Menu

Psalms 89:41 — Word Study

Depth

WLCשַׁ֭סֻּהוּ כָּל־ עֹ֣בְרֵי דָ֑רֶךְ הָיָ֥ה חֶ֝רְפָּ֗ה לִשְׁכֵנָֽיו׃

BSAAllkôl [every single one, everyone who passes]

Word
Listen & take awayPsalms 89
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 41 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 (lish.khe.Nav) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Psalms 89:41quick helps
In a sentenceThe psalmist laments that those who pass by have plundered him, leaving him in disgrace.
Who is speakingThe psalmist, expressing deep sorrow over his current state.
Where we areA lamentation reflecting on loss and shame, situated in a broader context of suffering.
The hard wordשַׁ֭סֻּהוּ
Take awayThe once proud has been reduced to a state of mockery.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbהוּא 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 89:41

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 Lament of the Psalmistgenerated

40You have broken down all his walls; You have reduced his strongholds to rubble.
41All who pass by plunder him; he has become a reproach to his neighbors.
42You have exalted the right hand of his foes; You have made all his enemies rejoice.
43You have bent the edge of his sword and have not sustained him in battle.

Psalm 89:41 expresses the psalmist's grief as he observes that all who pass by have plundered him, indicating a loss of dignity and respect. This verse captures the pain of being mocked and ridiculed by those around him, reflecting a broader theme of vulnerability and shame in the face of adversity. The surrounding verses provide context for this lament, highlighting the destruction of defenses and the triumph of enemies, as seen in Psalm 89:40 and Psalm 89:42.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Psalm 44:10–14You have made us retreat from the foe, and those who hate us have plundered us.
2Psalm 80:13The boar from the forest ravages it, and the creatures of the field feed upon it.
3Isaiah 10:6I will send him against a godless nation; I will dispatch him against a people destined for My rage, to take spoils and seize plunder, and to trample them down like clay in the streets.
4Jeremiah 50:17Israel is a scattered flock, chased away by lions. The first to devour him was the king of Assyria; the last to crush his bones was Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon.”
5Psalm 74:10How long, O God, will the enemy taunt You? Will the foe revile Your name forever?

The Key Word שַׁ֭סֻּהוּ, su.hugenerated

The verb שַׁסֻּהוּ (shasuh) is a perfect form indicating completed action — they have plundered him. This word conveys the act of taking away someone’s possessions, often through force, and is associated with the actions of enemies. It reflects a state of vulnerability where the subject is left without defense or resources.

The root שָׁסַס (shacac) emphasizes the act of plundering, and its usage in contexts like battle underscores the severity of the action. The psalmist uses this term to express the depth of his humiliation and loss.


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 finite verb שַׁ֭סֻּהוּ governs the main clause, indicating the action of plundering, while the rest of the sentence describes the subject's state as a reproach. The structure emphasizes the psalmist's loss and the surrounding shame.

The sentence follows a straightforward order, with the subject being those who pass by, the action of plundering, and the resulting state of reproach, emphasizing the sequence of events leading to the psalmist's disgrace.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates שַׁ֭סֻּהוּ with the Greek word πάντας (pantas), meaning 'all'. This choice retains the universality of the action, indicating that every passerby is involved in the plundering, similar to the Hebrew context.

This translation choice shows a commitment to the collective nature of the action, emphasizing the overwhelming sense of loss faced by the psalmist.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Psalm 89:41 states that all who pass by have plundered the subject, leading to a state of shame and mockery among his neighbors. This verse highlights the feelings of loss and disgrace experienced by the psalmist.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean that all who pass by plunder him?

This indicates that those who see the psalmist have taken advantage of his vulnerability, robbing him of dignity and resources.

Why has he become a reproach to his neighbors?

He has become a source of mockery due to his misfortunes, which are visible to those around him.

How does this verse relate to the overall theme of the psalm?

This verse reflects the themes of loss, vulnerability, and the consequences of being forsaken, which run throughout the psalm.

What can we learn from the psalmist's experience?

The psalmist's experience teaches us about the reality of suffering and the importance of seeking God's help in times of distress.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what ways have I felt plundered or taken advantage of in my own life?
  2. How can I support those around me who are experiencing shame or mockery?
  3. What does it mean for me to be a good neighbor to those who are suffering?
  4. How can I find hope in my own times of distress, as the psalmist does?

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

The early Church Fathers referenced this psalm to illustrate themes of suffering and redemption, as seen in Augustine's commentary.

