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Psalms 35:1 — Word Study

Depth

WLCרִיבָ֣ה יְ֭הוָה אֶת־ יְרִיבַ֑י לְ֝חַ֗ם אֶת־ לֹֽחֲמָֽי׃

BSAOf DavidDâvid Contendrîyb [strive, plead my cause] with my opponentsyârîyb [those who strive with me, enemies] O LORDYᵉhôvâh [Yehovah, the Lord God] fight against thoselâcham [strive, wage war] who fight against melâcham [strive, make war]

Word
Listen & take awayPsalms 35
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 1 opens the 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 (Lo.cha.Mai) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Psalms 35:1quick helps
In a sentenceThe psalmist calls on the LORD to contend with his adversaries and fight against those who oppose him.
Who is speakingDavid, addressing God directly.
Where we areA plea for divine intervention in a time of conflict.
The hard wordרִיבָ֣ה
Take awayThe psalmist seeks God's help against his enemies.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbיָרִיב 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 35:1

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 Plea for Divine Justicegenerated

1Contend with my opponents, O LORD; fight against those who fight against me.
2Take up Your shield and buckler; arise and come to my aid.
3Draw the spear and javelin against my pursuers; say to my soul: “I am your salvation.”
4May those who seek my life be disgraced and put to shame; may those who plan to harm me be driven back and confounded.

Psalm 35:1 expresses a deep need for God's intervention in the face of opposition. David, the psalmist, is surrounded by adversaries and seeks the Lord's help in battling those who contend against him. This theme of divine assistance against enemies is common in the Psalms, reflecting a reliance on God during times of distress. The following verses continue this plea for support and protection, emphasizing the urgency of David's situation.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Psalm 43:1Vindicate me, O God, and plead my case against an ungodly nation; deliver me from deceitful and unjust men.
2Psalm 119:154Defend my cause and redeem me; revive me according to Your word.
31 Samuel 24:15May the LORD be our judge and decide between you and me. May He take notice and plead my case and deliver me from your hand.”
4Proverbs 22:23for the LORD will take up their case and will plunder those who rob them.
5Proverbs 23:11for their Redeemer is strong; He will take up their case against you.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 13 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word רִיבָ֣ה, ri.Vahgenerated

The verb רִיבָ֣ה (ri.Vah) is a qal imperative, indicating a command directed at God to engage in a legal or combative dispute. It conveys a sense of urgency and a call for action, as the psalmist pleads for God to take his side in a conflict.

This word encompasses a range of meanings, including physical fighting and verbal disputes, suggesting that David is not only seeking justice but also protection from those who seek to harm him. The context shows a deep trust in God's ability to contend on his behalf.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

The verse is rendered in the Berean Standard Bible as 'Contend with my opponents, O LORD; fight against those who fight against me.' Translations like the KJV and ASV use similar wording, maintaining the imperative call to God for assistance.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The verse contains a finite verb, רִיבָ֣ה (ri.Vah), which governs the entire plea. The structure is straightforward, with a main clause followed by two imperative phrases that express the psalmist's requests to God.

The Hebrew word order emphasizes the direct address to God, placing the action of contending and fighting at the forefront of the plea, highlighting the urgency of David's situation.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

In the Septuagint, רִיבָ֣ה is rendered as δίκασον (dikasōn), meaning 'judge' or 'contend.' This choice suggests a focus on divine judgment, aligning with the legal connotation of the Hebrew term.

The use of δίκασον indicates an interpretation that emphasizes God's role as a judge in the conflict, rather than just a warrior, which broadens the understanding of the divine action sought by David.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Psalm 35:1 is a direct appeal from David to God, asking Him to contend with his opponents and fight against those who are fighting him. This reflects David's reliance on God's power in times of trouble.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does David mean by asking God to contend with his opponents?

David is seeking divine intervention in his conflicts, asking God to take action against those who are opposing him.

How does this verse reflect David's relationship with God?

This verse shows David's trust in God as a protector and judge, highlighting his belief that God will fight on his behalf.

What can we learn from David's plea in this psalm?

David's plea teaches us the importance of turning to God in times of conflict and trusting Him to handle our adversaries.

Why does David emphasize fighting against those who fight against him?

