Psalms 44:25 — Word Study
WLCכִּ֤י שָׁ֣חָה לֶעָפָ֣ר נַפְשֵׁ֑נוּ דָּבְקָ֖ה לָאָ֣רֶץ בִּטְנֵֽנוּ׃
BSAwhat?mâh facepânîym to hideçâthar to forgetshâkach afflictionʻŏnîy oppressionlachats
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| כִּ֤י | for | Particle |
| שָׁ֣חָה | it has sunk down | Verb, Qal, perfect third person feminine singular |
| לֶעָפָ֣ר | to the dust | Preposition, noun common masculine singular absolute |
| נַפְשֵׁ֑נוּ | self our | Noun common feminine singular construct, suffix |
| דָּבְקָ֖ה | it has clung | Verb, Qal, perfect third person feminine singular |
| לָאָ֣רֶץ | to the earth | Preposition, noun common feminine singular absolute |
| בִּטְנֵֽנוּ׃ | belly our | Noun common feminine singular construct, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | For our soul has sunk to the dust; our bodies cling to the earth. |
| KJV | For our soul is bowed down to the dust: our belly cleaveth unto the earth. |
| ASV | For our soul is bowed down to the dust: Our body cleaveth unto the earth. |
| YLT | For bowed to the dust hath our soul, Cleaved to the earth hath our belly. |
| WEB | For our soul is bowed down to the dust. Our body clings to the earth. |
| BBE | For our souls are crushed down to the dust: our bodies are stretched out on the earth. |
The translations agree on the essence of the verse, emphasizing the state of despair experienced by the psalmist.
The verse consists of two main clauses linked by a conjunction, with additional phrases providing context for each action.
7 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbמָה
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
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 44:25
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 — The Lament of the Peoplegenerated
Psalm 44:25 captures a moment of profound sorrow where the psalmist articulates the depths of despair felt by the people. They feel as if their very being has been reduced to dust, indicating a sense of hopelessness and abandonment. This verse is part of a larger lament where the people cry out to God, seeking His intervention and help, as seen in the surrounding verses that express their distress and longing for redemption.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalm 66:11–12 | You led us into the net; You laid burdens on our backs. |
| 2 | Psalm 119:25 | My soul cleaves to the dust; revive me according to Your word. |
| 3 | Isaiah 51:23 | I will place it in the hands of your tormentors, who told you: ‘Lie down, so we can walk over you,’ so that you made your back like the ground, like a street to be traversed.” |
| 4 | Lamentations 4:5 | Those who once ate delicacies are destitute in the streets; those brought up in crimson huddle in ash heaps. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 4 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — שָׁחָה, Sha.chahgenerated
The verb שָׁחָה (Sha.chah) means 'to sink' and conveys a sense of being brought low, whether physically or emotionally. It is a Qal perfect form, indicating a completed action, specifically that the soul has already sunk down. This word paints a vivid picture of humility and despair, as it describes the state of the soul in relation to its surroundings.
In this context, the sinking refers to a feeling of being crushed under the weight of suffering, emphasizing the emotional and spiritual state of the speaker. The use of this verb highlights the depth of their anguish and the urgency of their plea for divine assistance.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses sunk for שָׁחָה.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The verse contains two main verbs: שָׁחָה (it has sunk) and דָּבְקָה (it has clung), which form the core of the sentence. The structure indicates a parallelism in the expressions of despair regarding the soul and the body.
The order of the phrases emphasizes the connection between the soul's sinking and the body's clinging, creating a poignant image of totality in their suffering.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates שָׁחָה with the Greek word τί, which means 'why.' This choice indicates a shift from the action of sinking to a question of reason, reflecting the lament's tone of questioning God's silence.
This translation choice highlights a broader interpretative approach, where the emotional state of the psalmist is expressed not just through the action but through an inquiry into the cause of their plight.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Psalm 44:25 expresses a deep sense of despair, where the psalmist feels that their soul has sunk to the dust and their bodies cling to the earth. This verse reflects a moment of collective sorrow, as the people cry out for God's help and intervention in their suffering.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It signifies a deep emotional and spiritual despair, indicating that the psalmist feels crushed and hopeless.
