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Psalms 77:15 — Word Study

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WLCגָּאַ֣לְתָּ בִּזְר֣וֹעַ עַמֶּ֑ךָ בְּנֵי־ יַעֲקֹ֖ב וְיוֹסֵ֣ף סֶֽלָה׃

BSAYour peopleʻam [nation]

Word
Listen & take awayPsalms 77
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 15 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 (Se.lah) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Psalms 77:15quick helps
In a sentenceThe psalmist declares God's powerful redemption of His people, specifically the descendants of Jacob and Joseph.
Who is speakingThe psalmist, reflecting on God's mighty acts.
Where we areIn a psalm of remembrance, celebrating God's past deliverance.
The hard wordגָּאַ֣לְתָּ
Take awayGod's strength is the means of redemption for His chosen people.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbאַתָּה 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 77:15

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

Context — A Psalm of Remembrancegenerated

14You are the God who works wonders; You display Your strength among the peoples.
15With power You redeemed Your people, the sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah
16The waters saw You, O God; the waters saw You and swirled; even the depths were shaken.
17The clouds poured down water; the skies resounded with thunder; Your arrows flashed back and forth.

Psalm 77:15 reflects on the powerful acts of God in redeeming His people. The psalmist recalls how God worked wonders and displayed His strength, particularly in the context of Israel's history. This verse emphasizes God's role as a redeemer, saving His chosen descendants, Jacob and Joseph, and invites reflection on His mighty deeds.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Psalm 136:11–12and brought Israel out from among them His loving devotion endures forever.
2Exodus 6:6Therefore tell the Israelites: ‘I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians and deliver you from their bondage. I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment.
3Deuteronomy 9:26–29And I prayed to the LORD and said, “O Lord GOD, do not destroy Your people, Your inheritance, whom You redeemed through Your greatness and brought out of Egypt with a mighty hand.
4Isaiah 63:9In all their distress, He too was afflicted, and the Angel of His Presence saved them. In His love and compassion He redeemed them; He lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.
5Genesis 48:3–20Jacob said to Joseph, “God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan, and there He blessed me

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 5 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word גָּאַ֣לְתָּ, ga.'Al.tagenerated

The verb גָּאַל (ga'al) means to redeem, often in the context of a kinsman-redeemer. It describes the act of buying back a relative's property or marrying their widow, as illustrated in the story of Boaz in Ruth. The parsing indicates it is a second person masculine singular perfect verb, emphasizing that God Himself is the one who redeems.

This word encompasses various forms of redemption, including delivering individuals or Israel from bondage. The use of the verb here highlights God's active role in salvation, portraying Him as the mighty God who intervenes on behalf of His people.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses redeemed, a choice echoed by the KJV and ASV.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The finite verb גָּאַ֣לְתָּ (you redeemed) governs the entire verse, with a prepositional phrase indicating the means of redemption, followed by a noun phrase identifying the people redeemed. The structure emphasizes God's direct action in redeeming His people through His power.

The word order places the emphasis on the act of redemption, with the subject and object clearly defined, showcasing the relationship between God and His people.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates גָּאַ֣לְתָּ with σὺ (you), indicating a direct address to God as the redeemer. This choice underscores the personal relationship between God and His people, emphasizing His active involvement in their salvation.

The term θεὸς is used in the LXX to denote God's divine nature, reinforcing the power associated with His redemptive acts.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Psalm 77:15 speaks of God's powerful act of redeeming His people, specifically the descendants of Jacob and Joseph. This verse emphasizes God's strength and His role as a savior, inviting us to reflect on His mighty deeds.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean that God redeemed His people?

It signifies God's act of saving and delivering His people from bondage, often associated with His covenant relationship with Israel.

Who are the sons of Jacob and Joseph?

They represent the descendants of the patriarchs, particularly the tribes of Israel, highlighting God's chosen people.

Why is the term 'Selah' used here?

Selah is a musical term indicating a pause for reflection, suggesting that the reader should contemplate the significance of God's redemption.

How does this verse connect to other scriptures?

It connects to themes of redemption found throughout the Bible, such as in Exodus and Isaiah, where God acts to save His people.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what ways have I experienced God's redemptive power in my life?
  2. How can I reflect on God's strength and acts of salvation as the psalmist does?
  3. What does it mean for me to be part of God's chosen people today?
  4. How can I share the message of God's redemption with others?

