Menu

Psalms 38:4 — Word Study

Depth

WLCכִּ֣י עֲ֭וֹנֹתַי עָבְר֣וּ רֹאשִׁ֑י כְּמַשָּׂ֥א כָ֝בֵ֗ד יִכְבְּד֥וּ מִמֶּֽנִּי׃

BSAnothingʼayin soundnessmᵉthôm fleshbâsâr facepânîym indignationzaʻam nothingʼayin Peaceshâlôwm boneʻetsem facepânîym sinchaṭṭâʼâh

Word
Listen & take awayPsalms 38
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 4 is in this chapter.
Hebrew ↓ Download MP3 The Masoretic text of this chapter, read aloud. Read by Abraham Shmuelof, courtesy of Audio Scriptures International. Chapter divisions by the Academy of Ancient Languages..
Say the word Each Hebrew word carries its transliteration (mi.Me.ni) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Psalms 38:4quick helps
In a sentenceThe psalmist expresses the overwhelming weight of his iniquities and their unbearable burden.
Who is speakingThe psalmist, reflecting on his personal struggles with sin.
Where we areIn a lament, the psalmist describes his physical and emotional suffering due to sin.
The hard wordעֲ֭וֹנֹתַי
Take awayThe burden of sin is too heavy to carry.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbבָּשָׂר 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 38:4

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

Context — A Lament of the Suffering Psalmistgenerated

3There is no soundness in my body because of Your anger; there is no rest in my bones because of my sin.
4For my iniquities have overwhelmed me; they are a burden too heavy to bear.
5My wounds are foul and festering because of my sinful folly.
6I am bent and brought low; all day long I go about mourning.

Psalm 38:4 is part of a lament where the psalmist describes his physical and emotional pain resulting from sin. He feels overwhelmed by his iniquities, which he perceives as a heavy burden. This psalm reflects the deep connection between sin and suffering, as seen in the surrounding verses that describe a lack of soundness in the body and the weight of guilt.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Psalm 40:12For evils without number surround me; my sins have overtaken me, so that I cannot see. They are more than the hairs of my head, and my heart has failed within me.
2Ezra 9:6and said: “O my God, I am ashamed and embarrassed to lift up my face to You, my God, because our iniquities are higher than our heads, and our guilt has reached the heavens.
3Leviticus 7:18If any of the meat from his peace offering is eaten on the third day, it will not be accepted. It will not be credited to the one who presented it; it shall be an abomination, and the one who eats of it shall bear his iniquity.
4Isaiah 53:11After the anguish of His soul, He will see the light of life and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant will justify many, and He will bear their iniquities.
5Lamentations 1:14My transgressions are bound into a yoke, knit together by His hand; they are draped over my neck, and the Lord has broken my strength. He has delivered me into the hands of those I cannot withstand.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 7 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word עֲ֭וֹנֹתַי, 'A.vo.no.taigenerated

The word עָוֹן (avon) refers to iniquity or moral evil, encompassing guilt and the consequences of sin. It is a feminine plural noun that indicates multiple instances of wrongdoing, highlighting the weight of accumulated sin in the psalmist's life.

In this verse, the psalmist uses the construct form to express possession: my iniquities. This personalizes the burden, making it clear that the weight he feels is due to his own actions.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

The translations agree that the psalmist's iniquities are overwhelming and burdensome.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The finite verbs עָבְר֣וּ (they have passed over) and יִכְבְּד֥וּ (they are heavy) anchor the verse. The structure emphasizes the psalmist's feeling of being overwhelmed by his iniquities, which is articulated through the subject and the burden they represent.

The sentence structure combines the subject with two main actions, illustrating the connection between the psalmist's iniquities and the heavy burden they create.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates עֲוֹן as ἁμαρτία (hamartia), meaning 'sin'. This choice reflects a broader interpretation of the Hebrew concept, focusing on the moral failure rather than just the legalistic aspect of iniquity.

The translation emphasizes the weight of sin as a burden, aligning with the psalmist's expression of feeling overwhelmed.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Psalm 38:4 expresses the psalmist's deep anguish over his sins, describing them as overwhelming and burdensome. He feels crushed under the weight of his iniquities, which he cannot bear.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does the psalmist mean by 'my iniquities'?

