Psalms 18:5 — Word Study
WLCחֶבְלֵ֣י שְׁא֣וֹל סְבָב֑וּנִי קִ֝דְּמ֗וּנִי מ֣וֹקְשֵׁי מָֽוֶת׃
BSAThe cordschebel [ropes, grave wound] of deathmâveth [natural or violent, eternal separation]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| חֶבְלֵ֣י | [the] cords of | Noun common, both plural construct |
| שְׁא֣וֹל | Sheol | Noun common, both singular absolute |
| סְבָב֑וּנִי | they surrounded me | Verb qal perfect third person common plural, suffix |
| קִ֝דְּמ֗וּנִי | they confronted me | Verb piel perfect third person common plural, suffix |
| מ֣וֹקְשֵׁי | [the] snares of | Noun common, masculine plural construct |
| מָֽוֶת׃ | death | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | The cords of Sheol entangled me; the snares of death confronted me. |
| KJV | The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented me. |
| ASV | The cords of Sheol were round about me; The snares of death came upon me. |
| YLT | Cords of Sheol have surrounded me, Before me have been snares of death. |
| WEB | The cords of Sheol were around me. The snares of death came on me. |
| BBE | The cords of hell were round me: the nets of death came on me. |
All translations agree on the essential meaning of the verse, with no significant differences.
The verse consists of two main clauses, each describing a different aspect of the psalmist's distress, with noun phrases identifying the sources of entanglement and confrontation.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
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 18:5
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 — A Psalm of Distressgenerated
Psalms 18:5 expresses the psalmist's deep distress as they feel ensnared by the cords of Sheol and confronted by the snares of death. This passage illustrates the gravity of their situation, where the imagery of ropes and traps conveys the overwhelming nature of their plight. The surrounding verses further emphasize the psalmist's call for help and God's response, showcasing a profound relationship between human suffering and divine intervention.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalm 86:13 | For great is Your loving devotion to me; You have delivered me from the depths of Sheol. |
| 2 | Psalm 88:3–8 | For my soul is full of troubles, and my life draws near to Sheol. |
| 3 | Acts 2:24 | But God raised Him from the dead, releasing Him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for Him to be held in its clutches. |
| 4 | Ecclesiastes 9:12 | For surely no man knows his time: Like fish caught in a cruel net or birds trapped in a snare, so men are ensnared in an evil time that suddenly falls upon them. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 4 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — חֶבְלֵי, chev.Leigenerated
The word חֶבֶל (*chevel*) means a cord or rope and can refer to both physical and abstract concepts, such as territory or pain. In this context, it evokes the image of being bound or entangled, emphasizing the psalmist's feeling of being trapped by death and Sheol.
The passive nature of the word suggests that the psalmist is not in control of their situation, but rather is at the mercy of these forces. This highlights the urgency of their plea for divine assistance.
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 core of the verse is built around two finite verbs: סְבָב֑וּ and קִ֝דְּמ֗וּ, both describing actions taken against the psalmist. The structure emphasizes the dual nature of the threats faced: being surrounded and confronted.
The Hebrew word order places emphasis on the subjects of the verbs, highlighting the overwhelming presence of death and Sheol in the psalmist's life.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, the translators used περιέσξον for חֶבְלֵי, indicating a choice that emphasizes being surrounded or encompassed. This choice aligns with the psalmist's feeling of entrapment.
The use of θανάτου for מָֽוֶת reinforces the concept of death as an active force confronting the psalmist.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Psalms 18:5 describes the psalmist's feelings of being trapped by the cords of Sheol and the snares of death. This verse highlights the distress and fear of being surrounded by death, while also expressing a desire for divine help.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
The 'cords of Sheol' refer to the binding nature of death and the grave, indicating a feeling of being ensnared by these forces.
The imagery of entanglement and confrontation illustrates the psalmist's deep distress and fear of death, emphasizing their need for divine intervention.
Sheol represents the underworld or grave, a place of no return, highlighting the seriousness of the psalmist's situation.
The verses before and after this one show the psalmist's call for help and God's response, creating a narrative of distress followed by divine rescue.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways have I felt surrounded by challenges, similar to the psalmist's experience?
