Psalms 40:2 — Word Study
WLCוַיַּעֲלֵ֤נִי׀ מִבּ֥וֹר שָׁאוֹן֮ מִטִּ֪יט הַיָּ֫וֵ֥ן וַיָּ֖קֶם עַל־ סֶ֥לַע רַגְלַ֗י כּוֹנֵ֥ן אֲשֻׁרָֽי׃
BSAto awaitqâvâh to awaitqâvâh The LordYᵉhôvâh to stretchnâṭâh to(wards)ʼêl to hearshâmaʻ cryshavʻâh
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וַיַּעֲלֵ֤נִי׀ | and he brought up me | Verb hiphil sequential imperfect third person masculine singular, suffix |
| מִבּ֥וֹר | from a pit of | Preposition, noun common masculine singular construct |
| שָׁאוֹן֮ | roaring | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
| מִטִּ֪יט | from [the] mud of | Preposition, noun common masculine singular construct |
| הַיָּ֫וֵ֥ן | the mire | Particle, noun common masculine singular absolute |
| וַיָּ֖קֶם | and he set | Verb, Hiphil, sequential imperfect third person masculine singular |
| עַל־ | on | Preposition |
| סֶ֥לַע | a rock | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
| רַגְלַ֗י | feet my | Noun common feminine dual construct, suffix |
| כּוֹנֵ֥ן | he established | Verb, Piel, perfect third person masculine singular |
| אֲשֻׁרָֽי׃ | steps my | Noun common masculine plural construct, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | He lifted me up from the pit of despair, out of the miry clay; He set my feet upon a rock, and made my footsteps firm. |
| KJV | He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. |
| ASV | He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay; And he set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. |
| YLT | And He doth cause me to come up From a pit of desolation — from mire of mud, And He raiseth up on a rock my feet, He is establishing my steps. |
| WEB | He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay. He set my feet on a rock, and gave me a firm place to stand. |
| BBE | He took me up out of a deep waste place, out of the soft and sticky earth; he put my feet on a rock, and made my steps certain. |
The translations agree on the core meaning of the verse, emphasizing God's action in lifting the psalmist from despair and establishing him on solid ground.
The sentence consists of one main clause and three additional phrases that elaborate on the actions and locations involved.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbהוּא
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
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 40:2
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 — God's Deliverance and Supportgenerated
Psalm 40:2 reflects the psalmist's experience of being rescued from a desperate situation. The imagery of being lifted from a pit and set upon a rock conveys a profound transformation from instability to security. This psalm resonates with themes of trust and reliance on God, paralleling similar expressions found in other psalms, such as Psalm 18:16 and Psalm 71:20.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalm 18:16–17 | He reached down from on high and took hold of me; He drew me out of deep waters. |
| 2 | Psalm 71:20 | Though You have shown me many troubles and misfortunes, You will revive me once again. Even from the depths of the earth You will bring me back up. |
| 3 | Psalm 86:13 | For great is Your loving devotion to me; You have delivered me from the depths of Sheol. |
| 4 | Psalm 116:3 | The ropes of death entangled me; the anguish of Sheol overcame me; I was confronted by trouble and sorrow. |
| 5 | Psalm 142:6–7 | Listen to my cry, for I am brought quite low. Rescue me from my pursuers, for they are too strong for me. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 21 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — וַיַּעֲלֵ֤נִי, vai.ya.'a.Le.nigenerated
The word וַיַּעֲלֵ֤נִי (vai.ya.'a.Le.ni) is a hiphil verb meaning 'and he brought me up.' It is derived from the root עָלָה (alah), which means 'to ascend' or 'to rise.' This verb indicates an action of lifting or elevating, emphasizing the act of being raised from a lower state to a higher one, reflecting divine intervention.
The parsing as a sequential imperfect third person masculine singular suggests that this is an ongoing action initiated by God. The psalmist acknowledges that this lifting is not a self-initiated act, but rather a gracious act of God, highlighting the theme of dependence on divine help.
