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Psalms 69:36 — Word Study

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WLCוְזֶ֣רַע עֲ֭בָדָיו יִנְחָל֑וּהָ וְאֹהֲבֵ֥י שְׁ֝מ֗וֹ יִשְׁכְּנוּ־ בָֽהּ׃

BSAforkîy Godʼĕlôhîym to saveyâshaʻ ZionTsîyôwn to buildbânâh excitementʻîyr JudahYᵉhûwdâh to dwellyâshab thereshâm to possessyârash

Word
Listen & take awayPsalms 69
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 36 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 (Vah) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Psalms 69:36quick helps
In a sentenceThe verse promises that the descendants of God's servants will inherit the land, and those who love His name will dwell there.
Who is speakingThe psalmist, reflecting on God's faithfulness to His people.
Where we areThis verse concludes a section that emphasizes God's care for His people and their future.
The hard wordיִנְחָל֑וּהָ, yin.cha.Lu.ha
Take awayThe promise of inheritance and dwelling reflects God's enduring relationship with His people.
7 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbשָׁם 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 69:36

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

Context — God's Promise to His Peoplegenerated

33For the LORD listens to the needy and does not despise His captive people.
34Let heaven and earth praise Him, the seas and everything that moves in them.
35For God will save Zion and rebuild the cities of Judah, that they may dwell there and possess it.
36The descendants of His servants will inherit it, and those who love His name will settle in it.

Psalm 69:36 speaks of God's commitment to His people, assuring them of a future where they will inherit the land and dwell in it. This promise is part of a larger theme in the Psalms, where God's faithfulness and care for His people are highlighted, particularly in their times of need. The verses leading up to this one reflect on God's justice and the hope of restoration for Zion, emphasizing His role as a protector and provider.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Psalm 90:16–17May Your work be shown to Your servants, and Your splendor to their children.
2Psalm 102:28The children of Your servants will dwell securely, and their descendants will be established before You.”
3Isaiah 44:3–4For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and currents on the dry ground. I will pour out My Spirit on your descendants, and My blessing on your offspring.
4Isaiah 61:9Their descendants will be known among the nations, and their offspring among the peoples. All who see them will acknowledge that they are a people the LORD has blessed.
5Acts 2:39This promise belongs to you and your children and to all who are far off—to all whom the Lord our God will call to Himself.”

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 11 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word יִנְחָל֑וּהָ, yin.cha.Lu.hagenerated

The verb נָחַל (nachal) means to inherit or take possession, indicating a transfer of ownership or rights. The parsing as a third person masculine plural imperfect verb shows that this action will take place in the future, emphasizing the certainty of this inheritance for the descendants.

This word encompasses the idea of receiving a legacy, which is a significant theme in the Hebrew Scriptures, particularly regarding the Promised Land. The use of this verb here assures the faithful that they will receive what has been promised to them.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The finite verb יִנְחָל֑וּ, they will inherit, governs the first clause, indicating the main action. The second clause begins with the verb יִשְׁכְּנוּ, they will dwell, which connects the two ideas of inheritance and dwelling.

The structure emphasizes the relationship between the descendants and their future, with two parallel actions: inheriting and dwelling, both linked to God's promises.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

In the Septuagint, the Hebrew verb נָחַל is rendered as κληρονομήσουσιν, which conveys the same sense of inheritance but with a focus on the legal aspect of possession. This choice reflects the translators' understanding of the significance of land and heritage in the Hebrew context.

The use of this Greek term indicates a continuity of meaning, emphasizing the importance of the promise of land and belonging in both texts.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Psalm 69:36 assures that the descendants of God's servants will inherit the land, and those who love His name will dwell there. This promise highlights God's faithfulness and care for His people, emphasizing their future security and belonging.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean for the descendants of His servants to inherit the land?

It signifies that those who follow God and are faithful to Him will receive the blessings and promises He has made, particularly regarding their place in the land.

Who are considered 'those who love His name'?

