Psalms 39:0

לַמְנַצֵּ֥חַ (לידיתון) לִֽידוּתוּן מִזְמ֥וֹר לְדָוִֽד
To the chief Musician, even to Jeduthun, A Psalm of David.
Select a Hebrew word above to see its details.

לַ מְנַצֵּ֥חַ
לַ
Prefix — preposition to, for + "the" (the article is absorbed into the prefix)
מְנַצֵּ֥חַ
Root word musician, overseers, set, singer, perpetual, …
Dictionary form: נָצַח · naw-TSA

לַ
Hidden "the" לַ = the preposition + the article הַ squeezed together: the "a" vowel under the prefix is the swallowed "the". Translate "to the ___".

Verb — Piel, Participle Active, masculine singular, absolute state intensive — "he really / thoroughly did" ongoing action — try "___ing" or "one who ___s"

In the KJV here: to the chief musician
to the chief musician ×55 to set forward ×2 and the overseers ×1 and were overseers ×1 by a perpetual ×1 overseers ×1 to excel ×1 to oversee ×1
More options
oversee — Best for supervisory or administrative contexts.
lead — Broad fit for musical or organizational leadership.
direct — Good for liturgical or musical directing roles.
excel — Captures the root sense of preeminence or distinction.
supervise — Formal register; suits temple-worker oversight passages.
endure perpetually — For rare uses emphasizing permanence or eternity.

BDB5331 H5329

BDB5330 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB5332

I. [נָצַח] verb be pre-eminent, enduring (Ecclus [Pi`el] make brilliant Eccl 43:5; Eccl 43:13 [?] (compare Oxford ed.xxxiii); Late Hebrew נָצַח conquer, etc.; Phoenician נצח, Aramaic נְצַח, shine, be illustrious, pre-eminent, victorious; Arabic be pure, reliable; Ethiopic be pure, innocent; both classes of meaning probably derived form shine, be bright, brilliant, see also Dr1Sam 15:29); —

Niph`al Participle active feminine נִצַּ֫חַת Jer 8:5 enduring (מְשֻׁבָה apostasy).

Piel = act as overseer, superintendent, director, only Chronicles and Psalm-titles; — Infinitive לְנַצֵּחַ 1Chr 15:21 + 4 t.; participle לַמְנַצֵּחַ Hab 3:19; Ps 4:1 + 54 t. Psalms; plural מְנַצְּחִים 2Chr 2:1; 2Chr 2:17; 2Chr 34:13 —

1. in building temple 2Chr 2:1; 2Chr 2:17; Ezra 3:8; Ezra 3:9, compare 2Chr 34:12; 2Chr 34:13.
2. in ministry of house of ׳י 1Chr 23:4.
3. in liturgical service of song, עלהֿשׁמינית, over the bass voices, leading them with כִּנֹּרוֺת 1Chr 15:21 לַמְנַצֵּחַ in titles Psalms has probably simile meaning, = musical director or choirmaster; Greek Vrss. of 2nd cent. A.D., Aq Theod Sym, and so Jerome, think of Aramaic victorious, but no clear explanation; ᵐ5 εἰς τὸ τέλος (probably לַמִּנְצָח) follows ordinary meaning of noun נֵצַח, which may be explained in eschatological sense as referring to end of age of world after Euseb Theod; or for full rendering after De; neither satisfactory. Chronicles, near in date, gives the clue which is intrinsically probably: לְ indicates, not assignment (nothing special in these Psalms to suggest it, and assignment of Psalms for such use a matter of course), but that these Psalms were taken by final editor from an older major Psalter known as the Director's Collection, compare the still earlier collections known as (ל)דוד, (ל)אסף, (ל)בני קרח. The 55 Psalms with למנצח were taken 39 from Davidic, 9 from Korahite, and 5 from Asaphic Psalters; only 2 anonymous. Hab 3 originally belonged to Director's Psalter. This and other Director's Psalms have musical directions in titles. The Director's Psalter was probably the prayer-book of synagogue of Greek period, presupposed by our Hab., the collection of the twelve Minor Prophets, the prophetic canon, and Daniel (see BrGen. Intr. 123).

