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Psalms 50:12 — Word Study

Depth

WLCאִם־ אֶ֭רְעַב לֹא־ אֹ֣מַר לָ֑ךְ כִּי־ לִ֥י תֵ֝בֵ֗ל וּמְלֹאָֽהּ׃

BSAIfʼim I were hungryrâʻêb [in need of food, physically empty] I would notlôʼ tellʼâmar forkîy the worldtêbêl [the earth and its inhabitants, all creation] and the fullness thereofmᵉlôʼ [abundance, all that is needed, of the earth, everything in it]

Word
Listen & take awayPsalms 50
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 12 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 (u.me.lo.'Ah) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Psalms 50:12quick helps
In a sentenceGod asserts His self-sufficiency, stating that He does not need anything from humanity.
Who is speakingGod, addressing His people.
Where we areA declaration about God's ownership of the world and its fullness.
The hard wordאֶ֭רְעַב
Take awayGod's authority over creation is absolute; He does not require offerings.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbרָעֵב 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 50:12

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 — God's Declaration of Ownershipgenerated

11I know every bird in the mountains, and the creatures of the field are Mine.
12If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world is Mine, and the fullness thereof.
13Do I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats?
14Sacrifice a thank offering to God, and fulfill your vows to the Most High.

Psalm 50:12 presents God speaking to His people, emphasizing His sovereignty over the earth and everything in it. This verse is part of a larger discourse where God challenges the Israelites about their sacrifices, indicating that He does not need them to sustain Himself. The context invites reflection on the nature of worship and the relationship between God and His creation.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Psalm 24:1–2The earth is the LORD’s, and the fullness thereof, the world and all who dwell therein.
2Psalm 115:15–16May you be blessed by the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.
3Exodus 19:5Now if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, you will be My treasured possession out of all the nations—for the whole earth is Mine.
4Deuteronomy 10:14Behold, to the LORD your God belong the heavens, even the highest heavens, and the earth and everything in it.
5Job 41:11Who has given to Me that I should repay him? Everything under heaven is Mine.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 10 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word אֶ֭רְעַב, 'Er.'avgenerated

The verb רָעֵב (ra`eb) means 'to be hungry' and is used here in the imperfect tense, indicating a hypothetical state. It expresses a condition that God does not experience, highlighting His self-sufficiency.

The use of this verb in a conditional statement underscores the absurdity of thinking that God would need anything from humanity. It frames the subsequent assertion of ownership over the world, reinforcing the idea that all creation belongs to Him.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, which states, 'If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world is Mine, and the fullness thereof.' The translations consistently convey this meaning.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The sentence is structured around the conditional clause introduced by אִם (im), which sets up the hypothetical scenario of God being hungry. The main clause follows, asserting that He would not inform humanity of such a need.

The second part of the sentence provides the reason for this assertion, emphasizing God's ownership of the world and everything in it, which is further supported by the conjunction כִּי (ki) meaning 'for.'


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

In the Septuagint, אֶ֭רְעַב is rendered as πεινάσω, which conveys the same meaning of hunger. This choice reflects the translators' understanding of God's nature as one who does not experience need.

The Greek term emphasizes the same self-sufficiency that is evident in the Hebrew, reinforcing the message that God does not require anything from His creation.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Psalm 50:12 states that if God were hungry, He would not tell us because everything in the world belongs to Him. This verse emphasizes God's complete ownership and self-sufficiency, indicating that He does not need anything from us.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean that God would not tell us if He were hungry?

It means that God does not need anything from humanity; He is self-sufficient and does not rely on our offerings.

Why does God emphasize His ownership of the world?

God emphasizes His ownership to remind us of His authority and that all creation belongs to Him, which shapes our understanding of worship.

How does this verse relate to the concept of sacrifice?

This verse suggests that God is not pleased with sacrifices made out of obligation, but rather desires genuine worship and relationship.

What can we learn about God's nature from this verse?

We learn that God is self-sufficient and does not need anything from us, which challenges our understanding of how we relate to Him.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what ways do I sometimes think God needs something from me?
  2. How can I better understand God's self-sufficiency in my life?
  3. What does this verse teach me about the nature of true worship?
  4. How can I reflect God's ownership in my own life and actions?

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

Early Church Fathers referenced this verse to discuss God's self-sufficiency and the nature of true worship, highlighting that God does not require our offerings.

