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Psalms 37:36 — Word Study

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WLCוַ֭יַּֽעֲבֹר וְהִנֵּ֣ה אֵינֶ֑נּוּ וָֽ֝אֲבַקְשֵׁ֗הוּ וְלֹ֣א נִמְצָֽא׃

BSAyet he passed awayʻâbar [suddenly, without warning, came to an end, was gone] and was no moreʼayin [nothing, nonexistent] though I searchedbâqash [diligently, with effort, looked carefully, sought] he could notlôʼ be foundmâtsâʼ [was not discovered, nowhere to be seen]

Word
Listen & take awayPsalms 37
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 36 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 (nim.Tza') — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Psalms 37:36quick helps
In a sentenceThe psalmist reflects on the fleeting nature of the wicked, who seem to flourish but ultimately vanish.
Who is speakingThe psalmist, observing the fate of the wicked.
Where we areIn a meditation on the fate of the wicked, contrasting their temporary success with their ultimate disappearance.
The hard wordעָבַר
Take awayThe wicked may seem present but can suddenly be gone, leaving no trace.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbעָבַר 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 37:36

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

35I have seen a wicked, ruthless man flourishing like a well-rooted native tree,
36yet he passed away and was no more; though I searched, he could not be found.
37Consider the blameless and observe the upright, for posterity awaits the man of peace.
38But the transgressors will all be destroyed; the future of the wicked will be cut off.

Psalm 37:36 reflects on the transient nature of the wicked, who may appear strong and prosperous but ultimately fade away. The psalmist contrasts their fleeting existence with the enduring fate of the righteous, encouraging the reader to consider the long-term consequences of one's life choices. This theme of the wicked's disappearance is echoed in the surrounding verses, emphasizing the importance of living a blameless life in contrast to the fate of the wicked, as seen in Psalm 37:37.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Psalm 37:10Yet a little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found.
2Exodus 15:9–10The enemy declared, ‘I will pursue, I will overtake. I will divide the spoils; I will gorge myself on them. I will draw my sword; my hand will destroy them.’
3Job 20:5–29the triumph of the wicked has been brief and the joy of the godless momentary?
4Isaiah 10:16–19Therefore the Lord GOD of Hosts will send a wasting disease among Assyria’s stout warriors, and under his pomp will be kindled a fire like a burning flame.
5Acts 12:22–23And they began to shout, “This is the voice of a god, not a man!”

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 5 references, hung on the phrase they belong to

Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found.Psalm 37:10 Exodus 15:9–10 Job 20:5–29 Isaiah 10:16–19 Acts 12:22–23

The Key Word עָבַר, Vai.ya.'a.vorgenerated

The verb עָבַר (abar) means to pass over or transition, indicating a sudden or unexpected departure. It conveys the idea of something coming to an end or being gone, highlighting the impermanence of the wicked's existence.

This verb is used in a sequential imperfect form, suggesting an action that occurs in a narrative context. The choice of this verb emphasizes the abruptness of the wicked's passing, reinforcing the theme of their fleeting nature.


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 consists of multiple clauses, with the main action driven by the verb יַּֽעֲבֹר, he passed away. The structure emphasizes the contrast between the wicked's temporary existence and their ultimate disappearance.

The clauses are interlinked: the first describes the passing of the wicked, the second emphasizes their absence, and the final clause reflects the speaker's search for them, which concludes with their non-existence.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

In the Septuagint, the Hebrew verb עָבַר is rendered as παρῆλθον (parēlthon), which carries a similar meaning of passing or going away. This choice maintains the sense of sudden departure.

The Greek word ἰδοὺ (idou) is used for הִנֵּה, emphasizing the act of drawing attention to the absence of the wicked.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Psalm 37:36 describes how the wicked may seem to prosper but ultimately pass away and are no longer found. The psalmist emphasizes that despite searching for them, they cannot be discovered, highlighting their fleeting existence.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean that the wicked passed away?

It means that their apparent prosperity is temporary, and they ultimately vanish from existence, leaving no trace.

Why does the psalmist search for the wicked?

The search illustrates the psalmist's observation of their initial presence and the subsequent realization of their absence, reinforcing the theme of their fleeting nature.

How does this verse relate to the overall message of Psalm 37?

This verse underscores the contrast between the fate of the wicked and the righteous, encouraging readers to focus on the long-term outcomes of their lives.

What can we learn from the fate of the wicked?

