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1 Samuel 2:9 — Word Study

Depth

WLCרַגְלֵ֤י חֲסִידָיו֙ יִשְׁמֹ֔ר וּרְשָׁעִ֖ים בַּחֹ֣שֶׁךְ יִדָּ֑מּוּ כִּֽי־ לֹ֥א בְכֹ֖חַ יִגְבַּר־ אִֽישׁ׃

BSAHe guardsshâmar [keeps, watches over] the stepsregel [feet, paths] of His faithful oneschâçîyd [pious, holy ones, saints] but the wickedrâshâʻ [morally wrong, guilty] perishdâmam [come to an end, are silenced] in darknesschôshek [misery, spiritual darkness] forkîy by his own strengthkôach [power, might] shall nolôʼ manʼîysh [individual, human] prevailgâbar [be strong, succeed]

Word
Listen & take away1 Samuel 2
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 9 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 ('Ish) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
1 Samuel 2:9quick helps
In a sentenceGod protects the paths of His faithful, while the wicked face destruction.
Who is speakingHannah, expressing her confidence in God's justice.
Where we areA song of praise reflecting on God's sovereignty and care.
The hard wordחֲסִידָיו֙
Take awayGod's protection is assured for those who are faithful.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause subjectרָשָׁע verbשָׁמַר 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 2:9

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 — Hannah's Song of Thanksgivinggenerated

8He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap. He seats them among princes and bestows on them a throne of honor. For the foundations of the earth are the LORD’s, and upon them He has set the world.
9He guards the steps of His faithful ones, but the wicked perish in darkness; for by his own strength shall no man prevail.
10Those who oppose the LORD will be shattered. He will thunder from heaven against them. The LORD will judge the ends of the earth and will give power to His king. He will exalt the horn of His anointed.”
11Then Elkanah went home to Ramah, but the boy began ministering to the LORD before Eli the priest.

1 Samuel 2:9 is part of Hannah's song, where she praises God for His justice and faithfulness. She contrasts the fate of the righteous with that of the wicked, emphasizing God's role as protector and judge. This passage reflects the themes of divine justice and care that run throughout the narrative of Israel's history.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Job 5:24You will know that your tent is secure, and find nothing amiss when inspecting your home.
2Psalm 37:23–24The steps of a man are ordered by the LORD who takes delight in his journey.
3Psalm 91:11–12For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.
4Psalm 94:18If I say, “My foot is slipping,” Your loving devotion, O LORD, supports me.
5Psalm 121:3–5He will not allow your foot to slip; your Protector will not slumber.

The Key Word חֲסִידָיו֙, cha.si.dovgenerated

The word חָסִיד (chaciyd) refers to someone who is pious or faithful, embodying kindness and devotion to God. It suggests a relationship characterized by mercy and holiness, often used to describe the faithful in the Old Testament.

In this verse, it highlights the special status of those who are devoted to God. The parsing indicates a possessive form, showing that these faithful ones belong to God, emphasizing His protective relationship with them.


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 finite verb יִשְׁמֹ֔ר (he will protect) governs the entire verse, with two main clauses following it: one describing the faithful and the other contrasting the wicked. The structure emphasizes God's active role in guarding His people.

The word order places the subject רְשָׁעִ֖ים (the wicked) after the conjunction, highlighting their fate as a direct consequence of their actions.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates יִשְׁמֹ֔ר with φυλάξει (phylaxei), meaning 'he will guard.' This choice reflects a direct connection to the idea of protection and care, consistent with the Hebrew.

The absence of a specific Greek term for חֲסִידָיו֙ indicates a potential broadening of the term, as the LXX may not have a direct equivalent, suggesting a wider interpretation of faithfulness.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

1 Samuel 2:9 describes how God protects the steps of His faithful ones while the wicked will face destruction in darkness. This verse highlights the contrast between the outcomes for the righteous and the unrighteous, affirming God's justice.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean that God guards the steps of His faithful ones?

It means that God actively protects and guides those who are devoted to Him, ensuring their paths are secure.

Who are considered the 'wicked' in this verse?

The 'wicked' refers to those who act unjustly or immorally, opposing God's ways and facing eventual destruction.

What is the significance of the contrast between the faithful and the wicked?

This contrast emphasizes God's justice, showing that He rewards the faithful while punishing the wicked.

How does this verse reflect God's character?

It highlights God's role as a protector and judge, demonstrating His commitment to justice and care for His people.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what ways have I experienced God's protection in my own life?
  2. How can I strive to be more faithful and pious in my daily actions?
  3. What does this verse teach me about the consequences of wickedness?
  4. How can I encourage others to trust in God's protection and justice?

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

The early Church Fathers referenced this verse to discuss God's protection of the faithful and the fate of the wicked. Quotations from Gregory the Dialogist illustrate these themes.

