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Psalms 25:9 — Word Study

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WLCיַדְרֵ֣ךְ עֲ֭נָוִים בַּמִּשְׁפָּ֑ט וִֽילַמֵּ֖ד עֲנָוִ֣ים דַּרְכּֽוֹ׃

BSAHe guidesdârak [leads, directs] the humbleʻânâv [meek, poor in spirit] in what is rightmishpâṭ [justice, judgment] and teacheslâmad [instructs, shows] themʻânâv His wayderek [path, manner of life]

Word
Listen & take awayPsalms 25
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 9 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 (dar.Ko) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Psalms 25:9quick helps
In a sentenceGod guides the humble in the right way and teaches them His path.
Who is speakingThe psalmist, reflecting on God's character and actions.
Where we areThis verse is part of a psalm that emphasizes God's guidance and righteousness.
The hard wordיַדְרֵךְ
Take awayGod's guidance is for those who are humble and seek His ways.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbדָּרַךְ 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 25:9

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 — God's Guidance for the Humblegenerated

8Good and upright is the LORD; therefore He shows sinners the way.
9He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them His way.
10All the LORD’s ways are loving and faithful to those who keep His covenant and His decrees.
11For the sake of Your name, O LORD, forgive my iniquity, for it is great.

Psalm 25:9 expresses God's commitment to guide those who are humble and teach them His righteous ways. This verse highlights the contrast between the humble and the proud, emphasizing that God's instruction is reserved for those who are meek and seek His justice. The surrounding verses reinforce God's character as good and upright, and His desire to lead sinners toward righteousness.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Psalm 22:26The poor will eat and be satisfied; those who seek the LORD will praise Him. May your hearts live forever!
2Psalm 76:9when God rose up to judge, to save all the lowly of the earth. Selah
3Psalm 147:6The LORD sustains the humble, but casts the wicked to the ground.
4Psalm 149:4For the LORD takes pleasure in His people; He adorns the afflicted with salvation.
5Isaiah 11:4but with righteousness He will judge the poor, and with equity He will decide for the lowly of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of His mouth and slay the wicked with the breath of His lips.

The Key Word יַדְרֵךְ, yad.Rekhgenerated

The verb דָּרַךְ (darakh) means to tread or lead, and here it is used in the Hiphil form, indicating that God actively leads the humble. This word encompasses a range of actions associated with guiding and directing, emphasizing God's role as a leader.

In this context, the focus is on the humble, described as עֲנָוִים (anavim), who are characterized by their meekness and lowliness. The act of leading them in justice underscores God's commitment to righteousness and moral guidance.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

This study references the Berean Standard Bible, which uses guides and teaches to convey the actions of God. The KJV and ASV also use guides, maintaining consistency in the depiction of God's leadership.

Where translations differ is in the rendering of עֲנָוִים. The KJV, ASV, and others use meek, while the BBE opts for poor in spirit, illustrating different nuances of humility.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The finite verb יַדְרֵךְ (yad.Rekh) governs the main clause, indicating God's action of leading. The structure includes a prepositional phrase describing the context of His guidance, and a second clause that elaborates on His teaching.

The sentence emphasizes God's active role in guiding the humble and teaching them His ways, with a clear focus on the relationship between God's guidance and the humility of those He leads.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates יַדְרֵךְ as ὁδηγήσει (hodēgēsei), which means 'He will lead'. This choice reinforces the idea of guidance and direction, aligning with the original Hebrew meaning.

The Greek term used for עֲנָוִים is πραεῖς (praeis), emphasizing meekness and humility, similar to the Hebrew context.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Psalm 25:9 tells us that God guides humble people in what is right and teaches them His way. This verse highlights the importance of humility in receiving God's guidance and instruction.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean for God to guide the humble?

It means that God provides direction and support to those who are meek and recognize their need for His help.

How can I be humble before God?

Being humble involves recognizing our limitations and relying on God's wisdom and guidance rather than our own understanding.

What is the significance of God's teaching?

God's teaching is vital for understanding His ways and living a life that aligns with His will and righteousness.

Why does God choose to guide the humble?

God chooses to guide the humble because they are open to His instruction and willing to follow His path.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what areas of my life do I need to seek God's guidance more earnestly?
  2. How can I cultivate humility in my daily interactions with others?
  3. What steps can I take to better understand and follow God's ways?
  4. How does recognizing my own limitations help me rely more on God's guidance?

