Psalms 119:83

For I am become like a bottle in the smoke; yet do I not forget thy statutes.
Select a Hebrew word above to see its details.

כִּֽי
כִּֽי
Conjunction for, that, because, but, when, …
Dictionary form: כִּי · kee

Conjunction

In the KJV here: for
for ×2058 that ×621 because ×373 but ×221 when ×190 if ×94 and if ×49 though ×39
More options
because — Causal; explains the reason for a preceding statement.
that — Complementary/content clause; introduces indirect speech or thought.
since — Causal with a presupposed background fact.
when — Temporal; use where כִּי marks time rather than cause.
if — Conditional; use in hypothetical or legal-style clauses.
although — Concessive; acknowledges a contrasting reality.

BDB3937 H3587 H3588

BDB3936 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB3938

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


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.


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.


BDB6199 H6258 H2088 H2009 H5704 H3588

BDB6198 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB6200

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

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

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


BDB6202 H3282 H834 H3588

BDB6201 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB6203

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

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

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

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


BDB9640 H3809 H3861 H518 H2006 H3808 H3588

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.

for, that, because, but, when, …
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
  • that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since
    • that
      • yea, indeed
      when (of time)
      • when, if, though (with a concessive force)
      because, since (causal connection)"but (after negative)"that if, for if, indeed if, for though, but if"but rather, but"except that"only, nevertheless"surely"that is"but if"for though"forasmuch as, for therefore

הָ֭יִיתִי
הָ֭יִיתִי
Root word be, pass, was, were, came, …
Dictionary form: הָיָה · haw-YAW

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

In the KJV here: i am become
and it came to pass ×336 shall be ×333 was ×233 be ×174 came ×133 were ×117 and it shall come to pass ×97 and it shall be ×92
More options
be — Default copula; suits timeless or stative contexts.
become — Prefer when a change of state or transformation is implied.
happen — Fits narrative events; modernizes 'come to pass'.
occur — Formal register; good for reported events or incidents.
exist — Emphasizes being or presence rather than action.
take place — Idiomatic for scheduled or unfolding events.

BDB2100 H3068 H3069 H1961 H430 H589 H2022 H6635

BDB2099 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB2101

יהוהc. 6823 i.e. יַהְוֶה proper name, of deity Yahweh, the proper name of the God of Israel — (

1. ᵑ0 יְהוָֺהC518 (Qr אֲדֹנָי), or יֱהוִֺה305 (Qr אֱלֹהִים), in the combinations אדני יהוה & יהוה אדני (see אֲדֹנֶי), and with preposition בַּיהוָֺה, לַיהוָֺה, מֵיהוָֺה (Qr בַּאדֹנָי, לַאדֹנָי, מֵאדֹנָי), do not give the original form. ᵐ5 and other Vrss follow the Qr. On the basis of Exod 20:7; Lev 24:11 יהוה was regarded as a nomen ineffabile (see Philode Vita Mosis iii. 519, 529), called by the Jews הַשֵּׁם and by the Samaritans שׁימא. The pronunciation Jehovah was unknown until 1520, when it was introduced by Galatinus; but it was contested by Le Mercier, J. Drusius, and L. Capellus, as against grammatical and historical propriety (compare § 88). The traditional Ἰαβέ of Theodoret and Epiphanius, the יָֿהוּ, יְהוֺֿ of compound proper name and the contracted form יָהּ all favour יַהְוֶךְ (compare יַהֲלֹמ֑וּן Ps 74:6 תַּהֲרוּ Isa 33:11), see LagSym i.14 BaudStudien i.179 ff.; DrStud.Bib.i.1 ff. For Jeve see StaZAW 1881, 346 Deib.1882, 173 f. & Gn. Excurs. ii.
2. on literature of interpretations see NesEg.67 Drl.c. — Many recent scholars explain יַהְוֶה as Hiph`il of היה (=היה) the one bringing into being, life-giver (compare חַוָּה Gen 3:20) Schr HSch; giver of existence, creator, Kue Tiele; he who brings to pass (so already Le Clerc),performer of his promises, Lag, NesEg.88 (but NesEg.91 inclines to Qal as RSBrit. & For. Ev. Rev see below); or from היה he who causes to fall, rain or lightning RSOTJC.ed.1, 423; om.ed.2, 245, compare WeSkizzen iii.175; 'Fäller,' destroying foes, StaG.i.429 (dubiously). But most take it as Qal of הוה (= היה); the one who is: i.e. the absolute and unchangeable one, Ri; the existing, ever living, as self-consistent and unchangeable, Di; or the one ever coming into manifestation as the God of redemption, De Oehl; compare also RSBrit. & For. Ev. Rev. 1876, he will be it, i.e all that his servants look for (compare Ewinfr), he will approve himself (give evidence of being, assert his being Drl.c.17)).
**Theories of non-Hebrew or non-Semitic origin, opposed (in their older forms) by BauRel. i. 181 ff. (see especially 230); DlPa 162 ff. claimed Babylonian origin for יהו, against this Kuenational Religions, etc., Note iv (Eng. Trans. 329 ff.) JastrJBL xiil {1894}, 103 f. compare HptBAS i. 170 N; DlBabel u. Bibel, 46 f., 73 f. makes same claim for יהוה, against this see especially HirschZAW xxiil {1903}, 355 ff. ZimKATS. 465 ff.; SpiegelbZMG:liii {1899}, 633 ff. proposes (improbable) Egyptian etymology for יהוה; further discussions see in KöEB NAMES, § 112 and n.3. 'Jehovah' found in Jacob (? Johannes) Wessel († 1480), according to SchwThLZ, 1905, col. 612.