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

Early church fathers, like Augustine of Hippo, reflect on God's redemptive power in this verse, emphasizing His strength in salvation.

Augustine of HippoExposition on Psalms 77 354–430
"You have redeemed in Your arm Your people" [Psalms 77:15]. "With Your arm," that is, with Your power.
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 77 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Psalms 77:15 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

Thou hast with thine arm redeemed thy people,.... The people of Israel out of Egypt, which was typical of the redemption of the Lord's people by Christ, the arm and power of God: the sons of Jacob and Joseph.

Read John Gill on Psalms 77 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

Thou hast with thine arm redeemed thy people, the sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah. Thou hast with thine arm redeemed thy people - (Exodus 6:6.) The sons of Jacob and Joseph.

Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 77 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Redeemed thy people, to wit, out of Egypt, after a long and hard bondage; which he here mentions to strengthen his faith in their present captivity. Jacob and Joseph; whom he mentions, partly, as a most eminent portion of the sons of Jacob, branched forth into two numerous tribes; partly, because the sons of Joseph were born in Egypt, which Jacob’ s other sons were not; and partly, because he laid the foundation of that redemption by bringing them into Egypt, and preserving and nourishing Jacob and his sons there, as a little child is nourished, as it is expressed in the Hebrew text, ; in which respect he was a second father to them, and they might well be called his sons; without whose…

Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 77 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Psalms 77:15 Thou hast with [thine] arm redeemed thy people, the sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah.Ver. 15. Thou hast with thine arm redeemed thy people] viz. Out of the bondage of Egypt, that memorable mercy; but nothing to that of ours and theirs from sin’ s thraldom. The sons of Jacob and Joseph] Joseph is instanced, quia nobilis inter fratres, vel in malis quae pendit, vel in bonis quae rependit, as Austin hath it (De Doct. Christ. 1. iv. c. 6).

Read John Trapp on Psalms 77 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 15. The sons of Jacob and Joseph.] "The sons which Jacob begat and Joseph nourished." says the Chaldee. The Israelites are properly called the sons of Joseph as well as of Jacob, seeing Ephraim and Manasseh, his sons, were taken into the number of the tribes. All the latter part of this Psalm refers to the deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt; and the psalmist uses this as an argument to excite the expectation of the captives. As God delivered our fathers from Egypt, so we may expect him to deliver us from Chaldea. It required his arm to do the former, and that arm is not shortened that it cannot save.

Read AdamClarke on Psalms 77 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

15. Thou hast &c.] With a (strong) arm didst thou redeem thy people. Cp. Exodus 15:13; Exodus 15:16; Exodus 6:6; Psalms 74:2. the sons of Jacob and Joseph] According to the Targum, Joseph is named because, by preserving the lives of his brethren in Egypt, lie became as it were a second father of the nation. But more probably Joseph is named as the father of Ephraim and Manasseh, the ancestors of the most powerful tribes of the Northern Kingdom. Cp. Psalms 78:67; Psalms 80:1; Psalms 81:5. In Amos (Amos 5:6; Amos 5:15; Amos 6:6) Joseph denotes the Northern Kingdom. In Obadiah 1:18, the house of Jacob and the house of Joseph stands for the whole nation. Cp. Zechariah 10:6; Ezekiel 37:16…

Read Cambridge on Psalms 77 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Thou hast with thine arm - That is, with strength or power, the arm being a symbol of strength. Exodus 6:6; Exodus 15:16; Psalms 10:15. Redeemed thy people - Thou didst rescue or deliver them from Egyptian bondage.

Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 77 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

15. Sons of Jacob and Joseph— “Joseph,” here, represents the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, (Genesis 48,) and these, in later times, the kingdom of Israel. Psalms 80:2; Isaiah 11:13.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Psalms 77 →

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

With power You redeemed Your people, the sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah

WEBWorld English Bible2000

You have redeemed your people with your arm, the sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

With power You redeemed Your people, the sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah

NETBNew English Translation2006

You delivered your people by your strength – the children of Jacob and Joseph. (Selah)

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

Thou hast with thine arm redeemed thy people, the sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

Thou hast with thine arm redeemed thy people, The sons of Jacob and Joseph. [Selah

RVARevised Version, American1894

Thou hast with thine arm redeemed thy people, the sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah

NWBWebster's Bible1833

Thou hast with thy arm redeemed thy people, the sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Thou hast redeemed thy people with thine arme, euen the sonnes of Iaakob and Ioseph. Selah.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

Thou hast with [thine] arm redeemed thy people, the sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

Thou hast redeemed with strength Thy people, The sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

You have redeemed Your people with strength, || The sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

(77:16) Thou hast redeemed with [a mighty] arm thy people, the sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

You gave your people victory by your great power— the descendants of Jacob and Joseph. Selah

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

He struck the rock in the wilderness: and gave them to drink, as out of the great deep.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

Through your strength you saved your people, the descendants of Jacob and Joseph. Selah.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

With your arm you have made your people free, the sons of Jacob and Joseph. (Selah.)

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.

clauseverbגָּאַ֣לְתָּyou.redeemedprepositional phrase · prepositionalבִּbyזְר֣וֹעַan.armnoun phrase · objectnoun phraseעַמֶּ֑peopleךָyournoun phraseבְּנֵיthe.descendantsnoun phraseיַעֲקֹ֖בof.Jacobוְandיוֹסֵ֣ףJosephclauseסֶֽלָהSelah

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


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

The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint agree in the wording of Psalm 77:15, with all seven words matched. This consistency highlights the shared understanding of God's redemptive power across these texts.

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

גָּאַ֣לְתָּ בִּזְר֣וֹעַ עַמֶּ֑ךָ בְּנֵי־ יַעֲקֹ֖ב וְיוֹסֵ֣ף סֶֽלָה׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
גָּאַ֣לְתָּσὺבִּזְר֣וֹעַθεὸςעַמֶּ֑ךָθαυμάσιαבְּנֵי־ἐγνώρισαςיַעֲקֹ֖בἐνוְיוֹסֵ֣ףλαοῖςסֶֽלָה׃σου

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 77:15גָּאַלyou redeemeyou redeemedגָּאַלזְרוֹעַby an armby an armזְרוֹעַעַםpeople yourpeople yourעַםבֵּן[the] desce[the] descendanבֵּןיַעֲקֹבJacobJacobיַעֲקֹביוֹסֵףand Josephand Josephיוֹסֵףסֶ֫לָהSelahSelahסֶ֫לָהזָרַעto sowto sowזָרַעעָמַםto darkento darkenעָמַםבָּנָהto buildto buildבָּנָהעָקַבto assailto assailעָקַבסָלָהto rejectto rejectסָלָהיָסַףto addto addיָסַףיוֹסֵףJosephJosephיוֹסֵףרָצַחto murderto murderרָצַחחָזָקstrongstrongחָזָקנָטָהto stretchto stretchנָטָהעַמּוֹןAmmonAmmonעַמּוֹןרְאוּבֵןReubenReubenרְאוּבֵןלָבָןLabanLabanלָבָןיִצְחָקIsaacIsaacיִצְחָקחֲלוֹםdreamdreamחֲלוֹםמְנַשֶּׁהMosesMosesמְנַשֶּׁהזמרto singto singזמריְשׁוּעָהsalvationsalvationיְשׁוּעָה
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 77:15

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.

you redeemed by an arm people your [the] descendants of Jacob and Joseph Selah
גָּאַ֣לְתָּga.'Al.ta you redeemed H1350 Verb · Qal · perfect second person masculine singular
104× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means redemption, describing the act of a kinsman buying back a relative's property or marrying their widow, as seen in the story of Boaz in Ruth.
Tyndale gloss
to redeem: redeem
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

גָּאַל (ga'al) is a Hebrew verb meaning to redeem, often in the context of acting as a kinsman-redeemer. It encompasses various forms of redemption, including buying back property, marrying a relative's widow, and delivering individuals or Israel from bondage or exile. The related noun גְּאוּלַי (geulai) signifies the concept of redemption itself.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

גָּאַל vb. redeem, act as kinsman

Qal

act as kinsman, do the part of next of kin

redeem, by payment of value assessed

redeem, with God as subj. implying personal relationship

Niph

refl. redeem oneself

pass. be redeemed

base

גְּאוּלַי Is 63:4, n. abstr. redemption

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1350a גָּאַל redeem, act as kinsman .. act as kinsman, do the part of next of kin

. redeem, by payment of value assessed

. redeem, with God as subj. implying personal relationship

.. refl. redeem oneself

. pass. be redeemed

H1350b גְּאוּלַי n. abstr. redemption

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1350 ga'al gaw-al'

a primitive root, to redeem (according to the Oriental law of

kinship), i.e. to be the next of kin (and as such to buy back

a relative's property, marry his widow, etc.):--X in any wise,

X at all, avenger, deliver, (do, perform the part of near,

next) kinsfolk(-man), purchase, ransom, redeem(-er), revenger.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

גָּאַל (ga.al) — to redeem: redeem.

