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Psalms 128:1 — Word Study

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WLCאַ֭שְׁרֵי כָּל־ יְרֵ֣א יְהוָ֑ה הַ֝הֹלֵ֗ךְ בִּדְרָכָֽיו׃

BSAA songshîyr of ascentsmaʻălâh Blessedʼesher [happy, fortunate] are allkôl who fearyârêʼ [reverence, have awe for] the LORDYᵉhôvâh [Yehovah, the covenant God] who walkhâlak [follow, journey] in His waysderek [paths, manner of life]

Word
Listen & take awayPsalms 128
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 (bid.ra.Khav) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Psalms 128:1quick helps
In a sentenceThe psalmist declares that those who fear the LORD and follow His ways are truly blessed.
Who is speakingThe psalmist, reflecting on the nature of true happiness.
Where we areA wisdom psalm that outlines the blessings of living in reverence to God.
The hard wordאַ֭שְׁרֵי
Take awayBlessedness comes from fearing the LORD and walking in His ways.
7 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Trapp, AdamClarke & more — read them › clause The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
How rare are these words?in the Old Testament

Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.

Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.

Deep Study — Psalms 128:1

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 Blessings of the God-Fearinggenerated

1Blessed are all who fear the LORD, who walk in His ways!
2For when you eat the fruit of your labor, blessings and prosperity will be yours.
3Your wife will be like a fruitful vine flourishing within your house, your sons like olive shoots sitting around your table.
4In this way indeed shall blessing come to the man who fears the LORD.

Psalm 128:1 emphasizes the blessed state of those who fear the LORD and walk in His ways. This psalm highlights the connection between reverence for God and the resulting blessings in life, including prosperity and harmony in the home, as elaborated in the following verses. The psalmist paints a picture of a fulfilled life that aligns with God's intentions, encouraging readers to embrace a path of righteousness.


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 אַ֭שְׁרֵי, 'Ash.reigenerated

The word אַ֭שְׁרֵי ('Ash.rei) is a noun that expresses happiness or blessedness, often used to exclaim how fortunate someone is. It is derived from the root אֶ֫שֶׁר (esher), which signifies joy and fulfillment. In this verse, it introduces the idea that true happiness is found in a relationship with God.

This term is commonly used in the Hebrew Bible to express a state of being blessed, particularly in the context of living according to God's will. It serves as an invitation to recognize the joy that comes from fearing the LORD, which is further emphasized in the surrounding verses.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

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


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main verb of the verse is הַ֝הֹלֵ֗ךְ (ha.ho.Lekh), which governs the entire clause. The structure begins with the predicate אַ֭שְׁרֵי ('Ash.rei), indicating the blessedness of those who fear the LORD.

The sentence is constructed with a noun phrase followed by a participial phrase, creating a clear relationship between fearing God and walking in His ways. This arrangement emphasizes the connection between the two actions and their resulting blessings.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

In the Septuagint, אַ֭שְׁרֵי is rendered as μακάριοι (makarioi), which also means 'blessed' or 'happy.' This choice aligns with the Hebrew meaning, maintaining the focus on the state of being blessed.

The Greek translation reflects the same sentiment found in the Hebrew text, emphasizing the significance of fearing the LORD and the joy that accompanies such a life.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Psalm 128:1 tells us that those who fear the LORD and walk in His ways are blessed. This psalm highlights the happiness that comes from living a life in reverence to God, suggesting that such a life leads to prosperity and fulfillment.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean to fear the LORD?

Fearing the LORD means having a deep respect and reverence for God, recognizing His power and authority, and living in a way that honors Him.

How can I walk in His ways?

Walking in His ways involves following God's teachings and commandments, striving to live a life that reflects His character and values.

What are some examples of blessings mentioned in this psalm?

The psalm mentions blessings such as prosperity from one's labor and a harmonious family life, symbolized by a fruitful vine and olive shoots.

Is this psalm applicable to everyone?

Yes, the psalm states that all who fear the LORD can experience these blessings, indicating that this promise is available to anyone who chooses to live in reverence to God.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. What does it look like to fear the LORD in my daily life?
  2. How can I encourage others to walk in God's ways?
  3. In what areas of my life do I need to seek God's guidance more earnestly?
  4. What blessings have I experienced as a result of my faithfulness to God?

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

Early Church Fathers commented on this psalm to highlight the blessings of fearing the LORD and living righteously. Their insights are provided here.

