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Psalms 7:5 — Word Study

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WLCיִֽרַדֹּ֥ף אוֹיֵ֨ב׀ נַפְשִׁ֡י וְיַשֵּׂ֗ג וְיִרְמֹ֣ס לָאָ֣רֶץ חַיָּ֑י וּכְבוֹדִ֓י׀ לֶעָפָ֖ר יַשְׁכֵּ֣ן סֶֽלָה׃

BSAifʼim to weangâmal to completeshâlam badraʻ to rescuechâlats to confinetsârar emptilyrêyqâm

Word
Listen & take awayPsalms 7
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 5 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 (Se.lah) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Psalms 7:5quick helps
In a sentenceThe psalmist calls for justice against his enemies, expressing a desire for God to act on his behalf.
Who is speakingThe psalmist, likely David, addressing God about his plight.
Where we areA plea for divine intervention in the face of persecution.
The hard wordיַשְׁכֵּ֣ן
Take awayThe psalmist's honor is at stake, as he seeks God's protection.
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 ›
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 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

4if I have rewarded my ally with evil, if I have plundered my foe without cause,
5then may my enemy pursue me and overtake me; may he trample me to the ground and leave my honor in the dust. Selah
6Arise, O LORD, in Your anger; rise up against the fury of my enemies. Awake, my God, and ordain judgment.
7Let the assembled peoples gather around You; take Your seat over them on high.

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

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Job 31:5–10If I have walked in falsehood or my foot has rushed to deceit,
2Psalm 44:5Through You we repel our foes; through Your name we trample our enemies.
3Psalm 60:12With God we will perform with valor, and He will trample our enemies.
4Job 40:12Look on every proud man and humble him; trample the wicked where they stand.
5Isaiah 10:6I 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

What does the psalmist mean by asking for his honor to be laid in the dust?

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.

Why does the psalmist refer to his enemies in such strong terms?

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.

What does 'Selah' signify at the end of this verse?

'Selah' is a musical term indicating a pause or moment for reflection, inviting the reader to contemplate the weight of the psalmist's words.

How does this verse connect to the broader themes in the Psalms?

This verse connects to themes of justice, divine protection, and the struggle against adversaries, which are prevalent throughout the Psalms.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. How do I respond when I feel attacked or persecuted by others?
  2. What does it mean to me to have my honor and reputation at stake?
  3. In what ways can I seek God's help in times of trouble?
  4. 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.

Basil of CaesareaHOMILIES ON THE Psalms 11:3 (Psalms 7) c. 330–379
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 →
Augustine of HippoExposition on Psalms 7 354–430
"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 Bible

Let 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 Commentary

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. 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 Bible

I 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 Testaments

Psalms 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 Bible

Verse 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 Colleges

5. 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 Bible

Let 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

BSBBerean Standard Bible2020

then may my enemy pursue me and overtake me; may he trample me to the ground and leave my honor in the dust. Selah

WEBWorld English Bible2000

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.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

then may my enemy pursue me and overtake me; may he trample me to the ground and leave my honor in the dust. Selah

NETBNew English Translation2006

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

KJVKing James Version1611

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.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

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

RVARevised Version, American1894

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

NWBWebster's Bible1833

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.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

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

DBYDarby Translation1890

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.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

An enemy pursueth my soul, and overtaketh, And treadeth down to the earth my life, And my honour placeth in the dust. Selah.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

[Then] an enemy pursues my soul, and overtakes, || And treads down my life to the earth, || And places my glory in the dust. Selah.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

(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.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

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

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

If I have rendered to them that repaid me evils, let me deservedly fall empty before my enemies.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

Then let my enemies chase me down; let them trample me in the dust and drag my reputation through the dirt. Selah.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

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.

clauseverbיִֽרַדֹּ֥ףmay.he.pursuesubjectאוֹיֵ֨בan.enemynoun phrase · objectנַפְשִׁ֡lifeיmyוְandclauseverbיַשֵּׂ֗גmay.he.overtake.[it]וְandclauseverbיִרְמֹ֣סmay.he.trampleprepositional phrase · prepositionalלָtonoun phrasetheאָ֣רֶץearthnoun phrase · objectחַיָּ֑lifeיmyוּandclausenoun phrase · objectכְבוֹדִ֓honorיmyprepositional phrase · prepositionalלֶtonoun phrasetheעָפָ֖רdustverbיַשְׁכֵּ֣ןmay.he.layclauseסֶֽלָהSelah

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.

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

יִֽרַדֹּ֥ף אוֹיֵ֨ב׀ נַפְשִׁ֡י וְיַשֵּׂ֗ג וְיִרְמֹ֣ס לָאָ֣רֶץ חַיָּ֑י וּכְבוֹדִ֓י׀ לֶעָפָ֖ר יַשְׁכֵּ֣ן סֶֽלָה׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
יִֽרַדֹּ֥ףεἰאוֹיֵ֨ב׀ἀνταπέδωκαנַפְשִׁ֡יμοιוְיַשֵּׂ֗גκακάוְיִרְמֹ֣סἀποπέσοινלָאָ֣רֶץμουחַיָּ֑יκενός

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.

