Job 31:36

Surely I would take it upon my shoulder, and bind it as a crown to me.
Select a Hebrew word above to see its details.

אִם
אִם
Conjunction if, or, though, surely, not, …
Dictionary form: אִם · im

Conjunction

In the KJV here: surely
if ×322 and if ×128 but if ×69 or ×48 surely ×29 though ×25 whether ×19 when ×16
More options
if — Default conditional; most broadly applicable rendering.
whether — Use for indirect questions or double alternatives.
though — Concessive force; signals contrast or surprise.
when — Temporal nuance; condition treated as certain to occur.
unless — Negative conditional; equivalent to 'if not'.
surely — Emphatic/oath context; asserts strong certainty.

BDB2204 H2005 H518 H2006

BDB2203 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB2205

II. הֵן100 (הֶןֿ Num 23:9; Num 23:24; Job 8:19; Job 8:20; Job 13:1; Job 26:14; Job 33:6; Job 33:12; Job 33:29; Job 36:5; Job 36:22; Job 36:26 הֵןֿ Job 13:15; Job 36:30; Job 41:1 +) demonstrative adverb or interjection lo! behold (on etymology see הִנֵּה), less widely used than הִנֵּה, and in prose mostly confined to calling attention to some fact upon which action is to be taken, or a conclusion based;
  a. Gen 3:22 הֵן הָאָדָם הָיָה behold the man is become as one of us, & now lest, etc., Gen 4:14 behold, thou hast driven me forth etc., Gen 11:6; Gen 15:3; Gen 19:34; Gen 27:11; Gen 29:7; Gen 30:34 (nearly = yea), Exod 5:5; Exod 6:12; Exod 6:30; Lev 10:18; Lev 10:19; Num 17:27; Deut 5:21 (in prose only in Pentateuch (23 t.) and Ezek 18:4 in this usage); in poetry, used more freely, but chiefly in Isa2 & Job, — Num 23:9; Num 23:24 (Balaam) Isa 23:13; Isa 32:1; Isa 33:7; Ps 51:7; Ps 51:8; Ps 68:34; Ps 78:20; Ps 139:4; Prov 11:31 (stating the premiss to a conclusion introduced by אַף כִּי, q. v.), Prov 24:12: elsewhere (except in senses b, c) only in Isa2 (23 t.) & Job (31 t), as Isa 40:15 (twice in verse); Isa 41:11; Isa 41:24; Isa 41:29; Isa 50:1; Isa 50:2; Isa 50:9 (twice in verse); Isa 50:11; Job 4:18; Job 15:15; Job 25:5 (in these three passages before אַף or אַף כִּי), Job 9:1; Job 9:12 etc. (see above).
  b. as a hypothetical particle, propounding a possibility, if (so Late Hebrew, Biblical Aramaic, Mandean, Palmyrene (ZMG 1888, 404); on the contrary Syriac , Palestinian ᵑ7 אִין, also Palmyrene (ib. p. 415), Arabic with א), a special application or development of the use a: Exod 4:1 והן לא יאמינו לי and behold ( = and suppose) they will not believe me ? etc., Lev 25:20 and if (וְכִי) ye say, What shall we eat the 7th year ? הֵן לֹא נִזְרַע behold, we shall not sow etc. (i.e. supposing we do not sow), Isa 54:15; Job 40:23; 2Chr 7:13 (twice in verse) (2Chr 7:13 b וְאִם); stating the ground on which a question is based, Exod 8:22 (וְלֹא = הֲלֹא), Jer 3:1; Hag 2:12 (see הֵן Aramaic b).
  c. if, whether, in an indirect question, Jer 2:10 רְאוּ הֵן הָֽיְתָה כָּזֹאת (but Gr הֲנִהְיְתָה); compare אִם 2 b, and הֵן Aramaic

3.


BDB3995 H3588 H518

BDB3994 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB3996

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 (WSG 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 אֲמִיַ˜לם ׳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 תֵאֵָ˜מנוּ ׃ 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. DeProv 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 BuUrg. 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.: FrMM 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.


BDB511 H518

BDB510 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB512

אִם conjunction (= Aramaic if [and in , אֶלָּא = if not, except], Arabic if [and in = if not, except], Ethiopic (§mma) if = מָה + אִם ( + ) [and in (allâ) if not, but], Assyrian umma; also in Arabic 'An?' = , compare הַאִם: see M p. 208, ZMG 1886, p. 739; WAG i. § 367 e)

**ᵑ7Onk Jon אִם, ᵑ7Hag אין.
1. hypothetical particle if.
  a. construction (see more fully Dr§ 136-138, 143 FriedrichDie Hebr. Condit. sätze 1884): (1) with imperfect (continued by perfects & waw consecutive; apodosis usually begins with perfect & waw consecutive or bare imperfect; or, if necessary, with imperative or jussive)
   (a) of future time: Gen 18:26 אִםאֶֿמְצָא if I shall find 50 righteous in Sodom, וְנָשָׂאתִי I will pardon, etc., Gen 24:8; Gen 32:9; Deut 1:52 b 1Kgs 6:12; Ps 89:31; Gen 42:37; Judg 13:16; 1Kgs 1:52 a Ps 132:12.
   (b) of past time (rare, but classical): Gen 31:8 אִם יאֹמַר if everhe said . . . וְיָָֽלְדִוּ then they used to bear, etc., Exod 40:37 & in the protestations Job 31:7; Job 31:13; Job 31:16; Job 31:25 etc. (alternating with pff., see below, & with jussives in apodosis)
   (c) assuming a purely imaginary case (with imperfect in both clauses, like the double optative in Greek), if, though: Gen 13:16 so that אִםיֿוּכַל if a man were able to number the stars, thy seed also יִמָּנֶה might be numbered, Num 22:18; Isa 1:18 כַּשָּׁנִים יַלְבִּינוּ ׳אִםיִֿהְיוּ ח though your sins were as scarlet, they should become white as snow, Amos 9:2-4 אִםיַֿחְתְּרוּ though they were to dig into Sheôl, from thence תִּקָּחֵם would my hand fetch them, Ps 27:3; Ps 139:8 +. (2) with participle (expressing either a present process, or an approaching future: apodosis as 1 a) Gen 24:42; Gen 24:49; Judg 6:36; Judg 9:15; Judg 11:9 אִם מְשִׁיבִים אַתֶּם if ye are going to bring me back . . . ׳וְנָתַן י then ׳י will, etc.; similarly with יֵשׁ or אֵין Gen 44:26; Exod 22:2; 1Sam 20:8; 1Sam 23:23 & with no explicit copula Deut 22:2; Deut 25:2; Lev 1:3; Lev 1:14, etc. (3) with perfect
   (a) of future or present time (continued by perfects & waw consecutive: apodosis as 1 a) Gen 43:9 אִםלֹֿא הֲבִיאֹתִיו אֵלֶיךָ וְהִצַּגְתִּיו לְפָנֶיךָ if I do not bring him back (si eum non reduxero) and set him before thee, I will be guilty for ever, Gen 47:6 if thou knowest that there are men of worth among them וְשַׂמְתָּם then make them, etc., Judg 16:17; 2Sam 15:33; 2Kgs 7:4; Ps 41:7; Ps 94:18; Job 7:4; Job 9:30f. Job 10:14 אִם חָטָאתִי וּשְׁמַרְתָּ֑נִי if I sin, thou watchest me. On אִםנָֿא Gen 18:3 and elsewhere see נָא.
   (b) of past time, whether
   (a) in actual fact, or (β) in an assumed case (the perfect is here continued by the imperfect and waw consecutive; apodosis begins as before).
   (a) Judg 9:16-19 אִם ֗֗֗ עֲשִׂיתֶם if ye have done honestly וַתַּמְלִיכוּ and have made Abimelech king . . ., 1Sam 26:19 especially in protestations, as Ps 7:4 אִם עָשִׂיתִי זאת if I have done this . . ., let the enemy pursue my soul, etc. Jer 33:25f.; Job 31:5f; Job 31:9, etc.
   (b) Num 5:27 if she have defiled herself וַתִּמְעֹל and been faithless, וּבָאוּ then shall they come, etc., Num 15:24; Num 35:22-24.
   (c) with bare perfect in apodosis, in sense of If ... had ..., only Deut 32:30 אִםלֹֿא כִּי were it not that ..., Ps 73:15. (לוּ is more usual in such cases.) (4) with infinitive once (si vera 1.) Job 9:27 אִם אָמְרִי = if I say (literally if (there is) my saying). — Note that the verb following אִם is often strengthened by the infinitive absolute, as Exod 15:26; Exod 19:5; Exod 21:5; Exod 22:3; Exod 22:12; Exod 22:16; Exod 22:22; Judg 11:30; Judg 14:12; Judg 16:11 etc.; compare DrSm i. 20, 6.


  b. Special uses: (1) repeated ... אִם אִם whether ... or (sive ... sive) Exod 19:13; Deut 18:3; 2Sam 15:21 similarly אִם ֗֗֗ וְאִם Gen 31:52; Jer 42:6; Ezek 2:5; Eccl 11:3; Eccl 12:14 (compare ... , ... PS250; ... & ... ).(2) After an oath (expressed, or merely implied) אִם (the formula of imprecation being omitted) becomes an emphatic negative, and אִםלֹֿא an emphatic affirmative: 2Sam 11:11 by thy life אִםאֶֿעֱשֶׂה אֶתהַֿדָּבָר הַזֶּה (may God bring all manner of evil upon me) if I do this thing! = surely I will not do this thing! (compare the full phrases in 1Sam 3:17; 2Kgs 6:31) Gen 14:23; Gen 42:15; Num 14:23; 1Sam 3:14; 1Sam 19:6; 2Kgs 2:2; 2Kgs 3:14 & often; Isa 22:14; Ps 89:36; Ps 95:11; Job 6:28 אִםלֹֿא Num 14:28; Josh 14:9; 1Kgs 20:23; 2Kgs 9:26; Isa 5:9; Isa 14:24; Jer 15:11; Jer 49:20; Job 1:11 + especially Ezekiel; after a negative clause, emphasizing a contrasted idea, Gen 24:38 (where the explanation by Aramaic אֶלָּא is not supported by Hebrew usage), compare Jer 22:6. Repeated, אִם ֗֗֗ וְאִם 2Sam 20:20; 2Kgs 3:14; Isa 62:8; Jer 38:16; Ezek 14:16. In adjurations (with 2nd or 3rd person) = that not Gen 21:23; Gen 26:29; Gen 31:50; 1Sam 24:22; 1Kgs 1:51; Song 2:7; Song 3:5 +. Of past or present time: 1Sam 25:34 as ׳י liveth (I say) that, unless thou hadst hastened ..., כִּי אִם נוֺתַר that surely there had not been left ...! 1Sam 17:55 as thy soul liveth אִםיָֿדַעְתִּי if I Know it! 1Kgs 17:12; 1Kgs 18:10 — both אִםיֵֿשׁ (כִּי here merely introduces the fact sworn to, & need not be translated; so 2Sam 3:35: see כִּי); Ps 121:2 אִםלֹֿא (after a negative clause: compare above Gen 24:38). compare Str§ 90.(3) Part, of wishing, if but ...! oh that ...! (rare) Ps 81:9 If thou wouldest hearken to me! Ps 95:7; Ps 139:19; Prov 24:11. compare Exod 32:32. With an imperative (si vera lectio) Job 34:16 וְאִםִֿ˜בּינָה; and with an anacoluthon, Gen 23:13 (P) אִםאַֿתָּה לוּ שְׁמָעֵנִי if thou! — oh that thou wouldst hear me!(4) Nearly = when — with the perfect:
   (a) of past, Gen 38:9; Num 21:9 וְהָיָה אִםנָֿשַׁךְ ֗֗֗ וְרָאָה and it used to be, if or when a serpent had bitten a man, that he would look, etc., Judg 6:3; Ps 78:34 (see Dr§ 136 δ Obs.); Amos 7:2.
   (b) of present or future, Isa 4:4 אִם רָחַץ when the Lord shall have washed, Isa 24:13; Isa 28:25 compare Num 36:4 (with the imperfect)
  c. Compounded with other particles: —
   (a) בִּלְתִּי אִם except if, except, Gen 47:18; Judg 7:14; Amos 3:3; Amos 3:4. (β) הֲלוֺא אִם 2Kgs 20:19 (for which Isa 39:7 has sim-ply כִּי), perhaps Is it not (good), if ...? (De Di). (γ) כִּיאִֿם, q. v. (δ) עַד אִם Gen 24:19; Gen 24:33; Isa 30:17; Ruth 2:21, & עַד אֲשֶׁר אִם Gen 28:15; Num 32:17; Isa 6:11, until, properly until if or when. (ε) רַק אִם if only (see below רַק). אִםלֹֿא in Ezek 3:6b is very difficult. The Vrss render If I had sent, etc., implying לֻא for אִםלֹֿא (for Ew's אִםלֻֿא = אִלּוּ, q. v., is precarious): Ges Hi Co 'but (אִםלֹֿא after a negative, compare above Gen 24:38; Ps 131:2) unto them (Israel) have I sent thee: they can understand thee' (but understand is a dubious rendering of שָׁמַע אֶל).

