Menu

Psalms 78:19 — Word Study

Depth

WLCוַֽיְדַבְּר֗וּ בֵּֽאלֹ֫הִ֥ים אָ֭מְרוּ הֲי֣וּכַל אֵ֑ל לַעֲרֹ֥ךְ שֻׁ֝לְחָ֗ן בַּמִּדְבָּֽר׃

BSAThey spokedâbar against Godʼĕlôhîym [in rebellion, Elohim, the one supreme God] sayingʼâmar Canyâkôl Godʼêl [the Almighty, all-powerful] really prepareʻârak [arrange, furnish] a tableshulchân [for a meal, a symbol of provision] in the wildernessmidbâr [a desert, a place of testing]

Word
Listen & take awayPsalms 78
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 19 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 (ba.mid.Bar) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Psalms 78:19quick helps
In a sentenceThe people questioned God's ability to provide for them in the wilderness.
Who is speakingThe Israelites, expressing doubt about God's provision.
Where we areIn the context of Israel's journey through the wilderness, facing hunger and uncertainty.
The hard wordיְדַבְּר֗וּ
Take awayThe Israelites challenged God's power and provision.
7 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Trapp, Ellicott & more — read them › clause subjectאֱלֹהִים verbדָבַר 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 78:19

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

Context — The Rebellion of Israel in the Wildernessgenerated

18They willfully tested God by demanding the food they craved.
19They spoke against God, saying, “Can God really prepare a table in the wilderness?
20When He struck the rock, water gushed out and torrents raged. But can He also give bread or supply His people with meat?”
21Therefore the LORD heard and was filled with wrath; so a fire was kindled against Jacob, and His anger flared against Israel,

Psalm 78:19 reflects a moment of rebellion among the Israelites during their journey in the wilderness. They questioned God's ability to provide sustenance, despite witnessing His miraculous works. This verse highlights their lack of faith and the challenges they faced in trusting God's provision, as seen in the broader narrative of their wilderness experience.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Exodus 16:8–10And Moses added, “The LORD will give you meat to eat this evening and bread to fill you in the morning, for He has heard your grumbling against Him. Who are we? Your grumblings are not against us but against the LORD.”
2Numbers 21:5and spoke against God and against Moses: “Why have you led us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no bread or water, and we detest this wretched food!”
32 Chronicles 32:19They spoke against the God of Jerusalem as they had spoken against the gods of the peoples of the earth—the work of human hands.
4Job 34:37For he adds rebellion to his sin; he claps his hands among us and multiplies his words against God.”
5Romans 9:20But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? Shall what is formed say to Him who formed it, “Why did You make me like this?”

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 7 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word יְדַבְּר֗וּ, vay.da.be.Rugenerated

The verb דָבַר (dabar) means 'to speak' and captures the act of communication, whether it be declaring, commanding, or conversing. In this verse, it indicates the Israelites' vocal challenge to God, expressing doubt and rebellion.

The Piel form of the verb suggests an active and intentional speaking, emphasizing the rebellious nature of their words against God. This reflects a critical moment where the people not only voiced their doubts but did so in opposition to the one who had delivered them.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

In the Berean Standard Bible, the translation reflects the original Hebrew closely, using spoke against God to convey the Israelites' rebellion.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main verb of the verse is יְדַבְּר֗וּ, they spoke, which governs the clauses that follow. The structure emphasizes the action of speaking against God, with additional clauses elaborating on what was said.

The sentence contains a series of clauses that detail the Israelites’ statements and questions, highlighting their disbelief and challenge to God's power, particularly in the context of their wilderness experience.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

In the Septuagint, the word used for יְדַבְּר֗וּ is κατελάλησαν, which conveys a similar meaning of speaking or declaring. This choice reflects the translators' understanding of the Israelites' vocal rebellion against God.

The translation captures the essence of the Hebrew text, emphasizing the act of speaking out against God, which is central to the message of the verse.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Psalm 78:19 shows the Israelites speaking against God, questioning whether He can provide a meal in the wilderness. This reflects their doubt and lack of faith during their journey.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean that they spoke against God?

It means that the Israelites were expressing doubt and rebellion against God's ability to provide for them, despite the miracles they had witnessed.

Why did they question God's ability to prepare a table?

They were in a difficult situation in the wilderness, facing hunger and uncertainty, which led them to doubt God's provision.

How does this verse relate to the overall journey of the Israelites?

This verse highlights a key moment in the Israelites' journey where they struggled to trust God despite His previous acts of deliverance and provision.

What can we learn from the Israelites' doubt?

