Deuteronomy 7:5 — Hebrew Word by Word

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Word Parts

כִּֽי

Conjunction for, that, because, but, when, …

Dictionary form: כִּי · kee

Vowels & Accents

Hebrew Alephbet

Grammar C

Conjunction

כִּֽי

Speech Conjunction

In English

In the KJV here: but

for ×2058 that ×621 because ×373 but ×221 when ×190 if ×94 and if ×49 though ×39

More options

because — Causal; explains the reason for a preceding statement.

that — Complementary/content clause; introduces indirect speech or thought.

since — Causal with a presupposed background fact.

when — Temporal; use where כִּי marks time rather than cause.

if — Conditional; use in hypothetical or legal-style clauses.

although — Concessive; acknowledges a contrasting reality.

Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)

BDB3937 H3587 H3588

כִּי noun [masculine] burning, branding (for form, compare רִי from רָוָה, אִי, צִי, עִי: Kö^{ii. 1. 64}) — only כִּי תַּחַת יֹ֑פִי Isa 3:24 branding instead of beauty, in judgment on women of Jerusalem.

BDB3995 H3588 H518

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 (W^{SG 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 v2Kgs 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. De^{Prov 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 Bu^{Urg. 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. —

N.B. with כִּי = when or if, the subject is often prefixed for distinctness and emphasis: 1Kgs 8:37 רָעָב ׳כִּייִֿהְיֶה בָאָרֶץ דֶּבֶר כִּי יִהְיֶה וג, Isa 28:18; Mic 5:4 אַשּׁוּר כִּייָֿבאֹ בְאַרְצֵנוּ, Ps 62:11; Ezek 3:19 (וְאַתָּה), Ezek 14:9; Ezek 14:13; Ezek 18:5; Ezek 18:18; Ezek 18:21; Ezek 33:6 (compare vEzek 33:2); and especially in laws of P, as כִּי ֗֗֗ אָדָם Lev 1:2; Lev 13:2, ... נֶפֶשׁ כִּי Lev 2:1; Lev 4:2; Lev 5:1; Lev 5:4; Lev 5:15, similarly Lev 15:2; Lev 15:16; Lev 15:19; Lev 15:25; Lev 22:12; Lev 22:13; Lev 22:14 etc., rather differently Num 5:20.
c. when or if, with a concessive force, i.e. though: —
(a) with imperfect Jer 4:30 (3 t. in verse); Jer 14:12; Jer 49:16 כִּיתַֿגְבִּיהַּ כַּנֶּשֶׁר קִנֶּ֑ךָ though thou make high like the vulture thy nest, I will bring thee down thence, Jer 51:53; Hos 13:15; Zech 8:6; Ps 37:24; Ps 49:19f. though in his lifetime he bless himself ... he shall come, etc., perhaps also Jer 46:23 Ew (but Hi Gf Ke for), Jer 50:11 Ew Ke (Hi yea); and strengthened by גַּם, גַּם כִּי Isa 1:5; Ps 23:4 (compare Dr^{§ 143});
(b) with perf. (rare) Mic 7:8 כִּי נָפַלְתִּי קָ֑מְתִּי though I have fallen, I rise, Nah 1:10 (si vera 1.), Ps 21:12 (Hi Ew Now), Ps 119:88 (Ew De).

3. Because, since ὅτι —
a. Gen 3:14 because thou hast done this, cursed art thou, etc., vGen 3:17; Gen 18:20; Gen 17:20 the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah — because it is great ... (subject prefixed for emphasis: compare 2

N.B.) Isa 28:15 in answer to a question, Gen 27:20; Exod 1:19; Exod 18:15; 2Sam 19:43 +. Enunciating the conditions under which a future action is conceived as possible (German indem) Lev 22:9; Deut 4:29 כי תדרשׁנו, Deut 12:20 (see Dr), vDeut 12:25 vDeut 12:28; Deut 13:19; Deut 14:24; Deut 16:15; Deut 19:6; Deut 19:9 +, 1Kgs 8:35 (compare v1Kgs 8:33 אֲשֶׁר), v1Kgs 8:36 כִּי תוֺרֵם, Prov 4:8b.
b. more commonly the causal sentence follows, as Gen 2:3 and God blessed the seventh day ׳כִּי בוֺ שָׁבַת וג because on it he rested, etc., Gen 4:25 etc., in which case it may often be rendered for, Gen 2:5; Gen 2:28; Gen 3:20; Gen 5:24; Gen 6:7; Gen 6:12; Gen 6:13; Ps 6:3 heal me כִּי נִבְהֲלוּ עֲצָמָ֑י for my bones are vexed, Ps 10:14; Ps 25:16; Ps 27:10 + very often specifically after verbs expressive of mental emotions, as rejoicing Isa 14:29; Ps 58:11, being angry Gen 31:35; Gen 45:5, fearing Gen 43:18; Ps 49:17 etc. Iron. 1Kgs 18:27 for he is a god etc. (4 t.); Prov 30:4; Job 38:5 כִּי תֵדָ֑ע for or since thou knowest. With subject prefixed Ps 128:2. Repeated (with anacoluthon) Isa 49:19.
c. the causal relation expressed by כִּי is sometimes subtle, especially in poetry, and not apparent without careful study of a passage. Thus sometimes it justifies a statement or description by pointing to a pregnant fact which involves it, as Isa 3:8a Job 6:21 (ground of the comparison vJob 6:15-20), Job 14:16 (For...: ground of the wishes expressed vJob 14:13-15), Job 16:22 (ground of vJob 16:20f.) Job 30:26 (For ...), or by pointing to a general truth which it exemplifies Job 5:6 (reason why complaining vJob 5:2-5 is foolish), Job 15:34; Job 23:14 sometimes it is explicative, justifying a statement by unfolding the particulars which establish or exemplify it 2Sam 5:7; 2Sam 7:8; Isa 9:4; Isa 10:8-11; Isa 13:10 (development of vIsa 13:9a); Isa 32:6 f. (developing the characters of the נָבָל and כִּילַי, and so explaining why they will no longer be esteemed vIsa 32:5); Job 11:16ff. (explicit of vJob 11:15b), Job 18:8 ff. (justifying vJob 18:7), Job 22:26 ff. (justifying vJob 22:25); elsewhere the cause is expressed indirectly or figuratively Isa 2:6 (reason why invitation vIsa 2:5 is needed), Isa 5:10 (sterility of the soil the cause of the desolation vIsa 5:9), Isa 18:5; Isa 28:8 (proof of the intoxication vIsa 28:7), Isa 31:7 (reason for the exhortation vIsa 31:6: the certainty that the folly of idolatry will soon be recognized), Job 7:21 (for soon it will be too late to pardon), Job 27:8-10 (Job wishes his enemy the lot of the wicked, because this is so hopeless); or כִּי relates not to the see which immediately precedes or follows, but to several, as Isa 7:16f. (Isa 7:17 specially the ground of the people being reduced to simple fare vIsa 7:15), Isa 21:6ff. (ground of the statements vIsa 21:1-5), Job 4:5 (ground of vJob 4:2), Job 14:7-12 (Job 14:10-12 specially the ground for the appeal in vJob 14:6), Job 23:10-13 (ground why God cannot be found vJob 23:8f.), Ps 73:21 (ground not of vPs 73:20, but of the general train of thought vPs 73:2); similarly Gen 4:24; Deut 18:14; Jer 30:11 the reason lies not in the words immediately after כִּי, but in the second part of the sentence; or, on the other hand, it may state the reason for a particular word, Isa 28:20 (justifying 'nought but terror' vIsa 28:19), Job 23:17 (God's hostility vJob 23:16 the cause of his misery, not the calamity as such). Sometimes also כִּי, in a poetic orrhetorical style, gives the reason for a thought not expressed but implied, especially the answer to a question; Isa 28:11 (the mockeries of vIsa 28:10 have a meaning) 'for with men of strange lips, etc. he will speak unto this people,' who will retort the mockeries, charged with a new and terrible meaning, upon those who uttered them (Isa 28:13); = (no,) for Isa 28:28 (see RVm), Job 22:2b no, he that is wise is profitable to himself, Job 31:18; Job 39:14 (see vJob 39:13b), Ps 44:24 (he cannot do this, vPs 44:23) for for thy sake are we killed, etc., Ps 130:4 no, with thee is forgiveness; = (yes,) for Isa 49:25 (see the question vIsa 49:24), Isa 66:8.
d. כִּי ֗֗֗ כִּי ἀσυνδέτως sometimes introduce the proximate and ultimate cause respectively, Gen 3:19; Gen 26:7; Gen 43:32; Gen 47:20; Exod 23:33 for [else] thou wilt serve their gods, for it will be a snare to thee, Isa 2:6 (twice in verse); Isa 3:8 (twice in verse); Isa 6:5a, b; Isa 10:22f.; Job 6:3f.; Job 8:8; Job 8:9 (twice in verse); Job 24:17 (twice in verse); Job 29:11f.; sometimes they introduce two co-ordinate causes (where we should insert and), Exod 23:21; Exod 23:22; Isa 6:5b,c I am undone, because I am of unclean lips..., because mine eyes have seen ׳י of hosts, Isa 15:5 (twice in verse); Isa 15:6 (twice in verse); Isa 15:8; Isa 15:9; Zeph 3:8f.; Job 15:25; Job 15:27; Job 20:19f.; Job 31:11f. But כִּי ֗֗֗ וְכִי also occurs, Gen 33:11; Num 5:20 (if), Josh 7:15; Judg 6:30; 1Sam 19:4; 1Sam 22:17; 1Kgs 2:26; Isa 65:16 +.
e. after a negative כִּי for becomes = but (German sondern): Gen 17:15 thou shalt not call her name Sarai, כִּי שָׂרָה שְׁמָהּ for (= but) Sarah shall be her name, Gen 24:3f.; Gen 45:8; Exod 1:19; Exod 16:8 not against us are your murmurings, ׳כי עליֿ for (they are) against ׳י = but against ׳י, Deut 21:17; 1Sam 6:3 (אַל), 1Sam 27:1 (see Dr), 1Kgs 21:17; Isa 10:7; Isa 28:27; Isa 29:23; Isa 30:5; Ps 44:8; Ps 118:17 + often; so in לא כי nay, for = nay, but, as Gen 18:15 לֹא כִּי צָחָֽקְתְּ nay, but thou didst laugh, Gen 19:2; Gen 42:12; Josh 5:14; 1Sam 2:16 MSS ᵐ5 (see Dr), 1Sam 12:12; 2Sam 16:18; 2Sam 24:24; 1Kgs 2:30; 1Kgs 3:22; 1Kgs 11:22; Isa 30:16 nay, but we will flee upon horses.

Note. — כִּי is sometimes of difficult and uncertain interpretation, and in some of the passages quoted a different explanation is tenable. Authorities especially read the Hebrew differently, when the choice is between for and yea. E.g. Isa 8:23 Ges Ew^{§ 330 b} doch (no, but); Hi Di for (taking vIsa 8:22 as RVm); Ch surely: Isa 15:1 Ges Ew Hi Di surely; De for: Isa 39:8 Ges Hi De surely; Di for (explanation of טוֺב): Ezek 11:16 Hi Ke Co surely; Ew Sm because. — In Exod 20:25 the tense of וַתְּחַלֲלֶהָ makes it probably that כֹּי is for (Dr^{§ 153}). Job 22:29 is taken with least violence to usage (גַּאֲוָה) as Hi When they humble thee, and thou sayest (= complainest) Pride! he will save, etc. כִּי אִםֿ (the אִם always followed by makkeph, except Gen 15:4; Num 35:33; Neh 2:2, where כִּיאִֿם is read by the Mass.: Fr^{MM 241}) —

1. each particle retaining its independent force, and relating to a different clause:
a. that if Jer 26:15 after an oath (כִּי not translated: see כִּי 1 c) if 1Sam 14:39; Jer 22:24, surely not (אִם 1 b 2) 2Sam 3:35; 1Sam 25:34 (כִּי being resumptive of the כִּי before לוּלֵי: see כִּי 1 c); Exod 22:22 (in apodosis) indeed if . . . (see כִּי 1 d).
b. for if Exod 8:17; Exod 9:2; Exod 10:4; +, for though Isa 10:22; Jer 37:20; Amos 5:22, but if Jer 7:5.

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.

BDB3996 H3588 H5921 H3651

כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as, a peculiar phrase found Gen 18:5; Gen 19:8; Gen 33:10; Gen 38:26; Num 10:31; Num 14:43; Judg 6:22; 2Sam 18:20 Qr (rightly), Jer 29:28; Jer 38:4 — literally for therefore, emphasizing the ground pleonastically (Ew^{§ 353 a} ). The original force of the phrase is traceable in some of the passages in which it occurs, as Gen 18:5 let me fetch a morsel of bread, and comfort your heart; כִּיעַֿלכֵּֿן עֲבַרְתֶּם עַל עַבְדְּכֶם for therefore (that is, to partake of such hospitality) are ye come to your servant, Num 14:43 the Amalekite and the Canaanite are there, and ye will fall by the sword, כִּיעַֿלכֵּֿן שַׁבְתֶּם for therefore (to encounter such a fate) have ye turned back from ׳י etc.: but in process of time the distinct sense of its component parts was no doubt gradually obscured, and it thus came to be used conventionally, as a mere particle of causation, even where there was no preceding statement to which עַל כֵּן therefore could be explicitly referred. אֲשֶׁר עַל כֵּן appears to be used similarly (compare אֲשֶׁר 8 c) Job 34:27.

BDB6199 H6258 H2088 H2009 H5704 H3588

עַתָּ֫ה₄₃₅ (also Ezek 23:43; Ps 74:6 עת Kt, Qr עַתָּה), עָ֑֫תָּה Gen 32:5 +, adverb of time, now (properly accusative of [`int],עֵת (Kö^{ii. 260}), at the time, in particular of the present time, i.e. now; compare German zur Zeit, Arabic at the time, i.e. now); — now:

1. a. Gen 12:19 ועתה הנה אשׁתך and now, behold thy wife, Gen 22:12 כי עתח ידעתי now, I know (so Exod 18:11; Judg 17:13; 1Kgs 17:24 [עַתָּה זֶה], Ps 20:7), Gen 26:22; Gen 26:29; Gen 27:36; Gen 31:13; Gen 31:28, etc., Exod 5:5 הך רבים עתה עם הארץ; whether in opposed to past time, as Gen 32:11; Josh 14:11 כְּכֹחִי אָז וּכְכֹחִי עָ֑תָּה, Judg 11:8; 1Kgs 12:4; Isa 1:21 ועתה מרצחים, Isa 16:14; Hos 2:9 כִּי טוֺב לִי אָז מַעָ֑תָּה, Hos 13:2, Job 30:1 +, or to future, as Num 24:17 אֶרְאֶנּוּ ולא עתה, Judg 8:6 חֲכַף עַתָּהכְּֿיָדֶ֑ךָ ׳זֶבַח וצ, 1Sam 2:16 כִּי עַתָּה תִּתֵּן; = after all Num 22:38; Judg 8:2 = now at last 2Sam 24:16; 1Kgs 19:4; 2Kgs 19:25; Hos 7:2; Jer 4:12 and in the phrase מעתה ועד עולם Isa 9:6; Isa 59:21; (see below), Ps 113:2; Ps 115:18; Ps 121:8; Ps 125:2; Ps 131:3.
b. of the imminent or impending future: Gen 19:9 עַתָּה נָרַע לְךָ מַהֶם. Gen 29:32 כי עתה יאהבני אישׁי, vGen 29:34; Exod 6:1 עתה תראה, Num 11:23; Num 22:4; 2Sam 20:6; Isa 33:10 (Ps 12:6), Isa 43:19; Isa 49:19; Amos 6:7 לכן עתה יִגְלוּ, Isa 49:19; Mic 7:4; Mic 7:10; Dan 10:20 and especially ἀσυνδέτως in Hosea, introducing a punishment, Hos 4:16 ׳וגו ׳עתה יִרְעֵם י Hos 5:7; Hos 8:8; Hos 8:13 (Jer 14:10), Jer 10:2.
c. of a time ideally present (= then, from our point of view): Isa 29:22 לא עתה יבושׁ יעקב, v^b Hos 10:3; Mic 4:9; Mic 4:10; Mic 4:11; Mic 4:14; Mic 5:3.
d. describing a present state = as things are: 1Sam 8:5 thou art old, etc., עתה שִׂימָה לנו מלך, 1Sam 9:6; 1Sam 13:12; 1Sam 14:30; 1Sam 25:7b; 1Sam 27:1 now I shall be swept away one day, etc., 2Kgs 18:20; 2Kgs 18:25; Job 6:21; Job 14:16; Job 16:7.
e. with an Imperative, as an encouragement, implying that the time has come for the exhortation or advice to be followed, Gen 31:13 עתה קים צא, Exod 18:19 עתה שְׁמַע בקולי, Num 22:11; Deut 2:13; 1Sam 30:8.

2. Phrases:
a. עַתָּה זֶה (זְה 4 h) 1Kgs 17:24; 2Kgs 5:22.
b. ועתה and, now, or now, therefore (וְ 4), drawing a conclusion, especially (compare 1 e) a practical one, from what has been stated: Gen 3:22 and now (since man has once been disobedient), lest he put forth his hand, etc., Gen 20:7; Gen 20:23 וְעַתָּה הִשָּֽׁבְעָה לִי הֵ֫נָּה, Gen 27:3; Gen 27:8 ועתה בני שְׁמַע בקולי, Gen 30:30; Gen 31:16; Gen 31:44; Gen 37:20 + often, Isa 5:3; Isa 5:5; Ps 2:10; Gen 11:6 ׳ועתה לאֹיִֿבָּצֵר מֵהֶם וגו, Gen 31:30; Gen 45:8; 2Sam 19:11; Ps 39:8 ועתה מַהקִּֿזִּיתִי אֲדֹנָי, Isa 52:5,
c. וְעַתָּה הִנֵּה stating the ground on which some conclusion or action is to be based, Exod 3:9; Josh 14:10 (twice in verse); 1Sam 12:2; 1Sam 24:21; 1Kgs 1:18; Jer 40:4 (with ועתה usually repeated afer the הנה-clause).
d. גם עתה Gen 44:10; 1Sam 12:16; 1Kgs 14:14; Joel 2:12; Job 16:19.
e. מֵעַתָּה from now, henceforth, Jer 3:4; Isa 48:6; Dan 10:17 (according to some, here = from just now), 2Chr 16:9 מעתה ועד עוּלּסּ, see above 1 a end. feminine עַדעַֿתָּה until now, Gen 32:5, ׳וֶאֵחַר עדעֿ, Deut 12:9 ׳אל הנחלה לא באתם עד ע (opposed to the future), 2Kgs 13:23 especially after clause with מִן, 2Kgs 46:34 ׳מִנְּעוּרֵינוּ וְעַדעֿ (2Sam 19:8; Ezek 4:14), Exod 9:18; 2Kgs 8:6; Ruth 2:7.
g. כִּי עַתָּה for in this case, in our idiom, for them (עתה pointing to a condition assumed as a possible contingency: compare Dr^{§ 141, 142}); (a) Exod 9:15 כי עתה ׳שׁלחתי וגו for then (if the intention expressed in vExod 9:14 had not existed) I should have put forth my hand, etc., Num 22:29 כי עתה הֲרַגְתִּיךְ, 1Sam 13:13; Job 3:13 followed by imperfect Job 6:3 for then (if it were weighed, vJob 6:2) it would be heavier, etc., Job 13:19 for then would I be silent and die; (b) after a protasis, surely then Gen 31:42 + (see כִּי 1 d b, p. 472). — Note. Read כְּמוֺ עַתָּ) (ᵐ5 ᵑ9) as now, for כְּמוֺ עֵת Ezek 16:57, עַתָּ נִשְׁבַּרְתְּ (ᵐ5 ᵑ6 ᵑ9) now art thou broken ! for עֵת נִשְׁבֶּרֶת Ezek 27:34, and probably עַתָּ בָּא (Hi We Kö Now, compare ᵐ5 ᵑ6) for עֶתבּֿאֹ Hag 1:2 also עַתָּה for אַתָּה 1Kgs 1:20, and אַתָּה for עַתָּה v1Kgs 1:18b 2Sam 18:3.

