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Psalms 142:4 — Word Study

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WLCהַבֵּ֤יט יָמִ֨ין׀ וּרְאֵה֮ וְאֵֽין־ לִ֪י מַ֫כִּ֥יר אָבַ֣ד מָנ֣וֹס מִמֶּ֑נִּי אֵ֖ין דּוֹרֵ֣שׁ לְנַפְשִֽׁי׃

BSAto turn asideʻâṭaph uponʻal spiritrûwach you(m.s.)ʼattâh to knowyâdaʻ pathnâthîyb wayʼôrach thiszûw to gohâlak to hideṭâman snarepach

Word
Listen & take awayPsalms 142
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 4 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 (le.naf.Shi) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Psalms 142:4quick helps
In a sentenceThe psalmist expresses deep despair, feeling abandoned and without refuge.
Who is speakingThe psalmist, feeling isolated and neglected.
Where we areA moment of personal lament within a prayer to God.
The hard wordמַ֫כִּ֥יר
Take awayThere is no one to help; the psalmist feels utterly alone.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause subjectהוּא verbבְּ 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 142:4

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

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.
5I cry to You, O LORD: “You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.”
6Listen to my cry, for I am brought quite low. Rescue me from my pursuers, for they are too strong for me.

Psalm 142:4 reflects the psalmist's anguish as he feels surrounded by neglect and absence of support. This verse is part of a larger plea for divine assistance, where the psalmist acknowledges his plight and the lack of refuge. The surrounding verses highlight his emotional state and the urgency of his need for God's intervention.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Psalm 31:11Among all my enemies I am a disgrace, and among my neighbors even more. I am dreaded by my friends— they flee when they see me on the street.
2Psalm 69:20Insults have broken my heart, and I am in despair. I looked for sympathy, but there was none, for comforters, but I found no one.
3Psalm 88:8–18You have removed my friends from me; You have made me repulsive to them; I am confined and cannot escape.
4Job 19:13–19He has removed my brothers from me; my acquaintances have abandoned me.
5Matthew 26:56But this has all happened so that the writings of the prophets would be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples deserted Him and fled.

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


The Key Word מַ֫כִּ֥יר, ma.Kirgenerated

The word מַ֫כִּ֥יר (*ma.Kir*) is a participle derived from the root יָדַע (*yada*), which means to know or recognize. In this context, it conveys the idea of someone who recognizes or acknowledges another.

The parsing indicates it is a masculine singular form, suggesting a specific person or entity that should be recognizing the psalmist's plight. This highlights the psalmist's feeling of being overlooked and unacknowledged in his time of need.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses the phrase [one who] recognizes.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The verse is structured around several clauses, with the main action initiated by the imperative verb הַבֵּ֤יט (*ha.Beit*), look. This command is directed to an implied audience, urging them to observe the psalmist's situation.

The subsequent clauses provide additional details: the adverbial phrase יָמִ֨ין (*ya.Min*), indicating direction, and the following clauses that elaborate on the absence of support and recognition.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates מַ֫כִּ֥יר as ἐγνώσῃ (*egnōsei*), which means to know. This choice reflects a broader understanding of recognition, emphasizing the knowledge aspect of the relationship between the psalmist and those around him.

This translation suggests a nuanced interpretation, where recognition involves a deeper awareness of the psalmist's plight, aligning with the emotional tone of the original Hebrew.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Psalm 142:4 shows the psalmist feeling alone and neglected. He asks God to look at his situation, stating that no one recognizes him or offers help. He feels there is no safe place for him, and no one cares for his well-being.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean that no one attends to the psalmist?

It indicates a profound sense of abandonment, where the psalmist feels unnoticed and unsupported in his distress.

Why does the psalmist emphasize looking to the right?

In ancient Near Eastern culture, the right side often symbolizes strength and favor; the psalmist seeks assistance from a place of perceived strength.

What is the significance of having no refuge?

A lack of refuge signifies vulnerability and danger, highlighting the psalmist's desperate need for safety and protection.

How does this verse relate to the overall theme of the psalm?

This verse encapsulates the theme of isolation and the urgent plea for divine intervention, which is a central focus throughout the psalm.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what ways have I felt abandoned or neglected, and how did I respond?
  2. How can I be more aware of those around me who may feel unnoticed or unsupported?
  3. What does it mean for me to seek refuge in God during times of trouble?
  4. How can I recognize and respond to the needs of others like the psalmist longs to be recognized?

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

Early church fathers like Augustine referenced this verse to discuss themes of recognition and seeking God amid trials.

Augustine of HippoExposition on Psalms 142 354–430
"I considered upon the right hand, and saw" [Psalms 142:4]. He considered upon the right hand, and saw: whoso considers upon the left hand, is blinded.
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 142 →
Augustine of HippoTRACTATES ON THE GOSPEL OF John 50:3 354–430
“And they were seeking Jesus,” but in an evil way. For blessed are they who are seeking Jesus, but in a good way. Those people were seeking Jesus that neither they nor we might have him; but we have received him who withdrew from them.
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 142 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Psalms 142:4 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

I looked on [my] right hand, and beheld,.... On the left, so Kimchi supplies it, and after him Piscator; he looked about him every way to the right and left, to see if he could get any help, or find out any way of deliverance.

