Psalms 37:31

תּוֹרַ֣ת אֱלֹהָ֣יו בְּלִבּ֑וֹ לֹ֖א תִמְעַ֣ד אֲשֻׁרָֽיו

The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.

Select a Hebrew word above to see its details.

לֹ֖א

Particle not

Dictionary form: לֹא · loh

Particle — Negative

In the KJV here: none

not ×882 neither ×399 no ×282 nor ×215 shall not ×205 thou shalt not ×116 is not ×102 and not ×86

More options

not — Default negation; fits nearly every context.

no — Use before nouns or as a standalone negative.

never — Emphasizes total or timeless negation.

nor — Use in paired or continued negative clauses.

neither — Use when negating two elements together.

none — Negates a noun or quantity; no one/nothing.

BDB4266 H3808

לֹא or לוֺא adverb not (Arabic , Aramaic לָא, , Sabean לא, Ass. lâ; not in Ethiopic: compare Kö^{ii. 1. 236} Walker^{AJSL 1896, 237 ff.}) — לוֺא, according to Masora (Fr^{MM 248}), 35 t., besides בְּלוֺא 6 t., and הֲלוֺא, the orthography of which varies much (ib.^{p. 251}), e.g. in Samuel always הֲלוֺא, in Chronicles always הֲלֹא, on the whole הֲלוֺא 141 t., הֲלֹא 128 t.; twice, according to Masora, written לו (Qr לֹא), 1Sam 2:16; 1Sam 20:2, once לה Deut 3:11 Kt: — not — denying objectively, like οὐ (not μὴ = אַל): —

