1 Kings 17:18
- Definition
- sequential 'and'
- Root
- From H8505; a prefix
- Exhaustive
Vav Conversive/Consecutive: The category “vav conversive / vav consecutive” is not an ancient grammatical datum; it is a modern explanatory construct, developed by early Hebraists to force Biblical Hebrew into a Latin/chronological tense model that it simply does not share.
The notion arose in early modern grammar (17th–19th c.) when scholars assumed:
- verbs must encode tense,
- narratives must advance by past → present → future,
- therefore Hebrew forms that “don’t behave” must be converted.
- Definition
- to say (used with great latitude)
- Root
- a primitive root;
- Exhaustive
- a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude); answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet.
I. אָמַר (5287) verb utter, say (Egyptian mr command; Phoenician אמר; Aramaic אֲמַר; Ethiopic ሀሁሂሃ I. 2 shew, declare; Arabic أمر command; perhaps √ אמר originally = be or make prominent, hence Hithpael below, אָמִיר; Sabaean אמר lofty, epithet of king idem Mordtmann ZMG 1876, 37; compare Dl Pr 28 who thinks original meaning hell, sichtbar sein, whence Assyrian amāru, see, & shew, declare, say).
Cognates:
- Egyptian mr command
- Phoenician אמר
- Aramaic אֲמַר
- Ethiopic ሀሁሂሃ I. 2 shew, declare
- Arabic أمر command
- Sabaean אמר lofty, epithet of king
- Assyrian amāru see, & shew, declare, say
Qal
Perfect 3 masculine singular אָמַר Genesis 3:1 +; Imperfect יֹאמַר Genesis 31:8 +; וַיֹּאמֶר Genesis 1:3 +; וַיֹּאמַר Genesis 14:19 +; in Job always וַיֹּאמַר Job 3:2 +; 3 feminine singular תֹּאמַר Genesis 21:12 +; תֹּאמַר Proverbs 1:21; 1 singular אֹמַר Genesis 22:2 +; אוֹמְרָה Psalm 42:10; וָאֹמַר Genesis 20:13 +; וָאוֹמַר Nehemiah 2:7,17,20; 3 masculine plural יֹאמְרוּ Exodus 4:1 + etc.; suffix יֹמְרוּךָ Psalm 139:20; 2 masculine plural תֹּמְרוּ 2 Samuel 19:14 (compare Kö i. p. 385); Imperative אֱמֹר Genesis 45:17 +, etc.; Infinitive absolute אָמוֹר Exodus 21:5 +; construct אֱמֹר Ezekiel 25:8 +; הָאֱמֹר Job 34:18 but read הָאֹמַר idem Di, or better הֵאָמֹר Infinitive absolute with ה interrogative compare Ew § 328 d; suffix אָמְרִי Joshua 6:10 +; אֲמָרְכֶם Jeremiah 23:38; אֱמָרְכֶם Malachi 1:7 +; לֵאמֹר Genesis 1:22 +, etc.; Participle active אֹמֵר Genesis 32:10 +, etc.; passive הָאָמֻר Micah 2:7, but this grammatically indefensible, read הֵאָמֹר, Infinitive absolute with ה interrogative, see Dr Expositor, April, 1887, 263.
Say (subject God Genesis 3:1 Genesis 32:5, serpent Genesis 3:1, ass Numbers 22:28, horse יֹאמַר הָאָח Job 39:25 etc.; inanimate things, personified Job 28:14 compare Job 28:22 etc.; so in allegory or fable Judges 9:8; 2 Kings 14:9 etc.; especially in narration, וַיֹּאמֶר etc., Genesis 4:6 + very often): mostly followed by thing said, either substantive Jeremiah 14:17 (with clause app.) Deuteronomy 27:16 f.; Judges 12:6; pronoun Genesis 44:16; 2 Kings 20:14 +; or (usually) clause Genesis 1:3; Genesis 3:1; Genesis 37:20 + often (oratio recta [direct speech]); with adverb thus, so Genesis 32:5; Numbers 20:14; 1 Kings 20:3,5 + often; especially כֹּה אָמַר יְהוָה Exodus 5:1; Exodus 7:17; Exodus 8:1; Exodus 8:20; 1 Chronicles 17:4 + often; the person addressed usually introduced by אֵל Genesis 3:1; Genesis 15:7; Genesis 22:7; Leviticus 21:1; 2 Samuel 3:7; 1 Kings 12:5,23, or לְ Genesis 3:13; Genesis 4:15; 1 Samuel 20:2; 2 Samuel 2:21; 1 Kings 14:2 + often; rarer combinations are, בְּאָזְנֵי כֹה אָמַר Isaiah 49:20 (compare Isaiah 5:9 & see דָּבַר); לִפְנֵי כֹה אָמַר Ezekiel 28:9; לְעֵינֵי כֹה אָמַר Deuteronomy 31:7; Joshua 10:12; Jeremiah 28:11; בְּ כֹה אָמַר Joel 2:17; Psalm 126:2, where בְּ local; in all cases usually followed by direct object of words said, Exodus 19:25 being very singular; Genesis 4:8 the object-clause has probably fallen out, compare Vrss Di; = mention, name, designate Genesis 22:2,3; Genesis 43:27,29; Exodus 32:13; Numbers 14:40; 1 Samuel 10:16; 1 Samuel 16:3; 2 Samuel 6:22; Nehemiah 6:19; compare Psalm 139:20 יֹמְרוּךָ לִמְזִמָּה speak of thee for falsehood (but many, as Hup Pe Dy Che, read יַמְרוּךָ); = tell, declare, proclaim, (followed by direct object only) Psalm 40:11; Ezekiel 13:7; in reply to question = answer Exodus 12:27; Joshua 4:7; 1 Kings 9:9; Jeremiah 5:19; Jeremiah 22:9. The object spoken of may be referred to by אֵל 2 Kings 19:32; Jeremiah 22:18; Jeremiah 27:19, or לְ Genesis 20:13 אִמְרִי לִי say of me, etc. Deuteronomy 33:9; Judges 9:54; Isaiah 5:20; Psalm 3:3; Psalm 71:10, very rarely by a simple accusative Isaiah 3:10 (where read probably for אִמְרוּ, אַשְׁרֵי), except after אֲשֶׁר where the words used follow (compare אֲשֶׁר 4d) Genesis 3:17; Numbers 10:29; Numbers 14:31; Deuteronomy 28:68; Judges 7:4; 1 Samuel 9:17,23b 1 Kings 8:29; Lamentations 4:20; compare Numbers 21:16; 2 Kings 17:12; 2 Kings 21:4, & (two extreme cases) Isaiah 8:12; Lamentations 2:15 (see Dr Sm i. 24, 5); הָאָמֻר Micah 2:7 read infinitive absolute with ה interrogative הֵאָמֹר (see above) shall one say? shall it be said? After another verb of saying, introducing thing said: Deuteronomy 21:7; Deuteronomy 25:9; Deuteronomy 27:15; Song of Solomon 2:10 +, even after אָמַר Genesis 22:7; Leviticus 21:1; Jeremiah 34:2; Esther 7:5 +; especially infinitive לֵאמֹר, after דָּבַר Genesis 8:15, צָוָה Genesis 2:16, עָנָה Genesis 44:16, בָּרַךְ Genesis 1:22, נָשַׁבַע Genesis 24:7, נָּדַר Genesis 28:20, etc.; after אָמַר 2 Samuel 3:18; 1 Kings 12:23; Ruth 4:4; 1 Chronicles 21:18 +; after שָׁלַח 2 Chronicles 35:21, שׁוּב Genesis 32:7; compare also Genesis 28:6; Exodus 5:13; Exodus 9:5; Exodus 13:8; Exodus 17:4; Numbers 11:20; Deuteronomy 1:28; Deuteronomy 13:7; Judges 8:15; 1 Samuel 23:2; 1 Kings 13:3; Jeremiah 32:3; Jeremiah 37:9 +; also when subject of לֵאמֹר differs from that of preceding clause Genesis 31:1; Genesis 38:13,24 etc.; after שָׁמַע Isaiah 37:9 = 2 Kings 19:9.
1. Say in the heart (= think)
- בְּלֵב כֹּה אָמַר Deuteronomy 8:17 compare 1 Kings 12:26; Psalm 10:6; Psalm 10:11; Psalm 10:13; Psalm 14:1; Psalm 35:25; Isaiah 14:13; Isaiah 47:8,10; Isaiah 49:21; Ecclesiastes 2:1,15; Ecclesiastes 3:17,18; לִלְבָבוֹ כֹּה אָמַר Hosea 7:2; אֵל לִבּוֹ כֹּה אָמַר Genesis 8:21 said unto his heart (to himself), subject כֹּה יְהוָה, compare 1 Samuel 27:1; אָמְרָה נַפְשִׁי Lamentations 3:24; thence כֹּה אָמַר alone Genesis 20:11; Genesis 26:9; Numbers 24:11; Ruth 4:4; 1 Samuel 20:26; 2 Samuel 5:6; 2 Kings 5:11; followed by clause with כִּי Judges 15:2; in particular = desire מַה תֹּאמַר נַפְשֶׁךָ 1 Samuel 20:4 compare Esther 2:13; followed by infinitive = purpose, Exodus 2:14 thinkest thou to kill me, as thou killedst the Egyptian? Joshua 22:33; 1 Samuel 30:6; 1 Kings 5:19; 2 Chronicles 28:10,13; expect 2 Samuel 21:16 he expected to slay David 2 Chronicles 13:8; 2 Chronicles 32:1.
2. Promise
- (followed by infinitive) 1 Chronicles 27:23; 2 Chronicles 21:7; Esther 4:7; (idem + לְ of person) 2 Kings 8:19; Nehemiah 9:15; (followed by accusative of direct object + לְ of person + infinitive of purpose) Nehemiah 9:23.
3. Command
- (especially late) followed by אֵל of person addressed, Numbers 15:38; 1 Chronicles 21:18; followed by לְ Joshua 11:9; 2 Samuel 16:11; 2 Kings 4:24; Job 9:7; Psalm 106:34 (see below אֲשֶׁר 8e); followed by infinitive 1 Samuel 24:11; 1 Chronicles 21:17; 2 Chronicles 1:18; 2 Chronicles 29:27,30; 2 Chronicles 31:11; Esther 1:17; Esther 4:13,15; Esther 6:1; followed by infinitive + לְ of pers, 2 Chronicles 14:3; 2 Chronicles 29:21; 2 Chronicles 31:4; Esther 1:10; followed by accusative direct object 2 Chronicles 29:24 the king commanded the burnt-offering and the sin-offering, compare 1 Kings 5:20; Esther 2:15; followed by clause with אֲשֶׁר = that Nehemiah 13:19; idem + לְ of person Nehemiah 13:22; followed by clause with כִּי Job 36:10; absolute 1 Samuel 16:16 (read however probably יֹאמְרוּ for יֹאמַר, compare Dr); also Psalm 105:31; Psalm 105:34; Psalm 107:25; 1 Chronicles 14:12; 2 Chronicles 24:8; Nehemiah 13:9,19 (all followed by verb consecutive); command by letter עִם הַסֵּפֶר כֹּה אָמַר Esther 9:25 (followed by imperfect); appoint, assign לוֹ לְלֶחֶם כֹּה אָמַר 1 Kings 11:18 = threaten followed by infinitive Deuteronomy 9:25; Psalm 106:23.
Niphal
Perfect נֶאֱמַר Daniel 8:26; Imperfect יֵאָמֵר Genesis 22:14 +; יֵאָמַר לוֹ Isaiah 4:3; יֵאָמַר Genesis 10:9 +; וַיֵּאָמַר Joshua 2:2; be said, told Genesis 10:9; Genesis 22:14; Psalm 87:5; Jeremiah 4:11; Jeremiah 16:14 (all absolute, indefinite subject, of current saying); so said in a book Numbers 21:14; be related, told, of vision Daniel 8:26; said, told to (followed by לְ indirect object) Joshua 2:2; Hosea 2:1 (twice in verse); Zephaniah 3:16; either so, or told concerning Numbers 23:23; Ezekiel 13:12 (אֵל); יֵאָמֵר לָכֶם = ye shall be called (it shall be said to you) Isaiah 61:6 ("" תִּקָּרְאוּ לָכֶם), compare Isaiah 4:3; Isaiah 19:18; Isaiah 32:5 ("" יִקָּרֵא לְ) Isaiah 62:4 (twice in verse); hence be called, of Tophet לֹא יֵאָמֵר עוֹד הַתֹּפֶת Jeremiah 7:32; subject שֵׁם Genesis 32:29; Job 34:31 כִּי אֵל אֵל יֵאָמֵר, Rabb (compare AV) treat יֵאָמֵר as Niph`al Infinitive for לֵאָמֵר, but against grammar; the form as it stands is Qal Perfect, אֵל אֵל being prefixed to the interrogative for emphasis (compare Jeremiah 22:15; Jeremiah 23:26; Nehemiah 13:27), see Dr § 9 Di and others; Hoffm., however, reads יֵאָמֵר infinitive absolute = imperative 'so must one speak (it be spoken) to God.'
Hiphil
Perfect הֵאֱמִיר Deuteronomy 26:17 הֵאֱמַרְתָּ הַיּוֹם לִהְיוֹת לְךָ לֵאלֹהִים; Deuteronomy 26:18 הֵאֱמִיר יְהוָה הַיּוֹם לִהְיוֹת לוֹ לְעַם (literally cause to declare, i.e. through agency of Moses; on this & other interpretations see Di).
Hithpael
Imperfect יִתְאַמֵּר Psalm 94:4 subject כָּל מְעֹלֵל אָוֶן act proudly, boast ("" יַבִּיעוּ יְדַבְּרוּ עָתָק probably also 2 masculine plural תִּתְאַמֵּרוּ Isaiah 61:6 (in good sense, followed by בְּ of thing gloried in) Ges Comm. so De Che Kö i. 457 f. (from [ יָמַר ] exchange Thes Hi Kn Ew Di; but see יָמַר, מוֹר).
1 [] Indicates that the form enclosed is not actually found (assumed/reconstructed) or that the Hebrew offers no positive proof (e.g., gender).
2 √ Root or stem.
3 || Parallel of words (synonymous or contrasted); also of passages; sometimes 'see parallel' or 'so also in parallel'.
4 = Equivalent / equals.
5 + Prefixed or added, indicates 'All passages cited'. Also used as 'plus', denoting often that other passages might be cited.
6 J Jehovist (Yahwist) Source.
7 ? Sign of doubt.