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

The early Church Fathers referenced this verse to discuss God's guidance for the humble. Their quotations highlight the contrast between humility and pride in receiving God's instruction.

Augustine of HippoExposition on Psalms 25 354–430
"He will guide the meek in judgment." He will guide the meek, and will not confound in the judgment those that follow His will, and do not, in withstanding It, prefer their own.
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 25 →
CassiodorusEXPLANATION OF THE Psalms 25:9 c. 485–585
By using the term meek he excludes the proud and exalted.… “The mild” are just the opposite of the proud, who kick against the easy yoke and light burden with a freedom that does harm to them;
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 25 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Psalms 25:9 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

The meek will he guide in judgment,.... Or "the miserable" (z) and afflicted; such as see themselves to be wretched and miserable, lost and undone; and cry out, What shall we do to be saved?

Read John Gill on Psalms 25 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.

Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 25 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

The meek, i.e. the humble and lowly, such as meekly submit themselves to God’ s hand and word, and are willing and desirous to be directed and governed by him. In judgment, i.e. in the paths of judgment; or in the right way wherein they should walk, as the next clause explains this; or by the rule of his word, which is oft called his judgment, or judgments. Or, with judgment, i.e. with a wise and provident care, and a due regard to all their circumstances. See . His way; either God’ s way, which God prescribes; or his own way, in which he ought to walk.

Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 25 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Psalms 25:9 The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.Ver. 9. The meek will he guide in judgment] Or, the poor (viz. in spirit) will he make to tread in judgment; to foot it aright, to walk judiciously, to behave themselves wisely, as David did, 1 Samuel 10:14, so that Saul feared him, 1 Samuel 23:22. Natural conscience cannot but stoop to the image of God, shining in the hearts and lives of the really religious. And the meek will he teach his way] Such as lie at his feet, and say, Speak, Lord, for thy servant heareth; such as whose hearts are supple and soluble, tractable and teachable, so as that a little child may lead them, Isaiah 11:6. Austin was such a…

Read John Trapp on Psalms 25 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 9. The meek will he guide] ענוים anavim, the poor, the distressed; he will lead in judgment - he will direct them in their cause, and bring it to a happy issue, for he will show them the way in which they should go.

Read AdamClarke on Psalms 25 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

9. The meek] The humble-minded. See note on Psalms 9:12. Humility is indispensable for God’s scholars. Cp. 1 Peter 5:5. in judgment] The practice of right; often coupled with righteousness and equity; e.g. Proverbs 1:3.

Read Cambridge on Psalms 25 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The meek will he guide - The humble, the teachable, the prayerful, the gentle of spirit - those who are willing to learn.

Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 25 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

9. The meek—Or, humble. The idea is, that of a teachable, submissive spirit. As God will “teach sinners in the way,” (Psalms 25:8,) it would seem to be spoken for their encouragement.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Psalms 25 →

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 guides the humble in what is right and teaches them His way.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

He will guide the humble in justice. He will teach the humble his way.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them His way.

NETBNew English Translation2006

May he show the humble what is right! May he teach the humble his way!

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

The meek will he guide in justice; And the meek will he teach his way.

RVARevised Version, American1894

The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Them that be meeke, will hee guide in iudgement, and teach the humble his way.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

The meek will he guide in judgment, and the meek will he teach his way.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

He causeth the humble to tread in judgment, And teacheth the humble His way.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

He causes the humble to tread in judgment, || And teaches the humble His way.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

He guideth the meek in justice, and he teacheth the meek his way.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

He guides the humble in what is right and he teaches them his way.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

Take not away my soul, O God, with the wicked: nor my life with bloody men:

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

He leads those who are humble in doing what's right, teaching them his way.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

He will be an upright guide to the poor in spirit: he will make his way clear to them.