David emphasizes this to express the seriousness of his situation and his need for God's help in overcoming those who threaten him.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what areas of my life do I need to seek God's help against my adversaries?
  2. How can I trust God more fully to contend on my behalf in difficult situations?
  3. What does it mean to me to know that God fights for His people?
  4. How can I apply David's example of seeking divine intervention in my own life?

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

Early Church Fathers have commented on this verse, interpreting it in the context of divine justice and the struggle against evil.

Evagrius PonticusNOTES ON THE Psalms 34[35].2 345–399
He who conquers in war reduces the enemies to slavery: Christ has overcome the world. Hence, … all become his servants.
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 35 →
Augustine of HippoExposition on Psalms 35 354–430
"Judge Thou, O Lord" (says he), "them that hurt me, and fight Thou against them that fight against me" [Psalms 35:1].
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 35 →
CassiodorusEXPLANATION OF THE Psalms 35:1 c. 485–585
This statement, as has been noted, refers to the devil and his followers.… For when he gives the command, “pray for your enemies,” this statement does not apply to people.
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 35 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Psalms 35:1 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

Plead [my cause], O Lord, with them that strive with me,.... Meaning Saul and his courtiers; concerning whom he elsewhere desires that the Lord would judge between them, plead his cause, and deliver

Read John Gill on Psalms 35 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

Plead my cause, O LORD, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me.

Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 35 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Psalms 35 THE This Psalm was penned by David when he was slandered and persecuted by Saul and his stewards, as is manifest from the whole body of it. David prayeth for his own safety, ,2, and his enemies’ destruction, ; showeth their falsehood, and unthankfulness, and malice, . He prayeth for their confussion, ; but for the preservation and joy of the godly, ,28. Seeing I am unable to right myself and the magistrates refuse to do me justice, be thou my Patron and Protector.

Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 35 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Psalms 35:1 « [A Psalm] of David. » Plead [my cause], O LORD, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me.Ver. 1. Plead my cause, O Lord] We may safely pray the same, when oppressed with calumnies and false accusations, as now David was by Saul’ s sycophants, or, as others think, when he was in great heaviness, and even heart sick; after that Amnon had defiled Tamar, and Absalom had slain Amnon; his disaffected subjects, such as Shimei, insulted over him, and said, it was just upon him for the matter of Uriah, and other miscarriages; which they wrongfully charged him with. See a promise in this case, Isaiah 49:21. Fight against them, &c.] Or, devour them that…

Read John Trapp on Psalms 35 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(1) Plead my cause.—Better, Strive, O Jehovah, with them that strive with me. The construction requires this, and the parallelism suggests recourse to arms rather than to the law. Fight.—Literally, devour. (Comp. Numbers 24:8. “He shall eat up the nations.” So a Latin author— “Qua medius pugnæ vorat agmina vortex.” SILIUS: Punic, 4:230. Comp. Shakespeare— “If the wars eat us not up.’—Coriolanus, Acts 1, sc. 1)

Read Charles John Ellicott on Psalms 35 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

PSALM XXXV The psalmist, in great straits, prays for his personal safety, 1-3; and for the confusion of his enemies, 4-8; expresses has confidence in God, 9, 10; mentions his kindness to those who had rewarded him evil for his good, 11-16; appeals to God against them, 17-26; prays for those who befriended him; and praises God for his goodness, 27, 28. NOTES ON PSALM XXXV There is nothing in the title worthy of remark. The Psalm is simply attributed to David, and was most probably of his composing; and refers to the time of his persecution by Saul and his courtiers. The Syriac says it was composed when the Idumeans attacked David. The Arabic says it is a prophecy concerning the incarnation…

Read AdamClarke on Psalms 35 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

1–3. Appeal to Jehovah to arm himself as the Psalmist’s champion.

Read Cambridge on Psalms 35 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Plead my cause, O Lord - The word “plead” means, properly, to argue in support of a claim, or against the claim of another; to urge reasons for or against; to attempt to persuade one by argument or

Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 35 →

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

Contend with my opponents, O LORD; fight against those who fight against me.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Contend, Yahweh, with those who contend with me. Fight against those who fight against me.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

Of David. Contend with my opponents, O LORD; fight against those who fight against me.

NETBNew English Translation2006

O Lord, fight those who fight with me! Attack those who attack me!

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

Plead my cause, O LORD, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

Strive thou, O Jehovah, with them that strive with me: Fight thou against them that fight against me.