BDB6202 H3282 H834 H3588

יַעַן₉₆ properly substantive, purpose, intention, but always used as preposition or conjunction, on account of, because (for יַעֲנֶה, of the form יִצְהָר etc., Sta^{§ 259} Kö^{ii. 403}; compare mean, intend): —

1. as preposition, rarely with a substantive, Ezek 5:9 יַעַן תּוֺעֲבוֺתֵיכֶם, Hag 1:9 יַעַן מָה, vHag 1:9 יַעַן בֵּיתִי; with a participle Ezek 36:13 יען אמרים because of men saying to you (but read probablyאָמְרָם, Co Toy Berthol); frequently with infinitive with, 1Kgs 21:20 יַעַן הִתְמַכֶּרְךָ on account of thy having sold thyself, Amos 5:11; Isa 30:12; Isa 37:29 (= 2Kgs 19:28) יַעֵן הִתְרַגֶּזְךָ אֵלַי, Jer 5:14; Jer 7:13; Jer 23:38; Jer 48:7, and often. (c. 18 t.) in Ezek., as Jer 5:7 (read יַעַן הַמְרֹתְכֶם), Jer 13:8; Jer 13:22; Jer 25:3; Jer 25:6; Jer 25:8; Jer 25:12.

2. As conjunction:
a. יַעַן אֲשֶׁר (32 t.), usually with perfect, as Gen 22:16 יען אשׁר עשׂית זאת because that thou hast done this, Deut 1:36 (Josh 14:14), Judg 2:20; 1Sam 30:22; 1Kgs 3:11; 1Kgs 8:18; Jer 19:4; Jer 25:8; Jer 29:23 (not Isaiah) +; with imperfect (in frequent. sense) Ezek 44:12.
b. יַען כִּי, Num 11:20 ׳יַעַן כִּי מְאַסְתֶּם אֶתיֿ, 1Kgs 13:21; 1Kgs 21:29; Isa 3:16; Isa 7:5; Isa 8:6; Isa 29:13.
c. יַעַן alone (23 t.), with perfect Num 20:12 יַעַן לֹא הֶאֱמַנְתֶּם בִּי, 1Sam 15:23; 1Kgs 14:13; 1Kgs 20:42; 2Kgs 22:19; Hos 8:1; Isa 61:1; Isa 65:12; Isa 66:4 with imperfect (frequently) Ezek 34:21 of the future Ezek 12:12 because he shall not see, etc., (but ᵐ5 Co Kau Berthol לְמַעַן אשׁר לא יֵרָאֶה לָעַיִן): usually the verb follows immediately, but Ezek. sometimes puts the object first for emphasis, Ezek 5:11 יַעַן אֶתמִֿקְדָּשִׁי טִמֵּאתָ, Ezek 20:16; Ezek 20:24; Ezek 36:6, compare Ezek 34:21.

3. יַעַן וּבְיַעַן, q.d. because and by the cause (that), followed by perhaps, Lev 26:43 (H) יען וביען בְּמִשְׁפָּטַי מָאָ֔סוּ, Ezek 13:10 יַעַן בְּיַעַז followed by infinitive, Ezek 36:3. (In all, reckoning יען (ו)ביען once each, 93 t., of which 20 are in 1-2 Kings, 11 in Jeremiah, 38 in Ezekiel; and only 9 in Genesis—2Samuel.)

BDB9640 H3809 H3861 H518 H2006 H3808 H3588

II. לָהֵן conjunction except, but (from לָא and הֵן 'not if' (compare Hebrew אם לא Gen 24:38); so Nabataean and Egyptian Aramaic להן Cooke^{217, 219, 241} S-C^{Pap. C 6, 7} +; lâinnî, however Soc^{Arab. Dial.} see Marokko 44, Anm. 103; ᵑ7 אִילָּהֵין Gen 32:28; Gen 43:3 and elsewhere); —

1. after a negative (= Biblical Hebrew כִּי אִם, q. v.):
a. except Dan 2:11; Dan 3:28; Dan 6:6; Dan 6:8.
b. but (German sondern) Dan 2:30.

2. without a negative: however, but Ezra 5:12.

Strong's Definition H3588

for, that, because, but, when, …

kî

(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed

that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since

that

yea, indeed

when, if, though (with a concessive force)

Variations 14 forms of this word

Translations 302 English renderings

Search every verse

Word Parts

אִם

Conjunction if, or, though, surely, not, …

Dictionary form: אִם · im

Vowels & Accents

Hebrew Alephbet

Grammar C

Conjunction

אִם	Speech Conjunction

In English

if ×322 and if ×128 but if ×69 or ×48 surely ×29 though ×25 whether ×19 when ×16

More options

if — Default conditional; most broadly applicable rendering.

whether — Use for indirect questions or double alternatives.

though — Concessive force; signals contrast or surprise.

when — Temporal nuance; condition treated as certain to occur.

unless — Negative conditional; equivalent to 'if not'.

surely — Emphatic/oath context; asserts strong certainty.

Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)

BDB2204 H2005 H518 H2006

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

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 (W^{SG 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 v2Kgs 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. De^{Prov 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 Bu^{Urg. 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. —

N.B. with כִּי = when or if, the subject is often prefixed for distinctness and emphasis: 1Kgs 8:37 רָעָב ׳כִּייִֿהְיֶה בָאָרֶץ דֶּבֶר כִּי יִהְיֶה וג, Isa 28:18; Mic 5:4 אַשּׁוּר כִּייָֿבאֹ בְאַרְצֵנוּ, Ps 62:11; Ezek 3:19 (וְאַתָּה), Ezek 14:9; Ezek 14:13; Ezek 18:5; Ezek 18:18; Ezek 18:21; Ezek 33:6 (compare vEzek 33:2); and especially in laws of P, as כִּי ֗֗֗ אָדָם Lev 1:2; Lev 13:2, ... נֶפֶשׁ כִּי Lev 2:1; Lev 4:2; Lev 5:1; Lev 5:4; Lev 5:15, similarly Lev 15:2; Lev 15:16; Lev 15:19; Lev 15:25; Lev 22:12; Lev 22:13; Lev 22:14 etc., rather differently Num 5:20.
c. when or if, with a concessive force, i.e. though: —
(a) with imperfect Jer 4:30 (3 t. in verse); Jer 14:12; Jer 49:16 כִּיתַֿגְבִּיהַּ כַּנֶּשֶׁר קִנֶּ֑ךָ though thou make high like the vulture thy nest, I will bring thee down thence, Jer 51:53; Hos 13:15; Zech 8:6; Ps 37:24; Ps 49:19f. though in his lifetime he bless himself ... he shall come, etc., perhaps also Jer 46:23 Ew (but Hi Gf Ke for), Jer 50:11 Ew Ke (Hi yea); and strengthened by גַּם, גַּם כִּי Isa 1:5; Ps 23:4 (compare Dr^{§ 143});
(b) with perf. (rare) Mic 7:8 כִּי נָפַלְתִּי קָ֑מְתִּי though I have fallen, I rise, Nah 1:10 (si vera 1.), Ps 21:12 (Hi Ew Now), Ps 119:88 (Ew De).

3. Because, since ὅτι —
a. Gen 3:14 because thou hast done this, cursed art thou, etc., vGen 3:17; Gen 18:20; Gen 17:20 the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah — because it is great ... (subject prefixed for emphasis: compare 2

N.B.) Isa 28:15 in answer to a question, Gen 27:20; Exod 1:19; Exod 18:15; 2Sam 19:43 +. Enunciating the conditions under which a future action is conceived as possible (German indem) Lev 22:9; Deut 4:29 כי תדרשׁנו, Deut 12:20 (see Dr), vDeut 12:25 vDeut 12:28; Deut 13:19; Deut 14:24; Deut 16:15; Deut 19:6; Deut 19:9 +, 1Kgs 8:35 (compare v1Kgs 8:33 אֲשֶׁר), v1Kgs 8:36 כִּי תוֺרֵם, Prov 4:8b.
b. more commonly the causal sentence follows, as Gen 2:3 and God blessed the seventh day ׳כִּי בוֺ שָׁבַת וג because on it he rested, etc., Gen 4:25 etc., in which case it may often be rendered for, Gen 2:5; Gen 2:28; Gen 3:20; Gen 5:24; Gen 6:7; Gen 6:12; Gen 6:13; Ps 6:3 heal me כִּי נִבְהֲלוּ עֲצָמָ֑י for my bones are vexed, Ps 10:14; Ps 25:16; Ps 27:10 + very often specifically after verbs expressive of mental emotions, as rejoicing Isa 14:29; Ps 58:11, being angry Gen 31:35; Gen 45:5, fearing Gen 43:18; Ps 49:17 etc. Iron. 1Kgs 18:27 for he is a god etc. (4 t.); Prov 30:4; Job 38:5 כִּי תֵדָ֑ע for or since thou knowest. With subject prefixed Ps 128:2. Repeated (with anacoluthon) Isa 49:19.
c. the causal relation expressed by כִּי is sometimes subtle, especially in poetry, and not apparent without careful study of a passage. Thus sometimes it justifies a statement or description by pointing to a pregnant fact which involves it, as Isa 3:8a Job 6:21 (ground of the comparison vJob 6:15-20), Job 14:16 (For...: ground of the wishes expressed vJob 14:13-15), Job 16:22 (ground of vJob 16:20f.) Job 30:26 (For ...), or by pointing to a general truth which it exemplifies Job 5:6 (reason why complaining vJob 5:2-5 is foolish), Job 15:34; Job 23:14 sometimes it is explicative, justifying a statement by unfolding the particulars which establish or exemplify it 2Sam 5:7; 2Sam 7:8; Isa 9:4; Isa 10:8-11; Isa 13:10 (development of vIsa 13:9a); Isa 32:6 f. (developing the characters of the נָבָל and כִּילַי, and so explaining why they will no longer be esteemed vIsa 32:5); Job 11:16ff. (explicit of vJob 11:15b), Job 18:8 ff. (justifying vJob 18:7), Job 22:26 ff. (justifying vJob 22:25); elsewhere the cause is expressed indirectly or figuratively Isa 2:6 (reason why invitation vIsa 2:5 is needed), Isa 5:10 (sterility of the soil the cause of the desolation vIsa 5:9), Isa 18:5; Isa 28:8 (proof of the intoxication vIsa 28:7), Isa 31:7 (reason for the exhortation vIsa 31:6: the certainty that the folly of idolatry will soon be recognized), Job 7:21 (for soon it will be too late to pardon), Job 27:8-10 (Job wishes his enemy the lot of the wicked, because this is so hopeless); or כִּי relates not to the see which immediately precedes or follows, but to several, as Isa 7:16f. (Isa 7:17 specially the ground of the people being reduced to simple fare vIsa 7:15), Isa 21:6ff. (ground of the statements vIsa 21:1-5), Job 4:5 (ground of vJob 4:2), Job 14:7-12 (Job 14:10-12 specially the ground for the appeal in vJob 14:6), Job 23:10-13 (ground why God cannot be found vJob 23:8f.), Ps 73:21 (ground not of vPs 73:20, but of the general train of thought vPs 73:2); similarly Gen 4:24; Deut 18:14; Jer 30:11 the reason lies not in the words immediately after כִּי, but in the second part of the sentence; or, on the other hand, it may state the reason for a particular word, Isa 28:20 (justifying 'nought but terror' vIsa 28:19), Job 23:17 (God's hostility vJob 23:16 the cause of his misery, not the calamity as such). Sometimes also כִּי, in a poetic orrhetorical style, gives the reason for a thought not expressed but implied, especially the answer to a question; Isa 28:11 (the mockeries of vIsa 28:10 have a meaning) 'for with men of strange lips, etc. he will speak unto this people,' who will retort the mockeries, charged with a new and terrible meaning, upon those who uttered them (Isa 28:13); = (no,) for Isa 28:28 (see RVm), Job 22:2b no, he that is wise is profitable to himself, Job 31:18; Job 39:14 (see vJob 39:13b), Ps 44:24 (he cannot do this, vPs 44:23) for for thy sake are we killed, etc., Ps 130:4 no, with thee is forgiveness; = (yes,) for Isa 49:25 (see the question vIsa 49:24), Isa 66:8.
d. כִּי ֗֗֗ כִּי ἀσυνδέτως sometimes introduce the proximate and ultimate cause respectively, Gen 3:19; Gen 26:7; Gen 43:32; Gen 47:20; Exod 23:33 for [else] thou wilt serve their gods, for it will be a snare to thee, Isa 2:6 (twice in verse); Isa 3:8 (twice in verse); Isa 6:5a, b; Isa 10:22f.; Job 6:3f.; Job 8:8; Job 8:9 (twice in verse); Job 24:17 (twice in verse); Job 29:11f.; sometimes they introduce two co-ordinate causes (where we should insert and), Exod 23:21; Exod 23:22; Isa 6:5b,c I am undone, because I am of unclean lips..., because mine eyes have seen ׳י of hosts, Isa 15:5 (twice in verse); Isa 15:6 (twice in verse); Isa 15:8; Isa 15:9; Zeph 3:8f.; Job 15:25; Job 15:27; Job 20:19f.; Job 31:11f. But כִּי ֗֗֗ וְכִי also occurs, Gen 33:11; Num 5:20 (if), Josh 7:15; Judg 6:30; 1Sam 19:4; 1Sam 22:17; 1Kgs 2:26; Isa 65:16 +.
e. after a negative כִּי for becomes = but (German sondern): Gen 17:15 thou shalt not call her name Sarai, כִּי שָׂרָה שְׁמָהּ for (= but) Sarah shall be her name, Gen 24:3f.; Gen 45:8; Exod 1:19; Exod 16:8 not against us are your murmurings, ׳כי עליֿ for (they are) against ׳י = but against ׳י, Deut 21:17; 1Sam 6:3 (אַל), 1Sam 27:1 (see Dr), 1Kgs 21:17; Isa 10:7; Isa 28:27; Isa 29:23; Isa 30:5; Ps 44:8; Ps 118:17 + often; so in לא כי nay, for = nay, but, as Gen 18:15 לֹא כִּי צָחָֽקְתְּ nay, but thou didst laugh, Gen 19:2; Gen 42:12; Josh 5:14; 1Sam 2:16 MSS ᵐ5 (see Dr), 1Sam 12:12; 2Sam 16:18; 2Sam 24:24; 1Kgs 2:30; 1Kgs 3:22; 1Kgs 11:22; Isa 30:16 nay, but we will flee upon horses.

Note. — כִּי is sometimes of difficult and uncertain interpretation, and in some of the passages quoted a different explanation is tenable. Authorities especially read the Hebrew differently, when the choice is between for and yea. E.g. Isa 8:23 Ges Ew^{§ 330 b} doch (no, but); Hi Di for (taking vIsa 8:22 as RVm); Ch surely: Isa 15:1 Ges Ew Hi Di surely; De for: Isa 39:8 Ges Hi De surely; Di for (explanation of טוֺב): Ezek 11:16 Hi Ke Co surely; Ew Sm because. — In Exod 20:25 the tense of וַתְּחַלֲלֶהָ makes it probably that כֹּי is for (Dr^{§ 153}). Job 22:29 is taken with least violence to usage (גַּאֲוָה) as Hi When they humble thee, and thou sayest (= complainest) Pride! he will save, etc. כִּי אִםֿ (the אִם always followed by makkeph, except Gen 15:4; Num 35:33; Neh 2:2, where כִּיאִֿם is read by the Mass.: Fr^{MM 241}) —

1. each particle retaining its independent force, and relating to a different clause:
a. that if Jer 26:15 after an oath (כִּי not translated: see כִּי 1 c) if 1Sam 14:39; Jer 22:24, surely not (אִם 1 b 2) 2Sam 3:35; 1Sam 25:34 (כִּי being resumptive of the כִּי before לוּלֵי: see כִּי 1 c); Exod 22:22 (in apodosis) indeed if . . . (see כִּי 1 d).
b. for if Exod 8:17; Exod 9:2; Exod 10:4; +, for though Isa 10:22; Jer 37:20; Amos 5:22, but if Jer 7:5.

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

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 Nö^{M p. 208, ZMG 1886, p. 739}; W^{AG i. § 367 e})

**ᵑ7^{Onk Jon} אִם, ᵑ7^Hag אין.

1. hypothetical particle if.
a. construction (see more fully Dr^{§ 136-138, 143} Friedrich^{Die 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 Dr^{Sm 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

הֵן conjunction if, whether (Biblical Hebrew הֵן, q. v.: Zenjirli, Egyptian Aramaic (S-C^{Pap. A 7} +), Palmyrene, Nabataean הן, Mandean הין if [ᵑ7^{Onk Jon} use אם, ᵑ7^Jer אין, Syriac ]); —

1. if, Dan 2:6; Dan 3:15; Dan 3:17; Dan 4:24; Dan 5:16; Dan 5:17, הֵן לָא ֗֗֗ Dan 2:5; Dan 2:9; Dan 3:15 vDan 3:18 הֵן לָ֔א if not.

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

II. לָהֵן conjunction except, but (from לָא and הֵן 'not if' (compare Hebrew אם לא Gen 24:38); so Nabataean and Egyptian Aramaic להן Cooke^{217, 219, 241} S-C^{Pap. C 6, 7} +; lâinnî, however Soc^{Arab. Dial.} see Marokko 44, Anm. 103; ᵑ7 אִילָּהֵין Gen 32:28; Gen 43:3 and elsewhere); —

1. after a negative (= Biblical Hebrew כִּי אִם, q. v.):
a. except Dan 2:11; Dan 3:28; Dan 6:6; Dan 6:8.
b. but (German sondern) Dan 2:30.

2. without a negative: however, but Ezra 5:12.

