Genesis 4:6 — Hebrew Word by Word

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Word Parts

וַ יֹּ֥אמֶר

וַ

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

יֹּ֥אמֶר

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: and 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

יְהוָ֖ה

Root word a name — transliterate it ("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: 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

אֶל

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

Dictionary form: אֵל · ale

Vowels & Accents

Hebrew Alephbet

Grammar R

Preposition

אֶל	Speech Preposition

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

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Word Parts

קָ֑יִן

Root word a name — transliterate it ("Cain")

Dictionary form: קַיִן · ka-YIN

Vowels & Accents

Hebrew Alephbet

Grammar Np

Noun — Proper Name

קָיִן

Speech Noun Type Proper Name

In English

In the KJV here: cain

cain ×12 that cain ×2 and cain ×1 but cain ×1 the kenite ×1 upon cain ×1

More options

Cain — Standard proper name; use for the son of Adam.

Kenite — Ethnic/clan designation; use for the people group.

Qayin — Transliteration; preserves Hebrew sound for study texts.

Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)

BDB7422 H7014

II. קַ֫יִן proper name

1. of a people (see Sta^{G i. 151 f.} Mey^{Entstehung 115}; compare Arabic proper name, of family Nabataean, Sinaitic proper name, masculine and feminine קינו; tribe of smiths?); — tribe of Mose's father-in-law Judg 4:11 (compare קֵינִי Judg 1:16), Καινα ᵐ5^L Κειν; akin to Midian (Num 10:29 P), settled among Amalekites in south of Canaan (see קֵינִי); prophesied against by Balaam Num 24:22 (קָ֑יִן; J E); — see also קֵינִי

2. location הַקַּ֫יִן in southern Judah (a settlement of II. ׳ק 1 ?); — Josh 15:57, [Ζακαν]αειμ, A [Ζανω] Ακειμ, ᵐ5^L [Ζανου] Ακεν; possibly= Yª†în southeast from Hebron [Rob^{BR ii.85}] (see Buhl^{Geogr. 162 f.} who, however, compare קִינָה vJosh 15:22).

BDB7424 H7014

III. קַ֫יִן proper name, masculine Cain, Kain eldest son of Adam and Eve (explanation Gen 4:1 from קָנָה acquire; but in fact = II. ׳ק, as heros eponymos, according to We^compare11 Sta^{G 285 ff.} Bu^{Urg. 193} Holz^{Gen 50f.} especially Sta^{ZAW xiv (1894), 250 ff.}; xv (1895), 157 ff., Che^{Ency.Bib.CAIN}); — ׳ק Gen 4:1; Gen 4:2; Gen 4:3; Gen 4:5 (twice in verse); Gen 4:8 (twice in verse); Gen 4:9; Gen 4:13; Gen 4:15 (twice in verse); Gen 4:16; Gen 4:17, קָ֑יִן vGen 4:6 vGen 4:24 vGen 4:25 (all J).

Strong's Definition H7014

cain, kenite

qayin

possession, smiths

Cain, the first son of Adam; Kajin, the name of a place in Palestine, and of a Middle Eastern tribe

(n pr m) eldest son of Adam and Eve and the first murderer having murdered his brother Abel

Variations 6 forms of this word

Translations 6 English renderings

Cain Kain

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Word Parts

לָ ֚מָּה

לָ

Prefix — preposition to, for

֚מָּה

Particle turns the sentence into a question

Dictionary form: מָה · maw

Vowels & Accents

Hebrew Alephbet

Grammar R/Ti

Particle — Interrogative

לָ	Speech Preposition
מָּה	Speech Particle Type Interrogative

In English

In the KJV here: why

what ×268 why ×81 wherefore ×64 how ×44 and what ×35 wherein ×12 and why ×10 him what ×9

More options

what — Default interrogative; fits most direct questions.

why — Use when context implies reason or motive.

how — Use when manner or degree is in view.

for what reason — Formal alternative to 'why'; clarifies rhetorical force.

wherein — Replaces archaic form; for 'in what respect'.

whatever — Use for indefinite or relative pronoun contexts.

Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)

BDB4521 H1767 H4078 H4100

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

מִדֵּי see דַּי.

מִדְיָן, מְדִינָה see דין.

מִדְיָנִים see I. מדון. מְדֹכָה see דוך.

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

מְדָן see דין. מְדָנִים see מדון, מִדְיָנִי.

מַדַּע, מֹדַע, מֹדַ֫עַת see ידע.

[מַדְקָרָה], plural construct מַדְקְרוֺת see דקר.

מַדְרֵגָה see דרג. מְדֻרָה see דור.

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

[מְדֻשָׁה] see דושׁ.

BDB4522 H4100 H4078

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

pronoun interrogative and indefinite what? how? aught; used of things, as מִי of persons (Aramaic , מָא, Arabic ; probably apocope from a longer form with n or nt, Assyrian minû (Dl^{HWB 417 f.}), Ethiopic ment; compare W^{CG 123 ff.} K?:ii. 368): —

1. interrogative what ?
a. in a direct question, before either verbs or nouns Gen 4:10 מֶה עשׂית what hast thou done ? Gen 15:2 מהתֿתןלֿי what wilt thou give me ? Exod 3:13 מַהשְּֿׁמוֺ, Exod 12:26; Exod 13:14 and so very often: מַההִֿיא Zech 5:6 מה אלה Zech 1:9 מָה אַתָּה רֹאֶה Jer 1:11; Amos 7:8 +; Jl Amos 4:14 מה אתם לי; Judg 18:8 מה אתם see Commentaries, vJudg 18:24 מה לי עוד what have I still ? Isa 21:11 מהמֿלילה what (= how much) of the night (is past) ? = as what ? (qualem ?) Hag 2:3 (compare מִי Amos 7:2); to express surprise, Job 9:12 who shall say to him, מה תעשׂה what doest thou ? Job 22:13; Eccl 8:4; Isa 45:9; Isa 45:10 followed by כִּי, Gen 20:10 מה ראית כי עשׂית what hadst thou in view, that thou hast done, etc.? Gen 31:36; Exod 16:7 וְנַחְנוּ מָה כִּי and what are we, that . . .? Exod 32:21; Num 22:28; Hab 2:18, etc. Note in particular —
(a) מָה is followed sometimes by a substantive in apposition (against Arabic usage, which does not permit this: W^{AG. ii. § 170}), so that it becomes virtually an adjective: מַהבֶּֿצַע what profit . . .? Gen 37:26; Ps 30:10; Mal 3:14; Isa 40:8 מַהדְּֿמוּת, Mal 1:13; Ps 89:48 זְכָראֲֿנִי מֶה חָ֑לֶד (inverted for חֶלֶד אָ֑נִי מַה) remember (of) what (short) duration I am, Eccl 1:3; Eccl 5:10; Eccl 5:15; Eccl 6:8; Eccl 6:11 (Da^{§ 8, R. 2 K?:iii. 23 f.}); as exclamation, Ps 89:48b Job 26:14. And with the substantive idiomatically at the end (in Arabic preceded then by : W^{AG. ii. § 49. 7}), 1Sam 26:18 ומַהבֿידי רעה and what is there in my hand, evil ? 1Sam 20:10 (see 3), 2Sam 19:29; 2Sam 24:13; 2Sam 1:16; מהמֿצאו אבותיכם בי עָוֶל, Eccl 11:2; Esth 6:3.
(b) מַהזֶּֿה what now ? 1Sam 10:11, contracted מַזֶּה Exod 4:2 (זֶה 4 c); Gen 3:13 מַהזּֿאֹת עָשִׂיתָ; Gen 12:18; Gen 29:25 מַהזּֿאֹת עָשִׂיתָה לִּי; similarly Gen 26:10; Gen 42:28 +, either what, now, hast thou done ? or what is this that thou hast done ? (see זֶה 4 d).
(c) לְּךָ מַהֿ what to thee ? i.e. what aileth thee ? or what dost thou want ? Gen 21:17 מַהלָּֿךְ הָגָר; Josh 15:18; 2Sam 14:5; 1Kgs 1:16; 2Kgs 6:28; Ezek 18:2 (accents); followed by כִּי, Judg 18:23 מהלֿך כי נזעקת, Gen 20:9 (compare 1Sam 11:5 לעם כי יבכו מה), Isa 22:1 מַהלָּֿךְ כִּי עָלִיתְ (compare τί παθὼν, τοῦτο ποιεῖς;), Ps 114:5 without כִּי Isa 3:15 (compare Qor 57:8; 57:10); with a participle, Jonah 1:6 what is it to thee as a sleeper ? (accusative: Da^{§ 70 a} cites Qor 74:50), Ezek 18:2 (if אתם be treated as strengthening לכם).
(d) פֹה (לִי) מַהלְּֿךָ = what hast thou (have I) here ? Judg 18:3; 1Kgs 19:9; Isa 22:16; Isa 52:5.
(e) in the genitive, Jer 8:9 וְחָכְמַתמֶֿה לָהֶם, and wisdom of what (= what kind of wisdom) is theirs ? Num 23:3 (see below 3).
b. often in an indirect question, as after ראה, Gen 2:19 to see מהיֿקראלֿו what he would call it, Gen 37:20 וְנִרְאֶה מהיֿהיו חלֹמֹתיו to what his dreams will come, Num 13:19f.; Hab 2:1 הִכִּיר Gen 31:32 ידע Gen 39:8; Exod 2:4 לדעת מהיֵּֿעָשֶׂה לו, Exod 16:15; Exod 32:1; Job 34:4 שׁמע Num 9:8 ׳וְאשׁמעה מהיֿצוה י (compare Ps 85:9), 2Sam 17:5 פֹּרַשׁ Num 15:34 שׁאל 1Kgs 3:5; 2Kgs 2:9 הֵבִין Job 6:24; Job 23:5: Num 13:18 מה היא וראיתם את הארץ, Ps 39:5; Isa 41:22 הראשׁנות מָה הֵנָּה הַגִּידוּ. — In some such cases it approximates in meaning to the simple rel., as Jer 7:17; Jer 33:24; Mic 6:5; Mic 6:8; Job 34:33.
c. = of what kind ? (German was für ein ... ?), with an insinuation of blame, or reproach, or contempt: Gen 37:10 מה החלום הזה what is this dream which thou hast dreamt? Gen 44:15; Josh 22:16; Judg 8:1; Judg 15:11; Judg 20:12; 1Sam 29:3 מָה הָעִבְרִים האלה, 1Kgs 9:13 מה העדים האלה אשׁר נתתה לי, 2Kgs 9:22; 2Kgs 18:19.
d. מה is often used in questions to which the answer little, or nothing, is expected, and it thus becomes equivalent to a rhetorical negative (compare הֲ b, מִי f c):
(a) Gen 23:15 land worth 400 shekels..., מה היא what is it ? (i.e. it is something quite insignificant), Gen 27:37; Judg 8:3 עשׂות ככם ומהיֿכלתי, Judg 14:18; Hos 9:5; Hos 10:3; Ps 30:10; Ps 56:5; Job 15:9; Job 16:6; Job 21:21; Job 22:13; Job 22:17; Lam 2:13; Song 5:9 מַהאדּוֺדֵךְ מִדּוֺד what is thy beloved (more) than a(nother) beloved ? || לא, 1Kgs 12:16 מַהלָּֿנוּ חֵלֶק בְּדָוֺד וְלֹאנַֿחֲלָה בְּבֶן יִשַׁי (2Sam 20:1 ׳אֵיןלָֿנוּ חֵלֶק וג), Job 16:6.
(b) followed by כִּי (כִּי 1 f), Gen 20:9; Gen 37:26 מַהבֶּֿצַע כִּי נַהֲרֹג what profit (is it) that we should slay him ? Exod 16:7; Num 16:11; Hab 2:18; 2Kgs 8:13 what is thy servant, the dog, that he should do, etc.? and often in poetry, as Ps 8:5 מָה אנושׁ כי תזכרנו what is man that thou rememberest him ? Job 6:11 מַהכֹּֿחִי כִּי אֲיַחֵל, vJob 6:11 b Job 7:17; Job 15:12f; Job 15:14; Job 16:3; Job 21:15 + (compare ׳מִ f b). Hence,
(c) in the formula of repudiation, or emphatic denial, (וְלָכֶם) מַהלִּֿי וָלָךְ what is there (common) to me and to thee ? i.e. what have I to do with thee ? Judg 11:12; 2Sam 16:10 מה לי ולכם, 2Sam 19:23; 1Kgs 17:18; 2Kgs 3:13; 2Chr 35:21 compare Josh 22:24; 2Kgs 9:18; 2Kgs 9:19 rather differently, without וְ, Jer 2:18 ׳מה לך לדרך מ what is there to thee with reference to the way to Egypt ? Hos 14:9 מַהאלּוֺ לַעֲצַבִּים, compare Ps 50:16 (לְסַפֵּר); with את, Jer 23:28 מַהלַֿתֶּבֶן אֶתהַֿבָּר beside (or in comparison with) the wheat ? compare τί ἐμοὶ(ἡμῖν)καὶ σοί; Matt 8:29; Mark 5:7; John 2:4 and Arabic
e. = whatsoever (compare מִי g):
(a) Judg 9:48 ראיתם עשׂיתי מהרו עשׂו כמוני מה אתם, literally what do you see (that) I have done ? hasten, and do like me (= whatever ye see, etc.), 2Sam 21:4 אעשׂה לכם מה אתם אמרים, Job 6:24 with the apodosis introduced by וְ, 1Sam 20:4 מה תאמר נפשׁך ואעשׂה לך; Esth 5:3 בַּקָּשָׁתֵךְ ֗֗֗ וְיִנָּתֵן לָךְ מַהֿ, vEsth 5:6; Esth 7:2; Esth 9:12 hence in the late and strange idiom of Chronicles, it sinks twice almost to the rel. what, 1Chr 15:13 כי לְמַבָּרִאשׁוֺנָה לא אתם because ye were not (employed) for what was at first (on the former occasion), J. etc., 2Chr 30:3 לְמַדַּי according to what was sufficient (= in sufficient numbers), compare Esth 9:26.
(b) -מַהשֶּֿׁ (late: frequently in Mishna, etc.), whatever, what (compare מִי אֲשֶׁר, מִי
g. end): Eccl 1:9 מַהשֶּֿׁהָיָה הוּא שֶׁיִּהְיֶה, literally what is that which hath been ? it is that which shall be (= whatever hath been, it is that which shall be), vEccl 1:9; Eccl 3:15; Eccl 3:22; Eccl 6:10; Eccl 7:24; Eccl 8:7; Eccl 10:14.

2. Used adverbially:
a. as an interrogative:
(a) how ? especially in expressing what is regarded as an impossibility, Gen 44:16 מַהנִּֿצְטַדָּ֑ק how shall we justify ourselves ? Num 23:8 (twice in verse); 1Sam 10:27 מַהיּֿשִׁעֵנוּ זֶה, 2Kgs 4:43; Job 9:2; Job 25:4 (twice in verse); Job 31:1 I made a covenant with my eyes, ׳וּמָה אֶתְבּוֺנֵן עַל ב and how should I look upon a maid ? (ᵐ5 οὐ, ᵑ9 non), Prov 20:24 דַּרְכּוֺ וְאָדָם מַהיָּֿבִין; in an indirect question, Exod 10:26; Ps 39:5 ֵאדְעָה מֶהחָֿדֵל אָ֑נִי; מַהזֶּֿה, how, now ? (in surprise), Gen 27:20 מַהזֶּֿה מִהַרְתָּ לִמְצאֹ בְּנִי, Judg 18:24; 1Kgs 21:5; 2Kgs 1:5.
(b) why ? Exod 14:15 אֵלַי מַה תִּצְעַק, Exod 17:2 (twice in verse); 2Kgs 6:33; 2Kgs 7:3; Ps 42:6 מַהתִּֿשְׁתּוֺחֲחִי עלי, Job 15:12 +; Song 8:4 I adjure you מַהתָּֿעִירוּ וּמַהתְּֿעוֺרֲרוּ, why will ye stir up, etc.? (i.e. do not: || אִם Song 2:7; Song 3:5). — The transition from the interrogative to the negative, to which in Hebrew there is an approximate (see above: especially 1Kgs 12:16; Job 31:1; Song 8:4), is in Arabic complete, being there used constantly in the sense of not (compare Walker^{Hebraica. xii. 244 ff.}; Kö^{iii, 478}).
b. as an exclamation, how ...! with adjectives and verbs, Gen 28:17 מַהנּֿוֺרָא הַמָּקוֺם הַזֶּה how dreadful is this place! Gen 38:29; Num 24:5 מַהטֹּֿבוּ אֹהָלֶיךָ, Isa 52:7; Ps 3:2 מה רבו, Ps 8:2 מה אדיר, Ps 21:2; Ps 36:8, etc., Song 4:10 (twice in verse); Song 7:2 ironically, 2Sam 6:20; Jer 2:33; Jer 2:36; Job 26:2; Job 26:3.

