Menu

Psalms 36:12 — Word Study

Depth

WLCשָׁ֣ם נָ֭פְלוּ פֹּ֣עֲלֵי אָ֑וֶן דֹּ֝ח֗וּ וְלֹא־ יָ֥כְלוּ קֽוּם׃

BSAnotʼal Lebobôwʼ footregel pridegaʼăvâh handyâd wickedrâshâʻ notʼal to wandernûwd

Word
Listen & take awayPsalms 36
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 12 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 (Kum) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Psalms 36:12quick helps
In a sentenceThe verse describes the fate of evildoers, who are defeated and unable to rise.
Who is speakingThe psalmist, reflecting on the state of the wicked.
Where we areThis verse concludes a section contrasting the righteous with the wicked.
The hard wordפֹּ֣עֲלֵי
Take awayThe evildoers are depicted as permanently defeated.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbבּוֹא 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 36:12

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 — The Fate of the Wickedgenerated

9For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light we see light.
10Extend Your loving devotion to those who know You, and Your righteousness to the upright in heart.
11Let not the foot of the proud come against me, nor the hand of the wicked drive me away.
12There the evildoers lie fallen, thrown down and unable to rise.

Psalm 36:12 speaks of the ultimate downfall of evildoers, emphasizing their inability to rise again after being cast down. This verse follows a series of statements about God's light and righteousness, highlighting the contrast between the fate of the wicked and the blessings of the righteous. The psalmist reflects on the consequences of wickedness, which is a recurring theme throughout the psalms, as seen in Psalm 9:16 and Psalm 55:23.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Psalm 9:16The LORD is known by the justice He brings; the wicked are ensnared by the work of their hands. Higgaion Selah
2Psalm 55:23But You, O God, will bring them down to the Pit of destruction; men of bloodshed and deceit will not live out half their days. But I will trust in You.
3Psalm 58:10–11The righteous will rejoice when they see they are avenged; they will wash their feet in the blood of the wicked.
4Psalm 64:7–9But God will shoot them with arrows; suddenly they will be wounded.
5Judges 5:31So may all your enemies perish, O LORD! But may those who love You shine like the sun at its brightest.” And the land had rest for forty years.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 11 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word פֹּ֣עֲלֵי, Po.'a.leigenerated

The word פָּעַל (pa'al) is a participle meaning 'those who do' or 'workers.' It conveys the idea of habitual action, often linked to moral or ethical behavior. In this context, it refers specifically to those who commit wicked acts, emphasizing their role as evildoers.

This participle is used in a plural form, indicating a collective group of individuals engaged in wrongdoing. The choice of this term underscores the psalmist's condemnation of their actions and sets the stage for the ensuing consequences they face.


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 structure of the verse centers around a main clause that identifies the subject, פֹּ֣עֲלֵי (those who do), followed by two verbs that describe their condition: נָ֭פְלוּ (they have fallen) and דֹּ֝ח֗וּ (they were pushed down). The conjunction וְלֹא־ (and not) introduces the inability to rise, creating a clear and impactful conclusion.

The order of the words emphasizes the state of the evildoers, with their actions leading directly to their downfall. The verbs are in the perfect tense, indicating completed actions, which reinforces the finality of their defeat.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

In the Septuagint, the Hebrew פֹּ֣עֲלֵי is rendered as ἁμαρτωλῶν (of sinners), which narrows the focus to those who are guilty of sin. This choice emphasizes moral culpability and aligns with the overall theme of divine judgment against wrongdoing.

The translation of נָ֭פְלוּ as ἐλθέτω (let them come) suggests a different nuance, potentially indicating a call for their downfall rather than a statement of fact about their state.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Psalm 36:12 describes the fate of evildoers, stating that they lie fallen and are unable to rise again. This verse highlights the consequences of wickedness, contrasting the fate of the wicked with the blessings given to the righteous.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean that the evildoers are unable to rise?

This indicates that their downfall is permanent, and they will not recover from their state of defeat.

Why does the psalmist emphasize the actions of the evildoers?

The psalmist highlights their actions to illustrate the moral implications of wickedness and the inevitable consequences that follow.

How does this verse relate to the overall themes of the Psalms?

