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Psalms 19:13 — Word Study

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WLCגַּ֤ם מִזֵּדִ֨ים׀ חֲשֹׂ֬ךְ עַבְדֶּ֗ךָ אַֽל־ יִמְשְׁלוּ־ בִ֣י אָ֣ז אֵיתָ֑ם וְ֝נִקֵּ֗יתִי מִפֶּ֥שַֽׁע רָֽב׃

BSAand cleansednâqâh [made clean, purified]

Word
Listen & take awayPsalms 19
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 13 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 (Rav) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Psalms 19:13quick helps
In a sentenceThe psalmist asks God to protect him from willful sins that could dominate his life.
Who is speakingThe psalmist, referring to himself as God's servant.
Where we areIn a prayer for moral integrity and divine protection.
The hard wordשְׁגִיאָה
Take awayThe psalmist desires to be free from sin and guilt.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbמִן 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 19:13

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 Prayer for Puritygenerated

11By them indeed Your servant is warned; in keeping them is great reward.
12Who can discern his own errors? Cleanse me from my hidden faults.
13Keep Your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then I will be blameless and cleansed of great transgression.
14May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Psalms 19:13 is part of a prayer where the psalmist seeks God's help in avoiding sins that are deliberate and presumptuous. This plea follows a recognition of God's laws and the need for purity, as seen in the preceding verses. The psalmist acknowledges the importance of being cleansed from hidden faults and desires to remain blameless before God.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Genesis 20:6Then God said to Abimelech in the dream, “Yes, I know that you did this with a clear conscience, and so I have kept you from sinning against Me. That is why I did not let you touch her.
21 Samuel 25:32–34Then David said to Abigail, “Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who sent you to meet me this day!
3Exodus 21:14But if a man schemes and acts willfully against his neighbor to kill him, you must take him away from My altar to be put to death.
4Numbers 15:30–31But the person who sins defiantly, whether a native or foreigner, blasphemes the LORD. That person shall be cut off from among his people.
5Deuteronomy 17:12–13But the man who acts presumptuously, refusing to listen either to the priest who stands there to serve the LORD your God, or to the judge, must be put to death. You must purge the evil from Israel.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 14 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word חֲשֹׂ֬ךְ, cha.Sokhgenerated

The verb חָשַׂךְ (chasak) means to withhold or restrain. It is an imperative form, indicating a request or command directed to God, asking Him to keep the psalmist away from willful sins. This word carries the nuance of actively preventing something from happening, which emphasizes the psalmist's reliance on God for moral strength.

In this context, the psalmist is not merely asking for protection but is expressing a deep awareness of the potential dangers of sin. The request is for God's intervention to ensure that these sins do not gain control over him.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses keep back for חֲשֹׂ֬ךְ.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main verb in the verse is חֲשֹׂ֬ךְ (keep back), which governs the entire request. The structure includes several phrases: a prepositional phrase indicating the source of the sins, a jussive clause expressing the desire for these sins not to rule, and a concluding clause that states the psalmist's hope for being blameless.

The Hebrew word order places emphasis on the imperative verb first, highlighting the urgency of the psalmist's request.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates חֲשֹׂ֬ךְ as συνήσει, which means to understand or discern. This choice reflects a broader interpretation, suggesting that the psalmist seeks not only protection but also insight into the nature of his sins.

This rendering indicates a shift from a direct plea for restraint to a request for wisdom in recognizing and avoiding sin.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Psalms 19:13 is a prayer where the psalmist asks God to protect him from willful sins that could take control of his life. He desires to be blameless and cleansed from serious wrongdoing, emphasizing his reliance on God's help for moral integrity.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does the psalmist mean by 'willful sins'?

Willful sins refer to deliberate actions that go against God's commands, indicating a conscious choice to disobey.

Why does the psalmist emphasize being blameless?

Being blameless reflects a desire for moral integrity and a right standing before God, important themes in the psalmist's relationship with the divine.

How can we apply this prayer in our lives?

We can ask God for help in avoiding deliberate sins and strive for purity in our actions and thoughts, recognizing our dependence on His guidance.

What is the significance of asking God to keep back these sins?

