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Psalms 21:4 — Word Study

Depth

WLCחַיִּ֤ים׀ שָׁאַ֣ל מִ֭מְּךָ נָתַ֣תָּה לּ֑וֹ אֹ֥רֶךְ יָ֝מִ֗ים עוֹלָ֥ם וָעֶֽד׃

BSAforkîy to meetqâdam blessingBᵉrâkâh pleasantṭôwb to setshîyth headrôʼsh crownʻăṭârâh pure goldpâz

Word
Listen & take awayPsalms 21
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 4 is in this chapter.
Hebrew ↓ Download MP3 The Masoretic text of this chapter, read aloud. Read by Abraham Shmuelof, courtesy of Audio Scriptures International. Chapter divisions by the Academy of Ancient Languages..
Say the word Each Hebrew word carries its transliteration (va.'Ed) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Psalms 21:4quick helps
In a sentenceThe psalmist expresses a request for life and acknowledges that God has granted it.
Who is speakingThe psalmist, addressing God directly.
Where we areThis verse is part of a psalm celebrating God's blessings.
The hard wordחַיִּים
Take awayLife is a gift from God, extending into eternity.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbקָדַם 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 21:4

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

Context — A Psalm of Celebrationgenerated

3For You welcomed him with rich blessings; You placed on his head a crown of pure gold.
4He asked You for life, and You granted it— length of days, forever and ever.
5Great is his glory in Your salvation; You bestow on him splendor and majesty.
6For You grant him blessings forever; You cheer him with joy in Your presence.

Psalm 21:4 is a part of a psalm that praises God for His blessings and the life He grants. The psalmist acknowledges the divine favor shown to him, emphasizing the long-lasting nature of this gift. This context highlights the relationship between the believer and God, focusing on the joy and gratitude for life and its duration.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Psalm 13:3Consider me and respond, O LORD my God. Give light to my eyes, lest I sleep in death,
2Psalm 16:10–11For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol, nor will You let Your Holy One see decay.
3Psalm 61:5–6For You have heard my vows, O God; You have given me the inheritance reserved for those who fear Your name.
4Psalm 119:77–175May Your compassion come to me, that I may live, for Your law is my delight.
5Psalm 72:17May his name endure forever; may his name continue as long as the sun shines. In him may all nations be blessed; may they call him blessed.

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


The Key Word חַיִּים, chai.Yimgenerated

The Hebrew word חַיִּים (*chayim*) means 'life' and is the plural form of חַי (*chay*), which refers to being alive. It encompasses both physical and spiritual life, indicating vitality and existence.

In this verse, the psalmist asks God for life, indicating a desire for a long and blessed existence. The plural form emphasizes the fullness and richness of life, suggesting not just survival but a thriving existence.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main verb of the verse is שָׁאַ֣ל, he asked, which governs the request for life and the acknowledgment of what was granted. The structure shows a clear cause-and-effect relationship between the request and God's response.

The sentence is built around the action of asking, with the object being life and the subsequent granting of length of days, creating a straightforward yet profound declaration of divine favor.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates חַיִּים as ζωής, which means 'life' and retains the same meaning. This choice reflects a consistent understanding of the term across both Hebrew and Greek contexts.

The Greek word used for 'you granted it' in the Septuagint indicates a similar acknowledgment of God's action in response to the psalmist's request.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Psalm 21:4 shows the psalmist asking God for life and recognizing that God has granted this request, giving him a long life that lasts forever. This verse emphasizes the blessings that come from God and the joy of living under His favor.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does the psalmist mean by asking for life?

The psalmist is expressing a desire for a long and blessed existence, recognizing life as a gift from God.

How does this verse reflect God's character?

It shows God as a giver of life and blessings, highlighting His willingness to grant requests that align with His will.

What is the significance of 'length of days'?

It refers to the duration of life, suggesting not just a long life but one filled with purpose and fulfillment.

Why does the psalmist mention 'forever and ever'?