- How can I seek divine help in moments of distress, as the psalmist does?
- What does the imagery of entanglement and confrontation teach me about the nature of my struggles?
- How can I find comfort in the assurance of God's presence during difficult times?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Early commentators like Augustine of Hippo reference this verse to discuss the nature of death and sin, illustrating its theological implications.
"The pains of hell compassed Me about" [Psalms 18:5]. Among those that compassed Me about to destroy Me, were pains of envy, which work death, and lead on to the hell of sin.Early Church Fathers on Psalms 18 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Psalms 18:5 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleThe sorrows of hell compassed me about,.... Or "the cords of the grave" (s), under the power of which he was detained for awhile; the allusion may be to the manner of burying among the Jews, who
Read John Gill on Psalms 18 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryThe sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid. The sorrows ... the sorrows - rather, 'the cords ... the cords,' as the parallel word, "the snares" (Psalms 18:5), requires.
Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 18 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleOf hell; or, of the grave, which brought me to the brink of the grave. Prevented me; had almost taken hold of me, ere I was aware of my danger.
Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 18 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsPsalms 18:5 The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented me.Ver. 5. The sorrows] Or, throes, or cords, such as wherewith they bind malefactors led forth to execution. The snares of death prevented me] David knew how to make the most of a mercy; he means, I was almost surprised, and all hope of help seemed to be anticipated; if help should come, it would some too late.
Read John Trapp on Psalms 18 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(5) Hell.—Heb., sheôl. (See Note on Psalms 6:5.) Prevented—i.e., suddenly seized upon. The poet seems to feel the cords already tightening on his limbe. He is not dead yet, but like to them who go down to sheôl. This verse has one verbal difference from Samuel.
Read Charles John Ellicott on Psalms 18 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 5. The sorrows of hell] חבלי שאול chebley sheol, the cables or cords of the grave. Is not this a reference to the cords or ropes with which they lowered the corpse into the grave? or the bandages by which the dead were swathed? He was as good as dead. The snares of death prevented me.] I was just on the point of dropping into the pit which they had digged for me. In short, I was all but a dead man; and nothing less than the immediate interference of God could have saved my life.
Read AdamClarke on Psalms 18 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges5. Render with R.V., The cords of Sheol were round about me: The snares of death came upon me. The Heb. word rendered sorrows in the A.V. may no doubt have the meaning pangs, and is so rendered by the LXX (ὠδῖνεςθανάτου … ὠ. ᾁδου, cp. Acts 2:24). But the parallelism decides in favour of the rendering cords. Death and Sheol, the mysterious unseen world (see on Psalms 6:5), are like hunters lying in wait for their prey with nooses and nets. prevented] i.e. came before, confronted me (Psalms 17:13) with hostile intention. See note on Psalms 18:18.
Read Cambridge on Psalms 18 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleThe sorrows of hell - Margin, “cords.” The word used here is the same which occurs in the previous verse, and which is there rendered “sorrows.” It is correctly translated here, as in that verse,
Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 18 →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
The cords of Sheol entangled me; the snares of death confronted me.
The cords of Sheol were around me. The snares of death came on me.
The cords of Sheol entangled me; the snares of death confronted me.
The ropes of Sheol tightened around me, the snares of death trapped me.
Tyndale line
The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented me.
The cords of Sheol were round about me; The snares of death came upon me.
The cords of Sheol were round about me: the snares of death came on me.
The sorrows of hell encompassed me: the snares of death seized me.
The sorowes of the graue haue compassed me about: the snares of death ouertooke me.
Strictly literal
The bands of Sheol surrounded me, the cords of death encountered me.
Cords of Sheol have surrounded me, Before me have been snares of death.
Cords of Sheol have surrounded me, || Snares of death have been before me.
(18:6) The bonds of hell encircled me: the snares of death seized on me.
The cords of Sheol surrounded me; the snares of death trapped me.
From the Latin
Their sound hath gone forth into all the earth: and their words unto the ends of the world.
Simplified
The grave wound its ropes around me; death set snares for me.