The psalmist refers to his personal sins and moral failures that weigh heavily on him.

Why does the psalmist feel overwhelmed?

He feels overwhelmed because his iniquities have accumulated to a point where they feel unbearable.

What does the burden symbolize in this verse?

The burden symbolizes the guilt and consequences of sin that the psalmist is struggling to carry.

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

This verse encapsulates the theme of suffering due to sin, which is prevalent throughout the psalm.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what ways have I felt overwhelmed by my own mistakes or sins?
  2. How can acknowledging my burdens lead to healing and restoration?
  3. What steps can I take to address the weight of guilt in my life?
  4. How does understanding the nature of sin help me in my spiritual journey?

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

Early church fathers commented on this verse, reflecting on the weight of sin and its impact on the believer's life.

Ambrose of MilanVer. 4. c. 339–397
And the Holy One groaned, saying: For my iniquities have overwhelmed my head: as a heavy burden they have been laid upon me; that is, my iniquities have surpassed my head, and they tower above me, crushing my senses;
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 38 →
Augustine of HippoExposition on Psalms 38 354–430
"For mine iniquities have lifted up my head; and are like a heavy burden too heavy for me to bear" [Psalms 38:4]. Here too he has placed the cause first, and the effect afterwards.
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 38 →
Arnobius the YoungerCOMMENTARY ON THE Psalms 38 5th c.
“Our head is Christ.” When we do something against his precepts, our iniquities go over our head, and we are pressed as a heavy burden on us.
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 38 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Psalms 38:4 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

For mine iniquities are gone over mine head,.... Like an inundation of waters, as the waves and billows of the sea; for the waters to come up to the neck or chin shows great danger; but when they go

Read John Gill on Psalms 38 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

For mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me. For mine iniquities are gone over mine head - like waves over a drowning man (Psalms 42:7; Psalms 124:4-5; cf. Psalms 40:12).

Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 38 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Mine iniquities; or, the punishment of mine iniquities, as this word is frequently used; which best agrees both with the foregoing and following verses, and with the metaphor here used; which in other places of Scripture is generally applied to afflictions, and not to sins. Gone over my head, like deep waters, wherewith I am overwhelmed and almost drowned, 69:2 124:4,5.

Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 38 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Psalms 38:4 For mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me.Ver. 4. For mine iniquities are gone over my head] So that I am even overwhelmed by them, and almost drowned in perdition and destruction. Sicut aquae praevalentes in quibus erat absorptus (Kimchi). The gospel is post naufragium tabula; and assureth us that God hath cast all our sins into the bottom of the sea; and this keepeth the head of a sinking soul above-water. As an heavy burden] How light soever sin seemeth in the committing, it will lie full heavy, even as a talent of lead, Zechariah 5:7, or as a huge mountain, Hebrews 12:1, when once we come to a sight and sense of it, when God’ s…

Read John Trapp on Psalms 38 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(4) Are gone over mine head.—Like waves or a flood. (Comp. Psalms 18:15; Psalms 69:2; Psalms 69:15. Comp. “A sea of troubles.”—Hamlet, Acts 3, scene 1)

Read Charles John Ellicott on Psalms 38 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 4. Mine iniquities are gone over mine head] He represents himself as one sinking in deep waters, or as one oppressed by a burden to which his strength was unequal.

Read AdamClarke on Psalms 38 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

4. His sins are like a flood which overwhelms (Psalms 124:4-5); like a burden which crushes (Genesis 4:13; Isaiah 53:4; Job 7:20).

Read Cambridge on Psalms 38 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

For mine iniquities are gone over mine head - This is merely an enlargement of the idea suggested in the last verse - that his present sickness was to be traced to his sin, and that he was suffering the punishment for sin.

Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 38 →

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

For my iniquities have overwhelmed me; they are a burden too heavy to bear.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

For my iniquities have gone over my head. As a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

For my iniquities have overwhelmed me; they are a burden too heavy to bear.

NETBNew English Translation2006

For my sins overwhelm me; like a heavy load, they are too much for me to bear.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

For mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

For mine iniquities are gone over my head: As a heavy burden they are too heavy for me.

