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Psalms 31:18 — Word Study

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WLCתֵּ֥אָלַ֗מְנָה שִׂפְתֵ֫י שָׁ֥קֶר הַדֹּבְר֖וֹת עַל־ צַדִּ֥יק עָתָ֗ק בְּגַאֲוָ֥ה וָבֽוּז׃

BSAThe LordYᵉhôvâh notʼal be ashamedbûwsh forkîy to callqârâʼ be ashamedbûwsh wickedrâshâʻ to silencedâmam hellshᵉʼôwl

Word
Listen & take awayPsalms 31
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 18 is in this chapter.
Hebrew ↓ Download MP3 The Masoretic text of this chapter, read aloud. Read by Abraham Shmuelof, courtesy of Audio Scriptures International. Chapter divisions by the Academy of Ancient Languages..
Say the word Each Hebrew word carries its transliteration (va.Vuz) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Psalms 31:18quick helps
In a sentenceThe psalmist calls for the silencing of deceitful lips that arrogantly speak against the righteous.
Who is speakingThe psalmist, addressing the Lord in prayer.
Where we areIn a plea for justice against the wicked, within the context of a prayer.
The hard wordתֵּ֥אָלַ֗מְנָה
Take awayThe psalmist desires the end of falsehood and arrogance.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbיהוה 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 31:18

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

Context — A Prayer for Deliverancegenerated

17O LORD, let me not be ashamed, for I have called on You. Let the wicked be put to shame; let them lie silent in Sheol.
18May lying lips be silenced— lips that speak with arrogance against the righteous, full of pride and contempt.
19How great is Your goodness which You have laid up for those who fear You, which You have bestowed before the sons of men on those who take refuge in You!
20You hide them in the secret place of Your presence from the schemes of men. You conceal them in Your shelter from accusing tongues.

Psalm 31:18 is part of a prayer where the psalmist seeks God's intervention against those who speak lies and arrogance towards the righteous. This plea emphasizes the desire for justice and the silencing of deceitful speech, reflecting a theme common in the psalms where the faithful cry out for God's help against their adversaries.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Psalm 12:3May the LORD cut off all flattering lips and every boastful tongue.
2Psalm 59:12By the sins of their mouths and the words of their lips, let them be trapped in their pride, in the curses and lies they utter.
3Psalm 63:11But the king will rejoice in God; all who swear by Him will exult, for the mouths of liars will be shut.
4Psalm 140:9–11May the heads of those who surround me be covered in the trouble their lips have caused.
5Proverbs 12:19Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.

The Key Word תֵּ֥אָלַ֗מְנָה, te.'a.Lam.nahgenerated

The verb תֵּ֥אָלַ֗מְנָה (te.'a.Lam.nah) is a Niphal imperfect form meaning 'may they be dumb' or 'may they be silenced.' It conveys a request for the cessation of speech, particularly in the context of falsehood and deceit. The Niph'al form suggests a passive or reflexive action, indicating that the lips are being rendered unable to speak.

This verb is derived from the root אָלַם (alam), which means to bind or silence. The psalmist's use of this term highlights the desire for God to intervene and silence those who spread lies, emphasizing the seriousness of their words against the righteous.


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 verse is structured around one main verb, תֵּ֥אָלַ֗מְנָה (may they be dumb), which governs the entire clause. The subject of the verb is שִׂפְתֵ֫י (lips), and it is followed by a noun phrase describing the nature of these lips — שָׁ֥קֶר (falsehood) — and a participial phrase indicating what they do — הַדֹּבְר֖וֹת (which speak).

The Hebrew word order places emphasis on the lips and their characteristics, highlighting the psalmist's focus on the deceitful speech that opposes the righteous.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates תֵּ֥אָלַ֗מְנָה as κύριε (Lord), which shifts the focus from a direct request for silence to an appeal to God. This choice implies a more personal plea for divine intervention against falsehood.

The translation of שָׁ֥קֶר as καταισξυνθείην suggests a strong emphasis on the dishonor associated with deceit, aligning with the psalmist's call for justice.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Psalm 31:18 expresses a plea for God to silence lying lips that arrogantly speak against the righteous. The psalmist seeks justice for those who are full of pride and contempt, emphasizing the need for God's intervention against deceit.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does the psalmist mean by 'lying lips'?

The 'lying lips' refer to those who speak falsehoods or deceit, particularly against the righteous.

