Menu

Psalms 135:3 — Word Study

Depth

WLCהַֽ֭לְלוּ־ יָהּ כִּי־ ט֣וֹב יְהוָ֑ה זַמְּר֥וּ לִ֝שְׁמ֗וֹ כִּ֣י נָעִֽים׃

BSAHallelujahhâlal [praise the Lord] forkîy the LORDYᵉhôvâh [Yehovah, the Lord of lords] is goodṭôwb [beneficial, pleasing] sing praiseszâmar [make music, celebrate] to His nameshêm [His identity, character] forkîy it is lovelynâʻîym [pleasant, wonderful, a sweet sound]

Word
Listen & take awayPsalms 135
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 (na.'Im) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Psalms 135:3quick helps
In a sentenceThe psalmist calls for praise to the LORD, affirming His goodness and inviting celebration of His name.
Who is speakingThe psalmist, addressing the people of Israel.
Where we areIn a hymn of praise, celebrating the character of God.
The hard wordנָעִים
Take awayThe LORD's goodness is a reason for joyful worship.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause subjectיהוה verbהָלַל 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 135:3

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 Call to Praisegenerated

2who stand in the house of the LORD, in the courts of the house of our God.
3Hallelujah, for the LORD is good; sing praises to His name, for it is lovely.
4For the LORD has chosen Jacob as His own, Israel as His treasured possession.
5For I know that the LORD is great; our Lord is above all gods.

Psalms 135:3 emphasizes the goodness of the LORD and encourages the faithful to sing praises to His name. The psalmist highlights the importance of worship and the joy that comes from recognizing God's character. This call to praise is part of a larger section that celebrates God's sovereignty and His choice of Israel as His people, as seen in the surrounding verses.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Psalm 106:1Hallelujah! Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His loving devotion endures forever.
2Psalm 107:1Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His loving devotion endures forever.
3Psalm 118:1Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His loving devotion endures forever.
4Psalm 119:68You are good, and You do what is good; teach me Your statutes.
5Psalm 136:1Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good. His loving devotion endures forever.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 11 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word הָלַל, Ha.lu-generated

The Hebrew word הָלַל (halal) is a verb in the Piel form, meaning to praise or celebrate, often in a way that may seem foolish or exuberant. It conveys the idea of shining or boasting, indicating a joyful proclamation of God's greatness.

This imperative form calls the community to action, urging them to express their praise collectively. The word encompasses a range of meanings from simple praise to a more boisterous celebration, reflecting the depth of joy found in worship.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses Hallelujah and emphasizes the goodness of the LORD. The translations generally agree on the call to praise and the affirmation of God's goodness.

Where they part company is with נָעִיםpleasant (BSB, KJV, ASV) versus wonderful (FBV). The former emphasizes sweetness and beauty, while the latter suggests a broader sense of admiration.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The verse consists of two main clauses linked by the conjunction כִּי (ki), which introduces the reason for the praise. The first clause is an imperative call to praise, while the second clause affirms the LORD's goodness.

The structure emphasizes the relationship between the act of praising and the character of God, showing that the recognition of His goodness naturally leads to worship.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

In the Septuagint, the Hebrew הָלַל is rendered as αἰνεῖτε (aineite), meaning 'praise' or 'give glory.' This choice maintains the call to worship but does not carry the same connotation of exuberance found in the Hebrew.

The translation of יְהוָ֑ה as κύριος (kyrios) reflects the common practice in the Greek Old Testament to denote the LORD, emphasizing His authority.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Psalms 135:3 calls the people to praise the LORD because He is good and to sing praises to His name because it is lovely. This verse highlights the joy and importance of worshiping God for His character and goodness.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean to praise the LORD?

To praise the LORD means to acknowledge His greatness and goodness, celebrating His character through worship and song.

Why is the LORD described as good?

The LORD is described as good because He is beneficial and pleasing, reflecting His nature and actions toward His people.

What is the significance of singing praises?

Singing praises is an expression of joy and gratitude, allowing believers to celebrate God's goodness and share that joy with others.

How does this verse connect to the overall theme of the Psalms?

