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Psalms 55:4 — Word Study

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WLCלִ֭בִּי יָחִ֣יל בְּקִרְבִּ֑י וְאֵימ֥וֹת מָ֝֗וֶת נָפְל֥וּ עָלָֽי׃

BSAmeʻal

Word
Listen & take awayPsalms 55
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 4 is in this chapter.
Hebrew ↓ Download MP3 The Masoretic text of this chapter, read aloud. Read by Abraham Shmuelof, courtesy of Audio Scriptures International. Chapter divisions by the Academy of Ancient Languages..
Say the word Each Hebrew word carries its transliteration ('a.Lai) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Psalms 55:4quick helps
In a sentenceThe psalmist expresses deep inner turmoil, feeling overwhelmed by fear and the threat of death.
Who is speakingThe psalmist, reflecting on his emotional state.
Where we areIn a moment of distress, the psalmist articulates his feelings in the midst of trouble.
The hard wordיָחִ֣יל
Take awayThe heart is in anguish, and death's terrors weigh heavily.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbאָיַב 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 55:4

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

Context — A Cry of Distressgenerated

3at the voice of the enemy, at the pressure of the wicked. For they release disaster upon me and revile me in their anger.
4My heart murmurs within me, and the terrors of death assail me.
5Fear and trembling grip me, and horror has overwhelmed me.
6I said, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and find rest.

Psalm 55:4 captures the psalmist's emotional struggle as he feels the weight of his heart's pain and the terrors of death surrounding him. This verse is part of a larger lament where the psalmist calls out to God in his distress, reflecting a common theme in the Psalms of seeking divine help in times of trouble. The surrounding verses illustrate the intensity of his feelings, as he grapples with fear and the desire to escape his circumstances.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Psalm 6:3My soul is deeply distressed. How long, O LORD, how long?
2Psalm 69:20Insults have broken my heart, and I am in despair. I looked for sympathy, but there was none, for comforters, but I found no one.
3Psalm 88:3For my soul is full of troubles, and my life draws near to Sheol.
4Psalm 102:3–5For my days vanish like smoke, and my bones burn like glowing embers.
5Matthew 26:37–38He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee and began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 12 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word יָחִ֣יל, ya.Chilgenerated

The verb יָחִ֣יל (ya.Chil) means 'to tremble' or 'to twist,' indicating a physical or emotional reaction to fear or pain. It is in the imperfect tense, suggesting an ongoing state of distress rather than a completed action.

This word conveys a sense of deep emotional turmoil, often associated with intense feelings such as anxiety or dread. In this context, it emphasizes the psalmist's inner struggle as he faces overwhelming fear.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

The verse is rendered in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses murmurs and assail to convey the psalmist's emotional state.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The finite verbs in this verse are יָחִ֣יל (ya.Chil) and נָפְל֥וּ (na.fe.Lu), which govern the sentence's meaning. The structure indicates a subject followed by prepositional phrases that elaborate on the psalmist's inner turmoil.

The order of the phrases emphasizes the psalmist's heart's condition first, followed by the external threats he faces, highlighting the connection between internal feelings and external pressures.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates יָחִ֣יל as ἐξθροῦ (exthrou), which carries the meaning of trembling or being shaken. This choice reflects a similar emotional response to fear, aligning with the psalmist's expression of distress.

The translation of מָ֝֗וֶת as ἐχέκλιναν (echeklinan) suggests a focus on the action of falling or being overwhelmed, reinforcing the sense of danger and urgency in the psalmist's plea.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Psalm 55:4 shows the psalmist expressing his deep inner pain and fear of death. He feels as if his heart is murmuring in distress, and the terrors of death are pressing down on him. This verse highlights the emotional struggle faced in times of trouble.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does the psalmist mean by 'my heart murmurs'?

The psalmist is expressing his inner turmoil and emotional pain, indicating that his heart is troubled.

What are the 'terrors of death' referred to in this verse?

The 'terrors of death' represent the fears and anxieties associated with mortality and the threat of dying.

How does this verse relate to other psalms of distress?

This verse is part of a broader theme in the Psalms where individuals cry out to God in their distress, seeking comfort and help during difficult times.