3. indefinite pronoun anything, aught, Num 23:3 וּדְבַרמַֿהיַּֿרְאֵנִי וְהִגַּדְתִּי לָ֑ךְ and he will shew me the matter of aught, and I will tell thee (= if he shew me... I will, etc., Dr^{§ 149}), 1Sam 19:3 וְרָאִיתִי מָה וִהִגַּדְתִּי לָ֑ךְ = and if I see aught, I will, etc., 1Sam 20:10 אוֺ מַהיַּֿעַנִךָ אָבִיךָ קָשָׁה if perchance thy father shall answer thee aught that is harsh (order, 1 a a), 2Sam 18:22 וִיהִימָֿה אָרוּצָהנָּֿא but let there happen what may (literally aught), I will run, v2Sam 18:23 (compare Job 13:13 וְיַעֲבֹר עָלַי מָה), vJob 13:29 וְלֹא יָדַעְתִּי מָה (compare Prov 9:13), Prov 25:8. compare Kö^{iii. § 65.}

4. With prepositions:
a. בַּמָּה₉, בַּמֶּה₁₉ wherein ? Exod 22:26; Judg 16:5; 1Sam 14:38 (indirect question; We בְּמִי); and so according to the various senses of בְּ: whereby ? Gen 15:8; Exod 33:16; Mal 1:2; Mal 1:6; Mal 1:7; Mal 2:17; Mal 3:7-8 wherewith ? 1Sam 6:2; 2Sam 21:3; Mic 6:6 by what means ? Judg 16:5 וּבַמֶּה נוּכַל לוֺ; at what (worth) ? Isa 2:22 for what ? 2Chr 7:21 (|| 1Kgs 9:8 עלמֿה).
b. יַעַן מֶה Hag 1:9 because of what ?
c. כַּמָּה, כַּמֶּה, properly the like of what ? (Arabic , Syriac ); hence
(a) how much ? how many ? ׳כַּמָּה יְמֵי וגו Gen 47:8; 2Sam 19:35; Ps 119:84; Job 13:23 עַד כַּמֶּה פְעָמִים 1Kgs 22:16 (= 2Chr 18:15); כַּמָּה how often ? Job 21:17 (i.e. how seldom !); in an indirect question, how much ? Zech 2:6 (twice in verse). As an exclamation, Zech 7:3 as I have done זֶה כַמֶּה שָׁנִים now (זֶה 4 i), how many years ! Ps 78:40 כַּמָּה how often !
(b) for how long ? Ps 35:17 כמה תראה, Job 7:19.
d. לָ֫מָּה, לָמָ֫ה (לָמָ֫ה mostly before the gutturals א, ה, ע and ׳י [i.e. אֲדֹנָי], but twice besides, Ps 42:10; Ps 43:2 לָ֫מָּה also occurs before guttural, in five places noted by Masoretes on Ps 43:2, namely 1Sam 28:15; 2Sam 2:22; 2Sam 14:31; Ps 49:6; Jer 15:18, and before ךְ Gen 4:6; 2Sam 14:13; 2Sam 24:3; Eccl 2:15), לָ֫מָה Job 7:20, לָ֫מֶה 1Sam 1:8 (3 t. in verse), for what reason ? why? Gen 4:6 למה חרה לך why art thou angry ? Gen 24:31, etc.; often strengthened by זֶה (זֶה 4 e), Gen 18:13; Gen 32:30 (= Judg 13:18) למה זה תשׁאל לשׁמי, Judg 33:15; Exod 2:20; Exod 5:22; Exod 17:3, etc., Jer 6:20; Jer 20:18 +; Gen 25:22 זה אנכי אם כן למהֿ if so, why, then, am I ? (why do I continue to live ?); = to what purpose (followed by לִ person), Gen 27:46 למה לי חיים, Isa 1:11; Jer 6:20; Amos 5:18 למה זה ׳לכם יום י, Job 30:2 in an indirect question, 1Sam 6:3; Dan 10:20. Note especially
(a) in expostulations, Gen 12:18 למה לא הגדת לי why didst thou not tell me, etc. ? vGen 12:19; Gen 29:25; Gen 31:27; Gen 42:1; Gen 43:6; 1Sam 21:15; 1Sam 22:13; 1Sam 24:10; Ps 22:2; Ps 44:24; Ps 44:25; Ps 74:1; Ps 74:11 + often;
(b) with an imperfect, often deprecating, or introducing rhetorically, the reason why something should, or should not, be done, why should . . .? 1Sam 19:5; 1Sam 19:17; 1Sam 20:8 but to thy father (emphatic) למה זה תביאני, why shouldst thou bring me ? 1Sam 20:32 מה עשׂה למה יומת why should he be put to death ? 2Sam 13:26; 2Sam 16:9; 2Sam 20:19; 2Kgs 14:10, etc.: in such cases, it approximates in meaning to lest (compare Phoenician CIS^{i. 2, 21} יסגרינם אלנם לָםָ ne tradant eos dii), and is in ᵐ5 often rendered by μήποτε, as Gen 27:45 למה אשׁכל why should I be bereaved, etc. ? Exod 32:12 יאמרו מצרים למה Neh 6:3; Ps 79:10; Ps 115:2; Eccl 7:16, μή, Jer 40:15, ἵνα μή, Gen 47:19; 2Sam 2:22; 2Chr 25:16; Eccl 5:5; Eccl 7:17, or ὅπως μή, Joel 2:17 (in 1Sam 19:17; 2Sam 13:26, paraph. by εἰ μή); and, connected with the foregoing sentence by אשׁר, or שֶׁ, in late, or dialect., Hebrew it actually has that meaning, Dan 1:10 אֲשֶׁר לָמָּה יִרְאֶה lest he see, Song 1:7 שַׁלָּמָ֫ה אֶהְיֶה lest I become (so in Aramaic לְמָה דִּי Ezra 7:23, דִּילְמָא ᵑ7, Syriac , both regularly = lest).
e. עַדמָֿה (Ps 4:3 עַדמֶֿה) until when ? how long ? Num 24:22 (aposiop.), Ps 4:3; Ps 79:5; Ps 89:47 in indirect question, Ps 74:9 (compare עד אנה, עד מתי). feminine עַלמָֿה, and עַלמֶֿה, upon what ? Job 38:6; 2Chr 32:10 upon what ground ? wherefore ? Num 22:32 עַלמָֿה הִכִּיתָ אֶתאֲֿתֹנְךָ, Deut 29:23 (compare 1Kgs 9:8; Jer 22:8), Isa 1:5; Jer 8:14; Jer 9:11; Jer 16:10; Ezek 21:12; Ps 10:13; Job 13:14 (probably dittograph from vJob 13:13); עלמֿהזֿה Neh 2:4. In an indirect question, Job 10:2 הוֺדִיעֻנִי עַל מַהתְּֿרִיבֻנִי, Esth 4:5 לָדַעַת מַהזֶּֿה וְעַלמַֿהוֶּֿה.

BDB8356 H834 H7945 H4100

שֶׁ, also ( Gen 6:3 [? see 4 a], Judg 5:7 (twice in verse); Song 1:7; Job 19:29 [?]) שַּׁ , שָׁ in שָׁאַתָּה Judg 6:17, and שְׁ in שְׁהוּא Eccl 2:22, שְׁהֵם Eccl 3:18 (elsewhere before guttural שֶׁ, as שֶׁאֲנִי Song 1:6; Eccl 2:18, שֶׁאֵין Ps 146:3, שֶׁהֵם Song 6:5; Lam 4:9, שֶׁעַל Judg 7:12; Judg 8:26, שֶׁרּאֹשִׁי Song 5:2), relative particle who, which, that, etc. (constantly in Late Hebrew; Aramaic of Nerab, Ldzb^{371, 445}; Assyrian sha; Phoenician אש (regularly), also sometimes ש (Ldzb^{227 f.}): according to Ges Ew^{§ 181 b} Ol^{p. 439} Sta^{§ 176 e, abbreviated} from אֲשֶׁר; more probably (Sperling [see אֲשֶׁר], Kö^{ii. 323 f.}) an original demonstrative particle), synonym with אֲשֶׁר, but in usage limited to late Hebrew, and passages with north Palestinian colouring, namely Judg 5:7 (twice in verse) [אֲשֶׁר vJudg 5:27], Judg 6:17; Judg 7:12; Judg 8:26; 2Kgs 6:11 (see 4 c), Jonah 1:7; Jonah 1:12; Jonah 4:10 [אֲשֶׁר 11 t.], Ps 122:3; Ps 122:4; Ps 123:2; Ps 124:1; Ps 124:2; Ps 124:6; Ps 129:6; Ps 129:7; Ps 133:2; Ps 133:3; Ps 135:2; Ps 135:8; Ps 135:10; Ps 136:23; Ps 137:8; Ps 137:9; Ps 144:15; Ps 146:3; Ps 146:5; Lam 2:15; Lam 2:16; Lam 4:9; Lam 5:18; Ezra 8:20; 1Chr 5:20; 1Chr 27:27 Canticles (uniformly, except in title Song 1:1); Ecclesiastes (68 t.; אֲשֶׁא 89 t.); also (dubious) Gen 6:3; Gen 49:10 (שֶׁלֹּה ᵐ5 ᵑ6 ᵑ7), Job 19:29 and in the proper name (q. v.) מִישָׁאֵל and מְתוּשָׁאֵל. — In usage, שֶּׁ is in the main parallel with אֲשֶׁר, namely

1. as pronoun who, which, whom, Judg 7:12 כַּהוֺל שֶׁעַל שְׂפַת הַיָּם (compare חוֺל c), Ps 122:3; Ps 124:6 etc.; him whom, that which, etc., Song 1:7; Song 3:1; 1Chr 27:27; Eccl 1:11; Eccl 6:3 וְרַב שֶׁיִּהְיוּ יְמֵי חַיָּיו and much (verb) is that which his days amount to (Hi De and others), vEccl 6:10 הוּא שֶּׁ that which Eccl 1:9 (twice in verse); in the genitive, אַשְׁרֵי שֶּׁ Ps 137:8; Ps 137:9; Ps 146:5. — On מַהשֶּּֿׁ in Eccl = whatever, what, see מָה 1 e b.

2. as a connecting link; = where (compare אֲשֶׁר p. 81, and 4 b β), מְקוֺם שֶּׁ Eccl 1:7; Eccl 11:3 (compare מְקוֺם אֲשֶׁר Gen 39:20 +: Ges^{«GKC:130c»§ 130c}), whither Ps 122:4 (שֶׁשָּׁם ֗֗֗ ), when Song 8:8; Eccl 12:3 בַּיּוֺם שֶּׁ (compare ib. 4 b a).

3.as a conjunction (compare אֲשֶׁר 8); —
a. that, after רָאָה Eccl 2:13; Eccl 3:18, יָרַע Eccl 1:17; Eccl 2:14; Eccl 9:5; Job 19:19 (?), דִּבֶּר Eccl 2:15, אָמַר Eccl 8:14, עָשָׂה אוֺת Judg 6:17 as subject of sentence, Eccl 3:13; Eccl 5:15 also in the phrases, (a) what is ... that ? Song 5:9 (usually כִּי; see מָךְ 1 d b), מֶה הָיָה שֶּׁ how comes it that ... ? Eccl 7:10
(b) Song 3:4 כִּמְעַט שֶׁעָבַרְתּת מֵהֶם hardly (was it) that (German kaum dass) I had passed, etc., Eccl 7:14 עַל דִּדבְרַת שֶׁלּאֹ יִמְצָא to the intent that ..., Eccl 5:15 כָּלעֻֿמַּת שֶׁבֶּא exactly as ..., Eccl 12:9 תֵר שֶׁ besides that, עַד שֶּׁ (עַד ּ Judg 5:7) until that Ps 123:2; Song 2:7; Song 2:17 + (see III. עַד II 1 a a and b; compare Late Hebrew Yoma Song 5:1), while Song 1:12 (ib. 2 d); עָשָׂהשֶּׁ to make or cause that ..., Eccl 3:14 (compare Ezek 36:27).
b. involving a reason (compare אֲשֶׁר 8 c), because, since, Song 1:6 (twice in verse); Song 5:2; Eccl 2:18 b. Hence שֵׁלָּמָה Song 1:7 since why ? = lest (see מָה 4 d b).

4. compounds:
a. בְּשֶּׁ , i. q. בַּאֲשֶׁר c (p. 84a) in that, seeing that, Eccl 2:16 also (according to ᵑ0 ᵐ5 ᵑ6 Hu De) Gen 6:3 בְּשַׁגַּם הוּא בָשָׂר because that he also is flesh; but see שָׁגַג.
b. כּשֶּׁ , i. q. כַּאֲשֶׁר p. 455: — (a) according as Eccl 5:14; Eccl 12:7 (b) when (so often in Late Hebrew, as Ab Eccl 1:8 (3 t. in verse); Eccl 1:14) Eccl 9:12; Eccl 10:3.
c. מִשֶּּׁ , i. q. מֵאֲשֶׁר a (p. 84:a), 2Kgs 6:12 מִי מִשֶּׁלָּנוּ who of those that are ours ? (but Klo Kmp^Kau Benz מְגַלֵּנוּ who betrays us ? compare ᵐ5); Eccl 5:4 than that (compare מֵאֲשֶׁר Eccl 3:22), + Eccl 2:24 (read מִשֶּׁיּאֹכַל with Ew De, etc.; compare Eccl 3:22).
d. שֶׁל, like אֲשֶׁרלְ (אֲשֶׁר 7 b), a mark of the genitive: thrice, adding slight emphasis to the suffix, Song 1:6 = Song 8:12 כַּרְמִי שֶׁלִּי my vineyard (literally my vineyard, which is mine), Song 3:7 מִטָּתוֺ שֶׁלִּשְׁלֹמֹה (so often in Late Hebrew, but without any special emphasis, as Aboth Song 1:12 הֲוֵי מתלמידיווּ שׁלאֿהרן be of Aaron's disciples, Song 2:1 שְׂכָרָן שֶׁלמִֿצְוֺת, vSong 2:2; Song 3:2 הֲוֵי מתפלל בשׁלומהּ שׁלמֿלכות; compare in Syriac, as Luke 6:42 my words, Nö^{§ 225}). And with בְּ, בְּשֶׁל literally through that which belongs to or concerns, pleonastic for on account of (a late, unidiomatic translation of Aramaic בְּרִיל, from בְּ, דִּי, and לְ, as in Onk Gen 12:13 בדילי on my account, Gen 30:27; Gen 39:5 בְּדִיל יוֺסֵף, בְּדִיל מָא on account of what ? Judg 8:1; 2Sam 9:1; 1Kgs 11:12; 1Kgs 11:39, etc.), Jonah 1:7 בְּשֶׁלְּמִי on account of whom ? (|| vJonah 1:8 בַּאֲשֶׁר לְמִי; probably a gloss), vJonah 1:12 בְּשֶׁלִּי an account of me (ᵑ7 בְּדִיל מַן, בְּדִילִי); Eccl 8:17 בְּשֶׁל אֲשֶׁר יַעֲמֹל הָאָדָם לְבַקֵּשׁ on account of (the fact) that (= seeing that) man labours, etc. (unidiomatic translation of Aramaic בְּדִיל דְּ because that, as Gen 6:3 בְּדִיל דְּאִינוּן בִּסְרָא, Gen 39:9 בְּרִיל דְּאַתְּ אִיתְּתֵיהּ [for Hebrew בַּאֲשֶׁר אַתְּ אִשְׁתּוֺ]; Palmyrene בדיל די Ldzb²³³, — in Tariff Gen 1:4 (Cooke^{N. Semitic Inscr. 320}) = ἐπειδή).