We can learn the importance of faith and trust in God's provision, especially during challenging times.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what areas of my life do I struggle to trust God's provision?
  2. How can I remind myself of God's past faithfulness when facing uncertainty?
  3. What steps can I take to strengthen my faith in God's ability to provide?
  4. How can I encourage others who may be doubting God's provision in their lives?

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

John Chrysostom references this verse to discuss the Israelites' doubts about God's provision in the wilderness, highlighting their challenge to His power.

John ChrysostomHomily on the Gospel of Matthew 49 c. 347–407
And that which in the wilderness seemed to the Jews marvellous, (they said at least, "Can He give bread also? or prepare a table in the wilderness?") this He shows forth in His works.
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 78 →

Commentators on this verse — 7 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Psalms 78:19 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

Yea, they spoke against God,.... Not only thought ill of him, and tempted him in their hearts, but they expressed with their mouths what was in their hearts, and spoke against him, his power, and his

Read John Gill on Psalms 78 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

Marvellous things did he in the sight of their fathers, in the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan.

Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 78 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Psalms 78:19 Yea, they spake against God; they said, Can God furnish a table in the wilderness?Ver. 19. Yea, they stake against God] Their villanous and foul thoughts blistered and brake out at their lips. Can God furnish a table?] This was a blasphemous question. God can do more than he will; but whatsoever he will do shall be done, and nothing can hinder it. "Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean," said he in the Gospel. And this was better than that of the other, who said, "If thou canst do any thing, help us," Mark 9:22

Read John Trapp on Psalms 78 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(19, 20) A comparison of these verses with the references in the margin shows how the ancient narratives fared under poetical treatment. Furnish a table.—Comp. Psalms 23:5, Note Gushed out.—Comp. Psalms 105:41.

Read Charles John Ellicott on Psalms 78 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

19. Can God furnish] R.V., Can God prepare?

Read Cambridge on Psalms 78 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Yea, they spake against God - That is, in the manner which is immediately specified - by calling in question his power, or his ability to provide for them in the wilderness. See Numbers 11:4.

Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 78 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

19. They spake against God—And, in reply, “the wrath of God arose against them.” Psalms 78:21.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Psalms 78 →

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

They spoke against God, saying, “Can God really prepare a table in the wilderness?

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Yes, they spoke against God. They said, “Can God prepare a table in the wilderness?

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

They spoke against God, saying, “Can God really prepare a table in the wilderness?

NETBNew English Translation2006

They insulted God, saying, “Is God really able to give us food in the wilderness?

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

Yea, they spake against God; they said, Can God furnish a table in the wilderness?

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

Yea, they spake against God; They said, Can God prepare a table in the wilderness?

RVARevised Version, American1894

Yea, they spake against God; they said, Can God prepare a table in the wilderness?

NWBWebster's Bible1833

Yes, they spoke against God; they said, Can God furnish a table in the wilderness?

GNVGeneva Bible1599

They spake against God also, saying, Can God prepare a table in the wildernesse?

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

And they spoke against God: they said, Is God able to prepare a table in the wilderness?

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

And they speak against God — they said: 'Is God able to array a table in a wilderness?'

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

And they speak against God—they said: “Is God able to array a table in a wilderness?”

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

Yea, they spoke against God: they said, Will God be able to set in order a table in the wilderness?

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

They spoke against God; they said, “Can God really lay out a table for us in the wilderness?

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

They insulted God by saying, “Can God provide food here in the desert?

BBEBible in Basic English1949

They said bitter words against God, saying, Is God able to make ready a table in the waste land?

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.

וַֽandclauseverbיְדַבְּר֗וּthey.spokeprepositional phrase · prepositionalבֵּֽagainstאלֹ֫הִ֥יםGodclauseverbאָ֭מְרוּthey.saidclauseהֲisclauseverbי֣וּכַלhe.able?subjectאֵ֑לGodprepositional phrase · prepositionalלַtoclauseverbעֲרֹ֥ךְarrangeobjectשֻׁ֝לְחָ֗ןa.tableprepositional phrase · prepositionalבַּinnoun phrasetheמִּדְבָּֽרwilderness

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 largely agree in their rendering of this verse. The Septuagint matches 7 of the 8 words from the Hebrew text, indicating a strong alignment in the core message, though the word order differs.

