Song of Solomon 3:1

By night on my bed I sought him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not.
Select a Hebrew word above to see its details.

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

Preposition

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

BDB3996 H3588 H5921 H3651

BDB3995 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB3997

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


BDB6085 H5920 H5921

BDB6084 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB6086

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

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

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

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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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

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

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

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


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


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

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

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


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


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

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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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

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

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

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

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


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

IV. Compounds: —

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

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


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


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


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


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


BDB6111 H4192 H5921 H5961

BDB6110 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB6112

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


BDB9768 H5922 H5921

BDB9767 | BIBLICAL ARAMAIC | BDB9769

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

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

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

מִשְׁכָּבִ י֙
מִשְׁכָּבִ
Root word bed, beds, lying, with, couch, …
י֙
Suffix — pronoun my / me
Dictionary form: מִשְׁכָּב · mish-KAWB

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

In the KJV here: my bed
his bed ×7 their beds ×4 thy bed ×4 bed ×3 by lying ×3 the bed ×3 her bed ×2 my bed ×2
More options
bed — Most neutral, broadly applicable everyday term.
sleeping place — Useful when emphasizing a designated resting spot.
couch — Fits reclining or daytime rest contexts.
resting place — Slightly elevated register; good for poetic passages.
lying down — Use when the word functions as a verbal noun or act.
chamber — Suits intimate or private settings in narrative prose.

BDB8658 H4904

BDB8657 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB8659

מִשְׁכָּב46 noun masculineLev 15:4 place of lying, couch; act of lying; — absolute ׳מ 1Kgs 1:47 +, construct מִשְׁכַּב 2Sam 4:5 +; suffix מִשְׁכָּבִי Job 7:13 +, מִשְׁכַּבְכֶם Ps 4:5 plural construct מִשְׁכְּבֵי Gen 49:4 +, suffix מִשְׁכְּבוֺהָם Hos 7:14 +, etc.; —

1. couch, bed (37 t.), 2Sam 4:11; Hos 7:14; Mic 2:1; 1Kgs 1:47; Song 3:1 +; ׳וְנָפַל לְמ Exod 21:18 (E) he takes to his bed; נִדָּתָהּ ׳מ Lev 15:26 (P; see below I. נדד); ׳מ as place of copulation Gen 49:4 (poem in J), Isa 57:7; Isa 57:8 (twice in verse); Prov 7:17 as place of burial Isa 57:2; Ezek 32:25; 2Chr 16:14 (see ׳מ Inscription Tabnit8 and perhaps Jewish inscription Cooke341).
2. act of lying:
  a. in general, ׳חֲדַר מ chamber of lying down = bed-chamber, Exod 7:28 (E), 2Sam 4:7; 2Kgs 6:12, בְּחַדְרֵי מִשְׁכָּֽבְךָ Eccl 10:20 הַצָּהֳרַיִם ׳והוּא שֹׁכֵב אֵת מ 2Sam 4:5 his noon-day siesta; 2Sam 17:28 read perhaps ׳עַרְשׂת מ couches for lying down Klo Bu HPS Now, compare ᵐ5.
  b. (from context) sexually: of woman יֹדַעַת (אִישׁ לְ) מִשְׁכַּב זָכָת Judg 21:11; Judg 21:12; Num 31:17; Num 31:35 (P); of man שׁכב מִשְׁכְּבֵי אִשָּׁה Lev 18:22; Lev 20:13 (+ אֶתזָֿכָר sodomy; H); ׳דֹּדִים מ Ezek 23:17.


BDB9948 H4904 H7901

BDB9947 | BIBLICAL ARAMAIC | BDB9949

שׁכב (√ of following; Biblical Hebrew שָׁכַב, מִשְׁכָּב).

bed, beds, lying, with, couch, …
miškāb
a bed (figuratively, a bier); abstractly, sleep; by euphemism, carnal intercourse
  • a lying down, couch, bier, act of lying
    • couch, bed
    • "act of lying, lying down or sleeping room, bedroom"lying down (for sexual contact)

בַּ לֵּיל֔וֹת
בַּ
Prefix — preposition in, at, by, with + "the" (the article is absorbed into the prefix)
לֵּיל֔וֹת
Root word night, nights, season, seasons, midnight
Dictionary form: לַיִל · la-YIL

בַּ
Hidden "the" בַּ = the preposition + the article הַ squeezed together: the "a" vowel under the prefix is the swallowed "the". Translate "in the ___".

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

In the KJV here: by night
night ×45 by night ×39 and night ×21 in the night ×19 nights ×15 the night ×12 of the night ×8 this night ×8
More options
night — Default rendering; fits nearly every context.
nighttime — Emphasizes the time period rather than a single night.
darkness — Poetic contexts where night symbolizes obscurity or threat.
midnight — Use when context specifies the deep or middle of night.
after dark — Idiomatic; suits narrative action happening under cover of night.
season of night — Rare; captures the plural/cyclical sense of recurring nights.

BDB4409 H3915

BDB4408 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB4410

לַ֫יְלָה, לַ֫יִל242 noun masculineGen 40:5 night (Late Hebrew id.; MI15 (ב)ללה; Aramaic לֵילָא, , ; Arabic , ; Ethiopic all = night; Assyrian lîlâtu, evening DlHWB; meaning of √ dubious; form probably לילי, and ending הָ֯ radical, and not ה locative, M 127 DlProl. 128 Ges«GKC:90»§ 90, 2. with R. ii. p. 57, R. 1); — absolute לַ֫יְלָה Gen 19:33 + 214 t. + 2 t. Qr. (see below); לָ֑יְלָה Gen 1:5 + 3 t.; לַ֫יִל Isa 16:3 + Prov 31:18; Lam 2:19 Kt (Qr לַיְלָה); לֵיל Isa 15:1 (twice in verse); Isa 21:1 construct לֵיל Exod 12:42; Isa 30:29 plural absolute לֵילוֺת 1Sam 30:12 + 4 t.; construct id., Isa 21:8 + 5 t.; —

1. literally night, opposed to day, Gen 8:22 (J), Deut 1:33 + very often (see יוֺם); alternation of day and night divinely ordained Gen 1:5 (P), Jer 33:20 (twice in verse); Jer 33:25 +; ׳מִיּוֺם עַדלֿ Isa 38:12; Isa 38:18 i.e within one whole day; as close of day, ׳עַדלֿ 2Chr 35:14 as time of sacred (לֵיל) חָג Isa 30:29 of suffering and weeping לֵילוֺת עָמָל Job 7:3, compare Ps 6:7; Ps 77:3 etc.; of pious desires, prayer, praise, meditation, etc (sometimes || by day) Isa 26:9; Job 35:10; Ps 1:2; Ps 22:3; Ps 42:9; Ps 77:7; Ps 88:2; Ps 92:3; Ps 119:5 (twice in verse), compare Ps 16:7; Ps 17:8 of night-service in Temple Ps 134:1 of sudden assault, or destruction, Isa 15:1; Jer 6:5; Obad 1:5; Job 27:20; Job 34:20; Job 34:25; Job 36:20 divided into watches Ps 90:4 לֵיל שִׁמֻּרִים Exod 12:42 see below שׁמר; with number, denoting duration of time, forty days and forty nights Gen 7:4; Gen 7:12; Exod 24:18; Exod 34:28; Deut 9:9; Deut 9:11; Deut 9:18; Deut 9:25; Deut 10:10; 1Kgs 19:8 three days and three nights (שְׁלשָׁה לֵילוֺת) 1Sam 30:12; Jonah 2:1 seven days and seven nights (שִׁבְעַת לֵילוֺת) Job 2:13 ; ׳חֲלוֺם הַלּ Gen 20:3; Gen 31:24 (both E), 1Kgs 3:5 ׳מַרְאֹת הַלּ Gen 46:2 (E); ׳חֶזְיוֺן ל Job 20:8; Job 33:15, ׳חֶזְיֹנוֺת ל Job 4:13, ׳חֲלוֺם חֲזוֺן ל Isa 29:7 (compare Mic 3:6 below) ; ׳בִּןלֿ Jonah 4:10 (twice in verse) see בֵּן
8. b. Chiefly in adverb. phrase: — ׳בַּחֲצִי הַלּ at midnight Exod 12:29 + (see חֲצִי, חָצוֺת b), compare ׳בְּתוֺךְ הַלּ 1Kgs 3:20, ׳בְּאִישׁוֺן ל Prov 7:9 ; הַזֶּה ׳בַּלּ Exod 12:8; Exod 12:12 on this night (P; the night of which one is speaking); הַהוּא ׳בַּלּ on that night Gen 19:35 (J) + often, (P only Num 14:1); הוּא ׳בַּל Gen 19:33; Gen 30:16 so ׳הַלּ alone 1Sam 14:34, but strike out ᵐ5 We Kit, compare Dr; Klo Bu read ליהוה; ׳הַלּ to-night Gen 19:5; Gen 19:34; Gen 30:15 (all J), Num 22:8; Num 22:19 (E), Josh 2:2; Josh 4:3 (both J E), 2Sam 17:1; 2Sam 17:16; 2Sam 19:8; Ruth 1:12; Ruth 3:2; Ruth 3:13, opposed to מָחָר tomorrow 1Sam 19:11 ׳הַלּ = this night just past, last night 1Sam 15:16 (compare Dr); ׳כָּלהַֿלּ all night Hos 7:6 (opposed to בֹּקֶר), Exod 14:20; Exod 14:21 (J), Num 11:32; Josh 10:9 (both J E), Judg 16:2 (twice in verse); Judg 19:25; 1Sam 15:11; 1Sam 31:12; 2Sam 2:29; 2Sam 2:32; 2Sam 4:7 opposed to כלהֿיום ההוא (of continuous action) 1Sam 19:24; 1Sam 28:20; Isa 62:6, opposed to יומם Ps 78:14 ׳בְּכָללֿ Ps 6:7 every night (probably); compare כָּלהַֿלֵּילוֺת Isa 21:8 all the nights (opposed to יוֺמָם) ; especially לַיְלָה by night Num 22:20 (E) Josh 8:3 (JE), Deut 16:1; Num 9:16 (P) + 51 t.; of these Gen 14:15 and Exod 13:21; Exod 13:22 (J) + 25 t. opposed to יוֺמָם, covering all the time; otherwise Judg 6:27 (opposed to יוֺמָם); לַיְלָה וָיוֺם night and day 1Kgs 8:29; Isa 27:3; Esth 4:16 less often לֵילוֺת Ps 16:17 ׳הַלּ by night 2Kgs 25:4 (׳ל in || Jer 52:7), Zech 1:8; Neh 4:16 (opposed to הַיּוֺם) ; ׳בַּלּ id., Jer 6:5 + 18 t. (chiefly late; often opposed to בַּיּוֺם, יוֺמָם, etc.); בַּלֵּילוֺת Ps 92:3 (opposed to בַּבֹּקֶר, Ps 134:1; Song 3:1; Song 3:8 בְּלַיְלָה Neh 9:19 (opposed to בְּיוֺמָם ); בְּלֵיל Isa 15:1 (twice in verse) ׳כַּל as at night Job 5:14 (opposed to צָהֳרָ֑יִם ).
2. figurative שִׁיתִי כַּלַיִל צִלֵּךְ Isa 16:8 simile of shadow of Zion as protection; more often in gloomy sense, of avenging calamity without divine guidance or comfort לַיְלָה מֵחָזוֺן Mic 3:6 personal distress Job 35:10 judgment perhaps also Job 36:20 (Ew De Di Da; night of death Bu; 'unintelligible' Siegf); מַהמִּֿלַּיְלָה מַהמִּֿלֵּיל Isa 21:11 i.e. what hour of the night of calamity is it? compare vIsa 21:12 (opposed to בֹּקֶר).


BDB9645 H3915 H3916

BDB9644 | BIBLICAL ARAMAIC | BDB9646

[לֵילָא] noun [masculine] night (see Biblical Hebrew לַ֫יְלָה); — emphatic לֵילְיָא Dan 2:19; Dan 5:30; Dan 7:2; Dan 7:7; Dan 7:13.

night, nights, season, seasons, midnight
layil
properly, a twist (away of the light), i.e., night; figuratively, adversity
  • night
    • night (as opposed to day)
    • "of gloom, protective shadow (figuratively)

בִּקַּ֕שְׁתִּי
בִּקַּ֕שְׁתִּי
Root word seek, sought, seeketh, require, seekest, …
Dictionary form: בָּקַשׁ · baw-KAHSH

Verb — Piel, Perfect (Qatal), first person singular intensive — "he really / thoroughly did" completed action — try "he ___ed" or "he has ___ed" the built-in subject is "I"

In the KJV here: i sought
to seek ×20 seek ×19 sought ×18 seeketh ×13 and seek ×7 that seek ×7 of them that seek ×6 and sought ×5
More options
seek — Modernized KJV; broad, natural fit for most contexts.
look for — Colloquial; suits narrative and everyday prose well.
search for — Implies active, deliberate effort or urgency.
pursue — Conveys determined, ongoing striving toward a goal.
request — Prefer when the seeking involves asking another person.
desire — Best when the focus is on longing rather than active search.

