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Psalms 145:18 — Word Study

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WLCקָר֣וֹב יְ֭הוָה לְכָל־ קֹרְאָ֑יו לְכֹ֤ל אֲשֶׁ֖ר יִקְרָאֻ֣הוּ בֶאֱמֶֽת׃

BSAThe LORDYᵉhôvâh [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] is nearqârôwb [close, adjacent] to allkôl [everything, every person] who call on Himqârâʼ [cry out, invoke] to allkôl [everyone, each one] whoʼăsher call out to Himqârâʼ [invoke, petition] in truthʼemeth [with, characterized by, faithfulness, integrity]

Word
Listen & take awayPsalms 145
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 18 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 (ve.'e.Met) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Psalms 145:18quick helps
In a sentenceThe LORD is close to everyone who sincerely calls on Him.
Who is speakingThe psalmist, reflecting on God's character.
Where we areA declaration of God's nearness to those who seek Him.
The hard wordקָרֹוב
Take awayGod's presence is accessible to all who seek Him in truth.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause subjectיהוה 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 145:18

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 — God's Nearness to His Peoplegenerated

17The LORD is righteous in all His ways and kind in all His deeds.
18The LORD is near to all who call on Him, to all who call out to Him in truth.
19He fulfills the desires of those who fear Him; He hears their cry and saves them.
20The LORD preserves all who love Him, but all the wicked He will destroy.

Psalm 145:18 emphasizes that the LORD, referred to as Yahweh, is close to those who call on Him. This verse highlights God's willingness to be present and responsive to those who seek Him with sincerity and truth. It follows a declaration of God's righteousness and kindness, underscoring His compassionate nature towards all who invoke Him.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Psalm 34:18The LORD is near to the brokenhearted; He saves the contrite in spirit.
2Psalm 46:1–5God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in times of trouble.
3Deuteronomy 4:7For what nation is great enough to have a god as near to them as the LORD our God is to us whenever we call on Him?
41 Kings 18:27–28At noon Elijah began to taunt them, saying, “Shout louder, for he is a god! Perhaps he is deep in thought, or occupied, or on a journey. Perhaps he is sleeping and must be awakened!”
5Isaiah 58:9Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry out, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’ If you remove the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger and malicious talk,

The Key Word קָרֹוב, ka.Rovgenerated

The adjective קָרֹוב (qarowb) means 'near' and can describe proximity in place, time, or personal relationships. It is derived from a root that conveys the idea of approaching or being allied, indicating a close connection.

In this verse, it signifies God's closeness to those who earnestly call upon Him. The usage reflects a relational aspect, emphasizing that God is not distant but readily accessible to anyone who seeks Him.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

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


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main verb in the verse is יִקְרָאֻ֣, they call out, which governs the entire structure. The sentence includes two prepositional phrases and two noun phrases, indicating who is calling and in what manner.

The arrangement highlights the relationship between God and those who seek Him, with the emphasis on the sincerity of their calling.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint uses the Greek word ἐγγὺς, meaning 'near,' to translate קָרֹוב. This choice retains the sense of proximity and closeness, affirming God's readiness to respond to those who call on Him.

The consistent use of this term in the Septuagint reflects its significance in conveying God's relational nature.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Psalm 145:18 tells us that the LORD is close to everyone who calls on Him sincerely. This verse shows that God is accessible and responsive to those who seek Him in truth, emphasizing His compassionate nature.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean that the LORD is near?

It means that God is close and accessible to those who sincerely seek Him, ready to respond to their calls.

How can we call on the LORD in truth?

Calling on the LORD in truth involves approaching Him with sincerity, honesty, and faithfulness in our hearts.

Why is it important to know that God is near?

Knowing that God is near provides comfort and assurance that He hears our prayers and is involved in our lives.

What does it mean to call out to God?

To call out to God means to invoke Him, seeking His help, guidance, or presence in our lives.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what situations have I felt God's nearness when I called on Him?
  2. How can I ensure that I am calling on God in truth?
  3. What does it mean for me to seek God sincerely in my daily life?
  4. How can I encourage others to call on the LORD and experience His nearness?

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

Early Church Fathers comment on this verse, emphasizing God's readiness to respond to those who call upon Him, highlighting the importance of sincerity in prayer.

