Psalms 78:56

Yet they tempted and provoked the most high God, and kept not his testimonies:
Select a Hebrew word above to see its details.

וַ יְנַסּ֣וּ
וַ
Prefix — connector and (sometimes: but, so, then)
יְנַסּ֣וּ
Root word prove, tempted, proved, tempt, proveth, …
Dictionary form: נָסָה · naw-SAW

וַ
Vav-consecutive (wayyiqtol) The וַ prefix — vav with patach — flips this verb into story-telling past: translate "and (he) ___ed", not "will ___".

Verb — Piel, Sequential Imperfect (Wayyiqtol), third person masculine plural intensive — "he really / thoroughly did" story-telling past — try "and he ___ed" the built-in subject is "they"

In the KJV here: yet they tempted
to prove ×4 and tempted ×2 prove ×2 proved ×2 adventure ×1 and have tempted ×1 and prove ×1 and proved ×1
More options
test — Broadest modern term; fits trials of faith or ability.
put to the test — Emphatic; good for divine or deliberate testing contexts.
try — Slightly formal; suits legal or evaluative contexts.
tempt — Use only when enticement to sin is clearly in view.
attempt — Rare nuance; fits 'assay/adventure' uses of bold endeavor.
probe — Implies careful, investigative scrutiny; good for wisdom texts.

BDB5227 H5254

BDB5226 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB5228

[נָסָה] verb Pi`el test, try (Late Hebrew id., Pi`el; ᵑ7 Pa`el נַסִּי; Syriac Pa`el ; compare Ethiopic temptation); —

Pi`el Perfect 3 masculine singular נִסָּה Deut 4:34 + 3 t.; suffix נִסָּהוּ Exod 15:25 3 feminine singular נִסְּתָה Deut 28:56 1 singular נִסִּיתִי Eccl 7:23, + 4 t. Perfect; Imperfect 3 masculine singular suffix יְנַסֵּם Dan 1:14 1 singular אֲנַסֶּה Judg 6:39 suffix אֲנַסְּכָה Eccl 2:2 3 masculine plural יְנַסּוּ Num 14:22 2 masculine plural תְּנַסּ֑וּן Exod 17:2, + 7 t. Imperfect; Imperative נַס Dan 1:12 suffix נַסֵּנִי Ps 26:2 Infinitive construct נַסּוֺת Exod 20:20, + 8 t. Infinitive; Participle מְנַסֶּה Deut 13:4
1. test, try (synonym בחן), absolute 1Sam 17:39 (a sword); with בְּ Judg 7:39; Eccl 2:1 with accusative Dan 1:12; Dan 1:14 accusative + בְּ 1Kgs 10:1 = 2Chr 9:1; Eccl 7:23.
2. attempt, assay, try to do a thing, with Infinitive Deut 4:34; Deut 28:56 with accusative Job 4:2 (venture a word).
3. test, try, prove, tempt [but not in modern sense of the word: see DrDeut 6:16; Psalms 453, 483]
  a. God tests or proves Abraham Gen 22:1 (E), Israel Exod 15:25; Exod 20:20 (E), Exod 16:4 (J), Deut 8:2; Deut 8:16; Deut 13:4 with בְּ Judg 2:22; Judg 3:1; Judg 3:4 tribe of Levi Deut 33:8 (poem); Hezekiah 2Chr 32:31 psalmist Ps 26:2.
  b. Israel tests, or tries God: Exod 17:2; Exod 17:7; Num 14:22 (J), Deut 6:16; Ps 78:18; Ps 78:41; Ps 78:56; Ps 95:9; Ps 106:14 so Ahaz, Isa 7:12.

prove, tempted, proved, tempt, proveth, …
nāsâ
to test; by implication, to attempt
  • to test, try, prove, tempt, assay, put to the proof or test
    • (Piel)
      • to test, try
      • "to attempt, assay, try"to test, try, prove, tempt

וַ ֭יַּמְרוּ
וַ
Prefix — connector and (sometimes: but, so, then)
֭יַּמְרוּ
Root word rebelled, rebellious, provoked, rebel, provoke, …
Dictionary form: מָרָה · maw-RAW

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 — Hiphil, Sequential Imperfect (Wayyiqtol), third person masculine plural causative — "he made (someone) do" story-telling past — try "and he ___ed" the built-in subject is "they"

In the KJV here: and provoked
rebelled ×4 rebellious ×4 and rebellious ×3 but rebelled against ×2 ye rebelled against ×2 against him by provoking ×1 and a rebellious ×1 and have rebelled ×1
More options
rebel — Most direct equivalent; suits narrative and legal contexts.
defy — Emphasizes bold, open resistance against authority.
disobey — Plainer register; highlights failure to comply with a command.
resist — Broader than outright revolt; suits sustained opposition.
refuse to submit — Idiomatic; clarifies willful non-compliance for modern readers.
provoke — When context stresses antagonizing God or a superior.

BDB4806 H4784 H4754

BDB4805 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB4807

מָרָה verb be contentious, refractory, rebellious (Late Hebrew id., Hiph`il; Arabic III. dispute with; Syriac Pa`el contend with); —

Qal. Perfect 3 masculine singular מָרָה 1Kgs 13:26 feminine מָֽרְתָה Hos 14:1 מָרָ֑תָה Jer 4:17 2 masculine singular מָרִיתָ 1Kgs 13:21 + 11 t. perfect; Infinitive absolute מָרוֺ Lam 1:20 Participle מֹרֶה 2Kgs 14:26 (but read מר, √ מרר, KmpKau כִּי מַר הוּא); מוֺרֶה Deut 21:18 + 3 t.; feminine מֹרְאָה Zeph 3:1 (read מֹרָה; metaplastic form according to Ges«GKC:75»§ 75 R. 22); plural מֹרִים Num 20:10be disobedient, rebellious:
1. בֵּן סוֺרֵר וּמֹרֶה Deut 21:18; Deut 21:20 stubborn and rebellious son (towards father).
2. elsewhere towards God: דֹּר סוֺרֵר וּמֹרֶה Ps 78:8 ׳לֵב סורר ומ Jer 5:23 מוֺרְאָה ונגאלה הָעִיר Zeph 3:1 הַמֹּרִים Num 20:10 ye rebels (P); absolute Isa 50:5; Isa 63:10; Lam 1:20 (twice in verse); || מאן Isa 1:20 פשׁע Lam 3:42 with בְּ person Hos 14:1; Ps 5:11, elsewhere accusative of person Jer 4:17 ׳י's words Ps 105:28 מרה (את) פי Num 20:24; Num 27:14 (P), 1Sam 12:15; 1Kgs 13:21; 1Kgs 13:26 (D2) Lam 1:18. — In Hos 4:4 read perhaps מָרוּ בִי have rebelled against me (for ᵑ0 כִּמְרִיבֵי), so RSProph. iv. n. 8 Che (for other views see ריב). Hiph`il Perfect 3 masculine plural הִמְרוּ Ps 106:33; Ps 107:11 Imperfect יַמְרֶה Josh 1:18 feminine וַתֶּ֫מֶר Ezek 5:6 2 masculine singular תַּמֵּר (as if √ מרר) Exod 23:21, read תֶּ֫מֶר Di and others; 3 masculine plural יַמְרוּ Ps 106:43 + 6 t; suffix יַמְרוּהוּ Ps 78:40 2 masculine plural תַּמְרוּ 1Sam 12:14 + 3 t.; Infinitive construct לַמְרוֺת Isa 3:8; Ps 78:17 suffix הַמְּרוֺתָם (Ges«GKC:20»§ 20. 2b) Job 17:2 Participle plural מַמְרִים Deut 9:7 + 2 t.; — shew disobedience, rebelliousness, always toward God: absolute Neh 9:26. (|| מרד), Ps 106:7; Ps 106:43; Job 17:2 with בְּ person Exod 23:21; Ezek 20:8; Ezek 20:13; Ezek 20:21 עִם Deut 9:7; Deut 9:24; Deut 31:27 elsewhere accusative of God or his commands: Isa 3:8; Ezek 5:6; Ps 78:17; Ps 78:40; Ps 78:56; Ps 107:11 המרה את פי Deut 1:26; Deut 1:43; Deut 9:23; Josh 1:18; 1Sam 12:14 (D2), אתרֿוחוֺ Ps 106:33 (compare Ephr 4:30); perhaps Ps 139:20 (see אָמַר
1.).

rebelled, rebellious, provoked, rebel, provoke, …
mārâ
to be (causatively, make) bitter (or unpleasant); (figuratively) to rebel (or resist; causatively, to provoke)
  • to be contentious, be rebellious, be refractory, be disobedient towards, be rebellious against
    • (Qal) to be disobedient, be rebellious
      • towards father
      • "towards God
      (Hiphil) to show rebelliousness, show disobedience, disobey

אֶת
אֶת
Particle points to the object of the verb — leave untranslated
Dictionary form: אֵת · ate

Particle — Direct Object Marker

and ×240 of ×109 him ×107 them ×73 with ×72 from ×64 you ×61 me ×54
More options
[direct object marker — untranslated] — Most common use; marks definite direct object, no English equivalent.
with — Use when אֵת expresses accompaniment or association.
from — Use when context implies source or separation.
along with — Emphasizes inclusion or togetherness in a list.
together with — Slightly more formal; stresses joint participation.
among — Use when indicating presence within a group.

BDB853 H853

BDB852 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB854

I. אֵת, with makk. אֶתֿ, with suffix אֹתִי; ˜אֹתְךָ, ˜אֹתְכָה Num 22:33, אֹתָ֑ךְ, אֹתָ֑כָה Exod 29:35, feminine אֹתָךְ; אֹתוֺ etc.; 2 plural אֶתְכֶם, once ˜אוֺתְכֶם Josh 23:15 3 masculine plural regularly אֹתָם, rarely אֶתְהֶם Gen 32:1; Exod 18:20; Num 21:3; Ezek 34:12; 1Chr 6:50, once ˜אוֺתְהֶם Ezek 23:45 3 feminine plural, on the contrary, regularly אֶתְהֶן (13 t.), once אֹתָן Ezek 16:54 (also ˜אוֺתְהֶן Ezek 23:47, אֹתָ֖נָה Exod 35:26, אוֺתָ֖נָה Ezek 34:21); forms with cholem also often written plene: — the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite (Moabite id., Phoenician אית i.e. אִיַּת (Schrödp. 213 f.); Aramaic יָת frequently in ᵑ7; Syriac very rare as mark of accusative (for which is preferred), but used often in the sense of substance οὐσία, also in that of self, e.g. per se, reapse, sibi ipsi, PS1640 f., Samaritan ; Arabic , only used with suffix, when it is desired to emphasize the pronoun, e.g. Qor 1:4 WAG i. § 189. [Ethiopic uses k£y¹ similarly, Di§ 150 a; but it is dubious if this is etymologically akin.] The primitive form will have been 'iwyath, originally a substantive with following genitive, Olp. 432; whether ultimately a parallel development with אוֺת sign from √ אוה is uncertain: Ol WAG i. § 188 LagM i. 226 affirm, ZMG 1886, 738 doubts. In Hebrew the ground-form is אוֺת; the forms with ¢, e being abbreviated. In post Biblical Hebrew, used in combination with another preposition: thus בְּאוֺתוֺ הַיּוֺם = Bibl. בַּיּוֺם הַהוּא, בְּאוֺתָהּ הַשָּׁעָה; or as a nomin., e.g. אוֺתוֺ הָאִישׁ = Bibl. הָאִישׁ הַהוּא).