This verse connects to the overall theme of the Psalms by emphasizing worship, gratitude, and the recognition of God's character and actions throughout history.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what ways have I experienced the goodness of the LORD in my life?
  2. How can I incorporate more praise into my daily routine?
  3. What does it mean for me to celebrate God's name in my community?
  4. How can I encourage others to recognize and praise the goodness of God?

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

Augustine of Hippo comments on this verse, arguing for the goodness of the Lord as a reason for praise.

Augustine of HippoExposition on Psalms 135 354–430
What reason shall I give why you should praise Him? "Because the Lord is good" [Psalms 135:3]. Briefly in one word is here explained the praise of the Lord our God.
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 135 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Psalms 135:3 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

Praise ye the Lord, for the Lord [is] good,.... Essentially and communicatively; he is good, and he does good, in a providential way, to all men; and in a way of special grace to his own people; for

Read John Gill on Psalms 135 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

Praise the LORD; for the LORD is good: sing praises unto his name; for it is pleasant. Sing praises unto his name; for it is pleasant - or 'lovely;' i:e., His name (i:e., Himself in His manifested attributes) is lovely.

Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 135 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Is good; bountiful and gracious, especially to you, and therefore he justly expects and deserves your praises. Is pleasant; the work itself of singing praises to God is pleasant, as it is more fully expressed, .

Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 135 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Psalms 135:3 Praise the LORD; for the LORD [is] good: sing praises unto his name; for [it is] pleasant.Ver. 3. Praise the Lord; for the Lord is good] sc. Originally, transcendently, effectively; he is good and doeth good, Psalms 119:68, and is therefore to be praised with mind, mouth, and practice. For it is pleasant] An angelical exercise, and, to the spiritually minded man, very delicious. To others, indeed, who have no true notion of God but as of an enemy, it is but as music at funerals, or as the trumpet before a judge, no comfort to the mourning wife, or guilty prisoner.

Read John Trapp on Psalms 135 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(3) Sing praises.—Rather, play.For it is pleasant—i.e., thus to sing hallelujah. (See Psalms 147:1; Proverbs 22:18. Others take name as the subject, and the Prayer-Book version suggested to Crashaw the beautiful hymn beginning “Come lovely name,” &c.

Read Charles John Ellicott on Psalms 135 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 3. The Lord is good] Here is the first reason why he should be praised; and a second is subjoined: - For it is pleasant.] It is becoming to acknowledge this infinite Being, and our dependence on him; and it is truly comfortable to an upright mind to be thus employed.

Read AdamClarke on Psalms 135 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

3. for it is pleasant] Either ‘His name is lovely,’ or ‘it is pleasant to sing praise.’ Cp. Psalms 147:1.

Read Cambridge on Psalms 135 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good - See Psalms 107:1. Sing praises unto his name, for it is pleasant - See Psalms 33:1; Psalms 92:1. The idea here is, that it is a source of happiness, and that it is proper in itself.

Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 135 →

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

Hallelujah, for the LORD is good; sing praises to His name, for it is lovely.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Praise Yah, for Yahweh is good. Sing praises to his name, for that is pleasant.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

Hallelujah, for the LORD is good; sing praises to His name, for it is lovely.

NETBNew English Translation2006

Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good! Sing praises to his name, for it is pleasant!

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

Praise the LORD; for the LORD is good: sing praises unto his name; for it is pleasant.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

Praise ye Jehovah; for Jehovah is good: Sing praises unto his name; for it is pleasant.

RVARevised Version, American1894

Praise ye the LORD; for the LORD is good: sing praises unto his name; for it is pleasant.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

Praise the LORD; for the LORD is good; sing praises to his name; for it is pleasant.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Praise ye the Lord: for the Lord is good: sing praises vnto his Name: for it is a comely thing.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

Praise ye Jah; for Jehovah is good: sing psalms unto his name; for it is pleasant.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

Praise ye Jah! for Jehovah [is] good, Sing praise to His name, for [it is] pleasant.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

Praise YAH! For YHWH [is] good, || Sing praise to His Name, for [it is] pleasant.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

Hallelujah; for the Lord is good: sing praises unto his name; for it is lovely.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Praise Yahweh, for he is good; sing praises to his name, for it is pleasant to do so.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

Praise ye the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good; sing praises to his character because it is wonderful!

BBEBible in Basic English1949

Give praise to Jah, for he is good: make melody to his name, for it is pleasing.