Augustine of HippoExposition on Psalms 145 354–430
"The Lord is near unto all that call upon Him" [Psalms 145:18].
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 145 →
Fulgentius of RuspeON THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS 1:26.2 c. 462–533
If there are any who are even in the catholic church and live evil lives, before they finish this life, let them hasten to give up the evil life, and let them not think that the catholic [Christian] name is enough for salvation,
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 145 →
BedeHomilies on the Gospels 2:14 c. 673–735
But we must look attentively at this—that not everyone who seems to pray before other people is proven to ask or to seek or to knock at the entrance of the heavenly kingdom in the sight of the searcher of hearts.
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 145 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Psalms 145:18 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

The Lord [is] nigh unto all them that call upon him,.... He is not only nigh unto them in relation, being their near kinsman, brother, father, husband, and head, but with respect to place and

Read John Gill on Psalms 145 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth. The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him - (Deuteronomy 4:7; Ps.

Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 145 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Is nigh unto all them, to answer their prayers for relief, that call upon him in truth; sincerely, or with an upright heart, trusting to him, and waiting upon him in his way.

Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 145 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Psalms 145:18 The LORD [is] nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.Ver. 18. The Lord is nigh unto all those, &c.] He is ever at hand, to hear and help his faithful suitors and suppliants; these have the royalty of his ear, free access, sure success. To all that call upon him in truth] That draw near with a true heart, in full assurance of faith, having their hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and their bodies washed with pure water, Hebrews 10:22.

Read John Trapp on Psalms 145 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(18) The Lord is nigh . . . Closer is He than breathing, and nearer than hands and feet.” : Higher Pantheism.

Read Charles John Ellicott on Psalms 145 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 18. The Lord is nigh] Whoever calls upon God in truth, with a sincere and upright heart, one that truly desires his salvation, to that person God is nigh. The following verse shows he is not only near to praying people, but 1. He will hear their cry. 2. Fulfil their desires. 3. Save them. Reader, lift up thy soul in prayer to this merciful God.

Read AdamClarke on Psalms 145 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

18. nigh unto all them that call upon him] To answer and help. Cp. Deuteronomy 4:7; Psalms 34:18; Psalms 119:151. in truth] The hypocrite finds no favour with Him. Cp. Isaiah 10:20; John 4:23-24.

Read Cambridge on Psalms 145 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him - There is a sense in which he is “nigh” to all, for he is everywhere present; but there is a special sense in which he seems to be near to us; in

Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 145 →

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

The LORD is near to all who call on Him, to all who call out to Him in truth.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Yahweh is near to all those who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

The LORD is near to all who call on Him, to all who call out to Him in truth.

NETBNew English Translation2006

The Lord is near all who cry out to him, all who cry out to him sincerely.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

Jehovah is nigh unto all them that call upon him, To all that call upon him in truth.

RVARevised Version, American1894

The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

The LORD is nigh to all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

The Lord is neere vnto all that call vpon him: yea, to all that call vpon him in trueth.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

Jehovah is nigh unto all that call upon him, unto all that call upon him in truth.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

Near [is] Jehovah to all those calling Him, To all who call Him in truth.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

YHWH [is] near to all those calling Him, || To all who call Him in truth.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

The Lord is nigh unto all those who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Yahweh is near to all those who call to him, to all who call to him in trustworthiness.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

The Lord is close to all who ask for his help, to all who ask in sincerity.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

The Lord is near all those who give honour to his name; even to all who give honour to him with true hearts.

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.

clausepredicateקָר֣וֹב[is].nearsubjectיְ֭הוָהYahwehprepositional phrase · prepositionalלְtonoun phraseכָלallnoun phraseקֹרְאָ֑י[thoseוwho].call.out.to.himclauseprepositional phrase · prepositionalלְtonoun phraseכֹ֤לallrelpאֲשֶׁ֖ר[those].whoclauseverbיִקְרָאֻ֣theyobjectהוּcall.out.to.himprepositional phrase · prepositionalבֶinאֱמֶֽתtruth

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 closely in the wording of this verse, with all eight words matched. The Dead Sea Scrolls also support the reading, confirming the essence of God's nearness to those who call on Him in faith.

