Jeremiah 27:14

וְ אַֽל

וְ

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

אַֽל

Particle not

Dictionary form: אַל · al

Particle — Negative

In the KJV here: not

not ×238 neither ×59 let not ×44 be not ×26 nor ×23 ye not ×18 no ×17 me not ×15

More options

do not — Most natural modern negative imperative; broadly applicable.

never — Use when the prohibition carries a sense of absolute refusal.

nor — Coordinating negative; links parallel prohibitions or negations.

no — Emphatic short-form negative; fits exclamatory or abrupt contexts.

and do not — Connects a negative command to a preceding clause smoothly.

must not — Stronger deontic force; stresses obligation to refrain.

BDB419 H408

II. אַל adverb of negation (so Phoenician e.g. CIS^{i.^3,4.5.8}, Biblical Aramaic, Sabean (DHM^{ZMG 1875, 596}), and in the Ethiopic albo, is not), denying however, not objectively as a fact (like לֹא οὐ), but subjectively as a wish (like μή), expressing therefore a deprecation or prohibition:
a.
(a) with a verb, which is then always an imperfect (never an imperative), by preference in the cohortative or jussive mood, where this is in use, and may be of any person or number; Gen 15:1 and often אַלתִּֿירָא fear not! Gen 22:12 אַלתִּֿשְׁלַח יָָֽדְךָ put not forth thy hand, Gen 37:27 וְיָדֵנוּ אַלתְּֿהִיבֿוֺ and let not our hand be upon him, Gen 21:16 אַלאֶֿרְאֶה let me not look upon the death of the lad! Ps 25:2 אַלאֵֿבוֺשָׁה let me not be ashamed; with 1 plural (rare) 2Sam 13:25; Jer 18:18; Jonah 1:14. In an imprecation: Gen 49:4 אַלתּֿוֺתַר have not thou the excellency! Ps 109:12; Job 3:4; Job 3:6. Sometimes strengthened by נָא : Gen 13:8; Gen 18:3 and elsewhere
(b) without a verb, (α) 2Sam 1:21 let (there be) not dew & not rain upon you! Isa 62:6; Ps 83:1. (β) used absolutely, in deprecation Gen 19:18; 2Sam 13:16 (see below אוֺדָה) 2Kgs 3:13; 2Kgs 4:16; 2Kgs 6:27 (see RVm: but possibly to be explained by Dr^{§ 152 iii}; so Th Ke: hardly as Ew^{§ 355 b}) Ruth 1:13 אַל בְּנֹתַי Nay, my daughters, compare Judg 19:23 (γ) after a preceding imperative Amos 5:14; Joel 2:13; Prov 8:10, a jussive Prov 27:2, an infinitive absolute Prov 27:2. (χ) in poetry אַל sometimes expresses vividly the emotion or sympathy of the poet (see Dr^{§ 56-8}); Isa 2:9 וְאַלתִּֿשָּׂא לָהֶם and forgive them not! (with a touch of passion), Ps 41:3; Prov 3:25; Job 5:22; Ps 34:6 (but ᵐ5 ᵑ6 Ew Che here read וּפְנֵיכֶם, probably rightly); Ps 50:3 a may our God come וְאַלֿ יֶ֫חֱשָרשׁ and not be silent! (the psalmist identifying himself with a spectator of the scene vPs 50:2; Ps 50:3 b-c) Ps 121:3 (contrast vPs 121:4 לֹא) Jer 46:6 +.
b. once Prov 12:28 joined closely to a substantive (compare לֹא 2 b) to express with emphasis its negation: In the way of righteousness is life, and in the pathway therecf אַלמָֿוֶת there is no-death! i.e. immortality.
c. once Job 24:25 used in poetry as a substantive, And bring my words לְאַל to nought! —

N.B. 1Sam 27:10 אַלפְּֿשַׁטְתֶּם הַיּוֺם, אַל with the perfect is against all analogy; and either אֶלמִֿי (with ᵐ5. ᵑ9), or better אָן whither? (with ᵑ6 ᵑ7 : see 1Sam 10:14) must be read.

BDB9298 H409 H408

אַל adverb of prohibition, do not . . ., let not . . ., followed by imperfect ( = Biblical Hebrew I. אַל; Zenjirli אל (Had^{22. 23. 29}) Cooke^{160 f.}; compare Pahlavi (Nö^{GGA, 1884, 1016}); not ᵑ7 Syriac); — Dan 2:24 אַלֹתְּֿהוֺבֵד, Dan 4:16; Dan 5:10.

not, neither, no, nor, nay, …

ʾal

not (the qualified negation, used as a deprecative); once (Job 24:25) as a noun, nothing

not, no, nor, neither, nothing (as wish or preference)

do not, let not (with a verb)

תִּשְׁמְע֞וּ

Root word heard, hear, hearken, hearkened, obey, …

Dictionary form: שָׁמַע · shaw-MA

Verb — Qal, Jussive, second person masculine plural simple action — "he did" a wish or command — try "let him ___" the built-in subject is "you (a group)"

In the KJV here: therefore hearken

hear ×182 heard ×140 hearken ×67 hearkened ×35 and hear ×28 obey ×18 to hear ×18 i have heard ×17

More options

hear — Most natural default; covers auditory perception broadly.

listen — Implies attentiveness; prefer when active attention is stressed.

obey — Use when compliance or submission to a command is in view.

heed — Blends listening and obeying; good for warnings or instructions.

pay attention — Emphatic register; suits solemn or urgent calls to listen.

understand — Use when comprehension, not just audition, is the focus.

BDB8819 H8085

שָׁמַע₁₁₅₉ verb hear (Late Hebrew id.; Phoenician שמע Lzb³⁷⁸; Assyrian šemû; Arabic ; Sabean סמע mostly in derivatives, especially epithet of divinity סמע he who hears Hom^{Chr 124} Fell^{ZMG liv (1900), 250, 252} DHM^{Hofmus. No. 10, 1. 1}; Ethiopic Aramaic שְׁמַע, , Old Aramaic שמע Lzb³⁷⁸; compare also משמעת MI²⁸ obedience); —

Qal₁₀₅₂ Perfect 3 masculine singular ׳שׁ Gen 24:52 +, שָׁמֵ֑עַ Jer 36:13 + 3 t.; 2 feminine singular שָׁמַ֫עַתְּ 1Kgs 1:11 + 2 t.; 3 plural שָׁמֵ֑עוּ Judg 2:17 +, etc.; Imperfect 3 masculine singular יִשְׁמַע Exod 6:30 +, 1 singular cohortative אֶשְׁמְעָה Num 9:8, וָאֶשְׁמְָעָה (on ְָ֯ compare Ges^{«GKC:10h»§ 10h}; Ol^{§ 65 c question} reading) Dan 8:13 2 masculine plural תִּשְׁמְע֔וּן Deut 8:20 +, תִּשְׁמָע֔וּן Deut 1:17, etc.; Imperative masculine singular שְׁמַע Amos 7:16 +, שִׁמְעָךְ Job 32:10 + (especially Psalms), שְׁמָ֨עָךְ֨ Dan 9:19 feminine plural שְׁמַעְנָה Isa 32:9; Jer 9:19, שְׁמַ֫עַן Gen 4:23 (Ges^{«GKC:46f»§ 46f}), etc.; Infinitive absolute שָׁמוֺעַ Isa 6:9 +; construct שְׁמֹעַ 1Sam 15:22 +; suffix שָׁמְעו Deut 29:18 +, שָׁמְעָתוֺ Isa 30:19 (Gen 18:10 + etc.; —

1. subject human person (or thing personified):
a. hear (perceive by ear), accusative of thing, especially קוֺל Gen 3:10 (J) + 46 t., דבר(יםׅ Amos 8:11 + 50 t., etc.; accusative חָכְמָה i.e. wise sayings 1Kgs 5:14 + 4 t.; so any utterance or sound (approximately 150 t. in all) + (object omitted) Deut 4:33 + 32 t. + (temporal clause) 1Sam 14:27 + 6 t.; very rarely with ב, ׳בְּסוֺד י ׳שׁ Job 15:8 with object clause, ׳כִּ Exod 4:31 + 52 t. + Isa 39:1b (read ׳כִּי שׁ ᵐ5 ᵑ7 || 2Kgs 20:12), אֶתאֲֿשֶׁר Josh 2:10; Josh 5:1 (both R^D), מַהֹֿ֯ Judg 7:11 +3 t.; without connect. אֹתָהּ ׳שׁ עָשִׂיתִי 2Kgs 19:25 = Isa 37:26 singular oratio recta [direct speech] Isa 40:28; Zech 8:23.
b. accusative of person + מְדַבֵּר hear one speaking Gen 27:6 (J), Jer 26:7; Dan 8:13, so בֹּכֶה Num 11:10 (J), נִבָּא Jer 20:1 מְקַלְלֶ֑ךָ Eccl 7:21 occas. pears. omitted, דֹּבְרִים Gen 37:17 (JE), אֶתמִֿדַּבֵּר Ezek 2:2; Ezek 43:6 (see דבר Hithpa`el); accusative of person only Dan 12:7.
c. with לֵאמֹר only, hear say = hear it said, 1Sam 13:4; 2Sam 19:3; Deut 13:13; Josh 22:11 (P), 1Kgs 16:16 + עַל person concerning Gen 41:15 (E), Isa 37:9 אֶל person id. 2Kgs 19:9.
d. hear of, concerning: (1) accusative of thing, אֵת(כָּלֿ)אֲשֶׁר Exod 18:1; 2Kgs 19:11 + 5 t., דבר(יםׅ 1Sam 3:11 + 4 t., רָעָה Jer 19:3 + 5 t., etc.; כַּאֲשֶׁר 1Sam 23:11; Ps 48:9, כָּואֹת Isa 66:8 hear of anything like this, כָּאֵלֶּךְ Jer 18:13 accusative, etc., omitted Judg 9:46 + 43 t.; (2) less often accusative of person Job 42:5, אֶל person Ezek 19:4, person omitted Deut 9:2 with ב person hear exultantly of their fate Ps 92:12 (probably imitated from || הִכִּיט בְּ v^a; see especially ראךְ 8 a (6)).
e. hear, absolute, = have power to hear, 2Sam 19:36 (with בְּקוֺל ), Isa 21:3; Isa 32:3; Prov 20:12; Zech 7:11 in simile Ps 38:15 with negative of idols Deut 4:28; Ps 115:6 figurative (spiritual power) Jer 5:21; Deut 29:8; Ezek 12:2; Isa 42:20. — Prov 21:28 is probably corrupt, see Toy. feminine hear with attention, interest, listen to (sometimes || חֶאֱןין), חִקְשִׁיב accusative דבר(יםׅ (54 t.) Amos 4:1 +, especially ׳דבר(י) י Num 12:6 (JE) + 45 t.; אִמְרָה Isa 28:23, קוֺל vIsa 28:23, זאֹת Mic 3:9, etc.; often absolute Judg 5:3 + 57 t., + (negative) Ps 38:14 pay no attention; absolute לֵב שֹׁמֵעַ 1Kgs 3:9, אִישׁ שֹׁטֵעַ Prov 21:28.
g. understand (language), שָׂפָחךְ Gen 11:7 (J), Isa 33:19, לָשׁוֺן Deut 28:49, דְּבָרִין Ezek 3:6, מַהיְּֿדַבֵּר Jer 5:15, no accusative Gen 42:23 (E), 2Kgs 18:26 = Isa 36:11.
h. specif of hearing a (judicial) casre, דָּבָר Deut 1:17, compare vDeut 1:17 accusative omitted בֵּין person vDeut 1:16, of ׳י Judg 11:10 with מִשְׁפָּט 1Kgs 3:11 הִטּוֺב וְהָרֵע ׳לשׁ 2Sam 14:17, וְשֹׁמֵע אֵין לְךָ 2Sam 15:3, compare Job 31:35.
i. with accusative of person in polite address, hear us (me)! Gen 23:6; Gen 23:8; Gen 23:11; Gen 23:13; Gen 23:15 (all P), 1Chr 28:2; 2Chr 13:4; 2Chr 15:2; 2Chr 20:20
j. listen, give heed (sometimes || הִקְשִׁיב), absolute, Gen 42:21 (E) + 18: t., + (usually || הִטָּה אֹ׃ון), Jer 7:13 + 14 t. Jeremiah, + (opposed to חָדַל) Ezek 2:5 + 3 t. Ezekiel; + שִׂים עַללֵֿב Mal 2:2 hear + do Deut 5:24; 2Kgs 18:12, etc.; = consent, agree, Gen 37:27 (J), grant request Judg 11:17 with ל person (mostly late) Judg 19:25; 1Sam 30:24; Job 15:17 + 16 t., ׳לי Hos 9:17; Lev 26:14; Lev 26:18; Lev 26:21; Lev 26:27 ׳לְדִבְרֵי י 1Sam 15:1, לְעֵצָה Prov 12:15.
k. with אֶל person + listen to, yield to Gen 49:2; Judg 2:17 + 69 t. (׳אֶליֿ 15 t., especially Jer 7:26 + 10 t. Jeremiah), עַל person 2Kgs 20:13 אֶלדִּֿבְרֵי etc., Deut 18:19; Jer 29:10 + 14 t., עַלדִּֿבְרֵי etc., 2Kgs 22:13 + 3 t.; very rarely accusative of thing 1Sam 24:10 (Gi v.1Sam 24:9).

1. לְקוֺל ׳שׁ = id., obey, Gen 3:17 (J) + 11 t. + (׳לְקוֺל י) Judg 2:20; Exod 15:26 (JE). masculine very often, בְּקוֺל ׳שׁ = obey 1Sam 8:7 + 25 t., + ׳שׁ ׳בְּקוֺל י (׳י's word, etc.) Deut 4:30; Jer 3:13 + 65 t. (Deut 18 t., Jer 18 t.). noun obey, with accusative דבר(יםׅ Josh 1:18 + 2 t. + (׳י ׳ד) Jer 11:3 + 5 t. Jeremiah; 1Kgs 12:24 = 2Chr 11:4, etc.; accusative of person Exod 6:12 (P), 2Chr 28:11.
o. absolutebe obedient (especially to ׳י) Isa 1:19; Mic 5:14; Jer 12:17 + 4 t. Jeremiah + 7 t.

2. ׳י (God) subject:
a. accusative קוֺל, דברים, etc., Gen 21:17 (E), 2Kgs 19:4 (twice in verse); 2Kgs 19:16, usually with favour implied Num 20:16; Deut 33:7 +, so especially accusative תְּפִלָּה, תְּחנָּה, etc., 1Kgs 8:45; Ps 6:10 +.
b. object clause כִּי Gen 29:33 (J).
c. no object (32 t.) Isa 59:2; Jer 22:21, usually hear and foregive, help, etc 1Kgs 8:30; 1Kgs 8:32; Isa 30:19 +; hear be angry Ps 78:59, compare Ps 55:20.
d. = be able to hear Isa 59:1; Ps 94:9.
e. בְּקוֺל ׳שׁ = hear (and grant) Gen 30:6 (J) + 6 t. femininehear and answer, with אֶל of city, etc., Gen 21:7; Gen 16:11; 1Kgs 8:28 + 8 t.; with אֶל person Deut 3:36 + 12 t.
g. with לְ of utterance Jer 18:19; Ps 61:6 ל person Josh 24:10 (E).
h. hear, accusative of person + מִתְנוֺדֵד Jer 31:18 favourably, with accusative of person Mic 7:7 + 3 t., so, + ל concerning, Gen 17:20 (P); object omitted 2Kgs 22:19; Ps 22:23 + 3 t. + Ps 34:7; Ps 34:18 (hear and deliver); with temporal clause Jer 11:14 Niph`al₄₂ Perfect 3 masculine singular נִשְׁמַע Gen 45:16 +, etc; Imperfect 3 masculine singular יִשָּׁמַע Exod 23:13 +, יִשָּׁמֵ֑עַ 1Sam 1:13, etc.; Infinitive construct הִשָּׁמַל Esth 2:8 Participle feminine נִשְׁמַ֫עַת Jer 51:46, etc.; —

1. be heard, of voice, sound, etc., 1Sam 1:13; 1Kgs 6:7; Job 26:14 (or 1 plural Qal Imperfect?); of a resort, ֗֗֗ לֵאמֹר ׳נִשׁ Gen 45:16 (E); subject clause, ׳כִּ, Neh 6:1 (ל person), compare clauseוְהַיְהוּדִים חשְׁבִים Neh 6:6 vNeh 6:7 be reported, כַּדְּבָרִיס הָאֵלֶּה (לַמֶּלֶחׅ); be heard, לִפְנֵי אֱםהֶיךָ Dan 10:12.

