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Psalms 119:1 — Word Study

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WLCאַשְׁרֵ֥י תְמִֽימֵי־ דָ֑רֶךְ הַֽ֝הֹלְכִ֗ים בְּתוֹרַ֥ת יְהוָֽה׃

BSABlessedʼesher [truly happy, fortunate] [are] those whose wayderek [path, journey, manner of life] is blamelesstâmîym [unblemished, perfect, without defect] who walkhâlak [follow, obey, live according to] in the Lawtôwrâh [instruction, teachings, commandments] of the LORDYᵉhôvâh [Yehovah, the supreme God]

Word
Listen & take awayPsalms 119
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 1 opens the chapter.
Hebrew ↓ Download MP3 The Masoretic text of this chapter, read aloud. Read by Abraham Shmuelof, courtesy of Audio Scriptures International. Chapter divisions by the Academy of Ancient Languages..
Say the word Each Hebrew word carries its transliteration (Yah.weh) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Psalms 119:1quick helps
In a sentenceThe psalmist declares the happiness of those who lead a blameless life by following God's law.
Who is speakingThe psalmist, reflecting on the blessedness of a righteous life.
Where we areThis verse is part of a meditation on the characteristics of the righteous.
The hard wordתָּמִים
Take awayLiving according to God's law leads to true happiness.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause 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 119:1

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

Context — The Characteristics of the Righteousgenerated

1Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the Law of the LORD.
2Blessed are those who keep His testimonies and seek Him with all their heart.
3They do no iniquity; they walk in His ways.
4You have ordained Your precepts, that we should keep them diligently.

Psalm 119:1 introduces a theme of blessedness that runs throughout this psalm. It highlights the joy and fulfillment found in living a life aligned with God's commandments. The following verses continue to elaborate on the blessings of those who seek and keep God's testimonies, emphasizing the importance of integrity in one's journey of faith.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Psalm 1:1–3Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, or set foot on the path of sinners, or sit in the seat of mockers.
2Psalm 32:1–2Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.
3Psalm 112:1Hallelujah! Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who greatly delights in His commandments.
4Psalm 128:1Blessed are all who fear the LORD, who walk in His ways!
5Matthew 5:3–12“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

The Key Word אַשְׁרֵ֥י, 'ash.Reigenerated

The word אַשְׁרֵי ('ashrei) expresses a state of happiness or blessedness. It is derived from the root אֶשֶׁר (H0835), which conveys the idea of being fortunate or blissful. This term is often used in a plural form to emphasize collective joy and is frequently found in the context of divine favor.

In this verse, it serves as an interjection, indicating how truly happy those are who live a blameless life. The use of this word sets the tone for the psalm, inviting the reader to consider the deep joy associated with following God's ways.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main verb of the verse is הֹלְכִ֗ים, those who walk, which governs the structure. The subject is introduced with the predicate אַשְׁרֵ֥י, blessed, creating a clear declaration about the nature of the blessed.

The sentence is structured with the subject followed by a clause describing the manner of life, emphasizing the connection between being blessed and living in accordance with God's law.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates אַשְׁרֵי as μακάριοι (makarioi), which also conveys the sense of blessedness. This choice aligns with the Hebrew meaning but may reflect a broader interpretation of happiness.

For הַֽ֝הֹלְכִ֗ים, the Greek πορευόμενοι (poreuomenoi) indicates a continuous action of walking, suggesting an ongoing commitment to following the law.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Psalm 119:1 tells us that those who live a blameless life and follow God's law are truly happy. This verse introduces a theme of joy that continues throughout the psalm, emphasizing the blessings that come from seeking and keeping God's commandments.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean to be 'blameless' in this context?

To be blameless means to live with integrity and moral uprightness, aligning one's actions with God's teachings.

How can following God's law lead to happiness?

Following God's law provides guidance for living a life that is fulfilling and aligned with divine principles, leading to true joy.

Are there other verses that speak about the blessings of living righteously?

Yes, verses like Psalm 1:1-3 and Psalm 112:1 also emphasize the blessings that come from living according to God's ways.

What is the significance of walking in God's law?

Walking in God's law signifies an active commitment to following His teachings and living out one's faith in daily life.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. What are some ways I can live a blameless life according to God's standards?
  2. How can I incorporate God's teachings into my daily actions?
  3. What does it mean for me to walk in the law of the LORD?
  4. In what areas of my life do I need to seek greater alignment with God's commandments?

