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Psalms 102:1 — Word Study

Depth

WLCיְ֭הוָה שִׁמְעָ֣ה תְפִלָּתִ֑י וְ֝שַׁוְעָתִ֗י אֵלֶ֥יךָ תָבֽוֹא׃

BSAA prayertᵉphillâh [supplication, request to God] of one who is afflictedʻânîy whenkîy he grows faintʻâṭaph and pours outshâphak his lamentsîyach beforepânîym [into the presence of] the LORDYᵉhôvâh

Word
Listen & take awayPsalms 102
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 1 opens the 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 (ta.Vo') — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Psalms 102:1quick helps
In a sentenceThe psalmist calls on the LORD to hear his prayer and let his cry for help come into His presence.
Who is speakingA person in distress, seeking God's attention and assistance.
Where we areThis verse opens a prayer of lament, expressing deep need and urgency.
The hard wordיְהוָה
Take awayThe plea is heartfelt; the speaker seeks divine intervention.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Trapp, Ellicott & more — read them › clause verbשִׂיחַ 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 102:1

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 Prayer of Distressgenerated

1Hear my prayer, O LORD; let my cry for help come before You.
2Do not hide Your face from me in my day of distress. Incline Your ear to me; answer me quickly when I call.
3For my days vanish like smoke, and my bones burn like glowing embers.
4My heart is afflicted, and withered like grass; I even forget to eat my bread.

Psalm 102:1 is a heartfelt prayer from someone in deep distress, crying out to the LORD for help. The psalmist expresses a sense of urgency and desperation, asking God to hear his plea and respond. This prayer continues with a series of laments and requests for divine attention, reflecting the profound emotional state of the speaker, as seen in the following verses.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Psalm 12:5“For the cause of the oppressed and for the groaning of the needy, I will now arise,” says the LORD. “I will bring safety to him who yearns.”
2Psalm 61:2From the ends of the earth I call out to You whenever my heart is faint. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
3Psalm 69:1–2Save me, O God, for the waters are up to my neck.
4Psalm 142:2–3I pour out my complaint before Him; I reveal my trouble to Him.
5Psalm 143:4My spirit grows faint within me; my heart is dismayed inside me.

The Key Word יְהוָה, Yah.wehgenerated

The name יְהוָה (Yahweh) is the proper name for the God of Israel, often rendered as 'the LORD'. It signifies His eternal nature and self-existence. This name is used throughout the Old Testament, emphasizing God's covenant relationship with His people.

In this verse, it highlights the psalmist's direct appeal to God, invoking His presence and authority as he seeks assistance in his time of need.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

This study uses the Berean Standard Bible, which translates the verse as 'Hear my prayer, O LORD; let my cry for help come before You.' Other translations, such as the KJV and ASV, agree with this wording.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The structure of the verse centers around one main verb: תָבֽוֹא, let it come. The phrase is composed of two parts: the call to hear the prayer and the request for the cry for help to come before God.

This construction emphasizes the urgency of the psalmist's plea, with the direct address to God framing the entire request.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates יְהוָה as κύριε (kurie), meaning 'Lord'. This reflects the same reverence and authority attributed to God in the Hebrew text.

The choice of προσευξὴ (proseuchē) for 'prayer' indicates a focus on the act of supplication, aligning with the Hebrew sense of earnest request.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Psalm 102:1 is a plea from someone in distress, asking the LORD to hear their prayer and let their cry for help come before Him. This reflects a deep need for God's attention and assistance.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does the psalmist mean by 'my prayer'?

The psalmist is expressing a personal supplication to God, highlighting the importance of direct communication with the divine.

Why does the psalmist call out for help?

The psalmist is in a state of distress and is seeking God's intervention and support during a difficult time.

What does 'let my cry for help come before You' imply?

This phrase indicates a desire for God's immediate attention and action in response to the psalmist's urgent need.

How does this verse relate to the rest of Psalm 102?

This verse sets the tone for the entire psalm, which continues with expressions of lament and requests for God's mercy and help.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what areas of my life do I need to seek God's help and attention?
  2. How can I express my prayers more earnestly and sincerely?
  3. What does it mean for me to bring my cries for help before God?
  4. How do I respond when I feel that God is not hearing my prayers?

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

Augustine of Hippo references this verse in his commentary, using it to illustrate the importance of prayer and supplication.

