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Psalms 72:5 — Word Study

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WLCיִֽירָא֥וּךָ עִם־ שָׁ֑מֶשׁ וְלִפְנֵ֥י יָ֝רֵ֗חַ דּ֣וֹר דּוֹרִֽים׃

BSAMay they fear himyârêʼ [revere, stand in awe of] as long asʻim the sun [shines]shemesh [the celestial body] as long aspânîym the moon [remains]yârêach [the natural satellite] through alldôwr [successive, from generation to generation] generationsdôwr [dor, a period of time or a group of people]

Word
Listen & take awayPsalms 72
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 (do.Rim) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Psalms 72:5quick helps
In a sentenceThe psalmist expresses a desire for people to revere God throughout all time.
Who is speakingThe psalmist, speaking about God's enduring reign.
Where we areIn a royal psalm, celebrating God's justice and peace.
The hard wordיִֽירָא֥וּךָ
Take awayThe reverence for God is to last as long as the sun and moon endure.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause 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 72:5

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 Royal Psalm of Justice and Peacegenerated

4May he vindicate the afflicted among the people; may he save the children of the needy and crush the oppressor.
5May they fear him as long as the sun shines, as long as the moon remains, through all generations.
6May he be like rain that falls on freshly cut grass, like spring showers that water the earth.
7May the righteous flourish in his days and prosperity abound, until the moon is no more.

Psalm 72:5 expresses a wish that the people will fear God as long as the sun and moon exist. This verse is part of a larger psalm that emphasizes God's justice and the flourishing of the righteous under His reign. The psalmist envisions a time when God's authority is recognized and revered by all generations, highlighting the eternal nature of God's kingdom and the hope for peace and prosperity.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
11 Samuel 12:18So Samuel called to the LORD, and on that day the LORD sent thunder and rain. As a result, all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel.
21 Kings 3:28When all Israel heard of the judgment the king had given, they stood in awe of him, for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him to administer justice.
3Psalm 72:7–17May the righteous flourish in his days and prosperity abound, until the moon is no more.
4Psalm 89:29–36I will establish his line forever, his throne as long as the heavens endure.
5Isaiah 9:7Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish and sustain it with justice and righteousness from that time and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of Hosts will accomplish this.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 11 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word יִֽירָא֥וּךָ, yi.ra.'U.khagenerated

The verb יָרֵא (yare') is in the imperfect tense, indicating ongoing action. It conveys a sense of fear that encompasses both reverence and awe, particularly in relation to God. This word is often used in contexts that highlight the moral and emotional dimensions of fear, emphasizing respect and honor.

In this verse, the use of יִֽירָא֥וּךָ suggests that the psalmist desires a lasting reverence for God, one that persists through time, as symbolized by the sun and moon. The verb's form indicates that this fear is not a momentary feeling but a continuous state of being.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

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


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main verb of the verse is יִֽירָא֥וּ, they will fear, which governs the entire clause. The structure emphasizes the duration of this fear, linking it to the celestial bodies of the sun and moon through prepositional phrases.

The phrases עִם־ שָׁ֑מֶשׁ and וְלִפְנֵ֥י יָ֝רֵ֗חַ specify the conditions under which this fear is to be maintained, highlighting a poetic parallelism that connects the fear of God to the enduring presence of these heavenly bodies.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

In the Septuagint, יִֽירָא֥וּךָ is rendered as συμπαραμενεῖ, which suggests a sense of enduring presence or continuity. This choice indicates a broader interpretation of the fear of God as not just a momentary awe but a lasting relationship.

The Greek term captures the essence of the Hebrew verb while also expanding its implications, suggesting that the reverence for God should persist throughout time, much like the sun and moon.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Psalm 72:5 expresses a wish that people will fear God as long as the sun shines and the moon remains. This verse is part of a psalm that celebrates God's justice and the hope for peace and prosperity in His kingdom, emphasizing the importance of reverence for God across all generations.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean to fear God in this context?

To fear God means to have a deep respect and reverence for Him, recognizing His power and authority, as well as the relationship between God and His people.

Why does the psalmist mention the sun and moon?

The sun and moon symbolize permanence and continuity, suggesting that the reverence for God should endure as long as these celestial bodies exist.

What is the significance of generations in this verse?

