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Psalms 26:4 — Word Study

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WLCלֹא־ יָ֭שַׁבְתִּי עִם־ מְתֵי־ שָׁ֑וְא וְעִ֥ם נַ֝עֲלָמִ֗ים לֹ֣א אָבֽוֹא׃

BSAI do notlôʼ [never, under no circumstances] sityâshab [dwell, remain] withʻim deceitfulshâvᵉʼ [false, dishonest] menmath [grown men, individuals] norlôʼ keep companybôwʼ [associate, gather] withʻim hypocritesʻâlam [dissemblers, pretenders]

Word
Listen & take awayPsalms 26
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 ('a.Vo') — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Psalms 26:4quick helps
In a sentenceThe psalmist declares his refusal to associate with deceitful and hypocritical individuals.
Who is speakingThe psalmist, expressing his commitment to truth.
Where we areIn a reflection on personal integrity and relationships.
The hard wordשָׁוְא
Take awayThe psalmist chooses integrity over falsehood.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbיָשַׁב 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 26:4

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 Declaration of Integritygenerated

3For Your loving devotion is before my eyes, and I have walked in Your truth.
4I do not sit with deceitful men, nor keep company with hypocrites.
5I hate the mob of evildoers, and refuse to sit with the wicked.
6I wash my hands in innocence that I may go about Your altar, O LORD,

Psalm 26:4 expresses the psalmist's determination to avoid the company of deceitful and hypocritical individuals. This declaration is part of a larger reflection on the importance of walking in truth and maintaining integrity, as seen in the surrounding verses. The psalmist contrasts his own commitment to God's truth with the behavior of those who engage in falsehood and deceit, reinforcing a theme found throughout the Psalms.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Psalm 1:1Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, or set foot on the path of sinners, or sit in the seat of mockers.
2Psalm 119:63–115I am a friend to all who fear You, and to those who keep Your precepts.
3Proverbs 9:6Leave your folly behind, and you will live; walk in the way of understanding.”
4Proverbs 12:11The one who works his land will have plenty of food, but whoever chases fantasies lacks judgment.
5Proverbs 13:20He who walks with the wise will become wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed.

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

I have not sat with vain persons, neither will I go in with dissemblers.Psalm 1:1 Psalm 119:63–115 Proverbs 9:6 Proverbs 12:11 Proverbs 13:20 Jeremiah 15:17 1 Corinthians 15:33 2 Corinthians 6:17

The Key Word יָשַׁב, Ya.shav.tigenerated

The verb יָשַׁב (yashab) means to sit, dwell, or remain. It conveys the idea of establishing oneself in a place or situation, which in this context emphasizes the psalmist's refusal to dwell among deceitful individuals.

The parsing as a perfect first person common singular indicates a completed action in the past, highlighting the psalmist's firm decision regarding his associations.


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 יָשַׁב governs the first clause, indicating the psalmist's refusal to sit with deceitful men. The second clause introduces another verb, אָבֽוֹא, which is linked by the conjunction וְ (and), indicating a parallel action.

The structure emphasizes the psalmist's strong stance against both deceit and hypocrisy, with the negative particle לֹא framing his decisions.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates יָשַׁב as ἐκάθισα (I sat), indicating a direct correspondence in meaning. This choice reinforces the psalmist's active decision to avoid deceitful company.

The term שָׁוְא is rendered as ματαιότητος (vanity), which carries a similar connotation of emptiness and falsehood, aligning with the psalmist's condemnation of deceit.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Psalm 26:4 shows the psalmist's commitment to integrity by stating he does not associate with deceitful men or hypocrites. This reflects his desire to walk in truth and avoid falsehood.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does the psalmist mean by 'deceitful men'?

Deceitful men refer to those who engage in dishonest behavior, lacking integrity and truthfulness.

Why is it important for the psalmist to avoid hypocrites?

Avoiding hypocrites is crucial for maintaining one's integrity and aligning with those who share a commitment to truth.

How does this verse relate to the theme of integrity in the Psalms?

This verse reinforces the theme of integrity by contrasting the psalmist's commitment to truth with the behavior of those who engage in falsehood.

What can we learn from the psalmist's declaration?