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 finite verbs וַיַּעֲלֵ֤נִי (he lifted me up) and וַיָּ֖קֶם (and made firm) govern the structure of the verse. The first verb introduces the action of lifting, while the second describes the establishment of the psalmist's footing.
The sentence structure places emphasis on the actions of God, starting with the lifting from a pit and concluding with the establishment upon a rock, illustrating a clear progression from despair to stability.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, the Hebrew verb וַיַּעֲלֵ֤נִי is rendered as ὑπέμεινα, which conveys a sense of enduring or waiting. This choice reflects a broader interpretation of the psalmist's experience, emphasizing patience in the process of deliverance.
The translation captures the essence of being lifted from despair, but shifts the focus slightly to the endurance aspect, suggesting a waiting for God's intervention.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Psalm 40:2 describes how God lifted the psalmist from a deep pit and set him on solid ground. This imagery shows a transformation from a place of despair to one of stability and security, emphasizing God's role in providing support and strength.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It signifies God's intervention in a time of distress, bringing the psalmist from a place of despair to a secure and stable position.
The rock symbolizes strength and security, indicating that God provides a firm foundation for the psalmist's life and journey.
Being set upon a rock represents stability and assurance, contrasting the previous state of being in a pit of despair.
This verse illustrates that God can lift individuals from their struggles and establish them in a place of safety and strength, offering hope in times of trouble.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what areas of my life do I need to trust God to lift me from despair?
- How can I recognize the solid ground that God provides in my life?
- What steps can I take to share my experiences of God's deliverance with others?
- How does understanding God's support change my perspective on challenges?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
The early Church Fathers referenced this psalm to discuss themes of divine rescue and faith. Their comments highlight the transformative power of God's intervention in human life.
Christ has heard the prayer of his own servants and has brought us out from the pit of misery and from the mire of dregs. We were drowning there; our whole flesh was clinging to the mire, trapped in the whirlpool of our sins.Early Church Fathers on Psalms 40 →
The pit of misery is evil and ignorance.… The rock is faith in Christ. “And he directs my steps” by actions and true teachings.Early Church Fathers on Psalms 40 →
And what has He accomplished for you? What has He done for you? "He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock,Early Church Fathers on Psalms 40 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Psalms 40:2 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleHe brought me up also out of an horrible pit,.... Which, with the following phrase, out of the miry clay, expresses the state and condition Christ was in at the time of his bloody sweat, his
Read John Gill on Psalms 40 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryHe brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.
Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 40 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleI waited patiently, Heb. in waiting I waited; which doubling of the word notes that he waited diligently and earnestly, patiently and perseveringly, until God should please to help him. He inclined, or, bowed, to wit, himself, as this very word is rendered, ; or, his ear, as it is more fully expressed, 31:2. Such ellipses or defects are frequent in Scripture, as 10:1 7:15. Out of an horrible pit; or, out of a sounding pit so called either from the clamours of men or beasts falling into it; or from the many waters which fall down into it, not without a great noise. I was not only upon the brink, but in the very bottom of the pit, i.e. in desperate dangers and calamities, as this phrase…
Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 40 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsPsalms 40:2 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, [and] established my goings.Ver. 2. He brought me up also out of a horrible pit] E puteo sonitus, ut Isaiah 51:14, out of a noiseful pit, where there is a continual hurry by the great tall of waters into it: he meaneth out of dreadful dangers, out of a desperate disease, saith R. Obadiah; who also by rock here understandeth perfect health, Sanitatem in corpore, sanctitatem in corde. Out of the miry clay] E luto, luto, saith Kimchi, for here are two words used of one and the same sense; to show that, as a bemired beast, he was in a perishing condition till God pulled him out, and set…
