Ecclesiastes 3:9

What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth?
Select a Hebrew word above to see its details.

מַה
מַה
Particle turns the sentence into a question
Dictionary form: מָה · maw

Particle — Interrogative

In the KJV here: what
what ×268 why ×81 wherefore ×64 how ×44 and what ×35 wherein ×12 and why ×10 him what ×9
More options
what — Default interrogative; fits most direct questions.
why — Use when context implies reason or motive.
how — Use when manner or degree is in view.
for what reason — Formal alternative to 'why'; clarifies rhetorical force.
wherein — Replaces archaic form; for 'in what respect'.
whatever — Use for indefinite or relative pronoun contexts.

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BDB4520 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB4522

מַדַּי (i.e. מַהדַּֿי) 2Chr 30:3, see מה 1 e.


מִדֵּי see דַּי.


מִדְיָן, מְדִינָה see דין.


מִדְיָנִים see I. מדון. מְדֹכָה see דוך.


מַדְמֵן, I, II. מַדְמֵנָה, מַדְמַנָּה see דמן.


מְדָן see דין. מְדָנִים see מדון, מִדְיָנִי.


מַדַּע, מֹדַע, מֹדַ֫עַת see ידע.


[מַדְקָרָה], plural construct מַדְקְרוֺת see דקר.


מַדְרֵגָה see דרג. מְדֻרָה see דור.


[מִדְרָךְ] see דרך. [מִדְרָשׁ] see דרשׁ.


[מְדֻשָׁה] see דושׁ.


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BDB4521 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB4523

מָה, rarely מָהֿ (e.g. Gen 31:43; Josh 22:16; Judg 8:1), מַהֿ, מַהּ , מֶה, מַּ  ( Exod 4:2; Isa 3:15; Mal 1:13; 1Chr 15:13; 2Chr 30:3), מָ (only in מָהֵם Ezek 8:6 Kt., Qr. מָה הֵם) — on the distinction in the use of these forms, see Ges«GKC:37»§ 37

pronoun interrogative and indefinite what? how? aught; used of things, as מִי of persons (Aramaic , מָא, Arabic ; probably apocope from a longer form with n or nt, Assyrian minû (DlHWB 417 f.), Ethiopic ment; compare WCG 123 ff. K?:ii. 368): —
1. interrogative what ?
  a. in a direct question, before either verbs or nouns Gen 4:10 מֶה עשׂית what hast thou done ? Gen 15:2 מהתֿתןלֿי what wilt thou give me ? Exod 3:13 מַהשְּֿׁמוֺ, Exod 12:26; Exod 13:14 and so very often: מַההִֿיא Zech 5:6 מה אלה Zech 1:9 מָה אַתָּה רֹאֶה Jer 1:11; Amos 7:8 +; Jl Amos 4:14 מה אתם לי; Judg 18:8 מה אתם see Commentaries, vJudg 18:24 מה לי עוד what have I still ? Isa 21:11 מהמֿלילה what (= how much) of the night (is past) ? = as what ? (qualem ?) Hag 2:3 (compare מִי Amos 7:2); to express surprise, Job 9:12 who shall say to him, מה תעשׂה what doest thou ? Job 22:13; Eccl 8:4; Isa 45:9; Isa 45:10 followed by כִּי, Gen 20:10 מה ראית כי עשׂית what hadst thou in view, that thou hast done, etc.? Gen 31:36; Exod 16:7 וְנַחְנוּ מָה כִּי and what are we, that . . .? Exod 32:21; Num 22:28; Hab 2:18, etc. Note in particular —
   (a) מָה is followed sometimes by a substantive in apposition (against Arabic usage, which does not permit this: WAG. ii. § 170), so that it becomes virtually an adjective: מַהבֶּֿצַע what profit . . .? Gen 37:26; Ps 30:10; Mal 3:14; Isa 40:8 מַהדְּֿמוּת, Mal 1:13; Ps 89:48 זְכָראֲֿנִי מֶה חָ֑לֶד (inverted for חֶלֶד אָ֑נִי מַה) remember (of) what (short) duration I am, Eccl 1:3; Eccl 5:10; Eccl 5:15; Eccl 6:8; Eccl 6:11 (Da§ 8, R. 2 K?:iii. 23 f.); as exclamation, Ps 89:48b Job 26:14. And with the substantive idiomatically at the end (in Arabic preceded then by : WAG. ii. § 49. 7), 1Sam 26:18 ומַהבֿידי רעה and what is there in my hand, evil ? 1Sam 20:10 (see 3), 2Sam 19:29; 2Sam 24:13; 2Sam 1:16; מהמֿצאו אבותיכם בי עָוֶל, Eccl 11:2; Esth 6:3.
   (b) מַהזֶּֿה what now ? 1Sam 10:11, contracted מַזֶּה Exod 4:2 (זֶה 4 c); Gen 3:13 מַהזּֿאֹת עָשִׂיתָ; Gen 12:18; Gen 29:25 מַהזּֿאֹת עָשִׂיתָה לִּי; similarly Gen 26:10; Gen 42:28 +, either what, now, hast thou done ? or what is this that thou hast done ? (see זֶה 4 d).
   (c) לְּךָ מַהֿ what to thee ? i.e. what aileth thee ? or what dost thou want ? Gen 21:17 מַהלָּֿךְ הָגָר; Josh 15:18; 2Sam 14:5; 1Kgs 1:16; 2Kgs 6:28; Ezek 18:2 (accents); followed by כִּי, Judg 18:23 מהלֿך כי נזעקת, Gen 20:9 (compare 1Sam 11:5 לעם כי יבכו מה), Isa 22:1 מַהלָּֿךְ כִּי עָלִיתְ (compare τί παθὼν, τοῦτο ποιεῖς;), Ps 114:5 without כִּי Isa 3:15 (compare Qor 57:8; 57:10); with a participle, Jonah 1:6 what is it to thee as a sleeper ? (accusative: Da§ 70 a cites Qor 74:50), Ezek 18:2 (if אתם be treated as strengthening לכם).
   (d) פֹה (לִי) מַהלְּֿךָ = what hast thou (have I) here ? Judg 18:3; 1Kgs 19:9; Isa 22:16; Isa 52:5.
   (e) in the genitive, Jer 8:9 וְחָכְמַתמֶֿה לָהֶם, and wisdom of what (= what kind of wisdom) is theirs ? Num 23:3 (see below 3).
  b. often in an indirect question, as after ראה, Gen 2:19 to see מהיֿקראלֿו what he would call it, Gen 37:20 וְנִרְאֶה מהיֿהיו חלֹמֹתיו to what his dreams will come, Num 13:19f.; Hab 2:1 הִכִּיר Gen 31:32 ידע Gen 39:8; Exod 2:4 לדעת מהיֵּֿעָשֶׂה לו, Exod 16:15; Exod 32:1; Job 34:4 שׁמע Num 9:8 ׳וְאשׁמעה מהיֿצוה י (compare Ps 85:9), 2Sam 17:5 פֹּרַשׁ Num 15:34 שׁאל 1Kgs 3:5; 2Kgs 2:9 הֵבִין Job 6:24; Job 23:5: Num 13:18 מה היא וראיתם את הארץ, Ps 39:5; Isa 41:22 הראשׁנות מָה הֵנָּה הַגִּידוּ. — In some such cases it approximates in meaning to the simple rel., as Jer 7:17; Jer 33:24; Mic 6:5; Mic 6:8; Job 34:33.
  c. = of what kind ? (German was für ein ... ?), with an insinuation of blame, or reproach, or contempt: Gen 37:10 מה החלום הזה what is this dream which thou hast dreamt? Gen 44:15; Josh 22:16; Judg 8:1; Judg 15:11; Judg 20:12; 1Sam 29:3 מָה הָעִבְרִים האלה, 1Kgs 9:13 מה העדים האלה אשׁר נתתה לי, 2Kgs 9:22; 2Kgs 18:19.
  d. מה is often used in questions to which the answer little, or nothing, is expected, and it thus becomes equivalent to a rhetorical negative (compare הֲ b, מִי f c):
   (a) Gen 23:15 land worth 400 shekels..., מה היא what is it ? (i.e. it is something quite insignificant), Gen 27:37; Judg 8:3 עשׂות ככם ומהיֿכלתי, Judg 14:18; Hos 9:5; Hos 10:3; Ps 30:10; Ps 56:5; Job 15:9; Job 16:6; Job 21:21; Job 22:13; Job 22:17; Lam 2:13; Song 5:9 מַהאדּוֺדֵךְ מִדּוֺד what is thy beloved (more) than a(nother) beloved ? || לא, 1Kgs 12:16 מַהלָּֿנוּ חֵלֶק בְּדָוֺד וְלֹאנַֿחֲלָה בְּבֶן יִשַׁי (2Sam 20:1 ׳אֵיןלָֿנוּ חֵלֶק וג), Job 16:6.
   (b) followed by כִּי (כִּי 1 f), Gen 20:9; Gen 37:26 מַהבֶּֿצַע כִּי נַהֲרֹג what profit (is it) that we should slay him ? Exod 16:7; Num 16:11; Hab 2:18; 2Kgs 8:13 what is thy servant, the dog, that he should do, etc.? and often in poetry, as Ps 8:5 מָה אנושׁ כי תזכרנו what is man that thou rememberest him ? Job 6:11 מַהכֹּֿחִי כִּי אֲיַחֵל, vJob 6:11 b Job 7:17; Job 15:12f; Job 15:14; Job 16:3; Job 21:15 + (compare ׳מִ f b). Hence,
   (c) in the formula of repudiation, or emphatic denial, (וְלָכֶם) מַהלִּֿי וָלָךְ what is there (common) to me and to thee ? i.e. what have I to do with thee ? Judg 11:12; 2Sam 16:10 מה לי ולכם, 2Sam 19:23; 1Kgs 17:18; 2Kgs 3:13; 2Chr 35:21 compare Josh 22:24; 2Kgs 9:18; 2Kgs 9:19 rather differently, without וְ, Jer 2:18 ׳מה לך לדרך מ what is there to thee with reference to the way to Egypt ? Hos 14:9 מַהאלּוֺ לַעֲצַבִּים, compare Ps 50:16 (לְסַפֵּר); with את, Jer 23:28 מַהלַֿתֶּבֶן אֶתהַֿבָּר beside (or in comparison with) the wheat ? compare τί ἐμοὶ(ἡμῖν)καὶ σοί; Matt 8:29; Mark 5:7; John 2:4 and Arabic
  e. = whatsoever (compare מִי g):
   (a) Judg 9:48 ראיתם עשׂיתי מהרו עשׂו כמוני מה אתם, literally what do you see (that) I have done ? hasten, and do like me (= whatever ye see, etc.), 2Sam 21:4 אעשׂה לכם מה אתם אמרים, Job 6:24 with the apodosis introduced by וְ, 1Sam 20:4 מה תאמר נפשׁך ואעשׂה לך; Esth 5:3 בַּקָּשָׁתֵךְ ֗֗֗ וְיִנָּתֵן לָךְ מַהֿ, vEsth 5:6; Esth 7:2; Esth 9:12 hence in the late and strange idiom of Chronicles, it sinks twice almost to the rel. what, 1Chr 15:13 כי לְמַבָּרִאשׁוֺנָה לא אתם because ye were not (employed) for what was at first (on the former occasion), J. etc., 2Chr 30:3 לְמַדַּי according to what was sufficient (= in sufficient numbers), compare Esth 9:26.
   (b) -מַהשֶּֿׁ (late: frequently in Mishna, etc.), whatever, what (compare מִי אֲשֶׁר, מִי
  g. end): Eccl 1:9 מַהשֶּֿׁהָיָה הוּא שֶׁיִּהְיֶה, literally what is that which hath been ? it is that which shall be (= whatever hath been, it is that which shall be), vEccl 1:9; Eccl 3:15; Eccl 3:22; Eccl 6:10; Eccl 7:24; Eccl 8:7; Eccl 10:14.
2. Used adverbially:
  a. as an interrogative:
   (a) how ? especially in expressing what is regarded as an impossibility, Gen 44:16 מַהנִּֿצְטַדָּ֑ק how shall we justify ourselves ? Num 23:8 (twice in verse); 1Sam 10:27 מַהיּֿשִׁעֵנוּ זֶה, 2Kgs 4:43; Job 9:2; Job 25:4 (twice in verse); Job 31:1 I made a covenant with my eyes, ׳וּמָה אֶתְבּוֺנֵן עַל ב and how should I look upon a maid ? (ᵐ5 οὐ, ᵑ9 non), Prov 20:24 דַּרְכּוֺ וְאָדָם מַהיָּֿבִין; in an indirect question, Exod 10:26; Ps 39:5 ֵ˜אדְעָה מֶהחָֿדֵל אָ֑נִי; מַהזֶּֿה, how, now ? (in surprise), Gen 27:20 מַהזֶּֿה מִהַרְתָּ לִמְצאֹ בְּנִי, Judg 18:24; 1Kgs 21:5; 2Kgs 1:5.
   (b) why ? Exod 14:15 אֵלַי מַה תִּצְעַק, Exod 17:2 (twice in verse); 2Kgs 6:33; 2Kgs 7:3; Ps 42:6 מַהתִּֿשְׁתּוֺחֲחִי עלי, Job 15:12 +; Song 8:4 I adjure you מַהתָּֿעִירוּ וּמַהתְּֿעוֺרֲרוּ, why will ye stir up, etc.? (i.e. do not: || אִם Song 2:7; Song 3:5). — The transition from the interrogative to the negative, to which in Hebrew there is an approximate (see above: especially 1Kgs 12:16; Job 31:1; Song 8:4), is in Arabic complete, being there used constantly in the sense of not (compare WalkerHebraica. xii. 244 ff.; iii, 478).
  b. as an exclamation, how ...! with adjectives and verbs, Gen 28:17 מַהנּֿוֺרָא הַמָּקוֺם הַזֶּה how dreadful is this place! Gen 38:29; Num 24:5 מַהטֹּֿבוּ אֹהָלֶיךָ, Isa 52:7; Ps 3:2 מה רבו, Ps 8:2 מה אדיר, Ps 21:2; Ps 36:8, etc., Song 4:10 (twice in verse); Song 7:2 ironically, 2Sam 6:20; Jer 2:33; Jer 2:36; Job 26:2; Job 26:3.
3. indefinite pronoun anything, aught, Num 23:3 וּדְבַרמַֿהיַּֿרְאֵנִי וְהִגַּדְתִּי לָ֑ךְ and he will shew me the matter of aught, and I will tell thee (= if he shew me... I will, etc., Dr§ 149), 1Sam 19:3 וְרָאִיתִי מָה וִהִגַּדְתִּי לָ֑ךְ = and if I see aught, I will, etc., 1Sam 20:10 אוֺ מַהיַּֿעַנִךָ אָבִיךָ קָשָׁה if perchance thy father shall answer thee aught that is harsh (order, 1 a a), 2Sam 18:22 וִיהִימָֿה אָרוּצָהנָּֿא but let there happen what may (literally aught), I will run, v2Sam 18:23 (compare Job 13:13 וְיַעֲבֹר עָלַי מָה), vJob 13:29 וְלֹא יָדַעְתִּי מָה (compare Prov 9:13), Prov 25:8. compare iii. § 65.
4. With prepositions:
  a. בַּמָּה9, בַּמֶּה19 wherein ? Exod 22:26; Judg 16:5; 1Sam 14:38 (indirect question; We בְּמִי); and so according to the various senses of בְּ: whereby ? Gen 15:8; Exod 33:16; Mal 1:2; Mal 1:6; Mal 1:7; Mal 2:17; Mal 3:7-8 wherewith ? 1Sam 6:2; 2Sam 21:3; Mic 6:6 by what means ? Judg 16:5 וּבַמֶּה נוּכַל לוֺ; at what (worth) ? Isa 2:22 for what ? 2Chr 7:21 (|| 1Kgs 9:8 עלמֿה).
  b. יַעַן מֶה Hag 1:9 because of what ?
  c. כַּמָּה, כַּמֶּה, properly the like of what ? (Arabic , Syriac ); hence
   (a) how much ? how many ? ׳כַּמָּה יְמֵי וגו Gen 47:8; 2Sam 19:35; Ps 119:84; Job 13:23 עַד כַּמֶּה פְעָמִים 1Kgs 22:16 (= 2Chr 18:15); כַּמָּה how often ? Job 21:17 (i.e. how seldom !); in an indirect question, how much ? Zech 2:6 (twice in verse). As an exclamation, Zech 7:3 as I have done זֶה כַמֶּה שָׁנִים now (זֶה 4 i), how many years ! Ps 78:40 כַּמָּה how often !
   (b) for how long ? Ps 35:17 כמה תראה, Job 7:19.
  d. לָ֫מָּה, לָמָ֫ה (לָמָ֫ה mostly before the gutturals א, ה, ע and ׳י [i.e. אֲדֹנָי], but twice besides, Ps 42:10; Ps 43:2 לָ֫מָּה also occurs before guttural, in five places noted by Masoretes on Ps 43:2, namely 1Sam 28:15; 2Sam 2:22; 2Sam 14:31; Ps 49:6; Jer 15:18, and before ךְ Gen 4:6; 2Sam 14:13; 2Sam 24:3; Eccl 2:15), לָ֫מָה Job 7:20, לָ֫מֶה 1Sam 1:8 (3 t. in verse), for what reason ? why? Gen 4:6 למה חרה לך why art thou angry ? Gen 24:31, etc.; often strengthened by זֶה (זֶה 4 e), Gen 18:13; Gen 32:30 (= Judg 13:18) למה זה תשׁאל לשׁמי, Judg 33:15; Exod 2:20; Exod 5:22; Exod 17:3, etc., Jer 6:20; Jer 20:18 +; Gen 25:22 זה אנכי אם כן למהֿ if so, why, then, am I ? (why do I continue to live ?); = to what purpose (followed by לִ person), Gen 27:46 למה לי חיים, Isa 1:11; Jer 6:20; Amos 5:18 למה זה ׳לכם יום י, Job 30:2 in an indirect question, 1Sam 6:3; Dan 10:20. Note especially
   (a) in expostulations, Gen 12:18 למה לא הגדת לי why didst thou not tell me, etc. ? vGen 12:19; Gen 29:25; Gen 31:27; Gen 42:1; Gen 43:6; 1Sam 21:15; 1Sam 22:13; 1Sam 24:10; Ps 22:2; Ps 44:24; Ps 44:25; Ps 74:1; Ps 74:11 + often;
   (b) with an imperfect, often deprecating, or introducing rhetorically, the reason why something should, or should not, be done, why should . . .? 1Sam 19:5; 1Sam 19:17; 1Sam 20:8 but to thy father (emphatic) למה זה תביאני, why shouldst thou bring me ? 1Sam 20:32 מה עשׂה למה יומת why should he be put to death ? 2Sam 13:26; 2Sam 16:9; 2Sam 20:19; 2Kgs 14:10, etc.: in such cases, it approximates in meaning to lest (compare Phoenician CISi. 2, 21 יסגרינם אלנם לָםָ ne tradant eos dii), and is in ᵐ5 often rendered by μήποτε, as Gen 27:45 למה אשׁכל why should I be bereaved, etc. ? Exod 32:12 יאמרו מצרים למה Neh 6:3; Ps 79:10; Ps 115:2; Eccl 7:16, μή, Jer 40:15, ἵνα μή, Gen 47:19; 2Sam 2:22; 2Chr 25:16; Eccl 5:5; Eccl 7:17, or ὅπως μή, Joel 2:17 (in 1Sam 19:17; 2Sam 13:26, paraph. by εἰ μή); and, connected with the foregoing sentence by אשׁר, or שֶׁ, in late, or dialect., Hebrew it actually has that meaning, Dan 1:10 אֲשֶׁר לָמָּה יִרְאֶה lest he see, Song 1:7 שַׁלָּמָ֫ה אֶהְיֶה lest I become (so in Aramaic לְמָה דִּי Ezra 7:23, דִּילְמָא ᵑ7, Syriac , both regularly = lest).
  e. עַדמָֿה (Ps 4:3 עַדמֶֿה) until when ? how long ? Num 24:22 (aposiop.), Ps 4:3; Ps 79:5; Ps 89:47 in indirect question, Ps 74:9 (compare עד אנה, עד מתי). feminine עַלמָֿה, and עַלמֶֿה, upon what ? Job 38:6; 2Chr 32:10 upon what ground ? wherefore ? Num 22:32 עַלמָֿה הִכִּיתָ אֶתאֲֿתֹנְךָ, Deut 29:23 (compare 1Kgs 9:8; Jer 22:8), Isa 1:5; Jer 8:14; Jer 9:11; Jer 16:10; Ezek 21:12; Ps 10:13; Job 13:14 (probably dittograph from vJob 13:13); עלמֿהזֿה Neh 2:4. In an indirect question, Job 10:2 הוֺדִיעֻנִי עַל מַהתְּֿרִיבֻנִי, Esth 4:5 לָדַעַת מַהזֶּֿה וְעַלמַֿהוֶּֿה.