We can learn the importance of choosing our associations wisely and the value of maintaining integrity in our relationships.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what ways can I ensure that my associations reflect my values and commitment to truth?
  2. How do I respond when I encounter deceitful behavior in others?
  3. What steps can I take to cultivate integrity in my own life?
  4. How can I support others in their pursuit of truth and integrity?

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

Early church fathers comment on this verse to illustrate the importance of integrity and the rejection of falsehood in the life of the believer.

Augustine of HippoExposition on Psalms 26 354–430
"I have not sat with the council of vanity" [Psalms 26:4]. I have not chosen to give my heart to them who endeavour to provide, what is impossible,
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 26 →
CassiodorusEXPLANATION OF THE Psalms 26:4 c. 485–585
Now he lists the things that he has accomplished through the Lord’s kindness; such kindness is the basis of his claim that he was pleasing to God.
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 26 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Psalms 26:4 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

I have not sat with vain persons,.... Or "men of vanity" (t); who are full of it; who are addicted to the vanities of the world; who pursue the riches, honours, pleasures, and profits of it; which is

Read John Gill on Psalms 26 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

I have not sat with vain persons, neither will I go in with dissemblers. Vain persons - i:e., deceitful persons. He who keeps before his eyes the "truth" of God (Psalms 26:3) cannot have pleasure in untruth.

Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 26 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

I have not sat, i.e. chosen or used to converse with them; for sitting is a posture of ease and of continuance. I have been so far from an approbation or imitation of their wicked courses, (wherewith mine enemies reproach me,) that I have avoided even their company; and if accidentally I came into it, yet I would not abide in it. With vain persons, i.e. with liars, or false and deceitful persons, as the next clause explains it. And vanity is very frequently put for falsehood or lying. Neither will I go in; into their company, or with design to join in their counsels or courses, as the same word is used, . And conversation is oft expressed by going out and coming in. With dissemblers, Heb.…

Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 26 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Psalms 26:4 I have not sat with vain persons, neither will I go in with dissemblers.Ver. 4. I have not sat with vain persons] Who are void of God’ s holy fear, but filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness, &c., Romans 1:29. Courtiers are such for most part, and David never delighted in such company, to sit with them, especially when they were acting mischief; which while Cromwell did at the condemnation of Lambert, martyr, and Sir John Cheek at other such like meetings, they were cast upon no small snares and inconveniences. See Jeremiah 15:17. Neither will I go in with dissemblers] Heb. close workers of iniquity, secret and sly sirs, such as hide themselves…

Read John Trapp on Psalms 26 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 4. I have not sat with vain persons] מתי שוא methey shav, men of lies, dissemblers, backbiters, &c. Neither will I go in with dissemblers] נעלמים naalamim, the hidden ones, the dark designers, the secret plotters and conspirators in the state.

Read AdamClarke on Psalms 26 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

4–7. The proof of his integrity in his conduct in the past, and his purpose for the future.

Read Cambridge on Psalms 26 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

I have not sat with vain persons - That is, I have not been found among them; I have not made them my companions. See the notes at Psalms 1:1. The word “vain” here is in contrast with those who are sincere and true.

Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 26 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

4. Hitherto David has based his prayer upon his relation to God; in Psalms 26:4-5 he pleads his discreet and pure associations with men. Vain persons— Literally, mortals of vanity, or emptiness.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Psalms 26 →

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

I do not sit with deceitful men, nor keep company with hypocrites.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

I have not sat with deceitful men, neither will I go in with hypocrites.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

I do not sit with deceitful men, nor keep company with hypocrites.

NETBNew English Translation2006

I do not associate with deceitful men, or consort with those who are dishonest.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

I have not sat with vain persons, neither will I go in with dissemblers.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

I have not sat with men of falsehood; Neither will I go in with dissemblers.

RVARevised Version, American1894

I have not sat with vain persons; neither will I go in with dissemblers.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

I have not sat with vain persons, neither will I go in with dissemblers.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

I haue not hanted with vaine persons, neither kept companie with the dissemblers.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

I have not sat with vain persons, neither have I gone in with dissemblers;

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

I have not sat with vain men, And with dissemblers I enter not.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

I have not sat with vain men, || And I do not enter with pretenders.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

I have not sat with men of falsehood, and with dissemblers will I not enter [in communion].

