Exodus 4:11 — Hebrew Word by Word

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Word Parts

וַ יֹּ֨אמֶר

וַ

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

יֹּ֨אמֶר

Root word said, saying, saith, say, spake, …

Dictionary form: אָמַר · aw-MAHR

Vowels & Accents

וַ

Vav-consecutive (wayyiqtol) The וַ prefix — vav with patach plus a doubling dagesh in the next letter — flips this verb into story-telling past: translate "and (he) ___ed", not "will ___".

Hebrew Alephbet

Grammar C/Vqw3ms

Verb — Qal, Sequential Imperfect (Wayyiqtol), third person masculine singular simple action — "he did" story-telling past — try "and he ___ed" the built-in subject is "he (or it)"

וַ	Speech Conjunction
יֹּאמֶר	Speech Verb Stem Qal Type Sequential Imperfect (Wayyiqtol) Person Third Person Gender Masculine Number Singular

Verb Chart

Full verb chart

In English

In the KJV here: said

said ×947 saying ×718 and said ×688 saith ×527 and he said ×343 then said ×139 say ×122 and say ×119

More options

say — Most versatile; fits nearly any context or register.

declare — Emphasizes formal or authoritative pronouncement.

tell — Prefer when communication to an audience is stressed.

speak — Highlights the act of oral expression itself.

command — Use when the utterance carries directive force.

think — Fits internal or reflective speech contexts.

Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)

BDB557 H559

אָמַר₅₂₈₇ verb utter, say (MI, Phoenician אמר, Aramaic אֲמַר, Ethiopic I. 2 shew, declare, Arabic command; perhaps √ אמר originally = be or make prominent, hence Hithpa`el below, אָמִיר; Sabean אמר lofty, epithet of king JHMordtm^{ZMG 1876, 37}; compare Dl^{Pr 28} who thinks original meaning hell, sichtbar sein, whence Assyrian amâru, see, & shew, declare, say) — Qal Perfect ׳א Gen 3:1 +, etc.; Imperfect יאֹמַר Gen 31:8 +; וַיּאֹ֫מֶר Gen 1:3 +; וַיּאֹמַ֑ר Gen 14:19 +; in Job always וַיּאֹ֑מַר Job 3:2 +; 3 feminine singular תּאֹמַר Gen 21:12 +; תּאֹמֵר֑ Prov 1:21 1 singular אֹמַר Gen 22:2 +; אוֺמְרָה Ps 42:10 וָאֹמַר Gen 20:13 +; וָאוֺמַר Neh 2:7; Neh 2:17; Neh 2:20 3 masculine plural יאֹמְדוּ Exod 4:1 + etc.; suffix יֹמְרוּךָ Ps 139:20 2 masculine plural תֹּמְדוּ 2Sam 19:14 ( compare Kö^{i. p. 385}); Imperative (אֱמָרֿ) אֱמֹר Gen 45:17 +, etc.; Infinitive absolute אָמוֺר Exod 21:5 +; construct אֱמֹר Ezek 25:8 +; (הַ)אֲמֹר Job 34:18 but read הָאֹמֵר ᵐ5 ᵑ9 Di, or better הֶאָמֹר Infinitive absolute with ה interrogative compare Ew :§ 328 d; suffix אָמְרִי Josh 6:10 +; אֲמָרְכֶם Jer 23:38 אֱמָרְכֶם Mal 1:7 +; לֵאמֹר Gen 1:22 +, etc.; Participle active אֹמֵר Gen 32:10 +, etc.; passive הֶאָמוּר Mic 2:7, but this grammatically indefensible, read הֶאָמוֺר, Infinitive absolute with ה interrogative, see Dr^{Expositor, April, 1887, 263}.

1. Say (subject God Gen 3:1 + or man Gen 32:5, serpent Gen 3:1, ass Num 22:28, horse יאֹמַר הֶאָח Job 39:25 etc.; inanimate things, personified Job 28:14 compare vJob 28:22 etc.; so in allegory or fable Judg 9:8; 2Kgs 14:9 etc.; especially in narration, וַיּאֹמֶר etc., Gen 4:6 + very often): mostly followed by thing said, either substantive Jer 14:17 (c. clause app.) Deut 27:16f.; Judg 12:6 pronoun Gen 44:16; 2Kgs 20:14 +; or (usually) clause Gen 1:3; Gen 3:1; Gen 37:20 + often (oratio recta [direct speech]); with adverb thus, so Gen 32:5; Num 20:14; 1Kgs 20:3; 1Kgs 20:5 + often; especially ׳כֹּה אָמַר י Exod 5:1; Exod 7:17; Exod 8:1; Exod 8:20; 1Chr 17:4 + often; the person addressed usually introduced by אֶל Gen 3:1; Gen 15:7; Gen 22:7; Lev 21:1; 2Sam 3:7; 1Kgs 12:5; 1Kgs 12:23, or לְ Gen 3:13; Gen 4:15; 1Sam 20:2; 2Sam 2:21; 1Kgs 14:2 + often; rarer combinations are, בְּאָזְנֵי ׳א Isa 49:20 (compare Isa 5:9 & see דבר); לִפְנֵי ׳א Ezek 28:9 לְעֵינֵי ׳א Deut 31:7; Josh 10:12; Jer 28:11 בְּ ׳א Joel 2:17; Ps 126:2, where בְּ local; in all cases usually followed by direct object of words said, Exod 19:25 being very singular; Gen 4:8 the object-clause has probably fallen out, compare Vrss Di; = mention, name, designate Gen 22:2; Gen 22:3; Gen 43:27; Gen 43:29; Exod 32:13; Num 14:40; 1Sam 10:16; 1Sam 16:3; 2Sam 6:22; Neh 6:19 compare Ps 139:20 יֹמְרוּךָ לִמְזִמָּה speak of thee for falsehood (but many, as Hup Pe Dy Che, read יַמְרוּךָ); = tell, declare, proclaim, (followed by direct object only) Ps 40:11; Ezek 13:7 in reply to question = answer Exod 12:27; Josh 4:7; 1Kgs 9:9; Jer 5:19; Jer 22:9. The object spoken of may be referred to by אֶל 2Kgs 19:32; Jer 22:18; Jer 27:19, or לְ Gen 20:13 אִמְרִי לִֹי say of me, etc. Deut 33:9; Judg 9:54; Isa 5:20; Ps 3:3; Ps 71:10, very rarely by a simple accusative Isa 3:10 (where read probably for אִמְרוּ, אַשְׁרֵי), except after אֲשֶׁר where the words used follow (compare אֲשֶׁר 4 d) Gen 3:17; Num 10:29; Num 14:31; Deut 28:68; Judg 7:4; 1Sam 9:17; 1Sam 9:23b 1Kgs 8:29; Lam 4:20 compare Num 21:16; 2Kgs 17:12; 2Kgs 21:4, & (two extreme cases) Isa 8:12; Lam 2:15 (see Dr^{Sm i. 24, 5}); ֶהאָמוּר Mic 2:7 read infinitive absolute with ה interrogative הֶאָמוֺר (see above) shall one say ? shall it be said ? After another verb of saying, introducing thing said: Deut 21:7; Deut 25:9; Deut 27:15; Song 2:10 +, even after אמר Gen 22:7; Lev 21:1; Jer 34:2; Esth 7:5 +; especially infinitive לֵאמֹר, after דבר Gen 8:15, צוה Gen 2:16, ענה Gen 44:16, ברך Gen 1:22, נשׁבע Gen 24:7, נדר Gen 28:20, etc.; after אמר 2Sam 3:18; 1Kgs 12:23; Ruth 4:4; 1Chr 21:18 +; after שׁלח 2Chr 35:21, שׁוּב Gen 32:7 compare also Gen 28:6; Gen 9:5; Gen 13:8; Gen 17:4; Deut 13:7; Judg 8:15; 1Sam 23:2; 1Kgs 13:3; Jer 32:3; Jer 37:9 +; also when subject of לֵאמֹר differs from that of pre-ceding clause Gen 31:1; Gen 38:13; Gen 38:24 etc.; after שׁמע Isa 37:9 = 2Kgs 19:9.

2. Say in the heart (= think) בלבב ׳א Deut 8:17 compare 1Kgs 12:26; Ps 10:6; Ps 10:11; Ps 10:13; Ps 14:1; Ps 35:25; Isa 14:13; Isa 47:8; Isa 47:10; Isa 49:21; Eccl 2:1; Eccl 2:15; Eccl 3:17; Eccl 3:18 לִלְבָבָם ׳א Hos 7:2 אֶללִֿבּוֺ ׳א Gen 8:21 said unto his heart (to himself), subject ׳י, compare 1Sam 27:1 אָֽמְרָה נַפֲשִׁי Lam 3:24 thence ׳א alone Gen 20:11; Gen 26:9; Num 24:11; Ruth 4:4; 1Sam 20:26; 2Sam 5:6; 2Sam 12:22; 2Kgs 5:11 followed by clause with כִּי Judg 15:2 in particular = desire מַהתּֿאֹמַר נַפְשְׁךָ 1Sam 20:4 compare Esth 2:13 followed by infinitive = purpose, Exod 2:14 thinkest thou to kill me, as thou killedst the Egyptian ? Josh 22:33; 1Sam 30:6; 1Kgs 5:19; 2Chr 28:10; 2Chr 28:13 expect 2Sam 21:16 he expected to slay David 2Chr 13:8; 2Chr 32:1.

3. Promise (followed by infinitive) 1Chr 27:23; 2Chr 21:7; Esth 4:7 (id. + ל of person) 2Kgs 8:19; Neh 9:15 (followed by accusative of direct object + ל of person + infinitive of purpose) Neh 9:23.

4. Command (especially late) followed by אֶלֿ of per-son addressed, Num 15:38; 1Chr 21:18 followed by ל Josh 11:9; 2Sam 16:11; 2Kgs 4:24; Job 9:7; Ps 106:34 (see below אֲשֶׁר 8 e); followed by infinitive 1Sam 24:11; 1Chr 21:17; 2Chr 1:18; 2Chr 29:27; 2Chr 29:30; 2Chr 31:11; 2Chr 35:21; Esth 1:17; Esth 4:13; Esth 4:15; Esth 6:1; Esth 9:14 followed by infinitive + ל of pers, 2Chr 14:3; 2Chr 29:21; 2Chr 31:4; followed by accusative direct object 2Chr 29:24 the king commanded the burnt-offering and the sin-offering, compare 1Kgs 5:20; Esth 2:15 followed by clause with אשׁר = that Neh 13:19 id. + ל of person vNeh 13:22 followed by clause with כִּי Job 36:10 absolute 1Sam 16:16 (read however probably יאמרו for יאמר, compare Dr); also Ps 105:31; Ps 105:34; Ps 107:25; 1Chr 14:12; 2Chr 24:8; Neh 13:9; Neh 13:19 (all followed by verb consecutive); command by letter עִםהַֿסֵּפֶר ׳א Esth 9:25 (followed by imperfect); appoint, assign לוֺ ׳לֶחֶם א 1Kgs 11:18 = threaten followed by infinitive Deut 9:25; Ps 106:23. Niph`al Perfect נֶאֱמַר Dan 8:26 Imperfect יֵאָמֵר Gen 22:14 +; יֵאָ֫מֶר לוֺ Isa 4:3 יֵאָמַ֑ר Gen 10:9 +; וַיֵּאָמַ֑ר Josh 2:2 be said, told Gen 10:9; Gen 22:14; Ps 87:5; Jer 4:11; Jer 16:14 (all absolute, indefinite subject, of current saying); so said in a book Num 21:14 be related, told, of vision Dan 8:26 said, told to (followed by ל indirect object) Josh 2:2; Hos 2:1 (twice in verse); Zeph 3:16 either so, or told concerning Num 23:23; Ezek 13:12 (אֶלֿ); יֵאָמֵר לָכֶם = ye shall be called (it shall be said to you) Isa 61:6 (|| תִּקָּרְאוּ), compare Isa 4:3; Isa 19:18; Isa 32:5 (|| יִקָּרֵא ל) Isa 62:4 (twice in verse); hence be called, of Tophet לֹאיֵֿאָמֵר עוֺד הַתֹּפֶת Jer 7:32 subject שֵׁם Gen 32:29; Job 34:31 כִּי אֶלאֵֿל הֶאָמַר, Rabb (compare AV) treat הֵאָמַר as Niph`al Infinitive for לְהֵאָמֵר, but against grammar; the form as it stands is Qal Perfect, אֶלאֵֿל being prefixed to the interrogative for emphasis (compare Jer 22:15; Jer 23:26; Neh 13:27), see Dr^{§ 9} Di and others; Hoffm., however, reads הֵאָמֵר infinitive absolute = imperative 'so must one speak (it be spoken) to God.' Hiph`il Perfect avow, avouch Deut 26:17 הֶאֱמַרְתָּ הַיּוֺם לִהְיוֺת לְךָ לֵאלֹהִים ׳אֶתיֿ; vDeut 26:18 ׳וי הֶאֱמִירְךָ היום להיות לוֺ לְעַם (literally cause to declare, i.e. through agency of Moses; on this & other interpretations see Di). Hithpa`el Imperfect יִתְאַמְּרוּ Ps 94:4 subject כָּלפֹּֿעֲלֵי אָ֑וֶן act proudly, boast (|| יַבִּיעוּ יְדַבְּרוּ עָתָק probably also 2 masculine plural תִּתְיַמָּ֑רוּ Isa 61:6 (in good sense, followed by בְּ of thing gloried in) ᵑ6 ᵑ9 ᵑ7 & compare ᵐ5; Ges^Comm. so De Che Kö^{i. 457 f.} (from [ימר] exchange Thes Hi Kn Ew Di; but see ימר, מור).

BDB9309 H560 H559

אֲמַר₇₁ verb say, tell, command (Biblical Hebrew אָמַר); —

Pe Perfect 3 masculine singular ׳א Dan 2:12 +, אֲמַ֑ר Dan 7:1 3 feminine singular אֲמֶ֫רֶר Dan 5:10 (K^{§ 38, 1 a}); 1 singular אַמְרֵת Dan 4:5 1 plural אֲאַ֫רְנָא Dan 5:4; Dan 5:9, etc.; Imperfect 3 masculine singular יֵאמַר (K^{§ 41}) Dan 2:7 +; 2 masculine plural תֵּאמְרוּן Jer 10:11, etc.; Imperative masculine singular אֱמַר Jer 2:4 +; masculine plural אֱמַרוּ Jer 2:9 Infinitive לְמֵאמַר vJer 2:9, לְמֵמַ֑ר Ezra 5:11 (K^{§ 41 a}); Participle אְמַר Dan 2:5 + often, plural אָֽמְרִין Dan 3:4; Ezra 5:3 +; —

1. say (often in phrase answer and say): followed by oratio recta [direct speech] (only), Dan 2:7; Dan 2:10 + 13 t. Daniel; Ezra 5:11 + ל person Dan 2:5; Dan 3:14 + 14 t. Daniel [plural with indefinite subject for passive Dan 4:28], Ezra 5:15 + קְָדָס person Dan 2:9; Dan 5:17; Dan 6:13; Dan 6:14 + כֵּן Dan 4:11; Dan 7:23, כֵּן with ל person Ezra 5:8; Dan 2:24; Dan 2:25; Dan 6:7, compare Dan 7:5 + כְּנֵמָא with ל person Ezra 5:4; Ezra 5:9 + כִּדְנָךְ with ל person Jer 10:11 followed by accusative of thing + עַל person against whom Dan 3:29.

2. relate, tell: followed by accusative of thing Dan 4:6; Dan 4:15; Dan 7:1, + ל person Dan 2:4; Dan 2:9; Dan 2:7; Dan 7:16 (accusative of thing omitted), + קְָדָם person Dan 2:36; Dan 4:4; Dan 4:5.

3. command: followed by infinitive Dan 2:12; Dan 2:46 + 6 t. Daniel; followed by finite verb Dan 5:29; Dan 6:17; Dan 6:23 followed by ל person + or. rect. Dan 3:4 [pl. with indefinite subject, for passive, K^{§ 76 e}, so Dan 4:23].

Strong's Definition H559

said, saying, saith, say, spake, …

ʾāmar

to say (used with great latitude)

to say, speak, utter

(Qal) to say, to answer, to say in one's heart, to think, to command, to promise, to intend

Variations 175 forms of this word

Translations 575 English renderings

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Word Parts

יְהוָ֜ה

Root word a name — transliterate it ("And the lord")

Dictionary form: יְהֹוָה · yeh-hoh-WAW

Vowels & Accents

Hebrew Alephbet

Grammar Np

Noun — Proper Name

יְהוָה

Speech Noun Type Proper Name

In English

In the KJV here: and the lord

the lord ×2811 of the lord ×1522 and the lord ×457 unto the lord ×342 o lord ×222 am the lord ×158 lord ×67 to the lord ×60

More options

the LORD — Standard modern Bible convention; small-caps signal the divine name.

YHWH — Preserves the Hebrew tetragrammaton; used in scholarly translations.

Yahweh — Reconstructed pronunciation; preferred in academic and some modern versions.

the Lord — General rendering when small-caps convention is unavailable.

God — Use only where context clearly equates YHWH with generic deity.

the Eternal — Captures timeless-existence nuance; used in some progressive translations.

Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)

BDB2100 H3068 H3069 H1961 H430 H589 H2022 H6635

יהוה_{c. 6823} i.e. יַהְוֶה proper name, of deity Yahweh, the proper name of the God of Israel — (

1. ᵑ0 יְהוָֺה^C518 (Qr אֲדֹנָי), or יֱהוִֺה₃₀₅ (Qr אֱלֹהִים), in the combinations אדני יהוה & יהוה אדני (see אֲדֹנֶי), and with preposition בַּיהוָֺה, לַיהוָֺה, מֵיהוָֺה (Qr בַּאדֹנָי, לַאדֹנָי, מֵאדֹנָי), do not give the original form. ᵐ5 and other Vrss follow the Qr. On the basis of Exod 20:7; Lev 24:11 יהוה was regarded as a nomen ineffabile (see Philo^{de Vita Mosis iii. 519, 529}), called by the Jews הַשֵּׁם and by the Samaritans שׁימא. The pronunciation Jehovah was unknown until 1520, when it was introduced by Galatinus; but it was contested by Le Mercier, J. Drusius, and L. Capellus, as against grammatical and historical propriety (compare Bö^{§ 88}). The traditional Ἰαβέ of Theodoret and Epiphanius, the יָֿהוּ, יְהוֺֿ of compound proper name and the contracted form יָהּ all favour יַהְוֶךְ (compare יַהֲלֹמ֑וּן Ps 74:6 תַּהֲרוּ Isa 33:11), see Lag^{Sym i.14} Baud^{Studien i.179 ff.}; Dr^{Stud.Bib.i.1 ff.} For Jeve see Sta^{ZAW 1881, 346} De^{ib.1882, 173 f. & Gn. Excurs. ii.}

2. on literature of interpretations see Nes^Eg.67 Dr^{l.c. — Many recent scholars explain} יַהְוֶה as Hiph`il of היה (=היה) the one bringing into being, life-giver (compare חַוָּה Gen 3:20) Schr HSch; giver of existence, creator, Kue Tiele; he who brings to pass (so already Le Clerc),performer of his promises, Lag, Nes^Eg.88 (but Nes^{Eg.91 inclines to Qal as} RS^{Brit. & For. Ev. Rev} see below); or from היה he who causes to fall, rain or lightning RS^{OTJC.ed.1, 423; om.ed.2, 245}, compare We^{Skizzen iii.175}; 'Fäller,' destroying foes, Sta^G.i.429 (dubiously). But most take it as Qal of הוה (= היה); the one who is: i.e. the absolute and unchangeable one, Ri; the existing, ever living, as self-consistent and unchangeable, Di; or the one ever coming into manifestation as the God of redemption, De Oehl; compare also RS^{Brit. & For. Ev. Rev. 1876}, he will be it, i.e all that his servants look for (compare Ew^infr), he will approve himself (give evidence of being, assert his being Dr^l.c.17)).

**Theories of non-Hebrew or non-Semitic origin, opposed (in their older forms) by Bau^{Rel. i. 181 ff. (see especially 230)}; Dl^{Pa 162 ff.} claimed Babylonian origin for יהו, against this Kue^{national Religions, etc., Note iv (Eng. Trans. 329 ff.)} Jastr^{JBL xiil {1894}, 103 f.} compare Hpt^{BAS i. 170 N}; Dl^{Babel u. Bibel, 46 f., 73 f.} makes same claim for יהוה, against this see especially Hirsch^{ZAW xxiil {1903}, 355 ff.} Zim^{KATS. 465 ff.}; Spiegelb^{ZMG:liii {1899}, 633 ff.} proposes (improbable) Egyptian etymology for יהוה; further discussions see in Kö^{EB NAMES, § 112 and n.3}. 'Jehovah' found in Jacob (? Johannes) Wessel († 1480), according to Schw^{ThLZ, 1905, col. 612}.

I. יהוה is not used by E in Genesis, but is given Exod 3:12-15 as the name of the God who revealed Himself to Moses at Horeb, and is explained thus : אֶהְיֶה עִמָּ֑ךְ I shall be with thee (Exod 3:12), which is then implied in אֶהְיֶה אֲשֶׁר אֶהְיֶה I shall be the one who will be it vExod 3:14a (i.e: with thee vExod 3:12) and then compressed into אֶהְיֶה vExod 3:14b (i.e. with thee vExod 3:12), which then is given in the nominal form יהוה He who will be it vExod 3:15 (i.e. with thee vExod 3:12). compare Ew^{BTh ii. 337, 338} RS^{l.c., Proph. 385 ff.} Other interpretations are: I am he who I am, i.e. it is no concern of yours (Le Clerc Lag^{Psalt.Hieron.156}); I am (this is my name), inasmuch as I am (אֲשֶׁר = כִּי; AE JDMich We^JD Th xxi, 540 = compare Hexateuch 72); Di and others I am who I am, he who is essentially unnameable, inexplicable, — E uses יהוה sparingly by the side of אלהים and האלהים in his subsequent narrative. The Ephraimitic writers in Judges Samuel Kings use it in similar proportions. P abstains from the use of יהוה until he gives an account of its revelation to Moses Exod 6:3 but subsequently uses it freely. He gives no explanation of its meaning. He represents that אֵל שַׁדַּי was the God of the patriarchs. J uses יהוה from the beginning of his narrative, possibly explaining it, Gen 21:83 by אל עולם, the evergreen tamarisk being a symbol of the ever-living God; compare De Gen 21:33. Elsewhere יהוה is the common divine name in pre-exilic writers, but in post-exilic writers gradually falls into disuse, and is supplanted by אלהים and אדני. In Job it is used 31 t. in prose parts, and Job 12:9 (a proverb); not elsewhere in the poem. Chronicles apart from his sources prefers אלהים and האלהים. Daniel uses יהוה only in chap. 9 (7 t.); Ecclesiastes not at all. In the Elohistic group of Psalm 42-83 it is used 39 t. (see אלהים) . It occurs as the name of Israel's God MI¹⁸. It is doubtful whether it was used by other branches of the Shemitic family, compare COT Gen 2:4b Dl^{Pa 158 ff.} Dr^{Stud. Bib. i. 7 ff}.

II. 1. יהוה is used with אלהים and suffixes, especially in D;
a. with אֱלֹהֶיךָ in the Ten Words Exod 20:2-12 (5 t.) = Deut 5:6-16 in the law of worship of J E, Exod 23:19; Exod 34:24; Exod 34:26 in D 234 t.; Josh 1:9; Josh 1:17; Josh 9:9; Josh 9:24 (D²); elsewhere Gen 27:20; Exod 15:26 (JE), Judg 6:26 Samuel & Kings 20 t.; 1Chr 11:2; 1Chr 22:11; 1Chr 22:12; 2Chr 9:8 (twice in verse); 2Chr 16:7; Isa 7:11; Isa 37:4 (twice in verse); Isa 41:13; Isa 43:3; Isa 51:15; Isa 55:5; Jer 40:2 + (3t.); Hos 12:10; Hos 13:4; Hos 14:2; Amos 9:15; Ps 81:11.
b. with אֱלֹהֵיכֶם in D 46 t.; D² 28 t.; H 15 t.; P 15 t.; elsewhere Exod 23:25 (E); Exod 8:24; Exod 10:8; Exod 10:16; Exod 10:17 (JE); Judg 6:10; 1Sam 12:12; 1Sam 12:14; 2Kgs 17:39; 2Kgs 23:21; 1Chr 22:18 + (10 t. Chronicles) Ps 76:12; Jer 13:16 + (5 t.) Ezek 20:5; Ezek 20:7; Ezek 20:19; Ezek 20:20; Joel 2:13 + (6 t.) Zech 6:15.
c. with אֱלֹהֵינוּ in D 23 t.; in D² 5 t.; Exod 8:6 (JE) Exod 3:18; Exod 5:3; Exod 8:22; Exod 8:23; Exod 10:25; Exod 10:26 (E) Judg 11:24; 1Sam 7:8; 1Kgs 8:57; 1Kgs 8:59; 1Kgs 8:61; 1Kgs 8:65; 2Kgs 18:22; 2Kgs 19:10 = Isa 36:7; Isa 37:20; 1Chr 13:2 + (15 t. Chronicles) Mic 4:5; Mic 7:17; Isa 26:13; Jer 3:22 + (17 t.) Ps 20:8; Ps 90:17 (?;Baer אֲדנָֹי); Ps 94:23; Ps 99:5; Ps 99:8; Ps 99:9 (twice in verse); Ps 105:7; Ps 106:47; Ps 113:5; Ps 122:9; Ps 123:2; Dan 9:10; Dan 9:13; Dan 9:14.
d. with אֱלֹהֵיהֶם Exod 10:7 (J) Exod 29:46 (twice in verse); Lev 26:44 (P) Judg 3:7; Judg 8:34; 1Sam 12:9; 1Kgs 9:9; 2Kgs 17:7; 2Kgs 17:9; 2Kgs 17:14; 2Kgs 17:16; 2Kgs 17:19; 2Kgs 18:12; 2Chr 31:6; 2Chr 33:17; 2Chr 34:33; Neh 9:3 (twice in verse); Neh 9:4; Jer 3:21; Jer 22:9; Jer 30:9; Jer 43:1 (twice in verse); Jer 50:4; Ezek 28:26; Ezek 34:30; Ezek 39:22; Ezek 39:28; Hos 1:7; Hos 3:5; Hos 7:10; Zeph 2:7; Hag 1:12 (twice in verse); Zech 9:16; Zech 10:6.
e. with אֱלֹהָיו Num 23:21 (E) Exod 32:11 (J) Lev 4:22 (P) Deut 17:19; Deut 18:7; 1Sam 30:6; 1Kgs 5:17; 1Kgs 11:4; 1Kgs 15:3; 1Kgs 15:4; 1Kgs 2:11; 1Kgs 16:2; 1Kgs 2:1 + 13 t. Chronicles; Mic 5:3; Jer 7:28; Ps 33:12; Ps 144:15; Ps 146:5; Jonah 2:2. feminine with אֱלֹהַי Num 22:18 (JE) Deut 4:5; Deut 18:16; Deut 26:14; Josh 14:8; Josh 14:9; 2Sam 24:24; 1Kgs 3:7; 1Kgs 5:18; 1Kgs 5:19; 1Kgs 8:28; 1Kgs 17:20; 1Kgs 17:21; 1Chr 21:17; 1Chr 22:7; 2Chr 2:3; 2Chr 6:19; 2Chr 9:5; Ps 7:2; Ps 7:4; Ps 13:4; Ps 18:29; Ps 30:3; Ps 30:13; Ps 35:24; Ps 40:6; Ps 104:1; Ps 109:26; Isa 25:1; Jer 31:18; Dan 9:4; Dan 9:20; Jonah 2:7; Hab 1:12; Zech 11:4; Zech 13:9; Zech 14:5.
g. with אֱלֹהַיִךְ Isa 60:9; Jer 2:17; Jer 2:19; Jer 3:13; Mic 7:10; Zeph 3:17.
h. with אלהים, probably always due to later editors, or to a Qr which has crept into the text Gen 2:4b — Gen 3:23 (J, 20 t. either אלהים inserted by R^P as Di De; or יהוה inserted by J in an older source); Exod 9:30 (J, but not in ᵐ5 ⅏; Samaritan אדני יהוה; possibly ᵑ0 from earlier Qr, & ⅏ from later Qr); 2Sam 7:22; 2Sam 7:25 (ᵐ5 אדני יהוה and 1Chr 17:20-23 only יהוה); 1Chr 17:16; 1Chr 17:17 (but 2Sam 7:18; 2Sam 7:19 אדני יהוה) 1Chr 28:20; 1Chr 29:1; 2Chr 1:9; 2Chr 6:41 (twice in verse); 2Chr 6:42; 2Chr 26:18 (but in the original Ps 132:8 stood יהוה (so ℌ), or else no divine name); Ps 72:18 (the late doxology) Ps 84:12 (but it makes the line too long); Jonah 4:6. For the combinations with other divine names see those names.

