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Psalms 139:5 — Word Study

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WLCאָח֣וֹר וָקֶ֣דֶם צַרְתָּ֑נִי וַתָּ֖שֶׁת עָלַ֣י כַּפֶּֽכָה׃

BSAYou hem me intsûwr [beset, surround] behindʼâchôwr [at my back, in the rear] and beforeqedem [in front of me, to the east] You have laidshîyth [placed, set] Your handkaph [palm, gentle guidance] upon meʻal [on my life, with care]

Word
Listen & take awayPsalms 139
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 5 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 (ka.Pe.khah) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Psalms 139:5quick helps
In a sentenceThe psalmist expresses a profound sense of being surrounded by God, both in protection and guidance.
Who is speakingThe psalmist, reflecting on God's omnipresence and care.
Where we areIn a meditation on God's intimate knowledge and presence.
The hard wordצַרְתָּ֑נִי
Take awayGod's hand is a source of comfort and guidance.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbשִׁית 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 139:5

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 Omnipresence of Godgenerated

4Even before a word is on my tongue, You know all about it, O LORD.
5You hem me in behind and before; You have laid Your hand upon me.
6Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.
7Where can I go to escape Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence?

Psalms 139:5 reveals the psalmist's recognition of God's encompassing presence, stating that God surrounds him both behind and before. This verse is part of a larger meditation on God's intimate knowledge of human thoughts and actions, emphasizing that there is no place to escape from God's Spirit, as seen in the surrounding verses.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Deuteronomy 33:27The eternal God is your dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms. He drives out the enemy before you, giving the command, ‘Destroy him!’
2Job 23:8–9If I go east, He is not there, and if I go west, I cannot find Him.
3Exodus 24:11But God did not lay His hand on the nobles of Israel; they saw Him, and they ate and drank.
4Revelation 1:17When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. But He placed His right hand on me and said, “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last,

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 4 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word צַרְתָּ֑נִי, tzar.Ta.nigenerated

The verb צַרְתָּ֑נִי (tzar.Ta.ni) is a perfect form in the second person masculine singular, indicating that the action is completed and directed towards the subject. It conveys the idea of being enclosed or surrounded, suggesting a protective or confining presence.

This word is derived from a root that means to confine or bind, indicating a strong sense of being encircled. In this context, it highlights the psalmist's feeling of being completely enveloped by God's presence, which can be both comforting and overwhelming.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

The verse is rendered in the Berean Standard Bible as 'You hem me in behind and before; You have laid Your hand upon me.' This is consistent across translations, including the KJV and ASV, which also emphasize the idea of being surrounded.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main verb, צַרְתָּ֑נִי (you enclose me), governs the structure of the verse, with an adverbial clause describing the action and a prepositional phrase indicating the placement of God's hand. The Hebrew syntax places emphasis on the action of surrounding and the resulting intimacy of God's presence.

The arrangement of the words reflects the psalmist's experience of being encircled by God, with the finite verb at the center of the thought, underscoring the significance of God's encompassing care.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates צַרְתָּ֑נִי as με (G3165), meaning 'me,' which captures the personal nature of the psalmist's experience. This choice emphasizes the intimate relationship between God and the individual, highlighting the personal aspect of divine care.

The Greek translation reflects the same themes of enclosure and protection, reinforcing the idea that God's presence is both surrounding and supportive.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Psalms 139:5 shows that God surrounds the psalmist from all sides, both behind and in front. This verse conveys the idea that God is always present and attentive, guiding the psalmist with care.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean that God 'hem me in'?

It means that God surrounds and protects the psalmist, creating a sense of safety and intimacy.

Why does the psalmist mention being enclosed behind and before?

This emphasizes the completeness of God's presence, indicating that there is no escape from His knowledge and care.

How does God's hand relate to the psalmist's life?

The hand of God symbolizes guidance and support, indicating that God is actively involved in the psalmist's life.

What does this verse reveal about God's knowledge?

