Psalms 8:9 — Word Study
WLCיְהוָ֥ה אֲדֹנֵ֑ינוּ מָֽה־ אַדִּ֥יר שִׁ֝מְךָ֗ בְּכָל־ הָאָֽרֶץ׃
BSAbirdtsippôwr heavenshâmayim fishdâg Westyâm to passʻâbar wayʼôrach Westyâm
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| יְהוָ֥ה | O Yahweh | Noun proper |
| אֲדֹנֵ֑ינוּ | lord our | Noun common masculine plural construct, suffix |
| מָֽה־ | how! | Pronoun |
| אַדִּ֥יר | majestic | |
| שִׁ֝מְךָ֗ | [is] name your | Noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
| בְּכָל־ | in all | Preposition, noun common masculine singular construct |
| הָאָֽרֶץ׃ | the earth | Particle, noun common feminine singular absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth! |
| KJV | O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! |
| ASV | O Jehovah, our Lord, How excellent is thy name in all the earth! |
| YLT | Jehovah, our Lord, How honourable Thy name in all the earth! |
| WEB | Yahweh, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! |
| BBE | O Lord, our Lord, how noble is your name in all the earth! |
Where they part company is שִׁ֝מְךָ֗ — see How Translations Differ.
The main clause expresses the psalmist's awe, with a prepositional phrase indicating the scope of God's name's majesty.
7 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Trapp, AdamClarke & more — read them ›
clause
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Psalms 8:9
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 Majesty of God's Namegenerated
Psalm 8:9 expresses awe at the greatness of God's name, which reflects His authority and power over all creation. This verse concludes a section that highlights humanity's role in the world, emphasizing that everything is placed under human dominion, as seen in the preceding verses. The psalmist marvels at the significance of God's name and its impact on the earth, inviting readers to recognize the divine presence in the world around them.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalm 8:1 | O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth! You have set Your glory above the heavens. |
| 2 | Psalm 104:24 | How many are Your works, O LORD! In wisdom You have made them all; the earth is full of Your creatures. |
| 3 | Deuteronomy 33:26 | “There is none like the God of Jeshurun, who rides the heavens to your aid, and the clouds in His majesty. |
| 4 | Job 11:7 | Can you fathom the deep things of God or discover the limits of the Almighty? |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 4 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — אַדִּ֥יר, 'a.Dirgenerated
The word אַדִּ֥יר (addiyr) means majestic and conveys a sense of greatness or power. It is often used to describe entities that are large or noble, such as kings or mighty waters. The root of the word suggests a sense of width or largeness, indicating something that is not only great in size but also in stature and importance.
In this verse, the use of אַדִּ֥יר emphasizes the excellence and nobility of God's name, highlighting its significance in the context of creation. The psalmist's question underscores the wonder and reverence due to God's name, which is recognized as majestic throughout the earth.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses majestic to translate אַדִּ֥יר.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The finite verb in this verse is implied in the expression of majesty, with the structure focusing on the subject and its attributes. The main clause emphasizes the greatness of God's name, while the prepositional phrase indicates its universal scope.
The Hebrew word order places emphasis on God's name, with the adjective אַדִּ֥יר directly modifying it, reinforcing the majesty and significance of God's identity in relation to the earth.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, the Hebrew אַדִּ֥יר is rendered as ἰξθύας, which carries a sense of might or strength. This choice reflects a narrowing of focus, emphasizing God's power rather than the broader concept of majesty.
The translation choices in the Septuagint suggest an interpretive approach that highlights God's strength in creation, aligning with the themes present in the psalm.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Psalm 8:9 expresses wonder at how great God's name is, declaring that it is majestic throughout all the earth. This verse is part of a psalm that reflects on humanity's role in creation and God's authority over everything.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
God's name being majestic signifies His greatness, authority, and the reverence due to Him as the Creator and Ruler of all.
The name of God represents His character and identity, and its majesty reflects His power and the respect He commands in creation.
