Psalms 81:13 — Word Study
WLCל֗וּ עַ֭מִּי שֹׁמֵ֣עַֽ לִ֑י יִ֝שְׂרָאֵ֗ל בִּדְרָכַ֥י יְהַלֵּֽכוּ׃
BSAto sendshâlach stubbornnessshᵉrîyrûwth heartlêb to walkyâlak counselmôwʻêtsâh
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| ל֗וּ | if | Conjunction |
| עַ֭מִּי | people my | Noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
| שֹׁמֵ֣עַֽ | [will be] listening | Verb, Qal, participle (active) masculine singular |
| לִ֑י | to me | Preposition, suffix |
| יִ֝שְׂרָאֵ֗ל | Israel | Noun proper |
| בִּדְרָכַ֥י | in ways my | Preposition, noun common both plural construct, suffix |
| יְהַלֵּֽכוּ׃ | they will walk | Verb, Piel, imperfect third person masculine plural |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | If only My people would listen to Me, if Israel would follow My ways, |
| KJV | Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways! |
| ASV | Oh that my people would hearken unto me, That Israel would walk in my ways! |
| YLT | O that My people were hearkening to Me, Israel in My ways would walk. |
| WEB | Oh that my people would listen to me, that Israel would walk in my ways! |
| BBE | If only my people would give ear to me, walking in my ways! |
Where they part company is יְהַלֵּֽכוּ — see How Translations Differ.
Two main clauses expressing God's desire for His people's obedience, structured with conditional phrases.







8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Trapp, Ellicott & more — read them ›
clause
subjectהוּא
verbבְּ
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
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 81:13
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 Call to Obediencegenerated
Psalms 81:13 expresses God's deep desire for His people, Israel, to listen to Him and follow His ways. This plea reflects the ongoing relationship between God and His chosen people, highlighting their tendency to stray from His guidance. The surrounding verses emphasize the consequences of disobedience and the blessings of following God's paths, as seen in Psalms 81:14.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Deuteronomy 5:29 | If only they had such a heart to fear Me and keep all My commandments always, so that it might be well with them and with their children forever. |
| 2 | Deuteronomy 10:12–13 | And now, O Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God by walking in all His ways, to love Him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, |
| 3 | Deuteronomy 32:29 | If only they were wise, they would understand it; they would comprehend their fate. |
| 4 | Isaiah 48:18 | If only you had paid attention to My commandments, your peace would have been like a river, and your righteousness like waves of the sea. |
| 5 | Matthew 23:37 | O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling! |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 6 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — שֹׁמֵעַ, sho.Me.a'generated
The Hebrew word שָׁמַע (shama`) means 'to hear' and encompasses listening with the intent to obey. It is often used in contexts where God speaks to His people, urging them to pay attention and act accordingly.
In this verse, the participle form indicates an ongoing action, suggesting that God wishes for His people to continually listen to Him. The emphasis is on both hearing and heeding His words, which is central to the covenant relationship.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The verse consists of two main clauses, both beginning with conditional phrases. The first clause expresses the desire for the people to listen, while the second expresses the wish for Israel to follow God's ways. This structure highlights the parallelism in God's longing for His people's attention and obedience.
The finite verbs שֹׁמֵעַ and יְהַלֵּֽכוּ anchor the clauses, indicating the actions God desires from His people. The use of conditional phrases emphasizes the hypothetical nature of the plea.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, the Hebrew שֹׁמֵעַ is rendered as ἀκούσουσι, which means 'they will hear.' This choice emphasizes the expectation of a future response from the people, aligning with God's desire for their obedience.
The translation of יְהַלֵּֽכוּ as πορεύσονται indicates a similar focus on the action of walking, reinforcing the call for Israel to follow God's paths.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Psalms 81:13 expresses God's desire for His people, Israel, to listen to Him and follow His ways. This verse highlights the importance of obedience and attentiveness to God's guidance, reflecting the relationship He desires with His people.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Listening to God involves not just hearing His words but also understanding and obeying His guidance, as emphasized throughout the Scriptures.
Following God's ways leads to blessings and protection, as seen in the context of this psalm, where disobedience brings consequences.
You can apply this verse by actively seeking to listen to God's voice through prayer, Scripture, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, striving to follow His teachings in your daily life.
The consequences of not listening to God can include spiritual distance, missed blessings, and the challenges that arise from straying from His guidance.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways can I be more attentive to God's voice in my life?
- What are some practical steps I can take to follow God's ways more closely?
- How does understanding God's desire for my obedience change my perspective on His commands?
