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Psalms 7:12 — Word Study

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WLCאִם־ לֹ֣א יָ֭שׁוּב חַרְבּ֣וֹ יִלְט֑וֹשׁ קַשְׁתּ֥וֹ דָ֝רַ֗ךְ וַֽיְכוֹנְנֶֽהָ׃

BSAGodʼĕlôhîym [Elohim, the supreme Judge] to judgeshâphaṭ righteoustsaddîyq godʼêl be indignantzâʻam allkôl dayyôwm

Word
Listen & take awayPsalms 7
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 12 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 (Vay.kho.Ne.ha) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Psalms 7:12quick helps
In a sentenceThe psalm warns that without repentance, God prepares for judgment.
Who is speakingThe psalmist, reflecting on God's righteous judgment.
Where we areThis verse is part of a meditation on God's justice and the consequences of wickedness.
The hard wordיָ֭שׁוּב, Ya.shuv
Take awayGod's readiness for judgment is a serious matter.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbצַדִּיק 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 7:12

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 Judgment and the Need for Repentancegenerated

11God is a righteous judge and a God who feels indignation each day.
12If one does not repent, God will sharpen His sword; He has bent and strung His bow.
13He has prepared His deadly weapons; He ordains His arrows with fire.
14Behold, the wicked man travails with evil; he conceives trouble and births falsehood.

Psalm 7:12 speaks of God's readiness to judge those who do not repent. The psalmist emphasizes that God is a righteous judge who feels indignation daily. This verse serves as a warning about the consequences of unrepentant sin, highlighting God's preparedness to act against wickedness, as seen in the surrounding verses that discuss the nature of evil and God's response.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Psalm 85:4Restore us, O God of our salvation, and put away Your displeasure toward us.
2Isaiah 55:6–7Seek the LORD while He may be found; call on Him while He is near.
3Jeremiah 31:18–19I have surely heard Ephraim’s moaning: ‘You disciplined me severely, like an untrained calf. Restore me, that I may return, for You are the LORD my God.
4Ezekiel 18:30Therefore, O house of Israel, I will judge you, each according to his ways, declares the Lord GOD. Repent and turn from all your transgressions, so that your iniquity will not become your downfall.
5Ezekiel 33:11Say to them: ‘As surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked should turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?’

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


The Key Word יָ֭שׁוּב, Ya.shuvgenerated

The Hebrew word שׁוּב (shuwb) means to return or turn back. It encompasses a range of meanings, including literal and figurative returns, such as repenting from sin or returning to a previous state. The parsing indicates it is a verb in the imperfect tense, suggesting a future action — anyone will repent, indicating a potential for change.

This word is significant in the context of the psalm, as it calls for a change of heart and direction away from sin. The psalmist implies that repentance is necessary to avoid the impending judgment of God, emphasizing the need for individuals to turn back to righteousness.


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 structure of the verse is governed by a conditional clause introduced by אִם (im), meaning 'if.' This sets the stage for the consequences that follow, hinging on the action of repentance. The main verb יִלְט֑וֹשׁ (yil.To.osh), meaning 'he will sharpen,' is central to the warning about God's preparedness for judgment.

The sentence flows from the condition of not repenting to the actions God will take, showing a clear cause-and-effect relationship. The use of multiple verbs emphasizes God's active role in preparing for judgment.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

In the Septuagint, the Hebrew יָ֭שׁוּב is rendered with the Greek word κριτὴς (kritēs), meaning 'judge.' This choice highlights the judicial aspect of God's character, emphasizing His role as the one who evaluates and responds to human actions.

The translation reflects a narrowing of focus from the act of repenting to the implications of judgment, aligning with the overall theme of accountability before God.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Psalm 7:12 warns that if someone does not repent from their sins, God will prepare for judgment by sharpening His sword and bending His bow. This verse emphasizes the seriousness of turning away from wrongdoing.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean to repent in this verse?

To repent means to turn away from sin and return to God, indicating a change of heart and direction.

Why is God's judgment described in such military terms?

The imagery of sharpening a sword and bending a bow conveys the seriousness and readiness of God to act against wickedness.

