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Psalms 64:7 — Word Study

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WLCוַיֹּרֵ֗ם אֱלֹ֫הִ֥ים חֵ֥ץ פִּתְא֑וֹם הָ֝י֗וּ מַכּוֹתָֽם׃

BSAto searchchâphas injusticeʻevel to finishtâmam plotchêphes to searchchâphas entrailsqereb manʼîysh heartlêb deepʻâmôq

Word
Listen & take awayPsalms 64
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 7 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 (ma.ko.Tam) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Psalms 64:7quick helps
In a sentenceGod will strike down the wicked suddenly and unexpectedly.
Who is speakingThe psalmist, reflecting on God's judgment.
Where we areA meditation on divine justice amidst human scheming.
The hard wordיָרָא
Take awayGod's judgment can come swiftly and without warning.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause subjectחֵפֶשׂ verbקֶרֶב 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 64:7

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 Judgment on the Wickedgenerated

6They devise injustice and say, “We have perfected a secret plan.” For the inner man and the heart are mysterious.
7But God will shoot them with arrows; suddenly they will be wounded.
8They will be made to stumble, their own tongues turned against them. All who see will shake their heads.
9Then all mankind will fear and proclaim the work of God; so they will ponder what He has done.

Psalm 64:7 reflects on the deceptive plans of the wicked and God's response. The psalmist contrasts human scheming with divine intervention, emphasizing that while the wicked plot in secret, God will act decisively against them. This verse serves as a reminder of God's sovereignty and the certainty of His judgment, as seen in the surrounding verses that describe the fate of those who oppose Him.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Psalm 7:12–13If one does not repent, God will sharpen His sword; He has bent and strung His bow.
2Psalm 18:14He shot His arrows and scattered the foes; He hurled lightning and routed them.
3Deuteronomy 32:23–42I will heap disasters upon them; I will spend My arrows against them.
4Job 6:4For the arrows of the Almighty have pierced me; my spirit drinks in their poison; the terrors of God are arrayed against me.
5Lamentations 3:12–13He bent His bow and set me as the target for His arrow.

The Key Word יָרָא, yarahgenerated

The verb יָרָא (*yarah*) is a hiphil form meaning 'to shoot' or 'to direct.' It captures both a literal sense of shooting arrows and a figurative sense of teaching or instructing. In this context, it signifies God's active role in delivering judgment against the wicked, illustrating His power and authority.

The use of this verb in a judgment context highlights the suddenness and precision of God's actions. The psalmist conveys that God's arrows of judgment will strike unexpectedly, reinforcing the theme of divine retribution.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main verb governing the verse is יָרָא, He will shoot, which is followed by the subject אֱלֹהִים (God) and the object חֵץ (arrow). The structure indicates a clear action taken by God against the wicked.

The adverb פִּתְאֹם (suddenly) modifies the verb, emphasizing the unexpected nature of the judgment. The sentence structure highlights the immediacy of God's response to the wicked's plans.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates יָרָא with ἐχέλιπον, which means 'to shoot' or 'to cast away.' This choice aligns closely with the Hebrew meaning but may suggest a broader interpretation of God's action.

The translation reflects the urgency and decisiveness of God's judgment, emphasizing that it will come swiftly and without warning.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Psalm 64:7 tells us that God will act against the wicked by shooting arrows at them, indicating a sudden and unexpected judgment. This verse serves as a reminder of God's power to intervene in human affairs, especially when evil is plotted in secret.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean that God will shoot arrows?

This metaphor signifies God's judgment against the wicked, illustrating how He will act decisively and unexpectedly to bring justice.

Why does the psalmist emphasize suddenness?

The suddenness highlights the unexpected nature of God's judgment, reminding readers that they should not underestimate His power to intervene at any moment.

How does this verse relate to the surrounding context?

The verse contrasts the secret plans of the wicked with God's clear and powerful response, reinforcing the theme of divine justice throughout the psalm.

What can we learn from God's judgment in this verse?

We learn that God is aware of human scheming and will act against injustice, providing assurance that He is in control of the situation.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what areas of my life do I need to trust that God will act against injustice?
  2. How can I be more aware of my own actions and their consequences, knowing that God sees all?
  3. What are some ways I can encourage others to trust in God's timing for judgment?
  4. How does understanding God's sudden judgment change the way I view current events in the world?

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

The verse has been referenced by early church fathers, illustrating its significance in discussions of divine judgment and justice.