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

I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul. I looked on (my) right hand, and beheld, but (there was) no man that would know me.

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

Right hand; the place where the patron or assistant used to stand. See 109:31 121:5. No man, to wit, in Saul’ s court or camp; none of my former acquaintance, and friends. and relations. Know me; own me, or show any respect or kindness to me. For my soul; or, for my life, to wit, to preserve it; but they all conspired to take it away; which is here implied.

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

Psalms 142:4 I looked on [my] right hand, and beheld, but [there was] no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul.Ver. 4. I looked on my right hand] Not a man would appear for me. Aφιλοντοδυστυχες, misery is friendless for the most part. See 2 Timothy 4:16. Nulla fides unquam miseros delegit amicos.

Read John Trapp on Psalms 142 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(4) I looked.—The Authorised Version follows the ancient versions in turning the Hebrew imperatives into historic tenses. But they are easily intelligible if taken rhetorically, and indeed the psalm loses in liveliness by missing them: “On the path by which I must walk they have laid a trap for me; Look to the right and see, Not a friend is in sight. Failed has refuge from me, There is none who careth for my soul.” To the “right,” because according to the regular Hebrew metaphor it was on the “right hand” that the protector would stand. (See Note Psalms 16:8, &c; and comp. Psalms 109:6; Psalms 109:31; Psalms 110:5; Psalms 121:5.)

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

Verse 4. There was no man, that would know me] This has been applied to the time in which our Lord was deserted by his disciples. As to the case of David in the cave of En-gedi, he had no refuge: for what were the handful of men that were with him to Saul and his army?

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

4. The Massoretic text reads the imperative look … and see. The rendering of P.B.V. and A.V. I looked … and saw (beheld) follows the LXX, Vulg., Syr., and Targ., but requires a change in the vocalisation of the Hebrew words. The indicative I looked is the more obvious reading; but the appeal to Jehovah, look! is more forcible. Cp. Lamentations 1:11; Lamentations 2:20; Lamentations 5:1. on my right hand] Where his protector would be standing if he had one. Cp. Psalms 16:8; Psalms 109:31; Psalms 110:5; Psalms 121:5. But there is no one to acknowledge him as his client (Rth 2:10; Rth 2:19) and defend him. He has no asylum left: lit. a place of flight is perished from me. Cp. Job 11:20…

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

I looked on my right hand, and beheld - Margin, “Look on the right hand and see The words translated “looked” and “beheld” are in the imperative mood in the Hebrew. They are not, however, improperly rendered as to the sense.

Read Albert Barnes 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

Look to my right and see; no one attends to me. There is no refuge for me; no one cares for my soul.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Look on my right, and see; for there is no one who is concerned for me. Refuge has fled from me. No one cares for my soul.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

Look to my right and see; no one attends to me. There is no refuge for me; no one cares for my soul.

NETBNew English Translation2006

Look to the right and see! No one cares about me. I have nowhere to run; no one is concerned about my life.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

Look on my right hand, and see; For there is no man that knoweth me: Refuge hath failed me; No man careth for my soul.

RVARevised Version, American1894

Look on my right hand, and see; for there is no man that knoweth me: refuge hath failed me; no man careth for my soul.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

I looked vpon my right hand, and beheld, but there was none that would knowe me: all refuge failed me, and none cared for my soule.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

Look on the right hand and see; there is no man that knoweth me: refuge hath failed me; no man careth for my soul.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

Looking on the right hand — and seeing, And I have none recognizing; Perished hath refuge from me, There is none inquiring for my soul.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

Looking on the right hand—and seeing, || And I have none recognizing; Refuge has perished from me, || There is none inquiring for my soul.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

(142:5) Look to the right, and behold, yea, there is no man that recognizeth me: [every] refuge is lost to me; there is no one that careth for my soul.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

I look to my right and and see that there is no one who cares about me. There is no escape for me; no one cares about my life.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

And my spirit is in anguish within me: my heart within me is troubled.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

I look to my right for someone to support me—but no one pays me any attention. There's no safe place for me—no one cares about me at all.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

Looking to my right side, I saw no man who was my friend: I had no safe place; no one had any care for my soul.

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.

clauseverbהַבֵּ֤יטlookadverbialיָמִ֨יןrightוּandclauseverbרְאֵה֮seeוְandclausepredicateאֵֽיןthere.[is].notnoun phrase · subjectclauseprepositional phrase · prepositionalלִ֪forיmeverbמַ֫כִּ֥יר[one.who].pays.regardclauseverbאָבַ֣דit.has.been.lostsubjectמָנ֣וֹסa.place.of.escapeprepositional phrase · prepositionalמִמֶּ֑fromנִּיmeclausepredicateאֵ֖יןthere.[is].notnoun phrase · subjectclauseverbדּוֹרֵ֣שׁ[one.who].caresprepositional phrase · prepositionalלְfornoun phraseנַפְשִֽׁselfיmy

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


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

The Masoretic Text presents the verse consistently, while the Septuagint matches 11 of the 12 words. The Dead Sea Scrolls fragment contains only part of the verse, indicating some textual continuity but also gaps in preservation.

