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Psalms 116:18 — Word Study

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WLCנְ֭דָרַי לַיהוָ֣ה אֲשַׁלֵּ֑ם נֶגְדָה־ נָּ֝֗א לְכָל־ עַמּֽוֹ׃

BSAI will fulfillshâlam [pay, complete] my vowsneder [promises, solemn oaths] to the LORDYᵉhôvâh [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] in the presenceneged [before, in front of] of allkôl [everything, every person] His peopleʻam [nation]

Word
Listen & take awayPsalms 116
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 18 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 (a.Mo) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Psalms 116:18quick helps
In a sentenceThe psalmist declares his intent to fulfill his vows to the LORD in front of the gathered community.
Who is speakingThe psalmist, expressing his commitment to God.
Where we areThis verse is part of a reflection on gratitude and commitment to God.
The hard wordנְ֭דָרַי
Take awayThe act of fulfilling vows is a public declaration of faith.
7 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbשָׁלֵם 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 116:18

Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.

Context — A Commitment to the LORDgenerated

16Truly, O LORD, I am Your servant; I am Your servant, the son of Your maidservant; You have broken my bonds.
17I will offer to You a sacrifice of thanksgiving and call on the name of the LORD.
18I will fulfill my vows to the LORD in the presence of all His people,
19in the courts of the LORD’s house, in your midst, O Jerusalem. Hallelujah!

Psalm 116:18 expresses the psalmist's determination to fulfill his vows to the LORD, showcasing a personal commitment that is made publicly among the people of Israel. This verse emphasizes the importance of keeping promises made to God, as reflected in the previous verses where the psalmist acknowledges God's deliverance and expresses gratitude.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Psalm 116:14I will fulfill my vows to the LORD in the presence of all His people.
2Psalm 22:25My praise for You resounds in the great assembly; I will fulfill my vows before those who fear You.
3Psalm 76:11Make and fulfill your vows to the LORD your God; let all the neighboring lands bring tribute to Him who is to be feared.
4Ecclesiastes 5:5It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 4 references, hung on the phrase they belong to

I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people,Psalm 116:14 Psalm 22:25 Psalm 76:11 Ecclesiastes 5:5

The Key Word נְ֭דָרַי, Ne.da.raigenerated

The noun נֶ֫דֶר (neder) means 'vow' and refers to a promise made to God. It can also denote a specific thing that has been promised, such as an offering. The word is derived from a root associated with making a promise, appearing in contexts involving commitments or votive offerings.

In this verse, נְ֭דָרַי is in the construct form, indicating that the vows belong to the speaker. The plural form signifies multiple promises, reflecting the seriousness and depth of the psalmist's commitment to fulfill them.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses fulfill for the Hebrew word אֲשַׁלֵּ֑ם.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The finite verb אֲשַׁלֵּ֑ם, I will pay, governs the main clause, indicating the speaker's future action. The structure includes a noun phrase for the object (my vows) and several prepositional phrases that specify the direction of the action (to the LORD, before all His people).

The prepositional phrases emphasize the public nature of the vow fulfillment, highlighting the communal aspect of the speaker's commitment.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates נְ֭דָרַי as μου (mou), meaning 'my'. This choice reflects a personal ownership of the vows, aligning with the Hebrew meaning.

The Greek word ἀποδώσω (apodōsō) for אֲשַׁלֵּ֑ם indicates a commitment to repay or fulfill, maintaining the sense of obligation found in the Hebrew.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Psalm 116:18 expresses the psalmist's commitment to fulfill his vows to the LORD in front of all His people. This shows the importance of keeping promises made to God and the public acknowledgment of such commitments.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean to fulfill vows to the LORD?

Fulfilling vows to the LORD means carrying out promises made to God, which can include offerings or commitments to serve Him.

Why is it significant to do this in front of His people?

Doing this in front of His people emphasizes accountability and the communal aspect of faith, showing that one's commitment to God is not just personal but also a witness to others.

What kinds of vows might someone make?

Vows can range from promises of service, offerings, or commitments to live in a certain way, often made during times of distress or gratitude.

How does this verse relate to the theme of thanksgiving?

This verse relates to thanksgiving as it follows the psalmist's expressions of gratitude for God's deliverance, linking the fulfillment of vows with a heart of thankfulness.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. What vows have I made to God, and how can I ensure I fulfill them?
  2. Why is it important to publicly acknowledge commitments made to God?
  3. How can I encourage others in my community to keep their promises to God?
  4. In what ways can I express my gratitude to God for His faithfulness in my life?

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

The early church fathers referenced this verse to discuss the importance of fulfilling vows to God and the nature of true commitment.

