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2 Samuel 22:28 — Word Study

Depth

WLCוְאֶת־ עַ֥ם עָנִ֖י תּוֹשִׁ֑יעַ וְעֵינֶ֖יךָ עַל־ רָמִ֥ים תַּשְׁפִּֽיל׃

BSAYou saveyâshaʻ [rescue, deliver] an afflictedʻânîy [humble, weak, depressed] peopleʻam [nation, community] but Your eyesʻayin [source of insight] are onʻal [upon, watching over] the haughtyrûwm [proud, exalted] to bring [them] downshâphêl [to abase, to humble]

Word
Listen & take away2 Samuel 22
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 28 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 (tash.Pil) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
2 Samuel 22:28quick helps
In a sentenceGod saves the humble but watches over the proud to bring them low.
Who is speakingDavid, expressing his understanding of God's justice.
Where we areThis verse is part of David's song of praise, reflecting on God's deliverance.
The hard wordעָנִי, 'a.Ni
Take awayGod's deliverance is directed towards the humble, while the proud face His judgment.
5 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Ellicott, Cambridge & more — read them › clause verbיָשַׁע 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 — 2 Samuel 22:28

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 — David's Song of Praisegenerated

27to the pure You show Yourself pure, but to the crooked You show Yourself shrewd.
28You save an afflicted people, but Your eyes are on the haughty to bring them down.
29For You, O LORD, are my lamp; the LORD lights up my darkness.
30For in You I can charge an army; with my God I can scale a wall.

2 Samuel 22:28 is part of a larger song where David praises God for His deliverance from enemies. In this section, David reflects on the character of God as one who saves the humble and watches over the proud, emphasizing the contrast between the two groups. This theme of divine justice is echoed throughout the Psalms and the prophetic writings, highlighting God’s care for those in need and His opposition to the arrogant.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Exodus 3:7–8The LORD said, “I have indeed seen the affliction of My people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their oppressors, and I am aware of their sufferings.
2Psalm 12:5“For the cause of the oppressed and for the groaning of the needy, I will now arise,” says the LORD. “I will bring safety to him who yearns.”
3Psalm 72:12–13For he will deliver the needy who cry out and the afflicted who have no helper.
4Psalm 140:12I know that the LORD upholds justice for the poor and defends the cause of the needy.
5Isaiah 61:1–3The Spirit of the Lord GOD is on Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the prisoners,

The Key Word עָנִי, 'a.Nigenerated

The word עָנִי ('a.Ni) describes someone who is afflicted, humble, or weak. It conveys a state of being that is often associated with suffering or oppression. The parsing indicates it is an adjective, qualifying the noun עַם ('am), which means 'people.' This word is used in various contexts in the Hebrew Bible to denote those who are lowly or in need.

In this verse, it highlights the kind of people God is inclined to save — those who are humble and recognize their need for help. The usage of this term shows a consistent biblical theme where God favors the lowly and opposes the proud.


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. The BSB has afflicted, which is also used in the KJV, ASV, and several other translations.

Where others part company with the BSB is over the word עָנִיhumble (DRA, GNV) is chosen by some versions, indicating a slightly different nuance in understanding the state of the people being saved.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main verb of the verse is תּוֹשִׁ֑יעַ, you save, which governs the noun phrase עַ֥ם עָנִ֖י, an afflicted people. The structure emphasizes the action of saving as the focal point, with the subsequent clause providing a contrast regarding God's attention to the proud.

The second verb תַּשְׁפִּֽיל, you bring low, follows a prepositional phrase that indicates the subject of God's scrutiny, רָמִ֥ים, the haughty. This arrangement highlights the dichotomy between the humble and the proud.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

In the Septuagint, עָנִי is rendered as ταπεινὸς, which means 'humble.' This choice emphasizes the lowly state of the people God saves, aligning with the Hebrew meaning but also suggesting a broader understanding of humility in a spiritual sense.

The term for the proud is translated as ὑψηλῶν, indicating those who are exalted. This reflects a direct correspondence to the Hebrew and reinforces the theme of divine justice against arrogance.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

2 Samuel 22:28 tells us that God saves those who are humble and afflicted, while His attention is on the proud, whom He will bring low. This verse highlights God's care for the needy and His judgment against arrogance.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean that God saves an afflicted people?

