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Psalms 17:12 — Word Study

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WLCדִּמְיֹנ֗וֹ כְּ֭אַרְיֵה יִכְס֣וֹף לִטְר֑וֹף וְ֝כִכְפִ֗יר יֹשֵׁ֥ב בְּמִסְתָּרִֽים׃

BSAlike a lionʼărîy [greedy of his prey, desirous to tear] greedykâçaph for preyṭâraph like a young lionkᵉphîyr [lurking in secret places, dwelling in hiding] lurkingyâshab in ambushmiçtâr

Word
Listen & take awayPsalms 17
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 12 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 (be.mis.ta.Rim) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Psalms 17:12quick helps
In a sentenceThe psalmist compares his enemies to lions, expressing their fierce desire to attack.
Who is speakingThe psalmist, who feels surrounded by adversaries.
Where we areIn a prayer for deliverance, the psalmist vividly describes the threat posed by his enemies.
The hard wordדִּמְיֹנ֗וֹ
Take awayThe imagery of lions underscores the danger and ferocity of the psalmist's foes.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbכָּסַף The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
How rare are these words?in the Old Testament

1 of 7 occurs nowhere else in the Old Testament — a word chosen on purpose.

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 17:12

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

Context — A Prayer for Deliverancegenerated

11They have tracked us down, and now surround us; their eyes are set to cast us to the ground,
12like a lion greedy for prey, like a young lion lurking in ambush.
13Arise, O LORD, confront them! Bring them to their knees; deliver me from the wicked by Your sword,
14from such men, O LORD, by Your hand— from men of the world whose portion is in this life. May You fill the bellies of Your treasured ones and satisfy their sons, so they leave their abundance to their children.

Psalm 17:12 describes the psalmist's feeling of being hunted by enemies who are likened to lions. This imagery emphasizes their predatory nature and the psalmist's vulnerability. The surrounding verses depict a plea for God’s intervention against these fierce adversaries, highlighting the contrast between the psalmist's reliance on God and the aggression of his foes.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Psalm 7:2or they will shred my soul like a lion and tear me to pieces with no one to rescue me.
2Psalm 22:13They open their jaws against me like lions that roar and maul.
32 Timothy 4:17But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message would be fully proclaimed, and all the Gentiles would hear it. So I was delivered from the mouth of the lion.
41 Peter 5:8Be sober-minded and alert. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 4 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word דִּמְיֹנ֗וֹ, dim.yo.Nogenerated

The word דִּמְיֹן (dimyon) means 'likeness' or 'resemblance.' It is a noun in the feminine singular construct form, indicating possession or association, as seen in this context where it refers to the likeness of the lion.

The construction here emphasizes the psalmist's comparison of his enemies to lions, suggesting a ferocious and predatory nature. This word choice sets the tone for the vivid imagery that follows, enhancing the emotional weight of the psalmist's plea.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

The translations generally agree on the imagery presented in this verse.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The finite verb יִכְס֣וֹף (yikhsof), meaning 'longs,' governs the entire verse. It is supported by two prepositional phrases that describe the subjects of the longing: כְּ֭אַרְיֵה (ke'aryeh) and וְ֝כִכְפִ֗יר (ve'khikhfir), both referring to lions.

The structure emphasizes the psalmist's perspective on his enemies, portraying them as dangerous predators. The word order highlights the intensity of the longing and the lurking nature of the young lion.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates כְּאַרְיֵה as λέων (leōn), which means 'lion.' This choice aligns with the Hebrew meaning, retaining the imagery of strength and ferocity.

For וְ֝כִכְפִ֗יר, the Septuagint uses σκύμνος (skymnos), referring to a young lion. This translation preserves the original intent of depicting a young lion's stealthy behavior.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Psalm 17:12 compares the psalmist's enemies to lions. The imagery of a lion greedy for prey and a young lion lurking in ambush illustrates the danger posed by these adversaries. The psalmist expresses a deep desire for God's protection from these fierce threats.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does the psalmist mean by comparing his enemies to lions?

The psalmist uses this imagery to convey the ferocity and predatory nature of his enemies, suggesting they are dangerous and relentless in their pursuit.

Why does the psalmist feel threatened?