Augustine of HippoExposition on Psalms 64 354–430
"Arrows of infants have been made the strokes of them" [Psalms 64:7].
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 64 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Psalms 64:7 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

But God shall shoot at them [with] an arrow,.... With one or other of his four judgments; famine, pestilence, sword, and wild beasts, Ezekiel 14:21; which he brings upon wicked men; and may be

Read John Gill on Psalms 64 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

They search out iniquities; they accomplish a diligent search: both the inward thought of every one of them, and the heart, is deep. -When all the plot is ripe, then ensues sudden destruction of the wicked plotters.

Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 64 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

God shall shoot at them; though I can neither search out or prevent their subtle devices, yet God can and will certainly do it. Suddenly; shortly and unexpectedly.

Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 64 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Psalms 64:7 But God shall shoot at them [with] an arrow; suddenly shall they be wounded.Ver. 7. But God shall shoot at them, &c.] He shall overshoot them in their own bow, pay them home in their own coin; he will deal with them lege talionis, for he loveth to retaliate, see Psalms 64:4, they shall find that he can handle his arms a fair deal better against them than they did against David. With an arrow suddenly] As was Ahab, and the rich fool, Luke 12:16-21, while he sat pruning himself like a bird on a bough, death fetched him off suddenly by his shaft shot at him, and down be came tumbling. See 1 Thessalonians 5:3.

Read John Trapp on Psalms 64 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(7, 8) The meaning of these verses is clear. In the moment of their imagined success, their deeply-laid schemes just on the point of ripening, a sudden Divine retribution overtakes the wicked, and all their calumnies, invented with such cunning, fall back on their own heads. But the construction is most perplexing. The text presents a tangled maze of abrupt clauses, which, arranged according to the accents, run: And God shoots an arrow, sudden are their wounds, and they make it (or him) fall on themselves their tongue. The last clause seems to pronounce the law which obtains in Divine judgment. While God orders the retribution it is yet the recoil of their own evil on the guilty. In these…

Read Charles John Ellicott on Psalms 64 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 7. But God shall shoot at them with an arrow] They endeavour to trace me out, that they may shoot me; but God will shoot at them. This, if the Psalm refer to the times of David, seems to be prophetic of Saul's death. The archers pressed upon him, and sorely wounded him with their arrows. 1 Samuel 31:3.

Read AdamClarke on Psalms 64 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

7–10. They may scheme, but in the midst of their schemes the arrow of divine judgement pierces them: by this exhibition of God’s justice all men are warned, and the righteous are encouraged.

Read Cambridge on Psalms 64 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

But God shall shoot at them with an arrow - That is, Instead of their being able to carry out their purposes of shooting the arrows which they had prepared against others, God will shoot his arrows against them.

Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 64 →

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

But God will shoot them with arrows; suddenly they will be wounded.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

But God will shoot at them. They will be suddenly struck down with an arrow.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

But God will shoot them with arrows; suddenly they will be wounded.

NETBNew English Translation2006

But God will shoot at them; suddenly they will be wounded by an arrow.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

But God shall shoot at them with an arrow; suddenly shall they be wounded.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

But God will shoot at them; With an arrow suddenly shall they be wounded.

RVARevised Version, American1894

But God shall shoot at them; with an arrow suddenly shall they be wounded.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

But God shall shoot at them with an arrow; suddenly shall they be wounded.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

But God will shoote an arrowe at them suddenly: their strokes shalbe at once.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

But God will shoot an arrow at them: suddenly are they wounded;

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

And God doth shoot them [with] an arrow, Sudden have been their wounds,

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

And God shoots them [with] an arrow, || Their wounds have been sudden,

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

(64:8) But God shooteth at them suddenly [his] arrow;—[thence] are come their wounds.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

But God will shoot them; suddenly they will be wounded with his arrows.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

Thou who preparest the mountains by thy strength, being girded with power:

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

But God will shoot them with arrows; all of a sudden they will be wounded.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

But God sends out an arrow against them; suddenly they are wounded.

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.

וַandclauseverbיֹּרֵ֗heobjectםshot.at.themsubjectאֱלֹ֫הִ֥יםGodsecond objectחֵ֥ץan.arrowclauseadverbialפִּתְא֑וֹםsuddenlyverbהָ֝י֗וּthey.will.benoun phrase · subjectמַכּוֹתָֽwoundsםtheir

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


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

The Masoretic Text states, "וַיֹּרֵ֗ם אֱלֹ֫הִ֥ים חֵ֥ץ פִּתְא֑וֹם הָ֝י֗וּ מַכּוֹתָֽם׃" which translates to, "But God will shoot them with arrows; suddenly they will be wounded." The Septuagint, while not providing a full translation here, aligns closely with the Masoretic Text, matching five out of six words, indicating a strong agreement in the core meaning of the verse. The Samaritan Pentateuch and the Dead Sea Scrolls do not provide additional variants for this particular verse, so the primary witnesses affirm the same message without significant differences.

