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Proverbs 8:16 — Word Study

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WLCבִּ֭י שָׂרִ֣ים יָשֹׂ֑רוּ וּ֝נְדִיבִ֗ים כָּל־ שֹׁ֥פְטֵי צֶֽדֶק׃

BSAprincessar [rulers, leaders] rulesârar and allkôl [every one of] noblesnâdîyb [generous, high-ranking individuals] who governshâphaṭ [judge, rule with justice] justlytsedeq [in righteousness, with fairness]

Word
Listen & take awayProverbs 8
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 16 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 (Tze.dek) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Proverbs 8:16quick helps
In a sentenceWisdom is essential for rulers and nobles to govern justly.
Who is speakingThe voice of Wisdom, personified.
Where we areA discourse on the value of wisdom in governance.
The hard wordיָשֹׂ֑רוּ
Take awayRighteous governance is rooted in wisdom.
6 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Trapp, Ellicott & more — read them › clause subjectשַׂר verbשָׂרַר 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 8:16

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 — The Value of Wisdomgenerated

15By me kings reign, and rulers enact just laws;
16By me princes rule, and all nobles who govern justly.
17I love those who love me, and those who seek me early shall find me.
18With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and righteousness.

Proverbs 8:16 emphasizes the critical role of wisdom in leadership, asserting that through wisdom, rulers and nobles can govern with justice. This verse is part of a larger passage that highlights the benefits of seeking wisdom, as seen in the surrounding verses, where wisdom is portrayed as a guiding force for those in authority.


Cross References


The Key Word יָשֹׂ֑רוּ, ya.So.rugenerated

The verb יָשֹׂ֑רוּ (ya.So.ru) is an imperfect form of the root שָׂרַר (sarar), meaning to rule or govern. It indicates ongoing action, suggesting that rulers are continuously exercising authority.

This term encompasses various forms of governance, reflecting the responsibility of leaders to act justly and maintain order. The context of this verse underscores the expectation that those in power should govern with wisdom and fairness.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

Translations generally agree on the meaning of the verse.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main verb יָשֹׂ֑רוּ (they rule) governs the subject שָׂרִ֣ים (princes), indicating an action performed by the rulers. The structure emphasizes the relationship between wisdom and governance.

The phrase כָּל־שֹׁ֥פְטֵי (all judges of) adds specificity to the nobles mentioned, highlighting that all who govern must do so justly, as indicated by the following term צֶֽדֶק (righteousness).


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates יָשֹׂ֑רוּ as μεγαλύνονται, which suggests a broader understanding of rulers becoming great or prominent. This choice indicates a focus not just on ruling but on the stature that comes with wise governance.

The translation for נְדִיבִ֗ים as τύραννοι reflects a more authoritative connotation, emphasizing the power and influence of those in high positions.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Proverbs 8:16 tells us that wisdom is crucial for rulers and nobles to govern justly. It emphasizes that true leadership requires fairness and righteousness, as those in power are expected to act with integrity.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean that princes rule by wisdom?

It means that true authority and effective governance come from understanding and applying wisdom in decision-making.

How does wisdom influence the actions of nobles?

Wisdom guides nobles to act justly and fairly, ensuring that their leadership benefits the people they govern.

Why is righteousness important in governance?

Righteousness ensures that leaders uphold justice and fairness, which are essential for maintaining order and trust in society.

Can wisdom be sought by anyone?

Yes, wisdom is available to all who seek it, and it is especially important for those in positions of authority.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. How can I apply wisdom in my own leadership roles, whether at work or in my community?
  2. In what ways can I encourage fairness and righteousness in those who govern?
  3. What steps can I take to seek wisdom in my everyday decisions?
  4. How does understanding the role of wisdom in governance change my perspective on leadership?