Augustine of HippoExposition on Psalms 102 354–430
"Hear my prayer, O Lord: and let my crying come unto You" [Psalms 102:1].
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 102 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Psalms 102:1 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

Hear my prayer, O Lord,.... The prayer of a poor, destitute, and afflicted one; his own, and not another's; not what was composed for him, but composed by him; which came out of his own heart, and

Read John Gill on Psalms 102 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

Hear my prayer, O LORD, and let my cry come unto thee. Psalms 102:1-28 -Hear my cry for my trouble needs immediate relief (Psalms 102:1-5); I am like a lonely bird, my being cast down after having

Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 102 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Psalms 102:1 « A Prayer of the afflicted, when he is overwhelmed, and poureth out his complaint before the LORD. » Hear my prayer, O LORD, and let my cry come unto thee.A Prayer of the afflicted] Or, for the afflicted, made by Daniel, or some other prophet, not long before the return out of Babylon, where they suffered much but prayed little, as Daniel confesseth, Daniel 9:13. Here, therefore, they are taught to take unto them words, and say, "Hear my prayer, O Lord," &c. In greatest afflictions there is place left for prayer, Psalms 130:1, and something God will yield to it, when most bitterly bent against a people, Matthew 24:20-21. When he is overwhelmed] Pressed out of measure above…

Read John Trapp on Psalms 102 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(1) Prayer.—Like love and all emotion, prayer has its own language, and this assumes here the forms of expression that meet us in other psalms. (See, e.g., in addition to the reference in margin, Psalms 31:2; Psalms 39:12; Psalms 56:9; Psalms 59:16; Psalms 143:7.)

Read Charles John Ellicott on Psalms 102 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

PSALM CII The complaint and miserable state of the poor captives, 1-11; the expectation of deliverance, 12-14; the conversion of the heathen, 15-18; the termination of the captivity, 19-22; the great frailty of man, 23, 24; the unchangeableness of God, 25-27; the permanence of the Church, 28. NOTES ON PSALM CII The Hebrew, and nearly all the Versions, give the following title to this Psalm: A prayer of the afflicted, when he is overwhelmed, and pours out his sighing before the Lord. There seems to be little doubt that this is the prayer of the captives in Babylon, when, towards the end of the captivity, they were almost worn out with oppression, cruelty, and distress. The Psalm has been…

Read AdamClarke on Psalms 102 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

1–11. The Psalmist supplicates for a speedy hearing, pleading the extremity of his distress.

Read Cambridge on Psalms 102 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Hear my prayer, O Lord - The prayer which I offer in view of my personal trials; the prayer which I offer as one of an afflicted people. Compare Psalms 4:1; Psalms 17:1; Psalms 18:6.

Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 102 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

1. Hear my prayer—The invocation of Psa 102:1-2 is replete with those familiar forms which appear often in the Davidic psalms, and which are common, also, to all earnest, agonizing prayers.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Psalms 102 →

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

Hear my prayer, O LORD; let my cry for help come before You.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Hear my prayer, Yahweh! Let my cry come to you.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

A prayer of one who is afflicted, when he grows faint and pours out his lament before the LORD. Hear my prayer, O LORD; let my cry for help come before You.

NETBNew English Translation2006

O Lord, hear my prayer! Pay attention to my cry for help!

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

Hear my prayer, O LORD, and let my cry come unto thee.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

Hear my prayer, O Jehovah, And let my cry come unto thee.

RVARevised Version, American1894

Hear my prayer, O LORD, and let my cry come unto thee.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

A Prayer of the afflicted, when he is overwhelmed, and poureth out his complaint before the LORD. Hear my prayer, O LORD, and let my cry come to thee.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

A prayer of the afflicted, when he shall be in distresse, and pour forth his meditation before the Lord. O Lord, heare my prayer, and let my crye come vnto thee.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

Jehovah, hear my prayer, and let my cry come unto thee.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

A Prayer of the afflicted when he is feeble, and before Jehovah poureth out his plaint. O Jehovah, hear my prayer, yea, my cry to Thee cometh.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

A PRAYER OF THE AFFLICTED WHEN HE IS FEEBLE, AND POURS OUT HIS COMPLAINT BEFORE YHWH. O YHWH, hear my prayer, indeed, my cry comes to You.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

“A prayer of the afflicted, when he is overwhelmed, and poureth out before the Lord his complaint.” (102:2) O Lord, hear my prayer, and let my cry come unto thee.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Hear my prayer, Yahweh; hear my cry to you.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

For David himself. Bless the Lord, O my soul: and let all that is within me bless his holy name.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

Lord, please hear my prayer, my cry for help!

