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Psalms 34

1 A Psalm of David; when he changed his behavior before Abimelech, who drove him away, and he departed. I will bless Jehovah at all times: His praise shall continually be in my mouth.

Cross references & Strong's
Strong's numbers (from RLT):
  • of David H1732 (דָּוִד) — David, the youngest son of Jesse
  • when he changed H8138 (שָׁנָה) — to fold, i.e. duplicate (literally or figuratively); by implication, to transmute (transitive or intransitive)
  • his behaviour H2940 (טַעַם) — properly, a taste, i.e. (figuratively) perception; by implication, intelligence; transitively, a mandate
  • before H6440 (פָּנִים) — the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposition (befo…
  • Abimelech H40 (אֲבִימֶלֶךְ) — Abimelek, the name of two Philistine kings and of two Israelites
  • who drove him away H1644 (גָּרַשׁ) — to drive out from a possession; especially to expatriate or divorce
  • and he departed H3212 (יָלַךְ) — to walk (literally or figuratively); causatively, to carry (in various senses)
  • I will bless H1288 (בָּרַךְ) — to kneel; by implication to bless God (as an act of adoration), and (vice-versa) man (as a benefit); also (by euphemism) to curse (God or the king, as treason)
  • Yhwh H3068 (יְהֹוָה) — (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jeho-vah, Jewish national name of God
  • at all times H6256 (עֵת) — time, especially (adverb with preposition) now, when, etc.
  • his praise H8416 (תְּהִלָּה) — laudation; specifically (concretely) a hymn
  • continually H8548 (תָּמִיד) — properly, continuance (as indefinite extension); but used only (attributively as adjective) constant (or adverbially, constantly); elliptically the regular (dai…
  • in my mouth H6310 (פֶּה) — the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether literal or figurative (particularly speech); specifically edge, portion or side; adverbially (with preposition) acc…

2 My soul shall make her boast in Jehovah: The meek shall hear thereof, and be glad.

Cross references & Strong's
Strong's numbers (from RLT):
  • My soul H5315 (נֶפֶשׁ) — properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or mental)
  • shall make her boast H1984 (הָלַל) — to be clear (orig. of sound, but usually of color); to shine; hence, to make a show, to boast; and thus to be (clamorously) foolish; to rave; causatively, to ce…
  • in Yhwh H3068 (יְהֹוָה) — (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jeho-vah, Jewish national name of God
  • the humble H6035 (עָנָו) — depressed (figuratively), in mind (gentle) or circumstances (needy, especially saintly)
  • shall hear H8085 (שָׁמַע) — to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)
  • and be glad H8055 (שָׂמַח) — probably to brighten up, i.e. (figuratively) be (causatively, make) blithe or gleesome

3 Oh magnify Jehovah with me, And let us exalt his name together.

Cross references & Strong's
Strong's numbers (from RLT):
  • O magnify H1431 (גָּדַל) — to be (causatively make) large (in various senses, as in body, mind, estate or honor, also in pride)
  • Yhwh H3068 (יְהֹוָה) — (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jeho-vah, Jewish national name of God
  • with me, and let us exalt H7311 (רוּם) — to be high actively, to rise or raise (in various applications, literally or figuratively)
  • his name H8034 (שֵׁם) — an appellation, as a mark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character
  • together H3162 (יַחַד) — properly, a unit, i.e. (adverb) unitedly

4 I sought Jehovah, and he answered me, And delivered me from all my fears.

Cross references & Strong's
Strong's numbers (from RLT):
  • I sought H1875 (דָּרַשׁ) — properly, to tread or frequent; usually to follow (for pursuit or search); by implication, to seek or ask; specifically to worship
  • Yhwh H3068 (יְהֹוָה) — (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jeho-vah, Jewish national name of God
  • and he heard H6030 (עָנָה) — properly, to eye or (generally) to heed, i.e. pay attention; by implication, to respond; by extension to begin to speak; specifically to sing, shout, testify, a…
  • me, and delivered H5337 (נָצַל) — to snatch away, whether in a good or a bad sense
  • me from all my fears H4035 (מְגוּרָה) — a fright; also a granary