1. in predication:
a. with a verb; so most frequently, and nearly always
(a) with the finite tenses, whether perfect (Gen 2:5 b Gen 4:5 etc.) or imperfect (Gen 3:4; Gen 8:21; Gen 8:22 etc.); in short circumstantial clauses, as Gen 44:4 לא הרחיקו, Isa 40:20 לֹא יִמּוֺט, and with a final force Isa 41:7; Exod 28:32 (see Ges^{«GKC:156»§ 156}. 3 R. b, c Dr^{§ 162}). Governing two closely connected verbs (Dr^{§ 115}, לא) Exod 28:43 וְלֹא יִשְׂאוּ עָוֺן וָמֵתוּ, Lev 19:12; Lev 19:29b Deut 7:25; Deut 7:26; Deut 19:10; Deut 22:1 and elsewhere; and two parallel clauses (Ges^{«GKC:152»§ 152}. 3) Isa 23:4b Ps 9:19; Ps 44:19; Job 3:1 and elsewhere With the imperfect, especially with 2 person, לֹא often expresses (not, like אַל, a deprecation, do not . . ., let not . . ., but) a prohibition, as Gen 2:17 לֹא תאֹכַל מִמֶּנּוּ thou shall not eat of it, Gen 3:1; Gen 3:3; Exod 20:3 לֹאיִֿהְיֶה לְךָ there shall not be to thee, etc., vExod 20:13 לא תגנב, etc. With the coh. and jussive moods (which are negatived regularly by אַל), it occurs only exceptionally (Ges^{«GKC:109»§ 109}. 1 b R. 1), Gen 24:8; 1Sam 14:36; 2Sam 17:12; 2Sam 18:14; 1Kgs 2:6; Ezek 48:14.
(b) with the infinitive (which is negatived by בִּלְתִּי, q. v.), only once, in בְּלֹא (4 a), and with לְ, in the sense of cannot, or must not; Judg 1:19 כי לא להורישׁ for it was not (possible) to dispossess, etc. Amos 6:10 לא ׳להזכיר בשׁם י, 1Chr 5:1; 1Chr 15:2 (Dr^{§ 202. 2}); compare Aramaic לָא Dan 6:9; Ezra 6:8. On its use with the participle, see b c.
(c) לא always negates properly the word immediately following: hence, in a verbal sentence, where this is not the verb, some special stress rests upon it, Gen 32:29 לֹא יַעֲקֹב ׳יֵאָמֵר עוֺד וג not Jacob shall thy name be called any more, but Israel, Gen 45:8 לֹא אַתֶּם שְׁלַחְתֶּם אֹתִי Not ye (in our idiom: It is not ye who) have sent me hither, but God, Exod 16:8; 1Sam 8:7 כִּי לֹא ׳אֹתְךָ מָאָסוּ כִּי אֹתִי וג, Ps 115:17 without a following correcting clause, Gen 38:9; Num 16:29 שְׁלָחָנִי׃ ׳לֹא י Not ׳י (but another) hath sent me, Deut 32:27 לֹא פָּעַל זֹאת ׳י, 1Chr 17:4; Deut 8:9; Isa 28:28 לא לנצח ֗֗֗ not for ever (but only for a while) . . . (so Isa 57:16; Ps 9:19; Ps 49:18; Ps 103:9 but Isa 13:20 לא תשׁב לנצח is, will not be inhabited for ever), Isa 43:22; Job 13:16; Job 32:9 hence rhetorically, insinuating something very different, not named, 2Kgs 6:10 not once, and not twice (but repeatedly), Ezra 10:13; Jer 4:11 a wind לֹא לְזָרוֺת וְלוֺא לְהַָבר׃ not to winnow, and not to cleanse (but to exterminate), Isa 45:13; Isa 48:1b Josh 24:12; Dan 11:20; Dan 11:29; Job 34:20 לֹא בְיָד (but by a Divine agency: compare Dan 2:34 also Job 20:26 אֵשׁ לֹא נֻפָּ֑ךְ fire not blown upon [but kindled from heaven], Lam 4:6 and אין Isa 47:14).
(d) standing alone:
(a) אִםלֹֿא if not, Gen 18:21 וְאִםלֹֿא אֵדָֽעָה׃, Gen 29:49; Gen 42:16; Job 9:24; Job 24:25 (β) הֲאִ֗֗֗םלֿא, or not, Gen 24:21 waiting to know דַּרְכּוֺ אִםלֹֿא ׳הַהִצְלִיחַ י, Gen 27:21; Gen 37:32; Exod 16:4; Num 11:23; Deut 8:2; Judg 2:22 (compare אִם אַיִן, אַיִן 2 d β, δ). In answer to a question or request, to deny, or decline, Nay, Nö: Judg 12:5 ויאמר לא, Hag 2:12 לא אדני Gen 23:11; Gen 42:10; 1Sam 1:15 +; often followed by כי, Nö for . . . = Nö but . . ., Gen 18:15 ויאמר לֹא כִּי צָחָ֑קְתְּ, Gen 19:2; Josh 5:14; Josh 24:21; 1Sam 2:16 Qr (see Dr), 1Sam 10:19 (ᵐ5 MSS), 2Sam 16:18; 2Sam 24:24; 1Kgs 3:22 (twice in verse) +; Job 23:6 (strangely). (compare, in deprecation, אַל.)
(e) with an interrogative force, which however does not lie in לא as such, but (as in other cases) in the contrast with a preceding clause, or in the tone of voice (compare וְ 1 f; Ew^{§ 324 a} Ges^{«GKC:150»§ 150}. 1 Dr^{1Sam 11:12}): Jonah 4:11 ׳אַתָּה חַסְתָּוַ֗֗֗אֲנִי לֹא אָחוּס וג, Job 2:10; Job 22:11; Exod 8:22; 2Kgs 5:26; Jer 49:9 (|| Obad 1:5 הֲלוֺא), Mal 2:15; Lam 3:38 and in passages, exegesis or text. doubtful (see Commentaries), 1Sam 20:14; 2Sam 23:5 (but see Bu), Hos 10:9 (Ew We), Hos 11:5 (Ew), Job 14:16b (but ᵐ5 Ew Di תַעֲבֹר), Lam 1:12 (Ew Ke), Lam 3:36 (Ke Bä).
b. with adjectives and substantive:
(a) Gen 2:18 לֹא טוֺב הֱֶיוֺת הָאָדָם לְבַדֹּו not good is man's being alone, Exod 18:17 + often
(b) Exod 4:16 לֹא אִישׁ דְּבָרִים אָנֹכִי, Amos 7:14 לא נביא אנכי, Num 23:9 לֹא אִישׁ אֵל וִיכַזֵּב, Deut 17:15 (see אשׁר