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

הַבֵּ֤יט יָמִ֨ין׀ וּרְאֵה֮ וְאֵֽין־ לִ֪י מַ֫כִּ֥יר אָבַ֣ד מָנ֣וֹס מִמֶּ֑נִּי אֵ֖ין דּוֹרֵ֣שׁ לְנַפְשִֽׁי׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
הַבֵּ֤יטἐνוּרְאֵה֮ἐμοῦוְאֵֽין־μουלִ֪יσὺמַ֫כִּ֥ירἔγνωςאָבַ֣דτρίβουςמָנ֣וֹסμουמִמֶּ֑נִּיὁδῷאֵ֖יןταύτῃדּוֹרֵ֣שׁἐπορευόμηνלְנַפְשִֽׁי׃παγίδα

11 of the 12 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

ל׳י

1 word of the verse is on this fragment. The rest of the verse is not on it.

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 142:4נָבַטlooklookנָבַטיָמִיןrightrightיָמִיןרָאָהand seeand seeרָאָהאַ֫יִןand notand notאַ֫יִןנִי[belongs] t[belongs] to meנִינָכַר[one who] r[one who] recogנָכַראָבַדit has beenit has been losאָבַדמָנוֹסa place of a place of escaמָנוֹסמִן־from mefrom meמִן־אַ֫יִןthere notthere notאַ֫יִןדָּרַשׁ[is one who[is one who] caדָּרַשׁנֶ֫פֶשׁfor self myfor self myנֶ֫פֶשׁיָמַןto go righto go rightיָמַןאַ֫יִןwhere?where?אַ֫יִןנוּסto fleeto fleeנוּסנָפַשׁbe refreshbe refreshedנָפַשׁמֵןstringstringמֵןכְּמוֹlikelikeכְּמוֹעָמָלtroubletroubleעָמָלשָׁמַיheavenheavenשָׁמַישְׂמֹאלleftleftשְׂמֹאלשׁוֹקleglegשׁוֹקעֳנִיafflictionafflictionעֳנִינָבַטto lookto lookנָבַטאָחbrother: mbrother: male-sאָחאָֽנֹכִ֫יIIאָֽנֹכִ֫יתִּקְוָהcordcordתִּקְוָהשָׁמַדto destroyto destroyשָׁמַדמִשְׂגָּבhigh refughigh refugeמִשְׂגָּבאָבַדto perishto perishאָבַד
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 142:4

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.

look right and see and not [belongs] to me [one who] recognizes it has been lost a place of escape from me there not [is one who] cares for self my
הַבֵּ֤יטha.Beit look H5027 Verb · Hiphil · imperative second person masculine singular
69× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This verb means to look or regard something carefully. It can also mean to show favor or care for someone. In the Bible, it is used to describe how God looks at his people with favor and care, as seen in Psalm 138:6.
Tyndale gloss
to look
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

נָבַט (nabat) is a Hebrew verb meaning to look or regard. It encompasses various nuances, such as looking intently, considering, and showing favor or care. The entries indicate its use in different grammatical forms, specifically the Piel and Hiphil stems, which emphasize the act of looking or regarding. No significant disagreements among lexicons are noted.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[נָבַט] vb. Pi., Hiph. look

Pi. look

Hiph. look

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5027 נָבַט look

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5027 nabat naw-bat'

a primitive root; to scan, i.e. look intently at; by

implication, to regard with pleasure, favor or care:--(cause

to) behold, consider, look (down), regard, have respect, see.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נָבַט (na.vat) — to look.

1) to look, regard

1a) (Piel) to look

1b) (Hiphil)

1b1) tolook

1b2) to regard, show regard to, pay attention to, consider

1b3) to look upon, regard, show regard to

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HVhv2ms — Verb · Hiphil · imperative second person masculine singular
HVhv2ms
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

look:

(1) The uses of the simple verb in English Versions of the Bible are nearly all good modern English. In Isa 5:2, however, "He looked that it should bring forth grapes"--"look" is used in the sense of "expect." Compare the King James Version of Sirach 20:14; Ac 28:6, "They looked when he should have swollen" (the Revised Version (British and American) "They expected that he would have swollen"). In 1 Macc 4:54, the King James Version has inserted "look" (omitted in the Revised Version (British and American)) as a simple interjection, without a corresponding word in the Greek

(2) "Look upon" means "fix one's attention on," and is often so used in English Versions of the Bible without further significance (Ec 2:11;

look right and see and not [belongs] to me [one who] recognizes it has been lost a place of escape from me there not [is one who] cares for self my
יָמִ֨ין׀ya.Min right H3225 Noun common · feminine singular absolute
140× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Benjamin was a son of Israel and Rachel, and the brother of Joseph, mentioned in Genesis 35:18. The name also refers to the right hand or south direction.
Tyndale gloss
[Ben]jamin
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word יָמִין (*yamiyn*) means 'right hand' or 'right side,' and it can also refer to the direction south, as the right hand points south when facing east. It is derived from the root word for 'to be strong' and covers various contexts, including body parts and directional references.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יָמִין 137 n.f. right hand

right hand

of situation on, or direction toward the right

of other parts of the body

= south, because when facing east the right hand is toward the south

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3225 יָמִין right hand . right hand

. of situation on, or direction toward the right

. of other parts of the body

. = south, because when facing east the right hand is toward the south

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3225 yamiyn yaw-meen'

from 3231; the right hand or side (leg, eye) of a person or

other object (as the stronger and more dexterous); locally,

the south:--+ left-handed, right (hand, side), south.

see HEBREW for 03231

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יָמִין (ya.min) — right.