5 They looked unto him, and were radiant; And their faces shall never be confounded.

Cross references & Strong's
Strong's numbers (from RLT):
  • They looked H5027 (נָבַט) — to scan, i.e. look intently at; by implication, to regard with pleasure, favor or care
  • unto him, and were lightened H5102 (נָהַר) — to sparkle, i.e. (figuratively) be cheerful; hence (from the sheen of a running stream) to flow, i.e. (figuratively) assemble
  • and their faces H6440 (פָּנִים) — the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposition (befo…
  • were not ashamed H2659 (חָפֵר) — to blush; figuratively, to be ashamed, disappointed; causatively, to shame, reproach

6 This poor man cried, and Jehovah heard him, And saved him out of all his troubles.

Cross references & Strong's
Strong's numbers (from RLT):
  • This poor man H6041 (עָנִי) — depressed, in mind or circumstances
  • cried H7121 (קָרָא) — to call out to (i.e. properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications)
  • And Yhwh H3068 (יְהֹוָה) — (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jeho-vah, Jewish national name of God
  • heard H8085 (שָׁמַע) — to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)
  • and saved H3467 (יָשַׁע) — properly, to be open, wide or free, i.e. (by implication) to be safe; causatively, to free or succor
  • him out of all his troubles H6869 (צָרָה) — tightness (i.e. figuratively, trouble); transitively, a female rival

7 The angel of Jehovah encampeth round about them that fear him, And delivereth them.

Cross references & Strong's
Strong's numbers (from RLT):
  • The angel H4397 (מַלְאָךְ) — a messenger; specifically, of God, i.e. an angel (also a prophet, priest or teacher)
  • of Yhwh H3068 (יְהֹוָה) — (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jeho-vah, Jewish national name of God
  • encampeth H2583 (חָנָה) — properly, to incline; by implication, to decline (of the slanting rays of evening); specifically, to pitch a tent; generally to encamp (for abode or siege)
  • round about H5439 (סָבִיב) — (as noun) a circle, neighbour, or environs; but chiefly (as adverb, with or without preposition) around
  • them that fear H3373 (יָרֵא) — fearing; morally, reverent
  • him, and delivereth H2502 (חָלַץ) — to pull off; hence (intensively) to strip, (reflex.) to depart; by implication, to deliver, equip (for fight); present, strengthen

8 Oh taste and see that Jehovah is good: Blessed is the man that taketh refuge in him.

Cross references & Strong's
Strong's numbers (from RLT):
  • O taste H2938 (טָעַם) — to taste; figuratively, to perceive
  • and see H7200 (רָאָה) — to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)
  • that Yhwh H3068 (יְהֹוָה) — (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jeho-vah, Jewish national name of God
  • good H2896 (טוֹב) — good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good or good t…
  • blessed H835 (אֶשֶׁר) — happiness; only in masculine plural construction as interjection, how happy!
  • the man H1397 (גֶּבֶר) — properly, a valiant man or warrior; generally, a person simply
  • trusteth H2620 (חָסָה) — to flee for protection; figuratively, to confide in

9 Oh fear Jehovah, ye his saints; For there is no want to them that fear him.

Cross references & Strong's
Strong's numbers (from RLT):
  • O fear H3372 (יָרֵא) — to fear; morally to revere; causatively to frighten
  • Yhwh H3068 (יְהֹוָה) — (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jeho-vah, Jewish national name of God
  • ye his saints H6918 (קָדוֹשׁ) — sacred (ceremonially or morally); (as noun) God (by eminence), an angel, a saint, a sanctuary
  • no want H4270 (מַחְסוֹר) — deficiency; hence, impoverishment
  • to them that fear H3373 (יָרֵא) — fearing; morally, reverent

10 The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger; But they that seek Jehovah shall not want any good thing.

Cross references & Strong's
Strong's numbers (from RLT):
  • The young lions H3715 (כְּפִיר) — a village (as covered in by walls); also a young lion (perhaps as covered with a mane)
  • do lack H7326 (רוּשׁ) — to be destitute
  • and suffer hunger H7456 (רָעֵב) — to hunger
  • but they that seek H1875 (דָּרַשׁ) — properly, to tread or frequent; usually to follow (for pursuit or search); by implication, to seek or ask; specifically to worship
  • Yhwh H3068 (יְהֹוָה) — (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jeho-vah, Jewish national name of God
  • shall not want H2637 (חָסֵר) — to lack; by implication, to fail, want, lessen
  • any good H2896 (טוֹב) — good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good or good t…

11 Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of Jehovah.