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

I do not associate with deceitful people, nor do I mingle with dishonest people.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

One thing I have asked of the Lord, this will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life. That I may see the delight of the Lord, and may visit his temple.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

I don't join in with liars and I don't associate with hypocrites.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

I have not taken my seat with foolish persons, and I do not go with false men.

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.

clauseadverbialלֹאnotverbיָ֭שַׁבְתִּיI.sitprepositional phrase · prepositionalעִםwithnoun phraseמְתֵיmenשָׁ֑וְאof.falsehoodוְandclauseprepositional phrase · prepositionalעִ֥םwithנַ֝עֲלָמִ֗ים[those.who].conceal.themselvesadverbialלֹ֣אnotverbאָבֽוֹאI.go

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 the wording of this verse, with a word-by-word correspondence that shows consistency in the translation of key terms.

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

לֹא־ יָ֭שַׁבְתִּי עִם־ מְתֵי־ שָׁ֑וְא וְעִ֥ם נַ֝עֲלָמִ֗ים לֹ֣א אָבֽוֹא׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
לֹא־οὐκיָ֭שַׁבְתִּיἐκάθισαעִם־μετὰמְתֵי־συνεδρίουשָׁ֑וְאματαιότητοςוְעִ֥םμετὰנַ֝עֲלָמִ֗יםπαρανομούντωνלֹ֣אοὐאָבֽוֹא׃εἰσέλθω

9 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 26:4לֹאnotnotלֹאיָשַׁבI sitI sitיָשַׁבעִםwithwithעִםמַתmen ofmen ofמַתשָׁוְאfalsehoodfalsehoodשָׁוְאעִםand withand withעִםעָלַם[those who][those who] conעָלַםלֹאnotnotלֹאבּוֹאI goI goבּוֹאעָמַםto darkento darkenעָמַםמָתַיhowhowמָתַישׁוֹאravageravageשׁוֹאיָכֹלbe ablebe ableיָכֹלעוֹדstillstillעוֹדשָׁכַבto lie dowto lie down: laשָׁכַבקָבַרto buryto buryקָבַרבֶּ֫טַחsecuritysecurityבֶּ֫טַחכְּנַעֲנִיCanaanitesCanaanitessכְּנַעֲנִימִסְפָּרnumbernumberמִסְפָּרמְעַטlittlelittleמְעַטכָּזָבlielieכָּזָבקָסַםto divineto divineקָסַםעַ֫יִןeyeeyeעַ֫יִןשֶׁ֫מֶשׁsunsunשֶׁ֫מֶשׁ
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 26:4

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.

not I sit with men of falsehood and with [those who] conceal themselves not I go
לֹא־lo'- not H3808 Particle
5,170× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for not or no is used to indicate absence or negation, as when God says no to the Israelites' requests, or when they disobey His commands.
Amplified meaning
never, under no circumstances
Tyndale gloss
not
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

לֹא (lo') is a Hebrew word meaning 'not' or 'no.' It serves as a simple negation and can imply absence or prohibition. The word can also be used in various contexts, often combined with other particles for emphasis or clarification. Its Aramaic equivalent is לָא (la), which also means 'not.'

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

לֹא or לוֹא adv. not

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3808 לֹא or לוֹא not

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3808 lo' lo

or lowi {lo}; or loh (Deut. 3:11) {lo}; a primitive particle;

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often

used with other particles (as follows):--X before, + or else,

ere, + except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never,

no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), (X as though...,(can-), for) not (out

of), of nought, otherwise, out of, + surely, + as truly as, +

of a truth, + verily, for want, + whether, without.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

לֹא (lo) — not.