It reflects the recurring theme of divine justice, where the wicked face judgment while the righteous are upheld.

What can we learn from the fate of the evildoers?

We can learn about the seriousness of moral choices and the consequences that come from living a life contrary to God's ways.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. What actions in my life reflect the choices of the evildoers mentioned in this verse?
  2. How can I ensure that my actions align with righteousness rather than wickedness?
  3. What does this verse teach me about the nature of justice and judgment?
  4. In what ways can I encourage others to choose the path of righteousness?

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Psalms 36:12 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

There are the workers, of iniquity fallen,.... Either in the pit they dug for others; or into hell, where they shall be turned at last; [See comments on Psalms 5:5] and [See comments on Psalms 6:8];

Read John Gill on Psalms 36 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

There are the workers of iniquity fallen: they are cast down, and shall not be able to rise.

Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 36 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

There, where they come against me, and hope to ruin me. He seems as it were to point at the place with his finger, as if it were already done, and he could tell all the circumstances of it. Or, then, i.e. when they thought all sure, and me irrecoverably lost. Fallen, i.e. they shall certainly and suddenly fall; which the prophets use to express in the time past.

Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 36 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Psalms 36:12 There are the workers of iniquity fallen: they are cast down, and shall not be able to rise.Ver. 12. There are the workers of iniquity fallen] There, where they plotted or practised the downfall of the righteous; as Henry III of France was stabbed in the same chamber where he and others had contrived the Parisian massacre. God taketh notice of the very place where sin is committed, to punish accordingly; as he did Abimelech, Ahab, the Jews, that cried, "Crucify him! crucify him!" &c. They are cast down] With a force; the angel of God chasing them, according to my prayer, which now methinks I see to be graciously answered. It must needs go ill with the wicked when the saints…

Read John Trapp on Psalms 36 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(12) There . . .—Of place. The poet has some definite incident in his mind, but has not told enough for us to identify it.

Read Charles John Ellicott on Psalms 36 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 12. There are the workers of iniquity fallen] THERE, in Babylon, are the workers of iniquity fallen, and so cast down that they shall not be able to rise. A prophecy of the destruction of the Babylonish empire by Cyrus. That it was destroyed, is an historical fact; that they were never able to recover their liberty, is also a fact; and that Babylon itself is now blotted out of the map of the universe, so that the site of it is no longer known, is confirmed by every traveller who has passed over those regions. The word שם sham, THERE, has been applied by many of the fathers to the pride spoken of in the preceding verse. There, in or by pride, says Augustine, do all sinners perish.…

Read AdamClarke on Psalms 36 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

12. With the eye of faith he beholds the certain and irreparable ruin of the “workers of iniquity” (Psalms 36:3-4 : cp. Psalms 5:5; Psalms 6:8; Psalms 14:4). There points to the scene of their discomfiture. Cp. Psalms 14:5; Psalms 64:8. they are cast down] R.V. they are thrust down (Psalms 5:10; Psalms 35:5), and overthrown for ever. Cp. Isaiah 26:14. Such judgements are an earnest of the final triumph (Romans 16:20).

Read Cambridge on Psalms 36 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

There are the workers of iniquity fallen - The meaning of this seems to be, that the psalmist saw his prayer answered already.

Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 36 →

The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company

Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.

Modern formal

BSBBerean Standard Bible2020

There the evildoers lie fallen, thrown down and unable to rise.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

There the workers of iniquity are fallen. They are thrust down, and shall not be able to rise.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

There the evildoers lie fallen, thrown down and unable to rise.

NETBNew English Translation2006

I can see the evildoers! They have fallen! They have been knocked down and are unable to get up!

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

There are the workers of iniquity fallen: they are cast down, and shall not be able to rise.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

There are the workers of iniquity fallen: They are thrust down, and shall not be able to rise.

RVARevised Version, American1894

There are the workers of iniquity fallen: they are thrust down, and shall not be able to rise.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

There are the workers of iniquity fallen: they are cast down, and shall not be able to rise.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

There they are fallen that worke iniquity: they are cast downe, and shall not be able to rise.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

There are the workers of iniquity fallen: they are cast down, and are not able to rise.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

There have workers of iniquity fallen, They have been overthrown, And have not been able to arise!

