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Psalms 142:1 — Word Study

Depth

WLCק֭וֹלִי אֶל־ יְהוָ֣ה אֶזְעָ֑ק ק֝וֹלִ֗י אֶל־ יְהוָ֥ה אֶתְחַנָּֽן׃

BSAA Maskilmaskîyl of DavidDâvid when he washâyâh in the cavemᵉʻârâh A prayertᵉphillâh

Word
Listen & take awayPsalms 142
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 1 opens the 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 ('et.cha.Nan) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Psalms 142:1quick helps
In a sentenceThe psalmist cries out to the LORD, seeking mercy and expressing his distress.
Who is speakingThe psalmist, likely David, addressing the covenant God.
Where we areA personal lament, where the speaker is in distress and seeking divine help.
The hard wordאֶזְעָ֑ק
Take awayThe psalmist's urgent plea for mercy reflects a deep reliance on God.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbהָיָה 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 142:1

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 Cry for Helpgenerated

1I cry aloud to the LORD; I lift my voice to the LORD for mercy.
2I pour out my complaint before Him; I reveal my trouble to Him.
3Although my spirit grows faint within me, You know my way. Along the path I travel they have hidden a snare for me.
4Look to my right and see; no one attends to me. There is no refuge for me; no one cares for my soul.

Psalm 142:1 expresses the psalmist's heartfelt cry to the LORD for mercy. In this context, he pours out his complaint and reveals his troubles, emphasizing his desperate need for God's attention and assistance. This psalm is a reflection of deep emotional distress and a plea for divine intervention, similar to other lament psalms that articulate human suffering and the need for God's grace.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Psalm 32:1Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.
2Psalm 54:1Save me, O God, by Your name, and vindicate me by Your might!
3Psalm 57:1Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy, for in You my soul takes refuge. In the shadow of Your wings I will take shelter until the danger has passed.
41 Chronicles 4:10And Jabez called out to the God of Israel, “If only You would bless me and enlarge my territory! May Your hand be with me and keep me from harm, so that I will be free from pain.” And God granted the request of Jabez.
51 Samuel 22:1–2So David left Gath and took refuge in the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and the rest of his father’s household heard about it, they went down to him there.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 10 references, hung on the phrase they belong to

A. M. 2942. B.C. 1062. Maschil of DavidPsalm 32:1 Psalm 54:1 Psalm 57:1 1 Chronicles 4:10

The Key Word אֶזְעָ֑ק, 'ez.'Akgenerated

The verb זָעַק (za`aq) means 'to cry out' or 'to call for help', typically in a context of distress. It suggests a loud and urgent appeal, often directed towards God in times of trouble.

The imperfect form indicates ongoing action, emphasizing that the psalmist is not just crying out once but repeatedly seeking God's mercy and intervention. This reflects a deep sense of urgency and dependence on God's grace.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses cry aloud and lift my voice, emphasizing the psalmist's urgent appeal to God.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The finite verb אֶזְעָ֑ק, I cry out, governs the main clause, with two phrases following: a prepositional phrase indicating direction to the LORD and a second verb phrase expressing the act of seeking mercy.

The structure emphasizes the psalmist's direct appeal to God, with the repetition of יְהוָ֣ה (Yahweh) highlighting the relationship between the speaker and the divine.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

In the Septuagint, the Hebrew יְהוָ֣ה is rendered as ἐν, indicating a similar focus on the LORD. This choice reflects the continuity of the divine name across translations.

The Greek word for אֶזְעָ֑ק is not directly provided, but the overall structure maintains the urgency of the cry for help, aligning with the Hebrew intent.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Psalm 142:1 shows the psalmist crying out to the LORD for mercy. He lifts his voice in a plea for help, expressing his distress and need for God's grace.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean to cry out to the LORD?

Crying out to the LORD signifies a deep need for help and intervention, often in times of distress or trouble.

Why is the repetition of the name 'LORD' significant?

The repetition emphasizes the psalmist's direct appeal to God and highlights the importance of the relationship between the speaker and the divine.

What kind of mercy is the psalmist seeking?

The psalmist seeks mercy in the form of grace, loving-kindness, and favor from God, reflecting a desire for divine assistance.

How does this psalm relate to other lament psalms?