2. be heard of, כָּמֹהוּ Deut 4:32.

3. be regarded, obeyed, Eccl 9:17 in 2Sam 22:45 = Ps 18:45 it is be obedient (לִיׅ, si vera lectio (read perhaps Qal. compare Now).

4. בְּקוֺלָם ׳וַיִישּׁ 2Chr 30:27 = (favourable) hearing was granted to their voice Pi`el Imperfect 3 masculine singular וַיְשַׁמַּע 1Sam 15:4 he caused the people (accusative) to hear and respond, i.e. he assembled them), so 1Sam 23:8 (see Hiph`il 1 c). Hiph`il₆₃ Perfect 3 masculine singular הִשְׁמִיעַ 1Kgs 15:22 +, etc.; Imperfect 3 masculine singular suffix יַשְׁמִעֵנִי Deut 30:12; Deut 30:13 2 masculine singular jussive תַּשְׁמַע Judg 18:23, etc.; Imperative masculine singular suffix הִשְׁמִיעֵנִי Ps 143:8 feminine singular suffix הַשְׁמִיעִנִי Song 2:14; Song 8:13, etc.; Infinitive construct לַשְׁמִעַ Ps 26:7 (Ges^{«GKC:53q»§ 53q}); Participle מַשְׁמִיעַ Jer 4:15 +, etc.; —

1. of man:
a. cause to hear accusative of person + of thing Deut 30:12; Deut 30:13; Song 2:14; Song 8:13 + 4 t.; object of thing omitted (= make proclamation to) 1Kgs 15:22 object person omitted Jer 5:20 +; accusative שָׁלוֺם Isa 52:7; Nah 2:1 i.e. proclaimpeace; אָוֶֺן Jer 4:15 (מִן local); קוֺל ׳הַשׁ utter a sound Josh 6:10 (J; || הֵרִיעַ), compare Judg 18:25 (קוֺלְךָ, + עִמָּנוּ), Isa 42:2; Isa 58:4 קוֺל תְּהִלָּתוֺ ׳הִשׁ Ps 66:8 בְּקוֺל תּוֺדָה Ps 26:7.
b. absolute as musical term, sound aloud, בִּמְצִלְתַּיִם לְהִשְׁמִיעַ 1Chr 15:19 (perhaps to mark the time, Gr^{Ps 67} De compare 1Chr 16:5 also Ps 150:5 בְּצִלְצְלֵי שָׁ֑מַע), מַשְׁמִיעִים 1Chr 15:16; 1Chr 15:28; 1Chr 16:42, קוֺל אֶחָד ׳לְהַשׁ 2Chr 5:13 i.e. probably in unison (Prince^{EB iii, 3241}), Neh 12:42.
c. absolute make proclamation (often || הִגִּיד), Amos 3:9; Amos 4:5; Isa 41:26; Jer 4:5 + 6 t. Jeremiah
d. הַשְׁמִיעוּ, accusative of person + אֶל location = summon Jer 50:29, עַל location Jer 51:27 (compare Pi`el).

2. ׳י subject:
a. cause to hear, accusative of person and thing Deut 4:10; Deut 4:36 (מִן local), 2Kgs 7:6 + 4 t.; accusative of person omitted Isa 30:30 + 3 t.; accusative of thing omitted Isa 44:8; Isa 48:5.
b. = tell, accusative of person + כָּזאֹת Judg 13:23 accusative of person only, Isa 42:9 accusative of thing only, Isa 48:3; Ezek 36:15 (אֵלַיִךְ).
c. absolute, make proclamation Isa 43:12; Isa 62:11 (אֶל location).

BDB9967 H8085 H8086

שְׁמַע verb hear (see Biblical Hebrew); —

Pe`al Perfect 3 masculine singular ׳שׁ Dan 6:15 1 singular שִׁמְעֵת Dan 5:14; Dan 5:16 Imperfect 3 masculine singular יִשְׁמַע Dan 3:10, 2 m. pl. תִּשְׁמְעוּן Dan 3:5; Dan 3:15 Participle active שָֽׁמְעִין Dan 3:7; Dan 5:23 — hear: = have sense of hearing Dan 5:23 with accusative of sound Dan 3:5; Dan 3:7; Dan 3:10; Dan 3:15, word Dan 6:15 with clause דִּי + עַל person concerning, Dan 5:14; Dan 5:16. Hithpe`el shew oneself obedient: Imperfect 3 masculine plural יִשְׁתַּמְעוּן Dan 7:27, with ל person (probably).

heard, hear, hearken, hearkened, obey, …

šāmaʿ

to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)

(v) to hear, listen to, obey

(Qal)

to hear (perceive by ear)

to consent, agree

to be heard (of voice or sound)

to cause to hear, tell, proclaim, utter a sound

אֶל

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

Dictionary form: אֵל · ale

Preposition

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'.

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.

unto, to, into, upon, against, …

ʾēl

near, with or among; often in general, to

to, toward, unto (of motion)

in among

דִּבְרֵ֣י

Root word word, words, thing, acts, things, …

Dictionary form: דָּבָר · daw-BAWR

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

In the KJV here: the words

the word ×142 the words ×132 thing ×103 words ×92 of the acts ×43 things ×42 of the chronicles ×37 word ×36

More options

word — Best for divine speech, commands, or prophetic utterances.

matter — Prefer when context is a topic, affair, or issue.

thing — Broad default when no specific semantic fits better.

message — Use when content is being conveyed from a sender.

account — Fits historical or narrative contexts, e.g. royal records.

decree — Best for official, authoritative, or legal pronouncements.

BDB1816 H1697

דָּבָר₁₄₃₉ noun masculine speech, word — Gen 18:14 + 446 t.; construct דְּבַר Gen 12:17 + 361 t.; suffix דְּבָרִי Num 11:23 + (suffixes 66 t.); singular in all 875 t.; plural דְּבָרִים Exod 4:10 + 182 t.; construct דִּבְרֵי Gen 24:30 + 253 t.; suffix דְּבָרָיו Gen 37:8 (suffixes 127 t.); plural in all 564 t.; —

I. singular speech, discourse, saying, word, as the sum of that which is spoken:

1. of men,
a. נְבוֺן דָּבָר discreet in speech 1Sam 16:18 שְׂפָתַיִם ׳ד speech of lips Ps 59:13, mere talk Isa 36:5 (= 2Kgs 18:20) Prov 14:23 (compare Ps 17:4 speech of God's lips); דָּבָר מָר bitter speech Ps 64:4 כָּזָב ׳ד lying speech Prov 30:8 דְּבָֽרְךָ טוֺכ thy saying is good 1Sam 9:10 וּדְבַר אַבְנֵר הָיָה עִם and the speech of Abner had been with the elders of Israel 2Sam 3:17 (compare 1Kgs 1:7); אמר הדבר הזה say this saying Jer 23:38; Jer 31:23 compare Jer 13:12; Jer 14:17 (of God), 1Sam 8:10 (׳דִּבְרֵי י).
b. word of command, (הַ)מֶּלֶךְ ׳ד 1Chr 21:4; 1Chr 21:6; Esth 1:12 + 6 t. Esther; Eccl 8:4 compare 2Chr 30:5; 2Chr 31:5; Dan 9:23; Dan 9:25 מַלְכוּת ׳ד royal edict Esth 1:19 כדבר עשׂה do according to the command of Gen 44:2; Gen 47:30; Exod 8:9; Exod 8:27; Exod 12:35; Exod 32:28 (J) Lev 10:7 (P) Judg 11:10; Ezra 10:5; Neh 5:12; Neh 5:13 compare 2Sam 17:6 (word of counsel), 1Kgs 3:12 (request), 1Kgs 17:13 (proposal; on these meanings see below)
c. message, report, tidings, וַיִּשְׁמַע הָעָם אֶתהַֿדָּבָר הָרָע הַזֶּה and the people heard this evil report Exod 33:4 (JE) compare 1Kgs 20:12 אמת (היה) הדבר the report was true 1Kgs 10:6 = 2Chr 9:5 עַד בּוֺא דָבָר מֵעִמָּכֶם until word come from you 2Sam 15:28 ויגע הדבר אל מלך נינוה Jonah 3:6 הֵשִׁיב דָּבָר return or bring word, report Gen 37:14; Num 13:26; Num 22:8 (J) Deut 1:22; Deut 1:25; Josh 14:7; Josh 22:32 (D) 1Kgs 2:30; 1Kgs 20:9; 2Kgs 22:9; 2Kgs 22:20 (= 2Chr 34:16; 2Chr 34:28), but answer 1Sam 17:30; 2Sam 3:11; 2Sam 24:13 (= 1Chr 21:12), 1Kgs 12:6; 1Kgs 12:9 (= 2Chr 10:6; 2Chr 10:9), 2Chr 12:16; Neh 2:20; Prov 18:13; Prov 27:11; Isa 41:28; Ezek 9:11 (Dr^{Sm, p, 190 explains the phrase as} turn back with a word); compare דבר (לא) ענה answer something or nothing 1Kgs 18:21; 2Kgs 18:36; Ps 119:42; Isa 36:21; Jer 44:20 see IV. 6; דברים השׁיב return words Exod 19:8 (E) Prov 24:26 see

III. 1. d. advice, counsel, בדבר בלעם by advice of Balaam Num 31:16 (P), compare Judg 20:7; 2Sam 19:44; Esth 5:5.
e. request, אמתו of his maid, עבדו of his servant 2Sam 14:15; 2Sam 14:22.
f. promise, לא יחל דברו he shall not break his word Num 30:3 (P), compare הקים דבר perform a promise Neh 5:13, see also 2 b. g. charge, complaint, אם אמת היה הדבר הזה if this charge be true Deut 22:20 compare Deut 13:15; Deut 17:4, שׂים דבר בְּ 1Sam 22:15, שׂים עלילות דברים לְ Deut 22:14; Deut 22:17.
h. decision, sentence, דְּבַר הַמִּשְׁפָּט the sentence of judgment Deut 17:9 compare vDeut 17:10 vDeut 17:11.
i. theme, story, רָחַשׁ לִבִּי דָּבָר טוֺב my heart swells with a good theme Ps 45:2 דְּבַרגְּבוּרוֺת the story of his great might Job 41:4.

2. word of God, as a divine communication in the form of commandments, prophecy, and words of help to his people, used 394 times. This word is communicated in several ways:
a. אל ׳ויהי דבר י then the word of Yahweh came unto 1Sam 15:10; 2Sam 7:4 (compare אלהים 1Chr 17:3), 1Kgs 6:11; 1Kgs 13:20; 1Kgs 16:1; 1Kgs 17:2; 1Kgs 17:8; 1Kgs 21:17; 1Kgs 21:28; 2Chr 11:2 (compare האלהים 1Kgs 12:22): compare 1Chr 22:8 (על by confusion), Isa 38:4; Jer 1:4 + 20 t. Jeremiah, Ezek 3:16 + 41 t. Ezekiel; Jonah 1:1; Jonah 3:1; Hag 2:20; Zech 4:8; Zech 6:9; Zech 7:4; Zech 7:8; Zech 8:1 (without אל) vZech 8:18 אל ׳י ׳היה ד Gen 15:1; 2Chr 12:7; Jer 25:3 + 4 t. Jeremiah; Ezek 1:3 + 7 t. Ezekiel; Dan 9:2; Zech 1:1; Zech 1:7; Zech 7:1 אל ׳י ׳הנה ד Gen 15:4; 1Kgs 19:9 היה אל ׳י ׳ד 2Sam 24:11; 1Kgs 16:7; 1Kgs 18:1; 2Kgs 20:4; Ezek 24:20 ביד ׳י ׳היה ד Hag 1:1; Hag 2:1; Hag 2:10 ביד ׳י ׳ויהי ד Hag 1:3 אשׁר ׳י ׳היה אל ד Hos 1:1; Joel 1:1 Micah; Zeph 1:1 ׳י ׳אליו אשׁר היה ד 1Kgs 18:31; Jer 1:2 ׳אל יר ׳י ׳אשׁר היה ד Jer 14:1; Jer 46:1; Jer 47:1; Jer 49:34 (see אשׁר 6 a); הדבר אשׁר היה אל Jer 7:1 + 11 t. Jeremiah; ׳י ׳את ד 2Kgs 3:12; Jer 23:28; Jer 27:18 compare אֵלַי דָּבָר יְגֻנָּב unto me a word was brought by stealth Job 4:12, compare ׳וְטֶרֶם יִגָּלֶה אֵלָיו דְּבַר י and the word of Yahweh was not yet revealed unto him 1Sam 3:7. Yahweh also sends his word שׁלח Ps 107:20; Ps 147:18; Isa 9:7; Jer 42:5 (compare plural Zech 7:12) and makes it an object of vision ראה Jer 2:31; Jer 38:21 (compare plural Ezek 11:25), חזה Isa 2:1 it is also commanded צוה Exod 16:16; Exod 16:32; Exod 35:4; Lev 8:5; Lev 9:6; Lev 17:2; Num 30:2; Num 36:6 (P) Deut 4:2; Deut 13:1; Deut 15:15; Deut 4:10 (D) 1Chr 16:15 (= Ps 105:8) Neh 1:8; Jer 7:23, compare הדברים אשׁר צוה Exod 35:1; Lev 8:36 (P) Exod 19:7 (E) Deut 6:6.
b. Yahweh confirms his word of promise Deut 9:5; 1Sam 1:23 (where read דְּבָרֵךְ thy word according to ᵐ5 ᵑ6 & Dr), 1Kgs 2:4; 1Kgs 6:12; 1Kgs 8:20; Jer 29:10; Jer 33:14, and his word of warning 1Kgs 12:15; Dan 9:12 his word stands for ever Isa 40:8 it is settled for ever in heaven Ps 119:89 he remembers his holy word דבר קדשׁו Ps 105:42 (compare דִּבְרֵי קָדְשׁוֺ Jer 23:9); he himself Joel 2:11, the angels Ps 103:20, and forces of nature Ps 148:8 עשׂה דברו do his word of command; by his word the heavens were made Ps 33:6 it is near his people, in their mouth and heart Deut 30:14 a lamp to their feet Ps 119:105. II. saying, utterance, sentence, as a section of a discourse: —

1. of men,
a. דָּבָר בְּעִתּוֺ a word in due season Prov 15:23 compare Job 4:2; Prov 12:25 commonly in plural, דִּבְרֵי (הַ)שִּׁירָ(הׅ words of the song (i.e. its lines of poetry) Deut 31:30; Deut 32:44; Ps 18:1 (= 2Sam 22:1) Ps 137:3 הלל בדברי דויד to sing praises with the words of David (his psalms) 2Chr 29:30 דִּבְרֵי חֲכָמִים sentences of the wise Prov 1:6; Prov 22:17; Eccl 9:17; Eccl 12:11 these sayings are commonly written, compare דברי האגרת words of the letterEsth 9:26 הדברים עתיקים the records are ancient 1Chr 4:22 דִּבְרֵי (ה)סֵפֶר Isa 29:11; Isa 29:18; Jer 29:1.
b. title of writings: דִּבְרֵי קֹהֶלֶת Eccl 1:1, אגור ׳ד Prov 30:1, למואל ׳ד Prov 31:1, ירמיהו ׳ד Jer 1:1, so Amos 1:1; Neh 1:1 compare in appended phrase or clause, Jer 51:64, איוב ׳ד Job 31:40.
c. in Chronicles name of a work: החזים ׳ד 2Chr 33:18; 2Chr 33:19, שׁמעיה ׳בד 2Chr 12:15, יהוא ׳בד 2Chr 20:34, ׳שׁמואל על ד 1Chr 29:29 נתן ׳על ד 1Chr 29:29; 2Chr 9:29, גד על ׳ד 1Chr 29:29. (It is not certain whether writings of prophets or histories about them are referred to; in the latter case they are acts, IV. 2, see Dr^{Intr 497}.)