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

Workers of iniquity have fallen there, || They have been overthrown, || And have not been able to arise!

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

(36:13) There are fallen the workers of wickedness: they are thrust down, and shall not be able to rise.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Over there the evildoers have fallen; they are knocked down and are not able to get up.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

The sinner shall watch the just man: and shall gnash upon him with his teeth.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

Now look! See how those who do evil have fallen—thrown down, unable to get up.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

There the workers of evil have come down: they have been made low, and will not be lifted up.

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.

clauseadverbialשָׁ֣םthereverbנָ֭פְלוּthey.have.fallennoun phrase · subjectפֹּ֣עֲלֵי[those.who].doאָ֑וֶן(of).wickednessclauseverbדֹּ֝ח֗וּthey.were.pushed.downוְandclauseadverbialלֹאnotverbיָ֥כְלוּthey.were.ableobjectקֽוּםto.rise

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


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

The Masoretic Text states, "שָׁ֣ם נָ֭פְלוּ פֹּ֣עֲלֵי אָ֑וֶן דֹּ֝ח֗וּ וְלֹא־ יָ֥כְלוּ קֽוּם׃" which translates to, "There the evildoers lie fallen, thrown down and unable to rise." The Septuagint agrees with the Masoretic Text in meaning, as all eight words correspond directly in a word-by-word manner, although the word order and articles differ due to the nature of Greek syntax. There are no significant differences noted in the Samaritan Pentateuch or the Dead Sea Scrolls for this verse, indicating a consistent transmission of the text across these ancient witnesses.

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

שָׁ֣ם נָ֭פְלוּ פֹּ֣עֲלֵי אָ֑וֶן דֹּ֝ח֗וּ וְלֹא־ יָ֥כְלוּ קֽוּם׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
שָׁ֣םμὴנָ֭פְלוּἐλθέτωפֹּ֣עֲלֵיμοιאָ֑וֶןποὺςדֹּ֝ח֗וּὑπερηφανίαςוְלֹא־ξεὶρיָ֥כְלוּἁμαρτωλῶνקֽוּם׃μὴ

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

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


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

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

Psalms 36:12שָׁםtherethereשָׁםנָפַלthey have fthey have falleנָפַלפָּעַל[those who][those who] doפָּעַלאָ֫וֶןwickednesswickednessאָ֫וֶןדָּחָהthey were pthey were pusheדָּחָהלֹאand notand notלֹאיָכֹלthey were athey were ableיָכֹללֵבto riseto riseלֵבאֲשֶׁרwhichwhichאֲשֶׁרפָּלַלto prayto prayפָּלַלאַ֫יִןnothingnothingאַ֫יִןנָדַחto banishto banishנָדַחגּוּרto sojournto sojournגּוּרגּוֹרָלallottedallottedגּוֹרָלחָלָלslain: kilslain: killedחָלָלאָ֫וֶןevil: wickevil: wickednesאָ֫וֶןעָ֫וֶלinjusticeinjusticeעָ֫וֶלפָּעַלto workto workפָּעַלעָמָלtroubletroubleעָמָלנָפַלto fall: fto fall: fallנָפַליָכֹלbe ablebe ableיָכֹלעוֹדstillstillעוֹדפָּתָהto open wito open wideפָּתָהאוּלַיperhapsperhapsאוּלַינֶ֫דֶרvowvowנֶ֫דֶרעֵדwitnesswitnessעֵד
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 36:12

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.

there they have fallen [those who] do wickedness they were pushed down and not they were able to rise
שָׁ֣םsham there H8033 Adverb
834× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word sham means there or then, often used to describe a location or point in time. It can also mean thither or thence, indicating movement or direction. This word is used frequently in the Bible to provide context and clarify the setting of a story.
Tyndale gloss
there
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שָׁם (sham) is a Hebrew adverb meaning 'there' or 'thither,' indicating a location or direction. It can also refer to a point in time, translating to 'then.' The word is derived from a relative pronoun and is used in various contexts, including movement and temporal references.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שָׁם adv. there, thither

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8033 שָׁם there, thither

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8033 sham shawm

a primitive particle (rather from the relative pronoun, 834);

there (transferring to time) then; often thither, or

thence:--in it, + thence, there (-in, + of, + out), +

thither, + whither.

see HEBREW for 0834

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שָׁם (sham) — there.

