Psalms 63:3 — Word Study
WLCכִּי־ ט֣וֹב חַ֭סְדְּךָ מֵֽחַיִּ֗ים שְׂפָתַ֥י יְשַׁבְּחֽוּנְךָ׃
BSArightkên Holy Placeqôdesh to seechâzâh Providerrâʼâh strengthʻôz glorykâbôwd
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| כִּי־ | for | Particle |
| ט֣וֹב | [is] good | |
| חַ֭סְדְּךָ | covenant loyalty your | Noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
| מֵֽחַיִּ֗ים | more than life | Preposition, noun common masculine plural absolute |
| שְׂפָתַ֥י | lips my | Noun common masculine plural construct, suffix |
| יְשַׁבְּחֽוּנְךָ׃ | they will extol you | Verb piel imperfect third person masculine plural, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Because Your loving devotion is better than life, my lips will glorify You. |
| KJV | Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee. |
| ASV | Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, My lips shall praise thee. |
| YLT | Because better [is] Thy kindness than life, My lips do praise Thee. |
| WEB | Because your loving kindness is better than life, my lips shall praise you. |
| BBE | Because your mercy is better than life, my lips will give you praise. |
Where they part company is חַ֭סְדְּךָ — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence begins with a causal clause, leading into the main declaration of praise.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
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 63:3
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — A Psalm of David in the Wildernessgenerated
Psalm 63:3 reflects David's deep appreciation for God's loving devotion while he is in the wilderness. He recognizes that this steadfast love is more valuable than life itself, prompting him to glorify God with his lips. This theme of divine love and praise is echoed throughout the Psalms, where the psalmist often expresses gratitude for God's mercy and faithfulness.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalm 4:6 | Many ask, “Who can show us the good?” Shine the light of Your face upon us, O LORD. |
| 2 | Psalm 21:6 | For You grant him blessings forever; You cheer him with joy in Your presence. |
| 3 | Psalm 30:5 | For His anger is fleeting, but His favor lasts a lifetime. Weeping may stay the night, but joy comes in the morning. |
| 4 | Philippians 1:23 | I am torn between the two. I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better indeed. |
| 5 | 1 John 3:2 | Beloved, we are now children of God, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that when Christ appears, we will be like Him, for we will see Him as He is. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 14 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — חַ֭סְדְּךָ, Chas.de.khagenerated
The word חֶ֫סֶד (chesed) is a noun that signifies kindness, mercy, or covenant loyalty. It emphasizes God's faithful love towards His people, often described as unwavering and enduring.
In this verse, it is in the construct form, indicating possession — 'Your loving devotion.' This highlights the personal relationship between God and the psalmist, where God's kindness is seen as a source of strength and comfort.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The verse features a main clause with the finite verb יְשַׁבְּחֽוּ (they will glorify), which governs the subject and object phrases. The structure emphasizes the cause-and-effect relationship between God's loving devotion and the psalmist's response of praise.
The first part of the verse introduces a causal relationship with כִּי־ (for), indicating that the reason for glorifying God stems from the recognition of His goodness.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, חַ֭סְדְּךָ is rendered as ἡ ἀγάπη σου (your love), which broadens the term to include the concept of love in a more general sense. This choice reflects an interpretation that emphasizes the relational aspect of God's character.
The Greek translation captures the essence of God's steadfast love, aligning with the Hebrew context while also making it accessible to a Hellenistic audience.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Psalm 63:3 tells us that God's loving devotion is more precious than life itself. David expresses that because of this, he will glorify God with his lips, recognizing the importance of praising Him for His kindness and mercy.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
David is emphasizing that God's steadfast love and kindness are more valuable and fulfilling than physical life itself.
It shows a deep personal connection, where David finds strength and comfort in God's unwavering love.
Glorifying God is an expression of gratitude and acknowledgment of His goodness, which is central to worship.
We can learn the importance of recognizing and valuing God's love in our lives, prompting us to express our gratitude through praise.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways have I experienced God's loving devotion in my life?
- How can I express my gratitude to God for His kindness?
- What does it mean to me that God's love is better than life?
- How can I incorporate praise into my daily routine as a response to God's goodness?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Early Church Fathers referenced this verse to illustrate the importance of God's love in the believer's life. Here are their insights.