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

וַֽיְדַבְּר֗וּ בֵּֽאלֹ֫הִ֥ים אָ֭מְרוּ הֲי֣וּכַל אֵ֑ל לַעֲרֹ֥ךְ שֻׁ֝לְחָ֗ן בַּמִּדְבָּֽר׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
וַֽיְדַבְּר֗וּκατελάλησανבֵּֽאלֹ֫הִ֥יםθεοῦהֲי֣וּכַלδυνήσεταιאֵ֑לθεὸςלַעֲרֹ֥ךְἑτοιμάσαιשֻׁ֝לְחָ֗ןτράπεζανבַּמִּדְבָּֽר׃ἐρήμῳ

7 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 78:19דָבַרand they spand they spokeדָבַראֱלֹהִיםagainst Godagainst Godאֱלֹהִיםאָמַרthey saidthey saidאָמַריָכֹל¿ is he abl¿ is he ableיָכֹלאֵלGodGodאֵלעָרַךְto arrangeto arrangeעָרַךְשֻׁלְחָןa tablea tableשֻׁלְחָןמִדְבָּרin the wildin the wilderneמִדְבָּראַ֫יִלramramאַ֫יִלשָׁלַחto send: dto send: departשָׁלַחדָבַרto speak: to speak: speakדָבַראֱלֹהַּgodgodאֱלֹהַּמֹשֶׁהMosesMosesמֹשֶׁהלָשׁוֹןtonguetongueלָשׁוֹןאַחֵרanotheranotherאַחֵראֲרוֹןarkarkאֲרוֹןכֹּהthusthusכֹּהיהוהYHWH/GodYHWH/Godיהוהפָּתָהto open wito open wideפָּתָהאוּלַיperhapsperhapsאוּלַיקַנָּאjealousjealousקַנָּאשַׁדַּיAlmightyAlmightyשַׁדַּישֻׁלְחָןtabletableשֻׁלְחָןקָרָאto encountto encounter: mקָרָאמַעֲרֶ֫כֶתrowrowמַעֲרֶ֫כֶתצִןZinZinצִן
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 78:19

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 they spoke against God they said ¿ is he able God to arrange a table in the wilderness
וַֽיְדַבְּר֗וּvay.da.be.Ru and they spoke H1696 Verb · Piel · sequential imperfect third person masculine plural
1,142× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To speak or communicate, like God speaking to Moses in Exodus or a king commanding his people. It can also mean to promise or warn someone.
Tyndale gloss
to speak: speak
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

דָבַר (dabar) is a Hebrew verb primarily meaning 'to speak.' It encompasses a range of actions including declaring, commanding, and conversing. The root suggests a figurative use of words, with some entries noting a rare destructive sense of subduing. Various forms of the verb indicate different nuances, such as speaking with one another or making promises.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[דָבַר] 1142 vb. speak (original mng. dub.)

Qal speak

Niph. reciprocal sense, speak with one another, talk

Pi. speak

Pu. in the day when she may be spoken for

Hithp. speaking this word

Hiph. either leads subject, or puts to flight, fig. for subdues

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1696 דָבַר speak (original mng. dub.)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1696 dabar daw-bar'

a primitive root; perhaps properly, to arrange; but used

figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive

sense) to subdue:--answer, appoint, bid, command, commune,

declare, destroy, give, name, promise, pronounce, rehearse,

say, speak, be spokesman, subdue, talk, teach, tell, think,

use (entreaties), utter, X well, X work.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

דָבַר (da.var) — to speak: speak.

: speak/tell/command

1) to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing

1a) (Qal) to speak

1b) (Niphal) to speak with one another, talk

1c) (Piel)

1c1) to speak

1c2) to promise

1d) (Pual) to be spoken

1e) (Hithpael) to speak

1f) (Hiphil) to lead away, put to flight

דָבַר (da.var) — to speak: subdue.

: subdue

1) to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing

1a) (Qal) to speak

1b) (Niphal) to speak with one another, talk

1c) (Piel)

1c1) to speak

1c2) to promise

1d) (Pual) to be spoken

1e) (Hithpael) to speak

1f) (Hiphil) to lead away, put to flight

דָבַר (da.var) — to speak: promise.

: promise/declare

1) to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing

1a) (Qal) to speak

1b) (Niphal) to speak with one another, talk

1c) (Piel)

1c1) to speak

1c2) to promise

1d) (Pual) to be spoken

1e) (Hithpael) to speak

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Piel-ConsecImperf-3mp — Verb · Piel · sequential imperfect third person masculine plural
Hc/Vpw3mp
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

spok (1Ki 7:33).

