Menu

Psalms 21:12 — Word Study

Depth

WLCכִּ֭י תְּשִׁיתֵ֣מוֹ שֶׁ֑כֶם בְּ֝מֵֽיתָרֶ֗יךָ תְּכוֹנֵ֥ן עַל־ פְּנֵיהֶֽם׃

BSAForkîy [because of this reason] uponʻal

Word
Listen & take awayPsalms 21
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 12 is in this chapter.
Hebrew ↓ Download MP3 The Masoretic text of this chapter, read aloud. Read by Abraham Shmuelof, courtesy of Audio Scriptures International. Chapter divisions by the Academy of Ancient Languages..
Say the word Each Hebrew word carries its transliteration (pe.nei.Hem) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Psalms 21:12quick helps
In a sentenceThe psalmist declares that God will cause His enemies to flee when He readies His bow against them.
Who is speakingThe psalmist, addressing God directly.
Where we areThis is part of a psalm of praise, reflecting on God's power to defeat adversaries.
The hard wordתְּשִׁיתֵ֣מוֹ, te.shi.Te.mov
Take awayGod's readiness to act brings assurance of victory over foes.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbבַּל 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 21:12

Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.

Context — A Psalm of Victorygenerated

10You will wipe their descendants from the earth, and their offspring from the sons of men.
11Though they intend You harm, the schemes they devise will not prevail.
12For You will put them to flight when Your bow is trained upon them.
13Be exalted, O LORD, in Your strength; we will sing and praise Your power.

Psalm 21:12 is situated within a psalm that praises God for His strength and deliverance. The psalmist reflects on the fate of those who oppose God, asserting that they will be put to flight when God directs His bow against them. This theme of divine intervention and protection is common in the psalms, emphasizing God's sovereignty over enemies and His ability to secure victory for His people.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Psalm 9:3When my enemies retreat, they stumble and perish before You.
2Psalm 44:10You have made us retreat from the foe, and those who hate us have plundered us.
3Psalm 56:9Then my enemies will retreat on the day I cry for help. By this I will know that God is on my side.
4Job 7:20If I have sinned, what have I done to You, O watcher of mankind? Why have You made me Your target, so that I am a burden to You ?
5Job 16:12–13I was at ease, but He shattered me; He seized me by the neck and crushed me. He has set me up as His target;

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 9 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word תְּשִׁיתֵ֣מוֹ, te.shi.Te.movgenerated

The verb תְּשִׁיתֵ֣מוֹ (te.shi.Te.mov) is a second person masculine singular form in the imperfect tense, indicating an action that will occur. It derives from the root שִׁית (shiyth), which means to place or set. In this context, it conveys the idea of making the enemies turn and flee, highlighting God's active role in their defeat.

This verb's use here underscores the certainty of God's actions against adversaries. The psalmist expresses confidence that when God prepares to act, the outcome is assured — the enemies will be compelled to retreat.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

Translations of this verse are consistent in conveying the meaning of תְּשִׁיתֵ֣מוֹ.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The verse is structured around two main actions: the finite verb תְּשִׁיתֵ֣מוֹ, you will make them, and תְּכוֹנֵ֥ן, you will prepare. These actions are connected by the context of God's readiness to act against His enemies.

The syntax indicates a cause-and-effect relationship, where God's preparation leads directly to the enemies' flight, emphasizing the power dynamics at play in the psalmist's declaration.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates תְּשִׁיתֵ֣מוֹ as δύνωνται (dunontai), meaning 'they will be able' or 'they will be made to flee.' This choice broadens the understanding of the action, suggesting not only a direct command but also the empowerment of God's enemies to flee.

This translation reflects a slight interpretive shift, emphasizing the capability of the enemies to flee when faced with God's readiness, rather than just the act of being made to flee.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Psalm 21:12 tells us that God will cause His enemies to turn and run away when He is ready to act against them. This verse emphasizes God's power and the assurance that those who oppose Him will not stand firm.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean that God will put them to flight?

It means that God will cause His enemies to turn away and flee when He is prepared to confront them, demonstrating His power over adversaries.

How does this verse reflect God's character?

