Menu

Jeremiah 49:25 — Word Study

Depth

WLCאֵ֥יךְ לֹֽא־ עֻזְּבָ֖ה עִ֣יר תְּהִלָּ֑ת קִרְיַ֖ת מְשׂוֹשִֽׂי׃

BSAHowʼêyk [in what manner, to what extent] is the cityʻîyr [town, urban settlement] of praisetᵉhillâh [song of praise, public worship] notlôʼ [absolutely not, by no means] forsakenʻâzab [abandoned, left to ruin] the townqiryâh [city, place of joy] that brings Me joymâsôws [causes, results in, rejoicing, great delight]

Word
Listen & take awayJeremiah 49
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 25 is in this chapter.
Hebrew ↓ Download MP3 The Masoretic text of this chapter, read aloud. Read by Abraham Shmuelof, courtesy of Audio Scriptures International. Chapter divisions by the Academy of Ancient Languages..
Say the word Each Hebrew word carries its transliteration (me.so.Si) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Jeremiah 49:25quick helps
In a sentenceThe verse questions how a city known for praise remains unabandoned despite impending judgment.
Who is speakingThe Lord, expressing concern for a city that brings Him joy.
Where we areIn the context of judgment against Damascus, highlighting the contrast between its reputation and its fate.
The hard wordעֻזְּבָ֖ה
Take awayThe city of praise is in danger of being forsaken, raising a poignant question.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbעָזַב 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 — Jeremiah 49:25

Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.

Context — Judgment Against Damascusgenerated

24Damascus has become feeble; she has turned to flee. Panic has gripped her; anguish and pain have seized her like a woman in labor.
25How is the city of praise not forsaken, the town that brings Me joy?
26For her young men will fall in the streets, and all her warriors will be silenced in that day,” declares the LORD of Hosts.
27“I will set fire to the walls of Damascus; it will consume the fortresses of Ben-hadad.”

Jeremiah 49:25 poses a rhetorical question about the fate of Damascus, a city celebrated for its praises and joy. This verse reflects the tension between its esteemed reputation and the reality of impending destruction, as seen in the surrounding verses. The Lord is lamenting the potential loss of a city that should be a source of joy.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Jeremiah 33:9So this city will bring Me renown, joy, praise, and glory before all the nations of the earth, who will hear of all the good I do for it. They will tremble in awe because of all the goodness and prosperity that I will provide for it.
2Jeremiah 48:2–39There is no longer praise for Moab; in Heshbon they devise evil against her: ‘Come, let us cut her off from nationhood.’ You too, O people of Madmen, will be silenced; the sword will pursue you.
3Jeremiah 51:41How Sheshach has been captured! The praise of all the earth has been seized. What a horror Babylon has become among the nations!
4Psalm 37:35–36I have seen a wicked, ruthless man flourishing like a well-rooted native tree,
5Isaiah 1:26I will restore your judges as at first, and your counselors as at the beginning. After that you will be called the City of Righteousness, the Faithful City.”

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


The Key Word עֻזְּבָ֖ה, 'u.ze.Vahgenerated

The verb עָזַב (*'azab*) means to forsake or abandon, indicating a state of being left desolate. In this verse, it is in the Pual form, suggesting that the city has been acted upon — it has been forsaken.

The use of this verb highlights the gravity of the situation. It conveys a sense of desperation and loss, as the city known for bringing joy is at risk of being left to ruin.


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 governing this verse is עֻזְּבָ֖ה, it has been forsaken, which is the focal point of the inquiry. The structure includes an adverbial clause questioning the manner of forsakenness and two noun phrases that describe the city and its attributes.

The Hebrew word order places emphasis on the city of praise, highlighting its significance and the contrast with its potential fate.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates עֻזְּבָ֖ה with ἐγκατέλιπεν (*egkatelipen*), meaning 'has been left behind'. This choice reflects a similar sense of abandonment but may carry a slightly different connotation in Greek, focusing on the action of leaving rather than the state of being left.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Jeremiah 49:25 asks how the city known for its praise could be forsaken. It highlights the contrast between its joyful reputation and the reality of potential destruction, emphasizing the Lord's concern for this city.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean that the city is a city of praise?

It signifies that the city is known for its worship and acknowledgment of God, making its potential forsakenness particularly poignant.

Why is the Lord concerned about this city?

The city brings Him joy, and its destruction would represent a loss of a place of worship and celebration.