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

The early Church Fathers referenced this verse to discuss the nature of blessedness and the importance of living righteously. Their insights are presented here from various works.

Athanasius of AlexandriaDiscourses Against the Arians 2.21.64 c. 296–373
And as he is Firstborn among brothers and rose from the dead “the firstfruits of them that slept”; so, since it became him “in all things to have the preeminence,” therefore he is created “a beginning of ways,” that we,
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 119 →
Augustine of HippoExposition on Psalms 119 354–430
From its commencement, dearly beloved, does this great Psalm exhort us unto bliss, which there is no one who desires not....And therefore this is the lesson which he teaches, who says, "Blessed are those that are undefiled in the way,
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 119 →
BedeHomilies on the Gospels 2:5 c. 673–735
Jesus said, “If you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.” This statement of our Savior is very helpful for salvation, and we must ponder it attentively.
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 119 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Psalms 119:1 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

ALEPH. Blessed [are] the undefiled in the way,.... Who are in the right way to heaven and happiness, which is Jesus Christ; the strait gate, and narrow way to eternal life; the only true way of life

Read John Gill on Psalms 119 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD. The connection of the sacred aphorisms of this psalm is their common reference to the Word of God, the grand theme of the whole.

Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 119 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Psalms 119 THE The author of this Psalm was David; which I know none that deny, and of which there is no just reason to doubt. The scope and design of it is manifest, to commend the serious and diligent study, and the stedfast belief and the constant practice of God’ s word, as incomparably the best counsellor and comforter in the world, and as the only way to true blessedness. And this he confirmeth by his own example, which he proposeth to them for their imitation; and he declareth the great and frequent experience which he had of its admirable sweetness and manifold benefits in all conditions, and especially in the times of his distresses. And because it was a hard thing rightly to…

Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 119 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Psalms 119:1 ALEPH. Blessed [are] the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD.Ver. 1. Blessed are the undefiled] Pindar and other poets had their Ogdoades or Oetonaries. This alphabetical poem (as Sixtus Senensis calleth it) is David’ s, doubtless (though it hath no title to show so much), written in the days of his banishment under Saul; and far more worthy to be written in letters of gold than Pindar’ s seventh ode, which that profane fellow Politian preferred before any psalm of David, the sweet singer of Israel. How much better his countryman Jacobus Furnius, who translated this psalm into Greek and Latin verses, in so many Octounties; and beginning each verse thereof with…

Read John Trapp on Psalms 119 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

ALEPH. (1) Undefiled.—Better, blameless or perfect.Way.—See the same use without a qualifying epithet in Psalms 2:12. There was only-one way of safety and peace for an Israelite, here by the parallelism defined as “the law of Jehovah.” But even heathen ethics bore witness to the same truth: “Declinandum de viâ sit modo ne summa turpitudo sequatur” (Cic, De Amicitia, 17).

Read Charles John Ellicott on Psalms 119 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

PSALM CXIX The various excellencies and important uses of the law or revelation of God. NOTES ON PSALM CXIX This is another of the alphabetical or acrostic Psalms. It is divided into twenty-two parts, answering to the number of letters in the Hebrew alphabet. Every part is divided into eight verses; and each verse begins with that letter of the alphabet which forms the title of the part, e.g.: The eight first verses have א aleph prefixed, the second eight ב beth, each of the eight verses beginning with that letter; and so of the rest. All connexion, as might be naturally expected, is sacrificed to this artificial and methodical arrangement. It is not easy to give any general Analysis of…

Read AdamClarke on Psalms 119 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

1–8. Aleph. Loyal obedience to Jehovah’s law is the source of man’s truest happiness, and therefore the Psalmist prays that it may be the fixed rule of his life, and that he may learn to understand it better.

Read Cambridge on Psalms 119 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Blessed are the undefiled in the way - In the way or journey of life; in the path of religion; in the road which leads to heaven.

Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 119 →

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

Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the Law of the LORD.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Blessed are those whose ways are blameless, who walk according to Yahweh’s law.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the Law of the LORD.

NETBNew English Translation2006

How blessed are those whose actions are blameless, who obey the law of the Lord.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

Blessed are they that are perfect in the way, Who walk in the law of Jehovah.

