThe psalmist, speaking personally and directly to God.
Where we areIn a moment of reflection and praise after a plea for help.
The hard wordגָמַל
Take awayThe LORD's kindness prompts a song of praise.
7 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbוְ 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 13:6

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 Song of Praisegenerated

3Consider me and respond, O LORD my God. Give light to my eyes, lest I sleep in death,
4lest my enemy say, “I have overcome him,” and my foes rejoice when I fall.
5But I have trusted in Your loving devotion; my heart will rejoice in Your salvation.
6I will sing to the LORD, for He has been good to me.

Psalm 13:6 concludes a heartfelt plea for help with a declaration of praise. The psalmist reflects on the goodness of the LORD, expressing personal gratitude for His kindness. This verse serves as a transition from lament to joy, emphasizing the importance of recognizing God's blessings even in difficult times.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Psalm 21:13Be exalted, O LORD, in Your strength; we will sing and praise Your power.
2Psalm 116:7Return to your rest, O my soul, for the LORD has been good to you.
3Psalm 119:7I will praise You with an upright heart when I learn Your righteous judgments.

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


The Key Word אָשִׁ֥ירָה, 'a.Shi.rahgenerated

The word אָשִׁ֥ירָה ('a.Shi.rah) is a first person singular form of the verb meaning 'to sing'. It conveys the act of singing, often in a context of worship or praise. The psalmist uses this word to express a personal commitment to sing to the LORD, highlighting the intimate relationship between the singer and God.

This verb is derived from the root שִׁיר (shiyr), which encompasses various forms of singing. The psalmist's choice to sing reflects not only joy but also a response to God's goodness, as singing is a common biblical expression of gratitude and worship.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

Translations of this verse are consistent in conveying the psalmist's intent to sing to the LORD for His goodness.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main finite verb in this verse is אָשִׁ֥ירָה, I will sing, which governs the structure. The verse contains a prepositional phrase indicating the recipient of the song, followed by a causal conjunction that introduces the reason for singing.

The structure emphasizes the relationship between the act of singing and the psalmist's gratitude for the LORD's goodness, creating a clear flow from intention to reason.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates אָשִׁ֥ירָה as ἀγαλλιάσεται, which means 'to rejoice' or 'to exult'. This choice reflects a broader interpretation of the act of singing as an expression of joy and celebration.

The translation of גָמַל as ἐλέει suggests a focus on the act of kindness or mercy, aligning with the theme of divine favor in the psalm.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Psalm 13:6 expresses the psalmist's intention to sing to the LORD in gratitude for His goodness. This verse highlights the importance of recognizing and celebrating God's kindness in our lives.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean to sing to the LORD?

Singing to the LORD is an act of worship and praise, expressing gratitude for His goodness and faithfulness, as seen in this psalm.

Why does the psalmist sing for God's goodness?

The psalmist acknowledges God's kindness and mercy, which prompts a response of praise and thanksgiving through song.

How can I apply this verse to my life?

Recognizing the goodness of the LORD in your life can inspire you to express gratitude through song or other forms of worship.

What does the word 'good' imply in this context?

In this context, 'good' refers to the kindness and favorable treatment that the LORD has shown to the psalmist, highlighting God's benevolent nature.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what ways have I experienced God's goodness in my life?
  2. How can I incorporate singing or praise into my daily routine as a response to God's blessings?
  3. What specific instances can I recall where I felt the LORD's kindness towards me?
  4. How does recognizing God's goodness affect my perspective during challenging times?

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

Early Church Fathers like John Chrysostom and Augustine reference this verse to emphasize themes of gratitude and divine goodness.

John ChrysostomCOMMENTARY ON THE Psalms 13:3 c. 347–407
Hope in God’s mercy, have no doubts, and you will gain your request completely; once gained, however, do not prove ungrateful for the favor and unappreciative but make a record of the kindness and offer it as a thanksgiving song to the…
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 13 →
Augustine of HippoExposition on Psalms 13 354–430
"My heart shall exult in Your salvation;" in Christ, in the Wisdom of God. "I will sing to the Lord who has given me good things;" spiritual good things, not belonging to man's day.
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 13 →

Commentators on this verse — 7 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Psalms 13:6 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

I will sing unto the Lord,.... In prayer faith is encouraged, through believing the heart is filled with joy; and this joy is expressed by the lips, in songs of praise to the Lord, ascribing the

Read John Gill on Psalms 13 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation. But I have trusted in thy mercy [ checed (H2617)]; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation.

Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 13 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Either, 1. In giving me that support and assurance of his favour which for the present I enjoy. Or, 2. In giving me that mercy which he hath freely promised me; it being a common thing for David and other prophets to speak of future deliverances as if they were already come, that so they may signify both the infallible certainty of the thing, and their firm assurance thereof. But the words may be rendered, when he shall have dealt bountifully with me. This verb properly signifies to requite, or reward, but here it signifies a free and bountiful giving, as it doth also 142:7.

Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 13 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Psalms 13:6 I will sing unto the LORD, because he hath dealt bountifully with me.Ver. 6. I will sing unto the Lord] How far different is the end of this psalm from the beginning! See the like Psalms 6:1, Because he hath dealt bountifully with me] Qui retribuit mihi, so Popish merit-mongers read it, and would therehence collect something in favour of their absurd tenet. But their own Vulgate translation hath it bona tribuit, hath given me good things. And it is well observed (Ainsworth), that though the Hebrew word be sometimes taken for rewarding evil for good, Psalms 7:5, or evil for evil, Psalms 137:8, yet from God to his people it commonly signifieth a bountiful rewarding of good things…

Read John Trapp on Psalms 13 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 6. I will sing unto the Lord] That heart is turned to God's praise which has a clear sense of God's favour. Because he hath dealt bountifully with me.] כי גמל עלי ki gamel alai, because he hath recompensed me. My sorrows were deep, long continued, and oppressive, but in thy favour is life. A moment of this spiritual joy is worth a year of sorrow! O, to what blessedness has this godly sorrow led! He has given me the oil of joy for the spirit of heaviness, and the garments of praise for mourning. The old MS. Psalter, which I have so frequently mentioned and quoted, was written at least four hundred years ago, and written probably in Scotland, as it is in the Scottish dialect. That the…

Read AdamClarke on Psalms 13 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

I will sing unto the Lord, because he hath dealt bountifully with me - The word which is here rendered “dealt bountifully” - גמל gâmal - means properly “to deal” with anyone; to “treat” anyone well

Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 13 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

6. I will sing—Faith rises to the point of victory, and joy ends the bitter outcry of Psa 13:1-2. Luther: “While Satan rages and roars about him, he meanwhile sings quietly his little psalm.”

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Psalms 13 →

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

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

Modern formal

BSBBerean Standard Bible2020

I will sing to the LORD, for He has been good to me.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

I will sing to Yahweh, because he has been good to me.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

I will sing to the LORD, for He has been good to me.

NETBNew English Translation2006

I will sing praises to the Lord when he vindicates me.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

I will sing unto the LORD, because he hath dealt bountifully with me.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

I will sing unto Jehovah, Because he hath dealt bountifully with me.

RVARevised Version, American1894

I will sing unto the LORD, because he hath dealt bountifully with me.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

I will sing to the LORD, because he hath dealt bountifully with me.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

I will sing unto Jehovah, for he hath dealt bountifully with me.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

I do sing to Jehovah, For He hath conferred benefits upon me!

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

I sing to YHWH, || For He has conferred benefits on me!

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

I will sing unto the Lord, because he hath dealt bountifully with me.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

I will sing to Yahweh because he has treated me very generously.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

For the Lord is in the just generation: you have confounded the counsel of the poor man, but the Lord is his hope.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

I will sing to the Lord because he has treated me with such generosity!

BBEBible in Basic English1949

I will make a song to the Lord, because he has given me my reward.

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.

וַandclausesubjectאֲנִ֤יIprepositional phrase · prepositionalבְּinnoun phraseחַסְדְּyour.covenantךָ֣loyaltyverbבָטַחְתִּי֮I.have.trustedclauseverbיָ֤גֵ֥לmay.it.rejoicenoun phrase · subjectלִבִּ֗heartיmyprepositional phrase · prepositionalבִּֽinnoun phraseישׁוּעָ֫תֶ֥deliveranceךָyourclauseverbאָשִׁ֥ירָהI.will.singprepositional phrase · prepositionalלַtoיהוָ֑הYahwehכִּ֖י(dm)clauseverbגָמַ֣לhe.has.dealt.bountifullyprepositional phrase · prepositionalעָלָֽtowardsיme

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


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

The Masoretic Text agrees with the Septuagint in the main elements of the verse, with all five words matched. The Dead Sea Scrolls also align closely with the MT, although they contain editorial restorations.

