Psalms 20:8 — Word Study
WLCהֵ֭מָּה כָּרְע֣וּ וְנָפָ֑לוּ וַאֲנַ֥חְנוּ קַּ֝֗מְנוּ וַנִּתְעוֹדָֽד׃
BSA◂but weʼănachnûw [as a community, together]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| הֵ֭מָּה | they | Pronoun |
| כָּרְע֣וּ | they bow down | Verb, Qal, perfect third person common plural |
| וְנָפָ֑לוּ | and they fall | Conjunction, verb qal perfect third person common plural |
| וַאֲנַ֥חְנוּ | and we | Conjunction, pronoun |
| קַּ֝֗מְנוּ | we arise | Verb, Qal, perfect first person common plural |
| וַנִּתְעוֹדָֽד׃ | and we have kept upright | Verb, Hithpael, sequential imperfect first person common plural |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | They collapse and fall, but we rise up and stand firm. |
| KJV | They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright. |
| ASV | They are bowed down and fallen; But we are risen, and stand upright. |
| YLT | They — they have bowed and have fallen, And we have risen and station ourselves upright. |
| WEB | They are bowed down and fallen, but we rise up, and stand upright. |
| BBE | They are bent down and made low; but we have been lifted up. |
The translations agree here, with no significant differences noted.
The structure features two main clauses with actions contrasted, emphasizing the difference between the enemies and the faithful.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
subjectאֵלֶּה
verbבְּ
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
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 20:8
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 Victorygenerated
Psalm 20:8 expresses a stark contrast between those who trust in earthly power and those who rely on the Lord. The psalmist acknowledges the fate of the enemies, who collapse and fall, while the faithful community rises up and stands firm, reflecting their strength and reliance on God. This verse is part of a larger prayer for victory, emphasizing the importance of faith in times of conflict.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalm 34:21–22 | Evil will slay the wicked, and the haters of the righteous will be condemned. |
| 2 | Judges 5:31 | So may all your enemies perish, O LORD! But may those who love You shine like the sun at its brightest.” And the land had rest for forty years. |
| 3 | Psalm 125:1 | Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion. It cannot be moved; it abides forever. |
| 4 | Psalm 146:5–9 | Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God, |
| 5 | Jeremiah 17:7–8 | But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in Him. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 5 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — כָּרְע֣וּ, ka.re.'Ugenerated
The Hebrew word כָּרַע (kara`) means 'to bow down' or 'to bend the knee.' It conveys the action of lowering oneself, often in reverence or submission. In this verse, it describes the enemies who bow down, indicating their defeat and humiliation.
This verb is used in the perfect tense, indicating completed action. The enemies have already bowed down, emphasizing their current state of collapse. The imagery of bowing also suggests a loss of power, contrasting with the rising of the faithful.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
The translations agree here, all rendering the Hebrew verbs consistently.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The verse consists of two main clauses connected by 'but.' The first clause describes the action of the enemies — כָּרְע֣וּ and וְנָפָ֑לוּ — while the second clause focuses on the faithful community — אֲנַ֥חְנוּ and קַּ֝֗מְנוּ and וַנִּתְעוֹדָֽד.
The finite verbs govern their respective subjects, with the structure emphasizing the contrasting outcomes of the two groups. The sentence flows from the enemies' downfall to the community's rise, creating a clear juxtaposition.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint uses the Greek word οὗτοι for the Hebrew הֵ֭מָּה, indicating a direct translation of 'they.' This choice maintains the focus on the enemies being referred to as a distinct group.
The use of καὶ for the conjunction 'and' aligns with the structure of the Hebrew, showing continuity in the narrative of the enemies' actions and the response of the faithful.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Psalm 20:8 contrasts the fate of those who oppose God with the strength of His people. While the enemies collapse and fall, the faithful rise up and stand firm, showing their reliance on God.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It signifies their defeat and humiliation, indicating that they have been overcome by their own actions.
The community rises up by trusting in God, demonstrating strength and resilience in their faith.
Standing firm represents stability and confidence in God's protection and support, contrasting with the enemies' downfall.
This verse encapsulates the central theme of the psalm, highlighting the contrast between divine support for the faithful and the fate of those who oppose God.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways have I seen God support me in times of trouble, helping me to stand firm?