Psalms 7:5רָדַףmay he pursmay he pursueרָדַףאָיַבan enemyan enemyאָיַבנֶ֫פֶשׁlife mylife myנֶ֫פֶשׁנָשַׂגand may he and may he overנָשַׂגרָמַסand he may and he may tramרָמַסאֶ֫רֶץto the eartto the earthאֶ֫רֶץחַיlife mylife myחַיכָּבוֹדand honor mand honor myכָּבוֹדעָפָרto the dustto the dustעָפָרשָׁכַןmay he laymay he layשָׁכַןסֶ֫לָהSelahSelahסֶ֫לָהנָפַשׁbe refreshbe refreshedנָפַשׁחָיָהto liveto liveחָיָהכָּבֵדto honor: to honor: honouכָּבֵדעָפַרto throwto throwעָפַרסָלָהto rejectto rejectסָלָהאָיַבbe hostilebe hostileאָיַבסִכְלוּתfollyfollyסִכְלוּתשָׁכַםto riseto riseשָׁכַםנָשַׂגto overtakto overtakeנָשַׂגאַחַרafterafterאַחַרצַרnarrownarrowצַרשָׂנֵאto hateto hateשָׂנֵאבָּקַשׁto seekto seekבָּקַשׁחַיalivealiveחַירָדַףto pursueto pursueרָדַףעֲרָבָהplainplainעֲרָבָהחוֹחַthistlethistleחוֹחַחֹ֫מֶרclayclayחֹ֫מֶר
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 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.

may he pursue an enemy life my and may he overtake [it] and he may trample to the earth life my and honor my to the dust may he lay Selah
יִֽרַדֹּ֥ףyi.ra.Dof may he pursue H7291 Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singular
143× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To pursue or chase after someone means to follow them with hostile intent. This can be a physical pursuit or a pursuit of someone's life or well-being, as seen in many biblical stories.
Tyndale gloss
to pursue
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7291 רָדַף pursue, chase, persecute

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

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).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

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

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HVqi3ms — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singular
HVqi3ms
may he pursue an enemy life my and may he overtake [it] and he may trample to the earth life my and honor my to the dust may he lay Selah
אוֹיֵ֨ב׀'o.Yev an enemy H341 Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine singular
283× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means enemy or adversary, referring to someone who hates or opposes another person or nation. It is used to describe personal or national enemies in the Bible.
Tyndale gloss
enemy
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[אָיַב] 283 vb. be hostile to (enemy = אֹיֵב)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H341 אָיַב be hostile to (enemy = אֹיֵב)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

341 'oyeb o-yabe'

or (fully) owyeb {o-yabe'}; active participle of 340;

hating; an adversary:--enemy, foe.

see HEBREW for 0340

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֹיֵב (o.yev) — enemy.

1) (Qal) enemy

1a) personal

1b) national

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HVqrmsa — Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine singular
HVqrmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

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" (

Nave's Topical Bible

→ 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 wickedness of David's Ps 56:5; 57:4,6; 62:4; 69:4,9; 71:10; 102:8; 109:2-5; 129:1-3

→ His imprecations against

See PRAYER, IMPRECATORY

→ Instances of forgiveness of

David, of Absalom, and co-conspirators 2Sa 19:6,12,13

may he pursue an enemy life my and may he overtake [it] and he may trample to the earth life my and honor my to the dust may he lay Selah
נַפְשִׁ֡יnaf.Shi life my H5315 Noun common feminine singular construct · suffix
754× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for soul or living being, used in the Bible to describe the essence of a person or animal. It encompasses the ideas of life, breath, and vitality, and is translated as 'soul' or 'creature' in the KJV. This word is central to biblical concepts of humanity and existence.
Tyndale gloss
soul
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

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

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

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

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

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

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HNcfsc/Sp1bs — Noun common feminine singular construct · suffix
HNcfsc/Sp1bs
may he pursue an enemy life my and may he overtake [it] and he may trample to the earth life my and honor my to the dust may he lay Selah
וְיַשֵּׂ֗גve.ya.Seg and may he overtake [it] H5381 Conjunction · verb hiphil jussive third person masculine singular
50× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To overtake means to reach or catch up to something, like pursuing an enemy or attaining a goal. This verb is used in the Bible to describe physical and spiritual pursuits. It can also mean to be able to secure or have enough.
Tyndale gloss
to overtake
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[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

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5381 נָשַׂג only Hiph. reach, overtake

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

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).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

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

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HC/Vhj3ms — Conjunction · verb hiphil jussive third person masculine singular
HC/Vhj3ms
may he pursue an enemy life my and may he overtake [it] and he may trample to the earth life my and honor my to the dust may he lay Selah
וְיִרְמֹ֣סve.yir.Mos and he may trample H7429 Conjunction · verb qal third person masculine singular
19× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to trample or tread on something, often in a violent or abusive manner. It is used in the Bible to describe oppression or mistreatment. In KJV translations, it is rendered as 'oppressor' or 'trample'.
Tyndale gloss
to trample
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

רָמַס vb. trample

Qal trample

Niph. be trampled

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7429 רָמַס trample

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

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).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

רָמַס (ra.mas) — to trample.