We learn that worldly success is not lasting, and it is essential to pursue a righteous life that endures beyond this temporary existence.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. How can I remind myself of the fleeting nature of worldly success?
  2. What steps can I take to focus on living a righteous life?
  3. In what ways can I support others in seeking a life that endures?
  4. How does understanding the fate of the wicked influence my choices today?

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

Early Church Fathers referenced this verse to discuss the nature of the wicked's existence and their ultimate fate, as seen in the quotations provided.

Augustine of HippoExposition on Psalms 37 354–430
"I passed by, and, lo, he was not! I sought him, and his place could nowhere be found!" [Psalms 37:36].
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 37 →
CassiodorusEXPLANATION OF THE Psalms 37:36 c. 485–585
One passes out of this world in two ways, either when it is left through a person’s superior way of life, or when it is forsaken in the end by the dead.
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 37 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Psalms 37:36 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

Yet he passed away,.... At once, on a sudden; either his riches and honour, which, in one hour, came to nought, by one providence or another; or he himself by death; in the midst of all his

Read John Gill on Psalms 37 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found. He passed ... was not. One could scarcely believe one's eyes, that such a flourishing sinner could so quickly and so utterly perish.

Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 37 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

He was gone in an instant, like a tree blasted and blown down, or cut off and rooted out, and carried away in a moment. There was no monument nor remainder of him left.

Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 37 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Psalms 37:36 Yet he passed away, and, lo, he [was] not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found.Ver. 36. Yet he passed away, &c.] The Greek and Latin have it, I passed by. See Psalms 37:10. How soon and utterly withered and wasted the fig tree Christ cursed! so forcible is his curse.

Read John Trapp on Psalms 37 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(36) Yet he passed away.—This should be, And there went one by, &c. LXX. and Vulg. have, “And I passed by.” (Comp. Prayer Book version.)

Read Charles John Ellicott on Psalms 37 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 36. Yet he passed away] Both Nebuchadnezzar and his wicked successor, Belshazzar; and on the destruction of the latter, when God had weighed him in the balance, and found him wanting, numbered his days, and consigned him to death, his kingdom was delivered to the Medes and Persians; and thus the Babylonian empire was destroyed.

Read AdamClarke on Psalms 37 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

36. Yet he passed away] R.V. But one passed by. Better, with LXX, Vulg., Syr., Jer.; And I passed by.

Read Cambridge on Psalms 37 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Yet he passed away - Compare the notes at Job 20:5. The allusion here, of course, is to the man, and not to the tree, though the grammatical construction might refer to either.

Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 37 →

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

yet he passed away and was no more; though I searched, he could not be found.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

But he passed away, and behold, he was not. Yes, I sought him, but he could not be found.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

yet he passed away and was no more; though I searched, he could not be found.

NETBNew English Translation2006

But then one passes by, and suddenly they have disappeared! I looked for them, but they could not be found.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

But one passed by, and, lo, he was not: Yea, I sought him, but he could not be found.

RVARevised Version, American1894

But one passed by, and, lo, he was not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

Yet he passed away, and lo, he was not: yes, I sought him, but he could not be found.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Yet he passed away, and loe, he was gone, and I sought him, but he could not be founde.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

but he passed away, and behold, he was not; and I sought him, but he was not found.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

And he passeth away, and lo, he is not, And I seek him, and he is not found!

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

And he passes away, and behold, he is not, || And I seek him, and he is not found!

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was no more: and I sought him, but he could not be found.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

But when I passed by again, he was not there. I looked for him, but he could not be found.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

But when I passed that way the next time, they were gone. I searched for them but couldn't find them.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

But he came to an end, and there was no sign of him; I made a search for him and he was not there.

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.

וַ֭andclauseverbיַּֽעֲבֹרhe.passed.awayוְandclauseclauseהִנֵּ֣הthere!clausepredicateאֵינֶ֑he.[was]subjectנּוּnotוָֽ֝andclauseverbאֲבַקְשֵׁ֗Iobjectהוּsought.himוְandclauseadverbialלֹ֣אnotverbנִמְצָֽאhe.was.found

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


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

The Masoretic Text of Psalms 37:36 reads, "וַ֭יַּֽעֲבֹר וְהִנֵּ֣ה אֵינֶ֑נּוּ וָֽ֝אֲבַקְשֵׁ֗הוּ וְלֹ֣א נִמְצָֽא׃" which translates to, "yet he passed away and was no more; though I searched, he could not be found." The Septuagint aligns closely with the Masoretic Text, as all six words correspond in meaning, although the word order and articles differ due to the nature of Greek syntax. There are no significant differences between these two witnesses regarding this verse, indicating a strong textual agreement.

