Job 15:3

Should he reason with unprofitable talk? or with speeches wherewith he can do no good?
Select a Hebrew word above to see its details.

הוֹכֵ֣חַ
הוֹכֵ֣חַ
Root word reprove, rebuke, reproved, rebuketh, plead, …
Dictionary form: יָכַח · yaw-KA

Verb — Hiphil, Infinitive Absolute, absolute state causative — "he made (someone) do" adds emphasis — try "surely ___"

In the KJV here: should he reason
reprove ×6 rebuke ×3 and reprove ×2 and will reprove ×2 yea he reproved ×2 and he that rebuketh ×1 and he will plead ×1 and let him reprove ×1
More options
rebuke — Strong disapproval; good for prophetic or divine confrontation.
correct — Emphasizes remedial intent; suits wisdom/instructional contexts.
reprove — Modernized KJV staple; slightly formal but still current.
confront — Relational, face-to-face challenge; neutral register.
argue — Suits legal or disputational contexts, e.g. Job's speeches.
reason with — Dialogue-oriented; prefer when both parties engage, e.g. Isa 1:18.

BDB3536 H3198

BDB3535 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB3537

[יָכַח] verb Hiph`il decide, adjudge, prove, (Late Hebrew Pi`el וִכַּח argue with (עם), compare Hithpa`el, Hiph`il prove, correct; Aramaic Pa וַכַּח Aph`el אוֺכַח, id.) —

Hiph`il Perfect הוֺכִיחַ Isa 2:4 + 5 t.; הֹכִיחַ Gen 24:44 הוֺכִחַ Gen 21:25 2 masculine singular חֹכַחְתָּ Gen 24:14 1 singular suffix הוֺכַחְתִּיו 2Sam 7:14 Imperfect יוֺכִיחַ Isa 11:3 + 5 t.; יוֺכַח Hos 4:4 + 4 t.; יוֺכָ֑ח 1Chr 12:17 suffix יוֺכִיחֵנִי Ps 141:5 + 12 t. Imperfect; Imperative הוֺכַח Prov 9:8 Infinitive absolute הוֺכֵחַ Lev 19:17 + 5 t.; construct הוֺכִיחַ Hab 1:12 הַלְהוֺכַח Job 6:26 Participle מוֺכִיחַ Ezek 3:26 + 8 t.; plural מוֺכִיחִים Prov 24:25
1. decide, judge, absolute Gen 31:42 (E), 1Chr 12:17; Isa 11:3; Ps 94:10 with לְ decide for Isa 2:4 = Mic 4:3; Isa 11:4 with בּין, Gen 31:37 (E), Job 9:33 לְגֶבֶר עִם אֱלוֺהַּ Job 16:21.
2. adjudge, appoint, with לְ, Gen 24:14; Gen 24:44 (J).
3. shew to be right, prove, with accusative of thing and על person against Job 19:5 with אל person unto Job 13:15 so argue before vJob 13:3, and (absolute) Job 15:3.
4. convince, convict, with accusative of person Ps 50:21 בּ person Prov 30:6 with לְ person Job 32:12.
5. reprove, chide:
  a. of God, with accusative of person Job 22:4; Ps 50:8; Ps 105:14 = 1Chr 16:21 with בּ object 2Kgs 19:4 = Isa 37:4.
  b. of man, absolute Hos 4:4; Ezek 3:26; Job 6:25 (twice in verse); Prov 24:25; Prov 25:12 מוֺכִיחַ בַּשַּׁעַר Amos 5:10; Isa 29:21 with accusative of person Gen 21:25 (E), Lev 19:17 (twice in verse) (H), Prov 9:8; Prov 28:23; Jer 2:19 מוֺכִיחַ אֱלוהַּ Job 40:2 accusative of thing Job 6:26 with לְ, Prov 9:7; Prov 9:8; Prov 15:12; Prov 19:25.
6. correct, rebuke, of God, absolute Hab 1:12 with accusative of person Ps 141:5; Job 13:10 (twice in verse); בְּשֵׁבֶט 2Sam 7:14 happy the man whom God corrects Job 5:17 for God loves him Prov 3:12 God is entreated not to correct in anger Ps 6:2; Ps 38:2. Hoph`al Perfect וְהוּכַח בְּמַכְאוֺב he is chastened also with pain Job 33:19. Niph`al Imperfect לְכוּנָֿא וְנִוָָּֽכְחָה Isa 1:18 come now and let us reason together; Participle שָׁם יָשָׁר נוֺכָח עִמּוֺ Job 23:7 there an upright man might reason with him; feminine (passive) וְנֹכָ֑חַת Gen 20:16 (E), but Di SS read וְנֹכַחַתְּ 2 feminine singular Perfect and thou art set right, righted, justified. Hithpa`el Imperfect עִםוִֿשְׂרָאֵל יִתְוַכָּח Mic 6:2 with Israel he will argue (|| עִם ׳רִיב לי).