2. of God: עֲשֶׂרֶת הַדְּבָרִים the ten words (sentences in the tables) Exod 34:28 (JE) Deut 4:13; Deut 10:4, referred to as הדברים Exod 34:1 (JE) Deut 4:10; Deut 4:36; Deut 5:19; Deut 9:10; Deut 10:2 of commands of covenant code Exod 24:3; Exod 24:4; Exod 24:8 compare Exod 34:27 (JE); of Deuteronomic code Deut 17:19 (+ 16 t. D) 2Kgs 22:11; 2Kgs 23:3-24 (compare 2Chr 34:19-31) Jer 11:2-8; Jer 34:18 the law-book of Joshua Josh 24:26 (E); of the code of Ezra Ezra 7:11; Ezra 9:4; Neh 8:9; Neh 8:13 the words of Yahweh written by Jeremiah Jer 25:13; Jer 36:4-32; Jer 51:61 the words of the book of Daniel Dan 12:4; Dan 12:9 commands in general 1Sam 15:11; Ps 50:17; Ps 119:57; Ps 119:130; Ps 119:139 promises 2Sam 7:28; Neh 9:8, compare 1Chr 25:5; 2Chr 36:16. III. a word, words: —

1. of men: שָׂפָה אֶחָ֑ת וּדְבָרִים אֲחָדִים one lip, and one and the same words Gen 11:1 (J); אֵין אֹמֶר וְאֵין דְּבָרִים no speech and no words Ps 19:4 אִישׁ דְּבָרִים man of words, ready in speech, Exod 4:10 (J); רב דברים multitude of words Job 11:2; Prov 10:19; Eccl 5:2 קְחוּ עִמָּכֶם דְּבָרִים take with you words Hos 14:3 דבר(י) (ה)שׁקר lying word(s) Exod 5:9; Exod 23:7 (E) Prov 13:5; Prov 29:12; Isa 59:13; Jer 7:4; Jer 7:8 דִּבְרֵי רוּחַ words of wind, vain words Job 16:3 וּמַהשֶּֿׁמֶץ דָּבָר נִשְׁמַעבּֿוֺ and what a whisper of a word we hear of him! Job 26:14.

2. of God. It is difficult to determine how many of the following should come under

II. 2. The plural for words of God is relatively seldom: Gen 20:8; Exod 19:6; Num 12:6; Josh 3:9 (E) Exod 4:28; Exod 4:30; Num 11:24 (J) Deut 18:19; Josh 23:14 (D) 1Sam 3:18; 1Sam 8:10; 1Sam 15:1; 2Chr 11:4; Job 42:7; Prov 30:6; Isa 31:2; Dan 10:11; Amos 8:11; Mic 2:7 apart from Jer 3:12 + 30 t. Jeremiah; Ezek 2:7 + 4 t. Ezekiel; Zech 1:6 + 4 t. Zechariah. IV. matter, affair, thing about which one speaks: —

1. business, occupation: דְּבַר הַמֶּלֶךְ king's business 1Sam 21:9 לְכָלדְּֿבַר for every matter of 1Chr 26:32; 1Chr 27:1; 2Chr 19:11 דְּבָרֶיךָ לְכָלֿ for all thine affairs 1Chr 28:21 דבר המזבח Num 18:7 דָּבָר אֵיןלָֿהֶם עִם they had not dealings with Judg 18:7; Judg 18:28 דְּבַריֿוֺם בְּיוֺמוֺ the task or portion of a day in its day, daily duty or due Exod 5:13; Exod 5:19 (E) Exod 16:4 (J) Lev 23:37 (P) 1Kgs 8:59; 2Kgs 25:30; 1Chr 16:37; 2Chr 8:13 (ביום) v2Chr 8:14; 2Chr 31:16; Ezra 3:4; Neh 11:23; Neh 12:47; Jer 52:34; Dan 1:5 דבר שׁנה בשׁנה 1Kgs 10:25; 2Chr 9:24.

2. plural acts construct דִּבְרֵי 1Kgs 11:41 (twice in verse); 1Chr 29:29; 2Chr 12:15; 2Chr 16:11 דְּבָרָיו his acts 2Chr 13:22; 2Chr 35:27 especially in phrases, הַיָּמִים וְיֶתֶר דִּבְרֵי ֗֗֗ עַלסֵֿפֶר דִּבְרֵי and the rest of the acts of . . . in the book of the chronicles (daily record of events) of 1Kgs 14:29 + 32 t. Kings; וְיֶתֶר דִּבְרֵי 2Chr 13:22 + 8 t. Chronicles, וְיֶתֶר דְּבָרָיו 2Chr 28:26, שְׁאָר דִּבְרֵי 2Chr 9:29 are referred to various sources; compare also במספר דברי הימים 1Chr 27:24, בדברי דויד 1Chr 23:27, עלדֿברי מלכי ישׂראל 2Chr 33:18: דברים טובים good deeds 2Chr 12:12; 2Chr 19:13 דִּבְרֵי עֲוֺנֹת acts of iniquity Ps 65:4 (De, Fälle von Missethaten); דִּבְרֵירָֿע evil deeds Jer 5:28. It is used of God, only in כל דבריו לא יענה Job 33:13, אֹתוֺתָיו ׳ד Ps 105:27, נִפְלְאֹתֶיךָ ׳ד Ps 145:5.

3. matter, affair: דבר אוריה affair of Uriah 1Kgs 15:5 שׁרשׁ דבר root of the matter Job 19:28 מה היה הדבר how went the matter ? 1Sam 4:16; 2Sam 1:4 compare Ruth 3:18 סבב את פני הדבר change the face of the matter 2Sam 14:20 דִּבְרֵי הָאֲתֹנוֺת the matter of the asses 1Sam 10:2 זה דבר הרצח this is the case of the slayer Deut 19:4 לְכָלדְּֿבָרָיו 1Kgs 6:38 as to all its particulars.

4. events, things: in the phrase, אחר הדברים האלה after these things (events in time) Gen 15:1; Gen 22:1; Gen 40:1 (E) Gen 39:7 (J) 1Kgs 17:17; 1Kgs 21:1; Ezra 7:1; Esth 2:1; Esth 3:1 האלה אחרי הדברים Gen 48:1; Josh 24:29 (E) Gen 22:20 (J) 2Chr 32:1.

5. cause, case for judicial investigation: כִּייִֿהְיֶה לָהֶם דָּבָר if they have a case Exod 18:16 compare Exod 18:22; Exod 22:8 בעל דברים one having a case Exod 24:14, compare בדבר משׁפט 2Chr 19:6 דְּבָרֶיךָ טוֺבִים וּנְכֹחִים pleas, good and right 2Sam 15:3 compare Josh 20:4.

6. something, anything (indefinite): עשׂה דבר do a thing Gen 22:16 + (frequent); עשׂה דברים Isa 42:16 + (less frequent); דבר ׳היפלא מי Gen 18:14 compare Jer 32:17; Jer 32:27 לא ֗֗֗ דבר nothing 1Kgs 5:7; 1Kgs 10:3; + (frequent), אין דבר Exod 5:11 (E) Num 20:19; 1Sam 20:21 ׳לא דבר מ nothing of Exod 9:4 (J) Josh 8:35; Josh 11:15; Josh 21:45; Josh 23:14 (D); כל דבר anything Num 31:23; Deut 23:20 +; דבר רע Ps 141:4 +; טוב ׳ד 1Kgs 14:13 +; דְּבַרמָֿה whatsoever Num 23:3 (E); עֶרְוַת דבר Deut 23:15 naked-ness of a thing, i.e. unclean or unseemly thing (indecency in camp); so of a wife Deut 24:1.

7. way, manner: זֶה דְּבַר הַשְּׁמִטָּה this is the manner of the release Deut 15:2 (compare SI¹); כֵּן דְּבַר הַמֶּלֶךְ so was the way of the king Esth 1:13 הזה כדבר after this manner, thus Gen 18:25; Gen 32:20; Gen 44:7 (JE) 2Sam 15:6; Ezra 10:5; Neh 5:12; Neh 5:13 with (עשׂה), 1Sam 9:21; 2Sam 14:3; 2Sam 17:6 (דבר), 1Sam 17:27; 1Sam 17:30; Isa 8:20 (אמר), Neh 6:4; Neh 6:5 (שׁלח), Neh 6:4 (השׁיב) compare 1Sam 17:30; 2Kgs 7:19 (היה) (peculiar to D, כדבר הרע הזה such a wicked deed as this Deut 13:12; Deut 19:20, כדבר הגדול הזה Deut 4:32); כדברים האלה עשׂה thus and thus did he Gen 39:19 (J) 1Sam 2:23 (but usually the plural = these words).

8. reason, cause: זֶּה דְבַרהַֿמַּס 1Kgs 9:15 זה הדבר אשׁר this is the reason why Josh 5:4 (D) 1Kgs 11:27 so 1Sam 17:29 AV RV, was it not but a word ? Th Ke RVm VB Dr; עַל דְּבַר ֗֗֗ because of, for the sake of Gen 20:11; Gen 20:18 (E) Gen 12:17; Gen 43:18; Exod 8:8 (J) Num 17:14 (P) Ps 45:5; Ps 79:9, עַל דִּבְרֵי Jer 14:1 עַלדִּֿבְרֵיכֶם for your sakes Deut 4:21, עַל דְּבַר אשׁר Deut 22:24 (twice in verse); Deut 23:5; 2Sam 13:22.

word, words, thing, acts, things, …

dābār

a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause

speech, word, speaking, thing

speech

הַ נְּבִאִ֗ים

הַ

Prefix — article the

נְּבִאִ֗ים

Root word prophet, prophets, prophesy, prophecy

Dictionary form: נָבִיא · naw-BEE

Noun — Common, masculine plural, absolute state plural — usually add "-s"

In the KJV here: of the prophets

the prophet ×93 the prophets ×52 of the prophets ×21 a prophet ×14 and the prophets ×12 prophets ×12 and the prophet ×11 prophet ×10

More options

prophet — Modernized from KJV; the standard, widely understood term.

spokesperson — Emphasizes the role of speaking on God's behalf.

seer — Highlights the visionary aspect; good for earlier narrative contexts.

herald — Stresses the proclamation and messenger function.

oracle-giver — Useful when the focus is on delivering divine messages.

BDB4928 H5030

נָבִיא₃₀₆ noun masculine spokesman, speaker, prophet — ׳נ Gen 20:7 + 155 t.; suffix נְבִיאֶ֑ךָ Exod 7:1 plural נְבִיאִים Num 11:29 + 82 t.; נְנִאִים Jer 27:18 + 16 t.; suffix נְבִיאַי Ps 105:15 נְבִיָאו 1Kgs 22:22 נְבִיאָו֯ 2Kgs 17:13, etc.; —

1. genuine prophet of ׳י, נביא, anciently called רֹאֶה, 1Sam 9:9 (antiquarian note); change probably occurred in times of Elijah and is first reflected in Ehpraimitic source literally as applied to Abraham Gen 20:7 Moses Deut 34:10, M. and other early prophets. Hos 6:5; Hos 12:11 (twice in verse); Hos 12:14 (twice in verse); Amos 2:11; Amos 2:12 of prophets in ecstatic state Num 12:6 (E), Num 11:24 (JE). So in Judaic literature, of prophet like Moses Deut 18:15; Deut 18:18 (D), of Aaron (as mouthpiece of Moses) Exod 7:1 (P), of Samuel 1Sam 3:20, an unknown Judg 6:8 in time of Samuel prophets were organized in bands: חֶבֶל נביאים ׳להקת הנ 1Sam 19:20 and in time of Elijah were בְּנֵי הַנְּבִיאִים = members of prophets' guilds 1Kgs 20:35; 2Kgs 2:3; 2Kgs 2:5; 2Kgs 2:7; 2Kgs 2:15; 2Kgs 4:1; 2Kgs 4:38 (twice in verse); נָבִיא of genuine prophets (besides phrases), in Judaic prophets, only Jeremiah, Jer 1:5 Ezekiel, Ezek 2:5 = Ezek 33:33 of ancient prophets Jer 28:8; Jer 28:9 (3 t. in verse); Zech 1:6; Zech 8:9 especially הנביאים הראשׁנים Zech 1:4; Zech 7:7; Zech 7:12, compare הנביאים עבדי(וׅ my (his) servants the prophets 2Kgs 9:7; 2Kgs 17:13; 2Kgs 17:23; 2Kgs 21:10; 2Kgs 24:2 (all R^D) Ezra 9:11; Jer 7:25; Jer 25:4; Jer 26:5; Jer 29:19; Jer 35:15; Jer 44:4; Amos 3:7; Zech 1:6, compare Ezek 38:17; Dan 9:6 ׳עבדוֺ הַנּ his servant the prophet 1Kgs 14:18; 2Kgs 14:25 הַנָּבִיא with proper name: Jerome, 2Chr 36:12; Dan 9:2 + 31 t. Jeremiah (but ᵐ5 only 4 t., the rest probably redactional, see Gie^{Jer. xxvii}); Elijah 1Kgs 18:36 (om ᵐ5), 2Chr 21:12; Mal 3:23 Nathan 2Sam 7:2 + 10 t. Samuel and Kings; 4 t. Chronicles; Ps 51:2 (title); Isaiah, 2Kgs 19:2; 2Kgs 20:1; 2Kgs 20:14 = Isa 37:2; Isa 38:1; Isa 39:1; 2Kgs 20:11; 2Chr 26:22; 2Chr 32:20; 2Chr 32:32 Habakkuk Hab 1:1; Hab 3:1 (titles); Haggai, Hag 1:1; Hag 1:3; Hag 1:12; Hag 2:1; Hag 2:10 Zechariah, Zech 1:1; Zech 1:7 (titles); elsewhere several others in Samuel, Kings and Chronicles 15 t.; נביא is used elsewhere of genuine prophecy only 1Sam 9:9 + 34 t. Samuel and Kings; 1Chr 16:22 = Ps 105:15, + 13 t. Chronicles; Ps 74:9 complains of absence of ׳נ; לַחְתֹּם חָזוֺן וְנָבִיא Dan 9:24 see חתם

2. false prophets: prophets as official class, beside priests, character as false prophets: Isa 28:7; Jer 2:26; Jer 4:9; Jer 6:13; Jer 8:1; Jer 8:10; Jer 13:13; Jer 14:18; Jer 18:18; Jer 23:11; Jer 23:33; Jer 23:34; Jer 26:7; Jer 26:8; Jer 26:11; Jer 26:16; Jer 32:32; Zech 7:3, app. also 2Kgs 23:2; Neh 9:32; Lam 2:20; Jer 29:1; Ezek 7:26 (in these not characterized); always false (except of ancient and special prophets given above) in Amos 7:14; Hos 4:5; Hos 9:7; Hos 9:8; Mic 3:5; Mic 3:6; Mic 3:11; Isa 3:2; Isa 9:14; Isa 29:10; Isa 5:13; Isa 5:31; Isa 14:13; Isa 14:14; Isa 14:15 (twice in verse); Jer 23:9 + 16 t. Jer 27:9; Jer 27:14; Jer 27:15; Jer 27:16; Jer 27:18; Jer 29:8; Jer 29:15; Jer 37:19; Ezek 13:2 (twice in verse); Ezek 13:3; Ezek 13:4; Ezek 13:9; Ezek 13:16; Ezek 14:4; Ezek 14:7; Ezek 14:9 (twice in verse); Ezek 14:10; Ezek 22:25; Ezek 22:28; Zeph 3:4; Lam 2:9; Lam 2:14; Lam 4:13 especially discredited Deut 13:2; Deut 13:4; Deut 13:6; Deut 18:20 (twice in verse); Deut 18:22 (twice in verse); Zech 13:2; Zech 13:4; Zech 13:5 such a prophet Hananiah called הַנָּבִיא Jer 28:1; Jer 28:5; Jer 28:10; Jer 28:12; Jer 28:15; Jer 28:17 ( ᵐ5 omits in all but vJer 28:1, where ψευδοπροφήτης). Usage of prophets themselves gives such a bad flavour to נביא, that we are not surprised that it is absent from exilic Isaiah, the Wisdom Literature, and Psalms (except for special reasons in 3 Psalms given under 1).