"Thus in a holy thing I have appeared to You, that I might see Your power and Your glory" [Psalms 63:3]....Unless a man first thirst in that desert,Early Church Fathers on Psalms 63 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Psalms 63:3 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleBecause thy lovingkindness [is] better than life,.... For life without the love of God is nothing else than death: a man that has no share in the love of God is dead while he lives; all the
Read John Gill on Psalms 63 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryBecause thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee. Because thy loving-kindness (is) better than life.
Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 63 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleThis is the reason of the foregoing thirst after God. Thy loving-kindness, i.e. the discoveries and influences of thy grace and favour, which thou usually impartest to thy people in the sanctuary. Is better than life; is more durable, and comfortable, and satisfactory than the present life, with all imaginable advantages belonging to it. My lips shall praise thee, both for my former taste and experiences of this truth, and for the assurance of my restitution to the same blessed enjoyments.
Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 63 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsPsalms 63:3 Because thy lovingkindness [is] better than life, my lips shall praise thee.Ver. 3. Because thy lovingkindness is better than life] Mr Bradford, being threatened by Stephen Gardiner (then Lord Chancellor), answered, I know to whom I have committed my life, even into his hands which will keep it, so that no man may take it away before it be his pleasure, therefore his goodwill be done; life in his displeasure is worse than death, and death in his true favour is true life (Acts and Mon. fol. 1459). This made him and the rest of the holy martyrs that they loved not their lives unto the death, Revelation 12:11. The sight of God, though but in that dark glass of the ceremonies, would…
Read John Trapp on Psalms 63 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(3) Because.—Such a sense of the blessedness of Divine favour—here in its peculiar sense of covenant favour—that it is better than life itself, calls for gratitude displayed all through life. “Love is the ever-springing fountain” from which all goodness proceeds, and a sense of it is even more than the happy sense of being alive. The following lines convey in a modern dress the feeling of this part of the psalm:— “So gazing up in my youth at love, As seen through power, ever above All modes which make it manifest, My soul brought all to a single test— That He, the Eternal, First and Last, Who in His power had so surpassed All man conceives of what is might, Whose wisdom too showed infinite—…
Read Charles John Ellicott on Psalms 63 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 3. Thy loving-kindness is better than life] This is the language of every regenerate soul. But O how few prefer the approbation of God to the blessings of life, or even to life itself in any circumstances! But the psalmist says, Thy loving-kindness, חסדך chasdecha, thy effusive mercy, is better מחיים mechaiyim, than LIVES: it is better than, or good beyond, countless ages of human existence. My lips shall praise thee.] Men praise, or speak well, of power, glory, honour, riches, worldly prospects and pleasures; but the truly religious speak well of GOD, in whom they find infinitely more satisfaction and happiness than worldly men can find in the possession of all earthly good.
Read AdamClarke on Psalms 63 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleBecause thy loving-kindness is better than life - Thy favor; thy mercy. This is of more value than life; more to be desired than life. Life is the most valued and valuable thing pertaining to this world which we can possess.
Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 63 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible3. Thy loving kindness is better than life—Thy mercy, by which life eternal is provided, is better than natural life with kingly honours super-added. Compare 1 John 3:1. The words, as Mrs.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Psalms 63 →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
Because Your loving devotion is better than life, my lips will glorify You.
Because your loving kindness is better than life, my lips shall praise you.
Because Your loving devotion is better than life, my lips will glorify You.
Because experiencing your loyal love is better than life itself, my lips will praise you.
Tyndale line
Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee.
Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, My lips shall praise thee.
For thy lovingkindness is better than life; my lips shall praise thee.
Because thy loving-kindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee.
For thy louing kindnesse is better then life: therefore my lippes shall prayse thee.
Strictly literal
For thy loving-kindness is better than life: my lips shall praise thee.
Because better [is] Thy kindness than life, My lips do praise Thee.
Because better [is] Your kindness than life, || My lips praise You.
(63:4) Because thy kindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee:
Because your covenant faithfulness is better than life, my lips will praise you.
From the Latin
Thou hast protected me from the assembly of the malignant; from the multitude of the workers of iniquity.
Simplified
Your trustworthy love is better than life itself; I will praise you.
Because your mercy is better than life, my lips will give you praise.
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 align closely in this verse, with all six words matched. The Dead Sea Scrolls, however, show no direct correspondence here, as the text is significantly restored by an editor.