Gregory the DialogistCommentary on 1 Kings, Book 1, Chapter 3 c. 540–604
As if to say: Under such immense burdens they would collapse, if the Lord did not preserve their feet. The feet of His saints are indeed the affections of their minds.
Early Church Fathers on 1 Samuel 2 →
Gregory the DialogistCommentary on 1 Kings, Book 1, Chapter 3 c. 540–604
Moreover, the feet of the saints can be understood as faith in and love of the Redeemer. By these feet indeed they walk, when they follow with love Him whom the faithful believe through faith.
Early Church Fathers on 1 Samuel 2 →
Gregory the DialogistCommentary on 1 Kings, Book 1, Chapter 3 c. 540–604
For who are understood as the ungodly in this place, if not the Jews, who are strangers to the devotion of the true faith,
Early Church Fathers on 1 Samuel 2 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on 1 Samuel 2:9 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

He will keep the feet of his saints,.... Now follow promises and prophecies of future things respecting the Israel of God, either in a literal or spiritual sense.

Read John Gill on 1 Samuel 2 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail.

Read Robert Jamieson on 1 Samuel 2 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

The feet, i.e. the steps or paths, their counsels and actions, he will keep, i.e. both uphold, that they may not fall, at least, into mischief or utter ruin; and direct and preserve from wandering, and from those fatal mistakes and errors that wicked men daily run into. Shall be silent; shall be put to silence: they who used to open their mouths wide against heaven, and against the saints, shall be so confounded with the unexpected disappointment of all their hopes, and with God’ s glorious appearance and operations for his people, that they shall have their months quite stopped, and sit down in silent amazement and consternation: see 47:5,6. In darkness; both inward, in their own minds…

Read Matthew Poole on 1 Samuel 2 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

1 Samuel 2:9 He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail.Ver. 9. He will keep the feet of his saints.] This is a lower love and courtesy than to keep their hands. He keepeth them from utter prolapsion, from devoratory evils, as Tertullian speaketh, so as that either they fall not at all, - stumble they may, but they get ground by their stumbling, - or if they fall, they shall arise; for the Lord putteth under his hand. There is still a supporting grace, below which they cannot possibly fall. The wicked shall be silent in darkness.] They may fall whither they will or can, for any care God taketh of them: they shall…

Read John Trapp on 1 Samuel 2 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(9) He will keep the feet.—This was the comforting deduction Hannah drew from the circumstances of her life: this the grave moral reflection the Spirit of the Lord bade her put down for the support and solace of all true servants of the Eternal in coming ages. Seeing that Jehovah of Israel governs the world, the righteous have nothing really to fear; it is only the wicked and rebellious who have reason to be afraid. The Babylonian Talmud has the following comment on these words:—“If any man has passed the greater part of his years without sin, he will sin no more. If a man has been able to resist the same temptation once or twice, he will sin no more; for it is said (1 Samuel 2:9), ‘He will…

Read Charles John Ellicott on 1 Samuel 2 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 9. He will keep the feet of his saints] He will order and direct all their goings, and keep them from every evil way. The wicked shall be silent in darkness] The Targum understands this of their being sent to the darkness of hell; they shall be slain. By strength shall no man prevail.] Because God is omnipotent, and no power can be successfully exerted against him.

Read AdamClarke on 1 Samuel 2 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

9. It is Jehovah who guards His chosen ones from stumbling in their walk through life (Psalms 56:13; Psalms 91:12); It is He who leaves the wicked to languish in adversity (Job 5:14) or perish miserably (Psalms 31:17; Psalms 55:23); for apart from Him or in opposition to Him human strength is impotence (Zechariah 4:6). his saints] Rather, His beloved, or, His chosen. The Heb. word means (a) one who is the object of mercy, and does not in itself imply holiness of character, but is used of Israel as the covenant people, the objects of Jehovah’s lovingkindness: (b) in an active sense, merciful, of God (Jeremiah 3:12): of men (2 Samuel 22:26). shall be silent] “Shall be silenced,” or, “perish.”

Read Cambridge on 1 Samuel 2 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

9. The feet of his pious ones he will guard — That they may not wander into fatal errors. Shall be dumb — Filled with confusion of face, confounded, and destroyed.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on 1 Samuel 2 →

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

He guards the steps of His faithful ones, but the wicked perish in darkness; for by his own strength shall no man prevail.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

He will keep the feet of his holy ones, but the wicked will be put to silence in darkness; for no man will prevail by strength.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

He guards the steps of His faithful ones, but the wicked perish in darkness; for by his own strength shall no man prevail.

NETBNew English Translation2006

He watches over his holy ones, but the wicked are made speechless in the darkness, for it is not by one’s own strength that one prevails.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

He will keep the feet of his holy ones; But the wicked shall be put to silence in darkness; For by strength shall no man prevail.

RVARevised Version, American1894

He will keep the feet of his holy ones, but the wicked shall be put to silence in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Hee will keepe the feete of his Saintes, and the wicked shall keepe silence in darkenes: for in his owne might shall no man be strong.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

He keepeth the feet of his saints, but the wicked are silenced in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

The feet of His saints He keepeth, And the wicked in darkness are silent, For not by power doth man become mighty.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

He keeps the feet of His saints, || And the wicked are silent in darkness, || For man does not become mighty by power.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

He ever guardeth the feet of his pious ones, and the wicked shall be made silent in darkness; for not by strength can man prevail.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

He will guard the feet of his faithful people, but the wicked will be put to silence in darkness, for no one will prevail by strength.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness, because no man shall prevail by his own strength.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

He will take care of those who trust him, but the wicked vanish into the darkness, for people don't succeed through their own strength.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

He will keep the feet of his holy ones, but the evil-doers will come to their end in the dark night, for by strength no man will overcome.