- How can I encourage others in my community to trust in God during challenging times?
- What does it mean for me to rise up in faith when faced with difficulties?
- How can I apply the message of this verse in my daily life, especially when encountering opposition?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Early Church Fathers have commented on this verse, interpreting it in the context of faith and divine support against adversaries.
They say these things will happen in the time of the advent of that Savior. Then all the powers of the adversaries and those hidden and secret enemies of God who have turned their backs on the Savior will be laid low.Early Church Fathers on Psalms 20 →
"They have been bound, and fallen" [Psalms 20:8]. And therefore were they bound by the lust of temporal things, fearing to spare the Lord,Early Church Fathers on Psalms 20 →
Those who trust in human honors have been snared by their own perverse desires and have fallen into the pit of death.Early Church Fathers on Psalms 20 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Psalms 20:8 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleThey are brought down and fallen,.... These are they that rode in chariots and on horses, and trusted in them; who are brought down from their places of honour and safety; and fall, not into the
Read John Gill on Psalms 20 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryThey are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright. They are brought down and fallen. According to their objects of confidence respectively, so is the portion of the world and of the Church.
Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 20 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleThey are brought down from their horses and chariots, to which they trusted. Heb. They bowed down, as being unable to stand longer, because of their mortal wounds. Compare . But we stand firmly upon our legs, and keep the field, as conquerors use to do.
Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 20 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsPsalms 20:8 They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright.Ver. 8. They are brought down, &c.] They lie flat by the fall they have taken, being confuted in their confidences, as Benhadad was of old; as of late, the French at the battle of Agincourt, Sigismund the young king of Hungary, and many others. But we are risen] Who before seemed to lay along, Et tanquam sideratos humi serpere. God helpeth his when forsaken of their hopes almost.
Read John Trapp on Psalms 20 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(8) Stand upright.—We seem to see a whole battle fought before our eyes, in which those formerly struck down rise, and returning to the fight, beat off their foes, and in their turn lay them low. “We were fallen, but have risen, and stand upright.”
Read Charles John Ellicott on Psalms 20 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 8. They are brought down and fallen] They were so confident of victory that they looked upon it as already gained. They who trusted in their horses and chariots are bowed down, and prostrated on the earth: they are all overthrown. But we are risen] We who have trusted in the name of Jehovah are raised up from all despondency; and we stand upright - we shall conquer, and go on to conquer.
Read AdamClarke on Psalms 20 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges8. They are brought down] R.V., They are bowed down; the same word as in Psalms 18:39. It is still the language of faith, anticipating the entire subjugation of the enemy, and the triumph of Israel.
Read Cambridge on Psalms 20 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleThey are brought down and fallen - That is, those who trust in chariots and horses.
Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 20 →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
They collapse and fall, but we rise up and stand firm.
They are bowed down and fallen, but we rise up, and stand upright.
They collapse and fall, but we rise up and stand firm.
They will fall down, but we will stand firm.
Tyndale line
They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright.
They are bowed down and fallen; But we are risen, and stand upright.
They are bowed down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright.
They are brought down and fallen: but we are raised, and stand upright.
They are brought downe and fallen, but we are risen, and stand vpright.
Strictly literal
They are bowed down and fallen; but we are risen and stand upright.
They — they have bowed and have fallen, And we have risen and station ourselves upright.
They have bowed and have fallen, || And we have risen and station ourselves upright.
(20:9) They are prostrate and fallen; but we are risen up and stand erect.
They will be brought down and fall, but we will rise and stand upright!
From the Latin
For the king hopeth in the Lord: and through the mercy of the most High he shall not be moved.
Simplified
They collapse and fall down, but we rise and stand up.
They are bent down and made low; but we have been lifted up.
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.
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 in their wording for this verse, with all six words matched in the translation. This consistency indicates a shared understanding of the text's meaning across these ancient witnesses.
הֵ֭מָּה כָּרְע֣וּ וְנָפָ֑לוּ וַאֲנַ֥חְנוּ קַּ֝֗מְנוּ וַנִּתְעוֹדָֽד׃
6 of the 6 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Psalms 20:8
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.