1) right, right hand, right side

1a) right hand

1b) right (of direction)

1c) south (the direction of the right hand when facing East)

Also means: ya.min (יָמִין ": south" H3225H)

יָמִין (ya.min) — right: south.

1) right, right hand, right side

1a) right hand

1b) right (of direction)

1c) south (the direction of the right hand when facing East)

יָמִין (ya.min) — [Ben]jamin.

A man of the tribe of Benjamin living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.35.18;

son of: Israel (H3478) and Rachel (H7354);

brother of: Joseph (H3130);

half-brother of: Reuben (H7205), Simeon (H8095), Levi (H3878), Judah (H3063), Dan (H1835H), Naphtali (H5321), Gad (H1410), Asher (H0836), Issachar (H3485), Zebulun (H2074) and Dinah (H1783);

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HNcfsa — Noun common · feminine singular absolute
HNcfsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

rit (yashar, mishpaT; dikaios, euthus): Many Hebrew words are translated "right," with different shades of meaning. Of these the two noted are the most important: yashar, with the sense of being straight, direct, as "right in the sight" of Yahweh (Ex 15:26; De 12:25, etc.), in one's own eyes (Jud 17:6), "right words" (Job 6:25 the King James Version, yosher), "right paths" (Pr 4:11 the King James Version); and mishpaT "judgment" "cause" etc., a forensic term, as "Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?" (Ge 18:25). In

look right and see and not [belongs] to me [one who] recognizes it has been lost a place of escape from me there not [is one who] cares for self my
וּרְאֵה֮u.re.'Eh and see H7200 Conjunction · verb qal imperative second person masculine singular
1,300× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for provider means to see or look after, and is used to describe God's care for his people. It appears in various forms throughout the Bible, including in Genesis and other books.
Tyndale gloss
Provider
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

רָאָה (ra'ah) is a Hebrew verb meaning 'to see' and encompasses a wide range of visual and perceptual actions, including looking, observing, and causing others to see. It can refer to both literal sight and figurative understanding, with various grammatical forms indicating different nuances, such as appearing or being visible. The entries indicate a rich semantic field without significant disagreement among lexicographers.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

רָאָה 1315 vb. see

Qal 1141

see, subj.

see, c. acc. rei

see, sq. acc. cl. or phr. of closer design

see, so as to learn to know

abs. see, have (power of) vision

see = perceive

look at, see, by direct volition

of mental observation

c. ב, lit., look into, hence look at with interest

see, c. acc. rei

Niph.

appear

be seen

be visible

Pu. appar. his bones are not detected

Hithp. recipr. look at each other

Hiph.

cause one to see something, shew

cause to experience something

cause to look intently at, to behold

Hoph.

be caused to see, be shewn

be exhibited to

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7200a רָאָה see .. . see, subj.

. see, c. acc. rei

. see, sq. acc. + cl. or phr. of closer design

. see, so as to learn to know

. abs. see, have (power of) vision

. see = perceive

. look at, see, by direct volition

. of mental observation

. . c. ב, lit., look into, hence look at with interest

. see, c. acc. rei

. . appear

. be seen

. be visible

. appar. his bones are not detected

. recipr. look at each other

. . . cause one to see something, shew

. cause to experience something

. cause to look intently at, to behold

. . be caused to see, be shewn

. be exhibited to

H7200b רְאוּת look

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7200 ra'ah raw-aw'

a primitive root; to see, literally or figuratively (in

numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive,

intransitive and causative):--advise self, appear, approve,

behold, X certainly, consider, discern, (make to) enjoy, have

experience, gaze, take heed, X indeed, X joyfully, lo, look

(on, one another, one on another, one upon another, out, up,

upon), mark, meet, X be near, perceive, present, provide,

regard, (have) respect, (fore-, cause to, let) see(-r, -m, one

another), shew (self), X sight of others, (e-)spy, stare, X

surely, X think, view, visions.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

רָאָה (ra.ah) — to see: see.

: see/show

1) to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to see

1a2) to see, perceive

1a3) to see, have vision

1a4) to look at, see, regard, look after, see after, learn about, observe, watch, look upon, look out, find out

1a5) to see, observe, consider, look at, give attention to, discern, distinguish

1a6) to look at, gaze at

1a7) to provide, choose

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to appear, present oneself

1b2) to be seen

1b3) to be visible

1c) (Pual) to be seen

1d) (Hiphil)

1d1) to cause to see, show

1d2) to cause to look intently at, behold, cause to gaze at

1e) (Hophal)

1e1) to be caused to see, be shown

1e2) to be exhibited to

1f) (Hithpael) to look at each other, face

רָאָה (ra.ah) — to see: examine.