This phrase refers to individuals who have a deep affection and reverence for God's character and reputation, demonstrating their loyalty and devotion.

How does this verse relate to God's promises in the Old Testament?

This verse echoes the numerous promises made to Israel about their inheritance of the land and God's enduring relationship with His people throughout the Old Testament.

What is the significance of dwelling in the land?

Dwelling in the land symbolizes security, peace, and God's presence among His people, reflecting the fulfillment of His promises.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what ways have I experienced God's faithfulness in my own life?
  2. How can I show my love for God's name in my daily actions?
  3. What does it mean to me to be considered a descendant of God's servants?
  4. How can I encourage others to trust in God's promises for their lives?

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

Augustine of Hippo comments on this verse, illustrating its significance in the context of God's promise to save Zion and the blessings for those who follow Him.

Augustine of HippoExposition on Psalms 69 354–430
"For God shall save Sion." What Sion? Hear in the following words: "and the seed of His servants shall possess Her, and they that love His name shall dwell therein" [Psalms…
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 69 →

Commentators on this verse — 7 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Psalms 69:36 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

The seed also of his servants shall inherit it,.... Not their natural, but spiritual seed, or a succession of converts in the churches; see Psalms 45:16; who are born not of blood, nor of the will of

Read John Gill on Psalms 69 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

Let the heaven and earth praise him, the seas, and everything that moveth therein.

Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 69 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Their posterity shall flourish after them, and partake of the same happiness with them.

Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 69 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Psalms 69:36 The seed also of his servants shall inherit it: and they that love his name shall dwell therein.Ver. 36. The seed also of his servants shall inherit] The faithful and their posterity after them shall be incorporated into the Church, and partake of all good things to all perpetuity.

Read John Trapp on Psalms 69 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

36. Cp. Isaiah 65:9; Isaiah 65:23. they that love his name] Cp. Psalms 5:11; Psalms 119:132. The citizens of Zion will all be true Israelites, faithfully observing the first and great commandment of the law (Deuteronomy 6:4-5; Deuteronomy 6:13).

Read Cambridge on Psalms 69 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The seed also of his servants - The children or the descendants of his people. Shall inherit it - Shall continue to dwell in it. And they that love his name - They that love him; they that are his true friends.

Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 69 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

36. Seed also of his servants shall inherit it—This is the result to which faith has struggled up, and where it now calmly rests.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Psalms 69 →

The verse in English, compared — 16 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

The descendants of His servants will inherit it, and those who love His name will settle in it.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

The children also of his servants shall inherit it. Those who love his name shall dwell therein.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

The descendants of His servants will inherit it, and those who love His name will settle in it.

NETBNew English Translation2006

The descendants of his servants will inherit it, and those who are loyal to him will live in it.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

The seed also of his servants shall inherit it: and they that love his name shall dwell therein.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

The seed also of his servants shall inherit it; And they that love his name shall dwell therein.

RVARevised Version, American1894

The seed also of his servants shall inherit it; and they that love his name shall dwell therein.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

The seed also of his servants shall inherit it: and they that love his name shall dwell therein.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

The seede also of his seruants shall inherit it: and they that loue his name, shall dwel therein.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

And the seed of his servants shall inherit it, and they that love his name shall dwell therein.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

And the seed of His servants inherit it, And those loving His name dwell in it!

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

And the seed of His servants inherit it, || And those loving His Name dwell in it!

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

(69:37) And the seed of his servants shall inherit it; and they that love his name shall dwell therein.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

His servants' descendants will inherit it; and those who love his name will live there.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

The descendants of those who follow him will inherit the land, and those who love him will live there.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

The seed of his servants will have their part in it, and there the lovers of his name will have rest.

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.

