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Psalms 49:1 — Word Study

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WLCשִׁמְעוּ־ זֹ֭את כָּל־ הָֽעַמִּ֑ים הַ֝אֲזִ֗ינוּ כָּל־ יֹ֥שְׁבֵי חָֽלֶד׃

BSAFor the choirmasternâtsach A Psalmmizmôwr of the sonsbên of KorahQôrach

Word
Listen & take awayPsalms 49
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 1 opens the chapter.
Hebrew ↓ Download MP3 The Masoretic text of this chapter, read aloud. Read by Abraham Shmuelof, courtesy of Audio Scriptures International. Chapter divisions by the Academy of Ancient Languages..
Say the word Each Hebrew word carries its transliteration (Cha.led) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Psalms 49:1quick helps
In a sentenceThe psalmist calls all people to listen attentively to a significant message.
Who is speakingThe psalmist, addressing all nations and inhabitants of the earth.
Where we areThe opening of Psalm 49, which invites a wide audience to pay attention.
The hard wordשִׁמְעוּ
Take awayThe call to listen is urgent and inclusive, reaching all corners of the earth.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbלְ 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 49:1

Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.

Context — The Call to All Peoplesgenerated

1Hear this, all you peoples; listen, all inhabitants of the world,
2both low and high, rich and poor alike.
3My mouth will impart wisdom, and the meditation of my heart will bring understanding.
4I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will express my riddle with the harp:

Psalm 49:1 opens with a powerful invitation for all people to listen. The psalmist emphasizes the importance of the message by addressing both the high and low, rich and poor, as seen in verse 2. This psalm serves as a reminder that wisdom and understanding are meant for everyone, regardless of status or wealth, as elaborated in the following verses.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Psalm 46:1God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in times of trouble.
2Psalm 48:1Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, His holy mountain.
3Psalm 34:11Come, children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
4Psalm 78:1Give ear, O my people, to my instruction; listen to the words of my mouth.
5Proverbs 1:20–23Wisdom calls out in the street, she lifts her voice in the square;

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 14 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word שִׁמְעוּ, shim.'u-generated

The Hebrew word שָׁמַע (shama`) means 'to hear' and encompasses listening, obeying, and proclaiming. It is a command in the imperative form, urging the audience to pay attention and respond. This word is often used in contexts where God speaks to His people, highlighting the necessity of obedience and attentiveness to divine instruction.

In this verse, the imperative form indicates urgency and importance. The psalmist is not merely asking for passive hearing; he is calling for active listening that leads to understanding and action.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

All translations agree on the imperative nature of the call to listen, with the BSB, KJV, ASV, YLT, WEB, and BBE all rendering it similarly.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The verse consists of two main clauses, both beginning with imperatives: שִׁמְעוּ (hear) and הַ֝אֲזִ֗ינוּ (give ear). The structure emphasizes the urgency of the commands, inviting a response from all peoples and inhabitants. The Hebrew word order places the verbs at the forefront, highlighting their importance.

The two clauses are parallel, reinforcing the call to attention and the inclusivity of the audience. The repetition of כָּל־ (all) before both הָעַמִּ֑ים (the peoples) and יֹ֥שְׁבֵי (inhabitants) emphasizes that no one is excluded from this call.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates שִׁמְעוּ as εἰς (G1519), which suggests a directional focus on listening, implying that the audience should not only hear but also move towards understanding the message. This choice indicates an interpretive nuance, emphasizing the action of coming closer to the message being proclaimed.

The LXX captures the essence of the Hebrew call to listen, while also framing it within a Greek context that may resonate differently with its audience.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Psalm 49:1 starts with a call for all people to listen carefully. The psalmist emphasizes that everyone, regardless of status or wealth, should pay attention to the important message being shared. This sets the stage for the wisdom and understanding that follows in the psalm.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What is the significance of the call to listen in this psalm?

The call to listen emphasizes the importance of the message being delivered, urging all people to pay attention and reflect on the wisdom that follows.

Who is the intended audience of this psalm?

The psalm addresses all peoples and inhabitants of the earth, highlighting that the message is for everyone, regardless of their social or economic status.

How does this psalm relate to the themes of wisdom and understanding?

The psalmist indicates that the message will impart wisdom and understanding, which are essential for all who choose to listen and reflect on the teachings presented.

Why does the psalmist emphasize both the low and high?

