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Psalms 43:2 — Word Study

Depth

WLCכִּֽי־ אַתָּ֤ה׀ אֱלֹהֵ֣י מָֽעוּזִּי֮ לָמָ֪ה זְנַ֫חְתָּ֥נִי לָֽמָּה־ קֹדֵ֥ר אֶתְהַלֵּ֗ךְ בְּלַ֣חַץ אוֹיֵֽב׃

BSAForkîy Youʼattâh [the God of my strength] are the Godʼĕlôhîym [Elohim, the one supreme God] of my refugemâʻôwz [security, a fortified place] Whymâh [what or how] have You rejected mezânach [cast me off, abandoned] Whymâh [what or how] must I walkhâlak [go, move] in sorrowqâdar [mourning, darkness] because of the enemy’sʼôyêb [adversary, one who opposes] oppressionlachats [cruel treatment, distress]

Word
Listen & take awayPsalms 43
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 2 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 ('o.Yev) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Psalms 43:2quick helps
In a sentenceThe psalmist expresses a deep sense of abandonment by God while seeking refuge from enemies.
Who is speakingThe psalmist, addressing God directly.
Where we areIn the midst of a plea for help, reflecting sorrow and confusion.
The hard wordזְנַחְתָּ֥נִי
Take awayThe psalmist feels rejected and mourns under the weight of oppression.
7 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Trapp, AdamClarke & more — read them › clause subjectאַתָּה verbקָדַר 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 43:2

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 Deliverancegenerated

1Vindicate me, O God, and plead my case against an ungodly nation; deliver me from deceitful and unjust men.
2For You are the God of my refuge. Why have You rejected me? Why must I walk in sorrow because of the enemy’s oppression?
3Send out Your light and Your truth; let them lead me. Let them bring me to Your holy mountain, and to the place where You dwell.
4Then I will go to the altar of God, to God, my greatest joy. I will praise You with the harp, O God, my God.

Psalm 43:2 captures the psalmist's cry for help, addressing God as the source of strength and refuge. The psalmist feels abandoned and questions why he must endure sorrow due to the oppression of enemies. This plea reflects a deep emotional struggle, seeking reassurance and divine intervention amidst distress, as seen in the surrounding verses that express longing for God's guidance and presence.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Psalm 28:7The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped. Therefore my heart rejoices, and I give thanks to Him with my song.
2Psalm 140:7O GOD the Lord, the strength of my salvation, You shield my head in the day of battle.
3Exodus 15:2The LORD is my strength and my song, and He has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise Him, my father’s God, and I will exalt Him.
4Isaiah 40:31But those who wait upon the LORD will renew their strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint.
5Isaiah 45:24Surely they will say of Me, ‘In the LORD alone are righteousness and strength.’” All who rage against Him will come to Him and be put to shame.

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

why goPsalm 42:9

The Key Word אֱלֹהֵ֣י, 'e.lo.Heigenerated

The word אֱלֹהִים (elohiym) is a plural noun often translated as 'God' and signifies the supreme deity in the Hebrew Bible. It is used here to emphasize God's power and authority, indicating that the psalmist recognizes Him as the ultimate source of refuge and strength.

In this context, the psalmist acknowledges God as the one who provides safety and security, reinforcing the idea of divine protection against adversaries. The use of אֱלֹהִים connects the personal plea to a broader understanding of God's role as a protector.


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 main clause is governed by the subject אַתָּ֤ה (you) and the verb זְנַחְתָּ֥ (have rejected), with the object נִי (me) following. The structure reflects a direct appeal to God, highlighting the psalmist's emotional state.

The additional phrases provide context for the psalmist's feelings of sorrow and oppression, with the participial phrase קֹדֵ֥ר (mourning) elaborating on the emotional weight of the situation.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

In the Septuagint, the translators chose the Greek word θεός (theos) to render אֱלֹהִים. This choice emphasizes the divine nature of God in a way that aligns with Greek understanding, reinforcing the psalmist's appeal to a powerful deity.

The translation of מָעוּזִּי as μου (my) in the Septuagint indicates a personal connection to God as a refuge, similar to the Hebrew intent.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Psalm 43:2 expresses the psalmist's feelings of abandonment by God while seeking refuge from enemies. He questions why he feels rejected and must walk in sorrow due to the oppression he faces. This reflects a deep emotional struggle and a longing for God's help.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean that God is my refuge?

It means that God is a source of safety and protection, a stronghold in times of trouble, as the psalmist acknowledges.

Why does the psalmist feel rejected?

The psalmist feels rejected because of the distress caused by enemies and the sense of abandonment by God during difficult times.

What kind of oppression is being referred to?