Strong's Definition H518

if, or, though, surely, not, …

ʾim

used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also Oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not

if

conditional clauses

of possible situations

no, not

Variations 8 forms of this word

Translations 138 English renderings

Search every verse

Word Parts

כֹּ֤ה

Adverb thus, so, also, here, hitherto, …

Dictionary form: כֹּה · koh

Vowels & Accents

Hebrew Alephbet

Grammar D

Adverb

כֹּה	Speech Adverb

In English

In the KJV here: thus

thus ×446 them thus ×30 him thus ×17 so ×16 also ×5 and thus ×5 unto them thus ×5 thou thus ×4

More options

this is what — Best for prophetic/speech formulas, e.g. 'this is what the LORD says'

thus — Modernized from KJV; still natural in formal or literary prose

so — Casual, conversational register; suits narrative contexts

in this way — Emphasizes manner or method of an action

as follows — Introduces a direct quotation or list naturally

here — Use when כֹּה indicates place or spatial reference

Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)

BDB3924 H3541

כֹּה demonstrative adverb thus, here (Biblical Aramaic כָּה; ᵑ7, ᵑ6:Jerusalem, Mandean כָּא here: in Syriac with prefixes hither, (ᵑ6:Jerusalem ) hence, where? compare אֵיכָה, p. 32, and Kö^{ii. 1, 252}) —

1. of manner, thus (so most frequently, and usually pointing to what is to follow, while כֵּן points commonly to what has preceded), Gen 15:5 כה יהיה זרעך thus shall thy seed be, Num 6:23; 1Kgs 2:30 כֹּה דִבֶּר יוֺאָב וְכֹה עָנָנִי, 1Kgs 5:25; Isa 24:13 (answered by בְּ, as Jer 23:29); with a substantive Isa 20:6 הִנֵּה כֹה מַבָּטֵנוּ, Jer 9:21 (si vera lectio), Jer 23:29; 1Sam 27:11. Mostly confined to particular phrases: thus
a. with different forms of אמר, כה תאמר thus shalt thou say Exod 3:14; Exod 3:15; Exod 19:3; Exod 20:22 etc.; especially כה אמר יי֞ thus saith (or said) ׳י Exod 4:22; Exod 5:1; Exod 7:17; Exod 7:26; Exod 8:16 etc.; and continually in the prophets, as Isa 7:7; Isa 8:11; Isa 18:4 etc.; Jer 2:2; Jer 2:5; Jer 4:27; Jer 6:16 etc.; also in the idiomatic formula אִם כֹּה יאֹמַר if he say (or used to say) (the words spoken following) Gen 31:8; 1Sam 14:9; 1Sam 14:10; 1Sam 20:7; 2Sam 15:26.
b. with עשׂה to do thus, Exod 5:15; Deut 7:5 pointing back, Num 22:30; Josh 6:14; 1Sam 27:11 and elsewhere; especially in the phrase כה יעשׂה אלהים וכה יוסיף (with variations), 1Sam 3:17 + (see יסף), in which כֹּה points to an imprecation understood but not expressed. With בְּ prefixed 1Kgs 22:20 ויאמר זה בְּכֹה וזה אמר בְּכֹה and one spake in this wise, and another spake in that wise (|| 2Chr 18:19 כָכָהכָּ֗֗֗כָה; probably rightly).

2. of place, here (rare, chiefly in E), Gen 31:37 שִׂים כֹּה place it here before my brethren, Num 23:15 (twice in verse); 2Sam 18:30; Ruth 2:8. Repeated, Exod 2:12 וַיִּפֶן כֹּה וָכֹה and he turned this way and that way; כֹּהכֹּ֗֗֗ה on this side . . . on that side Num 11:31. With עַד Gen 22:5 and we will go עַדכֹּֿה as far as here (δεικτικῶς) i.e. yonder.

3. of time, עַד כֹּה hitherto, Exod 7:16 (compare עַדהֵֿנָּה), Josh 17:14 עַדכֹּֿה וְעַדכֹּֿה till now and till then, i.e. meanwhile, 1Kgs 18:45.

BDB9605 H3541 H3542

כָּה adverb here (Biblical Hebrew כֹּה; ᵑ7 Mandean כָּא; Christian-Palestinian Aramaic ; Syriac with prefixes, as hither, where?); — Dan 7:28 עָדכָּֿה סוֺפָא דִימִֿלְּתָא hitherto (compare Jer 48:47; Jer 51:64) is the end of the matter.

Strong's Definition H3541

thus, so, also, here, hitherto, …

kō

properly, like this, i.e., by implication, (of manner) thus (or so); also (of place) here (or hither); or (of time) now

thus, here, in this manner

thus, so

Variations 13 forms of this word

Translations 38 English renderings

Search every verse

Word Parts

תַֽעֲשׂוּ֙

Root word do, made, done, did, make, …

Dictionary form: עָשָׂה · aw-SAW

Vowels & Accents

Hebrew Alephbet

Grammar Vqi2mp

Verb — Qal, Imperfect (Yiqtol), second person masculine plural simple action — "he did" not-yet-complete action — try "he will ___" or "he ___s" the built-in subject is "you (a group)"

תַעֲשׂוּ

Speech Verb Stem Qal Type Imperfect (Yiqtol) Person Second Person Gender Masculine Number Plural

Verb Chart

Full verb chart

In English

In the KJV here: shall ye deal

did ×123 do ×108 made ×86 to do ×85 and do ×61 he did ×59 and he made ×54 and thou shalt make ×45

More options

do — Broadest default; fits commands, descriptions, and narrative.

make — Prefer when the result is a crafted or constructed object.

perform — Good for rituals, duties, vows, or formal acts.

carry out — Emphasizes completing a directive or plan.

execute — Suits legal, judicial, or administrative actions.

accomplish — Highlights successful completion of a goal.

Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)

BDB6428 H6213

I. עָשָׂה₂₆₂₂ verb do, make (Late Hebrew = Biblical Hebrew; MI^{23, 26} עשתי, l.³; l.⁹ ואעש, l.²⁴ Imperative עשו; Old Hebrew proper name עשיו, אלעשה, מעשיהו; not Aramaic, and not certainly found in South Semitic languages; on Sabean see especially DHM^{SB Berl. Akkadian 1886, 849}); —

Qal₂₅₂₄ Perfect 3 masculine singular Gen 3:1 +, suffix עָשָׂהוּ Hos 8:6 +; 3 feminine singular עָֽשְׂתָה Deut 22:21 +, וְעָשָׂת consecutive Lev 25:21 2 masculine singular עָשִׂיתָ Gen 3:14 +, etc.; Imperfect 3 masculine singular יַעֲשֶׂה Gen 18:25 +, וַיַּעֲשֶׂה 1Kgs 16:25 + 3 t., וַיַּעַשׂ Isa 5:2 +; יַעֲשֵׂה Isa 64:3, 2 masculine singular תַּעֲשֶׂה 1Sam 10:8, תַּעֲשֵׂה Gen 26:29; Josh 7:9, jussive (with אַל) תַּעַשׂ Gen 22:12 +, תַּעֲשֵׂה 2Sam 13:12; Jer 40:16 Qr (Kt תַּעַשׂ); 1 singular אֶעֱשֶׂה Gen 2:18 +, וָאֶעֱשֶׂה Ezek 20:14; Dan 8:27, וָאַעַשׂ Deut 10:3 + 4 t. Ezekiel; etc.; Imperative masculine singular עֲשֵׂה Judg 10:15 +; feminine singular עֲשִׂי Jer 6:26 +, etc.; Infinitive absolute עָשׂה Jer 44:17 +; עָשׂוֺ Jer 7:5 + 2 t. (Jer 4:18 van d. H. עָשׂוּ); construct עֲשׂוֺת Gen 2:4 +, עֲשׂה Gen 50:20 + 2 t., עֲשׂוֺ Gen 31:28, suffix עֲשׂתוֺ Gen 41:32 +, עֲשׂהוּ Exod 18:18, etc.; Participle active עשֶֹׁה Isa 5:5 +, suffix הָעשֹׁוֺ Job 40:19 (but see below); plural עשִֹׁים Gen 24:49 +; suffix עשָֹׁ֑י Job 35:10 (yet see Ges^{«GKC:124k»§ 124k}), etc.; passive עָשׂוּי Exod 3:16 +, הֶעָשׂוּ Job 41:25 (Ges^{«GKC:75k»§ 75k}); feminine עֲשׂוּיָה Ezek 21:20 +, etc.; —

I. 1. do (1560 + t.):
a. (1) with accusative active Gen 3:14 (J) Gen 20:10 (E) + often; do right in eyes of ׳י 2Kgs 12:3; 2Kgs 14:13 +, evil 2Kgs 8:18; 2Kgs 8:27 + (compare I. עַיִן 3 c); do God's commands, statutes, etc., Deut 16:12; Deut 30:8; Num 15:39 (P); חַיִל ׳ע 1Sam 14:48 + do might, i.e. mightily, valiantly; Prov 31:39 do efficiency, i.e. efficiently; = commit (offence) Lev 20:13 (H), Deut 20:18 followed by מִן particle, וְעָשָׂה מֵאַחַת מֵהֵנָּה Lev 4:2 and shall do a single one of them (things prohibited; see מִן 3 b
(d)), compare ׳וְעָשׂוּ אַחַת מִכָּלמִֿצְוֺת י vLev 4:13 vLev 4:22; Lev 5:17 (all P); do = perform a work, with accusative of congnate meaning with verb מַעֲשֶׂה Exod 18:20; Exod 23:12 (E), also (׳י subject) Deut 11:7; Dan 9:14; Eccl 3:11 with accusative מְלָאכָה Gen 2:2 (twice in verse) (J), Exod 20:9; Exod 20:10 = Deut 9:13 (10 Words); with accusative דְּרָכֶיךָ Isa 58:13 מְלוּכָה עַל ׳ע 1Kgs 21:7 = exercise sovereignty over; of ׳י performing signs (אֹתֹת) Josh 24:17 (E), Num 14:11; Num 14:22 (JE), Deut 11:3, so Moses Exod 4:17 and (מֹפְתִים) vExod 4:21. (2) do something to one (ל person) Gen 20:9 (E), Judg 9:56 +; with עַל reflexive Jer 26:19 do evil against ourselves; especially ׳י subject, with לְ, do good to Exod 18:9 (E), 2Kgs 8:66, or evil Gen 42:28 (E); in phrase so may God do to me, etc. 1Sam 3:17; 2Kgs 6:31 + (see יסף

Hiph`il 1.). (3) do something for one (ל person) Gen 30:31; 1Kgs 11:8 +, direct object omitted 1Sam 20:4 + ל of thing Judg 21:7; Judg 21:16 what shall we do for them, for wives ? with עַל person Neh 5:19 with dativus ethicus [dative of interest] (ל) 1Sam 10:7 with לְ, of ׳י doing kindness for 1Sam 22:3 executing vengeance for Judg 11:36 (+ מִן of enemy); ׳י doing a sign (אוֺת) for Judg 6:17 (elsewhere נָתַן אוֺת לְ), compare עֲשֵׂהעִֿמִּי אוֺת לְטוֺבָה Ps 86:17. (4) do something (in relation or intercourse) wilth (אֵת person), ׳י subject Deut 1:30 all that he did with you, Deut 10:21 (compare Ps 86:17 above), human subject 2Chr 24:24 (object שְׁפָטִים), Ruth 2:11. (5) seldom with ב, usually of executing judgment upon 1Sam 28:18; Isa 48:14, more generally Esth 1:15 what shall we do with the queen ? also, subject ׳י, Ezek 25:11; Ezek 28:26; Ps 149:7; Ps 149:9; Num 33:4 (on false gods); in good sense, ׳חֲסָדִים בּ ׳ע Neh 13:14. (6) of ׳י doing the justice (מִשְׁפַּט) of any one, i.e. maintaining his cause 1Kgs 8:45; 1Kgs 8:49; Ps 9:5. (7) with adverb do thus, כֹּה, Josh 6:14 (JE), according to, כְּ Gen 6:22 (P), Gen 18:21 (J), 1Kgs 2:6 accusative as, כַּאֲשֶׁר Gen 27:19 (J); Exod 1:17 (E) +; with בְּ of manner, Judg 9:16a, Ezek 8:18; Ezek 25:15.
b. work for (ל of thing) Gen 30:30 (J); with ל person 1Sam 14:6; Ezek 29:20 (for ׳י); work in (ב) gold or other material 1Kgs 7:14; 2Chr 2:6; 2Chr 2:13; Exod 31:4; Exod 31:5; Exod 35:32 (all P); with בָּהּ (i.e. בָּעֲבֹדָה) Exod 5:9 (J) in toil; work with (עִם) God 1Sam 14:45, so probably of God's working with (אֵת) Moses and Aaron 1Sam 12:6 (usually appoint); with אֵת with (of person in whose company, in whose field Ruth 2:19 (twice in verse) (gleaning); work בְּחֵפֶץ כַּפֶּיהָ Prov 31:13 without preposition Exod 36:1; Neh 3:28.

2. deal with, with עִם, 2Chr 2:2; Dan 1:13 (כַּאֲשֶׁר accusative as); with אֵת, Ezek 20:44; Ps 109:21; Ezek 22:14; Zeph 3:19 (perhaps; Gr Now insert כָּלָה, see II 1 g), + כְּ Jer 21:2, + בְּ of manner Ezek 23:25; Ezek 23:29 with לְ person + בְּ Ezek 25:12 with בְּ person, Jer 18:23; Dan 11:7, + כְּ according to Neh 9:24; Esth 3:11.

3. often in phrase, do kindness (חֶסֶד) with: with (עִמָּדִ) עִם Gen 19:19; Gen 24:12; Gen 12:14 (J), Judg 1:24; Judg 8:35; 1Sam 15:6; 2Sam 2:5; 2Sam 10:2 = 1Chr 19:2 +; with עַל, 1Sam 20:8 (but read עִם Vrss We Dr and others); absolute, Ps 109:16 object חֶסֶד + אֱמֶת, with עִם, Josh 2:14 (JE) Judg 9:19; 2Sam 2:6 with אֵת with, Gen 24:49; Gen 32:11; Gen 47:29 (all J); with לְ, Exod 20:6 = Deut 5:10; 2Sam 22:51 = Ps 18:51 so טוֺב ׳ע, with עִם, Gen 26:29 (J), compare Judg 8:35; Judg 9:16 with אֵת with, 1Sam 24:19; 2Sam 2:6.

4. absolute act, act with effect, especially of ׳י, 1Kgs 8:32; 1Kgs 8:39; Jer 14:7; Ezek 20:9; Ezek 20:14; Ezek 20:22; Ps 22:32; Ps 37:5; Ps 52:11; Dan 9:19 of men 2Chr 31:21; Dan 8:12; Dan 8:24; Dan 11:28; Dan 11:30; Dan 11:32 with ל of person Ezek 31:11.

II. 1. make (670 + t.):
a. with object concrete, ark Gen 8:6, altar Gen 13:4, idols Judg 18:24; Judg 18:31 +, etc.
b. often of God's making (creating) Gen 3:1 (J), Gen 1:7; Gen 1:16; Gen 1:25 (P), Neh 9:6; Job 9:9; Prov 8:26; 2Chr 2:11; Ps 95:5 +; making man Ps 100:3; Ps 119:73 (made by God's hands), in the womb Job 31:15 (twice in verse); making, constituting, nation Deut 26:19; Deut 32:6; Deut 32:15 participle suffix עשֵֹׁהוּ his Maker Isa 17:7; Prov 14:31; Prov 17:5 (הָעשֹׁוֺ Job 40:19 is improbable, most read הֶעָשָׂוּי, with various interpretation of following words); עשֶֹׁךָ Isa 51:13, עשֵֹׁנִי Job 32:23 (Ginsb; vJob 32:22 van d. H. Baer), עשֵֹׁנוּ Ps 95:6 so apparently plural participle עשָֹׁ֑י Job 35:10, עשַֹׁיִךְ Isa 54:5 (Ges^{«GKC:124k»§ 124k} explanation as sg.).
c. make something, with לְ reflexive, make for thee Exod 20:4; Deut 9:12; Deut 10:1 +, for (ל) another 1Sam 2:19; 2Sam 7:11; 1Kgs 2:24 +; object מִשְׁתֶּה banquet Gen 40:20; Esth 5:4, also (no ל) Gen 29:22 (E) Judg 14:10; Esth 5:5; Esth 5:12 and (figurative, ׳י subject) Isa 25:6 with ל of thing, Deut 22:8 with ל of animal Gen 33:17 (J).
d. make a name (שֵׁם) for oneself (ל) 2Sam 7:9; 1Chr 17:8, also (no ל) 2Sam 8:13 a new heart for oneself (ל) Ezek 18:31.
e. make war with (אֶת) Gen 14:2; Josh 11:18 (D); with עִם, Deut 20:12; Deut 20:20; 1Chr 5:10; 1Chr 5:19 absolute 1Chr 22:8 with ל reflexive Prov 24:6 participle עשֵֹׁה מִלְחָמָה 2Chr 11:1; 2Chr 26:11; 2Chr 26:13 make peace, with ל person Josh 9:15 (J); אִתִּי בְרָכָה ׳ע 2Kgs 18:31 make an agreement with me. feminine with ב, ׳פֶּרֶץ בּ ׳ע Judg 21:15 ׳י brought a catastrophe upon (compare פרץ).
g. with 2 accusative, make something out of (accusative mater.) Exod 25:18; Exod 28:13; Exod 37:17; Exod 37:24; Song 3:10; Deut 10:3 +; make something into something (Ges^{«GKC:117ii»§ 117ii}) Hos 8:4; Gen 27:9; Judg 17:4; Num 11:8; Num 17:3; Ps 104:4 make something כָּלָה, i. e. utterly destroy it Nah 1:8; Zeph 1:18; Ezek 20:17; Neh 9:31 c. passive participle as 2nd accusative Exod 38:7 they made it נְבוּב לֻחֹת hollow with boards, Exod 39:9 but also with accusative + לְ, Hos 2:10 gold they made into (ל) the Baal, Judg 8:27; Exod 27:3 (P), Deut 9:14; Jer 37:15; Ezek 4:9; Isa 44:17; Isa 44:19 make something for (ל person), + מִן of material Song 3:9.

2. produce, yield: of grain, yielding meal Hos 8:7 (twice in verse), vineyard, grapes Isa 5:2 (twice in verse); Isa 5:4 (twice in verse); Isa 5:10, tree, fruit 2Kgs 19:30 = Isa 37:31; Hos 9:16; Jer 12:2; Jer 17:8; Ezek 17:23 (all figurative), Gen 1:11; Gen 1:12 (P); branches Job 14:9 and (figurative) Ezek 17:8 land, fruit Lev 25:21 compare Hab 3:17, absolute Gen 41:47 of seed Isa 5:10, vine, shoots Ezek 17:6 (figurative); of cows, yielding milk Isa 7:22 hippop. producing fat Job 15:27.