Generations refer to the successive groups of people who live at different times, indicating that the fear of God is expected to be a lasting legacy passed down through time.

How does this verse relate to the overall theme of Psalm 72?

This verse highlights the psalm's theme of God's justice and peace, emphasizing that the reverence for God is essential for the flourishing of His people throughout history.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. How can I cultivate a deeper reverence for God in my daily life?
  2. In what ways can I share the importance of fearing God with the next generation?
  3. What role does the natural world play in reminding us of God's greatness?
  4. How can I encourage others to recognize and respect God's authority?

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

Early Christian writers reference this verse to discuss themes of justice and peace in relation to Christ's reign, as seen in the quotations provided.

Eusebius of CaesareaPROOF OF THE GOSPEL 7:2 c. 260–340
And the oracle in the Psalms, which says about Christ, “There shall rise in his days justice and peace,” is in agreement with this. And I think that is why he is called “Prince of Peace” in the prophecy that I quoted before this.
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 72 →
Ambrose of MilanOn the Holy Spirit 1.8 c. 339–397
Nor is it strange that they should suffer the drought of unbelief, whom the Lord deprived of the fertilizing shower of prophecy, saying,
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 72 →
Theodore of MopsuestiaCOMMENTARY ON Zechariah 9:10-12 c. 350–428
So that now, concerning the things to be promised to the people through the kingdom of Zerubbabel, who was assigned for this through the divine judgment, it was not at all inappropriate for the prophet, speaking, to say,
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 72 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Psalms 72:5 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

They shall fear thee,.... The King Messiah, the Judge of the poor, and the destroyer of the oppressor: either the tyrants and oppressors themselves shall fear him, and such who have been aiding and

Read John Gill on Psalms 72 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

They shall fear thee as long as the sun and moon endure, throughout all generations.

Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 72 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Fear; or, reverence, or worship, as this word is used, , compared with , and elsewhere. Thee; either, 1. Thee, O king, to whom he suddenly turneth his speech. And so this is hyperbolically true of Solomon, but truly and literally of Christ. Or rather, 2. Thee, O God, of whom he had spoken before, and that in the second person, ,2, as it is here; whereas he never speaks of the king in the whole Psalm in the second person, but constantly in the third. And so the sense is, This shall be another blessed fruit of this righteous government, that together with peace true religion shall be established, and that throughout all generations, as it here follows; which was begun in Solomon’ s days, and…

Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 72 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Psalms 72:5 They shall fear thee as long as the sun and moon endure, throughout all generations.Ver. 5. They shall fear thee] Who hast blessed them with so good a king; such as maketh it his main care to set up God, wherever he hath to do. As long as the sun and moon endureth] The Lacedemonians publicly professed, Quoad sol eodem itinere meabit, quo nunc meat, eo usque nunquam societatem cum Xerxe coibimus, While the sun shall hold on his course we will never make a league with Xerxes.

Read John Trapp on Psalms 72 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(5) They shall . . .—Literally, may they fear Thee (coevally) with the sun, and in the face of the moon, generation of generation. For the preposition, “coevally with,” see Dan. 3:33; (Hebrew) and comp. the Latin use of cum— “Cum sole et luna semper Aratus erit.” OVID: Amor., xv. 16. The phrase “in the presence of the moon” (see the same expression, Psalms 72:17, and compare Job 8:16), means, not by the moonlight, but as long as the moon shines. (Comp. Psalms 72:7.) On the other hand, our phrase “under the moon” refers to space. With this passage Psalms 89:36-37, alone in Hebrew poetry exactly compares, or may perhaps have been borrowed from here. Whether God or the king is the object of…

Read Charles John Ellicott on Psalms 72 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 5. They shall fear thee] There is no sense in which this can be spoken of Solomon, nor indeed of any other man: it belongs to Jesus Christ, and to him alone. He is the Prince of peace, who shall be feared and reverenced "through all generations, and as long as the sun and moon endure."