The oppression refers to cruel treatment and distress inflicted by adversaries, causing sorrow and turmoil in the psalmist's life.

How can I find refuge in God?

Finding refuge in God involves turning to Him in prayer, seeking His guidance, and trusting in His protection during challenging times.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what ways have I experienced God as my refuge during difficult times?
  2. How can I address feelings of abandonment or rejection in my own life?
  3. What steps can I take to find comfort and strength in God amidst oppression?
  4. How can I support others who are facing similar struggles and feelings of distress?

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 the need for patience and endurance in faith amidst trials.

Augustine of HippoExposition on Psalms 43 354–430
And since patience is needful in order to endure, until the harvest, a certain distinction without separation, if we may so speak (for they are together with us, and therefore not yet separated;
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 43 →

Commentators on this verse — 7 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Psalms 43:2 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

For thou [art] the God of my strength,.... Who being the strong and mighty God was able to deliver and save him, as well as to plead his cause; and was the author and giver of strength, natural and

Read John Gill on Psalms 43 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

For thou art the God of my strength: why dost thou cast me off? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?

Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 43 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Psalms 43:2 For thou [art] the God of my strength: why dost thou cast me off? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?Ver. 2. For thou art the God of my strength] As being in covenant with me, both offensive and defensive. In the Lord Jehovah is a Rock of ages, or everlasting strength, Isaiah 26:4, for God of my strength, Psalms 42:9, is my rock. Why go I mourning] See Psalms 42:9.

Read John Trapp on Psalms 43 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 2. For thou art the God of my strength] The psalmist speaks here, as in other places, in the person of the whole Israelitish people then captive in Babylon. We still acknowledge thee for our God. Why are we cast off? Now that we are humbled and penitent, why are we not enlarged? Why are we not saved from this oppression of the Babylonians?

Read AdamClarke on Psalms 43 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

2. the God of my strength] Or, my stronghold God: my natural refuge and protector. Cp. Psalms 18:2; Psalms 42:9. But facts seem to contradict faith, and the expostulation of Psa 42:9 is repeated in a stronger form: Why hast thou cast me off (Psalms 44:9; Psalms 44:23)? and in the next line a more emphatic form of the verb go is used, meaning go about by myself.

Read Cambridge on Psalms 43 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

For thou art the God of my strength - See Psalms 18:2, note; Psalms 28:7, note. Why dost thou cast me off? - As if I were none of thine; as if I were wholly abandoned. Compare the notes at Psalms 22:1.

Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 43 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

2. The God of my strength—The psalmist ascribes to God such appellative titles as befit his condition. He needed “strength,” and that belonged to God only. Why go I mourning—Why these delays of justice?

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Psalms 43 →

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

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

Modern formal

BSBBerean Standard Bible2020

For You are the God of my refuge. Why have You rejected me? Why must I walk in sorrow because of the enemy’s oppression?

WEBWorld English Bible2000

For you are the God of my strength. Why have you rejected me? Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

For You are the God of my refuge. Why have You rejected me? Why must I walk in sorrow because of the enemy’s oppression?

NETBNew English Translation2006

For you are the God who shelters me. Why do you reject me? Why must I walk around mourning because my enemies oppress me?

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

For thou art the God of my strength: why dost thou cast me off? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

For thou art the God of my strength; why hast thou cast me off? Why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?

RVARevised Version, American1894

For thou art the God of my strength; why hast thou cast me off? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?

NWBWebster's Bible1833

For thou art the God of my strength: why dost thou cast me off? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?

GNVGeneva Bible1599

For thou art the God of my strength: why hast thou put me away? why goe I so mourning, when the enemie oppresseth me?

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

For thou art the God of my strength: why hast thou cast me off? why go I about mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

For thou [art] the God of my strength. Why hast Thou cast me off? Why mourning do I go up and down, In the oppression of an enemy?

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

For you [are] the God of my strength. Why have You cast me off? Why do I go up and down mourning, || In the oppression of an enemy?

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

For thou art the God of my fortress: why hast thou abandoned me? why must I walk about grieved, under the oppression of the enemy?

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

For you are the God of my strength. Why have you rejected me? Why do I go about in mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

We have heard, O God, with our ears: our fathers have declared to us, The work, thou hast wrought in their days, and in the days of old.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

For you, God, are my protection—so why have you turned your back on me? Why must I go around weeping because of the attacks of my enemies?

BBEBible in Basic English1949

You are the God of my strength; why have you put me from you? why do I go in sorrow because of the attacks of my haters?

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.