BDB8356 H834 H7945 H4100

BDB8355 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB8357

שֶׁ, also ( Gen 6:3 [? see 4 a], Judg 5:7 (twice in verse); Song 1:7; Job 19:29 [?]) שַּׁ , שָׁ in שָׁאַתָּה Judg 6:17, and שְׁ in שְׁהוּא Eccl 2:22, שְׁהֵם Eccl 3:18 (elsewhere before guttural שֶׁ, as שֶׁאֲנִי Song 1:6; Eccl 2:18, שֶׁאֵין Ps 146:3, שֶׁהֵם Song 6:5; Lam 4:9, שֶׁעַל Judg 7:12; Judg 8:26, שֶׁרּאֹשִׁי Song 5:2), relative particle who, which, that, etc. (constantly in Late Hebrew; Aramaic of Nerab, Ldzb371, 445; Assyrian sha; Phoenician אש (regularly), also sometimes ש (Ldzb227 f.): according to Ges Ew§ 181 b Olp. 439 Sta§ 176 e, abbreviated from אֲשֶׁר; more probably (Sperling [see אֲשֶׁר], ii. 323 f.) an original demonstrative particle), synonym with אֲשֶׁר, but in usage limited to late Hebrew, and passages with north Palestinian colouring, namely Judg 5:7 (twice in verse) [אֲשֶׁר vJudg 5:27], Judg 6:17; Judg 7:12; Judg 8:26; 2Kgs 6:11 (see 4 c), Jonah 1:7; Jonah 1:12; Jonah 4:10 [אֲשֶׁר 11 t.], Ps 122:3; Ps 122:4; Ps 123:2; Ps 124:1; Ps 124:2; Ps 124:6; Ps 129:6; Ps 129:7; Ps 133:2; Ps 133:3; Ps 135:2; Ps 135:8; Ps 135:10; Ps 136:23; Ps 137:8; Ps 137:9; Ps 144:15; Ps 146:3; Ps 146:5; Lam 2:15; Lam 2:16; Lam 4:9; Lam 5:18; Ezra 8:20; 1Chr 5:20; 1Chr 27:27 Canticles (uniformly, except in title Song 1:1); Ecclesiastes (68 t.; אֲשֶׁא 89 t.); also (dubious) Gen 6:3; Gen 49:10 (שֶׁלֹּה ᵐ5 ᵑ6 ᵑ7), Job 19:29 and in the proper name (q. v.) מִישָׁאֵל and מְתוּשָׁאֵל. — In usage, שֶּׁ  is in the main parallel with אֲשֶׁר, namely

