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Psalms 139:23 — Word Study

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WLCחָקְרֵ֣נִי אֵ֭ל וְדַ֣ע לְבָבִ֑י בְּ֝חָנֵ֗נִי וְדַ֣ע שַׂרְעַפָּֽי׃

BSASearch mechâqar [examine closely, investigate] O Godʼêl [Elohim, the all-powerful] and knowyâdaʻ [be intimately acquainted with, perceive] my heartlêbâb [the innermost part of my being, including my mind, will, and emotions] test mebâchan [prove, try] and knowyâdaʻ [discern, understand] my concernssarʻaph [anxious thoughts, disquieting reflections]

Word
Listen & take awayPsalms 139
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 23 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 (sar.'a.Pai) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Psalms 139:23quick helps
In a sentenceThe psalmist asks God to examine his heart and thoughts, seeking divine understanding and insight.
Who is speakingA psalmist, likely David, addressing God directly.
Where we areIn a reflective prayer, the psalmist expresses a desire for divine scrutiny.
The hard wordחָקְרֵ֣נִי
Take awayThe psalmist seeks a deep understanding of his inner self.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause 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 139:23

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 Prayer for Divine Examinationgenerated

21Do I not hate those who hate You, O LORD, and detest those who rise against You?
22I hate them with perfect hatred; I count them as my enemies.
23Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my concerns.
24See if there is any offensive way in me; lead me in the way everlasting.

Psalm 139:23 is a heartfelt plea from the psalmist, asking God to search and know his heart and thoughts. This passage emphasizes the desire for divine insight into one's inner life, reflecting a deep yearning for purity and understanding. It follows a declaration of hatred for those who oppose God, highlighting the psalmist's commitment to righteousness and his need for divine guidance.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Psalm 139:1O LORD, You have searched me and known me.
2Psalm 26:2Test me, O LORD, and try me; examine my heart and mind.
3Deuteronomy 8:2–16Remember that these forty years the LORD your God led you all the way in the wilderness, so that He might humble you and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep His commandments.
4Job 31:6let God weigh me with honest scales, that He may know my integrity.
5Proverbs 17:3A crucible for silver and a furnace for gold, but the LORD is the tester of hearts.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 8 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word חָקְרֵ֣נִי, cha.ke.Re.nigenerated

The verb חָקַר (chaqar) means to search or examine closely, suggesting a thorough investigation. It is used in contexts that require uncovering truth or understanding, like seeking wisdom or knowledge.

In this verse, it is an imperative form, indicating a strong request for God to actively search the psalmist's heart. The urgency implies a desire for God’s scrutiny to reveal any hidden faults or anxieties.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

The verse is rendered in the Berean Standard Bible as Search me, O God, which aligns closely with the KJV and ASV.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The verse comprises two main clauses, both of which are imperatives: חָקְרֵ֣נִי and וְדַ֣ע, meaning Search me and know. Each clause is followed by an object, indicating what is to be searched and known.

The structure emphasizes the psalmist's request for God to engage with his inner self, with both verbs commanding God’s action.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates חָקְרֵ֣נִי as με (me), showing a direct appeal to God for examination. This choice highlights the personal nature of the request.

The use of γνῶθι for וְדַ֣ע indicates a desire for deeper knowledge, aligning with the Hebrew meaning of knowing intimately.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Psalm 139:23 is a prayer where the psalmist asks God to search and understand his heart and thoughts. He desires God to test him and reveal any anxious or troubling thoughts. This reflects a deep yearning for divine insight and purity.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean to ask God to search my heart?

It means to invite God to examine your innermost thoughts and feelings, seeking His understanding and guidance.

Why is testing important in this prayer?

Testing reveals the truth about our character and thoughts, helping us identify areas that need change or healing.

How can I apply this verse in my life?

You can pray for God to reveal your true self, asking Him to help you understand your thoughts and emotions.

What are disquieting thoughts?

Disquieting thoughts are those that cause anxiety or unrest, often leading to mental turmoil.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. What aspects of my heart do I need God to examine more closely?
  2. How can I be more open to God's testing and guidance in my life?
  3. What do I do when I discover disquieting thoughts within me?
  4. How can I cultivate a heart that is aligned with God's will?