BDB9717 H5329 H5330

BDB9716 | BIBLICAL ARAMAIC | BDB9718

[נְצַח] verb Hithpa. distinguish oneself (see Biblical Hebrew I. נצח); — Participle מִתְנַצַּח Dan 6:4, עַל person

musician, overseers, set, singer, perpetual, …
nāṣaḥ
properly, to glitter from afar, i.e., to be eminent (as a superintendent, especially of the Temple services and its music); to be permanent
  • to excel, be bright, be preeminent, be perpetual, be overseer, be enduring
    • (Niphal) enduring (participle)
      • "(Piel) to act as overseer or superintendent or director or chief

ל ידיתון
ל
Prefix — preposition to, for
ידיתון
Root word a name — transliterate it
Dictionary form: יְדוּתוּן · yeh-doo-TOON

Noun — Proper Name

of jeduthun ×8 jeduthun ×4 and jeduthun ×3 and of jeduthun ×1 even to jeduthun ×1
More options
Jeduthun — Standard modern spelling; use in most contexts.
Yeduthun — Closer transliteration; preferred in scholarly texts.
Jeduthun (a chief musician) — Add gloss when introducing the figure first.

BDB3451 H3038

BDB3450 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB3452

יְדוּתוּן, יְדֻתוּן proper name, masculine usually יְדוּתוּן; יְדֻתוּן 2Chr 5:12; 2Chr 35:15 יְדיּ֯תוּן Ps 39:1; Ps 77:1; Neh 11:37; 1Chr 16:38 chief of one of the three choirs of the temple (only Chronicles & Psalm-titles) 1Chr 9:16; 1Chr 16:38; 1Chr 16:41; 1Chr 16:42; 1Chr 25:3 (twice in verse); 1Chr 25:6; 2Chr 5:12 the king's seer 2Chr 35:15 his descendants formed one of the perpetual temple choirs בְּנֵי יְדוּתוּן 1Chr 16:42; 1Chr 25:1; 1Chr 25:3; 2Chr 29:14 בֶּןיְֿדיּ֯תוּן Neh 11:17. In Psalm-titles על ידותון Ps 62:1; Ps 77:1 (Qr); לִידיּתוּן Ps 39:1 (לְ error for עלֿ), all = after the manner of (the choir of) Yeduthun (musical term according to RSOTJC 422, 2nd ed. 143). — see also LagOr ii. 16 ff. and proper name אָסָף, הֵימָן (sub אמן), אֵיתָן (sub יתן).

jeduthun
yĕdûtûn
praising
Jeduthun, an Israelite
  • a Levite of the family of Merari and the chief of one of the 3 choirs of the temple whose descendants also formed one of the perpetual temple choirs; he is named at the beginning of 3 Psalms (39, 62, 77) either as the composer or the recipient of those Psalms but most likely as the leader of the choir by which those Psalms were to be sung

לִֽ ידוּתוּן
לִֽ
Prefix — preposition to, for
ידוּתוּן
Root word a name — transliterate it ("Even to jeduthun")
Dictionary form: יְדוּתוּן · yeh-doo-TOON

Noun — Proper Name

In the KJV here: even to jeduthun
of jeduthun ×8 jeduthun ×4 and jeduthun ×3 and of jeduthun ×1 even to jeduthun ×1
More options
Jeduthun — Standard modern spelling; use in most contexts.
Yeduthun — Closer transliteration; preferred in scholarly texts.
Jeduthun (a chief musician) — Add gloss when introducing the figure first.

BDB3451 H3038

BDB3450 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB3452

יְדוּתוּן, יְדֻתוּן proper name, masculine usually יְדוּתוּן; יְדֻתוּן 2Chr 5:12; 2Chr 35:15 יְדיּ֯תוּן Ps 39:1; Ps 77:1; Neh 11:37; 1Chr 16:38 chief of one of the three choirs of the temple (only Chronicles & Psalm-titles) 1Chr 9:16; 1Chr 16:38; 1Chr 16:41; 1Chr 16:42; 1Chr 25:3 (twice in verse); 1Chr 25:6; 2Chr 5:12 the king's seer 2Chr 35:15 his descendants formed one of the perpetual temple choirs בְּנֵי יְדוּתוּן 1Chr 16:42; 1Chr 25:1; 1Chr 25:3; 2Chr 29:14 בֶּןיְֿדיּ֯תוּן Neh 11:17. In Psalm-titles על ידותון Ps 62:1; Ps 77:1 (Qr); לִידיּתוּן Ps 39:1 (לְ error for עלֿ), all = after the manner of (the choir of) Yeduthun (musical term according to RSOTJC 422, 2nd ed. 143). — see also LagOr ii. 16 ff. and proper name אָסָף, הֵימָן (sub אמן), אֵיתָן (sub יתן).

