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Psalms 125:1 — Word Study

Depth

WLCהַבֹּטְחִ֥ים בַּיהוָ֑ה כְּֽהַר־ צִיּ֥וֹן לֹא־ יִ֝מּ֗וֹט לְעוֹלָ֥ם יֵשֵֽׁב׃

BSAA songshîyr of ascentsmaʻălâh Those who trustbâṭach [have confidence, faith] in the LORDYᵉhôvâh [Yehovah, the Lord God] are like Mounthar [a high, spiritual] ZionTsîyôwn [the city of God] It cannotlôʼ be movedmôwṭ [shaken, removed] it abidesyâshab [remains, dwells] foreverʻôwlâm [eternally, to the age]

Word
Listen & take awayPsalms 125
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 (ye.Shev) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Psalms 125:1quick helps
In a sentenceThose who trust in the LORD are compared to Mount Zion, which is unshakeable and eternal.
Who is speakingThe psalmist, addressing the faithful who rely on God.
Where we areA psalm reflecting on the security of those who trust in the LORD.
The hard wordצִיּ֥וֹן
Take awayTrusting in the LORD provides stability and permanence.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbהַר 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 125:1

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 Security of Trusting in the LORDgenerated

1Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion. It cannot be moved; it abides forever.
2As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds His people, both now and forevermore.
3For the scepter of the wicked will not rest upon the land allotted to the righteous, so that the righteous will not put forth their hands to injustice.
4Do good, O LORD, to those who are good, and to the upright in heart.

Psalm 125:1 contrasts the steadfastness of those who trust in the LORD with the instability of the world around them. This psalm emphasizes that just as Mount Zion is unmovable, so too are those who place their faith in God. The following verses expand on this theme, illustrating how the LORD protects His people, ensuring their safety both now and forever.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Psalm 120:1In my distress I cried to the LORD, and He answered me.
2Psalm 121:1I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come?
3Psalm 122:1I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the LORD.”
4Psalm 123:1I lift up my eyes to You, the One enthroned in heaven.
5Psalm 124:1If the LORD had not been on our side— let Israel now declare—

The Key Word הַבֹּטְחִ֥ים, ha.bo.te.Chimgenerated

The word הַבֹּטְחִ֥ים (ha.bo.te.Chim) is a masculine plural participle derived from the root בָּטַח (batach), which means to trust or have confidence. This term conveys a sense of security and boldness in reliance on God, suggesting that those who trust in Him experience a profound sense of safety and assurance.

This participle form emphasizes an ongoing state of trust, indicating that the faithful are characterized by their continual reliance on the LORD. The use of this word sets the tone for the psalm, highlighting the relationship between the believer and God, where trust leads to stability.


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 in the sentence is יִ֝מּ֗וֹט, it will be shaken, which governs the structure of the verse. The sentence begins with a noun phrase describing those who trust and includes a simile comparing them to Mount Zion.

The structure emphasizes the contrast between the stability of Mount Zion and the instability implied by the verb. The arrangement of the Hebrew words highlights the importance of trust in God as foundational to the believer's security.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates הַבֹּטְחִ֥ים as οἱ (hoi), meaning 'the ones who.' This choice reflects a direct rendering of the Hebrew participle into Greek, maintaining the focus on those who trust.

The Greek word for Mount Zion is ὄρος (oros), which emphasizes the geographical aspect of Zion as a mountain, aligning with the Hebrew's portrayal of stability and permanence.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Psalm 125:1 teaches that those who trust in the LORD are secure like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved. This verse assures believers that their faith in God provides them with lasting stability.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean to trust in the LORD?

To trust in the LORD means to have confidence and faith in His ability to protect and guide, much like the assurance the Israelites had during their journey.

Why is Mount Zion used as a metaphor?

Mount Zion symbolizes stability and permanence, representing God's unshakeable presence and protection over His people.

How does this psalm relate to the following verses?

The following verses elaborate on the protection God provides to His people, reinforcing the idea that trust in the LORD leads to security.

What assurance does this psalm give to believers?

