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Psalms 104:5 — Word Study

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WLCיָֽסַד־ אֶ֭רֶץ עַל־ מְכוֹנֶ֑יהָ בַּל־ תִּ֝מּ֗וֹט עוֹלָ֥ם וָעֶֽד׃

BSAHe setyâçad [laid, founded, established] the earthʼerets [land, ground, territory] onʻal its foundationsmâkôwn [base, fixed place] neverbal [not, under no circumstances] to be movedmôwṭ [shaken, wavered, disturbed]

Word
Listen & take awayPsalms 104
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 5 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 (va.'Ed) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Psalms 104:5quick helps
In a sentenceThe verse describes how God established the earth securely, ensuring it remains stable.
Who is speakingThe psalmist, reflecting on God's creation and order.
Where we areIn a poetic section celebrating God's sovereignty over creation.
The hard wordיָֽסַד־
Take awayThe earth is firmly established by God and will not be shaken.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbיָסַד 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 104:5

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 — God's Sovereignty in Creationgenerated

4He makes the winds His messengers, flames of fire His servants.
5He set the earth on its foundations, never to be moved.
6You covered it with the deep like a garment; the waters stood above the mountains.
7At Your rebuke the waters fled; at the sound of Your thunder they hurried away—

Psalm 104:5 reflects on God's powerful act of establishing the earth, emphasizing His control over creation. This verse is part of a larger passage that describes the natural world and God's governance of it, illustrating His majesty and authority. The psalmist praises God for His creative work, which includes the stability of the earth and its enduring nature, as seen in verses surrounding this one.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Psalm 24:2For He has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters.
2Psalm 33:9For He spoke, and it came to be; He commanded, and it stood firm.
3Psalm 136:6He spread out the earth upon the waters. His loving devotion endures forever.
4Job 26:7He stretches out the north over empty space; He hangs the earth upon nothing.
5Job 38:4–7Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 11 references, hung on the phrase they belong to

Who laid the foundations of the earthPsalm 24:2 Psalm 33:9 Psalm 136:6 Job 26:7 Job 38:4–7

The Key Word יָֽסַד, ya.sad-generated

The verb יָסַד (ya.sad) means to establish or found, with connotations of fixing and laying a foundation. It conveys the idea of creating something stable and secure, not just in a physical sense but also in a figurative context of establishing order.

This particular form is a perfect tense, indicating a completed action that has lasting effects. The use of this verb in the context of the earth suggests a divine act of creation, reinforcing the idea that the earth is firmly set in place by God's will.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses the word set to convey the action of establishing the earth.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main verb יָֽסַד governs the entire verse, indicating the action of establishing. The structure includes a prepositional phrase indicating the location of the establishment and a negative clause that emphasizes the permanence of this action.

The phrase עַל־ מְכוֹנֶ֑יהָ functions as a prepositional phrase, specifying where the earth is established, while the negative clause בַּל־ תִּ֝מּ֗וֹט highlights that it will not be shaken, reinforcing the stability of God's creation.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates יָסַד as ἐθεμελίωσεν, which carries a similar meaning of laying a foundation. This choice reflects a focus on the act of establishing in a secure manner, consistent with the Hebrew intent.

The Greek term emphasizes the foundational aspect of God's creation, aligning with the original Hebrew meaning.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Psalm 104:5 tells us that God established the earth on its foundations, ensuring it remains stable and will not be moved. This verse emphasizes God's control over creation and the permanence of the earth He created.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean that God established the earth?

It means that God created the earth with a firm foundation, ensuring its stability and permanence.

Why is the stability of the earth important in this verse?

The stability of the earth reflects God's sovereignty and power over creation, indicating that He has set it in place according to His will.

How does this verse relate to God's creation in general?

This verse is part of a larger celebration of God's creative acts, highlighting His authority and the order He brings to the world.

What does 'never to be moved' imply about the earth?

It implies that the earth is secure and stable, designed to endure as part of God's creation.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what ways do I see God's hand in the stability of the world around me?
  2. How can I reflect on the permanence of God's creation in my daily life?
  3. What does it mean for me to trust in God's establishment of order in my life?
  4. How can I appreciate the beauty and stability of the earth as part of God's creation?

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

Early Christian writers, such as Augustine of Hippo, reference this verse to illustrate God's foundational work in creation and the Church.