BBEBible in Basic English1949

Give ear to my prayer, O Lord, and let my cry come 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.

clauseclauseיְ֭הוָהO.Yahwehclauseverb phrase · verbשִׁמְעָ֣hearהnoun phrase · objectתְפִלָּתִ֑prayerיmyוְ֝andclausenoun phrase · subjectשַׁוְעָתִ֗my.cryיfor.helpprepositional phrase · prepositionalאֵלֶ֥יtoךָyouverbתָבֽוֹאlet.it.come

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 largely agree in their wording, with five of the six words matched. The Dead Sea Scrolls show some restoration, indicating a similar prayer but with some differences in wording.

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

יְ֭הוָה שִׁמְעָ֣ה תְפִלָּתִ֑י וְ֝שַׁוְעָתִ֗י אֵלֶ֥יךָ תָבֽוֹא׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
יְ֭הוָהπροσευξὴשִׁמְעָ֣הπτωξῷתְפִלָּתִ֑יἀκηδιάσῃוְ֝שַׁוְעָתִ֗יἐναντίονאֵלֶ֥יךָἐκξέῃ

5 of the 6 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

[תפלה] לעני כי יעטוף [ולפני] [יהוה] [ישפך] [שיח׳ו]

2 words on the leather — 1 partly restored, 5 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 102:1יהוהO YahwehO Yahwehיהוהשָׁמַעhear !hear !שָׁמַעתְּפִלָּהprayer myprayer myתְּפִלָּהשַׁוְעָהand cry forand cry for helשַׁוְעָהאֶלto youto youאֶלבּוֹאlet it comelet it comeבּוֹאפָּלַלto prayto prayפָּלַלהָיָהto beto beהָיָהשָׁוַעcry out focry out for helשָׁוַענְאֻםutteranceutteranceנְאֻםצָבָאarmyarmyצָבָאקוֹלvoice: souvoice: soundקוֹלקָשַׁבto listento listenקָשַׁבתְּחִנָּהsupplicatisupplicationתְּחִנָּהרִנָּהcrycryרִנָּהתְּפִלָּהprayerprayerתְּפִלָּההֵיכָלtempletempleהֵיכָליִרְמְיָ֫הJeremiahJeremiahיִרְמְיָ֫השֶׁ֫מֶשׁsunsunשֶׁ֫מֶשׁ
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 102:1

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.

O Yahweh hear ! prayer my and cry for help my to you let it come
יְ֭הוָהYah.weh O Yahweh H3068 Noun proper
6,528× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Yehovah is another name for God, often translated as 'the Lord'. It is a national name for God in the Jewish faith. This name is used throughout the Old Testament.
Tyndale gloss
The Lord
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

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

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

יהוה is used with אלהים and suffixes, especially in D

the phrase † אֲנִי יהוה is noteworthy

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

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

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

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3068 Yhovah yeh-ho-vaw'

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

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

see HEBREW for 01961

see HEBREW for 03050

see HEBREW for 03069

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — LORD.

Jehovah = "the existing One"

1) the proper name of the one true God

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

יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — The Lord.

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

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

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

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-proper — Noun proper
HNpt
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
O Yahweh hear ! prayer my and cry for help my to you let it come
שִׁמְעָ֣הshim.'Ah hear ! H8085 Verb qal imperative second person masculine singular · suffix
1,160× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To hear and listen is what this Hebrew word means, often implying attention and obedience. In Exodus and Deuteronomy, it is used when God speaks to the people, and they must listen and obey.
Tyndale gloss
to hear: hear
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word שָׁמַע (shama`) means 'to hear' and encompasses a range of meanings including listening, obeying, and proclaiming. It is built from a primitive root and can imply attention and understanding. The entries highlight various grammatical forms, such as Qal, Niphal, Piel, and Hiphil, indicating different nuances of hearing and obeying. There is no significant disagreement among the lexicons regarding its meanings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שָׁמַע 1152 vb. hear

Qal 1052

subj. pers. hum.

י׳ (God) subj.

Niph. 42 be heard, of voice, sound

be heard of

be regarded, obeyed

= (favourable) hearing was granted to their voice.