It means that God is attentive to those who are in distress or humble circumstances, offering them rescue and support.

Why does God focus on the haughty?

God's focus on the haughty indicates His intention to bring down those who are proud and self-exalted, demonstrating His justice.

How does this verse reflect God's character?

This verse shows that God is compassionate towards the weak and humble while also being just against pride and arrogance.

What can we learn from the contrast in this verse?

The contrast teaches us the importance of humility and the dangers of pride, reminding us to rely on God for strength and support.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what areas of my life do I need to practice humility and rely more on God?
  2. How can I support those who are afflicted or in need around me?
  3. What are some ways I can guard against pride in my own life?
  4. How does understanding God's justice shape my view of my own circumstances?

Commentators on this verse — 5 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on 2 Samuel 22:28 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

And the afflicted people thou wilt save: but thine eyes [are] upon the haughty, [that] thou mayest bring [them] down. [See comments on Psalms 18:27].

Read John Gill on 2 Samuel 22 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

And the afflicted people thou wilt save: but thine eyes are upon the haughty, that thou mayest bring them down.

Read Robert Jamieson on 2 Samuel 22 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(28) Thine eyes are upon the haughty.—More briefly, but in more common form, the psalm, “wilt bring down high looks.”

Read Charles John Ellicott on 2 Samuel 22 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

28. thine eyes, &c.] Thine eyes are against the haughty, whom thou bringest low. In Psalms 18:27 a more usual phrase is found: “haughty eyes dost thou bring low.” Cp. Isaiah 2:11-12; Isaiah 2:17. the afflicted people] The Heb. words for poor or afflicted and for humble are closely connected; and as afflicted is here contrasted with haughty, it may be understood to mean those who through the discipline of suffering have learnt humility. Cp. Luke 6:20 with Matthew 5:3.

Read Cambridge on 2 Samuel 22 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

28. People of affliction — Families or nations bowed down under oppression or beset with foes.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on 2 Samuel 22 →

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

You save an afflicted people, but Your eyes are on the haughty to bring them down.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

You will save the afflicted people, but your eyes are on the arrogant, that you may bring them down.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

You save an afflicted people, but Your eyes are on the haughty to bring them down.

NETBNew English Translation2006

You deliver oppressed people, but you watch the proud and bring them down.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

And the afflicted people thou wilt save: but thine eyes are upon the haughty, that thou mayest bring them down.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

And the afflicted people thou wilt save; But thine eyes are upon the haughty, that thou mayest bring them down.

RVARevised Version, American1894

And the afflicted people thou wilt save: but thine eyes are upon the haughty, that thou mayest bring them down.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

And the afflicted people thou wilt save: but thy eyes are upon the haughty, that thou mayest bring them down.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Thus thou wilt saue the poore people: but thine eyes are vpon the hautie to humble them.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

And the afflicted people thou dost save; And thine eyes are upon the haughty, [whom] thou bringest down.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

And the poor people Thou dost save, And Thine eyes on the high causest to fall.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

And You save the poor people, || But Your eyes on the high cause [them] to fall.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

And the afflicted people thou wilt save; but thy eyes are upon the haughty, [that] thou mayest bring [them] down.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

You save afflicted people, but your eyes are against the proud, and you bring them down.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

And the poor people thou wilt save: and with thy eyes thou wilt humble the haughty.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

You save the humble, but your eyes watch the proud to bring them down.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

For you are the saviour of those who are in trouble; but your eyes are on men of pride, to make them low.

Word by word, the decisions they made

עָנִ֖י'a.Ni afflicted H6041 2 different renderings
afflictedASV BSB DBY ILT KJV MSB NWB RVA ULB WEB
humbleDRA FBV GNV

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.

וְandclausenoun phrase · objectאֶת(et)noun phraseעַ֥םa.peopleעָנִ֖יafflictedverbתּוֹשִׁ֑יעַyou.saveוְandclausenoun phrase · subjectעֵינֶ֖יeyesךָyourprepositional phrase · predicateעַל[are].onnoun phraseרָמִ֥יםhaughty.[ones]clauseverbתַּשְׁפִּֽילyou.bring.[them].low

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


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

The Masoretic Text reads, "You save an afflicted people, but Your eyes are on the haughty to bring them down." The Septuagint largely agrees with the Masoretic Text, matching 7 of the 8 words, although it presents them in a different order and with its own articles. The Dead Sea Scrolls (4Q51) also align with the Masoretic Text, though it is partially restored and contains some editor-supplied words, indicating that the core message remains consistent across these witnesses.

