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Isaiah 37:15 — Word Study

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WLCוַיִּתְפַּלֵּל֙ חִזְקִיָּ֔הוּ אֶל־ יְהוָ֖ה לֵאמֹֽר׃

BSAAnd HezekiahChizqîyâh [a king of Judah, son of Ahaz] prayedpâlal [to intercede, to make petition] toʼêl [toward, in the direction of] the LORDYᵉhôvâh [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God]

Word
Listen & take awayIsaiah 37
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 15 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 (le.Mor) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Isaiah 37:15quick helps
In a sentenceHezekiah prayed to the LORD.
Who is speakingHezekiah, a king of Judah.
Where we areIn the context of a crisis, Hezekiah turns to God in prayer.
The hard wordוַיִּתְפַּלֵּל֙
Take awayPrayer is an act of intercession directed toward God.
5 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, AdamClarke, Cambridge & more — read them › clause subjectחִזְקִיָּהוּ verbפָּלַל 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 — Isaiah 37:15

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 — Hezekiah's Prayergenerated

14So Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers, read it, and went up to the house of the LORD and spread it out before the LORD.
15And Hezekiah prayed to the LORD:
16“O LORD of Hosts, God of Israel, enthroned above the cherubim, You alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You made the heavens and the earth.
17Incline Your ear, O LORD, and hear; open Your eyes, O LORD, and see. Listen to all the words that Sennacherib has sent to defy the living God.

Isaiah 37:15 captures a moment of desperation for King Hezekiah, who, upon receiving a threatening letter from Sennacherib, seeks divine intervention. Hezekiah's prayer reflects his reliance on God during a time of national crisis, emphasizing the importance of turning to God for guidance and support. This act of prayer is foundational in the narrative, illustrating the king's faith and leadership in Judah.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
11 Samuel 7:8–9and said to Samuel, “Do not stop crying out to the LORD our God for us, that He may save us from the hand of the Philistines.”
22 Samuel 7:18–29Then King David went in, sat before the LORD, and said, “Who am I, O Lord GOD, and what is my house, that You have brought me this far?
32 Kings 19:15–19And Hezekiah prayed before the LORD: “O LORD, God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, You alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You made the heavens and the earth.
42 Chronicles 14:11Then Asa cried out to the LORD his God: “O LORD, there is no one besides You to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us, O LORD our God, for we rely on You, and in Your name we have come against this multitude. O LORD, You are our God. Do not let a mere mortal prevail against You.”
52 Chronicles 20:6–12and said, “O LORD, God of our fathers, are You not the God who is in heaven, and do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations? Power and might are in Your hand, and no one can stand against You.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 8 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word וַיִּתְפַּלֵּל֙, vai.yit.pa.Lelgenerated

The verb פָּלַל (palal) means to pray or intercede, emphasizing the act of making a petition to God. This particular form, Hithpael, indicates a reflexive or reciprocal action, suggesting that Hezekiah is not only praying for himself but also for the people of Judah.

Hezekiah's prayer is a personal and communal act, showing his role as a leader who intercedes on behalf of his nation. The act of praying is not merely a ritual but a deep expression of reliance on God's strength and mercy.


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 main verb וַיִּתְפַּלֵּל֙ governs the entire clause, with the subject חִזְקִיָּ֔הוּ directly preceding it. This structure places emphasis on Hezekiah's action of praying, highlighting his initiative in seeking God's help.

The phrase אֶל־ יְהוָ֖ה indicates the direction of his prayer, showing that Hezekiah is turning to the LORD, which is a common expression in Hebrew for seeking divine assistance.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates וַיִּתְפַּלֵּל֙ as προσεύχατο which means 'he prayed' or 'he offered a prayer'. This choice aligns closely with the Hebrew meaning but emphasizes the act of devotion in a more formalized manner.

The Greek word προσεύχατο suggests a structured approach to prayer, reflecting the cultural context of prayer in the Hellenistic world, where formal prayers were common.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Isaiah 37:15 shows Hezekiah, the king of Judah, praying to the LORD. Hezekiah is seeking God's help in a time of crisis, demonstrating the importance of prayer in his leadership and faith.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does Hezekiah's prayer signify?

