Psalms 105:30 — Word Study
WLCשָׁרַ֣ץ אַרְצָ֣ם צְפַרְדְּעִ֑ים בְּ֝חַדְרֵ֗י מַלְכֵיהֶֽם׃
BSATheir landʼerets [teeming with life, abundant] teemedshârats■ [swarmed, brought forth] with frogstsᵉphardêaʻ [marsh-leaping animals] even in their royalmelek [king's, sovereign] chamberscheder [private rooms, innermost parts]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| שָׁרַ֣ץ | it swarmed | Verb, Qal, perfect third person masculine singular |
| אַרְצָ֣ם | land their | Noun common feminine singular construct, suffix |
| צְפַרְדְּעִ֑ים | frogs | Noun common, masculine plural absolute |
| בְּ֝חַדְרֵ֗י | in [the] rooms of | Preposition, noun common masculine plural construct |
| מַלְכֵיהֶֽם׃ | kings their | Noun common masculine plural construct, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Their land teemed with frogs, even in their royal chambers. |
| KJV | Their land brought forth frogs in abundance, in the chambers of their kings. |
| ASV | Their land swarmed with frogs In the chambers of their kings. |
| YLT | Teemed hath their land [with] frogs, In the inner chambers of their kings. |
| WEB | Their land swarmed with frogs, even in the rooms of their kings. |
| BBE | Their land was full of frogs, even in the rooms of the king. |
The translations agree on the essential meaning here, emphasizing the overwhelming presence of frogs in the land.
The sentence is structured around a main clause with a prepositional phrase providing additional detail about where the action occurs.
6 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbשָׁרַץ
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
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 105:30
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 Judgments on Egyptgenerated
Psalm 105:30 describes one of the plagues inflicted upon Egypt, where the land was overrun with frogs. This event serves as a reminder of God's might and the consequences of disobedience. The psalmist recalls how the frogs invaded even the most private spaces of the Egyptian rulers, emphasizing the extent of this divine judgment.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalm 78:45 | He sent swarms of flies that devoured them, and frogs that devastated them. |
| 2 | Exodus 8:3–14 | The Nile will teem with frogs, and they will come into your palace and up to your bedroom and onto your bed, into the houses of your officials and your people, and into your ovens and kneading bowls. |
| 3 | Revelation 16:13–14 | And I saw three unclean spirits that looked like frogs coming out of the mouths of the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 3 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — שָׁרַץ, sha.Ratzgenerated
The verb שָׁרַץ (sha.Ratz) means to swarm or abound, indicating a significant multiplication of living creatures. It conveys a sense of overwhelming presence, as seen in contexts where life flourishes abundantly, such as in Genesis 8:17.
This word is in the perfect tense, third person masculine singular, indicating a completed action: the land has already swarmed with frogs. The usage here highlights the drastic nature of the plague, showcasing God's power to command creation.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
In the Berean Standard Bible, the verse is rendered as teemed with frogs, which aligns with the KJV and ASV.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb of the verse is שָׁרַץ, it swarmed, which governs the subject אַרְצָם (their land) and is followed by a prepositional phrase indicating where the swarming occurred: בְּחַדְרֵי מַלְכֵיהֶם (in their royal chambers).
The structure emphasizes the action of swarming and its consequences, with the verb leading the statement and the details unfolding thereafter.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates שָׁרַץ as ἐχῆρψεν, which suggests a similar meaning of swarming or overflowing. This choice reflects a continuity in the understanding of the abundance of frogs.
The Greek word choice shows a direct correspondence to the Hebrew, maintaining the theme of overwhelming presence.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Psalm 105:30 tells us that Egypt was filled with frogs, even in the private rooms of their kings. This event illustrates God's power and serves as a reminder of the consequences faced by those who oppose Him.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It signifies an overwhelming abundance of frogs, highlighting the severity of the plague sent by God.