Augustine of HippoExposition on Psalms 89 354–430
Even David himself knew this. Consider his words; "You have rejected and brought him down to nothing." Where then is Your promise? "You have put off Your Anointed." This expression cheers us,
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 89 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Psalms 89:41 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

All that pass by the way spoil him,.... His church, his members, which are himself, when made havoc of by their persecutors, and they took joyfully the spoiling of their goods, Hebrews 10:34, so the

Read John Gill on Psalms 89 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

But thou hast cast off and abhorred, thou hast been wroth with thine anointed. -The people of the covenant contrast the sad state of things actually with what the covenant seemed to promise. Similarly in Psalms 44:9. Verse 38.

Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 89 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

An object of their scorn and reproach. Is this the anointed of the Lord? Is this the everlasting family and kingdom?

Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 89 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Psalms 89:41 All that pass by the way spoil him: he is a reproach to his neighbours.Ver. 41. All that pass by the way spoil him] They rob and rifle him: such havoc was made by Shisbak, and is still by the Church’ s enemies, Hebrews 10:34. He is a reproach to his neighbours] Who now look upon him as a king of clouts, and ask, Where is his invincible majesty?

Read John Trapp on Psalms 89 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 41. All that pass by the way spoil him.] The land is in the condition of a vineyard, the hedge of which is broken down, so that they who pass by may pull the grapes, and dismantle or tear down the vines. The Chaldeans and the Assyrians began the ravage; the Samaritans on the one hand, and the Idumeans on the other, have completed it.

Read AdamClarke on Psalms 89 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

41. The first line from Psalms 80:12, with the substitution of spoil for pluck: the second from Psalms 79:4; cp. Psalms 44:13. The ‘neighbours’ are surrounding nations, once tributary to Israel.

Read Cambridge on Psalms 89 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

All that pass by the way spoil him - The sentiment here is substantially the same as in Psalms 80:12. See the notes at that place.

Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 89 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

41. All that pass by the way spoil him—So destitute is he of either military defences or protective government, that even the casual traveller, as he goes along, makes free plunder of his substance.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Psalms 89 →

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

All who pass by plunder him; he has become a reproach to his neighbors.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

All who pass by the way rob him. He has become a reproach to his neighbors.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

All who pass by plunder him; he has become a reproach to his neighbors.

NETBNew English Translation2006

All who pass by have robbed him; he has become an object of disdain to his neighbors.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

All that pass by the way spoil him: he is a reproach to his neighbours.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

All that pass by the way rob him: He is become a reproach to his neighbors.

RVARevised Version, American1894

All that pass by the way spoil him: he is become a reproach to his neighbours.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

All that pass by the way plunder him: he is a reproach to his neighbors.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

All that goe by the way, spoyle him: he is a rebuke vnto his neighbours.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

All that pass by the way plunder him; he is become a reproach to his neighbours.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

Spoiled him have all passing by the way, He hath been a reproach to his neighbours,

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

Everyone passing by the way has spoiled him, || He has been a reproach to his neighbors,

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

(89:42) All that pass by the way plunder him: he is become a reproach to his neighbors.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

All who pass by have robbed him. He has become an object of disgust to his neighbors.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

Everyone who passes by has robbed him; he has become an object of mockery to the nations nearby.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

All those who come by take away his goods; he is laughed at by his neighbours.

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.

clauseverbשַׁ֭סֻּtheyobjectהוּhave.plundered.himnoun phrase · subjectכָּלallnoun phraseעֹ֣בְרֵי[those.who].pass.byדָ֑רֶךְof.[the].roadclauseverbהָיָ֥הhe.has.becomeobjectחֶ֝רְפָּ֗הa.reproachprepositional phrase · prepositionalלִtonoun phraseשְׁכֵנָֽיneighborsוhis

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 שַׁ֭סֻּהוּ כָּל־ עֹ֣בְרֵי דָ֑רֶךְ הָיָ֥ה חֶ֝רְפָּ֗ה לִשְׁכֵנָֽיו׃, which aligns closely with the Septuagint, where six of the seven words match. This consistency indicates a strong agreement between the two texts on the core message of plunder and reproach.

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

שַׁ֭סֻּהוּ כָּל־ עֹ֣בְרֵי דָ֑רֶךְ הָיָ֥ה חֶ֝רְפָּ֗ה לִשְׁכֵנָֽיו׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
שַׁ֭סֻּהוּπάνταςעֹ֣בְרֵיαὐτοῦדָ֑רֶךְἔθουהָיָ֥הὀξυρώματαחֶ֝רְפָּ֗הαὐτοῦלִשְׁכֵנָֽיו׃δειλίαν

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.