What can we learn from the psalmist's expression of fear?

The psalmist's honest expression of fear and pain encourages us to acknowledge our own struggles and seek help from God.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. What are some fears that I have faced in my own life, and how can I bring those to God?
  2. How does acknowledging my emotional struggles help me in my relationship with God?
  3. In what ways can I support others who are experiencing fear or distress?
  4. What does it mean for me to find comfort in God during times of trouble?

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Psalms 55:4 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

My heart is sore pained within me,.... At the civil war in his kingdom; at the battle likely to ensue between his forces and Absalom's, and at the issue of it; see Jeremiah 4:19; this was true of

Read John Gill on Psalms 55 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

My heart is sore pained within me: and the terrors of death are fallen upon me. My heart is sore pained within me - literally, is agitated. The terrors of death are fallen upon me - as the enemy threatens my life.

Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 55 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

My heart is sore pained within me; with pains like those of a travailing woman, as the word signifies. My heart, which hath commonly supported me in my distresses, is now ready to sink within me; therefore, Lord, pity and help me. The terrors of death; either deadly terrors, such as seize upon men in the agonies of death; or fear of death; which is the more grievous to me, because my death will reflect dishonour upon thee, and bring many miseries upon the people.

Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 55 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Psalms 55:4 My heart is sore pained within me: and the terrors of death are fallen upon me.Ver. 4. My heart is sore pained within me] No otherwise than a woman is pained in travail; cordicitus doleo. I am pained deep in my heart. And the terrors of death are fallen upon me] Caused, doubtless, by the deep sense and conscience of his late grievous sins.

Read John Trapp on Psalms 55 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(4) Is sore pained.—Better, writhes with pain. Terrors of death—i.e., terrors caused by death, a horror of death.

Read Charles John Ellicott on Psalms 55 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 4. The terrors of death are fallen upon me.] I am in hourly expectation of being massacred.

Read AdamClarke on Psalms 55 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

4. terrors of death] Such terrors as the presence of Death, “the king of terrors,” inspires.

Read Cambridge on Psalms 55 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

My heart is sore pained within me - Heavy and sad; that is, I am deeply afflicted.

Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 55 →

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

My heart murmurs within me, and the terrors of death assail me.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

My heart is severely pained within me. The terrors of death have fallen on me.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

My heart pounds within me, and the terrors of death assail me.

NETBNew English Translation2006

My heart beats violently within me; the horrors of death overcome me.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

My heart is sore pained within me: and the terrors of death are fallen upon me.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

My heart is sore pained within me: And the terrors of death are fallen upon me.

RVARevised Version, American1894

My heart is sore pained within me: and the terrors of death are fallen upon me.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

My heart is severely pained within me: and the terrors of death have fallen upon me.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Mine heart trembleth within mee, and the terrours of death are fallen vpon me.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

My heart is writhing within me, and the terrors of death are fallen upon me.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

My heart is pained within me, And terrors of death have fallen on me.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

My heart is pained within me, || And terrors of death have fallen on me.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

(55:5) My heart is sorely pained within me, and the terrors of death are fallen upon me.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

My heart trembles within me, and the terrors of death have fallen on me.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

From the height of the day I shall fear: but I will trust in thee.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

My heart thumps in agony! Terrified, I feel I'm about to die!

BBEBible in Basic English1949

My heart is deeply wounded, and the fear of death has come on me.

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.

clausenoun phrase · subjectלִ֭בִּheartיmyverbיָחִ֣ילit.tremblesprepositional phrase · prepositionalבְּwithinnoun phraseקִרְבִּ֑withinיmeוְand.[the]clausenoun phrase · subjectאֵימ֥וֹתterrorsמָ֝֗וֶתof.deathverbנָפְל֥וּthey.have.fallenprepositional phrase · prepositionalעָלָֽonיme

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


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

The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint agree closely, with all seven words matched. This indicates a strong consistency in the translation of this verse across these two witnesses.

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

לִ֭בִּי יָחִ֣יל בְּקִרְבִּ֑י וְאֵימ֥וֹת מָ֝֗וֶת נָפְל֥וּ עָלָֽי׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
לִ֭בִּיφωνῆςיָחִ֣ילἐξθροῦבְּקִרְבִּ֑יθλίψεωςוְאֵימ֥וֹתὅτιמָ֝֗וֶתἐχέκλινανנָפְל֥וּἐπ’עָלָֽי׃ἀνομίαν

7 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.