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

II. 1. יהוה is used with אלהים and suffixes, especially in D;
  a. with אֱלֹהֶיךָ in the Ten Words Exod 20:2-12 (5 t.) = Deut 5:6-16 in the law of worship of J E, Exod 23:19; Exod 34:24; Exod 34:26 in D 234 t.; Josh 1:9; Josh 1:17; Josh 9:9; Josh 9:24 (D2); elsewhere Gen 27:20; Exod 15:26 (JE), Judg 6:26 Samuel & Kings 20 t.; 1Chr 11:2; 1Chr 22:11; 1Chr 22:12; 2Chr 9:8 (twice in verse); 2Chr 16:7; Isa 7:11; Isa 37:4 (twice in verse); Isa 41:13; Isa 43:3; Isa 51:15; Isa 55:5; Jer 40:2 + (3t.); Hos 12:10; Hos 13:4; Hos 14:2; Amos 9:15; Ps 81:11.
  b. with אֱלֹהֵיכֶם in D 46 t.; D2 28 t.; H 15 t.; P 15 t.; elsewhere Exod 23:25 (E); Exod 8:24; Exod 10:8; Exod 10:16; Exod 10:17 (JE); Judg 6:10; 1Sam 12:12; 1Sam 12:14; 2Kgs 17:39; 2Kgs 23:21; 1Chr 22:18 + (10 t. Chronicles) Ps 76:12; Jer 13:16 + (5 t.) Ezek 20:5; Ezek 20:7; Ezek 20:19; Ezek 20:20; Joel 2:13 + (6 t.) Zech 6:15.
  c. with אֱלֹהֵינוּ in D 23 t.; in D2 5 t.; Exod 8:6 (JE) Exod 3:18; Exod 5:3; Exod 8:22; Exod 8:23; Exod 10:25; Exod 10:26 (E) Judg 11:24; 1Sam 7:8; 1Kgs 8:57; 1Kgs 8:59; 1Kgs 8:61; 1Kgs 8:65; 2Kgs 18:22; 2Kgs 19:10 = Isa 36:7; Isa 37:20; 1Chr 13:2 + (15 t. Chronicles) Mic 4:5; Mic 7:17; Isa 26:13; Jer 3:22 + (17 t.) Ps 20:8; Ps 90:17 (?;Baer אֲדנָֹי); Ps 94:23; Ps 99:5; Ps 99:8; Ps 99:9 (twice in verse); Ps 105:7; Ps 106:47; Ps 113:5; Ps 122:9; Ps 123:2; Dan 9:10; Dan 9:13; Dan 9:14.
  d. with אֱלֹהֵיהֶם Exod 10:7 (J) Exod 29:46 (twice in verse); Lev 26:44 (P) Judg 3:7; Judg 8:34; 1Sam 12:9; 1Kgs 9:9; 2Kgs 17:7; 2Kgs 17:9; 2Kgs 17:14; 2Kgs 17:16; 2Kgs 17:19; 2Kgs 18:12; 2Chr 31:6; 2Chr 33:17; 2Chr 34:33; Neh 9:3 (twice in verse); Neh 9:4; Jer 3:21; Jer 22:9; Jer 30:9; Jer 43:1 (twice in verse); Jer 50:4; Ezek 28:26; Ezek 34:30; Ezek 39:22; Ezek 39:28; Hos 1:7; Hos 3:5; Hos 7:10; Zeph 2:7; Hag 1:12 (twice in verse); Zech 9:16; Zech 10:6.
  e. with אֱלֹהָיו Num 23:21 (E) Exod 32:11 (J) Lev 4:22 (P) Deut 17:19; Deut 18:7; 1Sam 30:6; 1Kgs 5:17; 1Kgs 11:4; 1Kgs 15:3; 1Kgs 15:4; 1Kgs 2:11; 1Kgs 16:2; 1Kgs 2:1 + 13 t. Chronicles; Mic 5:3; Jer 7:28; Ps 33:12; Ps 144:15; Ps 146:5; Jonah 2:2. feminine with אֱלֹהַי Num 22:18 (JE) Deut 4:5; Deut 18:16; Deut 26:14; Josh 14:8; Josh 14:9; 2Sam 24:24; 1Kgs 3:7; 1Kgs 5:18; 1Kgs 5:19; 1Kgs 8:28; 1Kgs 17:20; 1Kgs 17:21; 1Chr 21:17; 1Chr 22:7; 2Chr 2:3; 2Chr 6:19; 2Chr 9:5; Ps 7:2; Ps 7:4; Ps 13:4; Ps 18:29; Ps 30:3; Ps 30:13; Ps 35:24; Ps 40:6; Ps 104:1; Ps 109:26; Isa 25:1; Jer 31:18; Dan 9:4; Dan 9:20; Jonah 2:7; Hab 1:12; Zech 11:4; Zech 13:9; Zech 14:5.
  g. with אֱלֹהַיִךְ Isa 60:9; Jer 2:17; Jer 2:19; Jer 3:13; Mic 7:10; Zeph 3:17.
  h. with אלהים, probably always due to later editors, or to a Qr which has crept into the text Gen 2:4b — Gen 3:23 (J, 20 t. either אלהים inserted by RP as Di De; or יהוה inserted by J in an older source); Exod 9:30 (J, but not in ᵐ5 ; Samaritan אדני יהוה; possibly ᵑ0 from earlier Qr, & from later Qr); 2Sam 7:22; 2Sam 7:25 (ᵐ5 אדני יהוה and 1Chr 17:20-23 only יהוה); 1Chr 17:16; 1Chr 17:17 (but 2Sam 7:18; 2Sam 7:19 אדני יהוה) 1Chr 28:20; 1Chr 29:1; 2Chr 1:9; 2Chr 6:41 (twice in verse); 2Chr 6:42; 2Chr 26:18 (but in the original Ps 132:8 stood יהוה (so ), or else no divine name); Ps 72:18 (the late doxology) Ps 84:12 (but it makes the line too long); Jonah 4:6. For the combinations with other divine names see those names.
2. the phrase אֲנִי יהוה is noteworthy: —
  a. after אמר either alone Exod 6:2; Exod 6:29 (P) or before relative and other clauses: Gen 28:13 (J) Gen 15:7 (R) Exod 6:6 (P) with אלהיכם Judg 6:10; Ezek 20:5.
  b. after ידע כי (α) Exod 7:17; Exod 8:18; Exod 10:2 (J); Exod 7:5; Exod 14:4; Exod 14:18 (P); 1Kgs 20:13; 1Kgs 20:28; Jer 24:7; Ezek 6:7 + 48 t. Ezekiel; (β) with אלהיכם Exod 6:7; Exod 16:12; Deut 29:5 (P) Exod 20:20; Joel 4:17 (γ) with אלהיהם Exod 29:46 (P) Ezek 28:26; Ezek 34:30; Ezek 39:22; Ezek 39:28 (δ) before relative and other clauses Isa 45:3; Isa 49:23; Isa 49:26; Isa 60:16; Ezek 7:9; Ezek 17:24; Ezek 21:10; Ezek 22:22; Ezek 35:12; Ezek 36:36 (ε) with various forms of קדשׁ Exod 31:13 (P) Ezek 20:12; Ezek 37:28; Ezek 39:7 (ζ) with דברתי Ezek 5:13; Ezek 17:21, compare ׳יֵדְעוּ אשׁר אני י Ezek 20:26.
  c. after כִּי in various combinations Lev 11:44; Lev 11:45; Num 35:34 (P), Lev 20:7; Lev 20:26; Lev 21:8; Lev 21:15; Lev 21:23; Lev 22:16; Lev 24:22; Lev 25:17; Lev 26:1; Lev 26:44 (all H); Exod 15:26 (R) Isa 41:13; Isa 43:3; Isa 61:8; Jer 9:23; Ezek 12:25; Ezek 21:4; Zech 10:6; Mal 3:6.
  d. emphatic Exod 6:8; Exod 12:12; Lev 26:2; Lev 26:45; Num 3:13; Num 3:41; Num 3:45 (all P); Lev 18:5; Lev 18:6; Lev 18:21; Lev 19:12; Lev 19:14; Lev 19:16; Lev 19:18; Lev 19:28; Lev 19:30; Lev 19:32; Lev 19:37; Lev 21:12; Lev 22:2; Lev 22:3; Lev 22:8; Lev 22:30; Lev 22:31; Lev 22:33 (all H) Isa 43:15 with אלהיהם Exod 29:46 with אלהיךָ Isa 48:17 with אלהיכם Lev 23:43; Lev 25:38; Lev 25:55; Num 10:10; Num 15:41 (twice in verse) (P) Lev 18:2; Lev 18:4; Lev 18:30; Lev 19:2; Lev 19:3; Lev 19:4; Lev 19:10; Lev 19:25; Lev 19:31; Lev 19:34; Lev 19:36; Lev 20:24; Lev 23:22; Lev 26:13 (all H) Ezek 20:7; Ezek 20:19; Joel 2:27 with מְקַדֵּשׁ Lev 20:8; Lev 22:9; Lev 22:32 (H), with דברתי Num 14:35 (P) Ezek 5:15 + (11 t. Ezekiel); with clauses Isa 27:3; Isa 41:4; Isa 41:17; Isa 42:6; Isa 42:8; Isa 45:5; Isa 45:6; Isa 45:7; Isa 45:8; Isa 45:18; Isa 45:19; Isa 45:21; Isa 60:22; Jer 17:10; Jer 32:27; Ezek 14:4; Ezek 14:7; Ezek 14:9; Ezek 34:24 אָנֹכִי יהוה is used in the Ten Words Exod 20:2; Exod 20:5 = Deut 5:6; Deut 5:9 cited Ps 81:11; Hos 12:10; Hos 13:4 elsewhere only Exod 4:11 (J) Isa 43:11; Isa 44:24; Isa 51:15.
3. יהוה is also used with several predicates, to form sacred names of holy places of Yahweh יהוה יראה Gen 22:14 (J); יהוה נסי Exod 17:15 (E) יהוה שׁלים Judg 6:24 יהוה צדקנו Jer 33:16 (compare Jer 23:6 where it is applied to the Messiah); יהוה שָׁ֑מָּה Ezek 48:35. — On combinations such as ׳הַר י, צְבָאוֺת ׳י etc., see הַר, צָבָא, etc.

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


BDB2145 H1961

BDB2144 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB2146

הָיָה3570 verb fall out, come to pass, become, be (SI1; SI6 היה, ib3 הית; parallel form of הוה, Arabic , Aramaic הֲוָא, ; see הָוָה above) —

Qal Perfect 3 masculine singular הָיָה Gen 3:1 +; וְהָיָה consecutive Gen 4:14 +; 3 feminine singular הָֽיְתָה Gen 1:2 +; הָיָ֑תָה Isa 14:24 + 3 t.; וְהָֽיְתָה consecutive Gen 9:13 +; והית2Kgs 9:37 Kt (Qr וְהָֽיְתָה); 2 masculine singular הָיִיתָ Deut 5:15 +; 1 singular הָיִיתִיGen 31:40 3 plural הָיוּ Gen 6:4 +; 2 masculine plural הֱיִיתֶ ם Exod 22:20 +; וִהְיִיתֶם consecutive Gen 3:5 +; 1 plural הָיִינוּIsa 1:9 +; etc.; Imperfect 3 masculine singular יִהְיֶה Gen 1:29 +; jussive יְהִיGen 1:3 +; יֶהִ֑י Ezek 16:15 וִיהִיGen 1:6 +; וַיְהִי Gen 1:3 +; וַיֶּ֑הִי Ps 33:9; Ezek 16:19 3 feminine singular תִּהְיֶה Gen 21:30 +; 1 singular אֶהְיֶה Exod 3:12 +; וָאֶהְיֶה2Sam 7:6 + 9 t.; וָאֱהִי Judg 18:4 + 12 t.; 3 masculine plural יִהְיוּ Gen 6:19 +; 3 feminine plural תִּהְיֶינָהIsa 16:2 + 19 t.; תִּהְיֶין֣Gen 41:36 + 11 t.; וְתִהְיֶנָה Jer 18:21; Jer 48:6 וַתִּהְיֶינָה 2Sam 20:3 + 6 t.; וַתִּהְיֶיןָGen 26:35; 1Sam 25:43 וַתִּהְיֶנָה 1Chr 7:15 2 masculine plural תִהְיוּ Gen 34:15 +; תִהְיוּן Exod 22:20 1 plural נִהְיֶה Gen 38:23 +; וַנִּהְיֶה2Sam 11:23; Jer 44:17 וַנְּהִי Num 13:33; Isa 64:5, etc.; Imperative masculine singular הֱיֵה Exod 18:19 +; feminine singular הֲיִיGen 24:60 masculine plural הֱיוּExod 19:15; Num 16:16, וִהְיוּ 1Sam 4:9 + 6 t.; Infinitive absolute הָיוֺ Gen 18:18 + 3 t.; הָיֹה 1Kgs 13:32; Ezek 1:3 construct הֱיוֺת Gen 2:18 +, so read probably also for הֱיֵה Ezek 21:15 compare Sm i. p. 600 f. (Co em. היהלֿה to הָהֵל shine, glitter); with prefix בִּהְיוֺת Exod 5:13 +, בִּהְיֹת Exod 19:16 +; לִהְיוֺת Gen 10:8 +, לִהְיֹת Exod 23:1 +; suffix הֱיוֺתִי Jonah 4:2 הֱיוֺתְךָ Judg 18:19 (twice in verse); לִהְיֹתְךָ Deut 26:10, etc.; Participle feminine הוֺיָה Exod 9:3.

