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Psalms 31:13 — Word Study

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WLCכִּ֤י שָׁמַ֨עְתִּי׀ דִּבַּ֥ת רַבִּים֮ מָג֪וֹר מִסָּ֫בִ֥יב בְּהִוָּסְדָ֣ם יַ֣חַד עָלַ֑י לָקַ֖חַת נַפְשִׁ֣י זָמָֽמוּ׃

BSAto forgetshâkach to diemûwth heartlêb to behâyâh article/utensilkᵉlîy to perishʼâbad

Word
Listen & take awayPsalms 31
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 13 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 (za.Ma.mu) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Psalms 31:13quick helps
In a sentenceThe psalmist expresses his distress over the slander and conspiracies against him.
Who is speakingThe psalmist, reflecting on his suffering and trust in God.
Where we areA lament where the psalmist feels surrounded by threats and betrayal.
The hard wordדִּבַּ֥ת
Take awayDespite the slander and plots, the psalmist maintains his trust in God.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause subjectלֵב verbכְּ 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 31:13

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 Lament of Distressgenerated

12I am forgotten like a dead man, out of mind. I am like a broken vessel.
13For I hear the slander of many; there is terror on every side. They conspire against me and plot to take my life.
14But I trust in You, O LORD; I say, “You are my God.”
15My times are in Your hands; deliver me from my enemies and from those who pursue me.

Psalms 31:13 reflects the psalmist's anguish as he hears slander from many and feels surrounded by terror. This verse captures the emotional turmoil of being conspired against, emphasizing the weight of betrayal and fear. The psalmist's plea for deliverance is a common theme in the Psalms, showcasing a deep reliance on God's protection amidst adversity.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Psalm 55:10Day and night they encircle the walls, while malice and trouble lie within.
2Psalm 101:5Whoever slanders his neighbor in secret, I will put to silence; the one with haughty eyes and a proud heart, I will not endure.
31 Samuel 22:8–10Is that why all of you have conspired against me? Not one of you told me that my own son had made a covenant with the son of Jesse. Not one of you has shown concern for me or revealed to me that my son has stirred up my own servant to lie in wait against me, as is the case today.”
41 Samuel 24:9and said to Saul, “Why do you listen to the words of men who say, ‘Look, David intends to harm you’?
5Jeremiah 20:10For I have heard the whispering of many: “Terror is on every side! Report him; let us report him!” All my trusted friends watch for my fall: “Perhaps he will be deceived so that we may prevail against him and take our vengeance upon him.”

The Key Word דִּבַּ֥ת, di.Batgenerated

The noun דִּבַּ֥ת (di.Bat) refers to slander or defamation, indicating the act of spreading false or malicious reports. It is derived from a root that suggests stealth or furtiveness, highlighting the secretive nature of slanderous speech. This word is used in contexts where individuals are harmed by the words of others, as seen in Leviticus 19:16.

In this verse, it underscores the psalmist's experience of being targeted by many who spread lies about him. The use of this term paints a vivid picture of the emotional pain caused by such betrayal, emphasizing the weight of public opinion and the impact of falsehoods.


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 in this verse is שָׁמַ֨עְתִּי, I have heard, which governs the entire clause. The structure includes several phrases that detail what the psalmist hears and the actions of those conspiring against him.

The sentence is built around the experience of the psalmist, with the slander and terror serving as the subjects of his distress. The Hebrew word order emphasizes the immediacy of the threats surrounding him.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates דִּבַּ֥ת as νεκρὸς, which conveys a sense of death or destruction, suggesting that the slander is not just harmful but potentially life-threatening. This choice may imply a deeper interpretation of the consequences of slander.

The use of ἀπολωλός for the conspiratorial actions indicates a focus on the destructive nature of their plots, aligning with the psalmist's feelings of vulnerability.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Psalms 31:13 reveals the psalmist's distress as he hears slander from many people and feels surrounded by terror. He describes how they conspire against him, plotting to take his life. This verse captures the emotional pain of betrayal and the fear that comes from being targeted by others.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does the psalmist mean by 'slander'?

The psalmist refers to false and malicious reports spread by others, which cause emotional pain and distress.

How does the psalmist respond to the conspiracies against him?

Despite the slander and plots, the psalmist expresses his trust in God for protection and deliverance.

What emotions are conveyed in this verse?

The emotions of fear, betrayal, and vulnerability are prominent, reflecting the psalmist's deep distress.

Why is the concept of slander significant in this verse?

Slander is significant as it illustrates the harm caused by falsehoods and the impact of public opinion on the psalmist's life.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. How do I respond when I hear slander or false reports about myself or others?
  2. In what ways can I seek God's protection amidst feelings of betrayal or fear?
  3. How can I support those who are being slandered or conspired against?
  4. What does this verse teach me about the importance of truth and integrity in my own words and actions?

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

The early church father Augustine of Hippo references this verse in his exposition, discussing the implications of the slander mentioned by the psalmist.