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

וַיֹּרֵ֗ם אֱלֹ֫הִ֥ים חֵ֥ץ פִּתְא֑וֹם הָ֝י֗וּ מַכּוֹתָֽם׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
וַיֹּרֵ֗םἐχέλιπονאֱלֹ֫הִ֥יםἐχερευνῶντεςחֵ֥ץἐχερευνήσειהָ֝י֗וּπροσελεύσεταιמַכּוֹתָֽם׃καὶ

5 of the 6 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 64:7יָרָאand he shotand he shot at יָרָאאֱלֹהִיםGodGodאֱלֹהִיםחֵץan arrowan arrowחֵץפִּתְאֹםsuddenlysuddenlyפִּתְאֹםהָיָהthey will bthey will beהָיָהמַכָּהwounds theiwounds theirמַכָּהפֶּתַעsuddennesssuddennessפֶּתַעחָצַץto divideto divideחָצַץנָכָהto smiteto smiteנָכָהאֱלֹהַּgodgodאֱלֹהַּהָוָאto fallto fallהָוָאחֵץarrowarrowחֵץאַחֵרanotheranotherאַחֵראֲרוֹןarkarkאֲרוֹןשָׁנַןto sharpento sharpenשָׁנַןבָּרַקto use ligto use lightninבָּרַקאֵידcalamitycalamityאֵידרָפָאto healto healרָפָאשֶׁ֫בֶרbreakingbreakingשֶׁ֫בֶר
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 64:7

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.

and he shot at them God an arrow suddenly they will be wounds their
וַיֹּרֵ֗םvai.yo.Rem and he shot at them H3384 Verb hiphil sequential imperfect third person masculine singular · suffix
80× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To show or teach something, like pointing it out or shooting an arrow. It is used in Psalms and Proverbs to describe instructing or directing others.
Tyndale gloss
to shoot
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word יָרָא (*yarah*) encompasses meanings related to shooting, pouring, and throwing. It can refer to actions like shooting arrows or casting water, as well as figurative uses such as teaching or directing. The entries indicate that it has both a literal and a figurative range, with roots in the idea of flowing or pointing out.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[יָרָא] vb. shoot, pour

Qal shoot with arrows

Hiph. and they shot at; Pt. pl. the shooters, archers

Hoph. he that watereth shall himself also be watered

base

יָרָה vb. throw, shoot

Qal

throw, cast

cast (= lay, set), corner-stone; pillar

shoot arrows

throw water, rain

Niph. shot through (with arrows)

Hiph.

throw, cast

shoot (arrows)

throw water, rain

point out, shew

direct, teach, instruct

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3384a יָרָא shoot, pour H3384b יָרָה throw, shoot .. throw, cast

. cast (= lay, set), corner-stone; pillar

. shoot arrows

. throw water, rain

. shot through (with arrows)

. . throw, cast

. shoot (arrows)

. throw water, rain

. point out, shew

. direct, teach, instruct

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3384 yarah yaw-raw'

or (2 Chr. 26:15) yara; {yaw-raw'}; a primitive root;

properly, to flow as water (i.e. to rain); transitively, to

lay or throw (especially an arrow, i.e. to shoot);

figuratively, to point out (as if by aiming the finger), to

teach:--(+) archer, cast, direct, inform, instruct, lay, shew,

shoot, teach(-er,-ing), through.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יָרָא (ya.ra) — to shoot.

1) to shoot, pour

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to shoot arrows

1b) (Hiphil)

1b1) to shoot at

1b2) part. shooter, archer

1c) to throw water, rain

יָרָה (ya.rah) — to show.

1) to point out, show

1b) to direct, teach, instruct

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Hc/Vhw3ms/Sp3mp — Verb hiphil sequential imperfect third person masculine singular · suffix
Hc/Vhw3ms/Sp3mp
and he shot at them God an arrow suddenly they will be wounds their
אֱלֹ֫הִ֥ים'E.lo.Him God H430 Noun common · masculine plural absolute
2,603× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for God, elohim, refers to the one supreme God, and is sometimes used to show respect to judges or magistrates. It is also used to describe angels or mighty beings. This word is closely related to the name of the Lord, Yahweh, and is often translated as God or gods in the Bible.
Tyndale gloss
God
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֱלֹהִים 2570 n.m.pl.

pl. in number.