2. the phrase אֲנִי יהוה is noteworthy: —
a. after אמר either alone Exod 6:2; Exod 6:29 (P) or before relative and other clauses: Gen 28:13 (J) Gen 15:7 (R) Exod 6:6 (P) with אלהיכם Judg 6:10; Ezek 20:5.
b. after ידע כי (α) Exod 7:17; Exod 8:18; Exod 10:2 (J); Exod 7:5; Exod 14:4; Exod 14:18 (P); 1Kgs 20:13; 1Kgs 20:28; Jer 24:7; Ezek 6:7 + 48 t. Ezekiel; (β) with אלהיכם Exod 6:7; Exod 16:12; Deut 29:5 (P) Exod 20:20; Joel 4:17 (γ) with אלהיהם Exod 29:46 (P) Ezek 28:26; Ezek 34:30; Ezek 39:22; Ezek 39:28 (δ) before relative and other clauses Isa 45:3; Isa 49:23; Isa 49:26; Isa 60:16; Ezek 7:9; Ezek 17:24; Ezek 21:10; Ezek 22:22; Ezek 35:12; Ezek 36:36 (ε) with various forms of קדשׁ Exod 31:13 (P) Ezek 20:12; Ezek 37:28; Ezek 39:7 (ζ) with דברתי Ezek 5:13; Ezek 17:21, compare ׳יֵדְעוּ אשׁר אני י Ezek 20:26.
c. after כִּי in various combinations Lev 11:44; Lev 11:45; Num 35:34 (P), Lev 20:7; Lev 20:26; Lev 21:8; Lev 21:15; Lev 21:23; Lev 22:16; Lev 24:22; Lev 25:17; Lev 26:1; Lev 26:44 (all H); Exod 15:26 (R) Isa 41:13; Isa 43:3; Isa 61:8; Jer 9:23; Ezek 12:25; Ezek 21:4; Zech 10:6; Mal 3:6.
d. emphatic Exod 6:8; Exod 12:12; Lev 26:2; Lev 26:45; Num 3:13; Num 3:41; Num 3:45 (all P); Lev 18:5; Lev 18:6; Lev 18:21; Lev 19:12; Lev 19:14; Lev 19:16; Lev 19:18; Lev 19:28; Lev 19:30; Lev 19:32; Lev 19:37; Lev 21:12; Lev 22:2; Lev 22:3; Lev 22:8; Lev 22:30; Lev 22:31; Lev 22:33 (all H) Isa 43:15 with אלהיהם Exod 29:46 with אלהיךָ Isa 48:17 with אלהיכם Lev 23:43; Lev 25:38; Lev 25:55; Num 10:10; Num 15:41 (twice in verse) (P) Lev 18:2; Lev 18:4; Lev 18:30; Lev 19:2; Lev 19:3; Lev 19:4; Lev 19:10; Lev 19:25; Lev 19:31; Lev 19:34; Lev 19:36; Lev 20:24; Lev 23:22; Lev 26:13 (all H) Ezek 20:7; Ezek 20:19; Joel 2:27 with מְקַדֵּשׁ Lev 20:8; Lev 22:9; Lev 22:32 (H), with דברתי Num 14:35 (P) Ezek 5:15 + (11 t. Ezekiel); with clauses Isa 27:3; Isa 41:4; Isa 41:17; Isa 42:6; Isa 42:8; Isa 45:5; Isa 45:6; Isa 45:7; Isa 45:8; Isa 45:18; Isa 45:19; Isa 45:21; Isa 60:22; Jer 17:10; Jer 32:27; Ezek 14:4; Ezek 14:7; Ezek 14:9; Ezek 34:24 אָנֹכִי יהוה is used in the Ten Words Exod 20:2; Exod 20:5 = Deut 5:6; Deut 5:9 cited Ps 81:11; Hos 12:10; Hos 13:4 elsewhere only Exod 4:11 (J) Isa 43:11; Isa 44:24; Isa 51:15.

3. יהוה is also used with several predicates, to form sacred names of holy places of Yahweh יהוה יראה Gen 22:14 (J); יהוה נסי Exod 17:15 (E) יהוה שׁלים Judg 6:24 יהוה צדקנו Jer 33:16 (compare Jer 23:6 where it is applied to the Messiah); יהוה שָׁ֑מָּה Ezek 48:35. — On combinations such as ׳הַר י, צְבָאוֺת ׳י etc., see הַר, צָבָא, etc.

Note. — Bonk^{ZAW 1891, 126 ff.} seems to shew that as prefix, in compare proper name, יְהוֺ is the oldest and the latest form and that יוֺ is intermediate, belonging to the earlier post-exilic period until the time of Chronicles; occasional copyists' mistakes being taken into the account.

BDB3475 H3068

׳יְהוֺ proper name compounded with, see below יהוה above.

BDB3483 H3068 H3069

יהוה proper name, of deity, see below הוה.

BDB3489 H3068 H3097

׳יו = ׳יְהוֺ proper name compounded with, see below יהוה above: — namely יוֺאָב, יוֺאָח, יוֺאָחָז, יוֺאֵל, יוֺאָשׁ, יוֺיָכִין, יוֺיָקִים, יוֺיָרִיב, יוֺעֵד, יוֺעָשׁ, יוֺקִים, יוֺרָם, יוֺתָם, etc.

Strong's Definition H3068

lord, lords, god, jehovah, jehovah-jireh, …

yĕhōwâ

the existing One

(the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jeho-vah, Jewish national name of God

the proper name of the one true God

unpronounced except with the vowel pointings of H0136

Variations 44 forms of this word

Translations 243 English renderings

Yahweh Creator

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Word Parts

אֵלָ֗י ו

אֵלָ֗י

Preposition unto, to, into, upon, against, …

ו

Suffix — pronoun his / him / it

Dictionary form: אֵל · ale

Vowels & Accents

Hebrew Alephbet

Grammar R/Sp3ms

Preposition

אֵלָי	Speech Preposition
ו	Speech Suffix Type Pronominal Person Third Person Gender Masculine Number Singular

In English

In the KJV here: unto

unto ×2370 to ×907 into ×230 upon ×112 against ×104 and to ×103 in ×63 unto him ×58

More options

to — Default directional/dative preposition; broadest everyday use.

toward — Emphasizes movement or orientation in a direction.

into — Stress entry or transition; spatial or metaphorical penetration.

against — Adversarial or oppositional context; hostility or pressure.

upon — Contact or imposition on a surface or person.

concerning — Topical/referential; use when the sense is 'about' or 'regarding'.

Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)

BDB420 H413

אֶל (nearly always followed by Makkeph), in poetry אֱלֵי (compare עֲלֵי, עֲדֵי), but only in Job ( 1Sam 3:22; 1Sam 5:26; 1Sam 15:22; 1Sam 29:19), with suffix אֵלַי, אֵלֶיךָ, אֵלַיִךְ, etc. אֵלֵינוּ, אֲלֵיכֶם & (5 t.) אֲלֵכֶם, אֲלֵיהֶם & אֲלֵהֶם (both very often); once אֵלֵימוֺ Ps 2:5, אֲלֵיהֶן, once אֲלֵהֶן Exod 1:19 (Assyrian ilî, Arabic ), preposition denoting motion to or direction towards (whether physical or mental).

1. of motion to or unto a person or place Gen 2:19; Gen 2:22; Gen 3:19; Gen 8:9; Gen 14:22; Gen 16:9 etc., after every kind of verb expressing motion (בּוֺא, הָלַךְ, יָצָא etc.) So with נָתַן to give (though ל is here more common) Gen 21:14; Gen 35:4; Deut 13:2 +; מָכַר to sell Deut 37:36, etc. Metaph. Jer 2:19 וְלֹא פַחְדָּתִי אֵלַיִךְ and that my fear (cometh) not unto thee (compare Job 31:23). — Peculiarly Gen 6:16 אֶל אַמָּה unto the length of a cubit, etc. And metaphor in the phrase אֶלֿ(אֱלֵיֿ)גִּיל unto exultation Hos 9:11; Job 3:22. Once, exceptionally (si vera 1.) = even: Job 5:5 וְאֶלמִֿצִּגִּים יִקָּחֵהוּ and even out of thorns he taketh it. Sometimes pregnant, as Isa 66:17; Jer 41:7 זָנָה אֶל commit whoredom (by going) to Num 25:1; Ezek 16:26; Ezek 16:28; Ezek 16:29 דָּרֵשׁ אֶל seek (by resorting) to one (that is, for oracles) Deut 18:11; Isa 8:19; Isa 11:10 +; חָבַר אֶל join together (& come) unto Gen 14:3 הִשְׁכִּים אֶל rise early (and go) to Gen 19:27; Gen 24:11 הִבְרִיח אֶל made to kneel down at; Gen 47:18 תַּם אֶל i.e. has been made over to; פָּחַד אֶל to come in fear to Hos 3:5; Mic 7:17. Opposite is מִן, as מִןהַֿקָּצֶה אֶלהַֿקָּצֶה from end to end Exod 26:28 מִפֶּה אֶלפֶּֿה Ezra 9:11 (synonym 2Kgs 21:16 פֶּה לָפֶה). And of time (rare) מֵעֵת אֶלעֵֿת 1Chr 9:25 מִיּוֺם אֶליֿוֺם Num 30:15 (P) 1Chr 16:23 (in the || Ps 96:2 מִיּוֺם לְיוֺם).

2. Where the limit is actually entered, into, Gen 6:18 and thou shalt enter into the ark Gen 7:1; Gen 19:3; Gen 41:21; Gen 42:17 & so after verbs of throwing, casting, putting Gen 37:22 (הִשְׁלִיךְ) Gen 39:20 וַיִּתְּנֵהוּ אֶלבֵּֿית הַסֹּהַר put him into the prison house, Exod 28:30 (Lev 8:8) Deut 23:25 so after קָבַר to bury Gen 23:19; Gen 25:9; Gen 49:29 שָׂחַט to squeeze Gen 40:11 מָחָה to blot out Num 5:23, etc.; metaphor Gen 6:6 was pained into or unto his heart, שָׂם אֶללֵֿב, הֵשִׁיב to place, bring. into ( = lay to) heart Deut 4:39; 2Sam 19:20 and elsewhere In connection with a number or multitude into which something enters, in among: 1Sam 10:22 behold he had hid himself אֶלהַֿכֵּלִים in among the baggage, Jer 4:3 sow not אֶלקֹֿצִים in among thorns.

3. Of direction towards anything:
(a) of physical acts or states, as Gen 30:40 נָתַן פְּנֵי הַצּאֹן אֶל, Gen 39:7 נָשָׂא עֵינָיו אֶל, Exod 25:20; Num 6:26, נָשָׂא פָנָיו אֶל (2Kgs 9:32 differently), 2Kgs 24:1 שָׁת פָּנָיו אֶל, Josh 8:18; Ps 28:2; 1Kgs 8:29; 1Kgs 8:30 (to pray towards) v1Kgs 8:38 pregnantly חָרֵד אֶל to tremble (turning) to Gen 42:28, תָּמַהּ אֶל to, wonder (turning) towards Gen 43:33; Isa 13:8, פָּחַד אֶל Jer 36:16: without a verb פָּנִים אֶלפָּֿנִים face to face Gen 32:31 +; פֶּה אֶלפֶּֿה Num 12:8 כִּיאֵֿינֶנּוּ אֵלַי Gen 31:5 the face of Laban, that he is not toward me; ׳אֶלפֿ ׳עֵינֵי י the eyes of ׳י are towards . . . Ps 34:16 (compare Ps 33:18).
(b) with words such as אָמַרto say to Gen 3:1 + often, דִּבֶּר Gen 8:15 + often, קָרָא Gen 19:5, הִחְפַּלֵּל Gen 20:17 etc., שָׁמַע to hearken to Gen 16:11, הִלֵּל to praise to Gen 12:15 (compare Ezek 13:19 חִלֵּל אֶל to profane to), הִזְכִּיר Ezek 40:14.
(c) with words expressing the direction of the mind, as קִוָּה to wait Ps 27:14 +; יִחַל to hope Isa 51:5 נָשָׂא נֶפֶשׁ אֶל to lift up the soul (i.e. set the desire) towards Deut 24:15; Ps 25:1 שָׂם לֵב אֶל, שָׁת to set the heart (mind) to Exod 9:21 and elsewhere; לָמַד אֶל to accustom oneself to Jer 10:2 חָרֵד אֶל to shew fear towards 2Kgs 4:13; Gen 43:30; Deut 28:32 and thy eyes כָּלוֺת אֲלֵיהֶם failing (with longing) towards them, Lam 4:17; Isa 63:15; 2Sam 3:8; 1Kgs 14:13; Ps 40:6 alone, as predicate, directed or disposed towards, Gen 3:16; Gen 4:7; 2Kgs 6:11 who of ours is towards (i.e. favours) the king of Syria? Hos 3:3 וְגַםאֲֿנִי אֵלָֽיִח׃ Ezek 36:9; Hag 2:17; Jer 15:1 (אֵין נַפְשִׁי אֶל).

4. Where the motion or direction implied appears from the context to be of a hostile character, אֶל = against: Gen 4:8 אֶלהֶֿבֶל ׳וַיָּקָם קand Cain rose up against Abel (so 1Sam 24:8) 1Sam 22:12; Exod 14:5; Num 32:14 with נִקְבַּץ Josh 10:6, הָלַךְ Judg 1:10; Judg 20:30 with בָּא of calamity, etc., coming to or upon any one Gen 42:21; Judg 9:57; 1Sam 2:34; 1Kgs 14:10 +; Isa 2:4; Isa 3:8 their tongue and doings are ׳אֶליֿ Isa 32:6 (לְדַבֵּר אֶל) Hos 7:15 (compare Nah 1:9) Hos 12:5 וַיָּשַׂר אֶלמַֿלְאָךְ and he strove against the angel. Here also belongs in particular the phrase הִנְנִי אֶל ֗֗֗ Behold I am against (thee, you, etc.) Nah 2:14; Nah 3:5; Jer 21:13 (Jer 23:30-32 על) Jer 50:31; Jer 51:25; Ezek 13:8; Ezek 13:20; Ezek 21:8; Ezek 29:10; Ezek 30:22; Ezek 34:10; Ezek 35:3; Ezek 38:3; Ezek 39:1 (Ezek 5:8; Ezek 26:3; Ezek 28:22; Ezek 29:3 על: on Ezek 36:9 see above)

5. Unto sometimes acquires from the context the sense of in addition to, as Lev 18:18 thou shalt not take אִשָּׁה אֶל אֲחוֺתָהּ a woman to, in addition to, her sister, Josh 13:22 (|| Num 31:8 על); 1Sam 14:34 at eat אֶלהַֿחָם together with the blood (1Sam 14:32 & generally עַל); 1Kgs 10:7 הוֺסִיף אֶל (generally עַל); Jer 25:26; Ezek 7:26 שְׁמוּעָה אֶל שְׁמוּעָה || (עלׅ; Ezek 44:7; Lam 3:41 let us lift up לְבָבֵנוּ אֶלכַּֿפָּ֑יִם our hearts together with the hands (compare , Qor 4:2; W^{AG ii. § 51 c}).

6. Metaphor in regard to, concerning, on account of : thus הִתְאַבֵּל to mourn concerning 1Sam 15:35 הִנָּחֵם to repent as regards 2Sam 24:16 דָּרַשׁ to inquire 1Kgs 14:5 הִתְפַּלֵּל to pray with regard to 1Sam 1:27; 2Kgs 19:20 צָעַק to cry 2Kgs 8:3 (2Kgs 8:5 על); נֶעֳצַב be pained 1Sam 20:34 נִחַם to comfort 2Sam 10:2 more generally 1Kgs 16:13; 1Kgs 21:22 אֶלנֶֿפֶשׁ on account of, for the sake of, one's life 1Kgs 19:3; 2Kgs 7:7 (Gen 19:17 על). (עַל is more common in this sense.) And specially with verbs of saying, narrating, telling, etc. with regard to, as אָמַר Gen 20:2; Isa 29:22; Isa 37:21; Isa 37:33 +; דִּבֶּר 2Sam 7:19; Jer 40:16 b; סִפֵּר Ps 2:7; Ps 69:27 צִוָּה Isa 23:11 שָׁמַע Ezek 19:4 הַשְּׁמוּעָה אֶל the report regarding. . . 1Sam 4:19. (Not frequently, ext. in the case of אָמַר.)

7. Of rule or standard, according to (rare): אֶלפִּֿי ֗֗֗ according to the command of, Josh 15:13; Josh 17:4; Josh 21:3 (generally עַלפִּֿי); אֶלנָֿבוֺן according to what is fixed = of a certainty 1Sam 23:23; 1Sam 26:4 (see Dr): perhaps Ps 5:1; Ps 80:1 (Ps 45:1 עַל).

8. Expressing presence at a spot, against; at, by, not merely after verbs expressing or implying motion (compare 1, Gen 24:11), as Josh 11:5 and they came and encamped together אֶלמֵֿי מֵרוֺם at the waters of Merom, 1Sam 5:4 cut off (and fallen) on to the threshold, 2Sam 2:23 and elsewhere and smote him אֶלהַֿחֹמֶשׁ in or on the belly, Deut 33:28; Exod 29:12; Lev 4:7 but also in other cases, as Josh 5:3 and he circumcised the Israelites אֶל against, at the hill of the foreskins, Josh 22:11 have built an altar אֶל גְּלִילוֺת הַיַּרְדֵּן by the districts of Jordan, Judg 12:6 & 2Sam 18:4 אֶליַֿד at the side of (elsewhere לְיַד, עַל יַד), 1Kgs 13:20 as they were sitting אֶלהַֿשֻּׁלְחָן at the table, 2Kgs 11:14 אֶלהַֿמֶּלֶךְ by the king, Jer 41:12 and found him by the great waters, etc., Jer 46:10 אֶלנְֿהַר פְּרָת by the Euphrates, Ezek 3:15; Ezek 11:11; Ezek 17:8; Ezek 31:7; Ezek 40:18; Ezek 43:3; Ezek 47:7; Ezek 48:12.

9. Prefixed to other preps. it combines with them the idea of motion or direction to: thus אֶלאַֿחֲרֵי 2Sam 5:23; 2Kgs 9:18; 2Kgs 9:19 סֹב אֶלאַֿחֲרַי turn to behind me, Zech 6:5 (where אֶל is pleonastic, probably due to clerical error; note יצא אל before & after); אֶלבֵּֿין in between Ezek 31:10; Ezek 31:14 אֵלבֵּֿינוֺת similarly Ezek 10:2 ׳אֶלמִֿבֵּית לְ to (the part) within (see below בַּיִת), in within Lev 16:15; 2Kgs 11:15 || have her forth in within the ranks; אֶלמֿוּל see מוּל; ׳אֶלמִֿנֶּגֶב לְ unto the south of Josh 15:3 ׳אֶלמִֿחוּץ לְ to the outside of Lev 4:12; Lev 4:21 +; אֶלנֹֿכַח to the front of Num 19:4 אֶלתַּֿחַת Judg 6:19; 1Kgs 8:6 and elsewhere (see below תַּחַת).

Note I. — In Gen 20:13 אֶלכָּֿלהַֿמָּקוֺם אֲשֶׁר נָבוֺא ׳שָׁמָּה אִמְרִילִֿי וג; Num 33:54 ׳אֶלאֲֿשֶׁר וג; Prov 17:8 (compare Deut 16:6); — אֶל appears to be used by a species of attraction; the idea of motion involved in the relative clause influencing illogically the beginning of the sentence and causing אֶל to be used instead of בְּ. In Deut 31:14 אֵלֵיהֶם, as pointed, can only be from אַיִל III or IV (q. v.); if the word be taken as the Pronoun with suffix (Hi Ke), אֲלֵיהֶם must be read.

Note 2. — There is a tendency in Hebrew, especially manifest in Samuel Kings Jeremiah Ezekiel, to use אֶל in the sense of עַל; sometimes אֶל being used exceptionally in a phrase or construction which regularly, and in accusative with analogy, has עַל; sometimes, the two prepositions interchanging, apparently without discrimination, in the same or parallel sentences. Thus
(a) Josh 5:14 וִיִּפֹּל אֶלפָּֿנָיו; 1Sam 13:13 אֶתמַֿמְלַכְתְּךָ אֶליִֿשְׂרָאֵל ׳הֵקִים י; 1Sam 14:34 (see below 5); 1Sam 17:3 עֹמְדִים אֶלהָֿהָר (contractee עַל Deut 11:29); Deut 19:16; 2Sam 6:3; 2Sam 20:23 (contracted 2Sam 8:16) 1Kgs 13:29; 1Kgs 18:46 (contracted 2Kgs 3:15 על) Jer 35:15; Ezek 7:18.
(b) Judg 6:37 and upon (עַל) all the earth let there be dryness, vJudg 6:39 let there be dryness on (אֶל) the fleece; 1Sam 14:10 come up עָלֵינוּ, v1Sam 14:12 come up אֵלֵינוּ; 1Sam 16; 1Sam 18:10 צָלַח אֶל, 1Sam 10:6 and elsewhere צָלַח עַל; 1Sam 25:17 evil is determined אֶלאֲֿדֹנֵינוּ וְעַל כָּלבֵּֿיתוֺ; v1Sam 25:25; 1Sam 27:10; 2Sam 2:9 וַיַּמְלִכֵהוּ אֶל וְ֗֗֗אֶל וְ֗֗֗אֶל וְ֗֗֗עַל וְ֗֗֗עַל וְ֗֗֗עַל; 2Sam 3:29 יָחֻלוּ עַל ֗֗֗ וְאֶל ֗֗֗ 2Kgs 8:3 & 5; 2Kgs 3; Jer 19:15; Jer 25:2; Jer 26:15 ye lay innocent blood עֲלֵיכֶם וְאֶלהָֿעִיר הַזּאֹת; Jer 27:19; Jer 28:8; Jer 33:14; Jer 34:7; Jer 36:31; Jer 37:13; Jer 37:14; Ezek 18:6; Ezek 18:11 & 15; Ezek 21:12 etc. Ps 79:6 (Jer 10:25 על twice). It is probably that this interchange, at least in many cases, is not original, but due to transcribers.

[Note]

Conversely, though not with the same frequency, עַל occurs where analogy would lead us to expect אֶל, or even in juxtaposition with אֶל, as 1Sam 1:10 הִתְפַּלֵּל עַל to pray to (1Sam 1:26 אֶל); v1Sam 1:13; 1Sam 25:25 אֶלעַ֗֗֗ל; 1Kgs 20:43 וַיֵּלֶךְ עַלבֵּֿיתוֺ (1Kgs 21:4 אֶל); Isa 22:15; Jer 11:2; Jer 23:35; Jer 31:12. compare Dr^{Sm i. 13, 13}; ii. 8, 7; 15, 4.

Strong's Definition H413

unto, to, into, upon, against, …

ʾēl

near, with or among; often in general, to

to, toward, unto (of motion)

in among

Variations 46 forms of this word

Translations 329 English renderings

Search every verse

Word Parts

מִ֣י

Particle turns the sentence into a question

Dictionary form: מִי · mee

Vowels & Accents

Hebrew Alephbet

Grammar Ti

Particle — Interrogative

מִי	Speech Particle Type Interrogative

In English

In the KJV here: him who

who ×209 and who ×30 whom ×29 what ×14 and what ×10 or who ×10 whose ×10 but who ×6

More options

who — Standard interrogative or relative; broadest usage.

whoever — Prefer for indefinite or universal reference (whosoever).

whom — Use in object position for formal or written registers.

whose — Use when indicating possession or attribution.

anyone who — Emphasizes indefinite, inclusive scope.

which one — Use when selecting among a defined set of options.

Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)

BDB4615 H4310

מִי₄₂₃ pronoun interrogative who? of persons, as מָה (q. v.) of things (Ethiopic but only = What ? and How ? Assyrian mî, me (rare) Jäger^{BAS. ii. 277}, the usual Semitic form for Who? has n, namely Assyrian mannu, manu (Dl^{HWB 419}), Ethiopic man¥, Aramaic Arabic , Vulgar Arabic min, m£n, from a form resembling which, by rejection of n, probably Hebrew מִי: W^{SG 123 f.}): — who ? (τίς; quis ?) Gen 3:11 הִגִּיד לְךָ מִי who told thee ? Gen 24:65 מִי הָאִישׁ הַלָּזֶה who is this man ? Gen 27:18 מי אתה בני who art thou, my son ? Num 22:9; Judg 1:1; Judg 6:29; Judg 15:6; Judg 18:3; Judg 20:18; 2Sam 1:8 + often; Ruth 3:9 מִי אָ֑תְּ who art thou, (feminine) ? Isa 51:12 of more than one, מִי אֵלָּה who are these ? Gen 33:5; Gen 48:8; Isa 60:8 מי אתם 2Kgs 10:13 once, more explicitly, מִי זָמִי הַהֹלְכִים Exod 10:8 = as who ? (i.e. in what condition, or capacity), Amos 7:2 יעקב מי יקום vAmos 7:5; Isa 51:19 מִי אֲנַחֲמֵךְ (but Vrss Che Lag Brd Du ׳מִי יְ, as || מִי יָנוּד), Ruth 3:16 (Be Ke Kö^{iii. 388}). Note in particular:
a. מִי is rarely used of things, and usually where persons are understood or implied: Gen 33:8 מי לך כלהֿמחנה הזה who (or what) to thee is all this camp ? Deut 4:7; Judg 9:28 שְׁכֶם מִי who is Shechem (i.e. the Shechemites) ? Mic 1:5 מִיפֶֿשַׁע יַעֲקֹב הֲלֹא שֹׁמְרוֺן, v^b Song 3:6; Judg 13:17 מִי שְׁמֶ֑ךָ ( but מה Gen 32:28; Exod 3:13: with מי compare מַן in Aramaic Ezra 5:4 Genesis, Exodus ll. cc. ᵑ7; and see Nö^{M. p. 341}). On 1Sam 18:18, see II. חַי
b. in the genitive, בַּתמִֿי אַתְּ whose daughter art thou ? Gen 24:23; Gen 24:47; 1Sam 12:3 (3 t. in verse); 1Sam 17:55; Jer 44:28; Job 26:4; Job 33:28 after various prepositions, as אַחֲרֵי מִי 1Sam 24:15 (twice in verse); אֶלמִֿי 1Sam 6:20; 2Kgs 9:5 +; בְּמִי by whom ? 1Kgs 20:14, לְמִי₂₀ to whom ? whose ? Gen 32:18 לְמִי אַתָּה, Gen 38:25; Prov 20:20 (6 t.) +; מִמִּי Ezek 32:19; Ps 27:1 (twice in verse); עַלמִֿי 2Kgs 18:20; 2Kgs 19:22; Isa 57:4 +; אֶתמִֿי (so always in accusative), 1Sam 12:3 (twice in verse); 1Sam 28:11; Isa 6:8 = with whom ? Job 12:3.
c. in an indirect question, as Gen 21:26; Gen 43:22 לא ידענו מי שׂם we do not know who put, etc., Deut 21:1; Ps 39:7; Josh 24:15 בַּחֲרוּ ֗֗֗ אֶתמִֿי תַעֲבֹד֑וּן choose whom ye will serve, after ראה 1Sam 14:17, שׁאל 1Sam 17:56, הגיד 1Kgs 1:20, הודיע v1Kgs 1:27.
d. ׳מי ב who among ... ? 1Sam 22:14; Isa 36:20; Isa 43:9; Isa 48:14 (בהם) Isa 42:23; Isa 50:10; Hag 2:3 ( all בכם); מי מן who of ... ? Judg 21:8; 2Kgs 6:11; Isa 50:1.
e. strengthened and emphatic forms of interrogative:
(a) מי זה (see זה 4 b), מי הוא (see הוא 4 b β), הוא זה מי Ps 24:10; Jer 30:21; Esth 7:5 (see ibid.);
(b) אֶחָד מִי what single one ... ? Judg 21:8, compare 2Sam 7:23 ( = 1Chr 17:21). feminine various rhetorical uses ( often repeated in || clause, as Ps 15:1; Ps 18:32; Isa 28:9; Isa 29:15): — (a) followed by imperfect it expresses a wish ( the question implying a desire that the person asked for were present ), 2Sam 15:4 מִי יְשִׂמֵנִי שֹׁפֵט who will set me judge ? i.e. would that some one would make me judge ! 2Sam 23:15 מִי יַשְׁקֵנִי מַיִם = O that one would give me to drink, etc. ! compare Num 11:4; Num 11:18; Mal 1:10; Ps 4:7; Ps 60:11; Ps 94:16; Isa 42:23, and very often in the phrase מִי יִתֵּן who will give? i.e. would that there were. . . ! as Num 11:29 נביאים ׳ומי יתן כל עם י = and would that all ׳י's people were prophets! Deut 28:67 מי יתן ערב = would it were even! Judg 9:29 + (see נָתַן). (b) it expresses contempt (who ? implying the answer no one at all), Exod 5:2 ׳אשׁר אשׁמע בקולו מי י who is ׳י that I should listen to his voice ? Judg 9:28 מִי אֲבִימֶלֶךְ וּמִי שְׁכֶם כִּי נַעַבְדֶנּוּ, vJudg 9:38; 1Sam 17:26 who is this Philistine that he should have reproached, etc.? 1Sam 25:10 מי דוד ומי בן ישׁי Isa 28:9; Job 26:4; Prov 30:9 ׳מי י; or modesty (real or assumed), Exod 3:11 מִי אָנֹכִי כִּי אֵלֵךְ אֶלפַּֿרְעֹה 1Sam 18:18 ומי חיי מי אנכי who am I, and who is my clan (חַיִּי), that I should be the king's son-in-law ? 2Sam 7:18; 1Chr 29:14; 2Chr 2:5 or surprise, Isa 44:10; Isa 49:21. (c) in impassioned prose, and especially in poetry, implying the answer few or none, it is equivalent to a rhetorical negative, Deut 9:2 מִי יִתְיַצֵּב לִפְנֵי בְנֵי עֲנָק who can stand, etc.? Deut 30:12 מִי יַעֲלֶהלָּֿנוּ הַשָּׁמַיְמָה vDeut 30:13; 1Sam 4:8 ׳מִי יַצִּילֵנוּ וג, 1Sam 6:20; 1Sam 22:14; 1Sam 26:9; 1Sam 26:15; 2Sam 16:10 מי יאמר who shall (or can) say ? Job 9:12; Prov 20:9; Eccl 8:4 with the perfect (of experience), who has ever . . . ? Num 23:10; Deut 5:23; Isa 36:20; Isa 66:8 (twice in verse); Jer 18:13 מִי שָׁמַע כָּאֵלֶּה, Jer 23:18 (ᵑ0), Jer 30:21; Job 4:7; Job 9:4 מִי הִקְשָׁה אֵלָיו וַיִּשְׁלָ֑ם, Job 41:3; Prov 30:4; Lam 3:37 in poetry, very often, as Gen 49:9 מִי יְקִימֶנּוּ וּכְלָבִיא who can rouse him up ? (i.e. no one), Exod 15:11 (twice in verse) מִי כָמוֺךָ (so Ps 35:10 and elsewhere), Num 24:9; Num 24:23; 1Sam 2:25 מי יתפלל לו who shall intercede for him ? (i.e. no one), Isa 1:12; Isa 10:3; Isa 40:13; Isa 40:14; Isa 40:18; Isa 41:26; Isa 42:19; Isa 43:9; Isa 48:14; Isa 50:1; Isa 53:1 מִי הֶאֱמִין לִשְׁמֻעָתֵנוּ (i.e. few or none), etc.; Ps 18:32 ׳מִי אֱלוֺהַּ מִבַּלְעֲדֵי י, Ps 76:8; Ps 89:7; Ps 130:3; Job 21:31; Job 34:29; Jer 17:9; Joel 2:11; Mal 3:2 מִי לֹא ֗֗֗ Amos 3:8; Jer 10:7; Job 12:9 (compare Job 25:3; Nah 3:19); (יְשִׁיבֶנָּה) מִי יְשִׁיבֶנּוּ who shall (can) turn it back ? Job 9:12; Job 11:10; Job 23:13; Isa 14:27; Isa 43:13; Jer 2:24 implying the answer, no one but God, Isa 40:12; Isa 41:2; Isa 35:6; Isa 35:25, etc.; defiantly, Isa 50:9 מִי הוּא יַרְשִׁיעֵנִי, Jer 21:13; Jer 49:4 מִי יָבוֺא אֵלַי, vJer 49:19; Obad 1:3; Ps 12:5 מִי אָדוֺן לָנוּ, Ps 59:8; Ps 64:6; Job 9:19 מִי יוֺעִידֵנִי וְאִם לְמִשְׁפָּט, Job 13:19 מִי הוּא יָרִיב עִמָּדִי who is he that will contend with me ? Job 17:3; Job 41:2. Notice in examples of this kind the frequent order of words: Prov 20:6 ואישׁ אמוּנים מי ימצא, Prov 24:22 יודע ופיד שׁניהם מי, Prov 31:10; Nah 1:6 לפני זעמו מי יעמד, Ps 147:17 קֹרָתוֺ מי יעמד לפני, Job 4:2 וַעְצֹר בְּמִלִּין מִי יוּכ֑ל, Job 26:14; Job 38:37; Job 39:5; Job 41:5; Job 41:6; Ps 6:6 בִּשְׁאוֺל מִי יוֺדֶהלָּֿ֑ךְ, Ps 19:13 and with the nom. pendens, Jer 2:24 תַּאֲנָתָהּ מִי יְשִׁיבֶנָּה, Prov 18:14; Job 17:15 וְתִקְוָתִי מִי יְשׁוּרֶנָּה, Job 38:29 וּכְפֹר שָׁמַיִם מִי יְלָדוֺ.
(d) מִי יוֺדֵעַ who knoweth ? (Ps 90:11; Prov 24:22), followed by a verbal clause, becomes (compare nescio an) = it may be, perchance, 2Sam 12:22 ׳מִי יוֺדֵעַ יְחָנֵּנִי י (Qr וְחַנַּנִי), Joel 2:14 ( = Jonah 3:9) מי יודע ישׁוב ונחם, Esth 4:14 יודע אם מי.
(e) especially in poetry, a question with מי, to which the answer follows, is an effective mode of affirming a fact, or introducing a description: Ps 15:1 (twice in verse) (see vPs 15:2); Ps 24:3; Ps 24:8; Ps 24:10; Isa 23:8 מי יעץ ׳זאת וג (Isa 23:9 the answ., יְעָצָהּ ׳צ ׳י), Isa 33:14 (see vIsa 33:15f.), Isa 37:23; Isa 41:2; Isa 41:4; Isa 60:8; Isa 63:1; Jer 46:7; Song 3:6, compare Song 6:10; Song 8:3 answered by הֲלֹא Exod 4:11; Isa 42:24; Isa 45:21; Mic 1:5 (twice in verse).
g. מִי may sometimes be rendered whosoever, though, as the examples will shew, it does not really mean it: Exod 24:14 מי בעל דברים יִגַּשׁ אליהם, literally Who hath a cause ? let him draw nigh unto them, i.e. whoso hath a cause, let him, etc., Isa 50:8b מִי בַעַל מִשְׁפָּטִי יִגַּשׁ אֵלַי, Isa 54:15; Judg 7:3 מִי יָרֵא וְחָרֵד יָשֹׁב ׳וג who is fearful and trembling ? let him return, Prov 9:4; Prov 9:16 מִיפֶֿ֖תִי יָסֻר הֵגָּה, Ezra 1:3 (compare with וְ in apodosis Jer 9:11; Hos 14:10; Ps 107:43; Zech 4:10 is dubious, on account of anomalous tense and construction); so with מי האישׁ אשׁר ֗֗֗ Deut 20:5; Deut 20:6; Deut 20:7; Judg 10:18, compare Ps 25:12. With 1 person in apodosis, Exod 32:33 חָטָא לִי אֶמְחֶגּוּ מִסִּפְרִי מִי אֲשֶׁר, Jer 49:19 ( = Jer 50:44) אֵלָיהָ אֶפְקֹד וּמִי בָחוּר and who is chosen? I will appoint him over her! Isa 50:8a; with an imperative in the apodosis Exod 32:24 (against accents; see Ra) התפרקו למי זהב who hath gold ? break it off you! Gen 19:12; 1Sam 11:12, compare Ps 34:13f.; without a verb, Exod 32:26 אלי ׳מי לי who is on J.'s side ? (let him come) to me! so 2Sam 20:11 (מי אשׁר); Eccl 5:9; Eccl 9:4 (מי אשׁר).
h. once, following a verb (compare מָה 3), any one, 2Sam 18:12 שִׁמְרוּמִֿי בַּנַּעַר באבשׁלום Have a care, whosoever ye be, of, etc. (but ᵐ5 ᵑ6 ᵑ9 Bu לִי; compare v2Sam 18:5).

BDB9669 H4479 H4310

מַן (so Gi, with most MSS., supported by Syriac , Arabic ; see K^{§ 22, 1}), מָן (Baer: see on Dan 3:6), interrogative pronoun who? (Old Aramaic, Nabataean, Palmyrene מן Lzb³¹² Cooke¹⁸⁸), ᵑ7 מן, Syriac , Ethiopic Arabic W^{CG 123:} Biblical Hebrew מִי); —

1. who? Ezra 5:3; Ezra 5:9 strengthened by הוּא, Dan 3:15 וּמַןהֿוּא אֱלָהּ דִּי who is the God who . . . ? (compare Syriac contracted from , and מַנּוּ in the Syriacizing ᵑ7 to Proverbs: also Biblical Hebrew מִי הוּא, הוּא 4 b β); so in the plural Ezra 5:4 מִןאִֿנוּן שְׁמָהָת what (literally who: compare מִי 1 a, and Gen 32:28; Exod 3:13 ᵑ7) are the names of . . .?

2. מַןדּֿי whosoever (literally who is there that . . .? see Biblical Hebrew מִי g) Dan 3:6; Dan 3:11 מִןדִּֿי לָא יִפֵּל, Dan 4:14 וּלְמִן דִּי יִצְבֵּא יִתְּנִנַּהּ to whomsoever he willeth, he giveth it, v.Dan 4:22 v.Dan 4:29; Dan 5:21 (so Nabataean מן די, Cooke^{241, 325 ff.}; ᵑ7 מַן דְּ; Syriac ; compare Egyptian Aramaic S-C^{Pap. K 7, 12} ולמן זי צבית תנתן).

Strong's Definition H4310

who, whom, what, whose, which, …

mî

who? (occasionally, by a peculiar idiom, of things); also (indefinitely) whoever; often used in oblique construction with prefix or suffix

who?, whose?, whom?, would that, whoever, whosoever

Variations 12 forms of this word

Translations 71 English renderings

Search every verse

Word Parts

שָׂ֣ם

Root word put, set, make, made, laid, …

Dictionary form: שׂוּם · soom

Vowels & Accents

Hebrew Alephbet

Grammar Vqp3ms

Verb — Qal, Perfect (Qatal), third person masculine singular simple action — "he did" completed action — try "he ___ed" or "he has ___ed" the built-in subject is "he (or it)"

שָׂם	Speech Verb Stem Qal Type Perfect (Qatal) Person Third Person Gender Masculine Number Singular

Verb Chart

Full verb chart

In English

In the KJV here: hath made

and put ×43 set ×31 put ×21 and set ×12 and he put ×11 and i will make ×8 and laid ×8 and made ×8

More options

place — Best default; concrete positioning of objects or people.

set — Slightly more formal; good for official or solemn contexts.

put — Everyday, neutral; modernizes the most common KJV rendering.

make — Prefer when the result is a transformation or appointment.

appoint — Best for roles, offices, or formal designations.

lay — Use for foundations, burdens, or things placed flat.

Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)

BDB8185 H7760 H5493 H7787

I. שׂוּם, שִׂים :582 verb put, place, set (compare Nö^{ZMG xxxvii (1883), 532}; Late Hebrew סוּס Pi`el designate, fix, שׂום Eccl 49:6 Phoenician שם, Assyrian šâmu. fix, determine; Sabean שׂים set, set up, SabDenkm^{No. 7, 1. 6} CIS^{iv. 1}; Arabic () is insert, sheathe, also compute; Ethiopic : put, place; ᵑ7 שׂוּם, Syriac Old Aramaic שים); —

Qal Perfect 3 masculine singular שָׂם Gen 21:14 + (2Chr 1:5 read שָׁם ᵐ5 ᵑ9 Gi Be Kau Benz), suffix שָׂמוֺ Ezek 17:4 +, שָׂמָ֫הוּ Ezek 7:20 3 feminine singular שָׂ֫מָה 1Sam 19:13, suffix שָׂמָ֫תְהוּ Ezek 19:5; Ezek 24:7 2 masculine singular שַׂמְתָּ Jer 32:20 +; 3 plural שָׂמוּ Gen 40:15 +; 1 plural שַׂמְנוּ Isa 28:15, etc.; Imperfect 3 masculine singular יָשׂוּם Exod 4:11, יָשִׂים Gen 30:42 +, יָשִׂם Job 23:6 jussive יָשֵׂם 1Sam 22:15 +; וַיָּשֶׂם Gen 2:8 +; suffix יְשִׂמֵנִי 2Sam 15:4, וַיְשִׂימְךָ 1Kgs 10:9 2 feminine singular וַתָּשִׂימִי Isa 51:23 וָאָשִׂים 1Sam 28:21 +, וָאָשִׂימָה Ezra 8:17; Judg 12:3 Qr (Kt ואישׂמה); 2 masculine plural תָּשִׂימוּ Gen 32:17 +, תְּשִׂימ֫וּן Exod 22:24 +, etc.; Imperative masculine singular שִׂים Gen 24:2 +, etc.; Infinitive absolute שׂוֺם Deut 17:15 +, construct שׂוּם Deut 45:7 +, שִׂים Job 20:4 + 2Sam 14:7 Qr (Kt שׂום), שׂימו Isa 10:6 Kt (Qr שׂוּמוֺ), etc.; Participle שָׂם Amos 7:8 +, feminine singular הַשָּׂמָ֫ה Isa 51:10 (so read for ᵑ0 הַשָּׂ֫מָה); plural שָׂמִים Mal 2:2 +; pass. שִׂים Num 24:21 (compare Di), Obad 1:4 feminine according to most שׂוּמָה 2Sam 13:22 (van d. H. שׂימה Kt), but see below; שִׂימָ֫ה Ps 56:9 Bae Buhl, but most Imperative masculine singular; — put, set (often || נָתַן 2, q. v.), with accusative of person or of thing (expressed or implied):

1. a. put, set, in a place, + שָׁם Gen 2:8 (J), + accusative of location Gen 28:11 (E) + 5 t.+, with 2 accusative + location, 2Kgs 10:8 heads (in) heaps at (accusative of location), compare Lev 24:6 (עַל); + ב Lev 40:15 (E), figurative of ׳י, put his name, ׳בִּירוּשׁ 2Kgs 21:47 = 2Chr 33:7, compare with שָׁם 1Kgs 9:3; Deut 12:5 + 6 t.; especially ב of receptacle Gen 31:34 (E), Exod 2:3 (E), Judg 6:19 + often; sackcloth on (ב) loins Gen 37:34 (J), 1Kgs 20:31, crown on head Zech 6:11; Esth 1:17, shoes on feet Ezek 24:17 hook, etc., in nose 1Kgs 19:28 = Isa 37:29; Job 40:26, incense בְּאַפֶּ֑ךָ Deut 33:10, i.e. cause thee (׳י) to smell it; feet in stocks (figurative) Job 13:27; Job 33:11 knife into throat Prov 23:2 (figurative of self-restraint, Fl in De); words into mouth Exod 4:15 (J), Num 22:38 (E) + 8 t., + Deut 31:19 teach to say or sing; into heart Job 22:22, insert also 1Sam 29:10 ᵐ5 Th We Dr Kit Bu HPS; trust in God Ps 78:7 (guilt of) blood into house Deut 22:8, compare Judg 9:24 (עַל person; so, with נָתַן Deut 21:8; Jer 26:15; Jonah 1:14); something into hand Exod 4:21 (E), of wonders, i.e. enable hand to do them; elsewhere = take, of hammer Judg 4:21, booty 1Kgs 20:6, so (figurative) take one's life (נֶפֶשׁ) into one's palm (i.e. risk it) Judg 12:3; 1Sam 19:5; 1Sam 28:21; Job 13:14 put eyes בַּפּוּךְ 2Kgs 9:30 (see פּוּךְ, compare Isa 54:11); נֶפֶשׁ ( = person), בַּחַיִּים Ps 66:9 (subject ׳י); set men at (the use of) implements 2Sam 12:31 (probably, compare Dr HPS; > ( ם) וַיָּשַׂ sawed them with, as || 1Chr 20:3, Th We); 1Kgs 2:5 (|| נתן) is dubious; ᵐ5^L Klo Kit read וַיִּקֹּם; charge something against (ב person; properly put in, i.e. attribute, impute, to) 1Sam 22:15; Job 4:18 so, with ל person Deut 22:14, compare (ל omitted) vDeut 22:17 put בְּקֶרֶב Amos 7:8; Isa 63:11, בְּתוֺךְ Ezek 26:12.
b. put something upon (עַל) Num 21:8; Num 21:9 (E) + often; jewels, clothes, on person Gen 24:17 (J), Gen 41:42 (E), Lev 8:8 (P), Ruth 3:3, turban Zech 3:5 (twice in verse); Exod 29:5 (P), Lev 8:9 (P), compare (preposition omitted) Job 24:15; Job 36:13 (figurative), girdle Jer 13:1; Jer 13:2, sackcloth 1Kgs 21:27 אָדָם עַלהָֿאָרֶץ ׳שׂ Job 20:4 (of man's creation); of siege and siege engines, עַל = against, Mic 4:14; Ezek 23:24 put, lay, upon (עַל), 2Kgs 4:29 +; hand Gen 48:18 (J) + 3 t., + upon mouth, in silence Judg 18:19; Job 21:5, and awe Mic 7:16, so with ל Job 29:9, לְמוֺ Job 40:4; Job 40:40, upon (עַל) head 2Sam 13:19 (in despair, compare Jer 2:37); accusative of disease Exod 15:26 (J), so (ב person) vExod 15:26; Deut 7:16 figurative, spirit (עַל) Num 11:17 (JE), name Num 6:27 (P), duty Job 37:15 (?), reproach 1Sam 11:2, רָעָה תַּחַת מוֺדָה Ps 109:5 (ᵑ6 Bae וַיָּשִׁיבוּ so, or וַיְשַׁלְּמוּ, Hup Che); עַל לֵב ׳שׂ Song 8:6 (simile), so, figurative, = remember, treasure up, Isa 42:25; Isa 47:7 (|| זָכַר), + 6 t., with אֶל 2Sam 13:33; 2Sam 19:20 (|| id.); with ב 1Sam 21:13 compare בְּאָזְנֵי ׳שׂ Exod 17:14 (E), impress upon.
c. put, lay, set, with ל, 2Kgs 11:16 lay (violent) hands on = 2Chr 23:15 put end to Job 18:2; Job 28:3 set לְמָרוֺם Job 5:11 render glory to Josh 7:19 (J E; || נָתַן), Isa 42:12 make covenant with 2Sam 23:5 set food for Gen 43:32 (J), 2Sam 12:20, preposition omitted Gen 43:31 (J), so, with לִפְנֵי 1Sam 9:24; 1Sam 28:22; 2Kgs 6:22 לִפְנֵי ׳שׂ elsewhere Judg 18:21, of precedence Gen 48:20b (E) : set laws (as authoritative) לִפְנֵי Exod 19:7; Exod 21:1 (both E), Deut 4:44 God (as moral ruler) לְנֶגְדָּם Ps 54:5; Ps 86:14 נֶגֶד ׳שׂ also Gen 31:37 (E), נֹכַח Ezek 14:4; Ezek 14:7 לְעֵינֵי Gen 30:41 (J).
d. put, with בֵּין Josh 24:7 (E) + 5:t. (Exod 8:19 see פְּדוּת p. 804), + Gen 30:36 (J), Gen 32:17 (E), put space between; with תַּחַת Exod 17:12 (E), + 3 t. (Obad 1:7 strike out לַחְמְךָ We GASm Now and others) + יָד תַּחַת יָרִךְ ׳שׂ in oath Gen 24:2; Gen 24:9; Gen 47:29 (all J); put, with אֶל location 1Sam 6:11; 1Sam 6:15; 1Sam 19:13 a Hab 2:15, אֶל person Job 5:8 commit unto; with אֵצֶל of thing Lev 6:3 (P), מִצַּד of thing Deut 31:26 (P); עִמְּךָ ׳שׂ 1Sam 9:23 lay up something with thee, reserve it; put, with יַחַד Mic 2:12 put together = collect (|| אָסַף קִבֵּץ); without modifier 1Kgs 18:23 (twice in verse); 1Kgs 18:25; Ezek 30:21 apply bandage (|| נָתַן).

2. set, direct:
a. sword against (ב) Judg 7:22 figurative extend compassion, ל person Isa 47:6.
b. direct לֵב (mind) toward, pay attention to, with ל 1Sam 9:20; Deut 32:46; Ezek 40:4; Ezek 44:5b; with אֶל Exod 9:21 (J), 1Sam 25:25; 2Sam 18:3 (twice in verse); Job 2:3; Job 34:14 (Bu Du strike out לֵב and read רוּחוֺ יָשִׁיב); with עַל Hag 1:5; Hag 1:7; Job 1:8 compl. omitted Ezek 44:5a Hag 2:15; Hag 2:18 (twice in verse); Isa 41:22; Judg 19:30 read perhaps לְבַבְכֶם for לָכֶם (or עֵצָה for עֻצוּ), see especially GFM^Heb. Hpt.; לֵב omitted, Isa 41:20 ( + רָאָה, יָדַע, הִשְׂכִּיל), with ב person Job 23:6 (so Bu, who compares Job 4:20; Job 24:12; Job 34:23, but all cases dubious); שִׂים לֵב, with עַל = intend Dan 1:8 (object clause).
c. set face (פָּנִים) toward (accusative of location) Gen 31:21 (E), + לָבוֺא Jer 42:15 (twice in verse); Jer 42:17; Jer 44:12, compare 2Kgs 12:18; Dan 11:17 with אֶל, toward or against (implying opposition) Ezek 6:2 + 5 t. Ezekiel, with עַל Ezek 29:2; Ezek 35:2, with דֶּרֶךְ of direction Ezek 21:2 with ב (figurative of oppos., subject ׳י): הִנְנְי שָׂם פָּנַי בָּכֶם לְרָעָה Jer 44:11, compare Jer 21:10; Ezek 15:7 (|| נתן), Lev 20:5 (P); with ל of thing (human subject) Dan 11:18 Qr ( < Kt ישׁב); with עַל person + לִמְלֹךְ of purpose 1Kgs 2:15 set eyes (עֵינַים) upon, with עַל person = behold Gen 44:21 (J), = look after, take care of Jer 39:12; Jer 40:4, לְטוֺבָה Jer 24:6, but לְרָעָה Amos 9:4.

3. a. set, ordain, with accusative of thing Num 24:23 ( > accusative of person Di).
b. set, establish a law, statute, + ל person Exod 15:25; Josh 24:25 (both E), compare Prov 8:29 + ב location Isa 42:4; Ps 78:5 (|| הֵקִים), also Ps 81:6; Jer 33:25 + 2Sam 20:19 (שָׂמוּ for שְׁלֻמֵי ᵐ5 Ew We Kit Bu HPS, compare Dr); establish something as (ל) law Gen 47:26 (J), 1Sam 30:25 ( + ל person); establish bazaars (as a right), ב location, 1Kgs 20:34 appoint a set time Exod 9:5 (J), Job 34:23 (reading מוֺעֵד for עוֺד GHBWr Bu), insert (perhaps) 1Sam 13:8 so Dr Klo HPS ( > insert אמר Th We Bu Kit, after ᵐ5 Tagrum); a place, + ל person Exod 21:13; 2Sam 7:10 = 1Chr 17:9, ל of thing 1Kgs 8:21 ( + שָׁם).
c. set, found a nation, Isa 44:7 (several.), establish it Ps 89:30 (לָעַד).
d. set, appoint (as ruler, official) + עַל person or of a people, Exod 1:11; Exod 5:14; Exod 18:21 (all E), Deut 17:14; Deut 17:15 (3 t. in verse); Judg 11:11 ( + ל of office), 2Sam 17:25 ( + תַּחַת instead of) + 6 t. + Gen 47:6 (J; second accusative = ruler, expressed), 2Sam 23:23 (אֶל), עַל in || 1Chr 11:25 also 2 accusative + ל and ב location Ps 105:21 ב location 2Sam 15:4; 2Chr 33:14, בְּראֹשׁ at the head of, Deut 1:13, 2 accusative alone Song 1:6 with accusative of person + ל person Gen 27:37 (E), Hos 2:2; 1Sam 8:5 ( + infinitive); + of title Gen 45:8; Gen 45:9; Exod 2:14 ( + עַל; all E) + 4 t. + Judg 8:33 ( + ל person), + Ezek 44:8 (perhaps read וַתְּשִׂימוּם Hi Sm Co and most); + ל of purpose Hab 1:12 + ב of position, ל person 1Sam 8:11 with accusative of office alone 1Sam 8:12 ( + ל person), so Co Ezek 21:27 a (שָׂרִים for כָּרִים, see בַּר below כרר), 1Kgs 20:24 ( + תחת), compare 2Chr 23:18, + עַל, אֶל, of task Num 4:19 (P); Job 7:20 set me as (ל) mark for (ל) him.
e. set, constitute, make, with כ person or thing, Gen 13:16 (J) I will make thy seed the dust, Gen 32:13 (J) Gen 48:20 (E), Deut 10:22; Hos 11:8 + 16 t. + (bad sense) Hos 2:5; Nah 3:6; 1Kgs 19:2. feminine set, determine, fix, bounds Jer 5:22 (2 accusative) Job 38:5; Job 38:33; Ps 104:9 passive determined, settled, + עַלפֶּֿה 2Sam 13:32 (but see II. שׂום); appoint, send, frogs לְפַרְעֹךְ Exod 8:8 (J), with accusative of person + עַל against 2Kgs 18:14.