How does this verse relate to the surrounding verses?

This verse fits into a larger context that discusses God's righteousness and the consequences of evil, emphasizing the need for repentance.

What can we learn from this warning about repentance?

The verse serves as a reminder of the importance of turning away from sin to avoid the consequences of God's judgment.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. What are some areas in my life where I need to repent and turn back to God?
  2. How can I better understand the seriousness of God's judgment as described in this verse?
  3. In what ways can I encourage others to seek repentance and turn away from sin?
  4. How does this verse challenge my view of God's justice and mercy?

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

Early Church Fathers have commented on the themes of judgment and repentance in this psalm. Their insights are included here, reflecting on God's readiness for vengeance and the need for conversion.

Basil of CaesareaHOMILIES ON THE Psalms 11:7 (Psalms 7) c. 330–379
Just as men who are polishing up their arms indicate by this action the attack in war, so Scripture, wishing to bespeak a movement of God toward vengeance, says that he polishes his sword.
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 7 →
Evagrius PonticusNOTES ON THE Psalms 7:14 345–399
The ones who are burning are those who have received the flaming arrows of the devil.
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 7 →
JeromeHOMILY ON Psalms 7 c. 347–420
Many maintain that these words of the psalm refer to the devil; they mean, unless you will have been converted, unless you will have repented, you will be in the power of the devil.
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 7 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Psalms 7:12 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

If he turn not,.... Not God, but the enemy, or the wicked man, spoken of Ps 7:5; if he turn not from his wicked course of life, to the Lord to live to him, and according to his will; unless he is

Read John Gill on Psalms 7 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

If he turn not, he will whet his sword; he hath bent his bow, and made it ready. If he turn not. There is this merciful proviso always made, that judgment will descend only if the sinner will "not turn" from his evil way.

Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 7 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

If he, i.e. the wicked man last mentioned, either Cush or Saul, turn not from this wicked course of calumnating or persecuting me, he, i.e. God, who is often designed by this pronoun, being easily to be understood from the nature of the thing, will whet his sword, i.e. will prepare, and hasten, and speedily execute his judgments upon him. Did I say, he will do it? nay, he hath already done it; his sword is drawn, his bow is bent, and the arrows are prepared and ready to be shot.

Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 7 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Psalms 7:12 If he turn not, he will whet his sword; he hath bent his bow, and made it ready.Ver. 12. If he turn not] sc. Impius ab impietate sua, saith R. Solomon, If the wicked turn not from his wickedness, by true and timely repentance. He will whet his sword, he hath bent his bow] i.e. God will, God hath; and mark that he whets before he strikes, and is bending his bow, setting his arrows, preparing his instruments of death; all which must needs take up some time, and so give fair warning to these foul sinners if they have grace to make use of it. See the like Deuteronomy 32:41-42. God first whets his sword before he devours flesh, and first takes hold on judgment before his judgment…

Read John Trapp on Psalms 7 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(12) If he turn not.—The Hebrew is doubly idiomatic. Translate surely (see Hebrews 3:11, with Note in New Testament Commentary), He will again whet His sword. It is true that the verb to turn in the sense of repetition usually precedes the other verb immediately, without, as here, any other words intervening. Bent.—Literally, trodden, showing that the foot was used by the Israelites to bend the bow, as by archers now. (Smith’s Bible Dictionary, “Arms.”)

Read Charles John Ellicott on Psalms 7 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 12. If he turn not] This clause the Syriac adds to the preceding verse. Most of the versions read, "If ye return not." Some contend, and not without a great show of probability, that the two verses should be read in connection, thus: "God is a just Judge; a God who is provoked every day. If (the sinner) turn not, he will whet his sword; he hath bent his bow, and made it ready." This, no doubt, gives the sense of both.

