BDB2204 H2005 H518 H2006
BDB2203 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB2205
II. הֵן100 (הֶןֿ Num 23:9; Num 23:24; Job 8:19; Job 8:20; Job 13:1; Job 26:14; Job 33:6; Job 33:12; Job 33:29; Job 36:5; Job 36:22; Job 36:26 הֵןֿ Job 13:15; Job 36:30; Job 41:1 +) demonstrative adverb or interjection lo! behold (on etymology see הִנֵּה), less widely used than הִנֵּה, and in prose mostly confined to calling attention to some fact upon which action is to be taken, or a conclusion based;
a. Gen 3:22 הֵן הָאָדָם הָיָה behold the man is become as one of us, & now lest, etc., Gen 4:14 behold, thou hast driven me forth etc., Gen 11:6; Gen 15:3; Gen 19:34; Gen 27:11; Gen 29:7; Gen 30:34 (nearly = yea), Exod 5:5; Exod 6:12; Exod 6:30; Lev 10:18; Lev 10:19; Num 17:27; Deut 5:21 (in prose only in Pentateuch (23 t.) and Ezek 18:4 in this usage); in poetry, used more freely, but chiefly in Isa2 & Job, — Num 23:9; Num 23:24 (Balaam) Isa 23:13; Isa 32:1; Isa 33:7; Ps 51:7; Ps 51:8; Ps 68:34; Ps 78:20; Ps 139:4; Prov 11:31 (stating the premiss to a conclusion introduced by אַף כִּי, q. v.), Prov 24:12: elsewhere (except in senses b, c) only in Isa2 (23 t.) & Job (31 t), as Isa 40:15 (twice in verse); Isa 41:11; Isa 41:24; Isa 41:29; Isa 50:1; Isa 50:2; Isa 50:9 (twice in verse); Isa 50:11; Job 4:18; Job 15:15; Job 25:5 (in these three passages before אַף or אַף כִּי), Job 9:1; Job 9:12 etc. (see above).
b. as a hypothetical particle, propounding a possibility, if (so Late Hebrew, Biblical Aramaic, Mandean, Palmyrene (ZMG 1888, 404); on the contrary Syriac , Palestinian ᵑ7 אִין, also Palmyrene (ib. p. 415), Arabic with א), a special application or development of the use a: Exod 4:1 והן לא יאמינו לי and behold ( = and suppose) they will not believe me ? etc., Lev 25:20 and if (וְכִי) ye say, What shall we eat the 7th year ? הֵן לֹא נִזְרַע behold, we shall not sow etc. (i.e. supposing we do not sow), Isa 54:15; Job 40:23; 2Chr 7:13 (twice in verse) (2Chr 7:13 b וְאִם); stating the ground on which a question is based, Exod 8:22 (וְלֹא = הֲלֹא), Jer 3:1; Hag 2:12 (see הֵן Aramaic b).
c. if, whether, in an indirect question, Jer 2:10 רְאוּ הֵן הָֽיְתָה כָּזֹאת (but Gr הֲנִהְיְתָה); compare אִם 2 b, and הֵן Aramaic 3.
BDB3995 H3588 H518
BDB3994 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB3996
כִּי conjunction that, for, when (Moabite id,: Phoenician כ. Probably from the same demonstrative basis found in here, and in certain pronouns, as Aramaic דֵּךְ this (WSG 110 f.); perhaps also ultimately akin with that, in order that, and then, enclitic, like Latin nam in quisnam?) — 1. that (
ὅτι, German
dass):
a. prefixed to sentences depending on an active verb, and occupying to it the place of an accusative: so constantly, after verbs of seeing, as
Gen 1:10 וַיַּרְא אֱלֹהִים כִּי טוֺב and God saw
that it was good,
Gen 3:6;
Gen 6:2;
Gen 6:5;
Gen 12:14 + often, hearing
Gen 14:14;
Gen 29:33, knowing
Gen 22:12;
Gen 24:14, telling
Gen 3:11;
Gen 12:18, repenting
Gen 6:6;
Gen 6:7, swearing
Gen 22:16;
Jer 22:5, believing
Exod 4:5;
Lam 4:12, remembering
Ps 78:35, forgetting
Job 39:15 אָמַר =
command (late; in early Hebrew the words said are quoted)
Job 36:10;
Job 36:24 (
זְכֹר in a command)
Job 37:20 b
1Chr 21:18 (contrast
2Sam 24:18) etc.;
טוֺב כּי it is good
that ...
2Sam 18:2 + (usually the infinitive with, as
Gen 2:18 see ibid.);
Gen 37:26 מַהבֶּֿצַע כִּי נַהֲרֹג what profit
that we should slay (imperfect)...?
Mal 3:14 what proft
כִּי שָׁמַרְנוּ that we have kept (perfect)...?