Pi. he caused the people to hear

Hiph. 63

of man

י׳ subj.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8085 שָׁמַע hear

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8085 shama` shaw-mah'

a primitive root; to hear intelligently (often with

implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to

tell, etc.):--X attentively, call (gather) together, X

carefully, X certainly, consent, consider, be content,

declare, X diligently, discern, give ear, (cause to, let, make

to) hear(-ken, tell), X indeed, listen, make (a) noise, (be)

obedient, obey, perceive, (make a) proclaim(-ation), publish,

regard, report, shew (forth), (make a) sound, X surely, tell,

understand, whosoever (heareth), witness.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שָׁמַע (sha.ma) — to hear: hear.

: hear

v

1) to hear, listen to, obey

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to hear (perceive by ear)

1a2) to hear of or concerning

1a3) to hear (have power to hear)

1a4) to hear with attention or interest, listen to

1a5) to understand (language)

1a6) to hear (of judicial cases)

1a7) to listen, give heed

1a7a) to consent, agree

1a7b) to grant request

1a8) to listen to, yield to

1a9) to obey, be obedient

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be heard (of voice or sound)

1b2) to be heard of

1b3) to be regarded, be obeyed

1c) (Piel) to cause to hear, call to hear, summon

1d) (Hiphil)

1d1) to cause to hear, tell, proclaim, utter a sound

1d2) to sound aloud (musical term)

1d3) to make proclamation, summon

1d4) to cause to be heard

n m

2) sound

שָׁמַע (sha.ma) — to hear: obey.

: obey

v

1) to hear, listen to, obey

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to hear (perceive by ear)

1a2) to hear of or concerning

1a3) to hear (have power to hear)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HVqv2ms/Sh — Verb qal imperative second person masculine singular · suffix
HVqv2ms/Sh
O Yahweh hear ! prayer my and cry for help my to you let it come
תְפִלָּתִ֑יte.fi.la.Ti prayer my H8605 Noun common feminine singular construct · suffix
77× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this word means prayer or supplication, often used to describe requests to God. It appears in many Psalms, highlighting the importance of prayer in worship.
Amplified meaning
supplication, request to God
Tyndale gloss
prayer
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

תְּפִלָּה (tefillah) means 'prayer' and is derived from the root meaning intercession or supplication. It encompasses various forms of prayer, including hymns and requests for divine attention. The term appears in contexts such as the titles of Psalms, emphasizing its liturgical significance.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

תְּפִלָּה 77 n.f. prayer

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8605 תְּפִלָּה prayer

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8605 tphillah tef-il-law'

from 6419; intercession, supplication; by implication, a

hymn:--prayer.

see HEBREW for 06419

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

תְּפִלָּה (te.phil.lah) — prayer.

1) prayer

1a) prayer

1b) pray a prayer

1c) house of prayer

1d) hear prayer

1e) in Ps titles (of poetic or liturgical prayer)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fs — Noun common feminine singular construct · suffix
HNcfsc/Sp1bs
O Yahweh hear ! prayer my and cry for help my to you let it come
וְ֝שַׁוְעָתִ֗יve.shav.'a.Ti and cry for help my H7775 Conjunction · noun common feminine singular construct · suffix
11× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means to cry out for help, like a loud cry for assistance. It is used to describe a desperate call for aid. In the Bible, it is translated as crying.
Tyndale gloss
cry
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שַׁוְעָה (shav'ah) refers to a cry for help or a hallooing. It is a feminine noun derived from another Hebrew word, שָׁוַע (shav'ah), which also relates to crying. The entries consistently emphasize its meaning as a call for assistance.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[שַׁוְעָה] n.f. cry for help

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7775 [שַׁוְעָה] cry for help

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7775 shav`ah shav-aw'

feminine of 7773; a hallooing:--crying.

see HEBREW for 07773

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שַׁוְעָה (shav.ah) — cry.

cry for help

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HC/Ncfsc/Sp1bs — Conjunction · noun common feminine singular construct · suffix
HC/Ncfsc/Sp1bs
O Yahweh hear ! prayer my and cry for help my to you let it come
אֵלֶ֥יךָ'e.Lei.kha to you H413 Preposition · suffix
5,518× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means 'to' or 'toward', showing direction or movement. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus, to indicate where someone is going. The KJV translates it in various ways, like 'about', 'according to', or 'against'.
Tyndale gloss
to(wards)
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֶל (nearly always followed by Makkeph),

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

Where the limit is actually entered, into

Of direction towards anything

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

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

Metaph. in regard to, concerning, on account of

Of rule or standard according to (rare)

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

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

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

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

. Where the limit is actually entered, into

. Of direction towards anything

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

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

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

. Of rule or standard according to (rare)

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

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

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

413 'el ale

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

a primitive particle; properly, denoting motion towards, but

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

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

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

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

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

with(-in).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֶל (el) — to(wards).