כִּֽי(dm)clausesubjectאַתָּ֤הyounoun phrase · predicateאֱלֹהֵ֣י[are].the.Godnoun phraseמָֽעוּזִּmy.refugeי֮myclauseprepositional phrase · prepositionalלָמָ֪הwhy?verbזְנַ֫חְתָּ֥haveobjectנִיyou.rejected.meclauseprepositional phrase · prepositionalלָֽמָּהwhy?adverbialקֹדֵ֥רmourningverbאֶתְהַלֵּ֗ךְdo.I.go.aboutprepositional phrase · prepositionalבְּin.[the]noun phraseלַ֣חַץoppressionאוֹיֵֽבof.an.enemy

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 align closely in their wording for this verse, with the Septuagint providing a direct translation that maintains the original meaning. The Dead Sea Scrolls show some restoration but agree with the Masoretic Text's core message.

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

כִּֽי־ אַתָּ֤ה׀ אֱלֹהֵ֣י מָֽעוּזִּי֮ לָמָ֪ה זְנַ֫חְתָּ֥נִי לָֽמָּה־ קֹדֵ֥ר אֶתְהַלֵּ֗ךְ בְּלַ֣חַץ אוֹיֵֽב׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
כִּֽי־ὅτιאַתָּ֤ה׀σὺאֱלֹהֵ֣יθεόςמָֽעוּזִּי֮μουלָמָ֪הτίזְנַ֫חְתָּ֥נִיμεלָֽמָּה־τίקֹדֵ֥רσκυθρωπάζωνאֶתְהַלֵּ֗ךְπορεύομαιבְּלַ֣חַץἐνאוֹיֵֽב׃ἐξθρόν

11 of the 11 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 — 11Q8a copy a thousand years older than the Leningrad Codex

כי [אתה] [אלוהי] [מעוז׳י] [למה] [זנחת׳ני] [למה] [קודר] אתהלך בלחץ [אויב]

1 word on the leather — 2 partly restored, 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 43:2כִּיforforכִּיאַתָּ֫הyouyouאַתָּ֫האֱלֹהִים[are] [the][are] [the] Godאֱלֹהִיםמָעוֹזrefuge myrefuge myמָעוֹזמָהwhy?why?מָהזָנַחhave you rehave you rejectזָנַחמָהwhy?why?מָהקָדַרmourningmourningקָדַרהָלַךְdo I go abodo I go aboutהָלַךְלַ֫חַץin [the] opin [the] oppresלַ֫חַץאָיַבan enemyan enemyאָיַבעָזַזbe strongbe strongעָזַזלָחַץto oppressto oppressלָחַץאֱלֹהַּgodgodאֱלֹהַּהָלַךְto walkto walkהָלַךְאָיַבbe hostilebe hostileאָיַבכָּ֫כָהthusthusכָּ֫כָהפָּעַלto workto workפָּעַליָדַעto knowto knowיָדַעיָרַשׁto possessto possess: posיָרַשׁאַחֵרanotheranotherאַחֵראֲרוֹןarkarkאֲרוֹןבַּצָּרָהdearthdearthבַּצָּרָהצוּרrockrockצוּרנֵ֫צַחperpetuityperpetuityנֵ֫צַחאָדוֹןLordLordאָדוֹןנֹ֫גַהּbrightnessbrightnessנֹ֫גַהּכּוֹכָבstarstarכּוֹכָבדֶּ֫רֶךְway: roadway: roadדֶּ֫רֶךְ
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 43:2

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

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

for you [are] [the] God of refuge my why? have you rejected me why? mourning do I go about in [the] oppression of an enemy
כִּֽי־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
Conj — Particle
HTc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

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

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

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
for you [are] [the] God of refuge my why? have you rejected me why? mourning do I go about in [the] oppression of an enemy
אַתָּ֤ה׀'a.Tah you H859 Pronoun
1,094× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
You is the translation of a Hebrew word used to address someone directly, like when God says you to someone in the Bible. It can be singular or plural, and is often translated as thee, thou, or ye.
Amplified meaning
the God of my strength
Tyndale gloss
you(m.s.)
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אַתָּ֫ה (attah) is a second-person pronoun in Hebrew, used to address someone directly. It has masculine and feminine forms: אַתָּה for singular masculine, אַתְּ for singular feminine, אַתֶּם for plural masculine, and אַתֵּן for plural feminine. The entries indicate variations in form and usage, reflecting the pronoun's grammatical complexity.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אַתָּ֫ה, אָ֑תָּה pron. 2 s. m. thou

base

אתי, i.e. אתִּי, the older & more original form of אַתְּ thou (fem.)

base

אַתְּ, אָ֑תְּ pron. 2 s. f. thou (fem.)

base

אַתֶּם pron. 2 m. pl. you (masc.)