Job 22:3 הַחֵפֶץ לְשַׁדַּי כִּי is it pleasure to Shaddai that...? after a pronoun, as
Ps 41:12 by
this I know that thou hast pleasure in me,
that my enemy cannot triumph over me,
Ps 42:5 these things will I remember...
that (
or how) I used to go, etc.,
Ps 56:10 this I know
that God is for me
Job 13:16 (
הוא). And with
כִּי repeated pleonastic after an intervening clause
2Sam 19:7;
Jer 26:15 +;
כִּי ֗֗֗ וְכִי Gen 3:6;
Gen 29:12;
Exod 4:31;
Josh 2:9;
Josh 8:21;
Josh 10:1;
1Sam 31:7;
2Sam 5:12;
1Kgs 11:21;
Jer 40:7;
Jer 40:11 לֵאמֹר ֗֗֗ וְכִי Gen 45:26;
Judg 10:10.
b. כִּי often introduces the
direct narration (like
,
, and the Greek
ὅτι recitativum, e.g.
Luke 4:21), in which case it cannot be represented in English (except by inverted commas),
Gen 21:30;
Gen 29:33 and she said,
׳כִּי שׁמע י Yahweh hath heard, etc.;
Exod 3:12 =
Judg 6:16 and he said,
כִּי אֶהְיֶה עִמָּ֑ךְ I will be with thee,
Josh 2:24;
1Sam 2:16 (see
Dr)
1Sam 10:19 and ye have said to him,
כִּי מֶלָךְ תָּשִׂים עָלֵינוּ Thou shalt set a king over us,
2Sam 11:23;
1Kgs 1:13;
1Kgs 20:5;
Ruth 1:10, compare
Ruth 2:21 (but in reply to a question
כִּי may =
because, see below
3; and so also in sentences giving the explanation of a proper name,
Gen 26:22;
Gen 29:32 (but
De surely: see below),
Exod 2:10 (compare
Gen 4:25;
Gen 41:51;
Gen 41:52); in
כִּי מָה, introducing an expostulation,
1Sam 29:8;
1Kgs 11:22;
2Kgs 8:13, it gives the reason for a suppressed 'Why do you say this?').
c. especially after an oath
חַי אָ֫נִי,
׳חַי י etc., introducing the fact sworn to,
Gen 42:16 by the life of Pharaoh,
כִּי מְרַגְּלִים אַתֶּם (I say)
that ye are spies; but though Hebrew usage probably gave it an asseverative force, English idiom does not require it to be expressed:
Num 14:22;
1Sam 20:3 as
׳י liveth,
כִּי כְפֶשַׂע בֵּינִי וּבֵין הַמָּוֶת there is but a step between me and death!
1Sam 26:16;
1Sam 29:6;
Isa 49:18 +;
1Sam 14:44 כֹּהיַֿעֲשֶׂה אֱלֹהִים וְכֹה יוֺסִיף כִּי מוֺת תָּמוּת thus may God do and more also: thou shalt surely die!
2Sam 3:35;
1Kgs 2:23;
Ruth 1:17 and elsewhere — Note that
כִּי when thus used is often repeated after an intervening clause, in order that its force may be fully preserved:
Gen 1:39 כִּי מוֺת יָמוּת (
אִםיֶֿשְׁנוֺ בְּיוֺנָתָן בְּנִי)
כִּי ׳חַי י 1Sam 25:34;
2Sam 2:27 ׳כִּי אָז וג (
לוּלֵא דִּבַּרְתָּ)
כִּי,
2Sam 3:9;
2Sam 15:21 Qr 1Kgs 1:30;
Jer 22:24.
d. כִּי is used sometimes with advs. and interjs. to add force or distinctness to the affirmation which follows:
(
a) so especially in
אַף כִּי (see
אַף);
הֲכִי is it that . . .? (as a neutral interrogative)
2Sam 9:1, (expecting a negative answer)
Gen 29:15 is it that thou art my brother, and shalt (therefore) serve me for nothing?
Job 6:22 is it that I have said, Give unto me? expressing surprise
Gen 27:36 is it that he is called Jacob, and has (hence) supplanted me twice?
2Sam 23:19 an affirm. answer is required (which would imply
הֲלֹא כִי): read probably with the ||
1Chr 11:25 הִנּוֺ be-hold, he, etc.;
אִםלֹֿא כִּי Deut 32:30 were it not
that .. .;
אָמְנָם כִּי Job 12:2 of a truth (is it)
that ye are the people, etc.;
אַךְ כִּי 1Sam 8:9 אֶפֶם כִּי Num 13:28 +;
גַּם כִּי Ruth 2:21 הֲלֹא כִי 1Sam 10:1 (but see
ᵐ5 Dr),
2Sam 13:28 הִנֵּה כִי Ps 128:4 compare
Ps 118:10 כִּי אֲמִיַלם ׳בְּשֵׁם י in the name of
׳י (is it)
that — or (I say)
that — I will mow them down;
Job 39:27 doth the vulture mount up at thy command,
וְכִי יָרִים קִנּוֺ and (is it)
that it (so) makes high its nest?