See SEA, THE MOLTEN.

and they spoke against God they said ¿ is he able God to arrange a table in the wilderness
בֵּֽאלֹ֫הִ֥יםbe.Lo.Him against God H430 Preposition · noun common masculine plural absolute
2,603× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for God, elohim, refers to the one supreme God, and is sometimes used to show respect to judges or magistrates. It is also used to describe angels or mighty beings. This word is closely related to the name of the Lord, Yahweh, and is often translated as God or gods in the Bible.
Amplified meaning
in rebellion, Elohim, the one supreme God
Tyndale gloss
God
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אֱלֹהִים (elohiym) is a plural noun meaning 'gods' or 'God,' often referring to the supreme deity in the Old Testament. It encompasses divine beings, rulers, and judges, reflecting divine majesty and power. The term can also denote angels and is used in a superlative sense. Notably, it is sometimes combined with יהוה (YHWH), the personal name of God.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֱלֹהִים 2570 n.m.pl.

pl. in number.

rulers, judges, either as divine representatives at sacred places or as reflecting divine majesty and power

divine ones, superhuman beings including God and angels

angels

gods

pl. intensive

god or goddess

godlike one

works of God, or things belongng to him

God

הָאֱלֹהִים the (true) God

אֱלֹהִים = God

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H430 אֱלֹהִים n. m. pl. . pl. in number. . rulers, judges, either asdivine representatives at sacred places or as reflecting divine majesty and power

. divine ones, superhuman beings including God and angels

. angels

. gods

. pl. intensive . god or goddess

. godlike one

. works of God, or things belongng to him

. God

. הָאֱלֹהִים the (true) God

. אֱלֹהִים = God

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

430 'elohiym el-o-heem'

plural of 433; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically

used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the

supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to

magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative:--angels, X

exceeding, God (gods)(-dess, -ly), X (very) great, judges, X

mighty.

see HEBREW for 0433

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֱלֹהִים (e.lo.him) — God.

This name means "gods" (plural intensive-singular meaning), "God"

Another name of ye.ho.vah (יהוה "LORD" H3068G)

אֱלֹהִים (e.lo.him) — (LORD)-Elohe.

Combined with ye.ho.vah (יהוה "LORD" H3068)

אֱלֹהִים (e.lo.him) — (Gibeath)-elohim.

Combined with giv.ah (גִּבְעָה "Gibeath" H1389)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-mp — Preposition · noun common masculine plural absolute
HR/Ncmpa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

god ('Elohim, 'El, [`Elyon], Shadday, Yahweh; Theos):

I. INTRODUCTION TO THE GENERAL IDEA

1. The Idea in Experience and in Thought

2. Definition of the Idea

3. The Knowledge of God

4. Ethnic Ideas of God

(1) Animism

(2) Fetishism

(3) Idolatry

(4) Polytheism

(5) Henotheism

(6) Pantheism

(7) Deism

(8) Semitic Monolatry

(9) Monotheism

II. THE IDEA OF GOD IN THE OLD TESTAMENT

1. The Course of Its Development

2. Forms of Its Manifestation

(1) The Face or Countenance of God

(2) The Voice and Word of God

(3) The Glory of God

(4) The Angel of God

(5) The Spirit of God

(6) The Name of God

(7) Occasional Forms

3. The Names of God

(1) Generic

(2) Attributive

(3) Yahweh

4. Pre-prophetic Conceptions of God

(1) Yahweh Alone Is the God of Israel

(a) His Early Worship

(b) Popular Religion

(c) Polytheistic Tendencies

(i) Coordination

(ii) Assimilation

(iii) Disintegration

(d) No Hebrew Goddesses

(e) Human Sacrifices

Easton's Bible Dictionary

God

(A.S. and Dutch God; Dan. Gud; Ger. Gott), the name of the Divine Being. It is the rendering (1) of the Hebrew ’El, from a word meaning to be strong; (2) of ’Eloah_, plural _’Elohim. The singular form, Eloah, is used only in poetry. The plural form is more commonly used in all parts of the Bible, The Hebrew word Jehovah (q.v.), the only other word generally employed to denote the Supreme Being, is uniformly rendered in the Authorized Version by “LORD,” printed in small capitals. The existence of God is taken for granted in the Bible. There is nowhere any argument to prove it. He who disbelieves this truth is spoken of as one devoid of understanding (Ps. 14:1).