This phrase emphasizes the eternal nature of the life granted by God, indicating a blessing that extends beyond this earthly existence.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what ways have I experienced God's blessings in my life?
  2. How can I express my gratitude for the gift of life?
  3. What does it mean to me to have a life that lasts forever?
  4. How can I seek God's favor in my daily life?

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

Early Church Fathers referenced this verse to discuss the nature of life and God's eternal blessings, as seen in their writings.

IrenaeusAGAINST HERESIES 2:34.3 c. 130–202
It is the Father of all who imparts continuance forever and ever on those who are saved. For life does not arise from us nor from our own nature, but it is bestowed according to the grace of God.
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 21 →
Augustine of HippoExposition on Psalms 21 354–430
"He asked life; and You gave Him:" He asked a resurrection, saying, "Father, glorify Your Son;" [John 17:1] and You gave it Him,
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 21 →
Arnobius the YoungerCOMMENTARY ON Psalms 21 5th c.
He sought life; he lived as a man. Having been limited in life, in death he received length of days not just to old age but to eternity.
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 21 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Psalms 21:4 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

He asked life of thee, [and] thou gavest [it] him,.... Both for himself, as man, when he was about to die, that he might be raised to life again, which was granted him; and for his people, that they

Read John Gill on Psalms 21 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

He asked life of thee, and thou gavest it him, even length of days for ever and ever. Life of thee ... for ever and ever - in the person of his seed (cf. 2 Samuel 7:13; also 16; Psalms 89:4).

Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 21 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

He asked only the preservation of that short and mortal life, which was oft exposed to utmost perils. For ever and ever; either, 1. In his posterity, in whom parents are commonly said to live. Thou gavest the kingdom not only to himself for a season, as thou didst to Saul; but to him and to his seed for ever. Or rather, 2. In his person; for this giving answers to David’ s asking. And the thing which David asked of God was not the kingdom, (wherein God had prevented his prayers, and granted what David durst not have presumed to ask,) but only life, or the saving and prolonging of his life, which his enemies designed to take away. Thou gavest him a long life and reign here, and after that…

Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 21 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Psalms 21:4 He asked life of thee, [and] thou gavest [it] him, [even] length of days for ever and ever.Ver. 4. He asked life of thee] Quando fugiebat a Saule, saith R. Solomon, when he fled from Saul; rather when he went into the field against his enemies, carrying his life in his hand. His life we begged, Psalms 20:1-2, and thou hast not only given him his life, but a long continued series of lives in his successors, 2 Samuel 7:13 Psalms 72:15, yea, life everlasting in Christ, his Son according to the flesh. See Psalms 61:6. Thus God is better to his people than their prayers; and when they ask but one blessing he answereth them, as Naaman did Gehazi, with, Nay, take two. Hezekiah asked…

Read John Trapp on Psalms 21 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(4) For ever and ever.—This is merely a term for indefinite length. (Comp. the common salutation of a king: 1 Kings 1:31; Nehemiah 2:3; Daniel 3:9.) An allusion to the eternal kingdom of the Messiah is not to be forced on the passage.

Read Charles John Ellicott on Psalms 21 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 4. He asked life of thee] This verse has caused some interpreters to understand the Psalm of Hezekiah's sickness, recovery, and the promised addition to his life of fifteen years; but it may be more literally understood of the Messiah, of whom David was the type, and in several respects the representative.

Read AdamClarke on Psalms 21 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

4. He asked … thou gavest] Cp. Psalms 2:8. Long life was one of Jehovah’s special blessings under the old covenant. It was a natural object of desire when the hope of a future life was all but a blank. See Exodus 23:26; 1 Kings 3:11; Proverbs 3:2. But how can length of days for ever and ever be said of a mortal king? Partly in the same way as the salutation “Let the king live for ever” was used (1 Kings 1:31; Nehemiah 2:3); partly because he was regarded as living on in his posterity (2 Samuel 7:29). Cp. Psalms 45:2; Psalms 45:6; Psalms 61:6; Psalms 72:5; Psalms 72:17.