The psalmist feels surrounded and hunted by his enemies, which leads him to cry out for God's deliverance and protection.

How does this imagery affect the understanding of the psalm?

The lion imagery heightens the sense of urgency and danger in the psalm, making the plea for help more poignant and desperate.

What can we learn from the psalmist's prayer?

The psalmist's prayer teaches us to seek God's help in times of trouble and to express our fears and vulnerabilities honestly.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. How do I respond to challenges in my life that feel overwhelming, like the psalmist?
  2. What images or metaphors resonate with me when I think about my own struggles?
  3. In what ways can I seek God's protection and guidance during difficult times?
  4. How can I support others who may feel surrounded by their own 'lions'?

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

Early commentators reflect on this verse, noting how the imagery of lions relates to spiritual struggles and the need for divine assistance.

Evagrius PonticusNOTES ON THE Psalms 16[17].12 345–399
Through impure thoughts our adversary like a lion overcomes our mind.
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 17 →
Hesychius of JerusalemLARGE COMMENTARY ON Psalms 17:9 d. after 451
The demons surround our mind and try to entangle it like a wild beast, … and the richest baits are sinners who themselves have been allured by desires.
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 17 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Psalms 17:12 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

Like as a lion [that] is greedy of his prey,.... Or "the likeness of him is as a lion" (i); meaning Saul, as Kimchi interprets it; or everyone of them that compassed them about, as Aben Ezra

Read John Gill on Psalms 17 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

Like as a lion that is greedy of his prey, and as it were a young lion lurking in secret places.

Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 17 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Like a lion that is greedy of his prey; when he is hungry, and therefore cruel. See 10:8-10.

Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 17 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Psalms 17:12 Like as a lion [that] is greedy of his prey, and as it were a young lion lurking in secret places.Ver. 12. Like as a lion that is greedy, &c.] Cruelty and craft are conjoined in the Church’ s enemies; as the ape never wandereth alone, they say, without his companion. David here pointeth out some one special enemy (Saul likely), who should have been a shepherd, but proved a lion. As a young lion lurking] Therefore as we tender our safety, keep close to God, out of whose hands none can take us, no, not the roaring lion of hell.

Read John Trapp on Psalms 17 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(12) Young lion.—Heb., kephir. The Hebrew has seven different names for the lion. Milton’s description of Satan naturally recurs to the reader— “About them round A lion now he stalks with fiery glare.”

Read Charles John Ellicott on Psalms 17 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 12. Like as a lion that is greedy of his prey] I believe the word lion is here used to express Saul in his strength, kingly power, and fierce rapacity. See the observations at the end of the Psalm. See Clarke on Psalms 17:15.

Read AdamClarke on Psalms 17 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

12. Like as a lion &c.] Lit., He is like a lion that is greedy to raven. (Psalms 22:13). One of the pursuers (Saul, if the singer is David) is conspicuous for ferocity and craftiness. Cp. Psalms 7:2; Psalms 10:8-9.

Read Cambridge on Psalms 17 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Like as a lion - Margin, “The likeness of him” (that is, “of every one of them”) is “as a lion that desireth to ravin.” The meaning is plain. They were like a lion intent on securing his prey.

Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 17 →

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

like a lion greedy for prey, like a young lion lurking in ambush.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

He is like a lion that is greedy of his prey, as it were a young lion lurking in secret places.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

like a lion greedy for prey, like a young lion lurking in ambush.

NETBNew English Translation2006

He is like a lion that wants to tear its prey to bits, like a young lion crouching in hidden places.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

Like as a lion that is greedy of his prey, and as it were a young lion lurking in secret places.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

He is like a lion that is greedy of his prey, And as it were a young lion lurking in secret places.

RVARevised Version, American1894

He is like a lion that is greedy of his prey, and as it were a young lion lurking in secret places.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

Like as a lion that is greedy of his prey, and as it were a young lion lurking in secret places.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Like as a lyon that is greedy of pray, and as it were a lyons whelp lurking in secret places.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

He is like a lion that is greedy of its prey, and as a young lion lurking in secret places.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

His likeness as a lion desirous to tear, As a young lion dwelling in secret places.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

His likeness as a lion desirous to tear, || As a young lion dwelling in secret places.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

Every man is just like a lion that is greedy to tear his prey, and like a young lion lurking in a covert.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

They are like a lion eager for a victim, like a young lion crouching in hidden places.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

And he made darkness his covert, his pavilion round about him: dark waters in the clouds of the air.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

They are like lions, longing to tear their prey apart; like fierce lions crouching in ambush.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

Like a lion desiring its food, and like a young lion waiting in secret places.

Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.


The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank

This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.

clausenoun phrase · subjectדִּמְיֹנ֗likenessוֹhisprepositional phrase · predicateprepositional phraseכְּ֭[is].likenoun phraseאַרְיֵהa.lionclauseverbיִכְס֣וֹף[which].it.longsprepositional phrase · prepositionalלִtoclauseverbטְר֑וֹףtear.to.piecesוְ֝andprepositional phraseכִlikenoun phraseכְפִ֗ירa.young.lionadjective phraseclauseverbיֹשֵׁ֥ב[which].sitsprepositional phrase · prepositionalבְּinמִסְתָּרִֽיםsecret.places

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


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

The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint agree closely, with all seven words matched in the Hebrew text. The Dead Sea Scrolls show minor restoration, indicating some words were supplied by an editor, but they largely align with the Masoretic Text.

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

דִּמְיֹנ֗וֹ כְּ֭אַרְיֵה יִכְס֣וֹף לִטְר֑וֹף וְ֝כִכְפִ֗יר יֹשֵׁ֥ב בְּמִסְתָּרִֽים׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
דִּמְיֹנ֗וֹμεכְּ֭אַרְיֵהλέωνיִכְס֣וֹףἕτοιμοςלִטְר֑וֹףθήρανוְ֝כִכְפִ֗ירσκύμνοςיֹשֵׁ֥בοἰκῶνבְּמִסְתָּרִֽים׃ἀποκρύφοις

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

Dead Sea Scrolls — 11Q7a copy a thousand years older than the Leningrad Codex

[דמינ׳ו] [כאריה] יכסוף לטרוף וככפיר יושב [במסתרים]

3 words on the leather — 1 partly restored, 3 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 17:12דִּמְיֹןlikeness hilikeness hisדִּמְיֹןאֲרִי[is] like a[is] like a lioאֲרִיכָּסַף[which] it [which] it longכָּסַףטָרַףto tear to to tear to piecטָרַףכְּפִירand like a and like a younכְּפִיריָשַׁב[which] sit[which] sitsיָשַׁבמִסְתָּרin hiding pin hiding placeמִסְתָּרדָּמָהto resemblto resembleדָּמָהאָרָהto pluckto pluckאָרָהכִּפֶּרto atoneto atoneכִּפֶּרסָתַרto hideto hideסָתַרלְבִיlionlionלְבִידֹּבbearbearדֹּבהָלַךְto go: walto go: walkהָלַךְטֶ֫רֶףpreypreyטֶ֫רֶףגּוּרwhelpwhelpגּוּרשְׁאָגָהroaringroaringשְׁאָגָהבֶּ֫טַחsecuritysecurityבֶּ֫טַחכְּנַעֲנִיCanaanitesCanaanitessכְּנַעֲנִיאָרַבto ambushto ambushאָרַבאֲרִיlionlionאֲרִי
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 17:12

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.

likeness his [is] like a lion [which] it longs to tear to pieces and like a young lion [which] sits in hiding places
דִּמְיֹנ֗וֹdim.yo.No likeness his H1825 Noun common feminine singular construct · suffix
1× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[דִּמְיֹן] n.[m.] likeness, ψ 17:12 his likeness is as a lion, i.e. he is like a lion.

