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Psalms 73:26 — Word Study

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WLCכָּלָ֥ה שְׁאֵרִ֗י וּלְבָ֫בִ֥י צוּר־ לְבָבִ֥י וְחֶלְקִ֗י אֱלֹהִ֥ים לְעוֹלָֽם׃

BSAMy fleshshᵉʼêr [body, physical being] and my heartlêbâb [innermost being, mind and emotions] may failkâlâh but Godʼĕlôhîym [the Rock, eternal Refuge] is the strengthtsûwr [foundation, enabling power] of my heartlêbâb and my portionchêleq [eternal inheritance, allotted portion] foreverʻôwlâm [through all eternity, always]

Word
Listen & take awayPsalms 73
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 26 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 (le.'o.Lam) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Psalms 73:26quick helps
In a sentenceThe psalmist expresses vulnerability in his physical and emotional state, yet affirms God's strength and eternal provision.
Who is speakingThe psalmist, reflecting on his personal struggles and faith in God.
Where we areIn a meditation on the contrast between human frailty and divine strength.
The hard wordכָּלָ֥ה
Take awayDespite human limitations, God remains a steadfast source of strength and inheritance.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause subjectאֱלֹהִים verbכָּלָה 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 73:26

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 — The Assurance of God's Presencegenerated

25Whom have I in heaven but You? And on earth I desire no one besides You.
26My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
27Those far from You will surely perish; You destroy all who are unfaithful to You.
28But as for me, it is good to draw near to God. I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, that I may proclaim all Your works.

Psalm 73:26 reflects the psalmist's deep emotional struggle, acknowledging that while his physical body and heart may fail, God is his unwavering source of strength and eternal portion. This verse stands in a broader context where the psalmist contrasts the fate of the wicked with the security found in God, as seen in the surrounding verses.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Psalm 63:1O God, You are my God. Earnestly I seek You; my soul thirsts for You. My body yearns for You in a dry and weary land without water.
2Psalm 84:2My soul longs, even faints, for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.
3Psalm 119:81–82My soul faints for Your salvation; I wait for Your word.
4Job 13:15Though He slay me, I will hope in Him. I will still defend my ways to His face.
52 Corinthians 4:8–10We are hard pressed on all sides, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair;

The Key Word כָּלָה, ka.Lahgenerated

The Hebrew word כָּלָה (*kalah*) is a verb meaning to finish or end. It suggests a sense of completion, often with a nuance of exhaustion or depletion, as seen in contexts where a task or life is concluded.

In this verse, it conveys the psalmist's recognition of his own limitations and mortality, emphasizing the fragility of human existence in contrast to God's enduring strength.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

The translations generally agree on the meaning of the verse.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main verb is כָּלָ֥ה, may fail, which governs the structure of the verse. The subject is the psalmist's flesh and heart, which are contrasted with God's enduring strength and portion.

The sentence structure emphasizes the contrast between human frailty and divine support, with the finite verb at the center and the rest of the sentence building around it.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates כָּלָה with ἐχέλιπεν, meaning 'has failed' or 'has left behind.' This choice indicates a similar understanding of human frailty, while also suggesting a sense of abandonment or loss.

This translation aligns with the psalmist's expression of vulnerability, highlighting the need for God's sustaining presence.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Psalm 73:26 expresses the psalmist's feelings of weakness in his body and heart, yet he finds strength in God, who is his eternal portion. This highlights the contrast between human limitations and God's everlasting support.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean that my flesh and heart may fail?

This phrase acknowledges the psalmist's recognition of human frailty and mortality, suggesting that physical and emotional struggles are part of life.

How is God described in this verse?

God is described as the strength of the psalmist's heart and his eternal portion, indicating that God provides support and sustenance throughout life.

What does 'portion forever' imply?

The term 'portion forever' suggests that God is not only a present help but also an everlasting inheritance, providing hope and security beyond this life.

How can this verse encourage someone facing difficulties?

This verse reassures individuals that even in times of weakness or struggle, they can rely on God's strength and eternal presence, offering comfort and hope.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what areas of my life do I feel my strength is failing, and how can I turn to God for support?
  2. What does it mean for me to consider God as my portion?
  3. How can I remind myself of God's strength when I face challenges?
  4. In what ways have I experienced God's faithfulness in my life?

