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Psalms 143:3 — Word Study

Depth

WLCכִּ֥י רָ֘דַ֤ף אוֹיֵ֨ב׀ נַפְשִׁ֗י דִּכָּ֣א לָ֭אָרֶץ חַיָּתִ֑י הוֹשִׁיבַ֥נִי בְ֝מַחֲשַׁכִּ֗ים כְּמֵתֵ֥י עוֹלָֽם׃

BSAForkîy the enemyʼôyêb [a person who hates or opposes] has pursuedrâdaph [chased after with hostile intent] my soulnephesh [the essence of my being, my life force] crushingdâkâʼ [bruising, oppressing] my lifechay [my physical and spiritual existence] to the groundʼerets [the earth, a place of darkness and death] making me dwellyâshab [causing me to remain, to sit] in darknessmachshâk [a state of spiritual and emotional gloom, like the dead] like those long sinceʻôwlâm deadmûwth [who have been dead for a long time, without hope]

Word
Listen & take awayPsalms 143
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 3 is in this chapter.
Hebrew ↓ Download MP3 The Masoretic text of this chapter, read aloud. Read by Abraham Shmuelof, courtesy of Audio Scriptures International. Chapter divisions by the Academy of Ancient Languages..
Say the word Each Hebrew word carries its transliteration (o.Lam) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Psalms 143:3quick helps
In a sentenceThe psalmist laments that an enemy has relentlessly pursued him, crushing his spirit and leaving him in a state of despair.
Who is speakingThe psalmist, expressing deep anguish and a sense of being overwhelmed.
Where we areA lamentation in a prayer, seeking relief from distress caused by enemies.
The hard wordדִּכָּא
Take awayThe psalmist feels crushed and abandoned, reflecting a profound sense of hopelessness.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause subjectאָיַב verbרָדַף 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 143:3

Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.

Context — A Lament for Deliverancegenerated

2Do not bring Your servant into judgment, for no one alive is righteous before You.
3For the enemy has pursued my soul, crushing my life to the ground, making me dwell in darkness like those long since dead.
4My spirit grows faint within me; my heart is dismayed inside me.
5I remember the days of old; I meditate on all Your works; I consider the work of Your hands.

Psalm 143:3 expresses the psalmist's deep distress as he feels pursued by an enemy who seeks to destroy him. This verse captures the essence of his suffering, as he feels crushed and enveloped in darkness, akin to those who have long since passed away. The surrounding verses further illustrate his plea for help and remembrance of God's past works, emphasizing his reliance on divine intervention in times of trouble.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Psalm 7:1–2O LORD my God, I take refuge in You; save me and deliver me from all my pursuers,
2Psalm 17:9–13from the wicked who assail me, from my mortal enemies who surround me.
3Psalm 35:4May those who seek my life be disgraced and put to shame; may those who plan to harm me be driven back and confounded.
4Psalm 54:3For strangers rise up against me, and ruthless men seek my life— men with no regard for God. Selah
5Psalm 142:6Listen to my cry, for I am brought quite low. Rescue me from my pursuers, for they are too strong for me.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 11 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word דִּכָּא, di.Ka'generated

The verb דִּכָּא (daka') means to crush or bruise, indicating a severe oppression or injury. It can refer to both physical and emotional states, often used in contexts of suffering or humiliation. The parsing as a Piel verb suggests an active and intensive action, emphasizing the depth of the psalmist's anguish.

In this context, דִּכָּא conveys the psalmist's feeling of being overwhelmed by his enemy's relentless pursuit. It captures the intensity of his emotional and spiritual pain, suggesting that he feels not only physically attacked but also spiritually crushed.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses crushing to convey the severity of the psalmist's suffering.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main verb in the verse is רָדַף (ra.Daf), which means 'he has pursued.' This verb governs the entire clause, indicating the action taken by the enemy. The structure of the sentence shows a sequence of actions: the enemy pursues, crushes, and causes the psalmist to dwell in darkness.

The verse is composed of several phrases: the subject אוֹיֵב ('o.Yev), meaning 'an enemy,' followed by the actions of pursuit and crushing, and concluding with the state of being made to dwell in darkness. This structure emphasizes the relentless nature of the pursuit and the resultant despair.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

In the Septuagint, דִּכָּא is rendered as ἐταπείνωσεν (etapeinōsen), meaning 'he humbled.' This translation suggests a focus on the humiliation aspect of the psalmist's experience, which aligns with the emotional depth of the original Hebrew.

The choice of this Greek word indicates a broader interpretation of the psalmist's suffering, highlighting not just physical oppression but also a spiritual and emotional degradation.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Psalm 143:3 describes the psalmist's cry for help as he feels pursued by an enemy who is crushing his spirit and making him live in darkness. The verse reflects a deep sense of despair and hopelessness, as he likens his situation to that of the dead, emphasizing his need for divine intervention.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean that the enemy has pursued the psalmist's soul?

It signifies that the enemy is actively seeking to destroy the psalmist's very essence and well-being, causing deep emotional and spiritual pain.

How does the psalmist describe his state of being crushed?

He uses the word דִּכָּא to express that he feels not only physically oppressed but also spiritually and emotionally bruised.

