Psalms 107:39

וַיִּמְעֲט֥וּ וַיָּשֹׁ֑חוּ מֵעֹ֖צֶר רָעָ֣ה וְיָגֽוֹן

Again, they are minished and brought low through oppression, affliction, and sorrow.

Select a Hebrew word above to see its details.

וַ יִּמְעֲט֥וּ

וַ

Prefix — connector and (sometimes: but, so, then)

יִּמְעֲט֥וּ

Root word less, few, little, diminished, diminish, …

Dictionary form: מָעַט · maw-AT

וַ

Vav-consecutive (wayyiqtol) The וַ prefix — vav with patach plus a doubling dagesh in the next letter — flips this verb into story-telling past: translate "and (he) ___ed", not "will ___".

Verb — Qal, Sequential Imperfect (Wayyiqtol), third person masculine plural simple action — "he did" story-telling past — try "and he ___ed" the built-in subject is "they"

In the KJV here: again they are minished

shall be diminished ×2 again they are minished ×1 and he that gathered little ×1 and make you few in number ×1 be few ×1 borrow not a few ×1 diminished ×1 for i will diminish ×1

More options

decrease — Broad verbal sense; good for quantities reducing over time.

diminish — Slightly more formal; suits legal or economic contexts.

reduce — Plain and versatile; works well for commands or instructions.

be few — Stative use; captures smallness of number or population.

dwindle — Vivid; implies gradual, ongoing loss — good for narrative.

be scarce — Emphasizes insufficiency; fits resource or supply contexts.

BDB4757 H4591

[מָעַט] verb be or become small, diminished, few (Late Hebrew, Talmud, id.; Arabic is to be without hair on the body) —

Qal Imperfect יִמְעַט Exod 12:4, 2 masculine plural תִּמְעָ֑טוּ Jer 29:6, 3 masculine plural יִמְעָ֑טוּ Isa 21:17 +, וַיִּמְעֲטוּ Ps 107:39 Infinitive מְעֹט Lev 25:16 — Exod 12:4 אִסיִֿמְעַט הַבַּיִת מִהְיוֺת מִשֶּׂה if the house be too small for a lamb; Neh 9:32 אַליִֿמְעַט לְפָנֶיךָ אֵת כָּלהַֿתְּלָאָה (compare Ges^{«GKC:117l»§ 117l}); of a people, Jer 29:6 וּרְבוּ שָׁם וְאַלתִּֿמְעָ֑טוּ and become not few, Jer 30:19 וְהִרְבִּתִים וְלֹא יִמְעָ֔טוּ, Isa 21:17; Ps 107:39; Prov 13:11 הוֺן מֵהֶבֶל יִמְעָ֑ט diminishes (opposed to יַרְבֶּה); Lev 25:16 וּלְפִי מְעֹט הַשָּׁנִים according to the fewness of the years. Pi`el become few (Ges^{«GKC:52k»§ 52k}), Perfect 3 plural Eccl 12:3 וּבָֽטְלוּ הַטֹּחֲנוֺת כִּי מִעֵ֔טוּ. Hiph`il Perfect 3 feminine singular consecutive וְהִמְעִ֫יטָה (Ges^{«GKC:49k»§ 49k}), Lev 26:22, 1 singular with suffix וְהִמְעַטְתִּים Ezek 29:15 Imperfect 2 masculine singular תַּמְעִיט Lev 25:16, תַּמְעִטֵ֫נִי Jer 10:34, 2 feminine singular תַּמְעִ֫יטִי 2Kgs 4:3, etc.; — make small or few, diminish:
a. Lev 26:22 (of the sword) וְהִמְעִ֫יטָה אֶתְכֶם, Ezek 29:15 וְהִמְעַטְתִּים, Jer 10:24 אַלבְּֿאַפְּךָ פֶּןֿ תַּמְעִטֵנִי lest thou make me (the people) small, Ps 107:38 וּבְהֶמְתָּם לֹא יַמְעִיט; Lev 25:16 וּלְפִי מְעֹט הַשָּׁנִים תַּמְעִיט מִקְנָתוֺ according to the smallness (fewness) of the years, thou shalt make small its price, Num 26:54 לָרַב תַּרְבֶּה נַחֲלָתוֺ וְלַמְעַט תַּמְעִיט נַחֲלָתוֺ and to the small (few) thou shalt make small his inheritance (so Num 33:54).
b. qualifying an action (sometimes to be understood from the context), Exod 16:17 וַיִּלְקְטוּ הַמַּרְבֶּה וְהַמַּמְעִיט and they gathered, he that made much, and he that made little (that is לִלְקֹט), vExod 16:18; Num 11:32 עשׂרה חמרים הממעיט אסף, 2Kgs 4:3 כֵּלִים רֵקִים אַלתַּֿמְעִיטִי empty vessels make not few (that is, in borrowing); Exod 30:15 הֶעָשִׁיר לֹא יַרְבֶּה וְהַדַּל לֹא יַמְעִיט מִמַּחֲצִית הַשָּׁ֑קֶל ׳לָתֵת וגו shall not diminish from the half shekel to give, i.e. shall not give less, Num 35:8 מֵאֵת הָרַב תַּרְבּוּ וּמֵאֵת הַמְעַט תַּמְעִיטוּ and from the few ye shall make few (that is לָתֵת), i.e. ye shall give few (cities).