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

אָשִׁ֥ירָה לַיהוָ֑ה כִּ֖י גָמַ֣ל עָלָֽי׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
אָשִׁ֥ירָהδὲלַיהוָ֑הἐγὼכִּ֖יἐλέειגָמַ֣לσουעָלָֽי׃ἀγαλλιάσεται

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 — 11Q7a copy a thousand years older than the Leningrad Codex

[ואני] [בחסד׳כה] [בטחתי] [יגל] [לב׳י] [בישועת׳כה] [אשירה] [ליהוה] [כי] [גמל] [על׳י]

nothing on the leather here — 11 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 13:6שִׁירI will singI will singשִׁיריהוהto Yahwehto Yahwehיהוהכִּיforforכִּיגָּמַלhe has dealhe has dealt boגָּמַלעַלtowards metowards meעַלהָיָהto beto beהָיָהשׁוּרto travelto travelשׁוּרשׁוּרto seeto seeשׁוּרעַלheightheightעַלשֹׁעֵרgatekeepergatekeeperשֹׁעֵרזמרto singto singזמרנְאֻםutteranceutteranceנְאֻםצָבָאarmyarmyצָבָאיָדַעto knowto knowיָדַעפֶּ֫רַחflowerflowerפֶּ֫רַחכִּפֶּרto atoneto atoneכִּפֶּרכִּסֵּאthronethroneכִּסֵּא
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 13:6

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.

I will sing to Yahweh for he has dealt bountifully towards me
אָשִׁ֥ירָה'a.Shi.rah I will sing H7891 Verb · Qal · infinitive construct first person common singular
87× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to sing, and it is used in the Bible to describe the act of singing, like when the Israelites sang after crossing the Red Sea in Exodus 15. It can also refer to a singer or songstress. The Bible often mentions singing as a way to praise God.
Amplified meaning
as an individual, personally, praise, rejoice
Tyndale gloss
to sing
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שִׁיר (shiyr) means 'to sing' and is a denominative verb derived from a primitive root. It covers various forms of singing, including participles for singers and songstresses. The entries indicate its use in different verbal stems, such as Qal and Polel, and note its appearance in contexts like 1 Samuel 18:6.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[שִׁיר] 86 vb. sing (denom.)

Qal 49 sing

Pō‛l. 36 sing

Hoph. be sung

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7891 שִׁיר sing (denom.)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7891 shiyr sheer

or (the original form) shuwr (1 Sam. 18:6) {shoor}; a

primitive root (identical with 7788 through the idea of

strolling minstrelsy); to sing:--behold (by mistake for

7789), sing(-er, -ing man, - ing woman).

see HEBREW for 07788

see HEBREW for 07789

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שִׁיר (shir) — to sing.

1) to sing

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to sing

1a2) singer, songstresses (participle)

1b) (Polel)

1b1) to sing

1b2) singer, songstress (participle)

1c) (Hophal) to be sung

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-1cs — Verb · Qal · infinitive construct first person common singular
HVqc1cs
I will sing to Yahweh for he has dealt bountifully towards me
לַיהוָ֑הla.Yah.weh to Yahweh H3068 Preposition · noun proper
6,528× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Yehovah is another name for God, often translated as 'the Lord'. It is a national name for God in the Jewish faith. This name is used throughout the Old Testament.
Amplified meaning
Yehovah, my Savior
Tyndale gloss
The Lord
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) is the proper name of the God of Israel, often rendered as Jehovah or the Lord. It signifies the self-existent or eternal nature of God. The name is closely associated with the revelation to Moses in Exodus 3:12-15 and is used in conjunction with other terms to denote sacred places. Some scholars suggest it derives from a root meaning 'to bring into being.'

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יהוה c. 6823 i.e. יַהְוֶה n.pr.dei Yahweh, the proper name of the God of Israel—(1. MT יְהֹוָה 6518 (Qr אֲדֹנָי), or יֱהֹוִה 305 (Qr אֱלֹהִים) 2. Many recent scholars explain יַהְוֶה as Hiph. of הוה (= היה) the one bringing into being, life-giver)

יהוה is not used by E in Gn, but is given Ex 3:12-15 as the name of the God who revealed Himself to Moses at Horeb

יהוה is used with אלהים and suffixes, especially in D

the phrase † אֲנִי יהוה is noteworthy

יהוה is also used with several predicates, to form sacred names of holy places of Yahweh

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3068 יהוה i.e. יַהְוֶה n. pr. dei Yahweh, the proper name of the God of Israel

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3068 Yhovah yeh-ho-vaw'

from 1961; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish

national name of God:--Jehovah, the Lord. Compare 3050, 3069.

see HEBREW for 01961

see HEBREW for 03050

see HEBREW for 03069

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — LORD.

