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Psalms 64:4 — Word Study

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WLCלִיר֣וֹת בַּמִּסְתָּרִ֣ים תָּ֑ם פִּתְאֹ֥ם יֹ֝רֻ֗הוּ וְלֹ֣א יִירָֽאוּ׃

BSAwhichʼăsher to sharpenshânan swordchereb tonguelâshôwn to treaddârak arrowchêts Chroniclesdâbâr bittermar

Word
Listen & take awayPsalms 64
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 4 is in this chapter.
Hebrew ↓ Download MP3 The Masoretic text of this chapter, read aloud. Read by Abraham Shmuelof, courtesy of Audio Scriptures International. Chapter divisions by the Academy of Ancient Languages..
Say the word Each Hebrew word carries its transliteration (yi.Ra.'u) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Psalms 64:4quick helps
In a sentenceThe psalmist describes the wicked ambushing the innocent, attacking suddenly without fear.
Who is speakingThe psalmist, reflecting on the actions of the wicked.
Where we areIn a lament about the schemes of the wicked against the innocent.
The hard wordיֹ֝רֻ֗הוּ
Take awayThe wicked attack the innocent in secret, showing no fear.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbמַר 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 64:4

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

Context — The Schemes of the Wickedgenerated

3who sharpen their tongues like swords and aim their bitter words like arrows,
4ambushing the innocent in seclusion, shooting suddenly, without fear.
5They hold fast to their evil purpose; they speak of hiding their snares. “Who will see them?” they say.
6They devise injustice and say, “We have perfected a secret plan.” For the inner man and the heart are mysterious.

Psalm 64:4 describes how the wicked plot against the innocent, ambushing them in secret. The psalmist highlights the fearlessness of the attackers as they strike unexpectedly. This reflects a broader theme in the psalm, which addresses the injustices faced by the righteous and the hidden dangers posed by the wicked, as seen in the surrounding verses.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Psalm 10:8–9He lies in wait near the villages; in ambush he slays the innocent; his eyes watch in stealth for the helpless.
2Nehemiah 4:11And our enemies said, “Before they know or see a thing, we will come into their midst, kill them, and put an end to the work.”
3Habakkuk 3:14With his own spear You pierced his head, when his warriors stormed out to scatter us, gloating as though ready to secretly devour the weak.
4Psalm 59:3–4See how they lie in wait for me. Fierce men conspire against me for no transgression or sin of my own, O LORD.
5John 19:6As soon as the chief priests and officers saw Him, they shouted, “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!” “You take Him and crucify Him,” Pilate replied, “for I find no basis for a charge against Him.”

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 10 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word יֹ֝רֻ֗הוּ, yo.Ru.hugenerated

The verb יָרָא (*yarah*) means to shoot and is used here in the context of attacking. It indicates a sudden action, like releasing an arrow. The parsing as a hiphil imperfect suggests an ongoing action by the attackers, who are actively shooting at their target.

This word encompasses both literal and figurative meanings, relating to the act of shooting arrows or directing someone's attention. In this verse, it conveys the idea of the wicked launching a surprise attack against the innocent.


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 main verb יֹ֝רֻ֗הוּ governs the action of the verse, with several phrases providing additional detail: a prepositional phrase indicating the location of the ambush, a noun phrase describing the target, and an adverbial phrase indicating the manner of the attack.

The structure emphasizes the suddenness of the attack, with the adverb פִּתְאֹ֥ם placed prominently to highlight the unexpected nature of the shooting.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

In the Septuagint, the Hebrew verb יָרָא is rendered as τόχον, which refers to the act of shooting. This choice aligns closely with the Hebrew meaning, maintaining the focus on the action of the wicked.

The translation reflects a direct correspondence to the Hebrew, indicating a consistent understanding of the violent intent behind the act.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Psalm 64:4 describes how wicked people ambush the innocent in secret, shooting at them suddenly and without fear. This verse highlights the danger that the innocent face from those who plot against them.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean to ambush the innocent?

