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Psalms 99:3 — Word Study

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WLCיוֹד֣וּ שִׁ֭מְךָ גָּד֥וֹל וְנוֹרָ֗א קָד֥וֹשׁ הֽוּא׃

BSALet them praiseyâdâh Your greatgâdôwl [great and to be feared, in size, age, or importance] and awesomeyârêʼ [terrible, inspiring awe] nameshêm [fame, renown, reputation] Hehûwʼ [the supreme God, holy and set apart] is holyqâdôwsh [set apart, sacred, and reverenced]

Word
Listen & take awayPsalms 99
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 3 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 (Hu') — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Psalms 99:3quick helps
In a sentenceThe psalmist calls for praise of God's great and awe-inspiring name, affirming His holiness.
Who is speakingThe psalmist, addressing the people.
Where we areIn a hymn celebrating God's greatness and holiness.
The hard wordגָּד֥וֹל
Take awayPraise is due to God for His greatness and holiness.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause subjectהוּא verbיָדָה 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 99:3

Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.

Context — A Call to Praise God's Namegenerated

2Great is the LORD in Zion; He is exalted above all the peoples.
3Let them praise Your great and awesome name— He is holy!
4The mighty King loves justice. You have established equity; You have exercised justice and righteousness in Jacob.
5Exalt the LORD our God, and worship at His footstool; He is holy!

Psalm 99:3 calls upon the people to praise the name of the Lord, emphasizing His greatness and holiness. This psalm reflects a broader theme in the Book of Psalms, where the majesty of God is celebrated, and His attributes are acknowledged. The surrounding verses further highlight God's sovereignty and justice, inviting worship and reverence from His people.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Psalm 66:3Say to God, “How awesome are Your deeds! So great is Your power that Your enemies cower before You.
2Psalm 76:12He breaks the spirits of princes; He is feared by the kings of the earth.
3Deuteronomy 7:21Do not be terrified by them, for the LORD your God, who is among you, is a great and awesome God.
4Deuteronomy 28:58If you are not careful to observe all the words of this law which are written in this book, that you may fear this glorious and awesome name—the LORD your God—
5Nehemiah 1:5Then I said: “O LORD, God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps His covenant of loving devotion with those who love Him and keep His commandments,

The Key Word יוֹד֣וּ, yo.Dugenerated

The Hebrew verb יָדָה (yadah) means to give thanks or praise, originally implying the action of throwing or casting, similar to shooting an arrow. In this context, it expresses an act of worship where the people extend their hands in gratitude and acknowledgment of God's greatness.

The Hiphil form indicates a causative action, suggesting that the people are called to actively engage in praising God. This verb is frequently used in the Psalms to denote worship and confession, emphasizing the communal aspect of gratitude towards God.


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. The BSB uses great and awesome to describe God's name, reflecting the original Hebrew meanings.

Where others part company with the BSB, they differ primarily in the rendering of גָּד֥וֹל. The BSB and several versions like the KJV and ASV maintain the straightforward translation of great, while the BBE adds great and to be feared, which expands on the sense of reverence associated with God's name.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The finite verb יוֹד֣וּ governs the main clause, with a noun phrase as the object and an adjective phrase describing God's name. The structure emphasizes the call to action in praising God, while the adjective phrases elaborate on the qualities of His name.

The order of the Hebrew words places emphasis on the act of praise, highlighting the greatness and holiness of God as central themes in this verse.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates יוֹד֣וּ as ἐχομολογησάσθωσαν, which means 'let them confess' or 'acknowledge'. This choice suggests a focus on the acknowledgment of God's attributes rather than merely giving thanks, indicating a deeper engagement with the divine.

The Greek word μεγάλῳ corresponds to גָּד֥וֹל, maintaining the sense of greatness but potentially expanding the interpretation to include the idea of God's overwhelming presence.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Psalm 99:3 encourages the people to praise God's name, emphasizing His greatness and holiness. This verse is part of a larger psalm that celebrates God's majesty and justice, inviting worship and reverence from those who recognize His power.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean to praise God's name?

Praising God's name involves acknowledging His attributes, character, and the significance of His presence in our lives.

Why is God's name described as great and awesome?

God's name is great and awesome because it represents His power, authority, and the reverence He commands among His people.

How can we express our praise to God?

We can express our praise to God through worship, prayer, and acts of gratitude that acknowledge His greatness and holiness.

What does holiness mean in this context?