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

divine ones, superhuman beings including God and angels

angels

gods

pl. intensive

god or goddess

godlike one

works of God, or things belongng to him

God

הָאֱלֹהִים the (true) God

אֱלֹהִים = God

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

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

. divine ones, superhuman beings including God and angels

. angels

. gods

. pl. intensive . god or goddess

. godlike one

. works of God, or things belongng to him

. God

. הָאֱלֹהִים the (true) God

. אֱלֹהִים = God

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

430 'elohiym el-o-heem'

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

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

supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to

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

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

mighty.

see HEBREW for 0433

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֱלֹהִים (e.lo.him) — God.

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

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

אֱלֹהִים (e.lo.him) — (LORD)-Elohe.

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

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

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

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

god ('Elohim, 'El, [`Elyon], Shadday, Yahweh; Theos):

I. INTRODUCTION TO THE GENERAL IDEA

1. The Idea in Experience and in Thought

2. Definition of the Idea

3. The Knowledge of God

4. Ethnic Ideas of God

(1) Animism

(2) Fetishism

(3) Idolatry

(4) Polytheism

(5) Henotheism

(6) Pantheism

(7) Deism

(8) Semitic Monolatry

(9) Monotheism

II. THE IDEA OF GOD IN THE OLD TESTAMENT

1. The Course of Its Development

2. Forms of Its Manifestation

(1) The Face or Countenance of God

(2) The Voice and Word of God

(3) The Glory of God

(4) The Angel of God

(5) The Spirit of God

(6) The Name of God

(7) Occasional Forms

3. The Names of God

(1) Generic

(2) Attributive

(3) Yahweh

4. Pre-prophetic Conceptions of God

(1) Yahweh Alone Is the God of Israel

(a) His Early Worship

(b) Popular Religion

(c) Polytheistic Tendencies

(i) Coordination

(ii) Assimilation

(iii) Disintegration

(d) No Hebrew Goddesses

(e) Human Sacrifices

Easton's Bible Dictionary

God

(A.S. and Dutch God; Dan. Gud; Ger. Gott), the name of the Divine Being. It is the rendering (1) of the Hebrew ’El, from a word meaning to be strong; (2) of ’Eloah_, plural _’Elohim. The singular form, Eloah, is used only in poetry. The plural form is more commonly used in all parts of the Bible, The Hebrew word Jehovah (q.v.), the only other word generally employed to denote the Supreme Being, is uniformly rendered in the Authorized Version by “LORD,” printed in small capitals. The existence of God is taken for granted in the Bible. There is nowhere any argument to prove it. He who disbelieves this truth is spoken of as one devoid of understanding (Ps. 14:1).

The arguments generally adduced by theologians in proof of the being of God are:

(1.) The a priori argument, which is the testimony afforded by reason.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

(good). Throughout the Hebrew Scriptures two chief names are used for the one true divine Being--ELOHIM, commonly translated God in our version, and JEHOVAH, translated Lord . Elohim is the plural of Eloah (in Arabic Allah); it is often used in the short form EL (a word signifying strength , as in EL-SHADDAI, God Almighty, the name by which God was specially known to the patriarchs. (Genesis 17:1; 28:3; Exodus 6:3) The etymology is uncertain, but it is generally agreed that the primary idea is that of strength, power of effect , and that it properly describes God in that character in which he is exhibited to all men in his works, as the creator, sustainer and supreme governor of the world. The plural form of Elohim has given rise to much discussion. The fanciful idea that it…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

This name, the derivation of which is uncertain, we give to that eternal, infinite, perfect, and incomprehensible Being, the Creator of all things, who preserves and governs all by his almighty power and wisdom, and is the only proper object of worship. The proper Hebrew name for God is JEHOVAH, which signifies He is. But the Jews, from a feeling of reverence, avoid pronouncing this name, substituting for it, wherever it occurs in the sacred test, the word ADONAI, Lord; except in the expression, ADONAI JEHOVAH, Lord Jehovah, for which they put, ADONAI ELOHIM, Lord God. This usage, which is not without an element of superstition, is very ancient, dating its origin some centuries before Christ; but there is no good ground for assuming its existence in the days of the inspired Old Testament writers. The proper word for God is ELOHIM, which is plural in its form, being thus used to signify…

and he shot at them God an arrow suddenly they will be wounds their
חֵ֥ץchetz an arrow H2671 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
53× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
An arrow is a sharp object shot from a bow, used for hunting or battle, like those used by archers in the book of Judges. It can also symbolize God's powerful judgment.
Tyndale gloss
arrow
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