Commentators on this verse — 6 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Proverbs 8:16 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

By me princes rule,.... All governors of provinces and cities, who are under the king as supreme; the discharge of whose office in a right manner requires much wisdom, prudence, justice, and

Read John Gill on Proverbs 8 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth. By me princes rule , [ saariym (H8269)] - a different Hebrew word from that for "princes" [ rowzªniym (H7336)] in Proverbs 8:15.

Read Robert Jamieson on Proverbs 8 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Proverbs 8:16 By me princes rule, and nobles, [even] all the judges of the earth.Ver. 16. And nobles.] So called in the original, from their liberality and bounty. Hence this word is expressed by Eυεργεται, Bountiful, or benefactors, such as are ingenuous, free, munificent, endued with that free princely spirit. Even all the judges of the earth.] Though haply they be reckoned in the rank of bad men, but good princes; such as was Galba, and our Richard III, and Trajan, much magnified for a good emperor, and yet a drunkard and a cruel persecutor. Plin. Secund. Dion. Cass.

Read John Trapp on Proverbs 8 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(16) All the judges of the earth.—By the aid of heavenly wisdom only can they give right and just judgments, and so fulfil the high office delegated to them by God Himself, from the possession of which they are themselves termed “gods” (Exodus 22:28; Psalms 82:1). For the same reason kings, as ruling by His authority, have the same title accorded to them (Psalms 45:6).

Read Charles John Ellicott on Proverbs 8 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

16. princes] “or rulers,” R.V. marg. The Heb. word is not the same as in Proverbs 8:15. The variety of words is used in order to bring all official positions within the domain of Wisdom. of the earth] “Many ancient authorities read of righteousness,” R.V. marg. This reading, found also in Syr. Targ. Vulg. (Lange ad loc.), is due probably to the idea that the proposition was only true of just judges.

Read Cambridge on Proverbs 8 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

15, 16. By me princes rule, etc. — The meaning is well given by Patrick: “Kings themselves sit not fast on their thrones, though placed there by God himself, unless they be ruled by me.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Proverbs 8 →

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

By me princes rule, and all nobles who govern justly.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

By me princes rule, nobles, and all the righteous rulers of the earth.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

By me princes rule, and all nobles who govern justly.

NETBNew English Translation2006

by me princes rule, as well as nobles and all righteous judges.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

By me princes rule, And nobles, even all the judges of the earth.

RVARevised Version, American1894

By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

By me princes rule and the nobles, and all the iudges of the earth.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

by me princes rule, and nobles, all the judges of the earth.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

By me do chiefs rule, and nobles, All judges of the earth.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

By me chiefs rule, and nobles, || All judges of earth.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

Through me do princes rule, and the nobles, even all the judges of the earth.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

By me princes rule, nobles, and all who govern with justice.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

By me princes rule, and the mighty decree justice.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

It's because of me that leaders and nobles govern—all who rule justly.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

Through me chiefs have authority, and the noble ones are judging in righteousness.

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.

clauseclauseprepositional phrase · prepositionalבִּ֭byיmesubjectשָׂרִ֣יםprincesverbיָשֹׂ֑רוּthey.ruleוּ֝andclausenoun phrase · subjectנְדִיבִ֗יםnoble.[people]noun phraseכָּלallnoun phraseשֹׁ֥פְטֵיjudgesצֶֽדֶקof.righteousness

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


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

The Masoretic Text reads בִּ֭י שָׂרִ֣ים יָשֹׂ֑רוּ וּ֝נְדִיבִ֗ים כָּל־ שֹׁ֥פְטֵי צֶֽדֶק׃, which aligns closely with the Septuagint, where 6 of the 7 words are matched, indicating a strong consistency in the core message across these ancient texts.