By mentioning both low and high, the psalmist underscores the universality of the message, indicating that wisdom is available to all, regardless of their position in society.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what ways can I actively listen to messages of wisdom in my life?
  2. How can I share the importance of listening to others in my community?
  3. What does it mean to me that this call to listen is directed to all people?
  4. How can I apply the understanding gained from this psalm in my daily life?

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

Early Church Fathers have commented on this psalm, interpreting it as a call to all nations to heed God's message of salvation.

Basil of CaesareaHOMILIES ON THE Psalms 19:1 (Psalms 49) c. 330–379
He who is assembling and summoning all by the proclamation is the Paraclete, the Spirit of truth, who brings together through prophets and apostles those who are saved.… The sharing of the summons is a uniting in peace,
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 49 →
Ambrose of MilanCommentaries on the Twelve Davidic Psalms, On Psalms 49 c. 339–397
In the very beginning of this psalm we hear the voice of the Lord of salvation inviting the Gentiles into his church. He calls on them to renounce error, to follow truth, to fulfill the duties of love and adoration.
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 49 →
Augustine of HippoExposition on Psalms 49 354–430
..."Hear ye these things, all you nations" [Psalms 49:1]. Not then you only who are here.
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 49 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Psalms 49:1 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

Hear this,.... Not the law, as some Jewish writers (l) interpret it, which was not desirable to be heard by those that did hear it; it being a voice of wrath and terror, a cursing law, and a

Read John Gill on Psalms 49 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

Hear this, all ye people; give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world: The enigma solved, why the ungodly prosper while the godly are persecuted.

Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 49 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Psalms 49 THE This Psalm is penned upon the same occasion with Psalms 39 Psalms 73, to wit, upon the contemplation of the afflictions of God’ s people and of the prosperity and glory of ungodly men The design is to justify God’ s providence in this dark dispensation, and to show that, all things being considered, good men have no cause for immoderate dejection of spirit, nor wicked men for glorying in their present felicities. The psalmist having stirred up all men to attention, , showeth their vain trust in riches, ; and the contrary trust of the faithful in God, ; exhorteth them not to fear the prosperity of the wicked, for it cannot deliver him from the grave, . All ye people, Heb. all…

Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 49 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Psalms 49:1 « To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah. » Hear this, all [ye] people; give ear, all [ye] inhabitants of the world:Ver. 1. Hear this, all ye people] This that is of so great consequence and universal concernment, viz. that the saints should not be frighted nor perplexed at the present prosperity of graceless persons; but consider that death at utmost shall render them extremely miserable, and at the day of judgment men shall return and discern a manifest difference between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not, Malachi 3:18. Give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world] "Hear, and give ear; be not proud: for the Lord…

Read John Trapp on Psalms 49 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(1) Hear this.—For the opening address, comp. Deuteronomy 32:1; Micah 1:2; Psalms 50:7; Isaiah 1:2. World.—As in Psalms 17:14; properly, duration. (Comp. our expression, “the things of time.”)

Read Charles John Ellicott on Psalms 49 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

PSALM XLIX All men are invited to attend to lessons of wisdom relative to the insufficiency of earthly good to save or prolong life; to secure the resurrection frown the dead, 1-9. Death is inevitable, 10. The vain expectations of rich men, 11-13. Death renders all alike, 14. The psalmist encourages and fortifies himself against envying the apparently prosperous state of the wicked, who are brutish, and die like beasts, 15-20. NOTES ON PSALM XLIX The title, To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah, has nothing particular in it; and the Versions say little about it. One of the descendants of the children of Korah might have been the author of it; but when or on what occasion it…

Read AdamClarke on Psalms 49 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

1–4. A solemn introduction, addressed to men of every nation and every class, emphasising the importance of the Psalmist’s theme.

Read Cambridge on Psalms 49 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Hear this, all ye people - That is, What I am about; to utter is worthy of universal attention; it pertains equally to all mankind. The psalmist; therefore calls on all the nations to attend to what he is about to say.

Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 49 →

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

Hear this, all you peoples; listen, all inhabitants of the world,

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Hear this, all you peoples. Listen, all you inhabitants of the world,

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

For the choirmaster. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. Hear this, all you peoples; listen, all inhabitants of the world,

NETBNew English Translation2006

Listen to this, all you nations! Pay attention, all you inhabitants of the world!