Word by word, the decisions they made

עֲ֭נָוִים'A.na.vim humble [people] H6035 2 different renderings
meekASV DBY ILT KJV NWB RVA
poor in spiritBBE

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.

clauseverbיַדְרֵ֣ךְhe.leadsobjectעֲ֭נָוִיםhumble.[people]prepositional phrase · prepositionalבַּinnoun phrase(the)מִּשְׁפָּ֑טjusticeוִֽandclauseverbילַמֵּ֖דhe.teachesobjectעֲנָוִ֣יםhumble.[people]noun phrase · second objectדַּרְכּֽwayוֹhis

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 show agreement in the wording of Psalm 25:9, with all six Hebrew words matched in the Greek translation. The Dead Sea Scrolls also align closely with the Masoretic Text, though some words were supplied by an editor due to damage.

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

יַדְרֵ֣ךְ עֲ֭נָוִים בַּמִּשְׁפָּ֑ט וִֽילַמֵּ֖ד עֲנָוִ֣ים דַּרְכּֽוֹ׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
יַדְרֵ֣ךְὁδηγήσειעֲ֭נָוִיםπραεῖςבַּמִּשְׁפָּ֑טκρίσειוִֽילַמֵּ֖דδιδάχειעֲנָוִ֣יםπραεῖςדַּרְכּֽוֹ׃αὐτοῦ

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.

Dead Sea Scrolls — 4Q83a copy a thousand years older than the Leningrad Codex

[ידרך] [ענוים] [במשפט] [וילמד] [ענוים] [דרכ׳ו]

nothing on the leather here — 6 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 25:9דָּרַךְhe leadshe leadsדָּרַךְעָנָוhumble [peohumble [people]עָנָומִשְׁפָּטin justicein justiceמִשְׁפָּטלָמַדso he may tso he may teachלָמַדעָנָוhumble [peohumble [people]עָנָודֶּ֫רֶךְway hisway hisדֶּ֫רֶךְעָנָהbe occupiebe occupiedעָנָהעָנִיafflictedafflictedעָנִישָׁפַטto judgeto judgeשָׁפַטדָּרַךְto treadto treadדָּרַךְלִיץto mockto mockלִיץשָׁפֵלto abaseto abaseשָׁפֵלחֹקstatute: dstatute: decreeחֹקהֵידָדshoutshoutהֵידָדיֶ֫קֶבwinewineיֶ֫קֶבחֻקָּהstatutestatuteחֻקָּהפָּנָהCorner (GaCorner (Gate)פָּנָהצָפוֹןZaphonZaphonצָפוֹן
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 25:9

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.

he leads humble [people] in justice so he may teach humble [people] way his
יַדְרֵ֣ךְyad.Rekh he leads H1869 Verb · Hiphil · jussive third person masculine singular
62× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To tread means to walk or step on something, and is used in the Bible to describe various actions, such as treading a press or leading an army. In Exodus 15:6 and Psalm 60:12, the word is used to describe God's power and leadership, highlighting His ability to guide and direct His people.
Amplified meaning
leads, directs
Tyndale gloss
to tread
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

דָּרַךְ (darakh) is a Hebrew verb meaning to tread or march. It encompasses a range of actions including walking, leading, and bending a bow. The word appears in various forms, such as Qal and Hiphil, indicating both simple and causative actions. Notably, it can refer to treading down or guiding others.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

דָּרַךְ vb. tread, march

Qal

tread, march, march forth

tread upon

tread wine- (or oil-) press

tread (i.e. bend) the bow

Hiph.

tread, tread down

tread (bend) the bow

causat. cause to tread or march, lead

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1869 דָּרַךְ tread, march

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1869 darak daw-rak'

a primitive root; to tread; by implication, to walk; also to

string a bow (by treading on it in bending):--archer, bend,

come, draw, go (over), guide, lead (forth), thresh, tread

(down), walk.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

דָּרַךְ (da.rakh) — to tread.

1) to tread, bend, lead, march

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to tread, march, march forth

1a2) to tread on, tread upon

1a3) to tread (a press)

1a4) to tread (bend) a bow

1a5) archer, bow-benders (participle)

1b) (Hiphil)

1b1) to tread, tread down

1b2) to tread (bend with the foot) a bow

1b3) to cause to go, lead, march, tread

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Hiphil-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Hiphil · jussive third person masculine singular
HVhj3ms
he leads humble [people] in justice so he may teach humble [people] way his
עֲ֭נָוִים'A.na.vim humble [people] H6035 Adj
22× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To be poor or humble, often describing someone who is meek or weak. In the Bible, it can also mean to be afflicted or lowly, as seen in Matthew 5:5.
Amplified meaning
meek, poor in spirit
Tyndale gloss
poor
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עָנָו (anav) refers to a state of being poor, afflicted, humble, or meek. It is built from the root associated with being depressed in mind or circumstances, particularly in a saintly context. The term encompasses a range of meanings related to humility and neediness, as highlighted in various lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עָנָו n.m. poor, afflicted, humble, meek

