Proverbs 8:29

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

When he gave to the sea its bound, That the waters should not transgress his commandment, When he marked out the foundations of the earth;

Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

בְּשׂ֘וּמ֤וֹ לַיָּ֨ם ׀ חֻקּ֗וֹ וּ֭מַיִם לֹ֣א יַֽעַבְרוּ־פִ֑יו בְּ֝חוּק֗וֹ מ֣וֹסְדֵי אָֽרֶץ׃

Transliteration

When-śûmô layyām ḥuqqô, and-mayim not yaʿabrû-pîw, when-ḥûqô môsᵊdê ʾāreṣ

Grammar Details

*śûmô*: qal infinitive construct with 3rd person masculine singular suffix - his setting
*layyām*: preposition with definite article and masculine singular noun - for the sea
*ḥuqqô*: masculine singular noun with 3rd person masculine singular suffix - his decree
*mayim*: masculine plural noun - waters
*yaʿabrû*: qal imperfect 3rd person masculine plural - they transgress
*pîw*: masculine singular noun with 3rd person masculine singular suffix - his command
*ḥûqô*: qal infinitive construct with 3rd person masculine singular suffix - his marking out
*môsᵊdê*: masculine plural construct - foundations of
*ʾāreṣ*: feminine singular noun - earth/land

Word Meanings

*śûmô*: his setting/placing/establishing
*ḥuqqô*: his decree/boundary/statute
*yaʿabrû-pîw*: they transgress his command/mouth/word
*môsᵊdê*: foundations/bases
*ʾāreṣ*: earth/land/ground

ℹ️

About this Translation

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

Formal EquivalenceSource: American Standard VersionBest for: Word studies and original-language research

🎯 Translation Approach

A highly literal, word-for-word translation (ASV, 1901) augmented with Strong's numbering to connect English words to underlying Hebrew and Greek terms for study.

Word-for-word

5/5

Readability

2/5

💎 Distinctive Features

Integrated Strong's numbering: Links English terms to underlying Hebrew and Greek words for deeper lexical study.
Formal equivalence: Prioritizes close alignment with source-language forms and structures.
Divine name rendering: Frequently renders the Tetragrammaton as Jehovah in the Old Testament, following ASV tradition.
Study-focused formatting: Optimized for reference and research rather than casual reading.

✅ Strengths

High fidelity to original languages
Includes Strong's numbers for precise word study
Consistent lexical choices aid exegesis
Stable, longstanding scholarly text

⚠️ Considerations

Archaic language reduces readability
Older textual basis compared to some modern translations
Strong's numbers are a concordance index, not full lexical definitions

👥 Who is this for?

Ideal for

Pastors and teachers
Seminary students
Serious Bible students
Readers conducting word studies
Those referencing Hebrew/Greek tools

Consider alternatives for

Casual readers
Children and early teens
ESL learners seeking simple English
Readers preferring contemporary language

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Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

Ps 104:9 : 9 Thou hast set a bound that they may not pass over; That they turn not again to cover the earth.
Gen 1:9-9 : 9 And God said, Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so. 10 And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good.
Job 38:4-9 : 4 Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare, if thou hast understanding. 5 Who determined the measures thereof, if thou knowest? Or who stretched the line upon it? 6 Whereupon were the foundations thereof fastened? Or who laid the corner - stone thereof, 7 When the morning stars sang together, And all the sons of God shouted for joy? 8 Or [who] shut up the sea with doors, When it brake forth, [as if] it had issued out of the womb; 9 When I made clouds the garment thereof, And thick darkness a swaddling-band for it, 10 And marked out for it my bound, And set bars and doors, 11 And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further; And here shall thy proud waves be stayed?
Ps 33:7 : 7 He gathereth the waters of the sea together as a heap: He layeth up the deeps in store-houses.
Ps 104:5 : 5 Who laid the foundations of the earth, That it should not be moved for ever.
Jer 5:22 : 22 Fear ye not me? saith Jehovah: will ye not tremble at my presence, who have placed the sand for the bound of the sea, by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass it? and though the waves thereof toss themselves, yet can they not prevail; though they roar, yet can they not pass over it.