I. 1. a. Fall out, happen מֶההָֿיָה הַדָּבָר 1Sam 4:16 how has the matter fallen out, (gone, turned out) ? so 2Sam 1:4 מֶההָֿיָה לוֺ Exod 32:1; Exod 32:23 (both J E) what has happened to him? compare 1Sam 10:12 מִקְרֶה הוּא הָיָה לָנוּ 1Sam 6:9 a chance it is that has befallen us; also וַיְהִילֿוֺ כֵּן 2Kgs 7:20 and so it happened to him, compare וַיְהִיכֵֿן below
  b. occur, take place, come about, come to pass:גְדוֺלָה הָֽיְתָה בָּעָם מַגֵּפָה 1Sam 4:17 a great slaughter has taken place among the people, compare 2Sam 17:9 וַתְּהִי הַמִּלְחָמָה בְּיַעַר אֶפְרַיִם 2Sam 18:6 and the battle took place in the wood of Ephraim (on אפרים compare Klo Dr); Josh 22:17 (P; of plague); תְּהִי נָא אָלָה Gen 26:28 (J) let an oath take place (be taken) so Judg 21:5 compare 2Kgs 17:7 (si vera lectio), Ezek 16:34 especially late, 2Chr 29:36; 2Chr 32:31; Eccl 1:9; Eccl 1:10; Eccl 3:22; Eccl 8:7; Eccl 10:14 etc.; often of fulfilment of prediction, command, expectation, etc.: — כֵּן הָיָה Gen 41:3 (E) so it came to pass, 2Sam 13:25, וַיְהִיכֵֿן Judg 6:38; 2Kgs 15:12; Isa 29:5, & especially וַיְהִיכֵֿן Gen 1:7; Gen 1:9; Gen 1:11; Gen 1:15; Gen 1:24; Gen 1:30 (all P) +; יְהִי כִדְבָרֶ֑ךָ Gen 30:34 let it be as thou sayest, Zech 6:15, see also לֹא תָקוּם וְלֹא יִהְיֶה Isa 7:7 it shall not arise (be realized) & shall not come about, Isa 14:34 (so often בּוֺא q. v. 2 c, p. 98 above)
2. especially & very often, come about, come to pass followed by substantive (subject) clause almost always + modifying (usually temporal) clause or phrase:
  a. ( I) וַיְהִי and it came to pass that, most often (c. 292 t.) followed by
   (a) Imperfect consecutive: a. with Infinitive with כְּ temporal Gen 12:14; Gen 19:17 (both J) + 75 t. + Esth 3:4 Qr (Hexateuch chiefly J, — so always Genesis, — & J E; P only Exod 16:10, D only Deut 5:20; Deut 31:24; Josh 5:1; Josh 9:1 27 t. in Kings), — somewhat different is 2Kgs 7:18 β. with Infinitive with בְּ Gen 4:8; Gen 11:2 (both J) + 29 t. + Esth 3:4 Kt (in Hexateuch 10 t. J E; 3 t. P, Gen 19:29; Exod 34:29; Num 17:7 not in D); γ. with בְּ followed by temporal noun (יוֺם, בֹּקֶר, etc.) Gen 21:22 (E) Gen 26:32 (J) + 45 t. (Hes 14 t. J E; 3 t. P, Exod 6:28; Exod 16:13; Num 7:1 not D); δ. לְ temporal 1Sam 1:20; 2Sam 13:23; 1Kgs 20:26; 1Chr 20:1 ε. כְּ temporal Gen 39:11; 1Sam 25:38 ζ. מִן temporal namely: מֵאָז Gen 39:5, מִיּוֺם 1Sam 7:2 compare 1Sam 30:25, מִיָּמִים Judg 11:4; Judg 15:1, מִקֵּץ Gen 4:3; Gen 8:6 + 6 t., מִקְצֵה Josh 3:2; 2Kgs 8:3; Ezek 3:16, especially מִמָּחֳרָת Gen 19:34; Exod 18:13 + 11 t.; η. כַּאֲשֶׁר temporal Gen 12:11 (J) Gen 20:13 (E) + 31 t. (Hexateuch 13 t. J E, Deut 2:16, not P), characteristic of Nehemiah's memoris, Neh 3:33; Neh 4:1; Neh 4:6; Neh 4:9; Neh 6:1; Neh 6:16; Neh 7:1; Neh 13:19 θ. with כִּי temporal Gen 6:1 (J) Exod 3:21 (E) + 14 t. + Judg 16:25 Kt; ι. אַחֲרֵי temporal Gen 22:20 (J) + 13 t., אַחַר Gen 39:7; Job 42:7, אַחֲרֵיכֵֿן Judg 16:14 + 6 t.; κ. followed by עַד temporal 1Sam 14:19 (on which compare Dr); compare עַדכֹּֿה וְעַדכֹּֿה 1Kgs 18:45 λ. with combinations; as בְּ with temporal noun + בְּ Infinitive Gen 34:25; Exod 19:16; 1Sam 25:37 בְּ Infinitive + כְּ Infinitive Josh 3:14 double preposition כְּמִשְּׁלשׁ חֳדָשִׁים Gen 38:24 מִקְצֵה + אַחֲרֵי אֲשֶׁר Josh 9:16 מִיָּמִים + id. Josh 23:1 μ. other unusual constructions under this head are: those where temporal idea is expressed by a circumstantial clause Isa 22:7; 1Kgs 13:20; 2Kgs 8:21 (Dr§ 165, & Οβς.) = 2Chr 21:9 those with indefinite כֹּל 1Sam 10:11; 2Sam 2:23; 2Sam 15:2, or with participle = rel. clause 1Sam 11:1 (on all see Dr§ 78 n. & Sm); quite unique is 1Kgs 16:31, with הֲנָקֵל ׳לָכְתּוֺ וגוin place of temporal clause
   (b) וַיְהִי sometimes followed by simple Perfect, with a negative Gen 39:10 (with כְּ Infinitive), Exod 13:17 (with בְּ Infinitive) 2Kgs 12:7; 2Kgs 17:25 (both with בְּ temporal); & without negative, Gen 8:13 (P) Gen 14:1 +, usually with בְּ temporal (38 t.), Hexateuch chiefly P; rarely with other preposition & adverb as above; note especially מִדֵּי followed by Infinitive 1Sam 18:30; 2Chr 12:11 sometimes the subject of following Perfect precedes it with וְ, as Gen 22:1; Gen 41:1; 1Sam 18:19; 1Sam 30:1; 2Kgs 2:9; 2Kgs 4:40 +; note especially 2Sam 17:27 where several subject & also several objects precede the Perfect (compare Dr); in these cases temporal modifier is occasionally a circumstantial clause 2Sam 13:30; 1Kgs 8:10; 2Kgs 19:37 = Isa 37:38 rarely subject precedes Perfect without וְ 1Kgs 11:4; 1Kgs 21:1, compare subject preceding Participle without וְ Neh 4:10 in 2Chr 8:1 the object (with וְ) precedes what is apparently the principal verb
   (c) וַיְהִי followed by וְהִנֵּה Gen 24:15 (J; טֶרֶם in temporal clause), Gen 29:25 (E), Gen 38:27 (J, both בְּ temporal) vGen 38:29 (כְּ Participle), 1Sam 13:10 (כְּ Infinitive); also 2Sam 1:2; 2Sam 13:36; 2Sam 15:32 (circumstantial clause) 2Kgs 2:11 (id.), 2Kgs 3:20; 2Kgs 13:21 (circumstantial clause).
   (d) rarely וַיְהִי (in this sense) followed by other constructions: אָז יִתֵּן 1Kgs 9:10 (with מִקְצֵה); Imperfect frequentative 1Kgs 14:28 (with מִדֵּיבּֿאֹ), 2Kgs 4:8 (with מִדֵּי עָבְרוֺ) Jer 36:23 (with כְּ Infinitive); Perfect consecutive frequentative 2Chr 24:11 (with בְּ temporal). (2) rarely also Perfect with וְ conjunctive וְהָיָה (compare Dr§ 183) followed by Imperfect consecutive as subject clause: 1Sam 1:12 (c. several circumstantial clause), 1Sam 10:9 (with כְּ Infinitive) 2Kgs 3:15 (id.), 1Sam 17:48 (with כִּי), Jer 37:11 (with בְּ Infinitive), Amos 7:2 (with אִם temporal); also Jer 3:9 (apparently with מִן causative, but obscure); 1Sam 13:22 (with בְּ temporal) is followed by וְלֹא & Perfect as well as Imperfect consecutive
  b. less often וְהָיָה Perfect consecutive and it shall come to pass, or frequentative,came to pass (repeatedly, etc.) usually
   (a) followed by simple Imperfect (c. 100 t.): a. with בְּ temporal Deut 21:16; Deut 25:19 + 37 t., (especially בַּיּוֺם הַהוּא Hos 2:18; Hos 2:33; Isa 7:18; Isa 7:21; Isa 7:23 + 21 t.); β. with בְּ local Ezek 47:23; Zech 13:8 compare also Hos 2:1 (בִּמְקוֺם אֲשֶׁר, but perhaps = instead of, compare VB); γ. with indefinite rel. clause, or its equivalents (כֹּל indefinite, etc.), compare Dr§ 121, Obs. 1: Gen 4:14; Num 17:20; Deut 12:11; Deut 18:19; Josh 7:14; Josh 7:15; Judg 7:4; 1Sam 2:36; 1Sam 17:25; 2Sam 15:35; 1Kgs 19:17; 1Kgs 20:6; Isa 4:3; Isa 24:18; Nah 3:7; Jer 27:8; Jer 42:4; Ezek 47:9; Zech 14:17; Joel 3:5 δ. with כַּאֲשֶׁר Num 33:56; Deut 28:63; Josh 23:15; Judg 7:17; Isa 29:8; Jer 31:28; Zech 8:13 ε. less often with other modifying phrase: כְּ Infinitive Exod 33:8; Exod 33:9 (both frequentative), Josh 3:13; Josh 8:8; Jer 25:12; Jer 51:63 בְּ Infinitive Gen 9:14 (P) 2Kgs 4:10; Ezek 44:17 אִם of condition Deut 20:11 (+ vDeut 20:11 Dr§ 118 n.), also Josh 22:18, where the arrangement is peculiar, & the condition is expressed without אִם (compare Dr§ 155); לְ temporal Deut 23:12 מִקֵּץ Isa 23:17 טֶרֶם Isa 65:24 מִדֵּי חֹדֶשׁ בְּחָדְשׁוֺ Isa 66:23, etc.
   (b) וְהָיָה followed by Perfect consecutive (c. 85 t.): α. most often + clause with כִּי temporal Gen 12:12; Gen 46:33 (both J) Exod 1:10 (E) Deut 11:29; Isa 8:21 + 25 t.; β. with אִם Exod 4:8; Exod 4:9; Num 15:24; Deut 11:13 + 14 t.; also Gen 38:9; Num 21:9 (both frequentative); γ. with בְּ temporal Gen 30:41 (frequentative) Gen 47:24 (but compare Ol Di) Exod 16:5 + 11 t.; δ. with indefinite rel. clause or equivalent (Dr§ 121 Obs. 1): Gen 24:14; Num 10:32 (Dr§ 118 n.) Num 21:18; Deut 21:3; Judg 11:31; Judg 19:30; Zech 14:16 ε. occasionally with other modifying phrase: כַּאֲשֶׁר Gen 27:40 +; כְּ Infinitive Gen 44:31 +; בְּ Infinitive Exod 33:22 +; מִקֵּץ 2Sam 14:26 עֵקֶב causative Deut 7:12 also
   (c) followed by וְלֹא + simple Imperfect Exod 3:21 (with כִּי temporal).
   (d) וְהָיָה followed by Imperative (very rare) Deut 6:10 (with כִּי temporal), 1Sam 10:7 (with כִּי), compare 1Sam 29:10, compare Perfect consecutive in command 1Sam 3:9 (with אִם).
   (e) וְהָיָה followed by simple Perfect (also very rare) Deut 8:19 (with אִם).
   (f) וְהָיָה followed by clause without verb: Gen 24:43; Josh 2:19; 1Kgs 18:24 (all with indefinite rel. modifier, or equivalents, see
   (a) γ,
   (b) δ, above).
   (g) וְהָיָה (ו conjunctive) followed by Imperfect consecutive see
  a.
   (e) above