הֵ֫מָּה (hemmah) is a masculine plural pronoun meaning 'they.' The entries indicate that it can also mean 'these,' 'the same,' or refer to people in an emphatic context. There is no significant disagreement among the lexicons regarding its usage.
הֵ֫מָּה and הֵם (without appreciable distinction in usage, except prob. in so far as the longer or shorter form was better adapted to the rhythm of particular sentences) pron. 3 pl. masc. they
base
H1992 הֵ֫מָּה, הֵם (without appreciable distinction in usage, except prob. in so far as the longer or shorter form was better adapted to the rhythm of particular sentences) they
1992 hem haym
or (prolonged) hemmah {haym'-maw}; masculine plural from
1981; they (only used when emphatic):--it, like, X (how, so)
many (soever, more as) they (be), (the) same, X so, X such,
their, them, these, they, those, which, who, whom, withal, ye.
see HEBREW for 01981
הֵ֫מָּה (hem.mah) — they(masc.).
they, these, the same, who
HPp3mp — PronounHPp3mp
כָּרַע (kara`) means to bow down or bend the knee. It encompasses actions like kneeling in reverence, crouching, or sinking down, and can also imply causing someone or something to bow. The term appears in various contexts, including expressions of grief and submission.
כָּרַע bow down
Qal
bow
bow down, of the crouching lion
bow down over (in order to lie with) a woman
bow down, of a woman in childbirth
Hiph.
cause to bow in grief
cause to bow down in death
base
H3766 כָּרַע bow down
3766 kara` kaw-rah'
a primitive root; to bend the knee; by implication, to sink,
to prostrate:--bow (down, self), bring down (low), cast down,
couch, fall, feeble, kneeling, sink, smite (stoop) down,
subdue, X very.
כָּרַע (ka.ra) — to bow.
1) to bend, kneel, bow, bow down, sink down to one's knees, kneel down to rest (of animals), kneel in reverence
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to bow
1a2) to bow down, crouch
1a3) to bow down over
1a4) to tilt, lean
1b) (Hiphil) to cause to bow
HVqp3cp — Verb · Qal · perfect third person common pluralHVqp3cp
נָפַל (naphal) is a Hebrew verb meaning 'to fall,' encompassing a wide range of applications, including falling by accident, experiencing violent death, or going to ruin. It can also refer to prostrating oneself, attacking, or causing someone to fall. The term appears in various contexts throughout the Old Testament, often indicating physical or metaphorical downfall.
נָפַל 433 vb. fall, lie
Qal 366
fall, by accident
Esp. of violent death
fig. = go to ruin, perish, etc.
fig. = experience calamity
fall, of a city
Fall prostrate
fall = prostrate oneself before
fall upon one's neck, in embrace
Fall upon = attack
desert or fall away to, go over to
Fig., of deep sleep
Other idiomatic uses
= lie; = lie prostrate
Hiph.
cause to fall
Of causing death; = overthrow, bring to destruction
Esp. of casting lot
Fig., let drop, cause to fail
cause deep sleep to fall
Other idioms
Hithp. throw, or prostrate oneself
base
H5307 נָפַל fall, lie .. fall, by accident
. . Esp. of violent death
. fig. = go to ruin, perish, etc.
. fig. = experience calamity
. fall, of a city
. . Fall prostrate
. fall = prostrate oneself before
. fall upon one's neck, in embrace
. . Fall upon = attack
. desert or fall away to, go over to
. Fig., of deep sleep
. Other idiomatic uses
. = lie; = lie prostrate
. . cause to fall
. Of causing death; = overthrow, bring to destruction
. Esp. of casting lot
. Fig., let drop, cause to fail
. cause deep sleep to fall
. Other idioms
. throw, or prostrate oneself
5307 naphal naw-fal'
a primitive root; to fall, in a great variety of applications
(intransitive or causative, literal or figurative):--be
accepted, cast (down, self, (lots), out), cease, die, divide
(by lot), (let) fail, (cause to, let, make, ready to) fall
(away, down, -en, -ing), fell(-ing), fugitive, have
(inheritance), inferior, be judged (by mistake for 6419), lay
(along), (cause to) lie down, light (down), be (X hast) lost,
lying, overthrow, overwhelm, perish, present(-ed, -ing), (make
to) rot, slay, smite out, X surely, throw down.
see HEBREW for 06419
נָפַל (na.phal) — to fall: fall.