Cross references & Strong's
Strong's numbers (from RLT):
  • Come H3212 (יָלַךְ) — to walk (literally or figuratively); causatively, to carry (in various senses)
  • ye children H1121 (בֵּן) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition,…
  • hearken H8085 (שָׁמַע) — to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)
  • unto me: I will teach H3925 (לָמַד) — properly, to goad, i.e. (by implication) to teach (the rod being an Oriental incentive)
  • you the fear H3374 (יִרְאָה) — fear (also used as infinitive); morally, reverence
  • of Yhwh H3068 (יְהֹוָה) — (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jeho-vah, Jewish national name of God

12 What man is he that desireth life, And loveth many days, that he may see good?

Cross references & Strong's
Strong's numbers (from RLT):
  • What man H376 (אִישׁ) — a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
  • desireth H2655 (חָפֵץ) — pleased with
  • life H2416 (חַי) — alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially in the feminine singular and masculine plural) life (or living thing),…
  • loveth H157 (אָהַב) — to have affection for (sexually or otherwise)
  • days H3117 (יוֹם) — a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated ter…
  • that he may see H7200 (רָאָה) — to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)
  • good H2896 (טוֹב) — good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good or good t…

13 Keep thy tongue from evil, And thy lips from speaking guile.

Cross references & Strong's
Strong's numbers (from RLT):
  • Keep H5341 (נָצַר) — to guard, in a good sense (to protect, maintain, obey, etc.) or a bad one (to conceal, etc.)
  • thy tongue H3956 (לָשׁוֹן) — the tongue (of man or animals), used literally (as the instrument of licking, eating, or speech), and figuratively (speech, an ingot, a fork of flame, a cove of…
  • from evil H7451 (רַע) — bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral)
  • and thy lips H8193 (שָׂפָה) — the lip (as a natural boundary); by implication, language; by analogy, a margin (of a vessel, water, cloth, etc.)
  • from speaking H1696 (דָבַר) — perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue
  • guile H4820 (מִרְמָה) — fraud

14 Depart from evil, and do good; Seek peace, and pursue it.

Cross references & Strong's
Strong's numbers (from RLT):
  • Depart H5493 (סוּר) — to turn off (literally or figuratively)
  • from evil H7451 (רַע) — bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral)
  • and do H6213 (עָשָׂה) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
  • good H2896 (טוֹב) — good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good or good t…
  • seek H1245 (בָּקַשׁ) — to search out (by any method, specifically in worship or prayer); by implication, to strive after
  • peace H7965 (שָׁלוֹם) — safe, i.e. (figuratively) well, happy, friendly; also (abstractly) welfare, i.e. health, prosperity, peace
  • and pursue H7291 (רָדַף) — to run after (usually with hostile intent; figuratively [of time] gone by)

15 The eyes of Jehovah are toward the righteous, And his ears are open unto their cry.

Cross references & Strong's
Strong's numbers (from RLT):
  • The eyes H5869 (עַיִן) — an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape)
  • of Yhwh H3068 (יְהֹוָה) — (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jeho-vah, Jewish national name of God
  • upon the righteous H6662 (צַדִּיק) — just
  • and his ears H241 (אֹזֶן) — broadness. i.e. (concrete) the ear (from its form in man)
  • unto their cry H7775 (שַׁוְעָה) — a hallooing

16 The face of Jehovah is against them that do evil, To cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.

Cross references & Strong's
Strong's numbers (from RLT):
  • The face H6440 (פָּנִים) — the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposition (befo…
  • of Yhwh H3068 (יְהֹוָה) — (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jeho-vah, Jewish national name of God
  • against them that do H6213 (עָשָׂה) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
  • evil H7451 (רַע) — bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral)
  • to cut off H3772 (כָּרַת) — to cut (off, down or asunder); by implication, to destroy or consume; specifically, to covenant (i.e. make an alliance or bargain, originally by cutting flesh a…
  • the remembrance H2143 (זֵכֶר) — a memento, abstractly recollection (rarely if ever); by implication, commemoration
  • of them from the earth H776 (אֶרֶץ) — the earth (at large, or partitively a land)