1) not, no

1a) not (with verb-absolute prohibition)

1b) not (with modifier-negation)

1c) nothing (subst)

1d) without (with particle)

1e) before (of time)

Aramaic equivalent: la (לָא "not" H3809)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Part — Particle
HTn
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
not I sit with men of falsehood and with [those who] conceal themselves not I go
יָ֭שַׁבְתִּיYa.shav.ti I sit H3427 Verb · Qal · perfect first person common singular
1,079× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This verb means to sit or dwell, and can also mean to remain or abide. It's used in the Bible to describe people living in a place or staying with someone, like in the book of Genesis.
Amplified meaning
dwell, remain
Tyndale gloss
to dwell
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יָשַׁב 1090 vb. sit, remain, dwell

Qal

sit

sit, sit down

sit down

sit = be set (as a jewel)

remain, stay, tarry

with special emphasis of qualifying phr.

dwell, have one’s abode

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

Niph. be inhabited, of land

Pi. and they shall set their encampments in thee

Hiph.

cause to sit

cause to abide

cause to dwell

cause cities to be inhabited

marry (prop. give a dwelling to)

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

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3427 יָשַׁב sit, remain, dwell

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3427 yashab yaw-shab'

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

take, tarry.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יָשַׁב (ya.shav) — to dwell.

1) to dwell, remain, sit, abide

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to sit, sit down

1a2) to be set

1a3) to remain, stay

1a4) to dwell, have one's abode

1b) (Niphal) to be inhabited

1c) (Piel) to set, place

1d) (Hiphil)

1d1) to cause to sit

1d2) to cause to abide, set

1d3) to cause to dwell

1d4) to cause (cities) to be inhabited

1d5) to marry (give an dwelling to)

1e) (Hophal)

1e1) to be inhabited

1e2) to make to dwell

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

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Perf-1cs — Verb · Qal · perfect first person common singular
HVqp1cs
not I sit with men of falsehood and with [those who] conceal themselves not I go
עִם־'im- with H5973 Preposition
1,052× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means with or together, like when God is with his people in Exodus 33:14-15. It's used to describe accompaniment or association, and can also mean against or beside. The word is used to convey a sense of relationship or proximity between people or things.
Tyndale gloss
with
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עִם (im) is a preposition meaning 'with' and covers a range of relationships, including companionship, locality, and possession. It can imply actions done jointly, equality, or even opposition in contexts like combat. The related form מֵעִם (me.im) means 'from with' or 'beside.' The entries reflect various nuances but do not present significant disagreement.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עִם prep. with

of fellowship and companionship

of aid

Of actions done jointly with another

If the common action be of the nature of a contest or combat, with in the sense of against

Of dealing with a person, or of the relation in which one stands with, or towards, another

Of a common lot together with the wicked

Of equality or resemblance generally aid

Of time, as long as

Of a locality, close to, beside

Of persons, עִם is spec.

in the house or family or service of

In possession of

In the custody or care of

Beside = except

With = friendly with

Idiom. of a thought or purpose present with one

Metaph. together with = in spite of, notwithstanding

base

מֵעִם 72 from with or beside

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5973a עִם with . of fellowship and companionship

. Of a locality, close to, beside

. Of persons, עִם is spec. . in the house or family or service of

. In possession of

. In the custody or care of

. Beside = except

. With = friendly with

. Idiom. of a thought or purpose present with one

. Metaph. together with = in spite of, notwithstanding

H5973b מֵעִם from with, beside

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5973 `im eem

from 6004; adverb or preposition, with (i.e. in conjunction

with), in varied applications; specifically, equally with;

often with prepositional prefix (and then usually

unrepresented in English):--accompanying, against, and, as (X

long as), before, beside, by (reason of), for all, from

(among, between), in, like, more than, of, (un-)to,

with(-al).

see HEBREW for 06004

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עִם (im) — with.

1) with

1a) with

1b) against

1c) toward

1d) as long as

מֵעִם (me.im) — from with.

1a) beside, except

1b) in spite of

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep — Preposition
HR
not I sit with men of falsehood and with [those who] conceal themselves not I go
מְתֵי־me.tei- men of H4962 Noun common · masculine plural construct
22× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word refers to a grown man, as seen in Genesis 14:24 and Numbers 31:28. It can also mean a few men or a small group of people, depending on the context. The word is used to describe adult males in various biblical stories.
Amplified meaning
grown men, individuals
Tyndale gloss
man
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מַת (mat) refers to a male or man, often used in both prose and poetry. The term emphasizes adult males and can imply a group of men, sometimes with less focus on gender. It is derived from a related word, but its usage is primarily in the plural form.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[מַת] n.m. male, man

males, men

usu. less emphasis on sex

elsewhere only poet.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4962 [מַת] male, man

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4962 math math

from the same as 4970; properly, an adult (as of full

length); by implication, a man (only in the plural):--+ few,

X friends, men, persons, X small.

see HEBREW for 04970

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מַת (mat) — man.