3. prepare, especially of dressing and cooking food, Gen 18:7; Gen 18:8; Judg 6:19; Judg 13:5; 1Sam 25:18 (passive), 2Sam 12:4 (twice in verse); Gen 27:14; Gen 27:17; Gen 27:31; 2Sam 13:5; 2Sam 13:7; 1Kgs 17:12; Exod 12:39 (+ ל reflexive); a bullock for sacrifice (see below) 1Kgs 18:23; 1Kgs 18:25; 1Kgs 18:26 כְּלֵי גוֺלָה Ezek 12:3 (+ ל reflexive); a chamber Neh 13:7 prepare to build (+ ל person and infinitive).

4. make offering, e.g. עוֺלָה Judg 13:16; Jer 33:18; Lev 16:24, עוֺלָה וָזֶבַח 2Kgs 5:17 (+ ל of deity), הַחַטָּאת Lev 14:19, אִשֶּׁה Num 15:3; Num 15:14, various offerings 1Kgs 8:64; Lev 9:22; Ezek 45:17; Ezek 46:2 +; + ׳לי to ׳י Lev 17:9 +; also with accusative of thing sacrificed (perhaps originally prepare or provide, see above) Ezek 43:25 (twice in verse); Ezek 46:15; Lev 14:30; Lev 15:15; Lev 15:30; Lev 16:9; Num 6:11; Num 6:17; Ps 66:15 (+ ל of deity) +; absolute = offer sacrifice Exod 10:25 (E + ׳לי), to (ל) heathen gods 2Kgs 17:32.

5. attend to, put in order: pare (the nails) Deut 21:12 wash (feet) 2Sam 19:25 trim (beard) v.2Sam 19:25 (compare French faire la barbe, German die Haare machen).

6. observe, celebrate, religious festival, e.g. passover Exod 12:48; Num 9:4; Num 9:6; Num 9:13; Josh 5:10, also (+ ׳לי) Exod 12:48; Num 9:10; Num 9:14 (all P), Deut 16:1 +; sabbath Exod 31:16; Deut 5:15 feast of weeks Deut 16:10, booths Deut 16:13, Purim Esth 9:21; Esth 9:27, etc.

7. acquire property of various kinds (compare 'make money') Gen 12:5; Gen 31:5 (J), Isa 15:7; Jer 17:11; Jer 48:36; Deut 8:18; Ezek 22:18; Ezek 28:4 (twice in verse); Ezek 38:12; 2Chr 32:29; Eccl 2:8 + ל reflexive Deut 8:17; 2Sam 15:1; 1Kgs 1:5 of fruits from vineyards, etc. Ps 107:37.

8. appoint priests 1Kgs 12:31; 1Kgs 13:33; 2Chr 2:17 (all + מִן source), a feast 1Kgs 12:32; 1Kgs 12:33 (+ ל person); ordain a sacrifice Num 28:6, a festal day Ps 118:24 institute, אוֺב וְיִדְּעֹנִי ghost and familiar spirit 2Kgs 21:6 = 2Chr 33:6 (compare Dr^{Deut 18:11}).

9. bring about, of ׳י's effecting a deliverance Exod 14:13 (לָכֶם), 1Sam 11:13; 2Sam 23:10 (insert also || 1Chr 11:13 Dr), v1Chr 11:12 cause, followed by clause with שֶׁ Eccl 3:14.

10. use, לִמְלַאכְתּוֺ ׳וְע 1Sam 8:16 passive Exod 38:24.

11. spend, pass, days of life Eccl 6:12. Niph`al₉₇ Perfect 3 masculine singular נַעֲשָׂה Judg 16:11 +; 3 feminine singular נֶעֶשְׂתָה 2Sam 17:23 +, etc.; Imperfect 3 masculine singular יֵעָשֶׂה Gen 29:26 +, 3 feminine singular with ו subordinate וְתֵעָשׂ Esth 5:6; Esth 7:2; Esth 9:12 (Ges^{«GKC:109»§ 109} f.), etc.; Infinitive construct הֵעָשׂוֺת Esth 9:1; Esth 9:14, etc., Participle נַעֲשֶׂה Neh 5:18, etc.; —

1. be done (passive of Qal I 1):
a. subject מְלָאכָה Judg 16:11 (with ב instrumental), Neh 6:16 (with מֵאֵת אֱלֹהִים ), vNeh 6:9; Exod 12:16 + 4 t.; subject omitted Ezek 44:14, indefinite Esth 4:1 with כֵּן Esth 9:14 be done, כַּתּוֺרָה Ezra 10:3 be committed, of offence, Deut 13:15; Num 15:24; Eccl 4:1 + 3 t.; with negative not (yet) done, i.e. future Isa 46:10 be accomplished, performed, fulfilled Ezek 12:35; Ezek 12:38; Dan 11:36; Esth 5:5; Esth 7:2; Esth 9:12 be executed, carried out, of sentence Eccl 8:11, decree Esth 9:1 be followed, of counsel 2Sam 17:28 nearly = occur Eccl 1:9 (twice in verse); Eccl 1:13; Eccl 9:3; Eccl 9:6, subject מַעֲשֶׂה Eccl 1:14; Eccl 2:17; Eccl 4:3; Eccl 8:9; Eccl 8:17, subject הֶבֶל vEccl 8:14, עִנְיָן vEccl 8:15.
b. Imperfect with negative, is (are) not done, not according to usage, of flagrant offences Gen 20:9 (E), Gen 29:26 (with כֵּן), Gen 34:7 (both J), 2Sam 13:12 (כֵּן); hence (P) not to be done, forbidden by ׳י Lev 4:2; Lev 4:13; Lev 4:22; Lev 4:27; Lev 5:17.
c. be done to, with ל of animal 1Sam 11:7 (כֹּה); ל person Exod 2:4 (E) Exod 21:31 (E; כַּמִּשְׁפָּט), Isa 3:11; Jer 5:13 (כֹּה), Lev 24:19 (H; כֵּן), Num 15:34 (P) + 8 t.; be done for, ל person Judg 11:37; Esth 6:3, עִם person vEsth 6:3 ל of thing Num 15:11 (כָּכָה).
d. be done upon, against (ב) Dan 9:12.

2. (passive of Qal II):
a. be made, of conr. things 1Kgs 10:20 = 2Chr 9:19 (throne), Jer 3:16 (ark), 2Kgs 12:14; Ezek 43:18; Exod 25:31; Num 4:36 (P); with accusative mat; Lev 2:7.
b. be produced from (מִן) vine Num 6:4.
c. be prepared, of food Exod 12:16; Lev 6:14; Lev 7:9 (all P), Neh 5:18 (twice in verse).
d. be offered, מִנְחָה Lev 2:8; Lev 2:11, kid Num 28:15; Num 28:24.
e. be observed, passover 2Kgs 24:22; 2Kgs 24:23 (ל of deity) = 2Chr 35:18; 2Chr 35:19 Purim Esth 9:28. feminine be used + ל of thing Lev 7:24 (P); Lev 13:51 (P) Ezek 15:5 (twice in verse). Pu`al Perfect 1 singular עֻשֵּׂיתִי Ps 139:15 I was made.

BDB6436 H6213

II. [עָשָׂה] verb Pi`el press, squeeze (Late Hebrew עִשָּׂה Pi`el compel; ᵑ7 עַסִּי Pa`el crush, gnash (teeth); compare Arabic compress a woman); — Perfect 3 plural עִשּׂוּ דַּדֵּי בְּתוּלִים Ezek 23:3; Ezek 23:8 (unchaste act); Infinitive construct בַּעֲשׂוֺתדַּ֗֗֗דַּיִךְ vEzek 23:21 read Pi`el בְּעַשּׂוֺת (Ew Co Toy, and others).

Strong's Definition H6213

do, made, done, did, make, …

ʿāśâ

to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application

to do, fashion, accomplish, make

(Qal)

to do, work, make, produce

to do

to make

to be done

Variations 318 forms of this word

Translations 921 English renderings

Search every verse

Word Parts

לָ הֶ֔ם

לָ

Preposition they, those, these, them, who, …

הֶ֔ם

Suffix — pronoun their / them

Dictionary form: הֵם · hame

Vowels & Accents

Hebrew Alephbet

Grammar R/Sp3mp

Preposition

לָ	Speech Preposition
הֶם	Speech Suffix Type Pronominal Person Third Person Gender Masculine Number Plural

In English

they ×204 and they ×49 in those ×34 are they ×33 these ×15 but they ×12 them ×10 those ×8

More options

they — Default third-person plural pronoun; broadest usage.

them — Use when serving as object of verb or preposition.

those — Demonstrative use; points to a specific group or set.

these — Demonstrative, near reference; contrasts with distant group.

who — Relative pronoun use; links back to a preceding noun.

themselves — Reflexive or emphatic contexts stressing the subject.

Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)

BDB2087 H1931 H1992 H2007

הוּא masculine הִיא feminine (plural masculine הֵ֫מָּה, הֵם; feminine הֵ֫נָּה, הֵן [the latter only with prefixes]; see these words), pronoun of the 3rd person singular, he, she, used also (in both genders) for the neuter it, Latin is, ea, id. (The א is not orthographic merely, but radical, being written on Moabite and Phoenician inscriptions, though dropped in some of the later dialects. [In Hebrew only Jer 29:23 Kt, and in the proper name אֱלִיהוּ.] Moabite (MI^{6; 27}) and Phoenician (often) הא; Aramaic of Zinjirli הא, once הו (DHM^{Inschr. von Sendschirli 55}); ᵑ7 הוּא, הִיא Syriac , ; Arabic , (for h¥°a, h£°a, W^{SG 104}); Ethiopic we°§t¥, ye°§t£; perhaps also Assyrian šû, šî, himself, herself suffix šu, ši; compare demonstrative šuatu, šiati (see Krae^{BAS. i. 383 & references}, W^{SG 98, 105} Dl^{§ 55b, 57}). In the Pentateuch, הוא is of common gender, the feminine form הִיא occurring only 11 times, namely Gen 14:2; Gen 20:5; Gen 38:25 (see Masora here), Lev 11:39; Lev 13:10; Lev 13:21; Lev 16:31; Lev 20:17; Lev 21:9; Num 5:13; Num 5:14. The punctuators, however, sought to assimilate the usage of the Pentateuch to that of the rest of the OT, and accordingly wherever הוא was construed as a feminine pointed it הִוא (as a Qr perpetuum). Outside the Pentateuch the same Qr occurs 1Kgs 17:15; Isa 30:33; Job 31:11a — probably for the sake of removing gramm. anomalies: five instances of the converse change, namely of היא to be read as הוּא, occur for a similar reason, 1Kgs 17:15 (וַתּאֹכַל הוּאוָֿהִיא to be read as וַתּאֹכַל הִיאוָֿהוּא, on account of the feminine verb) Ps 73:16; Job 31:11b (כי הוא זמה והיא עָוֺן פלילים to be read as כי היא זמה והוא עון פלילים), Eccl 5:8; 1Chr 29:16. The origin of the peculiarity in the Pentateuch is uncertain. It can hardly be a real archaism : for the fact that arab., Aramaic, & Ethiopic have distinct forms for masculine & feminine shews that both must have formed part of the original Semitic stock, and consequently of Hebrew as well, from its earliest existence as an independent language. Nor is the peculiarity confined to the Pentateuch: in the Manuscript of the Later Prophets, of A.D. , now at St. Petersburg, published in facsimile by Strack (1876), the feminine occurs written הוא (see the passages cited in the Adnotationes Criticae, p. 026). In Phoenician both masculine and feminine are alike written הא (CIS i. 1Chr 1:9 מלך צדק הא, 1Chr 1:13 מלאכת הא, 1Chr 3:10 אדם הא, 1Chr 1:11 ממלכת הא, 1Chr 93:2; 1Chr 94:2), though naturally this would be read as hu° or hi° as occasion required. Hence, as ᵐ5 shews that in the older Hebrew MSS. the scriptio plena was not yet generally introduced, it is probably that originally הא was written for both genders in Hebrew likewise, and that the epicene הוא in the Pentateuch originated at a comparatively late epoch in the transmission of the text — perhaps in connection with the assumption, which is partly borne out by facts (compare De^{ZKWL 1880, pp. 393-399}), that in the older language feminine forms were more sparingly used than subsequently.)

In usage הוּא (feminine הִיא; plural הֵ֫מָּה, הֵם, ׃ הֵ֫נָּה see הֵ֫מָּה) is

1. an emphatic he (she, it, they), sometimes equivalent to himself (herself, itself, themselves), or (especially with the article) that (those):
a. Gen 3:15 הוא ישׁופך ראשׁ he (ᵐ5 αὐτὸς) shall bruise thee as to the head (opposed to the following אתה thou), vGen 3:20 for she (and no one else) was the mother of all living (so often in causal sentences, where some emphasis on the subject is desirable as Judg 14:3; Ps 24:2; Ps 25:15; Ps 33:9; Ps 91:3; Ps 103:14; Ps 148:5; Job 5:18; Job 11:11; Job 28:24; Jer 5:5; Jer 34:7b Hos 6:1; Hos 11:10 : Dr^{1Sam 14:18}), 1Sam 4:20 Adah bare Jabal הוא היה אבי ישׁב אהלים he (ἐκεῖνος) was the father of tent-dwellers, v1Sam 4:21; 1Sam 10:8 he began to be a mighty one in the earth, 1Sam 20:5 (αὐτός), Judg 13:5; Isa 32:7; Isa 33:22; 2Kgs 14:7; 2Kgs 14:22; 2Kgs 14:25; Hos 10:2 he — the unseen observer of their thoughts and deeds (Che), Hos 13:15 b (he, the foe figured by the east wind). (For its use thus in circumstantial clauses see Dr^{§ 157, 160, 168, 169}.) And where the predicate is a substantive or participle, Gen 2:11 הוּא הַסֹּבֵב ֗֗֗ that is the one which encompasseth etc., vGen 2:13 vGen 2:14; Gen 10:12 that is the great city. So in the explanatory notices, Gen 14:3 הוּא יָם הַמֶּלַת that is the salt sea, vGen 14:8 הוּאצֹֿעַר that is Zoar, Gen 36:1 + often
b. pointing back to the subj. and contrasting it with something else : Gen 4:4 הבל גסהֿוא Abel, he also ... vGen 4:26; Gen 10:21; Gen 20:5 וְהִיאגַֿםהִֿוא and she, herself also said, Exod 1:10 + often
c. appended alone to a verb (more rarely, but always with intentional emphasis), Exod 4:14 I know כי דבר ידבר הוא that he can speak, vExod 4:16; 1Sam 22:18 ויפגע הוא בכהנים and he (though none else would do it) smote the priests, 1Sam 23:22 for one hath told me, עָרֹם יַעְרִם הוּא He can deal subtilly, Ezek 12:12 (peculiarly), compare Dr^{§ 160 n.}: very rarely indeed to a noun Num 18:23 הַלֵּוִי הוּא Isa 7:14 הוא ׳י, Esth 9:1 (הֵמָּה) being probably all the examples in the OT.
d. Gen 13:1 and Abram came up out of Egypt, הוּא וְאִשְׁתּוֺ himself and his wife, and all that he had, Gen 14:15 הוּא וַעֲבָדָיו he and his servants, Gen 19:30 so very often
e. prefixed to a noun (very rare, and mostly late), Exod 12:42b Ezek 3:8 & Ezek 33:8 הוּא רָשָׁע : to proper names Exod 6:27 הוא משׁה ואהרן, 1Chr 26:26 that Shelomoth, 1Chr 27:6; 2Chr 28:22; 2Chr 32:12 (different from 2Kgs 18:22), v2Kgs 18:30; 2Kgs 33:23; Ezra 7:6: compare הֵם Neh 10:38 (compare in Syriac , Nö^{§ 227}): compare Ps 87:5; 1Sam 20:29.

2. It resumes the subject with emphasis:
a. when the predicate is a verb (especially if it be separated from its subject by an intervening clause), Gen 15:4 but one that shall come forth out of thine own bowels, הוּא יִירָשֶׁ֑ךָ he shall be thy heir, Gen 3:12 the woman whom thou gavest to be with me, הוא נתנה לי she gave to me, Gen 24:7; Gen 44:17 etc. Judg 7:4; 2Sam 14:19 (throwing stress on יוֺאָב) 1Chr 11:20; Isa 33:15-16; Isa 34:16; Isa 38:19; Isa 47:10; Isa 59:16; Isa 63:5; Hos 7:8 often in Proverbs, as Hos 10:18; Hos 10:22; Hos 10:24; Hos 11:28; Hos 13:13; Hos 19:21; Hos 22:9; Hos 24:12; 1Sam 1:13 (see Dr), Ps 68:36.
b. when the predicate is a noun, Gen 2:14 and the fourth river, הוּא פְרָת it was the Euphrates, vGen 2:19; Gen 9:18; Gen 15:2; Gen 42:6 הַשַּׁלִּיט וְיוֺסֵף הוּא and Joseph, he was the ruler etc.: in sentences of the type הוּא הָאֱלֹהִים ׳י, הוּא הַנִּלְחָם ׳י לָכֶם, הוּא נַחֲלָתְךָ ׳י, Deut 3:22; Deut 4:35; Deut 7:9; Deut 10:9; Josh 13:14; Josh 13:33; Isa 9:14; Isa 33:6; (in these cases, to avoid stiffness, it is convenient often to drop the pronoun in translating, as 'And the fourth river was the Euphrates:' the pronoun, however, though it then corresponds to the substantive verb in English, does not really express it, the copula, as the examples shew, being in fact understood. Sts. in AV the pronoun is retained for emphasis, as Deuteronomy ll. cc.) So
c. after אֲשֶׁר in an affirmative sentence, Gen 9:3 all creeping things אֲשֶׁר הוּאחַֿי which are living, Lev 11:39; Num 9:13; Num 14:8; Num 35:31 אֲשֶׁר הוּא רָשָׁע לָמוּת who is guilty of death, Deut 20:20; 1Sam 10:19; Hag 1:9 and elsewhere (On 2, compare Dr^{§ 199}, with Obs.)