Read John Trapp on Psalms 40 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(2) Horrible pit.—The rendering of the margin, “pit of noise,” takes shaôn in its primary sense, as in Isaiah 17:12, Psalms 65:7, and the idea of a noise of rushing water suits this passage. Most commentators, however, take it here in the sense the cognate bears in Psalms 35:8, “destruction.” The LXX. and Vulg. have “misery.” Miry clay.—The word translated “clay” (comp. Psalms 69:2) is from a root meaning to boil up, or ferment. (One of its derivatives means “wine.”) Hence “froth,” or “slime.” LXX., ilus; Vulg., fœx. A verse of R. Browning’s perhaps expresses the poet’s image:— “It frothed by, A black eddy, bespate with flakes and fumes.” Rock.—The common image of security (Psalms 18:2…
Read Charles John Ellicott on Psalms 40 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 2. A horrible pit] Literally, the sounding pit; where nothing was heard except the howlings of wild beasts, or the hollow sounds of winds reverberated and broken from the craggy sides and roof. The miry clay] Where the longer I stayed the deeper I sank, and was utterly unable to save myself. The Syriac and Arabic translate "The pit of perdition, and the mud of corruption." These are figurative expressions to point out the dreary, dismal, ruinous state of sin and guilt, and the utter inability of a condemned sinner to save himself either from the guilt of his conscience, or the corruption of his heart. Set my feet upon a rock] Thou hast changed my state from guilt to pardon; from…
Read AdamClarke on Psalms 40 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges2. And brought me up out of a pit of destruction, out of the miry slough: And set my feet upon a rock, made firm my steps. A literal reference to Jeremiah’s imprisonment in the dungeon can hardly be intended. The second line, set … rock, makes it plain that the whole verse is to be understood figuratively. He compares his plight to that of a prisoner in a dungeon (Lamentations 3:53; Lamentations 3:55), or even a dead man in the grave (Psalms 28:1; Psalms 88:4; Psalms 88:6); to that of a traveller floundering in a morass, or quicksand. Quagmires, ‘treacherous to the last degree,’ are common in Palestine. Thomson’s Land and the Book, p. 360. Now he has been given firm footing (Psalms 27:5)…
Read Cambridge on Psalms 40 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleHe brought me up also out of an horrible pit - Margin: “A pit of noise.” The word used here means a pit; a cistern; a prison; a dungeon; a grave.
Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 40 →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
He lifted me up from the pit of despair, out of the miry clay; He set my feet upon a rock, and made my footsteps firm.
He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay. He set my feet on a rock, and gave me a firm place to stand.
He lifted me up from the pit of despair, out of the miry clay; He set my feet upon a rock, and made my footsteps firm.
He lifted me out of the watery pit, out of the slimy mud. He placed my feet on a rock and gave me secure footing.
Tyndale line
He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.
He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay; And he set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.
He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay; and he set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.
He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.
Hee brought mee also out of the horrible pit, out of the myrie clay, and set my feete vpon the rocke, and ordered my goings.
Strictly literal
And he brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock; he hath established my goings:
And He doth cause me to come up From a pit of desolation — from mire of mud, And He raiseth up on a rock my feet, He is establishing my steps.
And He causes me to come up || From a pit of desolation—from mire of mud, || And He raises up my feet on a rock, || He is establishing my steps.
(40:3) And he brought me up out of the noiseful deep, out of the miry clay, and he set up my feet upon a rock, making firm my steps.
He brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and he set my feet on a rock and made my steps secure.
From the Latin
Blessed is he that understandeth concerning the needy and the poor: the Lord will deliver him in the evil day.
Simplified
He pulled me out of the pit of destruction, out from the mud and the slime. He set me on a rock, and gave me a safe place to stand.
He took me up out of a deep waste place, out of the soft and sticky earth; he put my feet on a rock, and made my steps certain.
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.
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 show some agreement in the overall message of the verse, although only 5 of the 11 words match directly. The Septuagint's different word order indicates a distinct interpretive approach, but both texts convey the theme of divine rescue.
וַיַּעֲלֵ֤נִי׀ מִבּ֥וֹר שָׁאוֹן֮ מִטִּ֪יט הַיָּ֫וֵ֥ן וַיָּ֖קֶם עַל־ סֶ֥לַע רַגְלַ֗י כּוֹנֵ֥ן אֲשֻׁרָֽי׃
5 of the 11 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.