jeduthun
yĕdûtûn
praising
Jeduthun, an Israelite
  • a Levite of the family of Merari and the chief of one of the 3 choirs of the temple whose descendants also formed one of the perpetual temple choirs; he is named at the beginning of 3 Psalms (39, 62, 77) either as the composer or the recipient of those Psalms but most likely as the leader of the choir by which those Psalms were to be sung

מִזְמ֥וֹר
מִזְמ֥וֹר
Root word psalm
Dictionary form: מִזְמוֹר · midz-MORE

Noun — Common, masculine singular, absolute state

In the KJV here: a psalm
a psalm ×52 or psalm ×4 and psalm ×1
More options
psalm — Standard modern term; universally recognized in religious contexts.
song — Broader, more accessible term for general audiences.
hymn — Emphasizes congregational or liturgical use.
sacred song — Clarifies religious nature when 'song' alone feels ambiguous.
lyric poem — Highlights literary form; useful in academic or poetic contexts.

BDB2390 H4210

BDB2389 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB2391

מִזְמוֺר noun [masculine] melody (technical designation of psalms; compare HupPsalm, Einl. § 7, 2 De4 on Ps 3, BaePsalmen, xiii; , , loan-words, all = Psalm(s); on ׳מ, in relation to תהלה compare LgOr ii. 22 f.), always in this form; in 57 Psalm-titles: — ׳מ alone Ps 98:1, שׁיר ליום הַשַּׁבָּת ׳מ Ps 92:1, לְתוֺדָה ׳מ Ps 100:1 usually with person name or title; לְדָוִד ׳מ Ps 3:1; Ps 15:1; Ps 23:1; Ps 29:1; Ps 63:1; Ps 141:1; Ps 143:1, ׳שׁיר מ לדוד Ps 108:1, לדוד לְהַזְכִּיר ׳מ Ps 38:1, שִׁירחֲֿנֻכַּת הבית ׳מ לדוד Ps 30:1, ׳לדוד מ Ps 24:1; Ps 101:1; Ps 110:1, לדוד ׳לַמְנַצֵּחַ מ Ps 13:1; Ps 19:1; Ps 20:1; Ps 21:1; Ps 31:1; Ps 41:1; Ps 51:1; Ps 64:1; Ps 140:1 לַמְֿנַצֵּחַ ֗֗֗ לדוד ׳מ Ps 4:1; Ps 5:1; Ps 6:1; Ps 8:1; Ps 9:1; Ps 12:1; Ps 22:1; Ps 39:1; Ps 62:1, ׳לַמְֿנַצֵּחַ מ לדוד שׁיר Ps 65:1, ׳למנצח לדוד מ Ps 40:1; Ps 109:1; Ps 139:1, שׁיר ׳למנצח לדוד מ Ps 68:1 also simply שׁיר ׳לַמְֿנַצֵּחַ מ Ps 67:1, ׳לַמְֿנַצֵּחַ שׁיר מ Ps 66:1 but also לבניֿ ׳קרח שׁיר מ Ps 48:1, שׁיר ׳לִבְנֵיקֹֿרַח מ Ps 87:1, לבני קרח ׳שׁיר מ לַמְֿנַצֵּחַמַ֗֗֗שְׂכִּיל לְהֵימָן הָאֶזְרָחִי Ps 88:1, לַמְֿנַצֵּחַ לבניֿ ׳קרח מ Ps 47:1; Ps 49:1; Ps 85:1, ׳למנצחל֗֗֗בניקֿרח מ Ps 84:1 further לְאָסָף ׳מ Ps 50:1; Ps 73:1; Ps 79:1; Ps 82:1, לאסף ׳שׁיר מ Ps 83:1, לאסף שׁיר ׳לַמְֿנַצֵּחַמ֗֗֗ Ps 75:1; Ps 76:1, לַמְֿנַצֵּחַ ֗֗֗ ׳לאסף מ Ps 77:1; Ps 80:1. [Summary: — ׳מ in 34 Psalms with לַמְֿנַצֵּחַ, of which 23 have לדוד also, 5 לבני קרח also, 4 לאסף, and 2 no proper name; in addition, in 13 Psalms with לדוד, 2 with לבני קרח, 5 with לאסף; in only 3 without either proper name or title; ׳מ is preceded by שׁיר 5 t., and following by שִׁיר 8 t.]