2. Interrogative particle a. in direct question:
   (a) alone (not frequently and usually = Num? expecting the answer No, especially in a rhet. style): Gen 38:17; 1Kgs 1:27; Judg 5:8 מָגֵן אִםיֵֿרָאֶה וָרֹמַח was there a shield to be seen or a spear ...?Isa 29:16 and repeated Amos 3:6; Jer 48:27; Job 6:12.
   (b) more frequently in disjunctive interrogation:
   (a) הֲ ֗֗֗ אִם, expressing a real alternative Josh 5:13 הֲלָנוּ אַתָּה אִםלְֿצָרֵינוּ art thou for us, or for our enemies? Judg 9:2; 1Kgs 22:6; 1Kgs 22:15: more often expressing a merely formal alternative, especially in poetry (a rhetorical Num?) Gen 37:8; Num 11:12; Num 11:22; Judg 11:25b 2Sam 19:36; Isa 10:15; Isa 66:8; Jer 3:5; Hab 3:8; Ps 77:10; Ps 78:20; Job 4:17; Job 6:5; Job 6:6; Job 10:4; Job 10:5; Job 11:7 etc. (β) הֲ ֗֗֗ וְאִם (rarer than הֲ ֗֗֗ אִם, but similar in use) 2Sam 24:13 (a real alt.); Isa 49:24; Isa 50:2; Jer 5:9 (Jer 5:29 אִם) Jer 14:22; Joel 1:2; Joel 4:4; Job 8:3; Job 11:2; Job 21:4; Job 22:3; Job 34:17; Job 40:8f. (formal); Gen 17:17 P (with an anacoluthon) shall a child ...? וְאִםשָֿׂרָה הֲבַתתִּֿשְׁעִים שָׁנָה תֵּלֵד or Sarah, — shall she that is 90 years old bear? Prov 27:24 (וְאִם after negative clause),
  b. in oblique interrogation, if, whether:
   (a) alone, after verbs of seeing, inquiring, etc. 2Kgs 1:2; Jer 5:1; Jer 30:6; Mal 3:10; Ps 139:24; Song 7:13; Lam 1:12; Ezra 2:59 once מִי יוֺדֵעַ אִם who knoweth if ...? i.e. (like haud scio an) perhaps Esth 4:14 (older synonym מִי יוֺדֵעַ alone: see 2Sam 12:22; Joel 2:14; Jonah 3:9).
   (b) disjunctively הֲ ֗֗֗ אִם Gen 27:21; Num 13:18-20 so אִם ֗֗֗ וְאִם Josh 24:15.
  c. compounded with הֲ, הַאִם Num 17:28 הַאִם תַּמְנוּ לִגְוֺעַ probably an emphatic Num? Shall we ever have finished dying? Job 6:13 difficult: perhaps Is it that my help is not in me? (a forcible means of expressing that that which might be thought impossible is nevertheless the case); Hi as an aposiop., If my help is not in me (am I still to wait) ? (The view that הַאִם = הֲלֹא nonne? is inconsistent with the fact that אִם in a question has regularly the force of Num?)


אֵם see אמם. Below


אַמָּה, אֻמָּה see אמם.


BDB9477 H2005 H2006 H518 H3861

BDB9476 | BIBLICAL ARAMAIC | BDB9478

הֵן conjunction if, whether (Biblical Hebrew הֵן, q. v.: Zenjirli, Egyptian Aramaic (S-CPap. A 7 +), Palmyrene, Nabataean הן, Mandean הין if [ᵑ7Onk Jon use אם, ᵑ7Jer אין, Syriac ]); —

1. if, Dan 2:6; Dan 3:15; Dan 3:17; Dan 4:24; Dan 5:16; Dan 5:17, הֵן לָא ֗֗֗ Dan 2:5; Dan 2:9; Dan 3:15 vDan 3:18 הֵן לָ֔א if not.
2. repeated, הֵן ֗֗֗ הֵן sive ... sive, whether ... or (compare Biblical Hebrew אִם, 1 b 1), Ezra 7:26 (so PalmyreneTariff ii.c.19).
3. in indirect question, whether (compare אִם, 2 b), Ezra 5:17b יִתְבַּקַּר ֗֗֗ הֵן אִיתַי ֗֗֗ . — See also לָהֵן. p. 50, 243, 1099


הַסִּק etc., see סלק Haph`el


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.

if, or, though, surely, not, …
ʾim
used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also Oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not
  • if
    • conditional clauses
      • of possible situations
      • "of impossible situations
      oath contexts
      • no, not
      if...if, whether...or, whether...or...or"when, whenever"since"interrogative particle"but rather

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)

עַל
עַל
Preposition upon, against, over, in, for, …
Dictionary form: עַל · al

Preposition

In the KJV here: it upon
upon ×1122 against ×378 over ×273 for ×229 in ×225 on ×187 by ×148 unto ×137
More options
on — Best default; spatial or metaphorical contact with a surface.
over — Prefer for authority, covering, or movement across.
about — Use for topics, concerns, or matters relating to something.
against — Use for hostility, opposition, or transgression.
concerning — Formal register; suits legal or prophetic discourse.
because of — Causal sense; when עַל introduces a reason.

BDB3996 H3588 H5921 H3651

BDB3995 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB3997

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.


BDB6085 H5920 H5921

BDB6084 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB6086

עַל, עָ֑ל (compare ii. 261 f.) I. substantive height (poetry) Hos 7:16 יָשׁוּבוּ לֹא עָֹל they return (but) not upwards (i.e. not God-wards), Hos 11:7 וְאֶלעַֿל יִקְרָאֻהוּ they (the prophets) call it (the people) upwards, (but) none striveth to rise; as adverb accusative, 2Sam 23:1 the man הֻ֣קַּם עָ֔ל (that) is raised up on high. With מִן, מֵעָ֑ל, (ה)שׁמים מֵעָ֑ל (the) heavens above Gen 27:39; Gen 49:25; Ps 50:4 (opposed to מִתַּחַת Exod 20:4. In prose מִמַּעַל).

II. As preposition upon, and hence on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against (SI4.6; Moabite, Aramaic id.; Phoenician על, and עלת; Palmyrene, Nabataean על; Sabean עלי, Arabic ); — abbreviated from עֲלֵי (compare אֱלֵי, עֲדֵי), which is preserved in poetry, Gen 49:17 (twice in verse); Gen 49:22 (twice in verse); Num 24:6 (twice in verse); Deut 32:2 (twice in verse); Isa 18:4; Jer 8:18; Mic 5:6; Lam 4:5; 1Kgs 20:41 Qr, Job 7:1 Qr + 10 t. Psalms, 3 t. Proverbs, 15 t. Job; with suffix עָלַי; עָלֶיךָ, עָלַיִךְ ( Ps 116:7 the Aramaizing form עָלָ֑יְכִי); עָלָיו, Psalm 1Sam 2:10 עָלָו, עָלֶיהָ; 1 plural עָלֵינוּ; 2 masculine plural עֲלֵיכֶם, Exod 12:13 עֲלֵכֶם, 2 feminine plural עֲלֵיכֶן Ezek 23:49 3 masculine plural עֲלֵיהֶם, 13 t. in Pentateuch עֲלֵהֶם Gen 45:15, etc. (ii. 305), in poetry עָלֵ֫ימוֺ Deut 22:23 + 11 t. Psalms, Job (perhaps sometimes, Ges«GKC:103i»§ 103i, N.); 3 feminine plural עֲלֵיהֶן, Lev 3:4; Lev 3:10; Lev 3:15 עֲלֵהֶן (on the apparently plur. form of עֲלֵי, עָלַי etc., see ii. 309 ff., and compare below עַד).

1. Upon, of the substratum upon which an object in any way rests, or on which an action is performed; as עלהֿארץ upon the earth Gen 1:11; Gen 1:26; Gen 7:6, etc., Ps 110:6 על ארץ רבה over a wide country; על האדמה upon the ground Ezek 20:12 + often, Amos 7:12 עַל אֲדָמָה טְמֵאָה, Isa 14:2 ׳על אדמת י, Ps 137:4 עַל אַדְמַת נֵכָר (אֲרָמָה being properly ground, soil, is construed regularly with על, באדמה being very rare), more definitely על פני האדמה Gen 6:1; Num 12:3 + often; על מקום Lev 14:28; Jer 45:5 (uncommon: usually בְּ); Deut 17:20; Isa 9:6 על מַמְלַכְתּוֺ upon his realm, 2Chr 1:1 על בָּֽתִּים very strangely Hos 11:11 (read וַהֲשִׁבֹתִים with ᵐ5 : see 7 c α β); constantly after such verbs as נוח, ישׁב, רכב, etc., Gen 8:4; Exod 11:5 כתב על to write (idiomatic) on a book or other surface, Josh 10:13, etc.; יצא על go forth over Gen 41:45; Zech 5:3; Ps 81:6 with נִשְׁעַן, נִסְמַךְ, בָּטַח (figurative), to lean or trust upon: Gen 3:14 to go עַל גְּחֹנְךָ upon thy belly, Gen 32:32 to limp עַל יְרֵכוֺ upon his thigh, 1Sam 14:13; Ezek 37:10; Judg 15:8 to smite שׁוֺק עַל יָרֵךְ leg upon thigh, i.e. so that the scattered limbs fall one upon another, Amos 3:15. And with reference not a horizontal surface but to a side, Lev 1:5 + זָרַק עַל to pour against the altar, 1Kgs 6:5; 1Kgs 6:18 to build against the temple, Josh 10:27, etc. Figurative Exod 23:13 let it not be heard עַל פִּיךָ upon thy mouth (in our idiom, upon thy lips, as Prov 22:18), Ps 15:3 לֹא רָגַל עַל לְשֹׁנוֺ he slandereth not (i.e. prepares not slander) upon his tongue, 2Sam 23:2 וּמִלָּתוֺ עַל לְשׁוֺנִי, Prov 16:23; Prov 16:27; Prov 31:26; Eccl 5:1 compare עַל שְׂפָתַיִם נָשָׂא or עַל פֶּה Ps 16:4; Ps 50:16; Ezek 36:3b.

Specially
  a.
   (a) of clothing, etc., which any one wears, Gen 37:23 the tunic אשׁר עליו which was upon him, Josh 9:5; 1Kgs 11:30; Ruth 3:15 +; Gen 24:30; Gen 38:30; 2Sam 13:18, of a sword 2Sam 20:8; Song 3:8 so הָיָה עַל Lev 16:4; Deut 22:5; Ezek 44:18; 1Chr 15:27; 1Chr 18:7 (|| 2Sam 8:7 אֶל); compare לֹא יַעֲלֶה עָלֶיךָ Lev 19:19; Ezek 44:17, and with הֶעֱלָה, below, 7 b.