II. Come into being, become:

1. a. absolute, in lively narrative, arise, appear, come וַתְּהִי צְעָקָה גְדֹלָהExod 12:80 (J) and there arose a great cry in Egypt; וַיְהִיקֿוֺל Ezek 1:25 (strike out Co compare Da), Ezek 37:7 (strike out קוֺל ᵐ5 Co); כִּי הָֽיְתָה הָֽרְוָחָה Exod 8:11 (J) Pharaoh saw that respite had come; Mic 7:4 now shall come their confusion (|| בוא); also of concrete objects וְהָֽיְתָה הַקֶּשֶׁת בֶּעָנָן Gen 9:16 (P) and the bow shall appear in the clouds (|| וְנִרְאֲתָה) וְרִמָּה לֹא הָֽיְתָה בּוֺ Exod 16:24 (P) and worms did not appear in it; of condition or action begun & continuing, as: famine Gen 12:10; Gen 26:1 (twice in verse) (all J), Gen 41:54 (E), Ruth 1:1; 2Sam 21:1; 2Kgs 6:25 strife Gen 13:7; Gen 13:8 (J), Hab 1:3 (|| מָדוֺן יִשָּׂא); often of action of the elements, as the coming of hail Exod 9:18; Exod 9:24; Exod 9:26 (all J), thunder & lighting, etc., Exod 19:16 (E), rain 1Kgs 18:45, storm Jonah 1:4 especially of creative fiats יְהִי אוֺר וַיְהִי אוֺר Gen 1:3 let light appear, and light appeared, compare vGen 1:5 vGen 1:8 vGen 1:13 vGen 1:19 vGen 1:23 vGen 1:31 (all P); also arise, come on the stage or scene, וְאַחֲרָיו הָיָה שַׁמְגַּר Judg 3:31 and after him arose Shamgar (= וַיָּקָם Judg 10:1); further וַעֲלָטָה הָיָה Gen 15:17 (JE) and darkness came on; הַבֹּקֶר הָיָה Exod 10:13 (J) the morning came, Exod 19:16 (E); וַיְהִי הַיּוֺם 1Sam 1:4 and the day came, when (see Dr), 1Sam 14:1; 2Kgs 4:8; 2Kgs 4:11; 2Kgs 4:18; Job 1:6; Job 1:18; Job 2:1.
  b. followed by preposition: בְּ, וְיָדֵנוּ אַלתְּֿהִיבֿוֺ Gen 37:27 (J) but our hand, let it not come upon him, of hand of ׳יּ 1Sam 5:9; 1Sam 7:13; 1Sam 12:15 + (all in hostile sense); בְּכָלשֲֶֿֿׁר יֶשׁלֿוֺ ׳וַיְהִי בִּרְכַּת י Gen 39:5 (J) and the blessing of ׳י came into (on) all that he had; but also of plague Exod 12:13 (P); followed by עַל, וּמֵי הַמַּבּוּל הָיוּ עַלהָֿאָרֶץ Gen 7:10 (J) that the waters of the flood came upon the earth; עָלַי הָיוּ כֻלָּ֑נָה Gen 42:36 (E) Gen 9:2 (P) fear shall come upon, compare Gen 35:25 (P) 2Chr 14:13; 2Chr 17:19; 2Chr 20:29 +; of wrath Josh 22:20; 1Kgs 3:27 so of Saul's evil spirit from God 1Sam 16:16; 1Sam 16:23; 1Sam 19:9 (אֶל); but followed by עַל also in good sense ׳וַתְּהִי עָלָיו רוּחַ י conferring strength & efficiency Judg 3:10; Judg 11:29 (היה = צלח Judg 14:6 + often), compare Num 24:2 (JE) of prophetic power; (on ׳וַתְּהִי לָיו יַד י 2Kgs 3:15; Ezek 3:22 and the like, see יָד); יַד אֱלֹהֵינוּ הָֽיְתָה עָלֵינוּ Ezra 8:31, so Ps 80:18 even וַתְּהִי עַלרֿאֹשׁ דָּוִד 2Sam 12:30 and it (the crown, עֲטֶרֶת) came (i.e. was put, set) on David's head; with a different meaning וַנִּהְיֶה עֲלֵיהֶם עַדפֶּֿתַח הַשָּׁ֑עַר 2Sam 11:23 and we were close upon them even to the gateway (compare We Dr); come, go, follow (followed by אַחֲרֵי) i.e. take the side of, adhere to, Exod 23:2 (JE) 1Sam 12:14; 2Sam 2:10; 1Kgs 12:20; 1Kgs 16:21 followed by לְ of blessings Gen 49:26 (poem); of judgement, punishment Jer 40:3 especially ויהי דבר֗֗֗ אֶל and the word of ... came unto: word of Samuel 1Sam 4:1 usually word of God (or ׳י) Gen 15:1; 1Sam 15:10 +; constantly in prophets: Hos 1:1; Mic 1:1 etc.; especially Jeremiah & Ezekiel: Jer 1:4; Jer 1:11; Jer 1:13; Jer 2:1; Jer 13:8 +; Ezek 3:16; Ezek 6:1; Ezek 7:1; Ezek 11:14; Ezek 11:17; Ezek 11:21; Ezek 11:26; Ezek 12:1; Ezek 12:8 +; so also absolute הָיָה הַמַּשָּׂא הַזֶּה Isa 14:28 in the death-year of king Ahaz came this utterance; also followed by מִן; מַלְכֵי עַמִּים מִמֶּנָּה יִהְיוּ Gen 17:16 (P), וּקְהַל גּוֺיִם יִהְיֶה מִמֶּ֑ךָּ Gen 35:11 (P), וְהָיָה אַדִּירוֺ מִמֶּנּוּ Jer 30:21 (|| מִקִּרְבּוֺ יֵצֵא); הַכֹּל הָיָה מִןהֶֿעָפָר וְהַכֹּל שָׁב אֶל הֶעָפָר Eccl 3:20 all came from the dust, & all return unto the dust; וַיְהִי קֶצֶף גָּדוֺל מֵאֵת צְבָאוֺת ׳י Zech 7:12.
2. become :
  a. followed by predicate noun (to be viewed as implicit accusative Dr§ 161, 3 n., according to the Arabic usage WAG ii, § 41. 44. 74): הִוא הָֽיְתָה אֵם כָּלחָֿ֑י Gen 3:20 (J) it was she that became the mother of all living; וַיְהִי הֶבֶל רֹעֵה צאֹן וְקַיִן הָיָה עֹבֵד אֲדָמָהGen 4:2 (J) and Abel became a shepherd of flocks, while Cain became a tiller of ground; 2Sam 8:14; Mic 2:11 + often
  b. followed by predicate adjective Gen 38:7; Exod 36:13 +; compare Gen 37:20 let us see what his dream will become (turn out to be, signify);
  c. become like (כְּ), וִהְיִיתֶם כֵּאלֹהִים Gen 3:5 and ye shall become like gods compare vGen 3:22, Num 11:1 (JE), Hos 2:1; Hos 7:11; Isa 9:18; 1Kgs 7:8; Zech 9:7 +; compare Gen 15:5 so (כֹּה) shall thy seed become; specifically of likeness in punishment Isa 1:9; 1Sam 17:36 +; also with כְּ repeated וְהָיָה כָעָם כַּכֹּהֵן Hos 4:9 and the people shall become like the priest (literally, and the like of the people shall become the like of the priest), so especially Isa 24:2 (6 pairs of words as above); וְהָיָה כַצַּדִּיק כָּרָשָׁע Gen 18:25 (J), see כְּ. b + c Gen 27:32 his hands had become like the hands of Esau his brother, hairy.
  d. followed by predicate + לְ person וּתְהִי אִשָּׁה לְבֶןאֲֿדֹנֶיךָ Gen 24:51 (J) and let her become wife to the son of thy lord, 1Sam 16:21; 1Kgs 11:25; Ps 89:42; 1Chr 18:6 +; = be instituted, estanblished, וְהָיָה לָהֶםחָקעֿוֺלָם Exod 30:21 (P) and it shall be established for them as a perpetual ordinance (compare f below).
  e. followed by לְ predicate: וַיְהִי הָאָדָם לְנֶפֶשׁ חַיָּה Gen 2:7 (J) and the man became a living soul; וְהָיָה לְאַרְבָּעָה רָאשִׁיםGen 2:10 (J) and it became four heads; גַּםהֿוּא יִהְיֶהלְֿעָם Gen 48:19 (J) he too shall become a people; וִהְיוּ לַאֲנָשִׁים 1Sam 4:9 and become (shew yourselves to be) men (|| הִתְחַזְּקוּ; compare with double לְ, f below); Zeph 1:13; Ezek 17:6; Ezek 47:12; Job 16:8 עלמֶלֶךְ עַלכָּֿלהָֿאָרֶץ ׳וְהָיָה י Zech 14:9 וַיְהִי לְמַס עֹבֵד Gen 49:15; Josh 16:10 so often; also in sense of turn into, be changed so as to become, וַיְהִי לְנָחָשׁExod 4:3 and it became a serpent, vExod 4:4; Exod 7:10; Isa 1:22; Deut 26:5 +; figurative וַיְהִי לְמָ֑יִם Josh 7:5 and it (their heart) turned to water, so וְהוּא הָיָה לְאֶבֶן 1Sam 25:37 or, serve as וְהָיוּ לִמְאוֺרֹת Gen 1:15 (P) and they shall become (fulfil the function of, serve as) luminaries, compare vGen 1:14 וְהָיָה לְאוֺת בְּרִית Gen 9:13; Gen 17:11 (both P). feminine often with לְ predicate + לְ person: וַתְּהִי לָהֶם הַלְּבֵנָה לְאָ֑בֶןGen 11:3 (J) and the bricks became (served as) stone for them; וַתְּהִי לִי לְאִשָּׁה Gen 20:12 (E) compare Gen 24:67 (J) +, וַתִּהְיֶינָה מַחְלָה וְחָגְלָה ֗֗֗ לַבְנֵי דֹדֵיהֶן לְנָשִׁים Num 36:11 וְהָיָה לְךָ וְלָהֶם לְאָכְלָה Num 6:21 (P), Exod 2:10; Exod 15:2; Judg 8:27 לִי לֵאלֹהִים ׳וְהָיָה י Gen 28:21 (E); אֲנִי אֶהְיֶה לוֺ לְאָב וְהוּא יִהְיֶהלִֿי לְבֵן 1Chr 17:3 +; = shew or prove oneself as הֱיֵהלִֿי לְבֶןחַֿיִל 1Sam 18:17 shew thyself for me a valiant man (compare 1Sam 4:9 e above); = be instituted, established (compare e above) וְהָיָה לְאַהֲרֹן וּלְבָנָיו לְחָקעֿוֺלָם Exod 29:28 and it shall be instituted for Aaron and his sons as a perpetual ordinance; compare vExod 29:9; Lev 10:15 וְהָֽיְתָה לִהְיֹת לָהֶם מָשְׁחָתָם לִכְהֻנַּת עוֺלָם לְדֹרֹתָם Exod 40:15 (all P).
  g. with עַל and לְ 1Sam 22:2 וַיְהִי עֲלֵיהֶם לְשָׂר and he became over them prince.
  h. sometimes with לְ person only = become the property of, come into the possession of ׳וַיְהִילֿוֺ צאֹןוּֿבָקָר וְגו Gen 12:15 (J), and he came to have flocks and herds etc., Gen 26:14; Gen 30:43 לֹא לוֺ יִהְיֶה הַזָּ֑רַע Gen 38:9 not his should the seed become; ׳וְהָיָה לי Judg 11:31 it shall become Yah-weh's; Deut 10:9; Josh 13:29; 1Kgs 10:26; 1Kgs 11:3 + often; so of a woman, as wife תְּהִינָֿא לְךָ Judg 15:2 pray let her become thine, compare also וַתְּהִי אֵשֶׁת שִׁמְשׁוֺן לְמֵרֵעֵהוּ Judg 14:20, Hos 3:3; Ruth 1:13; Lev 21:3; Deut 24:2; Jer 3:1; Ezek 16:8 (and also + לְאִשָּׁה, לְנָשִׁים see f above)III. Be (often with subordinate idea of becoming); —