BDB1296 H1245

BDB1295 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB1297

[בָּקַשׁ]224 verb seek (Phoenician בקש) —

Pi`el Perfect בִּקֵּשׁ Deut 13:11 + 15 t.; בִּקְשָׁה Eccl 7:28; Esth 2:15 suffix בִּקְשָׁתַם Hos 2:9 בִּקַּשְׁתִּיו Song 3:1; Song 3:2 compare Song 5:6 בִּקְשׁוּ Ezra 2:62 + 12 t.; suffix בִּקְשֻׁנִי Isa 65:1 + 2 t.; Imperfect יְבַקֵשׁ Josh 22:23 + 37 t.; יְבַקֶּשֿׁ Prov 15:14 + 2 t.; אֲבַקְשָׁה Ps 122:9 + 3 t.; suffix יְבַקְשֵׁהוּ 1Sam 23:14 + 7 t.; יְבַקְשׁוּ 1Sam 16:16 + 23 t.; Imperative בַקֵּשׁ 1Sam 9:3 + 3 t.; בַּקְּשׁוּ 1Sam 28:7 + 8 t.; Infinitive לְבַקֵּשׁ 1Sam 10:2 + 29 t.; Participle מְבַקֵּשׁ Gen 37:16 + 23 t.; plural מְבַקְשִׁים Exod 10:11 + 38 t.; —
2. seek to secure:
  a. accusative the priesthood Num 16:10 (P); David for king 2Sam 3:17 in battle 2Sam 5:17 (= 1Chr 14:8); Ps 27:4; Jer 45:5 (compare vJer 45:5); בקשׁ נפשׁ seek to take one's life Exod 4:19 (J) 1Sam 20:1; 1Sam 22:23 (twice in verse); 1Sam 23:15; 1Sam 25:29; 2Sam 4:8; 2Sam 16:11; 1Kgs 19:10; 1Kgs 19:14; Ps 35:4; Ps 38:13; Ps 40:15; Ps 54:5; Ps 63:10; Ps 70:3; Ps 86:14; Prov 29:10; Jer 4:30; Jer 11:21; Jer 19:7; Jer 19:9; Jer 21:7; Jer 22:25; Jer 34:20; Jer 34:21; Jer 38:16; Jer 44:30 (twice in verse); Jer 46:26; Jer 49:37.
  b. aim at, practise: בקשׁ רעה seek hurt of Num 35:23 (P) 1Sam 24:10; 1Sam 25:26 (אֶל) 1Kgs 20:7; Ps 71:13; Ps 71:24; Esth 9:2 כזב ׳ב Ps 4:3 compare Prov 17:11, שׁבר Prov 17:19, רצון Prov 11:27, טובה Neh 2:10, אמונה Jer 5:1, צדק, ענוה Zeph 2:3 (twice in verse) שׁלום Ps 34:15, חכמה Prov 14:6; Eccl 7:25, בינה Dan 8:15, דעת Prov 15:14; Prov 18:15, תורה Mal 2:7, אהבה Prov 17:9, תאוה Prov 18:1 (ל of direct object), חשׁבנות Eccl 7:29.
  c. Infinitive Exod 4:24 (J) Jer 26:21.
  d. לְ & Infinitive Gen 43:30; Exod 2:15; Exod 10:11 (JE) Deut 13:11; 1Sam 14:4; 1Sam 19:2; 1Sam 19:10; 1Sam 23:10; 2Sam 20:19; 2Sam 21:2; 1Kgs 11:22; 1Kgs 11:40; Esth 2:21; Esth 3:6; Esth 6:2; Ps 37:22; Eccl 12:10; Zech 6:7; Zech 12:9.
3. seek the face
  a. of rulers 1Kgs 10:24 (= 2Chr 9:23) Prov 29:26.
  b. of God (from resorting to sacred places) Hos 5:15; 1Chr 16:11 (= Ps 105:4) 2Chr 7:14; 2Sam 21:1; Ps 24:6; Ps 27:8 (twice in verse); without פְּנֵי
  c. יהוה Deut 4:29; Zeph 1:6; Zeph 2:3; Hos 3:5; Hos 3:5; Hos 5:6; Exod 33:7 (J) 1Chr 16:10 (= Ps 105:3) 2Chr 11:16; 2Chr 20:4; Isa 51:1; Prov 28:5; Zech 8:21; Zech 8:22; Jer 50:4 אלהים 2Sam 12:16, compare Ezek 8:22; Isa 45:19; Isa 65:1; 2Chr 15:4; 2Chr 15:15; Hos 7:10; Jer 29:13; Mal 3:1; Ps 40:17; Ps 70:5; Ps 69:7; Dan 9:3 ׳דבר י Amos 8:12 שׁמך Ps 83:17.
  d. followed by Infinitive with לְ, of resort to wizards, but object not expressed Lev 19:34 (H).
4. desire, demand:
  a. accusative 1Chr 21:3.
  b. accusative of thing מִן person Ezek 7:26; Dan 1:20.
5. a. require, exact, accusative of thing מִיַּד person Isa 1:12 מִן person Neh 5:12, accusative of thing vNeh 5:18.
  b. exact equivalent or penalty for, accusative of thing, מִיַּד person Gen 31:39; Gen 43:9 (JE) 1Sam 20:16; 2Sam 4:11; Ezek 3:18; Ezek 3:20; Ezek 33:8, compare דרשׁ; no object expressed Josh 22:23 (P).
6. (late) ask, request, accusative of thing Esth 2:15 עַל of thing Neh 2:4 עַל of thing מִן person Esth 7:7; Ezra 8:23 עַל of thing מִלִּפְנֵי person Esth 4:8 accusative of thing מִן person Dan 1:8 (object clause with אשׁר), Ps 104:21 מִן person 2Chr 20:4. Pu`al Imperfect יְבֻקַּשׁ Jer 50:20, ׳וַיְב Esth 2:23 תֲּבֻקְשִׁי Ezek 26:21 be sought.

seek, sought, seeketh, require, seekest, …
bāqaš
to search out (by any method, specifically in worship or prayer); by implication, to strive after
  • to seek, require, desire, exact, request
    • (Piel)
      • to seek to find
      • "to seek to secure"to seek the face"to desire, demand"to require, exact"to ask, request
      (Pual) to be sought

אֵ֥ת
אֵ֥ת
Particle points to the object of the verb — leave untranslated
Dictionary form: אֵת · ate

Particle — Direct Object Marker

and ×240 of ×109 him ×107 them ×73 with ×72 from ×64 you ×61 me ×54
More options
[direct object marker — untranslated] — Most common use; marks definite direct object, no English equivalent.
with — Use when אֵת expresses accompaniment or association.
from — Use when context implies source or separation.
along with — Emphasizes inclusion or togetherness in a list.
together with — Slightly more formal; stresses joint participation.
among — Use when indicating presence within a group.

BDB853 H853

BDB852 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB854

I. אֵת, with makk. אֶתֿ, with suffix אֹתִי; ˜אֹתְךָ, ˜אֹתְכָה Num 22:33, אֹתָ֑ךְ, אֹתָ֑כָה Exod 29:35, feminine אֹתָךְ; אֹתוֺ etc.; 2 plural אֶתְכֶם, once ˜אוֺתְכֶם Josh 23:15 3 masculine plural regularly אֹתָם, rarely אֶתְהֶם Gen 32:1; Exod 18:20; Num 21:3; Ezek 34:12; 1Chr 6:50, once ˜אוֺתְהֶם Ezek 23:45 3 feminine plural, on the contrary, regularly אֶתְהֶן (13 t.), once אֹתָן Ezek 16:54 (also ˜אוֺתְהֶן Ezek 23:47, אֹתָ֖נָה Exod 35:26, אוֺתָ֖נָה Ezek 34:21); forms with cholem also often written plene: — the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite (Moabite id., Phoenician אית i.e. אִיַּת (Schrödp. 213 f.); Aramaic יָת frequently in ᵑ7; Syriac very rare as mark of accusative (for which is preferred), but used often in the sense of substance οὐσία, also in that of self, e.g. per se, reapse, sibi ipsi, PS1640 f., Samaritan ; Arabic , only used with suffix, when it is desired to emphasize the pronoun, e.g. Qor 1:4 WAG i. § 189. [Ethiopic uses k£y¹ similarly, Di§ 150 a; but it is dubious if this is etymologically akin.] The primitive form will have been 'iwyath, originally a substantive with following genitive, Olp. 432; whether ultimately a parallel development with אוֺת sign from √ אוה is uncertain: Ol WAG i. § 188 LagM i. 226 affirm, ZMG 1886, 738 doubts. In Hebrew the ground-form is אוֺת; the forms with ¢, e being abbreviated. In post Biblical Hebrew, used in combination with another preposition: thus בְּאוֺתוֺ הַיּוֺם = Bibl. בַּיּוֺם הַהוּא, בְּאוֺתָהּ הַשָּׁעָה; or as a nomin., e.g. אוֺתוֺ הָאִישׁ = Bibl. הָאִישׁ הַהוּא).

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

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

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


BDB9600 H853 H3487

BDB9599 | BIBLICAL ARAMAIC | BDB9601

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

with, from, of, and, by, …
ʾēt
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
  • sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative

שֶׁ אָהֲבָ֖ה
שֶׁ
Prefix — relative who, which, that
אָהֲבָ֖ה
Root word love, loved, loveth, lovers, friends, …
Dictionary form: אָהַב · aw-HAHB

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

In the KJV here: loveth
loveth ×17 loved ×10 love ×8 he loved ×7 i love ×7 to love ×7 thy lovers ×6 and love ×5
More options
love — Most versatile; suits emotional, covenantal, and divine contexts.
cherish — Warmer, tender nuance; good for intimate or familial bonds.
adore — Conveys deep devotion; strong emotional or worshipful register.
be fond of — Lighter affection; fits preferences or less intense attachments.
be devoted to — Emphasizes loyalty; suits covenantal or faithful-love contexts.
delight in — Highlights pleasure or enjoyment; good when desire is implied.

BDB143 H157

BDB142 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB144

אָהֵב216 verb love —

Qal Perfect אָהֵ֑ב Gen 27:9 + 7 t; אָשֵהבּ Gen 27:14 אָהַב Gen 37:3 + 3 t.; אֲֵ˜הבָךָ Deut 15:16 3 feminine singular אָֽהֲבָה Song 1:7 +, etc.; Imperfect (הָֿ֑ב) יֶאֱהַב Prov 3:12 +; 1 singular אֵהָ֑ב Prov 8:17 (compare Ew§ 192 d Ges«GKC:68»§ 68. 1); וָָֽאֹהַ֖ב Mal 1:2 וָאֹהֲבֵהוּ Hos 11:1 אֹהֲבֵם Hos 14:5 וָאֹהֲבֵם Ps 119:167 2 masculine plural תְּאֵהֲבוּ Prov 1:22 (compare I p. 394 Ges«GKC:63»§ 63 R 2); תֶּאֱהָ֑בוּ Zech 8:17 תָּאֱהָבוּן Ps 4:3 Imperative אֱהַבֿ Hos 3:1 אֱהָבֶהָ Prov 4:6 אֶהֱבוּ Ps 31:24; Amos 5:15 אֱהָ֑בוּ Zech 8:19 Infinitive construct אֱהֹב Eccl 3:8 אַהֲבָה Deut 10:12 +; אֲהֲבַת Mic 6:8 + etc.; compare also below
  n. אהבה below; Participle אֹהֵב (אוֺהֵב) Deut 10:18 + 26 t.; feminine construct אֲהֻבַת Hos 3:1 is probably active compare BaNB 174 ff; suffix אֹהֲבִי Isa 41:8 etc.; feminine אֹהֶ֫בֶת Gen 25:28 אֹהַ֫בְתִּי Hos 10:11 etc.; Passive participle אָהוּב Neh 13:26 אֲהוּבָה Deut 21:15 (twice in verse); Deut 21:16. — love (mostly with accusative, followed by לְ + object Lev 19:18; Lev 19:34; 2Chr 19:2 (late), followed by בְּ Eccl 5:9 absolute Eccl 3:8 & see below), (affection both pure & impure, divine & human); —
1. human love to human object; absolute, opposed to hate שָׂנֵא Eccl 3:8 of love to son Gen 22:2; Gen 25:28; Gen 37:3; Gen 37:4; Gen 44:20 (JE) Prov 13:24 so also 2Sam 13:21 ᵐ5 Ew Th We, compare Dr, of David's loving Amnon; never to parent, but mother-in-law Ruth 4:15 of man's love to woman; wife Gen 24:67; Gen 29:20; Gen 29:30 (compare vGen 29:18):32 (JE), also Deut 21:15 (twice in verse); Deut 21:16; Judg 14:16; 1Sam 1:5; 2Chr 11:21; Esth 2:17; Hos 3:1; Eccl 9:9 but also Gen 34:3 (J) Judg 16:4; Judg 16:15; 2Sam 13:1; 2Sam 13:4; 2Sam 13:15 (where of carnal desire) 1Kgs 11:1 compare v1Kgs 11:2; Hos 3:1 רֵעַ ׳א loving a paramour, see BaNB 176; woman's love to man 1Sam 18:20 (so v1Sam 18:28 ᵑ0, but read וְבִי כָליִֿשְׂרָאֵל אֹהֵב אֹתוֺ ᵐ5 We Dr) Song 1:3; Song 1:4; Song 1:7; Song 3:1; Song 3:2; Song 3:3; Song 3:4 (5 t. subject נַפְשִׁי); compare also figurative of adulterous Judah Jer 2:25; Isa 57:8; Ezek 16:37 of love of slave to master Exod 21:5 (JE) Deut 15:16 inferior to superior 1Sam 18:22 compare v1Sam 18:16 love to neighbour Lev 19:18 (וְאָהַבְתָּ לְרֵעֲךָ כָּמוֺ֑ךָ), partic to stranger Lev 19:34 (both P), Deut 10:18; Deut 10:19 love of friend to friend 1Sam 16:21; 1Sam 18:1; 1Sam 18:3; 1Sam 20:17 (twice in verse); Job 19:19; Prov 17:1 compare 2Sam 19:7 (twice in verse); 2Chr 19:2 see also Prov 9:8; Prov 16:13 compare Prov 15:12 see especially Participle below
2. less often of appetite, object food, Gen 27:7; Gen 27:9; Gen 27:14 (JE); drink Hos 3:1; Prov 21:17 husbandry 2Chr 26:10 compare figurative of Ephraim Hos 10:11 followed by infinitive; length of life Ps 34:13 of cupidity Hos 9:1; 1Sam 1:23; Eccl 5:9 (twice in verse); of love of sleep Prov 20:13 compare figurative of sluggish watchmen (followed by infinitive) Isa 56:10 also with object abstract wisdom (personified), knowledge, righteousness, etc. Prov 4:6; Prov 8:17; Prov 8:21; Prov 12:1; Prov 22:11; Prov 29:3; Amos 5:15; Mic 6:8 (infinitive || infinitives) Zech 8:19, compare Prov 19:8 קֹנֶה לֵב אֹהֵב נַפְשׁוֺ; object folly, evil, etc., Mic 3:2; Mic 4:3; Ps 11:5; Ps 52:5; Ps 52:6; Ps 109:17; Prov 1:22; Prov 8:36; Prov 17:19 (twice in verse), compare Prov 18:21; Zech 8:17, compare כֵּן ׳א Amos 4:5; Jer 5:3, followed by Infinitive Hos 12:8; Jer 14:10, especially of idolatry Hos 4:13 (where strike out הֵבוּ compare 1. p. 395) Jer 8:2.
3. love to God Exod 20:6 (JE) elsewhere Hexateuch only Deut 5:10; Deut 6:5; Deut 7:9 + 9 t. Deuteronomy + Josh 22:5; Josh 23:11 also Judg 5:31; 1Kgs 3:3; Neh 1:5; Dan 9:4 especially in (late) Ps 31:24; Ps 116:1; Ps 145:20, but usually followed by name, law, etc. of ׳י Ps 5:12; Ps 26:8; Ps 40:17; Ps 69:37; Ps 70:5; Ps 97:10; Ps 119:47 + 11 t. Ps 119 compare Isa 56:6 compare also of love to Jerusalem Isa 66:10; Ps 122:6.
4. especially Participle אֹהֵב =
   (a) lover, Lam 1:2 (figurative of Jerusalem);
   (b) friend Hiram of David 1Kgs 5:15, compare Jer 20:4; Jer 20:6; Esth 5:10; Esth 5:14; Esth 6:13; Ps 38:12 (|| רֵעַ) so Ps 88:19, Prov 14:20 also Prov 18:24; Prov 27:6 Abraham of God Isa 41:8; 2Chr 20:7.
5. of divine love
   (a) to individual men Deut 4:37; 2Sam 12:24; Prov 3:12; Prov 15:9; Ps 146:8; Neh 13:26
   (b) to people Israel, etc. Deut 7:8; Deut 7:13; Deut 23:6; Hos 3:1; Hos 9:15; Hos 11:1; Hos 14:5; 1Kgs 10:9; 2Chr 2:10; 2Chr 9:8; 2Chr 48:14; (3 t. in verse); Ps 47:5 to Jerusalem Ps 78:68; Ps 87:2
   (c) to righteousness, etc. Ps 11:7; Ps 33:5; Ps 37:28; Ps 45:8; Ps 99:4; Isa 61:8; Mal 2:11. Niph`al Participle plural הַנֶּאֱהָבִים 2Sam 1:23 lovely, loveable of Saul & Jonath. (|| הַנְּעִימִם). Pi`el Participle plural suffix (בָֿ֑י) מְאַהֲבַי Hos 2:7 + 3 t.; (בָֿ֑יִח) מְאַהֲבַיִח Jer 22:20 + 6 t.; מְאַהֲבֶיהָ Hos 2:9 + 4 t.
1. friends Zech 13:6

love, loved, loveth, lovers, friends, …
ʾāhab
to have affection for (sexually or otherwise)
  • to love
    • (Qal)
      • human love for another, includes family, and sexual
      • "human appetite for objects such as food, drink, sleep, wisdom"human love for or to God"act of being a friend
        • lover (participle)
        • "friend (participle)
        God's love toward man
        • to individual men
        • "to people Israel"to righteousness
      (Niphal)
      • lovely (participle)
      • "loveable (participle)
      (Piel)
      • friends
      • "lovers (figurative for adulterers)
    to like

נַפְשִׁ ֑י
נַפְשִׁ
Root word soul, life, souls, lives, persons, …
֑י
Suffix — pronoun my / me
Dictionary form: נֶפֶשׁ · neh-PESH

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

In the KJV here: him whom my soul
my soul ×101 soul ×38 his soul ×28 thy soul ×28 the souls ×23 the soul ×21 thy life ×16 my life ×15
More options
soul — Broad default; fits spiritual or inner-self contexts.
life — Prefer when physical existence or survival is in view.
being — Good for 'living being'; avoids religious overtones.
person — Use when נֶפֶשׁ refers to a countable individual or body.
self — Reflexive contexts: 'with all your self / whole self.'
appetite — Fitting for desire, craving, or longing passages.