Lexicons — every word in Psalms 40:2
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.
The Hebrew word עָלָה (alah) means 'to ascend' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including going up, climbing, and rising in various contexts such as personal, natural, and spiritual. It can refer to actions involving people, animals, vegetation, and even thoughts, and includes nuances of being exalted or offering sacrifices. The word is built from a primitive root and appears in various grammatical forms, indicating different aspects of ascent or elevation.
עָלָה 890 vb. go up, ascend, climb
Qal
of persons, go up, ascend, in local relations
go up, in personal relations
of animals, go or come up
of vegetation, spring up, grow, shoot forth
of natural phenom., go up, rise
of inanimate things, instead of passive construction
of thoughts
come up before God, arrogance
go up, extend, of boundary
excel
Niph.
be brought up
be taken up
pass., be taken up, away
reflex., take oneself away from, get up from
reflex.: take oneself away
be exalted, of God
Hiph.
bring up persons
in personal relations
bring up animals
cause to ascend
mentally
offer a present; bring up tithe to
exalt
cause to ascend (in flame), offer sacrifice
Hoph.
be carried away
be taken up into, inserted in
be offered
Hithp. lift oneself
base
H5927 עָלָה go up, ascend, climb .. of persons, go up, ascend, in local relations
. go up, in personal relations
. of animals, go or come up
. of vegetation, spring up, grow, shoot forth
. of natural phenom., go up, rise
. of inanimate things, instead of passive construction
. of thoughts
. come up before God, arrogance
. go up, extend, of boundary
. excel
. . . be brought up
. be taken up
. . pass., be taken up, away
. reflex., take oneself away from, get up from
. reflex.: take oneself away
. be exalted, of God
. . bring up persons
. in personal relations
. bring up animals
. cause to ascend
. mentally
. offer a present; bring up tithe to
. exalt
. cause to ascend (in flame), offer sacrifice
. . be carried away
. be taken up into, inserted in
. be offered
. lift oneself
5927 `alah aw-law'
a primitive root; to ascend, intransitively (be high) or
actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary
and secondary, literal and figurative (as follow):--arise
(up), (cause to) ascend up, at once, break (the day) (up),
bring (up), (cause to) burn, carry up, cast up, + shew, climb
(up), (cause to, make to) come (up), cut off, dawn, depart,
exalt, excel, fall, fetch up, get up, (make to) go (away, up);
grow (over) increase, lay, leap, levy, lift (self) up, light,
(make) up, X mention, mount up, offer, make to pay, + perfect,
prefer, put (on), raise, recover, restore, (make to) rise
(up), scale, set (up), shoot forth (up), (begin to) spring
(up), stir up, take away (up), work.
עָלָה (a.lah) — to ascend: rise.
: rise/go
1) to go up, ascend, climb
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to go up, ascend
1a2) to meet, visit, follow, depart, withdraw, retreat
1a3) to go up, come up (of animals)
1a4) to spring up, grow, shoot forth (of vegetation)
1a5) to go up, go up over, rise (of natural phenomenon)
1a6) to come up (before God)
1a7) to go up, go up over, extend (of boundary)
1a8) to excel, be superior to
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be taken up, be brought up, be taken away
1b2) to take oneself away
1b3) to be exalted
1c) (Hiphil)
1c1) to bring up, cause to ascend or climb, cause to go up
1c2) to bring up, bring against, take away
1c3) to bring up, draw up, train
1c4) to cause to ascend
1c5) to rouse, stir up (mentally)
1c6) to offer, bring up (of gifts)
1c7) to exalt
1c8) to cause to ascend, offer
1d) (Hophal)
1d1) to be carried away, be led up
1d2) to be taken up into, be inserted in
1d3) to be offered
Hc/Vhw3ms/Sp1bs — Verb hiphil sequential imperfect third person masculine singular · suffixHc/Vhw3ms/Sp1bs
בּוֹר (bor) refers to a pit, well, or cistern, often used for water storage or as a dungeon. It can also denote a grave pit. The term appears in various contexts, including the specific location known as the cistern of Sirah, mentioned in 2 Samuel 3:26. The entries consistently emphasize its function as a hole or pit.