4. a. set, station, at a post, etc., accusative of person Josh 8:13 (JE), + ב location 2Kgs 10:24; Jer 9:7 + 5 t., + adverb accusative Gen 33:2 (J), + בֵּין location Josh 8:12, + ל (against) and אַחֲרֵי location vJosh 8:2 (both J E), + ל against Judg 9:25 ( + עַל location), + אֶל against Judg 20:29; Judg 20:36 doubtful are 1Sam 15:2 (with ל person), 1Kgs 20:12 (twice in verse) (עַלהָֿעִיר), where no object expressed (in MT); either an object has fallen out, or verb (in techn. Military sense), here intransitive or inwardly transitive (Dl^{ZK ii. 397} forward ! take direction toward; compare also [on Sm] We Dr Löhr), or else ׳שׂ is corrupt (compare HPS^sm)
b. put in position, sacred bread, sword, staves, bars, with accusative 1Sam 21:7; Ezek 21:27; Num 4:6; Num 4:8; Num 4:11; Num 4:14 + 4 t. P, Job 38:10 + עַל Exod 32:27 (E), Exod 40:20 (P), מִמַּעַל ל Jer 43:10, מֵעַל Esth 3:1 + (various modifiers) 8 t.; set in place, תֵּבֵל Job 34:13 (De and others), but context favours שָׁמַר Bu; Du לִבּוֺ בְּתֵבֵל ׳שׂ.
c. set up altars 1Kgs 2:19; Jer 11:13, stone as memorial Gen 18:18 (J), Gen 28:22 (E), 1Sam 7:12 (compare הֵקִים Gen 31:45 + ), image, etc. Judg 18:31 (|| הֵקִים), Deut 27:15; 1Kgs 12:29 (ב location, || נָתַן), 2Kgs 21:7 (ב location) = 2Chr 33:7, compare Ps 74:4; Isa 57:8 and, + ב location, Jer 7:30; Jer 32:34 rods before (לְעֵינֵי) cattle Gen 30:41 (|| וַיַּצֵּג vGen 30:38), compare vGen 30:42, guide-posts Jer 31:21, bed 2Kgs 4:10 ( + ל person).
d. = plant, wheat Isa 28:25, tree Isa 41:19 (ב location; || נָתַן), slip Ezek 17:5 (עַל by).
e. set, fix (countenance) 2Kgs 8:11, so usually, but accusative omitted, and sense dubious; read perhaps וַיִּשֹּׁם (√ שׁמם, compare e.g. 1Kgs 9:8), so Klo Kmp Kit Benz.

5. a. make a thing, or person (accusative), for, transform into (ל), Josh 6:18 (J) make camp לְחֵרֶם, Mic 1:6 make Samaria לְעִיִ, Gen 21:13; Gen 21:18 (E), Exod 14:21 (JE), Mic 4:7 (both good sense), Isa 28:17; Isa 42:15; Isa 42:16 + 12 t. Isaiah (Isa 25:2 read עִיר for מֵעִיר Vrss. Comm.), Jer 2:7 + 8 t. Jeremiah, + 14 t. + Judg 1:28 they made the Canaanites into the corvée; וְיָשֵׂם לְדֶרֶךְ פְּעָמָיו Ps 85:14 maketh his steps into a way (so RV Hup Che Dr, but meaning obscure; De Bae attend to the way of (לֵב omitted); Schr Hup-Now read ׳וְיִשְׁמֹר ד); with 2 accusative Josh 8:28 (J), 1Sam 11:11; Mic 1:7; 1Kgs 5:23 (praegn. with עַד location), + 29 t.
b. make, constitute, 2 accusative, 1Sam 8:1; 1Sam 18:13 ( + ל person) 1Sam 22:7 (לְבֻלְּכֶם, ל of accusative; or < read וְכֻלְּכֶם), Isa 3:7; Isa 60:17 + 6 t., + 1Sam 11:11 form people in bands, compare Job 1:17 (one accusative, form bands), + (accusative of person omitted) Exod 4:11b (J), compare (beast, in figure) Ezek 19:5 2 accusative and accusative + ל in same ver., Isa 54:12 I will make rubies thy prinnacles, and (transform) thy gates into carbuncles; in phrase of naming, שָׂם שְׁמוֺ יִשְׂרָאֵל 2Kgs 17:34, compare Judg 8:31; Neh 9:7 with ל, וַיָּשֶׂם לָהֶם שֵׁמוֺת Dan 1:7, לְדָנִיֵּאל בֵּלְטְשַׁאצַּר ׳וַיּ vDan 1:7 make, fashion, with accusative of thing + ל person Exod 4:11a (J; ׳י subject); grave Nah 1:14 (but on text and meaning see Now Bi^{SB Wiener Akkadian 1894, Abh. V}); with accusative דֶּרֶךְ Isa 43:19 (ב location), compare Ezek 21:24; Ezek 21:25 ( + ל infinitive); Ps 50:23 is dubious, usually order (one's) way, De Dr prepare way (which), et., Gr Che תֹּם for שָׂם; make name + ל person 2Sam 7:23 = 1Chr 17:21; 2Sam 14:7 make for, ל person (or give to), with accusative of posterity Gen 45:7 (E); 1Sam 2:20 read probably יַשַׁלֵּם ᵐ5 We Kit Bu HPS, compare Dr; Ezra 10:44b is obscure, Gu-Batten strike out וַיָּשִׂימוּ and read וַיְשַׁלְּחוּ before נָשִׁים, compare 3 Esdr 9:36 BeRy Ryle.
c. work, bring to pass, with accusative of thing, of ׳י's signs, etc., + ב location Exod 10:2 (J), Jer 32:20; Isa 66:19; Ps 46:9; Ps 78:43; Ps 105:27.
d. appoint, give, accusative of thing Num 6:26 (P), Isa 61:3 (|| נָתַן; both with ל person); a pledge Job 17:3 (|| עָרְבֵנִי go surety for me, but read perhaps עֶרְבֹנִי as object); וַשׂוֺם שֵׂכֶל Neh 8:8 giving understanding (making sense clear). Hiph`il Perfect 1 singular consecutive וַהֲשִׂמֹתִיהוּ Ezek 14:8, accusative of person + ל, I will make him for a sign (< שׁ for שׂ van d. H., √ שׁמם; Co Berthol Toy וְשַׂמְתִּיהוּ (Qal), Krae וַהִשְׁמַדְתִּיהוּ); Imperative feminine singular הָשׂימִי Ezek 21:21, probably del as dittograph Co Krae after ᵐ5 ᵑ6 ᵑ9 ᵑ7 Nö^{ZMG xxxvii (1888), 530} ( > Bö Toy and others הִקְדִּימוּ); Participle מֵשִׂים Job 4:20 = Qal (לֵב) שׂום (Job 4:23b), but phrase dubious, and text perhaps corrupt, see Me Nö^l.c. Hoph`al Imperfect 3 masculine singular וַּיּוּשׂם Gen 24:33 Qr (Kt ויישׂם Ges^{«GKC:73f»§ 73f}) there was set before him (לְפָנָיו) to eat, compare Ol^{MBAk. 1870, 389} Kö^{i. 435}, who read also וַיוּשַׂם Gen 50:26 he was laid in (ב) a mummy-case (for ᵑ0 וַיִּישֶׂם), Di (ed. 4.5.6) allows this.

BDB8189 H7760 H8040 H8057

שׂוּמָה (van d. H. שׂימה Kt) perhaps noun feminine token of unluckiness, scowl; — 2Sam 13:32, so Ew^{G iii. 234, H.172} (abbreviated fromשׂמאל; or emendation שִׁטְמָה) We RS^{Ency. Brit}.(9) DAVID Kit, compare Dr HPS.

BDB9915 H7760 H7761

[שׂוּם], שׂים verb set, make (see Biblical Hebrew; for Persian influence on usage compare Scheft⁶⁵); —

Pe`al Perfect 3 masculine singular שָׂם Ezra 5:3 +, suffix שָׂמֵהּ Ezra 5:14 2 masculine singular, שַׂ֫מְתָּ Dan 3:10 1 singular שָׂ֫מֶת טְעֵם Ezra 6:12 3 masculine plural שָׂמוּ Dan 3:12 Imperative masculine plural שִׂ֫ימוּ Ezra 4:21 —

1. make, accusative טְעֵם = make decree Dan 3:10; Ezra 6:1; Ezra 6:12 + verb finite vEzra 6:8, + infinitive Ezra 4:21; Ezra 5:13 and (with ל person) vEzra 5:3 vEzra 5:9.

2. make, appoint, one's name Dan 5:12 (2 accusative), one to office Ezra 5:14 (2 accusative).

3. set, fix, accusative בָּל mind, Dan 6:15 (c. infinitive); accusative טְעֵם Dan 3:12; Dan 6:14 pay due regard (טְעֵם) to (עַל person). Pe`il 3 masculine singular מִנִּי שִׂים טְעֵם Ezra 4:19, from me a decree is made, so Ezra 5:17; Ezra 6:8; Ezra 6:11; Ezra 7:13; Ezra 7:21; Dan 3:29; Dan 4:3; Dan 6:27 literal 3 feminine singular שֻׂמַת (read probably שִׂימַת K^{§ 45, Beisp. 1.} d)) Dan 6:18 (of stone, עַל local). Hithpe`el be made: Imperfect 3 masculine singular יִתְּשָׂם Ezra 4:24 (of decree, סטְעֵס with מִן agent.); 3 masculine plural יִתְּשָׂמוּן Dan 2:5 subject of thing + noun predicate be made into; Participle Ezra 5:8 literally be set, laid, of wood, ב of wall.

Strong's Definition H7760

put, set, make, made, laid, …

śûm

to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)

to put, place, set, appoint, make

(Qal)

to put, set, lay, put or lay upon, lay (violent) hands on

to extend (compassion) (figuratively)

Variations 144 forms of this word

Translations 323 English renderings

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Word Parts

פֶּה֮

Root word mouth, commandment, edge, according, word, …

Dictionary form: פֶּה · peh

Vowels & Accents

Hebrew Alephbet

Grammar Ncmsa

Noun — Common, masculine singular, absolute state

פֶּה	Speech Noun Type Common Gender Masculine Number Singular State Absolute

In English

In the KJV here: mouth

mouth ×30 the commandment ×26 the mouth ×26 my mouth ×23 his mouth ×21 thy mouth ×18 of his mouth ×17 according to ×14

More options

mouth — Most literal; use for the physical organ or speech.

command — When פֶּה means an authoritative order or directive.

word — Softer than 'command'; suits spoken declarations or sayings.

edge — Used with swords or blades; 'the edge of the sword'.

according to — Idiomatic prepositional sense; matches proportional or conforming contexts.

speech — Highlights oral/verbal communication rather than the organ itself.

Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)

BDB6536 H6310 H6366 H6374

פֶּה₄₈₅ noun masculine^{Josh 9:2} mouth (probably biliteral [פו, פי] Sta^{§ 183}; Late Hebrew = Biblical Hebrew; Phoenician לפי according to; Assyrian pû, mouth; Arabic , , ; Ethiopic ; Syriac according to; but also Arabic , , , Biblical Aramaic פֻּם, ᵑ7 פּוּמָא; Syriac ; Mandean פומא Nö^{M § 87}); — absolute ׳פ Exod 4:10 +, construct פִּי Isa 1:20 +; suffix 1 singular פִּי Gen 45:12 +, 2 masculine singular פִּיךָ Gen 41:40 +, 3 masculine singular פִּיו Gen 25:28 +, פִּיהוּ Exod 4:15 +, 3 masculine plural פִּיהֶם Judg 7:6 +, פִּימוֺ Ps 17:10 + 2 t., etc.; plural פִּיּוֺת Prov 5:4, (שְׁנֵי) פֵיוֺת Judg 3:16, פִּיפִיּוֺת Isa 41:15; Ps 149:6 פִּים 1Sam 13:21 (corrupt, see Dr and others); —

1. a. mouth, of man, organ of eating and drinking Gen 25:28; Judg 7:6; 1Sam 14:26; 1Sam 14:27; Neh 9:20; Prov 19:24 = Prov 26:15 +; figurative as finding things sweet Job 20:12; Ps 119:103 figurative of earth Gen 4:11, swallowing Korah, etc. Num 16:30; Num 16:32; Num 26:10; Deut 11:6 figurative also of Sh®°ôl, וּפָֽעֲרָה פִיהָ Isa 5:14, compare Ps 69:16.
b. external organ, וַיָּשֶׂם פִּיו עַלפִּֿיו 2Kgs 4:34; Prov 30:20 of kissing 1Kgs 19:18; Song 1:2, וַתִּשַּׁק יָדִי לְפִי Job 31:27 compare phrase שִׂים יָד עַלפֶּֿה (of keeping silence) Judg 18:19; Mic 7:16; Job 21:5, compare Job 29:9; Job 40:4; Prov 30:32 of mocking triumph ׳פָּעַר עָלַי בְּפ Job 16:10 עַל ׳הִרְחִיב פ Ps 35:21; Isa 57:4, also רָחַב פִּי עַל 1Sam 2:1.
c. of ׳י in theoph., sending out fire 2Sam 22:9 = Ps 18:9.

2. a. much oftener, as organ of speech, of man: ׳פ speaks Gen 45:12; 2Sam 1:16; Isa 9:16; Job 9:20; Job 15:5; Job 15:6; Ps 37:30 +; speak בְּמוֺפִֿי Job 19:16 open ׳פ, ׳אֶליֿ Judg 11:35; Judg 11:36, absolute Job 3:1; Job 33:2 +; shut ׳פ (be silent) Isa 52:15, compare ׳חָשַׂךְ פ Job 7:11, and (of iniquity, personified) ׳קָצַף פ Job 5:16; Ps 107:42 guard ׳פ, Prov 13:3 (נָצַר), Prov 21:23 (שָׁמַר), compare ׳שָׁמַר פִּתְחֵי פ Mic 7:5, also Ps 39:2 (see שׁמר); words, etc., are in (ב) mouth 2Sam 17:5; 2Sam 18:25; Deut 30:14; 1Kgs 17:24 ׳שִׂים דְּבָרִים בְּפ 2Sam 14:3; 2Sam 14:19; Exod 4:15, also (God subject) Num 22:38; Num 23:12; Num 23:16 +; of utterance ׳יָצָא מִפּ Judg 11:36; Num 30:3; Num 32:24; +; depart from mouth (cease to be mentioned) ׳מוּשׁ מִפּ Josh 1:8; Isa 59:21, compare ׳נִכְרַת מִפּ Jer 7:28, לֹא יִשָּׁמַע עַלפִּֿיךָ Exod 23:13 ׳אִמְרֵי פ Deut 32:1 words of my mouth, so Job 8:2; Ps 19:15; Ps 54:4 ׳דְּבְרֵי פ Ps 36:4; Eccl 10:12 of agency, ׳כְּפּ by the mouth of 2Chr 36:21; 2Chr 36:22 = ׳מִפּ Ezra 1:1 דִּכֶּר פִּיו עִםפִּֿיו Jer 32:4 speak mouth to mouth = Jer 34:3 ׳פ = speech, sayings Isa 29:13; Ps 49:14; Eccl 10:3 ׳כְּבַד פ Exod 4:10 heavy of speech (not eloquent); ׳אֶהְיֶה עִםפֿ vExod 4:12 vExod 4:15, i.e. aid thee in speaking; ׳יִהְיֶהלְּֿךָ לְפ vExod 4:16 he shall be mouth for thee; מִפִּיו יִקְרָא אֵלַי Jer 36:18, i.e. dictate; ׳כָּתַב מִפּ see כָּתַב 1 b (3); bad qualities ascribed to it, ׳עִקְּשׁוּת פ Prov 4:24; Prov 6:12 פִּי תַהְפֻּכוֺת Prov 8:13 פֶּה חָלָק Prov 26:28 ׳אַלתַּֿגְדֵּל פ Obad 1:12, compare Mic 6:12; Ezek 35:13.
b. as laughing Job 8:21; Ps 126:2 panting Ps 119:131.
c. of God; his mouth speaks Isa 1:20; Isa 40:5; Jer 9:11 +; he speaks ׳בְּפ 1Kgs 8:15; 1Kgs 8:34 word proceeds ׳מִפּ Deut 8:3; Isa 45:23 +; פֶּה אֶלפֶּֿה אֲדַכֵּר כּוֺ Num 12:8 he creates בְּרוּחַ פִּיו Ps 33:6 he executes judgment כְּשֵׁבֶט פִּיו Isa 11:4 especially = command: ׳עָבַר אֶתפִּֿי י 1Sam 15:24; Num 14:41, compare Num 22:18; Prov 8:29 ׳פ (אֶתֿ) מָרָה 1Sam 12:14; 1Sam 12:15; Num 20:24; 1Kgs 13:21 +; compare 6 d. d. of idols, Ps 115:5; Ps 136:16; Ps 136:17.
e. of musical instrument = sound Amos 6:5 (compare 6 d).

3. of animals: bird Gen 8:11 (carrying), Isa 10:14 (chirping); ass Num 22:28 (speaking); bear, lion 1Sam 17:35 (seizing), Amos 3:12 (id.), hippop. Job 40:23 (drinking), crocodile Job 41:11; Job 41:13 (breathing flame); also of human foes, under figure of ravenous beasts Ps 22:22; Ezek 21:27; Ezek 34:10 פָּצָה עַל ׳פ Ps 22:14; Lam 2:16; Lam 3:46 hence of edge of sword, חֶרֶב פִּיּוֺת Prov 5:4 a sword with edges (in simile), = ׳ח פִּיפִיּוֺת Ps 149:6 compare Judg 3:16 see also 6 c (2), below; בַּעַל פִּיפִיּוֺת Isa 41:15, of מוֺרַג.

4. mouth = opening, orifice; of well Gen 29:2; Gen 29:3 (twice in verse); Gen 29:8; Gen 29:10 cave Josh 10:18; Josh 10:22; Josh 10:27 ravine, abyss Jer 48:28 (si vera lectio, compare Gie); also of Sh®°ôl Ps 141:7 of a sack Gen 42:27; Gen 43:12; Gen 43:21; Gen 44:1; Gen 44:2; Gen 44:8 ephah Zech 5:8 high-priest's robe Exod 28:32 + 5 t., compare probably Ps 133:2 tunic Job 30:18 of a round opening also 1Kgs 7:31 (3 t. in verse) (on text and meaning see Benz Kit); of mouth of Nile Isa 19:7 (others brink); gate of city Prov 8:3 (but read perhaps לִפְנֵי, see Toy).

5. a. extremity, end פֶּה לָפֶה from end to end, of a temple 2Kgs 10:21 city 2Kgs 21:16, מִפֶּה אֶלפֶּֿה of land Ezra 9:11.
b. = portion, פִּי שְׁנַיִם Deut 21:17; 2Kgs 2:9; Zech 13:8.

6. with prepositions: —
a. אֶל פִּי, see below d (2).
b. כְּפִי:
(a) according to the command of, 1Chr 12:23
(b) according to the mouth of, i.e. in proportion to (compare Assyrian ki-i pi-i, Dl^{HWB 325}), Exod 16:21 they gathered it אִישׁ כְּפִי אָכְלוֺ each in proportion to his eating (Exod 16:16 vExod 16:18 לְפִי), Lev 25:52 כְּפִי שָׁנָיו according to the number of his years (compare vLev 25:16 לְפִי); Num 6:21; Num 7:5 אִישׁ כְּפִי עֲבֹדָתוֺ (so 2Chr 31:2), 2Chr 7:7; 2Chr 7:8; 2Chr 35:8 (all P); Job 33:6 הֵןאֲֿנִי כְפִיךָ לָאֵל I am in the proportion of thee as regards God, i.e. I stand towards God even as thou dost. As conjunction, כְּפִי אֲשֶׁר, Mal 2:9 כְּפי אֲשֶׁר אֵינְכֶם שֹׁמְרִים אֶתדְּֿרָכַי accusative asye do not keep, etc.; and without אשׁר Zech 2:4 כְּפִי אִישׁלֹֿא נָשָׂא ראֹשׁוֺ in such proportion that none did lift up his head (but We Now אֲשֶׁר for אִישׁ, that it, Judah, did not, etc.).
c. לְפִי, nearly the same with כְּפִי (see לְ 5 i b), but more common (compare Aramaic לְפוּם, ): (1) Gen 47:12 לְפִי הַטָּ֑ף, Exod 12:4 ye shall compute אִישׁ לְפִי אָכְלוֺ each according to his eating (according to the quantity which his family will consume), Exod 16:16; Exod 16:18; Lev 25:16 לְפִי רֹב הַשָּׁנִים, vLev 25:16 vLev 25:51; Lev 27:16 לְפִי זַרְעוֺ, Num 26:54; Josh 18:4; 1Kgs 17:1 except לְפִי דְבָרִי, Hos 10:12 קִצְרוּ לְפִי חֶסֶד (|| לִצְדָקָה), Prov 12:8; Prov 27:2: followed by infinitive Num 9:17 לְפִי הֵעָלוֺת הֶעָנָן = accusative as the cloud was lifted up, Jer 29:10. (2) in the phrase לְפִי חֶרֶב according to the mouth, or measure, of the sword, i.e. as the sword devours, without quarter, Gen 34:26; Exod 17:13; Num 21:24 + often
d. עַל פִּי: (1) according to (עַל 1 f a) the mouth of, i.e.
(a) the command of, Gen 41:40; Gen 45:21; Exod 17:1; Exod 38:21; Num 3:16; Num 3:39 + (especially P), 2Kgs 23:35 (β) the evidence or sentence of, Deut 17:6 עַלפִּֿי עֵד אֶחָד, Deut 19:15; Deut 21:5 (on עַלפִּֿי הַנָּ֑בֶל Amos 6:5, see 2 e above). (2) according to the measure of, in accordance with, Gen 43:7 we told him על פי הדברים האלה according to these words (i.e. the questions Joseph asked), Exod 34:27 in accordance with these words, Lev 27:8 עלפֿי אשׁר תַּשִּׂיג יַד הנֹּדֵר according to what the hand of the vower can reach to, vLev 27:18 (compare לְפִי Lev 25:16; Lev 25:51), Deut 17:10; Deut 17:11; 2Sam 13:32 (but see שׂוּמָה), Prov 22:6 חֲנֹךְ לַנַּעַר על פי דרכו. In the same sense אֶל פִּי, Josh 15:13; Josh 17:4; Josh 21:3.

BDB9814 H6310 H6433

פֻּם noun masculine^{Dan 7:8} mouth (compare Biblical Hebrew פֶּה; on form see K^{§ 61, 2}) M^{§ 76f.}); — ׳פ absolute Dan 7:8; Dan 7:20, construct Dan 4:28 +, suffix פֻּמֵּהּ (on form see K^l.c. Nö^{Zur Gram. d. Class.} Arabic 15 (1896) (expansion of biliteral √), Ba^{ZMG xii (1887), 633 f.}) Dan 7:5 — mouth of king Dan 4:28, lions Dan 6:23, beast (in vision) Dan 7:5, horn (ib.) vDan 7:8 vDan 7:20 mouth of pit Dan 6:18.

פַּס see פסם. below

Strong's Definition H6310

mouth, commandment, edge, according, word, …

pe

the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether literal or figurative (particularly speech); specifically edge, portion or side; adverbially (with preposition) according to

mouth

mouth (of man)

Variations 85 forms of this word

Translations 165 English renderings

Mouth

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Word Parts

לָֽ אָדָם֒

לָֽ

Prefix — preposition to, for + "the" (the article is absorbed into the prefix)

אָדָם֒

Root word man, men, mans, adam, mens, …

Dictionary form: אָדָם · aw-DAWM

Vowels & Accents

לָ

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

Hebrew Alephbet

Grammar Rd/Ncmsa

Noun — Common, masculine singular, absolute state

לָֽ	Speech Preposition Type Definite Article
אָדָם	Speech Noun Type Common Gender Masculine Number Singular State Absolute

In English

In the KJV here: mans

of man ×143 man ×92 of men ×51 men ×26 a man ×24 of a man ×18 the man ×10 adam ×7

More options

human — Best general term; gender-neutral, covers individuals and collectives.

person — Emphasizes individual identity; good for singular contexts.

humanity — Ideal for collective or generic uses referring to humankind.

humankind — Broad collective; strong when contrasting humans with God or animals.

mortal — Highlights human frailty and finitude; fits poetic or theological passages.

man — Retain only when the male gender is contextually clear and intentional.

Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)

BDB108 H120 H121

אָדָם₅₆₀ noun masculine^{Gen 1:27} man, mankind (Phoenician אדם, Sabean id., CIS^iv.1,l.4 and others; compare Assyrian admu, young (of bird) Dl^W, but Nö^{ZMG 1886, 722} identification with Arabic collective creatures) — Singular absolute except construct Prov 6:12 compare Thes; (׳בְּנֵי (הָ)א often = plural of ׳א Gen 11:5 +39 t., compare ׳בְּנוֺת הָא Gen 6:2; Gen 6:4) —

1. a man (= German Mensch) = human being Gen 2:5; Gen 2:7 (twice in verse); Gen 2:8; Gen 2:15; Gen 2:16; Gen 2:18 +, Gen 16:12 (27 t. J) Lev 5:4 || נֶפֶּשׁ Lev 13:2; Lev 13:9 (19 t. P) Neh 2:10; Isa 13:12 (|| אֱנוֺשׁ); הַגָּדוֺל ׳הָאָ Josh 14:15 (E); בְּלִיַּעַל ׳אָ Prov 6:12 (|| אִישׁ אָוֶן compare 1Sam 25:25 & see בליעל); = any one Lev 1:2; Num 9:6; Num 9:7; Job 20:29; Job 27:13; Prov 15:20; Prov 21:16; Prov 21:20; Prov 24:30; Eccl 7:20 + often Wisdom Literature, Jer 2:6; Jer 4:25; Neh 2:12, compare ׳נֶפֶּשׁ א Num 19:11; Num 19:13 +; seldom man opposed to woman Gen 2:22 (twice in verse); Gen 2:23; Gen 2:25; Gen 3:8; Gen 3:12; Gen 3:17; Gen 3:20; Gen 3:21; Eccl 7:28.