RVARevised Version, American1894

Strive thou, O LORD, with them that strive with me: fight thou against them that fight against me.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

A Psalm of David. Plead my cause , O LORD, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

A Psalme of Dauid. Pleade thou my cause, O Lord, with them that striue with me: fight thou against them, that fight against me.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

Strive, O Jehovah, with them that strive with me; fight against them that fight against me:

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

By David. Strive, Jehovah, with my strivers, fight with my fighters,

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

BY DAVID. Strive, YHWH, with my strivers, fight with my fighters,

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

“Of David.” Contend, O Lord, with those that contend with me: fight against those that fight against me.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Yahweh, work against those who work against me; fight against those who fight against me.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

Unto the end, for the servant of God, David himself.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

Oppose my opponents, Lord; fight those who are fighting against me.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

O Lord, be on my side against those who are judging me; be at war with those who make war against me.

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


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

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

clauseprepositional phrase · predicateלְofדָוִ֨דDavidclauseclauseיְ֭הוָהO.Yahwehclauseverb phrase · verbרִיבָ֣contendהprepositional phrase · prepositionalאֶתwithnoun phraseיְרִיבַ֑opponentsיmyclauseverbלְ֝חַ֗םfightprepositional phrase · prepositionalאֶתwithnoun phraseלֹֽחֲמָֽ[thoseיwho].fight.with.me

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


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

The Masoretic Text presents the verse as רִיבָ֣ה יְ֭הוָה אֶת־ יְרִיבַ֑י לְ֝חַ֗ם אֶת־ לֹֽחֲמָֽי׃, while the Septuagint matches five of the seven words, indicating a close correspondence in meaning. The Dead Sea Scrolls show some restoration by an editor, but the essential plea remains intact.

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

רִיבָ֣ה יְ֭הוָה אֶת־ יְרִיבַ֑י לְ֝חַ֗ם אֶת־ לֹֽחֲמָֽי׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
רִיבָ֣הδαυιδיְ֭הוָהκύριεיְרִיבַ֑יδίκασονאֶת־μεלֹֽחֲמָֽי׃πολέμησον

5 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.

Dead Sea Scrolls — 4Q83a copy a thousand years older than the Leningrad Codex

[לדוד] [ריב׳ה] [יהוה] [את] [יריב׳י] [לחם] [את] [לחמ׳י]

nothing on the leather here — 8 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 35:1רִיבcontend !contend !רִיביהוהO YahwehO Yahwehיהוהאֵתwithwithאֵתיָרִיבopponents mopponents myיָרִיבלָחַםfightfightלָחַםאֵתwithwithאֵתלָחַם[those who][those who] figלָחַםאָנָהto meetto meetאָנָההָיָהto beto beהָיָהרִיבto contendto contendרִיבבְּרִיתcovenantcovenantבְּרִיתעַמּוֹןAmmonAmmonעַמּוֹןפְּלִשְׁתִּי(Sea of th(Sea of the) Phפְּלִשְׁתִּירִיבstrifestrifeרִיבנְאֻםutteranceutteranceנְאֻםצָבָאarmyarmyצָבָאלָחַםto fightto fightלָחַם
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 35:1

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.

contend ! O Yahweh with opponents my fight with [those who] fight with me
רִיבָ֣הri.Vah contend ! H7378 Verb qal imperative second person masculine singular · suffix
67× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means to argue or contend with someone, like in a lawsuit or a heated debate. It is used in various forms, such as physically fighting or verbally complaining. This concept appears in books like Genesis and Exodus.
Amplified meaning
strive, plead my cause
Tyndale gloss
to contend
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

רִיב (riyb) means to strive or contend, often in a figurative sense of grappling or wrangling. It can refer to physical struggle, verbal disputes, legal cases, or complaints. The entries indicate that it encompasses a range of meanings from quarreling to defending one's position. There is no significant disagreement among the lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

רִיב vb. strive, contend

Qal strive

Hiph. (those) displaying contention against him

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7378 רִיב strive, contend

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7378 riyb reeb

or ruwb {roob}; a primitive root; properly, to toss, i.e.

grapple; mostly figuratively, to wrangle, i.e. hold a

controversy; (by implication) to defend:--adversary, chide,

complain, contend, debate, X ever, X lay wait, plead, rebuke,

strive, X thoroughly.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

רִיב (riv) — to contend.

