Psalms 59:6 — Word Study
WLCיָשׁ֣וּבוּ לָ֭עֶרֶב יֶהֱמ֥וּ כַכָּ֗לֶב וִיס֥וֹבְבוּ עִֽיר׃
BSAyou(m.s.)ʼattâh The LordYᵉhôvâh Godʼĕlôhîym armytsâbâʼ Godʼĕlôhîym IsraelYisrâʼêl to awakeqûwts to reckonpâqad allkôl Gentilegôwy notʼal be graciouschânan allkôl to act treacherouslybâgad evilʼâven Selahçelâh
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| יָשׁ֣וּבוּ | they return | Verb, Qal, imperfect third person masculine plural |
| לָ֭עֶרֶב | to evening | Preposition, noun common masculine singular absolute |
| יֶהֱמ֥וּ | they growl | Verb, Qal, imperfect third person masculine plural |
| כַכָּ֗לֶב | like dog | Preposition, noun common masculine singular absolute |
| וִיס֥וֹבְבוּ | so they may go around | Conjunction, verb piel third person masculine plural |
| עִֽיר׃ | [the] city | Noun common, feminine singular absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | They return in the evening, snarling like dogs and prowling around the city. |
| KJV | They return at evening: they make a noise like a dog, and go round about the city. |
| ASV | They return at evening, they howl like a dog, And go round about the city. |
| YLT | They turn back at evening, They make a noise like a dog, And go round about the city. |
| WEB | They return at evening, howling like dogs, and prowl around the city. |
| BBE | They come back in the evening; they make a noise like a dog, and go round the town. |
Where they part company is in the phrasing of יָשׁוּבוּ — see How Translations Differ.
The main clause is supported by several phrases that describe the actions and characteristics of the returning enemies.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbוְ
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 59:6
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 Threat of the Wickedgenerated
Psalm 59:6 describes the return of enemies at night, likening their behavior to that of dogs. This imagery emphasizes their ferocity and the danger they pose as they prowl the city, creating a vivid scene of tension and threat. The psalmist calls upon God to respond to these adversaries, reflecting a deep reliance on divine protection in times of distress.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalm 59:14 | They return in the evening, snarling like dogs and prowling around the city. |
| 2 | 1 Samuel 19:11 | Then Saul sent messengers to David’s house to watch him and kill him in the morning. But David’s wife Michal warned him, “If you do not run for your life tonight, tomorrow you will be dead!” |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 2 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — יָשׁ֣וּבוּ, ya.Shu.vugenerated
The verb יָשׁוּבוּ (ya.Shu.vu) is a Qal imperfect form, meaning 'they return'. It conveys the act of returning or turning back, often used in contexts of physical movement or spiritual repentance.
This word can suggest a literal return to a place or a metaphorical return to a previous state, such as returning to God. In this verse, it indicates the enemies' return to the city, heightening the sense of danger.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
In the Berean Standard Bible, the phrase is rendered as They return, which is consistent across other translations like the KJV and ASV.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb יָשׁוּבוּ governs the sentence, indicating the action of returning. The structure includes additional clauses that describe the manner of their return and their behavior.
The sentence is constructed with a series of phrases that build upon the main action, creating a vivid image of the scene as the enemies return and prowl.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates יָשׁוּבוּ with καὶ, indicating a straightforward rendering without additional interpretation or nuance.
This choice reflects a direct correspondence to the Hebrew, maintaining the original meaning without expansion.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Psalm 59:6 describes how enemies return in the evening, growling like dogs as they roam around the city. This imagery paints a picture of danger and hostility, emphasizing the threat they pose to the psalmist.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
The psalmist observes that enemies return at night, a time often associated with danger and stealth, highlighting their threatening presence.
Dogs in this context symbolize ferocity and lowliness, suggesting that the enemies are both dangerous and contemptible.
Prowling suggests a lurking threat, indicating that the enemies are actively seeking to cause harm or create chaos within the city.
