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Psalms 119:63 — Word Study

Depth

WLCחָבֵ֣ר אָ֭נִי לְכָל־ אֲשֶׁ֣ר יְרֵא֑וּךָ וּ֝לְשֹׁמְרֵ֗י פִּקּוּדֶֽיךָ׃

BSAIʼănîy [personally, as an individual] am a friendchâbêr [companion, fellow worshiper] to allkôl [every one, everything] whoʼăsher fear Youyârêʼ [revere, stand in awe of] and to those who keepshâmar [people, individuals, obey, protect] Your preceptspiqqûwd [commands, divine instructions]

Word
Listen & take awayPsalms 119
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 63 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 (pi.ku.Dei.cha) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Psalms 119:63quick helps
In a sentenceThe psalmist expresses his companionship with those who revere God and observe His commandments.
Who is speakingThe psalmist, identifying himself as a friend of God-fearing individuals.
Where we areIn a meditation on the importance of community among those who follow God's ways.
The hard wordחָבֵר
Take awayFriendship with those who honor God enriches the psalmist's faith.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause subjectאֲנִי 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 119:63

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 Reflection on Friendship with the Godlygenerated

62At midnight I rise to give You thanks for Your righteous judgments.
63I am a friend to all who fear You, and to those who keep Your precepts.
64The earth is filled with Your loving devotion, O LORD; teach me Your statutes.
65You are good to Your servant, O LORD, according to Your word.

Psalm 119:63 highlights the psalmist's connection with those who fear God and keep His commandments. This verse emphasizes the value of companionship among those who share a common reverence for God. The surrounding verses reflect a deep commitment to God's laws and a desire for community with like-minded individuals, reinforcing the importance of mutual support in faith.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Psalm 119:79–115May those who fear You turn to me, those who know Your testimonies.
2Psalm 16:3As for the saints in the land, they are the excellence in whom all my delight resides.
3Psalm 101:6My eyes favor the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me; he who walks in the way of integrity shall minister to me.
4Psalm 142:7Free my soul from prison, that I may praise Your name. The righteous will gather around me because of Your goodness to me.
5Proverbs 13:20He who walks with the wise will become wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 9 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word חָבֵר, cha.Vergenerated

The word חָבֵר (cha.Ver) is a noun that means 'companion' or 'fellow worshiper.' It denotes someone who is united with others, often in a spiritual or communal context. This term emphasizes the bonds formed through shared beliefs and practices.

In this verse, the psalmist identifies himself as a friend to all who fear God, indicating a deep sense of belonging and solidarity with those who revere divine authority. The parsing as a masculine singular noun highlights the personal nature of this companionship.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

All translations agree on the essential meaning of חָבֵר as 'friend' or 'companion.' The BSB, KJV, ASV, YLT, WEB, and BBE all reflect this understanding, emphasizing the psalmist's connection with those who fear God.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main clause is governed by the finite verb יְרֵא֑וּךָ, they fear You, with two phrases hanging off it: a prepositional phrase identifying the psalmist as a friend and a participial phrase describing those who keep God's commands. The structure emphasizes the psalmist's relationship with both God and fellow believers.

The Hebrew word order places emphasis on the psalmist's identity as a friend, followed by the qualities of those he associates with, indicating the importance of shared reverence and obedience to God's instructions.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

In the Septuagint, the Hebrew חָבֵר is rendered as μέτοξος (metoxos), which also conveys the idea of companionship or fellowship. This choice underscores the communal aspect of faith shared among those who fear God.

The translation reflects a consistent understanding of the importance of unity among worshipers, aligning with the original Hebrew intent.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Psalm 119:63 shows the psalmist declaring that he is a friend to everyone who fears God and keeps His commandments. This verse highlights the importance of community among those who share a reverence for God and a commitment to His teachings.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean to fear God?

To fear God means to have a deep respect and reverence for Him, recognizing His power and authority.

Why is companionship with those who fear God important?

Companionship with those who fear God encourages mutual support in faith and strengthens one's commitment to God's commands.

What are God's precepts?

God's precepts are His commandments and divine instructions that guide believers in their moral and spiritual lives.

How can I be a friend to those who fear God?

Being a friend to those who fear God involves supporting and encouraging one another in faith, sharing in worship, and living according to God's teachings.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. How can I cultivate friendships with those who share my reverence for God?
  2. What role do God's commandments play in my relationships with others?
  3. In what ways can I support fellow believers in their walk with God?
  4. How does my understanding of God's precepts influence my daily life?