1. As mark of the accusative prefixed to substantives defined either by the article (or כֹּל), or by a genitive or pronominal affix, or in virtue of being proper names:
  a. with transitive verbs, Gen 1:1; Gen 1:16; Gen 1:29; Gen 1:30; Gen 2:11; Gen 4:1; Gen 4:2; Gen 9:3 (אֶתֿ˜כֹּל׃) etc. Similarly אֶתמִֿי whom (in particular), Josh 24:15; 1Sam 12:3; 1Sam 28:11; Isa 6:8 and elsewhere (but never אֶתמָֿה); also with זֶה Gen 29:33; Gen 44:29; 1Sam 21:16; 1Kgs 22:27 +, זֹאת Gen 29:27; 2Sam 13:27 +, אֵלֶּה Gen 46:18; Lev 11:18; Isa 49:21 +. So pretty uniformly in prose; but in poetry את is commonly dispensed with. By the use of את with the pronominal affix, a pronoun can at once, if required, be placed in a position of emphasis; let the order of words from this point of view be carefully noticed in the following passages: Gen 7:1; Gen 24:14; Gen 37:4; Lev 10:17; Lev 11:33; Num 22:32 thee I had slain, and her I had kept alive, Deut 4:14; Deut 6:13; Deut 6:23; Deut 13:5; Judg 14:3 אוֺתָהּ קַח לִי take for me her, 1Sam 14:35; 1Sam 15:1; 1Sam 18:17; 1Sam 21:10 אִםאֹֿתָהּ תִּקַּחלְֿךָ קָ֔ח if thou wilt take that, take it, 1Kgs 1:35; 1Kgs 14:9; Isa 43:22; Isa 57:11; Jer 9:2. So הַאוֺתִי Jer 5:22; Jer 7:19. It also sometimes enables the reflexive sense to be expressed (elsewhere נַפְשָׁם) Jer 7:19; Ezek 34:2. Rarely with a substantive which is undefined (Ew§ 277 d 2 Ges«GKC:117»§ 117, 1, R. 2), as Exod 21:28; Num 21:9; Lev 20:14; 1Sam 24:6 (but see Dr) 2Sam 4:11; 2Sam 18:18; 2Sam 23:21 or which, though definite, is without the article, Gen 21:30; 2Sam 15:16; Lev 26:5; 1Sam 9:3 (so Num 16:15) Isa 33:19; Isa 41:7; Ezek 43:10 (for further examples see Ew 1.c.)
  b. with a passive verb (Ges«GKC:121»§ 121. 1 Ew§ 295 b) conceived as expressing neutrally the action in question, and construed accordingly with an accusative of that which is its real object: examples occur with tolerable frequency from Gen 4:18 (J) וַיִּוָּלֵד לַחֲנוֺךְ אֶתעֿירָד, Gen 17:5 (P), לֹא יִקָּרֵא עוֺד אֶתשִֿׁמְךָ אַ˜ברָם there shall not be called (=one shall not call) thy name Abram, Gen 21:5 (E), Gen 27:42; 2Sam 21:11; 1Kgs 18:13; Hos 10:6 etc., to Jer 35:18; Jer 38:4; Jer 50:20; Ezek 16:4; Ezek 16:5; Esth 2:13 (compare DrJPh xi. 227 f.): also with passive verbs of filling (Ew§ 281 b), as Exod 1:7 +.
  c. with neuter verbs or expressions, especially such as involve the idea of regarding, or treating, appy. by a construction κατὰ σύνεσιν (rare), Josh 22:17; 2Sam 11:25; Neh 9:32 (compare 1Sam 20:13 Dr). Once after אֵין, Hag 2:17 אֵין אֶתְכֶם אֵלַיָֽ.
  d. poet. (si vera lectio), after an abstract noun used with a verbal force, Hab 3:13 (Amos 4:11; Isa 13:19; Jer 50:40 מַהְפֵּכָה exerts a verbal force, like the Arabic nom. verbi [see WAG i. § 196, 43]; and Num 10:2; Ezek 17:9 לְמַסַּע, לְמַשְׂאוֺת are Aramaizing infinitives: compare Ew§ 239 a).

2. את marks an accusative in other relations than that of direct object to a verb:
  a. with verbs of motion (very rare) Num 13:17; Deut 1:19; Deut 2:7 (to 'walk the wilderness'); denoting the goal Judg 19:18; Ezek 21:25 (Ew§ 281 d, n., 282 a 1).
  b. denoting time (duration), also very rare: Exod 13:7; Lev 25:22; Deut 9:25.
  c. expressing the accus. of limitation (rare): Gen 17:11; Gen 17:14; 1Kgs 15:23.

3. Chiefly in an inferior or later style, אֵת (or וְאֵת) is used irregularly, partly (α), as it would seem, to give greater definiteness (so especially וְאֵת) at the mention of a new subject (when it may sometimes be rendered as regards), or through the influence of a neighbouring verb (a construct κατὰ σύνεσιν), or by an anacoluthon, partly (β) as resuming loosely some other preposition Thus (α) Exod 1:14; Num 3:26; Num 3:46; Num 5:10 (with הָיָה: so Ezek 35:10) Num 18:21b Deut 11:2 (anacoluthon), Deut 14:13; Josh 17:11; Judg 20:44; Judg 20:46 (contr. vJudg 20:25 vJudg 20:35) 1Sam 17:34 (see Dr) 1Sam 26:16; 2Sam 21:22; 2Kgs 6:5; Isa 53:8 (probably), Isa 57:12; Jer 23:33 (but read rather with ᵐ5 ᵑ9 אַתֶּם הַמַּשָּׂא) Jer 27:8; Jer 36:22; Jer 38:16 Kt, Jer 45:4 b Ezek 16:22; Ezek 17:21; Ezek 20:16; Ezek 29:4 b Ezek 43:7 (ᵐ5 Co prefix הֲרָאִיתָ) Ezek 44:3; Zech 8:17; Eccl 4:3; Dan 9:13; Neh 9:19; Neh 9:34; 1Chr 2:9; 2Chr 31:17. In 1Sam 30:23; Hag 2:5 probably some such word as remember is to be understood. (β) Jer 38:9; Ezek 14:22 b Ezek 37:19 b Zech 12:10 סָבִיב אֵת 1Kgs 6:5; Ezek 43:17 strangely (in 1 Kings ᵐ5 omits the clause: so StaZAW 1883, 135). — In 1Kgs 11:1 וְ is merely and also, and especially (see וְ); v1Kgs 11:25 is corrupt (read with ᵐ5 זֹאת הָרָעָה אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה הֲדָד); Ezek 47:17; Ezek 47:18; Ezek 47:19 read similarly for ואת, זֹאת: see vEzek 47:20. — For some particulars as to the use of את, see A. M. WilsonHebraica. vi. 139 ff. 212 ff. (who, however, confuses it sometimes with II. אֵת). For denoting the pronominal object of a verb, את with suffix preponderates relatively much above the verbal affix in P, as compared with J E Deuteronomy Judges Samuel Kings (see GieZAW 1881, 258 f.), — partly, probably, on account of the greater distinctness and precision which P loves.


BDB9600 H853 H3487

BDB9599 | BIBLICAL ARAMAIC | BDB9601

יָת mark of accusative (= Biblical Hebrew I. אֵת; Palmyrene ית; ZinjirliHad. 28 with suffix ותה; Nabataean, Palmyrene with suffix יתה (Lzb263 Cooke170; compare RÉS468); ᵑ7 Samaritan יָת; Syriac (rare)); — Dan 3:12 דִּי מַנִּיתָ יָָֽתְהוֺן whom thou hast appointed.

with, from, of, and, by, …
ʾēt
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
  • sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative

אֱלֹהִ֣ים
אֱלֹהִ֣ים
Root word god, gods, judges, great, goddess, …
Dictionary form: אֱלֹהִים · eh-loh-HEEM

Noun — Common, masculine plural, absolute state plural — usually add "-s"

In the KJV here: god
god ×587 thy god ×320 of god ×316 your god ×162 our god ×116 the god ×110 gods ×95 their god ×62
More options
God — Preferred for the God of Israel; singular context.
gods — Use for polytheistic or plural divine beings.
deity — Neutral, academic tone; suits comparative religion contexts.
divine being — Emphasizes nature over identity; good for ambiguous referents.
judge — Use when context is legal or judicial authority.
mighty one — Captures intensifying plural; rare angelic or hero contexts.

BDB2100 H3068 H3069 H1961 H430 H589 H2022 H6635

BDB2099 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB2101

יהוהc. 6823 i.e. יַהְוֶה proper name, of deity Yahweh, the proper name of the God of Israel — (

1. ᵑ0 יְהוָֺהC518 (Qr אֲדֹנָי), or יֱהוִֺה305 (Qr אֱלֹהִים), in the combinations אדני יהוה & יהוה אדני (see אֲדֹנֶי), and with preposition בַּיהוָֺה, לַיהוָֺה, מֵיהוָֺה (Qr בַּאדֹנָי, לַאדֹנָי, מֵאדֹנָי), do not give the original form. ᵐ5 and other Vrss follow the Qr. On the basis of Exod 20:7; Lev 24:11 יהוה was regarded as a nomen ineffabile (see Philode Vita Mosis iii. 519, 529), called by the Jews הַשֵּׁם and by the Samaritans שׁימא. The pronunciation Jehovah was unknown until 1520, when it was introduced by Galatinus; but it was contested by Le Mercier, J. Drusius, and L. Capellus, as against grammatical and historical propriety (compare § 88). The traditional Ἰαβέ of Theodoret and Epiphanius, the יָֿהוּ, יְהוֺֿ of compound proper name and the contracted form יָהּ all favour יַהְוֶךְ (compare יַהֲלֹמ֑וּן Ps 74:6 תַּהֲרוּ Isa 33:11), see LagSym i.14 BaudStudien i.179 ff.; DrStud.Bib.i.1 ff. For Jeve see StaZAW 1881, 346 Deib.1882, 173 f. & Gn. Excurs. ii.
2. on literature of interpretations see NesEg.67 Drl.c. — Many recent scholars explain יַהְוֶה as Hiph`il of היה (=היה) the one bringing into being, life-giver (compare חַוָּה Gen 3:20) Schr HSch; giver of existence, creator, Kue Tiele; he who brings to pass (so already Le Clerc),performer of his promises, Lag, NesEg.88 (but NesEg.91 inclines to Qal as RSBrit. & For. Ev. Rev see below); or from היה he who causes to fall, rain or lightning RSOTJC.ed.1, 423; om.ed.2, 245, compare WeSkizzen iii.175; 'Fäller,' destroying foes, StaG.i.429 (dubiously). But most take it as Qal of הוה (= היה); the one who is: i.e. the absolute and unchangeable one, Ri; the existing, ever living, as self-consistent and unchangeable, Di; or the one ever coming into manifestation as the God of redemption, De Oehl; compare also RSBrit. & For. Ev. Rev. 1876, he will be it, i.e all that his servants look for (compare Ewinfr), he will approve himself (give evidence of being, assert his being Drl.c.17)).
**Theories of non-Hebrew or non-Semitic origin, opposed (in their older forms) by BauRel. i. 181 ff. (see especially 230); DlPa 162 ff. claimed Babylonian origin for יהו, against this Kuenational Religions, etc., Note iv (Eng. Trans. 329 ff.) JastrJBL xiil {1894}, 103 f. compare HptBAS i. 170 N; DlBabel u. Bibel, 46 f., 73 f. makes same claim for יהוה, against this see especially HirschZAW xxiil {1903}, 355 ff. ZimKATS. 465 ff.; SpiegelbZMG:liii {1899}, 633 ff. proposes (improbable) Egyptian etymology for יהוה; further discussions see in KöEB NAMES, § 112 and n.3. 'Jehovah' found in Jacob (? Johannes) Wessel († 1480), according to SchwThLZ, 1905, col. 612.

I. יהוה is not used by E in Genesis, but is given Exod 3:12-15 as the name of the God who revealed Himself to Moses at Horeb, and is explained thus : אֶהְיֶה עִמָּ֑ךְ I shall be with thee (Exod 3:12), which is then implied in אֶהְיֶה אֲשֶׁר אֶהְיֶה I shall be the one who will be it vExod 3:14a (i.e: with thee vExod 3:12) and then compressed into אֶהְיֶה vExod 3:14b (i.e. with thee vExod 3:12), which then is given in the nominal form יהוה He who will be it vExod 3:15 (i.e. with thee vExod 3:12). compare EwBTh ii. 337, 338 RSl.c., Proph. 385 ff. Other interpretations are: I am he who I am, i.e. it is no concern of yours (Le Clerc LagPsalt.Hieron.156); I am (this is my name), inasmuch as I am (אֲשֶׁר = כִּי; AE JDMich WeJD Th xxi, 540 = compare Hexateuch 72); Di and others I am who I am, he who is essentially unnameable, inexplicable, — E uses יהוה sparingly by the side of אלהים and האלהים in his subsequent narrative. The Ephraimitic writers in Judges Samuel Kings use it in similar proportions. P abstains from the use of יהוה until he gives an account of its revelation to Moses Exod 6:3 but subsequently uses it freely. He gives no explanation of its meaning. He represents that אֵל שַׁדַּי was the God of the patriarchs. J uses יהוה from the beginning of his narrative, possibly explaining it, Gen 21:83 by אל עולם, the evergreen tamarisk being a symbol of the ever-living God; compare De Gen 21:33. Elsewhere יהוה is the common divine name in pre-exilic writers, but in post-exilic writers gradually falls into disuse, and is supplanted by אלהים and אדני. In Job it is used 31 t. in prose parts, and Job 12:9 (a proverb); not elsewhere in the poem. Chronicles apart from his sources prefers אלהים and האלהים. Daniel uses יהוה only in chap. 9 (7 t.); Ecclesiastes not at all. In the Elohistic group of Psalm 42-83 it is used 39 t. (see אלהים) . It occurs as the name of Israel's God MI18. It is doubtful whether it was used by other branches of the Shemitic family, compare COT Gen 2:4b DlPa 158 ff. DrStud. Bib. i. 7 ff.