This request highlights the psalmist's understanding of human weakness and the need for divine intervention to maintain a righteous life.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. What are some willful sins I need to be aware of in my own life?
  2. How can I seek God's help to avoid these sins?
  3. In what ways can I strive to be blameless in my actions and thoughts?
  4. How does understanding my dependence on God change my approach to sin?

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

Early church fathers, such as Augustine of Hippo, reference this verse to discuss themes of hidden faults and the need for divine cleansing.

Augustine of HippoExposition on Psalms 19 354–430
"Cleanse me, O Lord, from my secret faults." From the lusts which lie hidden in me, cleanse me, O Lord. "And from the" faults "of others preserve Your servant" [Psalms 19:13].
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 19 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Psalms 19:13 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous [sins],.... Some understand these words of persons: the Septuagint, and the versions that follow that, render it "from strangers": such who are strangers

Read John Gill on Psalms 19 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression. Presumptuous (sins).

Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 19 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Keep back, or restrain, or withdraw; which word is emphatical, and signifies man’ s natural and great proneness even to the worst of sins, and the necessity of God’ s grace, as a bridle, to keep men from rushing upon them. Having begged pardon for his former errors, he now begs grace to keep him from relapses for the time to come. From presumptuous sins; from known and evident sins, such as are committed against knowledge and deliberation with design, and resolution, and eagerness, with resistance against the checks of conscience, and the motions of God’ s Spirit, and with contempt both of God’ s commands and judgments, and so with pride and insolency, which this word signifies. See . And…

Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 19 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Psalms 19:13 Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous [sins]; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.Ver. 13. Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins] Heb. Withdraw, inhibit, for we are naturally prone to the worst of sins, even the best of us, and to lie buried with the world in a bog of wickedness, adding rebellion to sin, and doing wickedly with both hands earnestly, unless God rein us in, and restrain us from such enormities. Pray we therefore as here, Etiam a superbiis contine servum tuum (Midrash Tillin. in Psalms 19:13). David’ s murdering Uriah was a sin of this sort. The Rabbis here observe how…

Read John Trapp on Psalms 19 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(13) Presumptuous sin.—The Heb., from root meaning to “boil up” or “over,” is properly masculine, and always elsewhere means proud or arrogant men. (So Symmachus and Aquila.) Hence here explain, “Keep thy servant from the companionship of arrogant men, so that they may not get dominion over me, and lead me away from thy Law.” The great transgression.—Rather, a great transgression, though even without the article it is possible the particular sin of idolatry is intended.

Read Charles John Ellicott on Psalms 19 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 13. From presumptuous sins] Sins committed not through frailty or surprise, but those which are the offspring of thought, purpose, and deliberation. Sins against judgment, light, and conscience. The words might be translated, Preserve thy servant also from the proud; from tyrannical governors, i.e., from evil spirits. - Bishop Horsley. So most of the versions understand the place. Let them not have dominion over me] Let me never be brought into a habit of sinning. He who sins presumptuously will soon be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. Then shall I be upright] Let me be preserved from all the evil that the craft and malice of the devil or man work against me, then shall I…

Read AdamClarke on Psalms 19 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

13. For sins committed ‘in error,’ (A.V. through ignorance) and for ‘hidden’ offences, the ceremonial law provided an atonement (Leviticus 4:1 ff., Leviticus 4:13 ff; Leviticus 5:2 ff.; Numbers 15:22 ff.); but for sins committed ‘with a high hand,’ in a spirit of proud defiance, there was no atonement (Numbers 15:30-31). From such presumptuous sins he prays to be restrained, as David was once restrained from a desperate act of revenge (1 Samuel 25:39). Such sins soon become a man’s masters, and he becomes their slave (John 8:34). They rule over him, instead of his ruling over them (Genesis 4:7). For presumptuous, lit. proud, cp. presumptuously, lit. in pride, Exodus 21:14; Deuteronomy…

Read Cambridge on Psalms 19 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Keep back thy servant also - Restrain thy servant; or, do not suffer him to commit those sins.

Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 19 →

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

Keep Your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then I will be blameless and cleansed of great transgression.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins. Let them not have dominion over me. Then I will be upright. I will be blameless and innocent of great transgression.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

Keep Your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then I will be blameless and cleansed of great transgression.