17 The righteous cried, and Jehovah heard, And delivered them out of all their troubles.

Cross references & Strong's
Strong's numbers (from RLT):
  • cry H6817 (צָעַק) — to shriek; (by implication) to proclaim (an assembly)
  • And Yhwh H3068 (יְהֹוָה) — (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jeho-vah, Jewish national name of God
  • heareth H8085 (שָׁמַע) — to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)
  • and delivereth H5337 (נָצַל) — to snatch away, whether in a good or a bad sense
  • them out of all their troubles H6869 (צָרָה) — tightness (i.e. figuratively, trouble); transitively, a female rival

18 Jehovah is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart, And saveth such as are of a contrite spirit.

Cross references & Strong's
Strong's numbers (from RLT):
  • Yhwh H3068 (יְהֹוָה) — (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jeho-vah, Jewish national name of God
  • nigh H7138 (קָרוֹב) — near (in place, kindred or time)
  • unto them that are of a broken H7665 (שָׁבַר) — to burst (literally or figuratively)
  • heart H3820 (לֵב) — the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the centre of anything
  • and saveth H3467 (יָשַׁע) — properly, to be open, wide or free, i.e. (by implication) to be safe; causatively, to free or succor
  • such as be of a contrite H1793 (דַּכָּא) — crushed (literally powder, or figuratively, contrite)
  • spirit H7307 (רוּחַ) — wind; by resemblance breath, i.e. a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively, life, anger, unsubstantiality; by extension, a region of the sky; by re…

19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous; But Jehovah delivereth him out of them all.

Cross references & Strong's
Strong's numbers (from RLT):
  • Many H7227 (רַב) — abundant (in quantity, size, age, number, rank, quality)
  • the afflictions H7451 (רַע) — bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral)
  • of the righteous H6662 (צַדִּיק) — just
  • But Yhwh H3068 (יְהֹוָה) — (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jeho-vah, Jewish national name of God
  • delivereth H5337 (נָצַל) — to snatch away, whether in a good or a bad sense

20 He keepeth all his bones: Not one of them is broken.

Cross references & Strong's
Strong's numbers (from RLT):
  • He keepeth H8104 (שָׁמַר) — properly, to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e. guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc.
  • all his bones H6106 (עֶצֶם) — a bone (as strong); by extension, the body; figuratively, the substance, i.e. (as pron.) selfsame
  • not one H259 (אֶחָד) — properly, united, i.e. one; or (as an ordinal) first
  • of them H2007 (הֵנָּה) — themselves (often used emphatic for the copula, also in indirect relation)
  • is broken H7665 (שָׁבַר) — to burst (literally or figuratively)

21 Evil shall slay the wicked; And they that hate the righteous shall be condemned.

Cross references & Strong's
Strong's numbers (from RLT):
  • Evil H7451 (רַע) — bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral)
  • shall slay H4191 (מוּת) — to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill
  • the wicked H7563 (רָשָׁע) — morally wrong; concretely, an (actively) bad person
  • and they that hate H8130 (שָׂנֵא) — to hate (personally)
  • the righteous H6662 (צַדִּיק) — just
  • shall be desolate H816 (אָשַׁם) — to be guilty; by implication to be punished or perish

22 Jehovah redeemeth the soul of his servants; And none of them that take refuge in him shall be condemned.

Cross references & Strong's
Strong's numbers (from RLT):
  • Yhwh H3068 (יְהֹוָה) — (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jeho-vah, Jewish national name of God
  • redeemeth H6299 (פָּדָה) — to sever, i.e. ransom; generally to release, preserve
  • the soul H5315 (נֶפֶשׁ) — properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or mental)
  • of his servants H5650 (עֶבֶד) — a servant
  • and none of them that trust H2620 (חָסָה) — to flee for protection; figuratively, to confide in
  • in him shall be desolate H816 (אָשַׁם) — to be guilty; by implication to be punished or perish