II. 1. יהוה is used with אלהים and suffixes, especially in D;
  a. with אֱלֹהֶיךָ in the Ten Words Exod 20:2-12 (5 t.) = Deut 5:6-16 in the law of worship of J E, Exod 23:19; Exod 34:24; Exod 34:26 in D 234 t.; Josh 1:9; Josh 1:17; Josh 9:9; Josh 9:24 (D2); elsewhere Gen 27:20; Exod 15:26 (JE), Judg 6:26 Samuel & Kings 20 t.; 1Chr 11:2; 1Chr 22:11; 1Chr 22:12; 2Chr 9:8 (twice in verse); 2Chr 16:7; Isa 7:11; Isa 37:4 (twice in verse); Isa 41:13; Isa 43:3; Isa 51:15; Isa 55:5; Jer 40:2 + (3t.); Hos 12:10; Hos 13:4; Hos 14:2; Amos 9:15; Ps 81:11.
  b. with אֱלֹהֵיכֶם in D 46 t.; D2 28 t.; H 15 t.; P 15 t.; elsewhere Exod 23:25 (E); Exod 8:24; Exod 10:8; Exod 10:16; Exod 10:17 (JE); Judg 6:10; 1Sam 12:12; 1Sam 12:14; 2Kgs 17:39; 2Kgs 23:21; 1Chr 22:18 + (10 t. Chronicles) Ps 76:12; Jer 13:16 + (5 t.) Ezek 20:5; Ezek 20:7; Ezek 20:19; Ezek 20:20; Joel 2:13 + (6 t.) Zech 6:15.
  c. with אֱלֹהֵינוּ in D 23 t.; in D2 5 t.; Exod 8:6 (JE) Exod 3:18; Exod 5:3; Exod 8:22; Exod 8:23; Exod 10:25; Exod 10:26 (E) Judg 11:24; 1Sam 7:8; 1Kgs 8:57; 1Kgs 8:59; 1Kgs 8:61; 1Kgs 8:65; 2Kgs 18:22; 2Kgs 19:10 = Isa 36:7; Isa 37:20; 1Chr 13:2 + (15 t. Chronicles) Mic 4:5; Mic 7:17; Isa 26:13; Jer 3:22 + (17 t.) Ps 20:8; Ps 90:17 (?;Baer אֲדנָֹי); Ps 94:23; Ps 99:5; Ps 99:8; Ps 99:9 (twice in verse); Ps 105:7; Ps 106:47; Ps 113:5; Ps 122:9; Ps 123:2; Dan 9:10; Dan 9:13; Dan 9:14.
  d. with אֱלֹהֵיהֶם Exod 10:7 (J) Exod 29:46 (twice in verse); Lev 26:44 (P) Judg 3:7; Judg 8:34; 1Sam 12:9; 1Kgs 9:9; 2Kgs 17:7; 2Kgs 17:9; 2Kgs 17:14; 2Kgs 17:16; 2Kgs 17:19; 2Kgs 18:12; 2Chr 31:6; 2Chr 33:17; 2Chr 34:33; Neh 9:3 (twice in verse); Neh 9:4; Jer 3:21; Jer 22:9; Jer 30:9; Jer 43:1 (twice in verse); Jer 50:4; Ezek 28:26; Ezek 34:30; Ezek 39:22; Ezek 39:28; Hos 1:7; Hos 3:5; Hos 7:10; Zeph 2:7; Hag 1:12 (twice in verse); Zech 9:16; Zech 10:6.
  e. with אֱלֹהָיו Num 23:21 (E) Exod 32:11 (J) Lev 4:22 (P) Deut 17:19; Deut 18:7; 1Sam 30:6; 1Kgs 5:17; 1Kgs 11:4; 1Kgs 15:3; 1Kgs 15:4; 1Kgs 2:11; 1Kgs 16:2; 1Kgs 2:1 + 13 t. Chronicles; Mic 5:3; Jer 7:28; Ps 33:12; Ps 144:15; Ps 146:5; Jonah 2:2. feminine with אֱלֹהַי Num 22:18 (JE) Deut 4:5; Deut 18:16; Deut 26:14; Josh 14:8; Josh 14:9; 2Sam 24:24; 1Kgs 3:7; 1Kgs 5:18; 1Kgs 5:19; 1Kgs 8:28; 1Kgs 17:20; 1Kgs 17:21; 1Chr 21:17; 1Chr 22:7; 2Chr 2:3; 2Chr 6:19; 2Chr 9:5; Ps 7:2; Ps 7:4; Ps 13:4; Ps 18:29; Ps 30:3; Ps 30:13; Ps 35:24; Ps 40:6; Ps 104:1; Ps 109:26; Isa 25:1; Jer 31:18; Dan 9:4; Dan 9:20; Jonah 2:7; Hab 1:12; Zech 11:4; Zech 13:9; Zech 14:5.
  g. with אֱלֹהַיִךְ Isa 60:9; Jer 2:17; Jer 2:19; Jer 3:13; Mic 7:10; Zeph 3:17.
  h. with אלהים, probably always due to later editors, or to a Qr which has crept into the text Gen 2:4b — Gen 3:23 (J, 20 t. either אלהים inserted by RP as Di De; or יהוה inserted by J in an older source); Exod 9:30 (J, but not in ᵐ5 ; Samaritan אדני יהוה; possibly ᵑ0 from earlier Qr, & from later Qr); 2Sam 7:22; 2Sam 7:25 (ᵐ5 אדני יהוה and 1Chr 17:20-23 only יהוה); 1Chr 17:16; 1Chr 17:17 (but 2Sam 7:18; 2Sam 7:19 אדני יהוה) 1Chr 28:20; 1Chr 29:1; 2Chr 1:9; 2Chr 6:41 (twice in verse); 2Chr 6:42; 2Chr 26:18 (but in the original Ps 132:8 stood יהוה (so ), or else no divine name); Ps 72:18 (the late doxology) Ps 84:12 (but it makes the line too long); Jonah 4:6. For the combinations with other divine names see those names.
2. the phrase אֲנִי יהוה is noteworthy: —
  a. after אמר either alone Exod 6:2; Exod 6:29 (P) or before relative and other clauses: Gen 28:13 (J) Gen 15:7 (R) Exod 6:6 (P) with אלהיכם Judg 6:10; Ezek 20:5.
  b. after ידע כי (α) Exod 7:17; Exod 8:18; Exod 10:2 (J); Exod 7:5; Exod 14:4; Exod 14:18 (P); 1Kgs 20:13; 1Kgs 20:28; Jer 24:7; Ezek 6:7 + 48 t. Ezekiel; (β) with אלהיכם Exod 6:7; Exod 16:12; Deut 29:5 (P) Exod 20:20; Joel 4:17 (γ) with אלהיהם Exod 29:46 (P) Ezek 28:26; Ezek 34:30; Ezek 39:22; Ezek 39:28 (δ) before relative and other clauses Isa 45:3; Isa 49:23; Isa 49:26; Isa 60:16; Ezek 7:9; Ezek 17:24; Ezek 21:10; Ezek 22:22; Ezek 35:12; Ezek 36:36 (ε) with various forms of קדשׁ Exod 31:13 (P) Ezek 20:12; Ezek 37:28; Ezek 39:7 (ζ) with דברתי Ezek 5:13; Ezek 17:21, compare ׳יֵדְעוּ אשׁר אני י Ezek 20:26.
  c. after כִּי in various combinations Lev 11:44; Lev 11:45; Num 35:34 (P), Lev 20:7; Lev 20:26; Lev 21:8; Lev 21:15; Lev 21:23; Lev 22:16; Lev 24:22; Lev 25:17; Lev 26:1; Lev 26:44 (all H); Exod 15:26 (R) Isa 41:13; Isa 43:3; Isa 61:8; Jer 9:23; Ezek 12:25; Ezek 21:4; Zech 10:6; Mal 3:6.
  d. emphatic Exod 6:8; Exod 12:12; Lev 26:2; Lev 26:45; Num 3:13; Num 3:41; Num 3:45 (all P); Lev 18:5; Lev 18:6; Lev 18:21; Lev 19:12; Lev 19:14; Lev 19:16; Lev 19:18; Lev 19:28; Lev 19:30; Lev 19:32; Lev 19:37; Lev 21:12; Lev 22:2; Lev 22:3; Lev 22:8; Lev 22:30; Lev 22:31; Lev 22:33 (all H) Isa 43:15 with אלהיהם Exod 29:46 with אלהיךָ Isa 48:17 with אלהיכם Lev 23:43; Lev 25:38; Lev 25:55; Num 10:10; Num 15:41 (twice in verse) (P) Lev 18:2; Lev 18:4; Lev 18:30; Lev 19:2; Lev 19:3; Lev 19:4; Lev 19:10; Lev 19:25; Lev 19:31; Lev 19:34; Lev 19:36; Lev 20:24; Lev 23:22; Lev 26:13 (all H) Ezek 20:7; Ezek 20:19; Joel 2:27 with מְקַדֵּשׁ Lev 20:8; Lev 22:9; Lev 22:32 (H), with דברתי Num 14:35 (P) Ezek 5:15 + (11 t. Ezekiel); with clauses Isa 27:3; Isa 41:4; Isa 41:17; Isa 42:6; Isa 42:8; Isa 45:5; Isa 45:6; Isa 45:7; Isa 45:8; Isa 45:18; Isa 45:19; Isa 45:21; Isa 60:22; Jer 17:10; Jer 32:27; Ezek 14:4; Ezek 14:7; Ezek 14:9; Ezek 34:24 אָנֹכִי יהוה is used in the Ten Words Exod 20:2; Exod 20:5 = Deut 5:6; Deut 5:9 cited Ps 81:11; Hos 12:10; Hos 13:4 elsewhere only Exod 4:11 (J) Isa 43:11; Isa 44:24; Isa 51:15.
3. יהוה is also used with several predicates, to form sacred names of holy places of Yahweh יהוה יראה Gen 22:14 (J); יהוה נסי Exod 17:15 (E) יהוה שׁלים Judg 6:24 יהוה צדקנו Jer 33:16 (compare Jer 23:6 where it is applied to the Messiah); יהוה שָׁ֑מָּה Ezek 48:35. — On combinations such as ׳הַר י, צְבָאוֺת ׳י etc., see הַר, צָבָא, etc.

Note. — BonkZAW 1891, 126 ff. seems to shew that as prefix, in compare proper name, יְהוֺ is the oldest and the latest form and that יוֺ is intermediate, belonging to the earlier post-exilic period until the time of Chronicles; occasional copyists' mistakes being taken into the account.