What is the significance of the question posed?

The rhetorical question emphasizes the shock and disbelief at the thought of such a beloved city being abandoned.

How does this verse relate to the surrounding context?

It serves as a lament within the broader judgment against Damascus, highlighting the contrast between its glory and the coming calamity.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. What are some ways we can recognize and appreciate the places that bring us joy?
  2. How do we respond when we see something we love facing destruction or abandonment?
  3. In what ways can we ensure that our communities remain places of praise and joy?
  4. How can we express our concerns for places or people that seem to be forsaken?

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Jeremiah 49:25 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

How is the city of praise not left,.... The city of Damascus, famous for its antiquity, its wealth and riches, strength and power; and with the Heathens for its devotion and superstition.

Read John Gill on Jeremiah 49 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

How is the city of praise not left, the city of my joy! How is the city of praise not left.

Read Robert Jamieson on Jeremiah 49 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

It is called the city of praise, because it was a city so much praised, a city of great renown, which the prophet seeing like to be destroyed, lamenteth either in the person of the king of Syria, or of the Syrian inhabitants, wondering that the conquerors should not spare so famous and renowned a city, in which so many did rejoice.

Read Matthew Poole on Jeremiah 49 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Jeremiah 49:25 How is the city of praise not left, the city of my joy!Ver. 25. How is the city of praise not left?] Why is so praiseworthy and renowned a city so demolished? See Jeremiah 49:23. Cause enough there was, because it was a valley of vanity, and Comus, Venus, and Bacchus there made their dividend, and shared their devotes.

Read John Trapp on Jeremiah 49 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(25) How is the city of praise not left . . . !—The exclamation, half scornful, half ironical, points to the fact that the inhabitants of Damascus had tried in vain to flee (Jeremiah 49:24). The city so fair and glorious, with its rivers Abana and Pharphar (2 Kings 5:12), had not been “left,” would not be empty when it was taken. The people would perish with it. Her young warriors and her veterans should be cut off within the walls.

Read Charles John Ellicott on Jeremiah 49 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 25. How is the city of praise not left] Damascus is so ruined that she can no more be called a praiseworthy or happy city.

Read AdamClarke on Jeremiah 49 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

25. not forsaken] The negative quite reverses the sense we should expect. Accordingly Du. and Co., emending the MT., render respectively, “Woe to her!” and “Woe to me!” continuing, “For the city of praise is forsaken.” the city of my joy] We should probably, with several Versions, omit the pronoun, and so put the words in the mouth of the prophet, and not of an inhabitant of the doomed city.

Read Cambridge on Jeremiah 49 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

An exclamation of sorrow wrung from the prophet at the thought of the people of Damascus remaining to be slaughtered. The words my joy express the prophet’s own sympathy.

Read Albert Barnes on Jeremiah 49 →

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

How is the city of praise not forsaken, the town that brings Me joy?

WEBWorld English Bible2000

How is the city of praise not forsaken, the city of my joy?

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

How is the city of praise not forsaken, the town that brings Me joy?

NETBNew English Translation2006

How deserted will that once-famous city be, that city that was once filled with joy!

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

How is the city of praise not left, the city of my joy!

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

How is the city of praise not forsaken, the city of my joy?

RVARevised Version, American1894

How is the city of praise not forsaken, the city of my joy?

NWBWebster's Bible1833

How is the city of praise not left, the city of my joy!

GNVGeneva Bible1599

How is the glorious citie not reserued, the citie of my ioy?

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

How is not the town of praise forsaken, the city of my joy!

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

How is it not left — the city of praise, The city of my joy!

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

How it is not left—the city of praise, || The city of My joy!

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

“How is the city of praise not forsaken, the town of my joy!”

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

How has the city of praise not been forsaken, the town of my joy?

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

How have they forsaken the city of renown, the city of joy!

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

Why isn't the city that is praised deserted, the city that made me happy?

BBEBible in Basic English1949

How has the town of praise been wasted, the place of joy!

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.

clauseadverbialאֵ֥יךְhow!adverbialלֹֽאnotverbעֻזְּבָ֖הit.has.been.forsakennoun phrase · subjectnoun phraseעִ֣ירa.cityתְּהִלָּ֑תof.praisenoun phraseקִרְיַ֖תthe.townnoun phraseמְשׂוֹשִֽׂmy.joyיmy

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 in their wording for this verse, with all seven Hebrew words matched in the Greek translation. This consistency indicates a shared understanding of the text's meaning across these traditions.