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

Prov 8:26-28
3 verses
84%
26While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, Nor the beginning of the dust of the world.
27When he established the heavens, I was there: When he set a circle upon the face of the deep,
28When he made firm the skies above, When the fountains of the deep became strong,
Ps 104:9
78%
9Thou hast set a bound that they may not pass over; That they turn not again to cover the earth.
Job 38:10-12
3 verses
77%
10And marked out for it my bound, And set bars and doors,
11And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further; And here shall thy proud waves be stayed?
12Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days [began], [And] caused the dayspring to know its place;
Job 26:10-12
3 verses
77%
10He hath described a boundary upon the face of the waters, Unto the confines of light and darkness.
11The pillars of heaven tremble And are astonished at his rebuke.
12He stirreth up the sea with his power, And by his understanding he smiteth through Rahab.
Ps 104:5
77%
5Who laid the foundations of the earth, That it should not be moved for ever.
Job 38:8
76%
8Or [who] shut up the sea with doors, When it brake forth, [as if] it had issued out of the womb;
Job 38:4-6
3 verses
76%
4Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare, if thou hast understanding.
5Who determined the measures thereof, if thou knowest? Or who stretched the line upon it?
6Whereupon were the foundations thereof fastened? Or who laid the corner - stone thereof,
Job 9:7-8
2 verses
75%
7That commandeth the sun, and it riseth not, And sealeth up the stars;
8That alone stretcheth out the heavens, And treadeth upon the waves of the sea;
Ps 33:7
75%
7He gathereth the waters of the sea together as a heap: He layeth up the deeps in store-houses.
Ps 24:2
75%
2For he hath founded it upon the seas, And established it upon the floods.
2 Sam 22:16
74%
16Then the channels of the sea appeared, The foundations of the world were laid bare, By the rebuke of Jehovah, At the blast of the breath of his nostrils.
Job 12:15
74%
15Behold, he withholdeth the waters, and they dry up; Again, he sendeth them out, and they overturn the earth.
Job 36:30
74%
30Behold, he spreadeth his light around him; And he covereth the bottom of the sea.
Jer 5:22
74%
22Fear ye not me? saith Jehovah: will ye not tremble at my presence, who have placed the sand for the bound of the sea, by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass it? and though the waves thereof toss themselves, yet can they not prevail; though they roar, yet can they not pass over it.
Ps 148:6
74%
6He hath also established them for ever and ever: He hath made a decree which shall not pass away.
Job 28:25-26
2 verses
73%
25To make a weight for the wind: Yea, he meteth out the waters by measure.
26When he made a decree for the rain, And a way for the lightning of the thunder;
Ps 95:5
73%
5The sea is his, and he made it; And his hands formed the dry land.
Job 38:16
73%
16Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea? Or hast thou walked in the recesses of the deep?
Ps 33:9
73%
9For he spake, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast.
Ps 18:15
73%
15Then the channels of waters appeared, And the foundations of the world were laid bare, At thy rebuke, O Jehovah, At the blast of the breath of thy nostrils.
Job 11:9
72%
9The measure thereof is longer than the earth, And broader than the sea.
Prov 8:24
72%
24When there were no depths, I was brought forth, When there were no fountains abounding with water.
Job 14:5
72%
5Seeing his days are determined, The number of his months is with thee, And thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass;
Job 26:8
72%
8He bindeth up the waters in his thick clouds; And the cloud is not rent under them.
Prov 3:19
72%
19Jehovah by wisdom founded the earth; By understanding he established the heavens.
Jer 10:12
72%
12He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and by his understanding hath he stretched out the heavens:
Job 38:30
72%
30The waters hide themselves [and become] like stone, And the face of the deep is frozen.
Exod 15:8
72%
8And with the blast of thy nostrils the waters were piled up, The floods stood upright as a heap; The deeps were congealed in the heart of the sea.
Job 28:11
72%
11He bindeth the streams that they trickle not; And the thing that is hid bringeth he forth to light.
Amos 9:6
71%
6[ it is] he that buildeth his chambers in the heavens, and hath founded his vault upon the earth; he that calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth; Jehovah is his name.
Jer 51:15
71%
15He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and by his understanding hath he stretched out the heavens:
Ps 89:9
71%
9Thou rulest the pride of the sea: When the waves thereof arise, thou stillest them.
Prov 8:30
71%
30Then I was by him, [as] a master workman; And I was daily [his] delight, Rejoicing always before him,
Job 37:12
71%
12And it is turned round about by his guidance, That they may do whatsoever he commandeth them Upon the face of the habitable world,
Job 41:31
71%
31He maketh the deep to boil like a pot: He maketh the sea like a pot of ointment.
Ps 107:25
71%
25For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, Which lifteth up the waves thereof.
Ps 65:6
71%
6Who by his strength setteth fast the mountains, Being girded about with might;
Ps 89:11
71%
11The heavens are thine, the earth also is thine: The world and the fulness thereof, thou hast founded them.
Job 28:9
70%
9He putteth forth his hand upon the flinty rock; He overturneth the mountains by the roots.