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 55:4לֵבheart myheart myלֵבחוּלit tremblesit tremblesחוּלקֶ֫רֶבwithin mewithin meקֶ֫רֶבאֵימָהand [the] tand [the] terroאֵימָהמָ֫וֶתdeathdeathמָ֫וֶתנָפַלthey have fthey have falleנָפַלעַלon meon meעַלקָרֵבto presentto present: comקָרֵבמוּתto dieto dieמוּתלֵבָבheartheartלֵבָבאָיֹםterribleterribleאָיֹםפָּלַלto prayto prayפָּלַלעַלheightheightעַלחָסֵרlackinglackingחָסֵרחָכָםwisewiseחָכָםטֶ֫רֶםbeforebeforeטֶ֫רֶםחֵ֫לֶבfatfatחֵ֫לֶבבָּעַרto burn: bto burn: burnבָּעַרבָּעַתto terrifyto terrifyבָּעַתאַיֵּהwhere?where?אַיֵּהשְׁאוֹלhell: Sheohell: Sheolשְׁאוֹלגּוֹרָלallottedallottedגּוֹרָלחָלָלslain: kilslain: killedחָלָלכִּפֶּרto atoneto atoneכִּפֶּרכִּסֵּאthronethroneכִּסֵּא
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 55:4

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

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

heart my it trembles within me and [the] terrors of death they have fallen on me
לִ֭בִּיLi.bi heart my H3820 Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
595× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Leb refers to the heart, but also represents feelings, will, and intellect in the Bible. It is used figuratively to describe the center of something, and is often translated as heart or mind. Leb is a complex concept that encompasses emotions and thoughts.
Tyndale gloss
heart
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word לֵב (lev) means 'heart' and encompasses the inner man, mind, will, and emotions. It refers to the center of feelings, intellect, and moral character, as well as the seat of appetites and courage. The entries suggest a broad range of meanings related to human experience and thought, with a specific mention of its use in Jeremiah 51:1.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

לֵב 599 n.m. (f.) inner man, mind, will, heart

seldom of things in the midst of the sea

elsewhere of men

the inner man in contrast with the outer

the inner man, indef., soul, comprehending mind, affections and will

specific reference to mind

spec. ref. to inclinations, resolutions and determinations of the will

spec. ref. to conscience

[various]

for the man himself

as seat of appetites

as seat of emotions and passions

seat of courage

base

לֵב קָמָי prob. late Atbash Je 51:1.

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3820a לֵב inner man, mind, will, heart . seldom of things in the midst of the sea

. elsewhere of men . the inner man in contrast with the outer

. the inner man, indef., soul, comprehending mind, affections and will

. specific reference to mind

. spec. ref. to inclinations, resolutions and determinations of the will

. spec. ref. to conscience

. [various]

. for the man himself

. as seat of appetites

. as seat of emotions and passions

. seat of courage

H3820b לֵב קָמָי prob. late Atbash

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3820 leb labe

a form of 3824; the heart; also used (figuratively) very

widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect;

likewise for the centre of anything:--+ care for, comfortably,

consent, X considered, courag(-eous), friend(-ly), ((broken-),

(hard-), (merry-), (stiff-), (stout-), double) heart((-ed)), X

heed, X I, kindly, midst, mind(-ed), X regard((-ed)), X

themselves, X unawares, understanding, X well, willingly,

wisdom.

see HEBREW for 03824

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

לֵב (lev) — heart.

1) inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding

1a) inner part, midst

1a1) midst (of things)

1a2) heart (of man)

1a3) soul, heart (of man)

1a4) mind, knowledge, thinking, reflection, memory

1a5) inclination, resolution, determination (of will)

1a6) conscience

1a7) heart (of moral character)

1a8) as seat of appetites

1a9) as seat of emotions and passions 1a10) as seat of courage

לֵב (lev) — Leb.