The arguments generally adduced by theologians in proof of the being of God are:

(1.) The a priori argument, which is the testimony afforded by reason.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

(good). Throughout the Hebrew Scriptures two chief names are used for the one true divine Being--ELOHIM, commonly translated God in our version, and JEHOVAH, translated Lord . Elohim is the plural of Eloah (in Arabic Allah); it is often used in the short form EL (a word signifying strength , as in EL-SHADDAI, God Almighty, the name by which God was specially known to the patriarchs. (Genesis 17:1; 28:3; Exodus 6:3) The etymology is uncertain, but it is generally agreed that the primary idea is that of strength, power of effect , and that it properly describes God in that character in which he is exhibited to all men in his works, as the creator, sustainer and supreme governor of the world. The plural form of Elohim has given rise to much discussion. The fanciful idea that it…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

This name, the derivation of which is uncertain, we give to that eternal, infinite, perfect, and incomprehensible Being, the Creator of all things, who preserves and governs all by his almighty power and wisdom, and is the only proper object of worship. The proper Hebrew name for God is JEHOVAH, which signifies He is. But the Jews, from a feeling of reverence, avoid pronouncing this name, substituting for it, wherever it occurs in the sacred test, the word ADONAI, Lord; except in the expression, ADONAI JEHOVAH, Lord Jehovah, for which they put, ADONAI ELOHIM, Lord God. This usage, which is not without an element of superstition, is very ancient, dating its origin some centuries before Christ; but there is no good ground for assuming its existence in the days of the inspired Old Testament writers. The proper word for God is ELOHIM, which is plural in its form, being thus used to signify…

and they spoke against God they said ¿ is he able God to arrange a table in the wilderness
אָ֭מְרוּ'A.me.ru they said H559 Verb · Qal · perfect third person common plural
5,309× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to say or speak, and it's used in many different ways in the Bible. It can mean to command, promise, or think, and it's translated in the KJV as 'answer', 'appoint', or 'command'.
Tyndale gloss
to say
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אָמַר (amar) is a Hebrew verb meaning 'to say' or 'to utter,' with a broad range of uses including to promise, command, or even boast. It appears in various forms, such as in the Qal (to say), Niphal (to be told), and Hiphil (to avow). The entries highlight its versatility in both spoken and internal contexts, though no specific verse is noted.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אָמַר 5287 vb. utter, say

Qal

Say

Say in the heart (= think)

Promise

Command (esp. late)

Niph. be said, told

Hiph. avow, avouch (lit. cause to declare)

Hithp. act proudly, boast

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H559 אָמַר utter, say .. Say

. Say in the heart (= think)

. Promise

. Command (esp. late)

. be said, told

. avow, avouch (lit. cause to declare)

. act proudly, boast

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

559 'amar aw-mar'

a primitive root; to say (used with great

latitude):--answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call,

certify, challenge, charge, + (at the, give) command(-ment),

commune, consider, declare, demand, X desire, determine, X

expressly, X indeed, X intend, name, X plainly, promise,

publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), X still, X

suppose, talk, tell, term, X that is, X think, use (speech),

utter, X verily, X yet.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אָמַר (a.mar) — to say.

1) to say, speak, utter

1a) (Qal) to say, to answer, to say in one's heart, to think, to command, to promise, to intend

1b) (Niphal) to be told, to be said, to be called

1c) (Hithpael) to boast, to act proudly

1d) (Hiphil) to avow, to avouch

Aramaic equivalent: a.mar (אֲמַר "to say" H0560)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Perf-3cp — Verb · Qal · perfect third person common plural
HVqp3cp
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and they spoke against God they said ¿ is he able God to arrange a table in the wilderness
הֲי֣וּכַלha.Yu.khal ¿ is he able H3201 Particle · verb qal imperfect third person masculine singular
194× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to be able or have power, used in various contexts, such as overcoming or enduring, and is translated as 'be able' or 'have power' in the KJV.
Tyndale gloss
be able
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יָכֹל (yakol) is a Hebrew verb meaning 'to be able' or 'to have power.' It encompasses a range of abilities, including physical, moral, and constitutional strength, as well as the capacity to endure or prevail. The entries highlight its use in various contexts, but do not provide specific verse references.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יָכֹל, יָכוֹל 193 vb. be able, have power, prevail, endure

Qal

be able, to do a thing,, whether ability be physical, moral, constitutional, or dependent on external authority

prevail

abs. have ability, strength, only neg.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3201 יָכֹל, יָכוֹל be able, have power, prevail, endure .. be able, to do a thing,, whether ability be physical, moral, constitutional, or dependent on external authority

. prevail

. abs. have ability, strength, only neg.

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3201 yakol yaw-kole'

or (fuller) yakowl {yaw-kole'}; a primitive root; to be able,

literally (can, could) or morally (may, might):--be able, any

at all (ways), attain, can (away with, (-not)), could, endure,

might, overcome, have power, prevail, still, suffer.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יָכֹל (ya.khol) — be able.