8 t. times (following a number).
9 * Assumed form (not actually found).
10 ° Additions / glosses.
11 Gesenius' Hebrew Grammar, ed. E. Kautzsch, trans. A. E. Cowley, 2nd English ed., Oxford, 1910 (GKC).
12 Mordtmann ZMG 1876, 37.
13 Dl Pr 28.
14 Ew § 328 d.
15 Kö i. p. 385.
16 Dr Expositor, April, 1887, 263.
17 Dr Sm i. 24, 5.
18 Vrss Versions.
19 Di Dillmann.
20 Hup Hupfeld.
21 Pe Perowne.
22 Dy Delitzsch.
23 Che Cheyne.
24 AV Authorized Version.
25 Rabb Rabbinic.
26 Dr § 9.
27 Hoffm Hoffmann.
28 Ges Gesenius.
29 De Delitzsch.
30 Kö König.
31 Thes Thesaurus.
32 Hi Hitzig.
33 Kn Knobel.
34 Ew Ewald.
- Definition
- near, with or among; often in general, to
- Root
- (but only used in the shortened constructive form אל ); a primitive particle; properly, denoting motion towards, but occasionally used of a quiescent position, i.e.
- Exhaustive
- (but only used in the shortened constructive form אל ); a primitive particle; properly, denoting motion towards, but occasionally used of a quiescent position, i.e.; near, with or among; often in general, to; about, according to, after, against, among, as for, at, because(-fore, -side), both...and, by, concerning, for, from, [idiom] hath, in(-to), near, (out) of, over, through, to(-ward), under, unto, upon, whether, with(-in).
אֵל (nearly always followed by maqqeph), in poetry אֱלֵי (compare עֲלֵי, עֲדֵי), but only in Job (1 Samuel 3:22; 1 Samuel 5:26; 1 Samuel 15:22; 1 Samuel 29:19), with suffix אֱלַי, אֵלֶיךָ, אֱלֶיךְ, etc. אֱלֵינוּ, אֲלֵיכֶם & (5 times) אֲלֵכֶם, אֲלֵיהֶם & אֲלֵהֶם (both very often); once אֱלֵימוֹ Psalm 2:5, אֲלֵיהֶן, once אֲלֵהֶן Exodus 1:19 (Assyrian ilî, Arabic عربي), preposition denoting motion to or direction towards (whether physical or mental).
Cognates:
- Assyrian ilî
- Arabic عربي
1. Motion to or unto a person or place
- Genesis 2:19, Genesis 2:22; Genesis 3:19; Genesis 8:9; Genesis 14:22; Genesis 16:9 etc.
- After every kind of verb expressing motion (בּוֹא, הָלַךְ, יָצָא etc.) So with נָתַן to give (though לְ is here more common) Genesis 21:14; Genesis 35:4; Deuteronomy 13:2 +; מָכַר to sell Deuteronomy 37:36, etc.
- Metaphorical Jeremiah 2:19 וְלֹא פַּחַדְתִּי אֵלֶיךָ and that my fear (cometh) not unto thee (compare Job 31:23).
- Peculiarly Genesis 6:16 אֵל אַמָּה unto the length of a cubit, etc.
- And metaphor in the phrase אֵל (אֱלֵי) גִּיל unto exultation Hosea 9:11; Job 3:22.
- Once, exceptionally (si vera 1.) = even: Job 5:5 וְאֵל מִצִּגִּים יִקָּחֶהָ and even out of thorns he taketh it.
- Sometimes pregnant, as Isaiah 66:17; Jeremiah 41:7 זָנָה אֵל commit whoredom (by going) to Numbers 25:1; Ezekiel 16:26, Ezekiel 16:28, Ezekiel 16:29; דָּרַשׁ אֵל seek (by resorting) to Deuteronomy 18:11; Isaiah 8:19; Isaiah 11:10 +; חָבַר אֵל join together (& come) unto Genesis 14:3; הִשְׁכִּימוּ אֵל rise early (and go) to Genesis 19:27; Genesis 24:11 הִבְרִיךְ אֵל made to kneel down at; Genesis 47:18 תַּם אֵל i.e. has been made over to; מָחַד אֵל to come in fear to Hosea 3:5; Micah 7:17.
- Opposite is מִן, as מִן הַקָּצֶה אֵל הַקָּצֶה from end to end Exodus 26:28; מֵה אֵל מֵה Ezra 9:11 (synonym 2 Kings 21:16 מֵה לָפֶה).
- And of time (rare) מֵעֵת אֵל עֵת 1 Chronicles 9:25; מִיּוֹם אֵל יוֹם Numbers 30:15 (P) 1 Chronicles 16:23 (in the Psalm 96:2 מִיּוֹם לְיוֹם).
2. Where the limit is actually entered, into
- Genesis 6:18 and thou shalt enter into the ark Genesis 7:1; Genesis 19:3; Genesis 41:21; Genesis 42:17; & so after verbs of throwing, casting, putting Genesis 37:22 (הִשְׁלִיכוּ) Genesis 39:20 וַיִּתְּנֵהוּ אֵל בֵּית הַסֹּהַר put him into the prison house, Exodus 28:30 (Leviticus 8:8) Deuteronomy 23:25; so after קָבַר to bury Genesis 23:19; Genesis 25:9; Genesis 49:29; שָׁחַט to squeeze Genesis 40:11; מָחָה to blot out Numbers 5:23, etc.; metaphor Genesis 6:6 was pained into or unto his heart, שָׁם אֵל לֵב, הָשִׁיב to place, bring into ( = lay to ) heart Deuteronomy 4:39; 2 Samuel 19:20 and elsewhere In connection with a number or multitude into which something enters, in among: 1 Samuel 10:22 behold he had hid himself אֵל הַכְּלִים in among the baggage, Jeremiah 4:3 sow not אֵל קֹצִים in among thorns.
3. Of direction towards anything
- (a) Of physical acts or states, as Genesis 30:40 נָתַן מִנִּי הַצֹּאן אֵל, Genesis 39:7 נָשָׂא עֵינָיו אֵל, Exodus 25:20; Numbers 6:26, נָשָׂא פָּנָיו אֵל (2 Kings 9:32 differently), 2 Kings 24:1 שָׁת מִנִּיו אֵל, Joshua 8:18; Psalm 28:2; 1 Kings 8:29, 1 Kings 8:30 (to pray towards) 1 Kings 8:38; pregnantly חָרַד אֵל to tremble (turning) to Genesis 42:28, תָּמַהּ אֵל to wonder (turning) towards Genesis 43:33; Isaiah 13:8, מָחַד אֵל Jeremiah 36:16: without a verb מֵנִּים אֵל מֵנִּים face to face Genesis 32:31 +; מֵה אֵל מֵה Numbers 12:8; כִּאֲיִנֵּנוּ אֵלֶיךָ the face of Laban, that he is not toward me; כָּלוּ אֲלֵיהֶם failing (with longing) towards them, Lamentations 4:17; Isaiah 63:15; 2 Samuel 3:8; 1 Kings 14:13; Psalm 40:6; alone, as predicate, directed or disposed towards, Genesis 3:16; Genesis 4:7; 2 Kings 6:11 who of ours is towards (i.e. favours) the king of Syria? Hosea 3:3 וְגַם אֲנִי אֵלֶיךָ Ezekiel 36:9; Haggai 2:17; Jeremiah 15:1 (אֵין נַפְשִׁי אֵל).
- (b) With words such as אָמַר to say to Genesis 3:1 + often, דִּבֵּר Genesis 8:15 + often, קָרָא Genesis 19:5, הִגִּיד Genesis 20:17 etc., שָׁמַע to hearken to Genesis 16:11, הִלֵּל to praise to Genesis 12:15 (compare Ezekiel 13:19 חִלֵּל אֵל to profane to), הִזְכִּיר Ezekiel 40:14.
- (c) With words expressing the direction of the mind, as קָוָה to wait Psalm 27:14 +; יָחַל to hope Isaiah 51:5; נָשָׂא נֶפֶשׁ אֵל to lift up the soul (i.e. set the desire) towards Deuteronomy 24:15; Psalm 25:1; שָׁם לֵב אֵל, שִׁית to set the heart (mind) to Exodus 9:21 and elsewhere; לָמַד אֵל to accustom oneself to Jeremiah 10:2; חָרַד אֵל to shew fear towards 2 Kings 4:13; Genesis 43:30; Deuteronomy 28:32 and thy eyes כָּלוּ אֲלֵיהֶם failing (with longing) towards them, Lamentations 4:17; Isaiah 63:15; 2 Samuel 3:8; 1 Kings 14:13; Psalm 40:6; alone, as predicate, directed or disposed towards, Genesis 3:16; Genesis 4:7; 2 Kings 6:11 who of ours is towards (i.e. favours) the king of Syria? Hosea 3:3 וְגַם אֲנִי אֵלֶיךָ Ezekiel 36:9; Haggai 2:17; Jeremiah 15:1 (אֵין נַפְשִׁי אֵל).
4. Where the motion or direction implied appears from the context to be of a hostile character, against
- Genesis 4:8 אֵל הֶבֶל and Cain rose up against Abel (so 1 Samuel 24:8) 1 Samuel 22:12; Exodus 14:5; Numbers 32:14; with נִקַּם Joshua 10:6, הָלַךְ Judges 1:10; Judges 20:30; with בָּא of calamity, etc., coming to or upon any one Genesis 42:21; Judges 9:57; 1 Samuel 2:34; 1 Kings 14:10 +; Isaiah 2:4; Isaiah 3:8 their tongue and doings are אֵלִי Isaiah 32:6 (לְדַבֵּר אֵל) Hosea 7:15 (compare Nahum 1:9) Hosea 12:5 וַיָּשַׁר אֵל מַלְאָךְ and he strove against the angel. Here also belongs in particular the phrase הִנְנִי אֵל Behold I am against (thee, you, etc.) Nahum 2:14; Nahum 3:5; Jeremiah 21:13 (Jeremiah 23:30-32 עַל) Jeremiah 50:31; Jeremiah 51:25; Ezekiel 13:8, Ezekiel 13:20; Ezekiel 21:8; Ezekiel 29:10; Ezekiel 30:22; Ezekiel 34:10; Ezekiel 35:3; Ezekiel 38:3; Ezekiel 39:1 (Ezekiel 5:8; Ezekiel 26:3; Ezekiel 28:22; Ezekiel 29:3 עַל: on Ezekiel 36:9 see above)
5. Unto sometimes acquires from the context the sense of in addition to
- As Leviticus 18:18 thou shalt not take אִשָּׁה אֵל אֲחֹתָהּ a woman to, in addition to, her sister, Joshua 13:22 (Numbers 31:8 עַל); 1 Samuel 14:34 at eat אֵל הַחֹם together with the blood (1 Samuel 14:32 & Generally עַל); 1 Kings 10:7 הוֹסַף אֵל (generally עַל); Jeremiah 25:26; Ezekiel 7:26 שְׁמֻעָה אֵל שְׁמֻעָה (עַל); Ezekiel 44:7; Lamentations 3:41 let us lift up לְבָבֵנוּ אֵל כַּפֵּינוּ our hearts together with the hands (compare Arabic عربي, Qor 4:2; W AG ii. § 51 c).
6. Metaphor in regard to, concerning, on account of
- Thus הִתְאַבֵּל אֵל to mourn concerning 1 Samuel 15:35; הִנָּחֵם אֵל to repent as regards 2 Samuel 24:16; הִתְפַּלֵּל אֵל to pray with regard to 1 Samuel 1:27; 2 Kings 19:20; צָעַק אֵל to cry 2 Kings 8:3 (2 Kings 8:5 עַל); נֶעֱצַב אֵל be pained 1 Samuel 20:34; נִחַם אֵל to comfort 2 Samuel 10:2; more Generally 1 Kings 16:13; 1 Kings 21:22; אֵל נֶפֶשׁ on account of, for the sake of, one's life 1 Kings 19:3; 2 Kings 7:7 (Genesis 19:17 עַל). (עַל is more common in this sense.) And specially with verbs of saying, narrating, telling, etc. with regard to, as אָמַר אֵל Genesis 20:2; Isaiah 29:22; Isaiah 37:21, Isaiah 37:33 +; דִּבֵּר אֵל 2 Samuel 7:19; Jeremiah 40:16 b; סִמֵּר אֵל Psalm 2:7; Psalm 69:27; צָוָה אֵל Isaiah 23:11; שָׁמַע אֵל Ezekiel 19:4; הַשְׁמֻעָה אֵל the report regarding . . . 1 Samuel 4:19. (Not frequently, ext. in the case of אָמַר.)
7. Of rule or standard, according to (rare)
- אֵל מִצְוָה according to the command of, Joshua 15:13; Joshua 17:4; Joshua 21:3 (generally עַל מִצְוָה); אֵל נָבוֹן according to what is fixed = of a certainty 1 Samuel 23:23; 1 Samuel 26:4 (see Dr); perhaps Psalm 5:1; Psalm 80:1 (Psalm 45:1 עַל).
8. Expressing presence at a spot, against; at, by
- Not merely after verbs expressing or implying motion (compare 1), as Joshua 11:5 and they came and encamped together אֵל מֵי מְרוֹם at the waters of Merom, 1 Samuel 5:4 cut off (and fallen) on to the threshold, 2 Samuel 2:23 and elsewhere and smote him אֵל הַחֹמֶשׁ in or on the belly, Deuteronomy 33:28; Exodus 29:12; Leviticus 4:7; but also in other cases, as Joshua 5:3 and he circumcised the Israelites אֵל גִּבְעַת הָעֲרָלִים at the hill of the foreskins, Joshua 22:11 have built an altar אֵל גְּלִילוֹת הַיַּרְדֵּן by the districts of Jordan, Judges 12:6; 2 Samuel 3:32, 2 Samuel 14:30 & 2 Samuel 18:4 אֵל יַד at the side of (elsewhere לְיַד, עַל יַד), 1 Kings 13:20 as they were sitting אֵל הַשֻּׁלְחָן at the table, 2 Kings 11:14 אֵל הַמֶּלֶךְ by the king, Jeremiah 41:12 and found him by the great waters, etc., Jeremiah 46:10 אֵל נְהַר מְרָתַיִם by the Euphrates, Ezekiel 3:15; Ezekiel 11:11; Ezekiel 17:8; Ezekiel 31:7; Ezekiel 40:18; Ezekiel 43:3; Ezekiel 47:7; Ezekiel 48:12.