BDB5310 H5315

BDB5309 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB5311

נֶ֫פֶשׁ756 noun feminineGen 49:6 (so even Gen 2:19; Num 31:28; 1Kgs 19:2 see AlbrZAW xvi (1896), 42 SS) soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, appetite, emotion, and passion (Eccl 3:18; Eccl 4:1 (twice in verse); Eccl 4:2 (twice in verse); Eccl 13:12; Eccl 14:11); — ׳נ Gen 1:20 +; נָ֑פֶשׁ Gen 37:21 +; suffix נַפְשִׁי Gen 12:13 +; plural נְפָשׁוֺת Ezek 13:18 + 13 t.; נְפָשֹׁת Exod 12:4; Lev 27:2 construct נַפְשׁוֺת Gen 36:6 + 4 t.; נַפְשֹׁת Lev 21:11 נְפָשִׁים Ezek 13:20 (but read חָפְשִׁים, see Co Berthol Toy); suffix נַפְשׁוֺתָם 2Sam 23:17 +; נַפְשֹׁתָם Num 17:3 +: —

1. = that which breathes, the breathing substance or being = ψυχή, anima, the soul, the inner being of man:
  a. distinguished from ׃בָּשָׂר מִנֶּפֶשׁ וְעַד בָּשָׂר Isa 10:18 הַנֶּפֶשׁ עִם הַבָּשָׂר Deut 12:23 from שְׁאֵר Prov 11:17 from בֶּטֶן body Ps 31:10.
  b. both the inner נפשׁ and the outer בשׂר are conceived as resting on a common substratum: אַךְ בְּשָׂרוֺ עָלָיו יִכְאָ֑ב וְנַפְשׁוֺ עָלָיו תֶּאֱבָֽל׃ Job 14:22 only his flesh upon him is in pain, and his soul upon him mourneth; compare Ps 42:5; Ps 42:7; Ps 131:2; Job 30:16; Lam 3:20 [see עַל 1 d], all poetical (compare 6 c).
  c. ׳נ departs at death and returns with life: וַיְתִי בְּצֵאת נַפְשָׁהּ כִּי מֵתָה Gen 35:18 (E) and it came to pass when her soul was going forth (for she died); נָָֽפְחָה נַפְשָׁהּ Jer 15:9 she breathed out her soul, compare 1Kgs 17:21; 1Kgs 17:22; Job 11:20; Job 31:39.
  d. often desired that the נפשׁ may be delivered: from Sh®°ôl Ps 16:10; Ps 30:4; Ps 49:16; Ps 86:13; Ps 89:49; Prov 23:14 from שַׁחַת, the pit of Sh®°ôl, Isa 38:17; Job 33:18; Job 33:22; Job 33:28; Job 33:30.
2. The נפשׁ becomes a living being: by God's breathing נשׁמת חיים into the nostrils of its בשׂר; of man Gen 2:7 (J); by implication of animals also Gen 2:19 (J); so Ps 104:29; Ps 104:30 compare Ps 66:9 man is נֶפֶשׁ חַיָּה, a living, breathing being Gen 2:7 (J); elsewhere נפשׁ חיּה always of animals Gen 1:20; Gen 1:24; Gen 1:30; Gen 9:12; Gen 9:15; Gen 9:16 (all P), Ezek 47:9 so נפשׁ החיּה Gen 1:21; Gen 9:10 (both P), Lev 11:10; Lev 11:46 (H); נפשׁ השׁרצת Lev 11:46 (H); נפשׁ כל חי Job 12:10. נפשׁ is frequently used with the verb ׃חיה וחיתה נפשׁ Gen 12:13; Gen 19:20 (both J), 1Kgs 20:32 (E), Ps 119:175; Jer 38:17; Jer 38:20 חֵי נַפְשְׁךָ 1Sam 1:26; 1Sam 17:55; 1Sam 20:3; 1Sam 25:26; 2Sam 11:11; 2Sam 14:9; 2Kgs 2:2; 2Kgs 2:4; 2Kgs 2:6; 2Kgs 4:30 (all J E); compare ׳יְחַיֶּה נ 1Kgs 20:31 (E), Ezek 18:27; Ps 22:30 also Gen 19:19; Isa 55:3; Prov 3:22.
3. The נפשׁ (without חיה noun or verb) is specified:
  a. a living being whose life resides in the blood [so in Arabic WeSkizzen iii. 217 G. JacobArab. Dicht. iv. 9 f.] (hence sacrificial use of blood, and its prohib. in other uses; first in D), Deut 12:23; Deut 12:24 only be sure that thou eat not the blood, for the blood is the living being (הַדָּם הוּא הַנֶּפֶשׁ); and thou shalt not eat the living being with the flesh (הַנֶּפֶשׁ עִם הַבָּשָׂר); thou shalt pour it upon the earth as water; this is enlarged in H, Lev 17:10; Lev 17:11; Lev 17:12; Lev 17:14 and in P Gen 9:4; Gen 9:5, compare Jer 2:34.
  b. a serious attack upon the life is an attack upon this inner living being 2Sam 1:9; Jer 4:10; Jonah 2:6; Ps 69:2; Ps 124:4; Ps 124:5; Job 27:3.
  c. נפשׁ is used for life itself 171 t., of animals Prov 12:10, and of man Gen 44:30 (J); נפשׁ תחת נפשׁ life for life Exod 21:23 (E), Lev 24:18 (H), 1Kgs 20:39; 1Kgs 20:42; 2Kgs 10:24 נפשׁנו תחתיכם Josh 2:14 (J); נפשׁ בנפשׁ Deut 19:21 בנפשׁ for the life of 2Sam 14:7; Jonah 1:14 שׂם נפשׁ בכף put life in one's own hand Judg 12:3; 1Sam 19:5; 1Sam 28:21; Job 13:14 חרף נפשׁו למות Judg 5:18 risked his life to die; בנפשׁ at the risk of life Num 17:3 (P), 2Sam 23:17 = 1Chr 11:19 (twice in verse), 1Kgs 2:23; Prov 7:23; Lam 5:9 בקּשׁ נפשׁ Exod 4:19 (J), 1Sam 20:21; 1Sam 22:23 (twice in verse); 1Sam 23:15; 1Sam 25:29; 2Sam 4:8; 2Sam 16:11; 1Kgs 19:10; 1Kgs 19:14; Jer 4:30; Jer 11:21; Jer 19:7; Jer 19:9; Jer 21:7; Jer 22:25; Jer 34:20; Jer 34:21; Jer 38:16; Jer 44:30 (twice in verse); Jer 46:26; Jer 49:37; Ps 35:4; Ps 38:13; Ps 40:15; Ps 54:5; Ps 63:10; Ps 70:3; Ps 86:14; Prov 29:10 ׳שׁאל נ 1Kgs 3:11 = 2Chr 1:11; 1Kgs 19:4 = Jonah 4:8 הִכָּה נפשׁ smite mortally Gen 37:21 (J), Deut 19:6; Deut 19:11; Jer 40:14; Jer 40:15 ׳לקח נ 1Kgs 19:4; Jonah 4:3; Ps 31:14; Prov 1:19 הִצִּיל נֶפֶשׁ מִמָּוֶת deliver life from death Josh 2:13; Ps 33:19; Ps 56:14 מלּט נפשׁ1Sam 19:11; 2Sam 19:6 (4 t. in verse); 1Kgs 1:12 (twice in verse); Jer 48:6; Jer 51:6; Jer 51:45; Ezek 33:5; Amos 2:14; Amos 2:15; Ps 89:49; Ps 116:4 פדה ׳נ 2Sam 4:9; 1Kgs 1:29; Ps 34:23; Ps 49:16; Ps 55:19; Ps 71:23 ׳שׁמר נ Ps 25:20; Ps 97:10; Job 2:6; Prov 13:3; Prov 16:17; Prov 19:16; Prov 22:5.
4. The נפשׁ as the essential of man stands for the man himself:
  a. paraphrase for personal pronoun especially in poetry and ornate discourse, 70 t.; (1) נַפְשִׁי = me: אל תבא נפשׁי Gen 49:6 let me not enter (poem in J); מות ישׁרים ׳תָּמֹת נ Num 23:10 let me die, etc. (poem); תָּמוֺת נַפְשְׁי Judg 16:30 (J); אמרה נפשׁי Lam 3:24 I say. (2) נַפְשְׁךָ = thee: לְאֻמִּים תַּחַת נַפְשֶׁ֑ךָ Isa 43:4 peoples instead of thee; אָֽמְרוּ לְנַפְשֵׁךְ Isa 51:23. (3) נַפְשׁוֺ = he: נפשׁו בטוב תלין Psalms he will not dwell in good circumstances. (4) נַפְשֵׁנוּ = we: נַפְשֵׁנוּ כְּצִפּוֺר נִמְלְטָה מִפַּח יוֺקְשִׁים Ps 124:7. (5) נַפְשָׁם = they, them: נַפְשָׁם בַּשְּׁבִי הָלָ֑כָה Isa 46:2 they are gone into captivity; אוי לנפשׁם Isa 3:9.
  b. = reflexive, self, 53 t.: אסר על נפשׁ bind oneself Num 30:3; Num 30:5 (twice in verse); Num 30:6; Num 30:7; Num 30:8; Num 30:9; Num 30:10; Num 30:11; Num 30:12 ׳לְעַנֹּת נ Num 30:14 to afflict oneself . (1) נַפְשִׁי = myself: לא אדע נפשׁי Job 9:21 I know not myself. (2) נַפְשְׁךָ = thyself: ׳שׁמר נ Deut 4:9 keep thyself. (3) נַפְשׁוֺ = himself: ׳אהב כנ 1Sam 18:1; 1Sam 18:3; 1Sam 20:17 loved as himself. (4) נַפְשָׁהּ = herself: ׳צדּקה נ Jer 3:11 justified herself. (5) נַפְשָׁם = themselves: ׳הציל נ deliver themselves Isa 47:14; Ezek 14:14; Ezek 14:20. (6) נַפְשְׁכֶם, נַפְשֹׁתֵיכֶם = yourselves: ׳אַלתַּֿשִּׁאוּ נ Jer 37:9 deceive not yourselves, also Jer 42:20; Jer 44:7 ׳ענּה נ Lev 16:29; Lev 16:31; Lev 23:27; Lev 23:32; Num 29:7 (P); ׳נשׁמרתם לנ Deut 4:15; Josh 23:11 (D). (7) נַפְשׁוֺתֵינוּ = ourselves: ׳על נ Jer 26:19 against ourselves.
  c. = person of man, individual, 144 t., first in D2; especially in H, P, and kindred writers: (1) with אָדָם: אדם ׳נ Lev 24:17 opposed to בהמה ׳נ Lev 24:18 (both H), and so אדם ׳נ human persons Num 31:35; Num 31:40; Num 31:46 (P) 1Chr 5:21; Ezek 27:13. Elsewhere without אדם: ברכה ׳נ Prov 11:25 one who blesses; רְמִיָּה ׳נ Prov 19:15 idle person; ׳תחת נ ׳נ person in place of person, Job 16:4 כפּר ׳על נ Exod 30:15; Exod 30:16; Num 15:28; Num 31:50 (all P) Lev 17:11 (H). (2) נפשׁ = person, any one: Deut 24:7; Deut 27:25; Prov 28:17; Ezek 18:4 (3 t. in verse); Ezek 33:6 elsewhere only H P: Lev 2:1; Lev 4:2; Lev 4:27; Lev 5:1; Lev 5:2; Lev 5:4; Lev 5:15; Lev 5:17; Lev 5:21; Lev 7:18; Lev 7:20; Lev 7:21; Lev 7:25; Lev 7:27; Lev 23:29; Lev 23:30 (twice in verse); Num 5:6; Num 15:27; Num 15:30; Num 19:22; Num 31:19; Num 31:28; Num 35:11; Num 35:15; Num 35:30 (twice in verse); Josh 20:3; Josh 20:9 (all P), Lev 17:10; Lev 17:12; Lev 17:15; Lev 20:6 (twice in verse); Lev 22:6; Lev 22:11 (all H); ׳נכרתה הנ הַהִוא מן that person shall be cut off from: only in Gen 17:14; Exod 12:15; Exod 12:19; Exod 31:14; Lev 7:20; Lev 7:21; Lev 7:27; Num 9:13; Num 15:30; Num 15:31; Num 19:13; Num 19:20 (all P), Lev 19:8; Lev 22:3 (both H). (3) נפשׁ collective for persons, in enumerations: Deut 10:22; Josh 10:28; Josh 10:30; Josh 10:32; Josh 10:35; Josh 10:37 (twice in verse); Josh 10:39; Josh 11:11 (all D2) Jer 43:6; Jer 52:29; Jer 52:30 (twice in verse); Ezek 22:25 elsewhere only Gen 12:5; Gen 46:15; Gen 46:18; Gen 46:22; Gen 46:25; Gen 46:26 (twice in verse); Gen 46:27 (twice in verse); Exod 1:5 (twice in verse); Exod 12:16; Num 31:35; Num 31:40 (all P). (4) נְפָשׁוֺת persons Gen 36:6; Exod 12:4; Exod 16:16; Num 19:18 (all P), Lev 18:29; Lev 20:25; Lev 27:2 (all H), 2Kgs 12:5; Prov 11:30; Prov 14:25; Ezek 13:18 (3 t. in verse); Ezek 13:19 (twice in verse); Ezek 13:20 (twice in verse); Ezek 17:17; Ezek 18:4; Ezek 22:27 (נפשׁים Ezek 13:20 see above). (5) נפשׁ = deceased person, sometimes with מֵת, נֶפֶשׁ מֵת Num 6:6 (P), נַפְשֹׁת מֵת (ᵐ5 ᵑ6 נֶפֶשׁ) Lev 21:11 (H); usually without מֵת, נפשׁ (ה)אדם Num 9:6; Num 9:7; Num 19:11; Num 19:13 (P); or simply נפשׁ, Lev 19:28; Lev 21:1; Lev 22:4 (all H) Num 5:2; Num 6:11; Num 9:10 (all P); elsewhere only Hag 2:13.
5. נפשׁ = seat of the appetites, in all periods (46 t.) —
  a. hunger: רְעֵבָה ׳נ hungry soul Ps 107:9; Prov 27:7 with noun or verb of שׂבע satisfy Isa 56:11; Isa 58:10; Jer 50:19; Ezek 7:19; Ps 63:6; Ps 107:9; Prov 13:25; Prov 27:7 ׳מתוק לנ Prov 16:24 sweet to the taste.
  b. thirst: עֲיֵפָה ׳נ weary soul Prov 25:25; Jer 31:25 כארץ עיפה ׳נ Ps 143:6 ׳צמאה נ Ps 42:3; Ps 63:2.
  c. appetite in general: יַקִּיפוּ עָלָיו ׳אֹיְבַי בנ Ps 17:9 my enemies compass me about with greed; הִרְחִיבָה שְׁאוֺל נַפְשָׁהּ וּפָֽעֲרָה פִיהָ Isa 5:14 Sh®°ôl enlarged her appetite, etc., compare Hab 2:5; Prov 23:2 בַּעַל נֶפֶשׁ; Ecclesiastes uses נפשׁ only in the sense of a, b, c; the נפשׁ craves, lacks, and is filled with good things: Eccl 2:24; Eccl 4:8; Eccl 6:2; Eccl 6:3; Eccl 6:7; Eccl 6:9; Eccl 7:28.
6. = ׳נ seat of emotions and passions (151 t.) —
  a. desire: ׳אִוְּתָה נ soul desires Deut 12:20; Deut 14:26; 1Sam 2:16; 2Sam 3:21; 1Kgs 11:37; Job 23:13; Prov 13:4; Prov 21:10; Mic 7:1 ׳תַּאֲוַת נ Ps 10:3; Isa 26:8 ׳אַוַּת נ Deut 12:15; Deut 12:20; Deut 12:21; Deut 18:6; 1Sam 23:20; Jer 2:24 so also לנפשׁ according to one's desire Deut 21:14; Ps 78:18; Jer 34:16 כנפשׁ Deut 23:25 האח נפשׁנו ah, our desire Ps 35:25 בנפשׁ at one's desire Ps 105:22; Ezek 16:27 יָָֽצְאָה ׳נ בְדַבְּרוֺ Song 5:6 ׳נשׂא נ lift up the soul, desire Deut 24:15; 2Sam 14:14 (read אליהם, not אלהים), Ps 24:4; Ps 25:1; Ps 86:4; Ps 143:8; Prov 19:8; Jer 22:27; Jer 44:14; Hos 4:8.
  b. abhorrence, loathing: ׳געלה נ soul abhorreth Lev 26:11; Lev 26:15; Lev 26:30; Lev 26:43 (H) Jer 14:19 בחלה בי ׳וגם נ Zech 11:8 and their soul also fell a loathing against me.
  c. sorrow and distress: ׳מרי נ bitter, gloomy, discontented of soul Judg 18:25 (E) 2Sam 17:8; Job 3:20; Prov 31:6 ׳מר נ 1Sam 22:2 compare Job 7:11; Job 10:1; Isa 38:15; Ezek 27:1 ׳עָֽגְמָה נ Job 30:35 grieved; ׳אגמי נ sad of soul Isa 19:10 ׳תבכה נ my soul shall weep Jer 13:17 ירעה ׳נ his soul trembleth Isa 15:4 ׳צרת נ distress of soul Gen 42:21 (E).
  d. joy: תגיל ׳נ my soul rejoiceth Ps 35:9; Isa 61:10 ׳שׂמּח נ rejoice the soul Ps 86:4 also Ps 94:19; Ps 138:3; Prov 29:17.
  e. love: ׳אהבה נ my soul loveth Song 1:7; Song 3:1; Song 3:2; Song 3:3; Song 3:4 ׳יְדִדוּת נ darling of my soul Jer 12:7 ׳ב ׳דבקה נ his soul clave unto Gen 34:3 (J), with אחרי Ps 63:9 חשׁקה ׳ב ׳נ soul is attached to Gen 34:8 (P). feminine alienation, hatred, revenge: מן ׳תֵּקַע נ the soul is alienated from Jer 6:8; Ezek 23:17; Ezek 23:18 מן ׳נקעה נ Ezek 23:18; Ezek 23:22; Ezek 23:28 ׳שְׂנֻאי נ hated of soul 2Sam 5:8 (Qr); ׳שׂנאה נ Ps 11:5; Isa 1:14.
  g. other emotions and feelings: ׳השׁיב נ bring back soul Lam 1:11; Lam 1:19 (i.e. revive, compare with שׁוּב 1Kgs 17:21f.), hence figurative refresh, cheer, v1Kgs 17:16; Ps 19:8; Prov 25:14; Ruth 4:15 ׳שׁובב נ Ps 23:3 ׳מַחְמַל נ your souls' compassion Ezek 24:21 ׳קצרה נ soul was impatient Num 21:4 (E), Judg 10:16; Judg 16:16; Zech 11:8 כי ׳אאריך נ that I should prolong my patience Job 6:11 הגר ׳ידעתם אתנֿ ye know the feeling of the stranger Exod 23:9 (RD).