: examine/consider

1) to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to see

1a2) to see, perceive

1a3) to see, have vision

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HC/Vqv2ms — Conjunction · verb qal imperative second person masculine singular
HC/Vqv2ms
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

se: In addition to the ordinary sense of perceiving by the eye, we have

(1) chazah, "to see" (in vision): "Words of Amos .... which he saw concerning Israel" (Am 1:1). The revelation was made to his inward eye. "The word of Yahweh .... which he (Micah) saw concerning Samaria" (Mic 1:1), describing what he saw in prophetic vision (compare Hab 1:1); see REVELATION, III, 4;

(2) horao, "to take heed": "See thou say nothing" (Mr 1:44);

(3) eidon, "to know," "to note with the mind": "Jesus saw that he answered discreetly" (Mr 12:34);

look right and see and not [belongs] to me [one who] recognizes it has been lost a place of escape from me there not [is one who] cares for self my
וְאֵֽין־ve.'ein- and not H369 Conjunction · noun common masculine singular construct
789× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means nothing or not, often used to indicate the absence of something, as in Genesis 1:2 where the earth was without form. It emphasizes the idea of something lacking or non-existent.
Tyndale gloss
nothing
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אַ֫יִן (ayin) primarily means 'nothing' or 'nought' and serves as a negative particle indicating absence or negation, such as 'is not' or 'there is not.' It can also express lack of possession or existence. The word is derived from a root meaning to be non-existent, and it appears frequently in various grammatical constructions.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אַ֫יִן, אָ֑֫יִן cstr. אֵין subst. prop. nothing, nought

to nothing, as nothing

cstr. אֵין, very freq. as particle of negation, is not, are not, was not, were not

אֵין לְ׳, with subst., or pron., there is (was) not to … = … have, has, had, etc. not

in circumst. clauses

with inf. and ל׳, it is not to …

with prefixes

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H369 אַ֫יִן, אָ֑֫יִן cstr. אֵין subst. prop. nothing, nought . to nothing, as nothing

. cstr. אֵין, very freq. as particle of negation, is not, are not, was not, were not

. אֵין לְ׳, with subst., or pron., there is (was) not to … = … have, has, had, etc. not

. in circumst. clauses

. with inf. and ל׳, it is not to …

. with prefixes

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

369 'ayin ah'-yin

as if from a primitive root meaning to be nothing or not

exist; a non-entity; generally used as a negative

particle:--else, except, fail, (father-)less, be gone,

in(-curable), neither, never, no (where), none, nor, (any,

thing), not, nothing, to nought, past, un(-searchable),

well-nigh, without. Compare 370.

see HEBREW for 0370

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אַ֫יִן (a.yin) — nothing.

1) nothing, not, nought n

1a) nothing, nought neg

1b) not

1c) to have not (of possession) adv

1d) without w/prep

1e) for lack of

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HC/Ncmsc — Conjunction · noun common masculine singular construct
HC/Ncmsc
look right and see and not [belongs] to me [one who] recognizes it has been lost a place of escape from me there not [is one who] cares for self my
לִ֪יli [belongs] to me H9030 Preposition · suffix
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נִי (ni) — me.

Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 1st person singular

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HR/Sp1bs — Preposition · suffix
HR/Sp1bs
look right and see and not [belongs] to me [one who] recognizes it has been lost a place of escape from me there not [is one who] cares for self my
מַ֫כִּ֥ירma.Kir [one who] recognizes H5234 Verb · Hiphil · participle (active) masculine singular
49× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To alienate or treat as foreign, as seen in the story of Moses and the Egyptians in Exodus. This verb means to scrutinize or look intently at someone, often with suspicion or disregard. It is used to describe the actions of biblical characters towards others.
Tyndale gloss
to recognize
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word נָכַר (nakar) encompasses meanings related to recognition and alienation. It can signify acknowledging, regarding, or understanding someone or something, as well as treating something as foreign or strange. The entries highlight its use in various forms, including recognizing and disguising, but do not indicate any significant disagreement among lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[נָכַר] vb. (not Qal) regard, recognize

Niph. they are not recognized

Pi. he regardeth not the opulent above the poor

Hiph.

regard, observe, esp. with a view to recognition

Recognize (as formerly known)

Be willing to recognize, acknowledge

Be acquianted with

Distinguish, understand

Hithp. Impf by his deeds a youth maketh himself known, whether his doing be pure, etc.

base

[נכר] vb. denom. act or treat as foreign, or strange; disguise, misconstrue

Niph. with his lips a hater disguiseth himself

Pi. and they have treated this place as foreign

Hithp. he acted as a stranger toward them

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5234a נָכַר (not Qal) regard, recognize . they are not recognized

. he regardeth not the opulent above the poor

. . regard, observe, esp. with a view to recognition

. Recognize (as formerly known)

. Be willing to recognize, acknowledge

. Be acquianted with

. Distinguish, understand

. Impf by his deeds a youth maketh himself known, whether his doing be pure, etc.

H5234b נכר vb. denom. act or treat as foreign, or strange; disguise, misconstrue

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5234 nakar naw-kar'

a primitive root; properly, to scrutinize, i.e. look intently

at; hence (with recognition implied), to acknowledge, be

acquainted with, care for, respect, revere, or (with suspicion

implied), to disregard, ignore, be strange toward, reject,

resign, dissimulate (as if ignorant or

disowning):--acknowledge, X could, deliver, discern,

dissemble, estrange, feign self to be another, know, take

knowledge (notice), perceive, regard, (have) respect, behave

(make) self strange(-ly).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נָכַר (na.khar) — to recognize.