What is the significance of dwelling in darkness?

Dwelling in darkness symbolizes a state of despair and hopelessness, akin to being among the dead, indicating a lack of light, hope, or joy.

How does this verse connect to the psalmist's plea for help?

The psalmist's description of his suffering sets the stage for his plea for God's intervention and mercy, highlighting his reliance on divine support in times of trouble.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what ways have I felt pursued by challenges or adversaries in my life?
  2. How can I find hope and light in times of darkness, similar to the psalmist's plea?
  3. What does it mean to me to feel crushed or oppressed, and how can I seek help?
  4. How can I relate to the psalmist's experience of despair and find ways to support others in similar situations?

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

The early Church Fathers often referenced this psalm in discussions of suffering and divine help. Here is a quotation from Augustine of Hippo, who reflects on the psalmist's experience of persecution and humility.

Augustine of HippoExposition on Psalms 143 354–430
"For the enemy has persecuted my soul: he has humbled my life on the earth" [Psalms 143:3]. Here we speak, here our Head speaks for us.
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 143 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Psalms 143:3 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

For the enemy hath persecuted my soul,.... Which is to be connected with Psalms 143:1; and is a reason why he desires his prayer might be answered, seeing his enemy, either Saul, or Absalom his own

Read John Gill on Psalms 143 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; he hath smitten my life down to the ground; he hath made me to dwell in darkness, as those that have been long dead. For the enemy hath persecuted my soul.

Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 143 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

This is not a reason of what he last said, , but an argument to enforce his petition delivered , and repeated , &c. For though I am not faultless, if thou shouldst make an exact search into me, yet mine enemies are more culpable and highly unjust, and therefore I hope for thy help against them, from thy justice as well as mercy. My soul, i.e. my life; for nothing less will satisfy him. He hath smitten my life down to the ground; he hath beaten me down to the ground, where I lie struggling for life. He hath made me to dwell in darkness; he hath forced me to have mine abode in dark vaults and caves, where I am out of sight and memory, and in as forlorn and hopeless a condition in the eye of…

Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 143 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Psalms 143:3 For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; he hath smitten my life down to the ground; he hath made me to dwell in darkness, as those that have been long dead.Ver. 3. For the enemy hath persecuted my soul] Quasi rabie ferali percitus, he hath raged unreasonably. The utmost of a danger is to be related before the Lord in prayer, and to be acknowledged after we are delivered out of it, by way of thankfulness.

Read John Trapp on Psalms 143 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(3) This verse explains the last. The affliction under which the psalmist suffers is evidence that God is visiting for sin. He hath made . . .—See Lamentations 3:6; and comp. Psalms 88:5-6. Long dead.—Literally, either dead of old, or dead for ever, according as we take ‘τlam of past or future time. LXX., νεκροὺςαἰῶνος; Vulg., mortuos sζculi.

Read Charles John Ellicott on Psalms 143 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 3. He hath made me to dwell in darkness] Literally, in dark places. This may be understood of David's taking refuge in caves and dens of the earth, to escape from his persecuting son; yea, even to take refuge in the tombs, or repositories of the dead.

Read AdamClarke on Psalms 143 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

3, 4. The reason for his prayer. The extremity of his present sufferings seems to be a proof that God is calling him to account and punishing him for his sins with strict severity.

Read Cambridge on Psalms 143 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

For the enemy hath persecuted my soul - Has persecuted me; has sought my life. He hath smitten my life down to the ground - He has, as it were, trampled me down to the earth.

Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 143 →

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

For the enemy has pursued my soul, crushing my life to the ground, making me dwell in darkness like those long since dead.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

For the enemy pursues my soul. He has struck my life down to the ground. He has made me live in dark places, as those who have been long dead.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

For the enemy has pursued my soul, crushing my life to the ground, making me dwell in darkness like those long since dead.

NETBNew English Translation2006

Certainly my enemies chase me. They smash me into the ground. They force me to live in dark regions, like those who have been dead for ages.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; he hath smitten my life down to the ground; he hath made me to dwell in darkness, as those that have been long dead.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; He hath smitten my life down to the ground: He hath made me to dwell in dark places, as those that have been long dead.

RVARevised Version, American1894

For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; he hath smitten my life down to the ground: he hath made me to dwell in dark places, as those that have been long dead.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; he hath smitten my life down to the ground; he hath made me to dwell in darkness, as those that have been long dead.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

For the enemie hath persecuted my soule: he hath smitten my life downe to the earth: he hath layde me in the darkenes, as they that haue bene dead long agoe:

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

For the enemy persecuteth my soul: he hath crushed my life down to the earth; he hath made me to dwell in dark places, as those that have been long dead.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

For an enemy hath pursued my soul, He hath bruised to the earth my life, He hath caused me to dwell in dark places, As the dead of old.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

For an enemy has pursued my soul, || He has bruised my life to the earth, || He has caused me to dwell in dark places, || As the dead of old.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

For the enemy hath pursued my soul; he hath crushed to the ground my life; he hath made me dwell in darkness, as those that are dead eternally.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

The enemy has pursued my soul; he has crushed me to the ground; he has made me to live in darkness like those who have been dead a long time.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

Lord, what is man, that thou art made known to him? or the son of man, that thou makest account of him?