Augustine of HippoExposition on Psalms 116 354–430
"I will pay my vows unto the Lord" [Psalms 116:18]. What vows will you pay? What victims have you vowed? What burnt-offerings,
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 116 →

Commentators on this verse — 7 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Psalms 116:18 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

I will pay my vows unto the Lord,.... [See comments on Psalms 116:14].

Read John Gill on Psalms 116 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people, I will pay my vows ... - (cf. Psalms 116:14.)

Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 116 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

And as I said before, so I now repeat my promise, for the greater assurance, and to lay the stricter obligation upon myself.

Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 116 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Psalms 116:18 I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people,Ver. 18. I will pay] See Psalms 116:14. Now] Vows were to be paid without either diminution or delays, Deuteronomy 23:21; Deuteronomy 23:23. And herein Jacob (who is by the Hebrews called Votorum Pater, the father of vows) was too short; for it was long ere he went up to Bethel. In the presence of all his people] For good example’ sake. This also was prince-like, Ezekiel 46:10, the king’ s seat in the sanctuary was open, that all might see him there, 2 Kings 11:14; 2 Kings 23:3.

Read John Trapp on Psalms 116 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

18. As in Psalms 22:25 stress is laid upon the public confession of gratitude. Cp. Psalms 66:13.

Read Cambridge on Psalms 116 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

I will pay my vows ... - See Psalms 116:14.

Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 116 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

17, 18. These verses clearly show that the occasion of the psalm was one of public thanksgiving and sacrifice after a great deliverance.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Psalms 116 →

The verse in English, compared — 16 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

I will fulfill my vows to the LORD in the presence of all His people,

WEBWorld English Bible2000

I will pay my vows to Yahweh, yes, in the presence of all his people,

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

I will fulfill my vows to the LORD in the presence of all His people,

NETBNew English Translation2006

I will fulfill my vows to the Lord before all his people,

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people,

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

I will pay my vows unto Jehovah, Yea, in the presence of all his people,

RVARevised Version, American1894

I will pay my vows unto the LORD, yea, in the presence of all his people.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

I will pay my vows to the LORD now in the presence of all his people,

GNVGeneva Bible1599

I will pay my vowes vnto the Lord, euen nowe in the presence of all his people,

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

I will perform my vows unto Jehovah, yea, before all his people,

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

My vows to Jehovah let me complete, I pray you, before all His people,

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

Let me complete my vows to YHWH, || Now, before all His people,

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

My vows will I pay unto the Lord, yea, in the presence of all his people,

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

I will fulfill my vows to Yahweh in the presence of all his people,

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

I will keep my promises to the Lord so everyone can see,

BBEBible in Basic English1949

I will make the offerings of my oath, even before all his people;

Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.


The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank

This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.

clausenoun phrase · objectנְ֭דָרַvowsיmyprepositional phrase · prepositionalלַtoיהוָ֣הYahwehverbאֲשַׁלֵּ֑םI.will.payadverbialנָּ֝֗אpleaseprepositional phrase · prepositionalprepositional phraseנֶגְדָ(to)הbeforeprepositional phraseלְ(to)noun phraseכָלallnoun phraseעַמּֽpeopleוֹhis

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


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

The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint largely agree, with six out of seven words matched. The Dead Sea Scrolls show some damage, with two words intact and five restored by an editor, indicating a strong textual consistency.

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

נְ֭דָרַי לַיהוָ֣ה אֲשַׁלֵּ֑ם נֶגְדָה־ נָּ֝֗א לְכָל־ עַמּֽוֹ׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
נְ֭דָרַיμουלַיהוָ֣הκυρίῳאֲשַׁלֵּ֑םἀποδώσωנֶגְדָה־ἐναντίονלְכָל־παντὸςעַמּֽוֹ׃αὐτοῦ

6 of the 7 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.

Dead Sea Scrolls — 4Q84a copy a thousand years older than the Leningrad Codex

[נדר׳י] [ליהוה] אשלם [נגד׳ה] [נא] [לכל] עמ׳ו

2 words on the leather — 5 supplied entire by an editor.

