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Psalms 41:1 — Word Study

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WLCאַ֭שְׁרֵי מַשְׂכִּ֣יל אֶל־ דָּ֑ל בְּי֥וֹם רָ֝עָ֗ה יְֽמַלְּטֵ֥הוּ יְהוָֽה׃

BSAFor the choirmasternâtsach A Psalmmizmôwr of DavidDâvid

Word
Listen & take awayPsalms 41
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 1 opens the 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 (Yah.weh) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Psalms 41:1quick helps
In a sentenceThe psalmist declares that those who care for the poor are blessed and will be delivered by the LORD in times of trouble.
Who is speakingThe psalmist, reflecting on the nature of divine blessing.
Where we areThis verse is part of a psalm that emphasizes God's care for the needy and His protection in adversity.
The hard wordמַשְׂכִּ֣יל
Take awayCaring for the poor brings divine favor and protection.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause subjectH3068 verbנָצַח 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 41:1

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

Context — The Blessing of Caring for the Poorgenerated

1Blessed is the one who cares for the poor; the LORD will deliver him in the day of trouble.
2The LORD will protect and preserve him; He will bless him in the land and refuse to surrender him to the will of his foes.
3The LORD will sustain him on his bed of illness and restore him from his bed of sickness.
4I said, “O LORD, be gracious to me; heal me, for I have sinned against You.”

Psalm 41:1 highlights the blessedness of those who show compassion to the needy. The psalmist assures that the LORD will provide deliverance in times of trouble, emphasizing the importance of mercy and kindness towards the poor. This theme is echoed throughout Scripture, as seen in passages like Proverbs 14:21 and Job 29:12-16, which stress the significance of caring for those in need.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Psalm 112:9He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever; his horn will be lifted high in honor.
2Deuteronomy 15:7–11If there is a poor man among your brothers within any of the gates in the land that the LORD your God is giving you, then you are not to harden your heart or shut your hand from your poor brother.
3Job 29:12–16because I rescued the poor who cried out and the fatherless who had no helper.
4Job 31:16–20If I have denied the desires of the poor or allowed the widow’s eyes to fail,
5Proverbs 14:21He who despises his neighbor sins, but blessed is he who shows kindness to the poor.

The Key Word מַשְׂכִּ֣יל, mas.Kilgenerated

The word מַשְׂכִּ֣יל (mas.Kil) is a participle from the root נָצַח (natsach), meaning to be prudent or to consider wisely. It describes someone who acts thoughtfully and judiciously, particularly in relation to the needs of others.

In this context, it emphasizes the importance of being considerate and wise in caring for the poor, suggesting that such actions reflect a deeper understanding of compassion and mercy.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

The translations agree on the meaning of the verse, all highlighting the blessedness of those who care for the poor and the LORD's promise of deliverance.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The finite verb יְֽמַלְּטֵ֥ governs the structure of the verse, indicating the action of deliverance. The subject of this action is יְהוָֽה, the LORD, who is the one delivering.

The sentence is built around the main clause that introduces the blessedness of the one who cares for the poor, with additional phrases providing context about the timing of the LORD's deliverance.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint uses the word ψαλμὸς to translate the Hebrew מַשְׂכִּ֣יל, indicating a focus on the nature of the psalm itself as a song or composition. This choice reflects the tradition of using music to convey moral and spiritual truths.

The translation suggests a broader interpretation of the text, emphasizing the psalm's liturgical context and its role in worship.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Psalm 41:1 tells us that those who care for the poor are blessed and that the LORD will save them in times of trouble. This verse emphasizes the importance of kindness and compassion, assuring us that God watches over those who help others.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean to be blessed for caring for the poor?

Being blessed for caring for the poor means receiving favor and protection from the LORD, as He values acts of mercy and compassion.

How does the LORD deliver those who care for the poor?

The LORD delivers those who care for the poor by providing them with safety and support in times of trouble, demonstrating His faithfulness and protection.

Why is caring for the poor important in the Bible?

Caring for the poor is important in the Bible because it reflects God's character and commands, showing love and compassion to those in need.

What can we learn from this verse about our actions towards others?

This verse teaches us that our actions towards others, especially the needy, have spiritual significance and can lead to blessings from God.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what ways can I show compassion to those in need in my community?
  2. How can I trust in the LORD's deliverance during my own times of trouble?
  3. What does this verse teach me about the relationship between caring for others and receiving blessings?
  4. How can I cultivate a more merciful heart towards the poor and needy?

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

Early church fathers have commented on this verse, reflecting on the themes of mercy and divine blessing. Their insights are drawn from their writings and interpretations of the text.

