Psalms 7:5 — Word Study
WLCיִֽרַדֹּ֥ף אוֹיֵ֨ב׀ נַפְשִׁ֡י וְיַשֵּׂ֗ג וְיִרְמֹ֣ס לָאָ֣רֶץ חַיָּ֑י וּכְבוֹדִ֓י׀ לֶעָפָ֖ר יַשְׁכֵּ֣ן סֶֽלָה׃
BSAifʼim to weangâmal to completeshâlam badraʻ to rescuechâlats to confinetsârar emptilyrêyqâm
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| יִֽרַדֹּ֥ף | may he pursue | Verb, Qal, imperfect third person masculine singular |
| אוֹיֵ֨ב׀ | an enemy | Verb, Qal, participle (active) masculine singular |
| נַפְשִׁ֡י | life my | Noun common feminine singular construct, suffix |
| וְיַשֵּׂ֗ג | and may he overtake [it] | Conjunction, verb hiphil jussive third person masculine singular |
| וְיִרְמֹ֣ס | and he may trample | Conjunction, verb qal third person masculine singular |
| לָאָ֣רֶץ | to the earth | Preposition, noun common feminine singular absolute |
| חַיָּ֑י | life my | Noun common masculine plural construct, suffix |
| וּכְבוֹדִ֓י׀ | and honor my | Conjunction, noun common both singular construct, suffix |
| לֶעָפָ֖ר | to the dust | Preposition, noun common masculine singular absolute |
| יַשְׁכֵּ֣ן | may he lay | Verb, Hiphil, jussive third person masculine singular |
| סֶֽלָה׃ | Selah | Particle |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | then may my enemy pursue me and overtake me; may he trample me to the ground and leave my honor in the dust. Selah |
| KJV | Let the enemy persecute my soul, and take it; yea, let him tread down my life upon the earth, and lay mine honour in the dust. Selah. |
| ASV | Let the enemy pursue my soul, and overtake it; Yea, let him tread my life down to the earth, And lay my glory in the dust. [Selah |
| YLT | An enemy pursueth my soul, and overtaketh, And treadeth down to the earth my life, And my honour placeth in the dust. Selah. |
| WEB | let the enemy pursue my soul, and overtake it; yes, let him tread my life down to the earth, and lay my glory in the dust. Selah. |
| BBE | Let my hater go after my soul and take it; let my life be crushed to the earth, and my honour into the dust. (Selah.) |
The translations agree on the essential meaning here, reflecting the psalmist's plea for protection.
The verse consists of a main clause followed by several subordinate actions, emphasizing the psalmist's urgent plea for divine intervention.







8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
subjectגָּמַל
verbאִם
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
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 7:5
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 Plea for Justicegenerated
Psalm 7:5 expresses the psalmist's deep concern over his enemies who pursue him. He invokes God's justice, asking for protection against those who seek to harm him. This plea is part of a larger context where the psalmist reflects on his integrity and the consequences of wrongful actions, as seen in the preceding verses. The psalm highlights the tension between the psalmist’s innocence and the threats he faces, ultimately calling for divine intervention.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Job 31:5–10 | If I have walked in falsehood or my foot has rushed to deceit, |
| 2 | Psalm 44:5 | Through You we repel our foes; through Your name we trample our enemies. |
| 3 | Psalm 60:12 | With God we will perform with valor, and He will trample our enemies. |
| 4 | Job 40:12 | Look on every proud man and humble him; trample the wicked where they stand. |
| 5 | Isaiah 10:6 | I will send him against a godless nation; I will dispatch him against a people destined for My rage, to take spoils and seize plunder, and to trample them down like clay in the streets. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 14 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — יַשְׁכֵּ֣ן, yash.Kengenerated
The verb שָׁכַן (shakan) means to dwell or settle. In this context, it is used in the Hiphil form, indicating an action where the subject causes something to dwell or be established. The psalmist's request for God to lay his honor in the dust signifies a desire for his reputation to be safeguarded, contrasting with the threats posed by his enemies.
This verb emphasizes the act of making a home or resting place, which in this case implies a plea for God to ensure that the psalmist's honor remains intact amidst adversity.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
The verse is rendered in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses may he lay for יַשְׁכֵּ֣ן.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The structure of the verse revolves around the finite verbs: יִֽרַדֹּ֥ף, יַשֵּׂ֗ג, יִרְמֹ֣ס, and יַשְׁכֵּ֣ן. Each verb expresses a distinct action related to the psalmist's situation, with the first verb, may he pursue, setting the stage for the subsequent actions of overtaking, trampling, and laying low.