1) to, toward, unto (of motion)

2) into (limit is actually entered)

2a) in among

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

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

5) in addition to, to

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

7) according to (rule or standard)

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

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

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HR/Sp2ms — Preposition · suffix
HR/Sp2ms
O Yahweh hear ! prayer my and cry for help my to you let it come
תָבֽוֹא׃ta.Vo' let it come H935 Verb · Qal · imperfect third person feminine singular
2,573× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This verb means to go or come, and is used in many contexts, such as entering a place or approaching someone, as seen in the book of Genesis. It can also mean to abide or apply, and is translated in various ways in the KJV Bible. This term is related to the name Lebo Hamath.
Tyndale gloss
Lebo
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

בּוֹא (bo) is a Hebrew verb meaning to come or go in, with a wide range of applications including entering, arriving, and bringing in. It can refer to both physical movement and abstract concepts like events coming to pass. The verb appears in various forms, such as Qal (to come), Hiphil (to cause to come), and Hophal (to be brought). There is no significant disagreement among lexicons regarding its meanings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

בּוֹא 2569 vb. come in, come, go in, go

Qal

come in

come (approach, arrive)

go, i.e. walk, associate with

go from speaker, but with limit of motion given

Hiph.

cause to come in, bring in (conduct, lead, obj. persons and animals)

cause to come, bring, bring near, etc. (animate obj.)

Hoph.

be brought in (of pers. and things)

be brought

be introduced, put

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H935 בּוֹא come in, come, go in, go .. come in

. come (approach, arrive)

. go, i.e. walk, associate with

. go from speaker, but with limit of motion given

. . cause to come in, bring in (conduct, lead, obj. persons and animals)

. cause to come, bring, bring near, etc. (animate obj.)

. . be brought in (of pers. and things)

. be brought

. be introduced, put

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

935 bow' bo

a primitive root; to go or come (in a wide variety of

applications):--abide, apply, attain, X be, befall, +

besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, X

certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out,

upon, to pass), depart, X doubtless again, + eat, + employ,

(cause to) enter (in, into, -tering, -trance, -try), be

fallen, fetch, + follow, get, give, go (down, in, to war),

grant, + have, X indeed, (in-)vade, lead, lift (up), mention,

pull in, put, resort, run (down), send, set, X (well) stricken

(in age), X surely, take (in), way.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בּוֹא (bo) — to come (in): come.

: come/go_in

1) to go in, enter, come, go, come in

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to enter, come in

1a2) to come

1a2a) to come with

1a2b) to come upon, fall or light upon, attack (enemy)

1a2c) to come to pass

1a3) to attain to

1a4) to be enumerated

1a5) to go

1b) (Hiphil)

1b1) to lead in

1b2) to carry in

1b3) to bring in, cause to come in, gather, cause to come, bring near, bring against, bring upon

1b4) to bring to pass

1c) (Hophal)

1c1) to be brought, brought in

1c2) to be introduced, be put

לְב֥וֹא (bo) — Lebo-(Hamath).

This name means to go in, enter

Combined with cha.mat (חֲמָת "Hamath" H2574)

בּוֹא (bo) — to come (in): towards.

: towards/entrance

1) to go in, enter, come, go, come in

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to enter, come in

1a2) to come

1a2a) to come with

1a2b) to come upon, fall or light upon, attack (enemy)

1a2c) to come to pass

1a3) to attain to

1a4) to be enumerated

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HVqi3fs — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person feminine singular
HVqi3fs
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

kum: The translation of many Hebrew and Greek words. In the phrase "The Spirit of Yahweh came mightily upon him" (Jud 14:6,19; 15:14; 1Sa 10:10; 11:6; 16:13), the word is tsaleah; Jud 14:6; 15:14 "came mightily," which is the uniform translation of the Revised Version (British and American) (compare Jud 13:25 "to move," i.e. to disturb or stir up). In Jud 6:34; 1Ch 12:18; 2Ch 24:20, it is labhesh, "to clothe"; the Revised Version, margin "The Spirit .... clothed itself with Gideon" and .... "with Zechariah,"…

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

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