Augustine of HippoExposition on Psalms 31 354–430
"For I have heard the rebuking of many dwelling by in a circuit" [Psalms 31:13].
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 31 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Psalms 31:13 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

For I have heard the slander of many,.... Both enemies and neighbours; fear [was] on every side; his enemies were a "Magormissabib" to him, Jeremiah 20:3; encompassed him around, so that he was in

Read John Gill on Psalms 31 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

For I have heard the slander of many: fear was on every side: while they took counsel together against me, they devised to take away my life.

Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 31 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

I have heard, partly with my own ears, and partly by the information of others. The slander of many, who reproach and defame me as a turbulent and seditious person, an enemy to the public peace, a conspirator against the king’ s life or dignity. Fear, i.e. just cause of fear, even of the loss of my life, as appears from the next clause. They devised to take away, to wit, unjustly and violently; as this word is used, 24:11.

Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 31 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Psalms 31:13 For I have heard the slander of many: fear [was] on every side: while they took counsel together against me, they devised to take away my life.Ver. 13. For I have heard the slander of many] Or, as Calvin, Mollerus, and others render it, magnorum, of the great ones, such as take counsel (so it followeth here), which the vulgar seldom do; and their tongues oft are no slander, as we say. Fear was on every side] Magormissabib, Pashur’ s new name and doom, Jeremiah 20:3-4; but good David’ s condition at this time: without were fightings, within were fears. While they took counsel together against me] See 2 Samuel 16:20, where we have an exposition of this verse.

Read John Trapp on Psalms 31 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(13) Again comp. Jeremiah 20:10, which reproduces word for word the first two clauses. The expression rendered “fear on every side” was actually a motto of the prophet (Jeremiah 6:25; Jeremiah 20:3, margin; Jeremiah 46:5; Jeremiah 49:29. Comp. Lamentations 2:22). But the most probable derivation makes the noun mean not terror but conspiracy, while for slander here we must render whisper.“For I heard the whispering of the many, ‘Conspiracy all around.’ ” Under cover of a pretended general panic they were really, as the psalmist saw, plotting evil against him.

Read Charles John Ellicott on Psalms 31 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 13. I have heard the slander of many] To this and the two foregoing verses the reader may find several parallels; Jeremiah 18:18-19:15, and ten first verses of Jer 20:1-10. This has caused several to suppose that Jeremiah was the author of this Psalm.

Read AdamClarke on Psalms 31 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

13. For I have heard the defaming of many, Terror on every side (R.V.). Jeremiah uses these very words to describe his plight (Jeremiah 20:10). Terror on every side is a favourite phrase with him (Jeremiah 6:25; Jeremiah 20:3-4; Jeremiah 46:5; Jeremiah 49:29; Lamentations 2:22). they devised &c.] Jeremiah 11:19 ff; Jeremiah 18:20 ff., supply an illustration.

Read Cambridge on Psalms 31 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

For I have heard the slander of many - The reproach; the false accusations; the unjust aspersions. We are here more definitely informed as to another of the sources of the trouble that came upon him.

Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 31 →

The verse in English, compared — 16 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

For I hear the slander of many; there is terror on every side. They conspire against me and plot to take my life.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

For I have heard the slander of many, terror on every side, while they conspire together against me, they plot to take away my life.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

For I hear the slander of many; there is terror on every side. They conspire against me and plot to take my life.

NETBNew English Translation2006

For I hear what so many are saying, the terrifying news that comes from every direction. When they plot together against me, they figure out how they can take my life.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

For I have heard the slander of many: fear was on every side: while they took counsel together against me, they devised to take away my life.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

For I have heard the defaming of many, Terror on every side: While they took counsel together against me, They devised to take away my life.

RVARevised Version, American1894

For I have heard the defaming of many, terror on every side: while they took counsel together against me, they devised to take away my life.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

For I have heard the slander of many: fear was on every side: while they took counsel together against me, they devised to take away my life.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

For I haue heard the rayling of great men: feare was on euery side, while they conspired together against mee, and consulted to take my life.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

For I have heard the slander of many — terror on every side — when they take counsel together against me: they plot to take away my life.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

For I have heard an evil account of many, Fear [is] round about. In their being united against me, To take my life they have devised,

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

For I have heard an evil account of many, || Fear [is] all around. In their being united against me, || They have devised to take my life,

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

(31:14) For I have heard the slandering of many; terror was on every side, while they took counsel together against me: to take away my life did they purpose.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

For I have heard the whispering of many, terrifying news from every side as they plot together against me. They plot to take away my life.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

I hear many people whispering about me; terror surrounds me. They plot together against me, planning to kill me.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

False statements against me have come to my ears; fear was on every side: they were talking together against me, designing to take away my life.

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.

כִּ֤י(dm)clauseverbשָׁמַ֨עְתִּיI.have.heardnoun phrase · objectדִּבַּ֥ת[the].whisperingרַבִּים֮of.many.[people]clausesubjectמָג֪וֹרterrorprepositional phrase · predicateמִ[is].fromסָּ֫בִ֥יבaround.aboutclauseprepositional phrase · prepositionalבְּwhenclauseverbהִוָּסְדָ֣theysubjectםseated.themselvesprepositional phrase · prepositionalיַ֣חַדtogetherprepositional phraseעָלַ֑onיmeprepositional phrase · prepositionalלָtoclauseverbקַ֖חַתtakenoun phrase · objectנַפְשִׁ֣lifeיmyverbזָמָֽמוּthey.planned

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


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

The Masoretic Text presents the verse as a direct expression of the psalmist's experience. The Septuagint matches only a portion of the words, indicating a different rendering that highlights the sense of death associated with slander. The Dead Sea Scrolls fragment contains a partial agreement with the Masoretic Text, showing a similar concern for the psalmist's plight.