Frogs were common in Egypt, and their sudden abundance would have disrupted daily life and symbolized God's judgment.
It underscores that no place, not even the most private or powerful, is beyond God's reach and authority.
This verse is part of a series of plagues that demonstrate God's power over Egypt and the futility of opposing Him.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What can we learn about God's power from the plagues described in this psalm?
- How does the presence of frogs in royal chambers illustrate the extent of God's judgment?
- In what ways do we see God's authority over creation in our lives today?
- How can we respond to the reminders of God's power and authority in our world?
Commentators on this verse — 6 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Psalms 105:30 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleTheir land brought forth frogs in abundance,.... The land of Egypt, the moist, marshy, and watery places of it, the banks of the river Nile, out of the slime and mud of which these sprung; or, as
Read John Gill on Psalms 105 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryHe turned their waters into blood, and slew their fish. -The three plagues omitted out of the ten are the murrain of the cattle and the boils, the fifth and the sixth, and the darkness, the ninth;
Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 105 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleTheir land; their country; for otherwise they were produced by their rivers, . In the chambers; which entered into the chambers. Of their kings; of Pharaoh and his sons, and his chief nobles and governors of provinces under him; for such persons are oft called kings in Scripture, ,12 Isa 19:2.
Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 105 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsPsalms 105:30 Their land brought forth frogs in abundance, in the chambers of their kings.Ver. 30. The land brought forth frogs in abundance] Like grass that grows upon the ground, or as fishes spawned in the sea, as the word signifieth, Genesis 1:20. Some think they were not common frogs, sed venenatas et horrendas, quales sunt rubetae et bufones, but toads and lizards; crocodiles, some think, came out of the river, and destroyed people (Aben-Ezra). In the chambers of their kings] Regis et regulorum inter medias enses, medias custodias; this was the finger of God; as it was likewise when a town in Spain was overturned by conies, and another in Thessaly by moles, a city in France undone by…
Read John Trapp on Psalms 105 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges30. Their land &c.] R.V. Their land swarmed with frogs. The second plague, Exodus 8:1 ff.
Read Cambridge on Psalms 105 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible29-36. For an explanation of these verses see notes on Psalms 78:44-51
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Psalms 105 →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
Their land teemed with frogs, even in their royal chambers.
Their land swarmed with frogs, even in the rooms of their kings.
Their land teemed with frogs, even in their royal chambers.
Their land was overrun by frogs, which even got into the rooms of their kings.
Tyndale line
Their land brought forth frogs in abundance, in the chambers of their kings.
Their land swarmed with frogs In the chambers of their kings.
Their land swarmed with frogs, in the chambers of their kings.
Their land brought forth frogs in abundance, in the chambers of their kings.
Their land brought foorth frogs, euen in their Kings chambers.
Strictly literal
Their land swarmed with frogs, — in the chambers of their kings.
Teemed hath their land [with] frogs, In the inner chambers of their kings.
Their land has teemed [with] frogs, || In the inner chambers of their kings.
Their land brought forth frogs in abundance, in the very chambers of their kings.
Their land swarmed with frogs, even in the rooms of their rulers.
From the Latin
Then Phinees stood up, and pacified him: and the slaughter ceased.
Simplified
Then he sent a plague of frogs across the land that even entered the bedrooms of their rulers.
Their land was full of frogs, even in the rooms of the king.
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.
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 on the wording of this verse, with all five words matched. The Dead Sea Scrolls contain partial restorations but align closely with the Masoretic Text, confirming the consistency of this passage across traditions.
שָׁרַ֣ץ אַרְצָ֣ם צְפַרְדְּעִ֑ים בְּ֝חַדְרֵ֗י מַלְכֵיהֶֽם׃
5 of the 5 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.
שרצה ארצ׳ם [צפרדעים] [בחדרי] [מלכי׳הם]
1 word on the leather — 1 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.
Lexicons — every word in Psalms 105:30
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.