[שֹׁא] see [ שׁוֺא].

BDB9652 H3964 H4101 H4100

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

1. what ? Dan 4:32 מה עבדת.

2. whatever, what (compare Biblical Hebrew 1 b end) Dan 2:22 ידע מח בחשׁוכא knoweth what is in darkness, Ezra 6:9: so מָה דִּי (compare דִּי 1 b: so Nabataean; Palmyrene מא די, מדי, Lzb³⁰⁶ Cooke^{320, 332}) Dan 2:28; Dan 2:29 (twice in verse); Dan 2:45; Ezra 6:8 למא די תעבדון with regard to what ye shall do, Ezra 7:18 (= whatsoever).

3. with prefixes:
a. כְּמָה how! Dan 3:33 (twice in verse).
b. לְמָה why? (compare Biblical Hebrew לָמָּה) Ezra 4:22 be not slack herein: why should damage grow, etc., virtually = lest damage grow (ᵐ5 μή ποτε), Ezra 7:23 די למה להוא קצף for why should there be wrath ? = lest [ᵐ5 μή ποτε] there be wrath (compare ᵑ7 דִּילְמָא, Syriac lest: and see מָה 4 d b, p. 554:a).
c. עלמֿה wherefore? Dan 2:15.

Strong's Definition H4100

what, why, wherefore, how, wherein, …

mâ

properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and even relatively, that which); often used with prefixes in various adverbial or conjunctive senses

(interr pron) what, how, of what kind

(interrogative)

what?

how, how now

wherein?, whereby?, wherewith?, by what means?

how much?, how many?, how often?

Variations 40 forms of this word

Translations 137 English renderings

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Word Parts

חָ֣רָה

Root word kindled, wroth, hot, angry, fret, …

Dictionary form: חָרָה · haw-RAW

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)"

חָרָה

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: art thou wroth

was kindled ×27 wroth ×8 kindled ×6 was hot ×4 be kindled ×3 fret ×3 he was wroth ×3 to be angry ×3

More options

burn with anger — Captures the fiery physical intensity of the emotion.

be furious — Strong register; use for peak emotional outbursts.

be angry — Neutral, broadly applicable modern default.

be enraged — Slightly stronger than angry; good for divine wrath contexts.

seethe — Vivid and contemporary; suits simmering, building anger.

fume — Colloquial; fits human characters, less suited to God.

Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)

BDB3107 H2734 H8474

חָרָה verb burn, be kindled, of anger (Aramaic חרי Pa`el cause, fire to burn (rare); Zinjirli חרא anger, Nö^{ZMG 1893, 98. 103}; Arabic burning sensation, in throat, etc., from rage and pain) —

Qal Perfect ׳ח Gen 4:6 + 20 t.; Imperfect יֶחֱרֶה Exod 32:11 + 2 t.; יִ֫חַר Gen 18:30 + 7 t.; וַיִּ֫חַר Gen 4:5 + 46 t.; Infinitive absolute חָרֹה 1Sam 20:7 construct חֲרוֺת 2Sam 24:1; Ps 124:3 —

1. of man:
a. חרה אף (one's) anger was kindled, burned Gen 39:19; Num 22:27 (J), Exod 32:19; Exod 32:22 (JE), Judg 9:30; Judg 14:19; 1Sam 11:6; Job 32:2; Job 32:5 with בְּ against Gen 30:2 (E), Gen 44:18 (J), 1Sam 17:28; 1Sam 20:30; 2Sam 12:5; 2Chr 25:10; Ps 124:3; Job 32:2; Job 32:3 with אֶל Num 24:10 (E).
b. impersonal, אף omitted; חרה לְ it was kindled for (him) he burned with anger Gen 31:36 (E), Gen 4:5; Gen 4:6; Gen 34:7; Num 16:15 (J), 1Sam 15:11 (read perhaps וַיֵּצֶר, Weir in Dr), 1Sam 18:8; 1Sam 20:7 (twice in verse); 2Sam 3:8; 2Sam 6:8 = 1Chr 13:11; 2Sam 13:21; 2Sam 19:43; Neh 3:33; Neh 4:1; Neh 5:6; Jonah 4:1; Jonah 4:4; Jonah 4:9 (twice in verse); insert ויחר לדוד 2Sam 11:22 ᵐ5 We Dr; בְּעֵינֵי ׳ח Gen 31:35; Gen 45:5 (E).

2. of God:
a. אף ׳ח Exod 22:23; Num 22:22 (E), Num 11:1; Num 11:10; Num 32:10 (J); with בְּ Exod 4:14; Exod 32:10; Num 12:9; Deut 31:17 (J), Deut 6:15; Deut 7:4; Deut 11:17; Deut 29:26; Josh 23:16 (D), Judg 6:39; 2Sam 6:7 = 1Chr 13:10; Hos 8:5; 2Kgs 23:26; 2Chr 25:15; Job 42:7 בְּעַם Exod 32:11; Num 11:33 (J), Isa 5:25; Ps 106:40 בישׂראל Num 25:3; Num 32:13 (JE); Judg 2:14; Judg 2:20; Judg 3:8; Judg 10:7; 2Sam 24:1; 2Kgs 13:3 בבני ישׂראל Josh 7:1 (R); בנהרים, אף omitted, Hab 3:8 with עַל Zech 10:3.
b. חרה לְ Gen 18:30; Gen 18:32 (J) 2Sam 22:8 = Ps 18:8. —

Note: חרה not in HP (who use קצף); nor in Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Isa², Proverbs or poetry of Job. Niph`al Perfect נִחֲרוּֿ followed by בְּ Song 1:6 (according to Bö^{ii. 379} De Kö^{1. 551}) be angry with; Participle ׳כֹּל הַנֶּחֱרִים בְּ all that are incensed against (thee) Isa 41:11, so Isa 45:24. Hiph`il Perfect הֶחֱרָה הֶחֱזִיק Neh 3:20 burned with zeal (?) in repairing, but ᵐ5 omit החרה; probably dittograph; Imperfect וַיַּחַר עָלַי אַפּוֺ Job 19:11 and kindled his anger against me. Hithpa`el Imperfect אַל תִּתְחַר Ps 37:1; Ps 37:7; Ps 37:8; Prov 24:19 heat oneself in vexation. — The following forms are somewhat dubious: Imperfect 2 masculine singular אֵיךְ תְּתַחֲרֶה אֶתהַֿסּוּסִים Jer 12:5 how canst thou hotly contend (in a race) with the horses ? Participle כִּי אַתָּה מְתַחֲרֶה בָאָ֑רֶז Jer 22:15 because thou strivest eagerly (to excel) in cedar; explained as Tiph`el by Thes Ges^{«GKC:55»§ 55}, 5 Ew^{§ 122 a} Ol^{§ 255 a} Sta^{§ 159 b} Kö^{i. p. 557} and others, and regarded by most as a rare causative stem; but ag. existence of Tiph`el see Ba^{NB § 180 a; ZMG 1894, 20}; Ba regards the form as denominative (from a noun formed by ת preform., compare Aramaic contention); SS would point as Hithpa`el [compare Syriac contend with, contention], although meaning of Hithpa`el is different, see above

Strong's Definition H2734

kindled, wroth, hot, angry, fret, …

ḥārâ

to glow or grow warm; figuratively (usually) to blaze up, of anger, zeal, jealousy

to be hot, furious, burn, become angry, be kindled

(Qal) to burn, kindle (anger)

Variations 16 forms of this word

Translations 36 English renderings

Word Parts

לָ ֔ךְ

לָ

Preposition to, for

֔ךְ

Suffix — pronoun your / you (one woman)

Vowels & Accents

Hebrew Alephbet

Grammar R/Sp2fs

Preposition

לָ	Speech Preposition
ךְ	Speech Suffix Type Pronominal Person Second Person Gender Feminine Number Singular

In English

it ×144 him ×95 them ×83 thee ×59 me ×53 unto him ×35 you ×28 he ×22

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Word Parts

וְ לָ ֖מָּה

וְ

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

לָ

Prefix — preposition to, for

֖מָּה

Particle turns the sentence into a question

Dictionary form: מָה · maw

Vowels & Accents

Hebrew Alephbet

Grammar C/R/Ti

Particle — Interrogative

וְ	Speech Conjunction
לָ	Speech Preposition
מָּה	Speech Particle Type Interrogative

In English

In the KJV here: and why

what ×268 why ×81 wherefore ×64 how ×44 and what ×35 wherein ×12 and why ×10 him what ×9

More options

what — Default interrogative; fits most direct questions.

why — Use when context implies reason or motive.

how — Use when manner or degree is in view.

for what reason — Formal alternative to 'why'; clarifies rhetorical force.

wherein — Replaces archaic form; for 'in what respect'.

whatever — Use for indefinite or relative pronoun contexts.

Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)

BDB4521 H1767 H4078 H4100

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

מִדֵּי see דַּי.

מִדְיָן, מְדִינָה see דין.

מִדְיָנִים see I. מדון. מְדֹכָה see דוך.

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

מְדָן see דין. מְדָנִים see מדון, מִדְיָנִי.

מַדַּע, מֹדַע, מֹדַ֫עַת see ידע.

[מַדְקָרָה], plural construct מַדְקְרוֺת see דקר.

מַדְרֵגָה see דרג. מְדֻרָה see דור.

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

[מְדֻשָׁה] see דושׁ.

BDB4522 H4100 H4078

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

pronoun interrogative and indefinite what? how? aught; used of things, as מִי of persons (Aramaic , מָא, Arabic ; probably apocope from a longer form with n or nt, Assyrian minû (Dl^{HWB 417 f.}), Ethiopic ment; compare W^{CG 123 ff.} K?:ii. 368): —

1. interrogative what ?
a. in a direct question, before either verbs or nouns Gen 4:10 מֶה עשׂית what hast thou done ? Gen 15:2 מהתֿתןלֿי what wilt thou give me ? Exod 3:13 מַהשְּֿׁמוֺ, Exod 12:26; Exod 13:14 and so very often: מַההִֿיא Zech 5:6 מה אלה Zech 1:9 מָה אַתָּה רֹאֶה Jer 1:11; Amos 7:8 +; Jl Amos 4:14 מה אתם לי; Judg 18:8 מה אתם see Commentaries, vJudg 18:24 מה לי עוד what have I still ? Isa 21:11 מהמֿלילה what (= how much) of the night (is past) ? = as what ? (qualem ?) Hag 2:3 (compare מִי Amos 7:2); to express surprise, Job 9:12 who shall say to him, מה תעשׂה what doest thou ? Job 22:13; Eccl 8:4; Isa 45:9; Isa 45:10 followed by כִּי, Gen 20:10 מה ראית כי עשׂית what hadst thou in view, that thou hast done, etc.? Gen 31:36; Exod 16:7 וְנַחְנוּ מָה כִּי and what are we, that . . .? Exod 32:21; Num 22:28; Hab 2:18, etc. Note in particular —
(a) מָה is followed sometimes by a substantive in apposition (against Arabic usage, which does not permit this: W^{AG. ii. § 170}), so that it becomes virtually an adjective: מַהבֶּֿצַע what profit . . .? Gen 37:26; Ps 30:10; Mal 3:14; Isa 40:8 מַהדְּֿמוּת, Mal 1:13; Ps 89:48 זְכָראֲֿנִי מֶה חָ֑לֶד (inverted for חֶלֶד אָ֑נִי מַה) remember (of) what (short) duration I am, Eccl 1:3; Eccl 5:10; Eccl 5:15; Eccl 6:8; Eccl 6:11 (Da^{§ 8, R. 2 K?:iii. 23 f.}); as exclamation, Ps 89:48b Job 26:14. And with the substantive idiomatically at the end (in Arabic preceded then by : W^{AG. ii. § 49. 7}), 1Sam 26:18 ומַהבֿידי רעה and what is there in my hand, evil ? 1Sam 20:10 (see 3), 2Sam 19:29; 2Sam 24:13; 2Sam 1:16; מהמֿצאו אבותיכם בי עָוֶל, Eccl 11:2; Esth 6:3.
(b) מַהזֶּֿה what now ? 1Sam 10:11, contracted מַזֶּה Exod 4:2 (זֶה 4 c); Gen 3:13 מַהזּֿאֹת עָשִׂיתָ; Gen 12:18; Gen 29:25 מַהזּֿאֹת עָשִׂיתָה לִּי; similarly Gen 26:10; Gen 42:28 +, either what, now, hast thou done ? or what is this that thou hast done ? (see זֶה 4 d).
(c) לְּךָ מַהֿ what to thee ? i.e. what aileth thee ? or what dost thou want ? Gen 21:17 מַהלָּֿךְ הָגָר; Josh 15:18; 2Sam 14:5; 1Kgs 1:16; 2Kgs 6:28; Ezek 18:2 (accents); followed by כִּי, Judg 18:23 מהלֿך כי נזעקת, Gen 20:9 (compare 1Sam 11:5 לעם כי יבכו מה), Isa 22:1 מַהלָּֿךְ כִּי עָלִיתְ (compare τί παθὼν, τοῦτο ποιεῖς;), Ps 114:5 without כִּי Isa 3:15 (compare Qor 57:8; 57:10); with a participle, Jonah 1:6 what is it to thee as a sleeper ? (accusative: Da^{§ 70 a} cites Qor 74:50), Ezek 18:2 (if אתם be treated as strengthening לכם).
(d) פֹה (לִי) מַהלְּֿךָ = what hast thou (have I) here ? Judg 18:3; 1Kgs 19:9; Isa 22:16; Isa 52:5.
(e) in the genitive, Jer 8:9 וְחָכְמַתמֶֿה לָהֶם, and wisdom of what (= what kind of wisdom) is theirs ? Num 23:3 (see below 3).
b. often in an indirect question, as after ראה, Gen 2:19 to see מהיֿקראלֿו what he would call it, Gen 37:20 וְנִרְאֶה מהיֿהיו חלֹמֹתיו to what his dreams will come, Num 13:19f.; Hab 2:1 הִכִּיר Gen 31:32 ידע Gen 39:8; Exod 2:4 לדעת מהיֵּֿעָשֶׂה לו, Exod 16:15; Exod 32:1; Job 34:4 שׁמע Num 9:8 ׳וְאשׁמעה מהיֿצוה י (compare Ps 85:9), 2Sam 17:5 פֹּרַשׁ Num 15:34 שׁאל 1Kgs 3:5; 2Kgs 2:9 הֵבִין Job 6:24; Job 23:5: Num 13:18 מה היא וראיתם את הארץ, Ps 39:5; Isa 41:22 הראשׁנות מָה הֵנָּה הַגִּידוּ. — In some such cases it approximates in meaning to the simple rel., as Jer 7:17; Jer 33:24; Mic 6:5; Mic 6:8; Job 34:33.
c. = of what kind ? (German was für ein ... ?), with an insinuation of blame, or reproach, or contempt: Gen 37:10 מה החלום הזה what is this dream which thou hast dreamt? Gen 44:15; Josh 22:16; Judg 8:1; Judg 15:11; Judg 20:12; 1Sam 29:3 מָה הָעִבְרִים האלה, 1Kgs 9:13 מה העדים האלה אשׁר נתתה לי, 2Kgs 9:22; 2Kgs 18:19.
d. מה is often used in questions to which the answer little, or nothing, is expected, and it thus becomes equivalent to a rhetorical negative (compare הֲ b, מִי f c):
(a) Gen 23:15 land worth 400 shekels..., מה היא what is it ? (i.e. it is something quite insignificant), Gen 27:37; Judg 8:3 עשׂות ככם ומהיֿכלתי, Judg 14:18; Hos 9:5; Hos 10:3; Ps 30:10; Ps 56:5; Job 15:9; Job 16:6; Job 21:21; Job 22:13; Job 22:17; Lam 2:13; Song 5:9 מַהאדּוֺדֵךְ מִדּוֺד what is thy beloved (more) than a(nother) beloved ? || לא, 1Kgs 12:16 מַהלָּֿנוּ חֵלֶק בְּדָוֺד וְלֹאנַֿחֲלָה בְּבֶן יִשַׁי (2Sam 20:1 ׳אֵיןלָֿנוּ חֵלֶק וג), Job 16:6.
(b) followed by כִּי (כִּי 1 f), Gen 20:9; Gen 37:26 מַהבֶּֿצַע כִּי נַהֲרֹג what profit (is it) that we should slay him ? Exod 16:7; Num 16:11; Hab 2:18; 2Kgs 8:13 what is thy servant, the dog, that he should do, etc.? and often in poetry, as Ps 8:5 מָה אנושׁ כי תזכרנו what is man that thou rememberest him ? Job 6:11 מַהכֹּֿחִי כִּי אֲיַחֵל, vJob 6:11 b Job 7:17; Job 15:12f; Job 15:14; Job 16:3; Job 21:15 + (compare ׳מִ f b). Hence,
(c) in the formula of repudiation, or emphatic denial, (וְלָכֶם) מַהלִּֿי וָלָךְ what is there (common) to me and to thee ? i.e. what have I to do with thee ? Judg 11:12; 2Sam 16:10 מה לי ולכם, 2Sam 19:23; 1Kgs 17:18; 2Kgs 3:13; 2Chr 35:21 compare Josh 22:24; 2Kgs 9:18; 2Kgs 9:19 rather differently, without וְ, Jer 2:18 ׳מה לך לדרך מ what is there to thee with reference to the way to Egypt ? Hos 14:9 מַהאלּוֺ לַעֲצַבִּים, compare Ps 50:16 (לְסַפֵּר); with את, Jer 23:28 מַהלַֿתֶּבֶן אֶתהַֿבָּר beside (or in comparison with) the wheat ? compare τί ἐμοὶ(ἡμῖν)καὶ σοί; Matt 8:29; Mark 5:7; John 2:4 and Arabic
e. = whatsoever (compare מִי g):
(a) Judg 9:48 ראיתם עשׂיתי מהרו עשׂו כמוני מה אתם, literally what do you see (that) I have done ? hasten, and do like me (= whatever ye see, etc.), 2Sam 21:4 אעשׂה לכם מה אתם אמרים, Job 6:24 with the apodosis introduced by וְ, 1Sam 20:4 מה תאמר נפשׁך ואעשׂה לך; Esth 5:3 בַּקָּשָׁתֵךְ ֗֗֗ וְיִנָּתֵן לָךְ מַהֿ, vEsth 5:6; Esth 7:2; Esth 9:12 hence in the late and strange idiom of Chronicles, it sinks twice almost to the rel. what, 1Chr 15:13 כי לְמַבָּרִאשׁוֺנָה לא אתם because ye were not (employed) for what was at first (on the former occasion), J. etc., 2Chr 30:3 לְמַדַּי according to what was sufficient (= in sufficient numbers), compare Esth 9:26.
(b) -מַהשֶּֿׁ (late: frequently in Mishna, etc.), whatever, what (compare מִי אֲשֶׁר, מִי
g. end): Eccl 1:9 מַהשֶּֿׁהָיָה הוּא שֶׁיִּהְיֶה, literally what is that which hath been ? it is that which shall be (= whatever hath been, it is that which shall be), vEccl 1:9; Eccl 3:15; Eccl 3:22; Eccl 6:10; Eccl 7:24; Eccl 8:7; Eccl 10:14.