: redeem

1) to redeem, act as kinsman-redeemer, avenge, revenge, ransom, do the part of a kinsman

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to act as kinsman, do the part of next of kin, act as kinsman-redeemer

1a1a) by marrying brother's widow to beget a child for him, to redeem from slavery, to redeem land, to exact vengeance

1a2) to redeem (by payment)

1a3) to redeem (with God as subject)

1a3a) individuals from death

1a3b) Israel from Egyptian bondage

1a3c) Israel from exile

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to redeem oneself

1b2) to be redeemed

גְּאוּלַי (ge.u.lay) — redemption.

redemption

גָּאַל (ga.al) — to redeem: avenge.

: avenge

1) to redeem, act as kinsman-redeemer, avenge, revenge, ransom, do the part of a kinsman

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to act as kinsman, do the part of next of kin, act as kinsman-redeemer

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HVqp2ms — Verb · Qal · perfect second person masculine singular
HVqp2ms
you redeemed by an arm people your [the] descendants of Jacob and Joseph Selah
בִּזְר֣וֹעַbiz.Ro.a' by an arm H2220 Preposition · noun common feminine singular absolute
91× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for arm refers to the arm as stretched out, symbolizing strength, force, or power, as seen in the KJV translations of arm, mighty, and strength.
Tyndale gloss
arm
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

זְרוֹעַ (z'roa) refers to an arm or shoulder, often symbolizing strength. It can denote the physical arm, the shoulder of a sacrificed animal, or military and political forces. The word is derived from a root meaning to stretch out, indicating both physical and metaphorical strength.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

זְרוֹעַ, זְרֹעַ n.f. and (rare) m. arm, shoulder, strength

arm

arm, as symbol of strength

Pl. forces, political and military

Shoulder of animal sacrificed, belonging to priest

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2220 זְרוֹעַ, זְרֹעַ arm, shoulder, strength . arm

. arm, as symbol of strength

. Pl. forces, political and military

. Shoulder of animal sacrificed, belonging to priest

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2220 zrowa` zer-o'-ah

or (shortened) zroao {zer-o'-ah}; and (feminine) zrowpah

{zer-o-aw'}; or zrowah {zer-o-aw'}; from 2232; the arm (as

stretched out), or (of animals) the foreleg; figuratively,

force:--arm, + help, mighty, power, shoulder, strength.

see HEBREW for 02232

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

זְרוֹעַ (ze.ro.a) — arm.

1) arm, forearm, shoulder, strength

1a) arm

1b) arm (as symbol of strength)

1c) forces (political and military)

1d) shoulder (of animal sacrificed)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HR/Ncfsa — Preposition · noun common feminine singular absolute
HR/Ncfsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

arm (zeroa`, 'ezroa`, dera`; brachion; chotsen, katheph): The usual form is zeroa` from the root zara`, "to spread." The arm may be "stretched out." 'Ezroa` is this form with prosthetic 'aleph (Job 31:22; Jer 32:21), and dera` is the Aramaic form. Chotsen is really "bosom," thus the Revised Version (British and American) (Isa 49:22); and katheph is "shoulder," thus the Revised Version (British and American) (Job 31:22). Compare cheir, also, in Ac 11:21.

