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Psalms 136:12 — Word Study

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WLCבְּיָ֣ד חֲ֭זָקָה וּבִזְר֣וֹעַ נְטוּיָ֑ה כִּ֖י לְעוֹלָ֣ם חַסְדּֽוֹ׃

BSAwith a mightychâzâq [strong, powerful] handyâd [an open hand; strength, a side or share] and an outstretchednâṭâh [stretched out, extended] armzᵉrôwaʻ [the arm as stretched out; strength, might, power] His loving devotionchêçêd [kindness, mercy, trustworthy love] endures foreverʻôwlâm [lasts, remains, always, for eternity]

Word
Listen & take awayPsalms 136
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 12 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 (chas.Do) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Psalms 136:12quick helps
In a sentenceThe psalmist declares God's powerful acts of deliverance, emphasizing His enduring love.
Who is speakingThe psalmist, reflecting on God's mighty deeds.
Where we areIn a song of thanksgiving, celebrating God's steadfast love and mighty actions.
The hard wordחֲ֭זָקָה
Take awayGod's strength and love are everlasting.
6 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Trapp, Cambridge & more — read them › clause verbנָטָה 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 136:12

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 Greatness of God's Lovegenerated

11and brought Israel out from among them His loving devotion endures forever.
12with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. His loving devotion endures forever.
13He divided the Red Sea in two His loving devotion endures forever.
14and led Israel through the midst, His loving devotion endures forever.

Psalms 136:12 is part of a psalm that recounts God's mighty acts in history, particularly His deliverance of Israel. The refrain of His loving devotion enduring forever emphasizes the unchanging nature of God's love. This psalm is a reminder of God's faithfulness throughout generations, encouraging worship and gratitude for His continued presence and support.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Exodus 6:6Therefore tell the Israelites: ‘I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians and deliver you from their bondage. I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment.
2Exodus 13:14In the future, when your son asks you, ‘What does this mean?’ you are to tell him, ‘With a mighty hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.
3Exodus 15:6Your right hand, O LORD, is majestic in power; Your right hand, O LORD, has shattered the enemy.
4Deuteronomy 11:2–4Know this day that it is not your children who have known and seen the discipline of the LORD your God: His greatness, His mighty hand, and His outstretched arm;
5Isaiah 51:9–10Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the LORD. Wake up as in days past, as in generations of old. Was it not You who cut Rahab to pieces, who pierced through the dragon?

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 7 references, hung on the phrase they belong to

With a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm: for his mercy endureth for ever.Exodus 6:6 Exodus 13:14 Exodus 15:6 Deuteronomy 11:2–4 Isaiah 51:9–10 Jeremiah 32:21 Acts 7:36

The Key Word חֲ֭זָקָה, Cha.za.kahgenerated

The Hebrew word חֲ֭זָקָה (cha.za.kah) means 'strong' or 'powerful'. It conveys a sense of might and strength, often with a connotation of severity. The word is used to describe not just physical strength but also the strength of character or resolve. In this verse, it highlights the powerful hand of God in His acts of deliverance.

The parsing as an adjective indicates that it describes the nature of God's hand and arm, emphasizing the strength behind His actions. This word appears in various contexts throughout the Hebrew Bible, often associated with God's might in delivering His people.


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 strong, and so do the KJV, ASV, and others, maintaining the emphasis on God's might.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main clause of the verse is structured around the phrase describing God's actions: בְּיָ֣ד חֲ֭זָקָה וּבִזְר֣וֹעַ נְטוּיָ֑ה, which translates to 'with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm'. This emphasizes the power and intent behind God's actions.

The sentence flows from the description of God's might to the declaration of His enduring love, with the structure highlighting the connection between His strength and His covenant loyalty.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

In the Septuagint, the Hebrew יָד is rendered as ξειρὶ (cheir), meaning 'hand', while זְרוֹעַ is translated as βραξίονι (brachion), meaning 'arm'. These choices maintain the emphasis on strength and power, aligning closely with the Hebrew meanings.

The translation reflects a consistent understanding of God's might, emphasizing His capability to act on behalf of His people.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Psalms 136:12 speaks of God's powerful hand and outstretched arm, emphasizing His strength in delivering Israel. It concludes with a reminder that His loving devotion lasts forever, highlighting God's unwavering love and faithfulness.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean that God has a 'mighty hand'?

A 'mighty hand' signifies God's power and ability to act decisively on behalf of His people, demonstrating His strength in their deliverance.

How does God's 'outstretched arm' relate to His actions?

