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Proverbs 3:24 — Word Study

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WLCאִם־ תִּשְׁכַּ֥ב לֹֽא־ תִפְחָ֑ד וְ֝שָׁכַבְתָּ֗ וְֽעָרְבָ֥ה שְׁנָתֶֽךָ׃

BSAWhenʼim you lie downshâkab [take your rest, sleep] you will notlôʼ be afraidpâchad [dread, have fear] when you restshâkab [lie down, have peaceful sleep] your sleepshênâh [period of slumber, repose] will be sweetʻârêb [pleasant, agreeable, a delight]

Word
Listen & take awayProverbs 3
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 24 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 (she.na.Te.kha) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Proverbs 3:24quick helps
In a sentenceThe verse assures the reader that lying down will bring peace and sweet sleep.
Who is speakingThe wise teacher, offering guidance on how to live without fear.
Where we areIn a section of Proverbs that emphasizes trust in the Lord for safety and peace.
The hard wordתִפְחָ֑ד
Take awayResting in confidence leads to peaceful sleep.
6 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbשָׁכַב 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 — Proverbs 3:24

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 — Trusting in the Lord for Safetygenerated

23Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble.
24When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you rest, your sleep will be sweet.
25Do not fear sudden danger or the ruin that overtakes the wicked,
26for the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from the snare.

Proverbs 3:24 is part of a passage that encourages the reader to trust in the Lord for guidance and safety. It assures that those who follow wisdom will find peace and security in their lives. The verses surrounding this one emphasize the importance of living justly and the benefits that come from such a life, including safety and sweet sleep.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Proverbs 6:22When you walk, they will guide you; when you lie down, they will watch over you; when you awake, they will speak to you.
2Leviticus 26:6And I will give peace to the land, and you will lie down with nothing to fear. I will rid the land of dangerous animals, and no sword will pass through your land.
3Psalm 3:5I lie down and sleep; I wake again, for the LORD sustains me.
4Psalm 4:8I will lie down and sleep in peace, for You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.
5Psalm 121:4–7Behold, the Protector of Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 10 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word תִפְחָ֑ד, tif.Chadgenerated

The verb פָּחַד (pachad) means to fear or dread. It is used in contexts where one feels alarm or awe, especially in relation to God. The parsing indicates it is in the Qal stem, imperfect tense, second person masculine singular, suggesting an ongoing action or state.

This word conveys a sense of fear that can arise unexpectedly, such as from sudden danger. In this verse, it is contrasted with the assurance of safety when one lies down, indicating that those who trust in the Lord will not experience this fear.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

The translations generally agree on the meaning of the verse.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The verse consists of two main clauses connected by 'when': the first clause introduces the act of lying down, and the second describes the result of that action. The structure emphasizes the conditional relationship between resting and the absence of fear.

The finite verbs are תִשְׁכַּ֥ב (you will lie down) and תִפְחָ֑ד (you will fear), indicating actions taken by the subject. The use of sequential verbs highlights the flow from lying down to the resulting state of peace.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates תִשְׁכַּ֥ב as κάθῃ (you lie down), showing a direct correspondence in meaning. This choice reflects a similar understanding of the act of resting.

The translation of תִפְחָ֑ד as ἔσῃ (you will be afraid) suggests a straightforward rendering that aligns with the Hebrew intent, maintaining the conditional relationship present in the original text.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Proverbs 3:24 reassures that if you lie down, you will not be afraid, and your sleep will be sweet. This verse emphasizes the peace that comes from trusting in God and living wisely.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean to lie down without fear?

It means to rest peacefully, trusting that God is watching over you and will keep you safe.

How can I ensure my sleep is sweet?

By living righteously and trusting in the Lord for protection, you can experience peace and restful sleep.

What does the verse teach about fear?

It teaches that those who trust in the Lord will not experience fear, even in uncertain situations.

Why is rest important according to this verse?

Rest is important as it reflects a state of peace and security that comes from faith in God.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what areas of my life can I practice trusting God to reduce my fears?
  2. How can I create a peaceful environment for rest in my life?
  3. What are some practical steps I can take to live wisely and avoid unnecessary fears?
  4. How does my understanding of God influence my ability to rest peacefully?

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

Early commentators, such as Bede, reflect on the meaning of this verse, emphasizing the security found in living justly before God.