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

כִּ֤י שָׁמַ֨עְתִּי׀ דִּבַּ֥ת רַבִּים֮ מָג֪וֹר מִסָּ֫בִ֥יב בְּהִוָּסְדָ֣ם יַ֣חַד עָלַ֑י לָקַ֖חַת נַפְשִׁ֣י זָמָֽמוּ׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
כִּ֤יἐπελήσθηνשָׁמַ֨עְתִּי׀ὡσεὶדִּבַּ֥תνεκρὸςרַבִּים֮ἀπὸמָג֪וֹרκαρδίαςמִסָּ֫בִ֥יבὡσεὶבְּהִוָּסְדָ֣םἀπολωλός

7 of the 12 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 — 5/6hev1ba copy a thousand years older than the Leningrad Codex

נשכחתי כמת מלב [הייתי] [ככלי] [אבד]

6 words of the verse are on this fragment — 3 supplied entire by an editor.

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


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

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

Psalms 31:13כִּיforforכִּישָׁמַעI have hearI have heardשָׁמַעדִּבָה[the] sland[the] slander oדִּבָהרַבmany [peoplmany [people]רַבמָגוֹרterrorterrorמָגוֹרסָבִיב[is] from a[is] from arounסָבִיביָסַדwhen they swhen they seateיָסַדיַ֫חַדtogethertogetherיַ֫חַדעַלon meon meעַללָקַחto taketo takeלָקַחנֶ֫פֶשׁlife mylife myנֶ֫פֶשׁזָמַםthey plottethey plottedזָמַםדָּבַבדָּבַברָבַבto multiplto multiplyרָבַבגּוּרto sojournto sojournגּוּרסָבַבto turn: tto turn: turnסָבַביָחַדbe joinedbe joinedיָחַדנָפַשׁbe refreshbe refreshedנָפַשׁעַלheightheightעַליָדַעto knowto knowיָדַעקוֹלvoice: souvoice: soundקוֹלקָשַׁבto listento listenקָשַׁבמָגוֹרterrorterrorמָגוֹרשָׂפָהlipslipsשָׂפָהנְבוּזַרְאֲדָןNebuzaradaNebuzaradanנְבוּזַרְאֲדָןטַבָּחguardguardטַבָּחדִּבָהslanderslanderדִּבָהסָבִיבaroundaroundסָבִיבאֵילָםarchesarchesאֵילָםחַלּוֹןwindowwindowחַלּוֹן
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 31:13

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.

for I have heard [the] slander of many [people] terror [is] from around about when they seated themselves together on me to take life my they plotted
כִּ֤יki for H3588 Particle
4,483× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A conjunction used to show cause or connection, as in Genesis 2:23 where Adam says the woman is bone of his bone because she was taken out of him. It is often translated as 'for', 'because', or 'since'.
Tyndale gloss
for
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כִּי (ki) is a conjunction primarily meaning 'that,' 'for,' or 'when.' It indicates causal relationships and can express conditions like 'if' or 'though.' The word is versatile, appearing in various contexts to convey certainty, exception, or concession. Notably, it can combine with other particles to modify its meaning, such as in the phrase כִּי אם־ (ki im), meaning 'that if.'

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כִּי conj. that, for, when

that

Of time, when, of the past

elsewhere כִּי has a force approximating to if, though it usu. represents a case as more likely to occur than אִם

when or if, with a concessive force, i.e. though

Because, since

base

כִּי אם־

each part. retaining its independent force, and relating to a different clause:

that if

for if

(About 140 t.) the two particles being closely conjoined, and relating to the same clause—

limiting the prec. clause, except

the if being neglected, and treated as pleonastic, so that the clause is no longer a limitation of the preceding clause but a contradiction of it: but rather, but

after an oath, surely

base

כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3588a כִּי that, for, when . that

. . Of time, when, of the past

. elsewhere כִּי has a force approximating to if, though it usu. represents a case as more likely to occur than אִם

. when or if, with a concessive force, i.e. though

. Because, since

H3588b כִּי אם־ . each part. retaining its independent force, and relating to a different clause: . that if

. for if

. (About 140 t.) the two particles being closely conjoined, and relating to the same clause— . limiting the prec. clause, except

. the if being neglected, and treated as pleonastic, so that the clause is no longer a limitation of the preceding clause but a contradiction of it: but rather, but

. after an oath, surely

H3588c כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3588 kiy kee

a primitive particle (the full form of the prepositional

prefix) indicating causal relations of all kinds, antecedent

or consequent; (by implication) very widely used as a relative

conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by

other particles annexed:--and, + (forasmuch, inasmuch,

where-)as, assured(-ly), + but, certainly, doubtless, + else,

even, + except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, +

nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then,

therefore, + (al- )though, + till, truly, + until, when,

whether, while, whom, yea, yet.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כִּי (ki) — for.

