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Psalms 41:4 — Word Study

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WLCאֲֽנִי־ אָ֭מַרְתִּי יְהוָ֣ה חָנֵּ֑נִי רְפָאָ֥ה נַ֝פְשִׁ֗י כִּי־ חָטָ֥אתִי לָֽךְ׃

BSAO LORDYᵉhôvâh [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God]

Word
Listen & take awayPsalms 41
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 4 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 (Lakh) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Psalms 41:4quick helps
In a sentenceThe psalmist appeals to God for mercy and healing, acknowledging his sin.
Who is speakingThe speaker is the psalmist, expressing personal need and repentance.
Where we areThis verse is part of a lament, where the psalmist is suffering and seeking God's grace.
The hard wordחָנֵּ֑נִי
Take awayThe psalmist recognizes his wrongdoing and seeks restoration.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause subjectיהוה verbסָעַד 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 41:4

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 Healinggenerated

3The LORD will sustain him on his bed of illness and restore him from his bed of sickness.
4I said, “O LORD, be gracious to me; heal me, for I have sinned against You.”
5My enemies say with malice: “When will he die and be forgotten?”
6My visitor speaks falsehood; he gathers slander in his heart; he goes out and spreads it abroad.

Psalm 41:4 is a heartfelt cry from the psalmist who is in distress, seeking God's grace and healing. This verse reflects a common theme in the Psalms where the writer expresses vulnerability and dependence on God during times of trouble. The surrounding verses illustrate the psalmist's condition and the response of his enemies, emphasizing the need for divine intervention and mercy.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Psalm 32:5Then I acknowledged my sin to You and did not hide my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,” and You forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah
2Psalm 51:1–3Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your loving devotion; according to Your great compassion, blot out my transgressions.
3Psalm 6:2–4Be merciful to me, O LORD, for I am frail; heal me, O LORD, for my bones are in agony.
4Psalm 103:3He who forgives all your iniquities and heals all your diseases,
5Psalm 147:3He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 8 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word חָנֵּ֑נִי, cho.ne.nigenerated

The verb חָנַן (chanan) means to show favor or be gracious, often implying an act of kindness or mercy towards someone in need. In this verse, it is used in the imperative form, indicating a direct plea from the psalmist to God for compassion and help.

This word captures the essence of the psalmist's request for grace and healing, highlighting his recognition of his own sinfulness and his reliance on God's mercy. The construction emphasizes the urgency and sincerity of the plea.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

All translations agree on the essence of the psalmist's plea for grace and healing.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main verb of the verse is אָ֭מַרְתִּי, I said, which introduces the speaker's direct address to God. The structure includes a series of phrases that express the speaker's request for grace and healing, culminating in the acknowledgment of sin.

The sentence flows from the speaker's declaration to God, followed by a plea for healing, indicating a direct and personal communication with the divine. The order emphasizes the urgency of the request and the personal nature of the relationship.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

In the Septuagint, the Hebrew verb חָנַן is rendered as κλίνε (kline), which means 'to bend' or 'stoop.' This choice suggests a nuanced interpretation of God's grace as an act of lowering oneself to assist the needy.

This translation reflects a broader understanding of divine mercy, emphasizing God's willingness to engage with human suffering and need.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Psalm 41:4 shows the psalmist asking God for mercy and healing because he has sinned. This verse is part of a larger prayer where the writer expresses his need for help during a time of trouble. It highlights the importance of recognizing one's faults and seeking forgiveness.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does the psalmist mean by asking for grace?

The psalmist is asking God to show kindness and favor, especially in light of his own sins, seeking restoration and healing.

Why does the psalmist mention his sin?

The acknowledgment of sin is crucial in the psalmist's plea for healing, as it reflects humility and a recognition of the need for God's mercy.

How does this verse relate to the themes of the Psalms?

This verse exemplifies the themes of lament, repentance, and reliance on God's mercy, which are prevalent throughout the Psalms.

What can we learn from the psalmist's approach to God?

The psalmist's direct and honest plea teaches us the importance of approaching God with sincerity, acknowledging our shortcomings, and seeking His grace.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what areas of my life do I need to seek God's grace and healing?
  2. How can acknowledging my faults lead to deeper spiritual growth?
  3. What does it mean to me to ask God for mercy in my daily life?
  4. How can I support others who are struggling with their own sins and seeking forgiveness?