1. as pronoun who, which, whom, Judg 7:12 כַּהוֺל שֶׁעַל שְׂפַת הַיָּם (compare חוֺל c), Ps 122:3; Ps 124:6 etc.; him whom, that which, etc., Song 1:7; Song 3:1; 1Chr 27:27; Eccl 1:11; Eccl 6:3 וְרַב שֶׁיִּהְיוּ יְמֵי חַיָּיו and much (verb) is that which his days amount to (Hi De and others), vEccl 6:10 הוּא שֶּׁ  that which Eccl 1:9 (twice in verse); in the genitive, אַשְׁרֵי שֶּׁ  Ps 137:8; Ps 137:9; Ps 146:5. — On מַהשֶּּֿׁ  in Eccl = whatever, what, see מָה 1 e b.
2. as a connecting link; = where (compare אֲשֶׁר p. 81, and 4 b β), מְקוֺם שֶּׁ  Eccl 1:7; Eccl 11:3 (compare מְקוֺם אֲשֶׁר Gen 39:20 +: Ges«GKC:130c»§ 130c), whither Ps 122:4 (שֶׁשָּׁם ֗֗֗ ), when Song 8:8; Eccl 12:3 בַּיּוֺם שֶּׁ  (compare ib. 4 b a).
3.as a conjunction (compare אֲשֶׁר 8); —
  a. that, after רָאָה Eccl 2:13; Eccl 3:18, יָרַע Eccl 1:17; Eccl 2:14; Eccl 9:5; Job 19:19 (?), דִּבֶּר Eccl 2:15, אָמַר Eccl 8:14, עָשָׂה אוֺת Judg 6:17 as subject of sentence, Eccl 3:13; Eccl 5:15 also in the phrases, (a) what is ... that ? Song 5:9 (usually כִּי; see מָךְ 1 d b), מֶה הָיָה שֶּׁ  how comes it that ... ? Eccl 7:10
   (b) Song 3:4 כִּמְעַט שֶׁעָבַרְתּת מֵהֶם hardly (was it) that (German kaum dass) I had passed, etc., Eccl 7:14 עַל דִּדבְרַת שֶׁלּאֹ יִמְצָא to the intent that ..., Eccl 5:15 כָּלעֻֿמַּת שֶׁבֶּא exactly as ..., Eccl 12:9 תֵר שֶׁ besides that, עַד שֶּׁ  (עַד ּ Judg 5:7) until that Ps 123:2; Song 2:7; Song 2:17 + (see III. עַד II 1 a a and b; compare Late Hebrew Yoma Song 5:1), while Song 1:12 (ib. 2 d); עָשָׂהשֶּׁ  to make or cause that ..., Eccl 3:14 (compare Ezek 36:27).
  b. involving a reason (compare אֲשֶׁר 8 c), because, since, Song 1:6 (twice in verse); Song 5:2; Eccl 2:18 b. Hence שֵׁלָּמָה Song 1:7 since why ? = lest (see מָה 4 d b).
4. compounds:
  a. בְּשֶּׁ , i. q. בַּאֲשֶׁר c (p. 84a) in that, seeing that, Eccl 2:16 also (according to ᵑ0 ᵐ5 ᵑ6 Hu De) Gen 6:3 בְּשַׁגַּם הוּא בָשָׂר because that he also is flesh; but see שָׁגַג.
  b. ˜כּשֶּׁ , i. q. כַּאֲשֶׁר p. 455: — (a) according as Eccl 5:14; Eccl 12:7 (b) when (so often in Late Hebrew, as Ab Eccl 1:8 (3 t. in verse); Eccl 1:14) Eccl 9:12; Eccl 10:3.
  c. מִשֶּּׁ , i. q. מֵאֲשֶׁר a (p. 84:a), 2Kgs 6:12 מִי מִשֶּׁלָּנוּ who of those that are ours ? (but Klo KmpKau Benz מְגַלֵּנוּ who betrays us ? compare ᵐ5); Eccl 5:4 than that (compare מֵאֲשֶׁר Eccl 3:22), + Eccl 2:24 (read מִשֶּׁיּאֹכַל with Ew De, etc.; compare Eccl 3:22).
  d. שֶׁל, like אֲשֶׁרלְ (אֲשֶׁר 7 b), a mark of the genitive: thrice, adding slight emphasis to the suffix, Song 1:6 = Song 8:12 כַּרְמִי שֶׁלִּי my vineyard (literally my vineyard, which is mine), Song 3:7 מִטָּתוֺ שֶׁלִּשְׁלֹמֹה (so often in Late Hebrew, but without any special emphasis, as Aboth Song 1:12 הֲוֵי מתלמידיווּ שׁלאֿהרן be of Aaron's disciples, Song 2:1 שְׂכָרָן שֶׁלמִֿצְוֺת, vSong 2:2; Song 3:2 הֲוֵי מתפלל בשׁלומהּ שׁלמֿלכות; compare in Syriac, as Luke 6:42 my words, § 225). And with בְּ, בְּשֶׁל literally through that which belongs to or concerns, pleonastic for on account of (a late, unidiomatic translation of Aramaic בְּרִיל, from בְּ, דִּי, and לְ, as in Onk Gen 12:13 בדילי on my account, Gen 30:27; Gen 39:5 בְּדִיל יוֺסֵף, בְּדִיל מָא on account of what ? Judg 8:1; 2Sam 9:1; 1Kgs 11:12; 1Kgs 11:39, etc.), Jonah 1:7 בְּשֶׁלְּמִי on account of whom ? (|| vJonah 1:8 בַּאֲשֶׁר לְמִי; probably a gloss), vJonah 1:12 בְּשֶׁלִּי an account of me (ᵑ7 בְּדִיל מַן, בְּדִילִי); Eccl 8:17 בְּשֶׁל אֲשֶׁר יַעֲמֹל הָאָדָם לְבַקֵּשׁ on account of (the fact) that (= seeing that) man labours, etc. (unidiomatic translation of Aramaic בְּדִיל דְּ because that, as Gen 6:3 בְּדִיל דְּאִינוּן בִּסְרָא, Gen 39:9 בְּרִיל דְּאַתְּ אִיתְּתֵיהּ [for Hebrew בַּאֲשֶׁר אַתְּ אִשְׁתּוֺ]; Palmyrene בדיל די Ldzb233, — in Tariff Gen 1:4 (CookeN. Semitic Inscr. 320) = ἐπειδή).


[שֹׁא] see [ שׁוֺא].


BDB9652 H3964 H4101 H4100

BDB9651 | BIBLICAL ARAMAIC | BDB9653

מָה (מָא Ezra 6:8) pronoun interrogative and indefinite what? (Biblical Hebrew מָה; Nabataean מה; Zinjirli מ; ᵑ7 מא; Syriac ; Arabic : compare WCG 124 f.); —

1. what ? Dan 4:32 מה עבדת.
2. whatever, what (compare Biblical Hebrew 1 b end) Dan 2:22 ידע מח בחשׁוכא knoweth what is in darkness, Ezra 6:9: so מָה דִּי (compare דִּי 1 b: so Nabataean; Palmyrene מא די, מדי, Lzb306 Cooke320, 332) Dan 2:28; Dan 2:29 (twice in verse); Dan 2:45; Ezra 6:8 למא די תעבדון with regard to what ye shall do, Ezra 7:18 (= whatsoever).
3. with prefixes:
  a. כְּמָה how! Dan 3:33 (twice in verse).
  b. לְמָה why? (compare Biblical Hebrew לָמָּה) Ezra 4:22 be not slack herein: why should damage grow, etc., virtually = lest damage grow (ᵐ5 μή ποτε), Ezra 7:23 די למה להוא קצף for why should there be wrath ? = lest [ᵐ5 μή ποτε] there be wrath (compare ᵑ7 דִּילְמָא, Syriac lest: and see מָה 4 d b, p. 554:a).
  c. עלמֿה wherefore? Dan 2:15.

what, why, wherefore, how, wherein, …
properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and even relatively, that which); often used with prefixes in various adverbial or conjunctive senses
  • (interr pron) what, how, of what kind
    • (interrogative)
      • what?
      • "of what kind"what? (rhetorical)"whatsoever, whatever, what
      (adverb)
      • how, how now
      • "why"how! (exclamation)
      (with prep)
      • wherein?, whereby?, wherewith?, by what means?
      • "because of what?"the like of what?
        • how much?, how many?, how often?
        • "for how long?
        for what reason?, why?, to what purpose?"until when?, how long?, upon what?, wherefore? indef pron
    anything, aught, what may

יִּתְרוֹן֙
יִּתְרוֹן֙
Root word profit, excelleth, profitable, better, excellency
Dictionary form: יִתְרוֹן · yit-RONE

Noun — Common, masculine singular, construct state "___ of …" — bound to the next word

In the KJV here: profit
profit ×4 excelleth ×2 better ×1 but the excellency ×1 is profitable ×1 moreover the profit ×1
More options
advantage — Broad, natural fit; captures comparative gain over alternatives.
profit — Modernized KJV form; suits economic or practical contexts.
benefit — Slightly softer than profit; good for general or ethical contexts.
gain — Concise and colloquial; emphasizes net result or surplus.
surplus — Highlights the idea of something left over above a baseline.
superiority — Best when one thing excels or surpasses another in comparison.

BDB3861 H3504

BDB3860 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB3862

יִתְרוֺן noun [masculine] advantage, profit, only Ecclesiastes; — absolute Eccl 1:3 + 4 t.; construct Eccl 2:13 + 4 t.; — advantage to (ל) any one, מַהיִֿתְרוֺן לָאָדָם Eccl 1:3, i.e. what advantage hath a man ? Eccl 5:15; Eccl 10:11 followed by מִן comparative = advantage beyond, more than Eccl 2:13 (twice in verse); construct יִתְרוֺן הָעוֺשֶׂה Eccl 3:9 advantage of (for) him that worketh; יִתְרוֺן אֶדֶץ Eccl 5:8 יִתְרוֺן דַּעַת Eccl 7:12 advantage of knowledge; וְיִתְרוֺן הַכְשֵׁיר חָכְמָה Eccl 10:10 an advantage for giving success is wisdom; absolute אֵין יִתְרוֺן תַּחַת הַשָּׁ֑מֶשׁ Eccl 2:11.

profit, excelleth, profitable, better, excellency
yitrôn
preeminence, gain
  • advantage, profit, excellency

הָֽ עוֹשֶׂ֔ה
הָֽ
Prefix — article the
עוֹשֶׂ֔ה
Root word do, made, done, did, make, …
Dictionary form: עָשָׂה · aw-SAW

Verb — Qal, Participle Active, masculine singular, absolute state simple action — "he did" ongoing action — try "___ing" or "one who ___s"

In the KJV here: hath he that worketh
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.

BDB6428 H6213

BDB6427 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB6429

I. עָשָׂה2622 verb do, make (Late Hebrew = Biblical Hebrew; MI23, 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 DHMSB 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 DrDeut 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

BDB6435 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB6437

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).

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 work"to deal (with)"to act, act with effect, effect
        to make
        • to make
        • "to produce"to prepare"to make (an offering)"to attend to, put in order"to observe, celebrate"to acquire (property)"to appoint, ordain, institute"to bring about"to use"to spend, pass
      (Niphal)
      • to be done
      • "to be made"to be produced"to be offered"to be observed"to be used
      (Pual) to be made
    (Piel) to press, squeeze

בַּ אֲשֶׁ֖ר
בַּ
Prefix — preposition in, at, by, with
אֲשֶׁ֖ר
Particle who, which, that
Dictionary form: אֲשֶׁר · uh-SHER

Particle — Relative

In the KJV here: in that wherein
which ×1561 that ×1524 as ×311 whom ×202 who ×88 where ×84 whither ×70 whose ×69
More options
that — Most versatile; works as relative pronoun or conjunction.
which — Prefer for non-personal antecedents and formal register.
who — Use when antecedent is a person or personal being.
where — Use when introducing a place or locative clause.
when — Use when introducing a temporal clause.
because — Use when אֲשֶׁר introduces a causal clause.