NETBNew English Translation2006

Moreover, keep me from committing flagrant sins; do not allow such sins to control me. Then I will be blameless, and innocent of blatant rebellion.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; Let them not have dominion over me: Then shall I be upright, And I shall be clear from great transgression.

RVARevised Version, American1894

Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be perfect, and I shall be clear from great transgression.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins ; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Keepe thy seruant also from presumptuous sinnes: let them not reigne ouer me: so shall I be vpright, and made cleane from much wickednes.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous [sins]; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be perfect, and I shall be innocent from great transgression.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

Also — from presumptuous ones keep back Thy servant, Let them not rule over me, Then am I perfect, And declared innocent of much transgression,

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

Also—keep back Your servant from presumptuous ones, || Do not let them rule over me, || Then I am perfect, || And declared innocent of much transgression.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

(19:14) Also from presumptuous [sins] withhold thy servant; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be blameless, and I shall be clear from any great transgression.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Keep your servant also from arrogant sins; let them not rule over me. Then I will be perfect, and I will be innocent from many transgressions.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

Don't let your servant commit deliberate sins. Don't let them rule over me. Then I will be without fault, innocent of such rebellion.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

Keep your servant back from sins of pride; let them not have rule over me: then will I be upright and free from great sin.

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


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

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

clauseprepositional phrase · prepositionalגַּ֤םalsoprepositional phraseמִfromזֵּדִ֨יםpresumptuous.[sins]verbחֲשֹׂ֬ךְkeep.backnoun phrase · objectעַבְדֶּ֗servantךָyourclauseadverbialאַֽלnotverbיִמְשְׁלוּmay.they.ruleprepositional phrase · prepositionalבִ֣overיmeclauseadverbialאָ֣זthenverbאֵיתָ֑םI.will.be.blamelessוְ֝andclauseverbנִקֵּ֗יתִיI.will.be.acquittedprepositional phrase · prepositionalמִfromnoun phraseפֶּ֥שַֽׁעtransgressionרָֽבgreat

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


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

The Masoretic Text provides the full Hebrew verse, while the Septuagint matches only 4 of the 12 words, indicating a significant divergence in translation. The Septuagint's word order and phrasing differ from the Hebrew, showing a different interpretative approach.

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

גַּ֤ם מִזֵּדִ֨ים׀ חֲשֹׂ֬ךְ עַבְדֶּ֗ךָ אַֽל־ יִמְשְׁלוּ־ בִ֣י אָ֣ז אֵיתָ֑ם וְ֝נִקֵּ֗יתִי מִפֶּ֥שַֽׁע רָֽב׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
גַּ֤םπαραπτώματαמִזֵּדִ֨ים׀συνήσειעַבְדֶּ֗ךָκαθάρισόνאַֽל־με

4 of the 12 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 19:13גַּםalsoalsoגַּםזֵדfrom presumfrom presumptuoזֵדחָשַׂךְkeep backkeep backחָשַׂךְעֶ֫בֶדservant youservant yourעֶ֫בֶדאַלmay notmay notאַלמָשַׁלthey rulethey ruleמָשַׁלנִיover meover meנִיאָזthenthenאָזתָּמַםI will be bI will be blameתָּמַםנָקָהand I will and I will be aנָקָהפֶּ֫שַׁעfrom transgfrom transgressפֶּ֫שַׁערַבgreatgreatרַבזִידto boilto boilזִידעָבַדto serveto serveעָבַדרָבַבto multiplto multiplyרָבַבחָשַׁךְto darkento darkenחָשַׁךְלֹאnotnotלֹאפָּשַׁעto transgrto transgressפָּשַׁעתְּמוֹלyesterdayyesterdayתְּמוֹלשִׁלְשֹׁםthree daysthree days agoשִׁלְשֹׁםלִיץto mockto mockלִיץשֶׁ֫קֶרdeceptiondeceptionשֶׁ֫קֶרחָדַלto ceaseto ceaseחָדַלשָׂפָהlipslipsשָׂפָהאָמָהmaidservanmaidservantאָמָהשִׁפְחָהmaidservanmaidservantשִׁפְחָהחָתַתto to be dto to be dismayחָתַתיָרֵאto fearto fearיָרֵאכִּסֵּאthronethroneכִּסֵּאמְצוּדָהnetnetמְצוּדָה
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 19:13

