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Psalms 26:12 — Word Study

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WLCרַ֭גְלִי עָֽמְדָ֣ה בְמִישׁ֑וֹר בְּ֝מַקְהֵלִ֗ים אֲבָרֵ֥ךְ יְהוָֽה׃

BSAMy feetregel standʻâmad on level groundmîyshôwr [in a plain, in a place of stability] in the congregationsmaqhêl [assemblies, gatherings of people] I will blessbârak [praise, honor] the LORDYᵉhôvâh [Yehovah, the Lord of all]

Word
Listen & take awayPsalms 26
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 (Yah.weh) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Psalms 26:12quick helps
In a sentenceThe psalmist declares his stability and intention to bless the LORD in community.
Who is speakingThe psalmist, expressing personal commitment.
Where we areThe conclusion of a plea for integrity amid contrasting behavior.
The hard wordבְּמַקְהֵלִ֗ים
Take awayThe psalmist's faith stands firm, and he will honor God publicly.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbעָמַד 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 26:12

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 Declaration of Integritygenerated

9Do not take my soul away with sinners, or my life with men of bloodshed,
10in whose hands are wicked schemes, whose right hands are full of bribes.
11But I will walk with integrity; redeem me and be merciful to me.
12My feet stand on level ground; in the congregations I will bless the LORD.

Psalm 26:12 reflects the psalmist's confidence in his integrity and his commitment to worship the LORD in the assembly of His people. This verse serves as a culmination of a plea for vindication and a contrast to the behavior of the wicked, as seen in the preceding verses. The psalmist asserts that his feet stand firmly on level ground, symbolizing stability and righteousness, and he expresses his intent to bless the LORD in communal worship.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Psalm 27:11Teach me Your way, O LORD, and lead me on a level path, because of my oppressors.
2Psalm 40:2He lifted me up from the pit of despair, out of the miry clay; He set my feet upon a rock, and made my footsteps firm.
31 Samuel 2:9He guards the steps of His faithful ones, but the wicked perish in darkness; for by his own strength shall no man prevail.
4Proverbs 10:9He who walks in integrity walks securely, but he who perverts his ways will be found out.
5Psalm 26:7to raise my voice in thanksgiving and declare all Your wonderful works.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 10 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word רַ֭גְלִי, Rag.ligenerated

The word רַ֭גְלִי (ragli) is a construct form of רֶ֫גֶל (regel), meaning 'my foot.' It emphasizes the psalmist's personal connection to the ground he stands upon, indicating a firm and stable position.

This noun, in the feminine singular construct, highlights the idea of standing firmly, which is crucial in the context of the psalmist's declaration of integrity. The use of 'foot' here symbolizes not just physical stability but also spiritual steadfastness.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

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


Sentence Structuregenerated

The finite verb עָֽמְדָ֣ה (it has stood) governs the entire verse, with a noun phrase as the subject and prepositional phrases providing context. The structure emphasizes the psalmist's firm stance and his intention to bless the LORD.

The main clause is followed by two prepositional phrases: בְּמִישׁ֑וֹר (on level ground) describes the stability of the psalmist's position, and בְּ֝מַקְהֵלִ֗ים (in assemblies) indicates the communal aspect of his blessing.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates רַ֭גְלִי as μου (my), maintaining the personal aspect of the psalmist's declaration. This choice emphasizes the individual's connection to the act of standing firm.

For בְּמַקְהֵלִ֗ים, the Greek ἐκκλησίαις (assemblies) captures the communal nature of worship, reflecting the psalmist's intent to bless the LORD in the presence of others.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Psalm 26:12 expresses the psalmist's confidence in his integrity and his commitment to worship the LORD in community. He stands firmly on level ground, indicating stability, and he plans to bless the LORD in the gatherings of His people.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean to stand on level ground?

Standing on level ground symbolizes stability and integrity, suggesting that the psalmist's life is built on righteousness.

Why is communal worship important in this verse?

Communal worship emphasizes the shared faith and collective praise of God, highlighting the importance of gathering together to honor the LORD.

How does the psalmist express his relationship with God?

