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Psalms 104:22 — Word Study

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WLCתִּזְרַ֣ח הַ֭שֶּׁמֶשׁ יֵאָסֵפ֑וּן וְאֶל־ מְ֝עוֹנֹתָ֗ם יִרְבָּצֽוּן׃

BSAThe sunshemesh [the sun; the east or the west] riseszârach [to shine, comes up] and they withdrawʼâçaph [gather themselves, get them away] they lie downrâbats [stretch, rest] inʼêl their densmᵉʻôwnâh [habitations, secret places]

Word
Listen & take awayPsalms 104
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 22 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 (yir.ba.Tzun) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Psalms 104:22quick helps
In a sentenceThe sun rises, prompting creatures to withdraw and rest in their dens.
Who is speakingThe psalmist, reflecting on the natural order and the behavior of animals.
Where we areThis verse is part of a meditation on God's creation and the rhythms of nature.
The hard wordיֵאָסֵפ֑וּן
Take awayThe sun's rising signals a time for animals to retreat and rest.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbזָרַח 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 104:22

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 Order of Creationgenerated

21The young lions roar for their prey and seek their food from God.
22The sun rises, and they withdraw; they lie down in their dens.
23Man goes forth to his work and to his labor until evening.
24How many are Your works, O LORD! In wisdom You have made them all; the earth is full of Your creatures.

Psalms 104:22 describes the daily cycle of the sun and its effect on the animal kingdom. As the sun rises, the creatures of the earth respond by retreating to their dens, illustrating the harmony and order established by God in creation. This verse emphasizes the relationship between the sun's movement and the behavior of wildlife, contributing to the overall theme of God's providence and care for His creation.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Job 24:13–17Then there are those who rebel against the light, not knowing its ways or staying on its paths.
2Nahum 3:17
3John 3:20Everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come into the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 3 references, hung on the phrase they belong to

The sun ariseth, they gather themselves together, and lay them down in their dens.Job 24:13–17 Nahum 3:17 John 3:20

The Key Word זָרַח, tiz.Rachgenerated

The verb זָרַח (zarach) means to rise or shine, particularly in reference to the sun. It conveys the idea of something breaking forth, like light emerging at dawn. The parsing indicates that it is a third person feminine singular imperfect verb, suggesting an ongoing action — the sun is continually rising.

This word is used throughout the Hebrew Bible to depict not only the rising of the sun but also the appearance of symptoms in leprosy, highlighting its broader application. The choice of this verb in this context emphasizes the regular and reliable nature of the sun's rising, a metaphor for divine order.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

In this study, the verse is read in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses rises for זָרַח.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The finite verb תִּזְרַ֣ח (tizrach), it rises, governs the sentence, with two phrases following: a verb phrase describing the action of the animals and a prepositional phrase indicating where they go. The structure emphasizes the sequence of actions as the sun rises and the animals respond.

The order places the sun's action first, establishing it as the catalyst for the animals' behavior, which is a common structure in Hebrew poetry, highlighting the cause-and-effect relationship.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates זָרַח as ἀνέτειλεν (aneteilen), meaning 'to rise' or 'to shine'. This choice aligns closely with the Hebrew meaning, maintaining the focus on the sun's emergence.

The translation of יֵאָסֵפ֑וּן as συνήξθησαν (sunechthēsan) suggests a gathering together, which may imply a more communal aspect of the animals' retreat, differing slightly from the Hebrew's emphasis on individual withdrawal.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Psalms 104:22 tells us that when the sun rises, animals retreat to their dens to rest. This verse illustrates the natural order and the rhythm of life in God's creation, showing how the sun's movement influences the behavior of creatures.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean that the sun rises?

The rising sun symbolizes the start of a new day, bringing light and signaling activity in the natural world.

Why do the animals withdraw?

Animals withdraw to their dens for safety and rest, indicating a natural instinct to seek shelter from the sun's heat and potential predators.

How does this verse reflect God's creation?

This verse reflects the order and harmony in God's creation, showing how the sun's rising affects the behavior of animals, illustrating the interconnectedness of life.

What is the significance of the dens?

The dens represent safety and rest for the animals, highlighting the importance of having a secure place to retreat, which is part of God's provision for His creatures.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. How do I see the rhythms of nature reflected in my own life?
  2. What are some ways I can appreciate the order in God's creation?
  3. In what areas of my life do I need to withdraw and find rest?
  4. How can I be more aware of the natural world around me and its connection to God's design?