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

Early Church Fathers, such as Augustine of Hippo, have commented on this verse, interpreting it in the context of fellowship with God and His commandments.

Augustine of HippoExposition on Psalms 119 354–430
For I imagine that what follows, "I am a companion of all them that fear You, and keep Your commandments" [Psalms 119:63], does relate to the Head Himself,
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 119 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Psalms 119:63 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

I [am] a companion of all [them] that fear thee,.... Not of the rich and mighty, much less of the wicked and ungodly; but of such who had the true fear of God upon their hearts, and before their

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

I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts. I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts. 'A man is known by his companions' (Amos 3:3; Malachi 3:16-17).

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

Not excepting the poorest and meanest, whose society other princes disdain.

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

Psalms 119:63 I [am] a companion of all [them] that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts.Ver. 63. I am a companion of all them] Though never so mean, if there be aliquid Christi in them. Grace is of a uniting property, and purgeth out partiality, James 2:1-2. That keep thy precepts] The best proof of true fear of God, Psalms 103:13 Acts 10:35.

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

Verse 63. I am a companion] This was the natural consequence of his own conversion; he abandoned the workers of iniquity, and associated with them that feared the Lord.

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

57–64. Chçth. The Psalmist’s devotion to Jehovah and His law.

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

I am a companion of all them that fear thee - I find my associates and friends among those who worship thee; not with the profane and the wicked.

Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 119 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

ç, Cheth.57-64. Thou art my portion—Having found in the statutes of the Lord the joy and solace mentioned in the last division, the writer now earnestly prays that, as the highest good, he may have a

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Psalms 119 →

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 am a friend to all who fear You, and to those who keep Your precepts.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

I am a friend of all those who fear you, of those who observe your precepts.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

I am a friend to all who fear You, and to those who keep Your precepts.

NETBNew English Translation2006

I am a friend to all your loyal followers, and to those who keep your precepts.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

I am a companion of all them that fear thee, And of them that observe thy precepts.

RVARevised Version, American1894

I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that observe thy precepts.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

I am companion of all them that feare thee, and keepe thy precepts.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

I am the companion of all that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

A companion I [am] to all who fear Thee, And to those keeping Thy precepts.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

I [am] a companion to all who fear You, || And to those keeping Your precepts.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

An associate am I unto all that fear thee, and unto those that keep thy precepts.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

I am a companion of all who honor you, to all who observe your instructions.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

I identify with all those who follow you, those who do what you tell them.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

I keep company with all your worshippers, and those who have your orders in their memory.

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.

clausepredicateחָבֵ֣ר[am].a.companionsubjectאָ֭נִיIprepositional phrase · prepositionalprepositional phraseלְofnoun phraseכָלallrelpאֲשֶׁ֣ר[those].whoclauseverbיְרֵא֑וּtheyobjectךָfear.youוּ֝andprepositional phraseלְofnoun phraseשֹׁמְרֵ֗י[those.who].keepnoun phraseפִּקּוּדֶֽיpreceptsךָ(of).your

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


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

The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint agree closely, with all words matched. The Dead Sea Scrolls also align with the Masoretic Text, confirming the integrity of this verse across different manuscripts.

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

חָבֵ֣ר אָ֭נִי לְכָל־ אֲשֶׁ֣ר יְרֵא֑וּךָ וּ֝לְשֹׁמְרֵ֗י פִּקּוּדֶֽיךָ׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
חָבֵ֣רμέτοξοςאָ֭נִיἐγώלְכָל־πάντωνאֲשֶׁ֣רτῶνיְרֵא֑וּךָσεוּ֝לְשֹׁמְרֵ֗יφυλασσόντωνפִּקּוּדֶֽיךָ׃σου

7 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 — 11Q5a copy a thousand years older than the Leningrad Codex

חבר אני לכול אשר יראו׳כה ולשומרי פקודי׳כה

7 words on the leather.

