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Psalms 101:4 — Word Study

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WLCלֵבָ֣ב עִ֭קֵּשׁ יָס֣וּר מִמֶּ֑נִּי רָ֝֗ע לֹ֣א אֵדָֽע׃

BSAA perverseʻiqqêsh [twisted] heartlêbâb [the innermost part of a person] shall departçûwr [turn aside, remove] from memin I will knowyâdaʻ [be aware of, understand] nothing oflôʼ [no evil thing, none, moral or natural] evilraʻ [bad, wickedness]

Word
Listen & take awayPsalms 101
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 4 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 ('e.Da') — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Psalms 101:4quick helps
In a sentenceThe psalmist expresses a desire for a heart free from perversion and a commitment to avoid evil.
Who is speakingDavid, reflecting on his personal integrity and moral choices.
Where we areThis verse is part of a declaration of righteous living and the rejection of evil.
The hard wordעִקֵּשׁ
Take awayThe psalmist will not tolerate evil in his life.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbסוּר 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 — Psalms 101:4

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 — A Declaration of Integritygenerated

3I will set no worthless thing before my eyes. I hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not cling to me.
4A perverse heart shall depart from me; I will know nothing of evil.
5Whoever slanders his neighbor in secret, I will put to silence; the one with haughty eyes and a proud heart, I will not endure.
6My eyes favor the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me; he who walks in the way of integrity shall minister to me.

Psalms 101:4 is part of a larger commitment by the psalmist to live a life of integrity. David declares his intention to reject anything that is morally corrupt, emphasizing the importance of a pure heart and the avoidance of evil. This theme resonates throughout the psalm, where David outlines the qualities he values in those around him and in himself.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Proverbs 2:12–15to deliver you from the way of evil, from the man who speaks perversity,
2Proverbs 3:32for the LORD detests the perverse, but He is a friend to the upright.
3Proverbs 8:13To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate arrogant pride, evil conduct, and perverse speech.
4Proverbs 11:20The perverse in heart are an abomination to the LORD, but the blameless in their walk are His delight.
5Psalm 6:8Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity, for the LORD has heard my weeping.

The Key Word עִקֵּשׁ, 'I.keshgenerated

The word עִקֵּשׁ ('i.kesh) is an adjective meaning twisted or perverse. It conveys a sense of moral distortion, indicating a heart that is not aligned with righteousness. The parsing shows it as a simple adjective, emphasizing its descriptive nature regarding the heart's condition.

This word is used in contexts that highlight negative moral attributes, suggesting a heart that is not straightforward or honest. The psalmist's use of this term underscores a clear rejection of such qualities in his own life.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against. The BSB has perverse, which aligns with the KJV and ASV, both of which also use perverse for עִקֵּשׁ.

Where others part company with the BSB they part company over the term for evil. Wickedness (YLT, LSV) emphasizes the moral failure aspect, while evil (ASV, WEB, BBE) encompasses a broader range of harmfulness.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The finite verb יָס֣וּר (ya.Sur) governs the main clause, indicating what will happen to the heart. The structure is straightforward: a subject (the heart), a verb (will depart), and an object (evil).

The Hebrew word order places emphasis on the heart's departure from the psalmist, highlighting the personal nature of this declaration.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates עִקֵּשׁ as σκαμβή, which suggests a focus on the twisted nature of the heart. This choice reflects a broader interpretation of moral distortion, aligning with the overall message of rejecting evil.

The Greek rendering captures the essence of the Hebrew term, emphasizing the need for a heart that is not corrupted.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Psalms 101:4 expresses a desire for a heart that is not twisted or perverse. The psalmist, David, declares that he will turn away from evil and not be aware of it, emphasizing his commitment to living righteously.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean for a heart to be perverse?

A perverse heart is one that is twisted or morally corrupt, not aligned with righteousness.

Why does David want to avoid evil?

David seeks to maintain his integrity and moral purity, rejecting anything that could lead him astray.

How can we apply this verse today?

We can strive to cultivate a pure heart and consciously avoid influences that lead to moral corruption.

What are some examples of evil that we should be aware of?

Evil can include actions, thoughts, or influences that are harmful or morally wrong, such as deceit, hatred, and injustice.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. What steps can I take to ensure my heart remains pure and free from perversion?
  2. How can I actively avoid influences that lead to evil in my life?
  3. What does it mean to truly know nothing of evil in a practical sense?
  4. In what ways can I support others in their pursuit of integrity and righteousness?