The psalmist's description of the enemies' actions sets the stage for a plea for divine intervention, emphasizing reliance on God for protection.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What situations in my life feel like I am surrounded by enemies, and how can I seek God's protection?
- How can I recognize the 'dogs' in my life that threaten my peace?
- In what ways can I respond to threats with faith, as the psalmist does?
- How does the imagery of this verse resonate with my understanding of spiritual warfare?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Early interpretations of this verse highlight the transformation of those once iniquitous, suggesting a spiritual awakening or conversion.
"Let them be converted at the evening" [Psalms 59:6]. Of certain men he is speaking that were once workers of iniquity, and once darkness, being converted in the evening.Early Church Fathers on Psalms 59 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Psalms 59:6 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleThey return at evening,.... It was at evening Saul sent messengers to watch David's house, that they might take him in the morning; but missing him, perhaps after a fruitless search for him all the
Read John Gill on Psalms 59 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryThey return at evening: they make a noise like a dog, and go round about the city. They return at evening: they make a noise like a dog, and go round about the city. Here hopeful anticipation succeeds to prayer.
Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 59 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleThey return at evening, after they have been busy all day, either in plotting against me, or in hunting after me. In the evening, when they should compose themselves to rest, they return to their old trade of watching for me which they did at this time all the night long, . They make a noise like a dog; either when he is hungry and pursuing his prey, and howls for meat; or when he is enraged, and grins and snarls where he cannot or dare not bite. And go round about the city: when they did not find him in his own house, they sought for him in other houses and parts of the city, where they supposed him to lurk.
Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 59 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsPsalms 59:6 They return at evening: they make a noise like a dog, and go round about the city.Ver. 6. They return at evening] sc. To mine house at Gibeah of Saul, hoping to find me then at home again; as if, like the hunted hare, I must needs return to my old form. They make a noise like a dog] When coming the second night also they missed of David they barked and howled like mad dogs, ready to take every one they met by the throat. And go round about the city] Ferreting and searching after him in all places, and perhaps surrounding the city to surprise him.
Read John Trapp on Psalms 59 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(6) A dog.—This comparison to the gaunt half-starved wild dogs of an Eastern town has met us before (Psalms 22:16). The verbs should be rendered as futures here and in Psalms 59:15. Make a noise.—Better, howl. (See Note Psalms 55:7.) An English traveller has described the noise made by the dogs of Constantinople: “The noise I heard then I shall never forget. The whole city rang with one vast riot. Down below me at Tophane; over about Stamboul; far away at Scutari; the whole 60,000 dogs that are said to overrun Constantinople appeared engaged in the most active extermination of each other without a moment’s cessation. The yelping, howling, barking, growling, and snarling were all merged into…
Read Charles John Ellicott on Psalms 59 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 6. They return at evening] When the beasts of prey leave their dens, and go prowling about the cities and villages to get offal, and entrap domestic animals, these come about the city to see if they may get an entrance, destroy the work, and those engaged in it.
Read AdamClarke on Psalms 59 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges6–9. Be his enemies never so threatening and insolent, he can trust in God.
Read Cambridge on Psalms 59 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleThey return at evening - Many have rendered this in the imperative, as in Psalms 59:14, “Let them return at evening,” etc. So Luther renders it, and so also DeWette.
Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 59 →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
They return in the evening, snarling like dogs and prowling around the city.
They return at evening, howling like dogs, and prowl around the city.
They return in the evening, snarling like dogs and prowling around the city.
They return in the evening; they growl like a dog and prowl around outside the city.
Tyndale line
They return at evening: they make a noise like a dog, and go round about the city.
They return at evening, they howl like a dog, And go round about the city.
They return at evening, they make a noise like a dog, and go round about the city.
They return at evening: they make a noise like a dog, and go about the city.
They goe to and from in the euening: they barke like dogs, and goe about the citie.
Strictly literal
They return in the evening; they howl like a dog, and go round about the city:
They turn back at evening, They make a noise like a dog, And go round about the city.
They return at evening, || They make a noise like a dog, || And go around the city.