Read AdamClarke on Psalms 7 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

12. If a man turn not from his evil way and repent, God ‘will whet his sword:’ nay, He has already strung His bow and made it ready to discharge the arrow of punishment. God is described under the figure of a warrior, armed with sword and bow to execute vengeance on the wicked. Cp. Deuteronomy 32:41-42. The tenses of the first clause represent the judgement as in process of preparation from time to time; those of the second clause as ready to be launched against the offender at any moment. The wicked aim their arrows at the upright in heart (Psalms 11:2), but ‘the saviour of the upright in heart’ aims His arrows at them and frustrates their plots. R.V. marg. Surely he will again whet his…

Read Cambridge on Psalms 7 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

If he turn not - If the wicked person does not repent. in the previous verse the psalmist had said that God is angry with the wicked every day; he here states what must be the consequence to the

Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 7 →

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

If one does not repent, God will sharpen His sword; He has bent and strung His bow.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

If a man doesn’t repent, he will sharpen his sword; he has bent and strung his bow.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

If one does not repent, God will sharpen His sword; He has bent and strung His bow.

NETBNew English Translation2006

If a person does not repent, God sharpens his sword and prepares to shoot his bow.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

If he turn not, he will whet his sword; he hath bent his bow, and made it ready.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

If a man turn not, he will whet his sword; He hath bent his bow, and made it ready;

RVARevised Version, American1894

If a man turn not, he will whet his sword; he hath bent his bow, and made it ready.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

If he turn not, he will whet his sword; he hath bent his bow, and made it ready.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Except he turne, he hath whet his sword: he hath bent his bowe and made it readie.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

If one turn not, he will sharpen his sword; he hath bent his bow and made it ready,

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

If [one] turn not, His sword he sharpeneth, His bow he hath trodden — He prepareth it,

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

If [one] does not turn, || He sharpens His sword, || He has bent His bow [and] He prepares it,

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

(7:13) If he turn not, He will whet his sword, he bendeth his bow, and maketh it ready.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

If a person does not repent, God will sharpen his sword and will prepare his bow for battle.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

God is a just judge, strong and patient: is he angry every day?

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

If people do not change their minds, he will sharpen his sword. He has bent and strung his bow.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

If a man is not turned from his evil, he will make his sword sharp; his bow is bent and ready.

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.

clauseclauseאִםifclauseadverbialלֹ֣אnotverbיָ֭שׁוּבanyone.will.repentclausenoun phrase · objectחַרְבּ֣swordוֹhisverbיִלְט֑וֹשׁhe.will.sharpenclausenoun phrase · objectקַשְׁתּ֥bowוֹhisverbדָ֝רַ֗ךְhe.has.bentוַֽandclauseverbיְכוֹנְנֶֽheobjectהָhas.prepared.it

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


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

The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint show agreement in the core message of the verse, with six of the eight words matched. The differences in word order and articles in the Septuagint do not alter the essential meaning of God's readiness to judge those who do not repent.

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

אִם־ לֹ֣א יָ֭שׁוּב חַרְבּ֣וֹ יִלְט֑וֹשׁ קַשְׁתּ֥וֹ דָ֝רַ֗ךְ וַֽיְכוֹנְנֶֽהָ׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
אִם־θεὸςלֹ֣אκριτὴςיָ֭שׁוּבδίκαιοςחַרְבּ֣וֹἰσξυρὸςקַשְׁתּ֥וֹἑκάστηνדָ֝רַ֗ךְἡμέραν

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

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


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

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

Psalms 7:12אִםififאִםלֹאnotnotלֹאשׁוּבanyone willanyone will repשׁוּבחֶ֫רֶבsword hissword hisחֶ֫רֶבלָטַשׁhe will shahe will sharpenלָטַשׁקֶ֫שֶׁתbow hisbow hisקֶ֫שֶׁתדָּרַךְhe has benthe has bentדָּרַךְכּוּןand he has and he has prepכּוּןחָרֵבto dryto dryחָרֵבקָשָׁהto hardento hardenקָשָׁהחֵןfavorfavorחֵןיֵשׁtherethereיֵשׁיָכֹלbe ablebe ableיָכֹלעוֹדstillstillעוֹדשְׁבִיתcaptivitycaptivityשְׁבִיתחָרוֹןburning anburning angerחָרוֹןרָעָבfaminefamineרָעָבחָלָלslain: kilslain: killedחָלָלתּוּבַלTubal-cainTubal-cainתּוּבַלדָּרַךְto treadto treadדָּרַךְחֵץarrowarrowחֵץהֵידָדshoutshoutהֵידָדיֶ֫קֶבwinewineיֶ֫קֶבתֵּבֵלworldworldתֵּבֵלכִּסֵּאthronethroneכִּסֵּא
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 7:12