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 119:63חָבֵר[am] a comp[am] a companioחָבֵראֲנִיIIאֲנִיכֹּלof allof allכֹּלאֲשֶׁר[those] who[those] whoאֲשֶׁריָרֵאthey fear ythey fear youיָרֵאשָׁמַרand of [thoand of [those wשָׁמַרפִּקּוּדprecepts yoprecepts yourפִּקּוּדחָבַרto uniteto uniteחָבַראָֽנֹכִ֫יIIאָֽנֹכִ֫יכָּלַלto perfectto perfectכָּלַלפָּקַדto reckon:to reckon: listפָּקַדאֶחָדoneoneאֶחָדיִשְׂרָאֵלIsraelIsraelיִשְׂרָאֵלנְאֻםutteranceutteranceנְאֻםיָדַעto knowto knowיָדַעעֵדָהcongregaticongregationעֵדָהעֲבֹדָהserviceserviceעֲבֹדָהצָוָהto commandto commandצָוָהחָתַתto to be dto to be dismayחָתַתאַלnotnotאַלמִשְׁמֶ֫רֶתchargechargeמִשְׁמֶ֫רֶתמִצְוָהcommandmencommandmentמִצְוָהשִׂיחַto museto museשִׂיחַנָצַרto watchto watchנָצַר
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 119:63

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.

[am] a companion I of all [those] who they fear you and of [those who] keep precepts your
חָבֵ֣רcha.Ver [am] a companion H2270 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
12× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means a companion or fellow, someone who is united with others. In the Bible, it describes people who worship together or are closely associated, like friends or partners.
Amplified meaning
companion, fellow worshiper
Tyndale gloss
companion
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

חָבֵר (chaber) refers to a companion or associate, emphasizing the idea of being united or knit together. It can denote a fellow worshipper or someone who shares a bond with others. The term appears in contexts that highlight companionship and unity.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

חָבֵר adj. and n.m. united, associate, companion

adj. united

n. associate, fellow

companion at a particular time

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2270 חָבֵר united, associate, companion

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2270 chaber khaw-bare'

from 2266; an associate:--companion, fellow, knit together.

see HEBREW for 02266

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חָבֵר (cha.ver) — companion.

adj

1) united

n m

2) associate, fellow, worshippers

3) companion

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absolute
HNcmsa
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
[am] a companion I of all [those] who they fear you and of [those who] keep precepts your
אָ֭נִי'A.ni I H589 Pronoun
874× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word is a simple way of saying 'I' or 'me', often used for emphasis. It is used by people like David in the Psalms to express their thoughts and feelings. The word is a basic part of the Hebrew language.
Amplified meaning
personally, as an individual
Tyndale gloss
I
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אֲנִי, transliterated as aniy, is a first-person singular pronoun meaning 'I' or 'me.' It is often used for emphasis and can also imply possession, as in 'mine' or 'myself.' The word is derived from a form that indicates self-reference, and it appears in various contexts throughout the Old Testament.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֲנִי, אָ֑נִי pron. 1s. comm. I

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H589 אֲנִי, אָ֑נִי I

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

589 'aniy an-ee'

contracted from 595; I:--I, (as for) me, mine, myself, we, X

which, X who.

see HEBREW for 0595

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֲנִי (a.ni) — I.

I (first pers. sing. -usually used for emphasis)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Pron — Pronoun
HPp1bs
[am] a companion I of all [those] who they fear you and of [those who] keep precepts your
לְכָל־le.khol of all H3605 Preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
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
every one, everything
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 absolute
HR/Ncmsa
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
[am] a companion I of all [those] who they fear you and of [those who] keep precepts your
אֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.Sher [those] who H834 Particle
5,500× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word is a conjunction that connects ideas and events in the Bible, like in the book of Genesis, where it's used to describe the relationship between God and His creation.
Tyndale gloss
which
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word אֲשֶׁר (*asher*) is a relative pronoun that can mean 'who,' 'which,' or 'that.' It serves various grammatical functions, including as an adverb or conjunction, indicating relationships between clauses, places, or conditions. Variants like בַאֲשֶׁר (*ba-asher*), מֵאֲשֶׁר (*me-asher*), and כַּאֲשֶׁר (*ka-asher*) expand its usage to specific contexts such as location, causation, and time.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֲשֶׁר part. of relation A sign of relation, bringing the clause introduced by it into relation with an antecedent clause.

base

בַאֲשֶׁר

in (that) which

adv. in (the place) where

conj. in that, inasmuch as

on account of whom?

base

מֵאֲשֶׁר

from (or than) that which

adv. from (the place) where

conj. from (the fact) that …, since

base

כַּאֲשֶׁר conj. according as, as, when

according to that which, according as, as

with a causal force, in so far as, since

with a temporal force, when

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H834a אֲשֶׁר part. of relation A sign of relation, bringing the clause introduced by it into relation with an antecedent clause. H834b בַאֲשֶׁר . in (that) which

. adv. in (the place) where

. conj. in that, inasmuch as

. on account of whom?