2. b) Deut 20:20; Deut 32:47; 1Sam 15:29; 2Sam 18:20 לֹא אִישׁ בְּשׂרָה אַתָּה הַיּוֺם, 2Sam 21:2; 1Kgs 22:33; 2Kgs 6:19 לא זִה הדרך, Mic 2:10; Isa 27:11; Hos 8:6 והמה לא אלהים Jer 2:11; Jer 16:20; 2Kgs 19:18; 1Kgs 19:11 (twice in verse) לֹא ׳בָרַעַשׁ י, Deut 30:12; Deut 30:13; Job 15:9; Job 28:14 לֹא בִי הִיא (|| אֵין עִמָּדִי)s, Ps 74:9; Jer 5:10 המה ׳לוא לי, Jer 10:16; Deut 32:21 בָּנִים לֹא אֵמוּן בָּם, Jer 10:14; Hab 1:14; Job 16:17; Job 38:26 מִדְבָּר לֹא אָדָם בּוֺ; 1Kgs 22:17 לֹא אֲדֹנִים לָאֵלֶּה, Jer 49:31; Ps 22:3 וְלֹא דוּמִיָּה לִי, Job 18:17; Job 18:19; Job 29:12 ולא עֹזֵר לו, Job 30:13; Job 33:9; Jer 2:19 וְלֹא פַחְדָּתִי אֵלַיִךְ and (that) my terror reached not unto thee, Job 21:9 absolute Gen 29:7 לֹאעֵֿתִ הֵאָסֵף הַמִּקְנֶה (Hag 1:2), Num 20:5; 2Kgs 4:23 לא חדשׁ ולא שׁבת, Isa 44:9; Jer 5:12 ויאמרו לוא הוא, Job 9:32; Job 22:16; Job 36:26; Job 41:2; Prov 19:7 (si vera lectio) מְרַדֵּף אֲמָרִים לֹאהֵֿמָּה words which are not, which are nought.
(c) with the participle לֹא is rare, a finite verb being usually preferred (Exod 34:7 וְנַקִּה לֹא יְנַקֶּה: Ew^{§ 320 c} Dr^{§ 162}): 2Sam 3:34 יָדֶיךָ לֹא אֲסֻרוֺת, Ezek 4:14; Ezek 22:24; Deut 28:61; Ps 38:15 כְּאִישׁ אֲשֶׁר לֹא שֹׁמֵעַ who is not hearing, Job 12:3; Job 13:2 לֹא נֹפֵל אָנֹכִי מִכֶּם, Zeph 3:5 (very anomalous); 1Kgs 10:21 לא is probably textual error In וְהוּא לֹא שׂנֵא לוֺ or לא שׂנא הוא לו, Deut 4:42; Deut 19:4; Deut 19:6; Josh 20:5 (compare אֹיֵב Num 35:23), שׂנֵא is best construed as a substantive, he being a not-hater to him afore-time. — In most of the cases under b, c, אין could have been employed; but the negation by לֹא is more pointed and forcible.

2. Not in predication:
a. coupled to an adjective to negative it, like the Greek ἀ‐, but usually by way of litotes: Hos 13:13 בן לאחֿכם an unwise son, Ps 36:5 דֶּרֶךְ לֹא טוֺב a way not good, Ps 43:1 גוי לא חסיד, Prov 16:29; Prov 30:25; Prov 30:26; Ezek 20:25; 2Chr 30:17 : Isa 16:14 לוֺא כַבִּיר, compare Isa 10:7 לֹא מְעַט.
b. with a participle Jer 2:2 ארץ לא זרועה, Jer 18:15 (the finite verb is more common: see Isa 62:12 עִיר לֹא נֱעֶזָ֫בָה (compare Isa 54:11), Jer 6:8 אֶרֶץ לוֺא נוֺשָׁ֫בָה, Jer 15:18; Jer 22:6; Jer 31:18; Zeph 2:1).
c. Gen 15:13 בארץ לא להם, Jer 5:19; Hab 1:6 מִשְׁכָּנוֺת לֹאלֿוֺ, Prov 26:17 רִיב לֹאלֿוֺ.
d. with a substantive, in poetry, forming a kind of compound, expressing pointedly its antithesis or negation (German un- is sometimes used similarly): Deut 32:5(?). 17. 21 a they made me jealous בְּלֹא אֵל with a not-God (with what in no respect deserved the name of God), v^b בְּלֹא עָם i.e. with an unorganized horde, Amos 6:13 הַשְּׂמֵחִים לְלֹא דָבָר i.e. at a thing which is not, an unreality (of their boasted strength), Isa 10:15 כְּהָרִים מַטֶּה לֹא עֵץ like a rod's lifting up what is no wood (but the agent wielding it), Isa 31:8 חרב לא אישׁ, חרב לא אדם, Isa 55:2 בלוא לחם for what is not bread, בלוא לשׂבעה for what is not for satiety, Jer 5:7 וַיּשָּֽׁבְעוּ בְּלֹא אֱלֹהִים by not-gods, in late prose 2Chr 13:9 כֹּהֵן לְלֹא אֱלֹהִים; Ps 44:13 תִּמְכֹּר עַמְּךָ בְּלֹאהֿוֺן for no-value (i.e. cheaply), Prov 13:23; Job 10:12 צלמות וְלֹא סְדָרִים darkness and disorder; so לֹאעַֿמִּי Hos 1:9; Hos 2:25: still more pregnantly Job 26:2 a מֶהעָֿזַרְתָּ לְלֹאכֹֿחַ (poetic for לאשׁר אין לו כח) the powerless, vJob 26:2b; vJob 26:3a (Ew^{§ 286 g} Ges^{«GKC:152»§ 152}. 1 n.), Job 39:16 הִקְשִׁיחַ בָּנֶיהָ לְלֹא לָהּ useth hardly her young ones (making them) into none of hers; and even Hab 2:6 הַמַּרְבֶּה לֹאלֿוֺ what is not his own (compare Job 18:15 מִבְּלִי לוֺ). compare with a verb, and ellipse of אשׁר, Isa 65:1 לְלֹא שָׁאָ֑לוּ to those who have not asked, v^b Jer 2:8 אַחֲרִי לֹא יוֺעִילוּ, vJer 2:11b; also לֹא רֻחָ֫מָה Hos 1:6; Hos 1:8; Hos 2:25, and probably Job 31:31 לֹא נִשְׂבָּ֑ע (perfect in p.) one not satisfied.
e. in circumstantial clauses (Dr^{§ 164}), in poetry and rare: qualifying a substantive, 2Sam 23:4 בֹּקֶר לֹא עָבוֺת a morning without clouds, Job 12:24 בְּתֹהוּ לֹא דֶרֶךְ in a pathless waste, Job 38:26a; and a verb Job 34:24 יָרֹעַ כַּבִּרִים לֹא חֵקֶר without inquiry, Ps 59:4 לא פשׁעי ולא חטאתי (compare vPs 59:4 בלי עון), in late prose, twice, 1Chr 2:30; 1Chr 2:32 וימת לא בנים (אֵין and בְּלִי, q. v., are more usual in such cases).