   (b) With verbs of covering or protecting, even though the cover or veil be not over or above the thing covered, but around or before it ('upon' referred to a side) : see גָּנַן, כָּסָה, סָכַךְ, עָטָה Neh 2:8 יד אלהי הטובה עלי, compare vNeh 2:18; Ezra 7:6; Ezra 7:9; Ezra 8:18; Ezra 8:22; Ezra 8:31; Exod 27:21 the veil that is over (i.e. before) the testimony, 1Sam 25:16 חוֺמָה הָיוּ עָלֵינוּ they were a wall about us; סָגַר עַל to shut in (or down) upon Exod 14:13; Job 12:14; Ezek 13:5; Job 13:27; Job 26:9; Job 36:30 he spreadeth his light עָלָיו about him.


  b. Of what rests heavily upon a person, or is a burden to him, Isa 1:14 הָיוּ עָלַי לָטֹרַח they are a cumbrance upon me, Job 7:20 I am a burden עָלַי upon myself, 2Sam 15:33 (compare with אֶל 2Sam 19:36); כָּבַד עֶל to be heavy upon Exod 5:9 and elsewhere (see כָּבַד); of sin, calamity, etc. Isa 53:5; Ezek 33:10; Ps 88:8; Job 21:9; 2Chr 15:5; 2Chr 28:13; Eccl 6:1; Eccl 8:6 (compare 5 a β); Lev 7:20 וְטֻמְאָתוֺ עָלָיו Lev 22:3: idiomatically, Gen 48:7 מֵתָה עָלַי רָחֵל Rachel died upon me (i.e. to my sorrow), Gen 33:13 וְהַבָּקָר עָלוֺת עָלַי are giving suck upon me (i.e. as a. care to me), Num 11:13 יִבְכּוּ עָלַי they weep upon me (vexing me), Judg 14:16; Judg 14:17; Judg 19:2 (see Be), 1Sam 21:6 to play the mad man upon me, Jer 12:11.
  c. Of a duty, payment, care, etc., imposed upon a person, or devolving on him, as שָׂם עַל to lay upon, Exod 5:8; Exod 21:22; Exod 21:30 (שָׁת), Exod 22:4, compare Gen 47:26; 2Chr 35:25 with other verbs, Job 38:10; Deut 24:5; Deut 26:6; 2Kgs 15:20; 2Kgs 18:14; 2Kgs 23:33; Neh 10:33 (twice in verse); Esth 1:8; Esth 9:21; Esth 9:27; Esth 9:31 with צִוָּה enjoin upon Gen 2:16 + often, כתב prescribe to 2Kgs 22:13; Ps 40:8, נטשׁ cast upon 1Sam 17:20 (1Sam 17:22 על יד), נתן על יד (figurative) Gen 42:37; 2Kgs 12:12; 2Kgs 22:5, compare 1Kgs 14:27, עזב Ps 10:14, גלל Ps 37:5, השׁליך Ps 55:23, פקד Job 34:13 and elsewhere; Gen 30:28 נָקְבָה שְׂכָֽרְךָ עָלַי fix thy wages upon me (name thy wages to me), Gen 34:12 הַרְבּוּ עָלַי מְאֹד מֹהַר וּמַתָּן multiply upon me, etc., 2Sam 19:39 (pregnantly) whatsoever thou choosest (and layest) upon me; without a verb, Judg 19:20 רַק כָּלמַֿחְסֹערךָ עָלָ֑י only let all thy wants be upon me, Ezra 10:4; Ps 56:13 עָלַי נְדָרֶיךָ thy vows are upon me (i.e. I owe them: compare Num 30:7; Num 30:9; Num 30:15), Prov 7:14 זִבְחֵי שְׁלָמִים עָלָ֑י peace-offerings were upon me (= were due from me); perhaps Ps 62:1; Ps 77:1 (to the charge of); with an infinitive 2Sam 18:11 וְעָלַי לָתֵת and it would have been incumbent on me to give, etc., 1Kgs 4:7; Ezra 10:12 (accents [Baer], RVm), Neh 13:3, compare Zech 12:2 (Ew RVm); Num 7:9 (P) the service of ... was upon them, Ezek 45:17, so especially late 1Chr 9:27; 1Chr 9:33; 1Chr 23:31; 2Chr 2:3 לעולם זאת על ישׂראל 2Chr 8:15; 2Chr 24:9; Ezra 7:11; Neh 11:23; Isa 9:5 and the government is upon, his shoulder (compare Isa 22:22), 2Chr 25:3; Ps 7:11 ׳מָֽגִנִּי עַלאֿ my shield rests upon God (he has undertaken my defence), Ps 62:8 עלאֿלהים יִשְׁעִי וּכְבֹדִי.


  d. על is used idiomatically to give pathos to the expression of an emotion, by emphasizing the person who is its subject, and who, as it were, feels it acting upon him: Ps 42:6 why art thou cast down, O my soul, וַתֶּהֱמִי עָלַי and disquieted upon me? vPs 42:7 my soul upon me is cast down, vPs 42:12; Ps 43:5; Lam 3:20; Ps 131:2 כְּגָמֻל עֲלֵי אִמּוֺ כַּגָּמוּל עָלַי נַפְשִׁי is my soul upon me; Ps 142:4 בְּהִתְעַטֵף עָלַי רוּחִי when my spirit faints upon me, Ps 143:4; Jonah 2:8; Jer 8:18 עָלַי לִבִּי דַרוָָּֽי ׃ my heart upon me is sick, Job 14:22 (twice in verse) (compare Di), Hos 11:8 נהפך עלי לבי my heart is turned (altered) upon me, 1Sam 17:32; 1Sam 25:36; Neh 5:7 וַיִמָּלֵךְ לִבִּי עָלַי and my heart took counsel upon me: compare Ps 42:5 I will pour out my soul upon me, Job 30:16; Job 10:1 אעזבה עלי שׂיחי I will let loose my complaint upon me. (Thes apud me, mecum. The rend. 'within me' alters entirely the point of view of the Hebrew expression, and is incorrect.) Denoting with some emphasis the subject of an experience, Job 30:2 עלימו אבד כָּ֑לַךְ, Dan 2:1 his sleep נִהְיְתָה עָלָיו was done with upon him (compare Aramaic Dan 6:19 נַדַּת עֲלוֺהִי), Dan 10:8 וְהוֺדִי נֶהְפַּךְ עָלַי (compare Dan 5:9; Dan 7:28): also, rather differently, Lev 18:18b Jer 49:20 אִם לֹא יַשִׁים עֲלֵיהֶם נְוֵהֶם, Mic 7:13; Ps 90:17b; Ps 7:9 according to my perfectness upon me, Ezek 18:20; Ezek 22:3; 2Chr 36:8.


  e. חָיָה עַל to live upon (as upon a foundation or support; compare Isa 3:1, and Ζῆν ἐπί τινος), Deut 8:3 עַלהַֿלֶּחֶם, Isa 38:16 (compare Hi), Gen 27:40 על חרבך תחיה upon ( = by) thy sword thou shalt live (compare Kazwiniii. 17 ap. Tu), Ezek 33:19, compare vEzek 33:26. feminine Of the ground, or basis, on which a thing is done, as Gen 24:9 על הדבר הזה, Lev 17:12 if he offers it עַל תּוֺדָה on the ground of a thanks-giving, Num 6:21 עַל נִזְרוֺ, vb Ezek 16:15; Ezek 28:17; Dan 8:25 עַל שִׂכְלוֺ, Dan 9:18 עַל צדקותינו, (with this use is extended so as to denote explicitly on condition of). Hence
   (a) the basis being conceived as regulative, על comes to denote the norm or standard (compare German 'auf die Art' WAG ii. § 59 i): the transition may be seen in a passage like Exod 24:8 the covenant which ׳י made with you on the basis of (על), or in agreement with, all these words (compare על פי Exod 34:27), Num 35:24 האלה על המשׁפטים, Deut 17:11; Jer 30:18 the palace shall sit (i.e. be inhabited: see ישׁב) עַל מִשְׁפָּטוֺ in accordance with its manner, Ps 94:20 who frames mischief עֲלֵיחֹֿק in accordance with a law, ... על פי according to the mouth (i.e. command, Gen 45:21 + oft, evidence Deut 17:6; Deut 19:15, sentence Deut 21:5) of . . .; עַל שֵׁם ֗֗֗֗ according to the name of . . . (mostly with call, be called) Gen 48:6; Exod 28:21; 2Sam 18:18 +, compare 1Chr 23:14; Exod 6:26; Exod 12:51 על צִבְאֹתָם according to their hosts (usually לְ), Num 1:18 על משׁפחתם (usually לְ) vNum 1:52; Num 2:2; Num 2:34; Num 7:3 (|| ל), Deut 18:8 (probably); עַל יְדֵי according to the hands (direction) of Jer 5:31; Jer 33:13 al.; Ps 110:4 ׳עַל דִּבְרָתִי מ after the manner of M.; Prov 25:11 (probably) a word spoken עַל אָעפנָיו in accordance with its circumstances = appositely; of the tune according to which a song is to be sung (RV. set to) Ps 6:1 (1Chr 15:21), Ps 8:1; Ps 9:1; Ps 12:1; Ps 45:1; Ps 46:1 (1Chr 15:20) עַלעֲֿלָמוֺת (perhaps, however, in the manner of maidens = for 'sopranos'), Ps 53:1; Ps 56:1; Ps 60:1; Ps 69:1; Ps 81:1; Ps 84:1; Ps 88:1 (compare in Syriac ).


   (b) The basis being conceived as involving the ground, על denotes the cause or reason, on account of, because of, Gen 20:3 lo thou shalt die עַל הָאִשָּׁה on account of the woman, Gen 21:12; Gen 26:7; Gen 26:9; Gen 27:41; Gen 42:21; Lev 4:3; Lev 4:28; Lev 5:18; Lev 19:17; Lev 26:18; Lev 26:24; Lev 26:28; Deut 9:18; Deut 24:16 fathers shall not be put to death עלבֿנים on account of children, Deut 31:18; Josh 9:20; Jer 1:16; Jer 5:9; Ezek 18:26 עליהם (|| Ezek 33:18 בָּהֶם), Prov 28:21; Ps 39:12; Ps 50:8 + often; Ps 44:23 עָלֶיךָ הֹרַגְנוּ on thy account are we slain all the day, Ps 69:8; Jer 15:15 in the phrases דְּבַר עַ֗֗֗ל, עַל אוֺדוֺת, עַל זֹאת and עַל זֶה on this account, עַל מָה on what account ? עַלכֵּֿן = therefore (see דָּבָר, אוֺדָה, etc.); before an infinitive, as Exod 17:7 ׳וְעַל נַסּוֺתָם אֶתיֿ and on, account of their trying ׳י, Amos 1:3 עַל דּוּשָׁם on account of their threshing = because they threshed, vAmos 1:6 vAmos 1:9 vAmos 1:11 vAmos 1:13, etc., Jer 2:35 עַל אָמְרֵךְ because of thy saying, Jer 9:12; Jer 16:18 +; and as a conjunction both with and without אֲשֶׁר or כִּי (see below III). And so often of the ground or cause of fear, grief, delight, or other emotions, e.g. Exod 18:9; Exod 32:14 (נִחַם repent: so often), 1Sam 4:13; 1Sam 30:6; 2Sam 1:26; 2Sam 3:8; 1Kgs 21:4; 2Kgs 6:11; Jer 10:19; Amos 6:6.


   (c) Somewhat more strongly, on behalf of, for the sake of, Gen 19:17 escape על נפשׁך forthy life; Judg 9:17; 2Kgs 10:3 נִלְחֵם עַל (usually ל); 1Kgs 2:18 I will speak on thy behalf to the king, v1Kgs 2:19 (2Kgs 4:13 לְ); Esth 4:16; Esth 4:8; Esth 7:7; Esth 8:11; Esth 9:16; Dan 12:1 על עמד stand up (in late Hebrew) on behalf of; התפלל על intercede for (usually בעד) Job 42:8; Neh 1:6; 2Chr 30:18; 2Chr 29:21; Ezra 8:35 and very often with כִּפֶּר (q. v.) make atonement for. (Not very common with other verbs.)