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

וְאֶת־ עַ֥ם עָנִ֖י תּוֹשִׁ֑יעַ וְעֵינֶ֖יךָ עַל־ רָמִ֥ים תַּשְׁפִּֽיל׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
וְאֶת־καὶעַ֥םλαὸνתּוֹשִׁ֑יעַσώσειςוְעֵינֶ֖יךָὀφθαλμοὺςעַל־ἐπὶרָמִ֥יםμετεώρωνתַּשְׁפִּֽיל׃ταπεινώσεις

7 of the 8 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.

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

[כי] [אתה] עם [עני] [תושיע] [ועינים] [על] [רמים] [תשפיל]

nothing on the leather here — 1 partly restored, 8 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.

2 Samuel 22:28אֵתand the objand the object אֵתעַםa peoplea peopleעַםעָנִיafflictedafflictedעָנִייָשַׁעyou saveyou saveיָשַׁעעַ֫יִןand eyes yoand eyes yourעַ֫יִןעַל[are] on[are] onעַלרוּםhaughty [pehaughty [peopleרוּםשָׁפֵלyou bring [you bring [themשָׁפֵלאוֹתsign: mirasign: miraculouאוֹתעָמַםto darkento darkenעָמַםעָנָהbe occupiebe occupiedעָנָהעַלheightheightעַלמִגְרָשׁpasturepastureמִגְרָשׁחָטַףto catchto catchחָטַףאֶבְיוֹןneedyneedyאֶבְיוֹןבַּצָּרָהdearthdearthבַּצָּרָהחֵןfavorfavorחֵןיָשָׁרJasharJasharיָשָׁרכִּפֶּרto atoneto atoneכִּפֶּרכִּסֵּאthronethroneכִּסֵּאתְּרוּמָהcontributicontributionתְּרוּמָהקֶ֫רֶןhornhornקֶ֫רֶןשָׁחַחto bowto bowשָׁחַחגַּאֲוָהprideprideגַּאֲוָה
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 2 Samuel 22:28

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 the object marker a people afflicted you save and eyes your [are] on haughty [people] you bring [them] low
וְאֶת־ve.'Et and the object marker H853 Conjunction · 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
HC/To — Conjunction · particle
HC/To
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and the object marker a people afflicted you save and eyes your [are] on haughty [people] you bring [them] low
עַ֥ם'am a people H5971 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
1,873× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A people or nation is what this Hebrew word represents, like the nation of Israel in Exodus 33:13. It can also mean a tribe, troops, or attendants, and is used to describe a group of people gathered together. The word is often used to refer to the people of God.
Amplified meaning
nation, community
Tyndale gloss
Amaw
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עַם, עָם 1810 n.m. people

a people, nation

= smaller units

= common people

people in gen., persons

phrases

base

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

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

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

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5971 `am am

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

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

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

people.

see HEBREW for 06004

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עַם (am) — people.

: people/nation

1) nation, people

1a) people, nation

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

עַם (am) — kinsman.

kinsman, kindred

עַם (am) — Ammi.

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

§ kinsman, kindred

עַם (am) — People's (Gate).

§ kinsman, kindred

עַם (am) — (Ibleam)-am.

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

§ kinsman, kindred

עַם (am) — Amaw.

This name means nation, people

עַם (am) — people: soldiers.

: soldiers/army

1) nation, people

1a) people, nation

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

עַם (am) — people: creatures.