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

וַ֭יַּֽעֲבֹר וְהִנֵּ֣ה אֵינֶ֑נּוּ וָֽ֝אֲבַקְשֵׁ֗הוּ וְלֹ֣א נִמְצָֽא׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
וַ֭יַּֽעֲבֹרπαρῆλθονוְהִנֵּ֣הἰδοὺאֵינֶ֑נּוּἦνוָֽ֝אֲבַקְשֵׁ֗הוּαὐτόνוְלֹ֣אοὐξנִמְצָֽא׃εὑρέθη

6 of the 6 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.

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 37:36עָבַרand he passand he passed aעָבַרהִנֵּהand there!and there!הִנֵּהאַ֫יִןthere not [there not [was]אַ֫יִןבָּקַשׁand I soughand I sought hiבָּקַשׁלֹאand notand notלֹאמָצָאhe was founhe was foundמָצָאהֵןlook!look!הֵןאַ֫יִןwhere?where?אַ֫יִןיַרְדֵןJordanJordanיַרְדֵןחָלַץto rescueto rescueחָלַץנֶ֫גַעplagueplagueנֶ֫גַעחֲלוֹםdreamdreamחֲלוֹםכְּמוֹlikelikeכְּמוֹנֶ֫פֶשׁsoulsoulנֶ֫פֶשׁדָּרַשׁto seekto seekדָּרַשׁיָכֹלbe ablebe ableיָכֹלעוֹדstillstillעוֹדחֵןfavorfavorחֵןבָּקַשׁto seekto seekבָּקַשׁ
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 37:36

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.

and he passed away and there! there not [was] he and I sought him and not he was found
וַ֭יַּֽעֲבֹרVai.ya.'a.vor and he passed away H5674 Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singular
556× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This verb can mean to cross over or transition from one thing to another, and is sometimes used to describe being arrogant or crossing a boundary.
Amplified meaning
suddenly, without warning, came to an end, was gone
Tyndale gloss
to pass
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word עָבַר (abar) is a versatile verb meaning to pass over, through, or by, and it encompasses a range of actions including crossing, traversing, and alienating. It can also imply causing something to pass or be transferred, as well as emotional states like anger in its Hithpael form. The entries highlight its use in various contexts, though they do not provide specific verse references.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עָבַר 648 vb. pass over, through, by, pass on

Qal

pass over

Pass beyond

Pass through, traverse

pass along by

pass by

sweep by, of scourge

be past, over, of time

pass along (from hand to hand)

Pass on, go on

Pass away

Niph. Impf. a stream which cannot be forded

Pi.

his bull impregnateth

cause one to cross river

cause something to pass over

make over to

devote children to (לְ) heathen god

pass along (from hand to hand)

cause to pass through

let pass through

cause to pass by

let pass by

cause arrow to pass beyond

cause to pass under rod, for counting

cause to pass away, take away

Hiph.

cause to pass over, bring over

he made to pass across with chains of gold

base

[עָבַר] vb. denom. Hithp. be arrogant, infuriate oneself

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5674a עָבַר pass over, through, by, pass on .. pass over

. Pass beyond

. Pass through, traverse

. . pass along by

. pass by

. sweep by, of scourge

. be past, over, of time

. pass along (from hand to hand)

. Pass on, go on

. Pass away

. Impf. a stream which cannot be forded

. . his bull impregnateth . cause one to cross river

. cause something to pass over

. make over to

. devote children to (לְ) heathen god

. pass along (from hand to hand)

. . cause to pass through

. let pass through

. . cause to pass by

. let pass by

. cause arrow to pass beyond

. cause to pass under rod, for counting

. cause to pass away, take away

. . cause to pass over, bring over

. he made to pass across with chains of gold

H5674b עָבַר vb. denom. Hithp. be arrogant, infuriate oneself

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5674 `abar aw-bar'

a primitive root; to cross over; used very widely of any

transition (literal or figurative; transitive, intransitive,

intensive, causative); specifically, to cover (in

copulation):--alienate, alter, X at all, beyond, bring (over,

through), carry over, (over-)come (on, over), conduct (over),

convey over, current, deliver, do away, enter, escape, fail,

gender, get over, (make) go (away, beyond, by, forth, his way,

in, on, over, through), have away (more), lay, meddle,

overrun, make partition, (cause to, give, make to, over)

pass(-age, along, away, beyond, by, -enger, on, out, over,

through), (cause to, make) + proclaim(-amation), perish,

provoke to anger, put away, rage, + raiser of taxes, remove,

send over, set apart, + shave, cause to (make) sound, X

speedily, X sweet smelling, take (away), (make to)

transgress(-or), translate, turn away, (way-)faring man, be

wrath.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עָבַר (a.var) — to pass.