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

Hear this, all ye people; give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world:

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

Hear this, all ye peoples; Give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world,

RVARevised Version, American1894

Hear this, all ye peoples; give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world:

NWBWebster's Bible1833

To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah. Hear this, all ye people; give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world:

GNVGeneva Bible1599

To him that excelleth. A Psalme committed to the sonnes of Korah. Heare this, all ye people: giue eare, all ye that dwell in the world,

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

Hear this, all ye peoples; give ear, all inhabitants of the world:

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

To the Overseer. — By sons of Korah. A Psalm. Hear this, all ye peoples, Give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

TO THE OVERSEER. A PSALM OF THE SONS OF KORAH. Hear this, all you peoples, || Give ear, all you inhabitants of the world.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

“To the chief musician, by the sons of Korach, a psalm.” (49:2) Hear this, all ye people; give ear, all ye inhabitants of the perishable world:

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Hear this, all you peoples; give ear, all you inhabitants of the world,

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

A psalm for Asaph. The God of gods, the Lord hath spoken: and he hath called the earth. From the rising of the sun, to the going down thereof:

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

Listen to this, everyone! Pay attention, people of the world—

BBEBible in Basic English1949

Give attention to this, all you peoples; let your ears be open, all you who are living in the world.

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.

clauseclauseverbשִׁמְעוּhearobjectזֹ֭אתthisclausenoun phraseכָּלO.allnoun phraseהָֽtheעַמִּ֑יםpeoplesclauseverbהַ֝אֲזִ֗ינוּgive.earclausenoun phraseכָּלO.allnoun phraseיֹ֥שְׁבֵי[the].inhabitantsחָֽלֶדof.[the].world

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


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

The Masoretic Text of Psalm 49:1 is preserved in the Septuagint and the Dead Sea Scrolls, with some words matching and others partially restored. The Septuagint's word order differs from the MT, but the core message remains intact, showing a consistent call to listen across these ancient witnesses.

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

שִׁמְעוּ־ זֹ֭את כָּל־ הָֽעַמִּ֑ים הַ֝אֲזִ֗ינוּ כָּל־ יֹ֥שְׁבֵי חָֽלֶד׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
שִׁמְעוּ־εἰςכָּל־τοῖςהָֽעַמִּ֑יםκορεהַ֝אֲזִ֗ינוּψαλμός

4 of the 8 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 — 4Q85a copy a thousand years older than the Leningrad Codex

[למנצח] לבני קרח מזמור

4 words of the verse are on this fragment — 1 partly restored, 1 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 49:1שָׁמַעhearhearשָׁמַעזֶהthisthisזֶהכֹּלO allO allכֹּלעַםthe peoplesthe peoplesעַםאָזַןgive eargive earאָזַןכֹּלO allO allכֹּליָשַׁב[the] inhab[the] inhabitanיָשַׁבחֶ֫לֶד[the] world[the] worldחֶ֫לֶדכָּלַלto perfectto perfectכָּלַלעָמַםto darkento darkenעָמַםאֹ֫זֶןearearאֹ֫זֶןשֶׂהשֶׂהקָשַׁבto listento listenקָשַׁבעֵדָהcongregaticongregationעֵדָהעֲבֹדָהserviceserviceעֲבֹדָהקוֹלvoice: souvoice: soundקוֹלתּוֹרָהinstructioinstructionתּוֹרָהשִׁירsongsongשִׁירתְּפִלָּהprayerprayerתְּפִלָּהבֶּ֫טַחsecuritysecurityבֶּ֫טַחכְּנַעֲנִיCanaanitesCanaanitessכְּנַעֲנִימָהwhat?what?מָה
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 49:1

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

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

hear this O all the peoples give ear O all [the] inhabitants of [the] world
שִׁמְעוּ־shim.'u- hear H8085 Verb · Qal · imperative second person masculine plural
1,160× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To hear and listen is what this Hebrew word means, often implying attention and obedience. In Exodus and Deuteronomy, it is used when God speaks to the people, and they must listen and obey.
Tyndale gloss
to hear: hear
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word שָׁמַע (shama`) means 'to hear' and encompasses a range of meanings including listening, obeying, and proclaiming. It is built from a primitive root and can imply attention and understanding. The entries highlight various grammatical forms, such as Qal, Niphal, Piel, and Hiphil, indicating different nuances of hearing and obeying. There is no significant disagreement among the lexicons regarding its meanings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שָׁמַע 1152 vb. hear

Qal 1052

subj. pers. hum.