בּוֹר n.m. pit, cistern, well
cistern, containing water, made by digging
later appar. well
pit
dungeon
(poet. & late; never c. art.) pit of the grave
base
בּוֹר הַסִּרָה n.pr.loc. 2 S 3:26 (cistern of Sirah)
ref
H953a בּוֹר pit, cistern, well H953b בּוֹר הַסִּרָה (cistern of Sirah)
953 bowr bore
from 952 (in the sense of 877); a pit hole (especially one
used as a cistern or a prison):--cistern, dungeon, fountain,
pit, well.
see HEBREW for 0952
see HEBREW for 0877
בּוֹר (bor) — pit.
pit, well, cistern, dungeon, pit of the grave
בּוֹר (bor) — Cistern.
Cistern of Sirah
HR/Ncmsc — Preposition · noun common masculine singular constructHR/Ncmsc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
שָׁאוֹן (sha'own) refers to a loud noise or uproar, often associated with water or crowds. It encompasses meanings like roar, din, and tumult, suggesting a sense of chaos or destruction. The word is derived from a root that implies rushing or noise, highlighting its connection to loud, disruptive sounds.
שָׁאוֹן n.m. roar (of waters, etc.), din, crash, uproar
base
H7588 שָׁאוֹן roar (of waters, etc.), din, crash, uproar
7588 sha'own shaw-one'
from 7582; uproar (as of rushing); by implication,
destruction:--X horrible, noise, pomp, rushing, tumult
(X -uous).
see HEBREW for 07582
שָׁאוֹן (sha.on) — roar.
1) roar, din, crash, uproar
1a) roar (of water)
1b) uproar (of revellers)
HNcmsa — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa
טִיט (tiyt) refers to mud, mire, or clay, and is derived from a root that suggests stickiness. It can also figuratively denote calamity. The term appears in various contexts, including poetic uses for clay. There is an Aramaic equivalent, טִין (tin), meaning 'common.'
טִיט n.m. mud, mire, clay
base
H2916 טִיט mud, mire, clay
2916 tiyt teet
from an unused root meaning apparently to be sticky (rath.
perb. a demon. from 2894, through the idea of dirt to be swept
away); mud or clay; figuratively, calamity:--clay, dirt, mire.
see HEBREW for 02894
טִיט (tit) — mud.
1) mud, clay, mire, damp dirt
1a) mud, mire
1b) clay (poetical)
Aramaic equivalent: tin (טִין "common" H2917)
HR/Ncmsc — Preposition · noun common masculine singular constructHR/Ncmsc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
יָוֵן (yaven) refers to mire or mud, derived from a root associated with dregs. The entries consistently define it as mire or miry, with no significant disagreement among the lexicons.
יָוֵן n.[m.] mire
base
H3121 יָוֵן
3121 yaven yaw-ven'
from the same as 3196; properly, dregs (as effervescing);
hence, mud:--mire, miry.
see HEBREW for 03196
יָוֵן (ya.ven) — mire.
mire, mirer
HTd/Ncmsa — Particle · noun common masculine singular absoluteHTd/Ncmsa
mir.
See CHALKSTONE; CLAY; MARSH.
→ FIGURATIVE Ps 40:2; 69:2
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.
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
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
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).