H834c מֵאֲשֶׁר . from (or than) that which

. adv. from (the place) where

. conj. from (the fact) that …, since

H834d כַּאֲשֶׁר conj. according as, as, when . according to that which, according as, as

. with a causal force, in so far as, since

. with a temporal force, when

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

834 'aher ash-er'

a primitive relative pronoun (of every gender and number);

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction)

when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.:--X after, X

alike, as (soon as), because, X every, for, + forasmuch, +

from whence, + how(-soever), X if, (so) that ((thing) which,

wherein), X though, + until, + whatsoever, when, where

(+ -as, -in, -of, -on, -soever, -with), which, whilst, +

whither(- soever), who(-m, -soever, -se). As it is

indeclinable, it is often accompanied by the personal pronoun

expletively, used to show the connection.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֲשֶׁר (a.sher) — which.

A: 1) (relative part.)

1a) which, who

1b) that which

2) (conj)

2a) that (in obj clause)

2b) when

2c) since

2d) as

2e) conditional if

B: Beth+ 1) in (that) which

2) (adv)

2a) where

3) (conj)

3a) in that, inasmuch as

3b) on account of

C: Mem+ 1) from (or than) that which

2) from (the place) where

3) from (the fact) that, since

D: Kaph+

1) (conj.), according as, as, when

1a) according to that which, according as, as

1b) with a causal force: in so far as, since

1c) with a temporal force: when

בַאֲשֶׁר (ba.a.sher) — in which.

1) in (that) which

2) (adv)

2a) where

3) (conj)

3a) in that, inasmuch as

3b) on account of

מֵאֲשֶׁר (me.a.sher) — whence.

1) from (or than) that which

2) from (the place) where

3) from (the fact) that, since

כַּאֲשֶׁר (ka.a.sher) — as which.

conj

1) according as, as, when

1a) according to that which, according as, as

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Rel — Particle
HTr
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
[am] a companion I of all [those] who they fear you and of [those who] keep precepts your
יְרֵא֑וּךָye.re.'U.kha they fear you H3372 Verb qal perfect third person common plural · suffix
315× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to fear or revere, and is used to describe being afraid or standing in awe of something, like God's power. It appears in the Bible to convey a sense of respect or reverence. In the KJV, it's translated as 'affright' or 'reverence'.
Amplified meaning
revere, stand in awe of
Tyndale gloss
to fear
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יָרֵא (yare') is a Hebrew verb meaning to fear or be afraid, encompassing a range of meanings from reverence and honor to causing terror. It appears in various forms, including Qal (to fear), Niphal (to be fearful), and Piel (to terrify). The entries highlight its moral and emotional dimensions, emphasizing awe and respect, particularly in relation to the divine.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יָרֵא vb. fear

Qal

fear, be afraid

stand in awe of

fear, reverence, honour

Niph.

be fearful, dreadful

cause astonishment and awe

inspire reverence, godly fear, and awe

Piel. make afraid, terrify

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3372 יָרֵא fear .. fear, be afraid

. stand in awe of

. fear, reverence, honour

. . be fearful, dreadful

. cause astonishment and awe

. inspire reverence, godly fear, and awe

. make afraid, terrify

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3372 yare' yaw-ray'

a primitive root; to fear; morally, to revere; caus. to

frighten:--affright, be (make) afraid, dread(-ful), (put in)

fear(-ful, -fully, -ing), (be had in) reverence(-end), X see,

terrible (act, -ness, thing).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יָרֵא (ya.re) — to fear.

: frightening(DANGER)

1) to fear, revere, be afraid

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to fear, be afraid

1a2) to stand in awe of, be awed

1a3) to fear, reverence, honour, respect

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be fearful, be dreadful, be feared

1b2) to cause astonishment and awe, be held in awe

1b3) to inspire reverence or godly fear or awe

1c) (Piel) to make afraid, terrify

2) (TWOT) to shoot, pour

יָרֵא (ya.re) — to fear: revere.