The psalmist expresses his relationship with God through his commitment to bless and honor Him publicly, demonstrating his faith and integrity.

What is the significance of the word 'bless' in this context?

To bless in this context means to praise and honor God, reflecting the psalmist's desire to acknowledge God's goodness in the midst of the assembly.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what ways do I experience stability in my faith, like the psalmist describes?
  2. How can I actively participate in communal worship and bless the LORD with others?
  3. What does it mean for me to stand firm in my integrity in today's world?
  4. How can I encourage others in my community to honor and praise God together?

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

The early church fathers often referenced this psalm to discuss integrity and public worship. Here, Augustine of Hippo quotes it to illustrate the psalmist's commitment to righteousness and communal praise.

Augustine of HippoExposition on Psalms 26 354–430
"My foot has stood in uprightness." My Love has not withdrawn from Your righteousness. "In the Churches I will bless You, O Lord" [Psalms 26:12].
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 26 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Psalms 26:12 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

My foot standeth in an even place,.... Or "in a plain" (b); in a sure place; on Christ the sure foundation, and who is the plain way and path to eternal life; see Psalms 27:11; or in the ways and

Read John Gill on Psalms 26 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

My foot standeth in an even place: in the congregations will I bless the LORD. My foot ... even place - not in a slippery place.

Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 26 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

In an even place, Heb. in rectitude, or in a right, or straight, or plain, or even place; which may be understood either, 1. Civilly, or in regard of his outward condition. So this is opposed to the slippery places, in which wicked men are said to be, 73:18 ; and the sense is, I stand upon a sure and solid foundation, where I fear no fall, nor to be overthrown by the assaults of mine enemies, being under the protection of God’ s promise, and his almighty and watchful providence. Or, 2. Morally, or in regard of his conversation. So the sense is, I do and will persist or continue in my plain, and righteous, and straight course of life, not using those frauds, and wicked arts, and perverse and…

Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 26 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Psalms 26:12 My foot standeth in an even place: in the congregations will I bless the LORD.Ver. 12. My foot standeth in an even place] i.e. Mine affections are in an equal tenor. A good man is τετραγωνοςολοκληρος, the scales of his mind neither rise up toward the beam, through their own lightness, or their overly weened opinion of prosperity; nor are too much depressed with any load of sorrow, but hanging equal and unmoved between both, give him liberty in all occurrences to enjoy himself. I will bless the Lord] For performance of promises; chiefly in that great panegyris Hebrews 12:23

Read John Trapp on Psalms 26 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(12) My foot standeth.—It seems more in accordance with the general drift of the poem to take this verse, When I stand in an even or level place [i.e., when I am rescued from the difficulties which now beset me] I will praise Jehovah in the congregation.

Read Charles John Ellicott on Psalms 26 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 12. My foot standeth in an even place] On the above principles I have taken my stand: to abhor evil; to cleave to that which is good; to avoid the company of wicked men; to frequent the ordinances of God; to be true and just in all my dealings with men; and to depend for my support and final salvation on the mere mercy of God. He who acts in this way, his feet stand in an even place. I will bless the Lord.] In all my transactions with men, and in all my assemblings with holy people, I will speak good of the name of the Lord, having nothing but good to speak of that name. ANALYSIS OF THE TWENTY-SIXTH PSALM There are four general parts in this Psalm: - I. An appeal of David to God to be…

Read AdamClarke on Psalms 26 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

12. Faith realises the answer to its prayer as already granted, and security assured. He has traversed the rough winding path through the gloomy defile, and stands in the open plain, where there is no more fear of stumbling or sudden assault. Life thus prolonged is the reason and the opportunity for public thanksgiving. Cp. Psalms 22:25.

Read Cambridge on Psalms 26 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

My foot standeth in an even place - The word rendered “even place” - מישׁור mı̂yshôr - means properly “righteousness,” or “justice;” then, “evenness, a level region, a plain:” Isaiah 40:4; Isaiah 42:16.

Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 26 →

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

My feet stand on level ground; in the congregations I will bless the LORD.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

My foot stands in an even place. In the congregations I will bless Yahweh.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

My feet stand on level ground; in the congregations I will bless the LORD.