BedeCommentary on Proverbs c. 673–735
“If you lie down, you will not be afraid,” etc. It is clear according to the letter, since he who remembers to live innocently and justly before God, sleeps securely, wakes securely, rests and walks securely.
Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 3 →

Commentators on this verse — 6 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Proverbs 3:24 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

When thou liest down thou shalt not be afraid,.... That is, when thou liest down on thy bed at night in order to take sleep, having committed thyself into the hands of a faithful Creator and covenant

Read John Gill on Proverbs 3 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble. Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy feet shall not stumble - (Psalms 91:11-12; Proverbs 10:9.

Read Robert Jamieson on Proverbs 3 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Free from distracting cares and terrors, which ofttimes haunt sinners even in their sleep, because thy mind shall be composed and serene through the sense of God’ s favour and providence, and the conscience of thine own integrity.

Read Matthew Poole on Proverbs 3 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Proverbs 3:24 When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.Ver. 24. Thou shalt not be afraid.] See this exemplified in David; Peter; and Mr Rogers, our late protomartyr, who when he was warned suddenly to prepare for the fire, he then being sound asleep in the prison, scarce with much shaking could be awaked. Thy sleep shall be sweet.] As knowing that God - thy keeper - doth wake and watch for thee. Wicked men’ s sleep is often troublesome, through the workings of their evil consciences; as our Richard III, after the murder of his own two innocent nephews, had fearful dreams, insomuch that he did often leap out of his bed in the…

Read John Trapp on Proverbs 3 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 24. When thou liest down] In these verses (Proverbs 3:23-26) the wise man describes the confidence, security, and safety, which proceed from a consciousness of innocence. Most people are afraid of sleep, lest they should never awake, because they feel they are not prepared to appear before God. They are neither innocent nor pardoned. True believers know that God is their keeper night and day; they have strong confidence in him that he will be their director and not suffer them to take any false step in life, Proverbs 3:23. They go to rest in perfect confidence that God will watch over them; hence their sleep, being undisturbed with foreboding and evil dreams, is sweet and refreshing…

Read AdamClarke on Proverbs 3 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

24. Sleep… sweet — The preceding verse describes the safety and prosperity of more active life; this one, the security and pleasantness of repose.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Proverbs 3 →

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

When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you rest, your sleep will be sweet.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

When you lie down, you will not be afraid. Yes, you will lie down, and your sleep will be sweet.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you rest, your sleep will be sweet.

NETBNew English Translation2006

When you lie down you will not be filled with fear; when you lie down your sleep will be pleasant.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: Yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.

RVARevised Version, American1894

When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: but thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

If thou sleepest, thou shalt not bee afraide, and when thou sleepest, thy sleepe shalbe sweete.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

when thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid, but thou shalt lie down and thy sleep shall be sweet.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

If thou liest down, thou art not afraid, Yea, thou hast lain down, And sweet hath been thy sleep.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

If you lie down, you are not afraid, || Indeed, you have lain down, || And your sleep has been sweet.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

When thou layest thyself down, thou shalt feel no dread; and as thou liest down, thy sleep shall be pleasant.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

when you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

If thou sleep, thou shalt not fear: thou shalt rest, and thy sleep shall be sweet.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

When you rest, you won't be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

When you take your rest you will have no fear, and on your bed sleep will be sweet to you.

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.

clauseclauseאִםifclauseverbתִּשְׁכַּ֥בyou.will.lie.downclauseadverbialלֹֽאnotverbתִפְחָ֑דyou.will.fearוְ֝andclauseverbשָׁכַבְתָּ֗you.will.lie.downוְֽandclauseverbעָרְבָ֥הit.will.be.pleasingnoun phrase · subjectשְׁנָתֶֽsleepךָyour

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


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

The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint agree closely in wording, with six out of seven words matched. This indicates a strong consistency in the transmission of this verse across different traditions.

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

אִם־ תִּשְׁכַּ֥ב לֹֽא־ תִפְחָ֑ד וְ֝שָׁכַבְתָּ֗ וְֽעָרְבָ֥ה שְׁנָתֶֽךָ׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
תִּשְׁכַּ֥בκάθῃלֹֽא־ἄφοβοςתִפְחָ֑דἔσῃוְ֝שָׁכַבְתָּ֗δὲוְֽעָרְבָ֥הἡδέωςשְׁנָתֶֽךָ׃ὑπνώσεις

6 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.