Augustine of HippoExposition on Psalms 104 354–430
"He has founded the earth upon its firmness" [Psalms 104:5]. He has founded the Church upon the firmness of the Church.
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 104 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Psalms 104:5 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

Who laid the foundations of the earth,.... Or "founded the earth upon its bases" (l); which some take to be the waters, according to Psalms 24:2, others the centre of gravity in it; others the

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

Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever. Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed forever.

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

He hath founded or established the earth upon its own basis or foundations, i.e. upon itself, or its own weight, whereby it stands as fast and unmovable, as if it were built upon the strongest foundations imaginable; which is a stupendous work of Divine power and wisdom. That it should not be removed out of its proper place, which is the lowest part of the world. For ever; as long as the world continues.

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

Psalms 104:5 [Who] laid the foundations of the earth, [that] it should not be removed for ever.Ver. 5. Who laid the foundations of the earth] Heb. He hath founded the earth upon her bases. See Psalms 24:2 Job 38:4; Job 38:6. That it should not be removed for ever] Neither can it be, by reason of its own weightiness whereby it remaineth immovable in the centre of the universe. Say it should move any way, it must move towards heaven, and so ascend, which is utterly against the nature of heavy bodies.

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

(5–18) The work of the third day of Creation in its two great divisions. (1) The separation of the land and water (Psalms 104:5-9); (2) the clothing of the earth with grass, herbs, and trees (Psalms 104:10-18). The poet, however, ranges beyond the Mosaic account, and already peoples the earth with the living creatures of the fifth day. “It is not a picture of still life like that of Genesis, but a living, moving, animated scene” (Perowne).

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

Verse 5. יסד ארץ על מכוניה yasad erets al mechonepha, בל תמוט עולם ועד bal tammot olam vaed. "Laying the earth upon its foundations, That it should not be shaken for evermore." This image Bishop Lowth thinks evidently taken from the tabernacle, which was so laid upon its foundations that nothing could move it, and the dispensation to which it was attached, till the end purposed by the secret counsel of God was accomplished: and thus the earth is established, till the end of its creation shall be fully answered; and then it and its works shall be burnt up. On the above ground, the stability of the sanctuary and the stability of the earth are sometimes mentioned in the same words.

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

5–9. The formation of the earth, and the separation of land and water: the work of the third day, Genesis 1:9-10; cp. Job 38:8-11.

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

Who laid the foundations of the earth - Referring still to the creation of the earth.

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

He set the earth on its foundations, never to be moved.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

He laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be moved forever.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

He set the earth on its foundations, never to be moved.

NETBNew English Translation2006

He established the earth on its foundations; it will never be upended.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

Who laid the foundations of the earth, That it should not be moved for ever.

RVARevised Version, American1894

Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be moved for ever.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

He set the earth vpon her foundations, so that it shall neuer moue.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

He laid the earth upon its foundations: it shall not be removed for ever.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

He hath founded earth on its bases, It is not moved to the age and for ever.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

He has founded earth on its bases, || It is not moved for all time and forever.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

Who hath founded the earth upon her bases, that she should not be moved to all eternity.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

He laid the foundations of the earth, and it will never be moved.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

Remember his marvellous works which he hath done; his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

You set the earth on its foundations; it will never be shaken.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

He has made the earth strong on its bases, so that it may not be moved for ever and ever;

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.

clauseverbיָֽסַדhe.establishedobjectאֶ֭רֶץ[the].earthprepositional phrase · prepositionalעַלonnoun phraseמְכוֹנֶ֑יfoundationsהָitsclauseadverbialבַּלnotverbתִּ֝מּ֗וֹטit.will.be.shakennoun phrase · adverbialעוֹלָ֥םforeverוָandעֶֽדever

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, with all words matched. The Dead Sea Scrolls show some variations, with certain words supplied by editors due to damage, but the core meaning remains intact across witnesses.

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

יָֽסַד־ אֶ֭רֶץ עַל־ מְכוֹנֶ֑יהָ בַּל־ תִּ֝מּ֗וֹט עוֹלָ֥ם וָעֶֽד׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
יָֽסַד־ἐθεμελίωσενאֶ֭רֶץγῆνעַל־ἐπὶמְכוֹנֶ֑יהָτὴνבַּל־οὐתִּ֝מּ֗וֹטκλιθήσεταιעוֹלָ֥םαἰῶναוָעֶֽד׃αἰῶνος

8 of the 8 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 — 4Q93a copy a thousand years older than the Leningrad Codex

ישד ארץ על מכוני׳ה בל תמוט לעלם [ועד]

7 words on the leather — 1 supplied entire by an editor.