§ Leb- = "heart of"

(probably a cryptic name for Babylon by Atbash)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HNcmsc/Sp1bs — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
HNcmsc/Sp1bs
heart my it trembles within me and [the] terrors of death they have fallen on me
יָחִ֣ילya.Chil it trembles H2342 Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singular
58× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to twist or whirl, and can describe dancing, pain, or fear. It is used to convey strong emotions or physical struggles, such as childbirth or great fear.
Tyndale gloss
to twist: tremble
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word חוּל (chuwl) is built from a primitive root meaning to twist or whirl. It covers a range of meanings, including to dance, writhe in pain, bear children, and wait anxiously. The word can also imply strength or firmness, as noted in some entries. Various forms indicate different nuances, such as being made to writhe or suffering anguish.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

חוּל [חִיל] vb. whirl, dance, writhe

Qal

dance

twist, writhe

whirl, whirl about

Po‛lel

dance

writhe in travail with, bear, bring forth (poet.)

wait anxiously

Po‛lal

be made to writhe

be brought forth

Hiph. cause to be in anguish

Hoph. be born

Hithpol.

whirling

writhing, suffering torture

wait longingly

Hithpalp. and she writhed in anxiety

base

[חול, חִיל] vb. be firm, strong

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2342a חוּל [חִיל] whirl, dance, writhe .. dance

. twist, writhe

. whirl, whirl about

.. dance

. writhe in travail with, bear, bring forth (poet.)

. wait anxiously

.. be made to writhe

. be brought forth

. cause to be in anguish

. be born

. . whirling

. writhing, suffering torture

. wait longingly

. and she writhed in anxiety

H2342b חול, חִיל br firm, strong

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2342 chuwl khool

or chiyl {kheel}; a primitive root; properly, to twist or

whirl (in a circular or spiral manner), i.e. (specifically) to

dance, to writhe in pain (especially of parturition) or fear;

figuratively, to wait, to pervert:--bear, (make to) bring

forth, (make to) calve, dance, drive away, fall grievously

(with pain), fear, form, great, grieve, (be) grievous, hope,

look, make, be in pain, be much (sore) pained, rest, shake,

shapen, (be) sorrow(-ful), stay, tarry, travail (with pain),

tremble, trust, wait carefully (patiently), be wounded.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חוּל (chul) — to twist: tremble.

: tremble/fear

1) to twist, whirl, dance, writhe, fear, tremble, travail, be in anguish, be pained

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to dance

1a2) to twist, writhe

1a3) to whirl, whirl about

1b) (Polel)

1b1) to dance

1b2) to writhe (in travail with), bear, bring forth

1b3) to wait anxiously

1c) (Pulal)

1c1) to be made to writhe, be made to bear

1c2) to be brought forth

1d) (Hophal) to be born

1e) (Hithpolel)

1e1) whirling (participle)

1e2) writhing, suffering torture (participle)

1e3) to wait longingly

1f) (Hithpalpel) to be distressed

חִיל (chil) — be firm.

to be firm, strong

חוּל (chul) — to twist: give birth.

: give_birth

1) to twist, whirl, dance, writhe, fear, tremble, travail, be in anguish, be pained

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to dance

1a2) to twist, writhe

1a3) to whirl, whirl about

1b) (Polel)

1b1) to dance

1b2) to writhe (in travail with), bear, bring forth

1b3) to wait anxiously

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HVqi3ms — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singular
HVqi3ms
heart my it trembles within me and [the] terrors of death they have fallen on me
בְּקִרְבִּ֑יbe.kir.Bi within me H7130 Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
227× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means the inner part or midst of something, whether physical or emotional, and can refer to the entrails of an animal or the seat of thought and emotion. In 1 Kings 17:21, it describes Elijah's emotional plea to God.
Tyndale gloss
entrails: among
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

קֶ֫רֶב (qereb) refers to the inward part or midst of something, encompassing both physical and figurative meanings. It can denote the center of a person or object, as well as the seat of thought and emotion. The term also relates to the entrails of sacrificial animals. It is used in various contexts, including references to being among or within a group.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

קֶ֫רֶב 227 n.[m.] inward part, midst

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7130 קֶ֫רֶב inward part, midst

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7130 qereb keh'-reb

from 7126; properly, the nearest part, i.e. the center,

whether literal, figurative or adverbial (especially with

preposition):--X among, X before, bowels, X unto charge, +

eat (up), X heart, X him, X in, inward (X -ly, part, -s,

thought), midst, + out of, purtenance, X therein, X through, X

within self.

see HEBREW for 07126

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

קֶ֫רֶב (qe.rev) — entrails: among.