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

The early church fathers, such as Augustine of Hippo, referenced this verse to discuss themes of sin, repentance, and God's discipline, arguing from the psalmist's acknowledgment of sin and plea for mercy.

Augustine of HippoExposition on Psalms 41 354–430
But why this? Because He "scourges every son whom He receives." [Hebrews 12:6] Why this? Because to men sinning was it said,
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 41 →
Augustine of HippoSERMON 29:3 354–430
Your accuser goes on scoring points off you, as long as you insist on making your own excuses. So do you want to ensure that your accuser—the devil, that is—suffers and groans? Do what you have heard, do what you have learned,
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 41 →
Augustine of HippoSERMON 20:1 354–430
The reason he says, “I myself have said it, Lord,” is to thrust before our eyes the fact that the will and decision to sin arises from the soul and that we are fully capable of destroying ourselves,
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 41 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Psalms 41:4 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

I said, Lord, be merciful unto me,.... [See comments on Psalms 40:11]; heal my soul; not that it was diseased with sin in such sense as the souls of other men are; but it is to be understood as a

Read John Gill on Psalms 41 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

I said, LORD, be merciful unto me: heal my soul; for I have sinned against thee. I said, Lord, be merciful unto me.

Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 41 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

My soul, i.e. either, 1. Myself, to wit, my body. So it is a double synecdoche. And the soul is so taken . Or, 2. My soul properly so called; which is said to be healed, when it is pardoned and purged, as , compared with , compared with . So he strikes at the root of his misery, and prays for the removal of the sin of his soul, as the cause of the disease of his body. For I have sinned against thee: this may be added, either, 1. As a reason or motive to God; Grant this request, for I have sinned, and therefore thy grace in healing me will be more glorious and admirable. Or, for I acknowledge that I have sinned; for the act is oft put for the declaration of it, as . Or, 2. As a reason moving…

Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 41 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Psalms 41:4 I said, LORD, be merciful unto me: heal my soul; for I have sinned against thee. Ver. 4. I said, Lord, be merciful unto me: heal] Heal me in mercy, and begin at the inside first. Heal my soul of sin, and then my body of sickness; heal me every whit. These, to the end, are the sick man’ s words, saith Kimchi. And this is the character of the Lord’ s poor man, to whom the foresaid comforts do belong, saith another. For I have sinned against thee] He crieth peccavi, not peril. Sanationem a capite orditur, he beginneth at the right end.

Read John Trapp on Psalms 41 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(4) I said.—After the general statement, the poet applies it to his own case, which showed such sadly different conduct on the part of friends from whom more than sympathy might have been expected. The pronoun is emphatic: In my case, I said, etc. But it is a singular mark of the psalmist’s sincerity and genuineness that he first looks into his own heart for its evil before exposing that of his friends.

Read Charles John Ellicott on Psalms 41 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 4. I said, Lord, be merciful unto me] I need thy mercy especially, because I have sinned against thee, and my sin is a deadly wound to my soul; therefore heal my soul, for it has sinned against thee.

Read AdamClarke on Psalms 41 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

4–6. The foregoing sketch of the blessedness of the compassionate man serves to introduce the Psalmist’s description of his own case, partly as a foil and contrast to the heartless treatment he is experiencing, partly because he feels that he can himself plead for a share in the mercy promised to the merciful.

Read Cambridge on Psalms 41 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

I said, Lord - I said in my sickness, or in the trial referred to in the psalm.

Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 41 →

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

I said, “O LORD, be gracious to me; heal me, for I have sinned against You.”

WEBWorld English Bible2000

I said, “Yahweh, have mercy on me! Heal me, for I have sinned against you.”

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

I said, “O LORD, be gracious to me; heal me, for I have sinned against You.”

NETBNew English Translation2006

As for me, I said: “O Lord, have mercy on me! Heal me, for I have sinned against you!

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

I said, LORD, be merciful unto me: heal my soul; for I have sinned against thee.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

I said, O Jehovah, have mercy upon me: Heal my soul; for I have sinned against thee.