Hezekiah's prayer signifies a deep reliance on God during a time of crisis, highlighting the importance of seeking divine intervention.

Why is prayer important in this context?

Prayer is important in this context as it represents Hezekiah's faith and leadership, showing that he turns to God for guidance and support.

What can we learn from Hezekiah's example?

We can learn the value of prayer and intercession, especially in difficult times, and the importance of seeking God's direction.

How does Hezekiah's prayer reflect his character?

Hezekiah's prayer reflects his character as a devoted leader who relies on God and intercedes for his people.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what ways do I seek God's guidance in my life, similar to Hezekiah's prayer?
  2. How can I support others in prayer during their times of crisis?
  3. What does it mean to me to intercede for others?
  4. How can I strengthen my own prayer life based on Hezekiah's example?

Commentators on this verse — 5 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Isaiah 37:15 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

And Hezekiah prayed unto the Lord, saying. He did not return railing for railing, but committed himself and his cause to him that judgeth righteously; he did not write an answer to the letter

Read John Gill on Isaiah 37 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

And Hezekiah prayed unto the LORD, saying, No JFB commentary on this verse.

Read Robert Jamieson on Isaiah 37 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 15. Unto the Lord - "Before JEHOVAH"] That is, in the sanctuary. For אל el, the Syriac, Chaldee, and the other copy, 2Kg 19:15, read לפני liphney, "before the face."

Read AdamClarke on Isaiah 37 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

14–20. Hezekiah’s prayer in the Temple. Cheyne refers to a striking parallel in the Egyptian version of Sennacherib’s overthrow. “On this the monarch (Sethos), greatly distressed, entered into the inner sanctuary, and before the image of the god (Ptah) bewailed the fate which impended over him. As he wept he fell asleep, and dreamed that the god came and stood by his side, bidding him be of good cheer, and go boldly forth to meet the Arabian (Assyrian) host, which would do him no hurt, as he himself would send those who should help him” (Herod. II. 141, Rawlinson).

Read Cambridge on Isaiah 37 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

14-20. The insulting message above noted was in the form of a letter, which Hezekiah piously spread before the Lord in the temple — an act of prayer passing at length into vocal utterance, (Isaiah

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Isaiah 37 →

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

And Hezekiah prayed to the LORD:

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Hezekiah prayed to Yahweh, saying,

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

And Hezekiah prayed to the LORD:

NETBNew English Translation2006

Hezekiah prayed before the Lord:

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

And Hezekiah prayed unto the LORD, saying,

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

And Hezekiah prayed unto Jehovah, saying,

RVARevised Version, American1894

And Hezekiah prayed unto the LORD, saying,

NWBWebster's Bible1833

And Hezekiah prayed to the LORD, saying,

GNVGeneva Bible1599

And Hezekiah prayed vnto the Lord, saying,

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

And Hezekiah prayed to Jehovah, saying,

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

And Hezekiah prayeth unto Jehovah, saying,

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

And Hezekiah prays to YHWH, saying,

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

And Hezekiah prayed unto the Lord, saying,

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Hezekiah prayed to Yahweh:

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

And Ezechias prayed to the Lord, saying:

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

Hezekiah prayed to the Lord, saying,

BBEBible in Basic English1949

And he made prayer to the Lord, saying,

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.

וַandclauseverbיִּתְפַּלֵּל֙he.prayedsubjectחִזְקִיָּ֔הוּHezekiahprepositional phrase · prepositionalאֶלtoיְהוָ֖הYahwehprepositional phrase · prepositionalלֵ(cmp)clauseverbאמֹֽרsaying

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


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

The witnesses, including the Masoretic Text and the Septuagint, agree on the wording of this verse, with the Dead Sea Scrolls confirming the key elements of the prayer. All sources present Hezekiah's prayer as a direct appeal to God, emphasizing its significance.