Holiness refers to being set apart and sacred, indicating God's unique nature and His moral perfection.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what ways can I actively praise God's name in my daily life?
  2. How does understanding God's greatness impact my relationship with Him?
  3. What are some specific attributes of God that inspire awe in me?
  4. How can I encourage others to recognize and praise God's holiness?

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Psalms 99:3 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

Let them praise thy great and terrible name,.... All people, especially the Lord's people; those that dwell in Zion, where his name is great, in high esteem, venerable, and valued; as his name Jesus,

Read John Gill on Psalms 99 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

Let them praise thy great and terrible name; for it is holy. Let them (namely, 'all the peoples') praise thy great and terrible name - prophetic of what shall be; therefore put imperatively, because

Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 99 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Them, to wit, all people, last mentioned. For it is holy; for it is not only great, but holy, and therefore most praise-worthy.

Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 99 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Psalms 99:3 Let them praise thy great and terrible name; [for] it [is] holy.Ver 3. Let them praise thy great and terrible name] Nomen illud maiestativum. Some hereby understand the name Jehovah, of which Joshua 7:9, "What wilt thou do to thy great name?" And Jeremiah 44:26, "I have sworn by my great name." But God’ s name is usually put for God’ s self. For it is holy] And therefore to be sanctified in righteousness, Isaiah 5:16.

Read John Trapp on Psalms 99 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(3) Great and terrible name.—The rabbins see here the mystic tetragrammaton, whose pronunciation was kept so secret. For it is holy.—This is grammatically possible, but as Psalms 99:5; Psalms 99:9 repeat the expression, evidently as a refrain, and there it needs the masculine, it is better to read here, “Holy is He.” In this way, too, we avoid an awkward construction in the next verse, which should be joined closely with this: Let them praise Thy great and terrible name (saying), “Holy is He, and mighty, a king that loveth justice.”

Read Charles John Ellicott on Psalms 99 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 3. Let them praise thy great and terrible name] Let them confess thee to be great and terrible: let them tremble before thee. For it is holy.] קדוש הוא kadosh hu. As this not only ends this verse but the fifth also, and in effect the ninth, it seems to be a species of chorus which was sung in a very solemn manner at the conclusion of each of these parts. His holiness-the immaculate purity of his nature, was the reason why he should be exalted, praised, and worshipped.

Read AdamClarke on Psalms 99 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

3. thy great and terrible name] Cp. Psalms 47:2; Psalms 111:9; Deuteronomy 7:21. for it is holy] A possible rendering; cp. Isaiah 57:15; but the parallels of Psa 99:5; Psalms 99:9 point rather to the rendering of R.V., Holy is he. His highest claim to adoration is His absolute moral perfection. Cp. Psalms 22:3 note.

Read Cambridge on Psalms 99 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Let them praise thy great and terrible name - The word rendered “terrible” means “to be feared or reverenced;” that is, his name - his being - he himself - is suited to inspire awe and reverence.

Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 99 →

The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company

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

Modern formal

BSBBerean Standard Bible2020

Let them praise Your great and awesome name— He is holy!

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Let them praise your great and awesome name. He is Holy!

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

Let them praise Your great and awesome name—He is holy!

NETBNew English Translation2006

Let them praise your great and awesome name! He is holy!

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

Let them praise thy great and terrible name; for it is holy.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

Let them praise thy great and terrible name: Holy is he.

RVARevised Version, American1894

Let them praise thy great and terrible name: holy is he.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

Let them praise thy great and terrible name; for it is holy.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

They shall prayse thy great and fearefull Name (for it is holy)

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

They shall praise thy great and terrible name, — it is holy! —

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

They praise Thy name, 'Great, and fearful, holy [it] is.'

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

They praise Your Name, “Great, and fearful, [it] is holy!”

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

They will give thanks to thy name, great, and terrible, [and] holy it is.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Let them praise your great and awesome name; he is holy.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

Know ye that the Lord he is God: he made us, and not we ourselves. We are his people and the sheep of his pasture.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

Let them praise his greatness, and respect him for who he is—for he is holy,

BBEBible in Basic English1949

Let them give praise to your name, for it is great and to be feared; holy is he.

Word by word, the decisions they made

גָּד֥וֹלga.Dol great H1419 2 different renderings
greatASV BSB DBY GNV ILT KJV LSV MSB NETB NWB RVA ULB WEB
great and to be fearedBBE

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.

clauseverbיוֹד֣וּlet.them.give.thanks.tonoun phrase · objectnoun phraseשִׁ֭מְnameךָyouradjective phraseגָּד֥וֹלgreatוְandנוֹרָ֗אto.be.fearedclausepredicateקָד֥וֹשׁ[is].holysubjectהֽוּאhe

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 יוֹד֣וּ שִׁ֭מְךָ גָּד֥וֹל וְנוֹרָ֗א קָד֥וֹשׁ הֽוּא׃, which is consistent with the Septuagint's translation of most words. The Dead Sea Scrolls contain a similar reading, although six words were supplied by an editor due to damage.