וְandclausenoun phrase · subjectזֶ֣רַעthe.offspringnoun phraseעֲ֭בָדָיhis.servantsוhisverbיִנְחָל֑וּtheyobjectהָwill.inherit.itוְandclausenoun phrase · subjectאֹהֲבֵ֥י[those.who].lovenoun phraseשְׁ֝מ֗nameוֹ(of).hisverbיִשְׁכְּנוּthey.will.dwellprepositional phrase · prepositionalבָֽinהּit

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 closely in this verse, maintaining the same essential meaning and structure. Both texts affirm the promise of inheritance for the descendants of God's servants and the assurance that those who love His name will dwell in the land.

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

וְזֶ֣רַע עֲ֭בָדָיו יִנְחָל֑וּהָ וְאֹהֲבֵ֥י שְׁ֝מ֗וֹ יִשְׁכְּנוּ־ בָֽהּ׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
וְזֶ֣רַעθεὸςעֲ֭בָדָיוσιωνיִנְחָל֑וּהָοἰκοδομηθήσονταιוְאֹהֲבֵ֥יιουδαίαςשְׁ֝מ֗וֹκατοικήσουσινיִשְׁכְּנוּ־ἐκεῖבָֽהּ׃κληρονομήσουσιν

7 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 69:36זֶ֫רַעand [the] oand [the] offspזֶ֫רַעעֶ֫בֶדservants hiservants hisעֶ֫בֶדנָחַלthey will ithey will inherנָחַלאָהֵבand [those and [those who]אָהֵבשֵׁםname hisname hisשֵׁםשָׁכַןthey will dthey will dwellשָׁכַןהָin itin itהָזָרַעto sowto sowזָרַעעָבַדto serveto serveעָבַדשׂוּםto set: mato set: makeשׂוּםסִכְלוּתfollyfollyסִכְלוּתשָׁכַםto riseto riseשָׁכַםאָמָהmaidservanmaidservantאָמָהשִׁפְחָהmaidservanmaidservantשִׁפְחָהאֶלְעָזָרEleazarEleazarאֶלְעָזָרנַחֲלָהinheritancinheritanceנַחֲלָהשָׂנֵאto hateto hateשָׂנֵאקָרָאto call: cto call: call tקָרָאיָדָהto give thto give thanksיָדָהבֶּ֫טַחsecuritysecurityבֶּ֫טַחבָּחַרto chooseto chooseבָּחַר
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 69:36

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.

and [the] offspring of servants his they will inherit it and [those who] love name his they will dwell in it
וְזֶ֣רַעve.Ze.ra' and [the] offspring of H2233 Conjunction · noun common masculine singular construct
229× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means seed or offspring, like in Genesis where God promises Abraham many descendants. It can also mean a plant or sowing time, as in Isaiah 55:10. This concept is central to God's plan for humanity.
Tyndale gloss
seed
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

זֶ֫רַע (zera`) means seed, sowing, or offspring. It can refer to literal seed, such as in agriculture, or figuratively to descendants and moral qualities of individuals or communities. The term encompasses concepts like sowing time and can denote a practitioner of righteousness. There is a consistent emphasis on both physical and moral implications of the word.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

זֶ֫רַע n.m. sowing, seed, offspring

lit.:

a sowing

sowing as regularly recurring at its season

seed

seed = semen virile

seed = offspring

seed as marked by moral quality = persons (or community) of such a quality

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2233 זֶ֫רַע sowing, seed, offspring . lit.: . a sowing

. sowing as regularly recurring at its season

. seed

. seed = semen virile

. seed = offspring

. seed as marked by moral quality = persons (or community) of such a quality

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2233 zera` zeh'-rah

from 2232; seed; figuratively, fruit, plant, sowing-time,

posterity:--X carnally, child, fruitful, seed(-time), sowing-

time.

see HEBREW for 02232

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

זֶ֫רַע (ze.ra) — seed.

: seed/sowing

1) seed, sowing, offspring

1a) a sowing

1b) seed

1c) semen virile

1d) offspring, descendants, posterity, children

1e) of moral quality

1e1) a practitioner of righteousness (fig.)