It shows that God is aware of everything about the psalmist, even before words are spoken, highlighting His omniscience.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what ways have I felt surrounded by God's presence in my life?
  2. How can I be more aware of God's guidance and care in my daily activities?
  3. What does it mean for me to trust in God's omniscience and presence?
  4. How can I reflect God's protective nature in my interactions with others?

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

The early church fathers, such as Augustine of Hippo, referenced this verse to discuss God's omniscience and care, illustrating its theological significance.

Augustine of HippoExposition on Psalms 139 354–430
"Behold Thou, Lord, hast known all my last doings, and the ancient ones" [Psalms 139:5].
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 139 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Psalms 139:5 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

Thou hast beset me behind and before,.... Art on every side of me, all around me, like one besieged in a strait place; so that there is nothing I can think, say, or do, but what is known unto thee.

Read John Gill on Psalms 139 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me. Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me - Thou art omnipresent as well as omniscient.

Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 139 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Thou hast beset me behind and before, with thine all-seeing and all-disposing providence. And laid thine hand upon me; thou keepest me, as it were, with a strong hand, in thy sight and under thy power.

Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 139 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Psalms 139:5 Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.Ver. 5. Thou hast beset me behind and before] As a beast that is pursued, as an enemy that is begirt and environed; and lest I should think by some means to make escape (as David did from Saul and his host, by a providence, 1 Samuel 23:27; as Hannibal did from the Romans, by a stratagem). Thou hast laid thine hand upon me] As by an arrest; so that I am thy prisoner, and cannot stir a foot from thee.

Read John Trapp on Psalms 139 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(5) Beset—as a beleagured city from which there is no escape.

Read Charles John Ellicott on Psalms 139 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 5. Thou hast beset me behind and before] אחור וקדם צרתני achor vekodam tsartani, "The hereafter and the past, thou hast formed me." I think Bishop Horsley's emendation here is just, uniting the two verses together. "Behold thou, O Jehovah, knowest the whole, the hereafter and the past. Thou hast formed me, and laid thy hand upon me."

Read AdamClarke on Psalms 139 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

5. beset me] The word is used of besieging a town. God hems him in on all sides so that he cannot escape. The P.B.V. thou hast fashioned me follows the LXX and other Ancient Versions in a less probable rendering. laid thine hand upon me] God holds him fast in His grasp, exercises His authority over him. Cp. Job 9:33.

Read Cambridge on Psalms 139 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Thou hast beset me behind and before - The word rendered “beset” - צור tsûr - means properly to press; to press upon; to compress.

Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 139 →

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

You hem me in behind and before; You have laid Your hand upon me.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

You hem me in behind and before. You laid your hand on me.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

You hem me in behind and before; You have laid Your hand upon me.

NETBNew English Translation2006

You squeeze me in from behind and in front; you place your hand on me.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

Thou hast beset me behind and before, And laid thy hand upon me.

RVARevised Version, American1894

Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thy hand upon me.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Thou holdest mee straite behinde and before, and layest thine hand vpon me.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thy hand upon me.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

Behind and before Thou hast besieged me, And Thou dost place on me Thy hand.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

You have besieged me behind and before, || And You place Your hand on me.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

Behind and before hast thou hedged me in, and thou placest upon me thy hand.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Behind me and before me you surround me and place your hand upon me.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

Keep me, O Lord, from the hand of the wicked: and from unjust men deliver me. Who have proposed to supplant my steps.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

You're always there—behind me, in front of me, and all around me. You place your caring hand on me.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

I am shut in by you on every side, and you have put your hand on me.

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


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

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

clausenoun phrase · adverbialאָח֣וֹרback.partוָandקֶ֣דֶםfrontverbצַרְתָּ֑youobjectנִיenclose.meוַandclauseverbתָּ֖שֶׁתyou.have.putprepositional phrase · prepositionalעָלַ֣onיmenoun phrase · objectכַּפֶּֽpalmכָהyour

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


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

אָח֣וֹר וָקֶ֣דֶם צַרְתָּ֑נִי וַתָּ֖שֶׁת עָלַ֣י כַּפֶּֽכָה׃ is consistent in the Masoretic Text and matches closely with the Septuagint, which shares four out of six words. This agreement indicates a strong textual tradition in this verse.