RVARevised Version, American1894

Blessed are they that are perfect in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

ALEPH. Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

ALEPH. Blessed are those that are vpright in their way, and walke in the Lawe of the Lord.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

ALEPH. Blessed are the perfect in the way, who walk in the law of Jehovah.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

[Aleph.] O the happiness of those perfect in the way, They are walking in the law of Jehovah,

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

[ALEPH] O the blessedness of those perfect in the way, || They are walking in the Law of YHWH,

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

ALEPH. Happy are they whose way is perfect, who walk in the law of the Lord.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Blessed are those whose ways are blameless, who walk in the law of Yahweh.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

In my trouble I cried to the Lord: and he heard me.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

Happy are those who do what is right, who follow what the Lord says.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

Happy are they who are without sin in their ways, walking in the law of the Lord.

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.

clausepredicateאַשְׁרֵ֥יhow.blessed!noun phrase · subjectnoun phraseתְמִֽימֵי[are.people].blamelessדָ֑רֶךְof.waynoun phraseהַֽ֝[who]noun phraseclauseverbהֹלְכִ֗יםwalkprepositional phrase · prepositionalבְּinnoun phraseתוֹרַ֥תthe.lawיְהוָֽהof.Yahweh

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 six Hebrew words matched in the Greek translation. The Dead Sea Scrolls show a similar reading but include some restored words, indicating that the core message has been preserved across these texts.

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

אַשְׁרֵ֥י תְמִֽימֵי־ דָ֑רֶךְ הַֽ֝הֹלְכִ֗ים בְּתוֹרַ֥ת יְהוָֽה׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
אַשְׁרֵ֥יμακάριοιתְמִֽימֵי־ἄμωμοιדָ֑רֶךְὁδῷהַֽ֝הֹלְכִ֗יםπορευόμενοιבְּתוֹרַ֥תνόμῳיְהוָֽה׃κυρίου

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

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

אשרי תמימי [דרך] [ההולכים] בתורת יהוה

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

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


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

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

Psalms 119:1אֶ֫שֶׁרhow blessedhow blessed!אֶ֫שֶׁרתָּמִים[are people[are people] blתָּמִיםדֶּ֫רֶךְwaywayדֶּ֫רֶךְהָלַךְthose [who]those [who] walהָלַךְתּוֹרָהin [the] lain [the] law ofתּוֹרָהיהוהYahwehYahwehיהוהאָשַׁרto blessto blessאָשַׁרתָּמַםto finishto finishתָּמַםדָּרַךְto treadto treadדָּרַךְיָרָאto shootto shootיָרָאהָיָהto beto beהָיָההָלַךְto walkto walkהָלַךְגֶּ֫בֶרgreat mangreat manגֶּ֫בֶרכֶּ֫בֶשׂlamblambכֶּ֫בֶשׂאַ֫יִלramramאַ֫יִלפָּנָהCorner (GaCorner (Gate)פָּנָהצָפוֹןZaphonZaphonצָפוֹןדֶּ֫רֶךְway: roadway: roadדֶּ֫רֶךְחֻקָּהstatutestatuteחֻקָּהסֵ֫פֶרscroll: doscroll: documenסֵ֫פֶרכָּתַבto writeto writeכָּתַבנְאֻםutteranceutteranceנְאֻםצָבָאarmyarmyצָבָא
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 119:1

One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.

Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.

how blessed! [are people] blameless of way those [who] walk in [the] law of Yahweh
אַשְׁרֵ֥י'ash.Rei how blessed! H835 Noun common · masculine plural construct
45× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means happiness or blessedness, often used to express how happy someone is. It appears in the Bible as an interjection, similar to 'how happy!' In the KJV, it is translated as 'blessed' or 'happy'.
Amplified meaning
truly happy, fortunate
Tyndale gloss
blessed
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אֶ֫שֶׁר (esher) refers to happiness or blessedness, often used as an interjection to express joy. It is derived from a related root and appears primarily in a masculine plural form. The entries consistently highlight its meaning related to happiness and blessing.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[אֶ֫שֶׁר, or אָשָׁר] n.[m.] happiness, blessedness

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H835 [אֶ֫שֶׁר, or אָשָׁר] happiness, blessedness

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

835 'esher eh'-sher

from 833; happiness; only in masculine plural construction as

interjection, how happy!:--blessed, happy.

see HEBREW for 0833

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֶ֫שֶׁר (e.sher) — blessed.