This psalm shares themes with other lament psalms, expressing human suffering and the urgent need for God's help and mercy.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what areas of my life do I need to cry out to God for help?
  2. How can I express my distress and seek God's mercy in my prayers?
  3. What does it mean to me to lift my voice to the LORD?
  4. How can I encourage others to seek God's mercy in their times of trouble?

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

Augustine of Hippo comments on this verse, noting the significance of the psalmist's personal cry to the LORD.

Augustine of HippoExposition on Psalms 142 354–430
..."With my voice have I cried unto the Lord" [Psalms 142:1]. It were enough to say, "with voice:" not for nothing perhaps has "my" been added.
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 142 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Psalms 142:1 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

I cried unto the Lord with my voice,.... With the voice of his soul, in the language of his mind, mentally, as Moses and Hannah cried unto the Lord when no voice was heard, or articulate sounds

Read John Gill on Psalms 142 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

I cried unto the LORD with my voice; with my voice unto the LORD did I make my supplication.

Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 142 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Psalms 142 Either that of Adullam, 1 Samuel 22, or that of En-gedi, 1 Samuel 24. There he meditated this Psalm, which afterwards he more accurately composed and committed to writing. David, finding help no where in his straits and afflictions, , crieth and comforteth himself in prayer to God, ,7. With my voice; either, 1. With the voice of my soul. But so this addition would be superfluous, and much more the repetition of it, because that is necessarily implied in the former word, I cried, and in the following, I make my supplication. Or rather, 2. With my corporeal voice, which the fervour of my soul forced me to use, when I could not do it without some danger, the enemy being at the mouth…

Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 142 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Psalms 142:1 « Maschil of David; A Prayer when he was in the cave. » I cried unto the LORD with my voice; with my voice unto the LORD did I make my supplication.When he was in the cave] sc. Of Engedi, 1 Samuel 24:1 Loquitur in spelunca, sed prophetat in Christo, saith Hilary. Ver. 1. I cried unto the Lord with my voice] sc. Of my heart, and more with my mind than mouth; for if he had been heard, he had been taken up by the enemy. Thus Moses cried, but uttered nothing, Exodus 14:15, Egit vocis silentio, ut corde clamaret (Aug.). Thus Christ cried, Hebrews 5:7.

Read John Trapp on Psalms 142 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

PSALM CXLII The psalmist, in great distress and difficulty, calls upon God, 1-7. NOTES ON PSALM CXLII The title says, "An Instruction of David," or a Psalm of David giving instruction; "A Prayer when he was in the cave." David was twice in great peril in caves. 1. At the cave of Adullam, when he fled from Achish, king of Gath, 1 Samuel 22:1. 2. When he was in the cave of En-gedi, where he had taken refuge from the pursuit of Saul; and the latter, without knowing that David was in it, had gone into it on some necessary occasion, 1 Samuel 24:1-3. If the inscription can be depended on, the cave of En-gedi is the most likely of the two, for the scene laid here. But were there doubts concerning…

Read AdamClarke on Psalms 142 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

1, 2. The Psalmist’s resolve to seek relief by laying his distress before Jehovah.

Read Cambridge on Psalms 142 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

I cried unto the Lord with my voice - See the notes at Psalms 3:4, where the language is the same. He uttered a loud and audible prayer, though he was alone. It was not a mental ejaculation, but he gave expression to his desires.

Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 142 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

1. I cried—I made an outcry. The repetitions denote intensity. With my voice, shows that it was not a figure for inward fervour, but a vocal, earnest call. Supplication—Literally, I made my earnest cry for mercy.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Psalms 142 →

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

I cry aloud to the LORD; I lift my voice to the LORD for mercy.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

I cry with my voice to Yahweh. With my voice, I ask Yahweh for mercy.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

A Maskil of David, when he was in the cave. A prayer. I cry aloud to the LORD; I lift my voice to the LORD for mercy.

NETBNew English Translation2006

To the Lord I cry out; to the Lord I plead for mercy.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

I cried unto the LORD with my voice; with my voice unto the LORD did I make my supplication.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

I cry with my voice unto Jehovah; With my voice unto Jehovah do I make supplication.