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

אֵ֥יךְ לֹֽא־ עֻזְּבָ֖ה עִ֣יר תְּהִלָּ֑ת קִרְיַ֖ת מְשׂוֹשִֽׂי׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
אֵ֥יךְπῶςלֹֽא־οὐξὶעֻזְּבָ֖הἐγκατέλιπενעִ֣ירπόλινתְּהִלָּ֑תἐμήνקִרְיַ֖תκώμηνמְשׂוֹשִֽׂי׃ἠγάπησαν

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

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.

Jeremiah 49:25אֵיךְhow!how!אֵיךְלֹאnotnotלֹאעָזַבit has beenit has been forעָזַבעִירa city ofa city ofעִירתְּהִלָּהpraisepraiseתְּהִלָּהקִרְיָה[the] town [the] town ofקִרְיָהמָשׂוֹשׂjoy myjoy myמָשׂוֹשׂאַיwhere?where?אַיעוּרto rouseto rouseעוּרהָלַלto shineto shineהָלַלקָרָהto meetto meetקָרָהשׂוּשׂto rejoiceto rejoiceשׂוּשׂעַלִּיזjubilantjubilantעַלִּיזשַׁמָּהhorror: dehorror: destroyשַׁמָּהיָכֹלbe ablebe ableיָכֹלעוֹדstillstillעוֹדנוּסto fleeto fleeנוּסמִגְרָשׁpasturepastureמִגְרָשׁלָכַדto captureto captureלָכַדתִּפְאָרָהbeautybeautyתִּפְאָרָהשִׁירsongsongשִׁירשָׂגַבto exaltto exaltשָׂגַבשָׁאוֹןroarroarשָׁאוֹן
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 Jeremiah 49:25

One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.

Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.

how! not it has been forsaken a city of praise [the] town of joy my
אֵ֥יךְ'eikh how! H349 Particle
82× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this word means 'how' or 'where', like in Genesis when God asks Adam 'where are you'. It's also used to express surprise or excitement.
Amplified meaning
in what manner, to what extent
Tyndale gloss
how?
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אֵיךְ (*'eyk*) and its variants express the concept of 'how?' in various contexts, functioning as both interrogative and exclamatory forms. The entries indicate that it can also imply 'where' and is used in expressions of lamentation or satisfaction. The word appears in different spellings, reflecting its usage in the Old Testament.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֵיךְ 69 adv.

interrog. How?

as an exclam. How!

base

אֵיכָה adv.

interrog. In what manner?

exclam. How!

Where?

base

אֵיכָ֫כָה (Ct) אֵֽיכָכָ֫ה (Est) How?

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H349a אֵיךְ . interrog. How?

. as an exclam. How!

H349b אֵיכָה . interrog. In what manner?

. as an exclam. How!

H349c אֵיכָ֫כָה (Ct) אֵֽיכָכָ֫ה (Est) How?

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

349 'eyk ake

also eykah {ay-kaw'}; and teykakah {ay-kaw'-kah}; prolonged

from 335; how? or how!; also where:--how, what.

see HEBREW for 0335

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֵיךְ (ekh) — how?.

interrog adv

how?

אֵיכָה (e.khah) — how?.

interrog adv

1) how?

interj

2) how! (in lamentation)

3) expression of satisfaction

אֵיכָ֫כָה (e.kha.khah) — how?.

how?

Another spelling of ekh (אֵיךְ "how?" H0349A)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Part — Particle
HTi
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

Represents various Hebrew and Greek words, interrogative, interjectional and relative. Its different uses refer to

(1) the manner or way, e.g. Ge 44:34, "How shall I go up to my father?" ('ekh); Mt 6:28, "how they grow" (pos); 1Co 15:35, "How are the dead raised?";