2. Used adverbially:
a. as an interrogative:
(a) how ? especially in expressing what is regarded as an impossibility, Gen 44:16 מַהנִּֿצְטַדָּ֑ק how shall we justify ourselves ? Num 23:8 (twice in verse); 1Sam 10:27 מַהיּֿשִׁעֵנוּ זֶה, 2Kgs 4:43; Job 9:2; Job 25:4 (twice in verse); Job 31:1 I made a covenant with my eyes, ׳וּמָה אֶתְבּוֺנֵן עַל ב and how should I look upon a maid ? (ᵐ5 οὐ, ᵑ9 non), Prov 20:24 דַּרְכּוֺ וְאָדָם מַהיָּֿבִין; in an indirect question, Exod 10:26; Ps 39:5 ֵאדְעָה מֶהחָֿדֵל אָ֑נִי; מַהזֶּֿה, how, now ? (in surprise), Gen 27:20 מַהזֶּֿה מִהַרְתָּ לִמְצאֹ בְּנִי, Judg 18:24; 1Kgs 21:5; 2Kgs 1:5.
(b) why ? Exod 14:15 אֵלַי מַה תִּצְעַק, Exod 17:2 (twice in verse); 2Kgs 6:33; 2Kgs 7:3; Ps 42:6 מַהתִּֿשְׁתּוֺחֲחִי עלי, Job 15:12 +; Song 8:4 I adjure you מַהתָּֿעִירוּ וּמַהתְּֿעוֺרֲרוּ, why will ye stir up, etc.? (i.e. do not: || אִם Song 2:7; Song 3:5). — The transition from the interrogative to the negative, to which in Hebrew there is an approximate (see above: especially 1Kgs 12:16; Job 31:1; Song 8:4), is in Arabic complete, being there used constantly in the sense of not (compare Walker^{Hebraica. xii. 244 ff.}; Kö^{iii, 478}).
b. as an exclamation, how ...! with adjectives and verbs, Gen 28:17 מַהנּֿוֺרָא הַמָּקוֺם הַזֶּה how dreadful is this place! Gen 38:29; Num 24:5 מַהטֹּֿבוּ אֹהָלֶיךָ, Isa 52:7; Ps 3:2 מה רבו, Ps 8:2 מה אדיר, Ps 21:2; Ps 36:8, etc., Song 4:10 (twice in verse); Song 7:2 ironically, 2Sam 6:20; Jer 2:33; Jer 2:36; Job 26:2; Job 26:3.

3. indefinite pronoun anything, aught, Num 23:3 וּדְבַרמַֿהיַּֿרְאֵנִי וְהִגַּדְתִּי לָ֑ךְ and he will shew me the matter of aught, and I will tell thee (= if he shew me... I will, etc., Dr^{§ 149}), 1Sam 19:3 וְרָאִיתִי מָה וִהִגַּדְתִּי לָ֑ךְ = and if I see aught, I will, etc., 1Sam 20:10 אוֺ מַהיַּֿעַנִךָ אָבִיךָ קָשָׁה if perchance thy father shall answer thee aught that is harsh (order, 1 a a), 2Sam 18:22 וִיהִימָֿה אָרוּצָהנָּֿא but let there happen what may (literally aught), I will run, v2Sam 18:23 (compare Job 13:13 וְיַעֲבֹר עָלַי מָה), vJob 13:29 וְלֹא יָדַעְתִּי מָה (compare Prov 9:13), Prov 25:8. compare Kö^{iii. § 65.}

4. With prepositions:
a. בַּמָּה₉, בַּמֶּה₁₉ wherein ? Exod 22:26; Judg 16:5; 1Sam 14:38 (indirect question; We בְּמִי); and so according to the various senses of בְּ: whereby ? Gen 15:8; Exod 33:16; Mal 1:2; Mal 1:6; Mal 1:7; Mal 2:17; Mal 3:7-8 wherewith ? 1Sam 6:2; 2Sam 21:3; Mic 6:6 by what means ? Judg 16:5 וּבַמֶּה נוּכַל לוֺ; at what (worth) ? Isa 2:22 for what ? 2Chr 7:21 (|| 1Kgs 9:8 עלמֿה).
b. יַעַן מֶה Hag 1:9 because of what ?
c. כַּמָּה, כַּמֶּה, properly the like of what ? (Arabic , Syriac ); hence
(a) how much ? how many ? ׳כַּמָּה יְמֵי וגו Gen 47:8; 2Sam 19:35; Ps 119:84; Job 13:23 עַד כַּמֶּה פְעָמִים 1Kgs 22:16 (= 2Chr 18:15); כַּמָּה how often ? Job 21:17 (i.e. how seldom !); in an indirect question, how much ? Zech 2:6 (twice in verse). As an exclamation, Zech 7:3 as I have done זֶה כַמֶּה שָׁנִים now (זֶה 4 i), how many years ! Ps 78:40 כַּמָּה how often !
(b) for how long ? Ps 35:17 כמה תראה, Job 7:19.
d. לָ֫מָּה, לָמָ֫ה (לָמָ֫ה mostly before the gutturals א, ה, ע and ׳י [i.e. אֲדֹנָי], but twice besides, Ps 42:10; Ps 43:2 לָ֫מָּה also occurs before guttural, in five places noted by Masoretes on Ps 43:2, namely 1Sam 28:15; 2Sam 2:22; 2Sam 14:31; Ps 49:6; Jer 15:18, and before ךְ Gen 4:6; 2Sam 14:13; 2Sam 24:3; Eccl 2:15), לָ֫מָה Job 7:20, לָ֫מֶה 1Sam 1:8 (3 t. in verse), for what reason ? why? Gen 4:6 למה חרה לך why art thou angry ? Gen 24:31, etc.; often strengthened by זֶה (זֶה 4 e), Gen 18:13; Gen 32:30 (= Judg 13:18) למה זה תשׁאל לשׁמי, Judg 33:15; Exod 2:20; Exod 5:22; Exod 17:3, etc., Jer 6:20; Jer 20:18 +; Gen 25:22 זה אנכי אם כן למהֿ if so, why, then, am I ? (why do I continue to live ?); = to what purpose (followed by לִ person), Gen 27:46 למה לי חיים, Isa 1:11; Jer 6:20; Amos 5:18 למה זה ׳לכם יום י, Job 30:2 in an indirect question, 1Sam 6:3; Dan 10:20. Note especially
(a) in expostulations, Gen 12:18 למה לא הגדת לי why didst thou not tell me, etc. ? vGen 12:19; Gen 29:25; Gen 31:27; Gen 42:1; Gen 43:6; 1Sam 21:15; 1Sam 22:13; 1Sam 24:10; Ps 22:2; Ps 44:24; Ps 44:25; Ps 74:1; Ps 74:11 + often;
(b) with an imperfect, often deprecating, or introducing rhetorically, the reason why something should, or should not, be done, why should . . .? 1Sam 19:5; 1Sam 19:17; 1Sam 20:8 but to thy father (emphatic) למה זה תביאני, why shouldst thou bring me ? 1Sam 20:32 מה עשׂה למה יומת why should he be put to death ? 2Sam 13:26; 2Sam 16:9; 2Sam 20:19; 2Kgs 14:10, etc.: in such cases, it approximates in meaning to lest (compare Phoenician CIS^{i. 2, 21} יסגרינם אלנם לָםָ ne tradant eos dii), and is in ᵐ5 often rendered by μήποτε, as Gen 27:45 למה אשׁכל why should I be bereaved, etc. ? Exod 32:12 יאמרו מצרים למה Neh 6:3; Ps 79:10; Ps 115:2; Eccl 7:16, μή, Jer 40:15, ἵνα μή, Gen 47:19; 2Sam 2:22; 2Chr 25:16; Eccl 5:5; Eccl 7:17, or ὅπως μή, Joel 2:17 (in 1Sam 19:17; 2Sam 13:26, paraph. by εἰ μή); and, connected with the foregoing sentence by אשׁר, or שֶׁ, in late, or dialect., Hebrew it actually has that meaning, Dan 1:10 אֲשֶׁר לָמָּה יִרְאֶה lest he see, Song 1:7 שַׁלָּמָ֫ה אֶהְיֶה lest I become (so in Aramaic לְמָה דִּי Ezra 7:23, דִּילְמָא ᵑ7, Syriac , both regularly = lest).
e. עַדמָֿה (Ps 4:3 עַדמֶֿה) until when ? how long ? Num 24:22 (aposiop.), Ps 4:3; Ps 79:5; Ps 89:47 in indirect question, Ps 74:9 (compare עד אנה, עד מתי). feminine עַלמָֿה, and עַלמֶֿה, upon what ? Job 38:6; 2Chr 32:10 upon what ground ? wherefore ? Num 22:32 עַלמָֿה הִכִּיתָ אֶתאֲֿתֹנְךָ, Deut 29:23 (compare 1Kgs 9:8; Jer 22:8), Isa 1:5; Jer 8:14; Jer 9:11; Jer 16:10; Ezek 21:12; Ps 10:13; Job 13:14 (probably dittograph from vJob 13:13); עלמֿהזֿה Neh 2:4. In an indirect question, Job 10:2 הוֺדִיעֻנִי עַל מַהתְּֿרִיבֻנִי, Esth 4:5 לָדַעַת מַהזֶּֿה וְעַלמַֿהוֶּֿה.

BDB8356 H834 H7945 H4100

שֶׁ, also ( Gen 6:3 [? see 4 a], Judg 5:7 (twice in verse); Song 1:7; Job 19:29 [?]) שַּׁ , שָׁ in שָׁאַתָּה Judg 6:17, and שְׁ in שְׁהוּא Eccl 2:22, שְׁהֵם Eccl 3:18 (elsewhere before guttural שֶׁ, as שֶׁאֲנִי Song 1:6; Eccl 2:18, שֶׁאֵין Ps 146:3, שֶׁהֵם Song 6:5; Lam 4:9, שֶׁעַל Judg 7:12; Judg 8:26, שֶׁרּאֹשִׁי Song 5:2), relative particle who, which, that, etc. (constantly in Late Hebrew; Aramaic of Nerab, Ldzb^{371, 445}; Assyrian sha; Phoenician אש (regularly), also sometimes ש (Ldzb^{227 f.}): according to Ges Ew^{§ 181 b} Ol^{p. 439} Sta^{§ 176 e, abbreviated} from אֲשֶׁר; more probably (Sperling [see אֲשֶׁר], Kö^{ii. 323 f.}) an original demonstrative particle), synonym with אֲשֶׁר, but in usage limited to late Hebrew, and passages with north Palestinian colouring, namely Judg 5:7 (twice in verse) [אֲשֶׁר vJudg 5:27], Judg 6:17; Judg 7:12; Judg 8:26; 2Kgs 6:11 (see 4 c), Jonah 1:7; Jonah 1:12; Jonah 4:10 [אֲשֶׁר 11 t.], Ps 122:3; Ps 122:4; Ps 123:2; Ps 124:1; Ps 124:2; Ps 124:6; Ps 129:6; Ps 129:7; Ps 133:2; Ps 133:3; Ps 135:2; Ps 135:8; Ps 135:10; Ps 136:23; Ps 137:8; Ps 137:9; Ps 144:15; Ps 146:3; Ps 146:5; Lam 2:15; Lam 2:16; Lam 4:9; Lam 5:18; Ezra 8:20; 1Chr 5:20; 1Chr 27:27 Canticles (uniformly, except in title Song 1:1); Ecclesiastes (68 t.; אֲשֶׁא 89 t.); also (dubious) Gen 6:3; Gen 49:10 (שֶׁלֹּה ᵐ5 ᵑ6 ᵑ7), Job 19:29 and in the proper name (q. v.) מִישָׁאֵל and מְתוּשָׁאֵל. — In usage, שֶּׁ is in the main parallel with אֲשֶׁר, namely

1. as pronoun who, which, whom, Judg 7:12 כַּהוֺל שֶׁעַל שְׂפַת הַיָּם (compare חוֺל c), Ps 122:3; Ps 124:6 etc.; him whom, that which, etc., Song 1:7; Song 3:1; 1Chr 27:27; Eccl 1:11; Eccl 6:3 וְרַב שֶׁיִּהְיוּ יְמֵי חַיָּיו and much (verb) is that which his days amount to (Hi De and others), vEccl 6:10 הוּא שֶּׁ that which Eccl 1:9 (twice in verse); in the genitive, אַשְׁרֵי שֶּׁ Ps 137:8; Ps 137:9; Ps 146:5. — On מַהשֶּּֿׁ in Eccl = whatever, what, see מָה 1 e b.

2. as a connecting link; = where (compare אֲשֶׁר p. 81, and 4 b β), מְקוֺם שֶּׁ Eccl 1:7; Eccl 11:3 (compare מְקוֺם אֲשֶׁר Gen 39:20 +: Ges^{«GKC:130c»§ 130c}), whither Ps 122:4 (שֶׁשָּׁם ֗֗֗ ), when Song 8:8; Eccl 12:3 בַּיּוֺם שֶּׁ (compare ib. 4 b a).