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

Augustine of Hippo references this verse in his exposition, emphasizing the psalmist's declaration of faith amidst personal struggles.

Augustine of HippoExposition on Psalms 73 354–430
"My heart and my flesh has failed, O God of my heart" [Psalms 73:26].
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 73 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Psalms 73:26 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

My flesh and my heart faileth,.... Either through vehement desires of communion with God deferred, see Psalms 84:2 or through afflictive dispensations of Providence, being smitten and chastened

Read John Gill on Psalms 73 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. -His joy in God as his portion, in contrast to the final destruction of all who go from God. Verse 25. Whom have I in heaven (but thee)?

Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 73 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

In myself, I confess I am a poor weak creature, and my body and spirit may fail and be ready to faint under such temptations and tribulations as these, and I know I shall shortly return to the dust, out of which I was taken. But though I have no strength in myself; I have it in God, my never-failing refuge, to whom I will trust whilst I live, and who will be my portion to eternity.

Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 73 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Psalms 73:26 My flesh and my heart faileth: [but] God [is] the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.Ver. 26. My flesh faileth, and my heart faileth] Some think that the psalmist, through egression of affection unto God, having spent and exhaled his spirits, fell into a swoon; out of which he recovered again by the joy of the Lord, which was his strength, even the rock of his heart. The Greek saith, The God of my heart.

Read John Trapp on Psalms 73 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 26. My flesh - faileth] I shall soon die: and my heart - even my natural courage, will fail; and no support but what is supernatural will then be available. Therefore, he adds, - God is the strength of my heart] Literally, the rock of my heart. And my portion] Allusion is here made to the division of the promised land. I ask no inheritance below; I look for one above. I do not look for this in the possession of any place; it is GOD alone that can content the desires and wishes of an immortal spirit. And even this would not satisfy, had I not the prospect of its being for ever, לעולם leolum, "to eternity!'

Read AdamClarke on Psalms 73 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

26. God is the strength of my heart] Lit., the rock of my heart. Though bodily and mental powers fail, God is his sure refuge in every danger (Psalms 62:2; Psalms 62:6-7), the possession which cannot be taken from him (Psalms 16:5; Psalms 142:5). Never, now that he has come to his right mind, will he look for any other refuge (Isaiah 44:8), or envy those “whose portion in life is of the world” (Psalms 17:14).

Read Cambridge on Psalms 73 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

My flesh and my heart faileth - Flesh and heart here seem to refer to the whole man, body and soul; and the idea is, that his powers of body and mind failed; were spent; were exhausted.

Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 73 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

26. My flesh and my heart faileth— “Flesh” and “heart” contrasted, as here, embrace the total makeup of man.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Psalms 73 →

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

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

Modern formal

BSBBerean Standard Bible2020

My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

My flesh and my heart fails, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

NETBNew English Translation2006

My flesh and my heart may grow weak, but God always protects my heart and gives me stability.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

My flesh and my heart faileth; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever.

RVARevised Version, American1894

My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

My flesh fayleth and mine heart also: but God is the strength of mine heart, and my portion for euer.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

My flesh and my heart faileth: God is the rock of my heart and my portion for ever.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

Consumed hath been my flesh and my heart, The rock of my heart and my portion [is] God to the age.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

My flesh and my heart have been consumed, || God [is] the rock of my heart and my portion for all time.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

Though my flesh and my heart should fall; yet the rock of my heart, and my portion will be God for ever.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

My flesh and my heart grow weak, but God is the strength of my heart forever.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

My body and my mind may fail, but God is the foundation of my life. He is mine forever!

BBEBible in Basic English1949

My flesh and my heart are wasting away: but God is the Rock of my heart and my eternal heritage.

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.

clauseverbכָּלָ֥הit.had.come.to.an.endnoun phrase · subjectnoun phraseשְׁאֵרִ֗fleshיmyוּandnoun phraseלְבָ֫בִ֥heartיmyclausenoun phrase · predicatenoun phraseצוּר[is].the.rocknoun phraseלְבָבִ֥my.heartיmyוְandnoun phraseחֶלְקִ֗portionיmysubjectאֱלֹהִ֥יםGodprepositional phrase · prepositionalלְforeverעוֹלָֽםof.perpetuity

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


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

The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint agree on the wording of this verse, with all eight words matched. This consistency indicates a unified understanding of the psalmist's declaration of faith amidst personal struggle.

