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Psalms 131:3 — Word Study

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WLCיַחֵ֣ל יִ֭שְׂרָאֵל אֶל־ יְהוָ֑ה מֵֽ֝עַתָּ֗ה וְעַד־ עוֹלָֽם׃

BSAO IsraelYisrâʼêl [the descendants of Jacob] put your hopeyâchal [wait patiently, trust confidently] inʼêl the LORDYᵉhôvâh [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] both nowʻattâh and forevermoreʻad [till the end of time, always]

Word
Listen & take awayPsalms 131
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 3 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.Lam) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Psalms 131:3quick helps
In a sentenceThe psalmist calls Israel to place their hope in the LORD, emphasizing trust that lasts forever.
Who is speakingThe psalmist, addressing the nation of Israel.
Where we areThe conclusion of a reflective psalm that speaks to humility and trust.
The hard wordיַחֵ֣ל
Take awayTrust in the LORD is both a present action and a lasting commitment.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbיִשְׂרָאֵל 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 131:3

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 to Hope in the LORDgenerated

1My heart is not proud, O LORD, my eyes are not haughty. I do not aspire to great things or matters too lofty for me.
2Surely I have stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with his mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me.
3O Israel, put your hope in the LORD, both now and forevermore.

Psalm 131:3 concludes a psalm that expresses humility and a quieted spirit. The psalmist contrasts his own lowliness with the call for Israel to place their hope in the LORD, emphasizing a trust that extends beyond the present moment into eternity. This reflects a deep faith in God's enduring presence and support, resonating with themes found throughout the psalms, such as in Psalm 115:9-11 and Jeremiah 17:7-8.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Psalm 115:9–11O Israel, trust in the LORD! He is their help and shield.
2Psalm 130:7O Israel, put your hope in the LORD, for with the LORD is loving devotion, and with Him is redemption in abundance.
3Psalm 146:5Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God,
4Jeremiah 17:7–8But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in Him.
5Psalm 115:18But it is we who will bless the LORD, both now and forevermore. Hallelujah!

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 6 references, hung on the phrase they belong to

from henceforthPsalm 115:18 Isaiah 26:4

The Key Word יַחֵ֣ל, ya.Chelgenerated

The verb יַחֵ֣ל (yachal) is in the Piel stem, indicating an imperative action directed at the second person masculine singular. It conveys the idea of waiting with hope and patience, suggesting a confident trust in God. This form of the verb emphasizes not just waiting, but actively placing one's hope in the LORD.

The usage of יַחֵ֣ל in this context invites Israel to engage in a continuous act of hope, highlighting the relationship between waiting and trusting in God's faithfulness. It is a call to remain steadfast in faith, reflecting a deep-rooted expectation of God's intervention and support.


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 clause is governed by the verb יַחֵ֣ל, put your hope, which directly addresses Israel. This imperative verb sets the tone for the entire verse, calling for immediate action.

The structure includes a prepositional phrase אֶל־יְהוָ֑ה, in the LORD, indicating the direction of their hope, followed by temporal phrases מֵֽ֝עַתָּ֗ה and וְעַד־עוֹלָֽם, both now and forevermore, which frame the time aspect of this hope.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates יִשְׂרָאֵל as Ἰσραήλ, maintaining the identity of Israel, while rendering the call to hope with ἐλπισάτω, which emphasizes the act of hoping or trusting. This choice reflects a similar understanding of the text, focusing on the action of placing trust in God.

The Greek translation aligns closely with the Hebrew intent, reinforcing the theme of hope and trust in the LORD, while also introducing a slight nuance in the call to action.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Psalm 131:3 calls on Israel to place their hope in the LORD, emphasizing that this trust should be both immediate and everlasting. The verse encourages a deep reliance on God, who is always present and faithful.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean to put hope in the LORD?

Putting hope in the LORD means to trust in Him confidently, believing that He will fulfill His promises and support His people.

Why does the psalmist emphasize both now and forever?

The emphasis on both now and forever highlights the importance of trusting God in every moment of life, not just in times of trouble, but as a continuous commitment.

How can we practically put our hope in the LORD today?

We can put our hope in the LORD through prayer, reading His Word, and reflecting on His past faithfulness in our lives.

What does this verse teach us about the nature of God?

This verse teaches us that God is a reliable source of hope and support, who is present in our lives now and will continue to be forever.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what areas of my life do I need to place my hope in the LORD right now?
  2. How can I remind myself of God's faithfulness to encourage my trust in Him?
  3. What does it look like to hope in the LORD during difficult times?
  4. How can I help others to put their hope in the LORD?