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

The enemy has chased me down. He crushes me to the ground. He makes me live in darkness like those who died a long time ago.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

The evil man has gone after my soul; my life is crushed down to the earth: he has put me in the dark, like those who have long been dead.

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.

כִּ֥י(dm)clauseverbרָ֘דַ֤ףhe.has.pursuedsubjectאוֹיֵ֨בan.enemynoun phrase · objectנַפְשִׁ֗selfיmyclauseverbדִּכָּ֣אhe.has.crushedprepositional phrase · prepositionalלָ֭tonoun phrasetheאָרֶץgroundnoun phrase · objectחַיָּתִ֑lifeיmyclauseverbהוֹשִׁיבַ֥heobjectנִיhas.caused.me.to.dwellprepositional phrase · prepositionalבְ֝inמַחֲשַׁכִּ֗יםdark.placesprepositional phrase · prepositionalכְּlikenoun phraseמֵתֵ֥יdead.[people]עוֹלָֽםof.antiquity

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


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

The Masoretic Text of Psalms 143:3 reads: 'For the enemy has pursued my soul, crushing my life to the ground, making me dwell in darkness like those long since dead.' The Septuagint agrees with the Masoretic Text in its word-by-word correspondence, although it presents the words in a different order and includes its own articles. The Dead Sea Scrolls, specifically 11Q5, also align closely with the Masoretic Text, maintaining the same wording and meaning. However, 4Q97 contains only partial text, with some words restored by an editor, which indicates that while it shares the same overall content, it is not as complete as the other witnesses. Overall, the primary differences arise from the completeness of the texts rather than the content itself, as they all convey the same essential message.

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

כִּ֥י רָ֘דַ֤ף אוֹיֵ֨ב׀ נַפְשִׁ֗י דִּכָּ֣א לָ֭אָרֶץ חַיָּתִ֑י הוֹשִׁיבַ֥נִי בְ֝מַחֲשַׁכִּ֗ים כְּמֵתֵ֥י עוֹלָֽם׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
כִּ֥יὅτιרָ֘דַ֤ףκατεδίωχενאוֹיֵ֨ב׀ἐξθρὸςנַפְשִׁ֗יμουדִּכָּ֣אἐταπείνωσενלָ֭אָרֶץγῆνחַיָּתִ֑יμουהוֹשִׁיבַ֥נִיμεבְ֝מַחֲשַׁכִּ֗יםσκοτεινοῖςכְּמֵתֵ֥יνεκροὺςעוֹלָֽם׃αἰῶνος

11 of the 11 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

כי ירדוף אויב נפש׳י דכאה לארץ חית׳י הושיב׳ני במחשכים כמיתי עולם

11 words on the leather.

Dead Sea Scrolls — 4Q97a copy a thousand years older than the Leningrad Codex

[כי] [רדף] [אויב] [נפש׳י] [דכא] [לארץ] חית׳י הושיב׳ני מחשכים [כמתי] [עולם]

2 words on the leather — 1 partly restored, 8 supplied entire by an editor.

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


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

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

Psalms 143:3כִּיforforכִּירָדַףhe has purshe has pursuedרָדַףאָיַבan enemyan enemyאָיַבנֶ֫פֶשׁself myself myנֶ֫פֶשׁדָּכָאhe has crushe has crushedדָּכָאאֶ֫רֶץto the grouto the groundאֶ֫רֶץחַיlife mylife myחַייָשַׁבhe has caushe has caused tיָשַׁבמַחְשָׁךְin dark plain dark placesמַחְשָׁךְמוּתlike dead [like dead [peopמוּתעוֹלָםantiquityantiquityעוֹלָםנָפַשׁbe refreshbe refreshedנָפַשׁחָיָהto liveto liveחָיָהחָשַׁךְto darkento darkenחָשַׁךְעָלַםto concealto concealעָלַםאָיַבbe hostilebe hostileאָיַבדָּכָהto crushto crushדָּכָהיָדַעto knowto knowיָדַענָשַׂגto overtakto overtakeנָשַׂגאַחַרafterafterאַחַרצַרnarrownarrowצַרשָׂנֵאto hateto hateשָׂנֵאבָּקַשׁto seekto seekבָּקַשׁחַיalivealiveחַיעָנִיafflictedafflictedעָנִיזְרוֹעַarmarmזְרוֹעַכְּנַ֫עַןCanaanCanaanכְּנַ֫עַןמִצְרַ֫יִם(Sea of) E(Sea of) Egyptמִצְרַ֫יִםעוֹףbirdbirdעוֹף
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 143:3

One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.

Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.

for he has pursued an enemy self my he has crushed to the ground life my he has caused to dwell me in dark places like dead [people] of antiquity
כִּ֥יki for H3588 Particle
4,483× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A conjunction used to show cause or connection, as in Genesis 2:23 where Adam says the woman is bone of his bone because she was taken out of him. It is often translated as 'for', 'because', or 'since'.
Tyndale gloss
for
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כִּי conj. that, for, when

that

Of time, when, of the past

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

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

Because, since

base

כִּי אם־

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

that if

for if

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

limiting the prec. clause, except

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

after an oath, surely

base

כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3588a כִּי that, for, when . that

. . Of time, when, of the past

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

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

. Because, since

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

. for if

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

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

. after an oath, surely

H3588c כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3588 kiy kee

a primitive particle (the full form of the prepositional

prefix) indicating causal relations of all kinds, antecedent

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

whether, while, whom, yea, yet.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כִּי (ki) — for.