1. exist, be in existence (i.e. originally have come into existence), כָּלהַֿיּמִים אֲשֶׁר הָיָה 1Sam 1:28 all the days which he shall have been (lived, = חַי Gen 5:5 etc., DrSm), Job 3:16; Isa 23:13 often with בְּ local וְכֹל שִׂיחַ הַשָּׂדֶה טֶרֶם יִהְיֶה בָאָרֶץ Gen 2:5 (J) and there was not yet in the earth any shrub of the field; ׳וּבְאֵלֶּה לֹא הָיָה אִישׁ וגו Num 26:64 (P) and among them there was not a man to be found, etc.; also וְלֹא הָיָה כַּיּוֺם הַהוּא לְפָנָיו וְאַחֲרָיו Josh 10:14 (JE) & there hath not been a day like that before it nor since. compare 2Sam 14:25; 2Sam 1:5; 2Sam 21:25; 2Sam 23:25; +; somewhat weaker, in the frequently introductory clause וַיְהִי אִישׁ now there was a man Judg 13:2; 1Sam 1:1; 1Sam 9:1; Num 9:6 (P), Job 1:1 +; on אֶהְיֶה אֲשֶׁר אֶהְיֶה Exod 3:14 see יהוֺה.
2. abide, remain, continue (with word of place or time) וַיְהִי משֶׁה בָּהָר Exod 24:18 and Moses remainded in the mount forty days, etc., so Exod 34:28 (both J E), Judg 17:4; Judg 17:12; 1Sam 6:1; 1Kgs 11:20; 2Kgs 11:3 = 2Chr 22:12 +; also Lev 22:27; Lev 25:28 (both H), etc.; followed by עַד temporal remain until Deut 22:2; 1Kgs 11:40; 2Kgs 15:5; 2Chr 5:9; 2Chr 26:21; Dan 1:21 etc.; compare הוּא יִהְיֶה לְעוֺלָם Eccl 3:14 so also of space followed by עַד extend unto, as far as, Josh 19:10: of net beneath altar, Exod 27:5 shall reach as far as (עַד) the middle of the altar.
3. with word of locality, be in or at a place, be situated stand, lie; בִּהְיוֺתָם בַּשָּׂדֶה Gen 4:8 (J) when they were in the field, הַמָּקוֺם אֲשֶׁרהָֿיָה שָׁם אָהֳלֹה בַּתְּחִלָּה Gen 13:3 (J) the place where his tent had stood at first; וְהָאָרֶץ תִּהְיֶה לִפְנֵיכֶם Gen 34:10 and the land, it lieth before you; compare Josh 19:1; Judg 7:1; Judg 7:8; Mic 5:6; Mic 5:7 followed by עַל be, be found or situated upon Isa 30:25 and there shall be upon every high mountain etc., streams, water-courses; Ezek 37:27 and my dwelling-place shall be over them; figurative of guilt דָּמִים וְהָיָה עָלָיךָ Deut 19:10 and blood (-guilt) be upon thee.
4. as copula, joining subject & predicate: —
  a. followed by predicate adjective וַיִּהְיוּ שְׁנֵיהֶם עֲרוּמִּים Gen 2:25, וְהַנָּחָשׁ הָיָה עָרוּם Gen 3:1, בִּהְיוֺתָם כֹּאֲבִים Gen 34:25, וַיְהִי יוֺסֵף יְפֵהתֹֿאַר Gen 39:6; Deut 23:15; Josh 19:9; Judg 11:1; Job 1:1; Job 1:3b 2Chr 7:21.
  b. followed by predicate noun Gen 1:2; Gen 9:18; Gen 25:3; Gen 36:14; Gen 40:13; 1Sam 17:34; 1Sam 17:42; 2Sam 8:10; 2Sam 20:25; 1Kgs 10:6; 2Kgs 3:4; 2Kgs 5:1 (twice in verse); 1Chr 9:20; 1Chr 11:20; 1Chr 18:10; 1Chr 26:10; 2Chr 13:7 כִּי לֹאהָֿיָה מֶלֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל 2Chr 18:32 (|| 1Kgs 22:33 כִּילֹֿאמֶֿלֶךְ ישׂראל הוּא) +; often of age: וַיְהִי אַבְרָם בֶּןתִּֿשְׁעִים שָׁנָה וְתֵשַׁע שָׁנִים Gen 17:1 (P) 2Kgs 8:17; 2Kgs 14:2; 2Kgs 15:2; 2Kgs 15:33; 2Kgs 18:2; 2Chr 21:20; 2Chr 27:8 +; followed by predicate Infinitive absolute (very anomal.) וְהַמַּיִם הָיוּ הָלוֺךְ וְחָסוֺר Gen 8:5 = amount to, come to, in enumeration of days of life number of people, amounts of money, etc.: Gen 5:4; Gen 5:5; Gen 5:8; Gen 5:11; Gen 5:14; Gen 9:29; Gen 11:32; Gen 23:1 +; Exod 38:24; Num 1:46, etc.
  c. followed by adverb & adverbial phrase: לֹאטֿוֺב הֱיוֺת הָאָדָם לְבַדּוֺGen 2:18 (J) it is not good that the man be alone; חָדַל לִהְיוֺת לְשָׂרָה אֹרַה כַּנָּשִׁים Gen 18:11 (J).
  d. followed by preposition: (a) be with, accompany with עִם, subject most often ׳י or אלהים with added idea of protection, aid Gen 26:3; Gen 31:3; Gen 39:10; Gen 48:21; Josh 1:3; Josh 6:27; Judg 1:19; Judg 2:18; 1Sam 3:19; 1Sam 18:12; 1Sam 20:13; 1Kgs 1:37; 1Chr 11:13; 2Chr 17:3 followed by עִמָּדִי Gen 28:20; Gen 31:5; Gen 35:3 followed by עִם, human subject, of accompaniment וְהָיָההַכֹּהֵןבֶּןאַֿהֲרֹן עִםהַֿלְוִיִּם Neh 10:39; 1Chr 11:12, read also in || 2Sam 23:9 (Th We Dr); = be on the side of 1Kgs 1:8 with עִם also = be near הָיָה עִםגֹּֿרֶן האורנה ׳וּמַלְאַךְ י 2Sam 24:16 (compare Dr); also 2Sam 13:20 implying sexual intercourse, so Gen 39:10 (perhaps gloss, compare Di); peculiar uses with עִם are: וּדְבַראַֿבְנֵר הָיָה עִםזִֿקְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל 2Sam 3:17 and the speech of A. had been with the elders of Israel, compare 1Kgs 1:7 וַיְהִי עִםלְֿבַב דָּוִד אָבִּי לִבְנוֺת 1Kgs 8:17 and it was with (i.e. in) the heart of David my father to build, = 2Chr 6:7 compare 1Kgs 8:18 (twice in verse); 1Chr 22:7; 2Chr 6:8 (twice in verse); 2Chr 24:4 also 1Kgs 10:2 = 2Chr 9:1
   (b) be with, followed by אֶת, subject ׳י, אלהים, Gen 21:20; Gen 39:2; Gen 39:21 but also with human subject וּבָנָיוּ הָיוּ אֶתמִֿקְנֵהוּ Gen 34:5, compare 1Sam 29:8 +;
   (c) followed by לְ of possessor כֶּרֶם הָיָה לִידִדִי Isa 5:1 all vineyard had my beloved, Gen 30:30 compare Exod 20:3 = Deut 5:7; Judg 18:27; 1Sam 9:2; 1Kgs 5:6 + often (compare I. 2 d, f, h);
   (d) followed by לְ + other preposition: of boundary וַיְהִי לָהֶם הַגְּבוּל מֵעֲרוֺעֵרJosh 13:16, compare וַיְהִי גְבוּלָם מִמַּחֲנַיִם vJosh 13:30 וַוְהִי לָהֶם הַגְּבוּל לִפְאַת צָפנַָה מִיַּרְדֵּן Josh 18:12, etc.;
   (e) followed by בְּ be among, or of, Amos 1:1 who was one of the herdsmen, 1Kgs 2:7 let them be among those eating, Prov 22:26; Prov 23:20.
5. periphrastic conjug.:
  a. היה + participle, of continuous state, or condition, sometimes, especially late (compare Late Hebrew), of habit, with וַיְהִי also of beginning and continuance (compare Dr§ 135, (5)): participle active Gen 39:22 (J), Exod 3:1 (E), 1Sam 2:11; 1Sam 7:10; 1Sam 18:9 (compare Dr) v1Sam 18:14 v1Sam 18:29; 2Sam 8:15 = 1Chr 18:14. Deut 28:29; Isa 30:20; 1Kgs 5:1; 1Kgs 5:15; 1Kgs 5:24; 2Kgs 6:5; 2Kgs 9:14; 2Chr 9:26; Ezra 4:4; Neh 1:4; Neh 2:13; Dan 1:16 +; Gen 1:6 (P); ׳הָיָה יָרֵא אֶתיֿ 1Kgs 18:3; 2Kgs 4:1; 2Chr 26:1 passive participle Josh 10:26; 1Kgs 13:24; 1Kgs 22:35 וְהַמֶּלֶךְ הָיָה מָעֳמָד בַּמֶּרְכָּבָה (|| 2Chr 18:34 הָיָה מַעֲמִיד), Isa 2:2 = Mic 4:1, וְהָיָה סָגוּר Ezek 44:2, נַעֲשֶׂה ׳ה Neh 5:18, ׳וְאָהוּב לֵאלֹהָיו ה Neh 13:26 — on 2Sam 13:32 compare Dr.
  b. followed by Infinitive with לְ (Dr§ 208, 204): וְהָיָה לְבָעֵר Isa 5:5 and it shall be to burn (is to be, is destined to be burned) etc.; לָבוֺא וַיְהִי הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ Gen 15:12 and the sun was about to set; וַיְהִי הַשַּׁעַר לִסְגּוֺר Josh 2:5 and the gate was about to be shut; but also וַיְהִי לִדְרשׁ אֱלֹהִים 2Chr 26:5 (nearly = וַיְהִי + Participle) Niph`al Perfect נִהְיָה 1Kgs 1:27 + 6 t. + Mic 2:4 (compare below near the end); 3 feminine singular נִהָיְתָה Judg 19:30 + 5 t., נִהְיָ֑תָה Exod 11:6; Jer 48:19 וְנִהְיָ֑תָה consecutive Ezek 39:8 + Ezek 21:12 (strike out B Manuscripts ᵐ5 Co); 2 masculine singular נִהְיֵיתָ Deut 27:9 1 singular ךּנהִךְייךתי Dan 8:27 Participle feminine singular נִהְיָה Prov 13:19
1. either, be done, be brought about, or occur, come to pass: in the strong expressions וְכָמֹהוּ לֹא תֹסִף אֲשֶׁר כָּמֹהוּ ׳לֹא נ Exod 11:6 (J) a cry such as hath not occurred (been raised), and will not be again, compare Deut 4:32 (be done; || נִשְׁמַע), & Judg 19:30 (|| נִרְאֲתָה); — but simply intransitive Joel 2:2; Dan 12:1 & apparently Ezek 21:12 (|| בָּאָ֫ה; on text, however, see above) Ezek 39:8 (|| id.); — also אֵיכָה נִהְיְתָה הָרָעָה הַזֹּאת Judg 20:3 how hath this wickedness been done ? compare vJudg 20:12; Jer 5:30; Jer 48:19 also Neh 6:8 with לֹא, existence denied ׳לֹא נ Zech 8:10 (|| אֵינֶ֑נָּה); in all the above (except Joel 2:2; Dan 12:1 & Ezek 21:12; Ezek 39:8) personal agency is clearly implied; it is expressed ׳מֵאֵת אֲדֹנִי הַמֶּלֶץ נ הַדָּבָר הַזֶּה 1Kgs 1:27, so of divine agency (מֵאִתִּי) 1 K i1Kgs 12:24 = 2Chr 11:4 further be attained, secured, of wages Zech 8:10 (with לֹא, || אֵינֶ֑נָּה); תַּאֲוָּה נִהְיָה Prov 13:19 a desire come to pass, realized.
2. be done, finished, gone, only Daniel וּשְׁנָתוֺ נִהְיְתָה עָלָיו Dan 2:1 and his sleep was finished upon him, i.e. left him (compare Aramaic Dan 6:19); נִהְיֵיתִי Dan 8:27 I came to an end, was exhausted (si vera lectio, strike out ᵐ5; || נֶחֱלֵיתִי); נִהְיָה, in וְנָהָה נְהִי נִהְיָה Mic 2:4, is dubious; it is done, over, the ruin is come Rob-Ges Ew Hi Ca Che L RVm;? < omit as dittograph StaZAW 1886, 122 f. compare JBL1890, 74.77.