TertullianAGAINST MARCION 2.22 c. 155–220
Although he had respect to the offerings of Abel and smelled a sweet savor from the whole burnt offering of Noah, yet what pleasure could he receive from the flesh of sheep or the odor of burning victims? And yet the simple and God-fearing…
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 50 →
John ChrysostomCOMMENTARY ON Psalms 50:4 c. 347–407
Though I am Lord and Master of everything, I am ready to accept from you what is mine so as to win you over to love of me.
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 50 →
Augustine of HippoExposition on Psalms 50 354–430
Who can explain, who expound that which is said to Him in another Psalm, "For my goods You need not"? He has said that He needs not from us any necessary thing.
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 50 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Psalms 50:12 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

If I were hungry, I would not tell thee,.... Or "say to thee" (w); ask for anything for the world [is] mine, and the fulness thereof; with which, was the former his case, he could satisfy himself; see Psalms 24:1.

Read John Gill on Psalms 50 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof. If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fullness thereof.

Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 50 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

If I wanted or desired any thing, as I do not, being the all-sufficient God, I would not tell thee, that thou mightest supply my wants. The fulness thereof, i.e. all those creatures wherewith it is replenished.

Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 50 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Psalms 50:12 If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world [is] mine, and the fulness thereof.Ver. 12. If I were hungry, I would not tell thee] I would not employ thee to cater or purvey for me. But it befalls not God to be hungry, as not only heathens held, and, therefore, said that their Jove was gone into Ethiopia to be feasted, but some carnal Jews also, who conceived that a fat sacrifice was as acceptable to God as a fat dinner was to themselves (Homer. Lucian). For the world is mine, and the fulness thereof] Quicquid avium volitat, quicquid piscium natat, quicquid ferarum discurrit, as Seneca hath it; all is the Lord’ s, he made all, maintaineth all, and may, therefore, at…

Read John Trapp on Psalms 50 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(9-18) Notice the fine tone of irony that pervades this rebuke, the best weapon against ritualistic errors.

Read Charles John Ellicott on Psalms 50 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 12. The world is mine, and the fulness thereof.] Ye cannot, therefore, give me any thing that is not my own.

Read AdamClarke on Psalms 50 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

12. the world is mine &c.] Cp. Psalms 24:1; Psalms 89:11; Exodus 19:5; Deuteronomy 10:14; Job 41:11; 1 Corinthians 10:26.

Read Cambridge on Psalms 50 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

If I were hungry, I would not tell thee - I should not have occasion to apply to you; I should not be dependent on you. For the world is mine - The earth; all that has been created.

Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 50 →

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

If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world is Mine, and the fullness thereof.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world is mine, and all that is in it.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world is Mine, and the fullness thereof.

NETBNew English Translation2006

Even if I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world and all it contains belong to me.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

If I were hungry, I would not tell thee; For the world is mine, and the fulness thereof.

RVARevised Version, American1894

If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fullness thereof.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

If I bee hungry, I will not tell thee: for the world is mine, and all that therein is.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

If I were hungry, I would not tell thee; for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

If I am hungry I tell not to thee, For Mine [is] the world and its fulness.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

If I am hungry I do not tell [it] to you, || For the world and its fullness [is] Mine.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

If I were hungry, I would not say it to thee; for mine is the world, and what filleth it.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

If I were hungry, I would not tell you; for the world is mine, and everything in it.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

Create a clean heart in me, O God: and renew a right spirit within my bowels.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

If I were hungry, I wouldn't tell you, for the earth and everything in it are mine.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

If I had need of food, I would not give you word of it; for the earth is mine and all its wealth.

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.

clauseclauseאִםifclauseverbאֶ֭רְעַבI.will.be.hungryclauseadverbialלֹאnotverbאֹ֣מַרI.will.tellprepositional phrase · prepositionalלָ֑toךְyouclauseכִּי(dm)clauseprepositional phrase · predicateלִ֥[belong].toיmenoun phrase · subjectתֵ֝בֵ֗ל[the].worldוּandnoun phraseמְלֹאָֽwhatהּfills.it

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


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

The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint agree on the wording of this verse, with all nine words matched in their respective translations. This alignment indicates a consistent understanding of the text across these ancient witnesses.

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

אִם־ אֶ֭רְעַב לֹא־ אֹ֣מַר לָ֑ךְ כִּי־ לִ֥י תֵ֝בֵ֗ל וּמְלֹאָֽהּ׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
אִם־ἐὰνאֶ֭רְעַבπεινάσωלֹא־οὐאֹ֣מַרσοιלָ֑ךְεἴπωכִּי־"{..^ἐστιν}"לִ֥יἐμὴתֵ֝בֵ֗לοἰκουμένηוּמְלֹאָֽהּ׃τὸ

9 of the 9 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.

Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.


The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with

This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.

Psalms 50:12אִםififאִםרָעֵבI will be hI will be hungrרָעֵבלֹאnotnotלֹאאָמַרI will tellI will tellאָמַרךְto youto youךְכִּיforforכִּינִי[belong] to[belong] to meנִיתֵּבֵל[the] world[the] worldתֵּבֵלמְלֹאand what fiand what fills מְלֹאיָבַלto conductto conductיָבַלמָלֵאto fillto fillמָלֵאחֵןfavorfavorחֵןיֵשׁtherethereיֵשׁכֹּחַreptilereptileכֹּחַנֶ֫פֶשׁsoulsoulנֶ֫פֶשׁיָכֹלbe ablebe ableיָכֹלעוֹדstillstillעוֹדכֹּהthusthusכֹּהיהוהYHWH/GodYHWH/Godיהוהיָדַעto knowto knowיָדַעמְלֹאfullnessfullnessמְלֹאבַּלnotnotבַּלחֹ֫פֶןpalmpalmחֹ֫פֶןרָעַםto thunderto thunderרָעַם
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 50:12

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.

if I will be hungry not I will tell to you for [belong] to me [the] world and what fills it
אִם־'im- if H518 Particle
1,070× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word is used to express conditions or questions, like if or whether. It can also be used to make oaths or express wishes, as in Oh that! It appears in various forms in the KJV, including if, though, and when.
Tyndale gloss
if
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אִם (im) is a Hebrew conjunction primarily meaning 'if' and is used in various contexts, including conditional clauses and interrogative situations. It can also express negation, alternatives, or exceptions, and appears frequently in the Old Testament. The lexicons note its use in oaths and its ability to connect different clauses, sometimes altering their meanings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אִם conj.

hypoth. part. if

Interrog. part.

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H518a אִם conj. . hypoth. part. if

. Interrog. part.

H518b 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

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

518 'im eem

a primitive particle; used very widely as demonstrative, lo!;

interrog., whether?; or conditional, if, although; also Oh

that!, when; hence, as a negative, not:--(and, can-,

doubtless, if, that) (not), + but, either, + except, +

more(-over if, than), neither, nevertheless, nor, oh that, or,

+ save (only, -ing), seeing, since, sith, + surely (no more,

none, not), though, + of a truth, + unless, + verily, when,

whereas, whether, while, + yet.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אִם (im) — if.

: if/whether_or/though

1) if

1a) conditional clauses

1a1) of possible situations

1a2) of impossible situations

1b) oath contexts

1b1) no, not

1c) if...if, whether...or, whether...or...or

1d) when, whenever

1e) since

1f) interrogative particle

1g) but rather

[כִּי] אם (ki im) — if: except.

1) except if

1a) but if

אִם (im) — if: surely no.

: surely_no

1) if

1a) conditional clauses

1a1) of possible situations

1a2) of impossible situations

1b) oath contexts

1b1) no, not

1c) if...if, whether...or, whether...or...or

1d) when, whenever

1e) since

1f) interrogative particle

1g) but rather

אִם (im) — if: surely yes.

: surely_yes

1) if

1a) conditional clauses

1a1) of possible situations

1a2) of impossible situations

1b) oath contexts

1b1) no, not

1c) if...if, whether...or, whether...or...or

1d) when, whenever

1e) since

1f) interrogative particle

1g) but rather

אִם (im) — if: until.

: until/except

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj — Particle
HTc
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
if I will be hungry not I will tell to you for [belong] to me [the] world and what fills it
אֶ֭רְעַב'Er.'av I will be hungry H7456 Verb · Qal · imperfect first person common singular
13× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To be hungry is what this Hebrew verb means, and it is used in stories like Exodus and Matthew to describe physical need. Hunger is a basic human experience, and the Bible often uses it to illustrate spiritual longing.
Amplified meaning
in need of food, physically empty
Tyndale gloss
be hungry
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

רָעֵב (ra`eb) is a Hebrew verb meaning 'to be hungry.' It is a primitive root that can also imply allowing someone to hunger. The entries indicate its use in both the Qal and Hiphil stems, covering the basic state of hunger and the act of causing hunger.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

רָעֵב vb. be hungry

Qal be hungry

Hiph. allow one to hunger

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7456 רָעֵב be hungry

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7456 ra`eb raw-abe'

a primitive root; to hunger:--(suffer to) famish, (be, have,

suffer, suffer to) hunger(-ry).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

רָעֵב (ra.ev) — be hungry.