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

[יסד] [ארץ] [על] [מכוני׳ה] [בל] [תמוט] [עולם] [ועד]

nothing on the leather here — 8 supplied entire by an editor.

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

יוסד ארץ [על] [מכוני׳ה] [בל] תמוט

6 words of the verse are on this fragment — 2 partly restored, 3 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 104:5יָסַדhe establishe establishedיָסַדאֶ֫רֶץ[the] earth[the] earthאֶ֫רֶץעַלononעַלמָכוֹןfoundationsfoundations itsמָכוֹןבַּלnotnotבַּלמוֹטit will be it will be shakמוֹטעוֹלָםforeverforeverעוֹלָםעַדand everand everעַדכּוּןto establito establish: pכּוּןבָּלָהto become to become oldבָּלָהעָלַםto concealto concealעָלַםעָדָהto advanceto advanceעָדָהעַלheightheightעַליָקָרpreciouspreciousיָקָרהֵיכָלtempletempleהֵיכָלכְּנַ֫עַןCanaanCanaanכְּנַ֫עַןמִצְרַ֫יִם(Sea of) E(Sea of) Egyptמִצְרַ֫יִםכִּפֶּרto atoneto atoneכִּפֶּרכִּסֵּאthronethroneכִּסֵּאזְבֻלelevationelevationזְבֻלסָלַחto forgiveto forgiveסָלַחמוֹטto shaketo shakeמוֹטבַּלnotnotבַּלפָּרַרto breakto breakפָּרַרעַדperpetuityperpetuityעַדדּוֹרgenerationgenerationדּוֹר
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 104:5

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.

he established [the] earth on foundations its not it will be shaken forever and ever
יָֽסַד־ya.sad- he established H3245 Verb · Qal · perfect third person masculine singular
43× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To found or establish something is the meaning of this Hebrew word. It also means to sit down together and consult, as in a meeting or council.
Amplified meaning
laid, founded, established
Tyndale gloss
to found
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יָסַד (yacad) means to establish or found, with nuances of fixing and laying a foundation. It can refer to both literal and figurative settings, such as appointing or consulting. The verb appears in various forms, including Qal (to found), Niphal (to be founded), and Piel (to establish). The entries do not indicate any significant disagreement among lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יָסַד vb. establish, found, fix

Qal found, establish

Niph.

fix or seat themselves close together, sit in conclave

be founded

Pi.

found

establish

Pu. be founded, be laid, of a foundation

Hoph. be founded

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3245 יָסַד establish, found, fix

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3245 yacad yaw-sad'

a primitive root; to set (literally or figuratively);

intensively, to found; reflexively, to sit down together, i.e.

settle, consult:--appoint, take counsel, establish, (lay the,

lay for a) found(-ation), instruct, lay, ordain, set, X sure.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יָסַד (ya.sad) — to found.

1) to found, fix, establish, lay foundation

1a) (Qal) to found, establish, begin

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to fix or seat themselves close together, sit in conclave

1b2) to be founded

1c) (Piel)

1c1) to found

1c2) to establish, appoint, ordain

1d) (Pual) to be founded, be laid

1e) (Hophal) to be founded

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Perf-3ms — Verb · Qal · perfect third person masculine singular
HVqp3ms
he established [the] earth on foundations its not it will be shaken forever and ever
אֶ֭רֶץ'E.retz [the] earth H776 Noun common · feminine singular absolute
2,504× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The land or earth refers to the soil or ground, and can also mean a country, territory, or region. In the Bible, it is used to describe the earth and its inhabitants, and is often translated as 'land' or 'country'.
Amplified meaning
land, ground, territory
Tyndale gloss
land: soil
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אֶ֫רֶץ (erets) is a feminine noun meaning 'earth' or 'land.' It encompasses various meanings, including the whole earth, specific territories like Canaan, and even inhabitants of the land. It can refer to soil, ground, or regions, and is used in phrases related to distance and the living. There is a note on the plural form אֲרָצוֹת, which mainly appears in later texts to denote multiple lands.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֶ֫רֶץ n. f. & (seld.) m. earth, land