: creatures

1) nation, people

1a) people, nation

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

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

and the object marker a people afflicted you save and eyes your [are] on haughty [people] you bring [them] low
74× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word describes someone who is depressed, humble, or weak, often due to difficult circumstances, as described in the Psalms and other biblical books.
Amplified meaning
humble, weak, depressed
Tyndale gloss
afflicted
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עָנִי (aniy) describes a state of being poor, afflicted, or humble. It is built from the root meaning to be depressed in mind or circumstances. The entries indicate it covers a range of meanings including needy, lowly, and wretched. There is a noted disagreement regarding its relationship to another word, עָנָה (anah), with some lexicons viewing one as subjective and the other as objective.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עָנִי adj. poor, afflicted, humble

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6041 עָנִי poor, afflicted, humble

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6041 `aniy aw-nee'

from 6031; depressed, in mind or circumstances (practically

the same as 6035, although the margin constantly disputes

this, making 6035 subjective and 6041 objective):--afflicted,

humble, lowly, needy, poor.

see HEBREW for 06031

see HEBREW for 06035

see HEBREW for 06035

see HEBREW for 06041

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עָנִי (a.ni) — afflicted.

1) poor, afflicted, humble, wretched

1a) poor, needy

1b) poor and weak

1c) poor, weak, afflicted, wretched

1d) humble, lowly

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adj — Adj
HAamsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Nave's Topical Bible
and the object marker a people afflicted you save and eyes your [are] on haughty [people] you bring [them] low
תּוֹשִׁ֑יעַto.Shi.a' you save H3467 Verb · Hiphil · imperfect second person masculine singular
206× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Means to save or be delivered, used in the Bible to describe being freed from danger or trouble, like in battle or from moral struggles, as seen in the Psalms and Proverbs.
Amplified meaning
rescue, deliver
Tyndale gloss
to save
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יָשַׁע (yasha`) is a Hebrew root meaning to save or deliver. It encompasses various forms of salvation, including liberation from physical and moral troubles, victory in battle, and general safety. The word can appear in different grammatical forms, such as Niph. (to be saved) and Hiph. (to save).

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[יָשַׁע] vb. Hiph. deliver; Niph. intrans. and pass.

Niph.

be liberated, saved (prop. placed in freedom)

be saved in battle, victorious

Hiph.

deliver, save (prop. give width and breadth to, liberate)

save from moral troubles

give victory to

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3467 [יָשַׁע] Hiph. deliver; Niph. intrans. and pass. . . be liberated, saved (prop. placed in freedom)

. be saved in battle, victorious

. . deliver, save (prop. give width and breadth to, liberate)

. save from moral troubles

. give victory to

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3467 yasha` yaw-shah'

a primitive root; properly, to be open, wide or free, i.e.

(by implication) to be safe; causatively, to free or

succor:--X at all, avenging, defend, deliver(-er), help,

preserve, rescue, be safe, bring (having) salvation,

save(-iour), get victory.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יָשַׁע (ya.sah) — to save.

1) to save, be saved, be delivered

1a) (Niphal)

1a1) to be liberated, be saved, be delivered

1a2) to be saved (in battle), be victorious

1b) (Hiphil)

1b1) to save, deliver

1b2) to save from moral troubles

1b3) to give victory to

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Hiphil-Imperf-2ms — Verb · Hiphil · imperfect second person masculine singular
HVhi2ms
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

sav: In the sense "except," the word came into English through the French (sauf) and is fairly common (38 times, in addition to "saving," the King James Version Ec 5:11; Am 9:8; Mt 5:32; Lu 4:27; Re 2:17). It represents no particular Hebrew or Greek terms but is employed wherever it seems useful. It is still in good (slightly archaic) use, and the Revised Version (British and American) has few modifications (De 15:4 the King James Version; Ps 18:31, etc.), but the English Revised Version has dropped "saving" in

and the object marker a people afflicted you save and eyes your [are] on haughty [people] you bring [them] low
וְעֵינֶ֖יךָve.'ei.Nei.kha and eyes your H5869 Conjunction · noun common feminine dual construct · suffix
887× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word can mean a spring or fountain, but also refers to the eye or a source of something. It is often translated as affliction, outward appearance, or countenance, and is used in various contexts throughout the Bible.
Amplified meaning
source of insight
Tyndale gloss
eye
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word עַ֫יִן (*'ayin*) means 'eye' and can refer to both the physical organ and its figurative uses, such as mental qualities and desires. It also denotes a 'spring' or 'fountain' of water. The entries highlight various phrases and contexts, including appearances and expressions of emotion, but do not indicate any significant disagreement among lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עַ֫יִן 859 n.f. eye

lit. as physical organ

eyes as showing mental qualities

desire of the eyes, abominations of the eyes

Fig. of mental and physical faculties, acts and states

Transferred mngs.:

visible surface of earth

appearance

gleam, sparkle

Other phrases are: an eye for an eye; eye to eye; in the presence of, in full view of; of business transaction; on the forehead

base

עַ֫יִן n.f. spring (of water). Particular springs are:

ע׳ חֲרֹר Ju 7:1

ע׳ הַקּוֹרֵא (partridge-spring) Ju 15:19

ע׳ רֹגֵל near Jerus.

ע׳ הַתַּנִּין (dragon-spring)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5869a עַ֫יִן eye . lit. as physical organ

. . eyes as showing mental qualities

. desire of the eyes, abominations of the eyes

. Fig. of mental and physical faculties, acts and states

. Transferred mngs.: . visible surface of earth

. appearance

. gleam, sparkle

. Other phrases are: an eye for an eye; eye to eye; in the presence of, in full view of; of business transaction; on the forehead

H5869b עַ֫יִן spring (of water)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5869 `ayin ah'-yin

probably a primitive word; an eye (literally or

figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the

landscape):--affliction, outward appearance, + before, +

think best, colour, conceit, + be content, countenance, +

displease, eye((-brow), (-d), -sight), face, + favour,

fountain, furrow (from the margin), X him, + humble,

knowledge, look, (+ well), X me, open(-ly), + (not) please,

presence, + regard, resemblance, sight, X thee, X them, +

think, X us, well, X you(-rselves).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — eye.

: eye

1) eye

1a) eye

1a1) of physical eye

1a2) as showing mental qualities

1a3) of mental and spiritual faculties (fig.)

עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — Fountain (Gate).

§ spring, fountain

עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — Fountain of.

§ spring, fountain

עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — eye: seeing.

: seeing

1) eye

1a) eye

1a1) of physical eye

1a2) as showing mental qualities

1a3) of mental and spiritual faculties (fig.)

עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — eye: appearance.

: appearance

1) eye

1a) eye

1a1) of physical eye

1a2) as showing mental qualities

1a3) of mental and spiritual faculties (fig.)

עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — eye: before(the eyes).

: before(the_eyes)

1) eye

1a) eye

1a1) of physical eye

1a2) as showing mental qualities

1a3) of mental and spiritual faculties (fig.)

עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — eye: sin.

: sin

1) eye

1a) eye

1a1) of physical eye

1a2) as showing mental qualities

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Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | N-cd | Suff — Conjunction · noun common feminine dual construct · suffix
HC/Ncfdc/Sp2ms
and the object marker a people afflicted you save and eyes your [are] on haughty [people] you bring [them] low
עַל־'al- [are] on H5921 Preposition
5,774× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means on or above something, like a physical object or a situation. It can also imply a sense of responsibility or accountability, as in being on behalf of someone.
Amplified meaning
upon, watching over
Tyndale gloss
upon
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word עַל (*al*) is a preposition meaning 'upon' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including 'on account of,' 'beside,' 'above,' and 'against.' It can indicate physical placement, emotional burdens, or duties imposed on a person. The entries also note its use in idiomatic expressions and with verbs of motion. There is a mention of its function as a conjunction in certain contexts.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as

base

עַל, עָ֑ל

subst. height

As prep. upon, and hence on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against

Upon, of the substratum upon which an object in any way rests, or on which an action is performed

of clothing, etc., which any one wears

With verbs of covering or protecting, even though the cover or veil be not over or above the thing covered, but around or before it

Of what rests heavily upon a person, or is a burden to him

Of a duty, payment, care, etc., imposed upon a person, or devolving on him

על is used idiom. to give pathos to the expression of an emotion, by emphasizing the person who is its subject, and who, as it were, feels it acting upon him

חָיָה עַל to live upon (as upon a foundation or support)

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Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5921a עַל, עָ֑ל . As prep. upon, and hence on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against . Upon, of the substratum upon which an object in any way rests, or on which an action is performed . — . of clothing, etc., which any one wears

. With verbs of covering or protecting, even though the cover or veil be not over or above the thing covered, but around or before it