less, few, little, diminished, diminish, …

māʿaṭ

properly, to pare off, i.e., lessen; intransitively, to be (or causatively, to make) small or few (or figuratively, ineffective)

to be or become small, be few, be diminished

(Qal)

to diminish

to make small, make few, diminish

וַ יָּשֹׁ֑חוּ

וַ

Prefix — connector and (sometimes: but, so, then)

יָּשֹׁ֑חוּ

Root word down, low, bow, couch, bending, …

Dictionary form: שָׁחַח · shaw-HA

וַ

Vav-consecutive (wayyiqtol) The וַ prefix — vav with patach plus a doubling dagesh in the next letter — flips this verb into story-telling past: translate "and (he) ___ed", not "will ___".

Verb — Qal, Sequential Imperfect (Wayyiqtol), third person masculine plural simple action — "he did" story-telling past — try "and he ___ed" the built-in subject is "they"

In the KJV here: and brought low

art thou cast down ×3 shall be bowed down ×2 and brought low ×1 and humbleth ×1 bending ×1 bow ×1 boweth down ×1 did bow ×1

More options

bow down — Most natural English for physical or reverential lowering.

be brought low — Fits contexts of humiliation or defeat; slightly formal.

stoop — Physical bending of the body; vivid and concrete.

humble oneself — Prefer for voluntary submission or spiritual lowering.

sink down — Suits contexts of collapse, grief, or utter dejection.

crouch — Best for crouching low, like an animal preparing to spring.

BDB8526 H7743 H8371 H7817

[שׁוּחַ] verb sink down (Buhl distinguishes this as II. ׳שׁ (Arabic () sink down, MI^{9, 23} אשוח probably depression, excavation, reservoir, so אשיךְ Eccl 50:3), and hence שָׁ֫חָה Prov 2:18, si vera lectio, and following derivatives, from I. ׳שׁ melt away Arabic () flow and spread, melt away, Ethiopic cause to dwindle, phthisis, Aramaic שׁוּחַ, flow or melt away, vanish), whence Lam 3:20; Ps 44:26 but insufficient evidence for I. ׳שׁ in Hebrew); — sink down, Qal Perfect 3 feminine singular שָׁ֫חָה לֶעָפָר נַפְשֵׁנוּ Ps 44:26 (|| דָּֽבְקָה לָאָרֶץ); אֶלמָֿוֶת בֵּיתָהּ ׳שׁ Prov 2:18 (|| אֶלרְֿפָאִים; but ׳ב masculine, read שָׁחָה, √ שׁחה, Albr^{ZAW xvi (1896), 82}, so Toy); Imperfect 3 feminine singular תָּשׁוּחַ עָלַי נַפְשִׁי Lam 3:20 Qr, Hiph`il declar. תָּשִׁיחַ Kt, of depression of mind. — Ps 49:15 Gr reads שָׁחוּ for ᵑ0 שַׁתּוּ but see שׁתת. —

Hithpa`el Ps 42; Ps 43 see שׁחח.