To ambush the innocent means to attack them unexpectedly, often in a hidden or secretive manner, as described in this psalm.

Why do the wicked shoot suddenly?

The wicked shoot suddenly to catch their victims off guard, showing no fear of consequences for their actions.

What does the word 'innocent' imply in this context?

In this context, 'innocent' refers to those who are morally pure and upright, contrasting with the wicked who plot against them.

How does this verse relate to other scriptures about wickedness?

This verse relates to other scriptures that discuss the schemes of the wicked and the protection of the innocent, as seen in passages like Psalm 10:8-9 and Nehemiah 4:11.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what ways do I see the innocent being targeted in our world today?
  2. How can I be aware of hidden dangers that may threaten those who are innocent?
  3. What steps can I take to protect and support the innocent in my community?
  4. How does understanding this verse help me respond to injustice?

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

Augustine of Hippo comments on this verse, reflecting on the wickedness of those who plot against the innocent.

Augustine of HippoExposition on Psalms 64 354–430
"They have bended the bow, a bitter thing, in order that they may shoot in secret One unspotted" [Psalms 64:4]. The bow he calls lyings in wait.
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 64 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Psalms 64:4 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

That they may shoot in secret at the perfect,.... Meaning himself, who though not without sin, and far from perfection in himself, in the sight of God and with respect to his righteous law, which was

Read John Gill on Psalms 64 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

That they may shoot in secret at the perfect: suddenly do they shoot at him, and fear not. That they may shoot in secret at the perfect - like night murderers waylaying the unwary traveler (Psalms 10:8-9).

Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 64 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

In secret; lying in ambush, or hiding themselves in secret places, as fowlers commonly do. The perfect; or, upright man; i.e. at me, who in spite of all their calumnies dare avow that my heart is perfect with God, and that I am blameless as to them, having given them no just provocation. Suddenly; at the very first opportunity. Fear not; neither men, because they conceal it from them, as appears from the foregoing and following words; nor God, whose judgments they despise.

Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 64 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Psalms 64:4 That they may shoot in secret at the perfect: suddenly do they shoot at him, and fear not.Ver. 4. That they may shoot in secret at the perfect] Innocence and integrity is no target against calumny; but every Zopyrus shall be sure of his Zoilus, who, right or wrong, will shoot him down if he can, Aliquid saltem adhaerebit (Machiavel). Suddenly do they shoot at him] As the hunter when he lieth hidden in a bush; or as when hedges are lined, as they call it, with musketeers, which gall and kill. And fear not] They are not at all touched either with reverence toward God or respect to man, but are utterly debauched, they ride on without reins, &c. There is an elegance in the original…

Read John Trapp on Psalms 64 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(4) And fear not.—These are utterly unscrupulous, fearing neither God nor man.

Read Charles John Ellicott on Psalms 64 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 4. That they may shoot in secret] They lurk, that they may take their aim the more surely, and not miss their mark. Suddenly] When there is no fear apprehended, because none is seen.

Read AdamClarke on Psalms 64 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

4. That they may shoot] Cp. Psalms 11:2. in secret] R.V., in secret places, as Psalms 10:8; Psalms 17:12. the perfect] The upright, blameless man, an epithet often applied to Job (Job 1:1, &c.). Cp. Psalms 37:37; Proverbs 29:10, and see note on the cognate word in Psalms 15:2. fear not] They neither fear God nor regard man. Cp. Psalms 55:19.

Read Cambridge on Psalms 64 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

That they may shoot in secret - From an unobserved quarter; from a place where they are so concealed that it cannot be known where the arrows come from.

Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 64 →

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

ambushing the innocent in seclusion, shooting suddenly, without fear.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

to shoot innocent men from ambushes. They shoot at him suddenly and fearlessly.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

ambushing the innocent in seclusion, shooting suddenly, without fear.

NETBNew English Translation2006

in order to shoot down the innocent in secluded places. They shoot at him suddenly and are unafraid of retaliation.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

That they may shoot in secret at the perfect: suddenly do they shoot at him, and fear not.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

That they may shoot in secret places at the perfect: Suddenly do they shoot at him, and fear not.