(59:7) They will return at evening; they will howl like dogs, and go round about the city.
They return at evening, they howl like dogs and go around the city.
From the Latin
Thou hast given a warning to them that fear thee: that they may flee from before the bow: That thy beloved may be delivered.
Simplified
In the evening they return, snarling like dogs as they roam around the city.
They come back in the evening; they make a noise like a dog, and go round the town.
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 agree in their wording for this verse, with the Septuagint providing a direct translation of the Hebrew. The Dead Sea Scrolls show some restoration, but the key elements align with the Masoretic Text.
יָשׁ֣וּבוּ לָ֭עֶרֶב יֶהֱמ֥וּ כַכָּ֗לֶב וִיס֥וֹבְבוּ עִֽיר׃
6 of the 6 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
[ואתה] [יהוה] [אלהים] [צבאות] אלהי ישראל [הקיצ׳ה] [לפקד] [כל] [הגוים] [אל] [תחן] [כל] [בגדי] און סלה
3 words on the leather — 1 partly restored, 12 supplied entire by an editor.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Psalms 59:6
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 שׁוּב (shuwb) means to turn back or return, covering a wide range of contexts including physical, spiritual, and relational. It can denote returning to a previous state, repenting, or even apostatizing. The entries describe various forms and uses, including bringing back, restoring, and refreshing. Notably, it can also imply a change in course of action.
שׁוּב 1056 vb. turn back, return
Qal 683;—turn back, return:
turn back
return, come or go back
esp. return unto
of dying
of revival from death
fig. of human relations:
return to leader, king
= change so as to appoach (in purpose, desire)
turn, i.e. resort to
return to a physical condition
abs. = change course of action
fig., specif. of spiritual relations:
turn back from God = apostatize
of י׳, turn away
turn back to God (= seek penitently)
abs. repent
turn back from evil
of י׳
of י׳, return (to shew favour)
of inanimate things (sts. personified, or treated as things of life):
denoting repetition, etc.
trans.
Pō‛l.
bring back
fig. restore, refresh
restore, repair
lead away (enticingly)
shew turning = apostatize
Hiph. 353 cause to return, bring back
bring back into bondage
put back
= draw back
= give back, restore
= relinguish
= give in payment, requital
bring one back (from dead)
bring back heart
= refresh
H7725 שׁוּב turn back, return .—turn back, return: . turn back
. return, come or go back
. esp. return unto
. . of dying
. of revival from death
. fig. of human relations: . return to leader, king
. = change so as to appoach (in purpose, desire)
. turn, i.e. resort to
. return to a physical condition
. abs. = change course of action
. fig., specif. of spiritual relations: . turn back from God = apostatize
. of י׳, turn away
. turn back to God (= seek penitently)
. abs. repent
. turn back from evil
. of י׳
. of י׳, return (to shew favour)
. of inanimate things (sts. personified, or treated as things of life):
. denoting repetition, etc.
. trans.
. . bring back
. . fig. restore, refresh
. restore, repair
. lead away (enticingly)
. shew turning = apostatize
. cause to return, bring back . . bring back into bondage
. put back
. = draw back
. = give back, restore
. = relinguish
. = give in payment, requital
7725 shuwb shoob
a primitive root; to turn back (hence, away) transitively or
intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily
with the idea of return to the starting point); generally to
retreat; often adverbial, again:--((break, build, circumcise,
dig, do anything, do evil, feed, lay down, lie down, lodge,
make, rejoice, send, take, weep)) X again, (cause to) answer
(+ again), X in any case (wise), X at all, averse, bring
(again, back, home again), call (to mind), carry again (back),
cease, X certainly, come again (back), X consider, +
continually, convert, deliver (again), + deny, draw back,
fetch home again, X fro, get (oneself) (back) again, X give
(again), go again (back, home), (go) out, hinder, let, (see)
more, X needs, be past, X pay, pervert, pull in again, put
(again, up again), recall, recompense, recover, refresh,
relieve, render (again), requite, rescue, restore, retrieve,
שׁוּב (shuv) — to return: return.