This verse emphasizes that humanity is placed in a position of authority over creation, acknowledging God's sovereignty and the honor of His name.
The psalmist's declaration invites us to recognize and honor the greatness of God in our lives and in the world around us.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways do I see the majesty of God's name reflected in the world around me?
- How can I honor God's name in my daily life?
- What does it mean for me to recognize my role in creation under God's authority?
- How can I express my awe and reverence for God in my prayers and actions?
Commentators on this verse — 7 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Psalms 8:9 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleO Lord our Lord, how excellent [is] thy name in all the earth!
Read John Gill on Psalms 8 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryO LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! Translate as (note) Psalms 8:1, 'O Yahweh our Lord.' In the English version, the LORD, where it stands for YAHWEH (H3068), is in capital
Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 8 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsPsalms 8:9 O LORD our Lord, how excellent [is] thy name in all the earth!Ver. 9. O Lord our Lord, &c.] Prius incipit Propheta mirari quam loqui, et desinit loqui non mirari. The psalmist endeth as he began, transported with an ecstasy of admiration. So he begins and ends many of his psalms with Hallelujah. Between God and us the distance is infinite; and, if it were possible, our love and thankfulness should fill up that distance, and extend itself to infiniteness, saith a grave divine.
Read John Trapp on Psalms 8 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 9. O Lord our Lord] The psalmist concludes as he began. Jehovah, our prop and support! his name is excellent in all the earth. The name of JESUS is celebrated in almost every part of the habitable globe; for his Gospel has been preached, or is in the progress of being preached, through the whole world. Bibles and missionaries are now carrying his name, and proclaiming his fame, to the utmost nations of the earth. The whole of this Psalm, and the seventh and eighth verses in particular, have been the subject of much spiritualization in ancient and modern times. I shall give two examples: one from the pious Bishop Horne; the other from the ancient Latino-Scotico-English Psalter…
Read AdamClarke on Psalms 8 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges9. How can the Psalmist better close than with the same exclamation of reverent wonder with which he began; repeated now with fuller significance, after meditation on the way in which the truth it asserts is most signally declared!
Read Cambridge on Psalms 8 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleO Lord our Lord, how excellent ... - Repeating the sentiment with which the psalm opens, as now fully illustrated, or as its propriety is now seen.
Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 8 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible9. How excellent is thy name—A suitable refrain, in echo of Psa 8:1, after so lofty a tribute of honour to man and praise to God.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Psalms 8 →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
O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth!
Yahweh, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth!
O Lord, our Lord, how magnificent is your reputation throughout the earth!
Tyndale line
O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!
O Jehovah, our Lord, How excellent is thy name in all the earth!
O LORD, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!
O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!
O Lord our Lord, howe excellent is thy Name in all the world!
Strictly literal
Jehovah our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!
Jehovah, our Lord, How honourable Thy name in all the earth!
YHWH, our Lord, || How majestic [is] Your Name in all the earth!
(8:10) O Eternal One our Lord, how excellent is thy name on all the earth!
Yahweh our Lord, how magnificent is your name in all the earth!
From the Latin
The birds of the air, and the fishes of the sea, that pass through the paths of the sea.
Simplified
Lord, our Lord, your magnificent reputation fills the earth!
O Lord, our Lord, how noble is your name in all the earth!
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text reads יְהוָ֥ה אֲדֹנֵ֑ינוּ מָֽה־ אַדִּ֥יר שִׁ֝מְךָ֗ בְּכָל־ הָאָֽרֶץ׃, while the Septuagint matches six of the seven words. The Dead Sea Scrolls contain partial restorations, indicating some textual variations but generally aligning with the Masoretic Text.
יְהוָ֥ה אֲדֹנֵ֑ינוּ מָֽה־ אַדִּ֥יר שִׁ֝מְךָ֗ בְּכָל־ הָאָֽרֶץ׃
6 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.
[צפור] [שמים] [ודגי] [הים] עבר [ארחות] ימים
nothing on the leather here — 2 partly restored, 5 supplied entire by an editor.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Psalms 8:9
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.
יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) is the proper name of the God of Israel, often rendered as Jehovah or the Lord. It signifies the self-existent or eternal nature of God. The name is closely associated with the revelation to Moses in Exodus 3:12-15 and is used in conjunction with other terms to denote sacred places. Some scholars suggest it derives from a root meaning 'to bring into being.'
יהוה c. 6823 i.e. יַהְוֶה n.pr.dei Yahweh, the proper name of the God of Israel—(1. MT יְהֹוָה 6518 (Qr אֲדֹנָי), or יֱהֹוִה 305 (Qr אֱלֹהִים) 2. Many recent scholars explain יַהְוֶה as Hiph. of הוה (= היה) the one bringing into being, life-giver)
יהוה is not used by E in Gn, but is given Ex 3:12-15 as the name of the God who revealed Himself to Moses at Horeb
יהוה is used with אלהים and suffixes, especially in D
the phrase † אֲנִי יהוה is noteworthy
יהוה is also used with several predicates, to form sacred names of holy places of Yahweh
base
H3068 יהוה i.e. יַהְוֶה n. pr. dei Yahweh, the proper name of the God of Israel
3068 Yhovah yeh-ho-vaw'
from 1961; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish
national name of God:--Jehovah, the Lord. Compare 3050, 3069.
see HEBREW for 01961
see HEBREW for 03050
see HEBREW for 03069
יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — LORD.
Jehovah = "the existing One"
1) the proper name of the one true God
1a) unpronounced except with the vowel pointings of a.do.na (אֲדֹנָי "Lord" H0136)
יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — The Lord.
Another name of ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)
יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — (Jerusalem of) the Lord.
Combined with ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)
HNpt — Noun properHNpt
The Hebrew word אָדוֹן (*'adown*) means 'lord' and is derived from a root meaning to rule. It covers a range of meanings, referring to both human and divine authority, including terms like master, king, and superintendent. Variations exist for divine references, such as אֲדֹנָי (*Adonai*), distinguishing God from human lords.
אָדוֹן n.m. lord (אֲדֹנִי, אֲדֹנַי, אֲדֹנָי are variations of Mass. pointing to distinguish divine reference fr. human. Pl., with few exc. an intens. pl. of rank; word takes sf. as pl. in all other pers.; so doubtless here. Orig. reading prob. in all cases אֲדֹנַי; אֲדֹנִי now found in J 51 t.)
base
H113 אָדוֹן lord
113 'adown aw-done'
or (shortened) adon {aw-done'}; from an unused root (meaning
to rule); sovereign, i.e. controller (human or divine):--
lord, master, owner. Compare also names beginning with
"Adoni-".
אָדוֹן (a.don) — lord.
1) firm, strong, lord, master
1a) lord, master
1a1) reference to men
1a1a) superintendent of household, of affairs
1a1b) master
1a1c) king
1a2) reference to God
1a2a) the Lord God
1a2b) Lord of the whole earth
1b) lords, kings
1b1) reference to men
1b1a) proprietor of hill of Samaria
1b1b) master
1b1c) husband
1b1d) prophet
1b1e) governor
1b1f) prince
1b1g) king
1b2) reference to God
1b2a) Lord of lords (probably = "thy husband, Yahweh")
1c) my lord, my master
1c1) reference to men
1c1a) master
1c1b) husband
1c1c) prophet
1c1d) prince
1c1e) king
1c1f) father
1c1g) Moses
1c1h) priest
1c1i) theophanic angel
1c1j) captain
1c1k) general recognition of superiority
1c2) reference to God
1c2a) my Lord, my Lord and my God
1c2b) Adonai (parallel with Yahweh)
HNcmpc/Sp1bp — Noun common masculine plural construct · suffixHNcmpc/Sp1bp
מָה (mah) is a Hebrew word primarily used as an interrogative particle meaning 'what?' or 'how?'. It can also function as an indefinite pronoun, encompassing meanings like 'anything' or 'whatever'. The word is versatile, appearing in various adverbial forms and often used with prefixes to express different nuances, such as reason or manner.
