Menu

Psalms 126:3 — Word Study

Depth

WLCהִגְדִּ֣יל יְ֭הוָה לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת עִמָּ֗נוּ הָיִ֥ינוּ שְׂמֵחִֽים׃

BSAThe LORDYᵉhôvâh [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] has doneʻâsâh [to make, brought about] greatgâdal things for usʻim [wonderful, magnificent works] we arehâyâh filled with joysâmêach [completely joyful, glad, happiness, rejoicing]

Word
Listen & take awayPsalms 126
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 3 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 (se.me.Chim) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Psalms 126:3quick helps
In a sentenceThe LORD has done great things for His people, and they respond with joy.
Who is speakingThe psalmist, reflecting on God's actions.
Where we areA psalm of thanksgiving, celebrating God's blessings.
The hard wordהִגְדִּ֣יל
Take awayGod's greatness brings joy to His people.
6 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Trapp, AdamClarke & more — read them › clause subjectיהוה verbגָּדַל 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 126:3

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 Psalm of Thanksgivinggenerated

2Then our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with shouts of joy. Then it was said among the nations, “The LORD has done great things for them.”
3The LORD has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.
4Restore our captives, O LORD, like streams in the Negev.
5Those who sow in tears will reap with shouts of joy.

Psalm 126:3 celebrates the great things the LORD has done for His people, expressing their joy in response. The psalm reflects a time of restoration and blessing, where the people remember how God has acted on their behalf, leading to a communal expression of happiness.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Psalm 18:50Great salvation He brings to His king. He shows loving devotion to His anointed, to David and his descendants forever.
2Psalm 31:19How great is Your goodness which You have laid up for those who fear You, which You have bestowed before the sons of men on those who take refuge in You!
3Psalm 66:5–6Come and see the works of God; how awesome are His deeds toward mankind.
4Psalm 68:7–8O God, when You went out before Your people, when You marched through the wasteland, Selah
5Ezra 7:27–28Blessed be the LORD, the God of our fathers, who has put into the heart of the king to so honor the house of the LORD in Jerusalem,

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 14 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word הִגְדִּ֣יל, hig.Dilgenerated

The verb הִגְדִּיל (hig.Dil) is a Hiphil perfect form of the root גָּדַל (gadal), meaning 'to magnify' or 'to make great'. It conveys the idea of God making something significant or powerful, emphasizing His actions in a way that brings about a profound impact.

This word is used throughout the Hebrew Bible to describe God's mighty acts, suggesting that the greatness attributed to God is not just in His nature but also in His deeds. The use of the perfect tense indicates that these actions have been completed and are recognized by the community.


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. The BSB has great things, and so do the KJV and ASV: all three maintain the sense of God's significant actions.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The finite verb הִגְדִּ֣יל (hig.Dil) governs the entire verse, with a subject and two clauses following it. The structure emphasizes God's action first, followed by the response of His people.

The sentence is built around the main verb, indicating that God's great deeds lead directly to the state of being joyful, which is expressed by the people.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates הִגְדִּ֣יל as ἐμεγάλυνεν (emegalynen), which means 'He has made great'. This choice reflects a direct correspondence to the Hebrew meaning but also carries a sense of divine action that is evident in the Greek.

The use of κύριος for יְ֭הוָה emphasizes the lordship of God, aligning with the Greek understanding of God's authority and power.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Psalm 126:3 tells us that the LORD has done great things for His people, leading them to be filled with joy. This verse captures a moment of celebration and gratitude for God's blessings.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean that the LORD has done great things for us?

It refers to the significant acts of God in the lives of His people, bringing about restoration and blessings that lead to joy.

How do we express our joy for what God has done?

We express our joy through worship, thanksgiving, and sharing our experiences of God's goodness with others.

Why is joy an important response to God's actions?

Joy reflects our recognition of God's goodness and faithfulness, and it strengthens our relationship with Him and with one another.

Can we find examples of God's great things in our lives today?