כִּי־ ט֣וֹב חַ֭סְדְּךָ מֵֽחַיִּ֗ים שְׂפָתַ֥י יְשַׁבְּחֽוּנְךָ׃
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.
[כן] [בקדש] [חזיתי׳ך] [לראות] [עז׳ך] [וכבוד׳ך]
nothing on the leather here — 6 supplied entire by an editor.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Psalms 63:3
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.
כִּי (ki) is a conjunction primarily meaning 'that,' 'for,' or 'when.' It indicates causal relationships and can express conditions like 'if' or 'though.' The word is versatile, appearing in various contexts to convey certainty, exception, or concession. Notably, it can combine with other particles to modify its meaning, such as in the phrase כִּי אם־ (ki im), meaning 'that if.'
כִּי conj. that, for, when
that
Of time, when, of the past
elsewhere כִּי has a force approximating to if, though it usu. represents a case as more likely to occur than אִם
when or if, with a concessive force, i.e. though
Because, since
base
כִּי אם־
each part. retaining its independent force, and relating to a different clause:
that if
for if
(About 140 t.) the two particles being closely conjoined, and relating to the same clause—
limiting the prec. clause, except
the if being neglected, and treated as pleonastic, so that the clause is no longer a limitation of the preceding clause but a contradiction of it: but rather, but
after an oath, surely
base
כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as
base
H3588a כִּי that, for, when . that
. . Of time, when, of the past
. elsewhere כִּי has a force approximating to if, though it usu. represents a case as more likely to occur than אִם
. when or if, with a concessive force, i.e. though
. Because, since
H3588b כִּי אם־ . each part. retaining its independent force, and relating to a different clause: . that if
. for if
. (About 140 t.) the two particles being closely conjoined, and relating to the same clause— . limiting the prec. clause, except
. the if being neglected, and treated as pleonastic, so that the clause is no longer a limitation of the preceding clause but a contradiction of it: but rather, but
. after an oath, surely
H3588c כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as
3588 kiy kee
a primitive particle (the full form of the prepositional
prefix) indicating causal relations of all kinds, antecedent
or consequent; (by implication) very widely used as a relative
conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by
other particles annexed:--and, + (forasmuch, inasmuch,
where-)as, assured(-ly), + but, certainly, doubtless, + else,
even, + except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, +
nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then,
therefore, + (al- )though, + till, truly, + until, when,
whether, while, whom, yea, yet.
כִּי (ki) — for.
1) that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since
1a) that
1a1) yea, indeed
1b) when (of time)
1b1) when, if, though (with a concessive force)
1c) because, since (causal connection)
1d) but (after negative)
1e) that if, for if, indeed if, for though, but if
1f) but rather, but
1g) except that
1h) only, nevertheless
1i) surely
1j) that is
1k) but if
1l) for though
1m) forasmuch as, for therefore
כִּי [אם] (ki im) — that if: except.
1) except if
1a) but if
1b) even though
כִּי [עַל כֵּן] (ki [al ken]) — for as that: since.
1) that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since
1a) that
1a1) yea, indeed
1b) when (of time)
1b1) when, if, though (with a concessive force)
1c) because, since (causal connection)
1d) but (after negative)
HTc — ParticleHTc
for (ki (conjunction), le, from 'el (preposition), and various other words. In the New Testament also the words are various, chiefly gar, kai gar, hoti (conjunctions); anti apo eis dia (accusative), epi (dative and accusative), peri (genitive), pros (genitive and accusative), huper (genitive) (prepositions)): the English Revised Version and the American Standard Revised Version give in many cases more literal or more accurate renderings than those in the King James Version.
In the New Testament the most important preps. from a doctrinal point of view are anti, "face to face," "over against," "instead," "on behalf of," peri, "around," "about," "concerning," huper, "over," "on behalf of." The first has been claimed as stating the substitutionary nature of Christ's sacrifice as contrasted with huper and peri, more frequently used of it. But, although anti in the New Testament often means…
טוֹב (tov) is a Hebrew word meaning good or pleasant, encompassing a wide range of meanings from agreeable to the senses to ethical goodness. It can function as an adjective, noun, or adverb, referring to things like welfare, happiness, and prosperity. The feminine form, טוֹבָה (tovah), specifically denotes welfare or good things.