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

The early Church Fathers, such as Augustine of Hippo, referenced this verse to discuss the order of creation and the behavior of animals in relation to the sun's rising.

Augustine of HippoExposition on Psalms 104 354–430
"The Sun has arisen, and they get them away together, and lay them down in their dens" [Psalms 104:22].
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 104 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Psalms 104:22 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

The sun ariseth, they gather themselves together,.... Having gone some one way, some another, seeking their prey; but upon the sun's rising gather together in order to return from whence they came,

Read John Gill on Psalms 104 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

The sun ariseth, they gather themselves together, and lay them down in their dens. The sun ariseth, they ... lay them down in their dens. Man goeth forth unto his work ... until the evening.

Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 104 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Or rather, they retire or betake themselves; for the lions do not commonly go in companies to one place, but severally, each to his own den.

Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 104 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Psalms 104:22 The sun ariseth, they gather themselves together, and lay them down in their dens.Ver. 22. They yather themselves toyether] viz. Into their dens and lurking holes, smitten with fear of light and of men. A sweet providence, but little considered.

Read John Trapp on Psalms 104 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(22) Lay them down.—With sunrise all is changed. The Wild animals, with their savage instincts, give way to man with his orderly habits and arranged duties. The curse of labour, on which the account in Genesis dwells, is here entirely out of sight, and instead there appears the “poetry of labour.” And if all sense of the primal curse has disappeared, the later curse, which lies so heavy on the modern generations of overworked men, “Who make perpetual moan, Still from one labour to another thrown,” has not appeared. The day brings only healthy toil, and the evening happy rest.

Read Charles John Ellicott on Psalms 104 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 22. The sun ariseth] The dawn of day is the warning for man to arise and betake himself to his work; and is the warning to them to retire to their dens.

Read AdamClarke on Psalms 104 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

22. they gather themselves together] Better as R.V., they get them away.

Read Cambridge on Psalms 104 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The sun ariseth - A new scene in this endless variety of incidents in a world full of life and beauty. The psalmist sees the light break in the east, and the sun appear above the horizon - and the whole scene is changed.

Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 104 →

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

The sun rises, and they withdraw; they lie down in their dens.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

The sun rises, and they steal away, and lie down in their dens.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

The sun rises, and they withdraw; they lie down in their dens.

NETBNew English Translation2006

When the sun rises, they withdraw and sleep in their dens.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

The sun ariseth, they gather themselves together, and lay them down in their dens.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

The sun ariseth, they get them away, And lay them down in their dens.

RVARevised Version, American1894

The sun ariseth, they get them away, and lay them down in their dens.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

The sun ariseth, they collect, and lay themselves down in their dens.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

When the sunne riseth, they retire, and couche in their dennes.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

The sun ariseth, they retreat, and lay them down in their dens.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

The sun riseth, they are gathered, And in their dens they crouch.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

The sun rises, they are gathered, || And they crouch in their dens.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

The sun ariseth, they withdraw [to their lairs], and lie down in their dens.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

When the sun rises, they retreat and sleep in their dens.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

That he might instruct his princes as himself, and teach his ancients wisdom.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

When the sun rises they return to their dens to rest.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

The sun comes up, and they come together, and go back to their secret places to take their rest.

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.

clauseverbתִּזְרַ֣חit.risesnoun phrase · subjectהַ֭theשֶּׁמֶשׁsunclauseverb phrase · verbיֵאָסֵפ֑וּtheyןgatherוְandclauseprepositional phrase · prepositionalאֶלintonoun phraseמְ֝עוֹנֹתָ֗densםtheirverb phrase · verbיִרְבָּצֽוּtheyןlie.down

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


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

The Masoretic Text states, "תִּזְרַ֣ח הַ֭שֶּׁמֶשׁ יֵאָסֵפ֑וּן וְאֶל־ מְ֝עוֹנֹתָ֗ם יִרְבָּצֽוּן," which translates to, "The sun rises, and they withdraw; they lie down in their dens." The Septuagint aligns closely with the Masoretic Text, matching five of the six words, although the word order and articles differ due to its own grammatical structure. The Dead Sea Scrolls provide various readings, with 4Q86 and 11Q5 containing partial restorations and editorial supplies, while 4Q87 has a similar situation with more extensive restoration. Overall, the primary agreement is in the core phrases, though some words are partially restored or supplied by editors in the Dead Sea Scrolls, indicating minor textual variations but a consistent thematic message across the witnesses.