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

The Desert Fathers often reflected on this psalm, emphasizing the importance of self-examination before prayer, as shown in their sayings.

Desert FathersThe Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks 4th–5th c.
They used to say about Poemen that when he was ready to go out to the meeting for prayer, he first sat by himself for an hour in self-examination, and then went.
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 139 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Psalms 139:23 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

Search me, O God, and know my heart,.... He had searched him, and knew his heart thoroughly; try me, and know my thoughts; he had tried him, and knew every thought in him, Psalms 139:1.

Read John Gill on Psalms 139 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my thoughts: And see if (there be any) wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 139 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

And whether I do not speak this from my very heart, do thou judge, who art the Searcher of hearts, and deal with me accordingly.

Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 139 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Psalms 139:23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:Ver. 23. Search me, O God, and know my heart] Look into every corner and cranny, and see whether it be not so as I say, viz. that I hate wicked men merely for their wickedness; and for no self-respect have I thus cast down the gauntlet of defiance unto them, and bidden them battle. We should not rest (saith a reverend man) in our heart’ s voice; nor accept its deceitful applause. But as once Joshua seeing the angel examined him, Art thou on our side, or on the adversaries’ ? so should we deal in this case; yea, beg of God to do it for us, and do it thoroughly, as here: this is a sure sign of sincerity, void of…

Read John Trapp on Psalms 139 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(23) Search.—The same word with which the psalm opens. The inevitable scrutiny of the Divine Being is invited. Thoughts.—As in Psalms 94:19; a word meaning (Ezekiel 31:5) branches, and so expressing the ramifications of thought.

Read Charles John Ellicott on Psalms 139 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 23. Search me, O God] Investigate my conduct, examine my heart, put me to the test, and examine my thoughts.

Read AdamClarke on Psalms 139 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

19–24. But how can this omniscient God tolerate the existence of wicked men, who blaspheme and hate Him? With such the Psalmist will have no fellowship; and he concludes with a prayer that God will purify his heart, and lead him in the right way.

Read Cambridge on Psalms 139 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Search me, O God - The word “search” here is the same as in Psalms 139:1. See the notes at that verse.

Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 139 →

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

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my concerns.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Search me, God, and know my heart. Try me, and know my thoughts.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my concerns.

NETBNew English Translation2006

Examine me, and probe my thoughts! Test me, and know my concerns!

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

Search me, O God, and know my heart: Try me, and know my thoughts;

RVARevised Version, American1894

Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me and know my thoughts:

NWBWebster's Bible1833

Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my thoughts:

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Try mee, O God, and knowe mine heart: prooue me and know my thoughtes,

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

Search me, O God, and know my heart; prove me, and know my thoughts;

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

Search me, O God, and know my heart, Try me, and know my thoughts,

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

Search me, O God, and know my heart, || Try me, and know my thoughts,

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

Search me through, O God, and know my heart; probe me, and know my thoughts:

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Examine me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

Examine me carefully, God, so you can be sure of my true feelings. Check me out so you can know what I really think.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

O God, let the secrets of my heart be uncovered, and let my wandering thoughts be tested:

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.

clauseclauseverbחָקְרֵ֣examineobjectנִיmeclauseאֵ֭לO.Godוְandclauseverbדַ֣עknownoun phrase · objectלְבָבִ֑heartיmyclauseverbבְּ֝חָנֵ֗testobjectנִיmeוְandclauseverbדַ֣עknownoun phrase · objectשַׂרְעַפָּֽthoughtsיmy.disquieting

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 closely align in this verse, with all words matched. The Dead Sea Scrolls also confirm the text, showing consistency across these ancient witnesses.

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

חָקְרֵ֣נִי אֵ֭ל וְדַ֣ע לְבָבִ֑י בְּ֝חָנֵ֗נִי וְדַ֣ע שַׂרְעַפָּֽי׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
חָקְרֵ֣נִיμεאֵ֭לθεόςוְדַ֣עγνῶθιלְבָבִ֑יμουבְּ֝חָנֵ֗נִיμεוְדַ֣עγνῶθιשַׂרְעַפָּֽי׃μου

7 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.