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

וַיִּתְפַּלֵּל֙ חִזְקִיָּ֔הוּ אֶל־ יְהוָ֖ה לֵאמֹֽר׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
וַיִּתְפַּלֵּל֙προσεύχατοחִזְקִיָּ֔הוּεζεκιαςאֶל־πρὸςיְהוָ֖הκύριονלֵאמֹֽר׃λέγων

5 of the 5 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 — 1Qisaaa copy a thousand years older than the Leningrad Codex

ויתפלל חוזקיה אל יהוה לאמור

5 words on the leather.

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.

Isaiah 37:15פָּלַלand he prayand he prayedפָּלַלחִזְקִיָּהוּHezekiahHezekiahחִזְקִיָּהוּאֶלtotoאֶליהוהYahwehYahwehיהוהאָמַרsayingsayingאָמַרחָזַקto strengtto strengthen: חָזַקהָיָהto beto beהָיָהבַּ֫עַדabout/throabout/through/fבַּ֫עַדתְּפִלָּהprayerprayerתְּפִלָּהיְשַׁעְיָ֫הוּJeshaiahJeshaiahיְשַׁעְיָ֫הוּחָלָהbe weak: wbe weak: weakחָלָהפָּלַלto prayto prayפָּלַליִרְמְיָ֫הJeremiahJeremiahיִרְמְיָ֫הנְאֻםutteranceutteranceנְאֻםצָבָאarmyarmyצָבָאכֹּהthusthusכֹּהיהוהYHWH/GodYHWH/Godיהוה
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 Isaiah 37:15

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 he prayed Hezekiah to Yahweh saying
וַיִּתְפַּלֵּל֙vai.yit.pa.Lel and he prayed H6419 Verb · Hithpael · sequential imperfect third person masculine singular
84× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To pray or intercede, as seen in the Bible when people like Moses and David prayed to God for guidance and help, often using this Hebrew word to describe their actions.
Amplified meaning
to intercede, to make petition
Tyndale gloss
to pray
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

פָּלַל (palal) is a Hebrew verb that primarily means to intervene or interpose, with a significant focus on the act of praying. It encompasses various forms, including mediation and judgment, particularly in the Piel and Hithpael stems, which emphasize intercession and supplication. The entries suggest a connection to both personal and communal prayer, though no specific Old Testament verses are cited.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[פָּלַל] 84 vb. prob. intervene, interpose

Pi. mediate, judge

Hithp.

specif. intercede

gen. pray

pray

of poetical, liturgical prayer

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6419 פָּלַל prob. intervene, interpose

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6419 palal paw-lal'

a primitive root; to judge (officially or mentally); by

extension, to intercede, pray:--intreat, judge(-ment), (make)

pray(-er, -ing), make supplication.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

פָּלַל (pa.lal) — to pray.

1) to intervene, interpose, pray

1a) (Piel) to mediate, judge

1b)(Hithpael)

1b1) to intercede

1b2) to pray

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Hithpael-ConsecImperf-3ms — Verb · Hithpael · sequential imperfect third person masculine singular
Hc/Vtw3ms
and he prayed Hezekiah to Yahweh saying
חִזְקִיָּ֔הוּchiz.ki.Ya.hu Hezekiah H2396 Noun proper masculine
127× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Hezekiah was a king of Judah who served Jehovah and removed idolatrous practices. He was the son of Ahaz and Abijah, and a great-great-grandfather of Zephaniah the prophet. His name means Jehovah is my strength.
Amplified meaning
a king of Judah, son of Ahaz
Tyndale gloss
Hezekiah
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

חִזְקִיָּהוּ (Hizqiyahu) means "Jehovah is my strength" and refers primarily to Hezekiah, the 12th king of Judah, known for his religious reforms. The name is derived from the roots meaning 'to strengthen' and 'Jah' (a form of Jehovah). Hezekiah is noted for his lineage as a descendant of David and is mentioned in various contexts, including his role during the Divided Monarchy and the Exile.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