BDB3871 H834

BDB3870 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB3872

כַּאֲשֶׁר conjunction according as, as, when (compare for the combined Aramaic כְּדִי, כַּד) —

1. according to that which, according as, as:
  a. Gen 34:12 I will give כאשׁר תאמרו אלי according as ye shall (or may) say unto me, Gen 44:1; Exod 8:23; Num 22:8; 1Sam 2:16; Gen 34:22 if we are circumcised כאשׁר הם נמולים; Gen 41:21 כאשׁר בתחלה as at the beginning, so ׳כ בראשׁונה Josh 8:5; Josh 8:6; 2Sam 7:10; Exod 5:13 ׃כאשׁר בהיות התבן Gen 7:9 they came in two by two כאשׁר צוה אלהִים, as God commanded Noah; so, or similarly, very often, especially in P, vGen 7:16; Gen 8:21; Gen 12:4; Gen 17:23; Gen 21:1 (twice in verse); Exod 16:24; Exod 39:1; Exod 39:5; Exod 39:7; Num 3:16; Num 3:42 etc.; ׳כאשׁר דבר י Deut 1:21; Deut 2:1; Deut 6:3; Deut 6:19 + often Deuteronomy.
  b. answered, for increased emphasis, by כֵּן (compare כְּ 2 d), Gen 50:12 ויעשׂו כן כאשׁר צִוָּם, Exod 7:10; Exod 7:20; Gen 18:5 (J) כן חעשׂח כאשׁר דברת, Exod 10:10 (iron.), Amos 5:14 (do.); in opposed to order, Judg 1:7 כאשׁר עשׂיתי, כן שׁלם לי, Exod 7:6 כן עשׂו ׳כאשׁר צוה י, compare Exod 12:28; Exod 12:50; Exod 39:43; Num 5:4; Num 17:26; Num 36:10 (all P); with imperfect (frequently) Num 2:17 (P) כאשׁר יחנו כן יסעו; of degree = the more. . . the more, Exod 1:12 וכאשׁר יענּו אתו כן ירבה וכן יפרץ, compare Exod 17:11 (JE) ׳והיה כאשׁר יריםו֗֗֗גבר ישׁר according as he held up, etc., Israel prevailed; in an oath or solemn promise, Num 14:28 אם לא כאשׁר דברתם כן אעשׂה, Deut 28:63 (Jer 31:28), 1Kgs 1:30; Isa 10:11; Isa 14:24; Isa 52:14f. (see כֵּן 2 b).
  c. answered by וַ (Dr§ 127 γ) Exod 16:34; Num 1:19.
  d. often in similes (followed by imperfect of habit) Exod 33:11 כאשׁר ידבר אישׁ אל רעהו, Num 11:12; Deut 1:44; Isa 9:2; Isa 66:20 +, answered by כֵּן Isa 31:4; Isa 55:10; Isa 66:22; Amos 3:12 +; a second verb is, in such cases, in the perfect with וְ consecutive (Dr§ 115) Deut 22:26; Isa 29:8 כאשׁר יחלםו֗֗֗הקיץ, Isa 65:8; Amos 5:19.
  e. הָיָה כַּאֲשֶׁר (compare הָיָה כְּ) to be as if, Job 10:19 כאשׁר לא הייתי אהיה, Zech 10:6 והיו כאשׁר לא זנחתים.
2. with a casual force, in so far as, since (German demgemäss dass), Gen 26:29 if thou doest us no harm כאשׁר לא נגענוך according as, in so far as, we have not touched thee; Num 27:14 כאשׁר מריתם פי inasmuch as ye have defied my mouth, Judg 6:27; 1Sam 28:18 (answered by על כן), 2Kgs 17:26; Mic 3:4.
3. with a temporal force, when, Gen 18:33 and Y. went away כאשׁר כלה when he had finished, etc., Gen 32:3; Gen 32:32; 1Sam 8:6; 2Sam 12:21 +; answered by וַּ (Dr§ 127 β), 1Sam 6:6; 1Sam 12:8 ויהי כאשׁר֗֗ and it came to pass, when . . . Gen 12:11; Gen 20:13; Gen 24:22; Gen 24:52; Exod 32:19 + often; Gen 43:14 כאשׁר שׁכלתי שׁכלתי when I am bereaved, I am bereaved ! an expression of resignation, so Esth 4:16 כאשׁר אבדתי אבדתי. Josh 2:7 אחרי כאשׁר is a 'conflate' reading, omit either אחרי or כ. Of future time, Gen 27:40; Gen 40:14 כאשׁר ייטב לך, Hos 7:12; Eccl 4:17; Eccl 5:3, and without a verb Isa 23:5 כאשׁר שׁמע למצרים. — Mic 3:3 כאשׁר is simply as that which, Job 29:25 as one who.


BDB6202 H3282 H834 H3588

BDB6201 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB6203

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 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 הַמְ˜רֹתְכֶם), 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.)


BDB6204 H4616 H834 H4617

BDB6203 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB6205

[מַ֫עַן] substantive purpose, intent, only with לְ, in לְמַ֫עַן271 preposition and conjunction for the sake of, on account of, to the intent or in order that (abbreviated from מַעֲנֶה: compare מַ֫עַל; ii. 116); — with suffix לְמַעֲנִי, לְמַעַנְךָ, and לְמַעַנְכֶם; —

1. preposition: —
  a. Gen 18:24 wilt thou ... not spare the place למען חמשׁים הציקים for the sake of the 50 righteous? Deut 30:6 חַיֶּיךָ ׳ל for thy life's sake, 1Kgs 8:41 the foreigner who comer from afar שְׁמֶ֑ךָ ׳ל, Isa 43:14 לְמַעַנְכֶם שִׁלַּחְתִּי בָבֶ֫לָה, Isa 45:4; Isa 62:1 ציון ׳ל, Isa 63:17 עבדיך ׳ל, Isa 65:8; Ezek 36:22 (twice in verse); Job 18:4; Ps 122:8; Ps 122:9 (׳עַבְדִּי ד) לְמַעַן דָּוִד, i.e. for the sake of David's memory, and the promises given to him, 1Kgs 11:12; 1Kgs 11:13; 1Kgs 11:32; 1Kgs 11:34; 1Kgs 15:4; 2Kgs 8:19; 2Kgs 19:34 (= Isa 37:35), Isa 20:6 (all D2); לְמַעֲנִי (of ׳י) for my own sake, i.e. to vindicate my name, 2Kgs 19:34 (= Isa 37:35), 2Kgs 20:6; Isa 43:25; Isa 48:11 לְמַעֲנִי לְמַעֲנִי אֶעֲשֶׁה, so לְמַעַנְךָ Dan 9:19, אֲדֹנָי ׳ל vDan 9:17 ׳י is said (or entreated) to act (שִׁמְךָ, שְׁמִי) לְמַעַן שְׁמוֺ i.e. to maintain his reputation, or character, Ps 23:3; Ps 25:11; Ps 31:4; Ps 79:9; Ps 106:8; Ps 143:11; Jer 14:7; Jer 14:21; Ezek 20:9; Ezek 20:14; Ezek 20:22; Ezek 20:44; Isa 48:9 simile חַסְדְּךָ ׳ל (i.e. to maintain it consistently) Ps 6:5; Ps 44:27, טוּבְךָ ׳ל Ps 25:7, צִדְקוֺ ׳ל Isa 42:21.


  b. In view of, on account of (but not expressing causation distinctly, like מִן 2 f, or מִפְּנֵי), Deut 3:26 בי לְמַעַנְכֶם ׳ויתעבר י on your account, 1Kgs 11:39 זֹאת ׳ל in view of this, שׁוֺרֲרַי ׳ל on account of my watchful foes, Ps 5:9; Ps 27:11, צורריך ׳ל Ps 8:3, simil. Ps 69:19; Ps 48:12 (Ps 97:8) משׁפטיך ׳ישמח הר ציון ֗֗֗ ל in view of thy judgments.


  c. Sq. infinitive Gen 18:19 ׳לְמַעַן הָבִיא י for the purpose of J.'s bringing = to the intent that J. might bring, Gen 37:22 הַצִּיל ׳ל in order to rescue, Gen 50:20; Exod 1:11; Exod 9:16; Exod 10:1, etc., Deut 2:30; Deut 6:28, etc., 2Kgs 10:19; Jer 7:10; Jer 7:18; Jer 11:5; Jer 50:34 (on הִרגיע, see עַד 2 a b), Ezek 14:5; Ezek 21:5; Ezek 22:6 etc., Ezek 36:5, + often (iii.595 f.). Once, pleonastic, לְמַעַן לָמוּג לֵב Ezek 21:20 (compare כַּעֲבוּר לְ 1Chr 19:3 but read probably הִמּוֺג).

2. conjunction (followed by imperfect): —
  a. לְמַעַן אֲשֶׁר Gen 18:19 I have known him אשׁר יְצַוֶּה ׳ל to the end that he might command, etc., Deut 27:3; Josh 3:4; 2Sam 13:5; Jer 42:6 more often
  b. without אשׁר, as Gen 12:13 לְמַעַן יִיטַב לִי, Gen 27:25; Exod 4:5 יאמינו ׳ל, Exod 8:6; Exod 8:18; Exod 9:29; Exod 10:2; Isa 5:19; Isa 23:16; Ps 9:15; Ps 30:13; Ps 48:14 + often (iii.571).


  c. Sq. לֹא (a) אשׁר לֹא ׳ל Num 17:5; Deut 20:18; Ezek 31:14; Ezek 36:30; Ezek 46:18 (b) לֹא ׳ל Ezek 14:11; Ezek 19:9; Ezek 25:10; Ezek 26:20; Zech 12:7; Ps 119:11; Ps 119:80; Ps 125:3 (iii.574. Less common than לְבִלְתִּי or מִן with infinitive, or פֶּןֿ).

Note
1.לְמַעַן is always in order that, never merely so that ἐκβατικῶς); but sometimes, in rhetorical passages, the issue of a line of action, though really undesigned, is represented by it ironically as if it were designed: Deut 29:18 (see Dr) ׳סְפוֺת וגו ׳וְהִתְבָּרֵךְ כִּלְבָבוֺ ֗֗֗ ל and he congratulate himself ... in order to sweep away the moistened with the dry (i.e. to destroy all together), Isa 30:1; Isa 44:9 יֵבוֺשׁוּ ׳בל יראו ובל ידעו ל in orer that they may be put to shame, Jer 7:18 הַכְעִיסֵנִי ׳ל, vJer 7:19 בּשֶׁת פְנֵיהֶם ׳ל, Jer 27:10; Jer 27:15; Jer 32:29; Hos 8:4 their silver, etc., they have made into idols יִכָרֵת ׳ל in order that it may be cut off (of course, not the real purpose of the idolatry), Amos 2:7; Mic 6:16: compare Ps 51:6 (see Comn.) in order that thou mightest be just when thou judgest (that is, by manifesting thy justice in judgement on my sin). compare Qor 28:7 (FlKl. Schr. i. 397 f.).