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

Early church fathers referenced this psalm to encourage hope in God, emphasizing its timeless message of trust.

Hilary of Poitiers c. 310–367
But he does not demand this living bread from heaven for himself alone, he encourages all mankind to hope for it by saying: Let Israel hope in the Lord from henceforth and for evermore.
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 131 →
Augustine of HippoExposition on Psalms 131 354–430
This Psalm therefore concludes to this purpose: "O Israel, trust in the Lord, from this time forth and even unto eternity" [Psalms 131:3].
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 131 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Psalms 131:3 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

Let Israel hope in the Lord from henceforth and for ever. What he did himself, and found it good for him to do, that he knew was good for others, and therefore exhorts and encourages to it, to hope

Read John Gill on Psalms 131 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

Let Israel hope in the LORD from henceforth and for ever. Let Israel hope in the Lord from henceforth and forever. Hope in the Lord is the antidote of haughty thoughts and overweening aims by one's own hand.

Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 131 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Let all Israelites learn by my example to commit themselves to God in well-doing, and to fix all their hope and trust upon him alone.

Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 131 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Psalms 131:3 Let Israel hope in the LORD from henceforth and for ever.Ver. 3. Let Israel hope] See Psalms 130:7.

Read John Trapp on Psalms 131 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 3. Let Israel hope in the Lord] Act all as I have done; trust in him who is the God of justice and compassion; and, after you have suffered awhile, he will make bare his arm and deliver you. Short as it is, this is a most instructive Psalm. He who acts as the psalmist did, is never likely to come to mischief, or do any to others. ANALYSIS OF THE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-FIRST PSALM I. The psalmist, having been accused of proud and haughty conduct, protests his innocence, states his humble thoughts of himself, and the general meekness of his deportment. II. That his confidence was in God; in him he trusted, and therefore was far from ambition. III. And by his own example calls on Israel to…

Read AdamClarke on Psalms 131 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

3. Hope, Israel, in Jehovah, From this time forth and for evermore. In this spirit of resignation and contentment let Israel patiently wait for the development of God’s purposes. Cp. Psalms 130:7.

Read Cambridge on Psalms 131 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Let Israel hope in the Lord ... - The connection would seem to require us to understand this as the assertion of him who had been accused of thoughts which seemed to be too lofty.

Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 131 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

3. Let Israel hope in the Lord—Same as Psalms 130:7, which is copied from this. Israel, no less than the psalmist, had been chastened and weaned. The discipline was effective, and should reassure the national hope in Jehovah.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Psalms 131 →

The verse in English, compared — 17 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

O Israel, put your hope in the LORD, both now and forevermore.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Israel, hope in Yahweh, from this time forward and forever more.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

O Israel, put your hope in the LORD, both now and forevermore.

NETBNew English Translation2006

O Israel, hope in the Lord now and forevermore!

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

Let Israel hope in the LORD from henceforth and for ever.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

O Israel, hope in Jehovah From this time forth and for evermore.

RVARevised Version, American1894

O Israel, hope in the LORD from this time forth and for evermore.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

Let Israel hope in the LORD from henceforth and for ever.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Let Israel waite on the Lord from hencefoorth and for euer.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

Let Israel hope in Jehovah, from henceforth and for evermore.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

Israel doth wait on Jehovah, From henceforth, and unto the age!

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

Israel waits on YHWH, || From now on, and for all time!

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

Let Israel wait for the Lord from this time forth and for ever more.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Israel, hope in Yahweh now and forever.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

If I shall enter into the tabernacle of my house: if I shall go up into the bed wherein I lie:

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

Israel, hope in the Lord, now and forever!

BBEBible in Basic English1949

O Israel, have hope in the Lord, from this time and for ever.

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.

clauseclauseיִ֭שְׂרָאֵלO.Israelclauseverbיַחֵ֣לwaitprepositional phrase · prepositionalאֶלtoיְהוָ֑הYahwehprepositional phrase · prepositionalprepositional phraseמֵֽ֝fromעַתָּ֗הnowוְandprepositional phraseעַדuntilעוֹלָֽםperpetuity

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


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

The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint largely agree in their wording for Psalm 131:3, with six of the seven words matching. The Septuagint's arrangement and expression, however, reflect its own stylistic choices.