י׳ (God) subj.

Niph. 42 be heard, of voice, sound

be heard of

be regarded, obeyed

= (favourable) hearing was granted to their voice.

Pi. he caused the people to hear

Hiph. 63

of man

י׳ subj.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8085 שָׁמַע hear

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8085 shama` shaw-mah'

a primitive root; to hear intelligently (often with

implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to

tell, etc.):--X attentively, call (gather) together, X

carefully, X certainly, consent, consider, be content,

declare, X diligently, discern, give ear, (cause to, let, make

to) hear(-ken, tell), X indeed, listen, make (a) noise, (be)

obedient, obey, perceive, (make a) proclaim(-ation), publish,

regard, report, shew (forth), (make a) sound, X surely, tell,

understand, whosoever (heareth), witness.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שָׁמַע (sha.ma) — to hear: hear.

: hear

v

1) to hear, listen to, obey

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to hear (perceive by ear)

1a2) to hear of or concerning

1a3) to hear (have power to hear)

1a4) to hear with attention or interest, listen to

1a5) to understand (language)

1a6) to hear (of judicial cases)

1a7) to listen, give heed

1a7a) to consent, agree

1a7b) to grant request

1a8) to listen to, yield to

1a9) to obey, be obedient

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be heard (of voice or sound)

1b2) to be heard of

1b3) to be regarded, be obeyed

1c) (Piel) to cause to hear, call to hear, summon

1d) (Hiphil)

1d1) to cause to hear, tell, proclaim, utter a sound

1d2) to sound aloud (musical term)

1d3) to make proclamation, summon

1d4) to cause to be heard

n m

2) sound

שָׁמַע (sha.ma) — to hear: obey.

: obey

v

1) to hear, listen to, obey

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to hear (perceive by ear)

1a2) to hear of or concerning

1a3) to hear (have power to hear)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HVqv2mp — Verb · Qal · imperative second person masculine plural
HVqv2mp
hear this O all the peoples give ear O all [the] inhabitants of [the] world
זֹ֭אתzot this H2063 Particle
604× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means this or that, often used to point out something specific. It appears in various forms throughout the Old Testament.
Tyndale gloss
this
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

זֹאת (zot) is a demonstrative pronoun and adverb meaning 'this' or 'here.' It can stand alone or be used in apposition to a noun, often serving as a predicate. The word can also attach enclitically to interrogative pronouns to add emphasis. In poetry, it may function as a relative pronoun, though this is rare.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

זֶה demonstr.pron. and adv.; fem. זֹאת, once זֹאתָה; this, here

standing alone

In appos. to subst.

More oft. as pred.

It is attached enclitically, almost as an adv., to certain words, esp. interrog. pronouns, to impart, in a manner often not reproducible in Engl. idiom, directness and force, bringing the question or statement made into close relation with the speaker.

In poetry, as a relative pron. (rare)

With prefixes (in special senses)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2063 זֶה demonstr. pron. and adv.; fem. זֹאת, once זֹאתָה; this, here . standing alone

. In appos. to subst.

. More oft. as pred.

. It is attached enclitically, almost as an adv., to certain words, esp. interrog. pronouns, to impart, in a manner often not reproducible in Engl. idiom, directness and force, bringing the question or statement made into close relation with the speaker.

. In poetry, as a relative pron. (rare)

. With prefixes (in special senses)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2063 zo'th zothe'

irregular feminine of 2089; this (often used adverb):--

hereby (-in, -with), it, likewise, the one (other, same), she,

so (much), such (deed), that, therefore, these, this (thing),

thus.

see HEBREW for 02089

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

זֹאת (zot) — this.

1) this, this one, here, which, this...that, the one...the other, such

1a) (alone)

1a1) this one

1a2) this...that, the one...the other, another

1b) (appos to subst)

1b1) this

1c) (as predicate)

1c1) this, such

1d) (enclitically)

1d1) then

1d2) who, whom

1d3) how now, what now

1d4) what now

1d5) wherefore now

1d6) behold here

1d7) just now

1d8) now, now already

1e) (poetry)

1e1) wherein, which, those who

1f) (with prefixes)

1f1) in this (place) here, then

1f2) on these conditions, herewith, thus provided, by, through this, for this cause, in this matter

1f3) thus and thus

1f4) as follows, things such as these, accordingly, to that effect, in like manner, thus and thus