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 89:41שָׁסַסthey have pthey have plundשָׁסַסכֹּלallallכֹּלעָבַר[those who][those who] pasעָבַרדֶּ֫רֶךְ[the] road[the] roadדֶּ֫רֶךְהָיָהhe has becohe has becomeהָיָהחֶרְפָּהa reproacha reproachחֶרְפָּהשָׁכֵןto neighborto neighbors hiשָׁכֵןכָּלַלto perfectto perfectכָּלַלדָּרַךְto treadto treadדָּרַךְחָרַףto tauntto tauntחָרַףשָׁכַןto dwellto dwellשָׁכַןהָוָאto fallto fallהָוָאשָׁכַבto lie dowto lie down: laשָׁכַבאִשָּׁהwomanwomanאִשָּׁהעֵדָהcongregaticongregationעֵדָהעֲבֹדָהserviceserviceעֲבֹדָהיַרְדֵןJordanJordanיַרְדֵןחָלַץto rescueto rescueחָלַץפָּנָהCorner (GaCorner (Gate)פָּנָהצָפוֹןZaphonZaphonצָפוֹןכְּלִמָּהshameshameכְּלִמָּהקְלָלָהcursecurseקְלָלָהבֵּיתBeth-avenBeth-avenבֵּיתעֲמֹרָהGomorrahGomorrahעֲמֹרָה
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 89:41

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.

they have plundered him all [those who] pass by of [the] road he has become a reproach to neighbors his
שַׁ֭סֻּהוּsu.hu they have plundered him H8155 Verb qal perfect third person common plural · suffix
6× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word is about taking something that does not belong to you, often by force, like in a battle. It is used in the Bible to describe the actions of enemies, such as in Jeremiah 23:1 and Ezekiel 38:12.
Tyndale gloss
to plunder
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שָׁסַס (shacac) is a primitive root meaning to plunder or spoil. It appears in the Qal form as 'to plunder' and in the Niphal form as 'to be plundered.' The entries indicate a focus on the act of plundering and its passive form, with a connection to another word, שָׁאַס (sha.as), meaning 'to spoil.'

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[שָׁסַס] vb. id. [שָׁסָה]

Qal they have plundered him

Niph. be plundered

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8155 [שָׁסַס] id. [שָׁסָה]

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8155 shacac shaw-sas'

a primitive root; to plunder:--rifle, spoil.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שָׁסַס (sha.sas) — to plunder.

1) to plunder, spoil

1a) (Qal) to plunder

1b) (Niphal) to be plundered, be rifled

Also means: sha.as (שָׁאַס "to spoil" H7601)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HVqp3cp/Sp3ms — Verb qal perfect third person common plural · suffix
HVqp3cp/Sp3ms
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
they have plundered him all [those who] pass by of [the] road he has become a reproach to neighbors his
כָּל־kol- all H3605 Noun common · masculine singular construct
5,415× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for 'all' or 'everything' is used throughout the Bible, like in Genesis 1:31, where God sees all He has made as very good. It encompasses the entirety of something, whether people, things, or situations.
Amplified meaning
every single one, everyone who passes
Tyndale gloss
all
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

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)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

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

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

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)

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

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).

(3) All one, "It is all one" (Job 9:22), "it makes no difference whether I live or die."

(4) At all, "If thy father miss me at all" (1Sa 20:6), "in any way," "in the least."

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
they have plundered him all [those who] pass by of [the] road he has become a reproach to neighbors his
עֹ֣בְרֵיoe.rei [those who] pass by of H5674 Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine plural common
556× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This verb can mean to cross over or transition from one thing to another, and is sometimes used to describe being arrogant or crossing a boundary.
Tyndale gloss
to pass
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word עָבַר (abar) is a versatile verb meaning to pass over, through, or by, and it encompasses a range of actions including crossing, traversing, and alienating. It can also imply causing something to pass or be transferred, as well as emotional states like anger in its Hithpael form. The entries highlight its use in various contexts, though they do not provide specific verse references.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עָבַר 648 vb. pass over, through, by, pass on

Qal

pass over

Pass beyond

Pass through, traverse

pass along by

pass by

sweep by, of scourge

be past, over, of time

pass along (from hand to hand)