: return
1) to return, turn back
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to turn back, return
1a1a) to turn back
1a1b) to return, come or go back
1a1c) to return unto, go back, come back
1a1d) of dying
1a1e) of human relations (fig)
1a1f) of spiritual relations (fig)
1a1f1) to turn back (from God), apostatise
1a1f2) to turn away (of God)
1a1f3) to turn back (to God), repent
1a1f4) turn back (from evil)
1a1g) of inanimate things
1a1h) in repetition
1b) (Polel)
1b1) to bring back
1b2) to restore, refresh, repair (fig)
1b3) to lead away (enticingly)
1b4) to show turning, apostatise
1c) (Pual) restored (participle)
1d) (Hiphil) to cause to return, bring back
1d1) to bring back, allow to return, put back, draw back, give back, restore, relinquish, give in payment
1d2) to bring back, refresh, restore
1d3) to bring back, report to, answer
1d4) to bring back, make requital, pay (as recompense)
HVqi3mp — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine pluralHVqi3mp
עֶ֫רֶב (ereb) refers to the time of day known as evening or dusk, originally associated with sunset. It can also denote night, particularly in poetic contexts. The phrase 'between two evenings' suggests a time frame between sunset and darkness.
עֶ֫רֶב 131 n.[m.] (sun)set, evening
evening, orig. sunset
du. in phrase between two evenings, i.e. prob. between sunset and dark
(late poet.) = night
base
H6153 עֶ֫רֶב (sun)set, evening . . evening, orig. sunset
. du. in phrase between two evenings, i.e. prob. between sunset and dark
. (late poet.) = night
6153 `ereb eh'-reb
from 6150; dusk:--+ day, even(-ing, tide), night.
see HEBREW for 06150
עֶ֫רֶב (e.rev) — evening.
1) evening, night, sunset
1a) evening, sunset
1b) night
HRd/Ncmsa — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absoluteHRd/Ncmsa
Evening
The period following sunset with which the Jewish day began (Gen. 1:5; Mark 13:35). The Hebrews reckoned two evenings of each day, as appears from Ex. 16:12: 30:8; 12:6 (marg.); Lev. 23:5 (marg. R.V., “between the two evenings”). The “first evening” was that period when the sun was verging towards setting, and the “second evening” the moment of actual sunset. The word “evenings” in Jer. 5:6 should be “deserts” (marg. R.V.).
The Hebrews reckoned two evenings in each day; as in the phrase, "between the two evenings," Ex 12:6 Nu 9:3 28:4. In this interval the Passover was to be killed, and the daily evening sacrifice offered, Ex 29:39-41, Hebrew. According to the Carites, this time between the evenings is the interval from sunset to complete darkness, that is, the evening is the interval from sunset to complete darkness, that is, the evening twilight. Compare De 16:6. According to the Pharisees and the rabbins, the first evening began when the sun inclined to descend more rapidly, that is, at the ninth hour; while the second or real evening commenced at sunset. See DAY.
הָמָה (hamah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to murmur, growl, or roar, and it conveys a sense of loudness or tumult. It can refer to various forms of noise and commotion, including being boisterous or troubled. The entries suggest a range of meanings from making noise to being in a state of uproar, with some nuances in emotional expression, such as mourning or prayer.
[הָמָה] vb. murmur, growl, roar, be boisterous
Qal
growl like a dog
murmur, fig. of soul in discouragement
roar, of waves
be in commotion, stir
be boisterous, turbulent
base
H1993 [הָמָה] murmur, growl, roar, be boisterous
1993 hamah haw-maw'
a primitive root (compare 1949); to make a loud sound like
Engl. "hum"); by implication, to be in great commotion or
tumult, to rage, war, moan, clamor:--clamorous, concourse, cry
aloud, be disquieted, loud, mourn, be moved, make a noise,
rage, roar, sound, be troubled, make in tumult, tumultuous, be
in an uproar.
see HEBREW for 01949
הָמָה (ha.mah) — to roar.