1) male, man

1a) males, men

1b) few men (in prose)

1b1) less emphasis on sex

1c) men (poetic)

1c1) less emphasis on sex

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-mp — Noun common · masculine plural construct
HNcmpc
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…

not I sit with men of falsehood and with [those who] conceal themselves not I go
שָׁ֑וְאShav' falsehood H7723 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
53× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Vanity or falsehood, this word describes something empty, useless, or deceitful, like the idols worshipped by the Israelites in Isaiah 41:29, or the lies and false promises spoken by false prophets in Jeremiah 23:25.
Amplified meaning
false, dishonest
Tyndale gloss
vanity: false
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word שָׁוְא (*shav*) means emptiness or vanity. It conveys ideas of falsehood, worthlessness, and deception, both in a literal sense and in terms of moral or spiritual emptiness. The lexicons highlight its use in describing empty speech or conduct that is devoid of value.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שָׁוְא n.[m.] emptiness, vanity

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7723 שָׁוְא emptiness, vanity

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7723 shav' shawv

or shav {shav}; from the same as 7722 in the sense of

desolating; evil (as destructive), literally (ruin) or morally

(especially guile); figuratively idolatry (as false,

subjective), uselessness (as deceptive, objective; also

adverbially, in vain):--false(-ly), lie, lying, vain, vanity.

see HEBREW for 07722

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שָׁוְא (shav) — vanity: false.

: false

1) emptiness, vanity, falsehood

1a) emptiness, nothingness, vanity

1b) emptiness of speech, lying

1c) worthlessness (of conduct)

Also means: shav (שָׁוְא ": vain" H7723H)

שָׁוְא (shav) — vanity: vain.

: vain/empty/worthless

1) emptiness, vanity, falsehood

1a) emptiness, nothingness, vanity

1b) emptiness of speech, lying

1c) worthlessness (of conduct)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absolute
HNcmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

fols'-hood.

See LYING.

Nave's Topical Bible

→ General scriptures concerning Ex 20:16; 23:1; Le 6:2-7; 19:11,12,16; Job 13:4; 21:34; 27:4; 31:5,6,33; 36:4; Ps 5:6,9; 10:7; 12:2,3; 28:3; 31:18; 34:13; 36:3; 50:19,20; 52:2-5; 55:21,23; 58:3; 59:12; 62:4; 63:11; 101:5,7; 109:2; 116:11; 119:29,69,163; 120:2-4; 144:8,11; Pr 2:12-15; 3:3; 6:12,13,17-19; 10:9,10,18,31; 11:9; 12:17,19,20,22; 13:5; 14:5,8,25; 17:4,7; 19:5,9,22,28; 20:17; 21:6; 26:18,19,24-26,28; 27:14; Ec 5:6; Isa 28:15; 32:7; 57:11; 59:3,4,12,13; 63:8;

not I sit with men of falsehood and with [those who] conceal themselves not I go
וְעִ֥םve.'Im and with H5973 Conjunction · preposition
1,052× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means with or together, like when God is with his people in Exodus 33:14-15. It's used to describe accompaniment or association, and can also mean against or beside. The word is used to convey a sense of relationship or proximity between people or things.
Tyndale gloss
with
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עִם (im) is a preposition meaning 'with' and covers a range of relationships, including companionship, locality, and possession. It can imply actions done jointly, equality, or even opposition in contexts like combat. The related form מֵעִם (me.im) means 'from with' or 'beside.' The entries reflect various nuances but do not present significant disagreement.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עִם prep. with

of fellowship and companionship

of aid

Of actions done jointly with another

If the common action be of the nature of a contest or combat, with in the sense of against

Of dealing with a person, or of the relation in which one stands with, or towards, another