The 'outstretched arm' symbolizes God's readiness to help and save, indicating His active involvement in the lives of His people.

Why is God's loving devotion emphasized in this verse?

God's loving devotion is emphasized to remind us of His eternal faithfulness and commitment to His people, assuring them of His ongoing support.

In what ways can we see God's strength in our lives today?

We can see God's strength in our lives through answered prayers, guidance in difficult times, and the support of our community, reflecting His enduring love.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. How have I experienced God's strength in my life?
  2. In what ways can I reflect God's loving devotion to others?
  3. What does it mean for me to trust in God's enduring love?
  4. How can I share the message of God's mighty acts with others?

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

The early Church Fathers referenced this verse to illustrate God's power and love. Their quotations emphasize the significance of God's mighty acts as expressions of His covenant loyalty.

NovatianON THE TRINITY 6:1-5 c. 200–258
Although heavenly Scripture frequently changes the divine countenance to human form when it says “the eyes of the Lord are on the just”;
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 136 →
Augustine of HippoExposition on Psalms 136 354–430
"With a mighty Hand and stretched-out Arm" [Psalms 136:12]. What more powerful, what more out-stretched,
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 136 →

Commentators on this verse — 6 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Psalms 136:12 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

With a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm,.... Exerting his power in a very open manner, and continuing it till he had effected the work; bringing his people out of Egypt, which is always

Read John Gill on Psalms 136 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

And brought out Israel from among them: for his mercy endureth for ever: And brought out Israel ... With a strong hand, and with a stretched-out arm - from Exodus 6:6; Exodus 13:3.

Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 136 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Psalms 136:12 With a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm: for his mercy [endureth] for ever.Ver. 12. And with a stretched out arm] A metaphor from soldiers’ exercising their arms, with utmost might and sleight.

Read John Trapp on Psalms 136 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

12. From Deuteronomy 4:34, &c.; cp. Exodus 6:1; Exodus 6:6.

Read Cambridge on Psalms 136 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

With a strong hand - A powerful hand; as by a hand that could grasp and subdue all that opposed. And with a stretched-out arm - As if the arm were stretched out to strike with the utmost force, or to exert its utmost power.

Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 136 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

10-15 are a rehearsal of the exodus from Egypt. Compare Psalms 136:10 and Psalms 135:8. See, also, notes on Psalms 78, 105. Overthrew Pharaoh—Hebrew, Shook out, or tossed “Pharaoh” into the sea.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Psalms 136 →

The verse in English, compared — 16 translations, and where they part company

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

Modern formal

BSBBerean Standard Bible2020

with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. His loving devotion endures forever.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

with a strong hand, and with an outstretched arm, for his loving kindness endures forever;

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. His loving devotion endures forever.

NETBNew English Translation2006

with a strong hand and an outstretched arm, for his loyal love endures,

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

With a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm: for his mercy endureth for ever.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

With a strong hand, and with an outstretched arm; For his lovingkindness endureth for ever:

RVARevised Version, American1894

With a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm: for his mercy endureth for ever.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

With a strong hand, and with an out-stretched arm: for his mercy endureth for ever.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

With a mightie hande and stretched out arme: for his mercie endureth for euer:

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

With a powerful hand and with a stretched-out arm, for his loving-kindness [endureth] for ever;

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

By a strong hand, and a stretched-out-arm, For to the age [is] His kindness.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

By a strong hand and an outstretched-arm, || For His kindness [is] for all time.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

With a strong hand, and with an outstretched arm; for to eternity endureth his kindness.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

with a strong hand and a raised arm, for his covenant faithfulness endures forever.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

He did this with his strong hand and outstretched arm. For his trustworthy love lasts forever.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

With a strong hand and an outstretched arm: for his mercy is unchanging for ever.

Word by word, the decisions they made

חֲ֭זָקָהCha.za.kah strong H2389 2 different renderings
strongASV BBE FBV ILT KJV LSV NETB NWB RVA ULB WEB YLT
powerfulDBY

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.

clauseprepositional phrase · prepositionalprepositional phraseבְּbynoun phraseיָ֣דa.handחֲ֭זָקָהstrongוּandprepositional phraseבִbynoun phraseזְר֣וֹעַan.armנְטוּיָ֑הoutstretchedכִּ֖י(dm)clauseprepositional phrase · predicateלְ[is]עוֹלָ֣םforevernoun phrase · subjectחַסְדּֽloyaltyוֹhis.covenant

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


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

The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint agree on the wording and meaning of this verse, with all seven words matched. The Dead Sea Scrolls also align closely with the Masoretic Text, confirming the consistency of the text across these ancient witnesses.