3. Once (according to many MSS), as a substantive, Job 6:21 כִּיעַֿתָּה הֱיִיתֶם לֹא for now are ye become nothing, Hi De Kö (compare Dan 4:32 (Aramaic) כְּלָה חֲשִׁיבִין, ᵑ7 here כְּלָא הֲוֵיתוּן, and אַל Job 24:25); but reading fluctuates (Orientals לֹא, Qr לו, Westerns, Baer (see pp. 37, 56) לוֺ ['now are ye become that,' namely the נַחַל אַכְזָב of vJob 24:15]; but even לוֺ yields a forced sense; and text is probably wrong: Mich Ew Ol Sgf Bu כֵּןלִ֗֗֗י (ᵐ5 ᵑ6 also read לִי); Bö Di כִּילְ֗֗֗אָ֑יִן. compare Kö^{ii. 1. 236 f}.

4. With prefixes: —
a. בְּלֹא₃₁ (chiefly in poetry or late), according to the varying significance of בְּ:
(a) usually with not = without, Jer 22:13 בונה ביתו בלאֿ צדק without justice (|| בלא משׁפט; so Ezek 22:29; Prov 16:8), Isa 55:1 (twice in verse); Prov 19:2; Job 8:11 הֲיִגְאֶהגֹּֿמֶא בְּלֹא בִצָּה without mire || כלי מים, Job 30:28 בְּלֹא חַמָּה (=not through the sun), Lam 1:6 וילכו בלאכֿח, Num 35:22 בְּלֹא אֵיבָה ֗֗֗ בְּלֹא צְדִיָּה, vNum 35:23 (followed by infinitive) בְּלֹא רְאוֺת, 2Chr 21:20; Eccl 10:11; Ps 17:1 תְּפִלָּתִי בְּלֹא שִׂפְתֵי מִרְמָה; used more freely in Chronicles, 1Chr 12:18 בְּלֹא חָמָס בְּכַפָּֽי׃, v.1Chr 12:34 בְּלֹא לֵב וָלֵב, 2Chr 30:18 בְּלֹא כַכָּתוּב. With ellipse of rel., Lam 4:14 בְּלֹא יוּכְלוּ יִגְּעוּ without (that) men are able to touch, etc.
(b) of time, in not, i.e. outside of, Lev 15:25 בלא עֶתנִֿדָּתָהּ, before Job 15:32 בלאיֿומו, Eccl 7:17 בְּלֹא עִתֶּךְ׃.
(c) where לֹא belongs to the following word, and is only accidentally preceded by ב (see above 2 d), Deut 32:21 (twice in verse); Jer 5:7; Prov 13:23 בלא משׁפט through injustice; with בְּ pretii, Ps 44:13; Isa 55:2 (twice in verse); Jer 2:11 בְּלוֺא יוֺעִיל for (that which) profiteth not.