1) to pass over or by or through, alienate, bring, carry, do away, take, take away, transgress

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to pass over, cross, cross over, pass over, march over, overflow, go over

1a2) to pass beyond

1a3) to pass through, traverse

1a3a) passers-through (participle)

1a3b) to pass through (the parts of victim in covenant)

1a4) to pass along, pass by, overtake and pass, sweep by

1a4a) passer-by (participle)

1a4b) to be past, be over

1a5) to pass on, go on, pass on before, go in advance of, pass along, travel, advance

1a6) to pass away

1a6a) to emigrate, leave (one's territory)

1a6b) to vanish

1a6c) to perish, cease to exist

1a6d) to become invalid, become obsolete (of law, decree)

1a6e) to be alienated, pass into other hands

1b) (Niphal) to be crossed

1c) (Piel) to impregnate, cause to cross

1d) (Hiphil)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singular
Hc/Vqw3ms
and he passed away and there! there not [was] he and I sought him and not he was found
וְהִנֵּ֣הve.hi.Neh and there! H2009 Conjunction · particle
843× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word is an expression that means 'behold' or 'look', often used to draw attention to something. It appears in Genesis and Isaiah, and is translated as 'behold' or 'lo' in the KJV.
Tyndale gloss
behold
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

הִנֵּה (hinneh) is a Hebrew word meaning 'behold' or 'lo!' It serves as a demonstrative particle used to draw attention, appearing in contexts such as Genesis 19:2. The word is derived from a prolongation of another Hebrew term, but the entries do not provide further details on its usage beyond this.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

הִנֵּה, once הִנֶּה־ Gn 19:2, demonstr.part. lo!, behold!

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2009 הִנֵּה, הִנֶּה־ lo!, behold!

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2009 hinneh hin-nay'

prolongation for 2005; lo!:--behold, lo, see.

see HEBREW for 02005

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

הִנֵּה (hin.neh) — behold.

behold, lo, see, if

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HC/Tj — Conjunction · particle
HC/Tj
and he passed away and there! there not [was] he and I sought him and not he was found
אֵינֶ֑נּוּ'ei.Ne.nu there not [was] he H369 Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
789× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means nothing or not, often used to indicate the absence of something, as in Genesis 1:2 where the earth was without form. It emphasizes the idea of something lacking or non-existent.
Amplified meaning
nothing, nonexistent
Tyndale gloss
nothing
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אַ֫יִן (ayin) primarily means 'nothing' or 'nought' and serves as a negative particle indicating absence or negation, such as 'is not' or 'there is not.' It can also express lack of possession or existence. The word is derived from a root meaning to be non-existent, and it appears frequently in various grammatical constructions.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אַ֫יִן, אָ֑֫יִן cstr. אֵין subst. prop. nothing, nought

to nothing, as nothing

cstr. אֵין, very freq. as particle of negation, is not, are not, was not, were not

אֵין לְ׳, with subst., or pron., there is (was) not to … = … have, has, had, etc. not

in circumst. clauses

with inf. and ל׳, it is not to …

with prefixes

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H369 אַ֫יִן, אָ֑֫יִן cstr. אֵין subst. prop. nothing, nought . to nothing, as nothing

. cstr. אֵין, very freq. as particle of negation, is not, are not, was not, were not

. אֵין לְ׳, with subst., or pron., there is (was) not to … = … have, has, had, etc. not

. in circumst. clauses

. with inf. and ל׳, it is not to …

. with prefixes

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

369 'ayin ah'-yin

as if from a primitive root meaning to be nothing or not

exist; a non-entity; generally used as a negative

particle:--else, except, fail, (father-)less, be gone,

in(-curable), neither, never, no (where), none, nor, (any,

thing), not, nothing, to nought, past, un(-searchable),

well-nigh, without. Compare 370.

see HEBREW for 0370

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אַ֫יִן (a.yin) — nothing.