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1825 דִּמְיֹן, דִּמְיוֹן

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1825 dimyown dim-yone'

from 1819; resemblance:--X like.

see HEBREW for 01819

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

דִּמְיֹן (dim.yon) — likeness.

likeness

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HNcfsc/Sp3ms — Noun common feminine singular construct · suffix
HNcfsc/Sp3ms
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

hiz: Used often in the King James Version with reference to a neuter or inanimate thing, or to a lower animal (Ge 1:11, "after his kind"; Le 1:16, "pluck away his crop"; Ac 12:10, "of his own accord"; 1Co 15:38, "his own body"), etc. the Revised Version (British and American) substitutes "its."

likeness his [is] like a lion [which] it longs to tear to pieces and like a young lion [which] sits in hiding places
כְּ֭אַרְיֵהKe.'ar.yeh [is] like a lion H738 Preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
80× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In biblical times, a lion was a symbol of strength and power, and is often mentioned in stories like Daniel in the lions' den. The word for lion appears in various forms, including pictures or images of lions, and is used in books like 1 Kings and 2 Kings.
Amplified meaning
greedy of his prey, desirous to tear
Tyndale gloss
lion
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אֲרִי (ariy) and אַרְיֵה (aryeh) both mean 'lion' in Hebrew, referring to the animal itself or images of it. The word is derived from a root associated with violence. The entries do not indicate any significant disagreement among lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֲרִי n.m. lion

base

אַרְיֵה n.m. lion

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H738a אֲרִי lion H738b אַרְיֵה lion

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

738 'ariy ar-ee'

or (prolonged) earyeh {ar-yay'}; from 717 (in the sense of

violence); a lion:--(young) lion, + pierce (from the margin).

see HEBREW for 0717

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֲרִי (a.ri) — lion.

1) lion

1a) pictures or images of lions

אַרְיֵה (ar.yeh) — lion.

1) lion

1a) pictures or images of lions

Aramaic equivalent: ar.yeh (אַרְיֵה "lion" H0744)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
HR/Ncmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

li'-un:

(1) Occurring most often in the Old Testament is 'aryeh, plural 'ardyoth. Another form, 'ari, plural 'arayim, is found less often.

1. Names:

Compare 'ari'el, "Ariel" (Ezr 8:16; Isa 29:1,2,7); char'el, "upper altar," and 'ari'el, "altar hearth" (Eze 43:15); 'aryeh, "Arieh" (2Ki 15:25); 'ar'eli, "Areli" and "Arelites" (Ge 46:16; Nu 26:17).

(2) kephir, "young lion," often translated "lion" (Ps 35:17; Pr 19:12; 23:1, etc.).

Smith's Bible Dictionary

"The most powerful, daring and impressive of all carnivorous animals, the most magnificent in aspect and awful in voice." At present lions do not exist in Palestine; but they must in ancient times have been numerous. The lion of Palestine was in all probability the Asiatic variety, described by Aristotle and Pliny as distinguished by its short and curly mane, and by being shorter and rounder in shape, like the sculptured lion found at Arban. It was less daring than the longer named species, but when driven by hunger it not only ventured to attack the flocks in the desert in presence of the shepherd, (1 Samuel 17:34; Isaiah 31:4) but laid waste towns and villages, (2 Kings 17:25,26; Proverbs 22:13; 26:13) and devoured men.…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

The well-known and noble king of beasts, frequently spoken of in Scripture. He often exceeds eight feet in length and four feet in height; and his majestic and dauntless aspect, his prodigious strength and agility, and his peculiar roar, make him the terror of the forests. Lions were common in Palestine, (See JORDAN,) and the Hebrews had seven different names for them, to distinguish the different ages, etc. Five of these occur together in Job 4:10,11. See also Na 2:11,12. The psalmist alludes to the stealthy creeping of the lion till he can spring upon his prey, when he says of the crafty wicked man, "He lieth in wait secretly as a lion in his den; .... he croucheth, and humbleth himself, that the poor may fall by his strong ones." The Bible reader will remember the exploits of…

Nave's Topical Bible

→ King of beasts Mic 5:8

→ Fierceness of Job 4:10; 28:8; Ps 7:2; Pr 22:13; Jer 2:15; 49:19; 50:44; Ho 13:8

→ The roaring of Ps 22:13; Pr 20:2

→ Strength of Pr 30:30; Isa 38:13; Joe 1:6

likeness his [is] like a lion [which] it longs to tear to pieces and like a young lion [which] sits in hiding places
יִכְס֣וֹףyikh.Sof [which] it longs H3700 Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singular
6× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To long or yearn for something, like when the Israelites pined for food in the wilderness. It can also mean to fear or be greedy. This word is used in the Psalms to express deep desire.
Tyndale gloss
to long
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כָּסַף (kacaph) is a Hebrew verb meaning to long for or yearn. It conveys a sense of deep desire or longing, and can also imply fear. The word appears in both the Qal and Niphal forms, indicating both the act of longing and being longed for. Brown-Driver-Briggs provides examples of its use, illustrating its emotional depth.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[כָּסַף] vb. long (for)

Qal for the work of thy hands thou wouldest long; like a lion that longeth to rend.