b. הֲלֹא nonne ? Gen 4:7 + often Inviting, as it does, an affirmative answer, it is often used,
(a) especially in conversation, for pointing to a fact in such a way as to arouse the interest of the person addressed, or to win his assent: Gen 13:19 Is not the whole land before thee ? Gen 19:20; Gen 20:5; Gen 27:36; Gen 29:25; Exod 4:11 Who maketh dumb or deaf, etc. Do not I ? Exod 33:16; Judg 4:6; Judg 4:14; Judg 8:2; Judg 9:28; Judg 9:38; 1Sam 9:20; 1Sam 9:21; 1Sam 15:17 etc.; with a verb in 1 person, Josh 1:9 הלא צויתיך, Judg 6:14 הלא שׁלחתיך, 1Sam 20:30; 2Sam 19:23; Ruth 2:9: similarly in a poetical or rhetorical style, Judg 5:30 הלא ימצאו יחלקו שׁלל, Isa 8:19; Isa 10:8; Isa 10:9; Isa 10:11; Isa 28:25; Isa 29:17; Isa 40:21; Isa 40:23; Isa 42:24; Isa 43:19 etc., Job 4:6; Job 4:21; Job 7:1; Job 10:10; Job 10:20, etc. (β) it has a tendency to become little more than an affirm. particle, declaring with some rhetorical emphasis what is, or might be, well known: Deut 3:11 הֲלֹה הִיא בְרַבַּת בְּנֵי עַמּוֺן, Deut 11:30; 1Sam 21:12 הלוא ׳זה דוד וג (compare 1Sam 29:3; 1Sam 29:5; 2Sam 11:3), 2Sam 23:19; 2Sam 26:1; 2Sam 15:35 it is thus nearly = הִנֵּה (ᵐ5 sometimes represents it by ιδου, as Josh 1:9; Judg 6:14; Ruth 2:9; 2Sam 15:35); so especially in the phrase of the compiler of Kings, And the rest of the acts of . . ., הֲלֹא הֵם (הֵמָּה) כְּתוּבִים are they not written in, etc. ? 1Kgs 11:41; 1Kgs 14:29 + often (with which there interchanges הִנָּם כְּתוּבִים 1Kgs 14:19; 2Kgs 15:11; 2Kgs 15:26; 2Kgs 15:31, which is generally used by the Chronicles, 2Chr 16:11; 2Chr 20:34, etc.), Josh 10:13 (compare 2Sam 1:18 הִנֵּה), 1Kgs 8:53 ᵐ5, Esth 10:2; Ps 56:14 (strangely: contr. Ps 116:8). — הֲלֹא הִנֵּה Hab 2:13; 2Chr 25:26 (הִנָּם). — On Judg 14:15, see הֲ 1 end.

c. וָלֹ֕א and not=and if not, 2Sam 13:26; 2Kgs 5:17. compare וָּיֵשׁ.
d. כְּלוֺא Obad 1:16 והיו כלוא היו, poetic for כאשׁר, as though they had not been.

e. לְלֹא without, literally in the condition of no . . . 2Chr 15:3 (compare לְאֵין, also in Chronicles). Elsewhere לא belongs to the following word, Amos 6:13; 2Chr 13:9; Isa 65:1 (twice in verse); Job 26:2; Job 26:3; Job 39:16 (see above 2 d).

Note. — Fifteen times, according to Masora (see De^{Ps 100. 3} Fr^{MM 247} Str^{Prol. Cr. 84}), לא is written by error for לוֺ, namely Exod 21:8; Lev 11:21; Lev 25:30; 1Sam 2:3; 2Sam 16:18; 2Kgs 8:10; Isa 9:2; Isa 63:9; Ps 100:3; Ps 139:16; Job 13:15; Job 41:4; Prov 19:7; Prov 26:2; Ezra 4:2 (always with Qr לוֺ). The passages must be considered each upon its own merits: in some לוֺ yields a preferable sense; but this is not the case in all. There is the same קרי (rightly) on Isa 49:5; 1Chr 11:20 but these were not considered to rest upon equal authority, and are hence not reckoned with the fifteen. — In Judg 21:22 (see GFM), 1Sam 13:13; 1Sam 20:14 (twice in verse), and in Job 9:33 לֹא יֵשׁ, read probably לֻא for לֹא.

BDB4344 H3808

לוֺ (Kt 1Sam 2:16; 1Sam 20:2), לוֺא, see לֹא.

BDB9632 H3808 H3809

לָא (לָה Dan 4:32) adverb not (Biblical Hebrew לא; Aramaic of Têma, Egyptian, etc., לא; Nerab ל (Lzb³⁰¹ Cook^{G1. 67}); ᵑ7 לָא; Syriac ); — not Jer 10:11; Dan 2:5; Dan 2:9; Dan 2:10, etc.; before a participle (so rarely in Biblical Hebrew, 1 b c), Dan 2:27; Dan 2:43; Dan 3:16; Dan 4:4; Dan 4:6; Dan 4:15 +, so v.Dan 4:32 וְכָלדָּֿאְרֵי אַרְעָא כְּלָה חֲשׁיבִין; are as men not accounted of (so Bev Behrm Marti, compare Isa 53:8 ᵑ7 בסירין ולא חשׁיבין; > most 'accounted as nothing,' for which no analogy, yet compare Ps 39:6 ᵑ7); followed by אִיתַי, see אִיתַי. With infinitive and לְ Dan 6:9 דִּי לָא לִהַשְׁנָיָה which it is not to alter = which is not to be altered (compare v.Dan 6:16), Ezra 6:8 (K^{§ 67, 1} Dr^{§ 202, 2}.; compare Isa 35:6 ᵑ7, D^{Aramaic Dialektproben, p. 1}). With interr. הֲלָא Dan 3:24; Dan 4:27; Dan 6:13.