3. Where, however, the pron. follows the predicate, its position gives it the minimum of emphasis, and it expresses (or resumes) the subject as unobtrusively as possible: thus
a. Gen 12:18 why didst thou not tell me כי אשׁתך הוא that she was thy wife ? Gen 20:13; Gen 21:13 כי זרעך הוא for he is thy seed, Gen 31:20 because he told him not כִּי בֹרֵחַ הוּא, Gen 37:3 + often (the opposite order rare and emphatic: Gen 24:65; Deut 4:6; Deut 30:20; Josh 10:2; 1Kgs 2:22; 1Kgs 3:4; 1Kgs 21:2; Hos 2:4; Ps 45:12).
b. resuming the subject, Gen 31:16 all the wealth which God hath taken etc., לנו הוא ולבנינו it is ours and our children's, vGen 31:43 and all that thou seest, לי הוא it is mine (or, omitting the pronoun, as not required in our idiom, simply) is mine, Gen 41:26 חלום פרעה אחד הוא the dream of Pharaoh is one, Gen 48:5 (לי הם), Exod 3:5 for the place where on thou standest, אַדְמַת קֹדֶשׁ הוּא it is holy ground, Num 13:32; Num 21:26; Deut 1:17; Josh 5:15; Josh 6:19; Job 3:19 + often; Gen 23:15 ארץ ֗֗֗ מַההִֿוא, so Ps 39:5; Isa 41:22 (הֵנָּה); הֵמָּה .... אַתֶּם (unusual) Zeph 2:12. (In all such cases the predicate is not referred directly to the subject, but, the subject being made a casus pendens, it is resumed by the pronoun, and the predicate thus referred to it indirectly. By this means the sentence is lightened and relieved, especially if the subject consist of many words: in Gen 31:16 for instance, the direct form of predicate כִּי לָנוּ וּלְבָנֵינוּ כָּלהָֿעשֶׁר אֲשֶׁר הִצִּיל אֱלֹהִים מֵאָבִינוּ would have been heavy and inelegant.) So
c. after אֲשֶׁר in a negative sentence, Gen 7:2; Gen 17:12 אֲשֶׁר לאֹ מִזַּרְעֲךָ הוּא which is not of thy seed, Num 17:5; Deut 17:5; 1Kgs 8:41 (compareהֵמָּה 3 c).
d. peculiarly, as the subject of לֹא, Jer 5:12 לוֺא הוּא He is not; and as embracing its predicate in itself, Isa 18:2; Isa 18:7 a nation terrible מִןהֿוּא (= מַאֲשֶׁר הוּא) from (the time that) it was, Nah 2:9 מִימֵי הִיא from the days that (stative construct Ges^{«GKC:130»§ 130}. 4) as it was, 2Kgs 7:7 they left the camp כַּאֲשֶׁר הִיא as it was (compare כַּאֲשֶׁר הֵמָּה v2Kgs 7:10). (On 3, compare Dr^{§ 198}, with Obs.)

4. It anticipates (as it seems) the subject namely
a. (rare) Song 6:9 אַהַת הִיא יוֺנָתִי תַמָּתִי one is she, my dove my perfect one, Lev 25:11; Ezek 11:15; Ezek 21:16; Lam 1:18 ׳צַדִּיק הוּא י (often so in Late Hebrew); EC Lam 6:10 וְנוֺדָע אֲשֶׁר הוּא אָדָם and that which he, even man, is, is known (De Now); compare 1Sam 6:19 מִקְרֶה הוּא הָיָה לָנוּ an accident is it, (that) hath befallen us. (compare הֵמָּה 4 a.)
b. after pronouns — (α) 2Sam 7:28 אַתָּה הוּא הָאֱלֹהִים Thou art he — God, Ps 44:5 אתה הוא מלבי thou art he — my king, Isa 37:16; Isa 43:25 (אנכי), Isa 51:9; Isa 51:10; Isa 51:12; Isa 52:6; Jer 14:22; Jer 29:23 Kt +; compare Jer 49:12 וְאַתָּה הוּא נָקֹה תִנָּקֶה and art thou he (that) shall be unpunished ? (with change of person κατά σύνεσιν, compare Judg 13:11; 1Chr 21:17; Ezek 38:17.) So Ew^{§ 297 b} Müll^{§ 499. But others, as} Ges^Thes Roo^{§ 563} De^{Isa 37:16}; Ps 44. 5, treat הוא as emphasizing the pronoun, 'Thou, he, art God' i.e. Thou and none else art God; 'Thou (emphatic) art my king.'. (β) מִי הוּא, followed by a participle or substantive Gen 27:33; Ps 24:10 מִי הוּא זֶה מֶלֶךְ הַכָּבוֺד who is he, then — the king of glory ? (according to others, as before, 'Who (emphatic), then, is the king of glory ?'); followed by a verb Isa 50:9 מִי הוּא יַרְשִׁיעֵנִי who is he (that) will condemn me ? (others 'Who (emphatic) will condemn me ?') Job 4:7; Job 13:19; Job 17:3; Job 41:2; Jer 30:21 (so with הֵנָּה Gen 21:29, הֵמָּה Zech 1:9; Zech 4:5). (γ) זֶההֿוּא 1Chr 22:1 EC 1Chr 1:17 (frequently in Late Hebrew, where the two words coalesce into one זֶהוּ) . On the analogous אֵלֶּה הֵם ֗֗֗ ), see הֵמָּה 4 b (γ). (compare Dr^{§ 200, 201})

5. As an emphatic predicate, of God, 'I am He,' i.e. I am He Who is (opposed to unreal gods, named in context, or to transitory world), the Unseen, yet Omni-present, and Self-consistent, Ruler of the world, Deut 32:39 אֲנִי אֲנִי הוּא I, I am he, and beside me there is no God, Isa 41:4 (see Che) Isa 43:10; Isa 43:13 even from to-day I am he, Isa 46:4; Isa 48:12; Ps 102:28 (see Che) thou art he, and thy years have no end (ᵐ5 usually ἐγώ εἰμι : in Psalms σὺ δὲ ὁ αὐτὸς εἶ). So also, according to many, Job 3:19, but is הוא a mere predicate of identity ? see rather 3b.

6. In a neuter sense, that, it (of an action, occurrence, matter, etc.) —
a. Josh 2:21 כְּדִבְרֵיכֶם כֶּןהֿוּא according to your words, so be it; Gen 42:14 הוא אשׁר דברתי that is what I said, Exod 16:23; Lev 10:3; 2Kgs 9:36; Job 8:19 הן הוא משׂושׂ דרכו lo that (what has just been described) is the joy of his way, Job 13:16; Job 15:9; Job 31:28; Prov 7:23; Eccl 2:1; Eccl 3:22; Eccl 9:9; Esth 9:1b; similarly the feminine הִיא, Judg 14:4 they knew not היא ׳כי מי that it was from ׳י, Num 14:41; Josh 10:13; Isa 14:24; Ps 77:10 חַלּוֺתִי הִיא it (this perplexity) is my sickness, Job 9:22; Prov 18:13; Jer 22:16; 2Chr 25:20; Eccl 3:13 reference to זאת Amos 7:6; Ps 118:23; Job 5:27, זִּה Eccl 2:24. (Where there is a predicate, the gender of this usually regulates the choice of m. or f.: hence הִוא Gen 34:14; Exod 8:15; Num 15:25 (Eccl 5:5) Deut 4:6 +.)
b. affirming the presence or existence of something (rare) : 2Kgs 18:36 = Isa 36:21 כִּי מִצְוַת הַמֶּלֶךְ הִיא for it was the king's command, saying etc., 1Sam 20:33 (text dubious), Jer 50:15; Jer 50:25; Jer 51:6; Jer 51:11; Mic 2:3, perhaps Job 32:8. p. 241.

7. With the art. הַהוּא, הַהִיא, הָהֵ֫מָּה, הָהֵם, הָהֵ֫נָּה: so regularly when joined to a substantive defined itself by the article: Gen 2:12 הָאָרֶץ הַהִוא that land, Gen 19:35 ובלילה ההוא and in that night, Gen 21:22 בָּעֵת הַהִוא at that time, Deut 1:19 המדבר הגדול והנורא ההוא. Only four times does there occur the anomalous construction בַּלַּיְלָה הוּא Gen 19:33; Gen 30:16; Gen 32:23; 1Sam 19:10.

BDB2188 H1992 H2004 H3860 H3861

הֵ֫מָּה and הֵם (without appreciable distinction in usage, except probably in so far as the longer or shorter from was better adapted to the rhythm of particular sentences: on the whole הֵמָּה (alone) is somewhat more frequently than הֵם, הָהֵם on the contrary is said regularly, הָהֵמָּה occurring only 12 t., namely Num 9:7 (P), Jer 14:15; Zech 14:15, and in the phrase בַּ(הַ)מִָים הָהֵמָּה 2Kgs 18:4; Jer 3:16; Jer 3:18; Jer 5:18; Jer 50:4; Joel 3:2; Joel 4:1; Zech 8:23; Neh 13:15, though בַּיָּמִים הָהֵם is much more common) pronoun 3 plural masculine (הֵמָּה used incorrectly for the feminine Zech 5:10; Ruth 1:22; Song 6:8), feminine הֵ֫נָּה [Late Hebrew also הֵן, which occurs however in Biblical Hebrew only after a prefix: see below 8], pronoun 3 plural they (Biblical Aramaic הִמּוֺ, q. v.; , ; Ethiopic (one form) 'em¥n-t¥, em¹n-t¥; compare also for the dissyllabic form, the suffix -œm¥ [feminine -œn]; perhaps also Assyrian suffix šunu, šina [ni], compare references below הוּא). In usage not different in genl. from הוּא, הִיא (which see, under the corresponding headings, for fuller explanations), thus: —

1. a. Gen 6:4; Exod 5:7 הֵם יֵָֽלְכוּ let them (emphatic) go and gather straw, Num 31:16; Isa 24:14; Hos 4:14; Hos 7:3 etc.; after כִּי Jer 5:5; Jer 34:7. (For the use in circumstantial clauses see Dr^{§ 160, 169}.)
b. Judg 1:22 ויעלו ֗֗֗ גַם הֵם, Deut 2:11 (אַף הֵם), Deut 3:20; Josh 9:4; Ezek 30:17.
c. Exod 18:22 every small matter יִשְׁפְּטוּהֵֿם let them judge themselves, vExod 18:26; Jer 15:19; Jer 17:18; Ps 109:28; Esth 9:1.
d. Gen 33:6; Gen 44:3; Judg 6:5 etc.
e. compare Neh 10:38.

2. a. (Resuming the subject with emphasis) Gen 14:24 (note accents), Deut 1:39; Ps 23:4; Ps 27:2 (accents), Ps 37:9; Ps 107:24; Ezek 36:7; Ezek 44:15.
b. Isa 30:7; Ezek 27:13; Ezek 27:17; Ezek 27:21 compare Isa 44:11.
c. Num 14:27 a Jer 27:9; Ezek 43:19 אֲשֶׁר הֵם מִזֶּרַע צָדוֺק, Eccl 4:2; Neh 2:13.

**— הֵמָּה כִּדְוֵי לַחֻמִי Job 6:7 read perhaps ׳וַהֲמָה וגו (or זָָֽהֲמָה) it is loathesome (√ זהס).

3. a. Gen 3:7; Exod 5:8 כִּי נִרְפִּים הֵם for they are idle, Exod 14:3; Exod 15:23; Exod 29:33 etc. (the opposite order rare: Num 11:16; Isa 61:9, compare De^{Ps 94:11}).
b. Gen 34:21; Gen 34:23; Gen 41:26; Gen 48:5 שׁני בניך ֗֗֗ לִי הֵם thy two sons . . ., they are mine, Exod 32:16 + often: Isa 41:22 הָרִאשֹׁנוֺת מָה הֵנָּה, Isa 49:21 אֵלֶּה אֵיפֹה הֵם these — where were they? Zeph 2:12 after אַתֶּם, peculiarly (compare Dr^{§ 198 Obs. 2}).
c. Deut 20:15 אֲשֶׁר לֹאמֵֿעָרֵי הַגֹּויִם הָאֵלֶּה הֵנָּה, Judg 19:12; 1Kgs 9:20.
d. 2Kgs 7:10 כַּאֲשֶׁר הֵמָּה. (Prov 19:7 Kt לֹאהֵֿמָּה is probably corrupt: see Commentaries)

4. a. Prov 30:24 אַרְבָּעָה הֵם קְטַנֵּיאָֿ֑רֶץ four things are they, the little ones of the earth, vProv 30:29 (compare before a rel. clause vProv 30:15 vProv 30:18; Prov 6:16) Song 6:8; Isa 51:19 שְׁתַּיִם הֵנָּה קֹרְאֹתַיִךְ, 1Chr 9:26 (see הוא 4 a).
b. (β) Gen 21:29 מָה הֵנָּה שֶׁבַע ֗֗֗ literally What are they — these seven sheep? Zech 1:9; Zech 4:5. (γ) אֵלֶּה ֗֗֗ הֵם Gen 25:16 (= 1Chr 1:36) Lev 23:2; Num 3:20; Num 3:21; Num 3:27; Num 3:33; 1Sam 4:8; 1Chr 8:6; 1Chr 12:15 (see Dr^{§ 201, 3}).

6. a. In a neuter sense (rare), Job 6:7 הֵמָּה כִּדְוֵי לַחמִי they (i.e. such sufferings as mine) are as loathsomeness in my meat, Jer 7:4 ׳הֵיכַל י הֵמָּה they (i.e. these buildings) are the temple of ׳י; and in the feminine, Lev 5:22 of all that a man doeth to sin בָּהֵנָּה therein, 1Chr 21:10 מֵהֵנָּה (|| 2Sam 24:12 מֵהֶם); 2Sam 12:8; Job 23:14 כָּהֵנָּה things such as these.

7. With art. הָהֵם, Gen 6:4; Exod 2:11; Num 14:38 + often; הָהֵמָּה 12 t. (see above); הָהֵנָּה 1Sam 17:28.

[Note]

N.B. — Ezek 8:6 Kt מָהֵם stands for מָה הֵם (so Qr), compare מַזֶּה for מַהזֶּֿה Exod 4:2; 2Kgs 9:18 עַדהֵֿם is irregular for עֲדֵיהֶם; 2Sam 4:6 ׳וְהֵנָּה וג is textual error for ׳וְהִנֵּה שֹׁעֶרֶת הַבַּיִת סֹקְלָה חִטִּים וג see We Dr (ᵐ5 & RVm).

8. With preps. (in lieu of the normal, and more usual, forms with suffixes בָּהֶם, לָהֶם, מֵהֶם etc. [כָּהֶם & כָּהֶן, however, each once only, כְּמוֺהֶם thrice: see כְּ]) —
a.בָּהֵמָּה Exod 30:4; Exod 36:1 (both P), Hab 1:16 כָּהֵמָּה Jer 36:32 לְהֵמָּה Jer 14:16 מֵהֵמָּה Jer 10:2; Eccl 12:12.
b. כָּהֵם 2Sam 24:3 Yahweh add to the people כָּהֵם וְכָהֵם מֵאָה פְעָמִים the like of themselves and the like of themselves 100 times, = 1Chr 21:3 (but כָּהֵם here only once, compare Deut 1:11 בָּכֶם), 2Chr 9:11; Eccl 9:12.
c. בָּהֵנָּה Lev 5:22 (P) Num 13:19 (JE) Jer 5:17: כָּהֵנָּה Gen 41:19; 2Sam 12:8 וְאֹסִפָה לְךָ כָּהֵנָּה וְכָהֵנָּה, Job 23:14: לָהֵנָּה Ezek 1:5; Ezek 1:23 (twice in verse); Ezek 42:9; Zech 5:9: מֵהֵנָּה Lev 4:2 (P) Isa 34:16; Jer 5:6; Ezek 16:51; Ezek 42:5; Ps 34:21; 1Chr 21:10 (|| 2Sam 24:12 מֵהֶם).
d. בָּהֵן Gen 19:29 (P) Gen 30:26; Gen 30:37; Exod 25:29; Exod 37:16 (both P) Lev 10:1; Lev 11:21; Lev 14:40; Num 10:3; Num 16:7 (all P) Deut 28:52; Jer 4:29; Jer 48:9; Jer 51:43 (twice in verse) (בָּהֶן thrice only); כָּהֵן Ezek 18:14 (editions; Baer כָּהֶן); לָהֵן ( = therefore) Ruth 1:13 (twice in verse) (also Biblical Aramaic); מֵהֵן Ezek 16:47; Ezek 16:52 (editions; Baer מֵהֶן). With the exception of כָּחֵנָּה, these forms are found mostly in P and writers not earlier than Jeremiah; b and d, however, depend solely on the punctuation.)

BDB9475 H1994 H1992

הִמּוֺ₉ (Ezra), הִמּוֺן₃ (Daniel), pronoun 3 plural they, them (= Biblical Hebrew הֵם, הֵמָּה, q. v., but the more original forms. Egyptian Aramaic המו CIS^{145 B 4} (Cooke²⁰⁷),^{149 A 1}, S-C^{Pap. C 7, 10} +; not ᵑ7 Syriac, which use אִנּוּן , , instead; Arabic , . The n in הִמּוֺן, as in דֵּין, אִלֵּין, by the side of זֶה, אֵלֶּה, ; Nö^{M 86} W^{CG 106}); — they, them:
a. as nominative Ezra 5:11 אֲבַחְנָא הִמּוֺ עַבְדוֺהִי we are his servants (construction as in Syriac, Nö^{§ 312} D Matt 5:13, K^{§ 87. 3}).
b. as accusative (in Biblical Aramaic, as in Syriac, there being no verbal suffix of 3 plural; so Egyptian Aramaic Cooke^{76 B 4}, S-C^{Pap. E 5} +), En 2:34 והדקת הִמּוֺ and crushed them, v35; 3:22; Ezra 4:10; Ezra 4:23; Ezra 5:5; Ezra 5:12; Ezra 5:14 (twice in verse); Ezra 5:15; Ezra 7:17. — compare אִנּוּן.

Strong's Definition H1992

they, those, these, them, who, …

hēm

they (only used when emphatic)

they, these, the same, who

Variations 31 forms of this word

Translations 115 English renderings

Search every verse

Word Parts

מִזְבְּחֹֽתֵי הֶ֣ם

מִזְבְּחֹֽתֵי

Root word altar, altars

הֶ֣ם

Suffix — pronoun their / them

Dictionary form: מִזְבֵּחַ · midz-BAY-ah

Vowels & Accents

Hebrew Alephbet

Grammar Ncmpc/Sp3mp

Noun — Common, masculine plural, construct state plural — usually add "-s"; "___ of …" — bound to the next word

מִזְבְּחֹתֵי	Speech Noun Type Common Gender Masculine Number Plural State Construct
הֶם	Speech Suffix Type Pronominal Person Third Person Gender Masculine Number Plural

In English

In the KJV here: their altars

the altar ×134 of the altar ×58 an altar ×44 altar ×28 and the altar ×16 altars ×13 upon the altar ×12 the altars ×11

More options

altar — Standard modern rendering; suitable for nearly all contexts.

sacrificial altar — Clarifies function when readers may lack biblical background.

shrine — Use when context stresses a local or foreign worship site.

offering platform — Descriptive; useful in instructional or liturgical passages.

place of sacrifice — Paraphrastic; good for dynamic-equivalence translations.

Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)

BDB2280 H4196

מִזְבֵּחַ₄₀₁ noun masculine^{Josh 22:10} altar (Arabic , place of slaughter, trench made by torrent, Sabean מדֿבח DHM^{Epigr. Denkm. 24}); ׳מ absolute 2Kgs 18:22 + 223 t., הַמִּזְבֵּ֑חָה Exod 29:13 + 31 t.; construct מִזְבַּח Exod 20:24 + 76 t., suffix מִזְבְּחִי Exod 20:26 + 7 t., מִזְבַּחֲךָ 1Kgs 8:31 + 3 t.,מִזְבְּחֶ֑ךָ Deut 33:10 מִזְבְּחוֺ Judg 6:31 + 2 t.; plural מִזְבְּחֹת Num 23:1 + 5 t., מִזְבְּחוֺת 2Kgs 21:3 + 23 t., suffix מִזְבְּחוֺתֶיךָ Ps 84:4, other suffixes 21 t.; —

1. J E narrate that altars were built by Noah after leaving the ark Gen 8:20 by Abraham at Shechem Gen 12:7, Bethel Gen 12:8, Hebron Gen 13:18, mountain in land Moriah Gen 22:9 by Issac at Beersheba Gen 26:25 by Jacob at Shechem Gen 33:20 (yet this perhaps mistake for מַצֵּבָה, being object of וַיַּצֶּבשָֿׁם, not elsewhere with מזבח, compare also Di), at Bethel Gen 35:7, by Moses at Rephidim Exod 17:15, Horeb Exod 24:4, by Balak at Bamoth Baal, Pisgah, & Peor Num 23:1; Num 23:14; Num 23:29 by Joshua on Mt. Ebal Josh 8:30: the prophetic histories narrate that altars were built by Gideon at Ophra Judg 6:24 by a man of God at Bethel Judg 21:4 by Samuel at Ramah 1Sam 7:17 by Saul after Michmash 1Sam 14:35 by David on the threshing floor of Ornan 2Sam 24:25 = 1Chr 21:18; 1Chr 22:1 that Solomon sacrificed on the altar at Gibeon 1Kgs 3:4 and built altars in the temple at Jerusalem 1Kgs 6:20; 1Kgs 8:64 that Jeroboam built an altar at Bethel 1Kgs 12:32 (which was destroyed by Josiah 2Kgs 23:15); and that Elijah repaired an ancient altar on Carmel 1Kgs 18:30. An altar in Egypt is predicted Isa 19:19. All this accords with the law of the Covenant code Exod 20:24-26 which recognises a plurality of altars and prescribes that they shall be built of אֲדָמָה, or of unhewn stones, and without steps. So אֲבָנִים Deut 27:6 (JE), אֲבָנִים שְׁלֵמוֺת Josh 8:31, and twelve stones 1Kgs 18:30; 1Kgs 18:32 compare Isa 27:9. The altar was also a place of refuge Exod 21:24 (JE) 1Kgs 1:50; 1Kgs 1:51; 1Kgs 2:28.

2. D prescribes one central altar Deut 12:5f. 27; but no attempt to enforce this principle appears before Hezekiah(2Kgs 18:4; 2Kgs 18:22), and Josiah, whose reform is more effectual, 2Kgs 23:8-20.

3. P limits sacrifices to the altars of the tabernacle. A great altar was built east of the Jordan, but it was according to P only as an עֵד after the pattern of the altar before the Tabernacle Josh 22:10-34. P describes two altars:
a. the מִזְבַּח הָעֹלָה Exod 30:28; Exod 31:9; Exod 35:16; Exod 38:1; Exod 40:6; Exod 40:10; Exod 40:29; Lev 4:7; Lev 4:10; Lev 4:25 (twice in verse); Lev 4:30; Lev 4:34 = הַנְּחשֶׁת ׳מ Exod 38:30; Exod 39:39, made of acacia wood plated with brass, 5*5*3 cubits in size, with four horns and a network of brass, on which all sacrifices by fire were made Exod 27:1-; 8; Exod 38:1-7
b. מִקְטַר קְטֹרֶת ׳מ made of acacia wood plated with gold, 1*1*2 cubits in size, with four horns and a crown of gold Exod 30:1-6 = הקטרת ׳מ Exod 30:27; Exod 31:8; Exod 35:15; Exod 37:25 = הזהב ׳מ Exod 39:38; Exod 40:5; Exod 40:26; Num 4:11 = קטרת הַסַּמִּים ׳מ Lev 4:7 these altars are named elsewhere only in Chronicles: 1Chr 6:34; 1Chr 16:40; 1Chr 21:29; 1Chr 2:5; 1Chr 2:6.

4. Solomon made two altars for the temple at Jerusalem:
a. הַנְּחשֶׁת ׳מ for the court 1Kgs 8:64 (which was laid aside by Ahaz 2Kgs 16:14; 2Kgs 16:15, who made an altar after the model of one he saw in Damascus 2Kgs 16:11); in v2Kgs 16:14 ׳הַמִּזְבַּח הַנּ (construct form with article) is erroneous, read probably מִזְבַּח compare Ges^{«GKC:127»§ 127}. 4 a near the end; this altar, according to Chronicles, measured 20*20*10 cubits 2Chr 4:1 this מזבח (ה)נחשׁת also 2Chr 7:7 & Ezek 9:2 = העולה ׳מ 2Chr 29:18, repaired by Asa 2Chr 15:8
b. an altar of cedar, plated with gold, in the temple before the דְּבִיר 1Kgs 6:20; 1Kgs 6:22; 1Kgs 7:48 = הזהב ׳מ 2Chr 4:19 = הַקְּטֹרֶת ׳מ 1Chr 28:18; 2Chr 26:16.

5. Ezekiel plans two altars for the new temple:
a. a table of wood 3*2 cubits Ezek 41:22
b. an altar for the court, probably same dimensions as 4 a, with stairs Ezek 43:13-17.

6. after the return Jeshua built an altar on the ancient site in the court of the temple Ezra 3:2.

7. besides these altars used in the worship of Yahweh, Ahab built an altar to Baal in Samaria 1Kgs 16:32 Ahaz made an altar on the roof of the upper chamber, and other kings of Judah made altars in the two courts, all of which were destroyed by Josiah 2Kgs 23:12.

8. the ancient and most common term for making altars was בָּנָה Gen 35:7 (E) Gen 8:20 (J) Deut 27:5; Deut 27:6; Exod 32:5 (JE) +, implying building material; other verbs are הֵקִים 2Sam 24:18; 1Kgs 16:32; 2Kgs 21:3; 1Chr 21:18; 2Chr 33:3 הֵכִין Ezra 3:3 (followed by עַלמְֿכוֺנֹתָו֯); שִׂים Jer 11:13 וַיַּצֶּבֿ Gen 33:20 (but compare

1.); Num 23:4 (E) has עָרַךְ arrange, prepare; עָשָׂה Gen 35:1; Gen 35:3; Exod 20:24 (E) Gen 13:4 (J) Judg 22:28; 1Kgs 12:33; 1Kgs 18:26 this becomes usual in P, Exod 27:1; Exod 30:1; Exod 37:25; Exod 38:1; Exod 38:30, so 2Chr 4:1; 2Chr 4:19; 2Chr 7:7; 2Chr 28:24.

9. the dedication of the altar was חֲנֻכַּת המזבח Num 7:10; Num 7:11; Num 7:84; Num 7:88; 2Chr 7:9 it was anointed with oil מָשַׁח Exod 40:10; Lev 8:11; Num 7:10 (all P).

10. removal of unlawful altars is expressed by נָתַץ Exod 34:13 (JE) Deut 7:5; Judg 2:2; Judg 6:30; Judg 6:31; Judg 6:32; 2Kgs 11:18; 2Kgs 23:12; 2Kgs 23:15 נִתַּץ (Pi) Deut 12:3; 2Chr 31:1; 2Chr 34:4; 2Chr 34:7 נֻתַּץ Judg 6:28 הָרַס Judg 6:25; 1Kgs 19:10; 1Kgs 19:14 שִׁבַּר 2Chr 23:17>; הֵסִיר 2Kgs 18:22 = Isa 36:7; 2Chr 14:2; 2Chr 30:14; 2Chr 32:12; 2Chr 33:15.

11. ministry at the altar was ׳מִשְׁמֶרֶת הַמּ Num 18:5; Ezek 40:46, compare Num 3:31 (P), ׳מְשָֽׁרְתֵי מ Joel 1:13 עָמַד עַל is said of officiating priest 1Kgs 13:1, עָלָה עַל Exod 20:26; 1Sam 2:28; 1Kgs 12:33 + (compare יָרַד Lev 9:22); sacrifices were usually offered עַלהַֿמִּזְבֵּחַ Gen 22:9; Deut 12:27 +; see especially the phrases with זָרַק Exod 29:16; Exod 29:20 + (see זרק); הִקְטִיר Lev 4:10 (see קטר Hiph`il); הֶעֱלָה Lev 6:3 + (see עלה Hiph`il) לְבַעֵר Neh 10:35 but בַּמִּזְבֵּחַ Gen 8:20 (J) Num 23:2; Num 23:4; Num 23:14; Num 23:30 (E); one touching the altar is ׳הַנֹּגֵעַ בַּמּ Exod 29:37 (P); ׳לפני המ of placing, or standing before altar Deut 26:4; 1Kgs 8:22 as accusative of location הַמִּזְבֵּ֫חָה in phrases especially with הִקְטִיר Exod 29:13 +, and הֶעֱלָה Lev 14:20.

12. the horns of the altar were especially for the application of the blood of the sin-offering in the ritual; sin is represented as graven לְקַרְנוֺת מִזְבְּחוֺתֵיכֶם Jer 17:1 therefore of blood for cleansing it was said ׳נָתַן על קרנות המ Exod 29:12; Lev 4:7; Lev 4:18; Lev 4:25; Lev 4:30; Lev 4:34; Lev 8:15; Lev 9:9; Lev 16:18 (all P). An ancient custom is referred to, Ps 118:27 אִסְרוחַֿג בַּעֲבֹתִ֑ים עַדקֿרנות המזבח bind the festal victim with cords, unto the horns of the altar: Ainsworth paraphrases: 'that is, all the court over, untill you come even to the hornes of the altar, intending hereby many sacrifices,' so De; but Che 'bind the procession with branches, (step on) to the altar-horns,' that is in sacred procession round the altar.

13. the יְסוֺד (q. v.) is also referred to in the ritual of the sin-offerings in the phrases יָצַק אל יסוד Lev 8:15; Lev 9:9 & שָׁפַךְ אל יסוד Exod 29:12; Lev 4:7; Lev 4:18; Lev 4:25; Lev 4:30; Lev 4:34 (all P) יִמָּצֵה אל יסוד Lev 5:9.

14. the altar was קֹדֶשׁ קָדָשִׁים Exod 29:37; Exod 40:10 (P); but repeated sin-offerings were necessary to keep it pure and cleanse it from the pollution of the people in whose midst it was situated. This is expressed by חִטֵּא Lev 8:15 (P) Ezek 43:22 כִּפֶּר Lev 16:20; Lev 16:33 (P) Ezek 43:26 קִדַּשׁ Exod 29:44; Exod 40:10; Lev 8:15; Num 7:1 (P); טִהַר 2Chr 29:18.

זַבַּי see below זבב.

Strong's Definition H4196

altar, altars

mizbēaḥ

an altar

altar

Variations 46 forms of this word

Translations 42 English renderings

Altar

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Word Parts

תִּתֹּ֔צוּ

Root word down, destroy, destroyed, out, overthrow

Dictionary form: נָתַץ · naw-TAHTS

Vowels & Accents

Hebrew Alephbet

Grammar Vqi2mp

Verb — Qal, Imperfect (Yiqtol), second person masculine plural simple action — "he did" not-yet-complete action — try "he will ___" or "he ___s" the built-in subject is "you (a group)"

תִּתֹּצוּ

Speech Verb Stem Qal Type Imperfect (Yiqtol) Person Second Person Gender Masculine Number Plural

Verb Chart

Full verb chart

In English

In the KJV here: with them ye shall destroy

and brake down ×4 and brake it down ×2 and they brake down ×2 and to pull down ×2 brake down ×2 and destroy ×1 and he beat down ×1 and he brake down ×1

More options

tear down — Most natural modern phrase for demolishing structures.

demolish — Formal; suits architectural or institutional destruction.

break down — Modernized KJV rendering; good for physical dismantling.

smash — Vivid, forceful; fits violent or sudden destruction contexts.

overthrow — Better for abstract or figurative uses, e.g. systems or altars.

raze — Precise for total leveling to the ground; slightly formal.

Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)

BDB5458 H5422

נָתַץ verb pull down, break down (Late Hebrew Hoph`al, and derivatives; compare perhaps Ethiopic (with transposition and weakening of sibilant), destruere, demoliri, excidere Di⁶³⁴); —

Qal Perfect 3 masculine singular ׳נ Judg 6:30 +, 3 plural נָָֽתְצוּ 2Kgs 25:10; Jer 52:14, etc.; Imperfect 3 masculine singular יִתֹּץ Ezek 26:9 + vEzek 26:12 (Co, for ᵑ0 יִתְּצוּ); וַיִּתֹּץ Judg 9:45; 2Kgs 23:7 suffix יִתְּצֵנִי Job 19:10, יִתָּצְךָ Ps 52:7 1 singular אֶתֹּץ Judg 8:9 3 masculine plural וַיִּתְּצוּ 2Kgs 10:27 (twice in verse); 2 masculine plural תִּתֹּ֑צוּ Deut 7:5, תִּתֹּצ֑וּן Exod 34:13; Judg 2:2 וַתִּתְֿצוּ Isa 22:2, etc.; Imperative נְתֹץ Ps 58:7 Infinitive construct לִנְתֿוֺץ Jer 1:10; Jer 18:7, לִנְתֹֿץ Jer 31:28 (on תֿ see Ges^{«GKC:45g»§ 45g}); Passive participle plural הַנְּתֻצִים Jer 33:4 —

1. literally pull down a structure (accusative): altar Judg 2:2; Judg 6:30; Judg 6:31; Judg 6:32; Exod 34:13 (J), Deut 7:5; 2Kgs 23:12 high place (במה) v2Kgs 23:8, בָּמָה + מִזְבֵּחַ v2Kgs 23:15 מַצֵּבָה 2Kgs 10:27 בֵּית הַבַּעַל v2Kgs 10:27; 2Kgs 11:18 = 2Chr 23:17, compare 2Kgs 23:7 a tower Judg 8:9; Judg 8:17, compare Ezek 26:9 (בְּחַרְבוֺתָיו); (any) house Isa 22:10; Ezek 26:12; Lev 14:45, so הַנְּחֻצִים Jer 33:4 (strangely + אֶל, compare Gf Gie); city-wall Jer 39:8; 2Kgs 25:10 = Jer 52:14 city Judg 9:45.

2. figurative:
a. pull down a nation, break its power, וּלְהַאֲבִיד ׳וְלִנְתוֺשׁ וְלִנ (וְלַהֲרוֺס) (object not expressed) Jer 1:10 (so ), = Jer 18:7, compare Jer 31:18.
b. an individual, subject God, יִתְּצֵנִי סָבִיב Job 19:10, יִתָּצְךָ Ps 52:7.
c. jaw-teeth of lions (metaphor) Ps 58:7 (break down, break off, so only here, but see נָתַע). Niph`al be pulled, broken, down: Perfect 3 plural ׳נִתְּצוּ מִפְּנֵי י Jer 4:26 (of cities), so מִמֶּנּוּ ׳נ Nah 1:6 (of rocks). Pi`el Perfect 3 masculine singular נִתַּץ 2Chr 33:3 3 plural וְנִתְּצוּ Ezek 16:39 (consecutive); 2 masculine plural וְנִתַּצְתֶּם Deut 12:3 Imperfect 3 masculine singular וַיְנַתֵּץ 2Chr 34:7 3 masculine plural וַיְנַתְּצוּ 2Chr 31:1 + 2 t.; — tear down (chiefly late): with accusative altars Deut 12:3, + בָּמוֺת 2Chr 31:1, + הַחַמָּנִים, etc., 2Chr 34:4, + אֲשֵׁרִים v2Chr 34:7 בָּמוֺת alone 2Chr 33:3, רָמֹתַיִךְ Ezek 16:39 city wall 2Chr 36:19. Pu`al be torn down: Perfect 3 masculine singular נֻתַּץ Judg 6:28 (of altar + אֲשֵׁרָה). Hoph`al (or Qal passive Ges^{«GKC:53u»§ 53u}) be broken down, broken, only Imperfect 3 masculine singular ייֻתָּ֑ץ Lev 11:35 (of תַּנּוּר, see Dr-Wh^Hpt, and כִּירַיִם, see above).

Strong's Definition H5422

down, destroy, destroyed, out, overthrow

nātaṣ

to tear down

to pull down, break down, cast down, throw down, beat down, destroy, overthrow, break out (teeth)

(Qal)

to pull down

Variations 28 forms of this word

Translations 35 English renderings

Search every verse

Word Parts

וּ מַצֵּֽבֹתָ ֖ם

וּ

Prefix — connector and (sometimes: but, so, then)

מַצֵּֽבֹתָ

Root word images, pillar, image, pillars, garrisons

֖ם

Suffix — pronoun their / them

Dictionary form: מַצֵּבָה · mahts-say-BAW

Vowels & Accents

Hebrew Alephbet

Grammar C/Ncfpc/Sp3mp

Noun — Common, feminine plural, construct state plural — usually add "-s"; "___ of …" — bound to the next word

וּ	Speech Conjunction
מַצֵּבֹתָ	Speech Noun Type Common Gender Feminine Number Plural State Construct
ם	Speech Suffix Type Pronominal Person Third Person Gender Masculine Number Plural

In English

In the KJV here: their images

the images ×6 their images ×4 for a pillar ×3 a pillar ×2 images ×2 pillars ×2 the image ×2 a standing image ×1

More options

standing stone — Most precise modern archaeological term; prefer in narrative contexts.

sacred pillar — Highlights cultic/religious function; good for polemical passages.

monument — Broader, neutral term; suits commemorative or memorial contexts.

stone pillar — Plain and descriptive; useful when sacredness is not emphasized.

stele — Technical/scholarly register; use when audience is academically oriented.

garrison — Only for rare military sense; distinct from the cultic meaning.

Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)

BDB5324 H4676 H4678 H5324

מַצֵּבָה, מַצֶּ֫בֶת noun feminine pillar, maƒƒ¢b¹, stump; — absolute מַצֵּבָה Hos 3:4 +,מַצֶּ֫בֶת 2Sam 18:18 a (read ׳הַמּ ᵐ5 Dr Bu Kit), v2Sam 18:18 b Isa 6:13, construct מַצְּבַת 2Kgs 3:2; 2Kgs 10:27, מַצֶּ֫בֶת Gen 35:14; Gen 35:20 suffix מַצַּבְתָּהּ Isa 6:13 plural absolute מַצֵּבוֺת 1Kgs 14:28, construct מַצְּבוֺת 2Kgs 10:26, etc.; —

1. a. pillar, as monument, personal memorial 2Sam 18:18 (twice in verse).
b. a stone, set up (שׂים, הציב), and anointed as memorial of divine appearance Gen 28:18; Gen 28:22; Gen 31:13 (all E), Gen 35:14 (J); so also Gen 33:20 (E), where insert ׳מ, or read ׳מ for ᵑ0 מִזְבֵּחַ (We Di Now^{Archaeology ii.18}), set up (שׂים), הרים, חציב in token of an agreement Gen 31:45; Gen 31:51; Gen 31:52 (twice in verse) (all E); over grave Gen 35:20 (twice in verse)
c. especially of sacred stones or pillars in connection with altar, erected (בנה) by Moses Exod 24:4 (E; 12 pillars), Hos 3:4; Hos 10:1; Hos 10:2; Isa 19:19 conjecture also 2Kgs 12:10 for ᵑ0 מִזְבֵּחַ Sta^{ZAW v (1885), 296} Now^{Archaeology l.c.}, but dubious, see Benz^{on the passage}; (usually + אֲשֵׁרִים etc.): of Canaanites Exod 23:24 (E), Exod 34:13 (J), Deut 7:5; Deut 12:3 compare הַבַּלְַ ׳מ 2Kgs 3:2; 2Kgs 10:26; 2Kgs 10:27 Tyre, עֻזֵּךְ ׳מ, Ezek 26:11, of obelisks of Heliopolis in Egypt; condemned for Israel by Deuteronomic code, and Deuteronomist redaction of Kings: Deut 16:22; 2Kgs 14:23; 2Kgs 17:10; 2Kgs 18:4; 2Kgs 23:14; 2Chr 14:2; 2Chr 31:1 compare Mic 5:12; Lev 26:1 (H). — On maƒƒ¢b¹ see further Now^{Archaeology ii.18 f.} Benz^{Archaeology 380 f.} Dr^{Deut 16:21f.} We^{Skizzen iii.99,165} RS^{Sem.i.184 ff. 437.f; 2d ed. 204 ff. 456 f.; K. 50}.

**On this see also Lagrange^{Études Bibl. 197 ff.} and review by Bau^{ZMG lvii (1903), 830}; also GFM^{EB MASSEBAH} Sta^{Bib. Theol. i. § 55} OCWhitehouse^{Hast. DB PILLAR}. — Judg 9:6 see [ נָצַב]

Hoph`al 2. stock, stump of tree Isa 6:13 a (in simile), so vIsa 6:13 b (figurative; but probably strike out as gloss).

Strong's Definition H4676

images, pillar, image, pillars, garrisons

maṣṣēbâ

something stationed, i.e., a column or (memorial stone); by analogy, an idol

pillar, mastaba, stump

pillar

as monument, personal memorial

Variations 18 forms of this word

Translations 18 English renderings

Search every verse

Word Parts

תְּשַׁבֵּ֑רוּ

Root word broken, break, brake, destroyed, pieces, …

Dictionary form: שָׁבַר · shaw-BAHR

Vowels & Accents

Hebrew Alephbet

Grammar Vpi2mp

Verb — Piel, Imperfect (Yiqtol), second person masculine plural intensive — "he really / thoroughly did" not-yet-complete action — try "he will ___" or "he ___s" the built-in subject is "you (a group)"

תְּשַׁבֵּרוּ

Speech Verb Stem Piel Type Imperfect (Yiqtol) Person Second Person Gender Masculine Number Plural

Verb Chart

Full verb chart

In English

In the KJV here: and break down

shall be broken ×8 and brake ×7 break ×4 broken ×4 i have broken ×4 i will break ×4 is broken ×4 brake ×3

More options

break — Most versatile; suits physical and figurative contexts alike.

shatter — Implies violent, complete fracturing; vivid and forceful.

smash — Colloquial force; best for deliberate, destructive breaking.

crush — Emphasizes pressure and total ruin rather than a snap.

destroy — Use when the breaking results in complete annihilation.

rupture — Clinical/formal; suits covenants, bonds, or body metaphors.

Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)

BDB8442 H7665

שָׁבַר₁₄₈ verb break, break in pieces (Late Hebrew id.; Sabean תֿבר, break, destroy DHM^{Hof. Mus., no. 1, l. 26} Mordtm^{Hi 74}; Arabic restrain, destroy; Aramaic תְּבַר, ; Assyrian šabâru, break, break in pieces; Ethiopic break); —

Qal₅₃ Perfect 3 masculine singular ׳שׁ 1Kgs 13:28; Isa 14:5, etc.; Imperfect 3 masculine singular יִשְׁבֹּר Jer 19:11, בּוֺר- Isa 42:3 3 feminine singular תִּשְׁבָּרֿ Prov 25:15, etc.; Imperative masculine singular שְׁבֹר Ps 10:15, suffix שָׁבְרֵם Jer 17:18 Infinitive construct לִשְׁבֹּר Gen 19:9 +2 t., שְׁבוֺר Jer 28:12 Participle active שֹׁבֵר Ezek 4:16 +2 t.; passive שָׁבוּר Lev 22:22, plural construct שְׁבוּרֵי Ps 147:3 — break, literally, object earthen vessel Judg 7:20; Lev 11:33 (P), Jer 19:11 (in simile, compare vJer 19:11; Jer 48:33; Isa 30:14, flask Jer 19:10, gate-bar Amos 1:5 (in metaphor), bow Hos 1:5; Jer 49:35, and sword Hos 2:20 (מִןהָֿאָרֶץ), bone of lamb Exod 12:46; Num 9:12 (P), and (in metaphor) Prov 25:15, compare שָׁבוּר i.e. fractured of limb Lev 22:22 (H), yoke Jer 28:10; Jer 28:12; Jer 28:13, and, in metaphor, of deliverance (׳י subject) vJer 28:2 vJer 28:4 vJer 28:11; Jer 38:8 (with מֵעַל), +4 t., of rebellion Jer 2:20; Jer 5:5, so staff Isa 14:5 +5 t., reed Isa 42:3, arm of Pharaoh Ezek 30:21; Ezek 30:22; Ezek 30:24 compare Ps 10:15 trees (subject thunder) Ps 29:5 break in, down, door Gen 19:9 (J); rend violently (of lion), man 1Kgs 13:26, ass v1Kgs 13:28 wreck Tyre (as ship) Ezek 27:26 figurative break pride Lev 26:19 (H); crush (figurative) Isa 14:25 (compare Jer 48:28 above), Lam 1:15; Dan 11:26 ׳מִשְׁנֶה שִׁבָּרוֺן שׁ Jer 17:18 break, rupture, heart (figurative) Ps 69:21+ Ezek 6:9 (see Niph`al near the end), שְׁבוּרֵי לֵב Ps 147:3 וָאֶשְׁבֹּר עָלָיו חֻקִּי Job 38:10 broke for it my boundary, of sea, reference to abrupt ending of mainland; = quench thirst (frangere sitim) Ps 104:11. Niph`al₅₇ Perfect 3 masculine singular נִשְׁבַּר Exod 22:9 +, etc.; Imperfect 3 masculine singular יִשָּׁבֵר Lev 6:21 +, 3 feminine singular וְתִשָּׁ֫בֶר Eccl 12:6, 2 masculine singular תִּשָּׁבֵר Ezek 29:7, שַבר- Ezek 32:28, etc.; Infinitive construct הִשָּׁבֵר Jonah 1:4 Participle נִשְׁבָּר Ps 51:19, feminine singular נִשְׁבָּרָה vPs 51:19, נִשְׁבֶּ֫רֵת Ezek 27:34 +, etc.; — be broken, of neck 1Sam 4:18, bones Ps 34:21, gate-bars Jer 51:30, rod (in figurative) Isa 14:21; Jer 48:17, idols Ezek 6:4; Ezek 6:6, horn Dan 8:8, compare vDan 8:22, arm Job 31:22 (מִקָּנָה), and (in metaphor) Jer 48:25; Job 38:15; Ps 37:17, compare Ezek 30:22, bough Ezek 31:12; Isa 27:11, compare (figurative) of wickedness, like a tree Job 24:20, other things Ps 37:15; Jer 50:23; Ezek 29:7; Ps 124:7 cisterns Jer 2:13 (id.), pottery Lev 6:21; Lev 15:12 (P), Eccl 12:6 (in figurative); = be maimed, crippled (have limb broken), of animal Exod 22:9; Exod 22:13 (E), and (figurative) Ezek 34:4; Ezek 34:16; Zech 11:16, so (figurative of men stumbling) Isa 8:15; Isa 28:13 be wrecked, of ships 1Kgs 22:49 (read Qr נִשְׁבְּרוּ), || 2Chr 20:37; Jonah 1:4, metaphor of Tyre Ezek 27:34 figurative be crushed, destroyed (person, warriors, kingdoms, etc.), Jer 14:17; Jer 22:20; Jer 48:4; Jer 51:8 + 10 t.; figurative be broken, of heart Jer 23:9; Isa 61:1; Ps 34:19; Ps 51:19, compare ׳רוּחַ נִשׁ vPs 34:19. — Exod 6:9 read probably וְשָֽׁבַרְתִּ֫י (We Sm Berthol Toy Krae); Co בְּשָׁבְרִי. Pi`el₃₆ Perfect 3 masculine singular שִׁבַּר Isa 21:9 +, שִׁבֵּ֑ר Exod 9:25, etc.; Imperfect 3 masculine singular יְשַׁבֵּר Ps 46:10 +, 2 masculine plural תְּשַׁבֵּר֑וּן Exod 34:13, etc.; Infinitive absolute שַׁבֵּר Exod 23:24 Participle מְשַׁבֵּר 1Kgs 19:11 — shatter, break, tablets Exod 32:19 (E), Exod 34:1 (J), Deut 9:17; Deut 10:2 מַצֵּבוֺת Exod 23:24 (E; + Infinitive absolute), Exod 34:13 (J) + 7 t.; images 2Kgs 11:18 + 3 t.; bronze sea, etc., 2Kgs 25:13 = Jer 52:17 horns Dan 8:7 jaws Job 29:17 (in figurative); of hail shattering tree Exod 9:25 (J), compare 1Kgs 19:11 elsewhere subject ׳י, shattering gate-bars, etc., weapons Isa 45:2; Isa 38:13; Lam 2:9; Lam 3:4; Ps 46:10; Ps 76:4; Ps 107:16, trees Ps 29:5; Ps 105:33, heads of תַּנִּינִים Ps 74:13 wrecking ship Ps 48:8. Hiph`il cause to break out, i.e. bring to the birth, Imperfect 1 singular הַאֲנִי אַשְׁבִּיר וְלֹא אוֺלִיד Isa 66:9 (׳י subject; compare מַשְׁבֵּר below). Hoph`al be broken, shattered (in heart), Perfect 1 singular עַלשֶֿׁבֶר בַּתעַֿמִּי הָשְׁבַּ֑רְתִּי Jer 8:21.

BDB8445 H7665

שָׁבוּר Lev 22:22 see √ Qal.

BDB9994 H7665 H8406

ת

[תְּבַר] verb break (ᵑ7 Syriac; Biblical Hebrew שָׁבַר); —

Pe`al Participle pass feminine singular תְּבִירָה Dan 2:42 broken in pieces (kingdom).

תְּדִירָא see דּוּר

Strong's Definition H7665

broken, break, brake, destroyed, pieces, …

šābar

to burst (literally or figuratively)

to break, break in pieces

(Qal)

break, break in or down, rend violently, wreck, crush, quench

to be broken, be maimed, be crippled, be wrecked

Variations 88 forms of this word

Translations 98 English renderings

Search every verse

Word Parts

וַ אֲשֵֽׁירֵ הֶם֙

וַ

Prefix — connector and (sometimes: but, so, then)

אֲשֵֽׁירֵ

Root word a name — transliterate it ("Their groves")

הֶם֙

Suffix — pronoun their / them

Dictionary form: אֲשֵׁרָה · uh-shay-RAW

Vowels & Accents

Hebrew Alephbet

Grammar C/Np/Sp3mp

Noun — Proper Name

וַ	Speech Conjunction
אֲשֵֽׁירֵ	Speech Noun Type Proper Name
הֶם	Speech Suffix Type Pronominal Person Third Person Gender Masculine Number Plural

In English

In the KJV here: their groves

the groves ×6 the grove ×5 a grove ×4 and the groves ×4 and groves ×3 groves ×3 their groves ×3 and their groves ×2

More options

Asherah — Preferred in scholarly/study Bibles; preserves the deity name.

Asherah pole — Clarifies the wooden cult object; good for narrative contexts.

sacred pole — Descriptive, non-transliterated; suits general readers.

fertility goddess — Emphasizes the deity rather than the object; use with care.

cult symbol — Broader term; useful when referencing the worship object generally.

sacred tree — Reflects possible wooden/living-tree form of the symbol.

Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)

BDB843 H842

אֲשֵׁרָה, אֲשֵׁירָה 2Kgs 17:16 proper name, feminine Ashera (Assyrian proper name, feminine Aš-ra-tu, with sign for deity, in Canaanitish proper name Abad-Ašratum, servant of A. Schr^{ZA 1888, 363}, compare Wkl & Abel^{Thontafelfund} see El Amarna ii. No. 77, 1. 9, & Sayce^{RP2. ii. 67, iii. 71}; on derivatives compare Assyrian aširat, adjective feminine gracious, COT^Gloss):

**see now also GFM^{EB ASHERAH} Dr^{Deut 16:21} Allen^{DB ASHERAH}, all doubtful as to Canaanite goddess Asherah; question left open by Zim^{KAT 3. 436 ff.} (on Semitic goddess Aširtu-Ašratu Id.^{ib, 432 ff.}); but see Jerem^{AT im Licht d. Alten Orients 207} (name of goddess Aširat in letter found at Taanach by Sellin (1902-3) and Id.^{ib. 37. 237}) (Oppenheim's find at Ras el-`Ain in Mesopotamia, stone shaft with veiled head as top, supposed to identify post with goddess; if 2Kgs 23:7 refers to draped Asherim [see on text Benz Bur], this even more plausible), Id.^{ib. 23, 208 f. 236}. On pictorial representations of Asherah-symbol see WHWard^{AJSL xix.l (Oct.1902)}. — usually with the article: probably
a. a Canaanitish goddess of fortune & happiness; having prophets 1Kgs 18:19, an image 1Kgs 15:13 = 2Chr 15:16; 2Kgs 21:7, sacred vessels 2Kgs 23:4, houses v2Kgs 23:7.
b. a symbol of this goddess, a sacred tree or pole set up near an altar 1Kgs 16:33; 2Kgs 13:6; 2Kgs 17:16; 2Kgs 18:4; 2Kgs 21:3; 2Kgs 23:6; 2Kgs 23:15 prohibited Deut 16:1 burnt by Gideon Judg 6:25; Judg 6:26; Judg 6:28; Judg 6:30. Plural אֲשֵׁרוֺת
a. the goddess Judg 3:7 (probably error for עַשְׁתָּרֹת ᵑ9).
b. sacred trees or poles 2Chr 19:3; 2Chr 33:3 elsewhere אֲשֵׁרִים id. Isa 27:9 + 12 t.; suffix Mic 5:14 + 5 t.; — Exod 34:13 (J) Deut 7:5; Deut 12:3; Isa 17:8; Isa 27:9; Jer 17:20; Mic 5:13; 1Kgs 14:15; 1Kgs 14:23; 2Kgs 17:10; 2Kgs 23:14; 2Chr 14:2; 2Chr 17:6; 2Chr 24:18; 2Chr 31:1; 2Chr 33:19; 2Chr 34:3; 2Chr 34:4; 2Chr 34:7. — (compare also Sta^{ZAW 1881, 344 f.} RS^{Semitic i. 171 f., 175 n.} We^{H 235}, who think ׳א only the sacred pole.)

Strong's Definition H842

groves, grove

ʾăšērâ

groves (for idol worship)

Asherah (or Astarte) a Phoenician goddess; also an image of the same

a Babylonian and Canaanite goddess (of fortune and happiness), the goddess Astarte (in Babylonian), the supposed consort of Baal

the goddess, goddesses

Variations 24 forms of this word

Translations 16 English renderings

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Word Parts

תְּגַדֵּע֔וּ ן

תְּגַדֵּע֔וּ

Root word down, off, asunder, cut, sunder

ן

Suffix emphatic ending — no change in meaning

Dictionary form: גָּדַע · ɡaw-DA

Vowels & Accents

Hebrew Alephbet

Grammar Vpi2mp/Sn

Verb — Piel, Imperfect (Yiqtol), second person masculine plural intensive — "he really / thoroughly did" not-yet-complete action — try "he will ___" or "he ___s" the built-in subject is "you (a group)"

תְּגַדֵּעוּ	Speech Verb Stem Piel Type Imperfect (Yiqtol) Person Second Person Gender Masculine Number Plural
ן	Speech Suffix Type Paragogic Nun

Verb Chart

Full verb chart

In English

In the KJV here: and cut down

and cut down ×3 also will i cut off ×1 and be cut down ×1 and cut in sunder ×1 and cut it asunder ×1 are cut down ×1 cut asunder ×1 cut off ×1

More options

cut down — Best for felling trees or toppling a tall figure.

chop off — Vivid; suits violent or decisive severing actions.

hack off — Forceful register; good for battle or judgment contexts.

sever — Formal; emphasizes clean, complete separation.

lop off — Fits pruning or trimming imagery, especially branches.

break off — Softer tone; useful when snapping rather than slicing.

Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)

BDB1512 H1438

גָּדַע verb hew, hew down or off (Late Hebrew id. (rare), Aramaic גְּדַע Ithpe`el; Arabic cut off hand or other member, mutilate) —

Qal Perfect גָּדַע Lam 2:3 וְגָדַעְתִּ֫י 1Sam 2:31 Imperfect וָאָגְדַּע Zech 11:10; Zech 11:14 Participle passive גְּדוּעָה Isa 15:2 (so many editions but) Baer גְּרוּעָה; compare below, גְּדֻעִים Isa 10:33 — hew, cut in two, a staff Zech 11:10; Zech 11:14 metaphor hew off, an arm 1Sam 2:31 horns Lam 2:3 hew down, trees Isa 10:33 if in Isa 15:2 then = shave off (object זקן, beard), but no other indication of this meaning, and true ᵑ0 גְּרוּעָה, compare Baer's note & Jer 48:37 see גרע. Niph`al Perfect נִגְדַּע Judg 21:6 נֶגְדַּע Jer 50:23 3 feminine singular נִגְדְּעָה Jer 48:25 וְנִגְדְּעָה consecutive Isa 22:25 2 masculine singular נִגְדַּעְתָּ Isa 14:12 3 plural וְנִגְדְּעוּ consecutive Ezek 6:6; Amos 3:14 — be hewn off, of altar-horns Amos 3:14, of idols Ezek 6:6 (|| נשׁבר); of severance of a tribe from nation Judg 21:6 figurative of king of Babylon Isa 14:12 of Babylon as hammer Jer 50:23 (|| נשׁבר); of a minister, under figure of secure peg or pin Isa 22:25 of horn of Moab Jer 48:25 (|| נשׁבר). Pi`el Perfect גִּדַּע 2Chr 34:7, גִּדֵּ֑עַ 2Chr 34:4; Ps 107:16, וַיְגַדַּע 2Chr 14:2, אֲגַדֵּ֑עַ Ps 7:5; Isa 45:2, וַיְגַדְּעוּ 2Chr 31:1 3 masculine plural תְּגַדֵּע֑וּן Deut 7:5; Deut 12:3 — hew off, down, in two (compare Qal) of Asherîm Deut 7:5; 2Chr 14:2; 2Chr 31:1, of idols Deut 12:3 (פְּסִילִים) 2Chr 34:4; 2Chr 34:7 (חַמָּנִים); figurative horns of wicked Ps 75:11 bars of iron (i.e. of Babylon's gates) Isa 45:2, compare Ps 107:16. Pu`al Perfect גֻּדָּ֑עוּ Isa 9:9 hew down (of trees).