1) that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since

1a) that

1a1) yea, indeed

1b) when (of time)

1b1) when, if, though (with a concessive force)

1c) because, since (causal connection)

1d) but (after negative)

1e) that if, for if, indeed if, for though, but if

1f) but rather, but

1g) except that

1h) only, nevertheless

1i) surely

1j) that is

1k) but if

1l) for though

1m) forasmuch as, for therefore

כִּי [אם] (ki im) — that if: except.

1) except if

1a) but if

1b) even though

כִּי [עַל כֵּן] (ki [al ken]) — for as that: since.

1) that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since

1a) that

1a1) yea, indeed

1b) when (of time)

1b1) when, if, though (with a concessive force)

1c) because, since (causal connection)

1d) but (after negative)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HTc — Particle
HTc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

for (ki (conjunction), le, from 'el (preposition), and various other words. In the New Testament also the words are various, chiefly gar, kai gar, hoti (conjunctions); anti apo eis dia (accusative), epi (dative and accusative), peri (genitive), pros (genitive and accusative), huper (genitive) (prepositions)): the English Revised Version and the American Standard Revised Version give in many cases more literal or more accurate renderings than those in the King James Version.

In the New Testament the most important preps. from a doctrinal point of view are anti, "face to face," "over against," "instead," "on behalf of," peri, "around," "about," "concerning," huper, "over," "on behalf of." The first has been claimed as stating the substitutionary nature of Christ's sacrifice as contrasted with huper and peri, more frequently used of it. But, although anti in the New Testament often means…

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
for I have heard [the] slander of many [people] terror [is] from around about when they seated themselves together on me to take life my they plotted
שָׁמַ֨עְתִּי׀sha.Ma'.ti I have heard H8085 Verb · Qal · perfect first person common singular
1,160× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To hear and listen is what this Hebrew word means, often implying attention and obedience. In Exodus and Deuteronomy, it is used when God speaks to the people, and they must listen and obey.
Tyndale gloss
to hear: hear
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word שָׁמַע (shama`) means 'to hear' and encompasses a range of meanings including listening, obeying, and proclaiming. It is built from a primitive root and can imply attention and understanding. The entries highlight various grammatical forms, such as Qal, Niphal, Piel, and Hiphil, indicating different nuances of hearing and obeying. There is no significant disagreement among the lexicons regarding its meanings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שָׁמַע 1152 vb. hear

Qal 1052

subj. pers. hum.

י׳ (God) subj.

Niph. 42 be heard, of voice, sound

be heard of

be regarded, obeyed

= (favourable) hearing was granted to their voice.

Pi. he caused the people to hear

Hiph. 63

of man

י׳ subj.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8085 שָׁמַע hear

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8085 shama` shaw-mah'

a primitive root; to hear intelligently (often with

implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to

tell, etc.):--X attentively, call (gather) together, X

carefully, X certainly, consent, consider, be content,

declare, X diligently, discern, give ear, (cause to, let, make

to) hear(-ken, tell), X indeed, listen, make (a) noise, (be)

obedient, obey, perceive, (make a) proclaim(-ation), publish,

regard, report, shew (forth), (make a) sound, X surely, tell,

understand, whosoever (heareth), witness.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שָׁמַע (sha.ma) — to hear: hear.

: hear

v

1) to hear, listen to, obey

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to hear (perceive by ear)

1a2) to hear of or concerning

1a3) to hear (have power to hear)

1a4) to hear with attention or interest, listen to

1a5) to understand (language)

1a6) to hear (of judicial cases)

1a7) to listen, give heed

1a7a) to consent, agree

1a7b) to grant request

1a8) to listen to, yield to

1a9) to obey, be obedient

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be heard (of voice or sound)

1b2) to be heard of

1b3) to be regarded, be obeyed

1c) (Piel) to cause to hear, call to hear, summon

1d) (Hiphil)

1d1) to cause to hear, tell, proclaim, utter a sound

1d2) to sound aloud (musical term)

1d3) to make proclamation, summon

1d4) to cause to be heard

n m

2) sound

שָׁמַע (sha.ma) — to hear: obey.

: obey

v

1) to hear, listen to, obey

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to hear (perceive by ear)

1a2) to hear of or concerning

1a3) to hear (have power to hear)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HVqp1cs — Verb · Qal · perfect first person common singular
HVqp1cs
for I have heard [the] slander of many [people] terror [is] from around about when they seated themselves together on me to take life my they plotted
דִּבַּ֥תdi.Bat [the] slander of H1681 Noun common · feminine singular construct
9× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this word refers to slander or evil reports, as seen in Leviticus 19:16 where God warns against spreading false rumors.
Tyndale gloss
slander
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

דִּבָה (dibbah) refers to whispering, defamation, or an evil report, suggesting a stealthy or furtive nature. It is derived from a root meaning to move stealthily. The entries consistently emphasize its negative connotations related to slander and infamy.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

דִּבָה n.f. whispering, defamation, evil report (? as that which glides stealthily)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1681 דִּבָה whispering, defamation, evil report (? as that which glides stealthily)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1681 dibbah dib-baw'

from 1680 (in the sense of furtive motion);

slander:--defaming, evil report, infamy, slander.

see HEBREW for 01680

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

דִּבָּה (dib.bah) — slander.