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


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

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

Psalms 116:18נֶ֫דֶרvows myvows myנֶ֫דֶריהוהto Yahwehto YahwehיהוהשָׁלֵםI will payI will payשָׁלֵםנֶ֫גֶדbeforebeforeנֶ֫גֶדנָאpleasepleaseנָאכֹּלallallכֹּלעַםpeople hispeople hisעַםנָדַרto vowto vowנָדַרהָיָהto beto beהָיָהנָגַדto tellto tellנָגַדכָּלַלto perfectto perfectכָּלַלעָמַםto darkento darkenעָמַםאִסָּרinjunctioninjunctionאִסָּרנְאֻםutteranceutteranceנְאֻםצָבָאarmyarmyצָבָאנֶ֫דֶרvowvowנֶ֫דֶרבְּלִיַּ֫עַלBelial: woBelial: worthleבְּלִיַּ֫עַלחֵןfavorfavorחֵןעַתָּ֫הnownowעַתָּ֫העֵדָהcongregaticongregationעֵדָהעֲבֹדָהserviceserviceעֲבֹדָה
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 116:18

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.

vows my to Yahweh I will pay before please all people his
נְ֭דָרַיNe.da.rai vows my H5088 Noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
60× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A vow is a promise made to God, like the one Jephthah made in Judges 11:30-31. It can also refer to the thing promised, such as an offering. Vows are recorded in the Bible as important commitments.
Amplified meaning
promises, solemn oaths
Tyndale gloss
vow
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

נֶ֫דֶר (neder) means 'vow' and refers to a promise made to God. It can also denote a specific thing that has been promised. The word is derived from a root associated with making a promise, and it appears in contexts involving commitments or votive offerings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

נֶ֫דֶר, נֵ֫דֶר n.m. vow

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5088 נֶ֫דֶר, נֵ֫דֶר vow

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5088 neder neh'-der

or neder {nay'-der}; from 5087; a promise (to God); also

(concretely) a thing promised:--vow((-ed)).

see HEBREW for 05087

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נֶ֫דֶר (ne.der) — vow.

vow, votive offering

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-mp | Suff — Noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
HNcmpc/Sp1bs
vows my to Yahweh I will pay before please all people his
לַיהוָ֣הla.Yah.weh to Yahweh H3068 Preposition · noun proper
6,528× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Yehovah is another name for God, often translated as 'the Lord'. It is a national name for God in the Jewish faith. This name is used throughout the Old Testament.
Amplified meaning
Yehovah, The covenant Name of God
Tyndale gloss
The Lord
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

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

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

יהוה is used with אלהים and suffixes, especially in D

the phrase † אֲנִי יהוה is noteworthy

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

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

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

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3068 Yhovah yeh-ho-vaw'

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

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

see HEBREW for 01961

see HEBREW for 03050

see HEBREW for 03069

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — LORD.

Jehovah = "the existing One"

1) the proper name of the one true God

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

יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — The Lord.

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

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

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

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-proper — Preposition · noun proper
HR/Npt
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
vows my to Yahweh I will pay before please all people his
אֲשַׁלֵּ֑ם'a.sha.Lem I will pay H7999 Verb · Piel · imperfect first person common singular
116× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This verb means to be at peace or to make peace with someone. It is used in the Bible to describe a state of safety or friendship. In the KJV, it is translated as 'make amends' or 'be at peace'.
Amplified meaning
pay, complete
Tyndale gloss
to complete
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שָׁלֵם (shalam) is a Hebrew root meaning to be complete or sound, covering a range of meanings from finishing or restoring to making peace. It can refer to being uninjured, completing a task, or making recompense. The verb also has a denominative form indicating a covenant of peace, suggesting relationships of harmony and safety.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[שָׁלֵם] 103 vb. be complete, sound

Qal

be complete, finished, ended

be sound, uninjured

Pi.

complete, finish, temple

make safe

make whole or good, restore

make good, i.e. pay, vows

requite, recompense, reward

Pu.

be performed, of vow

be repaid, requited

Hiph.

complete, perform

make an end of

base

[שָׁלַם] vb. denom. be in covenant of peace

Qal be at peace

Pu. Pt. one in covt. of peace

Hiph.

make peace with

cause to be at peace

Hoph. live at peace with

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7999a שָׁלֵם be complete, sound .. be complete, finished, ended

. be sound, uninjured

. . complete, finish, temple

. make safe

. make whole or good, restore

. make good, i.e. pay, vows

. requite, recompense, reward

. . be performed, of vow

. be repaid, requited

. . complete, perform

. make an end of

H7999b [שָׁלַם] vb. denom. be in covenant of peace .be at peace

. Pt. one in covt. of peace

. . make peace with

. cause to be at peace

. live at peace with

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7999 shalam shaw-lam'

a primitive root; to be safe (in mind, body or estate);

figuratively, to be (causatively, make) completed; by

implication, to be friendly; by extension, to reciprocate (in

various applications):--make amends, (make an) end, finish,

full, give again, make good, (re-)pay (again), (make) (to) (be

at) peace(-able), that is perfect, perform, (make)

prosper(-ous), recompense, render, requite, make restitution,

restore, reward, X surely.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שָׁלֵם (sa.lem) — to complete.