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.

clausenoun phrase · objectרַגְלֵ֤יthe.feetnoun phraseחֲסִידָיhis.faithfulו֙[people]verbיִשְׁמֹ֔רhe.protectsוּandclausesubjectרְשָׁעִ֖יםwicked.[people]prepositional phrase · prepositionalבַּinnoun phrasetheחֹ֣שֶׁךְdarknessverbיִדָּ֑מּוּthey.perishכִּֽי(dm)clauseadverbialלֹ֥אnotprepositional phrase · prepositionalבְbyכֹ֖חַstrengthverbיִגְבַּרhe.prevailssubjectאִֽישׁanyone

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


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

The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint agree closely, with 11 of the 11 words matched. The Dead Sea Scrolls, however, show some restoration in their text, indicating minor variations but overall agreement with the Masoretic reading.

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

רַגְלֵ֤י חֲסִידָיו֙ יִשְׁמֹ֔ר וּרְשָׁעִ֖ים בַּחֹ֣שֶׁךְ יִדָּ֑מּוּ כִּֽי־ לֹ֥א בְכֹ֖חַ יִגְבַּר־ אִֽישׁ׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
רַגְלֵ֤י’’חֲסִידָיו֙’’יִשְׁמֹ֔ר’’וּרְשָׁעִ֖ים’’בַּחֹ֣שֶׁךְ’’יִדָּ֑מּוּ’’כִּֽי־ὅτιלֹ֥אοὐκבְכֹ֖חַἰσξύιיִגְבַּר־δυνατὸςאִֽישׁ׃ἀνήρ

11 of the 11 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

ודרך חסידי׳ו [ישמור] [ורשעים] [בחשך] [ידמו] נתן נדר לנודר ויברך שנות [צדיק] [כי] [לוא] [בכח] [יגבר] [איש]

3 words on the leather — 4 partly restored, 10 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 2:9רֶ֫גֶל[the] feet [the] feet ofרֶ֫גֶלחָסִידfaithful [pfaithful [peoplחָסִידשָׁמַרhe will prohe will protectשָׁמַררָשָׁעand wicked and wicked [peoרָשָׁעחֹ֫שֶׁךְin the darkin the darknessחֹ֫שֶׁךְדָּמַםthey will bthey will be siדָּמַםכִּיforforכִּילֹאnotnotלֹאכֹּחַby strengthby strengthכֹּחַגָּבַרhe will prehe will prevailגָּבַראִישׁanyoneanyoneאִישׁחָסַדbe kindbe kindחָסַדרָגַלto spyto spyרָגַלרָשַׁעbe wickedbe wickedרָשַׁעחָשַׁךְto darkento darkenחָשַׁךְדָּהַםto astonisto astonishדָּהַםדָּמָהto ceaseto ceaseדָּמָהאֱנוֹשׁhumanhumanאֱנוֹשׁאִשָּׁהwomanwomanאִשָּׁהבֹּ֫הֶןthumb/big thumb/big toeבֹּ֫הֶןיְמָנִיrightrightיְמָנִירוּןto overcomto overcomeרוּןמִשְׁמֶ֫רֶתchargechargeמִשְׁמֶ֫רֶתמִצְוָהcommandmencommandmentמִצְוָהצַדִּיקrighteousrighteousצַדִּיקאָבַדto perishto perishאָבַדאֲפֵלָהdarknessdarknessאֲפֵלָהצַלְמָ֫וֶתshadowshadowצַלְמָ֫וֶתשֶׁ֫מֶשׁsunsunשֶׁ֫מֶשׁ
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 2:9

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.

[the] feet of faithful [people] his he will protect and wicked [people] in the darkness they will be silenced for not by strength he will prevail anyone
רַגְלֵ֤יrag.Lei [the] feet of H7272 Noun common · feminine dual construct
247× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word also means a foot, like when God says he will tread on the wicked in Malachi 4:3. It's used to describe human and animal feet, as well as the base of objects like tables or idols.
Amplified meaning
feet, paths
Tyndale gloss
foot
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

רֶ֫גֶל (regel) means 'foot' and can refer to a foot or leg in various contexts, including anthropomorphic references to God and other beings. It also implies steps or paces. The word is derived from a root meaning related to walking, and it appears in multiple forms, such as feet and paces.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

רֶ֫גֶל 247 n.f. foot

foot

three times (feet, paces)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7272 רֶ֫גֶל foot . foot

. three times (feet, paces)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7272 regel reh'-gel

from 7270; a foot (as used in walking); by implication, a

step; by euphem. the pudenda:--X be able to endure, X

according as, X after, X coming, X follow,

((broken-))foot((-ed, -stool)), X great toe, X haunt, X

journey, leg, + piss, + possession, time.

see HEBREW for 07270

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

רֶ֫גֶל (re.gel) — foot.