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

קָר֣וֹב יְ֭הוָה לְכָל־ קֹרְאָ֑יו לְכֹ֤ל אֲשֶׁ֖ר יִקְרָאֻ֣הוּ בֶאֱמֶֽת׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
קָר֣וֹבἐγγὺςיְ֭הוָהκύριοςלְכָל־πᾶσινקֹרְאָ֑יוἐπικαλουμένοιςלְכֹ֤לπᾶσιאֲשֶׁ֖רτοῖςיִקְרָאֻ֣הוּαὐτὸνבֶאֱמֶֽת׃ἀληθείᾳ

8 of the 8 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

קרוב יהוה וברוך שמ׳ו לעולם ועד יקראו׳הו באמונה ברוך יהוה וברוך שמ׳ו לעולם ועד

14 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 145:18קָרֹב[is] near[is] nearקָרֹביהוהYahwehYahwehיהוהכֹּלto allto allכֹּלקָרָא[those who][those who] calקָרָאכֹּלto allto allכֹּלאֲשֶׁר[those] who[those] whoאֲשֶׁרקָרָאthey call othey call out tקָרָאאֱמֶתin truthin truthאֱמֶתכָּלַלto perfectto perfectכָּלַלקָרֵבto presentto present: comקָרֵבהָיָהto beto beהָיָהקָרָאto encountto encounter: mקָרָאאָמַןbe faithfube faithfulאָמַןעֵדָהcongregaticongregationעֵדָהעֲבֹדָהserviceserviceעֲבֹדָהצוֹםfastfastצוֹםשֵׁםnamenameשֵׁםרָחֹקdistantdistantרָחֹקאֵידcalamitycalamityאֵידנְאֻםutteranceutteranceנְאֻםצָבָאarmyarmyצָבָאצָוָהto commandto commandצָוָהחֶ֫סֶדkindnesskindnessחֶ֫סֶדשָׁלוֹםPeacePeaceשָׁלוֹם
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 145:18

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.

[is] near Yahweh to all [those who] call out to him to all [those] who they call out to him in truth
קָר֣וֹבka.Rov [is] near H7138 Adj
77× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means near, describing something close in place, time, or relationship. It is used in the book of Genesis to describe family relationships. The word is used to describe a close connection.
Amplified meaning
close, adjacent
Tyndale gloss
near
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

קָרֹב (qarowb) means 'near' and can refer to proximity in place, time, or personal relationships, including kinship. It is derived from the root meaning to approach or be allied. The term appears in various contexts, such as describing the nearest city or a neighbor, as well as in relation to God.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

קָרֹב, קָרוֹב 78 adj. near;—

of city, the nearest

of pers.:

the nearest to; his neighbour.

abs.

of near relationship

near to י׳

near to י׳ in ceremon. function

of God (י׳)

of word

of time

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7138 קָרֹב, קָרוֹב near

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7138 qarowb kaw-robe'

or qarob {kaw-robe'}; from 7126; near (in place, kindred or

time):--allied, approach, at hand, + any of kin,

kinsfold(-sman), (that is) near (of kin), neighbour, (that is)

next, (them that come) nigh (at hand), more ready, short(-ly).

see HEBREW for 07126

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

קָרֹב (qa.rov) — near.

1) near

1a) of place

1b) of time

1c) of personal relationship

1c1) kinship

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adj — Adj
HAamsa
[is] near Yahweh to all [those who] call out to him to all [those] who they call out to him in truth
יְ֭הוָהYah.weh Yahweh H3068 Noun proper
6,528× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Yehovah is another name for God, often translated as 'the Lord'. It is a national name for God in the Jewish faith. This name is used throughout the Old Testament.
Amplified meaning
Yehovah, The covenant Name of God
Tyndale gloss
The Lord
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

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

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

יהוה is used with אלהים and suffixes, especially in D

the phrase † אֲנִי יהוה is noteworthy

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

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

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

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3068 Yhovah yeh-ho-vaw'

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

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

see HEBREW for 01961

see HEBREW for 03050

see HEBREW for 03069

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — LORD.

Jehovah = "the existing One"

1) the proper name of the one true God

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

יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — The Lord.