(2) degree, extent, frequently, "how great" (Da 4:3, mah; Mr 5:19, hosos, "how much"); "how many" (Mt 27:13, posos); "how much" (Ac 9:13, hosos); "how much more" (Mt 7:11, posos;

how! not it has been forsaken a city of praise [the] town of joy my
לֹֽא־lo'- 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.
Amplified meaning
absolutely not, by no means
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
how! not it has been forsaken a city of praise [the] town of joy my
עֻזְּבָ֖ה'u.ze.Vah it has been forsaken H5800 Verb · Pual · perfect third person feminine singular
215× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Forsaken means to loosen or relinquish something, often implying abandonment. In the Bible, the word appears in Psalm 22:1, where David cries out to God, saying my God, why have you forsaken me. The term signifies a sense of desperation and isolation.
Amplified meaning
abandoned, left to ruin
Tyndale gloss
Forsaken
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עָזַב (azab) is a Hebrew verb meaning to leave, forsake, or let loose. It encompasses a range of actions from abandoning or neglecting to setting free. The entries suggest it can also imply restoration or repair, though this aspect is less emphasized. Notably, the term can describe both active and passive states, such as being forsaken or deserted.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עָזַב 213 vb. leave, forsake, loose

Qal

leave, c. acc.

leave, abandon, forsake

let loose, set free, let go

Niph.

be left to

be forsaken, of house of God

Pu. (or Qal pass.) be deserted, of city

base

[עָזַב] vb. restore, repair (?);—Qal Ne 3:8

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5800a עָזַב leave, forsake, loose .. leave, c. acc.

. leave, abandon, forsake

. let loose, set free, let go

. . be left to

. be forsaken, of house of God

. (or Qal pass.) be deserted, of city

H5800b עָזַב restore, repair(?)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5800 `azab aw-zab'

a primitive root; to loosen, i.e. relinquish, permit,

etc.:--commit self, fail, forsake, fortify, help, leave

(destitute, off), refuse, X surely.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עָזַב (a.zav) — to leave: forsake.

1) to leave, loose, forsake

1a) (Qal) to leave

1a1) to depart from, leave behind, leave, let alone

1a2) to leave, abandon, forsake, neglect, apostatise

1a3) to let loose, set free, let go, free

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be left to

1b2) to be forsaken

1c) (Pual) to be deserted

עָזַב (a.zav) — to restore.

1) to restore, repair

1a) (Qal) to repair

עָזַב (a.zav) — to leave: release.

1) to leave, loose, forsake

1a) (Qal) to leave

1a1) to depart from, leave behind, leave, let alone

1a2) to leave, abandon, forsake, neglect, apostatise

1a3) to let loose, set free, let go, free

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be left to

1b2) to be forsaken

1c) (Pual) to be deserted

עָזַב (a.zav) — Forsaken.

This name means to restore, repair

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

עָזַב (a.zav) — to leave: neglect.

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Q-Perf-3fs — Verb · Pual · perfect third person feminine singular
HVPp3fs
how! not it has been forsaken a city of praise [the] town of joy my
עִ֣יר'ir a city of H5892 Noun common · feminine singular construct
1,090× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this word refers to a city or town, often a place with a wall or a watchman. It is used to describe a settlement or encampment, like the city of Ai, which is mentioned in the book of Joshua. The word is used to identify specific locations in the Bible.
Amplified meaning
town, urban settlement
Tyndale gloss
excitement
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word עִיר (*'iyr*) has meanings related to both excitement and city. It can denote excitement, particularly of terror or rage, as well as refer to a city or town, indicating a place that is guarded or inhabited. The entries suggest a broad application, from fortified cities to simple encampments. There is a specific mention of a man named Ir in 1 Chronicles 4:12.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עִיר n.[m.] excitement;—of terror; of rage

base

עִיר 1092 n.f. city, town

city, town, abode of men

of fortress in a city

appar. fortified place, of any size

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5892a עִיר excitement;—of terror; of rage H5892b עִיר city, town . city, town, abode of men

. of fortress in a city

. appar. fortified place, of any size

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5892 `iyr eer

or (in the plural) par {awr}; or ayar (Judges 10:4)

{aw-yar'}; from 5782 a city (a place guarded by waking or a

watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or

post):--Ai (from margin), city, court (from margin), town.

see HEBREW for 05782

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עִיר (ir) — excitement.

1) excitement, anguish

1a) of terror

עִיר (ir) — city.

1) city, town (a place of waking, guarded)

1a) city, town (a place of waking, guarded)

1a) city, town

עִיר (ir) — City (of On).

Combined with on (אֹן "On" H0204)

This name means city, town

Another name of on (אֹן "On" H0204)

עִיר (ir) — Ir-.