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

The early church fathers often referenced this verse to discuss moral integrity and the rejection of evil, as seen in Augustine's Exposition on Psalms 101.

Augustine of HippoExposition on Psalms 101 354–430
"When the wicked man departed from me, I knew him not" [Psalms 101:4]. I approved him not, I praised him not, he pleased me not.
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 101 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Psalms 101:4 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

A froward heart shall depart from me,.... A man of a froward heart, that devises frowardness in his heart, and speaks it out with his mouth; that which is perverse, and contrary to the law of God and

Read John Gill on Psalms 101 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

A froward heart shall depart from me: I will not know a wicked person. A froward heart shall depart from me - (Psalms 18:26.) So Solomon, David's son, writes in Proverbs 11:20; Proverbs 17:20.

Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 101 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

A froward heart; a man of a corrupt mind and wicked life, such as other princes choose and prefer, as being suitable to themselves, and to their wicked designs. Shall depart from me; shall be turned out of my court, lest they should tempt me, or infect the rest of my family, or be injurious or scandalous to my people. I will not know, i.e. not own nor countenance.

Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 101 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Psalms 101:4 A froward heart shall depart from me: I will not know a wicked [person].Ver. 4. A froward heart shall depart from me] i.e. Say some, I will endeavour to put off the old man with the lusts thereof, Ephesians 4:22, the old crooked frame shall be dissolved, and a better erected. I will not know evil, that is, regard, or allow it, Psalms 1:6. Others understand the text of rotten hearted and wicked counsellors, whom David would abhor and abandon.

Read John Trapp on Psalms 101 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 4. A froward heart] Rash and headstrong men shall not be employed by me. I will not know a wicked person.] I will give no countenance to sinners of any kind; and whatever is evil shall be an object of my abhorrence.

Read AdamClarke on Psalms 101 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

4. The Psalmist is still speaking of himself. All crookedness and perversity shall be banished from his heart, he will not consciously tolerate evil there. Render the second line, Evil I will not know. With 4 a and 2 b cp. Proverbs 11:20. froward] Lit. crooked. Cp. Proverbs 11:20.

Read Cambridge on Psalms 101 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

A froward heart shall depart from me - The word here rendered froward means perverse, false, deceitful, depraved. See the notes at Psalms 18:26.

Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 101 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

4. A froward heart—A heart turned from the right way. Such is never to be trusted. I will not know a wicked person—That is, not to approve. I will not tolerate a wicked person as an officer of government or a servant of my house.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Psalms 101 →

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

A perverse heart shall depart from me; I will know nothing of evil.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

A perverse heart will be far from me. I will have nothing to do with evil.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

A perverse heart shall depart from me; I will know nothing of evil.

NETBNew English Translation2006

I will have nothing to do with a perverse person; I will not permit evil.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

A froward heart shall depart from me: I will not know a wicked person.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

A perverse heart shall depart from me: I will know no evil thing.

RVARevised Version, American1894

A froward heart shall depart from me: I will know no evil thing.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

A froward heart shall depart from me: I will not know a wicked person .

GNVGeneva Bible1599

A froward heart shall depart from me: I will knowe none euill.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

A perverse heart shall depart from me; I will not know evil.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

A perverse heart turneth aside from me, Wickedness I know not.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

A perverse heart turns aside from me, || I do not know wickedness.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

A perverse heart shall depart from me: evil will I not know.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Perverse people will leave me; I am not loyal to evil.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

For my days are vanished like smoke: and my bones are grown dry like fuel for the fire.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

I won't think bad thoughts—I won't even consider anything evil.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

The false heart I will send away from me: I will not have an evil-doer for a friend.

Word by word, the decisions they made

רָ֝֗עRa' evil H7451 2 different renderings
evilASV BBE BSB DBY FBV ILT MSB NETB RVA ULB WEB
wickednessLSV YLT

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.

clausenoun phrase · subjectלֵבָ֣בa.heartעִ֭קֵּשׁperverseverbיָס֣וּרit.will.departprepositional phrase · prepositionalמִמֶּ֑fromנִּיmeclauseobjectרָ֝֗עeviladverbialלֹ֣אnotverbאֵדָֽעI.will.know

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 their wording, with all seven words matched. The Dead Sea Scrolls contain one word on the leather, with six others supplied by an editor, indicating a similar commitment to the text's integrity.