2. collective man, mankind Gen 1:26; Gen 9:5; Gen 9:6 (3 t. in verse) + (P 28 t.) Gen 6:1; Gen 6:5; Gen 6:6; Gen 6:7 (J E 24 t.) Deut 4:32 (D 6 t.) (on 2Sam 7:19 compare 1Chr 17:17 see Dr^Sm); distinctly = men + women Gen 1:27; Gen 5:1; Num 5:6 given as name Gen 5:2 but = warriors Isa 22:6 ׳רֶכֶב א || (פּרשׁיםׅ; || beasts (41 t.) בְּהֵמָה Gen 6:7; Gen 7:23 (J ?) Exod 8:13; Exod 8:14; Exod 9:9; Exod 9:10 (P) Exod 9:19; Exod 9:22; Exod 9:25; Exod 12:12; Exod 13:2; Exod 13:13; Exod 13:15 (all J) +; late prophets Jer 21:6; Jer 31:27; Jer 50:3; Jer 51:62; Ezek 14:13; Ezek 14:17; Ezek 14:19; Ezek 14:21; Ezek 25:13; Ezek 29:8; Ezek 29:11; Ezek 32:13 (strike out Co) Ezek 36:11; Jonah 3:8; Zeph 1:3; Hag 1:11; Zech 2:8; Zech 8:10 || בָּקָר Ezek 4:15 || צֹאן, חֲמֹרִים ׳ב Num 31:28 || id. + מִכָּלהַֿבְּהֵמָה vNum 31:30 compare Jonah 3:7 || חַיָּה Gen 9:5 (P) compare Ezek 1:5; Ezek 1:8; Ezek 1:10; Ezek 1:26, & description of כְּרוּבִים Ezek 10:8; Ezek 10:14; Ezek 10:21 compare Ezek 41:19 || trees Deut 20:19 (read הֶאָדָם see Di); opposed to God 1Sam 15:29; 1Sam 16:7 (twice in verse); Isa 31:3; Ezek 28:2; Ezek 28:9; 1Chr 21:13; 1Chr 29:1; 2Chr 6:18; Mal 3:8 compare Exod 33:20; Deut 5:21 so ׳בֶּןאֿ Num 23:19 (|| אישׁ) Ezek 2:1; Ezek 2:3; Ezek 2:6; Ezek 2:8 (87 t. Ezekiel, always addressed to prophet); בְּנֵי ׳הָא 1Sam 26:19 made in God's image Gen 1:26; Gen 1:27; Gen 9:6 compare Eccl 7:29 as feeble, earthly, mortal Num 16:29 (twice in verse); Ps 82:7; Ps 144:3; Ps 144:4; Job 5:7; Job 14:1; Job 14:10 compare Job 25:6 (׳בֶּןאֿ) Eccl 12:5 as sinful 1Kgs 8:46; 2Chr 6:36; Jer 10:14 compare Num 5:6; Job 31:33; Hos 6:7 of men in general, other men (opposed to particular ones) Judg 16:17 (compare ׳אַחַד הָא vJudg 16:7 vJudg 16:11) Judg 18:7; Judg 18:28; Ps 73:5; Jer 32:20 +; || אִישׁ Isa 2:9; Isa 2:11; Isa 2:17; Isa 5:15 compare Ezek 23:42 (strike out Co Vrss); ׳בְּנֵי א 2Sam 7:14 (|| אֲנָשִׁים) Prov 8:4 (|| אִישִׁים); Ps 49:3; Ps 62:10 (both || בְּנֵי אִישׁ) = men of low opposed to men of high degree — so often Phoenician and = vassal Sabean DHM^{ZMG 1875, 680} compare 686; ׳נֶפֶשׁ א collective Num 31:35; Num 31:40; Num 31:46; 1Chr 5:21; Ezek 27:13.

3. proper name, masculine Adam, first man (without article, compare שָׂטָן 1Chr 21:1 over ag. ׳הַשּׂ Job 1:6 etc.) Gen 4:25 (J) Gen 5:1; Gen 5:3; Gen 5:4; Gen 5:5 (P) 1Chr 1:1. (Gen 2:20; Gen 3:17; Gen 3:21 read ׳לָא see Di.)

4. proper name, of a location city in Jordan valley (as built ?) Josh 3:16.

Strong's Definition H120

man, men, mans, adam, mens, …

ʾādām

ruddy i.e., a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.)

man, mankind

man, human being

Variations 28 forms of this word

Translations 117 English renderings

Adam Man

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Word Parts

א֚וֹ

Conjunction or, either, whether, nor, then, …

Dictionary form: אוֹ · oh

Vowels & Accents

Hebrew Alephbet

Grammar C

Conjunction

אוֹ	Speech Conjunction

In English

In the KJV here: or

or ×278 either ×7 whether ×7 him or ×3 nor ×3 also or ×2 and ×2 it or ×2

More options

or — Default disjunctive; works in nearly every context.

either…or — Use when presenting two explicit alternatives.

whether…or — Preferred in conditional and indirect-question clauses.

nor — Use after a negative clause to continue negation.

otherwise — Signals consequence if the alternative is chosen.

and — Rare additive sense; use only when disjunction is weak.

Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)

BDB163 H176

אוֺ₃₂₀ , , ), conjunction or (whether aut or vel).

1. Gen 24:49; Gen 31:43; Exod 4:11; Song 2:9; Lev 13:24; Num 5:30 + often (especially in laws); sometimes implying a preference, nearly = or rather Gen 24:55 יָמִים אוֺ עָשׂוֺר a few days or ten Judg 18:19; 1Sam 29:3. Prefixed to the first as well as to the second alternative (rare) either (whether) ... or Lev 5:1; Lev 13:48; Lev 13:51 = or, if not Ezek 21:15 (si vera lectio) Ke Mal 2:17; Job 16:3; Job 22:11.

2. introducing a sentence, especially a particular case under a general principle, or = or if Exod 21:31 ׳אוֺבֵֿן יִגַּח וג or if he gore a son, etc. vExod 21:36; Lev 4:23; Lev 4:28 (see Di) Lev 5:21; Lev 5:22; Lev 25:49b; Num 5:14; 2Sam 18:13 or if I had dealt falsely against his life, then, etc., Ezek 14:17; Ezek 14:19 or if I send, etc.

3. if perchance, 1Sam 20:10 if perchance thy father answer thee with something hard, Lev 26:41.

4. once, with the jussive (as in Arabic with the subjunctive see Dr^{§ 175}) = except: Isa 27:5 I would burn them together, אוֺ יַחֲזֵק בְּמָעֻזִּי or else let him take hold (= except he take hold) of my strong-hold, etc.

אוּ Prov 31:4 Kt, see [אַי].

BDB177 H176

[אַו] noun masculine construct אוֺ, Kt Prov 31:4 desire, so Thes MV; but < Qr אֵי q. v.

Strong's Definition H176

or, either, whether, nor, then, …

ʾô

desire (and so probably in Proverbs 31:4); hence (by way of alternative) or, also if

or, rather

implying that the latter choice is preferred

Variations 4 forms of this word

Translations 24 English renderings

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Word Parts

מִֽי

Particle turns the sentence into a question

Dictionary form: מִי · mee

Vowels & Accents

Hebrew Alephbet

Grammar Ti

Particle — Interrogative

מִֽי	Speech Particle Type Interrogative

In English

In the KJV here: who

who ×209 and who ×30 whom ×29 what ×14 and what ×10 or who ×10 whose ×10 but who ×6

More options

who — Standard interrogative or relative; broadest usage.

whoever — Prefer for indefinite or universal reference (whosoever).

whom — Use in object position for formal or written registers.

whose — Use when indicating possession or attribution.

anyone who — Emphasizes indefinite, inclusive scope.

which one — Use when selecting among a defined set of options.

Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)

BDB4615 H4310

מִי₄₂₃ pronoun interrogative who? of persons, as מָה (q. v.) of things (Ethiopic but only = What ? and How ? Assyrian mî, me (rare) Jäger^{BAS. ii. 277}, the usual Semitic form for Who? has n, namely Assyrian mannu, manu (Dl^{HWB 419}), Ethiopic man¥, Aramaic Arabic , Vulgar Arabic min, m£n, from a form resembling which, by rejection of n, probably Hebrew מִי: W^{SG 123 f.}): — who ? (τίς; quis ?) Gen 3:11 הִגִּיד לְךָ מִי who told thee ? Gen 24:65 מִי הָאִישׁ הַלָּזֶה who is this man ? Gen 27:18 מי אתה בני who art thou, my son ? Num 22:9; Judg 1:1; Judg 6:29; Judg 15:6; Judg 18:3; Judg 20:18; 2Sam 1:8 + often; Ruth 3:9 מִי אָ֑תְּ who art thou, (feminine) ? Isa 51:12 of more than one, מִי אֵלָּה who are these ? Gen 33:5; Gen 48:8; Isa 60:8 מי אתם 2Kgs 10:13 once, more explicitly, מִי זָמִי הַהֹלְכִים Exod 10:8 = as who ? (i.e. in what condition, or capacity), Amos 7:2 יעקב מי יקום vAmos 7:5; Isa 51:19 מִי אֲנַחֲמֵךְ (but Vrss Che Lag Brd Du ׳מִי יְ, as || מִי יָנוּד), Ruth 3:16 (Be Ke Kö^{iii. 388}). Note in particular:
a. מִי is rarely used of things, and usually where persons are understood or implied: Gen 33:8 מי לך כלהֿמחנה הזה who (or what) to thee is all this camp ? Deut 4:7; Judg 9:28 שְׁכֶם מִי who is Shechem (i.e. the Shechemites) ? Mic 1:5 מִיפֶֿשַׁע יַעֲקֹב הֲלֹא שֹׁמְרוֺן, v^b Song 3:6; Judg 13:17 מִי שְׁמֶ֑ךָ ( but מה Gen 32:28; Exod 3:13: with מי compare מַן in Aramaic Ezra 5:4 Genesis, Exodus ll. cc. ᵑ7; and see Nö^{M. p. 341}). On 1Sam 18:18, see II. חַי
b. in the genitive, בַּתמִֿי אַתְּ whose daughter art thou ? Gen 24:23; Gen 24:47; 1Sam 12:3 (3 t. in verse); 1Sam 17:55; Jer 44:28; Job 26:4; Job 33:28 after various prepositions, as אַחֲרֵי מִי 1Sam 24:15 (twice in verse); אֶלמִֿי 1Sam 6:20; 2Kgs 9:5 +; בְּמִי by whom ? 1Kgs 20:14, לְמִי₂₀ to whom ? whose ? Gen 32:18 לְמִי אַתָּה, Gen 38:25; Prov 20:20 (6 t.) +; מִמִּי Ezek 32:19; Ps 27:1 (twice in verse); עַלמִֿי 2Kgs 18:20; 2Kgs 19:22; Isa 57:4 +; אֶתמִֿי (so always in accusative), 1Sam 12:3 (twice in verse); 1Sam 28:11; Isa 6:8 = with whom ? Job 12:3.
c. in an indirect question, as Gen 21:26; Gen 43:22 לא ידענו מי שׂם we do not know who put, etc., Deut 21:1; Ps 39:7; Josh 24:15 בַּחֲרוּ ֗֗֗ אֶתמִֿי תַעֲבֹד֑וּן choose whom ye will serve, after ראה 1Sam 14:17, שׁאל 1Sam 17:56, הגיד 1Kgs 1:20, הודיע v1Kgs 1:27.
d. ׳מי ב who among ... ? 1Sam 22:14; Isa 36:20; Isa 43:9; Isa 48:14 (בהם) Isa 42:23; Isa 50:10; Hag 2:3 ( all בכם); מי מן who of ... ? Judg 21:8; 2Kgs 6:11; Isa 50:1.
e. strengthened and emphatic forms of interrogative:
(a) מי זה (see זה 4 b), מי הוא (see הוא 4 b β), הוא זה מי Ps 24:10; Jer 30:21; Esth 7:5 (see ibid.);
(b) אֶחָד מִי what single one ... ? Judg 21:8, compare 2Sam 7:23 ( = 1Chr 17:21). feminine various rhetorical uses ( often repeated in || clause, as Ps 15:1; Ps 18:32; Isa 28:9; Isa 29:15): — (a) followed by imperfect it expresses a wish ( the question implying a desire that the person asked for were present ), 2Sam 15:4 מִי יְשִׂמֵנִי שֹׁפֵט who will set me judge ? i.e. would that some one would make me judge ! 2Sam 23:15 מִי יַשְׁקֵנִי מַיִם = O that one would give me to drink, etc. ! compare Num 11:4; Num 11:18; Mal 1:10; Ps 4:7; Ps 60:11; Ps 94:16; Isa 42:23, and very often in the phrase מִי יִתֵּן who will give? i.e. would that there were. . . ! as Num 11:29 נביאים ׳ומי יתן כל עם י = and would that all ׳י's people were prophets! Deut 28:67 מי יתן ערב = would it were even! Judg 9:29 + (see נָתַן). (b) it expresses contempt (who ? implying the answer no one at all), Exod 5:2 ׳אשׁר אשׁמע בקולו מי י who is ׳י that I should listen to his voice ? Judg 9:28 מִי אֲבִימֶלֶךְ וּמִי שְׁכֶם כִּי נַעַבְדֶנּוּ, vJudg 9:38; 1Sam 17:26 who is this Philistine that he should have reproached, etc.? 1Sam 25:10 מי דוד ומי בן ישׁי Isa 28:9; Job 26:4; Prov 30:9 ׳מי י; or modesty (real or assumed), Exod 3:11 מִי אָנֹכִי כִּי אֵלֵךְ אֶלפַּֿרְעֹה 1Sam 18:18 ומי חיי מי אנכי who am I, and who is my clan (חַיִּי), that I should be the king's son-in-law ? 2Sam 7:18; 1Chr 29:14; 2Chr 2:5 or surprise, Isa 44:10; Isa 49:21. (c) in impassioned prose, and especially in poetry, implying the answer few or none, it is equivalent to a rhetorical negative, Deut 9:2 מִי יִתְיַצֵּב לִפְנֵי בְנֵי עֲנָק who can stand, etc.? Deut 30:12 מִי יַעֲלֶהלָּֿנוּ הַשָּׁמַיְמָה vDeut 30:13; 1Sam 4:8 ׳מִי יַצִּילֵנוּ וג, 1Sam 6:20; 1Sam 22:14; 1Sam 26:9; 1Sam 26:15; 2Sam 16:10 מי יאמר who shall (or can) say ? Job 9:12; Prov 20:9; Eccl 8:4 with the perfect (of experience), who has ever . . . ? Num 23:10; Deut 5:23; Isa 36:20; Isa 66:8 (twice in verse); Jer 18:13 מִי שָׁמַע כָּאֵלֶּה, Jer 23:18 (ᵑ0), Jer 30:21; Job 4:7; Job 9:4 מִי הִקְשָׁה אֵלָיו וַיִּשְׁלָ֑ם, Job 41:3; Prov 30:4; Lam 3:37 in poetry, very often, as Gen 49:9 מִי יְקִימֶנּוּ וּכְלָבִיא who can rouse him up ? (i.e. no one), Exod 15:11 (twice in verse) מִי כָמוֺךָ (so Ps 35:10 and elsewhere), Num 24:9; Num 24:23; 1Sam 2:25 מי יתפלל לו who shall intercede for him ? (i.e. no one), Isa 1:12; Isa 10:3; Isa 40:13; Isa 40:14; Isa 40:18; Isa 41:26; Isa 42:19; Isa 43:9; Isa 48:14; Isa 50:1; Isa 53:1 מִי הֶאֱמִין לִשְׁמֻעָתֵנוּ (i.e. few or none), etc.; Ps 18:32 ׳מִי אֱלוֺהַּ מִבַּלְעֲדֵי י, Ps 76:8; Ps 89:7; Ps 130:3; Job 21:31; Job 34:29; Jer 17:9; Joel 2:11; Mal 3:2 מִי לֹא ֗֗֗ Amos 3:8; Jer 10:7; Job 12:9 (compare Job 25:3; Nah 3:19); (יְשִׁיבֶנָּה) מִי יְשִׁיבֶנּוּ who shall (can) turn it back ? Job 9:12; Job 11:10; Job 23:13; Isa 14:27; Isa 43:13; Jer 2:24 implying the answer, no one but God, Isa 40:12; Isa 41:2; Isa 35:6; Isa 35:25, etc.; defiantly, Isa 50:9 מִי הוּא יַרְשִׁיעֵנִי, Jer 21:13; Jer 49:4 מִי יָבוֺא אֵלַי, vJer 49:19; Obad 1:3; Ps 12:5 מִי אָדוֺן לָנוּ, Ps 59:8; Ps 64:6; Job 9:19 מִי יוֺעִידֵנִי וְאִם לְמִשְׁפָּט, Job 13:19 מִי הוּא יָרִיב עִמָּדִי who is he that will contend with me ? Job 17:3; Job 41:2. Notice in examples of this kind the frequent order of words: Prov 20:6 ואישׁ אמוּנים מי ימצא, Prov 24:22 יודע ופיד שׁניהם מי, Prov 31:10; Nah 1:6 לפני זעמו מי יעמד, Ps 147:17 קֹרָתוֺ מי יעמד לפני, Job 4:2 וַעְצֹר בְּמִלִּין מִי יוּכ֑ל, Job 26:14; Job 38:37; Job 39:5; Job 41:5; Job 41:6; Ps 6:6 בִּשְׁאוֺל מִי יוֺדֶהלָּֿ֑ךְ, Ps 19:13 and with the nom. pendens, Jer 2:24 תַּאֲנָתָהּ מִי יְשִׁיבֶנָּה, Prov 18:14; Job 17:15 וְתִקְוָתִי מִי יְשׁוּרֶנָּה, Job 38:29 וּכְפֹר שָׁמַיִם מִי יְלָדוֺ.
(d) מִי יוֺדֵעַ who knoweth ? (Ps 90:11; Prov 24:22), followed by a verbal clause, becomes (compare nescio an) = it may be, perchance, 2Sam 12:22 ׳מִי יוֺדֵעַ יְחָנֵּנִי י (Qr וְחַנַּנִי), Joel 2:14 ( = Jonah 3:9) מי יודע ישׁוב ונחם, Esth 4:14 יודע אם מי.
(e) especially in poetry, a question with מי, to which the answer follows, is an effective mode of affirming a fact, or introducing a description: Ps 15:1 (twice in verse) (see vPs 15:2); Ps 24:3; Ps 24:8; Ps 24:10; Isa 23:8 מי יעץ ׳זאת וג (Isa 23:9 the answ., יְעָצָהּ ׳צ ׳י), Isa 33:14 (see vIsa 33:15f.), Isa 37:23; Isa 41:2; Isa 41:4; Isa 60:8; Isa 63:1; Jer 46:7; Song 3:6, compare Song 6:10; Song 8:3 answered by הֲלֹא Exod 4:11; Isa 42:24; Isa 45:21; Mic 1:5 (twice in verse).
g. מִי may sometimes be rendered whosoever, though, as the examples will shew, it does not really mean it: Exod 24:14 מי בעל דברים יִגַּשׁ אליהם, literally Who hath a cause ? let him draw nigh unto them, i.e. whoso hath a cause, let him, etc., Isa 50:8b מִי בַעַל מִשְׁפָּטִי יִגַּשׁ אֵלַי, Isa 54:15; Judg 7:3 מִי יָרֵא וְחָרֵד יָשֹׁב ׳וג who is fearful and trembling ? let him return, Prov 9:4; Prov 9:16 מִיפֶֿ֖תִי יָסֻר הֵגָּה, Ezra 1:3 (compare with וְ in apodosis Jer 9:11; Hos 14:10; Ps 107:43; Zech 4:10 is dubious, on account of anomalous tense and construction); so with מי האישׁ אשׁר ֗֗֗ Deut 20:5; Deut 20:6; Deut 20:7; Judg 10:18, compare Ps 25:12. With 1 person in apodosis, Exod 32:33 חָטָא לִי אֶמְחֶגּוּ מִסִּפְרִי מִי אֲשֶׁר, Jer 49:19 ( = Jer 50:44) אֵלָיהָ אֶפְקֹד וּמִי בָחוּר and who is chosen? I will appoint him over her! Isa 50:8a; with an imperative in the apodosis Exod 32:24 (against accents; see Ra) התפרקו למי זהב who hath gold ? break it off you! Gen 19:12; 1Sam 11:12, compare Ps 34:13f.; without a verb, Exod 32:26 אלי ׳מי לי who is on J.'s side ? (let him come) to me! so 2Sam 20:11 (מי אשׁר); Eccl 5:9; Eccl 9:4 (מי אשׁר).
h. once, following a verb (compare מָה 3), any one, 2Sam 18:12 שִׁמְרוּמִֿי בַּנַּעַר באבשׁלום Have a care, whosoever ye be, of, etc. (but ᵐ5 ᵑ6 ᵑ9 Bu לִי; compare v2Sam 18:5).

BDB9669 H4479 H4310

מַן (so Gi, with most MSS., supported by Syriac , Arabic ; see K^{§ 22, 1}), מָן (Baer: see on Dan 3:6), interrogative pronoun who? (Old Aramaic, Nabataean, Palmyrene מן Lzb³¹² Cooke¹⁸⁸), ᵑ7 מן, Syriac , Ethiopic Arabic W^{CG 123:} Biblical Hebrew מִי); —

1. who? Ezra 5:3; Ezra 5:9 strengthened by הוּא, Dan 3:15 וּמַןהֿוּא אֱלָהּ דִּי who is the God who . . . ? (compare Syriac contracted from , and מַנּוּ in the Syriacizing ᵑ7 to Proverbs: also Biblical Hebrew מִי הוּא, הוּא 4 b β); so in the plural Ezra 5:4 מִןאִֿנוּן שְׁמָהָת what (literally who: compare מִי 1 a, and Gen 32:28; Exod 3:13 ᵑ7) are the names of . . .?

2. מַןדּֿי whosoever (literally who is there that . . .? see Biblical Hebrew מִי g) Dan 3:6; Dan 3:11 מִןדִּֿי לָא יִפֵּל, Dan 4:14 וּלְמִן דִּי יִצְבֵּא יִתְּנִנַּהּ to whomsoever he willeth, he giveth it, v.Dan 4:22 v.Dan 4:29; Dan 5:21 (so Nabataean מן די, Cooke^{241, 325 ff.}; ᵑ7 מַן דְּ; Syriac ; compare Egyptian Aramaic S-C^{Pap. K 7, 12} ולמן זי צבית תנתן).

Strong's Definition H4310

who, whom, what, whose, which, …

mî

who? (occasionally, by a peculiar idiom, of things); also (indefinitely) whoever; often used in oblique construction with prefix or suffix

who?, whose?, whom?, would that, whoever, whosoever

Variations 12 forms of this word

Translations 71 English renderings

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Word Parts

יָשׂ֣וּם

Root word put, set, make, made, laid, …

Dictionary form: שׂוּם · soom

Vowels & Accents

Hebrew Alephbet

Grammar Vqi3ms

Verb — Qal, Imperfect (Yiqtol), third person masculine singular simple action — "he did" not-yet-complete action — try "he will ___" or "he ___s" the built-in subject is "he (or it)"

יָשׂוּם

Speech Verb Stem Qal Type Imperfect (Yiqtol) Person Third Person Gender Masculine Number Singular

Verb Chart

Full verb chart

In English

In the KJV here: maketh

and put ×43 set ×31 put ×21 and set ×12 and he put ×11 and i will make ×8 and laid ×8 and made ×8

More options

place — Best default; concrete positioning of objects or people.

set — Slightly more formal; good for official or solemn contexts.

put — Everyday, neutral; modernizes the most common KJV rendering.

make — Prefer when the result is a transformation or appointment.

appoint — Best for roles, offices, or formal designations.

lay — Use for foundations, burdens, or things placed flat.

Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)

BDB8185 H7760 H5493 H7787

I. שׂוּם, שִׂים :582 verb put, place, set (compare Nö^{ZMG xxxvii (1883), 532}; Late Hebrew סוּס Pi`el designate, fix, שׂום Eccl 49:6 Phoenician שם, Assyrian šâmu. fix, determine; Sabean שׂים set, set up, SabDenkm^{No. 7, 1. 6} CIS^{iv. 1}; Arabic () is insert, sheathe, also compute; Ethiopic : put, place; ᵑ7 שׂוּם, Syriac Old Aramaic שים); —

Qal Perfect 3 masculine singular שָׂם Gen 21:14 + (2Chr 1:5 read שָׁם ᵐ5 ᵑ9 Gi Be Kau Benz), suffix שָׂמוֺ Ezek 17:4 +, שָׂמָ֫הוּ Ezek 7:20 3 feminine singular שָׂ֫מָה 1Sam 19:13, suffix שָׂמָ֫תְהוּ Ezek 19:5; Ezek 24:7 2 masculine singular שַׂמְתָּ Jer 32:20 +; 3 plural שָׂמוּ Gen 40:15 +; 1 plural שַׂמְנוּ Isa 28:15, etc.; Imperfect 3 masculine singular יָשׂוּם Exod 4:11, יָשִׂים Gen 30:42 +, יָשִׂם Job 23:6 jussive יָשֵׂם 1Sam 22:15 +; וַיָּשֶׂם Gen 2:8 +; suffix יְשִׂמֵנִי 2Sam 15:4, וַיְשִׂימְךָ 1Kgs 10:9 2 feminine singular וַתָּשִׂימִי Isa 51:23 וָאָשִׂים 1Sam 28:21 +, וָאָשִׂימָה Ezra 8:17; Judg 12:3 Qr (Kt ואישׂמה); 2 masculine plural תָּשִׂימוּ Gen 32:17 +, תְּשִׂימ֫וּן Exod 22:24 +, etc.; Imperative masculine singular שִׂים Gen 24:2 +, etc.; Infinitive absolute שׂוֺם Deut 17:15 +, construct שׂוּם Deut 45:7 +, שִׂים Job 20:4 + 2Sam 14:7 Qr (Kt שׂום), שׂימו Isa 10:6 Kt (Qr שׂוּמוֺ), etc.; Participle שָׂם Amos 7:8 +, feminine singular הַשָּׂמָ֫ה Isa 51:10 (so read for ᵑ0 הַשָּׂ֫מָה); plural שָׂמִים Mal 2:2 +; pass. שִׂים Num 24:21 (compare Di), Obad 1:4 feminine according to most שׂוּמָה 2Sam 13:22 (van d. H. שׂימה Kt), but see below; שִׂימָ֫ה Ps 56:9 Bae Buhl, but most Imperative masculine singular; — put, set (often || נָתַן 2, q. v.), with accusative of person or of thing (expressed or implied):