This psalm assures believers that their trust in God will result in lasting stability and protection, just as Mount Zion stands firm.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what areas of my life do I need to trust God more fully, like those who trust in the LORD?
  2. How can I remind myself of God's faithfulness when I feel unstable or insecure?
  3. What are some practical ways I can demonstrate my trust in God to others?
  4. How does understanding the metaphor of Mount Zion help me in my faith journey?

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

Early Church Fathers referenced this psalm to discuss the strength and confidence found in trusting the LORD. Their insights are presented here to highlight the enduring nature of faith.

Athanasius of AlexandriaLetter 11.6 c. 296–373
For to those who thus examine themselves and conform their hearts to the Lord, nothing adverse shall happen; for indeed, their hearts are strengthened by confidence in the Lord, as it is written,
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 125 →
John ChrysostomHOMILIES CONCERNING THE STATUES 8:4 c. 347–407
Such, however, is not the nature of the righteous person. But what manner of person is he? Hear the same prophet, saying, “They that trust in the Lord are as Mount Zion.” What does the phrase “as Mount Zion” mean? “He shall not be shaken…
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 125 →
Augustine of HippoExposition on Psalms 125 354–430
"They that put their trust in the Lord shall be even as the mount Sion: they shall not be removed for ever" [Psalms 125:1].
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 125 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Psalms 125:1 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

They that trust in the Lord [shall be] as Mount Zion,.... Who trust not in themselves, and in their own hearts; nor in anything of theirs, their strength or wisdom, riches or righteousness; nor in

Read John Gill on Psalms 125 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

They that trust in the LORD shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever. This 125th psalm forms a pair with Psalms 126:1-6. Psalms 125:1 may be regarded as the introduction to both.

Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 125 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Psalms 125 THE This Psalm was designed for the consolation and encouragement of God’ s church and people in all ages, against all the plots and malice of their enemies. The stedfastness of such as trust in God, . A prayer for the godly to do them good, and against the ungodly to destroy them, ,5. Removed, or, overthrown, by any winds or storms; partly because of its own greatness and strength; and partly because of the Divine protection afforded to it.

Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 125 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Psalms 125:1 « A Song of degrees. » They that trust in the LORD [shall be] as mount Zion, [which] cannot be removed, [but] abideth for ever.Ver. 1. They that trust in the Lord shall be as mount Zion] Great is the stability of a believer’ s felicity. Winds and storms move not a mountain; an earthquake may, but not easily, remove it. That mystical mount Zion, the Church, immota manet, is unmoveable; so is every member thereof, for the main of his happiness.

Read John Trapp on Psalms 125 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

PSALM CXXV The safety of those who trust in God, 1, 2. God's protecting providence in behalf of his followers, 3. A prayer for the godly, 4. The evil lot of the wicked, 5. NOTES ON PSALM CXXV This Psalm is without a title: it belongs most probably to the times after the captivity; and has been applied, with apparent propriety, to the opposition which Sanballat the Horonite, Geshem the Arabian, and Tobiah the Ammonite, gave to the Jews while employed in rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, and restoring the temple. Verse 1. They that trust in the Lord] Every faithful Jew who confides in Jehovah shall stand, in those open and secret attacks of the enemies of God and truth, as unshaken as Mount…

Read AdamClarke on Psalms 125 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

1–3. The confidence of true Israelites in Jehovah, and Jehovah’s protecting care for His people.

Read Cambridge on Psalms 125 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

They that trust in the Lord - His people; his friends. It is, and has been always, a characteristic of the people of God that they trust or confide in him.

Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 125 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

1. They that trust in the Lord—Trust in Jehovah, and not in circumstances, is the theme. Outwardly, it went ill with them; but to those who firmly trusted in the Lord, and remained true to his commands, the happy result was sure.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Psalms 125 →

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

Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion. It cannot be moved; it abides forever.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Those who trust in Yahweh are as Mount Zion, which can’t be moved, but remains forever.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

A song of ascents. Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion. It cannot be moved; it abides forever.

NETBNew English Translation2006

Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion; it cannot be upended and will endure forever.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

They that trust in the LORD shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

They that trust in Jehovah Are as mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abideth for ever.