1) happiness, blessedness

1a) often used as interjection

1b) blessed are

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-mp — Noun common · masculine plural construct
HNcmpc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

bles'-ed (barukh): Where God is referred to, this word has the sense of "praise," as in 1Sa 25:32, "Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel." But where man is in mind it is used in the sense of "happy" or "favored," and most frequently so in the Psalms and the Gospels, as for example, "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the wicked" (Ps 1:1); "Blessed art thou among women" (Lu 1:42); "Blessed are the poor in spirit" (Mt 5:3).

See BEATITUDES.

how blessed! [are people] blameless of way those [who] walk in [the] law of Yahweh
תְמִֽימֵי־te.mi.mei- [are people] blameless of H8549 Adj
91× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means unblemished or perfect, like an animal without defects. It describes something or someone that is whole and complete, like the sacrifices in Leviticus. It is used to describe integrity and truth.
Amplified meaning
unblemished, perfect, without defect
Tyndale gloss
unblemished
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word תָּמִים (*tamiym*) means complete, sound, or whole. It encompasses notions of integrity, truth, and being unblemished or innocent. The word can function as both an adjective and a noun, referring to what is entire or in accord with truth. It is derived from a root that conveys the idea of being entire or perfect.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

תָּמִים 91 adj. complete, sound

complete, whole, entire

whole, sound, healthful

complete, entire, of time

sound, wholesome, unimpaired, innocent, having integrity

as neuter adj. = subst. what is complete, entirely in accord with truth and fact

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8549 תָּמִים complete, sound . complete, whole, entire

. whole, sound, healthful

. complete, entire, of time

. sound, wholesome, unimpaired, innocent, having integrity

. as neuter adj. = subst. what is complete, entirely in accord with truth and fact

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8549 tamiym taw-meem'

from 8552; entire (literally, figuratively or morally); also

(as noun) integrity, truth:--without blemish, complete, full,

perfect, sincerely (-ity), sound, without spot, undefiled,

upright(-ly), whole.

see HEBREW for 08552

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

תָּמִים (ta.mim) — unblemished.

: unblemished/perfect

1) complete, whole, entire, sound

1a) complete, whole, entire

1b) whole, sound, healthful

1c) complete, entire (of time)

1d) sound, wholesome, unimpaired, innocent, having integrity

1e) what is complete or entirely in accord with truth and fact (neuter adj/subst)

תָּמִים (ta.mim) — unblemished: blameless.

: blameless

1) complete, whole, entire, sound

1a) complete, whole, entire

1b) whole, sound, healthful

1c) complete, entire (of time)

1d) sound, wholesome, unimpaired, innocent, having integrity

1e) what is complete or entirely in accord with truth and fact (neuter adj/subst)

תָּמִים (ta.mim) — unblemished: complete.

: complete

1) complete, whole, entire, sound

1a) complete, whole, entire

1b) whole, sound, healthful

1c) complete, entire (of time)

1d) sound, wholesome, unimpaired, innocent, having integrity

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adj — Adj
HAampc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

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.

English usagewhat the translators’ English meant
Webster's Dictionary (1828), Webster's Unabridged (1913), Webster's Dictionary (1806)

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…

how blessed! [are people] blameless of way those [who] walk in [the] law of Yahweh
דָ֑רֶךְDa.rekh way H1870 Noun common · both singular absolute
708× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Derek refers to a road or path, and can also mean a way of life or manner of action. It is often used to describe a journey or direction, and can be used figuratively to describe a person's character or moral path.
Amplified meaning
path, journey, manner of life
Tyndale gloss
way: road
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

דֶּ֫רֶךְ (derek) means way, road, or journey, and can refer to both literal paths and figurative courses of life or actions. It encompasses various aspects such as direction, manner, and moral character, often highlighting the nature of one's conduct. The term is used in both positive and negative contexts, reflecting the moral implications of one's path.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

דֶּ֫רֶךְ 715 n.m. way, road, distance, journey, manner

way, road, path

journey

of direction, almost or quite = toward

way, manner

fig. of course of life, or action, undertakings

of moral action and character

of duty

specif.: in good sense

oftener in bad sense

way of י׳

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1870 דֶּ֫רֶךְ way, road, distance, journey, manner . way, road, path

. journey

. of direction, almost or quite = toward

. way, manner

. fig. of course of life, or action, undertakings

. . of moral action and character

. of duty

. specif.: in good sense

. oftener in bad sense

. way of י׳

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1870 derek deh'-rek

from 1869; a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of

life or mode of action, often adverb:--along, away, because

of, + by, conversation, custom, (east-)ward, journey, manner,

passenger, through, toward, (high-) (path-)way(-side),

whither(-soever).

see HEBREW for 01869

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

דֶּ֫רֶךְ (de.rekh) — way: conduct.