Pass on, go on

Pass away

Niph. Impf. a stream which cannot be forded

Pi.

his bull impregnateth

cause one to cross river

cause something to pass over

make over to

devote children to (לְ) heathen god

pass along (from hand to hand)

cause to pass through

let pass through

cause to pass by

let pass by

cause arrow to pass beyond

cause to pass under rod, for counting

cause to pass away, take away

Hiph.

cause to pass over, bring over

he made to pass across with chains of gold

base

[עָבַר] vb. denom. Hithp. be arrogant, infuriate oneself

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5674a עָבַר pass over, through, by, pass on .. pass over

. Pass beyond

. Pass through, traverse

. . pass along by

. pass by

. sweep by, of scourge

. be past, over, of time

. pass along (from hand to hand)

. Pass on, go on

. Pass away

. Impf. a stream which cannot be forded

. . his bull impregnateth . cause one to cross river

. cause something to pass over

. make over to

. devote children to (לְ) heathen god

. pass along (from hand to hand)

. . cause to pass through

. let pass through

. . cause to pass by

. let pass by

. cause arrow to pass beyond

. cause to pass under rod, for counting

. cause to pass away, take away

. . cause to pass over, bring over

. he made to pass across with chains of gold

H5674b עָבַר vb. denom. Hithp. be arrogant, infuriate oneself

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5674 `abar aw-bar'

a primitive root; to cross over; used very widely of any

transition (literal or figurative; transitive, intransitive,

intensive, causative); specifically, to cover (in

copulation):--alienate, alter, X at all, beyond, bring (over,

through), carry over, (over-)come (on, over), conduct (over),

convey over, current, deliver, do away, enter, escape, fail,

gender, get over, (make) go (away, beyond, by, forth, his way,

in, on, over, through), have away (more), lay, meddle,

overrun, make partition, (cause to, give, make to, over)

pass(-age, along, away, beyond, by, -enger, on, out, over,

through), (cause to, make) + proclaim(-amation), perish,

provoke to anger, put away, rage, + raiser of taxes, remove,

send over, set apart, + shave, cause to (make) sound, X

speedily, X sweet smelling, take (away), (make to)

transgress(-or), translate, turn away, (way-)faring man, be

wrath.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עָבַר (a.var) — to pass.

1) to pass over or by or through, alienate, bring, carry, do away, take, take away, transgress

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to pass over, cross, cross over, pass over, march over, overflow, go over

1a2) to pass beyond

1a3) to pass through, traverse

1a3a) passers-through (participle)

1a3b) to pass through (the parts of victim in covenant)

1a4) to pass along, pass by, overtake and pass, sweep by

1a4a) passer-by (participle)

1a4b) to be past, be over

1a5) to pass on, go on, pass on before, go in advance of, pass along, travel, advance

1a6) to pass away

1a6a) to emigrate, leave (one's territory)

1a6b) to vanish

1a6c) to perish, cease to exist

1a6d) to become invalid, become obsolete (of law, decree)

1a6e) to be alienated, pass into other hands

1b) (Niphal) to be crossed

1c) (Piel) to impregnate, cause to cross

1d) (Hiphil)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HVqrmpc — Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine plural common
HVqrmpc
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…

they have plundered him all [those who] pass by of [the] road he has become a reproach to neighbors his
דָ֑רֶךְDa.rekh [the] road H1870 Noun common · both singular absolute
708× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Derek refers to a road or path, and can also mean a way of life or manner of action. It is often used to describe a journey or direction, and can be used figuratively to describe a person's character or moral path.
Tyndale gloss
way: road
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

דֶּ֫רֶךְ (derek) means way, road, or journey, and can refer to both literal paths and figurative courses of life or actions. It encompasses various aspects such as direction, manner, and moral character, often highlighting the nature of one's conduct. The term is used in both positive and negative contexts, reflecting the moral implications of one's path.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

דֶּ֫רֶךְ 715 n.m. way, road, distance, journey, manner

way, road, path

journey

of direction, almost or quite = toward

way, manner

fig. of course of life, or action, undertakings

of moral action and character

of duty

specif.: in good sense

oftener in bad sense

way of י׳

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1870 דֶּ֫רֶךְ way, road, distance, journey, manner . way, road, path

. journey

. of direction, almost or quite = toward

. way, manner

. fig. of course of life, or action, undertakings

. . of moral action and character

. of duty

. specif.: in good sense

. oftener in bad sense

. way of י׳

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1870 derek deh'-rek

from 1869; a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of

life or mode of action, often adverb:--along, away, because

of, + by, conversation, custom, (east-)ward, journey, manner,

passenger, through, toward, (high-) (path-)way(-side),

whither(-soever).

see HEBREW for 01869

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

דֶּ֫רֶךְ (de.rekh) — way: conduct.