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

חקר׳ני אל ודע לב׳י בחנ׳ני ודע סרעפ׳י

7 words on the leather.

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


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

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

Psalms 139:23חָקַרexamine meexamine meחָקַראֵלO GodO Godאֵליָדַעand knowand knowיָדַעלֵבָבheart myheart myלֵבָבבָּחַןtest metest meבָּחַןיָדַעand knowand knowיָדַעשַׂרְעַפִּיםdisquietingdisquieting thoשַׂרְעַפִּיםאַ֫יִלramramאַ֫יִללבבto encourato encourageלבבסְעִפָּהdivisiondivisionסְעִפָּהאֲנִיIIאֲנִיבִּיןto understto understandבִּיןרָגַלto spyto spyרָגַלמִשְׁקָלweightweightמִשְׁקָלקַנָּאjealousjealousקַנָּאשַׁדַּיAlmightyAlmightyשַׁדַּישָׁלֵםcompletecompleteשָׁלֵםדָּרַשׁto seekto seekדָּרַשׁצָרַףto refineto refineצָרַףכִּלְיָהkidneykidneyכִּלְיָה
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 139:23

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.

examine me O God and know heart my test me and know disquieting thoughts my
חָקְרֵ֣נִיcha.ke.Re.ni examine me H2713 Verb qal imperative second person masculine singular · suffix
27× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This verb means to search or examine something closely, like trying to find out the truth. It is used in the Bible to describe seeking out knowledge or wisdom, and is often translated as search or seek out.
Amplified meaning
examine closely, investigate
Tyndale gloss
to search
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

חָקַר (chaqar) is a Hebrew verb meaning to search or examine. It encompasses actions like searching for, exploring, and thoroughly investigating. The word can also imply being found out or ascertained. It appears in various forms, including Qal, Niphal, and Piel, indicating different nuances of searching and examination.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[חָקַר] vb. search

Qal

search (for)

search through, explore

search a man, find out his sentiments

of י׳ searching man

of examining thoroughly

Niph. be searched out, found out, ascertained

Pi. he sought out many proverbs

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2713 [חָקַר] search .. search (for)

. . search through, explore

. search a man, find out his sentiments

. of י׳ searching man

. of examining thoroughly

. be searched out, found out, ascertained

. he sought out many proverbs

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2713 chaqar khaw-kar'

a primitive root; properly, to penetrate; hence, to examine

intimately:--find out, (make) search (out), seek (out), sound,

try.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חָקַר (cha.qar) — to search.

1) to search, search for, search out, examine, investigate

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to search (for)

1a2) to search through, explore

1a3) to examine thoroughly

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be searched out, be found out, be ascertained, be examined

1c) (Piel) to search out, seek out

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Impv-2ms | Suff — Verb qal imperative second person masculine singular · suffix
HVqv2ms/Sp1bs
examine me O God and know heart my test me and know disquieting thoughts my
אֵ֭ל'el O God H410 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
241× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, 'el means strength or power, and is often used to refer to God or false gods. It describes something or someone as mighty or powerful, like the Almighty. This concept is central to understanding the Bible's view of God.
Amplified meaning
Elohim, the all-powerful
Tyndale gloss
god
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word אֵל (*'el*) primarily means 'god' and conveys the idea of might or strength. It can refer to the one true God of Israel, as well as to other deities, angels, and mighty men. The entries highlight its use in various contexts, including nature and power, but do not present significant disagreement among lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֵל n.m. god, but with various subordinate applications to express the idea of might

applied to men of might and rank

angels

gods of the nations

Ēl

as characterizing mighty things in nature

God, the one only and true God of Israel

אֵל strength, power

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H410 אֵל god, but with various subordinate applications to express the idea of might . applied to men of might and rank

. angels

. gods of the nations

. Ēl

. as characterizing mighty things in nature

. God, the one only and true God of Israel

. אֵל strength, power

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

410 'el ale

shortened from 352; strength; as adjective, mighty;

especially the Almighty (but used also of any deity):--God

(god), X goodly, X great, idol, might(-y one), power, strong.

Compare names in "-el."

see HEBREW for 0352

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֵל (el) — God.

This name means god, god-like one, mighty one, strength, power

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

אֵל (el) — El (Berith).