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.

also from presumptuous [sins] keep back servant your may not they rule over me then I will be blameless and I will be acquitted from transgression great
גַּ֤םgam also H1571 Adverb
769× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Also means 'even' or 'too', used for emphasis or to connect ideas, like 'both...and' or 'neither...nor'. It can introduce a climax or show contrast.
Tyndale gloss
also
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

גַּם (gam) is an adverb meaning 'also' or 'moreover,' indicating addition or emphasis. It can express various nuances, such as 'even,' 'indeed,' or 'but.' The term is often used in a correlational manner, as in 'both...and.' It appears in contexts that require clarification or reinforcement of a statement.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

גַּם 768 adv. denoting addition, also, moreover, yea

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1571 גַּם denoting addition, also, moreover, yea

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1571 gam gam

by contraction from an unused root meaning to gather;

properly, assemblage; used only adverbially also, even, yea,

though; often repeated as correl. both...and:--again, alike,

also, (so much) as (soon), both (so)...and , but, either...or,

even, for all, (in) likewise (manner), moreover,

nay...neither, one, then(-refore), though, what, with, yea.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

גַּם (gam) — also.

1) also, even, indeed, moreover, yea

1a) also, moreover (giving emphasis)

1b) neither, neither...nor (with negative)

1c) even (for stress)

1d) indeed, yea (introducing climax)

1e) also (of correspondence or retribution)

1f) but, yet, though (adversative)

1g) even, yea, yea though (with 'when' in hypothetical case)

2) (TWOT) again, alike

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HD — Adverb
HD
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ol'-so: In the Greek kai, when it is equivalent to "also" or "even," is always placed before the word or phrase which it is intended to emphasize (e.g. Ac 12:3; 1 Joh 4:21). Mt 6:14 should therefore read, "Your heavenly Father will forgive you also"; Lu 6:13, "Whom also he named apostles"; Heb 8:6, "The mediator of a better covenant also"; and 1Th 4:14, `If we believe that Jesus died and rose again, so also (we believe that) those who are fallen asleep in Jesus, God will bring with Him.'

also from presumptuous [sins] keep back servant your may not they rule over me then I will be blameless and I will be acquitted from transgression great
מִזֵּדִ֨ים׀mi.ze.Dim from presumptuous [sins] H2086 Preposition
13× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word describes someone who is arrogant or proud, like the presumptuous ones in the Bible. It is used to describe those who defy God's laws. The KJV translates it as presumptuous or proud.
Tyndale gloss
arrogant
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

זֵד (zed) refers to a quality of arrogance or insolence, describing someone who is presumptuous or proud. The term can function as both an adjective and a noun, indicating arrogant individuals collectively. It is derived from a root meaning to be arrogant, and its usage is consistent across various lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

זֵד adj. insolent, presumptious

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2086 זֵד insolent, presumptious

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2086 zed zade'

from 2102; arrogant:--presumptuous, proud.

see HEBREW for 02102

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

זֵד (zed) — arrogant.

1) arrogant, proud, insolent, presumptuous

1a) the arrogant ones (as n coll pl)

1b) presumptuous (as adj)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HR/Aampa — Preposition
HR/Aampa
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
also from presumptuous [sins] keep back servant your may not they rule over me then I will be blameless and I will be acquitted from transgression great
חֲשֹׂ֬ךְcha.Sokh keep back H2820 Verb · Qal · imperative second person masculine singular
28× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This verb means to withhold or restrain something. It can also mean to spare, preserve, or observe. In the Bible, it is used to describe holding back or keeping something for oneself.
Tyndale gloss
to withhold
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

חָשַׂךְ (chasak) is a Hebrew verb meaning to withhold or refrain. It encompasses actions like restraining, keeping back, and sparing, with nuances of preserving and holding in check. The word appears in various forms, including Qal and Niphal, indicating both active and passive meanings. There are no significant disagreements among the lexicons regarding its definitions.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