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

לֵבָ֣ב עִ֭קֵּשׁ יָס֣וּר מִמֶּ֑נִּי רָ֝֗ע לֹ֣א אֵדָֽע׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
לֵבָ֣בκαρδίαעִ֭קֵּשׁσκαμβήיָס֣וּרἐκκλίνοντοςמִמֶּ֑נִּיἐμοῦרָ֝֗עπονηροῦלֹ֣אοὐκאֵדָֽע׃ἐγίνωσκον

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.

Dead Sea Scrolls — 11Q5a copy a thousand years older than the Leningrad Codex

לבב [עקש] [יסור] [ממ׳ני] [רע] [לוא] [אדע]

1 word on the leather — 6 supplied entire by an editor.

Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.


The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with

This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.

Psalms 101:4לֵבָבa hearta heartלֵבָבעִקֵּשׁperverseperverseעִקֵּשׁסוּרit will depit will departסוּרמִן־from mefrom meמִן־רַעevilevilרַעלֹאnotnotלֹאיָדַעI will knowI will knowיָדַעלבבto encourato encourageלבבעָקַשׁto twistto twistעָקַשׁרָעַעbe evilbe evilרָעַעמֵןstringstringמֵןשָׁלֵםcompletecompleteשָׁלֵםדָּרַשׁto seekto seekדָּרַשׁפָּתַלto twistto twistפָּתַלבָּרַרto purifyto purifyבָּרַרשְׂמֹאלleftleftשְׂמֹאלבָּמָהhigh placehigh placeבָּמָהרָחַקto removeto removeרָחַקיָתַרto remainto remainיָתַרמַעֲלָלdeeddeedמַעֲלָלנחםto be sorrto be sorry: coנחםיָכֹלbe ablebe ableיָכֹלעוֹדstillstillעוֹדאֲנִיIIאֲנִיבִּיןto understto understandבִּין
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 Psalms 101:4

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.

a heart perverse it will depart from me evil not I will know
לֵבָ֣בle.Vav a heart H3824 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
252× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The heart is the innermost part of a person, including their mind, will, and emotions. In the book of Psalms, David talks about his heart being heavy with sorrow, while in the book of Proverbs, it discusses the importance of guarding one's heart.
Amplified meaning
the innermost part of a person
Tyndale gloss
heart
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

לֵבָב (lebab) refers to the inner man, encompassing the mind, will, and heart. It highlights aspects like emotions, moral character, and conscience, often contrasting the inner self with the outer. The term is used primarily for humans and can also denote courage and appetites.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

לֵבָב 251 n.m. inner man, mind, will, heart

seldom of things in the midst of the seas

usu. of men

the inner man in contrast with the outer

the inner man, indef. the soul, comprehending mind, affections and will

specific ref. to mind

spec. ref. to inclinations, resolutions, determinations of the will

spec. ref. to conscience

spec. ref. to moral character

= the man himself

spec. as seat of appetites

spec. of seat of the emotions and passions

seat of courage

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3824 לֵבָב inner man, mind, will, heart . seldom of things in the midst of the seas

. usu. of men . the inner man in contrast with the outer

. the inner man, indef. the soul, comprehending mind, affections and will

. specific ref. to mind

. spec. ref. to inclinations, resolutions, determinations of the will

. spec. ref. to conscience

. spec. ref. to moral character

. = the man himself

. spec. as seat of appetites

. spec. of seat of the emotions and passions

. seat of courage

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3824 lebab lay-bawb'

from 3823; the heart (as the most interior organ); used also

like 3820:--+ bethink themselves, breast, comfortably,

courage, ((faint), (tender-)heart((-ed)), midst, mind, X

unawares, understanding.

see HEBREW for 03823

see HEBREW for 03820

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

לֵבָב (le.vav) — heart.