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

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

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

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-proper — Noun proper
HNpt
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
[is] near Yahweh to all [those who] call out to him to all [those] who they call out to him in truth
לְכָל־le.khol to all H3605 Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct
5,415× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for 'all' or 'everything' is used throughout the Bible, like in Genesis 1:31, where God sees all He has made as very good. It encompasses the entirety of something, whether people, things, or situations.
Amplified meaning
everything, every person
Tyndale gloss
all
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כֹּל (kol) means 'all' or 'the whole.' It can refer to totality, including every person or thing, and is often used with a following genitive to specify what is included. The term can also denote a broader sense of everything in existence or all circumstances of life. The lexicons do not show significant disagreement on its meanings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כֹּל once כּוֹל n.m. the whole, all

with foll. gen. (as usually) the whole of, to be rendered, however, often in our idiom, to avoid stiffness, any or every

Absolutely:

without the art., all things, all

with the art. הַכֹּל

where the sense is limited by the context to things (or persons) just mentioned

in a wider sense, all, whether of all mankind or of all living things, the universe, or of all the circumstances of life (chiefly late)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3605 כֹּל once כּוֹל the whole, all . with foll. gen. (as usually) the whole of, to be rendered, however, often in our idiom, to avoid stiffness, any or every

. Absolutely: . without the art., all things, all

. with the art. הַכֹּל . where the sense is limited by the context to things (or persons) just mentioned

. in a wider sense, all, whether of all mankind or of all living things, the universe, or of all the circumstances of life (chiefly late)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3605 kol kole

or (Jer. 33:8) kowl {kole}; from 3634; properly, the whole;

hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a

plural sense):--(in) all (manner, (ye)), altogether, any

(manner), enough, every (one, place, thing), howsoever, as

many as, (no-)thing, ought, whatsoever, (the) whole,

whoso(-ever).

see HEBREW for 03634

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כֹּל (kol) — all.

1) all, the whole

1a) all, the whole of

1b) any, each, every, anything

1c) totality, everything

Aramaic equivalent: kol (כֹּל "all" H3606)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct
HR/Ncmsc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ol: Used in various combinations, and with different meanings.

(1) All along, "Weeping all along as he went" (Jer 41:6), i.e. throughout the whole way he went, feigning equal concern with the men from Shiloh, etc., for the destruction of the Temple, so as to put them off their guard.

(2) All in all, "That God may be all in all" (1Co 15:28, Greek: panta en pasin, "all things in all (persons and) things"). "The universe, with all it comprises, will wholly answer to God's will and reflect His mind" (Dummelow).

(3) All one, "It is all one" (Job 9:22), "it makes no difference whether I live or die."

(4) At all, "If thy father miss me at all" (1Sa 20:6), "in any way," "in the least."

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
[is] near Yahweh to all [those who] call out to him to all [those] who they call out to him in truth
קֹרְאָ֑יוko.re.'Av [those who] call out to him H7121 Verb qal participle (active) masculine plural common · suffix
733× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to call out to someone or something, often by name. It's used in many situations, like calling for help or reading aloud. In Genesis, God calls out to Adam in the Garden.
Amplified meaning
cry out, invoke
Tyndale gloss
to call: call to
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word קָרָא (qara') is a primitive root meaning to call, proclaim, or read. It encompasses a range of actions including calling out, crying for help, reading aloud, and summoning. The word can also imply being called or named in various contexts. There are no significant disagreements among the lexicons regarding its meanings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

קָרָא 724 vb. call, proclaim, read

Qal

call, cry, utter a loud sound

call, cry

call unto some one

cry for help

proclaim

read aloud

read to oneself

summon

call = name

Niph.

reflex.

pass. be called

Pu. be called

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7121 קָרָא call, proclaim, read .. . call, cry, utter a loud sound

. call, cry

. . call unto some one

. cry for help

. proclaim

. . read aloud

. read to oneself

. summon

. call = name

. . reflex.

. pass. be called

. be called

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7121 qara' kaw-raw'

a primitive root (rather identical with 7122 through the idea

of accosting a person met); to call out to (i.e. properly,

address by name, but used in a wide variety of

applications):--bewray (self), that are bidden, call (for,

forth, self, upon), cry (unto), (be) famous, guest, invite,

mention, (give) name, preach, (make) proclaim(- ation),

pronounce, publish, read, renowned, say.

see HEBREW for 07122

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

קָרָא (qa.ra) — to call: call to.

: call_to/invite/entreat

1) to call, call out, recite, read, cry out, proclaim

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to call, cry, utter a loud sound

1a2) to call unto, cry (for help), call (with name of God)

1a3) to proclaim

1a4) to read aloud, read (to oneself), read

1a5) to summon, invite, call for, call and commission, appoint, call and endow

1a6) to call, name, give name to, call by

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to call oneself

1b2) to be called, be proclaimed, be read aloud, be summoned, be named

1c) (Pual) to be called, be named, be called out, be chosen

קָרָא (qa.ra) — to call: call by.