Augustine of HippoExposition on Psalms 128 354–430
"Blessed are all they that fear the Lord, and walk in His ways" [Psalms 128:1].
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 128 →
Theodoret of CyrusCOMMENTARY ON THE Psalms 128:2 c. 393–460
“Blessed are all who fear the Lord.” The inspired word declared blessed not the one from Abraham’s stock or from Israel’s seed but the person adorned with the fear of God.
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 128 →
CassiodorusEXPOSITIONS OF THE Psalms 127:1 c. 485–585
When he says, “Blessed are all who fear the Lord,” he shows that they are not blessed who fear with troubled mind the dangers of the world when temporal property is lost.
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 128 →

Commentators on this verse — 7 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Psalms 128:1 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

Blessed [is] everyone that feareth the Lord,.... Be he who he will; of whatsoever nation, Jew or Gentile; of whatsoever sex, age, or condition, high or low, rich or poor, Acts 10:35; such an one is

Read John Gill on Psalms 128 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways. Psalms 128:1-6.-The fear of God brings blessedness. Israel, returned from Babylon, and suffering through the Samaritan foes, is hereby comforted.

Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 128 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Psalms 128:1 « A Song of degrees. » Blessed [is] every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways.Ver. 1. Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord] This psalm is fitly subjoined to the former, and it is λογοςεπιθαλαμιος, a kind of wedding sermon, written for the instruction and comfort of married couples, and showing that Coniugium humanae est divina Academia vitae. And it is to be observed that here all men are spoken to as wedded; because this is the ordinary estate of most people. See 1 Corinthians 7:1-2. At this day every Jew is bound to marry about eighteen years of age, or before twenty.; else he is accounted as one that liveth in sin; and how the Popish clergy, professing…

Read John Trapp on Psalms 128 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

PSALM CXXVIII The blessedness of the man that fears the Lord, 1. He is blessed in his labour, 2; in his wife and children, 3, 4; in the ordinances of God, 5; and in a long life and numerous posterity, 6. NOTES ON PSALM CXXVIII This Psalm has no title, either in the Hebrew or any of the Versions; though the Syriac supposes it to have been spoken of Zerubbabel, prince of Judah, who was earnestly engaged in building the temple of the Lord. It seems to be a continuation of the preceding Psalm, or rather the second part of it. The man who is stated to have a numerous offspring, in the preceding Psalm, is here represented as sitting at table with his large family. A person in the mean while…

Read AdamClarke on Psalms 128 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

1–3. Domestic happiness the reward of godliness.

Read Cambridge on Psalms 128 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord - That honors God; that is truly pious. See the notes at Psalms 1:1; Psalms 112:1. What that blessedness is, is indicated in the following verses.

Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 128 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

1. Blessed—Oh the blessings of every one fearing Jehovah! The ΰωׁ ?ψι, (ashrey,) “blessed,” happy, with which the author begins, and which characterizes the God-seeking man, is contrasted with the ωׁ

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Psalms 128 →

The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company

Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.

Modern formal

BSBBerean Standard Bible2020

Blessed are all who fear the LORD, who walk in His ways!

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Blessed is everyone who fears Yahweh, who walks in his ways.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

A song of ascents. Blessed are all who fear the LORD, who walk in His ways!

NETBNew English Translation2006

How blessed is every one of the Lord’s loyal followers, each one who keeps his commands!

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

Blessed is every one that feareth Jehovah, That walketh in his ways.

RVARevised Version, American1894

Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD, that walketh in his ways.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

A Song of degrees. Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

A song of degrees. Blessed is euery one that feareth the Lord and walketh in his wayes.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

Blessed is every one that feareth Jehovah, that walketh in his ways.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

A Song of the Ascents. O the happiness of every one fearing Jehovah, Who is walking in His ways.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

A SONG OF THE ASCENTS. O the blessedness of everyone fearing YHWH, || Who is walking in His ways.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

“A song of the degrees.” Happy is every one that feareth the Lord, that walketh in his ways.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Blessed is everyone who honors Yahweh, who walks in his ways.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

Often have they fought against me from my youth, let Israel now say.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

Happy are all those who worship the Lord, everyone who follows his ways!

BBEBible in Basic English1949

Happy is the worshipper of the Lord, who is walking in his ways.