RVARevised Version, American1894

They that trust in the LORD are as mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abideth for ever.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

A Song of degrees. They that trust in the LORD, shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

A song of degrees. They that trust in the Lord, shalbe as mount Zion, which can not be remooued, but remaineth for euer.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

They that confide in Jehovah are as mount Zion, which cannot be moved; it abideth for ever.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

A Song of the Ascents. Those trusting in Jehovah [are] as Mount Zion, It is not moved — to the age it abideth.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

A SONG OF THE ASCENTS. Those trusting in YHWH [are] as Mount Zion, || It is not moved—it abides for all time.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

“A song of the degrees.” Those who trust in the Lord are like mount Zion, which will not he moved, which endureth for ever.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Those who trust in Yahweh are like Mount Zion, unshakable, forever enduring.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

When the lord brought back the captivity of Sion, we became like men comforted.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, for it is unshakeable and endures forever.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

Those whose hope is in the Lord are like the mountain of Zion, which may not be moved, but keeps its place for ever.

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


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

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

clausenoun phrase · predicateשִׁ֗ירthe.songnoun phraseהַֽofמַּ֫עֲל֥וֹתthe.ascentsclausenoun phrase · subjectהַ[thosenoun phraseclauseverbבֹּטְחִ֥יםwho].trustprepositional phrase · prepositionalבַּinיהוָ֑הYahwehprepositional phrase · predicateכְּֽ[are].likenoun phraseהַרthe.mountainצִיּ֥וֹןof.Zionclauseadverbialלֹא[which].notverbיִ֝מּ֗וֹטit.will.be.shakenclauseprepositional phrase · prepositionalלְforeverעוֹלָ֥םof.perpetuityverbיֵשֵֽׁבit.will.remain

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


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

The Masoretic Text states, "Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion. It cannot be moved; it abides forever." The Septuagint agrees with the Masoretic Text in meaning, as all eight words correspond, although the word order and articles differ due to the nature of the Greek translation. The Dead Sea Scrolls (11Q5) also align closely with the Masoretic Text, but it has some words that are partly restored and others supplied by an editor, indicating minor variations in the text. Overall, the core message remains consistent across these witnesses, affirming the steadfastness of those who trust in the LORD.

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

הַבֹּטְחִ֥ים בַּיהוָ֑ה כְּֽהַר־ צִיּ֥וֹן לֹא־ יִ֝מּ֗וֹט לְעוֹלָ֥ם יֵשֵֽׁב׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
הַבֹּטְחִ֥יםτῶνבַּיהוָ֑הοἱכְּֽהַר־ἐπὶצִיּ֥וֹןκύριονלֹא־ὡςיִ֝מּ֗וֹטὄροςלְעוֹלָ֥םοὐיֵשֵֽׁב׃σαλευθήσεται

8 of the 8 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.

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

[שיר] [המעלות] הבוטחים ביהוה כהר ציון שלוא [ימוט] [לעולם] ישב

5 words on the leather — 1 partly restored, 4 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 125:1בָּטַחthose [who]those [who] truבָּטַחיהוהin Yahwehin Yahwehיהוההַר[are] like [are] like [theהַרצִיּוֹןZionZionצִיּוֹןלֹא[which] not[which] notלֹאמוֹטit will be it will be shakמוֹטעוֹלָם[which] for[which] for eveעוֹלָםיָשַׁבit will remit will remainיָשַׁבהָיָהto beto beהָיָהעָלַםto concealto concealעָלַםחָסָהto seek reto seek refugeחָסָההַרmountainmountainהַרצִיוּןsignpostsignpostצִיוּןמָגֵןshieldshieldמָגֵןשֶׁ֫קֶרdeceptiondeceptionשֶׁ֫קֶרנְאֻםutteranceutteranceנְאֻםצָבָאarmyarmyצָבָאגִּבְעָהGibeatGibeatגִּבְעָהאֶפְרַ֫יִםEphraimEphraimאֶפְרַ֫יִםגִּילto rejoiceto rejoiceגִּילקִנְאָהjealousyjealousyקִנְאָהיָכֹלbe ablebe ableיָכֹלעוֹדstillstillעוֹדבַּלnotnotבַּלפָּרַרto breakto breakפָּרַרעַדperpetuityperpetuityעַד
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 125:1

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.