1f) sowing time (by meton)

זֶ֫רַע (ze.ra) — seed: children.

: children/descendants

1) seed, sowing, offspring

1a) a sowing

1b) seed

1c) semen virile

1d) offspring, descendants, posterity, children

1e) of moral quality

1e1) a practitioner of righteousness (fig.)

1f) sowing time (by meton)

זֶ֫רַע (ze.ra) — seed: semen.

: semen

1) seed, sowing, offspring

1a) a sowing

1b) seed

1c) semen virile

1d) offspring, descendants, posterity, children

1e) of moral quality

1e1) a practitioner of righteousness (fig.)

1f) sowing time (by meton)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HC/Ncmsc — Conjunction · noun common masculine singular construct
HC/Ncmsc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ov:

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

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

OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]

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

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

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

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

Lamentations 3:1.

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

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

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

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

and [the] offspring of servants his they will inherit it and [those who] love name his they will dwell in it
עֲ֭בָדָיו'A.va.dav servants his H5650 Noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
801× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to a servant or slave, often in the context of serving God or a human master. It can also describe a prophet or Levite. The KJV translates it as bondage, bondman, or servant.
Tyndale gloss
servant/slave
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word עֶ֫בֶד (*ebed*) means 'slave' or 'servant' and encompasses various roles, including household servants, subjects, and worshippers of God. It can also refer to Israel as a collective servant of God and is used in polite address among equals. The word is derived from a root meaning 'to work' or 'to serve'.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עֶ֫בֶד 799 n.m. slave, servant

slave, servant of household

Subjects, of chief

Servants, worshippers of God

Servant of י׳, in a special sense

Israel as a people is servant of י׳

In polite address of equals or superiors the Hebrews used עַבְדְּךָ thy servant = 1 pers. sing., I

Phrases

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5650 עֶ֫בֶד slave, servant . slave, servant of household

. Subjects, of chief

. Servants, worshippers of God

. Servant of י׳, in a special sense

. Israel as a people is servant of י׳

. In polite address of equals or superiors the Hebrews used עַבְדְּךָ thy servant = 1 pers. sing., I

. Phrases

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5650 `ebed eh'-bed

from 5647; a servant:--X bondage, bondman, (bond-)servant,

(man-)servant.

see HEBREW for 05647

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עֶ֫בֶד (e.ved) — servant/slave.

1) slave, servant

1a) slave, servant, man-servant

1b) subjects

1c) servants, worshippers (of God)

1d) servant (in special sense as prophets, Levites etc)

1e) servant (of Israel)

1f) servant (as form of address between equals)

Aramaic equivalent: a.vad (עֲבַד "servant/slave" H5649)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HNcmpc/Sp3ms — Noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
HNcmpc/Sp3ms
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

hiz: Used often in the King James Version with reference to a neuter or inanimate thing, or to a lower animal (Ge 1:11, "after his kind"; Le 1:16, "pluck away his crop"; Ac 12:10, "of his own accord"; 1Co 15:38, "his own body"), etc. the Revised Version (British and American) substitutes "its."

and [the] offspring of servants his they will inherit it and [those who] love name his they will dwell in it
יִנְחָל֑וּהָyin.cha.Lu.ha they will inherit it H5157 Verb qal imperfect third person masculine plural · suffix
59× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew verb means to inherit or to take possession of something, as seen in the story of the Israelites inheriting the Promised Land in Joshua 1:6. It can also mean to distribute or divide something among people, like the division of the land in Joshua 13-19. The word is used in various forms throughout the Bible.
Tyndale gloss
to inherit
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

נָחַל (nachal) is a Hebrew verb meaning to inherit or take possession. It encompasses various aspects of acquiring property, including dividing land and bequeathing inheritance. The entries detail its uses in different grammatical forms, such as Qal for taking possession and Hiphil for giving as an inheritance. There is no significant disagreement among the lexicons regarding its meanings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