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.ascentsclausepredicateאַ֭שְׁרֵיhow.blessed!noun phrase · subjectכָּל[is].everynoun phrasenoun phraseיְרֵ֣א[one].fearingיְהוָ֑ה(of).Yahwehnoun phraseהַ֝[who]noun phraseclauseverbהֹלֵ֗ךְwalksprepositional phrase · prepositionalבִּinnoun phraseדְרָכָֽיwaysוhis

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


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

The Masoretic Text of Psalms 128:1 reads, "אַ֭שְׁרֵי כָּל־ יְרֵ֣א יְהוָ֑ה הַ֝הֹלֵ֗ךְ בִּדְרָכָֽיו׃" which translates to "Blessed are all who fear the LORD, who walk in His ways!" The Septuagint agrees with the Masoretic Text in all six words, indicating a strong alignment between these two ancient texts. Both the Samaritan Pentateuch and the Dead Sea Scrolls are not directly referenced here, but the agreement of the Septuagint with the Masoretic Text is a notable fact, showing consistency in this verse across these ancient witnesses.

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

אַ֭שְׁרֵי כָּל־ יְרֵ֣א יְהוָ֑ה הַ֝הֹלֵ֗ךְ בִּדְרָכָֽיו׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
אַ֭שְׁרֵיὠιδὴכָּל־τῶνיְרֵ֣אἀναβαθμῶνיְהוָ֑הμακάριοιהַ֝הֹלֵ֗ךְφοβούμενοιבִּדְרָכָֽיו׃πορευόμενοι

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.

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 128:1אֶ֫שֶׁרhow blessedhow blessed!אֶ֫שֶׁרכֹּל[is] every[is] everyכֹּליָרֵא[one] feari[one] fearingיָרֵאיהוהYahwehYahwehיהוההָלַךְwho walkswho walksהָלַךְדֶּ֫רֶךְin ways hisin ways hisדֶּ֫רֶךְאָשַׁרto blessto blessאָשַׁרכָּלַלto perfectto perfectכָּלַליָרֵאto fearto fearיָרֵאהָיָהto beto beהָיָהדָּרַךְto treadto treadדָּרַךְהָלַךְto walkto walkהָלַךְגֶּ֫בֶרgreat mangreat manגֶּ֫בֶרעֵדָהcongregaticongregationעֵדָהעֲבֹדָהserviceserviceעֲבֹדָהתָּםcompletecompleteתָּםיָשָׁרJasharJasharיָשָׁרנְאֻםutteranceutteranceנְאֻםצָבָאarmyarmyצָבָאדֶּ֫רֶךְway: roadway: roadדֶּ֫רֶךְחֻקָּהstatutestatuteחֻקָּהפָּנָהCorner (GaCorner (Gate)פָּנָהצָפוֹןZaphonZaphonצָפוֹן
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 128:1

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

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

how blessed! [is] every [one] fearing Yahweh who walks in ways his
אַ֭שְׁרֵי'Ash.rei how blessed! H835 Noun common · masculine plural construct
45× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means happiness or blessedness, often used to express how happy someone is. It appears in the Bible as an interjection, similar to 'how happy!' In the KJV, it is translated as 'blessed' or 'happy'.
Amplified meaning
happy, fortunate
Tyndale gloss
blessed
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

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

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H835 [אֶ֫שֶׁר, or אָשָׁר] happiness, blessedness

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

835 'esher eh'-sher

from 833; happiness; only in masculine plural construction as

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

see HEBREW for 0833

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֶ֫שֶׁר (e.sher) — blessed.

1) happiness, blessedness

1a) often used as interjection

1b) blessed are

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

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

See BEATITUDES.

how blessed! [is] every [one] fearing Yahweh who walks in ways his
כָּל־kol- [is] every H3605 Noun common · masculine singular construct
5,415× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for 'all' or 'everything' is used throughout the Bible, like in Genesis 1:31, where God sees all He has made as very good. It encompasses the entirety of something, whether people, things, or situations.
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
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular construct
HNcmsc
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
how blessed! [is] every [one] fearing Yahweh who walks in ways his
יְרֵ֣אye.Re' [one] fearing H3373 Adj
64× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word describes someone who is afraid or fearful, and is also used to convey a sense of reverence or respect. It's often translated as 'afraid' in the KJV. In the Bible, it's used to describe people's reactions to God or scary situations.
Amplified meaning
reverence, have awe for
Tyndale gloss
afraid
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יָרֵא (yare') is an adjective and verb derived from the root יָרֵא (H3372), meaning 'to fear.' It encompasses meanings such as 'afraid' and 'reverent.' The entries indicate a moral aspect to fear, suggesting a sense of reverence alongside being fearful.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יָרֵא adj. verb. v. supr. [j.df.aa] Pt.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3373 יָרֵא adj. verb. v. supr. [3372] Pt.