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

יוֹד֣וּ שִׁ֭מְךָ גָּד֥וֹל וְנוֹרָ֗א קָד֥וֹשׁ הֽוּא׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
יוֹד֣וּἐχομολογησάσθωσανשִׁ֭מְךָσουגָּד֥וֹלμεγάλῳוְנוֹרָ֗אφοβερὸνהֽוּא׃ἐστιν

5 of the 6 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.

Dead Sea Scrolls — 4Q92a copy a thousand years older than the Leningrad Codex

[יודו] [שמ׳ך] [גדול] [ונורא] [קדוש] [הוא]

nothing on the leather here — 6 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.

Psalms 99:3יָדָהlet them gilet them give tיָדָהשֵׁםname yourname yourשֵׁםגָּדוֹלgreatgreatגָּדוֹליָרֵאand to be fand to be feareיָרֵאקָדוֹשׁ[is] holy[is] holyקָדוֹשׁהוּאheheהוּאקָדַשׁto consecrto consecrate: קָדַשׁיָדhandhandיָדשׂוּםto set: mato set: makeשׂוּםגָּדַלto magnifyto magnifyגָּדַלהָלַלto shineto shineהָלַלפָּלַלto prayto prayפָּלַלקָרָאto call: cto call: call tקָרָאיָדָהto give thto give thanksיָדָהקָטָןsmallsmallקָטָןמְאֹדmuchmuchמְאֹדחָתַתto to be dto to be dismayחָתַתאַלnotnotאַלטָמֵאuncleanuncleanטָמֵאעֵתtimetimeעֵת
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 99:3

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.

let them give thanks to name your great and to be feared [is] holy he
יוֹד֣וּyo.Du let them give thanks to H3034 Verb · Hiphil · imperfect third person masculine plural
114× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To give thanks or praise, originally meaning to throw or cast, like shooting an arrow. In the Bible, it's used to describe worship or confession with extended hands. It appears in Psalms and other books, like 1 Chronicles.
Tyndale gloss
to give thanks
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יָדָה (yadah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to throw or cast, particularly in the context of shooting arrows or stones. It also encompasses the meanings of giving thanks, praising, and confessing, especially in a ritual context. The word is built from a primitive root and has various forms, including Qal, Piel, Hiphil, and Hithpael, indicating different nuances of action.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[יָדָה] vb. throw, cast

Qal shoot (arrows) at

Pi. and they cast (stones) on me

Hiph.

give thanks, laud, praise

confess

Hithp.

confess

give thanks, in ritual worship

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3034 [יָדָה] throw, cast .shoot (arrows) at

. and they cast (stones) on me

. . give thanks, laud, praise

. confess

. . confess

. give thanks, in ritual worship

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3034 yadah yaw-daw'

a primitive root; used only as denominative from 3027;

literally, to use (i.e. hold out) the hand; physically, to

throw (a stone, an arrow) at or away; especially to revere or

worship (with extended hands); intensively, to bemoan (by

wringing the hands):--cast (out), (make) confess(-ion),

praise, shoot, (give) thank(-ful, -s, -sgiving).

see HEBREW for 03027

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יָדָה (ya.dah) — to give thanks.

1) to throw, shoot, cast

1a) (Qal) to shoot (arrows)

1b) (Piel) to cast, cast down, throw down

1c) (Hiphil)

1c1) to give thanks, laud, praise

1c2) to confess, confess (the name of God)

1d) (Hithpael)

1d1) to confess (sin)

1d2) to give thanks

Aramaic equivalent: ye.da (יְדָא "to praise" H3029)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Hiphil-Imperf-3mp — Verb · Hiphil · imperfect third person masculine plural
HVhi3mp
let them give thanks to name your great and to be feared [is] holy he
שִׁ֭מְךָShim.kha name your H8034 Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
864× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, a name represents a person's identity, honor, and character, like God's name symbolizing His power and authority. It appears in Genesis and other books, often referring to God's name or a person's reputation. This concept is central to understanding biblical identity.
Amplified meaning
fame, renown, reputation
Tyndale gloss
name
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8034 שֵׁם name (√ unknown)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