Figurative: The arm denotes influence, power, means of support or conquest. The arms of Moab (Jer 48:25) and of…

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Arm

Used to denote power (Ps. 10:15; Ezek. 30:21; Jer. 48:25). It is also used of the omnipotence of God (Ex. 15:16; Ps. 89:13; 98:1; 77:15; Isa. 53:1; John 12:38; Acts 13:17)

Nave's Topical Bible

→ FIGURATIVE USE OF Ex 6:6; 15:16; De 4:34; 5:15; 7:19; 9:29; 11:2; 26:8; 33:27; 1Ki 8:42; 2Ki 17:36; 2Ch 6:32; Ps 77:15; 89:10,13,21; 98:1; 136:12; So 2:6; Isa 33:2; 40:10,11; 51:5,9; 52:10; 53:1; 59:16; 62:8; 63:5,12; Jer 21:5; 27:5; 32:17; Eze 20:33; Lu 1:51;

you redeemed by an arm people your [the] descendants of Jacob and Joseph Selah
עַמֶּ֑ךָ'a.Me.kha people your H5971 Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
1,873× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A people or nation is what this Hebrew word represents, like the nation of Israel in Exodus 33:13. It can also mean a tribe, troops, or attendants, and is used to describe a group of people gathered together. The word is often used to refer to the people of God.
Amplified meaning
nation
Tyndale gloss
Amaw
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עַם (am) primarily means 'people' or 'nation,' referring to a collective group, often in the context of tribes such as those of Israel. It can also denote kinsmen or compatriots. The term appears in various contexts, including military and familial references. There is a mention of a specific individual named Ammi in Song of Solomon 6:12.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עַם, עָם 1810 n.m. people

a people, nation

= smaller units

= common people

people in gen., persons

phrases

base

[עַם] n.[m.] kinsman (on father's side)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5971a עַם, עָם people H5971b עַם kinsman (on father's side)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5971 `am am

from 6004; a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a

tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or

attendants; figuratively, a flock:--folk, men, nation,

people.

see HEBREW for 06004

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עַם (am) — people.

: people/nation

1) nation, people

1a) people, nation

1b) persons, members of one's people, compatriots, country-men

עַם (am) — kinsman.

kinsman, kindred

עַם (am) — Ammi.

A man living at the time of United Monarchy, only mentioned at Sng.6.12

§ kinsman, kindred

עַם (am) — People's (Gate).

§ kinsman, kindred

עַם (am) — (Ibleam)-am.

Combined with yiv.le.am (יִבְלְעָם "Ibleam" H2991)

§ kinsman, kindred

עַם (am) — Amaw.

This name means nation, people

עַם (am) — people: soldiers.

: soldiers/army

1) nation, people

1a) people, nation

1b) persons, members of one's people, compatriots, country-men

עַם (am) — people: creatures.

: creatures

1) nation, people

1a) people, nation

1b) persons, members of one's people, compatriots, country-men

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-mp — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
HNcmsc/Sp2ms
you redeemed by an arm people your [the] descendants of Jacob and Joseph Selah
בְּנֵי־be.nei- [the] descendants of H1121 Noun common · masculine plural construct
4,943× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this word means a son or descendant, and can also refer to a grandson, nation, or quality. It appears in 1 Chronicles 24, describing a Levite named Beno. The word is used to show family relationships and inheritance.
Tyndale gloss
son: child
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

בֵּן (ben) means 'son' or 'male child' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including descendants, young animals, and even figurative uses like sparks or arrows. It can refer to members of a tribe or class and is used in various contexts throughout the Old Testament, such as in 1 Chronicles 24:26. The word is derived from a root meaning 'to build' and implies a connection to family or lineage.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

בֵּן 4870 n.m. son

son, male child, born of a woman

children (male and female)

youth, young men

the young of animals

of plant shoots

fig. of lifeless things, sparks, stars, arrows

member of a guild, order or class

of animals son of (the) herd

ב׳ as n. relat. followed by word of quality, characteristic, etc.

n. relat. of age

base

בְּנוֹ 1 Ch 24:26, 27 as n.pr.m. in AV, RV, but render: the sons of Jaaziah his son, & the sons of Merari by Jaaziah his son, cf. VB & Be Öt.

done

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1121a בֵּן son . son, male child, born of a woman

. children (male and female)

. youth, young men

. the young of animals

. of plant shoots

. fig. of lifeless things, sparks, stars, arrows

. . member of a guild, order or class

. of animals son of (the) herd

. ב׳ as n. relat. followed by word of quality, characteristic, etc.