: fall/drop/fail
1) to fall, lie, be cast down, fail
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to fall
1a2) to fall (of violent death)
1a3) to fall prostrate, prostrate oneself before
1a4) to fall upon, attack, desert, fall away to, go away to, fall into the hand of
1a5) to fall short, fail, fall out, turn out, result
1a6) to settle, waste away, be offered, be inferior to
1a7) to lie, lie prostrate
1b) (Hiphil)
1b1) to cause to fall, fell, throw down, knock out, lay prostrate
1b2) to overthrow
1b3) to make the lot fall, assign by lot, apportion by lot
1b4) to let drop, cause to fail (fig.)
1b5) to cause to fall
1c) (Hithpael)
1c1) to throw or prostrate oneself, throw oneself upon
1c2) to lie prostrate, prostrate oneself
1d) (Pilel) to fall
נָפַל (na.phal) — to fall: deserting.
: deserting
1) to fall, lie, be cast down, fail
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to fall
1a2) to fall (of violent death)
HC/Vqp3cp — Conjunction · verb qal perfect third person common pluralHC/Vqp3cp
fol (vb.): The idea of falling is most frequently expressed in Hebrew by naphal, but also by many other words; in Greek by pipto, and its compounds. The uses of the word in Scripture are very varied. There is the literal falling by descent; the falling of the countenance in sorrow, shame, anger, etc. (Ge 4:5,6); the falling in battle (Ge 14:10; Nu 14:3, etc.); the falling into trouble, etc. (Pr 24:16,17); prostration in supplication and reverence (Ge 17:3; Nu 14:5, etc.); falling of the Spirit of Yahweh (Eze 11:5…
אֲנַ֫חְנוּ (anachnuw) is the first-person plural pronoun meaning 'we' or 'ourselves.' It is used for emphasis and is derived from another Hebrew word, אֲנִי (ani), meaning 'I.' The entries consistently define it as a pronoun without significant disagreement.
אֲנַ֫חְנוּ, אֲנָ֑חְנוּ pron. 1pl. comm. we
base
H587 אֲנַ֫חְנוּ, אֲנָ֑חְנוּ we
587 'anachnuw an-akh'-noo
apparently from 595; we:--ourselves, us, we.
see HEBREW for 0595
אֲנַ֫חְנוּ (a.nach.nu) — we.
we (first pers. pl. -usually used for emphasis)
Conj | Pron — Conjunction · pronounHC/Pp1bp
The Hebrew word קוּם (qum) is a primitive root meaning 'to rise' and encompasses a range of actions such as standing, becoming powerful, and establishing. It can imply a sudden or hostile rise, as well as the act of fulfilling or confirming something. The entries also note various grammatical forms, indicating its use in different contexts, including raising up or causing to stand.
לֵב קָמָי prob. late Atbash Je 51:1.
ref
קוּם 628 vb. arise, stand up, stand
Qal 460
arise
arise, in hostile sense (oft. with idea of suddenness)
arise, abs., = become powerful
arise = come on the scene, appear, of leader, prophet
arise for, i.e. to become
arise for action
arise (out of inaction), introducing some specific deed
esp. arise = start, make a move, to go somewhere
stand
Pi.
fulfil
confirm, ratify
confirm, establish
impose, an obligation
Pō‛l. raise up
Hithpō‛l. raise oneself, = rise up
Hiph.