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

בִּ֭י שָׂרִ֣ים יָשֹׂ֑רוּ וּ֝נְדִיבִ֗ים כָּל־ שֹׁ֥פְטֵי צֶֽדֶק׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
בִּ֭יἐμοῦשָׂרִ֣יםμεγιστᾶνεςיָשֹׂ֑רוּμεγαλύνονταιוּ֝נְדִיבִ֗יםτύραννοιשֹׁ֥פְטֵיκρατοῦσιצֶֽדֶק׃γῆς

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 8:16נִיby meby meנִישַׂרprincesprincesשַׂרשָׂרַרthey rulethey ruleשָׂרַרנָדִיבand noble [and noble [peopנָדִיבכֹּלallallכֹּלשָׁפַטjudges ofjudges ofשָׁפַטצֶ֫דֶקrighteousnerighteousnessצֶ֫דֶקשָׂרַרto ruleto ruleשָׂרַרנָדַבbe willingbe willingנָדַבכָּלַלto perfectto perfectכָּלַלצָדֵקto justifyto justifyצָדֵקחֲמִשִּׁיםfiftyfiftyחֲמִשִּׁיםשַׂרrulerrulerשַׂראַיֵּהwhere?where?אַיֵּהעֵדָהcongregaticongregationעֵדָהעֲבֹדָהserviceserviceעֲבֹדָהשֹׁטֵרofficialofficialשֹׁטֵרצֶ֫דֶקRighteousnRighteousnessצֶ֫דֶקמֵישָׁרuprightnesuprightnessמֵישָׁראֵיפָהephahephahאֵיפָה
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 8:16

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.

by me princes they rule and noble [people] all judges of righteousness
בִּ֭יbi by me H9030 Preposition · suffix
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נִי (ni) — me.

Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 1st person singular

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HRd/Sp1bs — Preposition · suffix
HRd/Sp1bs
by me princes they rule and noble [people] all judges of righteousness
שָׂרִ֣יםsa.Rim princes H8269 Noun common · masculine plural absolute
421× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A leader or person in charge, like a prince or captain, as seen in the Bible with King David and other rulers.
Amplified meaning
rulers, leaders
Tyndale gloss
ruler
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שַׂר (sar) refers to a leader or ruler, encompassing a range of meanings from prince and chief to official and captain. It denotes various ranks, including military commanders and religious leaders, and can also imply a noble or merchant of high status. The word is derived from a root meaning 'to rule'.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שַׂר 420 n.m. chieftain, chief, ruler, official, captain, prince

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8269 שַׂר chieftain, chief, ruler, official, captain, prince

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8269 sar sar

from 8323; a head person (of any rank or class):--captain

(that had rule), chief (captain), general, governor, keeper,

lord, ((-task- ))master, prince(-ipal), ruler, steward.

see HEBREW for 08323

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שַׂר (sar) — ruler.

1) prince, ruler, leader, chief, chieftain, official, captain

1a) chieftain, leader

1b) vassal, noble, official (under king)

1c) captain, general, commander (military)

1d) chief, head, overseer (of other official classes)

1e) heads, princes (of religious office)

1f) elders (of representative leaders of people)

1g) merchant-princes (of rank and dignity)

1h) patron-angel

1i) Ruler of rulers (of God)

1j) warden

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-mp — Noun common · masculine plural absolute
HNcmpa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Thompson Chain Reference topics
by me princes they rule and noble [people] all judges of righteousness
יָשֹׂ֑רוּya.So.ru they rule H8323 Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine plural
5× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This verb means to take control or rule over something, as seen in the Bible when leaders exercise power over their people.
Tyndale gloss
to rule
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word שָׂרַר (sarar) is a verb meaning to rule or act as a prince. It encompasses various forms of governance, including reigning and contending for power. The entries indicate its use in different stems, such as Qal and Hithpael, with examples of ruling over Israel. There is a mention of a related word, שׂוּר (sur), meaning to reign.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[שָׂרַר] vb. denom. be, or act as, prince, rule

Qal Abim. ruled over Isr. three years

Hithp. that thou shouldst also keep playing the prince over us.