RVARevised Version, American1894

I said, O LORD, have mercy upon me: heal my soul; for I have sinned against thee.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

I said, LORD, be merciful to me: heal my soul; for I have sinned against thee.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Therefore I saide, Lord haue mercie vpon me: heale my soule, for I haue sinned against thee.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

As for me, I said, Jehovah, be gracious unto me: heal my soul; for I have sinned against thee.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

I — I said, 'O Jehovah, favour me, Heal my soul, for I did sin against Thee,'

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

I said, “O YHWH, favor me, || Heal my soul, for I sinned against You,”

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

(41:5) I said, Lord, be gracious unto me: heal my soul; for I have sinned against thee.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

I said, “Yahweh, have mercy on me! Heal me, for I have sinned against you.”

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

My tears have been any bread day and night, whilst it is said to me daily: Where is thy God?

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

“Lord, please be gracious to me,” I asked. “Please heal me, for I have sinned against you.”

BBEBible in Basic English1949

I said, Lord, have mercy on me; make my soul well, because my faith is in you.

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.

clausesubjectאֲֽנִיIverbאָ֭מַרְתִּיI.saidclauseclauseיְהוָ֣הO.Yahwehclauseverbחָנֵּ֑showobjectנִיfavor.to.meclauseverb phrase · verbרְפָאָ֥healהnoun phrase · objectנַ֝פְשִׁ֗selfיmyכִּי(dm)clauseverbחָטָ֥אתִיI.have.sinnedprepositional phrase · prepositionalלָֽtoךְyou

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 their wording. The Septuagint matches all nine words from the Hebrew text, indicating a strong consistency between these ancient witnesses.

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

אֲֽנִי־ אָ֭מַרְתִּי יְהוָ֣ה חָנֵּ֑נִי רְפָאָ֥ה נַ֝פְשִׁ֗י כִּי־ חָטָ֥אתִי לָֽךְ׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
אֲֽנִי־κύριοςאָ֭מַרְתִּיβοηθήσαιיְהוָ֣הαὐτῷחָנֵּ֑נִיκλίνηςרְפָאָ֥הὅληνנַ֝פְשִׁ֗יαὐτοῦכִּי־ἔστρεψαςחָטָ֥אתִיἐνלָֽךְ׃αὐτοῦ

9 of the 9 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 41:4אֲנִיIIאֲנִיאָמַרI saidI saidאָמַריהוהO YahwehO Yahwehיהוהחָנַןshow favor show favor to mחָנַןרָפָאheal !heal !רָפָאנֶ֫פֶשׁself myself myנֶ֫פֶשׁכִּיforforכִּיחָטָאI have sinnI have sinnedחָטָאךְto youto youךְאָֽנֹכִ֫יIIאָֽנֹכִ֫יהָיָהto beto beהָיָהנָפַשׁbe refreshbe refreshedנָפַשׁחָנָהto campto campחָנָהרָפָהto slackento slackenרָפָהנְאֻםutteranceutteranceנְאֻםיָדַעto knowto knowיָדַעכֹּהthusthusכֹּהיהוהYHWH/GodYHWH/Godיהוהצָבָאarmyarmyצָבָאלָוָהto jointo joinלָוָהמַכָּהwoundwoundמַכָּהחָבַשׁto saddle/to saddle/tieחָבַשׁבָּקַשׁto seekto seekבָּקַשׁחַיalivealiveחַינְבָטNebatNebatנְבָטסָלַחto forgiveto forgiveסָלַח
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 41:4

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.

I I said O Yahweh show favor to me heal ! self my for I have sinned to you
אֲֽנִי־'ani- I H589 Pronoun
874× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word is a simple way of saying 'I' or 'me', often used for emphasis. It is used by people like David in the Psalms to express their thoughts and feelings. The word is a basic part of the Hebrew language.
Tyndale gloss
I
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אֲנִי, transliterated as aniy, is a first-person singular pronoun meaning 'I' or 'me.' It is often used for emphasis and can also imply possession, as in 'mine' or 'myself.' The word is derived from a form that indicates self-reference, and it appears in various contexts throughout the Old Testament.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֲנִי, אָ֑נִי pron. 1s. comm. I

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H589 אֲנִי, אָ֑נִי I

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

589 'aniy an-ee'

contracted from 595; I:--I, (as for) me, mine, myself, we, X

which, X who.

see HEBREW for 0595

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֲנִי (a.ni) — I.