. Of what rests heavily upon a person, or is a burden to him

. Of a duty, payment, care, etc., imposed upon a person, or devolving on him

. על is used idiom. to give pathos to the expression of an emotion, by emphasizing the person who is its subject, and who, as it were, feels it acting upon him

. חָיָה עַל to live upon (as upon a foundation or support)

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Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5921 `al al

properly, the same as 5920 used as a preposition (in the

singular or plural often with prefix, or as conjunction with a

particle following); above, over, upon, or against (yet always

in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great

variety of applications (as follow):--above, according

to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, X as, at, because

of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, X both

and, by (reason of), X had the charge of, concerning for, in

(that), (forth, out) of, (from) (off), (up-)on, over, than,

through(-out), to, touching, X with.

see HEBREW for 05920

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עַל (al) — upon.

prep

1) upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against

1a) upon, on the ground of, on the basis of, on account of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of, as regards

1b) above, beyond, over (of excess)

1c) above, over (of elevation or pre-eminence)

1d) upon, to, over to, unto, in addition to, together with, with (of addition)

1e) over (of suspension or extension)

1f) by, adjoining, next, at, over, around (of contiguity or proximity)

1g) down upon, upon, on, from, up upon, up to, towards, over towards, to, against (with verbs of motion)

1h) to (as a dative)

[כִּי] עַל [כֵּן] ([ki] al [ken]) — as.

conj

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Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep — Preposition
HR
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Easton's Bible Dictionary

On

Light; the sun, (Gen. 41:45, 50), the great seat of sun-worship, called also Bethshemesh (Jer. 43:13) and Aven (Ezek. 30:17), stood on the east bank of the Nile, a few miles north of Memphis, and near Cairo, in the north-east. The Vulgate and the LXX. Versions have “Heliopolis” (“city of the sun”) instead of On in Genesis and of Aven in Ezekiel. The “city of destruction” Isaiah speaks of (19:18, marg. “of Heres;” Heb. ‘Ir-ha-heres, which some MSS. read Ir-ha-heres, i.e., “city of the sun”) may be the name given to On, the prophecy being that the time will come when that city which was known as the “city of the sun-god” shall become the “city of destruction” of the sun-god, i.e., when idolatry shall cease, and the worship…

Smith's Bible Dictionary

(abode or city of the sun), a town of lower Egypt, called BETH-SHEMESH in (Jeremiah 43:13) On is better known under its Greek name Heliopolis. It was situated on the east side of the Pelusiac branch of the Nile, just below the point of the Delta, and about twenty miles northeast of Memphis. The chief object of worship at Heliopolis was the sun, whose temple, described by Strabo, is now only represented by the single beautiful obelisk, of red granite so feet 2 inches high above the pedestal which has stood for more than 4000 years, having been erected by Usirtesen, the second king of the twelfth dynasty. Heliopolis was anciently famous for its learning, and Eudoxus and Plato studied under its priests. The first mention of this place in the Bible is in the history of Joseph, to whom we read Pharaoh gave "to wife Asenath the daughter…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

See HELIOPOLIS.

Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary

pain; force; iniquity

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and the object marker a people afflicted you save and eyes your [are] on haughty [people] you bring [them] low
רָמִ֥יםra.Mim haughty [people] H7311 Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine plural
190× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This verb can mean to lift something or someone up, like a parent lifting a child, or to exalt oneself in pride. In the Bible, it's used to describe God lifting up the humble and bringing down the proud.
Amplified meaning
proud, exalted
Tyndale gloss
to exalt
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

רוּם (ruwm) is a Hebrew verb meaning to be high or exalted, covering a range of actions such as rising, lifting, and promoting. It can refer to physical elevation, like raising an ark or setting up a throne, as well as figurative exaltation, particularly in relation to God. The word also has a related form, רָמַם (ramam), which means to be wormy.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

רוּם vb. be high, exalted, rise

Qal

be high, lit. rock (in fig.)

esp. of י׳

be raised, uplifted

be lifted, rise, of ark

Pō‛lēl

raise, rear, children

cause tree to grow

lift up

exalt, extol, acc. י׳

Pō‛lal be lift up

Hiph.

raise, rear, c. acc., hand

raise poor

lift up voice

(take into one's hand and) lift, take up, stone

set up, erect, stone

set on high, throne

lift up, exalt, c. acc. pers.

lift up and take away, remove

lift off and present, contribute, offer

Hoph. be taken off from; be abolished

Hithpō‛l. and he shall exalt and magnify himself above, etc.; I will raise myself

base

[רָמַם] vb. denom. be wormy;—Ex 16:20

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7311a רוּם be high, exalted, rise .. . be high, lit. rock (in fig.)