: conduct/lifestyle

1) way, road, distance, journey, manner

1a) road, way, path

1b) journey

1c) direction

1d) manner, habit, way

1e) of course of life (fig.)

1f) of moral character (fig.)

דֶּ֫רֶךְ (de.rekh) — Way.

This name means way, road

דֶּ֫רֶךְ (de.rekh) — (King's) Highway.

This name means way, road

Combined with me.lekh (מֶ֫לֶךְ "King's" H4428I)

דֶּ֫רֶךְ (de.rekh) — way: direction.

: direction

1) way, road, distance, journey, manner

1a) road, way, path

1b) journey

1c) direction

1d) manner, habit, way

1e) of course of life (fig.)

1f) of moral character (fig.)

דֶּ֫רֶךְ (de.rekh) — way: road.

: road/route

1) way, road, distance, journey, manner

1a) road, way, path

1b) journey

1c) direction

1d) manner, habit, way

1e) of course of life (fig.)

1f) of moral character (fig.)

דֶּ֫רֶךְ (de.rekh) — way: journey.

: journey

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HNcbsa — Noun common · both singular absolute
HNcbsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Easton's Bible Dictionary

Road

(1 Sam. 27:10; R.V., “raid”), an inroad, an incursion. This word is never used in Scripture in the sense of a way or path.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

This word occurs but once in the Authorized Version of the Bible, viz. in (1 Samuel 37:10) where it is used in the sense of "raid" or "inroad." Where a travelled road is meant "path" or "way" is used, since the eastern roads are more like our paths.

they have plundered him all [those who] pass by of [the] road he has become a reproach to neighbors his
הָיָ֥הha.Yah he has become H1961 Verb · Qal · perfect third person masculine singular
3,562× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for to be means to exist or come into being. It is used to describe something that happens or comes to pass, like in Genesis where God creates the world.
Tyndale gloss
to be
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word הָיָה (hayah) is a primitive root meaning to exist or become, and it encompasses a range of meanings including to happen, occur, and come to pass. It is often used in narrative contexts, particularly in phrases like "and it came to pass." The word can also denote a state of being or existence, and it appears frequently in various forms throughout the Old Testament.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

הָיָה 3570 vb. fall out, come to pass, become, be

Qal

Fall out, happen

occur, take place, come about, come to pass

esp. & very oft., come about, come to pass

וַיְהִי and it came to pass that, most often (c. 292 t.)

rarely also Pf. c. וְ conj. וְהָיָה

less oft. וְהָיָה Pf. consec. and it shall come to pass, or frequentat. came to pass (repeatedly, etc.)

Come into being, become

abs., in lively narrative, arise, appear, come

sq. prep.

become

sq. pred. noun (to be viewed as implicit accus.)

sq. pred. adj.

become like

sq. pred. לְ pers.

sq. לְ pred.

oft. c. לְ pred. לְ pers.

with עַל and לְ

sts. c. לְ pers. only = became the property of, come into the possession of

Be (often with subbordinate idea of becoming)

exist, be in existence

abide, remain, continue

with word of locality, be in or at a place, be situated, stand, lie

as copula, joining subj. & pred.

Read the full entry →
Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1961 הָיָה fall out, come to pass, become, be .. . . Fall out, happen

. occur, take place, come about, come to pass

. esp. & very oft., come about, come to pass . . וַיְהִי and it came to pass that, most often (c. 292 t.)

. rarely also Pf. c. וְ conj. וְהָיָה

. less oft. וְהָיָה Pf. consec. and it shall come to pass, or frequentat. came to pass (repeatedly, etc.)

. Come into being, become . . abs., in lively narrative, arise, appear, come

. sq. prep.

. become . sq. pred. noun (to be viewed as implicit accus.)

. sq. pred. adj.

. become like

. sq. pred. + לְ pers.

. sq. לְ pred.

. oft. c. לְ pred. + לְ pers.