Read AdamClarke on Psalms 72 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

5. They shall fear thee while the sun endureth, And so long as the moon doth shine, throughout all generations. Who is addressed? Not the king, who is spoken of throughout in the third person, but God. The just administration of the king will promote reverence for God, Whose representative he is (cp. 1 Kings 8:40; Matthew 5:16), so long as the established course of nature lasts. For the order of nature as an emblem of permanence cp. Jeremiah 31:35 ff; Jeremiah 33:20 ff. The LXX however represents a different reading: He shall endure as long as the sun, &c.: a reference to the promise of eternal dominion to the house of David, as in Psalms 72:17 : cp. Psalms 89:4; Psalms 89:29; Psalms…

Read Cambridge on Psalms 72 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

They shall fear thee - That is, “men” shall fear thee, or thou shalt be feared, or reverenced. The idea is, that his reign would continue, or that he would be obeyed during all the time mentioned here.

Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 72 →

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

May they fear him as long as the sun shines, as long as the moon remains, through all generations.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

They shall fear you while the sun endures; and as long as the moon, throughout all generations.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

May they fear him as long as the sun shines, as long as the moon remains, through all generations.

NETBNew English Translation2006

People will fear you as long as the sun and moon remain in the sky, for generation after generation.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

They shall fear thee as long as the sun and moon endure, throughout all generations.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

They shall fear thee while the sun endureth, And so long as the moon, throughout all generations.

RVARevised Version, American1894

They shall fear thee while the sun endureth, and so long as the moon, throughout all generations.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

They shall fear thee as long as the sun and moon endure, throughout all generations.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

They shall feare thee as long as the sunne and moone endureth, from generatio to generation.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

They shall fear thee as long as sun and moon endure, from generation to generation.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

They fear Thee with the sun, and before the moon, Generation — generations.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

They fear You with the sun, and before the moon, || Generation—generations.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

They shall fear thee as long as the sun shineth, and in the presence of the moon, throughout all generations.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

May they honor you while the sun endures, and as long as the moon lasts throughout all generations.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

They are not in the labour of men: neither shall they be scourged like other men.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

May they respect him as long as the sun and the moon shine above, for all generations.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

May his life go on as long as the sun and moon, through all generations.

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.

clauseverbיִֽירָא֥וּpeopleobjectךָwill.fear.youprepositional phrase · prepositionalprepositional phraseעִםwithשָׁ֑מֶשׁ[the].sunוְandprepositional phraseלִasnoun phraseפְנֵ֥יbeforeיָ֝רֵ֗חַ[the].moonnoun phrase · adverbialדּ֣וֹרgenerationדּוֹרִֽיםof.generations

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


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

The Masoretic Text reads יִֽירָא֥וּךָ עִם־ שָׁ֑מֶשׁ וְלִפְנֵ֥י יָ֝רֵ֗חַ דּ֣וֹר דּוֹרִֽים׃, while the Septuagint matches five of the seven words. The correspondence shows agreement in the core message, though the word order and articles differ.

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

יִֽירָא֥וּךָ עִם־ שָׁ֑מֶשׁ וְלִפְנֵ֥י יָ֝רֵ֗חַ דּ֣וֹר דּוֹרִֽים׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
יִֽירָא֥וּךָσυμπαραμενεῖשָׁ֑מֶשׁἡλίῳיָ֝רֵ֗חַσελήνηςדּ֣וֹרγενεὰςדּוֹרִֽים׃γενεῶν

5 of the 7 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.

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 72:5יָרֵאpeople willpeople will feaיָרֵאעִםwithwithעִםשֶׁ֫מֶשׁ[the] sun[the] sunשֶׁ֫מֶשׁפָּנֶהand beforeand beforeפָּנֶהיָרֵחַ[the] moon[the] moonיָרֵחַדּוֹרgeneration generation ofדּוֹרדּוֹרgenerationsgenerationsדּוֹרדּוּרדּוּרעָמַםto darkento darkenעָמַםפָּנָהCorner (GaCorner (Gate)פָּנָהבֵּיתHeliopolisHeliopolisבֵּיתיֶ֫רַחmonthmonthיֶ֫רַחיְרִיחוֹJerichoJerichoיְרִיחוֹזֵ֫כֶרmemorialmemorialזֵ֫כֶרחָתַתto to be dto to be dismayחָתַתאַלnotnotאַלשָׁכַבto lie dowto lie down: laשָׁכַבקָבַרto buryto buryקָבַריָרֵחַmoonmoonיָרֵחַזָרַחto riseto riseזָרַחסָתַרto hideto hideסָתַרנוּסto fleeto fleeנוּסכּוֹכָבstarstarכּוֹכָבשֶׁ֫מֶשׁsunsunשֶׁ֫מֶשׁ
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 72:5