CyprianTreatise VIII. On Works and Alms 5 c. 200–258
[One] will not be able to merit the mercy of God who himself has not been merciful, nor will [one] gain any request from the divine love by his prayers who has not been humane toward the prayer of the poor.
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 41 →
Gregory of NyssaON THE INSCRIPTIONS OF THE Psalms 2:12.157-58 c. 335–395
The Word defines blessedness for us in another way than at the beginning. For in the first psalms, to depart from evil was blessed, but here to know the good more fully is pronounced blessed.
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 41 →
Ambrose of MilanCommentaries on the Twelve Davidic Psalms c. 339–397
Faith comes first, and mercy comes second.… Happy, therefore, is the one who understands the poverty of Christ, his utter destitution. Christ, though he was very rich, became poor for us.
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 41 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Psalms 41:1 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

Blessed [is] he that considereth the poor,.... Not the poor of the world in common, nor poor saints in particular, but some single poor man; for the word is in the singular number, and designs our

Read John Gill on Psalms 41 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble.

Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 41 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Psalms 41 THE The occasion of this Psalm was manifestly some sore disease or affliction which God had inflicted upon David, and which gave his enemies opportunity to discover their hatred and malice against him. David showeth God’ s care of the poor, . He confesseth his sins, and complaineth of his enemies’ treachery, ; but fleeth to God for succour, . That considereth; or, that carries himself wisely and prudently with or towards him, not rashly and foolishly censures and condemns him, as my pretended friends dealt with me, ; nor insulteth over him, which is a foolish as well as wicked thing; but considereth that it may be his own case, and therefore pitieth and helpeth him; which is the…

Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 41 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Psalms 41:1 « To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. » Blessed [is] he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble.A Psalm of David] Of the same sense with the four former psalms, saith Kimchi. Ver. 1. Blessed is he that considereth the poor] Heb. that wisely considereth concerning the poor; the poor weakling, whose health is impaired, whose wealth is wasted. Austin rendereth it, Qui praeoccupat vocem petituri, He that preventeth the request of the poor beggar; wisely considering his case, and not staying till he crave; which possibly out of modesty he may be loth to do. The most interpret it of a charitable judgment passed upon the poor afflicted, not holding…

Read John Trapp on Psalms 41 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(1) Blessed is he.—This general statement of the great law of sympathy and benevolence—fine and noble however we take it—may be explained in different ways, according as we take the Hebrew word dal as poor, with the LXX. and Vulg. (comp. Exodus 30:15), or with the margin, as sick, weak in body (comp. Genesis 41:19), or give it an ethical sense, sick at heart. (Comp. 2 Samuel 13:4.) The context favours one of the two latter, and the choice between them depends on whether we take the author’s sickness to be real or figurative. Psalms 41:3 strongly favours the view that the sickness is physical. Considereth.—The Hebrew word implies wise as well as kindly consideration. So LXX. and Vulg., “he…

Read Charles John Ellicott on Psalms 41 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

PSALM XLI The blessedness of the man who is merciful to the poor, 1-3. The psalmist complains of his enemies, and prays for support, 4-10; and blesses God for having heard his prayer, and preserved him from his adversaries, 11, 12. A fine doxology closes the Psalm, 13. NOTES ON PSALM XLI The title as before. The Syriac says it was "A Psalm of David, when he appointed overseers to take care of the poor." The Arabic says, "It is a prophecy concerning the incarnation; and also of the salutation of Judas." It appears to me to have been written on the same occasion as the three former, and to relate to David's malady and cure, and the evil treatment he had from his enemies during his affliction.…

Read AdamClarke on Psalms 41 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

1–3. The blessings in store for the compassionate man.

Read Cambridge on Psalms 41 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Blessed is he - See the notes at Psalms 1:1. Literally, “Oh the blessings of him that considers the poor.” The object is to describe the advantages of doing what is here said; or the excellence of

Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 41 →

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

Blessed is the one who cares for the poor; the LORD will deliver him in the day of trouble.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Blessed is he who considers the poor. Yahweh will deliver him in the day of evil.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. Blessed is the one who cares for the poor; the LORD will deliver him in the day of trouble.

NETBNew English Translation2006

How blessed is the one who treats the poor properly! When trouble comes, the Lord delivers him.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

Blessed is he that considereth the poor: Jehovah will deliver him in the day of evil.

