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Psalms 69:7 — Word Study

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WLCכִּֽי־ עָ֭לֶיךָ נָשָׂ֣אתִי חֶרְפָּ֑ה כִּסְּתָ֖ה כְלִמָּ֣ה פָנָֽי׃

BSAnotʼal be ashamedbûwsh to awaitqâvâh LordʼĂdônây YHWH/GodYᵉhôvih armytsâbâʼ notʼal be humiliatedkâlam to seekbâqash Godʼĕlôhîym IsraelYisrâʼêl

Word
Listen & take awayPsalms 69
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 (fa.Nai) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Psalms 69:7quick helps
In a sentenceThe psalmist expresses his suffering and shame endured for God's sake.
Who is speakingThe psalmist, speaking directly to God.
Where we areIn a lament, the psalmist reflects on personal shame and reproach.
The hard wordחֶרְפָּה
Take awayShame can feel overwhelming, but it is often tied to our relationship with God.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause subjectאֲדֹנָי verbהוּא 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 69:7

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 — A Lament of Sufferinggenerated

6May those who hope in You not be ashamed through me, O Lord GOD of Hosts; may those who seek You not be dishonored through me, O God of Israel.
7For I have endured scorn for Your sake, and shame has covered my face.
8I have become a stranger to my brothers and a foreigner to my mother’s sons,
9because zeal for Your house has consumed me, and the insults of those who insult You have fallen on me.

Psalm 69:7 is part of a lament where the psalmist cries out about the scorn and shame he faces because of his commitment to God. This verse highlights the emotional toll of being ridiculed for one's faith and the deep sense of humiliation that can accompany it. The surrounding verses elaborate on the psalmist's feelings of isolation and the zeal for God's house that drives his suffering, as seen in Psalm 69:9.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Psalm 22:6–8But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by men and despised by the people.
2Psalm 44:22Yet for Your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.
3Jeremiah 15:15You understand, O LORD; remember me and attend to me. Avenge me against my persecutors. In Your patience, do not take me away. Know that I endure reproach for Your honor.
4John 15:21–24But they will treat you like this because of My name, since they do not know the One who sent Me.
5Isaiah 50:6I offered My back to those who struck Me, and My cheeks to those who tore out My beard. I did not hide My face from scorn and spittle.

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


The Key Word חֶרְפָּה, cherpahgenerated

The noun חֶרְפָּה (cherpah) refers to reproach or shame, often associated with scorn or disgrace. It conveys a strong sense of humiliation and is used to express the feelings of being insulted or dishonored.

This word emphasizes the emotional burden the psalmist carries, indicating that the scorn he endures is not just external but deeply affects his sense of self. The context suggests that this reproach is tied to his devotion to God, making it a profound source of pain.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

The verse is rendered in the Berean Standard Bible as 'For I have endured scorn for Your sake, and shame has covered my face.' This wording is consistent across several translations, including the KJV and ASV.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The verse is structured around two main clauses: the first describes the psalmist's action of enduring scorn, while the second states the result of that scorn — the covering of his face with shame. This parallel structure emphasizes the cause-and-effect relationship between enduring scorn and experiencing shame.

The finite verb נָשָׂ֣אתִי (na.sati) governs the first clause, while כִּסְּתָ֖ה (ki.se.tah) serves as the verb in the second clause. This arrangement highlights the psalmist's active role in bearing reproach and the passive experience of shame.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

In the Septuagint, the Hebrew חֶרְפָּה is rendered as ὀνειδισμός (oneidismos), which also means reproach or insult. This choice underscores the continuity of the theme of shame across the translations.

The Greek term reflects a similar emotional weight, indicating that the reproach faced by the psalmist is recognized and articulated in both the Hebrew and Greek traditions.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Psalm 69:7 expresses the psalmist's feelings of scorn and shame for the sake of God. He has endured reproach, and this shame has overwhelmed him, covering his face. This reflects the deep emotional struggle of being ridiculed for one's faith.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does the psalmist mean by enduring scorn?

The psalmist refers to the ridicule and insults he faces because of his devotion to God, which causes him great emotional pain.

Why does the psalmist mention shame covering his face?

Shame covering his face symbolizes deep humiliation and the impact of scorn on his dignity and self-worth.

How does this verse relate to the themes of suffering in the Psalms?

This verse reflects a common theme in the Psalms where the psalmist expresses feelings of isolation and pain due to faithfulness to God, often leading to scorn from others.

What can we learn from the psalmist's experience of shame?