1) nothing, not, nought n

1a) nothing, nought neg

1b) not

1c) to have not (of possession) adv

1d) without w/prep

1e) for lack of

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Part | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
HNcmsc/Sp3ms
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ha: The fifth letter of the Hebrew alphabet; transliterated in this Encyclopedia as "h." It came also to be used for the number 5. For name, etc., see ALPHABET.

and he passed away and there! there not [was] he and I sought him and not he was found
וָֽ֝אֲבַקְשֵׁ֗הוּva.'a.vak.She.hu and I sought him H1245 Verb piel sequential imperfect first person common singular · suffix
225× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew verb means to seek or search for something. In Psalm 105:4, it's used to encourage seeking God's face. It's also used in 1 Samuel 28:8 where Saul seeks a medium.
Amplified meaning
diligently, with effort, looked carefully, sought
Tyndale gloss
to seek
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

בָּקַשׁ (baqash) is a Hebrew verb meaning to seek or search out, often in the context of worship or prayer. It encompasses a range of actions including asking, desiring, and requiring. The verb can appear in different forms, such as Piel and Pual, indicating various nuances of seeking or being sought.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[בָּקַשׁ] 224 vb. seek

Pi.

seek to find

seek to secure

seek the face

desire, demand

require, exact

exact equivalent or penalty for

(late) ask, request

Pu. be sought

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1245 בָּקַשׁ seek

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1245 baqash baw-kash'

a primitive root; to search out (by any method, specifically

in worship or prayer); by implication, to strive after:--ask,

beg, beseech, desire, enquire, get, make inquisition, procure,

(make) request, require, seek (for).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בָּקַשׁ (ba.qash) — to seek.

1) to seek, require, desire, exact, request

1a) (Piel)

1a1) to seek to find

1a2) to seek to secure

1a3) to seek the face

1a4) to desire, demand

1a5) to require, exact

1a6) to ask, request

1b) (Pual) to be sought

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Piel-ConsecImperf-1cs | Suff — Verb piel sequential imperfect first person common singular · suffix
Hc/Vpw1cs/Sp3ms
and he passed away and there! there not [was] he and I sought him and not he was found
וְלֹ֣אve.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
Conj | Part — Conjunction · particle
HC/Tn
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and he passed away and there! there not [was] he and I sought him and not he was found
נִמְצָֽא׃nim.Tza' he was found H4672 Verb · Niphal · perfect third person masculine singular
455× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Matsa means to find or attain something, whether it is a physical object, a person, or a condition, as seen in various KJV translations.
Amplified meaning
was not discovered, nowhere to be seen
Tyndale gloss
to find
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מָצָא (matsa') is a Hebrew verb meaning to find or attain. It encompasses a range of actions, including discovering something lost, encountering someone, or coming upon a situation. The word can also imply being present or sufficient. Lexicons note various forms and uses, including Qal, Niphal, and Hiphil, which indicate different nuances of finding and encountering.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מָצָא 452 vb. attain to, find

Qal

find

find out

= come upon, light upon

noteworthy phrases

Niph. pass. of Qal, be found

Hiph.

cause to find, attain

cause to light upon, come upon, come

cause to encounter

present unto

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4672 מָצָא attain to, find

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4672 matsa' maw-tsaw'

a primitive root; properly, to come forth to, i.e. appear or

exist; transitively, to attain, i.e. find or acquire;

figuratively, to occur, meet or be present:--+ be able,

befall, being, catch, X certainly, (cause to) come (on, to, to

hand), deliver, be enough (cause to) find(-ing, occasion,

out), get (hold upon), X have (here), be here, hit, be left,

light (up-)on, meet (with), X occasion serve, (be) present,

ready, speed, suffice, take hold on.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מָצָא (ma.tsa) — to find.

1) to find, attain to

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to find

1a1a) to find, secure, acquire, get (thing sought)

1a1b) to find (what is lost)

1a1c) to meet, encounter

1a1d) to find (a condition)

1a1e) to learn, devise

1a2) to find out

1a2a) to find out

1a2b) to detect

1a2c) to guess

1a3) to come upon, light upon

1a3a) to happen upon, meet, fall in with

1a3b) to hit

1a3c) to befall

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be found

1b1a) to be encountered, be lighted upon, be discovered

1b1b) to appear, be recognised

1b1c) to be discovered, be detected

1b1d) to be gained, be secured

1b2) to be, be found

1b2a) to be found in

1b2b) to be in the possession of

1b2c) to be found in (a place), happen to be

1b2d) to be left (after war)

1b2e) to be present

1b2f) to prove to be

1b2g) to be found sufficient, be enough

1c) (Hiphil)

1c1) to cause to find, attain

1c2) to cause to light upon, come upon, come

1c3) to cause to encounter

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Niphal-Perf-3ms — Verb · Niphal · perfect third person masculine singular
HVNp3ms
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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