The Hebrew word order places emphasis on the actions of the enemy and the psalmist's plea, highlighting the urgency of his request for divine intervention.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates יַשְׁכֵּ֣ן as ἀποπέσοιν, which conveys a sense of laying down or casting away. This choice suggests a focus on the act of being brought low, aligning with the psalmist's plea for his honor to be protected from disgrace.
This translation reflects a similar concern for reputation and honor, emphasizing the psalmist's vulnerability before his enemies.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Psalm 7:5 shows the psalmist asking God to protect him from his enemies. He expresses fear that they will pursue and harm him, trampling his honor into the dust. This plea highlights the urgency of his situation and the need for divine intervention.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
The psalmist is expressing concern that his reputation and dignity are at risk due to the actions of his enemies, and he seeks God's protection to prevent this humiliation.
The strong language reflects the seriousness of the psalmist's plight and the genuine threat posed by those who oppose him, highlighting the emotional weight of his appeal.
'Selah' is a musical term indicating a pause or moment for reflection, inviting the reader to contemplate the weight of the psalmist's words.
This verse connects to themes of justice, divine protection, and the struggle against adversaries, which are prevalent throughout the Psalms.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- How do I respond when I feel attacked or persecuted by others?
- What does it mean to me to have my honor and reputation at stake?
- In what ways can I seek God's help in times of trouble?
- How can I reflect on the psalmist's plea in my own life?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Early church fathers referenced this psalm to discuss themes of justice and divine protection. Their quotations illustrate the enduring relevance of the psalmist's plea.
The soul of the one who is just, severing itself from affection for the body, has its life hidden with Christ in God, so that it can say like the apostle: “It is now no longer I that live, but Christ lives in me.Early Church Fathers on Psalms 7 →
"Let the enemy" therefore "persecute my soul and take it" [Psalms 7:5].Early Church Fathers on Psalms 7 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Psalms 7:5 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleLet the enemy persecute my soul, and take [it],.... That is, if the above things he was charged with could be proved against him; then he was content that Saul his enemy should pursue after him, and
Read John Gill on Psalms 7 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryLet the enemy persecute my soul, and take it; yea, let him tread down my life upon the earth, and lay mine honour in the dust. Selah. A consequence which he prays may follow IF he has done what his foes allege (Psalms 7:3-4).
Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 7 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleI am contented, and wish that Saul may so persecute my life as to overtake it, and take it away. Mine honour; either, 1. That honourable and royal estate to which I am chosen and designed. Or, 2. My reputation and memory. Or rather, 3. The same thing which he called his soul and his life in the former branch of the verse, and here his honour; it being very frequent to express one thing in several words or phrases in one verse. And so here may be observed a gradation. Let him, 1. Persist to persecute it; 2. Take it; 3. Tread it down, or destroy it; and, 4. Lay it in the dust, or bury it, to prevent all hopes of restitution.
Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 7 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsPsalms 7:5 Let the enemy persecute my soul, and take [it]; yea, let him tread down my life upon the earth, and lay mine honour in the dust. Selah.Ver. 5. Let the enemy persecute my soul, and take it] Thus he cleareth himself by a holy imprecation (the Spanish Bible hath the Shiggaion Davidis, in the title, Purgatio Davidis, as the same Hebrew word çשׁà signifieth both sin and purification from sin, Psalms 51:1-19), taking God to witness his innocence and good conscience, and wishing evil to himself if it were otherwise. This he did from a good cause, in a good manner, and for a good end. And not as many profane ones do today, who, taxed, though never so truly, with some evil they have done…
Read John Trapp on Psalms 7 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(5) Let the enemy.—Better, let an enemy. Persecute.—Literally, burn. (See Note on Psalms 10:2.) Tread.—Used of a potter treading the clay (Isaiah 41:25); of the trampling of horses (Ezekiel 26:11); of a herd trampling down their pasture (Ezekiel 34:28). Dust.—Either as Psalms 22:15, “the dust of death,” and if so, then khabôd’.Honour must be the soul or life, as plainly in Psalms 16:9; Psalms 57:8, where the Authorised Version has “glory.” The parallelism is in favour of this. On the other hand, to lay one’s honour in the dust is a common figurative phrase. Shakespeare, K. Hen. VI., i. 5, “Now, France, thy glory droopeth to the dust”; and Coriol. iii. 1, “And throw their power in the dust.”…
Read Charles John Ellicott on Psalms 7 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 5. Let the enemy persecute my soul] If I have been guilty of the things laid to my charge, let the worst evils fall upon me.