1) to be hungry, be voracious

1a) (Qal) to be hungry

1b) (Hiphil) to allow one to be hungry, allow to hunger

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Imperf-1cs — Verb · Qal · imperfect first person common singular
HVqi1cs
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
if I will be hungry not I will tell to you for [belong] to me [the] world and what fills it
לֹא־lo'- not H3808 Particle
5,170× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for not or no is used to indicate absence or negation, as when God says no to the Israelites' requests, or when they disobey His commands.
Tyndale gloss
not
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

לֹא (lo') is a Hebrew word meaning 'not' or 'no.' It serves as a simple negation and can imply absence or prohibition. The word can also be used in various contexts, often combined with other particles for emphasis or clarification. Its Aramaic equivalent is לָא (la), which also means 'not.'

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

לֹא or לוֹא adv. not

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3808 לֹא or לוֹא not

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3808 lo' lo

or lowi {lo}; or loh (Deut. 3:11) {lo}; a primitive particle;

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often

used with other particles (as follows):--X before, + or else,

ere, + except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never,

no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), (X as though...,(can-), for) not (out

of), of nought, otherwise, out of, + surely, + as truly as, +

of a truth, + verily, for want, + whether, without.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

לֹא (lo) — not.

1) not, no

1a) not (with verb-absolute prohibition)

1b) not (with modifier-negation)

1c) nothing (subst)

1d) without (with particle)

1e) before (of time)

Aramaic equivalent: la (לָא "not" H3809)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Part — Particle
HTn
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
if I will be hungry not I will tell to you for [belong] to me [the] world and what fills it
אֹ֣מַר'O.mar I will tell H559 Verb · Qal · imperfect first person common singular
5,309× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to say or speak, and it's used in many different ways in the Bible. It can mean to command, promise, or think, and it's translated in the KJV as 'answer', 'appoint', or 'command'.
Tyndale gloss
to say
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אָמַר 5287 vb. utter, say

Qal

Say

Say in the heart (= think)

Promise

Command (esp. late)

Niph. be said, told

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

Hithp. act proudly, boast

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H559 אָמַר utter, say .. Say

. Say in the heart (= think)

. Promise

. Command (esp. late)

. be said, told

. avow, avouch (lit. cause to declare)

. act proudly, boast

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

559 'amar aw-mar'

a primitive root; to say (used with great

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

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

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

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

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

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

utter, X verily, X yet.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אָמַר (a.mar) — to say.

1) to say, speak, utter

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

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

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

1d) (Hiphil) to avow, to avouch

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

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Imperf-1cs — Verb · Qal · imperfect first person common singular
HVqi1cs
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

See TALE.

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
if I will be hungry not I will tell to you for [belong] to me [the] world and what fills it
לָ֑ךְLakh to you H9032 Preposition · suffix
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

ךְ (kh) — you.

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

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HR/Sp2ms — Preposition · suffix
HR/Sp2ms
if I will be hungry not I will tell to you for [belong] to me [the] world and what fills it
כִּי־ki- for H3588 Particle
4,483× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A conjunction used to show cause or connection, as in Genesis 2:23 where Adam says the woman is bone of his bone because she was taken out of him. It is often translated as 'for', 'because', or 'since'.
Tyndale gloss
for
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כִּי (ki) is a conjunction primarily meaning 'that,' 'for,' or 'when.' It indicates causal relationships and can express conditions like 'if' or 'though.' The word is versatile, appearing in various contexts to convey certainty, exception, or concession. Notably, it can combine with other particles to modify its meaning, such as in the phrase כִּי אם־ (ki im), meaning 'that if.'

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כִּי conj. that, for, when

that

Of time, when, of the past

elsewhere כִּי has a force approximating to if, though it usu. represents a case as more likely to occur than אִם

when or if, with a concessive force, i.e. though

Because, since

base

כִּי אם־

each part. retaining its independent force, and relating to a different clause:

that if

for if

(About 140 t.) the two particles being closely conjoined, and relating to the same clause—

limiting the prec. clause, except

the if being neglected, and treated as pleonastic, so that the clause is no longer a limitation of the preceding clause but a contradiction of it: but rather, but

after an oath, surely

base

כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3588a כִּי that, for, when . that

. . Of time, when, of the past

. elsewhere כִּי has a force approximating to if, though it usu. represents a case as more likely to occur than אִם

. when or if, with a concessive force, i.e. though

. Because, since

H3588b כִּי אם־ . each part. retaining its independent force, and relating to a different clause: . that if