1) to strive, contend

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to strive

1a1a) physically

1a1b) with words

1a2) to conduct a case or suit (legal), sue

1a3) to make complaint

1a4) to quarrel

1b) (Hiphil) to contend against

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Impv-2ms | Suff — Verb qal imperative second person masculine singular · suffix
HVqv2ms/Sh
contend ! O Yahweh with opponents my fight with [those who] fight with me
יְ֭הוָהYah.weh O 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 God
Tyndale gloss
The Lord
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

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

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

יהוה is used with אלהים and suffixes, especially in D

the phrase † אֲנִי יהוה is noteworthy

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

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

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

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3068 Yhovah yeh-ho-vaw'

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

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

see HEBREW for 01961

see HEBREW for 03050

see HEBREW for 03069

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — LORD.

Jehovah = "the existing One"

1) the proper name of the one true God

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

יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — The Lord.

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

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

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

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-proper — Noun proper
HNpt
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
contend ! O Yahweh with opponents my fight with [those who] fight with me
אֶת־'et- with H854 Preposition
929× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew preposition means 'with' or 'near', indicating a close relationship or physical proximity. It's used in Genesis 1:26 to describe God's relationship with humanity, and in many other places to show connection or closeness.
Tyndale gloss
with
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word אֵת (eth) is a preposition indicating nearness or proximity, often translated as 'with' or 'near.' It conveys a sense of companionship or association, distinguishing itself from similar terms by expressing closer relationships. The entries highlight its use in various contexts, including possession and memory, but do not provide specific verse references.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֵת, prep. with—prep. denoting proximity

Of companionship, together with

Of localities

אֵת פּ׳ denotes specially

in one's possession or keeping

in one's knowledge or memory

מֵאֵת from proximity with

Note. אֵת expresses closer association than עִם: hence while מֵעִם sts. denotes hardly more than from the surroundings or belongings of, מֵאֵת expresses from close proximity to.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H854 אֵת with—prep. denoting proximity . Of companionship, together with

. Of localities

. אֵת פּ׳ denotes specially . in one's possession or keeping

. in one's knowledge or memory

. מֵאֵת from proximity with

Note. אֵת expresses closer association than עִם: hence while מֵעִם sts. denotes hardly more than from the surroundings or belongings of, מֵאֵת expresses from close proximity to.

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

854 'eth ayth

probably from 579; properly, nearness (used only as a

preposition or an adverb), near; hence, generally, with, by,

at, among, etc.:--against, among, before, by, for, from,

in(-to), (out) of, with. Often with another prepositional

prefix.

see HEBREW for 0579

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֵת (et) — with.

1) with, near, together with

1a) with, together with

1b) with (of relationship)

1c) near (of place)

1d) with (poss.)

1e) from...with, from (with other prep)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HR — Preposition
HR
contend ! O Yahweh with opponents my fight with [those who] fight with me
יְרִיבַ֑יye.ri.Vai opponents my H3401 Noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
3× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word describes someone who is contentious or an opponent, often used to describe a person who strives or contends with others. It appears in the Bible to describe conflict and adversity. The KJV translates it as that contenteth or that strive.
Amplified meaning
those who strive with me, enemies
Tyndale gloss
opponent
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יָרִיב (yariyb) refers to an opponent or adversary. It is derived from a root meaning 'to contend' and can describe someone who is contentious or strives against another. The term is used as a noun in this context, highlighting its role in conflict.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[יָרִיב] n.[m.] opponent, adversary

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3401 [יָרִיב] opponent, adversary

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3401 yariyb yaw-rebe'

from 7378; literally, he will contend; properly, adjective,

contentious; used as noun, an adversary:--that content(-eth),

that strive.

see HEBREW for 07378

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יָרִיב (ya.riv) — opponent.

contender, opponent, adversary

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-mp | Suff — Noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
HNcmpc/Sp1bs
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
contend ! O Yahweh with opponents my fight with [those who] fight with me
לְ֝חַ֗םle.Cham fight H3898 Verb · Qal · imperative second person masculine singular
177× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this word means to feed on or consume something, often referring to eating food or battling against someone. It's used in stories like David's battles and the Israelites' struggles in the wilderness.
Amplified meaning
strive, wage war
Tyndale gloss
to fight
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word לָחַם (lacham) has two primary meanings: to fight or do battle, and to eat or use as food. It is a primitive root that conveys both the act of engaging in combat and the act of consuming food. The entries indicate that the word can imply destruction in the context of battle.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[לָחַם] 171 vb. fight, do battle

Qal fight, do battle

Niph. engage in battle (recipr.), sometimes wage war

base

[לָחַם] vb. use as food, eat

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3898a לָחַם fight, do battle .fight, do battle

. engage in battle (recipr.), sometimes wage war

H3898b לָחַם use as food, eat

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3898 lacham law-kham'

a primitive root; to feed on; figuratively, to consume; by

implication, to battle (as destruction):--devour, eat, X ever,

fight(-ing), overcome, prevail, (make) war(-ring).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

לָחַם (la.cham) — to fight.