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
Hc/Vhw3ms — Verb · Hiphil · sequential imperfect third person masculine singularHc/Vhw3ms
Few words in the English language have such a rich variety of meaning and are used in so rich a variety of idiomatic expression as the word "set." A glance at any of the great dictionaries will convince anyone of the truth of this statement. The Standard Dictionary devotes three and a half columns to the word. In its primary meaning it there denotes 22 distinct things, in its secondary meaning 17 more, while 18 distinct phrases are given in which it is used, in some cases again in a variety of meanings. It is indeed a word calculated to drive a foreigner to despair. Some 70 Hebrew and about 30 Greek words in the original tongues of the Holy Scriptures have been rendered by the word "set," in the King James Version and also in the Revised Version (British and American). A careful comparative study of the original and of translations in other tongues will at once indicate that a lack of…
The Hebrew word עַל (*al*) is a preposition meaning 'upon' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including 'on account of,' 'beside,' 'above,' and 'against.' It can indicate physical placement, emotional burdens, or duties imposed on a person. The entries also note its use in idiomatic expressions and with verbs of motion. There is a mention of its function as a conjunction in certain contexts.
כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as
base
עַל, עָ֑ל
subst. height
As prep. upon, and hence on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against
Upon, of the substratum upon which an object in any way rests, or on which an action is performed
—
of clothing, etc., which any one wears
With verbs of covering or protecting, even though the cover or veil be not over or above the thing covered, but around or before it
Of what rests heavily upon a person, or is a burden to him
Of a duty, payment, care, etc., imposed upon a person, or devolving on him
על is used idiom. to give pathos to the expression of an emotion, by emphasizing the person who is its subject, and who, as it were, feels it acting upon him
חָיָה עַל to live upon (as upon a foundation or support)
H5921a עַל, עָ֑ל . As prep. upon, and hence on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against . Upon, of the substratum upon which an object in any way rests, or on which an action is performed . — . of clothing, etc., which any one wears
. With verbs of covering or protecting, even though the cover or veil be not over or above the thing covered, but around or before it
. Of what rests heavily upon a person, or is a burden to him
. Of a duty, payment, care, etc., imposed upon a person, or devolving on him
. על is used idiom. to give pathos to the expression of an emotion, by emphasizing the person who is its subject, and who, as it were, feels it acting upon him
. חָיָה עַל to live upon (as upon a foundation or support)
5921 `al al
properly, the same as 5920 used as a preposition (in the
singular or plural often with prefix, or as conjunction with a
particle following); above, over, upon, or against (yet always
in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great
variety of applications (as follow):--above, according
to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, X as, at, because
of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, X both
and, by (reason of), X had the charge of, concerning for, in
(that), (forth, out) of, (from) (off), (up-)on, over, than,
through(-out), to, touching, X with.
see HEBREW for 05920
עַל (al) — upon.
prep
1) upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against
1a) upon, on the ground of, on the basis of, on account of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of, as regards
1b) above, beyond, over (of excess)
1c) above, over (of elevation or pre-eminence)
1d) upon, to, over to, unto, in addition to, together with, with (of addition)
1e) over (of suspension or extension)
1f) by, adjoining, next, at, over, around (of contiguity or proximity)
1g) down upon, upon, on, from, up upon, up to, towards, over towards, to, against (with verbs of motion)
1h) to (as a dative)
[כִּי] עַל [כֵּן] ([ki] al [ken]) — as.
conj
HR — PrepositionHR
On
Light; the sun, (Gen. 41:45, 50), the great seat of sun-worship, called also Bethshemesh (Jer. 43:13) and Aven (Ezek. 30:17), stood on the east bank of the Nile, a few miles north of Memphis, and near Cairo, in the north-east. The Vulgate and the LXX. Versions have “Heliopolis” (“city of the sun”) instead of On in Genesis and of Aven in Ezekiel. The “city of destruction” Isaiah speaks of (19:18, marg. “of Heres;” Heb. ‘Ir-ha-heres, which some MSS. read Ir-ha-heres, i.e., “city of the sun”) may be the name given to On, the prophecy being that the time will come when that city which was known as the “city of the sun-god” shall become the “city of destruction” of the sun-god, i.e., when idolatry shall cease, and the worship…
(abode or city of the sun), a town of lower Egypt, called BETH-SHEMESH in (Jeremiah 43:13) On is better known under its Greek name Heliopolis. It was situated on the east side of the Pelusiac branch of the Nile, just below the point of the Delta, and about twenty miles northeast of Memphis. The chief object of worship at Heliopolis was the sun, whose temple, described by Strabo, is now only represented by the single beautiful obelisk, of red granite so feet 2 inches high above the pedestal which has stood for more than 4000 years, having been erected by Usirtesen, the second king of the twelfth dynasty. Heliopolis was anciently famous for its learning, and Eudoxus and Plato studied under its priests. The first mention of this place in the Bible is in the history of Joseph, to whom we read Pharaoh gave "to wife Asenath the daughter…
See HELIOPOLIS.