The psalmist's experience teaches us about the emotional struggles that can come with faith, reminding us that enduring scorn for our beliefs is a shared human experience.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what ways have I experienced scorn or shame for my beliefs?
  2. How can I support others who are facing ridicule for their faith?
  3. What does it mean to endure suffering for the sake of God?
  4. How can I find strength in moments of shame or humiliation?

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

The early Church Fathers often referenced this verse to discuss the nature of suffering for God's sake. Here is a quotation from Augustine of Hippo, who reflects on the psalmist's experience.

Augustine of HippoExposition on Psalms 69 354–430
"For because of You I have sustained upbraiding, shamelessness has covered my face" [Psalms 69:7].
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 69 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Psalms 69:7 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

Because for thy sake I have borne reproach,.... Being reckoned a sinner, called a deceiver, said to be a Samaritan, and to have a devil; with many other reproaches, which he bore patiently for the

Read John Gill on Psalms 69 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

O God, thou knowest my foolishness; and my sins are not hid from thee.

Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 69 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

For thy sake; for my trust in thy promise, and obedience to thy commands, and zeal for thy glory, and against all wickedness; all which they turn into matter of derision and reproach. My face; in which man’ s majesty and glory is most evident, which I am in a manner ashamed to show amongst men.

Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 69 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Psalms 69:7 Because for thy sake I have borne reproach; shame hath covered my face.Ver. 7. Because for thy sake I have borne reproach] Whatever mine enemies pretend, they strike at thee, Lord, through my sides; and for thy sake alone it is that I am so bespattled, that I am even ashamed to look any one in the face. The most innocent may, upon the fulness of an aspersion, be put out of countenance.

Read John Trapp on Psalms 69 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(7) Because.—Better, for.For thy sake.—It is plain from Psalms 69:9 that these words can only mean that the reproach under which the psalmist (or the community of which he was the spokesman) laboured was borne in the cause of religion. (Comp. Jeremiah 15:15.)

Read Charles John Ellicott on Psalms 69 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 7. For thy sake I have borne reproach] The Gentiles have said, "Why such an obstinate attachment to the worship of a Being who treats you so rigorously, and who interests not himself in your comfort and deliverance?" And in these cuttting reproaches some of the ungodly Jews took a part: "I am an alien to my mother's children."

Read AdamClarke on Psalms 69 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

7–12. Such discouragement must be the inevitable consequence if he is abandoned, for it is for God’s sake that he is persecuted and defamed. Comp. the plea of the nation in Psalms 44:14 ff.

Read Cambridge on Psalms 69 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Because for thy sake I have borne reproach - In thy cause; in defense of thy truth; because I have professed to be a friend of God.

Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 69 →

The verse in English, compared — 16 translations, and where they part company

Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.

Modern formal

BSBBerean Standard Bible2020

For I have endured scorn for Your sake, and shame has covered my face.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Because for your sake, I have borne reproach. Shame has covered my face.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

For I have endured scorn for Your sake, and shame has covered my face.

NETBNew English Translation2006

For I suffer humiliation for your sake and am thoroughly disgraced.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

Because for thy sake I have borne reproach; shame hath covered my face.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

Because for thy sake I have borne reproach; Shame hath covered my face.

RVARevised Version, American1894

Because for thy sake I have borne reproach; shame hath covered my face.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

Because for thy sake I have borne reproach; shame hath covered my face.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

For thy sake haue I suffred reproofe: shame hath couered my face.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

Because for thy sake I have borne reproach; confusion hath covered my face.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

For because of Thee I have borne reproach, Shame hath covered my face.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

For because of You I have borne reproach, || Shame has covered my face.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

(69:8) Because for thy sake have I borne reproach, hath confusion covered my face.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

For your sake I have borne rebuke; shame has covered my face.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

For your sake I put up with the insults; my face shows my embarrassment.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

I have been wounded with sharp words because of you; my face has been covered with shame.

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.

כִּֽי(dm)clauseprepositional phrase · prepositionalעָ֭לֶיonךָyouverbנָשָׂ֣אתִיI.have.borneobjectחֶרְפָּ֑הreproachclauseverbכִּסְּתָ֖הit.has.coveredsubjectכְלִמָּ֣הignominynoun phrase · objectפָנָֽfaceיmy

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


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

The Masoretic Text (MT) reads, "For I have endured scorn for Your sake, and shame has covered my face," which emphasizes the speaker's suffering for God's sake. The Septuagint (LXX) aligns closely with the MT, as 5 of the 7 words match, although the word order and articles differ due to the nature of Greek syntax. The Dead Sea Scrolls (4Q83) present a fragmentary text that does not directly correspond to this verse, focusing instead on themes of not being ashamed and seeking God, which diverges from the specific wording of the MT and LXX.