Note 2. — In Josh 4:24 for the anomalous יְרָאתֶם ׳ל, read infinitive יִרְאָתָם ׳ל in order that they might fear (Dr§ 14 Obs.): Neh 6:13 לְמַעַן שָׂכוּר הוּא לְמַעַן אִירָא (si vera 1.) the first ׳ל points forwards, to this intent was he hired, to the intent that I should be afraid. — On Prov 16:4, see מַעֵנֶה above


BDB8356 H834 H7945 H4100

BDB8355 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB8357

שֶׁ, also ( Gen 6:3 [? see 4 a], Judg 5:7 (twice in verse); Song 1:7; Job 19:29 [?]) שַּׁ , שָׁ in שָׁאַתָּה Judg 6:17, and שְׁ in שְׁהוּא Eccl 2:22, שְׁהֵם Eccl 3:18 (elsewhere before guttural שֶׁ, as שֶׁאֲנִי Song 1:6; Eccl 2:18, שֶׁאֵין Ps 146:3, שֶׁהֵם Song 6:5; Lam 4:9, שֶׁעַל Judg 7:12; Judg 8:26, שֶׁרּאֹשִׁי Song 5:2), relative particle who, which, that, etc. (constantly in Late Hebrew; Aramaic of Nerab, Ldzb371, 445; Assyrian sha; Phoenician אש (regularly), also sometimes ש (Ldzb227 f.): according to Ges Ew§ 181 b Olp. 439 Sta§ 176 e, abbreviated from אֲשֶׁר; more probably (Sperling [see אֲשֶׁר], ii. 323 f.) an original demonstrative particle), synonym with אֲשֶׁר, but in usage limited to late Hebrew, and passages with north Palestinian colouring, namely Judg 5:7 (twice in verse) [אֲשֶׁר vJudg 5:27], Judg 6:17; Judg 7:12; Judg 8:26; 2Kgs 6:11 (see 4 c), Jonah 1:7; Jonah 1:12; Jonah 4:10 [אֲשֶׁר 11 t.], Ps 122:3; Ps 122:4; Ps 123:2; Ps 124:1; Ps 124:2; Ps 124:6; Ps 129:6; Ps 129:7; Ps 133:2; Ps 133:3; Ps 135:2; Ps 135:8; Ps 135:10; Ps 136:23; Ps 137:8; Ps 137:9; Ps 144:15; Ps 146:3; Ps 146:5; Lam 2:15; Lam 2:16; Lam 4:9; Lam 5:18; Ezra 8:20; 1Chr 5:20; 1Chr 27:27 Canticles (uniformly, except in title Song 1:1); Ecclesiastes (68 t.; אֲשֶׁא 89 t.); also (dubious) Gen 6:3; Gen 49:10 (שֶׁלֹּה ᵐ5 ᵑ6 ᵑ7), Job 19:29 and in the proper name (q. v.) מִישָׁאֵל and מְתוּשָׁאֵל. — In usage, שֶּׁ  is in the main parallel with אֲשֶׁר, namely

1. as pronoun who, which, whom, Judg 7:12 כַּהוֺל שֶׁעַל שְׂפַת הַיָּם (compare חוֺל c), Ps 122:3; Ps 124:6 etc.; him whom, that which, etc., Song 1:7; Song 3:1; 1Chr 27:27; Eccl 1:11; Eccl 6:3 וְרַב שֶׁיִּהְיוּ יְמֵי חַיָּיו and much (verb) is that which his days amount to (Hi De and others), vEccl 6:10 הוּא שֶּׁ  that which Eccl 1:9 (twice in verse); in the genitive, אַשְׁרֵי שֶּׁ  Ps 137:8; Ps 137:9; Ps 146:5. — On מַהשֶּּֿׁ  in Eccl = whatever, what, see מָה 1 e b.
2. as a connecting link; = where (compare אֲשֶׁר p. 81, and 4 b β), מְקוֺם שֶּׁ  Eccl 1:7; Eccl 11:3 (compare מְקוֺם אֲשֶׁר Gen 39:20 +: Ges«GKC:130c»§ 130c), whither Ps 122:4 (שֶׁשָּׁם ֗֗֗ ), when Song 8:8; Eccl 12:3 בַּיּוֺם שֶּׁ  (compare ib. 4 b a).
3.as a conjunction (compare אֲשֶׁר 8); —
  a. that, after רָאָה Eccl 2:13; Eccl 3:18, יָרַע Eccl 1:17; Eccl 2:14; Eccl 9:5; Job 19:19 (?), דִּבֶּר Eccl 2:15, אָמַר Eccl 8:14, עָשָׂה אוֺת Judg 6:17 as subject of sentence, Eccl 3:13; Eccl 5:15 also in the phrases, (a) what is ... that ? Song 5:9 (usually כִּי; see מָךְ 1 d b), מֶה הָיָה שֶּׁ  how comes it that ... ? Eccl 7:10
   (b) Song 3:4 כִּמְעַט שֶׁעָבַרְתּת מֵהֶם hardly (was it) that (German kaum dass) I had passed, etc., Eccl 7:14 עַל דִּדבְרַת שֶׁלּאֹ יִמְצָא to the intent that ..., Eccl 5:15 כָּלעֻֿמַּת שֶׁבֶּא exactly as ..., Eccl 12:9 תֵר שֶׁ besides that, עַד שֶּׁ  (עַד ּ Judg 5:7) until that Ps 123:2; Song 2:7; Song 2:17 + (see III. עַד II 1 a a and b; compare Late Hebrew Yoma Song 5:1), while Song 1:12 (ib. 2 d); עָשָׂהשֶּׁ  to make or cause that ..., Eccl 3:14 (compare Ezek 36:27).
  b. involving a reason (compare אֲשֶׁר 8 c), because, since, Song 1:6 (twice in verse); Song 5:2; Eccl 2:18 b. Hence שֵׁלָּמָה Song 1:7 since why ? = lest (see מָה 4 d b).
4. compounds:
  a. בְּשֶּׁ , i. q. בַּאֲשֶׁר c (p. 84a) in that, seeing that, Eccl 2:16 also (according to ᵑ0 ᵐ5 ᵑ6 Hu De) Gen 6:3 בְּשַׁגַּם הוּא בָשָׂר because that he also is flesh; but see שָׁגַג.
  b. ˜כּשֶּׁ , i. q. כַּאֲשֶׁר p. 455: — (a) according as Eccl 5:14; Eccl 12:7 (b) when (so often in Late Hebrew, as Ab Eccl 1:8 (3 t. in verse); Eccl 1:14) Eccl 9:12; Eccl 10:3.
  c. מִשֶּּׁ , i. q. מֵאֲשֶׁר a (p. 84:a), 2Kgs 6:12 מִי מִשֶּׁלָּנוּ who of those that are ours ? (but Klo KmpKau Benz מְגַלֵּנוּ who betrays us ? compare ᵐ5); Eccl 5:4 than that (compare מֵאֲשֶׁר Eccl 3:22), + Eccl 2:24 (read מִשֶּׁיּאֹכַל with Ew De, etc.; compare Eccl 3:22).
  d. שֶׁל, like אֲשֶׁרלְ (אֲשֶׁר 7 b), a mark of the genitive: thrice, adding slight emphasis to the suffix, Song 1:6 = Song 8:12 כַּרְמִי שֶׁלִּי my vineyard (literally my vineyard, which is mine), Song 3:7 מִטָּתוֺ שֶׁלִּשְׁלֹמֹה (so often in Late Hebrew, but without any special emphasis, as Aboth Song 1:12 הֲוֵי מתלמידיווּ שׁלאֿהרן be of Aaron's disciples, Song 2:1 שְׂכָרָן שֶׁלמִֿצְוֺת, vSong 2:2; Song 3:2 הֲוֵי מתפלל בשׁלומהּ שׁלמֿלכות; compare in Syriac, as Luke 6:42 my words, § 225). And with בְּ, בְּשֶׁל literally through that which belongs to or concerns, pleonastic for on account of (a late, unidiomatic translation of Aramaic בְּרִיל, from בְּ, דִּי, and לְ, as in Onk Gen 12:13 בדילי on my account, Gen 30:27; Gen 39:5 בְּדִיל יוֺסֵף, בְּדִיל מָא on account of what ? Judg 8:1; 2Sam 9:1; 1Kgs 11:12; 1Kgs 11:39, etc.), Jonah 1:7 בְּשֶׁלְּמִי on account of whom ? (|| vJonah 1:8 בַּאֲשֶׁר לְמִי; probably a gloss), vJonah 1:12 בְּשֶׁלִּי an account of me (ᵑ7 בְּדִיל מַן, בְּדִילִי); Eccl 8:17 בְּשֶׁל אֲשֶׁר יַעֲמֹל הָאָדָם לְבַקֵּשׁ on account of (the fact) that (= seeing that) man labours, etc. (unidiomatic translation of Aramaic בְּדִיל דְּ because that, as Gen 6:3 בְּדִיל דְּאִינוּן בִּסְרָא, Gen 39:9 בְּרִיל דְּאַתְּ אִיתְּתֵיהּ [for Hebrew בַּאֲשֶׁר אַתְּ אִשְׁתּוֺ]; Palmyrene בדיל די Ldzb233, — in Tariff Gen 1:4 (CookeN. Semitic Inscr. 320) = ἐπειδή).


[שֹׁא] see [ שׁוֺא].


BDB844 H834

BDB843 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB845

אֲשֶׁר particle of relation (Moabite id.; origin dubious:

1. according to TsepreghiDiss. Lugd. p. 171 MühlauBö. Lb. ii. 79 n. StaMorg. Forsch. 1875, 188; Lb. § 167 HomZMG 1878, 708 ff. Müll§ 153 SayceHebraica. ii. 51 LagM. i. 255 & especially KraeHebraica. vi. 298 ff, originally a substantive 'place' = footstep, mark, (do.), אֲתַר, place, Assyrian ašru, used (see Kraetz.) both as a substantive 'there, where,' and as a relative of place 'where': in Hebrew this development has advanced further, and it has become a relative sign generally. The chief objection to this explanation is that it would isolate Hebrew from the other Semitic languages, in which pronouns are formed regularly from demonstrative roots (compare also ZMG 1886, 738).
2. according to PhiSt. C. 73 SperlingNota Rel. im Hebr. 1876, 15-22 for אֲשֶׁל, developed from the relative שׁ (q. v.) by (1) the prefixing of either a merely prosthetic א, or, better, a pronominal א (giving rise to אש, the form of the relative in Phoenician), and (2) the addition of the demonstrative root ל [found also in אֵל, אֵלָּה, הַלָּזֶה (q. v.), he who, who (plural)]: the main objection to this explanation is the change of ל to ר, which is hardly rendered probable by the compare of Syriac by side of ᵑ7 הָלְכָּא. 1 seems preferable, the primitive root having acquired different significations in the different Semitic languages, and having been weakened in Hebrew to a mere particle of relation). A sign of relation, bringing the clause introduced by it into relation with an antecedent clause. As a rule אֲשֶׁר is a mere connecting link, and requires to be supplemented (see the grammars) by a pronominal affix, or other word, such as שָׁם, defining the nature of the relation more precisely: e.g. Gen 1:11 אֲשֶׁר זַרֵעוֺבֿוֺ literally as to which, its seed is in it = in which is its seed, Ps 1:4 like the chaff אֲשֶׁרתִּֿדְּפֶנּוּ רוּחַ as to which, the wind drives it = which the wind drives, etc.; & so אֲשֶׁרשָׁ֗֗֗ם = where, אֲשֶׁרמִ֗֗֗שָּׁם = whence, Gen 2:11; Gen 3:23; Gen 20:13 etc. Sometimes also (see below) the relation expressed by it is specifically temporal, local causal, etc. More particularly