The verse highlights God's strength and ability to protect His people by defeating their enemies, showing His sovereignty and readiness to act.

What is the significance of the bow imagery?

The bow symbolizes God's readiness for battle and His precision in targeting His enemies, illustrating His power and control in warfare.

How does this verse relate to other psalms?

This verse is consistent with themes found in other psalms that celebrate God's deliverance and victory over enemies, reinforcing the idea of divine protection.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what ways have I seen God act powerfully in my life, similar to how He is described in this verse?
  2. How can I prepare myself to trust in God's power when facing challenges or adversaries?
  3. What does this verse teach me about the nature of God's protection?
  4. How can I apply the assurance of God's victory in my daily life?

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

Early church fathers have commented on this verse, using it to discuss themes of divine judgment and the fate of sinners.

Ambrose of MilanOn Joseph the Patriarch, Chapter 3 c. 339–397
“Turned away” [is] an expression properly applied to the sinner, for “Cain went out from the face of the Lord,” and the psalmist says,
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 21 →
Augustine of HippoExposition on Psalms 21 354–430
"For You shall set them low." For You shall rank them among those from whom in degradation and contempt You will turn away.
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 21 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Psalms 21:12 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

Therefore shall thou make them turn their back,.... Or flee and run away to private places, to hide themselves from the wrath of God and of the Lamb, though to no purpose; or "make them turn [behind

Read John Gill on Psalms 21 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

Therefore shalt thou make them turn their back, when thou shalt make ready thine arrows upon thy strings against the face of them.

Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 21 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Turn their back, i.e. flee away at the first sight of thee, whereby also they will be a fit mark for thine arrows. Or, thou shalt set them as a butt to shoot at, as the like phrase is used, 16:12. Against the face of them; or, against them, the word face being oft redundant.

Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 21 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Psalms 21:12 Therefore shalt thou make them turn their back, [when] thou shalt make ready [thine arrows] upon thy strings against the face of them.Ver. 12. Therefore shall thou make them turn their back] Who faced the very heavens, and ran, as it were, full butt against thee; such was their impudence and insolence. But thy wrath shall so meet them in the teeth, wheresoever they turn, that they shall be forced to give over their chase and pursuit of thy people. Thou shall make them turn their back; Heb. their shoulder; whence some sense the words thus, Thou shalt bind them back to back, and cast them into the sea of perdition. Some read the words thus, Thou shall set them as a butt or mark…

Read John Trapp on Psalms 21 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(12) Therefore.—Literally, for thou shalt put them shoulder (pones eos dorsum, Vulg.). Upon thy strings thou shalt aim against the face of them. Ewald renders: “Shalt strike them back;” but the English version seems to explain rightly To “give the neck of an enemy” (Psalms 18:4) is a similar form of expression.

Read Charles John Ellicott on Psalms 21 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 12. Therefore shalt thou make them turn their back] God can in a moment strike the most powerful and numerous army, even in the moment of victory, with panic; and then even the lame, the army which they had nearly routed, shall take the prey, and divide the spoil. Against the face of them.] Thou shalt cause them to turn their backs and fly, as if a volley of arrows had been discharged in their faces. This seems to be the sense of this difficult verse.

Read AdamClarke on Psalms 21 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

8–12. The king, who must be supposed to be present, is now addressed. This victory is an earnest of future victories. The total destruction of all his enemies is confidently anticipated.

Read Cambridge on Psalms 21 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Therefore shalt thou make them turn their back - Margin, “Thou shalt set them as a butt.” The word back also is rendered in the margin “shoulder.” The word translated “therefore” means in this placer

Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 21 →

The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company

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

Modern formal

BSBBerean Standard Bible2020

For You will put them to flight when Your bow is trained upon them.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

For you will make them turn their back, when you aim drawn bows at their face.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

For You will put them to flight when Your bow is trained upon them.

NETBNew English Translation2006

For you make them retreat when you shoot your arrows at them.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

Therefore shalt thou make them turn their back, when thou shalt make ready thine arrows upon thy strings against the face of them.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

For thou wilt make them turn their back; Thou wilt make ready with thy bowstrings against their face.