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

יַחֵ֣ל יִ֭שְׂרָאֵל אֶל־ יְהוָ֑ה מֵֽ֝עַתָּ֗ה וְעַד־ עוֹלָֽם׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
יַחֵ֣לισραηλיִ֭שְׂרָאֵלἐλπισάτωאֶל־ἐπὶמֵֽ֝עַתָּ֗הνῦνוְעַד־ἕωςעוֹלָֽם׃αἰῶνος

6 of the 7 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.

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


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

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

Psalms 131:3יָחַלhopehopeיָחַליִשְׂרָאֵלO IsraelO IsraelיִשְׂרָאֵלאֶלtotoאֶליהוהYahwehYahwehיהוהעַתָּ֫הfrom nowfrom nowעַתָּ֫העַדand untiland untilעַדעוֹלָםperpetuityperpetuityעוֹלָםשָׂרָהto striveto striveשָׂרָההָיָהto beto beהָיָהעֵתtimetimeעֵתעַדperpetuityperpetuityעַדעָלַםto concealto concealעָלַםהָמָהto roarto roarהָמָהקָוָהto awaitto awaitקָוָהשֵׁ֫בֶטtribetribeשֵׁ֫בֶטקָדוֹשׁholyholyקָדוֹשׁפָּלַלto prayto prayפָּלַליִרְמְיָ֫הJeremiahJeremiahיִרְמְיָ֫הנְאֻםutteranceutteranceנְאֻםצָבָאarmyarmyצָבָאנָאpleasepleaseנָאאֲנַ֫חְנוּweweאֲנַ֫חְנוּמָתַיhowhowמָתַיעֶ֫רֶבeveningeveningעֶ֫רֶבדּוֹרgenerationgenerationדּוֹר
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 131:3

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.

hope O Israel to Yahweh from now and until perpetuity
יַחֵ֣לya.Chel hope H3176 Verb · Piel · imperative second person masculine singular
41× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To wait or be patient is the meaning of this verb, used to describe hoping or trusting in something, as seen in various KJV translations.
Amplified meaning
wait patiently, trust confidently
Tyndale gloss
to wait: wait
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יָחַל (yachal) is a Hebrew verb that means to wait, with implications of hope and patience. It has various forms: in the Niphal it means to wait, while in the Piel and Hiphil it conveys waiting for or hoping for something. The entries indicate a range of meanings related to expectation and trust.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[יָחַל] vb. Niph. wait; Pi. await

Niph. wait

Pi.

wait, tarry for

wait for = hope for

Hiph. wait, tarry

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3176 יָחַל Niph. wait; Pi. await

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3176 yachal yaw-chal'

a primitive root; to wait; by implication, to be patient,

hope:--(cause to, have, make to) hope, be pained, stay, tarry,

trust, wait.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יָחַל (ya.chal) — to wait: wait.

: wait[for_time]

1) to wait, hope, expect

1a) (Niphal) to wait

1b) (Piel)

1b1) to wait, await, tarry

1b2) to wait for, hope for

1c) (Hiphil) to wait, tarry, wait for, hope for

Also means: ya.chal (יָחַל ": hope" H3176H)

יָחַל (ya.chal) — to wait: hope.

: hope/trust

1) to wait, hope, expect

1a) (Niphal) to wait

1b) (Piel)

1b1) to wait, await, tarry

1b2) to wait for, hope for

1c) (Hiphil) to wait, tarry, wait for, hope for

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Piel-Impv-2ms — Verb · Piel · imperative second person masculine singular
HVpv2ms
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

hop:

1. In the Old Testament:

In the Revised Version (British and American) the New Testament "hope" represents the noun elpis (52 t), and the verb elpizo (31 t). King James Version, however, renders the noun in Heb 10:23 by "faith," and for the verb gives "trust" in 18 cases (apparently without much system, e.g. in Php 2 compare 2:19 and 23; see TRUST), while in Lu 6:35 it translates apelpizo, by "hoping for nothing again" (the Revised Version (British and American) "never despairing"). But in the Old Testament there is no Hebrew word that has the exact force of "expectation of some good thing," so that in the King James Version "hope" (noun and vb.) stands for some 15 Hebrew words, nearly all of which in other places are given other translation (e.g. mibhTach, is rendered "hope"…

