King James Version

Psalms 18:34

He teacheth my hands to war, so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms.

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Hebrew

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In the Hebrew text this line is Psalms 18:35.

מְלַמֵּ֣דmelamedteachלָמַדverb, piel, participle, absolute — “teach”, a verb used as a describing wordH3925properly, to goad, i.e. (by implication) to teach (the rod being an Oriental incentive)(un-) accustomed, [idiom] diligently, expert, instruct, learn, skilful, teach(-er, -ing).יָ֭דַיyadayhandיָדnoun, common, both genders, dual, construct, suffix, pronominal, 1st person, common, singular — “hand”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH3027a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.),([phrase] be) able, [idiom] about, [phrase] armholes, at, axletree, because of, beside, border, [idiom] bounty, [phrase] broad, (broken-) handed, [idiom] by, charge, coast, [phrase] consecrate, [phrase] creditor, custody, debt, dominion, […לַמִּלְחָמָ֑הlamilchamahto battleמִלְחָמָהpreposition, with the article, noun, common, feminine, singular, absolute — “to battle”, the ordinary formH4421a battle (i.e. the engagement); generally, war (i.e. warfare)battle, fight(-ing), war(-rior).וְֽנִחֲתָ֥הvenichatahand press soreנָחַתconjunction, verb, piel, sequential perfect, 3rd person, feminine, singular — “and press sore”, a completed action in a sequenceH5181to sink, i.e. descend; causatively, to press or lead downbe broken, (cause to) come down, enter, go down, press sore, settle, stick fast.קֶֽשֶׁתqeshetbowקֶשֶׁתnoun, common, feminine, singular, construct — “bow”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH7198a bow, forshooting (hence, figuratively, strength) or the iris[idiom] arch(-er), [phrase] arrow, bow(-man, -shot).נְ֝חוּשָׁ֗הnechushahbrassנְחוּשָׁהnoun, common, feminine, singular, absolute — “brass”, the ordinary formH5154copperbrass, steel. Compare H5176 (נָחָשׁ).זְרוֹעֹתָֽיzerootayarmזְרוֹעַnoun, common, both genders, plural, construct, suffix, pronominal, 1st person, common, singular — “arm”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH2220the arm (as stretched out), or (of animals) the foreleg; figuratively, forcearm, [phrase] help, mighty, power, shoulder, strength.

Jewish translation (JPS 1917)

(18-35) Who traineth my hands for war, so that mine arms do bend a bow of brass.

Compare Public-Domain Translations

The King James Version remains the text of this page and the canonical URL.

American Standard Version (1901)

He teacheth my hands to war; So that mine arms do bend a bow of brass.

Young’s Literal Translation

Teaching my hands for battle, And a bow of brass was brought down by my arms.

World English Bible

He teaches my hands to war, so that my arms bend a bow of bronze.

Darby Translation

Who teacheth my hands to war, and mine arms bend a bow of brass;

Jewish Publication Society (1917)

(18-35) Who traineth my hands for war, so that mine arms do bend a bow of brass.

Brenton’s Septuagint (1851), English

He instructs my hands for war; and thou hast made my arms as a brazen bow.

Septuagint (Brenton’s Greek, 1851)

Διδάσκων χεῖράς μου εἰς πόλεμον· καὶ ἔθου τόξον χαλκοῦν τοὺς βραχίονάς μου,