1) to recognise, acknowledge, know, respect, discern, regard

1a) (Niphal) to be recognised

1b) (Piel) to regard

1c) (Hiphil)

1c1) to regard, observe, pay attention to, pay regard to, notice

1c2) to recognise (as formerly known), perceive

1c3) to be willing to recognise or acknowledge, acknowledge with honour

1c4) to be acquainted with

1c5) to distinguish, understand

1d) (Hithpael) to make oneself known

נָכַר (na.khar) — to alienate.

1) to act or treat as foreign or strange, disguise, misconstrue

1a) (Niphal) to disguise oneself

1b) (Piel)

1b1) to treat as foreign (profane)

1b2) to misconstrue

1c) (Hithpael)

1c1) to act as alien

1c2) to disguise oneself

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HVhrmsa — Verb · Hiphil · participle (active) masculine singular
HVhrmsa
look right and see and not [belongs] to me [one who] recognizes it has been lost a place of escape from me there not [is one who] cares for self my
אָבַ֣ד'a.Vad it has been lost H6 Verb · Qal · perfect third person masculine singular
184× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To perish means to be destroyed or lost, whether it's a person, animal, or thing, like the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis 19.
Tyndale gloss
to perish
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אָבַד (abad) is a Hebrew verb meaning to perish or be lost. It encompasses a range of meanings, including dying, vanishing, and destruction, often in a moral or judgment context. The word appears in various forms in the Old Testament, with uses related to individuals, nations, and inanimate objects. The lexicons indicate that it can also imply causing something to perish or stray.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אָבַד vb. perish (M I אבד, As. abâtu Dl W 184 Aram אֲבַד, Syriac).—

Qal Pf. א׳ Nu 21:30 +; אָבְדוּ ψ 10:16 + (+ Ez 6:3 𝔊 Co) etc.; Impf. יֹאבַד Jb 3:3 Je 4:9; יֹאבֵ֑ד Jb 20:7 + 2t.; 3fs. תֹּאבַד Dt 22:3 + 4t.; תֹּאבֵ֑ד Jb 8:13 + 3t.; יֹאבְדוּ Ju 5:31 + 3t.; יֹאבֵ֑דוּ Jb 4:9 +; 3fpl. וַתֹּאבַדְנָה֙ I S 9:3; תֹּאבֵדוּן Dt 4:26 +; נֹאבֵ֑ד Jon 1:6

Read the full entry →
Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6 אָבַד perish .. perish, die, of individuals

. fig. perish, vanish, subj. memory

. be lost, strayed

. . cause to perish, destroy, kill

. fig. cause to vanish, blot out, do away with

. cause to stray, lose

. . destroy, put to death, in judgment

. fig. obj. name of kings; hope; voice of mirth etc.

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6 'abad aw-bad'

a primitive root; properly, to wander away, i.e. lose

oneself; by implication to perish (causative,

destroy):--break, destroy(- uction), + not escape, fail,

lose, (cause to, make) perish, spend, X and surely, take, be

undone, X utterly, be void of, have no way to flee.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אָבַד (a.vad) — to perish.

1) perish, vanish, go astray, be destroyed

1a) (Qal)

1a1) perish, die, be exterminated

1a2) perish, vanish (fig.)

1a3) be lost, strayed

1b) (Piel)

1b1) to destroy, kill, cause to perish, to give up (as lost), exterminate

1b2) to blot out, do away with, cause to vanish, (fig.)

1b3) cause to stray, lose

1c) (Hiphil)

1c1) to destroy, put to death

1c1a) of divine judgment

1c2) object name of kings (fig.)

Aramaic equivalent: a.vad (אֲבַד "to destroy" H0007)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HVqp3ms — Verb · Qal · perfect third person masculine singular
HVqp3ms
look right and see and not [belongs] to me [one who] recognizes it has been lost a place of escape from me there not [is one who] cares for self my
מָנ֣וֹסma.Nos a place of escape H4498 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
8× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means a place to escape or flee to, like a refuge. It appears in the Bible as a way to describe a safe haven. In the KJV, it is translated as refuge or flight.
Tyndale gloss
refuge
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מָנוֹס (manowc) refers to a retreat or a place of escape, emphasizing concepts of flight and refuge. It is built from the root meaning to flee, covering both literal and figurative senses. The entries consistently highlight its use in contexts relating to safety and escape.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מָנוֹס n.m. 1. flight. 2. place of escape, refuge

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4498 מָנוֹס

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4498 manowc maw-noce'

from 5127; a retreat (literally or figuratively); abstractly,

a fleeing:--X apace, escape, way to flee, flight, refuge.

see HEBREW for 05127

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מָנוֹס (ma.nos) — refuge.