1) to be complete, be sound

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to be complete, be finished, be ended

1a2) to be sound, be uninjured

1b) (Piel)

1b1) to complete, finish

1b2) to make safe

1b3) to make whole or good, restore, make compensation

1b4) to make good, pay

1b5) to requite, recompense, reward

1c) (Pual)

1c1) to be performed

1c2) to be repaid, be requited

1d) (Hiphil)

1d1) to complete, perform

1d2) to make an end of

Aramaic equivalent: she.lam (שְׁלֵם "be complete" H8000)

שָׁלַם (sha.lam) — to ally.

1) to be in a covenant of peace, be at peace

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to be at peace

1a2) peaceful one (participle)

1b) (Pual) one in covenant of peace (participle)

1c) (Hiphil)

1c1) to make peace with

1c2) to cause to be at peace

1d) (Hophal) to live in peace

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Piel-Imperf-1cs — Verb · Piel · imperfect first person common singular
HVpi1cs
vows my to Yahweh I will pay before please all people his
נֶגְדָה־neg.da.h- before H5048 Suffix
151× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Before or in front of something, as in Genesis 18:22 where Abraham stands before the Lord. It describes a position of being face to face or in someone's presence.
Amplified meaning
before, in front of
Tyndale gloss
before
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

נֶ֫גֶד (neged) refers to something that is conspicuous or in front, functioning as both a noun and an adverb. It denotes a position opposite or before someone, often used to indicate presence or visibility. The word can imply a counterpart or mate, and it appears in contexts emphasizing sight or proximity.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

נֶ֫גֶד 151 subst. what is conspicuous or in front, always as adv. or prep. in front of, in sight of, opposite to

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5048 נֶ֫גֶד subst. what is conspicuous or in front, always as adv. or prep. in front of, in sight of, opposite to

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5048 neged neh'-ghed

from 5046; a front, i.e. part opposite; specifically a

counterpart, or mate; usually (adverbial, especially with

preposition) over against or before:--about, (over) against,

X aloof, X far (off), X from, over, presence, X other side,

sight, X to view.

see HEBREW for 05046

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נֶ֫גֶד (ne.ged) — before.

subst

1) what is conspicuous, what is in front of

adv

2) in front of, straight forward, before, in sight of

3) in front of oneself, straightforward

4) before your face, in your view or purpose

with prep

5) what is in front of, corresponding to

6) in front of, before

7) in the sight or presence of

8) parallel to

9) over, for

10) in front, opposite

11) at a distance

prep

12) from the front of, away from

13) from before the eyes of, opposite to, at a distance from

14) from before, in front of

15) as far as the front of

Aramaic equivalent: ne.ged (נֶ֫גֶד "before" H5049)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | Suff — Suffix
HAcmsa/Sd
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

be-for': The translation of a great variety of Hebrew and Greek words. "Haran died before (the English Revised Version "in the presence of," literally "before the face of") his father Terah" (Ge 11:28). To be "before" God is to enjoy His favor (Ps 31:22). "The Syrians before" (Isa 9:12 the Revised Version, margin "on the east," as "behind," owing to the position of Canaan, relative to Syria, implies the west).

vows my to Yahweh I will pay before please all people his
נָּ֝֗אNa' please H4994 Particle
404× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word 'nâ'' is used to express a polite request, like 'please' or 'I pray', and is often added to verbs to make them more polite. In the Bible, it appears in passages like Ezra's reading of the law to the people.
Tyndale gloss
please
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

נָא (na') is a Hebrew particle used primarily for entreaty or exhortation, meaning 'I pray,' 'now,' or 'please.' It often appears attached to verbs in the imperative or future forms, and can also modify interjections, adverbs, or conjunctions. The entries consistently emphasize its role in expressing a plea or request.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

נָא part. of entreaty or exhortation, I (we) pray, now (enclitic)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4994 נָא I (we) pray, now (enclitic)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4994 na' naw

a primitive particle of incitement and entreaty, which may

usually be rendered: "I pray," "now," or "then"; added mostly

to verbs (in the Imperative or Future), or to interjections,

occasionally to an adverb or conjunction:--I beseech (pray)

thee (you), go to, now, oh.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נָא (na) — please.

