בָּטַח
ba.tach
to trust
Lexicon Entry
Lexicon data from STEPBible TIPNR, Tyndale House, Cambridge. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
What Original Readers Understood
Supported# The Hebrew Word for Trust: בָּטַח (batach) The Hebrew verb בָּטַח (batach) means "to trust" and appears 120 times throughout the Bible, making it a moderately frequent term in biblical Hebrew. Its consistent presence across the text indicates that trust was a concept of considerable importance to the biblical writers and their audiences. The word's relatively high frequency suggests it addresses a fundamental human experience—the act of placing confidence in someone or something. Based on the lexical data provided, batach functions as a straightforward verb expressing the mental and emotional state of relying upon or having confidence in another party. With 120 occurrences, the word demonstrates enough variation in context to suggest a range of applications, though the lexicon data alone does not specify whether the object of trust varies (for example, trusting in God versus trusting in human leaders or institutions). The consistent definition across these numerous occurrences indicates the core meaning remained stable throughout the biblical period, even as different authors and communities employed the term. The significance of batach lies in its ubiquity within Hebrew scripture. A word used 120 times is neither rare nor peripheral—it represents a recurring theme woven throughout biblical discourse. This frequency pattern indicates that "trusting" was not merely an incidental human activity but rather a concept central enough to biblical theology and ethics that multiple authors found reason to invoke it repeatedly when
Source data & methodology
Occurrences in Scripture
120 total occurrences across the text — showing 50
Sennacherib king of Assyria says, “In whom do you trust, that you remain under siege in Jerusalem?
Job 6:20They were distressed because they were confident. They came there, and were confounded.
Job 11:18You will be secure, because there is hope. Yes, you will search, and will take your rest in safety.
Job 39:11Will you trust him, because his strength is great? Or will you leave to him your labor?
Job 40:23Behold, if a river overflows, he doesn’t tremble. He is confident, though the Jordan swells even to his mouth.
Psalms 4:5Offer the sacrifices of righteousness. Put your trust in Yahweh.
Psalms 9:10Those who know your name will put their trust in you, for you, Yahweh, have not forsaken those who seek you.
Psalms 13:5But I trust in your loving kindness. My heart rejoices in your salvation.
Psalms 21:7For the king trusts in Yahweh. Through the loving kindness of the Most High, he shall not be moved.
Psalms 22:4Our fathers trusted in you. They trusted, and you delivered them.
Psalms 22:4Our fathers trusted in you. They trusted, and you delivered them.
Psalms 22:5They cried to you, and were delivered. They trusted in you, and were not disappointed.
Psalms 22:9But you brought me out of the womb. You made me trust while at my mother’s breasts.
Psalms 25:2My God, I have trusted in you. Don’t let me be shamed. Don’t let my enemies triumph over me.
Psalms 26:1Judge me, Yahweh, for I have walked in my integrity. I have trusted also in Yahweh without wavering.
Psalms 27:3Though an army should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear. Though war should rise against me, even then I will be confident.
Psalms 28:7Yahweh is my strength and my shield. My heart has trusted in him, and I am helped. Therefore my heart greatly rejoices. With my song I will thank him.
Psalms 31:6I hate those who regard lying vanities, but I trust in Yahweh.
Psalms 31:14But I trust in you, Yahweh. I said, “You are my God.”
Psalms 32:10Many sorrows come to the wicked, but loving kindness shall surround him who trusts in Yahweh.
Psalms 33:21For our heart rejoices in him, because we have trusted in his holy name.
Psalms 37:3Trust in Yahweh, and do good. Dwell in the land, and enjoy safe pasture.
Psalms 37:5Commit your way to Yahweh. Trust also in him, and he will do this:
Psalms 40:3He has put a new song in my mouth, even praise to our God. Many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in Yahweh.
Psalms 41:9Yes, my own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, who ate bread with me, has lifted up his heel against me.
Psalms 44:6For I will not trust in my bow, neither shall my sword save me.
Psalms 49:6Those who trust in their wealth, and boast in the multitude of their riches—
Psalms 52:7“Behold, this is the man who didn’t make God his strength, but trusted in the abundance of his riches, and strengthened himself in his wickedness.”
Psalms 52:8But as for me, I am like a green olive tree in God’s house. I trust in God’s loving kindness forever and ever.
Psalms 55:23But you, God, will bring them down into the pit of destruction. Bloodthirsty and deceitful men shall not live out half their days, but I will trust in you.
Psalms 56:3When I am afraid, I will put my trust in you.
Psalms 56:4In God, I praise his word. In God, I put my trust. I will not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?
Psalms 56:11I have put my trust in God. I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?
Psalms 62:8Trust in him at all times, you people. Pour out your heart before him. God is a refuge for us.
Psalms 62:10Don’t trust in oppression. Don’t become vain in robbery. If riches increase, don’t set your heart on them.
Psalms 78:22because they didn’t believe in God, and didn’t trust in his salvation.
Psalms 84:12Yahweh of Armies, blessed is the man who trusts in you.
Psalms 86:2Preserve my soul, for I am godly. You, my God, save your servant who trusts in you.
Psalms 91:2I will say of Yahweh, “He is my refuge and my fortress; my God, in whom I trust.”
Psalms 112:7He will not be afraid of evil news. His heart is steadfast, trusting in Yahweh.
Psalms 115:8Those who make them will be like them; yes, everyone who trusts in them.
Psalms 115:9Israel, trust in Yahweh! He is their help and their shield.
Psalms 115:10House of Aaron, trust in Yahweh! He is their help and their shield.
Psalms 115:11You who fear Yahweh, trust in Yahweh! He is their help and their shield.
Psalms 118:8It is better to take refuge in Yahweh, than to put confidence in man.
Psalms 118:9It is better to take refuge in Yahweh, than to put confidence in princes.
Psalms 119:42So I will have an answer for him who reproaches me, for I trust in your word.
Psalms 125:1Those who trust in Yahweh are as Mount Zion, which can’t be moved, but remains forever.
Psalms 135:18Those who make them will be like them, yes, everyone who trusts in them.
Psalms 143:8Cause me to hear your loving kindness in the morning, for I trust in you. Cause me to know the way in which I should walk, for I lift up my soul to you.