Menu

1 Samuel 15:25 — Word Study

Depth

WLCוְעַתָּ֕ה שָׂ֥א נָ֖א אֶת־ חַטָּאתִ֑י וְשׁ֣וּב עִמִּ֔י וְאֶֽשְׁתַּחֲוֶ֖ה לַֽיהוָֽה׃

BSANow thereforeʻattâh [at this time, in this moment] pleasenâʼ [I pray, I beseech] forgivenâsâʼ [pardon, take away] my sinchaṭṭâʼâh [guilt, transgression] and returnshûwb [turn again, come back] with meʻim [together, in company] so I can worshipshâchâh [bow down, show reverence to] the LORDYᵉhôvâh [Yehovah]

Word
Listen & take away1 Samuel 15
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 25 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 (la.Yah.weh) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
1 Samuel 15:25quick helps
In a sentenceSaul asks Samuel to forgive his sin and return with him to worship the LORD.
Who is speakingSaul, addressing the prophet Samuel.
Where we areIn a moment of desperation, after Saul has acknowledged his wrongdoing.
The hard wordחַטָּאתִי
Take awayThe plea for forgiveness is urgent; worship is at stake.
6 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbנָשָׂא 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 — 1 Samuel 15:25

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 — Saul's Plea for Forgivenessgenerated

24Then Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned; I have transgressed the LORD’s commandment and your instructions, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice.
25Now therefore, please forgive my sin and return with me so I can worship the LORD.”
26“I will not return with you,” Samuel replied. “For you have rejected the word of the LORD, and He has rejected you as king over Israel.”
27As Samuel turned to go, Saul grabbed the hem of his robe, and it tore.

1 Samuel 15:25 captures Saul's urgent request for forgiveness after he admits to disobeying the LORD's command. This plea occurs in a tense moment where Saul recognizes the consequences of his actions and seeks to restore his relationship with God through worship, indicating the importance of repentance and humility in the biblical narrative. The preceding verses show Saul's admission of guilt, setting the stage for this heartfelt request.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Exodus 10:17Now please forgive my sin once more and appeal to the LORD your God, that He may remove this death from me.”

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 1 reference, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word חַטָּאתִי, cha.ta.Tigenerated

The word חַטָּאָה (chatta'ah) signifies sin, encompassing not just the act of wrongdoing but also the guilt and the need for atonement. It is derived from a root that conveys the idea of offense, and it is often associated with the consequences of sin and the means of purification.

In this verse, Saul uses the term to acknowledge his guilt and seek pardon, emphasizing the seriousness of his transgression against the LORD. The construct form with the suffix indicates personal ownership of the sin, making his plea more poignant.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

Translations generally agree on the rendering of the key terms in this verse.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The structure of this verse revolves around the imperative verb שָׂא (sa'), meaning 'forgive,' which governs the entire request. It is followed by a polite particle נָא (na'), reinforcing the urgency of the plea.

The verse then continues with a conjunction and two additional verbs, שׁוּב (shuwb) meaning 'return' and אֶשְׁתַּחֲוֶה (esh'tachaveh) meaning 'to bow down,' indicating the actions Saul wishes to take following forgiveness.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates שָׂא as ἆρον (G142), meaning 'lift' or 'take away,' which aligns with the Hebrew meaning of forgiveness as lifting away guilt. This choice emphasizes the act of removing sin rather than merely overlooking it.

The Greek word προσκυνήσω (G4352) for 'worship' underscores the act of reverence and submission, reflecting the original Hebrew intent of bowing down before the LORD.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

1 Samuel 15:25 shows Saul asking Samuel to forgive his sin and return with him to worship the LORD. This moment highlights Saul's recognition of his wrongdoing and his desire to restore his relationship with God through worship.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does Saul mean by asking for forgiveness?

Saul acknowledges his sin against the LORD and seeks to have it lifted away so he can return to worship.

Why does Saul emphasize 'please' in his request?

The word 'please' reflects Saul's desperation and humility, showing he is earnestly seeking forgiveness.

What is the significance of returning to worship?

Returning to worship signifies Saul's desire to restore his relationship with God and fulfill his duties as king.

How does this verse relate to the concept of sin in the Bible?