Isa 36:19 have the gods of the nations delivered each his land etc.? . . .
וְכִי הִצִּילוּ i.e. (
Hi)
and (is it)
that they have delivered Samaria out of my hand? > (
Ew§ 354 c De Di)
and that they have delivered Samaria out of my hand! = how much less (
אַף כִּי) have they, etc.! (||
2Kgs 18:34 כִּי alone, perhaps conformed by error to v
2Kgs 18:35;
2Chr 32:15 אַף כִּי, which however does not decide the sense of the original
וְכִי).
1Chr 29:14 וְכִי מִי read
ומי or
כי מי (
b) in introducing the apodosis, especially in
כִּי עַתָּה (chiefly after
לוּלֵא)
indeed then . . .,
Gen 31:42;
Gen 43:10 for unless we had tarried
כִּי עַתָּה שַׁבְנוּ surely then we had returned twice,
Num 22:33 (read
לוּלֵי for
אוּלַי); so
1Sam 14:30 ᵐ5 (after
לוּא), and
1Sam 13:13 Hi We (
לֻא for
לֹא); after
אִם Job 8:6 surely then he will awake over thee, etc. (But elsewhere
כִּי עַתָּה is simply
for now,
Gen 29:32;
Job 7:21 +; or
for then = for in that case,
Exod 9:15;
Num 22:29;
Job 3:13;
Job 6:3 +). It is dubious whether
כִּי אָז has the same sense: for
2Sam 2:27;
2Sam 19:7 the
כִּי in
כִּי אָז may be merely resumptive of the
כִּי recitation preceding (see
a, c).
Rare otherwise: Exod 22:22 if thou afflict him כִּי אִםצָֿעֹק יִצְעַק 'tis that (= indeed), if he cries unto me, I will hear him, Isa 7:9 if ye believe not כִּי לֹא תֵאֵָמנוּ ׃ indeed ye will not be established.
e. there seem also to be other cases in which כִּי, standing alone, has an intensive force, introducing a statement with emphasis, yea, surely, certainly (German ja — a lighter particle than these English words): see in AV RV Exod 18:11; Num 23:23; 1Sam 17:25; 1Sam 20:26; 2Kgs 23:22; Isa 32:13; Isa 60:9; Jer 22:22; Jer 31:19; Hos 6:9; Hos 8:6; Hos 9:12; Hos 10:3; Amos 3:7; Ps 76:11; Ps 77:12 (Ew Che), Prov 30:2 (but not if construed as RVm), Eccl 4:16; Eccl 7:7; Eccl 7:20; Job 28:1 +; Lam 3:22 (ᵑ6 ᵑ7 Ew Th Öttli) the mercies of ׳י, surely they are not consumed (read probably תַמּוּ or תָֽמְמוּ for תמנו), Ruth 3:12 כִּי אָמְנָם yea, indeed. But it is doubtful whether כִּי has this force in all the passages for which scholars have had recourse to it, and whether in some it is not simply = for. DeProv 30:1 would restrict the usage to cases in which a suppressed clause may be understood. feminine that, expressing consecution, especially after a question implying surprise or deprecation: followed by perf., Gen 20:9 what have I sinned against thee כִּי הֵבֵאתָ עָלַי that thou hast brought upon me? 1Sam 22:8; Isa 22:1 what aileth thee, that thou art gone up, etc.? vIsa 22:16; Isa 36:5; Isa 52:5; Mic 4:9; Hab 2:18 followed by participle Judg 14:3; 1Sam 20:1; 1Kgs 18:9 how have I sinned that thou art giving, etc.? 2Kgs 5:7; Ezek 24:19 usually followed by imperfect Exod 3:11 who am I כִּי אֵלֵךְ that I should go, etc.? Exod 16:7; Judg 8:6; Judg 9:28; 2Kgs 8:13; Isa 7:13; Isa 29:16 (also perfect), Ps 8:5 what is man כִּי תִזְכְּרֶנּוּ? Job 3:12 or why the breasts כִּי אִינָָֽק ׃ that I should suck? Job 6:11 מַהכֹּֿחִי כִּי אִַיַחֵל, Job 7:12; Job 7:17; Job 10:5f.; Job 13:25f.; Job 15:12f; Job 15:14; Job 16:3; Job 21:15 +; after a negative, Gen 40:15 here also I have done nothing כִּי שָׂמוּ that they should have placed me in the dungeon, Ps 44:19f. our heart has not turned backward, etc. כִּי דִכִּיתָנוּ that thou shouldst have crushed us, etc., Isa 43:22 not me hast thou called on, כִּי יָגַעְתָּ בִּי that thou shouldst have wearied thyself with me, Hos 1:6 (see RV), Job 41:2; Ruth 1:12 I am too old to have an husband כִּי אָמַרְתִּי that I should have said, etc. (compare Ew§ 337 a; Dr§ 39 δ).