נָחַל vb. denom. get or take as a possession

Qal

take possession, inherit

fig. have or get as a possession, property

divide the land for a possession

Pi. divide for a possession

Hithp. possess oneself of land

Hiph.

give as a possession

cause to inherit, give as an inheritance

Hoph. made to possess

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5157 נָחַל vb. denom. get or take as a possession

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5157 nachal naw-khal'

a primitive root; to inherit (as a (figurative) mode of

descent), or (generally) to occupy; causatively, to bequeath,

or (generally) distribute, instate:--divide, have

((inheritance)), take as a heritage, (cause to, give to, make

to) inherit, (distribute for, divide (for, for an, by), give

for, have, leave for, take (for)) inheritance, (have in, cause

to, be made to) possess(-ion).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נָחַל (na.chal) — to inherit.

1) to get as a possession, acquire, inherit, possess

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to take possession, inherit

1a2) to have or get as a possession or property (fig.)

1a3) to divide the land for a possession

1a4) to acquire (testimonies) (fig.)

1b) (Piel) to divide for a possession

1c) (Hithpael) to possess oneself of

1d) (Hiphil)

1d1) to give as a possession

1d2) to cause to inherit, give as an inheritance

1e) (Hophal) to be allotted, be made to possess

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HVqi3mp/Sp3fs — Verb qal imperfect third person masculine plural · suffix
HVqi3mp/Sp3fs
and [the] offspring of servants his they will inherit it and [those who] love name his they will dwell in it
וְאֹהֲבֵ֥יve.'o.ha.Vei and [those who] love H157 Conjunction · verb qal participle (active) masculine plural common
211× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To love means to have affection for someone or something, including family, romance, or God. It can also describe being a friend or having appetite for things like food or wisdom.
Tyndale gloss
to love: lover
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word אָהֵב (*'ahab*) means 'to love' and encompasses various forms of affection, including human love for others, love for God, and even appetites for things like food and wisdom. It can also refer to friendship and divine love towards humanity, particularly Israel. The entries indicate that it can function in different grammatical forms, such as participles for 'lovely' or 'loveable'.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אָהֵב 216 vb. love

Qal

human love to human object

less oft. of appetite

love to God

esp. Pt.

of divine love

Niph. Pt. pl. lovely, loveable

Pi.

friends

lovers

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H157 אָהֵב love

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

157 'ahab aw-hab'

or raheb {aw-habe'}; a primitive root; to have affection for

(sexually or otherwise):--(be-)love(-d, -ly, -r), like,

friend.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אָהֵב (a.hav) — to love: lover.

: lover

1) to love

1a) (Qal)

1a1) human love for another, includes family, and sexual

1a2) human appetite for objects such as food, drink, sleep, wisdom

1a3) human love for or to God

1a4) act of being a friend

1a4a) lover (participle)

1a4b) friend (participle)

1a5) God's love toward man

1a5a) to individual men

1a5b) to people Israel

1a5c) to righteousness

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) lovely (participle)

1b2) loveable (participle)

1c) (Piel)

1c1) friends

1c2) lovers (fig. of adulterers)

2) to like

Also means: a.hav (אָהֵב ": friend" H0157H)

אָהֵב (a.hav) — to love: friend.

: friend

1) to love

1a) (Qal)

1a1) human love for another, includes family, and sexual

1a2) human appetite for objects such as food, drink, sleep, wisdom

1a3) human love for or to God

1a4) act of being a friend

1a4a) lover (participle)

1a4b) friend (participle)

1a5) God's love toward man

1a5a) to individual men

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HC/Vqrmpc — Conjunction · verb qal participle (active) masculine plural common
HC/Vqrmpc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

luv ('ahebh, 'ahabhah, noun; phileo, agapao, verb; agape, noun): Love to both God and man is fundamental to true religion, whether as expressed in the Old Testament or the New Testament. Jesus Himself declared that all the law and the prophets hang upon love (Mt 22:40; Mr 12:28-34). Paul, in his matchless ode on love (1Co 13), makes it the greatest of the graces of the Christian life--greater than speaking with tongues, or the gift of prophecy, or the possession of a faith of superior excellence; for without love all these gifts and graces, desirable and useful as they are in themselves, are as nothing, certainly of no permanent value in the sight of God. Not that either Jesus or Paul underestimates the faith from which all the graces proceed, for this grace is recognized as…