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6035 עָנָו poor, afflicted, humble, meek

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6035 `anav aw-nawv'

or (by intermixture with 6041) Aanayv {aw-nawv'}; from 6031;

depressed (figuratively), in mind (gentle) or circumstances

(needy, especially saintly):--humble, lowly, meek, poor.

Compare 6041.

see HEBREW for 06041

see HEBREW for 06031

see HEBREW for 06041

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עָנָו (a.nav) — poor.

1) poor, humble, afflicted, meek

1a) poor, needy

1b) poor and weak

1c) poor, weak and afflicted

1d) humble, lowly, meek

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adj — Adj
HAampa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

pe'-p'-l: In English Versions of the Bible represents something over a dozen Hebrew and Greek words. Of these, in the Old Testament, `am, is overwhelmingly the most common (about 2,000 times), with le'om, and goy, next in order; but the various Hebrew words are used with very little or no difference in force (e.g. Pr 14:28; but, on the other hand, in Ps 44 contrast verses 12 and 14). Of the changes introduced by the Revised Version (British and American) the only one of significance (cited explicitly in the Preface to the English Revised Version) is the frequent use of the plural "peoples" (strangely avoided in the King James Version except Re 10:11; 17:15), where other nations than Israel are in question. So, for instance, in Ps…

he leads humble [people] in justice so he may teach humble [people] way his
בַּמִּשְׁפָּ֑טba.mish.Pat in justice H4941 Preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
422× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Mishpat means justice or judgment, and is often used to describe God's righteous judgment, as well as human laws and decisions, in books like Deuteronomy and Isaiah.
Amplified meaning
justice, judgment
Tyndale gloss
justice: judgement
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word מִשְׁפָּט (mishpat) primarily means judgment or justice and encompasses various aspects such as legal rights, ordinances, and decisions. It is derived from a root meaning to pronounce a verdict, covering both human and divine law. The entries highlight its application in legal contexts, including the act of deciding cases and the attributes of justice and rectitude.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מִשְׁפָּט 422 n.m. judgment

judgment

justice, right, rectitude

ordinance

decision

one's (legal) right, privilege, due

proper, fitting, measure

custom, manner

what manner of

plan

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4941 מִשְׁפָּט judgment . judgment

. justice, right, rectitude

. ordinance

. decision

. one's (legal) right, privilege, due

. . proper, fitting, measure

. custom, manner

. what manner of

. plan

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4941 mishpat mish-pawt'

from 8199; properly, a verdict (favorable or unfavorable)

pronounced judicially, especially a sentence or formal decree

(human or (participant's) divine law, individual or

collective), including the act, the place, the suit, the

crime, and the penalty; abstractly, justice, including a

participant's right or privilege (statutory or customary), or

even a style:--+ adversary, ceremony, charge, X crime,

custom, desert, determination, discretion, disposing, due,

fashion, form, to be judged, judgment, just(-ice, -ly),

(manner of) law(-ful), manner, measure, (due) order,

ordinance, right, sentence, usest, X worthy, + wrong.

see HEBREW for 08199

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מִשְׁפָּט (mish.pat) — justice: judgement.

: judgement/punishment

1) judgment, justice, ordinance

1a) judgment

1a1) act of deciding a case

1a2) place, court, seat of judgment

1a3) process, procedure, litigation (before judges)

1a4) case, cause (presented for judgment)

1a5) sentence, decision (of judgment)

1a6) execution (of judgment)

1a7) time (of judgment)

1b) justice, right, rectitude (attributes of God or man)

1c) ordinance

1d) decision (in law)

1e) right, privilege, due (legal)

1f) proper, fitting, measure, fitness, custom, manner, plan

מִשְׁפָּט (mish.pat) — justice.