Word by word, the decisions they made

נָעִֽים׃na.'Im [it is] pleasant H5273 2 different renderings
pleasantASV DBY KJV LSV NETB NWB RVA ULB WEB YLT
wonderfulFBV

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.

clauseverbהַֽ֭לְלוּpraiseobjectיָהּYahwehכִּי(dm)clausepredicateט֣וֹב[is].goodsubjectיְהוָ֑הYahwehclauseverbזַמְּר֥וּsing.praisesprepositional phrase · prepositionalלִ֝tonoun phraseשְׁמ֗nameוֹhisכִּ֣י(dm)clausepredicateנָעִֽים[it.is].pleasant

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 largely agree in their wording, with the Septuagint providing a slightly different structure. The Dead Sea Scrolls also align closely with the Masoretic Text, confirming the integrity of this verse across different manuscripts.

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

הַֽ֭לְלוּ־ יָהּ כִּי־ ט֣וֹב יְהוָ֑ה זַמְּר֥וּ לִ֝שְׁמ֗וֹ כִּ֣י נָעִֽים׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
הַֽ֭לְלוּ־αἰνεῖτεכִּי־ὅτιט֣וֹבἀγαθὸςיְהוָ֑הκύριοςזַמְּר֥וּψάλατεלִ֝שְׁמ֗וֹαὐτοῦכִּ֣יὅτιנָעִֽים׃καλόν

8 of the 9 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

הללו את יהוה כי טוב זמרו שמ׳ו כי נעים

9 words on the leather.

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


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

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

Psalms 135:3הָלַלpraisepraiseהָלַליָהּYahwehYahwehיָהּכִּיforforכִּיטוֹב[is] good[is] goodטוֹביהוהYahwehYahwehיהוהזמרsing praisesing praisesזמרשֵׁםto name histo name hisשֵׁםכִּיforforכִּינָעִים[it is] ple[it is] pleasanנָעִיםטוֹבbe pleasinbe pleasingטוֹבהָיָהto beto beהָיָהשׂוּםto set: mato set: makeשׂוּםנָעֵםbe pleasanbe pleasantנָעֵםיהוהThe LordThe Lordיהוהזָמַרto pruneto pruneזָמַריָדַעto knowto knowיָדַעיָהּLORDLORDיָהּזִמְרָהsongsongזִמְרָההָלַלto shineto shineהָלַליָשָׁרJasharJasharיָשָׁרמַרְאֶהappearanceappearanceמַרְאֶהנְאֻםutteranceutteranceנְאֻםצָבָאarmyarmyצָבָאכִּנּוֹרlyrelyreכִּנּוֹרקָרָאto call: cto call: call tקָרָאיָדָהto give thto give thanksיָדָהזמרto singto singזמר
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 135:3

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.

praise Yahweh for [is] good Yahweh sing praises to name his for [it is] pleasant
הַֽ֭לְלוּ־Ha.lu- praise H1984 Verb · Piel · imperative second person masculine plural
165× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To be foolish means to act wildly or make a show, like the prophets of Baal in 1 Kings 18:29. It can also mean to celebrate or boast, as in Psalm 38:5.
Amplified meaning
praise the Lord
Tyndale gloss
to shine
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word הָלַל (halal) is a primitive root that encompasses meanings related to shining, boasting, and foolishness. It can signify to praise or celebrate, often in a clamorously foolish manner, and includes the idea of making a boast or being made a fool of. The entries indicate a range of uses, from expressing God's favor to acting madly.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[הָלַל] vb. shine

Qal when it, viz. his lamp, shone upon my head, fig. of God’s favour.

Hiph. flash forth light

base

[הָלַל] vb. be boastful, Pi. praise

Qal be boastful

Pi.

praise man or woman

usually praise י׳

appar. boast, make one’s boast

Pu. be praised

Hithpa. glory, boast, make one’s boast

Po‛el make into a fool, make a fool of

Po‛al of laughter I said, It is mad (folly)

Hithpo. act madly, or like a madman

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1984a הָלַל shine H1984b הָלַל be boastful, Pi. praise H1984c הָלַל be boastful, Pi. praise .be boastful

. . praise man or woman

. usually praise י׳

. appar. boast, make one’s boast

. be praised

. glory, boast, make one’s boast

.make into a fool, make a fool of

.of laughter I said, It is mad (folly)

. act madly, or like a madman

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1984 halal haw-lal'

a primitive root; to be clear (orig. of sound, but usually of

color); to shine; hence, to make a show, to boast; and thus to

be (clamorously) foolish; to rave; causatively, to celebrate;

also to stultify:--(make) boast (self), celebrate, commend,

(deal, make), fool(- ish, -ly), glory, give (light), be (make,

feign self) mad (against), give in marriage, (sing, be worthy

of) praise, rage, renowned, shine.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

הָלַל (ha.lal) — to shine.