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.

if not anyone will repent sword his he will sharpen bow his he has bent and he has prepared it
אִם־'im- if H518 Particle
1,070× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word is used to express conditions or questions, like if or whether. It can also be used to make oaths or express wishes, as in Oh that! It appears in various forms in the KJV, including if, though, and when.
Tyndale gloss
if
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אִם (im) is a Hebrew conjunction primarily meaning 'if' and is used in various contexts, including conditional clauses and interrogative situations. It can also express negation, alternatives, or exceptions, and appears frequently in the Old Testament. The lexicons note its use in oaths and its ability to connect different clauses, sometimes altering their meanings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אִם conj.

hypoth. part. if

Interrog. part.

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H518a אִם conj. . hypoth. part. if

. Interrog. part.

H518b 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

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

518 'im eem

a primitive particle; used very widely as demonstrative, lo!;

interrog., whether?; or conditional, if, although; also Oh

that!, when; hence, as a negative, not:--(and, can-,

doubtless, if, that) (not), + but, either, + except, +

more(-over if, than), neither, nevertheless, nor, oh that, or,

+ save (only, -ing), seeing, since, sith, + surely (no more,

none, not), though, + of a truth, + unless, + verily, when,

whereas, whether, while, + yet.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אִם (im) — if.

: if/whether_or/though

1) if

1a) conditional clauses

1a1) of possible situations

1a2) of impossible situations

1b) oath contexts

1b1) no, not

1c) if...if, whether...or, whether...or...or

1d) when, whenever

1e) since

1f) interrogative particle

1g) but rather

[כִּי] אם (ki im) — if: except.

1) except if

1a) but if

אִם (im) — if: surely no.

: surely_no

1) if

1a) conditional clauses

1a1) of possible situations

1a2) of impossible situations

1b) oath contexts

1b1) no, not

1c) if...if, whether...or, whether...or...or

1d) when, whenever

1e) since

1f) interrogative particle

1g) but rather

אִם (im) — if: surely yes.

: surely_yes

1) if

1a) conditional clauses

1a1) of possible situations

1a2) of impossible situations

1b) oath contexts

1b1) no, not

1c) if...if, whether...or, whether...or...or

1d) when, whenever

1e) since

1f) interrogative particle

1g) but rather

אִם (im) — if: until.

: until/except

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HTc — Particle
HTc
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
if not anyone will repent sword his he will sharpen bow his he has bent and he has prepared it
לֹ֣אlo' not H3808 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
HTn — Particle
HTn
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
if not anyone will repent sword his he will sharpen bow his he has bent and he has prepared it
יָ֭שׁוּבYa.shuv anyone will repent H7725 Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singular
1,057× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to return or turn back, and can be used literally or figuratively. It is often used to describe someone returning to God or repenting from sin, as seen in the book of Psalms and the prophets.
Tyndale gloss
to return: return
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word שׁוּב (shuwb) means to turn back or return, covering a wide range of contexts including physical, spiritual, and relational. It can denote returning to a previous state, repenting, or even apostatizing. The entries describe various forms and uses, including bringing back, restoring, and refreshing. Notably, it can also imply a change in course of action.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שׁוּב 1056 vb. turn back, return

Qal 683;—turn back, return:

turn back

return, come or go back

esp. return unto

of dying

of revival from death

fig. of human relations:

return to leader, king

= change so as to appoach (in purpose, desire)

turn, i.e. resort to

return to a physical condition

abs. = change course of action

fig., specif. of spiritual relations:

turn back from God = apostatize

of י׳, turn away

turn back to God (= seek penitently)

abs. repent

turn back from evil

of י׳

of י׳, return (to shew favour)

of inanimate things (sts. personified, or treated as things of life):

denoting repetition, etc.

trans.