Yes, we can look for ways God has provided, protected, and guided us, which can bring us joy and gratitude.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. What are some great things the LORD has done in your life that bring you joy?
  2. How can you share your joy with others as a testimony of God's goodness?
  3. In what ways can you cultivate a spirit of gratitude in your daily life?
  4. How does recognizing God's actions impact your relationship with Him?

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

The early Church Father Augustine of Hippo references this verse to emphasize the joy derived from God's great deeds, illustrating its significance in the life of believers.

Augustine of HippoExposition on Psalms 126 354–430
"Yea, the Lord has done great things for us already, whereof we rejoice" [Psalms 126:3].
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 126 →

Commentators on this verse — 6 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Psalms 126:3 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

The Lord hath done great things for us,.... These words are generally supposed to be the words of the Jews, taking up those of the Gentiles, and confirming them; acknowledging that the Lord had done

Read John Gill on Psalms 126 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad. The Lord hath dons great things for us; (whereof) we are glad.

Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 126 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Psalms 126:3 The LORD hath done great things for us; [whereof] we are glad.Ver. 3. The Lord hath done great things] q.d. It is a shame, then, for us not to say so, much more; and, by a holy avarice, to take the praises out of their mouths, who are no sharers in it, but spectators only. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, speaking good of his name.

Read John Trapp on Psalms 126 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 3. The Lord hath done great things for us] We acknowledge the hand of our God. Deus nobis haec otia fecit, "God alone has given us this enlargement." We are glad.] This is a mere burst of ecstatic joy. O how happy are we!

Read AdamClarke on Psalms 126 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

3. The community appropriates the words of the nations, and recalls the joy of that wonderful time: Jehovah did great things for us: we were glad.

Read Cambridge on Psalms 126 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The Lord hath done great things for us - All that the people around us say is true. We see it; we feel it; we acknowledge it. Those to whom this pertained would see it more clearly than those who had merely observed it.

Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 126 →

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

The LORD has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Yahweh has done great things for us, and we are glad.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

The LORD has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.

NETBNew English Translation2006

The Lord did indeed accomplish great things for us. We were happy.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

Jehovah hath done great things for us, Whereof we are glad.

RVARevised Version, American1894

The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

The LORD hath done great things for us; of which we are glad.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

The Lord hath done great things for vs, whereof we reioyce.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

Jehovah hath done great things for us; [and] we are joyful.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

Jehovah did great things with us, We have been joyful.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

YHWH did great things with us, || We have been joyful.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

Great things would the Lord have done for us, [whereat] we should be joyful.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Yahweh did great things for us; how glad we were!

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

Behold the inheritance of the Lord are children: the reward, the fruit of the womb.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

The Lord certainly has done wonderful things for us. How happy we were!

BBEBible in Basic English1949

The Lord has done great things for us; because of which we are glad.

Word by word, the decisions they made

שְׂמֵחִֽים׃se.me.Chim joyful H8056 2 different renderings
gladASV BBE KJV NWB RVA ULB WEB
joyfulDBY ILT LSV YLT

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.

clauseverbהִגְדִּ֣ילhe.has.made.greatsubjectיְ֭הוָהYahwehprepositional phrase · prepositionalלַtoclauseverbעֲשׂ֥וֹתdoprepositional phrase · prepositionalעִמָּ֗withנוּusclauseverbהָיִ֥ינוּwe.wereobjectשְׂמֵחִֽיםjoyful

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 align closely in their wording, with the Septuagint providing a faithful translation of the Hebrew. The Dead Sea Scrolls, while showing some restoration, agree with the Masoretic Text in the essential elements of the verse, confirming the actions of the LORD and the joy of His people.