This verse illustrates the biblical understanding of sin as a barrier to relationship with God, which can be addressed through repentance and seeking forgiveness.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. What does it mean to truly repent of one's sins, as Saul does in this verse?
  2. How can I approach God in humility when seeking forgiveness for my own mistakes?
  3. In what ways can worship serve as a response to forgiveness?
  4. How does Saul's plea reflect the importance of accountability in our relationships?

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

The early church fathers often referenced this verse to discuss themes of sin and repentance, as seen in Gregory the Dialogist's commentary.

Gregory the DialogistCommentary on 1 Kings, Book 6, Chapter 2 c. 540–604
27. Correctable sins are indeed borne, because after they depart from the will of the one who committed them, they can be wholesomely purged through satisfaction.
Early Church Fathers on 1 Samuel 15 →

Commentators on this verse — 6 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on 1 Samuel 15:25 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

Now therefore, I pray thee, pardon my sin,.... It can hardly be thought that Saul was so ignorant as to imagine that Samuel could pardon his sin, as committed against God, which none but God can do,

Read John Gill on 1 Samuel 15 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

Now therefore, I pray thee, pardon my sin, and turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD. Turn again with me, that I may worship the Lord. The erring but proud and obstinate monarch was not humbled.

Read Robert Jamieson on 1 Samuel 15 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Pardon my sin; use thy great interest with God to obtain the pardon of my sin. Or, do thou pardon my sin against thee; for he had sinned not only against God, but against Samuel also, as God’ s prophet; and therefore needed a pardon both from God and man. And turn again with me, to Gilgal, whence Saul was gone forth to meet Samuel; and Samuel is here said to turn again to Gilgal, not properly, for he had not now been there; but by way of concomitancy, because he accompanied Saul, who was come thence, and returned thither: see the like expression ,22 2:6. That I may worship the Lord; that I may offer further sacrifices to God; partly to praise him for the past victory; and partly to implore…

Read Matthew Poole on 1 Samuel 15 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

1 Samuel 15:25 Now therefore, I pray thee, pardon my sin, and turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD.Ver. 25. Now therefore, I pray thee, pardon my sin,] i.e., Pray God to pardon it: though some here also tax him for this, that he relied more upon another’ s virtue than upon his own penitency; likeas afterwards, also, he would cloak his guiltiness with the holiness of another’ s presence. That I may worship the Lord.] He would fashionably serve that God, whom yet he careth not to reconcile by sound repentance.

Read John Trapp on 1 Samuel 15 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(25) Now therefore, I pray thee, pardon my sin.—But, after all, the sorrow of Saul was rather for the immediate earthly consequence which he feared might follow the Divine rejection. He foresaw his power in Israel would sensibly decrease, so he intreats the great prophet not to desert him.

Read Charles John Ellicott on 1 Samuel 15 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 25. Pardon my sin] Literally, bear my sin; take it away; forgive what I have done against thee, and be my intercessor with God, that he may forgive my offense against him; turn again with me, that I may worship the Lord.

Read AdamClarke on 1 Samuel 15 →

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

Now therefore, please forgive my sin and return with me so I can worship the LORD.”

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Now therefore, please pardon my sin, and turn again with me, that I may worship Yahweh.”

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

Now therefore, please forgive my sin and return with me so I can worship the LORD.”

NETBNew English Translation2006

Now please forgive my sin! Go back with me so I can worship the Lord.”

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

Now therefore, I pray thee, pardon my sin, and turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

Now therefore, I pray thee, pardon my sin, and turn again with me, that I may worship Jehovah.

RVARevised Version, American1894

Now therefore, I pray thee, pardon my sin, and turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

Now therefore, I pray thee, pardon my sin, and turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Nowe therefore I pray thee, take away my sinne, and turne againe with mee, that I may worship the Lord.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

And now, I pray thee, forgive my sin, and turn again with me, that I may worship Jehovah.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

and now, bear, I pray thee, with my sin, and turn back with me, and I bow myself to Jehovah.'

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

and now, please bear with my sin, and return with me, and I bow myself to YHWH.”

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

And now, I pray thee, pardon my sin, and return with me, that I may prostrate myself to the Lord.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Now, please pardon my sin, and return with me so that I may worship Yahweh.”

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

But now bear, I beseech thee, my sin, and return with me, that I may adore the Lord.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

So please forgive my sin and come back with me, so I can worship the Lord.”