7. נפשׁ is used occasionally for mental acts + לבב (see 10); possibly also alone, owing to unconscious assimilation by late writers; but most, if not all, examples may be otherwise explained: נפשׁי ידעת מאד Ps 139:14 my soul knoweth well (or I know well; compare 4a); בלא לא טוב ׳דעת נ Prov 19:2 that the soul be without knowledge is not good (but RVm desire without knowledge, compare 6 a); ׳דעה חכמה לנ Prov 24:14 know wisdom for thy soul (or according to thy desire, compare 6 a); ׳אל תדמי בנ Esth 4:13 think not in thy soul (or in thyself, compare 4 b); כמו שׁער ׳בג Prov 23:7 as he reckoneth in his soul (but RV in himself, compare 4 b); ׳מה תאמר נ 1Sam 20:4 (but AV RV following ᵐ5 ἐπιθυμεῖ = תְּאַוֶּה; see 6 a).

8. נפשׁ for acts of the will is dubious: אם ישׁ נפשׁכם (את) if it is your purpose Gen 23:8 (P) 2Kgs 9:15 (or if it is your desire, 6 a); ׳בחרה נ my soul chooseth Job 7:15 ׳מאנה נ my soul, refuseth Job 6:7; Ps 77:3 חפצה ׳נ their soul delighteth in Isa 66:3 רצתה ׳נ my soul delighteth in Isa 42:1 (all perhaps emotional, 6 b, d, g).

9. נפשׁ = character is still more dubious: בּוֺ ׳לאֹיָָֽֿשְׁרָה נ Hab 2:4 his soul is not right in him (but ᵐ5 οὐκ εὐδοκεῖ ἡ ψυχή μου ἐν αὐτῷ [εὐδοκεῖ = רצתה], see
6.); נַפְשִׁי לאֹ מְטֻמָּאָה Ezek 4:14 my soul hath not (or I have not, 4 a) been polluted.
10. ׳נin D, when used with לבב, is assimilated to it, and shares with it the meanings of 7, 8, 9; and so in later writers influenced by D (unless we may think that ׳ל is used of intellect, while ׳נ is used of the feelings): thus, בכל לבב ובכל נפשׁ (see לבב): with דרשׁ Deut 4:29; 2Chr 15:12 עשׂה Deut 26:16 אהב Deut 6:5; Deut 13:4; Deut 30:6 ידע Josh 23:14 עבד Deut 10:12; Deut 11:13; Josh 22:5 שׁמע בקלו Deut 30:2 שׁוב אל Deut 30:10; 1Kgs 8:48 = 2Chr 6:38; 2Kgs 23:25 שׁמר מצות 2Kgs 23:3 = 2Chr 34:31 הלך לפני1Kgs 2:4 and Deut 11:18; 1Sam 2:35; 1Chr 22:19; 1Chr 28:9; Jer 32:41; Ps 13:8; Prov 2:10; Prov 24:12. Note. — In three cases is generally found closer approach to supposed radical meaning breath:
  a. שׁמן וקטרת ישׂמח לב ומתק רעהו מעצת נפשׁ Prov 27:9. Ges (after Döderlein) renders a. ׳מעצת נ more than odorous trees, so later edds., even Buhl; but ᵑ9 De SS transpose) מֵעֲצַת רֵעֵהוּ ׳וּמֶתֶק נ. ᵐ5 Hi Bi ומתקרעה = the soul is rent asunder by cares. In any case נפשׁis || לב, compare
10. b. נַפְשׁוֺ גֶּחָלִים תְּלַהֵט Job 41:13 his breath kindleth coals (of the crocodile).The piece is one of the latest in the book; primitive meaning hardly in such a passage; context favours reference to passion or fury; perhaps below 6 f, his passion or fury kindleth coals.
  c. בָּתֵּי הַנֶּפֶשׁ Isa 3:20 perfume boxes; meaning evident from context; but not necessarily scent (breath)-boxes; may be 6 a, boxes of desire, or 5, boxes exciting the sense of smell; = smelling boxes or bottles. No sufficient evidence in Biblical Hebrew, therefore, for meaning breath, odour. — See, for complete study of נֶפֶשׁ (all passages), BrJBL 1897,17 ff.


BDB7797 H7307 H5315 H3824 H1320 H3820

BDB7796 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB7798

רוּחַ378 noun feminineGen 41:8 (less often masculineExod 10:13 +) breath, wind, spirit; — absolute ׳ר Gen 8:1 +, ר֑וּחָה Jer 52:23 construct רוּחַ Gen 6:17 +; suffix רוּחִי vGen 6:3 +, רוּחֲךָ Ps 104:30 +, etc.; plural רוּחוֺת vPs 104:4 +, רֻחוֺת Jer 49:36, רוּחֹת Num 16:22; Num 26:16 (see Brרוח in O.T., JBL xix (1900), 132 ff., full statement of all passages); —