1) there, thither

1a) there

1b) thither (after verbs of motion)

1c) from there, thence

1d) then (as an adverb of time)

Aramaic equivalent: tam.mah (תַּמָּה "there" H8536)

שָׁם (sham) — (Jerusalem) Is There.

Combined with ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)

This name means there, thither

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HD — Adverb
HD
there they have fallen [those who] do wickedness they were pushed down and not they were able to rise
נָ֭פְלוּNa.fe.lu they have fallen H5307 Verb · Qal · perfect third person common plural
435× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means to fall, and it's used in many ways, like falling down, failing, or being defeated. It appears in books like Genesis and Isaiah. God's people often fell away from Him, but He always offered a way back.
Tyndale gloss
to fall: fall
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

נָפַל (naphal) is a Hebrew verb meaning 'to fall,' encompassing a wide range of applications, including falling by accident, experiencing violent death, or going to ruin. It can also refer to prostrating oneself, attacking, or causing someone to fall. The term appears in various contexts throughout the Old Testament, often indicating physical or metaphorical downfall.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

נָפַל 433 vb. fall, lie

Qal 366

fall, by accident

Esp. of violent death

fig. = go to ruin, perish, etc.

fig. = experience calamity

fall, of a city

Fall prostrate

fall = prostrate oneself before

fall upon one's neck, in embrace

Fall upon = attack

desert or fall away to, go over to

Fig., of deep sleep

Other idiomatic uses

= lie; = lie prostrate

Hiph.

cause to fall

Of causing death; = overthrow, bring to destruction

Esp. of casting lot

Fig., let drop, cause to fail

cause deep sleep to fall

Other idioms

Hithp. throw, or prostrate oneself

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5307 נָפַל fall, lie .. fall, by accident

. . Esp. of violent death

. fig. = go to ruin, perish, etc.

. fig. = experience calamity

. fall, of a city

. . Fall prostrate

. fall = prostrate oneself before

. fall upon one's neck, in embrace

. . Fall upon = attack

. desert or fall away to, go over to

. Fig., of deep sleep

. Other idiomatic uses

. = lie; = lie prostrate

. . cause to fall

. Of causing death; = overthrow, bring to destruction

. Esp. of casting lot

. Fig., let drop, cause to fail

. cause deep sleep to fall

. Other idioms

. throw, or prostrate oneself

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5307 naphal naw-fal'

a primitive root; to fall, in a great variety of applications

(intransitive or causative, literal or figurative):--be

accepted, cast (down, self, (lots), out), cease, die, divide

(by lot), (let) fail, (cause to, let, make, ready to) fall

(away, down, -en, -ing), fell(-ing), fugitive, have

(inheritance), inferior, be judged (by mistake for 6419), lay

(along), (cause to) lie down, light (down), be (X hast) lost,

lying, overthrow, overwhelm, perish, present(-ed, -ing), (make

to) rot, slay, smite out, X surely, throw down.

see HEBREW for 06419

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נָפַל (na.phal) — to fall: fall.

: fall/drop/fail

1) to fall, lie, be cast down, fail

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to fall

1a2) to fall (of violent death)

1a3) to fall prostrate, prostrate oneself before

1a4) to fall upon, attack, desert, fall away to, go away to, fall into the hand of

1a5) to fall short, fail, fall out, turn out, result

1a6) to settle, waste away, be offered, be inferior to

1a7) to lie, lie prostrate

1b) (Hiphil)

1b1) to cause to fall, fell, throw down, knock out, lay prostrate

1b2) to overthrow

1b3) to make the lot fall, assign by lot, apportion by lot

1b4) to let drop, cause to fail (fig.)

1b5) to cause to fall

1c) (Hithpael)

1c1) to throw or prostrate oneself, throw oneself upon

1c2) to lie prostrate, prostrate oneself

1d) (Pilel) to fall

נָפַל (na.phal) — to fall: deserting.