: call_by/name

1) to call, call out, recite, read, cry out, proclaim

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to call, cry, utter a loud sound

1a2) to call unto, cry (for help), call (with name of God)

1a3) to proclaim

1a4) to read aloud, read (to oneself), read

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal | Suff — Verb qal participle (active) masculine plural common · suffix
HVqrmpc/Sp3ms
[is] near Yahweh to all [those who] call out to him to all [those] who they call out to him in truth
לְכֹ֤לle.Khol to all H3605 Preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
5,415× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for 'all' or 'everything' is used throughout the Bible, like in Genesis 1:31, where God sees all He has made as very good. It encompasses the entirety of something, whether people, things, or situations.
Amplified meaning
everyone, each one
Tyndale gloss
all
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כֹּל (kol) means 'all' or 'the whole.' It can refer to totality, including every person or thing, and is often used with a following genitive to specify what is included. The term can also denote a broader sense of everything in existence or all circumstances of life. The lexicons do not show significant disagreement on its meanings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כֹּל once כּוֹל n.m. the whole, all

with foll. gen. (as usually) the whole of, to be rendered, however, often in our idiom, to avoid stiffness, any or every

Absolutely:

without the art., all things, all

with the art. הַכֹּל

where the sense is limited by the context to things (or persons) just mentioned

in a wider sense, all, whether of all mankind or of all living things, the universe, or of all the circumstances of life (chiefly late)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3605 כֹּל once כּוֹל the whole, all . with foll. gen. (as usually) the whole of, to be rendered, however, often in our idiom, to avoid stiffness, any or every

. Absolutely: . without the art., all things, all

. with the art. הַכֹּל . where the sense is limited by the context to things (or persons) just mentioned

. in a wider sense, all, whether of all mankind or of all living things, the universe, or of all the circumstances of life (chiefly late)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3605 kol kole

or (Jer. 33:8) kowl {kole}; from 3634; properly, the whole;

hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a

plural sense):--(in) all (manner, (ye)), altogether, any

(manner), enough, every (one, place, thing), howsoever, as

many as, (no-)thing, ought, whatsoever, (the) whole,

whoso(-ever).

see HEBREW for 03634

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כֹּל (kol) — all.

1) all, the whole

1a) all, the whole of

1b) any, each, every, anything

1c) totality, everything

Aramaic equivalent: kol (כֹּל "all" H3606)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
HR/Ncmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ol: Used in various combinations, and with different meanings.

(1) All along, "Weeping all along as he went" (Jer 41:6), i.e. throughout the whole way he went, feigning equal concern with the men from Shiloh, etc., for the destruction of the Temple, so as to put them off their guard.

(2) All in all, "That God may be all in all" (1Co 15:28, Greek: panta en pasin, "all things in all (persons and) things"). "The universe, with all it comprises, will wholly answer to God's will and reflect His mind" (Dummelow).

(3) All one, "It is all one" (Job 9:22), "it makes no difference whether I live or die."

(4) At all, "If thy father miss me at all" (1Sa 20:6), "in any way," "in the least."

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
[is] near Yahweh to all [those who] call out to him to all [those] who they call out to him in truth
אֲשֶׁ֖ר'a.Sher [those] who H834 Particle
5,500× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word is a conjunction that connects ideas and events in the Bible, like in the book of Genesis, where it's used to describe the relationship between God and His creation.
Tyndale gloss
which
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word אֲשֶׁר (*asher*) is a relative pronoun that can mean 'who,' 'which,' or 'that.' It serves various grammatical functions, including as an adverb or conjunction, indicating relationships between clauses, places, or conditions. Variants like בַאֲשֶׁר (*ba-asher*), מֵאֲשֶׁר (*me-asher*), and כַּאֲשֶׁר (*ka-asher*) expand its usage to specific contexts such as location, causation, and time.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֲשֶׁר part. of relation A sign of relation, bringing the clause introduced by it into relation with an antecedent clause.

base

בַאֲשֶׁר

in (that) which

adv. in (the place) where

conj. in that, inasmuch as

on account of whom?

base

מֵאֲשֶׁר

from (or than) that which

adv. from (the place) where

conj. from (the fact) that …, since

base

כַּאֲשֶׁר conj. according as, as, when

according to that which, according as, as

with a causal force, in so far as, since

with a temporal force, when

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H834a אֲשֶׁר part. of relation A sign of relation, bringing the clause introduced by it into relation with an antecedent clause. H834b בַאֲשֶׁר . in (that) which

. adv. in (the place) where

. conj. in that, inasmuch as

. on account of whom?