RVARevised Version, American1894

Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in the day of evil.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in the time of trouble.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

To him that excelleth. A Psalme of Dauid. Blessed is he that iudgeth wisely of the poore: the Lord shall deliuer him in ye time of trouble.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

Blessed is he that understandeth the poor: Jehovah will deliver him in the day of evil.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

To the Overseer. — A Psalm of David. O the happiness of him Who is acting wisely unto the poor, In a day of evil doth Jehovah deliver him.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

TO THE OVERSEER. A PSALM OF DAVID. O the blessedness of him || Who is acting wisely to the poor, || In a day of evil YHWH delivers him.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

“To the chief musician, a psalm of David.” (41:2) Happy is he that careth for the poor: on the day of evil will the Lord deliver him.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Blessed is he who is concerned for the weak; in the day of trouble, Yahweh will rescue him.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

Unto the end, understanding for the sons of Core.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

How happy are those who take care of the poor! When they are in trouble the Lord will save them.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

Happy is the man who gives thought to the poor; the Lord will be his saviour in the time of trouble.

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.

clausepredicateאַ֭שְׁרֵיhow.blessed!noun phrase · subjectclauseverbמַשְׂכִּ֣יל[is.one.who].considersprepositional phrase · prepositionalאֶל(to)דָּ֑ל[the].poorclauseprepositional phrase · prepositionalבְּinnoun phraseי֥וֹםa.dayרָ֝עָ֗הof.troubleverbיְֽמַלְּטֵ֥heobjectהוּwill.deliver.himsubjectיְהוָֽהYahweh

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 agreement in the overall message of the verse, although the Septuagint's word order and specific articles differ. The core themes of blessing and divine deliverance remain consistent across these witnesses.

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

אַ֭שְׁרֵי מַשְׂכִּ֣יל אֶל־ דָּ֑ל בְּי֥וֹם רָ֝עָ֗ה יְֽמַלְּטֵ֥הוּ יְהוָֽה׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
אַ֭שְׁרֵיεἰςאֶל־ψαλμὸςדָּ֑לτῷבְּי֥וֹםδαυιδ

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

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


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

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

Psalms 41:1אֶ֫שֶׁרhow blessedhow blessed!אֶ֫שֶׁרשָׂכַל[is one who[is one who] coשָׂכַלאֶלאֶלדַּל[the] poor[the] poorדַּליוֹםin a day ofin a day ofיוֹםרַעtroubletroubleרַעמָלַטhe will delhe will deliverמָלַטיהוהYahwehYahwehיהוהאָשַׁרto blessto blessאָשַׁרדָּלַלto languisto languishדָּלַלרָעַעbe evilbe evilרָעַעהָיָהto beto beהָיָהגֶּ֫בֶרgreat mangreat manגֶּ֫בֶרבִּיןto understto understandבִּיןמַ֫עַןbecausebecauseמַ֫עַןפָּלַלto prayto prayפָּלַליִרְמְיָ֫הJeremiahJeremiahיִרְמְיָ֫העָשִׁירrichrichעָשִׁיראֶבְיוֹןneedyneedyאֶבְיוֹןשְׁבִיעִיseventhseventhשְׁבִיעִישַׁבָּתSabbathSabbathשַׁבָּתמַעֲלָלdeeddeedמַעֲלָלנחםto be sorrto be sorry: coנחםנוּסto fleeto fleeנוּסנְאֻםutteranceutteranceנְאֻםצָבָאarmyarmyצָבָא
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 41:1

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.

how blessed! [is one who] considers [the] poor in a day of trouble he will deliver him Yahweh
אַ֭שְׁרֵי'Ash.rei how blessed! H835 Noun common · masculine plural construct
45× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means happiness or blessedness, often used to express how happy someone is. It appears in the Bible as an interjection, similar to 'how happy!' In the KJV, it is translated as 'blessed' or 'happy'.
Tyndale gloss
blessed
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אֶ֫שֶׁר (esher) refers to happiness or blessedness, often used as an interjection to express joy. It is derived from a related root and appears primarily in a masculine plural form. The entries consistently highlight its meaning related to happiness and blessing.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[אֶ֫שֶׁר, or אָשָׁר] n.[m.] happiness, blessedness

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H835 [אֶ֫שֶׁר, or אָשָׁר] happiness, blessedness

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

835 'esher eh'-sher

from 833; happiness; only in masculine plural construction as

interjection, how happy!:--blessed, happy.

see HEBREW for 0833

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֶ֫שֶׁר (e.sher) — blessed.

1) happiness, blessedness

1a) often used as interjection

1b) blessed are

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HNcmpc — Noun common · masculine plural construct
HNcmpc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

bles'-ed (barukh): Where God is referred to, this word has the sense of "praise," as in 1Sa 25:32, "Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel." But where man is in mind it is used in the sense of "happy" or "favored," and most frequently so in the Psalms and the Gospels, as for example, "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the wicked" (Ps 1:1); "Blessed art thou among women" (Lu 1:42); "Blessed are the poor in spirit" (Mt 5:3).