1. it includes its pronominal antecedent, whether in the nominative or oblique cases, as Num 22:6 וַאֲשֶׁר תָּאֹר יוּאָר and he whom thou cursest is cursed, Exod 4:12 and I will teach thee אֲשֶׁר תְּדַבֵּר that which thou shalt say; and with particles or prepositions, as אֵת אֲשֶׁר (according to the context) him who . . ., those who . . ., that which . . .; לַאֲשֶׁר to him who . . . Gen 43:16, to those who . . . Gen 47:24, to that which Gen 27:8 מֵאֲשֶׁר Judg 16:30; 2Sam 18:18 than those whom; Lev 27:24 לַאֲשֶׁר קָנָהוּ מֵאִתּוֺ to him from whom he bought it, Num 5:7; Isa 24:2 כַּאֲשֶׁר נשֶׁא בוֺ like him against whom there is a creditor.
2. instances of אֲשֶׁר followed by a pronominal affix, or by שָׁם, שָֽׁמָּה, מִשָּׁם, are so common that the examples cited above will be sufficient. Very rarely there occurs the anomalous construction עִם אֲשֶׁר Gen 31:32 for אֲשֶׁר עִמּוֺ (see Gen 44:9), בַּאֲשֶׁר Isa 47:12 for אֲשֶׁר בָּהֶם, לַאֲשֶׁר for אֲשֶׁרלָ֗֗֗הֶם Ezek 23:40: Ps 119:49 see under על אשׁר. It is followed by the pronoun in the nominative, in the following cases: —
   (a) immediately, mostly before an adjective or participle, Gen 9:3 all moving things אֲשֶׁר הוּאחַֿי which are living, Lev 11:26; Num 9:13; Num 14:8; Num 14:27; Num 35:31; Deut 20:20; 1Sam 10:19 (see Dr) 2Kgs 25:19 (|| Jer 52:25 היה) Jer 27:9; Ezek 43:19; Hag 1:9; Ruth 4:15; Neh 2:18; Eccl 7:26 before a verb 2Kgs 22:13 (omitted 2Chr 34:21).
   (b) in a negative sentence, at the end: Gen 7:2; Gen 17:12; Num 17:5; Deut 17:15 אֲשֶׁר לֹא אָחִיךָ הוּא who is not thy brother, Deut 20:15; Judg 19:12; 1Kgs 8:41 || 1Kgs 9:20 ||.
N.B. Ps 16:3 אֲשֶׁר בָּאָרֶץ הֵ֑מָּה is an unparalleled expression for 'who are in the land'; read ׳אֲשֶׁר בָּאָ֑רֶץ הֵמָּה אַדִּירֵי וג 'the saints that are in the land, they (המה) are the nobles, in whom,' etc.
3. sometimes (though rarely) the defining adjunct is a pronoun of 1 or 2 person as well as of 3 person. In such cases it is strictly to be rendered I who . . ., thou who, etc.; Hos 14:4 אֲשֶׁרבְּֿךָ יְרֻחַם יָתוֺם thou by whom the fatherless is compassionated ! Jer 31:32 I, whose covenant they brake, Jer 32:19; Isa 49:23; Job 37:17f. thou whose garments are warm . . ., canst thou ? etc., Ps 71:19; Ps 71:20; Ps 144:12 we whose sons, etc., Ps 139:15 my frame was not hidden from thee, אֲ֯שֶׁרעֻֿשֵּׂיתִי בַסֵּתֶר I who was wrought in secret (= though I was wrought in secret), Exod 14:13 for ye who have seen the Egyptians to-day, — ye shall not see them again for ever! (compare Ps 41:9).
4. the defining pron. adjunct is dispensed with
  a. when אֲשֶׁר represents the simple subject of a sentence, or the direct object of a verb: so constantly, as Gen 2:1 the work אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה which he made, Gen 3:3 the tree אֲשֶׁר בְּתוֺךְ הַגָּן which is in the midst of the garden, etc.
  b. after words denoting time, place, or manner, so that אֲשֶׁר then becomes equivalent to when, where, why:
   (a) Gen 6:4 אַחֲרֵי כֵן אֲשֶׁר afterwards, when, etc. (compare 2Chr 35:20) Gen 45:6 there are still 5 years אֲשֶׁר אֵין חָרִישׁ when there shall be no plowing, Josh 14:10; 1Kgs 22:25 after יוֺם or הַיּוֺם Deut 4:10; Judg 4:14; 1Sam 24:5 (see Dr) 2Sam 19:25; Jer 20:14 and elsewhere; similarly Gen 40:13. (β) Gen 35:13 בַּמָּקוֺם אֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר אִתּוֺ in the place where he spake with him, vGen 35:14; Gen 39:20; Num 13:27; Num 22:26; Deut 1:31 in the desert which thou sawest, where (accents Ke Di), Deut 8:15; 1Kgs 8:9 (unless לוּחוֺת הַבְּרִית has here fallen out: see ᵐ5 & Deut 9:9) Isa 55:11; Isa 64:10; Ps 84:4. So (γ) in אֶל אֲשֶׁר to (the place) which (or whither) Exod 32:34; Ruth 1:16 אֶלכָּֿלאֲֿשֶׁר to every (place) whither Josh 1:16; Prov 17:8 בַּאֲשֶׁר in (the place) where Judg 5:27; Judg 17:8; Judg 17:9; 1Sam 23:13; 2Kgs 8:1; Ruth 1:16; Ruth 1:17; Job 39:30, once only with שָׁם Gen 21:17 בְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר wheresoever Josh 1:7; Josh 1:9; Judg 2:15; 1Sam 14:47; 1Sam 18:5; 2Sam 7:7; 2Kgs 18:7 מֵאֲשֶׁר from (the place) where = whencesoever Exod 5:11; Ruth 2:9 עַלאֲֿשֶׁר to (the place) whither (or which) 2Sam 15:20; 1Kgs 18:12 עַלכָּֿלאֲֿשֶׁר Jer 1:7. (δ) זֶה הַדָּבָר אֲשֶׁר ֗֗֗ this is the reason that or why . . . Josh 5:4; 1Kgs 11:27.
  c. more extreme instances Lev 14:22; Lev 14:30; Lev 14:31; Num 6:21; Deut 7:19 (wherewith), Deut 28:20; 1Sam 2:32 (wherein), 1Kgs 2:26; Judg 8:15 (about whom), Isa 8:12 (where יאמר would be followed normally by לוֺ), Isa 31:6 turn ye to (him as to) whom they have deeply rebelled, Isa 47:15; Zeph 3:11; Eccl 3:9; 1Kgs 14:19 (= how).
  d. it is dispensed with only in appearance after ׅ׳אֲשֶׁר אָמַר (אָמַרְתִּי וג followed by the words used, its place being really taken by a pronoun in the speech which follows, as Gen 3:17 the tree as to which I commanded thee saying, Thou shalt not eat from it, Exod 22:8; Deut 28:68; Judg 7:4 (זֶה) Judg 8:15 (where the noun repeated takes the place of the pronoun, compare Deut 9:2) 1Sam 9:17 (זֶה):23 +; compare 2Sam 11:16; 2Kgs 17:12; 2Kgs 21:4.
5. אֲשֶׁר sometimes in poetry = one who, a man who (men who), ὅστις, οἵτινες, Ps 24:4; Ps 55:20; Ps 95:4; Ps 95:5; Job 4:19; Job 5:5; Job 9:5 (Hi) Job 15:17.
6. אֲשֶׁר occasionally receives its closer definition by a substantive following it, in other words, its logical antecedent is inserted in the relative clause:
   (a) in the phrase peculiar to Jeremiah, ׳אֶל יר ׳אֲשֶׁר הָיָה דְבַר י that which came (of) the word of ׳י to Jeremiah Jer 14:1; Jer 46:1; Jer 47:1; Jer 49:34 (compare Ew§ 334);
   (b) Exod 25:9; Num 33:4; 1Sam 25:30; 2Kgs 8:12; 2Kgs 12:6 לְכֹל אֲשֶׁריִֿמָּצֵא שָׁם בָּֽדֶק׃ Ezek 12:25 compare the Ethiopic usage Di§ 201;
   (c) (antecedant repeated) Gen 49:30 = Gen 50:13, 1Sam 25:30 (׳י repeated), Isa 54:9 (probably) as to which I sware that, etc., Amos 5:1 which I take up over you (as) a dirge.
7. ׳אֲשֶׁר ל that (belongs, belong, belonged) to, is used
  a. either alone or preceded by כָּלֿ to express (all) that (belongs) to, as Gen 14:23 מִכָּלאֲֿשֶׁרלְֿךָ of all that is thine, Gen 31:1 מֵאֲשֶׁר לְאָבִינוּ of that which was our father's, Gen 32:24 & sent over אֶתאֲֿשֶׁרלֿוֺ that which he had, + often
  b. as a circumlocution of the genitive, as Gen 29:9 עִםהַֿצּאֹן אֲשֶׁר לְאָבִיהָ with the sheep that were her father's, Gen 40:5; Gen 47:4; Lev 9:8; Judg 6:11; 1Sam 25:7 הָרֹעִים אֲשֶׁרלְֿךָ, 2Sam 14:31 אֶתהַֿחֶלְקָה אֲשֶׁרלִֿי, 2Sam 23:8; 1Kgs 1:8; 1Kgs 1:33 עַל הַפִּרְדָּה אֲשֶׁרלִֿי upon mine own mule, v1Kgs 1:49; 1Kgs 4:2; 2Kgs 11:10; 2Kgs 16:13; Ruth 2:21 and especially in the case of a compound expression depending on a single genitive, as Gen 23:9; Gen 40:5; Gen 41:43 מִרְכֶּבֶת הַמִּשְׁנֶה אֲשֶׁרלֿוֺ the chariot of the second rank which he had, Exod 38:30; Judg 3:20; Judg 6:25; 1Sam 17:40; 1Sam 21:8 אֲבִיר הָרֹעִים אֲשֶׁר לְשָׁאוּל the mightiest of Saul's herdmen, 1Sam 24:5 אֶתכְּֿנַףהַֿמְּעִיל אֲשֶׁרלְֿשָׁאוּל, 2Sam 2:8 Saul's captain of the host, 1Kgs 10:28; 1Kgs 15:20; 1Kgs 22:31; Jer 52:17; Ruth 4:3.
  c. with names of places (especially such as do not readily admit the stative construct) Judg 18:28; Judg 19:14 הַגִּבְעָה אֲשֶׁר לְבִנְיָמִין Gibeah (the hill) of Benjamin, Judg 20:4; 1Sam 17:1; 1Kgs 15:27; 1Kgs 16:15; 1Kgs 17:9; 1Kgs 19:3; 2Kgs 14:11. compare שֶׁל (q. v.) which in Rabb, like the Aramaic -דִּיל, , is in habitual use as a mark of the genitive. — N.B. In Aramaic also דּי, , without ל, expresses the genitive relation, as מִלְּתָא דִימַֿלְכָּא, literally the word, that of the king = the word of the king. The few apparent cases of a similar use of אשׁר are, however, too foreign to the general usage of the language to be regarded otherwise than as due to textual error: 1Sam 13:8 read אֲשֶׁר אָמַר (or שָׂם Exod 19:5) שְׁמוּאֵל (ᵐ5 εἶπε); 1Kgs 11:25 supply עָשָׂה (ᵐ5 ἣν ἐποίησεν); 2Kgs 25:10 supply אֵת with (as || Jer 52:14); 2Chr 34:22 read וַאֲשֶׁר אָמַר הַמֶּלֶךְ (compare ᵐ5) and those whom the king appointed (abbreviated from 2Kgs 22:14); compare Ew§ 292 a, b with note.