The cords of hell were round me: the nets of death came 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.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text is supported by the Septuagint, which matches all six words of the verse. The Dead Sea Scrolls show some restoration, but the essential meaning remains consistent with the Masoretic Text.
חֶבְלֵ֣י שְׁא֣וֹל סְבָב֑וּנִי קִ֝דְּמ֗וּנִי מ֣וֹקְשֵׁי מָֽוֶת׃
6 of the 6 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
[אפפו׳ני] [חבלי] [מות] [ונחלי] [בליעל] יבעתו׳ני
1 word on the leather — 5 supplied entire by an editor.
[אפפו׳ני] [חבלי] [מות] [ונחלי] [בליעל] יבעתו׳ני
nothing on the leather here — 1 partly restored, 5 supplied entire by an editor.
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.
Lexicons — every word in Psalms 18:5
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.
The Hebrew word חֶ֫בֶל (*chevel*) encompasses meanings related to a cord or rope, territory, and pain or pangs. It can refer to a measuring line, a company or band, and even destruction. The entries indicate a range of uses, from physical objects like cords to abstract concepts like sorrow. Notably, it is associated with both physical and emotional contexts.
חֶ֫בֶל n.m. f. cord, territory, band
cord, rope
measuring-cord, line
measured portion, lot, part, region
band, company of prophets
base
חֵ֫בֶל n.m. pain, pang
pains of travail
of other than birth-pangs
base
חֹבְלִים n.[m.]pl. union (lit. binders) name of Zec.’s second symbolic staff
base
חֶ֫בֶל n.m. destruction—Mi 2:10
ref
H2256a חֶ֫בֶל cord, territory, band H2256b חֵ֫בֶל pain, pang H2256c חֹבְלִים union H2256d חֶ֫בֶל destruction
2256 chebel kheh'-bel
or chebel {khay'-bel}; from 2254; a rope (as twisted),
especially a measuring line; by implication, a district or
inheritance (as measured); or a noose (as of cords);
figuratively, a company (as if tied together); also a throe
(especially of parturition); also ruin:--band, coast, company,
cord, country, destruction, line, lot, pain, pang, portion,
region, rope, snare, sorrow, tackling.
see HEBREW for 02254
חֶ֫בֶל (che.vel) — Mahalab.
This name means a cord, territory, region
Another name of ach.lav (אַחְלָב "Ahlab" H0303)
חֵ֫בֶל (che.vel) — pain.
1) pain, sorrow, travail, pang
1a) pains of travail
1b) pains, pangs, sorrows
חֹבְלִים (chov.lim) — union.
union
חֶ֫בֶל (che.vel) — destruction.
destruction
חֶ֫בֶל (che.vel) — cord.
1) a cord, rope, territory, band, company
1a) a rope, cord
1b) a measuring-cord or line
1c) a measured portion, lot, part, region
1d) a band or company
§ destruction
N-cp — Noun common · both plural constructHNcbpc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
שְׁאוֹל (sh'owl) refers to the underworld or the realm of the dead in Hebrew. It encompasses concepts such as hell, the grave, and a pit, often associated with punishment for the wicked and a place from which the righteous are not abandoned. The term implies a location of extreme degradation and is noted for its lack of praise for God.
שְׁאוֹל, שְׁאֹל n.f. Shᵉ’ōl, underworld (√ dub.; i.e. place of inquiry)
base
H7585 שְׁאוֹל, שְׁאֹל Shᵉ’ōl, underworld (√ dub.; i.e. place of inquiry)
7585 sh'owl sheh-ole'
or shol {sheh-ole'}; from 7592; Hades or the world of the
dead (as if a subterranean retreat), including its accessories
and inmates:--grave, hell, pit.
see HEBREW for 07592
שְׁאוֹל (she.ol) — hell: Sheol.