reprove, rebuke, reproved, rebuketh, plead, …
yākaḥ
to be right (i.e., correct); reciprocal, to argue; causatively, to decide, justify or convict
  • to prove, decide, judge, rebuke, reprove, correct, be right
    • (Hiphil)
      • to decide, judge
      • "to adjudge, appoint"to show to be right, prove"to convince, convict"to reprove, chide"to correct, rebuke
      (Hophal) to be chastened"(Niphal) to reason, reason together"(Hithp) to argue

בְּ ֭דָבָר
בְּ
Prefix — preposition in, at, by, with
֭דָבָר
Root word word, words, thing, acts, things, …
Dictionary form: דָּבָר · daw-BAWR

Noun — Common, masculine singular, absolute state

In the KJV here: talk
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

BDB1815 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB1817

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 (DrSm, 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 DrIntr 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
    • "saying, utterance"word, words"business, occupation, acts, matter, case, something, manner (by extension)

לֹ֣א
לֹ֣א
Particle not
Dictionary form: לֹא · loh

Particle — Negative

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

BDB4265 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB4267

לֹא or לוֺא adverb not (Arabic , Aramaic לָא, , Sabean לא, Ass. ; not in Ethiopic: compare ii. 1. 236 WalkerAJSL 1896, 237 ff.) — לוֺא, according to Masora (FrMM 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 לְהַָ˜בר׃ 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, : Judg 12:5 ויאמר לא, Hag 2:12 לא אדני Gen 23:11; Gen 42:10; 1Sam 1:15 +; often followed by כי, for . . . = 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 Dr1Sam 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 ).
  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), vb 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, vb 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 (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); Di כִּילְ֗֗֗אָ֑יִן. compare 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 DePs 100. 3 FrMM 247 StrProl. 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

BDB4343 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB4345

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


BDB9632 H3808 H3809

BDB9631 | BIBLICAL ARAMAIC | BDB9633

לָא (לָה Dan 4:32) adverb not (Biblical Hebrew לא; Aramaic of Têma, Egyptian, etc., לא; Nerab ל (Lzb301 CookG1. 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, DAramaic Dialektproben, p. 1). With interr. הֲלָא Dan 3:24; Dan 4:27; Dan 6:13.


BDB9640 H3809 H3861 H518 H2006 H3808 H3588

BDB9639 | BIBLICAL ARAMAIC | BDB9641

II. לָהֵן conjunction except, but (from לָא and הֵן 'not if' (compare Hebrew אם לא Gen 24:38); so Nabataean and Egyptian Aramaic להן Cooke217, 219, 241 S-CPap. C 6, 7 +; lâinnî, however SocArab. 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)
    • "not (with modifier—negation)"nothing (subst)"without (with particle)"before (of time)

יִסְכּ֑וֹן
יִסְכּ֑וֹן
Root word profitable, profiteth, treasurer, unprofitable, wont, …
Dictionary form: סָכַן · saw-KAHN

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

In the KJV here: with unprofitable
acquaint ×1 advantage ×1 and art acquainted ×1 and cherished ×1 and let her cherish ×1 be profitable ×1 it profiteth ×1 may be profitable ×1
More options
benefit — Broad, neutral; best for general profit/advantage contexts.
be useful — Functional register; suits contexts of practical service or purpose.
be acquainted with — Relational nuance; prefer for familiarity or knowing someone.
be of value — Slight emphasis on worth; good for rhetorical or wisdom texts.
care for — Fits nurturing or cherishing contexts, e.g. tending to someone.
be of service — Formal register; suits official or courtly roles like treasurer.