BBEBible in Basic English1949

So now, let my sin have forgiveness, and go back with me to give worship to the Lord.

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.

conjunction phraseוְandעַתָּ֕הthereforeclauseverbשָׂ֥אforgiveadverbialנָ֖אpleasenoun phrase · objectאֶת(et)noun phraseחַטָּאתִ֑sinיmyוְandclauseverbשׁ֣וּבreturnprepositional phrase · prepositionalעִמִּ֔withיmeוְsoclauseverbאֶֽשְׁתַּחֲוֶ֖הthat.I.may.bow.downprepositional phrase · prepositionalלַֽtoיהוָֽהYahweh

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


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

The Masoretic Text presents the verse as it stands, while the Septuagint closely matches the Hebrew, with 8 of the 9 words corresponding directly. The Dead Sea Scrolls show some restoration, indicating that while parts are missing, the essential plea remains intact.

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

וְעַתָּ֕ה שָׂ֥א נָ֖א אֶת־ חַטָּאתִ֑י וְשׁ֣וּב עִמִּ֔י וְאֶֽשְׁתַּחֲוֶ֖ה לַֽיהוָֽה׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
וְעַתָּ֕הνῦνשָׂ֥אἆρονנָ֖אδὴחַטָּאתִ֑יμουוְשׁ֣וּבἀνάστρεψονעִמִּ֔יἐμοῦוְאֶֽשְׁתַּחֲוֶ֖הπροσκυνήσωלַֽיהוָֽה׃κυρίῳ

8 of the 9 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.

Dead Sea Scrolls — 4Q51a copy a thousand years older than the Leningrad Codex

ועתה [שא] [נא] [את] [חטאת׳י] [ושוב] [עמ׳י] [ואשתחוה] ליהוה

1 word on the leather — 1 partly restored, 7 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.

1 Samuel 15:25עַתָּ֫הand therefoand thereforeעַתָּ֫הנָשָׂאforgiveforgiveנָשָׂאנָאpleasepleaseנָאאֵתthe object the object markאֵתחַטָּאָהsin mysin myחַטָּאָהשׁוּבand returnand returnשׁוּבעִםwith mewith meעִםשָׁחָהso I may boso I may bow doשָׁחָהיהוהto Yahwehto Yahwehיהוהעֵתtimetimeעֵתאוֹתsign: mirasign: miraculouאוֹתחָטָאto sinto sinחָטָאעָמַםto darkento darkenעָמַםהָיָהto beto beהָיָהאֵבfruitfruitאֵבאָבַדto perishto perishאָבַדנָאpleasepleaseנָאאֲנַ֫חְנוּweweאֲנַ֫חְנוּכְּלִמָּהshameshameכְּלִמָּהמָשָׁלproverbproverbמָשָׁלחֵןfavorfavorחֵןעַתָּ֫הnownowעַתָּ֫המִגְרָשׁpasturepastureמִגְרָשׁשָׂעִרhairyhairyשָׂעִרעֵזgoatgoatעֵזשְׁבִיתcaptivitycaptivityשְׁבִיתחָרוֹןburning anburning angerחָרוֹן
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 1 Samuel 15:25

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 therefore forgive please the object marker sin my and return with me so I may bow down to Yahweh
וְעַתָּ֕הve.'a.Tah and therefore H6258 Conjunction · adverb
433× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means now or at this time, like in Exodus when God says now is the time to act. It can also be used to connect ideas or show a change in time, as seen in the book of Isaiah.
Amplified meaning
at this time, in this moment
Tyndale gloss
now
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עַתָּ֫ה (attah) is an adverb of time meaning 'now.' It can also function as a conjunction or expletive, indicating immediacy or a current moment. The word is derived from a related term, עַת (att), and is used in various contexts to denote the present time.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עַתָּ֫ה 435, עָ֑֫תָּה, adv. of time, now

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6258 עַתָּ֫ה, עָ֑֫תָּה of time, now

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6258 `attah at-taw'

from 6256; at this time, whether adverb, conjunction or

expletive:--henceforth, now, straightway, this time, whereas.

see HEBREW for 06256

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עַתָּ֫ה (at.tah) — now.