. for if

. (About 140 t.) the two particles being closely conjoined, and relating to the same clause— . limiting the prec. clause, except

. the if being neglected, and treated as pleonastic, so that the clause is no longer a limitation of the preceding clause but a contradiction of it: but rather, but

. after an oath, surely

H3588c כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3588 kiy kee

a primitive particle (the full form of the prepositional

prefix) indicating causal relations of all kinds, antecedent

or consequent; (by implication) very widely used as a relative

conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by

other particles annexed:--and, + (forasmuch, inasmuch,

where-)as, assured(-ly), + but, certainly, doubtless, + else,

even, + except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, +

nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then,

therefore, + (al- )though, + till, truly, + until, when,

whether, while, whom, yea, yet.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כִּי (ki) — for.

1) that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since

1a) that

1a1) yea, indeed

1b) when (of time)

1b1) when, if, though (with a concessive force)

1c) because, since (causal connection)

1d) but (after negative)

1e) that if, for if, indeed if, for though, but if

1f) but rather, but

1g) except that

1h) only, nevertheless

1i) surely

1j) that is

1k) but if

1l) for though

1m) forasmuch as, for therefore

כִּי [אם] (ki im) — that if: except.

1) except if

1a) but if

1b) even though

כִּי [עַל כֵּן] (ki [al ken]) — for as that: since.

1) that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since

1a) that

1a1) yea, indeed

1b) when (of time)

1b1) when, if, though (with a concessive force)

1c) because, since (causal connection)

1d) but (after negative)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
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
if I will be hungry not I will tell to you for [belong] to me [the] world and what fills it
לִ֥יli [belong] to me H9030 Preposition · suffix
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נִי (ni) — me.

Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 1st person singular

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HR/Sp1bs — Preposition · suffix
HR/Sp1bs
if I will be hungry not I will tell to you for [belong] to me [the] world and what fills it
תֵ֝בֵ֗לte.Vel [the] world H8398 Noun common · feminine singular absolute
36× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for world, it refers to the earth and its inhabitants. In the Bible, it's used to describe the world God created, like in Psalm 24, which says the earth belongs to God.
Amplified meaning
the earth and its inhabitants, all creation
Tyndale gloss
world
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

תֵּבֵל (tebel) means 'world' and is derived from a root meaning 'to be moist.' It refers to the earth as a habitable place, encompassing both the globe and its inhabitants, and can specifically denote regions like Babylonia and Palestine. The entries consistently highlight its connection to the concept of a productive, inhabited land.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

תֵּבֵל n.f. world (perh. orig. as productive)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8398 תֵּבֵל world

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8398 tebel tay-bale'

from 2986; the earth (as moist and therefore inhabited); by

extension, the globe; by implication, its inhabitants;

specifically, a partic. land, as Babylonia,

Palestine:--habitable part, world.

see HEBREW for 02986

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

תֵּבֵל (te.vel) — world.

world

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular absolute
HNcfsa
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

if I will be hungry not I will tell to you for [belong] to me [the] world and what fills it
וּמְלֹאָֽהּ׃u.me.lo.'Ah and what fills it H4393 Conjunction · noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
38× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Fullness means having everything that is needed, like a full container or a complete amount. It can also mean a large quantity, like a multitude of things.
Amplified meaning
abundance, all that is needed, of the earth, everything in it
Tyndale gloss
fullness
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מְלֹא (melo') refers to 'fulness' or 'that which fills.' It encompasses various meanings, including a handful, mass, or multitude. The term appears in contexts that highlight both literal and figurative senses of fullness, such as in Ezekiel 41:8. There are no significant disagreements among the lexicons regarding its meanings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מְלֹא, [מְלוֹא] n.m. fulness, that which fills

fulness of hand (= handful)

mass of shepherds; multitude of nations

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4393 מְלֹא, מְלוֹא fulness, that which fills

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4393 mlo' mel-o'

rarely mlowf {mel-o'}; or mlow (Ezekiel 41:8), {mel-o'}; from

4390; fulness (literally or figuratively):--X all along, X

all that is (there-)in, fill, (X that whereof...was) full,

fulness, (hand- )full, multitude.

see HEBREW for 04390

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מְלֹא (me.lo) — fullness.

1) fulness, that which fills

1a) fulness, handful

1b) mass, multitude

1c) fulness, that which fills, entire contents

1d) full length, full line

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | N-ms | Suff — Conjunction · noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
HC/Ncmsc/Sp3fs
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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