This imagery suggests a physical manifestation of their despair, as if they are unable to rise from their lowly state.
Dust represents humility, mortality, and the depths of despair, emphasizing the psalmist's feelings of being low and forgotten.
It is part of a lament where the psalmist expresses the collective suffering of the people, seeking God's intervention and help.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways have I experienced feelings of despair or hopelessness in my own life?
- How can I find comfort in knowing that I am not alone in my struggles, as reflected in this psalm?
- What steps can I take to seek help and support when I feel overwhelmed?
- How does this verse encourage me to express my feelings to God in prayer?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
The verse has been referenced by early church fathers, who reflect on its themes of despair and divine intervention, illustrating its enduring relevance.
"For our soul is bowed down to the dust" [Psalms 44:25]. Where is it bowed down? "To the dust:" i.e. dust persecutes us.Early Church Fathers on Psalms 44 →
Commentators on this verse — 7 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Psalms 44:25 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleFor our soul is bowed down to the dust,.... Which may signify great declension in spiritual things, much dejection of mind, and little exercise of grace, Psalms 119:25; or a very low estate in
Read John Gill on Psalms 44 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryFor our soul is bowed down to the dust: our belly cleaveth unto the earth.
Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 44 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleOur soul, i.e. either our lives or persons; or rather bodies, as it is explained in the next clause, and as the soul is oft taken by a synecdoche, as 106:15, &c. To the dust; either to the ground, where we lie prostrate at our enemies’ feet, or to the grave. Our belly cleaveth unto the earth; we are not only thrown down to the earth, but we lie there like dead carcasses fixed to it, without any ability or hope of rising again.
Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 44 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsPsalms 44:25 For our soul is bowed down to the dust: our belly cleaveth unto the earth.Ver. 25. For our soul, &c.] Soul and belly (or body), both are oppressed, and lie suppliant at God’ s feet; resolved there to live and die together.
Read John Trapp on Psalms 44 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 25. Our soul is bowed down] Our life is drawing near to the grave. If thou delay to help us, we shall become extinct.
Read AdamClarke on Psalms 44 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges25. We lie utterly prostrate, crushed and helpless. Cp. Psalms 119:25.
Read Cambridge on Psalms 44 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleFor our soul is bowed down to the dust - That is, We are overborne with calamity, so that we sink to the earth. The expression is one that denotes great affliction.
Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 44 →The verse in English, compared — 16 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
For our soul has sunk to the dust; our bodies cling to the earth.
For our soul is bowed down to the dust. Our body clings to the earth.
For our soul has sunk to the dust; our bodies cling to the earth.
For we lie in the dirt, with our bellies pressed to the ground.
Tyndale line
For our soul is bowed down to the dust: our belly cleaveth unto the earth.
For our soul is bowed down to the dust: Our body cleaveth unto the earth.
For our soul is bowed down to the dust: our belly cleaveth unto the earth.
For our soul is bowed down to the dust: our belly cleaveth to the earth.
For our soule is beaten downe vnto the dust: our belly cleaueth vnto the ground.
Strictly literal
For our soul is bowed down to the dust; our belly cleaveth unto the earth.
For bowed to the dust hath our soul, Cleaved to the earth hath our belly.
For our soul has bowed to the dust, || Our belly has cleaved to the earth.
(44:26) For our soul is bowed down to the dust; our body cleaveth unto the earth.
For we have melted away into the dust; our bodies cling to the earth.
Simplified
We lie ruined in the dust, our bodies facedown in the dirt.
For our souls are crushed down to the dust: our bodies are stretched out on the earth.
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.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text presents the verse as כִּ֤י שָׁ֣חָה לֶעָפָ֣ר נַפְשֵׁ֑נוּ דָּבְקָ֖ה לָאָ֣רֶץ בִּטְנֵֽנוּ׃, while the Septuagint matches six of the seven words. The Dead Sea Scrolls fragment contains parts of the verse, indicating a degree of textual consistency across these sources.