1) to shine

1a) (Qal) to shine (fig. of God's favour)

1b) (Hiphil) to flash forth light

הָלַל (ha.lal) — to boast: praise.

: praise

1) to praise, boast, be boastful

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to be boastful

1a2) boastful ones, boasters (participle)

1b) (Piel)

1b1) to praise

1b2) to boast, make a boast

1c) (Pual)

1c1) to be praised, be made praiseworthy, be commended, be worthy of praise

1d) (Hithpael) to boast, glory, make one's boast

הָלַל (ha.lal) — to be foolish.

1) (Poel) to make a fool of, make into a fool

1f) (Hithpoel) to act madly, act like a madman

הָלַל (ha.lal) — to boast: boast.

: boast

1) to praise, boast, be boastful

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to be boastful

1a2) boastful ones, boasters (participle)

1b) (Piel)

1b1) to praise

1b2) to boast, make a boast

1c) (Pual)

1c1) to be praised, be made praiseworthy, be commended, be worthy of praise

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Piel-Impv-2mp — Verb · Piel · imperative second person masculine plural
HVpv2mp
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

praz (tehillah, "psalm," "praise," todhah, "confession" "thanksgiving," shabhach, "to praise" "glorify," zamar, yadhah, "to stretch out the hand," "confess"; aineo, epaineo, (epainos):

1. Its Meaning:

The word comes from the Latin pretium, "price," or "value," and may be defined generally as an ascription of value or worth. Praise may be bestowed upon unworthy objects or from improper motives, but true praise consists in a sincere acknowledgment of a real conviction of worth. Its type may be seen in the representation given in the Apocalypse of the adoration of God and of the Lamb, which is inspired by a sense of their worthiness to be adored (Re 4:11; 5:12).

2. With Man as Its Object:

Man may be the object of praise, and may receive it either from God or from his fellow-men. In the former case (

→ Song of Moses, after the passage through the Red Sea Ex 15:1-19

→ Of Miriam Ex 15:21

→ Of Deborah, after defeating the Canaanites Jud 5

→ Of Hannah 1Sa 2:1-10

→ Of David

Celebrating his deliverance from the hand of Saul 2Sa 22

On bringing the ark of the covenant to Zion 1Ch 16:8-36

At the close of his reign 1Ch 29:10-19

→ The chorus when Solomon brought the ark of the covenant into the temple 2Ch 5:13

→ Psalms of, for God' s goodness to Israel Ps 46; 48; 65; 66; 68; 76; 81; 85; 98; 105; 124; 126; 129; 135; 136

→ See the Scriptures below

Torrey's New Topical Textbook

- God is worthy of

2Sa 22:4

- Christ is worthy of

Re 5:12

- God is glorified by

Ps 22:23; 50:23

- Offered to Christ

Joh 12:13

- Acceptable through Christ

Heb 13:15

- IS DUE TO GOD ON ACCOUNT OF

. His majesty

Ps 96:1,6; Isa 24:14

. His glory

Ps 138:5; Eze 3:12

. His excellency

Ex 15:7; Ps 148:13

. His greatness

praise Yahweh for [is] good Yahweh sing praises to name his for [it is] pleasant
יָהּyah Yahweh H3050 Noun proper masculine
50× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Jah is a shortened form of the name LORD, used in many compounds, such as names ending in -iah or -jah. It appears in the Bible as a way to refer to God.
Tyndale gloss
LORD
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יָהּ (Yahh) is a shortened form of יהוה (YHWH), meaning 'LORD.' It appears in early Hebrew poetry and is often found in names ending with '-iah' or '-jah.' The entries confirm its use as a sacred name, but do not provide specific verse references.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יָהּ 60 n.pr.dei contr. fr. יהוה, first appears in early poems

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3050 יָהּ n. pr. dei contr. fr. יהוה, first appears in early poems

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3050 Yahh yaw

contraction for 3068, and meaning the same; Jah, the sacred

name:--Jah, the Lord, most vehement. Compare names in "-iah,"

"- jah."

see HEBREW for 03068

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יָהּ (yah) — LORD.