. n. relat. of age

H1121b בְּנוֹ as n. pr. m. in AV, RV, but render: the sons of Jaaziah his son, & the sons of Merari by Jaaziah his son

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1121 ben bane

from 1129; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the

widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship,

including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition,

etc., (like 1, 251, etc.)):--+ afflicted, age, (Ahoh-)

(Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-)ite, (anoint-)ed one, appointed to,

(+) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-)ian, one born,

bough, branch, breed, + (young) bullock, + (young) calf, X

came up in, child, colt, X common, X corn, daughter, X of

first, + firstborn, foal, + very fruitful, + postage, X in, +

kid, + lamb, (+) man, meet, + mighty, + nephew, old, (+)

people, + rebel, + robber, X servant born, X soldier, son, +

spark, + steward, + stranger, X surely, them of, + tumultuous

one, + valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth.

see HEBREW for 01129

see HEBREW for 01

see HEBREW for 0251

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בֵּן (ben) — son: child.

: child/son

בְּנוֹ (be.no) — Beno.

A man of the tribe of Levi living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Ch.24.26;

son of: Jaaziah (H3269);

brother of: Shoham (H7719), Zaccur (H2139I) and Ibri (H5681)

§ Beno = "his son"

the sons of Jaaziah and the sons of Merari by Jaahziah (his son)

בֵּן (ben) — son: descendant/people.

: descendant, people, tribe, nation

A sub-meaning of ben (בֵּן ": child" H1121)

§ : child/son

בֵּן (ben) — son: young animal.

: calf/lamb/young(ANIMAL)

A sub-meaning of ben (בֵּן ": child" H1121)

§ : descendant

בֵּן (ben) — son: type of.

: rebel/son(Belial)

A sub-meaning of ben (בֵּן ": child" H1121)

§ : people/men/nation/tribe

בֵּן (ben) — son.

: [inheriting]son/heir

A sub-meaning of ben (בֵּן ": child" H1121)

בֵּן (ben) — son: warrior.

: warrior/son(strong)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HNcmpc — Noun common · masculine plural construct
HNcmpc
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…

you redeemed by an arm people your [the] descendants of Jacob and Joseph Selah
יַעֲקֹ֖בya.'a.Ko Jacob H3290 Noun proper masculine
350× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word is the name of a person, Jacob, a key figure in the Bible. He was the son of Isaac and Rebekah, and the father of many tribes of Israel. The KJV simply translates it as Jacob.
Tyndale gloss
Jacob
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יַעֲקֹב (i.e. *Ya`aqob*) refers to Jacob, a key figure in the Old Testament. The word is derived from a root meaning 'heel-catcher' or 'supplanter.' Jacob is the son of Isaac and Rebekah, brother of Esau, and father of the twelve tribes of Israel. He is also known as Israel, highlighting his significance in biblical history.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יַעֲקֹב 344, יַעֲקוֹב 6 n.pr.m. et gent. Jacob, son of Isaac and Rebekah, father of tribes of Isr.

as n.pr.m.

as n.pr.gent.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3290 יַעֲקֹב, יַעֲקוֹב Jacob

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3290 Ya`aqob yah-ak-obe'

from 6117; heel-catcher (i.e. supplanter); Jaakob, the

Israelitish patriarch:--Jacob.

see HEBREW for 06117

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יַעֲקֹב (ya.a.qov) — Jacob.

A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.25.26;

son of: Isaac (H3327) and Rebekah (H7259);

brother of: Esau (H6215); married to Rachel (H7354), Leah (H3812), Zilpah (H2153) and Bilhah (H1090A);

father of: Reuben (H7205), Simeon (H8095), Levi (H3878), Judah (H3063), Dan (H1835H), Naphtali (H5321), Gad (H1410), Asher (H0836), Issachar (H3485), Zebulun (H2074), Dinah (H1783), Joseph (H3130) and Benjamin (H1144); also called Jacob frequently

Another name of yis.ra.el (יִשְׂרָאֵל "Israel" H3478)

§ Jacob = "heel holder" or "supplanter"

son of Isaac, grandson of Abraham, and father of the 12 patriarchs of the tribes of Israel

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HNpm — Noun proper masculine
HNpm
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Easton's Bible Dictionary

Jacob

One who follows on another’s heels; supplanter, (Gen. 25:26; 27:36; Hos. 12:2-4), the second born of the twin sons of Isaac by Rebekah. He was born probably at Lahai-roi, when his father was fifty-nine and Abraham one hundred and fifty-nine years old. Like his father, he was of a quiet and gentle disposition, and when he grew up followed the life of a shepherd, while his brother Esau became an enterprising hunter. His dealing with Esau, however, showed much mean selfishness and cunning (Gen. 25:29-34).