NETBNew English Translation2006

I am safe, and among the worshipers I will praise the Lord.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

My foot standeth in an even place: in the congregations will I bless the LORD.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

My foot standeth in an even place: In the congregations will I bless Jehovah.

RVARevised Version, American1894

My foot standeth in an even place: in the congregations will I bless the LORD.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

My foot standeth in an even place: in the congregations will I bless the LORD.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

My foote standeth in vprightnesse: I will praise thee, O Lord, in the Congregations.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

My foot standeth in an even place; in the congregations will I bless Jehovah.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

My foot hath stood in uprightness, In assemblies I bless Jehovah!

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

My foot has stood in uprightness, || In assemblies I bless YHWH!

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

My foot standeth on an even place: in assemblies will I bless the Lord.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

My foot stands on level ground; in the assemblies will I bless Yahweh!

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

Deliver me not over to the will of them that trouble me; for unjust witnesses have risen up against me; and iniquity hath lied to itself.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

I stand for what's right, and I will praise the Lord when we meet together to worship him.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

I have a safe resting-place for my feet; I will give praise to the Lord in the meetings of the people.

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


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

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

clausenoun phrase · subjectרַ֭גְלִfootיmyverbעָֽמְדָ֣הit.has.stoodprepositional phrase · prepositionalבְonמִישׁ֑וֹרlevel.groundclauseprepositional phrase · prepositionalבְּ֝inמַקְהֵלִ֗יםassembliesverbאֲבָרֵ֥ךְI.will.blessobjectיְהוָֽהYahweh

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


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

The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint agree closely in wording, with the Septuagint providing a direct correspondence for each Hebrew word. The Dead Sea Scrolls show some restoration, but the core message remains intact, affirming the psalmist's declaration of integrity and worship.

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

רַ֭גְלִי עָֽמְדָ֣ה בְמִישׁ֑וֹר בְּ֝מַקְהֵלִ֗ים אֲבָרֵ֥ךְ יְהוָֽה׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
רַ֭גְלִיμουעָֽמְדָ֣הἔστηבְמִישׁ֑וֹרεὐθύτητιבְּ֝מַקְהֵלִ֗יםἐκκλησίαιςאֲבָרֵ֥ךְεὐλογήσωיְהוָֽה׃κύριε

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

Dead Sea Scrolls — 4Q98aa copy a thousand years older than the Leningrad Codex

רגל׳י עמדה [במישור] [במקהלים] [אברך] [יהוה]

1 word on the leather — 1 partly restored, 4 supplied entire by an editor.

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


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

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

Psalms 26:12רֶ֫גֶלfoot myfoot myרֶ֫גֶלעָמַדit has stooit has stoodעָמַדמִישׁוֹרon level gron level groundמִישׁוֹרמַקְהֵלin assembliin assembliesמַקְהֵלבָּרַךְI will blesI will blessבָּרַךְיהוהYahwehYahwehיהוהרָגַלto spyto spyרָגַליָשַׁרto smoothto smoothיָשַׁרקָהַלto gatherto gatherקָהַלהָיָהto beto beהָיָהבֹּ֫הֶןthumb/big thumb/big toeבֹּ֫הֶןיְמָנִיrightrightיְמָנִיאֵ֫צֶלbesidebesideאֵ֫צֶלעָנָןcloudcloudעָנָןבֶּ֫צֶרBezerBezerבֶּ֫צֶרנָחָהto leadto leadנָחָהאָרַרto curseto curseאָרַרנְאֻםutteranceutteranceנְאֻםצָבָאarmyarmyצָבָא
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 26:12

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.

foot my it has stood on level ground in assemblies I will bless Yahweh
רַ֭גְלִיRag.li foot my H7272 Noun common feminine singular construct · suffix
247× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word also means a foot, like when God says he will tread on the wicked in Malachi 4:3. It's used to describe human and animal feet, as well as the base of objects like tables or idols.
Tyndale gloss
foot
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