Hiph. they made princes

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8323 שָׂרַר vb. denom. be, or act as, prince, rule

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8323 sarar saw-rar'

a primitive root; to have (transitively, exercise;

reflexively, get) dominion:--X altogether, make self a

prince, (bear) rule.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שָׂרַר (sa.rar) — to rule.

1) to be or act as prince, rule, contend, have power, prevail over, reign, govern

1a) (Qal) to rule over, govern

1b) (Hithpael) to lord it over

Also means: sur (שׂוּר "to reign" H7786)

שָׁרַר (sha.rar) — to strengthen.

to strengthen

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Imperf-3mp — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine plural
HVqi3mp
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
by me princes they rule and noble [people] all judges of righteousness
וּ֝נְדִיבִ֗יםu.ne.di.Vim and noble [people] H5081 Conjunction
29× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Noble or generous, describing someone of high rank or character, like a prince, or a person with a willing and liberal heart, as seen in the stories of David and Solomon.
Amplified meaning
generous, high-ranking individuals
Tyndale gloss
noble
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

נָדִיב (nadiyb) conveys meanings of being inclined, generous, and noble. It is derived from a root meaning voluntary or willing, and can refer to a noble person or grandee, sometimes with a connotation of tyranny. The word appears in contexts related to nobility and willingness, including a mention in Song of Solomon 6:12.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

נָדִיב adj. and n.m. inclined, generous, noble

incited, inclined, willing

noble, princely, in rank

noble in mind and character

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5081 נָדִיב inclined, generous, noble

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5081 nadiyb naw-deeb'

from 5068; properly, voluntary, i.e. generous; hence,

magnanimous; as noun, a grandee (sometimes a tyrant):--free,

liberal (things), noble, prince, willing ((hearted)).

see HEBREW for 05068

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נָדִיב (na.div) — noble: willing.

: willing

n m

1) noble one

adj

2) inclined, willing, noble, generous

1a) incited, inclined, willing

1b) noble, princely (in rank)

1c) noble (in mind and character)

Also means: na.div (נָדִיב ": noble" H5081H)

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

נָדִיב (na.div) — noble.

: noble

n m

1) noble one

adj

2) inclined, willing, noble, generous

1a) incited, inclined, willing

1b) noble, princely (in rank)

1c) noble (in mind and character)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | Adj — Conjunction
HC/Aampa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

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

by me princes they rule and noble [people] all judges of righteousness
כָּל־kol- all H3605 Noun common · masculine singular construct
5,415× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for 'all' or 'everything' is used throughout the Bible, like in Genesis 1:31, where God sees all He has made as very good. It encompasses the entirety of something, whether people, things, or situations.
Amplified meaning
every one of
Tyndale gloss
all
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כֹּל (kol) means 'all' or 'the whole.' It can refer to totality, including every person or thing, and is often used with a following genitive to specify what is included. The term can also denote a broader sense of everything in existence or all circumstances of life. The lexicons do not show significant disagreement on its meanings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כֹּל once כּוֹל n.m. the whole, all

with foll. gen. (as usually) the whole of, to be rendered, however, often in our idiom, to avoid stiffness, any or every

Absolutely:

without the art., all things, all

with the art. הַכֹּל

where the sense is limited by the context to things (or persons) just mentioned

in a wider sense, all, whether of all mankind or of all living things, the universe, or of all the circumstances of life (chiefly late)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3605 כֹּל once כּוֹל the whole, all . with foll. gen. (as usually) the whole of, to be rendered, however, often in our idiom, to avoid stiffness, any or every

. Absolutely: . without the art., all things, all

. with the art. הַכֹּל . where the sense is limited by the context to things (or persons) just mentioned

. in a wider sense, all, whether of all mankind or of all living things, the universe, or of all the circumstances of life (chiefly late)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3605 kol kole

or (Jer. 33:8) kowl {kole}; from 3634; properly, the whole;

hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a

plural sense):--(in) all (manner, (ye)), altogether, any

(manner), enough, every (one, place, thing), howsoever, as

many as, (no-)thing, ought, whatsoever, (the) whole,

whoso(-ever).

see HEBREW for 03634

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כֹּל (kol) — all.