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

כִּֽי־ עָ֭לֶיךָ נָשָׂ֣אתִי חֶרְפָּ֑ה כִּסְּתָ֖ה כְלִמָּ֣ה פָנָֽי׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
כִּֽי־μὴעָ֭לֶיךָἐπ’נָשָׂ֣אתִיἐμοὶכִּסְּתָ֖הσεפָנָֽי׃κύριε

5 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.

Dead Sea Scrolls — 4Q83a copy a thousand years older than the Leningrad Codex

[אל] יבושו קוי׳כה אדני יהוה [צבאות] [אל] יכלמו מבקשי׳כה אלהי ישראל

4 words on the leather — 4 partly restored, 3 supplied entire by an editor.

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


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

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

Psalms 69:7כִּיforforכִּיעַלon youon youעַלנָשָׂאI have bornI have borneנָשָׂאחֶרְפָּהreproachreproachחֶרְפָּהכָּסָהit has coveit has coveredכָּסָהכְּלִמָּהignominyignominyכְּלִמָּהפָּנֶהface myface myפָּנֶהחָרַףto tauntto tauntחָרַףכָּלַםbe humiliabe humiliatedכָּלַםפָּנָהCorner (GaCorner (Gate)פָּנָהעַלheightheightעַלאֵבfruitfruitאֵבאָבַדto perishto perishאָבַדכָּשָׂהbe satedbe satedכָּשָׂהכְּלִמָּהshameshameכְּלִמָּהיָדַעto knowto knowיָדַעכִּפֶּרto atoneto atoneכִּפֶּרכִּסֵּאthronethroneכִּסֵּאמָשָׁלproverbproverbמָשָׁלקְלָלָהcursecurseקְלָלָהשַׂקsackclothsackclothשַׂקעָנָןcloudcloudעָנָןבֹּ֫שֶׁתshameshameבֹּ֫שֶׁתחֶרְפָּהreproachreproachחֶרְפָּהסָתַרto hideto hideסָתַר
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 69:7

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.

for on you I have borne reproach it has covered ignominy face my
כִּֽי־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
HTc — 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
for on you I have borne reproach it has covered ignominy face my
עָ֭לֶיךָ'A.lei.kha on you 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
HR/Sp2ms — Preposition · suffix
HR/Sp2ms
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
for on you I have borne reproach it has covered ignominy face my
נָשָׂ֣אתִיna.Sa.ti I have borne H5375 Verb · Qal · perfect first person common singular
656× 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 lift or raise something, and it's used in many ways, like lifting a burden or raising someone's status. It appears in books like Genesis and Isaiah, often talking about God lifting people up. It's about supporting or carrying something or someone.
Tyndale gloss
to lift: raise
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word נָשָׂא (nasa') means to lift, carry, or take, encompassing a wide range of applications both literal and figurative. It can refer to actions like bearing burdens, taking away, or being exalted. The entries indicate various forms and uses, including the ability to lift oneself up or cause others to bear iniquity. There is no significant disagreement among the lexicons regarding its meanings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

נָשָׂא 656 vb. lift, carry, take

Qal

lift, lift up

Bear, carry

Take, take away

Niph.

be lifted up

refl. lift oneself up = rise up, of י׳, to display power in judgment

be borne, carried

be taken away, carried off

Pi.

lift up = exalt

fig. = desire, long

carry, bear continuously

take, take away

Hithp. lift oneself up

Hiph.

cause one to bear iniquity

appar. cause to bring, have brought

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5375 נָשָׂא lift, carry, take .. lift, lift up

. Bear, carry

. Take, take away

. . be lifted up

. refl. lift oneself up = rise up, of י׳, to display power in judgment

. be borne, carried

. be taken away, carried off

. . lift up = exalt

. fig. = desire, long

. carry, bear continuously

. take, take away

. lift oneself up

. . cause one to bear iniquity

. appar. cause to bring, have brought

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5375 nasa' naw-saw'

or nacah (Psalm 4 : 6 (7)) {naw-saw'}; a primitive root; to

lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and

figurative, absol. and rel. (as follows):--accept, advance,

arise, (able to, (armor), suffer to) bear(-er, up), bring

(forth), burn, carry (away), cast, contain, desire, ease,

exact, exalt (self), extol, fetch, forgive, furnish, further,

give, go on, help, high, hold up, honorable (+ man), lade,

lay, lift (self) up, lofty, marry, magnify, X needs, obtain,

pardon, raise (up), receive, regard, respect, set (up), spare,

stir up, + swear, take (away, up), X utterly, wear, yield.

see HEBREW for 04

see HEBREW for 06

see HEBREW for 07

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נָשָׂא (na.sa) — to lift: raise.