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

הִגְדִּ֣יל יְ֭הוָה לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת עִמָּ֗נוּ הָיִ֥ינוּ שְׂמֵחִֽים׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
הִגְדִּ֣ילἐμεγάλυνενיְ֭הוָהκύριοςלַעֲשׂ֥וֹתποιῆσαιעִמָּ֗נוּἡμῶνהָיִ֥ינוּἐγενήθημενשְׂמֵחִֽים׃εὐφραινόμενοι

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 — 4Q87a copy a thousand years older than the Leningrad Codex

הגדיל [יהוה] [לעשות] [עמ׳נו] היינו שמחים

3 words on the leather — 3 supplied entire by an editor.

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

הגדיל יהוה לעשות עם׳נו היינו שמחים

5 words on the leather — 1 partly restored.

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 126:3גָּדַלhe has madehe has made greגָּדַליהוהYahwehYahwehיהוהעָשָׂהto doto doעָשָׂהעִםwith uswith usעִםהָיָהwe werewe wereהָיָהשָׂמֵחַjoyfuljoyfulשָׂמֵחַהָיָהto beto beהָיָהעָמַםto darkento darkenעָמַםשָׂמַחto rejoiceto rejoiceשָׂמַחגְּדִלִיםtasseltasselגְּדִלִיםהָוָאto fallto fallהָוָאיֶ֫לֶדyouthyouthיֶ֫לֶדתָּמִידcontinuallcontinuallyתָּמִידנְאֻםutteranceutteranceנְאֻםצָבָאarmyarmyצָבָאמְלָאכָהworkworkמְלָאכָהתּוֹעֵבַהabominatioabominationתּוֹעֵבַהשָׁכַבto lie dowto lie down: laשָׁכַבקָבַרto buryto buryקָבַרלֹאלֹאחֲצֹצְרָהtrumpettrumpetחֲצֹצְרָה
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 126:3

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.

he has made great Yahweh to do with us we were joyful
הִגְדִּ֣ילhig.Dil he has made great H1431 Verb · Hiphil · perfect third person masculine singular
117× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To make something or someone great, important, or powerful. This Hebrew word means to magnify or grow, and is used in the Bible to describe God's power and greatness. The KJV translates it as 'magnify' or 'great'.
Tyndale gloss
to magnify
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

גָּדַל (gadal) is a Hebrew verb meaning to grow up or become great. It encompasses a range of meanings including to magnify, promote, and make powerful. The word has various forms, such as Qal, Piel, and Hiphil, indicating different nuances of growth and greatness. Notably, it can also imply self-magnification.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

גָּדַל 115 vb. grow up, become great

Qal

grow up

become great

to be magnified

Pi.

cause to grow

make great, powerful

magnify

Pu. brought up

Hiph.

make great

magnify

do great things

Hithp. I will magnify myself

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1431 גָּדַל grow up, become great .. grow up

. become great

. to be magnified

. . cause to grow

. make great, powerful

. magnify

. brought up

. . make great

. magnify

. do great things

. I will magnify myself

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1431 gadal gaw-dal'

a primitive root; properly, to twist (compare 1434), i.e. to

be (causatively make) large (in various senses, as in body,

mind, estate or honor, also in pride):--advance, boast, bring

up, exceed, excellent, be(-come, do, give, make, wax),

great(-er, come to...estate, + things), grow(up),increase,

lift up, magnify(-ifical), be much set by, nourish (up), pass,

promote, proudly (spoken), tower.

see HEBREW for 01434

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

גָּדַל (ga.dal) — to magnify.

1) to grow, become great or important, promote, make powerful, praise, magnify, do great things

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to grow up

1a2) to become great

1a3) to be magnified

1b) (Piel)

1b1) to cause to grow

1b2) to make great, powerful

1b3) to magnify

1c) (Pual) to be brought up

1d) (Hiphil)

1d1) to make great

1d2) to magnify

1d3) to do great things

1e) (Hithpael) to magnify oneself

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Hiphil-Perf-3ms — Verb · Hiphil · perfect third person masculine singular
HVhp3ms
he has made great Yahweh to do with us we were joyful
יְ֭הוָהYah.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 covenant Name of God
Tyndale gloss
The Lord
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

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

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

יהוה is used with אלהים and suffixes, especially in D

the phrase † אֲנִי יהוה is noteworthy

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

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

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

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3068 Yhovah yeh-ho-vaw'

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

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

see HEBREW for 01961

see HEBREW for 03050

see HEBREW for 03069

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — LORD.