pain; force; iniquity
סֶ֫לַע (cela`) refers to a crag or cliff, indicating a strong, rocky formation. It can denote both a literal rock and a figurative stronghold, suggesting security and loftiness. The entries consistently emphasize its meanings related to rugged terrain and fortification, with no significant disagreements noted among the lexicons.
סֶ֫לַע 61 n.m. crag, cliff
base
H5553 סֶ֫לַע crag, cliff
5553 cela` seh'-lah
from an unused root meaning to be lofty; a craggy rock,
literally or figuratively (a fortress):--(ragged) rock,
stone(-ny), strong hold.
סֶ֫לַע (se.la) — rock.
The Rock
Sela (H5554)
סֶ֫לַע (se.la) — crag.
1) crag, cliff, rock
1a) crag, cliff
1b) as stronghold of Jehovah, of security (fig.)
HNcmsa — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa
rok ((1) cela`; (2) tsur (3) challamish, "flint"; compare Arabic khalanbus, "flint"; (4) kephim (Job 30:6; Jer 4:29); compare Kephas, "Cephas" = Petros, "Peter" (Joh 1:42 the King James Version and the Revised Version margin); (5) petra):
1. Names:
Tsur and cela` are the words most often found, and there is no well-defined distinction between them. They are frequently coupled together in the parallelism which is characteristic of the Hebrew writers: e.g.
"Be thou to me a strong rock (tsur),
A house of defense to save me.
For thou art my rock (tsela) and my fortress"
(Ps 31:2,3).
"He clave rocks (tsur) in the wilderness,
And gave them drink abundantly as out of the depths.
Rock
(Heb. tsur), employed as a symbol of God in the Old Testament (1 Sam. 2:2; 2 Sam. 22:3; Isa. 17:10; Ps. 28:1; 31:2,3; 89:26; 95:1); also in the New Testament (Matt. 16:18; Rom. 9:33; 1 Cor. 10:4). In Dan. 2:45 the Chaldaic form of the Hebrew word is translated “mountain.” It ought to be translated “rock,” as in Hab. 1:12 in the Revised Version. The “rock” from which the stone is cut there signifies the…
רֶ֫גֶל (regel) means 'foot' and can refer to a foot or leg in various contexts, including anthropomorphic references to God and other beings. It also implies steps or paces. The word is derived from a root meaning related to walking, and it appears in multiple forms, such as feet and paces.
רֶ֫גֶל 247 n.f. foot
foot
three times (feet, paces)
base
H7272 רֶ֫גֶל foot . foot
. three times (feet, paces)
7272 regel reh'-gel
from 7270; a foot (as used in walking); by implication, a
step; by euphem. the pudenda:--X be able to endure, X
according as, X after, X coming, X follow,
((broken-))foot((-ed, -stool)), X great toe, X haunt, X
journey, leg, + piss, + possession, time.
see HEBREW for 07270
רֶ֫גֶל (re.gel) — foot.
1) foot
1a) foot, leg
1b) of God (anthropomorphic)
1c) of seraphim, cherubim, idols, animals, table
1d) according to the pace of (with prep)
1e) three times (feet, paces)
Aramaic equivalent: re.gal (רְגַל "foot" H7271)
HNcfdc/Sp1bs — Noun common feminine dual construct · suffixHNcfdc/Sp1bs
כּוּן (kuwn) is a Hebrew verb meaning to establish or prepare. It encompasses a range of meanings, including to be firm, to fix, to direct, and to be ready, with applications in both literal and figurative contexts. The entries indicate various forms of the verb, such as Niph'al (to be established) and Hiph'il (to establish), but there is a note on a noun form, נָכוֹן (nakhon), meaning 'blow'.