9. Prefixed to other preps. it combines with them the idea of motion or direction to
- Thus אֵל אַחֲרֵי 2 Samuel 5:23; 2 Kings 9:18, 2 Kings 9:19 סֹב אֵל אַחֲרֵי turn to behind me, Zechariah 6:5 (where אֵל is pleonastic, probably due to clerical error; note יָצָא אֵל before & after); אֵל בֵּין in between Ezekiel 31:10, Ezekiel 31:14; אֱל בֵּינֹת similarly Ezekiel 10:2; אֵל בֵּית to (the part) within (see below בַּיִת), in within Leviticus 16:15; 2 Kings 11:15 have her forth in within the ranks; אֵל מוּל see מוּל; אֵל מִנֶּגֶב to the south of Joshua 15:3; אֵל מִחוּץ to the outside of Leviticus 4:12, Leviticus 4:21 +; אֵל נֹכַח to the front of Numbers 19:4; אֵל תַּחַת Judges 6:19; 1 Kings 8:6 and elsewhere (see below תַּחַת).
Note I. — In Genesis 20:13 אֵל כָּל הַמָּקוֹם אֲשֶׁר נָבוֹא שָׁמָּה וְג׳; Numbers 33:54 אֵל אֲשֶׁר וְג׳; Proverbs 17:8 (compare Deuteronomy 16:6); — אֵל appears to be used by a species of attraction; the idea of motion involved in the relative clause influencing illogically the beginning of the sentence and causing אֵל to be used instead of בְּ. In Deuteronomy 31:14 אֱלֵיהֶם, as pointed, can only be from אֵל III or IV (q. v.); if the word be taken as the Pronoun with suffix (Hi Ke), אֲלֵיהֶם must be read.
Note 2. — There is a tendency in Hebrew, especially manifest in Samuel Kings Jeremiah Ezekiel, to use אֵל in the sense of עַל; sometimes אֵל being used exceptionally in a phrase or construction which regularly, and in accusative with analogy, has עַל; sometimes, the two prepositions interchanging, apparently without discrimination, in the same or parallel sentences. Thus (a) Joshua 5:14 וַיִּמָּל אֵל מָנָיִו; 1 Samuel 13:13 אַתְּמַמְלֵאתָּ אֵלִי שְׂרָאֵל; 1 Samuel 14:34 (see below 5); 1 Samuel 17:3 עֹמְדִים אֵל הָהָר (contracted עַל הָהָר Deuteronomy 11:29); Deuteronomy 19:16; 2 Samuel 6:3; 2 Samuel 20:23 (contracted 2 Samuel 8:16) 1 Kings 13:29; 1 Kings 18:46 (contracted 2 Kings 3:15 עַל) Jeremiah 35:15; Ezekiel 7:18. (b) Judges 6:37 and upon (עַל) all the earth let there be dryness, Judges 6:39 let there be dryness on (אֵל) the fleece; 1 Samuel 14:10 come up עָלֵינוּ, 1 Samuel 14:12 come up אֱלֵינוּ; 1 Samuel 16:23 & 1 Samuel 16:16 & 1 Samuel 18:10 צָלַח אֵל, 1 Samuel 10:6 and elsewhere צָלַח עַל; 1 Samuel 25:17 evil is determined אֵל אֲדֹנִינוּ וְעַל כָּל בֵּיתוֹ; 1 Samuel 25:25; 1 Samuel 27:10; 2 Samuel 2:9 וַיַּמְלֵךְ אֵל וְג׳ אֵל וְג׳ אֵל וְג׳ עַל וְג׳ עַל וְג׳ עַל וְג׳; 2 Samuel 3:29 יָחֻל עַל וְאֵל; 2 Kings 8:3 & 2 Kings 8:5; Jeremiah 19:15; Jeremiah 25:2; Jeremiah 26:15 ye lay innocent blood עֲלֵיכֶם וְאֵל הָעִיר הַזֹּאת; Jeremiah 27:19; Jeremiah 28:8; Jeremiah 33:14; Jeremiah 34:7; Jeremiah 36:31; Jeremiah 37:13, Jeremiah 37:14; Ezekiel 18:6, Ezekiel 18:11 & Ezekiel 18:15; Ezekiel 21:12 etc. Psalm 79:6 (Jeremiah 10:25 עַל twice). It is probably that this interchange, at least in many cases, is not original, but due to transcribers. Conversely, though not with the same frequency, עַל occurs where analogy would lead us to expect אֵל, or even in juxtaposition with אֵל, as 1 Samuel 1:10 הִתְפַּלֵּל עַל to pray to (1 Samuel 1:26 אֵל); 1 Samuel 1:13; 1 Samuel 25:25 אֵל עַל; 1 Kings 20:43 וַיֵּלֶךְ עַל בֵּיתוֹ (1 Kings 21:4 אֵל); Isaiah 22:15; Jeremiah 11:2; Jeremiah 23:35; Jeremiah 31:12. compare Dr Sm i. 13, 13; ii. 8, 7; 15, 4.
1 If the word be taken as the Pronoun with suffix (Hi Ke), אֲלֵיהֶם must be read.
2 There is a tendency in Hebrew, especially manifest in Samuel Kings Jeremiah Ezekiel, to use אֵל in the sense of עַל; sometimes אֵל being used exceptionally in a phrase or construction which regularly, and in accusative with analogy, has עַל; sometimes, the two prepositions interchanging, apparently without discrimination, in the same or parallel sentences.
3 It is probably that this interchange, at least in many cases, is not original, but due to transcribers.
4 Conversely, though not with the same frequency, עַל occurs where analogy would lead us to expect אֵל, or even in juxtaposition with אֵל.
5 Compare Driver, Samuel, i. 13, 13; ii. 8, 7; 15, 4.
- Definition
- Elijah, the name of the famous prophet and of two other Israelites
- Root
- or prolonged אליהו; from H410 (אל) and H3050 (יה); God of Jehovah;
- Exhaustive
- or prolonged אליהו; from אל and יה; God of Jehovah; Elijah, the name of the famous prophet and of two other Israelites; Elijah, Eliah.
אֱלִיָּה 2 Kings 1:3 (4 times); אֱלִיָּהוּ 1 Kings 17:1 (62 times); proper name, masculine (Yah(u) is God, compare יוֹאֵל).
- Elijah, the great prophet of the reign of Ahab:
- 1 Kings 17:1 (65 times in Kings)
- 2 Chronicles 21:12
- Malachi 3:23
- Elijah, a Benjamite:
- Elijah, a priest of Ezra's time:
- Elijah, a son of Elam:
- Definition
- properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and even relatively, that which); often used with prefixes in various adverbial or conjunctive senses
- Root
- or מה; or מ; or מ; also מה; a primitive particle;
- Exhaustive
- or מה; or מ; or מ; also מה; a primitive particle; properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and even relatively, that which); often used with prefixes in various adverbial or conjunctive senses; how (long, oft, (-soever)), (no-) thing, what (end, good, purpose, thing), whereby(-fore, -in, -to, -with), (for) why.
I. מָה (rarely מָהֿ, מַהֿ, מַהּ, מֶה, מַּ, מָ; see GKC1 §37) pronoun interrogative and indefinite — what? how? aught.
Cognates:
- Aramaic מָא
- Arabic ما
- Assyrian minû
- Ethiopic ment
1. Interrogative what?
a. In a direct question, before either verbs or nouns- Genesis 4:10 מֶה עשׂית what hast thou done?
- Genesis 15:2 מה־תתן־לי what wilt thou give me?
- Exodus 3:13 מַה־שְּׁמוֺ
- Zechariah 1:9 מה אלה
- Haggai 2:3 = as what? (qualem?)
- (a) followed by substantive in apposition: Genesis 37:26 מַה־בֶּצַע what profit?
- (b) מַה־זֶּה what now? 1 Samuel 10:11; Genesis 3:13 מַה־זּאֹת עָשִׂיתָ
- (c) לְּךָ מַהֿ what to thee? (what aileth thee?): Genesis 21:17 מַה־לָּךְ הָגָר
- Genesis 2:19 to see מה־יקרא־לו what he would call it
- Exodus 2:4 לדעת מה־יֵּעָשֶׂה לו
- Micah 6:5, Micah 6:8 (approximating relative)
- Genesis 23:15 מה היא what is it? (i.e., insignificant)
- Psalm 8:5 מָה אנושׁ כי תזכרנו what is man that thou rememberest him?
- (c) formula of repudiation: Judges 11:12 מַה־לִּי וָלָךְ what have I to do with thee?
- Judges 9:48 מה ראיתם עשׂיתי whatever ye see me do
- Ecclesiastes 1:9 מַה־שֶּׁהָיָה (late idiom)
2. Used adverbially
a. As an interrogative (how? why?)- Genesis 44:16 מַה־נִּצְטַדָּ֑ק how shall we justify ourselves?
- Exodus 14:15 אֵלַי מַה תִּצְעַק why criest thou unto me?
3. Indefinite pronoun anything, aught
4. With prepositions
a. בַּמָּה, בַּמֶּה wherein? whereby? b. יַעַן מֶה because of what?- Haggai 1:9
1 Gesenius' Hebrew Grammar, ed. E. Kautzsch, trans. A. E. Cowley, 2nd English ed., Oxford, 1910 (GKC).
- Definition
- to, for
- Root
- A primitive particle; a prefix
- Exhaustive
- (lamed) — to / toward / for
Core value: orientation, directionality, belonging
ל is often mistranslated as purpose (“in order to”), but that smuggles in future-time. In reality, ל marks:
- movement toward,
- dedication unto,
- reference with respect to.
Aonically, ל is vectorial, not teleological.
not “for the sake of a future outcome”
but “oriented toward a locus or pole.”
This is why possession (“belongs to”) and motion (“toward”) use the same preposition: both indicate relational alignment, not time.
- Definition
- me, personal pronoun - verb/prep. suffix: 1st person common singular
- Root
- Exhaustive
- Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 1st person singular
- Definition
- and
- Root
- From H8505; a prefix
- Exhaustive
The conjunctive ו is not merely a fixed coordinator with a stable semantic value (“and/but/or/then”). Its core function is linkage, not meaning. It binds units into a single discourse field—phrases, clauses, or whole scenes—while leaving the logical relation to be inferred from aspect, word order, genre, and context.
So the variability in translation (“and / but / or / even / then”) is not polyvalence in the particle; it is underspecification by design. The language expects the reader/hearer to perceive the relation rather than have it encoded.
Crucially, conjunctive ו does not imply temporal sequence. It implies continuity of attention. Think of it as:
- “this belongs with what precedes,”
- “remain within the same frame,”
“do not reset the discourse.”
This is why Hebrew can chain dozens of clauses with ו without subordination or explicit logic markers. The text advances by accumulation, not by branching syntactic trees. Meaning arises from the interaction:
- Aspect (qatal / yiqtol / participle),
- Position (fronted elements, resumptive nouns),
- Genre (law, narrative, oracle),
- Context (who speaks, to whom).
The ו simply keeps the circuit closed so these cues can operate together. Remove tense assumptions, and the system becomes coherent.
- Definition
- to, for
- Root
- A primitive particle; a prefix
- Exhaustive
- (lamed) — to / toward / for
Core value: orientation, directionality, belonging
ל is often mistranslated as purpose (“in order to”), but that smuggles in future-time. In reality, ל marks:
- movement toward,
- dedication unto,
- reference with respect to.
Aonically, ל is vectorial, not teleological.
not “for the sake of a future outcome”
but “oriented toward a locus or pole.”
This is why possession (“belongs to”) and motion (“toward”) use the same preposition: both indicate relational alignment, not time.
- Definition
- you, personal pronoun - verb/prep. 2nd person feminine singular
- Root
- Exhaustive
- Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 2nd person feminine singular
- Definition
- a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
- Root
- contracted for H582 (אנוש) (or perhaps rather from an unused root meaning to be extant);
- Exhaustive
- contracted for אנוש (or perhaps rather from an unused root meaning to be extant); a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation); also, another, any (man), a certain, [phrase] champion, consent, each, every (one), fellow, (foot-, husband-) man, (good-, great, mighty) man, he, high (degree), him (that is), husband, man(-kind), [phrase] none, one, people, person, [phrase] steward, what (man) soever, whoso(-ever), worthy. Compare אשה.
אִישׁ (approximate number of occurrences: 2166) noun masculine — man (= vir).
Cognates:
- Moabite Inscription (MI), Siloam Inscription (SI), Phoenician אש
- Perhaps also Sabean אסם (compare Prätorius, l.c., but D. H. Müller, Zeitschrift der Deutschen Morgenländischen Gesellschaft, 1883, 3301)
— אִישׁ absolute Genesis 2:23 +; construct Genesis 25:27 +; suffix אִישִׁי Genesis 29:32 +, etc.; plural אִישִׁים Psalm 141:4 (2 times) (Phoenician אשם); usually אֲנָשִׁים Genesis 12:20 +, from √ אֱנֹשׁ q.v.; construct אַנְשֵׁי Judges 6:27 +; suffix אֲנָשֵׁי 1 Samuel 23:12 etc.