שָׁרַץ (sharats) is a Hebrew verb meaning to swarm or teem, indicating a sense of abundance or multiplication. It is derived from a primitive root that conveys the idea of wriggling or moving. The entries emphasize its usage in contexts where creatures or things abound, but do not provide specific verse references.
שָׁרַץ vb. swarm, teem
base
H8317 שָׁרַץ swarm, teem
8317 sharats shaw-rats'
a primitive root; to wriggle, i.e. (by implication) swarm or
abound:--breed (bring forth, increase) abundantly (in
abundance), creep, move.
שָׁרַץ (sha.rats) — to swarm.
1) (Qal) to teem, swarm, multiply
1a) to swarm, teem
1b2) to swarm
V-Qal-Perf-3ms — Verb · Qal · perfect third person masculine singularHVqp3ms
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.
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
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.
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.
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
N-cs | Suff — Noun common feminine singular construct · suffixHNcfsc/Sp3mp
צְפַרְדֵּעַ (tsphardea`) means 'frogs' and is derived from a root related to swamps or marshes. The term specifically refers to the amphibians known as frogs, with no significant variation in meaning across the entries. It appears in contexts related to plagues in the Old Testament.
צְפַרְדֵּעַ n.f. frogs
base
H6854 צְפַרְדֵּעַ frogs
6854 tsphardea` tsef-ar-day'-ah
from 6852 and a word elsewhere unused meaning a swamp; a
marsh-leaper, i.e. frog:--frog.
see HEBREW for 06852
צְפַרְדֵּעַ (tse.phar.de.a) — frog.
frogs
N-fp — Noun common · masculine plural absoluteHNcmpa
חֶ֫דֶר (cheder) refers to a chamber or room, often indicating an inner or innermost space. It is derived from a related term and encompasses meanings like parlour and inward part. The entries consistently highlight its literal use in contexts referring to physical spaces.
חֶ֫דֶר n.m. chamber, room
base
H2315 חֶ֫דֶר chamber, room
2315 cheder kheh'-der
from 2314; an apartment (usually literal):--((bed)
inner)chamber, innermost(-ward) part, parlour, + south, X
within.
see HEBREW for 02314
חֶ֫דֶר (che.der) — chamber.
chamber, room, parlour, innermost or inward part, within
Prep | N-mp — Preposition · noun common masculine plural constructHR/Ncmpc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
The Hebrew word מֶ֫לֶךְ (*melek*) means 'king.' It is derived from a root that suggests royalty. The term appears in various contexts, including references to specific kings and locations, such as the 'King's Highway' in Numbers 20:17 and the 'King's Valley' in Genesis 14:17. The lexicons note its Aramaic equivalent and mention its use in the context of individuals like Hammelech in Jeremiah.
מֶ֫לֶךְ 2513 n.m. king
base
H4428 מֶ֫לֶךְ king
4428 melek meh'-lek
from 4427; a king:--king, royal.
see HEBREW for 04427
מֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) — king.
1) king
Aramaic equivalent: me.lekh (מֶ֫לֶךְ "king" H4430)
הַמֶּלֶךְ (me.lekh) — `the king`.
'the king' or a name, Hammelech in KJV of Jer.36.26; 38.6- a man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at Jer.36.26;
father of: Jerahmeel (H3396I) and Malchijah (H4441H); also translated "the king";
§ A man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at Jer.36.26;
father of: Jerahmeel (H3396I) and Malchijah (H4441H); also translated "the king";
מֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) — King's.
King's (Highway) (Num.20.17)
מֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) — King's.
Another name of she.lach (שֶׁ֫לַח "Shelah" H7975A)
מֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) — Milcom.
Another name of mo.lekh (מֹ֫לֶךְ "Molech" H4432)
מֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) — King's.
King's (Valley) (Gen.14.17)
N-mp | Suff — Noun common masculine plural construct · suffixHNcmpc/Sp3mp