RVARevised Version, American1894

For mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

For my iniquities have gone over my head: as a heavy burden they are too heavy for me.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

For mine iniquities are gone ouer mine head, and as a weightie burden they are too heauie for me.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

For mine iniquities are gone over my head: as a heavy burden they are too heavy for me.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

For mine iniquities have passed over my head, As a heavy burden — too heavy for me.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

For my iniquities have passed over my head, || As a heavy burden—too heavy for me.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

(38:5) For my iniquities are passed over my head, as a heavy burden are they too heavy for me.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

For my iniquities overwhelm me; they are a burden too heavy for me.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

My heart grew hot within me: and in my meditation a fire shall flame out.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

I'm drowning in guilt—the burden is too heavy to bear.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

For my crimes have gone over my head; they are like a great weight which is more than my strength.

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.

כִּ֣י(dm)clausenoun phrase · subjectעֲ֭וֺנֹתַiniquitiesיmyverbעָבְר֣וּthey.have.passed.overnoun phrase · adverbialרֹאשִׁ֑headיmyclauseprepositional phrase · prepositionalכְּlikenoun phraseמַשָּׂ֥אa.burdenכָ֝בֵ֗דheavyverbיִכְבְּד֥וּthey.are.[too].heavyprepositional phrase · prepositionalמִמֶּֽforנִּיme

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, with all words matched. The Dead Sea Scrolls show some damage, with only partial restoration, but the key concepts align with the Masoretic Text.

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

כִּ֣י עֲ֭וֹנֹתַי עָבְר֣וּ רֹאשִׁ֑י כְּמַשָּׂ֥א כָ֝בֵ֗ד יִכְבְּד֥וּ מִמֶּֽנִּי׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
כִּ֣יοὐκעֲ֭וֹנֹתַיἐνעָבְר֣וּσαρκίרֹאשִׁ֑יἀπὸכְּמַשָּׂ֥אὀργῆςכָ֝בֵ֗דσουיִכְבְּד֥וּοὐκמִמֶּֽנִּי׃τοῖς

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.

Dead Sea Scrolls — 4Q83a copy a thousand years older than the Leningrad Codex

[אין] [מתם] [בבשר׳י] [מפני] זעמ׳כה ין שלום בעצמ׳י [מפני] [חטאת׳י]

2 words on the leather — 2 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 38:4כִּיforforכִּיעָוֹןiniquities iniquities myעָוֹןעָבַרthey have pthey have passeעָבַררֹאשׁhead myhead myרֹאשׁמַשָּׂאlike a burdlike a burdenמַשָּׂאכָּבֵדheavyheavyכָּבֵדכָּבֵדthey are [tthey are [too] כָּבֵדמִן־for mefor meמִן־נָשָׂאto lift: rto lift: raiseנָשָׂאכָּבֵדto honor: to honor: honouכָּבֵדעָוָהto twistto twistעָוָהאֲבַדto destroyto destroyאֲבַדמֵןstringstringמֵןעֹלyokeyokeעֹליָדַעto knowto knowיָדַעפֶּ֫שַׁעtransgresstransgressionפֶּ֫שַׁעחַטָּאָהsinsinחַטָּאָהיַרְדֵןJordanJordanיַרְדֵןחָלַץto rescueto rescueחָלַץעֲטָרָהcrowncrownעֲטָרָהנָשִׂיאleaderleaderנָשִׂיאיָסַרto disciplto disciplineיָסַרדַּמֶּשֶׂקDamascusDamascusדַּמֶּשֶׂקעָמַסto liftto liftעָמַסרָחַקto removeto removeרָחַקיָתַרto remainto remainיָתַר
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 38:4

One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.

Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.

for iniquities my they have passed over head my like a burden heavy they are [too] heavy for me
כִּ֣יki for H3588 Particle
4,483× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A conjunction used to show cause or connection, as in Genesis 2:23 where Adam says the woman is bone of his bone because she was taken out of him. It is often translated as 'for', 'because', or 'since'.
Tyndale gloss
for
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כִּי conj. that, for, when

that

Of time, when, of the past

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

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

Because, since

base

כִּי אם־

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

that if

for if

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

limiting the prec. clause, except

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

after an oath, surely

base

כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3588a כִּי that, for, when . that

. . Of time, when, of the past

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

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

. Because, since

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

. for if

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

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

. after an oath, surely

H3588c כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3588 kiy kee

a primitive particle (the full form of the prepositional

prefix) indicating causal relations of all kinds, antecedent

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

whether, while, whom, yea, yet.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כִּי (ki) — for.