טוֹב adj. pleasant, agreeable, good
pleasant, agreeable to the senses
pleasant to the higher nature, giving pleasure, happiness, prosperity, and so agreeable, pleasing, well
good, excellent, of its kind
good, rich, valuable in estimation
good, appropriate, becoming
c. מִן compar. = better
of man's sensuous nature, glad, happy, prosperous
of man's intellectual nature, good understanding
good, kind, benign
good (ethical), right
base
טוֹב n.m. a good thing, benefit, welfare
welfare, prosperity, happiness
good things
good = benefit
moral good
base
טוֹבָה n.f. welfare, benefit, good things, good
welfare, prosperity, happiness
good things
bounty, good
base
H2896a טוֹב pleasant, agreeable, good . pleasant, agreeable to the senses
. pleasant to the higher nature, giving pleasure, happiness, prosperity, and so agreeable, pleasing, well
. good, excellent, of its kind
. good, rich, valuable in estimation
. good, appropriate, becoming
. c. מִן compar. =better
. of man's sensuous nature, glad, happy, prosperous
. of man's intellectual nature, good understanding
. good, kind, benign
. good (ethical), right
H2896b טוֹב a good thing, benefit, welfare H2896c טוֹבָה welfare, benefit, good things, good
2896 towb tobe
from 2895; good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used
likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine,
the singular and the plural (good, a good or good thing, a
good man or woman; the good, goods or good things, good men or
women), also as an adverb (well):--beautiful, best, better,
bountiful, cheerful, at ease, X fair (word), (be in) favour,
fine, glad, good (deed, -lier, -liest, -ly, -ness, -s),
graciously, joyful, kindly, kindness, liketh (best), loving,
merry, X most, pleasant, + pleaseth, pleasure, precious,
prosperity, ready, sweet, wealth, welfare, (be) well
((-favoured)).
see HEBREW for 02895
טוֹב (tov) — pleasant.
adj
1) good, pleasant, agreeable
1a) pleasant, agreeable (to the senses)
1b) pleasant (to the higher nature)
1c) good, excellent (of its kind)
1d) good, rich, valuable in estimation
1e) good, appropriate, becoming
1f) better (comparative)
1g) glad, happy, prosperous (of man's sensuous nature)
1h) good understanding (of man's intellectual nature)
1i) good, kind, benign
1j) good, right (ethical)
Aramaic equivalent: tav (טָב "fine" H2869)
טוֹב (tov) — good.
1) a good thing, benefit, welfare
1a) welfare, prosperity, happiness
1b) good things (collective)
1c) good, benefit
1d) moral good
טוֹבָה (to.vah) — welfare.
1) welfare, benefit, good things
1a) welfare, prosperity, happiness
1b) good things (collective)
1c) bounty
HAamsa — HAamsa
good (Tobh, Tubh, yaTabh; agathos, agathon, kalos, kalon): In English "good" is used in various senses, most of which are represented in the Bible.
(1) In the Old Testament the commonest word is Tobh, occurring very frequently and translated in a great variety of ways. Of the different shades of meaning, which frequently run into each other, the following may be distinguished:
(a) Possessing desirable qualities, beneficial, agreeable, e.g. "good for food" (Ge 2:9); "We will do thee good" (Nu 10:29); Who will show us any good?" (Ps 4:6); "good tidings of good" (Isa 52:7).
חֶ֫סֶד (che.sed) primarily means kindness or goodness, often referring to the kindness of people towards one another, especially towards the needy. It can also denote God's lovingkindness and mercy. Additionally, it has a secondary meaning of shame or reproach. The entries reflect a range of uses, from human interactions to divine attributes.
חֶ֫סֶד 247 n.m. goodness, kindness
of man:
kindness of men toward men, in doing favours and benefits
kindness (especially as extended to the lowly, needy and miserable), mercy
(rarely) affection of Isr. to י׳, love to God, piety
lovely appearance
of God: kindness, lovingkindness in condescending to the needs of his creatures.
base
חֶ֫סֶד n.m. shame, reproach
base
H2617a חֶ֫סֶד goodness, kindness . of man: . kindness of men toward men, in doing favours and benefits
. kindness (especially as extended to the lowly, needy and miserable), mercy
. (rarely) affection of Isr. to י׳, love to God, piety
. lovely appearance
. of God: kindness, lovingkindness in condescending to the needs of his creatures.