: raise/take_up

1) to lift, bear up, carry, take

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to lift, lift up

1a2) to bear, carry, support, sustain, endure

1a3) to take, take away, carry off, forgive

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be lifted up, be exalted

1b2) to lift oneself up, rise up

1b3) to be borne, be carried

1b4) to be taken away, be carried off, be swept away

1c) (Piel)

1c1) to lift up, exalt, support, aid, assist

1c2) to desire, long (fig.)

1c3) to carry, bear continuously

1c4) to take, take away

1d) (Hithpael) to lift oneself up, exalt oneself

1e) (Hiphil)

1e1) to cause one to bear (iniquity)

1e2) to cause to bring, have brought

נָשָׂא (na.sa) — to lift: bear.

: look/lift(eyes)

1) to lift, bear up, carry, take

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to lift, lift up

1a2) to bear, carry, support, sustain, endure

1a3) to take, take away, carry off, forgive

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be lifted up, be exalted

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HVqp1cs — Verb · Qal · perfect first person common singular
HVqp1cs
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

See BORN.

for on you I have borne reproach it has covered ignominy face my
חֶרְפָּ֑הcher.Pah reproach H2781 Noun common · feminine singular absolute
73× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Cherpah means reproach or shame, often used to describe scorn or disgrace. In the Bible, it is used to express strong feelings of shame or humiliation.
Tyndale gloss
reproach
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

חֶרְפָּה (cherpah) means reproach or taunt, often associated with shame or disgrace. It can refer to the condition of being reproached or the object of reproach itself. The word is derived from חָרַף (charaf), which relates to scorn or rebuke.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

חֶרְפָּה n.f. reproach

taunt of enemy

reproach which rests upon one, condition of shame, disgrace

a reproach, the object of reproach, the person or thing reproached

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2781 חֶרְפָּה reproach . taunt of enemy

. reproach which rests upon one, condition of shame, disgrace

. a reproach, the object of reproach, the person or thing reproached

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2781 cherpah kher-paw'

from 2778; contumely, disgrace, the pudenda:--rebuke,

reproach(-fully), shame.

see HEBREW for 02778

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חֶרְפָּה (cher.pah) — reproach.

1) reproach, scorn

1a) taunt, scorn (upon enemy)

1b) reproach (resting upon condition of shame, disgrace)

1c) a reproach (an object)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HNcfsa — Noun common · feminine singular absolute
HNcfsa
for on you I have borne reproach it has covered ignominy face my
כִּסְּתָ֖הki.se.Tah it has covered H3680 Verb · Piel · perfect third person feminine singular
152× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To cover something means to fill up hollows or hide something from view, as seen in many biblical stories. This verb is used in various forms throughout the Bible, such as to cover oneself with clothing or to conceal something for protection. It can also mean to overwhelm or spread over something.
Tyndale gloss
to cover
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word כָּסָה (*kacah*) primarily means to cover or conceal. It encompasses a range of meanings, including to clothe, hide, or overwhelm. The entries describe various forms of the verb, such as being covered or covering oneself, and its use in contexts like protection or sin. There is no significant disagreement among the lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[כָּסָה] vb. cover

Qal

conceal

pass. (cstr.) covered in respect of sin (by God, which he thus puts out of sight)

Niph. covered

Pi.

cover, clothe

cover, conceal blood

cover (with covering of protection)

cover, spread over

cover, overwhelm

cover over

Pual.

be covered

be clothed

Hithp. cover, clothe oneself

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3680 כָּסָה cover .. conceal

. pass. (cstr.) covered in respect of sin (by God, which he thus puts out of sight)

. covered

. . cover, clothe

. cover, conceal blood

. cover (with covering of protection)

. cover, spread over

. cover, overwhelm

. cover over

. . be covered

. be clothed

. cover, clothe oneself

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3680 kacah kaw-saw'

a primitive root; properly, to plump, i.e. fill up hollows;

by implication, to cover (for clothing or secrecy):--clad

self, close, clothe, conceal, cover (self), (flee to) hide,

overwhelm. Compare 3780.

see HEBREW for 03780

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כָּסָה (ka.sah) — to cover.