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

1a) that

1a1) yea, indeed

1b) when (of time)

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

1c) because, since (causal connection)

1d) but (after negative)

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

1f) but rather, but

1g) except that

1h) only, nevertheless

1i) surely

1j) that is

1k) but if

1l) for though

1m) forasmuch as, for therefore

כִּי [אם] (ki im) — that if: except.

1) except if

1a) but if

1b) even though

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

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

1a) that

1a1) yea, indeed

1b) when (of time)

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

1c) because, since (causal connection)

1d) but (after negative)

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

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

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

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
for iniquities my they have passed over head my like a burden heavy they are [too] heavy for me
עֲ֭וֹנֹתַי'A.vo.no.tai iniquities my H5771 Noun common feminine plural construct · suffix
233× 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 moral evil or sin, like the kind God sees in people's hearts. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Psalms. This concept is key to understanding human nature.
Tyndale gloss
iniquity: crime
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עָוֹן (avon) refers to iniquity, guilt, or the punishment associated with iniquity. It encompasses concepts of moral evil, such as perversity and depravity, and includes the consequences or punishment for these actions. The term appears in contexts like 2 Kings 7:9 and Psalm 51:5, highlighting its significance in discussions of sin and guilt.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עָוֹן n.m. iniquity, guilt, or punishment of iniquity

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5771 עָוֹן iniquity, guilt, or punishment of iniquity

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5771 `avon aw-vone'

or oavown (2 Kings 7:9; Psalm 51:5 (7)) {aw-vone'}; from

5753; perversity, i.e. (moral) evil:--fault, iniquity,

mischeif, punishment (of iniquity), sin.

see HEBREW for 07

see HEBREW for 05753

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עָוֺן (a.van) — iniquity: crime.

: crime

1) perversity, depravity, iniquity, guilt or punishment of iniquity

1a) iniquity

1b) guilt of iniquity, guilt (as great), guilt (of condition)

1c) consequence of or punishment for iniquity

עָוֺן (a.van) — iniquity: guilt.

: guilt

1) perversity, depravity, iniquity, guilt or punishment of iniquity

1a) iniquity

1b) guilt of iniquity, guilt (as great), guilt (of condition)

1c) consequence of or punishment for iniquity

עָוֺן (a.van) — iniquity: punishment.

: punishment

1) perversity, depravity, iniquity, guilt or punishment of iniquity

1a) iniquity

1b) guilt of iniquity, guilt (as great), guilt (of condition)

1c) consequence of or punishment for iniquity

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HNcfpc/Sp1bs — Noun common feminine plural construct · suffix
HNcfpc/Sp1bs
for iniquities my they have passed over head my like a burden heavy they are [too] heavy for me
עָבְר֣וּ'a.ve.Ru they have passed over H5674 Verb · Qal · perfect third person common plural
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.
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
HVqp3cp — Verb · Qal · perfect third person common plural
HVqp3cp
for iniquities my they have passed over head my like a burden heavy they are [too] heavy for me
רֹאשִׁ֑יro.Shi head my H7218 Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
600× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means chief or prince, and is used to describe leaders in the Bible, such as in the book of 1 Samuel. It signifies a position of authority and importance.
Tyndale gloss
head
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

רֹאשׁ (ro'sh) means 'head' and encompasses various meanings related to position and rank. It can refer to the head of a person or animal, the top of a mountain, or a chief in various contexts, such as a city or nation. The word also signifies beginnings and sums, appearing in phrases related to enumeration. Additionally, it serves as a proper noun for 'Rosh,' a title for a chief or prince.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

רֹאשׁ 599 n.m.

(c. 230 t.) head, of human being

head, of animals

top (88 t.)

height, of stars

head = chief (man)

= chief (city)

chief nation

= chief (place, position)

= chief priest

= head of a family

head = front, leader's place

of time, beginning, of night watch

of things, river-heads

chief, choicest, best, of spices

head = division of army, company, band

= sum, esp. in phr. take sum of, enumerate

other phr.

base

רֹאשׁ n.pr.gent. Rôsh

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7218a רֹאשׁ . . (c. 230 t.) head, of human being

. head, of animals

. . top (88 t.)