Why does the psalmist want these lips to be silenced?

The psalmist desires the silencing of deceitful speech that harms the innocent and seeks justice.

What is the significance of speaking with arrogance?

Speaking with arrogance implies a boldness in deceit, often leading to a disregard for truth and justice.

How does this verse relate to the overall theme of the psalm?

This verse reflects the psalmist's cry for help against adversaries and the desire for God's justice in the face of false accusations.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. How do I respond to false accusations or deceitful words spoken against me?
  2. In what ways can I seek justice in my own life, like the psalmist does?
  3. What does it mean to be righteous in the face of contempt and pride?
  4. How can I cultivate humility and avoid arrogance in my speech and actions?

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

The early Church Fathers comment on this verse to discuss themes of truth and silence in the face of deceit. Their reflections offer insights into the moral implications of the psalmist's plea.

Evagrius PonticusNOTES ON THE Psalms 30[31].19 345–399
One who speaks falsely receives mercy when he becomes silent. He gives up deceit.
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 31 →
Augustine of HippoExposition on Psalms 31 354–430
"Let the deceitful lips be made dumb" [Psalms 31:18]. In making known to the peoples Your mysteries wrought in me,
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 31 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Psalms 31:18 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

Let the lying lips be put to silence,.... Being convicted of the lies told by them, and so silenced and confounded; or being cut off and destroyed, as all such will be in the Lord's own time, Psalms 12:3.

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

Let the lying lips be put to silence; which speak grievous things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous.

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

Lying lips; slanderous tongues. Be put to silence, either by thy vindication and discovery of my integrity; or by some eminent judgment, which may either convince them, or cut them off. Grievous things, Heb. hard words, or things, the singular number being put for the plural. Of this expression, see 94:4 Jude 15. He means such as were grievous, and hard to be borne, as bitter calumnies, cruel mockings, terrible threatenings, and the like. Proudly and contemptuously; with great arrogancy, and confidence of success, and contempt of me and mine, whom they look upon as few in number, and impotent and fugitives, and such whom they can blow away with a breath. Against the righteous; against us…

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

Psalms 31:18 Let the lying lips be put to silence; which speak grievous things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous.Ver. 18. Let the lying lips be put to silence] Heb. the lips of a lie, mendaciorum artifices, as Jeremiah 9:3; Jeremiah 9:5. Among the Persians it was αιχιστοντοφευδεσθαι, held a base shame to tell a lie. Oh that it were so among Christians! When shall that golden age return, that the argument may again proceed, Sacerdos est, non fallet; Christianus est, non mentietur; He is a minister, he will not deceive; he is a Christian, therefore he will not lie? (Herod. in Clio; Xenoph. Cyroep.; Strab. lib. 15). Which speak grievous things] Heb. a hard thing; dura et atr…

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

(18) Silence.—As a different word is used from that rendered silent in Psalms 31:17, translate let the lying lips be made dumb.Grievous.—Better, arrogant, as in 1 Samuel 2:3. (Comp. Psalms 94:4.) So in Psalms 75:5, “a stiff neck” is a neck thrown impudently back.Proudly and contemptuously.—Literally, in pride and contempt.

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

Verse 18. Let the lying lips be put to silence] As to my enemies, persecutors, and slanderers, abate their pride, assuage their malice, and confound their devices. See Jeremiah 18:18.

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

18. Let the lying lips be dumb; Which speak against the righteous arrogantly, In pride and contempt. Cp. Psalms 12:3; Psalms 94:4.

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

Let the lying lips be put to silence - See the notes at Psalms 12:2-3. The lips which speak lies.

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

May lying lips be silenced— lips that speak with arrogance against the righteous, full of pride and contempt.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Let the lying lips be mute, which speak against the righteous insolently, with pride and contempt.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

May lying lips be silenced—lips that speak with arrogance against the righteous, full of pride and contempt.

NETBNew English Translation2006

May lying lips be silenced – lips that speak defiantly against the innocent with arrogance and contempt!

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

Let the lying lips be put to silence; which speak grievous things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

Let the lying lips be dumb, Which speak against the righteous insolently, With pride and contempt.