: awesome(god)

1) to fear, revere, be afraid

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to fear, be afraid

1a2) to stand in awe of, be awed

1a3) to fear, reverence, honour, respect

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be fearful, be dreadful, be feared

1b2) to cause astonishment and awe, be held in awe

1b3) to inspire reverence or godly fear or awe

1c) (Piel) to make afraid, terrify

2) (TWOT) to shoot, pour

Also means: ya.re (יָרֵא ": frightening" H3372)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Perf-3cp | Suff — Verb qal perfect third person common plural · suffix
HVqp3cp/Sp2ms
[am] a companion I of all [those] who they fear you and of [those who] keep precepts your
וּ֝לְשֹׁמְרֵ֗יu.le.sho.me.Rei and of [those who] keep H8104 Conjunction · preposition · verb qal participle (active) masculine plural common
469× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To keep or obey means to protect, attend to, or guard something, like keeping a promise or watching over someone, as seen in the commands to observe the Sabbath.
Amplified meaning
people, individuals, obey, protect
Tyndale gloss
to keep: obey
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word שָׁמַר (*shamar*) is a primitive root meaning to keep, guard, or observe. It encompasses a wide range of actions including protecting, waiting for, and celebrating obligations like the Sabbath. The verb appears in various forms, indicating nuances such as being on guard or refraining from certain actions. It is used extensively in the Old Testament, reflecting both physical and moral vigilance.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שָׁמַר 465 vb. keep, watch, preserve

Qal 425

keep, have charge of

keep, guard, captives

hence, watch for, wait for

watch, observe

keep, retain, of storing up (food)

keep within bounds, restrain

observe, celebrate

keep sabbath

of other obligations

observe = follow dictates of (prudence, justice, kindness, wisdom)

sts. י׳ subj.

keep, reserve, weeks of harvest

Niph.

36be on one's guard

keep oneself, refrain, abstain

be kept, guarded

Pi. those paying regard to false vanities

Hithp. I kept myself from

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8104 שָׁמַר keep, watch, preserve .. . keep, have charge of

. keep, guard, captives

. hence, watch for, wait for

. watch, observe

. . keep, retain, of storing up (food)

. keep within bounds, restrain

. . observe, celebrate

. keep sabbath

. of other obligations

. observe = follow dictates of (prudence, justice, kindness, wisdom)

. sts. י׳ subj.

. keep, reserve, weeks of harvest

. . be on one's guard

. keep oneself, refrain, abstain

. be kept, guarded

. those paying regard to false vanities

. I kept myself from

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8104 shamar shaw-mar'

a primitive root; properly, to hedge about (as with thorns),

i.e. guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc.:--beward,

be circumspect, take heed (to self), keep(-er, self), mark,

look narrowly, observe, preserve, regard, reserve, save

(self), sure, (that lay) wait (for), watch(-man).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שָׁמַר (sha.mar) — to keep: obey.

: obey/observe

1) to keep, guard, observe, give heed

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to keep, have charge of

1a2) to keep, guard, keep watch and ward, protect, save life

1a2a) watch, watchman (participle)

1a3) to watch for, wait for

1a4) to watch, observe

1a5) to keep, retain, treasure up (in memory)

1a6) to keep (within bounds), restrain

1a7) to observe, celebrate, keep (sabbath or covenant or commands), perform (vow)

1a8) to keep, preserve, protect

1a9) to keep, reserve

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be on one's guard, take heed, take care, beware

1b2) to keep oneself, refrain, abstain

1b3) to be kept, be guarded

1c) (Piel) to keep, pay heed

1d) (Hithpael) to keep oneself from

שָׁמַר (sha.mar) — to keep: guard.

: guard

1) to keep, guard, observe, give heed

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to keep, have charge of

1a2) to keep, guard, keep watch and ward, protect, save life

1a2a) watch, watchman (participle)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | Prep | V-Qal — Conjunction · preposition · verb qal participle (active) masculine plural common
HC/R/Vqrmpc
[am] a companion I of all [those] who they fear you and of [those who] keep precepts your
פִּקּוּדֶֽיךָ׃pi.ku.Dei.cha precepts your H6490 Noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
24× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to a precept or commandment from God, like a law or statute. It appears in the Bible as a mandate or instruction, and is translated in the KJV as commandment, precept, or statute, emphasizing its importance as a divine instruction.
Amplified meaning
commands, divine instructions
Tyndale gloss
precept
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

פִּקּוּד (piqqud) refers to a precept or mandate, specifically one that is appointed by God. It is derived from a root meaning to appoint and is used in a plural form to collectively denote commandments or statutes within the Law.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[פִּקּוּד] 24 n.m. precept

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6490 [פִּקּוּד] precept

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6490 piqquwd pik-kood'

or piqqud {pik-kood'}; from 6485; properly, appointed, i.e. a

mandate (of God; plural only, collectively, for the

Law):--commandment, precept, statute.

see HEBREW for 06485

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

פִּקּוּד (piq.qud) — precept.

precept, statute

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-mp | Suff — Noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
HNcmpc/Sp2ms
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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