3. heathen prophets 1Kgs 18:20; 1Kgs 19:1; 2Kgs 3:13 (twice in verse); נביאי האשׁדה 1Kgs 18:19 נביאי הבעל 1Kgs 18:19; 1Kgs 18:22; 1Kgs 18:25; 1Kgs 18:40; 2Kgs 10:19; 1Kgs 22:6; 1Kgs 22:10; 1Kgs 22:12; 1Kgs 22:13; 1Kgs 22:22; 1Kgs 22:23 = 2Chr 18:5; 2Chr 18:9; 2Chr 18:11; 2Chr 18:12; 2Chr 18:21; 2Chr 18:22.

BDB9684 H5029 H5030

[נְבִיא] noun masculine prophet (Hebraism? also ᵑ7 Syriac; see Biblical Hebrew); — emphatic נְבִיאָה Kt, נְבִיָּא Ezra 5:1; Ezra 6:14 plural emphatic נְבִיאַיָּא Ezra 5:1; Ezra 5:2.

prophet, prophets, prophesy, prophecy

nābîʾ

a prophet or (generally) inspired man

spokesman, speaker, prophet

prophet

הָ אֹמְרִ֤ים

הָ

Prefix — article the

אֹמְרִ֤ים

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

Dictionary form: אָמַר · aw-MAHR

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

In the KJV here: that speak

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.

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].

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

אֲלֵי כֶם֙

אֲלֵי

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

כֶם֙

Suffix — pronoun your / you (a group)

Dictionary form: אֵל · ale

Preposition

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'.

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.

unto, to, into, upon, against, …

ʾēl

near, with or among; often in general, to

to, toward, unto (of motion)

in among

לֵ אמֹ֔ר

לֵ

Prefix — preposition to, for

אמֹ֔ר

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

Dictionary form: אָמַר · aw-MAHR

Verb — Qal, Infinitive Construct, construct state simple action — "he did" try "to ___" or "___ing"

In the KJV here: you saying

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.

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].

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

לֹ֥א

Particle not

Dictionary form: לֹא · loh

Particle — Negative

In the KJV here: ye shall not

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

More options

not — Default negation; fits nearly every context.

no — Use before nouns or as a standalone negative.

never — Emphasizes total or timeless negation.

nor — Use in paired or continued negative clauses.

neither — Use when negating two elements together.

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

BDB4266 H3808

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

BDB4344 H3808

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

BDB9632 H3808 H3809

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

BDB9640 H3809 H3861 H518 H2006 H3808 H3588

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

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

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

not, no, neither, nor, none, …

lōʾ

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

not, no

not (with verb—absolute prohibition)

תַעַבְד֖וּ

Root word serve, served, do, work, worshippers, …

Dictionary form: עָבַד · aw-BAHD

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

In the KJV here: serve

and serve ×24 serve ×22 and served ×21 to serve ×18 served ×11 shall serve ×8 to do ×8 that they may serve me ×5

More options

serve — Core rendering; best for worship, duty, or obedience contexts.

work — Prefer when labor or task-performance is the focus.

worship — Ideal when the object is a deity or idol.

till — Use specifically for cultivating or farming the ground.

labor — Emphasizes effort or toil; good for slavery or hard-work contexts.

obey — Captures submission to authority in relational or covenant settings.

BDB5734 H5647

עָבַד₂₉₀ verb work, serve (Old Aramaic עבד do make, especially Nabataean, Palmyrene (often), Lzb^{331 f.} Cook⁸⁶, so ᵑ7 עֲבַד, Syriac (very often); but also Old Aramaic Phoenician עבד slave, vassal (and in many proper names), ᵑ7 עַבְדָּא, Syriac id.; Assyrian abdu, id. (rare); Late Hebrew עָבַד serve, performs acts of worship (with accusative of congnate meaning with verb), and derivatives; Arabic worship, obey (God); compare We^{Skizzen iii. 165}; Heid. 141, II. enslave; slave, worshiper; Sabean עבד id. DHM^{Südar. Alt. p. 18}; Gerber^{Verb. Denom. 14 ff.} thinks be slave, serve (Qal) and enslave (Hiph`il) are denominative, compare also Nö^{ZMG xl (1886), 741}); —

Qal₂₇₂ Perfect 3 masculine singular ׳ע Ezek 29:18 +; suffix עֲבָדוֺ Mal 3:18 +; 3 masculine plural עָֽבְדוּ Deut 7:4 עָבָ֑דוּ Num 4:26, + 64 t. Perfect; Imperfect 3 masculine singular יַעֲבֹד Gen 25:23 +; suffix יַעַבְדֵ֫נִי Exod 4:23 יַעַבְדֶ֫נּוּ Ps 22:31; 2Kgs 10:18 3 masculine plural יַעַבְדוּ Deut 12:30 +; יַעֲבֹ֑דוּ Gen 15:14 (Dr^{§ 103}) Job 36:11 2 masculine plural תַּעַבְדוּן Exod 3:12, תַּעֲבֹד֑וּן Josh 24:15, + 99 t. Imperfect; (תָּעָבְדֵם, נָָֽעָבְדֵם see Hoph`al); Imperative עֲבֹד 1Sam 26:19 suffix עָבְדֵהוּ 1Chr 28:9 עִבְדוּ Exod 5:18 + 15 t.; עֲבֹ֑דוּ Ezek 20:39 suffix עִבְדֻהוּ 1Sam 7:3 Infinitive construct עֲבֹד Mal 3:14 +; עֲבָדֿ Jer 34:9; Jer 34:10 suffix עָבְדוֺ Jer 27:6 +, etc.; Participle עֹבֵד Gen 4:2 +; plural עֹבְדִים Num 18:21 +; construct עֹבְדֵי Ps 97:7 +; suffix עֹבְדָיו 2Kgs 10:19 עֹבְדֵיהֶם Zech 2:13 —

1. labour, work, do work: absolute Exod 20:9 = Exod 34:21 = Deut 5:13 (4th word); Exod 5:18 (E) Eccl 5:11 with accusative of thing, till the ground Gen 2:5; Gen 3:23; Gen 4:2; Gen 4:12 (J), 2Sam 9:10; Isa 30:24; Jer 27:11; Zech 13:5; Prov 12:11; Prov 28:19 object omitted Deut 15:19; Ezek 48:19 vineyard Deut 28:39 garden Gen 2:16 (J); עֹבְרֵי פִשְׁתִּים Isa 19:9 workers in flax; עֹבְדֵ(יׅ הָעִיר Ezek 48:18; Ezek 48:19 labourers of the city; עֲבֹדָתוֺ ׳ע Isa 28:21 work his work (only here of God, || עשׂה מַעֲשֵׂהוּ); עבדה על ׳ע Ezek 29:18 serve a military service against.

2. work for another, serve him by labour: absolute Exod 21:2 (E); with accusative pers Gen 29:15; Gen 31:6; Exod 21:6 (E) Deut 15:12; Deut 15:18; Mal 3:17; Jer 34:14, king his people 1Kgs 12:7 subject animals Jer 27:6; Job 39:9 with accusative of person and thing Gen 30:26 (twice in verse); Gen 30:29 (J); with לְ person 2Sam 16:19 עִם Gen 29:25; Gen 29:30 (E) Lev 25:40 (P); עִמָּדִי Gen 29:27 (E); לִפְנֵי 2Sam 16:19 (twice in verse); with בְּ of price Gen 29:18; Gen 29:20; Gen 29:25; Gen 31:41 (E) Hos 12:13; Ezek 29:20 with בְּ personwork by means of another, use him as slave, Exod 1:14; Lev 25:39; Lev 25:46 (P) Jer 22:13; Jer 25:14; Jer 27:7; Jer 30:8; Jer 34:9; Jer 34:10.

3. serve as subjects: usually with accusative, their own chiefs or kings Judg 9:28 (twice in verse); Judg 9:38; 1Sam 11:1; 1Kgs 5:1 +; other kings, by tribute Ps 18:44 = 2Sam 22:44; Jer 27:7; Jer 28:14; 2Kgs 25:24 +, other nations 2Sam 10:19; Jer 40:9; Zech 2:13 +, kings other kings 2Kgs 18:7 +, with לְ, 1Sam 4:9 (twice in verse); מַס עֹבֵד Gen 49:15 (J) Josh 16:10; 1Kgs 9:21 (see מַס); with בְּ person, work with, i.e. use as subjects, impose tribute upon, Jer 25:14; Jer 27:7; Jer 30:8; Ezek 34:27.

4. serve God:
a. with accusative ׳י, Exod 3:12; Exod 4:23; Exod 7:16; Exod 7:26 (JE), Ps 22:31; Job 21:15; Mal 3:14 +; with accusative of person and thing Exod 10:26 (E); accusative of person omitted, Jer 2:20 (read אֶעֱבוֺד Kt), עבד זבח ומנחה Isa 19:21 serve with peace-offering and grain-offering; עבד עֲבֹדָה Exod 13:5 (of מַצֹּת).
b. other gods, with accusative ׳א Deut 7:16; Deut 12:2; Deut 12:30 ; אלהים אחרים Deut 7:4; Deut 8:19; Deut 11:16; Deut 13:7; Deut 13:14; Deut 17:3; Deut 28:14; Deut 28:36; Deut 28:64; Deut 29:25; Deut 30:17; Deut 31:20; Josh 23:16; Josh 24:2; Josh 24:16; Judg 2:10; Judg 10:13; 1Sam 8:8; 1Sam 26:19; 1Kgs 9:6; 1Kgs 9:9; 2Kgs 17:35; 2Chr 7:19; 2Chr 7:22; Jer 11:10; Jer 13:10; Jer 16:11; Jer 16:13; Jer 22:9; Jer 25:6; Jer 35:15 (all D and Jeremiah); אֱלֹהֵי הַגּוֺיִם Deut 29:17 זָרִים Jer 5:19 כל צבא השׁמים Deut 4:19; 2Kgs 21:3; 2Chr 33:3; Jer 8:2 הבעל(יםׅ Judg 2:11; Judg 3:7; Judg 10:6; Judg 10:10; Judg 1:10; Judg 1:31; Judg 22:54; 2Kgs 10:18 (twice in verse); 2Kgs 10:19 (twice in verse); 2Kgs 10:21; 2Kgs 10:22; 2Kgs 10:23 (twice in verse); 2Kgs 17:16 אלהי נֵכָר Josh 24:20; Jer 5:19 (הַ)גִּלּוּלִים 2Kgs 17:12; 2Kgs 21:21 (twice in verse); Ezek 20:39 האשׁרים 2Chr 24:18 עצבים Ps 106:36 פסיל(יםׅ 2Chr 33:22; 2Kgs 17:41 פסל 2Kgs 97:7 with לְ, לבעל Judg 2:13 לאלהים אחרים Jer 44:3.

5. serve ׳י with Levilical service (all P; compare RS^{Sem i. 69}): with accusative עבד עֲבֹדָה (see עֲבֹדָה) Num 3:7; Num 3:8; Num 4:23; Num 4:30; Num 4:47; Num 7:5; Num 8:11; Num 8:19; Num 8:22; Num 8:26; Num 16:9; Num 18:6; Num 18:21; Num 18:23; Josh 22:27 accusative omitted Num 4:24; Num 4:26; Num 4:37; Num 4:41; Num 8:15 (but ⅏ ᵐ5 עבדה), vNum 8:25; Num 18:7. Niph`al Perfect 3 masculine singular נֶעְבָּ֑ד Eccl 5:8 2 masculine plural נֶעֱבַדְתֶּם Ezek 36:9 Imperfect 3 masculine singular יֵעָבֵד Deut 21:4 3 feminine singular תֵּעָבֵד Ezek 36:34 —

1. be tilled, of land Deut 21:4; Ezek 36:9; Ezek 36:34.

2. Eccl 5:8 מֶלֶךְ לְשָׂדֶה נֶעְבָּ֑ד dubious: a king for (devoted to) the cultivated field (Hi); a king that maketh himself servant to the field (devoted to agriculture), De^{see Commentaries}, especially De. Pual Perfect 3 masculine singular עֻבַּד Deut 21:3; Isa 14:3 passive of Qal, with בְּ impersonal Deut 21:3 of a calf with which it has not been worked; hard service with which it was worked with captives Isa 14:3. Hiph`il Perfect 3 masculine singular הֶעֱבִיד Ezek 29:18 2 masculine singular suffix הֶעֱבַדְתַּ֫נִי Isa 43:24, הֶעֱבַדְתִּיךָ vIsa 43:23, וְהַעֲבַדְתִּיךָ Jer 17:4 Imperfect 3 masculine singular וַיַּעֲבֵד 2Chr 34:33 3 masculine plural יַעֲבִדוּ Exod 1:13 Infinitive construct הַעֲבִיד 2Chr 2:17 Participle plural מַעֲבִדִים Exod 6:15 —

1. compel to labour as slaves Exod 1:13; Exod 6:5 (P) 2Chr 2:17, + Gen 47:21 (reading הֶעֱבִיד לַעֲבָדִים), 2Sam 12:31 (reading וְהֶעֱבִיד + בְּ at; on both these see עבר Hiph`il near the end); cause to serve, of army's service against, with accusative + (על)אל Ezek 29:18 cause to labour, weary, with בְּ of means Isa 43:23; Isa 43:24 (perhaps play on meanings 2, 3).

2. make to serve as subjects, with 2 accusative Jer 17:4, + Jer 15:14 (read וְהַעֲבַרְתִּיךָ see עבר Hiph`il near the end).

3. cause to serve God 2Chr 34:33. Hoph`al Imperfect 2 masculine singular suffix תָּֽעָבְדֵם Exod 20:5 = Deut 5:9; Exod 23:24 1 plural suffix נָָֽעָבְדֵם Deut 13:3 (Kö^{i. 259} Sta^{§ 549 g} Thes; < Nes^{Marg. 12 f.} Qal anomalously pointed (compare W^{AG. ed. 2, i, 62 n.} Fl^{Kl. Schr. i. 98}); Ges^{«GKC:60»§ 60} R. 1 Dr Qal falsely pointed as Hoph`al); — be led or enticed to serve other gods Exod 20:5 = Deut 5:9; Exod 23:24; Deut 13:8.