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Love

This word seems to require explanation only in the case of its use by our Lord in his interview with “Simon, the son of Jonas,” after his resurrection (John 21:16, 17). When our Lord says, “Lovest thou me?” he uses the Greek word agapas; and when Simon answers, he uses the Greek word philo, i.e., “I love.” This is the usage in the first and second questions put by our Lord; but in the third our Lord uses Simon’s word. The distinction between these two Greek words is thus fitly described by Trench:, ”Agapan has more of judgment and deliberate choice; philein has more of attachment and peculiar personal affection. Thus the ‘Lovest thou’ (Gr. agapas) on the lips of the Lord seems to Peter at this moment too cold a word, as though his Lord were keeping him at a distance, or at least not inviting him to draw near, as in the…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

GOD IS LOVE; AND HE THAT DWELLETH IN LOVE DWELLETH IN GOD, AND GOD IN HIM, 1Jo 4:16. Love is a chief attribute of Jehovah, the length and breadth and height and depth of which are beyond comprehension, for they are infinite, Eph 3:18,19. Between the three Persons of the Godhead, love is unutterable full, perfect, and blissful; towards holy angels and Christians, God’s love is an infinite fatherly complacency and affection; towards sinners, it is immeasurable compassion. It is shown in all his works and ways, and dictated his holy law, but is most signally displayed in the gospel, Joh 3:16. "Herein is love."

Holy love in man would make the whole heart and soul supremely delight in and obey God, and cordially and practically love all beings according to their character-the good…

Nave's Topical Bible

→ OF CHILDREN FOR PARENTS

See CHILDREN

→ OF GOD, LOVE OF

→ OF MAN FOR GOD Ex 20:6; De 5:10; 6:5; 7:9; 10:12; 11:1,13,22; 13:3; 30:6,16,20; Jos 22:5; 23:11; Ps 18:1; 31:23; 37:4; 45:10,11; 63:5,6; 69:35,36; 73:25,26; 91:14; 97:10; 116:1; 145:20; Pr 8:17; 23:26; Isa 56:6,7; Jer 2:2,3; Mt 22:37,38; Mr 12:29,30,32,33; Lu 11:42;

and [the] offspring of servants his they will inherit it and [those who] love name his they will dwell in it
שְׁ֝מ֗וֹShe.mo name his H8034 Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
864× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, a name represents a person's identity, honor, and character, like God's name symbolizing His power and authority. It appears in Genesis and other books, often referring to God's name or a person's reputation. This concept is central to understanding biblical identity.
Tyndale gloss
name
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שֵׁם (shem) means 'name' and encompasses various meanings such as reputation, fame, and glory. It can refer to the designation of God and is often associated with memorials or monuments. The word is built from a primitive root and highlights individuality and honor. There is a mention of its use in relation to false gods, which is forbidden.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שֵׁם 864 n.m. name (√ unknown)

of river, beasts, city, i.e. exact designation of it

usu. of pers.

= reputation

esp. as giving a man a kind of posthumous life, esp. in his sons

name, as designation of God

of false gods, use forbidden

= memorial, monument

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8034 שֵׁם name (√ unknown)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8034 shem shame

a primitive word (perhaps rather from 7760 through the idea

of definite and conspicuous position; compare 8064); an

appellation, as a mark or memorial of individuality; by

implication honor, authority, character:--+ base,

(in-)fame(-ous), named(-d), renown, report.

see HEBREW for 07760

see HEBREW for 08064

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שֵׁם (shem) — name.