BDB2170 H1984 H430 H3050

BDB2169 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB2171

II. [הָלַל] verb be boastful, Pi`el praise (Arabic shout, both in joy & (if conjecture of RS be right, see citation below) in terror; especially II. in formula of worship; Syriac Pa`el cecinit, laudavit; compare Late Hebrew הִלּוּל praise, הַלֵּל id., Hallel (Psalm 113-118); Aramaic הִילּוּלָא marriage-song, &c.; on Assyrian alâlu, shout for joy, rejoice see LyonSargontexte 66 (Cylinder. 1. 36) also WincklerSargontexte 134, 1. 194; 156. 1. 149 KB44. 1. 36; 80. 1. 194; all variations of cry aloud, compare ZMG 1887, 723 RSSemitic 411; perhaps originally break through, or out (in a cry), compare WeSkizzen iii. 107 ff., especially 109; compare also (according to PrätBAS i. 369 f.) Ethiopic implore (compare Amharic, Tigrinya), & swear) —

Qal Imperfect 2 masculine plural תָּהֹ֑לּוּ Ps 75:5 Participle הוֺלֲלִים Ps 5:6 + 2 t.; — be boastful אַלתָּֿהֹ֑לּוּ Ps 75:5 (|| אַלֿ (תָּרִימוּקָ֑רֶן); Participle boastful ones, boasters Ps 5:6 (|| פֹּעֲלֵי אָוֶן); Ps 73:3; Ps 75:5 (both || רְשָׁעִים). Pi`el Perfect הִלֵּל Ps 10:3, 1 singular suffix הִלַּלְתִּיךָ Ps 119:164 3 masculine plural וְהִלֲלן consecutive Isa 62:9, suffix הִלֲלוּךָ Isa 64:10. etc.; Imperfect יְהַלֶּלֿ Ps 63:6; Ps 102:19 suffix יְהַלֶּלְךָ Prov 27:2, יְהַלֲלֶ֑ךָּ Isa 38:18, וַיְהַלֲלָהּ Prov 31:38: 1 singular אֲהַלֵּל Ps 56:5 + 2 t., cohortative אֲהַלֲלָה Ps 69:31 + 2 t., etc.; Imperative feminine singular הַלֲלִי Ps 146:1; Ps 147:12 masculine plural הַלְלוּ Ps 104:35 + 30 t. Psalm + Jer 20:13; Jer 31:7 suffix הַלֲלוּ֫הוּ Ps 22:24 + 15 t. Psalms; Infinitive absolute הַלֵּל 1Chr 16:36 construct הַלֵּל 2Sam 14:25 + 16 t. Chronicles; Participle plural מְהַלֲלִים 1Chr 23:5 + 4 t. Chronicles; —
1. praise man or woman, accusative וַיְהַלֲלוּ אֹתָהּ אֶלפַּֿרְעֹה Gen 12:15 (J) and they praised her to Pharaoh, compare Prov 27:2; Prov 31:28; Prov 31:31; Song 6:9 וְהַמְהַלֲלִים אֶתהַֿמֶּלָךְ 2Chr 23:12 and those praising (shouting acclamations to) the king; see also לְהַלֵּל מְאֹד 2Sam 14:25 (of Absalom's beauty); in bas sense עֹזְבֵי תוֺרָה יְהַלֲלוּ רָשָׁע Prov 28:4 deserters of law praise a wicked man.
2. usually praise אֱלֹהִים, ׳י etc.;
  a. followed by accusative of heathen god Judg 16:24.
  b. object ׳(אֱלֹהִים) י; Ps 119:164 (עַל on account of), subject heaven, earth, seas, etc., Ps 69:35 תְּחִי נַפְשִׁי ותְהַלֲלֶךָּ Ps 119:175 in summons to all creatures to praise Ps 148:5; Ps 148:13; Isa 38:18 לֹא שְׁאוֺל תּוֺדֶךָּ מָוֶת יְהַלֲלֶ֑ךָּ (compare Ps 115:17); often of Public worship in sanctuary, Isa 62:9 (thanks giving in sanctuary after harvest), compare Isa 64:10; Ps 22:23 (|| אֲסַפְּרָה שִׁמְךָ), vPs 22:27; Ps 35:18; Ps 109:30 (both || אוֺדְךָ) Ps 107:32 (|| יְרוֺמֲמוּהוּ) Ps 84:5, see also Ps 146:2 (|| ׳אֲזַמְּרָה לֵא) Ps 149:3 (with בְּ instrumental; || יְזַמְּרוּ לוֺ); also object ׳שֵׁם י (in some cases of public worship) Ps 74:21; Ps 148:5; Joel 2:26 (thanksgiving after harvest); שֵׁםאֱֿלֹהִים בְּשִׁיר Ps 69:31 (|| וִאֲגַדְּלֶנּוּ בְתוֺדָה), Ps 145:2 (|| אֲבָֽרֲכֶ֑ךָּ); further, Ps 56:5 בֵּאלֹהִים אֲהַלֵּל דְּבָרוֺ, also vPs 56:11 + vPs 56:11b ׳ביהוה וגו, but compare Hup Che on 11:b as editorial addition; object not expressed אֶתעַֿמְּךָ ׳הַשְׁמִיעוּ הַלֲלוּ וְאִמְרוּ הוֺשַׁע י Jer 31:7, וְשִׂפְתֵי רְנָנוֺת יְהַלֶּלפִּֿי Ps 63:6.
  c. use of Imperative deserves special notice: הַלֲלוּהוּ Ps 22:24 (|| כַּבְּדוּהוּ; of temple-worship compare vPs 22:23 vPs 22:25); also in summons to angles, sun, moon, etc. (all created things) to praise ׳י Ps 148:2 (twice in verse); Ps 148:3 (twice in verse); Ps 148:4; Ps 150:1 of temple-worship Ps 150:2 (בְּ on account of) vPs 150:2 (כְּ), vPs 150:3 vPs 150:3 vPs 150:4 vPs 150:4 vPs 150:5 vPs 150:5 (all with בְּ instrumental); further Jer 20:13 (|| ׳שִׁירוּ לי), ׳הַלֲלוּ אֶתיֿ Ps 117:1 (addressed to nations, || שַׁבְּחוּהוּ), Ps 148:7 (created things), חַלֲלִי אֱלֹהַיִךְ צִיּוֺן Ps 147:12 (|| שַׁבְּחִי יְרוּשָׁלַםִ ׳אֶתיֿ).
  d. note especially: praise ye yah! הַלֲלויָֿהּ Ps 135:3, liturgical (|| זַמְּרוּ לִשְׁמוֺ); elsewhere always one word see BaerPsalm p.115, & always at beginning or end of Psalm (chiefly late), apparently liturgical; הַלֲלוּיָהֿ֑ Ps 104:35 (|| ׳בָּֽרְכִי נַפְשִׁי אֶתיֿ), elsewhere ׃הַלֲלוּיָהּ (I) at beginning Ps 106:1; Ps 111:1 (both || הודה) Ps 112:1; Ps 113:1 (|| הַלֲלוּ & ׳אֶתשֵֿׁם י ׳ה), Ps 135:1 (|| id.), Ps 146:1 (|| ׳הַלֲלִי נַפְשִׁי אֶתיֿ), Ps 147:1 (followed by זַמְּרָה in clause with כִּי), Ps 148:1 (|| ׳הַלֲלוּ אֶתיֿ, הַלֲלוּהוּ), Ps 149:1 (|| ׳שִׁירוּ לי), Ps 150:1 (|| הַלֲלוּאֵֿל, הַלֲלוּהוּ); (2) at end Ps 104:35 (above), Ps 105:45; Ps 106:48; Ps 113:9; Ps 115:18 (|| נְבָרֵךְ יָהּ), Ps 116:19; Ps 117:2; Ps 135:21 (|| ׳בָּרוּךְ י) Ps 146:10; Ps 147:20; Ps 148:14; Ps 149:9; Ps 150:6 (|| כֹּל הַנְּשָׁמָה תְּהַלֵּל יָהּ); add to these (not liturgical) יְהַלֶּליָֿהּ Ps 102:19, כֹּל נְשָׁמָה תְּהַלֵּל יָהּ Ps 150:6, לֹא הַמֵּתִים יְהַלֲלויָֿהּ Ps 115:17.
  e. also followed by ליהוה, in Chronicles, of technical Levitical function (compare LagOr.ii.16 ff., who limits this technical הלל to priests, using חֲצֹצְרוֺת, for a signal to the people; see e.g. Neh 12:24 compare vNeh 12:27), 1Chr 16:4 (with instrumental music, compare בִּכְלֵי כְבָלִים וּבְכִנֹּרוֺת & בַּמְצִלְתַּיִ ם, all v1Chr 16:5, and Neh 12:27) 1Chr 23:30; 1Chr 25:3 (all || הוֺדוֺת); exercised (apparently) by both priests and Levites Ezra 3:11 (|| הֹדוֺת) compare vEzra 3:11 by Levites 2Chr 20:19 (בְּקֹל גָּדוֺל), 2Chr 29:30 (בְּדִבְרֵי דָוִיד) in which the people also joined 1Chr 16:36 also 2Chr 5:13 (בַּחֲצֹצְרוֺת וּבִמְצִלְתַּיִם וּבִכְלֵי הַשִּׁיר compare also v2Chr 5:12 || הֹדוֺת, v2Chr 5:13 apparently of Levites & priests), בַּכֵּלִים ׳מְהַלֲלִים לי 1Chr 23:5 (Levites) compare 2Chr 30:21 (Levites & priests ׳בִּכְלֵי עֹז לי); followed by לְשֵׁם תִּפְאַרְתֶּ֑ךָ 1Chr 29:13 (|| מוֺדִים; David speaks in name of people); followed by לְהַדְרַתקֹֿ֑דֶשׁ 2Chr 20:11 (before the army; || ׳מְשֹׁרֲרִים לי; probably of Levites, compare v2Chr 20:19). feminine followed by accusative ׳י Ezra 3:10 (priests & Levites: עַליְֿדֵי דָּוִיד), Neh 5:13 (people).
  g. other forms, with like technical sense, but absolute: לְהַלֵּל לְהוֺדוֺת בְּמִצְוַת דָּוִיד Neh 12:24 (Levites) compare 1Chr 23:5; 2Chr 8:14; 2Chr 29:30 (עַדלְֿשִׂמְחָה) 2Chr 31:2 (apparently priests & Levites; ׳בְּשַׁעֲדֵי מַחֲנוֺת י; || לְשָׁרֵת וּלְהֹוֺדוֺת); see also מוֺדִיעִים לְהַלֵּל 2Chr 23:13 (|| מְשׁוֺרֲרִים בִּכְלֵי הַשִּׁיר בְּהַלֵּל דָּוִיד בְּיָדָם ). 2Chr 7:6 (|| הֹדוֺת ליהוּה)
3. apparently boast, male one's boast compare Qal 2 (followed by בְּ in, of), בֵּאלֹהִים Ps 44:9 (|| שִׁמְךָ לְעוֺלָם נוֺדֶה); so according to most, in bad sense, רָשָׁע עַלתַּֿאֲוַת נַפְשׁוֺ ׳ה Ps 10:3 a wicked man boasteth of the desire of his soul, but Che praiseth (׳י) for (i.e. in a mercenary spirit). Pu`al Perfect 3 plural הוּלָּ֑לוּ Ps 78:63 Imperfect יְהֻלַּלֿ Prov 12:8 Participle מְהֻלָּל 2Sam 22:4 + 6 t.; feminine הַהֻלָּ֑לָה Ezek 26:17 (compare Ol§ 250 c Sta§ 220, 617 b; ᵑ0, however, accents as Perfect, regarding הַ as = relative, see sta:§ 176 c Ges«GKC:52»§ 52. 2, R. 6); — be praised,
1. human subject be praised, commended Prov 12:18 (opposed to יִהְיֶה לָבוּז); of maidens, praised, celebrated (in song) Ps 78:63 participle (see above) of city, renowned Ezek 26:17.
2. of ׳י only participle = gerundive, to be praised, worthy of praise 2Sam 22:4 = Ps 18:4 מְאֹד ׳וּמְה ׳גָּדוֺל י Ps 48:2; Ps 96:4 = 1Chr 16:25; Ps 145:3 so ׳שֵׁם י ׳מְה Ps 113:3. Hithpa. Imperfect יִתְהַלֵּל 1Kgs 20:11 + 5 t.; יִתְהַלָּ֑ל Prov 20:14 3 feminine singular תִּתְּהַלֵּל Ps 34:3, תִּתְּהַלָּ֑ל Prov 31:30 2 masculine singular תִּתְהַלֵּל Ps 52:3; Prov 27:1 תִּתְהַלָּ֑ל Isa 41:16 2 feminine singular תִּתְהַלֲלִי Jer 49:4 3 masculine plural יִתְהַלֲלוּ Ps 64:11; Isa 45:25 יִתְהַלָּ֑לוּ Isa 49:7; Jer 4:2 Imperative masculine plural הִתְהַלֲלוּ 1Chr 16:10; Ps 105:3 Infinitive לְהִתְהַלֵּל Ps 106:5 Participle מִתְהַלֵּל Prov 25:14; Jer 9:23 plural מִתְהַלֲלִים Ps 97:7glory, boast, make one's boast:
1. of self-confident boasting, absolute 1Kgs 20:11 compare Prov 20:14 followed by בְּ of ground of boast Jer 9:22 (3 t. in verse); Jer 49:4; Ps 49:7; Ps 52:3; Prov 25:14, אַלתִּֿתְהַלֵּל בְּיוֺם מָחָר Prov 27:1 of glorying in idols הַמִּתְהַלֲלִים בָּאֱלִלִים Ps 97:7.
2. of glorying, making one's boast in (בְּ, on the ground of) ׳תִּתְהַלֵּל ׃י ׳בי נַפְשִׁי Ps 34:3, compare Isa 45:25; Jer 4:2 (|| וְהִתְבָּֽרְכוּ בוֺ); followed by בִּקְדוֺשׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל Isa 41:16 see also Ps 105:3 = 1Chr 16:10 followed by ) בְּשֵׁם קָדְשׁוֺ || ׳(יִשְׂמַה לֵב מְבַקְשֵׁי י, compare further Jer 9:23 less often absolute Jer 9:23; Ps 63:12; Ps 64:11; followed by עִםנַֿחֲלָתֶ֑ךָ together with thine heritage (|| לִשְׂמֹהַ בְּשִׂמְהַת גּוֶֺ י֑ךָ).
3. once, late = passive be praised, commended, of God-fearing woman Prov 31:30. Po`el Imperfect יְהוֺלֵל Isa 44:25 + 2 t.; — make into a fool, make fool of, object שֹׁפְטִים Job 12:17 (subject ׳י; || מוֺלִיךְ יוֺעֲצִים שׁוֺלָ֑ל); object קֹסְמִים Isa 44:25 (subject ׳י || מֵפֵר אֹתוֺת בַּדִּים; object הָכָם Eccl 7:7 (subject הָעשֶׁק; || וִיאַבֵּד אֶתלֵֿב מַתָּנָה). Po`al Participle לִשְׂהוֺק אָמַרְתִּי מְהוֺלָ֑ל Eccl 2:2 of laughter I said, It is mad (folly); מְהוֺלָלַי Ps 102:9 those mad against me (|| אוֺיְבָ֑י). Hithpo`el Imperfect וַיִּתְהֹלֵל 1Sam 21:14 3 masculine plural יִתְהֹלֲלוּ Jer 51:7, יִתְהוֺלֲלוּ Nah 2:5, יִתְהֹלֶ֑לוּ Jer 50:38 Imperative masculine plural הִתְהֹלֲלוּ Jer 49:9, הִתְהֹלָ֑לוּ Jer 25:16act madly, or like a madman, וַיִּתְהֹלֵל בְּיָדָם 1Sam 21:14 (of David) and he acted like a madman in their hands; of idolatrous worship by Chaldeans ׳וּבָאֵימִים יִתְה Jer 50:38 of nations, as drunken men, figurative of terror at Yahweh's judgements, Jer 25:16 (|| הִתְגֹּעֲשׁוּ) Jer 51:7 also of madly driving & jolting chariots Nah 2:5; Jer 46:9.