1. Meanings and Uses
a. Man opposed to woman- Genesis 2:23, 24
- Leviticus 20:27
- Numbers 5:6
- Deuteronomy 17:2 f
- Joshua 6:21
- Joshua 8:25
- Jeremiah 40:7
- Genesis 19:8
- Genesis 24:16
- Genesis 38:25
- Exodus 22:15
- Leviticus 15:16 (שִׁכְבַת זָרַע)
- Leviticus 15:18 (וְאִשָּׁה אֵת זֶרַע אִישׁ)
- Leviticus 20:10 f
- Numbers 5:13 f
- Deuteronomy 22:22 f
- Isaiah 4:1 +
- Especially with suffix: Genesis 3:6, 16
- Genesis 16:3
- Genesis 29:32, 34
- Leviticus 21:7
- Numbers 30:7 f
- Deuteronomy 28:56
- Judges 13:8 f
- Ruth 1:3 f
- 1 Samuel 25:19
- Jeremiah 29:6
- Ezekiel 16:45 +
- אִישִׁי Hosea 2:18 (opposed to בַּעֲלִי)
- Ecclesiastes 6:3
- Of male child: Genesis 4:1 (compare זֶרַע אֲנָשִׁים 1 Samuel 1:11)
- Exodus 11:7
- Leviticus 20:15 (compare אָדָם)
- Figurative: Psalm 22:7
- Of male of animals: Genesis 7:2 (אִישׁ וְאִשְׁתּוֹ)
- Genesis 32:29
- Numbers 23:19 (לֹא אִישׁ אֵל וִיכַזֵּב)
- Job 9:32
- Job 32:13
- Hosea 11:9 (compare Isaiah 31:8)
- Job 12:10 (רוּחַ כָּל־בְּשַׂר אִישׁ)
- שֶׁבֶט אֲנָשִׁים 2 Samuel 7:14
- לֶחֶם אֲנָשִׁים Ezekiel 24:17, 222
- אֲמַת־אִישׁ Deuteronomy 3:11
- Contracted אָדָם Psalm 49:3; Psalm 62:10
- 1 Samuel 4:9 (וִהְיֻו לַאֲנָשִׁים)
- 1 Kings 2:2 (compare 1 Samuel 26:15)
- אִישׁ חַיִל 1 Samuel 31:12; 2 Samuel 24:9; 1 Kings 1:42 +
- אִישׁ מִלְחָמָה Numbers 31:49; Deuteronomy 2:14, 16; Joshua 5:4, 6 +
- Even of Yahweh: Exodus 15:3 (יְהוָה אִישׁ מִלְחָמָה)
- אָדוֹן אִישׁ Genesis 42:30, 33
- שַׂר וְשֹׁפֵט אִישׁ Exodus 2:14
- כֹּהֵן אִישׁ Leviticus 21:9
- סָרִיס אִישׁ Jeremiah 38:7
- אִישׁ מִצְרִי Genesis 39:1
- Exodus 2:11, 19 (compare Genesis 37:28)
- Genesis 38:1, 2
- Genesis 39:14
- 1 Samuel 17:12
- 1 Samuel 30:11, 13 +
- Numbers 25:6
- Judges 10:1 + (so Phoenician)
- Usually plural אַנְשֵׁי יִשְׂרָאֵל 1 Samuel 7:11; 1 Samuel 31:7 (twice in verse) (compare Joshua 7:4, 5 +)
- Also singular collective: Deuteronomy 27:14
- Joshua 9:6, 7
- Judges 20:11
- 1 Samuel 11:8 (see Driver) +
- 2 Samuel 10:6, 8 (טוֹב אִישׁ)
- (So Moabite Inscription 10; Moabite Inscription 13)
- 1 Samuel 18:27
- 1 Samuel 23:3
- 1 Samuel 24:3
- 1 Samuel 25:13
- Deuteronomy 33:8 (singular collective, see Dillmann)
- אִישׁ אֱלֹהִים Deuteronomy 33:1
- Joshua 14:6
- 1 Samuel 9:6 f
- 1 Kings 12:13 f + (see אֱלֹהִים)
- אִישׁ חַיִל, מִלְחָמָה אִישׁ (see above)
- שְׂעִיבָה אִישׁ Deuteronomy 32:25
- הַדָּמִים אִישׁ 2 Samuel 16:7
- הַבְּלִיעַל אִישׁ 2 Samuel 16:7
- מָוֶת אִישׁ 1 Kings 2:26
- חָמָס אִישׁ Psalm 140:12
- Proverbs 3:31 +
- שָׂדֶה אִישׁ Genesis 25:27
- הָאֲדָמָה אִישׁ Genesis 9:20 (compare Zechariah 13:5)
- אִישׁ הַבָּנִים champion 1 Samuel 17:4 (compare Driver) 23
- בְּשָׂרָה אִישׁ 2 Samuel 18:20
- אִישׁ עֲצָתוֹ his counsellor Isaiah 40:13
- Compare אִישׁ חֶרְמִי 1 Kings 20:42
- רֵעִים אִישׁ Proverbs 18:24
- Genesis 9:5
- Genesis 10:5
- Genesis 40:5 (twice in verse)
- Exodus 12:3 +
- Including women: Job 42:11
- 1 Chronicles 16:3 (וַיְחַלֵּק לְכָל־אִישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל מֵאִישׁ וְעַד אִשָּׁה לְכָל־כִּכַּר־לֶחֶם)
- Of inanimate things: 1 Kings 7:30, 36
- Also אִישׁ אִישׁ Exodus 36:4; Numbers 4:19, 49; Ezekiel 14:4, 7 +
- Any one: Exodus 34:3 (twice in verse); Exodus 34:24 +
- Also אִישׁ אִישׁ Leviticus 15:2; Leviticus 22:4, 18 +
- Of gods: 2 Kings 18:33 = Isaiah 36:18
- וְהִרְגוּ אִישׁ אֵת אָחִיו וְאִישׁ אֵת רֵעֵהוּ וְאִישׁ אֵת קְרֹבוֹ Exodus 32:27
- אִישׁ אָחִיו Deuteronomy 1:16
- Micah 7:2 (see אָח)
- אִישׁ רֵעֵהוּ Genesis 11:3, 7 + (see רֵעַ)
- Of inanimate things: Genesis 15:10
1 D. H. Müller, Zeitschrift der Deutschen Morgenländischen Gesellschaft, 1883, 330.
2 אֲנָשִׁים Ezekiel 24:17; Ezekiel 24:22 is textual error; Wellhausen (apparently Smend) אֲנֻשִׁים; Toy Haupt אוֹנִים (Hosea 9:4).
- Definition
- the
- Root
- Demonstrative primitive
- Exhaustive
- definite article, the, used for all numbers and genders; originally a pronoun demonstrative, this. interrogative particle in direct and indirect questions; in disjunctive questions: whether--or.
- Definition
- gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative
- Root
- plural of H433 (אלוה);
- Exhaustive
- plural of אלוה; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative; angels, [idiom] exceeding, God (gods) (-dess, -ly), [idiom] (very) great, judges, [idiom] mighty.
I. אֱלֹהִים (approximate number of occurrences: 2570) noun masculine plural (feminine 1 Kings 11:33; on number of occurrences of אֵל, אֱלוֹהַּ, אֱלֹהִים compare also Nes l. c.,) 1 plural in number.
- a. rulers, judges, either as divine representatives at sacred places or as reflecting divine majesty and power: הָאֱלֹהִים Exodus 21:6 (Targum of Onkelos1; but τὸ κριτήριον τοῦ θεοῦ LXX; but gods, LXX Vatican MS. of Septuagint Josephus Philo Authorized Version; God, Dillmann Revised Version; all Covenant code of Elohist) Exodus 22:7; Exodus 22:8; אֱלֹהִים Exodus 22:8; Exodus 22:27 (Targum of Onkelos1 Rashi2 Aben Ezra3 Ewald Revised Version margin; but gods, LXX Vatican MS. of Septuagint Josephus Philo Authorized Version; God, Dillmann Revised Version; all Covenant code of Elohist) compare 1 Samuel 2:25 see Driver; Judges 5:8 (Ewald, but gods LXX Vatican MS. of Septuagint; God LXX Alexandrine MS. of Septuagint Bar Hebraeus; יְהוָה LXX Lucianic recension of Septuagint Be) Psalm 82:1; Psalm 82:6 (Delitzsch Ewald Peake; but angels Bleek Hupfeld) Psalm 138:1 (LXX Vatican MS. of Septuagint LXX Alexandrine MS. of Septuagint Rabbinic Kimchi Delitzsch; but angels LXX Vatican MS. of Septuagint Calvin; God, Ewald; gods, Hupfeld Peake Cheyne).
- b. divine ones, superhuman beings including God and angels Psalm 8:6 (Delitzsch Cheyne Briggs; but angels LXX Vatican MS. of Septuagint LXX Alexandrine MS. of Septuagint LXX Lucianic recension of Septuagint Ewald; God, Revised Version and most moderns) Genesis 1:27 (if with Philo LXX Alexandrine MS. of Septuagint Jerome Delitzsch Cheyne we interpret נַעֲשָׂה as God's consultation with angels; compare Job 38:7).
- c. angels Psalm 97:7 (LXX Vatican MS. of Septuagint LXX Alexandrine MS. of Septuagint Calvin; but gods, Hupfeld Delitzsch Peake Cheyne); compare בְּנֵי (הָ)אֱלֹהִים = (the) sons of God, or sons of gods = angels Job 1:6; Job 2:1; Job 38:7; Genesis 6:2,4 (Jehovist; so LXX Vatican MS. of Septuagint Books of Enoch & Jubilees Philo Jude Jude 1:6 2 Peter 2:4 Jos Ant. i. 3. 1, most ancient fathers and modern critics; against usage are sons of princes, mighty men, Targum of Onkelos and Rabbinic; sons of God, the pious, Theodotion Chrysostom Jerome Augustine Luther Calvin Hengstenberg; LXX Vatican MS. of Septuagint L read οἱ υἱοὶ τοῦ θεοῦ), compare בְּנֵי אֵלִים.
- d. gods הָאֱלֹהִים Exodus 18:11; Exodus 22:19 (Elohist) 1 Samuel 4:8; 2 Chronicles 2:4; Psalm 86:8; אֱלֹהֵי הָאֱלֹהִים the God of gods, supreme God Deuteronomy 10:17; Psalm 136:2; אֱלֹהִים Exodus 32:1,23 (Jehovist Elohist) Judges 9:13; אֱלֹהִים אֲחֵרִים other gods Exodus 20:3; Exodus 23:13; Joshua 24:2,16 (Elohist) Deuteronomy 31:18,20 (Jehovist Elohist) Deuteronomy 5:7 + (17 times in Deuteronomy, not Priests' Code) Judges 2:12,17,19; Judges 10:13; 1 Samuel 8:8; 1 Samuel 26:19; 1 Kings 9:6,9 (= 2 Chronicles 7:19,22) 2 Chronicles 11:4,10; 2 Chronicles 14:9; 2 Kings 5:17; 2 Kings 17:35,37,38; 2 Kings 22:17 (= 2 Chronicles 34:25) 2 Chronicles 28:25; Jeremiah 1:16 + (18 times Jeremiah) Hosea 3:1; אֱלֹהֵי (הָ)נֵכָר foreign gods Genesis 35:2,4; Joshua 24:20,23 (Elohist) Deuteronomy 31:16 (Jehovist Elohist) Judges 10:16; 1 Samuel 7:3; 2 Chronicles 33:15; Jeremiah 5:19; נְחוּר אֵל Genesis 31:53 (Elohist); מִצְרַיִּם אֵל Exodus 12:12 (Priests' Code) Jeremiah 43:12,13; הָאֱמָרִים אֵל Joshua 24:15 (Elohist) Judges 6:10; אָרֶם אֵל etc. Judges 10:6; אֱלֹהִים מַעֲשֵׂה יָדֵי Deuteronomy 4:28; הַגּוֹיִם אֵל gods of the nations 2 Kings 18:33; 2 Kings 19:12; Deuteronomy 29:17; 2 Chronicles 32:17,19; Isaiah 36:18; Isaiah 37:12; הָעַמִּים אֵל Deuteronomy 6:14; Deuteronomy 13:8; Judges 2:12; Psalm 96:5; 1 Chronicles 5:25; 1 Chronicles 16:26; 2 Chronicles 32:13,14; כֶּסֶף אֵל Exodus 20:23 (Elohist); זָהָב אֵל Exodus 20:23 (Elohist) Exodus 32:31 (Jehovist Elohist); מַסֵּכָה אֵל Exodus 34:17 (Jehovist) Leviticus 19:4 (Holiness Code).
2 Plural intensive.
- a. god or goddess, always with suffix 1 Samuel 5:7 (Dagon), Judges 11:24 (Chemosh), 1 Kings 18:24 (Baal), Judges 9:27; Daniel 1:2 (twice in verse); or construct לַעַשְׁתֹּרֶת מְלֶכֶת צִדֹּנִים לְכְמוֹשׁ אֱלֹהֵי מוֹאָב to Ashtoreth goddess of the Zidonians, Chemosh god of Moab, etc. 1 Kings 11:33; הָאָרֶץ אֵל god of the land 2 Kings 17:26 (twice in verse); 2 Kings 17:27, and so the Syrians suppose that Yahweh is a mountain-god and not a god of valleys 1 Kings 20:28.
- b. godlike one Exodus 4:16 (Jehovist; Moses in relation to Aaron), Exodus 7:1 (Priests' Code; in relation to Pharaoh), 1 Samuel 28:13 (the shade of Samuel), Psalm 45:7 (the Messianic king, O God, LXX Vatican MS. of Septuagint LXX Alexandrine MS. of Septuagint Jerome, most scholars ancient and modern, but thy throne is God's = God's throne Aben Ezra Kimchi Theodoret Ewald Hupfeld, compare 1 Chronicles 28:5).
- c. works of God, or things specially belonging to him (see אֵל 5) הַר אֱלֹהִים Psalm 68:16; Ezekiel 28:14,16; אֵשׁ אֱלֹהִים Job 1:16; גַּן (הָ)אֱלֹהִים Ezekiel 28:13; Ezekiel 31:8,9.
- d. God (see 3 & 4).