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

בְּיָ֣ד חֲ֭זָקָה וּבִזְר֣וֹעַ נְטוּיָ֑ה כִּ֖י לְעוֹלָ֣ם חַסְדּֽוֹ׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
בְּיָ֣דξειρὶחֲ֭זָקָהκραταιᾷוּבִזְר֣וֹעַβραξίονιנְטוּיָ֑הὑψηλῷכִּ֖יὅτιלְעוֹלָ֣םαἰῶναחַסְדּֽוֹ׃αὐτοῦ

7 of the 7 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.

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

ביד חזקה ובאזרוע נטויה כי לעולם חסד׳ו

7 words on the leather.

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


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

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

Psalms 136:12יָדby a handby a handיָדחָזָקstrongstrongחָזָקזְרוֹעַand by an aand by an armזְרוֹעַנָטָהoutstretcheoutstretchedנָטָהכִּיforforכִּיעוֹלָם[is] for ev[is] for everעוֹלָםחֶ֫סֶדcovenant locovenant loyaltחֶ֫סֶדכַּףpalmpalmכַּףחָזַקto strengtto strengthen: חָזַקזָרַעto sowto sowזָרַעעָלַםto concealto concealעָלַםחָסַדbe kindbe kindחָסַדחָזָקstrongstrongחָזָקנָצַלto rescueto rescueנָצַלמוֹרָאfearfearמוֹרָאמֵ֫צַחforeheadforeheadמֵ֫צַחנָטָהto stretchto stretchנָטָהזְרוֹעַarmarmזְרוֹעַיָדַעto knowto knowיָדַעעַדperpetuityperpetuityעַדדּוֹרgenerationgenerationדּוֹראֱמֶתtruth: faitruth: faithfulאֱמֶתרֶ֫חֶםwombwombרֶ֫חֶם
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 136:12

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.

by a hand strong and by an arm outstretched for [is] for ever covenant loyalty his
בְּיָ֣דbe.Yad by a hand H3027 Preposition · noun common both singular absolute
1,619× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, 'yad' refers to an open hand, symbolizing power or direction. It can also mean strength or a part of something, like a side or a share. The word is used in many contexts, including anatomy and everyday life.
Amplified meaning
an open hand; strength, a side or share
Tyndale gloss
hand
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יָד (yad) means 'hand' and can also refer to strength or power in a figurative sense. It encompasses various technical uses, such as a sign or monument, parts or shares, and even specific components in construction, like axle-trees and supports for the laver. The word is versatile, appearing in both literal and metaphorical contexts.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יָד 1604 n.f. hand

hand

Fig. = strength, power

Fig. = side

יָד is used in various special, technical senses:—

sign, monument

part, fractional part or share

time, repetition

axle-trees

stays, supports for laver

tenons on sides of boards of tabernacle

a (beckoning) hand

יַד with prep.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3027 יָד hand . hand

. Fig. = strength, power

. Fig. = side

. יָד is used in various special, technical senses:— . sign, monument

. part, fractional part or share

. time, repetition

. axle-trees

. stays, supports for laver

. tenons on sides of boards of tabernacle

. a (beckoning) hand

. יַד with prep.

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3027 yad yawd

a primitive word; a hand (the open one (indicating power,

means, direction, etc.), in distinction from 3709, the closed

one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great variety of

applications, both literally and figuratively, both proximate

and remote (as follows):--(+ be) able, X about, + armholes,

at, axletree, because of, beside, border, X bounty, + broad,

(broken-)handed, X by, charge, coast, + consecrate, +

creditor, custody, debt, dominion, X enough, + fellowship,

force, X from, hand(-staves, -y work), X he, himself, X in,

labour, + large, ledge, (left-)handed, means, X mine,

ministry, near, X of, X order, ordinance, X our, parts, pain,

power, X presumptuously, service, side, sore, state, stay,

draw with strength, stroke, + swear, terror, X thee, X by

them, X themselves, X thine own, X thou, through, X throwing,

+ thumb, times, X to, X under, X us, X wait on, (way-)side,

Read the full entry →
Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יָד (yad) — hand.

: hand/arm[anatomy]

1) hand

1a) hand (of man)

1b) strength, power (fig.)

1c) side (of land), part, portion (metaph.) (fig.)