See BEATITUDES.

how blessed! [is one who] considers [the] poor in a day of trouble he will deliver him Yahweh
מַשְׂכִּ֣ילmas.Kil [is one who] considers H7919 Verb · Hiphil · participle (active) masculine singular
62× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To be circumspect means to be careful and thoughtful in your actions. In the Bible, this word is used to describe someone who is intelligent and prudent, like Solomon in 1 Kings 3:12.
Tyndale gloss
be prudent
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word שָׂכַל (*sakal*) is a primitive root meaning to be prudent or circumspect. It encompasses a range of meanings including to consider, understand, teach, and prosper. The word can also refer to laying something crosswise in its Piel form. Notably, it appears in contexts that emphasize insight and wisdom.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שָׂכַל vb. be prudent

Qal be prudent, circumspect

Hiph.

look at

give attention to, consider, ponder

have insight, comprehension

cause to consider, give insight, teach

act circumspectly, prudently

prosper, have success

cause to prosper

base

[שָׂכַל] vb. Pi. lay crosswise;—Gn 48:14 (J)

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7919a שָׂכַל be prudent .be prudent, circumspect

. . look at

. give attention to, consider, ponder

. have insight, comprehension

. cause to consider, give insight, teach

. act circumspectly, prudently

. prosper, have success

. cause to prosper

H7919b שָׂכַל Pi. lay crosswise

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7919 sakal saw-kal'

a primitive root; to be (causatively, make or act)

circumspect and hence, intelligent:--consider, expert,

instruct, prosper, (deal) prudent(-ly), (give) skill(-ful),

have good success, teach, (have, make to) understand(-ing),

wisdom, (be, behave self, consider, make) wise(- ly), guide

wittingly.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שָׂכַל (sa.khal) — be prudent.

1) to be prudent, be circumspect, wisely understand, prosper

1a) (Qal) to be prudent, be circumspect

1b) (Hiphil)

1b1) to look at or upon, have insight

1b2) to give attention to, consider, ponder, be prudent

1b3) to have insight, have comprehension

1b3a) insight, comprehension (subst)

1b4) to cause to consider, give insight, teach

1b4a) the teachers, the wise

1b5) to act circumspectly, act prudently, act wisely

1b6) to prosper, have success

1b7) to cause to prosper

Aramaic equivalent: se.khal (שְׂכַל "to contemplate" H7920)

שָׂכַל (sa.khal) — to cross hands.

(Piel) to lay crosswise, cross (hands)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HVhrmsa — Verb · Hiphil · participle (active) masculine singular
HVhrmsa
how blessed! [is one who] considers [the] poor in a day of trouble he will deliver him Yahweh
אֶל־'el- H413 Preposition
5,518× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means 'to' or 'toward', showing direction or movement. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus, to indicate where someone is going. The KJV translates it in various ways, like 'about', 'according to', or 'against'.
Tyndale gloss
to(wards)
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word אֶל (el) is primarily a preposition indicating motion towards or direction to a person or place. It can also imply entering a limit, presence at a location, or a hostile direction (against). Additionally, it may express concepts such as concerning, in addition to, or according to. The entries highlight its versatility in both physical and metaphorical contexts.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֶל (nearly always followed by Makkeph),

prep. denoting motion to or direction towards (whether physical or mental).of motion to or unto a person or place

Where the limit is actually entered, into

Of direction towards anything

Where the motion or direction implied appears from the context to be of a hostile character, אֶל = against

Unto sometimes acquires from the context the sense of in addition to

Metaph. in regard to, concerning, on account of

Of rule or standard according to (rare)

Expressing presence at a spot, against, at, by, not merely after verbs implying motion

Prefixed to other preps. it combines with them the idea of motion or direction to

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H413 אֶל (nearly always followed by Makkeph), . of motion to or unto a person or place

. Where the limit is actually entered, into

. Of direction towards anything

. Where the motion or direction implied appears from the context to be of a hostile character, אֶל = against

. Unto sometimes acquires from the context the sense of in addition to

. Metaph. in regard to, concerning, on account of

. Of rule or standard according to (rare)

. Expressing presence at a spot, against, at, by, not merely after verbs implying motion

. Prefixed to other preps. it combines with them the idea of motion or direction to

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

413 'el ale

(but only used in the shortened constructive form sel {el});

a primitive particle; properly, denoting motion towards, but

occasionally used of a quiescent position, i.e. near, with or

among; often in general, to:--about, according to ,after,

against, among, as for, at, because(-fore, -side), both...and,

by, concerning, for, from, X hath, in(- to), near, (out) of,

over, through, to(-ward), under, unto, upon, whether,

with(-in).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֶל (el) — to(wards).