Read Cambridge on Psalms 21 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

He asked life of thee - An expression similar to this occurs in Psalms 61:5-6, “For thou, O God, hast heard my vows;...Thou wilt prolong the king’s life, and his years to many generations.” The

Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 21 →

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

He asked You for life, and You granted it— length of days, forever and ever.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

He asked life of you and you gave it to him, even length of days forever and ever.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

He asked You for life, and You granted it—length of days, forever and ever.

NETBNew English Translation2006

He asked you to sustain his life, and you have granted him long life and an enduring dynasty.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

He asked life of thee, and thou gavest it him, even length of days for ever and ever.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

He asked life of thee, thou gavest it him, Even length of days for ever and ever.

RVARevised Version, American1894

He asked life of thee, thou gavest it him; even length of days for ever and ever.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

He asked life of thee, and thou gavest it to him, even length of days for ever and ever.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

He asked life of thee, and thou gauest him a long life for euer and euer.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

He asked life of thee; thou gavest [it] him, length of days for ever and ever.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

Life he hath asked from Thee, Thou hast given to him — length of days, Age-during — and for ever.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

He has asked for life from You, || You have given length of days to him, || For all time and forever.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

(21:5) Life hath he asked of thee, thou gavest it to him, length of days for ever and ever.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

He asked you for life; you gave it to him; you gave him long days forever and ever.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

But thou dwellest in the holy place, the praise of Israel.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

He asked you to give him a good life, and you gave him a long life, forever and ever.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

He made request to you for life, and you gave it to him, long life for ever and ever.

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.

clauseobjectחַיִּ֤יםlifeverbשָׁאַ֣לhe.askedprepositional phrase · prepositionalמִ֭מְּfromךָyouclauseverbנָתַ֣תָּהyou.gave.[it]prepositional phrase · prepositionalלּ֑toוֹhimnoun phrase · objectnoun phraseאֹ֥רֶךְlengthיָ֝מִ֗יםof.daysnoun phraseעוֹלָ֥םforeverוָandעֶֽדever

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 largely agree in their wording, with 8 of the 9 words matched. This indicates a strong consistency in the transmission of this verse across different traditions.

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

חַיִּ֤ים׀ שָׁאַ֣ל מִ֭מְּךָ נָתַ֣תָּה לּ֑וֹ אֹ֥רֶךְ יָ֝מִ֗ים עוֹלָ֥ם וָעֶֽד׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
חַיִּ֤ים׀ὅτιשָׁאַ֣לπροέφθασαςמִ֭מְּךָεὐλογίαιςנָתַ֣תָּהξρηστότητοςלּ֑וֹἔθηκαςאֹ֥רֶךְκεφαλὴνיָ֝מִ֗יםαὐτοῦעוֹלָ֥םστέφανον

8 of the 9 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.

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


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

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

Psalms 21:4חַיlifelifeחַישָׁאַלhe askedhe askedשָׁאַלמִן־from youfrom youמִן־נָתַןyou gave [iyou gave [it]נָתַןוֹto himto himוֹאֹ֫רֶךְlength oflength ofאֹ֫רֶךְיוֹםdaysdaysיוֹםעוֹלָםforeverforeverעוֹלָםעַדand everand everעַדחָיָהto liveto liveחָיָהאָרַךְto prolongto prolongאָרַךְעָלַםto concealto concealעָלַםעָדָהto advanceto advanceעָדָהמֵןstringstringמֵןעוֹףbirdbirdעוֹףשָׂדַיfieldfieldשָׂדַישְׁאֵלָהpetitionpetitionשְׁאֵלָהרָחַקto removeto removeרָחַקיָתַרto remainto remainיָתַרנַחֲלָהinheritancinheritanceנַחֲלָהזֶ֫רַעseedseedזֶ֫רַערֹ֫חַבwidthwidthרֹ֫חַבאַמָּהcubitcubitאַמָּהשְׁבִיעִיseventhseventhשְׁבִיעִישַׁבָּתSabbathSabbathשַׁבָּתעַדperpetuityperpetuityעַדדּוֹרgenerationgenerationדּוֹר
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 21:4