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

1a) that

1a1) yea, indeed

1b) when (of time)

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

1c) because, since (causal connection)

1d) but (after negative)

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

1f) but rather, but

1g) except that

1h) only, nevertheless

1i) surely

1j) that is

1k) but if

1l) for though

1m) forasmuch as, for therefore

כִּי [אם] (ki im) — that if: except.

1) except if

1a) but if

1b) even though

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

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

1a) that

1a1) yea, indeed

1b) when (of time)

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

1c) because, since (causal connection)

1d) but (after negative)

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

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

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

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
for he has pursued an enemy self my he has crushed to the ground life my he has caused to dwell me in dark places like dead [people] of antiquity
רָ֘דַ֤ףra.Daf he has pursued H7291 Verb · Qal · perfect third person masculine singular
143× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To pursue or chase after someone means to follow them with hostile intent. This can be a physical pursuit or a pursuit of someone's life or well-being, as seen in many biblical stories.
Amplified meaning
chased after with hostile intent
Tyndale gloss
to pursue
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

רָדַף (radaph) is a Hebrew verb meaning to pursue, chase, or persecute. It conveys the idea of running after something, often with hostile intent, and can also figuratively refer to following time or securing something. The word has various forms, including Qal, Niphal, Piel, Pual, and Hiphil, each indicating different nuances of pursuit or being pursued.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

רָדַף 141 vb. pursue, chase, persecute

Qal 128

pursue

lit. put to flight, chase

lit., the pursuers

chase, hunt

pursue

fig. persecute, harass

pursue, dog

fig. follow after, aim to secure

Niph. upon the neck (i.e. closely) we are pursued

Pi. pursue ardently

Pu. it shall be chased away like chaff of the mountains

Hiph. usu. they chased him

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7291 רָדַף pursue, chase, persecute

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7291 radaph raw-daf'

a primitive root; to run after (usually with hostile intent;

figuratively (of time) gone by):--chase, put to flight,

follow (after, on), hunt, (be under) persecute(-ion, -or),

pursue(-r).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

רָדַף (ra.daph) — to pursue.

1) to be behind, follow after, pursue, persecute, run after

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to pursue, put to flight, chase, dog, attend closely upon

1a2) to persecute, harass (fig)

1a3) to follow after, aim to secure (fig)

1a4) to run after (a bribe) (fig)

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be pursued

1b2) one pursued (participle)

1c) (Piel) to pursue ardently, aim eagerly to secure, pursue

1d) (Pual) to be pursued, be chased away

1e) (Hiphil) to pursue, chase

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Perf-3ms — Verb · Qal · perfect third person masculine singular
HVqp3ms
for he has pursued an enemy self my he has crushed to the ground life my he has caused to dwell me in dark places like dead [people] of antiquity
אוֹיֵ֨ב׀'o.Yev an enemy H341 Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine singular
283× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means enemy or adversary, referring to someone who hates or opposes another person or nation. It is used to describe personal or national enemies in the Bible.
Amplified meaning
a person who hates or opposes
Tyndale gloss
enemy
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אֹיֵב (oyeb) means 'enemy' or 'foe,' indicating hostility. It can refer to personal or national adversaries. The word is derived from the active participle of another root, אָיַב (ayab), which also conveys the sense of being hostile.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[אָיַב] 283 vb. be hostile to (enemy = אֹיֵב)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H341 אָיַב be hostile to (enemy = אֹיֵב)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

341 'oyeb o-yabe'

or (fully) owyeb {o-yabe'}; active participle of 340;

hating; an adversary:--enemy, foe.

see HEBREW for 0340

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֹיֵב (o.yev) — enemy.

1) (Qal) enemy

1a) personal

1b) national

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal — Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine singular
HVqrmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

en'-e-mi ('oyebh, tsar, tsar; echthros):

"Enemy," "enemies," are frequent words in the Old Testament. The Hebrew word most often so translated is 'oyebh, meaning perhaps literally, "one who hates"; very frequent in the Psalms, eg. 3:7; 6:10; 7:5; 8:2; 9:3,1; 13:2, where the cry is often for deliverance from enemies. Another word for "enemy," found chiefly in the poetical books, is tsar, or tsar, "distresser," "straitener" (Nu 10:9; Job 16:9; Ps 27:2,12, the Revised Version (British and American) "adversary," etc.); also tsarar (Es 3:10; Ps 8:2; 10:5 the King James Version, etc.). Other words are `ar, "one awake" (

Nave's Topical Bible

→ General scriptures concerning Ex 23:5; Job 31:29,30; Ps 35:1-28; Pr 24:17,18; 25:21,22; Mt 5:43-48; Lu 6:27-36; Ro 12:14,20