: justice/right/righteousness

1) judgment, justice, ordinance

1a) judgment

1a1) act of deciding a case

1a2) place, court, seat of judgment

1a3) process, procedure, litigation (before judges)

1a4) case, cause (presented for judgment)

1a5) sentence, decision (of judgment)

1a6) execution (of judgment)

1a7) time (of judgment)

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

jus'-tis (tsedhaqah; tsedheq; dikaiosune): The original Hebrew and Greek words are the same as those rendered "righteousness." This is the common rendering, and in about half the cases where we have "just" and "justice" in the King James Version, the American Standard Revised Version has changed to "righteous" and "righteousness." It must be constantly borne in mind that the two ideas are essentially the same.

See RIGHTEOUSNESS.

1. Human Justice:

Justice had primarily to do with conduct in relation to others, especially with regard to the rights of others. It is applied to business, where just weights and measures are demanded (Le 19:35,36; De 25:13-16; Am 8:5; Pr 11:1; 16:11…

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Justice

Is rendering to every one that which is his due. It has been distinguished from equity in this respect, that while justice means merely the doing what positive law demands, equity means the doing of what is fair and right in every separate case.

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

A principle of righteousness and equity, controlling our conduct, and securing a due regard to all the rights of others-their persons, property, character, and interests. It has to do, not with pecuniary transactions alone, but with all our intercourse with society. It forms a chief element of the character approved in God’s word; and a truly just man has but to "love mercy, and walk humbly with God," to fulfil all righteousness. Justice in magistrates, rulers, and judges, must be fearless and impartial, and all its decisions such as will bear revision before the court of heaven, De 1:16,17 2Sa 23:3 2Ch 19:6-10. Judgement is peculiarly the prerogative of God, and every earthly tribunal lies under the shadow of the "great white…

Nave's Topical Bible

→ General scriptures concerning Ex 23:1-3,6-8; Le 19:13-15; De 16:18-20; 25:1-4; Ezr 7:26; Ps 72:1,2; 82:2-4; Pr 17:15,26; 18:5,17; 20:8; 22:27; 24:23; 28:21; 29:26; Ec 3:16,17; 5:8; 7:7; Isa 1:17; 56:1; 59:14,15; Jer 22:1-4; La 3:35,36; Am 5:7,11,12;

he leads humble [people] in justice so he may teach humble [people] way his
וִֽילַמֵּ֖דvi.la.Med so he may teach H3925 Conjunction · verb piel third person masculine singular
86× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To learn or teach in the Bible means to guide someone, like using a rod to direct an animal. It is about instructing or training someone, as seen in Proverbs and Psalms. Teaching is an important theme in the Bible.
Amplified meaning
instructs, shows
Tyndale gloss
to learn: teach
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

לָמַד (lamad) is a Hebrew verb meaning to learn or teach. It encompasses the ideas of exercising in a skill, being trained, and instructing others. The root suggests a connection to motivation or incentive, as seen in the context of teaching with a rod. The verb appears in various forms, including Qal (to learn), Piel (to teach), and Pual (to be taught).

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

לָמַד vb. exercise in, learn

Qal learn something

Piel teach

Pual trained; taught

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3925 לָמַד exercise in, learn .learn something

.teach

.trained; taught

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3925 lamad law-mad'

a primitive root; properly, to goad, i.e. (by implication) to

teach (the rod being an Oriental incentive):(un-) accustomed,

X diligently, expert, instruct, learn, skilful, teach(-er, -

ing).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

לָמַד (la.mad) — to learn: teach.

: teach

1) to learn. teach, exercise in

1a) (Qal) to learn

1b) (Piel) to teach

1c) (Pual) to be taught, be trained

Also means: la.mad (לָמַד ": learn" H3925H)

לָמַד (la.mad) — to learn: learn.

: learn

1) to learn. teach, exercise in

1a) (Qal) to learn

1b) (Piel) to teach

1c) (Pual) to be taught, be trained

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Piel-Imperf-3ms — Conjunction · verb piel third person masculine singular
HC/Vpu3ms
he leads humble [people] in justice so he may teach humble [people] way his
עֲנָוִ֣ים'a.na.Vim humble [people] H6035 Adj
22× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To be poor or humble, often describing someone who is meek or weak. In the Bible, it can also mean to be afflicted or lowly, as seen in Matthew 5:5.
Tyndale gloss
poor
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עָנָו (anav) refers to a state of being poor, afflicted, humble, or meek. It is built from the root associated with being depressed in mind or circumstances, particularly in a saintly context. The term encompasses a range of meanings related to humility and neediness, as highlighted in various lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עָנָו n.m. poor, afflicted, humble, meek

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6035 עָנָו poor, afflicted, humble, meek

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6035 `anav aw-nawv'

or (by intermixture with 6041) Aanayv {aw-nawv'}; from 6031;

depressed (figuratively), in mind (gentle) or circumstances

(needy, especially saintly):--humble, lowly, meek, poor.