BDB9470 H1934 H1961

BDB9469 | BIBLICAL ARAMAIC | BDB9471

הֲוָא, הֲוָּה71 verb come to pass, become, be (Biblical Hebrew הָיָה); —

Pe`al Perfect 3 masculine singular הֲוָה Dan 4:26 +, הֲוָא Dan 5:19 +; 2 masculine singular הֲוַיְתָ Dan 2:31; Dan 2:34, 1 singular הֲוֵית Dan 4:1 +; 3 masculine plural הֲווֺ Dan 2:35 +; Imperfect 3 masculine singular לֶהֱוֵא (K§ 47, l) b) Dr§ 204 Obs. M 215 ff.; in Jewish-Aramaic as jussive D§ 61, lc) Dan 2:20 +; 3 feminine singular תֶּהֱוֵה Dan 4:24 +, אֵ֯ Ezra 6:8 +, 3 masculine plural לֶהֱוֺן Ezra 6:10 + 6 t., 3 feminine plural לֶהֶוְיָן Dan 5:17 Imperative masculine plural הֱווֺ Ezra 4:22, הֲזוֺ Ezra 6:6
1. come to pass Dan 2:28; Dan 2:29 (twice in verse); Dan 2:45.
2. come into being, arise Ezra 7:23 become, come to be, with predicate noun Dan 4:24; Dan 5:29 and ( = represent) Dan 7:23 with כְּ like Dan 2:35 a, with ל predicate vDan 2:35 b, with adjective predicate Ezra 6:6, with adverb phrase Ezra 5:5; Dan 4:22 often periphrastic, with participle: ׳יְדִיעַ לה let become known Dan 3:18; Ezra 4:12; Ezra 4:13; Ezra 5:8 let it be given Ezra 6:8; Ezra 6:9, also Ezra 7:26; Dan 2:20.
3. be, as copula, with adjective predication Dan 2:40; Dan 2:42; Dan 7:19 so very often in periphrastic conjugation with participle, צָבֵא ׳ה wish Dan 5:19 (4 t. in verse), ׳חָזֵה ה behold Dan 2:31; Dan 2:34; Dan 7:2; Dan 7:4; Dan 7:6 +, etc.