1) to cover, conceal, hide

1a) (Qal) conceal, covered (participle)

1b) (Niphal) to be covered

1c) (Piel)

1c1) to cover, clothe

1c2) to cover, conceal

1c3) to cover (for protection)

1c4) to cover over, spread over

1c5) to cover, overwhelm

1d) (Pual)

1d1) to be covered

1d2) to be clothed

1e) (Hithpael) to cover oneself, clothe oneself

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HVpp3fs — Verb · Piel · perfect third person feminine singular
HVpp3fs
for on you I have borne reproach it has covered ignominy face my
כְלִמָּ֣הkhe.li.Mah ignominy H3639 Noun common · feminine singular absolute
30× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means shame or disgrace, often referring to feelings of reproach or insult. It appears in various forms throughout the Bible.
Tyndale gloss
shame
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כְּלִמָּה (klimmah) refers to concepts of disgrace, reproach, and shame. It encompasses meanings such as insult, dishonor, and ignominy. The word is derived from a root that suggests confusion or dishonor, reflecting a range of negative social perceptions.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כְּלִמָּה n.f. insult, reproach, ignominy

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3639 כְּלִמָּה insult, reproach, ignominy

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3639 klimmah kel-im-maw'

from 3637; disgrace:--confusion, dishonour, reproach, shame.

see HEBREW for 03637

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כְּלִמָּה (ke.lim.mah) — shame.

1) disgrace, reproach, shame, confusion, dishonour, insult, ignominy

1a) insult, reproach

1b) reproach, ignominy

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HNcfsa — Noun common · feminine singular absolute
HNcfsa
for on you I have borne reproach it has covered ignominy face my
פָנָֽי׃fa.Nai face my H6440 Noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
2,127× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means face or presence, like being in front of someone or something. It's used in many contexts, like in Genesis, Exodus, and Psalms, to describe interactions and relationships.
Tyndale gloss
face
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word פָּנֶה (*pāneh*) is a noun meaning 'face' or 'presence,' and it appears in various contexts, including the faces of seraphim and animals, as well as the surface of the ground. It can also function as an adverb meaning 'before' or 'in front of.' The word is built from a root that suggests turning or facing, and it encompasses a wide range of applications, both literal and figurative.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[פָּנֶה], pl. פָּנִים 2123 n.m. face, also faces

face, faces

presence, person

technically, see one's face, i.e. appear before one, in one's presence

face of seraphim

face of animals

face (= surface) of ground

as adv.loc. before

for other phrases

with prepositions

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6440 פָּנֶה, pl. פָּנִים face, also faces . . face, faces

. . presence, person

. technically, see one's face, i.e. appear before one, in one's presence

. face of seraphim

. face of animals

. face (= surface) of ground

. as adv. loc. before

. for other phrases

. with prepositions

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6440 paniym paw-neem'

plural (but always as singular) of an unused noun (paneh

{paw-neh'}; from 6437); the face (as the part that turns);

used in a great variety of applications (literally and

figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a

preposition (before, etc.):--+ accept, a-(be- )fore(-time),

against, anger, X as (long as), at, + battle, + because (of),

+ beseech, countenance, edge, + employ, endure, + enquire,

face, favour, fear of, for, forefront(-part), form(-er

time, -ward), from, front, heaviness, X him(-self), +

honourable, + impudent, + in, it, look(-eth) (- s), X me, +

meet, X more than, mouth, of, off, (of) old (time), X on,

open, + out of, over against, the partial, person, + please,

presence, propect, was purposed, by reason of, + regard, right

forth, + serve, X shewbread, sight, state, straight, + street,

X thee, X them(-selves), through (+ - out), till, time(-s)

Read the full entry →
Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

פָּנֶה (pa.neh) — face: before.

: before/to/front

1) face

1a) face, faces

1b) presence, person

1c) face (of seraphim or cherubim)

1d) face (of animals)

1e) face, surface (of ground)

1f) as adv of loc/temp

1f1) before and behind, toward, in front of, forward, formerly, from beforetime, before

1g) with prep

1g1) in front of, before, to the front of, in the presence of, in the face of, at the face or front of, from the presence of, from before, from before the face of

פָּנֶה (pa.neh) — face.

: face

1) face

1a) face, faces

1b) presence, person

1c) face (of seraphim or cherubim)

1d) face (of animals)

1e) face, surface (of ground)

1f) as adv of loc/temp

1f1) before and behind, toward, in front of, forward, formerly, from beforetime, before

1g) with prep

1g1) in front of, before, to the front of, in the presence of, in the face of, at the face or front of, from the presence of, from before, from…

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HNcmpc/Sp1bs — Noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
HNcmpc/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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