H2617b חֶ֫סֶד shame, reproach
2617 checed kheh'-sed
from 2616; kindness; by implication (towards God) piety:
rarely (by opposition) reproof, or (subject.) beauty:--favour,
good deed(-liness, -ness), kindly, (loving-)kindness, merciful
(kindness), mercy, pity, reproach, wicked thing.
see HEBREW for 02616
חֶ֫סֶד (che.sed) — kindness.
goodness, kindness, faithfulness
חֶ֫סֶד (che.sed) — shame.
a reproach, shame
HNcmsc/Sp2ms — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHNcmsc/Sp2ms
The Hebrew word חַי (*chay*) means 'alive' or 'living' and covers a range of meanings related to life, including living beings, vitality, and freshness. It can refer to God, animals, vegetation, and even concepts like appetite and community. Variants include חַיָּה (*chayyah*), meaning 'living thing' or 'animal,' and חַיִּים (*chayim*), which emphasizes life and sustenance.
חַי adj. alive, living
of God, as the living one, the fountain of life
of man
of animals, alive, living
animals and man
(dub.) of vegetation, as thorns, green
of water, fresh
(dub.) lively, active
reviving
base
[חַי] n.[m.] kinsfolk, pl. sf. 1 S 18:18
ref
חַיָּה n.f. living thing, animal
animal
in general
wild animals, on account of their vital energy and activity
living beings, of the cherubic chariot
life, only in late poetry
appetite, activity of hunger
revival, renewal
base
חַיָּה n.f. community
base
חַיִּים n.m. pl. abstr. emph. life
life: physical
life: as welfare and happiness in king's presence
sustenance, maintenance
base
H2416a חַי alive, living . . of God, as the living one, the fountain of life
. of man
. of animals, alive, living
. animals and man
. (dub.) of vegetation, as thorns, green
. of water, fresh
. (dub.) lively, active
. reviving
H2416b חַי kinsfolk H2416c חַיָּה living thing, animal . animal . in general
. wild animals, on account of their vital energy and activity
. living beings, of the cherubic chariot
. life, only in late poetry
. appetite, activity of hunger
. revival, renewal
H2416d חַיָּה community H2416e חַיִּים pl. abstr. emph. life . life: physical
. life: as welfare and happiness in king's presence
. sustenance, maintenance
2416 chay khah'-ee
from 2421; alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water,
year), strong; also (as noun, especially in the feminine
singular and masculine plural) life (or living thing), whether
literally or figuratively:--+ age, alive, appetite, (wild)
beast, company, congregation, life(-time), live(-ly), living
(creature, thing), maintenance, + merry, multitude, + (be)
old, quick, raw, running, springing, troop.
see HEBREW for 02421
חַי (chay) — alive.
adj
1) living, alive
1a) green (of vegetation)
1b) flowing, fresh (of water)
1c) lively, active (of man)
1d) reviving (of the springtime)
Aramaic equivalent: chay (חַי "living" H2417)
חַי (chay) — kinsfolk.
kinsfolk
חַיָּה (chay.yah) — living thing.
1) living thing, animal
1a) animal
1b) life
1c) appetite
1d) revival, renewal
Aramaic equivalent: che.va (חֵיוָא "beast" H2423)
חַיָּה (chay.yah) — community.
community
חַיִּים (chay.yim) — life.
1) life (abstract emphatic)
1a) life
1b) sustenance, maintenance
HR/Ncmpa — Preposition · noun common masculine plural absoluteHR/Ncmpa
lif (chayyim, nephesh, ruach, chayah; zoe, psuche, bios, pneuma):
I. THE TERMS
II. THE OLD TESTAMENT TEACHING
1. Popular Use of the Term
2. Complexity of the Idea
III. IN THE APOCRYPHA
IV. IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
1. In the Synoptic Gospels
2. In the Fourth Gospel
3. In the Ac of the Apostles
4. In the Writings of Paul
5. In the Writings of John
6. In the Other Books of the New Testament
LITERATURE
I. The Terms.
Of the Hebrew terms, chayah is the verb which means "to live," "to have life," or the vital principle, "to continue to live," or "to live prosperously." In the Piel it signifies "to give life, or preserve, or quicken and restore life." The Hiphil is much like the Piel. The noun hayyim generally used in the plural is an abstract noun meaning "life," i.e. the possession of the vital principle with its energies and activities. Nephesh often means "living being" or "creature." Sometimes it has the…
Life
Generally of physical life (Gen. 2:7; Luke 16:25, etc.); also used figuratively (1) for immortality (Heb. 7:16); (2) conduct or manner of life (Rom. 6:4); (3) spiritual life or salvation (John 3:16, 17, 18, 36); (4) eternal life (Matt. 19:16, 17; John 3:15); of God and Christ as the absolute source and cause of all life (John 1:4; 5:26, 39; 11:25; 12:50).