BDB430 H430

BDB429 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB431

אֱלֹהִים2570 noun masculine plural (feminine 1Kgs 11:33 on number of occurrences of אֵל, אֱלוֺהַּ, אֱלֹהִים compare also Nesl. c,)

1. plural in number.
  a. rulers, judges, either as divine representatives at sacred places or as reflecting divine majesty and power: האלהים Exod 21:6 (Onk ᵑ6, but τὸ κριτήριον τοῦ Θεοῦ ᵐ5) Exod 22:7; Exod 22:8 אלהים Exod 22:8; Exod 22:27 (ᵑ7 Ra AE Ew RVm; but gods, ᵐ5 Josephus Philo AV; God, Di RV; all Covt. code of E) compare 1Sam 2:25 see Dr.; Judg 5:8 (Ew, but gods ᵐ5; God ᵑ6 BarHebr.; יהוה ᵑ9 Be) Ps 82:1; Ps 82:6 (De Ew Pe; but angels Bl Hup) Ps 138:1 (ᵑ6 ᵑ7 Rab Ki De; but angels ᵐ5 Calv; God, Ew; gods, Hup Pe Che).
  b. divine ones, superhuman beings including God and angels Ps 8:6 (De Che Br; but angels ᵐ5 ᵑ6 ᵑ7 Ew; God, RV and most moderns) Gen 1:27 (if with Philo ᵑ7 Jerome De Che we interpret נעשה as God's consultation with angels; compare Job 38:7).
  c. angels Psalm Job 97:7 (ᵐ5 ᵑ6 Calv; but gods, Hup De Pe Che); compare בני (ה)אלהים = (the) sons of God, or sons of gods = angels Job 1:6; Job 2:1; Job 38:7; Gen 6:2; Gen 6:4 (J; so ᵐ5 Books of Enoch & Jubilees Philo Jude vJude 1:6; 2Pet 2:4 JosAnt. «JOSEPHUS:Antiquities 1:3»i. 3. 1, most ancient fathers and modern critics; against usage are sons of princes, mighty men, Onk and Rab.; sons of God, the pious, Theod Chrys Jerome Augustine Luther Calv Hengst; ᵐ5L read οἱ υιὁὶ τοῦ Θεοῦ), compare בני אלים.
  d. gods האלהים Exod 18:11; Exod 22:19 (E) 1Sam 4:8; 2Chr 2:4; Ps 86:8 אלהי האלהים the God of gods, supreme God Deut 10:17; Ps 136:2 אלהים Exod 32:1; Exod 32:23 (JE) Judg 9:13 אלהים אחרים other gods Exod 20:3; Exod 23:13; Josh 24:2; Josh 24:16 (E) Deut 31:18; Deut 31:20 (JE) Deut 5:7 + (17 t. in D, not P) Judg 2:12; Judg 2:17; Judg 2:19; Judg 10:13; 1Sam 8:8; 1Sam 26:19; 1Kgs 9:6; 1Kgs 9:9 (= 2Chr 7:19; 2Chr 7:22) 2Chr 11:4; 2Chr 11:10; 2Chr 14:9; 2Kgs 5:17; 2Kgs 17:35; 2Kgs 17:37; 2Kgs 17:38; 2Kgs 22:17 (= 2Chr 34:25) 2Chr 28:25; Jer 1:16 + (18 t. Jeremiah) Hos 3:1 אלהי (ה)נכר foreign gods Gen 35:2; Gen 35:4; Josh 24:20; Josh 24:23 (E) Deut 31:16 (JE) Judg 10:16; 1Sam 7:3; 2Chr 33:15; Jer 5:19 נחור ׳א Gen 31:53 (E); מצרים ׳א Exod 12:12 (P) Jer 43:12; Jer 43:13 האמרי ׳א Josh 24:15 (E) Judg 6:10 ארם ׳א etc. Judg 10:6 אלהים מעשה ידי Deut 4:28 הגוים ׳א gods of the nations 2Kgs 18:33; 2Kgs 19:12; Deut 29:17; 2Chr 32:17; 2Chr 32:19; Isa 36:18; Isa 37:12 העמים ׳א Deut 6:14; Deut 13:8; Judg 2:12; Ps 96:5; 1Chr 5:25; 1Chr 16:26; 2Chr 32:13; 2Chr 32:14 כסף ׳א Exod 20:23 (E); זהב ׳א Exod 20:23 (E) Exod 32:31 (JE); מַסֵּכָה ׳א Exod 34:17 (J) Lev 19:4 (H).

2. Plural intensive.
  a. god or goddess, always with suffix 1Sam 5:7 (Dagon), Judg 11:24 (Chemosh), 1Kgs 18:24 (Baal), Judg 9:27; Dan 1:2 (twice in verse); or construct לעשתרת מואב ׳צדנים לכמוש א ׳א to Ashtoreth goddess of the Zidonians, Chemosh god of Moab, etc. 1Kgs 11:33 הארץ ׳א god of the land 2Kgs 17:26 (twice in verse); 2Kgs 17:27, and so the Syrians suppose that Yahweh is a mountain-god and not a god of valleys 1Kgs 20:28.
  b. godlike one Exod 4:16 (J; Moses in relation to Aaron), Exod 7:1 (P; in relation to Pharaoh), 1Sam 28:13 (the shade of Samuel), Ps 45:7 (the Messianic king, O God, ᵐ5 ᵑ6 Jerome, most scholars ancient and modern, but thy throne is God's = God's throne AE Ki Thea Ew Hup, compare 1Chr 28:5).
  c. works of God, or things specially belonging to him (see אֵל 5) הר אלהים Ps 68:16; Ezek 28:14; Ezek 28:16 אש אלהים Job 1:16 גן (ה)אלהים Ezek 28:13; Ezek 31:8; Ezek 31:9.
  d. God (see 3 & 4).

3. הָאֱלֹהִים the (true) God, הוא האלהים ׳י Yahweh is (the) God Deut 4:35; Deut 4:39; Deut 7:9; 1Kgs 8:60; 1Kgs 18:39 (twice in verse); 2Chr 33:13 הוא האלהים Isa 45:18 האלהים ׳י Josh 22:34 (P ?) 1Kgs 18:21; 1Kgs 18:24; 2Chr 32:16 אתה הוא האלהים 2Sam 7:28; 1Kgs 18:37; 2Kgs 19:15; 1Chr 17:26; Isa 37:16; Neh 9:7 האלהים as subject or object is used in E 33 t., Chronicles 38 t., Eccl 31 t., Jonah 5 t., elsewhere Gen 5:22; Gen 5:24; Gen 6:9; Gen 6:11 (sources of P) Gen 17:18 (P) Josh 22:34 (P ?) Gen 44:16 (J) Deut 4:35; Deut 4:39; Deut 7:9; Judg 6:36; Judg 6:39; Judg 7:14; Judg 10:14; Judg 16:28; Judg 21:2; 1Sam 10:3; 1Sam 10:7; 1Sam 14:36; 2Sam 2:27; 2Sam 6:7; 2Sam 7:28; 2Sam 12:16; 1Kgs 8:60; 1Kgs 18:21; 1Kgs 18:24 (twice in verse); 1Kgs 18:37; 1Kgs 18:39 (twice in verse); 1Kgs 19:15 (Ephr) Job 2:10; Jer 11:12; Isa 37:16; Isa 45:18; Ps 108:14; Dan 1:9; Dan 1:17 הקדוש ׳הא ׳י 1Sam 6:20 הגדול ׳הא ׳י Neh 8:6 אשר ׳בירושלם הא Ezra 1:3 אדני האלהים Dan 9:3 in many phrases, as איש האלהים the man of God, acting under divine authority and influence: =
   (a) angel Judg 13:6; Judg 13:8,
   (b) prophet (the term coming into use in the Northern kingdom in the age of Elijah 1Sam 9:9-10, compare אִישׁ הָרוּחַ Hos 9:7): of Moses Deut 33:1; Josh 14:6 (E) 1Chr 23:14; 2Chr 30:16; Ezra 3:2; Ps 90:1 of Samuel 1Sam 9:6-10 of David 2Chr 8:14; Neh 12:24; Neh 12:36 Shemaiah 1Kgs 12:22 (= 2Chr 11:2); Elijah, Elisha, and others of their time 1Kgs 13:1-31; 1Kgs 17:18-24; 1Kgs 20:28; 2Kgs 1:9-13; 2Kgs 4:7-42; 2Kgs 5:8-20; 2Kgs 6:6-15; 2Kgs 7:2-9; 2Kgs 8:2-11; 2Kgs 13:19; 2Kgs 23:16-17 (Ephr) 2Chr 25:7; 2Chr 25:9 unnamed prophet 1Sam 2:27 Hanan Jer 35:4 a later title of prophet was עֶבֶד האלהים the servant of God, used of Moses 1Chr 6:34; 2Chr 24:9; Neh 10:30; Dan 9:11. בית האלהים the house of God, Judg 18:31, especially late, Chronicles (52 t.) Eccl 4:17; Dan 1:2 ׳בית י ׳הא 1Chr 22:1 ארון (ברית) האלהים the ark (of the covenant) of God Judg 20:27; 1Sam 4:1-5:12; 1Sam 14; 2Sam 6:1-7:29; 2Sam 15 (23 t.); 1Chr 13; 1Chr 15; 1Chr 16; 2Chr 1:4 (13 t.); מטה האלהים the rod of God Exod 4:20; Exod 17:9 (E); הר האלהים the mount of God (Horeb) Exod 3:1; Exod 4:27; Exod 18:5; Exod 24:13 (E) 1Kgs 19:8 (Ephr); מלאך האלהים the (theophanic) angel of God Gen 31:11; Exod 14:19 (E) Judg 6:20; Judg 13:6; Judg 13:9; 2Sam 14:17; 2Sam 14:20; 2Sam 19:28 in other combinations Exod 18:16; Num 23:27 (E) Judg 20:2; 1Sam 4:8; 1Sam 5:11; 1Sam 10:5; 2Sam 16:23; 1Kgs 12:22; 1Chr 21:7 + (14 t.) Ps 87:3; Eccl 9:1.