Pō‛l.

bring back

fig. restore, refresh

restore, repair

lead away (enticingly)

shew turning = apostatize

Hiph. 353 cause to return, bring back

bring back into bondage

put back

= draw back

= give back, restore

= relinguish

= give in payment, requital

bring one back (from dead)

bring back heart

= refresh

Read the full entry →
Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7725 שׁוּב turn back, return .—turn back, return: . turn back

. return, come or go back

. esp. return unto

. . of dying

. of revival from death

. fig. of human relations: . return to leader, king

. = change so as to appoach (in purpose, desire)

. turn, i.e. resort to

. return to a physical condition

. abs. = change course of action

. fig., specif. of spiritual relations: . turn back from God = apostatize

. of י׳, turn away

. turn back to God (= seek penitently)

. abs. repent

. turn back from evil

. of י׳

. of י׳, return (to shew favour)

. of inanimate things (sts. personified, or treated as things of life):

. denoting repetition, etc.

. trans.

. . bring back

. . fig. restore, refresh

. restore, repair

. lead away (enticingly)

. shew turning = apostatize

. cause to return, bring back . . bring back into bondage

. put back

. = draw back

. = give back, restore

. = relinguish

. = give in payment, requital

Read the full entry →
Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7725 shuwb shoob

a primitive root; to turn back (hence, away) transitively or

intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily

with the idea of return to the starting point); generally to

retreat; often adverbial, again:--((break, build, circumcise,

dig, do anything, do evil, feed, lay down, lie down, lodge,

make, rejoice, send, take, weep)) X again, (cause to) answer

(+ again), X in any case (wise), X at all, averse, bring

(again, back, home again), call (to mind), carry again (back),

cease, X certainly, come again (back), X consider, +

continually, convert, deliver (again), + deny, draw back,

fetch home again, X fro, get (oneself) (back) again, X give

(again), go again (back, home), (go) out, hinder, let, (see)

more, X needs, be past, X pay, pervert, pull in again, put

(again, up again), recall, recompense, recover, refresh,

relieve, render (again), requite, rescue, restore, retrieve,

Read the full entry →
Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שׁוּב (shuv) — to return: return.

: return

1) to return, turn back

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to turn back, return

1a1a) to turn back

1a1b) to return, come or go back

1a1c) to return unto, go back, come back

1a1d) of dying

1a1e) of human relations (fig)

1a1f) of spiritual relations (fig)

1a1f1) to turn back (from God), apostatise

1a1f2) to turn away (of God)

1a1f3) to turn back (to God), repent

1a1f4) turn back (from evil)

1a1g) of inanimate things

1a1h) in repetition

1b) (Polel)

1b1) to bring back

1b2) to restore, refresh, repair (fig)

1b3) to lead away (enticingly)

1b4) to show turning, apostatise

1c) (Pual) restored (participle)

1d) (Hiphil) to cause to return, bring back

1d1) to bring back, allow to return, put back, draw back, give back, restore, relinquish, give in payment

1d2) to bring back, refresh, restore

1d3) to bring back, report to, answer

1d4) to bring back, make requital, pay (as recompense)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HVqi3ms — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singular
HVqi3ms
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
if not anyone will repent sword his he will sharpen bow his he has bent and he has prepared it
חַרְבּ֣וֹchar.Bo sword his H2719 Noun common feminine singular construct · suffix
413× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A sword or cutting instrument is what this Hebrew word refers to, including knives and tools for cutting stone. It is used in the Bible to describe weapons and sharp objects.
Tyndale gloss
sword
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

חֶ֫רֶב (chereb) means 'sword' and can also refer to other cutting instruments like knives and tools. It is derived from a root meaning 'drought,' highlighting its destructive nature. The term is used in various contexts in the Old Testament, primarily to denote weapons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

חֶ֫רֶב 411 n.f. sword (as weapon)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2719 חֶ֫רֶב sword (as weapon)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2719 chereb kheh'-reb

from 2717; drought; also a cutting instrument (from its

destructive effect), as a knife, sword, or other sharp

implement:--axe, dagger, knife, mattock, sword, tool.

see HEBREW for 02717

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חֶ֫רֶב (che.rev) — sword.