Sheol, underworld, grave, hell, pit
1a) the underworld
1b) Sheol-the OT designation for the abode of the dead
1b1) place of no return
1b2) without praise of God
1b3) wicked sent there for punishment
1b4) righteous not abandoned to it
1b5) of the place of exile (fig)
1b6) of extreme degradation in sin
HNcbsa — Noun common · both singular absoluteHNcbsa
she'-ol (she'ol):
1. The Name
2. The Abode of the Dead
(1) Not a State of Unconsciousness
(2) Not Removed from God's Jurisdiction
(3) Relation to Immortality
3. Post-canonical Period
1. The Name:
Sheol
(Heb., “the all-demanding world” = Gr. Hades, “the unknown region”), the invisible world of departed souls. (See HELL.)
→ See HELL (Hades)
The Hebrew word סָבַב (savav) means to turn or go around, encompassing a range of actions such as surrounding, marching, and changing direction. It is built from a primitive root and has various applications, both literal and figurative, including transforming or enclosing. The entries detail its uses in different verbal forms, but do not present any significant disagreement among lexicons.
סָבַב vb. turn about, go around, surround
Qal
turn, intrans.
march, or walk, around
go partly round, circle, skirt
make a round, or circuit, go about to
surround, encompass
Niph.
turn oneself against, close round upon
turn round (from a direct course)
esp. of boundary: turn round from, toward
pass. be turned over to, into the power of
Pi. to change, transform, the aspect of the matter
Po‛.
encompass (with protection)
come about, assemble round
march or go about
enclose, envelop
Hiph.
turn (trans.), cause to turn
bring over (i.e. to allegiance)
turn into, of changing name
= bring round, of changing name
cause to go around
surround with (acc.) wall
perh. also encompass (as foe)
Hoph.
be turned, of cart wheel
surrounded, i.e. set, of jewels
base
H5437 סָבַב turn about, go around, surround .. turn, intrans.
. . march, or walk, around
. go partly round, circle, skirt
. make a round, or circuit, go about to
. surround, encompass
. . . turn oneself against, close round upon
. turn round (from a direct course)
. esp. of boundary: turn round from, toward
. pass. be turned over to, into the power of
. to change, transform, the aspect of the matter
. . encompass (with protection)
. come about, assemble round
. march or go about
. enclose, envelop
. . . turn (trans.), cause to turn
. bring over (i.e. to allegiance)
. turn into, of changing name
. = bring round, of changing name
. . cause to go around
. surround with (acc.) wall
. perh. also encompass (as foe)
. . be turned, of cart wheel
. surrounded, i.e. set, of jewels
5437 cabab saw-bab'
a primitive root; to revolve, surround, or border; used in
various applications, literally and figuratively (as
follows):--bring, cast, fetch, lead, make, walk, X whirl, X
round about, be about on every side, apply, avoid, beset
(about), besiege, bring again, carry (about), change, cause to
come about, X circuit, (fetch a) compass (about, round),
drive, environ, X on every side, beset (close, come, compass,
go, stand) round about, inclose, remove, return, set, sit
down, turn (self) (about, aside, away, back).
סָבַב (sa.vav) — to turn: turn.
: turn/bring_around
1) to turn, turn about or around or aside or back or towards, go about or around, surround, encircle, change direction
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to turn, turn about, be brought round, change
1a2) to march or walk around, go partly around, circle about, skirt, make a round, make a circuit, go about to, surround, encompass
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to turn oneself, close round, turn round
1b2) to be turned over to
1c) (Piel) to turn about, change, transform
1d) (Poel)
1d1) to encompass, surround
1d2) to come about, assemble round
1d3) to march, go about
1d4) to enclose, envelop
1e) (Hiphil)
1e1) to turn, cause to turn, turn back, reverse, bring over, turn into, bring round
1e2) to cause to go around, surround, encompass
1f) (Hophal)
1f1) to be turned
1f2) to be surrounded
סָבַב (sa.vav) — to turn: surround.
: surround/go_round
HVqp3cp/Sp1bs — Verb qal perfect third person common plural · suffixHVqp3cp/Sp1bs
קָדַם (qadam) is a verb meaning to meet or come in front of someone or something. It covers actions such as anticipating, leading, and confronting, with nuances in its Piel and Hiphil forms. The entries emphasize its use in contexts of meeting or preceding, but do not provide specific verse references.