Of a common lot together with the wicked

Of equality or resemblance generally aid

Of time, as long as

Of a locality, close to, beside

Of persons, עִם is spec.

in the house or family or service of

In possession of

In the custody or care of

Beside = except

With = friendly with

Idiom. of a thought or purpose present with one

Metaph. together with = in spite of, notwithstanding

base

מֵעִם 72 from with or beside

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5973a עִם with . of fellowship and companionship

. Of a locality, close to, beside

. Of persons, עִם is spec. . in the house or family or service of

. In possession of

. In the custody or care of

. Beside = except

. With = friendly with

. Idiom. of a thought or purpose present with one

. Metaph. together with = in spite of, notwithstanding

H5973b מֵעִם from with, beside

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5973 `im eem

from 6004; adverb or preposition, with (i.e. in conjunction

with), in varied applications; specifically, equally with;

often with prepositional prefix (and then usually

unrepresented in English):--accompanying, against, and, as (X

long as), before, beside, by (reason of), for all, from

(among, between), in, like, more than, of, (un-)to,

with(-al).

see HEBREW for 06004

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עִם (im) — with.

1) with

1a) with

1b) against

1c) toward

1d) as long as

מֵעִם (me.im) — from with.

1a) beside, except

1b) in spite of

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | Prep — Conjunction · preposition
HC/R
not I sit with men of falsehood and with [those who] conceal themselves not I go
נַ֝עֲלָמִ֗יםna.'a.la.Mim [those who] conceal themselves H5956 Verb · Niphal · participle (active) masculine plural
28× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to hide or conceal something from view. It appears in various forms, including being hidden or keeping a secret. In the Bible, it is used to describe hiding oneself or something from others.
Amplified meaning
dissemblers, pretenders
Tyndale gloss
to conceal
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עָלַם (alam) is a Hebrew verb meaning to conceal or hide. It covers various forms, including being hidden, hiding oneself, and the act of concealing something. The entries indicate its use in different grammatical stems, such as Qal, Niphal, Hiphil, and Hithpael, which express nuances of secrecy and concealment.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[עָלַם] vb. conceal

Qal as subst. our secret, i.e. hidden sin

Niph. be concealed

Hiph. conceal, hide

Hithp. and thou hide thyself completely from them (utterly neglect to aid)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5956 [עָלַם] conceal

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5956 `alam aw-lam'

a primitive root; to veil from sight, i.e. conceal (literally

or figuratively):--X any ways, blind, dissembler, hide

(self), secret (thing).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עָלַם (a.lam) — to conceal.

1) to conceal, hide, be hidden, be concealed, be secret

1a) (Qal) secret (participle)

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be concealed

1b2) concealed, dissembler (participle)

1c) (Hiphil) to conceal, hide

1d) (Hithpael) to hide oneself

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Niphal — Verb · Niphal · participle (active) masculine plural
HVNrmpa
not I sit with men of falsehood and with [those who] conceal themselves not I go
לֹ֣אlo' not H3808 Particle
5,170× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for not or no is used to indicate absence or negation, as when God says no to the Israelites' requests, or when they disobey His commands.
Tyndale gloss
not
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

לֹא (lo') is a Hebrew word meaning 'not' or 'no.' It serves as a simple negation and can imply absence or prohibition. The word can also be used in various contexts, often combined with other particles for emphasis or clarification. Its Aramaic equivalent is לָא (la), which also means 'not.'

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

לֹא or לוֹא adv. not

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3808 לֹא or לוֹא not

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3808 lo' lo

or lowi {lo}; or loh (Deut. 3:11) {lo}; a primitive particle;

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often

used with other particles (as follows):--X before, + or else,

ere, + except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never,

no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), (X as though...,(can-), for) not (out

of), of nought, otherwise, out of, + surely, + as truly as, +

of a truth, + verily, for want, + whether, without.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

לֹא (lo) — not.