RVARevised Version, American1894

I cry with my voice unto the LORD; with my voice unto the LORD do I make supplication.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

Maschil of David; a prayer when he was in the cave. I cried to the LORD with my voice; with my voice to the LORD I made my supplication.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

A Psalme of David, to give instruction, and a prayer, when he was in the cave. I cryed vnto the Lord with my voyce: with my voyce I prayed vnto the Lord.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

I cry unto Jehovah with my voice: with my voice unto Jehovah do I make supplication.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

An Instruction of David, a Prayer when he is in the cave. My voice [is] unto Jehovah, I cry, My voice [is] unto Jehovah, I entreat grace.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

AN INSTRUCTION OF DAVID. A PRAYER WHEN HE IS IN THE CAVE. My voice [is] to YHWH, I cry, || My voice [is] to YHWH, I beg [for] grace.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

“A Maskil of David, when he was in the cave. A prayer.” (142:2) With my voice I cry unto the Lord: with my voice I make supplication unto the Lord.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

With my voice I cry out for help to Yahweh; with my voice I plead for Yahweh's favor.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

Hear, O Lord, my prayer: give ear to my supplication in thy truth: hear me in thy justice.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

I call out to the Lord for help; pleading with the Lord for mercy.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

The sound of my cry went up to the Lord; with my voice I made my prayer for grace to the Lord.

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.

clausenoun phrase · adverbialק֭וֹלִvoiceיmyprepositional phrase · prepositionalאֶלtoיְהוָ֣הYahwehverbאֶזְעָ֑קI.cry.outclausenoun phrase · adverbialק֝וֹלִ֗voiceיmyprepositional phrase · prepositionalאֶלtoיְהוָ֥הYahwehverbאֶתְחַנָּֽןI.seek.favor

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


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

The Masoretic Text reads: ק֭וֹלִי אֶל־ יְהוָ֣ה אֶזְעָ֑ק ק֝וֹלִ֗י אֶל־ יְהוָ֥ה אֶתְחַנָּֽן׃. The Septuagint matches 5 of the 8 words, indicating a close alignment between the Hebrew and Greek texts, though the word order differs.

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

ק֭וֹלִי אֶל־ יְהוָ֣ה אֶזְעָ֑ק ק֝וֹלִ֗י אֶל־ יְהוָ֥ה אֶתְחַנָּֽן׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
ק֭וֹלִיτῷאֶל־δαυιδיְהוָ֣הἐνק֝וֹלִ֗יἐνיְהוָ֥הπροσευξή

5 of the 8 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 142:1קוֹלvoice myvoice myקוֹלאֶלtotoאֶליהוהYahwehYahwehיהוהזָעַקI cry outI cry outזָעַקקוֹלvoice myvoice myקוֹלאֶלtotoאֶליהוהYahwehYahwehיהוהחָנַןI seek favoI seek favorחָנַןהָיָהto beto beהָיָהחָנָהto campto campחָנָהתְּרוּעָהshoutshoutתְּרוּעָהשֹׁפָרtrumpettrumpetשֹׁפָרפָּלַלto prayto prayפָּלַליִרְמְיָ֫הJeremiahJeremiahיִרְמְיָ֫הנְאֻםutteranceutteranceנְאֻםצָבָאarmyarmyצָבָאיָלַלto wailto wailיָלַלשָׁוַעto cryto cryשָׁוַעלָוָהto jointo joinלָוָה
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 142:1

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.

voice my to Yahweh I cry out voice my to Yahweh I seek favor
ק֭וֹלִיKo.li voice my H6963 Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
506× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A voice or sound, it can refer to the sound of a person speaking, an animal, or a musical instrument. In the Bible, it is often used to describe God's voice or the sound of praise and worship.
Tyndale gloss
voice: sound
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

קוֹל (qol) primarily means 'voice' or 'sound,' encompassing various contexts such as music, noise, and even thunder. It can also denote lightness or frivolity. The word is built from a root meaning to call aloud and appears in various forms throughout the Old Testament, including a reference in Jeremiah 3:9.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

קוֹל 506 n.m. sound, voice

base

קֹל n.[m.] lightness, frivolity;—Je 3:9

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6963a קוֹל sound, voice H6963b קֹל lightness, frivolity

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6963 qowl kole

or qol {kole}; from an unused root meaning to call aloud; a

voice or sound:--+ aloud, bleating, crackling, cry (+ out),

fame, lightness, lowing, noise, + hold peace, (pro-)claim,

proclamation, + sing, sound, + spark, thunder(-ing), voice, +

yell.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

קוֹל (qol) — voice.