   (d) Sometimes it acquires almost a final force, for; Exod 12:4; Exod 29:36; Exod 30:16; Deut 27:13 there shall stand עַלהַֿקְּלָלָה (|| vDeut 27:12 לְבָרֵךְ), Ps 89:4 עַלמַֿהשָּֿׁוְא בָּרָאתָ כָלעֿבּנֵיאָֿדָם unto what vanity hast thou created, etc.! Prov 29:5b 2Chr 23:18; Eccl 3:17.


   (e) Of a condition, or attendant circumstances (rare; so , WAG ii § 59 e): Ps 50:5 זָ֑בַח׃ עֲלֵי upon, with sacrifice, Ps 92:4 ׳עֲלי עָשׂוֺר וגו with a ten-stringed instrument, with a harp, with sounding music on a lyre; עַל רִיב upon occasion of a law-suit Exod 23:2; Ezek 44:24, עַל יוֺם טוֺב 1Sam 25:8 (compare at a time of. . . Qor 28:14), Neh 12:22 (? read עַד BeRy), Isa 18:4 כְּחֹם צַח עֲלֵי אוֺר at time of sunshine, Isa 64:11 עַל אֵלֶּה, Jer 8:18 עֲלֵי יָגוֺן at time of sorrow, Jer 16:7 (but Gie עַל אָבֵל to): with abstract substantives to form a periphrase for adverbs, Lev 5:22 and swear עַל שֶׁקֶר upon falseness = falsely, Jer 6:14 = Jer 8:11 to heal a wound עַל נְקַלָּה lightly, easily, Ps 31:24 עַל יֶתֶר = abundantly, Isa 60:7 עַל רָצוֺן = acceptably (compare = with delight).


   (f) It hence acquires the force of in spite of, notwithstanding (so , WAG ii. § 59 h), Job 10:7 עַל דַּעְתְּךָ in spite of thy knowing, Job 34:6 משׁפטי על notwithstanding my right I am to be a liar (Di De Da RV: otherwise Hi RVm). compare below, III c b.


   (g) Upon, concerning, with verbs of speaking, as דִּבֶּר Judg 9:3; 1Kgs 5:13, אָמַר, Jer 16:3; Jer 27:19 (|| אל) Jer 33:4, hearing Gen 41:15 שָׁמַעְתִּי עָלֶיךָ I have heard concerning thee, saying, etc., 1Kgs 10:6; Isa 37:9 (|| 2Kgs 19:9 אל), disputing Gen 26:11, telling 1Sam 27:11; Joel 1:3, commanding 2Sam 14:8; 1Kgs 11:10, being vexed 1Kgs 21:4; 2Kgs 6:11, crying 2Kgs 8:5, confessing Ps 32:5; Neh 1:6 of the object of a prophecy or vision 1Kgs 22:8; Isa 1:1; Isa 2:1 and often with similar verbs.


   (h) In a somewhat weaker sense, in the matter of, as regards, Gen 41:32 וְעַל הִשָּׁנוֺת הַחֲלוֺם, Exod 22:8; Ruth 4:7; Lev 5:22; Lev 5:26; Dan 9:14b Neh 9:33 חָטָא עַל Lev 4:14 (|| בָּהּ vLev 4:23, cognate accusative vLev 4:28), Lev 5:5; Num 6:11; Neh 13:26 עַלדְּֿבַר ֗֗֗ in the matter of, Num 25:18; Num 31:16.

2. It expresses excess (synonym מִן q. v.); Gen 48:22 I give thee שְׁכֶם אַחַר עַל אַחֶיךָ one shoulder (ridge) above thy brethren, Exod 16:5 מִשְׁנֶה על double above or beyond, Num 3:46; Deut 25:3 stripes עַלאֵֿלֶּה beyond these, Josh 3:15 Jordan מָלֵא עַל was full over all its banks (compare Josh 4:18; Isa 8:7b הלך על, עלה) Ps 138:2; Eccl 1:16; Dan 1:20 עֶשֶׂר יָדוֺת עַל ten times above (compare in Aramaic Dan 3:19, and Qor 37:153), Ezra 1:6 לְבַר עַל = beside (see בַּד); Ps 16:2 (si vera lectio) טוֺבָתִי בַל עָלֶיךָ my welfare is not beyond thee, i.e. does not lie outside thee. — Of time, Lev 15:25 if she has an issue עַל נִדָּתָהּ beyond her time of impurity (compare Isa 32:10, 4 b).

3. It denotes elevation or pre-eminence, as עליון על high (figurative) above, Deut 26:19 al., Deut 28:43 יעלה עליך will go up above thee, compare Prov 31:29; Ps 57:6; Ps 57:12 be thou exalted above the heavens, Ps 89:8; Ps 95:3; Ps 96:4, etc., Neh 9:5 with words (q. v.) such as גכר, גדל, חזק, נשׂא (Ni. Pi`el Hithpa`el), עזז, and especially those denoting rule or superintendence, as מלך, הפקיד; so with שָׁת, היה, נתן, Gen 41:33; Gen 41:40; Gen 41:43 שׂם; 1Sam 18:5 with פָּקִיד, שַׂר, מֶלֶךְ, etc., Gen 41:34; Exod 1:11; Exod 18:21, etc.; absolute 2Sam 8:16 Joab was עלהֿצבא over the host, 2Sam 20:23 b. v2Sam 20:24; 1Kgs 4:4-6; 1Kgs 5:30; Num 10:14ff.; 1Chr 9:23; 1Chr 9:26ff. 1Chr 27:25ff.; 2Chr 30:17; 2Chr 31:12 אֲשֶׁר עַל בֵּיתוֺ of Joseph's steward Gen 43:16; Gen 43:19; Gen 44:1; Gen 44:4 and in the official titles אֲשֶׁר עַלהַֿבַּיִת = the Governor of the Palace Isa 22:15 and elsewhere (see כַּיִת 6); אֲשֶׁר עַלהַֿמַּם the overseer of the forced labour 1Kgs 12:18 אשׁר עלהֿעיר the governor of the city 2Kgs 10:5, אשׁר על המלתחה v2Kgs 10:22.

4. It expresses addition (compare ἐπὶ in Greek, e.g.ἐπὶ τούτοις); namely
  a. introducing the complement of a verb, as with יָסַף to add upon or to, Ps 61:7 + often (see יָסַף), שָׁת to put to Gen 30:40, נִלְוָה to be joined to Num 18:24; Isa 14:1 (also with אֶל), נָפַל: to fall to, i.e. desert to, Jer 21:9 +, עכר to pass over to Exod 30:13; Exod 30:14; Isa 45:14 (compare Isa 60:5); also Hab 2:16 תִּסֹּב כּוֺם עַל Lam 4:21; Esth 4:7 נֶחְשַׁב to be reckoned to Lev 25:31; 2Sam 4:2, היה על Num 36:12; Ps 69:28 תְּנָה עָוֺן עַל עֲוֺנָם, Isa 56:8 עוֺר אֲקַבֵּץ עָלָיו I will yet gather (others) unto him.


  b. Used absolutely, as Gen 28:9 he took Mahalath עַל נָשָׁיו in addition to his (other) wives, Gen 31:50 (compare אל Lev 18:18), Num 31:8 עַל חַלְלֵיהֶם in addition to their slain (|| Josh 13:22 אֶל), Deut 23:14; Ezek 16:37; Ezek 16:43; Ezek 25:10; Isa 32:10 יָמִים עַל שָׁנָה days upon, in addition to, a year, 2Chr 31:15 יָמִים עַל יָמִים, Ezek 7:26 הֹוָה עַל הֹוָה תָבוֺא (|| אל), Jer 4:20 (if נִקְרָא = be proclaimed), Job 16:14 יִפְרְצֵנִי פֶרֶץ עַלפְּֿנֵיפָֿ֑רֶץ (compare LagM iii. 112; also Iliad 14:130 ἕλκος ἐφ’ ἕλκει, Odyssey 7:120f; Qoran 31:13). So often in laws of P (compare c), Lev 7:12 he shall offer עַלזֶֿבַת הַתּוֺרָה in addition to the sacrifice of thanksgiving, etc., vLev 7:13 b Num 6:20; Num 15:9; Num 28:10; Num 28:15; Num 28:24 (compare מִלְּבַר vNum 28:31; Num 29:6), Num 35:6; Ezek 16:43 (Hi Sm RV: compare Ezek 44:7 אל).


  c. Hence by an easy transition it denotes together with, with, Exod 35:22 men together with (עַל) women, Job 38:32 וְעַיִשׁ עַלבָּֿנֶיהָ תַנְחֵם and the Bear with her children, wilt thou lead them? 1Kgs 15:20; Jer 3:18 the house of Israel with the house of Judah, Mic 5:2 (Ca Ke Kue; but al. as 7 c a), Gen 32:12 lest he come and smite me, אֵם עַל בָּנִים the mother with the children (compare Hos 10:14; Deut 22:6); and as a techn. term in the regulations for sacrifice, especially with אכל, Exod 12:8, יאֹכְלֻהוּ עַלמְֿדֹרִים together with bitter herbs they shall eat it, vExod 12:9 his head with (על) his legs, etc., Num 9:11; Deut 16:3 לֹאתֿאֹכַל עָלָיו חָמֵץ (compare Exod 23:18; Exod 34:25), vExod 34:3 in the phrase אכל על הדם to eat with the blood 1Sam 14:32; 1Sam 14:33 (1Sam 14:34 אל), Lev 19:26; Ezek 33:25 (compare in Greek e.g. ἐπὶ τῷ σίτῳ πίνειν ὕδωρ); see also Lev 2:2; Lev 2:16; Lev 3:4 (so vLev 3:10 vLev 3:15; Lev 4:9; Lev 7:4), Lev 4:11; Lev 7:13a, Lev 7:30; Lev 10:15; Lev 14:31; Lev 23:18; Lev 23:20; Num 6:17; Num 19:5; 1Chr 7:4.

5. It expresses the idea of being suspended, or extended, over anything, without however being in contact with it, above, over: Gen 1:20 let fowl fly over the earth, Gen 19:23 השׁמשׁ יצא על had come forth upon the earth (compare זרח על Exod 22:2 +; בא על go down [set] upon Deut 24:15; Mic 3:6; Job 25:3), Num 10:34; Num 14:14 and thy cloud stood עליהם over them, Deut 28:23 the heavens עלרֿאשׁך above overthy head, Isa 4:5; Isa 60:1; Isa 60:2; Zeph 2:11; Zech 9:14; Ps 7:8 over it return thou on high, Job 29:3 בְּהִלּוֺ נֵרוֺ עֲלֵי ראֹשִׁי (compare דעך לְ be extinguished over, Job 18:6), Song 2:4 his banner over me: figurative of protection Deut 32:38; Ps 68:35: with verbs of motion (expressed or implied), נשׁקף על to incline over 1Sam 13:18 +, ידו על נטה) Exod 14:16; Isa 23:11 + (compare Ps 21:12), הניף על to swing over Isa 11:15; Isa 19:16 השׁמיע על to proclaim over Jer 4:16; Amos 3:9, compare Num 10:10; 2Chr 13:12, שׁם על נקרא a name to be called over 2Sam 12:28 + (see קרא).