1) inner man, mind, will, heart, soul, understanding

1a) inner part, midst

1a1) midst (of things)

1a2) heart (of man)

1a3) soul, heart (of man)

1a4) mind, knowledge, thinking, reflection, memory

1a5) inclination, resolution, determination (of will)

1a6) conscience

1a7) heart (of moral character)

1a8) as seat of appetites

1a9) as seat of emotions and passions 1a10) as seat of courage

Aramaic equivalent: le.vav (לְבַב "heart" H3825)

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

hart (lebh, lebhabh; kardia): The different senses in which the word occurs in the Old Testament and the New Testament may be grouped under the following heads:

1. Various Meanings:

It represents in the first place the bodily organ, and by easy transition those experiences which affect or are affected by the body. Fear, love, courage, anger, Joy, sorrow, hatred are always ascribed to the heart--especially in the Old Testament; thus courage for which usually ruach is used (Ps 27:14); joy (Ps 4:7); anger (De 19:6, "while his heart is hot," lebhabh); fear (1Sa 25:37); sorrow (Ps 13:2), etc.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Heart

According to the Bible, the heart is the centre not only of spiritual activity, but of all the operations of human life. “Heart” and “soul” are often used interchangeably (Deut. 6:5; 26:16; comp. Matt. 22:37; Mark 12:30, 33), but this is not generally the case.

The heart is the “home of the personal life,” and hence a man is designated, according to his heart, wise (1 Kings 3:12, etc.), pure (Ps. 24:4; Matt. 5:8, etc.), upright and righteous (Gen. 20:5, 6;

a heart perverse it will depart from me evil not I will know
עִ֭קֵּשׁ'I.kesh perverse H6141 Adj
11× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for something that is twisted or distorted, and can also refer to someone who is being false or perverse. It is used to describe something that is not straight or honest. The KJV translates it as crooked or froward.
Amplified meaning
twisted
Tyndale gloss
twisted
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עִקֵּשׁ (iqqesh) means twisted or perverted, conveying a sense of distortion or crookedness. It is derived from the root word עָקַשׁ (‘aqash), which also relates to these themes. The entries consistently emphasize its negative connotations, describing something that is false or morally corrupt.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עִקֵּשׁ adj. twisted, perverted

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6141 עִקֵּשׁ twisted, perverted

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6141 `iqqesh ik-kashe'

from 6140; distorted; hence, false:--crooked, froward,

perverse.

see HEBREW for 06140

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עִקֵּשׁ (iq.qesh) — twisted.

twisted, distorted, crooked, perverse, perverted

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adj — Adj
HAamsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

per-vurs': The group "perverse, -ly, -ness," "act perversely" in the King James Version represents nearly 20 Hebrew words, of which, however, most are derivatives of the stems `awah, luz, `aqash. The Revised Version (British and American) has made few changes. In Job 6:30, the Revised Version (British and American) "mischievous" is better for the taste of a thing, and in Isa 59:3 greater emphasis is gained by the Revised Version (British and American) "wickedness." In Eze 9:9, "wresting of judgment" is perhaps too concrete, and "perverseness" is kept in the margin (inverted in the King James Version). the Revised Version margin "headlong" in Nu 22:32 is over-literal, but in…

a heart perverse it will depart from me evil not I will know
יָס֣וּרya.Sur it will depart H5493 Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singular
300× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To turn aside or remove is the meaning of this verb, used in various forms throughout the Bible. It can mean to depart, avoid, or put something away, and is often used in the context of turning away from sin or wrongdoing, as seen in the actions of prophets and leaders in the Old Testament.
Amplified meaning
turn aside, remove
Tyndale gloss
to turn aside: remove
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

סוּר (sur) is a Hebrew verb meaning to turn aside or depart. It encompasses a range of actions including removal, avoidance, and coming to an end. The word can be used in various forms, such as causing something to turn aside or be taken away. It appears in contexts involving both literal and figurative departures.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

סוּר and [שׂוּר] 300 vb. turn aside

Qal

turn aside, out of one's course

depart

of lifeless things = be removed

= come to an end

Pô‛lēl he turned aside my ways (my steps)

Hiph.

cause to (turn aside,) depart, common word for remove, take away

rarer uses

Pô‛lēl be taken away, removed

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5493 סוּר, שׂוּר turn aside .. turn aside, out of one's course

. depart

. of lifeless things = be removed

. = come to an end

.he turned aside my ways (my steps)

. . cause to (turn aside,) depart, common word for remove, take away

. rarer uses

.be taken away, removed

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5493 cuwr soor

or suwr (Hosea 9:12) {soor}; a primitive root; to turn off

(literal or figurative):--be(-head), bring, call back,

decline, depart, eschew, get (you), go (aside), X grievous,

lay away (by), leave undone, be past, pluck away, put (away,

down), rebel, remove (to and fro), revolt, X be sour, take

(away, off), turn (aside, away, in), withdraw, be without.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

סוּר (sur) — to turn aside: remove.