→ The wickedness of David's Ps 56:5; 57:4,6; 62:4; 69:4,9; 71:10; 102:8; 109:2-5; 129:1-3

→ His imprecations against

See PRAYER, IMPRECATORY

→ Instances of forgiveness of

David, of Absalom, and co-conspirators 2Sa 19:6,12,13

for he has pursued an enemy self my he has crushed to the ground life my he has caused to dwell me in dark places like dead [people] of antiquity
נַפְשִׁ֗יnaf.Shi self my H5315 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.
Amplified meaning
the essence of my being, my life force
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
N-cs | Suff — Noun common feminine singular construct · suffix
HNcfsc/Sp1bs
for he has pursued an enemy self my he has crushed to the ground life my he has caused to dwell me in dark places like dead [people] of antiquity
דִּכָּ֣אdi.Ka' he has crushed H1792 Verb · Piel · perfect third person masculine singular
18× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This verb means to crush or bruise something, and can be used literally or figuratively. It is often translated as 'crush', 'bruise', or 'oppress' in English Bibles.
Amplified meaning
bruising, oppressing
Tyndale gloss
to crush
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

דָּכָא (daka') is a Hebrew verb meaning to crush or be crushed. It encompasses various forms, indicating actions like bruising, breaking, and being contrite. The entries highlight its use in different grammatical aspects, such as the Niphal (to be crushed) and Piel (to crush). The word conveys both literal and figurative senses of destruction and humility.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[דָּכָא] vb. crush, poet.

not in Qal;Niph. crushed, fig. = contrite ones

Pi. crush

Pu. crushed, broken in pieces, shattered

Hithp. crushed

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1792 דָּכָא crush poet. . crushed, fig. = contrite ones

. crush

. crushed, broken in pieces, shattered

. crushed

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1792 daka' daw-kaw'

a primitive root (compare 1794); to crumble; transitively, to

bruise (literally or figuratively):--beat to pieces, break (in

pieces), bruise, contrite, crush, destroy, humble, oppress,

smite.

see HEBREW for 01794

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

דָּכָא (da.kah) — to crush.

1) to crush, be crushed, be contrite, be broken

1a) (Niphal)

1a1) to be crushed

1a2) to be contrite (fig.)

1b) (Piel) to crush

1c) (Pual)

1c1) to be crushed, be shattered

1c2) to be made contrite

1d) (Hithpael) to allow oneself to be crushed

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Piel-Perf-3ms — Verb · Piel · perfect third person masculine singular
HVpp3ms
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
for he has pursued an enemy self my he has crushed to the ground life my he has caused to dwell me in dark places like dead [people] of antiquity
לָ֭אָרֶץLa.'a.retz to the ground H776 Preposition · noun common feminine singular absolute
2,504× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The land or earth refers to the soil or ground, and can also mean a country, territory, or region. In the Bible, it is used to describe the earth and its inhabitants, and is often translated as 'land' or 'country'.
Amplified meaning
the earth, a place of darkness and death
Tyndale gloss
land: soil
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אֶ֫רֶץ (erets) is a feminine noun meaning 'earth' or 'land.' It encompasses various meanings, including the whole earth, specific territories like Canaan, and even inhabitants of the land. It can refer to soil, ground, or regions, and is used in phrases related to distance and the living. There is a note on the plural form אֲרָצוֹת, which mainly appears in later texts to denote multiple lands.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֶ֫רֶץ n. f. & (seld.) m. earth, land

earth, whole earth (opp. to a part)

earth, opp. to heaven, sky

earth = inhabitants of earth

land =

country, territory

district, region

trial territory

piece of ground

specif. land of Canaan, or Israel

= inhabitants of land

used even of Shᵉʼôl

ground, surface of ground

soil, as productive

אֶרֶץ in phrases

people of the land

in measurements of distance

the country of the plain, level or plain country

land of the living

end(s) of the earth

pl. אֲרָצוֹת is almost wholly late; it denotes lands, countries, often in contrast to Canaan, lands of the nations, etc.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H776 אֶ֫רֶץ n. f. & (seld.) m. earth, land . . earth, whole earth (opp. to a part)

. earth, opp. to heaven, sky

. earth = inhabitants of earth

. land = . country, territory

. district, region

. trial territory

. piece of ground

. specif. land of Canaan, or Israel

. = inhabitants of land

. used even of Shᵉʼôl

. . ground, surface of ground

. soil, as productive

. אֶרֶץ in phrases . people of the land

. in measurements of distance

. the country of the plain, level or plain country

. land of the living

. end(s) of the earth

. pl. אֲרָצוֹת is almost wholly late; it denotes lands, countries, often in contrast to Canaan, lands of the nations, etc.

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

776 'erets eh'-rets

from an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth

(at large, or partitively a land):--X common, country, earth,

field, ground, land, X natins, way, + wilderness, world.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֶ֫רֶץ (e.rets) — land: country/planet.