חָשַׂךְ vb. withhold, refrain

Qal

withhold, keep back, keep for oneself

keep one from evil, calamity

hold in check

refrain

spare

reserve for

(abs.) restrain, check (pain) i.e. assuage

Niph. at the day of calamity the wicked is spared

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2820 חָשַׂךְ withhold, refrain

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2820 chasak khaw-sak'

a primitive root; to restrain or (reflex.) refrain; by

implication, to refuse, spare, preserve; also (by interch.

with 2821) to observe:--assuage, X darken, forbear, hinder,

hold back, keep (back), punish, refrain, reserve, spare,

withhold.

see HEBREW for 02821

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חָשַׂךְ (cha.sakh) — to withhold.

1) to withhold, restrain, hold back, keep in check, refrain

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to withhold, keep back, keep for oneself, keep from, hold in check, refrain, spare, reserve

1a2) to restrain, check

1b) (Niphal) to assuage, be spared

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HVqv2ms — Verb · Qal · imperative second person masculine singular
HVqv2ms
also from presumptuous [sins] keep back servant your may not they rule over me then I will be blameless and I will be acquitted from transgression great
עַבְדֶּ֗ךָ'av.De.kha servant your H5650 Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
801× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to a servant or slave, often in the context of serving God or a human master. It can also describe a prophet or Levite. The KJV translates it as bondage, bondman, or servant.
Tyndale gloss
servant/slave
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word עֶ֫בֶד (*ebed*) means 'slave' or 'servant' and encompasses various roles, including household servants, subjects, and worshippers of God. It can also refer to Israel as a collective servant of God and is used in polite address among equals. The word is derived from a root meaning 'to work' or 'to serve'.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עֶ֫בֶד 799 n.m. slave, servant

slave, servant of household

Subjects, of chief

Servants, worshippers of God

Servant of י׳, in a special sense

Israel as a people is servant of י׳

In polite address of equals or superiors the Hebrews used עַבְדְּךָ thy servant = 1 pers. sing., I

Phrases

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5650 עֶ֫בֶד slave, servant . slave, servant of household

. Subjects, of chief

. Servants, worshippers of God

. Servant of י׳, in a special sense

. Israel as a people is servant of י׳

. In polite address of equals or superiors the Hebrews used עַבְדְּךָ thy servant = 1 pers. sing., I

. Phrases

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5650 `ebed eh'-bed

from 5647; a servant:--X bondage, bondman, (bond-)servant,

(man-)servant.

see HEBREW for 05647

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עֶ֫בֶד (e.ved) — servant/slave.

1) slave, servant

1a) slave, servant, man-servant

1b) subjects

1c) servants, worshippers (of God)

1d) servant (in special sense as prophets, Levites etc)

1e) servant (of Israel)

1f) servant (as form of address between equals)

Aramaic equivalent: a.vad (עֲבַד "servant/slave" H5649)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HNcmsc/Sp2ms — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
HNcmsc/Sp2ms
also from presumptuous [sins] keep back servant your may not they rule over me then I will be blameless and I will be acquitted from transgression great
אַֽל־'al- may not H408 Particle
724× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Means not or nothing, used to express negation, as in the phrase do not or let not be.
Tyndale gloss
not
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אַל (al) is a negative particle meaning 'not' or 'no,' often used to express a wish or prohibition rather than an objective fact. It can also function as a noun meaning 'nothing.' The lexicons highlight its use in various contexts, including deprecative forms, but do not show significant disagreement.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אַל adv. of negation, denying however, not objectively as a fact, but subjectively as a wish, expressing therefore a deprecation or prohibition

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H408 אַל adv. of negation, denying however, not objectively as a fact, but subjectively as a wish, expressing therefore a deprecation or prohibition

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

408 'al al

a negative particle (akin to 3808); not (the qualified

negation, used as a deprecative); once (Job 24:25) as a noun,

nothing:--nay, neither, + never, no ,nor, not, nothing

(worth), rather than.

see HEBREW for 03808

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אַל (al) — not.

