English · KJV
H6424

פָּלַס

pâlaç /paw-las'/ Ask about this word
Roota primitive root
Meaningproperly, to roll flat, i.e. prepare (a road); also to revolve, i.e. weigh (mentally)
KJV usagemake, ponder, weigh.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of pâlaç — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word pâlaç, represented by H6424, is a primitive root meaning to roll flat, prepare a road, or to mentally revolve, weigh, and ponder. It appears 6 times in 6 unique verses, carrying the dual sense of both preparing a way and carefully considering a course of action.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In its biblical usage, H6424 is applied to both God and man. Individuals are commanded to ponder the path of their feet to ensure their ways are established Proverbs 4:26. Conversely, the wicked are described as those who weigh the violence of their hands in their heart Psalms 58:2. The term is also used to describe God's actions. The LORD pondereth all the goings of man Proverbs 5:21 and, as the most upright, is the one who does weigh the path of the just Isaiah 26:7. In a display of judgment, God also made a way for His anger, not sparing the soul from death Psalms 78:50.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the contexts in which H6424 is used:

  • H734 ʼôrach (path): This word for a well-trodden road or course of life is what one is to ponder. It is used to describe the path of the just, which shines like a light Proverbs 4:18.
  • H4570 maʻgâl (track, going, path): This term for a track or going is frequently the object of pondering. God leads the righteous in the paths of righteousness Psalms 23:3.
  • H3820 lêb (heart): As the center of the will and intellect, the heart is where the act of pondering or weighing takes place. Scripture commands believers to keep their heart with all diligence, as from it are the issues of life Proverbs 4:23.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H6424 is significant, highlighting key principles of wisdom and divine justice.

  • Moral Deliberation: The command to ponder the path of your feet establishes the principle of thoughtful self-examination. It calls for a life guided by careful consideration rather than impulse Proverbs 4:26.
  • Divine Scrutiny: God is portrayed as the one who pondereth all of man's goings Proverbs 5:21 and weighs the path of the just Isaiah 26:7. This signifies that every life course is subject to divine oversight and evaluation.
  • Consequential Actions: The word connects mental weighing with physical outcomes. Men can weigh violence in their hearts Psalms 58:2, while God can make a way for His anger Psalms 78:50, showing that what is pondered or prepared ultimately leads to a tangible result.

Summary

In summary, H6424 is a multifaceted term that moves from the physical act of preparing a road to the profound mental act of weighing one's life. It frames a core biblical theme: the importance of the path one chooses. Whether used of a person considering their steps or of God evaluating a life and executing judgment, pâlaç emphasizes that the direction and substance of one's ways are of ultimate consequence.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a verb across 6 occurrences, inflected in 5 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

  • תְּפַלֵּס
  • פַּלֵּס
  • תְּפַלֵּסוּ
  • יְפַלֵּס
  • מְפַלֵּס

Related Words

Related

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

H734 אֹרַח from אָרַח; a well-trodden road (literally or figuratively); also a caravan; manner, path, race, rank, traveller, troop, H4570 מַעְגָּל or feminine מַעְגָּלָה; from the same as עָגֹל; a track (literally or figuratively); also a rampart (as circular); going H3820 לֵב a form of לֵבָב; the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; like

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 6 verses across 3 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Proverbs (3 verses); never once in the other 36.

2
Psalms
3
Proverbs
1
Isaiah

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.