3 הָאֱלֹהִים the (TRUE) God, הוּא הָאֱלֹהִים אֵל יַהְוֶה Yahweh is (the) God Deuteronomy 4:35,39; Deuteronomy 7:9; 1 Kings 8:60; 1 Kings 18:39 (twice in verse); 2 Chronicles 33:13; הוּא הָאֱלֹהִים Isaiah 45:18; הָאֱלֹהִים אֵל יַהְוֶה Joshua 22:34 (Priests' Code?) 1 Kings 18:21,24; 2 Chronicles 32:16; אַתָּה הוּא הָאֱלֹהִים 2 Samuel 7:28; 1 Kings 18:37; 2 Kings 19:15; 1 Chronicles 17:26; Isaiah 37:16; Nehemiah 9:7; אֲדֹנַי הָאֱלֹהִים Daniel 9:3; in many phrases, as אִישׁ הָאֱלֹהִים the man of God, acting under divine authority and influence: = (a) angel Judges 13:6,8, (b) prophet (the term coming into use in the Northern kingdom in the age of Elijah 1 Samuel 9:9-10, compare אִיִּשׁ הָרוּחַ Hosea 9:7): of Moses Deuteronomy 33:1; Joshua 14:6 (Elohist) 1 Chronicles 23:14; 2 Chronicles 30:16; Ezra 3:2; Psalm 90:1; of Samuel 1 Samuel 9:6-10; of David 2 Chronicles 8:14; Nehemiah 12:24,36; Shemaiah 1 Kings 12:22 (= 2 Chronicles 11:2); Elijah, Elisha, and others of their time 1 Kings 13:1-31; 1 Kings 17:18-24; 1 Kings 20:28; 2 Kings 1:9-13; 2 Kings 4:7-42; 2 Kings 5:8-20; 2 Kings 6:6-15; 2 Kings 7:2-9; 2 Kings 8:2-11; 2 Kings 13:19; 2 Kings 23:16-17 (Ephraim) 2 Chronicles 25:7,9; unnamed prophet 1 Samuel 2:27; Hanan Jeremiah 35:4; a later title of prophet was עֶבֶד הָאֱלֹהִים the servant of God, used of Moses 1 Chronicles 6:34; 2 Chronicles 24:9; Nehemiah 10:30; Daniel 9:11. בֵּית הָאֱלֹהִים the house of God, Judges 18:31, especially late, Chronicles (52 times) Ecclesiastes 4:17; Daniel 1:2; בֵּית יַהְוֶה הָאֱלֹהִים 1 Chronicles 22:1; אֲרוֹן (בְּרִית) הָאֱלֹהִים the ark (of the covenant) of God Judges 20:27; 1 Samuel 4:1-5:12; 1 Samuel 14; 2 Samuel 6:1-7:29; 15(23 times); 1 Chronicles 13; 1 Chronicles 15; 1 Chronicles 16; 2 Chronicles 1:4 (13 times); מַטֶּה הָאֱלֹהִים the rod of God Exodus 4:20; Exodus 17:9 (Elohist); הַר הָאֱלֹהִים the mount of God (Horeb) Exodus 3:1; Exodus 4:27; Exodus 18:5; Exodus 24:13 (Elohist) 1 Kings 19:8 (Ephraim); מַלְאַךְ הָאֱלֹהִים the (theophanic) angel of God Genesis 31:11; Exodus 14:19 (Elohist) Judges 6:20; Judges 13:6,9; 2 Samuel 14:17,20; 2 Samuel 19:28; in other combinations Exodus 18:16; Numbers 23:27 (Elohist) Judges 20:2; 1 Samuel 4:8; 1 Samuel 5:11; 1 Samuel 10:5; 2 Samuel 16:23; 1 Kings 12:22; 1 Chronicles 21:7 + (14 times) Psalm 87:3; Ecclesiastes 9:1.
4 אֱלֹהִים = God אֱלֹהִים אֱמֶת אֵל יַהְוֶה = Yahweh is God in truth Jeremiah 10:10. a. אֱלֹהִים (as subject object direct or indirect) is used by Priests' Code (50 times in story of creation and deluge, elsewhere 28 times), by Elohist (91 times), Jehovist chiefly in poetic sources Genesis 3:1,3,5 (twice in verse); Genesis 9:27; Genesis 39:9; Deuteronomy 32:17,39, by Deuteronomy (11 times) Judges (21 times) Samuel (50 times) Kings (29 times) Chronicles (45 times); in Psalm 42-86 (180 times often by editorial change for an original יְהוָה), elsewhere Psalm 3:3; Psalm 5:11; Psalm 7:11; Psalm 7:12; Psalm 9:18; Psalm 10:4; Psalm 10:13; Psalm 14:1; Psalm 14:2; Psalm 14:5; Psalm 25:22; Psalm 36:2; Psalm 36:8; Psalm 77:14; Psalm 100:3; Psalm 108:2; Psalm 108:6; Psalm 108:8; Psalm 108:12 (twice in verse); Psalm 149:9; Job 5:8; Job 20:29; Job 28:23; Job 32:2; Job 34:9 (& in Prologue 6 times) Proverbs 2:5; Proverbs 3:4; Proverbs 25:2; Ecclesiastes (7 times) Hosea (5 times); Amos 4:11 (כְּמַהְפֵּכַת אֱלֹהִים אֶת סְדֹם as God overthrew Sodom = Jeremiah 50:40 = Isaiah 13:19) Zechariah 8:23; Zechariah 12:8; Micah 3:7 (but אֱלִיהִים LXX Vatican MS. of Septuagint LXX Alexandrine MS. of Septuagint) Isaiah 35:4; Isaiah 2 (9 times); Jeremiah 10:10; Ezekiel (13 times); Malachi (5 times); Jonah (4 times); the phrase לְאֱלֹהִים אֵל הַיָּה לְ Genesis 28:21 (Elohist Redactor) Genesis 17:7,8; Exodus 6:7; Exodus 29:45; Leviticus 11:45; Leviticus 22:33; Leviticus 25:38; Leviticus 26:12,45; Numbers 15:41 (Priests' Code); Deuteronomy 26:17; Deuteronomy 29:13; 2 Samuel 7:24 (= 1 Chronicles 17:22); Zechariah 8:8; Jeremiah (6 times); Ezekiel (6 times); אֱלֹהִים צַדִּיק righteous God Psalm 7:10; קְדֹשִׁים אֵל holy God Joshua 24:19 (Elohist); חַיִּים אֵל living God Deuteronomy 5:23; 1 Samuel 17:26,36; Jeremiah 10:10; Jeremiah 23:36; חַי אֵל 2 Kings 19:4,16 (= Isaiah 37:4,17). For the phrases אֵל יְהוָה, צְבָאוֹת אֵל יְהוָה, צְבָאוֹת אֵל, אֵל יְהוָה אֵל, אֵל יְהוָה, אֵל צְבָאוֹת, אֲדֹנַי אֱלֹהִים see יְהוָה, יָה, צְבָאוֹת & אֲדֹנַי. b. construct אֱלֹהֵי (α) with persons אֱלֹהֵי אַבְרָהָם = God of Abraham, a phrase of Jehovist, Genesis 26:24; Genesis 28:13; Genesis 31:53, elsewhere Psalm 47:10; 1 Kings 18:36; 1 Chronicles 29:18; 2 Chronicles 30:6; אֲדֹנַי אַבְרָהָם אֵל Genesis 24:12,27,42,48 (Jehovist); אֱלֹהֵי אָב father's God (various suffix & names), a phrase of Elohist, Genesis 31:5,29,42; Genesis 46:3; Genesis 50:17; Exodus 3:6,13,15,16; Exodus 15:2; Exodus 18:4; Joshua 18:3, elsewhere Genesis 32:10; Genesis 43:23 (Jehovist) Exodus 4:5 (Jehovist?) Deuteronomy 8 (8 times); Judges 2:12; 2 Kings 21:22; Chronicles (31 times); Daniel 11:37; אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל Israel's God, phrase of Elohist, Genesis 33:20; Exodus 5:1; Exodus 24:10; Exodus 32:27; Joshua 8:30; Joshua 14:14; Joshua 22:16,24, elsewhere Exodus 34:23; Joshua 7:13,19,20 (Jehovist Elohist) Numbers 16:9; Joshua 9:18,19; Joshua 22:24; Joshua 10:40,42; Joshua 13:14,33 (Redactor see Dillmann Joshua 7:13) Judges 4:6; Judges 5:3,5; Judges 6:8; Judges 11:21,23; Judges 21:3; 1 Samuel 1:17 + (20 times) Kings (26 times) Chronicles (45 times); Psalm 41:14; Psalm 106:48 (doxology) Psalm 59:6; Psalm 69:7; Isaiah 17:6; Isaiah 21:10,17; Isaiah 29:23; Isaiah 3, Isaiah 24:15; Isaiah 37:16,21; Isaiah 2, Isaiah 41:17 + (6 times); Jeremiah 35:17 + (48 times); Ezekiel 8:4 + (7 times); Zephaniah 2:9; Malachi 2:16; Ruth 2:12; מַעַרְכוֹת יִשְׂרָאֵל אֵל God of the battle array of Israel 1 Samuel 17:45; אֵל יַעֲקֹב 2 Samuel 23:1 (poetry) Psalm 20:2; Psalm 46:8; Psalm 46:12; Psalm 75:10; Psalm 76:7; Psalm 81:2; Psalm 81:5; Psalm 84:9; Psalm 94:7; Isaiah 2:3 (= Micah 4:2); אֵל הָעִבְרִיִּים God of the Hebrews Exodus 3:18; Exodus 5:3; Exodus 7:16; Exodus 9:1,13 (Jehovist Elohist); it is used with other proper names, Nahor Genesis 31:53 (Elohist), Shem Genesis 9:26 (Jehovist), David 2 Kings 20:5; 2 Chronicles 21:12; 34:3; Isaiah 38:5, Hezekiah 2 Chronicles 32:17, Elijah 2 Kings 2:14; אֱלֹהֵי אֲדֹנִי הַמֶּלֶךְ the God of my lord the king 1 Kings 1:36. (β) with nouns of attributes or relationships, קֶרֶם אֵל ancient God Deuteronomy 33:27; עוֹלָם אֵל everlasting God Isaiah 40:28; אֱמֶת אֵל true God 2 Chronicles 15:3; אָמֵן אֵל Isaiah 65:16 (see אָמֵן); מִשְׁפָּט אֵל Isaiah 30:18; Malachi 2:17; מָרוֹם אֵל Micah 6:6; compare אֵל הָרוּחוֹת לְכָל בָּשָׂר Numbers 16:22; Numbers 27:16 (Priests' Code); אֵל כָּל הָאָרֶץ Isaiah 54:5; compare בֵּית יַהְוֶה אֵל אֵל הָאָרֶץ Genesis 24:3 (Jehovist Redactor); אֵל הַשָּׁמַיִם God of heaven Genesis 24:7 (Jehovist Redactor) 2 Chronicles 36:23; Ezra 1:2; Nehemiah 1:4,5; Nehemiah 2:4,20; compare כָּל בָּשָׂר אֵל Jeremiah 32:27; מִקָּרֹב אֵל a God at hand opposed to מֵרָחֹק אֵל Jeremiah 23:23, מִישְׁעִי אֵל, מִשְׁעִי אֵל God of my salvation Psalm 18:47 (= 2 Samuel 22:47) Psalm 24:5; Psalm 25:5; Psalm 27:9; Psalm 65:6; Psalm 79:9; Psalm 85:5; Isaiah 17:10; Micah 7:7; Habakkuk 3:18; 1 Chronicles 16:35; מִשְׁעִי אֵל Psalm 88:2; תְּשׁוּעָתִי אֵל Psalm 51:16; צִדְקִי אֵל God of righteousness Psalm 4:2; חַסְדִּי אֵל Psalm 59:11; Psalm 59:18; צוּרִי אֵל God who is my rock 2 Samuel 22:3 (compare Psalm 18:3); מָעֻזִּי אֵל God who is my stronghold Psalm 43:2; תְּהִלָּתִי אֵל God who is my praise Psalm 109:1. c. with suffix in Priests' Code (22 times including phrase וַיִּרְאָה מֵאֱלֹהָיו) Leviticus 19:14,32; Leviticus 25:17,36,43 (Holiness Code) Exodus 8:21; Joshua 24:27 (Elohist) Deuteronomy 32:37 (poetry) Joshua 9:23 (Jehovist Elohist) Deuteronomy 10:21; Deuteronomy 31:17; Judges 10:10; Judges 16:23,24; 1 Samuel 10:19; 2 Samuel 10:12; 2 Samuel 22:32 + (4 times poetry) 1 Kings 12:28; 1 Kings 20:23; 2 Kings 19:10; Chronicles (83 times); Psalms (62 times); Proverbs 2:17; Proverbs 30:9; Ruth 1:15,16 (twice in verse); Isaiah 1:10; Isaiah 7:13; Isaiah 8:19,21; Isaiah 2 (29 times); Jeremiah 5:4,5; Jeremiah 23:36; Jeremiah 51:5; Ezekiel 34:31; Daniel 5 (5 times); Hosea 12 (12 times); Amos 2:8; Amos 4:12; Joel 1:13 (twice in verse); Joel 1:16; Joel 2:17; Micah 6:8; Micah 7:7; Jonah 1:5,6; Zephaniah 3:2; Nahum 1:14; Zechariah 9:7; Zechariah 12:5; אֱלֹהִים with suffix is also used with יְהוָה several hundred times (see יְהוָה).
1 Targum of Onkelos.
2 Rashi.
3 Aben Ezra.
- Definition
- to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
- Root
- a primitive root;
- Exhaustive
I. בּוֹא (2569) verb come in, come, go in, go (Assyrian bāʾu Hpt KAT 499, Ethiopic 
, Arabic بَاءَ return1) —
Cognates:
- Assyrian bāʾu
- Ethiopic
- Arabic بَاءَ
Qal
Perfect בָּא Genesis 6:13 +; 3 feminine singular בָּאתָה Genesis 15:17 +; suffix בָּאתֶנוּ Psalm 44:18; 2 masculine singular בָּאתָ Joshua 13:1 +, בָּאתָה 2 Samuel 3:7; 2 feminine singular בָּאתְ Genesis 16:8; Ruth 2:12, and consecutive וְבָאתְ Ruth 3:4; 2 Samuel 14:3; Micah 4:10; 3 plural בָּאוּ Genesis 7:9 +; 1 plural בָּאנוּ Genesis 32:7 + (בָּנוּ 1 Samuel 25:8), etc.; Imperfect יָבוֹא Genesis 32:9 +, יָבא Genesis 49:10 +; 3 feminine singular תָּבוֹא Genesis 41:50 +; suffix תְּבוֹאֶתְּךָ Job 22:21 (but text dubious see Kö i. 644); 2 masculine singular תָּבוֹא Genesis 15:15 +; 2 feminine singular תָּבוֹאִי Ruth 3:17 +; 1 singular אָבוֹא Genesis 33:14 +; cohortative אָבֹאָה Judges 15:1, אָבִיאָה Genesis 29:21 +, וְתָּבֹאתִי 1 Samuel 25:34 (Qr וְתָּבֹאת, but text probably wrong, see Kö i. 647 Dr, read וְתָּבֹאִי); 3 plural masculine יָבוֹאוּ Genesis 6:20 +, also (by text error) בֹּאוּ Jeremiah 27:18 compare Kö i. 645, יְבֹאֻנִי Psalm 95:11; suffix יְבֹאוּנִי Psalm 119:77, וִיבֹאֻנִי Psalm 119:41; 3 feminine plural תָּבֹאנָה Genesis 30:38, תָּבוֹאנָה 1 Samuel 10:7 +; תְּבֹאֵינָה 1 Samuel 10:7; Psalm 45:16, etc.; Imperative בּוֹא, בֹּא Genesis 7:1 +, בֹּאָה 1 Samuel 20:21; 1 Kings 13:7, בִּיאִי, בֹּאִי 2 Samuel 13:11 +; masculine plural בֹּאוּ Genesis 45:17 +; Infinitive בּוֹא, בֹּא Genesis 39:16 +; suffix בֹּאִי, בּוֹאִי Genesis 48:5 +, בּוֹאֲךָ 1 Samuel 29:6 +, בֹּאֲכָה Genesis 10:19 +, etc., בֹּאָם Genesis 34:5 +, בֹּאָן Genesis 30:38 compare Ezekiel 42:12 (where Co for לְבוֹאָן reads לְבוֹא לָהֶן); Participle בָּא Genesis 33:1 +; feminine בָּאָה Genesis 29:6 +, הַבָּאָה Genesis 18:21 + (accent wrong Ew § 331 b N.); plural בָּאִים Genesis 18:11 +; construct בֹּאֵי Genesis 23:10; feminine absolute בֹּאוֹת Genesis 41:29; (see further on forms Kö i. 643 f.); —
1. Meanings and Usages
- a. Come in, followed by אֶל Genesis 6:18; Genesis 7:9,13, followed by בְּ Genesis 19:8 & so (subject רוּחַ) Ezekiel 2:2; Ezekiel 37:10, followed by לְ Esther 6:4, followed by accusative (בַּיִת) Judges 18:18; 2 Kings 11:19 compare Psalm 100:4 (שַׁעֲרֵיכֶם), & בֹּאֵי שַׁעַר עִירוֹ Genesis 23:10,18; even of lifeless things 2 Kings 18:21, וְבָא בְּכַמּוֹ (of broken reed) = pierce; of food and drink (followed by אֶל) Daniel 10:3 compare Genesis 41:21 (fat kine when eaten by lean kine); see also (followed by בְּ) Numbers 5:22,24,27; absolute Genesis 7:16; Genesis 24:31; 1 Kings 1:42; 1 Kings 14:6 compare 2 Kings 11:5,9 2 Chronicles 23:4,8 +.