RVARevised Version, American1894

That they may shoot in secret places at the perfect: suddenly do they shoot at him, and fear not.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

That they may shoot in secret at the perfect: suddenly do they shoot at him, and fear not.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

To shoote at the vpright in secrete: they shoote at him suddenly, and feare not.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

That they may shoot in secret at the perfect: suddenly do they shoot at him, and fear not.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

To shoot in secret places the perfect, Suddenly they shoot him, and fear not.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

To shoot the perfect in secret places, || Suddenly they shoot him, and do not fear.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

(64:5) To shoot in secret at the innocent; suddenly do they shoot at him, and fear not.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

so that they may shoot from secret places at someone who is innocent; suddenly they shoot at him and fear nothing.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

The words of the wicked have prevailed over us: and thou wilt pardon our transgressions.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

They shoot from their hiding places at innocent people—doing this without warning, not afraid of being caught.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

So that in secret they may let loose their arrows at the upright, suddenly and unseen.

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.

clauseprepositional phrase · prepositionalלִtoclauseverbיר֣וֹתshootprepositional phrase · prepositionalבַּin.(the)noun phrasesecretמִּסְתָּרִ֣יםplacesobjectתָּ֑ם[the].blamelessclauseadverbialפִּתְאֹ֥םsuddenlyverbיֹ֝רֻ֗theyobjectהוּshoot.at.himוְandclauseadverbialלֹ֣אnotverbיִירָֽאוּthey.are.afraid

Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.


The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran

The Masoretic Text of Psalms 64:4 reads, 'לִיר֣וֹת בַּמִּסְתָּרִ֣ים תָּ֑ם פִּתְאֹ֥ם יֹ֝רֻ֗הוּ וְלֹ֣א יִירָֽאוּ׃', which translates to 'ambushing the innocent in seclusion, shooting suddenly, without fear.' The Septuagint, while not providing a direct translation here, aligns closely with the Masoretic Text, matching 6 of the 7 words in a word-by-word correspondence. However, the exact wording and structure differ, as the Septuagint has its own sentence formation. The Samaritan Pentateuch and the Dead Sea Scrolls do not provide a direct witness for this specific verse, so we cannot compare their readings. Overall, the Septuagint shows agreement in content but diverges in phrasing from the Masoretic Text.

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

לִיר֣וֹת בַּמִּסְתָּרִ֣ים תָּ֑ם פִּתְאֹ֥ם יֹ֝רֻ֗הוּ וְלֹ֣א יִירָֽאוּ׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
לִיר֣וֹתἠκόνησανבַּמִּסְתָּרִ֣יםῥομφαίανתָּ֑םγλώσσαςיֹ֝רֻ֗הוּτόχονוְלֹ֣אπρᾶγμαיִירָֽאוּ׃πικρὸν

6 of the 7 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 64:4יָרָאto shootto shootיָרָאמִסְתָּרin secret pin secret placeמִסְתָּרתָּם[the] blame[the] blamelessתָּםפִּתְאֹםsuddenlysuddenlyפִּתְאֹםיָרָאthey shoot they shoot at hיָרָאלֹאand notand notלֹאיָרֵאthey are afthey are afraidיָרֵאפֶּתַעsuddennesssuddennessפֶּתַעסָתַרto hideto hideסָתַרתָּמַםto finishto finishתָּמַםחֵץarrowarrowחֵץאָרַבto ambushto ambushאָרַבאֲרִיlionlionאֲרִימַ֫טָּהbeneathbeneathמַ֫טָּהיוֹנָהdovedoveיוֹנָהאֵידcalamitycalamityאֵידיָכֹלbe ablebe ableיָכֹלעוֹדstillstillעוֹדחָתַתto to be dto to be dismayחָתַתאַלnotnotאַל
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 64:4