BDB9745 H5648 H5647

ע

עֲבַד verb make, do (ᵑ7, Syriac, Old Aramaic, Nabataean, Palmyrene, Egyptian Aramaic (S-C^Pap.; compare אַזְדָּא); = Biblical Hebrew עָבַד, q. v., but in meaning || עשׂה); —

Pe`al Perfect 3 masculine singular ׳ע Dan 3:1 +, 2 masculine singular עֲבַ֑דְתְּ (K^{§ 13, 2}) Dan 4:32 1 singular עַבְדֵֿת Dan 3:15; Dan 6:23, 3 masculine plural עֲבַ֫דוּ Ezra 6:13 +; Imperfect 2 masculine plural תַּעְבְּדוּן (Baer K^{§ 38. 1. b}); תַּעַבְדוּן Gi Str) Ezra 6:8; Ezra 7:18 Infinitive מֶעְבַּד (K^{§ 15, a}) 2)) Ezra 4:22; Ezra 7:18 (מֶעְבַּ֑ד); Participle active עָבֵד Ezra 7:26 +, feminine singular עָֽבְדָא Dan 7:21 masculine plural עָֽבְדִין Ezra 4:15 —

1. make, accusative of thing Dan 3:1; Dan 3:15 and (of creation) Jer 10:11 make a feast Dan 5:1, war Dan 7:21 (עם person). ded. of temple Ezra 6:16.

2. do, accusative of deed, Dan 4:32 (of God), Dan 6:23; Ezra 4:15; Ezra 4:22 do, act, כְּנֵמָא, thus, Ezra 6:13, כ, according to, Dan 7:18 and (of God) Dan 4:32, absolute Dan 6:11 accusative +ב of thing Ezra 7:18 do something with, +עִם person Ezra 6:8 do, perform, accusative of God's law Ezra 7:26, accusative of signs, etc. (subject God) Dan 6:28 and (+עִם person) Dan 3:32. Hithpe`el Imperfect 3 masculine singular יִתְעֲבֵד Ezra 6:11 +, דִ֑֯ Ezra 6:12; Ezra 7:21 2 masculine plural תִּתְעַבְדוּן Dan 2:5 Participle מִתְעֲבֵד Ezra 7:26, בֶדֿ- Ezra 4:19, feminine singular עַבְדָא- Ezra 5:3 —

1. be made into, with noun predicate, Dan 2:5; Dan 3:29; Ezra 6:11.

2. be done, wrought, Ezra 4:19; Ezra 5:8 (subject עֲבִידְתָּא); be performed, executed, of command Ezra 6:12; Ezra 7:21; Ezra 7:23, judgment Ezra 7:26.

serve, served, do, work, worshippers, …

ʿābad

to work (in any sense); by implication, to serve, till, (causatively) enslave, etc

to work, serve

(Qal)

to labor, work, do work

to be worked, be tilled (of land)

to compel to labor or work, cause to labor, cause to serve

אֶת

Particle points to the object of the verb — leave untranslated

Dictionary form: אֵת · ate

Particle — Direct Object Marker

and ×240 of ×109 him ×107 them ×73 with ×72 from ×64 you ×61 me ×54

More options

[direct object marker — untranslated] — Most common use; marks definite direct object, no English equivalent.

with — Use when אֵת expresses accompaniment or association.

from — Use when context implies source or separation.

along with — Emphasizes inclusion or togetherness in a list.

together with — Slightly more formal; stresses joint participation.

among — Use when indicating presence within a group.

BDB853 H853

I. אֵת, with makk. אֶתֿ, with suffix אֹתִי; אֹתְךָ, אֹתְכָה Num 22:33, אֹתָ֑ךְ, אֹתָ֑כָה Exod 29:35, feminine אֹתָךְ; אֹתוֺ etc.; 2 plural אֶתְכֶם, once אוֺתְכֶם Josh 23:15 3 masculine plural regularly אֹתָם, rarely אֶתְהֶם Gen 32:1; Exod 18:20; Num 21:3; Ezek 34:12; 1Chr 6:50, once אוֺתְהֶם Ezek 23:45 3 feminine plural, on the contrary, regularly אֶתְהֶן (13 t.), once אֹתָן Ezek 16:54 (also אוֺתְהֶן Ezek 23:47, אֹתָ֖נָה Exod 35:26, אוֺתָ֖נָה Ezek 34:21); forms with cholem also often written plene: — the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite (Moabite id., Phoenician אית i.e. אִיַּת (Schröd^{p. 213 f.}); Aramaic יָת frequently in ᵑ7; Syriac very rare as mark of accusative (for which is preferred), but used often in the sense of substance οὐσία, also in that of self, e.g. per se, reapse, sibi ipsi, PS^{1640 f.}, Samaritan ; Arabic , only used with suffix, when it is desired to emphasize the pronoun, e.g. Qor 1:4 W^{AG i. § 189.} [Ethiopic uses k£y¹ similarly, Di^{§ 150 a}; but it is dubious if this is etymologically akin.] The primitive form will have been 'iwyath, originally a substantive with following genitive, Ol^{p. 432}; whether ultimately a parallel development with אוֺת sign from √ אוה is uncertain: Ol W^{AG i. § 188} Lag^{M i. 226 affirm}, Nö^{ZMG 1886, 738 doubts. In Hebrew the ground-form is} אוֺת; the forms with ¢, e being abbreviated. In post Biblical Hebrew, used in combination with another preposition: thus בְּאוֺתוֺ הַיּוֺם = Bibl. בַּיּוֺם הַהוּא, בְּאוֺתָהּ הַשָּׁעָה; or as a nomin., e.g. אוֺתוֺ הָאִישׁ = Bibl. הָאִישׁ הַהוּא).

1. As mark of the accusative prefixed to substantives defined either by the article (or כֹּל), or by a genitive or pronominal affix, or in virtue of being proper names:
a. with transitive verbs, Gen 1:1; Gen 1:16; Gen 1:29; Gen 1:30; Gen 2:11; Gen 4:1; Gen 4:2; Gen 9:3 (אֶתֿכֹּל׃) etc. Similarly אֶתמִֿי whom (in particular), Josh 24:15; 1Sam 12:3; 1Sam 28:11; Isa 6:8 and elsewhere (but never אֶתמָֿה); also with זֶה Gen 29:33; Gen 44:29; 1Sam 21:16; 1Kgs 22:27 +, זֹאת Gen 29:27; 2Sam 13:27 +, אֵלֶּה Gen 46:18; Lev 11:18; Isa 49:21 +. So pretty uniformly in prose; but in poetry את is commonly dispensed with. By the use of את with the pronominal affix, a pronoun can at once, if required, be placed in a position of emphasis; let the order of words from this point of view be carefully noticed in the following passages: Gen 7:1; Gen 24:14; Gen 37:4; Lev 10:17; Lev 11:33; Num 22:32 thee I had slain, and her I had kept alive, Deut 4:14; Deut 6:13; Deut 6:23; Deut 13:5; Judg 14:3 אוֺתָהּ קַח לִי take for me her, 1Sam 14:35; 1Sam 15:1; 1Sam 18:17; 1Sam 21:10 אִםאֹֿתָהּ תִּקַּחלְֿךָ קָ֔ח if thou wilt take that, take it, 1Kgs 1:35; 1Kgs 14:9; Isa 43:22; Isa 57:11; Jer 9:2. So הַאוֺתִי Jer 5:22; Jer 7:19. It also sometimes enables the reflexive sense to be expressed (elsewhere נַפְשָׁם) Jer 7:19; Ezek 34:2. Rarely with a substantive which is undefined (Ew^{§ 277 d 2} Ges^{«GKC:117»§ 117}, 1, R. 2), as Exod 21:28; Num 21:9; Lev 20:14; 1Sam 24:6 (but see Dr) 2Sam 4:11; 2Sam 18:18; 2Sam 23:21 or which, though definite, is without the article, Gen 21:30; 2Sam 15:16; Lev 26:5; 1Sam 9:3 (so Num 16:15) Isa 33:19; Isa 41:7; Ezek 43:10 (for further examples see Ew 1.c.)
b. with a passive verb (Ges^{«GKC:121»§ 121}. 1 Ew^{§ 295 b}) conceived as expressing neutrally the action in question, and construed accordingly with an accusative of that which is its real object: examples occur with tolerable frequency from Gen 4:18 (J) וַיִּוָּלֵד לַחֲנוֺךְ אֶתעֿירָד, Gen 17:5 (P), לֹא יִקָּרֵא עוֺד אֶתשִֿׁמְךָ אַברָם there shall not be called (=one shall not call) thy name Abram, Gen 21:5 (E), Gen 27:42; 2Sam 21:11; 1Kgs 18:13; Hos 10:6 etc., to Jer 35:18; Jer 38:4; Jer 50:20; Ezek 16:4; Ezek 16:5; Esth 2:13 (compare Dr^{JPh xi. 227 f.}): also with passive verbs of filling (Ew^{§ 281 b}), as Exod 1:7 +.
c. with neuter verbs or expressions, especially such as involve the idea of regarding, or treating, appy. by a construction κατὰ σύνεσιν (rare), Josh 22:17; 2Sam 11:25; Neh 9:32 (compare 1Sam 20:13 Dr). Once after אֵין, Hag 2:17 אֵין אֶתְכֶם אֵלַיָֽ.
d. poet. (si vera lectio), after an abstract noun used with a verbal force, Hab 3:13 (Amos 4:11; Isa 13:19; Jer 50:40 מַהְפֵּכָה exerts a verbal force, like the Arabic nom. verbi [see W^{AG i. § 196, 43}]; and Num 10:2; Ezek 17:9 לְמַסַּע, לְמַשְׂאוֺת are Aramaizing infinitives: compare Ew^{§ 239 a}).

2. את marks an accusative in other relations than that of direct object to a verb:
a. with verbs of motion (very rare) Num 13:17; Deut 1:19; Deut 2:7 (to 'walk the wilderness'); denoting the goal Judg 19:18; Ezek 21:25 (Ew^{§ 281 d, n., 282 a 1}).
b. denoting time (duration), also very rare: Exod 13:7; Lev 25:22; Deut 9:25.
c. expressing the accus. of limitation (rare): Gen 17:11; Gen 17:14; 1Kgs 15:23.

3. Chiefly in an inferior or later style, אֵת (or וְאֵת) is used irregularly, partly (α), as it would seem, to give greater definiteness (so especially וְאֵת) at the mention of a new subject (when it may sometimes be rendered as regards), or through the influence of a neighbouring verb (a construct κατὰ σύνεσιν), or by an anacoluthon, partly (β) as resuming loosely some other preposition Thus (α) Exod 1:14; Num 3:26; Num 3:46; Num 5:10 (with הָיָה: so Ezek 35:10) Num 18:21b Deut 11:2 (anacoluthon), Deut 14:13; Josh 17:11; Judg 20:44; Judg 20:46 (contr. vJudg 20:25 vJudg 20:35) 1Sam 17:34 (see Dr) 1Sam 26:16; 2Sam 21:22; 2Kgs 6:5; Isa 53:8 (probably), Isa 57:12; Jer 23:33 (but read rather with ᵐ5 ᵑ9 אַתֶּם הַמַּשָּׂא) Jer 27:8; Jer 36:22; Jer 38:16 Kt, Jer 45:4 b Ezek 16:22; Ezek 17:21; Ezek 20:16; Ezek 29:4 b Ezek 43:7 (ᵐ5 Co prefix הֲרָאִיתָ) Ezek 44:3; Zech 8:17; Eccl 4:3; Dan 9:13; Neh 9:19; Neh 9:34; 1Chr 2:9; 2Chr 31:17. In 1Sam 30:23; Hag 2:5 probably some such word as remember is to be understood. (β) Jer 38:9; Ezek 14:22 b Ezek 37:19 b Zech 12:10 סָבִיב אֵת 1Kgs 6:5; Ezek 43:17 strangely (in 1 Kings ᵐ5 omits the clause: so Sta^{ZAW 1883, 135}). — In 1Kgs 11:1 וְ is merely and also, and especially (see וְ); v1Kgs 11:25 is corrupt (read with ᵐ5 זֹאת הָרָעָה אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה הֲדָד); Ezek 47:17; Ezek 47:18; Ezek 47:19 read similarly for ואת, זֹאת: see vEzek 47:20. — For some particulars as to the use of את, see A. M. Wilson^{Hebraica. vi. 139 ff. 212 ff.} (who, however, confuses it sometimes with II. אֵת). For denoting the pronominal object of a verb, את with suffix preponderates relatively much above the verbal affix in P, as compared with J E Deuteronomy Judges Samuel Kings (see Gie^{ZAW 1881, 258 f.}), — partly, probably, on account of the greater distinctness and precision which P loves.

BDB9600 H853 H3487

יָת mark of accusative (= Biblical Hebrew I. אֵת; Palmyrene ית; Zinjirli^{Had. 28} with suffix ותה; Nabataean, Palmyrene with suffix יתה (Lzb²⁶³ Cooke¹⁷⁰; compare RÉS⁴⁶⁸); ᵑ7 Samaritan יָת; Syriac (rare)); — Dan 3:12 דִּי מַנִּיתָ יָָֽתְהוֺן whom thou hast appointed.

with, from, of, and, by, …

ʾēt

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative

מֶ֣לֶךְ

Root word king, kings, royal

Dictionary form: מֶלֶךְ · meh-LEK

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

In the KJV here: the king

the king ×712 king ×501 and the king ×198 the kings ×192 of the kings ×104 of the king ×98 kings ×64 and king ×33

More options

king — Most natural modern equivalent; universally understood.

monarch — Formal register; suits literary or elevated prose.

ruler — Broader term; useful when royal rank is less central.

sovereign — Emphasizes supreme authority; good in legal or theological contexts.

royal — Adjectival use; fits compound nouns like 'royal court'.

BDB4669 H4428 H4429

I. מֶ֫לֶךְ₂₅₁₃ noun masculine king (Late Hebrew id.; MI^{1, 5, 10, 18, 23} מלך; Neh 1:4 המלכן; Phoenician מלך; Zinjirli מלך DHM^{Sendsch. 60}; Assyrian maliku, malku, prince (Assyrian šarru = king); Arabic king (original Hebrew *מַלִח inferred, Lag^{BN 73} Ba^{NB § 112} WMM^{As. u. Europ.76}); Sabean מלכן SabDenkm^{No. 1}; construct מלך, plural אמלך CIS^{iv 37}; compare Ethiopic God (and Nö^l.c.); Aramaic , מְלֵיךְ; Palmyrene מלך מלכא Vog^{No. 28}; Nabataean מלכא Eut^{Nab. 1}); — ׳מ absolute Gen 14:7 + (insert also 2Sam 13:17 ᵐ5 Th We Dr Kit Bu, and v2Sam 13:34 ᵐ5 We Dr Kit Bu); in p. always מֶ֑לֶךְ Gen 49:20 + 238 t. (so also proper name in מֶלֶךְ-); construct Gen 14:1 +; suffix מַלְכִּי 2Sam 19:44 + 6 t., etc.; plural מְלָכִים Gen 14:9 +; מְלָכִין Prov 31:3 construct מַלְכֵי Gen 17:16 +; suffix מְלָכֶיהָ Isa 7:16 + 3 t.; מַלְכֵיהֶם Deut 7:24 + 16 t., etc.; —

1. king: of Egypt Gen 39:20f.; Exod 1:8f.; Deut 11:3; 1Kgs 3:1 of Mesopotamia, Shinar, Assyria, Babylon, Persia, etc. Judg 3:8; Judg 3:10; Gen 14:1f.; 2Kgs 15:19; 2Kgs 15:20; 2Kgs 15:29; 2Kgs 17:3f.; 2Kgs 18:13f.; 2Kgs 24:1; 2Kgs 24:11f.; Ezra 1:1f.; Ezra 4:3f.; Esth 1:2 +, 1Kgs 11:18; 1Kgs 11:40; 1Kgs 14:25; 2Kgs 17:4f.; 2Kgs 23:29 +; of Canaan, Philistia, Edom, Moab, etc. (often of single city): Gen 14:2f.; vGen 14:18; Gen 20:2; Gen 26:1; Gen 26:8; Gen 36:31; Num 20:14; Num 21:1f.; Num 22:4; Num 22:10; Deut 1:4; Deut 3:1f.; Josh 2:2 (often in Joshua), Judg 1:7; Judg 5:19; Judg 8:5; Judg 8:12; Judg 11:12f.; 2Kgs 3:4f. +; of Aram, Hamath, etc. 2Sam 8:3f. v2Sam 8:9; 1Kgs 15:18; 1Kgs 20:1f.; 1Kgs 22:3; 2Kgs 5:1f.; 2Kgs 8:7f.; v2Kgs 8:29; 2Kgs 9:14; 2Kgs 9:15; 2Kgs 15:37; 2Kgs 16:5f. +; of Tyre, etc. 2Sam 5:11; 1Kgs 5:15; 1Kgs 9:11; 1Kgs 9:16+, etc.; especially of Israel (undivided, and of both divisions) Gen 36:31; Num 23:21; Num 24:7; Deut 17:14f.; Judg 17:6; Judg 18:1; Judg 19:1; Judg 21:25; 1Sam 2:10; 1Sam 8:5f.; 2Sam 2:4f.; 1Kgs 1:33; 1Kgs 1:34f. + very often; compare also Judg 9:5. — 2Sam 18:29b strike out ׳הַמּ We Klo Dr Kit Bu. Note that in early books המלך דוד is nearly always said; in late books usually המלך ׳שׁלמה וגו) דוד; compare Aramaic כּוֺרֶשׁ מַלְכָּא, etc.