1) to, toward, unto (of motion)

2) into (limit is actually entered)

2a) in among

3) toward (of direction, not necessarily physical motion)

4) against (motion or direction of a hostile character)

5) in addition to, to

6) concerning, in regard to, in reference to, on account of

7) according to (rule or standard)

8) at, by, against (of one's presence)

9) in between, in within, to within, unto (idea of motion to)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HR — Preposition
HR
how blessed! [is one who] considers [the] poor in a day of trouble he will deliver him Yahweh
דָּ֑לDal [the] poor H1800
47× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for someone who is poor or weak, often describing those in need of help or assistance. In the book of Proverbs, it warns against oppressing the poor, and in Psalm 35:10, it describes the needy and the poor. The word is also used in Isaiah 41:17.
Tyndale gloss
poor
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word דַּל (dal) is built from the root meaning 'dangling' or 'weak.' It covers a range of meanings including low, weak, poor, and thin, and is particularly noted in wisdom literature and poetry. The entries consistently emphasize its connotations of neediness and weakness.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

דַּל adj. low, weak, poor, thin (especially common in Wisd. lit. and poet.)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1800 דַּל low, weak, poor, thin (especially common in Wisd. lit. and poet.)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1800 dal dal

from 1809; properly, dangling, i.e. (by implication) weak or

thin:--lean, needy, poor (man), weaker.

see HEBREW for 01809

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

דַּל (dal) — poor.

low, poor, weak, thin, one who is low

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HAamsa
HAamsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

poor ('ebhyon, dal, `ani, rush; ptochos):

I. In the Old Testament.

The poor have great prominence in the Bible; it is said, indeed, that there should be no poor among the Hebrews because Yahweh should so greatly bless them (De 15:4 the Revised Version (British and American) and the King James Version margin); but this was only to be realized on certain conditions of obedience (De 15:5), and in De 15:11 it is said,"The poor will never cease out of the land"; but they were to see to it that none was left in destitution. The very foundation of the Hebrew religion was God's pity on a poor and oppressed people.

1. The Terms Employed:

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Poor

The Mosaic legislation regarding the poor is specially important. (1.) They had the right of gleaning the fields (Lev. 19:9, 10; Deut. 24:19,21).

(2.) In the sabbatical year they were to have their share of the produce of the fields and the vineyards (Ex. 23:11; Lev. 25:6).

(3.) In the year of jubilee they recovered their property (Lev. 25:25-30).

(4.) Usury was forbidden, and the pledged raiment was to be returned before the sun went down (Ex. 22:25-27; Deut. 24:10-13). The rich were to be generous to the…

Smith's Bible Dictionary

The general kindly spirit of the law toward the poor is sufficiently shown by such passages as (15:7) for the reason that (ver. 11) "the poor shall never cease out of the land." Among the special enactments in their favor the following must be mentioned: The right of gleaning. (Leviticus 19:9,10; 24:19,21) From the produce of the land in sabbatical years the poor and the stranger were to have their portion. (Exodus 23:11; Leviticus 25:6) Re-entry upon land in the jubilee year, with the limitation as to town homes. (Leviticus 25:25-30) Prohibition of usury and of retention of pledges. (Exodus 22:25-27;

Ps 12:5 41:1-3, especially cared for in the Jewish dispensation, Ex 23:6 Pr 14:31, and even more so under the gospel, Mt 25:42-45 Jas 2:5. The slight offerings required of them by the law were as acceptable as the hecatombs of the rich, Le 5:7-13 Mr 12:41-44. The gleanings of the fields, the olive trees, and the vines, were to be left for them, Le 19:9 De 24:19

how blessed! [is one who] considers [the] poor in a day of trouble he will deliver him Yahweh
בְּי֥וֹםbe.Yom in a day of H3117 Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct
2,306× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word 'yom' refers to a day, which can be a literal 24-hour period or a figurative space of time. It is used in the Bible to describe a wide range of time periods, from a single day to a year or a lifetime. The word 'yom' is used in many different contexts throughout the Bible.
Tyndale gloss
day
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יוֹם (yowm) means 'day' and refers to a division of time, contrasting with night. It can denote a literal 24-hour period, a general time span, or even a year. The term is used in various contexts, including the 'day of Yahweh,' which signifies a time of divine judgment. It also appears in phrases indicating temporal references like today, yesterday, and tomorrow.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יוֹם 2285 n.m. day

day, opp. night

Day as division of time

יוֹם י׳ day of Yahweh, chiefly as time of his coming in judgment, involving often blessedness for righteous