. height, of stars

. . head = chief (man)

. = chief (city)

. chief nation

. = chief (place, position)

. = chief priest

. = head of a family

. . head = front, leader's place

. of time, beginning, of night watch

. of things, river-heads

. chief, choicest, best, of spices

. head = division of army, company, band

. = sum, esp. in phr. take sum of, enumerate

. other phr.

H7218b רֹאשׁ n. pr. gent. Rôsh

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7218 ro'sh roshe

from an unused root apparently meaning to shake; the head (as

most easily shaken), whether literal or figurative (in many

applications, of place, time, rank, itc.):--band, beginning,

captain, chapiter, chief(-est place, man, things), company,

end, X every (man), excellent, first, forefront, ((be-))head,

height, (on) high(-est part, (priest)), X lead, X poor,

principal, ruler, sum, top.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

רֹאשׁ (rosh) — head.

: head

1) head, top, summit, upper part, chief, total, sum, height, front, beginning

1a) head (of man, animals)

1b) top, tip (of mountain)

1c) height (of stars)

1d) chief, head (of man, city, nation, place, family, priest)

1e) head, front, beginning

1f) chief, choicest, best

1g) head, division, company, band

1h) sum

רֹאשׁ (rosh) — prince.

Rosh, a tite for a chief or prince

רֹאשׁ (rosh) — head: leader.

: leader

1) head, top, summit, upper part, chief, total, sum, height, front, beginning

1a) head (of man, animals)

1b) top, tip (of mountain)

1c) height (of stars)

1d) chief, head (of man, city, nation, place, family, priest)

1e) head, front, beginning

1f) chief, choicest, best

1g) head, division, company, band

1h) sum

רֹאשׁ (rosh) — head: top.

: top/best

1) head, top, summit, upper part, chief, total, sum, height, front, beginning

1a) head (of man, animals)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HNcmsc/Sp1bs — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
HNcmsc/Sp1bs
for iniquities my they have passed over head my like a burden heavy they are [too] heavy for me
כְּמַשָּׂ֥אke.ma.Sa' like a burden H4853 Preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
66× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this Hebrew word refers to a message from God, like a prophecy or oracle, often given through a prophet. It can also mean a burden or a song. It appears in books like Isaiah and Ezekiel, where God speaks through prophets to His people.
Tyndale gloss
burden
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מַשָּׂא (massa') refers to a load or burden, encompassing meanings like tribute and lifting. It can also signify an utterance or oracle, often linked to prophecy or song. The word is built from the root meaning to carry or lift, and it appears in contexts related to both physical and figurative burdens.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מַשָּׂא n.m. load, burden, lifting, bearing, tribute

base

מַשָּׂא n.m. utterance, oracle

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4853a מַשָּׂא load, burden, lifting, bearing, tribute H4853b מַשָּׂא utterance, oracle

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4853 massa' mas-saw'

from 5375; a burden; specifically, tribute, or (abstractly)

porterage; figuratively, an utterance, chiefly a doom,

especially singing; mental, desire:--burden, carry away,

prophecy, X they set, song, tribute.

see HEBREW for 05375

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מַשָּׂא (mas.sa) — burden.

1) load, bearing, tribute, burden, lifting

1a) load, burden

1b) lifting, uplifting, that to which the soul lifts itself up

1c) bearing, carrying

1d) tribute, that which is carried or brought or borne

מַשָּׂא (mas.sa) — oracle.

utterance, oracle, burden

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

bur'-dn.

1. In the Old Testament:

In the Old Testament more than one word is rendered "burden."

(1) massa', from a root nasa' "he lifted up." Thus literally any load is called massa' (Ex 23:5; Nu 4:15,24,27 ff; 2Ki 5:17; 8:9). Figuratively, people are a burden (Nu 11:11,17; De 1:12; 2Sa 15:33; 19:35). A man may be a burden to himself (Job 7:20). Iniquities are a burden (Ps 38:4). Taxes may be a burden (Ho 8:10).

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Burden

(1.) A load of any kind (Ex. 23:5). (2.) A severe task (Ex. 2:11). (3.) A difficult duty, requiring effort (Ex. 18:22). (4.) A prophecy of a calamitous or disastrous nature (Isa. 13:1; 17:1; Hab. 1:1, etc.).