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.

people will fear you with [the] sun and before [the] moon generation of generations
יִֽירָא֥וּךָyi.ra.'U.kha people will fear you H3372 Verb qal imperfect third person masculine plural · suffix
315× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to fear or revere, and is used to describe being afraid or standing in awe of something, like God's power. It appears in the Bible to convey a sense of respect or reverence. In the KJV, it's translated as 'affright' or 'reverence'.
Amplified meaning
revere, stand in awe of
Tyndale gloss
to fear
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יָרֵא (yare') is a Hebrew verb meaning to fear or be afraid, encompassing a range of meanings from reverence and honor to causing terror. It appears in various forms, including Qal (to fear), Niphal (to be fearful), and Piel (to terrify). The entries highlight its moral and emotional dimensions, emphasizing awe and respect, particularly in relation to the divine.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יָרֵא vb. fear

Qal

fear, be afraid

stand in awe of

fear, reverence, honour

Niph.

be fearful, dreadful

cause astonishment and awe

inspire reverence, godly fear, and awe

Piel. make afraid, terrify

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3372 יָרֵא fear .. fear, be afraid

. stand in awe of

. fear, reverence, honour

. . be fearful, dreadful

. cause astonishment and awe

. inspire reverence, godly fear, and awe

. make afraid, terrify

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3372 yare' yaw-ray'

a primitive root; to fear; morally, to revere; caus. to

frighten:--affright, be (make) afraid, dread(-ful), (put in)

fear(-ful, -fully, -ing), (be had in) reverence(-end), X see,

terrible (act, -ness, thing).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יָרֵא (ya.re) — to fear.

: frightening(DANGER)

1) to fear, revere, be afraid

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to fear, be afraid

1a2) to stand in awe of, be awed

1a3) to fear, reverence, honour, respect

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be fearful, be dreadful, be feared

1b2) to cause astonishment and awe, be held in awe

1b3) to inspire reverence or godly fear or awe

1c) (Piel) to make afraid, terrify

2) (TWOT) to shoot, pour

יָרֵא (ya.re) — to fear: revere.

: awesome(god)

1) to fear, revere, be afraid

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to fear, be afraid

1a2) to stand in awe of, be awed

1a3) to fear, reverence, honour, respect

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be fearful, be dreadful, be feared

1b2) to cause astonishment and awe, be held in awe

1b3) to inspire reverence or godly fear or awe

1c) (Piel) to make afraid, terrify

2) (TWOT) to shoot, pour

Also means: ya.re (יָרֵא ": frightening" H3372)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Imperf-3mp | Suff — Verb qal imperfect third person masculine plural · suffix
HVqi3mp/Sp2ms
people will fear you with [the] sun and before [the] moon generation of generations
עִם־'im- with H5973 Preposition
1,052× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means with or together, like when God is with his people in Exodus 33:14-15. It's used to describe accompaniment or association, and can also mean against or beside. The word is used to convey a sense of relationship or proximity between people or things.
Tyndale gloss
with
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עִם (im) is a preposition meaning 'with' and covers a range of relationships, including companionship, locality, and possession. It can imply actions done jointly, equality, or even opposition in contexts like combat. The related form מֵעִם (me.im) means 'from with' or 'beside.' The entries reflect various nuances but do not present significant disagreement.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עִם prep. with

of fellowship and companionship

of aid

Of actions done jointly with another

If the common action be of the nature of a contest or combat, with in the sense of against

Of dealing with a person, or of the relation in which one stands with, or towards, another

Of a common lot together with the wicked

Of equality or resemblance generally aid

Of time, as long as

Of a locality, close to, beside

Of persons, עִם is spec.

in the house or family or service of

In possession of

In the custody or care of

Beside = except

With = friendly with

Idiom. of a thought or purpose present with one

Metaph. together with = in spite of, notwithstanding

base

מֵעִם 72 from with or beside

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5973a עִם with . of fellowship and companionship

. Of a locality, close to, beside

. Of persons, עִם is spec. . in the house or family or service of

. In possession of

. In the custody or care of

. Beside = except

. With = friendly with

. Idiom. of a thought or purpose present with one

. Metaph. together with = in spite of, notwithstanding

H5973b מֵעִם from with, beside

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5973 `im eem

from 6004; adverb or preposition, with (i.e. in conjunction

with), in varied applications; specifically, equally with;

often with prepositional prefix (and then usually

unrepresented in English):--accompanying, against, and, as (X

long as), before, beside, by (reason of), for all, from

(among, between), in, like, more than, of, (un-)to,

with(-al).

see HEBREW for 06004

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עִם (im) — with.