: country/field

1) land, earth

1a) earth

1a1) whole earth (as opposed to a part)

1a2) earth (as opposed to heaven)

1a3) earth (inhabitants)

1b) land

1b1) country, territory

1b2) district, region

1b3) tribal territory

1b4) piece of ground

1b5) land of Canaan, Israel

1b6) inhabitants of land

1b7) Sheol, land without return, (under) world

1b8) city (-state)

1c) ground, surface of the earth

1c1) ground

1c2) soil

1d) (in phrases)

1d1) people of the land

1d2) space or distance of country (in measurements of distance)

1d3) level or plain country

1d4) land of the living

1d5) end(s) of the earth

1e) (almost wholly late in usage)

1e1) lands, countries

1e1a) often in contrast to Canaan

אֶ֫רֶץ (e.rets) — land: soil.

: soil

1) land, earth

1a) earth

1a1) whole earth (as opposed to a part)

1a2) earth (as opposed to heaven)

1a3) earth (inhabitants)

1b) land

1b1) country, territory

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-cs — Preposition · noun common feminine singular absolute
HRd/Ncfsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Nave's Topical Bible

→ Man made from Ge 2:7; 3:19,23; Job 4:19; 33:6

→ Animals made from Ge 2:19

→ Vegetables come from Ge 2:9

→ Cursed Ge 3:17; 5:29

for he has pursued an enemy self my he has crushed to the ground life my he has caused to dwell me in dark places like dead [people] of antiquity
חַיָּתִ֑יchai.ya.Ti life my H2416 Noun common feminine singular construct · suffix
498× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this word means life or being alive. It can refer to physical life, like in Genesis 1:20, or spiritual life, like in Psalm 30:5.
Amplified meaning
my physical and spiritual existence
Tyndale gloss
alive
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word חַי (*chay*) means 'alive' or 'living' and covers a range of meanings related to life, including living beings, vitality, and freshness. It can refer to God, animals, vegetation, and even concepts like appetite and community. Variants include חַיָּה (*chayyah*), meaning 'living thing' or 'animal,' and חַיִּים (*chayim*), which emphasizes life and sustenance.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

חַי adj. alive, living

of God, as the living one, the fountain of life

of man

of animals, alive, living

animals and man

(dub.) of vegetation, as thorns, green

of water, fresh

(dub.) lively, active

reviving

base

[חַי] n.[m.] kinsfolk, pl. sf. 1 S 18:18

ref

חַיָּה n.f. living thing, animal

animal

in general

wild animals, on account of their vital energy and activity

living beings, of the cherubic chariot

life, only in late poetry

appetite, activity of hunger

revival, renewal

base

חַיָּה n.f. community

base

חַיִּים n.m. pl. abstr. emph. life

life: physical

life: as welfare and happiness in king's presence

sustenance, maintenance

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2416a חַי alive, living . . of God, as the living one, the fountain of life

. of man

. of animals, alive, living

. animals and man

. (dub.) of vegetation, as thorns, green

. of water, fresh

. (dub.) lively, active

. reviving

H2416b חַי kinsfolk H2416c חַיָּה living thing, animal . animal . in general

. wild animals, on account of their vital energy and activity

. living beings, of the cherubic chariot

. life, only in late poetry

. appetite, activity of hunger

. revival, renewal

H2416d חַיָּה community H2416e חַיִּים pl. abstr. emph. life . life: physical

. life: as welfare and happiness in king's presence

. sustenance, maintenance

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2416 chay khah'-ee

from 2421; alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water,

year), strong; also (as noun, especially in the feminine

singular and masculine plural) life (or living thing), whether

literally or figuratively:--+ age, alive, appetite, (wild)

beast, company, congregation, life(-time), live(-ly), living

(creature, thing), maintenance, + merry, multitude, + (be)

old, quick, raw, running, springing, troop.

see HEBREW for 02421

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חַי (chay) — alive.

adj

1) living, alive

1a) green (of vegetation)

1b) flowing, fresh (of water)

1c) lively, active (of man)

1d) reviving (of the springtime)

Aramaic equivalent: chay (חַי "living" H2417)

חַי (chay) — kinsfolk.

kinsfolk

חַיָּה (chay.yah) — living thing.

1) living thing, animal

1a) animal

1b) life

1c) appetite

1d) revival, renewal

Aramaic equivalent: che.va (חֵיוָא "beast" H2423)

חַיָּה (chay.yah) — community.

community

חַיִּים (chay.yim) — life.

1) life (abstract emphatic)

1a) life

1b) sustenance, maintenance

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fs | Suff — Noun common feminine singular construct · suffix
HNcfsc/Sp1bs
for he has pursued an enemy self my he has crushed to the ground life my he has caused to dwell me in dark places like dead [people] of antiquity
הוֹשִׁיבַ֥נִיho.shi.Va.ni he has caused to dwell me H3427 Verb hiphil perfect third person masculine singular · suffix
1,079× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This verb means to sit or dwell, and can also mean to remain or abide. It's used in the Bible to describe people living in a place or staying with someone, like in the book of Genesis.
Amplified meaning
causing me to remain, to sit
Tyndale gloss
to dwell
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יָשַׁב (yashab) is a Hebrew verb meaning to sit, remain, or dwell. It encompasses a range of actions from simply sitting down to more complex ideas like establishing a home or causing a place to be inhabited. The entries indicate various forms, including Qal (to sit), Niphal (to be inhabited), and Hiphil (to cause to dwell). There is an Aramaic equivalent, יְתִב (ye.tiv), meaning 'to dwell'.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יָשַׁב 1090 vb. sit, remain, dwell