: remove

1) to turn aside, depart

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to turn aside, turn in unto

1a2) to depart, depart from way, avoid

1a3) to be removed

1a4) to come to an end

1b) (Polel) to turn aside

1c) (Hiphil)

1c1) to cause to turn aside, cause to depart, remove, take away, put away, depose

1c2) to put aside, leave undone, retract, reject, abolish

1d) (Hophal) to be taken away, be removed

סוּר (sur) — to turn aside: depart.

: depart

1) to turn aside, depart

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to turn aside, turn in unto

1a2) to depart, depart from way, avoid

1a3) to be removed

1a4) to come to an end

1b) (Polel) to turn aside

1c) (Hiphil)

1c1) to cause to turn aside, cause to depart, remove, take away, put away, depose

1c2) to put aside, leave undone, retract, reject, abolish

1d) (Hophal) to be taken away, be removed

סוּר (sur) — to turn aside: turn aside.

: turn_aside/deflect

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singular
HVqi3ms
a heart perverse it will depart from me evil not I will know
מִמֶּ֑נִּיmi.Me.ni from me H4480 Preposition · suffix
1,189× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means a portion or part of something, and is often used to show the relationship between things, like from or out of something.
Tyndale gloss
from
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word מִן־ (*min*) is a preposition meaning 'from' or 'out of,' indicating separation or origin. It covers various uses, including temporal references, comparisons, and causal relationships. Additionally, it can denote a portion when used as a noun מֵן (*men*). The entries highlight its versatility in expressing different nuances of separation and position.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מִן־, and מִ, before יְ, prep. expressing the idea of separation, hence out of, from, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not

with verbs expressing (or implying) separation or removal

from, against

מן also, without a verb of similar significance, sometimes expresses the idea of separation, away from, far from

of position, off, on the side of, on

Out of, Gk. ἐκ, Lat. ex

Partitively

Of time—

as marking the terminus a quo, the anterior limit of a continuous period from, since

as marking the period immediately succeeding the limit after

towards, to

(וְעַד) עַד … מִן from … even to

In comparisons, beyond, above

מן is prefixed to an infin.:

with causal force, from, on account of, through

after verbs implying restraint, prevention, cessation, etc.

with a temporal force, since, after

Once as a conj. before a finite verb. that

In compounds:

base

Read the full entry →
Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4480a מִן־, מִ, prep. expressing the idea of separation, hence out of, from, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not . with verbs expressing (or implying) separation or removal . from, against

. מן also, without a verb of similar significance, sometimes expresses the idea of separation, away from, far from

. of position, off, on the side of, on

. Out of, Gk. ἐκ, Lat. ex

. Partitively

. Of time— . as marking the terminus a quo, the anterior limit of a continuous period from, since

. as marking the period immediately succeeding the limit after

. towards, to

. (וְעַד) עַד … מִן from … even to

. In comparisons, beyond, above

. מן is prefixed to an infin.: . with causal force, from, on account of, through

. after verbs implying restraint, prevention, cessation, etc.

. with a temporal force, since, after

. Once as a conj. before a finite verb. that

Read the full entry →
Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4480 min min

or minniy {min-nee'}; or minney (constructive plural)

{min-nay'}; (Isaiah 30:11); for 4482; properly, a part of;

hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses (as

follows):--above, after, among, at, because of, by (reason

of), from (among), in, X neither, X nor, (out) of, over,

since, X then, through, X whether, with.

see HEBREW for 04482

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מִן־ (min) — from.

prep

1) from, out of, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not, more than

1a) from (expressing separation), off, on the side of

1b) out of

1b1) (with verbs of proceeding, removing, expelling)

1b2) (of material from which something is made)

1b3) (of source or origin)

1c) out of, some of, from (partitively)

1d) from, since, after (of time)

1e) than, more than (in comparison)

1f) from...even to, both...and, either...or

1g) than, more than, too much for (in comparisons)

1h) from, on account of, through, because (with infinitive)

conj

2) that

Aramaic equivalent: min (מִן־ "from" H4481)