- b. Opposed to יָצָא, go out and come in (Sabean וצאם או באם Hal 152) Joshua 6:1; 2 Kings 11:8 2 Chronicles 23:7; especially in sense of going about one's affairs (including all one's undertakings) Deuteronomy 28:6,19; Zechariah 8:10; Psalm 121:8; idem + יָשַׁב 2 Kings 19:27; also followed by לִפְנֵי הָעָם etc. = act as ruler (judge) of, Numbers 27:17; 2 Chronicles 1:10 compare 1 Kings 3:7; of leading an army 1 Samuel 18:13,16 compare also Joshua 14:11; see further Deuteronomy 31:2; 1 Samuel 29:6 & below c. below.
- c. Of taking part in worship of congregation Deuteronomy 23:2; Deuteronomy 23:3 (twice in verse); Deuteronomy 23:4 (twice in verse) + (followed by בְּ); or entering into tabernacle for priestly service Exodus 28:29,35; Leviticus 16:23 (all followed by אֶל), Exodus 28:30 (followed by לִפְנֵי יְהוָה), Leviticus 16:17 (followed by infinitive) +.
- d. With of entering on official duty 2 Kings 11:9 2 Chronicles 23:8; 1 Chronicles 27:1 (all opposed to יָצָא).
- e. Of bride coming into her husband's house Joshua 15:18 = Judges 1:14.
- f. Of entering a woman's tent or apartment (with implication coire cum femina, compare Syriac ܒܝܐܗ coitio; on origin of this use of word compare RS K 90, 167, 291) Judges 15:1 אֶל אִשְׁתּוֹ הֶחָדְרָה, Judges 16:1; Genesis 6:4; Genesis 16:2; Genesis 30:3; Genesis 38:8; Genesis 38:9; Genesis 39:14; Deuteronomy 22:13; 2 Samuel 12:24; 2 Samuel 16:21; 2 Samuel 20:3; Ezekiel 23:44 (3 times in verse); Proverbs 6:29 (all followed by אֶל); followed by עַל Genesis 19:31; Deuteronomy 25:5 יָבֹא עַל אָחִיו וְלָקַח לוֹ לְאִשָּׁה compare בֹּאֶיהָ Proverbs 2:19; — subject rarely woman Genesis 19:34; 2 Samuel 11:4. feminine of associating with (followed by בְּ) Joshua 23:7,12 compare Genesis 49:6 בְּסֹדָם אַל תָּבֹא נַפְשִׁי (אַל תֵּחַד "" בִּקְהָלָם).
- g. Of entering into specific relations, בֹּא אֶלָּה בְּרִית, בִּבְרִית (see אֱלֹהִים, בְּרִית); בּוֹא בְּדָמִים come into blood-guiltiness, became guilty of murder 1 Samuel 25:26.
- h. Of burial, אֶל קֶבֶר בּוֹא 1 Kings 13:22; 1 Kings 14:13 compare תָּבוֹא אֶל אֲבוֹתֶיךָ Genesis 15:15 ("" תִּקָּבֵר).
- i. Of sun, set (go in, enter, compare Assyrian ērib šanši COT Genesis 19:23; opposed to יָצָא go forth, rise) Genesis 15:12,17; Genesis 28:11; Exodus 17:12; Exodus 22:25; Leviticus 22:7; Deuteronomy 16:6; Deuteronomy 23:12,15; Joshua 8:29; Joshua 10:13,27; Judges 19:14; Ecclesiastes 1:5; 2 Samuel 2:24; 2 Samuel 3:35; 1 Kings 22:36; 1 Kings 18:34; so also figurative Jeremiah 15:9 of calamity בָּאָה שִׁמְשָׁה בְּעֹד יוֹמָם ("" אֻמְלְלָה יָלְדָה הַשִּׁבְעָה etc.), compare Isaiah 60:20; Micah 3:6 הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ עָלָה עַל הַנְּבִיאִים בּוֹא of ignorance and confusion.
- j. Of harvest, come in = be gathered Leviticus 25:22 (compare תְּבוֹאָה); so of revenue (income) 1 Kings 10:14 2 Chronicles 9:13 (followed by לְ person), — opposed to יָצָא be expended.
- k. In other phrases: וְתָּבֹא הָעִיר בַּמָּצוֹר 2 Kings 24:10 + and the city came into siege; compare Psalm 105:18 בַּבַּרְזֶל בָּאָה נַפְשׁוֹ his soul came into iron (see AV RVm; Che felt iron chains, compare Ew Ol Hup Pe; áḥ7 Hi De and others iron came upon his soul); בָּא בַּיָּמִים come into (the) days, = advanced in age Genesis 24:1; Joshua 13:1; Joshua 23:1 (all "" זָקֵן); on 1 Samuel 17:12 see Dr.
- 2. Come (approach, arrive) opposed to הָלַךְ Genesis 16:8; 1 Samuel 20:21 (compare 1 Samuel 20:22) Nehemiah 6:17; Ecclesiastes 5:14; Ecclesiastes 5:15 (of birth opposed to death); followed by אֶל person or of thing Genesis 14:7; Genesis 37:23; followed by עַל Exodus 18:23; 2 Chronicles 20:24 (come up upon, almost = ascend); compare also Leviticus 21:11; Numbers 6:6; followed by לְ 1 Samuel 9:12; 2 Chronicles 29:17; followed by עַד Numbers 13:22; Judges 15:14; 2 Samuel 16:5; compare בָּאוּ בָּנִים עַד מַשְׁבֵּר 2 Kings 19:3 = Isaiah 37:3 children have come to the birth; followed by עַד + אֶל 2 Kings 9:20 בָּא עַד אֵלָיו; followed by accusative 1 Samuel 4:12; 2 Kings 8:7; Jeremiah 32:24; compare also Lamentations 1:4 בֹּאֵי מוֹעֵד those coming to an appointed feast; absolute Genesis 45:16 Joseph's brethren are come, & often; also of lifeless things, ark of יְהוָה 1 Samuel 4:6; wind Job 1:19; so כַּסְפְּכֶם בָּא אֵלַי Genesis 43:23 your money came unto me = I received your money; our inheritance has fallen to us Numbers 32:19 (with אֶל); so 1 Samuel 9:16 its cry is come unto me, compare Genesis 18:21; Exodus 3:9; Lamentations 1:22; of time, often of imminent future, esp in phrase הִנֵּה יָמִים בָּאִים Isaiah 39:6 = 2 Kings 20:17; Jeremiah 7:32; Jeremiah 9:24; Jeremiah 16:14; Jeremiah 19:6; compare also 1 Samuel 26:10; Ezekiel 7:7 +; of day of יְהוָה Joel 2:1; Joel 3:4; Zechariah 14:1; Malachi 3:2; Malachi 3:19; Malachi 3:23; also participle as adjective הַיָּמִים הַבָּאִים Ecclesiastes 2:16 compare Jeremiah 47:4; as substantive הַבָּאוֹת Isaiah 41:22 things to come, future things; & הַבָּאִים alone = adverb in (days) to come Isaiah 27:6.
- a. Come with, i.e. come, bringing, followed by אָבוֹא בְּיִתְּךָ בְּעֹלֹת Psalm 66:13; בֹּא בִּגְבוּרוֹת אֱלֹהִים Psalm 71:16 ("" אַזְכִּיר צִדְקָתְךָ) so Leviticus 16:3 & perhaps Proverbs 18:6 — compare בִּי III. 1.
- b. Come upon, fall or light upon, of enemy, attack, followed by עַל Genesis 34:27; 1 Samuel 11:12 compare Genesis 32:9 (followed by אֶל); followed by suffix Job 15:21, so also Job 20:22; Ezekiel 32:11; of calamity, etc. Proverbs 10:24; Proverbs 28:22; Psalm 44:18 (all with suffix); followed by לְ Job 3:25 ("" אָתָה with suffix) Isaiah 47:9 ("" בֹּא עַל); of blessing, followed by עַל Joshua 23:15; followed by suffix Job 22:21 (compare Di) Psalm 119:41 Psalm 77:1.
- c. Come to pass, of signs, wonders, predictions, etc. Deuteronomy 13:3; Joshua 23:14; 1 Samuel 9:6 (בֹּא יָבֹא) Isaiah 42:9; Jeremiah 28:9; Proverbs 13:12; Job 6:8 +.
- d. Genesis 6:13 קֵץ כָּל בָּשָׂר בָּא לְפָנַי perhaps has presented itself before me (see Kn), compare Lamentations 1:22 above & 2 Chronicles 7:11 (where בֹּא for usual עָלָה); but perhaps (compare Di) has come to pass before me, i.e. in my mind it is already a fact.
- e. In phrase עַד בּוֹאֲךָ עַד Judges 6:4; compare Judges 11:33; 1 Samuel 17:52; 2 Samuel 5:25; 1 Kings 18:46 (עַד בֹּאֲכָה) until thou comest to = as far as; so also בֹּאֲךָ (בֹּאֲכָה) alone, = as far as, or in the direction of, Genesis 10:19 (twice in verse); Genesis 10:30; Genesis 13:10; Genesis 25:18; 1 Samuel 27:8 (all followed by accusative locative) 1 Samuel 15:7; so לְבוֹא חֲמָת Numbers 13:21; Numbers 34:8; Ezekiel 48:1, compare Ezekiel 47:15 (in a different connection לָבוֹא אַפְרַתָּה Genesis 35:16; Genesis 48:7); בֹּא מִלְּבוֹא ח Joshua 13:5; Judges 3:3; 1 Chronicles 13:5, compare 1 Chronicles 5:9; 2 Chronicles 26:8; Ezekiel 47:20; בֹּא מִמִּלְּבוֹא ח Amos 6:14; 1 Kings 8:65; 2 Kings 14:25; 2 Chronicles 7:8; of Isaac בָּא מִבּוֹא בְּאֶרַחַיִם לְחַיִּים Genesis 24:62 (but text dubious).
- f. Attain to עַד הַשְּׁלִישִׁית לֹא בָּא 2 Samuel 23:19 = 1 Chronicles 11:21.
- g. Be enumerated הַבָּאִים בִּשְׁמֹות, literally those coming with names 1 Chronicles 4:38.
- 3. Go, i.e. walk, associate with (עִם) Psalm 26:4, so with אֵת Proverbs 22:24 (compare הָלַךְ אֵת Proverbs 13:20 & הִתְהַלֵּךְ אֵת Genesis 5:22,24; Genesis 6:9).
- 4. Go (compare הָלַךְ) from speaker, but with limit of motion given Isaiah 22:15 לֵךְ בֹּא אֶל, so Ezekiel 3:4,11; Genesis 45:17 וּלְכוּ בֹּאוּ אַרְצָה כְּנַעַן; 1 Samuel 22:5 לֵךְ וּבָאתָ לִּי אֶרֶץ יְהוּדָה; Isaiah 47:5; Jonah 1:3 אֲנִי הָלַכְתִּי בָּאָה תַּרְשִׁישָׁה a ship going to Tarshish; go to war יָבֹאוּ לַמִּלְחָמָה Numbers 32:6.
Hiphil
Perfect הֵבִיא Genesis 4:4 +; suffix הֵבִיאֶנִּי Deuteronomy 9:4 +, etc.; 2 masculine singular הֵבֵאתָ Isaiah 43:23, הֵבֵאתָ Genesis 20:9 +, etc.; suffix הֵבֵאתֶּנִי 2 Samuel 7:18; 1 Chronicles 17:16, הֵבֵאתֶּנוּ Numbers 16:14, הֵבֵאתֶּנוּ Psalm 66:11; 1 singular הֵבֵאתִּי Genesis 31:39 +, וְהֵבֵאתִּי Jeremiah 25:13 Kt (Qr וְהֵבֵאתִּי); suffix וְהֵבֵאתֶּנִי Ezekiel 38:16 +, הֵבֵאתֶּנִי Isaiah 37:26, etc.; 3 plural הֵבִיאוּ Genesis 43:2 +; suffix הֵבִיאוּהוּ 2 Chronicles 28:27 etc.; 2 masculine plural הֵבֵאתֶּם Numbers 20:4 +; וְהֵבֵאתֶּם 1 Samuel 16:17; 1 plural suffix הֵבֵאֲנוּם Numbers 32:17; Imperfect (יַבִּיא) יַבִּיא Leviticus 4:32 +, וְיַבִּיא Genesis 2:19 +; suffix וְיַבִּיאֶנִּי Ezekiel 40:17, etc.; 2 masculine singular תָּבִיא Job 14:3; suffix תְּבִיאֶנִּי Jeremiah 13:1, וְתְּבִיאֶנִּי Nehemiah 9:23, תְּבִיאֶנִּי Exodus 15:17, אַבִּיא Exodus 11:1 + (אַבִּי 1 Kings 21:29; Micah 1:15), etc.; Imperative הָבִיא Genesis 43:16; Exodus 4:6, הָבִיאָה Genesis 27:7 +; feminine singular הָבִיאִי 2 Samuel 13:10 +, etc.; Infinitive absolute הָבִיא Haggai 1:6; construct הָבִיא Genesis 18:19 +; Participle מֵבִיא Exodus 10:14 +, מֵבִי 1 Kings 21:21 3t., מֵבִיאֲךָ Deuteronomy 8:7; plural מֵבִיאִים (מֵבִיאִים) 1 Kings 10:25 +; construct מֵבִיאֵי Jeremiah 17:26, מֵבִיאֵיהָ Daniel 11:6; —
1. Cause to come in, bring in (conduct, lead, object persons and animals)
- followed by אֶל Genesis 6:19; Song of Solomon 2:4; Song of Solomon 3:4; followed by בְּ Leviticus 26:41; Psalm 66:11; followed by לְ Judges 19:21; 1 Samuel 9:22; followed by לִפְנֵי Esther 1:11,17; followed by accusative (חֶדֶר) Song of Solomon 1:4; 2 Kings 9:2; also bring, carry in (lifeless things), followed by אֶל Numbers 31:54; Malachi 3:10; followed by בְּ Jeremiah 17:21; send, of sending (shooting) arrows (figurative) Lamentations 3:13; compare Leviticus 26:36; of sending breath (רוּחַ) into dry bones Ezekiel 37:5 (Co עַל); followed by לְ Nehemiah 13:12; followed by accusative locative Exodus 26:33; 2 Kings 20:20 וְיַבִּיא אֹתָהּ הַמַּיִם הָעִירָה; followed by accusative (חֶדֶר) 2 Samuel 13:10; also 2 Chronicles 15:18 (בַּיִת); absolute 2 Samuel 6:17.