Compare 6041.

see HEBREW for 06041

see HEBREW for 06031

see HEBREW for 06041

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עָנָו (a.nav) — poor.

1) poor, humble, afflicted, meek

1a) poor, needy

1b) poor and weak

1c) poor, weak and afflicted

1d) humble, lowly, meek

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adj — Adj
HAampa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

pe'-p'-l: In English Versions of the Bible represents something over a dozen Hebrew and Greek words. Of these, in the Old Testament, `am, is overwhelmingly the most common (about 2,000 times), with le'om, and goy, next in order; but the various Hebrew words are used with very little or no difference in force (e.g. Pr 14:28; but, on the other hand, in Ps 44 contrast verses 12 and 14). Of the changes introduced by the Revised Version (British and American) the only one of significance (cited explicitly in the Preface to the English Revised Version) is the frequent use of the plural "peoples" (strangely avoided in the King James Version except Re 10:11; 17:15), where other nations than Israel are in question. So, for instance, in Ps…

he leads humble [people] in justice so he may teach humble [people] way his
דַּרְכּֽוֹ׃dar.Ko way his H1870 Noun common both singular construct · suffix
708× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Derek refers to a road or path, and can also mean a way of life or manner of action. It is often used to describe a journey or direction, and can be used figuratively to describe a person's character or moral path.
Amplified meaning
path, manner of life
Tyndale gloss
way: road
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

דֶּ֫רֶךְ (derek) means way, road, or journey, and can refer to both literal paths and figurative courses of life or actions. It encompasses various aspects such as direction, manner, and moral character, often highlighting the nature of one's conduct. The term is used in both positive and negative contexts, reflecting the moral implications of one's path.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

דֶּ֫רֶךְ 715 n.m. way, road, distance, journey, manner

way, road, path

journey

of direction, almost or quite = toward

way, manner

fig. of course of life, or action, undertakings

of moral action and character

of duty

specif.: in good sense

oftener in bad sense

way of י׳

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1870 דֶּ֫רֶךְ way, road, distance, journey, manner . way, road, path

. journey

. of direction, almost or quite = toward

. way, manner

. fig. of course of life, or action, undertakings

. . of moral action and character

. of duty

. specif.: in good sense

. oftener in bad sense

. way of י׳

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1870 derek deh'-rek

from 1869; a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of

life or mode of action, often adverb:--along, away, because

of, + by, conversation, custom, (east-)ward, journey, manner,

passenger, through, toward, (high-) (path-)way(-side),

whither(-soever).

see HEBREW for 01869

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

דֶּ֫רֶךְ (de.rekh) — way: conduct.

: conduct/lifestyle

1) way, road, distance, journey, manner

1a) road, way, path

1b) journey

1c) direction

1d) manner, habit, way

1e) of course of life (fig.)

1f) of moral character (fig.)

דֶּ֫רֶךְ (de.rekh) — Way.

This name means way, road

דֶּ֫רֶךְ (de.rekh) — (King's) Highway.

This name means way, road

Combined with me.lekh (מֶ֫לֶךְ "King's" H4428I)

דֶּ֫רֶךְ (de.rekh) — way: direction.

: direction

1) way, road, distance, journey, manner

1a) road, way, path

1b) journey

1c) direction

1d) manner, habit, way

1e) of course of life (fig.)

1f) of moral character (fig.)

דֶּ֫רֶךְ (de.rekh) — way: road.

: road/route

1) way, road, distance, journey, manner

1a) road, way, path

1b) journey

1c) direction

1d) manner, habit, way

1e) of course of life (fig.)

1f) of moral character (fig.)

דֶּ֫רֶךְ (de.rekh) — way: journey.

: journey

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-cs | Suff — Noun common both singular construct · suffix
HNcbsc/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."

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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