חֵץ (chets) means 'arrow,' primarily found in poetic and prophetic contexts. It is derived from a root meaning 'to pierce' and can imply a wound or refer to a thunderbolt in a figurative sense. The word also encompasses related terms like 'dart' and 'shaft,' indicating its use in various forms of weaponry.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

חֵץ n.m. arrow, mostly poet. and proph.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2671 חֵץ arrow, mostly poet. and proph.

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2671 chets khayts

from 2686; properly, a piercer, i.e. an arrow; by

implication, a wound; figuratively, (of God) thunder-bolt; (by

interchange for 6086) the shaft of a spear:--+ archer, arrow,

dart, shaft, staff, wound.

see HEBREW for 02686

see HEBREW for 06086

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חֵץ (chets) — arrow.

arrow

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

ar'-o. See ARCHERY; ARMOR.

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

Used by the Jews both in hunting and in war; sometimes merely a sharpened reed, sometimes feathered, barbed, and even poisoned, Job 6:4. The bow was of various forms and materials, and many could be used only by the strongest men, Ps 18:34. Arrows were used to convey fire to an enemy’s house, and for divination, Eze 21:21. The word is applied symbolically to children, Ps 127:4,5; to the lightning, Ps 18:14 Hab 3:11; to sudden calamities, Job 6:4 Ps 38:2 91:5

Nave's Topical Bible

→ (A weapon)

→ Used in hunting Ge 21:20; 27:3

→ Used in war 1Sa 31:3; 2Sa 22:15; 1Ki 22:34; 2Ki 19:32; Ps 7:13; Isa 22:3; Jer 51:3

→ Divination by Eze 21:21

→ Shot by Jonathan as a sign to David 1Sa 20:20-42

→ Shot by Joash as a sign against the Syrians 2Ki 13:14-19

and he shot at them God an arrow suddenly they will be wounds their
פִּתְא֑וֹםpit.'om suddenly H6597 Adverb
25× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means happening suddenly or quickly, like an unexpected event. It is used in the Bible to describe surprising things that happen to people like Jacob and Joseph.
Tyndale gloss
suddenly
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

פִּתְאֹם (pit'om) means 'suddenly' and can also refer to 'suddenness.' It is primarily used as an adverb to describe an unexpected occurrence. The word is derived from another Hebrew term, but the entries do not provide specific verses where it is used.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

פִּתְאֹם, once פֵּתְאוֹם subst. suddenness, usu. as adv. acc. suddenly

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6597 פִּתְאֹם, once פֵּתְאוֹם suddenness, usu. as adv. acc. suddenly

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6597 pith'owm pith-ome'

or pith.om {pith-ome'}; from 6621; instantly:--straightway,

sudden(-ly).

see HEBREW for 06621

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

פִּתְאֹם (pit.om) — suddenly.

adv

1) suddenly, surprisingly

subst

2) suddenness

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HD — Adverb
HD
and he shot at them God an arrow suddenly they will be wounds their
הָ֝י֗וּha.Yu they will be H1961 Verb · Qal · perfect third person common plural
3,562× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for to be means to exist or come into being. It is used to describe something that happens or comes to pass, like in Genesis where God creates the world.
Tyndale gloss
to be
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word הָיָה (hayah) is a primitive root meaning to exist or become, and it encompasses a range of meanings including to happen, occur, and come to pass. It is often used in narrative contexts, particularly in phrases like "and it came to pass." The word can also denote a state of being or existence, and it appears frequently in various forms throughout the Old Testament.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

הָיָה 3570 vb. fall out, come to pass, become, be

Qal

Fall out, happen

occur, take place, come about, come to pass

esp. & very oft., come about, come to pass

וַיְהִי and it came to pass that, most often (c. 292 t.)

rarely also Pf. c. וְ conj. וְהָיָה

less oft. וְהָיָה Pf. consec. and it shall come to pass, or frequentat. came to pass (repeatedly, etc.)