1) foot

1a) foot, leg

1b) of God (anthropomorphic)

1c) of seraphim, cherubim, idols, animals, table

1d) according to the pace of (with prep)

1e) three times (feet, paces)

Aramaic equivalent: re.gal (רְגַל "foot" H7271)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fd — Noun common · feminine dual construct
HNcfdc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ov:

(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.

English usagewhat the translators’ English meant
Webster's Dictionary (1828), Webster's Unabridged (1913), Webster's Dictionary (1806)

OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]

1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.

I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.

For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.

It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.

Lamentations 3:1.

The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.

Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.

That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.

Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…

[the] feet of faithful [people] his he will protect and wicked [people] in the darkness they will be silenced for not by strength he will prevail anyone
חֲסִידָיו֙cha.si.dov faithful [people] his H2623 Suffix
33× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A pious person is someone who is kind and faithful to God, like a saint. In the Bible, it describes people who are holy and merciful, such as in Psalms and Proverbs. This concept is important in the Old Testament.
Amplified meaning
pious, holy ones, saints
Tyndale gloss
pious
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

חָסִיד (chaciyd) means kind or pious, referring to someone who is religiously devoted or merciful. It encompasses terms like saint, godly, and faithful. The word is rooted in the concept of kindness, often associated with God's attributes in contexts like Jeremiah 3:12 and Psalm 145:17.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

חָסִיד adj.m. kind, pious (so, as denoting active practice of חֶסֶד, kindness, Thes MV De and most, cf. קָצִיר, פָּקִיד etc.; > Hup on ψ 4:4 RVm who expl. as passive reception of י׳’s חֶסֶד, cf. שָׂכִיר, אָסִיר etc.; its used as attribute of God Je 3:12 ψ 145:17, and the context ψ 12:1 Mi 7:2 etc., favour active sense)—

kind

pious, godly

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2623 חָסִיד kind, pious

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2623 chaciyd khaw-seed'

from 2616; properly, kind, i.e. (religiously) pious (a

saint):--godly (man), good, holy (one), merciful, saint, (un-

)godly.

see HEBREW for 02616

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חָסִיד (cha.sid) — pious.

1) faithful, kind, godly, holy one, saint, pious

1a) kind

1b) pious, godly

1c) faithful ones (subst)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adj | Suff — Suffix
HAampc/Sp3ms
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

hiz: Used often in the King James Version with reference to a neuter or inanimate thing, or to a lower animal (Ge 1:11, "after his kind"; Le 1:16, "pluck away his crop"; Ac 12:10, "of his own accord"; 1Co 15:38, "his own body"), etc. the Revised Version (British and American) substitutes "its."

[the] feet of faithful [people] his he will protect and wicked [people] in the darkness they will be silenced for not by strength he will prevail anyone
יִשְׁמֹ֔רyish.Mor he will protect H8104 Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singular
469× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To keep or obey means to protect, attend to, or guard something, like keeping a promise or watching over someone, as seen in the commands to observe the Sabbath.
Amplified meaning
keeps, watches over
Tyndale gloss
to keep: obey
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word שָׁמַר (*shamar*) is a primitive root meaning to keep, guard, or observe. It encompasses a wide range of actions including protecting, waiting for, and celebrating obligations like the Sabbath. The verb appears in various forms, indicating nuances such as being on guard or refraining from certain actions. It is used extensively in the Old Testament, reflecting both physical and moral vigilance.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שָׁמַר 465 vb. keep, watch, preserve

Qal 425

keep, have charge of

keep, guard, captives

hence, watch for, wait for

watch, observe

keep, retain, of storing up (food)

keep within bounds, restrain

observe, celebrate

keep sabbath

of other obligations

observe = follow dictates of (prudence, justice, kindness, wisdom)

sts. י׳ subj.

keep, reserve, weeks of harvest

Niph.

36be on one's guard

keep oneself, refrain, abstain

be kept, guarded

Pi. those paying regard to false vanities

Hithp. I kept myself from

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8104 שָׁמַר keep, watch, preserve .. . keep, have charge of

. keep, guard, captives

. hence, watch for, wait for

. watch, observe

. . keep, retain, of storing up (food)

. keep within bounds, restrain

. . observe, celebrate

. keep sabbath

. of other obligations

. observe = follow dictates of (prudence, justice, kindness, wisdom)

. sts. י׳ subj.

. keep, reserve, weeks of harvest

. . be on one's guard

. keep oneself, refrain, abstain

. be kept, guarded

. those paying regard to false vanities

. I kept myself from

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8104 shamar shaw-mar'

a primitive root; properly, to hedge about (as with thorns),

i.e. guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc.:--beward,

be circumspect, take heed (to self), keep(-er, self), mark,

look narrowly, observe, preserve, regard, reserve, save

(self), sure, (that lay) wait (for), watch(-man).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שָׁמַר (sha.mar) — to keep: obey.