I (first pers. sing. -usually used for emphasis)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HPp1bs — Pronoun
HPp1bs
I I said O Yahweh show favor to me heal ! self my for I have sinned to you
אָ֭מַרְתִּי'A.mar.ti I said H559 Verb · Qal · perfect first person common singular
5,309× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to say or speak, and it's used in many different ways in the Bible. It can mean to command, promise, or think, and it's translated in the KJV as 'answer', 'appoint', or 'command'.
Tyndale gloss
to say
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אָמַר (amar) is a Hebrew verb meaning 'to say' or 'to utter,' with a broad range of uses including to promise, command, or even boast. It appears in various forms, such as in the Qal (to say), Niphal (to be told), and Hiphil (to avow). The entries highlight its versatility in both spoken and internal contexts, though no specific verse is noted.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אָמַר 5287 vb. utter, say

Qal

Say

Say in the heart (= think)

Promise

Command (esp. late)

Niph. be said, told

Hiph. avow, avouch (lit. cause to declare)

Hithp. act proudly, boast

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H559 אָמַר utter, say .. Say

. Say in the heart (= think)

. Promise

. Command (esp. late)

. be said, told

. avow, avouch (lit. cause to declare)

. act proudly, boast

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

559 'amar aw-mar'

a primitive root; to say (used with great

latitude):--answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call,

certify, challenge, charge, + (at the, give) command(-ment),

commune, consider, declare, demand, X desire, determine, X

expressly, X indeed, X intend, name, X plainly, promise,

publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), X still, X

suppose, talk, tell, term, X that is, X think, use (speech),

utter, X verily, X yet.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אָמַר (a.mar) — to say.

1) to say, speak, utter

1a) (Qal) to say, to answer, to say in one's heart, to think, to command, to promise, to intend

1b) (Niphal) to be told, to be said, to be called

1c) (Hithpael) to boast, to act proudly

1d) (Hiphil) to avow, to avouch

Aramaic equivalent: a.mar (אֲמַר "to say" H0560)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HVqp1cs — Verb · Qal · perfect first person common singular
HVqp1cs
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
I I said O Yahweh show favor to me heal ! self my for I have sinned to you
יְהוָ֣הYah.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 covenant Name of 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
I I said O Yahweh show favor to me heal ! self my for I have sinned to you
חָנֵּ֑נִיcho.ne.ni show favor to me H2603 Verb qal imperative second person masculine singular · suffix
78× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to show kindness or favor, often by bending or stooping to help someone in need, as seen in the actions of God towards his people.
Tyndale gloss
be gracious
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

חָנַן (chanan) is a Hebrew verb meaning to show favor or be gracious. It encompasses various forms, including being pitied, directing favor, and seeking favor through imploration. The word can also mean to be loathsome, as noted in Job 19:17. The lexicons provide a range of uses, primarily focusing on kindness and mercy.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

חָנַן vb. shew favour, be gracious

Qal favour, shew favour

Niph. be pitied

Po‛el direct favour to

Hoph. be shewn favour, consideration

Hithp. seek or implore favour

base

[חָנַן] be loathsome—only Jb 19:17

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2603a חָנַן shew favour, be gracious .favour, shew favour

. be pitied

.direct favour to

. be shewn favour, consideration

. seek or implore favour

H2603b חָנַן be loathsome

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2603 chanan khaw-nan'

a primitive root (compare 2583); properly, to bend or stoop

in kindness to an inferior; to favor, bestow; causatively to

implore (i.e. move to favor by petition):--beseech, X fair,

(be, find, shew) favour(-able), be (deal, give, grant

(gracious(-ly), intreat, (be) merciful, have (shew) mercy (on,

upon), have pity upon, pray, make supplication, X very.

see HEBREW for 02583

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חָנַן (cha.nan) — be gracious.

1) to be gracious, show favour, pity

1a) (Qal) to show favour, be gracious

1b) (Niphal) to be pitied

1c) (Piel) to make gracious, make favourable, be gracious

1d) (Poel) to direct favour to, have mercy on

1e) (Hophal) to be shown favour, be shown consideration

1f) (Hithpael) to seek favour, implore favour

חָנַן (cha.nan) — be loathsome.

to be loathsome

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HVqv2ms/Sp1bs — Verb qal imperative second person masculine singular · suffix
HVqv2ms/Sp1bs
I I said O Yahweh show favor to me heal ! self my for I have sinned to you
רְפָאָ֥הre.fa.'Ah heal ! H7495 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 heal or mend, often referring to God's power to cure physical or emotional hurts, as seen in Psalm 103:3.
Tyndale gloss
to heal
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