4. אֱלֹהִים = God אֱלֹהִים אֱמֶת ׳י = Yahweh is God in truth Jer 10:10.
  a. אלהים (as subject object direct or indirect) is used by P (50 t. in story of creation and deluge, elsewhere 28 t.), by E (91 t.), J chiefly in poetic sources Gen 3:1; Gen 3:3; Gen 3:5 (twice in verse); Gen 9:27; Gen 39:9; Deut 32:17; Deut 32:39, by D (11 t.) Judges (21 t.) Samuel (50 t.) Kings (29 t.) Chronicles (45 t.); in Psalm 42-86 (180 t. often by editorial change for an original יהוה), elsewhere Ps 3:3; Ps 5:11; Ps 7:11; Ps 7:12; Ps 9:18; Ps 10:4; Ps 10:13; Ps 14:1; Ps 14:2; Ps 14:5; Ps 25:22; Ps 36:2; Ps 36:8; Ps 77:14; Ps 100:3; Ps 108:2; Ps 108:6; Ps 108:8; Ps 108:12 (twice in verse); Ps 149:9; Job 5:8; Job 20:29; Job 28:23; Job 32:2; Job 34:9 (& in Prologue 6 t.) Prov 2:5; Prov 3:4; Prov 25:2 Ecclesiastes (7 t.) Hosea (5 t.); Amos 4:11 (כמהפכת אלתים את סדם as God overthrew Sodom = Jer 50:40 = Isa 13:19) Zech 8:23; Zech 12:8; Mic 3:7 (but אליהם ᵐ5 ᵑ6) Isa 35:4 Isa2 (9 t.); Jer 10:10 Ezekiel (13 t.); Malachi (5 t.); Jonah (4 t.); the phrase לאלהים ׳היה ל Gen 28:21 (ER) Gen 17:7; Gen 17:8; Exod 6:7; Exod 29:45; Lev 11:45; Lev 22:33; Lev 25:38; Lev 26:12; Lev 26:45; Num 15:41 (P); Deut 26:17; Deut 29:13; 2Sam 7:24 (= 1Chr 17:22); Zech 8:8 Jeremiah (6 t.); Ezekiel (6 t.); אלהים צדיק righteous God Ps 7:10 קדשים ׳א holy God Josh 24:19 (E); חיים ׳א living God Deut 5:23; 1Sam 17:26; 1Sam 17:36; Jer 10:10; Jer 23:36 חי ׳א 2Kgs 19:4; 2Kgs 19:16 (= Isa 37:4; Isa 37:17). For the phrases ׳יהוה א, צבאות ׳א ׳י, צבאות ׳א, ׳י ׳אל א, ׳יה א, ׳צבאות א ׳י, אלתי ׳י, צבאות, ׳אדני א see יהוה, יה, צבאות & אדני.
  b. construct אֱלֹהֵי
   (a) with persons אֱלֹהֵי אַבְרָהָם = God of Abraham, a phrase of J, Gen 26:24; Gen 28:13; Gen 31:53, elsewhere Ps 47:10; 1Kgs 18:36; 1Chr 29:18; 2Chr 30:6 אדני אברהם ׳א Gen 24:12; Gen 24:27; Gen 24:42; Gen 24:48 (J); אלהי אב father's God (various suffix & names), a phrase of E, Gen 31:5; Gen 31:29; Gen 31:42; Gen 46:3; Gen 50:17; Exod 3:6; Exod 3:13; Exod 3:15; Exod 3:16; Exod 15:2; Exod 18:4; Josh 18:3, elsewhere Gen 32:10; Gen 43:23 (J) Exod 4:5 (J ?) Deuteronomy (8 t.); Judg 2:12; 2Kgs 21:22 Chronicles (31 t.); Dan 11:37 אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל Israel's God, phrase of E, Gen 33:20; Exod 5:1; Exod 24:10; Exod 32:27; Josh 8:30; Josh 14:14; Josh 22:16; Josh 24:2; Josh 24:23, elsewhere Exod 34:23; Josh 7:13; Josh 7:19; Josh 7:20 (JE) Num 16:9; Josh 9:18; Josh 9:19; Josh 22:24; Josh 10:40; Josh 10:42; Josh 13:14; Josh 13:33 (R see Di Josh 7:13) Judg 4:6; Judg 5:3; Judg 5:5; Judg 6:8; Judg 11:21; Judg 11:23; Judg 21:3; 1Sam 1:17 + (20 t.) Kings (26 t.) Chronicles (45 t.); Ps 41:14; Ps 106:48 (doxology) Ps 59:6; Ps 69:7; Isa 17:6; Isa 21:10; Isa 21:17; Isa 29:23 Isa3, Isa 24:15; Isa 37:16; Isa 37:21 Isa2, Isa 41:17 + (6 t.); Jer 35:17 + (48 t.); Ezek 8:4 + (7 t.); Zeph 2:9; Mal 2:16; Ruth 2:12 מערכות ישראל ׳א God of the battle array of Israel 1Sam 17:45 ׳א יַעֲקֹב 2Sam 23:1 (poetry) Ps 20:2; Ps 46:8; Ps 46:12; Ps 75:10; Ps 76:7; Ps 81:2; Ps 81:5; Ps 84:9; Ps 94:7; Isa 2:3 (= Mic 4:2); העבריים ׳א God of the Hebrews Exod 3:18; Exod 5:3; Exod 7:16; Exod 9:1; Exod 9:13 (JE); it is used with other proper names, Nahor Gen 31:53 (E), Shem Gen 9:26 (J), David 2Kgs 20:5; 2Chr 21:12; 2Chr 34:3; Isa 38:5, Hezekiah 2Chr 32:17, Elijah 2Kgs 2:14 ארני המלך ׳א the God of my lord the king 1Kgs 1:36. (β) with nouns of attributes or relationships, קֶרֶם ׳א ancient God Deut 33:27 עולם ׳א everlasting God Isa 40:28 אֱמֶת ׳א true God 2Chr 15:3 אָמֵן ׳א Isa 65:16 (see אָמֵן); משפט ׳א Isa 30:18; Mal 2:17 מרום ׳א Mic 6:6 כָל בָשָׂר ׳א God of all flesh Jer 32:27 compare ׳א הרוחות לכל בשר Num 16:22; Num 27:16 (P); השמים ׳א God of heaven Gen 24:7 (JR) 2Chr 36:23; Ezra 1:2; Neh 1:4; Neh 1:5; Neh 2:4; Neh 2:20 compare כל הארץ ׳א Isa 54:5 ׳השמים וא ׳א ׳י הארץ Gen 24:3 (JR); מִקָּרֹב ׳א a God at hand opposed to מֵרָחֹק ׳א Jer 23:23, ישועתי ׳א, יִשְׁעִי ׳א God of my salvation Ps 18:47 (= 2Sam 22:47) Ps 24:5; Ps 25:5; Ps 27:9; Ps 65:6; Ps 79:9; Ps 85:5; Isa 17:10; Mic 7:7; Hab 3:18; 1Chr 16:35 ישועתי ׳א Ps 88:2 תשועתי ׳א Ps 51:16 צִדְקִי ׳א God of righteousness Ps 4:2 חַסְדִּי ׳א Ps 59:11; Ps 59:18 צוּרִי ׳א God who is my rock 2Sam 22:3 (compare Ps 18:3); מָעוּזִּי֯ ׳א God who is my stronghold Ps 43:2 תְהִלָּתִי ׳א God who is my praise Ps 109:1.
  c. with suffix in P (22 t. including phrase ויראת מאלהיך) Lev 19:14; Lev 19:32; Lev 25:17; Lev 25:36; Lev 25:43 (H) Exod 8:21; Josh 24:27 (E) Deut 32:37 (poetry) Josh 9:23 (JE) Deut 10:21; Deut 31:17; Judg 10:10; Judg 16:23; Judg 16:24; 1Sam 10:19; 2Sam 10:12; 2Sam 22:32 + (4 t. poetry) 1Kgs 12:28; 1Kgs 20:23; 2Kgs 19:10 Chronicles (83 t.); Psalms (62 t.); Prov 2:17; Prov 30:9; Ruth 1:15; Ruth 1:16 (twice in verse); Isa 1:10; Isa 7:13; Isa 8:19; Isa 8:21 Isa2 (29 t.); Jer 5:4; Jer 5:5; Jer 23:36; Jer 51:5; Ezek 34:31 Daniel (5 t.); Hosea (12 t.); Amos 2:8; Amos 4:12; Joel 1:13 (twice in verse); Joel 1:16; Joel 2:17; Mic 6:8; Mic 7:7; Jonah 1:5; Jonah 1:6; Zeph 3:2; Nah 1:14; Zech 9:7; Zech 12:5 אלהים with suffix is also used with יהוה several hundred times (see יהוה).

god, gods, judges, great, goddess, …
ʾĕlōhîm
gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative
  • (plural)
    • rulers, judges
    • "divine ones"angels"gods
    (plural intensive—singular meaning)
    • god, goddess
    • "godlike one"works or special possessions of God"the (true) God"God

עֶלְי֑וֹן
עֶלְי֑וֹן
Root word high, upper, higher, highest, uppermost
Dictionary form: עֶלְיוֹן · el-YONE

Adjective — masculine singular, absolute state

In the KJV here: the most high
of the most high ×11 the most high ×4 high ×3 most high ×3 of the upper ×3 the upper ×3 the high ×2 and the high ×1
More options
Most High — Best for divine title: 'God Most High.'
highest — Superlative degree; suits rank or position.
upper — Spatial sense; e.g., upper gate, upper pool.
supreme — Emphasizes unrivaled authority or status.
exalted — Conveys elevated dignity or honor.
topmost — Concrete, physical sense; e.g., topmost branch.

BDB6076 H5945

BDB6075 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB6077

I. עֶלְיוֺן22 adjective

1. high; — masculine singular ׳ע Deut 26:19; Deut 28:1; 1Kgs 9:8 (? reading ׳הַבַּיִת הַזֶּה הָע as ᵐ5L Benz) = 2Chr 7:21, of ׳י Ps 97:9.
2. upper Bethhoron, ׳ע Josh 16:5 העליון 1Chr 7:24; 2Chr 8:5, the upper (opposed to lower), of house Neh 3:25 compare 2Kgs 15:35; 2Chr 23:20 + 5 t., + Gen 40:17 (uppermost basket); feminine singular הָעֶלְיוֺנָה the upper pool 2Kgs 18:17 = Isa 36:2; Isa 7:3 the highest side-chamber (צֵלָע) Ezek 41:7 feminine plural הָעֶלְיוֺנֹת Ezek 42:5 the upper chambers (לְשָׁכוֺת).
3. of Davidic king exalted above monarchs Ps 89:28 (compare Deut 28:1, above).


BDB6077 H5945

BDB6076 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB6078

II. עֶלְיוֺן noun masculine Highest, Most High (probably = foregoing); —

1. name of God Num 24:16; Deut 32:8; Ps 18:14 = 2Sam 22:14; Ps 9:3; Ps 21:8; Ps 46:5; Ps 50:14; Ps 73:11; Ps 77:11; Ps 78:17; Ps 83:19; Ps 87:5; Ps 91:1; Ps 91:9; Ps 92:2; Ps 107:11; Isa 14:14; Lam 3:35; Lam 3:38 with other divine names: אל עליון Gen 14:18; Gen 14:19; Gen 14:20; Gen 14:22 (see Di) Ps 78:35 יהוה עליון Ps 7:18; Ps 47:3 אלהים עליון Ps 57:3; Ps 78:56.
5. of rulers, either monarchs or angel-princes, בְּנֵי עֶלְיוֺן = אלהים Ps 82:6.