רֶ֫גֶל (regel) means 'foot' and can refer to a foot or leg in various contexts, including anthropomorphic references to God and other beings. It also implies steps or paces. The word is derived from a root meaning related to walking, and it appears in multiple forms, such as feet and paces.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

רֶ֫גֶל 247 n.f. foot

foot

three times (feet, paces)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7272 רֶ֫גֶל foot . foot

. three times (feet, paces)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7272 regel reh'-gel

from 7270; a foot (as used in walking); by implication, a

step; by euphem. the pudenda:--X be able to endure, X

according as, X after, X coming, X follow,

((broken-))foot((-ed, -stool)), X great toe, X haunt, X

journey, leg, + piss, + possession, time.

see HEBREW for 07270

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

רֶ֫גֶל (re.gel) — foot.

1) foot

1a) foot, leg

1b) of God (anthropomorphic)

1c) of seraphim, cherubim, idols, animals, table

1d) according to the pace of (with prep)

1e) three times (feet, paces)

Aramaic equivalent: re.gal (רְגַל "foot" H7271)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fs | Suff — Noun common feminine singular construct · suffix
HNcfsc/Sp1bs
foot my it has stood on level ground in assemblies I will bless Yahweh
עָֽמְדָ֣ה'a.me.Dah it has stood H5975 Verb · Qal · perfect third person feminine singular
521× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Means 'to stand' in a strong sense, like in Exodus 17:12 where Moses stood with his arms up to help Israel win a battle.
Tyndale gloss
to stand: stand
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word עָמַד (amad) means to stand and encompasses a variety of related actions such as remaining, enduring, and taking a stand. It can refer to both literal and figurative stances, including presenting oneself or being appointed. The word appears in various contexts, including standing still, ceasing movement, and even serving. There are different forms of the verb, such as Qal, Hiphil, and Hophal, each with specific nuances.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עָמַד 620 take one's stand, stand

Qal 435

take one's stand, and (esp. pt.) stand, be in a standing attitude

stand forth

take a stand against, in opposition to

present oneself before

attend upon, be(come) servant of

stand afar

stand (silent)

stand (appealingly)

stand, subj. רֶגֶל

stand, of water

stand still, stop, cease moving

= be inactive

= be attentive

stop, cease doing a thing

tarry, delay

remain

continue, abide

endure

be steadfast

persist

make a stand, hold one's ground

stand upright

arise, appear, come on the scene

stand forth, appear = come into being

rise up as foe

rare usages

Hiph.

83station, set

cause to stand firm

cause to stand up, set up, erect

present one before king

appoint

other meanings

Hoph. be presented

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5975 עָמַד take one's stand, stand .. . take one's stand, and (esp. pt.) stand, be in a standing attitude

. stand forth

. take a stand against, in opposition to

. present oneself before

. attend upon, be(come) servant of

. stand afar

. stand (silent)

. stand (appealingly)

. stand, subj. רֶגֶל

. stand, of water

. . stand still, stop, cease moving

. = be inactive

. = be attentive

. stop, cease doing a thing

. . tarry, delay

. remain

. continue, abide

. endure

. be steadfast

. persist

. make a stand, hold one's ground

. stand upright

. . arise, appear, come on the scene

. stand forth, appear = come into being

. rise up as foe

. rare usages

. . station, set

. cause to stand firm

. cause to stand up, set up, erect

. present one before king

. appoint

. other meanings

. be presented

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5975 `amad aw-mad'

a primitive root; to stand, in various relations (literal and

figurative, intransitive and transitive):--abide (behind),

appoint, arise, cease, confirm, continue, dwell, be employed,

endure, establish, leave, make, ordain, be (over), place, (be)

present (self), raise up, remain, repair, + serve, set (forth,

over, -tle, up), (make to, make to be at a, with-)stand (by,

fast, firm, still, up), (be at a) stay (up), tarry.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עָמַד (a.mad) — to stand: stand.