1) to prevail, overcome, endure, have power, be able

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to be able, be able to gain or accomplish, be able to endure, be able to reach

1a2) to prevail, prevail over or against, overcome, be victor

1a3) to have ability, have strength

Aramaic equivalent: ye.khel (יְכִל "be able" H3202)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Part | V-Qal-Imperf-3ms — Particle · verb qal imperfect third person masculine singular
HTi/Vqi3ms
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

a'-b'-l: The Greek dunamai, "to have power," may refer either to inherent strength, or to the absence of in external obstacles, or to what may be allowable or permitted. The Greek ischuo, as in Lu 13:24; Joh 21:6, refers always to the first of the above meanings. The use of the word as an adjective the King James Version of 2Co 3:6, is misleading, and has been properly changed in the Revised Version (British and American) into "sufficient as ministers," i.e. "hath fitted us to be ministers."

and they spoke against God they said ¿ is he able God to arrange a table in the wilderness
אֵ֑ל'El God H410 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
241× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, 'el means strength or power, and is often used to refer to God or false gods. It describes something or someone as mighty or powerful, like the Almighty. This concept is central to understanding the Bible's view of God.
Amplified meaning
the Almighty, all-powerful
Tyndale gloss
god
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word אֵל (*'el*) primarily means 'god' and conveys the idea of might or strength. It can refer to the one true God of Israel, as well as to other deities, angels, and mighty men. The entries highlight its use in various contexts, including nature and power, but do not present significant disagreement among lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֵל n.m. god, but with various subordinate applications to express the idea of might

applied to men of might and rank

angels

gods of the nations

Ēl

as characterizing mighty things in nature

God, the one only and true God of Israel

אֵל strength, power

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H410 אֵל god, but with various subordinate applications to express the idea of might . applied to men of might and rank

. angels

. gods of the nations

. Ēl

. as characterizing mighty things in nature

. God, the one only and true God of Israel

. אֵל strength, power

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

410 'el ale

shortened from 352; strength; as adjective, mighty;

especially the Almighty (but used also of any deity):--God

(god), X goodly, X great, idol, might(-y one), power, strong.

Compare names in "-el."

see HEBREW for 0352

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֵל (el) — God.

This name means god, god-like one, mighty one, strength, power

Another name of ye.ho.vah (יהוה "LORD" H3068G)

אֵל (el) — El (Berith).

This name means god, god-like one, mighty one, strength, power

Combined with "Berith" (berith בְּרִית H1286)

אֵל (el) — El (Elohe).

Another name of ye.ho.vah (יהוה "LORD" H3068G)

This name means god, god-like one, mighty one, strength, power

Combined with "God" (elohim אֱלֹהִים H0430)

אֵל (el) — El (Most High).

Another name of ye.ho.vah (יהוה "LORD" H3068G)

This name means god, god-like one, mighty one, strength, power

Combined with "Most High" (el.yon עֶלְיוֹן H5945B)

אֵל (el) — god.

: god

1) god, god-like one, mighty one

1a) mighty men, men of rank, mighty heroes

1b) angels

1c) god, false god, (demons, imaginations)

1d) God, the one true God, Jehovah

2) mighty things in nature

3) strength, power

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absolute
HNcmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

god ('Elohim, 'El, [`Elyon], Shadday, Yahweh; Theos):

I. INTRODUCTION TO THE GENERAL IDEA

1. The Idea in Experience and in Thought

2. Definition of the Idea

3. The Knowledge of God

4. Ethnic Ideas of God

(1) Animism

(2) Fetishism

(3) Idolatry

(4) Polytheism

(5) Henotheism

(6) Pantheism

(7) Deism

(8) Semitic Monolatry

(9) Monotheism

II. THE IDEA OF GOD IN THE OLD TESTAMENT

1. The Course of Its Development

2. Forms of Its Manifestation

(1) The Face or Countenance of God

(2) The Voice and Word of God

(3) The Glory of God

(4) The Angel of God

(5) The Spirit of God

(6) The Name of God

(7) Occasional Forms

3. The Names of God

(1) Generic

(2) Attributive

(3) Yahweh

4. Pre-prophetic Conceptions of God

(1) Yahweh Alone Is the God of Israel

(a) His Early Worship

(b) Popular Religion

(c) Polytheistic Tendencies

(i) Coordination

(ii) Assimilation

(iii) Disintegration

(d) No Hebrew Goddesses

(e) Human Sacrifices

Easton's Bible Dictionary

God

(A.S. and Dutch God; Dan. Gud; Ger. Gott), the name of the Divine Being. It is the rendering (1) of the Hebrew ’El, from a word meaning to be strong; (2) of ’Eloah_, plural _’Elohim. The singular form, Eloah, is used only in poetry. The plural form is more commonly used in all parts of the Bible, The Hebrew word Jehovah (q.v.), the only other word generally employed to denote the Supreme Being, is uniformly rendered in the Authorized Version by “LORD,” printed in small capitals. The existence of God is taken for granted in the Bible. There is nowhere any argument to prove it. He who disbelieves this truth is spoken of as one devoid of understanding (Ps. 14:1).