Niph. thou didst long sorely for thy father’s house

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3700 [כָּסַף] long (for)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3700 kacaph kaw-saf'

a primitive root; properly, to become pale, i.e. (by

implication) to pine after; also to fear:--(have) desire, be

greedy, long, sore.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כָּסַף (ka.saph) — to long.

1) to long for, yearn for, long after

1a) (Qal) to long for

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to long for (deeply)

1b2) being longed for (participle)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singular
HVqi3ms
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
likeness his [is] like a lion [which] it longs to tear to pieces and like a young lion [which] sits in hiding places
לִטְר֑וֹףlit.Rof to tear to pieces H2963 Preposition · verb qal infinitive construct common
25× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to tear or pull something apart, and it can also mean to provide food. In the Bible, it appears in Exodus 22:13 and Proverbs 30:14. It describes an act of violence or providing for someone.
Tyndale gloss
to tear
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

טָרַף (taraph) is a Hebrew verb meaning to tear, rend, or pluck. It can describe the action of tearing in various forms, such as being torn in pieces or providing food. The entries indicate a range of uses, from physical tearing to metaphorical feeding, with specific examples in contexts like animals being torn apart.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

טָרַף vb. tear, rend, pluck

Qal tear, rend

Niph. of animal torn

Pu. Joseph has certainly been torn in pieces

Hiph. let me devour my appointed bread

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2963 טָרַף tear, rend, pluck

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2963 taraph taw-raf'

a primitive root; to pluck off or pull to pieces; causatively

to supply with food (as in morsels):--catch, X without doubt,

feed, ravin, rend in pieces, X surely, tear (in pieces).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

טָרַף (ta.raph) — to tear.

1) to tear, rend, pluck

1a) (Qal) to tear, rend

1b) (Niphal) to be torn in pieces

1c) (Poal) to be torn in pieces

1d) (Hiphil) to provide food

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | V-Qal-Inf-a — Preposition · verb qal infinitive construct common
HR/Vqcc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Easton's Bible Dictionary

Pieces

(1) of silver. In Ps. 68:30 denotes “fragments,” and not properly money. In 1 Sam. 2:36 (Heb. agorah), properly a “small sum” as wages, weighed rather than coined. Josh. 24:32 (Heb. kesitah, q.v.), supposed by some to have been a piece of money bearing the figure of a lamb, but rather simply a certain amount. (Comp. Gen. 33:19).

(2.) The word pieces is omitted in many passages, as Gen. 20:16; 37:28; 45:22, etc. The passage in Zech. 11:12, 13 is quoted in the Gospel (Matt. 26:15), and from this we…

likeness his [is] like a lion [which] it longs to tear to pieces and like a young lion [which] sits in hiding places
וְ֝כִכְפִ֗ירve.khikh.Fir and like a young lion H3715 Conjunction · preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
32× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word can mean either a village or a young lion. It is used in the Bible to describe a place or an animal, like a lion with a mane. The KJV translates it as lion or village.
Amplified meaning
lurking in secret places, dwelling in hiding
Tyndale gloss
lion
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word כְּפִיר (*kefir*) primarily means 'young lion,' while its plural form כְּפִירִים (*kefirim*) likely refers to 'villages.' The word is built from the root associated with 'covering,' suggesting a connection to both young lions and enclosed spaces. It appears in Nehemiah 6:2.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כְּפִיר n.m. young lion

base

כְּפִירִים Ne 6:2, prob. = foregoing [כְּפִירָה] (𝔊 al. n. appell. = villages).

done

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3715a כְּפִיר young lion H3715b כְּפִירִים prob. = כְּפִירָה

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3715 kphiyr kef-eer'

from 3722; a village (as covered in by walls); also a young

lion (perhaps as covered with a mane):--(young) lion, village.