1f5) from here, hence, on one side...on the other side

1f6) on this account

1f7) in spite of this, which, whence, how

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HTm — Particle
HTm
hear this O all the peoples give ear O all [the] inhabitants of [the] world
כָּל־kol- O all H3605 Noun common · masculine singular construct
5,415× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for 'all' or 'everything' is used throughout the Bible, like in Genesis 1:31, where God sees all He has made as very good. It encompasses the entirety of something, whether people, things, or situations.
Tyndale gloss
all
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כֹּל (kol) means 'all' or 'the whole.' It can refer to totality, including every person or thing, and is often used with a following genitive to specify what is included. The term can also denote a broader sense of everything in existence or all circumstances of life. The lexicons do not show significant disagreement on its meanings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כֹּל once כּוֹל n.m. the whole, all

with foll. gen. (as usually) the whole of, to be rendered, however, often in our idiom, to avoid stiffness, any or every

Absolutely:

without the art., all things, all

with the art. הַכֹּל

where the sense is limited by the context to things (or persons) just mentioned

in a wider sense, all, whether of all mankind or of all living things, the universe, or of all the circumstances of life (chiefly late)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3605 כֹּל once כּוֹל the whole, all . with foll. gen. (as usually) the whole of, to be rendered, however, often in our idiom, to avoid stiffness, any or every

. Absolutely: . without the art., all things, all

. with the art. הַכֹּל . where the sense is limited by the context to things (or persons) just mentioned

. in a wider sense, all, whether of all mankind or of all living things, the universe, or of all the circumstances of life (chiefly late)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3605 kol kole

or (Jer. 33:8) kowl {kole}; from 3634; properly, the whole;

hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a

plural sense):--(in) all (manner, (ye)), altogether, any

(manner), enough, every (one, place, thing), howsoever, as

many as, (no-)thing, ought, whatsoever, (the) whole,

whoso(-ever).

see HEBREW for 03634

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כֹּל (kol) — all.

1) all, the whole

1a) all, the whole of

1b) any, each, every, anything

1c) totality, everything

Aramaic equivalent: kol (כֹּל "all" H3606)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HNcmsc — Noun common · masculine singular construct
HNcmsc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ol: Used in various combinations, and with different meanings.

(1) All along, "Weeping all along as he went" (Jer 41:6), i.e. throughout the whole way he went, feigning equal concern with the men from Shiloh, etc., for the destruction of the Temple, so as to put them off their guard.

(2) All in all, "That God may be all in all" (1Co 15:28, Greek: panta en pasin, "all things in all (persons and) things"). "The universe, with all it comprises, will wholly answer to God's will and reflect His mind" (Dummelow).

(3) All one, "It is all one" (Job 9:22), "it makes no difference whether I live or die."

(4) At all, "If thy father miss me at all" (1Sa 20:6), "in any way," "in the least."

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
hear this O all the peoples give ear O all [the] inhabitants of [the] world
הָֽעַמִּ֑יםha.'a.Mim the peoples H5971 Particle · noun common masculine plural absolute
1,873× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A people or nation is what this Hebrew word represents, like the nation of Israel in Exodus 33:13. It can also mean a tribe, troops, or attendants, and is used to describe a group of people gathered together. The word is often used to refer to the people of God.
Tyndale gloss
Amaw
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עַם (am) primarily means 'people' or 'nation,' referring to a collective group, often in the context of tribes such as those of Israel. It can also denote kinsmen or compatriots. The term appears in various contexts, including military and familial references. There is a mention of a specific individual named Ammi in Song of Solomon 6:12.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עַם, עָם 1810 n.m. people

a people, nation

= smaller units

= common people

people in gen., persons

phrases

base

[עַם] n.[m.] kinsman (on father's side)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5971a עַם, עָם people H5971b עַם kinsman (on father's side)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5971 `am am

from 6004; a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a

tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or

attendants; figuratively, a flock:--folk, men, nation,

people.

see HEBREW for 06004

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עַם (am) — people.

: people/nation

1) nation, people

1a) people, nation

1b) persons, members of one's people, compatriots, country-men

עַם (am) — kinsman.

kinsman, kindred

עַם (am) — Ammi.

A man living at the time of United Monarchy, only mentioned at Sng.6.12

§ kinsman, kindred

עַם (am) — People's (Gate).