those [who] trust in Yahweh [are] like [the] mountain of Zion [which] not it will be shaken [which] for ever it will remain
הַבֹּטְחִ֥יםha.bo.te.Chim those [who] trust H982 Particle · verb qal participle (active) masculine plural
120× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To trust means to have confidence or faith in something or someone, like the Israelites trusting in God to lead them through the desert, as seen in Psalm 23.
Amplified meaning
have confidence, faith
Tyndale gloss
to trust
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

בָּטַח (batach) is a Hebrew verb meaning to trust or have confidence. It conveys a sense of security and boldness, both in a personal sense and when causing others to feel secure. The entries indicate its use in different forms, such as Qal and Hiphil, covering aspects of trust and confidence.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

בָּטַח vb. trust

Qal

trust

be confident

Hiph. cause to trust, make secure

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H982 בָּטַח trust . trust

. be confident

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

982 batach baw-takh'

a primitive root; properly, to hie for refuge (but not so

precipitately as 2620); figuratively, to trust, be confident

or sure:--be bold (confident, secure, sure), careless (one,

woman), put confidence, (make to) hope, (put, make to) trust.

see HEBREW for 02620

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בָּטַח (ba.tach) — to trust.

1) to trust

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to trust, trust in

1a2) to have confidence, be confident

1a3) to be bold

1a4) to be secure

1b) (Hiphil)

1b1) to cause to trust, make secure

2) (TWOT) to feel safe, be careless

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Art | V-Qal — Particle · verb qal participle (active) masculine plural
HTd/Vqrmpa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Nave's Topical Bible

→ See FAITH

Torrey's New Topical Textbook

- God is the true object of

Ps 65:5

- The fear of God leads to

Pr 14:26

- ENCOURAGEMENTS TO

. The everlasting strength of God

Isa 26:4

. The goodness of God

Na 1:7

. The loving-kindness of God

Ps 36:7

. The rich bounty of God

1Ti 6:17

. The care of God for us

1Pe 5:7

. Former deliverances

Ps 9:10; 2Co 1:10

- Should be with the whole heart

Pr 3:5

- Should be from youth up

those [who] trust in Yahweh [are] like [the] mountain of Zion [which] not it will be shaken [which] for ever it will remain
בַּיהוָ֑הba.Yah.weh in 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 Lord 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
those [who] trust in Yahweh [are] like [the] mountain of Zion [which] not it will be shaken [which] for ever it will remain
כְּֽהַר־ke.har- [are] like [the] mountain of H2022 Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct
546× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A mountain or hill, sometimes used to describe a spiritual high point. In the Bible, it can refer to a real mountain or a figurative one. The word is often translated as hill or mount.
Amplified meaning
a high, spiritual
Tyndale gloss
mountain: mount
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

הַר (har) means 'mountain' or 'hill,' and can refer to a range of hills or hill-country. It is derived from a root that suggests elevation and can be used figuratively. The entries consistently highlight its geographical connotations without significant disagreement.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

הַר 568 n.m. mountain, hill, hill-country

mountain, hill

hill-country, mountain-region

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2022 הַר mountain, hill, hill-country

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2022 har har

a shortened form of 2042; a mountain or range of hills

(sometimes used figuratively):--hill (country), mount(-ain), X

promotion.

see HEBREW for 02042

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

הַר (har) — mountain: mount.

: mount/hill

hill, mountain, hill country, mount

הַר (har) — mountain: hill country.

: hill_country

hill, mountain, hill country, mount

A sub-meaning of har (הַר ": mount" H2022)

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

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…

those [who] trust in Yahweh [are] like [the] mountain of Zion [which] not it will be shaken [which] for ever it will remain
צִיּ֥וֹןtzi.Yon Zion H6726 Noun proper
154× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Zion refers to a mountain in Jerusalem, often used as another name for the city, especially in prophetic books like Isaiah and Jeremiah.
Amplified meaning
the city of God
Tyndale gloss
Zion
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

צִיּוֹן (Tsiyyôn) refers to Zion, often identified as a mountain in Jerusalem and a symbolic name for the city itself, particularly in prophetic contexts. The term is linked to the Hebrew word for Jerusalem and is noted for meaning 'parched place.' It is consistently recognized across lexicons as a proper noun.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

צִיּוֹן 154 n.pr.loc. Ṣiyyôn, Zion

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6726 צִיּוֹן Ṣiyyôn, Zion

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6726 Tsiyown tsee-yone'

the same (regularly) as 6725; Tsijon (as a permanent

capital), a mountain of Jerusalem:--Zion.

see HEBREW for 06725

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

צִיּוֹן (tsiy.yon) — Zion.