1) all, the whole

1a) all, the whole of

1b) any, each, every, anything

1c) totality, everything

Aramaic equivalent: kol (כֹּל "all" H3606)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular construct
HNcmsc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ol: Used in various combinations, and with different meanings.

(1) All along, "Weeping all along as he went" (Jer 41:6), i.e. throughout the whole way he went, feigning equal concern with the men from Shiloh, etc., for the destruction of the Temple, so as to put them off their guard.

(2) All in all, "That God may be all in all" (1Co 15:28, Greek: panta en pasin, "all things in all (persons and) things"). "The universe, with all it comprises, will wholly answer to God's will and reflect His mind" (Dummelow).

(3) All one, "It is all one" (Job 9:22), "it makes no difference whether I live or die."

(4) At all, "If thy father miss me at all" (1Sa 20:6), "in any way," "in the least."

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
by me princes they rule and noble [people] all judges of righteousness
שֹׁ֥פְטֵיSho.fe.tei judges of H8199 Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine plural common
202× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To shaphat means to judge or govern, and can also mean to vindicate or punish. In the Bible, this term is often used to describe God's role as a judge, as well as human judges and rulers.
Amplified meaning
judge, rule with justice
Tyndale gloss
to judge
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שָׁפַט (shaphat) is a Hebrew verb meaning to judge or govern. It encompasses a range of actions including pronouncing sentences, executing judgments, and deciding controversies in various contexts such as civil and religious matters. The word can also imply being judged or entering into legal disputes. There is a specific mention of its use in the context of final judgment.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שָׁפַט 185 vb. judge, govern

Qal

act as law-giver, judge, governor

specif. decide controversy, discriminate betw. persons, in civil, political, domestic and religious questions

execute judgment

Niph.

recipr., enter into controversy, plead

pass. be judged

Pô‛el = my opponent-at-law

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8199 שָׁפַט judge, govern .. act as law-giver, judge, governor

. specif. decide controversy, discriminate betw. persons, in civil, political, domestic and religious questions

. execute judgment

. . recipr., enter into controversy, plead

. pass. be judged

.= my opponent-at-law

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8199 shaphat shaw-fat'

a primitive root; to judge, i.e. pronounce sentence (for or

against); by implication, to vindicate or punish; by

extenssion, to govern; passively, to litigate (literally or

figuratively):--+ avenge, X that condemn, contend, defend,

execute (judgment), (be a) judge(-ment), X needs, plead,

reason, rule.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שָׁפַט (sha.phat) — to judge.

1) to judge, govern, vindicate, punish

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to act as law-giver or judge or governor (of God, man)

1a1a) to rule, govern, judge

1a2) to decide controversy (of God, man)

1a3) to execute judgment

1a3a) discriminating (of man)

1a3b) vindicating

1a3c) condemning and punishing

1a3d) at theophanic advent for final judgment

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to enter into controversy, plead, have controversy together

1b2) to be judged

1c) (Poel) judge, opponent-at-law (participle)

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

by me princes they rule and noble [people] all judges of righteousness
צֶֽדֶק׃Tze.dek righteousness H6664 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
119× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Represents the idea of righteousness or justice, often referring to God's character or the standard for human behavior. It is closely tied to the concept of morality and what is right. The word is used to describe the ideal for human conduct and society.
Amplified meaning
in righteousness, with fairness
Tyndale gloss
Righteousness
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

צֶ֫דֶק (tsedeq) refers to concepts of rightness and righteousness, encompassing moral, legal, and natural dimensions. It includes justice in governance, ethical correctness, and vindication in disputes. The term also suggests prosperity and deliverance, particularly in relation to God's covenant and the Messianic king. The entries consistently emphasize its broad application in both personal and societal contexts.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