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

אָח֣וֹר וָקֶ֣דֶם צַרְתָּ֑נִי וַתָּ֖שֶׁת עָלַ֣י כַּפֶּֽכָה׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
וָקֶ֣דֶםἀρξαῖαצַרְתָּ֑נִיμεוַתָּ֖שֶׁתἔθηκαςעָלַ֣יἐμὲ

4 of the 6 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.

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


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

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

Psalms 139:5אָחוֹרback partback partאָחוֹרקֶ֫דֶםand frontand frontקֶ֫דֶםצוּרyou encloseyou enclose meצוּרשִׁיתand you havand you have puשִׁיתעַלon meon meעַלכַּףhand yourhand yourכַּףאֲחִירַעAhiraAhiraאֲחִירַעקָדַםto meetto meetקָדַםכָּפַףto bendto bendכָּפַףעַלheightheightעַלסוּגto turnto turnסוּגקֶ֫דֶםfront: easfront: eastקֶ֫דֶםמִזְרָחeasteastמִזְרָחפֵּאָהsidesideפֵּאָהשִׁמְרוֹןSamariaSamariaשִׁמְרוֹןכַּשְׂדִּיםChaldeaChaldeaכַּשְׂדִּיםעֵ֫דֶרflockflockעֵ֫דֶרחֹ֫שֶׁךְdarknessdarknessחֹ֫שֶׁךְכִּפֶּרto atoneto atoneכִּפֶּרכִּסֵּאthronethroneכִּסֵּאפָּרַשׂto spreadto spreadפָּרַשׂרֶ֫גֶלfootfootרֶ֫גֶל
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 139:5

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.

back part and front you enclose me and you have put on me hand your
אָח֣וֹר'a.Chor back part H268 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
41× 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 the back or rear side of something. It can also refer to a location or direction, like the West. In Genesis, it describes the back of the Tabernacle.
Amplified meaning
at my back, in the rear
Tyndale gloss
back
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אָחוֹר (achowr) refers to the hinder side or back part of something. It can also imply a direction, meaning backward or behind, and has temporal uses, indicating a time to come or hereafter. The word is derived from a root meaning 'to be behind' and encompasses various contexts, including physical and temporal references.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אָחוֹר 41 subst. the hinder side, back part

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H268 אָחוֹר the hinder side, back part

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

268 'achowr aw-khore'

or (shortened) achor {aw-khore'}; from 299; the hinder part;

hence (adverb) behind, backward; also (as facing north) the

West:--after(-ward), back (part, -side, -ward), hereafter,

(be-)hind(-er part), time to come, without.

see HEBREW for 0299

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אָחוֹר (a.chor) — back.

1) the back side, the rear

1a) backwards

1b) hereafter (of time)

1c) behind

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absolute
HNcmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

part: "to part" as a verb is no longer in good use (except in a few special phrases, compare Ru 1:17), but is obscure only in Pr 18:18, where the meaning is "break up their quarrel" (compare 2Sa 14:6). the Revised Version (British and American) has not changed the King James Version's usage, except (strangely) in 1Sa 30:24, where "share" is written. For the noun see PORTION.

back part and front you enclose me and you have put on me hand your
וָקֶ֣דֶםva.Ke.dem and front H6924 Conjunction · noun common masculine singular absolute
87× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The front or east direction, often used to describe a location or time, such as in the book of Ezekiel where it describes the direction of the temple. It can also mean something is ancient or from the past, like the stories in Genesis.
Amplified meaning
in front of me, to the east
Tyndale gloss
front: east
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word קֶ֫דֶם (*qedem*) means 'east' and also refers to 'front' or 'ancient time.' It is derived from another root and can indicate direction (eastward) or time (aforetime, antiquity). The entries highlight its use in various contexts, including geographical and temporal references, but do not present any significant disagreements among lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

קֶ֫דֶם n.[m.] front, east, aforetime

loc.

front

East; elsewh. מִקּ׳ = eastward

temp., ancient time, aforetime:

הַרְרֵי ק׳ Dt 33:15 ancient mts.