Zion = "parched place"

another name for Jerusalem especially in the prophetic books

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

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-proper — Noun proper
HNpl
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

zi'-on (tsiyon; Sion):

1. Meaning of the Word

2. The Zion of the Jebusites

3. Zion of the Prophets

4. Zion in Later Poetical Writings and Apocrypha

5. Omission of Name by Some Writers

6. The Name "Zion" in Christian Times

LITERATURE

1. Meaning of the Word:

A name applied to Jerusalem, or to certain parts of it, at least since the time of David. Nothing certain is known of the meaning. Gesenius and others have derived it from a Hebrew root tsahah, "to be dry"; Delitzsch from tsiwwah, "to set up" and Wetzstein from tsin, "to protect." Gesenius finds a more hopeful suggestion in the Arabic equivalent cihw, the Arabic cahwat signifying "ridge of a mountain" or "citadel," which at any rate suitably applies to what we know to have been the original Zion (compare Smith, HGHL, under the word).

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Zion

Sunny; height, one of the eminences on which Jerusalem was built. It was surrounded on all sides, except the north, by deep valleys, that of the Tyropoeon (q.v.) separating it from Moriah (q.v.), which it surpasses in height by 105 feet. It was the south-eastern hill of Jerusalem.

When David took it from the Jebusites (Josh. 15:63; 2 Sam. 5:7) he built on it a citadel and a palace, and it became “the city of David” (1 Kings 8:1; 2 Kings 19:21, 31; 1 Chr. 11:5). In the later books of the Old Testament this name was sometimes used (Ps. 87:2; 149:2;

those [who] trust in Yahweh [are] like [the] mountain of Zion [which] not it will be shaken [which] for ever it will remain
לֹא־lo'- [which] not H3808 Particle
5,170× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for not or no is used to indicate absence or negation, as when God says no to the Israelites' requests, or when they disobey His commands.
Tyndale gloss
not
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

לֹא (lo') is a Hebrew word meaning 'not' or 'no.' It serves as a simple negation and can imply absence or prohibition. The word can also be used in various contexts, often combined with other particles for emphasis or clarification. Its Aramaic equivalent is לָא (la), which also means 'not.'

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

לֹא or לוֹא adv. not

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3808 לֹא or לוֹא not

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3808 lo' lo

or lowi {lo}; or loh (Deut. 3:11) {lo}; a primitive particle;

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often

used with other particles (as follows):--X before, + or else,

ere, + except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never,

no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), (X as though...,(can-), for) not (out

of), of nought, otherwise, out of, + surely, + as truly as, +

of a truth, + verily, for want, + whether, without.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

לֹא (lo) — not.

1) not, no

1a) not (with verb-absolute prohibition)

1b) not (with modifier-negation)

1c) nothing (subst)

1d) without (with particle)

1e) before (of time)

Aramaic equivalent: la (לָא "not" H3809)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Part — Particle
HTn
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
those [who] trust in Yahweh [are] like [the] mountain of Zion [which] not it will be shaken [which] for ever it will remain
יִ֝מּ֗וֹטyi.Mot it will be shaken H4131 Verb · Niphal · imperfect third person masculine singular
38× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to shake or waver, like something that's unstable. It appears in books like Psalms and Proverbs, to describe things that are falling apart or unstable. The KJV translates it as 'be carried' or 'fall'.
Amplified meaning
shaken, removed
Tyndale gloss
to shake
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[מוֹט] vb. totter, shake, slip

Qal totter, slip

Niph. be shaken, moved, overthrown

Hiph. dislodge, let fall, drop

Hithpo‛l. be greatly shaken

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4131 [מוֹט] totter, shake, slip

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4131 mowt mote

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

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

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

ready, shake, slide, slip.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מוֹט (mot) — to shake.