1) now

1a) now

1b) in phrases

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | Adv — Conjunction · adverb
HC/D
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and therefore forgive please the object marker sin my and return with me so I may bow down to Yahweh
שָׂ֥אsa' forgive H5375 Verb · Qal · imperative second person masculine singular
656× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means to lift or raise something, and it's used in many ways, like lifting a burden or raising someone's status. It appears in books like Genesis and Isaiah, often talking about God lifting people up. It's about supporting or carrying something or someone.
Amplified meaning
pardon, take away
Tyndale gloss
to lift: raise
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word נָשָׂא (nasa') means to lift, carry, or take, encompassing a wide range of applications both literal and figurative. It can refer to actions like bearing burdens, taking away, or being exalted. The entries indicate various forms and uses, including the ability to lift oneself up or cause others to bear iniquity. There is no significant disagreement among the lexicons regarding its meanings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

נָשָׂא 656 vb. lift, carry, take

Qal

lift, lift up

Bear, carry

Take, take away

Niph.

be lifted up

refl. lift oneself up = rise up, of י׳, to display power in judgment

be borne, carried

be taken away, carried off

Pi.

lift up = exalt

fig. = desire, long

carry, bear continuously

take, take away

Hithp. lift oneself up

Hiph.

cause one to bear iniquity

appar. cause to bring, have brought

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5375 נָשָׂא lift, carry, take .. lift, lift up

. Bear, carry

. Take, take away

. . be lifted up

. refl. lift oneself up = rise up, of י׳, to display power in judgment

. be borne, carried

. be taken away, carried off

. . lift up = exalt

. fig. = desire, long

. carry, bear continuously

. take, take away

. lift oneself up

. . cause one to bear iniquity

. appar. cause to bring, have brought

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5375 nasa' naw-saw'

or nacah (Psalm 4 : 6 (7)) {naw-saw'}; a primitive root; to

lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and

figurative, absol. and rel. (as follows):--accept, advance,

arise, (able to, (armor), suffer to) bear(-er, up), bring

(forth), burn, carry (away), cast, contain, desire, ease,

exact, exalt (self), extol, fetch, forgive, furnish, further,

give, go on, help, high, hold up, honorable (+ man), lade,

lay, lift (self) up, lofty, marry, magnify, X needs, obtain,

pardon, raise (up), receive, regard, respect, set (up), spare,

stir up, + swear, take (away, up), X utterly, wear, yield.

see HEBREW for 04

see HEBREW for 06

see HEBREW for 07

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נָשָׂא (na.sa) — to lift: raise.

: raise/take_up

1) to lift, bear up, carry, take

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to lift, lift up

1a2) to bear, carry, support, sustain, endure

1a3) to take, take away, carry off, forgive

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be lifted up, be exalted

1b2) to lift oneself up, rise up

1b3) to be borne, be carried

1b4) to be taken away, be carried off, be swept away

1c) (Piel)

1c1) to lift up, exalt, support, aid, assist

1c2) to desire, long (fig.)

1c3) to carry, bear continuously

1c4) to take, take away

1d) (Hithpael) to lift oneself up, exalt oneself

1e) (Hiphil)

1e1) to cause one to bear (iniquity)

1e2) to cause to bring, have brought

נָשָׂא (na.sa) — to lift: bear.

: look/lift(eyes)

1) to lift, bear up, carry, take

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to lift, lift up

1a2) to bear, carry, support, sustain, endure

1a3) to take, take away, carry off, forgive

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be lifted up, be exalted

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Impv-2ms — Verb · Qal · imperative second person masculine singular
HVqv2ms
and therefore forgive please the object marker sin my and return with me so I may bow down to Yahweh
נָ֖אna' please H4994 Particle
404× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word 'nâ'' is used to express a polite request, like 'please' or 'I pray', and is often added to verbs to make them more polite. In the Bible, it appears in passages like Ezra's reading of the law to the people.
Amplified meaning
I pray, I beseech
Tyndale gloss
please
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

נָא (na') is a Hebrew particle used primarily for entreaty or exhortation, meaning 'I pray,' 'now,' or 'please.' It often appears attached to verbs in the imperative or future forms, and can also modify interjections, adverbs, or conjunctions. The entries consistently emphasize its role in expressing a plea or request.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

נָא part. of entreaty or exhortation, I (we) pray, now (enclitic)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4994 נָא I (we) pray, now (enclitic)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4994 na' naw

a primitive particle of incitement and entreaty, which may

usually be rendered: "I pray," "now," or "then"; added mostly

to verbs (in the Imperative or Future), or to interjections,

occasionally to an adverb or conjunction:--I beseech (pray)

thee (you), go to, now, oh.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נָא (na) — please.