1) I (we) pray, now, please

1a) used in entreaty or exhortation

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HTj — Particle
HTj
vows my to Yahweh I will pay before please all people his
לְכָל־le.khol all H3605 Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct
5,415× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for 'all' or 'everything' is used throughout the Bible, like in Genesis 1:31, where God sees all He has made as very good. It encompasses the entirety of something, whether people, things, or situations.
Amplified meaning
everything, every person
Tyndale gloss
all
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כֹּל (kol) means 'all' or 'the whole.' It can refer to totality, including every person or thing, and is often used with a following genitive to specify what is included. The term can also denote a broader sense of everything in existence or all circumstances of life. The lexicons do not show significant disagreement on its meanings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כֹּל once כּוֹל n.m. the whole, all

with foll. gen. (as usually) the whole of, to be rendered, however, often in our idiom, to avoid stiffness, any or every

Absolutely:

without the art., all things, all

with the art. הַכֹּל

where the sense is limited by the context to things (or persons) just mentioned

in a wider sense, all, whether of all mankind or of all living things, the universe, or of all the circumstances of life (chiefly late)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3605 כֹּל once כּוֹל the whole, all . with foll. gen. (as usually) the whole of, to be rendered, however, often in our idiom, to avoid stiffness, any or every

. Absolutely: . without the art., all things, all

. with the art. הַכֹּל . where the sense is limited by the context to things (or persons) just mentioned

. in a wider sense, all, whether of all mankind or of all living things, the universe, or of all the circumstances of life (chiefly late)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3605 kol kole

or (Jer. 33:8) kowl {kole}; from 3634; properly, the whole;

hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a

plural sense):--(in) all (manner, (ye)), altogether, any

(manner), enough, every (one, place, thing), howsoever, as

many as, (no-)thing, ought, whatsoever, (the) whole,

whoso(-ever).

see HEBREW for 03634

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כֹּל (kol) — all.

1) all, the whole

1a) all, the whole of

1b) any, each, every, anything

1c) totality, everything

Aramaic equivalent: kol (כֹּל "all" H3606)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct
HR/Ncmsc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ol: Used in various combinations, and with different meanings.

(1) All along, "Weeping all along as he went" (Jer 41:6), i.e. throughout the whole way he went, feigning equal concern with the men from Shiloh, etc., for the destruction of the Temple, so as to put them off their guard.

(2) All in all, "That God may be all in all" (1Co 15:28, Greek: panta en pasin, "all things in all (persons and) things"). "The universe, with all it comprises, will wholly answer to God's will and reflect His mind" (Dummelow).

(3) All one, "It is all one" (Job 9:22), "it makes no difference whether I live or die."

(4) At all, "If thy father miss me at all" (1Sa 20:6), "in any way," "in the least."

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
vows my to Yahweh I will pay before please all people his
עַמּֽוֹ׃a.Mo people his H5971 Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
1,873× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A people or nation is what this Hebrew word represents, like the nation of Israel in Exodus 33:13. It can also mean a tribe, troops, or attendants, and is used to describe a group of people gathered together. The word is often used to refer to the people of God.
Amplified meaning
nation
Tyndale gloss
Amaw
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עַם (am) primarily means 'people' or 'nation,' referring to a collective group, often in the context of tribes such as those of Israel. It can also denote kinsmen or compatriots. The term appears in various contexts, including military and familial references. There is a mention of a specific individual named Ammi in Song of Solomon 6:12.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עַם, עָם 1810 n.m. people

a people, nation

= smaller units

= common people

people in gen., persons

phrases

base

[עַם] n.[m.] kinsman (on father's side)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5971a עַם, עָם people H5971b עַם kinsman (on father's side)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5971 `am am

from 6004; a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a

tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or

attendants; figuratively, a flock:--folk, men, nation,

people.

see HEBREW for 06004

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עַם (am) — people.

: people/nation

1) nation, people

1a) people, nation

1b) persons, members of one's people, compatriots, country-men

עַם (am) — kinsman.

kinsman, kindred

עַם (am) — Ammi.

A man living at the time of United Monarchy, only mentioned at Sng.6.12

§ kinsman, kindred

עַם (am) — People's (Gate).

§ kinsman, kindred

עַם (am) — (Ibleam)-am.

Combined with yiv.le.am (יִבְלְעָם "Ibleam" H2991)

§ kinsman, kindred

עַם (am) — Amaw.

This name means nation, people

עַם (am) — people: soldiers.

: soldiers/army

1) nation, people

1a) people, nation

1b) persons, members of one's people, compatriots, country-men

עַם (am) — people: creatures.

: creatures

1) nation, people

1a) people, nation

1b) persons, members of one's people, compatriots, country-men

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
HNcmsc/Sp3ms
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

hiz: Used often in the King James Version with reference to a neuter or inanimate thing, or to a lower animal (Ge 1:11, "after his kind"; Le 1:16, "pluck away his crop"; Ac 12:10, "of his own accord"; 1Co 15:38, "his own body"), etc. the Revised Version (British and American) substitutes "its."

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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