- What are some examples in my life where I have seen the blessings of following God's guidance?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Early Church Fathers commented on this verse to highlight God's desire for His people's faithfulness and the consequences of disobedience.
“And he fed them with the fat of wheat.” He led them into the land of promise. He fed them, not with manna as in the desert, but the wheat that had fallen, that had risen again.Early Church Fathers on Psalms 81 →
"If My people would have heard Me, if Israel would have walked in My ways" [Psalms 81:13].Early Church Fathers on Psalms 81 →
“If my people listened to me, if Israel traveled in my ways, I would have reduced their foes to nothing and laid my hand on those afflicting them.” If they had adhered to my advice and followed my commandments,Early Church Fathers on Psalms 81 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Psalms 81:13 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleO that my people had hearkened unto me,.... This might have been expected from them, as they were his professing people; and it would have been to their advantage if they had hearkened to him, as
Read John Gill on Psalms 81 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryOh that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways! -God still yearns over them, in spite of their perversity and its penal consequence, waiting to be gracious. Verse 13.
Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 81 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsPsalms 81:13 Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, [and] Israel had walked in my ways!Ver. 13. Oh that my people had hearkened unto me] A wish after the manner of men; to set forth God’ s great desire of our welfare, which he here uttereth, as it were, with a sigh and a groan.
Read John Trapp on Psalms 81 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(13, 14) Hearken . . . subdue.—The verbs should be taken in a future sense, “Oh that my people would hearken . . . I should soon subdue,” &c. The poet changes from reminiscences of the past to the needs of the present.
Read Charles John Ellicott on Psalms 81 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 13. O that my people had hearkened unto me, - Israel had walked in my ways] Nothing can be more plaintive than the original; sense and sound are surprisingly united. I scruple not to say to him who understands the Hebrew, however learned, he has never found in any poet, Greek or Latin, a finer example of deep-seated grief, unable to express itself in appropriate words without frequent interruptions of sighs and sobs, terminated with a mournful cry. לו עמי שמע לי ישראי בדרכי יהלכו Lo ammi shomea li Yishrael bidrachi yehallechu! He who can give the proper guttural pronunciation to the letter ע ain; and gives the ו vau, and the י yod, their full Asiatic sound, not pinching them to death…
Read AdamClarke on Psalms 81 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges13–16. Yet God’s mercy is inexhaustible. Even now if Israel would obey Him, He would subdue their enemies, and bless them abundantly. Cp. Isaiah 48:17-19.
Read Cambridge on Psalms 81 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleOh that my people had hearkened unto me - This passage is designed mainly to show what would have been the consequences if the Hebrew people had been obedient to the commands of God, Psalms 81:14-16.
Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 81 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible13. Oh that—So Christ lamented over Jerusalem. Matthew 23:37. God sees the magnitude of the evils incurred, and the excellence of the blessings lost, and his regrets are commensurate.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Psalms 81 →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
If only My people would listen to Me, if Israel would follow My ways,
Oh that my people would listen to me, that Israel would walk in my ways!
If only My people would listen to Me, if Israel would follow My ways,
If only my people would obey me! If only Israel would keep my commands!
Tyndale line
Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways!
Oh that my people would hearken unto me, That Israel would walk in my ways!
Oh that my people would hearken unto me, that Israel would walk in my ways!
O that my people had hearkened to me, and Israel had walked in my ways!
Oh that my people had hearkened vnto me, and Israel had walked in my wayes.
Strictly literal
Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, that Israel had walked in my ways!
O that My people were hearkening to Me, Israel in My ways would walk.
O that My people were listening to Me, || Israel would walk in My ways.
(81:14) Oh that my people would hearken unto me, that Israel would walk in my ways!
Oh, that my people would listen to me; oh, that my people would walk in my paths.
Simplified
If only my people would listen to me; if only Israel would follow my ways!
If only my people would give ear to me, walking in my ways!
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.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text reads, 'If only My people would listen to Me, if Israel would follow My ways,' which emphasizes the plea for obedience. The Septuagint has a partial agreement with the Masoretic Text, matching 4 of the 7 words, but its word order and articles differ, reflecting a distinct translation approach. The Dead Sea Scrolls fragment contains 5 words, but 3 of them are restored by an editor, making it difficult to draw direct comparisons. Overall, while the Masoretic Text stands as the primary witness, the other versions show variations in wording and structure, indicating a diverse textual tradition.
ל֗וּ עַ֭מִּי שֹׁמֵ֣עַֽ לִ֑י יִ֝שְׂרָאֵ֗ל בִּדְרָכַ֥י יְהַלֵּֽכוּ׃
4 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.