RVARevised Version, American1894

Let the lying lips be dumb; which speak against the righteous insolently, with pride and contempt.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

Let the lying lips be put to silence; which speak grievous things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Let the lying lips be made dumme, which cruelly, proudly and spitefully speake against the righteous.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

Let the lying lips become dumb, which speak insolently against the righteous in pride and contempt.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

Let lips of falsehood become dumb, That are speaking against the righteous, Ancient sayings, in pride and contempt.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

Let lips of falsehood become mute, || That are speaking against the righteous, || Ancient sayings, in pride and contempt.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

(31:19) Let the lying lips be made dumb, which speak hard things against the righteous, with pride and contempt.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

May lying lips be silenced that speak against the righteous defiantly with arrogance and contempt.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

Shut the mouths of those who tell lies against good people—those who speak contemptuously in their pride and arrogance!

BBEBible in Basic English1949

Let the false lips be shut, which say evil against the upright, looking down on him in their pride.

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.

clauseverbתֵּ֥אָלַ֗מְנָהmay.they.be.dumbnoun phrase · subjectnoun phraseשִׂפְתֵ֫יlipsשָׁ֥קֶרof.falsehoodnoun phraseהַ[which]noun phraseclauseverbדֹּבְר֖וֹתspeakprepositional phrase · prepositionalעַלonצַדִּ֥יק[the].righteousobjectעָתָ֗קarrogantprepositional phrase · prepositionalבְּwithnoun phraseגַאֲוָ֥הprideוָandבֽוּזcontempt

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 closely in wording, with all nine words matched. The Dead Sea Scrolls show some differences, with two words partially restored and six supplied by an editor, but the core message remains consistent.

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

תֵּ֥אָלַ֗מְנָה שִׂפְתֵ֫י שָׁ֥קֶר הַדֹּבְר֖וֹת עַל־ צַדִּ֥יק עָתָ֗ק בְּגַאֲוָ֥ה וָבֽוּז׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
תֵּ֥אָלַ֗מְנָהκύριεשִׂפְתֵ֫יμὴשָׁ֥קֶרκαταισξυνθείηνהַדֹּבְר֖וֹתἐπεκαλεσάμηνעַל־σεצַדִּ֥יקαἰσξυνθείησανעָתָ֗קἀσεβεῖςבְּגַאֲוָ֥הκαταξθείησανוָבֽוּז׃ᾅδου

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.

Dead Sea Scrolls — 5/6hev1ba copy a thousand years older than the Leningrad Codex

[יהוה] [אל] [אבושה] [כי] [קראתי׳ך] [יבשו] רשעים ידמו לשאול

2 words on the leather — 1 partly restored, 6 supplied entire by an editor.

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


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

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

Psalms 31:18אָלַםmay they bemay they be dumאָלַםשָׂפָהlips oflips ofשָׂפָהשֶׁ֫קֶרfalsehoodfalsehoodשֶׁ֫קֶרדָבַרwhich speakwhich speakדָבַרעַלononעַלצַדִּיק[the] right[the] righteousצַדִּיקעָתָקarrogancearroganceעָתָקגַּאֲוָהwith pridewith prideגַּאֲוָהבּוּזand contempand contemptבּוּזסָפָהto snatchto snatchסָפָהשָׁקַרto dealto dealשָׁקַרצָדֵקto justifyto justifyצָדֵקעָתַקto proceedto proceedעָתַקגָּאָהto rise upto rise upגָּאָהבּוּזto despiseto despiseבּוּזעַלheightheightעַללָשׁוֹןtonguetongueלָשׁוֹןפָּתַחto opento openפָּתַחפֶּהliplipפֶּהיְרִיעָהcurtaincurtainיְרִיעָהעֵדwitnesswitnessעֵדנָבָאto prophesto prophesyנָבָאמֹשֶׁהMosesMosesמֹשֶׁהכִּפֶּרto atoneto atoneכִּפֶּרכִּסֵּאthronethroneכִּסֵּארָשָׁעwickedwickedרָשָׁעעָ֫וֶלinjusticeinjusticeעָ֫וֶל
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 31:18

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.

may they be dumb lips of falsehood which speak on [the] righteous arrogance with pride and contempt
תֵּ֥אָלַ֗מְנָהte.'a.Lam.nah may they be dumb H481 Verb · Niphal · imperfect third person feminine plural
9× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This verb means to be tongue-tied or unable to speak, often used to describe being silenced or bound, as seen in Psalm 137:6.
Tyndale gloss
be dumb
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אָלַם (alam) is a Hebrew verb meaning to bind, with a specific nuance in the Niph'al form of being dumb or tongue-tied. The entries indicate that it can refer to both the act of binding and the state of being silenced. There is no significant disagreement among the lexicons regarding its meanings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[אָלַם] vb. bind

Niph. (be bound =) be dumb

Pi. Pt. bind

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H481 אָלַם bind. Niph. be dumb

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

481 'alam aw-lam'

a primitive root; to tie fast; hence (of the mouth) to be

tongue-tied:--bind, be dumb, put to silence.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אָלַם (a.lam) — be dumb.