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Hope

One of the three main elements of Christian character (1 Cor. 13:13). It is joined to faith and love, and is opposed to seeing or possessing (Rom. 8:24; 1 John 3:2). “Hope is an essential and fundamental element of Christian life, so essential indeed, that, like faith and love, it can itself designate the essence of Christianity (1 Pet. 3:15; Heb. 10:23). In it the whole glory of the Christian vocation is centred (Eph. 1:18; 4:4).” Unbelievers are without this hope (Eph. 2:12;

→ General scriptures concerning Ps 9:18; 16:9; 31:24; 33:18,22; 38:15; 39:7; 43:5; 71:5,14; 78:5-7; 119:74,81,116,166; 130:7; 146:5; Pr 10:28; 13:12; 14:32; 23:18; 24:14; Isa 38:18; Jer 17:7; La 3:21,24,26; Ho 2:15; Joe 3:16; Zec 9:12; Ac 23:6; 24:14,15; 26:7,8; 28:20; Ro 4:18; 5:2-5; 8:24,25; 12:12; 15:4,13;

- In God

Ps 39:7; 1Pe 1:21

- In Christ

1Co 15:19; 1Ti 1:1

- In God's promises

Ac 26:6,7; Tit 1:2

- In the mercy of God

Ps 33:18

- Is the work of the Holy Spirit

Ro 15:13; Ga 5:5

- OBTAINED THROUGH

. Grace

2Th 2:16

. The word

Ps 119:81

. Patience and comfort of the Scriptures

hope O Israel to Yahweh from now and until perpetuity
יִ֭שְׂרָאֵלYis.ra.'el O Israel H3478 Noun proper
2,508× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Israel is the symbolic name of Jacob, also referring to his descendants. Jacob, son of Isaac and Rebekah, had 12 sons who became the tribes of Israel, as told in Genesis 25:26. His story is crucial to the Bible's narrative.
Amplified meaning
the descendants of Jacob
Tyndale gloss
Israel
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisra'el) refers to both the second name of Jacob, meaning 'God prevails,' and the name of the Hebrew nation descended from him. It is derived from roots meaning 'to rule' and 'God.' The term encompasses Jacob's descendants and is used historically for the northern kingdom of Israel and the nation as a whole after the Babylonian exile.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יִשְׂרָאֵל 2507 n.pr.m. et gent. Israel (Ēl persisteth, persevereth)

n.pr.m. second name of Jacob

n.pr.gent. name of Hebrew nation

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3478 יִשְׂרָאֵל Israel (Ēl persisteth, persevereth) . n. pr. m. second name of Jacob

. n. pr. gent. name of Hebrew nation

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3478 Yisra'el yis-raw-ale'

from 8280 and 410; he will rule as God; Jisrael, a symbolical

name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity:

--Israel.

see HEBREW for 08280

see HEBREW for 0410

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יִשְׂרָאֵל (yis.ra.el) — Israel.

A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.25.26;

son of: Isaac (H3327) and Rebekah (H7259);

brother of: Esau (H6215); married to Rachel (H7354), Leah (H3812), Zilpah (H2153) and Bilhah (H1090A);

father of: Reuben (H7205), Simeon (H8095), Levi (H3878), Judah (H3063), Dan (H1835H), Naphtali (H5321), Gad (H1410), Asher (H0836), Issachar (H3485), Zebulun (H2074), Dinah (H1783), Joseph (H3130) and Benjamin (H1144); also called Jacob frequently

§ Israel = "God prevails"

1) the second name for Jacob given to him by God after his wrestling with the angel at Peniel

2) the name of the descendants and the nation of the descendants of Jacob

2a) the name of the nation until the death of Solomon and the split

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

iz'-ra-el.

See JACOB.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Israel

The name conferred on Jacob after the great prayer-struggle at Peniel (Gen. 32:28), because “as a prince he had power with God and prevailed.” (See JACOB.) This is the common name given to Jacob’s descendants. The whole people of the twelve tribes are called “Israelites,” the “children of Israel” (Josh. 3:17; 7:25; Judg. 8:27; Jer. 3:21), and the “house of Israel” (Ex. 16:31; 40:38).