מֵן (men) — portion.

n.m.

portion

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | Suff — Preposition · suffix
HR/Sp1bs
a heart perverse it will depart from me evil not I will know
רָ֝֗עRa' evil H7451 Adj
662× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Ra means bad or evil, referring to moral or natural harm. It describes adversity, affliction, or distress, and is often used to convey a sense of misery or injury.
Amplified meaning
bad, wickedness
Tyndale gloss
bad: harmful
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

רַע (ra) is a Hebrew word meaning bad or evil, encompassing a range of negative qualities such as distress, misery, and ethical wrongdoing. It can describe unpleasantness, harm, or low value, and is used in various contexts, including emotional states and moral judgments. The entries also note its comparative form, indicating worse than or worst. The word has feminine forms, such as רָעָה (ra.ah), which similarly convey concepts of evil and distress.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

רַע 228 adj. bad, evil

bad, disagreeable, malignant

bad, unpleasant, giving pain, unhappiness, misery

evil, displeasing

bad of its kind

bad, , i.e. of low value

מִן comp., worse than

sad, unhappy

devise evil (hurtful) device

bad, unkind, vicious in disposition or temper

ethically bad, evil, wicked

base

רַע 126 n.m. evil, distress, misery, injury, calamity

evil, distress, adversity

evil, injury, wrong

ethical evil

base

רָעָה 310 n.f. evil, misery, distress, injury

evil, misery, distress

evil, injury, wrong

ethical evil

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7451a רַע bad, evil . bad, disagreeable, malignant

. bad, unpleasant, giving pain, unhappiness, misery

. evil, displeasing

. bad of its kind

. bad, , i.e. of low value

. + מִן comp., worse than

. sad, unhappy

. devise evil (hurtful) device

. bad, unkind, vicious in disposition or temper

. ethically bad, evil, wicked

H7451b רַע evil, distress, misery, injury, calamity . evil, distress, adversity

. evil, injury, wrong

. ethical evil

H7451c רָעָה evil, misery, distress, injury . evil, misery, distress

. evil, injury, wrong

. ethical evil

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7451 ra` rah

from 7489; bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral):--

adversity, affliction, bad, calamity, + displease(-ure),

distress, evil((- favouredness), man, thing), + exceedingly, X

great, grief(-vous), harm, heavy, hurt(-ful), ill (favoured),

+ mark, mischief(-vous), misery, naught(-ty), noisome, + not

please, sad(-ly), sore, sorrow, trouble, vex,

wicked(-ly, -ness, one), worse(-st), wretchedness, wrong.

(Incl. feminine raaah; as adjective or noun.).

see HEBREW for 07489

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

רַע (ra) — bad: harmful.

: harmful

adj

1) bad, evil

1a) bad, disagreeable, malignant

1b) bad, unpleasant, evil (giving pain, unhappiness, misery)

1c) evil, displeasing

1d) bad (of its kind-land, water, etc)

1e) bad (of value)

1f) worse than, worst (comparison)

1g) sad, unhappy

1h) evil (hurtful)

1i) bad, unkind (vicious in disposition)

1j) bad, evil, wicked (ethically)

1j1) in general, of persons, of thoughts

1j2) deeds, actions

רַע (ra) — bad: evil.

1) evil, distress, misery, injury, calamity

1a) evil, distress, adversity

1b) evil, injury, wrong

1c) evil (ethical)

רָעָה (ra.ah) — distress: harm.

: harm

1) evil, misery, distress, injury

1a) evil, misery, distress

1b) evil, injury, wrong

1c) evil (ethical)

רַע (ra) — bad: evil.

: evil

adj

1) bad, evil

1a) bad, disagreeable, malignant

1b) bad, unpleasant, evil (giving pain, unhappiness, misery)

1c) evil, displeasing

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adj — Adj
HAamsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ev'-'-l, e'-vil ra`; poneros, @kakos, @kakon:

In the Bible it is represented as moral and physical. We choose to discuss the subject under these heads. Many of the evils that come upon men have not been intended by those who suffer for them. Disease, individual and national calamity, drought, scarcity of food, may not always be charged to the account of intentional wrong. Many times the innocent suffer with, and even for, the guilty. In such cases, only physical evil is apparent. Even when the suffering has been occasioned by sin or dereliction of duty, whether the wrong is active or passive, many, perhaps the majority of those who are injured, are not accountable in any way for the ills which come upon them. Neither is God the author of moral evil. "God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempteth no man" (Jas 1:13).