: conduct/lifestyle

1) way, road, distance, journey, manner

1a) road, way, path

1b) journey

1c) direction

1d) manner, habit, way

1e) of course of life (fig.)

1f) of moral character (fig.)

דֶּ֫רֶךְ (de.rekh) — Way.

This name means way, road

דֶּ֫רֶךְ (de.rekh) — (King's) Highway.

This name means way, road

Combined with me.lekh (מֶ֫לֶךְ "King's" H4428I)

דֶּ֫רֶךְ (de.rekh) — way: direction.

: direction

1) way, road, distance, journey, manner

1a) road, way, path

1b) journey

1c) direction

1d) manner, habit, way

1e) of course of life (fig.)

1f) of moral character (fig.)

דֶּ֫רֶךְ (de.rekh) — way: road.

: road/route

1) way, road, distance, journey, manner

1a) road, way, path

1b) journey

1c) direction

1d) manner, habit, way

1e) of course of life (fig.)

1f) of moral character (fig.)

דֶּ֫רֶךְ (de.rekh) — way: journey.

: journey

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

wa ('orach, orcha', 'erets, bo', derekh, halikhah, ma`galah, nathibh; hodos, parodos, poreia, tropos; "highway," mecillah, meclul; diexodoi ton hodon): The list just cited contains only a portion of the words translated "way" or "highway" in the King James Version. Most of them have the primary meaning of "road," "customary path," "course of travel" (Ge 3:24; Ex 23:20; Nu 20:17, etc.). By a very easy and natural figure "way" is applied to the course of human conduct, the manner of life which one lives (Ex 18:20; 32:8; Nu 22:32; 1Sa 8:3;

Of sin, broad Mt 7:13

Jesus is the Joh 14:6; Heb 9:8

Doctrines taught by Christ Ac 9:2; 19:23; 22:4; 24:14,22

how blessed! [are people] blameless of way those [who] walk in [the] law of Yahweh
הַֽ֝הֹלְכִ֗יםha.ho.le.Khim those [who] walk H1980 Particle · verb qal participle (active) masculine plural
1,549× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Means to walk or go, used in many different contexts in the Bible. It can describe physical movement, but also spiritual or emotional journeys. Appears in various forms, such as 'to go' or 'to walk'.
Amplified meaning
follow, obey, live according to
Tyndale gloss
to go: walk
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

הָלַךְ (halak) means 'to go,' 'come,' or 'walk,' and covers a wide range of literal and figurative uses, including aspects of life and death. It can describe physical movement, moral conduct, and even influence on character. The verb appears in various forms, such as Qal, Piel, and Hithpael, indicating different nuances like leading or traversing.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

הָלַךְ 1546 vb. go, come, walk

Qal Impf. usually (629 t.) as if from ילך

lit.

of persons

Also of animals, in similar meanings and combinations

in like manner of inanimate things

The inf. abs. is often used

as in other vbs., quite independently

to intensify meaning of finite form

most noteworthy is the joining of the Inf. abs.

with a following Inf. abs. denoting a simutaneous action or process, and so emphasizing duration or continuance

with a foll. vb. fin. c. ו consec. (rare)

in cases where vb. fin. is foll. by Inf. abs. adj. denoting progress, advance

twice, where vb. fin. is not הלך, but another vb. denoting motion

quite by itself

13 t. the Inf. abs. = Imv. & is followed by Pf. consec.

akin to the use of Inf. abs. are some instances of Pt.