6. From the sense of inclining or impending over, על comes to denote contiguity or proximity, English by (or sometimes on): —
  a. in designating localities, especially those beside water, Gen 14:16 עַלהַֿמִּדְבָּר by the wilderness, Gen 16:17 עַל עֵין הַמַּיִם by the spring of water, Gen 24:13; Gen 24:30; Gen 29:2 three flocks lying עָלֶיהָ by it (the well), Gen 41:1; Num 3:26; Num 13:29 עלהֿים by the sea, Num 22:5; Num 24:6 gardens עֲלֵי נָהָר. Deut 3:12; Deut 33:8; Judg 5:19; 1Sam 1:9 ׳על מזוזת היכל י (Ezek 46:2), 1Sam 4:1; 2Kgs 2:7 and they stood עלהֿירדן by the Jordan, 2Kgs 25:4; Isa 19:7; Isa 38:20; Ps 1:3 planted by water-courses, Jer 17:2; Jer 17:8; Job 30:4; Job 31:9 על פתח by the entrance, Prov 14:19, + often; על הדרך by the way Gen 38:21; 1Sam 24:4; Ezek 48:24ff. על גבולו adjoining his border; עבר על to pass by a place 1Kgs 9:18; Jer 18:16 +, figurative עבר על פשׁע to pass by transgression, i.e. to overlook it, Mic 7:18 and elsewhere: על יְמִין ֗֗֗ on the right of ... Ps 110:5 +, עַליַד ֗֗֗ , עַל יֶרֶךְ ֗֗֗ , עַל כֶּתֶף ֗֗֗ on the side of ... (see these words): less frequently (except as c) with reference to persons, Num 2:5 וְהַחֹנִים עָלָיו and those encamping next him, vNum 2:12 vNum 2:20 vNum 2:27; Num 6:9 וכי ימות מת עליו, 2Kgs 11:11 by the king round about (compare Num 3:26 above), ׳עבר על פ Gen 18:5; 2Kgs 4:9 +.


  b. 2Sam 9:7; 2Sam 9:10 to eat bread ׳עַל שֻׁלְחַן פּ at any one's table, Exod 16:3 when we sat עַלסִֿיר הַבָּשָׂר, 1Sam 20:24 Kt to sit עַלהַֿלֶּחֶם at meat; 1Sam 25:13; 1Sam 30:24 to remain עַלהַֿכֵּלִים; Prov 23:30 to tarry long עלהֿיין at (or over) the wine, Job 39:9 עַלאֲֿבוֶּ˜סךָ ׃ at thy crib: compare הַיּוֺשֵׁב עַל הַמִּשְׁפָּט Isa 28:6.


  c. Idiomatically, with עָמַד and נִצַּב to stand by (literally over, — originally no doubt with reference to one supposed to be seated), Gen 18:2 three men נִצָּבִים עָלָיו standing by him, vGen 18:8 and he עֹמֵד עליו standing by him under the tree, Gen 24:30 by the camels, Gen 28:13; 1Sam 4:20; 2Sam 1:9; 2Sam 12:17; 2Sam 20:11; 2Sam 20:12; Amos 7:7 especially of persons standing about a superior, as servants or courtiers, Gen 45:1; Judg 3:19; 1Sam 22:6; 1Sam 22:7; 1Sam 22:17, of persons surrounding a judge Exod 18:13; Exod 18:14, of ׳י's heavenly ministers, 1Kgs 22:19 (compare Isa 6:2 ממעל לו), Zech 4:16, and with התיצב Zech 6:5; Job 1:6; Job 2:1 also of one standing by (properly leaning over) an altar or sacrifice Num 23:3; Num 23:6; 1Kgs 13:1 (compare 7 b) Amos 9:1 of an Ashérah by an altar Judg 6:25; Judg 6:28 (compare אֵצֶל Deut 16:21).

7. In connection with verbs of motion (actual or figurative): —
  a. of motion from a higher place downwards, down upon: thus
   (a) המטיר על to rain upon Gen 2:5; Gen 19:24, ירד על Gen 15:11, יצק על to pour upon Gen 28:18, ׳נפל על צוארי פ Gen 33:4, נפל על פניו to fall on his (own) face Gen 17:3; Gen 17:17, שׂם על to put upon, Gen 21:14; Gen 22:6; Gen 22:9; Gen 24:47 (Gen 24:22 Sam Di), נתן על כף to place on the hand of ... Gen 40:11; Gen 40:21, השׁליך על 2Sam 20:12, etc.; compare Job 29:22 וְעָלֵימוֺ תִּטֹּף מִלָּתִי, Mic 3:5; Nah 3:12.


   (b) In different figurative connections, as of sleep falling upon one, Gen 2:21; Gen 15:12 of fear Gen 9:2; 1Sam 11:7 (see פַּחַד, חֲרָרָה, אֵימָה); of good or bad fortune, especially the latter, coming upon one, as with בוא and הביא, Gen 27:12; Deut 28:2 (in good sense), vDeut 28:15, Jer 5:12; Jer 19:3 (רעה, as often); of retribution, reproach, the Divine wrath, etc., with different verbs (הביא, נתן, ירד, חול, היה, etc.), as Gen 20:9; Num 12:11 חטאה; Gen 42:36 עַלַי הָיוּ כֻלָּנָה upon me are they all; Num 18:5 + (היה קֶצֶף על); Deut 19:10 דם (compare אל 2Sam 21:2 ᵐ5 We Dr), Judg 9:24; 1Kgs 2:32; 2Sam 16:8; Hos 12:15; 2Sam 3:29; 2Sam 15:14; 1Sam 11:2 חרפה; Jer 14:16; Jer 26:15 דם נקי (|| אל), Jonah 1:14; Ezek 7:3; Ezek 7:4; Ezek 7:8; Ezek 23:40; Ezek 36:29; Ps 7:17; Ps 94:2; Ps 94:23; Ps 109:5 וישׂימו עלי רעה תחת טובה (lay upon me: but Hu וישיבו, Prov 17:13), Prov 140:11 שָׁפַךְ חֵמָה על Ezek 7:8 + often; without a verb, Gen 16:5 חֲמָסִי עָלֶיךָ my wrong be upon thee, Jer 51:35 (|| אל); Gen 27:13 עלי קללתך; Gen 38:29 (accents, RVm); 2Sam 1:16 דמיך על ראשׁך; 2Sam 14:9 עָלַי הֶעָוֺן; Isa 24:17; Jer 48:43; Jer 50:27; Ezek 13:3 הוֺי על ֗֗֗ ; Ps 55:16 Kt.; of a blessing, Exod 32:29; Ps 3:9, a curse Deut 30:7, mercies (probably conceived specifically as descending from heaven) Ps 33:22; Ps 86:13; Ps 90:17; Ps 103:17 (with גבר be mighty over or upon, vPs 33:11; Ps 117:2), Ps 116:12; Ps 145:9; Ezra 3:11, שׁלום Ps 125:6; Ps 128:6; 1Chr 22:9.


   (c) Introducing the object upon which an action, or emotion, especially if accompanied by a gesture, is conceived as being directed (but with some of these words, especially when they refer to an event, rather than a person, as Exod 18:9, על is to be explained from 1 f b). Thus with verbs denoting the manifestation of joy or grief, as שׂושׂ to rejoice over, גיל, שׂמח, התענג, התפאר, שׂחק, אבל, ספד, שׁמם, בכה Judg 11:37 +, נשׂא (משׁל) קינה to take up a lament, or proverb, over (see these words); probably also in הִנָּבֵא על prophecy over Ezek 11:4; Ezek 13:17 +; with חוּס, חָמַל, רִחַם to shew compassion on (compare 1Kgs 3:26 [Gen 43:30 אל], Song 5:4 [Jer 31:20 ל]); with שׁמר, שׁקד, הֵעִיר (Job 8:6) to guard or watch over; with יעץ to counsel upon Isa 14:26 +, חשׁב to devise (usually in bad sense, Jer 29:11 in good), דִּבֶּר (רעה Jer 11:17 +, טובה Jer 18:20; Jer 32:42), הֵקִים דָּבָר Jer 29:10. Of more distinctly phys. acts, with בכה to weep on Gen 45:14; Gen 45:15 +, שׁרק to hiss, ספק or תקע כף to clap the hand, הִכָּה כף Ezek 22:13 (|| אל); Isa 5:30 to growl over, Isa 31:4; Ezek 36:2; Job 30:5 הִתְוַדָּה to confess over (the goat), Lev 16:21; Exod 30:10a (probably); Deut 21:6; Job 6:27; Job 40:30.


  b. From a lower place upwards, up upon, up to, as עלה על to go up upon: Exod 20:26; 1Sam 2:28; 1Kgs 12:33b 2Kgs 16:12b 2Chr 1:6 (an altar, i.e. to a ledge beside it; compare 2Kgs 23:9, and ירד Lev 9:22; 1Kgs 1:53); Judg 9:51; Isa 14:14; Isa 40:9, etc.; to come up upon (in different connections) Exod 10:12; Lev 16:9 (figurative), Lev 19:19; 1Sam 1:11; 1Sam 6:7; 1Kgs 10:16; 1Kgs 10:17 figurative עלה על לב Isa 65:17 + (see לב, לבב, 3 d); in Hiph`il 1Kgs 20:33 וַיַּעֲלֵהוּ עַל הַמֶּרְכָּבָה, Amos 8:10 (compare 1 a a), 2Sam 1:24; Ezek 37:6; Ps 137:6 (figurative), 2Chr 3:5; 2Chr 3:14 (= ornamented with); Deut 28:61 (compare Exod 15:26 b); 2Chr 20:34 the history of Jehu which הֹעֲלָח עַל was brought up upon (i.e. inserted in) the book of, etc. (compare 2Chr 32:32 and כתב על above 1); compare נטה יד עלהֿשׁמים up to heaven Exod 9:22; Exod 10:21; Exod 17:16.


  c. Expressing direction towards (not common, except in sense against: see below) —
   (a) with verbs of motion, properly of a person (or thing) moving to another so as either to stand above, or rest upon, it (compare PuseyMin. Pr. 333), Exod 34:12 הארץ אשׁר אתה בא עליה (simile, of a land, or place, Exod 18:23; Num 11:12; 1Kgs 2:26 עֲנָתֹת לֵךָ עַלשָֿׂדֶיךָ, Ezek 32:9; Jer 3:18 b Jer 16:13; Jer 22:26, and after שׁוּב or הֵשִׁיב Jer 16:15; Jer 22:27; Jer 23:3; Jer 24:6 [but אֶל Jer 27:22; Jer 30:3 al.], Ezek 29:14; Gen 40:13 וֶהֱשִׁיבְךָ עלכַּֿנָּ֑ךָ, Gen 41:13; Gen 30:33 כִּי תָבאֹ עַל שְׂכָרִי to view my hire; בא על נפשׁ מֵת to enter in upon or beside a corpse; בא על אשׁה Gen 19:31; Deut 25:5 (usually אל); Josh 3:16 מַיִם יֹרְדִים עַל יָם, Ezek 47:8; 1Kgs 18:12 יִשָּֽׂאֲךָ עַלאֲֿשֶׁר לֹאאֵֿדָ֑ע, Ps 19:7; 2Kgs 16:12; 2Chr 20:24; Isa 53:1 upon whom (coming from above) was ׳י's arm revealed? Isa 62:10 העמים הרימו נֵס על over towards (but Isa 49:22 אל): but often it is dubious if this force is perceptible; and in general על in such cases seems to be used merely as a synonym — perhaps as a slightly more graphic synonym — of אֶל (compare p. 41); in the later language, also, it may be due partly to the influence of Aramaic, which does not use אֶל; thus
   (a) with a personal object, with assemble or be assembled, Exod 32:1; 2Sam 17:11; 1Kgs 8:5; 1Kgs 11:24; 2Kgs 22:20 (2Chr 34:28 and usually אל), 2Chr 13:7, עלה Gen 38:12; Josh 2:8; 1Sam 14:10 (1Sam 14:9 v1Sam 14:12 אל), עבר 1Sam 14:4 (1Sam 14:1 אל), בא 2Sam 15:4 (see Dr) 1Chr 12:23f., יצא 2Kgs 24:12, הוליך 2Kgs 25:20, נגע Judg 20:34; Judg 20:41 (compare Isa 6:7; Jer 1:9), נס Isa 10:3, הלך Isa 22:15 (אל ֗֗֗ על), נשׂא Isa 30:6, שׁלח 2Kgs 18:27 (על ֗֗֗ אל ֗֗֗ על: || Isa 36:12 אל ֗֗֗ אל ֗֗֗ על), Jer 26:15; Jer 29:31; 1Chr 13:2; 2Chr 28:16; 2Chr 30:1; 2Chr 32:9; 2Chr 32:31; 2Chr 36:15; Neh 6:3, נגשׁ Ezek 9:6, שׁב, השׁיב Neh 4:6; Mal 3:24 (see c), followed by ׳על י 2Chr 15:4; 2Chr 30:9, התיצּב 2Chr 11:13 letters going ׳על פ Neh 2:7; Neh 6:17 a (v:b אל). (β) of places, Gen 24:49; 2Sam 2:19 + על ימין to the right; with הלך 1Sam 2:11; 1Kgs 20:43 עלבֿיתו (1Kgs 21:4 אל), 2Sam 15:20 ואני הולך על אשׁר אני הולך, Jer 1:7; Ezek 1:20 (Ezek 1:12 אל), הוליך 1Kgs 1:38 (1Kgs 1:33 אל), נהר Mic 4:1 (|| Isa 2:2 אל), Jer 31:12 (אל ֗֗֗ על), נגשׁ Ezek 44:13 (|| אל), עלה 1Sam 24:23; 2Sam 19:1; 1Kgs 6:8 (|| אל), Ezek 41:7, בא Jer 14:3; Jer 51:51, (על הר) הביא Isa 66:20 (Isa 56:7 אל), ירד Jer 36:12, הִטָּה Prov 21:1, הסיר 2Sam 6:10 (|| 1Chr 13:13 אל), נתן Isa 29:12 (Isa 29:11 אל) Mic 1:14; Mic 3:5; Gen 42:37, השׁיב, שׁב, Num 33:7; Jer 11:10 (figurative, עַל עֲוֺנוֺת), Ps 35:13; Job 34:15 (Gen 3:19 אל), Prov 26:11; Eccl 1:6; 1Kgs 17:21; 1Kgs 17:22 (compare 1Sam 30:12 אל), השׁתחוה Lev 26:11 (probably), Isa 60:14 pregnantly Isa 24:22 אֻסְּפוּ עַל בּוֺר be collected (and delivered) into a dungeon: compare חוּשׁ עַל Job 31:5 (figurative), also to requite עַלחֵֿיק Isa 65:6; Isa 65:7 Kt. (Jer 32:18; Ps 79:12 אל). After נראה appear, Ps 90:16 (אל ֗֗֗ על). And as far as, unto (nearly = יַד) Gen 49:13 וְיַרְכָתוֺעַל צִידוֺן, Josh 2:7; Josh 18:13; Josh 19:12; Jer 31:39; Ezek 47:18; Ezek 48:21; Ezek 48:28; Ps 48:11; 1Chr 5:16.