1) to bind

1a) (Niphal)

1a1) to be dumb

1a2) to be bound

1b) (Piel) binding (part.)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HVNi3fp — Verb · Niphal · imperfect third person feminine plural
HVNi3fp
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

dum (alam, 'illem, literally, "tied in the tongue"; kophos): Used either as expressing the physical condition of speechlessness, generally associated with deafness, or figuratively as meaning the silence produced by the weight of God's judgments (Ps 39:2-9; Da 10:15) or the oppression of external calamity (Ps 38:13). As an adjective it is used to characterize inefficient teachers destitute of spirituality ("dumb dogs," Isa 56:10). The speechlessness of Saul's companions (Ac 9:7) was due to fright; that of the man without the wedding garment was because he had no excuse to give (

Dumb

From natural infirmity (Ex. 4:11); not knowing what to say (Prov. 31:8); unwillingness to speak (Ps. 39:9; Lev. 10:3). Christ repeatedly restored the dumb (Matt. 9:32, 33; Luke 11:14; Matt. 12:22) to the use of speech.

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
may they be dumb lips of falsehood which speak on [the] righteous arrogance with pride and contempt
שִׂפְתֵ֫יsif.Tei lips of H8193 Noun common · feminine dual construct
176× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to lips or language, and can also mean the edge or border of something. It is used in the Bible to describe the shore of a sea or the edge of a cup.
Tyndale gloss
lips
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word שָׂפָה (*saphah*) encompasses meanings related to 'lip,' 'speech,' and 'edge.' It is derived from concepts of termination, suggesting boundaries like the edge of a vessel or the bank of a river. The word can refer to physical lips, language, or the edges of various objects, including shores.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שָׂפָה 176 n.f. lip, speech, edge

lip

language

edge: shore of sea; bank of river

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8193 שָׂפָה lip, speech, edge . lip

. language

. edge: shore of sea; bank of river

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8193 saphah saw-faw'

or (in dual and plural) sepheth {sef-eth'}; probably from

5595 or 8192 through the idea of termination (compare 5490);

the lip (as a natural boundary); by implication, language; by

analogy, a margin (of a vessel, water, cloth, etc.):--band,

bank, binding, border, brim, brink, edge, language, lip,

prating, ((sea-))shore, side, speech, talk, (vain) words.

see HEBREW for 05595

see HEBREW for 08192

see HEBREW for 05490

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שָׂפָה (sa.phah) — lips.

: lips/mouth

1) lip, language, speech, shore, bank, brink, brim, side, edge, border, binding

1a) lip (as body part)

1b) language

1c) edge, shore, bank (of cup, sea, river, etc)

שָׂפָה (sa.phah) — lip: words.

: words/language

1) lip, language, speech, shore, bank, brink, brim, side, edge, border, binding

1a) lip (as body part)

1b) language

1c) edge, shore, bank (of cup, sea, river, etc)

שָׂפָה (sa.phah) — lip: edge.

: edge/border/opening

1) lip, language, speech, shore, bank, brink, brim, side, edge, border, binding

1a) lip (as body part)

1b) language

1c) edge, shore, bank (of cup, sea, river, etc)

שָׂפָה (sa.phah) — lip: shore.