1) not, no, nor, neither, nothing (as wish or preference)

1a) do not, let not (with a verb)

1b) let there not be (with a verb understood)

1c) not, no (with substantive)

1d) nothing (as substantive)

Aramaic equivalent: al (אַל "not" H0409)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HTn — Particle
HTn
also from presumptuous [sins] keep back servant your may not they rule over me then I will be blameless and I will be acquitted from transgression great
יִמְשְׁלוּ־yim.she.lu- they rule H4910 Verb · Qal · jussive third person masculine plural
81× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To rule means to have power over something or someone, like a king ruling his kingdom, as seen in 1 Samuel. It involves having control and making decisions, like a leader guiding their people. In the Bible, God rules over all things.
Tyndale gloss
to rule
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מָשַׁל (mashal) is a Hebrew verb meaning to rule or have dominion. It can refer to human authority, the dominion of heavenly bodies, or God's sovereignty. The word has a Qal form indicating direct rule and a Hiphil form that implies causing someone to rule or exercising dominion.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מָשַׁל vb. rule, have dominion, reign

Qal

human subj., rule, have dominion over

of heavenly bodies

of God

Hiph. cause to rule; exercise dominion

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4910 מָשַׁל rule, have dominion, reign .. human subj., rule, have dominion over

. of heavenly bodies

. of God

. cause to rule; exercise dominion

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4910 mashal maw-shal'

a primitive root; to rule:--(have, make to have) dominion,

governor, X indeed, reign, (bear, cause to, have)

rule(-ing, -r), have power.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מָשַׁל (ma.shal) — to rule.

1) to rule, have dominion, reign

1a) (Qal) to rule, have dominion

1b) (Hiphil)

1b1) to cause to rule

1b2) to exercise dominion

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HVqj3mp — Verb · Qal · jussive third person masculine plural
HVqj3mp
also from presumptuous [sins] keep back servant your may not they rule over me then I will be blameless and I will be acquitted from transgression great
בִ֣יvi over me H9030 Preposition · suffix
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נִי (ni) — me.

Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 1st person singular

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HR/Sp1bs — Preposition · suffix
HR/Sp1bs
also from presumptuous [sins] keep back servant your may not they rule over me then I will be blameless and I will be acquitted from transgression great
אָ֣ז'az then H227 Adverb
141× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word refers to a past time or place, often used to describe something that happened earlier. It can also be used as a conjunction to show a cause-and-effect relationship. In the Bible, it appears in books like Genesis and Isaiah.
Tyndale gloss
then
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אָז (az) is a demonstrative adverb meaning 'at that time' or 'then,' used for both temporal and logical expressions. It can refer to past events or indicate a condition for future actions. The related form מֵאָז (me.az) means 'from that time' or 'since.' The entries highlight its use in various contexts without significant disagreement.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אָז adv. at that time, then whether expressing duration, or inception (= thereupon).

strictly temporal

expressing logical sequence strictly

base

מֵאָז lit. from that time

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H227a אָז at that time, then H227b מֵאָז, once

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

227 'az awz

a demonstrative adverb; at that time or place; also as a

conjunction, therefore:--beginning, for, from, hitherto, now,

of old, once, since, then, at which time, yet.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אָז (az) — then.

1) then, at that time

1a) temporal expressions

1a1) then (past)

1a2) then, if...then (future)

1a3) earlier

1b) logical expressions

1b1) in that case

1b2) that (being so)

מֵאָז (me.az) — the past.

1) in time past, of old

2)from time of, since

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HD — Adverb
HD
also from presumptuous [sins] keep back servant your may not they rule over me then I will be blameless and I will be acquitted from transgression great
אֵיתָ֑ם'ei.Tam I will be blameless H8552 Verb · Qal · imperfect first person common singular
63× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To finish or complete something, either in a good or bad sense, like when God finished creating the world in Genesis. It can also mean to be consumed or destroyed. The KJV Bible uses words like accomplish, cease, or have done to translate it.
Tyndale gloss
to finish
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

תָּמַם (tamam) is a Hebrew verb meaning to be complete or finished. It encompasses a range of meanings, including to accomplish, cease, be consumed, or be sound and upright. The word can be used in various forms, such as Qal, Hiphil, and Hithpael, indicating different nuances of completion or integrity.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[תָּמַם], תַּם vb. be complete, finished

Qal

be finished, completed

be finished, come to an end, cease

be complete, of number

be consumed, exhausted, spent

be finished, consumed, destroyed

be complete, sound, unimpaired

twice, very strangely

Hiph.

finish, complete, perfect, a matter

finish, cease doing a thing

complete, sum up

destroy uncleanness

causative: make sound thy ways.