1) with

1a) with

1b) against

1c) toward

1d) as long as

מֵעִם (me.im) — from with.

1a) beside, except

1b) in spite of

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep — Preposition
HR
people will fear you with [the] sun and before [the] moon generation of generations
שָׁ֑מֶשׁSha.mesh [the] sun H8121 Noun common · both singular absolute
134× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The sun, or shemesh, represents not just the celestial body, but also east or west direction, and even objects that shine like battlements. It is often used to describe the rising or setting of the sun.
Amplified meaning
the celestial body
Tyndale gloss
sun
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שֶׁ֫מֶשׁ (shemesh) means 'sun' and is derived from a root meaning 'to be brilliant.' It encompasses various meanings, including directions like east and west, and can refer to the sun as an object of worship. Additionally, it can denote shining pinnacles or battlements.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שֶׁ֫מֶשׁ 133 n.f. et m. sun

sun

of direction: toward sun-rise, = East

obj. of worship

other phr.

pinnacle, as glittering, shining

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8121 שֶׁ֫מֶשׁ sun

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8121 shemesh sheh'-mesh

from an unused root meaning to be brilliant; the sun; by

implication, the east; figuratively, a ray, i.e. (arch.) a

notched battlement:--+ east side(-ward), sun ((rising)), +

west(-ward), window. See also 1053.

see HEBREW for 01053

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שֶׁ֫מֶשׁ (she.mesh) — sun.

1) sun

1a) sun

1b) sunrise, sun-rising, east, sun-setting, west (of direction)

1c) sun (as object of illicit worship)

1d) openly, publicly (in other phrases)

1e) pinnacles, battlements, shields (as glittering or shining)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-cs — Noun common · both singular absolute
HNcbsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Easton's Bible Dictionary

Sun

(Heb. shemesh), first mentioned along with the moon as the two great luminaries of heaven (Gen. 1:14-18). By their motions and influence they were intended to mark and divide times and seasons. The worship of the sun was one of the oldest forms of false religion (Job 31:26,27), and was common among the Egyptians and Chaldeans and other pagan nations. The Jews were warned against this form of idolatry (Deut. 4:19; 17:3; comp. 2 Kings 23:11; Jer. 19:13).

Smith's Bible Dictionary

In the history of "greater light," of the creation the sun is described as "greater light," in contradistinction to the moon, the "lesser light," in conjunction with which it was to serve "for signs and for seasons, and for days, and for years," while its special office was "to rule the day." (Genesis 1:14-16) The "signs" referred to were probably such extraordinary phenomena as eclipses, which were regarded as conveying premonitions of coming events. (Jeremiah 10:2; Matthew 24:29) with Luke 21:25 The joint influence assigned to the sun and moon in deciding the "seasons," both for agricultural operations and for religious festivals, and also in regulating the length and…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

The great luminary of day, which furnishes so many similitudes to the Hebrew poets, as well as those of all nations, Jud 5:31 Ps 84:11 Pr 4:18 Lu 1:78,79 Joh 8:12. For the idolatrous worship of the sun, see BAAL.

Nave's Topical Bible

→ Created Ge 1:14-18; Ps 74:16; 136:7; Jer 31:35

→ Rising and setting of Ec 1:5

→ Diurnal motion of Ps 19:4,6

→ Worship of, forbidden De 4:19; 17:3

→ Worshiped Job 31:26-28; Jer 8:2; Eze 6:4,6; 8:16

→ Kings of Judah dedicate horses to 2Ki 23:11

→ Miracles concerning

people will fear you with [the] sun and before [the] moon generation of generations
וְלִפְנֵ֥יve.lif.Nei and before H6440 Conjunction · preposition · noun common masculine plural construct
2,127× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means face or presence, like being in front of someone or something. It's used in many contexts, like in Genesis, Exodus, and Psalms, to describe interactions and relationships.
Tyndale gloss
face
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

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

face, faces

presence, person

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

face of seraphim

face of animals

face (= surface) of ground

as adv.loc. before

for other phrases

with prepositions

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

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

. . presence, person

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

. face of seraphim

. face of animals

. face (= surface) of ground

. as adv. loc. before

. for other phrases

. with prepositions

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6440 paniym paw-neem'

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

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

used in a great variety of applications (literally and

figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Read the full entry →
Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

פָּנֶה (pa.neh) — face: before.