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

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

to shoot in secret places [the] blameless suddenly they shoot at him and not they are afraid
לִיר֣וֹתli.Rot to shoot H3384 Preposition · verb qal infinitive construct common
80× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To show or teach something, like pointing it out or shooting an arrow. It is used in Psalms and Proverbs to describe instructing or directing others.
Tyndale gloss
to shoot
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word יָרָא (*yarah*) encompasses meanings related to shooting, pouring, and throwing. It can refer to actions like shooting arrows or casting water, as well as figurative uses such as teaching or directing. The entries indicate that it has both a literal and a figurative range, with roots in the idea of flowing or pointing out.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[יָרָא] vb. shoot, pour

Qal shoot with arrows

Hiph. and they shot at; Pt. pl. the shooters, archers

Hoph. he that watereth shall himself also be watered

base

יָרָה vb. throw, shoot

Qal

throw, cast

cast (= lay, set), corner-stone; pillar

shoot arrows

throw water, rain

Niph. shot through (with arrows)

Hiph.

throw, cast

shoot (arrows)

throw water, rain

point out, shew

direct, teach, instruct

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3384a יָרָא shoot, pour H3384b יָרָה throw, shoot .. throw, cast

. cast (= lay, set), corner-stone; pillar

. shoot arrows

. throw water, rain

. shot through (with arrows)

. . throw, cast

. shoot (arrows)

. throw water, rain

. point out, shew

. direct, teach, instruct

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3384 yarah yaw-raw'

or (2 Chr. 26:15) yara; {yaw-raw'}; a primitive root;

properly, to flow as water (i.e. to rain); transitively, to

lay or throw (especially an arrow, i.e. to shoot);

figuratively, to point out (as if by aiming the finger), to

teach:--(+) archer, cast, direct, inform, instruct, lay, shew,

shoot, teach(-er,-ing), through.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יָרָא (ya.ra) — to shoot.

1) to shoot, pour

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to shoot arrows

1b) (Hiphil)

1b1) to shoot at

1b2) part. shooter, archer

1c) to throw water, rain

יָרָה (ya.rah) — to show.

1) to point out, show

1b) to direct, teach, instruct

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HR/Vqcc — Preposition · verb qal infinitive construct common
HR/Vqcc
to shoot in secret places [the] blameless suddenly they shoot at him and not they are afraid
בַּמִּסְתָּרִ֣יםba.mis.ta.Rim in secret places H4565 Preposition · noun common masculine plural absolute
10× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means a secret or hiding place, often used for protection or to conceal something, as seen in the Bible's description of hiding from danger. It can also refer to a place where wrongdoings are hidden. The KJV translates it as secret or secretly.
Tyndale gloss
hiding
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מִסְתָּר (mictar) refers to a secret or hiding place, often associated with concealment for protection or, in some contexts, for illicit activities. It is derived from the root meaning 'to conceal.' The entries consistently emphasize its use as a covert location.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מִסְתָּר n.[m.] secret place, hiding-place

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4565 מִסְתָּר secret place, hiding-place

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4565 mictar mis-tawr'

from 5641; properly, a concealer, i.e. a

covert:--secret(-ly, place).

see HEBREW for 05641

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מִסְתָּר (mis.tar) — hiding.

1) secret place, hiding place

1a) secret place

1b) hiding place

1b1) for protection

1b2) for perpetration of crime

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HRd/Ncmpa — Preposition · noun common masculine plural absolute
HRd/Ncmpa
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
to shoot in secret places [the] blameless suddenly they shoot at him and not they are afraid
תָּ֑םTam [the] blameless H8535
16× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means being complete or perfect, and is used to describe someone who is morally pure and gentle. In the Bible, it describes people like Job, who was called 'blameless and upright'. It is often translated as 'perfect' or 'upright'.
Tyndale gloss
complete
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

תָּם (tam) means complete or perfect, often with a moral connotation of innocence and integrity. It describes someone who is sound, wholesome, and lacking nothing in virtue or character. The word is built from the root associated with completeness and is used in contexts that emphasize moral purity.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

תָּם adj. complete

complete, perfect

sound, wholesome

complete, morally innocent, having integrity

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8535 תָּם complete . complete, perfect

. sound, wholesome

. complete, morally innocent, having integrity

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8535 tam tawm

from 8552; complete; usually (morally) pious; specifically,

gentle, dear:--coupled together, perfect, plain, undefiled,

upright.

see HEBREW for 08552

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

תָּם (tam) — complete.