צֶ֫דֶק n.m. rightness, righteousness

what is right, just, normal; rightness, justness, of weights and measures

righteousness, in government

righteousness, justice, in a case or cause

rightness, in speech

righteousness, as ethically right

righteousness, as vindicated, justification in controversy with enemies and troubles, deliverance, victory, prosperity

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6664 צֶ֫דֶק rightness, righteousness . what is right, just, normal; rightness, justness, of weights and measures

. righteousness, in government

. righteousness, justice, in a case or cause

. rightness, in speech

. righteousness, as ethically right

. righteousness, as vindicated, justification in controversy with enemies and troubles, deliverance, victory, prosperity

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6664 tsedeq tseh'-dek

from 6663; the right (natural, moral or legal); also

(abstractly) equity or (figuratively) prosperity:--X even, (X

that which is altogether) just(-ice), ((un-))right(-eous)

(cause, -ly, - ness).

see HEBREW for 06663

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

צֶ֫דֶק (tse.deq) — righteousness.

1) justice, rightness, righteousness

1a) what is right or just or normal, rightness, justness (of weights and measures)

1b) righteousness (in government)

1b1) of judges, rulers, kings

1b2) of law

1b3) of Davidic king, Messiah

1b4) of Jerusalem as seat of just government

1b5) of God's attribute

1c) righteousness, justice (in case or cause)

1d) rightness (in speech)

1e) righteousness (as ethically right)

1f) righteousness (as vindicated), justification (in controversy), deliverance, victory, prosperity

1f1) of God as covenant-keeping in redemption

1f2) in name of Messianic king

1f3) of people enjoying salvation

1f4) of Cyrus

צֶ֫דֶק (tse.deq) — Righteousness.

This name means justice, righteousness

Another name of ye.ho.vah (יהוה "LORD" H3068G)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absolute
HNcmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ri'-chus-nes (tsaddiq, adjective, "righteous," or occasionally "just" tsedheq, noun, occasionally = "riahteousness," occasionally = "justice"; dikaios, adjective, dikaiosune, noun, from dike, whose first meaning seems to have been "custom"; the general use suggested conformity to a standard: righteousness, "the state of him who is such as he ought to be" (Thayer)):

1. Double Aspect of Righteousness: Changing and Permanent

2. Social Customs and Righteousness

3. Changing Conception of Character of God: Obligations of Power

4. Righteousness as Inner

5. Righteousness as Social

6. Righteousness as Expanding in Content with Growth in Ideals of Human Worth

LITERATURE

1. Double Aspect of Righteousness: Changing and Permanent:

In Christian thought the idea of righteousness contains both a permanent and a changing element. The fixed element is the will to do right; the changing factor is the conception of…

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Righteousness

See JUSTIFICATION.

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

Rectitude, justice, holiness; an essential perfection of God’s character, Job 36:3; Isa 51:5-8; Joh 17:25; and of his administration, Ge 18:25; Ro 3:21,22; 10:3. It is the wonder of grace that as the righteous guardian of the law, he can acquit the unrighteous. "The righteousness of Christ" includes his spotless holiness, his perfect obedience the law demands; and "the righteousness of faith" is that imputed to the sinner who believes in Christ. With reference to personal character, righteousness is used both for uprightness between man and man, and for true religion,

→ By faith Ge 15:6; Ro 4:3,5,9,11,13,20,22,24

→ Garment of Job 29:14; Mt 22:11-14

→ Counted (regarded) for the sake of obedience De 6:25; Job 33:26

→ FRUITS OF De 6:25; Jos 22:31; Ps 1:3; 15:1-5; 24:3-5; 101:3,4; 106:3; 112:4-8; Pr 2:5-20; 10:2,16; 11:5,6,18,19,30; 12:28; 13:6; 14:34; 21:3; 29:7; Isa…

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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