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

כָּלָ֥ה שְׁאֵרִ֗י וּלְבָ֫בִ֥י צוּר־ לְבָבִ֥י וְחֶלְקִ֗י אֱלֹהִ֥ים לְעוֹלָֽם׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
כָּלָ֥הἐχέλιπενשְׁאֵרִ֗יμουוּלְבָ֫בִ֥יμουצוּר־θεὸςלְבָבִ֥יμουוְחֶלְקִ֗יμουאֱלֹהִ֥יםθεὸςלְעוֹלָֽם׃αἰῶνα

8 of the 8 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 73:26כָּלָהit had comeit had come to כָּלָהשְׁאֵרflesh myflesh myשְׁאֵרלֵבָבand heart mand heart myלֵבָבצוּר[is] [the] [is] [the] rockצוּרלֵבָבheart myheart myלֵבָבחֵ֫לֶקand portionand portion myחֵ֫לֶקאֱלֹהִיםGodGodאֱלֹהִיםעוֹלָםfor everfor everעוֹלָםלבבto encourato encourageלבבשָׁאַרto remainto remainשָׁאַרצוּרto confineto confineצוּרחָלַקto divideto divideחָלַקעָלַםto concealto concealעָלַםאֱלֹהַּgodgodאֱלֹהַּשָׁלֵםcompletecompleteשָׁלֵםדָּרַשׁto seekto seekדָּרַשׁקָצִירharvestharvestקָצִירחֵמָהragerageחֵמָהקָרֹבnearnearקָרֹבגָּאַלto redeem:to redeem: redeגָּאַלעֹרֵבOrebOrebעֹרֵבבִּלְעֲדֵיbesidebesideבִּלְעֲדֵינַחֲלָהinheritancinheritanceנַחֲלָהאַחֵרanotheranotherאַחֵראֲרוֹןarkarkאֲרוֹןעַדperpetuityperpetuityעַד
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 73:26

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.

it had come to an end flesh my and heart my [is] [the] rock of heart my and portion my God for ever
כָּלָ֥הka.Lah it had come to an end H3615 Verb · Qal · perfect third person masculine singular
208× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to finish or end something, like completing a task or using up a resource, as seen in Genesis 2:2 where God finished creating the heavens and earth.
Tyndale gloss
to end: finish
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word כָּלָה (*kalah*) is a primitive root meaning to end or finish. It encompasses a range of meanings, including to complete, accomplish, perish, and destroy. The entries indicate various uses in both intransitive and transitive forms, covering actions like finishing a task or causing something to cease. Notably, it can also imply negative connotations, such as plotting or destruction.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כָּלָה 204 vb. be complete, at an end, finished, accomplished, spent

Qal

be complete, at an end, of a period of time

be completed, finished, of a work

be accomplished, fulfilled

be idealy complete, be determined, always in a bad sense, plotted

be spent, used up (prop. come to an end), of water

waste away, be exhausted, fail

come to an end, vanish = perish, be destroyed

Pi.

complete, bring to an end, finish, a thing, task, work, etc.

complete a period of time

finish doing a thing

make an end, end

accomplish, fulfil, bring to pass

accomplish in thought, determine

put an end to, cause to cease

cause to fail, exhaust, use up, spend

destroy, sts. exterminate

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3615 כָּלָה be complete, at an end, finished, accomplished, spent .. . be complete, at an end, of a period of time

. be completed, finished, of a work

. be accomplished, fulfilled

. be idealy complete, be determined, always in a bad sense, plotted

. . be spent, used up (prop. come to an end), of water

. waste away, be exhausted, fail

. come to an end, vanish = perish, be destroyed

. . . complete, bring to an end, finish, a thing, task, work, etc.

. complete a period of time

. finish doing a thing

. make an end, end

. accomplish, fulfil, bring to pass

. accomplish in thought, determine

. . put an end to, cause to cease

. cause to fail, exhaust, use up, spend

. destroy, sts. exterminate

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3615 kalah kaw-law'

a primitive root; to end, whether intransitive (to cease, be

finished, perish) or transitived (to complete, prepare,

consume):--accomplish, cease, consume (away), determine,

destroy (utterly), be (when ... were) done, (be an) end (of),

expire, (cause to) fail, faint, finish, fulfil, X fully, X

have, leave (off), long, bring to pass, wholly reap, make

clean riddance, spend, quite take away, waste.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כָּלָה (ka.lah) — to end: finish.