3.as a conjunction (compare אֲשֶׁר 8); —
a. that, after רָאָה Eccl 2:13; Eccl 3:18, יָרַע Eccl 1:17; Eccl 2:14; Eccl 9:5; Job 19:19 (?), דִּבֶּר Eccl 2:15, אָמַר Eccl 8:14, עָשָׂה אוֺת Judg 6:17 as subject of sentence, Eccl 3:13; Eccl 5:15 also in the phrases, (a) what is ... that ? Song 5:9 (usually כִּי; see מָךְ 1 d b), מֶה הָיָה שֶּׁ how comes it that ... ? Eccl 7:10
(b) Song 3:4 כִּמְעַט שֶׁעָבַרְתּת מֵהֶם hardly (was it) that (German kaum dass) I had passed, etc., Eccl 7:14 עַל דִּדבְרַת שֶׁלּאֹ יִמְצָא to the intent that ..., Eccl 5:15 כָּלעֻֿמַּת שֶׁבֶּא exactly as ..., Eccl 12:9 תֵר שֶׁ besides that, עַד שֶּׁ (עַד ּ Judg 5:7) until that Ps 123:2; Song 2:7; Song 2:17 + (see III. עַד II 1 a a and b; compare Late Hebrew Yoma Song 5:1), while Song 1:12 (ib. 2 d); עָשָׂהשֶּׁ to make or cause that ..., Eccl 3:14 (compare Ezek 36:27).
b. involving a reason (compare אֲשֶׁר 8 c), because, since, Song 1:6 (twice in verse); Song 5:2; Eccl 2:18 b. Hence שֵׁלָּמָה Song 1:7 since why ? = lest (see מָה 4 d b).

4. compounds:
a. בְּשֶּׁ , i. q. בַּאֲשֶׁר c (p. 84a) in that, seeing that, Eccl 2:16 also (according to ᵑ0 ᵐ5 ᵑ6 Hu De) Gen 6:3 בְּשַׁגַּם הוּא בָשָׂר because that he also is flesh; but see שָׁגַג.
b. כּשֶּׁ , i. q. כַּאֲשֶׁר p. 455: — (a) according as Eccl 5:14; Eccl 12:7 (b) when (so often in Late Hebrew, as Ab Eccl 1:8 (3 t. in verse); Eccl 1:14) Eccl 9:12; Eccl 10:3.
c. מִשֶּּׁ , i. q. מֵאֲשֶׁר a (p. 84:a), 2Kgs 6:12 מִי מִשֶּׁלָּנוּ who of those that are ours ? (but Klo Kmp^Kau Benz מְגַלֵּנוּ who betrays us ? compare ᵐ5); Eccl 5:4 than that (compare מֵאֲשֶׁר Eccl 3:22), + Eccl 2:24 (read מִשֶּׁיּאֹכַל with Ew De, etc.; compare Eccl 3:22).
d. שֶׁל, like אֲשֶׁרלְ (אֲשֶׁר 7 b), a mark of the genitive: thrice, adding slight emphasis to the suffix, Song 1:6 = Song 8:12 כַּרְמִי שֶׁלִּי my vineyard (literally my vineyard, which is mine), Song 3:7 מִטָּתוֺ שֶׁלִּשְׁלֹמֹה (so often in Late Hebrew, but without any special emphasis, as Aboth Song 1:12 הֲוֵי מתלמידיווּ שׁלאֿהרן be of Aaron's disciples, Song 2:1 שְׂכָרָן שֶׁלמִֿצְוֺת, vSong 2:2; Song 3:2 הֲוֵי מתפלל בשׁלומהּ שׁלמֿלכות; compare in Syriac, as Luke 6:42 my words, Nö^{§ 225}). And with בְּ, בְּשֶׁל literally through that which belongs to or concerns, pleonastic for on account of (a late, unidiomatic translation of Aramaic בְּרִיל, from בְּ, דִּי, and לְ, as in Onk Gen 12:13 בדילי on my account, Gen 30:27; Gen 39:5 בְּדִיל יוֺסֵף, בְּדִיל מָא on account of what ? Judg 8:1; 2Sam 9:1; 1Kgs 11:12; 1Kgs 11:39, etc.), Jonah 1:7 בְּשֶׁלְּמִי on account of whom ? (|| vJonah 1:8 בַּאֲשֶׁר לְמִי; probably a gloss), vJonah 1:12 בְּשֶׁלִּי an account of me (ᵑ7 בְּדִיל מַן, בְּדִילִי); Eccl 8:17 בְּשֶׁל אֲשֶׁר יַעֲמֹל הָאָדָם לְבַקֵּשׁ on account of (the fact) that (= seeing that) man labours, etc. (unidiomatic translation of Aramaic בְּדִיל דְּ because that, as Gen 6:3 בְּדִיל דְּאִינוּן בִּסְרָא, Gen 39:9 בְּרִיל דְּאַתְּ אִיתְּתֵיהּ [for Hebrew בַּאֲשֶׁר אַתְּ אִשְׁתּוֺ]; Palmyrene בדיל די Ldzb²³³, — in Tariff Gen 1:4 (Cooke^{N. Semitic Inscr. 320}) = ἐπειδή).

[שֹׁא] see [ שׁוֺא].

BDB9652 H3964 H4101 H4100

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

1. what ? Dan 4:32 מה עבדת.

2. whatever, what (compare Biblical Hebrew 1 b end) Dan 2:22 ידע מח בחשׁוכא knoweth what is in darkness, Ezra 6:9: so מָה דִּי (compare דִּי 1 b: so Nabataean; Palmyrene מא די, מדי, Lzb³⁰⁶ Cooke^{320, 332}) Dan 2:28; Dan 2:29 (twice in verse); Dan 2:45; Ezra 6:8 למא די תעבדון with regard to what ye shall do, Ezra 7:18 (= whatsoever).

3. with prefixes:
a. כְּמָה how! Dan 3:33 (twice in verse).
b. לְמָה why? (compare Biblical Hebrew לָמָּה) Ezra 4:22 be not slack herein: why should damage grow, etc., virtually = lest damage grow (ᵐ5 μή ποτε), Ezra 7:23 די למה להוא קצף for why should there be wrath ? = lest [ᵐ5 μή ποτε] there be wrath (compare ᵑ7 דִּילְמָא, Syriac lest: and see מָה 4 d b, p. 554:a).
c. עלמֿה wherefore? Dan 2:15.

Strong's Definition H4100

what, why, wherefore, how, wherein, …

mâ

properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and even relatively, that which); often used with prefixes in various adverbial or conjunctive senses

(interr pron) what, how, of what kind

(interrogative)

what?

how, how now

wherein?, whereby?, wherewith?, by what means?

how much?, how many?, how often?

Variations 40 forms of this word

Translations 137 English renderings

Search every verse

Word Parts

נָפְל֥וּ

Root word fall, fell, fallen, down, cast, …

Dictionary form: נָפַל · naw-PAHL

Vowels & Accents

Hebrew Alephbet

Grammar Vqp3cp

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

נָפְלוּ

Speech Verb Stem Qal Type Perfect (Qatal) Person Third Person Number Plural

Verb Chart

Full verb chart

In English

In the KJV here: fallen

shall fall ×42 fell ×33 fall ×27 fallen ×16 and fell ×15 and fall ×14 is fallen ×11 are fallen ×8

More options

fall — Core, neutral rendering; works in most contexts.

collapse — Prefer when sudden or total structural/physical failure implied.

drop — Good for quick, uncontrolled downward motion.

be defeated — Use when military overthrow or conquest is the sense.

perish — Fits contexts of death or destruction of people or nations.

cast down — Suitable for deliberate or forceful throwing to the ground.

Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)

BDB5297 H5307

נָפַל₄₃₃ verb fall, lie (Late Hebrew = Biblical Hebrew, ᵑ7 נְפַל, Syriac ; compare also Arabic dedit praedam (Nö^{ZMG xl (1886), 725} Frä^{153 f.}), Minaean נפל remove Hom^{Sudar. Chrest. 128}); —

Qal₃₆₆ Perfect ׳נ Judg 5:27 +, 3 feminine singular נָָֽפְלָה Gen 15:12 +, etc.; Imperfect יִפֹּל 1Sam 14:45 +, וַיִּפֹּל Judg 4:16 +; 1 singular אֶפֹּל 1Chr 21:13 (needless change from 1 plural נִפְּלָה || 2Sam 24:14 We Dr); 3 masculine plural יִפְּלוּ Hos 7:16 +, יִפֹּ֑לוּ Isa 3:25 +, 3 feminine plural תִּפֹּ֫לְנָה Ezek 13:11; Ezek 30:25, etc.; Imperative masculine plural נִפְלוּ Hos 10:8; Jer 25:27 Infinitive absolute נָפוֺל Esth 6:13 construct נְפֹל Isa 30:25 +; לִנְפֹּל Jer 51:49 +; suffix נָפְלוֺ 1Sam 29:3, נִפְלוֺ 2Sam 1:10, נִפְלָם Jer 49:21 (on these forms compare Ba^{NB 104}); Participle נֹפֵל Judg 4:22 +; feminine נֹפֶ֫לֶת Gen 15:12 +; plural נֹפְלִים Josh 8:25 + (insert also 1Sam 28:19b ᵐ5 Th We Dr Kit Bu HPS; Klo כֹּרְעִים), etc.; —

1. fall, by accident, שָֿׁ֫מָּה׳וְנ Exod 21:33 (E) and there fall into it (a pit) an ox or an ass, compare Deut 22:4 (בַּדֶּרֶךְ, on the way),bird עַלפַּֿח Amos 3:5 subject person, 1Sam 4:18 (from seat, מֵעַל), Deut 22:8 (twice in verse) (from roof, מִן); often into (ב) pit (usually figurative) Prov 26:27; Prov 28:10, also (absolute), Prov 22:14, Eccl 10:8; Ps 7:16; Ps 57:7 (בְּתוֺךְ), compare Ps 35:8; Ps 141:10 (net), also, with אֶל, Isa 24:18 = Jer 48:44 fall בְּלֵב יַמִּים Ezek 25:27 opposed to קוּם Jer 8:4 compare Eccl 4:10 (twice in verse); with אָחוֺר fall backward Gen 49:17 (poem); with בְּעַד through 2Kgs 1:2 compare (of locusts) Joel 2:8 עַלחֶֿרֶב ׳נ causing death 1Sam 31:4; 1Sam 31:5 = 1Chr 10:4; 1Chr 10:5 עַלפָּֿנָיו אַ֫רְצָה ׳נ 1Sam 17:49 (Goliath); subject thing, 2Kgs 2:13; 2Kgs 2:14 (מֵעַל), 2Kgs 6:5 (אֶלֿ into water), v2Kgs 6:6 (absolute); with עַל Lev 11:32; Lev 11:35; Lev 11:37; Lev 11:38, אֶלֿ vLev 11:33 absolute of tent Judg 7:13 + vJudg 7:13 (gloss, GFM, Bu); of wall Josh 6:5 (JE), Jer 51:44, figurative Ezek 13:11 (strike out ᵐ5 ᵑ6 Sm Co Berthol), vEzek 13:12 vEzek 13:14, לְאֶרֶץ Ezek 38:20 + תַּחְתֶּיהָ i.e. flat Josh 6:20 ׳נ of bricks Isa 9:9 (in figurative), פֶּרֶץ Isa 30:13 towes vIsa 30:25, foundations Jer 50:15 wall fell upon (על) 1Kgs 20:30, so of house Judg 16:30; Job 1:19, mountains Hos 10:8 mountain also absolute Job 14:18 (compare נָבֵל), height Ezek 38:20 tree Eccl 11:3 (twice in verse) (ב location), compare Isa 10:34 (בְ instrumental, in figure), Zech 11:2 (absolute); branches Ezek 31:12 (figurative); a grain Amos 9:9 (אֶרֶץ = to earth); of dew 2Sam 17:12 (with על), hailstones Ezek 13:11 blood (אַ֫רְצָה) 1Sam 26:20 hair of head (ארצה) 1Sam 14:45; 2Sam 14:11; 1Kgs 1:52 horns of altar Amos 3:14 (לָאָרֶץ); peg Isa 22:25 fruit עַלפֶּֿה Nah 3:12 crown Lam 5:16 arm from (מִן) shoulder Job 31:22 of sword (apparently) 2Sam 20:8 (but on text see Commentaries); fire from heaven, absolute 1Kgs 18:38 with מִן Job 1:16 ; hand of ׳י Ezek 8:1 (with עַלֿ; but read וַתְּהִי ᵐ5 Co Berthol); spirit of ׳י Ezek 11:5 (עַלֿ); of lot (גּוֺרָל) Ezek 24:6; Jonah 1:7 (both with עַל), 1Chr 26:14 (with לְ; || יָצָא), + Esth 3:7 ᵐ5 Ry Wild (עַל); compare Hiph`il 3; hence (of share, inheritance) fall, be allotted, to (לְ) Judg 18:1 (ב = as: בְּ 17 c; so Num 34:2; Ezek 47:14), Ps 16:6, absolute Josh 17:5. — On Ezek 47:22b see

Hiph`il 3.

2. a. Especially of violent death (c. 96 t.), Judg 5:27 (3 t. in verse) (+ שָׁדוּד), 1Sam 4:10; 1Sam 14:13; 2Sam 11:17; 2Sam 21:9; 1Kgs 22:20 = 2Chr 18:9, etc.; + וַיָּמָת, etc.; 2Sam 1:4; 2Sam 2:23 (twice in verse); חָלָל ׳נ fall pierced (fatally) Judg 9:40; 1Sam 17:52; 1Sam 31:1 = 1Chr 10:1 +; חַלְלֵי חֶרֶב Ezek 35:8 compare בְּתוֺח חֲלָלִים Ezek 32:20 תַּחַת הֲרוּגִים ׳נ Isa 10:4 פְּגָרִים ׳נ corpses fall Jer 9:21; Num 14:29 (P), vNum 14:32 (JE); by the sword, בַּחֶרֶב Amos 7:17; Hos 7:16; Hos 14:1; Isa 3:25; 2Sam 1:12; Ezek 5:12; Ezek 6:11; Num 14:3; Num 14:43 (JE), (+ בָּרָעָב, בַּדֶּבֶר), etc.; לְפִי חֶרֶב ׳נ Josh 8:24 (JE), Judg 4:16 ; בְּיַד by the hand of 2Sam 21:22; 2Sam 24:14 (twice in verse) = 1Chr 21:13 (twice in verse), 1Chr 5:10; 1Chr 20:8 ; תַּחַת רגליִ ׳נ fall under my feet 2Sam 22:39 = Ps 18:39.
b. figurative = go to ruin, perish, etc. (c. 30 t.); Amos 5:2; Amos 8:14 +; often || כָּשַׁל Isa 3:8; Isa 8:15 (+ other words), Isa 31:3; Jer 8:12; Jer 46:12; Jer 50:32; Ps 27:2; Prov 24:17 || כָּרַע Ps 20:9 figurative of earth Isa 24:20 (opposed to קוּם), Haman falls before (לִפְנֵי) Mordecai Esth 6:13 (twice in verse); compare Isa 14:12 (absolute); peculiar to Prov are בְּרִשְׁעָה ׳נ Prov 11:5, בְּרַע Prov 13:17, בְּרָעָה Prov 17:20; Prov 28:14.
c. figurative = experience calamity Mic 7:8 (opposed to קוּם), Ps 37:34; Ps 145:14; Prov 24:16.
d. fall, of a city Jer 51:8 (|| וַתִּשָּׁבֵר).