In combination with other verbal forms

Fig.; the most common uses follow; in most the origin in a literal meaning is evident:

pass away, die

Read the full entry →
Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1980 הָלַךְ go, come, walk .Impf. usually (629 t.) as if from ילך . lit. . of persons

. Also of animals, in similar meanings and combinations

. in like manner of inanimate things

. The inf. abs. is often used . as in other vbs., quite independently

. to intensify meaning of finite form

. most noteworthy is the joining of the Inf. abs. . with a following Inf. abs. denoting a simutaneous action or process, and so emphasizing duration or continuance

. with a foll. vb. fin. c. ו consec. (rare)

. in cases where vb. fin. is foll. by Inf. abs. + adj. denoting progress, advance

. twice, where vb. fin. is not הלך, but another vb. denoting motion

. quite by itself

. 13 t. the Inf. abs. = Imv. & is followed by Pf. consec.

. akin to the use of Inf. abs. are some instances of Pt.

. In combination with other verbal forms

Read the full entry →
Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1980 halak haw-lak'

akin to 3212; a primitive root; to walk (in a great variety

of applications, literally and figuratively):--(all) along,

apace, behave (self), come, (on) continually, be conversant,

depart, + be eased, enter, exercise (self), + follow, forth,

forward, get, go (about, abroad, along, away, forward, on,

out, up and down), + greater, grow, be wont to haunt, lead,

march, X more and more, move (self), needs, on, pass (away),

be at the point, quite, run (along), + send, speedily, spread,

still, surely, + tale-bearer, + travel(-ler), walk (abroad,

on, to and fro, up and down, to places), wander, wax,

(way-)faring man, X be weak, whirl.

see HEBREW for 03212

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

הָלַךְ (ha.lakh) — to go: went.

: went/go[away]

1) to go, walk, come

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to go, walk, come, depart, proceed, move, go away

1a2) to die, live, manner of life (fig.)

1b) (Piel)

1b1) to walk

1b2) to walk (fig.)

1c) (Hithpael)

1c1) to traverse

1c2) to walk about

1d) (Niphal) to lead, bring, lead away, carry, cause to walk

הָלַךְ (ha.lakh) — to go: come.

: come[nearer]

1) to go, walk, come

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to go, walk, come, depart, proceed, move, go away

1a2) to die, live, manner of life (fig.)

1b) (Piel)

1b1) to walk

1b2) to walk (fig.)

1c) (Hithpael)

1c1) to traverse

1c2) to walk about

1d) (Niphal) to lead, bring, lead away, carry, cause to walk

הָלַךְ (ha.lakh) — to go: walk.

: walk/move

1) to go, walk, come

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to go, walk, come, depart, proceed, move, go away

1a2) to die, live, manner of life (fig.)

1b) (Piel)

1b1) to walk

1b2) to walk (fig.)

1c) (Hithpael)

1c1) to traverse

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Art | V-Qal — Particle · verb qal participle (active) masculine plural
HTd/Vqrmpa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

wok (peripatein): Aside from its frequent occurrence in the usual sense, the word "walk" is used figuratively of conduct and of spiritual states. (1) Observance of laws or customs: "Thou teachest all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs" (Ac 21:21). (2) Of the spiritual life: "If we walk in the light, as he is in the light" (1Joh 1:7); "That like as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life" (Ro 6:4); "Walk by the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh" (Ga 5:16); "For we walk by faith, not by sight"…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

Is often figuratively used to denote a man’s mode of life, or his spiritual character, course, and relations, Eze 11:20. He may walk as a carnal or as a spiritual man, Ro 8:1; with God, or in ignorance and sin, Ge 5:24 1Jo 5:21; in the fire of affliction, Isa 43:2, or in the light, purity, and joy of Christ’s favor here and in heaven, Ps 89:15 Re 3:4.

how blessed! [are people] blameless of way those [who] walk in [the] law of Yahweh
בְּתוֹרַ֥תbe.to.Rat in [the] law of H8451 Preposition · noun common feminine singular construct
219× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for instruction or law, referring to the Ten Commandments or the first five books of the Bible, guiding human behavior and moral code.
Amplified meaning
instruction, teachings, commandments
Tyndale gloss
instruction
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

תּוֹרָה (towrah) encompasses concepts of direction, instruction, and law, particularly relating to divine or human guidance. It refers to legal directives, customs, and teachings, including the Decalogue and the Pentateuch. The entries highlight its use in various contexts, such as prophetic and priestly instruction, but do not present significant disagreement among lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

תּוֹרָה n.f. direction, instruction, law

instruction

law (prop. direction)

custom, manner

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8451 תּוֹרָה direction, instruction, law . instruction

. law (prop. direction)

. custom, manner

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8451 towrah to-raw'

or torah {to-raw'}; from 3384; a precept or statute,

especially the Decalogue or Pentateuch:--law.

see HEBREW for 03384

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

תּוֹרָה (to.rah) — instruction.