: deserting

1) to fall, lie, be cast down, fail

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to fall

1a2) to fall (of violent death)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HVqp3cp — Verb · Qal · perfect third person common plural
HVqp3cp
there they have fallen [those who] do wickedness they were pushed down and not they were able to rise
פֹּ֣עֲלֵיPo.'a.lei [those who] do H6466 Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine plural common
57× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To work or do something is the meaning of this Hebrew verb, often used to describe habitual or systematic actions. It can also mean to make or practise something.
Tyndale gloss
to work
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

פָּעַל (pa'al) is a Hebrew verb meaning to do or make, often used in a systematic or habitual sense. It encompasses actions like committing, ordaining, and working, with a poetic nuance compared to the more common verb for 'to do' (עָשָׂה). The entries consistently highlight its usage in the Qal stem, emphasizing its foundational role in expressing action.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

פָּעַל 67 vb. do, make (poet. for עָשָׂה)

Qal

do

make

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6466 פָּעַל do, make (poet. for עָשָׂה)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6466 pa`al paw-al'

a primitive root; to do or make (systematically and

habitually), especially to practise:--commit, (evil-)

do(-er), make(-r), ordain, work(-er).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

פָּעַל (pa.al) — to work.

1) to do, make

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to do

1a2) to make

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HVqrmpc — Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine plural common
HVqrmpc
there they have fallen [those who] do wickedness they were pushed down and not they were able to rise
אָ֑וֶן'A.ven wickedness H205 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
77× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to evil, wickedness, or trouble, often describing idolatry or iniquity, and is used in various KJV translations to convey a sense of wrongdoing.
Tyndale gloss
evil: wickedness
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אָ֫וֶן (aven) encompasses meanings related to trouble, sorrow, and wickedness. It may also refer to idolatry and the concept of vanity or nothingness. The entries suggest a range of negative connotations, including affliction and iniquity, indicating a strong moral or ethical dimension. There are no significant disagreements among the lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אָ֫וֶן 85 n.m. trouble, sorrow, wickedness

trouble, sorrow

idolatry

trouble of iniquity, wickedness

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H205 אָ֫וֶן trouble, sorrow, wickedness

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

205 'aven aw-ven'

from an unused root perhaps meaning properly, to pant (hence,

to exert oneself, usually in vain; to come to naught);

strictly nothingness; also trouble. vanity, wickedness;

specifically an idol:--affliction, evil, false, idol,

iniquity, mischief, mourners(-ing), naught, sorrow, unjust,

unrighteous, vain ,vanity, wicked(-ness). Compare 369.

see HEBREW for 0369

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אָ֫וֶן (a.ven) — evil: wickedness.

1) trouble, wickedness, sorrow

1a) trouble, sorrow

1b) idolatry

1c) trouble of iniquity, wickedness

Also means: a.ven (אָ֫וֶן ": trouble" H0205H)

אָ֫וֶן (a.ven) — evil: trouble.

1) trouble, wickedness, sorrow

1a) trouble, sorrow

1b) idolatry

1c) trouble of iniquity, wickedness

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

wik'-ed-nes:

1. In the Old Testament:

The state of being wicked; a mental disregard for justice, righteousness, truth, honor, virtue; evil in thought and life; depravity; sinfulness; criminality. See SIN. Many words are rendered "wickedness." There are many synonyms for wickedness in English and also in the Hebrew. Pride and vanity lead to it: "All the proud, and all that work wickedness (rish`ah) shall be stubble" (Mal 4:1). Akin to this is the word `awen, "iniquity," "vanity": "She eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and saith, I have done no wickedness" (Pr 30:20). Then we have the word hawwah, meaning "mischief," "calamity," coming from inward intent upon evil: "Lo, this is the man that made not God his strength, but trusted in the abundance of his riches, and strengthened himself in…

there they have fallen [those who] do wickedness they were pushed down and not they were able to rise
דֹּ֝ח֗וּdo.Chu they were pushed down H1760 Verb · Pual · perfect third person common plural
8× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To thrust or push down means to force something or someone away, like chasing or driving something out. It can also mean to overthrow or make something unstable, as seen in its various translations.
Tyndale gloss
to thrust
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