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

תִּזְרַ֣ח הַ֭שֶּׁמֶשׁ יֵאָסֵפ֑וּן וְאֶל־ מְ֝עוֹנֹתָ֗ם יִרְבָּצֽוּן׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
תִּזְרַ֣חἀνέτειλενהַ֭שֶּׁמֶשׁἥλιοςיֵאָסֵפ֑וּןσυνήξθησανוְאֶל־ἐνיִרְבָּצֽוּן׃κοιτασθήσονται

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 — 4Q86a copy a thousand years older than the Leningrad Codex

[תזרח] [השמש] ויאספו [ואל] מעונ ירבצו

2 words on the leather — 1 partly restored, 3 supplied entire by an editor.

Dead Sea Scrolls — 4Q87a copy a thousand years older than the Leningrad Codex

[תזרח] [השמש] [ויאספו׳ן] [ואל] מעונותי׳הם ירבצו׳ן

nothing on the leather here — 2 partly restored, 4 supplied entire by an editor.

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

[תזרח] השמש ויאספו׳ן ואל מעונותי׳הם [ירבצו׳ן]

4 words on the leather — 2 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 104:22זָרַחit risesit risesזָרַחשֶׁ֫מֶשׁthe sunthe sunשֶׁ֫מֶשׁאָסַףthey gatherthey gather !אָסַףאֶלand intoand intoאֶלמְעֹנָהdens theirdens theirמְעֹנָהרָבַץthey lie dothey lie down !רָבַץבֵּיתHeliopolisHeliopolisבֵּיתמָעוֹןhabitationhabitationמָעוֹןשֶׁ֫מֶשׁsunsunשֶׁ֫מֶשׁשָׁכַםto riseto riseשָׁכַםיָרֵחַmoonmoonיָרֵחַזָרַחto riseto riseזָרַחזָקֵןoldoldזָקֵןקָבַץto gatherto gatherקָבַץפָּלַלto prayto prayפָּלַליִרְמְיָ֫הJeremiahJeremiahיִרְמְיָ֫הנָוֶהpasturepastureנָוֶהעֵ֫דֶרflockflockעֵ֫דֶר
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 104:22

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.

it rises the sun they gather ! and into dens their they lie down !
תִּזְרַ֣חtiz.Rach it rises H2224 Verb · Qal · imperfect third person feminine singular
18× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to rise or shine, like the sun coming up. It's used in the Bible to describe the sun rising or a symptom appearing. In the KJV, it's translated as 'arise' or 'rise up'.
Amplified meaning
to shine, comes up
Tyndale gloss
to rise
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

זָרַח (zarach) is a Hebrew verb meaning to rise or come forth. It conveys the idea of something breaking out or shining, often associated with the rising of the sun. The entries highlight its use in various contexts, including the appearance of symptoms in leprosy.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

זָרַח vb. rise, come forth

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2224 זָרַח rise, come forth

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2224 zarach zaw-rakh'

a primitive root; properly, to irradiate (or shoot forth

beams), i.e. to rise (as the sun); specifically, to appear (as

a symptom of leprosy):--arise, rise (up), as soon as it is up.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

זָרַח (za.rach) — to rise.

1) to rise, come forth, break out, arise, rise up, shine

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to rise

1a2) to come out, appear

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Imperf-3fs — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person feminine singular
HVqi3fs
it rises the sun they gather ! and into dens their they lie down !
הַ֭שֶּׁמֶשׁHa.she.mesh the sun H8121 Particle · noun common both singular absolute
134× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The sun, or shemesh, represents not just the celestial body, but also east or west direction, and even objects that shine like battlements. It is often used to describe the rising or setting of the sun.
Amplified meaning
the sun; the east or the west
Tyndale gloss
sun
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שֶׁ֫מֶשׁ (shemesh) means 'sun' and is derived from a root meaning 'to be brilliant.' It encompasses various meanings, including directions like east and west, and can refer to the sun as an object of worship. Additionally, it can denote shining pinnacles or battlements.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שֶׁ֫מֶשׁ 133 n.f. et m. sun

sun

of direction: toward sun-rise, = East

obj. of worship

other phr.

pinnacle, as glittering, shining

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8121 שֶׁ֫מֶשׁ sun

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8121 shemesh sheh'-mesh

from an unused root meaning to be brilliant; the sun; by

implication, the east; figuratively, a ray, i.e. (arch.) a

notched battlement:--+ east side(-ward), sun ((rising)), +

west(-ward), window. See also 1053.

see HEBREW for 01053

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שֶׁ֫מֶשׁ (she.mesh) — sun.