מָה, rarely מָה־, מַה־, מַהּ, מֶה, מַּ, מָ—pron.interrog. and indef. what? how? aught
interrog. what?
Used adverbially
Indef. pron.
With preps.
base
H4100 מָה, rarely מָה־, מַה־, מַהּ, מֶה, מַּ, מָ—pron. interrog. and indef. what? how? aught . interrog. what?
. Used adverbially
. Indef. pron.
. With preps.
4100 mah maw
or mah {mah}; or ma {maw}; or ma {mah}; also meh {meh}; a
primitive particle; properly, interrogative what? (including
how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including
how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and even
relatively, that which); often used with prefixes in various
adverbial or conjunctive senses:--how (long, oft, (-
soever)), (no-)thing, what (end, good, purpose, thing),
whereby(-fore, -in, -to, -with), (for) why.
מָה (mah) — what?.
interr pron
1) what, how, of what kind
1a) (interrogative)
1a1) what?
1a2) of what kind
1a3) what? (rhetorical)
1a4) whatsoever, whatever, what
1b) (adverb)
1b1) how, how now
1b2) why
1b3) how! (exclamation)
1c) (with prep)
1c1) wherein?, whereby?, wherewith?, by what means?
1c2) because of what?
1c3) the like of what?
1c3a) how much?, how many?, how often?
1c3b) for how long?
1c4) for what reason?, why?, to what purpose?
1c5) until when?, how long?, upon what?, wherefore?
indef pron
2) anything, aught, what may
HPi — PronounHPi
Represents various Hebrew and Greek words, interrogative, interjectional and relative. Its different uses refer to
(1) the manner or way, e.g. Ge 44:34, "How shall I go up to my father?" ('ekh); Mt 6:28, "how they grow" (pos); 1Co 15:35, "How are the dead raised?";
(2) degree, extent, frequently, "how great" (Da 4:3, mah; Mr 5:19, hosos, "how much"); "how many" (Mt 27:13, posos); "how much" (Ac 9:13, hosos); "how much more" (Mt 7:11, posos;
אַדִּיר (addiyr) means majestic and conveys a sense of greatness or power. It can describe large entities like the sea or trees, as well as kings, nations, and noble figures. The word is built from a root meaning wide or large, with a range that includes excellent, glorious, and noble.
אַדִּיר adj. majestic
base
H117 אַדִּיר majestic
117 'addiyr ad-deer'
from 142; wide or (generally) large; figuratively,
powerful:--excellent, famous, gallant, glorious, goodly,
lordly, mighty(- ier one), noble, principal, worthy.
see HEBREW for 0142
אַדִּיר (ad.dir) — great.
1) great, majestic
1a) of waters of sea
1b) of a tree
1c) of kings, nations, gods
2) great one, majestic one
2a) of nobles, chieftains, servants
HAamsa — HAamsa
שֵׁם (shem) means 'name' and encompasses various meanings such as reputation, fame, and glory. It can refer to the designation of God and is often associated with memorials or monuments. The word is built from a primitive root and highlights individuality and honor. There is a mention of its use in relation to false gods, which is forbidden.
שֵׁם 864 n.m. name (√ unknown)
of river, beasts, city, i.e. exact designation of it
usu. of pers.
= reputation
esp. as giving a man a kind of posthumous life, esp. in his sons
name, as designation of God
of false gods, use forbidden
= memorial, monument
base
H8034 שֵׁם name (√ unknown)
8034 shem shame
a primitive word (perhaps rather from 7760 through the idea
of definite and conspicuous position; compare 8064); an
appellation, as a mark or memorial of individuality; by
implication honor, authority, character:--+ base,
(in-)fame(-ous), named(-d), renown, report.
see HEBREW for 07760
see HEBREW for 08064
שֵׁם (shem) — name.