- a. Opposed to הוֹצִיא (bring out) Deuteronomy 9:28 (followed by אֶל); especially in combination with הוֹצִיא lead out and in (to and from battle) Numbers 27:17; 1 Chronicles 11:2.
- b. Bring in women as wives for sons (followed by מִן הֶחָצֵר) Judges 12:9 (opposed to שָׁלַח הֶחוּץ).
- c. Bring into judgment וְאֹתִי תָּבִיא בַּמִּשְׁפָּט עִמָּךְ Job 14:3 compare Ecclesiastes 11:9; Ecclesiastes 12:4.
- d. Cause sun to go down Amos 8:9 (symbol of judgment).
- e. Of harvest, bring in, gather 2 Samuel 9:10; Haggai 1:6 (opposed to זָרַע) compare Nehemiah 13:15.
- f. Put staves into (בְּ) rings Exodus 25:14; Exodus 37:5; Exodus 38:7; compare Exodus 26:11; Leviticus 14:42; hand into (בְּ) bosom Exodus 4:6 (twice in verse); girdle into (בְּ) water Jeremiah 13:1.
- g. Other phrases, הֵבִיאוּ צַוָּארָם בַּעֲבֹדָה Nehemiah 3:5 put their necks to the work, etc.; figurative הָבִיא אֶת צַוָּארֵיכֶם בְּעֹל Jeremiah 27:12; הָבִיאָה לַמּוּסָר לִבֶּךָ Proverbs 23:12 apply to instruction thy heart; וְנָבִיא לְבַב חָכְמָה Psalm 90:12 that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
2. Cause to come, bring, bring near, etc. (animate object)
- followed by אֶל Genesis 2:19,22; Genesis 43:9; Leviticus 24:11; Numbers 5:15; often of bringing Israel to Canaan Exodus 6:8; Exodus 23:23 +, compare Isaiah 14:2; Isaiah 56:7; Nehemiah 1:9; absolute Deuteronomy 4:38; Deuteronomy 6:23; followed by לְ Genesis 39:14,17; followed by accusative locative Ezekiel 12:13; followed by הֲלֹם Judges 18:3, & עַד הֲלֹם (figurative of Yahweh's prospering care) 2 Samuel 7:18 = 1 Chronicles 17:16; absolute Genesis 46:32; also with lifeless object, Genesis 27:10 (followed by לְ), so 2 Chronicles 36:7; Genesis 31:39 (followed by אֶל); followed by accusative 2 Kings 12:5; 2 Chronicles 36:18; Daniel 1:2 (twice in verse); followed by accusative locative Exodus 26:33; Jeremiah 20:5; followed by לִפְנֵי 2 Chronicles 24:14; of time, cause a day to come Lamentations 1:21; cause cry to come (עַל) Job 34:28; = carry בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל בָּאוּ עַל כַּנְפֵיהֶם נְשָׁאִים Isaiah 49:22 ("" עַל כַּתֵּפֶיךָ נְשָׂאתִיךָ); carry God in (בְּ) the hand Job 12:6 (compare אֱלֹהִים p. 43); allow to come, almost = invite Esther 5:12 (followed by אֶל) compare Esther 5:10.
- a. Followed by עַל bring against, or upon, bring enemies against Jeremiah 25:9 compare Ezekiel 23:22; object sword Leviticus 26:25; Ezekiel 5:17; Ezekiel 11:8; Ezekiel 14:17; Ezekiel 33:2; plague Exodus 11:1; curse or calamity Genesis 27:12; Deuteronomy 29:26; 1 Kings 9:9 2 Chronicles 7:22; Job 42:11 compare Jeremiah 25:13; Jeremiah 36:31; Jeremiah 44:2; Jeremiah 49:8,37; Ezekiel 14:22; sin Genesis 20:9; Genesis 26:10; Exodus 32:21; compare also followed by אֶל Jeremiah 32:42; Jeremiah 49:36.
- b. Bring to pass 2 Kings 19:25 = Isaiah 37:26 compare 1 Chronicles 4:10.
- c. Bring, bring forward, bring on the scene Micah 1:15; Zechariah 3:8.
- d. Bring for a purpose, followed by infinitive Psalm 78:71 מֵאַחֲרֵי הָעִזִּים הֵבִיאוֹ לִרְעוֹת בְּיַעֲקֹב עַמּוֹ.
- e. Bring, procure בְּנַפְשֹׁתֵינוּ הֵבֵאנוּ לָחֶם Lamentations 5:9.
Hophal
Perfect הוּבָא Leviticus 10:18 +; 3 feminine singular הֻבָּאת Genesis 33:11 (see below); 2 masculine singular הֻבָּאתָה Ezekiel 40:4; 3 plural הֻבָּאוּ Genesis 43:18; Imperfect יוּבָא Leviticus 6:23 +, יוּבָּאוּ Jeremiah 27:22; Participle מוּבָא 2 Kings 12:10 +; plural מוּבָאִים Genesis 43:18; Ezekiel 30:11 + Ezekiel 23:42 (Co מְרַבִּדִים), מוּבָאוֹת Psalm 45:15; —
- a. Be brought in (of person and things), absolute Genesis 43:18; followed by בַּיִת into a house Genesis 43:18; temple 2 Kings 12:5; 2 Kings 12:10; 2 Kings 12:14; 2 Kings 12:17; 2 Kings 22:4; 2 Chronicles 34:9,14.
- b. Be brought, followed by לְ Genesis 33:11 (but áḥ5 rd Hiphil I have brought), Psalm 45:15; followed by אֶל unto Leviticus 6:23; Leviticus 10:18; Leviticus 13:2,9; Leviticus 14:2; compare Ezekiel 23:42 (but see Co VB); followed by הִנֵּה Ezekiel 40:4; followed by בַּבָּבֶל Jeremiah 27:22; followed by infinitive Leviticus 16:27; Ezekiel 30:11; followed by מִן Jeremiah 10:9.
- c. Be introduced, put, followed by בְּ, staves into rings Exodus 27:7; vessel into water Leviticus 11:32.
1 Arabic cognate is بَاءَ 'come', but text has "return" possibly a mistranslation or OCR error.
- Definition
- near, with or among; often in general, to
- Root
- (but only used in the shortened constructive form אל ); a primitive particle; properly, denoting motion towards, but occasionally used of a quiescent position, i.e.
- Exhaustive
- (but only used in the shortened constructive form אל ); a primitive particle; properly, denoting motion towards, but occasionally used of a quiescent position, i.e.; near, with or among; often in general, to; about, according to, after, against, among, as for, at, because(-fore, -side), both...and, by, concerning, for, from, [idiom] hath, in(-to), near, (out) of, over, through, to(-ward), under, unto, upon, whether, with(-in).
- Definition
- me, personal pronoun - verb/prep. suffix: 1st person common singular
- Root
- Exhaustive
- Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 1st person singular
אֵל (nearly always followed by maqqeph), in poetry אֱלֵי (compare עֲלֵי, עֲדֵי), but only in Job (1 Samuel 3:22; 1 Samuel 5:26; 1 Samuel 15:22; 1 Samuel 29:19), with suffix אֱלַי, אֵלֶיךָ, אֱלֶיךְ, etc. אֱלֵינוּ, אֲלֵיכֶם & (5 times) אֲלֵכֶם, אֲלֵיהֶם & אֲלֵהֶם (both very often); once אֱלֵימוֹ Psalm 2:5, אֲלֵיהֶן, once אֲלֵהֶן Exodus 1:19 (Assyrian ilî, Arabic عربي), preposition denoting motion to or direction towards (whether physical or mental).
Cognates:
- Assyrian ilî
- Arabic عربي
1. Motion to or unto a person or place
- Genesis 2:19, Genesis 2:22; Genesis 3:19; Genesis 8:9; Genesis 14:22; Genesis 16:9 etc.
- After every kind of verb expressing motion (בּוֹא, הָלַךְ, יָצָא etc.) So with נָתַן to give (though לְ is here more common) Genesis 21:14; Genesis 35:4; Deuteronomy 13:2 +; מָכַר to sell Deuteronomy 37:36, etc.
- Metaphorical Jeremiah 2:19 וְלֹא פַּחַדְתִּי אֵלֶיךָ and that my fear (cometh) not unto thee (compare Job 31:23).
- Peculiarly Genesis 6:16 אֵל אַמָּה unto the length of a cubit, etc.
- And metaphor in the phrase אֵל (אֱלֵי) גִּיל unto exultation Hosea 9:11; Job 3:22.
- Once, exceptionally (si vera 1.) = even: Job 5:5 וְאֵל מִצִּגִּים יִקָּחֶהָ and even out of thorns he taketh it.
- Sometimes pregnant, as Isaiah 66:17; Jeremiah 41:7 זָנָה אֵל commit whoredom (by going) to Numbers 25:1; Ezekiel 16:26, Ezekiel 16:28, Ezekiel 16:29; דָּרַשׁ אֵל seek (by resorting) to Deuteronomy 18:11; Isaiah 8:19; Isaiah 11:10 +; חָבַר אֵל join together (& come) unto Genesis 14:3; הִשְׁכִּימוּ אֵל rise early (and go) to Genesis 19:27; Genesis 24:11 הִבְרִיךְ אֵל made to kneel down at; Genesis 47:18 תַּם אֵל i.e. has been made over to; מָחַד אֵל to come in fear to Hosea 3:5; Micah 7:17.
- Opposite is מִן, as מִן הַקָּצֶה אֵל הַקָּצֶה from end to end Exodus 26:28; מֵה אֵל מֵה Ezra 9:11 (synonym 2 Kings 21:16 מֵה לָפֶה).
- And of time (rare) מֵעֵת אֵל עֵת 1 Chronicles 9:25; מִיּוֹם אֵל יוֹם Numbers 30:15 (P) 1 Chronicles 16:23 (in the Psalm 96:2 מִיּוֹם לְיוֹם).
2. Where the limit is actually entered, into
- Genesis 6:18 and thou shalt enter into the ark Genesis 7:1; Genesis 19:3; Genesis 41:21; Genesis 42:17; & so after verbs of throwing, casting, putting Genesis 37:22 (הִשְׁלִיכוּ) Genesis 39:20 וַיִּתְּנֵהוּ אֵל בֵּית הַסֹּהַר put him into the prison house, Exodus 28:30 (Leviticus 8:8) Deuteronomy 23:25; so after קָבַר to bury Genesis 23:19; Genesis 25:9; Genesis 49:29; שָׁחַט to squeeze Genesis 40:11; מָחָה to blot out Numbers 5:23, etc.; metaphor Genesis 6:6 was pained into or unto his heart, שָׁם אֵל לֵב, הָשִׁיב to place, bring into ( = lay to ) heart Deuteronomy 4:39; 2 Samuel 19:20 and elsewhere In connection with a number or multitude into which something enters, in among: 1 Samuel 10:22 behold he had hid himself אֵל הַכְּלִים in among the baggage, Jeremiah 4:3 sow not אֵל קֹצִים in among thorns.
3. Of direction towards anything
- (a) Of physical acts or states, as Genesis 30:40 נָתַן מִנִּי הַצֹּאן אֵל, Genesis 39:7 נָשָׂא עֵינָיו אֵל, Exodus 25:20; Numbers 6:26, נָשָׂא פָּנָיו אֵל (2 Kings 9:32 differently), 2 Kings 24:1 שָׁת מִנִּיו אֵל, Joshua 8:18; Psalm 28:2; 1 Kings 8:29, 1 Kings 8:30 (to pray towards) 1 Kings 8:38; pregnantly חָרַד אֵל to tremble (turning) to Genesis 42:28, תָּמַהּ אֵל to wonder (turning) towards Genesis 43:33; Isaiah 13:8, מָחַד אֵל Jeremiah 36:16: without a verb מֵנִּים אֵל מֵנִּים face to face Genesis 32:31 +; מֵה אֵל מֵה Numbers 12:8; כִּאֲיִנֵּנוּ אֵלֶיךָ the face of Laban, that he is not toward me; כָּלוּ אֲלֵיהֶם failing (with longing) towards them, Lamentations 4:17; Isaiah 63:15; 2 Samuel 3:8; 1 Kings 14:13; Psalm 40:6; alone, as predicate, directed or disposed towards, Genesis 3:16; Genesis 4:7; 2 Kings 6:11 who of ours is towards (i.e. favours) the king of Syria? Hosea 3:3 וְגַם אֲנִי אֵלֶיךָ Ezekiel 36:9; Haggai 2:17; Jeremiah 15:1 (אֵין נַפְשִׁי אֵל).
- (b) With words such as אָמַר to say to Genesis 3:1 + often, דִּבֵּר Genesis 8:15 + often, קָרָא Genesis 19:5, הִגִּיד Genesis 20:17 etc., שָׁמַע to hearken to Genesis 16:11, הִלֵּל to praise to Genesis 12:15 (compare Ezekiel 13:19 חִלֵּל אֵל to profane to), הִזְכִּיר Ezekiel 40:14.