2. of Davidic king, as under divine protection, 1Sam 2:10 (|| מְשִׁיחוֺ), Ps 2:6; Ps 18:51; Ps 89:19; Ps 61:7, compare Ps 99:4 so in (Messianic) prediction Hos 3:5; Isa 32:1; Jer 23:5; Ezek 37:22; Ezek 37:24; Zech 9:9.

3. used of ׳י as king of Israel 1Sam 12:12 in poetry Deut 33:5 compare Ps 5:3; Ps 10:16; Ps 29:10; Ps 44:5; Ps 48:3; Ps 68:25; Ps 74:12; Ps 84:4; Ps 145:1; Ps 149:2; Isa 41:21; Isa 43:15; Isa 44:6; Zeph 3:15 מֶלֶךְ הַכָּבוֺד Ps 24:7; Ps 24:8; Ps 24:9; Ps 24:10 (twice in verse); universal king Ps 47:3; Ps 47:8; Ps 95:3; Ps 98:6; Jer 10:7; Jer 10:10, compare Jer 46:18; Jer 48:15; Jer 51:57; Zech 14:9; Zech 14:16; Zech 14:17; Mal 1:14 of false god Amos 5:26.

4. in fable, king of trees Judg 9:8; Judg 9:15 figurative of crocodile Job 41:26 אֵין לָאַרְבֶּה ׳מ Prov 30:27 of death, מֶלֶךְ בַּלָּהוֺת Job 18:14.

5. combinations are: —
a. הַגָּדוֺל ׳הַמּ 2Kgs 18:19; 2Kgs 18:28 = Isa 36:4; Isa 36:13 (of Assyrian king: compare Assyrian šarru rabu); גָּדוֺל ׳מ Eccl 9:14 (indefinite); of ׳י Mal 1:14, עַלכֿלאֿלהים ׳ג ׳מ Ps 95:3 ׳מ עוֺלָם Jer 10:10 (of ׳י); מְלָכִים ׳מ Ezek 26:7 (king of Babylon)
b. יְחִי הַמֶּלֶךְ 1Sam 10:24; 2Sam 16:16 (twice in verse); 1Kgs 1:34; 1Kgs 1:39; 2Kgs 11:12; 2Chr 23:11 מֶלֶךְ בירושׁלם Eccl 1:1, compare Eccl 15:26; 2Sam 5:2; 1Kgs 14:2; 1Chr 29:25; 2Sam 2:11 (׳בחברון עלהֿיה מ) 1Kgs 11:37; 2Chr 28:4; Eccl 1:12.
c. following a verb (one or two accusative) על ׳שִׂים מ Deut 17:14; Deut 17:15 (twice in verse); 1Sam 10:19 ׳שִׂים לָנוּ מ 1Sam 8:5 ׳שִׂים לְמ 1Kgs 10:9 לְ ׳נָתַן מ 1Sam 8:6; Hos 13:10; Hos 13:11 נָתַן עַל 1Sam 12:13; 2Chr 2:10; Neh 9:37; Neh 13:26 הִמְלִיךְ לְמֶלֶךְ Judg 9:6; 1Sam 15:11 על ׳הִמְלִיךְ מ 1Sam 12:1 לְ ׳הִמְלִיךְ מ 1Sam 8:22 ׳מָשַׁח מ עַל Judg 9:8 ׳מָשַׁח לְמ 1Kgs 1:45 עַל ׳מָשַׁךְ לְמ Judg 9:15; 1Sam 15:1; 1Sam 15:17; 2Sam 2:4; 2Sam 5:3; 2Sam 5:12; 2Sam 12:7; 1Kgs 1:34; 1Chr 11:3; 1Chr 14:8 יִהְיֶה על ׳מ 1Sam 8:19 על ׳בִּקֵּשׁ למ 2Sam 3:17 ׳הֵכִין לְמ על 2Sam 5:12; 1Chr 14:2 על ׳הֵקִים מ 1Kgs 14:14; Deut 28:36 ׳תַּחַת וגו ׳לְמ ׳יָשַׁב עַלכִּֿסֵּא י 1Chr 29:23, compare Prov 20:8 אלהיך ׳לְי ׳נָתַן עַלכִּֿסֵּא לְמ 2Chr 9:8.
d. מַעֲדַנֵּימֶֿלךְ Gen 49:20 royal dainties, figurative; ׳מִשְׁתֵּה הַמּ 1Sam 25:36 royal feast (in simile); ׳אֶבֶן הַמּ 2Sam 14:26 king's weight; ׳יַדהַֿמּ 1Kgs 10:13 royal bounty (in simile); ׳גִּזֵּי הַמּ Amos 7:1 king's mowings; ׳מִקְדַּשׁ מ Amos 7:13 royal sanctuary; עֲטֶרֶת מַלְכָּם 2Sam 12:30 crown of their king = 1Chr 20:2 (but read מִלְכֹּם ᵐ5 We Klo Dr Kit Kau — not Bu Kit^Chr. Hpt); compare also בַּיִת, עֵמֶק, גַּן, שָׁוֵה, etc. — proper name אבימלך, אחימלך, אלימלך, מלך, נתן, מלך, עבד, see below אב, אח, etc.

BDB4674 H4432 H1322 H4428

מֹ֫לֶךְ proper name, of a divinity Molech (ᵐ5 Μολοχ, ᵑ9 Moloch) (= מֶלֶךְ i.e. (divine) King, with vowels of בּשֶׁת to denote abhorrence, Hoffm^{ZAW iii. 1883, 124} RS^{Semitic i. 353; 2nd ed. 372}; compare Hoffm^{GG Abh. xxxvi. 1890 a (May, 1889), 25}; Phoenician proper name, of divinity מלך Milk, in proper names compare Bloch, Dr^{Dt.222 f.}); — with article ׳הַמּ: — the god to whom Israel sacrificed children with fire (in valley of Hinnom); ׳העביר בָּנֵשׁ לַ מּ 2Kgs 23:10 ׳העביר לַמּ Jer 32:35 (|| הַבַּעַל), Lev 18:21 (H); ׳נתן לַמּ Lev 20:2; Lev 20:3; Lev 20:4 (H); more generally ׳לִזְנוֺת אַחֲרֵי הַמּ vLev 20:5 (H). In 1Kgs 11:7 read probably מִלְכֹּם, q. v.

BDB4684 H4442 H6664 H4428

מַלְכִּיצֶֿ֫דֶק proper name, masculine king of שָׁלֵם (q. v.), (my king is ‚ede‡) — Gen 14:18. Ps 110:4. ᵐ5 Μελχισεδεκ.

BDB4685 H4443 H4428 H7311

מַלְכִּירָם proper name, masculine son of Jeconiah (= Jehoiakin) (my king (= Yahweh) is high, compare Gray^{Prop. N. 146 f.}; Phoenician proper name מלכרם); — 1Chr 3:18. ᵐ5 Μελχ(ε)ιραμ.

BDB4686 H4428 H4444 H7769

מַלְכִישׁוּעַ proper name, masculine son of Saul my king (= ׳י) is opulence, compare Gray^{Prop. N. 147}); — 1Sam 14:49; 1Sam 31:2; 1Chr 8:33; 1Chr 9:39; 1Chr 10:2 (in Chronicles מַלְכִּישֿׁוּעַ). ᵐ5 Μελχεισα, Μελχεσουε, etc.

king, kings, royal

melek

a king

king

בָּבֶ֑ל

Root word a name — transliterate it ("Of babylon")

Dictionary form: בָּבֶל · baw-BEL

Noun — Proper Name

In the KJV here: of babylon

of babylon ×147 babylon ×26 to babylon ×18 him to babylon ×9 from babylon ×8 of babylons ×8 into babylon ×6 unto babylon ×6

More options

Babylon — Standard proper name; use in most narrative contexts.

Babel — Prefer for Genesis 11 tower narrative specifically.

Babylonia — Emphasizes the region/empire rather than the city.

the Babylonian empire — Use when political power is the focus.

BDB899 H894

בָּבֶ֫ל₂₆₂ proper name, of a location Babel, Babylon (in Assyrian written Bab-ilu, gate of god Dl^{Pa 212}, compare on other hand Jen^{Kosmol. 498}) — with ָ ה locative בָּבֶ֫לָה Ezek 12:13 +, בָּבֶ֑לָה 2Kgs 20:17 + once מִבָּבֶ֫לָה Jer 27:16 — the ancient capital of Babylonia, modern Hillah, situated on Euphrates, in long. approximately 440 30° east, and latitude approximately 320 50° north; Gen 10:10; Gen 11:9 (where name connected with בלל confuse, confound), both J, not elsewhere in Hexateuch; 2Kgs 17:24 + 31 t. 2 Kings; 18 t. Chronicles; Esth 2:6 late Ps 87:4; Ps 137:1; Ps 137:8 Isa²; Isa³, namely Isa 13:1; Isa 13:19; Isa 14:4; Isa 14:22; Isa 21:9; Isa 39:1; Isa 39:3; Isa 39:6; Isa 39:7; Isa 43:14; Isa 47:1; Isa 48:14; Isa 48:20; Mic 4:10 (but here probably not original, compare RS^{Proph. vii. n. 5 & references}) Zech 2:11; Zech 6:10; + 19 t. Ezekiel; Jer 20:4 (twice in verse); Jer 20:5; Jer 20:6 + 165 t. Jeremiah — note especially ׳אֶרֶץ בּ Jer 50:28 also of land & people = realm, particular in ׳מֶלֶךְ בּ 2Kgs 20:12 of Merodach Baladan; v2Kgs 20:18; 2Kgs 24:1; 2Kgs 24:7; 2Kgs 24:11; 2Kgs 24:12 (twice in verse) + often of Nebuchadrezzar; 2Kgs 25:27 = Jer 52:31 compare vJer 52:34 of Evil-Merodach; Neh 13:6 of Artaxerxes; the city personified as בַּת בָּבֶל Isa 47:1; Jer 50:42. (See Dl^{Pa 212} COT Gen 11:9 KG⁹⁵.)

BDB9361 H894 H895

בָּבֶל proper name, of a location Babylon (Biblical Hebrew id.); — Dan 2:12 + 15 t. Daniel; 9 t. Ezra.

babylon, babylons, babel

bābel

confusion (by mixing)

Babel (i.e., Babylon), including Babylonia and the Babylonian empire

Babel or Babylon, the ancient site and/or capital of Babylonia (modern Hillah) situated on the Euphrates

כִּ֣י

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

Dictionary form: כִּי · kee

Conjunction

In the KJV here: for

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

More options

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

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

since — Causal with a presupposed background fact.

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

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

although — Concessive; acknowledges a contrasting reality.

BDB3937 H3587 H3588

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

BDB3995 H3588 H518

כִּי conjunction that, for, when (Moabite id,: Phoenician כ. Probably from the same demonstrative basis found in here, and in certain pronouns, as Aramaic דֵּךְ this (W^{SG 110 f.}); perhaps also ultimately akin with that, in order that, and then, enclitic, like Latin nam in quisnam?) —