1) sword, knife

1a) sword

1b) knife

1c) tools for cutting stone

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HNcfsc/Sp3ms — Noun common feminine singular construct · suffix
HNcfsc/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."

if not anyone will repent sword his he will sharpen bow his he has bent and he has prepared it
יִלְט֑וֹשׁyil.To.osh he will sharpen H3913 Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singular
5× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To sharpen means to hammer out an edge, making something sharper or more effective, as seen in the whetting of a sword. This concept appears in various forms, including instruction and refinement.
Tyndale gloss
to sharpen
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

לָטַשׁ (latash) is a Hebrew verb meaning to hammer, sharpen, or whet. It describes the action of creating an edge, particularly in the context of sharpening a sword. The term appears in various forms, including a participle for someone who hammers or sharpens. There are no significant disagreements among the lexicons regarding its meaning.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[לָטַשׁ] vb. hammer, sharpen, whet

Qal

hammer

sharpen sword

Pu. a sharpened razor

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3913 לָטַשׁ hammer, sharpen, whet

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3913 latash law-tash'

a primitive root; properly, to hammer out (an edge), i.e. to

sharpen:--instructer, sharp(-en), whet.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

לָטַשׁ (la.tash) — to sharpen.

1) to sharpen, hammer, whet

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to hammer

1a2) to sharpen (sword)

1a3) hammerer (participle)

1b) (Pual) to be sharpened

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HVqi3ms — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singular
HVqi3ms
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
if not anyone will repent sword his he will sharpen bow his he has bent and he has prepared it
קַשְׁתּ֥וֹkash.To bow his H7198 Noun common feminine singular construct · suffix
76× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for bow refers to a weapon used for hunting or battle, but also symbolizes strength and is used to describe a rainbow. In the Bible, it appears in Genesis and other books. It represents power and beauty.
Tyndale gloss
bow
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

קֶ֫שֶׁת (qesheth) primarily means 'bow,' referring to a weapon for hunting or battle, and can also denote 'rainbow.' It is derived from a root meaning to bend, suggesting strength. The term encompasses both literal and figurative uses, including references to archers and might.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

קֶ֫שֶׁת n.f. bow

bow

rainbow

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7198 קֶ֫שֶׁת bow . bow

. rainbow

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7198 qesheth keh'-sheth

from 7185 in the original sense (of 6983) of bending: a bow,

for shooting (hence, figuratively, strength) or the iris:--X

arch(-er), + arrow, bow((-man, -shot)).

see HEBREW for 07185

see HEBREW for 06983

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

קֶ֫שֶׁת (qe.shet) — bow.

1) bow

1a) bow (for hunting, battle)

1b) bowmen, archers

1c) bow (fig. of might)

1d) rainbow

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HNcfsc/Sp3ms — Noun common feminine singular construct · suffix
HNcfsc/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."

if not anyone will repent sword his he will sharpen bow his he has bent and he has prepared it
דָ֝רַ֗ךְda.Rakh he has bent H1869 Verb · Qal · perfect third person masculine singular
62× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To tread means to walk or step on something, and is used in the Bible to describe various actions, such as treading a press or leading an army. In Exodus 15:6 and Psalm 60:12, the word is used to describe God's power and leadership, highlighting His ability to guide and direct His people.
Tyndale gloss
to tread
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

דָּרַךְ (darakh) is a Hebrew verb meaning to tread or march. It encompasses a range of actions including walking, leading, and bending a bow. The word appears in various forms, such as Qal and Hiphil, indicating both simple and causative actions. Notably, it can refer to treading down or guiding others.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

דָּרַךְ vb. tread, march

Qal

tread, march, march forth

tread upon

tread wine- (or oil-) press

tread (i.e. bend) the bow

Hiph.

tread, tread down

tread (bend) the bow

causat. cause to tread or march, lead

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1869 דָּרַךְ tread, march

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1869 darak daw-rak'

a primitive root; to tread; by implication, to walk; also to

string a bow (by treading on it in bending):--archer, bend,

come, draw, go (over), guide, lead (forth), thresh, tread

(down), walk.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

דָּרַךְ (da.rakh) — to tread.