: among/within

1) midst, among, inner part, middle

1a) inward part

1a1) physical sense

1a2) as seat of thought and emotion

1a3) as faculty of thought and emotion

1b) in the midst, among, from among (of a number of persons)

1c) entrails (of sacrificial animals)

Also means: qe.rev (קֶ֫רֶב ": inner_parts" H7130H)

קֶ֫רֶב (qe.rev) — entrails: inner parts.

: inner_parts

1) midst, among, inner part, middle

1a) inward part

1a1) physical sense

1a2) as seat of thought and emotion

1a3) as faculty of thought and emotion

1b) in the midst, among, from among (of a number of persons)

1c) entrails (of sacrificial animals)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HR/Ncmsc/Sp1bs — Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
HR/Ncmsc/Sp1bs
heart my it trembles within me and [the] terrors of death they have fallen on me
וְאֵימ֥וֹתve.'ei.Mot and [the] terrors of H367 Conjunction · noun common feminine plural construct
17× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for terror or dread, used to describe fear or horror, and sometimes an idol that inspires fear. It appears in the Bible to convey a sense of awe or fright. This word is used in various contexts, including descriptions of God's power.
Tyndale gloss
terror
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word אֵימָה (*'eymah*) means terror or dread. It is derived from a root related to fear and can also refer to an idol in a figurative sense. The entries consistently emphasize its meanings of fright and horror.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֵימָה 17 n.f. terror, dread

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H367 אֵימָה terror, dread

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

367 'eymah ay-maw'

or (shortened) remah {ay-maw'}; from the same as 366; fright;

concrete, an idol (as a bugbear):--dread, fear, horror, idol,

terrible, terror.

see HEBREW for 0366

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֵימָה (e.mah) — terror.

terror, dread

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HC/Ncfpc — Conjunction · noun common feminine plural construct
HC/Ncfpc
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…

heart my it trembles within me and [the] terrors of death they have fallen on me
מָ֝֗וֶתMa.vet death H4194 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
156× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this word refers to death, whether natural or violent, and is used in books like Genesis and Isaiah. It can also mean the place of the dead, or a state of ruin. This concept is seen in the story of Moses, where death is a punishment for disobedience.
Tyndale gloss
death
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מָ֫וֶת (maveth) means 'death' and encompasses various aspects such as natural or violent death, the state of being dead, and the realm of the dead (hades). It can also refer to pestilence or ruin. The word is derived from a root meaning 'to die' and has an Aramaic equivalent, מוֹת (mot).

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מָ֫וֶת 161 n.m. death

death, opp. life

death by violence

state of death or place of death

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4194 מָ֫וֶת death

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4194 maveth maw'-veth

from 4191; death (natural or violent); concretely, the dead,

their place or state (hades); figuratively, pestilence,

ruin:--(be) dead((-ly)), death, die(-d).

see HEBREW for 04191

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מָ֫וֶת (ma.vet) — death.

1) death, dying, Death (personified), realm of the dead

1a) death

1b) death by violence (as a penalty)

1c) state of death, place of death

Aramaic equivalent: mot (מוֹת "death" H4193)

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

(maweth; thanatos):

PHYSIOLOGICAL AND FIGURATIVE VIEW

The word "Death" is used in the sense of

(1) the process of dying (Ge 21:16);

(2) the period of decease (Ge 27:7);

(3) as a possible synonym for poison (2Ki 4:40);

(4) as descriptive of person in danger of perishing (Jud 15:18; "in deaths oft" 2Co 11:23). In this sense the shadow of death is a familiar expression in Job, the Psalms and the Prophets;

(5) death is personified in 1Co 15:55 and Re 20:14. Deliverance from this catastrophe is called the "issues from…

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Death

May be simply defined as the termination of life. It is represented under a variety of aspects in Scripture: (1.) “The dust shall return to the earth as it was” (Eccl. 12:7).