BDB8584 H7817

[שָׁחַח] verb bow, be bowed down, crouch (Late Hebrew id.; Tel Amarna ša—âhu (Wkl^{TelAm. Vocab}.), prostrate oneself, probably Canaanism; Assyrian ša—â—u is oppress, torment); —

Qal Perfect 3 masculine singular consecutive וְשַׁח Isa 2:11; Isa 2:17, 1 singular שַׁחִ֫וֺתִי Ps 38:7, שַׁחֹ֫תִי Ps 35:14, 3 plural שׁחֲחוּ Job 9:13, שַׁחוּ Hab 3:6; Prov 14:19 Imperfect 3 masculine singular יָשֹׁחַ Ps 10:10, 3 masculine plural יָשֹׁ֫חוּ Job 38:40, וַיָּשֹׁ֫חוּ Ps 107:39 Infinitive construct (= absolute, as adverb, Ges^{«GKC:118q»§ 118q} Kö^{ii. 2, §§ 221, 402 d} compare also Ba^{NB 164}) שְׁחוֺחַ Isa 60:14 —

1. be bowed down, prostrated, humbled, by ׳י, Isa 2:11; Isa 2:17 (both || שָׁפֵל), Hab 3:6 (of hills), Job 9:13 (׳תַּחְתָּו שׁ), Ps 107:39 (+ מָעַט); by man Ps 10:10.

2. bow in homage, לִפְנֵי person Prov 14:19 וְהָֽלְבוּ אֵלַיִח שְׁחוֺחַ Isa 60:14 (|| הִשְׁתַּחֲווּ).

3. bow, of mourner (קֹדֵר), Ps 35:14; Ps 38:7.

4. crouch, of wild beast in lair Job 38:40. Niph`al Imperfect be prostrated, humbled: וַיִּשַּׁח אָדָם Isa 2:9 (|| שָׁפֵל) = Isa 5:15 (|| id.); be reduced, weakened, יִשַּׁ֫חוּ כָּלבְּֿנוֺת הַשִּׁיר Eccl 12:4 = proceed humbly, of words מֵעָפָר Isa 29:4 (|| שָׁפֵל). Hiph`il prostrate, lay low, city, walls, etc.; Perfect 3 masculine singular הֵךְַ Isa 25:12; Isa 26:5 (both || הִשְׁפִּיל). Hithpo`el be cast down, despairing: Imperfect 3 feminine singular תִּשְׁתּוֺחָ֑ח Ps 42:7, 2 feminine singular תִּשְׁתּוֺחֲחִי vPs 42:6 vPs 42:12; Ps 43:5 (all with subject נַפְשִׁי).

down, low, bow, couch, bending, …

šāḥaḥ

to sink or depress (reflexive or causative)

to bow, crouch, bow down, be bowed down

(Qal)

to be bowed down, be prostrated, be humbled

מֵ עֹ֖צֶר

מֵ

Prefix — preposition from, out of

עֹ֖צֶר

Root word barren, oppression, prison

Dictionary form: עֹצֶר · oh-TSER

Noun — Common, masculine singular, construct state "___ of …" — bound to the next word

In the KJV here: through oppression

and the barren ×1 from prison ×1 through oppression ×1

More options

confinement — Broad modern term; suits legal or narrative contexts.

oppression — Matches KJV but is still current; use for social injustice contexts.

imprisonment — Concrete; preferred when a physical prison is in view.

barrenness — Use when the sense is biological or agricultural infertility.

restraint — Captures the root idea of being held back or shut in.

suppression — Good for systemic or political contexts of forced silence.

BDB6304 H6115

עֹ֫צֶר noun [masculine] restraint, coercion; — ׳ע absolute: וּמִמִּשְׁפָט ׳מֵע Isa 53:8 from (as a result of) coercion and judgment he was taken off; construct רָעָה ׳ע Ps 107:39 רָ֑חַם ׳ע Prov 30:16 restraint of womb, barrenness (so Ps 107:39 Perles^{Anal. 85}).

barren, oppression, prison

ʿōṣer

closure; also constraint

restraint, coercion

restraint, coercion

וְ יָגֽוֹן

וְ

Prefix — connector and (sometimes: but, so, then)

יָגֽוֹן

Root word sorrow, grief

Dictionary form: יָגוֹן · yaw-ɡONE

Noun — Common, masculine singular, absolute state

In the KJV here: and sorrow

and sorrow ×6 with sorrow ×2 from their sorrow ×1 grief ×1 having sorrow ×1 sorrow ×1 unto them from sorrow ×1 with grief ×1

More options

grief — Modernized from KJV; suits deep, personal loss.

sorrow — Modernized from KJV; broad emotional pain, widely applicable.

anguish — Stronger intensity; use for acute, overwhelming distress.

heartache — Warmer, relational tone; suits interpersonal or emotional contexts.

suffering — Emphasizes ongoing, endured pain over momentary feeling.

distress — Slightly more situational; suits crisis or affliction contexts.