1) I (we) pray, now, please

1a) used in entreaty or exhortation

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Part — Particle
HTj
and therefore forgive please the object marker sin my and return with me so I may bow down to Yahweh
אֶת־'et- the object marker H853 Particle
10,946× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the original Hebrew, this word points out the object of a verb or preposition, like 'namely' or 'even'. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus. It's not directly translated in English, but helps clarify the meaning of sentences.
Tyndale gloss
[Obj.]
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אֵת (eth) is primarily a grammatical marker in Hebrew, indicating the definite direct object of a verb. It is not translated into English and typically precedes nouns that are definite. The word is derived from a demonstrative sense of entity, related to the Hebrew word for 'self.' Its Aramaic equivalent is יָת (yat).

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H853 אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

853 'eth ayth

apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of

entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more

definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or

namely):--(as such unrepresented in English).

see HEBREW for 0226

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֵת (et) — [Obj.].

sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative

Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HTo — Particle
HTo
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and therefore forgive please the object marker sin my and return with me so I may bow down to Yahweh
חַטָּאתִ֑יcha.ta.Ti sin my H2403 Noun common feminine singular construct · suffix
295× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word describes sin, guilt, or punishment for sin, and also the sacrifice or purification made to atone for it. It is used in the Bible to describe the consequences and solutions for sin. The KJV translates it as 'punishment' or 'sin'.
Amplified meaning
guilt, transgression
Tyndale gloss
sin
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

חַטָּאָה (chatta'ah) refers to sin and encompasses various aspects such as the condition of sin, guilt, punishment, and sin-offering. It can denote both the act of sinning and the consequences, including purification from ceremonial uncleanness. The term is built from the root word for offense and is used in contexts relating to sin and its expiation.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

חַטָּאָה n.f. sinful thing, sin, Ex 34:7 (J E) Is 5:18.

done

חַטָּאת n.f. sin, sin-offering

sin

condition of sin, guilt of sin

punishment for sin

sin-offering

purification from sins of ceremonial uncleanness

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2403a חַטָּאָה sin, sin-offering(?) . sin

. sin-offering

H2403b חַטָּאת sin, sin-offering . sin

. condition of sin, guilt of sin

. punishment for sin

. sin-offering

. purification from sins of ceremonial uncleanness

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2403 chatta'ah khat-taw-aw'

or chattacth {khat-tawth'}; from 2398; an offence (sometimes

habitual sinfulness), and its penalty, occasion, sacrifice, or

expiation; also (concretely) an offender:--punishment (of

sin), purifying(-fication for sin), sin(-ner, offering).

see HEBREW for 02398

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חַטָּאָה (chat.ta.ah) — sin.

sin, sinful thing

חַטָּאת (chat.tat) — sin.

: sin

1) sin, sin offering

1a) sin

1b) condition of sin, guilt of sin

1c) punishment for sin

1d) sin-offering

1e) purification from sins of ceremonial uncleanness

חַטָּאת (chat.tat) — sin: sin offering.

: sin_offering

1) sin, sin offering

1a) sin

1b) condition of sin, guilt of sin

1c) punishment for sin

1d) sin-offering

1e) purification from sins of ceremonial uncleanness

חַטָּאת (chat.tat) — sin: punishment.

: punishment/purification

1) sin, sin offering

1a) sin

1b) condition of sin, guilt of sin

1c) punishment for sin

1d) sin-offering

1e) purification from sins of ceremonial uncleanness

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fs | Suff — Noun common feminine singular construct · suffix
HNcfsc/Sp1bs
and therefore forgive please the object marker sin my and return with me so I may bow down to Yahweh
וְשׁ֣וּבve.Shuv and return H7725 Conjunction · verb qal imperative second person masculine singular
1,057× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to return or turn back, and can be used literally or figuratively. It is often used to describe someone returning to God or repenting from sin, as seen in the book of Psalms and the prophets.
Amplified meaning
turn again, come back
Tyndale gloss
to return: return
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שׁוּב 1056 vb. turn back, return

Qal 683;—turn back, return:

turn back

return, come or go back

esp. return unto

of dying

of revival from death

fig. of human relations:

return to leader, king

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

turn, i.e. resort to

return to a physical condition

abs. = change course of action

fig., specif. of spiritual relations:

turn back from God = apostatize

of י׳, turn away

turn back to God (= seek penitently)

abs. repent

turn back from evil

of י׳

of י׳, return (to shew favour)

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

denoting repetition, etc.

trans.