: shore/bank(of_sea/river)

1) lip, language, speech, shore, bank, brink, brim, side, edge, border, binding

1a) lip (as body part)

1b) language

1c) edge, shore, bank (of cup, sea, river, etc)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HNcfdc — Noun common · feminine dual construct
HNcfdc
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…

may they be dumb lips of falsehood which speak on [the] righteous arrogance with pride and contempt
שָׁ֥קֶרSha.ker falsehood H8267 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
113× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to deception or falsehood, often implying a sense of betrayal or disappointment. It's used in the Bible to describe lies, false testimony, or deceitful behavior, like in Psalm 116:11, where the psalmist says all men are liars.
Tyndale gloss
deception
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שֶׁ֫קֶר (sheqer) refers to deception, falsehood, and disappointment. It encompasses various forms of deceit, including fraud and wrongful testimony. The word is built from the root associated with untruths and can imply sham or lying. It is used in contexts involving false prophets and general dishonesty.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שֶׁ֫קֶר 113 n.m. deception, disappointment, falsehood

deception, what deceives, disappoints, and betrays one

deceit, fraud, wrong

injurious falsehood, in testimony

falsity, of false or self-deceived prophets

lie, falsehood, in gen.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8267 שֶׁ֫קֶר deception, disappointment, falsehood . deception, what deceives, disappoints, and betrays one

. deceit, fraud, wrong

. injurious falsehood, in testimony

. falsity, of false or self-deceived prophets

. lie, falsehood, in gen.

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8267 sheqer sheh'-ker

from 8266; an untruth; by implication, a sham (often

adverbial):--without a cause, deceit(-ful),

false(-hood, -ly), feignedly, liar, + lie, lying, vain

(thing), wrongfully.

see HEBREW for 08266

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שֶׁ֫קֶר (she.qer) — deception.

1) lie, deception, disappointment, falsehood

1a) deception (what deceives or disappoints or betrays one)

1b) deceit, fraud, wrong

1b1) fraudulently, wrongfully (as adverb)

1c) falsehood (injurious in testimony)

1c1) testify falsehood, false oath, swear falsely

1d) falsity (of false or self-deceived prophets)

1e) lie, falsehood (in general)

1e1) false tongue

1f) in vain

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HNcmsa — 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;

may they be dumb lips of falsehood which speak on [the] righteous arrogance with pride and contempt
הַדֹּבְר֖וֹתha.doe.Rot which speak H1696 Particle · verb qal participle (active) feminine plural
1,142× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To speak or communicate, like God speaking to Moses in Exodus or a king commanding his people. It can also mean to promise or warn someone.
Tyndale gloss
to speak: speak
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

דָבַר (dabar) is a Hebrew verb primarily meaning 'to speak.' It encompasses a range of actions including declaring, commanding, and conversing. The root suggests a figurative use of words, with some entries noting a rare destructive sense of subduing. Various forms of the verb indicate different nuances, such as speaking with one another or making promises.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[דָבַר] 1142 vb. speak (original mng. dub.)

Qal speak

Niph. reciprocal sense, speak with one another, talk

Pi. speak

Pu. in the day when she may be spoken for

Hithp. speaking this word

Hiph. either leads subject, or puts to flight, fig. for subdues

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1696 דָבַר speak (original mng. dub.)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1696 dabar daw-bar'

a primitive root; perhaps properly, to arrange; but used

figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive

sense) to subdue:--answer, appoint, bid, command, commune,

declare, destroy, give, name, promise, pronounce, rehearse,

say, speak, be spokesman, subdue, talk, teach, tell, think,

use (entreaties), utter, X well, X work.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

דָבַר (da.var) — to speak: speak.

: speak/tell/command

1) to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing

1a) (Qal) to speak

1b) (Niphal) to speak with one another, talk

1c) (Piel)

1c1) to speak

1c2) to promise

1d) (Pual) to be spoken

1e) (Hithpael) to speak

1f) (Hiphil) to lead away, put to flight

דָבַר (da.var) — to speak: subdue.

: subdue

1) to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing

1a) (Qal) to speak

1b) (Niphal) to speak with one another, talk

1c) (Piel)

1c1) to speak

1c2) to promise

1d) (Pual) to be spoken

1e) (Hithpael) to speak

1f) (Hiphil) to lead away, put to flight

דָבַר (da.var) — to speak: promise.