[קָדַם] vb. Pi. denom. come or be in front, meet
base
H6923 [קָדַם] vb. Pi. denom. come or be in front, meet
6923 qadam kaw-dam'
a primitive root; to project (one self), i.e. precede; hence,
to anticipate, hasten, meet (usually for help):--come (go,
(flee)) before, + disappoint, meet, prevent.
קָדַם (qa.dam) — to meet.
1) to meet, come or be in front, confront, go before
1a) (Piel)
1a1) to meet, confront, come to meet, receive
1a2) to go before, go in front, be in front
1a3) to lead, be beforehand, anticipate, forestall
1b) (Hiphil)
1b1) to come in front
1b2) to confront, anticipate
HVpp3cp/Sp1bs — Verb piel perfect third person common plural · suffixHVpp3cp/Sp1bs
מוֹקֵשׁ (mowqesh) refers to a bait or lure used in trapping, particularly in a fowler's net, and can also mean a snare in a figurative sense. It is derived from a root meaning to catch, and its implications include a noose or hook for capturing animals. The entries consistently describe it as a snare or trap.
מוֹקֵשׁ n.m. prop. a bait or lure in a fowler's net; then fig. a snare
base
H4170 מוֹקֵשׁ prop. a bait or lure in a fowler's net; then fig. a snare
4170 mowqesh mo-kashe'
or moqesh {mo-kashe'}; from 3369; a noose (for catching
animals) (literally or figuratively): by implication, a hook
(for the nose):--be ensnared, gin, (is) snare(-d), trap.
see HEBREW for 03369
מוֹקֵשׁ (mo.qesh) — snare.
bait, lure, snare
HNcmpc — Noun common · masculine plural constructHNcmpc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
מָ֫וֶת (maveth) means 'death' and encompasses various aspects such as natural or violent death, the state of being dead, and the realm of the dead (hades). It can also refer to pestilence or ruin. The word is derived from a root meaning 'to die' and has an Aramaic equivalent, מוֹת (mot).
מָ֫וֶת 161 n.m. death
death, opp. life
death by violence
state of death or place of death
base
H4194 מָ֫וֶת death
4194 maveth maw'-veth
from 4191; death (natural or violent); concretely, the dead,
their place or state (hades); figuratively, pestilence,
ruin:--(be) dead((-ly)), death, die(-d).
see HEBREW for 04191
מָ֫וֶת (ma.vet) — death.
1) death, dying, Death (personified), realm of the dead
1a) death
1b) death by violence (as a penalty)
1c) state of death, place of death
Aramaic equivalent: mot (מוֹת "death" H4193)
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa
(maweth; thanatos):
PHYSIOLOGICAL AND FIGURATIVE VIEW
The word "Death" is used in the sense of
(1) the process of dying (Ge 21:16);
(2) the period of decease (Ge 27:7);
(3) as a possible synonym for poison (2Ki 4:40);
(4) as descriptive of person in danger of perishing (Jud 15:18; "in deaths oft" 2Co 11:23). In this sense the shadow of death is a familiar expression in Job, the Psalms and the Prophets;
Death
May be simply defined as the termination of life. It is represented under a variety of aspects in Scripture: (1.) “The dust shall return to the earth as it was” (Eccl. 12:7).
(2.) “Thou takest away their breath, they die” (Ps. 104:29).
(3.) It is the dissolution of “our earthly house of this tabernacle” (2 Cor. 5:1); the “putting off this tabernacle” (2 Pet. 1:13, 14).
(4.) Being “unclothed” (2 Cor. 5:3, 4).
(5.) “Falling on sleep” (Ps. 76:5; Jer. 51:39;
Is taken in Scripture, first, for the separation of body and soul, the first death, Ge 25:11; secondly, for alienation from God, and exposure to his wrath, 1Jo 3:14, etc.; thirdly, for the second death, that of eternal damnation. Death was the penalty affixed to Adam’s transgression, Ge 2:17 3:19; and all his posterity are transgressors, and share the curse inflicted upon him. CHRIST is "our life." All believers share his life, spiritually and eternally; and though sin and bodily is taken away, and in the resurrection the last enemy shall be trampled under foot, Ro 5:12-21 1Co 15:1-58.