This name means god, god-like one, mighty one, strength, power

Combined with "Berith" (berith בְּרִית H1286)

אֵל (el) — El (Elohe).

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

This name means god, god-like one, mighty one, strength, power

Combined with "God" (elohim אֱלֹהִים H0430)

אֵל (el) — El (Most High).

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

This name means god, god-like one, mighty one, strength, power

Combined with "Most High" (el.yon עֶלְיוֹן H5945B)

אֵל (el) — god.

: god

1) god, god-like one, mighty one

1a) mighty men, men of rank, mighty heroes

1b) angels

1c) god, false god, (demons, imaginations)

1d) God, the one true God, Jehovah

2) mighty things in nature

3) strength, power

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absolute
HNcmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

god ('Elohim, 'El, [`Elyon], Shadday, Yahweh; Theos):

I. INTRODUCTION TO THE GENERAL IDEA

1. The Idea in Experience and in Thought

2. Definition of the Idea

3. The Knowledge of God

4. Ethnic Ideas of God

(1) Animism

(2) Fetishism

(3) Idolatry

(4) Polytheism

(5) Henotheism

(6) Pantheism

(7) Deism

(8) Semitic Monolatry

(9) Monotheism

II. THE IDEA OF GOD IN THE OLD TESTAMENT

1. The Course of Its Development

2. Forms of Its Manifestation

(1) The Face or Countenance of God

(2) The Voice and Word of God

(3) The Glory of God

(4) The Angel of God

(5) The Spirit of God

(6) The Name of God

(7) Occasional Forms

3. The Names of God

(1) Generic

(2) Attributive

(3) Yahweh

4. Pre-prophetic Conceptions of God

(1) Yahweh Alone Is the God of Israel

(a) His Early Worship

(b) Popular Religion

(c) Polytheistic Tendencies

(i) Coordination

(ii) Assimilation

(iii) Disintegration

(d) No Hebrew Goddesses

(e) Human Sacrifices

Easton's Bible Dictionary

God

(A.S. and Dutch God; Dan. Gud; Ger. Gott), the name of the Divine Being. It is the rendering (1) of the Hebrew ’El, from a word meaning to be strong; (2) of ’Eloah_, plural _’Elohim. The singular form, Eloah, is used only in poetry. The plural form is more commonly used in all parts of the Bible, The Hebrew word Jehovah (q.v.), the only other word generally employed to denote the Supreme Being, is uniformly rendered in the Authorized Version by “LORD,” printed in small capitals. The existence of God is taken for granted in the Bible. There is nowhere any argument to prove it. He who disbelieves this truth is spoken of as one devoid of understanding (Ps. 14:1).

The arguments generally adduced by theologians in proof of the being of God are:

(1.) The a priori argument, which is the testimony afforded by reason.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

(good). Throughout the Hebrew Scriptures two chief names are used for the one true divine Being--ELOHIM, commonly translated God in our version, and JEHOVAH, translated Lord . Elohim is the plural of Eloah (in Arabic Allah); it is often used in the short form EL (a word signifying strength , as in EL-SHADDAI, God Almighty, the name by which God was specially known to the patriarchs. (Genesis 17:1; 28:3; Exodus 6:3) The etymology is uncertain, but it is generally agreed that the primary idea is that of strength, power of effect , and that it properly describes God in that character in which he is exhibited to all men in his works, as the creator, sustainer and supreme governor of the world. The plural form of Elohim has given rise to much discussion. The fanciful idea that it…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

This name, the derivation of which is uncertain, we give to that eternal, infinite, perfect, and incomprehensible Being, the Creator of all things, who preserves and governs all by his almighty power and wisdom, and is the only proper object of worship. The proper Hebrew name for God is JEHOVAH, which signifies He is. But the Jews, from a feeling of reverence, avoid pronouncing this name, substituting for it, wherever it occurs in the sacred test, the word ADONAI, Lord; except in the expression, ADONAI JEHOVAH, Lord Jehovah, for which they put, ADONAI ELOHIM, Lord God. This usage, which is not without an element of superstition, is very ancient, dating its origin some centuries before Christ; but there is no good ground for assuming its existence in the days of the inspired Old Testament writers. The proper word for God is ELOHIM, which is plural in its form, being thus used to signify…