Jehovah = "the existing One"

1) the proper name of the one true God

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

יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — The Lord.

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

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

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

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-proper — Noun proper
HNpt
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
he has made great Yahweh to do with us we were joyful
לַעֲשׂ֥וֹתla.'a.Sot to do H6213 Preposition · verb qal infinitive construct common
2,629× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This verb means to make or do something, and is used over 2,600 times in the Bible. It is first used in Genesis 1:7 to describe God's creation of the world and is also used in Exodus 31:5 to describe the work of skilled craftsmen.
Amplified meaning
to make, brought about
Tyndale gloss
to make
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עָשָׂה (asah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to do or make, encompassing a wide range of actions such as producing, preparing, and observing. It can refer to both concrete and abstract activities, including making offerings and attending to tasks. The verb also has forms indicating passive meanings, such as being made or offered. Notably, the Piel form refers to pressing or squeezing.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עָשָׂה 2622 vb. do, make

Qal 2524

do (1560 t.)

deal with

oft. in phr. do kindness with

abs. act, act with effect

make (670 t.)

produce, yield

prepare, esp. of dressing and cooking food

make offering

attend to, put in order

observe, celebrate, religious festival

acquire property of various kinds

appoint priests

bring about of י׳’s effecting a deliverance

use

spend, pass, days of life

Niph.

97be done

be made, of concr. things

be produced from vine

be prepared, of food

be offered

be observed, passover

be used

Pu. I was made

base

[עָשָׂה] vb. Pi. press, squeeze

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6213a עָשָׂה do, make .. . do (1560 + t.)

. deal with

. oft. in phr. do kindness with

. abs. act, act with effect

. . make (670 + t.)

. produce, yield

. prepare, esp. of dressing and cooking food

. make offering

. attend to, put in order

. observe, celebrate, religious festival

. acquire property of various kinds

. appoint priests

. bring about of י׳’s effecting a deliverance

. use

. spend, pass, days of life

. . be done

. . be made, of concr. things

. be produced from vine

. be prepared, of food

. be offered

. be observed, passover

. be used

. I was made

H6213b עָשָׂה Pi. press, squeeze

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6213 `asah aw-saw'

a primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and

widest application (as follows):--accomplish, advance,

appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth,

bruise, be busy, X certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal

(with), deck, + displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in)

execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, + feast, (fight-)ing man, +

finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go

about, govern, grant, great, + hinder, hold ((a feast)), X

indeed, + be industrious, + journey, keep, labour, maintain,

make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, + officer, pare,

bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure,

provide, put, requite, X sacrifice, serve, set, shew, X sin,

spend, X surely, take, X thoroughly, trim, X very, + vex, be

(warr-)ior, work(-man), yield, use.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עָשָׂה (a.sah) — to make: do.

: do/perform

1) to do, fashion, accomplish, make

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to do, work, make, produce

1a1a) to do

1a1b) to work

1a1c) to deal (with)

1a1d) to act, act with effect, effect

1a2) to make

1a2a) to make

1a2b) to produce

1a2c) to prepare

1a2d) to make (an offering)

1a2e) to attend to, put in order

1a2f) to observe, celebrate

1a2g) to acquire (property)

1a2h) to appoint, ordain, institute

1a2i) to bring about

1a2j) to use

1a2k) to spend, pass

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be done

1b2) to be made

1b3) to be produced

1b4) to be offered

1b5) to be observed

1b6) to be used

1c) (Pual) to be made

עָשָׂה (a.sah) — to press.

(Piel) to press, squeeze

עָשָׂה (a.sah) — to make.