Read AdamClarke on Psalms 7 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges5. Render: Let an enemy pursue my soul and overtake it; Yea, trample my life to the ground, And make my glory to dwell in the dust. With the first line comp. Exodus 15:9, echoed again in Psalms 18:37. The last line might mean only, ‘degrade my dignity, treat me with insult and ignominy;’ but the parallelism of ‘my soul,’ ‘my life,’ ‘my glory,’ is decisive in favour of interpreting ‘my glory’ to mean ‘my soul, as in Psalms 16:9; Psalms 30:12; Psalms 57:8. The ‘soul’ is so designated either as the noblest part of man, or as the image of the divine glory. ‘The dust’ will then be ‘the dust of death.’ Cp. Psalms 22:15; and the exact parallel ‘dwellers in the dust,’ Isaiah 26:19. David then…
Read Cambridge on Psalms 7 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleLet the enemy persecute my soul - Persecute my “life,” for so the word rendered “soul,” נפשׁ nephesh, is evidently used here.
Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 7 →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
then may my enemy pursue me and overtake me; may he trample me to the ground and leave my honor in the dust. Selah
let the enemy pursue my soul, and overtake it; yes, let him tread my life down to the earth, and lay my glory in the dust. Selah.
then may my enemy pursue me and overtake me; may he trample me to the ground and leave my honor in the dust. Selah
may an enemy relentlessly chase me and catch me; may he trample me to death and leave me lying dishonored in the dust. (Selah)
Tyndale line
Let the enemy persecute my soul, and take it; yea, let him tread down my life upon the earth, and lay mine honour in the dust. Selah.
Let the enemy pursue my soul, and overtake it; Yea, let him tread my life down to the earth, And lay my glory in the dust. [Selah
Let the enemy pursue my soul, and overtake it; yea, let him tread my life down to the earth, and lay my glory in the dust. Selah
Let the enemy persecute my soul, and take it ; yes, let him tread down my life upon the earth, and lay my honor in the dust. Selah.
Then let the enemie persecute my soule and take it: yea, let him treade my life downe vpon the earth, and lay mine honour in the dust. Selah.
Strictly literal
Let the enemy pursue after my soul, and take [it], and let him tread down my life to the earth, and lay my glory in the dust. Selah.
An enemy pursueth my soul, and overtaketh, And treadeth down to the earth my life, And my honour placeth in the dust. Selah.
[Then] an enemy pursues my soul, and overtakes, || And treads down my life to the earth, || And places my glory in the dust. Selah.
(7:6) May the enemy hotly pursue my soul, and overtake it; and tread down upon the earth my life, and cause my honor to be in the dust. Selah.
Then let my enemy pursue my life and overtake me; let him trample my life to the ground and lay my honor in the dust. Selah
From the Latin
If I have rendered to them that repaid me evils, let me deservedly fall empty before my enemies.
Simplified
Then let my enemies chase me down; let them trample me in the dust and drag my reputation through the dirt. Selah.
Let my hater go after my soul and take it; let my life be crushed to the earth, and my honour into the dust. (Selah.)
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.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text aligns closely with the Septuagint, with 7 of the 11 words matched. Both texts convey the psalmist's plea for justice and protection, though the Septuagint's word order differs from the Hebrew.
יִֽרַדֹּ֥ף אוֹיֵ֨ב׀ נַפְשִׁ֡י וְיַשֵּׂ֗ג וְיִרְמֹ֣ס לָאָ֣רֶץ חַיָּ֑י וּכְבוֹדִ֓י׀ לֶעָפָ֖ר יַשְׁכֵּ֣ן סֶֽלָה׃
7 of the 11 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.
Lexicons — every word in Psalms 7:5
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.
רָדַף (radaph) is a Hebrew verb meaning to pursue, chase, or persecute. It conveys the idea of running after something, often with hostile intent, and can also figuratively refer to following time or securing something. The word has various forms, including Qal, Niphal, Piel, Pual, and Hiphil, each indicating different nuances of pursuit or being pursued.
רָדַף 141 vb. pursue, chase, persecute
Qal 128
pursue
lit. put to flight, chase
lit., the pursuers
chase, hunt
pursue
fig. persecute, harass
pursue, dog
fig. follow after, aim to secure
Niph. upon the neck (i.e. closely) we are pursued
Pi. pursue ardently
Pu. it shall be chased away like chaff of the mountains
Hiph. usu. they chased him
base
H7291 רָדַף pursue, chase, persecute
7291 radaph raw-daf'
a primitive root; to run after (usually with hostile intent;
figuratively (of time) gone by):--chase, put to flight,
follow (after, on), hunt, (be under) persecute(-ion, -or),
pursue(-r).