: voice/shout/loud

1) voice, sound, noise

1a) voice

1b) sound (of instrument)

קֹל (qol) — frivolity.

lightness, frivolity

קוֹל (qol) — voice: sound.

: sound/noise

1) voice, sound, noise

1a) voice

1b) sound (of instrument)

קוֹל (qol) — voice: thunder.

: thunder

1) voice, sound, noise

1a) voice

1b) sound (of instrument)

קוֹל (qol) — voice: message.

: message/proclaim

1) voice, sound, noise

1a) voice

1b) sound (of instrument)

קוֹל (qol) — voice: [sound of].

: [sound_of](THING)

1) voice, sound, noise

1a) voice

1b) sound (of instrument)

קוֹל (qol) — voice: listen.

: listen

1) voice, sound, noise

1a) voice

1b) sound (of instrument)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HNcmsc/Sp1bs — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
HNcmsc/Sp1bs
voice my to Yahweh I cry out voice my to Yahweh I seek favor
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
HR — Preposition
HR
voice my to Yahweh I cry out voice my to Yahweh I seek favor
יְהוָ֣הYah.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.
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
HNpt — Noun proper
HNpt
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
voice my to Yahweh I cry out voice my to Yahweh I seek favor
אֶזְעָ֑ק'ez.'Ak I cry out H2199 Verb · Qal · imperfect first person common singular
73× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This verb means to cry out for help or announce something publicly, often in a loud voice, like a herald calling people together. It is used in the Bible to describe people crying out to God for aid. It can also mean to summon or assemble people.
Tyndale gloss
to cry out
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

זָעַק (za`aq) is a Hebrew verb meaning to cry out or call for help, often in a context of distress or need. It can also refer to assembling or summoning people, particularly for military purposes. The word has various forms, including Qal, Niphal, and Hiphil, indicating different nuances of calling or gathering.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[זָעַק] vb. cry, cry out, call

Qal

call, to one's aid

cry, cry out, in need

Niph. be called together, assemble, join

Hiph.

call, call out, or together, for military service

make a crying

have proclamation made

call out, or at

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2199 זָעַק cry, cry out, call .. call, to one's aid

. cry, cry out, in need

. be called together, assemble, join

. . call, call out, or together, for military service

. make a crying

. have proclamation made

. call out, or at

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2199 za`aq zaw-ak'

a primitive root; to shriek (from anguish or danger); by

analogy, (as a herald) to announce or convene publicly:--

assemble, call (together), (make a) cry (out), come with such

a company, gather (together), cause to be proclaimed.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

זָעַק (za.aq) — to cry out.

1) to cry, cry out, call, call for help

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to call (to one's aid)

1a2) to cry, cry out (in need)

1b) (Niphal) to be assembled, be called together, be joined together

1c) (Hiphil)

1c1) to call, call out, call together, summon

1c2) to make a crying, proclaim

1c3) to have a proclamation made

1c4) to call out to, call out at

Aramaic equivalent: ze.iq (זְעִ֑ק "to cry out" H2200)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HVqi1cs — Verb · Qal · imperfect first person common singular
HVqi1cs
voice my to Yahweh I cry out voice my to Yahweh I seek favor
ק֝וֹלִ֗יko.Li voice my H6963 Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
506× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A voice or sound, it can refer to the sound of a person speaking, an animal, or a musical instrument. In the Bible, it is often used to describe God's voice or the sound of praise and worship.
Tyndale gloss
voice: sound
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

קוֹל (qol) primarily means 'voice' or 'sound,' encompassing various contexts such as music, noise, and even thunder. It can also denote lightness or frivolity. The word is built from a root meaning to call aloud and appears in various forms throughout the Old Testament, including a reference in Jeremiah 3:9.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

קוֹל 506 n.m. sound, voice

base

קֹל n.[m.] lightness, frivolity;—Je 3:9

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6963a קוֹל sound, voice H6963b קֹל lightness, frivolity

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6963 qowl kole

or qol {kole}; from an unused root meaning to call aloud; a

voice or sound:--+ aloud, bleating, crackling, cry (+ out),

fame, lightness, lowing, noise, + hold peace, (pro-)claim,

proclamation, + sing, sound, + spark, thunder(-ing), voice, +

yell.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

קוֹל (qol) — voice.