   (b) With אמר say to, 2Kgs 22:8; Jer 18:11 (אל ֗֗֗ על), Jer 22:6; Jer 23:2; Jer 23:35 (על ֗֗֗ אל), Jer 36:29; Jer 44:20 (אל ֗֗֗ על), דבר 1Sam 1:13 (Gen 24:45 אל), 1Kgs 9:5; Hos 12:11; Jer 6:10; Jer 10:1; Jer 11:2 (אל ֗֗֗ על), speak to Jer 25:2 (על ֗֗֗ אל), Jer 26:2, compare Esth 1:17, ׳היה דבר י Jer 25:1; 1Chr 22:8 compare 1Chr 11:10, ענה 2Sam 19:43, קרא Isa 34:14; 2Chr 32:18, שִׁוַּע Ps 18:42, הֵרַע 1Kgs 17:20, שֹׁרֵר, שָׁר sing Prov 25:20; Job 33:27, החליק Prov 29:5 ( Ps 36:3 אל), התפלל 1Sam 1:10, כתב 2Chr 30:1; Ezra 4:7; Esth 8:8, שׁמע 2Kgs 20:13 ( = Isa 39:2), Isa 22:13; Jer 23:16; Jer 26:5; Jer 35:18; Hag 1:12 see also הקשׁיב, האזין, הבין, התבונן, השׂכיל.


   (c) Expressing (or implying) the direction of the mind, 2Sam 14:1 לב המלך על אבשׁלם; Mal 3:24; Ezra 6:22; Song 7:11 וְעָלַי תְּשׁוּקָתוֺ (Gen 3:16; Gen 4:7 אל); שָׂם לִבּוֺ על Job 1:8 (Job 2:3 אל), 1Sam 25:25 (אל ֗֗֗ על); Jer 22:17 thy eyes and thy heart are only (set) upon (על) ..., 1Chr 12:17; 1Kgs 1:20; 2Chr 20:12 עֵינֵינוּ כִּי עָלֶיךָ (elsewhere אל), 1Kgs 2:15 עָלַי שָׂמוּ פניהם, Ps 146:5 ׳שִׂבְרוֺ על י; Isa 10:25 וְאַפִּי עלתַּֿבְלִיתָם be (directed) towards their destruction, Jer 32:31 (Gf Ew compare RV); compare שׁעה על look to (trustfully) Isa 17:7; Isa 31:1. (The uses a, b, c are all exceptional: אל would be regularly employed.)


   (d) With the force of over and towards (compare 5 and 7 a b, end): Ps 65:5 נוֺרָא עֲלִילָה עַל; to shine, etc. on, Ps 31:17 הָאִירָה פָנֶיךָ עַל (Num 6:25 אל); רָאָה עַל Exod 5:21 הוֺפִיעַ עַל Job 10:3 וְשַׂמְתִּי עֵינִי עַל Amos 9:4 + (compare Job 14:3; Job 24:3; Job 34:21); הִשְׁקִיף עַל look out over Ps 14:3 +.


  d. In a hostile sense, upon, against: so very often, after every kind of verb expressing or implying attack, as בא Gen 34:25; Gen 34:27, נֶאֱסַף vGen 34:30, קצף to be angry Gen 40:2, לון to murmur Exod 15:24 עמד stand up Lev 19:16 +, קָם rise up Deut 19:11; Amos 7:9, נלחם Deut 20:10, חנה 1Sam 11:1; Ps 27:3, עלה 2Kgs 17:3, חרה אף Zech 10:3 (usually בְּ), שׁפך סללה Isa 37:33, צוּר besiege Deut 20:12, חשׁב to devise Gen 50:20; Jer 11:19, דִּבֶּר Deut 13:6 +, etc.: add Job 16:4 (twice in verse); Job 16:9; Job 16:10; Job 16:13; Job 19:12; Job 21:27; Job 30:12, etc.; היה על 2Sam 11:23; Num 31:3: הִנְנִי לַיִךְ (see אֶל 4); note also Judg 9:31; Judg 20:5: without a verb Isa 9:20; Judg 16:12 פלשׁתים עליך the Philistines are upon thee, Judg 20:9 עָלֶיהָ בְּגוֺרָל Against it by lot !

8. By writers of the silver age, על is sometimes used with the force of a dative, 1Chr 13:2 אִם עֲלֵיבֶם טוֺב (in classical Hebrew בְּעֵינֵיכֶם) if it seems good to you, אִם עַל הַמֶּלֶךְ טוֺב Neh 2:5; Neh 2:7; Esth 1:19; Esth 3:9; Esth 5:4; Esth 5:8; Esth 7:3; Esth 8:5; Esth 9:13 (compare in Aramaic Ezra 5:17; Ezra 7:18); עַל שָׁפַר Ps 16:6 (compare in Aramaic Dan 4:24); עָרַב עַל Ps 104:34 (elsewhere לְ); רַע לְ Eccl 2:17 (see De; compare בְּאֵשׁ עַל Dan 6:15): compare Job 22:2 סָכַן על be profitable to, Job 33:23 also גָּמַל עַל (in both good and bad sense: see גמל), Neh 5:19 עשׂה על, Neh 9:30 משׁך על prolong (mercy) to; הִטָּה חֶסֶד עַל Ezra 7:28; Ezra 9:9 (Gen 39:21 אל): 1Sam 20:8 read probably עם for על. compare Mishna חביב על, dear to; סני על hateful to; Syriac , , pleasant, acceptable to. — compare in general the uses of , WAG ii. § 59.

9. With other particles: — עַל אַחֲרֵי Ezek 41:15 עַל בֵּין Ezek 19:11 (compare אל Ezek 31:10; Ezek 31:14); עַל לִפְנֵי Ezek 40:15 עַל מֵעַל Ezek 41:17 (text dubious), vEzek 41:20 עַל עֵבֶר Exod 25:37 (compare אל Ezek 1:9; Ezek 1:12); עַלבָּֿ֫כָה Esth 9:26. — On עַליַֿד, עַליְֿדֵי, עַל פִּי, עַלפְּֿנֵי, see יָד, פֶּה, פָּנִים.

III. As conjunction: a. עַל אֲשֶׁר because that . . . (compare above, II 1 f b), Exod 32:35 and ׳י plagued the people על אשׁר עשׂו because they had made, etc., Num 20:24; Deut 29:24 (in answer to על מה: so 1Kgs 9:9; Jer 16:11; Jer 22:9), Jer 32:51 (twice in verse); 1Sam 24:6; 2Sam 3:30; 2Sam 6:8; 2Sam 8:10; 2Sam 12:6; Ps 119:49 +.

b. עַל כִּי similar in meaning, but less frequent: Deut 31:17; Judg 3:12; Jer 4:28; Mal 2:14; Ps 139:14.


  c. עַל alone:
   (a) because, Gen 31:20 (E) עַל בְּלִי הִגִּיד, Ps 119:136 עַל לֹא.
   (b) notwithstanding that (above, 1 f f), although, Isa 53:9 חָמָס עָשָׂה עַל לֹא although he did no violence, Job 16:7 עַל לֹא חָמָס בְּכַפָּ֑י.

IV. Compounds: —

1. with כְּ (rare and late),
  a. as concerning, as upon Ps 119:14 כְּעַל כָּלהֿוֺן, 2Chr 32:19.
  b. (pleon. for כְּ), Isa 59:18 כְּעַל גְּמֻלוֺת כְּעַל יְשַׁלֵּם the like of their deeds is the like of (that which) he will repay (כְּעַל repeated on the analogue of כְּ Num 15:15; Hos 4:9: see כְּ) = according to their deeds is (that which) he will repay, Isa 63:7 according to.

2. מֵעַל304 from upon, from over, from by — used with much delicacy of application in many different connections, corresponding mostly with the different senses of על. Thus
  a. from upon idiomatically, when removal, motion, etc., from a surface is involved, as מעל האדמה, מעל פני האדמה from upon (the face of) the ground, usually with expel, destroy, perish, etc. Gen 4:14; Gen 6:7; Gen 7:4; Exod 32:12; Deut 6:15; Deut 28:21; Deut 28:63 + often, especially Jeremiah and compiler of Kings; to be lifted up הארץ מעל Gen 7:17; Ezek 1:19; Ezek 1:21 +, to return or be dried (of water) מעל הארץ Gen 8:3; Gen 8:7; Gen 8:11; Gen 8:13 to roll a stone מֵעַל פִּי הַבְּאֵד Gen 29:3 of the cloud departing האהל מעל Num 9:17; Num 12:10, compare Neh 9:19 to rise up הַכִּסֵּא מֵעַל Judg 3:20; 1Kgs 2:4, מֵעַל מִשְׁכָּבוֺ 2Sam 11:2 to alight מֵעַל הַגָּמָל (נָפַלׅ Gen 24:64 (compare Josh 15:18 צנח, 1Sam 25:23 ירד), ירד מֵעַל הַמֶּרְכָּבָה Judg 4:15; 2Kgs 5:21 (נפל); to take מֵעַל ראֹשׁ Gen 40:19; 2Sam 12:30, מֵעַל הַמִּזְבֵּחַ Lev 16:12; Num 17:11; Isa 6:6 to see מֵעַל הַגָּנ 2Sam 11:2 to shoot מֵעַל הַחוֺמָה v2Sam 11:20 v2Sam 11:24 to speak מֵעַל הַכַּפֹּרֶת Exod 25:22; Num 7:89 to cast down מֵעַל יָדַיִם Deut 9:17; Lev 8:28 (כַּפַּיִם); to break, remove, etc., a yoke (צוארך) מעל שׁכמך Gen 27:40; Isa 10:27; Jer 28:10; Jer 28:11 to wipe tears מֵעַל כָּלפָּֿנִים Isa 25:8 to take a bandage מעל עיניו 1Kgs 20:41 (compare על v1Kgs 20:38); often of putting off a garment or ornament., as Gen 38:14; Gen 38:19 וַתָּסַר צְעִיפָהּ מֵעָלֶיהָ, Exod 33:5 הוֺרֵד עֶדְיְךָ מֵעָלֶיךָ, a sandal Exod 3:5; Josh 5:15, a ring מֵעַל יָדוֺ Gen 41:42 to seek (דרשׁ), or hear, words מֵעַל הַסֵּפֶר Isa 34:16; Jer 36:11 (compare כתב על ספד above); pregnantly with בָּלָה to wear away (and fall) from off, Deut 8:4; Deut 29:4, compare of the bones or skin in disease Job 30:17 עֲצָמַי נִקַּר מֵעָלָ֑י are pierced (and drop) from off me, vJob 30:30 עוֺרִי שָׁחַר מעלי is black (and falls) from off me; figurative 1Sam 1:11 הָסִירִי יֵינֵךְ מֵעָלַיִךְ remove thy wine from off thee; Num 14:9 סָר צִלָּם מֵעֲלֵיהֶם; Judg 16:19; Judg 16:20 סר מעליו ׳י (with allusion to the hair, as the seat of Samson's strength), 1Sam 16:23 (compare על in v1Sam 16:16).