רָדַף (ra.daph) — to pursue.
1) to be behind, follow after, pursue, persecute, run after
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to pursue, put to flight, chase, dog, attend closely upon
1a2) to persecute, harass (fig)
1a3) to follow after, aim to secure (fig)
1a4) to run after (a bribe) (fig)
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be pursued
1b2) one pursued (participle)
1c) (Piel) to pursue ardently, aim eagerly to secure, pursue
1d) (Pual) to be pursued, be chased away
1e) (Hiphil) to pursue, chase
HVqi3ms — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singularHVqi3ms
אֹיֵב (oyeb) means 'enemy' or 'foe,' indicating hostility. It can refer to personal or national adversaries. The word is derived from the active participle of another root, אָיַב (ayab), which also conveys the sense of being hostile.
[אָיַב] 283 vb. be hostile to (enemy = אֹיֵב)
base
H341 אָיַב be hostile to (enemy = אֹיֵב)
341 'oyeb o-yabe'
or (fully) owyeb {o-yabe'}; active participle of 340;
hating; an adversary:--enemy, foe.
see HEBREW for 0340
אֹיֵב (o.yev) — enemy.
1) (Qal) enemy
1a) personal
1b) national
HVqrmsa — Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine singularHVqrmsa
en'-e-mi ('oyebh, tsar, tsar; echthros):
"Enemy," "enemies," are frequent words in the Old Testament. The Hebrew word most often so translated is 'oyebh, meaning perhaps literally, "one who hates"; very frequent in the Psalms, eg. 3:7; 6:10; 7:5; 8:2; 9:3,1; 13:2, where the cry is often for deliverance from enemies. Another word for "enemy," found chiefly in the poetical books, is tsar, or tsar, "distresser," "straitener" (Nu 10:9; Job 16:9; Ps 27:2,12, the Revised Version (British and American) "adversary," etc.); also tsarar (Es 3:10; Ps 8:2; 10:5 the King James Version, etc.). Other words are `ar, "one awake" (
→ General scriptures concerning Ex 23:5; Job 31:29,30; Ps 35:1-28; Pr 24:17,18; 25:21,22; Mt 5:43-48; Lu 6:27-36; Ro 12:14,20
The Hebrew word נֶ֫פֶשׁ (*nephesh*) broadly means 'soul' or 'living being,' encompassing concepts like life, self, person, desire, and emotion. It is derived from the root meaning 'to breathe' and signifies both physical and mental aspects of existence. The lexicons note its use in various contexts, including as the seat of appetites and emotions, though its application to will and character is uncertain.
נֶ֫פֶשׁ 756 n.f. soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, appetite, emotion, and passion
= that which breathes, the breathing substance or being
The נפשׁ becomes a living being
The נפשׁ is specif.
The נפשׁ as the essential of man stands for the man himself
נפשׁ = seat of the appetites, in all periods (46 t.)
נ׳ = seat of emotions and passions
נפשׁ is used occasionally for mental acts
נפשׁ for acts of the will is dub.
נפשׁ = character is still more dub.
נ׳ in D
base
H5315 נֶ֫פֶשׁ soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, appetite, emotion, and passion . = that which breathes, the breathing substance or being
. The נפשׁ becomes a living being
. The נפשׁ is specif.
. The נפשׁ as the essential of man stands for the man himself
. נפשׁ = seat of the appetites, in all periods (46 t.)
. נ׳ = seat of emotions and passions
. נפשׁ is used occasionally for mental acts
. נפשׁ for acts of the will is dub.
. נפשׁ = character is still more dub.
. נ׳ in D
5315 nephesh neh'-fesh
from 5314; properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of
(abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal,
accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or mental):--any,
appetite, beast, body, breath, creature, X dead(-ly), desire,
X (dis-)contented, X fish, ghost, + greedy, he, heart(-y),
(hath, X jeopardy of) life (X in jeopardy), lust, man, me,
mind, mortally, one, own, person, pleasure, (her-, him-, my-,
thy-)self, them (your)-selves, + slay, soul, + tablet, they,
thing, (X she) will, X would have it.
see HEBREW for 05314
נֶ֫פֶשׁ (ne.phesh) — soul.
1) soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion
1a) that which breathes, the breathing substance or being, soul, the inner being of man
1b) living being
1c) living being (with life in the blood)
1d) the man himself, self, person or individual
1e) seat of the appetites
1f) seat of emotions and passions
1g) activity of mind
1g1) uncertain
1h) activity of the will
1h1) uncertain
1i) activity of the character
1i1) uncertain
נֶ֫פֶשׁ (ne.phesh) — soul: life.
1) soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion
1a) that which breathes, the breathing substance or being, soul, the inner being of man
1b) living being
1c) living being (with life in the blood)
1d) the man himself, self, person or individual
1e) seat of the appetites
1f) seat of emotions and passions
1g) activity of mind
HNcfsc/Sp1bs — Noun common feminine singular construct · suffixHNcfsc/Sp1bs
נָשַׂג (nasag) is a Hebrew verb primarily found in the Hiphil form, meaning to reach or overtake. It encompasses a range of meanings including the ability to attain or secure something, as well as the literal act of reaching or taking hold. The entries consistently highlight its figurative use, indicating sufficiency or capability.
[נָשַׂג] vb. only Hiph. reach, overtake
Hiph.
overtake
reach, attain
cause to reach, bring, put
fig. one’s hand has reached, i.e. one is able, or has enough
base
H5381 נָשַׂג only Hiph. reach, overtake
5381 nasag naw-sag'
a primitive root; to reach (literally or
figuratively):--ability, be able, attain (unto), (be able to,
can) get, lay at, put, reach, remove, wax rich, X surely,
(over-)take (hold of, on, upon).
נָשַׂג (na.sag) — to overtake.
1) to reach, overtake, take hold upon
1a) (Hiphil)
1a1) to overtake
1a2) to reach, attain to, cause to reach
1a3) to be able to secure, reach, have enough
HC/Vhj3ms — Conjunction · verb hiphil jussive third person masculine singularHC/Vhj3ms
רָמַס (ramas) is a Hebrew verb meaning to trample or tread upon. It is a primitive root that conveys the action of stepping heavily, often in a way that implies oppression or force. The verb appears in both the Qal form, indicating active tramping, and the Niphal form, suggesting a passive state of being trampled.
רָמַס vb. trample
Qal trample
Niph. be trampled
base
H7429 רָמַס trample
7429 ramac raw-mas'
a primitive root; to tread upon (as a potter, in walking or
abusively):--oppressor, stamp upon, trample (under feet),
tread (down, upon).
רָמַס (ra.mas) — to trample.
1) to trample
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to trample
1a2) trampler (participle)
1b) (Niphal) to be trampled
HC/Vqu3ms — Conjunction · verb qal third person masculine singularHC/Vqu3ms
אֶ֫רֶץ (erets) is a feminine noun meaning 'earth' or 'land.' It encompasses various meanings, including the whole earth, specific territories like Canaan, and even inhabitants of the land. It can refer to soil, ground, or regions, and is used in phrases related to distance and the living. There is a note on the plural form אֲרָצוֹת, which mainly appears in later texts to denote multiple lands.
אֶ֫רֶץ n. f. & (seld.) m. earth, land
earth, whole earth (opp. to a part)
earth, opp. to heaven, sky
earth = inhabitants of earth
land =
country, territory
district, region
trial territory
piece of ground
specif. land of Canaan, or Israel
= inhabitants of land
used even of Shᵉʼôl
ground, surface of ground
soil, as productive
אֶרֶץ in phrases
people of the land
in measurements of distance
the country of the plain, level or plain country
land of the living
end(s) of the earth
pl. אֲרָצוֹת is almost wholly late; it denotes lands, countries, often in contrast to Canaan, lands of the nations, etc.
base
H776 אֶ֫רֶץ n. f. & (seld.) m. earth, land . . earth, whole earth (opp. to a part)
. earth, opp. to heaven, sky
. earth = inhabitants of earth
. land = . country, territory
. district, region
. trial territory
. piece of ground
. specif. land of Canaan, or Israel
. = inhabitants of land
. used even of Shᵉʼôl
. . ground, surface of ground
. soil, as productive
. אֶרֶץ in phrases . people of the land
. in measurements of distance
. the country of the plain, level or plain country
. land of the living
. end(s) of the earth
. pl. אֲרָצוֹת is almost wholly late; it denotes lands, countries, often in contrast to Canaan, lands of the nations, etc.
776 'erets eh'-rets
from an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth
(at large, or partitively a land):--X common, country, earth,
field, ground, land, X natins, way, + wilderness, world.
אֶ֫רֶץ (e.rets) — land: country/planet.