The arguments generally adduced by theologians in proof of the being of God are:

(1.) The a priori argument, which is the testimony afforded by reason.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

(good). Throughout the Hebrew Scriptures two chief names are used for the one true divine Being--ELOHIM, commonly translated God in our version, and JEHOVAH, translated Lord . Elohim is the plural of Eloah (in Arabic Allah); it is often used in the short form EL (a word signifying strength , as in EL-SHADDAI, God Almighty, the name by which God was specially known to the patriarchs. (Genesis 17:1; 28:3; Exodus 6:3) The etymology is uncertain, but it is generally agreed that the primary idea is that of strength, power of effect , and that it properly describes God in that character in which he is exhibited to all men in his works, as the creator, sustainer and supreme governor of the world. The plural form of Elohim has given rise to much discussion. The fanciful idea that it…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

This name, the derivation of which is uncertain, we give to that eternal, infinite, perfect, and incomprehensible Being, the Creator of all things, who preserves and governs all by his almighty power and wisdom, and is the only proper object of worship. The proper Hebrew name for God is JEHOVAH, which signifies He is. But the Jews, from a feeling of reverence, avoid pronouncing this name, substituting for it, wherever it occurs in the sacred test, the word ADONAI, Lord; except in the expression, ADONAI JEHOVAH, Lord Jehovah, for which they put, ADONAI ELOHIM, Lord God. This usage, which is not without an element of superstition, is very ancient, dating its origin some centuries before Christ; but there is no good ground for assuming its existence in the days of the inspired Old Testament writers. The proper word for God is ELOHIM, which is plural in its form, being thus used to signify…

and they spoke against God they said ¿ is he able God to arrange a table in the wilderness
לַעֲרֹ֥ךְla.'a.Rokh to arrange H6186 Preposition · verb qal infinitive construct common
75× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to value or arrange things in order. It is used in various contexts, like setting up an army for battle or estimating the value of something, as seen in 1 Kings 10.
Amplified meaning
arrange, furnish
Tyndale gloss
to arrange
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עָרַךְ (arak) means to arrange or set in order, applicable in various contexts such as preparing a table, organizing a battle, or stating a legal case. It can also denote valuing or taxing in the Hiphil form. The word encompasses a wide range of meanings related to order and comparison.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עָרַךְ vb. arrange or set in order

Qal

arrange in order, seven altars

set or lay in order, as wood

in common life, arrange a table

arrange a battle, i.e. draw up in battle order

arrange weapons of army in order for battle

arrange words

state in order, set forth a legal case

compare (as result of arranging in order)

intrans. be comparable

base

עָרַךְ vb. denom. Hiph. value (for taxation), tax

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6186a עָרַךְ arrange or set in order .. . arrange in order, seven altars

. set or lay in order, as wood

. in common life, arrange a table

. arrange a battle, i.e. draw up in battle order

. arrange weapons of army in order for battle

. arrange words

. state in order, set forth a legal case

. . compare (as result of arranging in order)

. intrans. be comparable

H6186b עָרַךְ vb. denom. Hiph. value (for taxation), tax

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6186 `arak aw-rak'

a primitive root; to set in a row, i.e. arrange, put in order

(in a very wide variety of applications):--put (set) (the

battle, self) in array, compare, direct, equal, esteem,

estimate, expert (in war), furnish, handle, join (battle),

ordain, (lay, put, reckon up, set) (in) order, prepare, tax,

value.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עָרַךְ (a.rakh) — to arrange.

1) to arrange, set or put or lay in order, set in array, prepare, order, ordain, handle, furnish, esteem, equal, direct, compare

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to arrange or set or lay in order, arrange, state in order, set forth (a legal case), set in place

1a2) to compare, be comparable

עָרַךְ (a.rakh) — to value.

(Hiphil) to value, tax

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | V-Qal-Inf-a — Preposition · verb qal infinitive construct common
HR/Vqcc
and they spoke against God they said ¿ is he able God to arrange a table in the wilderness
שֻׁ֝לְחָ֗ןShul.Chan a table H7979 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
71× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A shulchan refers to a table, often used for meals or sacred purposes, like a king's table. It symbolizes a place of community and sharing.
Amplified meaning
for a meal, a symbol of provision
Tyndale gloss
table
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word שֻׁלְחָן (shulchan) means 'table' and is derived from the root meaning to spread out. It can refer to various types of tables, including those used for kings, private use, or sacred purposes. The entries consistently emphasize its primary meaning as a table.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שֻׁלְחָן 71 n.m. table

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7979 שֻׁלְחָן table

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7979 shulchan shool-khawn'

from 7971; a table (as spread out); by implication, a

meal:--table.

see HEBREW for 07971

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שֻׁלְחָן (shul.chan) — table.