Jehovah = "the existing One"

1) the proper name of the one true God

1a) unpronounced except with the vowel pointings of a.do.na (אֲדֹנָי "Lord" H0136)

יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — The Lord.

Another name of ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)

יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — (Jerusalem of) the Lord.

Combined with ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-proper — Preposition · noun proper
HR/Npt
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
I will sing to Yahweh for he has dealt bountifully towards me
כִּ֖יki for H3588 Particle
4,483× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A conjunction used to show cause or connection, as in Genesis 2:23 where Adam says the woman is bone of his bone because she was taken out of him. It is often translated as 'for', 'because', or 'since'.
Amplified meaning
because, since
Tyndale gloss
for
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כִּי (ki) is a conjunction primarily meaning 'that,' 'for,' or 'when.' It indicates causal relationships and can express conditions like 'if' or 'though.' The word is versatile, appearing in various contexts to convey certainty, exception, or concession. Notably, it can combine with other particles to modify its meaning, such as in the phrase כִּי אם־ (ki im), meaning 'that if.'

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כִּי conj. that, for, when

that

Of time, when, of the past

elsewhere כִּי has a force approximating to if, though it usu. represents a case as more likely to occur than אִם

when or if, with a concessive force, i.e. though

Because, since

base

כִּי אם־

each part. retaining its independent force, and relating to a different clause:

that if

for if

(About 140 t.) the two particles being closely conjoined, and relating to the same clause—

limiting the prec. clause, except

the if being neglected, and treated as pleonastic, so that the clause is no longer a limitation of the preceding clause but a contradiction of it: but rather, but

after an oath, surely

base

כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3588a כִּי that, for, when . that

. . Of time, when, of the past

. elsewhere כִּי has a force approximating to if, though it usu. represents a case as more likely to occur than אִם

. when or if, with a concessive force, i.e. though

. Because, since

H3588b כִּי אם־ . each part. retaining its independent force, and relating to a different clause: . that if

. for if

. (About 140 t.) the two particles being closely conjoined, and relating to the same clause— . limiting the prec. clause, except

. the if being neglected, and treated as pleonastic, so that the clause is no longer a limitation of the preceding clause but a contradiction of it: but rather, but

. after an oath, surely

H3588c כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3588 kiy kee

a primitive particle (the full form of the prepositional

prefix) indicating causal relations of all kinds, antecedent

or consequent; (by implication) very widely used as a relative

conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by

other particles annexed:--and, + (forasmuch, inasmuch,

where-)as, assured(-ly), + but, certainly, doubtless, + else,

even, + except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, +

nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then,

therefore, + (al- )though, + till, truly, + until, when,

whether, while, whom, yea, yet.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כִּי (ki) — for.

1) that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since

1a) that

1a1) yea, indeed

1b) when (of time)

1b1) when, if, though (with a concessive force)

1c) because, since (causal connection)

1d) but (after negative)

1e) that if, for if, indeed if, for though, but if

1f) but rather, but

1g) except that

1h) only, nevertheless

1i) surely

1j) that is

1k) but if

1l) for though

1m) forasmuch as, for therefore

כִּי [אם] (ki im) — that if: except.

1) except if

1a) but if

1b) even though

כִּי [עַל כֵּן] (ki [al ken]) — for as that: since.

1) that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since

1a) that

1a1) yea, indeed

1b) when (of time)

1b1) when, if, though (with a concessive force)

1c) because, since (causal connection)

1d) but (after negative)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj — Particle
HTc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

for (ki (conjunction), le, from 'el (preposition), and various other words. In the New Testament also the words are various, chiefly gar, kai gar, hoti (conjunctions); anti apo eis dia (accusative), epi (dative and accusative), peri (genitive), pros (genitive and accusative), huper (genitive) (prepositions)): the English Revised Version and the American Standard Revised Version give in many cases more literal or more accurate renderings than those in the King James Version.