1) whispering, defamation, evil report

1a) whispering

1b) defamation, defaming

1c) evil report, unfavourable saying

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HNcfsc — Noun common · feminine singular construct
HNcfsc
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…

for I have heard [the] slander of many [people] terror [is] from around about when they seated themselves together on me to take life my they plotted
רַבִּים֮ra.Bim many [people] H7227
454× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means a chief or captain, someone in charge. It is used in 2 Samuel 23:19 to describe a great and powerful man. The idea is one of leadership and authority.
Tyndale gloss
many
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

רַב (rav) means much, many, or great, often used in contrast to מְעַט (me'at). It can describe abundance in quantity or rank and is also used as a noun for chief or captain. The word conveys a range of meanings from numerous to exceedingly, and it can function as both an adjective and a noun.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

רַב 429 adj. much, many, great

(oft. opp. מְעַט)

much: of substances

esp. of collectives, numerous

pl. many

רַב as subst. coll. pers.

cstr. = abounding in

מִן comp. = more numerous than

רַב = abundant, enough

as adv. much, exceedingly

less oft. great

base

רַב 49 n.m. chief

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7227a רַב much, many, great . (oft. opp. מְעַט) . . much: of substances

. esp. of collectives, numerous

. pl. many

. רַב as subst. coll. pers.

. cstr. = abounding in

. + מִן comp. = more numerous than

. רַב = abundant, enough

. as adv. much, exceedingly

. less oft. great

H7227b רַב chief

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7227 rab rab

by contracted from 7231; abundant (in quantity, size, age,

number, rank, quality):--(in) abound(-undance, -ant, -antly),

captain, elder, enough, exceedingly, full, great(-ly, man,

one), increase, long (enough, (time)), (do, have) many(-ifold,

things, a time), ((ship-))master, mighty, more, (too, very)

much, multiply(-tude), officer, often(-times), plenteous,

populous, prince, process (of time), suffice(-lent).

see HEBREW for 07231

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

רַב (rav) — many.

adj

1) much, many, great

1a) much

1b) many

1c) abounding in

1d) more numerous than

1e) abundant, enough

1f) great

1g) strong

1h) greater than

adv

1i) much, exceedingly

רַב (rav) — chief.

captain, chief

Aramaic equivalent: rav.re.van (רַבְרְבָן "noble" H7261)

רַב (rav) — (Sidon) the Great.

Combined with tsi.don (צִידוֹן "Sidon" H6721H)

§ captain, chief

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HAampa
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…

for I have heard [the] slander of many [people] terror [is] from around about when they seated themselves together on me to take life my they plotted
מָג֪וֹרma.Gor terror H4032 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
8× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Mâgôwr means fear or terror, describing a state of being afraid. In the Bible, it is used to express the fear or dread that people experience, such as in Deuteronomy 32:25 where it says 'The sword without, and terror within'.
Tyndale gloss
terror
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מָגוֹר (magowr) refers to fear or terror, encompassing both objective and subjective experiences of fright. It is derived from a root meaning 'fearing' and is noted in Lamentations 2:22. The entries consistently highlight its association with fear, with no significant disagreements among the lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מָגוֹר n.m. fear, terror

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4032 מָגוֹר fear, terror

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4032 magowr maw-gore'

or (Lam. 2:22) maguwr {maw-goor'}; from 1481 in the sense of

fearing; a fright (objective or subjective):--fear, terror.

Compare 4036.

see HEBREW for 01481

see HEBREW for 04036

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מָגוֹר (ma.gor) — terror.

fear, terror

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HNcmsa — Noun common · masculine singular absolute
HNcmsa
for I have heard [the] slander of many [people] terror [is] from around about when they seated themselves together on me to take life my they plotted
מִסָּ֫בִ֥יבmi.Sa.Viv [is] from around about H5439 Preposition · noun common both singular absolute
336× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word describes something that surrounds or encompasses, like a circle or neighborhood, and can also mean around or about, as in on every side. It is used to describe physical locations and proximity. The KJV translates it as about or circuit.
Tyndale gloss
around
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

סָבִיב (cabiyb) primarily means 'around' and is used as a noun, adverb, and preposition. It denotes a circle, neighbors, or the surrounding area, often implying a sense of being on every side or in a circuit. The entries consistently emphasize its usage in contexts of proximity and encirclement.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

סָבִיב 336 subst., used mostly as adv. and prep., circuit, round about

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5439 סָבִיב subst., used mostly as adv. and prep., circuit, round about

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5439 cabiyb saw-beeb'

or (feminine) cbiybah {seb-ee-baw'}; from 5437; (as noun) a

circle, neighbour, or environs; but chiefly (as adverb, with

or without preposition) around:--(place, round) about,

circuit, compass, on every side.

see HEBREW for 05437

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

סָבִיב (sa.viv) — around.