H834c מֵאֲשֶׁר . from (or than) that which

. adv. from (the place) where

. conj. from (the fact) that …, since

H834d כַּאֲשֶׁר conj. according as, as, when . according to that which, according as, as

. with a causal force, in so far as, since

. with a temporal force, when

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

834 'aher ash-er'

a primitive relative pronoun (of every gender and number);

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction)

when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.:--X after, X

alike, as (soon as), because, X every, for, + forasmuch, +

from whence, + how(-soever), X if, (so) that ((thing) which,

wherein), X though, + until, + whatsoever, when, where

(+ -as, -in, -of, -on, -soever, -with), which, whilst, +

whither(- soever), who(-m, -soever, -se). As it is

indeclinable, it is often accompanied by the personal pronoun

expletively, used to show the connection.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֲשֶׁר (a.sher) — which.

A: 1) (relative part.)

1a) which, who

1b) that which

2) (conj)

2a) that (in obj clause)

2b) when

2c) since

2d) as

2e) conditional if

B: Beth+ 1) in (that) which

2) (adv)

2a) where

3) (conj)

3a) in that, inasmuch as

3b) on account of

C: Mem+ 1) from (or than) that which

2) from (the place) where

3) from (the fact) that, since

D: Kaph+

1) (conj.), according as, as, when

1a) according to that which, according as, as

1b) with a causal force: in so far as, since

1c) with a temporal force: when

בַאֲשֶׁר (ba.a.sher) — in which.

1) in (that) which

2) (adv)

2a) where

3) (conj)

3a) in that, inasmuch as

3b) on account of

מֵאֲשֶׁר (me.a.sher) — whence.

1) from (or than) that which

2) from (the place) where

3) from (the fact) that, since

כַּאֲשֶׁר (ka.a.sher) — as which.

conj

1) according as, as, when

1a) according to that which, according as, as

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Rel — Particle
HTr
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
[is] near Yahweh to all [those who] call out to him to all [those] who they call out to him in truth
יִקְרָאֻ֣הוּyik.ra.'U.hu they call out to him H7121 Verb qal imperfect third person masculine plural · suffix
733× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to call out to someone or something, often by name. It's used in many situations, like calling for help or reading aloud. In Genesis, God calls out to Adam in the Garden.
Amplified meaning
invoke, petition
Tyndale gloss
to call: call to
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word קָרָא (qara') is a primitive root meaning to call, proclaim, or read. It encompasses a range of actions including calling out, crying for help, reading aloud, and summoning. The word can also imply being called or named in various contexts. There are no significant disagreements among the lexicons regarding its meanings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

קָרָא 724 vb. call, proclaim, read

Qal

call, cry, utter a loud sound

call, cry

call unto some one

cry for help

proclaim

read aloud

read to oneself

summon

call = name

Niph.

reflex.

pass. be called

Pu. be called

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7121 קָרָא call, proclaim, read .. . call, cry, utter a loud sound

. call, cry

. . call unto some one

. cry for help

. proclaim

. . read aloud

. read to oneself

. summon

. call = name

. . reflex.

. pass. be called

. be called

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7121 qara' kaw-raw'

a primitive root (rather identical with 7122 through the idea

of accosting a person met); to call out to (i.e. properly,

address by name, but used in a wide variety of

applications):--bewray (self), that are bidden, call (for,

forth, self, upon), cry (unto), (be) famous, guest, invite,

mention, (give) name, preach, (make) proclaim(- ation),

pronounce, publish, read, renowned, say.

see HEBREW for 07122

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

קָרָא (qa.ra) — to call: call to.

: call_to/invite/entreat

1) to call, call out, recite, read, cry out, proclaim

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to call, cry, utter a loud sound

1a2) to call unto, cry (for help), call (with name of God)

1a3) to proclaim

1a4) to read aloud, read (to oneself), read

1a5) to summon, invite, call for, call and commission, appoint, call and endow

1a6) to call, name, give name to, call by

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to call oneself

1b2) to be called, be proclaimed, be read aloud, be summoned, be named

1c) (Pual) to be called, be named, be called out, be chosen

קָרָא (qa.ra) — to call: call by.