A shortened form of the name ye.ho.vah (יהוה "LORD" H3068)

used in many compounds as the letters 'Je' or 'jah'

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HNpm — Noun proper masculine
HNpm
praise Yahweh for [is] good Yahweh sing praises to name his for [it is] pleasant
כִּי־ki- for H3588 Particle
4,483× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A conjunction used to show cause or connection, as in Genesis 2:23 where Adam says the woman is bone of his bone because she was taken out of him. It is often translated as 'for', 'because', or 'since'.
Tyndale gloss
for
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כִּי (ki) is a conjunction primarily meaning 'that,' 'for,' or 'when.' It indicates causal relationships and can express conditions like 'if' or 'though.' The word is versatile, appearing in various contexts to convey certainty, exception, or concession. Notably, it can combine with other particles to modify its meaning, such as in the phrase כִּי אם־ (ki im), meaning 'that if.'

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כִּי conj. that, for, when

that

Of time, when, of the past

elsewhere כִּי has a force approximating to if, though it usu. represents a case as more likely to occur than אִם

when or if, with a concessive force, i.e. though

Because, since

base

כִּי אם־

each part. retaining its independent force, and relating to a different clause:

that if

for if

(About 140 t.) the two particles being closely conjoined, and relating to the same clause—

limiting the prec. clause, except

the if being neglected, and treated as pleonastic, so that the clause is no longer a limitation of the preceding clause but a contradiction of it: but rather, but

after an oath, surely

base

כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3588a כִּי that, for, when . that

. . Of time, when, of the past

. elsewhere כִּי has a force approximating to if, though it usu. represents a case as more likely to occur than אִם

. when or if, with a concessive force, i.e. though

. Because, since

H3588b כִּי אם־ . each part. retaining its independent force, and relating to a different clause: . that if

. for if

. (About 140 t.) the two particles being closely conjoined, and relating to the same clause— . limiting the prec. clause, except

. the if being neglected, and treated as pleonastic, so that the clause is no longer a limitation of the preceding clause but a contradiction of it: but rather, but

. after an oath, surely

H3588c כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3588 kiy kee

a primitive particle (the full form of the prepositional

prefix) indicating causal relations of all kinds, antecedent

or consequent; (by implication) very widely used as a relative

conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by

other particles annexed:--and, + (forasmuch, inasmuch,

where-)as, assured(-ly), + but, certainly, doubtless, + else,

even, + except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, +

nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then,

therefore, + (al- )though, + till, truly, + until, when,

whether, while, whom, yea, yet.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כִּי (ki) — for.

1) that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since

1a) that

1a1) yea, indeed

1b) when (of time)

1b1) when, if, though (with a concessive force)

1c) because, since (causal connection)

1d) but (after negative)

1e) that if, for if, indeed if, for though, but if

1f) but rather, but

1g) except that

1h) only, nevertheless

1i) surely

1j) that is

1k) but if

1l) for though

1m) forasmuch as, for therefore

כִּי [אם] (ki im) — that if: except.

1) except if

1a) but if

1b) even though

כִּי [עַל כֵּן] (ki [al ken]) — for as that: since.

1) that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since

1a) that

1a1) yea, indeed

1b) when (of time)

1b1) when, if, though (with a concessive force)

1c) because, since (causal connection)

1d) but (after negative)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj — Particle
HTc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

for (ki (conjunction), le, from 'el (preposition), and various other words. In the New Testament also the words are various, chiefly gar, kai gar, hoti (conjunctions); anti apo eis dia (accusative), epi (dative and accusative), peri (genitive), pros (genitive and accusative), huper (genitive) (prepositions)): the English Revised Version and the American Standard Revised Version give in many cases more literal or more accurate renderings than those in the King James Version.