[ואשלח׳הו] בשררות לב׳ם [ילכו] [במועצותי׳הם]
5 words of the verse are on this fragment — 3 supplied entire by an editor.
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.
Lexicons — every word in Psalms 81:13
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.
לוּ (lu) is a conditional particle meaning 'if' and expresses a wish, as in 'O that!' or 'if only!'. It indicates unlikely conditions or hypothetical situations. The entries consistently highlight its use in expressing desires or wishes, with no significant disagreement among lexicons.
לוּ 17 and לוּא conj. if, O that
if (stating a case which has not been, or is not likely to be, realized)
If only …! i.e. O that! would that!
base
H3863 לוּ, לוּא if, O that
3863 luw' loo
or lu {loo}; or luw {loo}; a conditional particle; if; by
implication (interj. as a wish) would that!:--if (haply),
peradventure, I pray thee, though, I would, would God (that).
לוּ (lu) — if.
1) if, oh that!, if only!
1a) if (unlikely condition)
1b) if only!, oh that!, would that!
HC — ConjunctionHC
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.
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
H5971a עַם, עָם people H5971b עַם kinsman (on father's side)
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
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
HNcmsc/Sp1bs — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHNcmsc/Sp1bs
The Hebrew word שָׁמַע (shama`) means 'to hear' and encompasses a range of meanings including listening, obeying, and proclaiming. It is built from a primitive root and can imply attention and understanding. The entries highlight various grammatical forms, such as Qal, Niphal, Piel, and Hiphil, indicating different nuances of hearing and obeying. There is no significant disagreement among the lexicons regarding its meanings.
שָׁמַע 1152 vb. hear
Qal 1052
subj. pers. hum.
י׳ (God) subj.
Niph. 42 be heard, of voice, sound
be heard of
be regarded, obeyed
= (favourable) hearing was granted to their voice.
Pi. he caused the people to hear
Hiph. 63
of man
י׳ subj.
base
H8085 שָׁמַע hear
8085 shama` shaw-mah'
a primitive root; to hear intelligently (often with
implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to
tell, etc.):--X attentively, call (gather) together, X
carefully, X certainly, consent, consider, be content,
declare, X diligently, discern, give ear, (cause to, let, make
to) hear(-ken, tell), X indeed, listen, make (a) noise, (be)
obedient, obey, perceive, (make a) proclaim(-ation), publish,
regard, report, shew (forth), (make a) sound, X surely, tell,
understand, whosoever (heareth), witness.
שָׁמַע (sha.ma) — to hear: hear.
: hear
v
1) to hear, listen to, obey
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to hear (perceive by ear)
1a2) to hear of or concerning
1a3) to hear (have power to hear)
1a4) to hear with attention or interest, listen to
1a5) to understand (language)
1a6) to hear (of judicial cases)
1a7) to listen, give heed
1a7a) to consent, agree
1a7b) to grant request
1a8) to listen to, yield to
1a9) to obey, be obedient
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be heard (of voice or sound)
1b2) to be heard of
1b3) to be regarded, be obeyed
1c) (Piel) to cause to hear, call to hear, summon
1d) (Hiphil)
1d1) to cause to hear, tell, proclaim, utter a sound
1d2) to sound aloud (musical term)
1d3) to make proclamation, summon
1d4) to cause to be heard
n m
2) sound
שָׁמַע (sha.ma) — to hear: obey.
: obey
v
1) to hear, listen to, obey
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to hear (perceive by ear)
1a2) to hear of or concerning
1a3) to hear (have power to hear)
HVqrmsa — Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine singularHVqrmsa
נִי (ni) — me.
Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 1st person singular
HR/Sp1bs — Preposition · suffixHR/Sp1bs
יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisra'el) refers to both the second name of Jacob, meaning 'God prevails,' and the name of the Hebrew nation descended from him. It is derived from roots meaning 'to rule' and 'God.' The term encompasses Jacob's descendants and is used historically for the northern kingdom of Israel and the nation as a whole after the Babylonian exile.
יִשְׂרָאֵל 2507 n.pr.m. et gent. Israel (Ēl persisteth, persevereth)
n.pr.m. second name of Jacob
n.pr.gent. name of Hebrew nation
base
H3478 יִשְׂרָאֵל Israel (Ēl persisteth, persevereth) . n. pr. m. second name of Jacob
. n. pr. gent. name of Hebrew nation
3478 Yisra'el yis-raw-ale'
from 8280 and 410; he will rule as God; Jisrael, a symbolical
name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity:
--Israel.
see HEBREW for 08280
see HEBREW for 0410
יִשְׂרָאֵל (yis.ra.el) — Israel.