Come into being, become

abs., in lively narrative, arise, appear, come

sq. prep.

become

sq. pred. noun (to be viewed as implicit accus.)

sq. pred. adj.

become like

sq. pred. לְ pers.

sq. לְ pred.

oft. c. לְ pred. לְ pers.

with עַל and לְ

sts. c. לְ pers. only = became the property of, come into the possession of

Be (often with subbordinate idea of becoming)

exist, be in existence

abide, remain, continue

with word of locality, be in or at a place, be situated, stand, lie

as copula, joining subj. & pred.

Read the full entry →
Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1961 הָיָה fall out, come to pass, become, be .. . . Fall out, happen

. occur, take place, come about, come to pass

. esp. & very oft., come about, come to pass . . וַיְהִי and it came to pass that, most often (c. 292 t.)

. rarely also Pf. c. וְ conj. וְהָיָה

. less oft. וְהָיָה Pf. consec. and it shall come to pass, or frequentat. came to pass (repeatedly, etc.)

. Come into being, become . . abs., in lively narrative, arise, appear, come

. sq. prep.

. become . sq. pred. noun (to be viewed as implicit accus.)

. sq. pred. adj.

. become like

. sq. pred. + לְ pers.

. sq. לְ pred.

. oft. c. לְ pred. + לְ pers.

. with עַל and לְ

. sts. c. לְ pers. only = became the property of, come into the possession of

. Be (often with subbordinate idea of becoming) . exist, be in existence

. abide, remain, continue

Read the full entry →
Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1961 hayah haw-yaw

a primitive root (compare 1933); to exist, i.e. be or become,

come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or

auxiliary):--beacon, X altogether, be(-come), accomplished,

committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint,

fall, + follow, happen, X have, last, pertain, quit

(one-)self, require, X use.

see HEBREW for 01933

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

הָיָה (ha.yah) — to be.

1) to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out

1a) (Qal)

1a1) ---

1a1a) to happen, fall out, occur, take place, come about, come to pass

1a1b) to come about, come to pass

1a2) to come into being, become

1a2a) to arise, appear, come

1a2b) to become

1a2b1) to become

1a2b2) to become like

1a2b3) to be instituted, be established

1a3) to be

1a3a) to exist, be in existence

1a3b) to abide, remain, continue (with word of place or time)

1a3c) to stand, lie, be in, be at, be situated (with word of locality)

1a3d) to accompany, be with

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to occur, come to pass, be done, be brought about

1b2) to be done, be finished, be gone

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HVqp3cp — Verb · Qal · perfect third person common plural
HVqp3cp
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

See TESTAMENT.

Nave's Topical Bible

→ THE MENTAL FACULTY

Freedom of, recognized by God Ge 4:6-10; De 5:29; 1Ki 20:42; Isa 1:18-20; 43:26; Jer 36:3,7; Joh 7:17

See BLESSINGS, CONTINGENT UPON OBEDIENCE

See CHOICE

See CONTINGENCY

→ OF GOD, THE SUPREME RULE OF DUTY Mt 6:10; 12:50; 26:39,42; Mr 3:35; 14:36; Lu 11:2; 22:42; Joh 4:34; 5:30; 6:38-40; Ac…

and he shot at them God an arrow suddenly they will be wounds their
מַכּוֹתָֽם׃ma.ko.Tam wounds their H4347 Noun common feminine plural construct · suffix
48× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A wound or blow, also referring to carnage, pestilence, or defeat. It can describe physical harm, like a beating, or widespread suffering, like a plague.
Tyndale gloss
wound
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מַכָּה (makkah) refers to a blow or wound, encompassing meanings such as slaughter and pestilence. It is derived from a root meaning to strike and can imply defeat or conquest. The term appears in contexts like 2 Chronicles 2:10, where it relates to a physical blow, and can also refer to figurative concepts like carnage.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מַכָּה n.f. blow, wound, slaughter

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4347 מַכָּה blow, wound, slaughter

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4347 makkah mak-kaw'

or (masculine) makkeh {muk-keh'}; (plural only) from 5221; a

blow (in 2 Chronicles 2:10, of the flail); by implication, a

wound; figuratively, carnage, also pestilence:--beaten, blow,

plague, slaughter, smote, X sore, stripe, stroke,

wound((-ed)).

see HEBREW for 05221

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מַכָּה (mak.kah) — wound.

1) blow, wound, slaughter

1a) blow, stripe

1b) beating, scourging

1c) wound

1d) slaughter

1e) defeat, conquest

1f) plague

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HNcfpc/Sp3mp — Noun common feminine plural construct · suffix
HNcfpc/Sp3mp
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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