: promise/declare

1) to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing

1a) (Qal) to speak

1b) (Niphal) to speak with one another, talk

1c) (Piel)

1c1) to speak

1c2) to promise

1d) (Pual) to be spoken

1e) (Hithpael) to speak

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HTd/Vqrfpa — Particle · verb qal participle (active) feminine plural
HTd/Vqrfpa
may they be dumb lips of falsehood which speak on [the] righteous arrogance with pride and contempt
עַל־'al- on H5921 Preposition
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 — Preposition
HR
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Easton's Bible Dictionary

On

Light; the sun, (Gen. 41:45, 50), the great seat of sun-worship, called also Bethshemesh (Jer. 43:13) and Aven (Ezek. 30:17), stood on the east bank of the Nile, a few miles north of Memphis, and near Cairo, in the north-east. The Vulgate and the LXX. Versions have “Heliopolis” (“city of the sun”) instead of On in Genesis and of Aven in Ezekiel. The “city of destruction” Isaiah speaks of (19:18, marg. “of Heres;” Heb. ‘Ir-ha-heres, which some MSS. read Ir-ha-heres, i.e., “city of the sun”) may be the name given to On, the prophecy being that the time will come when that city which was known as the “city of the sun-god” shall become the “city of destruction” of the sun-god, i.e., when idolatry shall cease, and the worship…

Smith's Bible Dictionary

(abode or city of the sun), a town of lower Egypt, called BETH-SHEMESH in (Jeremiah 43:13) On is better known under its Greek name Heliopolis. It was situated on the east side of the Pelusiac branch of the Nile, just below the point of the Delta, and about twenty miles northeast of Memphis. The chief object of worship at Heliopolis was the sun, whose temple, described by Strabo, is now only represented by the single beautiful obelisk, of red granite so feet 2 inches high above the pedestal which has stood for more than 4000 years, having been erected by Usirtesen, the second king of the twelfth dynasty. Heliopolis was anciently famous for its learning, and Eudoxus and Plato studied under its priests. The first mention of this place in the Bible is in the history of Joseph, to whom we read Pharaoh gave "to wife Asenath the daughter…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

See HELIOPOLIS.

Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary

pain; force; iniquity

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
may they be dumb lips of falsehood which speak on [the] righteous arrogance with pride and contempt
צַדִּ֥יקtza.Dik [the] righteous H6662
206× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Means being just or righteous, as seen in government, personal conduct, or character, often describing someone made right with God. It appears in descriptions of King David and other biblical leaders. The concept is central to the Bible's teachings on morality and ethics.
Tyndale gloss
righteous
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

צַדִּיק (tsaddiyq) means just or righteous, covering various aspects such as lawful behavior, moral conduct, and being justified by God. It is derived from a related root and is used to describe individuals who are upright in character and actions.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

צַדִּיק 206 adj. just, righteous

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6662 צַדִּיק just, righteous

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6662 tsaddiyq tsad-deek'

from 6663; just:--just, lawful, righteous (man).

see HEBREW for 06663

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

צַדִּיק (tsad.diq) — righteous.

1) just, lawful, righteous

1a) just, righteous (in government)

1b) just, right (in one's cause)

1c) just, righteous (in conduct and character)

1d) righteous (as justified and vindicated by God)

1e) right, correct, lawful

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HAamsa
HAamsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Nave's Topical Bible

→ MISCELLANY OF MINOR SUB-TOPICS

Compared with

The sun Jud 5:31; Mt 13:43

Stars Da 12:3

Lights Mt 5:14; Php 2:15

Mount Zion Ps 125:1,2

Lebanon Ho 14:5-7

Treasure Ex 19:5; Ps 135:4

Jewels Mal 3:17

Gold Job 23:10; La 4:2

may they be dumb lips of falsehood which speak on [the] righteous arrogance with pride and contempt
עָתָ֗ק'a.Tak arrogance H6277
4× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means being arrogant or bold, often in a negative way. It describes someone who speaks or acts with impudence, being stiff or unyielding in their attitude.
Tyndale gloss
arrogant
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עָתָק (athaq) primarily means 'forward' or 'arrogant,' particularly in the context of speech. It is derived from a root that suggests a sense of license or impudence. The entries consistently emphasize its connotation of boldness and arrogance.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עָתָק forward, arrogant (of speech)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6277 עָתָק forward, arrogant (of speech)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6277 `athaq aw-thawk'

from 6275 in the sense of license; impudent:--arrogancy,

grievous (hard) things, stiff.

see HEBREW for 06275

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עָתָק (a.taq) — arrogant.