Nave's Topical Bible

→ APPEARANCE OF, TO BE AVOIDED Ro 14:1-23; 1Co 8:7-13; 10:28-33; 1Th 4:11,12; 5:22

→ INSTANCES OF

Paul, in refusing to eat what had been offered to idols 1Co 8:13

In supporting himself 1Co 9:7-23

a heart perverse it will depart from me evil not I will know
לֹ֣אlo' 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
no evil thing, none, moral or natural
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
a heart perverse it will depart from me evil not I will know
אֵדָֽע׃'e.Da' I will know H3045 Verb · Qal · imperfect first person common singular
945× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for to know means to ascertain by seeing, and is used in many senses, including to learn, perceive, and recognize, as seen in various KJV translations.
Amplified meaning
be aware of, understand
Tyndale gloss
to know
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יָדַע (yada`) is a Hebrew verb meaning 'to know,' encompassing a wide range of senses including perception, recognition, and experience. It can refer to knowing someone intimately or being skilled in a task. The word has various forms, indicating actions such as making known or being made known. Lexicons note its use in both literal and figurative contexts, but there is no significant disagreement among them.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יָדַע 943 vb. know

Qal

know, learn to know

perceive

perceive and see; find out and discern

discriminate, distinguish

know by experience

recognize, admit, acknowledge, confess

consider

not know = not expect

know a person, be acquainted with

know a person carnally, of sexual intercourse

know how, to do a thing, be able to do it

be skilful in

abs. have knowledge, be wise

Niph.

be made known, be or become known, of things

make oneself known of pers.

be perceived

be instructed

Pi. cause to know

Pu. known

Hiph. make known, declare

Hoph. made known

Hithp. make oneself known

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3045 יָדַע know .. . know, learn to know

. perceive

. perceive and see; find out and discern

. discriminate, distinguish

. know by experience

. recognize, admit, acknowledge, confess

. consider

. not know = not expect

. know a person, be acquainted with

. know a person carnally, of sexual intercourse

. . know how, to do a thing, be able to do it

. be skilful in

. abs. have knowledge, be wise

. . be made known, be or become known, of things

. make oneself known of pers.

. be perceived

. be instructed

. cause to know

. known

. make known, declare

. made known

. make oneself known

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3045 yada` yaw-dah'

a primitive root; to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing);

used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally,

euphemistically and inferentially (including observation,

care, recognition; and causatively, instruction, designation,

punishment, etc.) (as follow):--acknowledge, acquaintance(-ted

with), advise, answer, appoint, assuredly, be aware,

(un-)awares, can(-not), certainly, comprehend, consider, X

could they, cunning, declare, be diligent, (can, cause to)

discern, discover, endued with, familiar friend, famous, feel,

can have, be (ig-)norant, instruct, kinsfolk, kinsman, (cause

to let, make) know, (come to give, have, take) knowledge, have

(knowledge), (be, make, make to be, make self) known, + be

learned, + lie by man, mark, perceive, privy to, X

prognosticator, regard, have respect, skilful, shew, can (man

of) skill, be sure, of a surety, teach, (can) tell,

Read the full entry →
Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יָדַע (ya.da) — to know.

1) to know

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to know

1a1a) to know, learn to know

1a1b) to perceive

1a1c) to perceive and see, find out and discern

1a1d) to discriminate, distinguish

1a1e) to know by experience

1a1f) to recognise, admit, acknowledge, confess

1a1g) to consider

1a2) to know, be acquainted with

1a3) to know (a person carnally)

1a4) to know how, be skilful in

1a5) to have knowledge, be wise

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be made known, be or become known, be revealed

1b2) to make oneself known

1b3) to be perceived

1b4) to be instructed

1c) (Piel) to cause to know

1d) (Poal) to cause to know

1e) (Pual)

1e1) to be known

1e2) known, one known, acquaintance (participle)

1f) (Hiphil) to make known, declare

1g) (Hophal) to be made known

1h) (Hithpael) to make oneself known, reveal oneself

Aramaic equivalent: ye.da (יְדַע "to know" H3046)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Imperf-1cs — Verb · Qal · imperfect first person common singular
HVqi1cs
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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