  b. Of relief from a burden or trouble: as of a plague, stroke, rod, etc., removed from (resting) on one, Exod 10:17 וְיָסֵר מֵעָלַי אֶתהַֿמָּוֶת הַזֶּה, Num 21:7; Num 25:8 ׳וַתֵּעָצַר הַמַּגֵּפָה מֵעַל ישׂר 2Sam 24:21; 2Sam 24:25), Ps 39:11 הָסֵר מֵעָלַי נִגְעֶ֑ךָ, Job 9:34; Job 13:21; Joel 2:20 of reproach Josh 5:9; Isa 25:8; Ps 119:22, iniquity Ezek 18:31; Zech 3:4, bloodguiltiness, 1Kgs 2:31, wrath Judg 8:3; Num 25:11; Prov 24:18, murmurings Num 17:21; Num 17:25 הֵקֵל מֵעַל to lighten from upon one Exod 18:22 +; Amos 5:23 הָסֵר מֵעָלַיהֲמוֺן שִׁירֶיךָ; pregnantly Jonah 1:11; Jonah 1:12 that the sea יִשְׁתֹּק מֵעָלֵינוּ may be calm from off us; to remove, etc., מֵעַל פָּנַי (see פָּנִים); 1Sam 6:20 to whom shall he go up מֵעָלֵינוּ — not merely 'from us,' but — from upon us (relieving us of his presence), so often of an army retiring from a country or raising a siege, 2Sam 10:14 ויָּשָׁב יוֺאָב מֵעַל בְּנֵי עַמּוֺן, 2Sam 20:21 וְאֵעלכָה מֵעַל הָעִיר, v2Sam 20:22 Ki 2Sam 3:27; 2Sam 18:14, especially with עָלָה, נַעֲלָה 1Kgs 15:19; Jer 21:2; Jer 37:5; Jer 37:11 +; 2Sam 19:10 David fled מעל אבשׁלום from Absalom (whom his presence had encumbered), Neh 13:28 וָאַבְרִיחֵהוּ מֵעָלַי, compare Gen 13:11; Gen 25:6; Num 20:21 מֵעָלָיו ׳וַיֵּט ישׂר, 2Chr 20:10; Exod 10:28 לֵךְ מֵעָלַי (contemptuously; be no more obnoxious to me), similarly 2Sam 13:17 שׁלחונֿא אתזֿאת מעלי (Amnon of Tamar).


  c. From beside (compare על 6 c), in different nuances: Gen 17:22 God went up מעל אברהם from beside A., Gen 35:13; Gen 18:3 אל נא תעבר מעל עבדך (compare על vGen 18:5), Gen 42:24; Num 16:25; Num 16:27; 1Kgs 1:53 to come down מֵעַל הַמִּזְבֵּחַ (compare על 1Kgs 13:1 6 c and 7 b); from attendance on Gen 45:1 (compare על ib.), Judg 3:19 וְיֵּצְאוּ מֵעָלָיו כָּלהָֿעֹמְדִים עָלָיו 1Sam 17:15 (see Dr), 2Sam 13:9, compare1 Sam 2Sam 13:8; 2Sam 13:11; 2Kgs 25:5 (Jer 36:21 read עַל, מ being dittograph), compare 2Chr 35:15 from attachment to, ׳רָחַק מֵעַל י Jer 2:5; Ezek 11:15; Ezek 44:10, compare Ezek 8:6, ׳סָר מֵעַל י Jer 32:40; Ezek 6:9, ׳תָּעָה מֵעַל י Ezek 44:10; Ezek 44:15, compare Ezek 14:5; Deut 13:11 also סָר מֵעַל חַטּאֹות 2Kgs 10:31; 2Kgs 15:18 (usually מֵחטאות), compare Ezek 14:6; Ezek 23:18 from companionship with, Job 19:13 אַחַי מֵעַלַי הִרְחִיק; from accompanying protectingly 1Sam 28:15 וֵאלֹהִים סָר מֵעַלַי, v1Sam 28:16 (compare על Ps 110:5 and see Dr); from adhesion to 2Kgs 17:21 קָרַע ישׂראל מֵעַל בֵּית תָּוִד, Isa 7:17; Isa 56:6 יַבְדִּילַנִי מֵעַל עַמּוֺ ׳י, Hos 9:1 זָנִיתָ מֵעַל אֱלֹהֶיךָ.


  d. In late Hebrew, = עַל above: 2Kgs 25:28 נָתַן ׳כִּסְאוֺ מֵעַל כִּסֵּא וגו (|| Jer 52:32 more class. מִמַּעַל לְ), Esth 3:1; Ps 108:5 גדול מעל שׁמים (|| Ps 57:11 עַד), Ps 148:4; Eccl 5:7 גָּבֹהַּ מֵעַל גָּבֹהַּ שֹׁמֵר, Neh 3:28; Neh 8:5; 2Chr 34:4 לְמַעְלָה מֵעֲלֵיהֶם on high above them; Ezek 41:17; Ezek 41:20. — Prov 14:14 read with De Now Str וּמִמַּעֲלָלָיו.


  e. מֵעַל לְ (chiefly late, and pleonastic for עַל, or else = the more class. synonym מִמַּעַל לְ): (a) Gen 1:7 מֵעַל לָרָקִיעַ (Ezek 1:26 ׳מִמַּעַל לְ), Ezek 1:25 (text dubious; see Commentaries), 1Sam 17:39; Jonah 4:6; Mal 1:5 upon, over the border (territory) of Israel (so Köhl Ke: but Hi Ew We beyond, 2Chr 13:4 upon, mount Zemaraim, 2Chr 24:20. (b) beside 2Chr 26:19 מֵעַל לְמִזְבַּח הַקְּטֹרֶת; Neh 12:31 (twice in verse); Neh 12:37; Neh 12:38 (twice in verse); Neh 12:39 dubious: BeRy (in all) off the side of (מִן 6) = at a little distance from; Ke in vNeh 12:31 vNeh 12:38a upon, in vNeh 12:37 vNeh 12:38b; vNeh 12:39 by the side of (an ... vorüber).


BDB6111 H4192 H5921 H5961

BDB6110 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB6112

עֲלָמוֺת, עַלמֿוּת etc., see עַלְמָה below II. עלם. below


BDB9768 H5922 H5921

BDB9767 | BIBLICAL ARAMAIC | BDB9769

עַל preposition upon, over, on account of, above, to, against (Biblical Hebrew and general Aramaic id.); — suffix 1 singular עֲלַי; 2 masculine singular עליך Kt (so Egyptian Aramaic, CookeNo. 77, A 5, 6, B 8, S-CPap. A 3, B 5 +), עֲלָךְ, Qr (ᵑ7 עֲלַךְ, Dalm§ 47, 2) Dan 3:12 + 6 t. Daniel; Ezra 7:18 3 masculine singular עֲלוֺהִי (so Nabataean, Palmyrene; Egyptian Aramaic עלוי S-CA 6 +) Dan 3:28 +, עֲלֹהִי Ezra 6:11 3 feminine singular עליה Kt (so Egyptian Aramaic, S-CD 24), עֲלַהּ Qr (so ᵑ7) Dan 4:14; Dan 5:21 1 plural עֲלֵינָא Ezra 4:12, עֲלֵ֑ינָא Ezra 4:18; Ezra 5:17 Baer (Gi עֲלֶ֑ינָא); 3 masculine plural עֲלֵיהֹם (so Nabataean, CISii. 226; Egyptian Aramaic, S-CPap. F 5, 8+) Ezra 7:24, עֲלֵיהוֺן Ezra 5:1; Ezra 5:3

1. a. upon, Dan 2:10; Dan 2:28; Dan 2:46; Dan 5:5; Dan 5:7; Dan 6:11 + often, Dan 4:26 עַלהֵֿיכַל מַלְכוּתָא (2Sam 11:2); to be established עַל מַלְכוּתִי 2Sam 4:33 (compare 2Chr 1:1 Biblical Hebrew II. 1) to lay an impost upon, Ezra 7:24 to trust on, Dan 3:28 after a verb of motion, מְטָא עַל to come upon, Dan 4:21; Dan 4:25 of times, to pass over, Dan 4:13; Dan 4:20; Dan 4:22; Dan 4:29; Ezra 5:1 בְּשֻׁם אֱלָהּ יִשְׂרָאֵל עֲלֵיהוֺן i.e. (named) over them.
  b. idiomatic (as in Biblical Hebrew; see II. 1 d) of the person who is the subject of an emotion or experience, Dan 5:9 וְזִיוֺתִי שָׁנַיִן עֲלוֺהִי were changed upon him, Dan 7:28; Dan 6:19 וְשִׁנְּתֵהּ נַדַּת עֲלוֺהִי (compare Dan 2:1).
  c. on accusative of (Biblical Hebrew 1 f b), Dan 3:16 פִּתְגָּם עַלדְּֿנָה. So in עַלדְּֿנָה on this accusative Ezra 4:15; Ezra 4:22; Ezra 5:17, עַלמָֿה wherefore ? Dan 2:15 and עַל דִּבְרַת דִּי (see ׳דְּ).
  d. on behalf of (ib. 1 f c), Ezra 6:17.
  e. regarding, concerning (ib. 1 f g), Dan 2:18; Dan 5:14; Dan 5:29; Dan 6:6; Dan 6:13; Ezra 7:14 + often
2. over, with verbs of ruling, appointing, etc., Dan 2:48; Dan 2:49; Dan 3:12; Dan 4:14 +, Ezra 4:20; Ezra 6:18.
3. in a comparative sense, above, beyond, Dan 3:19; Dan 6:4.
4. expressing direction:
  a. to, of a person, after a verb of motion (compare Biblical Hebrew 7 c a a), Dan 2:24; Dan 4:31; Dan 4:33; Dan 6:7; Dan 6:16; Ezra 4:12; Ezra 4:23 + often; after to send (a letter, etc.) Ezra 4:11; Ezra 4:17; Ezra 4:18; Ezra 5:6 +, write Ezra 4:7, prophesy Ezra 5:1 of the direction of the mind (ib. 7c c), Dan 3:12; Dan 6:14 (twice in verse); Dan 6:15 compare Ezra 5:5 הֲוַת עַל ׳וְעֵין אֱל (compare Jer 40:4 and אֶל Ps 34:16).
  b. against, Dan 3:19; Dan 3:29; Dan 5:23; Dan 6:5; Dan 6:6 +; Ezra 4:8; Ezra 7:23.
5. in such phrases as שְׁפַר עַל, טְאֵב (to be) good or acceptable to (as in Syriac and late Hebrew: see Biblical Hebrew 8), Ezra 5:17 אִם עַל מַלְכָּא טָב, Ezra 7:18 (twice in verse); Dan 4:24 (יִשְׁפַּר), Dan 6:15 (בְּאֵשׁ), v.Dan 6:24 (טְאֵב). — compare the synopsis of meanings in Lzb340.

upon, against, over, in, for, …
ʿal
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
  • (prep) upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against
    • upon, on the ground of, on the basis of, on account of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of, as regards
    • "above, beyond, over (of excess)"above, over (of elevation or pre-eminence)"upon, to, over to, unto, in addition to, together with, with (of addition)"over (of suspension or extension)"by, adjoining, next, at, over, around (of contiguity or proximity)"down upon, upon, on, from, up upon, up to,, towards, over towards, to, against (with verbs of motion)"to (as a dative)
    (conj) because that, because, notwithstanding, although

שִׁ֭כְמִ י
שִׁ֭כְמִ
Root word shoulder, shoulders, back, consent, portion
י
Suffix — pronoun my / me
Dictionary form: שְׁכֶם · sheh-KEM

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

In the KJV here: my shoulder
his shoulder ×6 her shoulder ×3 their shoulders ×2 by consent ×1 consent ×1 from his shoulders ×1 he from his shoulders ×1 his back ×1
More options
shoulder — Primary anatomical sense; most common usage.
back — Used when describing turning away or fleeing.
portion — Figurative sense of a share or allotted piece.
neck — Some contexts imply the upper back or neck ridge.
load-bearing back — Emphasizes carrying or burden-bearing contexts.