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

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

life he asked from you you gave [it] to him length of days forever and ever
חַיִּ֤ים׀chai.Yim life H2416 Noun common · masculine plural absolute
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.
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
HNcmpa — Noun common · masculine plural absolute
HNcmpa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

lif (chayyim, nephesh, ruach, chayah; zoe, psuche, bios, pneuma):

I. THE TERMS

II. THE OLD TESTAMENT TEACHING

1. Popular Use of the Term

2. Complexity of the Idea

III. IN THE APOCRYPHA

IV. IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

1. In the Synoptic Gospels

2. In the Fourth Gospel

3. In the Ac of the Apostles

4. In the Writings of Paul

5. In the Writings of John

6. In the Other Books of the New Testament

LITERATURE

I. The Terms.

Of the Hebrew terms, chayah is the verb which means "to live," "to have life," or the vital principle, "to continue to live," or "to live prosperously." In the Piel it signifies "to give life, or preserve, or quicken and restore life." The Hiphil is much like the Piel. The noun hayyim generally used in the plural is an abstract noun meaning "life," i.e. the possession of the vital principle with its energies and activities. Nephesh often means "living being" or "creature." Sometimes it has the…

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Life

Generally of physical life (Gen. 2:7; Luke 16:25, etc.); also used figuratively (1) for immortality (Heb. 7:16); (2) conduct or manner of life (Rom. 6:4); (3) spiritual life or salvation (John 3:16, 17, 18, 36); (4) eternal life (Matt. 19:16, 17; John 3:15); of God and Christ as the absolute source and cause of all life (John 1:4; 5:26, 39; 11:25; 12:50).

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

In the Bible, is either natural, Ge 3:17; spiritual, that of the renewed soul, Ro 8:6; or eternal, a holy and blissful immortality, Joh 3:36 Ro 6:23. Christ is the great Author of natural life, Col 1:16; and also of spiritual and eternal life; Joh 14:6 6:47. He has purchased these by laying down his own life; and gives them freely to his people, Joh 10:11,28. He is the spring of all their spiritual life on earth, Ga 2:20; will raise them up at the last day; and…

Nave's Topical Bible

→ MISCELLANY OF MINOR SUB-TOPICS

Breath of Ge 2:7

Called SPIRIT OF GOD Job 27:3

Tree of Ge 2:9; 3:22,24; Pr 3:18; 13:12; Re 2:7

→ (SACREDNESS OF, an inference from what is taught in the law concerning murder)

See HOMICIDE

Long life promised to obedient children Ex 20:12; De 5:16

To those who keep the commandments De 4:40; 22:7

Vanity of Ec 1; 2; 3; 4; 5; 6; 7

Hated Ec 2:17

life he asked from you you gave [it] to him length of days forever and ever
שָׁאַ֣לsha.'Al he asked H7592 Verb · Qal · perfect third person masculine singular
171× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To ask or inquire, this Hebrew word is used in the Bible to describe seeking information or requesting something. It can also mean to beg or borrow, and is used in many different contexts throughout the Old Testament. The KJV translates it as ask, beg, or borrow.
Tyndale gloss
to ask
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שָׁאַל (sha'al) means to ask or inquire, often in the context of requesting a favor or borrowing. It covers a range of uses, including seeking counsel, consulting deities, and even begging. The verb can appear in different forms, such as asking for oneself or granting requests. There is a noted Aramaic equivalent, שְׁאֵל (she.el), meaning 'to ask'.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שָׁאַל 170 vb. ask, inquire

Qal

ask, ask for

specif. ask as a fovour, for temporary use, i.e. borrow

in weakened sense, seek, desire (late)

inquire of

inquire of, consult, deity, oracle, etc.

in weakened sense, seek, desire (late)

Niph. ask for oneself

Pi.

inquire carefully

beg, practise beggary

Hiph. (prop. let one ask [successfully], give, or lend, on request, then) grant, make over to (as a favour, with or without request)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7592 שָׁאַל ask, inquire .. . ask, ask for

. specif. ask as a fovour, for temporary use, i.e. borrow

. in weakened sense, seek, desire (late)

. . inquire of

. inquire of, consult, deity, oracle, etc.