: obey/observe

1) to keep, guard, observe, give heed

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to keep, have charge of

1a2) to keep, guard, keep watch and ward, protect, save life

1a2a) watch, watchman (participle)

1a3) to watch for, wait for

1a4) to watch, observe

1a5) to keep, retain, treasure up (in memory)

1a6) to keep (within bounds), restrain

1a7) to observe, celebrate, keep (sabbath or covenant or commands), perform (vow)

1a8) to keep, preserve, protect

1a9) to keep, reserve

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be on one's guard, take heed, take care, beware

1b2) to keep oneself, refrain, abstain

1b3) to be kept, be guarded

1c) (Piel) to keep, pay heed

1d) (Hithpael) to keep oneself from

שָׁמַר (sha.mar) — to keep: guard.

: guard

1) to keep, guard, observe, give heed

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to keep, have charge of

1a2) to keep, guard, keep watch and ward, protect, save life

1a2a) watch, watchman (participle)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singular
HVqi3ms
[the] feet of faithful [people] his he will protect and wicked [people] in the darkness they will be silenced for not by strength he will prevail anyone
וּרְשָׁעִ֖יםu.re.sha.'Im and wicked [people] H7563 Conjunction · noun common masculine plural absolute
263× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word describes someone who is morally wrong, a bad person who is guilty of crime or sin against God or others. It is used to describe the wicked in biblical stories, such as in the book of Genesis.
Amplified meaning
morally wrong, guilty
Tyndale gloss
wicked
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

רָשָׁע (rasha`) refers to someone who is wicked or criminal, encompassing meanings such as guilty and ungodly. It is derived from a root that implies moral wrongdoing. The term is used to describe individuals who are hostile to God or guilty of sin against others.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

רָשָׁע 263 adj. wicked, criminal

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7563 רָשָׁע wicked, criminal

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7563 rasha` raw-shaw'

from 7561; morally wrong; concretely, an (actively) bad

person:--+ condemned, guilty, ungodly, wicked (man), that did

wrong.

see HEBREW for 07561

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

רָשָׁע (ra.sah) — wicked.

1) wicked, criminal

1a) guilty one, one guilty of crime (subst)

1b) wicked (hostile to God)

1c) wicked, guilty of sin (against God or man)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | Adj — Conjunction · noun common masculine plural absolute
HC/Ncmpa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

pe'-p'-l: In English Versions of the Bible represents something over a dozen Hebrew and Greek words. Of these, in the Old Testament, `am, is overwhelmingly the most common (about 2,000 times), with le'om, and goy, next in order; but the various Hebrew words are used with very little or no difference in force (e.g. Pr 14:28; but, on the other hand, in Ps 44 contrast verses 12 and 14). Of the changes introduced by the Revised Version (British and American) the only one of significance (cited explicitly in the Preface to the English Revised Version) is the frequent use of the plural "peoples" (strangely avoided in the King James Version except Re 10:11; 17:15), where other nations than Israel are in question. So, for instance, in Ps…

[the] feet of faithful [people] his he will protect and wicked [people] in the darkness they will be silenced for not by strength he will prevail anyone
בַּחֹ֣שֶׁךְba.Cho.shekh in the darkness H2822 Preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
80× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to darkness, both physical and spiritual. It can also mean misery, destruction, or wickedness. In the Bible, it is often used to describe a state of being without light or hope.
Amplified meaning
misery, spiritual darkness
Tyndale gloss
darkness
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

חֹ֫שֶׁךְ (choshek) refers to darkness or obscurity, both in a literal sense and in various figurative contexts such as distress, ignorance, and evil. It can also denote secret or hiding places. The word is built from a root meaning 'dark' and encompasses a range of meanings related to judgment and confusion.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

חֹ֫שֶׁךְ n.m. darkness, obscurity

darkness (opp. אוֹר)

= secret place(s); = hiding-place

fig.

= distress

= dread, terror, symbol. of judgment

= mourning

= perplexity; confusion

= ignorance

= evil, sin

= obscurity

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2822 חֹ֫שֶׁךְ darkness, obscurity . darkness (opp. אוֹר)

. = secret place(s); = hiding-place

. fig. . = distress

. = dread, terror, symbol. of judgment

. = mourning

. = perplexity; confusion

. = ignorance

. = evil, sin

. = obscurity

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2822 choshek kho-shek'

from 2821; the dark; hence (literally) darkness;

figuratively, misery, destruction, death, ignorance, sorrow,

wickedness:--dark(-ness), night, obscurity.

see HEBREW for 02821

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חֹ֫שֶׁךְ (cho.shekh) — darkness.

1) darkness, obscurity

1a) darkness

1b) secret place

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
HRd/Ncmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Easton's Bible Dictionary

Darkness

The plague (the ninth) of darkness in Egypt (Ex. 10:21) is described as darkness “which may be felt.” It covered “all the land of Egypt,” so that “they saw not one another.” It did not extend to the land of Goshen (ver. 23).

When Jesus hung upon the cross (Matt. 27:45; Luke 23:44), from the “sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.”

