Hebrew · H833, H1870, H3820 · unreviewed

וְאַשֵּׁר בַּדֶּרֶךְ לִבֶּךָ

To be straight (used in the widest sense, especially to be level , right , happy ); figuratively, to go forward , be honest , prosper · a road (as trodden ); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb · the heart ; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings , the will and even the intellect ; likewise for the centre of anything

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Words in this compound — expand to study each participant

אָשַׁר H833 to be straight (used in the widest sense, especially to be level , right , happy ); figuratively, to go forward , be honest , prosper
Pronunciation ’ašrê
Rectitude and blessing converge: straightness of path yields prosperity, happiness, and moral integrity in ancient Israelite thought.
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דֶּרֶךְ H1870 a road (as trodden ); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb
Pronunciation derek
Path literally walked becomes metaphor for life's moral and spiritual trajectory; covenant-defining directional term
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לֵב H3820 the heart ; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings , the will and even the intellect ; likewise for the centre of anything
Pronunciation lev
The seat of will, intellect, and emotion—the inner moral and spiritual center governing all human motivation and choice.
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What does וְאַשֵּׁר בַּדֶּרֶךְ לִבֶּךָ (ve'asher baderekh libbekha) mean in the Bible?

אָשַׁר · דֶּרֶךְ · לֵב is a Hebrew word meaning "direct your heart in the way, guide your heart on the path".

Full entry for וְאַשֵּׁר בַּדֶּרֶךְ לִבֶּךָ (H833, H1870, H3820) · Browse the biblical lexicon

Meaning

direct your heart in the way, guide your heart on the path
Grammatical Forms

How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.

Piel intensive active — emphasizes thoroughness or repeated action
Participle active Isa 9:15 · Mal 3:15
Sequential imperfect Isa 1:17
Jussive Prov 4:14
Pual intensive passive — intensive action received by the subject
Participle passive Prov 3:18
Hebrew Verb Forms

How this verb appears across 5 occurrences in the Hebrew OT (OSHB Leningrad Codex).

Aspect / Form
Participle 2 Imperative 1 Participle passive 1 Imperfect 1
Stem
Piel 4 Pual 1
Mood
Imperative 1 Jussive 1

Aspect in Hebrew reflects grammatical form, not tense. "Perfect" (Perfective) typically denotes completed action; "Imperfect" (Imperfective) denotes incomplete or ongoing action. Stem modifies the action type (Qal=simple, Niphal=passive, Piel=intensive, etc.).

Morphology: OSHB WLC (Open Scriptures, CC BY 4.0) · STEPBible TEHMC (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0)

Sources