Qal

sit

sit, sit down

sit down

sit = be set (as a jewel)

remain, stay, tarry

with special emphasis of qualifying phr.

dwell, have one’s abode

of a land or city, sit, abide, seated in its place, fig. for be inhabited

Niph. be inhabited, of land

Pi. and they shall set their encampments in thee

Hiph.

cause to sit

cause to abide

cause to dwell

cause cities to be inhabited

marry (prop. give a dwelling to)

Hoph. and ye be made to dwell alone in the midst of the land

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3427 יָשַׁב sit, remain, dwell

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3427 yashab yaw-shab'

a primitive root; properly, to sit down (specifically as

judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to

remain; causatively, to settle, to marry:--(make to)

abide(-ing), continue, (cause to, make to) dwell(-ing), ease

self, endure, establish, X fail, habitation, haunt, (make to)

inhabit(-ant), make to keep (house), lurking, X marry(-ing),

(bring again to) place, remain, return, seat, set(- tle),

(down-)sit(-down, still, -ting down, -ting (place) -uate),

take, tarry.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יָשַׁב (ya.shav) — to dwell.

1) to dwell, remain, sit, abide

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to sit, sit down

1a2) to be set

1a3) to remain, stay

1a4) to dwell, have one's abode

1b) (Niphal) to be inhabited

1c) (Piel) to set, place

1d) (Hiphil)

1d1) to cause to sit

1d2) to cause to abide, set

1d3) to cause to dwell

1d4) to cause (cities) to be inhabited

1d5) to marry (give an dwelling to)

1e) (Hophal)

1e1) to be inhabited

1e2) to make to dwell

Aramaic equivalent: ye.tiv (יְתִב "to dwell" H3488)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Hiphil-Perf-3ms | Suff — Verb hiphil perfect third person masculine singular · suffix
HVhp3ms/Sp1bs
for he has pursued an enemy self my he has crushed to the ground life my he has caused to dwell me in dark places like dead [people] of antiquity
בְ֝מַחֲשַׁכִּ֗יםve.ma.cha.sha.Kim in dark places H4285 Preposition · noun common masculine plural absolute
7× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means darkness, either literal or figurative, and can refer to a physical place or a state of being. It appears in several places in the Bible, including Psalm 23:4 and Isaiah 9:2, where it is used to describe a lack of light or understanding.
Amplified meaning
a state of spiritual and emotional gloom, like the dead
Tyndale gloss
darkness
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מַחְשָׁךְ (machshak) refers to a dark place or darkness, often used poetically. It is derived from the root meaning darkness and can imply secrecy or a hiding place, including metaphorical uses like the grave. The Aramaic equivalent is חֲשׁוֹךְ (cha.shokh), also meaning darkness.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מַחְשָׁךְ n.m. dark place (poet.)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4285 מַחְשָׁךְ dark place (poet.)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4285 machshak makh-shawk'

from 2821; darkness; concretely, a dark place:--dark(-ness,

place).

see HEBREW for 02821

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מַחְשָׁךְ (mach.shakh) — darkness.

1) darkness, dark place, secrecy

1a) hiding-place

1b) dark region

1c) grave

Aramaic equivalent: cha.shokh (חֲשׁוֹךְ "darkness" H2816)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-mp — Preposition · noun common masculine plural absolute
HR/Ncmpa
for he has pursued an enemy self my he has crushed to the ground life my he has caused to dwell me in dark places like dead [people] of antiquity
כְּמֵתֵ֥יke.me.Tei like dead [people] of H4191 Preposition · verb qal participle (active) masculine plural common
840× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means to die, either literally or as a punishment, and is used in books like Genesis and Exodus. It can also mean to perish or be killed. This concept is seen in the story of Adam and Eve, where death enters the world as a result of sin.
Amplified meaning
who have been dead for a long time, without hope
Tyndale gloss
to die
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מוּת (mūth) is a Hebrew verb meaning 'to die' or 'to kill.' It encompasses a range of meanings from dying naturally to being executed as a penalty. The word can refer to both humans and animals, and it includes various forms such as causing death or being killed. There is a distinction in usage based on the subject, whether it is a person or God inflicting death.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מוּת vb. die

Qal

die, of natural or other causes

die as a penalty = be put to death

Po‛lel. kill, put to death, despatch (intens.)

Hiph.

abs., elsewhere c. acc., subj. man

subj. God, by inflicting penalty

of animals killing men

bring to a premature death

Hoph. be killed, put to death

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4191 מוּת die .. die, of natural or other causes

. die as a penalty = be put to death

. kill, put to death, despatch (intens.)

. . abs., elsewhere c. acc., subj. man

. subj. God, by inflicting penalty

. of animals killing men

. bring to a premature death

. be killed, put to death

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4191 muwth mooth

a primitive root: to die (literally or figuratively);

causatively, to kill:--X at all, X crying, (be) dead (body,

man, one), (put to, worthy of) death, destroy(-er), (cause to,

be like to, must) die, kill, necro(-mancer), X must needs,

slay, X surely, X very suddenly, X in (no) wise.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מוּת (mut) — to die.