examine me O God and know heart my test me and know disquieting thoughts my
וְדַ֣עve.Da' and know H3045 Conjunction · verb qal imperative second person masculine singular
945× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for to know means to ascertain by seeing, and is used in many senses, including to learn, perceive, and recognize, as seen in various KJV translations.
Amplified meaning
be intimately acquainted with, perceive
Tyndale gloss
to know
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יָדַע (yada`) is a Hebrew verb meaning 'to know,' encompassing a wide range of senses including perception, recognition, and experience. It can refer to knowing someone intimately or being skilled in a task. The word has various forms, indicating actions such as making known or being made known. Lexicons note its use in both literal and figurative contexts, but there is no significant disagreement among them.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יָדַע 943 vb. know

Qal

know, learn to know

perceive

perceive and see; find out and discern

discriminate, distinguish

know by experience

recognize, admit, acknowledge, confess

consider

not know = not expect

know a person, be acquainted with

know a person carnally, of sexual intercourse

know how, to do a thing, be able to do it

be skilful in

abs. have knowledge, be wise

Niph.

be made known, be or become known, of things

make oneself known of pers.

be perceived

be instructed

Pi. cause to know

Pu. known

Hiph. make known, declare

Hoph. made known

Hithp. make oneself known

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3045 יָדַע know .. . know, learn to know

. perceive

. perceive and see; find out and discern

. discriminate, distinguish

. know by experience

. recognize, admit, acknowledge, confess

. consider

. not know = not expect

. know a person, be acquainted with

. know a person carnally, of sexual intercourse

. . know how, to do a thing, be able to do it

. be skilful in

. abs. have knowledge, be wise

. . be made known, be or become known, of things

. make oneself known of pers.

. be perceived

. be instructed

. cause to know

. known

. make known, declare

. made known

. make oneself known

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3045 yada` yaw-dah'

a primitive root; to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing);

used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally,

euphemistically and inferentially (including observation,

care, recognition; and causatively, instruction, designation,

punishment, etc.) (as follow):--acknowledge, acquaintance(-ted

with), advise, answer, appoint, assuredly, be aware,

(un-)awares, can(-not), certainly, comprehend, consider, X

could they, cunning, declare, be diligent, (can, cause to)

discern, discover, endued with, familiar friend, famous, feel,

can have, be (ig-)norant, instruct, kinsfolk, kinsman, (cause

to let, make) know, (come to give, have, take) knowledge, have

(knowledge), (be, make, make to be, make self) known, + be

learned, + lie by man, mark, perceive, privy to, X

prognosticator, regard, have respect, skilful, shew, can (man

of) skill, be sure, of a surety, teach, (can) tell,

Read the full entry →
Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יָדַע (ya.da) — to know.

1) to know

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to know

1a1a) to know, learn to know

1a1b) to perceive

1a1c) to perceive and see, find out and discern

1a1d) to discriminate, distinguish

1a1e) to know by experience

1a1f) to recognise, admit, acknowledge, confess

1a1g) to consider

1a2) to know, be acquainted with

1a3) to know (a person carnally)

1a4) to know how, be skilful in

1a5) to have knowledge, be wise

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be made known, be or become known, be revealed

1b2) to make oneself known

1b3) to be perceived

1b4) to be instructed

1c) (Piel) to cause to know

1d) (Poal) to cause to know

1e) (Pual)

1e1) to be known

1e2) known, one known, acquaintance (participle)

1f) (Hiphil) to make known, declare

1g) (Hophal) to be made known

1h) (Hithpael) to make oneself known, reveal oneself

Aramaic equivalent: ye.da (יְדַע "to know" H3046)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-Impv-2ms — Conjunction · verb qal imperative second person masculine singular
HC/Vqv2ms
examine me O God and know heart my test me and know disquieting thoughts my
לְבָבִ֑יle.va.Vi heart my H3824 Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
252× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The heart is the innermost part of a person, including their mind, will, and emotions. In the book of Psalms, David talks about his heart being heavy with sorrow, while in the book of Proverbs, it discusses the importance of guarding one's heart.
Amplified meaning
the innermost part of my being, including my mind, will, and emotions
Tyndale gloss
heart
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