. with עַל and לְ

. sts. c. לְ pers. only = became the property of, come into the possession of

. Be (often with subbordinate idea of becoming) . exist, be in existence

. abide, remain, continue

Read the full entry →
Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1961 hayah haw-yaw

a primitive root (compare 1933); to exist, i.e. be or become,

come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or

auxiliary):--beacon, X altogether, be(-come), accomplished,

committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint,

fall, + follow, happen, X have, last, pertain, quit

(one-)self, require, X use.

see HEBREW for 01933

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

הָיָה (ha.yah) — to be.

1) to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out

1a) (Qal)

1a1) ---

1a1a) to happen, fall out, occur, take place, come about, come to pass

1a1b) to come about, come to pass

1a2) to come into being, become

1a2a) to arise, appear, come

1a2b) to become

1a2b1) to become

1a2b2) to become like

1a2b3) to be instituted, be established

1a3) to be

1a3a) to exist, be in existence

1a3b) to abide, remain, continue (with word of place or time)

1a3c) to stand, lie, be in, be at, be situated (with word of locality)

1a3d) to accompany, be with

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to occur, come to pass, be done, be brought about

1b2) to be done, be finished, be gone

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HVqp3ms — Verb · Qal · perfect third person masculine singular
HVqp3ms
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

be-kum':

(1) Greek ginomai, used in New Testament for a change of state, corresponding to Hebrew hayah of Old Testament. Compare Mt 18:3 with De 27:9.

(2) For what is fitting, suitable, proper, in New Testament: "prepei" (Mt 3:15; Eph 5:3; 1Ti 2:10); in Old Testament, na'awah, na'ah, Ps 93:5: "Holiness becometh thy house." in this sense, the adverb "becomingly" must be interpreted: "Walk becomingly toward them that are without" (1Th 4:12), i.e. in a way that is consistent with your profession.

they have plundered him all [those who] pass by of [the] road he has become a reproach to neighbors his
חֶ֝רְפָּ֗הcher.Pah a reproach H2781 Noun common · feminine singular absolute
73× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Cherpah means reproach or shame, often used to describe scorn or disgrace. In the Bible, it is used to express strong feelings of shame or humiliation.
Tyndale gloss
reproach
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

חֶרְפָּה (cherpah) means reproach or taunt, often associated with shame or disgrace. It can refer to the condition of being reproached or the object of reproach itself. The word is derived from חָרַף (charaf), which relates to scorn or rebuke.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

חֶרְפָּה n.f. reproach

taunt of enemy

reproach which rests upon one, condition of shame, disgrace

a reproach, the object of reproach, the person or thing reproached

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2781 חֶרְפָּה reproach . taunt of enemy

. reproach which rests upon one, condition of shame, disgrace

. a reproach, the object of reproach, the person or thing reproached

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2781 cherpah kher-paw'

from 2778; contumely, disgrace, the pudenda:--rebuke,

reproach(-fully), shame.

see HEBREW for 02778

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חֶרְפָּה (cher.pah) — reproach.

1) reproach, scorn

1a) taunt, scorn (upon enemy)

1b) reproach (resting upon condition of shame, disgrace)

1c) a reproach (an object)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HNcfsa — Noun common · feminine singular absolute
HNcfsa
they have plundered him all [those who] pass by of [the] road he has become a reproach to neighbors his
לִשְׁכֵנָֽיו׃lish.khe.Nav to neighbors his H7934 Preposition · noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
20× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word describes someone who lives near you, like a neighbor or a fellow citizen. It's used in books like Genesis and Jeremiah to talk about the people around you.
Tyndale gloss
neighboring
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שָׁכֵן (sha.khen) refers to an inhabitant or neighbor, derived from the root word for dwelling. It encompasses meanings related to residency and proximity, indicating a fellow citizen or someone living nearby.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שָׁכֵן adj. inhabitant, neighbor

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7934 שָׁכֵן inhabitant, neighbor

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7934 shaken shaw-kane'

from 7931; a resident; by extension, a

fellow-citizen:--inhabitant, neighbour, nigh.

see HEBREW for 07931

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שָׁכֵן (sha.khen) — neighboring.

1) inhabitant, neighbour

1a) inhabitant

1b) neighbour

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HR/Ncmpc/Sp3ms — Preposition · noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
HR/Ncmpc/Sp3ms
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

hiz: Used often in the King James Version with reference to a neuter or inanimate thing, or to a lower animal (Ge 1:11, "after his kind"; Le 1:16, "pluck away his crop"; Ac 12:10, "of his own accord"; 1Co 15:38, "his own body"), etc. the Revised Version (British and American) substitutes "its."

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.

Everything we make is available for free because of a generous community of supporters.

Donate