: call_by/name

1) to call, call out, recite, read, cry out, proclaim

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to call, cry, utter a loud sound

1a2) to call unto, cry (for help), call (with name of God)

1a3) to proclaim

1a4) to read aloud, read (to oneself), read

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Imperf-3mp | Suff — Verb qal imperfect third person masculine plural · suffix
HVqi3mp/Sp3ms
[is] near Yahweh to all [those who] call out to him to all [those] who they call out to him in truth
בֶאֱמֶֽת׃ve.'e.Met in truth H571 Preposition · noun common feminine singular absolute
127× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means truth, faithfulness, or stability, and is often used to describe God's character and promises. In Psalm 100:5, it says God's truth endures forever, and in Proverbs 12:17, it emphasizes the importance of truthful speech.
Amplified meaning
with, characterized by, faithfulness, integrity
Tyndale gloss
truth: faithful
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אֱמֶת (emeth) encompasses concepts of firmness, faithfulness, and truth. It signifies reliability and stability, often in the context of ethical or religious knowledge. The word can also function as an adverb meaning 'in truth' or 'truly.' There is a consistent emphasis on its meanings related to certainty and trustworthiness across the entries.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֱמֶת n.f. firmness, faithfulness

reliability, sureness

stability, continuance

faithfulness, reliableness

truth

adv. in truth, truly

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H571 אֱמֶת firmness, faithfulness . reliability, sureness

. stability, continuance

. faithfulness, reliableness

. truth

. adv. in truth, truly

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

571 'emeth eh'-meth

contracted from 539; stability; (figuratively) certainty,

truth, trustworthiness:--assured(-ly), establishment,

faithful, right, sure, true (-ly, -th), verity.

see HEBREW for 0539

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֱמֶת (e.met) — truth: faithful.

: faithful

1) firmness, faithfulness, truth

1a) sureness, reliability

1b) stability, continuance

1c) faithfulness, reliableness

1d) truth

1d1) as spoken

1d2) of testimony and judgment

1d3) of divine instruction

1d4) truth as a body of ethical or religious knowledge

1d5) true doctrine

adv

2) in truth, truly

אֱמֶת (e.met) — truth: true.

: true

1) firmness, faithfulness, truth

1a) sureness, reliability

1b) stability, continuance

1c) faithfulness, reliableness

1d) truth

1d1) as spoken

1d2) of testimony and judgment

1d3) of divine instruction

1d4) truth as a body of ethical or religious knowledge

1d5) true doctrine

adv

2) in truth, truly

אֱמֶת (e.met) — truth: certain.

: certain/fixed

1) firmness, faithfulness, truth

1a) sureness, reliability

1b) stability, continuance

1c) faithfulness, reliableness

1d) truth

1d1) as spoken

1d2) of testimony and judgment

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

trooth (`emeth, emunah, primary idea of "firmness," "stability" (compare Ex 17:12), hence "constancy," "faithfulness," etc.; the Septuagint's Apocrypha and the New Testament, aletheia (Ro 3:7), pistis (Ro 3:3); in adjectival and adverbial sense, "in truth," "of a truth," "faithful," etc.; alethos (Lu 21:3; Joh 6:14; 7:40; 1Th 2:13); alethinos (Joh 17:3); ontos (1Co 14:25); pistos (1Ti 3:1); in the King James…

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Truth

Used in various senses in Scripture. In Prov. 12:17, 19, it denotes that which is opposed to falsehood. In Isa. 59:14, 15, Jer. 7:28, it means fidelity or truthfulness. The doctrine of Christ is called “the truth of the gospel” (Gal. 2:5), “the truth” (2 Tim. 3:7; 4:4). Our Lord says of himself, “I am the way, and the truth” (John 14:6).

Nave's Topical Bible

→ Saints should worship God in Joh 4:24; with Ps 145:18

→ Serve God in Jos 24:14; 1Sa 12:24

→ Walk in the presence of God in 1Ki 2:4; 2Ki 20:3

→ Keep religious feasts with 1Co 5:8

→ Esteem, as inestimable Pr 23:23

→ Love Zec 8:19

→ Rejoice in 1Co 13:6

Torrey's New Topical Textbook

- God is a God of

De 32:4; Ps 31:15

- Christ is

Joh 14:6; 7:18

- Christ was full of

Joh 1:14

- Christ spoke

Joh 8:45

- The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of

Joh 14:17

- The Holy Spirit guides into all

Joh 16:13

- The word of God is

Da 10:21; Joh 17:17

- God regards, with favour

Jer 5:3

- The judgments of God are according to

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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