§ kinsman, kindred

עַם (am) — (Ibleam)-am.

Combined with yiv.le.am (יִבְלְעָם "Ibleam" H2991)

§ kinsman, kindred

עַם (am) — Amaw.

This name means nation, people

עַם (am) — people: soldiers.

: soldiers/army

1) nation, people

1a) people, nation

1b) persons, members of one's people, compatriots, country-men

עַם (am) — people: creatures.

: creatures

1) nation, people

1a) people, nation

1b) persons, members of one's people, compatriots, country-men

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HTd/Ncmpa — Particle · noun common masculine plural absolute
HTd/Ncmpa
hear this O all the peoples give ear O all [the] inhabitants of [the] world
הַ֝אֲזִ֗ינוּha.'a.Zi.nu give ear H238 Verb · Hiphil · imperative second person masculine plural
41× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To listen or hear is the meaning of this Hebrew word, often implying obedience or paying attention to what is being said, as in 1 Kings 3:9.
Tyndale gloss
to listen
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אָזַן (azan) is a verb meaning to listen or hear, derived as a denominative from a root suggesting the broadening of the ear. It encompasses the act of giving ear, being obedient, and specifically refers to God listening to prayers. The entries do not indicate any significant disagreement among lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[אָזַן] 42 vb. denom. Hiph. give ear, listen, hear

hear, perceive by the ear

of God, listening (with favour) to prayer

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H238 אָזַן vb. denom. Hiph. give ear, listen, hear

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

238 'azan aw-zan'

a primitive root; probably to expand; but used only as a

denominative from 241; to broaden out the ear (with the hand),

i.e. (by implication) to listen:--give (perceive by the) ear,

hear(-ken). See 239.

see HEBREW for 0241

see HEBREW for 0239

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אָזַן (a.zan) — to listen.

1) to hear, listen

1a) (Hiphil)

1a1) to hear, listen, give ear

1a2) to be obedient, harken

1a3) to hear or listen to prayers (of God)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HVhv2mp — Verb · Hiphil · imperative second person masculine plural
HVhv2mp
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

er ('ozen; ous, otion, the latter word (literally, "earlet") in all the Gospels only used of the ear of the high priest's servant, which was cut off by Peter: Mt 26:51; Mr 14:47; Lu 22:51 (not 22:50); Joh 18:10,26):

(1) The physical organ of hearing which was considered of peculiar importance as the chief instrument by which man receives information and commandments. For this reason the ear of the priest had to be specially sanctified, the tip of the right ear being touched with sacrificial blood at the consecration (Le 8:23). Similarly the ear of the cleansed leper had to be rededicated to the service of God by blood…

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Ear

Used frequently in a figurative sense (Ps. 34:15). To “uncover the ear” is to show respect to a person (1 Sam. 20:2 marg.). To have the “ear heavy”, or to have “uncircumcised ears” (Isa. 6:10), is to be inattentive and disobedient. To have the ear “bored” through with an awl was a sign of perpetual servitude (Ex. 21:6).

Nave's Topical Bible

→ Blood put upon, in consecration of priest Ex 29:20; Le 8:23

→ In cleansing lepers Le 14:14,25

→ Anointed with oil in purifications Le 14:17,28

→ Bored as a sign of servitude Ex 21:5,6; Ps 40:6

→ See DEAFNESS

→ FIGURATIVE

Anthropomorphic uses of Ps 17:6; 39:12; 77:1; 80:1; 84:8

For more extended anthropomorphic uses, consult a concordance

hear this O all the peoples give ear O all [the] inhabitants of [the] world
כָּל־kol- O all H3605 Noun common · masculine singular construct
5,415× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for 'all' or 'everything' is used throughout the Bible, like in Genesis 1:31, where God sees all He has made as very good. It encompasses the entirety of something, whether people, things, or situations.
Tyndale gloss
all
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כֹּל (kol) means 'all' or 'the whole.' It can refer to totality, including every person or thing, and is often used with a following genitive to specify what is included. The term can also denote a broader sense of everything in existence or all circumstances of life. The lexicons do not show significant disagreement on its meanings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כֹּל once כּוֹל n.m. the whole, all

with foll. gen. (as usually) the whole of, to be rendered, however, often in our idiom, to avoid stiffness, any or every