g. added to preps. כִּי converts them, like אֲשֶׁר, into conjs. ..., as יַעַן כִּי because that...: see below יַעַן, עַד, עַל, עֵקֶב, תַּחַת. 2. a. Of time, when, of the past וַיְהִי כִּי Gen 6:1 (compare BuUrg. 6), Gen 26:8; Gen 27:1; 2Sam 6:13; 2Sam 7:1; 2Sam 19:26 + (כַּאֲשֶׁר and especially כְּ with infinitive, are more frequently); וְהָיָה כִּי (simple וְ) 1Sam 1:12; 1Sam 17:48; Josh 22:7; Judg 2:18; Judg 12:5 והיה כי יאמרו and it would be, whenever (frequently) they said, Jer 44:19 (participle), Hos 11:1; Ps 32:3 כי החרשׁתי when I was silent, Job 31:21; Job 31:26; Job 31:29 of present (usually with imperfect) as Exod 18:16 כִּי יִהְיֶה לָהֶם דָּבָר when they have a matter, 1Sam 24:20; Isa 1:12; Isa 30:21; Jer 14:12; Zech 7:5; Zech 7:6; Mal 1:8; Ps 49:19 and men praise thee כִּי תֵיטִיב לָ֑ךְ when thou doest well to thyself, Ps 102:1; Ps 127:5 +, with perfect Ezek 3:19-21; Ezek 33:9; Prov 11:15; Prov 23:22 especially of future, as Gen 4:12 כִּי תַעֲבֹד אֶתהָֿאֲדָמָה when thou shalt till the ground it shall not, etc., Gen 24:41; Gen 30:33; Gen 31:49; Gen 32:18; Exod 7:9 when Pharaoh shall speak unto you, Deut 4:25; Deut 6:20 +; in phrase (׳תאֹמַר וג) וְכִי תאֹמְרוּ Lev 25:20; Deut 18:21; Isa 8:19; Isa 36:7; Jer 13:22 and especially in ... וְהָיָה כִּי Gen 12:12; Gen 46:33; Deut 6:10; Deut 15:16; 1Sam 10:7; 1Sam 25:30; Isa 8:21; Isa 10:12 + often; with perfect Isa 16:12; 1Chr 17:11 (altered from imperfect 2Sam 7:12); with participle (unusual) Num 33:51; Num 34:2; Deut 11:31; Deut 18:9.
b. elsewhere כִּי has a force approximating to if, though it usually represents a case as more likely to occur than אִם: — (mostly with imperfect) Gen 38:16; Num 5:20; Num 10:32; Deut 6:25; Deut 7:17; Deut 28:2; Deut 28:13; 1Sam 20:13; 2Sam 19:8; 2Kgs 4:29; 2Kgs 18:22; Jer 38:15; Prov 4:8; Job 7:13 (כי אמרתי when I say), Job 19:28 often in laws, as Exod 21:14; Exod 21:33; Exod 21:35; Exod 21:37; Exod 22:4; Exod 22:5 etc., Deut 13:13; Deut 14:24; Deut 15:7; Deut 15:12; Deut 17:2; Deut 18:6; Deut 18:21 etc.; sometimes, in particular, to state a principle broadly, after which special cases are introduced by אִם, as Exod 21:2 when (כִּי) thou buyest a Hebrew servant, he shall serve thee six years, after which vExod 21:3-5 follow four special cases with אִם if: so Exod 21:7 (כי), vExod 21:8-11 (אם); vExod 21:18 (כי), vExod 21:19 (אם); vExod 21:20 (כי), vExod 21:21 (אם); vExod 21:22 f; vExod 21:28-32; Lev 1:2 (כי), vLev 1:3 vLev 1:10 (אם) Lev 4:2; Lev 4:3; Lev 4:13; Lev 4:27; Lev 4:32; Lev 13:2ff. Num 30:3ff. +; though this distinction is not uniformly observed, contrast e.g. Exod 21:5 with Deut 15:16; Num 5:19 and vNum 5:20. — 3. Because, since ὅτι —
a. Gen 3:14 because thou hast done this, cursed art thou, etc., v
Gen 3:17;
Gen 18:20;
Gen 17:20 the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah —
because it is great ... (subject prefixed for emphasis: compare
2 2. (About 140 t.) the two particles being closely conjoined, and relating to the
same clause —
a. limiting the preceding clause, except (after a negative, or an oath, or question, the equivalent of a negative) — the most usual term for expressing this idea: followed by verb
Gen 32:27 I will not let thee go;
כִּי אִםבֵּֿרַכְתָּֽנִי literally
but (
כִּי 3 e)
if thou bless me (that is, I will let thee go), i.e., subordinating the second clause to the first, 'I will not let thee go,
except thou bless me;'
Lev 22:6 he shall not eat of the holy things
כִּי אִםרָֿחַץ except he have washed his flesh,
Isa 65:6;
Amos 3:7;
Ruth 3:18;
Lam 5:21f. (
Ew Näg Ke Che Öttli), turn thou us unto thee, etc.,
unless thou have utterly rejected us, (and) art very wroth with us (=
Or hast thou utterly rejected us? etc.