: voice/shout/loud

1) voice, sound, noise

1a) voice

1b) sound (of instrument)

קֹל (qol) — frivolity.

lightness, frivolity

קוֹל (qol) — voice: sound.

: sound/noise

1) voice, sound, noise

1a) voice

1b) sound (of instrument)

קוֹל (qol) — voice: thunder.

: thunder

1) voice, sound, noise

1a) voice

1b) sound (of instrument)

קוֹל (qol) — voice: message.

: message/proclaim

1) voice, sound, noise

1a) voice

1b) sound (of instrument)

קוֹל (qol) — voice: [sound of].

: [sound_of](THING)

1) voice, sound, noise

1a) voice

1b) sound (of instrument)

קוֹל (qol) — voice: listen.

: listen

1) voice, sound, noise

1a) voice

1b) sound (of instrument)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HNcmsc/Sp1bs — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
HNcmsc/Sp1bs
voice my to Yahweh I cry out voice my to Yahweh I seek favor
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
HR — Preposition
HR
voice my to Yahweh I cry out voice my to Yahweh I seek favor
יְהוָ֥הYah.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.
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
HNpt — Noun proper
HNpt
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
voice my to Yahweh I cry out voice my to Yahweh I seek favor
אֶתְחַנָּֽן׃'et.cha.Nan I seek favor H2603 Verb · Hithpael · imperfect first person common singular
78× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to show kindness or favor, often by bending or stooping to help someone in need, as seen in the actions of God towards his people.
Tyndale gloss
be gracious
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

חָנַן (chanan) is a Hebrew verb meaning to show favor or be gracious. It encompasses various forms, including being pitied, directing favor, and seeking favor through imploration. The word can also mean to be loathsome, as noted in Job 19:17. The lexicons provide a range of uses, primarily focusing on kindness and mercy.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

חָנַן vb. shew favour, be gracious

Qal favour, shew favour

Niph. be pitied

Po‛el direct favour to

Hoph. be shewn favour, consideration

Hithp. seek or implore favour

base

[חָנַן] be loathsome—only Jb 19:17

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2603a חָנַן shew favour, be gracious .favour, shew favour

. be pitied

.direct favour to

. be shewn favour, consideration

. seek or implore favour

H2603b חָנַן be loathsome

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2603 chanan khaw-nan'

a primitive root (compare 2583); properly, to bend or stoop

in kindness to an inferior; to favor, bestow; causatively to

implore (i.e. move to favor by petition):--beseech, X fair,

(be, find, shew) favour(-able), be (deal, give, grant

(gracious(-ly), intreat, (be) merciful, have (shew) mercy (on,

upon), have pity upon, pray, make supplication, X very.

see HEBREW for 02583

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חָנַן (cha.nan) — be gracious.

1) to be gracious, show favour, pity

1a) (Qal) to show favour, be gracious

1b) (Niphal) to be pitied

1c) (Piel) to make gracious, make favourable, be gracious

1d) (Poel) to direct favour to, have mercy on

1e) (Hophal) to be shown favour, be shown consideration

1f) (Hithpael) to seek favour, implore favour

חָנַן (cha.nan) — be loathsome.

to be loathsome

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HVti1cs — Verb · Hithpael · imperfect first person common singular
HVti1cs
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

fa'-ver (chen, ratson, with other Hebrew words; charis): Means generally good will, acceptance, and the benefits flowing from these; in older usage it meant also the countenance, hence, appearance. Alternating in English Versions of the Bible with "grace," it is used chiefly of man, but sometimes also of God (Ge 18:3; 30:27; 39:21; Ex 3:21; 2Sa 15:25, "in the eyes of Yahweh," etc.). It is used perhaps in the sense of "countenance" in Pr 31:30, "Favor is deceitful, and beauty is vain" (the King James Version), where for "favor" the Revised Version (British and American) has "grace"; the reference is to external appearance. "Favored" is used in the sense of "appearance" in…

Nave's Topical Bible

→ See GOD, GRACE OF

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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