1) to die, kill, have one executed

1a)(Qal)

1a1) to die

1a2) to die (as penalty), be put to death

1a3) to die, perish (of a nation)

1a4) to die prematurely (by neglect of wise moral conduct)

1b) (Polel) to kill, put to death, dispatch

1c) (Hiphil) to kill, put to death

1d) (Hophal)

1d1) to be killed, be put to death

1d1a) to die prematurely

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | V-Qal — Preposition · verb qal participle (active) masculine plural common
HR/Vqrmpc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ov:

(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.

English usagewhat the translators’ English meant
Webster's Dictionary (1828), Webster's Unabridged (1913), Webster's Dictionary (1806)

OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]

1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.

I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.

For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.

It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.

Lamentations 3:1.

The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.

Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.

That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.

Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…

for he has pursued an enemy self my he has crushed to the ground life my he has caused to dwell me in dark places like dead [people] of antiquity
עוֹלָֽם׃o.Lam antiquity H5769 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
438× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means forever or always, describing something that lasts an eternity. It is used in the Bible to describe God's eternal nature and his lasting promises.
Tyndale gloss
forever: antiquity
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

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

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5769 עוֹלָם long duration, antiquity, futurity

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5769 `owlam o-lawm'

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(+ without end). Compare 5331, 5703.

see HEBREW for 05956

see HEBREW for 05331

see HEBREW for 05703

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עוֹלָם (o.lam) — forever: enduring.

: enduring/eternal

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

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

1b) (of future)

1b1) for ever, always

1b2) continuous existence, perpetual

1b3) everlasting, indefinite or unending future, eternity

עוֹלָם (o.lam) — Everlasting.

This name means long duration, everlasting, perpetual

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

עוֹלָם (o.lam) — forever: any time.

: any_time

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

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

1b) (of future)

1b1) for ever, always

1b2) continuous existence, perpetual

1b3) everlasting, indefinite or unending future, eternity

עוֹלָם (o.lam) — forever: antiquity.

: old/ancient

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absolute
HNcmsa
Sources on this page. Lexicons and dictionaries imported from the CrossWire SWORD modules — Abbott-Smith, Strong's, Dodson, the Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones, Robinson and Packard, Webster and Cawdrey. Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (Harper, 1889 — Grimm’s Wilke’s Clavis Novi Testamenti, translated, revised and enlarged by Joseph Henry Thayer) is public domain and is set here from the Internet Archive page scan greekenglishlex00grim; it is uncorrected OCR, marked as such on the entry itself, and the Strong’s numbers — which Thayer’s own edition does not carry — were matched by lemma against the other modules on this page. Trench’s Synonyms of the New Testament (Macmillan, 1880) and Moulton and Milligan’s Vocabulary of the Greek Testament (Hodder & Stoughton, 1930, which entered the United States public domain on 1 January 2026) are set from Internet Archive page scans synonymsofnewtes00treniala and vocabularyofgree00mouluoft, and are likewise uncorrected OCR matched to Strong’s numbers by lemma. Trench treats a group of words at once, so the same essay stands on the page of each word it compares. The Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary is © 1993 and is used here by permission for non-commercial use, www.teknia.com/greek-dictionary. The full Liddell-Scott-Jones and the Hebrew word data (TAHOT) come from STEPBible.org, CC BY 4.0. Brown-Driver-Briggs is the OpenScriptures digitisation, public domain. Syntax analysis is the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (biblicalhumanities.org); the concordance and morphology are built from the tagged Nestle 1904 text. Septuagint occurrences use the Open Scriptures Septuagint lemma index, derived from CCAT (University of Pennsylvania) and the Rahlfs 1935 dataset by Eliran Wong, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 — used here on a non-commercial ministry site. Greek of Josephus and Barnabas from the Perseus Digital Library, CC BY-SA 4.0. Commentaries and the Ante-Nicene Fathers are public-domain texts hosted on this site. Everyday Greek from the Duke Databank of Documentary Papyri, CC BY 3.0, with dates and provenance from the Heidelberger Gesamtverzeichnis. Philo and the Apostolic Fathers from Open Greek and Latin (First1KGreek), CC BY-SA 4.0. The apparatus and the fifth Greek column are the SBL Greek New Testament, © 2010 SBL and Logos Bible Software, CC BY 4.0. The Latin is the Clementine Vulgate (public domain); the Syriac New Testament is the ETCBC edition (MIT licence). The Hebrew behind the Greek is computed here from the Septuagint index and TAHOT, not taken from any aligned edition. The translation spread and the per-word edition marks come from the Translators Amalgamated Greek NT (STEPBible, CC BY 4.0); clause roles from the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (CC BY-SA 4.0); place identifications and their confidence from OpenBible.info Bible Geocoding (CC BY 4.0), with map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors. Gospel parallels are computed here from shared uncommon vocabulary, not taken from any printed harmony. Cross references are the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and the subject headings are Nave’s Topical Bible, both public domain. Works under Creative Commons licences are used unchanged apart from markup removal.

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