בִּימֵי ק׳ ψ 44:2 in ancient days

מִקּ׳ from of old

ק׳ alone, as adv. anciently, of old

beginning

base

[קֵ֫דֶם], קֵ֫דְמָה adv. eastward, to, toward the E.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6924a קֶ֫דֶם front, east, aforetime . loc. . front

. East

. temp. ancient time, aforetime

H6924b קֵ֫דֶם, קֵ֫דְמָה eastward, to, toward the E.

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6924 qedem keh'-dem

or qedmah {kayd'-maw}; from 6923; the front, of place

(absolutely, the fore part, relatively the East) or time

(antiquity); often used adverbially (before, anciently,

eastward):--aforetime, ancient (time), before, east (end,

part, side, -ward), eternal, X ever(-lasting), forward, old,

past. Compare 6926.

see HEBREW for 06923

see HEBREW for 06926

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

קֶ֫דֶם (qe.dem) — East.

This name means east, antiquity, front

קֵ֫דֶם (qe.dem) — east.

adv

eastward, to or toward the East

Another spelling of qe.dem (קֶ֫דֶם ": east" H6924)

קֶ֫דֶם (qe.dem) — front: east.

: east

1) east, antiquity, front, that which is before, aforetime

1a) front, from the front or east, in front, mount of the East

1b) ancient time, aforetime, ancient, from of old, earliest time

1c) anciently, of old (adverb)

1d) beginning

1e) east

קֶ֫דֶם (qe.dem) — front: old.

: old/ancient

1) east, antiquity, front, that which is before, aforetime

1a) front, from the front or east, in front, mount of the East

1b) ancient time, aforetime, ancient, from of old, earliest time

1c) anciently, of old (adverb)

1d) beginning

1e) east

קֶ֫דֶם (qe.dem) — front: forward.

: forward

1) east, antiquity, front, that which is before, aforetime

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | N-ms — Conjunction · noun common masculine singular absolute
HC/Ncmsa
back part and front you enclose me and you have put on me hand your
צַרְתָּ֑נִיtzar.Ta.ni you enclose me H6696 Verb qal perfect second person masculine singular · suffix
38× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To form or shape something, like a potter molds clay, as in Isaiah 29:16.
Amplified meaning
beset, surround
Tyndale gloss
to confine
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

צוּר (tsur) is a Hebrew verb with a range of meanings including to confine, bind, or besiege, as well as to show hostility or to fashion. It can imply both literal and figurative applications, such as being an adversary or enclosing something. The entries indicate that it covers various contexts, from distressing to fortifying.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

צוּר vb. confine, bind, besiege

base

[צוּר] vb. shew hostility to, treat as foe

base

[צוּר] vb. fashion, delineate

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6696a צוּר confine, bind, besiege H6696b צוּר shew hostility to, treat as foe H6696c צוּר fashion, delineate

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6696 tsuwr tsoor

a primitive root; to cramp, i.e. confine (in many

applications, literally and figuratively, formative or

hostile):--adversary, assault, beset, besiege, bind (up),

cast, distress, fashion, fortify, inclose, lay siege, put up

in bags.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

צוּר (tsur) — to confine.

1) to bind, besiege, confine, cramp

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to confine, secure

1a2) to shut in, beseige

1a3) to shut up, enclose

צוּר (tsur) — to provoke.

(Qal) to show hostility to, be an adversary, treat as foe

צוּר (tsur) — to form.

(Qal) to form, fashion, delineate

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Perf-2ms | Suff — Verb qal perfect second person masculine singular · suffix
HVqp2ms/Sp1bs
back part and front you enclose me and you have put on me hand your
וַתָּ֖שֶׁתva.Ta.shet and you have put H7896 Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect second person masculine singular
83× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to place or set something, and it's used in many different ways, like appointing someone to a job or setting your mind to do something. It appears in books like Genesis and Exodus. It can also mean to lay hands on someone or make something happen.
Amplified meaning
placed, set
Tyndale gloss
to set: make
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word שִׁית (shiyth) is a primitive root meaning to put or set, with a wide range of applications including appointing, laying, and constituting. It can also imply taking a stand or being imposed upon. The entries consistently emphasize its versatility in contexts of action and intention.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שִׁית vb. put, set