earth, whole earth (opp. to a part)

earth, opp. to heaven, sky

earth = inhabitants of earth

land =

country, territory

district, region

trial territory

piece of ground

specif. land of Canaan, or Israel

= inhabitants of land

used even of Shᵉʼôl

ground, surface of ground

soil, as productive

אֶרֶץ in phrases

people of the land

in measurements of distance

the country of the plain, level or plain country

land of the living

end(s) of the earth

pl. אֲרָצוֹת is almost wholly late; it denotes lands, countries, often in contrast to Canaan, lands of the nations, etc.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H776 אֶ֫רֶץ n. f. & (seld.) m. earth, land . . earth, whole earth (opp. to a part)

. earth, opp. to heaven, sky

. earth = inhabitants of earth

. land = . country, territory

. district, region

. trial territory

. piece of ground

. specif. land of Canaan, or Israel

. = inhabitants of land

. used even of Shᵉʼôl

. . ground, surface of ground

. soil, as productive

. אֶרֶץ in phrases . people of the land

. in measurements of distance

. the country of the plain, level or plain country

. land of the living

. end(s) of the earth

. pl. אֲרָצוֹת is almost wholly late; it denotes lands, countries, often in contrast to Canaan, lands of the nations, etc.

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

776 'erets eh'-rets

from an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth

(at large, or partitively a land):--X common, country, earth,

field, ground, land, X natins, way, + wilderness, world.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֶ֫רֶץ (e.rets) — land: country/planet.

: country/field

1) land, earth

1a) earth

1a1) whole earth (as opposed to a part)

1a2) earth (as opposed to heaven)

1a3) earth (inhabitants)

1b) land

1b1) country, territory

1b2) district, region

1b3) tribal territory

1b4) piece of ground

1b5) land of Canaan, Israel

1b6) inhabitants of land

1b7) Sheol, land without return, (under) world

1b8) city (-state)

1c) ground, surface of the earth

1c1) ground

1c2) soil

1d) (in phrases)

1d1) people of the land

1d2) space or distance of country (in measurements of distance)

1d3) level or plain country

1d4) land of the living

1d5) end(s) of the earth

1e) (almost wholly late in usage)

1e1) lands, countries

1e1a) often in contrast to Canaan

אֶ֫רֶץ (e.rets) — land: soil.

: soil

1) land, earth

1a) earth

1a1) whole earth (as opposed to a part)

1a2) earth (as opposed to heaven)

1a3) earth (inhabitants)

1b) land

1b1) country, territory

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-cs — Noun common · feminine singular absolute
HNcfsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

urth ('adhamah, 'erets, 'aphar; ge, oikoumene):

In a hilly limestone country like Palestine, the small amount of iron oxide in the rocks tends to be oxidized, and thereby to give a prevailing reddish color to the soil. This is especially the case on relatively barren hills where there is little organic matter present to prevent reddening and give a more blackish tinge.

'Adhamah (compare 'adham, "a man," and Adam) is from 'adham, "to be red," and is used in the senses: "earth" (Ex 20:24), "land" (Ps 105:35), a "land" or country (Isa 14:2), "ground" (Ge 4:11), "the earth" (Ge 7:4).

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Earth

(1.) In the sense of soil or ground, the translation of the word adamah’. In Gen. 9:20 “husbandman” is literally “man of the ground or earth.” Altars were to be built of earth (Ex. 20:24). Naaman asked for two mules’ burden of earth (2 Kings 5:17), under the superstitious notion that Jehovah, like the gods of the heathen, could be acceptably worshipped only on his own soil.

(2). As the rendering of ’erets, it means the whole world (Gen. 1:2); the land as opposed to the sea (1:10). Erets also denotes a country (21:32); a plot of ground (23:15); the ground on which a man stands (33:3); the inhabitants of the earth (6:1; 11:1); all the world except Israel (

Smith's Bible Dictionary

The term is used in two widely-different senses: (1) for the material of which the earth’s surface is composed; (2) as the name of the planet on which man dwells. The Hebrew language discriminates between these two by the use of separate terms, adamah for the former, erets for the latter. Adamah is the earth in the sense of soil or ground, particularly as being susceptible of cultivation. (Genesis 2:7) Erets is applied in a more or less extended sense-- (1) to the whole world, (Genesis 1:1) (2) to land as opposed to sea, (Genesis 1:10) (3) to a country, (Genesis 21:32) (4) to a plot of ground, (Genesis 23:15) and (5) to…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

In both Hebrew and Greek the same word is used to denote the earth as a whole, and a particular land. Only the context can enable us to decide in which of these senses it is to be taken in a given passage.