רָפָא (rapha') is a Hebrew verb meaning 'to heal' or 'to mend.' It covers various forms, including healing by God, physicians, and figurative healing of nations or individuals. The verb has different stems indicating active healing, being healed, and healing in order to be healed. The entries do not present any significant disagreement.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

רָפָא vb. heal

Qal heal

Niph. be healed

Pi. have healed, heal

Hithp. in order to get healed

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7495 רָפָא heal

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7495 rapha' raw-faw'

or raphah {raw-faw'}; a primitive root; properly, to mend (by

stitching), i.e. (figuratively) to cure:--cure, (cause to)

heal, physician, repair, X thoroughly, make whole. See 7503.

see HEBREW for 07503

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

רָפָא (ra.pah) — to heal.

1) to heal, make healthful

1a) (Qal) to heal

1a1) of God

1a2) healer, physician (of men)

1a3) of hurts of nations involving restored favour (fig)

1a4) of individual distresses (fig)

1b) (Niphal) to be healed

1b1) literal (of persons)

1b2) of water, pottery

1b3) of national hurts (fig)

1b4) of personal distress (fig)

1c) (Piel) to heal

1c1) literal

1c2) of national defects or hurts (fig)

1d) (Hithpael) in order to get healed (infinitive)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HVqv2ms/Sh — Verb qal imperative second person masculine singular · suffix
HVqv2ms/Sh
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

hel (rapha'; therapeuo, iaomai, diasozo): The English word is connected with the Anglo-Saxon hoelan, and is used in several senses:

(1) Lit., in its meaning of making whole or well, as in Ec 3:3. In this way it occurs in prayers for restoration to health (Nu 12:13; Ps 6:2; Jer 17:14); and also in declarations as to God's power to restore to health (De 32:39; 2Ki 20:5-8).

(2) Metaphorically it is applied to the restoration of the soul to spiritual health and to the repair of the injuries caused by sin (Ps 41:4;

I I said O Yahweh show favor to me heal ! self my for I have sinned to you
נַ֝פְשִׁ֗יnaf.Shi self my H5315 Noun common feminine singular construct · suffix
754× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for soul or living being, used in the Bible to describe the essence of a person or animal. It encompasses the ideas of life, breath, and vitality, and is translated as 'soul' or 'creature' in the KJV. This word is central to biblical concepts of humanity and existence.
Tyndale gloss
soul
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word נֶ֫פֶשׁ (*nephesh*) broadly means 'soul' or 'living being,' encompassing concepts like life, self, person, desire, and emotion. It is derived from the root meaning 'to breathe' and signifies both physical and mental aspects of existence. The lexicons note its use in various contexts, including as the seat of appetites and emotions, though its application to will and character is uncertain.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

נֶ֫פֶשׁ 756 n.f. soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, appetite, emotion, and passion

= that which breathes, the breathing substance or being

The נפשׁ becomes a living being

The נפשׁ is specif.

The נפשׁ as the essential of man stands for the man himself

נפשׁ = seat of the appetites, in all periods (46 t.)

נ׳ = seat of emotions and passions

נפשׁ is used occasionally for mental acts

נפשׁ for acts of the will is dub.

נפשׁ = character is still more dub.

נ׳ in D

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5315 נֶ֫פֶשׁ soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, appetite, emotion, and passion . = that which breathes, the breathing substance or being

. The נפשׁ becomes a living being

. The נפשׁ is specif.

. The נפשׁ as the essential of man stands for the man himself

. נפשׁ = seat of the appetites, in all periods (46 t.)

. נ׳ = seat of emotions and passions

. נפשׁ is used occasionally for mental acts

. נפשׁ for acts of the will is dub.

. נפשׁ = character is still more dub.

. נ׳ in D

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5315 nephesh neh'-fesh

from 5314; properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of

(abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal,

accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or mental):--any,

appetite, beast, body, breath, creature, X dead(-ly), desire,

X (dis-)contented, X fish, ghost, + greedy, he, heart(-y),

(hath, X jeopardy of) life (X in jeopardy), lust, man, me,

mind, mortally, one, own, person, pleasure, (her-, him-, my-,

thy-)self, them (your)-selves, + slay, soul, + tablet, they,

thing, (X she) will, X would have it.

see HEBREW for 05314

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נֶ֫פֶשׁ (ne.phesh) — soul.

1) soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion

1a) that which breathes, the breathing substance or being, soul, the inner being of man

1b) living being

1c) living being (with life in the blood)

1d) the man himself, self, person or individual

1e) seat of the appetites

1f) seat of emotions and passions

1g) activity of mind

1g1) uncertain

1h) activity of the will

1h1) uncertain

1i) activity of the character

1i1) uncertain

נֶ֫פֶשׁ (ne.phesh) — soul: life.

1) soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion

1a) that which breathes, the breathing substance or being, soul, the inner being of man

1b) living being

1c) living being (with life in the blood)

1d) the man himself, self, person or individual

1e) seat of the appetites

1f) seat of emotions and passions

1g) activity of mind

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HNcfsc/Sp1bs — Noun common feminine singular construct · suffix
HNcfsc/Sp1bs
I I said O Yahweh show favor to me heal ! self my for I have sinned to you
כִּי־ki- 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'.
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
HTc — 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
I I said O Yahweh show favor to me heal ! self my for I have sinned to you
חָטָ֥אתִיcha.Ta.ti I have sinned H2398 Verb · Qal · perfect first person common singular
238× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To sin means to miss the mark or go wrong, incurring guilt or penalty, and can also mean to repent or make amends. It is used in the Bible to describe wrongdoing and its consequences.
Tyndale gloss
to sin
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

חָטָא (chata') means to miss a goal or way, and is commonly translated as 'to sin.' It encompasses a range of meanings including incurring guilt, making a sin offering, and purifying from uncleanness. The word can also imply leading others to sin or causing oneself to lose one's way. It appears in various forms, such as Qal, Piel, Hiphil, and Hithpael, indicating different nuances of the concept of sin.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

חָטָא 238 vb. miss (a goal or way), go wrong, sin

Qal

miss

sin, miss the goal or path of right and duty

incur guilt, penalty by sin, forfeit

Pi.

bear loss

make a sin offering

purify from sin

purify from uncleanness

Hiph.

miss the mark

induce or cause to sin

bring into guilt, condemnation, punishment

Hithp.

miss oneself, lose oneself, fig. for be bewildered, beside oneself

purify oneself from uncleanness

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2398 חָטָא miss (a goal or way), go wrong, sin .. miss

. sin, miss the goal or path of right and duty

. incur guilt, penalty by sin, forfeit

. . bear loss

. make a sin offering

. purify from sin

. purify from uncleanness

. . miss the mark

. induce or cause to sin

. bring into guilt, condemnation, punishment

. . miss oneself, lose oneself, fig. for be bewildered, beside oneself

. purify oneself from uncleanness

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2398 chata' khaw-taw'

a primitive root; properly, to miss; hence (figuratively and

generally) to sin; by inference, to forfeit, lack, expiate,

repent, (causatively) lead astray, condemn:--bear the blame,

cleanse, commit (sin), by fault, harm he hath done, loss,

miss, (make) offend(-er), offer for sin, purge, purify (self),

make reconciliation, (cause, make) sin(-ful, -ness), trespass.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חָטָא (cha.ta) — to sin.

1) to sin, miss, miss the way, go wrong, incur guilt, forfeit, purify from uncleanness

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to miss

1a2) to sin, miss the goal or path of right and duty

1a3) to incur guilt, incur penalty by sin, forfeit

1b) (Piel)

1b1) to bear loss

1b2) to make a sin-offering

1b3) to purify from sin

1b4) to purify from uncleanness

1c) (Hiphil)

1c1) to miss the mark

1c2) to induce to sin, cause to sin

1c3) to bring into guilt or condemnation or punishment

1d) (Hithpael)

1d1) to miss oneself, lose oneself, wander from the way

1d2) to purify oneself from uncleanness

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HVqp1cs — Verb · Qal · perfect first person common singular
HVqp1cs
I I said O Yahweh show favor to me heal ! self my for I have sinned to you
לָֽךְ׃Lakh to you H9032 Preposition · suffix
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

ךְ (kh) — you.

Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 2nd person feminine singular

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HR/Sp2ms — Preposition · suffix
HR/Sp2ms
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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