כִּ֤י שָׁ֣חָה לֶעָפָ֣ר נַפְשֵׁ֑נוּ דָּבְקָ֖ה לָאָ֣רֶץ בִּטְנֵֽנוּ׃
6 of the 7 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
[למה] [פני׳ך] תסתיר תשכח [עני׳נו] [ולחצ׳נו]
6 words of the verse are on this fragment — 2 partly restored, 4 supplied entire by an editor.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Psalms 44:25
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.
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.'
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
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
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.
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)
HTc — ParticleHTc
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…
שׁוּחַ (shuwach) is a Hebrew verb meaning to sink down, which can refer to a physical act of bowing or a figurative sense of humility or mental depression. It appears in various forms, including Qal and Hiphil, indicating different nuances of the action. The entries do not present any significant disagreement.
[שׁוּחַ] vb. sink down
Qal
Hiph.
Hithp.
base
H7743 שׁוּחַ
7743 shuwach shoo'-akh
a primitive root; to sink, literally or figuratively:--bow
down, incline, humble.
שׁוּחַ (shu.ach) — to sink.
1) to sink down, be bowed down, be humble
1a) (Qal) to sink down
1b) (Hiphil) of depression of the mind
HVqp3fs — Verb · Qal · perfect third person feminine singularHVqp3fs
עָפָר (aphar) refers to dry earth or dust, encompassing meanings such as powder, ashes, and rubbish. It is derived from a root meaning to be dry and is used in various contexts, including clay and mortar. The entries consistently highlight its association with loose earth and debris.
עָפָר n.m. dry earth, dust
base
H6083 עָפָר dry earth, dust
6083 `aphar aw-fawr'
from 6080; dust (as powdered or gray); hence, clay, earth,
mud:--ashes, dust, earth, ground, morter, powder, rubbish.
see HEBREW for 06080
עָפָר (a.phar) — dust.
1) dry earth, dust, powder, ashes, earth, ground, mortar, rubbish
1a) dry or loose earth
1b) debris
1c) mortar
1d) ore
HRd/Ncmsa — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absoluteHRd/Ncmsa
dust (`aphar; koniortos, chous): Small particles of earth. The word has several figurative and symbolic meanings:
(1) Dust being the material out of which God is said to have formed man (Ge 2:7), it became a symbol of man's frailty (Ps 103:14, "For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust"; compare Ge 18:27; Job 4:19, etc.), and of his mortality (Ge 3:19, "Dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return"; compare Job 34:15; Ps 104:29; Ec 3:20…
Dust
Storms of sand and dust sometimes overtake Eastern travellers. They are very dreadful, many perishing under them. Jehovah threatens to bring on the land of Israel, as a punishment for forsaking him, a rain of “powder and dust” (Deut. 28:24).
To cast dust on the head was a sign of mourning (Josh. 7:6); and to sit in dust, of extreme affliction (Isa. 47:1). “Dust” is used to denote the grave (Job 7:21). “To shake off the dust from one’s feet” against another is to renounce all future intercourse with him (Matt. 10:14; Acts 13:51). To “lick the dust” is a sign of…
[MOURNING]
Jos 7:6. Dust or ashes put upon the head was a sign of mourning; sitting in the dust, a sign of affliction, La 3:29 Isa 47:1. "Dust" is also put for the grave, Ge 3:19 Job 7:21. It signifies a multitude, Ge 13:16, and a low and mean condition, 1Sa 2:8. We have two remarkable instances of casting dust recorded in Scripture, and they seem to illustrate a practice common in Asia: those who demanded justice against a criminal were accustomed to throw dust upon him, signifying that he deserved to be cast into the grave.…
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.
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
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
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
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
HNcfsc/Sp1bp — Noun common feminine singular construct · suffixHNcfsc/Sp1bp
דָּבַק, transliterated as dabaq, is a Hebrew verb meaning to cling or cleave. It encompasses a range of actions such as adhering closely, pursuing, and being joined together. The word appears in various forms, including Qal, Pual, Hiphil, and Hophal, indicating different nuances of the action. Notably, it can describe both physical and metaphorical closeness.