1) name
1a) name
1b) reputation, fame, glory
1c) the Name (as designation of God)
1d) memorial, monument
Aramaic equivalent: shum (שֻׁם "name" H8036)
HNcmsc/Sp2ms — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHNcmsc/Sp2ms
כֹּל (kol) means 'all' or 'the whole.' It can refer to totality, including every person or thing, and is often used with a following genitive to specify what is included. The term can also denote a broader sense of everything in existence or all circumstances of life. The lexicons do not show significant disagreement on its meanings.
כֹּל once כּוֹל n.m. the whole, all
with foll. gen. (as usually) the whole of, to be rendered, however, often in our idiom, to avoid stiffness, any or every
Absolutely:
without the art., all things, all
with the art. הַכֹּל
where the sense is limited by the context to things (or persons) just mentioned
in a wider sense, all, whether of all mankind or of all living things, the universe, or of all the circumstances of life (chiefly late)
base
H3605 כֹּל once כּוֹל the whole, all . with foll. gen. (as usually) the whole of, to be rendered, however, often in our idiom, to avoid stiffness, any or every
. Absolutely: . without the art., all things, all
. with the art. הַכֹּל . where the sense is limited by the context to things (or persons) just mentioned
. in a wider sense, all, whether of all mankind or of all living things, the universe, or of all the circumstances of life (chiefly late)
3605 kol kole
or (Jer. 33:8) kowl {kole}; from 3634; properly, the whole;
hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a
plural sense):--(in) all (manner, (ye)), altogether, any
(manner), enough, every (one, place, thing), howsoever, as
many as, (no-)thing, ought, whatsoever, (the) whole,
whoso(-ever).
see HEBREW for 03634
כֹּל (kol) — all.
1) all, the whole
1a) all, the whole of
1b) any, each, every, anything
1c) totality, everything
Aramaic equivalent: kol (כֹּל "all" H3606)
HR/Ncmsc — Preposition · noun common masculine singular constructHR/Ncmsc
ol: Used in various combinations, and with different meanings.
(1) All along, "Weeping all along as he went" (Jer 41:6), i.e. throughout the whole way he went, feigning equal concern with the men from Shiloh, etc., for the destruction of the Temple, so as to put them off their guard.
(2) All in all, "That God may be all in all" (1Co 15:28, Greek: panta en pasin, "all things in all (persons and) things"). "The universe, with all it comprises, will wholly answer to God's will and reflect His mind" (Dummelow).
אֶ֫רֶץ (erets) is a feminine noun meaning 'earth' or 'land.' It encompasses various meanings, including the whole earth, specific territories like Canaan, and even inhabitants of the land. It can refer to soil, ground, or regions, and is used in phrases related to distance and the living. There is a note on the plural form אֲרָצוֹת, which mainly appears in later texts to denote multiple lands.
אֶ֫רֶץ n. f. & (seld.) m. earth, land
earth, whole earth (opp. to a part)
earth, opp. to heaven, sky
earth = inhabitants of earth
land =
country, territory
district, region
trial territory
piece of ground
specif. land of Canaan, or Israel
= inhabitants of land
used even of Shᵉʼôl
ground, surface of ground
soil, as productive
אֶרֶץ in phrases
people of the land
in measurements of distance
the country of the plain, level or plain country
land of the living
end(s) of the earth
pl. אֲרָצוֹת is almost wholly late; it denotes lands, countries, often in contrast to Canaan, lands of the nations, etc.
base
H776 אֶ֫רֶץ n. f. & (seld.) m. earth, land . . earth, whole earth (opp. to a part)
. earth, opp. to heaven, sky
. earth = inhabitants of earth
. land = . country, territory
. district, region
. trial territory
. piece of ground
. specif. land of Canaan, or Israel
. = inhabitants of land
. used even of Shᵉʼôl
. . ground, surface of ground
. soil, as productive
. אֶרֶץ in phrases . people of the land
. in measurements of distance
. the country of the plain, level or plain country
. land of the living
. end(s) of the earth
. pl. אֲרָצוֹת is almost wholly late; it denotes lands, countries, often in contrast to Canaan, lands of the nations, etc.