. in weakened sense, seek, desire (late)

. ask for oneself

. . inquire carefully

. beg, practise beggary

. (prop. let one ask [successfully], give, or lend, on request, then) grant, make over to (as a favour, with or without request)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7592 sha'al shaw-al'

or shael {shaw-ale'}; a primitive root; to inquire; by

implication, to request; by extension, to demand:--ask

(counsel, on), beg, borrow, lay to charge, consult, demand,

desire, X earnestly, enquire, + greet, obtain leave, lend,

pray, request, require, + salute, X straitly, X surely, wish.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שָׁאַל (sha.al) — to ask.

1) to ask, enquire, borrow, beg

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to ask, ask for

1a2) to ask (as a favour), borrow

1a3) to enquire, enquire of

1a4) to enquire of, consult (of deity, oracle)

1a5) to seek

1b) (Niphal) to ask for oneself, ask leave of absence

1c) (Piel)

1c1) to enquire, enquire carefully

1c2) to beg, practise beggary

1d) (Hiphil)

1d1) to be given on request

1d2) to grant, make over to, let (one) ask (successfully) or give or lend on request (then) grant or make over to

Aramaic equivalent: she.el (שְׁאֵל "to ask" H7593)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HVqp3ms — Verb · Qal · perfect third person masculine singular
HVqp3ms
life he asked from you you gave [it] to him length of days forever and ever
מִ֭מְּךָMi.me.kha from you H4480 Preposition · suffix
1,189× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means a portion or part of something, and is often used to show the relationship between things, like from or out of something.
Tyndale gloss
from
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

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

with verbs expressing (or implying) separation or removal

from, against

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

of position, off, on the side of, on

Out of, Gk. ἐκ, Lat. ex

Partitively

Of time—

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

as marking the period immediately succeeding the limit after

towards, to

(וְעַד) עַד … מִן from … even to

In comparisons, beyond, above

מן is prefixed to an infin.:

with causal force, from, on account of, through

after verbs implying restraint, prevention, cessation, etc.

with a temporal force, since, after

Once as a conj. before a finite verb. that

In compounds:

base

Read the full entry →
Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

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

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

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

. Out of, Gk. ἐκ, Lat. ex

. Partitively

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

. as marking the period immediately succeeding the limit after

. towards, to

. (וְעַד) עַד … מִן from … even to

. In comparisons, beyond, above

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

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

. with a temporal force, since, after

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

Read the full entry →
Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4480 min min

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

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

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

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

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

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

see HEBREW for 04482

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מִן־ (min) — from.

prep

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

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

1b) out of

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

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

1b3) (of source or origin)

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

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

1e) than, more than (in comparison)

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

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

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

conj

2) that

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

מֵן (men) — portion.

n.m.

portion

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HR/Sp2ms — Preposition · suffix
HR/Sp2ms
life he asked from you you gave [it] to him length of days forever and ever
נָתַ֣תָּהna.Ta.tah you gave [it] H5414 Verb · Qal · perfect second person masculine singular
2,011× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means to give, put, or set something, with a wide range of applications. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus, describing God's actions and human interactions. The word is used to convey giving, selling, or exchanging something.
Tyndale gloss
to give: give
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word נָתַן (natan) means 'to give' and encompasses a wide range of applications such as putting, setting, and making. It can also indicate actions like bestowing, delivering, and assigning. The entries describe its use in various forms, including Qal, Niphal, and Hophal, but do not present any significant disagreements among lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

נָתַן 2007 vb. give, put, set

Qal 1917

give

Put, set

Make, constitute

Niph.