דָּחָה (dachah) means to push or thrust, with a range of meanings including to chase, drive away, or overthrow. It appears in various grammatical forms, such as Niph. where it indicates being thrust down. The entries also reference דָּחַח (dachach), which is a related form with a similar meaning.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

דָּחָה vb. push, thrust

Qal push

Niph. be thrust or cast down

Pu. they are thrust down

base

[דָּחַח] vb. only Niph. Impf. 3mpl. Je 23:12 they shall be thrust down

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1760a דָּחָה push, thrust H1760b דָּחַח only Niph. Impf. 3mpl. they shall be thrust down

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1760 dachah daw-khaw'

or dachach {Jer. 23:12) {daw-khakh'}; a primitive root; to

push down:--chase, drive away (on), overthrow, outcast, X

sore, thrust, totter.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

דָּחָה (da.chah) — to thrust.

1) to push, thrust, chase, overflow, totter, sore, drive away or out, be outcast, be cast down

1a) (Qal) to push, push violently

1b) (Niphal) to be thrust, be cast down

1c) (Pual) to be thrust down

דָּחַח (da.chach) — to thrust.

(Niphal) to be thrust down

A grammatical form of da.chah (דָּחָה "to thrust" H1760A)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HVPp3cp — Verb · Pual · perfect third person common plural
HVPp3cp
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
there they have fallen [those who] do wickedness they were pushed down and not they were able to rise
וְלֹא־ve.lo'- and not H3808 Conjunction · particle
5,170× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for not or no is used to indicate absence or negation, as when God says no to the Israelites' requests, or when they disobey His commands.
Tyndale gloss
not
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

לֹא or לוֹא adv. not

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3808 לֹא or לוֹא not

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3808 lo' lo

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

לֹא (lo) — not.

1) not, no

1a) not (with verb-absolute prohibition)

1b) not (with modifier-negation)

1c) nothing (subst)

1d) without (with particle)

1e) before (of time)

Aramaic equivalent: la (לָא "not" H3809)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HC/Tn — Conjunction · particle
HC/Tn
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
there they have fallen [those who] do wickedness they were pushed down and not they were able to rise
יָ֥כְלוּYa.khe.lu they were able H3201 Verb · Qal · perfect third person common plural
194× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to be able or have power, used in various contexts, such as overcoming or enduring, and is translated as 'be able' or 'have power' in the KJV.
Tyndale gloss
be able
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יָכֹל (yakol) is a Hebrew verb meaning 'to be able' or 'to have power.' It encompasses a range of abilities, including physical, moral, and constitutional strength, as well as the capacity to endure or prevail. The entries highlight its use in various contexts, but do not provide specific verse references.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יָכֹל, יָכוֹל 193 vb. be able, have power, prevail, endure

Qal

be able, to do a thing,, whether ability be physical, moral, constitutional, or dependent on external authority

prevail

abs. have ability, strength, only neg.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3201 יָכֹל, יָכוֹל be able, have power, prevail, endure .. be able, to do a thing,, whether ability be physical, moral, constitutional, or dependent on external authority

. prevail

. abs. have ability, strength, only neg.

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3201 yakol yaw-kole'

or (fuller) yakowl {yaw-kole'}; a primitive root; to be able,

literally (can, could) or morally (may, might):--be able, any

at all (ways), attain, can (away with, (-not)), could, endure,

might, overcome, have power, prevail, still, suffer.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יָכֹל (ya.khol) — be able.

1) to prevail, overcome, endure, have power, be able

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to be able, be able to gain or accomplish, be able to endure, be able to reach

1a2) to prevail, prevail over or against, overcome, be victor

1a3) to have ability, have strength

Aramaic equivalent: ye.khel (יְכִל "be able" H3202)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HVqp3cp — Verb · Qal · perfect third person common plural
HVqp3cp
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

a'-b'-l: The Greek dunamai, "to have power," may refer either to inherent strength, or to the absence of in external obstacles, or to what may be allowable or permitted. The Greek ischuo, as in Lu 13:24; Joh 21:6, refers always to the first of the above meanings. The use of the word as an adjective the King James Version of 2Co 3:6, is misleading, and has been properly changed in the Revised Version (British and American) into "sufficient as ministers," i.e. "hath fitted us to be ministers."