Absolutely:

without the art., all things, all

with the art. הַכֹּל

where the sense is limited by the context to things (or persons) just mentioned

in a wider sense, all, whether of all mankind or of all living things, the universe, or of all the circumstances of life (chiefly late)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3605 כֹּל once כּוֹל the whole, all . with foll. gen. (as usually) the whole of, to be rendered, however, often in our idiom, to avoid stiffness, any or every

. Absolutely: . without the art., all things, all

. with the art. הַכֹּל . where the sense is limited by the context to things (or persons) just mentioned

. in a wider sense, all, whether of all mankind or of all living things, the universe, or of all the circumstances of life (chiefly late)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3605 kol kole

or (Jer. 33:8) kowl {kole}; from 3634; properly, the whole;

hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a

plural sense):--(in) all (manner, (ye)), altogether, any

(manner), enough, every (one, place, thing), howsoever, as

many as, (no-)thing, ought, whatsoever, (the) whole,

whoso(-ever).

see HEBREW for 03634

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כֹּל (kol) — all.

1) all, the whole

1a) all, the whole of

1b) any, each, every, anything

1c) totality, everything

Aramaic equivalent: kol (כֹּל "all" H3606)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HNcmsc — Noun common · masculine singular construct
HNcmsc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ol: Used in various combinations, and with different meanings.

(1) All along, "Weeping all along as he went" (Jer 41:6), i.e. throughout the whole way he went, feigning equal concern with the men from Shiloh, etc., for the destruction of the Temple, so as to put them off their guard.

(2) All in all, "That God may be all in all" (1Co 15:28, Greek: panta en pasin, "all things in all (persons and) things"). "The universe, with all it comprises, will wholly answer to God's will and reflect His mind" (Dummelow).

(3) All one, "It is all one" (Job 9:22), "it makes no difference whether I live or die."

(4) At all, "If thy father miss me at all" (1Sa 20:6), "in any way," "in the least."

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
hear this O all the peoples give ear O all [the] inhabitants of [the] world
יֹ֥שְׁבֵיYo.she.vei [the] inhabitants of H3427 Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine plural common
1,079× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This verb means to sit or dwell, and can also mean to remain or abide. It's used in the Bible to describe people living in a place or staying with someone, like in the book of Genesis.
Tyndale gloss
to dwell
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יָשַׁב (yashab) is a Hebrew verb meaning to sit, remain, or dwell. It encompasses a range of actions from simply sitting down to more complex ideas like establishing a home or causing a place to be inhabited. The entries indicate various forms, including Qal (to sit), Niphal (to be inhabited), and Hiphil (to cause to dwell). There is an Aramaic equivalent, יְתִב (ye.tiv), meaning 'to dwell'.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יָשַׁב 1090 vb. sit, remain, dwell

Qal

sit

sit, sit down

sit down

sit = be set (as a jewel)

remain, stay, tarry

with special emphasis of qualifying phr.

dwell, have one’s abode

of a land or city, sit, abide, seated in its place, fig. for be inhabited

Niph. be inhabited, of land

Pi. and they shall set their encampments in thee

Hiph.

cause to sit

cause to abide

cause to dwell

cause cities to be inhabited

marry (prop. give a dwelling to)

Hoph. and ye be made to dwell alone in the midst of the land

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3427 יָשַׁב sit, remain, dwell

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3427 yashab yaw-shab'

a primitive root; properly, to sit down (specifically as

judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to

remain; causatively, to settle, to marry:--(make to)

abide(-ing), continue, (cause to, make to) dwell(-ing), ease

self, endure, establish, X fail, habitation, haunt, (make to)

inhabit(-ant), make to keep (house), lurking, X marry(-ing),

(bring again to) place, remain, return, seat, set(- tle),

(down-)sit(-down, still, -ting down, -ting (place) -uate),

take, tarry.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יָשַׁב (ya.shav) — to dwell.