In the New Testament the most important preps. from a doctrinal point of view are anti, "face to face," "over against," "instead," "on behalf of," peri, "around," "about," "concerning," huper, "over," "on behalf of." The first has been claimed as stating the substitutionary nature of Christ's sacrifice as contrasted with huper and peri, more frequently used of it. But, although anti in the New Testament often means…

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
praise Yahweh for [is] good Yahweh sing praises to name his for [it is] pleasant
ט֣וֹבTov [is] good H2896 Adj
538× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means good or welfare, describing something that is beneficial or pleasing, like a good deed or a happy time. It is used in many contexts, including Genesis and Psalms. This word is often translated as 'good' or 'beautiful'.
Amplified meaning
beneficial, pleasing
Tyndale gloss
pleasant
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

טוֹב (tov) is a Hebrew word meaning good or pleasant, encompassing a wide range of meanings from agreeable to the senses to ethical goodness. It can function as an adjective, noun, or adverb, referring to things like welfare, happiness, and prosperity. The feminine form, טוֹבָה (tovah), specifically denotes welfare or good things.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

טוֹב adj. pleasant, agreeable, good

pleasant, agreeable to the senses

pleasant to the higher nature, giving pleasure, happiness, prosperity, and so agreeable, pleasing, well

good, excellent, of its kind

good, rich, valuable in estimation

good, appropriate, becoming

c. מִן compar. = better

of man's sensuous nature, glad, happy, prosperous

of man's intellectual nature, good understanding

good, kind, benign

good (ethical), right

base

טוֹב n.m. a good thing, benefit, welfare

welfare, prosperity, happiness

good things

good = benefit

moral good

base

טוֹבָה n.f. welfare, benefit, good things, good

welfare, prosperity, happiness

good things

bounty, good

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2896a טוֹב pleasant, agreeable, good . pleasant, agreeable to the senses

. pleasant to the higher nature, giving pleasure, happiness, prosperity, and so agreeable, pleasing, well

. good, excellent, of its kind

. good, rich, valuable in estimation

. good, appropriate, becoming

. c. מִן compar. =better

. of man's sensuous nature, glad, happy, prosperous

. of man's intellectual nature, good understanding

. good, kind, benign

. good (ethical), right

H2896b טוֹב a good thing, benefit, welfare H2896c טוֹבָה welfare, benefit, good things, good

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2896 towb tobe

from 2895; good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used

likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine,

the singular and the plural (good, a good or good thing, a

good man or woman; the good, goods or good things, good men or

women), also as an adverb (well):--beautiful, best, better,

bountiful, cheerful, at ease, X fair (word), (be in) favour,

fine, glad, good (deed, -lier, -liest, -ly, -ness, -s),

graciously, joyful, kindly, kindness, liketh (best), loving,

merry, X most, pleasant, + pleaseth, pleasure, precious,

prosperity, ready, sweet, wealth, welfare, (be) well

((-favoured)).

see HEBREW for 02895

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

טוֹב (tov) — pleasant.

adj

1) good, pleasant, agreeable

1a) pleasant, agreeable (to the senses)

1b) pleasant (to the higher nature)

1c) good, excellent (of its kind)

1d) good, rich, valuable in estimation

1e) good, appropriate, becoming

1f) better (comparative)

1g) glad, happy, prosperous (of man's sensuous nature)

1h) good understanding (of man's intellectual nature)

1i) good, kind, benign

1j) good, right (ethical)

Aramaic equivalent: tav (טָב "fine" H2869)

טוֹב (tov) — good.

1) a good thing, benefit, welfare

1a) welfare, prosperity, happiness

1b) good things (collective)

1c) good, benefit

1d) moral good

טוֹבָה (to.vah) — welfare.

1) welfare, benefit, good things

1a) welfare, prosperity, happiness

1b) good things (collective)

1c) bounty

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adj — Adj
HAamsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

good (Tobh, Tubh, yaTabh; agathos, agathon, kalos, kalon): In English "good" is used in various senses, most of which are represented in the Bible.