there they have fallen [those who] do wickedness they were pushed down and not they were able to rise
קֽוּם׃Kum to rise H6965 Verb · Qal · infinitive construct common
628× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Qum means to rise or stand up, used in various contexts like rising to power or standing firm, as seen in Jeremiah and Ezra.
Tyndale gloss
(Leb)-kamai
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word קוּם (qum) is a primitive root meaning 'to rise' and encompasses a range of actions such as standing, becoming powerful, and establishing. It can imply a sudden or hostile rise, as well as the act of fulfilling or confirming something. The entries also note various grammatical forms, indicating its use in different contexts, including raising up or causing to stand.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

לֵב קָמָי prob. late Atbash Je 51:1.

ref

קוּם 628 vb. arise, stand up, stand

Qal 460

arise

arise, in hostile sense (oft. with idea of suddenness)

arise, abs., = become powerful

arise = come on the scene, appear, of leader, prophet

arise for, i.e. to become

arise for action

arise (out of inaction), introducing some specific deed

esp. arise = start, make a move, to go somewhere

stand

Pi.

fulfil

confirm, ratify

confirm, establish

impose, an obligation

Pō‛l. raise up

Hithpō‛l. raise oneself, = rise up

Hiph.

146cause to arise, raise

raise, set up, stones

erect, build

fig, of setting up law

raise up = bring on the scene

raise up = rouse, stir up

instigate, build

fig, of setting up law

raise up = constitute

cause to stand

Hoph. be raised up

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6965a לֵב קָמָי prob. late Atbash H6965b קוּם arise, stand up, stand .. arise

. arise, in hostile sense (oft. with idea of suddenness)

. arise, abs., = become powerful

. arise = come on the scene, appear, of leader, prophet

. arise for, i.e. to become

. . arise for action

. arise (out of inaction), introducing some specific deed

. esp. arise = start, make a move, to go somewhere

. stand

. . fulfil

. . confirm, ratify

. confirm, establish

. impose, an obligation

. raise up

. raise oneself, = rise up

. . cause to arise, raise

. . raise, set up, stones

. erect, build

. fig, of setting up law

. raise up = bring on the scene

. . raise up = rouse, stir up

. instigate, build

. fig, of setting up law

. raise up = constitute

. cause to stand

. be raised up

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6965 quwm koom

a primitive root; to rise (in various applications, literal,

figurative, intensive and causative):--abide, accomplish, X

be clearer, confirm, continue, decree, X be dim, endure, X

enemy, enjoin, get up, make good, help, hold, (help to) lift

up (again), make, X but newly, ordain, perform, pitch, raise

(up), rear (up), remain, (a-)rise (up) (again, against), rouse

up, set (up), (e-)stablish, (make to) stand (up), stir up,

strengthen, succeed, (as-, make) sure(-ly), (be) up(-hold, -

rising).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

קָמָי (qa.may) — (Leb)-kamai.

Combined with lev (לֵב "Leb" H3820B)

§ -Kamai = "my adversary"

Leb-kamai, i.e., people of Gambulai

קוּם (qum) — to arise: rise.

: rise/get_going

1) to rise, arise, stand, rise up, stand up

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to arise

1a2) to arise (hostile sense)

1a3) to arise, become powerful

1a4) to arise, come on the scene

1a5) to stand

1a5a) to maintain oneself

1a5b) to be established, be confirmed

1a5c) to stand, endure

1a5d) to be fixed

1a5e) to be valid

1a5f) to be proven

1a5g) to be fulfilled

1a5h) to persist

1a5i) to be set, be fixed

1b) (Piel)

1b1) to fulfil

1b2) to confirm, ratify, establish, impose

1c) (Polel) to raise up

1d) (Hithpael) to raise oneself, rise up

1e) (Hiphil)

1e1) to cause to arise, raise

1e2) to raise, set up, erect, build

1e3) to raise up, bring on the scene

1e4) to raise up, rouse, stir up, investigate

1e5) to raise up, constitute

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HVqcc — Verb · Qal · infinitive construct common
HVqcc
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.

Everything we make is available for free because of a generous community of supporters.

Donate