דָּבַק, דָּבֵק vb. cling, cleave, keep close
Qal
cling, cleave to
cling, cleave to
Pu. of crocodile’s scales, they are joined together
Hiph.
cause to cling or cleave to
pursue closely
overtake
Hoph. and my tongue is made to cleave (to) my gums
base
H1692 דָּבַק, דָּבֵק cling, cleave, keep close
1692 dabaq daw-bak'
a primitive root; properly, to impinge, i.e. cling or adhere;
figuratively, to catch by pursuit:--abide fast, cleave (fast
together), follow close (hard after), be joined (together),
keep (fast), overtake, pursue hard, stick, take.
דָּבַק (da.vaq) — to cleave.
1) to cling, stick, stay close, cleave, keep close, stick to, stick with, follow closely, join to, overtake, catch
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to cling, cleave to
1a2) to stay with
1b) (Pual) to be joined together
1c) (Hiphil)
1c1) to cause to cleave to
1c2) to pursue closely
1c3) to overtake
1d) (Hophal) to be made to cleave
Aramaic equivalent: de.vaq (דְּבֵק "to cleave" H1693)
HVqp3fs — Verb · Qal · perfect third person feminine singularHVqp3fs
אֶ֫רֶץ (erets) is a feminine noun meaning 'earth' or 'land.' It encompasses various meanings, including the whole earth, specific territories like Canaan, and even inhabitants of the land. It can refer to soil, ground, or regions, and is used in phrases related to distance and the living. There is a note on the plural form אֲרָצוֹת, which mainly appears in later texts to denote multiple lands.
אֶ֫רֶץ n. f. & (seld.) m. earth, land
earth, whole earth (opp. to a part)
earth, opp. to heaven, sky
earth = inhabitants of earth
land =
country, territory
district, region
trial territory
piece of ground
specif. land of Canaan, or Israel
= inhabitants of land
used even of Shᵉʼôl
ground, surface of ground
soil, as productive
אֶרֶץ in phrases
people of the land
in measurements of distance
the country of the plain, level or plain country
land of the living
end(s) of the earth
pl. אֲרָצוֹת is almost wholly late; it denotes lands, countries, often in contrast to Canaan, lands of the nations, etc.
base
H776 אֶ֫רֶץ n. f. & (seld.) m. earth, land . . earth, whole earth (opp. to a part)
. earth, opp. to heaven, sky
. earth = inhabitants of earth
. land = . country, territory
. district, region
. trial territory
. piece of ground
. specif. land of Canaan, or Israel
. = inhabitants of land
. used even of Shᵉʼôl
. . ground, surface of ground
. soil, as productive
. אֶרֶץ in phrases . people of the land
. in measurements of distance
. the country of the plain, level or plain country
. land of the living
. end(s) of the earth
. pl. אֲרָצוֹת is almost wholly late; it denotes lands, countries, often in contrast to Canaan, lands of the nations, etc.
776 'erets eh'-rets
from an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth
(at large, or partitively a land):--X common, country, earth,
field, ground, land, X natins, way, + wilderness, world.
אֶ֫רֶץ (e.rets) — land: country/planet.
: country/field
1) land, earth
1a) earth
1a1) whole earth (as opposed to a part)
1a2) earth (as opposed to heaven)
1a3) earth (inhabitants)
1b) land
1b1) country, territory
1b2) district, region
1b3) tribal territory
1b4) piece of ground
1b5) land of Canaan, Israel
1b6) inhabitants of land
1b7) Sheol, land without return, (under) world
1b8) city (-state)
1c) ground, surface of the earth
1c1) ground
1c2) soil
1d) (in phrases)
1d1) people of the land
1d2) space or distance of country (in measurements of distance)
1d3) level or plain country
1d4) land of the living
1d5) end(s) of the earth
1e) (almost wholly late in usage)
1e1) lands, countries
1e1a) often in contrast to Canaan
אֶ֫רֶץ (e.rets) — land: soil.
: soil
1) land, earth
1a) earth
1a1) whole earth (as opposed to a part)
1a2) earth (as opposed to heaven)
1a3) earth (inhabitants)
1b) land
1b1) country, territory
HRd/Ncfsa — Preposition · noun common feminine singular absoluteHRd/Ncfsa
urth ('adhamah, 'erets, 'aphar; ge, oikoumene):
In a hilly limestone country like Palestine, the small amount of iron oxide in the rocks tends to be oxidized, and thereby to give a prevailing reddish color to the soil. This is especially the case on relatively barren hills where there is little organic matter present to prevent reddening and give a more blackish tinge.