1) forward, bold, arrogant

1a) of speech

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HAamsa
HAamsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Nave's Topical Bible

→ General scriptures concerning 1Sa 2:3; Pr 8:13; Isa 13:11

→ See PRIDE

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
may they be dumb lips of falsehood which speak on [the] righteous arrogance with pride and contempt
בְּגַאֲוָ֥הbe.ga.'a.Vah with pride H1346 Preposition · noun common feminine singular absolute
19× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Pride or majesty, describing something or someone that is impressive or arrogant, like the pride of life in 1 John. It can also mean ornament or swelling, like the swelling of the sea in Psalms.
Tyndale gloss
pride
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

גַּאֲוָה (ga'avah) refers to concepts of majesty and pride, encompassing meanings like arrogance and haughtiness. It can also denote a physical rising or swelling, such as that of the sea. The word is built from the root associated with elevation, and its usage in the Old Testament reflects these themes of pride and exaltation.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

גַּאֲוָה n.f. majesty, pride

rising up, swelling of the sea

majesty

pride, haughtiness

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1346 גַּאֲוָה majesty, pride

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1346 ga`avah gah-av-aw'

from 1342; arrogance or majesty; by implication, (concretely)

ornament:--excellency, haughtiness, highness, pride, proudly,

swelling.

see HEBREW for 01342

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

גַּאֲוָה (ga.a.vah) — pride.

1) pride, majesty, a rising up

1a) a rising up, swelling (of the sea)

1b) majesty (of Israel)

1c) pride, haughtiness

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HR/Ncfsa — Preposition · noun common feminine singular absolute
HR/Ncfsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Nave's Topical Bible

→ General scriptures concerning Ex 18:10,11; Le 26:19; De 8:11-14,17-20; Jud 9:14,15; 1Sa 2:3-5; 1Ki 20:11; 2Ki 14:9,10; 2Ch 25:18,19; Job 11:12; 12:2,3; 13:2,5; 15:1-13; 18:3; 21:31,32; 32:9-13; 37:24; Ps 9:20; 10:2-6,11; 12:4; 18:27; 31:23; 49:11; 52:7; 73:6,8,9; 75:4-6; 101:5; 119:21,69,70,78; 138:6;

- Is sin

Pr 21:4

- Hateful to God

Pr 6:16,17; 16:5

- Hateful to Christ

Pr 8:12,13

- OFTEN ORIGINATES IN

. Self-righteousness

Lu 18:11,12

. Religious privileges

Zep 3:11

. Unsanctified knowledge

1Co 8:1

. Inexperience

1Ti 3:6

. Possession of power

Le 26:19; Eze 30:6

. Possession of wealth

2Ki 20:13

- Forbidden

may they be dumb lips of falsehood which speak on [the] righteous arrogance with pride and contempt
וָבֽוּז׃va.Vuz and contempt H937 Conjunction · noun common masculine singular absolute
11× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This noun refers to contempt or disrespect, and can stem from evil, prosperity, or judgment, as described in the book of Job. It is used to describe a negative attitude or feeling towards someone or something. This term is translated as contempt or despised in the KJV Bible.
Tyndale gloss
contempt
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

בּוּז (buwz) means contempt, indicating a sense of disrespect or disdain. It can arise from various sources, including evil, prosperity, or judgment. The term appears in contexts related to divine judgment, suggesting a serious tone in its usage.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

בּוּז n.m. contempt

contempt

judicial, poured out by God, in judgment

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H937 בּוּז contempt

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

937 buwz booz

from 936; disrespect:--contempt(-uously), despised, shamed.

see HEBREW for 0936

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בּוּז (buz) — contempt.

1) contempt

1a) springing from evil

1b) springing from prosperity

1c) springing from judgment

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HC/Ncmsa — Conjunction · noun common masculine singular absolute
HC/Ncmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Torrey's New Topical Textbook

- Sin of

Job 31:13,14; Pr 14:21

- Folly of

Pr 11:12

- A characteristic of the wicked

Pr 18:3; Isa 5:24; 2Ti 3:3

- FORBIDDEN TOWARDS

. Parents

Pr 23:22

. Christ's little ones

Mt 18:10

. Weak brethren

Ro 14:3

. Young ministers

1Co 16:11

. Believing masters

1Ti 6:2

. The poor

Thompson Chain Reference topics

for the Righteous

1Sa 17:28; Ne 2:19; 4:3; Ps 80:6; 119:22; Mt 13:55; Joh 9:34

--SEE Derision, DERISION

Despisers, DESPISERS

Mocking, MOCKING

Reviling, SUFFERINGS OF CHRIST

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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