1) perfect, complete

1a) complete, perfect

1a1) one who lacks nothing in physical strength, beauty, etc

1b) sound, wholesome

1b1) an ordinary, quiet sort of person

1c) complete, morally innocent, having integrity

1c1) one who is morally and ethically pure

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HAamsa
HAamsa
to shoot in secret places [the] blameless suddenly they shoot at him and not they are afraid
פִּתְאֹ֥םpit.'Om suddenly H6597 Adverb
25× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means happening suddenly or quickly, like an unexpected event. It is used in the Bible to describe surprising things that happen to people like Jacob and Joseph.
Tyndale gloss
suddenly
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

פִּתְאֹם (pit'om) means 'suddenly' and can also refer to 'suddenness.' It is primarily used as an adverb to describe an unexpected occurrence. The word is derived from another Hebrew term, but the entries do not provide specific verses where it is used.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

פִּתְאֹם, once פֵּתְאוֹם subst. suddenness, usu. as adv. acc. suddenly

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6597 פִּתְאֹם, once פֵּתְאוֹם suddenness, usu. as adv. acc. suddenly

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6597 pith'owm pith-ome'

or pith.om {pith-ome'}; from 6621; instantly:--straightway,

sudden(-ly).

see HEBREW for 06621

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

פִּתְאֹם (pit.om) — suddenly.

adv

1) suddenly, surprisingly

subst

2) suddenness

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HD — Adverb
HD
to shoot in secret places [the] blameless suddenly they shoot at him and not they are afraid
יֹ֝רֻ֗הוּyo.Ru.hu they shoot at him H3384 Verb hiphil imperfect third person masculine plural · suffix
80× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To show or teach something, like pointing it out or shooting an arrow. It is used in Psalms and Proverbs to describe instructing or directing others.
Tyndale gloss
to shoot
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word יָרָא (*yarah*) encompasses meanings related to shooting, pouring, and throwing. It can refer to actions like shooting arrows or casting water, as well as figurative uses such as teaching or directing. The entries indicate that it has both a literal and a figurative range, with roots in the idea of flowing or pointing out.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[יָרָא] vb. shoot, pour

Qal shoot with arrows

Hiph. and they shot at; Pt. pl. the shooters, archers

Hoph. he that watereth shall himself also be watered

base

יָרָה vb. throw, shoot

Qal

throw, cast

cast (= lay, set), corner-stone; pillar

shoot arrows

throw water, rain

Niph. shot through (with arrows)

Hiph.

throw, cast

shoot (arrows)

throw water, rain

point out, shew

direct, teach, instruct

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3384a יָרָא shoot, pour H3384b יָרָה throw, shoot .. throw, cast

. cast (= lay, set), corner-stone; pillar

. shoot arrows

. throw water, rain

. shot through (with arrows)

. . throw, cast

. shoot (arrows)

. throw water, rain

. point out, shew

. direct, teach, instruct

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3384 yarah yaw-raw'

or (2 Chr. 26:15) yara; {yaw-raw'}; a primitive root;

properly, to flow as water (i.e. to rain); transitively, to

lay or throw (especially an arrow, i.e. to shoot);

figuratively, to point out (as if by aiming the finger), to

teach:--(+) archer, cast, direct, inform, instruct, lay, shew,

shoot, teach(-er,-ing), through.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יָרָא (ya.ra) — to shoot.

1) to shoot, pour

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to shoot arrows

1b) (Hiphil)

1b1) to shoot at

1b2) part. shooter, archer

1c) to throw water, rain

יָרָה (ya.rah) — to show.