: make(OBJECT)

1) to do, fashion, accomplish, make

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to do, work, make, produce

1a1a) to do

1a1b) to work

1a1c) to deal (with)

1a1d) to act, act with effect, effect

1a2) to make

1a2a) to make

1a2b) to produce

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | V-Qal-Inf-a — Preposition · verb qal infinitive construct common
HR/Vqcc
he has made great Yahweh to do with us we were joyful
עִמָּ֗נוּ'i.Ma.nu with us H5973 Preposition · suffix
1,052× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means with or together, like when God is with his people in Exodus 33:14-15. It's used to describe accompaniment or association, and can also mean against or beside. The word is used to convey a sense of relationship or proximity between people or things.
Amplified meaning
wonderful, magnificent works
Tyndale gloss
with
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עִם (im) is a preposition meaning 'with' and covers a range of relationships, including companionship, locality, and possession. It can imply actions done jointly, equality, or even opposition in contexts like combat. The related form מֵעִם (me.im) means 'from with' or 'beside.' The entries reflect various nuances but do not present significant disagreement.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עִם prep. with

of fellowship and companionship

of aid

Of actions done jointly with another

If the common action be of the nature of a contest or combat, with in the sense of against

Of dealing with a person, or of the relation in which one stands with, or towards, another

Of a common lot together with the wicked

Of equality or resemblance generally aid

Of time, as long as

Of a locality, close to, beside

Of persons, עִם is spec.

in the house or family or service of

In possession of

In the custody or care of

Beside = except

With = friendly with

Idiom. of a thought or purpose present with one

Metaph. together with = in spite of, notwithstanding

base

מֵעִם 72 from with or beside

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5973a עִם with . of fellowship and companionship

. Of a locality, close to, beside

. Of persons, עִם is spec. . in the house or family or service of

. In possession of

. In the custody or care of

. Beside = except

. With = friendly with

. Idiom. of a thought or purpose present with one

. Metaph. together with = in spite of, notwithstanding

H5973b מֵעִם from with, beside

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5973 `im eem

from 6004; adverb or preposition, with (i.e. in conjunction

with), in varied applications; specifically, equally with;

often with prepositional prefix (and then usually

unrepresented in English):--accompanying, against, and, as (X

long as), before, beside, by (reason of), for all, from

(among, between), in, like, more than, of, (un-)to,

with(-al).

see HEBREW for 06004

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עִם (im) — with.

1) with

1a) with

1b) against

1c) toward

1d) as long as

מֵעִם (me.im) — from with.

1a) beside, except

1b) in spite of

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | Suff — Preposition · suffix
HR/Sp1bp
English usagewhat the translators’ English meant
Webster's Dictionary (1828), Webster's Unabridged (1913), Webster's Dictionary (1806)

US, pronoun objective case of we.

Give us this day our daily bread.

Us , pron. [OE. us, AS. s; akin to OFries. & OS. s, D. ons, G. uns, Icel. & Sw. oss, Dan. os, Goth. uns, L. nos we, us, Gr. we, Skr. nas us. . Cf. Nostrum, Our.] The persons speaking, regarded as an object; ourselves; — the objective case of we. See We. “Tell us a tale.” Chaucer.

Give us this day our daily bread. Matt. vi. 11.

Us, pron. oblique case of we

he has made great Yahweh to do with us we were joyful
הָיִ֥ינוּha.Yi.nu we were H1961 Verb · Qal · perfect first person common plural
3,562× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for to be means to exist or come into being. It is used to describe something that happens or comes to pass, like in Genesis where God creates the world.
Tyndale gloss
to be
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word הָיָה (hayah) is a primitive root meaning to exist or become, and it encompasses a range of meanings including to happen, occur, and come to pass. It is often used in narrative contexts, particularly in phrases like "and it came to pass." The word can also denote a state of being or existence, and it appears frequently in various forms throughout the Old Testament.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

הָיָה 3570 vb. fall out, come to pass, become, be

Qal

Fall out, happen

occur, take place, come about, come to pass

esp. & very oft., come about, come to pass

וַיְהִי and it came to pass that, most often (c. 292 t.)

rarely also Pf. c. וְ conj. וְהָיָה

less oft. וְהָיָה Pf. consec. and it shall come to pass, or frequentat. came to pass (repeatedly, etc.)