BDB8670 H7926 H7929 H7927

BDB8669 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB8671

I. שְׁכֶם noun masculineZeph 3:9 shoulder; — absolute ׳שׁ Gen 48:2 +, שְׁכֶ֑ם Gen 33:19 +, שֶׁ֑כֶם Ps 21:13 (whence original *šakm inferred Ol§ 147 a near the end Sta§ 199 a; but ֶ֯ derived from ִ֯ before כ, BaNB 104 ii.l.67, 506); construct שְׁכֶם Gen 9:23 suffix שִׁכְמוֺ Gen 49:15 +, שִׁכְמָה (for שִׁכְמָהּ Ges«GKC:91e»§ 91e) Job 31:22, etc.; —

1. shoulder (sometimes including back of neck; כתף = shoulder-blade):
  a. as bearing burdens, לִסְבֹּל ׳וַיֵּט שׁ Gen 49:15 (poem in J; Issachar under figure of ass), compare Gen 21:14 (E), Gen 24:15; Gen 24:45; Exod 12:34, also Gen 9:23 (all J), Josh 4:5 (E), Judg 9:48; Isa 10:27 (|| צַוָּאר), Isa 14:25 (both figurative), Ps 81:7, so, metaphorical, of responsibility of rule Isa 9:5; Isa 22:22= (symbolized by key), of accusation as (easy) burden Job 31:36 figurative also אֶחָד ׳לְעָבְדוֺ שׁ Zeph 3:9 to serve him (with) one shoulder (as one man), of. Syriac .
  b. in statement of Saul's height, מִשִּׁכְמוֺ וָמַ֫עְלָה גָּכֹהַּ מִכָּלהָֿעָם1Sam 9:2, compare 1Sam 10:23 and (with play on proper name, of a location שְׁכֶם) אַהַד עַלאַֿחֶיךָ ׳נָתַתִּי לְךָ שׁ Gen 48:22 (E; compare Dr).
2. in general back: כְּהַפְנֹתוֺ שִׁכְמוֺ לָלֶכֶת מֵעִם 1Sam 10:9 so ׳תְּשִׁיתֵמוֺ שׁ Ps 21:13, i.e. make them turn (in flight; compare וְאוֺיְבַי נָתַתָּה לִי עֹרֶף, Ps 18:41); as beaten ׳מַטֵּה שׁ Isa 9:3 (|| שֵׁבֶט הַנֹּנֵשׂ בּוֺ); more anatomical תִפּוֺל ׳כְּתֵפִי מִשּׁ Job 31:22 let my shoulder blade fall from its back. — Hos 6:9 see II. שְׁכֶם below


שִׁכְמָה see foregoing.

shoulder, shoulders, back, consent, portion
šĕkem
the neck (between the shoulders) as the place of burdens; figuratively, the spur of a hill
  • shoulder, back
    • shoulder, shoulder-blade
    • "back (generally)

אֶשָּׂאֶ ֑נּוּ
אֶשָּׂאֶ
Root word up, bear, take, bare, away, …
֑נּוּ
Suffix — pronoun his / him / it
Dictionary form: נָשָׂא · naw-SAW

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

In the KJV here: i would take
lift up ×27 and lifted up ×18 lifted up ×18 that bare ×15 take ×14 shall bear ×12 to bear ×12 bear ×11
More options
lift — Most common sense; raising something physically or figuratively.
carry — Preferred when sustained bearing or transport is in view.
bear — Broad: carry a load, bear guilt/sin, or endure.
take — Use when the motion of taking or receiving is primary.
forgive — Idiomatic for 'lifting' sin or guilt; theological contexts.
exalt — Figurative lifting of status or honor; elevated register.

BDB9721 H5375 H5376

BDB9720 | BIBLICAL ARAMAIC | BDB9722

נְשָׂא verb lift, take, carry (compare Biblical Hebrew; rare in Aramaic; see נְסִי, נְסָא ChWB, NHWB); —

Pe`al Perfect 3 masculine singular ׳נ Dan 2:35 carry away (of wind, with accusative of thing); Imperative masculine singular שֵׂא Ezra 5:15 take (accusative vessels). Hithpa. make a rising, an insurrection: Participle feminine singular מִתְנַשְּׂאָה Ezra 4:19, עַל person


נְשֵׁיהוֺן see [נָשִׁין] below II. אנשׁ.

up, bear, take, bare, away, …
nāśāʾ
to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative
  • to lift, bear up, carry, take
    • (Qal)
      • to lift, lift up
      • "to bear, carry, support, sustain, endure"to take, take away, carry off, forgive
      (Niphal)
      • to be lifted up, be exalted
      • "to lift oneself up, rise up"to be borne, be carried"to be taken away, be carried off, be swept away
      (Piel)
      • to lift up, exalt, support, aid, assist
      • "to desire, long (figuratively)"to carry, bear continuously"to take, take away
      (Hithpael) to lift oneself up, exalt oneself"(Hiphil)
      • to cause one to bear (iniquity)
      • "to cause to bring, have brought

אֶֽעֶנְדֶ ֖נּוּ
אֶֽעֶנְדֶ
Root word bind, tie
֖נּוּ
Suffix — pronoun his / him / it
Dictionary form: עָנַד · aw-NAHD

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

In the KJV here: and bind
and bind ×1 and tie ×1
More options
fasten — General-purpose; suits most contexts naturally.
tie — Casual register; good for simple, physical binding.
bind — Slightly formal; fits ritual or ceremonial contexts.
attach — Emphasizes securing one thing to another.
wrap around — Highlights encircling motion, e.g. headbands or ornaments.

BDB6193 H6029

BDB6192 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB6194

[עָנַד] verb bind around, upon (compare Arabic turn aside from way; Syriac defecit, defuit; compare also עִמָּדִי (for עִמִּי)); —

Qal Imperfect 1 singular לִי אֶעֶנְרֶנּוּ Job 31:36 (object garland, in figure); Imperative suffix עָנְדֵם Prov 6:21 (figurative; || קָשַׁר).

bind, tie
ʿānad
to lace fast
  • to bind, tie up, bind around or upon
    • (Qal) to tie up

עֲטָר֣וֹת
עֲטָר֣וֹת
Root word crown, crowns
Dictionary form: עֲטָרָה · uh-taw-RAW

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

In the KJV here: it as a crown to me
the crown ×6 a crown ×3 crown ×3 crowns ×2 is a crown ×2 and the crowns ×1 are the crown ×1 even the crown ×1
More options
crown — Most direct equivalent; fits royal and honorific contexts.
wreath — Prefer when woven/floral headpiece is implied.
diadem — Elevated register; suits poetic or majestic passages.
garland — Festive or celebratory contexts; non-regal honour.
circlet — Emphasises circular band shape; neutral, modern register.

BDB5996 H5850

BDB5995 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB5997

I. עֲטָרָה noun feminine crown, wreath; — absolute ׳ע Ezek 21:31; Song 3:11 construct עֲטֶרֶת 2Sam 12:30 + 17 t.; plural עֲטָרוֺת Zech 6:11; Job 31:36, עֲטָוֺת Zech 6:14crown:

1. of idol-image (Milcom, ᵐ5 We Klo Dr Kit Löhr HPS) 2Sam 12:30 = 1Chr 20:2 golden, פָּז ׳ע Ps 21:4 ׳ע תִּפְאַרְתְּכֶם of king and queen, Jer 13:18 the crown of your splendour; compare Ezek 21:31 wedding-crown Song 3:11.
2. זָהָב ׳ע Esth 8:15 (of Mordecai); of silver and gold Zech 6:11; Zech 6:14 תִּפְאֶרֶת ׳ע crown of splendour, on personified Jerusalem Ezek 16:12 (in allegory), Jerusalem and Samaria Ezek 23:42 ׳ע as appositive ( = simile) Job 31:36.
3. fig of honour, etc., Job 19:9 (|| כְּבוֺדִי Lam 5:16 בַּעְלָהּ ׳אַשֶׁת חַיִל ע Prov 12:4, compare Prov 14:24; Prov 17:6 תִּפְאֶרֶת ׳ע Prov 16:31 (of שֵׂיבָה); gift of wisdom Prov 4:9 figurative of Jerusalem Isa 62:3 (|| צְנִיף מְלוּכָה, compare גֵאוּת ׳ע Isa 28:1; Isa 28:3 figurative of Samaria; figurative of ׳י, צְבִי ׳ע vIsa 28:5 (|| צְפִירַת תִּפְאָרָה).

crown, crowns
ʿăṭārâ
a crown
  • crown, wreath

לִֽ י
לִֽ
Preposition to, for
י
Suffix — pronoun my / me

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.
אִם לֹ֣א עַל שִׁ֭כְמִי Dechi — a lesser break אֶשָּׂאֶ֑נּוּ Atnach — the verse's main pause — take a breath here אֶֽעֶנְדֶ֖נּוּ עֲטָר֣וֹת לִֽי Silluq — end of the verse

אִם-לֹא עַל-שִׁכְמִי אֶשָּׂאֶנּוּ אֶֽעֶנְדֶנּוּ עֲטָרוֹת לִֽי׃
36
Surely I would take it upon my shoulder, and bind it as a crown to me.
Cross References

Isaiah 22:22

וְנָתַתִּי מַפְתֵּחַ בֵּית-דָּוִד עַל-שִׁכְמוֹ וּפָתַח וְאֵין סֹגֵר וְסָגַר וְאֵין פֹּתֵֽחַ׃
22
And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; so he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open.

Job 29:14

צֶדֶק לָבַשְׁתִּי וַיִּלְבָּשֵׁנִי כִּמְעִיל וְצָנִיף מִשְׁפָּטִֽי׃
14
I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: my judgment was as a robe and a diadem.

Philippians 4:1

Ὥστε ἀδελφοί μου ἀγαπητοὶ καὶ ἐπιπόθητοι χαρὰ καὶ στέφανός μου οὕτως στήκετε ἐν κυρίῳ ἀγαπητοί
1
Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.

Exodus 28:12

וְשַׂמְתָּ אֶת-שְׁתֵּי הָֽאֲבָנִים עַל כִּתְפֹת הָֽאֵפֹד אַבְנֵי זִכָּרֹן לִבְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְנָשָׂא אַֽהֲרֹן אֶת-שְׁמוֹתָם לִפְנֵי יְהוָה עַל-שְׁתֵּי כְתֵפָיו לְזִכָּרֹֽן׃
12
And thou shalt put the two stones upon the shoulders of the ephod for stones of memorial unto the children of Israel: and Aaron shall bear their names before the LORD upon his two shoulders for a memorial.

Isaiah 62:3

וְהָיִיתְ עֲטֶרֶת תִּפְאֶרֶת בְּיַד-יְהוָה ‫(וצנוף)‬ וּצְנִיף מְלוּכָה בְּכַף-אֱלֹהָֽיִךְ׃
3
Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God.