#A man of the tribe of Judah living at the time of Divided Monarchy, only mentioned at 1Ch.4.12;

son of: Tehinnah (H8468)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular construct
HNcfsc
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…

how! not it has been forsaken a city of praise [the] town of joy my
תְּהִלָּ֑תte.hi.lah praise H8416 Noun common · feminine singular construct
57× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Tehillah means praise or a song of praise, often directed towards God. It can also refer to a hymn or an act of public praise, acknowledging God's qualities or deeds.
Amplified meaning
song of praise, public worship
Tyndale gloss
praise
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word תְּהִלָּה (*tehillah*) means praise, specifically in the form of a song or hymn. It encompasses acts of adoration and thanksgiving directed towards God, as well as general public praise and the qualities of God that warrant such praise. The word is derived from a root meaning to laud.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

תְּהִלָּה n.f. praise, song of praise

praise, adoration, thanksgiving, paid to י׳

the act of general, public, praise

praise-song, as title

qualities, deeds, etc., of י׳, demanding praise

renown, fame, glory

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8416 תְּהִלָּה praise, song of praise . praise, adoration, thanksgiving, paid to י׳

. the act of general, public, praise

. praise-song, as title

. qualities, deeds, etc., of י׳, demanding praise

. renown, fame, glory

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8416 thillah teh-hil-law'

from 1984; laudation; specifically (concretely) a

hymn:--praise.

see HEBREW for 01984

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

תְּהִלָּה (te.hil.lah) — praise.

1) praise, song or hymn of praise

1a) praise, adoration, thanksgiving (paid to God)

1b) act of general or public praise

1c) praise-song (as title)

1d) praise (demanded by qualities or deeds or attributes of God)

1e) renown, fame, glory

1e1) of Damascus, God

1e2) object of praise, possessor of renown (fig)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular construct
HNcfsc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

praz (tehillah, "psalm," "praise," todhah, "confession" "thanksgiving," shabhach, "to praise" "glorify," zamar, yadhah, "to stretch out the hand," "confess"; aineo, epaineo, (epainos):

1. Its Meaning:

The word comes from the Latin pretium, "price," or "value," and may be defined generally as an ascription of value or worth. Praise may be bestowed upon unworthy objects or from improper motives, but true praise consists in a sincere acknowledgment of a real conviction of worth. Its type may be seen in the representation given in the Apocalypse of the adoration of God and of the Lamb, which is inspired by a sense of their worthiness to be adored (Re 4:11; 5:12).

2. With Man as Its Object:

Man may be the object of praise, and may receive it either from God or from his fellow-men. In the former case (

→ Song of Moses, after the passage through the Red Sea Ex 15:1-19

→ Of Miriam Ex 15:21

→ Of Deborah, after defeating the Canaanites Jud 5

→ Of Hannah 1Sa 2:1-10

→ Of David

Celebrating his deliverance from the hand of Saul 2Sa 22

On bringing the ark of the covenant to Zion 1Ch 16:8-36

At the close of his reign 1Ch 29:10-19

→ The chorus when Solomon brought the ark of the covenant into the temple 2Ch 5:13

→ Psalms of, for God' s goodness to Israel Ps 46; 48; 65; 66; 68; 76; 81; 85; 98; 105; 124; 126; 129; 135; 136

→ See the Scriptures below

Torrey's New Topical Textbook

- God is worthy of

2Sa 22:4

- Christ is worthy of

Re 5:12

- God is glorified by

Ps 22:23; 50:23

- Offered to Christ

Joh 12:13

- Acceptable through Christ

Heb 13:15

- IS DUE TO GOD ON ACCOUNT OF

. His majesty

Ps 96:1,6; Isa 24:14

. His glory

Ps 138:5; Eze 3:12

. His excellency

Ex 15:7; Ps 148:13

. His greatness

how! not it has been forsaken a city of praise [the] town of joy my
קִרְיַ֖תkir.Yat [the] town of H7151 Noun common · feminine singular construct
29× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to a town or city, a place where people live and work. It is used in the Bible to describe various urban areas.
Amplified meaning
city, place of joy
Tyndale gloss
town
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

קִרְיָה (qiryah) means 'town' or 'city' and is derived from the root associated with building. It covers general, specific, collective, and indefinite uses of the term. The Aramaic equivalent is also קִרְיָה (qir.yah).

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

קִרְיָה n.f. town, city

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7151 קִרְיָה town, city

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7151 qiryah kir-yaw'

from 7136 in the sense of flooring, i.e. building; a

city:--city.

see HEBREW for 07136

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

קִרְיָה (qir.yah) — town.