776 'erets eh'-rets
from an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth
(at large, or partitively a land):--X common, country, earth,
field, ground, land, X natins, way, + wilderness, world.
אֶ֫רֶץ (e.rets) — land: country/planet.
: country/field
1) land, earth
1a) earth
1a1) whole earth (as opposed to a part)
1a2) earth (as opposed to heaven)
1a3) earth (inhabitants)
1b) land
1b1) country, territory
1b2) district, region
1b3) tribal territory
1b4) piece of ground
1b5) land of Canaan, Israel
1b6) inhabitants of land
1b7) Sheol, land without return, (under) world
1b8) city (-state)
1c) ground, surface of the earth
1c1) ground
1c2) soil
1d) (in phrases)
1d1) people of the land
1d2) space or distance of country (in measurements of distance)
1d3) level or plain country
1d4) land of the living
1d5) end(s) of the earth
1e) (almost wholly late in usage)
1e1) lands, countries
1e1a) often in contrast to Canaan
אֶ֫רֶץ (e.rets) — land: soil.
: soil
1) land, earth
1a) earth
1a1) whole earth (as opposed to a part)
1a2) earth (as opposed to heaven)
1a3) earth (inhabitants)
1b) land
1b1) country, territory
HTd/Ncfsa — Particle · noun common feminine singular absoluteHTd/Ncfsa
urth ('adhamah, 'erets, 'aphar; ge, oikoumene):
In a hilly limestone country like Palestine, the small amount of iron oxide in the rocks tends to be oxidized, and thereby to give a prevailing reddish color to the soil. This is especially the case on relatively barren hills where there is little organic matter present to prevent reddening and give a more blackish tinge.
'Adhamah (compare 'adham, "a man," and Adam) is from 'adham, "to be red," and is used in the senses: "earth" (Ex 20:24), "land" (Ps 105:35), a "land" or country (Isa 14:2), "ground" (Ge 4:11), "the earth" (Ge 7:4).
Earth
(1.) In the sense of soil or ground, the translation of the word adamah’. In Gen. 9:20 “husbandman” is literally “man of the ground or earth.” Altars were to be built of earth (Ex. 20:24). Naaman asked for two mules’ burden of earth (2 Kings 5:17), under the superstitious notion that Jehovah, like the gods of the heathen, could be acceptably worshipped only on his own soil.
(2). As the rendering of ’erets, it means the whole world (Gen. 1:2); the land as opposed to the sea (1:10). Erets also denotes a country (21:32); a plot of ground (23:15); the ground on which a man stands (33:3); the inhabitants of the earth (6:1; 11:1); all the world except Israel (
The term is used in two widely-different senses: (1) for the material of which the earth’s surface is composed; (2) as the name of the planet on which man dwells. The Hebrew language discriminates between these two by the use of separate terms, adamah for the former, erets for the latter. Adamah is the earth in the sense of soil or ground, particularly as being susceptible of cultivation. (Genesis 2:7) Erets is applied in a more or less extended sense-- (1) to the whole world, (Genesis 1:1) (2) to land as opposed to sea, (Genesis 1:10) (3) to a country, (Genesis 21:32) (4) to a plot of ground, (Genesis 23:15) and (5) to…
In both Hebrew and Greek the same word is used to denote the earth as a whole, and a particular land. Only the context can enable us to decide in which of these senses it is to be taken in a given passage.
Thus in Mt 27:45 we might, so far as the original word is concerned, render either "there was darkness over all the land," or over all the earth. The expression "all the earth" is sometimes used hyperbolically for a large portion of it, Ezr 1:2. The word is used of the whole world, etc. In a moral sense, earthly is opposed to what is heavenly, spiritual and holy, Joh 3:31 1Co 15:47 Col 3:2