3. a. Fall prostrate, Judg 19:26; Judg 19:27, + אַ֫רְצָה Job 1:20 fall at full length (in a faint) וַיִּפֹּל מְלֹאֿ קוֺמָתוֺ 1Sam 28:20 sink down Num 24:4; Num 24:16 (J E; supernatural influence); of arms of Pharaoh Ezek 30:25 (opposed to חָזַק).
b. fall = prostrate oneself before (לִפְנֵי) man Gen 50:18 (E), 2Sam 19:19; Gen 44:14 (J; + אַ֫רְצָה); before ׳י 2Chr 20:18 אֶלפָּֿנָיו אַ֫רְצָה ׳נ before ׳י or his representative Josh 5:14; Josh 7:6 (both J E); also (ארצה omitted) Ezek 43:3; Ezek 44:4 before man 2Sam 14:22 more often עַלפָּֿנָיו ׳נ, before man 2Sam 9:6; 1Kgs 18:7; 1Kgs 18:39; Ruth 2:10, before ׳י Gen 17:3; Gen 17:17 + 6 t. P, Ezek 3:23; Ezek 9:8; Ezek 11:13; 1Chr 21:16; Dan 8:17 + אַ֫רְפָה, before man 2Sam 14:4, before ׳י Judg 13:20 לְאַפָּיו אַ֫רְצָה 1Sam 20:41, לְאַפֵּי דָוִד עַלפָּֿנֶיהָ 1Sam 25:23, ארצה ׳נ 2Sam 1:2 (all before man); עַלרַֿגְלָיו ׳נ fall at one's feet 1Sam 25:24; 2Kgs 4:37, ׳לִפְנֵי ר Esth 8:3. See synonym below קדד.
c. fall upon (עַל) one's neck, in embrace Gen 33:4; Gen 46:29 (both J), Gen 45:14 (E), עַלפְּֿנֵי אָבִיו Gen 50:1 (J).

4. a. Fall upon (עַל) = attack Jer 48:32 (figurative), compare Isa 16:9 with בְּ Josh 11:7 (D), absolute Job 1:15 אִישׁ אֶלרֵֿעֵהוּ ׳נ Jer 46:16.
b. desert or fall away to, go over to, with עַלֿ 2Kgs 25:11 (twice in verse) = Jer 52:15 (twice in verse), Jer 21:9; Jer 37:14; Jer 39:9; 1Chr 12:20; 1Chr 12:21 (twice in verse) (van d. H. v.1Chr 12:19 v.1Chr 12:20 v.1Chr 12:20), 2Chr 15:9, with אֶלֿ 2Kgs 7:4; Jer 37:13; Jer 38:19, absolute 1Sam 29:3; Jer 39:9.
c. בְּיַד ׳נ fall into the hand (power) of Judg 15:18; Lam 1:7: — compare also

2. a. above

5. Figurative, of deep sleep, with עַל Gen 15:12 (J), 1Sam 26:12; Job 4:13; Job 33:15 face, countenance (in displeasure) Gen 4:5; Gen 4:6 (J); לֵב אָדָם עָלָיו ׳נ 1Sam 17:32 (of sinking heart); וַיִּפְּלוּ בְעֵינֵיהֶם) Neh 6:16 and they were cast down in their (own) eyes (compare BeRy, Ryle); of calamity followed by עַלֿ Isa 47:11; Eccl 9:12 terror, etc., followed by עַלֿ Gen 15:12 (J), Josh 2:9 (JE), Exod 15:16 (song), 1Sam 11:7; Job 13:11; Ps 55:5; Ps 105:38; Esth 8:17; Esth 9:2; Esth 9:3; Dan 10:7 reproach, followed by עַלֿ Ps 69:10 = fail to be accomplished Josh 21:43; Josh 23:14 (twice in verse) (all D), 1Kgs 8:56; 2Kgs 10:10 (+ אַ֫רְצָה); = not to be reckoned Num 6:12 (P); of word (דָּבָר) falling into (ב) Israel Isa 9:7 = fall out, turn out, result Ruth 3:18 (subject דָּבָר).

6. Other idiomatic uses are: לְמִשְׁכָּב ׳נ take to one's bed Exod 21:18 (E); settle Gen 25:18 (J); = alight quickly, מֵעַל הַגָּמָל Gen 24:64 (J), מֵעַל הַמֶּרְכָּבָה 2Kgs 5:21 waste away Num 5:21; Num 5:22; Num 5:27 = be born Isa 26:18 (compare Hiph`il vIsa 26:19); = be offered, of supplication (׳לִפְנֵי י) Jer 36:7; Jer 37:20; Jer 42:2 (compare Hiph`il 6); with מִן = be inferior to Job 12:3; Job 13:2.

7. = lie, of Midianites, etc. (like locusts; ב location) Judg 9:12 = lie prostrate, 1Sam 19:24 usually participle Josh 7:10 (J E; עַלפָּֿנֶיךָ), 1Sam 5:3; 1Sam 5:4 (לְפָנָיו), Amos 9:11, עַלהַֿמִּטָּה Esth 7:8 of the dead 1Sam 31:8 = 1Chr 10:8; Deut 21:1; Ezek 32:27 (Co conjecture נְפִילִים [compare Gen 6:4], see also Berthol Toy^Hpt); נֹפֵל אַ֫רְצָה מֵת Judg 3:25 compare Judg 4:22 (omit ארצה); אַ֫רְצָה ׳פְּגָרִים נ 2Chr 20:24 compare also Ezek 32:22; Ezek 32:23; Ezek 32:24 (strike out in vEzek 32:22 Hi Co Berthol, in vEzek 32:23 Toy^Hpt). Hiph`il Perfect הִפִּיל 1Sam 3:19 +; 2 masculine singular suffix הִפַּלְתָּם Ps 73:18 3 plural הִפִּילוּ Judg 2:19 +; 1 plural הִפַּלְנוּ Neh 10:35, etc.; Imperfect יַפִּיל Exod 21:27, וַיַּפֵּל Gen 2:21 +, suffix יַפִּלֵם Ps 140:11 3 masculine plural יַפִּילוּ 2Kgs 3:25; Ps 22:19, יַפִּיל֑וּן Job 29:24, etc.; Imperative masculine singular suffix הַפִּלֶהָ Josh 13:6 masculine plural הַפִּילוּ 1Sam 14:42 Infinitive construct לְהַפִּיל 1Sam 18:25 +; לַנְפִּל Num 5:22 read לִנְפֹּל (Di Ol^{§ 78 c} Sta^{§ 114 a, 2} Kö^{i. 309} Ges^{«GKC:66»§ 66}, 2 R 1); Participle מַפִּיל 2Kgs 6:5 + 2 t., plural מַפִּילִים Dan 9:18 —

1. cause to fall, with accusative, literally:
a. fell tree 2Kgs 3:19; 2Kgs 3:25 compare 2Kgs 6:5.
b. throw down wall 2Sam 20:15.
c. knock out tooth Exod 21:27 (E).
d. lay prostrate Deut 25:2 (for bastinado).
e. cast (cedar pillars) into (עַלֿ) fire Jer 22:7 so (with ב), wicked men Ps 140:11. feminine make sword drop from (מִן) hand Ezek 30:22 (figurative), compare Ezek 39:3.
g. cause stone to fall עַל Num 35:23, flesh Ps 78:28 (בְּקֶרֶב), stars Dan 8:10 (in vision).

2. Of causing death בַּחֶרֶב 2Kgs 19:7 = Isa 37:7; Jer 19:7; Ezek 32:12 (all ׳י subject), 2Chr 32:21 (human subject); בְּיַד 1Sam 18:25 + חֲלָלִים Ezek 6:4; Prov 7:26 also Ps 106:26; Dan 11:12 = overthrow, bring to destruction, Ps 37:14; Ps 73:18 (with ל), Ps 106:27.

3. Especially of casting lot (גּוֺרָל), Isa 34:17 (with לְ for), Neh 10:35 (with עַל + infinitive), Neh 11:1 (c. infinitive), 1Chr 26:14 (with לְ; so read Kit^Hpt compare ᵐ5 ᵑ9 Be Öttli), Ps 22:19 (with עַל), Esth 9:24 (c. infinitive); absolute Jonah 1:7 (twice in verse); 1Chr 24:31; 1Chr 25:8; 1Chr 26:13; Esth 3:7 + בְּתוֺכֵנוּ Prov 1:14 (i.e. share with us); omitted גּוֺרָל 1Sam 14:32 (with בֵּין), Job 6:27 (with עַל); hence ׳הִפּ = assign, apportion, by lot, usually with לְ person, Josh 13:6; Josh 23:4 (both D), Ezek 45:1; Ezek 47:22 a = vEzek 47:22 b (read יַפִּילוּ ᵑ9 ᵑ7 Hi-Sm Co Berthol), Ezek 48:29 (read בְנַחֲלָה for ׳מנ ᵐ5 ᵑ9 Hi-Sm, etc.), Ps 78:55 (compare Qal 1 end; and בְּ 17 c).

4. Figurative, let drop, cause to fail (cf Qal 5), Judg 2:19; Esth 6:10, + אַ֫רְצָה 1Sam 3:19.

5. Cause deep sleep to fall (עַלֿ) Gen 2:21 (J), Prov 19:15 (absolute), make countenance fall, look displeased at (ב), Jer 3:12, compare Job 29:24 (object אוֺר פָּנַי); cause terror, etc., to fall (עַלֿ) Jer 15:8.

6. Other idioms are: bring to life (properly drop young) Isa 26:19 (figurative); present supplication Jer 38:26; Jer 42:9; Dan 9:18; Dan 9:20 (all with לִפְנֵי); — on both compare

Qal 6. Hithpa`el throw, or prostrate oneself,

1. Infinitive construct הִתְנַפֵּל throw himself upon (על) Gen 43:18 (J; i.e. attack).

2. Perfect 1 singular הִתְנַפָּ֑לְתִּי Deut 9:25 Imperfect 1 singular וָאֶתְנַפַּל Deut 9:18; Deut 9:25 Participle מִתְנַפֵּל Ezra 10:1 — prostrate oneself and lie prostrate, ׳לִפְנֵי י. —

Pil`el. וְנִפְלַל Ezek 28:23, read וְנָפַל Hi-Sm Co Berthol.

BDB9713 H5307 H5308

נְפַל verb fall (see Biblical Hebrew); —

Pe`al Perfect 3 masculine singular ׳נ Dan 2:46 נְפַ֑ל Dan 4:28 3 masculine plural נְפַ֫לוּ Dan 3:23 + Dan 7:20 Kt (Qr 3 feminine plural נְפַ֫לָה, K^{§ 23, 2}); Imperfect 3 masculine singular יִפֵּל (K^{§ 42}) Dan 3:6 +; 2 masculine plural תִּפְּלוּן Dan 3:5; Dan 3:15 Participle plural נָֽפְלִין Dan 3:7 —

1. fall, עַלאַֿנְפּוֺהִי Dan 2:46 fall down and do homage Dan 3:5; Dan 3:6; Dan 3:7; Dan 3:10; Dan 3:11; Dan 3:15 ל location Dan 3:23 of voice, מִןשְֿׁמַיָּא Dan 4:28.

2. fall by violence Dan 7:20 (with קֳדָם).

3. יִפֵּל לָךְ Ezra 7:20 it shall fall to thee (thou shalt need) to give (compare Christian-Palestinian Aramaic, Schulth^{Lex. 126 and ZAW xxii (1902), 163}).

Strong's Definition H5307

fall, fell, fallen, down, cast, …

nāpal

to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitive or causative, literal or figurative)

to fall, lie, be cast down, fail

(Qal)

to fall

to cause to fall, fell, throw down, knock out, lay prostrate

to throw or prostrate oneself, throw oneself upon

Variations 128 forms of this word

Translations 195 English renderings

Fell

Search every verse

Word Parts

פָנֶֽי ךָ

פָנֶֽי

Root word before, face, presence, because, faces, …

ךָ

Suffix — pronoun your / you (one man)

Dictionary form: פָּנִים · paw-NEEM

Vowels & Accents

Hebrew Alephbet

Grammar Ncbpc/Sp2ms

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

פָנֶֽי	Speech Noun Type Common Gender Both Number Plural State Construct
ךָ	Speech Suffix Type Pronominal Person Second Person Gender Masculine Number Singular

In English

In the KJV here: is thy countenance

before ×796 the face ×55 from before ×53 his face ×53 because ×49 my face ×48 thy face ×39 before him ×38

More options

face — Most direct rendering; prefer for literal, physical contexts.

presence — Ideal for divine or royal encounter contexts.

countenance — Slightly elevated; suits emotional or expressive descriptions.

surface — Use for physical objects, land, or water (e.g. 'surface of the deep').

in front of — Best for spatial or positional prepositional phrases.

because of — Use when פָּנִים heads a causal prepositional phrase.

Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)

BDB4446 H3942 H6440

לִפְנָָֽי 1Kgs 6:17 see below [ פָּנֶה], פָּנִים.

BDB6680 H6440 H3942

[פָּנֶה], plural פָּנִים₂₁₂₃ noun masculine^{Prov 25:23} and (Ezekiel = Prov 21:21 = edge; on 2Sam 10:9 see below) feminine face, also faces (as turned toward one); — plural absolute פָּנִים Gen 32:31 +; construct פְּנֵי 2Sam 14:32 +; suffix 1 singular פָּנַי Gen 43:3 +; 3 masculine singular פָּנָיו Gen 4:5 +, פָּנֵי֑מוֺ Ps 11:7 (Kö^ll.1.446); 2 masculine pluralפְּנֵיכֶם Gen 40:7 +, etc.; — usually with verb plural, Gen 4:5; Gen 4:6; Exod 33:14 +; with verb singular Lam 4:16 (through influence of intervening ׳י, Ges^{«GKC:146a»§ 146a}), Prov 15:14 (but read פִּי, as Qr, see פֶּה); —

I. 1. face, faces (Jer 30:6; Ezek 27:35 +, compare Ezek 1:6; Ezek 10:14; Ezek 10:21 etc.):
a. literally, of man Gen 43:31; 2Sam 19:5; 1Kgs 19:13; Lev 13:14; Dan 8:18; Dan 10:9; Dan 10:15 +; ׳עוֺר פ Exod 35:29; Exod 35:30; Exod 35:35 pale (from alarm) Isa 29:22; Jer 30:6, flushed Isa 13:8; Ezek 21:3, compare Nah 2:11; Joel 2:6 tearful Isa 25:8; Job 16:16 sad, רעים ׳פ Gen 40:7, compare Neh 2:2; Neh 2:3, also ׳רֹעַ פ Eccl 7:8 i.e. sadness; ׳יֵּיטִב פ Prov 15:13 maketh glad the face; נָָֽפְלוּ פָנֶיךָ, Gen 4:5; Gen 4:6 why is the face fallen (in displeasure), compare 1Sam 1:18 (reading נָָֽפְלָה, נָָֽפְ לוּ, or הִפִּילָה); covered with shame Ezek 7:18, whence figurative of confusion, discomfiture Jer 51:51; Ps 69:8; Ps 83:17, etc.
b. of ׳י Exod 33:20, compare vExod 33:23.
c. פָּנִים אֶלפָּֿנִים face to face, of seeing (God) Gen 32:31, compare Judg 6:22, knowing Deut 34:10, judging Ezek 20:35, speaking Exod 33:11, and so ׳בְּפ ׳פ Deut 5:4 נִתְרֶאֶה פָנִים 2Kgs 14:8 see each other (in the) face = meet each other in battle, compare v2Kgs 14:11 = 2Chr 25:17; 2Chr 25:21.
d. of relations with ׳׃י ׳הֵרִים פ Ezra 9:6, in worship (see also נשׂא); in spiritual sense Jer 2:27; Jer 32:33 (פָּנָה אֵלַי עֹרֶף וְלֹא פָנִים); ׳לִדְרוֺשׁ י ׳נָתַן פ 2Chr 20:3 ׳נָתַן אֶתפֿ אֶלאֲֿדֹנָי Dan 9:3 הַבָּנִים קְשֵׁי פָנִים Ezek 2:4.
e. of ׳י himself, לֹא יָסִיר פָּנִיםִ מִכֶּם 2Chr 30:9 בְּעֹשֵׂי ׳פְּנֵי י רָ֑ע Ps 34:17 גַּעֲרַת פָּנֶיךָ Ps 80:17. — See further below

7. 2. a. = presence, person, of ׳י Exod 33:14; Exod 33:15, בְּפָנָיו Deut 4:37, מַלְאַךְ פָּנָיו Isa 63:9 לֶחֶם הַפָּנִים, see לֶחֶם; of ׳י's angry presence Lam 4:16; Ps 21:10 of Absalom 2Sam 17:11 in weakened sense, nearly = suffix (compare נפשׁ 4 a), Prov 7:15.
b. with ראה technically, see one's face, i.e. appear before one, in one's presence: before a man Gen 32:21 (+ 3 other uses of ׳פ), (God, with יראה pointed as Niph`al, see II 2); especially as privilege, = have access to, man of rank Gen 43:3; Gen 43:5; Gen 44:23; Gen 44:26, king Exod 10:28 (twice in verse) compare vExod 10:29 (all J), 2Sam 14:24 (twice in verse); 2Sam 14:28; 2Sam 14:32 compare 2Sam 3:13 (twice in verse); רֹאֵי פְנֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ 2Kgs 25:19 = Jer 52:25; Esth 1:14 implying favour of person seen, man Gen 33:10 (J), God vGen 33:10, compare Job 33:26 (Hiph`il), and, with חזה, Ps 11:7; Ps 17:15.