Hithp. deal in integrity with

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8552 [תָּמַם], תַּם be complete, finished

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8552 tamam taw-mam'

a primitive root; to complete, in a good or a bad sense,

literal, or figurative, transitive or intransitive (as

follows):--accomplish, cease, be clean (pass-)ed, consume,

have done, (come to an, have an, make an) end, fail, come to

the full, be all gone, X be all here, be (make) perfect, be

spent, sum, be (shew self) upright, be wasted, whole.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

תָּמַם (ta.mam) — to finish.

1) to be complete, be finished, be at an end

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to be finished, be completed

1a1a) completely, wholly, entirely (as auxiliary with verb)

1a2) to be finished, come to an end, cease

1a3) to be complete (of number)

1a4) to be consumed, be exhausted, be spent

1a5) to be finished, be consumed, be destroyed

1a6) to be complete, be sound, be unimpaired, be upright (ethically)

1a7) to complete, finish

1a8) to be completely crossed over

1b) (Niphal) to be consumed

1c) (Hiphil)

1c1) to finish, complete, perfect

1c2) to finish, cease doing, leave off doing

1c3) to complete, sum up, make whole

1c4) to destroy (uncleanness)

1c5) to make sound

1d) (Hithpael) to deal in integrity, act uprightly

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HVqi1cs — Verb · Qal · imperfect first person common singular
HVqi1cs
also from presumptuous [sins] keep back servant your may not they rule over me then I will be blameless and I will be acquitted from transgression great
וְ֝נִקֵּ֗יתִיve.ni.Kei.ti and I will be acquitted H5352 Verb · Piel · sequential perfect first person common singular
44× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To be or make clean, either physically or morally, as seen in the book of Psalms where David asks God to cleanse him. This word is also used to describe being free from guilt or punishment. It appears in various forms throughout the Old Testament.
Amplified meaning
made clean, purified
Tyndale gloss
to clear
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

נָקָה (naqah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to be clean or free from guilt, and it can also imply being empty or desolate. The entries indicate that it encompasses a range of meanings, including acquitting someone of guilt, being exempt from punishment, and being purged or cleaned out. The lexicons suggest various nuances, but they consistently focus on themes of innocence and cleanliness.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[נָקָה] vb. be empty(?), clean

Qal Inf. Abs.

Niph.

be cleaned out

be clean, free from guilt, innocent

be free, exempt from punishment

free, exempt from obligation

Pi.

hold innocent, acquit

leave unpunished

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5352 נָקָה be empty(?), clean .Inf. Abs.

. . be cleaned out

. be clean, free from guilt, innocent

. be free, exempt from punishment

. free, exempt from obligation

. . hold innocent, acquit

. leave unpunished

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5352 naqah naw-kaw'

a primitive root; to be (or make) clean (literally or

figuratively); by implication (in an adverse sense) to be

bare, i.e. extirpated:--acquit X at all, X altogether, be

blameless, cleanse, (be) clear(-ing), cut off, be desolate, be

free, be (hold) guiltless, be (hold) innocent, X by no means,

be quit, be (leave) unpunished, X utterly, X wholly.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נָקָה (na.qah) — to clear.

1) to be empty, be clear, be pure, be free, be innocent, be desolate, be cut off

1a) (Qal) to be empty, be clean, be pure

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be cleaned out, be purged out

1b2) to be clean, be free from guilt, be innocent

1b3) to be free, be exempt from punishment

1b4) to be free, be exempt from obligation

1c) (Piel)

1c1) to hold innocent, acquit

1c2) to leave unpunished

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Piel-Impv-2ms | Suff — Verb · Piel · sequential perfect first person common singular
Hc/Vpq1cs
also from presumptuous [sins] keep back servant your may not they rule over me then I will be blameless and I will be acquitted from transgression great
מִפֶּ֥שַֽׁעmi.Pe.sha' from transgression H6588 Preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
93× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Transgression refers to a revolt or rebellion against God or others, resulting in guilt and punishment, as in Genesis 3:6-7. It involves intentional disobedience.
Tyndale gloss
transgression
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