base

אַתֵּן pron. 2 f. pl. you (fem.)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H859a אַתָּ֫ה, אָ֑תָּה pron. 2 s. m. thou H859b אתי, i.e. אתִּי, the older & more original form of אַתְּ thou (fem.) H859c אַתְּ, אָ֑תְּ pron. 2 s. f. thou (fem.) H859d אַתֶּם pron. 2 m. pl. you (masc.) H859e אַתֵּן pron. 2 f. pl. you (fem.)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

859 'attah at-taw'

or (shortened); aatta {at-taw'}; or wath {ath}; feminine

(irregular) sometimes nattiy {at-tee'}; plural masculine attem

{at- tem'}; feminine atten {at-ten'}; or oattenah

{at-tay'naw}; or fattennah {at-tane'-naw}; a primitive pronoun

of the second person; thou and thee, or (plural) ye and

you:--thee, thou, ye, you.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אַתָּ֫ה (at.tah) — you(m.s.).

you (second pers. sing. masc.)

אתִּי (ti) — you(f.s.).

you (second pers. sing. fem.)

A grammatical form of at.tah (אַתָּ֫ה "you(m.s.)" H0859A)

אַתְּ (at.te) — you(f.s.).

you (second pers. sing. fem.)

A grammatical form of at.tah (אַתָּ֫ה "you(m.s.)" H0859A)

אַתֶּם (at.tem) — you(m.p.).

you (second pers. pl. masc.)

Aramaic equivalent: an.tun (אַנְתּוּן "you" H0608)

אַתֵּן (at.ten) — you(f.p.).

you (second pers. pl. fem.)

A grammatical form of at.tah (אַתָּ֫ה "you(m.s.)" H0859A)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Pron — Pronoun
HPp2ms
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
for you [are] [the] God of refuge my why? have you rejected me why? mourning do I go about in [the] oppression of an enemy
אֱלֹהֵ֣י'e.lo.Hei [are] [the] God of H430 Noun common · masculine plural construct
2,603× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for God, elohim, refers to the one supreme God, and is sometimes used to show respect to judges or magistrates. It is also used to describe angels or mighty beings. This word is closely related to the name of the Lord, Yahweh, and is often translated as God or gods in the Bible.
Amplified meaning
Elohim, the one supreme God
Tyndale gloss
God
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אֱלֹהִים (elohiym) is a plural noun meaning 'gods' or 'God,' often referring to the supreme deity in the Old Testament. It encompasses divine beings, rulers, and judges, reflecting divine majesty and power. The term can also denote angels and is used in a superlative sense. Notably, it is sometimes combined with יהוה (YHWH), the personal name of God.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֱלֹהִים 2570 n.m.pl.

pl. in number.

rulers, judges, either as divine representatives at sacred places or as reflecting divine majesty and power

divine ones, superhuman beings including God and angels

angels

gods

pl. intensive

god or goddess

godlike one

works of God, or things belongng to him

God

הָאֱלֹהִים the (true) God

אֱלֹהִים = God

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H430 אֱלֹהִים n. m. pl. . pl. in number. . rulers, judges, either asdivine representatives at sacred places or as reflecting divine majesty and power

. divine ones, superhuman beings including God and angels

. angels

. gods

. pl. intensive . god or goddess

. godlike one

. works of God, or things belongng to him

. God

. הָאֱלֹהִים the (true) God

. אֱלֹהִים = God

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

430 'elohiym el-o-heem'

plural of 433; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically

used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the

supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to

magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative:--angels, X

exceeding, God (gods)(-dess, -ly), X (very) great, judges, X

mighty.

see HEBREW for 0433

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֱלֹהִים (e.lo.him) — God.

This name means "gods" (plural intensive-singular meaning), "God"

Another name of ye.ho.vah (יהוה "LORD" H3068G)

אֱלֹהִים (e.lo.him) — (LORD)-Elohe.

Combined with ye.ho.vah (יהוה "LORD" H3068)

אֱלֹהִים (e.lo.him) — (Gibeath)-elohim.

Combined with giv.ah (גִּבְעָה "Gibeath" H1389)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-mp — Noun common · masculine plural construct
HNcmpc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ov:

(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.

English usagewhat the translators’ English meant
Webster's Dictionary (1828), Webster's Unabridged (1913), Webster's Dictionary (1806)

OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]

1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.

I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.

For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.

It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.

Lamentations 3:1.

The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.

Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.

That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.

Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…

for you [are] [the] God of refuge my why? have you rejected me why? mourning do I go about in [the] oppression of an enemy
מָֽעוּזִּי֮ma.'u.Zi refuge my H4581 Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
36× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A fortified place or stronghold, like a rock or harbor, providing safety and protection, is what this Hebrew word represents.
Amplified meaning
security, a fortified place
Tyndale gloss
security
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מָעוֹז (ma`owz) refers to a place or means of safety and protection, often implying a stronghold or refuge. It can denote both a physical fortified place and a figurative sense of security, such as divine protection. The term is built from the root associated with strength and fortification.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מָעוֹז n.m. place or means of safety, protection

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4581 מָעוֹז place or means of safety, protection

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4581 ma`owz maw-oze'

(also mauwz {maw-ooz'}); or mahoz {maw-oze'} (also ma,uz

{maw-ooz'}; from 5810; a fortified place; figuratively, a

defence:--force, fort(-ress), rock, strength(-en), (X most)

strong (hold).

see HEBREW for 05810

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מָעוֹז (ma.oz) — security.

1) place or means of safety, protection, refuge, stronghold

1a) place of safety, fastness, harbour, stronghold

1b) refuge (of God) (fig.)

1c) human protection (fig.)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
HNcmsc/Sp1bs
for you [are] [the] God of refuge my why? have you rejected me why? mourning do I go about in [the] oppression of an enemy
לָמָ֪הla.Mah why? H4100 Preposition · pronoun
753× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means what or how, often used to ask questions or express surprise, like in Genesis when God asks Adam what he has done. It can also mean why or when, and is used in various ways throughout the Old Testament. It appears in many KJV translations, including how or what.
Amplified meaning
what or how
Tyndale gloss
what?
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מָה (mah) is a Hebrew word primarily used as an interrogative particle meaning 'what?' or 'how?'. It can also function as an indefinite pronoun, encompassing meanings like 'anything' or 'whatever'. The word is versatile, appearing in various adverbial forms and often used with prefixes to express different nuances, such as reason or manner.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מָה, rarely מָה־, מַה־, מַה‍ּ, מֶה, מַ‍ּ, מָ—pron.interrog. and indef. what? how? aught

interrog. what?

Used adverbially

Indef. pron.

With preps.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4100 מָה, rarely מָה־, מַה־, מַה‍ּ, מֶה, מַ‍ּ, מָ—pron. interrog. and indef. what? how? aught . interrog. what?

. Used adverbially

. Indef. pron.

. With preps.

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4100 mah maw

or mah {mah}; or ma {maw}; or ma {mah}; also meh {meh}; a

primitive particle; properly, interrogative what? (including

how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including

how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and even

relatively, that which); often used with prefixes in various

adverbial or conjunctive senses:--how (long, oft, (-

soever)), (no-)thing, what (end, good, purpose, thing),

whereby(-fore, -in, -to, -with), (for) why.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מָה (mah) — what?.

interr pron

1) what, how, of what kind

1a) (interrogative)

1a1) what?

1a2) of what kind

1a3) what? (rhetorical)

1a4) whatsoever, whatever, what

1b) (adverb)

1b1) how, how now

1b2) why

1b3) how! (exclamation)

1c) (with prep)

1c1) wherein?, whereby?, wherewith?, by what means?

1c2) because of what?

1c3) the like of what?

1c3a) how much?, how many?, how often?

1c3b) for how long?

1c4) for what reason?, why?, to what purpose?

1c5) until when?, how long?, upon what?, wherefore?

indef pron

2) anything, aught, what may

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | Part — Preposition · pronoun
HR/Pi
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
for you [are] [the] God of refuge my why? have you rejected me why? mourning do I go about in [the] oppression of an enemy
זְנַ֫חְתָּ֥נִיze.Nach.Ta.ni have you rejected me H2186 Verb qal perfect second person masculine singular · suffix
20× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To stink or be rejected is the meaning of this Hebrew word. It's used in the Bible to describe something that's disgusting or unwanted, like in the book of Psalm 38:5. The KJV translates it as 'cast away' or 'remove far away'.
Amplified meaning
cast me off, abandoned
Tyndale gloss
to reject
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

זָנַח (zanach) is a Hebrew verb that primarily means to reject or spurn, with nuances of casting off or forsaking. It also has a secondary meaning related to emitting a stench, as noted in Isaiah 19:6. The word is built from a primitive root, indicating a strong sense of pushing aside or removing.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

זָנַח vb. reject, spurn

Qal reject

Hiph. (late) reject

base

[זָנַח] stink, emit stench;—only Hiph. Is 19:6

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2186a זָנַח reject, spurn H2186b זָנַח stink, emit stench

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2186 zanach zaw-nakh'

a primitive root meaning to push aside, i.e. reject, forsake,

fail:--cast away (off), remove far away (off).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

זָנַח (za.nach) — to reject.

1) to cast off, reject, spurn

1a) (Qal) to reject

1b) (Hiphil) to forcefully reject someone

זָנַח (za.nach) — to stink.