3. face of seraphim Isa 6:2, cherubim Exod 25:20 (twice in verse) = Exod 37:9 (twice in verse), Ezek 1:8; Ezek 1:11; 2Chr 3:13 +.

4. face of animals, פְּנֵי הַצּאֹן Gen 30:40 ׳אַרְיֵה וּפ ׳פ נֶשֶׁר ׳שׁוֺר ופ Ezek 1:10 (in descr. of cherubim), compare Ezek 10:14 אַרְיֵה ׳פ also 1Chr 12:8 (figurative), כְֿפִיר׳פ Ezek 41:19 ׳פִּתְחֵי פ Job 41:6 of crocodile.

5. face (= surface) of ground (הָאֲדָמָה) Gen 2:6; Gen 4:14; Gen 7:4; Ps 104:30 +, so הָאָרֶץ ׳פ Gen 1:29; Gen 7:3; Gen 8:9; Gen 11:4; Gen 11:8; Gen 11:9; Gen 19:28; Isa 24:1, תֵבֵל ׳פ Isa 14:21; Isa 27:6 of a field Prov 24:31 תְהוֺם ׳פ Gen 1:2 (twice in verse); Job 38:30, הַמַּיִם ׳פ Gen 7:18 רְקִיעַ הַשָּׁמַיִם׳פ Gen 1:20 כִֿסֵּה׳פ Job 26:9 i.e. of God's throne (but Bu reads כֶּסֶה fullmoon); הַלּוֺט ׳פ Job 25:7 see [ לוּט; לְבוּשׁוֺ ׳פ Job 41:5 the expanse of his [the crocodile's] coat; front (especially Ezek.), of house Ezek 41:14; Ezek 47:1, הַקֹּדֶשׁ ׳פ Ezek 41:21 of gate Ezek 40:6; Ezek 40:20; Ezek 40:22; Ezek 42:15; Ezek 43:4 of chamber Ezek 40:44 (twice in verse); Ezek 40:45; Ezek 40:46 of pot (סִיר) Jer 1:13 הַמִּלְחָמָה ׳פ 2Sam 10:9 battle-front = 1Chr 19:10 (verb agrees with ׳הַמּ in gender, Ges^{«GKC:146a»§ 146a}); = van of locust-army Joel 2:20 (opposed to סֹפוֺ); front, i.e. edge, of sword Ezek 21:21, of axe Eccl 10:10 = condition, state of a thing, as denoted by its appearance; of flock Prov 27:23 הַדָּבָר ׳פ 2Sam 14:20 the appearance (situation, attitude) of the affair.

6. as adverb of location מִפָּנִים וּמֵאָחוֺר 2Sam 10:9 before and behind = ׳וְֿ ׳פ 1Chr 19:10, also Ezek 2:10; 2Chr 13:14 פְּנֵי toward Song 7:5, also in front (to the East?) of 2Chr 20:16 (see לִפְנֵי d below); לְפָנִים forward Jer 7:24 (opposed to לְאחוֺר); מִלִּפְנִים 1Kgs 6:29 see פְּנִימָה; adverb temporal לְפָנִים formerly Deut 2:12; Deut 2:20; Josh 11:10; Judg 1:10; Judg 1:11; Judg 1:13 + 12 t.; מִלְּפָנִים Isa 41:26 from beforetime (|| מֵראֹשׁ).

7. for other phrases see: אוֺר verb Hiph`il 5; אוֺר n. 10; בּוֺשׁ Hiph`il; בקשׁ Pi`el 3; בּשֶׁת 1; [הַכָּרָה]; הָדַר 2; זָעַם Niph`al; זָעַף 1; הָבַשׁ 1 a; I. חָרָה I חָוַר; חָזַק Pi`el 5; II. חלה; IV. חמר; חָפָה; טָחַן; יָעַד Hoph`al; יְשׁוּעָה 3; כּוּן Hiph`il 3; כִּפֶּר 1; כָּסָה Pi`el 1, 2; מָאוֺר; מְגַמָּה p. 169; I. מוּל; מַשּׂא; [נָבַט] Hiph`il 3; נֶגֶד 1, 2 c; נֹכַח; נָכַר Hiph`il; נָפַל 3 b, and Hiph`il 5; נָשָׂא 1 b (3); נָתַן 2 b; סָבַב Hiph`il 1 a; סָתַר Hiph`il 2; I. עֵבֶר 2; עַז, עָזַז Hiph`il; עָמַד Hiph`il 6 a; II. עֻמָּה; [צָרַב]; [קָדַם] Pi`el; שִׂים; שׁוּב Hiph`il; שִׁית; II.שָׁנָה Pi`el; תֹּפֶת. II. פְּנֵי with prepositions: —

1. אֶלפְּֿנֵי:
a. to the presence of, Exod 23:17 pregnantly יֵרָאֶה ֗֗֗ אֶלפְּֿנֵי הָאָדוֺן shall appear (coming) to the presence of (= before) ׳י (|| Exod 34:23 ׳אֶתפְּֿנֵי הָא); with יָצָא = to confront 2Chr 19:2.

b. to the front of, after a verb of motion, Lev 6:7 הַמִּזְבֵּחַ ׳הַקְרֵב אֹתָהּ ֗֗֗ אֶלפְּֿנֵ, Lev 9:5; Lev 16:2; Num 17:8; Num 20:10.
c. towards or on the front of (אֶל = עַל), Ezek 41:4; Ezek 41:12; Ezek 41:15; Ezek 41:25; Ezek 42:2; Ezek 42:3; Ezek 42:7; Ezek 42:10; Ezek 42:13; Ezek 45:7; Ezek 48:21.
d. on to the surface of, Lev 14:53 וְשִׁלַּח ֗֗֗ אֶלפְּֿנֵי הַשָּׂדֶה, Ezek 16:5.

2. אֶתפְּֿנֵי close by (II. אֵת) the face or front of: hence
a. the presence of, 1Sam 2:11 עֵלִי ׳אֶתפֿ 1Kgs 12:6 who stood שְׁלֹמֹה ׳אֶתפֿ (compare לִפְנֵי 1Kgs 10:8), Esth 1:10; Prov 17:24 pregnantly (nisi וַיַּנִּחֵם leg., ᵑ6 ᵑ7 We Dr and others) 1Sam 22:4. Specifically ׳אֶתפְּֿנֵי י Gen 19:13 (1Sam 2:17), v1Sam 2:27; 1Sam 2:18 and with נִרְאָה of the appearance of all males at the three annual חַגִּים, Exod 34:23 הָאָדֹן ׳יֵרָאֶה כָּלזְֿכוּרְךָ אֶתפֿ, vExod 34:24; Deut 16:16 (compare Dr), Deut 31:11; 1Sam 1:22 (|| ׳י ׳אלפֿ Exod 23:17); so פָּנַי alone Exod 23:15 = Exod 34:20 (לֹא יֵרָאוּ פָנַי רֵיקָם), Isa 1:22, פָנֶיךָ Ps 42:3 (according to many, Ges^Thes Di^{Exod 23:15} Che^{Isa 1:12, critical note}, the verb in all these passages was originally Qal, afterwards pointed as Niph`al to avoid the expression see the face of ׳י); אֶתפָּֿנֶיךָ in thy presence Ps 16:10; Ps 21:7; Ps 140:14.
b. in front of, Gen 33:18. הָעִיר ׳וַיִּחַן אֶתפֿ, Lev 4:6 פָרֹכֶת הַקֹּדֶשׁ ׳אֶתפֿ ׳לִפְנֵי י vLev 4:17. — מֵאֵת פְּנֵי from before, see II. אֵת

4 a. 3. בִּפְנֵי: (a) in the face of, mostly in particular phrases, with hostile import: thus, with יָרַק to spit Num 12:14; Deut 25:9 התיצב to make a stand Deut 7:24; Deut 11:25, and עמד Josh 10:8, לֹא יַעֲמֹד אִישׁ בְּפָנֶיךָ Josh 21:42; Josh 23:9 עָנָה to answer (give evidence) against, Hos 5:5 וענה גאון ישׂראל בפניו, Hos 7:10; Job 16:8 וְנָקֹטוּ בִּפְנֵיהֶם = feel loathing against their own selves, Ezek 6:9, so Ezek 20:43; Ezek 36:31. (b) in front of, Ezek 42:12.

4. לִפְנֵי, properly at the face or front of, the most general word for in the presence of, before: as Gen 18:22 עֹמֵד לִפְנֵי אַבְרָהָם, Exod 4:21; Exod 11:10; 2Sam 2:14; Prov 17:18 + often; after a verb of motion, Gen 47:2 וַיַּצִּיגֵם ׳לפני פ and set them before Pharaoh, Gen 27:20 ׳כִּי הִקְרָה י לפני literally made (it) to meet before me (compare Gen 24:12), Exod 29:10; Prov 18:16 etc. In particular,
a. With the implication of
(a) under the eye or oversight of, Deut 25:2; 1Sam 3:1.
(b) under the eye and regard of, Gen 17:18 לוּ יִשְׁמָעֵאל יִחְיֶה לְפָנֶיךָ, Hos 6:2; Isa 53:2; Ps 61:8 compare Jer 30:20; Jer 31:36; Isa 66:22; Ps 102:29: also 1Sam 2:28; 2Sam 19:14.
(c) figurative for in (or into) the full (mental) view of, Gen 6:13 קֵץ כָּלבָּֿשָׂר בָּא לְפָנַי is come in before me, Lam 1:22 תָּבאֹ כָלרָֿעָתָם לְפָנֶיךָ, Jonah 1:2 עָֽלְתָה לְפָנַי (compare אֶל Gen 18:21; Exod 2:23), Isa 65:6 כְּתוּבָה לְפָנָ֑י, Jer 2:22 נִכְתָּךְ לְפָנָי (compare נֶגְדִּי Isa 47:12).
(d) openly before, 1Sam 12:2 הִתְהַלֵךְ לִפְנֵי, and with collateral idea of deserving (and receiving) regard 1Sam 2:35, especially ׳לפני י Gen 17:1 and elsewhere.
(e) in presence of the moon or sun, Ps 72:5; Ps 72:17, i.e. as long as they endure.
(f) free before, at the disposal of,Gen 13:9 הֲלֹא כָלהָֿאָרֶץ לְפָנֶיךָ (compare Gen 20:15; Gen 34:10; Gen 47:6; Jer 40:4; 2Chr 14:6), 2Chr 24:51; Song 8:12.
(g) in the sight (estimation) of, Gen 7:1 thee have I seen to be just before me, Gen 10:9 a mighty hunter before ׳י, Deut 24:4 ׳י ׳תּוֺעֵבָה ל, vDeut 24:13 ׳י ׳צְדָקָה ל, 1Sam 20:1 b, אָרוּר ׳י ׳ל Josh 6:26; 1Sam 26:19, ׳י ׳לְרָצוֺן ל acceptable before ׳י, Lev 1:3 +, Ps 19:15; 2Kgs 5:1 a great man לִפְנֵי אֲדֹנָיו, Prov 14:12; Ps 143:2 ׳וַיִּיטַב ל (late synonym of earlier בְּעֵנֵי) Neh 2:5; Neh 2:6; Esth 5:14 ׳טוֺב ל Eccl 2:26; Eccl 7:26 compare also נָתַן לְרַחֲמִים לִפְנֵי, see רַחֲמִים.
(h) ׳לִפְנֵי י, specifically of acts done with a solemn sense of ׳י's presence, often, but not always, at a sanctuary: Gen 27:7 that I may eat and bless thee before ׳י, before I die, Exod 18:12 to eat bread before God, Deut 1:45 ye wept before ׳י, Deut 6:25; Deut 12:7 (to eat, so vDeut 12:18; Deut 14:23; Deut 14:26; Deut 15:20), vDeut 15:12 (rejoice, so vDeut 15:18; Deut 27:7; Isa 9:2), Josh 18:6; Josh 24:1; Judg 11:11; Judg 20:23; Judg 20:26; Judg 21:2; 1Sam 7:6; 1Sam 10:19; 1Sam 11:15; 1Sam 12:7; 1Sam 15:33; 1Sam 23:18; 2Sam 5:3; 2Sam 7:18; 2Sam 21:9 and constantly in P, as Exod 16:9; Exod 16:33; Exod 16:34; Lev 1:5; Lev 1:11; Lev 3:1; Lev 3:7 etc.; of residents in Jerusalem Isa 23:18. So in ׳י ׳הָלַךְ ל 1Kgs 2:4 and elsewhere.
b. In other phrases: —
(a) עָמַד לִפְנֵי to stand before, i.e. wait upon, be in attendance on, Deut 1:38 and elsewhere (see עָמַד 1 e). Simil. הָיָה לִפְנֵי 1Sam 19:7 (compare 1Sam 29:8), 2Kgs 5:2 ׳עָבַד ל 2Sam 16:19.
(b) הִשְׁתַּחֲוָה לִפְנֵי to bow down before Gen 23:12; Deut 26:10; 2Kgs 18:22 and elsewhere (see below שָׁחָה; also נָפַל 3 b): so with הִתְפַּלֵּל to pray 1Sam 1:12 +; compare הלך פָני 1Kgs 12:30; 1Chr 21:30.
(c) to be smitten (נִגַּף) before a foe; see נָגַף Niph`al [contrast נוּס מִפְּנֵי: below 6 a]. So with נָפַל 1Sam 14:13 נָתַן (in helplessness or flight), especially in Deuteronomy, as Deut 1:8; Deut 1:21; Deut 7:2 (twice in verse); Deut 7:23; Josh 10:12; Josh 11:6 + (Dr^{DT lxxxii}): compare Judg 4:15; 2Sam 5:20; Isa 45:1; Jer 1:17.
(d) עָמַד לִפְנֵי to stand (make a stand) before (not quite so strong as בִּפְנֵי ׳ע, above 3), Exod 9:11; Judg 2:14; 2Kgs 10:4; Jer 49:19; Ps 76:8; Ps 147:17; Nah 1:6 so with הִתְיַצֵּב Deut 9:2; Josh 1:5; Job 41:2, קוּם Josh 7:12; Josh 7:13.
(e) in hostile sense (rare), יָצָא לִפְנֵי go forth to face 1Chr 14:8; 2Chr 14:9.
(f) לִפְנֵי (נָתַן) שִׂים, of food, to set or place before, Gen 18:8; Gen 24:33 +.
(g) נָתַן לִפְנֵי to set before, i.e. propound for acceptance or choice, usually of laws (especially Deuteronomy, Jeremiah), Deut 4:8; Deut 11:26; Deut 11:32; Deut 30:1; Deut 30:15; Deut 30:19; 1Kgs 9:6 (D²), Jer 9:12; Jer 21:8; Jer 26:4; Jer 44:10; , compare Ezek 23:24 (place at disposal of): so with שִׂים Exod 19:7; Exod 21:1.
c. With reference to position:
(a) in front of, before, especially with verbs of motion (with which נֶגֶד is hardly used), Gen 32:21 בַּמִּנְחָה הַהֹלֶכֶת לְפָנָ֔י that goeth before me, Gen 33:14 the cattle אֲשֶׁר לְפָנַי, Exod 17:5; Exod 23:20 etc.; in the description of a march or procession, Exod 13:21; Exod 13:22; Num 10:33; Isa 52:12; Isa 58:8 +; 2Sam 3:31 and wail before Abner (before his bier); of flocks before a shepherd Gen 32:18 of captives or booty driven before a conqueror 1Sam 30:20 (read וַיִּנְהֲגוּ לְפָנָיו We Dr), Isa 8:4; Isa 40:10 = Isa 62:11 וּפְעֻלָּתוֺ לְפָנָיו his recompence (i.e. his newly-recovered people, regarded as his prize of war) before him, Amos 9:4; Lam 1:5; Lam 1:6
(b) of a leader, etc. = at the head of, Deut 10:11; Judg 9:39; 1Sam 8:20; Mic 1:13 and elsewhere; compare בא ויצא לפני (העם) Num 27:17; 1Sam 18:13; 1Sam 18:16; 2Chr 1:10; Eccl 4:16 before whom (at whose head) he was.
(c) denoting superiority, before, above, Gen 48:20 וַיָּשֶׂם אתאֿפרים לפני מנשׁה, Job 34:19.
d. Of places (not very common): Exod 14:2 before Pi-hahiroth . . ., before Baal-zephon, Num 33:7b, Gen 23:17 מַמְרֵא ׳אשׁר ל (usually ׳על פני מ: see 7 a d), 1Chr 19:7; Neh 8:1; Neh 8:3 before the temple, veil, altar, etc., Exod 16:34 + הָעֵדֻת ׳ל, Exod 30:6 + הַפָּרֹכֶת ׳ל, Exod 40:5; Exod 40:6; Num 3:38; Num 7:10 and elsewhere (all P), 1Kgs 6:21; 1Kgs 7:49 +.
e. Of time, before: Amos 1:1: לפני הָָֽ רעַשׁ before the earthquake, Gen 29:26; Gen 30:30 לְפָנַי before me (i.e. before I came to thee), Exod 10:14 לפניו לא היה כן before it there was not the like, Num 13:22; 1Kgs 16:25; 1Kgs 16:30 מִכֹּל אֲשֶׁר לְפָנָיו, Isa 43:10; Isa 48:7; Prov 8:25; Job 15:7 etc. Sq. infinitive, Gen 13:10 ׳לִפְנֵי שַׁחֵת י before ׳י's destroying, etc., Gen 27:7 לִפְנֵי מוֺתִי, Gen 36:31; 1Sam 9:15 +. Once, in late Hebrew, לִפְנֵי מִזֶּה before this Neh 13:4. feminine In the manner of, like (rare and dubious), 1Sam 1:16 אַלתִּֿתֵּן אֶתאֲֿמָֽתְךָ לִפְנֵי בַתבִּֿלִיַּעַל like a worthless woman, Job 3:24 like my food, Job 4:19 they are crushed like the moth (compare Lat pro).