1. a. put, set, in a place, + שָׁם Gen 2:8 (J), + accusative of location Gen 28:11 (E) + 5 t.+, with 2 accusative + location, 2Kgs 10:8 heads (in) heaps at (accusative of location), compare Lev 24:6 (עַל); + ב Lev 40:15 (E), figurative of ׳י, put his name, ׳בִּירוּשׁ 2Kgs 21:47 = 2Chr 33:7, compare with שָׁם 1Kgs 9:3; Deut 12:5 + 6 t.; especially ב of receptacle Gen 31:34 (E), Exod 2:3 (E), Judg 6:19 + often; sackcloth on (ב) loins Gen 37:34 (J), 1Kgs 20:31, crown on head Zech 6:11; Esth 1:17, shoes on feet Ezek 24:17 hook, etc., in nose 1Kgs 19:28 = Isa 37:29; Job 40:26, incense בְּאַפֶּ֑ךָ Deut 33:10, i.e. cause thee (׳י) to smell it; feet in stocks (figurative) Job 13:27; Job 33:11 knife into throat Prov 23:2 (figurative of self-restraint, Fl in De); words into mouth Exod 4:15 (J), Num 22:38 (E) + 8 t., + Deut 31:19 teach to say or sing; into heart Job 22:22, insert also 1Sam 29:10 ᵐ5 Th We Dr Kit Bu HPS; trust in God Ps 78:7 (guilt of) blood into house Deut 22:8, compare Judg 9:24 (עַל person; so, with נָתַן Deut 21:8; Jer 26:15; Jonah 1:14); something into hand Exod 4:21 (E), of wonders, i.e. enable hand to do them; elsewhere = take, of hammer Judg 4:21, booty 1Kgs 20:6, so (figurative) take one's life (נֶפֶשׁ) into one's palm (i.e. risk it) Judg 12:3; 1Sam 19:5; 1Sam 28:21; Job 13:14 put eyes בַּפּוּךְ 2Kgs 9:30 (see פּוּךְ, compare Isa 54:11); נֶפֶשׁ ( = person), בַּחַיִּים Ps 66:9 (subject ׳י); set men at (the use of) implements 2Sam 12:31 (probably, compare Dr HPS; > ( ם) וַיָּשַׂ sawed them with, as || 1Chr 20:3, Th We); 1Kgs 2:5 (|| נתן) is dubious; ᵐ5^L Klo Kit read וַיִּקֹּם; charge something against (ב person; properly put in, i.e. attribute, impute, to) 1Sam 22:15; Job 4:18 so, with ל person Deut 22:14, compare (ל omitted) vDeut 22:17 put בְּקֶרֶב Amos 7:8; Isa 63:11, בְּתוֺךְ Ezek 26:12.
b. put something upon (עַל) Num 21:8; Num 21:9 (E) + often; jewels, clothes, on person Gen 24:17 (J), Gen 41:42 (E), Lev 8:8 (P), Ruth 3:3, turban Zech 3:5 (twice in verse); Exod 29:5 (P), Lev 8:9 (P), compare (preposition omitted) Job 24:15; Job 36:13 (figurative), girdle Jer 13:1; Jer 13:2, sackcloth 1Kgs 21:27 אָדָם עַלהָֿאָרֶץ ׳שׂ Job 20:4 (of man's creation); of siege and siege engines, עַל = against, Mic 4:14; Ezek 23:24 put, lay, upon (עַל), 2Kgs 4:29 +; hand Gen 48:18 (J) + 3 t., + upon mouth, in silence Judg 18:19; Job 21:5, and awe Mic 7:16, so with ל Job 29:9, לְמוֺ Job 40:4; Job 40:40, upon (עַל) head 2Sam 13:19 (in despair, compare Jer 2:37); accusative of disease Exod 15:26 (J), so (ב person) vExod 15:26; Deut 7:16 figurative, spirit (עַל) Num 11:17 (JE), name Num 6:27 (P), duty Job 37:15 (?), reproach 1Sam 11:2, רָעָה תַּחַת מוֺדָה Ps 109:5 (ᵑ6 Bae וַיָּשִׁיבוּ so, or וַיְשַׁלְּמוּ, Hup Che); עַל לֵב ׳שׂ Song 8:6 (simile), so, figurative, = remember, treasure up, Isa 42:25; Isa 47:7 (|| זָכַר), + 6 t., with אֶל 2Sam 13:33; 2Sam 19:20 (|| id.); with ב 1Sam 21:13 compare בְּאָזְנֵי ׳שׂ Exod 17:14 (E), impress upon.
c. put, lay, set, with ל, 2Kgs 11:16 lay (violent) hands on = 2Chr 23:15 put end to Job 18:2; Job 28:3 set לְמָרוֺם Job 5:11 render glory to Josh 7:19 (J E; || נָתַן), Isa 42:12 make covenant with 2Sam 23:5 set food for Gen 43:32 (J), 2Sam 12:20, preposition omitted Gen 43:31 (J), so, with לִפְנֵי 1Sam 9:24; 1Sam 28:22; 2Kgs 6:22 לִפְנֵי ׳שׂ elsewhere Judg 18:21, of precedence Gen 48:20b (E) : set laws (as authoritative) לִפְנֵי Exod 19:7; Exod 21:1 (both E), Deut 4:44 God (as moral ruler) לְנֶגְדָּם Ps 54:5; Ps 86:14 נֶגֶד ׳שׂ also Gen 31:37 (E), נֹכַח Ezek 14:4; Ezek 14:7 לְעֵינֵי Gen 30:41 (J).
d. put, with בֵּין Josh 24:7 (E) + 5:t. (Exod 8:19 see פְּדוּת p. 804), + Gen 30:36 (J), Gen 32:17 (E), put space between; with תַּחַת Exod 17:12 (E), + 3 t. (Obad 1:7 strike out לַחְמְךָ We GASm Now and others) + יָד תַּחַת יָרִךְ ׳שׂ in oath Gen 24:2; Gen 24:9; Gen 47:29 (all J); put, with אֶל location 1Sam 6:11; 1Sam 6:15; 1Sam 19:13 a Hab 2:15, אֶל person Job 5:8 commit unto; with אֵצֶל of thing Lev 6:3 (P), מִצַּד of thing Deut 31:26 (P); עִמְּךָ ׳שׂ 1Sam 9:23 lay up something with thee, reserve it; put, with יַחַד Mic 2:12 put together = collect (|| אָסַף קִבֵּץ); without modifier 1Kgs 18:23 (twice in verse); 1Kgs 18:25; Ezek 30:21 apply bandage (|| נָתַן).

2. set, direct:
a. sword against (ב) Judg 7:22 figurative extend compassion, ל person Isa 47:6.
b. direct לֵב (mind) toward, pay attention to, with ל 1Sam 9:20; Deut 32:46; Ezek 40:4; Ezek 44:5b; with אֶל Exod 9:21 (J), 1Sam 25:25; 2Sam 18:3 (twice in verse); Job 2:3; Job 34:14 (Bu Du strike out לֵב and read רוּחוֺ יָשִׁיב); with עַל Hag 1:5; Hag 1:7; Job 1:8 compl. omitted Ezek 44:5a Hag 2:15; Hag 2:18 (twice in verse); Isa 41:22; Judg 19:30 read perhaps לְבַבְכֶם for לָכֶם (or עֵצָה for עֻצוּ), see especially GFM^Heb. Hpt.; לֵב omitted, Isa 41:20 ( + רָאָה, יָדַע, הִשְׂכִּיל), with ב person Job 23:6 (so Bu, who compares Job 4:20; Job 24:12; Job 34:23, but all cases dubious); שִׂים לֵב, with עַל = intend Dan 1:8 (object clause).
c. set face (פָּנִים) toward (accusative of location) Gen 31:21 (E), + לָבוֺא Jer 42:15 (twice in verse); Jer 42:17; Jer 44:12, compare 2Kgs 12:18; Dan 11:17 with אֶל, toward or against (implying opposition) Ezek 6:2 + 5 t. Ezekiel, with עַל Ezek 29:2; Ezek 35:2, with דֶּרֶךְ of direction Ezek 21:2 with ב (figurative of oppos., subject ׳י): הִנְנְי שָׂם פָּנַי בָּכֶם לְרָעָה Jer 44:11, compare Jer 21:10; Ezek 15:7 (|| נתן), Lev 20:5 (P); with ל of thing (human subject) Dan 11:18 Qr ( < Kt ישׁב); with עַל person + לִמְלֹךְ of purpose 1Kgs 2:15 set eyes (עֵינַים) upon, with עַל person = behold Gen 44:21 (J), = look after, take care of Jer 39:12; Jer 40:4, לְטוֺבָה Jer 24:6, but לְרָעָה Amos 9:4.

3. a. set, ordain, with accusative of thing Num 24:23 ( > accusative of person Di).
b. set, establish a law, statute, + ל person Exod 15:25; Josh 24:25 (both E), compare Prov 8:29 + ב location Isa 42:4; Ps 78:5 (|| הֵקִים), also Ps 81:6; Jer 33:25 + 2Sam 20:19 (שָׂמוּ for שְׁלֻמֵי ᵐ5 Ew We Kit Bu HPS, compare Dr); establish something as (ל) law Gen 47:26 (J), 1Sam 30:25 ( + ל person); establish bazaars (as a right), ב location, 1Kgs 20:34 appoint a set time Exod 9:5 (J), Job 34:23 (reading מוֺעֵד for עוֺד GHBWr Bu), insert (perhaps) 1Sam 13:8 so Dr Klo HPS ( > insert אמר Th We Bu Kit, after ᵐ5 Tagrum); a place, + ל person Exod 21:13; 2Sam 7:10 = 1Chr 17:9, ל of thing 1Kgs 8:21 ( + שָׁם).
c. set, found a nation, Isa 44:7 (several.), establish it Ps 89:30 (לָעַד).
d. set, appoint (as ruler, official) + עַל person or of a people, Exod 1:11; Exod 5:14; Exod 18:21 (all E), Deut 17:14; Deut 17:15 (3 t. in verse); Judg 11:11 ( + ל of office), 2Sam 17:25 ( + תַּחַת instead of) + 6 t. + Gen 47:6 (J; second accusative = ruler, expressed), 2Sam 23:23 (אֶל), עַל in || 1Chr 11:25 also 2 accusative + ל and ב location Ps 105:21 ב location 2Sam 15:4; 2Chr 33:14, בְּראֹשׁ at the head of, Deut 1:13, 2 accusative alone Song 1:6 with accusative of person + ל person Gen 27:37 (E), Hos 2:2; 1Sam 8:5 ( + infinitive); + of title Gen 45:8; Gen 45:9; Exod 2:14 ( + עַל; all E) + 4 t. + Judg 8:33 ( + ל person), + Ezek 44:8 (perhaps read וַתְּשִׂימוּם Hi Sm Co and most); + ל of purpose Hab 1:12 + ב of position, ל person 1Sam 8:11 with accusative of office alone 1Sam 8:12 ( + ל person), so Co Ezek 21:27 a (שָׂרִים for כָּרִים, see בַּר below כרר), 1Kgs 20:24 ( + תחת), compare 2Chr 23:18, + עַל, אֶל, of task Num 4:19 (P); Job 7:20 set me as (ל) mark for (ל) him.
e. set, constitute, make, with כ person or thing, Gen 13:16 (J) I will make thy seed the dust, Gen 32:13 (J) Gen 48:20 (E), Deut 10:22; Hos 11:8 + 16 t. + (bad sense) Hos 2:5; Nah 3:6; 1Kgs 19:2. feminine set, determine, fix, bounds Jer 5:22 (2 accusative) Job 38:5; Job 38:33; Ps 104:9 passive determined, settled, + עַלפֶּֿה 2Sam 13:32 (but see II. שׂום); appoint, send, frogs לְפַרְעֹךְ Exod 8:8 (J), with accusative of person + עַל against 2Kgs 18:14.

4. a. set, station, at a post, etc., accusative of person Josh 8:13 (JE), + ב location 2Kgs 10:24; Jer 9:7 + 5 t., + adverb accusative Gen 33:2 (J), + בֵּין location Josh 8:12, + ל (against) and אַחֲרֵי location vJosh 8:2 (both J E), + ל against Judg 9:25 ( + עַל location), + אֶל against Judg 20:29; Judg 20:36 doubtful are 1Sam 15:2 (with ל person), 1Kgs 20:12 (twice in verse) (עַלהָֿעִיר), where no object expressed (in MT); either an object has fallen out, or verb (in techn. Military sense), here intransitive or inwardly transitive (Dl^{ZK ii. 397} forward ! take direction toward; compare also [on Sm] We Dr Löhr), or else ׳שׂ is corrupt (compare HPS^sm)
b. put in position, sacred bread, sword, staves, bars, with accusative 1Sam 21:7; Ezek 21:27; Num 4:6; Num 4:8; Num 4:11; Num 4:14 + 4 t. P, Job 38:10 + עַל Exod 32:27 (E), Exod 40:20 (P), מִמַּעַל ל Jer 43:10, מֵעַל Esth 3:1 + (various modifiers) 8 t.; set in place, תֵּבֵל Job 34:13 (De and others), but context favours שָׁמַר Bu; Du לִבּוֺ בְּתֵבֵל ׳שׂ.
c. set up altars 1Kgs 2:19; Jer 11:13, stone as memorial Gen 18:18 (J), Gen 28:22 (E), 1Sam 7:12 (compare הֵקִים Gen 31:45 + ), image, etc. Judg 18:31 (|| הֵקִים), Deut 27:15; 1Kgs 12:29 (ב location, || נָתַן), 2Kgs 21:7 (ב location) = 2Chr 33:7, compare Ps 74:4; Isa 57:8 and, + ב location, Jer 7:30; Jer 32:34 rods before (לְעֵינֵי) cattle Gen 30:41 (|| וַיַּצֵּג vGen 30:38), compare vGen 30:42, guide-posts Jer 31:21, bed 2Kgs 4:10 ( + ל person).
d. = plant, wheat Isa 28:25, tree Isa 41:19 (ב location; || נָתַן), slip Ezek 17:5 (עַל by).
e. set, fix (countenance) 2Kgs 8:11, so usually, but accusative omitted, and sense dubious; read perhaps וַיִּשֹּׁם (√ שׁמם, compare e.g. 1Kgs 9:8), so Klo Kmp Kit Benz.

5. a. make a thing, or person (accusative), for, transform into (ל), Josh 6:18 (J) make camp לְחֵרֶם, Mic 1:6 make Samaria לְעִיִ, Gen 21:13; Gen 21:18 (E), Exod 14:21 (JE), Mic 4:7 (both good sense), Isa 28:17; Isa 42:15; Isa 42:16 + 12 t. Isaiah (Isa 25:2 read עִיר for מֵעִיר Vrss. Comm.), Jer 2:7 + 8 t. Jeremiah, + 14 t. + Judg 1:28 they made the Canaanites into the corvée; וְיָשֵׂם לְדֶרֶךְ פְּעָמָיו Ps 85:14 maketh his steps into a way (so RV Hup Che Dr, but meaning obscure; De Bae attend to the way of (לֵב omitted); Schr Hup-Now read ׳וְיִשְׁמֹר ד); with 2 accusative Josh 8:28 (J), 1Sam 11:11; Mic 1:7; 1Kgs 5:23 (praegn. with עַד location), + 29 t.
b. make, constitute, 2 accusative, 1Sam 8:1; 1Sam 18:13 ( + ל person) 1Sam 22:7 (לְבֻלְּכֶם, ל of accusative; or < read וְכֻלְּכֶם), Isa 3:7; Isa 60:17 + 6 t., + 1Sam 11:11 form people in bands, compare Job 1:17 (one accusative, form bands), + (accusative of person omitted) Exod 4:11b (J), compare (beast, in figure) Ezek 19:5 2 accusative and accusative + ל in same ver., Isa 54:12 I will make rubies thy prinnacles, and (transform) thy gates into carbuncles; in phrase of naming, שָׂם שְׁמוֺ יִשְׂרָאֵל 2Kgs 17:34, compare Judg 8:31; Neh 9:7 with ל, וַיָּשֶׂם לָהֶם שֵׁמוֺת Dan 1:7, לְדָנִיֵּאל בֵּלְטְשַׁאצַּר ׳וַיּ vDan 1:7 make, fashion, with accusative of thing + ל person Exod 4:11a (J; ׳י subject); grave Nah 1:14 (but on text and meaning see Now Bi^{SB Wiener Akkadian 1894, Abh. V}); with accusative דֶּרֶךְ Isa 43:19 (ב location), compare Ezek 21:24; Ezek 21:25 ( + ל infinitive); Ps 50:23 is dubious, usually order (one's) way, De Dr prepare way (which), et., Gr Che תֹּם for שָׂם; make name + ל person 2Sam 7:23 = 1Chr 17:21; 2Sam 14:7 make for, ל person (or give to), with accusative of posterity Gen 45:7 (E); 1Sam 2:20 read probably יַשַׁלֵּם ᵐ5 We Kit Bu HPS, compare Dr; Ezra 10:44b is obscure, Gu-Batten strike out וַיָּשִׂימוּ and read וַיְשַׁלְּחוּ before נָשִׁים, compare 3 Esdr 9:36 BeRy Ryle.
c. work, bring to pass, with accusative of thing, of ׳י's signs, etc., + ב location Exod 10:2 (J), Jer 32:20; Isa 66:19; Ps 46:9; Ps 78:43; Ps 105:27.
d. appoint, give, accusative of thing Num 6:26 (P), Isa 61:3 (|| נָתַן; both with ל person); a pledge Job 17:3 (|| עָרְבֵנִי go surety for me, but read perhaps עֶרְבֹנִי as object); וַשׂוֺם שֵׂכֶל Neh 8:8 giving understanding (making sense clear). Hiph`il Perfect 1 singular consecutive וַהֲשִׂמֹתִיהוּ Ezek 14:8, accusative of person + ל, I will make him for a sign (< שׁ for שׂ van d. H., √ שׁמם; Co Berthol Toy וְשַׂמְתִּיהוּ (Qal), Krae וַהִשְׁמַדְתִּיהוּ); Imperative feminine singular הָשׂימִי Ezek 21:21, probably del as dittograph Co Krae after ᵐ5 ᵑ6 ᵑ9 ᵑ7 Nö^{ZMG xxxvii (1888), 530} ( > Bö Toy and others הִקְדִּימוּ); Participle מֵשִׂים Job 4:20 = Qal (לֵב) שׂום (Job 4:23b), but phrase dubious, and text perhaps corrupt, see Me Nö^l.c. Hoph`al Imperfect 3 masculine singular וַּיּוּשׂם Gen 24:33 Qr (Kt ויישׂם Ges^{«GKC:73f»§ 73f}) there was set before him (לְפָנָיו) to eat, compare Ol^{MBAk. 1870, 389} Kö^{i. 435}, who read also וַיוּשַׂם Gen 50:26 he was laid in (ב) a mummy-case (for ᵑ0 וַיִּישֶׂם), Di (ed. 4.5.6) allows this.

BDB8189 H7760 H8040 H8057

שׂוּמָה (van d. H. שׂימה Kt) perhaps noun feminine token of unluckiness, scowl; — 2Sam 13:32, so Ew^{G iii. 234, H.172} (abbreviated fromשׂמאל; or emendation שִׁטְמָה) We RS^{Ency. Brit}.(9) DAVID Kit, compare Dr HPS.

BDB9915 H7760 H7761

[שׂוּם], שׂים verb set, make (see Biblical Hebrew; for Persian influence on usage compare Scheft⁶⁵); —

Pe`al Perfect 3 masculine singular שָׂם Ezra 5:3 +, suffix שָׂמֵהּ Ezra 5:14 2 masculine singular, שַׂ֫מְתָּ Dan 3:10 1 singular שָׂ֫מֶת טְעֵם Ezra 6:12 3 masculine plural שָׂמוּ Dan 3:12 Imperative masculine plural שִׂ֫ימוּ Ezra 4:21 —

1. make, accusative טְעֵם = make decree Dan 3:10; Ezra 6:1; Ezra 6:12 + verb finite vEzra 6:8, + infinitive Ezra 4:21; Ezra 5:13 and (with ל person) vEzra 5:3 vEzra 5:9.

2. make, appoint, one's name Dan 5:12 (2 accusative), one to office Ezra 5:14 (2 accusative).

3. set, fix, accusative בָּל mind, Dan 6:15 (c. infinitive); accusative טְעֵם Dan 3:12; Dan 6:14 pay due regard (טְעֵם) to (עַל person). Pe`il 3 masculine singular מִנִּי שִׂים טְעֵם Ezra 4:19, from me a decree is made, so Ezra 5:17; Ezra 6:8; Ezra 6:11; Ezra 7:13; Ezra 7:21; Dan 3:29; Dan 4:3; Dan 6:27 literal 3 feminine singular שֻׂמַת (read probably שִׂימַת K^{§ 45, Beisp. 1.} d)) Dan 6:18 (of stone, עַל local). Hithpe`el be made: Imperfect 3 masculine singular יִתְּשָׂם Ezra 4:24 (of decree, סטְעֵס with מִן agent.); 3 masculine plural יִתְּשָׂמוּן Dan 2:5 subject of thing + noun predicate be made into; Participle Ezra 5:8 literally be set, laid, of wood, ב of wall.

Strong's Definition H7760

put, set, make, made, laid, …

śûm

to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)

to put, place, set, appoint, make

(Qal)

to put, set, lay, put or lay upon, lay (violent) hands on

to extend (compassion) (figuratively)

Variations 144 forms of this word

Translations 323 English renderings

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Word Parts

אִלֵּ֔ם

Root word dumb, man

Dictionary form: אִלֵּם · il-LAME

Vowels & Accents

Hebrew Alephbet

Grammar Aamsa

Adjective — masculine singular, absolute state

אִלֵּם

Speech Adjective Type Adjective Gender Masculine Number Singular State Absolute

In English

In the KJV here: the dumb

dumb ×2 and i was as a dumb man ×1 for the dumb ×1 of the dumb ×1 the dumb ×1

More options

mute — Most natural modern term; preferred in clinical and literary contexts.

speechless — Emphasizes inability to speak in a moment or situation.

silent — Softer nuance; suits contexts of voluntary or shocked silence.

voiceless — Figurative or poetic register; suits advocacy or lament contexts.

unable to speak — Plain descriptive phrase; good for clarity in prose translations.

Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)

BDB494 H483

אִלֵּם adjective dumb, unable to speak; Exod 4:11 מִי שָׂם פֶּה לָֽאָדָם אוֺ מִי יָשׂוּם אִלֵּם; Isa 56:10 כְּלָבִים אִלְּמִים figurative of false prophets; of idols ׳אֱלִילִים א Hab 2:8 as substantive Prov 31:8; Ps 38:14; Isa 35:6.

אֻלָּם see III. אוּלָם p. 19.

אֵלָם see אֵילָם below II. אול.

Strong's Definition H483

dumb, man

ʾillēm

speechless

mute, silent, dumb, unable to speak

Variations 5 forms of this word

Translations 5 English renderings

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Word Parts

א֣וֹ

Conjunction or, either, whether, nor, then, …

Dictionary form: אוֹ · oh

Vowels & Accents

Hebrew Alephbet

Grammar C

Conjunction

אוֹ	Speech Conjunction

In English

In the KJV here: or

or ×278 either ×7 whether ×7 him or ×3 nor ×3 also or ×2 and ×2 it or ×2

More options

or — Default disjunctive; works in nearly every context.

either…or — Use when presenting two explicit alternatives.

whether…or — Preferred in conditional and indirect-question clauses.

nor — Use after a negative clause to continue negation.

otherwise — Signals consequence if the alternative is chosen.

and — Rare additive sense; use only when disjunction is weak.

Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)

BDB163 H176

אוֺ₃₂₀ , , ), conjunction or (whether aut or vel).

1. Gen 24:49; Gen 31:43; Exod 4:11; Song 2:9; Lev 13:24; Num 5:30 + often (especially in laws); sometimes implying a preference, nearly = or rather Gen 24:55 יָמִים אוֺ עָשׂוֺר a few days or ten Judg 18:19; 1Sam 29:3. Prefixed to the first as well as to the second alternative (rare) either (whether) ... or Lev 5:1; Lev 13:48; Lev 13:51 = or, if not Ezek 21:15 (si vera lectio) Ke Mal 2:17; Job 16:3; Job 22:11.

2. introducing a sentence, especially a particular case under a general principle, or = or if Exod 21:31 ׳אוֺבֵֿן יִגַּח וג or if he gore a son, etc. vExod 21:36; Lev 4:23; Lev 4:28 (see Di) Lev 5:21; Lev 5:22; Lev 25:49b; Num 5:14; 2Sam 18:13 or if I had dealt falsely against his life, then, etc., Ezek 14:17; Ezek 14:19 or if I send, etc.

3. if perchance, 1Sam 20:10 if perchance thy father answer thee with something hard, Lev 26:41.

4. once, with the jussive (as in Arabic with the subjunctive see Dr^{§ 175}) = except: Isa 27:5 I would burn them together, אוֺ יַחֲזֵק בְּמָעֻזִּי or else let him take hold (= except he take hold) of my strong-hold, etc.

אוּ Prov 31:4 Kt, see [אַי].

BDB177 H176

[אַו] noun masculine construct אוֺ, Kt Prov 31:4 desire, so Thes MV; but < Qr אֵי q. v.

Strong's Definition H176

or, either, whether, nor, then, …

ʾô

desire (and so probably in Proverbs 31:4); hence (by way of alternative) or, also if

or, rather

implying that the latter choice is preferred

Variations 4 forms of this word

Translations 24 English renderings

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Word Parts

חֵרֵ֔שׁ

Root word deaf

Dictionary form: חֵרֵשׁ · hay-RAYSH

Vowels & Accents

Hebrew Alephbet

Grammar Aamsa

Adjective — masculine singular, absolute state

חֵרֵשׁ

Speech Adjective Type Adjective Gender Masculine Number Singular State Absolute

In English

In the KJV here: deaf

the deaf ×2 and the deaf ×1 as a deaf ×1 deaf ×1 of the deaf ×1 or deaf ×1 shall the deaf ×1 ye deaf ×1

More options

deaf — Direct modern equivalent; suitable in nearly all contexts.

hearing-impaired — Clinical/sensitive register; good for legal or pastoral texts.

unable to hear — Descriptive phrase; clarifies condition for general audiences.

hard of hearing — Implies partial loss; use only when context suggests degree.

Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)

BDB3187 H2795

חֵרֵשׁ adjective deaf — חֵרֵשׁ (= חִרֵּשׁ ֗֗֗ ) Exod 4:11 + 4 t.; plural חֵרְשִׁים Isa 29:18 + 3 t.; — deaf, Exod 4:11 (J; || אִלֵּם), Ps 38:14 (|| id.); also Lev 19:14 (H), Isa 29:18; Isa 35:5; Isa 42:18; Isa 42:19 + vIsa 42:19 b (for last עִוֵּר, compare Isa 43:8 Gr^{JQ 1891, Oct. p. 2} see Che^{Comm., JQ Jan. 1892, 382}), Isa 43:8 ׳פֶּ֫תֶן ח Ps 58:5 a deaf adder.

Strong's Definition H2795

deaf

ḥērēš

deaf (whether literally or spiritual)

deaf

Variations 6 forms of this word

Translations 8 English renderings

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Word Parts

א֥וֹ

Conjunction or, either, whether, nor, then, …

Dictionary form: אוֹ · oh

Vowels & Accents

Hebrew Alephbet

Grammar C

Conjunction

אוֹ	Speech Conjunction

In English

In the KJV here: or

or ×278 either ×7 whether ×7 him or ×3 nor ×3 also or ×2 and ×2 it or ×2

More options

or — Default disjunctive; works in nearly every context.

either…or — Use when presenting two explicit alternatives.

whether…or — Preferred in conditional and indirect-question clauses.

nor — Use after a negative clause to continue negation.

otherwise — Signals consequence if the alternative is chosen.

and — Rare additive sense; use only when disjunction is weak.

Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)

BDB163 H176

אוֺ₃₂₀ , , ), conjunction or (whether aut or vel).

1. Gen 24:49; Gen 31:43; Exod 4:11; Song 2:9; Lev 13:24; Num 5:30 + often (especially in laws); sometimes implying a preference, nearly = or rather Gen 24:55 יָמִים אוֺ עָשׂוֺר a few days or ten Judg 18:19; 1Sam 29:3. Prefixed to the first as well as to the second alternative (rare) either (whether) ... or Lev 5:1; Lev 13:48; Lev 13:51 = or, if not Ezek 21:15 (si vera lectio) Ke Mal 2:17; Job 16:3; Job 22:11.

2. introducing a sentence, especially a particular case under a general principle, or = or if Exod 21:31 ׳אוֺבֵֿן יִגַּח וג or if he gore a son, etc. vExod 21:36; Lev 4:23; Lev 4:28 (see Di) Lev 5:21; Lev 5:22; Lev 25:49b; Num 5:14; 2Sam 18:13 or if I had dealt falsely against his life, then, etc., Ezek 14:17; Ezek 14:19 or if I send, etc.