פֶּ֫שַׁע (pesha`) means transgression and is derived from a root that implies revolt, whether national, moral, or religious. It encompasses various forms of wrongdoing, including offenses against individuals, nations, and God, as well as the associated guilt and punishment. The entries do not indicate any significant disagreement among lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

פֶּ֫שַׁע n.m. transgression

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6588 פֶּ֫שַׁע transgression

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6588 pesha` peh'-shah

from 6586; a revolt (national, moral or

religious):--rebellion, sin, transgression, trespass.

see HEBREW for 06586

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

פֶּ֫שַׁע (pe.sah) — transgression.

1) transgression, rebellion

1a1) transgression (against individuals)

1a2) transgression (nation against nation)

1a3) transgression (against God)

1a3a) in general

1a3b) as recognised by sinner

1a3c) as God deals with it

1a3d) as God forgives

1a4) guilt of transgression

1a5) punishment for transgression

1a6) offering for transgression

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

trans-gresh'-un: From "transgress," to pass over or beyond; to overpass, as any rule prescribed as the limit of duty; to break or violate, as a law, civil or moral; the act of transgressing; the violation of a law or known principle of rectitude; breach of command; offense; crime; sin. In the Old Testament pesha`, occurs 80 times, rendered in all versions by "transgression." Its meaning is "rebellion"; see REBELLION. The word "rebellion" differs from this word in that it may be in the heart, though no opportunity should be granted for its manifestation: "An evil man seeketh only rebellion" (Pr 17:11). Here the wise man contemplates an evil heart, looking for an excuse or opportunity to rebel.

The New Testament uses parabasis, "trespass": "The law .... was added because of transgressions" (

also from presumptuous [sins] keep back servant your may not they rule over me then I will be blameless and I will be acquitted from transgression great
רָֽב׃Rav great H7227
454× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means a chief or captain, someone in charge. It is used in 2 Samuel 23:19 to describe a great and powerful man. The idea is one of leadership and authority.
Tyndale gloss
many
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

רַב (rav) means much, many, or great, often used in contrast to מְעַט (me'at). It can describe abundance in quantity or rank and is also used as a noun for chief or captain. The word conveys a range of meanings from numerous to exceedingly, and it can function as both an adjective and a noun.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

רַב 429 adj. much, many, great

(oft. opp. מְעַט)

much: of substances

esp. of collectives, numerous

pl. many

רַב as subst. coll. pers.

cstr. = abounding in

מִן comp. = more numerous than

רַב = abundant, enough

as adv. much, exceedingly

less oft. great

base

רַב 49 n.m. chief

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7227a רַב much, many, great . (oft. opp. מְעַט) . . much: of substances

. esp. of collectives, numerous

. pl. many

. רַב as subst. coll. pers.

. cstr. = abounding in

. + מִן comp. = more numerous than

. רַב = abundant, enough

. as adv. much, exceedingly

. less oft. great

H7227b רַב chief

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7227 rab rab

by contracted from 7231; abundant (in quantity, size, age,

number, rank, quality):--(in) abound(-undance, -ant, -antly),

captain, elder, enough, exceedingly, full, great(-ly, man,

one), increase, long (enough, (time)), (do, have) many(-ifold,

things, a time), ((ship-))master, mighty, more, (too, very)

much, multiply(-tude), officer, often(-times), plenteous,

populous, prince, process (of time), suffice(-lent).

see HEBREW for 07231

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

רַב (rav) — many.

adj

1) much, many, great

1a) much

1b) many

1c) abounding in

1d) more numerous than

1e) abundant, enough

1f) great

1g) strong

1h) greater than

adv

1i) much, exceedingly

רַב (rav) — chief.

captain, chief

Aramaic equivalent: rav.re.van (רַבְרְבָן "noble" H7261)

רַב (rav) — (Sidon) the Great.

Combined with tsi.don (צִידוֹן "Sidon" H6721H)

§ captain, chief

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HAamsa
HAamsa
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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