: stand/stop/establish

1) to stand, remain, endure, take one's stand

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to stand, take one's stand, be in a standing attitude, stand forth, take a stand, present oneself, attend upon, be or become servant of

1a2) to stand still, stop (moving or doing), cease

1a3) to tarry, delay, remain, continue, abide, endure, persist, be steadfast

1a4) to make a stand, hold one's ground

1a5) to stand upright, remain standing, stand up, rise, be erect, be upright

1a6) to arise, appear, come on the scene, stand forth, appear, rise up or against

1a7) to stand with, take one's stand, be appointed, grow flat, grow insipid

1b) (Hiphil)

1b1) to station, set

1b2) to cause to stand firm, maintain

1b3) to cause to stand up, cause to set up, erect

1b4) to present (one) before (king)

1b5) to appoint, ordain, establish

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Perf-3fs — Verb · Qal · perfect third person feminine singular
HVqp3fs
foot my it has stood on level ground in assemblies I will bless Yahweh
בְמִישׁ֑וֹרve.mi.Shor on level ground H4334 Preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
23× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to a level or plain area, often used to describe a geographical region. It can also mean uprightness or justice, and is sometimes used to describe a place of equity or fairness. In the Bible, it appears in various translations, including plain and straight.
Amplified meaning
in a plain, in a place of stability
Tyndale gloss
plain
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מִישׁוֹר (miyshowr) refers to a level place or plain, often associated with uprightness and justice. It can denote a physical flat area, like a table-land, or be used figuratively to mean equity and righteousness. The word is derived from a root meaning to be straight, emphasizing its connections to fairness and moral integrity.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מִישׁוֹר n.m. level place, uprightness

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4334 מִישׁוֹר level-place, uprightness

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4334 miyshowr mee-shore'

or miyshor {mee-shore'}; from 3474; a level, i.e. a plain

(often used (with the article prefix) as a properly, name of

certain districts); figuratively, concord; also straightness,

i.e. (figuratively) justice (sometimes adverbially,

justly):--equity, even place, plain, right(-eously), (made)

straight, uprightness.

see HEBREW for 03474

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מִישׁוֹר (mi.shor) — plain.

1) level place, uprightness

1a) level country, table-land, plain

1b) level place

1c) uprightness

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
HR/Ncmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Nave's Topical Bible

→ Man made from Ge 2:7; 3:19,23; Job 4:19; 33:6

→ Animals made from Ge 2:19

→ Vegetables come from Ge 2:9

→ Cursed Ge 3:17; 5:29

foot my it has stood on level ground in assemblies I will bless Yahweh
בְּ֝מַקְהֵלִ֗יםbe.mak.he.Lim in assemblies H4721 Preposition · noun common masculine plural absolute
2× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
An assembly or group of people, like a choir or congregation, gathered together for a purpose.
Amplified meaning
assemblies, gatherings of people
Tyndale gloss
assembly
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מַקְהֵל (maqhel) refers to an assembly, particularly in a worship context, and may also imply choirs. It derives from the root meaning to gather, as indicated by its connection to מָקַה (H6950). The term appears in various contexts in the Old Testament, emphasizing communal worship.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[מַקְהֵל] n.[m.] assembly, for worship, pl.: poss. choirs

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4721 מַקְהֵל

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4721 maqhel mak-hale'

or (feminine) maqhelah {mak-hay-law'}; from 6950; an

assembly:--congregation.

see HEBREW for 06950

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מַקְהֵל (maq.hel) — assembly.

assembly, choir

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-cp — Preposition · noun common masculine plural absolute
HR/Ncmpa
foot my it has stood on level ground in assemblies I will bless Yahweh
אֲבָרֵ֥ךְ'a.va.Rekh I will bless H1288 Verb · Piel · imperfect first person common singular
330× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To bless means to praise or honor God, often by kneeling in worship. In the Bible, people bless God and God blesses people, showing favor and care for them, as seen in the story of Abraham and his descendants.
Amplified meaning
praise, honor
Tyndale gloss
to bless
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word בָּרַךְ (*barak*) is built from a primitive root meaning 'to kneel' and encompasses a range of meanings including 'to bless' and 'to curse.' It can refer to blessing God or men, as well as the act of kneeling in adoration. The entries note that it can also imply a curse in certain contexts, reflecting a nuanced use in greetings and farewells.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[בָּרַךְ] 329 vb. kneel, bless