: country/field
1) land, earth
1a) earth
1a1) whole earth (as opposed to a part)
1a2) earth (as opposed to heaven)
1a3) earth (inhabitants)
1b) land
1b1) country, territory
1b2) district, region
1b3) tribal territory
1b4) piece of ground
1b5) land of Canaan, Israel
1b6) inhabitants of land
1b7) Sheol, land without return, (under) world
1b8) city (-state)
1c) ground, surface of the earth
1c1) ground
1c2) soil
1d) (in phrases)
1d1) people of the land
1d2) space or distance of country (in measurements of distance)
1d3) level or plain country
1d4) land of the living
1d5) end(s) of the earth
1e) (almost wholly late in usage)
1e1) lands, countries
1e1a) often in contrast to Canaan
אֶ֫רֶץ (e.rets) — land: soil.
: soil
1) land, earth
1a) earth
1a1) whole earth (as opposed to a part)
1a2) earth (as opposed to heaven)
1a3) earth (inhabitants)
1b) land
1b1) country, territory
HRd/Ncfsa — Preposition · noun common feminine singular absoluteHRd/Ncfsa
urth ('adhamah, 'erets, 'aphar; ge, oikoumene):
In a hilly limestone country like Palestine, the small amount of iron oxide in the rocks tends to be oxidized, and thereby to give a prevailing reddish color to the soil. This is especially the case on relatively barren hills where there is little organic matter present to prevent reddening and give a more blackish tinge.
'Adhamah (compare 'adham, "a man," and Adam) is from 'adham, "to be red," and is used in the senses: "earth" (Ex 20:24), "land" (Ps 105:35), a "land" or country (Isa 14:2), "ground" (Ge 4:11), "the earth" (Ge 7:4).
Earth
(1.) In the sense of soil or ground, the translation of the word adamah’. In Gen. 9:20 “husbandman” is literally “man of the ground or earth.” Altars were to be built of earth (Ex. 20:24). Naaman asked for two mules’ burden of earth (2 Kings 5:17), under the superstitious notion that Jehovah, like the gods of the heathen, could be acceptably worshipped only on his own soil.
(2). As the rendering of ’erets, it means the whole world (Gen. 1:2); the land as opposed to the sea (1:10). Erets also denotes a country (21:32); a plot of ground (23:15); the ground on which a man stands (33:3); the inhabitants of the earth (6:1; 11:1); all the world except Israel (
The term is used in two widely-different senses: (1) for the material of which the earth’s surface is composed; (2) as the name of the planet on which man dwells. The Hebrew language discriminates between these two by the use of separate terms, adamah for the former, erets for the latter. Adamah is the earth in the sense of soil or ground, particularly as being susceptible of cultivation. (Genesis 2:7) Erets is applied in a more or less extended sense-- (1) to the whole world, (Genesis 1:1) (2) to land as opposed to sea, (Genesis 1:10) (3) to a country, (Genesis 21:32) (4) to a plot of ground, (Genesis 23:15) and (5) to…
In both Hebrew and Greek the same word is used to denote the earth as a whole, and a particular land. Only the context can enable us to decide in which of these senses it is to be taken in a given passage.
Thus in Mt 27:45 we might, so far as the original word is concerned, render either "there was darkness over all the land," or over all the earth. The expression "all the earth" is sometimes used hyperbolically for a large portion of it, Ezr 1:2. The word is used of the whole world, etc. In a moral sense, earthly is opposed to what is heavenly, spiritual and holy, Joh 3:31 1Co 15:47 Col 3:2
The Hebrew word חַי (*chay*) means 'alive' or 'living' and covers a range of meanings related to life, including living beings, vitality, and freshness. It can refer to God, animals, vegetation, and even concepts like appetite and community. Variants include חַיָּה (*chayyah*), meaning 'living thing' or 'animal,' and חַיִּים (*chayim*), which emphasizes life and sustenance.