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3373 yare' yaw-ray'

from 3372; fearing; morally, reverent:--afraid, fear (-ful).

see HEBREW for 03372

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יָרֵא (ya.re) — afraid.

fearing, reverent, afraid

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adj — Adj
HAamsc
how blessed! [is] every [one] fearing Yahweh who walks in ways his
יְהוָ֑הYah.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 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
how blessed! [is] every [one] fearing Yahweh who walks in ways his
הַ֝הֹלֵ֗ךְha.ho.Lekh who walks H1980 Particle · verb qal participle (active) masculine singular
1,549× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Means to walk or go, used in many different contexts in the Bible. It can describe physical movement, but also spiritual or emotional journeys. Appears in various forms, such as 'to go' or 'to walk'.
Amplified meaning
follow, journey
Tyndale gloss
to go: walk
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

הָלַךְ 1546 vb. go, come, walk

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

lit.

of persons

Also of animals, in similar meanings and combinations

in like manner of inanimate things

The inf. abs. is often used

as in other vbs., quite independently

to intensify meaning of finite form

most noteworthy is the joining of the Inf. abs.

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

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

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

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

quite by itself

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

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

In combination with other verbal forms

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

pass away, die

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Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

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

. Also of animals, in similar meanings and combinations

. in like manner of inanimate things

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

. to intensify meaning of finite form

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

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

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

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

. quite by itself

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

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

. In combination with other verbal forms

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Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1980 halak haw-lak'

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

see HEBREW for 03212

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

הָלַךְ (ha.lakh) — to go: went.

: went/go[away]

1) to go, walk, come

1a) (Qal)

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

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

1b) (Piel)

1b1) to walk

1b2) to walk (fig.)

1c) (Hithpael)

1c1) to traverse

1c2) to walk about

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

הָלַךְ (ha.lakh) — to go: come.

: come[nearer]

1) to go, walk, come

1a) (Qal)

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

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

1b) (Piel)

1b1) to walk

1b2) to walk (fig.)

1c) (Hithpael)

1c1) to traverse

1c2) to walk about

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

הָלַךְ (ha.lakh) — to go: walk.

: walk/move

1) to go, walk, come

1a) (Qal)

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

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

1b) (Piel)

1b1) to walk

1b2) to walk (fig.)

1c) (Hithpael)

1c1) to traverse

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Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Art | V-Qal — Particle · verb qal participle (active) masculine singular
HTd/Vqrmsa
how blessed! [is] every [one] fearing Yahweh who walks in ways his
בִּדְרָכָֽיו׃bid.ra.Khav in ways his H1870 Preposition · noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
708× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Derek refers to a road or path, and can also mean a way of life or manner of action. It is often used to describe a journey or direction, and can be used figuratively to describe a person's character or moral path.
Amplified meaning
paths, manner of life
Tyndale gloss
way: road
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

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

way, road, path

journey

of direction, almost or quite = toward

way, manner

fig. of course of life, or action, undertakings

of moral action and character

of duty

specif.: in good sense

oftener in bad sense

way of י׳

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

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

. journey

. of direction, almost or quite = toward

. way, manner

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

. . of moral action and character

. of duty

. specif.: in good sense

. oftener in bad sense

. way of י׳

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1870 derek deh'-rek

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

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

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

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

whither(-soever).

see HEBREW for 01869

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

דֶּ֫רֶךְ (de.rekh) — way: conduct.

: conduct/lifestyle

1) way, road, distance, journey, manner

1a) road, way, path

1b) journey

1c) direction

1d) manner, habit, way

1e) of course of life (fig.)

1f) of moral character (fig.)

דֶּ֫רֶךְ (de.rekh) — Way.

This name means way, road

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

This name means way, road

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

דֶּ֫רֶךְ (de.rekh) — way: direction.

: direction

1) way, road, distance, journey, manner

1a) road, way, path

1b) journey

1c) direction

1d) manner, habit, way

1e) of course of life (fig.)

1f) of moral character (fig.)

דֶּ֫רֶךְ (de.rekh) — way: road.

: road/route

1) way, road, distance, journey, manner

1a) road, way, path

1b) journey

1c) direction

1d) manner, habit, way

1e) of course of life (fig.)

1f) of moral character (fig.)

דֶּ֫רֶךְ (de.rekh) — way: journey.

: journey

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-cp | Suff — Preposition · noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
HR/Ncmpc/Sp3ms
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

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

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

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