1. breath of mouth or nostrils (33 t.):
  a. רוּחַ פִּיו Job 15:30 breath of his mouth, compare Job 19:17 רוּחַ אַפֵּינוּ Lam 4:20 (figurative of king), of idols לֹא רוּחַ בָּם Jer 10:14 = Jer 51:17, Hab 2:19; Ps 135:17 compare Job 9:18.
  b. as mere breath: compare 2 e. דִּבְרֵירֿוּחַ Job 16:3 i.e. windy words; נוֺאָשׁ לְרוּחַ אִמְרֵי Job 6:26, הַנְּבִיאִים יִהְיוּ לְרוּחַ Jer 5:13.
  c. as word of command: (1) of God: (נעשׂו) בְּרוּחַ פִּיו כָּלֿ צְבָאָםPs 33:6, compare Isa 34:16 (|| פֶּה); (2) of Messianic king: בְּרוּחַ שְׂפָתָיו יָמִית רָשָׁע Isa 11:4.
  d. as hard breathing through the nostrils in anger: (1) of God: מֵרוּח אַפּוֺ יִכְלוּ Job 4:9; Exod 15:8 (poem), 2Sam 22:16 = Ps 18:16; Isa 30:28; Isa 59:19 (2) of man: רוּחַ עָרִיצִים Isa 25:4.
  e. as sign and symbol of life: רוּחַ חַיִּים breath of life Gen 6:17; Gen 7:15 (P); נִשְׁמַת רוּחַ חַיִּים בְּאַפָּיו Gen 7:22 (P); Ezek 37:5, compare vEzek 37:6 vEzek 37:8 vEzek 37:9 vEzek 37:9 vEzek 37:9 vEzek 37:10 vEzek 37:14 (breath or spirit), Eccl 3:19.
2. wind (117 t.):
  a. wind of heaven: Gen 8:1 (P) Exod 15:10 (E) Num 11:31 (J) 1Kgs 18:45 +, Jer 10:13, thence Jer 51:16; Ps 135:7 ׳רוּחַ י Hos 13:15; Isa 40:7, compare Job 26:13 (Di Bu); רוּחַ (ה)קָדִים east wind Exod 10:13 (twice in verse); Exod 14:21 (J) Ps 48:8; Jer 18:17; Ezek 17:10; Ezek 19:12; Ezek 27:26; Jonah 4:8 צָפוֺן ׳ר north wind Prov 25:23 יָם ׳ר sea wind (west wind) Exod 10:19 (J); . הַיּוֺם ׳ר day wind, evening wind Gen 3:8 (J; compare Song 2:17; Song 4:6); אַרְבַּע רוּחוֺת four winds Jer 49:36; Ezek 37:9 (quarters?) Dan 8:8; Dan 11:4 (figurative quarters; compare b), Zech 2:10; Zech 6:5 רוּחַ סְעְרָה storm wind Ps 107:25; Ps 148:8; Ezek 1:4 (סְעָרוֺת ׳ר), Ezek 13:11; Ezek 13:13 רוּחַ סֹעָה rushing wind Ps 55:9 (read possibly סערה Hup); בַּעְיָם רוּחוֺ Isa 11:15 (read ׳בְּעֹצֶם ר, see עֲיָם, עֹצֶם), etc; wind personified: כַּנְפֵי רוּחַ 2Sam 22:11 = Ps 18:11; Ps 104:3, compare Hos 4:19; Ps 104:4.
  b. quarter (of wind), side: רוּחַ הַקָּדִים Ezek 42:16 east side; רוּחַ הַצָּפוֺן vEzek 42:17 north side; רוּחַ הַדָּרוֺם vEzek 42:18 south side; רוּחַ הַיָּם vEzek 42:19 west side; אַרְבַּע רוּחוֺת vEzek 42:20; 1Chr 9:24 four sides; ר֑וּחָה Jer 52:23 on the sides.
  c. breath of air: שָׁאֲפוּ רוּחַ כַּתַּנִּים Jer 14:6 רוּחַ לֹא יָבֹא בֵּינֵיהֶם Job 41:8.
  d. air, gas, from womb (dubious): כְּמוֺ יָלַדְנוּ רוּחַ Isa 26:18 (Di, e); רוּחֲכֶם אֵשׁ תֹּאכַלְכֶם (RV breath) Isa 33:11 (Du, 3 c).
  e. vain, empty thing: רוּחַיָּי֑ Job 7:7 my life is wind; דַּעַת רוּחַ Job 15:2 רוּחַ וָתֹהוּ נִסְכֵּיהֶם Isa 41:29 רְעוּת רוּחַ striving for wind Eccl 1:14; Eccl 2:11; Eccl 2:17; Eccl 2:26; Eccl 4:4; Eccl 4:6; Eccl 6:9 compare Eccl 1:17; Eccl 4:16; Eccl 5:15.
3. spirit, as that which breathes quickly in animation or agitation = temper, disposition (76 t.; so, distinctively, as compared with נֶפֶשׁ and לֵבָב):
  a. spirit, animation, vivacity, vigour: לֹא הָיָה בָהּ עוֺד רוּחַ 1Kgs 10:5 = 2Chr 9:4 מַהזֶּֿה רוּחֲךָ סָרָה 1Kgs 21:5 וַתְּחִי רוּחַ Gen 45:27 (E); וַתָּשָׁב רוּחוֺ Judg 15:19; 1Sam 30:12.
  b. courage: ׳לֹא הָיָה בָם עוֺד ר Josh 5:1 נְגִידִים ׳יִבְצֹר ר Ps 76:13 מִצְרַיִם ׳וְנָָֽבְקָה ר Isa 19:3 תתעטּף רוּחִי Ps 77:4; Ps 142:4; Ps 143:4 לֹא קָמָה ׳עוֺד ר Josh 2:11 אִישׁ יְכַלְכֵּל מַחֲלֵהוּ ׳ר Prov 18:14.
  c. temper, especially anger: ׳רוּחַ רָעָה בֵּין וגו Judg 9:23 אָז רָֽפְתָה רוּחָם Judg 8:3 משֵׁל בְּרוּחוֺ Prov 16:32, compare Prov 25:28; Prov 29:11; Job 15:13 הֵנִיחוּ אֶתרֿוּחִי Zech 6:8; Eccl 7:9; Eccl 10:4.
  d. impatience or patience: קֹצֶר רוּחַ Exod 6:9 (P) impatience, hastiness of temper, compare (of ׳י) Mic 2:7 קְצַררֿוּחַ Prov 14:29 (|| אֶרֶךְ אַפַיִם); הֱצִיקַתְנִי רוּחַ בִּטְנִי Job 32:18 (Du breath; Di Bu divine spirit, compare vJob 32:8); אִם מַדּוּעַ לֹאתִֿקְצַר רוּחִי Job 21:4 ׳הֲקָצַר רוּחַ י Mic 2:7 ׳אֶרֶךְ ר Eccl 7:8.
  e. spirit, disposition, as troubled, bitter, or discontented; וַתִּפָּעֶם רוּח(וׅ (his) spirit was troubled Gen 41:8 (E) Dan 2:3, compare vDan 2:1 מֹרַת רוּחַ Gen 26:35 (P) bitterness of spirit; ׳עֲצוּבַת ר Isa 54:6, compare Ezek 3:14; Job 6:4. feminine as crushed: וְכִהֲתָה כָלרֿוּחַ Ezek 21:12, compare Isa 61:3; Prov 15:4; Prov 15:13; Prov 17:22; Prov 18:14; Ps 143:7.
  g. disposition of various kinds, often unaccountable and uncontrollable impulse: הֵעִיר אֶתרֿוּחַ 1Chr 5:26 (twice in verse); 2Chr 21:16; 2Chr 36:22; Ezra 1:1; Ezra 1:5; Jer 51:11; Hag 1:14 (3 t. in verse); הִנְנִי נ(וֺ)תֵן בּוֺ רוּח2Kgs 19:7 = Isa 37:7; Num 14:24 (J; see עִם 4 b), Mal 2:15 (twice in verse); Mal 2:16; Deut 2:30 רוּחַ קִנְאָה jealous disposition Num 5:14 (twice in verse); Num 5:30 (P); רוּחַ וְנוּנִים Hos 4:12; Hos 5:4 רוּחַ עִוְעִיםIsa 19:14 רוּחַ מִשְׁפָּט Isa 28:6 אִישׁ אֲשֶׁר רוּחַ אֱלהִֹרם בּוֺ (administrative) Gen 41:38 (E); קַר רוּחַ אִישׁ הְּבוּנָה Prov 17:27.
  h. prophetic spirit: יְהוֺשֻׁעַ אִישׁ אֲשֶׁרֿ רוּחַ בּזֹNum 27:18 (P; or g, as Gen 41:38); רוּחַ אֵלִיָּהוּ עַלאֱֿלִישָׁע2Kgs 2:15, compare v2Kgs 2:9 רוּחַ תַּרְדֵמָה spirit of deep sleep (ecstatic, compare Gen 2:21; Gen 15:12, but Di and others g, as Isa 19:14) Isa 29:10; Mic 2:11 רוּחַ הַטֻמְאָה Zech 13:2 (of lying prophets), compare Ezek 13:3.
4. spirit of the living, breathing being, dwelling in the בָּשָׂר of men and animals, || נֶפֶשׁ (25 t.):
  a. gift and creation of God: יֹצֵר רוּחַ אָדָם בְּקִרְבּוֺ Zech 12:1 רוּחַ אֱלוֺהַּ בְּאַפִּי Job 27:3, compare Isa 42:5.
  b. God preserves it: פְּקֻדָּֽתְךָ שָֽׁמְרָה רוּחִי Job 10:12, compare Job 12:10 אֱלֹהֵי הָרוּחֹת לְכָל בָּשָׂ֑ר Num 16:22; Num 27:16 (P); תֹּכֵן רוּחוֺת Prov 16:2.
  c. it is therefore God's spirit: Gen 6:3 (J; see דִּין near the end).
  d. it departs at death: Ps 78:39 (Dr a wind that passeth away 2 e); חַיֵּי רוּחִי Isa 38:16 (Di principle of life), Ps 146:4 especially Ps 104:29; Ps 104:30; Job 17:1; Job 34:14 (compare vJob 34:15), Isa 57:16; Eccl 8:8 (twice in verse) (wind Wild); אֵינְךָ יוֺדֵעַ מַהדֶּֿרֶךְ הָרוּחַ Eccl 11:5, compare Eccl 3:21 over ag. הָרוּחַ תָּשׁוּב אֶלהָֿאֱלֹהִים אֲשֶׁר נְתָנָהּ Eccl 12:7 בְּיָָֽדְךָ אַפְקִיד רוּחִי Ps 31:6.
  e. disembodied being (dubious, Di Du breath of wind): וְרוּחַ עַלפָּֿנַי יַחֲלֹף Job 4:15.
5. spirit as seat of emotion = נֶפֶשׁ:
  a. desire (possibly 3 g), Isa 26:9 (|| נֶפֶשׁ).
  b. sorrow, trouble (probably 3 e), Job 7:11 (|| נֶפֶשׁ). — 1Sam 1:15 see קָשֶׁה.
6. occasionally, (and late) = seat or organ of mental acts, || לֵב, or synonym with it: רוּחַ חָכְמָה Exod 28:3; Deut 34:9 (both P; probably 3 g); תּעֵי רוּחַ Isa 29:24, compare Job 20:3 (Hi Bu Du wind of Job's words), Ps 77:7 (ᵐ5 Symm ᵑ6 Jerome troubled disposition); רוּחַ יהוה Isa 40:13 come into mind (compare לֵב Isa 65:17; Jer 3:16 +); 1Chr 28:12.
7. rarely of the will; also = רוּחַ נָכוֺן לֵב Ps 51:12 (= לֵב נָכוֺן Ps 57:8 (twice in verse) +); רוּחַ נְדִיבָה vPs 51:14 נָָֽדְבָה רוּחוֺ Exod 35:21 (P; compare נְדִיב לֵב Exod 35:5; Exod 35:22 (P) 2Chr 29:31).
8. רוּחַ especially of moral character; also = ׃לֵב רוּחַ חֲדָשָׁהEzek 11:19; Ezek 18:31; Ezek 36:26 רוּחִי vEzek 36:27; Isa 59:21 (רוּחִי, || דְּבָרַי; but probably prophetic spirit 9 b); לֵב חָדָשׁ Ezek 18:31; Ezek 36:26 נְכֵה רוּחַ Isa 66:2 דַּכְּאֵי רוּחַ Ps 34:19 (compare לֵב נִדְכָּאִים Isa 57:15); מִשֵּׁבֶר רוּחַ Isa 65:14 (compare 3 f); רוּחַ נִשְׁבָּרֶה Ps 51:19 (|| לֵב נִשְׁבָּר, compare נִשְׁבְּרֵי לֵב Ps 34:19; Isa 61:1); Ps 32:2; Prov 11:13; Prov 16:18; Ps 78:8; Eccl 7:8 (compare גְּבַהּלֵב Prov 16:5); שְׁפַל רוּחַ Prov 16:19; Prov 29:23; Isa 57:15 רוּחַ שְׁפָלִים vIsa 57:15 (compare 3 f).
9. spirit of God (94 t.; not D or Jeremiah or any Deuteronomic writer; conception of its activity in inspiring prophecy probably discredited from abuse by false prophets, see נביא, נבא):
  a. as inspiring ecstatic state of prophecy, Num 11:17; Num 11:25 (twice in verse); Num 11:26; Num 11:29 (J), 1Sam 10:6; 1Sam 10:10 (compare v1Sam 10:5), 1Sam 19:20; 1Sam 19:23 as inciting to deeds of frenzy, in the ecstatic state; hence conceived as אֱלֹהִים רָעָה ׳ר 1Sam 16:15 (twice in verse); 1Sam 16:16, = ׳רָעָה מֵאֵת י ׳ר v1Sam 16:14 = רָעָה ׳א ׳צלח ר 1Sam 18:10 (other narrative) = רָעָה ׳י ׳ר 1Sam 19:9 ׳א ׳ר 1Sam 16:23 = רוּחַ הָרָעָה v1Sam 16:23, compare הָרוּחַ 1Kgs 22:21 = שֶׁקֶר ׳ר v1Kgs 22:22 v1Kgs 22:23 = 2Chr 18:20; 2Chr 18:21; 2Chr 18:22 = ׳רוּחַ י 1Kgs 22:24 = 2Chr 18:23 compare also (in earlier prophets) אִישׁ הָרוּחַ, i.e. one possessed by the spirit in the ecstatic state, || הַנָּבִּיא Hos 9:7 ׳רוּחַ י Mic 3:8 (|| בֹּחַ) is probably gloss (We Now); וְלֹא רוּחִי Isa 30:1 רוּחַ dealing with Ezek.: Ezek 2:2; Ezek 3:12; Ezek 3:14; Ezek 3:24; Ezek 8:3; Ezek 11:1; Ezek 11:5; Ezek 11:24 (Co gloss), Ezek 37:1; Ezek 43:5 (all implying ecstatic state of vision), compare Elijah 1Kgs 18:12; 2Kgs 2:16.
  b. spirit as impelling prophets to utter instruction or warning (higher and later conception): transition probably Num 24:2; 2Sam 23:2; 1Chr 12:18 elsewhere in Chronicles: 2Chr 15:1; 2Chr 20:14; 2Chr 24:20 distinctly in Isa2, Isa 48:16, compare Isa 61:1 so of ancient prophets, Zech 7:12; Neh 9:30 compare, of future prophetic gift, Joel 3:1; Joel 3:2.
  c. imparting warlike energy, and executive and administrative power: (1) to שֹׁפְטִים, מוֺשִׁיעִים, מְלָכִים, of ancient Israel: וַתְּהִי רוּחַ על ׳י Judg 3:10; Judg 11:29, compare Judg 6:34; Judg 13:25; Judg 14:6; Judg 14:19; Judg 15:14; 1Sam 11:6; 1Sam 16:13; 1Sam 16:14 so also עַד יֵעָרֶה עָלֵינוּ רוּחַ מִמָּרוֺם Isa 32:15 (2) resting upon Messianic king: Isa 11:2 (3 t. in verse); upon servant of ׳י, Isa 42:1.
  d. late, as endowing men with various gifts: technical skill Exod 31:3; Exod 35:31 (P); understanding Job 32:8 (|| נִשְׁמַת שַׁדַּי); poured out by divine wisdom Prov 1:23.
  e. as energy of life: רוּחַ אֱלֹהִים מְרַחֶפֶת עַלפְּֿנֵי הַמָּ֑יִם Gen 1:2 (P); רוּחַ אֵל עָשָׂ֑תְנִי Job 33:4 (|| נִשְׁמַת שַׁדַּי); as vital power, opposed to בָשָׂר: Isa 31:3 in cherubic chariot: Ezek 1:12, compare vEzek 1:20 vEzek 1:21; Ezek 10:17 reviving Israel Ezek 39:29; Zech 12:10; Isa 44:3. feminine = ancient angel of the presence and later Shekina: קָדְשׁוֺ ׳ר Isa 63:10; Isa 63:11 = ׳י ׳ר vIsa 63:14 (= מַלְאַךְ פָּנָיו vIsa 63:9), compare Ps 106:33 so also קָדְשְׁךָ ׳ר Ps 51:13 (in national prayer), compare Neh 9:20; Ps 143:10 prophets of restoration conceive of the divine spirit as standing in their midst and about to fulfil all divine promises: רוּחִי עֹמֶדֶת בְּתוֺכֲכֶם Hag 2:5; Zech 4:6 this conception culminates in רוּחַ = divine Presence, and as such omnipresent, Ps 139:7 (|| פָּנֶיךָ; compare vPs 139:8).

soul, life, souls, lives, persons, …
nepeš
properly, a breathing creature, i.e., animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or mental)
  • soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion
    • that which breathes, the breathing substance or being, soul, the inner being of man
    • "living being"living being (with life in the blood)"the man himself, self, person or individual"seat of the appetites"seat of emotions and passions"activity of mind
      • dubious
      activity of the will
      • dubious
      activity of the character
      • dubious

בִּקַּשְׁתִּ֖י ו
בִּקַּשְׁתִּ֖י
Root word seek, sought, seeketh, require, seekest, …
ו
Suffix — pronoun his / him / it
Dictionary form: בָּקַשׁ · baw-KAHSH

Verb — Piel, Perfect (Qatal), first person singular intensive — "he really / thoroughly did" completed action — try "he ___ed" or "he has ___ed" the built-in subject is "I"

In the KJV here: i sought
to seek ×20 seek ×19 sought ×18 seeketh ×13 and seek ×7 that seek ×7 of them that seek ×6 and sought ×5
More options
seek — Modernized KJV; broad, natural fit for most contexts.
look for — Colloquial; suits narrative and everyday prose well.
search for — Implies active, deliberate effort or urgency.
pursue — Conveys determined, ongoing striving toward a goal.
request — Prefer when the seeking involves asking another person.
desire — Best when the focus is on longing rather than active search.