1) to totter, shake, slip

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

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

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

1d) (Hithpael) to be greatly shaken

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Niphal-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Niphal · imperfect third person masculine singular
HVNi3ms
those [who] trust in Yahweh [are] like [the] mountain of Zion [which] not it will be shaken [which] for ever it will remain
לְעוֹלָ֥םle.'o.Lam [which] for ever H5769 Preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
438× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means forever or always, describing something that lasts an eternity. It is used in the Bible to describe God's eternal nature and his lasting promises.
Amplified meaning
eternally, to the age
Tyndale gloss
forever: antiquity
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

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

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5769 עוֹלָם long duration, antiquity, futurity

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5769 `owlam o-lawm'

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(+ without end). Compare 5331, 5703.

see HEBREW for 05956

see HEBREW for 05331

see HEBREW for 05703

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עוֹלָם (o.lam) — forever: enduring.

: enduring/eternal

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

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

1b) (of future)

1b1) for ever, always

1b2) continuous existence, perpetual

1b3) everlasting, indefinite or unending future, eternity

עוֹלָם (o.lam) — Everlasting.

This name means long duration, everlasting, perpetual

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

עוֹלָם (o.lam) — forever: any time.

: any_time

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

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

1b) (of future)

1b1) for ever, always

1b2) continuous existence, perpetual

1b3) everlasting, indefinite or unending future, eternity

עוֹלָם (o.lam) — forever: antiquity.

: old/ancient

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
HR/Ncmsa
those [who] trust in Yahweh [are] like [the] mountain of Zion [which] not it will be shaken [which] for ever it will remain
יֵשֵֽׁב׃ye.Shev it will remain H3427 Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singular
1,079× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This verb means to sit or dwell, and can also mean to remain or abide. It's used in the Bible to describe people living in a place or staying with someone, like in the book of Genesis.
Amplified meaning
remains, dwells
Tyndale gloss
to dwell
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יָשַׁב (yashab) is a Hebrew verb meaning to sit, remain, or dwell. It encompasses a range of actions from simply sitting down to more complex ideas like establishing a home or causing a place to be inhabited. The entries indicate various forms, including Qal (to sit), Niphal (to be inhabited), and Hiphil (to cause to dwell). There is an Aramaic equivalent, יְתִב (ye.tiv), meaning 'to dwell'.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יָשַׁב 1090 vb. sit, remain, dwell

Qal

sit

sit, sit down

sit down

sit = be set (as a jewel)

remain, stay, tarry

with special emphasis of qualifying phr.

dwell, have one’s abode

of a land or city, sit, abide, seated in its place, fig. for be inhabited

Niph. be inhabited, of land

Pi. and they shall set their encampments in thee

Hiph.

cause to sit

cause to abide

cause to dwell

cause cities to be inhabited

marry (prop. give a dwelling to)

Hoph. and ye be made to dwell alone in the midst of the land

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3427 יָשַׁב sit, remain, dwell

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3427 yashab yaw-shab'

a primitive root; properly, to sit down (specifically as

judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to

remain; causatively, to settle, to marry:--(make to)

abide(-ing), continue, (cause to, make to) dwell(-ing), ease

self, endure, establish, X fail, habitation, haunt, (make to)

inhabit(-ant), make to keep (house), lurking, X marry(-ing),

(bring again to) place, remain, return, seat, set(- tle),

(down-)sit(-down, still, -ting down, -ting (place) -uate),

take, tarry.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יָשַׁב (ya.shav) — to dwell.

1) to dwell, remain, sit, abide

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to sit, sit down

1a2) to be set

1a3) to remain, stay

1a4) to dwell, have one's abode

1b) (Niphal) to be inhabited

1c) (Piel) to set, place

1d) (Hiphil)

1d1) to cause to sit

1d2) to cause to abide, set

1d3) to cause to dwell

1d4) to cause (cities) to be inhabited

1d5) to marry (give an dwelling to)

1e) (Hophal)

1e1) to be inhabited

1e2) to make to dwell

Aramaic equivalent: ye.tiv (יְתִב "to dwell" H3488)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singular
HVqi3ms
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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