1) to tread, bend, lead, march

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to tread, march, march forth

1a2) to tread on, tread upon

1a3) to tread (a press)

1a4) to tread (bend) a bow

1a5) archer, bow-benders (participle)

1b) (Hiphil)

1b1) to tread, tread down

1b2) to tread (bend with the foot) a bow

1b3) to cause to go, lead, march, tread

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HVqp3ms — Verb · Qal · perfect third person masculine singular
HVqp3ms
if not anyone will repent sword his he will sharpen bow his he has bent and he has prepared it
וַֽיְכוֹנְנֶֽהָ׃Vay.kho.Ne.ha and he has prepared it H3559 Verb piel sequential imperfect third person masculine singular · suffix
217× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This verb means to set something up or establish it, like setting up a tent or appointing someone to a position, as seen in Isaiah 7:14.
Tyndale gloss
to establish: prepare
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כּוּן (kuwn) is a Hebrew verb meaning to establish or prepare. It encompasses a range of meanings, including to be firm, to fix, to direct, and to be ready, with applications in both literal and figurative contexts. The entries indicate various forms of the verb, such as Niph'al (to be established) and Hiph'il (to establish), but there is a note on a noun form, נָכוֹן (nakhon), meaning 'blow'.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[כּוּן] 218 vb. prob. be firm, only in der. conj.

Niph.

be set up, established, fixed

in a moral sense, be directed aright, of ways

prepare, be ready

pass. be prepared, of judgments

Hiph.

establish, set up

fix, so as to be ready, make ready, prepare, a gift

provide for, provide, furnish

direct one's face toward

arrange, order

Hoph.

be established, of throne

be prepared for

Po‛lēl.

set up, establish

constitute, make, a man (in womb)

fix, so as to be ready

direct

Po‛lal. be established

Hithpo‛l. be established

base

נָכוֹן n. [m.] = blow Jb 12:5

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3559a כּוּן prob. be firm, only in der. conj. . . be set up, established, fixed

. in a moral sense, be directed aright, of ways

. prepare, be ready

. pass. be prepared, of judgments

. . establish, set up

. . fix, so as to be ready, make ready, prepare, a gift

. provide for, provide, furnish

. direct one's face toward

. arrange, order

. . be established, of throne

. be prepared for

. . set up, establish

. constitute, make, a man (in womb)

. fix, so as to be ready

. direct

. be established

. be established

H3559b נָכוֹן n. [m.] = blow

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3559 kuwn koon

a primitive root; properly, to be erect (i.e. stand

perpendicular); hence (causatively) to set up, in a great

variety of applications, whether literal (establish, fix,

prepare, apply), or figurative (appoint, render sure, proper

or prosperous):--certain(-ty), confirm, direct, faithfulness,

fashion, fasten, firm, be fitted, be fixed, frame, be meet,

ordain, order, perfect, (make) preparation, prepare (self),

provide, make provision, (be, make) ready, right, set (aright,

fast, forth), be stable, (e-)stablish, stand, tarry, X very

deed.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כּוּן (kun) — to establish: prepare.

: prepare/direct

1) to be firm, be stable, be established

1a) (Niphal)

1a1) to be set up, be established, be fixed

1a1a) to be firmly established

1a1b) to be established, be stable, be secure, be enduring

1a1c) to be fixed, be securely determined

1a2) to be directed aright, be fixed aright, be steadfast (moral sense)

1a3) to prepare, be ready

1a4) to be prepared, be arranged, be settled

1b) (Hiphil)

1b1) to establish, set up, accomplish, do, make firm

1b2) to fix, make ready, prepare, provide, provide for, furnish

1b3) to direct toward (moral sense)

1b4) to arrange, order

1c) (Hophal)

1c1) to be established, be fastened

1c2) to be prepared, be ready

1d) (Polel)

1d1) to set up, establish

1d2) to constitute, make

1d3) to fix

1d4) to direct

1e) (Pulal) to be established, be prepared

1f) (Hithpolel) to be established, be restored

נָכוֹן (na.khon) — blow.

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Hc/Vpw3ms/Sp3fs — Verb piel sequential imperfect third person masculine singular · suffix
Hc/Vpw3ms/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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