לֵבָב (lebab) refers to the inner man, encompassing the mind, will, and heart. It highlights aspects like emotions, moral character, and conscience, often contrasting the inner self with the outer. The term is used primarily for humans and can also denote courage and appetites.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

לֵבָב 251 n.m. inner man, mind, will, heart

seldom of things in the midst of the seas

usu. of men

the inner man in contrast with the outer

the inner man, indef. the soul, comprehending mind, affections and will

specific ref. to mind

spec. ref. to inclinations, resolutions, determinations of the will

spec. ref. to conscience

spec. ref. to moral character

= the man himself

spec. as seat of appetites

spec. of seat of the emotions and passions

seat of courage

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3824 לֵבָב inner man, mind, will, heart . seldom of things in the midst of the seas

. usu. of men . the inner man in contrast with the outer

. the inner man, indef. the soul, comprehending mind, affections and will

. specific ref. to mind

. spec. ref. to inclinations, resolutions, determinations of the will

. spec. ref. to conscience

. spec. ref. to moral character

. = the man himself

. spec. as seat of appetites

. spec. of seat of the emotions and passions

. seat of courage

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3824 lebab lay-bawb'

from 3823; the heart (as the most interior organ); used also

like 3820:--+ bethink themselves, breast, comfortably,

courage, ((faint), (tender-)heart((-ed)), midst, mind, X

unawares, understanding.

see HEBREW for 03823

see HEBREW for 03820

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

לֵבָב (le.vav) — heart.

1) inner man, mind, will, heart, soul, understanding

1a) inner part, midst

1a1) midst (of things)

1a2) heart (of man)

1a3) soul, heart (of man)

1a4) mind, knowledge, thinking, reflection, memory

1a5) inclination, resolution, determination (of will)

1a6) conscience

1a7) heart (of moral character)

1a8) as seat of appetites

1a9) as seat of emotions and passions 1a10) as seat of courage

Aramaic equivalent: le.vav (לְבַב "heart" H3825)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
HNcmsc/Sp1bs
examine me O God and know heart my test me and know disquieting thoughts my
בְּ֝חָנֵ֗נִיbe.cha.Ne.ni test me H974 Verb qal imperative second person masculine singular · suffix
29× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To test or examine something, like gold or a person's heart, is what this word means. It appears in stories like Job's trials, where his faith is tested by God, and in Proverbs 17:3, which talks about refining silver.
Amplified meaning
prove, try
Tyndale gloss
to test
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

בָּחַן (bachan) is a Hebrew verb meaning to examine or test. It encompasses a range of actions, including scrutinizing, proving, and trying, particularly in relation to metals, individuals, or the heart. The verb appears in various forms, such as Qal (to examine) and Niphal (to be tried).

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[בָּחַן] vb. examine, try

Qal

examine, scrutinize, try

prove, test, try

Niph. to be tried, proved

Pu. the trial has been made

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H974 [בָּחַן] examine, try

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

974 bachan baw-khan'

a primitive root; to test (especially metals); generally and

figuratively, to investigate:--examine, prove, tempt, try

(trial).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בָּחַן (ba.chan) — to test.

1) to examine, try, prove

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to examine, scrutinise

1a2) to test, prove, try (of gold, persons, the heart, man of God)

1b) (Niphal) to be tried, proved

1c) (Pual) to make a trial

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Impv-2ms | Suff — Verb qal imperative second person masculine singular · suffix
HVqv2ms/Sp1bs
examine me O God and know heart my test me and know disquieting thoughts my
וְדַ֣עve.Da' and know H3045 Conjunction · verb qal imperative second person masculine singular
945× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for to know means to ascertain by seeing, and is used in many senses, including to learn, perceive, and recognize, as seen in various KJV translations.
Amplified meaning
discern, understand
Tyndale gloss
to know
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יָדַע (yada`) is a Hebrew verb meaning 'to know,' encompassing a wide range of senses including perception, recognition, and experience. It can refer to knowing someone intimately or being skilled in a task. The word has various forms, indicating actions such as making known or being made known. Lexicons note its use in both literal and figurative contexts, but there is no significant disagreement among them.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יָדַע 943 vb. know