BDB9640 H3809 H3861 H518 H2006 H3808 H3588

II. לָהֵן conjunction except, but (from לָא and הֵן 'not if' (compare Hebrew אם לא Gen 24:38); so Nabataean and Egyptian Aramaic להן Cooke^{217, 219, 241} S-C^{Pap. C 6, 7} +; lâinnî, however Soc^{Arab. Dial.} see Marokko 44, Anm. 103; ᵑ7 אִילָּהֵין Gen 32:28; Gen 43:3 and elsewhere); —

1. after a negative (= Biblical Hebrew כִּי אִם, q. v.):
a. except Dan 2:11; Dan 3:28; Dan 6:6; Dan 6:8.
b. but (German sondern) Dan 2:30.

2. without a negative: however, but Ezra 5:12.

not, no, neither, nor, none, …

lōʾ

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

not, no

not (with verb—absolute prohibition)

תִמְעַ֣ד

Root word slip, slide, shake

Dictionary form: מָעַד · maw-AD

Verb — Qal, Imperfect (Yiqtol), third person feminine singular simple action — "he did" not-yet-complete action — try "he will ___" or "he ___s" the built-in subject is "she (or it)"

In the KJV here: shall slide

slip ×2 shall slide ×1 slide ×1 to shake ×1 to slip ×1

More options

slip — Most natural modern equivalent; prefer for sudden loss of footing.

stumble — Implies a trip or falter; good for figurative moral failure.

slide — Emphasizes gradual or uncontrolled movement downward.

totter — Conveys instability or wavering; fits shakiness imagery.

falter — More figurative; suits contexts of weakening resolve or strength.

lose one's footing — Vivid and idiomatic; best in poetic or narrative prose.

BDB4747 H4571 H4154 H5976

[מָעַד] verb slip, slide, totter, shake (only Hebrew); —

Qal Perfect 3 plural מָֽעֲדוּ 2Sam 22:37 = Ps 18:37 Imperfect 3 feminine singular תִּמְעַד Ps 37:31 אֶמְעָ֑ד Ps 26:1 Participle plural construct מוֺעֲדֵי Job 12:5 — slip, subject feet, (figurative) 2Sam 22:37 = Ps 18:37; Job 12:5 subject אֲשֻׁרָיו Ps 37:31 compare Ps 26:1. Pu`al Participle מוּעָ֑דֶת ( = ׳מְמוּ Ges^{«GKC:53s»§ 53s}; or old Qal Passive participle, — compare Ba^{NB 273}; — but passive not needed here, read perhaps ׳מוֺ Qal Participle active see Schw^{ZAW x, 1890, 176}); — ׳רֶגֶל מ Prov 25:19 (simile of untrustworthiness). Hiph`il Perfect וְהִמְעַדְתָּ֫ (so read for HCT והעמדת, compare Sm Co Da Berthol) Ezek 29:7 cause to shake object כָּלמָֿתְנַיִם, i.e. make them totter; compare Imperative הַמְעַ֑ד (object id.) Ps 69:24.

slip, slide, shake

māʿad

to waver

to slip, slide, totter, shake

(Qal) to slip

אֲשֻׁרָֽי ו

אֲשֻׁרָֽי

Root word steps, goings, step, going

Suffix — pronoun his / him / it

Dictionary form: אָשֻׁר · aw-SHOOR

Noun — Common, feminine plural, construct state plural — usually add "-s"; "___ of …" — bound to the next word

In the KJV here: of his steps

my goings ×2 his steps ×1 my step ×1 my steps ×1 neither have our steps ×1 of his steps ×1 to his going ×1 us in our steps ×1

More options

step — Most direct equivalent; works in literal and figurative contexts.

stride — Slightly more dynamic; suits descriptions of purposeful movement.

footstep — Emphasizes the physical mark or sound of walking.

path — Figurative sense; good when referring to a course of life or conduct.

gait — Focuses on manner of walking; suits poetic or evaluative contexts.

track — Highlights the trail left; useful when following or being followed.

BDB811 H804 H838

אַשּׁוּר proper name, of a people & territory Asshur, Assyria (Assyrian Aššur, land & city Dl^{Pa 252} COT on Gen 2:14 Persian Athura, Syriac ; on the connection with name of god Ašur, & with √ אשׁר = ישׁר good, gracious, compare COT^l.c.; see also Jen^{ZA, 1886, 1 f.} Schr^{ib. 209 f.} Nö^{ib. 268 f.})

1. Asshur as person, 2nd son of Shem Gen 10:22 (P, in table of nations) 1Chr 1:17.

2. people of Asshur (often as invading army & even world-power) Num 24:22; Num 24:24 (poem of Balaam) Hos 12:2; Hos 14:4; Isa 10:5; Isa 14:25; Isa 19:23 (twice in verse); Isa 19:24; Isa 19:25; Isa 23:13; Isa 30:31; Isa 31:8; Isa 52:4; Lam 5:6; Ezek 23:5; Ezek 27:23; Ezek 32:22 (here feminine) Zech 10:11; Ps 83:9 perhaps read גְּשׁוּר, compare 2Sam 2:9 below אֲשׁוּרִי; or (if Ps 83 be late) regard אַשּׁוּר (like עֲמָלֵק ib.) as used because of ancient significance; sometimes personified as one Isa 10:5; Ezek 31:3 (but strike out Co q. v.), compare also Mic 5:4; Mic 5:5; Zeph 2:13 ׳מַחֲנֵה א 2Kgs 19:32 = Isa 37:36 ׳בְּנֵי א Ezek 16:28; Ezek 23:7; Ezek 23:9; Ezek 23:12; Ezek 23:23.