Pl. days of anyone

Days

יוֹם = time

Phrases

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3117 יוֹם day . day, opp. night

. Day as division of time

. יוֹם י׳ day of Yahweh, chiefly as time of his coming in judgment, involving often blessedness for righteous

. Pl. days of anyone

. Days

. יוֹם = time

. Phrases

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3117 yowm yome

from an unused root meaning to be hot; a day (as the warm

hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one

sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by

an associated term), (often used adverb):--age, + always, +

chronicals, continually(-ance), daily, ((birth-), each, to)

day, (now a, two) days (agone), + elder, X end, + evening, +

(for) ever(-lasting, -more), X full, life, as (so) long as

(... live), (even) now, + old, + outlived, + perpetually,

presently, + remaineth, X required, season, X since, space,

then, (process of) time, + as at other times, + in trouble,

weather, (as) when, (a, the, within a) while (that), X whole

(+ age), (full) year(-ly), + younger.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יוֹם (yom) — day.

: day/when/time/period

1) day, time, year

1a) day (as opposed to night)

1b) day (24 hour period)

1b1) as defined by evening and morning in Genesis 1

1b2) as a division of time

1b2a) a working day, a day's journey

1c) days, lifetime (pl.)

1d) time, period (general)

1e) year

1f) temporal references

1f1) today

1f2) yesterday

1f3) tomorrow

יוֹם (yom) — day: old.

: old/(full/many)[days]

1) day, time, year

1a) day (as opposed to night)

1b) day (24 hour period)

1b1) as defined by evening and morning in Genesis 1

1b2) as a division of time

1b2a) a working day, a day's journey

1c) days, lifetime (pl.)

1d) time, period (general)

1e) year

1f) temporal references

1f1) today

1f2) yesterday

1f3) tomorrow

יוֹם (yom) — day: year.

: year[of_days]

1) day, time, year

1a) day (as opposed to night)

1b) day (24 hour period)

1b1) as defined by evening and morning in Genesis 1

1b2) as a division of time

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HR/Ncmsc — Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct
HR/Ncmsc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ov:

(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.

English usagewhat the translators’ English meant
Webster's Dictionary (1828), Webster's Unabridged (1913), Webster's Dictionary (1806)

OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]

1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.

I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.

For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.

It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.

Lamentations 3:1.

The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.

Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.

That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.

Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…

how blessed! [is one who] considers [the] poor in a day of trouble he will deliver him Yahweh
רָ֝עָ֗הra.'Ah trouble H7451 Noun common · feminine singular absolute
662× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Ra means bad or evil, referring to moral or natural harm. It describes adversity, affliction, or distress, and is often used to convey a sense of misery or injury.
Tyndale gloss
bad: harmful
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

רַע (ra) is a Hebrew word meaning bad or evil, encompassing a range of negative qualities such as distress, misery, and ethical wrongdoing. It can describe unpleasantness, harm, or low value, and is used in various contexts, including emotional states and moral judgments. The entries also note its comparative form, indicating worse than or worst. The word has feminine forms, such as רָעָה (ra.ah), which similarly convey concepts of evil and distress.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

רַע 228 adj. bad, evil

bad, disagreeable, malignant

bad, unpleasant, giving pain, unhappiness, misery

evil, displeasing

bad of its kind

bad, , i.e. of low value

מִן comp., worse than

sad, unhappy

devise evil (hurtful) device

bad, unkind, vicious in disposition or temper

ethically bad, evil, wicked

base

רַע 126 n.m. evil, distress, misery, injury, calamity

evil, distress, adversity

evil, injury, wrong

ethical evil

base

רָעָה 310 n.f. evil, misery, distress, injury

evil, misery, distress

evil, injury, wrong

ethical evil

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7451a רַע bad, evil . bad, disagreeable, malignant

. bad, unpleasant, giving pain, unhappiness, misery

. evil, displeasing

. bad of its kind

. bad, , i.e. of low value

. + מִן comp., worse than

. sad, unhappy

. devise evil (hurtful) device

. bad, unkind, vicious in disposition or temper

. ethically bad, evil, wicked

H7451b רַע evil, distress, misery, injury, calamity . evil, distress, adversity

. evil, injury, wrong

. ethical evil

H7451c רָעָה evil, misery, distress, injury . evil, misery, distress

. evil, injury, wrong

. ethical evil

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7451 ra` rah

from 7489; bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral):--

adversity, affliction, bad, calamity, + displease(-ure),

distress, evil((- favouredness), man, thing), + exceedingly, X

great, grief(-vous), harm, heavy, hurt(-ful), ill (favoured),

+ mark, mischief(-vous), misery, naught(-ty), noisome, + not

please, sad(-ly), sore, sorrow, trouble, vex,

wicked(-ly, -ness, one), worse(-st), wretchedness, wrong.