In the Bible, is either natural, Ge 3:17; spiritual, that of the renewed soul, Ro 8:6; or eternal, a holy and blissful immortality, Joh 3:36 Ro 6:23. Christ is the great Author of natural life, Col 1:16; and also of spiritual and eternal life; Joh 14:6 6:47. He has purchased these by laying down his own life; and gives them freely to his people, Joh 10:11,28. He is the spring of all their spiritual life on earth, Ga 2:20; will raise them up at the last day; and…
The Hebrew word שָׂפָה (*saphah*) encompasses meanings related to 'lip,' 'speech,' and 'edge.' It is derived from concepts of termination, suggesting boundaries like the edge of a vessel or the bank of a river. The word can refer to physical lips, language, or the edges of various objects, including shores.
שָׂפָה 176 n.f. lip, speech, edge
lip
language
edge: shore of sea; bank of river
base
H8193 שָׂפָה lip, speech, edge . lip
. language
. edge: shore of sea; bank of river
8193 saphah saw-faw'
or (in dual and plural) sepheth {sef-eth'}; probably from
5595 or 8192 through the idea of termination (compare 5490);
the lip (as a natural boundary); by implication, language; by
analogy, a margin (of a vessel, water, cloth, etc.):--band,
bank, binding, border, brim, brink, edge, language, lip,
prating, ((sea-))shore, side, speech, talk, (vain) words.
see HEBREW for 05595
see HEBREW for 08192
see HEBREW for 05490
שָׂפָה (sa.phah) — lips.
: lips/mouth
1) lip, language, speech, shore, bank, brink, brim, side, edge, border, binding
1a) lip (as body part)
1b) language
1c) edge, shore, bank (of cup, sea, river, etc)
שָׂפָה (sa.phah) — lip: words.
: words/language
1) lip, language, speech, shore, bank, brink, brim, side, edge, border, binding
1a) lip (as body part)
1b) language
1c) edge, shore, bank (of cup, sea, river, etc)
שָׂפָה (sa.phah) — lip: edge.
: edge/border/opening
1) lip, language, speech, shore, bank, brink, brim, side, edge, border, binding
1a) lip (as body part)
1b) language
1c) edge, shore, bank (of cup, sea, river, etc)
שָׂפָה (sa.phah) — lip: shore.
: shore/bank(of_sea/river)
1) lip, language, speech, shore, bank, brink, brim, side, edge, border, binding
1a) lip (as body part)
1b) language
1c) edge, shore, bank (of cup, sea, river, etc)
HNcmpc/Sp1bs — Noun common masculine plural construct · suffixHNcmpc/Sp1bs
The Hebrew word שָׁבַח (shabach) is a primitive root that encompasses meanings related to both soothing and praising. It can refer to addressing someone in a loud tone, pacifying, or commending, particularly in a religious context. The entries indicate that it can also imply boasting in certain forms. Notably, the word appears in contexts involving both calming and glorifying.
[שָׁבַח] vb. Pi. soothe, still
Pi. he stilleth it
Hiph. stilling the roar of the seas.
base
[שָׁבַח] vb. Pi. laud, praise
Hithp. boast
base
H7623a שָׁבַח Pi. soothe, still H7623b שָׁבַח Pi. laud, praise
7623 shabach shaw-bakh'
a primitive root; properly, to address in a loud tone, i.e.
(specifically) loud; figuratively, to pacify (as if by
words):--commend, glory, keep in, praise, still, triumph.
שָׁבַח (sha.vach) — to soothe.
1) to soothe, still, stroke
1a) (Piel) to soothe, still
1b) (Hiphil) stilling (participle)
שָׁבַח (sha.vach) — to praise.
1) to laud, praise, commend
1a) (Piel)
1a1) to laud, praise (God)
1a2) to commend, congratulate (the dead)
1b) (Hithpael) to boast
Aramaic equivalent: she.vach (שְׁבַח "to praise" H7624)
HVpi3mp/Sp2ms — Verb piel imperfect third person masculine plural · suffixHVpi3mp/Sp2ms