1) to murmur, growl, roar, cry aloud, mourn, rage, sound, make noise, tumult, be clamorous, be disquieted, be loud, be moved, be troubled, be in an uproar
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to growl
1a2) to murmur (fig. of a soul in prayer)
1a3) to roar
1a4) to be in a stir, be in a commotion
1a5) to be boisterous, be turbulent
HVqi3mp — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine pluralHVqi3mp
The Hebrew word כֶּ֫לֶב (*keleb*) means 'dog' and can refer to the animal literally or figuratively in contexts of contempt or abasement. It also denotes male cult prostitutes in a euphemistic sense. The term appears in various Old Testament verses, often associated with negative connotations, such as in 1 Samuel 17:43 and 2 Samuel 9:8.
כֶּ֫לֶב n.m. I S 24:15 dog (NH id.; Ph. כלב; Aram. כֶּ֫לְבָּא, Syriac; Ar. Arabic; Eth. Ethiopic As. kalbu DI HWB 328)—abs. כ׳ Ju 7:5 + 16 t., כָּ֑לֶב ψ 59:7, 15; pl. כְּלָבִים 1 K 14:11 + 12 t.; cstr. כַּלְבֵי Jb 30:1; sf. כְּלָבֶיךָ ψ 68:24;—dog:
lit. 1 K 14:11 16:4 21:19, 19, 23, 24 22:38 2 K 9:10, 36 (all of fierce, hungry dogs, devouring dead bodies and licking blood); cf. Je 15:3 and (לְשׁוֹן כְּלָבֶיךָ) ψ 68:24; eating torn flesh, Ex 22:30 (E), כַּלְבֵי צֹאנִי = my sheep-dogs, only Jb 30:1 (in both these with implied inferiority); dog-sacrifice was a heathen rite Read the full entry →
H3611 כֶּ֫לֶב dog
3611 keleb keh'-leb
from an unused root means. to yelp, or else to attack; a dog;
hence (by euphemism) a male prostitute:--dog.
כֶּ֫לֶב (ke.lev) — dog.
1) dog
1a) dog (literal)
1b) contempt or abasement (fig.)
1c) of pagan sacrifice
1d) of male cult prostitute (fig.)
HRd/Ncmsa — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absoluteHRd/Ncmsa
kelebh; (compare Arabic kelb, "dog"); kuon; (and diminutive kunarion): References to the dog, both in the Old Testament and in the New Testament, are usually of a contemptuous character. A dog, and especially a dead dog, is used as a figure of insignificance. Goliath says to David (1Sa 17:43): "Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves?" David says to Saul (1Sa 24:14): "After whom dost thou pursue? after a dead dog, after a flea." Mephibosheth says to David (2Sa 9:8): "What is thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am?" The same figure is found in the words of Hazael to Elisha (2Ki 8:13). The meaning, which is obscure in the King James Version…
Dog
Frequently mentioned both in the Old and New Testaments. Dogs were used by the Hebrews as a watch for their houses (Isa. 56:10), and for guarding their flocks (Job 30:1). There were also then as now troops of semi-wild dogs that wandered about devouring dead bodies and the offal of the streets (1 Kings 14:11; 16:4; 21:19, 23; 22:38; Ps. 59:6, 14).