RVARevised Version, American1894

For thou shalt make them turn their back, thou shalt make ready with thy bowstrings against the face of them.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

Therefore shalt thou make them turn their back, when thou shalt make ready thy arrows upon thy strings against the face of them.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Therefore shalt thou put them aparte, and the strings of thy bowe shalt thou make readie against their faces.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

For thou wilt make them turn their back; thou wilt make ready thy bowstring against their face.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

For Thou makest them a butt, When Thy strings Thou preparest against their faces.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

For You make them turn their back, || When You prepare Your strings against their faces.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

(21:13) For thou wilt make them turn their back; upon thy bow-strings thou wilt make ready [thy arrows] against their face.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

For you will turn them back; you will draw your bow before them.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

Depart not from me. For tribulation is very near: for there is none to help me.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

They will turn and run away when they see your arrows fired at them.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

Their backs will be turned when you make ready the cords of your bow against their faces.

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.

כִּ֭י(dm)clauseverbתְּשִׁיתֵ֣youobjectמוֹwill.make.themadverbialשֶׁ֑כֶםa.shoulderclauseprepositional phrase · prepositionalבְּ֝onnoun phraseמֵֽיתָרֶ֗יbowstringsךָyourverbתְּכוֹנֵ֥ןyou.will.prepareprepositional phrase · prepositionalעַלonnoun phraseפְּנֵיfacesהֶֽםtheir

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 largely agree in their wording for this verse, with only minor variations in translation. The Septuagint captures the essence of the Hebrew text while presenting it in a different syntactical order.

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

כִּ֭י תְּשִׁיתֵ֣מוֹ שֶׁ֑כֶם בְּ֝מֵֽיתָרֶ֗יךָ תְּכוֹנֵ֥ן עַל־ פְּנֵיהֶֽם׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
כִּ֭יὅτιתְּשִׁיתֵ֣מוֹεἰςשֶׁ֑כֶםσὲבְּ֝מֵֽיתָרֶ֗יךָβουλήνתְּכוֹנֵ֥ןοὐעַל־δύνωνται

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

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 21:12כִּיforforכִּישִׁיתyou will mayou will make tשִׁיתשְׁכֶםa shouldera shoulderשְׁכֶםמֵיתָרon bowstrinon bowstrings yמֵיתָרכּוּןyou will pryou will preparכּוּןעַלononעַלפָּנֶהfaces theirfaces theirפָּנֶהשָׁכַםto riseto riseשָׁכַםיָתַרto remainto remainיָתַרפָּנָהCorner (GaCorner (Gate)פָּנָהעַלheightheightעַלכִּסֵּאthronethroneכִּסֵּאיָדַעto knowto knowיָדַעעֵ֫דֶרflockflockעֵ֫דֶרחֹ֫שֶׁךְdarknessdarknessחֹ֫שֶׁךְסֹ֫בֶלburdenburdenסֹ֫בֶלעֹלyokeyokeעֹליָתֵדpegpegיָתֵדאֶ֫דֶןsocketsocketאֶ֫דֶןתֵּבֵלworldworldתֵּבֵלכִּפֶּרto atoneto atoneכִּפֶּרסָתַרto hideto hideסָתַרנוּסto fleeto fleeנוּס
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 21:12

One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.

Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.

for you will make them a shoulder on bowstrings your you will prepare on faces their
כִּ֭יki for H3588 Particle
4,483× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A conjunction used to show cause or connection, as in Genesis 2:23 where Adam says the woman is bone of his bone because she was taken out of him. It is often translated as 'for', 'because', or 'since'.
Amplified meaning
because of this reason
Tyndale gloss
for
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כִּי (ki) is a conjunction primarily meaning 'that,' 'for,' or 'when.' It indicates causal relationships and can express conditions like 'if' or 'though.' The word is versatile, appearing in various contexts to convey certainty, exception, or concession. Notably, it can combine with other particles to modify its meaning, such as in the phrase כִּי אם־ (ki im), meaning 'that if.'