1) to stink, emit stench, become odious

1a) (Hiphil) stink (perfect)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Perf-2ms | Suff — Verb qal perfect second person masculine singular · suffix
HVqp2ms/Sp1bs
for you [are] [the] God of refuge my why? have you rejected me why? mourning do I go about in [the] oppression of an enemy
לָֽמָּה־la.mah- why? H4100 Preposition · pronoun
753× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means what or how, often used to ask questions or express surprise, like in Genesis when God asks Adam what he has done. It can also mean why or when, and is used in various ways throughout the Old Testament. It appears in many KJV translations, including how or what.
Amplified meaning
what or how
Tyndale gloss
what?
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מָה (mah) is a Hebrew word primarily used as an interrogative particle meaning 'what?' or 'how?'. It can also function as an indefinite pronoun, encompassing meanings like 'anything' or 'whatever'. The word is versatile, appearing in various adverbial forms and often used with prefixes to express different nuances, such as reason or manner.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מָה, rarely מָה־, מַה־, מַה‍ּ, מֶה, מַ‍ּ, מָ—pron.interrog. and indef. what? how? aught

interrog. what?

Used adverbially

Indef. pron.

With preps.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4100 מָה, rarely מָה־, מַה־, מַה‍ּ, מֶה, מַ‍ּ, מָ—pron. interrog. and indef. what? how? aught . interrog. what?

. Used adverbially

. Indef. pron.

. With preps.

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4100 mah maw

or mah {mah}; or ma {maw}; or ma {mah}; also meh {meh}; a

primitive particle; properly, interrogative what? (including

how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including

how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and even

relatively, that which); often used with prefixes in various

adverbial or conjunctive senses:--how (long, oft, (-

soever)), (no-)thing, what (end, good, purpose, thing),

whereby(-fore, -in, -to, -with), (for) why.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מָה (mah) — what?.

interr pron

1) what, how, of what kind

1a) (interrogative)

1a1) what?

1a2) of what kind

1a3) what? (rhetorical)

1a4) whatsoever, whatever, what

1b) (adverb)

1b1) how, how now

1b2) why

1b3) how! (exclamation)

1c) (with prep)

1c1) wherein?, whereby?, wherewith?, by what means?

1c2) because of what?

1c3) the like of what?

1c3a) how much?, how many?, how often?

1c3b) for how long?

1c4) for what reason?, why?, to what purpose?

1c5) until when?, how long?, upon what?, wherefore?

indef pron

2) anything, aught, what may

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | Part — Preposition · pronoun
HR/Pi
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
for you [are] [the] God of refuge my why? have you rejected me why? mourning do I go about in [the] oppression of an enemy
קֹדֵ֥רko.Der mourning H6937 Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine singular
17× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to be dark or mournful, often describing someone wearing dark clothes to show sadness. It appears in various forms, like being dark or causing darkness. In the Bible, it's used to describe mourning or being gloomy.
Amplified meaning
mourning, darkness
Tyndale gloss
be dark
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

קָדַר (qadar) is a Hebrew root meaning to be dark or ashy, often associated with mourning. It covers various forms, including the act of darkening or causing to mourn. The entries indicate uses in different stems, such as Qal for being dark and Hiphil for causing mourning. There is no significant disagreement among the lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

קָדַר vb. be dark (dull-coloured, cf. Ar. Arabic be dirty)

Qal be dark

Hiph.

darken

cause to mourn

Hithp. and the heavens grew dark with clouds.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6937 קָדַר

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6937 qadar kaw-dar'

a primitive root; to be ashy, i.e. dark-colored; by

implication, to mourn (in sackcloth or sordid garments):--be

black(-ish), be (make) dark(-en), X heavily, (cause to) mourn.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

קָדַר (qa.dar) — be dark.

1) to mourn, be dark

1a) (Qal) to be dark

1b) (Hiphil)

1b1) to darken

1b2) to cause to mourn

1c) (Hithpael) to grow dark

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal — Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine singular
HVqrmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

morn'-ing.