1. that (ὅτι, German dass):
a. prefixed to sentences depending on an active verb, and occupying to it the place of an accusative: so constantly, after verbs of seeing, as Gen 1:10 וַיַּרְא אֱלֹהִים כִּי טוֺב and God saw that it was good, Gen 3:6; Gen 6:2; Gen 6:5; Gen 12:14 + often, hearing Gen 14:14; Gen 29:33, knowing Gen 22:12; Gen 24:14, telling Gen 3:11; Gen 12:18, repenting Gen 6:6; Gen 6:7, swearing Gen 22:16; Jer 22:5, believing Exod 4:5; Lam 4:12, remembering Ps 78:35, forgetting Job 39:15 אָמַר = command (late; in early Hebrew the words said are quoted) Job 36:10; Job 36:24 (זְכֹר in a command) Job 37:20 b 1Chr 21:18 (contrast 2Sam 24:18) etc.; טוֺב כּי it is good that ... 2Sam 18:2 + (usually the infinitive with, as Gen 2:18 see ibid.); Gen 37:26 מַהבֶּֿצַע כִּי נַהֲרֹג what profit that we should slay (imperfect)...? Mal 3:14 what proft כִּי שָׁמַרְנוּ that we have kept (perfect)...? Job 22:3 הַחֵפֶץ לְשַׁדַּי כִּי is it pleasure to Shaddai that...? after a pronoun, as Ps 41:12 by this I know that thou hast pleasure in me, that my enemy cannot triumph over me, Ps 42:5 these things will I remember...that (or how) I used to go, etc., Ps 56:10 this I know that God is for me Job 13:16 (הוא). And with כִּי repeated pleonastic after an intervening clause 2Sam 19:7; Jer 26:15 +; כִּי ֗֗֗ וְכִי Gen 3:6; Gen 29:12; Exod 4:31; Josh 2:9; Josh 8:21; Josh 10:1; 1Sam 31:7; 2Sam 5:12; 1Kgs 11:21; Jer 40:7; Jer 40:11 לֵאמֹר ֗֗֗ וְכִי Gen 45:26; Judg 10:10.
b. כִּי often introduces the direct narration (like , , and the Greek ὅτι recitativum, e.g. Luke 4:21), in which case it cannot be represented in English (except by inverted commas), Gen 21:30; Gen 29:33 and she said, ׳כִּי שׁמע י Yahweh hath heard, etc.; Exod 3:12 = Judg 6:16 and he said, כִּי אֶהְיֶה עִמָּ֑ךְ I will be with thee, Josh 2:24; 1Sam 2:16 (see Dr) 1Sam 10:19 and ye have said to him, כִּי מֶלָךְ תָּשִׂים עָלֵינוּ Thou shalt set a king over us, 2Sam 11:23; 1Kgs 1:13; 1Kgs 20:5; Ruth 1:10, compare Ruth 2:21 (but in reply to a question כִּי may = because, see below 3; and so also in sentences giving the explanation of a proper name, Gen 26:22; Gen 29:32 (but De surely: see below), Exod 2:10 (compare Gen 4:25; Gen 41:51; Gen 41:52); in כִּי מָה, introducing an expostulation, 1Sam 29:8; 1Kgs 11:22; 2Kgs 8:13, it gives the reason for a suppressed 'Why do you say this?').
c. especially after an oath חַי אָ֫נִי, ׳חַי י etc., introducing the fact sworn to, Gen 42:16 by the life of Pharaoh, כִּי מְרַגְּלִים אַתֶּם (I say) that ye are spies; but though Hebrew usage probably gave it an asseverative force, English idiom does not require it to be expressed: Num 14:22; 1Sam 20:3 as ׳י liveth, כִּי כְפֶשַׂע בֵּינִי וּבֵין הַמָּוֶת there is but a step between me and death! 1Sam 26:16; 1Sam 29:6; Isa 49:18 +; 1Sam 14:44 כֹּהיַֿעֲשֶׂה אֱלֹהִים וְכֹה יוֺסִיף כִּי מוֺת תָּמוּת thus may God do and more also: thou shalt surely die! 2Sam 3:35; 1Kgs 2:23; Ruth 1:17 and elsewhere — Note that כִּי when thus used is often repeated after an intervening clause, in order that its force may be fully preserved: Gen 1:39 כִּי מוֺת יָמוּת (אִםיֶֿשְׁנוֺ בְּיוֺנָתָן בְּנִי) כִּי ׳חַי י 1Sam 25:34; 2Sam 2:27 ׳כִּי אָז וג (לוּלֵא דִּבַּרְתָּ) כִּי, 2Sam 3:9; 2Sam 15:21 Qr 1Kgs 1:30; Jer 22:24.
d. כִּי is used sometimes with advs. and interjs. to add force or distinctness to the affirmation which follows:
(a) so especially in אַף כִּי (see אַף); הֲכִי is it that . . .? (as a neutral interrogative) 2Sam 9:1, (expecting a negative answer) Gen 29:15 is it that thou art my brother, and shalt (therefore) serve me for nothing? Job 6:22 is it that I have said, Give unto me? expressing surprise Gen 27:36 is it that he is called Jacob, and has (hence) supplanted me twice? 2Sam 23:19 an affirm. answer is required (which would imply הֲלֹא כִי): read probably with the || 1Chr 11:25 הִנּוֺ be-hold, he, etc.; אִםלֹֿא כִּי Deut 32:30 were it not that .. .; אָמְנָם כִּי Job 12:2 of a truth (is it) that ye are the people, etc.; אַךְ כִּי 1Sam 8:9 אֶפֶם כִּי Num 13:28 +; גַּם כִּי Ruth 2:21 הֲלֹא כִי 1Sam 10:1 (but see ᵐ5 Dr), 2Sam 13:28 הִנֵּה כִי Ps 128:4 compare Ps 118:10 כִּי אֲמִיַלם ׳בְּשֵׁם י in the name of ׳י (is it) that — or (I say) that — I will mow them down; Job 39:27 doth the vulture mount up at thy command, וְכִי יָרִים קִנּוֺ and (is it) that it (so) makes high its nest? Isa 36:19 have the gods of the nations delivered each his land etc.? . . . וְכִי הִצִּילוּ i.e. (Hi) and (is it) that they have delivered Samaria out of my hand? > (Ew^{§ 354 c} De Di) and that they have delivered Samaria out of my hand! = how much less (אַף כִּי) have they, etc.! (|| 2Kgs 18:34 כִּי alone, perhaps conformed by error to v2Kgs 18:35; 2Chr 32:15 אַף כִּי, which however does not decide the sense of the original וְכִי). 1Chr 29:14 וְכִי מִי read ומי or כי מי
(b) in introducing the apodosis, especially in כִּי עַתָּה (chiefly after לוּלֵא) indeed then . . ., Gen 31:42; Gen 43:10 for unless we had tarried כִּי עַתָּה שַׁבְנוּ surely then we had returned twice, Num 22:33 (read לוּלֵי for אוּלַי); so 1Sam 14:30 ᵐ5 (after לוּא), and 1Sam 13:13 Hi We (לֻא for לֹא); after אִם Job 8:6 surely then he will awake over thee, etc. (But elsewhere כִּי עַתָּה is simply for now, Gen 29:32; Job 7:21 +; or for then = for in that case, Exod 9:15; Num 22:29; Job 3:13; Job 6:3 +). It is dubious whether כִּי אָז has the same sense: for 2Sam 2:27; 2Sam 19:7 the כִּי in כִּי אָז may be merely resumptive of the כִּי recitation preceding (see a, c). Rare otherwise: Exod 22:22 if thou afflict him כִּי אִםצָֿעֹק יִצְעַק 'tis that (= indeed), if he cries unto me, I will hear him, Isa 7:9 if ye believe not כִּי לֹא תֵאֵָמנוּ ׃ indeed ye will not be established.
e. there seem also to be other cases in which כִּי, standing alone, has an intensive force, introducing a statement with emphasis, yea, surely, certainly (German ja — a lighter particle than these English words): see in AV RV Exod 18:11; Num 23:23; 1Sam 17:25; 1Sam 20:26; 2Kgs 23:22; Isa 32:13; Isa 60:9; Jer 22:22; Jer 31:19; Hos 6:9; Hos 8:6; Hos 9:12; Hos 10:3; Amos 3:7; Ps 76:11; Ps 77:12 (Ew Che), Prov 30:2 (but not if construed as RVm), Eccl 4:16; Eccl 7:7; Eccl 7:20; Job 28:1 +; Lam 3:22 (ᵑ6 ᵑ7 Ew Th Öttli) the mercies of ׳י, surely they are not consumed (read probably תַמּוּ or תָֽמְמוּ for תמנו), Ruth 3:12 כִּי אָמְנָם yea, indeed. But it is doubtful whether כִּי has this force in all the passages for which scholars have had recourse to it, and whether in some it is not simply = for. De^{Prov 30:1} would restrict the usage to cases in which a suppressed clause may be understood. feminine that, expressing consecution, especially after a question implying surprise or deprecation: followed by perf., Gen 20:9 what have I sinned against thee כִּי הֵבֵאתָ עָלַי that thou hast brought upon me? 1Sam 22:8; Isa 22:1 what aileth thee, that thou art gone up, etc.? vIsa 22:16; Isa 36:5; Isa 52:5; Mic 4:9; Hab 2:18 followed by participle Judg 14:3; 1Sam 20:1; 1Kgs 18:9 how have I sinned that thou art giving, etc.? 2Kgs 5:7; Ezek 24:19 usually followed by imperfect Exod 3:11 who am I כִּי אֵלֵךְ that I should go, etc.? Exod 16:7; Judg 8:6; Judg 9:28; 2Kgs 8:13; Isa 7:13; Isa 29:16 (also perfect), Ps 8:5 what is man כִּי תִזְכְּרֶנּוּ? Job 3:12 or why the breasts כִּי אִינָָֽק ׃ that I should suck? Job 6:11 מַהכֹּֿחִי כִּי אִַיַחֵל, Job 7:12; Job 7:17; Job 10:5f.; Job 13:25f.; Job 15:12f; Job 15:14; Job 16:3; Job 21:15 +; after a negative, Gen 40:15 here also I have done nothing כִּי שָׂמוּ that they should have placed me in the dungeon, Ps 44:19f. our heart has not turned backward, etc. כִּי דִכִּיתָנוּ that thou shouldst have crushed us, etc., Isa 43:22 not me hast thou called on, כִּי יָגַעְתָּ בִּי that thou shouldst have wearied thyself with me, Hos 1:6 (see RV), Job 41:2; Ruth 1:12 I am too old to have an husband כִּי אָמַרְתִּי that I should have said, etc. (compare Ew^{§ 337 a}; Dr^{§ 39} δ).
g. added to preps. כִּי converts them, like אֲשֶׁר, into conjs. ..., as יַעַן כִּי because that...: see below יַעַן, עַד, עַל, עֵקֶב, תַּחַת.

2. a. Of time, when, of the past וַיְהִי כִּי Gen 6:1 (compare Bu^{Urg. 6}), Gen 26:8; Gen 27:1; 2Sam 6:13; 2Sam 7:1; 2Sam 19:26 + (כַּאֲשֶׁר and especially כְּ with infinitive, are more frequently); וְהָיָה כִּי (simple וְ) 1Sam 1:12; 1Sam 17:48; Josh 22:7; Judg 2:18; Judg 12:5 והיה כי יאמרו and it would be, whenever (frequently) they said, Jer 44:19 (participle), Hos 11:1; Ps 32:3 כי החרשׁתי when I was silent, Job 31:21; Job 31:26; Job 31:29 of present (usually with imperfect) as Exod 18:16 כִּי יִהְיֶה לָהֶם דָּבָר when they have a matter, 1Sam 24:20; Isa 1:12; Isa 30:21; Jer 14:12; Zech 7:5; Zech 7:6; Mal 1:8; Ps 49:19 and men praise thee כִּי תֵיטִיב לָ֑ךְ when thou doest well to thyself, Ps 102:1; Ps 127:5 +, with perfect Ezek 3:19-21; Ezek 33:9; Prov 11:15; Prov 23:22 especially of future, as Gen 4:12 כִּי תַעֲבֹד אֶתהָֿאֲדָמָה when thou shalt till the ground it shall not, etc., Gen 24:41; Gen 30:33; Gen 31:49; Gen 32:18; Exod 7:9 when Pharaoh shall speak unto you, Deut 4:25; Deut 6:20 +; in phrase (׳תאֹמַר וג) וְכִי תאֹמְרוּ Lev 25:20; Deut 18:21; Isa 8:19; Isa 36:7; Jer 13:22 and especially in ... וְהָיָה כִּי Gen 12:12; Gen 46:33; Deut 6:10; Deut 15:16; 1Sam 10:7; 1Sam 25:30; Isa 8:21; Isa 10:12 + often; with perfect Isa 16:12; 1Chr 17:11 (altered from imperfect 2Sam 7:12); with participle (unusual) Num 33:51; Num 34:2; Deut 11:31; Deut 18:9.
b. elsewhere כִּי has a force approximating to if, though it usually represents a case as more likely to occur than אִם: — (mostly with imperfect) Gen 38:16; Num 5:20; Num 10:32; Deut 6:25; Deut 7:17; Deut 28:2; Deut 28:13; 1Sam 20:13; 2Sam 19:8; 2Kgs 4:29; 2Kgs 18:22; Jer 38:15; Prov 4:8; Job 7:13 (כי אמרתי when I say), Job 19:28 often in laws, as Exod 21:14; Exod 21:33; Exod 21:35; Exod 21:37; Exod 22:4; Exod 22:5 etc., Deut 13:13; Deut 14:24; Deut 15:7; Deut 15:12; Deut 17:2; Deut 18:6; Deut 18:21 etc.; sometimes, in particular, to state a principle broadly, after which special cases are introduced by אִם, as Exod 21:2 when (כִּי) thou buyest a Hebrew servant, he shall serve thee six years, after which vExod 21:3-5 follow four special cases with אִם if: so Exod 21:7 (כי), vExod 21:8-11 (אם); vExod 21:18 (כי), vExod 21:19 (אם); vExod 21:20 (כי), vExod 21:21 (אם); vExod 21:22 f; vExod 21:28-32; Lev 1:2 (כי), vLev 1:3 vLev 1:10 (אם) Lev 4:2; Lev 4:3; Lev 4:13; Lev 4:27; Lev 4:32; Lev 13:2ff. Num 30:3ff. +; though this distinction is not uniformly observed, contrast e.g. Exod 21:5 with Deut 15:16; Num 5:19 and vNum 5:20. —

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

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

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

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

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

2. (About 140 t.) the two particles being closely conjoined, and relating to the same clause —
a. limiting the preceding clause, except (after a negative, or an oath, or question, the equivalent of a negative) — the most usual term for expressing this idea: followed by verb Gen 32:27 I will not let thee go; כִּי אִםבֵּֿרַכְתָּֽנִי literally but (כִּי 3 e) if thou bless me (that is, I will let thee go), i.e., subordinating the second clause to the first, 'I will not let thee go, except thou bless me;' Lev 22:6 he shall not eat of the holy things כִּי אִםרָֿחַץ except he have washed his flesh, Isa 65:6; Amos 3:7; Ruth 3:18; Lam 5:21f. (Ew Näg Ke Che Öttli), turn thou us unto thee, etc., unless thou have utterly rejected us, (and) art very wroth with us (= Or hast thou utterly rejected us? etc. Ew Öttli); followed by a noun, except, but, Gen 28:17 this is nothing ׳כִּי אִםבֵּֿית הָאֱ but the house of God, Gen 32:9 he withholds from me nothing כִּי אִםאֿוֺתָךְ except thee, Lev 21:2; Num 14:30 (after אִם), Num 26:65 (compare Num 32:12 בִּלְתִּי), Josh 14:4; 1Sam 30:17; 1Sam 30:22; 2Sam 12:3 אֵין כֹּל כִּי אִםֿ (so 2Kgs 4:2), 2Kgs 19:29; 1Kgs 17:1 (after אִם), 1Kgs 22:31; 2Kgs 5:15; 2Kgs 9:35; 2Kgs 13:7; Jer 22:17; Jer 44:14 +; after אַל, 2Chr 23:6 followed by an adverb clause, Gen 42:15; Num 35:33; 2Sam 3:13 (but כִּי אִם and לִפְנֵי are mutually exclusive: read probably with ᵐ5 כִּי אִםהֵֿבֵיאתָ); after an interrogative Isa 42:19 who is blind כִּי אִםעַֿבְדִּי but my servant ? (who is blind in comparison with him ?), Deut 10:12; Mic 6:8; Eccl 5:10; 2Chr 2:5.
b. the if being neglected, and treated as pleonastic (compare אִם 1 c), so that the clause is no longer a limitation of the preceding clause but a contradiction of it: but rather, but (= a slightly strengthened כִּי), Gen 15:4 this man shall not be thy heir; ׳כִּי אִםאֲֿשֶׁר וג but one that shall come forth from thy own bowels, he shall be thy heir (compare 1Kgs 8:19), 1Kgs 32:29 thy name shall no more be called Jacob כִּי אִםיִֿשְׂרָאֵל but Israel (compare כִּי alone 1Kgs 17:15), 1Kgs 47:18 we will not hide it from my lord, but the money . . . is all made over to, etc., Exod 12:9 not boiled in water, but roast with fire, Deut 7:5; Deut 12:5; Deut 16:6; Josh 23:8; 1Sam 2:15 he will not take of thee boiled flesh כִּי אִםחָֽֿי׃ but raw, 1Sam 8:19 לֹא כִּי אִםמֶֿלֶךְ יִהְיֶה עָלֵינוּ nay, but a king shall be over us (compare כי alone, 1Sam 10:19; 1Sam 12:12), 1Sam 21:5; 2Sam 5:6; 1Kgs 18:18; 2Kgs 10:23 (פֶּן), Isa 33:21; Isa 55:10; Isa 55:11; Isa 59:2; Jer 3:10; Jer 7:32; Jer 9:23; Jer 16:15; Jer 20:3; Jer 44:10; Ps 1:2; Ps 1:4; Prov 23:17 (אַל) Psalm +; with the principal verb repeated (as Gen 15:4; 1Kgs 8:19), Lev 21:14; Ezek 44:22; Num 10:30; 2Kgs 23:23; Jer 39:12 Kt (Qr omit אִם), compare Jer 7:23. Occasionally in colloquial language, the negative, it seems, is left to be understood: 1Sam 26:10 as ׳י liveth, (by no means,) כִּי אִם but ׳י shall smite him, 2Sam 13:33 Kt (by no means,) but Amnon alone is dead (Qr omits אִם). Followed by imperative Isa 65:18; Ezek 12:23; Jer 39:12; 2Chr 25:8. Sometimes also, though rarely (and not certainly), כִּי אִם appears to have the force of only even without a previous negative: Gen 40:14 כִּי אִםזְֿכַרְתָּנִי אִתְּךָ only have (?) me in remembrance with thyself (but read perhaps אַךְ for כִּי; see Dr^{§ 119} δ n., the use of a bare perfect, without לוּ, or even waw consecutive, to express a wish or command is unexampled), Num 24:22 כִּי אִםֿ יִהְיֶה לְבָעֵר קָֽיִן׃ only, nevertheless, the Kenite shall be for extermination (compare Di), Job 42:8 (De Di) כִּי אִםפָּֿנָיו אֶשָּׂא
c. after an oath כִּי אִם appears to = a strengthened כִּי (compare בִּלְתִּי אִם, אִם ׃עַד אִם 1 c), introducing the fact sworn to (see כִּי 1 c): 2Kgs 5:20 as ׳י liveth, כִּי אִםרַֿצְתִּי surely I will run (perfect of certitude) after him, etc., Jer 51:14 (Ges Hi Gf RV) surley I will fill thee with men (namely, assailants), etc. (but Ew Ke Ch treat the particles as separate (כִּי as כִּי 1 c): though I have filled thee with men —; i.e. increased thy population, — yet shall they — the assailants — lift up the shout against thee), 2Sam 15:21 Kt (Qr omits אִם); after an assever. particle Ruth 3:12 Kt וְעַתָּה כִּי אָמְנָם כִּי אִם גּוֺאֵל אָנֹכִי and now, yea indeed, surely I am thy kinsman (Qr omits אִם); the oath being understood, Judg 15:7 if ye do thus, כִּי אִםנִֿקַּמְתִּי surely (Ges hercle) I will avenge myself, 1Sam 21:6 כִּי אִםאִֿשָּׁה עֲצֻרָה לָנוּ of a truth women have been kept from us, etc., 1Kgs 20:6 surely tomorrow I will send, etc., Prov 23:18 (see De) surely there is a reward; perhaps also Job 42:8.