1d) (various special, technical senses)

1d1) sign, monument

1d2) part, fractional part, share

1d3) time, repetition

1d4) axle-trees, axle

1d5) stays, support (for laver)

1d6) tenons (in tabernacle)

1d7) a phallus, a hand (meaning unsure)

1d8) wrists

יָד (yad) — hand: power.

: hand/arm[anatomy]

1) hand

1a) hand (of man)

1b) strength, power (fig.)

1c) side (of land), part, portion (metaph.) (fig.)

1d) (various special, technical senses)

1d1) sign, monument

1d2) part, fractional part, share

1d3) time, repetition

1d4) axle-trees, axle

1d5) stays, support (for laver)

1d6) tenons (in tabernacle)

1d7) a phallus, a hand (meaning unsure)

1d8) wrists

יָד (yad) — hand: themselves.

: hand/arm[anatomy]

1) hand

1a) hand (of man)

1b) strength, power (fig.)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-cs — Preposition · noun common both singular absolute
HR/Ncbsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

(yadh, "hand"; kaph, "the hollow hand," "palm"; yamin, "the right hand"; semo'l, "the left hand"; cheir, "hand"; dexia, "the right hand"; aristera, "the left hand" (only Lu 23:33; 2Co 6:7), or euphemistically (for evil omens come from the left hand; compare Latin sinister, German linkisch, etc.); euonumos, literally, "having a good name"): The Hebrew words are used in a large variety of idiomatic expressions, part of which have passed into the Greek (through the Sepuagint) and into modern European languages (through the translations of the Bible; see Oxford Hebrew Lexicon, under the word "yadh"). We group what has to be said about the word under the following heads:

1. The Human Hand: Various Uses:

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Hand

Called by Galen “the instrument of instruments.” It is the symbol of human action (Ps. 9:16; Job 9:30; Isa. 1:15; 1 Tim. 2:8). Washing the hands was a symbol of innocence (Ps. 26:6; 73:13; Matt. 27:24), also of sanctification (1 Cor. 6:11; Isa. 51:16; Ps. 24:3, 4). In Ps. 77:2 the correct rendering is, as in the Revised Version, “My hand was stretched…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

Often put of strength, power; so to be "in the hand" of any one, is to be in his power. Joining hands, or striking hands, is a very common method of pledging one’s self to a contract or bargain; just as persons among us often shake hands in token of an agreement. To "lift the hand," means to make oath. "At the right hand of God," is the place of honor, power, and happiness, Ps 16:11 45:9 110:1 Mt 26:64 Col 3:1. The right hand meant towards the south, the Jews being wont to speak as if facing the east. The "laying on of hands," signified consecration to office, and the bestowal of a blessing or of divine gifts, Ge 48:14 Nu…

→ Imposition of hands Heb 6:2

→ In consecration Ge 48:14; Ex 29:10,15,19; Le 1:4; 3:2,8,13; 4:15,24,33; 16:21

→ In ordaining the Levites Nu 8:10,11

→ Joshua Nu 27:18-23; De 34:9

→ Timothy 1Ti 4:14; 2Ti 1:6

→ In healing Mr 6:5; 7:32; 16:18; Lu 4:40; Ac…

by a hand strong and by an arm outstretched for [is] for ever covenant loyalty his
חֲ֭זָקָהCha.za.kah strong H2389 Adj
56× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Strong refers to something or someone powerful, but often in a bad sense, like being severe or hard, as translated in the KJV.
Amplified meaning
strong, powerful
Tyndale gloss
strong
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

חָזָק (chazaq) means strong, stout, or mighty, often with a connotation of severity or hardness. It can also refer to a strong person as a noun. The word is built from a root that suggests strength in various contexts, including boldness and violence.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

חָזָק adj. strong, stout, mighty

strong

as subst., a strong one

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2389 חָזָק strong, stout, mighty . strong

. as subst., a strong one

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2389 chazaq khaw-zawk'

from 2388; strong (usu. in a bad sense, hard, bold,

violent):--harder, hottest, + impudent, loud, mighty, sore,

stiff(-hearted), strong(-er).

see HEBREW for 02388

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חָזָק (cha.zaq) — strong.