5. מִלִּפְנֵי₇₃ from before: —
a. from the presence of (properly, from a position before a person or object: to be distinguished from מִפְּנֵי; see 6):
(a) Gen 41:46 ׳ויצא יוסף מִלִּפְנֵי פ from before Pharaoh, Gen 47:10; 2Kgs 5:27; 2Kgs 6:32 +; ׳י ׳מל Gen 4:6 Cain went forth from before ׳י, Jonah 1:3; Jonah 1:10 specifically of the sanctuary, Lev 9:24 ׳ותצא אשׁ מלפני י (so Lev 10:2), קֶצֶף Num 17:11 (compare 2Chr 19:2), with לָקַח etc. Lev 16:12; Num 17:24; Num 20:9, 1Sam 21:7 the shew-bread that was removed from before ׳י; from before a place 1Kgs 8:54; Ezra 10:6; 2Chr 1:13,
(b) of taking, etc., from before a person, Gen 23:4 to bury my dead from before me, vGen 23:8; Exod 36:3; Deut 17:18 ׳וכתב לו מִשְׁנֵה התורה הזאת מל הכהנים from (the copy) before the priests, Deut 28:31 גָּזוּכ מלפניך.
(c) with בקשׁ Esth 4:8 [compare מִןקֳדָם Dan 2:18]; and to express the idea of proceeding from a person, Esth 1:19 [compare Dan 2:15], Eccl 10:5; 1Chr 29:12 הָעשֶׁר והכבוד מלפניך (compare Acts 3:19); Ps 17:2 מלפניך. יֵצֵא משׁפטי.
(d) of cutting off, etc., from before ׳י (compare לִפְנֵי a b, c), Lev 22:3; 1Kgs 8:25 לֹאיִֿכָּרֵת לְךָ אִישׁ, מִלְּפָנִי Jer 31:36; Jer 33:18; Isa 48:19: Ps 51:13 אַלתַּֿשְׁלִיכֵנִי מִלְּפָנְיךָ (compare 8 a); Jer 16:17 לֹא נִסְתְּרוּ מִלְּפָנַי, Jer 18:23; Neh 3:37.
(e) of expelling from before an invader, Exod 23:28; Deut 9:4; Deut 11:23; Deut 31:3 + (but much less common than מִפְּנֵי).
b. (Chiefly late) to express the source or cause, with the force of the לְ weakened, in cases where the earlier language would have used מִפְּנֵי: with verbs of fearing, 1Sam 18:12; Eccl 3:14; Eccl 8:12; Eccl 8:13; 1Chr 16:30 חִילִי מִלְּפָנָיו [|| Ps 96:9 מפניו], Ps 114:7 (twice in verse); Esth 7:6; 2Chr 32:7 ( + מפני); failing, etc., Isa 57:16; Ps 97:5 being humbled, 1Kgs 21:29 ( + מפני), 2Chr 32:12; 2Chr 32:23; 2Chr 34:27 [|| 2Kgs 22:19 מפני], 2Kgs 36:12 crying for help 1Sam 8:18 [compare מפני Exod 3:7], singing 1Chr 16:33 [|| Ps 96:13 לפני], fleeing 1Chr 19:18 [|| 2Sam 10:18 מִפְּנֵי].
c. of time, once, = לִפְנֵי Eccl 1:10. — With the later usages of ׳מל, compare מִן קֳדָם in Biblical Aramaic and ᵑ7 (Dr Sm^{lxx-lxxi, lxxiii}); see also Kö^{ii. 320.}

6. מִפְּנֵי from the face or presence of, from before, Exod 14:19 וַיִּסַּע עמוד הענן מִפְּנֵיהֶם removecl from before them, Isa 30:11; Hos 11:2 so
a. (often with suggestion of causation (see מִן 2 d, e, f), because of, for fear of [so AV RV Judg 9:21; 1Sam 21:11; 1Sam 23:26; (twice in verse); Jer 37:11; Jer 41:9; Jer 50:16]) after verbs of hiding Gen 3:8; Gen 4:14; Isa 2:10 (compare vIsa 2:19 vIsa 2:21); and especially of escaping, Judg 9:21 (Thes 'bene ᵑ9 ob metum A.'), 1Sam 18:11; 1Sam 19:10; 1Sam 23:26, or fleeing, Exod 4:3; Exod 14:25; 1Sam 17:24 + often (see בָּרַךְ and נוּס), and expelling, destroying, etc. Exod 23:30 אֲגָָֽרְשֶׁנּוּ מִפָּנֶיךָ I will expel them from before thee, Exod 34:11; Exod 34:24 אוֺרִישׁ גּוֺיִם מִפָּנֶיךָ (see הוֺרִישׁ), Lev 18:24; Deut 8:20; Amos 2:9; Ps 89:24 + often (as though clearing the way for Israel, for Israel's sake: compare Isa 63:12 בּוֺקֵעַ מַיִס מִפְּנֵיהֶם, Josh 2:10; Josh 4:23). Pregn. Isa 17:9 ׳כַּעֲזוּבַת ֗֗֗ אשׁר עזבו מפני בני ישׂר which they forsook (fleeing) from before, etc.
b. implying causation more distinctly. Ps 9:4 יאבדו מפניך perish from before thee or at the presence, Deut 7:20: very often with verbs of fearing, as גור, יגר, חיל, ירא, ערץ, פחד, קוץ Exod 9:30; Num 22:3 (twice in verse); Deut 1:17; Jer 5:22 etc. (mostly when the object inspiring fear is a person: when it is a thing, מִן alone is preferred; but see Deut 5:5; Deut 9:19); of being alarmed or dismayed Gen 45:3; Josh 2:9; Jer 1:17; Job 23:15, etc.; of humbling oneself Exod 10:3; Judg 11:33 +; with other words, to indicate the external ground of an action or effect, as הַס מִפָּנָיו be silent at (i.e. because of) his presence Zeph 1:7; Hab 2:20; Judg 5:5 the mountains flowed ׳מפני י at the presence of ׳י, Isa 63:19; Jer 4:26; Nah 1:5; Ps 68:3 as wax melteth מפני אשׁ; Deut 20:19; Isa 19:1; Isa 26:17 כן היינו מפניך so were we through thy presence (more than לפניך, — implying that their state was due to ׳י); קום מפני to rise up at the presence of Gen 31:35; Lev 19:32. (

N.B. In a, b, frequently rendered before in AV RV, and so confused with לפני; but the מִן retains always its full force in the Hebrew)
c. of the cause, whether nearer or more remote:
(a) Gen 6:13 מָֽלְאָה הָאָרֶץ חָמָס מִפְּנֵיהֶם because of them (i.e. occasioned by them), Gen 27:4 I loathe my life because of the daughters of Heth, Gen 36:7 the land could not support them because of their cattle, Gen 41:31; Gen 47:13; Exod 3:7 their cry by reason of their taskmasters, Exod 8:20 תִּשָּׁחֵת הָאָרֶץ מִפְּנֵי הֶעָרֹב, Exod 9:11; Josh 2:11; Josh 23:3; Judg 2:18; Judg 6:6; 1Kgs 5:17; 1Kgs 8:11 + often; Isa 10:27 (RVm), Jer 15:17; Ps 38:4; Ps 38:6, etc.; Jer 4:4 + מִפְּנֵי רֹעַ מַעַלְלֵיכֶם by reason of the evil of your doings, Jer 7:12; Jer 9:6; Jer 13:17; Jer 14:16; Jer 23:9 + often
(b) stating the reason for which a thing is not done (Latin prae,), 1Kgs 8:11; Job 37:19.
(c) with אֲשֶׁר as a conjunction, twice, because that, Exod 19:18; Jer 44:23. — Num 33:8 see פִּי הַחִירֹת.

7. עַלפְּֿנֵי (compare Phoenician עַל פְּנֵ, עלת פְּנֵ, Lzb³⁵²) has different meanings according to the different senses of the noun and the preposition: —
a. From the sense of face or front:
(a) in front of (more definite and distinct than לפני): Ps 18:43 as dust before the wind (compare לפני Ps 35:5; Ps 83:14 +), Gen 32:22 the present passed on עלפֿניו in front of him, Exod 33:19 אעביר כלטֿוּבי עלפֿניך,2Sam 15:18; 2Sam 15:23 (read עלפֿניו: see Dr), Job 4:15 = in the sight of, Lev 10:3 ועלפֿני כל העם אֶכָּבֵד, Jer 6:7 עַלפָּֿנַי תָּמִיד חֳלִי וּמַכָּה, Jer 13:26 (compare Nah 3:5), Ps 9:20 יִשָּֽׁפְטוּ גוים עלפֿניך before thee: defiantly, Job 1:11 אםלֿא עלֿ פניך יְבָֽרְכֶךָּ will renounce thee to thy face, Job 6:28 ועלפֿניכם אם אֲכַוֵּב, Job 21:31 to die in the presence of any one ( = in his lifetime) Gen 11:28; Num 3:4.
(b) before, to the exclusion of another, i.e. in preference to, Deut 21:16, and perhaps(Ew^{§ 217} l) Exod 20:3 (Deut 5:7) לא יהיה לך אלהים אחרים עלפֿני (Thes and others as c).
(c) in addition to, Job 16:14 פֶּרֶץעַלפְּֿנֵיפֶֿרֶץ יִפְרְצֵנִי.
(d) of localities, in front of, mostly (but not always: see GFM^{Ju., p. 351}) = east of, 1Kgs 6:3 the porch in front of, etc., v1Kgs 6:3; 1Kgs 7:6; 1Kgs 8:8; 2Chr 3:17; Ezek 42:8; Gen 16:12 עלפֿני כלאֿחיו ישׁכן (compare Gen 25:18 b), perhaps (Di and others) with collateral idea of defiance; מַמְרֵא ׳עַלפֿ Gen 23:19 (Gen 50:13), Exod 16:14 often in אשׁר עלפֿני ֗֗֗ Gen 25:9 (Gen 49:30), מצרים vGen 49:18 a (Josh 13:3; 1Sam 15:7), Num 21:11; Num 33:7 a, ירחו Deut 32:49 (Deut 34:1), Josh 13:3; Josh 13:25; Josh 15:8 (Josh 18:16), Josh 17:7; Josh 18:14; Josh 19:11; Judg 16:3; 1Sam 24:3 (probably), 1Sam 26:1; 1Sam 26:3; 2Sam 2:24; 1Kgs 11:7 (the Mt. of Olives, east of Jews.; so 2Kgs 23:13; Zech 14:4), Zech 17:3; Zech 17:5. — Gen 1:20 let fowl fly עלפֿני רקיע השׁמים in front of the firmament of heaven, namely as looked up to from below, i.e. between the firmament and the earth. (ε) with verbs implying direction, over towardas, Gen 18:16 וישׁקף עלפֿני סדם, Gen 19:28; Num 21:20 (Num 23:28) נשׁקפה עלפֿני הישׁימן overlooking; to sprinkle against the front of Lev 16:14 in a hostile sense (rare), Nah 2:2 עָלָה מֵפִיץ עַלפָּֿנַיִךְ, Ps 21:13; Ezek 32:10.

b. From the sense of surface, Gen 1:2 עלפֿני תהום upon the face of the deep, Exod 16:14 ׳המדבר עלפֿ: often in the phrases עלפֿני (כל) הארץ Gen 1:29; Gen 7:3 +, and (more frequently) עלפֿני האדמה on the face of the ground Gen 6:1; Gen 7:23 etc.; על פני השׂדה Lev 17:5; Num 19:16; 1Sam 14:25 +; after verbs of motion, 1Sam 11:4 lest we be scattered over the face of all the earth, v1Sam 11:8 v1Sam 11:9; Exod 32:20; Lev 14:7 (Lev 14:53 אל), Isa 18:2; Isa 19:8; Amos 5:8; Ezek 32:4; Job 5:10 +.

8. מֵעַלפְּֿנֵי
a. from before the face of, Gen 23:3 Abraham rose up מֵעַל פְּנֵי מֵתוֺ from before his dead, i.e. from mourning before or beside it; Psalms (פניו) מֵעַל פני from before my (his) face, often in Kings & Jeremiah of the rejection of Israel or the temple, as with שִׁלַּת 1Kgs 9:7 (|| 2Chr 7:20 השׁליך), Jer 15:1, השׁליד 2Kgs 13:23; 2Kgs 24:20 (Jer 52:3), Jer 7:15, נטשׁ Jer 23:39, הסיר 2Kgs 17:18; 2Kgs 17:23; 2Kgs 23:27; 2Kgs 24:3; Jer 32:31.
b. from of the surface of, often in the phrase מֵעַל פְּנֵי הָאֲדָמָה, with verbs of cutting off, removing, expelling, etc., Psalms; Gen 4:14; Gen 6:7; Gen 7:4; Gen 8:8; Exod 32:12; Deut 6:15; 1Sam 20:15; 1Kgs 9:7; 1Kgs 13:34; Amos 9:8; Jer 28:16; Zeph 1:2; Zeph 1:3.

BDB6683 H3942 H6440

לִפְנָ֑י 1Kgs 6:17, Ew^{§ 164 a} Ke as adjective, anterior, but read, with ᵐ5, לִפְנֵי הַדְּבִיד Th Sta Kit and others

Strong's Definition H6440

before, face, presence, because, faces, …

pānîm

the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposition (before, etc.)

face

face, faces

before and behind, toward, in front of, forward, formerly, from beforetime, before

in front of, before, to the front of, in the presence of, in the face of, at the face or front of, from the presence of, from before, from before the face of

Variations 126 forms of this word

Translations 381 English renderings