BDB1296 H1245

BDB1295 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB1297

[בָּקַשׁ]224 verb seek (Phoenician בקש) —

Pi`el Perfect בִּקֵּשׁ Deut 13:11 + 15 t.; בִּקְשָׁה Eccl 7:28; Esth 2:15 suffix בִּקְשָׁתַם Hos 2:9 בִּקַּשְׁתִּיו Song 3:1; Song 3:2 compare Song 5:6 בִּקְשׁוּ Ezra 2:62 + 12 t.; suffix בִּקְשֻׁנִי Isa 65:1 + 2 t.; Imperfect יְבַקֵשׁ Josh 22:23 + 37 t.; יְבַקֶּשֿׁ Prov 15:14 + 2 t.; אֲבַקְשָׁה Ps 122:9 + 3 t.; suffix יְבַקְשֵׁהוּ 1Sam 23:14 + 7 t.; יְבַקְשׁוּ 1Sam 16:16 + 23 t.; Imperative בַקֵּשׁ 1Sam 9:3 + 3 t.; בַּקְּשׁוּ 1Sam 28:7 + 8 t.; Infinitive לְבַקֵּשׁ 1Sam 10:2 + 29 t.; Participle מְבַקֵּשׁ Gen 37:16 + 23 t.; plural מְבַקְשִׁים Exod 10:11 + 38 t.; —
2. seek to secure:
  a. accusative the priesthood Num 16:10 (P); David for king 2Sam 3:17 in battle 2Sam 5:17 (= 1Chr 14:8); Ps 27:4; Jer 45:5 (compare vJer 45:5); בקשׁ נפשׁ seek to take one's life Exod 4:19 (J) 1Sam 20:1; 1Sam 22:23 (twice in verse); 1Sam 23:15; 1Sam 25:29; 2Sam 4:8; 2Sam 16:11; 1Kgs 19:10; 1Kgs 19:14; Ps 35:4; Ps 38:13; Ps 40:15; Ps 54:5; Ps 63:10; Ps 70:3; Ps 86:14; Prov 29:10; Jer 4:30; Jer 11:21; Jer 19:7; Jer 19:9; Jer 21:7; Jer 22:25; Jer 34:20; Jer 34:21; Jer 38:16; Jer 44:30 (twice in verse); Jer 46:26; Jer 49:37.
  b. aim at, practise: בקשׁ רעה seek hurt of Num 35:23 (P) 1Sam 24:10; 1Sam 25:26 (אֶל) 1Kgs 20:7; Ps 71:13; Ps 71:24; Esth 9:2 כזב ׳ב Ps 4:3 compare Prov 17:11, שׁבר Prov 17:19, רצון Prov 11:27, טובה Neh 2:10, אמונה Jer 5:1, צדק, ענוה Zeph 2:3 (twice in verse) שׁלום Ps 34:15, חכמה Prov 14:6; Eccl 7:25, בינה Dan 8:15, דעת Prov 15:14; Prov 18:15, תורה Mal 2:7, אהבה Prov 17:9, תאוה Prov 18:1 (ל of direct object), חשׁבנות Eccl 7:29.
  c. Infinitive Exod 4:24 (J) Jer 26:21.
  d. לְ & Infinitive Gen 43:30; Exod 2:15; Exod 10:11 (JE) Deut 13:11; 1Sam 14:4; 1Sam 19:2; 1Sam 19:10; 1Sam 23:10; 2Sam 20:19; 2Sam 21:2; 1Kgs 11:22; 1Kgs 11:40; Esth 2:21; Esth 3:6; Esth 6:2; Ps 37:22; Eccl 12:10; Zech 6:7; Zech 12:9.
3. seek the face
  a. of rulers 1Kgs 10:24 (= 2Chr 9:23) Prov 29:26.
  b. of God (from resorting to sacred places) Hos 5:15; 1Chr 16:11 (= Ps 105:4) 2Chr 7:14; 2Sam 21:1; Ps 24:6; Ps 27:8 (twice in verse); without פְּנֵי
  c. יהוה Deut 4:29; Zeph 1:6; Zeph 2:3; Hos 3:5; Hos 3:5; Hos 5:6; Exod 33:7 (J) 1Chr 16:10 (= Ps 105:3) 2Chr 11:16; 2Chr 20:4; Isa 51:1; Prov 28:5; Zech 8:21; Zech 8:22; Jer 50:4 אלהים 2Sam 12:16, compare Ezek 8:22; Isa 45:19; Isa 65:1; 2Chr 15:4; 2Chr 15:15; Hos 7:10; Jer 29:13; Mal 3:1; Ps 40:17; Ps 70:5; Ps 69:7; Dan 9:3 ׳דבר י Amos 8:12 שׁמך Ps 83:17.
  d. followed by Infinitive with לְ, of resort to wizards, but object not expressed Lev 19:34 (H).
4. desire, demand:
  a. accusative 1Chr 21:3.
  b. accusative of thing מִן person Ezek 7:26; Dan 1:20.
5. a. require, exact, accusative of thing מִיַּד person Isa 1:12 מִן person Neh 5:12, accusative of thing vNeh 5:18.
  b. exact equivalent or penalty for, accusative of thing, מִיַּד person Gen 31:39; Gen 43:9 (JE) 1Sam 20:16; 2Sam 4:11; Ezek 3:18; Ezek 3:20; Ezek 33:8, compare דרשׁ; no object expressed Josh 22:23 (P).
6. (late) ask, request, accusative of thing Esth 2:15 עַל of thing Neh 2:4 עַל of thing מִן person Esth 7:7; Ezra 8:23 עַל of thing מִלִּפְנֵי person Esth 4:8 accusative of thing מִן person Dan 1:8 (object clause with אשׁר), Ps 104:21 מִן person 2Chr 20:4. Pu`al Imperfect יְבֻקַּשׁ Jer 50:20, ׳וַיְב Esth 2:23 תֲּבֻקְשִׁי Ezek 26:21 be sought.

seek, sought, seeketh, require, seekest, …
bāqaš
to search out (by any method, specifically in worship or prayer); by implication, to strive after
  • to seek, require, desire, exact, request
    • (Piel)
      • to seek to find
      • "to seek to secure"to seek the face"to desire, demand"to require, exact"to ask, request
      (Pual) to be sought

וְ לֹ֥א
וְ
Prefix — connector and (sometimes: but, so, then)
לֹ֥א
Particle not
Dictionary form: לֹא · loh

Particle — Negative

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

BDB4266 H3808

BDB4265 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB4267

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

1. in predication:
  a. with a verb; so most frequently, and nearly always
   (a) with the finite tenses, whether perfect (Gen 2:5 b Gen 4:5 etc.) or imperfect (Gen 3:4; Gen 8:21; Gen 8:22 etc.); in short circumstantial clauses, as Gen 44:4 לא הרחיקו, Isa 40:20 לֹא יִמּוֺט, and with a final force Isa 41:7; Exod 28:32 (see Ges«GKC:156»§ 156. 3 R. b, c Dr§ 162). Governing two closely connected verbs (Dr§ 115, לא) Exod 28:43 וְלֹא יִשְׂאוּ עָוֺן וָמֵתוּ, Lev 19:12; Lev 19:29b Deut 7:25; Deut 7:26; Deut 19:10; Deut 22:1 and elsewhere; and two parallel clauses (Ges«GKC:152»§ 152. 3) Isa 23:4b Ps 9:19; Ps 44:19; Job 3:1 and elsewhere With the imperfect, especially with 2 person, לֹא often expresses (not, like אַל, a deprecation, do not . . ., let not . . ., but) a prohibition, as Gen 2:17 לֹא תאֹכַל מִמֶּנּוּ thou shall not eat of it, Gen 3:1; Gen 3:3; Exod 20:3 לֹאיִֿהְיֶה לְךָ there shall not be to thee, etc., vExod 20:13 לא תגנב, etc. With the coh. and jussive moods (which are negatived regularly by אַל), it occurs only exceptionally (Ges«GKC:109»§ 109. 1 b R. 1), Gen 24:8; 1Sam 14:36; 2Sam 17:12; 2Sam 18:14; 1Kgs 2:6; Ezek 48:14.
   (b) with the infinitive (which is negatived by בִּלְתִּי, q. v.), only once, in בְּלֹא (4 a), and with לְ, in the sense of cannot, or must not; Judg 1:19 כי לא להורישׁ for it was not (possible) to dispossess, etc. Amos 6:10 לא ׳להזכיר בשׁם י, 1Chr 5:1; 1Chr 15:2 (Dr§ 202. 2); compare Aramaic לָא Dan 6:9; Ezra 6:8. On its use with the participle, see b c.
   (c) לא always negates properly the word immediately following: hence, in a verbal sentence, where this is not the verb, some special stress rests upon it, Gen 32:29 לֹא יַעֲקֹב ׳יֵאָמֵר עוֺד וג not Jacob shall thy name be called any more, but Israel, Gen 45:8 לֹא אַתֶּם שְׁלַחְתֶּם אֹתִי Not ye (in our idiom: It is not ye who) have sent me hither, but God, Exod 16:8; 1Sam 8:7 כִּי לֹא ׳אֹתְךָ מָאָסוּ כִּי אֹתִי וג, Ps 115:17 without a following correcting clause, Gen 38:9; Num 16:29 שְׁלָחָנִי׃ ׳לֹא י Not ׳י (but another) hath sent me, Deut 32:27 לֹא פָּעַל זֹאת ׳י, 1Chr 17:4; Deut 8:9; Isa 28:28 לא לנצח ֗֗֗ not for ever (but only for a while) . . . (so Isa 57:16; Ps 9:19; Ps 49:18; Ps 103:9 but Isa 13:20 לא תשׁב לנצח is, will not be inhabited for ever), Isa 43:22; Job 13:16; Job 32:9 hence rhetorically, insinuating something very different, not named, 2Kgs 6:10 not once, and not twice (but repeatedly), Ezra 10:13; Jer 4:11 a wind לֹא לְזָרוֺת וְלוֺא לְהַָ˜בר׃ not to winnow, and not to cleanse (but to exterminate), Isa 45:13; Isa 48:1b Josh 24:12; Dan 11:20; Dan 11:29; Job 34:20 לֹא בְיָד (but by a Divine agency: compare Dan 2:34 also Job 20:26 אֵשׁ לֹא נֻפָּ֑ךְ fire not blown upon [but kindled from heaven], Lam 4:6 and אין Isa 47:14).
   (d) standing alone:
   (a) אִםלֹֿא if not, Gen 18:21 וְאִםלֹֿא אֵדָֽעָה׃, Gen 29:49; Gen 42:16; Job 9:24; Job 24:25 (β) הֲאִ֗֗֗םלֿא, or not, Gen 24:21 waiting to know דַּרְכּוֺ אִםלֹֿא ׳הַהִצְלִיחַ י, Gen 27:21; Gen 37:32; Exod 16:4; Num 11:23; Deut 8:2; Judg 2:22 (compare אִם אַיִן, אַיִן 2 d β, δ). In answer to a question or request, to deny, or decline, Nay, : Judg 12:5 ויאמר לא, Hag 2:12 לא אדני Gen 23:11; Gen 42:10; 1Sam 1:15 +; often followed by כי, for . . . = but . . ., Gen 18:15 ויאמר לֹא כִּי צָחָ֑קְתְּ, Gen 19:2; Josh 5:14; Josh 24:21; 1Sam 2:16 Qr (see Dr), 1Sam 10:19 (ᵐ5 MSS), 2Sam 16:18; 2Sam 24:24; 1Kgs 3:22 (twice in verse) +; Job 23:6 (strangely). (compare, in deprecation, אַל.)
   (e) with an interrogative force, which however does not lie in לא as such, but (as in other cases) in the contrast with a preceding clause, or in the tone of voice (compare וְ 1 f; Ew§ 324 a Ges«GKC:150»§ 150. 1 Dr1Sam 11:12): Jonah 4:11 ׳אַתָּה חַסְתָּוַ֗֗֗אֲנִי לֹא אָחוּס וג, Job 2:10; Job 22:11; Exod 8:22; 2Kgs 5:26; Jer 49:9 (|| Obad 1:5 הֲלוֺא), Mal 2:15; Lam 3:38 and in passages, exegesis or text. doubtful (see Commentaries), 1Sam 20:14; 2Sam 23:5 (but see Bu), Hos 10:9 (Ew We), Hos 11:5 (Ew), Job 14:16b (but ᵐ5 Ew Di תַעֲבֹר), Lam 1:12 (Ew Ke), Lam 3:36 (Ke ).
  b. with adjectives and substantive:
   (a) Gen 2:18 לֹא טוֺב הֱֶיוֺת הָאָדָם לְבַדֹּו not good is man's being alone, Exod 18:17 + often
   (b) Exod 4:16 לֹא אִישׁ דְּבָרִים אָנֹכִי, Amos 7:14 לא נביא אנכי, Num 23:9 לֹא אִישׁ אֵל וִיכַזֵּב, Deut 17:15 (see אשׁר
2. b) Deut 20:20; Deut 32:47; 1Sam 15:29; 2Sam 18:20 לֹא אִישׁ בְּשׂרָה אַתָּה הַיּוֺם, 2Sam 21:2; 1Kgs 22:33; 2Kgs 6:19 לא זִה הדרך, Mic 2:10; Isa 27:11; Hos 8:6 והמה לא אלהים Jer 2:11; Jer 16:20; 2Kgs 19:18; 1Kgs 19:11 (twice in verse) לֹא ׳בָרַעַשׁ י, Deut 30:12; Deut 30:13; Job 15:9; Job 28:14 לֹא בִי הִיא (|| אֵין עִמָּדִי)s, Ps 74:9; Jer 5:10 המה ׳לוא לי, Jer 10:16; Deut 32:21 בָּנִים לֹא אֵמוּן בָּם, Jer 10:14; Hab 1:14; Job 16:17; Job 38:26 מִדְבָּר לֹא אָדָם בּוֺ; 1Kgs 22:17 לֹא אֲדֹנִים לָאֵלֶּה, Jer 49:31; Ps 22:3 וְלֹא דוּמִיָּה לִי, Job 18:17; Job 18:19; Job 29:12 ולא עֹזֵר לו, Job 30:13; Job 33:9; Jer 2:19 וְלֹא פַחְדָּתִי אֵלַיִךְ and (that) my terror reached not unto thee, Job 21:9 absolute Gen 29:7 לֹאעֵֿתִ הֵאָסֵף הַמִּקְנֶה (Hag 1:2), Num 20:5; 2Kgs 4:23 לא חדשׁ ולא שׁבת, Isa 44:9; Jer 5:12 ויאמרו לוא הוא, Job 9:32; Job 22:16; Job 36:26; Job 41:2; Prov 19:7 (si vera lectio) מְרַדֵּף אֲמָרִים לֹאהֵֿמָּה words which are not, which are nought.
   (c) with the participle לֹא is rare, a finite verb being usually preferred (Exod 34:7 וְנַקִּה לֹא יְנַקֶּה: Ew§ 320 c Dr§ 162): 2Sam 3:34 יָדֶיךָ לֹא אֲסֻרוֺת, Ezek 4:14; Ezek 22:24; Deut 28:61; Ps 38:15 כְּאִישׁ אֲשֶׁר לֹא שֹׁמֵעַ who is not hearing, Job 12:3; Job 13:2 לֹא נֹפֵל אָנֹכִי מִכֶּם, Zeph 3:5 (very anomalous); 1Kgs 10:21 לא is probably textual error In וְהוּא לֹא שׂנֵא לוֺ or לא שׂנא הוא לו, Deut 4:42; Deut 19:4; Deut 19:6; Josh 20:5 (compare אֹיֵב Num 35:23), שׂנֵא is best construed as a substantive, he being a not-hater to him afore-time. — In most of the cases under b, c, אין could have been employed; but the negation by לֹא is more pointed and forcible.

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

3. Once (according to many MSS), as a substantive, Job 6:21 כִּיעַֿתָּה הֱיִיתֶם לֹא for now are ye become nothing, Hi De (compare Dan 4:32 (Aramaic) כְּלָה חֲשִׁיבִין, ᵑ7 here כְּלָא הֲוֵיתוּן, and אַל Job 24:25); but reading fluctuates (Orientals לֹא, Qr לו, Westerns, Baer (see pp. 37, 56) לוֺ ['now are ye become that,' namely the נַחַל אַכְזָב of vJob 24:15]; but even לוֺ yields a forced sense; and text is probably wrong: Mich Ew Ol Sgf Bu כֵּןלִ֗֗֗י (ᵐ5 ᵑ6 also read לִי); Di כִּילְ֗֗֗אָ֑יִן. compare ii. 1. 236 f.
4. With prefixes: —
  a. בְּלֹא31 (chiefly in poetry or late), according to the varying significance of בְּ:
   (a) usually with not = without, Jer 22:13 בונה ביתו בלאֿ צדק without justice (|| בלא משׁפט; so Ezek 22:29; Prov 16:8), Isa 55:1 (twice in verse); Prov 19:2; Job 8:11 הֲיִגְאֶהגֹּֿמֶא בְּלֹא בִצָּה without mire || כלי מים, Job 30:28 בְּלֹא חַמָּה (=not through the sun), Lam 1:6 וילכו בלאכֿח, Num 35:22 בְּלֹא אֵיבָה ֗֗֗ בְּלֹא צְדִיָּה, vNum 35:23 (followed by infinitive) בְּלֹא רְאוֺת, 2Chr 21:20; Eccl 10:11; Ps 17:1 תְּפִלָּתִי בְּלֹא שִׂפְתֵי מִרְמָה; used more freely in Chronicles, 1Chr 12:18 בְּלֹא חָמָס בְּכַפָּֽי׃, v.1Chr 12:34 בְּלֹא לֵב וָלֵב, 2Chr 30:18 בְּלֹא כַכָּתוּב. With ellipse of rel., Lam 4:14 בְּלֹא יוּכְלוּ יִגְּעוּ without (that) men are able to touch, etc.
   (b) of time, in not, i.e. outside of, Lev 15:25 בלא עֶתנִֿדָּתָהּ, before Job 15:32 בלאיֿומו, Eccl 7:17 בְּלֹא עִתֶּךְ׃.
   (c) where לֹא belongs to the following word, and is only accidentally preceded by ב (see above 2 d), Deut 32:21 (twice in verse); Jer 5:7; Prov 13:23 בלא משׁפט through injustice; with בְּ pretii, Ps 44:13; Isa 55:2 (twice in verse); Jer 2:11 בְּלוֺא יוֺעִיל for (that which) profiteth not.