1) to trample

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to trample

1a2) trampler (participle)

1b) (Niphal) to be trampled

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HC/Vqu3ms — Conjunction · verb qal third person masculine singular
HC/Vqu3ms
may he pursue an enemy life my and may he overtake [it] and he may trample to the earth life my and honor my to the dust may he lay Selah
לָאָ֣רֶץla.'A.retz to the earth H776 Preposition · noun common feminine singular absolute
2,504× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The land or earth refers to the soil or ground, and can also mean a country, territory, or region. In the Bible, it is used to describe the earth and its inhabitants, and is often translated as 'land' or 'country'.
Tyndale gloss
land: soil
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

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.

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

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.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

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

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HRd/Ncfsa — Preposition · noun common feminine singular absolute
HRd/Ncfsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

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).

Easton's Bible Dictionary

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 (

Smith's Bible Dictionary

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…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

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

may he pursue an enemy life my and may he overtake [it] and he may trample to the earth life my and honor my to the dust may he lay Selah
חַיָּ֑יchai.Yai life my H2416 Noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
498× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this word means life or being alive. It can refer to physical life, like in Genesis 1:20, or spiritual life, like in Psalm 30:5.
Tyndale gloss
alive
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

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

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

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

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

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

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HNcmpc/Sp1bs — Noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
HNcmpc/Sp1bs
may he pursue an enemy life my and may he overtake [it] and he may trample to the earth life my and honor my to the dust may he lay Selah
וּכְבוֹדִ֓י׀u.khe.vo.Di and honor my H3519 Conjunction · noun common both singular construct · suffix
200× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Glory refers to great honor or splendor, often used to describe God's majesty, as in Psalm 138:5 where David praises God's glorious name. It can also refer to wealth or abundance, like in Genesis 31:1 where Jacob's wealth is described.
Tyndale gloss
glory
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

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

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

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

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

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

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HC/Ncbsc/Sp1ms — Conjunction · noun common both singular construct · suffix
HC/Ncbsc/Sp1ms
may he pursue an enemy life my and may he overtake [it] and he may trample to the earth life my and honor my to the dust may he lay Selah
לֶעָפָ֖רle.'a.Far to the dust H6083 Preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
110× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Aphar means dust or dry earth, and is also used to describe clay, earth, or mortar. It appears in various forms throughout the Bible.
Tyndale gloss
dust
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עָפָר n.m. dry earth, dust

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6083 עָפָר dry earth, dust

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

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

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

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

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HRd/Ncmsa — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
HRd/Ncmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

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

Easton's Bible Dictionary

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…

Smith's Bible Dictionary

[MOURNING]

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

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.…

may he pursue an enemy life my and may he overtake [it] and he may trample to the earth life my and honor my to the dust may he lay Selah
יַשְׁכֵּ֣ןyash.Ken may he lay H7931 Verb · Hiphil · jussive third person masculine singular
129× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to live or stay in a place, like when God dwells among his people. It appears in books like Exodus and Psalms, describing God's presence. It's about making a home or resting place.
Tyndale gloss
to dwell
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7931 שָׁכַן, שָׁכֵ֑ן settle down, abide, dwell

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

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

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

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)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HVhj3ms — Verb · Hiphil · jussive third person masculine singular
HVhj3ms
may he pursue an enemy life my and may he overtake [it] and he may trample to the earth life my and honor my to the dust may he lay Selah
סֶֽלָה׃Se.lah Selah H5542 Particle
74× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Selah is a musical term in the Bible that signals a pause or interruption in the music, like a rest in a song, often used in Psalms. It is a technical term that sets a moment for reflection and contemplation, as seen in Psalm 3:2.
Tyndale gloss
Selah
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

סֶ֫לָה vb. lift up, or exalt;—this interpr. agrees with usage: 71 t. in 39 ψψ, 3 t. Hb 3

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5542 סֶ֫לָה lift up, or exalt

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5542 celah seh'-law

from 5541; suspension (of music), i.e. pause:--Selah.

see HEBREW for 05541

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

סֶ֫לָה (se.lah) — Selah.

§ 1) to lift up, exalt

1a) Selah

1a1) a technical musical term probably showing accentuation, pause, interruption

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HTj — Particle
HTj
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

se'-la.

See MUSIC, II, 1.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

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.”

Smith's Bible Dictionary

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.)

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

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.

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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