: finish

1) to accomplish, cease, consume, determine, end, fail, finish, be complete, be accomplished, be ended, be at an end, be finished, be spent

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to be complete, be at an end

1a2) to be completed, be finished

1a3) to be accomplished, be fulfilled

1a4) to be determined, be plotted (bad sense)

1a5) to be spent, be used up

1a6) to waste away, be exhausted, fail

1a7) to come to an end, vanish, perish, be destroyed

1b) (Piel)

1b1) to complete, bring to an end, finish

1b2) to complete (a period of time)

1b3) to finish (doing a thing)

1b4) to make an end, end

1b5) to accomplish, fulfil, bring to pass

1b6) to accomplish, determine (in thought)

1b7) to put an end to, cause to cease

1b8) to cause to fail, exhaust, use up, spend

1b9) to destroy, exterminate

1c) (Pual) to be finished, be ended, be completed

כָּלָה (ka.lah) — to end: destroy.

: destroy

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Perf-3ms — Verb · Qal · perfect third person masculine singular
HVqp3ms
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

qets, 'ephec, kalah; telos, sunteleo:

The end of anything is its termination, hence, also, final object or purpose.

It is the translation of several Hebrew and Greek words, chiefly in the Old Testament of qets (properly, "a cutting off") and other words from the same root (Ge 6:13, "The end of all flesh is come before me"); 'acharith, "hinder part," is also frequently translated "end" (De 11:12; Ps 37:37,38, American Revised Version: "There is a happy end to the man of peace .... The end of the wicked shall be cut off"; the English Revised Version "latter end" (Ps 37:37), margin "reward" or "future posterity"; Ps 73:17

Easton's Bible Dictionary

End

In Heb. 13:7, is the rendering of the unusual Greek word ekbasin, meaning “outcome”, i.e., death. It occurs only elsewhere in 1 Cor. 10:13, where it is rendered “escape.”

it had come to an end flesh my and heart my [is] [the] rock of heart my and portion my God for ever
שְׁאֵרִ֗יshe.'e.Ri flesh my H7607 Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
16× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means flesh or body, and can also refer to food or relatives by blood. It appears in various forms, including in Genesis and Leviticus. The KJV translates it as body, flesh, or kin.
Amplified meaning
body, physical being
Tyndale gloss
flesh
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שְׁאֵר (sh'er) refers to flesh, potentially originating from the inner flesh next to the bones. It encompasses meanings related to food, physical power, and kinship, indicating a connection by blood. The term can also imply self or body. There is a related term, שַׁאֲרָה (sha.a.rah), meaning 'kinswomen'.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שְׁאֵר n.m. flesh (perh. orig. the inner flesh, full of blood, next to the bones)

flesh

as food

fig. for physical power

in HP = flesh- (= blood-) relation (i.e. one near of kin)

= self

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7607 שְׁאֵר flesh (perh. orig. the inner flesh, full of blood, next to the bones)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7607 sh'er sheh-ayr'

from 7604; flesh (as swelling out), as living or for food;

generally food of any kind; figuratively, kindred by blood:--

body, flesh, food, (near) kin(-sman, -swoman), near (nigh) (of

kin).

see HEBREW for 07604

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שְׁאֵר (she.er) — flesh.

1) flesh, food, body, near kin, near kinswoman

1a) flesh

1a1) as food

1a2) for physical power (fig)

1b) flesh relation, blood relation

1c) self

Also means: sha.a.rah (שַׁאֲרָה "kinswomen" H7608)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
HNcmsc/Sp1bs
it had come to an end flesh my and heart my [is] [the] rock of heart my and portion my God for ever
וּלְבָ֫בִ֥יu.le.Va.Vi and heart my H3824 Conjunction · noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
252× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The heart is the innermost part of a person, including their mind, will, and emotions. In the book of Psalms, David talks about his heart being heavy with sorrow, while in the book of Proverbs, it discusses the importance of guarding one's heart.
Amplified meaning
innermost being, mind and emotions
Tyndale gloss
heart
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