Qal

know, learn to know

perceive

perceive and see; find out and discern

discriminate, distinguish

know by experience

recognize, admit, acknowledge, confess

consider

not know = not expect

know a person, be acquainted with

know a person carnally, of sexual intercourse

know how, to do a thing, be able to do it

be skilful in

abs. have knowledge, be wise

Niph.

be made known, be or become known, of things

make oneself known of pers.

be perceived

be instructed

Pi. cause to know

Pu. known

Hiph. make known, declare

Hoph. made known

Hithp. make oneself known

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3045 יָדַע know .. . know, learn to know

. perceive

. perceive and see; find out and discern

. discriminate, distinguish

. know by experience

. recognize, admit, acknowledge, confess

. consider

. not know = not expect

. know a person, be acquainted with

. know a person carnally, of sexual intercourse

. . know how, to do a thing, be able to do it

. be skilful in

. abs. have knowledge, be wise

. . be made known, be or become known, of things

. make oneself known of pers.

. be perceived

. be instructed

. cause to know

. known

. make known, declare

. made known

. make oneself known

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3045 yada` yaw-dah'

a primitive root; to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing);

used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally,

euphemistically and inferentially (including observation,

care, recognition; and causatively, instruction, designation,

punishment, etc.) (as follow):--acknowledge, acquaintance(-ted

with), advise, answer, appoint, assuredly, be aware,

(un-)awares, can(-not), certainly, comprehend, consider, X

could they, cunning, declare, be diligent, (can, cause to)

discern, discover, endued with, familiar friend, famous, feel,

can have, be (ig-)norant, instruct, kinsfolk, kinsman, (cause

to let, make) know, (come to give, have, take) knowledge, have

(knowledge), (be, make, make to be, make self) known, + be

learned, + lie by man, mark, perceive, privy to, X

prognosticator, regard, have respect, skilful, shew, can (man

of) skill, be sure, of a surety, teach, (can) tell,

Read the full entry →
Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יָדַע (ya.da) — to know.

1) to know

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to know

1a1a) to know, learn to know

1a1b) to perceive

1a1c) to perceive and see, find out and discern

1a1d) to discriminate, distinguish

1a1e) to know by experience

1a1f) to recognise, admit, acknowledge, confess

1a1g) to consider

1a2) to know, be acquainted with

1a3) to know (a person carnally)

1a4) to know how, be skilful in

1a5) to have knowledge, be wise

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be made known, be or become known, be revealed

1b2) to make oneself known

1b3) to be perceived

1b4) to be instructed

1c) (Piel) to cause to know

1d) (Poal) to cause to know

1e) (Pual)

1e1) to be known

1e2) known, one known, acquaintance (participle)

1f) (Hiphil) to make known, declare

1g) (Hophal) to be made known

1h) (Hithpael) to make oneself known, reveal oneself

Aramaic equivalent: ye.da (יְדַע "to know" H3046)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-Impv-2ms — Conjunction · verb qal imperative second person masculine singular
HC/Vqv2ms
examine me O God and know heart my test me and know disquieting thoughts my
שַׂרְעַפָּֽי׃sar.'a.Pai disquieting thoughts my H8312 Noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
2× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to anxious or disquieting thoughts, like those experienced by King David in the Psalms. It involves mental turmoil and worry, and is translated as 'thought' in the KJV.
Amplified meaning
anxious thoughts, disquieting reflections
Tyndale gloss
anxiety
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שַׂרְעַפִּים (sar'aphim) refers to disquieting or anxious thoughts. It is a plural noun that captures the idea of troubling mental states. The entries highlight its connection to the concept of thought, but do not provide specific verse references.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[שַׂרְעַפִּים] n.[m.]pl. disquieting thoughts

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8312 שַׂרְעַפִּים, שַׂרְעַף

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8312 sar`aph sar-af'

for 5587; cogitation:--thought.

see HEBREW for 05587

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שַׂרְעַפִּים (sar.aph) — anxiety.

disquieting thoughts, thoughts

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-mp | Suff — Noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
HNcmpc/Sp1bs
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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