BDB3418 H3015

יָגוֺן noun [masculine] grief, sorrow; — absolute יָגוֺן Gen 42:38 + 12 t.; suffix (מִ)יגוֺנָם Jer 31:13 — sorrow, Gen 42:38; Gen 44:31 (J), Ps 13:3; Jer 8:18 || אֲנָחָה Ps 31:11; Isa 35:10; Isa 51:11 compare Ps 107:39 (|| עֹצֶר, רָעָה), Ps 116:3 (|| צָרָה), Jer 20:18 (|| עָמָל), Jer 31:13 (|| אֵבֶל, opposed to שִׂמַּחְתִּים), Jer 45:3 (|| מַכְאֹבִי), Ezek 23:33 (|| שִׁכָּרוֺן, but Co.; שׁברון with Manuscripts; compare Ezek 21:11); Esth 9:22 (opposed to שִׂמְחָה).

sorrow, grief

yāgôn

affliction

grief, sorrow, anguish

This book is chanted to the poetic accent system (used only in Job, Psalms, and Proverbs). Each group below ends at one of its pausing accents — translate a group as one unit.

וַיִּמְעֲט֥וּ וַיָּשֹׁ֑חוּ Atnach — the verse's main pause — take a breath here מֵעֹ֖צֶר רָעָ֣ה וְיָגֽוֹן Silluq — end of the verse

וַיִּמְעֲטוּ וַיָּשֹׁחוּ מֵעֹצֶר רָעָה וְיָגֽוֹן׃

Again, they are minished and brought low through oppression, affliction, and sorrow.

Cross References

2 Kings 10:32

בַּיָּמִים הָהֵם הֵחֵל יְהוָה לְקַצּוֹת בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל וַיַּכֵּם חֲזָאֵל בְּכָל-גְּבוּל יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

In those days the LORD began to cut short: Israel and Hazael smote them in all the coasts of Israel;

Exodus 2:23

וַיְהִי בַיָּמִים הָֽרַבִּים הָהֵם וַיָּמָת מֶלֶךְ מִצְרַיִם וַיֵּאָֽנְחוּ בְנֵֽי-יִשְׂרָאֵל מִן-הָֽעֲבֹדָה וַיִּזְעָקוּ וַתַּעַל שַׁוְעָתָם אֶל-הָֽאֱלֹהִים מִן-הָֽעֲבֹדָֽה׃

And it came to pass in process of time, that the king of Egypt died: and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage.

2 Kings 14:26

כִּֽי-רָאָה יְהוָה אֶת-עֳנִי יִשְׂרָאֵל מֹרֶה מְאֹד וְאֶפֶס עָצוּר וְאֶפֶס עָזוּב וְאֵין עֹזֵר לְיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

For the LORD saw the affliction of Israel, that it was very bitter: for there was not any shut up, nor any left, nor any helper for Israel.

Judges 6:3

וְהָיָה אִם-זָרַע יִשְׂרָאֵל וְעָלָה מִדְיָן וַֽעֲמָלֵק וּבְנֵי-קֶדֶם וְעָלוּ עָלָֽיו׃

And so it was, when Israel had sown, that the Midianites came up, and the Amalekites, and the children of the east, even they came up against them;

2 Chronicles 15:5

וּבָֽעִתִּים הָהֵם אֵין שָׁלוֹם לַיּוֹצֵא וְלַבָּא כִּי מְהוּמֹת רַבּוֹת עַל כָּל-יֹשְׁבֵי הָֽאֲרָצֽוֹת׃

And in those times there was no peace to him that went out, nor to him that came in, but great vexations were upon all the inhabitants of the countries.

2 Kings 8:3

וַיְהִי מִקְצֵה שֶׁבַע שָׁנִים וַתָּשָׁב הָֽאִשָּׁה מֵאֶרֶץ פְּלִשְׁתִּים וַתֵּצֵא לִצְעֹק אֶל-הַמֶּלֶךְ אֶל-בֵּיתָהּ וְאֶל-שָׂדָֽהּ׃

And it came to pass at the seven years' end, that the woman returned out of the land of the Philistines: and she went forth to cry unto the king for her house and for her land.

Ruth 1:20

וַתֹּאמֶר אֲלֵיהֶן אַל-תִּקְרֶאנָה לִי נָֽעֳמִי קְרֶאןָ לִי מָרָא כִּֽי-הֵמַר שַׁדַּי לִי מְאֹֽד׃

And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me.