Thus in Mt 27:45 we might, so far as the original word is concerned, render either "there was darkness over all the land," or over all the earth. The expression "all the earth" is sometimes used hyperbolically for a large portion of it, Ezr 1:2. The word is used of the whole world, etc. In a moral sense, earthly is opposed to what is heavenly, spiritual and holy, Joh 3:31 1Co 15:47 Col 3:2

he established [the] earth on foundations its not it will be shaken forever and ever
עַל־'al- on H5921 Preposition
5,774× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means on or above something, like a physical object or a situation. It can also imply a sense of responsibility or accountability, as in being on behalf of someone.
Tyndale gloss
upon
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word עַל (*al*) is a preposition meaning 'upon' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including 'on account of,' 'beside,' 'above,' and 'against.' It can indicate physical placement, emotional burdens, or duties imposed on a person. The entries also note its use in idiomatic expressions and with verbs of motion. There is a mention of its function as a conjunction in certain contexts.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as

base

עַל, עָ֑ל

subst. height

As prep. upon, and hence on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against

Upon, of the substratum upon which an object in any way rests, or on which an action is performed

of clothing, etc., which any one wears

With verbs of covering or protecting, even though the cover or veil be not over or above the thing covered, but around or before it

Of what rests heavily upon a person, or is a burden to him

Of a duty, payment, care, etc., imposed upon a person, or devolving on him

על is used idiom. to give pathos to the expression of an emotion, by emphasizing the person who is its subject, and who, as it were, feels it acting upon him

חָיָה עַל to live upon (as upon a foundation or support)

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Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5921a עַל, עָ֑ל . As prep. upon, and hence on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against . Upon, of the substratum upon which an object in any way rests, or on which an action is performed . — . of clothing, etc., which any one wears

. With verbs of covering or protecting, even though the cover or veil be not over or above the thing covered, but around or before it

. Of what rests heavily upon a person, or is a burden to him

. Of a duty, payment, care, etc., imposed upon a person, or devolving on him

. על is used idiom. to give pathos to the expression of an emotion, by emphasizing the person who is its subject, and who, as it were, feels it acting upon him

. חָיָה עַל to live upon (as upon a foundation or support)

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Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5921 `al al

properly, the same as 5920 used as a preposition (in the

singular or plural often with prefix, or as conjunction with a

particle following); above, over, upon, or against (yet always

in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great

variety of applications (as follow):--above, according

to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, X as, at, because

of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, X both

and, by (reason of), X had the charge of, concerning for, in

(that), (forth, out) of, (from) (off), (up-)on, over, than,

through(-out), to, touching, X with.

see HEBREW for 05920

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עַל (al) — upon.

prep

1) upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against

1a) upon, on the ground of, on the basis of, on account of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of, as regards

1b) above, beyond, over (of excess)

1c) above, over (of elevation or pre-eminence)

1d) upon, to, over to, unto, in addition to, together with, with (of addition)

1e) over (of suspension or extension)

1f) by, adjoining, next, at, over, around (of contiguity or proximity)

1g) down upon, upon, on, from, up upon, up to, towards, over towards, to, against (with verbs of motion)

1h) to (as a dative)

[כִּי] עַל [כֵּן] ([ki] al [ken]) — as.

conj

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep — Preposition
HR
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Easton's Bible Dictionary

On

Light; the sun, (Gen. 41:45, 50), the great seat of sun-worship, called also Bethshemesh (Jer. 43:13) and Aven (Ezek. 30:17), stood on the east bank of the Nile, a few miles north of Memphis, and near Cairo, in the north-east. The Vulgate and the LXX. Versions have “Heliopolis” (“city of the sun”) instead of On in Genesis and of Aven in Ezekiel. The “city of destruction” Isaiah speaks of (19:18, marg. “of Heres;” Heb. ‘Ir-ha-heres, which some MSS. read Ir-ha-heres, i.e., “city of the sun”) may be the name given to On, the prophecy being that the time will come when that city which was known as the “city of the sun-god” shall become the “city of destruction” of the sun-god, i.e., when idolatry shall cease, and the worship…