Pō‛l.

bring back

fig. restore, refresh

restore, repair

lead away (enticingly)

shew turning = apostatize

Hiph. 353 cause to return, bring back

bring back into bondage

put back

= draw back

= give back, restore

= relinguish

= give in payment, requital

bring one back (from dead)

bring back heart

= refresh

Read the full entry →
Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

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

. return, come or go back

. esp. return unto

. . of dying

. of revival from death

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

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

. turn, i.e. resort to

. return to a physical condition

. abs. = change course of action

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

. of י׳, turn away

. turn back to God (= seek penitently)

. abs. repent

. turn back from evil

. of י׳

. of י׳, return (to shew favour)

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

. denoting repetition, etc.

. trans.

. . bring back

. . fig. restore, refresh

. restore, repair

. lead away (enticingly)

. shew turning = apostatize

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

. put back

. = draw back

. = give back, restore

. = relinguish

. = give in payment, requital

Read the full entry →
Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7725 shuwb shoob

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

intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Read the full entry →
Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שׁוּב (shuv) — to return: return.

: return

1) to return, turn back

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to turn back, return

1a1a) to turn back

1a1b) to return, come or go back

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

1a1d) of dying

1a1e) of human relations (fig)

1a1f) of spiritual relations (fig)

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

1a1f2) to turn away (of God)

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

1a1f4) turn back (from evil)

1a1g) of inanimate things

1a1h) in repetition

1b) (Polel)

1b1) to bring back

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

1b3) to lead away (enticingly)

1b4) to show turning, apostatise

1c) (Pual) restored (participle)

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

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

1d2) to bring back, refresh, restore

1d3) to bring back, report to, answer

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

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-Impv-2ms — Conjunction · verb qal imperative second person masculine singular
HC/Vqv2ms
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and therefore forgive please the object marker sin my and return with me so I may bow down to Yahweh
עִמִּ֔י'i.Mi with me H5973 Preposition · suffix
1,052× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means with or together, like when God is with his people in Exodus 33:14-15. It's used to describe accompaniment or association, and can also mean against or beside. The word is used to convey a sense of relationship or proximity between people or things.
Amplified meaning
together, in company
Tyndale gloss
with
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עִם (im) is a preposition meaning 'with' and covers a range of relationships, including companionship, locality, and possession. It can imply actions done jointly, equality, or even opposition in contexts like combat. The related form מֵעִם (me.im) means 'from with' or 'beside.' The entries reflect various nuances but do not present significant disagreement.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עִם prep. with

of fellowship and companionship

of aid

Of actions done jointly with another

If the common action be of the nature of a contest or combat, with in the sense of against

Of dealing with a person, or of the relation in which one stands with, or towards, another

Of a common lot together with the wicked

Of equality or resemblance generally aid

Of time, as long as

Of a locality, close to, beside

Of persons, עִם is spec.

in the house or family or service of

In possession of

In the custody or care of

Beside = except

With = friendly with

Idiom. of a thought or purpose present with one

Metaph. together with = in spite of, notwithstanding

base

מֵעִם 72 from with or beside

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5973a עִם with . of fellowship and companionship

. Of a locality, close to, beside

. Of persons, עִם is spec. . in the house or family or service of

. In possession of

. In the custody or care of

. Beside = except

. With = friendly with

. Idiom. of a thought or purpose present with one

. Metaph. together with = in spite of, notwithstanding

H5973b מֵעִם from with, beside

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5973 `im eem

from 6004; adverb or preposition, with (i.e. in conjunction

with), in varied applications; specifically, equally with;

often with prepositional prefix (and then usually

unrepresented in English):--accompanying, against, and, as (X

long as), before, beside, by (reason of), for all, from

(among, between), in, like, more than, of, (un-)to,

with(-al).

see HEBREW for 06004

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עִם (im) — with.