As the dog was an unclean animal, the terms “dog,” “dog’s head,” “dead dog,” were used as terms of reproach or of humiliation (1 Sam. 24:14; 2 Sam. 3:8; 9:8; 16:9). Paul calls false apostles “dogs” (
an animal frequently mentioned in Scripture. It was used by the hebrews as a watch for their houses, (Isaiah 56:10) and for guarding their flocks. (Job 30:1) Then also, as now troops of hungry and semi-wild dogs used to wander about the fields and the streets of the cities, devouring dead bodies and other offal, (1 Kings 14:11; 21:19,23; 22:38; Psalms 59:6) and thus became so savage and fierce and such objects of dislike that fierce and cruel enemies are poetically styled dogs in (Psalms 22:16,20) moreover the dog being an unclean animal, (Isaiah 66:3) the epithets dog, dead dog, dog’s head, were used as terms of reproach or of humility in speaking of one’s self. (
There are many dogs in the countries where the Bible was written, but the people do not like them as well as we do, and do not let them live about their yards and houses. So the dogs go wandering about without any master, and live on whatever they can find in the streets or around the markets. In Ps 59 you will find the verse: "They return at evening; they make a noise like a dog, and go round about the city,"-and a little farther on you will see, "Let them wander up and down for meat, and grudge if they be not satisfied." These verses show that the dogs wandered about in those days just as they do now. Sometimes when they do not find enough to eat, they become very fierce and cruel, so that you would be afraid to meet one of them.
There is a sad story in some of the chapters of the two books of Kings, in which you will find these dogs mentioned. There was a very proud and wicked queen…
The Hebrew word סָבַב (savav) means to turn or go around, encompassing a range of actions such as surrounding, marching, and changing direction. It is built from a primitive root and has various applications, both literal and figurative, including transforming or enclosing. The entries detail its uses in different verbal forms, but do not present any significant disagreement among lexicons.
סָבַב vb. turn about, go around, surround
Qal
turn, intrans.
march, or walk, around
go partly round, circle, skirt
make a round, or circuit, go about to
surround, encompass
Niph.
turn oneself against, close round upon
turn round (from a direct course)
esp. of boundary: turn round from, toward
pass. be turned over to, into the power of
Pi. to change, transform, the aspect of the matter
Po‛.
encompass (with protection)
come about, assemble round
march or go about
enclose, envelop
Hiph.
turn (trans.), cause to turn
bring over (i.e. to allegiance)
turn into, of changing name
= bring round, of changing name
cause to go around
surround with (acc.) wall
perh. also encompass (as foe)
Hoph.
be turned, of cart wheel
surrounded, i.e. set, of jewels
base
H5437 סָבַב turn about, go around, surround .. turn, intrans.
. . march, or walk, around
. go partly round, circle, skirt
. make a round, or circuit, go about to
. surround, encompass
. . . turn oneself against, close round upon
. turn round (from a direct course)
. esp. of boundary: turn round from, toward
. pass. be turned over to, into the power of
. to change, transform, the aspect of the matter
. . encompass (with protection)
. come about, assemble round
. march or go about
. enclose, envelop
. . . turn (trans.), cause to turn
. bring over (i.e. to allegiance)
. turn into, of changing name
. = bring round, of changing name
. . cause to go around
. surround with (acc.) wall
. perh. also encompass (as foe)
. . be turned, of cart wheel
. surrounded, i.e. set, of jewels
5437 cabab saw-bab'
a primitive root; to revolve, surround, or border; used in
various applications, literally and figuratively (as
follows):--bring, cast, fetch, lead, make, walk, X whirl, X
round about, be about on every side, apply, avoid, beset
(about), besiege, bring again, carry (about), change, cause to
come about, X circuit, (fetch a) compass (about, round),
drive, environ, X on every side, beset (close, come, compass,
go, stand) round about, inclose, remove, return, set, sit
down, turn (self) (about, aside, away, back).
סָבַב (sa.vav) — to turn: turn.
: turn/bring_around
1) to turn, turn about or around or aside or back or towards, go about or around, surround, encircle, change direction
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to turn, turn about, be brought round, change
1a2) to march or walk around, go partly around, circle about, skirt, make a round, make a circuit, go about to, surround, encompass
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to turn oneself, close round, turn round
1b2) to be turned over to
1c) (Piel) to turn about, change, transform
1d) (Poel)
1d1) to encompass, surround
1d2) to come about, assemble round
1d3) to march, go about
1d4) to enclose, envelop
1e) (Hiphil)
1e1) to turn, cause to turn, turn back, reverse, bring over, turn into, bring round
1e2) to cause to go around, surround, encompass
1f) (Hophal)
1f1) to be turned
1f2) to be surrounded
סָבַב (sa.vav) — to turn: surround.