8. אֲשֶׁר becomes, like Aramaic דּי, , a conjunction approximating in usage to כִּי: thus
  a. = quod, ὅτι, that, subordinating an entire sentence to a verb of knowing, remembering, etc.
   (a) with אֵת Deut 9:7 forget not אֵת אֲשֶׁר הִקְצַפְתָּ the fact that (= how) thou provokedst, etc., Deut 29:15; Josh 2:10; 1Sam 24:11; 1Sam 24:19; 2Sam 11:20 know ye not אֵת אֲשֶׁריֹֿרוּ how they shoot from off the wall ? 2Kgs 8:12; Isa 38:3 + often As subject (rare) 1Kgs 14:19; 2Kgs 14:15; 2Kgs 20:20. Of time (peculiarly) 2Sam 14:15 עַתָּה אֲשֶׁר now (is it) that . . . Zech 8:20 (probably) yet (shall it be) that . . . vZech 8:23 compare כִּמְעַט שֶׁ Song 3:4. (β) without אֵת (not very common, כִּי being usually employed): after יָדַע Exod 11:7; Ezek 20:26 (very strange in Ezekiel: see Hi) Job 9:5 (Ew De Di) Eccl 8:12, רָאָה Deut 1:31 (RV) 1Sam 18:15, הִתְוַדָּה to confess Lev 5:5; Lev 26:40 b, הִשְׁבִּיעַ 1Kgs 22:16 (caused to swear that . . .); after a noun Isa 38:7 הָאוֺת אֲשֶׁר the sign that . . . (|| 2Kgs 20:9 כִּי): with growing frequency in late Hebrew, 2Chr 2:7, and especially Nehemiah, Esther: Neh 2:5; Neh 2:10; Neh 7:65 (= Ezra 2:63) Neh 8:14; Neh 8:15; Neh 10:31; Neh 13:1; Neh 13:19; Neh 13:22; Neh 2:10; Neh 3:4; Neh 4:11; Neh 6:2; Neh 8:11; (מֵאֲשֶׁר) Eccl 5:4; Eccl 7:18 (with טוֺב: contrast Ruth 2:22) vRuth 2:22 vRuth 2:29; Ruth 8:12; Ruth 8:14; Ruth 9:1; Dan 1:8 (twice in verse). (γ) prefixed to a direct citation, like כִּי q. v. (= ὅτι recitativum) (rare) 1Sam 15:20; 2Sam 1:4; 2Sam 2:4 (see Dr) Ps 10:6 (probably), Neh 4:6.
  b. it is resolvable into so that: Gen 11:7 אֲשֶׁר לֹא יִשְׁמְעוּ so that they understand not, etc., Gen 13:16; Gen 22:14 אֲשֶׁר יֵאָמֵר so that it is said, Exod 20:26; Deut 4:10; Deut 4:40 אֲשֶׁר יִיטַב לְךָ Deut 6:3; Deut 28:27; Deut 28:51; 1Kgs 3:12; 1Kgs 3:13; 2Kgs 9:37; Mal 3:19.
  c. it has a causal force, forasmuch as, in that, since: Gen 30:18; Gen 31:49 and Mizpah, אֲשֶׁר אָמַר for that he said, Gen 34:13; Gen 34:27; Gen 42:21 we are guilty, אֲשֶׁר רָאִינוּ we who saw (or, in that we saw), Num 20:13 Meribah, because they strove there, Deut 3:24; Josh 4:7; Josh 4:23; Josh 22:31; Judg 9:17; 1Sam 2:23; 1Sam 15:15; 1Sam 20:42 go in peace, אֲשֶׁר נִשְׁבַּעְנוּ forasmuch as we have sworn, 1Sam 25:26 thou whom (= or, seeing that) ׳י hath withholden, 2Sam 2:5 blessed are ye of ׳י, אֲשֶׁר עֲשִׂיתֶם, who (οἵτινες) have done (or in that ye have done), 1Kgs 3:19; 1Kgs 15:5; 2Kgs 12:3; 2Kgs 17:4; 2Kgs 23:26; (Hi De Now). Here also belongs its use in אֲשֶׁר לָמָּה since why . . . ? (= lest) Dan 1:10: see below לָמָּה. On אֲשֶׁר עַל כֵּן forasmuch as Job 34:27 see below כִּי עַל כֵּן.
  d. it expresses a condition (rare & peculiar): Lev 4:22 אֲשֶׁר נָשִׂיא יֶחֱטָא in (case) that = when (or if) a ruler sinneth (Lev 4:3 vLev 4:13 vLev 4:37 אִם), Num 5:29 (explained differently by Ew§ 334 a), Deut 11:27 and the blessing אֲשֶׁר תִּשְׁמְעוּ if ye hearken (Deut 11:28 אִם), Deut 18:22 Ges, Josh 4:21 אֲשֶׁר יִשְׁאָלוּן ֗֗֗ when they ask . . ., then . . . (Josh 4:6 כִּי), Isa 31:4. In 1Kgs 8:33 (|| 2Chr 6:24 כִּי, compare Kings v2Chr 6:35 v2Chr 6:37) אֲשֶׁר may be rendered indifferently because or when. Once, similarly, אֵת אֲשֶׁר 1Kgs 8:31 (|| אִם).
  e. perhaps (exceptionally) = כַּאֲשֶׁר, as, Jer 33:22; Isa 54:9 (followed by כֵּן; but כֵּן q. v. sometimes stands without כאשׁר, & אשׁר may in these passages connect with what precedes); according to some also Jer 48:8; Ps 106:34 (in a connection where כַּאֲשֶׁר would be more usual: אֲשֶׁר may however be the object of אָמַר). In 1Sam 16:7 אֲשֶׁר יִרְאֶה הָאָדָם read כַּאֲשֶׁר, see Dr. feminine combined with prepositions, אֲשֶׁר converts them into conjunctions: see below, בַּאֲשֶׁר, כַּאֲשֶׁר, מֵאֲשֶׁר. On its use similarly with (אַחֲרֵי) אַחַר, מִבְּלִי, בַּעֲבוּר, עַל דְּבַר, יַעַן, לְמַעַן, כְּפִי, עַד, עַל, עֵקֶב, מִפְּנֵי, תַּחַת, see these words. — הַאֲשֶׁר, with ה interrogative, occurs once, 2Kgs 6:22. In Deut 15:14 also read כַּאֲשֶׁר: note ברכך before.

Note 1. אֲשֶׁר being a connecting link, without any perfectly corresponding equivalent in English, its force is not unfrequently capable of being represented in more than one way. See e.g. 2Sam 2:5 (above 8 c), Isa 28:12 unto whom he said, or for that he said to them.

Note 2. The opinion that אֲשֶׁר has an asseverative force (like כִּי, q. v.), or introduces the apodosis, is not probably, being both alien to its general usage & not required by the passages alleged. Render Isa 8:20 either 'Surely according to this word will those speak who have no dawn,' or '. . . will they speak when (compare above 8 d Deut 11:27; Josh 4:21) they have no dawn.'


BDB845 H834

BDB844 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB846

בַּאֲשֶׁר 19
  a. in (that) which . . . Isa 56:4; Isa 65:12; Isa 66:4 (above 1); Eccl 3:9 in (that, in) which (4 c); Isa 47:12 (see 2). b. adverb in (the place) where: above 4 b (γ). c. conjunction in that, inasmuch as, Gen 39:9; Gen 39:23; Eccl 7:2; Eccl 8:4 compare .
  d. Jonah 1:8 בַּאֲשֶׁר לְמִי on account of whom ? (בַּאֲשֶׁר לְ on account of, framed on model of Aramaic בְּדִיל: see below שֶׁל).


כַּאֲשֶׁר see below כְּ.


BDB846 H834

BDB845 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB847

מֵאֲשֶׁר17
  a. from (or than) that which (him, them, etc., that . . .) Gen 3:11; Exod 29:27 (twice in verse); Num 6:11 (see Lev 4:26; Josh 10:11; Judg 16:30; Isa 47:13 +; than that . . . Eccl 3:22 לְבַד מֵאֲשֶׁר Esth 4:11. b. adverb from (the place) where: above 4 a (β). c. conjunction from (the fact) that . . ., since Isa 43:4.


BDB9440 H1768 H2088 H834

BDB9439 | BIBLICAL ARAMAIC | BDB9441

דִּי particle of relation, who, which, that, used also as mark of genitive and conjunction that, because (Aramaic of Nineveh, Babylonian, Zinjirli, Nerab, Cilicia, Têma, Egypt, ןי (Lzb267. 446 RES361 S-CPap. A 2 +); Nabataean, Palmyrene די; ᵑ7 דְּ (except in compounds, as דִּילִי mine, דִּילֵיהּ his); Samaritan ; Syriac ; Ethiopic za: of same origin as Arabic possessor of [compare below Biblical Hebrew זֶה]. Properly a demonstrative that [compare זֶה; in Ethiopic ze is 'this', za 'which']; but this being referred by usage to something preceding becomes equivalent to the relative who, which, used, however, more widely than Hebrew אֲשֶׁר); —