1) to fight, do battle, make war

1a) (Qal) to fight, do battle

1b) (Niphal) to engage in battle, wage war

לָחַם (la.cham) — to feed on.

(Qal) to eat, use as food

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Impv-2ms — Verb · Qal · imperative second person masculine singular
HVqv2ms
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

See WAR; GAMES.

contend ! O Yahweh with opponents my fight with [those who] fight with me
אֶת־'et- with H854 Preposition
929× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew preposition means 'with' or 'near', indicating a close relationship or physical proximity. It's used in Genesis 1:26 to describe God's relationship with humanity, and in many other places to show connection or closeness.
Tyndale gloss
with
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word אֵת (eth) is a preposition indicating nearness or proximity, often translated as 'with' or 'near.' It conveys a sense of companionship or association, distinguishing itself from similar terms by expressing closer relationships. The entries highlight its use in various contexts, including possession and memory, but do not provide specific verse references.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֵת, prep. with—prep. denoting proximity

Of companionship, together with

Of localities

אֵת פּ׳ denotes specially

in one's possession or keeping

in one's knowledge or memory

מֵאֵת from proximity with

Note. אֵת expresses closer association than עִם: hence while מֵעִם sts. denotes hardly more than from the surroundings or belongings of, מֵאֵת expresses from close proximity to.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H854 אֵת with—prep. denoting proximity . Of companionship, together with

. Of localities

. אֵת פּ׳ denotes specially . in one's possession or keeping

. in one's knowledge or memory

. מֵאֵת from proximity with

Note. אֵת expresses closer association than עִם: hence while מֵעִם sts. denotes hardly more than from the surroundings or belongings of, מֵאֵת expresses from close proximity to.

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

854 'eth ayth

probably from 579; properly, nearness (used only as a

preposition or an adverb), near; hence, generally, with, by,

at, among, etc.:--against, among, before, by, for, from,

in(-to), (out) of, with. Often with another prepositional

prefix.

see HEBREW for 0579

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֵת (et) — with.

1) with, near, together with

1a) with, together with

1b) with (of relationship)

1c) near (of place)

1d) with (poss.)

1e) from...with, from (with other prep)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HR — Preposition
HR
contend ! O Yahweh with opponents my fight with [those who] fight with me
לֹֽחֲמָֽי׃Lo.cha.Mai [those who] fight with me H3898 Verb qal participle (active) masculine plural common · suffix
177× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this word means to feed on or consume something, often referring to eating food or battling against someone. It's used in stories like David's battles and the Israelites' struggles in the wilderness.
Amplified meaning
strive, make war
Tyndale gloss
to fight
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word לָחַם (lacham) has two primary meanings: to fight or do battle, and to eat or use as food. It is a primitive root that conveys both the act of engaging in combat and the act of consuming food. The entries indicate that the word can imply destruction in the context of battle.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[לָחַם] 171 vb. fight, do battle

Qal fight, do battle

Niph. engage in battle (recipr.), sometimes wage war

base

[לָחַם] vb. use as food, eat

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3898a לָחַם fight, do battle .fight, do battle

. engage in battle (recipr.), sometimes wage war

H3898b לָחַם use as food, eat

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3898 lacham law-kham'

a primitive root; to feed on; figuratively, to consume; by

implication, to battle (as destruction):--devour, eat, X ever,

fight(-ing), overcome, prevail, (make) war(-ring).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

לָחַם (la.cham) — to fight.

1) to fight, do battle, make war

1a) (Qal) to fight, do battle

1b) (Niphal) to engage in battle, wage war

לָחַם (la.cham) — to feed on.

(Qal) to eat, use as food

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal | Suff — Verb qal participle (active) masculine plural common · suffix
HVqrmpc/Sp1bs
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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