Ew Öttli); followed by a noun,
except, but,
Gen 28:17 this is nothing
׳כִּי אִםבֵּֿית הָאֱ but the house of God,
Gen 32:9 he withholds from me nothing
כִּי אִםאֿוֺתָךְ except thee,
Lev 21:2;
Num 14:30 (after
אִם),
Num 26:65 (compare
Num 32:12 בִּלְתִּי),
Josh 14:4;
1Sam 30:17;
1Sam 30:22;
2Sam 12:3 אֵין כֹּל כִּי אִםֿ (so
2Kgs 4:2),
2Kgs 19:29;
1Kgs 17:1 (after
אִם),
1Kgs 22:31;
2Kgs 5:15;
2Kgs 9:35;
2Kgs 13:7;
Jer 22:17;
Jer 44:14 +; after
אַל,
2Chr 23:6 followed by an adverb clause,
Gen 42:15;
Num 35:33;
2Sam 3:13 (but
כִּי אִם and
לִפְנֵי are mutually exclusive: read probably with
ᵐ5 כִּי אִםהֵֿבֵיאתָ); after an interrogative
Isa 42:19 who is blind
כִּי אִםעַֿבְדִּי but my servant ? (who is blind in comparison with him ?),
Deut 10:12;
Mic 6:8;
Eccl 5:10;
2Chr 2:5.
b. the
if being neglected, and treated as pleonastic (compare
אִם 1 c),
so that the clause is no longer a limitation of the preceding clause but a contradiction of it: but rather, but (= a slightly strengthened כִּי), Gen 15:4 this man shall not be thy heir; ׳כִּי אִםאֲֿשֶׁר וג but one that shall come forth from thy own bowels, he shall be thy heir (compare 1Kgs 8:19), 1Kgs 32:29 thy name shall no more be called Jacob כִּי אִםיִֿשְׂרָאֵל but Israel (compare כִּי alone 1Kgs 17:15), 1Kgs 47:18 we will not hide it from my lord, but the money . . . is all made over to, etc., Exod 12:9 not boiled in water, but roast with fire, Deut 7:5; Deut 12:5; Deut 16:6; Josh 23:8; 1Sam 2:15 he will not take of thee boiled flesh כִּי אִםחָֽֿי׃ but raw, 1Sam 8:19 לֹא כִּי אִםמֶֿלֶךְ יִהְיֶה עָלֵינוּ nay, but a king shall be over us (compare כי alone, 1Sam 10:19; 1Sam 12:12), 1Sam 21:5; 2Sam 5:6; 1Kgs 18:18; 2Kgs 10:23 (פֶּן), Isa 33:21; Isa 55:10; Isa 55:11; Isa 59:2; Jer 3:10; Jer 7:32; Jer 9:23; Jer 16:15; Jer 20:3; Jer 44:10; Ps 1:2; Ps 1:4; Prov 23:17 (אַל) Psalm +; with the principal verb repeated (as Gen 15:4; 1Kgs 8:19), Lev 21:14; Ezek 44:22; Num 10:30; 2Kgs 23:23; Jer 39:12 Kt (Qr omit אִם), compare Jer 7:23. Occasionally in colloquial language, the negative, it seems, is left to be understood: 1Sam 26:10 as ׳י liveth, (by no means,) כִּי אִם but ׳י shall smite him, 2Sam 13:33 Kt (by no means,) but Amnon alone is dead (Qr omits אִם). Followed by imperative Isa 65:18; Ezek 12:23; Jer 39:12; 2Chr 25:8. Sometimes also, though rarely (and not certainly), כִּי אִם appears to have the force of only even without a previous negative: Gen 40:14 כִּי אִםזְֿכַרְתָּנִי אִתְּךָ only have (?) me in remembrance with thyself (but read perhaps אַךְ for כִּי; see Dr§ 119 δ n., the use of a bare perfect, without לוּ, or even waw consecutive, to express a wish or command is unexampled), Num 24:22 כִּי אִםֿ יִהְיֶה לְבָעֵר קָֽיִן׃ only, nevertheless, the Kenite shall be for extermination (compare Di), Job 42:8 (De Di) כִּי אִםפָּֿנָיו אֶשָּׂא
c. after an oath כִּי אִם appears to = a strengthened כִּי (compare בִּלְתִּי אִם, אִם ׃עַד אִם 1 c), introducing the fact sworn to (see כִּי 1 c): 2Kgs 5:20 as ׳י liveth, כִּי אִםרַֿצְתִּי surely I will run (perfect of certitude) after him, etc., Jer 51:14 (Ges Hi Gf RV) surley I will fill thee with men (namely, assailants), etc. (but Ew Ke Ch treat the particles as separate (כִּי as כִּי 1 c): though I have filled thee with men —; i.e. increased thy population, — yet shall they — the assailants — lift up the shout against thee), 2Sam 15:21 Kt (Qr omits אִם); after an assever. particle Ruth 3:12 Kt וְעַתָּה כִּי אָמְנָם כִּי אִם גּוֺאֵל אָנֹכִי and now, yea indeed, surely I am thy kinsman (Qr omits אִם); the oath being understood, Judg 15:7 if ye do thus, כִּי אִםנִֿקַּמְתִּי surely (Ges hercle) I will avenge myself, 1Sam 21:6 כִּי אִםאִֿשָּׁה עֲצֻרָה לָנוּ of a truth women have been kept from us, etc., 1Kgs 20:6 surely tomorrow I will send, etc., Prov 23:18 (see De) surely there is a reward; perhaps also Job 42:8.