: around/border

subst

1) places round about, circuit, round about

adv

2) in a circuit, a circuit, round about

prep

3) in the circuit, from every side

סָבִיב (sa.viv) — around: side.

: side

subst

1) places round about, circuit, round about

adv

2) in a circuit, a circuit, round about

prep

3) in the circuit, from every side

סָבִיב (sa.viv) — around: whole.

: whole

subst

1) places round about, circuit, round about

adv

2) in a circuit, a circuit, round about

prep

3) in the circuit, from every side

סָבִיב (sa.viv) — around: neighours.

: neighours

subst

1) places round about, circuit, round about

adv

2) in a circuit, a circuit, round about

prep

3) in the circuit, from every side

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HR/Ncbsa — Preposition · noun common both singular absolute
HR/Ncbsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

a-bout': The use of this word as a preposition, in the sense of "around," is confined to the Old Testament. In the New Testament, generally an adverb, for Greek hos or "hosei." The Revised Version (British and American) adopts it in several idiomatic translations of mello, referring to what is about to be, i.e. on the point of occurring, or immediately impending, amending the King James Version, in Ac 5:35; 27:2; Re 12:4, etc.

for I have heard [the] slander of many [people] terror [is] from around about when they seated themselves together on me to take life my they plotted
בְּהִוָּסְדָ֣םbe.hi.va.se.Dam when they seated themselves H3245 Preposition · verb niphal infinitive construct common · suffix
43× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To found or establish something is the meaning of this Hebrew word. It also means to sit down together and consult, as in a meeting or council.
Tyndale gloss
to found
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יָסַד (yacad) means to establish or found, with nuances of fixing and laying a foundation. It can refer to both literal and figurative settings, such as appointing or consulting. The verb appears in various forms, including Qal (to found), Niphal (to be founded), and Piel (to establish). The entries do not indicate any significant disagreement among lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יָסַד vb. establish, found, fix

Qal found, establish

Niph.

fix or seat themselves close together, sit in conclave

be founded

Pi.

found

establish

Pu. be founded, be laid, of a foundation

Hoph. be founded

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3245 יָסַד establish, found, fix

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3245 yacad yaw-sad'

a primitive root; to set (literally or figuratively);

intensively, to found; reflexively, to sit down together, i.e.

settle, consult:--appoint, take counsel, establish, (lay the,

lay for a) found(-ation), instruct, lay, ordain, set, X sure.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יָסַד (ya.sad) — to found.

1) to found, fix, establish, lay foundation

1a) (Qal) to found, establish, begin

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to fix or seat themselves close together, sit in conclave

1b2) to be founded

1c) (Piel)

1c1) to found

1c2) to establish, appoint, ordain

1d) (Pual) to be founded, be laid

1e) (Hophal) to be founded

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HR/VNcc/Sp3mp — Preposition · verb niphal infinitive construct common · suffix
HR/VNcc/Sp3mp
for I have heard [the] slander of many [people] terror [is] from around about when they seated themselves together on me to take life my they plotted
יַ֣חַדYa.chad together H3162 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
141× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This adverb means together, describing people doing something in unity, like in Psalm 133:1.
Tyndale gloss
unitedness
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יַ֫חַד (yachad) refers to the concept of unitedness or being together. It can function as a noun meaning 'unitedness' and as an adverb meaning 'together.' The word is built from a root that emphasizes unity and is used in various contexts in the Old Testament.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יַ֫חַד 45 n.[m.] unitedness

as subst.

elsewhere always in acc. as adv. in union, together

base

יָחְדָּו 92 adv. together

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3162a יַ֫חַד unitedness . as subst.

. elsewhere always in acc. as adv. in union, together

H3162b יָחְדָּו adv. together

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3162 yachad yakh'-ad

from 3161; properly, a unit, i.e. (adverb) unitedly:--alike,

at all (once), both, likewise, only, (al-)together, withal.

see HEBREW for 03161

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יַ֫חַד (ya.chad) — unitedness.

1) union, unitedness

יָחְדָּו (yach.dav) — together.

adv

together

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HNcmsa — Noun common · masculine singular absolute
HNcmsa
for I have heard [the] slander of many [people] terror [is] from around about when they seated themselves together on me to take life my they plotted
עָלַ֑י'a.Lai on me H5921 Preposition · suffix
5,774× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means on or above something, like a physical object or a situation. It can also imply a sense of responsibility or accountability, as in being on behalf of someone.
Tyndale gloss
upon
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word עַל (*al*) is a preposition meaning 'upon' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including 'on account of,' 'beside,' 'above,' and 'against.' It can indicate physical placement, emotional burdens, or duties imposed on a person. The entries also note its use in idiomatic expressions and with verbs of motion. There is a mention of its function as a conjunction in certain contexts.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as

base

עַל, עָ֑ל

subst. height

As prep. upon, and hence on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against

Upon, of the substratum upon which an object in any way rests, or on which an action is performed

of clothing, etc., which any one wears

With verbs of covering or protecting, even though the cover or veil be not over or above the thing covered, but around or before it