3. land of Assyria Gen 2:14; Gen 10:11; Hos 5:13; Hos 7:11; Hos 8:9; Hos 9:3; Hos 10:6; Isa 11:11; Isa 11:16; Isa 19:23; Jer 2:18; Jer 2:36; Mic 7:12; Zech 10:10 אַשּׁ֫וּרָה Gen 25:18; Isa 19:23; 2Kgs 15:29; 2Kgs 17:6; 2Kgs 17:23; 2Kgs 18:11 אֶרֶץ אַשּׁוּר Isa 7:18; Isa 27:13; Hos 11:11; Mic 5:5.

4. especially מֶלֶךְ אַשּׁוּר Isa 8:4; Isa 10:12; Isa 20:1; Isa 20:4; Isa 20:6 (probably gloss Isa 7:17; Isa 7:20; Isa 8:7) 2Kgs 15:19 + 41 t. 2 Kings; 14 t. Isa 36-38; 1Chr 5:6 (אַשֻּׁר) + 13 t. Chronicles; also Jer 50:17; Jer 50:18; Nah 3:18; Ezra 4:2 (only Ezra 6:22 of Persian or any king not strictly Assyrian); note also ׳הַמֶּלֶךְ א Isa 36:8; Isa 36:16 (׳א perhaps gloss, compare Di who holds same view as to 2Kgs 18:23; 2Kgs 18:31); ׳מַלְכֵי א 2Kgs 19:11; 2Kgs 19:17 = Isa 37:11; Isa 37:18; 2Chr 28:16; 2Chr 30:6; Neh 9:32.

BDB837 H838

[אֲשׁוּר, אָשׁוּר] noun feminine^{Ps 44:19} step, going (compare Arabic , , Ethiopic footstep) only suffix אֲשֻׁרוֺ Job 23:11; Prov 14:15 אֲשׁוּרַי Prov 17:5 אֲשֻׁרָ֑י Ps 40:3; Ps 73:2 אֲשֻׁרֵנוּ Ps 44:19 אֲשֻׁרָיוּ Ps 37:31, all poetic & figurative of mode of life, etc.

BDB838 H838

[אַשֻּׁר] noun feminine^{Job 31:7} step, going, same usage, אַשֻּׁרַי Job 31:7 אַשֻּׁרֵנוּ Ps 17:11.

steps, goings, step, going

ʾāšur

a step

step, going

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.

תּוֹרַ֣ת אֱלֹהָ֣יו בְּלִבּ֑וֹ Atnach — the verse's main pause — take a breath here לֹ֖א תִמְעַ֣ד אֲשֻׁרָֽיו Silluq — end of the verse

תּוֹרַת אֱלֹהָיו בְּלִבּוֹ לֹא תִמְעַד אֲשֻׁרָֽיו׃

The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.

Cross References

Psalms 40:8

לַֽעֲשֽׂוֹת-רְצוֹנְךָ אֱלֹהַי חָפָצְתִּי וְתוֹרָתְךָ בְּתוֹךְ מֵעָֽי׃

I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.

Deuteronomy 6:6

וְהָיוּ הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה אֲשֶׁר אָֽנֹכִי מְצַוְּךָ הַיּוֹם עַל-לְבָבֶֽךָ׃

And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:

Isaiah 51:7

שִׁמְעוּ אֵלַי יֹדְעֵי צֶדֶק עַם תּוֹרָתִי בְלִבָּם אַל-תִּֽירְאוּ חֶרְפַּת אֱנוֹשׁ וּמִגִּדֻּפֹתָם אַל-תֵּחָֽתּוּ׃

Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law; fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings.

Psalms 119:11

בְּלִבִּי צָפַנְתִּי אִמְרָתֶךָ לְמַעַן לֹא אֶֽחֱטָא-לָֽךְ׃

Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

Psalms 37:23

מֵיְהוָה מִֽצְעֲדֵי-גֶבֶר כּוֹנָנוּ וְדַרְכּוֹ יֶחְפָּֽץ׃

The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.