1) flight, refuge, place of escape

1a) flight

1b) refuge, place of escape

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HNcmsa — Noun common · masculine singular absolute
HNcmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Nave's Topical Bible

→ NONE, FROM THE JUDGMENTS OF GOD Ge 3:7-11; 4:9-11; Job 34:21,22; Isa 10:3; Mt 23:33; Ro 2:3; 1Th 5:2,3; Heb 2:2,3; 12:25,26; Re 6:15-17

See SIN, FRUITS OF

See SIN, PUNISHMENT OF

See JUDGMENTS, NO ESCAPE FROM

look right and see and not [belongs] to me [one who] recognizes it has been lost a place of escape from me there not [is one who] cares for self my
מִמֶּ֑נִּיmi.Me.ni from me H4480 Preposition · suffix
1,189× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means a portion or part of something, and is often used to show the relationship between things, like from or out of something.
Tyndale gloss
from
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word מִן־ (*min*) is a preposition meaning 'from' or 'out of,' indicating separation or origin. It covers various uses, including temporal references, comparisons, and causal relationships. Additionally, it can denote a portion when used as a noun מֵן (*men*). The entries highlight its versatility in expressing different nuances of separation and position.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מִן־, and מִ, before יְ, prep. expressing the idea of separation, hence out of, from, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not

with verbs expressing (or implying) separation or removal

from, against

מן also, without a verb of similar significance, sometimes expresses the idea of separation, away from, far from

of position, off, on the side of, on

Out of, Gk. ἐκ, Lat. ex

Partitively

Of time—

as marking the terminus a quo, the anterior limit of a continuous period from, since

as marking the period immediately succeeding the limit after

towards, to

(וְעַד) עַד … מִן from … even to

In comparisons, beyond, above

מן is prefixed to an infin.:

with causal force, from, on account of, through

after verbs implying restraint, prevention, cessation, etc.

with a temporal force, since, after

Once as a conj. before a finite verb. that

In compounds:

base

Read the full entry →
Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4480a מִן־, מִ, prep. expressing the idea of separation, hence out of, from, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not . with verbs expressing (or implying) separation or removal . from, against

. מן also, without a verb of similar significance, sometimes expresses the idea of separation, away from, far from

. of position, off, on the side of, on

. Out of, Gk. ἐκ, Lat. ex

. Partitively

. Of time— . as marking the terminus a quo, the anterior limit of a continuous period from, since

. as marking the period immediately succeeding the limit after

. towards, to

. (וְעַד) עַד … מִן from … even to

. In comparisons, beyond, above

. מן is prefixed to an infin.: . with causal force, from, on account of, through

. after verbs implying restraint, prevention, cessation, etc.

. with a temporal force, since, after

. Once as a conj. before a finite verb. that

Read the full entry →
Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4480 min min

or minniy {min-nee'}; or minney (constructive plural)

{min-nay'}; (Isaiah 30:11); for 4482; properly, a part of;

hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses (as

follows):--above, after, among, at, because of, by (reason

of), from (among), in, X neither, X nor, (out) of, over,

since, X then, through, X whether, with.

see HEBREW for 04482

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מִן־ (min) — from.

prep

1) from, out of, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not, more than

1a) from (expressing separation), off, on the side of

1b) out of

1b1) (with verbs of proceeding, removing, expelling)

1b2) (of material from which something is made)

1b3) (of source or origin)

1c) out of, some of, from (partitively)

1d) from, since, after (of time)

1e) than, more than (in comparison)

1f) from...even to, both...and, either...or

1g) than, more than, too much for (in comparisons)

1h) from, on account of, through, because (with infinitive)

conj

2) that

Aramaic equivalent: min (מִן־ "from" H4481)

מֵן (men) — portion.

n.m.

portion

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HR/Sp1bs — Preposition · suffix
HR/Sp1bs
look right and see and not [belongs] to me [one who] recognizes it has been lost a place of escape from me there not [is one who] cares for self my
אֵ֖ין'ein there not H369 Noun common · masculine singular construct
789× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means nothing or not, often used to indicate the absence of something, as in Genesis 1:2 where the earth was without form. It emphasizes the idea of something lacking or non-existent.
Tyndale gloss
nothing
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אַ֫יִן (ayin) primarily means 'nothing' or 'nought' and serves as a negative particle indicating absence or negation, such as 'is not' or 'there is not.' It can also express lack of possession or existence. The word is derived from a root meaning to be non-existent, and it appears frequently in various grammatical constructions.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אַ֫יִן, אָ֑֫יִן cstr. אֵין subst. prop. nothing, nought

to nothing, as nothing

cstr. אֵין, very freq. as particle of negation, is not, are not, was not, were not

אֵין לְ׳, with subst., or pron., there is (was) not to … = … have, has, had, etc. not

in circumst. clauses

with inf. and ל׳, it is not to …

with prefixes

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H369 אַ֫יִן, אָ֑֫יִן cstr. אֵין subst. prop. nothing, nought . to nothing, as nothing

. cstr. אֵין, very freq. as particle of negation, is not, are not, was not, were not

. אֵין לְ׳, with subst., or pron., there is (was) not to … = … have, has, had, etc. not

. in circumst. clauses

. with inf. and ל׳, it is not to …

. with prefixes

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

369 'ayin ah'-yin

as if from a primitive root meaning to be nothing or not

exist; a non-entity; generally used as a negative

particle:--else, except, fail, (father-)less, be gone,

in(-curable), neither, never, no (where), none, nor, (any,

thing), not, nothing, to nought, past, un(-searchable),

well-nigh, without. Compare 370.

see HEBREW for 0370

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אַ֫יִן (a.yin) — nothing.