1) sun

1a) sun

1b) sunrise, sun-rising, east, sun-setting, west (of direction)

1c) sun (as object of illicit worship)

1d) openly, publicly (in other phrases)

1e) pinnacles, battlements, shields (as glittering or shining)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Art | N-cs — Particle · noun common both singular absolute
HTd/Ncbsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Easton's Bible Dictionary

Sun

(Heb. shemesh), first mentioned along with the moon as the two great luminaries of heaven (Gen. 1:14-18). By their motions and influence they were intended to mark and divide times and seasons. The worship of the sun was one of the oldest forms of false religion (Job 31:26,27), and was common among the Egyptians and Chaldeans and other pagan nations. The Jews were warned against this form of idolatry (Deut. 4:19; 17:3; comp. 2 Kings 23:11; Jer. 19:13).

Smith's Bible Dictionary

In the history of "greater light," of the creation the sun is described as "greater light," in contradistinction to the moon, the "lesser light," in conjunction with which it was to serve "for signs and for seasons, and for days, and for years," while its special office was "to rule the day." (Genesis 1:14-16) The "signs" referred to were probably such extraordinary phenomena as eclipses, which were regarded as conveying premonitions of coming events. (Jeremiah 10:2; Matthew 24:29) with Luke 21:25 The joint influence assigned to the sun and moon in deciding the "seasons," both for agricultural operations and for religious festivals, and also in regulating the length and…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

The great luminary of day, which furnishes so many similitudes to the Hebrew poets, as well as those of all nations, Jud 5:31 Ps 84:11 Pr 4:18 Lu 1:78,79 Joh 8:12. For the idolatrous worship of the sun, see BAAL.

Nave's Topical Bible

→ Created Ge 1:14-18; Ps 74:16; 136:7; Jer 31:35

→ Rising and setting of Ec 1:5

→ Diurnal motion of Ps 19:4,6

→ Worship of, forbidden De 4:19; 17:3

→ Worshiped Job 31:26-28; Jer 8:2; Eze 6:4,6; 8:16

→ Kings of Judah dedicate horses to 2Ki 23:11

→ Miracles concerning

it rises the sun they gather ! and into dens their they lie down !
יֵאָסֵפ֑וּןye.'a.se.Fun they gather ! H622 Verb niphal imperfect third person masculine plural · suffix
200× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To gather means to bring people or things together, often for a purpose like worship or community. It can also mean to take away or remove something, like gathering a harvest. This word appears in books like Genesis and Psalms.
Amplified meaning
gather themselves, get them away
Tyndale gloss
to gather
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אָסַף (acaph) is a Hebrew verb meaning to gather or remove. It encompasses a range of actions including collecting, assembling, and withdrawing. The verb appears in various forms, such as Qal, Niphal, Piel, and Hithpael, indicating different nuances like gathering individuals or being gathered. There is no significant disagreement among the lexicons regarding its meanings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אָסַף 209 vb. gather, remove

Qal

gather, collect

gather an individual into company of others

bring up the rear of

gather and take away, remove, withdraw

Niph.

assemble, be gathered, reflex.

pass. of Qal 2

Pass. of Qal 4; be taken away, removed, perish

Pi.

gather harvest

take in, receive into

as subst. rearguard, rearward

Pu. be gathered, of men

Hithp. gather themselves

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H622 אָסַף gather, remove

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

622 'acaph aw-saf'

a primitive root; to gather for any purpose; hence, to

receive, take away, i.e. remove (destroy, leave behind, put

up, restore, etc.):--assemble, bring, consume, destroy,

felch, gather (in, together, up again), X generally, get

(him), lose, put all together, receive, recover (another from

leprosy), (be) rereward, X surely, take (away, into, up), X

utterly, withdraw.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אָסַף (a.saph) — to gather.