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

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

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)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
HNcmsc/Sp2ms
let them give thanks to name your great and to be feared [is] holy he
גָּד֥וֹלga.Dol great H1419 Adj
526× 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 something or someone great, whether in size, age, or importance. It appears in descriptions of the Great Sea and the Philistines. The word is used to convey a sense of magnitude or grandeur.
Amplified meaning
great and to be feared, in size, age, or importance
Tyndale gloss
Great (Sea)
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

גָּדוֹל (gadol) means 'great' and covers a wide range of meanings, including large in size, number, intensity, sound, age, and importance. It can also refer to notable individuals or even God. Additionally, it appears as a proper noun in reference to a person named in Nehemiah 11:14. The lexicons note its use in various contexts, but do not present significant disagreement.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

גָּדוֹל 622 adj. great

in magnitude and extent

in number

in intensity

in sound, loud

in age

in importance

in phrases

cstr.

as subst. concr. do great things

† as subst. neut. greatness of arm

base

הַגְּדוֹלִים n.pr.m. father of Zabdiel Ne 11:14 (RV & so most; but 𝔊 RVm al. the great).

done

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1419a גָּדוֹל great . in magnitude and extent

. in number

. in intensity

. in sound, loud

. in age

. in importance

. in phrases

. cstr.

. as subst. concr. do great things

. † as subst. neut. greatness of arm

H1419b הַגְּדוֹלִים father of Zabdiel

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1419 gadowl gaw-dole'

or (shortened) gadol {gaw-dole'}; from 1431; great (in any

sense); hence, older; also insolent:--+ aloud, elder(-est), +

exceeding(-ly), + far, (man of) great (man, matter,

thing,-er,-ness), high, long, loud, mighty, more, much, noble,

proud thing, X sore, (X ) very.

see HEBREW for 01431

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

גָּדוֹל (ga.dol) — great: large.

adj

1) great

1a) large (in magnitude and extent)

1b) in number

1c) in intensity

1d) loud (in sound)

1e) older (in age)

1f) in importance

1f1) important things

1f2) great, distinguished (of men)

1f3) God Himself (of God)

subst

1g) great things

1h) haughty things

1i) greatness

Also means: ga.dol (גָּדוֹל ": old" H1419K)

§ Haggedolim = "the great one"

(CLBL) Haggedolim, the great man?, father of Zabdiel

גָּדוֹל (ga.dol) — Haggedolim.

A man living at the time of Exile and Return, only mentioned at Neh.11.14

§ Haggedolim = "the great one"

(CLBL) Haggedolim, the great man?, father of Zabdiel

גָּדוֹל (ga.dol) — Great (Sea).

adj

great

Also named: pe.lish.ti (פְּלִשְׁתִּי "(Sea of the )Philistines" H6430I)

גָּדוֹל (ga.dol) — great: old.

adj

1) great

1a) large (in magnitude and extent)

1b) in number

1c) in intensity

1d) loud (in sound)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adj — Adj
HAamsa
let them give thanks to name your great and to be feared [is] holy he
וְנוֹרָ֗אve.no.Ra' and to be feared H3372 Conjunction · verb niphal participle (active) masculine singular
315× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to fear or revere, and is used to describe being afraid or standing in awe of something, like God's power. It appears in the Bible to convey a sense of respect or reverence. In the KJV, it's translated as 'affright' or 'reverence'.
Amplified meaning
terrible, inspiring awe
Tyndale gloss
to fear
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יָרֵא vb. fear

Qal

fear, be afraid

stand in awe of

fear, reverence, honour

Niph.

be fearful, dreadful

cause astonishment and awe

inspire reverence, godly fear, and awe

Piel. make afraid, terrify

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3372 יָרֵא fear .. fear, be afraid

. stand in awe of

. fear, reverence, honour

. . be fearful, dreadful

. cause astonishment and awe

. inspire reverence, godly fear, and awe

. make afraid, terrify

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3372 yare' yaw-ray'

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

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

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

terrible (act, -ness, thing).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יָרֵא (ya.re) — to fear.

: frightening(DANGER)

1) to fear, revere, be afraid

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to fear, be afraid

1a2) to stand in awe of, be awed

1a3) to fear, reverence, honour, respect

1b) (Niphal)

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

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

1b3) to inspire reverence or godly fear or awe

1c) (Piel) to make afraid, terrify

2) (TWOT) to shoot, pour

יָרֵא (ya.re) — to fear: revere.