On Mount Sinai, Moses (Ex. 20:21) “drew near unto the thick darkness where God was.” This was the “thick cloud upon the mount” in which Jehovah was when he spake unto Moses there. The Lord dwelt in the cloud upon the mercy-seat (1 Kings…

is spoken of as encompassing the actual presence of God, as that out of which he speaks, --the envelope, as it were, of divine glory. (Exodus 20:21; 1 Kings 8:12) The plague of darkness in Egypt was miraculous. The darkness "over all the land," (Matthew 27:45) attending the crucifixion has been attributed to an eclipse, but was undoubtedly miraculous, as no eclipse of the sun could have taken place at that time, the moon being at the full at the time of the passover. Darkness is also, as in the expression "land of darkness," used for the state of the dead, (Job 10:21,22) and frequently, figuratively, for ignorance and unbelief, as the privation of spiritual light. (

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

The absence of natural light, Ge 1:2, and hence figuratively a state of misery and adversity, Job 18:6 Ps 107:10 Isa 8:22 9:1; also the absence of the sun and stars, and hence the fall of chief men and national convulsions, Isa 13:10 Ac 2:20. "Works of darkness," are the impure mysteries practiced in heathen worship, Eph 5:11. "Outer darkness" illustrates the gloom of those on whom the gates of heaven are closed, Mt 8:12. The darkness in Egypt,

→ Over the face of the earth Ge 1:2; Job 38:9; Jer 4:23

→ Called NIGHT Ge 1:5

→ God creates Isa 45:7

→ Miraculous

In Egypt Ex 10:21,22; Ps 105:28

At Mount Sinai Ex 20:21; Heb 12:18

At the crucifixion Mt 27:45; Mr 15:33

→ FIGURATIVE

[the] feet of faithful [people] his he will protect and wicked [people] in the darkness they will be silenced for not by strength he will prevail anyone
יִדָּ֑מּוּyi.Da.mu they will be silenced H1826 Verb · Niphal · imperfect third person masculine plural
30× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the original Hebrew, this verb means to wail or mourn, often in response to a tragic event, like in Job 30:31 where Job laments his suffering. It can also mean to be astonished or stop an activity.
Amplified meaning
come to an end, are silenced
Tyndale gloss
to silence: stationary
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

דָּמַם (damam) is a Hebrew verb primarily meaning to be silent or still, with implications of astonishment or cessation. It can also convey the idea of perishing or being destroyed. The word appears in various forms, including Qal, Niphal, Poal, and Hiphil, indicating different nuances of silence and stillness. Notably, it is associated with wailing in Isaiah 23:2.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[דָּמַם] vb. be or grow dumb, silent, still

Qal

be silent

be still (opp. to both speech and motion)

be struck dumb, astounded

Niph. be made silent, i.e. destroyed

Po. ‘composed and quieted my soul’

Hiph. he (God) hath silenced us (= caused us to perish)

base

[דָּמַם] vb. wail—Is 23:2

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1826a דָּמַם be or grow dumb, silent, still H1826b דָּמַם wail

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1826 damam daw-man'

a prim root (compare 1724, 1820); to be dumb; by implication,

to be astonished, to stop; also to perish:--cease, be cut down

(off), forbear, hold peace, quiet self, rest, be silent, keep

(put to) silence, be (stand) still, tarry, wait.

see HEBREW for 01724

see HEBREW for 01820

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

דָּמַם (da.mam) — to silence: stationary.

: stationary

1) to be silent, be still, wait, be dumb, grow dumb

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to be silent

1a2) to be still, die

1a3) to be struck dumb

1b) (Niphal) to be silenced, be made silent, destroyed

1c) (Poal) to make quiet

1d) (Hiphil) to make silent (cause to die)

דָּמַם (da.mam) — to wail.

wail

דָּמַם (da.mam) — to silence: silent.

: silent

1) to be silent, be still, wait, be dumb, grow dumb

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to be silent

1a2) to be still, die

1a3) to be struck dumb

1b) (Niphal) to be silenced, be made silent, destroyed

1c) (Poal) to make quiet

1d) (Hiphil) to make silent (cause to die)

דָּמַם (da.mam) — to silence: destroyed.

: destroyed

1) to be silent, be still, wait, be dumb, grow dumb

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to be silent

1a2) to be still, die

1a3) to be struck dumb

1b) (Niphal) to be silenced, be made silent, destroyed

1c) (Poal) to make quiet

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Niphal-Imperf-3mp — Verb · Niphal · imperfect third person masculine plural
HVNi3mp
[the] feet of faithful [people] his he will protect and wicked [people] in the darkness they will be silenced for not by strength he will prevail anyone
כִּֽי־ki- for H3588 Particle
4,483× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A conjunction used to show cause or connection, as in Genesis 2:23 where Adam says the woman is bone of his bone because she was taken out of him. It is often translated as 'for', 'because', or 'since'.
Tyndale gloss
for
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כִּי (ki) is a conjunction primarily meaning 'that,' 'for,' or 'when.' It indicates causal relationships and can express conditions like 'if' or 'though.' The word is versatile, appearing in various contexts to convey certainty, exception, or concession. Notably, it can combine with other particles to modify its meaning, such as in the phrase כִּי אם־ (ki im), meaning 'that if.'