Of what rests heavily upon a person, or is a burden to him

Of a duty, payment, care, etc., imposed upon a person, or devolving on him

על is used idiom. to give pathos to the expression of an emotion, by emphasizing the person who is its subject, and who, as it were, feels it acting upon him

חָיָה עַל to live upon (as upon a foundation or support)

Read the full entry →
Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5921a עַל, עָ֑ל . As prep. upon, and hence on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against . Upon, of the substratum upon which an object in any way rests, or on which an action is performed . — . of clothing, etc., which any one wears

. With verbs of covering or protecting, even though the cover or veil be not over or above the thing covered, but around or before it

. Of what rests heavily upon a person, or is a burden to him

. Of a duty, payment, care, etc., imposed upon a person, or devolving on him

. על is used idiom. to give pathos to the expression of an emotion, by emphasizing the person who is its subject, and who, as it were, feels it acting upon him

. חָיָה עַל to live upon (as upon a foundation or support)

Read the full entry →
Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5921 `al al

properly, the same as 5920 used as a preposition (in the

singular or plural often with prefix, or as conjunction with a

particle following); above, over, upon, or against (yet always

in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great

variety of applications (as follow):--above, according

to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, X as, at, because

of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, X both

and, by (reason of), X had the charge of, concerning for, in

(that), (forth, out) of, (from) (off), (up-)on, over, than,

through(-out), to, touching, X with.

see HEBREW for 05920

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עַל (al) — upon.

prep

1) upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against

1a) upon, on the ground of, on the basis of, on account of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of, as regards

1b) above, beyond, over (of excess)

1c) above, over (of elevation or pre-eminence)

1d) upon, to, over to, unto, in addition to, together with, with (of addition)

1e) over (of suspension or extension)

1f) by, adjoining, next, at, over, around (of contiguity or proximity)

1g) down upon, upon, on, from, up upon, up to, towards, over towards, to, against (with verbs of motion)

1h) to (as a dative)

[כִּי] עַל [כֵּן] ([ki] al [ken]) — as.

conj

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HR/Sp1bs — Preposition · suffix
HR/Sp1bs
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
for I have heard [the] slander of many [people] terror [is] from around about when they seated themselves together on me to take life my they plotted
לָקַ֖חַתla.Ka.chat to take H3947 Preposition · verb qal infinitive construct common
966× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to take or get something, and it is used in many different ways in the Bible. It can mean to take a wife, to take possession of something, or to receive a gift. For example, in Genesis 2:22, God takes a rib from Adam to create Eve.
Tyndale gloss
to take: take
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word לָקַח (*laqach*) means 'to take' and encompasses a wide range of actions, including to receive, seize, capture, and carry away. It can refer to taking something in hand, taking a wife, or even taking vengeance. The verb has various forms indicating different nuances, such as being taken away or captured.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

לָקַח 965 vb. take

Qal

take, take in hand

take and carry along with oneself

take from, or out of

take, carry away

take away from, so as to deprive of

esp. take away life

take to or for a person

take up, upon = put upon

= fetch

take = lead, conduct (with or without contact)

take = capture, seize

take = carry off

in phr. take vengeance

Niph.

be captured, of ark

be taken away, removed

be taken, brought unto

Pu.

be taken from, out of

= be stolen from

be taken captive

be taken away, removed

Hoph.

be taken, brought unto

be taken out of

be taken away from

Hithp. lit. fire taking hold of itself, of lightning

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3947 לָקַח take .. take, take in hand

. take and carry along with oneself

. . take from, or out of

. take, carry away

. take away from, so as to deprive of

. esp. take away life

. take to or for a person

. take up, upon = put upon

. = fetch

. take = lead, conduct (with or without contact)

. take = capture, seize

. take = carry off

. in phr. take vengeance

. . be captured, of ark

. be taken away, removed

. be taken, brought unto

. . be taken from, out of

. = be stolen from

. be taken captive

. be taken away, removed

. . be taken, brought unto

. be taken out of

. be taken away from

. lit. fire taking hold of itself, of lightning

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3947 laqach law-kakh'

a primitive root; to take (in the widest variety of

applications):--accept, bring, buy, carry away, drawn, fetch,

get, infold, X many, mingle, place, receive(-ing), reserve,

seize, send for, take (away, -ing, up), use, win.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

לָקַח (la.qach) — to take: take.

: take

1) to take, get, fetch, lay hold of, seize, receive, acquire, buy, bring, marry, take a wife, snatch, take away

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to take, take in the hand

1a2) to take and carry along

1a3) to take from, take out of, take, carry away, take away

1a4) to take to or for a person, procure, get, take possession of, select, choose, take in marriage, receive, accept

1a5) to take up or upon, put upon

1a6) to fetch

1a7) to take, lead, conduct

1a8) to take, capture, seize

1a9) to take, carry off 1a10) to take (vengeance)

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be captured

1b2) to be taken away, be removed

1b3) to be taken, brought unto

1c) (Pual)

1c1) to be taken from or out of

1c2) to be stolen from

1c3) to be taken captive

1c4) to be taken away, be removed

1d) (Hophal)

1d1) to be taken unto, be brought unto

1d2) to be taken out of

1d3) to be taken away

1e) (Hithpael)