לֵבָב (lebab) refers to the inner man, encompassing the mind, will, and heart. It highlights aspects like emotions, moral character, and conscience, often contrasting the inner self with the outer. The term is used primarily for humans and can also denote courage and appetites.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

לֵבָב 251 n.m. inner man, mind, will, heart

seldom of things in the midst of the seas

usu. of men

the inner man in contrast with the outer

the inner man, indef. the soul, comprehending mind, affections and will

specific ref. to mind

spec. ref. to inclinations, resolutions, determinations of the will

spec. ref. to conscience

spec. ref. to moral character

= the man himself

spec. as seat of appetites

spec. of seat of the emotions and passions

seat of courage

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3824 לֵבָב inner man, mind, will, heart . seldom of things in the midst of the seas

. usu. of men . the inner man in contrast with the outer

. the inner man, indef. the soul, comprehending mind, affections and will

. specific ref. to mind

. spec. ref. to inclinations, resolutions, determinations of the will

. spec. ref. to conscience

. spec. ref. to moral character

. = the man himself

. spec. as seat of appetites

. spec. of seat of the emotions and passions

. seat of courage

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3824 lebab lay-bawb'

from 3823; the heart (as the most interior organ); used also

like 3820:--+ bethink themselves, breast, comfortably,

courage, ((faint), (tender-)heart((-ed)), midst, mind, X

unawares, understanding.

see HEBREW for 03823

see HEBREW for 03820

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

לֵבָב (le.vav) — heart.

1) inner man, mind, will, heart, soul, understanding

1a) inner part, midst

1a1) midst (of things)

1a2) heart (of man)

1a3) soul, heart (of man)

1a4) mind, knowledge, thinking, reflection, memory

1a5) inclination, resolution, determination (of will)

1a6) conscience

1a7) heart (of moral character)

1a8) as seat of appetites

1a9) as seat of emotions and passions 1a10) as seat of courage

Aramaic equivalent: le.vav (לְבַב "heart" H3825)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | N-ms | Suff — Conjunction · noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
HC/Ncmsc/Sp1bs
it had come to an end flesh my and heart my [is] [the] rock of heart my and portion my God for ever
צוּר־tzur- [is] [the] rock of H6697 Noun common · masculine singular construct
78× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A rock or boulder, often used to describe God as a refuge, like in Psalm 18:2.
Amplified meaning
foundation, enabling power
Tyndale gloss
rock
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

צוּר (tsur) means rock or cliff, often referring to a sharp rock or boulder. It can also signify a refuge or an edge, and is used in various contexts, including references to God as a rock. The word is built from the root associated with strong, compressed formations, and it appears in different forms, such as in the phrase 'rock of God.'

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

צוּר n.m. rock, cliff

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6697 צוּר rock, cliff

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6697 tsuwr tsoor

or tsur {tsoor}; from 6696; properly, a cliff (or sharp rock,

as compressed); generally, a rock or boulder; figuratively, a

refuge; also an edge (as precipitous):--edge, X (mighty) God

(one), rock, X sharp, stone, X strength, X strong. See also

1049.

see HEBREW for 06696

see HEBREW for 01049

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

צוּר (tsur) — Rocks (of Goats).

Combined with ya.el (יָעֵל "Wildgoats'" H3277)

This name means rock, cliff

צוּר (tsur) — rock.

1) rock, cliff

1a) rocky wall, cliff

1b) rock (with flat surface)

1c) block of stone, boulder

1d) rock (specific)

1e) rock (of God)

1f) rock (of heathen gods) n pr dei

1g) Rock

Aramaic equivalent: tur (טוּר "mountain" H2906)

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…

it had come to an end flesh my and heart my [is] [the] rock of heart my and portion my God for ever
לְבָבִ֥יle.va.Vi heart my H3824 Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
252× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The heart is the innermost part of a person, including their mind, will, and emotions. In the book of Psalms, David talks about his heart being heavy with sorrow, while in the book of Proverbs, it discusses the importance of guarding one's heart.
Tyndale gloss
heart
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

לֵבָב (lebab) refers to the inner man, encompassing the mind, will, and heart. It highlights aspects like emotions, moral character, and conscience, often contrasting the inner self with the outer. The term is used primarily for humans and can also denote courage and appetites.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