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


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


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

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


BDB4344 H3808

BDB4343 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB4345

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


BDB9632 H3808 H3809

BDB9631 | BIBLICAL ARAMAIC | BDB9633

לָא (לָה Dan 4:32) adverb not (Biblical Hebrew לא; Aramaic of Têma, Egyptian, etc., לא; Nerab ל (Lzb301 CookG1. 67); ᵑ7 לָא; Syriac ); — not Jer 10:11; Dan 2:5; Dan 2:9; Dan 2:10, etc.; before a participle (so rarely in Biblical Hebrew, 1 b c), Dan 2:27; Dan 2:43; Dan 3:16; Dan 4:4; Dan 4:6; Dan 4:15 +, so v.Dan 4:32 וְכָלדָּֿאְרֵי אַרְעָא כְּלָה חֲשׁיבִין; are as men not accounted of (so Bev Behrm Marti, compare Isa 53:8 ᵑ7 בסירין ולא חשׁיבין; > most 'accounted as nothing,' for which no analogy, yet compare Ps 39:6 ᵑ7); followed by אִיתַי, see אִיתַי. With infinitive and לְ Dan 6:9 דִּי לָא לִהַשְׁנָיָה which it is not to alter = which is not to be altered (compare v.Dan 6:16), Ezra 6:8 (K§ 67, 1 Dr§ 202, 2.; compare Isa 35:6 ᵑ7, DAramaic Dialektproben, p. 1). With interr. הֲלָא Dan 3:24; Dan 4:27; Dan 6:13.


BDB9640 H3809 H3861 H518 H2006 H3808 H3588

BDB9639 | BIBLICAL ARAMAIC | BDB9641

II. לָהֵן conjunction except, but (from לָא and הֵן 'not if' (compare Hebrew אם לא Gen 24:38); so Nabataean and Egyptian Aramaic להן Cooke217, 219, 241 S-CPap. C 6, 7 +; lâinnî, however SocArab. Dial. see Marokko 44, Anm. 103; ᵑ7 אִילָּהֵין Gen 32:28; Gen 43:3 and elsewhere); —

1. after a negative (= Biblical Hebrew כִּי אִם, q. v.):
  a. except Dan 2:11; Dan 3:28; Dan 6:6; Dan 6:8.
  b. but (German sondern) Dan 2:30.
2. without a negative: however, but Ezra 5:12.

not, no, neither, nor, none, …
lōʾ
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
  • not, no
    • not (with verb—absolute prohibition)
    • "not (with modifier—negation)"nothing (subst)"without (with particle)"before (of time)

מְצָאתִֽי ו
מְצָאתִֽי
Root word found, find, out, present, findeth, …
ו
Suffix — pronoun his / him / it
Dictionary form: מָצָא · maw-TSAW

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: him but i found him not
found ×42 find ×21 and found ×19 i have found ×19 be found ×16 that were present ×12 that was found ×9 were found ×8
More options
find — Core active sense; best default for most contexts.
discover — Emphasizes the moment of coming upon something unknown.
come across — Casual register; good for incidental or unexpected finding.
encounter — Prefer when the object found is a person or situation.
be present — Suits passive/stative contexts meaning 'to be on hand'.
obtain — Use when finding implies successfully acquiring something.

BDB4775 H4672

BDB4774 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB4776

מָצָא452 verb attain to, find (Late Hebrew id.; Assyrian maƒû, DlHWB 421, Ethiopic come, arrive; Aramaic [ find], Passive participle able, powerful, and derivatives; compare ZMG xl 1886, 736 Dr1Sam 23:17); —

Qal Perfect ׳מ Gen 2:20 +, suffix מְצָאוֺ Job 31:29, 3 feminine singular מָֽצְאָה Gen 8:9 +, suffix מְצָאַתְנוּ Judg 6:13; Neh 9:32, מְצָאָ֫תַם Exod 18:18 2 masculine singular מָצָאתָ Gen 31:37 +; 1 singular מָצָאתִי Gen 18:3 +, מָצָתִי Num 11:11, suffix מְצָאתִיו Song 3:1; Song 3:2, מְצָאתִיהוּ Song 5:6 3 plural מָֽצְאוּ Judg 21:14 +; suffix מְצָאנֻהוּ Job 37:23, etc.; Imperfect יִמְצָא 1Sam 24:20 +, 3 feminine singular תִּמְצָא 1Sam 1:18 +; 3 masculine plural יִמְצְאוּ Judg 5:30 +, suffix יִמְצָאֻהוּ Job 20:8 יִמְצָאֻנְנִי Prov 1:28; Prov 8:17, יִמְצָאוּנְהָ Jer 2:24 3 feminine plural תִּמְצֶאןָ Deut 31:21 etc.; Imperative מְצָא 1Sam 20:21; 1Sam 20:36, וּמְצָאֿ Prov 3:4 masculine plural מִצְאוּ Jer 6:16 feminine plural וּמְצֶאןָ Ruth 1:9 Infinitive מְצאֹ, מְצוֺא Ps 32:6; Gen 19:11 +, suffix בְּמֹצַאֲכֶם Gen 32:20 [= מָצְאֲכֶם Ges«GKC:74»§ 74, 3, R. 2]; Participle מוֺצֵא Ps 119:162, מוֺצֶה Eccl 7:26, suffix מֹצְאִי Gen 4:14; Prov 8:35 feminine singular absolute מֹצֵאת 2Sam 18:22, מוֺצֵאת Song 8:10 masculine plural מֹצְאִים Num 15:33, construct מֹצְאֵי Prov 8:9 feminine plural absolute מֹצְאוֺת Josh 2:23, etc.; —
1. find :
  a. thing sought, with accusative of thing, straw Exod 5:11 (J), water Gen 26:32 (J), compare vGen 26:19, Exod 15:22 (J), grass 1Kgs 18:5, help, consort, Gen 2:20 (J), compare Prov 18:22 +; with idea of attaining to, arriving at, a resting-place Gen 8:9 (J) Isa 34:14 compare צִפּוֺר מָֽצְאָה בַּיִת Ps 84:4; Jer 45:3; Lam 1:3 of marriage Ruth 1:9 of finding place for temple Ps 132:5 figurative וּמִצְאוּ מַרְגּוֺעַ לְנַפְשְׁכֶם Jer 6:16 and find quiet for yourselves; find grave Job 3:22 reach cities 2Sam 20:6 (where read יִמְצָא Vrss Th Dr Kit Bu), compare Ps 107:4 find = secure prey, booty, plunder Gen 27:20 (J), Judg 5:30; Judg 21:12; 1Sam 14:30 compare 2Chr 20:25; Prov 1:13; Ps 119:162 of securing gain Hos 12:9 ( + לִי; || עשׁר), Job 31:25 so perhaps also absolute בְּשׂוֺרָה מֹצֵאת אֵין 2Sam 18:22 there is no news securing i.e. such as to bring you a reward (compare Th Dr; but text dubious); secure as crop Gen 26:12 (J), compare Eccl 11:1 = acquire, get wounds and dishonour Prov 6:33 ׳חֵן בְּעֵינֵי פ ׳מ find ( = gain, secure) favour in the eyes of any one: of ׳י, Gen 6:8; Exod 33:12; Exod 33:13 (twice in verse); Exod 33:16; Exod 33:17; Exod 34:9 (all J), Num 11:11; Num 11:15 (JE), Judg 6:17; 2Sam 15:25 ; oftener of men Gen 18:3; Gen 19:19; Gen 30:27; Gen 32:6 + 8 t. Genesis (all J), Num 32:5 (JE), Deut 24:1; 1Sam 1:18 + 7 t. Samuel; 1Kgs 11:19; Ruth 2:2; Ruth 2:10; Ruth 2:13; Esth 5:8; Esth 7:3 ׳חֵן לִפְנֵי פ ׳מ Esth 8:5 אָז הָיִתִי בְעֵינָיו כְּמוֺצֵאת שָׁלָוֺם Song 8:10 absolute מָצָא חֵן Jer 31:2; Prov 3:4; Prov 28:23 : = seek and find 1Sam 20:21 (arrows), so v1Sam 20:36 figurative of grounds of accusation Job 33:10 he succeeds in finding; so also Isa 58:3; Isa 58:13 find knowledge of God Prov 2:5 compare Prov 8:9, word of ׳י Amos 8:12, words of wisdom Prov 4:22, wisdom Job 32:13; Prov 24:14 (see also below); ransom Job 33:24 life Prov 8:35 (Qr מָצָא; > Kt מצאי, i.e. מֹצְאֵי De Str Wild), Prov 21:21 with accusative of person Gen 18:26; Gen 18:28; Gen 18:30 (J), Gen 41:38 (E), 1Sam 9:13 (twice in verse); 1Kgs 1:3; 1Kgs 13:14 compare v1Kgs 13:28, +; of pursuit Josh 2:22 (J); find ׳י Hos 5:6; Deut 4:29; Jer 29:13; Job 23:3; Ps 32:6 + Hos 6:3 (read כֵן נִמְצָאֵהוּ כְּשַׁחֲרֵנוּ, for ᵑ0 כְּשַׁחַר נָכוָֺן מֹצָאוֺ GieBeitr. z. Jes. Krit. 208 We Now); so possibly also (object omitted) Jer 10:18 (so Gf.; ᵑ9 Or read Niph`al; Gie יֶאְשָׁ֑מוּ), (Job 37:23; Job 11:7 (twice in verse) see below); find wisdom (personified) Prov 1:28; Prov 8:17; Prov 8:35 compare Prov 3:13.
  b. what is lost, missed, with accusative of thing, Gen 31:32; Gen 31:33; Gen 31:34; Gen 31:35; Gen 31:37 (E), 1Sam 9:4 (twice in verse); Deut 22:3; Lev 5:22; Lev 5:23 (P), Gen 36:24 (P) +; וַיִּלְאוּ לִמְצֹא הַפָּ֑תַח Gen 19:11 and they grew weary in finding the door; find a word (to say) Neh 5:8; Eccl 12:10, answer Job 32:3, vision from ׳י Lam 2:9 with accusative of person Gen 38:20; Gen 38:22; Gen 38:23 (J), 2Sam 17:20; 1Kgs 18:10; 1Kgs 18:12; 1Kgs 21:20 (twice in verse); 2Kgs 2:17; Ezek 22:30; Prov 7:15; Song 3:1; Song 3:2; Song 3:4; Song 5:6 +.
  c. meet, encounter, with accusative of person (one expected), Gen 32:20 (E), 2Kgs 9:21; Jer 41:12; 2Chr 20:16 compare also Num 35:27 (P).
  d. find a condition, find one in a situation; לָהּ בְּתוּלִים ׳וְלֹא מ Deut 22:14 compare vDeut 22:17; Deut 24:1 אֶתמֶֿלָךְ ֗֗֗ נִלְחָם ׳וַיִּמ 2Kgs 19:8 and he found the king of Assyria warring against Lachish = Isa 37:8 אֶתלְֿבָבוֺ נֶאֱמָן ׳וּמ Neh 9:8 כָּתוּב בספר ׳מ Neh 7:5; Neh 8:14 especially late, 1Chr 20:2; 2Chr 25:5; Dan 1:20; Dan 7:26.
  e. = learn, devise Eccl 7:27 (twice in verse); Eccl 7:29. feminine = experience sorrow Ps 116:3, compare Eccl 7:14.
2. find out:
  a. find out thoroughly, explore: object God Job 11:7 (twice in verse); Job 37:23 God's works Eccl 3:11; Eccl 8:17 (3 t. in verse), compare Eccl 7:24.
  b. = detect sin, crime, usually in (ב) one, 2Kgs 17:4; 1Sam 29:3; 1Sam 29:6; 1Sam 29:8; Hos 12:9 כְּיָדִי מְאוּמָה ׳לֹא מ 1Sam 12:5 detect evil in God Jer 2:5 subject God Jer 2:34; Jer 23:11 עֲוֺן עֲבָדֶיךָ ׳מ Gen 44:16 (J), compare Ps 36:3 absolute Ps 10:15; Ps 17:3 .
  c. = guess, solve riddle Judg 14:12; Judg 14:18 compare Prov 8:12.
3. = come upon, light upon:
  a. often unexpectedly = happen upon, with accusative of thing, money Gen 44:8 (J), book 2Kgs 22:8; 2Kgs 23:24 = 2Chr 34:14; 2Chr 34:15, compare Neh 7:5 honey Prov 25:16, ship Jonah 1:3 a plain Gen 11:2 (J), jawbone Judg 15:15 ark of ׳י Ps 132:6 (according to some, but dubious; Bae proposes הוֺצֵאנוּהָ); indefinite Ezek 3:1 (strike out ᵐ5 Co); with accusative of person = meet, fall in with Gen 4:14; Gen 4:15 compare Jer 50:7; Gen 37:15; Gen 37:17 (all J), 1Sam 9:11; 1Sam 30:11; Deut 22:23; Deut 22:25; Deut 22:27; Deut 22:28; 1Kgs 13:24; 1Kgs 20:36; 2Kgs 4:29; 2Kgs 10:13; 2Kgs 10:15; Song 3:3; Song 5:7; Song 5:8; Song 8:1 come upon = discover, Num 15:22; Num 15:33 of ׳י meeting (finding) Israel in desert Hos 9:10 compare Hos 12:5; Deut 32:10 angel finding Hagar Gen 16:7 (J); ׳י finding David Ps 89:21.
  b. hit, with accusative of person, subject bowmen 1Sam 31:3 = 1Chr 10:3 subject axe Deut 19:5.
  c. subject hand Isa 10:14 (figurative, in metaphor, of reaching nests), compare vIsa 10:10, 1Sam 23:17 (of Saul's taking David), Ps 21:9 (followed by לְ), vPs 21:9 (c, accusative); כֹּל אֲשֶׁר תִּמְצָא יָָֽדְךָ לַעֲשׂוֺת Eccl 9:10 sin (i.e. its punishment) will light upon you Num 32:23.
  d. subject fire, קֹצִים כִּי תֵצֵא אֵשׁ וּמָֽצְאָה Exod 22:5 (E).
  e. befal, with accusative of person Josh 2:23 (JE); of evil Gen 44:34 (J), Deut 4:30; Deut 31:17 (twice in verse); Deut 31:21; Judg 6:13; 2Kgs 7:9; Job 31:29; Ps 116:3; Ps 119:143; Esth 8:6 subject תְּלָאָה Exod 18:8 (E), Num 20:14 (JE), Neh 9:32.
4. noteworthy phrases are: יָדֶ֑ךָ ׳כַּאֲשֶׁר תִּמ Judg 9:33 according to what thy hand findeth, i.e. as the occasion may demand, so 1Sam 10:7 (with accusative; compare Eccl 9:10 3 c); but Eccl 25:8 = what thou chancest to have, compare כְלִי זָהָב ׳אֲשֶׁר מ Num 31:50 (P); וְלֹא יִמְצָאֻהוּ Job 20:8 = and he shall not be, shall no longer exist, compare Isa 41:12; Eccl 9:15 they found in it = there happened to be in it; אֶתלִֿבּוֺ לְהִתְפַּלֵּל ׳מ 2Sam 7:27 he found the heart (took courage) to pray = 1Chr 17:25 (omit אתלֿבו, perhaps ancient textual error); לֹא מָֽצְאוּ יְדֵיהֶם Ps 76:6 they did not find their hands, were not able to use them, were paralyzed; חַיַּת יָדֵךְ מָצָאתְ Isa 57:10 = (perhaps) experience renewal of thy strength (compare I. חַיָּה above CheComm.; for other interpretations of ׳ח, ידך, see Ew Di Du CheHpt); כְּדֵי נְאֻלָּתוֺ וּמָצָא Lev 25:26 = and he find (that he has) enough for its redemption (compare דַּי), so דֵּי הָשִׁיב מָֽצְאָה יָדוֺ vLev 25:28, יָדָהּ דֵּי שֶׂה ׳תִּמ Lev 12:8 (compare תַּגִּיעַ Lev 5:7); without דַּי, וְלֹא מָֽצְאוּ לָהֶם כֵּן Judg 21:14 = (probably) and they (the Israelites) did not find enough for them, even so (compare GFM); also וּמָצָא לָהֶם Num 11:22 (twice in verse) (JE) and so one find (= there be found) enough for them (compare Niph`al Josh 17:16; Zech 10:10).