: before/to/front

1) face

1a) face, faces

1b) presence, person

1c) face (of seraphim or cherubim)

1d) face (of animals)

1e) face, surface (of ground)

1f) as adv of loc/temp

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

1g) with prep

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

פָּנֶה (pa.neh) — face.

: face

1) face

1a) face, faces

1b) presence, person

1c) face (of seraphim or cherubim)

1d) face (of animals)

1e) face, surface (of ground)

1f) as adv of loc/temp

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

1g) with prep

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

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | Prep | N-cp — Conjunction · preposition · noun common masculine plural construct
HC/R/Ncmpc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

be-for': The translation of a great variety of Hebrew and Greek words. "Haran died before (the English Revised Version "in the presence of," literally "before the face of") his father Terah" (Ge 11:28). To be "before" God is to enjoy His favor (Ps 31:22). "The Syrians before" (Isa 9:12 the Revised Version, margin "on the east," as "behind," owing to the position of Canaan, relative to Syria, implies the west).

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
people will fear you with [the] sun and before [the] moon generation of generations
יָ֝רֵ֗חַya.Re.ach [the] moon H3394 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
27× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to the moon, the natural satellite of the earth. It is used in the Bible to describe the moon and its phases.
Amplified meaning
the natural satellite
Tyndale gloss
moon
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יָרֵחַ (yareach) means 'moon,' particularly in a poetic context. It is derived from a root related to another word, but the entries do not elaborate on its usage in specific verses.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יָרֵחַ n.m. moon, esp. poet.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3394 יָרֵחַ moon, esp. poet.

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3394 yareach yaw-ray'-akh

from the same as 3391; the moon:--moon. Yrechow. See

3405.

see HEBREW for 03391

see HEBREW for 03405

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יָרֵחַ (ya.re.ach) — moon.

moon

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

moon (yareach; meaning obscure--probably "wanderer"; by some given as "paleness"; selene): The moon was very early worshipped by the nations of the Far East as a divinity or the representative of one or more deities. These deities were both masculine and feminine. In Assyria and Babylonia the most common name for the moon-god was Sin or Sen. In Babylonia he was also called Aku and Nannara. In Egypt the moon was representative of several deities, all masculine. The chief of these was Thoth the god of knowledge, so called because the moon was the measurer of time. Babylonia has, also, Aa, the goddess of the moon, as the consort of the sun, while her equivalent was known in Phoenicia as Ashtaroth-karnaim. This personification and worship of the moon among the nations who were neighbors to Palestine was but part of an elaborate Nature-worship found among these people. Nor was this worship…

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Moon

Heb. yareah, from its paleness (Ezra 6:15), and lebanah, the “white” (Cant. 6:10; Isa. 24:23), was appointed by the Creator to be with the sun “for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years” (Gen. 1:14-16). A lunation was among the Jews the period of a month, and several of their festivals were held on the day of the new moon. It is frequently referred to along with the sun (Josh. 10:12; Ps. 72:5, 7, 17; 89:36, 37; Eccl. 12:2; Isa. 24:23, etc.), and…

Smith's Bible Dictionary

The moon held an important place in the kingdom of nature, as known to the Hebrews. Conjointly with the sun, it was appointed "for signs and for seasons, and for days and years;" though in this respect it exercised a more important influence, if by the "seasons" we understand the great religious festivals of the Jews, as is particularly stated in (Psalms 104:19) and more at length in Ecclus 43:6,7. The worship of the moon prevailed extensively among the nations of the East, and under a variety of aspects. It was one of the only two deities which commanded the reverence of all the Egyptians. The worship of the heavenly bodies is referred to in (Job 31:26,27) and Moses directly warns the Jews against it. (4:19) In the figurative language of Scripture, the moon is frequently…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