BDB5590 H5532

BDB5589 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB5591

I. [סָכַן] verb be of use of service, benefit (Tel Amarna sakânu, care for (with preposition ana) ZimZA vi. 248 WklTA Glossary; Phoenician סכן prefect Lzb329; compare perhaps Tel Amarna zukini as loan-word Wkll.c.); —

Qal Imperfect 3 masculine singular only Job: יִסְכֹּן Eccl 22:2, וֺן- Eccl 15:3, יִסְכָּןֿ Eccl 22:2 + 2 t.; Participle סֹכֵן Isa 22:15 feminine סֹכֶ֫נֶת 1Kgs 1:2; 1Kgs 1:4
1. be of use or service, only participle ׳וּתְהִי לוֺ ס 1Kgs 1:2 and let her become servitress to him, so v1Kgs 1:4 (+ וְתְּשָׁרֲתֵהוּ); סֹכֵן Isa 22:15 = servitor, steward.
2. benefit, profit, absolute Job 15:3 with לְ person Job 22:2; Job 35:3, עַלֿ person Job 22:2 with accusative Job 34:9 (or absolute gain benefit, גבר subject). Hiph`il Perfect 1 singular הִסְכַּ֫נְתִּי Num 22:20 2 masculine singular הִסְבַּ֑נְתָּה Ps 139:3 Imperative הַסְכֶּןנָֿא Job 22:21 Infinitive abs. הַסְכֵּן Num 22:30be used, wont, strictly exhibit use, or habit, הַהַסְכֵּן הִסְכַּנְתִּי לַעֲשׂוֺת לְךָ כֹּה Num 22:30 (J) have I ever shewn the habit of doing thus to thee? hence shew harmony with (עִם) one Job 22:21, be familiar with, know intimately (subject ׳י) Ps 139:3 (with accusative דְּרָכַי).

profitable, profiteth, treasurer, unprofitable, wont, …
sākan
to be familiar with; by implication, to minister to, be serviceable to, to cherish, be customary
  • to be of use or service or profit or benefit
    • (Qal)
      • to be of use or service
      • "servitor, steward (participle)"to benefit, profit
      (Hiphil) to be used, be wont, exhibit use or habit, show harmony with, be familiar with, know intimately

וּ ֝מִלִּ֗ים
וּ
Prefix — connector and (sometimes: but, so, then)
֝מִלִּ֗ים
Root word words, speech, speeches, speaking, word, …
Dictionary form: מִלָּה · mil-LAW

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

In the KJV here: or with speeches
words ×7 my speech ×3 my words ×3 of thy words ×2 a word ×1 and lettest such words ×1 and my speech ×1 and their words ×1
More options
word — Broadest default choice; fits most singular contexts.
speech — Emphasizes a fuller, delivered utterance or address.
saying — Suits proverbial or memorable expressions well.
talk — Informal register; good for conversational or dismissive tone.
matter — When content or subject of speech is foregrounded.
byword — Retain for taunt or proverb contexts; rare but precise.

BDB4694 H4405

BDB4693 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB4695

מִלָּה noun feminine word, speech, utterance (in poetry, especially Job; common in Aramaic); — ׳מ Ps 139:4; Job 30:9 suffix מִלָּתִי Job 13:17 + 3 t.; מִלָּתוֺ 2Sam 23:2 plural מִלִּים Job 6:26 + 9 t. (all Job); מִלִּין Job 4:2 + 12 t. (all Job); plural suffix מִלָּ֑י Job 19:23 + 4 t.; מִלֶּיךָ Job 4:4; Prov 23:9 מִלֵּיהֶם Ps 19:5word בִּלְשׁוֺנִי in (on) my tongue Ps 139:4 word (of ׳י), עַללְֿשׁוֺנִי on my tongue 2Sam 23:2 ׳שֵׂכֶל מ Prov 23:9 figurative Ps 19:5 (|| קַוָּם; but read קוֺלָם see Che critical note); elsewhere only Job (34 t.); singular speech, utterance Job 13:17; Job 21:2; Job 24:25; Job 29:22 also word = by-word, וָאֱהִי לָהֶם לְמִלָּה Job 30:9 plural words, Job 4:4; Job 6:26; Job 8:10; Job 12:11; Job 15:3 (|| דָּבָר), Job 16:4; Job 19:2; Job 19:23; Job 32:11; Job 32:14; Job 33:1; Job 33:8 (׳קוֺל מ), Job 34:2; Job 34:3; Job 34:16 (׳קוֺל מ), Job 36:2; Job 36:4 words of God Job 23:5 words = speech, speaking, וַעְצֹּר בְּמִלִּין מִי יוּכָ֑ל Job 4:2, compare Job 29:9 utter words, וְהֹצֵאתָ מִפִּיךָ מִלִּין Job 15:13 ׳הִגַּדְתָּ מ Job 26:4 laysnares for words תְּשִׂימוּן קִנְצֵי לְמִלִּין Job 18:2, compare Job 32:15 הֶעְתִּיקוּ מֵהֶם מִלִּים; מָלֵתִי מִלִּים Job 32:18 I am full of words, compare אִםיֵֿשׁמִֿלִּין הֲשִׁיבֵנִי Job 33:32 אֲשִׁיבְךָ מִלִּין Job 35:4 בִּבְלִידַֿ֫עַת מִלִּין יַכְבִּר Job 35:16, compare Job 38:2.