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
§ Israel = "God prevails"
1) the second name for Jacob given to him by God after his wrestling with the angel at Peniel
2) the name of the descendants and the nation of the descendants of Jacob
2a) the name of the nation until the death of Solomon and the split
HNpl — Noun properHNpl
iz'-ra-el.
See JACOB.
Israel
The name conferred on Jacob after the great prayer-struggle at Peniel (Gen. 32:28), because “as a prince he had power with God and prevailed.” (See JACOB.) This is the common name given to Jacob’s descendants. The whole people of the twelve tribes are called “Israelites,” the “children of Israel” (Josh. 3:17; 7:25; Judg. 8:27; Jer. 3:21), and the “house of Israel” (Ex. 16:31; 40:38).
This name Israel is sometimes used emphatically for the true Israel (Ps. 73:1: Isa. 45:17; 49:3;
(the prince that prevails with God). The name given, (Genesis 32:28) to Jacob after his wrestling with the angel, (Hosea 12:4) at Peniel. Gesenius interprets Israel "soldier of God." It became the national name of the twelve tribes collectively. They are so called in (Exodus 3:16) and afterward. It is used in a narrower sense, excluding Judah, in (1 Samuel 11:8; 2 Samuel 20:1; 1 Kings 12:16) Thenceforth it was assumed and accepted as the name of the northern kingdom. After the Babylonian captivity, the returned exiles resumed the name Israel as the designation of…
Who prevails with God, a name given to Jacob, after having wrestled with the Angel-Jehovah at Penuel. Ge 32:1,2,28,30 Ho 12:3. See JACOB. By the name Israel is sometimes understood all the posterity of Israel, the seed of Jacob, 1Co 10:18; sometimes all true believers, his spiritual seed, Ro 9:6; and sometimes the kingdom of Israel, or the ten tribes, as distinct from the kingdom of Judah.
דֶּ֫רֶךְ (derek) means way, road, or journey, and can refer to both literal paths and figurative courses of life or actions. It encompasses various aspects such as direction, manner, and moral character, often highlighting the nature of one's conduct. The term is used in both positive and negative contexts, reflecting the moral implications of one's path.
דֶּ֫רֶךְ 715 n.m. way, road, distance, journey, manner
way, road, path
journey
of direction, almost or quite = toward
way, manner
fig. of course of life, or action, undertakings
of moral action and character
of duty
specif.: in good sense
oftener in bad sense
way of י׳
base
H1870 דֶּ֫רֶךְ way, road, distance, journey, manner . way, road, path
. journey
. of direction, almost or quite = toward
. way, manner
. fig. of course of life, or action, undertakings
. . of moral action and character
. of duty
. specif.: in good sense
. oftener in bad sense
. way of י׳
1870 derek deh'-rek
from 1869; a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of
life or mode of action, often adverb:--along, away, because
of, + by, conversation, custom, (east-)ward, journey, manner,
passenger, through, toward, (high-) (path-)way(-side),
whither(-soever).
see HEBREW for 01869
דֶּ֫רֶךְ (de.rekh) — way: conduct.
: conduct/lifestyle
1) way, road, distance, journey, manner
1a) road, way, path
1b) journey
1c) direction
1d) manner, habit, way
1e) of course of life (fig.)
1f) of moral character (fig.)
דֶּ֫רֶךְ (de.rekh) — Way.
This name means way, road
דֶּ֫רֶךְ (de.rekh) — (King's) Highway.
This name means way, road
Combined with me.lekh (מֶ֫לֶךְ "King's" H4428I)
דֶּ֫רֶךְ (de.rekh) — way: direction.
: direction
1) way, road, distance, journey, manner
1a) road, way, path
1b) journey
1c) direction
1d) manner, habit, way
1e) of course of life (fig.)
1f) of moral character (fig.)
דֶּ֫רֶךְ (de.rekh) — way: road.
: road/route
1) way, road, distance, journey, manner
1a) road, way, path
1b) journey
1c) direction
1d) manner, habit, way
1e) of course of life (fig.)
1f) of moral character (fig.)
דֶּ֫רֶךְ (de.rekh) — way: journey.
: journey
HR/Ncbpc/Sp1bs — Preposition · noun common both plural construct · suffixHR/Ncbpc/Sp1bs
הָלַךְ (halak) means 'to go,' 'come,' or 'walk,' and covers a wide range of literal and figurative uses, including aspects of life and death. It can describe physical movement, moral conduct, and even influence on character. The verb appears in various forms, such as Qal, Piel, and Hithpael, indicating different nuances like leading or traversing.