psalm
mizmôr
properly, instrumental music; by implication, a poem set to notes
  • melody, psalm

לְ דָוִֽד
לְ
Prefix — preposition to, for
דָוִֽד
Root word a name — transliterate it ("Of david")
Dictionary form: דָּוִד · daw-WID

Noun — Proper Name

In the KJV here: of david
david ×341 of david ×222 and david ×220 davids ×36 so david ×26 a psalm of david ×22 then david ×21 unto david ×16
More options
David — Standard modern English spelling; use in all contexts.
David's — Possessive form; for genitive or ownership contexts.
King David — Use when royal identity or authority is emphasized.
David the king — More formal; highlights his royal office explicitly.

BDB1866 H1732

BDB1865 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB1867

דָּוִד, דָּוִיד1066 proper name, masculine David, son of יִשַׂי, king of Israel, whose dynasty remained on the throne of Jerusalem till the Babylonian exile (compare 2Sam 7:11-15 etc.) (beloved one ? compare BaNB 189; according to SayceModern Rev. 1884, 158 ff.; Rel. Babylonian 53, 56 f. originally Dodo, title of sun-god worshipped in Israel compare דודה name of divinity among east Jordan Israelites MI12) — דָּוִד always Ruth, Samuel, Kings (except 1Kgs 3:14; 1Kgs 11:4; 1Kgs 11:36) Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Isaiah, Jeremiah; also 1Chr 13:6; Ezek 34:24; Ezek 37:24; Ezek 37:25 (c. 790 t.); דָּוִיד always Zechariah, Chronicles (except 1Chr 13:6), Ezra, Nehemiah; also Amos 6:5 (where gloss according to PetersHebraica. Apr. 1886, p. 175) Amos 9:11; Hos 3:5; Ezek 34:23; 1Kgs 3:14; 1Kgs 11:4; 1Kgs 11:36; Song 4:4 (c. 276 t.); — first named 1Sam 16:13 compare also Ruth 4:17; Ruth 4:22; 2Sam 1:1 +, 1Kgs 1:1 +, 1Kgs 2:1 +, etc. (see above); in titles of Psalm 3-9, 11-32, 34-41, 51-65, 68-70, 86, 101, 103, 108-110, 122, 124, 131, 133, 138-145 (73 in all); also in Ps 18:51 (= 2Sam 22:51); 2Sam 72:20; 2Sam 89:36; 2Sam 89:50; 2Sam 122:5; 2Sam 132:17 עַבְדִּי ׳ד (׳י speaks) 2Sam 3:18; 2Sam 7:5; 2Sam 7:8 = 1Chr 17:4; 1Chr 17:7 compare v1Chr 17:26 = 1Chr 17:24, also 1Kgs 8:24; 1Kgs 8:25; 1Kgs 8:26; 1Kgs 8:66 = 2Chr 6:15; 2Chr 6:16; 2Chr 6:17; 2Chr 11:32; 2Chr 11:34; 2Chr 11:36; 2Chr 11:38; 2Chr 14:8; 2Kgs 8:19; 2Kgs 19:34 = Isa 37:35; 2Kgs 20:6 compare further Ps 18:1; Ps 36:1 (both titles compare above) Ps 78:70; Ps 89:4; Ps 89:21; Ps 132:10; Ps 144:10; Jer 33:21; Jer 33:22; Jer 33:26 so also as represented in coming (Messianic) ruler Ezek 34:23; Ezek 34:24; Ezek 37:24; Ezek 37:25, compare Hos 3:5; Jer 30:9 (see עֶבֶד). Phrases are:
  a. ׳עִיר ד (according to SayceMod.Rev.l.c. originally city of god Dod [o]) = stronghold or citadel of Zion, 2Sam 5:7; 2Sam 5:9 = 1Chr 11:5; 1Chr 11:7; 2Sam 6:10; 2Sam 6:12; 2Sam 6:16 = 1Chr 13:13; 1Chr 15:1; 1Chr 15:29, compare Isa 22:9 especially of burial of kings 1Kgs 2:10; 1Kgs 3:1; 1Kgs 8:1 = 2Chr 5:2; 1Kgs 9:24 = 2Chr 8:11; 1Kgs 11:27 v1Kgs 11:43 = 2Chr 9:31; 1Kgs 14:13; 1Kgs 15:8 = 2Chr 12:16; 2Chr 13:23; 1Kgs 15:24 = 2Chr 9:31; 1Kgs 14:31; 1Kgs 15:8 = 2Chr 12:16; 2Chr 13:23; 1Kgs 15:24 = 2Chr 16:14; 1Kgs 22:50 = 2Chr 21:1; 2Kgs 8:24 = 2Chr 21:20; 2Kgs 9:28; 2Kgs 12:22 = 2Chr 24:25; 2Kgs 14:20; 2Kgs 15:7, v2Kgs 15:38 = 2Chr 27:9; 2Kgs 16:20 burial of Jehoiada 2Chr 24:16 further 2Chr 32:5; 2Chr 32:30; 2Chr 33:14; Neh 12:37 compare also ׳קִרְיַת חָנָה ד Isa 29:1.
  b. ׳בֵּית ד 2Sam 3:1; 2Sam 3:6 + (compare בַּיִת 5 c.
  c. ׳אֹהֶל ד Isa 16:5 (compare אֹהֶל 2).
  d. ׳סֻכַּת ד Amos 9:11 (compare סֻכָּה below סכך).
  e. ׳כִּסֵּא ד 2Sam 3:10 compare 1Kgs 1:37; 1Kgs 2:12; 1Kgs 2:24; 1Kgs 2:45; Isa 9:6; Jer 17:25; Jer 22:2; Jer 22:30; Jer 29:16; Jer 36:30 compare Jer 13:13; Jer 22:4, (compare also כִּסֵּא). feminine ׳קִבְרֵי ד Neh 3:16 compare 2Chr 32:33 ׳קִבְרֵי בְנֵידֿ (compare קֶבֶר).
  g. ׳מִגְדַּל ד Song 4:4.
  h. אישׁ האלהים ׳כְּלֵישִֿׁיר ד Neh 12:36.
  i. ׳אֱלֹהֵי ד 2Kgs 20:5 + (compare אֱלֹהִים 4 b).
  j. ׳חַסְדֵי ד 2Chr 6:42; Isa 55:3 (compare 2Sam 7:15; 1Kgs 3:6; Ps 89:50; 2Chr 1:8 etc.). — (On text note the following: — דָּוִד 1Sam 30:20a strike out ᵐ5 ᵑ7 We Dr; 2Sam 3:5 read probably name of a former husband of Eglah We Dr; 2Sam 13:39 read רוּחַ Wep.223 Dr; 2Sam 19:44 read בְּכוֺר (for בדוד) ᵐ5 The We Dr; insert דָּוִד 2Sam 9:11; 2Sam 15:32 & 2Sam 24:15 ᵐ5 We Dr; in 1Chr 18:12; Ps 60:1 אבשׁי & יואב are less original than דָּוִד 2Sam 8:13 We Dr).

david, davids
dāwid
beloved
David, the youngest son of Jesse
  • youngest son of Jesse and second king of Israel

This book is chanted to the poetic accent system (used only in Job, Psalms, and Proverbs) — this verse has no phrase breaks to show.

לַמְנַצֵּחַ ‫(לידיתון)‬ לִֽידוּתוּן מִזְמוֹר לְדָוִֽד׃
0
To the chief Musician, even to Jeduthun, A Psalm of David.
Read Psalms 39
Psalms 39:1