Proverbs 3:24אִםififאִםשָׁכַבyou will liyou will lie doשָׁכַבלֹאnotnotלֹאפָּחַדyou will feyou will fearפָּחַדשָׁכַבand you wiland you will liשָׁכַבעָרֵבand it willand it will be עָרֵבשֵׁנָהsleep yoursleep yourשֵׁנָהיָשֵׁןto sleepto sleepיָשֵׁןעָרַבto pledgeto pledgeעָרַבעָרֵלuncircumciuncircumcisedעָרֵלמִשְׁכָּבbedbedמִשְׁכָּבחֵןfavorfavorחֵןיֵשׁtherethereיֵשׁיָכֹלbe ablebe ableיָכֹלעוֹדstillstillעוֹדפַּ֫חַדdreaddreadפַּ֫חַדתָּמִידcontinuallcontinuallyתָּמִידשֵׁנָהsleepsleepשֵׁנָהזֶ֫בַחsacrificesacrificeזֶ֫בַחתְּנוּמָהslumberslumberתְּנוּמָהיָקַץto awaketo awakeיָקַץ
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 Proverbs 3:24

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.

if you will lie down not you will fear and you will lie down and it will be pleasing sleep your
אִם־'im- if H518 Particle
1,070× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word is used to express conditions or questions, like if or whether. It can also be used to make oaths or express wishes, as in Oh that! It appears in various forms in the KJV, including if, though, and when.
Tyndale gloss
if
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אִם (im) is a Hebrew conjunction primarily meaning 'if' and is used in various contexts, including conditional clauses and interrogative situations. It can also express negation, alternatives, or exceptions, and appears frequently in the Old Testament. The lexicons note its use in oaths and its ability to connect different clauses, sometimes altering their meanings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אִם conj.

hypoth. part. if

Interrog. part.

base

כִּי אם־

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

that if

for if

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

limiting the prec. clause, except

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

after an oath, surely

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H518a אִם conj. . hypoth. part. if

. Interrog. part.

H518b כִּי אם־ . each part. retaining its independent force, and relating to a different clause: . that if

. for if

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

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

. after an oath, surely

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

518 'im eem

a primitive particle; used very widely as demonstrative, lo!;

interrog., whether?; or conditional, if, although; also Oh

that!, when; hence, as a negative, not:--(and, can-,

doubtless, if, that) (not), + but, either, + except, +

more(-over if, than), neither, nevertheless, nor, oh that, or,

+ save (only, -ing), seeing, since, sith, + surely (no more,

none, not), though, + of a truth, + unless, + verily, when,

whereas, whether, while, + yet.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אִם (im) — if.

: if/whether_or/though

1) if

1a) conditional clauses

1a1) of possible situations

1a2) of impossible situations

1b) oath contexts

1b1) no, not

1c) if...if, whether...or, whether...or...or

1d) when, whenever

1e) since

1f) interrogative particle

1g) but rather

[כִּי] אם (ki im) — if: except.

1) except if

1a) but if

אִם (im) — if: surely no.

: surely_no

1) if

1a) conditional clauses

1a1) of possible situations

1a2) of impossible situations

1b) oath contexts

1b1) no, not

1c) if...if, whether...or, whether...or...or

1d) when, whenever

1e) since

1f) interrogative particle

1g) but rather

אִם (im) — if: surely yes.

: surely_yes

1) if

1a) conditional clauses

1a1) of possible situations

1a2) of impossible situations

1b) oath contexts

1b1) no, not

1c) if...if, whether...or, whether...or...or

1d) when, whenever

1e) since

1f) interrogative particle

1g) but rather

אִם (im) — if: until.

: until/except

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj — Particle
HTc
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
if you will lie down not you will fear and you will lie down and it will be pleasing sleep your
תִּשְׁכַּ֥בtish.Kav you will lie down H7901 Verb · Qal · imperfect second person masculine singular
212× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To lie down can mean to rest, sleep, or have sexual relations, and is used in various contexts throughout the Bible. It can also mean to relax or be at rest.
Amplified meaning
take your rest, sleep
Tyndale gloss
to lie down: lay down
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word שָׁכַב (shakab) is a primitive root meaning 'to lie down.' It covers a range of meanings including resting, lodging, engaging in sexual relations, and lying down in death. The word appears in various forms, such as Qal, Niphal, Pual, Hiphil, and Hophal, indicating different nuances of lying down. Notably, it can also figuratively mean to relax.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שָׁכַב 212 vb. lie down

Qal

lie down

= lodge (for night)

of sexual relations, lie with

lie down in death

esp. in phr. lie down with his fathers

fig. = relax

Niph. Pu. = be lain with (sexually; subj. women), only as Qr for Kt [שָׁגֵל] Niph. Pu. q.v.

Hiph. lay

Hoph. laid

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7901 שָׁכַב lie down .. lie down

. = lodge (for night)

. of sexual relations, lie with

. . lie down in death

. esp. in phr. lie down with his fathers

. fig. = relax

. Pu. = be lain with (sexually; subj. women), only as Qr for Kt [שָׁגֵל] Niph. Pu. q.v.