3. if perchance, 1Sam 20:10 if perchance thy father answer thee with something hard, Lev 26:41.

4. once, with the jussive (as in Arabic with the subjunctive see Dr^{§ 175}) = except: Isa 27:5 I would burn them together, אוֺ יַחֲזֵק בְּמָעֻזִּי or else let him take hold (= except he take hold) of my strong-hold, etc.

אוּ Prov 31:4 Kt, see [אַי].

BDB177 H176

[אַו] noun masculine construct אוֺ, Kt Prov 31:4 desire, so Thes MV; but < Qr אֵי q. v.

Strong's Definition H176

or, either, whether, nor, then, …

ʾô

desire (and so probably in Proverbs 31:4); hence (by way of alternative) or, also if

or, rather

implying that the latter choice is preferred

Variations 4 forms of this word

Translations 24 English renderings

Search every verse

Word Parts

פִקֵּ֖חַ

Root word seeing, wise

Dictionary form: פִּקֵּחַ · pik-KAY-ah

Vowels & Accents

Hebrew Alephbet

Grammar Aamsa

Adjective — masculine singular, absolute state

פִקֵּחַ

Speech Adjective Type Adjective Gender Masculine Number Singular State Absolute

In English

In the KJV here: the seeing

the seeing ×1 the wise ×1

More options

sighted — Clear, modern term; contrasts well with 'blind'.

sharp-eyed — Emphasizes keen visual perception or alertness.

clear-eyed — Suggests both literal sight and perceptive insight.

perceptive — Highlights mental discernment over physical sight.

discerning — Prefer when context stresses wisdom or judgment.

clear-sighted — Bridges literal vision and figurative insight naturally.

Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)

BDB6744 H6493

פִּקֵּחַ adjective seeing; — ׳פ Exod 4:11 (opposed to עִוֵּר); plural פִּקְחִים, figurative, Exod 23:8 clear-sighted ones (compare [עָוַר]).

Strong's Definition H6493

seeing, wise

piqqēaḥ

clear-sighted; figuratively, intelligent

seeing, clear-sighted

Variations 2 forms of this word

Translations 2 English renderings

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Word Parts

א֣וֹ

Conjunction or, either, whether, nor, then, …

Dictionary form: אוֹ · oh

Vowels & Accents

Hebrew Alephbet

Grammar C

Conjunction

אוֹ	Speech Conjunction

In English

In the KJV here: or

or ×278 either ×7 whether ×7 him or ×3 nor ×3 also or ×2 and ×2 it or ×2

More options

or — Default disjunctive; works in nearly every context.

either…or — Use when presenting two explicit alternatives.

whether…or — Preferred in conditional and indirect-question clauses.

nor — Use after a negative clause to continue negation.

otherwise — Signals consequence if the alternative is chosen.

and — Rare additive sense; use only when disjunction is weak.

Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)

BDB163 H176

אוֺ₃₂₀ , , ), conjunction or (whether aut or vel).

1. Gen 24:49; Gen 31:43; Exod 4:11; Song 2:9; Lev 13:24; Num 5:30 + often (especially in laws); sometimes implying a preference, nearly = or rather Gen 24:55 יָמִים אוֺ עָשׂוֺר a few days or ten Judg 18:19; 1Sam 29:3. Prefixed to the first as well as to the second alternative (rare) either (whether) ... or Lev 5:1; Lev 13:48; Lev 13:51 = or, if not Ezek 21:15 (si vera lectio) Ke Mal 2:17; Job 16:3; Job 22:11.

2. introducing a sentence, especially a particular case under a general principle, or = or if Exod 21:31 ׳אוֺבֵֿן יִגַּח וג or if he gore a son, etc. vExod 21:36; Lev 4:23; Lev 4:28 (see Di) Lev 5:21; Lev 5:22; Lev 25:49b; Num 5:14; 2Sam 18:13 or if I had dealt falsely against his life, then, etc., Ezek 14:17; Ezek 14:19 or if I send, etc.

3. if perchance, 1Sam 20:10 if perchance thy father answer thee with something hard, Lev 26:41.

4. once, with the jussive (as in Arabic with the subjunctive see Dr^{§ 175}) = except: Isa 27:5 I would burn them together, אוֺ יַחֲזֵק בְּמָעֻזִּי or else let him take hold (= except he take hold) of my strong-hold, etc.

אוּ Prov 31:4 Kt, see [אַי].

BDB177 H176

[אַו] noun masculine construct אוֺ, Kt Prov 31:4 desire, so Thes MV; but < Qr אֵי q. v.

Strong's Definition H176

or, either, whether, nor, then, …

ʾô

desire (and so probably in Proverbs 31:4); hence (by way of alternative) or, also if

or, rather

implying that the latter choice is preferred

Variations 4 forms of this word

Translations 24 English renderings

Search every verse

Word Parts

עִוֵּ֑ר

Root word blind, men

Dictionary form: עִוֵּר · ih-WARE

Vowels & Accents

Hebrew Alephbet

Grammar Aamsa

Adjective — masculine singular, absolute state

עִוֵּר

Speech Adjective Type Adjective Gender Masculine Number Singular State Absolute

In English

In the KJV here: the blind

the blind ×9 is blind ×2 of the blind ×2 a blind ×1 and blind ×1 and the blind ×1 and with them the blind ×1 are blind ×1

More options

blind — Core adjective; works in nearly all contexts.

sightless — More clinical or poetic; avoids repetition of 'blind'.

visually impaired — Modern inclusive register; suits pastoral or accessible texts.

blind person — When the lemma functions as a noun referring to an individual.

the blind — Collective noun use; refers to blind people as a group.

unseeing — Figurative or metaphorical blindness; strong literary tone.

Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)

BDB5911 H5787

עִוֵּר adjective blind; — only absolute ׳ע Exod 4:11 +, plural עִיְרִים 2Sam 5:6 +, feminine עִוְרוֺת Isa 42:7 (with article הָעִוֵּר Deut 28:29, elsewhere ׳הַע Baer Ginsb; van d. H. לָעִוֵּר Job 29:15, הָעִוְרִים 2Sam 5:6; 2Sam 5:8; Isa 42:18); — blind, usually as substantive = the blind:

1. literally, physically blind:
a. of men Exod 4:11 (J; opposed to פִּקֵּחַ), 2Sam 5:6; 2Sam 5:8 (twice in verse); Lev 19:14 (H), Deut 27:18; Jer 31:8; Job 29:15 in simile Deut 28:29; Zeph 1:17; Isa 59:10, compare Lam 4:14 (apposition); as adjective attribute ׳אִישׁ ע Lev 21:18 (H).
b. of sacrifice animal Deut 15:21; Mal 1:8.

2. figurative,
a. of the helpless, groping Isa 29:18; Isa 35:5; Isa 42:16; Ps 146:8 as adjective attribute, עֵינַיִם עִוְרוֺת Isa 42:7.
b. of the dull, unreceptive, Isa 42:18; Isa 42:19 (3 t. in verse) (but vIsa 42:19 c read חֵרֵשׁ q. v.); as adjective attributive עַם עִוֵּר Isa 43:8 as predicate Isa 56:10.

Strong's Definition H5787

blind, men

ʿiwwēr

blind (literally or figuratively)

blind

blind (physically)

Variations 11 forms of this word

Translations 16 English renderings

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Word Parts

הֲ לֹ֥א

הֲ

Prefix — question marker turns the sentence into a question

לֹ֥א

Particle not

Dictionary form: לֹא · loh

Vowels & Accents

הֲ

Question marker This opening ה is not "the" — pointed הֲ (not הַ with a doubling dagesh) it turns the sentence into a question. Read the clause with a "?".

Hebrew Alephbet

Grammar Ti/Tn

Particle — Negative

הֲ	Speech Particle Type Interrogative
לֹא	Speech Particle Type Negative

In English

In the KJV here: have not

not ×882 neither ×399 no ×282 nor ×215 shall not ×205 thou shalt not ×116 is not ×102 and not ×86

More options

not — Default negation; fits nearly every context.

no — Use before nouns or as a standalone negative.

never — Emphasizes total or timeless negation.

nor — Use in paired or continued negative clauses.

neither — Use when negating two elements together.

none — Negates a noun or quantity; no one/nothing.

Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)

BDB4266 H3808

לֹא or לוֺא adverb not (Arabic , Aramaic לָא, , Sabean לא, Ass. lâ; not in Ethiopic: compare Kö^{ii. 1. 236} Walker^{AJSL 1896, 237 ff.}) — לוֺא, according to Masora (Fr^{MM 248}), 35 t., besides בְּלוֺא 6 t., and הֲלוֺא, the orthography of which varies much (ib.^{p. 251}), e.g. in Samuel always הֲלוֺא, in Chronicles always הֲלֹא, on the whole הֲלוֺא 141 t., הֲלֹא 128 t.; twice, according to Masora, written לו (Qr לֹא), 1Sam 2:16; 1Sam 20:2, once לה Deut 3:11 Kt: — not — denying objectively, like οὐ (not μὴ = אַל): —

1. in predication:
a. with a verb; so most frequently, and nearly always
(a) with the finite tenses, whether perfect (Gen 2:5 b Gen 4:5 etc.) or imperfect (Gen 3:4; Gen 8:21; Gen 8:22 etc.); in short circumstantial clauses, as Gen 44:4 לא הרחיקו, Isa 40:20 לֹא יִמּוֺט, and with a final force Isa 41:7; Exod 28:32 (see Ges^{«GKC:156»§ 156}. 3 R. b, c Dr^{§ 162}). Governing two closely connected verbs (Dr^{§ 115}, לא) Exod 28:43 וְלֹא יִשְׂאוּ עָוֺן וָמֵתוּ, Lev 19:12; Lev 19:29b Deut 7:25; Deut 7:26; Deut 19:10; Deut 22:1 and elsewhere; and two parallel clauses (Ges^{«GKC:152»§ 152}. 3) Isa 23:4b Ps 9:19; Ps 44:19; Job 3:1 and elsewhere With the imperfect, especially with 2 person, לֹא often expresses (not, like אַל, a deprecation, do not . . ., let not . . ., but) a prohibition, as Gen 2:17 לֹא תאֹכַל מִמֶּנּוּ thou shall not eat of it, Gen 3:1; Gen 3:3; Exod 20:3 לֹאיִֿהְיֶה לְךָ there shall not be to thee, etc., vExod 20:13 לא תגנב, etc. With the coh. and jussive moods (which are negatived regularly by אַל), it occurs only exceptionally (Ges^{«GKC:109»§ 109}. 1 b R. 1), Gen 24:8; 1Sam 14:36; 2Sam 17:12; 2Sam 18:14; 1Kgs 2:6; Ezek 48:14.
(b) with the infinitive (which is negatived by בִּלְתִּי, q. v.), only once, in בְּלֹא (4 a), and with לְ, in the sense of cannot, or must not; Judg 1:19 כי לא להורישׁ for it was not (possible) to dispossess, etc. Amos 6:10 לא ׳להזכיר בשׁם י, 1Chr 5:1; 1Chr 15:2 (Dr^{§ 202. 2}); compare Aramaic לָא Dan 6:9; Ezra 6:8. On its use with the participle, see b c.
(c) לא always negates properly the word immediately following: hence, in a verbal sentence, where this is not the verb, some special stress rests upon it, Gen 32:29 לֹא יַעֲקֹב ׳יֵאָמֵר עוֺד וג not Jacob shall thy name be called any more, but Israel, Gen 45:8 לֹא אַתֶּם שְׁלַחְתֶּם אֹתִי Not ye (in our idiom: It is not ye who) have sent me hither, but God, Exod 16:8; 1Sam 8:7 כִּי לֹא ׳אֹתְךָ מָאָסוּ כִּי אֹתִי וג, Ps 115:17 without a following correcting clause, Gen 38:9; Num 16:29 שְׁלָחָנִי׃ ׳לֹא י Not ׳י (but another) hath sent me, Deut 32:27 לֹא פָּעַל זֹאת ׳י, 1Chr 17:4; Deut 8:9; Isa 28:28 לא לנצח ֗֗֗ not for ever (but only for a while) . . . (so Isa 57:16; Ps 9:19; Ps 49:18; Ps 103:9 but Isa 13:20 לא תשׁב לנצח is, will not be inhabited for ever), Isa 43:22; Job 13:16; Job 32:9 hence rhetorically, insinuating something very different, not named, 2Kgs 6:10 not once, and not twice (but repeatedly), Ezra 10:13; Jer 4:11 a wind לֹא לְזָרוֺת וְלוֺא לְהַָבר׃ not to winnow, and not to cleanse (but to exterminate), Isa 45:13; Isa 48:1b Josh 24:12; Dan 11:20; Dan 11:29; Job 34:20 לֹא בְיָד (but by a Divine agency: compare Dan 2:34 also Job 20:26 אֵשׁ לֹא נֻפָּ֑ךְ fire not blown upon [but kindled from heaven], Lam 4:6 and אין Isa 47:14).
(d) standing alone:
(a) אִםלֹֿא if not, Gen 18:21 וְאִםלֹֿא אֵדָֽעָה׃, Gen 29:49; Gen 42:16; Job 9:24; Job 24:25 (β) הֲאִ֗֗֗םלֿא, or not, Gen 24:21 waiting to know דַּרְכּוֺ אִםלֹֿא ׳הַהִצְלִיחַ י, Gen 27:21; Gen 37:32; Exod 16:4; Num 11:23; Deut 8:2; Judg 2:22 (compare אִם אַיִן, אַיִן 2 d β, δ). In answer to a question or request, to deny, or decline, Nay, Nö: Judg 12:5 ויאמר לא, Hag 2:12 לא אדני Gen 23:11; Gen 42:10; 1Sam 1:15 +; often followed by כי, Nö for . . . = Nö but . . ., Gen 18:15 ויאמר לֹא כִּי צָחָ֑קְתְּ, Gen 19:2; Josh 5:14; Josh 24:21; 1Sam 2:16 Qr (see Dr), 1Sam 10:19 (ᵐ5 MSS), 2Sam 16:18; 2Sam 24:24; 1Kgs 3:22 (twice in verse) +; Job 23:6 (strangely). (compare, in deprecation, אַל.)
(e) with an interrogative force, which however does not lie in לא as such, but (as in other cases) in the contrast with a preceding clause, or in the tone of voice (compare וְ 1 f; Ew^{§ 324 a} Ges^{«GKC:150»§ 150}. 1 Dr^{1Sam 11:12}): Jonah 4:11 ׳אַתָּה חַסְתָּוַ֗֗֗אֲנִי לֹא אָחוּס וג, Job 2:10; Job 22:11; Exod 8:22; 2Kgs 5:26; Jer 49:9 (|| Obad 1:5 הֲלוֺא), Mal 2:15; Lam 3:38 and in passages, exegesis or text. doubtful (see Commentaries), 1Sam 20:14; 2Sam 23:5 (but see Bu), Hos 10:9 (Ew We), Hos 11:5 (Ew), Job 14:16b (but ᵐ5 Ew Di תַעֲבֹר), Lam 1:12 (Ew Ke), Lam 3:36 (Ke Bä).
b. with adjectives and substantive:
(a) Gen 2:18 לֹא טוֺב הֱֶיוֺת הָאָדָם לְבַדֹּו not good is man's being alone, Exod 18:17 + often
(b) Exod 4:16 לֹא אִישׁ דְּבָרִים אָנֹכִי, Amos 7:14 לא נביא אנכי, Num 23:9 לֹא אִישׁ אֵל וִיכַזֵּב, Deut 17:15 (see אשׁר

2. b) Deut 20:20; Deut 32:47; 1Sam 15:29; 2Sam 18:20 לֹא אִישׁ בְּשׂרָה אַתָּה הַיּוֺם, 2Sam 21:2; 1Kgs 22:33; 2Kgs 6:19 לא זִה הדרך, Mic 2:10; Isa 27:11; Hos 8:6 והמה לא אלהים Jer 2:11; Jer 16:20; 2Kgs 19:18; 1Kgs 19:11 (twice in verse) לֹא ׳בָרַעַשׁ י, Deut 30:12; Deut 30:13; Job 15:9; Job 28:14 לֹא בִי הִיא (|| אֵין עִמָּדִי)s, Ps 74:9; Jer 5:10 המה ׳לוא לי, Jer 10:16; Deut 32:21 בָּנִים לֹא אֵמוּן בָּם, Jer 10:14; Hab 1:14; Job 16:17; Job 38:26 מִדְבָּר לֹא אָדָם בּוֺ; 1Kgs 22:17 לֹא אֲדֹנִים לָאֵלֶּה, Jer 49:31; Ps 22:3 וְלֹא דוּמִיָּה לִי, Job 18:17; Job 18:19; Job 29:12 ולא עֹזֵר לו, Job 30:13; Job 33:9; Jer 2:19 וְלֹא פַחְדָּתִי אֵלַיִךְ and (that) my terror reached not unto thee, Job 21:9 absolute Gen 29:7 לֹאעֵֿתִ הֵאָסֵף הַמִּקְנֶה (Hag 1:2), Num 20:5; 2Kgs 4:23 לא חדשׁ ולא שׁבת, Isa 44:9; Jer 5:12 ויאמרו לוא הוא, Job 9:32; Job 22:16; Job 36:26; Job 41:2; Prov 19:7 (si vera lectio) מְרַדֵּף אֲמָרִים לֹאהֵֿמָּה words which are not, which are nought.
(c) with the participle לֹא is rare, a finite verb being usually preferred (Exod 34:7 וְנַקִּה לֹא יְנַקֶּה: Ew^{§ 320 c} Dr^{§ 162}): 2Sam 3:34 יָדֶיךָ לֹא אֲסֻרוֺת, Ezek 4:14; Ezek 22:24; Deut 28:61; Ps 38:15 כְּאִישׁ אֲשֶׁר לֹא שֹׁמֵעַ who is not hearing, Job 12:3; Job 13:2 לֹא נֹפֵל אָנֹכִי מִכֶּם, Zeph 3:5 (very anomalous); 1Kgs 10:21 לא is probably textual error In וְהוּא לֹא שׂנֵא לוֺ or לא שׂנא הוא לו, Deut 4:42; Deut 19:4; Deut 19:6; Josh 20:5 (compare אֹיֵב Num 35:23), שׂנֵא is best construed as a substantive, he being a not-hater to him afore-time. — In most of the cases under b, c, אין could have been employed; but the negation by לֹא is more pointed and forcible.

2. Not in predication:
a. coupled to an adjective to negative it, like the Greek ἀ‐, but usually by way of litotes: Hos 13:13 בן לאחֿכם an unwise son, Ps 36:5 דֶּרֶךְ לֹא טוֺב a way not good, Ps 43:1 גוי לא חסיד, Prov 16:29; Prov 30:25; Prov 30:26; Ezek 20:25; 2Chr 30:17 : Isa 16:14 לוֺא כַבִּיר, compare Isa 10:7 לֹא מְעַט.
b. with a participle Jer 2:2 ארץ לא זרועה, Jer 18:15 (the finite verb is more common: see Isa 62:12 עִיר לֹא נֱעֶזָ֫בָה (compare Isa 54:11), Jer 6:8 אֶרֶץ לוֺא נוֺשָׁ֫בָה, Jer 15:18; Jer 22:6; Jer 31:18; Zeph 2:1).
c. Gen 15:13 בארץ לא להם, Jer 5:19; Hab 1:6 מִשְׁכָּנוֺת לֹאלֿוֺ, Prov 26:17 רִיב לֹאלֿוֺ.
d. with a substantive, in poetry, forming a kind of compound, expressing pointedly its antithesis or negation (German un- is sometimes used similarly): Deut 32:5(?). 17. 21 a they made me jealous בְּלֹא אֵל with a not-God (with what in no respect deserved the name of God), v^b בְּלֹא עָם i.e. with an unorganized horde, Amos 6:13 הַשְּׂמֵחִים לְלֹא דָבָר i.e. at a thing which is not, an unreality (of their boasted strength), Isa 10:15 כְּהָרִים מַטֶּה לֹא עֵץ like a rod's lifting up what is no wood (but the agent wielding it), Isa 31:8 חרב לא אישׁ, חרב לא אדם, Isa 55:2 בלוא לחם for what is not bread, בלוא לשׂבעה for what is not for satiety, Jer 5:7 וַיּשָּֽׁבְעוּ בְּלֹא אֱלֹהִים by not-gods, in late prose 2Chr 13:9 כֹּהֵן לְלֹא אֱלֹהִים; Ps 44:13 תִּמְכֹּר עַמְּךָ בְּלֹאהֿוֺן for no-value (i.e. cheaply), Prov 13:23; Job 10:12 צלמות וְלֹא סְדָרִים darkness and disorder; so לֹאעַֿמִּי Hos 1:9; Hos 2:25: still more pregnantly Job 26:2 a מֶהעָֿזַרְתָּ לְלֹאכֹֿחַ (poetic for לאשׁר אין לו כח) the powerless, vJob 26:2b; vJob 26:3a (Ew^{§ 286 g} Ges^{«GKC:152»§ 152}. 1 n.), Job 39:16 הִקְשִׁיחַ בָּנֶיהָ לְלֹא לָהּ useth hardly her young ones (making them) into none of hers; and even Hab 2:6 הַמַּרְבֶּה לֹאלֿוֺ what is not his own (compare Job 18:15 מִבְּלִי לוֺ). compare with a verb, and ellipse of אשׁר, Isa 65:1 לְלֹא שָׁאָ֑לוּ to those who have not asked, v^b Jer 2:8 אַחֲרִי לֹא יוֺעִילוּ, vJer 2:11b; also לֹא רֻחָ֫מָה Hos 1:6; Hos 1:8; Hos 2:25, and probably Job 31:31 לֹא נִשְׂבָּ֑ע (perfect in p.) one not satisfied.
e. in circumstantial clauses (Dr^{§ 164}), in poetry and rare: qualifying a substantive, 2Sam 23:4 בֹּקֶר לֹא עָבוֺת a morning without clouds, Job 12:24 בְּתֹהוּ לֹא דֶרֶךְ in a pathless waste, Job 38:26a; and a verb Job 34:24 יָרֹעַ כַּבִּרִים לֹא חֵקֶר without inquiry, Ps 59:4 לא פשׁעי ולא חטאתי (compare vPs 59:4 בלי עון), in late prose, twice, 1Chr 2:30; 1Chr 2:32 וימת לא בנים (אֵין and בְּלִי, q. v., are more usual in such cases).

3. Once (according to many MSS), as a substantive, Job 6:21 כִּיעַֿתָּה הֱיִיתֶם לֹא for now are ye become nothing, Hi De Kö (compare Dan 4:32 (Aramaic) כְּלָה חֲשִׁיבִין, ᵑ7 here כְּלָא הֲוֵיתוּן, and אַל Job 24:25); but reading fluctuates (Orientals לֹא, Qr לו, Westerns, Baer (see pp. 37, 56) לוֺ ['now are ye become that,' namely the נַחַל אַכְזָב of vJob 24:15]; but even לוֺ yields a forced sense; and text is probably wrong: Mich Ew Ol Sgf Bu כֵּןלִ֗֗֗י (ᵐ5 ᵑ6 also read לִי); Bö Di כִּילְ֗֗֗אָ֑יִן. compare Kö^{ii. 1. 236 f}.

4. With prefixes: —
a. בְּלֹא₃₁ (chiefly in poetry or late), according to the varying significance of בְּ:
(a) usually with not = without, Jer 22:13 בונה ביתו בלאֿ צדק without justice (|| בלא משׁפט; so Ezek 22:29; Prov 16:8), Isa 55:1 (twice in verse); Prov 19:2; Job 8:11 הֲיִגְאֶהגֹּֿמֶא בְּלֹא בִצָּה without mire || כלי מים, Job 30:28 בְּלֹא חַמָּה (=not through the sun), Lam 1:6 וילכו בלאכֿח, Num 35:22 בְּלֹא אֵיבָה ֗֗֗ בְּלֹא צְדִיָּה, vNum 35:23 (followed by infinitive) בְּלֹא רְאוֺת, 2Chr 21:20; Eccl 10:11; Ps 17:1 תְּפִלָּתִי בְּלֹא שִׂפְתֵי מִרְמָה; used more freely in Chronicles, 1Chr 12:18 בְּלֹא חָמָס בְּכַפָּֽי׃, v.1Chr 12:34 בְּלֹא לֵב וָלֵב, 2Chr 30:18 בְּלֹא כַכָּתוּב. With ellipse of rel., Lam 4:14 בְּלֹא יוּכְלוּ יִגְּעוּ without (that) men are able to touch, etc.
(b) of time, in not, i.e. outside of, Lev 15:25 בלא עֶתנִֿדָּתָהּ, before Job 15:32 בלאיֿומו, Eccl 7:17 בְּלֹא עִתֶּךְ׃.
(c) where לֹא belongs to the following word, and is only accidentally preceded by ב (see above 2 d), Deut 32:21 (twice in verse); Jer 5:7; Prov 13:23 בלא משׁפט through injustice; with בְּ pretii, Ps 44:13; Isa 55:2 (twice in verse); Jer 2:11 בְּלוֺא יוֺעִיל for (that which) profiteth not.

b. הֲלֹא nonne ? Gen 4:7 + often Inviting, as it does, an affirmative answer, it is often used,
(a) especially in conversation, for pointing to a fact in such a way as to arouse the interest of the person addressed, or to win his assent: Gen 13:19 Is not the whole land before thee ? Gen 19:20; Gen 20:5; Gen 27:36; Gen 29:25; Exod 4:11 Who maketh dumb or deaf, etc. Do not I ? Exod 33:16; Judg 4:6; Judg 4:14; Judg 8:2; Judg 9:28; Judg 9:38; 1Sam 9:20; 1Sam 9:21; 1Sam 15:17 etc.; with a verb in 1 person, Josh 1:9 הלא צויתיך, Judg 6:14 הלא שׁלחתיך, 1Sam 20:30; 2Sam 19:23; Ruth 2:9: similarly in a poetical or rhetorical style, Judg 5:30 הלא ימצאו יחלקו שׁלל, Isa 8:19; Isa 10:8; Isa 10:9; Isa 10:11; Isa 28:25; Isa 29:17; Isa 40:21; Isa 40:23; Isa 42:24; Isa 43:19 etc., Job 4:6; Job 4:21; Job 7:1; Job 10:10; Job 10:20, etc. (β) it has a tendency to become little more than an affirm. particle, declaring with some rhetorical emphasis what is, or might be, well known: Deut 3:11 הֲלֹה הִיא בְרַבַּת בְּנֵי עַמּוֺן, Deut 11:30; 1Sam 21:12 הלוא ׳זה דוד וג (compare 1Sam 29:3; 1Sam 29:5; 2Sam 11:3), 2Sam 23:19; 2Sam 26:1; 2Sam 15:35 it is thus nearly = הִנֵּה (ᵐ5 sometimes represents it by ιδου, as Josh 1:9; Judg 6:14; Ruth 2:9; 2Sam 15:35); so especially in the phrase of the compiler of Kings, And the rest of the acts of . . ., הֲלֹא הֵם (הֵמָּה) כְּתוּבִים are they not written in, etc. ? 1Kgs 11:41; 1Kgs 14:29 + often (with which there interchanges הִנָּם כְּתוּבִים 1Kgs 14:19; 2Kgs 15:11; 2Kgs 15:26; 2Kgs 15:31, which is generally used by the Chronicles, 2Chr 16:11; 2Chr 20:34, etc.), Josh 10:13 (compare 2Sam 1:18 הִנֵּה), 1Kgs 8:53 ᵐ5, Esth 10:2; Ps 56:14 (strangely: contr. Ps 116:8). — הֲלֹא הִנֵּה Hab 2:13; 2Chr 25:26 (הִנָּם). — On Judg 14:15, see הֲ 1 end.

c. וָלֹ֕א and not=and if not, 2Sam 13:26; 2Kgs 5:17. compare וָּיֵשׁ.
d. כְּלוֺא Obad 1:16 והיו כלוא היו, poetic for כאשׁר, as though they had not been.

e. לְלֹא without, literally in the condition of no . . . 2Chr 15:3 (compare לְאֵין, also in Chronicles). Elsewhere לא belongs to the following word, Amos 6:13; 2Chr 13:9; Isa 65:1 (twice in verse); Job 26:2; Job 26:3; Job 39:16 (see above 2 d).