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

A weight or load, on body or soul; often used figuratively, to denote afflictions, failings, sins, Ps 38:4 55:22 Ga 6:2; services under law, Mt 23:4; official responsibilities, Ex 18:22 De 1:12; and especially prophetic messages, not always of a threatening character, Isa 19:1. In this last sense the Hebrew word may be rendered "oracle," "divine declaration," or "prophecy," as in Pr 31:31,1.

Nave's Topical Bible

→ FIGURATIVE

Of oppressions Isa 58:6; Mt 23:4; Lu 11:46; Ga 6:2

Of the prophetic message Isa 13:1; 15:1; 17:1; 19:1

for iniquities my they have passed over head my like a burden heavy they are [too] heavy for me
כָ֝בֵ֗דkha.Ved heavy H3515
41× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Something or someone that is heavy or severe is what this word describes, like a heavy heart in Proverbs 12 or a difficult task, as in Matthew 23.
Tyndale gloss
heavy
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word כָּבֵד (*kabed*) means 'heavy' and can describe both physical weight and figurative heaviness, such as severity or difficulty. It encompasses a range of meanings, including great, burdensome, and oppressive. The entries highlight its use in both positive and negative contexts, but do not indicate any significant disagreement among the lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כָּבֵד adj. heavy

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3515 כָּבֵד heavy

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3515 kabed kaw-bade'

from 3513; heavy; figuratively in a good sense (numerous) or

in a bad sense (severe, difficult, stupid):--(so) great,

grievous, hard(-ened), (too) heavy(-ier), laden, much, slow,

sore, thick.

see HEBREW for 03513

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כָּבֵד (ka.ved) — heavy.

1) heavy, great

1a) heavy

1b) massive, abundant, numerous

1c) heavy, dull

1d) hard, difficult, burdensome

1e) very oppressive, numerous, rich

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HAamsa
HAamsa
for iniquities my they have passed over head my like a burden heavy they are [too] heavy for me
יִכְבְּד֥וּyikh.be.Du they are [too] heavy H3513 Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine plural
113× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word can mean to honor or make something weighty, like when God is glorified in Psalm 138, or to be heavy with burdens, as the Israelites were in Exodus 18.
Tyndale gloss
to honor: honour
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word כָּבֵד (kabad) is built from a primitive root meaning 'to be heavy.' It covers a range of meanings, including being burdensome, weighty, or honorable. The word can describe both a negative sense of heaviness or dullness and a positive sense of honor or glory. It appears in various forms, such as making oneself heavy or being made honorable.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כָּבֵד vb. be heavy, weighty, burdensome, honoured

Qal

be heavy, in weight

heavy, insensible, dull

be honoured

Niph.

pass.

be made heavy fr. abundance

be honoured, enjoy honour, of man

medial, get oneself glory (or honour), of God

Pi.

make heavy, insensible

make honourable, honour, glorify, usu. c. human subj.

Pu. be made honourable, honoured

Hiph.

make heavy

make heavy, dull, unresponsive, the ears

cause to be honoured

Hithp.

make oneself heavy, dense, numerous

honour oneself

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3513 כָּבֵד be heavy, weighty, burdensome, honoured .. be heavy, in weight

. heavy, insensible, dull

. be honoured

. . pass. . be made heavy fr. abundance

. be honoured, enjoy honour, of man

. medial, get oneself glory (or honour), of God

. . make heavy, insensible

. make honourable, honour, glorify, usu. c. human subj.

. be made honourable, honoured

. . make heavy

. make heavy, dull, unresponsive, the ears

. cause to be honoured

. . make oneself heavy, dense, numerous

. honour oneself

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3513 kabad kaw-bad'

or kabed {kaw-bade'}; a primitive root; to be heavy, i.e. in

a bad sense (burdensome, severe, dull) or in a good sense

(numerous, rich, honorable; causatively, to make weighty (in

the same two senses):--abounding with, more grievously

afflict, boast, be chargeable, X be dim, glorify, be (make)

glorious (things), glory, (very) great, be grievous, harden,

be (make) heavy, be heavier, lay heavily, (bring to, come to,

do, get, be had in) honour (self), (be) honourable (man),

lade, X more be laid, make self many, nobles, prevail, promote

(to honour), be rich, be (go) sore, stop.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כָּבֵד (ka.vad) — to honor: honour.