be, pass, was, were, came, …
hāyâ
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
  • to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out
    • (Qal)
      • to occur
        • to happen, fall out, occur, take place, come about, come to pass
        • "to come about, come to pass
        to come into being, become
        • to arise, appear, come
        • "to become
          • to become
          • "to become like"to be instituted, be established
        to be
        • to exist, be in existence
        • "to abide, remain, continue (with word of place or time)"to stand, lie, be in, be at, be situated (with word of locality)"to accompany, be with
      (Niphal)
      • to occur, come to pass, be done, be brought about
      • "to be done, be finished, be gone

כְּ נֹ֣אד
כְּ
Prefix — preposition like, as
נֹ֣אד
Root word bottle, bottles
Dictionary form: נֹאד · node

Noun — Common, masculine singular, absolute state

In the KJV here: like a bottle
bottles ×2 a bottle ×1 and a bottle ×1 into thy bottle ×1 like a bottle ×1
More options
skin — Most natural modern term for an animal-skin container.
wineskin — Precise when contents are wine or liquid.
waterskin — Prefer when context specifies water storage.
leather flask — More descriptive; suits readers unfamiliar with wineskins.
pouch — Broader, informal; use when contents are unspecified.

BDB4911 H4997

BDB4910 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB4912

נֹאד (Judg 4:19 Kt נאוד, i.e. probably נְאוֺד, noun masculineJosh 9:4 skin-bottle, skin (√ unknown; Late Hebrew נוֺד; Assyrian nâdu, DlHWB 438; Aramaic נוֺדָא); — ׳נ absolute Ps 119:83 construct Judg 4:19; 1Sam 16:20 suffix נאֹדֶ֑ךָ Ps 56:9 plural נאֹדוֺת Josh 9:4; Josh 9:13skin, יַיִן ׳נ Josh 9:4; Josh 9:13; 1Sam 16:20 הֶחָלָב ׳נ Judg 4:19 for tears Ps 56:9 (figurative; see Che); בְּקִיטוֺר ׳נ i.e. shrivelled and useless Ps 119:83 (in simile; compare [De] Che Schu De Witt We > as thrust aside, out of the way Now (in Hup), compare De, or as black and wrinkled outwardly, while retaining the choice wine within Bae, after Rosenm Hup). — See WinerRWB. Art. Schlauch KmpRi HWB id.

bottle, bottles
nōd
a (skin or leather) bag (for fluids)
  • skin, bottle, skin-bottle

בְּ קִיט֑וֹר
בְּ
Prefix — preposition in, at, by, with
קִיט֑וֹר
Root word smoke, vapour
Dictionary form: קִיטוֹר · kee-TORE

Noun — Common, masculine singular, absolute state

In the KJV here: in the smoke
and vapour ×1 as the smoke ×1 in the smoke ×1 the smoke ×1
More options
smoke — Most direct rendering; best for fire or incense contexts.
vapor — Highlights insubstantial, fleeting quality; good for poetic passages.
haze — Emphasizes visual obscurity; suits atmospheric or misty imagery.
fume — Suggests rising, acrid quality; useful for judgment or burning scenes.
mist — Softer tone; prefer when evanescence rather than fire is stressed.

BDB7403 H7008

BDB7402 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB7404

קִיטוֺר (LagBN 182) noun masculine thick smoke; — קִיטֹר Gen 19:28 (twice in verse) (J), טוֺר- Ps 119:83; Ps 148:8 (figurative of clouds in thouderstorm; Vrss. Apparently קֶדַה, compare Du).

smoke, vapour
qîṭôr
a fume, i.e., cloud
  • thick smoke, smoke

חֻ֝קֶּ֗י ךָ
חֻ֝קֶּ֗י
Root word statutes, statute, decree, ordinance, due, …
ךָ
Suffix — pronoun your / you (one man)
Dictionary form: חֹק · hoke

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

In the KJV here: thy statutes
statutes ×12 thy statutes ×9 the statutes ×7 and the statutes ×6 his statutes ×6 me thy statutes ×6 and his statutes ×5 my statutes ×5
More options
decree — Emphasizes official, authoritative pronouncement from a ruler or God.
ordinance — Formal regulation; good for legal or cultic contexts.
law — Broad, accessible term; best when statutes feel like general rules.
regulation — Plain modern term; suits administrative or priestly legal codes.
prescribed portion — Use when חֹק refers to an allotted share or ration.
boundary — Use when חֹק denotes a fixed natural or cosmic limit.

BDB3072 H2706 H2711

BDB3071 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB3073

חֹק127 noun masculineMic 7:11 something prescribed, a statute or due; — ׳ח Gen 47:22 + 22 t.; חָקֿ Exod 30:21 + 14 t.; suffix חֻקִּי Prov 30:8 + 3 t.; חָקְךָ Lev 10:13; Lev 10:14 etc. + 4 t. suffixes; plural חֻקִּים Deut 4:5 + 31 t.; construct חֻקֵּי Exod 18:16 חוּקֵּ֯י Ezek 20:18 also חִקֲקֵי Judg 5:15; Isa 10:1 (Ges«GKC:93»§ 93. 1 R 7); חֻקָּו֯ Job 14:5 etc. + 44 t. suffixes —

1. prescribed task, assigned to Israel in Egypt Exod 5:14 (E).
2. prescribed portion, or allowance of food Gen 47:22 (twice in verse) (J); Prov 30:8; Prov 31:15; Ezek 16:27 מחקי Job 23:12 (RV; < ᵐ5 ᵑ9 Ol Me Di SS בְּחֵקִי in my bosom).
3. action prescribed for oneself, resolve: חִקֲקֵי לֵב Judg 5:15 resolves of mind || חִקְרֵי לֵב vJudg 5:16.
4. prescribed due of the priests from offerings Lev 6:11; Lev 10:13 (twice in verse); Lev 10:14 (twice in verse) (P); due of ׳י Lev 6:15 (P); עולם ׳לח Exod 29:28; Lev 7:34; Lev 10:15; Num 18:8; Num 18:11; Num 18:19 (all P), Lev 24:9(H); portion of oil for the תּרומה Ezek 45:14.
5. prescribed limit, boundary: of sea Jer 5:22; Prov 8:29; Job 26:10; Job 38:10 of heavens Ps 148:6 of land of Israel Mic 7:11 of time Job 14:5; Job 14:13 so פָּֽעֲרָה פִיהָ לִבְלִי חֹ֑ק Isa 5:14 Sh®°ôl openeth wide her mouth, without limit.
6. enactment, decree, ordinance of either God or man:
  a. specific decree: law of fifth in Egypt Gen 47:26 (J); of passover Exod 12:24 (J); lament for Jephthah's daughter Judg 11:39 for Josiah 2Chr 35:25 חק ומשׁפט Exod 15:25; Josh 24:25 (both E), 1Sam 30:25 חק עולם Exod 30:21 || עֵדוּת, מִשְׁפָּט Ps 81:5; Ps 81:6 (law of a festival).
  b. of ׳י in nature Job 28:26.
  c. respecting Messianic king Ps 2:7 day of ׳י Zeph 2:2 ᵑ0, but on text see We and טֶרֶם, below; covenant with Jacob Ps 105:10 = 1Chr 16:17 destiny of man Job 23:14.
  d. law in general עלי חק according to law, right Ps 94:20 (others against law); ומשׁפט ׳לַמֵּד ח Ezra 7:10 || בּרית and תורות Isa 25:5 || עדות Ps 99:7.
7. plural חֻקִּים enactments, statutes of a law:
  a. of ׳י in nature Jer 31:36.
  b. of the prophets Zech 1:6.
  c. conditions of deed of purchase Jer 32:11.
  d. enactments || מִשְׁפָּטִים: ancestral Ezek 20:18 given by God as punishment for disobedience Ezek 20:25.
  e. decrees of unjust judges חִקֲקֵיאָֿוֶן Isa 10:1. feminine civil enactments prescribed by God: חֻקֵּי האלהים Exod 18:16 (E; || תּוֺרֹתָיו), vExod 18:20 (E; || id.)
  g. elsewhere of prescriptions of the several codes of Hex: Lev 10:11; Num 30:17 (P), Deut 4:6; Deut 6:24; Deut 16:12; Ps 119:5 + 20 t., Mal 3:7 || ׳תּוֺרַת י Amos 2:4 ותורות ׳ח Ps 105:45 ׳והח ׳דברי הת Deut 17:19 || ברית Ps 50:16 וברית ועדות ׳ח 2Kgs 17:15 usually either || משׁפטים Deut 4:1; Deut 4:5; Deut 4:8; Deut 4:14; Deut 5:1; Deut 11:32; Deut 12:1; Deut 26:16; 1Kgs 9:4 = 2Chr 7:17; 1Chr 22:13; Ezek 11:12; Ezek 36:27, or else ומשׁפטים ׳ח combined with other synonym (usually preceding): e.g. דבר(ים ׅ Ps 147:19 תורה 2Chr 33:8; Mal 3:22 מצוה Deut 5:28; Deut 6:1; Deut 7:11 מצות Neh 1:7; 1Kgs 8:58 מצוה, תורה 2Chr 19:10 עֵדֹת Deut 4:45; Deut 6:20 sometimes following: e.g. תורות Lev 26:46 מצוה, תורה 2Kgs 17:37 or in different order, e.g. ותורות ׳מ ומצות ׳ח Neh 9:13 ׳וח ׳מצות ומ Neh 10:30 ומצות ׳ח ׳ומ Deut 26:17. Apart from משׁפטים it is combined with מצות, e.g. ׳וח ׳מ Exod 15:26 (R), Deut 27:10 ׳ומ ׳ח Deut 4:40; 1Kgs 3:14; 1Kgs 8:61 ותורה ׳וח ׳מ Neh 9:14 ׳ועדות וח ׳מ Deut 6:17; 1Chr 29:19; 2Chr 34:31 ׳וח ׳דברי מ Ezra 7:11 it is used with verbs: נתן Lev 26:46 + 3 t.; צוּה Num 30:17 + 9 t.; למּד Deut 4:1 + 10 t.; שׁמר Deut 26:17 + 16 t.; עשׂה Deut 6:24 + 5 t.; שׁמר לעשׂות Deut 11:32 + 4 t.; הלך בְּ 1Kgs 8:61 + 3 t. — [On usage of חֹק see חֻקָּה near the end]

statutes, statute, decree, ordinance, due, …
ḥōq
an enactment; hence, an appointment (of time, space, quantity, labor or usage)
  • statute, ordinance, limit, something prescribed, due
    • prescribed task
    • "prescribed portion"action prescribed (for oneself), resolve"prescribed due"prescribed limit, boundary"enactment, decree, ordinance
      • specific decree
      • "law in general
      enactments, statutes
      • conditions
      • "enactments"decrees"civil enactments prescribed by God