Qal

kneel down

bless

Niph. bless oneself

Pi.

bless God, adore with bended knees

God blesses

men bless men

salute, greet, with an invocation of blessing

bless, with the antithetical meaning curse from the greeting in departing, saying adieu to, taking leave of; but rather a blessing overdone and so really a curse as in vulgar English as well as in the Shemitic cognates

Pu.

pass. to be blessed, adored

prospered by God

have prosperity invoked, by Balaam

in gratitude

Hiph. and he made his camel kneel

Hithp. bless oneself, congratulate oneself in his heart

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1288 בָּרַךְ kneel, bless .. kneel down

. bless

. bless oneself

. . bless God, adore with bended knees

. God blesses

. men bless men

. salute, greet, with an invocation of blessing

. bless, with the antithetical meaning curse from the greeting in departing, saying adieu to, taking leave of; but rather a blessing overdone and so really a curse as in vulgar English as well as in the Shemitic cognates

. . pass. to be blessed, adored

. prospered by God

. have prosperity invoked, by Balaam

. in gratitude

. and he made his camel kneel

. bless oneself, congratulate oneself in his heart

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1288 barak baw-rak'

a primitive root; to kneel; by implication to bless God (as

an act of adoration), and (vice-versa) man (as a benefit);

also (by euphemism) to curse (God or the king, as treason):--X

abundantly, X altogether, X at all, blaspheme, bless,

congratulate, curse, X greatly, X indeed, kneel (down),

praise, salute, X still, thank.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בָּרַךְ (ba.rakh) — to bless.

1) to bless, kneel

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to kneel

1a2) to bless

1b) (Niphal) to be blessed, bless oneself

1c) (Piel) to bless

1d) (Pual) to be blessed, be adored

1e) (Hiphil) to cause to kneel

1f) (Hithpael) to bless oneself

2) (TWOT) to praise, salute, curse

Aramaic equivalent: be.rakh (בְּרַךְ "to bless" H1289)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Piel-Imperf-1cs — Verb · Piel · imperfect first person common singular
HVpi1cs
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

(barakh): This word is found more frequently in the Old Testament than in the New Testament, and is used in different relations.

(1) It is first met in Ge 1:22 at the introduction of animal life upon the earth, where it is written, "And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply," etc. The context furnishes the key to its meaning, which is the bestowal of good, and in this particular place the pleasure and power of increase in kind. Thus it is generally employed in both Testaments, the context always determining the character of the bestowal; for instance (where man is the recipient), whether the good is temporal or spiritual, or both.

Occasionally, however, a different turn is given to it as in Ge 2:3 the King James Version, where it is written, "And God blessed the seventh…

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Bless

(1.) God blesses his people when he bestows on them some gift temporal or spiritual (Gen. 1:22; 24:35; Job 42:12; Ps. 45:2; 104:24, 35).

(2.) We bless God when we thank him for his mercies (Ps. 103:1, 2; 145:1, 2).

(3.) A man blesses himself when he invokes God’s blessing (Isa. 65:16), or rejoices in God’s goodness to him (Deut. 29:19; Ps. 49:18).

(4.) One blesses another when he expresses good wishes or offers prayer to God for his welfare (Gen.…

foot my it has stood on level ground in assemblies I will bless Yahweh
יְהוָֽה׃Yah.weh Yahweh H3068 Noun proper
6,528× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Yehovah is another name for God, often translated as 'the Lord'. It is a national name for God in the Jewish faith. This name is used throughout the Old Testament.
Amplified meaning
Yehovah, the Lord of all
Tyndale gloss
The Lord
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

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

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

יהוה is used with אלהים and suffixes, especially in D

the phrase † אֲנִי יהוה is noteworthy

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

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

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

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3068 Yhovah yeh-ho-vaw'

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

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

see HEBREW for 01961

see HEBREW for 03050

see HEBREW for 03069

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — LORD.

Jehovah = "the existing One"

1) the proper name of the one true God

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

יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — The Lord.

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

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

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

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-proper — Noun proper
HNpt
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
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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