82be given

Be put, set

Hoph.

be given, bestowed

= be given to one for wife

be put upon

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5414 נָתַן give, put, set .. give

. Put, set

. Make, constitute

. . be given

. Be put, set

. . . be given, bestowed

. = be given to one for wife

. be put upon

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5414 nathan naw-than'

a primitive root; to give, used with greatest latitude of

application (put, make, etc.):--add, apply, appoint, ascribe,

assign, X avenge, X be ((healed)), bestow, bring (forth,

hither), cast, cause, charge, come, commit, consider, count, +

cry, deliver (up), direct, distribute, do, X doubtless, X

without fail, fasten, frame, X get, give (forth, over, up),

grant, hang (up), X have, X indeed, lay (unto charge, up),

(give) leave, lend, let (out), + lie, lift up, make, + O that,

occupy, offer, ordain, pay, perform, place, pour, print, X

pull , put (forth), recompense, render, requite, restore, send

(out), set (forth), shew, shoot forth (up), + sing, + slander,

strike, (sub-)mit, suffer, X surely, X take, thrust, trade,

turn, utter, + weep, + willingly, + withdraw, + would (to)

God, yield.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נָתַן (na.tan) — to give: give.

: give/deliver/send/produce

1) to give, put, set

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to give, bestow, grant, permit, ascribe, employ, devote, consecrate, dedicate, pay wages, sell, exchange, lend, commit, entrust, give over, deliver up, yield produce, occasion, produce, requite to, report, mention, utter, stretch out, extend

1a2) to put, set, put on, put upon, set, appoint, assign, designate

1a3) to make, constitute

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be given, be bestowed, be provided, be entrusted to, be granted to, be permitted, be issued, be published, be uttered, be assigned

1b2) to be set, be put, be made, be inflicted

1c) (Hophal)

1c1) to be given, be bestowed, be given up, be delivered up

1c2) to be put upon

נָתַן (na.tan) — to give: put.

: put/set/apppoint

1) to give, put, set

1a) (Qal)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HVqp2ms — Verb · Qal · perfect second person masculine singular
HVqp2ms
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
life he asked from you you gave [it] to him length of days forever and ever
לּ֑וֹlo to him H9033 Preposition · suffix
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

וֹ (o) — him.

Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 3rd person masculine singular

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HR/Sp3ms — Preposition · suffix
HR/Sp3ms
life he asked from you you gave [it] to him length of days forever and ever
אֹ֥רֶךְ'O.rekh length of H753 Noun common · masculine singular construct
95× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Length can refer to physical distance or a long period of time, and also to patience and self-restraint, like waiting forever for something to happen.
Tyndale gloss
length
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אֹ֫רֶךְ (orek) means 'length' and can refer to physical length or duration of time. It also encompasses concepts of forbearance and self-restraint, particularly in the context of patience. The word is derived from a root associated with the idea of length, as noted in Strong's entries.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֹ֫רֶךְ 94 n.[m.] length

length

of time

forbearance, self-restraint

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H753 אֹ֫רֶךְ length

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

753 'orek o'rek'

from 748; length:--+ forever, length, long.

see HEBREW for 0748

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֹ֫רֶךְ (o.rekh) — length.

1) length

1a) physical length

1b) of time

2) forbearance, self-restraint (of patience)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HNcmsc — Noun common · masculine singular construct
HNcmsc
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…

life he asked from you you gave [it] to him length of days forever and ever
יָ֝מִ֗יםya.Mim days H3117 Noun common · masculine plural absolute
2,306× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word 'yom' refers to a day, which can be a literal 24-hour period or a figurative space of time. It is used in the Bible to describe a wide range of time periods, from a single day to a year or a lifetime. The word 'yom' is used in many different contexts throughout the Bible.
Tyndale gloss
day
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יוֹם (yowm) means 'day' and refers to a division of time, contrasting with night. It can denote a literal 24-hour period, a general time span, or even a year. The term is used in various contexts, including the 'day of Yahweh,' which signifies a time of divine judgment. It also appears in phrases indicating temporal references like today, yesterday, and tomorrow.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יוֹם 2285 n.m. day

day, opp. night

Day as division of time

יוֹם י׳ day of Yahweh, chiefly as time of his coming in judgment, involving often blessedness for righteous