לֹ֣א
לֹ֣א
Particle not
Dictionary form: לֹא · loh

Particle — Negative

In the KJV here: yet do i not
not ×882 neither ×399 no ×282 nor ×215 shall not ×205 thou shalt not ×116 is not ×102 and not ×86
More options
not — Default negation; fits nearly every context.
no — Use before nouns or as a standalone negative.
never — Emphasizes total or timeless negation.
nor — Use in paired or continued negative clauses.
neither — Use when negating two elements together.
none — Negates a noun or quantity; no one/nothing.

BDB4266 H3808

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)

שָׁכָֽחְתִּי
שָׁכָֽחְתִּי
Root word forget, forgotten, forgat, forgetteth, forgettest, …
Dictionary form: שָׁכַח · shaw-KA

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

In the KJV here: forget
forget ×23 be forgotten ×6 and forget ×4 have forgotten ×4 and forgat ×3 forgotten ×3 hath forgotten ×3 thou hast forgotten ×3
More options
forget — Most natural, direct modern equivalent; broadly applicable.
fail to remember — Emphatic; highlights the act of not recalling.
lose sight of — Idiomatic; suits neglect or gradual drifting from memory.
neglect — When forgetting implies willful or culpable disregard.
put out of mind — Stresses intentional or complete dismissal from thought.
let slip from memory — Softer tone; suits unintentional or passive forgetting.

BDB8660 H7911

BDB8659 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB8661

שָׁכַח102 verb forget (Late Hebrew id.; and (Pi`el) Eccl 11:25 (twice in verse); Aramaic שְׁכַךְ is find); —

Qal86 Perfect 3 masculine singular ׳שׁ Ps 9:13 +, suffix שְׁכֵחָ֑נִי Isa 49:14 2 feminine singular שָׁכַחְתְּ Jer 13:25 1 plural suffix שְׁכַחֲנוּךָ Ps 44:18, etc.; Imperfect יִשְׁכַּח Deut 4:31 +, etc.; Imperative feminine singular שִׁכְּחִי Ps 45:11 Infinitive absolute שָׁכֹךְַ; Participle plural construct שֹׁכְחֵי Job 8:13; Ps 50:22forget:
1. subject man,
  a. accusative of thing Gen 27:45 (E), Deut 4:9; Deut 9:7 (opposed to זָכַר) +, = forget and leave, ב of location, Deut 24:19 with object clause with כִּי Job 39:15 with מִן infinitive Ps 102:5.
  b. with accusative of person, involving forgetting to mention, Gen 40:23 (E; opposed to זכר), ceasing to care for Jer 30:14 (figurative), Isa 49:15 (twice in verse) (accusative omitted), vIsa 49:15; Job 19:14; Ps 45:11 with accusative Jerusalem Ps 137:5a; יִשְׁכָּחֵהוּ רֶחֶם Job 24:20 absolute Ps 137:5b ׃תִּשְׁכַּח יְמִינִי AE Ki supply הַמַּעֲשֶׂה or הַנִּגּוּן (whence AV her cunning), but forced: ᵐ5 תִּשָּׁכַח; read probably (Gr Bu and others) תִּכְחַשׁ let it grow lean (Ps 109:24, compare Zech 11:17), or (Che) תְּכַחַשׁ let it disappoint (me), fail (Hab 3:17).
  c. especially with accusative ׳י (God), Hos 2:15; Hos 8:14; Hos 13:6; Hos 1:9; (׳שָׁכֹחַ תִּשׁ) + 16 t. (5 t. Deuteronomy, 4 t. Jeremiah), + Ps 59:12 (accusative omitted); also accusative of divine name Jer 23:27 (בַּבַּעַל), Ps 44:21 commands of ׳י Hos 4:6; Deut 26:13 (accusative omitted) Ps 119:16 + 7 t. Ps 119, his doings and ways, vPs 119:139; Ps 78:7; Ps 78:11; Ps 103:2; Ps 106:13, his covenant Deut 4:23; Deut 4:31; 2Kgs 17:38; Prov 2:17 law of wisdom Prov 3:1, that is accusative בִּינָה Prov 4:6.
2. subject ׳י (God):
  a. accusative of person Hos 4:6; 1Sam 1:11 (opposed to זָכַר), Lam 5:20; Isa 49:14 (|| עָזַב), Ps 10:12; Ps 13:2; Ps 42:10.
  b. accusative of sins Amos 8:7; Ps 10:11 (accusative omitted), cry Ps 9:13 (opposed to זָכַר), compare, of distress, Ps 44:25.
  c. voice of foes Ps 74:23.
  d. followed by infinitive Ps 77:10. Niph`al Perfect 3 masculine singular נִשְׁכַּח Eccl 9:5, etc.; Imperfect יִשָּׁכַח Ps 9:19, 3 feminine singular תִּשָּׁכֵחַ Jer 20:11, etc.; Participle feminine singular נִשְׁכָּחָה Isa 23:16, נִשְׁכַּחַת vIsa 23:15, plural נִשְׁכָּ חִים Job 28:4be forgotten: subject of thing Gen 41:30 (E), Deut 31:21; Jer 20:11; Jer 23:40; Jer 50:5; Isa 65:11 subject person Ps 9:19; Ps 31:13; Eccl 2:16, Tyre Isa 23:15; Isa 23:16 (under figure of harlot), subject זִכְרָם Eccl 9:5 מִנִּי רָ֑גֶל ׳הַנִּשׁ Job 28:4. Pi`el Perfect 3 masculine singular ׳וגו ׳שִׁכַּח י Lam 2:6 ׳י hath caused to forget (be forgotten) in Zion assembly and sabbath. Hiph`il Infinitive לְהַשְׁכִּיחַ Jer 23:27 to make my people forget my name (2 accusative). Hithpa`el Ipmf. 3 masculine plural יִשְׁתַּכְּחוּ Eccl 8:10 they were forgotten in the city.

forget, forgotten, forgat, forgetteth, forgettest, …
šākaḥ
to mislay, i.e., to be oblivious of, from want of memory or attention
  • to forget, ignore, wither
    • (Qal)
      • to forget
      • "to cease to care
      (Niphal) to be forgotten"(Piel) to cause to forget"(Hiphil) to make or cause to forget"(Hithpael) to be forgotten

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.
כִּֽי הָ֭יִיתִי Dechi — a lesser break כְּנֹ֣אד בְּקִיט֑וֹר Atnach — the verse's main pause — take a breath here חֻ֝קֶּ֗יךָ Revia Mugrash — a lesser break לֹ֣א שָׁכָֽחְתִּי Silluq — end of the verse

כִּֽי-הָיִיתִי כְּנֹאד בְּקִיטוֹר חֻקֶּיךָ לֹא שָׁכָֽחְתִּי׃
83
For I am become like a bottle in the smoke; yet do I not forget thy statutes.
Cross References

Job 30:30

עוֹרִי שָׁחַר מֵעָלָי וְעַצְמִי-חָרָה מִנִּי-חֹֽרֶב׃
30
My skin is black upon me, and my bones are burned with heat.

Psalms 119:176

תָּעִיתִי כְּשֶׂה אֹבֵד בַּקֵּשׁ עַבְדֶּךָ כִּי מִצְוֹתֶיךָ לֹא שָׁכָֽחְתִּי׃
176
I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek thy servant; for I do not forget thy commandments.

Psalms 119:16

בְּחֻקֹּתֶיךָ אֶֽשְׁתַּעֲשָׁע לֹא אֶשְׁכַּח דְּבָרֶֽךָ׃
16
I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.

Psalms 102:3

כִּֽי-כָלוּ בְעָשָׁן יָמָי וְעַצְמוֹתַי כְּמוֹ-קֵד נִחָֽרוּ׃
3
For my days are consumed like smoke, and my bones are burned as an hearth.

Psalms 119:61

חֶבְלֵי רְשָׁעִים עִוְּדֻנִי תּֽוֹרָתְךָ לֹא שָׁכָֽחְתִּי׃
61
The bands of the wicked have robbed me: but I have not forgotten thy law.

Psalms 22:15

יָבֵשׁ כַּחֶרֶשׂ׀ כֹּחִי וּלְשׁוֹנִי מֻדְבָּק מַלְקוֹחָי וְֽלַעֲפַר-מָוֶת תִּשְׁפְּתֵֽנִי׃
15
My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.