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כִּי conj. that, for, when

that

Of time, when, of the past

elsewhere כִּי has a force approximating to if, though it usu. represents a case as more likely to occur than אִם

when or if, with a concessive force, i.e. though

Because, since

base

כִּי אם־

each part. retaining its independent force, and relating to a different clause:

that if

for if

(About 140 t.) the two particles being closely conjoined, and relating to the same clause—

limiting the prec. clause, except

the if being neglected, and treated as pleonastic, so that the clause is no longer a limitation of the preceding clause but a contradiction of it: but rather, but

after an oath, surely

base

כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3588a כִּי that, for, when . that

. . Of time, when, of the past

. elsewhere כִּי has a force approximating to if, though it usu. represents a case as more likely to occur than אִם

. when or if, with a concessive force, i.e. though

. Because, since

H3588b כִּי אם־ . each part. retaining its independent force, and relating to a different clause: . that if

. for if

. (About 140 t.) the two particles being closely conjoined, and relating to the same clause— . limiting the prec. clause, except

. the if being neglected, and treated as pleonastic, so that the clause is no longer a limitation of the preceding clause but a contradiction of it: but rather, but

. after an oath, surely

H3588c כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3588 kiy kee

a primitive particle (the full form of the prepositional

prefix) indicating causal relations of all kinds, antecedent

or consequent; (by implication) very widely used as a relative

conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by

other particles annexed:--and, + (forasmuch, inasmuch,

where-)as, assured(-ly), + but, certainly, doubtless, + else,

even, + except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, +

nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then,

therefore, + (al- )though, + till, truly, + until, when,

whether, while, whom, yea, yet.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כִּי (ki) — for.

1) that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since

1a) that

1a1) yea, indeed

1b) when (of time)

1b1) when, if, though (with a concessive force)

1c) because, since (causal connection)

1d) but (after negative)

1e) that if, for if, indeed if, for though, but if

1f) but rather, but

1g) except that

1h) only, nevertheless

1i) surely

1j) that is

1k) but if

1l) for though

1m) forasmuch as, for therefore

כִּי [אם] (ki im) — that if: except.

1) except if

1a) but if

1b) even though

כִּי [עַל כֵּן] (ki [al ken]) — for as that: since.

1) that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since

1a) that

1a1) yea, indeed

1b) when (of time)

1b1) when, if, though (with a concessive force)

1c) because, since (causal connection)

1d) but (after negative)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj — Particle
HTc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

for (ki (conjunction), le, from 'el (preposition), and various other words. In the New Testament also the words are various, chiefly gar, kai gar, hoti (conjunctions); anti apo eis dia (accusative), epi (dative and accusative), peri (genitive), pros (genitive and accusative), huper (genitive) (prepositions)): the English Revised Version and the American Standard Revised Version give in many cases more literal or more accurate renderings than those in the King James Version.

In the New Testament the most important preps. from a doctrinal point of view are anti, "face to face," "over against," "instead," "on behalf of," peri, "around," "about," "concerning," huper, "over," "on behalf of." The first has been claimed as stating the substitutionary nature of Christ's sacrifice as contrasted with huper and peri, more frequently used of it. But, although anti in the New Testament often means…

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
for you will make them a shoulder on bowstrings your you will prepare on faces their
תְּשִׁיתֵ֣מוֹte.shi.Te.mov you will make them H7896 Verb qal imperfect second person masculine singular · suffix
83× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to place or set something, and it's used in many different ways, like appointing someone to a job or setting your mind to do something. It appears in books like Genesis and Exodus. It can also mean to lay hands on someone or make something happen.
Tyndale gloss
to set: make
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שִׁית vb. put, set

Qal

put, lay

set, station

set one's mind to, give heed, attention

set, fix

constitute, make one something

internally trans., = take one's stand

Hoph. if a ransom be imposed

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7896 שִׁית put, set .. put, lay

. . set, station

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

. set, fix

. constitute, make one something

. internally trans., = take one's stand

. if a ransom be imposed

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7896 shiyth sheeth

a primitive root; to place (in a very wide

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

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

shew, be stayed, X take.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שִׁית (shit) — to set: make.

: make/establish

1) to put, set

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to put, lay (hand upon)

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

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

1a4) to take one's stand

1a5) to lay waste

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

שִׁית (shit) — to set: put.