Exodus 1:13

וַיַּֽעֲבִדוּ מִצְרַיִם אֶת-בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּפָֽרֶךְ׃

And the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigour:

Psalms 30:6

וַאֲנִי אָמַרְתִּי בְשַׁלְוִי בַּל-אֶמּוֹט לְעוֹלָֽם׃

And in my prosperity I said, I shall never be moved.

Jeremiah 51:33

כִּי כֹה אָמַר יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל בַּת-בָּבֶל כְּגֹרֶן עֵת הִדְרִיכָהּ עוֹד מְעַט וּבָאָה עֵֽת-הַקָּצִיר לָֽהּ׃

For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; The daughter of Babylon is like a threshingfloor, it is time to thresh her: yet a little while, and the time of her harvest shall come.

1 Samuel 2:5

שְׂבֵעִים בַּלֶּחֶם נִשְׂכָּרוּ וּרְעֵבִים חָדֵלּוּ עַד-עֲקָרָה יָֽלְדָה שִׁבְעָה וְרַבַּת בָּנִים אֻמְלָֽלָה׃

They that were full have hired out themselves for bread; and they that were hungry ceased: so that the barren hath born seven; and she that hath many children is waxed feeble.

2 Kings 13:22

וַֽחֲזָאֵל מֶלֶךְ אֲרָם לָחַץ אֶת-יִשְׂרָאֵל כֹּל יְמֵי יְהֽוֹאָחָֽז׃

But Hazael king of Syria oppressed Israel all the days of Jehoahaz.

2 Kings 13:7

כִּי לֹא הִשְׁאִיר לִיהֽוֹאָחָז עָם כִּי אִם-חֲמִשִּׁים פָּֽרָשִׁים וַֽעֲשָׂרָה רֶכֶב וַֽעֲשֶׂרֶת אֲלָפִים רַגְלִי כִּי אִבְּדָם מֶלֶךְ אֲרָם וַיְשִׂמֵם כֶּֽעָפָר לָדֻֽשׁ׃

Neither did he leave of the people to Jehoahaz but fifty horsemen, and ten chariots, and ten thousand footmen; for the king of Syria had destroyed them, and had made them like the dust by threshing.

2 Kings 4:8

וַיְהִי הַיּוֹם וַיַּֽעֲבֹר אֱלִישָׁע אֶל-שׁוּנֵם וְשָׁם אִשָּׁה גְדוֹלָה וַתַּֽחֲזֶק-בּוֹ לֶֽאֱכָל-לָחֶם וַֽיְהִי מִדֵּי עָבְרוֹ יָסֻר שָׁמָּה לֶֽאֱכָל-לָֽחֶם׃

And it fell on a day, that Elisha passed to Shunem, where was a great woman; and she constrained him to eat bread. And so it was, that as oft as he passed by, he turned in thither to eat bread.

Genesis 45:11

וְכִלְכַּלְתִּי אֹֽתְךָ שָׁם כִּי-עוֹד חָמֵשׁ שָׁנִים רָעָב פֶּן-תִּוָּרֵשׁ אַתָּה וּבֵֽיתְךָ וְכָל-אֲשֶׁר-לָֽךְ׃

And there will I nourish thee; for yet there are five years of famine; lest thou, and thy household, and all that thou hast, come to poverty.

Job 1:10

הֲלֹֽא-‫(את)‬ אַתָּה שַׂכְתָּ בַֽעֲדוֹ וּבְעַד-בֵּיתוֹ וּבְעַד כָּל-אֲשֶׁר-לוֹ מִסָּבִיב מַֽעֲשֵׂה יָדָיו בֵּרַכְתָּ וּמִקְנֵהוּ פָּרַץ בָּאָֽרֶץ׃

Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.

Psalms 107:38

Read Psalms 107

Psalms 107:40

Psalms 107:39

Word Breakdown

Vowels & Accents

Grammar C/Vqw3mp

Verb Chart

English Options

Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)

Strong's Definition H4591

Word Breakdown

Vowels & Accents

Grammar C/Vqw3mp

Verb Chart

English Options

Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)

Strong's Definition H7817

Word Breakdown

Vowels & Accents

Grammar R/Ncmsc

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Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)

Strong's Definition H6115

Word Breakdown

Vowels & Accents

Grammar Ncfsa

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Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)

Strong's Definition H7451

Word Breakdown

Vowels & Accents

Grammar C/Ncmsa

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Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)

Strong's Definition H3015

Masoretic Phrasing

KJV