BDB511 H518
BDB510 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB512
אִם conjunction (= Aramaic if [and in , אֶלָּא = if not, except], Arabic if [and in = if not, except], Ethiopic (§mma) if = מָה + אִם ( + ) [and in (allâ) if not, but], Assyrian umma; also in Arabic 'An?' = , compare הַאִם: see NöM p. 208, ZMG 1886, p. 739; WAG i. § 367 e)
1. hypothetical particle if.
a. construction (see more fully Dr§ 136-138, 143 FriedrichDie Hebr. Condit. sätze 1884): (1) with imperfect (continued by perfects & waw consecutive; apodosis usually begins with perfect & waw consecutive or bare imperfect; or, if necessary, with imperative or jussive)
(a) of future time: Gen 18:26 אִםאֶֿמְצָא if I shall find 50 righteous in Sodom, וְנָשָׂאתִי I will pardon, etc., Gen 24:8; Gen 32:9; Deut 1:52 b 1Kgs 6:12; Ps 89:31; Gen 42:37; Judg 13:16; 1Kgs 1:52 a Ps 132:12.
(b) of past time (rare, but classical): Gen 31:8 אִם יאֹמַר if everhe said . . . וְיָָֽלְדִוּ then they used to bear, etc., Exod 40:37 & in the protestations Job 31:7; Job 31:13; Job 31:16; Job 31:25 etc. (alternating with pff., see below, & with jussives in apodosis)
(c) assuming a purely imaginary case (with imperfect in both clauses, like the double optative in Greek), if, though: Gen 13:16 so that אִםיֿוּכַל if a man were able to number the stars, thy seed also יִמָּנֶה might be numbered, Num 22:18; Isa 1:18 כַּשָּׁנִים יַלְבִּינוּ ׳אִםיִֿהְיוּ ח though your sins were as scarlet, they should become white as snow, Amos 9:2-4 אִםיַֿחְתְּרוּ though they were to dig into Sheôl, from thence תִּקָּחֵם would my hand fetch them, Ps 27:3; Ps 139:8 +. (2) with participle (expressing either a present process, or an approaching future: apodosis as 1 a) Gen 24:42; Gen 24:49; Judg 6:36; Judg 9:15; Judg 11:9 אִם מְשִׁיבִים אַתֶּם if ye are going to bring me back . . . ׳וְנָתַן י then ׳י will, etc.; similarly with יֵשׁ or אֵין Gen 44:26; Exod 22:2; 1Sam 20:8; 1Sam 23:23 & with no explicit copula Deut 22:2; Deut 25:2; Lev 1:3; Lev 1:14, etc. (3) with perfect
(a) of future or present time (continued by perfects & waw consecutive: apodosis as 1 a) Gen 43:9 אִםלֹֿא הֲבִיאֹתִיו אֵלֶיךָ וְהִצַּגְתִּיו לְפָנֶיךָ if I do not bring him back (si eum non reduxero) and set him before thee, I will be guilty for ever, Gen 47:6 if thou knowest that there are men of worth among them וְשַׂמְתָּם then make them, etc., Judg 16:17; 2Sam 15:33; 2Kgs 7:4; Ps 41:7; Ps 94:18; Job 7:4; Job 9:30f. Job 10:14 אִם חָטָאתִי וּשְׁמַרְתָּ֑נִי if I sin, thou watchest me. On אִםנָֿא Gen 18:3 and elsewhere see נָא.
(b) of past time, whether
(a) in actual fact, or (β) in an assumed case (the perfect is here continued by the imperfect and waw consecutive; apodosis begins as before).
(a) Judg 9:16-19 אִם ֗֗֗ עֲשִׂיתֶם if ye have done honestly וַתַּמְלִיכוּ and have made Abimelech king . . ., 1Sam 26:19 especially in protestations, as Ps 7:4 אִם עָשִׂיתִי זאת if I have done this . . ., let the enemy pursue my soul, etc. Jer 33:25f.; Job 31:5f; Job 31:9, etc.
(b) Num 5:27 if she have defiled herself וַתִּמְעֹל and been faithless, וּבָאוּ then shall they come, etc., Num 15:24; Num 35:22-24.