: put/bring

1) to put, set

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to put, lay (hand upon)

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

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

1a4) to take one's stand

1a5) to lay waste

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

שִׁית (shit) — to set: appoint.

: appoint

1) to put, set

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to put, lay (hand upon)

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

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

1a4) to take one's stand

1a5) to lay waste

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

שִׁית (shit) — to set: accuse.

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HVqi2ms/Sp3mp — Verb qal imperfect second person masculine singular · suffix
HVqi2ms/Sp3mp
for you will make them a shoulder on bowstrings your you will prepare on faces their
שֶׁ֑כֶםShe.khem a shoulder H7926 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
21× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to the shoulder or back, often symbolizing burdens. It is used in Exodus to describe carrying loads and in Genesis to describe the shoulder of a hill.
Tyndale gloss
shoulder
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שְׁכֶם (shekhem) refers to the shoulder or neck area, often including the back of the neck. It can denote the general back region and is associated with the idea of bearing burdens. The word is derived from a root that emphasizes this physical aspect.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שְׁכֶם n.m. shoulder

neck (sometimes incl. back of neck)

in gen. back

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7926 שְׁכֶם shoulder . neck (sometimes incl. back of neck)

. in gen. back

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7926 shkem shek-em'

from 7925; the neck (between the shoulders) as the place of

burdens; figuratively, the spur of a hill:--back, X consent,

portion, shoulder.

see HEBREW for 07925

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שְׁכֶם (she.khem) — shoulder.

1) shoulder, back

1a) shoulder, shoulder-blade

1b) back (in general)

Also means: shikh.mah (שִׁכְמָה "shoulder" H7929)

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

shol'-der (shekhem, katheph, zeroa` or zerowa`, or zero`ah, shoq; omos, brachion (Sirach 7:31 only)): The meanings of the Hebrew words are rather varied. The first (shekhem) has perhaps the widest application. It is used for the part of the body on which heavy loads are carried (Ge 21:14; 24:15,45; Ex 12:34; Jos 4:5; Jud 9:48). King Saul's impressive personality is thus described: "There was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he: from his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people" (1Sa 9:2; 10:23). To carry loads on the shoulder or to have "a staff on the shoulder" is expressive of…

for you will make them a shoulder on bowstrings your you will prepare on faces their
בְּ֝מֵֽיתָרֶ֗יךָbe.mei.ta.Rei.kha on bowstrings your H4340 Preposition · noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
9× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to a cord or string, like the ones used for a tent or a bow. It is a simple term for a length of rope or twine. In the Bible, it is translated as cord or string.
Tyndale gloss
cord
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מֵיתָר (meythar) refers to a cord or string, specifically that of a tent or the string of a bow. It is derived from the root word meaning to stretch or extend. The entries consistently define it in this way, with no significant disagreement among the lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[מֵיתָר] n.m. cord, string

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4340 מֵיתָר

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4340 meythar may-thar'

from 3498; a cord (of a tent) (compare 3499) or the string

(of a bow):--cord, string.

see HEBREW for 03498

see HEBREW for 03499

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מֵיתָר (me.tar) — cord.

cord, string

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HR/Ncmpc/Sp2ms — Preposition · noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
HR/Ncmpc/Sp2ms
for you will make them a shoulder on bowstrings your you will prepare on faces their
תְּכוֹנֵ֥ןte.kho.Nen you will prepare H3559 Verb · Piel · imperfect second person masculine singular
217× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This verb means to set something up or establish it, like setting up a tent or appointing someone to a position, as seen in Isaiah 7:14.
Tyndale gloss
to establish: prepare
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כּוּן (kuwn) is a Hebrew verb meaning to establish or prepare. It encompasses a range of meanings, including to be firm, to fix, to direct, and to be ready, with applications in both literal and figurative contexts. The entries indicate various forms of the verb, such as Niph'al (to be established) and Hiph'il (to establish), but there is a note on a noun form, נָכוֹן (nakhon), meaning 'blow'.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[כּוּן] 218 vb. prob. be firm, only in der. conj.