(Incl. feminine raaah; as adjective or noun.).

see HEBREW for 07489

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

רַע (ra) — bad: harmful.

: harmful

adj

1) bad, evil

1a) bad, disagreeable, malignant

1b) bad, unpleasant, evil (giving pain, unhappiness, misery)

1c) evil, displeasing

1d) bad (of its kind-land, water, etc)

1e) bad (of value)

1f) worse than, worst (comparison)

1g) sad, unhappy

1h) evil (hurtful)

1i) bad, unkind (vicious in disposition)

1j) bad, evil, wicked (ethically)

1j1) in general, of persons, of thoughts

1j2) deeds, actions

רַע (ra) — bad: evil.

1) evil, distress, misery, injury, calamity

1a) evil, distress, adversity

1b) evil, injury, wrong

1c) evil (ethical)

רָעָה (ra.ah) — distress: harm.

: harm

1) evil, misery, distress, injury

1a) evil, misery, distress

1b) evil, injury, wrong

1c) evil (ethical)

רַע (ra) — bad: evil.

: evil

adj

1) bad, evil

1a) bad, disagreeable, malignant

1b) bad, unpleasant, evil (giving pain, unhappiness, misery)

1c) evil, displeasing

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HNcfsa — Noun common · feminine singular absolute
HNcfsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Nave's Topical Bible

→ BORROWING Mt 6:25-34; Mr 5:35,36; Joh 14:1; 16:6,7; Php 4:6; 1Pe 5:7

See AFFLICTION

See SUFFERING

→ INSTANCES OF

Israelites at the Red Sea Ex 14:10-12

About water Ex 15:23-25; 17:2,3; Nu 20:1-13

Food Ex 16:2,3; Nu 11:4-33

When Moses waited upon the mountain Ex 32:1

how blessed! [is one who] considers [the] poor in a day of trouble he will deliver him Yahweh
יְֽמַלְּטֵ֥הוּye.ma.le.Te.hu he will deliver him H4422 Verb piel imperfect third person masculine singular · suffix
95× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This verb means to escape or be delivered, like slipping away to safety. It is used in the Bible to describe people being saved from danger, like in the book of Psalms. The KJV translates it as deliver or escape.
Tyndale gloss
to escape
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מָלַט (malat) is a Hebrew verb primarily meaning to escape or slip away. It encompasses various nuances such as delivering, saving, and even giving birth in specific contexts. The entries indicate that it can refer to both physical escape and the act of laying eggs. There is no significant disagreement among the lexicons regarding its meanings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[מָלַט] vb. slip away (not in Qal)

Niph.

slip away

escape

pass. be delivered

Pi.

lay (eggs)

let escape

deliver

Hiph.

give birth to a male child

deliver

Hithp.

slip forth, escape (sparks of fire from jaws of crocodile)

escape

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4422 מָלַט slip away . . slip away

. escape

. pass. be delivered

. . lay (eggs)

. let escape

. deliver

. . give birth to a male child

. deliver

. . slip forth, escape (sparks of fire from jaws of crocodile)

. escape

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4422 malat maw-lat'

a primitive root; properly, to be smooth, i.e. (by

implication) to escape (as if by slipperiness); causatively,

to release or rescue; specifically, to bring forth young, emit

sparks:--deliver (self), escape, lay, leap out, let alone,

let go, preserve, save, X speedily, X surely.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מָלַט (ma.lat) — to escape.

1) to slip away, escape, deliver, save, be delivered

1a)(Niphal)

1a1) to slip away

1a2) to escape

1a3) to be delivered

1b) (Piel)

1b1) to lay, let slip out (of eggs)

1b2) to let escape

1b3) to deliver, save (life)

1c) (Hiphil)

1c1) to give birth to

1c2) to deliver

1d) (Hithpael)

1d1) to slip forth, slip out, escape

1d2) to escape

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HVpi3ms/Sp3ms — Verb piel imperfect third person masculine singular · suffix
HVpi3ms/Sp3ms
how blessed! [is one who] considers [the] poor in a day of trouble he will deliver him Yahweh
יְהוָֽה׃Yah.weh Yahweh H3068 Noun proper
6,528× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Yehovah is another name for God, often translated as 'the Lord'. It is a national name for God in the Jewish faith. This name is used throughout the Old Testament.
Tyndale gloss
The Lord
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) is the proper name of the God of Israel, often rendered as Jehovah or the Lord. It signifies the self-existent or eternal nature of God. The name is closely associated with the revelation to Moses in Exodus 3:12-15 and is used in conjunction with other terms to denote sacred places. Some scholars suggest it derives from a root meaning 'to bring into being.'