לֵבָב 251 n.m. inner man, mind, will, heart

seldom of things in the midst of the seas

usu. of men

the inner man in contrast with the outer

the inner man, indef. the soul, comprehending mind, affections and will

specific ref. to mind

spec. ref. to inclinations, resolutions, determinations of the will

spec. ref. to conscience

spec. ref. to moral character

= the man himself

spec. as seat of appetites

spec. of seat of the emotions and passions

seat of courage

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3824 לֵבָב inner man, mind, will, heart . seldom of things in the midst of the seas

. usu. of men . the inner man in contrast with the outer

. the inner man, indef. the soul, comprehending mind, affections and will

. specific ref. to mind

. spec. ref. to inclinations, resolutions, determinations of the will

. spec. ref. to conscience

. spec. ref. to moral character

. = the man himself

. spec. as seat of appetites

. spec. of seat of the emotions and passions

. seat of courage

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3824 lebab lay-bawb'

from 3823; the heart (as the most interior organ); used also

like 3820:--+ bethink themselves, breast, comfortably,

courage, ((faint), (tender-)heart((-ed)), midst, mind, X

unawares, understanding.

see HEBREW for 03823

see HEBREW for 03820

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

לֵבָב (le.vav) — heart.

1) inner man, mind, will, heart, soul, understanding

1a) inner part, midst

1a1) midst (of things)

1a2) heart (of man)

1a3) soul, heart (of man)

1a4) mind, knowledge, thinking, reflection, memory

1a5) inclination, resolution, determination (of will)

1a6) conscience

1a7) heart (of moral character)

1a8) as seat of appetites

1a9) as seat of emotions and passions 1a10) as seat of courage

Aramaic equivalent: le.vav (לְבַב "heart" H3825)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
HNcmsc/Sp1bs
it had come to an end flesh my and heart my [is] [the] rock of heart my and portion my God for ever
וְחֶלְקִ֗יve.chel.Ki and portion my H2506 Conjunction · noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
67× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Smoothness can refer to flattering words, but also to an inheritance or a portion of something. It appears in Psalms and Proverbs, describing the smooth tongue of a deceiver.
Amplified meaning
eternal inheritance, allotted portion
Tyndale gloss
portion
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word חֵ֫לֶק (*cheleq*) has two main meanings: it can refer to a portion or share, often in the context of land or inheritance, and it can denote smoothness or seductiveness, particularly in speech. The entries highlight its use in various contexts, including as a divine award. Notably, it appears in Proverbs 7:21 in relation to speech.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

חֵ֫לֶק n.m. portion, tract, territory

portion, share

portion, tract, of land

hence portion, i.e. (acquired) possession

chosen portion, habitual mode of life

portion, award, from God

base

חֵ֫לֶק n.[m.] smoothness, seductiveness of speech, only sg. cstr. Pr 7:21

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2506a חֵ֫לֶק portion, tract, territory H2506b חֵ֫לֶק smoothness, seductiveness of speech

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2506 cheleq khay'lek

from 2505; properly, smoothness (of the tongue); also an

allotment:--flattery, inheritance, part, X partake, portion.

see HEBREW for 02505

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חֵ֫לֶק (che.leq) — portion.

1) portion, share, part, territory

1a) portion, share

1b) portion, tract, parcel (of land)

1c) one's portion, one's possession

1d) (chosen) portion

1e) portion, award (from God)

Aramaic equivalent: cha.laq (חֲלָק "portion" H2508)

חֵ֫לֶק (che.leq) — smoothness.

smoothness, seductiveness, flattery

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | N-ms | Suff — Conjunction · noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
HC/Ncmsc/Sp1bs
it had come to an end flesh my and heart my [is] [the] rock of heart my and portion my God for ever
אֱלֹהִ֥ים'E.lo.Him God H430 Noun common · masculine plural absolute
2,603× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for God, elohim, refers to the one supreme God, and is sometimes used to show respect to judges or magistrates. It is also used to describe angels or mighty beings. This word is closely related to the name of the Lord, Yahweh, and is often translated as God or gods in the Bible.
Amplified meaning
the Rock, eternal Refuge
Tyndale gloss
God
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֱלֹהִים 2570 n.m.pl.

pl. in number.