Compare 3723.

see HEBREW for 03722

see HEBREW for 03723

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כְּפִיר (ke.phir) — lion.

young lion

כְּפִירִים (ke.phi.rim) — Hakkephirim.

village

Another name of o.no (אוֹנוֹ "Ono" H0207)

כְּפִירִים (ke.phi.rim) — villages.

village

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | Prep | N-ms — Conjunction · preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
HC/R/Ncmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

li'-un:

(1) Occurring most often in the Old Testament is 'aryeh, plural 'ardyoth. Another form, 'ari, plural 'arayim, is found less often.

1. Names:

Compare 'ari'el, "Ariel" (Ezr 8:16; Isa 29:1,2,7); char'el, "upper altar," and 'ari'el, "altar hearth" (Eze 43:15); 'aryeh, "Arieh" (2Ki 15:25); 'ar'eli, "Areli" and "Arelites" (Ge 46:16; Nu 26:17).

(2) kephir, "young lion," often translated "lion" (Ps 35:17; Pr 19:12; 23:1, etc.).

Smith's Bible Dictionary

"The most powerful, daring and impressive of all carnivorous animals, the most magnificent in aspect and awful in voice." At present lions do not exist in Palestine; but they must in ancient times have been numerous. The lion of Palestine was in all probability the Asiatic variety, described by Aristotle and Pliny as distinguished by its short and curly mane, and by being shorter and rounder in shape, like the sculptured lion found at Arban. It was less daring than the longer named species, but when driven by hunger it not only ventured to attack the flocks in the desert in presence of the shepherd, (1 Samuel 17:34; Isaiah 31:4) but laid waste towns and villages, (2 Kings 17:25,26; Proverbs 22:13; 26:13) and devoured men.…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

The well-known and noble king of beasts, frequently spoken of in Scripture. He often exceeds eight feet in length and four feet in height; and his majestic and dauntless aspect, his prodigious strength and agility, and his peculiar roar, make him the terror of the forests. Lions were common in Palestine, (See JORDAN,) and the Hebrews had seven different names for them, to distinguish the different ages, etc. Five of these occur together in Job 4:10,11. See also Na 2:11,12. The psalmist alludes to the stealthy creeping of the lion till he can spring upon his prey, when he says of the crafty wicked man, "He lieth in wait secretly as a lion in his den; .... he croucheth, and humbleth himself, that the poor may fall by his strong ones." The Bible reader will remember the exploits of…

Nave's Topical Bible

→ King of beasts Mic 5:8

→ Fierceness of Job 4:10; 28:8; Ps 7:2; Pr 22:13; Jer 2:15; 49:19; 50:44; Ho 13:8

→ The roaring of Ps 22:13; Pr 20:2

→ Strength of Pr 30:30; Isa 38:13; Joe 1:6

likeness his [is] like a lion [which] it longs to tear to pieces and like a young lion [which] sits in hiding places
יֹשֵׁ֥בyo.Shev [which] sits H3427 Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine singular
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.
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-Qal — Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine singular
HVqrmsa
likeness his [is] like a lion [which] it longs to tear to pieces and like a young lion [which] sits in hiding places
בְּמִסְתָּרִֽים׃be.mis.ta.Rim in hiding places H4565 Preposition · noun common masculine plural absolute
10× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means a secret or hiding place, often used for protection or to conceal something, as seen in the Bible's description of hiding from danger. It can also refer to a place where wrongdoings are hidden. The KJV translates it as secret or secretly.
Tyndale gloss
hiding
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מִסְתָּר (mictar) refers to a secret or hiding place, often associated with concealment for protection or, in some contexts, for illicit activities. It is derived from the root meaning 'to conceal.' The entries consistently emphasize its use as a covert location.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מִסְתָּר n.[m.] secret place, hiding-place

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4565 מִסְתָּר secret place, hiding-place

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4565 mictar mis-tawr'

from 5641; properly, a concealer, i.e. a

covert:--secret(-ly, place).

see HEBREW for 05641

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מִסְתָּר (mis.tar) — hiding.

1) secret place, hiding place

1a) secret place

1b) hiding place

1b1) for protection

1b2) for perpetration of crime

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-mp — Preposition · noun common masculine plural absolute
HR/Ncmpa
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
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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