This beautiful and stately ruler of the night, Ge 1:16, is one of the chief witnesses to mankind of the goodness, wisdom, and power of the Creator, Ps 8:3; and as receiving all its light from the sun, and reflecting it on all around, it is a striking image of the church of Christ. In the clear sky of the East, the moon shines with peculiar brilliancy; and it was worshipped by most nations of antiquity, either directly, or as an idol-goddess under the name of Ashtoreth, Artemis, Diana, Hecate, Meni, Mylitta, Maja, etc. The Hebrews were specially cautioned against this form of idolatry, De 4:19 17:3; and yet fell into it; 2Ki 21:3

people will fear you with [the] sun and before [the] moon generation of generations
דּ֣וֹרDor generation of H1755 Noun common · masculine singular construct
167× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to a period of time or a generation of people. It is used in the Bible to describe a group of people living at the same time. In the book of Psalms, it describes a generation of people who follow God.
Amplified meaning
successive, from generation to generation
Tyndale gloss
generation
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word דּוֹר (dor) encompasses meanings related to a period or generation, often emphasizing the transitory nature of life. It can refer to a specific age, a class of people living at a certain time, or a dwelling place. The entries suggest a focus on both the temporal and spatial aspects of existence.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

דּוֹר, דֹּר n.m. period, generation, dwelling

period, age, generation, mostly poet.

of men living at a particular time (period, age), generation, as transitory

generation characterized by quality or condition, class of men

dwelling-place, habitation

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1755 דּוֹר, דֹּר period, generation, dwelling . period, age, generation, mostly poet.

. of men living at a particular time (period, age), generation, as transitory

. generation characterized by quality or condition, class of men

. dwelling-place, habitation

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1755 dowr dore

or (shortened) dor {dore}; from 1752; properly, a revolution

of time, i.e. an age or generation; also a dwelling:--age, X

evermore, generation, (n-)ever, posterity.

see HEBREW for 01752

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

דּוֹר (dor) — generation.

1) period, generation, habitation, dwelling

1a) period, age, generation (period of time)

1b) generation (those living during a period)

1c) generation (characterised by quality, condition, class of men)

1d) dwelling-place, habitation

Aramaic equivalent: dar (דָּר "generation" H1859)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular construct
HNcmsc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ov:

(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.

English usagewhat the translators’ English meant
Webster's Dictionary (1828), Webster's Unabridged (1913), Webster's Dictionary (1806)

OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]

1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.

I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.

For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.

It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.

Lamentations 3:1.

The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.

Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.

That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.

Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…

people will fear you with [the] sun and before [the] moon generation of generations
דּוֹרִֽים׃do.Rim generations H1755 Noun common · masculine plural absolute
167× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to a period of time or a generation of people. It is used in the Bible to describe a group of people living at the same time. In the book of Psalms, it describes a generation of people who follow God.
Amplified meaning
dor, a period of time or a group of people
Tyndale gloss
generation
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word דּוֹר (dor) encompasses meanings related to a period or generation, often emphasizing the transitory nature of life. It can refer to a specific age, a class of people living at a certain time, or a dwelling place. The entries suggest a focus on both the temporal and spatial aspects of existence.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

דּוֹר, דֹּר n.m. period, generation, dwelling

period, age, generation, mostly poet.

of men living at a particular time (period, age), generation, as transitory

generation characterized by quality or condition, class of men

dwelling-place, habitation

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1755 דּוֹר, דֹּר period, generation, dwelling . period, age, generation, mostly poet.

. of men living at a particular time (period, age), generation, as transitory

. generation characterized by quality or condition, class of men

. dwelling-place, habitation

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1755 dowr dore

or (shortened) dor {dore}; from 1752; properly, a revolution

of time, i.e. an age or generation; also a dwelling:--age, X

evermore, generation, (n-)ever, posterity.

see HEBREW for 01752

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

דּוֹר (dor) — generation.

1) period, generation, habitation, dwelling

1a) period, age, generation (period of time)

1b) generation (those living during a period)

1c) generation (characterised by quality, condition, class of men)

1d) dwelling-place, habitation

Aramaic equivalent: dar (דָּר "generation" H1859)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-mp — Noun common · masculine plural absolute
HNcmpa
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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