. lay

. laid

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7901 shakab shaw-kab'

a primitive root; to lie down (for rest, sexual connection,

decease or any other purpose):--X at all, cast down,

((lover-))lay (self) (down), (make to) lie (down, down to

sleep, still with), lodge, ravish, take rest, sleep, stay.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שָׁכַב (sha.khav) — to lie down: lay down.

: lay_down/lie_with

1) to lie down

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to lie, lie down, lie on

1a2) to lodge

1a3) to lie (of sexual relations)

1a4) to lie down (in death)

1a5) to rest, relax (fig)

1b) (Niphal) to be lain with (sexually)

1c) (Pual) to be lain with (sexually)

1d) (Hiphil) to make to lie down

1e) (Hophal) to be laid

שָׁכַב (sha.khav) — to lie down: sleep.

: sleep/rest

1) to lie down

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to lie, lie down, lie on

1a2) to lodge

1a3) to lie (of sexual relations)

1a4) to lie down (in death)

1a5) to rest, relax (fig)

1b) (Niphal) to be lain with (sexually)

1c) (Pual) to be lain with (sexually)

1d) (Hiphil) to make to lie down

1e) (Hophal) to be laid

שָׁכַב (sha.khav) — to lie down: have sex.

: have_sex

1) to lie down

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to lie, lie down, lie on

1a2) to lodge

1a3) to lie (of sexual relations)

1a4) to lie down (in death)

1a5) to rest, relax (fig)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Imperf-2ms — Verb · Qal · imperfect second person masculine singular
HVqi2ms
if you will lie down not you will fear and you will lie down and it will be pleasing sleep your
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.
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
if you will lie down not you will fear and you will lie down and it will be pleasing sleep your
תִפְחָ֑דtif.Chad you will fear H6342 Verb · Qal · imperfect second person masculine singular
25× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to feel fear or dread, like being startled by a sudden alarm. It appears in the Bible when people are in awe or fear of God. The book of Proverbs uses it to describe the fear of the Lord.
Amplified meaning
dread, have fear
Tyndale gloss
to dread
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

פָּחַד (pachad) is a Hebrew verb meaning to dread or fear. It encompasses being startled or filled with awe, with various forms indicating different intensities of dread. The root conveys a sense of alarm and reverence, appearing in contexts that evoke both fear and respect.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

פָּחַד vb. dread, be in dread, in awe

Qal

be in dread

be in awe

Pi. be in great dread

Hiph. filled my bones with dread

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6342 פָּחַד dread, be in dread, in awe

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6342 pachad paw-kkad'

a primitive root; to be startled (by a sudden alarm); hence,

to fear in general:--be afraid, stand in awe, (be in) fear,

make to shake.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

פָּחַד (pa.chad) — to dread.

1) to fear, tremble, revere, dread, be in awe or dread

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to be in dread

1a2) to be in awe

1b) (Piel) to be in great dread

1c) (Hiphil) to cause to dread

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Imperf-2ms — Verb · Qal · imperfect second person masculine singular
HVqi2ms
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

fer (yir'ah, yare'; phobos, phobeo):

Terms, etc.:

"Fear" is the translation of many words in the Old Testament; the chief are: yir'ah, "fear," "terror," "reverence," "awe," most often "the fear of God," "fear of Yahweh" (Ge 20:11; 2Ch 19:9, etc.); also of "fear" generally (Job 22:4; Isa 7:25; Eze 30:13, etc.); yare', "to be afraid," "to fear," "to reverence" (Ge 15:1; Le 19:3,14; De 6:2, etc.); pachadh, "fear," "terror," "dread" (

if you will lie down not you will fear and you will lie down and it will be pleasing sleep your
וְ֝שָׁכַבְתָּ֗ve.sha.khav.ta and you will lie down H7901 Verb · Qal · sequential perfect second person masculine singular
212× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To lie down can mean to rest, sleep, or have sexual relations, and is used in various contexts throughout the Bible. It can also mean to relax or be at rest.
Amplified meaning
lie down, have peaceful sleep
Tyndale gloss
to lie down: lay down
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word שָׁכַב (shakab) is a primitive root meaning 'to lie down.' It covers a range of meanings including resting, lodging, engaging in sexual relations, and lying down in death. The word appears in various forms, such as Qal, Niphal, Pual, Hiphil, and Hophal, indicating different nuances of lying down. Notably, it can also figuratively mean to relax.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שָׁכַב 212 vb. lie down

Qal

lie down

= lodge (for night)

of sexual relations, lie with

lie down in death

esp. in phr. lie down with his fathers

fig. = relax

Niph. Pu. = be lain with (sexually; subj. women), only as Qr for Kt [שָׁגֵל] Niph. Pu. q.v.