Smith's Bible Dictionary

(abode or city of the sun), a town of lower Egypt, called BETH-SHEMESH in (Jeremiah 43:13) On is better known under its Greek name Heliopolis. It was situated on the east side of the Pelusiac branch of the Nile, just below the point of the Delta, and about twenty miles northeast of Memphis. The chief object of worship at Heliopolis was the sun, whose temple, described by Strabo, is now only represented by the single beautiful obelisk, of red granite so feet 2 inches high above the pedestal which has stood for more than 4000 years, having been erected by Usirtesen, the second king of the twelfth dynasty. Heliopolis was anciently famous for its learning, and Eudoxus and Plato studied under its priests. The first mention of this place in the Bible is in the history of Joseph, to whom we read Pharaoh gave "to wife Asenath the daughter…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

See HELIOPOLIS.

Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary

pain; force; iniquity

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
he established [the] earth on foundations its not it will be shaken forever and ever
מְכוֹנֶ֑יהָme.kho.Nei.ha foundations its H4349 Noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
17× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means a foundation or a fixed place where someone lives. It appears in various books, including the Psalms and Proverbs, to describe a solid base or a home. This concept is important in understanding God's presence in our lives.
Amplified meaning
base, fixed place
Tyndale gloss
foundation
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מָכוֹן (makown) refers to a fixed or established place, often understood as a foundation or base. The term emphasizes stability and can denote a habitation or dwelling. It is primarily used in a poetic context to convey the idea of a secure location.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מָכוֹן n.m. fixed or established place, foundation (chiefly poet.)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4349 מָכוֹן fixed established place,foundation

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4349 makown maw-kone'

from 3559; properly, a fixture, i.e. a basis; generally a

place, especially as an abode:--foundation, habitation,

(dwelling-, settled) place.

see HEBREW for 03559

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מָכוֹן (ma.khon) — foundation.

1) fixed or established place, foundation

1a) fixed place

1b) foundation

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-mp | Suff — Noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
HNcmpc/Sp3fs
he established [the] earth on foundations its not it will be shaken forever and ever
בַּל־bal- not H1077 Particle
73× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means not or nothing, often used to show something is absent or non-existent. It appears in various forms, like lest or neither. The KJV Bible translates it in different ways, including not or none.
Amplified meaning
not, under no circumstances
Tyndale gloss
not
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

בַּל (bal) is an adverb meaning 'not' or 'none.' It conveys a sense of negation, indicating absence or failure. The word is derived from a root that implies nothingness and can also be used in contexts like 'lest' or 'neither.' The entries consistently emphasize its function as a negation in various forms.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

בַּל 69 adv. not

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1077 בַּל not

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1077 bal bal

from 1086; properly, a failure; by implication nothing;

usually (adverb) not at all; also lest:--lest, neither, no,

none (that...), not (any), nothing.

see HEBREW for 01086

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בַּל (bal) — not.

not, hardly, else

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Part — Particle
HTn
he established [the] earth on foundations its not it will be shaken forever and ever
תִּ֝מּ֗וֹטti.Mot it will be shaken H4131 Verb · Niphal · imperfect third person feminine singular
38× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to shake or waver, like something that's unstable. It appears in books like Psalms and Proverbs, to describe things that are falling apart or unstable. The KJV translates it as 'be carried' or 'fall'.
Amplified meaning
shaken, wavered, disturbed
Tyndale gloss
to shake
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מוֹט (mot) is a Hebrew verb meaning to totter, shake, or slip. It has various forms, including Qal (to totter), Niphal (to be shaken), Hiphil (to dislodge), and Hithpael (to be greatly shaken). The entries indicate a range of meanings related to instability and movement, but do not specify any particular Old Testament verses.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[מוֹט] vb. totter, shake, slip

Qal totter, slip

Niph. be shaken, moved, overthrown

Hiph. dislodge, let fall, drop

Hithpo‛l. be greatly shaken

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4131 [מוֹט] totter, shake, slip

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4131 mowt mote

a primitive root; to waver; by implication , to slip, shake,

fall:--be carried, cast, be out of course, be fallen in

decay, X exceedingly, fall(-ing down), be (re-)moved, be

ready, shake, slide, slip.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מוֹט (mot) — to shake.