(c) with bare perfect in apodosis, in sense of If ... had ..., only Deut 32:30 אִםלֹֿא כִּי were it not that ..., Ps 73:15. (לוּ is more usual in such cases.) (4) with infinitive once (si vera 1.) Job 9:27 אִם אָמְרִי = if I say (literally if (there is) my saying). — Note that the verb following אִם is often strengthened by the infinitive absolute, as Exod 15:26; Exod 19:5; Exod 21:5; Exod 22:3; Exod 22:12; Exod 22:16; Exod 22:22; Judg 11:30; Judg 14:12; Judg 16:11 etc.; compare DrSm i. 20, 6.
b. Special uses: (1) repeated ... אִם אִם whether ... or (sive ... sive) Exod 19:13; Deut 18:3; 2Sam 15:21 similarly אִם ֗֗֗ וְאִם Gen 31:52; Jer 42:6; Ezek 2:5; Eccl 11:3; Eccl 12:14 (compare ... , ... PS250; ... & ... ).(2) After an oath (expressed, or merely implied) אִם (the formula of imprecation being omitted) becomes an emphatic negative, and אִםלֹֿא an emphatic affirmative: 2Sam 11:11 by thy life אִםאֶֿעֱשֶׂה אֶתהַֿדָּבָר הַזֶּה (may God bring all manner of evil upon me) if I do this thing! = surely I will not do this thing! (compare the full phrases in 1Sam 3:17; 2Kgs 6:31) Gen 14:23; Gen 42:15; Num 14:23; 1Sam 3:14; 1Sam 19:6; 2Kgs 2:2; 2Kgs 3:14 & often; Isa 22:14; Ps 89:36; Ps 95:11; Job 6:28 אִםלֹֿא Num 14:28; Josh 14:9; 1Kgs 20:23; 2Kgs 9:26; Isa 5:9; Isa 14:24; Jer 15:11; Jer 49:20; Job 1:11 + especially Ezekiel; after a negative clause, emphasizing a contrasted idea, Gen 24:38 (where the explanation by Aramaic אֶלָּא is not supported by Hebrew usage), compare Jer 22:6. Repeated, אִם ֗֗֗ וְאִם 2Sam 20:20; 2Kgs 3:14; Isa 62:8; Jer 38:16; Ezek 14:16. In adjurations (with 2nd or 3rd person) = that not Gen 21:23; Gen 26:29; Gen 31:50; 1Sam 24:22; 1Kgs 1:51; Song 2:7; Song 3:5 +. Of past or present time: 1Sam 25:34 as ׳י liveth (I say) that, unless thou hadst hastened ..., כִּי אִם נוֺתַר that surely there had not been left ...! 1Sam 17:55 as thy soul liveth אִםיָֿדַעְתִּי if I Know it! 1Kgs 17:12; 1Kgs 18:10 — both אִםיֵֿשׁ (כִּי here merely introduces the fact sworn to, & need not be translated; so 2Sam 3:35: see כִּי); Ps 121:2 אִםלֹֿא (after a negative clause: compare above Gen 24:38). compare Str§ 90.(3) Part, of wishing, if but ...! oh that ...! (rare) Ps 81:9 If thou wouldest hearken to me! Ps 95:7; Ps 139:19; Prov 24:11. compare Exod 32:32. With an imperative (si vera lectio) Job 34:16 וְאִםִֿבּינָה; and with an anacoluthon, Gen 23:13 (P) אִםאַֿתָּה לוּ שְׁמָעֵנִי if thou! — oh that thou wouldst hear me!(4) Nearly = when — with the perfect:
(a) of past, Gen 38:9; Num 21:9 וְהָיָה אִםנָֿשַׁךְ ֗֗֗ וְרָאָה and it used to be, if or when a serpent had bitten a man, that he would look, etc., Judg 6:3; Ps 78:34 (see Dr§ 136 δ Obs.); Amos 7:2.
(b) of present or future, Isa 4:4 אִם רָחַץ when the Lord shall have washed, Isa 24:13; Isa 28:25 compare Num 36:4 (with the imperfect)
c. Compounded with other particles: —
(a) בִּלְתִּי אִם except if, except, Gen 47:18; Judg 7:14; Amos 3:3; Amos 3:4. (β) הֲלוֺא אִם 2Kgs 20:19 (for which Isa 39:7 has sim-ply כִּי), perhaps Is it not (good), if ...? (De Di). (γ) כִּיאִֿם, q. v. (δ) עַד אִם Gen 24:19; Gen 24:33; Isa 30:17; Ruth 2:21, & עַד אֲשֶׁר אִם Gen 28:15; Num 32:17; Isa 6:11, until, properly until if or when. (ε) רַק אִם if only (see below רַק). אִםלֹֿא in Ezek 3:6b is very difficult. The Vrss render If I had sent, etc., implying לֻא for אִםלֹֿא (for Ew's אִםלֻֿא = אִלּוּ, q. v., is precarious): Ges Hi Co 'but (אִםלֹֿא after a negative, compare above Gen 24:38; Ps 131:2) unto them (Israel) have I sent thee: they can understand thee' (but understand is a dubious rendering of שָׁמַע אֶל).