Niph`al Perfect נִמְצָא 1Sam 13:22 +; 3 feminine singular נמצאה Jer 48:27 Kt Gf; < נִמְצָא Qr Gie; 2 feminine singular נִמְצֵאת Jer 50:24 1 singular נִמְצֵאתִי Isa 65:1, וְנִמְצֵאתִי consecutive Jer 29:14 3 plural נִמְצְאוּ Deut 22:30 +, הַנִּמְצְאוּ 1Chr 29:17 (הַּ = rel., compare DaSynt. § 22 R. 4 Synt. § 52); Imperfect יִמָּצֵא Gen 44:9 +; 3 feminine singular תִּמָּצֵא Exod 22:3 +; 2 feminine singular תִּ˜מּצְאִי Ezek 26:21 3 masculine plural יִ˜מּצְאוּן Gen 18:29; Gen 18:30; Gen 18:31; Gen 18:32, וַיִּמָּֽצְאוּ 1Chr 24:4; 2Chr 4:16 3 feminine plural תִּמָּצֶ֑אינָה Jer 50:20 Infinitive הִמָּצֵא Exod 22:3 ( = Infinitive absolute compare BaNB 74), suffix הִמָּֽצְאוֺ Isa 55:6 Participle נִמְצָא Judg 20:48 +, feminine singular נִמְצָאָ֑ה 2Kgs 19:4 = Isa 37:4 plural נִמְצְאִים 1Sam 13:15 + 11 t.; נִמְצָאִים only Ezra 8:25 suffix 2 feminine singular נִמְצָאַיִךְ Isa 22:3 נִמְצָאוֺת Gen 19:15; Judg 20:48 — passive of Qal, be found:

1. a. of a thing lost (asses) 1Sam 9:20; 1Sam 10:2; 1Sam 10:16 stolen Gen 44:9; Gen 44:10; Gen 44:12; Gen 44:16; Gen 44:17 (J); Exod 21:16 (all with בְּיַד); sought, wisdom Job 28:12; Job 28:13; Prov 10:13
  b. of thing found unexpectedly, book 2Kgs 22:13; 2Kgs 23:2 = 2Chr 34:21; 2Chr 34:30 of corpse Deut 21:1.
  c. = be lighted upon, encountered; of breaches in temple 2Kgs 12:6 of cities Judg 20:48b; of persons in captured city 2Kgs 25:19 (twice in verse) = Jer 52:25 (twice in verse), Deut 20:11, compare Exod 9:19 (J), Judg 20:48a Isa 13:15; Isa 22:3; Jer 41:8 be discovered, of a condition, situation Deut 22:20 (בתולים); טוֺב נִמְצָאבֿוֺ דָּבָר 1Kgs 14:13, compare 2Chr 19:3.
  d. be found written (כתוב), Neh 13:1; Esth 6:2 of persons Dan 12:1.
  e. = appeared, were recognized, of words of ׳י Jer 15:16. feminine of persons sought Gen 18:29; Gen 18:30; Gen 18:21; Gen 18:32 (J), Josh 10:17 (JE), 1Sam 10:21; 2Sam 7:12; 1Chr 26:31 in geneal. register Ezra 2:62 = Neh 7:64 of ׳י, specifically, let himself be found of (by) any one: followed by לְ person Isa 65:1; Jer 29:14; 1Chr 28:9; 2Chr 15:2; 2Chr 15:4; 2Chr 15:15, absolute Isa 55:6.
  g. = be discovered, detected: (1) of iniquity, crime: Exod 22:3 (twice in verse) (E), 1Sam 25:28; 1Kgs 1:52; Jer 2:34; Ezek 28:15; Job 19:28; Mal 2:6, compare Mic 1:13; 2Chr 36:8; Esth 2:23. (2) of wrong-doers Exod 22:1; Exod 22:6; Exod 22:7 (E), Deut 22:22; Deut 22:28; Deut 24:7; Jer 2:26; Jer 48:27; Jer 50:24 (|| נִלְבַּדְתְּ, נִתְפַּשְׂתְּ), Prov 6:31; Ezra 10:18.
  h. = be gained, secured, as a crop, of fruit, figurative מִמֶּנִּי פֶּדְיְךָ נִמְצָא Hos 14:9 (compare Qal Gen 26:12; Eccl 11:1)
  i. = be discoverable, to be found Job 42:15; Dan 1:19 (compare Isa 55:6 above 1 f).
2. be found = be:
  a. with בְּיַד be found in one's hand = onehappens to have 1Sam 9:8; 1Sam 13:22 (twice in verse), compare (without ביד) 1Sam 23:4.
  b. with לְ person, = be in the possession of: Deut 21:17, with אֶתֿ (preposition) person Exod 35:23; Exod 35:24; 1Chr 29:8.
  c. be found in (ב) a place, especially of wealth, treasure, Gen 47:14 (J), 2Kgs 12:11; 2Kgs 12:19; 2Kgs 14:14; 2Kgs 16:8; 2Kgs 18:15; 2Kgs 20:13 = Isa 39:2; 2Kgs 22:9; 2Chr 21:17; 2Chr 25:24; 2Chr 34:17 compare Exod 12:19; Jer 41:3; 1Chr 4:41 = happen to be, be, Deut 17:2; Deut 18:10; Jer 5:26; Isa 35:9; Isa 51:3; Isa 65:8 with negative = be no more Zeph 3:13; Ezek 26:21; Ps 37:36 (|| אֵינֶנּוּ), Dan 11:19.
  d. = be left after war, violence, etc., 1Sam 13:19; 2Sam 17:13; Isa 30:14; 2Kgs 19:4 = Isa 37:4.
  e. = be present Gen 19:15 (J), 1Sam 13:15; 1Sam 13:16; 1Sam 21:4 especially late, 1Chr 29:17; 2Chr 5:11; 2Chr 29:29; 2Chr 30:21; 2Chr 31:1; 2Chr 34:32; 2Chr 34:33; 2Chr 35:7; 2Chr 35:17; 2Chr 35:18; Ezra 8:25; Esth 1:5; Esth 4:16. feminine = prove to be, after numbering, 1Chr 24:4; 2Chr 2:16 of ׳י, עֶזְדָה בְצָדוֺת נִמְצָא Ps 46:2.
3. be (found) sufficient: לֹא יִמָצֵא לָנוּ הָהָד Josh 17:16 (JE), compare Zech 10:10 (also Qal Num 11:22; Judg 21:14).

Hiph`il Perfect 1 singular suffix הִמְצִיתִךָ 2Sam 3:8 3 masculine plural הִמְצִיאוּ Lev 9:13 Imperfect 3 masculine singular suffix 3 masculine singular יַמְצִאֶנּוּ Job 34:11, יַמְצִאֵהוּ Job 37:13 3 masculine plural וַיַמְצִאוּ Lev 9:12; Lev 9:18 Participle מַמְצִיא Zech 11:6

1. cause to find, attain, with accusative of person Job 34:11 (subject God).
2. cause to light upon, come upon, come with accusative of cloud Job 37:13 (dubious)
3. cause to encounter, deliver up to, with accusative of person, + בְּיַד 2Sam 3:8 (subject man), Zech 11:6 (subject God).
4. present unto (אֶלֿ), of Aaron's sons ministering unto him, with accusative of offering, and of blood, Lev 9:12; Lev 9:13; Lev 9:18.


מֹצָא see מוֺוצָא below יצא. p. 425f


מַצָּב, נֻצָּב, מַצָּבָה, מַצֵּבָה מַצֶּ֫בֶת see נצב.

found, find, out, present, findeth, …
māṣāʾ
properly, to come forth to, i.e., appear or exist; transitively, to attain, i.e., find or acquire; figuratively, to occur, meet or be present
  • to find, attain to
    • (Qal)
      • to find
        • to find, secure, acquire, get (thing sought)
        • "to find (what is lost)"to meet, encounter"to find (a condition)"to learn, devise
        to find out
        • to find out
        • "to detect"to guess
        to come upon, light upon
        • to happen upon, meet, fall in with
        • "to hit"to befall
      (Niphal)
      • to be found
        • to be encountered, be lighted upon, be discovered
        • "to appear, be recognized"to be discovered, be detected"to be gained, be secured
        to be, be found
        • to be found in
        • "to be in the possession of"to be found in (a place), happen to be"to be left (after war)"to be present"to prove to be"to be found sufficient, be enough
      (Hiphil)
      • to cause to find, attain
      • "to cause to light upon, come upon, come"to cause to encounter"to present (offering)

The cantillation accents are the Masoretes' punctuation: each group below ends at a pausing accent. Translate a group as one unit.
עַל מִשְׁכָּבִי֙ Pashta — a lesser break בַּלֵּיל֔וֹת Zaqef Qatan — a strong break בִּקַּ֕שְׁתִּי Zaqef Gadol — a strong break אֵ֥ת שֶׁאָהֲבָ֖ה Tipeha — a lesser break נַפְשִׁ֑י Etnahta — the verse's main pause — take a breath here בִּקַּשְׁתִּ֖יו Tipeha — a lesser break וְלֹ֥א מְצָאתִֽיו Silluq — end of the verse

עַל-מִשְׁכָּבִי בַּלֵּילוֹת בִּקַּשְׁתִּי אֵת שֶׁאָהֲבָה נַפְשִׁי בִּקַּשְׁתִּיו וְלֹא מְצָאתִֽיו׃
1
By night on my bed I sought him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not.
Cross References

1 Peter 1:8

ὃν οὐκ εἰδότες ἀγαπᾶτε εἰς ὃν ἄρτι μὴ ὁρῶντες πιστεύοντες δὲ ἀγαλλιᾶσθε χαρᾷ ἀνεκλαλήτῳ καὶ δεδοξασμένῃ
8
Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:

Song of Solomon 1:7

הַגִּידָה לִּי שֶׁאָהֲבָה נַפְשִׁי אֵיכָה תִרְעֶה אֵיכָה תַּרְבִּיץ בַּֽצָּהֳרָיִם שַׁלָּמָה אֶֽהְיֶה כְּעֹטְיָה עַל עֶדְרֵי חֲבֵרֶֽיךָ׃
7
Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest, where thou makest thy flock to rest at noon: for why should I be as one that turneth aside by the flocks of thy companions?

Song of Solomon 5:6

פָּתַחְתִּֽי אֲנִי לְדוֹדִי וְדוֹדִי חָמַק עָבָר נַפְשִׁי יָֽצְאָה בְדַבְּרוֹ בִּקַּשְׁתִּיהוּ וְלֹא מְצָאתִיהוּ קְרָאתִיו וְלֹא עָנָֽנִי׃
6
I opened to my beloved; but my beloved had withdrawn himself, and was gone: my soul failed when he spake: I sought him, but I could not find him; I called him, but he gave me no answer.

Isaiah 55:6

דִּרְשׁוּ יְהוָה בְּהִמָּצְאוֹ קְרָאֻהוּ בִּֽהְיוֹתוֹ קָרֽוֹב׃
6
Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:

Isaiah 26:9

נַפְשִׁי אִוִּיתִךָ בַּלַּיְלָה אַף-רוּחִי בְקִרְבִּי אֲשַֽׁחֲרֶךָּ כִּי כַּאֲשֶׁר מִשְׁפָּטֶיךָ לָאָרֶץ צֶדֶק לָמְדוּ יֹשְׁבֵי תֵבֵֽל׃
9
With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.

Psalms 130:1

מִמַּעֲמַקִּים קְרָאתִיךָ יְהוָֽה׃
1
Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O LORD.

Psalms 22:2

אֱֽלֹהַי אֶקְרָא יוֹמָם וְלֹא תַעֲנֶה וְלַיְלָה וְֽלֹא-דֽוּמִיָּה לִֽי׃
2
O my God, I cry in the daytime, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent.

Song of Solomon 5:8

הִשְׁבַּעְתִּי אֶתְכֶם בְּנוֹת יְרוּשָׁלִָם אִֽם-תִּמְצְאוּ אֶת-דּוֹדִי מַה-תַּגִּידוּ לוֹ שֶׁחוֹלַת אַהֲבָה אָֽנִי׃
8
I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, if ye find my beloved, that ye tell him, that I am sick of love.

Psalms 63:6

אִם-זְכַרְתִּיךָ עַל-יְצוּעָי בְּאַשְׁמֻרוֹת אֶהְגֶּה-בָּֽךְ׃
6
When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches.

Job 23:8

הֵן קֶדֶם אֶהֱלֹךְ וְאֵינֶנּוּ וְאָחוֹר וְֽלֹא-אָבִין לֽוֹ׃
8
Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him:

Psalms 77:2

בְּיוֹם צָרָתִי אֲדֹנָי דָּרָשְׁתִּי יָדִי׀ לַיְלָה נִגְּרָה וְלֹא תָפוּג מֵאֲנָה הִנָּחֵם נַפְשִֽׁי׃
2
In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord: my sore ran in the night, and ceased not: my soul refused to be comforted.

Psalms 4:4

רִגְזוּ וְֽאַל-תֶּחֱטָאוּ אִמְרוּ בִלְבַבְכֶם עַֽל-מִשְׁכַּבְכֶם וְדֹמּוּ סֶֽלָה׃
4
Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.

John 21:17

λέγει αὐτῷ τὸ τρίτον Σίμων Ἰωνᾶ φιλεῖς με ἐλυπήθη Πέτρος ὅτι εἶπεν αὐτῷ τὸ τρίτον Φιλεῖς με καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ Κύριε σὺ πάντα οἶδας σὺ γινώσκεις ὅτι φιλῶ σε λέγει αὐτῷ Ἰησοῦς Βόσκε τὰ πρόβατά μου
17
He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

Psalms 6:6

יָגַעְתִּי׀ בְּֽאַנְחָתִי אַשְׂחֶה בְכָל-לַיְלָה מִטָּתִי בְּדִמְעָתִי עַרְשִׂי אַמְסֶֽה׃
6
I am weary with my groaning; all the night make I my bed to swim; I water my couch with my tears.

Luke 13:24

Ἀγωνίζεσθε εἰσελθεῖν διὰ τῆς στενῆς πύλης· ὅτι πολλοί λέγω ὑμῖν ζητήσουσιν εἰσελθεῖν καὶ οὐκ ἰσχύσουσιν
24
Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.