Pl. days of anyone

Days

יוֹם = time

Phrases

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3117 יוֹם day . day, opp. night

. Day as division of time

. יוֹם י׳ day of Yahweh, chiefly as time of his coming in judgment, involving often blessedness for righteous

. Pl. days of anyone

. Days

. יוֹם = time

. Phrases

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3117 yowm yome

from an unused root meaning to be hot; a day (as the warm

hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one

sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by

an associated term), (often used adverb):--age, + always, +

chronicals, continually(-ance), daily, ((birth-), each, to)

day, (now a, two) days (agone), + elder, X end, + evening, +

(for) ever(-lasting, -more), X full, life, as (so) long as

(... live), (even) now, + old, + outlived, + perpetually,

presently, + remaineth, X required, season, X since, space,

then, (process of) time, + as at other times, + in trouble,

weather, (as) when, (a, the, within a) while (that), X whole

(+ age), (full) year(-ly), + younger.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יוֹם (yom) — day.

: day/when/time/period

1) day, time, year

1a) day (as opposed to night)

1b) day (24 hour period)

1b1) as defined by evening and morning in Genesis 1

1b2) as a division of time

1b2a) a working day, a day's journey

1c) days, lifetime (pl.)

1d) time, period (general)

1e) year

1f) temporal references

1f1) today

1f2) yesterday

1f3) tomorrow

יוֹם (yom) — day: old.

: old/(full/many)[days]

1) day, time, year

1a) day (as opposed to night)

1b) day (24 hour period)

1b1) as defined by evening and morning in Genesis 1

1b2) as a division of time

1b2a) a working day, a day's journey

1c) days, lifetime (pl.)

1d) time, period (general)

1e) year

1f) temporal references

1f1) today

1f2) yesterday

1f3) tomorrow

יוֹם (yom) — day: year.

: year[of_days]

1) day, time, year

1a) day (as opposed to night)

1b) day (24 hour period)

1b1) as defined by evening and morning in Genesis 1

1b2) as a division of time

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HNcmpa — Noun common · masculine plural absolute
HNcmpa
life he asked from you you gave [it] to him length of days forever and ever
עוֹלָ֥םo.Lam forever 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
HNcmsa — Noun common · masculine singular absolute
HNcmsa
life he asked from you you gave [it] to him length of days forever and ever
וָעֶֽד׃va.'Ed and ever H5703 Conjunction · noun common masculine singular absolute
49× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means forever or eternity, describing something that has no end, like God's existence. It's used in the Bible to talk about things that last forever. In Genesis, it describes God's eternal nature.
Tyndale gloss
perpetuity
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עַד, transliterated as ad, refers to the concept of perpetuity, encompassing both past and future time. It signifies a duration that can imply eternity or continuous existence. The term is associated with ancient mountains in the context of the past and is used to denote the idea of forever in relation to the future, particularly in reference to God's existence.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עַד and וָעֶ֑ד (so alw.) n.m. perpetuity (= advancing time)

of past time: ancient mountains

of future time, לָעַד for ever

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5703 עַד, וָעֶ֑ד perpetuity . of past time: ancient mountains

. of future time, לָעַד for ever

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5703 `ad ad

from 5710; properly, a (peremptory) terminus, i.e. (by

implication) duration, in the sense of advance or perpetuity

(substantially as a noun, either with or without a

preposition):--eternity, ever(- lasting, -more), old,

perpetually, + world without end.

see HEBREW for 05710

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עַד (ad) — perpetuity.

1) perpetuity, for ever, continuing future

1a) ancient (of past time)

1b) for ever (of future time)

1b1) of continuous existence

1c) for ever (of God's existence)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HC/Ncmsa — Conjunction · noun common masculine singular absolute
HC/Ncmsa
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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