Strong's Definition H1438

down, off, asunder, cut, sunder

gādaʿ

to fell a tree; generally, to destroy anything

to cut, hew, chop, cut down, hew down, hew off, cut off, cut in two, shave off

(Qal) to hew, chop in two

Variations 19 forms of this word

Translations 20 English renderings

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Word Parts

וּ פְסִֽילֵי הֶ֖ם

וּ

Prefix — connector and (sometimes: but, so, then)

פְסִֽילֵי

Root word images, quarries

הֶ֖ם

Suffix — pronoun their / them

Dictionary form: פְּסִיל · peh-SEEL

Vowels & Accents

Hebrew Alephbet

Grammar C/Ncmpc/Sp3mp

Noun — Common, masculine plural, construct state plural — usually add "-s"; "___ of …" — bound to the next word

וּ	Speech Conjunction
פְסִילֵי	Speech Noun Type Common Gender Masculine Number Plural State Construct
הֶם	Speech Suffix Type Pronominal Person Third Person Gender Masculine Number Plural

In English

In the KJV here: their graven images

the graven images ×5 and the carved images ×2 the quarries ×2 their graven images ×2 to graven images ×2 with their graven images ×2 and graven images ×1 and the graven images ×1

More options

carved idol — Most precise: emphasizes both crafting process and function.

idol — Broad, natural term; best when context is clearly religious.

cult image — Scholarly/formal register; suits academic or study Bible contexts.

sculpted image — Highlights artistic shaping; good when craft is in focus.

stone figure — Concrete and literal; useful when material or physicality matters.

quarried stone — Rare non-religious sense; use only in Judges 3:19, 26 context.

Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)

BDB6702 H6456

[פָּסִיל]₂₃ noun masculine^{Deut 7:25} id.; — plural (פֶּ֫סֶל serving as singular) פְּסִילִים Judg 3:19 +; פְּסִלִים Hos 11:2 +; construct פְּסִילֵי Jer 51:47 +; suffix פְּסִילֶיךָ Mic 5:12, etc.; — idols, Hos 11:2; Isa 10:10 + 10 t., + (of wood, with שָׂרַף) Deut 7:5; Deut 7:25, so (with גִּדַּע) Deut 12:3 of stone Isa 21:9 (with שִׁבַּר ), Judg 3:19; Judg 3:26 (compare GFM), stone or metal Mic 1:7; 2Chr 34:7 (כִּתַּת), compare v2Chr 34:3 v2Chr 34:4 (sheathed with) silver Isa 30:22.

Strong's Definition H6456

images, quarries

pĕsîl

an idol

image, idol, graven image

Variations 14 forms of this word

Translations 14 English renderings

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Word Parts

תִּשְׂרְפ֥וּ ן

תִּשְׂרְפ֥וּ

Root word burn, burnt, burned, burneth, up, …

ן

Suffix emphatic ending — no change in meaning

Dictionary form: שָׂרַף · saw-RAHP

Vowels & Accents

Hebrew Alephbet

Grammar Vqi2mp/Sn

Verb — Qal, Imperfect (Yiqtol), second person masculine plural simple action — "he did" not-yet-complete action — try "he will ___" or "he ___s" the built-in subject is "you (a group)"

תִּשְׂרְפוּ	Speech Verb Stem Qal Type Imperfect (Yiqtol) Person Second Person Gender Masculine Number Plural
ן	Speech Suffix Type Paragogic Nun

Verb Chart

Full verb chart

In English

In the KJV here: and burn

and burnt ×10 and burned ×9 and burn ×8 and he shall burn ×4 it shall be burnt ×4 and he burnt ×3 and they burnt ×3 and they shall burn ×3

More options

burn — Most versatile; fits nearly any context.

incinerate — Emphasizes total destruction by fire; formal register.

set on fire — Highlights the act of igniting rather than the burning itself.

consume with fire — Stresses completeness; good for ritual or judgment contexts.

cremate — Appropriate when a body or remains are the object.

char — Useful when partial or surface burning is implied.

Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)

BDB8331 H8313 H5635

שָׂרַף₁₁₇ verb burn (70 t. + בָּאֵשׁ, 2 t. + בְּמוֺאֵֿשׁ) (Late Hebrew (rare) = Biblical Hebrew; Assyrian šarâpu; Aramaic שְׂרַף (rare); is absorb, consume); —

Qal Perfect 3 masculine singular ׳שׂ Josh 11:9 +, 3 feminine singular suffix שְׂרָפָ֫חַם Isa 47:14, etc.; Imperfect 3 masculine singular יִשְׂרֹף Num 19:5 + 2 t., more often וַיִּשְׂרֹף Exod 32:20 +, 2 masculine plural תִּשְׂרְפוּן Deut 7:5 + 2 t.; Infinitive absolute שָׂרוֺף 2Sam 23:7 construct שְׂרֹף Jer 36:25 +; suffix שָׂרְפוֺ Judg 9:52; Amos 2:1 Participle active שׂרֵף Lev 16:28; Num 19:8, plural שׂרְפִים 2Kgs 17:31 passive masculine plural שְׂרֻפִים Num 17:4 feminine singular שְׂרוּפָה 1Sam 30:3, שְׂרֻפָה Ps 80:17, plural שְׂרוּפוֺת Neh 3:24, construct שְׂרֻפוֺת Isa 1:7 — burn (59 t. + בָּאֵשׁ, 2 t. + בְּמוֺאֵֿשׁ):

1. in making bricks, + לִשְׂרֵפָה Gen 11:3 (J; object omitted).

2. a. with accusative of thing, usually to destroy, e.g. door Judg 9:52, house Judg 12:1; 1Kgs 16:18 (both with עַל person), Jer 39:8 + 11 t., compare passive participle Neh 3:24, city Josh 6:24; 1Sam 30:1; 1Sam 30:14 + 16 t., compare passive participle 1Sam 30:3; Isa 1:7, chariots Josh 11:6; Josh 11:9; 2Kgs 23:11; Ps 46:10 (subject ׳י), idols, etc., Exod 32:20 (accusative omitted), Deut 9:21 + 10 t., roll Jer 36:25; Jer 36:27; Jer 36:28; Jer 36:29; Jer 36:32, wood Isa 44:16; Isa 44:19 (both + בְּמוֺאֵֿשׁ), compare Ps 80:17 (figurative), Jer 51:32, hair Ezek 5:4 bones, to lime (as outrage) Amos 2:1 upon altars (in desecration) 1Kgs 13:2; 1Kgs 23:16; 1Kgs 23:20 = 2Chr 34:5 bodies, as funeral rite 1Sam 31:12 (rare custom, RS^{Semitic i. 353; 2nd ed. 372}; but Klo Bu read יִשְׂפְּדוּ [= ׳יִס]; compare Benz^{Archaeology 163}; Ency. Bib. DEAD Now^{Archaeology i. 188}); ׳שׂ as funeral rite also (object omitted, probably spices, compare 2Chr 16:14), with ל person mort. Jer 34:5, + accusative of congnate meaning with verb שְׂרֵפָה 2Chr 16:14 (compare שְׂרֵפָה); in ceremonial of P (never of burning sacrifice on altar, הִקְטִיר, compare הֶעְֶלֶה, but) chiefly (14 t.) of consuming refuse, especially unused portions of victims, etc. (to prevent use), and infected objects, Exod 29:14; Exod 29:34 +, sometimes מִחוּץ לַמַּחֲנֶה Lev 4:12 (+ עַעֵָֿצִים), vLev 4:21 vLev 4:21 + 4 t., etc., compare Ezek 43:21 also of burning red heifer (to produce ashes for purification) Num 19:5 (twice in verse); Num 19:3.
b. burn, with accusative of person, (1) as penalty Josh 7:25 (JE), Judg 14:15; Judg 15:6; Lev 20:14, compare Num 17:4 (passive participle), so, אֵשׁ subject, Isa 47:14, with accusative of congnate meaning with verb שְׂרֵפָה Lev 10:6 (P); (2) as sacrifice, Jer 7:31; Jer 19:5 + ל dei Deut 12:31; 2Kgs 17:31. Niph`al Imperfect 3 masculine singular יִשָּׂרֵף Josh 7:15 +, 3 feminine plural תִּשָּׂרַפְנָה Prov 6:27, etc.; — be burned (11 t. + בָּאֵשׁ): of city Jer 38:17 + vJer 38:23 (read תִּשָּׂרֵף for תִּשְׂרֹף ᵐ5 ᵑ6 ᵑ7 Hi Ew Gf Gie Du), idols, etc., Mic 1:7; 1Chr 14:12 ritually (compare Qal 2 a near the end) Lev 4:12; Lev 6:23; Lev 7:17; Lev 7:19; Lev 13:52; Lev 19:6 of person, as penalty Gen 38:24 (J), Josh 7:15 (JE), 2Sam 23:7 (poetry), Lev 21:9 (H). Pi`el Participle suffix מְסָֽרְפוֺ Amos 6:10 his burner, usually one burning him, but probably burning spices for him, see Dr and compare Qal above Pu`al Perfect 3 masculine singular שֹׂרָ֑ף, of goat Lev 10:16 it was burnt up (and gone).

Strong's Definition H8313

burn, burnt, burned, burneth, up, …

śārap

to be (causatively, set) on fire

to burn

(Qal) to burn

Variations 57 forms of this word

Translations 62 English renderings

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Word Parts

בָּ אֵֽשׁ

בָּ

Prefix — preposition in, at, by, with + "the" (the article is absorbed into the prefix)

אֵֽשׁ

Root word fire, flaming, hot, burning, fiery

Dictionary form: אֵשׁ · aysh

Vowels & Accents

בָּ

Hidden "the" בָּ = the preposition + the article הַ squeezed together: the "a" vowel under the prefix is the swallowed "the". Translate "in the ___".

Hebrew Alephbet

Grammar Rd/Ncbsa

Noun — Common, both singular, absolute state

בָּ	Speech Preposition Type Definite Article
אֵֽשׁ	Speech Noun Type Common Gender Both Number Singular State Absolute

In English

In the KJV here: with fire

with fire ×58 fire ×54 the fire ×51 of fire ×34 a fire ×32 in the fire ×14 of the fire ×14 and fire ×9

More options

fire — Most natural, all-purpose rendering in any context.

flame — Prefer when emphasizing visible, flickering light.

blaze — Suits large, intense, or raging fires.

burning — Good for adjectival or process-focused contexts.

inferno — Strong register; reserve for overwhelming, destructive fire.

fiery heat — Captures metaphorical intensity or divine wrath imagery.

Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)

BDB793 H784 H799

אֵשׁ₃₇₇ noun feminine^{Exod 9:23} (masculine^{Jer 48:45; Ps 104:4};

**'masculine' is dubious: Num 16:18 read עָלֶיהָ for 2nd עֲלֵיהֶם (ᵐ5B); Jer 20:9 see Ges^{§ 132 d}; Jer 48:45 read (many MSS., Num 21:23) יצאה; Ps 104:4 read perhaps (Ol Du): לֵֹהטָה, or וָלָֽחַט; Job 20:26 see Ges^{§ 145 u (or 121 b)}: compare Albr^{ZAW xvi {1896}. 63}. feminine & masculine^{Jer 20:9; Job 20:26}) fire (Assyrian išatu COT^Gloss, Syriac , Ethiopic derivatives from II. אנשׁ, , sociable, friendly element (MV Wetzst in De^{Psalmen, ed. 4, p. 888} Lag^{BN 68} compare , ), improbable especially in view of Assyrian; daghesh probably secondary; compare also Sta^{§ 189 b}) — ׳א absolute Exod 9:24 +; construct Lev 6:2 + (seldom); suffix אִשּׁוֺ Deut 4:36; Job 18:5 אֶשְׁכֶם Isa 50:11 אִשָּׁם Isa 66:24 —

1. fire, of conflagration, e.g. in briers, endangering or destroying crops תֵּצֵא אֵשׁ וּמָֽצְאָה קֹצִים Exod 22:5 compare Exod 3:2 הַסְּנֶה בֹּעֵר בָּאֵשׁ (both E); more often of deliberate destruction by fire, especially שָׂרַף בָּאֵשׁ (בָּ with qam. preton.) object golden calf Exod 32:20 (J), other idols Deut 7:5; Deut 7:25, Asherim Deut 12:3, chariots Josh 11:6; Josh 11:9; 2Kgs 23:1, house Judg 12:1; Judg 14:15, tower Judg 9:52, city-gates Neh 1:3; Neh 2:3; Neh 2:13; Neh 2:17, city Josh 6:24; Judg 18:27 compare Isa 1:7 +; also שִׁלַּח אֵשׁ בְּ Amos 1:4; Amos 1:7; Amos 1:10 +; שִׁלַּח אֶתהָֿעִיר בָּאֵשׁ Judg 1:8; Judg 20:48 compare 2Kgs 8:12 הִצִּית אֶתהָֿעִיר בָּאֵשׁ Josh 8:8; Josh 8:19; Jer 17:27 +, compare Judg 9:49; 2Sam 14:30; 2Sam 14:31 (of field, compare Exod 22:5 above)

2. of supernatural fire, attending theophany Exod 3:2; Exod 19:18 (both J E) Deut 4:11; Deut 4:12; Deut 4:15; Deut 4:33; Deut 4:36 +; specifically עַמּוּד (הָ)אֵשׁ Exod 13:21; Exod 13:22; Exod 14:24 (all J E) Neh 9:12; Neh 9:19 compare Deut 1:33 (see מַרְאֵהאֵֿשׁ Num 9:15; Num 9:16 P); of destructive fire from ׳י Num 11:1; Num 11:2; Num 11:3 (J) Num 26:10 (P) Lev 10:2 (P); compare אֹכֶלָת ׳א in simile of Yahweh's glory Exod 24:17 (E) Deut 4:24; Deut 9:3 see also 1Kgs 18:24; 1Kgs 18:38; 2Kgs 1:10 (twice in verse); 2Kgs 1:12 (twice in verse); 2Kgs 1:14; Job 1:16 (perhaps lightning intended), compare further of lightning Exod 9:23; Exod 9:24 (JE) Ps 18:13; Ps 18:14; Ps 148:8 etc.

3. fire for cooking, roasting, parching, etc. צְלִי אֵשׁ roasted at a fire Exod 12:8; Exod 12:9 (P) compare Lev 2:14; 2Chr 35:13; Isa 44:16; Isa 44:19 of tinder for lighting fire Gen 22:6; Gen 22:7 (E); of fire for melting (gold for the idolatrous calf) Exod 32:24 for refining Jer 6:29, where read with Qr מֵאֵשׁ תַּם עֹפֶרֶת; compare Mal 3:2 (simile of purifying work of messenger of cov't).

4. especially of altar-fire Lev 1:7 (twice in verse); Lev 6:2; Lev 6:3; Lev 6:5; Lev 6:6 +; in offering incense Lev 10:1, also אֵשׁ זָרָה strange fire, i.e. an incense not commanded, offered presumptuously Lev 10:1; Num 3:4; Num 26:61 fire from ׳י consuming sacrifice (compare 2) Lev 9:24; 2Chr 7:1; 2Chr 7:3 of fire in child-sacrifice (usually הֶעֱבִיר בֵּן בָּאֵשׁ (לְׅ) 2Kgs 16:3; 2Kgs 21:6 compare 2Kgs 17:17; 2Kgs 23:10; 2Chr 33:6 also ׳שׂרף בָּא 2Kgs 17:31, ׳בער בָּא 2Chr 28:3.

5. figurative of Yahweh's anger Ps 89:47 (simile) compare Nah 1:6; Lam 2:4 אֵשׁעֶֿבְרָתִי Ezek 21:36; Ezek 22:31; Ezek 38:19, אֵשׁקִֿנְאָתִי Ezek 36:5 see also Isa 66:15; Ps 79:5; Ps 89:47 etc.; of word of ׳י Jer 23:29 figurative of outbursting emotion Ps 39:4 of flagrant wickedness Isa 9:17, etc:

6. in various combinations, לַפִּיד אֵשׁ Gen 15:17 (J) a torch of fire (compare Di); לַבַּתאֵֿשׁ Exod 3:2 flame of fire, לַהַב אֵשׁ Joel 2:5, לַפִּידֵי אֵשׁ (in simile) Dan 10:6 compare Zech 12:6, לַהֲבוֺת אֵשׁ Ps 29:7 לַהֲבֵי אֵשׁ Isa 66:15 compare לְהָבוֺת ׳א Ps 105:32, לָהָבָה ׳נֹגַהּ א Isa 4:5 compare Hos 7:6 שְׁבִיב אִשּׁוֺ spark of his fire Job 18:5 compare כִּידוֺדֵי אֵשׁ Job 41:11 תַּנּוּר אֵשׁ Ps 21:10 oven of fire, כִּיּוֺר אֵשׁ Zech 12:6 אוֺר אֵשׁ light of fire Ps 78:14 אֵשׁ לֹהֵט flaming fire Ps 104:4 לְשׁוֺן אֵשׁ Isa 5:24 tongue of fire, גַּחֲלֵי אֵשׁ Ezek 1:13 coals of fire, so Ezek 10:2, compare רִשְׁפֵּי אֵשׁ Song 8:6 on אַבְנֵי אֵשׁ Ezek 28:14; Ezek 28:16 see אֶבֶן; אֵשׁ דַּת Deut 33:2, literally fire of a law, or fire was a law, but דָּת law is Persian & late; read perhaps דֹת[לַפִּ] אֵשׁ compare Exod 20:18 or דֶת [יֹקֶ] אֵשׁ compare Isa 65:5.

BDB9352 H784 H785

אֶשָּׁא noun [feminine] fire (Biblical Hebrew אֵשׁ; K^{§ 55, 5. 2 b} thinks emphatic from onomatopoetic √ אשׁשׁ; D¹⁶¹ Buhl √ אשׁא compare ᵑ7 אישָּׁא, אִישָּׁהָא, Syriac ; — Dan 7:11.

אֻשֹּׁהִי, אֻשַּׁיָּא see [אשׁ]. above

Strong's Definition H784

fire, flaming, hot, burning, fiery

ʾēš

fire (literally or figuratively)

fire

fire, flames

Variations 27 forms of this word

Translations 70 English renderings

Fire