(1) In the Old Testament the commonest word is Tobh, occurring very frequently and translated in a great variety of ways. Of the different shades of meaning, which frequently run into each other, the following may be distinguished:

(a) Possessing desirable qualities, beneficial, agreeable, e.g. "good for food" (Ge 2:9); "We will do thee good" (Nu 10:29); Who will show us any good?" (Ps 4:6); "good tidings of good" (Isa 52:7).

praise Yahweh for [is] good Yahweh sing praises to name his for [it is] pleasant
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 Lord of lords
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
praise Yahweh for [is] good Yahweh sing praises to name his for [it is] pleasant
זַמְּר֥וּza.me.Ru sing praises H2167 Verb · Piel · imperative second person masculine plural
45× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means to sing or make music, often with praise and celebration. In the Psalms, it describes singing with instruments and voice, giving thanks to God. It's about joyful noise and worship.
Amplified meaning
make music, celebrate
Tyndale gloss
to sing
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

זָמַר (zamar) is a Hebrew verb meaning to sing or make music, particularly in praise of God. It is derived from a root that suggests touching the strings of a musical instrument. The word covers actions like singing, playing instruments, and celebrating through music. The Piel form specifically emphasizes making music in worship.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[זמר] vb. only Pi. make music in praise of God

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2167 זמר only Pi. make music in praise of God

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2167 zamar zaw-mar'

a primitive root (perhaps ident. with 2168 through the idea

of striking with the fingers); properly, to touch the strings

or parts of a musical instrument, i.e. play upon it; to make

music, accompanied by the voice; hence to celebrate in song

and music:--give praise, sing forth praises, psalms.

see HEBREW for 02168

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

זָמַר (za.mar) — to sing.

1) to sing, sing praise, make music

1a) (Piel)

1a1) to make music, sing

1a2) to play a musical instrument

Aramaic equivalent: ze.mar (זְמָר "music" H2170)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Piel-Impv-2mp — Verb · Piel · imperative second person masculine plural
HVpv2mp
praise Yahweh for [is] good Yahweh sing praises to name his for [it is] pleasant
לִ֝שְׁמ֗וֹlish.Mo to name his H8034 Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
864× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, a name represents a person's identity, honor, and character, like God's name symbolizing His power and authority. It appears in Genesis and other books, often referring to God's name or a person's reputation. This concept is central to understanding biblical identity.
Amplified meaning
His identity, character
Tyndale gloss
name
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שֵׁם (shem) means 'name' and encompasses various meanings such as reputation, fame, and glory. It can refer to the designation of God and is often associated with memorials or monuments. The word is built from a primitive root and highlights individuality and honor. There is a mention of its use in relation to false gods, which is forbidden.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שֵׁם 864 n.m. name (√ unknown)

of river, beasts, city, i.e. exact designation of it

usu. of pers.

= reputation

esp. as giving a man a kind of posthumous life, esp. in his sons

name, as designation of God

of false gods, use forbidden

= memorial, monument

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8034 שֵׁם name (√ unknown)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8034 shem shame

a primitive word (perhaps rather from 7760 through the idea

of definite and conspicuous position; compare 8064); an

appellation, as a mark or memorial of individuality; by

implication honor, authority, character:--+ base,

(in-)fame(-ous), named(-d), renown, report.

see HEBREW for 07760

see HEBREW for 08064

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שֵׁם (shem) — name.

1) name

1a) name

1b) reputation, fame, glory

1c) the Name (as designation of God)

1d) memorial, monument

Aramaic equivalent: shum (שֻׁם "name" H8036)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-ms | Suff — Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
HR/Ncmsc/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."

praise Yahweh for [is] good Yahweh sing praises to name his for [it is] pleasant
כִּ֣יki for H3588 Particle
4,483× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A conjunction used to show cause or connection, as in Genesis 2:23 where Adam says the woman is bone of his bone because she was taken out of him. It is often translated as 'for', 'because', or 'since'.
Tyndale gloss
for
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כִּי (ki) is a conjunction primarily meaning 'that,' 'for,' or 'when.' It indicates causal relationships and can express conditions like 'if' or 'though.' The word is versatile, appearing in various contexts to convey certainty, exception, or concession. Notably, it can combine with other particles to modify its meaning, such as in the phrase כִּי אם־ (ki im), meaning 'that if.'