חִזְקִיָּהוּ, חִזְקִיָּה, יְחִזְקִיָּהוּ, יְחִזְקִיָּה n.pr.m. (י׳ hath strengthened, י׳ strengtheneth)

son of Ahaz, King of Judah

great-great-grandson pf proph. Zephaniah

man of royal Davidic line

head of a family of returned exiles

an Ephraimite, Ahaz’s time

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2396 חִזְקִיָּהוּ, חִזְקִיָּה, יְחִזְקִיָּהוּ, יְחִזְקִיָּה (י׳ hath strengthened, י׳ strengtheneth)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2396 Chizqiyah khiz-kee-yaw'

or Chizqiyahuw {khiz-kee-yaw'-hoo}; also Ychizqiyah

{yekh-iz-kee-yaw'}; or Ychizqiyahuw {yekh-iz-kee-yaw'-hoo};

from 2388 and 3050; strengthened of Jah; Chizkijah, a king of

Judah, also the name of two other Israelites:--Hezekiah,

Hizkiah, Hizkijah. Compare 3169.

see HEBREW for 02388

see HEBREW for 03050

see HEBREW for 03169

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חִזְקִיָּהוּ (chiz.qiy.yah) — Hezekiah.

A king of the tribe of Judah living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 2Ki.16.20;

son of: Ahaz (H0271) and Abi (H0021);

brother of: Maaseiah (H4641J); married to Hephzibah (H2657);

father of: Manasseh (H4519H)

§ Hezekiah or Hizkiah or Hizkijah = "Jehovah is my strength"

1) 12th king of Judah, son of Ahaz and Abijah; a good king in that he served Jehovah and did away with idolatrous practices

2) great-great-grandfather of Zephaniah the prophet

3) son of Neariah, a descendant of David

4) head of a family of returning exiles in the time of Nehemiah

חִזְקִיָּהוּ (chiz.qiy.yah) — Hizkiah.

A man of the tribe of Judah living at the time of Divided Monarchy, only mentioned at 1Ch.3.23;

son of: Neariah (H5294);

brother of: Elioenai (H0454B) and Azrikam (H5840)

§ Hezekiah or Hizkiah or Hizkijah = "Jehovah is my strength"

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-proper — Noun proper masculine
HNpm
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Easton's Bible Dictionary

Hezekiah

Whom Jehovah has strengthened. (1.) Son of Ahaz (2 Kings 18:1; 2 Chr. 29:1), whom he succeeded on the throne of the kingdom of Judah. He reigned twenty-nine years (B.C. 726-697). The history of this king is contained in 2 Kings 18:20, Isa. 36-39, and 2 Chr. 29-32. He is spoken of as a great and good king. In public life he followed the example of his great-granfather Uzziah. He set himself to abolish idolatry from his kingdom, and among other things which he did for this end, he destroyed the “brazen serpent,” which had been removed to Jerusalem, and had become an object of idolatrous worship (Num. 21:9). A great reformation was wrought in the kingdom of Judah in…

Smith's Bible Dictionary

(the might of Jehovah). Twelfth king of Judah, son of the apostate Ahaz and Abi or Abijah, ascended the throne at the age of 25, B.C. 726. Hezekiah was one of the three most perfect kings of Judah. (2 Kings 18:5) Ecclus. 49:4. His first act was to purge and repair and reopen with splendid sacrifices and perfect ceremonial the temple. He also destroyed a brazen serpent, said to have been the one used by Moses in the miraculous healing of the Israelites, (Numbers 21:9) which had become an object of adoration. When the kingdom of Israel had fallen, Hezekiah invited the scattered inhabitants to a peculiar passover, which was continued for the unprecedented period of fourteen days. (2 Chronicles 29:30,31) At the head of a repentant…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

A pious king of Judah, succeeded his father Ahaz about 726 B. C., and died about 698 B. C. His history is contained in 2Ki 18:12-21 2Ch 29:1-32:33. Compare Isa 36:1-38:22. His reign is memorable for his faithful efforts to restore the worship of Jehovah; for his pride and presumption towards the Assyrians; for the distractions of their invading host in answer to his prayer; for his sickness and humiliation, and the prolonging of his life fifteen years of peace. He was succeeded by the unworthy Manasseh.

Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary

strength of the Lord

and he prayed Hezekiah to Yahweh saying
אֶל־'el- to H413 Preposition
5,518× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means 'to' or 'toward', showing direction or movement. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus, to indicate where someone is going. The KJV translates it in various ways, like 'about', 'according to', or 'against'.
Amplified meaning
toward, in the direction of
Tyndale gloss
to(wards)
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word אֶל (el) is primarily a preposition indicating motion towards or direction to a person or place. It can also imply entering a limit, presence at a location, or a hostile direction (against). Additionally, it may express concepts such as concerning, in addition to, or according to. The entries highlight its versatility in both physical and metaphorical contexts.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֶל (nearly always followed by Makkeph),

prep. denoting motion to or direction towards (whether physical or mental).of motion to or unto a person or place

Where the limit is actually entered, into

Of direction towards anything

Where the motion or direction implied appears from the context to be of a hostile character, אֶל = against

Unto sometimes acquires from the context the sense of in addition to

Metaph. in regard to, concerning, on account of

Of rule or standard according to (rare)

Expressing presence at a spot, against, at, by, not merely after verbs implying motion

Prefixed to other preps. it combines with them the idea of motion or direction to

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H413 אֶל (nearly always followed by Makkeph), . of motion to or unto a person or place

. Where the limit is actually entered, into

. Of direction towards anything

. Where the motion or direction implied appears from the context to be of a hostile character, אֶל = against

. Unto sometimes acquires from the context the sense of in addition to

. Metaph. in regard to, concerning, on account of

. Of rule or standard according to (rare)

. Expressing presence at a spot, against, at, by, not merely after verbs implying motion

. Prefixed to other preps. it combines with them the idea of motion or direction to

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

413 'el ale

(but only used in the shortened constructive form sel {el});

a primitive particle; properly, denoting motion towards, but

occasionally used of a quiescent position, i.e. near, with or

among; often in general, to:--about, according to ,after,

against, among, as for, at, because(-fore, -side), both...and,

by, concerning, for, from, X hath, in(- to), near, (out) of,

over, through, to(-ward), under, unto, upon, whether,

with(-in).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֶל (el) — to(wards).

1) to, toward, unto (of motion)

2) into (limit is actually entered)

2a) in among

3) toward (of direction, not necessarily physical motion)

4) against (motion or direction of a hostile character)

5) in addition to, to

6) concerning, in regard to, in reference to, on account of

7) according to (rule or standard)

8) at, by, against (of one's presence)

9) in between, in within, to within, unto (idea of motion to)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep — Preposition
HR
and he prayed Hezekiah to Yahweh saying
יְהוָ֖הYah.weh Yahweh H3068 Noun proper
6,528× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Yehovah is another name for God, often translated as 'the Lord'. It is a national name for God in the Jewish faith. This name is used throughout the Old Testament.
Amplified meaning
Yehovah, The covenant Name of God
Tyndale gloss
The Lord
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

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

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

יהוה is used with אלהים and suffixes, especially in D

the phrase † אֲנִי יהוה is noteworthy

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

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

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

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3068 Yhovah yeh-ho-vaw'

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

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

see HEBREW for 01961

see HEBREW for 03050

see HEBREW for 03069

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — LORD.

Jehovah = "the existing One"

1) the proper name of the one true God

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

יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — The Lord.

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

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

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

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-proper — Noun proper
HNpt
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and he prayed Hezekiah to Yahweh saying
לֵאמֹֽר׃le.Mor saying H559 Preposition · verb qal infinitive construct common
5,309× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to say or speak, and it's used in many different ways in the Bible. It can mean to command, promise, or think, and it's translated in the KJV as 'answer', 'appoint', or 'command'.
Tyndale gloss
to say
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אָמַר 5287 vb. utter, say

Qal

Say

Say in the heart (= think)

Promise

Command (esp. late)

Niph. be said, told

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

Hithp. act proudly, boast

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H559 אָמַר utter, say .. Say

. Say in the heart (= think)

. Promise

. Command (esp. late)

. be said, told

. avow, avouch (lit. cause to declare)

. act proudly, boast

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

559 'amar aw-mar'

a primitive root; to say (used with great

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

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

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

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

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

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

utter, X verily, X yet.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אָמַר (a.mar) — to say.

1) to say, speak, utter

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

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

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

1d) (Hiphil) to avow, to avouch

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

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HR/Vqcc — Preposition · verb qal infinitive construct common
HR/Vqcc
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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