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כִּי conj. that, for, when

that

Of time, when, of the past

elsewhere כִּי has a force approximating to if, though it usu. represents a case as more likely to occur than אִם

when or if, with a concessive force, i.e. though

Because, since

base

כִּי אם־

each part. retaining its independent force, and relating to a different clause:

that if

for if

(About 140 t.) the two particles being closely conjoined, and relating to the same clause—

limiting the prec. clause, except

the if being neglected, and treated as pleonastic, so that the clause is no longer a limitation of the preceding clause but a contradiction of it: but rather, but

after an oath, surely

base

כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3588a כִּי that, for, when . that

. . Of time, when, of the past

. elsewhere כִּי has a force approximating to if, though it usu. represents a case as more likely to occur than אִם

. when or if, with a concessive force, i.e. though

. Because, since

H3588b כִּי אם־ . each part. retaining its independent force, and relating to a different clause: . that if

. for if

. (About 140 t.) the two particles being closely conjoined, and relating to the same clause— . limiting the prec. clause, except

. the if being neglected, and treated as pleonastic, so that the clause is no longer a limitation of the preceding clause but a contradiction of it: but rather, but

. after an oath, surely

H3588c כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3588 kiy kee

a primitive particle (the full form of the prepositional

prefix) indicating causal relations of all kinds, antecedent

or consequent; (by implication) very widely used as a relative

conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by

other particles annexed:--and, + (forasmuch, inasmuch,

where-)as, assured(-ly), + but, certainly, doubtless, + else,

even, + except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, +

nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then,

therefore, + (al- )though, + till, truly, + until, when,

whether, while, whom, yea, yet.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כִּי (ki) — for.

1) that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since

1a) that

1a1) yea, indeed

1b) when (of time)

1b1) when, if, though (with a concessive force)

1c) because, since (causal connection)

1d) but (after negative)

1e) that if, for if, indeed if, for though, but if

1f) but rather, but

1g) except that

1h) only, nevertheless

1i) surely

1j) that is

1k) but if

1l) for though

1m) forasmuch as, for therefore

כִּי [אם] (ki im) — that if: except.

1) except if

1a) but if

1b) even though

כִּי [עַל כֵּן] (ki [al ken]) — for as that: since.

1) that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since

1a) that

1a1) yea, indeed

1b) when (of time)

1b1) when, if, though (with a concessive force)

1c) because, since (causal connection)

1d) but (after negative)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj — Particle
HTc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

for (ki (conjunction), le, from 'el (preposition), and various other words. In the New Testament also the words are various, chiefly gar, kai gar, hoti (conjunctions); anti apo eis dia (accusative), epi (dative and accusative), peri (genitive), pros (genitive and accusative), huper (genitive) (prepositions)): the English Revised Version and the American Standard Revised Version give in many cases more literal or more accurate renderings than those in the King James Version.

In the New Testament the most important preps. from a doctrinal point of view are anti, "face to face," "over against," "instead," "on behalf of," peri, "around," "about," "concerning," huper, "over," "on behalf of." The first has been claimed as stating the substitutionary nature of Christ's sacrifice as contrasted with huper and peri, more frequently used of it. But, although anti in the New Testament often means…

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
[the] feet of faithful [people] his he will protect and wicked [people] in the darkness they will be silenced for not by strength he will prevail anyone
לֹ֥אlo' not H3808 Particle
5,170× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for not or no is used to indicate absence or negation, as when God says no to the Israelites' requests, or when they disobey His commands.
Tyndale gloss
not
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

לֹא (lo') is a Hebrew word meaning 'not' or 'no.' It serves as a simple negation and can imply absence or prohibition. The word can also be used in various contexts, often combined with other particles for emphasis or clarification. Its Aramaic equivalent is לָא (la), which also means 'not.'

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

לֹא or לוֹא adv. not

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3808 לֹא or לוֹא not

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3808 lo' lo

or lowi {lo}; or loh (Deut. 3:11) {lo}; a primitive particle;

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often

used with other particles (as follows):--X before, + or else,

ere, + except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never,

no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), (X as though...,(can-), for) not (out

of), of nought, otherwise, out of, + surely, + as truly as, +

of a truth, + verily, for want, + whether, without.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

לֹא (lo) — not.

1) not, no

1a) not (with verb-absolute prohibition)

1b) not (with modifier-negation)

1c) nothing (subst)

1d) without (with particle)

1e) before (of time)

Aramaic equivalent: la (לָא "not" H3809)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Part — Particle
HTn
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
[the] feet of faithful [people] his he will protect and wicked [people] in the darkness they will be silenced for not by strength he will prevail anyone
בְכֹ֖חַve.Kho.ach by strength H3581 Preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
126× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Koach means strength or power, referring to human, angelic, or God's might. It can also describe the strength of animals or the produce of soil.
Amplified meaning
power, might
Tyndale gloss
reptile
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כֹּחַ (koach) refers to both a small reptile, likely a type of lizard, and the concepts of strength and power. The entries highlight its use in contexts of human and divine strength, as well as its association with wealth and capacity. Notably, it appears in Leviticus 11:30 regarding unclean animals.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כֹּחַ n.[m.] a small reptile, prob. a kind of lizard, in list of unclean creeping things Lv 11:30; chameleon

ref

כֹּחַ and כּוֹחַ n.m. strength, power

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3581a כֹּחַ a small reptile, prob. a kind of lizard, in list of unclean creeping things; chameleon H3581b כֹּחַ and כּוֹחַ strength, power

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3581 koach ko'-akh

or (Dan. 11:6) kowach {ko'-akh}; from an unused root meaning

to be firm; vigor, literally (force, in a good or a bad sense)

or figuratively (capacity, means, produce); also (from its

hardiness) a large lizard: -ability, able, chameleon, force,

fruits, might, power(-ful), strength, substance, wealth.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כֹּחַ (ko.ach) — reptile.