: surround/go_round
HC/Vpu3mp — Conjunction · verb piel third person masculine pluralHC/Vpu3mp
The Hebrew word עִיר (*'iyr*) has meanings related to both excitement and city. It can denote excitement, particularly of terror or rage, as well as refer to a city or town, indicating a place that is guarded or inhabited. The entries suggest a broad application, from fortified cities to simple encampments. There is a specific mention of a man named Ir in 1 Chronicles 4:12.
עִיר n.[m.] excitement;—of terror; of rage
base
עִיר 1092 n.f. city, town
city, town, abode of men
of fortress in a city
appar. fortified place, of any size
base
H5892a עִיר excitement;—of terror; of rage H5892b עִיר city, town . city, town, abode of men
. of fortress in a city
. appar. fortified place, of any size
5892 `iyr eer
or (in the plural) par {awr}; or ayar (Judges 10:4)
{aw-yar'}; from 5782 a city (a place guarded by waking or a
watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or
post):--Ai (from margin), city, court (from margin), town.
see HEBREW for 05782
עִיר (ir) — excitement.
1) excitement, anguish
1a) of terror
עִיר (ir) — city.
1) city, town (a place of waking, guarded)
1a) city, town (a place of waking, guarded)
1a) city, town
עִיר (ir) — City (of On).
Combined with on (אֹן "On" H0204)
This name means city, town
Another name of on (אֹן "On" H0204)
עִיר (ir) — Ir-.
#A man of the tribe of Judah living at the time of Divided Monarchy, only mentioned at 1Ch.4.12;
son of: Tehinnah (H8468)
HNcfsa — Noun common · feminine singular absoluteHNcfsa
sit'-i (`ir, qiryah; polis):
I. THE CANAANITE CITY
1. Origin
2. Extent
3. Villages
4. Sites
5. External Appearance
6. General
II. THE CITY OF THE JEWISH OCCUPATION
1. Tower or Stronghold
2. High Place
3. Broad Place
4. Streets
5. General Characteristics
III. STORE CITIES
IV. LEVITICAL CITIES
LITERATURE
I. The Canaanite City.
1. Origin:
The development of the Canaanite city has been traced by Macalister in his report on the excavation at Gezer (Palestine Exploration Fund Statement, 1904, 108 ff). It originated on the slopes of a bare rocky spur, in which the Neolithic Troglodytes quarried their habitations out of the solid rock, the stones therefrom being used to form a casing to the earthen ramparts, with which the site was afterwards surrounded and which served as a protection against the intrusion of enemies. Later Semitic intruders occupied the site, stone houses were built, and high stone defense…
City
The earliest mention of city-building is that of Enoch, which was built by Cain (Gen. 4:17). After the confusion of tongues, the descendants of Nimrod founded several cities (10:10-12). Next, we have a record of the cities of the Canaanites, Sidon, Gaza, Sodom, etc. (10:12, 19; 11:3, 9; 36:31-39). The earliest description of a city is that of Sodom (19:1-22). Damascus is said to be the oldest existing city in the world. Before the time of Abraham there were cities in Egypt (Num. 13:22). The Israelites in Egypt were employed in building the “treasure cities” of Pithom and Raamses (Ex. 1:11); but it does not seem that they had any cities of their own in Goshen (Gen.…
The towns and cities of Palestine were commonly built on heights, for better security against robbers or invaders. These heights, surrounded by walls, sometimes formed the entire city. In other cases, the citadel alone crowned the hill, around and at the base of which the town was built; and in time of danger the surrounding population all took refuge in the fortified place. Larger towns and cities were often not only defended by strong outer walls, with towers and gates, but by a citadel or castle within these limits-a last resort when the rest of the city was taken, Jud 9:46,51. The "fenced cities" of the Jews, De 3:5, were of various sizes and degrees of strength; some being surrounded by high and thick stone walls, and others by feebler ramparts, often of clay or sun-dried…