(2.) “Thou takest away their breath, they die” (Ps. 104:29).

(3.) It is the dissolution of “our earthly house of this tabernacle” (2 Cor. 5:1); the “putting off this tabernacle” (2 Pet. 1:13, 14).

(4.) Being “unclothed” (2 Cor. 5:3, 4).

(5.) “Falling on sleep” (Ps. 76:5; Jer. 51:39;

Is taken in Scripture, first, for the separation of body and soul, the first death, Ge 25:11; secondly, for alienation from God, and exposure to his wrath, 1Jo 3:14, etc.; thirdly, for the second death, that of eternal damnation. Death was the penalty affixed to Adam’s transgression, Ge 2:17 3:19; and all his posterity are transgressors, and share the curse inflicted upon him. CHRIST is "our life." All believers share his life, spiritually and eternally; and though sin and bodily is taken away, and in the resurrection the last enemy shall be trampled under foot, Ro 5:12-21 1Co 15:1-58.

Nave's Topical Bible

→ Miscellaneous Subjects

Called GIVING UP THE GHOST Ge 25:8; 35:29; La 1:19; Ac 5:10

KING OF TERRORS Job 18:14

A CHANGE Job 14:14

GOING TO THY FATHERS Ge 15:15; 25:8; 35:29

PUTTING OFF THIS TABERNACLE 2Pe 1:14

REQUIRING THE SOUL Lu 12:20

GOING THE WAY WHENCE THERE IS NO RETURN Job 16:22

BEING GATHERED TO OUR PEOPLE Ge 49:33

heart my it trembles within me and [the] terrors of death they have fallen on me
נָפְל֥וּna.fe.Lu they have fallen H5307 Verb · Qal · perfect third person common plural
435× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means to fall, and it's used in many ways, like falling down, failing, or being defeated. It appears in books like Genesis and Isaiah. God's people often fell away from Him, but He always offered a way back.
Tyndale gloss
to fall: fall
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

נָפַל (naphal) is a Hebrew verb meaning 'to fall,' encompassing a wide range of applications, including falling by accident, experiencing violent death, or going to ruin. It can also refer to prostrating oneself, attacking, or causing someone to fall. The term appears in various contexts throughout the Old Testament, often indicating physical or metaphorical downfall.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

נָפַל 433 vb. fall, lie

Qal 366

fall, by accident

Esp. of violent death

fig. = go to ruin, perish, etc.

fig. = experience calamity

fall, of a city

Fall prostrate

fall = prostrate oneself before

fall upon one's neck, in embrace

Fall upon = attack

desert or fall away to, go over to

Fig., of deep sleep

Other idiomatic uses

= lie; = lie prostrate

Hiph.

cause to fall

Of causing death; = overthrow, bring to destruction

Esp. of casting lot

Fig., let drop, cause to fail

cause deep sleep to fall

Other idioms

Hithp. throw, or prostrate oneself

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5307 נָפַל fall, lie .. fall, by accident

. . Esp. of violent death

. fig. = go to ruin, perish, etc.

. fig. = experience calamity

. fall, of a city

. . Fall prostrate

. fall = prostrate oneself before

. fall upon one's neck, in embrace

. . Fall upon = attack

. desert or fall away to, go over to

. Fig., of deep sleep

. Other idiomatic uses

. = lie; = lie prostrate

. . cause to fall

. Of causing death; = overthrow, bring to destruction

. Esp. of casting lot

. Fig., let drop, cause to fail

. cause deep sleep to fall

. Other idioms

. throw, or prostrate oneself

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5307 naphal naw-fal'

a primitive root; to fall, in a great variety of applications

(intransitive or causative, literal or figurative):--be

accepted, cast (down, self, (lots), out), cease, die, divide

(by lot), (let) fail, (cause to, let, make, ready to) fall

(away, down, -en, -ing), fell(-ing), fugitive, have

(inheritance), inferior, be judged (by mistake for 6419), lay

(along), (cause to) lie down, light (down), be (X hast) lost,

lying, overthrow, overwhelm, perish, present(-ed, -ing), (make

to) rot, slay, smite out, X surely, throw down.

see HEBREW for 06419

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נָפַל (na.phal) — to fall: fall.