See BURIAL; GRIEF.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

One marked feature of Oriental mourning is what may be called its studies publicity and the careful observance of the prescribed ceremonies. (Genesis 23:2; Job 1:20; 2:12) Among the particular forms observed the following may be mentioned: (a) Rending the clothes. (Genesis 37:29,34; 44:13) etc. (b) Dressing in sackcloth. (Genesis 37:34; 2 Samuel 3:31; 21:10) etc. (c) Ashes, dust or earth sprinkled on the person. (2 Samuel 13:19; 15:32) etc. (d) Black or sad-colored garments. (2 Samuel 14:2;

The Hebrews, at the death of their friends and relations, made striking demonstrations of grief and mourning. They wept, tore their clothes, smote their breasts, threw dust upon their heads, Jos 7:6, and lay upon the ground, went barefooted, pulled their hair and beards, or cut them, Ezr 9:3 Isa 15:2, and made incisions on their breasts, or tore them with their nails, Le 19:28 21:5 Jer 16:6 48:37. The time of mourning was commonly seven days, 1Sa 31:11-13; but it was lengthened or shortened according to circumstances,

→ For the dead

Head uncovered Le 10:6; 21:10

Lying on the ground 2Sa 12:16

Personal appearance neglected 2Sa 14:2

Cutting the flesh Le 19:28; 21:1-5; De 14:1; Jer 16:6,7; 41:5

for you [are] [the] God of refuge my why? have you rejected me why? mourning do I go about in [the] oppression of an enemy
אֶתְהַלֵּ֗ךְ'et.ha.Lekh do I go about H1980 Verb · Hithpael · imperfect first person common singular
1,549× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Means to walk or go, used in many different contexts in the Bible. It can describe physical movement, but also spiritual or emotional journeys. Appears in various forms, such as 'to go' or 'to walk'.
Amplified meaning
go, move
Tyndale gloss
to go: walk
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

הָלַךְ (halak) means 'to go,' 'come,' or 'walk,' and covers a wide range of literal and figurative uses, including aspects of life and death. It can describe physical movement, moral conduct, and even influence on character. The verb appears in various forms, such as Qal, Piel, and Hithpael, indicating different nuances like leading or traversing.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

הָלַךְ 1546 vb. go, come, walk

Qal Impf. usually (629 t.) as if from ילך

lit.

of persons

Also of animals, in similar meanings and combinations

in like manner of inanimate things

The inf. abs. is often used

as in other vbs., quite independently

to intensify meaning of finite form

most noteworthy is the joining of the Inf. abs.

with a following Inf. abs. denoting a simutaneous action or process, and so emphasizing duration or continuance

with a foll. vb. fin. c. ו consec. (rare)

in cases where vb. fin. is foll. by Inf. abs. adj. denoting progress, advance

twice, where vb. fin. is not הלך, but another vb. denoting motion

quite by itself

13 t. the Inf. abs. = Imv. & is followed by Pf. consec.

akin to the use of Inf. abs. are some instances of Pt.

In combination with other verbal forms

Fig.; the most common uses follow; in most the origin in a literal meaning is evident:

pass away, die

Read the full entry →
Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1980 הָלַךְ go, come, walk .Impf. usually (629 t.) as if from ילך . lit. . of persons

. Also of animals, in similar meanings and combinations

. in like manner of inanimate things

. The inf. abs. is often used . as in other vbs., quite independently

. to intensify meaning of finite form

. most noteworthy is the joining of the Inf. abs. . with a following Inf. abs. denoting a simutaneous action or process, and so emphasizing duration or continuance

. with a foll. vb. fin. c. ו consec. (rare)

. in cases where vb. fin. is foll. by Inf. abs. + adj. denoting progress, advance

. twice, where vb. fin. is not הלך, but another vb. denoting motion

. quite by itself

. 13 t. the Inf. abs. = Imv. & is followed by Pf. consec.

. akin to the use of Inf. abs. are some instances of Pt.

. In combination with other verbal forms

Read the full entry →
Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1980 halak haw-lak'

akin to 3212; a primitive root; to walk (in a great variety

of applications, literally and figuratively):--(all) along,

apace, behave (self), come, (on) continually, be conversant,

depart, + be eased, enter, exercise (self), + follow, forth,

forward, get, go (about, abroad, along, away, forward, on,

out, up and down), + greater, grow, be wont to haunt, lead,

march, X more and more, move (self), needs, on, pass (away),

be at the point, quite, run (along), + send, speedily, spread,

still, surely, + tale-bearer, + travel(-ler), walk (abroad,

on, to and fro, up and down, to places), wander, wax,

(way-)faring man, X be weak, whirl.

see HEBREW for 03212

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

הָלַךְ (ha.lakh) — to go: went.

: went/go[away]

1) to go, walk, come

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to go, walk, come, depart, proceed, move, go away

1a2) to die, live, manner of life (fig.)

1b) (Piel)

1b1) to walk

1b2) to walk (fig.)

1c) (Hithpael)

1c1) to traverse

1c2) to walk about

1d) (Niphal) to lead, bring, lead away, carry, cause to walk

הָלַךְ (ha.lakh) — to go: come.

: come[nearer]

1) to go, walk, come

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to go, walk, come, depart, proceed, move, go away

1a2) to die, live, manner of life (fig.)