BDB9766 H5945 H5946

BDB9765 | BIBLICAL ARAMAIC | BDB9767

[עֶלְיוֺן] adjective id. (Biblical Hebrew id.); — plural of God, קַדִּישֵׁי עֶלְיוֺנִין (double plural, Buhl, as sometimes Biblical Hebrew, Ges«GKC:124q»§ 124q ii. 1. 438 f) Dan 7:18; Dan 7:22; Dan 7:25; Dan 7:27.

high, upper, higher, highest, uppermost
ʿelyôn
an elevation, i.e., (adjectively) lofty (comparatively); as title, the Supreme
  • (adj) high, upper
    • of Davidic king exalted above monarchs
    (n m) Highest, Most High
    • name of God
    • "of rulers, either monarchs or angel-princes

וְ ֝עֵדוֹתָ֗י ו
וְ
Prefix — connector and (sometimes: but, so, then)
֝עֵדוֹתָ֗י
Root word testimonies, witness, testimony
ו
Suffix — pronoun his / him / it
Dictionary form: עֵדָה · ay-DAW

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

In the KJV here: his testimonies
thy testimonies ×11 his testimonies ×3 a witness ×2 and his testimonies ×2 and my testimony ×1 and thy testimonies ×1 are the testimonies ×1 be witness ×1
More options
testimony — Broadest fit; legal or covenantal witness context.
witness — Emphasizes the act or agent of attestation.
ordinance — Preferred when עֵדָה refers to binding divine decrees.
decree — Highlights authoritative, formal character of the testimony.
statute — Use when the testimony functions as a legal norm.
covenant stipulation — Best for treaty or Sinai covenant contexts.

BDB5858 H5713 H5712

BDB5857 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB5859

II. עֵדָה noun feminine testimony, witness, of things (only E); — Gen 21:30; Gen 31:52; Josh 24:27 (twice in verse) (J uses עֵד for feminine things). — I. עֵדָה see יעד.


BDB5860 H5713

BDB5859 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB5861

III. [עֵדָה] noun feminine only plural ᵑ0 testimonies (always of laws as divine testimonies or solemn charges); — plural absolute עֵדֹת Deut 4:45; Deut 6:20 suffix (of ׳י), עְדֹתִי Ps 132:12 (Ges«GKC:91n»§ 91n.), עֵדֹתָיו Deut 6:17; Ps 25:10; Ps 99:7; Ps 119:2, עֵדוֺתָיו Ps 78:56 עֵדֹתֶיךָ Ps 93:5; Ps 119:22; Ps 119:24; Ps 119:46; Ps 119:59; Ps 119:79; Ps 119:95; Ps 119:119; Ps 119:125; Ps 119:138; Ps 119:146; Ps 119:152; Ps 119:167; Ps 119:168 (ᵑ0 pointing artificial, derived probably from עֵדוּת, reading עֵדֻת for עֵדֹת, or regarding עֵדֹת as contracted from עֵדְוֺת, plural of עֵדוּת [Sta§ 320 b SS Buhl]; see also DrDeut 4:45; Deut 4:45; Deut 6:17; Deut 6:20 are redactional).

testimonies, witness, testimony
ʿēdâ
testimony
  • testimony, witness
    • always plural and always of laws as divine testimonies

לֹ֣א
לֹ֣א
Particle not
Dictionary form: לֹא · loh

Particle — Negative

In the KJV here: not
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

BDB4265 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB4267

לֹא or לוֺא adverb not (Arabic , Aramaic לָא, , Sabean לא, Ass. ; not in Ethiopic: compare ii. 1. 236 WalkerAJSL 1896, 237 ff.) — לוֺא, according to Masora (FrMM 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 לְהַָ˜בר׃ 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, : Judg 12:5 ויאמר לא, Hag 2:12 לא אדני Gen 23:11; Gen 42:10; 1Sam 1:15 +; often followed by כי, for . . . = 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 Dr1Sam 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 ).
  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), vb 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, vb 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 (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); Di כִּילְ֗֗֗אָ֑יִן. compare 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 DePs 100. 3 FrMM 247 StrProl. 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

BDB4343 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB4345

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


BDB9632 H3808 H3809

BDB9631 | BIBLICAL ARAMAIC | BDB9633

לָא (לָה Dan 4:32) adverb not (Biblical Hebrew לא; Aramaic of Têma, Egyptian, etc., לא; Nerab ל (Lzb301 CookG1. 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, DAramaic Dialektproben, p. 1). With interr. הֲלָא Dan 3:24; Dan 4:27; Dan 6:13.


BDB9640 H3809 H3861 H518 H2006 H3808 H3588

BDB9639 | BIBLICAL ARAMAIC | BDB9641

II. לָהֵן conjunction except, but (from לָא and הֵן 'not if' (compare Hebrew אם לא Gen 24:38); so Nabataean and Egyptian Aramaic להן Cooke217, 219, 241 S-CPap. C 6, 7 +; lâinnî, however SocArab. 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)
    • "not (with modifier—negation)"nothing (subst)"without (with particle)"before (of time)

שָׁמָֽרוּ
שָׁמָֽרוּ
Root word keep, kept, observe, heed, keepeth, …
Dictionary form: שָׁמַר · shaw-MAHR

Verb — Qal, Perfect (Qatal), third person plural simple action — "he did" completed action — try "he ___ed" or "he has ___ed" the built-in subject is "they"

In the KJV here: and kept
keep ×28 kept ×24 and keep ×23 to keep ×23 take heed ×16 and to keep ×7 observe ×7 ye shall keep ×6
More options
keep — Most versatile rendering; suits commands and ongoing obligations.
observe — Best for law/covenant contexts: observe the sabbath.
guard — Physical or protective watching over something or someone.
watch over — Caring, attentive oversight; warm, pastoral register.
heed — Prefer when the nuance is careful attention or warning.
preserve — Suits divine protection contexts: God preserves his people.

BDB8848 H8104

BDB8847 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB8849

I. שָׁמַר465 verb keep, watch, preserve (Late Hebrew id.; Phoenician שמר in proper name and (Punic) = watchman; Tel Amarna šimiru is perhaps overseer (Canaanism), WklNo. 80, i. 23; Mandean סמירא preserved M 46; compare Arabic converse by night, stay awake (see LagBN 105); BaNB 175 f.; ES 43 infers from eyelid (compare [שְׁמֻרָה] below), and Arabic support, aid, protect (l = r), that two √ √ are combined in Hebrew; but proof insufficient); —