When Isaac was about 160 years of age, Jacob and his mother conspired to deceive the aged patriarch (Gen. 27), with the view of procuring the transfer of the birthright to himself. The birthright secured to him who…

Smith's Bible Dictionary

(supplanter), the second son of Isaac and Rebekah. He was born with Esau, probably at the well of Lahai-roi, about B.C. 1837. His history is related in the latter half of the book of Genesis. He bought the birthright from his brother Esau, and afterward acquired the blessing intended for Esau, by practicing a well-known deceit on Isaac. (Jacob did not obtain the blessing because of his deceit, but in spite of it. That which was promised he would have received in some good way; but Jacob and his mother, distrusting God’s promise, sought the promised blessing in a wrong way, and received with it trouble and sorrow. --ED.) Jacob, in his 78th year, was sent from the family home to avoid his brother, and to seek a wife among his kindred in Padan-aram. As he passed through Bethel, God appeared to him. After the lapse of twenty-one years he returned from Padan-aram with two wives, two…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

Son of Isaac and Rebekah, and twin-brother to Esau. As at his birth he held his brother’s heel, he was called Jacob, that is, the heelholder, one who comes behind and catches the heel of his adversary, a supplanter, Ge 25:26. This was a king of predictive intimation of his future conduct in life. Jacob was meek and peaceable, living a shepherd life at home. Esau was more turbulent and fierce, and passionately fond of hunting. Isaac was partial to Esau, Rebekah to Jacob. Jacob having taken advantage of his brother’s absence and his father’s infirmity to obtain the blessing of the birthright, or primogeniture, was compelled to fly into Mesopotamia to avoid the consequences of his brother’s wrath, Ge 27:1-28:22. On his journey the Lord appeared to him in a dream, (see LADDER,)…

Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary

that supplants, undermines; the heel

you redeemed by an arm people your [the] descendants of Jacob and Joseph Selah
וְיוֹסֵ֣ףve.yo.Sef and Joseph H3130 Conjunction · noun proper masculine
213× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Joseph means Jehovah has added, a name given to several Israelites, including the son of Jacob and Rachel. Joseph was a significant figure in the book of Genesis and the story of his brothers. He became a leader in Egypt.
Tyndale gloss
Joseph
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יוֹסֵף (Yowceph) means 'he adds' or 'increases' and refers primarily to Joseph, the eldest son of Jacob and Rachel. The name appears in various contexts, including other individuals named Joseph, such as a man of Issachar, a son of Asaph, and a priest. The entries highlight his familial relationships and roles during different periods, including the Exile and Return.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יוֹסֵף 212 and יְהוֹסֵף n.pr.m. (he adds, increases)

elder son of Jacob and Rachael

a man of Issachar

a son of Asaph

one of those who took strange wives

a priest

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3130 יוֹסֵף and יְהוֹסֵף (he adds, increases) . elder son of Jacob and Rachael

. a man of Issachar

. a son of Asaph

. one of those who took strange wives

. a priest

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3130 Yowceph yo-safe'

future of 3254; let him add (or perhaps simply active

participle adding); Joseph, the name of seven

Israelites:--Joseph. Compare 3084.

see HEBREW for 03254

see HEBREW for 03084

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יוֹסֵף (yo.seph) — Joseph.

A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.30.24;

son of: Israel (H3478) and Rachel (H7354);

brother of: Benjamin (H1144);

half-brother of: Reuben (H7205), Simeon (H8095), Levi (H3878), Judah (H3063), Dan (H1835H), Naphtali (H5321), Gad (H1410), Asher (H0836), Issachar (H3485), Zebulun (H2074) and Dinah (H1783); married to Asenath (H0621);

father of: Manasseh (H4519) and Ephraim (H0669); also called Zaphenath-paneah at Gen.41.45;

§ Joseph = "Jehovah has added"

1) the eldest son of Jacob by Rachel

2) father of Igal, who represented the tribe of Issachar among the spies

3) a son of Asaph

4) a man who took a foreign wife in the time of Ezra

5) a priest of the family of Shebaniah in the time of Nehemiah

יוֹסֵף (yo.seph) — Joseph.