1) name

1a) name

1b) reputation, fame, glory

1c) the Name (as designation of God)

1d) memorial, monument

Aramaic equivalent: shum (שֻׁם "name" H8036)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HNcmsc/Sp3ms — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
HNcmsc/Sp3ms
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

hiz: Used often in the King James Version with reference to a neuter or inanimate thing, or to a lower animal (Ge 1:11, "after his kind"; Le 1:16, "pluck away his crop"; Ac 12:10, "of his own accord"; 1Co 15:38, "his own body"), etc. the Revised Version (British and American) substitutes "its."

and [the] offspring of servants his they will inherit it and [those who] love name his they will dwell in it
יִשְׁכְּנוּ־yish.ke.nu- they will dwell H7931 Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine plural
129× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to live or stay in a place, like when God dwells among his people. It appears in books like Exodus and Psalms, describing God's presence. It's about making a home or resting place.
Tyndale gloss
to dwell
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שָׁכַן (shakan) is a Hebrew verb meaning to settle down, abide, or dwell. It encompasses various forms of residing, both literally and figuratively, and includes nuances of establishing or causing to dwell. The entries indicate its use in different grammatical forms, such as Qal, Piel, and Hiphil, which express actions related to dwelling and establishing habitation.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שָׁכַן, שָׁכֵ֑ן 129 vb. settle down, abide, dwell

Qal

settle down to abide

abide, dwell

Pi.

make settle down, establish

make to dwell

Hiph.

lay

cause birds to settle

cause to dwell

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7931 שָׁכַן, שָׁכֵ֑ן settle down, abide, dwell

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7931 shakan shaw-kan'

a primitive root (apparently akin (by transmission) to 7901

through the idea of lodging; compare 5531, 7925); to reside or

permanently stay (literally or figuratively):--abide,

continue, (cause to, make to) dwell(-er), have habitation,

inhabit, lay, place, (cause to) remain, rest, set (up).

see HEBREW for 05531

see HEBREW for 07925

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שָׁכַן (sha.khan) — to dwell.

1) to settle down, abide, dwell, tabernacle, reside

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to settle down to abide

1a2) to abide, dwell, reside

1b) (Piel)

1b1) to make settle down, establish

1b2) to make or cause to dwell

1c) (Hiphil)

1c1) to lay, place, set, establish, settle, fix

1c2) to cause to dwell or abide

Aramaic equivalent: she.khan (שְׁכֵן "to dwell" H7932)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HVqi3mp — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine plural
HVqi3mp
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

dwel:

(1) In the Old Testament "dwell" is a translation of 9 words, of which by far the most frequent is yashabh, "to sit down," translated "dwell" over 400 times (Ge 4:20; Jos 20:4; 1Ch 17:1,4,5, etc.); also very frequently "sit," and sometimes "abide," "inhabit," "remain." Another word often rendered "dwell" is shakhan or shakhen ("to settle down"), from which is derived the rabbinic word shekhinah (literally, "that which dwells"), the light on the mercy-seat which symbolized the Divine presence (Ex 25:8, etc.). In order to avoid appearing to localize the Divine Being, wherever God is said to "dwell" in a place, the Targum renders that He "causes His Shekinah to dwell"…

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Dwell

Tents were in primitive times the common dwellings of men. Houses were afterwards built, the walls of which were frequently of mud (Job 24:16; Matt. 6:19, 20) or of sun-dried bricks.

God “dwells in light” (1 Tim. 6:16; 1 John 1:7), in heaven (Ps. 123:1), in his church (Ps. 9:11; 1 John 4:12). Christ dwelt on earth in the days of his humiliation (John 1:14). He now dwells in the hearts of his people (Eph.…

and [the] offspring of servants his they will inherit it and [those who] love name his they will dwell in it
בָֽהּ׃Vah in it H9034 Preposition · suffix
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

הָ (ha) — her.

Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 3rd person feminine singular

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HR/Sp3fs — Preposition · suffix
HR/Sp3fs
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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