'Adhamah (compare 'adham, "a man," and Adam) is from 'adham, "to be red," and is used in the senses: "earth" (Ex 20:24), "land" (Ps 105:35), a "land" or country (Isa 14:2), "ground" (Ge 4:11), "the earth" (Ge 7:4).
Earth
(1.) In the sense of soil or ground, the translation of the word adamah’. In Gen. 9:20 “husbandman” is literally “man of the ground or earth.” Altars were to be built of earth (Ex. 20:24). Naaman asked for two mules’ burden of earth (2 Kings 5:17), under the superstitious notion that Jehovah, like the gods of the heathen, could be acceptably worshipped only on his own soil.
(2). As the rendering of ’erets, it means the whole world (Gen. 1:2); the land as opposed to the sea (1:10). Erets also denotes a country (21:32); a plot of ground (23:15); the ground on which a man stands (33:3); the inhabitants of the earth (6:1; 11:1); all the world except Israel (
The term is used in two widely-different senses: (1) for the material of which the earth’s surface is composed; (2) as the name of the planet on which man dwells. The Hebrew language discriminates between these two by the use of separate terms, adamah for the former, erets for the latter. Adamah is the earth in the sense of soil or ground, particularly as being susceptible of cultivation. (Genesis 2:7) Erets is applied in a more or less extended sense-- (1) to the whole world, (Genesis 1:1) (2) to land as opposed to sea, (Genesis 1:10) (3) to a country, (Genesis 21:32) (4) to a plot of ground, (Genesis 23:15) and (5) to…
In both Hebrew and Greek the same word is used to denote the earth as a whole, and a particular land. Only the context can enable us to decide in which of these senses it is to be taken in a given passage.
Thus in Mt 27:45 we might, so far as the original word is concerned, render either "there was darkness over all the land," or over all the earth. The expression "all the earth" is sometimes used hyperbolically for a large portion of it, Ezr 1:2. The word is used of the whole world, etc. In a moral sense, earthly is opposed to what is heavenly, spiritual and holy, Joh 3:31 1Co 15:47 Col 3:2
The Hebrew word בֶּ֫טֶן (*beten*) primarily means 'belly,' 'body,' or 'womb.' It is derived from a root suggesting hollowness and encompasses various uses, including the physical abdomen and metaphorical meanings, such as the seat of hunger or mental faculties. The lexicons consistently highlight these aspects without significant disagreement.
בֶּ֫טֶן n.f. belly, body, womb
base
H990 בֶּ֫טֶן belly, body, womb
990 beten beh'-ten
from an unused root probably meaning to be hollow; the belly,
especially the womb; also the bosom or body of anything:--
belly, body, + as they be born, + within, womb.
בֶּ֫טֶן (be.ten) — belly: abdomen.
: abdomen
1) belly, womb, body
1a) belly, abdomen
1a1) as seat of hunger
1a2) as seat of mental faculties
1a3) of depth of Sheol (fig.)
1b) womb
בֶּ֫טֶן (be.ten) — belly: womb.
: womb/pregnancy
1) belly, womb, body
1a) belly, abdomen
1a1) as seat of hunger
1a2) as seat of mental faculties
1a3) of depth of Sheol (fig.)
1b) womb
בֶּ֫טֶן (be.ten) — belly: hump.
: hump
1) belly, womb, body
1a) belly, abdomen
1a1) as seat of hunger
1a2) as seat of mental faculties
1a3) of depth of Sheol (fig.)
1b) womb
בֶּ֫טֶן (be.ten) — belly: body.
: body
1) belly, womb, body
1a) belly, abdomen
1a1) as seat of hunger
1a2) as seat of mental faculties
1a3) of depth of Sheol (fig.)
1b) womb
HNcfsc/Sp1bp — Noun common feminine singular construct · suffixHNcfsc/Sp1bp