A man living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness, only mentioned at Num.13.7;

father of: Igal (H3008)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HC/Npm — Conjunction · noun proper masculine
HC/Npm
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Easton's Bible Dictionary

Joseph

Remover or increaser. (1.) The elder of the two sons of Jacob by Rachel (Gen. 30:23, 24), who, on the occasion of his birth, said, “God hath taken away [Heb. ‘asaph] my reproach.” “The Lord shall add [Heb. yoseph] to me another son” (Gen. 30:24). He was a child of probably six years of age when his father returned from Haran to Canaan and took up his residence in the old patriarchal town of Hebron. “Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age,” and he “made him a long garment with sleeves” (Gen. 37:3, R.V. marg.), i.e., a garment long and full, such as was worn by the children of nobles. This seems to be the correct rendering of the words. The phrase, however, may also be…

Smith's Bible Dictionary

(increase). The elder of the two sons of Jacob by Rachel. He was born in Padan-aram (Mesopotamia), probably about B.C. 1746. He is first mentioned when a youth, seventeen years old. Joseph brought the evil report of his brethren to his father, and they hated him because his father loved him more than he did them, and had shown his preference by making a dress which appears to have been a long tunic with sleeves, worn by youths and maidens of the richer class. (Genesis 37:2) He dreamed a dream foreshadowing his future power, which increased the hatred of his brethren. (Genesis 37:5-7) He was sent by his father to visit his brothers, who were tending flocks in the fields of Dothan. They resolved to kill him, but he was saved by Reuben, who persuaded the brothers to cast Joseph into…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

1. The son of Jacob and his beloved Rachel, born in Mesopotamia, Ge 30:22-24, B. C. 1747. He is memorable for the wonderful providence of God, which raised him from a prison to be the grandvizier of Egypt, and made him the honored means of saving countless human lives. His history is one of the most pleasing and instructive in the Bible; and is related in language inimitably natural, simple, and touching. It is too beautiful for abridgment, and too familiar to need rehearsal. It throws much light on the superintending providence of God, as embracing all things, great and small in the perpetual unfolding of his universal plan. No narrative in the Bible more strikingly illustrates the protective and elevating power of the fear of God, and its especial value for the young. To behold this lovely image of filial piety and unwavering…

Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary

increase; addition

you redeemed by an arm people your [the] descendants of Jacob and Joseph Selah
סֶֽלָה׃Se.lah Selah H5542 Particle
74× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Selah is a musical term in the Bible that signals a pause or interruption in the music, like a rest in a song, often used in Psalms. It is a technical term that sets a moment for reflection and contemplation, as seen in Psalm 3:2.
Tyndale gloss
Selah
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

סֶ֫לָה (selah) means to lift up or exalt. It is primarily recognized as a musical term indicating a pause or interruption, often found in the Psalms. The word is derived from a root meaning 'suspension' and appears frequently in the context of music, suggesting accentuation.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

סֶ֫לָה vb. lift up, or exalt;—this interpr. agrees with usage: 71 t. in 39 ψψ, 3 t. Hb 3

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5542 סֶ֫לָה lift up, or exalt

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5542 celah seh'-law

from 5541; suspension (of music), i.e. pause:--Selah.

see HEBREW for 05541

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

סֶ֫לָה (se.lah) — Selah.

§ 1) to lift up, exalt

1a) Selah

1a1) a technical musical term probably showing accentuation, pause, interruption

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HTj — Particle
HTj
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

se'-la.

See MUSIC, II, 1.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Selah

A word frequently found in the Book of Psalms, and also in Hab. 3:9, 13, about seventy-four times in all in Scripture. Its meaning is doubtful. Some interpret it as meaning “silence” or “pause;” others, “end,” “a louder strain,” “piano,” etc. The LXX. render the word by daplasma i.e., “a division.”

Smith's Bible Dictionary

This word, which is found only in the poetical books of the Old Testament, occurs seventy-one times in the Psalms and three times in Habakkuk. It is probably a term which had a meaning in the musical nomenclature of the Hebrews, though what that meaning may have been is now a matter of pure conjecture. (Gesenius and Ewald and others think it has much the same meaning as our interlude,--a pause in the voices singing, while the instruments perform alone.)

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

A musical term which occurs seventy-three times in the Psalms, and is found also in Hab 3:3,9,13. It usually occurs at the end of a period or apostrophe, but sometimes at the end only of a clause. This difficult word, it is now generally believed, was a direction for a meditative pause in the singing of a psalm, during which perhaps there was an instrumental interlude.

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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