הָלַךְ 1546 vb. go, come, walk
Qal Impf. usually (629 t.) as if from ילך
lit.
of persons
Also of animals, in similar meanings and combinations
in like manner of inanimate things
The inf. abs. is often used
as in other vbs., quite independently
to intensify meaning of finite form
most noteworthy is the joining of the Inf. abs.
with a following Inf. abs. denoting a simutaneous action or process, and so emphasizing duration or continuance
with a foll. vb. fin. c. ו consec. (rare)
in cases where vb. fin. is foll. by Inf. abs. adj. denoting progress, advance
twice, where vb. fin. is not הלך, but another vb. denoting motion
quite by itself
13 t. the Inf. abs. = Imv. & is followed by Pf. consec.
akin to the use of Inf. abs. are some instances of Pt.
In combination with other verbal forms
Fig.; the most common uses follow; in most the origin in a literal meaning is evident:
pass away, die
H1980 הָלַךְ go, come, walk .Impf. usually (629 t.) as if from ילך . lit. . of persons
. Also of animals, in similar meanings and combinations
. in like manner of inanimate things
. The inf. abs. is often used . as in other vbs., quite independently
. to intensify meaning of finite form
. most noteworthy is the joining of the Inf. abs. . with a following Inf. abs. denoting a simutaneous action or process, and so emphasizing duration or continuance
. with a foll. vb. fin. c. ו consec. (rare)
. in cases where vb. fin. is foll. by Inf. abs. + adj. denoting progress, advance
. twice, where vb. fin. is not הלך, but another vb. denoting motion
. quite by itself
. 13 t. the Inf. abs. = Imv. & is followed by Pf. consec.
. akin to the use of Inf. abs. are some instances of Pt.
. In combination with other verbal forms
1980 halak haw-lak'
akin to 3212; a primitive root; to walk (in a great variety
of applications, literally and figuratively):--(all) along,
apace, behave (self), come, (on) continually, be conversant,
depart, + be eased, enter, exercise (self), + follow, forth,
forward, get, go (about, abroad, along, away, forward, on,
out, up and down), + greater, grow, be wont to haunt, lead,
march, X more and more, move (self), needs, on, pass (away),
be at the point, quite, run (along), + send, speedily, spread,
still, surely, + tale-bearer, + travel(-ler), walk (abroad,
on, to and fro, up and down, to places), wander, wax,
(way-)faring man, X be weak, whirl.
see HEBREW for 03212
הָלַךְ (ha.lakh) — to go: went.
: went/go[away]
1) to go, walk, come
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to go, walk, come, depart, proceed, move, go away
1a2) to die, live, manner of life (fig.)
1b) (Piel)
1b1) to walk
1b2) to walk (fig.)
1c) (Hithpael)
1c1) to traverse
1c2) to walk about
1d) (Niphal) to lead, bring, lead away, carry, cause to walk
הָלַךְ (ha.lakh) — to go: come.
: come[nearer]
1) to go, walk, come
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to go, walk, come, depart, proceed, move, go away
1a2) to die, live, manner of life (fig.)
1b) (Piel)
1b1) to walk
1b2) to walk (fig.)
1c) (Hithpael)
1c1) to traverse
1c2) to walk about
1d) (Niphal) to lead, bring, lead away, carry, cause to walk
הָלַךְ (ha.lakh) — to go: walk.
: walk/move
1) to go, walk, come
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to go, walk, come, depart, proceed, move, go away
1a2) to die, live, manner of life (fig.)
1b) (Piel)
1b1) to walk
1b2) to walk (fig.)
1c) (Hithpael)
1c1) to traverse
HVpi3mp — Verb · Piel · imperfect third person masculine pluralHVpi3mp
wok (peripatein): Aside from its frequent occurrence in the usual sense, the word "walk" is used figuratively of conduct and of spiritual states. (1) Observance of laws or customs: "Thou teachest all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs" (Ac 21:21). (2) Of the spiritual life: "If we walk in the light, as he is in the light" (1Joh 1:7); "That like as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life" (Ro 6:4); "Walk by the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh" (Ga 5:16); "For we walk by faith, not by sight"…
Is often figuratively used to denote a man’s mode of life, or his spiritual character, course, and relations, Eze 11:20. He may walk as a carnal or as a spiritual man, Ro 8:1; with God, or in ignorance and sin, Ge 5:24 1Jo 5:21; in the fire of affliction, Isa 43:2, or in the light, purity, and joy of Christ’s favor here and in heaven, Ps 89:15 Re 3:4.