Niph.

be set up, established, fixed

in a moral sense, be directed aright, of ways

prepare, be ready

pass. be prepared, of judgments

Hiph.

establish, set up

fix, so as to be ready, make ready, prepare, a gift

provide for, provide, furnish

direct one's face toward

arrange, order

Hoph.

be established, of throne

be prepared for

Po‛lēl.

set up, establish

constitute, make, a man (in womb)

fix, so as to be ready

direct

Po‛lal. be established

Hithpo‛l. be established

base

נָכוֹן n. [m.] = blow Jb 12:5

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3559a כּוּן prob. be firm, only in der. conj. . . be set up, established, fixed

. in a moral sense, be directed aright, of ways

. prepare, be ready

. pass. be prepared, of judgments

. . establish, set up

. . fix, so as to be ready, make ready, prepare, a gift

. provide for, provide, furnish

. direct one's face toward

. arrange, order

. . be established, of throne

. be prepared for

. . set up, establish

. constitute, make, a man (in womb)

. fix, so as to be ready

. direct

. be established

. be established

H3559b נָכוֹן n. [m.] = blow

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3559 kuwn koon

a primitive root; properly, to be erect (i.e. stand

perpendicular); hence (causatively) to set up, in a great

variety of applications, whether literal (establish, fix,

prepare, apply), or figurative (appoint, render sure, proper

or prosperous):--certain(-ty), confirm, direct, faithfulness,

fashion, fasten, firm, be fitted, be fixed, frame, be meet,

ordain, order, perfect, (make) preparation, prepare (self),

provide, make provision, (be, make) ready, right, set (aright,

fast, forth), be stable, (e-)stablish, stand, tarry, X very

deed.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כּוּן (kun) — to establish: prepare.

: prepare/direct

1) to be firm, be stable, be established

1a) (Niphal)

1a1) to be set up, be established, be fixed

1a1a) to be firmly established

1a1b) to be established, be stable, be secure, be enduring

1a1c) to be fixed, be securely determined

1a2) to be directed aright, be fixed aright, be steadfast (moral sense)

1a3) to prepare, be ready

1a4) to be prepared, be arranged, be settled

1b) (Hiphil)

1b1) to establish, set up, accomplish, do, make firm

1b2) to fix, make ready, prepare, provide, provide for, furnish

1b3) to direct toward (moral sense)

1b4) to arrange, order

1c) (Hophal)

1c1) to be established, be fastened

1c2) to be prepared, be ready

1d) (Polel)

1d1) to set up, establish

1d2) to constitute, make

1d3) to fix

1d4) to direct

1e) (Pulal) to be established, be prepared

1f) (Hithpolel) to be established, be restored

נָכוֹן (na.khon) — blow.

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HVpi2ms — Verb · Piel · imperfect second person masculine singular
HVpi2ms
for you will make them a shoulder on bowstrings your you will prepare on faces their
עַל־'al- on H5921 Preposition
5,774× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means on or above something, like a physical object or a situation. It can also imply a sense of responsibility or accountability, as in being on behalf of someone.
Tyndale gloss
upon
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as

base

עַל, עָ֑ל

subst. height

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

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

of clothing, etc., which any one wears

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

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

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

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

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

Read the full entry →
Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

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

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

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

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

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

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

Read the full entry →
Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5921 `al al

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

see HEBREW for 05920

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עַל (al) — upon.

prep

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

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

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

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

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

1e) over (of suspension or extension)

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

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

1h) to (as a dative)

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

conj

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | Suff — Preposition
HR
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Easton's Bible Dictionary

On

Light; the sun, (Gen. 41:45, 50), the great seat of sun-worship, called also Bethshemesh (Jer. 43:13) and Aven (Ezek. 30:17), stood on the east bank of the Nile, a few miles north of Memphis, and near Cairo, in the north-east. The Vulgate and the LXX. Versions have “Heliopolis” (“city of the sun”) instead of On in Genesis and of Aven in Ezekiel. The “city of destruction” Isaiah speaks of (19:18, marg. “of Heres;” Heb. ‘Ir-ha-heres, which some MSS. read Ir-ha-heres, i.e., “city of the sun”) may be the name given to On, the prophecy being that the time will come when that city which was known as the “city of the sun-god” shall become the “city of destruction” of the sun-god, i.e., when idolatry shall cease, and the worship…