1) table

1a) table

1a1) of king's table, private use, sacred uses

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absolute
HNcmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

"Table" is derived from the Latin tabula, meaning primarily "a board," but with a great variety of other significances, of which "writing-tablet" is the most important for the Biblical use of "table." So in English "table" meant at first "any surface" and, in particular, "a surface for writing," and further specialization was needed before "table" became the name of the familiar article of furniture ("object with a horizontal surface"), a meaning not possessed by tabula in Latin. After this specialization "table" in the sense of "a surface for writing" was replaced in later English by the diminutive form "tablet." But "surface for writing" was still a common meaning of "table," and in this sense it represents luach (Ex 24:12, etc.), a word of uncertain origin, plax, "something flat" (

Of the altar Mal 1:7,12

Of the Lord' s supper 1Co 10:21

Of idolatrous feasts 1Co 10:21

Of charities Ac 6:2

2. Of shewbread

Thompson Chain Reference topics

(1) An Article of Furniture

Jud 1:7; 2Sa 9:7; 1Ki 10:5; 18:19; Ne 5:17; Mt 15:27

(2) Of Shewbread, used in the Tabernacle

Ex 25:23; 31:8; 37:10; 40:22; Nu 3:31; 2Ch 13:11; Heb 9:2

--SEE Shewbread, SHEWBREAD

and they spoke against God they said ¿ is he able God to arrange a table in the wilderness
בַּמִּדְבָּֽר׃ba.mid.Bar in the wilderness H4057 Preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
271× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The wilderness refers to a desert or open field, like the one the Israelites wandered in after leaving Egypt. It can also mean a place of solitude or a region without many people. In the Bible, it is often associated with the journey to the Promised Land.
Amplified meaning
a desert, a place of testing
Tyndale gloss
mouth
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מִדְבָּר (midbar) primarily means 'mouth' in the sense of an organ of speech, but it also refers to 'wilderness' or 'desert.' The word is derived from a root meaning to drive, suggesting open fields for pasturing cattle. It encompasses various forms of uninhabited land and is notably used in contexts related to the wilderness, such as the Wilderness of Sinai.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[מִדְבָּר] n.m. mouth, as organ of speech, Ct 4:3

ref

מִדְבָר 270 n.m. wilderness

tracts of land, used for the pasturage of flocks and herds

uninhabited land

large tracts of such land bearing various names, in certain districts of which there might be towns and cities

fig.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4057a מִדְבָּר mouth, as organ of speech H4057b מִדְבָר wilderness

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4057 midbar mid-bawr'

from 1696 in the sense of driving; a pasture (i.e. open

field, whither cattle are driven); by implication, a desert;

also speech (including its organs):--desert, south, speech,

wilderness.

see HEBREW for 01696

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מִדְבָּר (mid.bar) — mouth.

1) mouth

1a) mouth (as organ of speech)

מִדְבָּר (mid.bar) — wilderness.

1) wilderness

1a) pasture

1b) uninhabited land, wilderness

1c) large tracts of wilderness (around cities)

1d) wilderness (fig.)

מִדְבָּר (mid.bar) — Wilderness (of Sinai).

This name means wilderness, uninhabited land

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
HRd/Ncmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

wil'-der-nes.

See DESERT; JUDAEA, WILDERNESS OF; WANDERINGS OF ISRAEL.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Wilderness

(1.) Heb. midhbar, denoting not a barren desert but a district or region suitable for pasturing sheep and cattle (Ps. 65:12; Isa. 42:11; Jer. 23:10; Joel 1:19; 2:22); an uncultivated place. This word is used of the wilderness of Beersheba (Gen. 21:14), on the southern border of Palestine; the wilderness of the Red Sea (Ex. 13:18); of Shur (15:22), a portion of the Sinaitic peninsula; of Sin (17:1), Sinai (Lev. 7:38), Moab (Deut. 2:8), Judah (

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

See DESERT.

Nave's Topical Bible

→ Wandering of the Israelites in, see ISRAEL

→ Typical of the sinner' s state De 32:10

→ Jesus' temptation in Mt 4:1; Mr 1:12,13; Lu 4:1

→ See DESERT

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.

Everything we make is available for free because of a generous community of supporters.

Donate