1) a small reptile, probably a kind of lizard, which is unclean

1a) perhaps an extinct animal, exact meaning is unknown

כֹּחַ (ko.ach) — strength.

1) strength, power, might

1a) human strength

1b) strength (of angels)

1c) power (of God)

1d) strength (of animals)

1e) strength, produce, wealth (of soil)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
HR/Ncmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Nave's Topical Bible

→ A title given to Jehovah 1Sa 15:29

[the] feet of faithful [people] his he will protect and wicked [people] in the darkness they will be silenced for not by strength he will prevail anyone
יִגְבַּר־yig.bar- he will prevail H1396 Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singular
25× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to be strong or prevail, often implying a sense of power or might. It is used in various forms throughout the Bible, including in the books of Genesis and Isaiah, to describe God's strength and human courage.
Amplified meaning
be strong, succeed
Tyndale gloss
to prevail
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

גָּבַר (gabar) is a Hebrew verb meaning to be strong or mighty, and it encompasses a range of related actions such as prevailing, strengthening, and confirming covenants. It can also imply acting insolently or proudly, particularly in relation to God. The word appears in various forms across different contexts, including Qal, Piel, Hiphil, and Hithpael.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

גָּבַר vb. be strong, mighty

Qal

be strong, mighty

prevail

Pi. make strong, strengthen

Hiph. confirm a covenant

Hithp. shew himself a mighty one against; of wicked behave proudly toward

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1396 גָּבַר be strong, mighty .. be strong, mighty

. prevail

. make strong, strengthen

. confirm a covenant

. shew himself a mighty one against; of wicked behave proudly toward

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1396 gabar gaw-bar'

a primitive root; to be strong; by implication, to prevail,

act insolently:--exceed, confirm, be great, be mighty,

prevail, put to more (strength), strengthen, be stronger, be

valiant.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

גָּבַר (ga.var) — to prevail.

1) to prevail, have strength, be strong, be powerful, be mighty, be great

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to be strong, mighty

1a2) to prevail

1b) (Piel) to make strong, strengthen

1c) (Hiphil)

1c1) to confirm, give strength

1c2) to confirm (a covenant)

1d) (Hithpael)

1d1) to show oneself mighty

1d2) to act proudly (toward God)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singular
HVqi3ms
[the] feet of faithful [people] his he will protect and wicked [people] in the darkness they will be silenced for not by strength he will prevail anyone
אִֽישׁ׃'Ish anyone H376 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
1,664× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for man, referring to a male person or individual, is used in the Bible to describe humans in contrast to God or animals, as seen in Genesis and Psalms. It can also mean husband or servant. In the KJV, it is translated as man or male.
Amplified meaning
individual, human
Tyndale gloss
man
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word אִישׁ (iysh) means 'man' and can refer to an individual male, a husband, or a human being in general. It encompasses various meanings, including champion and great man, and can also imply 'whosoever' or 'each.' The word is built from a root suggesting existence and is used throughout the Old Testament.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אִישׁ 2166 n.m. man (= vir)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H376 אִישׁ man (= vir)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

376 'iysh eesh

contracted for 582 (or perhaps rather from an unused root

meaning to be extant); a man as an individual or a male

person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and

in such cases frequently not expressed in

translation):--also, another, any (man), a certain, +

champion, consent, each, every (one), fellow, (foot-,

husband-)man, (good-, great, mighty) man, he, high (degree),

him (that is), husband, man(-kind), + none, one, people,

person, + steward, what (man) soever, whoso(-ever), worthy.

Compare 802.

see HEBREW for 0582

see HEBREW for 0802

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אִישׁ (ish) — man.

: man

1) man

1a) man, male (in contrast to woman, female)

1b) husband

1c) human being, person (in contrast to God)

1d) servant

1e) mankind

1f) champion

1g) great man

2) whosoever

3) each (adjective)

אִישׁ (ish) — man: husband.

: husband

1) man

1a) man, male (in contrast to woman, female)

1b) husband

1c) human being, person (in contrast to God)

1d) servant

1e) mankind

1f) champion

1g) great man

2) whosoever

3) each (adjective)

אִישׁ (ish) — man: anyone.

: anyone/someone

1) man

1a) man, male (in contrast to woman, female)

1b) husband

1c) human being, person (in contrast to God)

1d) servant

1e) mankind

1f) champion

1g) great man

2) whosoever

3) each (adjective)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absolute
HNcmsa
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.

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