1. as rel. who, which (construed like אֲשֶׁר): a. Jer 10:11; Dan 2:11 דִּי מְדָֽרְהוֺן whose dwelling, vDan 2:24 דִּי מַנִּי מַלְבָּא whom the king had appointed, vDan 2:26 ׳דִּי שְׁמֵהּ בּ whose name was B., Dan 4:5; Dan 5:12; Dan 5:23, etc.; = that which Dan 2:23 = him that Ezra 7:25; Ezra 6:15; Dan 7:17 דִּת אִנוּן אַרְבַּע which are four (see אִנּוּן). Following pronoun of 2 person (compare אֲשֶׁר 3), Dan 2:37 thou, O king ..., דִּי ֗֗֗ יְהַב לָח to whom... hath given, Dan 4:19; Dan 4:6 as to whom I know, etc. (compare אֲשֶׁר 4 d end). Sq. תַּמָּה = where Ezra 6:1, so דִּי alone Ezra 6:3; Dan 2:38 of time, בְּעִדָּנָא דִּי at the time when, etc., Dan 3:5; Dan 3:15. With the predicate an infinitive with לְ, Dan 6:9 כְּתָבָא דִּי לָא לְהַשְׁנָיָה which is not to be changed, Ezra 6:8 a place- or other determination, Dan 3:20 valiant men בְחֵילֵהּ that were in his army, Dan 5:2 הֵיכְלָא דִּי בִירוּשְׁלֵב, Dan 7:20; Ezra 4:24; Ezra 5:6; Ezra 6:2; Ezra 6:6 compare Dan 2:25; Dan 5:13; Dan 7:7; Ezra 7:23. דִּי לָא = without, Ezra 6:9; Ezra 7:22 (so דְּלָא ᵑ7 Gen 15:2; Exod 21:11); compare Dan 2:34; Dan 2:45.
  b. מָן דִּי, מָה דִּי (compare in late Hebrew ׳מַהשֶּֿׁ, מַה 1 e b) whoever, whatever, so Dan 3:6; Dan 3:11 יִפֵּל ָ(מןדִּֿילָֿא whoever does not fall down, Dan 4:14 לְמָן דִּי יִצְבֵּא to whomsoever he willeth, v.Dan 4:22 v.Dan 4:29; Dan 5:21 מָה דִי whatever (or simply what), Dan 2:28 מָה דִּי לֶהֱוֵא what will be, vDan 2:29 vDan 2:29 vDan 2:45; Ezra 6:8; Ezra 7:18. — compare K§ 103.
2. as mark of the genitive, Dan 2:15 שׁליטא די מלכא properly the captain, that of the king = the king's captain (a genuine Aramaic idiom: so ᵑ7 דְּ, Syriac constantly), vDan 2:19 vDan 2:25 vDan 2:49 + often: the substantive in such cases may be either in the emphatic state (determined), as ll. cc. Ezra 4:15; Ezra 5:2, etc., or in the absolute state (undetermined), Dan 5:5; Dan 7:4; Dan 7:9; Dan 7:10 נְהַר דִּי נוּר; or it may have a pleonastic suffix, Dan 2:20 שְׁמֵהּ דִּי אֱלָהָא literally his name, that of God = God's name, vDan 2:44; Dan 3:8; Dan 3:25; Dan 3:26; Dan 4:23, etc. (so also ᵑ7 Syriac). To circumscribe an adjective, especially in specification of the material: Dan 2:38 thou art רֵאשָׁה דִּי דַהֲבָא the head of gold, vDan 2:39; Dan 3:1; Dan 5:7; Dan 5:16; Ezra 5:14; Ezra 6:4 +; as predicate Dan 2:32 רֵאשֵׁהּ דִּידְֿהַב טָב his head (was) of fine gold, vDan 2:33; Dan 7:19 with a pronoun Dan 2:20 wisdom and might דִּילֵֿהּ הִיא are his; compare Dan 6:27 וּמַלְכוּתֵהּ דִּילָֿא תִתְחַבַּל his kingdom (is one) which shall not be destroyed, Dan 7:14. — See further K§ 81.
3. as conjunction (compare אֲשֶׁר 8):
  a. that (quod), after verbs of knowing, Dan 2:8; Dan 2:9, seeing Dan 2:45; Dan 3:27, hearing Dan 5:14, etc.; introducing the subject of a sentence, יְדִיעַ ֗֗֗ דִּי ֗֗֗ Dan 3:18; Ezra 4:13; Dan 2:47 מִןקְֿשֹׁט דִּי ֗֗֗ True is it that . . . (compare אָמְנָם כִּי Job 12:2).
  b. = in that, inasmuch as, whereas: Dan 2:41 and whereas (דִּי) thou sawest, etc. . . . it shall be adivided kingdom, vDan 2:43; Dan 4:20; Dan 4:23 as a connecting link$ = seeing that, because, for (compare אֲשֶׁר 8 c) Dan 2:9; Dan 2:20b; Dan 2:23b; Dan 2:47b; Dan 4:15; Dan 6:24b.
  c. that (ut), after verbs of asking Dan 2:16, commanding Dan 3:10; Dan 3:29, expressing a purpose Dan 4:3; Dan 5:15; Ezra 4:15; Ezra 6:10 +; דִּי לָא that not (ne) Dan 2:18; Dan 3:28; Dan 6:18 (on דִּי לְמָה lest Ezra 7:23, see מה).
  d. prefixed to direct narr. (like כִּי 1 b, and sometimes אֲשֶׁר 8 a γ, and ὅτι recitativum), Dan 2:25 and said thus unto him דִּיהַֿשְׁכַּחַת (that) I have found, etc., Dan 5:7; Dan 6:6; Dan 6:14.
4. with prepositions and other prefixes:
  a. כְּ דִי (like Hebrew כַּאֲשֶׁר; so Egyptian Aramaic כזי, Palmyrene, Nabataean כדי, Lzb293 SACG1 62, 63 Cooke369 b RES:361; ᵑ7 כַּד, Syriac ); a according as, Dan 2:43 b. so soon as, when, Dan 3:7; Dan 5:20; Dan 6:11; Dan 6:15.
  b. מִןדִּֿי: a. because that, Dan 3:22; Ezra 5:12 (compare מֵאֲשֶׁר Isa 43:4); b. from (the time) that, after (ex quo), Dan 4:23; Ezra 4:23.
  c. עַד דִּי until, Dan 2:9; Dan 2:34; Dan 4:30; Dan 7:22 = ere that Dan 6:25.
  d. עַל דִּי Dan 3:19 is not a conjunction, but means above that which ...
  e. for עַל דִּבְרַת דִּי and כָּלקֳֿבֵל דִּי see [ דִּבְרָה] and קֳבֵל.

which, that, as, whom, who, …
ʾăšer
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
  • (relative part.)
    • which, who
    • "that which
    (conj)
    • that (in obj clause)
    • "when"since"as"conditional if

Breakdown unavailable for this word. Dictionary form: הוּא · hoo

Noun — masculine singular

In the KJV here: he
he ×367 it ×197 that ×161 in that ×95 and he ×89 she ×67 which ×62 this ×47
More options
he — Default rendering for masculine singular subject pronoun.
she — Use when grammatical/contextual gender is feminine.
it — Use for non-personal or abstract referents.
that — Demonstrative or relative use; points to something previously mentioned.
the same — Emphasizes identity or sameness of the referent.
this very — Adds emphasis or specificity; highlights the exact referent.

BDB2086 H1931

BDB2085 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB2087

הוּ Jer 29:23 Kt, see הוּא.


BDB2087 H1931 H1992 H2007

BDB2086 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB2088

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 (MI6; 27) and Phoenician (often) הא; Aramaic of Zinjirli הא, once הו (DHMInschr. von Sendschirli 55); ᵑ7 הוּא, הִיא Syriac , ; Arabic , (for h¥°a, h£°a, WSG 104); Ethiopic we°§t¥, ye°§t£; perhaps also Assyrian šû, šî, himself, herself suffix šu, ši; compare demonstrative šuatu, šiati (see KraeBAS. i. 383 & references, WSG 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 DeZKWL 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 : Dr1Sam 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 , § 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 נַחֲלָ˜תְךָ ׳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 GesThes Roo§ 563 DeIsa 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.


BDB9471 H1932 H1931

BDB9470 | BIBLICAL ARAMAIC | BDB9472

הוּא14 masculine הִיא7 feminine pronoun of 3 singular he, she, it (= Biblical Hebrew הוּא, הִיא; Zinjirli and Palmyrene (once) הא, Palmyrene (usually), Nabataean, Egyptian Aramaic הו, feminine ׳ה, Lzb257, S-CPap. A 1, 12+; A 4, C 9 +. The plural is אִנּוּן, q. v.); — he, she, it, Dan 2:21 וְהוּא מְהַשְׁנֵא ֗֗֗ and he will change, etc., vDan 2:22 vDan 2:44; Dan 6:5; Dan 7:7; Dan 7:24; Ezra 5:8; Dan 2:32 הוּא צַלְמָא that image (nom. pend. ['hanging' noun clause]); Dan 4:19 אַנְתָּה הוּא thou art it. Resuming the subject with emphatic (Biblical Hebrew 2 b) Dan 2:47; Dan 6:17 resuming the subject in predication (ib. 3 b) Dan 2:20 חָכְמְתָא וּגְבוּרְתָּא דִּילֵֿהּ הִיא it is his, vDan 2:28. Anticipating the subject (ib. 4 a) Dan 2:9 חֲדָא הִיא דָֽתְכוֺן; with a pronoun (ib. 4 b) Dan 2:38 אַנְתְּה הוּא ֗֗֗ thou art the head of gold Dan 5:13; Dan 3:15 מָן הוּא אֱלָהּ ֗֗֗ who is the god . . . ? (so plural אִנּוּן Ezra 5:4); Ezra 4:27 הֲלָא דָא הִיא ֗֗֗ (ib. 4 b γ); Ezra 6:27 דִּי הוּא ֗֗֗ who is . . . (ib. 2 c), Ezra 6:15 (so דִּי אִנוּן ֗֗֗ Dan 7:17). [compare in ᵑ7 Exod 14:25; Exod 15:11; 2Sam 20:19; 2Sam 24:17; Ps 43:2; Ps 63:4; Ps 66:3 +.] Affirming existence (Biblical Hebrew 6 b) Dan 4:21. compare Dr §§ 198-201, K§ 87, 3.

he, that, it, she, same, …
hûʾ
he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demonstrative) this or that; occasionally (instead of copula) as or are
  • (pron 3p s) he, she, it
    • himself (with emphasis)
    • "resuming subj with emphasis"(with minimum emphasis following predicate)"(anticipating subj)"(emphasising predicate)"that, it (neuter)
    (demons pron) that (with article)

עָמֵֽל
עָמֵֽל
Root word laboureth, misery, taken, takest, wicked, …
Dictionary form: עָמֵל · aw-MALE

Adjective — masculine singular, absolute state

In the KJV here: laboureth
had taken ×1 he hath laboured ×1 labour ×1 laboureth ×1 of the wicked ×1 takest ×1 that laboureth ×1 to him that is in misery ×1
More options
toil — Best general term; implies hard, exhausting effort.
laborer — Use when the word functions as a noun for a person.
work hard — Verbal use; plain and natural in modern prose.
struggle — Emphasizes hardship and difficulty over mere effort.
drudge — Highlights wearisome, thankless labor; slightly negative register.
wretch — Fits contexts of misery or wickedness; strong emotional weight.

BDB6139 H6001

BDB6138 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB6140

I. עָמֵל noun masculineProv 16:26 labourer, sufferer; — ׳ע Prov 16:26 + 2 t.; plural עֲמֵלִים Judg 5:26

1. labourer, workman: Judg 5:26; Prov 16:26.
2. sufferer, Job 3:20 (|| מָרֵי נֶפֶשׁ), Job 20:22.


BDB6140 H5998 H6001

BDB6139 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB6141

II. עָמֵל verbal adjective toiling, only Ecclesiastes, as predicate; — Eccl 2:18; Eccl 2:22; Eccl 3:9; Eccl 4:8; Eccl 9:9.

laboureth, misery, taken, takest, wicked, …
ʿāmēl
toiling; concretely, a laborer; figuratively, sorrowful
  • (n m) laborer, sufferer, wretched one
    • laborer, workman
    • "sufferer
    (adj v) toiling

The cantillation accents are the Masoretes' punctuation: each group below ends at a pausing accent. Translate a group as one unit.
מַה יִּתְרוֹן֙ Pashta — a lesser break הָֽעוֹשֶׂ֔ה Zaqef Qatan — a strong break בַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר Tipeha — a lesser break ה֥וּא עָמֵֽל Silluq — end of the verse

מַה-יִּתְרוֹן הָֽעוֹשֶׂה בַּאֲשֶׁר הוּא עָמֵֽל׃
9
What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth?
Cross References

Ecclesiastes 1:3

מַה-יִּתְרוֹן לָֽאָדָם בְּכָל-עֲמָלוֹ שֶֽׁיַּעֲמֹל תַּחַת הַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ׃
3
What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun?

Proverbs 14:23

בְּכָל-עֶצֶב יִהְיֶה מוֹתָר וּדְבַר-שְׂפָתַיִם אַךְ-לְמַחְסֽוֹר׃
23
In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.

Ecclesiastes 5:16

וְגַם-זֹה רָעָה חוֹלָה כָּל-עֻמַּת שֶׁבָּא כֵּן יֵלֵךְ וּמַה-יִּתְרוֹן לוֹ שֶֽׁיַּעֲמֹל לָרֽוּחַ׃
16
And this also is a sore evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go: and what profit hath he that hath laboured for the wind?

Matthew 16:26

τί γὰρ ὠφελεῖται ἄνθρωπος ἐὰν τὸν κόσμον ὅλον κερδήσῃ τὴν δὲ ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ ζημιωθῇ τί δώσει ἄνθρωπος ἀντάλλαγμα τῆς ψυχῆς αὐτοῦ
26
For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

Ecclesiastes 2:11

וּפָנִיתִֽי אֲנִי בְּכָל-מַעֲשַׂי שֶֽׁעָשׂוּ יָדַי וּבֶֽעָמָל שֶׁעָמַלְתִּי לַעֲשׂוֹת וְהִנֵּה הַכֹּל הֶבֶל וּרְעוּת רוּחַ וְאֵין יִתְרוֹן תַּחַת הַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ׃
11
Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.

Ecclesiastes 2:22

כִּי מֶֽה-הוֶֹה לָֽאָדָם בְּכָל-עֲמָלוֹ וּבְרַעְיוֹן לִבּוֹ שֶׁהוּא עָמֵל תַּחַת הַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ׃
22
For what hath man of all his labour, and of the vexation of his heart, wherein he hath laboured under the sun?