Come into being, become

abs., in lively narrative, arise, appear, come

sq. prep.

become

sq. pred. noun (to be viewed as implicit accus.)

sq. pred. adj.

become like

sq. pred. לְ pers.

sq. לְ pred.

oft. c. לְ pred. לְ pers.

with עַל and לְ

sts. c. לְ pers. only = became the property of, come into the possession of

Be (often with subbordinate idea of becoming)

exist, be in existence

abide, remain, continue

with word of locality, be in or at a place, be situated, stand, lie

as copula, joining subj. & pred.

Read the full entry →
Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1961 הָיָה fall out, come to pass, become, be .. . . Fall out, happen

. occur, take place, come about, come to pass

. esp. & very oft., come about, come to pass . . וַיְהִי and it came to pass that, most often (c. 292 t.)

. rarely also Pf. c. וְ conj. וְהָיָה

. less oft. וְהָיָה Pf. consec. and it shall come to pass, or frequentat. came to pass (repeatedly, etc.)

. Come into being, become . . abs., in lively narrative, arise, appear, come

. sq. prep.

. become . sq. pred. noun (to be viewed as implicit accus.)

. sq. pred. adj.

. become like

. sq. pred. + לְ pers.

. sq. לְ pred.

. oft. c. לְ pred. + לְ pers.

. with עַל and לְ

. sts. c. לְ pers. only = became the property of, come into the possession of

. Be (often with subbordinate idea of becoming) . exist, be in existence

. abide, remain, continue

Read the full entry →
Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1961 hayah haw-yaw

a primitive root (compare 1933); to exist, i.e. be or become,

come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or

auxiliary):--beacon, X altogether, be(-come), accomplished,

committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint,

fall, + follow, happen, X have, last, pertain, quit

(one-)self, require, X use.

see HEBREW for 01933

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

הָיָה (ha.yah) — to be.

1) to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out

1a) (Qal)

1a1) ---

1a1a) to happen, fall out, occur, take place, come about, come to pass

1a1b) to come about, come to pass

1a2) to come into being, become

1a2a) to arise, appear, come

1a2b) to become

1a2b1) to become

1a2b2) to become like

1a2b3) to be instituted, be established

1a3) to be

1a3a) to exist, be in existence

1a3b) to abide, remain, continue (with word of place or time)

1a3c) to stand, lie, be in, be at, be situated (with word of locality)

1a3d) to accompany, be with

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to occur, come to pass, be done, be brought about

1b2) to be done, be finished, be gone

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Perf-1cp — Verb · Qal · perfect first person common plural
HVqp1cp
he has made great Yahweh to do with us we were joyful
שְׂמֵחִֽים׃se.me.Chim joyful H8056 Adj
21× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word describes someone who is joyful or glad, like the Psalmist in Psalm 100:1, who invites all to rejoice and be glad in the Lord.
Amplified meaning
completely joyful, glad, happiness, rejoicing
Tyndale gloss
glad
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שָׂמֵחַ (sameach) means glad, joyful, or merry, and is derived from the root word for joy. It encompasses feelings of happiness and rejoicing, and can also refer to those who express joy. The entries consistently emphasize its positive connotations without notable disagreement.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שָׂמֵחַ adj.verb. glad, joyful, merry

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8056 שָׂמֵחַ glad, joyful, merry

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8056 sameach saw-may'-akh

from 8055; blithe or gleeful:--(be) glad, joyful, (making)

merry((-hearted), -ily), rejoice(-ing).

see HEBREW for 08055

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שָׂמֵחַ (sa.me.ach) — glad.

1) joyful, merry, glad

1a) joyful, showing joy

1b) you who rejoice (subst)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adj — Adj
HAampa
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.

Everything we make is available for free because of a generous community of supporters.

Donate