1) strong, stout, mighty

1a) strong

1a1) severe, sharp, hot

1a2) firm, hard

1b) a strong one (subst)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adj — Adj
HAafsa
by a hand strong and by an arm outstretched for [is] for ever covenant loyalty his
וּבִזְר֣וֹעַu.viz.Ro.a' and by an arm H2220 Conjunction · preposition · noun common feminine singular absolute
91× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for arm refers to the arm as stretched out, symbolizing strength, force, or power, as seen in the KJV translations of arm, mighty, and strength.
Amplified meaning
the arm as stretched out; strength, might, power
Tyndale gloss
arm
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

זְרוֹעַ (z'roa) refers to an arm or shoulder, often symbolizing strength. It can denote the physical arm, the shoulder of a sacrificed animal, or military and political forces. The word is derived from a root meaning to stretch out, indicating both physical and metaphorical strength.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

זְרוֹעַ, זְרֹעַ n.f. and (rare) m. arm, shoulder, strength

arm

arm, as symbol of strength

Pl. forces, political and military

Shoulder of animal sacrificed, belonging to priest

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2220 זְרוֹעַ, זְרֹעַ arm, shoulder, strength . arm

. arm, as symbol of strength

. Pl. forces, political and military

. Shoulder of animal sacrificed, belonging to priest

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2220 zrowa` zer-o'-ah

or (shortened) zroao {zer-o'-ah}; and (feminine) zrowpah

{zer-o-aw'}; or zrowah {zer-o-aw'}; from 2232; the arm (as

stretched out), or (of animals) the foreleg; figuratively,

force:--arm, + help, mighty, power, shoulder, strength.

see HEBREW for 02232

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

זְרוֹעַ (ze.ro.a) — arm.

1) arm, forearm, shoulder, strength

1a) arm

1b) arm (as symbol of strength)

1c) forces (political and military)

1d) shoulder (of animal sacrificed)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | Prep | N-cs — Conjunction · preposition · noun common feminine singular absolute
HC/R/Ncfsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

arm (zeroa`, 'ezroa`, dera`; brachion; chotsen, katheph): The usual form is zeroa` from the root zara`, "to spread." The arm may be "stretched out." 'Ezroa` is this form with prosthetic 'aleph (Job 31:22; Jer 32:21), and dera` is the Aramaic form. Chotsen is really "bosom," thus the Revised Version (British and American) (Isa 49:22); and katheph is "shoulder," thus the Revised Version (British and American) (Job 31:22). Compare cheir, also, in Ac 11:21.

Figurative: The arm denotes influence, power, means of support or conquest. The arms of Moab (Jer 48:25) and of…

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Arm

Used to denote power (Ps. 10:15; Ezek. 30:21; Jer. 48:25). It is also used of the omnipotence of God (Ex. 15:16; Ps. 89:13; 98:1; 77:15; Isa. 53:1; John 12:38; Acts 13:17)

Nave's Topical Bible

→ FIGURATIVE USE OF Ex 6:6; 15:16; De 4:34; 5:15; 7:19; 9:29; 11:2; 26:8; 33:27; 1Ki 8:42; 2Ki 17:36; 2Ch 6:32; Ps 77:15; 89:10,13,21; 98:1; 136:12; So 2:6; Isa 33:2; 40:10,11; 51:5,9; 52:10; 53:1; 59:16; 62:8; 63:5,12; Jer 21:5; 27:5; 32:17; Eze 20:33; Lu 1:51;

by a hand strong and by an arm outstretched for [is] for ever covenant loyalty his
נְטוּיָ֑הne.tu.Yah outstretched H5186 Verb · Qal · participle (passive) feminine singular
214× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To stretch or spread out, often used to describe physical movement, but also moral deflection, as seen in the story of Israel's decline in the book of Judges.
Amplified meaning
stretched out, extended
Tyndale gloss
to stretch
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

נָטָה (natah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to stretch out, spread out, or extend. It encompasses a wide range of actions, including bending, inclining, and pitching a tent. The word can also imply moral deflection or turning aside. The entries suggest various applications, from physical actions to metaphorical uses, but do not indicate significant disagreement among the lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

נָטָה 215 vb. stretch out, spread out, extend, incline, bend

Qal

stretch out, extend, hand, rod

stretch line and plummet

= offer

Spread out, i.e. pitch, tent

Bend, turn, incline

Niph. be stretched out

Hiph.

rarely stretch out, hand

rarely spread out cloth on rock

usu. turn, incline

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5186 נָטָה stretch out, spread out, extend, incline, bend .. . stretch out, extend, hand, rod

. stretch line and plummet

. = offer

. Spread out, i.e. pitch, tent

. Bend, turn, incline

. be stretched out

. . rarely stretch out, hand

. rarely spread out cloth on rock

. usu. turn, incline

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5186 natah naw-taw'

a primitive root; to stretch or spread out; by implication,

to bend away (including moral deflection); used in a great

variety of application (as follows):--+ afternoon, apply, bow

(down, - ing), carry aside, decline, deliver, extend, go down,

be gone, incline, intend, lay, let down, offer, outstretched,

overthrown, pervert, pitch, prolong, put away, shew, spread

(out), stretch (forth, out), take (aside), turn (aside, away),

wrest, cause to yield.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נָטָה (na.tah) — to stretch.