This name Israel is sometimes used emphatically for the true Israel (Ps. 73:1: Isa. 45:17; 49:3;

Smith's Bible Dictionary

(the prince that prevails with God). The name given, (Genesis 32:28) to Jacob after his wrestling with the angel, (Hosea 12:4) at Peniel. Gesenius interprets Israel "soldier of God." It became the national name of the twelve tribes collectively. They are so called in (Exodus 3:16) and afterward. It is used in a narrower sense, excluding Judah, in (1 Samuel 11:8; 2 Samuel 20:1; 1 Kings 12:16) Thenceforth it was assumed and accepted as the name of the northern kingdom. After the Babylonian captivity, the returned exiles resumed the name Israel as the designation of…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

Who prevails with God, a name given to Jacob, after having wrestled with the Angel-Jehovah at Penuel. Ge 32:1,2,28,30 Ho 12:3. See JACOB. By the name Israel is sometimes understood all the posterity of Israel, the seed of Jacob, 1Co 10:18; sometimes all true believers, his spiritual seed, Ro 9:6; and sometimes the kingdom of Israel, or the ten tribes, as distinct from the kingdom of Judah.

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
hope O Israel to Yahweh from now and until perpetuity
אֶל־'el- to H413 Preposition
5,518× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means 'to' or 'toward', showing direction or movement. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus, to indicate where someone is going. The KJV translates it in various ways, like 'about', 'according to', or 'against'.
Tyndale gloss
to(wards)
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word אֶל (el) is primarily a preposition indicating motion towards or direction to a person or place. It can also imply entering a limit, presence at a location, or a hostile direction (against). Additionally, it may express concepts such as concerning, in addition to, or according to. The entries highlight its versatility in both physical and metaphorical contexts.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֶל (nearly always followed by Makkeph),

prep. denoting motion to or direction towards (whether physical or mental).of motion to or unto a person or place

Where the limit is actually entered, into

Of direction towards anything

Where the motion or direction implied appears from the context to be of a hostile character, אֶל = against

Unto sometimes acquires from the context the sense of in addition to

Metaph. in regard to, concerning, on account of

Of rule or standard according to (rare)

Expressing presence at a spot, against, at, by, not merely after verbs implying motion

Prefixed to other preps. it combines with them the idea of motion or direction to

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H413 אֶל (nearly always followed by Makkeph), . of motion to or unto a person or place

. Where the limit is actually entered, into

. Of direction towards anything

. Where the motion or direction implied appears from the context to be of a hostile character, אֶל = against

. Unto sometimes acquires from the context the sense of in addition to

. Metaph. in regard to, concerning, on account of

. Of rule or standard according to (rare)

. Expressing presence at a spot, against, at, by, not merely after verbs implying motion

. Prefixed to other preps. it combines with them the idea of motion or direction to

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

413 'el ale

(but only used in the shortened constructive form sel {el});

a primitive particle; properly, denoting motion towards, but

occasionally used of a quiescent position, i.e. near, with or

among; often in general, to:--about, according to ,after,

against, among, as for, at, because(-fore, -side), both...and,

by, concerning, for, from, X hath, in(- to), near, (out) of,

over, through, to(-ward), under, unto, upon, whether,

with(-in).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֶל (el) — to(wards).

1) to, toward, unto (of motion)

2) into (limit is actually entered)

2a) in among

3) toward (of direction, not necessarily physical motion)

4) against (motion or direction of a hostile character)

5) in addition to, to

6) concerning, in regard to, in reference to, on account of

7) according to (rule or standard)

8) at, by, against (of one's presence)

9) in between, in within, to within, unto (idea of motion to)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep — Preposition
HR
hope O Israel to Yahweh from now and until perpetuity
יְהוָ֑הYah.weh Yahweh H3068 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, The covenant Name of God
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
N-proper — Noun proper
HNpt
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
hope O Israel to Yahweh from now and until perpetuity
מֵֽ֝עַתָּ֗הme.'a.Tah from now H6258 Preposition · adverb
433× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means now or at this time, like in Exodus when God says now is the time to act. It can also be used to connect ideas or show a change in time, as seen in the book of Isaiah.
Tyndale gloss
now
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עַתָּ֫ה (attah) is an adverb of time meaning 'now.' It can also function as a conjunction or expletive, indicating immediacy or a current moment. The word is derived from a related term, עַת (att), and is used in various contexts to denote the present time.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עַתָּ֫ה 435, עָ֑֫תָּה, adv. of time, now

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6258 עַתָּ֫ה, עָ֑֫תָּה of time, now

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6258 `attah at-taw'

from 6256; at this time, whether adverb, conjunction or

expletive:--henceforth, now, straightway, this time, whereas.

see HEBREW for 06256

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עַתָּ֫ה (at.tah) — now.