1) not, no

1a) not (with verb-absolute prohibition)

1b) not (with modifier-negation)

1c) nothing (subst)

1d) without (with particle)

1e) before (of time)

Aramaic equivalent: la (לָא "not" H3809)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Part — Particle
HTn
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
not I sit with men of falsehood and with [those who] conceal themselves not I go
אָבֽוֹא׃'a.Vo' I go H935 Verb · Qal · imperfect first person common singular
2,573× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This verb means to go or come, and is used in many contexts, such as entering a place or approaching someone, as seen in the book of Genesis. It can also mean to abide or apply, and is translated in various ways in the KJV Bible. This term is related to the name Lebo Hamath.
Amplified meaning
associate, gather
Tyndale gloss
Lebo
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

בּוֹא (bo) is a Hebrew verb meaning to come or go in, with a wide range of applications including entering, arriving, and bringing in. It can refer to both physical movement and abstract concepts like events coming to pass. The verb appears in various forms, such as Qal (to come), Hiphil (to cause to come), and Hophal (to be brought). There is no significant disagreement among lexicons regarding its meanings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

בּוֹא 2569 vb. come in, come, go in, go

Qal

come in

come (approach, arrive)

go, i.e. walk, associate with

go from speaker, but with limit of motion given

Hiph.

cause to come in, bring in (conduct, lead, obj. persons and animals)

cause to come, bring, bring near, etc. (animate obj.)

Hoph.

be brought in (of pers. and things)

be brought

be introduced, put

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H935 בּוֹא come in, come, go in, go .. come in

. come (approach, arrive)

. go, i.e. walk, associate with

. go from speaker, but with limit of motion given

. . cause to come in, bring in (conduct, lead, obj. persons and animals)

. cause to come, bring, bring near, etc. (animate obj.)

. . be brought in (of pers. and things)

. be brought

. be introduced, put

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

935 bow' bo

a primitive root; to go or come (in a wide variety of

applications):--abide, apply, attain, X be, befall, +

besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, X

certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out,

upon, to pass), depart, X doubtless again, + eat, + employ,

(cause to) enter (in, into, -tering, -trance, -try), be

fallen, fetch, + follow, get, give, go (down, in, to war),

grant, + have, X indeed, (in-)vade, lead, lift (up), mention,

pull in, put, resort, run (down), send, set, X (well) stricken

(in age), X surely, take (in), way.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בּוֹא (bo) — to come (in): come.

: come/go_in

1) to go in, enter, come, go, come in

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to enter, come in

1a2) to come

1a2a) to come with

1a2b) to come upon, fall or light upon, attack (enemy)

1a2c) to come to pass

1a3) to attain to

1a4) to be enumerated

1a5) to go

1b) (Hiphil)

1b1) to lead in

1b2) to carry in

1b3) to bring in, cause to come in, gather, cause to come, bring near, bring against, bring upon

1b4) to bring to pass

1c) (Hophal)

1c1) to be brought, brought in

1c2) to be introduced, be put

לְב֥וֹא (bo) — Lebo-(Hamath).

This name means to go in, enter

Combined with cha.mat (חֲמָת "Hamath" H2574)

בּוֹא (bo) — to come (in): towards.

: towards/entrance

1) to go in, enter, come, go, come in

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to enter, come in

1a2) to come

1a2a) to come with

1a2b) to come upon, fall or light upon, attack (enemy)

1a2c) to come to pass

1a3) to attain to

1a4) to be enumerated

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Imperf-1cs — Verb · Qal · imperfect first person common singular
HVqi1cs
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

(halakh, yalakh, bo', yatsa'; ago, hupago, anabaino, erchomi, aperchomai, poreuomai): "Go" ("went," etc.) occurs very frequently in the English Bible, and is the translation of a great many different Hebrew and Greek terms. As the word implies movement of all kinds, physical and mental, it has naturally many applications.

1. In the Old Testament:

In the Old Testament halakh and yalakh are among the commonest words, meaning "to go" in its original sense of "to walk," but also in the most varied senses, according to the verbal conjugations, etc., the preposition attached, and the words in connection with which the terms stand; halakh and yalakh are often used figuratively (translated "to walk," etc.) for to live, to pursue a way of life, e.g. "to walk ever in his ways" (De 19:9; compare

Mt 9:13; 21:28; 28:7; Lu 10:37; Joh 8:11

--SEE Divine Direction, GUIDANCE

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

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