1) to gather, receive, remove, gather in

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to gather, collect

1a2) to gather (an individual into company of others)

1a3) to bring up the rear

1a4) to gather and take away, remove, withdraw

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to assemble, be gathered

1b2) (pass of Qal 1a2)

1b2a) to be gathered to one's fathers

1b2b) to be brought in or into (association with others)

1b3) (pass of Qal 1a4)

1b3a) to be taken away, removed, perish

1c) (Piel)

1c1) to gather (harvest)

1c2) to take in, receive into

1c3) rearguard, rearward (subst)

1d) (Pual) to be gathered

1e) (Hithpael) to gather oneself or themselves

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Niphal-Imperf-3mp | Suff — Verb niphal imperfect third person masculine plural · suffix
HVNi3mp/Sn
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

gath'-er ('acaph, qabhats; sullego, sunago):

"Gather," transitive "to bring together," "collect," etc., and intransitive "to come together," "assemble," etc., occurs frequently and represents many Hebrew and Greek words. It is the translation of 'acaph, "to bring together," in Jos 6:9, the King James Version margin "gathering host"; Ps 27:10, the King James Version margin "The Lord will gather me"; compare Nu 12:14,15; Isa 52:12 King James Version margin. The phrases "gather thee unto thy fathers," "gathered unto his fathers," "gathered into the grave," etc., are frequently used for "to die" and "death" (Ge 25:8,17…

it rises the sun they gather ! and into dens their they lie down !
וְאֶל־ve.'el- and into H413 Conjunction · preposition
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
Conj | Prep — Conjunction · preposition
HC/R
it rises the sun they gather ! and into dens their they lie down !
מְ֝עוֹנֹתָ֗םme.'o.no.Tam dens their H4585 Noun common feminine plural construct · suffix
9× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to a place where someone or something lives, like a den for animals or a dwelling place for God, and can also mean a refuge or asylum.
Amplified meaning
habitations, secret places
Tyndale gloss
habitation
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מְעֹנָה (meonah) refers to a den or lair, particularly of wild beasts, and can also signify a dwelling or habitation, including a figurative sense of God as a refuge for His people. It is derived from the related word מָעוֹן (maon), which shares similar meanings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מְעֹנָה n.f. id.

[p.bj.ac]den, lair of wild beasts

fig. the ancient God is a dwelling-place (for his people)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4585 מְעֹנָה id. . den, lair of wild beasts

. fig. the ancient God is a dwelling-place (for his people)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4585 m`ownah meh-o-naw'

or msonah {meh-o-naw'}; feminine of 4583, and meaning the

same:--den, habitation, (dwelling) place, refuge.

see HEBREW for 04583

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מְעֹנָה (me.o.nah) — habitation.

1) dwelling, habitation, refuge

1a) den, lair (of animals)

1b) dwelling-place (of God) (fig.)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-cp | Suff — Noun common feminine plural construct · suffix
HNcfpc/Sp3mp
it rises the sun they gather ! and into dens their they lie down !
יִרְבָּצֽוּן׃yir.ba.Tzun they lie down ! H7257 Verb qal imperfect third person masculine plural · suffix
30× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To stretch or lie down, like an animal, and can imply resting or lurking, as in Exodus 23:5.
Amplified meaning
stretch, rest
Tyndale gloss
to stretch
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

רָבַץ (rabats) is a Hebrew verb meaning to stretch out or lie down. It encompasses actions like reclining, brooding, or lurking, and can imply causing something to lie down as well. The entries indicate its use in various forms, including Qal and Hiphil, but do not provide specific verse references.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

רָבַץ vb. stretch oneself out, lie down, lie stretched out

Qal lie down, lie

Hiph. cause to lie down, or lie

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7257 רָבַץ stretch oneself out, lie down, lie stretched out

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7257 rabats raw-bats'

a primitive root; to crouch (on all four legs folded, like a

recumbent animal); be implication, to recline, repose, brood,

lurk, imbed:--crouch (down), fall down, make a fold, lay,

(cause to, make to) lie (down), make to rest, sit.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

רָבַץ (ra.vats) — to stretch.

1) to stretch oneself out, lie down, lie stretched out

1a) (Qal) to lie down, lie

1b)(Hiphil) to cause to lie down

1b1) laying (stones)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Imperf-3mp | Suff — Verb qal imperfect third person masculine plural · suffix
HVqi3mp/Sn
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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