1) to totter, shake, slip

1a) (Qal) to totter, shake, slip

1b) (Niphal) to be shaken, be moved, be overthrown

1c) (Hiphil) to dislodge, let fall, drop

1d) (Hithpael) to be greatly shaken

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Niphal-Imperf-3fs — Verb · Niphal · imperfect third person feminine singular
HVNi3fs
he established [the] earth on foundations its not it will be shaken forever and ever
עוֹלָ֥םo.Lam forever H5769 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
438× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means forever or always, describing something that lasts an eternity. It is used in the Bible to describe God's eternal nature and his lasting promises.
Tyndale gloss
forever: antiquity
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עוֹלָם (owlam) refers to concepts of long duration, antiquity, and futurity, encompassing meanings like eternity and perpetual existence. It is derived from a root meaning 'concealed' or 'the vanishing point.' The term is used to describe both ancient times and an indefinite future, indicating continuity and everlastingness.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עוֹלָם 439 n.m. long duration, antiquity, futurity

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5769 עוֹלָם long duration, antiquity, futurity

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5769 `owlam o-lawm'

or lolam {o-lawm'}; from 5956; properly, concealed, i.e. the

vanishing point; generally, time out of mind (past or future),

i.e. (practically) eternity; frequentatively, adverbial

(especially with prepositional prefix) always:--alway(-s),

ancient (time), any more, continuance, eternal, (for,

(n-))ever(-lasting, -more, of old), lasting, long (time), (of)

old (time), perpetual, at any time, (beginning of the) world

(+ without end). Compare 5331, 5703.

see HEBREW for 05956

see HEBREW for 05331

see HEBREW for 05703

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עוֹלָם (o.lam) — forever: enduring.

: enduring/eternal

1) long duration, antiquity, futurity, for ever, ever, everlasting, evermore, perpetual, old, ancient, world

1a) ancient time, long time (of past)

1b) (of future)

1b1) for ever, always

1b2) continuous existence, perpetual

1b3) everlasting, indefinite or unending future, eternity

עוֹלָם (o.lam) — Everlasting.

This name means long duration, everlasting, perpetual

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

עוֹלָם (o.lam) — forever: any time.

: any_time

1) long duration, antiquity, futurity, for ever, ever, everlasting, evermore, perpetual, old, ancient, world

1a) ancient time, long time (of past)

1b) (of future)

1b1) for ever, always

1b2) continuous existence, perpetual

1b3) everlasting, indefinite or unending future, eternity

עוֹלָם (o.lam) — forever: antiquity.

: old/ancient

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Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HNcmsa — Noun common · masculine singular absolute
HNcmsa
he established [the] earth on foundations its not it will be shaken forever and ever
וָעֶֽד׃va.'Ed and ever H5703 Conjunction · noun common masculine singular absolute
49× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means forever or eternity, describing something that has no end, like God's existence. It's used in the Bible to talk about things that last forever. In Genesis, it describes God's eternal nature.
Tyndale gloss
perpetuity
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עַד, transliterated as ad, refers to the concept of perpetuity, encompassing both past and future time. It signifies a duration that can imply eternity or continuous existence. The term is associated with ancient mountains in the context of the past and is used to denote the idea of forever in relation to the future, particularly in reference to God's existence.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עַד and וָעֶ֑ד (so alw.) n.m. perpetuity (= advancing time)

of past time: ancient mountains

of future time, לָעַד for ever

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5703 עַד, וָעֶ֑ד perpetuity . of past time: ancient mountains

. of future time, לָעַד for ever

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5703 `ad ad

from 5710; properly, a (peremptory) terminus, i.e. (by

implication) duration, in the sense of advance or perpetuity

(substantially as a noun, either with or without a

preposition):--eternity, ever(- lasting, -more), old,

perpetually, + world without end.

see HEBREW for 05710

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עַד (ad) — perpetuity.

1) perpetuity, for ever, continuing future

1a) ancient (of past time)

1b) for ever (of future time)

1b1) of continuous existence

1c) for ever (of God's existence)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HC/Ncmsa — Conjunction · noun common masculine singular absolute
HC/Ncmsa
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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