2. Interrogative particle a. in direct question:
(
a) alone (not frequently and usually =
Num? expecting the answer
No, especially in a rhet. style):
Gen 38:17;
1Kgs 1:27;
Judg 5:8 מָגֵן אִםיֵֿרָאֶה וָרֹמַח was there a shield to be seen or a spear ...?
Isa 29:16 and repeated
Amos 3:6;
Jer 48:27;
Job 6:12.
(
b) more frequently in disjunctive interrogation:
(
a)
הֲ ֗֗֗ אִם, expressing a real alternative
Josh 5:13 הֲלָנוּ אַתָּה אִםלְֿצָרֵינוּ art thou for us, or for our enemies?
Judg 9:2;
1Kgs 22:6;
1Kgs 22:15: more often expressing a merely formal alternative, especially in poetry (a rhetorical
Num?)
Gen 37:8;
Num 11:12;
Num 11:22;
Judg 11:25b
2Sam 19:36;
Isa 10:15;
Isa 66:8;
Jer 3:5;
Hab 3:8;
Ps 77:10;
Ps 78:20;
Job 4:17;
Job 6:5;
Job 6:6;
Job 10:4;
Job 10:5;
Job 11:7 etc. (
β)
הֲ ֗֗֗ וְאִם (rarer than
הֲ ֗֗֗ אִם, but similar in use)
2Sam 24:13 (a real alt.);
Isa 49:24;
Isa 50:2;
Jer 5:9 (
Jer 5:29 אִם)
Jer 14:22;
Joel 1:2;
Joel 4:4;
Job 8:3;
Job 11:2;
Job 21:4;
Job 22:3;
Job 34:17;
Job 40:8f. (formal);
Gen 17:17 P (with an anacoluthon) shall a child ...?
וְאִםשָֿׂרָה הֲבַתתִּֿשְׁעִים שָׁנָה תֵּלֵד or Sarah, — shall she that is 90 years old bear?
Prov 27:24 (
וְאִם after negative clause),
b. in oblique interrogation,
if, whether: (
a) alone, after verbs of seeing, inquiring, etc.
2Kgs 1:2;
Jer 5:1;
Jer 30:6;
Mal 3:10;
Ps 139:24;
Song 7:13;
Lam 1:12;
Ezra 2:59 once
מִי יוֺדֵעַ אִם who knoweth if ...? i.e. (like
haud scio an)
perhaps Esth 4:14 (older synonym
מִי יוֺדֵעַ alone: see
2Sam 12:22;
Joel 2:14;
Jonah 3:9).
(
b) disjunctively
הֲ ֗֗֗ אִם Gen 27:21;
Num 13:18-20 so
אִם ֗֗֗ וְאִם Josh 24:15.
c. compounded with
הֲ,
הַאִם Num 17:28 הַאִם תַּמְנוּ לִגְוֺעַ probably an emphatic
Num? Shall we ever have finished dying?
Job 6:13 difficult: perhaps
Is it that my help is not in me? (a forcible means of expressing that that which might be thought impossible is nevertheless the case);
Hi as an aposiop., If my help is not in me (am I still to wait) ? (The view that
הַאִם =
הֲלֹא nonne? is inconsistent with the fact that
אִם in a question has regularly the force of
Num?)
אֵם see אמם. Below
אַמָּה, אֻמָּה see אמם.
BDB9477 H2005 H2006 H518 H3861
BDB9476 | BIBLICAL ARAMAIC | BDB9478
הֵן conjunction if, whether (Biblical Hebrew הֵן, q. v.: Zenjirli, Egyptian Aramaic (S-CPap. A 7 +), Palmyrene, Nabataean הן, Mandean הין if [ᵑ7Onk Jon use אם, ᵑ7Jer אין, Syriac ]); — 2. repeated,
הֵן ֗֗֗ הֵן sive ... sive, whether ... or (compare Biblical Hebrew
אִם,
1 b 1),
Ezra 7:26 (so Palmyrene
Tariff ii.c.19).
3. in indirect question,
whether (compare
אִם,
2 b),
Ezra 5:17b
יִתְבַּקַּר ֗֗֗ הֵן אִיתַי ֗֗֗ . — See also
לָהֵן. p. 50, 243, 1099
הַסִּק etc., see סלק Haph`el
BDB9640 H3809 H3861 H518 H2006 H3808 H3588
BDB9639 | BIBLICAL ARAMAIC | BDB9641
II. לָהֵן conjunction except, but (from לָא and הֵן 'not if' (compare Hebrew אם לא Gen 24:38); so Nabataean and Egyptian Aramaic להן Cooke217, 219, 241 S-CPap. C 6, 7 +; lâinnî, however SocArab. Dial. see Marokko 44, Anm. 103; ᵑ7 אִילָּהֵין Gen 32:28; Gen 43:3 and elsewhere); — 2. without a negative:
however, but Ezra 5:12.