חַי adj. alive, living
of God, as the living one, the fountain of life
of man
of animals, alive, living
animals and man
(dub.) of vegetation, as thorns, green
of water, fresh
(dub.) lively, active
reviving
base
[חַי] n.[m.] kinsfolk, pl. sf. 1 S 18:18
ref
חַיָּה n.f. living thing, animal
animal
in general
wild animals, on account of their vital energy and activity
living beings, of the cherubic chariot
life, only in late poetry
appetite, activity of hunger
revival, renewal
base
חַיָּה n.f. community
base
חַיִּים n.m. pl. abstr. emph. life
life: physical
life: as welfare and happiness in king's presence
sustenance, maintenance
base
H2416a חַי alive, living . . of God, as the living one, the fountain of life
. of man
. of animals, alive, living
. animals and man
. (dub.) of vegetation, as thorns, green
. of water, fresh
. (dub.) lively, active
. reviving
H2416b חַי kinsfolk H2416c חַיָּה living thing, animal . animal . in general
. wild animals, on account of their vital energy and activity
. living beings, of the cherubic chariot
. life, only in late poetry
. appetite, activity of hunger
. revival, renewal
H2416d חַיָּה community H2416e חַיִּים pl. abstr. emph. life . life: physical
. life: as welfare and happiness in king's presence
. sustenance, maintenance
2416 chay khah'-ee
from 2421; alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water,
year), strong; also (as noun, especially in the feminine
singular and masculine plural) life (or living thing), whether
literally or figuratively:--+ age, alive, appetite, (wild)
beast, company, congregation, life(-time), live(-ly), living
(creature, thing), maintenance, + merry, multitude, + (be)
old, quick, raw, running, springing, troop.
see HEBREW for 02421
חַי (chay) — alive.
adj
1) living, alive
1a) green (of vegetation)
1b) flowing, fresh (of water)
1c) lively, active (of man)
1d) reviving (of the springtime)
Aramaic equivalent: chay (חַי "living" H2417)
חַי (chay) — kinsfolk.
kinsfolk
חַיָּה (chay.yah) — living thing.
1) living thing, animal
1a) animal
1b) life
1c) appetite
1d) revival, renewal
Aramaic equivalent: che.va (חֵיוָא "beast" H2423)
חַיָּה (chay.yah) — community.
community
חַיִּים (chay.yim) — life.
1) life (abstract emphatic)
1a) life
1b) sustenance, maintenance
HNcmpc/Sp1bs — Noun common masculine plural construct · suffixHNcmpc/Sp1bs
כָּבוֹד (kabowd) refers to concepts of abundance, honour, and glory. It encompasses external splendor, dignity of position, and reputation, as well as the inner nobility of a person. The term can denote both the weightiness of glory and the reverence due to someone. The entries consistently emphasize its positive connotations.
כָּבוֹד n.m. and f. abundance, honour, glory
abundance, riches
honour, splendor, glory, of external condition and circumstances
honour, dignity of position
honour, reputation, of character
my honour, poet. of the seat of honour in the inner man, the noblest part of man
honour, reverence, glory, as due to one or ascribed to one
glory as the object, of honour, reverence and glorifying
base
H3519 כָּבוֹד abundance, honour, glory . abundance, riches
. honour, splendor, glory, of external condition and circumstances
. honour, dignity of position
. honour, reputation, of character
. my honour, poet. of the seat of honour in the inner man, the noblest part of man
. honour, reverence, glory, as due to one or ascribed to one
. glory as the object, of honour, reverence and glorifying
3519 kabowd kaw-bode'
rarely kabod {kaw-bode'}; from 3513; properly, weight, but
only figuratively in a good sense, splendor or
copiousness:--glorious(-ly), glory, honour(-able).
see HEBREW for 03513
כָּבוֹד (ka.vod) — glory.
1) glory, honour, glorious, abundance
1a) abundance, riches
1b) honour, splendour, glory
1c) honour, dignity
1d) honour, reputation
1e) honour, reverence, glory
1f) glory
HC/Ncbsc/Sp1ms — Conjunction · noun common both singular construct · suffixHC/Ncbsc/Sp1ms
עָפָר (aphar) refers to dry earth or dust, encompassing meanings such as powder, ashes, and rubbish. It is derived from a root meaning to be dry and is used in various contexts, including clay and mortar. The entries consistently highlight its association with loose earth and debris.
עָפָר n.m. dry earth, dust
base
H6083 עָפָר dry earth, dust
6083 `aphar aw-fawr'
from 6080; dust (as powdered or gray); hence, clay, earth,
mud:--ashes, dust, earth, ground, morter, powder, rubbish.
see HEBREW for 06080
עָפָר (a.phar) — dust.
1) dry earth, dust, powder, ashes, earth, ground, mortar, rubbish
1a) dry or loose earth
1b) debris
1c) mortar
1d) ore
HRd/Ncmsa — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absoluteHRd/Ncmsa
dust (`aphar; koniortos, chous): Small particles of earth. The word has several figurative and symbolic meanings:
(1) Dust being the material out of which God is said to have formed man (Ge 2:7), it became a symbol of man's frailty (Ps 103:14, "For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust"; compare Ge 18:27; Job 4:19, etc.), and of his mortality (Ge 3:19, "Dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return"; compare Job 34:15; Ps 104:29; Ec 3:20…
Dust
Storms of sand and dust sometimes overtake Eastern travellers. They are very dreadful, many perishing under them. Jehovah threatens to bring on the land of Israel, as a punishment for forsaking him, a rain of “powder and dust” (Deut. 28:24).