Qal

put, lay

set, station

set one's mind to, give heed, attention

set, fix

constitute, make one something

internally trans., = take one's stand

Hoph. if a ransom be imposed

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7896 שִׁית put, set .. put, lay

. . set, station

. set one's mind to, give heed, attention

. set, fix

. constitute, make one something

. internally trans., = take one's stand

. if a ransom be imposed

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7896 shiyth sheeth

a primitive root; to place (in a very wide

application):--apply, appoint, array, bring, consider, lay

(up), let alone, X look, make, mark, put (on), + regard, set,

shew, be stayed, X take.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שִׁית (shit) — to set: make.

: make/establish

1) to put, set

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to put, lay (hand upon)

1a2) to set, station, appoint, fix, set mind to

1a3) to constitute, make (one something), make like, perform

1a4) to take one's stand

1a5) to lay waste

1b) (Hophal) to be imposed, be set upon

שִׁית (shit) — to set: put.

: put/bring

1) to put, set

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to put, lay (hand upon)

1a2) to set, station, appoint, fix, set mind to

1a3) to constitute, make (one something), make like, perform

1a4) to take one's stand

1a5) to lay waste

1b) (Hophal) to be imposed, be set upon

שִׁית (shit) — to set: appoint.

: appoint

1) to put, set

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to put, lay (hand upon)

1a2) to set, station, appoint, fix, set mind to

1a3) to constitute, make (one something), make like, perform

1a4) to take one's stand

1a5) to lay waste

1b) (Hophal) to be imposed, be set upon

שִׁית (shit) — to set: accuse.

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Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-2ms — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect second person masculine singular
Hc/Vqw2ms
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

put (puT; Phoud, in Genesis and Chronicles, variant for Genesis Phout, for Chronicles, Phouth):

1. Renderings:

In consequence of the identification at the time, the prophets have "Libya" (Libues), except Nab 3:9, where the Greek renders the word as phuge, "flight." The Vulgate (Jerome's Latin Bible, 390-405 A.D.) has "Phut," "Phuth," and in the Prophets "Libyes" and "Libya"; the King James Version "Phut."

2. Son of Ham:

In the "Table of Nations" Put is the third son of Ham (Ge 10:6), the first and second being Cush and Misraim, and the fourth Canaan. Put is the only one of the sons of Ham who is not credited with descendants.

3. As Nationality:

In the Prophets, warriors from Put are referred to, principally in connection with the forces of Egypt. They appear as shield-bearers (Jer 46:9

Smith's Bible Dictionary
Nave's Topical Bible

→ See PHUT

back part and front you enclose me and you have put on me hand your
עָלַ֣י'a.Lai on me H5921 Preposition · suffix
5,774× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means on or above something, like a physical object or a situation. It can also imply a sense of responsibility or accountability, as in being on behalf of someone.
Amplified meaning
on my life, with care
Tyndale gloss
upon
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word עַל (*al*) is a preposition meaning 'upon' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including 'on account of,' 'beside,' 'above,' and 'against.' It can indicate physical placement, emotional burdens, or duties imposed on a person. The entries also note its use in idiomatic expressions and with verbs of motion. There is a mention of its function as a conjunction in certain contexts.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as

base

עַל, עָ֑ל

subst. height

As prep. upon, and hence on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against

Upon, of the substratum upon which an object in any way rests, or on which an action is performed

of clothing, etc., which any one wears

With verbs of covering or protecting, even though the cover or veil be not over or above the thing covered, but around or before it

Of what rests heavily upon a person, or is a burden to him

Of a duty, payment, care, etc., imposed upon a person, or devolving on him

על is used idiom. to give pathos to the expression of an emotion, by emphasizing the person who is its subject, and who, as it were, feels it acting upon him

חָיָה עַל to live upon (as upon a foundation or support)

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Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5921a עַל, עָ֑ל . As prep. upon, and hence on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against . Upon, of the substratum upon which an object in any way rests, or on which an action is performed . — . of clothing, etc., which any one wears