[כּוּן] 218 vb. prob. be firm, only in der. conj.
Niph.
be set up, established, fixed
in a moral sense, be directed aright, of ways
prepare, be ready
pass. be prepared, of judgments
Hiph.
establish, set up
fix, so as to be ready, make ready, prepare, a gift
provide for, provide, furnish
direct one's face toward
arrange, order
Hoph.
be established, of throne
be prepared for
Po‛lēl.
set up, establish
constitute, make, a man (in womb)
fix, so as to be ready
direct
Po‛lal. be established
Hithpo‛l. be established
base
נָכוֹן n. [m.] = blow Jb 12:5
ref
H3559a כּוּן prob. be firm, only in der. conj. . . be set up, established, fixed
. in a moral sense, be directed aright, of ways
. prepare, be ready
. pass. be prepared, of judgments
. . establish, set up
. . fix, so as to be ready, make ready, prepare, a gift
. provide for, provide, furnish
. direct one's face toward
. arrange, order
. . be established, of throne
. be prepared for
. . set up, establish
. constitute, make, a man (in womb)
. fix, so as to be ready
. direct
. be established
. be established
H3559b נָכוֹן n. [m.] = blow
3559 kuwn koon
a primitive root; properly, to be erect (i.e. stand
perpendicular); hence (causatively) to set up, in a great
variety of applications, whether literal (establish, fix,
prepare, apply), or figurative (appoint, render sure, proper
or prosperous):--certain(-ty), confirm, direct, faithfulness,
fashion, fasten, firm, be fitted, be fixed, frame, be meet,
ordain, order, perfect, (make) preparation, prepare (self),
provide, make provision, (be, make) ready, right, set (aright,
fast, forth), be stable, (e-)stablish, stand, tarry, X very
deed.
כּוּן (kun) — to establish: prepare.
: prepare/direct
1) to be firm, be stable, be established
1a) (Niphal)
1a1) to be set up, be established, be fixed
1a1a) to be firmly established
1a1b) to be established, be stable, be secure, be enduring
1a1c) to be fixed, be securely determined
1a2) to be directed aright, be fixed aright, be steadfast (moral sense)
1a3) to prepare, be ready
1a4) to be prepared, be arranged, be settled
1b) (Hiphil)
1b1) to establish, set up, accomplish, do, make firm
1b2) to fix, make ready, prepare, provide, provide for, furnish
1b3) to direct toward (moral sense)
1b4) to arrange, order
1c) (Hophal)
1c1) to be established, be fastened
1c2) to be prepared, be ready
1d) (Polel)
1d1) to set up, establish
1d2) to constitute, make
1d3) to fix
1d4) to direct
1e) (Pulal) to be established, be prepared
1f) (Hithpolel) to be established, be restored
נָכוֹן (na.khon) — blow.
HVpp3ms — Verb · Piel · perfect third person masculine singularHVpp3ms
אֲשׁוּר (ashur) and אַשֻּׁר (ashshur) both mean 'step' or 'going.' They are derived from the same root and represent the concept of movement or progression. The entries consistently emphasize this meaning without significant disagreement among the lexicons.
[אֲשׁוּר, אָשׁוּר] n.f. step, going
base
[אַשֻּׁר] n.f. step, going
base
H838a אֲשׁוּר, אָשׁוּר step, going H838b אַשֻּׁר step, going
838 'ashur aw-shoor'
or ashshur {ash-shoor'}; from 833 in the sense of going; a
step:--going, step.
see HEBREW for 0833
אֲשׁוּר (a.shur) — step.
step, going
Also means: a.shur (אַשֻּׁר "step" H0838B)
אַשֻּׁר (a.shur) — step.
step, going
Another spelling of a.shur (אֲשׁוּר "step" H0838A)
HNcmpc/Sp1bs — Noun common masculine plural construct · suffixHNcmpc/Sp1bs