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

divine ones, superhuman beings including God and angels

angels

gods

pl. intensive

god or goddess

godlike one

works of God, or things belongng to him

God

הָאֱלֹהִים the (true) God

אֱלֹהִים = God

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

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

. divine ones, superhuman beings including God and angels

. angels

. gods

. pl. intensive . god or goddess

. godlike one

. works of God, or things belongng to him

. God

. הָאֱלֹהִים the (true) God

. אֱלֹהִים = God

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

430 'elohiym el-o-heem'

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

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

supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to

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

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

mighty.

see HEBREW for 0433

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֱלֹהִים (e.lo.him) — God.

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

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

אֱלֹהִים (e.lo.him) — (LORD)-Elohe.

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

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

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

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

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

I. INTRODUCTION TO THE GENERAL IDEA

1. The Idea in Experience and in Thought

2. Definition of the Idea

3. The Knowledge of God

4. Ethnic Ideas of God

(1) Animism

(2) Fetishism

(3) Idolatry

(4) Polytheism

(5) Henotheism

(6) Pantheism

(7) Deism

(8) Semitic Monolatry

(9) Monotheism

II. THE IDEA OF GOD IN THE OLD TESTAMENT

1. The Course of Its Development

2. Forms of Its Manifestation

(1) The Face or Countenance of God

(2) The Voice and Word of God

(3) The Glory of God

(4) The Angel of God

(5) The Spirit of God

(6) The Name of God

(7) Occasional Forms

3. The Names of God

(1) Generic

(2) Attributive

(3) Yahweh

4. Pre-prophetic Conceptions of God

(1) Yahweh Alone Is the God of Israel

(a) His Early Worship

(b) Popular Religion

(c) Polytheistic Tendencies

(i) Coordination

(ii) Assimilation

(iii) Disintegration

(d) No Hebrew Goddesses

(e) Human Sacrifices

Easton's Bible Dictionary

God

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

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

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

Smith's Bible Dictionary

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

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

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

it had come to an end flesh my and heart my [is] [the] rock of heart my and portion my God for ever
לְעוֹלָֽם׃le.'o.Lam for ever H5769 Preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
438× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means forever or always, describing something that lasts an eternity. It is used in the Bible to describe God's eternal nature and his lasting promises.
Amplified meaning
through all eternity, always
Tyndale gloss
forever: antiquity
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עוֹלָם (owlam) refers to concepts of long duration, antiquity, and futurity, encompassing meanings like eternity and perpetual existence. It is derived from a root meaning 'concealed' or 'the vanishing point.' The term is used to describe both ancient times and an indefinite future, indicating continuity and everlastingness.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עוֹלָם 439 n.m. long duration, antiquity, futurity

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5769 עוֹלָם long duration, antiquity, futurity

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5769 `owlam o-lawm'

or lolam {o-lawm'}; from 5956; properly, concealed, i.e. the

vanishing point; generally, time out of mind (past or future),

i.e. (practically) eternity; frequentatively, adverbial

(especially with prepositional prefix) always:--alway(-s),

ancient (time), any more, continuance, eternal, (for,

(n-))ever(-lasting, -more, of old), lasting, long (time), (of)

old (time), perpetual, at any time, (beginning of the) world

(+ without end). Compare 5331, 5703.

see HEBREW for 05956

see HEBREW for 05331

see HEBREW for 05703

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עוֹלָם (o.lam) — forever: enduring.

: enduring/eternal

1) long duration, antiquity, futurity, for ever, ever, everlasting, evermore, perpetual, old, ancient, world

1a) ancient time, long time (of past)

1b) (of future)

1b1) for ever, always

1b2) continuous existence, perpetual

1b3) everlasting, indefinite or unending future, eternity

עוֹלָם (o.lam) — Everlasting.

This name means long duration, everlasting, perpetual

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

עוֹלָם (o.lam) — forever: any time.

: any_time

1) long duration, antiquity, futurity, for ever, ever, everlasting, evermore, perpetual, old, ancient, world

1a) ancient time, long time (of past)

1b) (of future)

1b1) for ever, always

1b2) continuous existence, perpetual

1b3) everlasting, indefinite or unending future, eternity

עוֹלָם (o.lam) — forever: antiquity.

: old/ancient

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
HR/Ncmsa
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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