Note. — Fifteen times, according to Masora (see De^{Ps 100. 3} Fr^{MM 247} Str^{Prol. Cr. 84}), לא is written by error for לוֺ, namely Exod 21:8; Lev 11:21; Lev 25:30; 1Sam 2:3; 2Sam 16:18; 2Kgs 8:10; Isa 9:2; Isa 63:9; Ps 100:3; Ps 139:16; Job 13:15; Job 41:4; Prov 19:7; Prov 26:2; Ezra 4:2 (always with Qr לוֺ). The passages must be considered each upon its own merits: in some לוֺ yields a preferable sense; but this is not the case in all. There is the same קרי (rightly) on Isa 49:5; 1Chr 11:20 but these were not considered to rest upon equal authority, and are hence not reckoned with the fifteen. — In Judg 21:22 (see GFM), 1Sam 13:13; 1Sam 20:14 (twice in verse), and in Job 9:33 לֹא יֵשׁ, read probably לֻא for לֹא.

BDB4344 H3808

לוֺ (Kt 1Sam 2:16; 1Sam 20:2), לוֺא, see לֹא.

BDB9632 H3808 H3809

לָא (לָה Dan 4:32) adverb not (Biblical Hebrew לא; Aramaic of Têma, Egyptian, etc., לא; Nerab ל (Lzb³⁰¹ Cook^{G1. 67}); ᵑ7 לָא; Syriac ); — not Jer 10:11; Dan 2:5; Dan 2:9; Dan 2:10, etc.; before a participle (so rarely in Biblical Hebrew, 1 b c), Dan 2:27; Dan 2:43; Dan 3:16; Dan 4:4; Dan 4:6; Dan 4:15 +, so v.Dan 4:32 וְכָלדָּֿאְרֵי אַרְעָא כְּלָה חֲשׁיבִין; are as men not accounted of (so Bev Behrm Marti, compare Isa 53:8 ᵑ7 בסירין ולא חשׁיבין; > most 'accounted as nothing,' for which no analogy, yet compare Ps 39:6 ᵑ7); followed by אִיתַי, see אִיתַי. With infinitive and לְ Dan 6:9 דִּי לָא לִהַשְׁנָיָה which it is not to alter = which is not to be altered (compare v.Dan 6:16), Ezra 6:8 (K^{§ 67, 1} Dr^{§ 202, 2}.; compare Isa 35:6 ᵑ7, D^{Aramaic Dialektproben, p. 1}). With interr. הֲלָא Dan 3:24; Dan 4:27; Dan 6:13.

BDB9640 H3809 H3861 H518 H2006 H3808 H3588

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

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

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

Strong's Definition H3808

not, no, neither, nor, none, …

lōʾ

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

not, no

not (with verb—absolute prohibition)

Variations 44 forms of this word

Translations 881 English renderings

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Word Parts

Breakdown unavailable for this word. Dictionary form: אָנֹכִי · aw-noh-KEE

Vowels & Accents

Hebrew Alephbet

Grammar Pp1cs

Noun — Common, singular

	Speech Noun Type Common Number Singular
	Speech Pronoun Type Personal Person First Person Number Singular

In English

In the KJV here: i

i ×240 and i ×33 am i ×11 but i ×5 for i ×5 even i ×4 have i ×4 will i ×4

More options

I — Standard first-person singular pronoun; broadest default choice.

me — Use when the pronoun is in object position.

myself — Use for reflexive or emphatic self-reference.

it is I — Emphatic identificational clause; mirrors 'I am' contexts.

Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)

BDB593 H595

אָֽנֹכִ֫י אָנֹ֑כִי (once Job 33:9 אָֽנֹכִ֑י pronoun 1 singular common I; Gen 3:10; Gen 7:4; Gen 15:1; Gen 15:2; Gen 16:5 + often With הֲ הֶאָנֹכִי Num 11:12; Job 21:4. (Assyrian anâku, Phoenician & Moabite אנך: not in Arabic, Aramaic, Ethiopic; but ku appears as the affix of the 1 singular in the Ethiopic verb (e.g. waladku = Hebrew יָלַדְתִּי). אָנֹכִי and אֲנִי appear to be two parallel formations (both containing the element ani [compare the suffix , נִי-] or ana, & one strengthened by the addition of the demonstrative basis Ku [probably akin to כָּא, כֹּה here]: compare Sta^{§ 179} W^{SG 95 f.} 98-101), of which, in most of the Semitic languages, one prevailed to the exclusion of the other, but which in Hebrew maintained their place side by side.) In some cases אני and אנכי appear capable of being used indiffer-ently; in others the choice seems to have been determined, partly by rhythmical considera-tions, partly by a growing preference for אֲנִי among later writers. Thus when appended to the verb for emphasis (whether with or without גַּם) the lighter form אֲנִי is nearly always used ( Lev 20:5; Lev 26:24; Lev 26:32; Deut 12:30; Judg 1:3; Judg 8:23; 2Sam 12:28; 2Sam 17:15; 2Sam 18:2; 2Sam 18:22; Jer 17:18; Jer 21:5; Ezek 17:22; Job 13:2 +; compare the cases Gen 27:34; 1Sam 25:24; 2Sam 19:1; 1Kgs 1:26; Prov 23:15); on the contrary, in the emphatic rhetorical style of Deuteronomy, אָנֹכִי is preferred (in the discourses, uniformly, except Deut 12:30, in accusative with usage just noted, & Deut 29:5 in a standing expression; on Deut 32:48; Deut 32:51 (P) compare below) In particular phrases, also, usage prefers sometimes אֶני sometimes אָנכי thus there occurs חַיאָֿנִי Num 14:21 & always, except Deut 32:40 (אָ֑נִי) אִתְּךָ אֲנִי (Jer 1:9; Jer 1:19; Jer 30:11; Jer 46:18; Isa 43:2; Isa 43:5); אֲנִי יהוה Exod 6:2; Exod 6:6; Exod 6:8 & elsewhere in P, & especially frequently in H (Lev 18:2; Lev 18:4; Lev 18:6 etc.) & Ezekiel, also Gen 15:7; Gen 28:13; Deut 29:5; Judg 6:10 +; (אנכי יהוה much less frequently; only J E & prophetic writers, Exod 20:2 = Deut 5:6; Hos 12:10; Hos 13:4; Ps 81:11; Exod 20:5 = Deut 5:9; Isa 43:11; Isa 44:24; Isa 51:15 (Exod 4:11 is different); compare Dr^{JPh xi. 224 f.}); אני אמרתי Isa 38:10 (Hez.) Isa 49:4; Jer 5:4; Jer 10:19 (Jer 3:19 אנכי) Ruth 4:4; Ps 30:7; Ps 31:23; Ps 41:5; Ps 82:6 +; ויאמר אָ֫נִי (in response to a question) Gen 27:24; Judg 13:11; 2Sam 20:17; 1Kgs 13:14; 1Kgs 18:8 (אנכי ׳וי only 2Sam 2:20 on the contrary, with a predicate, אָנֹבִי is regularly employed, Gen 24:34; 1Sam 30:13; 2Sam 1:8 עֲמָלֵקִי אָנֹ֑בִי 2Sam 11:5; 2Sam 20:17; Isa 6:5; Jer 1:6; Jonah 1:9); (הִנְנִי) וַאֲנִי הִנֵּה Gen 6:17; Gen 9:9; Exod 31:6; Num 3:12 + (but הִנֵּה אָנֹכִי Gen 24:14; Gen 24:43; Gen 25:32; Exod 3:13; Exod 19:9 +; הִנֵּה אֲנִי is very uncommon; see ib.²²⁶). So far as the usage of particular books is concerned, in the Pentateuch (except Deuteronomy) אֲנִי is used in P (including H) always (about 130 t.) except Gen 23:4 (compare Ezekiel below); in J E אנכי is preferred, though not exclusively (Gen 81:48). In Samuel there are 50 instances of each form. Jeremiah has some 54 instances of אֶני 37 of אנכי. In later books the preponderance of אֲנִי is evident. Thus in Ezekiel אני occurs 138 t., אנכי once Gen 36:28 (perhaps a reminiscence of Jer 11:4 b Jer 24:7; Jer 30:22); in Lamentations, Haggai, Ezra, Esther, Ecclesiastes אני 45 t., אנכי never; in Chronicles אני 30 t., אנכי once 1Chr 17:1 (from 2Sam 7:2); in Daniel אני 23 t., אנכי once 2Sam 10:11. See more fully Gies^{ZAW 1881, 251-8} Dr^{l.c. 222-7}.

BDB597 H595

אָֽנֹכִי pronoun 1 singular see above below אֲנִי.

Strong's Definition H595

i, me, which

ʾānōkî

I

I (first pers. sing.)

Variations 9 forms of this word

Translations 45 English renderings

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Word Parts

יְהוָֽה

Root word a name — transliterate it ("The lord")

Dictionary form: יְהֹוָה · yeh-hoh-WAW

Vowels & Accents

Hebrew Alephbet

Grammar Np

Noun — Proper Name

יְהוָֽה

Speech Noun Type Proper Name

In English

In the KJV here: the lord

the lord ×2811 of the lord ×1522 and the lord ×457 unto the lord ×342 o lord ×222 am the lord ×158 lord ×67 to the lord ×60

More options

the LORD — Standard modern Bible convention; small-caps signal the divine name.

YHWH — Preserves the Hebrew tetragrammaton; used in scholarly translations.

Yahweh — Reconstructed pronunciation; preferred in academic and some modern versions.

the Lord — General rendering when small-caps convention is unavailable.

God — Use only where context clearly equates YHWH with generic deity.

the Eternal — Captures timeless-existence nuance; used in some progressive translations.

Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)

BDB2100 H3068 H3069 H1961 H430 H589 H2022 H6635

יהוה_{c. 6823} i.e. יַהְוֶה proper name, of deity Yahweh, the proper name of the God of Israel — (

1. ᵑ0 יְהוָֺה^C518 (Qr אֲדֹנָי), or יֱהוִֺה₃₀₅ (Qr אֱלֹהִים), in the combinations אדני יהוה & יהוה אדני (see אֲדֹנֶי), and with preposition בַּיהוָֺה, לַיהוָֺה, מֵיהוָֺה (Qr בַּאדֹנָי, לַאדֹנָי, מֵאדֹנָי), do not give the original form. ᵐ5 and other Vrss follow the Qr. On the basis of Exod 20:7; Lev 24:11 יהוה was regarded as a nomen ineffabile (see Philo^{de Vita Mosis iii. 519, 529}), called by the Jews הַשֵּׁם and by the Samaritans שׁימא. The pronunciation Jehovah was unknown until 1520, when it was introduced by Galatinus; but it was contested by Le Mercier, J. Drusius, and L. Capellus, as against grammatical and historical propriety (compare Bö^{§ 88}). The traditional Ἰαβέ of Theodoret and Epiphanius, the יָֿהוּ, יְהוֺֿ of compound proper name and the contracted form יָהּ all favour יַהְוֶךְ (compare יַהֲלֹמ֑וּן Ps 74:6 תַּהֲרוּ Isa 33:11), see Lag^{Sym i.14} Baud^{Studien i.179 ff.}; Dr^{Stud.Bib.i.1 ff.} For Jeve see Sta^{ZAW 1881, 346} De^{ib.1882, 173 f. & Gn. Excurs. ii.}

2. on literature of interpretations see Nes^Eg.67 Dr^{l.c. — Many recent scholars explain} יַהְוֶה as Hiph`il of היה (=היה) the one bringing into being, life-giver (compare חַוָּה Gen 3:20) Schr HSch; giver of existence, creator, Kue Tiele; he who brings to pass (so already Le Clerc),performer of his promises, Lag, Nes^Eg.88 (but Nes^{Eg.91 inclines to Qal as} RS^{Brit. & For. Ev. Rev} see below); or from היה he who causes to fall, rain or lightning RS^{OTJC.ed.1, 423; om.ed.2, 245}, compare We^{Skizzen iii.175}; 'Fäller,' destroying foes, Sta^G.i.429 (dubiously). But most take it as Qal of הוה (= היה); the one who is: i.e. the absolute and unchangeable one, Ri; the existing, ever living, as self-consistent and unchangeable, Di; or the one ever coming into manifestation as the God of redemption, De Oehl; compare also RS^{Brit. & For. Ev. Rev. 1876}, he will be it, i.e all that his servants look for (compare Ew^infr), he will approve himself (give evidence of being, assert his being Dr^l.c.17)).

**Theories of non-Hebrew or non-Semitic origin, opposed (in their older forms) by Bau^{Rel. i. 181 ff. (see especially 230)}; Dl^{Pa 162 ff.} claimed Babylonian origin for יהו, against this Kue^{national Religions, etc., Note iv (Eng. Trans. 329 ff.)} Jastr^{JBL xiil {1894}, 103 f.} compare Hpt^{BAS i. 170 N}; Dl^{Babel u. Bibel, 46 f., 73 f.} makes same claim for יהוה, against this see especially Hirsch^{ZAW xxiil {1903}, 355 ff.} Zim^{KATS. 465 ff.}; Spiegelb^{ZMG:liii {1899}, 633 ff.} proposes (improbable) Egyptian etymology for יהוה; further discussions see in Kö^{EB NAMES, § 112 and n.3}. 'Jehovah' found in Jacob (? Johannes) Wessel († 1480), according to Schw^{ThLZ, 1905, col. 612}.

I. יהוה is not used by E in Genesis, but is given Exod 3:12-15 as the name of the God who revealed Himself to Moses at Horeb, and is explained thus : אֶהְיֶה עִמָּ֑ךְ I shall be with thee (Exod 3:12), which is then implied in אֶהְיֶה אֲשֶׁר אֶהְיֶה I shall be the one who will be it vExod 3:14a (i.e: with thee vExod 3:12) and then compressed into אֶהְיֶה vExod 3:14b (i.e. with thee vExod 3:12), which then is given in the nominal form יהוה He who will be it vExod 3:15 (i.e. with thee vExod 3:12). compare Ew^{BTh ii. 337, 338} RS^{l.c., Proph. 385 ff.} Other interpretations are: I am he who I am, i.e. it is no concern of yours (Le Clerc Lag^{Psalt.Hieron.156}); I am (this is my name), inasmuch as I am (אֲשֶׁר = כִּי; AE JDMich We^JD Th xxi, 540 = compare Hexateuch 72); Di and others I am who I am, he who is essentially unnameable, inexplicable, — E uses יהוה sparingly by the side of אלהים and האלהים in his subsequent narrative. The Ephraimitic writers in Judges Samuel Kings use it in similar proportions. P abstains from the use of יהוה until he gives an account of its revelation to Moses Exod 6:3 but subsequently uses it freely. He gives no explanation of its meaning. He represents that אֵל שַׁדַּי was the God of the patriarchs. J uses יהוה from the beginning of his narrative, possibly explaining it, Gen 21:83 by אל עולם, the evergreen tamarisk being a symbol of the ever-living God; compare De Gen 21:33. Elsewhere יהוה is the common divine name in pre-exilic writers, but in post-exilic writers gradually falls into disuse, and is supplanted by אלהים and אדני. In Job it is used 31 t. in prose parts, and Job 12:9 (a proverb); not elsewhere in the poem. Chronicles apart from his sources prefers אלהים and האלהים. Daniel uses יהוה only in chap. 9 (7 t.); Ecclesiastes not at all. In the Elohistic group of Psalm 42-83 it is used 39 t. (see אלהים) . It occurs as the name of Israel's God MI¹⁸. It is doubtful whether it was used by other branches of the Shemitic family, compare COT Gen 2:4b Dl^{Pa 158 ff.} Dr^{Stud. Bib. i. 7 ff}.

II. 1. יהוה is used with אלהים and suffixes, especially in D;
a. with אֱלֹהֶיךָ in the Ten Words Exod 20:2-12 (5 t.) = Deut 5:6-16 in the law of worship of J E, Exod 23:19; Exod 34:24; Exod 34:26 in D 234 t.; Josh 1:9; Josh 1:17; Josh 9:9; Josh 9:24 (D²); elsewhere Gen 27:20; Exod 15:26 (JE), Judg 6:26 Samuel & Kings 20 t.; 1Chr 11:2; 1Chr 22:11; 1Chr 22:12; 2Chr 9:8 (twice in verse); 2Chr 16:7; Isa 7:11; Isa 37:4 (twice in verse); Isa 41:13; Isa 43:3; Isa 51:15; Isa 55:5; Jer 40:2 + (3t.); Hos 12:10; Hos 13:4; Hos 14:2; Amos 9:15; Ps 81:11.
b. with אֱלֹהֵיכֶם in D 46 t.; D² 28 t.; H 15 t.; P 15 t.; elsewhere Exod 23:25 (E); Exod 8:24; Exod 10:8; Exod 10:16; Exod 10:17 (JE); Judg 6:10; 1Sam 12:12; 1Sam 12:14; 2Kgs 17:39; 2Kgs 23:21; 1Chr 22:18 + (10 t. Chronicles) Ps 76:12; Jer 13:16 + (5 t.) Ezek 20:5; Ezek 20:7; Ezek 20:19; Ezek 20:20; Joel 2:13 + (6 t.) Zech 6:15.
c. with אֱלֹהֵינוּ in D 23 t.; in D² 5 t.; Exod 8:6 (JE) Exod 3:18; Exod 5:3; Exod 8:22; Exod 8:23; Exod 10:25; Exod 10:26 (E) Judg 11:24; 1Sam 7:8; 1Kgs 8:57; 1Kgs 8:59; 1Kgs 8:61; 1Kgs 8:65; 2Kgs 18:22; 2Kgs 19:10 = Isa 36:7; Isa 37:20; 1Chr 13:2 + (15 t. Chronicles) Mic 4:5; Mic 7:17; Isa 26:13; Jer 3:22 + (17 t.) Ps 20:8; Ps 90:17 (?;Baer אֲדנָֹי); Ps 94:23; Ps 99:5; Ps 99:8; Ps 99:9 (twice in verse); Ps 105:7; Ps 106:47; Ps 113:5; Ps 122:9; Ps 123:2; Dan 9:10; Dan 9:13; Dan 9:14.
d. with אֱלֹהֵיהֶם Exod 10:7 (J) Exod 29:46 (twice in verse); Lev 26:44 (P) Judg 3:7; Judg 8:34; 1Sam 12:9; 1Kgs 9:9; 2Kgs 17:7; 2Kgs 17:9; 2Kgs 17:14; 2Kgs 17:16; 2Kgs 17:19; 2Kgs 18:12; 2Chr 31:6; 2Chr 33:17; 2Chr 34:33; Neh 9:3 (twice in verse); Neh 9:4; Jer 3:21; Jer 22:9; Jer 30:9; Jer 43:1 (twice in verse); Jer 50:4; Ezek 28:26; Ezek 34:30; Ezek 39:22; Ezek 39:28; Hos 1:7; Hos 3:5; Hos 7:10; Zeph 2:7; Hag 1:12 (twice in verse); Zech 9:16; Zech 10:6.
e. with אֱלֹהָיו Num 23:21 (E) Exod 32:11 (J) Lev 4:22 (P) Deut 17:19; Deut 18:7; 1Sam 30:6; 1Kgs 5:17; 1Kgs 11:4; 1Kgs 15:3; 1Kgs 15:4; 1Kgs 2:11; 1Kgs 16:2; 1Kgs 2:1 + 13 t. Chronicles; Mic 5:3; Jer 7:28; Ps 33:12; Ps 144:15; Ps 146:5; Jonah 2:2. feminine with אֱלֹהַי Num 22:18 (JE) Deut 4:5; Deut 18:16; Deut 26:14; Josh 14:8; Josh 14:9; 2Sam 24:24; 1Kgs 3:7; 1Kgs 5:18; 1Kgs 5:19; 1Kgs 8:28; 1Kgs 17:20; 1Kgs 17:21; 1Chr 21:17; 1Chr 22:7; 2Chr 2:3; 2Chr 6:19; 2Chr 9:5; Ps 7:2; Ps 7:4; Ps 13:4; Ps 18:29; Ps 30:3; Ps 30:13; Ps 35:24; Ps 40:6; Ps 104:1; Ps 109:26; Isa 25:1; Jer 31:18; Dan 9:4; Dan 9:20; Jonah 2:7; Hab 1:12; Zech 11:4; Zech 13:9; Zech 14:5.
g. with אֱלֹהַיִךְ Isa 60:9; Jer 2:17; Jer 2:19; Jer 3:13; Mic 7:10; Zeph 3:17.
h. with אלהים, probably always due to later editors, or to a Qr which has crept into the text Gen 2:4b — Gen 3:23 (J, 20 t. either אלהים inserted by R^P as Di De; or יהוה inserted by J in an older source); Exod 9:30 (J, but not in ᵐ5 ⅏; Samaritan אדני יהוה; possibly ᵑ0 from earlier Qr, & ⅏ from later Qr); 2Sam 7:22; 2Sam 7:25 (ᵐ5 אדני יהוה and 1Chr 17:20-23 only יהוה); 1Chr 17:16; 1Chr 17:17 (but 2Sam 7:18; 2Sam 7:19 אדני יהוה) 1Chr 28:20; 1Chr 29:1; 2Chr 1:9; 2Chr 6:41 (twice in verse); 2Chr 6:42; 2Chr 26:18 (but in the original Ps 132:8 stood יהוה (so ℌ), or else no divine name); Ps 72:18 (the late doxology) Ps 84:12 (but it makes the line too long); Jonah 4:6. For the combinations with other divine names see those names.

2. the phrase אֲנִי יהוה is noteworthy: —
a. after אמר either alone Exod 6:2; Exod 6:29 (P) or before relative and other clauses: Gen 28:13 (J) Gen 15:7 (R) Exod 6:6 (P) with אלהיכם Judg 6:10; Ezek 20:5.
b. after ידע כי (α) Exod 7:17; Exod 8:18; Exod 10:2 (J); Exod 7:5; Exod 14:4; Exod 14:18 (P); 1Kgs 20:13; 1Kgs 20:28; Jer 24:7; Ezek 6:7 + 48 t. Ezekiel; (β) with אלהיכם Exod 6:7; Exod 16:12; Deut 29:5 (P) Exod 20:20; Joel 4:17 (γ) with אלהיהם Exod 29:46 (P) Ezek 28:26; Ezek 34:30; Ezek 39:22; Ezek 39:28 (δ) before relative and other clauses Isa 45:3; Isa 49:23; Isa 49:26; Isa 60:16; Ezek 7:9; Ezek 17:24; Ezek 21:10; Ezek 22:22; Ezek 35:12; Ezek 36:36 (ε) with various forms of קדשׁ Exod 31:13 (P) Ezek 20:12; Ezek 37:28; Ezek 39:7 (ζ) with דברתי Ezek 5:13; Ezek 17:21, compare ׳יֵדְעוּ אשׁר אני י Ezek 20:26.
c. after כִּי in various combinations Lev 11:44; Lev 11:45; Num 35:34 (P), Lev 20:7; Lev 20:26; Lev 21:8; Lev 21:15; Lev 21:23; Lev 22:16; Lev 24:22; Lev 25:17; Lev 26:1; Lev 26:44 (all H); Exod 15:26 (R) Isa 41:13; Isa 43:3; Isa 61:8; Jer 9:23; Ezek 12:25; Ezek 21:4; Zech 10:6; Mal 3:6.
d. emphatic Exod 6:8; Exod 12:12; Lev 26:2; Lev 26:45; Num 3:13; Num 3:41; Num 3:45 (all P); Lev 18:5; Lev 18:6; Lev 18:21; Lev 19:12; Lev 19:14; Lev 19:16; Lev 19:18; Lev 19:28; Lev 19:30; Lev 19:32; Lev 19:37; Lev 21:12; Lev 22:2; Lev 22:3; Lev 22:8; Lev 22:30; Lev 22:31; Lev 22:33 (all H) Isa 43:15 with אלהיהם Exod 29:46 with אלהיךָ Isa 48:17 with אלהיכם Lev 23:43; Lev 25:38; Lev 25:55; Num 10:10; Num 15:41 (twice in verse) (P) Lev 18:2; Lev 18:4; Lev 18:30; Lev 19:2; Lev 19:3; Lev 19:4; Lev 19:10; Lev 19:25; Lev 19:31; Lev 19:34; Lev 19:36; Lev 20:24; Lev 23:22; Lev 26:13 (all H) Ezek 20:7; Ezek 20:19; Joel 2:27 with מְקַדֵּשׁ Lev 20:8; Lev 22:9; Lev 22:32 (H), with דברתי Num 14:35 (P) Ezek 5:15 + (11 t. Ezekiel); with clauses Isa 27:3; Isa 41:4; Isa 41:17; Isa 42:6; Isa 42:8; Isa 45:5; Isa 45:6; Isa 45:7; Isa 45:8; Isa 45:18; Isa 45:19; Isa 45:21; Isa 60:22; Jer 17:10; Jer 32:27; Ezek 14:4; Ezek 14:7; Ezek 14:9; Ezek 34:24 אָנֹכִי יהוה is used in the Ten Words Exod 20:2; Exod 20:5 = Deut 5:6; Deut 5:9 cited Ps 81:11; Hos 12:10; Hos 13:4 elsewhere only Exod 4:11 (J) Isa 43:11; Isa 44:24; Isa 51:15.

3. יהוה is also used with several predicates, to form sacred names of holy places of Yahweh יהוה יראה Gen 22:14 (J); יהוה נסי Exod 17:15 (E) יהוה שׁלים Judg 6:24 יהוה צדקנו Jer 33:16 (compare Jer 23:6 where it is applied to the Messiah); יהוה שָׁ֑מָּה Ezek 48:35. — On combinations such as ׳הַר י, צְבָאוֺת ׳י etc., see הַר, צָבָא, etc.

Note. — Bonk^{ZAW 1891, 126 ff.} seems to shew that as prefix, in compare proper name, יְהוֺ is the oldest and the latest form and that יוֺ is intermediate, belonging to the earlier post-exilic period until the time of Chronicles; occasional copyists' mistakes being taken into the account.

BDB3475 H3068

׳יְהוֺ proper name compounded with, see below יהוה above.

BDB3483 H3068 H3069

יהוה proper name, of deity, see below הוה.

BDB3489 H3068 H3097

׳יו = ׳יְהוֺ proper name compounded with, see below יהוה above: — namely יוֺאָב, יוֺאָח, יוֺאָחָז, יוֺאֵל, יוֺאָשׁ, יוֺיָכִין, יוֺיָקִים, יוֺיָרִיב, יוֺעֵד, יוֺעָשׁ, יוֺקִים, יוֺרָם, יוֺתָם, etc.

Strong's Definition H3068

lord, lords, god, jehovah, jehovah-jireh, …

yĕhōwâ

the existing One

(the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jeho-vah, Jewish national name of God

the proper name of the one true God

unpronounced except with the vowel pointings of H0136

Variations 44 forms of this word

Translations 243 English renderings

Yahweh Creator