1) nothing, not, nought n

1a) nothing, nought neg

1b) not

1c) to have not (of possession) adv

1d) without w/prep

1e) for lack of

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HNcmsc — Noun common · masculine singular construct
HNcmsc
look right and see and not [belongs] to me [one who] recognizes it has been lost a place of escape from me there not [is one who] cares for self my
דּוֹרֵ֣שׁdo.Resh [is one who] cares H1875 Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine singular
164× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To seek or ask is the meaning of this Hebrew word, often used to describe seeking God or worshiping him. It can also mean to investigate or enquire about something.
Tyndale gloss
to seek
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

דָּרַשׁ (darash) is a Hebrew verb meaning to seek or inquire. It encompasses a range of actions from frequenting a place to consulting deities in prayer and worship. The word can imply a diligent search or demand, and it appears in both Qal and Niphal forms, indicating various nuances of seeking and being sought. The entries do not present any significant disagreement.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

דָּרַשׁ 162 vb. resort to, seek

Qal

(tread a place,) resort to, frequent

seek, consult, inquire of

seek deity in prayer and worship

seek, with idea of demanding, require

inquire, investigate (a matter)

ask for, require, demand

seek with application, study, follow, practise

seek with care, care for

Niph.

let oneself be inquired of, consulted, only of God

be sought out

be required, of blood

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1875 דָּרַשׁ resort to, seek

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1875 darash daw-rash'

a primitive root; properly, to tread or frequent; usually to

follow (for pursuit or search); by implication, to seek or

ask; specifically to worship:--ask, X at all, care for, X

diligently, inquire, make inquisition, (necro-)mancer,

question, require, search, seek (for, out), X surely.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

דָּרַשׁ (da.rash) — to seek.

1) to resort to, seek, seek with care, enquire, require

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to resort to, frequent (a place), (tread a place)

1a2) to consult, enquire of, seek

1a2a) of God

1a2b) of heathen gods, necromancers

1a3) to seek deity in prayer and worship

1a3a) God

1a3b) heathen deities

1a4) to seek (with a demand), demand, require

1a5) to investigate, enquire

1a6) to ask for, require, demand

1a7) to practice, study, follow, seek with application

1a8) to seek with care, care for

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to allow oneself to be enquired of, consulted (only of God)

1b2) to be sought, be sought out

1b3) to be required (of blood)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HVqrmsa — Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine singular
HVqrmsa
look right and see and not [belongs] to me [one who] recognizes it has been lost a place of escape from me there not [is one who] cares for self my
לְנַפְשִֽׁי׃le.naf.Shi for self my H5315 Preposition · noun common feminine singular construct · suffix
754× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for soul or living being, used in the Bible to describe the essence of a person or animal. It encompasses the ideas of life, breath, and vitality, and is translated as 'soul' or 'creature' in the KJV. This word is central to biblical concepts of humanity and existence.
Tyndale gloss
soul
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word נֶ֫פֶשׁ (*nephesh*) broadly means 'soul' or 'living being,' encompassing concepts like life, self, person, desire, and emotion. It is derived from the root meaning 'to breathe' and signifies both physical and mental aspects of existence. The lexicons note its use in various contexts, including as the seat of appetites and emotions, though its application to will and character is uncertain.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

נֶ֫פֶשׁ 756 n.f. soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, appetite, emotion, and passion

= that which breathes, the breathing substance or being

The נפשׁ becomes a living being

The נפשׁ is specif.

The נפשׁ as the essential of man stands for the man himself

נפשׁ = seat of the appetites, in all periods (46 t.)

נ׳ = seat of emotions and passions

נפשׁ is used occasionally for mental acts

נפשׁ for acts of the will is dub.

נפשׁ = character is still more dub.

נ׳ in D

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5315 נֶ֫פֶשׁ soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, appetite, emotion, and passion . = that which breathes, the breathing substance or being

. The נפשׁ becomes a living being

. The נפשׁ is specif.

. The נפשׁ as the essential of man stands for the man himself

. נפשׁ = seat of the appetites, in all periods (46 t.)

. נ׳ = seat of emotions and passions

. נפשׁ is used occasionally for mental acts

. נפשׁ for acts of the will is dub.

. נפשׁ = character is still more dub.

. נ׳ in D

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5315 nephesh neh'-fesh

from 5314; properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of

(abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal,

accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or mental):--any,

appetite, beast, body, breath, creature, X dead(-ly), desire,

X (dis-)contented, X fish, ghost, + greedy, he, heart(-y),

(hath, X jeopardy of) life (X in jeopardy), lust, man, me,

mind, mortally, one, own, person, pleasure, (her-, him-, my-,

thy-)self, them (your)-selves, + slay, soul, + tablet, they,

thing, (X she) will, X would have it.

see HEBREW for 05314

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נֶ֫פֶשׁ (ne.phesh) — soul.

1) soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion

1a) that which breathes, the breathing substance or being, soul, the inner being of man

1b) living being

1c) living being (with life in the blood)

1d) the man himself, self, person or individual

1e) seat of the appetites

1f) seat of emotions and passions

1g) activity of mind

1g1) uncertain

1h) activity of the will

1h1) uncertain

1i) activity of the character

1i1) uncertain

נֶ֫פֶשׁ (ne.phesh) — soul: life.

1) soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion

1a) that which breathes, the breathing substance or being, soul, the inner being of man

1b) living being

1c) living being (with life in the blood)

1d) the man himself, self, person or individual

1e) seat of the appetites

1f) seat of emotions and passions

1g) activity of mind

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HR/Ncfsc/Sp1bs — Preposition · noun common feminine singular construct · suffix
HR/Ncfsc/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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