1) to dwell, remain, sit, abide

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to sit, sit down

1a2) to be set

1a3) to remain, stay

1a4) to dwell, have one's abode

1b) (Niphal) to be inhabited

1c) (Piel) to set, place

1d) (Hiphil)

1d1) to cause to sit

1d2) to cause to abide, set

1d3) to cause to dwell

1d4) to cause (cities) to be inhabited

1d5) to marry (give an dwelling to)

1e) (Hophal)

1e1) to be inhabited

1e2) to make to dwell

Aramaic equivalent: ye.tiv (יְתִב "to dwell" H3488)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HVqrmpc — Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine plural common
HVqrmpc
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…

hear this O all the peoples give ear O all [the] inhabitants of [the] world
חָֽלֶד׃Cha.led [the] world H2465 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
5× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to a lifetime or the world as a temporary and fleeting thing, used to describe the shortness of life.
Tyndale gloss
lifetime/world
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

חֶ֫לֶד (cheled) refers to a fleeting portion of time, often translated as 'lifetime' or 'world.' It encompasses concepts of age and the transient nature of existence. The term suggests a brief duration and is associated with the idea of life as temporary.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

חֶ֫לֶד n.[m.] duration, world

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2465 חֶ֫לֶד

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2465 cheled kheh'-led

from an unused root apparently meaning to glide swiftly; life

(as a fleeting portion of time); hence, the world (as

transient):--age, short time, world.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חֶ֫לֶד (che.led) — lifetime/world.

age, duration of life, the world

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HNcmsa — Noun common · masculine singular absolute
HNcmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

The earth on which we dwell, 1Sa 2:8; its inhabitants, Joh 3:16, or a large number of them, Joh 12:19. In several places it is equivalent to "land," meaning the Roman Empire, or Judea and its vicinity, Lu 2:1 4:3 Ac 11:28. It also denotes the objects and interests of time and sense, Ga 6:14 1Jo 2:15.

Nave's Topical Bible

→ See EARTH

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
Sources on this page. Lexicons and dictionaries imported from the CrossWire SWORD modules — Abbott-Smith, Strong's, Dodson, the Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones, Robinson and Packard, Webster and Cawdrey. Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (Harper, 1889 — Grimm’s Wilke’s Clavis Novi Testamenti, translated, revised and enlarged by Joseph Henry Thayer) is public domain and is set here from the Internet Archive page scan greekenglishlex00grim; it is uncorrected OCR, marked as such on the entry itself, and the Strong’s numbers — which Thayer’s own edition does not carry — were matched by lemma against the other modules on this page. Trench’s Synonyms of the New Testament (Macmillan, 1880) and Moulton and Milligan’s Vocabulary of the Greek Testament (Hodder & Stoughton, 1930, which entered the United States public domain on 1 January 2026) are set from Internet Archive page scans synonymsofnewtes00treniala and vocabularyofgree00mouluoft, and are likewise uncorrected OCR matched to Strong’s numbers by lemma. Trench treats a group of words at once, so the same essay stands on the page of each word it compares. The Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary is © 1993 and is used here by permission for non-commercial use, www.teknia.com/greek-dictionary. The full Liddell-Scott-Jones and the Hebrew word data (TAHOT) come from STEPBible.org, CC BY 4.0. Brown-Driver-Briggs is the OpenScriptures digitisation, public domain. Syntax analysis is the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (biblicalhumanities.org); the concordance and morphology are built from the tagged Nestle 1904 text. Septuagint occurrences use the Open Scriptures Septuagint lemma index, derived from CCAT (University of Pennsylvania) and the Rahlfs 1935 dataset by Eliran Wong, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 — used here on a non-commercial ministry site. Greek of Josephus and Barnabas from the Perseus Digital Library, CC BY-SA 4.0. Commentaries and the Ante-Nicene Fathers are public-domain texts hosted on this site. Everyday Greek from the Duke Databank of Documentary Papyri, CC BY 3.0, with dates and provenance from the Heidelberger Gesamtverzeichnis. Philo and the Apostolic Fathers from Open Greek and Latin (First1KGreek), CC BY-SA 4.0. The apparatus and the fifth Greek column are the SBL Greek New Testament, © 2010 SBL and Logos Bible Software, CC BY 4.0. The Latin is the Clementine Vulgate (public domain); the Syriac New Testament is the ETCBC edition (MIT licence). The Hebrew behind the Greek is computed here from the Septuagint index and TAHOT, not taken from any aligned edition. The translation spread and the per-word edition marks come from the Translators Amalgamated Greek NT (STEPBible, CC BY 4.0); clause roles from the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (CC BY-SA 4.0); place identifications and their confidence from OpenBible.info Bible Geocoding (CC BY 4.0), with map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors. Gospel parallels are computed here from shared uncommon vocabulary, not taken from any printed harmony. Cross references are the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and the subject headings are Nave’s Topical Bible, both public domain. Works under Creative Commons licences are used unchanged apart from markup removal.

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