146cause to arise, raise
raise, set up, stones
erect, build
fig, of setting up law
raise up = bring on the scene
raise up = rouse, stir up
instigate, build
fig, of setting up law
raise up = constitute
cause to stand
Hoph. be raised up
base
H6965a לֵב קָמָי prob. late Atbash H6965b קוּם arise, stand up, stand .. arise
. arise, in hostile sense (oft. with idea of suddenness)
. arise, abs., = become powerful
. arise = come on the scene, appear, of leader, prophet
. arise for, i.e. to become
. . arise for action
. arise (out of inaction), introducing some specific deed
. esp. arise = start, make a move, to go somewhere
. stand
. . fulfil
. . confirm, ratify
. confirm, establish
. impose, an obligation
. raise up
. raise oneself, = rise up
. . cause to arise, raise
. . raise, set up, stones
. erect, build
. fig, of setting up law
. raise up = bring on the scene
. . raise up = rouse, stir up
. instigate, build
. fig, of setting up law
. raise up = constitute
. cause to stand
. be raised up
6965 quwm koom
a primitive root; to rise (in various applications, literal,
figurative, intensive and causative):--abide, accomplish, X
be clearer, confirm, continue, decree, X be dim, endure, X
enemy, enjoin, get up, make good, help, hold, (help to) lift
up (again), make, X but newly, ordain, perform, pitch, raise
(up), rear (up), remain, (a-)rise (up) (again, against), rouse
up, set (up), (e-)stablish, (make to) stand (up), stir up,
strengthen, succeed, (as-, make) sure(-ly), (be) up(-hold, -
rising).
קָמָי (qa.may) — (Leb)-kamai.
Combined with lev (לֵב "Leb" H3820B)
§ -Kamai = "my adversary"
Leb-kamai, i.e., people of Gambulai
קוּם (qum) — to arise: rise.
: rise/get_going
1) to rise, arise, stand, rise up, stand up
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to arise
1a2) to arise (hostile sense)
1a3) to arise, become powerful
1a4) to arise, come on the scene
1a5) to stand
1a5a) to maintain oneself
1a5b) to be established, be confirmed
1a5c) to stand, endure
1a5d) to be fixed
1a5e) to be valid
1a5f) to be proven
1a5g) to be fulfilled
1a5h) to persist
1a5i) to be set, be fixed
1b) (Piel)
1b1) to fulfil
1b2) to confirm, ratify, establish, impose
1c) (Polel) to raise up
1d) (Hithpael) to raise oneself, rise up
1e) (Hiphil)
1e1) to cause to arise, raise
1e2) to raise, set up, erect, build
1e3) to raise up, bring on the scene
1e4) to raise up, rouse, stir up, investigate
1e5) to raise up, constitute
HVqp1cp — Verb · Qal · perfect first person common pluralHVqp1cp
עוּד (uwd) is a Hebrew verb that primarily means to return, repeat, or do again. It also encompasses the idea of bearing witness or testifying, often with a sense of solemnity or urgency. The word can imply surrounding or restoring, and its various forms indicate actions like admonishing or warning. There is no significant disagreement among the lexicons regarding its meanings.
[עוּד] vb. prob. return, go about, repeat, do again
Pi. surround
Pōl‛ēl, restore, relieve
Hithpōl. be restored
base
עוּד vb. denom. bear witness
Qal Impf. < Hiph.
Hiph.
testify, bear witness
cause to testify, take as witness
protest, affirm solemnly, wanr
Hoph. and protest be entered
base
H5749a עוּד prob. return, go about, repeat, do again H5749b עוּד vb. denom. bear witness .Impf. < Hiph.
. . testify, bear witness
. cause to testify, take as witness
. protest, affirm solemnly, wanr
. and protest be entered
5749 `uwd ood
a primitive root; to duplicate or repeat; by implication, to
protest, testify (as by reiteration); intensively, to
encompass, restore (as a sort of reduplication):--admonish,
charge, earnestly, lift up, protest, call (take) to record,
relieve, rob, solemnly, stand upright, testify, give warning,
(bear, call to, give, take to) witness.
עוּד (ud) — to uphold.
1) to return, repeat, go about, do again
1a) (Piel) to surround, go round and round
1b) (Pilel) to restore, relieve
1c) (Hithpalel) to be restored
עוּד (ud) — to testify.
1) to bear witness
1a) (Qal) to bear witness, say again and again
1b) (Hiphil)
1b1) to testify, bear witness
1b2) to cause to testify, take or call as witness, invoke
1b3) to protest, affirm solemnly, warn, exhort or enjoin solemnly, admonish, charge
1c) (Hophal) to protest, give warning
Hc/Vtw1cp — Verb · Hithpael · sequential imperfect first person common pluralHc/Vtw1cp