1b) (Piel)

1b1) to walk

1b2) to walk (fig.)

1c) (Hithpael)

1c1) to traverse

1c2) to walk about

1d) (Niphal) to lead, bring, lead away, carry, cause to walk

הָלַךְ (ha.lakh) — to go: walk.

: walk/move

1) to go, walk, come

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to go, walk, come, depart, proceed, move, go away

1a2) to die, live, manner of life (fig.)

1b) (Piel)

1b1) to walk

1b2) to walk (fig.)

1c) (Hithpael)

1c1) to traverse

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Hithpael-Imperf-1cs — Verb · Hithpael · imperfect first person common singular
HVti1cs
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

a-bout': The use of this word as a preposition, in the sense of "around," is confined to the Old Testament. In the New Testament, generally an adverb, for Greek hos or "hosei." The Revised Version (British and American) adopts it in several idiomatic translations of mello, referring to what is about to be, i.e. on the point of occurring, or immediately impending, amending the King James Version, in Ac 5:35; 27:2; Re 12:4, etc.

for you [are] [the] God of refuge my why? have you rejected me why? mourning do I go about in [the] oppression of an enemy
בְּלַ֣חַץbe.La.chatz in [the] oppression of H3906 Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct
12× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Oppression is when someone is treated unfairly or cruelly, often by those in power. It can cause distress and suffering for the person being oppressed.
Amplified meaning
cruel treatment, distress
Tyndale gloss
oppression
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

לַ֫חַץ (lachats) refers to oppression or distress, indicating a sense of pressure or affliction. It is derived from the root word לַחַץ (H3905), which also relates to distress. The entries consistently emphasize its meaning related to suffering or hardship.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

לַ֫חַץ n.m. oppression, distress

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3906 לַ֫חַץ oppression, distress

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3906 lachats lakh'-ats

from 3905; distress:--affliction, oppression.

see HEBREW for 03905

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

לַ֫חַץ (la.chats) — oppression.

oppression, distress, pressure

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct
HR/Ncmsc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ov:

(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.

English usagewhat the translators’ English meant
Webster's Dictionary (1828), Webster's Unabridged (1913), Webster's Dictionary (1806)

OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]

1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.

I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.

For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.

It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.

Lamentations 3:1.

The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.

Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.

That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.

Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…

for you [are] [the] God of refuge my why? have you rejected me why? mourning do I go about in [the] oppression of an enemy
אוֹיֵֽב׃'o.Yev an enemy H341 Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine singular
283× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means enemy or adversary, referring to someone who hates or opposes another person or nation. It is used to describe personal or national enemies in the Bible.
Amplified meaning
adversary, one who opposes
Tyndale gloss
enemy
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אֹיֵב (oyeb) means 'enemy' or 'foe,' indicating hostility. It can refer to personal or national adversaries. The word is derived from the active participle of another root, אָיַב (ayab), which also conveys the sense of being hostile.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[אָיַב] 283 vb. be hostile to (enemy = אֹיֵב)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H341 אָיַב be hostile to (enemy = אֹיֵב)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

341 'oyeb o-yabe'

or (fully) owyeb {o-yabe'}; active participle of 340;

hating; an adversary:--enemy, foe.

see HEBREW for 0340

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֹיֵב (o.yev) — enemy.

1) (Qal) enemy

1a) personal

1b) national

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal — Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine singular
HVqrmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

en'-e-mi ('oyebh, tsar, tsar; echthros):

"Enemy," "enemies," are frequent words in the Old Testament. The Hebrew word most often so translated is 'oyebh, meaning perhaps literally, "one who hates"; very frequent in the Psalms, eg. 3:7; 6:10; 7:5; 8:2; 9:3,1; 13:2, where the cry is often for deliverance from enemies. Another word for "enemy," found chiefly in the poetical books, is tsar, or tsar, "distresser," "straitener" (Nu 10:9; Job 16:9; Ps 27:2,12, the Revised Version (British and American) "adversary," etc.); also tsarar (Es 3:10; Ps 8:2; 10:5 the King James Version, etc.). Other words are `ar, "one awake" (

Nave's Topical Bible

→ General scriptures concerning Ex 23:5; Job 31:29,30; Ps 35:1-28; Pr 24:17,18; 25:21,22; Mt 5:43-48; Lu 6:27-36; Ro 12:14,20

→ The wickedness of David's Ps 56:5; 57:4,6; 62:4; 69:4,9; 71:10; 102:8; 109:2-5; 129:1-3

→ His imprecations against

See PRAYER, IMPRECATORY

→ Instances of forgiveness of

David, of Absalom, and co-conspirators 2Sa 19:6,12,13

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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