: honour/glory

1) to be heavy, be weighty, be grievous, be hard, be rich, be honourable, be glorious, be burdensome, be honoured

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to be heavy

1a2) to be heavy, be insensible, be dull

1a3) to be honoured

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be made heavy, be honoured, enjoy honour, be made abundant

1b2) to get oneself glory or honour, gain glory

1c) (Piel)

1c1) to make heavy, make dull, make insensible

1c2) to make honourable, honour, glorify

1d) (Pual) to be made honourable, be honoured

1e) (Hiphil)

1e1) to make heavy

1e2) to make heavy, make dull, make unresponsive

1e3) to cause to be honoured

1f) (Hithpael)

1f1) to make oneself heavy, make oneself dense, make oneself numerous

1f2) to honour oneself

כָּבֵד (ka.vad) — to honor: heavy.

: heavy/severe

1) to be heavy, be weighty, be grievous, be hard, be rich, be honourable, be glorious, be burdensome, be honoured

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HVqi3mp — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine plural
HVqi3mp
for iniquities my they have passed over head my like a burden heavy they are [too] heavy for me
מִמֶּֽנִּי׃mi.Me.ni for me H4480 Preposition · suffix
1,189× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means a portion or part of something, and is often used to show the relationship between things, like from or out of something.
Tyndale gloss
from
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word מִן־ (*min*) is a preposition meaning 'from' or 'out of,' indicating separation or origin. It covers various uses, including temporal references, comparisons, and causal relationships. Additionally, it can denote a portion when used as a noun מֵן (*men*). The entries highlight its versatility in expressing different nuances of separation and position.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מִן־, and מִ, before יְ, prep. expressing the idea of separation, hence out of, from, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not

with verbs expressing (or implying) separation or removal

from, against

מן also, without a verb of similar significance, sometimes expresses the idea of separation, away from, far from

of position, off, on the side of, on

Out of, Gk. ἐκ, Lat. ex

Partitively

Of time—

as marking the terminus a quo, the anterior limit of a continuous period from, since

as marking the period immediately succeeding the limit after

towards, to

(וְעַד) עַד … מִן from … even to

In comparisons, beyond, above

מן is prefixed to an infin.:

with causal force, from, on account of, through

after verbs implying restraint, prevention, cessation, etc.

with a temporal force, since, after

Once as a conj. before a finite verb. that

In compounds:

base

Read the full entry →
Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4480a מִן־, מִ, prep. expressing the idea of separation, hence out of, from, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not . with verbs expressing (or implying) separation or removal . from, against

. מן also, without a verb of similar significance, sometimes expresses the idea of separation, away from, far from

. of position, off, on the side of, on

. Out of, Gk. ἐκ, Lat. ex

. Partitively

. Of time— . as marking the terminus a quo, the anterior limit of a continuous period from, since

. as marking the period immediately succeeding the limit after

. towards, to

. (וְעַד) עַד … מִן from … even to

. In comparisons, beyond, above

. מן is prefixed to an infin.: . with causal force, from, on account of, through

. after verbs implying restraint, prevention, cessation, etc.

. with a temporal force, since, after

. Once as a conj. before a finite verb. that

Read the full entry →
Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4480 min min

or minniy {min-nee'}; or minney (constructive plural)

{min-nay'}; (Isaiah 30:11); for 4482; properly, a part of;

hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses (as

follows):--above, after, among, at, because of, by (reason

of), from (among), in, X neither, X nor, (out) of, over,

since, X then, through, X whether, with.

see HEBREW for 04482

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מִן־ (min) — from.

prep

1) from, out of, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not, more than

1a) from (expressing separation), off, on the side of

1b) out of

1b1) (with verbs of proceeding, removing, expelling)

1b2) (of material from which something is made)

1b3) (of source or origin)

1c) out of, some of, from (partitively)

1d) from, since, after (of time)

1e) than, more than (in comparison)

1f) from...even to, both...and, either...or

1g) than, more than, too much for (in comparisons)

1h) from, on account of, through, because (with infinitive)

conj

2) that

Aramaic equivalent: min (מִן־ "from" H4481)

מֵן (men) — portion.

n.m.

portion

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HR/Sp1bs — Preposition · suffix
HR/Sp1bs
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