In the New Testament the most important preps. from a doctrinal point of view are anti, "face to face," "over against," "instead," "on behalf of," peri, "around," "about," "concerning," huper, "over," "on behalf of." The first has been claimed as stating the substitutionary nature of Christ's sacrifice as contrasted with huper and peri, more frequently used of it. But, although anti in the New Testament often means…

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
I will sing to Yahweh for he has dealt bountifully towards me
גָמַ֣לga.Mal he has dealt bountifully H1580 Verb · Qal · perfect third person masculine singular
37× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This verb means to wean a child or to treat someone well or poorly. It can also mean to ripen or bear fruit, and is translated as bestow, recompense, or requite in the KJV.
Amplified meaning
the Almighty, my Deliverer, continually, graciously, kind, dealt bountifully
Tyndale gloss
to wean
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

גָּמַל (gamal) is a Hebrew root meaning to deal fully or adequately with someone, which includes concepts like recompensing or rewarding. It also specifically refers to weaning a child and can denote the ripening of fruit, particularly almonds. The entries consistently highlight these meanings without significant disagreement.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

גָּמַל vb. 1. deal fully or adequately with, deal out to. 2. wean. 3. ripen

Qal

deal out to, do to

deal bountifully with

recompense, repay, requite

wean a child (complete his nursing)

trans. ripen, bear ripe (almonds)

Niph. be weaned

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1580 גָּמַל 1. deal fully or adequately with, deal out to. 2. wean. 3. ripen

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1580 gamal gaw-mal'

a primitive root; to treat a person (well or ill), i.e.

benefit or requite; by implication (of toil), to ripen, i.e.

(specifically) to wean:--bestow on, deal bountifully, do

(good), recompense, requite, reward, ripen, + serve, mean,

yield.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

גָּמַל (ga.mal) — to wean.

1) to deal fully with, recompense

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to deal out to, do to

1a2) to deal bountifully with

1a3) to recompense, repay, requite

2) (Qal) to wean a child (Niphal) to be weaned

3) (Qal) to ripen, bear ripe (almonds)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Perf-3ms — Verb · Qal · perfect third person masculine singular
HVqp3ms
I will sing to Yahweh for he has dealt bountifully towards me
עָלָֽי׃'a.Lai towards me H5921 Preposition · suffix
5,774× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means on or above something, like a physical object or a situation. It can also imply a sense of responsibility or accountability, as in being on behalf of someone.
Amplified meaning
toward me, on my behalf
Tyndale gloss
upon
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word עַל (*al*) is a preposition meaning 'upon' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including 'on account of,' 'beside,' 'above,' and 'against.' It can indicate physical placement, emotional burdens, or duties imposed on a person. The entries also note its use in idiomatic expressions and with verbs of motion. There is a mention of its function as a conjunction in certain contexts.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as

base

עַל, עָ֑ל

subst. height

As prep. upon, and hence on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against

Upon, of the substratum upon which an object in any way rests, or on which an action is performed

of clothing, etc., which any one wears

With verbs of covering or protecting, even though the cover or veil be not over or above the thing covered, but around or before it

Of what rests heavily upon a person, or is a burden to him

Of a duty, payment, care, etc., imposed upon a person, or devolving on him

על is used idiom. to give pathos to the expression of an emotion, by emphasizing the person who is its subject, and who, as it were, feels it acting upon him

חָיָה עַל to live upon (as upon a foundation or support)

Read the full entry →
Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5921a עַל, עָ֑ל . As prep. upon, and hence on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against . Upon, of the substratum upon which an object in any way rests, or on which an action is performed . — . of clothing, etc., which any one wears

. With verbs of covering or protecting, even though the cover or veil be not over or above the thing covered, but around or before it

. Of what rests heavily upon a person, or is a burden to him

. Of a duty, payment, care, etc., imposed upon a person, or devolving on him

. על is used idiom. to give pathos to the expression of an emotion, by emphasizing the person who is its subject, and who, as it were, feels it acting upon him

. חָיָה עַל to live upon (as upon a foundation or support)

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Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5921 `al al

properly, the same as 5920 used as a preposition (in the

singular or plural often with prefix, or as conjunction with a

particle following); above, over, upon, or against (yet always

in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great

variety of applications (as follow):--above, according

to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, X as, at, because

of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, X both

and, by (reason of), X had the charge of, concerning for, in

(that), (forth, out) of, (from) (off), (up-)on, over, than,

through(-out), to, touching, X with.

see HEBREW for 05920

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עַל (al) — upon.

prep

1) upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against

1a) upon, on the ground of, on the basis of, on account of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of, as regards

1b) above, beyond, over (of excess)

1c) above, over (of elevation or pre-eminence)

1d) upon, to, over to, unto, in addition to, together with, with (of addition)

1e) over (of suspension or extension)

1f) by, adjoining, next, at, over, around (of contiguity or proximity)

1g) down upon, upon, on, from, up upon, up to, towards, over towards, to, against (with verbs of motion)

1h) to (as a dative)

[כִּי] עַל [כֵּן] ([ki] al [ken]) — as.

conj

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | Suff — Preposition · suffix
HR/Sp1bs
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
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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