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כִּי conj. that, for, when

that

Of time, when, of the past

elsewhere כִּי has a force approximating to if, though it usu. represents a case as more likely to occur than אִם

when or if, with a concessive force, i.e. though

Because, since

base

כִּי אם־

each part. retaining its independent force, and relating to a different clause:

that if

for if

(About 140 t.) the two particles being closely conjoined, and relating to the same clause—

limiting the prec. clause, except

the if being neglected, and treated as pleonastic, so that the clause is no longer a limitation of the preceding clause but a contradiction of it: but rather, but

after an oath, surely

base

כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3588a כִּי that, for, when . that

. . Of time, when, of the past

. elsewhere כִּי has a force approximating to if, though it usu. represents a case as more likely to occur than אִם

. when or if, with a concessive force, i.e. though

. Because, since

H3588b כִּי אם־ . each part. retaining its independent force, and relating to a different clause: . that if

. for if

. (About 140 t.) the two particles being closely conjoined, and relating to the same clause— . limiting the prec. clause, except

. the if being neglected, and treated as pleonastic, so that the clause is no longer a limitation of the preceding clause but a contradiction of it: but rather, but

. after an oath, surely

H3588c כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3588 kiy kee

a primitive particle (the full form of the prepositional

prefix) indicating causal relations of all kinds, antecedent

or consequent; (by implication) very widely used as a relative

conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by

other particles annexed:--and, + (forasmuch, inasmuch,

where-)as, assured(-ly), + but, certainly, doubtless, + else,

even, + except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, +

nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then,

therefore, + (al- )though, + till, truly, + until, when,

whether, while, whom, yea, yet.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כִּי (ki) — for.

1) that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since

1a) that

1a1) yea, indeed

1b) when (of time)

1b1) when, if, though (with a concessive force)

1c) because, since (causal connection)

1d) but (after negative)

1e) that if, for if, indeed if, for though, but if

1f) but rather, but

1g) except that

1h) only, nevertheless

1i) surely

1j) that is

1k) but if

1l) for though

1m) forasmuch as, for therefore

כִּי [אם] (ki im) — that if: except.

1) except if

1a) but if

1b) even though

כִּי [עַל כֵּן] (ki [al ken]) — for as that: since.

1) that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since

1a) that

1a1) yea, indeed

1b) when (of time)

1b1) when, if, though (with a concessive force)

1c) because, since (causal connection)

1d) but (after negative)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj — Particle
HTc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

for (ki (conjunction), le, from 'el (preposition), and various other words. In the New Testament also the words are various, chiefly gar, kai gar, hoti (conjunctions); anti apo eis dia (accusative), epi (dative and accusative), peri (genitive), pros (genitive and accusative), huper (genitive) (prepositions)): the English Revised Version and the American Standard Revised Version give in many cases more literal or more accurate renderings than those in the King James Version.

In the New Testament the most important preps. from a doctrinal point of view are anti, "face to face," "over against," "instead," "on behalf of," peri, "around," "about," "concerning," huper, "over," "on behalf of." The first has been claimed as stating the substitutionary nature of Christ's sacrifice as contrasted with huper and peri, more frequently used of it. But, although anti in the New Testament often means…

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
praise Yahweh for [is] good Yahweh sing praises to name his for [it is] pleasant
נָעִֽים׃na.'Im [it is] pleasant H5273 Adj
13× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word describes something that sounds pleasant or sweet, like music. It is used in Psalm 100:5 to describe the pleasantness of God's works. The word also appears in other passages, such as 2 Samuel 23:1.
Amplified meaning
pleasant, wonderful, a sweet sound
Tyndale gloss
pleasant
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

נָעִים (na`iym) means pleasant or delightful, covering both objective and subjective senses, as well as being associated with sweetness and beauty. It may also refer to musical qualities, suggesting something that is sweetly sounding or singing. The word is built from a root that implies delightfulness in various contexts.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

נָעִים adj. pleasant, delightful (poet.)

base

נָעִים adj. perh. singing, sweetly sounding, musical

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5273a נָעִים pleasant, delightful H5273b נָעִים perh. singing, sweetly sounding, musical

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5273 na`iym naw-eem'

from 5276; delightful (objective or subjective, literal or

figurative):--pleasant(-ure), sweet.

see HEBREW for 05276

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נָעִים (na.im) — pleasant.

1) pleasant, delightful, sweet, lovely, agreeable

1a) delightful

1b) lovely, beautiful (physical)

נָעִים (na.im) — musical.

singing, sweetly sounding, musical

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

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

Donate