words, speech, speeches, speaking, word, …
millâ
a word; collectively, a discourse; figuratively, a topic
  • word, speech, utterance

לֹא
לֹא
Particle not
Dictionary form: לֹא · loh

Particle — Negative

In the KJV here: wherewith he can do no
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

BDB4265 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB4267

לֹא or לוֺא adverb not (Arabic , Aramaic לָא, , Sabean לא, Ass. ; not in Ethiopic: compare ii. 1. 236 WalkerAJSL 1896, 237 ff.) — לוֺא, according to Masora (FrMM 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 לְהַָ˜בר׃ 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, : Judg 12:5 ויאמר לא, Hag 2:12 לא אדני Gen 23:11; Gen 42:10; 1Sam 1:15 +; often followed by כי, for . . . = 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 Dr1Sam 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 ).
  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), vb 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, vb 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 (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); Di כִּילְ֗֗֗אָ֑יִן. compare 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 DePs 100. 3 FrMM 247 StrProl. 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

BDB4343 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB4345

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


BDB9632 H3808 H3809

BDB9631 | BIBLICAL ARAMAIC | BDB9633

לָא (לָה Dan 4:32) adverb not (Biblical Hebrew לא; Aramaic of Têma, Egyptian, etc., לא; Nerab ל (Lzb301 CookG1. 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, DAramaic Dialektproben, p. 1). With interr. הֲלָא Dan 3:24; Dan 4:27; Dan 6:13.


BDB9640 H3809 H3861 H518 H2006 H3808 H3588

BDB9639 | BIBLICAL ARAMAIC | BDB9641

II. לָהֵן conjunction except, but (from לָא and הֵן 'not if' (compare Hebrew אם לא Gen 24:38); so Nabataean and Egyptian Aramaic להן Cooke217, 219, 241 S-CPap. C 6, 7 +; lâinnî, however SocArab. 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)
    • "not (with modifier—negation)"nothing (subst)"without (with particle)"before (of time)

יוֹעִ֥יל
יוֹעִ֥יל
Root word profit, profitable, profiteth, all, forward, …
Dictionary form: יָעַל · yaw-AL

Verb — Hiphil, Imperfect (Yiqtol), third person masculine singular causative — "he made (someone) do" not-yet-complete action — try "he will ___" or "he ___s" the built-in subject is "he (or it)"

In the KJV here: good
profit ×15 at all ×1 good ×1 profit thee ×1 profiteth ×1 that is profitable ×1 thee to profit ×1 they set forward ×1
More options
benefit — Broad, everyday term; suits most contexts naturally.
be of use — Emphasizes practical utility; good for rhetorical questions.
gain — Highlights tangible advantage or return; slightly formal.
do good — Captures moral/functional value; fits wisdom and prophetic texts.
avail — Suits negative or rhetorical contexts: 'it will not avail'.
advance — Conveys progress or forward movement; rare but fits set-forward nuance.