: fall/drop/fail

1) to fall, lie, be cast down, fail

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to fall

1a2) to fall (of violent death)

1a3) to fall prostrate, prostrate oneself before

1a4) to fall upon, attack, desert, fall away to, go away to, fall into the hand of

1a5) to fall short, fail, fall out, turn out, result

1a6) to settle, waste away, be offered, be inferior to

1a7) to lie, lie prostrate

1b) (Hiphil)

1b1) to cause to fall, fell, throw down, knock out, lay prostrate

1b2) to overthrow

1b3) to make the lot fall, assign by lot, apportion by lot

1b4) to let drop, cause to fail (fig.)

1b5) to cause to fall

1c) (Hithpael)

1c1) to throw or prostrate oneself, throw oneself upon

1c2) to lie prostrate, prostrate oneself

1d) (Pilel) to fall

נָפַל (na.phal) — to fall: deserting.

: deserting

1) to fall, lie, be cast down, fail

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to fall

1a2) to fall (of violent death)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HVqp3cp — Verb · Qal · perfect third person common plural
HVqp3cp
heart my it trembles within me and [the] terrors of death they have fallen on me
עָלָֽי׃'a.Lai on me H5921 Preposition · suffix
5,774× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means on or above something, like a physical object or a situation. It can also imply a sense of responsibility or accountability, as in being on behalf of someone.
Tyndale gloss
upon
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word עַל (*al*) is a preposition meaning 'upon' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including 'on account of,' 'beside,' 'above,' and 'against.' It can indicate physical placement, emotional burdens, or duties imposed on a person. The entries also note its use in idiomatic expressions and with verbs of motion. There is a mention of its function as a conjunction in certain contexts.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as

base

עַל, עָ֑ל

subst. height

As prep. upon, and hence on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against

Upon, of the substratum upon which an object in any way rests, or on which an action is performed

of clothing, etc., which any one wears

With verbs of covering or protecting, even though the cover or veil be not over or above the thing covered, but around or before it

Of what rests heavily upon a person, or is a burden to him

Of a duty, payment, care, etc., imposed upon a person, or devolving on him

על is used idiom. to give pathos to the expression of an emotion, by emphasizing the person who is its subject, and who, as it were, feels it acting upon him

חָיָה עַל to live upon (as upon a foundation or support)

Read the full entry →
Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5921a עַל, עָ֑ל . As prep. upon, and hence on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against . Upon, of the substratum upon which an object in any way rests, or on which an action is performed . — . of clothing, etc., which any one wears

. With verbs of covering or protecting, even though the cover or veil be not over or above the thing covered, but around or before it

. Of what rests heavily upon a person, or is a burden to him

. Of a duty, payment, care, etc., imposed upon a person, or devolving on him

. על is used idiom. to give pathos to the expression of an emotion, by emphasizing the person who is its subject, and who, as it were, feels it acting upon him

. חָיָה עַל to live upon (as upon a foundation or support)

Read the full entry →
Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5921 `al al

properly, the same as 5920 used as a preposition (in the

singular or plural often with prefix, or as conjunction with a

particle following); above, over, upon, or against (yet always

in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great

variety of applications (as follow):--above, according

to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, X as, at, because

of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, X both

and, by (reason of), X had the charge of, concerning for, in

(that), (forth, out) of, (from) (off), (up-)on, over, than,

through(-out), to, touching, X with.

see HEBREW for 05920

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עַל (al) — upon.

prep

1) upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against

1a) upon, on the ground of, on the basis of, on account of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of, as regards

1b) above, beyond, over (of excess)

1c) above, over (of elevation or pre-eminence)

1d) upon, to, over to, unto, in addition to, together with, with (of addition)

1e) over (of suspension or extension)

1f) by, adjoining, next, at, over, around (of contiguity or proximity)

1g) down upon, upon, on, from, up upon, up to, towards, over towards, to, against (with verbs of motion)

1h) to (as a dative)

[כִּי] עַל [כֵּן] ([ki] al [ken]) — as.

conj

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | Suff — Preposition · suffix
HRd/Sp1bs
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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