Hiph. lay

Hoph. laid

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7901 שָׁכַב lie down .. lie down

. = lodge (for night)

. of sexual relations, lie with

. . lie down in death

. esp. in phr. lie down with his fathers

. fig. = relax

. Pu. = be lain with (sexually; subj. women), only as Qr for Kt [שָׁגֵל] Niph. Pu. q.v.

. lay

. laid

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7901 shakab shaw-kab'

a primitive root; to lie down (for rest, sexual connection,

decease or any other purpose):--X at all, cast down,

((lover-))lay (self) (down), (make to) lie (down, down to

sleep, still with), lodge, ravish, take rest, sleep, stay.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שָׁכַב (sha.khav) — to lie down: lay down.

: lay_down/lie_with

1) to lie down

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to lie, lie down, lie on

1a2) to lodge

1a3) to lie (of sexual relations)

1a4) to lie down (in death)

1a5) to rest, relax (fig)

1b) (Niphal) to be lain with (sexually)

1c) (Pual) to be lain with (sexually)

1d) (Hiphil) to make to lie down

1e) (Hophal) to be laid

שָׁכַב (sha.khav) — to lie down: sleep.

: sleep/rest

1) to lie down

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to lie, lie down, lie on

1a2) to lodge

1a3) to lie (of sexual relations)

1a4) to lie down (in death)

1a5) to rest, relax (fig)

1b) (Niphal) to be lain with (sexually)

1c) (Pual) to be lain with (sexually)

1d) (Hiphil) to make to lie down

1e) (Hophal) to be laid

שָׁכַב (sha.khav) — to lie down: have sex.

: have_sex

1) to lie down

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to lie, lie down, lie on

1a2) to lodge

1a3) to lie (of sexual relations)

1a4) to lie down (in death)

1a5) to rest, relax (fig)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-2ms — Verb · Qal · sequential perfect second person masculine singular
Hc/Vqq2ms
if you will lie down not you will fear and you will lie down and it will be pleasing sleep your
וְֽעָרְבָ֥הve.'a.re.Vah and it will be pleasing H6149 Verb · Qal · sequential perfect third person feminine singular
8× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to be pleasing or agreeable, like a sweet taste. It is used to describe something that brings joy or satisfaction. In the Bible, it is used to talk about taking pleasure in something.
Amplified meaning
pleasant, agreeable, a delight
Tyndale gloss
to please
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עָרֵב (areb) is a Hebrew verb meaning to be sweet or pleasant. It conveys the idea of being agreeable or taking pleasure in something. The entries consistently emphasize its pleasant qualities, with no significant disagreement among the lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[עָרַב] vb. be sweet, pleasant

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6149 [עָרֵב] be sweet, pleasant

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6149 `areb aw-rabe'

a primitive root (identical with 6148 through the idea of

close association); to be agreeable:--be pleasant(-ing), take

pleasure in, be sweet.

see HEBREW for 06148

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עָרַב (a.rev) — to please.

1) (Qal) to be pleasant, be sweet, be pleasing

1a) (TWOT) sweet, pleasant

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-3fs — Verb · Qal · sequential perfect third person feminine singular
Hc/Vqq3fs
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
if you will lie down not you will fear and you will lie down and it will be pleasing sleep your
שְׁנָתֶֽךָ׃she.na.Te.kha sleep your H8142 Noun common feminine singular construct · suffix
23× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means to sleep or be asleep, like when God put Adam to sleep in Genesis 2:21. It is also used to describe a state of unconsciousness. This word is used throughout the Old Testament.
Amplified meaning
period of slumber, repose
Tyndale gloss
sleep
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word שֵׁנָה, transliterated as she.nah, means 'sleep.' It is derived from a root that suggests a state of rest. The word appears in contexts related to sleep, such as in Psalm 127:2. There is an Aramaic equivalent, also meaning 'sleep,' noted in the entries.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שֵׁנָה, שֵׁנָא, שֵׁנָת n.f. sleep

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8142 שֵׁנָה, שֵׁנָא, שֵׁנָת sleep

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8142 shehah shay-naw'

or shena (Psa. 127:2) {shay-naw'}; from 3462;

sleep:--sleep.

see HEBREW for 03462

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שֵׁנָה (she.nah) — sleep.

sleep

Aramaic equivalent: she.nah (שְׁנָה "sleep" H8139)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fs | Suff — Noun common feminine singular construct · suffix
HNcfsc/Sp2ms
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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