BDB3618 H3276

BDB3617 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB3619

I. [יָעַל] verb only Hiph`il profit, avail, benefit; —

Hiph`il Perfect הוֺעִיל Hab 2:18 Imperfect יוֺעִיל Jer 2:11 + 2 t.; אֹעִיל Job 35:3 יוֺעִילוּ 1Sam 12:21 + 6 t.; יוֺעִ֫לוּ Jer 2:8; Jer 12:13 יוֺעִילוּךְ Isa 57:12 נוֺעִיל Job 21:15 Infinitive absolute הוֺעֵיל Jer 23:22 construct הוֺעִיל Jer 7:8 + 4 t.; Participle מוֺעִיל Jer 16:19profit, avail, benefit, always (except Job 30:13 where in bad sense, Isa 47:12) with negative, or in question implying negative; especially of idols or false gods (as unprofitable), so Hab 2:18; Isa 44:9; Isa 44:10; Isa 57:12; Jer 2:8 אחרי לא יועילו הלבו, vJer 2:11 המיר כבידו בלוא יועיל, Jer 16:19 ואין בם מועיל, 1Sam 12:21, of vain confidences Jer 7:8, or promises Jer 23:32 (twice in verse) (followed by לְ); of Egypt as ally Isa 30:5 (followed by לְ), vIsa 30:5 vIsa 30:6 of wickedness Prov 10:2 wealth Prov 11:4 worthless men Job 30:13 (לְהַוָּתִי יועִילוּ i.e. promote it); of words Job 15:3 (|| דָּבָר לֹא יִסְכּוֺן); in general gain profit Isa 47:12; Isa 48:17; Jer 12:13; Job 21:15; Job 35:3.

profit, profitable, profiteth, all, forward, …
yāʿal
properly, to ascend; figuratively, to be valuable (objectively; useful, subjectively; benefited)
  • (Hiphil) to gain, profit, benefit, avail

בָּֽ ם
בָּֽ
Preposition in, at, by, with
ם
Suffix — pronoun their / them

Preposition

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

This book is chanted to the poetic accent system (used only in Job, Psalms, and Proverbs). Each group below ends at one of its pausing accents — translate a group as one unit.
הוֹכֵ֣חַ בְּ֭דָבָר Dechi — a lesser break לֹ֣א יִסְכּ֑וֹן Atnach — the verse's main pause — take a breath here וּ֝מִלִּ֗ים Revia Mugrash — a lesser break לֹא יוֹעִ֥יל בָּֽם Silluq — end of the verse

הוֹכֵחַ בְּדָבָר לֹא יִסְכּוֹן וּמִלִּים לֹא-יוֹעִיל בָּֽם׃
3
Should he reason with unprofitable talk? or with speeches wherewith he can do no good?
Cross References

Matthew 12:36

λέγω δὲ ὑμῖν ὅτι πᾶν ῥῆμα ἀργὸν ἐὰν λαλήσωσιν οἱ ἄνθρωποι ἀποδώσουσιν περὶ αὐτοῦ λόγον ἐν ἡμέρᾳ κρίσεως·
36
But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

Colossians 4:6

λόγος ὑμῶν πάντοτε ἐν χάριτι ἅλατι ἠρτυμένος εἰδέναι πῶς δεῖ ὑμᾶς ἑνὶ ἑκάστῳ ἀποκρίνεσθαι
6
Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

1 Timothy 6:4

τετύφωται μηδὲν ἐπιστάμενος ἀλλὰ νοσῶν περὶ ζητήσεις καὶ λογομαχίας ἐξ ὧν γίνεται φθόνος ἔρις βλασφημίαι ὑπόνοιαι πονηραί
4
He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,

Job 16:2

שָׁמַעְתִּי כְאֵלֶּה רַבּוֹת מְנַחֲמֵי עָמָל כֻּלְּכֶֽם׃
2
I have heard many such things: miserable comforters are ye all.

Job 26:1

וַיַּעַן אִיּוֹב וַיֹּאמַֽר׃
1
But Job answered and said,

Job 13:4

וְֽאוּלָם אַתֶּם טֹֽפְלֵי-שָׁקֶר רֹפְאֵי אֱלִל כֻּלְּכֶֽם׃
4
But ye are forgers of lies, ye are all physicians of no value.

Malachi 3:13

חָזְקוּ עָלַי דִּבְרֵיכֶם אָמַר יְהוָה וַאֲמַרְתֶּם מַה-נִּדְבַּרְנוּ עָלֶֽיךָ׃
13
Your words have been stout against me, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, What have we spoken so much against thee?