: awesome(god)

1) to fear, revere, be afraid

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to fear, be afraid

1a2) to stand in awe of, be awed

1a3) to fear, reverence, honour, respect

1b) (Niphal)

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

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

1b3) to inspire reverence or godly fear or awe

1c) (Piel) to make afraid, terrify

2) (TWOT) to shoot, pour

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

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Niphal — Conjunction · verb niphal participle (active) masculine singular
HC/VNrmsa
let them give thanks to name your great and to be feared [is] holy he
קָד֥וֹשׁka.Do.osh [is] holy H6918 Adj
116× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Holy means set apart or sacred, used to describe God, angels, and saints. In the Bible, it is often used to describe things or people dedicated to God's service, like the Temple in Jerusalem or the prophets who spoke on God's behalf.
Amplified meaning
set apart, sacred, and reverenced
Tyndale gloss
holy
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word קָדוֹשׁ (*qadosh*) means sacred or holy. It can refer to God, angels, saints, or sanctuaries, indicating a state of being set apart. The entries consistently emphasize its moral and ceremonial significance, with no notable disagreements among the lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

קָדוֹשׁ adj. sacred, holy

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6918 קָדוֹשׁ sacred, holy

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6918 qadowsh kaw-doshe'

or qadosh {kaw-doshe'}; from 6942; sacred (ceremonially or

morally); (as noun) God (by eminence), an angel, a saint, a

sanctuary:--holy (One), saint.

see HEBREW for 06942

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

קָדוֹשׁ (qa.dosh) — holy.

: holy

sacred, holy, Holy One, saint, set apart

קָדוֹשׁ (qa.dosh) — holy: saint.

: saint/priest

sacred, holy, Holy One, saint, set apart

A sub-meaning of qa.dosh (קָדוֹשׁ ": holy" H6918)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adj — Adj
HAamsa
let them give thanks to name your great and to be feared [is] holy he
הֽוּא׃Hu' he H1931 Pronoun
1,879× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word is a pronoun meaning 'he', 'she', or 'it', used to refer to a person or thing. It is used in the Bible to emphasize a subject or make it clear who is being talked about.
Amplified meaning
the supreme God, holy and set apart
Tyndale gloss
he/she/it
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

הוּא (hu) is a third-person singular pronoun meaning he, she, or it, used for emphasis or when no verb is present. It can also refer to oneself or serve as a demonstrative pronoun. The word has various nuances, including resuming the subject with emphasis or expressing it unobtrusively. It can indicate 'that' or 'those' when used with the definite article.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

הוּא m. הִיא f., pron. of the 3rd ps. sing. he, she, used also (in both genders) for the neuter it

an emph. he (she, it, they), sometimes equivalent to himself (herself, itself, themselves), or (esp. with the art.) that (those)

It resumes the subj. with emph.

Where, however, the pron. follows the pred., its position gives it the minimum of emphasis, and it expresses (or resumes) the subject as unobtrusively as possible

It anticipates (as it seems) the subject

As an emph. predicate, of God

In a neuter sense, that, it (of an action, occurrence, matte, etc.)

With the art.: so regularly when joined to a subst. defined itself by the art.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1931 הוּא, הִיא he, she, used also (in both genders) for the neuter it . an emph. he (she, it, they), sometimes equivalent to himself (herself, itself, themselves), or (esp. with the art.) that (those)

. It resumes the subj. with emph.

. Where, however, the pron. follows the pred., its position gives it the minimum of emphasis, and it expresses (or resumes) the subject as unobtrusively as possible

. It anticipates (as it seems) the subject

. As an emph. predicate, of God

. In a neuter sense, that, it (of an action, occurrence, matte, etc.)

. With the art.: so regularly when joined to a subst. defined itself by the art.

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1931 huw' hoo

of which the feminine (beyond the Pentateuch) is hiyw {he}; a

primitive word, the third person pronoun singular, he (she or

it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also

(intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same;

sometimes (as demonstrative) this or that; occasionally

(instead of copula) as or are:--he, as for her, him(-self),

it, the same, she (herself), such, that (...it), these, they,

this, those, which (is), who.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

הוּא (hu) — he/she/it.

pron 3p s

1) he, she, it

1a) himself (with emphasis)

1b) resuming subj with emphasis

1c) (with minimum emphasis following predicate)

1d) (anticipating subj)

1e) (emphasising predicate)

1f) that, it (neuter) demons pron

2) that (with article)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Pron — Pronoun
HPp3ms
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ha: The fifth letter of the Hebrew alphabet; transliterated in this Encyclopedia as "h." It came also to be used for the number 5. For name, etc., see ALPHABET.

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
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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