Qal425 Perfect 3 masculine singular ׳שׁ Gen 37:11 +, etc.; Imperfect 3 masculine singular יִשְׁמֹר 1Sam 2:9 +, יִשְׁמָרֿ Jer 5:24 +, suffix 3 masculine singular יִשְׁמְרֶנּוּ Exod 21:29; Exod 21:36 3 feminine singular suffix תִּשְׁמוּרֵ֑ם Prov 14:3 (read תִּשְׁמְרוּם, see Ges«GKC:47g»§ 47g Toy), etc.; Imperative masculine singular שְׁמֹר Job 2:6 +, שָׁמְרָה 1Chr 29:18 +; masculine plural שִׁמְרוּ Josh 6:18 +, etc.; Infinitive absolute שָׁמוֺר Deut 5:12 +; construct שְׁמֹר Gen 3:24 +, suffix שָׁמְרָהּ Gen 2:15, etc.; Participle active שֹׁמֵר 1Sam 1:12 +, etc.; passive שָׁמוּר Eccl 5:12 (1Sam 9:24 see below), etc.; — [Synon. I. נָצַר, נָטַר, q. v.]:
1. a. keep, have charge of, garden Gen 2:15 (J), ark 1Sam 7:1, property in trust Exod 22:6; Exod 22:9 (E), compare 1Sam 25:31 tend flock Gen 30:31 (E), compare Zech 3:7; Num 3:8 (P); so perhaps (object omitted) Hos 12:13 (where ׳שׁ chosen for parallelism Now Marti and others); Participle הֲשֹׁמֵר אָחִי אָנֹ֑כִי Gen 4:9 (J), ׳שׁ of sheep 1Sam 17:20, הַכֵּלִים ׳שׁ v1Sam 17:22, הַכְּגָדִים ׳שׁ 2Kgs 22:14; 2Chr 34:22, הַנָּשִׁים ׳שׁ Esth 2:3; Esth 2:8; Esth 2:15, compare vEsth 2:14, etc.
  b. keep, guard, captives Josh 10:18 (J), 1Kgs 20:39, דֶּרֶךְ Gen 3:24 (J); keep watch and ward, אֶל person for whom 1Sam 26:15 (Ps 59:10 see 3 end), עַל person vPs 59:16; Prov 6:22 בַּנַּעַר 2Sam 18:12 have a care of (read לִי for מִי ᵐ5 and modern); in hostile sense, אֶל הָעִיר (in siege) 2Sam 11:16, חַטָאתִי עַל Job 14:16 (but read תַּעֲבֹר with ᵐ5 Ew Di Du and others [not Hi Bu]); absolute with מֵעַל Eccl 5:7 watcheth above, etc.; keep one's mouth, be prudent of speech Prov 21:33, compare Mic 7:5 keep = protect, save, one's life, נֶפֶשׁ Prov 13:3; Prov 16:17; Prov 19:16; Prov 22:5, another's Job 2:6 in Proverbs, accusative of person, subject wisdom, Job 4:6 she shall preserve thee, compare (+ מִן of evil) Job 6:24; Job 7:5 especially Participle watch, watchman, of city Isa 21:11 (twice in verse); Isa 21:12; Isa 62:5 (figurative), Song 3:3; Song 5:7 (twice in verse); Ps 127:1 הַמֶּלֶף ׳שׁ (in temple) Jer 35:4 + (see סַף), פֶּית הַמֶּלֶךְ ׳הַפּ 1Kgs 14:27 = 2Chr 12:10, הַשְּׁעָרִים ׳שׁ Neh 13:22, שֹׁמְרֵי הַבַּיִת (figurative) Eccl 12:3 ׳שׁ הַבַּיִתךֵסעוֺה ךֵהת פךֵךֵכ (of David's concubines) 2Sam 15:16; 2Sam 16:21; 2Sam 20:3 שֹׁמֵר הַכֵּלִים 1Sam 17:22, הַבְּגָדִים ׳שׁ 2Kgs 22:14, חַפַּרְדֵּס ׳שׁ Neh 2:8, הַנָּשִׁים ׳שׁ Esth 2:3; Esth 2:14; Esth 2:15, שֹׁמְרִים absolute Judg 7:19; Jer 51:12.
  c. hence watch for, wait for, accusative of person 1Sam 19:11 (to kill him), compare Ps 59:1 (title; accusative הַבַּיִת); with יֲקֵכַי Ps 56:7 = dog my steps, Ps 71:10; Jer 20:10 = watch (suspiciously) Job 10:14; Job 13:27; Job 33:11 absolute הַשֹּׁעמרִים Judg 1:24 wait for, נֶשֶׁף Job 24:15, לַבֹּקֶר Ps 130:6 (twice in verse).
  d. watch, observe, accusative of thing 1Sam 1:12; Eccl 11:4; Job 39:1; Jer 8:7 (of birds), with intelligence Isa 42:20; Ps 107:43 accusative of person Ps 37:37 (|| ראה), Zech 11:11 accusative of sin Ps 31:7; Ps 130:3 accusative of thing, for the purpose of avoiding, Ps 17:4.
2. a. keep, retain, of storing up (food) Gen 41:35 (E); absolute Eccl 3:6 (opposed to הִשְׁלִיךְ); treasure up (in memory) Gen 37:11 (E), compare Mal 2:7; 1Chr 29:18; Prov 4:21 (בְּתוֺךְ לְבָבֶ֑ךְ), Prov 22:18 (כְּבִטֱנ֑ךָ); retain wrath Amos 1:11 (read שָׁמֶר לָנֶצַח We Now GASm Marti; see also נָטַר 1) + (anger omitted) Jer 3:5 (|| נטר).
  b. keep within bounds, restrain, object שׁוֺר Exod 21:29; Exod 21:36 (E); with accusative hand, מִן of evil Isa 56:2 figurative keep thy foot, with temporal clause Eccl 4:17 לְֿפִי מַחְסוֺם׳אֶשׁ Ps 39:2 (ᵐ5 Du and others אָשִׁימָה); apparently reflexive (= Niph`al), Josh 6:18 (+ מִןהַֿחֵרֶס), possibly sc. גַפְשְׁכֶם Di.
3. a. observe, celebrate, accusative of festival, etc., Exod 23:15 (E), Exod 34:18 (J), Exod 12:17 of day vExod 12:17 (P), of month Deut 16:1.
  b. keep Sabbath Deut 5:12; Lev 19:3; Lev 19:30; Lev 26:2 (all H), Exod 31:13; Exod 31:14; Exod 31:16 (P), Isa 56:4, also (+ מֵחַלְּלוֺ) vIsa 56:2 vIsa 56:6.
  c. of other obligations: keep convenant Ezek 17:14, especially convenant of ׳י Deut 29:8; 1Kgs 11:11 + 5 t., ׳שְׁבֻעַת י 1Kgs 2:43, perform vow Deut 23:24 keep commands Jer 35:18; Ezek 20:18 especially מִצָוֺת, תֻקִּים, יֲבֹדָה, etc., of ׳י (sometimes || נצר), Exod 20:6 = Deut 5:10; Amos 2:4; 1Kgs 2:3; Ps 119:8; Ps 119:17; Ps 119:34 + very often (c. 120 t.); ׳דֶּרֶח י ׳שׁ Gen 18:19 (J) + 4 t., ׳דַּרְכֵי י 2Sam 22:22 = Ps 18:22, ׳י ׳ד omitted Judg 2:22 b; אָרְחוֺת צַדַּיקִים ׳שׁ Prov 2:20 (|| תֵּלֵח תְּלֵח בְּדֶרֶח טוֺבֹים), ׳שׁ דְּרָכַי (ways of wisdom) Prov 8:32 (Ps 17:4 see 1 d); keep discharge an office, כְּהֻנָּה Num 3:10; Num 18:7 (both P), absolute 2Chr 5:11 a function or duty, especially מִשְׁמֶרֶת ׳שׁ Lev 8:35; Num 1:53 + approximately 32 t. (see ׳מ below); accusative of obligation often omitted, especially D (and RD) keep and do Deut 4:6; Deut 7:12 + 8 t.; to do Deut 5:1; Deut 5:29 + 16 t. D + 3 t., etc.
  d. observe = follow dictates of (prudence, justice, kindness, wisdom) Hos 12:7 (חֶסֶד וּמִשְׁפָּט), Isa 56:1; Prov 4:4; Prov 5:2; Prov 7:1; Prov 7:2 bad sense, observe vanities Ps 31:7. — Doubtful are: לִשְׁמֹר absolute Hos 4:10, very strange (conjectures in We Now Marti); שָׁמוּר 1Sam 9:24, HPS אֵחַרְנוּ, compare Now BuComm.; Ps 59:10 read עֻוִּי אֵלֶיךָ אֲזַמֵּ֑רָה (as vPs 59:18, ᵑ6 Che Bae).
4. sometimes ׳י subject:
  a. keep, preserve, protect, accusative of person, + ב of way, etc., Gen 28:15; Gen 28:20 (J), Exod 23:20 (E; of מַלְאָח), Ps 91:11 (׳מ), Josh 24:17 (E); accusative of person (or נפשׁ) only: 1Sam 30:23; Jer 31:9; Num 6:24 (P), Job 29:2; Ps 16:1 + 10 t. Psalms; + מִן Ps 121:7 + 2 t.; accusative רַהְּלַי 1Sam 2:9, compare Prov 3:26 (מִן); Participle שֹׁמְרֶ֑ךָ Ps 121:3; Ps 121:5, compare vPs 121:4, etc.; accusative of city Ps 127:1.
  b. with accusative בְּרִית, ל person Deut 7:12, + חֶסֶד vDeut 7:7 + 5 t., אֱמֶת לְעוֺלָם ׳הַשּׁ Ps 146:6 הַשְּׁבֻעָה Deut 7:8, etc.; passive of covenant (׳י agent) עֲרוּכָה בַכֹּל וּשְׁמֻרָה 2Sam 23:5 (legal terminology, Dr).
5. keep, reserve, weeks of harvest Jer 5:24 (ל person). Niph`al36 Perfect 3 masculine singular נִשְׁמַד 2Sam 20:10, etc.; Imperfect 3 feminine singular תִּשָּׁמֵד Judg 13:13 2 masculine plural תִּשָּׁמַ֑רוּ Exod 23:13 Imperative masculine singular תִּשָּׁמֵד Isa 7:4 הִדָמשּׁ֫מֶר (לְךָׅ Gen 24:6 +; feminine singular הִשָּֽׁמְרִי Judg 13:4, etc.; —
1. be on one's guard, with בַּחֶרֶב 2Sam 20:10 by reason of the sword, i.e. against it; with ב temporal 1Sam 19:2, שָׁם 2Kgs 6:10 take heed Exod 23:13 (E) Deut 2:4 with מִן person Exod 23:21 (E), Jer 9:3 מִן of thing Judg 13:13; Deut 23:10 מִן infinitive take care not to, etc. Gen 31:29 (E), 2Kgs 6:9 infinitive without מִן Exod 19:12 (J), but read probably מֵעֲלוֺת; followed by פֶּן lest Gen 24:6 (J) + 11 t. (especially Deuteronomy); with (וְ)אַל jussive Exod 10:23 (J), Judg 13:4; Job 36:21, with Imperative coordinate Isa 7:4. — Very often Imperative (24 t.), especially in phrase הִשָּׁמֶרלְֿךָ (12 t.), הִשָּֽׁטְרוּ לָכֶם (3 t.); + לְנַפְשֹׁתֵיכֶם Deut 4:15; Josh 23:11 (RD; + infinitive); + ׳בְּנַפ Jer 17:21 apparently ב pret. on peril of your life (compare ב III. 3 a), so perhaps also בְּרוּחֲכֶם Mal 2:15; Mal 2:16 (We Now).
2. keep oneself, refrain, abstain, מֵאִשָּׁה 1Sam 21:5.
3. be kept, guarded, Hos 12:14 (compare ׳שׁ of Jacob v.Hos 12:13); be preserved (by ׳י) Ps 37:28 (לִיוֺלָם), but read probably עַוָּלִים (לְעוֺלָם) נִשְׁמָ֑דוּ Hup-Ri (Now) Che Bae Du Dr. Pi`el Participle plural מְשַׁמְּרִים הַבְלֵישָֿׁוְא Jonah 2:9 those paying regard to false vanities (compare Qal Ps 31:7). Hithpa`el Imperfect 1 singular וָאֶשְׁתַּסֵּר מֵעֲוֺנַי Ps 18:24 I kept myself from, etc. = 2Sam 22:24 (verb cohortative); 3 masculine singular וְיִשְׁתַּמֵּר חֻקּוֺת עָמְרִי Mic 6:16, but read וְתִשְׁמֹר thou keepest, observest, We Now GASm.

keep, kept, observe, heed, keepeth, …
šāmar
properly, to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e., guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc
  • to keep, guard, observe, give heed
    • (Qal)
      • to keep, have charge of
      • "to keep, guard, keep watch and ward, protect, save life
        • watch, watchman (participle)
        to watch for, wait for"to watch, observe"to keep, retain, treasure up (in memory)"to keep (within bounds), restrain"to observe, celebrate, keep (sabbath or covenant or commands), perform (vow)"to keep, preserve, protect"to keep, reserve
      (Niphal)
      • to be on one's guard, take heed, take care, beware
      • "to keep oneself, refrain, abstain"to be kept, be guarded
      (Piel) to keep, pay heed"(Hithpael) to keep oneself from

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.
וַיְנַסּ֣וּ וַ֭יַּמְרוּ Dechi — a lesser break אֶת אֱלֹהִ֣ים עֶלְי֑וֹן Atnach — the verse's main pause — take a breath here וְ֝עֵדוֹתָ֗יו Revia Mugrash — a lesser break לֹ֣א שָׁמָֽרוּ Silluq — end of the verse

וַיְנַסּוּ וַיַּמְרוּ אֶת-אֱלֹהִים עֶלְיוֹן וְעֵדוֹתָיו לֹא שָׁמָֽרוּ׃
56
Yet they tempted and provoked the most high God, and kept not his testimonies:
Cross References

Judges 2:11

וַיַּֽעֲשׂוּ בְנֵֽי-יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶת-הָרַע בְּעֵינֵי יְהוָה וַיַּֽעַבְדוּ אֶת-הַבְּעָלִֽים׃
11
And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim:

2 Kings 17:7

וַיְהִי כִּֽי-חָטְאוּ בְנֵֽי-יִשְׂרָאֵל לַֽיהוָה אֱלֹֽהֵיהֶם הַמַּֽעֲלֶה אֹתָם מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם מִתַּחַת יַד פַּרְעֹה מֶֽלֶךְ-מִצְרָיִם וַיִּֽירְאוּ אֱלֹהִים אֲחֵרִֽים׃
7
For so it was, that the children of Israel had sinned against the LORD their God, which had brought them up out of the land of Egypt, from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and had feared other gods,

Psalms 78:40

כַּמָּה יַמְרוּהוּ בַמִּדְבָּר יַעֲצִיבוּהוּ בִּֽישִׁימֽוֹן׃
40
How oft did they provoke him in the wilderness, and grieve him in the desert!

Deuteronomy 31:16

וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה אֶל-מֹשֶׁה הִנְּךָ שֹׁכֵב עִם-אֲבֹתֶיךָ וְקָם הָעָם הַזֶּה וְזָנָה׀ אַֽחֲרֵי׀ אֱלֹהֵי נֵֽכַר-הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר הוּא בָא-שָׁמָּה בְּקִרְבּוֹ וַֽעֲזָבַנִי וְהֵפֵר אֶת-בְּרִיתִי אֲשֶׁר כָּרַתִּי אִתּֽוֹ׃
16
And the LORD said unto Moses, Behold, thou shalt sleep with thy fathers; and this people will rise up, and go a whoring after the gods of the strangers of the land, whither they go to be among them, and will forsake me, and break my covenant which I have made with them.

Nehemiah 9:25

וַֽיִּלְכְּדוּ עָרִים בְּצֻרוֹת וַֽאֲדָמָה שְׁמֵנָה וַיִּֽירְשׁוּ בָּתִּים מְלֵֽאִים-כָּל-טוּב בֹּרוֹת חֲצוּבִים כְּרָמִים וְזֵיתִים וְעֵץ מַֽאֲכָל לָרֹב וַיֹּֽאכְלוּ וַֽיִּשְׂבְּעוּ וַיַּשְׁמִינוּ וַיִּֽתְעַדְּנוּ בְּטֽוּבְךָ הַגָּדֽוֹל׃
25
And they took strong cities, and a fat land, and possessed houses full of all goods, wells digged, vineyards, and oliveyards, and fruit trees in abundance: so they did eat, and were filled, and became fat, and delighted themselves in thy great goodness.

Deuteronomy 32:15

וַיִּשְׁמַן יְשֻׁרוּן וַיִּבְעָט שָׁמַנְתָּ עָבִיתָ כָּשִׂיתָ וַיִּטֹּשׁ אֱלוֹהַ עָשָׂהוּ וַיְנַבֵּל צוּר יְשֻֽׁעָתֽוֹ׃
15
But Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked: thou art waxen fat, thou art grown thick, thou art covered with fatness; then he forsook God which made him, and lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation.

Ezekiel 16:15

וַתִּבְטְחִי בְיָפְיֵךְ וַתִּזְנִי עַל-שְׁמֵךְ וַתִּשְׁפְּכִי אֶת-תַּזְנוּתַיִךְ עַל-כָּל-עוֹבֵר לוֹ-יֶֽהִי׃
15
But thou didst trust in thine own beauty, and playedst the harlot because of thy renown, and pouredst out thy fornications on every one that passed by; his it was.