. With verbs of covering or protecting, even though the cover or veil be not over or above the thing covered, but around or before it

. Of what rests heavily upon a person, or is a burden to him

. Of a duty, payment, care, etc., imposed upon a person, or devolving on him

. על is used idiom. to give pathos to the expression of an emotion, by emphasizing the person who is its subject, and who, as it were, feels it acting upon him

. חָיָה עַל to live upon (as upon a foundation or support)

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Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5921 `al al

properly, the same as 5920 used as a preposition (in the

singular or plural often with prefix, or as conjunction with a

particle following); above, over, upon, or against (yet always

in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great

variety of applications (as follow):--above, according

to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, X as, at, because

of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, X both

and, by (reason of), X had the charge of, concerning for, in

(that), (forth, out) of, (from) (off), (up-)on, over, than,

through(-out), to, touching, X with.

see HEBREW for 05920

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עַל (al) — upon.

prep

1) upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against

1a) upon, on the ground of, on the basis of, on account of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of, as regards

1b) above, beyond, over (of excess)

1c) above, over (of elevation or pre-eminence)

1d) upon, to, over to, unto, in addition to, together with, with (of addition)

1e) over (of suspension or extension)

1f) by, adjoining, next, at, over, around (of contiguity or proximity)

1g) down upon, upon, on, from, up upon, up to, towards, over towards, to, against (with verbs of motion)

1h) to (as a dative)

[כִּי] עַל [כֵּן] ([ki] al [ken]) — as.

conj

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Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | Suff — Preposition · suffix
HR/Sp1bs
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
back part and front you enclose me and you have put on me hand your
כַּפֶּֽכָה׃ka.Pe.khah hand your H3709 Noun common feminine singular construct · suffix
193× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this word refers to the palm of the hand, like in Exodus 29 where it describes the priest's hands being filled with offerings. It can also symbolize power or strength, like in Psalm 16. It's about the hand or its shape.
Amplified meaning
palm, gentle guidance
Tyndale gloss
palm
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כַּף (kaph) refers to the hollow or flat part of the hand, including the palm and the sole of the foot. It can also denote power and is used to describe various hollow objects, such as bowls or handles. The word encompasses a range of meanings related to the shape and function of hands and feet, as well as items that are hand-shaped.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כַּף 192 n.f. hollow, or flat of the hand, palm, sole of foot, hand

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3709 כַּף hollow, or flat of the hand, palm, sole of foot, hand

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3709 kaph kaf

from 3721; the hollow hand or palm (so of the paw of an

animal, of the sole, and even of the bowl of a dish or sling,

the handle of a bolt, the leaves of a palm-tree);

figuratively, power:--branch, + foot, hand((-ful), -dle,

(-led)), hollow, middle, palm, paw, power, sole, spoon.

see HEBREW for 03721

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כַּף (kaph) — palm.

: palm/hand

1) palm, hand, sole, palm of the hand, hollow or flat of the hand

1a) palm, hollow or flat of the hand

1b) power

1c) sole (of the foot)

1d) hollow, objects, bending objects, bent objects

1d1) of thigh-joint

1d2) pan, vessel (as hollow)

1d3) hollow (of sling)

1d4) hand-shaped branches or fronds (of palm trees)

1d5) handles (as bent)

כַּף (kaph) — palm: sole.

: sole/paw

1) palm, hand, sole, palm of the hand, hollow or flat of the hand

1a) palm, hollow or flat of the hand

1b) power

1c) sole (of the foot)

1d) hollow, objects, bending objects, bent objects

1d1) of thigh-joint

1d2) pan, vessel (as hollow)

1d3) hollow (of sling)

1d4) hand-shaped branches or fronds (of palm trees)

1d5) handles (as bent)

כַּף (kaph) — palm: dish.

: dish/socket

1) palm, hand, sole, palm of the hand, hollow or flat of the hand

1a) palm, hollow or flat of the hand

1b) power

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Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fs | Suff — Noun common feminine singular construct · suffix
HNcfsc/Sp2ms
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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