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יהוה c. 6823 i.e. יַהְוֶה n.pr.dei Yahweh, the proper name of the God of Israel—(1. MT יְהֹוָה 6518 (Qr אֲדֹנָי), or יֱהֹוִה 305 (Qr אֱלֹהִים) 2. Many recent scholars explain יַהְוֶה as Hiph. of הוה (= היה) the one bringing into being, life-giver)

יהוה is not used by E in Gn, but is given Ex 3:12-15 as the name of the God who revealed Himself to Moses at Horeb

יהוה is used with אלהים and suffixes, especially in D

the phrase † אֲנִי יהוה is noteworthy

יהוה is also used with several predicates, to form sacred names of holy places of Yahweh

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3068 יהוה i.e. יַהְוֶה n. pr. dei Yahweh, the proper name of the God of Israel

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3068 Yhovah yeh-ho-vaw'

from 1961; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish

national name of God:--Jehovah, the Lord. Compare 3050, 3069.

see HEBREW for 01961

see HEBREW for 03050

see HEBREW for 03069

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — LORD.

Jehovah = "the existing One"

1) the proper name of the one true God

1a) unpronounced except with the vowel pointings of a.do.na (אֲדֹנָי "Lord" H0136)

יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — The Lord.

Another name of ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)

יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — (Jerusalem of) the Lord.

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

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HNpt — Noun proper
HNpt
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
Sources on this page. Lexicons and dictionaries imported from the CrossWire SWORD modules — Abbott-Smith, Strong's, Dodson, the Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones, Robinson and Packard, Webster and Cawdrey. Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (Harper, 1889 — Grimm’s Wilke’s Clavis Novi Testamenti, translated, revised and enlarged by Joseph Henry Thayer) is public domain and is set here from the Internet Archive page scan greekenglishlex00grim; it is uncorrected OCR, marked as such on the entry itself, and the Strong’s numbers — which Thayer’s own edition does not carry — were matched by lemma against the other modules on this page. Trench’s Synonyms of the New Testament (Macmillan, 1880) and Moulton and Milligan’s Vocabulary of the Greek Testament (Hodder & Stoughton, 1930, which entered the United States public domain on 1 January 2026) are set from Internet Archive page scans synonymsofnewtes00treniala and vocabularyofgree00mouluoft, and are likewise uncorrected OCR matched to Strong’s numbers by lemma. Trench treats a group of words at once, so the same essay stands on the page of each word it compares. The Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary is © 1993 and is used here by permission for non-commercial use, www.teknia.com/greek-dictionary. The full Liddell-Scott-Jones and the Hebrew word data (TAHOT) come from STEPBible.org, CC BY 4.0. Brown-Driver-Briggs is the OpenScriptures digitisation, public domain. Syntax analysis is the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (biblicalhumanities.org); the concordance and morphology are built from the tagged Nestle 1904 text. Septuagint occurrences use the Open Scriptures Septuagint lemma index, derived from CCAT (University of Pennsylvania) and the Rahlfs 1935 dataset by Eliran Wong, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 — used here on a non-commercial ministry site. Greek of Josephus and Barnabas from the Perseus Digital Library, CC BY-SA 4.0. Commentaries and the Ante-Nicene Fathers are public-domain texts hosted on this site. Everyday Greek from the Duke Databank of Documentary Papyri, CC BY 3.0, with dates and provenance from the Heidelberger Gesamtverzeichnis. Philo and the Apostolic Fathers from Open Greek and Latin (First1KGreek), CC BY-SA 4.0. The apparatus and the fifth Greek column are the SBL Greek New Testament, © 2010 SBL and Logos Bible Software, CC BY 4.0. The Latin is the Clementine Vulgate (public domain); the Syriac New Testament is the ETCBC edition (MIT licence). The Hebrew behind the Greek is computed here from the Septuagint index and TAHOT, not taken from any aligned edition. The translation spread and the per-word edition marks come from the Translators Amalgamated Greek NT (STEPBible, CC BY 4.0); clause roles from the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (CC BY-SA 4.0); place identifications and their confidence from OpenBible.info Bible Geocoding (CC BY 4.0), with map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors. Gospel parallels are computed here from shared uncommon vocabulary, not taken from any printed harmony. Cross references are the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and the subject headings are Nave’s Topical Bible, both public domain. Works under Creative Commons licences are used unchanged apart from markup removal.

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