. esp. of י׳

. be raised, uplifted

. be lifted, rise, of ark

.. . raise, rear, children

. cause tree to grow

. lift up

. exalt, extol, acc. י׳

.be lift up

. . . . raise, rear, c. acc., hand

. raise poor

. lift up voice

. (take into one's hand and) lift, take up, stone

. set up, erect, stone

. set on high, throne

. lift up, exalt, c. acc. pers.

. lift up and take away, remove

. lift off and present, contribute, offer

. be taken off from; be abolished

. and he shall exalt and magnify himself above, etc.; I will raise myself

H7311b רָמַם vb. denom. be wormy

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7311 ruwm room

a primitive root; to be high actively, to rise or raise (in

various applications, literally or figuratively):--bring up,

exalt (self), extol, give, go up, haughty, heave (up), (be,

lift up on, make on, set up on, too) high(-er, one), hold up,

levy, lift(-er) up, (be) lofty, (X a-)loud, mount up, offer

(up), + presumptuously, (be) promote(-ion), proud, set up,

tall(-er), take (away, off, up), breed worms.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

רוּם (rum) — to exalt.

1) to rise, rise up, be high, be lofty, be exalted

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to be high, be set on high

1a2) to be raised, be uplifted, be exalted

1a3) to be lifted, rise

1b) (Polel)

1b1) to raise or rear (children), cause to grow up

1b2) to lift up, raise, exalt

1b3) to exalt, extol

1c) (Polal) to be lifted up

1d) (Hiphil)

1d1) to raise, lift, lift up, take up, set up, erect, exalt, set on high

1d2) to lift up (and take away), remove

1d3) to lift off and present, contribute, offer, contribute

1e) (Hophal) to be taken off, be abolished

1f) (Hithpolel) to exalt oneself, magnify oneself

Aramaic equivalent: rum (רוּם "to rise" H7313)

רָמַם (ra.mam) — be rotten.

(Qal) to be rotten, be wormy

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal — Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine plural
HVqrmpa
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…

and the object marker a people afflicted you save and eyes your [are] on haughty [people] you bring [them] low
תַּשְׁפִּֽיל׃tash.Pil you bring [them] low H8213 Verb · Hiphil · imperfect second person masculine singular
31× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To humble or abase oneself, to lower one's expectations or pride. In the Bible, it can mean to bring someone or something down, like in Proverbs 29:23, where a person's pride is humbled.
Amplified meaning
to abase, to humble
Tyndale gloss
to abase
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שָׁפֵל (shaphel) is a Hebrew verb meaning to be or become low or abased. It can refer to both a physical lowering and a figurative humbling, with usages in different forms indicating actions like laying low or humbling oneself. The entries emphasize its application in contexts of humiliation and lowering one's status.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שָׁפֵל vb. be or become low, be abased

Qal

all Is: become (be brought, laid) low

to be lowly of spirit

of sound

Hiph.

usu. fig., lay low

hum. subj. set one in a lower place

as helping vb.: make low, sit down = take low seat

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8213 שָׁפֵל be or become low, be abased

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8213 shaphel shaw-fale'

a primitive root; to depress or sink (expec. figuratively, to

humiliate, intransitive or transitive):--abase, bring (cast,

put) down, debase, humble (self), be (bring, lay, make, put)

low(-er).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שָׁפֵל (sha.phel) — to abase.

1) to be or become low, sink, be humbled, be abased

1a) (Qal) to be or become low

1b) (Hiphil)

1b1) to lay or bring low, humiliate

1b2) to set in a lower place, show abasement

1b3) to make low, sit down

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Hiphil-Imperf-2ms — Verb · Hiphil · imperfect second person masculine singular
HVhi2ms
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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