1) with

1a) with

1b) against

1c) toward

1d) as long as

מֵעִם (me.im) — from with.

1a) beside, except

1b) in spite of

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | Suff — Preposition · suffix
HRd/Sp1bs
and therefore forgive please the object marker sin my and return with me so I may bow down to Yahweh
וְאֶֽשְׁתַּחֲוֶ֖הve.'esh.ta.cha.Veh so I may bow down H7812 Conjunction · verb pilpel first person common singular
172× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to bow down, often as a sign of respect or worship. It is used in Genesis 24:52 to describe Abraham's servant bowing down to God. The word is about showing humility and respect to someone or something.
Amplified meaning
bow down, show reverence to
Tyndale gloss
to bow
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word שָׁחָה (*shachah*) is a primitive root meaning to bow down or prostrate oneself, particularly in homage to a superior or in worship before God. It can also imply a figurative sense of being depressed by anxiety. The entries highlight its use in various contexts, including worship of both God and false gods.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[שָׁחָה] 172 vb. bow down

Qal bow down

Hiph. fig., anxiety depresses it

Hithpa‛lēl

bow down, prostrate oneself, before a monarch or superior, in homage, etc.

before God, in worship

before other gods

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7812 שָׁחָה bow down .bow down

. fig., anxiety depresses it

.. bow down, prostrate oneself, before a monarch or superior, in homage, etc.

. before God, in worship

. before other gods

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7812 shachah shaw-khaw'

a primitive root; to depress, i.e. prostrate (especially

reflexive, in homage to royalty or God):--bow (self) down,

crouch, fall down (flat), humbly beseech, do (make) obeisance,

do reverence, make to stoop, worship.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שָׁחָה (sha.chah) — to bow.

1) to bow down

1a) (Qal) to bow down

1b)(Hiphil) to depress (fig)

1c) (Hithpael)

1c1) to bow down, prostrate oneself

1c1a) before superior in homage

1c1b) before God in worship

1c1c) before false gods

1c1d) before angel

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-v-Imperf-1cs — Conjunction · verb pilpel first person common singular
HC/Vvu1cs
and therefore forgive please the object marker sin my and return with me so I may bow down to Yahweh
לַֽיהוָֽה׃la.Yah.weh to Yahweh H3068 Preposition · noun proper
6,528× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Yehovah is another name for God, often translated as 'the Lord'. It is a national name for God in the Jewish faith. This name is used throughout the Old Testament.
Amplified meaning
Yehovah
Tyndale gloss
The Lord
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) is the proper name of the God of Israel, often rendered as Jehovah or the Lord. It signifies the self-existent or eternal nature of God. The name is closely associated with the revelation to Moses in Exodus 3:12-15 and is used in conjunction with other terms to denote sacred places. Some scholars suggest it derives from a root meaning 'to bring into being.'

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יהוה c. 6823 i.e. יַהְוֶה n.pr.dei Yahweh, the proper name of the God of Israel—(1. MT יְהֹוָה 6518 (Qr אֲדֹנָי), or יֱהֹוִה 305 (Qr אֱלֹהִים) 2. Many recent scholars explain יַהְוֶה as Hiph. of הוה (= היה) the one bringing into being, life-giver)

יהוה is not used by E in Gn, but is given Ex 3:12-15 as the name of the God who revealed Himself to Moses at Horeb

יהוה is used with אלהים and suffixes, especially in D

the phrase † אֲנִי יהוה is noteworthy

יהוה is also used with several predicates, to form sacred names of holy places of Yahweh

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3068 יהוה i.e. יַהְוֶה n. pr. dei Yahweh, the proper name of the God of Israel

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3068 Yhovah yeh-ho-vaw'

from 1961; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish

national name of God:--Jehovah, the Lord. Compare 3050, 3069.

see HEBREW for 01961

see HEBREW for 03050

see HEBREW for 03069

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — LORD.

Jehovah = "the existing One"

1) the proper name of the one true God

1a) unpronounced except with the vowel pointings of a.do.na (אֲדֹנָי "Lord" H0136)

יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — The Lord.

Another name of ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)

יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — (Jerusalem of) the Lord.

Combined with ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-proper — Preposition · noun proper
HR/Npt
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
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