1) now

1a) now

1b) in phrases

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | Adv — Preposition · adverb
HR/D
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
hope O Israel to Yahweh from now and until perpetuity
וְעַד־ve.'ad- and until H5704 Conjunction · preposition
1,261× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means until or as far as, describing a point in time or space. It's used in the Bible to set boundaries or limits, like in Exodus when describing the Israelites' journey.
Amplified meaning
till the end of time, always
Tyndale gloss
till
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עַד (ad) primarily functions as a preposition, adverb, or conjunction meaning 'until,' 'up to,' or 'as far as.' It can denote spatial, temporal, or degree-related contexts, such as 'even to' or 'while.' The entries indicate its use in poetry and in various combinations, but there is no significant disagreement among the lexicons regarding its meanings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עַד, in poetry עֲדֵי prep. as far as, even to, up to, until, while

prep.

of space

Of time

Of degree

conj.

until

While

Of degree, to the point that, so that even (rare)

עַד לְ, a strengthened form for עַד. Thus

of space

Of time

Of degree

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5704 עַד, in poetry עֲדֵי as far as, even to, up to, until, while . prep. . of space

. Of time

. Of degree

. conj. . until

. While

. Of degree, to the point that, so that even (rare)

. עַד לְ, a strengthened form for עַד. Thus . of space

. Of time

. Of degree

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5704 `ad ad

properly, the same as 5703 (used as a preposition, adverb or

conjunction; especially with a preposition); as far (or long,

or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during,

while, until) or degree (equally with):--against, and, as,

at, before, by (that), even (to), for(-asmuch as),

(hither-)to, + how long, into, as long (much) as, (so) that,

till, toward, until, when, while, (+ as) yet.

see HEBREW for 05703

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עַד (ad) — till.

prep

1) as far as, even to, until, up to, while, as far as

1a) of space

1a1) as far as, up to, even to

1b) in combination

1b1) from...as far as, both...and (with 'min' -from)

1c) of time

1c1) even to, until, unto, till, during, end

1d) of degree

1d1) even to, to the degree of, even like

conj

2) until, while, to the point that, so that even

Aramaic equivalent: ad (עַד "till" H5705)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | Prep — Conjunction · preposition
HC/R
hope O Israel to Yahweh from now and until perpetuity
עוֹלָֽם׃o.Lam perpetuity H5769 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
438× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means forever or always, describing something that lasts an eternity. It is used in the Bible to describe God's eternal nature and his lasting promises.
Tyndale gloss
forever: antiquity
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עוֹלָם (owlam) refers to concepts of long duration, antiquity, and futurity, encompassing meanings like eternity and perpetual existence. It is derived from a root meaning 'concealed' or 'the vanishing point.' The term is used to describe both ancient times and an indefinite future, indicating continuity and everlastingness.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עוֹלָם 439 n.m. long duration, antiquity, futurity

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5769 עוֹלָם long duration, antiquity, futurity

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5769 `owlam o-lawm'

or lolam {o-lawm'}; from 5956; properly, concealed, i.e. the

vanishing point; generally, time out of mind (past or future),

i.e. (practically) eternity; frequentatively, adverbial

(especially with prepositional prefix) always:--alway(-s),

ancient (time), any more, continuance, eternal, (for,

(n-))ever(-lasting, -more, of old), lasting, long (time), (of)

old (time), perpetual, at any time, (beginning of the) world

(+ without end). Compare 5331, 5703.

see HEBREW for 05956

see HEBREW for 05331

see HEBREW for 05703

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עוֹלָם (o.lam) — forever: enduring.

: enduring/eternal

1) long duration, antiquity, futurity, for ever, ever, everlasting, evermore, perpetual, old, ancient, world

1a) ancient time, long time (of past)

1b) (of future)

1b1) for ever, always

1b2) continuous existence, perpetual

1b3) everlasting, indefinite or unending future, eternity

עוֹלָם (o.lam) — Everlasting.

This name means long duration, everlasting, perpetual

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

עוֹלָם (o.lam) — forever: any time.

: any_time

1) long duration, antiquity, futurity, for ever, ever, everlasting, evermore, perpetual, old, ancient, world

1a) ancient time, long time (of past)

1b) (of future)

1b1) for ever, always

1b2) continuous existence, perpetual

1b3) everlasting, indefinite or unending future, eternity

עוֹלָם (o.lam) — forever: antiquity.

: old/ancient

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HNcmsa — Noun common · masculine singular absolute
HNcmsa
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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