Jeremiah 31:33

כִּי זֹאת הַבְּרִית אֲשֶׁר אֶכְרֹת אֶת-בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל אַחֲרֵי הַיָּמִים הָהֵם נְאֻם-יְהוָה נָתַתִּי אֶת-תּֽוֹרָתִי בְּקִרְבָּם וְעַל-לִבָּם אֶכְתֲּבֶנָּה וְהָיִיתִי לָהֶם לֵֽאלֹהִים וְהֵמָּה יִֽהְיוּ-לִי לְעָֽם׃

But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.

Psalms 121:3

אַל-יִתֵּן לַמּוֹט רַגְלֶךָ אַל-יָנוּם שֹֽׁמְרֶֽךָ׃

He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.

Hebrews 8:10

ὅτι αὕτη ἡ διαθήκη ἣν διαθήσομαι τῷ οἴκῳ Ἰσραὴλ μετὰ τὰς ἡμέρας ἐκείνας λέγει κύριος· διδοὺς νόμους μου εἰς τὴν διάνοιαν αὐτῶν καὶ ἐπὶ καρδίας αὐτῶν ἐπιγράψω αὐτούς καὶ ἔσομαι αὐτοῖς εἰς θεόν καὶ αὐτοὶ ἔσονταί μοι εἰς λαόν·

For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:

Psalms 119:98

מֵאֹיְבַי תְּחַכְּמֵנִי מִצְוֹתֶךָ כִּי לְעוֹלָם הִיא-לִֽי׃

Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me.

Psalms 40:2

וַיַּעֲלֵנִי׀ מִבּוֹר שָׁאוֹן מִטִּיט הַיָּוֵן וַיָּקֶם עַל-סֶלַע רַגְלַי כּוֹנֵן אֲשֻׁרָֽי׃

He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.

Psalms 1:2

כִּי אִם בְּתוֹרַת יְהוָה חֶפְצוֹ וּֽבְתוֹרָתוֹ יֶהְגֶּה יוֹמָם וָלָֽיְלָה׃

But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

Job 23:11

בַּאֲשֻׁרוֹ אָחֲזָה רַגְלִי דַּרְכּוֹ שָׁמַרְתִּי וְלֹא-אָֽט׃

My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined.

Deuteronomy 11:18

וְשַׂמְתֶּם אֶת-דְּבָרַי אֵלֶּה עַל-לְבַבְכֶם וְעַֽל-נַפְשְׁכֶם וּקְשַׁרְתֶּם אֹתָם לְאוֹת עַל-יֶדְכֶם וְהָיוּ לְטֽוֹטָפֹת בֵּין עֵֽינֵיכֶֽם׃

Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes.

Psalms 44:18

לֹא-נָסוֹג אָחוֹר לִבֵּנוּ וַתֵּט אֲשֻׁרֵינוּ מִנִּי אָרְחֶֽךָ׃

Our heart is not turned back, neither have our steps declined from thy way;

Proverbs 4:4

וַיֹּרֵנִי וַיֹּאמֶר לִי יִֽתְמָךְ-דְּבָרַי לִבֶּךָ שְׁמֹר מִצְוֹתַי וֶֽחְיֵֽה׃

He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live.

Proverbs 14:15

פֶּתִי יַאֲמִין לְכָל-דָּבָר וְעָרוּם יָבִין לַאֲשֻׁרֽוֹ׃

The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going.

Psalms 17:5

תָּמֹךְ אֲשֻׁרַי בְּמַעְגְּלוֹתֶיךָ בַּל-נָמוֹטּוּ פְעָמָֽי׃

Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not.

Psalms 73:2

וַאֲנִי כִּמְעַט נָטָיוּ רַגְלָי כְּאַיִן נָטָיוּ אֲשֻׁרָֽי׃

But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.

Ezekiel 27:6

אַלּוֹנִים מִבָּשָׁן עָשׂוּ מִשּׁוֹטָיִךְ קַרְשֵׁךְ עָֽשׂוּ-שֵׁן בַּת-אֲשֻׁרִים מֵאִיֵּי ‫(כתים)‬ כִּתִּיִּֽים׃

Of the oaks of Bashan have they made thine oars; the company of the Ashurites have made thy benches of ivory, brought out of the isles of Chittim.

Psalms 37:30

Read Psalms 37

Psalms 37:32

Psalms 37:31

Word Breakdown

Vowels & Accents

Grammar Ncfsc

English Options

Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)

Strong's Definition H8451

Word Breakdown

Vowels & Accents

Grammar Ncmpc/Sp3ms

English Options

Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)

Strong's Definition H430

Word Breakdown

Vowels & Accents

Grammar R/Ncmsc/Sp3ms

English Options

Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)

Strong's Definition H3820

Word Breakdown

Vowels & Accents

Grammar Tn

English Options

Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)

Strong's Definition H3808

Word Breakdown

Vowels & Accents

Grammar Vqi3fs

Verb Chart

English Options

Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)

Strong's Definition H4571

Word Breakdown

Vowels & Accents

Grammar Ncfpc/Sp3ms

English Options

Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)

Strong's Definition H838

Masoretic Phrasing

KJV