1) law, direction, instruction

1a) instruction, direction (human or divine)

1a1) body of prophetic teaching

1a2) instruction in Messianic age

1a3) body of priestly direction or instruction

1a4) body of legal directives

1b) law

1b1) law of the burnt offering

1b2) of special law, codes of law

1c) custom, manner

1d) the Deuteronomic or Mosaic Law

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

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.

English usagewhat the translators’ English meant
Webster's Dictionary (1828), Webster's Unabridged (1913), Webster's Dictionary (1806)

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…

how blessed! [are people] blameless of way those [who] walk in [the] law of Yahweh
יְהוָֽה׃Yah.weh Yahweh H3068 Noun proper
6,528× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Yehovah is another name for God, often translated as 'the Lord'. It is a national name for God in the Jewish faith. This name is used throughout the Old Testament.
Amplified meaning
Yehovah, the supreme 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
N-proper — Noun proper
HNpt
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
Sources on this page. Lexicons and dictionaries imported from the CrossWire SWORD modules — Abbott-Smith, Strong's, Dodson, the Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones, Robinson and Packard, Webster and Cawdrey. Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (Harper, 1889 — Grimm’s Wilke’s Clavis Novi Testamenti, translated, revised and enlarged by Joseph Henry Thayer) is public domain and is set here from the Internet Archive page scan greekenglishlex00grim; it is uncorrected OCR, marked as such on the entry itself, and the Strong’s numbers — which Thayer’s own edition does not carry — were matched by lemma against the other modules on this page. Trench’s Synonyms of the New Testament (Macmillan, 1880) and Moulton and Milligan’s Vocabulary of the Greek Testament (Hodder & Stoughton, 1930, which entered the United States public domain on 1 January 2026) are set from Internet Archive page scans synonymsofnewtes00treniala and vocabularyofgree00mouluoft, and are likewise uncorrected OCR matched to Strong’s numbers by lemma. Trench treats a group of words at once, so the same essay stands on the page of each word it compares. The Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary is © 1993 and is used here by permission for non-commercial use, www.teknia.com/greek-dictionary. The full Liddell-Scott-Jones and the Hebrew word data (TAHOT) come from STEPBible.org, CC BY 4.0. Brown-Driver-Briggs is the OpenScriptures digitisation, public domain. Syntax analysis is the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (biblicalhumanities.org); the concordance and morphology are built from the tagged Nestle 1904 text. Septuagint occurrences use the Open Scriptures Septuagint lemma index, derived from CCAT (University of Pennsylvania) and the Rahlfs 1935 dataset by Eliran Wong, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 — used here on a non-commercial ministry site. Greek of Josephus and Barnabas from the Perseus Digital Library, CC BY-SA 4.0. Commentaries and the Ante-Nicene Fathers are public-domain texts hosted on this site. Everyday Greek from the Duke Databank of Documentary Papyri, CC BY 3.0, with dates and provenance from the Heidelberger Gesamtverzeichnis. Philo and the Apostolic Fathers from Open Greek and Latin (First1KGreek), CC BY-SA 4.0. The apparatus and the fifth Greek column are the SBL Greek New Testament, © 2010 SBL and Logos Bible Software, CC BY 4.0. The Latin is the Clementine Vulgate (public domain); the Syriac New Testament is the ETCBC edition (MIT licence). The Hebrew behind the Greek is computed here from the Septuagint index and TAHOT, not taken from any aligned edition. The translation spread and the per-word edition marks come from the Translators Amalgamated Greek NT (STEPBible, CC BY 4.0); clause roles from the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (CC BY-SA 4.0); place identifications and their confidence from OpenBible.info Bible Geocoding (CC BY 4.0), with map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors. Gospel parallels are computed here from shared uncommon vocabulary, not taken from any printed harmony. Cross references are the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and the subject headings are Nave’s Topical Bible, both public domain. Works under Creative Commons licences are used unchanged apart from markup removal.

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