1) to stretch out, extend, spread out, pitch, turn, pervert, incline, bend, bow

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to stretch out, extend, stretch, offer

1a2) to spread out, pitch (tent)

1a3) to bend, turn, incline

1a3a) to turn aside, incline, decline, bend down

1a3b) to bend, bow

1a3c) to hold out, extend (fig.)

1b) (Niphal) to be stretched out

1c) (Hiphil)

1c1) to stretch out

1c2) to spread out

1c3) to turn, incline, influence, bend down, hold out, extend, thrust aside, thrust away

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Inf-c — Verb · Qal · participle (passive) feminine singular
HVqsfsa
by a hand strong and by an arm outstretched for [is] for ever covenant loyalty his
כִּ֖יki 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
HTc — 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
by a hand strong and by an arm outstretched for [is] for ever covenant loyalty his
לְעוֹלָ֣םle.'o.Lam [is] for ever H5769 Preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
438× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means forever or always, describing something that lasts an eternity. It is used in the Bible to describe God's eternal nature and his lasting promises.
Amplified meaning
lasts, remains, always, for eternity
Tyndale gloss
forever: antiquity
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

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

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5769 עוֹלָם long duration, antiquity, futurity

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5769 `owlam o-lawm'

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(+ without end). Compare 5331, 5703.

see HEBREW for 05956

see HEBREW for 05331

see HEBREW for 05703

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עוֹלָם (o.lam) — forever: enduring.

: enduring/eternal

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

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

1b) (of future)

1b1) for ever, always

1b2) continuous existence, perpetual

1b3) everlasting, indefinite or unending future, eternity

עוֹלָם (o.lam) — Everlasting.

This name means long duration, everlasting, perpetual

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

עוֹלָם (o.lam) — forever: any time.

: any_time

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

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

1b) (of future)

1b1) for ever, always

1b2) continuous existence, perpetual

1b3) everlasting, indefinite or unending future, eternity

עוֹלָם (o.lam) — forever: antiquity.

: old/ancient

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
HR/Ncmsa
by a hand strong and by an arm outstretched for [is] for ever covenant loyalty his
חַסְדּֽוֹ׃chas.Do covenant loyalty his H2617 Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
247× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to kindness, mercy, or pity, often used to describe God's loving actions towards humanity. It is translated as 'favour', 'kindness', or 'mercy' in the KJV. It emphasizes God's loving character.
Amplified meaning
kindness, mercy, trustworthy love
Tyndale gloss
kindness
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

חֶ֫סֶד (che.sed) primarily means kindness or goodness, often referring to the kindness of people towards one another, especially towards the needy. It can also denote God's lovingkindness and mercy. Additionally, it has a secondary meaning of shame or reproach. The entries reflect a range of uses, from human interactions to divine attributes.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

חֶ֫סֶד 247 n.m. goodness, kindness

of man:

kindness of men toward men, in doing favours and benefits

kindness (especially as extended to the lowly, needy and miserable), mercy

(rarely) affection of Isr. to י׳, love to God, piety

lovely appearance

of God: kindness, lovingkindness in condescending to the needs of his creatures.

base

חֶ֫סֶד n.m. shame, reproach

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2617a חֶ֫סֶד goodness, kindness . of man: . kindness of men toward men, in doing favours and benefits

. kindness (especially as extended to the lowly, needy and miserable), mercy

. (rarely) affection of Isr. to י׳, love to God, piety

. lovely appearance

. of God: kindness, lovingkindness in condescending to the needs of his creatures.

H2617b חֶ֫סֶד shame, reproach

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2617 checed kheh'-sed

from 2616; kindness; by implication (towards God) piety:

rarely (by opposition) reproof, or (subject.) beauty:--favour,

good deed(-liness, -ness), kindly, (loving-)kindness, merciful

(kindness), mercy, pity, reproach, wicked thing.

see HEBREW for 02616

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חֶ֫סֶד (che.sed) — kindness.

goodness, kindness, faithfulness

חֶ֫סֶד (che.sed) — shame.

a reproach, shame

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
HNcmsc/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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