Smith's Bible Dictionary

(abode or city of the sun), a town of lower Egypt, called BETH-SHEMESH in (Jeremiah 43:13) On is better known under its Greek name Heliopolis. It was situated on the east side of the Pelusiac branch of the Nile, just below the point of the Delta, and about twenty miles northeast of Memphis. The chief object of worship at Heliopolis was the sun, whose temple, described by Strabo, is now only represented by the single beautiful obelisk, of red granite so feet 2 inches high above the pedestal which has stood for more than 4000 years, having been erected by Usirtesen, the second king of the twelfth dynasty. Heliopolis was anciently famous for its learning, and Eudoxus and Plato studied under its priests. The first mention of this place in the Bible is in the history of Joseph, to whom we read Pharaoh gave "to wife Asenath the daughter…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

See HELIOPOLIS.

Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary

pain; force; iniquity

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
for you will make them a shoulder on bowstrings your you will prepare on faces their
פְּנֵיהֶֽם׃pe.nei.Hem faces their H6440 Noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
2,127× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means face or presence, like being in front of someone or something. It's used in many contexts, like in Genesis, Exodus, and Psalms, to describe interactions and relationships.
Tyndale gloss
face
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word פָּנֶה (*pāneh*) is a noun meaning 'face' or 'presence,' and it appears in various contexts, including the faces of seraphim and animals, as well as the surface of the ground. It can also function as an adverb meaning 'before' or 'in front of.' The word is built from a root that suggests turning or facing, and it encompasses a wide range of applications, both literal and figurative.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[פָּנֶה], pl. פָּנִים 2123 n.m. face, also faces

face, faces

presence, person

technically, see one's face, i.e. appear before one, in one's presence

face of seraphim

face of animals

face (= surface) of ground

as adv.loc. before

for other phrases

with prepositions

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6440 פָּנֶה, pl. פָּנִים face, also faces . . face, faces

. . presence, person

. technically, see one's face, i.e. appear before one, in one's presence

. face of seraphim

. face of animals

. face (= surface) of ground

. as adv. loc. before

. for other phrases

. with prepositions

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6440 paniym paw-neem'

plural (but always as singular) of an unused noun (paneh

{paw-neh'}; from 6437); the face (as the part that turns);

used in a great variety of applications (literally and

figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a

preposition (before, etc.):--+ accept, a-(be- )fore(-time),

against, anger, X as (long as), at, + battle, + because (of),

+ beseech, countenance, edge, + employ, endure, + enquire,

face, favour, fear of, for, forefront(-part), form(-er

time, -ward), from, front, heaviness, X him(-self), +

honourable, + impudent, + in, it, look(-eth) (- s), X me, +

meet, X more than, mouth, of, off, (of) old (time), X on,

open, + out of, over against, the partial, person, + please,

presence, propect, was purposed, by reason of, + regard, right

forth, + serve, X shewbread, sight, state, straight, + street,

X thee, X them(-selves), through (+ - out), till, time(-s)

Read the full entry →
Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

פָּנֶה (pa.neh) — face: before.

: before/to/front

1) face

1a) face, faces

1b) presence, person

1c) face (of seraphim or cherubim)

1d) face (of animals)

1e) face, surface (of ground)

1f) as adv of loc/temp

1f1) before and behind, toward, in front of, forward, formerly, from beforetime, before

1g) with prep

1g1) in front of, before, to the front of, in the presence of, in the face of, at the face or front of, from the presence of, from before, from before the face of

פָּנֶה (pa.neh) — face.

: face

1) face

1a) face, faces

1b) presence, person

1c) face (of seraphim or cherubim)

1d) face (of animals)

1e) face, surface (of ground)

1f) as adv of loc/temp

1f1) before and behind, toward, in front of, forward, formerly, from beforetime, before

1g) with prep

1g1) in front of, before, to the front of, in the presence of, in the face of, at the face or front of, from the presence of, from before, from…

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HNcmpc/Sp3mp — Noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
HNcmpc/Sp3mp
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
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.

Everything we make is available for free because of a generous community of supporters.

Donate