1) city, town

1a) in general

1b) in specific

1c) collective

1d) indefinite

Aramaic equivalent: qir.yah (קִרְיָה "town" H7149)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular construct
HNcfsc
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…

how! not it has been forsaken a city of praise [the] town of joy my
מְשׂוֹשִֽׂי׃me.so.Si joy my H4885 Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
17× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means a feeling of great joy or delight, like the rejoicing in Psalm 16:11. It's about being happy and celebrating something good. In the Bible, it often describes a positive emotional state.
Amplified meaning
causes, results in, rejoicing, great delight
Tyndale gloss
rejoicing
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מָשׂוֹשׂ (masows) refers to exultation or joy, encompassing both the feeling of delight and its causes. It is derived from the root word for joy, שָׂשׂוֹן (shason). The term is used in contexts related to rejoicing and mirth.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מָשׂוֹשׂ n.m. id. [שָׂשׂוֹן];—exultation

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4885 מָשׂוֹשׂ id. [שָׂשׂוֹן];—exultation

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4885 masows maw-soce'

from 7797; delight, concretely (the cause or object) or

abstractly (the feeling):--joy, mirth, rejoice.

see HEBREW for 07797

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מָשׂוֹשׂ (ma.s.vo.s) — rejoicing.

exultation, joy, rejoicing

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
HNcmsc/Sp1bs
Sources on this page. Lexicons and dictionaries imported from the CrossWire SWORD modules — Abbott-Smith, Strong's, Dodson, the Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones, Robinson and Packard, Webster and Cawdrey. Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (Harper, 1889 — Grimm’s Wilke’s Clavis Novi Testamenti, translated, revised and enlarged by Joseph Henry Thayer) is public domain and is set here from the Internet Archive page scan greekenglishlex00grim; it is uncorrected OCR, marked as such on the entry itself, and the Strong’s numbers — which Thayer’s own edition does not carry — were matched by lemma against the other modules on this page. Trench’s Synonyms of the New Testament (Macmillan, 1880) and Moulton and Milligan’s Vocabulary of the Greek Testament (Hodder & Stoughton, 1930, which entered the United States public domain on 1 January 2026) are set from Internet Archive page scans synonymsofnewtes00treniala and vocabularyofgree00mouluoft, and are likewise uncorrected OCR matched to Strong’s numbers by lemma. Trench treats a group of words at once, so the same essay stands on the page of each word it compares. The Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary is © 1993 and is used here by permission for non-commercial use, www.teknia.com/greek-dictionary. The full Liddell-Scott-Jones and the Hebrew word data (TAHOT) come from STEPBible.org, CC BY 4.0. Brown-Driver-Briggs is the OpenScriptures digitisation, public domain. Syntax analysis is the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (biblicalhumanities.org); the concordance and morphology are built from the tagged Nestle 1904 text. Septuagint occurrences use the Open Scriptures Septuagint lemma index, derived from CCAT (University of Pennsylvania) and the Rahlfs 1935 dataset by Eliran Wong, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 — used here on a non-commercial ministry site. Greek of Josephus and Barnabas from the Perseus Digital Library, CC BY-SA 4.0. Commentaries and the Ante-Nicene Fathers are public-domain texts hosted on this site. Everyday Greek from the Duke Databank of Documentary Papyri, CC BY 3.0, with dates and provenance from the Heidelberger Gesamtverzeichnis. Philo and the Apostolic Fathers from Open Greek and Latin (First1KGreek), CC BY-SA 4.0. The apparatus and the fifth Greek column are the SBL Greek New Testament, © 2010 SBL and Logos Bible Software, CC BY 4.0. The Latin is the Clementine Vulgate (public domain); the Syriac New Testament is the ETCBC edition (MIT licence). The Hebrew behind the Greek is computed here from the Septuagint index and TAHOT, not taken from any aligned edition. The translation spread and the per-word edition marks come from the Translators Amalgamated Greek NT (STEPBible, CC BY 4.0); clause roles from the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (CC BY-SA 4.0); place identifications and their confidence from OpenBible.info Bible Geocoding (CC BY 4.0), with map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors. Gospel parallels are computed here from shared uncommon vocabulary, not taken from any printed harmony. Cross references are the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and the subject headings are Nave’s Topical Bible, both public domain. Works under Creative Commons licences are used unchanged apart from markup removal.

Everything we make is available for free because of a generous community of supporters.

Donate