BDB3996 H3588 H5921 H3651

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

BDB6199 H6258 H2088 H2009 H5704 H3588

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

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

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

BDB6202 H3282 H834 H3588

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

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

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

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

BDB9640 H3809 H3861 H518 H2006 H3808 H3588

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

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

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

for, that, because, but, when, …

kî

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

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

that

yea, indeed

when, if, though (with a concessive force)

שֶׁ֔קֶר

Root word lying, false, lies, falsehood, falsely, …

Dictionary form: שֶׁקֶר · sheh-KER

Noun — Common, masculine singular, absolute state

In the KJV here: a lie unto you

falsely ×13 lies ×12 a lie ×8 a lying ×7 false ×7 lying ×5 of falsehood ×4 a false ×3

More options

deception — Broad, neutral; suits most prose and legal contexts.

falsehood — Modernized KJV form; fits formal or theological writing.

lie — Direct and concrete; best when a specific false statement is meant.

fraud — Emphasizes deliberate intent to deceive; good in legal contexts.

deceit — Highlights the relational betrayal aspect of the word.

empty — Captures the 'vain/worthless' semantic range of the lemma.

BDB9028 H8267

שֶׁ֫קֶר₁₁₃ noun masculine deception, disappointment, falsehood; — ׳שׁ Exod 23:7 + 64 t.; שָׁ֑קֶר Exod 5:9 + 42 t.; plural שְׁקָרִים Ps 101:7 + 3 t.; suffix שִׁקְרֵיהֶם Jer 23:22 —

1. deception, what deceives, disappoints, and betrays one : a molten image Jer 10:14 = Jer 51:17 gift Prov 25:14 grace of person Prov 31:30, etc.; ׳אֹ֫רַח שׁ Ps 119:104; Ps 119:128 ׳דֶּ֫רֶח שׁ vPs 119:29 ׳בטח בשׁ Jer 13:25 ׳נחל שׁ Jer 16:19, compare also Ps 7:15; Ps 33:17; Ps 119:118; Isa 28:15 לַשֶּׁקֶר for disappointment, in vain 1Sam 25:21; Jer 3:23.

2. deceit, fraud, wrong : ׳עשׂה (ל) שׁ do or practise fraud, wrong Hos 7:1; Jer 6:13; Jer 8:8; Jer 8:10 with בְ, 2Sam 18:13 ׳פְּעֻלַּת שׁ Prov 11:18 ׳לֶ֫חֶם שׁ Prov 20:17 food got by fraud; ׳זֶ֫רע שׁ Isa 57:4 ׳עֵט שׁ Jer 8:8 ׳ילד שׁ Ps 7:15 (|| עמל); ׳דרךְ לשׁון קשׁת שׁ Jer 9:2 ׳בְּשׁ Jer 3:10 (|| בגד), adverb שׁקד fraudulently, wrongfully Ps 35:19; Ps 38:20; Ps 69:5; Ps 119:78; Ps 119:86.

3. injurious falsehood, in testimony, especially in courts : עַד שֶׁקֶר Exod 20:16 (E) Deut 19:18; Ps 27:12; Prov 6:19; Prov 14:5; Prov 25:18 עֵד שׁקרים Prov 12:17; Prov 19:5; Prov 19:9 ׳ענה שׁ Deut 19:18 testify falsehood; ׳שְׁבֻעַת שׁ Ze Deut 8:17 false oath; ׳נשׁבע לשׁ swear falsely Jer 5:2 + 5 t.; ׳נשׁבע על שׁ Lev 5:22 ׳דבּר שׁ Mic 6:12 + (see [ דָּבַר], דָּבָר); ׳אִמְרֵ י שׁ Isa 32:7 ׳שׂפת(י) שׁ Ps 31:19; Ps 120:2; Prov 10:18; Prov 17:7 טפל ׳שׁ Job 13:4; Ps 119:69, compare vPs 119:163 absolute false ! 2Kgs 9:12; Jer 37:14.

4. falsity, of false or self-deceived prophets: ׳נכּא שׁ prophesy falsely Jer 14:14; Jer 23:25; Jer 23:26; Jer 29:21 + ל person Jer 27:10; Jer 20:14; Jer 20:16 ׳לַשּׁ ׳נ vJer 20:15 ׳בשׁ ׳נ Jer 5:31; Jer 20:6; Jer 29:9 ׳מוֺרֶה שׁ Isa 9:14; Hab 2:18 ׳חזה שׁ Zech 10:2 ׳חֲזוֺן שׁ Jer 14:14, etc., (+ 12 t.); ׳רוּח שׁ.

5. lie, falsehood, in general: ׳דבר שׁ Ps 101:7 (|| רְמִיָּה); ׳דְּבַר שׁ Prov 13:5 of מִלִּים Job 36:4 ׳לְשׁוֺן שׁ false tongue Prov 6:17; Prov 12:19; Prov 21:6; Prov 26:28; Ps 109:2 of lips Prov 12:22 ׳אִישׁ שׁ Prov 17:4 liar.

lying, false, lies, falsehood, falsely, …

šeqer

an untruth; by implication, a sham (often adverbial)

lie, deception, disappointment, falsehood

deception (what deceives or disappoints or betrays one)

fraudulently, wrongfully (as adverb)

testify falsehood, false oath, swear falsely

false tongue

Breakdown unavailable for this word. Dictionary form: הֵם · hame

Noun — masculine plural plural — usually add "-s"

In the KJV here: they

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

More options

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

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

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

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

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

themselves — Reflexive or emphatic contexts stressing the subject.

BDB2087 H1931 H1992 H2007

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

BDB2188 H1992 H2004 H3860 H3861

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[Note]

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

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

BDB9475 H1994 H1992

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

they, those, these, them, who, …

hēm

they (only used when emphatic)

they, these, the same, who

נִבְּאִ֥ים

Root word prophesy, prophesied, prophesieth, prophesying, prophet

Dictionary form: נָבָא · naw-BAW

Verb — Niphal, Participle Active, masculine plural, absolute state passive or reflexive — "it was done" / "he did it to himself" ongoing action — try "___ing" or "one who ___s"

In the KJV here: prophesy

prophesy ×32 prophesied ×15 and prophesy ×9 that prophesy ×6 which prophesy ×3 and prophesied ×2 and they prophesied ×2 hath prophesied ×2

More options

prophesy — Modernized standard rendering; broadly applicable across contexts.

proclaim a prophecy — Emphasizes the public, declarative act of speaking.

speak as a prophet — Clarifies the role when 'prophesy' may be ambiguous.

utter divine revelation — Highlights the inspired, revelatory nature of the speech.

deliver an oracle — Formal register; suits written or liturgical translation.

preach — Captures ecstatic or Spirit-led speech in some narrative contexts.

BDB4929 H5012

[נָבָא] verb denominative prophesy (in oldest forms, of religious ecstasy with or without song and music; later, essentially religious instruction, with occasional predictions); —

Niph`al Perfect 3 masculine singular נִבֵּא Jer 20:1 + 7 t.; 2 masculine singular נִבֵּאתָ Jer 20:6 + 2 t.; נִבֵּיתָ Jer 26:9 1 singular נִבֵּאתִי Ezek 37:7 3 plural נִבֵּאוּ Jer 2:8 + 3 t.; נִבָּ֑אוּ Jer 23:21 Imperfect 3 masculine singular יִנָּבֵא Amos 3:8 + 9 t. Imperfect; Imperative הִנָּבֵא Amos 7:15 + 27 t.; Infinitive הִנָּבֵא Amos 7:13 suffix הִנָָּֽבְאוֺ Zech 13:3 הִנָָּֽבְאֹתוֺ Zech 13:4, + 4 t. Infinitive; Participle נִבָּא Jer 26:18 + 20 t. Participle; —

1. prophesy under influence of divine spirit:
a. in the ecstatic state, with song 1Sam 10:11; 1Sam 19:20 and music 1Chr 25:1; 1Chr 25:2; 1Chr 25:3.
b. the word of ׳י: absolute Amos 2:12; Amos 3:8 (emended יחרד We Now needless), Amos 7:12; Amos 7:13; Joel 3:1; Jer 19:14; Jer 26:18; Jer 28:9; Jer 32:3; Ezek 11:13; Ezek 12:27; Ezek 21:19; Ezek 37:7; Ezek 38:17 but especially in phrase הִנָּבֵא וֶאַמַדְתָּ Ezek 12:27; Ezek 21:14; Ezek 21:33; Ezek 30:2; Ezek 34:2; Ezek 36:3; Ezek 37:7; Ezek 37:12; Ezek 38:14; Ezek 38:17 with accusative Jer 20:1; Jer 25:30; Jer 28:6 followed by עַל against Amos 7:16; Jer 25:13; Jer 26:20; Ezek 4:7; Ezek 11:4; Ezek 13:17; Ezek 25:2; Ezek 28:21; Ezek 29:2; Ezek 34:2; Ezek 35:2; Ezek 36:6; Ezek 38:2; Ezek 39:1 unto Ezek 37:4 אֶל unto Amos 7:15; Jer 26:11; Jer 26:12; Jer 28:8; Ezek 36:1; Ezek 37:9 against Ezek 6:2; Ezek 13:2; Ezek 21:2; Ezek 21:7 ׳בְּשֵׁם י Jer 11:21; Jer 14:15; Jer 23:25; Jer 26:9.

2. of false prophets: absolute Jer 23:21; Ezek 13:2; Zech 13:3 (twice in verse); Zech 13:4 with accusative 1Kgs 22:12 = 2Chr 18:11 שֶׁקֶר Jer 14:14; Jer 23:25; Jer 27:10; Jer 27:14; Jer 27:16; Jer 29:21 לַשָּׁ֑קֶר Jer 27:15 בַּשֶּׁקֶר Jer 5:31; Jer 20:6; Jer 29:9 ׳נִבְּאֵי הַשּׁ Jer 23:26 compare vJer 23:32 with לֵ Jer 14:16; Jer 23:16; Jer 27:15; Jer 27:16; Jer 29:31; Jer 37:19 followed by אֶל concerning Ezek 13:16.

3. compare heathen prophets, בַּבַּעַל Jer 2:8. Hithpa`el Perfect 2 masculine singular הִתְנַבִּיתָ 1Sam 10:16 1 singular הִנַּבֵּאתִי Ezek 37:10 Imperfect יִתְנַבֵּא 1Sam 10:10 + 7 t.; 3 masculine plural יִתְנַבְּאוּ Num 11:25 + 5 t.; Imperative הִנַּבְּאוּ Jer 23:13 Infinitive הִתְנַבּוֺת 1Sam 10:13 Participle מִתְנַבֵּא Jer 26:20 + 9 t. Participle; —

1. Prophesy under influence of divine spirit:
a. in the ecstatic state Num 11:25; Num 11:26; Num 11:27 (J), with music 1Sam 10:5; 1Sam 10:6; 1Sam 10:10; 1Sam 10:13, in frenzy 1Sam 19:20; 1Sam 19:21 (twice in verse); 1Sam 19:23; 1Sam 19:24 excited to violence 1Sam 18:10 (= מְשֻׁגָּע mad 2Kgs 9:11); Jer 29:26.
b. apart from ecstatic state, absolute Ezek 37:10, with לְ 1Kgs 22:8; Jer 29:27 על 1Kgs 22:18 = 2Chr 18:17; 2Chr 18:7; 2Chr 20:37 ׳בְּשֵׁם י Jer 26:20.

2. of heathen prophets of Baal in ecstatic state 1Kgs 18:29 בַּבַּעַל Jer 23:13.

3. of false prophets 1Kgs 22:10 = 2Chr 18:9; Jer 14:14; Ezek 13:17.

BDB9683 H5012 H5013

נ

נבא (√ of following; see Biblical Hebrew id., but especially Bewer^{Amos. J. Semitic Lang., Jan. 1902} who compare Assyrian nabû, tear away, lead forcibly, hence prophets as (figuratively) carried away by divine frenzy, ecstasy, compare 1Sam 10:6; 1Sam 10:10; 1Sam 19:20; 1Sam 19:24).

prophesy, prophesied, prophesieth, prophesying, prophet

nābāʾ

to prophesy, i.e., speak (or sing) by inspiration (in prediction or simple discourse)

to prophesy

(Niphal)

to prophesy

under influence of divine spirit

to prophesy

under influence of divine spirit

לָ כֶֽם

לָ

Preposition to, for

כֶֽם

Suffix — pronoun your / you (a group)

Preposition

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

Word Breakdown

Vowels & Accents

Grammar C/Tn

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Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)

Strong's Definition H408

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Vowels & Accents

Grammar Vqj2mp

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Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)

Strong's Definition H8085

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Vowels & Accents

Grammar R

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Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)

Strong's Definition H413

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Vowels & Accents

Grammar Ncmpc

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Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)

Strong's Definition H1697

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Vowels & Accents

Grammar Td/Ncmpa

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Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)

Strong's Definition H5030

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Vowels & Accents

Grammar Td/Vqrmpa

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Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)

Strong's Definition H559

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Vowels & Accents

Grammar R/Sp2mp

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Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)

Strong's Definition H413

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Vowels & Accents

Grammar R/Vqc

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Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)

Strong's Definition H559

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Vowels & Accents

Grammar Tn

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Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)

Strong's Definition H3808

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Vowels & Accents

Grammar Vqi2mp

Verb Chart

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Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)

Strong's Definition H5647

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Vowels & Accents

Grammar To

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Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)

Strong's Definition H853

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Vowels & Accents

Grammar Ncmsc

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Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)

Strong's Definition H4428

Word Breakdown

Vowels & Accents

Grammar Np