1e1) to take hold of oneself

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HR/Vqcc — Preposition · verb qal infinitive construct common
HR/Vqcc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

tak: Most of the very numerous examples of this word are still in good use and only a few call for special attention. "To take" in the sense of "capture" is still common, but when a person or living animal is in point, modern English usually adds "prisoner" or "captive." English Versions of the Bible not infrequently has this addition (Ge 14:14, etc.), but more commonly "take" is used without it (Jos 10:39; Job 5:13; Sirach 23:21; Joh 7:30, etc.). An occasional obscurity is thus caused, as in Ge 27:3, "take me venison" for "hunt venison for me." "To take advice" (2Ch…

for I have heard [the] slander of many [people] terror [is] from around about when they seated themselves together on me to take life my they plotted
נַפְשִׁ֣יnaf.Shi life my H5315 Noun common feminine singular construct · suffix
754× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for soul or living being, used in the Bible to describe the essence of a person or animal. It encompasses the ideas of life, breath, and vitality, and is translated as 'soul' or 'creature' in the KJV. This word is central to biblical concepts of humanity and existence.
Tyndale gloss
soul
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word נֶ֫פֶשׁ (*nephesh*) broadly means 'soul' or 'living being,' encompassing concepts like life, self, person, desire, and emotion. It is derived from the root meaning 'to breathe' and signifies both physical and mental aspects of existence. The lexicons note its use in various contexts, including as the seat of appetites and emotions, though its application to will and character is uncertain.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

נֶ֫פֶשׁ 756 n.f. soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, appetite, emotion, and passion

= that which breathes, the breathing substance or being

The נפשׁ becomes a living being

The נפשׁ is specif.

The נפשׁ as the essential of man stands for the man himself

נפשׁ = seat of the appetites, in all periods (46 t.)

נ׳ = seat of emotions and passions

נפשׁ is used occasionally for mental acts

נפשׁ for acts of the will is dub.

נפשׁ = character is still more dub.

נ׳ in D

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5315 נֶ֫פֶשׁ soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, appetite, emotion, and passion . = that which breathes, the breathing substance or being

. The נפשׁ becomes a living being

. The נפשׁ is specif.

. The נפשׁ as the essential of man stands for the man himself

. נפשׁ = seat of the appetites, in all periods (46 t.)

. נ׳ = seat of emotions and passions

. נפשׁ is used occasionally for mental acts

. נפשׁ for acts of the will is dub.

. נפשׁ = character is still more dub.

. נ׳ in D

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5315 nephesh neh'-fesh

from 5314; properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of

(abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal,

accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or mental):--any,

appetite, beast, body, breath, creature, X dead(-ly), desire,

X (dis-)contented, X fish, ghost, + greedy, he, heart(-y),

(hath, X jeopardy of) life (X in jeopardy), lust, man, me,

mind, mortally, one, own, person, pleasure, (her-, him-, my-,

thy-)self, them (your)-selves, + slay, soul, + tablet, they,

thing, (X she) will, X would have it.

see HEBREW for 05314

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נֶ֫פֶשׁ (ne.phesh) — soul.

1) soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion

1a) that which breathes, the breathing substance or being, soul, the inner being of man

1b) living being

1c) living being (with life in the blood)

1d) the man himself, self, person or individual

1e) seat of the appetites

1f) seat of emotions and passions

1g) activity of mind

1g1) uncertain

1h) activity of the will

1h1) uncertain

1i) activity of the character

1i1) uncertain

נֶ֫פֶשׁ (ne.phesh) — soul: life.

1) soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion

1a) that which breathes, the breathing substance or being, soul, the inner being of man

1b) living being

1c) living being (with life in the blood)

1d) the man himself, self, person or individual

1e) seat of the appetites

1f) seat of emotions and passions

1g) activity of mind

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HNcfsc/Sp1bs — Noun common feminine singular construct · suffix
HNcfsc/Sp1bs
for I have heard [the] slander of many [people] terror [is] from around about when they seated themselves together on me to take life my they plotted
זָמָֽמוּ׃za.Ma.mu they plotted H2161 Verb · Qal · perfect third person common plural
13× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to plan, often with bad intentions, like plotting or scheming. It appears in the Bible when someone is thinking of doing something evil. In the KJV, it's translated as 'consider, devise, imagine, plot, purpose, think evil'.
Tyndale gloss
to plan
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

זָמַם (zamam) is a Hebrew verb meaning to plan or devise, often with a negative connotation. It encompasses actions like considering, plotting, and imagining, particularly in the context of evil intent. The entries highlight its use in the Old Testament to denote harmful planning.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

זָמַם vb. consider, purpose, devise

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2161 זָמַם consider, purpose, devise

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2161 zamam zaw-mam'

a primitive root; to plan, usually in a bad sense:--consider,

devise, imagine, plot, purpose, think (evil).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

זָמַם (za.mam) — to plan.

1) to have a thought, devise, plan, consider, purpose

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to consider, fix thought upon

1a2) to purpose, devise

1a3) to plot (of evil intent)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HVqp3cp — Verb · Qal · perfect third person common plural
HVqp3cp
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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