1) to point out, show

1b) to direct, teach, instruct

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HVhi3mp/Sp3ms — Verb hiphil imperfect third person masculine plural · suffix
HVhi3mp/Sp3ms
to shoot in secret places [the] blameless suddenly they shoot at him and not they are afraid
וְלֹ֣אve.Lo' and not H3808 Conjunction · particle
5,170× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for not or no is used to indicate absence or negation, as when God says no to the Israelites' requests, or when they disobey His commands.
Tyndale gloss
not
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

לֹא (lo') is a Hebrew word meaning 'not' or 'no.' It serves as a simple negation and can imply absence or prohibition. The word can also be used in various contexts, often combined with other particles for emphasis or clarification. Its Aramaic equivalent is לָא (la), which also means 'not.'

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

לֹא or לוֹא adv. not

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3808 לֹא or לוֹא not

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3808 lo' lo

or lowi {lo}; or loh (Deut. 3:11) {lo}; a primitive particle;

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often

used with other particles (as follows):--X before, + or else,

ere, + except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never,

no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), (X as though...,(can-), for) not (out

of), of nought, otherwise, out of, + surely, + as truly as, +

of a truth, + verily, for want, + whether, without.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

לֹא (lo) — not.

1) not, no

1a) not (with verb-absolute prohibition)

1b) not (with modifier-negation)

1c) nothing (subst)

1d) without (with particle)

1e) before (of time)

Aramaic equivalent: la (לָא "not" H3809)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HC/Tn — Conjunction · particle
HC/Tn
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
to shoot in secret places [the] blameless suddenly they shoot at him and not they are afraid
יִירָֽאוּ׃yi.Ra.'u they are afraid H3372 Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine plural
315× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to fear or revere, and is used to describe being afraid or standing in awe of something, like God's power. It appears in the Bible to convey a sense of respect or reverence. In the KJV, it's translated as 'affright' or 'reverence'.
Tyndale gloss
to fear
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יָרֵא (yare') is a Hebrew verb meaning to fear or be afraid, encompassing a range of meanings from reverence and honor to causing terror. It appears in various forms, including Qal (to fear), Niphal (to be fearful), and Piel (to terrify). The entries highlight its moral and emotional dimensions, emphasizing awe and respect, particularly in relation to the divine.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יָרֵא vb. fear

Qal

fear, be afraid

stand in awe of

fear, reverence, honour

Niph.

be fearful, dreadful

cause astonishment and awe

inspire reverence, godly fear, and awe

Piel. make afraid, terrify

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3372 יָרֵא fear .. fear, be afraid

. stand in awe of

. fear, reverence, honour

. . be fearful, dreadful

. cause astonishment and awe

. inspire reverence, godly fear, and awe

. make afraid, terrify

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3372 yare' yaw-ray'

a primitive root; to fear; morally, to revere; caus. to

frighten:--affright, be (make) afraid, dread(-ful), (put in)

fear(-ful, -fully, -ing), (be had in) reverence(-end), X see,

terrible (act, -ness, thing).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יָרֵא (ya.re) — to fear.

: frightening(DANGER)

1) to fear, revere, be afraid

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to fear, be afraid

1a2) to stand in awe of, be awed

1a3) to fear, reverence, honour, respect

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be fearful, be dreadful, be feared

1b2) to cause astonishment and awe, be held in awe

1b3) to inspire reverence or godly fear or awe

1c) (Piel) to make afraid, terrify

2) (TWOT) to shoot, pour

יָרֵא (ya.re) — to fear: revere.

: awesome(god)

1) to fear, revere, be afraid

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to fear, be afraid

1a2) to stand in awe of, be awed

1a3) to fear, reverence, honour, respect

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be fearful, be dreadful, be feared

1b2) to cause astonishment and awe, be held in awe

1b3) to inspire reverence or godly fear or awe

1c) (Piel) to make afraid, terrify

2) (TWOT) to shoot, pour

Also means: ya.re (יָרֵא ": frightening" H3372)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HVqi3mp — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine plural
HVqi3mp
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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