To cast dust on the head was a sign of mourning (Josh. 7:6); and to sit in dust, of extreme affliction (Isa. 47:1). “Dust” is used to denote the grave (Job 7:21). “To shake off the dust from one’s feet” against another is to renounce all future intercourse with him (Matt. 10:14; Acts 13:51). To “lick the dust” is a sign of…
[MOURNING]
Jos 7:6. Dust or ashes put upon the head was a sign of mourning; sitting in the dust, a sign of affliction, La 3:29 Isa 47:1. "Dust" is also put for the grave, Ge 3:19 Job 7:21. It signifies a multitude, Ge 13:16, and a low and mean condition, 1Sa 2:8. We have two remarkable instances of casting dust recorded in Scripture, and they seem to illustrate a practice common in Asia: those who demanded justice against a criminal were accustomed to throw dust upon him, signifying that he deserved to be cast into the grave.…
שָׁכַן (shakan) is a Hebrew verb meaning to settle down, abide, or dwell. It encompasses various forms of residing, both literally and figuratively, and includes nuances of establishing or causing to dwell. The entries indicate its use in different grammatical forms, such as Qal, Piel, and Hiphil, which express actions related to dwelling and establishing habitation.
שָׁכַן, שָׁכֵ֑ן 129 vb. settle down, abide, dwell
Qal
settle down to abide
abide, dwell
Pi.
make settle down, establish
make to dwell
Hiph.
lay
cause birds to settle
cause to dwell
base
H7931 שָׁכַן, שָׁכֵ֑ן settle down, abide, dwell
7931 shakan shaw-kan'
a primitive root (apparently akin (by transmission) to 7901
through the idea of lodging; compare 5531, 7925); to reside or
permanently stay (literally or figuratively):--abide,
continue, (cause to, make to) dwell(-er), have habitation,
inhabit, lay, place, (cause to) remain, rest, set (up).
see HEBREW for 05531
see HEBREW for 07925
שָׁכַן (sha.khan) — to dwell.
1) to settle down, abide, dwell, tabernacle, reside
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to settle down to abide
1a2) to abide, dwell, reside
1b) (Piel)
1b1) to make settle down, establish
1b2) to make or cause to dwell
1c) (Hiphil)
1c1) to lay, place, set, establish, settle, fix
1c2) to cause to dwell or abide
Aramaic equivalent: she.khan (שְׁכֵן "to dwell" H7932)
HVhj3ms — Verb · Hiphil · jussive third person masculine singularHVhj3ms
סֶ֫לָה (selah) means to lift up or exalt. It is primarily recognized as a musical term indicating a pause or interruption, often found in the Psalms. The word is derived from a root meaning 'suspension' and appears frequently in the context of music, suggesting accentuation.
סֶ֫לָה vb. lift up, or exalt;—this interpr. agrees with usage: 71 t. in 39 ψψ, 3 t. Hb 3
base
H5542 סֶ֫לָה lift up, or exalt
5542 celah seh'-law
from 5541; suspension (of music), i.e. pause:--Selah.
see HEBREW for 05541
סֶ֫לָה (se.lah) — Selah.
§ 1) to lift up, exalt
1a) Selah
1a1) a technical musical term probably showing accentuation, pause, interruption
HTj — ParticleHTj
se'-la.
See MUSIC, II, 1.
Selah
A word frequently found in the Book of Psalms, and also in Hab. 3:9, 13, about seventy-four times in all in Scripture. Its meaning is doubtful. Some interpret it as meaning “silence” or “pause;” others, “end,” “a louder strain,” “piano,” etc. The LXX. render the word by daplasma i.e., “a division.”
This word, which is found only in the poetical books of the Old Testament, occurs seventy-one times in the Psalms and three times in Habakkuk. It is probably a term which had a meaning in the musical nomenclature of the Hebrews, though what that meaning may have been is now a matter of pure conjecture. (Gesenius and Ewald and others think it has much the same meaning as our interlude,--a pause in the voices singing, while the instruments perform alone.)
A musical term which occurs seventy-three times in the Psalms, and is found also in Hab 3:3,9,13. It usually occurs at the end of a period or apostrophe, but sometimes at the end only of a clause. This difficult word, it is now generally believed, was a direction for a meditative pause in the singing of a psalm, during which perhaps there was an instrumental interlude.