- (c) With words expressing the direction of the mind, as קָוָה to wait Psalm 27:14 +; יָחַל to hope Isaiah 51:5; נָשָׂא נֶפֶשׁ אֵל to lift up the soul (i.e. set the desire) towards Deuteronomy 24:15; Psalm 25:1; שָׁם לֵב אֵל, שִׁית to set the heart (mind) to Exodus 9:21 and elsewhere; לָמַד אֵל to accustom oneself to Jeremiah 10:2; חָרַד אֵל to shew fear towards 2 Kings 4:13; Genesis 43:30; Deuteronomy 28:32 and thy eyes כָּלוּ אֲלֵיהֶם failing (with longing) towards them, Lamentations 4:17; Isaiah 63:15; 2 Samuel 3:8; 1 Kings 14:13; Psalm 40:6; alone, as predicate, directed or disposed towards, Genesis 3:16; Genesis 4:7; 2 Kings 6:11 who of ours is towards (i.e. favours) the king of Syria? Hosea 3:3 וְגַם אֲנִי אֵלֶיךָ Ezekiel 36:9; Haggai 2:17; Jeremiah 15:1 (אֵין נַפְשִׁי אֵל).
4. Where the motion or direction implied appears from the context to be of a hostile character, against
- Genesis 4:8 אֵל הֶבֶל and Cain rose up against Abel (so 1 Samuel 24:8) 1 Samuel 22:12; Exodus 14:5; Numbers 32:14; with נִקַּם Joshua 10:6, הָלַךְ Judges 1:10; Judges 20:30; with בָּא of calamity, etc., coming to or upon any one Genesis 42:21; Judges 9:57; 1 Samuel 2:34; 1 Kings 14:10 +; Isaiah 2:4; Isaiah 3:8 their tongue and doings are אֵלִי Isaiah 32:6 (לְדַבֵּר אֵל) Hosea 7:15 (compare Nahum 1:9) Hosea 12:5 וַיָּשַׁר אֵל מַלְאָךְ and he strove against the angel. Here also belongs in particular the phrase הִנְנִי אֵל Behold I am against (thee, you, etc.) Nahum 2:14; Nahum 3:5; Jeremiah 21:13 (Jeremiah 23:30-32 עַל) Jeremiah 50:31; Jeremiah 51:25; Ezekiel 13:8, Ezekiel 13:20; Ezekiel 21:8; Ezekiel 29:10; Ezekiel 30:22; Ezekiel 34:10; Ezekiel 35:3; Ezekiel 38:3; Ezekiel 39:1 (Ezekiel 5:8; Ezekiel 26:3; Ezekiel 28:22; Ezekiel 29:3 עַל: on Ezekiel 36:9 see above)
5. Unto sometimes acquires from the context the sense of in addition to
- As Leviticus 18:18 thou shalt not take אִשָּׁה אֵל אֲחֹתָהּ a woman to, in addition to, her sister, Joshua 13:22 (Numbers 31:8 עַל); 1 Samuel 14:34 at eat אֵל הַחֹם together with the blood (1 Samuel 14:32 & Generally עַל); 1 Kings 10:7 הוֹסַף אֵל (generally עַל); Jeremiah 25:26; Ezekiel 7:26 שְׁמֻעָה אֵל שְׁמֻעָה (עַל); Ezekiel 44:7; Lamentations 3:41 let us lift up לְבָבֵנוּ אֵל כַּפֵּינוּ our hearts together with the hands (compare Arabic عربي, Qor 4:2; W AG ii. § 51 c).
6. Metaphor in regard to, concerning, on account of
- Thus הִתְאַבֵּל אֵל to mourn concerning 1 Samuel 15:35; הִנָּחֵם אֵל to repent as regards 2 Samuel 24:16; הִתְפַּלֵּל אֵל to pray with regard to 1 Samuel 1:27; 2 Kings 19:20; צָעַק אֵל to cry 2 Kings 8:3 (2 Kings 8:5 עַל); נֶעֱצַב אֵל be pained 1 Samuel 20:34; נִחַם אֵל to comfort 2 Samuel 10:2; more Generally 1 Kings 16:13; 1 Kings 21:22; אֵל נֶפֶשׁ on account of, for the sake of, one's life 1 Kings 19:3; 2 Kings 7:7 (Genesis 19:17 עַל). (עַל is more common in this sense.) And specially with verbs of saying, narrating, telling, etc. with regard to, as אָמַר אֵל Genesis 20:2; Isaiah 29:22; Isaiah 37:21, Isaiah 37:33 +; דִּבֵּר אֵל 2 Samuel 7:19; Jeremiah 40:16 b; סִמֵּר אֵל Psalm 2:7; Psalm 69:27; צָוָה אֵל Isaiah 23:11; שָׁמַע אֵל Ezekiel 19:4; הַשְׁמֻעָה אֵל the report regarding . . . 1 Samuel 4:19. (Not frequently, ext. in the case of אָמַר.)
7. Of rule or standard, according to (rare)
- אֵל מִצְוָה according to the command of, Joshua 15:13; Joshua 17:4; Joshua 21:3 (generally עַל מִצְוָה); אֵל נָבוֹן according to what is fixed = of a certainty 1 Samuel 23:23; 1 Samuel 26:4 (see Dr); perhaps Psalm 5:1; Psalm 80:1 (Psalm 45:1 עַל).
8. Expressing presence at a spot, against; at, by
- Not merely after verbs expressing or implying motion (compare 1), as Joshua 11:5 and they came and encamped together אֵל מֵי מְרוֹם at the waters of Merom, 1 Samuel 5:4 cut off (and fallen) on to the threshold, 2 Samuel 2:23 and elsewhere and smote him אֵל הַחֹמֶשׁ in or on the belly, Deuteronomy 33:28; Exodus 29:12; Leviticus 4:7; but also in other cases, as Joshua 5:3 and he circumcised the Israelites אֵל גִּבְעַת הָעֲרָלִים at the hill of the foreskins, Joshua 22:11 have built an altar אֵל גְּלִילוֹת הַיַּרְדֵּן by the districts of Jordan, Judges 12:6; 2 Samuel 3:32, 2 Samuel 14:30 & 2 Samuel 18:4 אֵל יַד at the side of (elsewhere לְיַד, עַל יַד), 1 Kings 13:20 as they were sitting אֵל הַשֻּׁלְחָן at the table, 2 Kings 11:14 אֵל הַמֶּלֶךְ by the king, Jeremiah 41:12 and found him by the great waters, etc., Jeremiah 46:10 אֵל נְהַר מְרָתַיִם by the Euphrates, Ezekiel 3:15; Ezekiel 11:11; Ezekiel 17:8; Ezekiel 31:7; Ezekiel 40:18; Ezekiel 43:3; Ezekiel 47:7; Ezekiel 48:12.
9. Prefixed to other preps. it combines with them the idea of motion or direction to
- Thus אֵל אַחֲרֵי 2 Samuel 5:23; 2 Kings 9:18, 2 Kings 9:19 סֹב אֵל אַחֲרֵי turn to behind me, Zechariah 6:5 (where אֵל is pleonastic, probably due to clerical error; note יָצָא אֵל before & after); אֵל בֵּין in between Ezekiel 31:10, Ezekiel 31:14; אֱל בֵּינֹת similarly Ezekiel 10:2; אֵל בֵּית to (the part) within (see below בַּיִת), in within Leviticus 16:15; 2 Kings 11:15 have her forth in within the ranks; אֵל מוּל see מוּל; אֵל מִנֶּגֶב to the south of Joshua 15:3; אֵל מִחוּץ to the outside of Leviticus 4:12, Leviticus 4:21 +; אֵל נֹכַח to the front of Numbers 19:4; אֵל תַּחַת Judges 6:19; 1 Kings 8:6 and elsewhere (see below תַּחַת).
Note I. — In Genesis 20:13 אֵל כָּל הַמָּקוֹם אֲשֶׁר נָבוֹא שָׁמָּה וְג׳; Numbers 33:54 אֵל אֲשֶׁר וְג׳; Proverbs 17:8 (compare Deuteronomy 16:6); — אֵל appears to be used by a species of attraction; the idea of motion involved in the relative clause influencing illogically the beginning of the sentence and causing אֵל to be used instead of בְּ. In Deuteronomy 31:14 אֱלֵיהֶם, as pointed, can only be from אֵל III or IV (q. v.); if the word be taken as the Pronoun with suffix (Hi Ke), אֲלֵיהֶם must be read.
Note 2. — There is a tendency in Hebrew, especially manifest in Samuel Kings Jeremiah Ezekiel, to use אֵל in the sense of עַל; sometimes אֵל being used exceptionally in a phrase or construction which regularly, and in accusative with analogy, has עַל; sometimes, the two prepositions interchanging, apparently without discrimination, in the same or parallel sentences. Thus (a) Joshua 5:14 וַיִּמָּל אֵל מָנָיִו; 1 Samuel 13:13 אַתְּמַמְלֵאתָּ אֵלִי שְׂרָאֵל; 1 Samuel 14:34 (see below 5); 1 Samuel 17:3 עֹמְדִים אֵל הָהָר (contracted עַל הָהָר Deuteronomy 11:29); Deuteronomy 19:16; 2 Samuel 6:3; 2 Samuel 20:23 (contracted 2 Samuel 8:16) 1 Kings 13:29; 1 Kings 18:46 (contracted 2 Kings 3:15 עַל) Jeremiah 35:15; Ezekiel 7:18. (b) Judges 6:37 and upon (עַל) all the earth let there be dryness, Judges 6:39 let there be dryness on (אֵל) the fleece; 1 Samuel 14:10 come up עָלֵינוּ, 1 Samuel 14:12 come up אֱלֵינוּ; 1 Samuel 16:23 & 1 Samuel 16:16 & 1 Samuel 18:10 צָלַח אֵל, 1 Samuel 10:6 and elsewhere צָלַח עַל; 1 Samuel 25:17 evil is determined אֵל אֲדֹנִינוּ וְעַל כָּל בֵּיתוֹ; 1 Samuel 25:25; 1 Samuel 27:10; 2 Samuel 2:9 וַיַּמְלֵךְ אֵל וְג׳ אֵל וְג׳ אֵל וְג׳ עַל וְג׳ עַל וְג׳ עַל וְג׳; 2 Samuel 3:29 יָחֻל עַל וְאֵל; 2 Kings 8:3 & 2 Kings 8:5; Jeremiah 19:15; Jeremiah 25:2; Jeremiah 26:15 ye lay innocent blood עֲלֵיכֶם וְאֵל הָעִיר הַזֹּאת; Jeremiah 27:19; Jeremiah 28:8; Jeremiah 33:14; Jeremiah 34:7; Jeremiah 36:31; Jeremiah 37:13, Jeremiah 37:14; Ezekiel 18:6, Ezekiel 18:11 & Ezekiel 18:15; Ezekiel 21:12 etc. Psalm 79:6 (Jeremiah 10:25 עַל twice). It is probably that this interchange, at least in many cases, is not original, but due to transcribers. Conversely, though not with the same frequency, עַל occurs where analogy would lead us to expect אֵל, or even in juxtaposition with אֵל, as 1 Samuel 1:10 הִתְפַּלֵּל עַל to pray to (1 Samuel 1:26 אֵל); 1 Samuel 1:13; 1 Samuel 25:25 אֵל עַל; 1 Kings 20:43 וַיֵּלֶךְ עַל בֵּיתוֹ (1 Kings 21:4 אֵל); Isaiah 22:15; Jeremiah 11:2; Jeremiah 23:35; Jeremiah 31:12. compare Dr Sm i. 13, 13; ii. 8, 7; 15, 4.
1 If the word be taken as the Pronoun with suffix (Hi Ke), אֲלֵיהֶם must be read.
2 There is a tendency in Hebrew, especially manifest in Samuel Kings Jeremiah Ezekiel, to use אֵל in the sense of עַל; sometimes אֵל being used exceptionally in a phrase or construction which regularly, and in accusative with analogy, has עַל; sometimes, the two prepositions interchanging, apparently without discrimination, in the same or parallel sentences.
3 It is probably that this interchange, at least in many cases, is not original, but due to transcribers.
4 Conversely, though not with the same frequency, עַל occurs where analogy would lead us to expect אֵל, or even in juxtaposition with אֵל.
5 Compare Driver, Samuel, i. 13, 13; ii. 8, 7; 15, 4.
- Definition
- to, for
- Root
- A primitive particle; a prefix
- Exhaustive
- (lamed) — to / toward / for
Core value: orientation, directionality, belonging
ל is often mistranslated as purpose (“in order to”), but that smuggles in future-time. In reality, ל marks:
- movement toward,
- dedication unto,
- reference with respect to.
Aonically, ל is vectorial, not teleological.
not “for the sake of a future outcome”
but “oriented toward a locus or pole.”
This is why possession (“belongs to”) and motion (“toward”) use the same preposition: both indicate relational alignment, not time.
- Definition
- properly, to mark (so as to be recognized), i.e. to remember; by implication, to mention; to be male
- Root
- a primitive root; also as denominative from H2145 (זכר)
- Exhaustive
- a primitive root; also as denominative from זכר; properly, to mark (so as to be recognized), i.e. to remember; by implication, to mention; to be male; [idiom] burn (incense), [idiom] earnestly, be male, (make) mention (of), be mindful, recount, record(-er), remember, make to be remembered, bring (call, come, keep, put) to (in) remembrance, [idiom] still, think on, [idiom] well.
I. זָכַר verb — remember.
Cognates:
- Assyrian zikâru (name, mention), compare noun zikru1
- Zinjirli זכר
- Arabic ذَكَرَ
- Aramaic דְּכַר
- Palmyrene דרכנא (monument), דכיר (memorial)
- Sabean ידֿכראל2
- Ethiopic ዘከረ
— Perfect 3 masculine singular זָכַר Genesis 40:23 +; 3 feminine singular זָָֽכְרָה Lamentations 1:7, 1:9; 2 masculine singular וְזָכַרְתָּ֫ Deuteronomy 5:15 +; suffix זְכַרְתַּנִי Genesis 40:14 compare 1 Samuel 1:11, זְכַרְתָּם Psalm 88:6; 2 feminine singular זָכַרְתּ Isaiah 47:7; Isaiah 57:11; compare Isaiah 17:10 + Ezekiel 16:22, 43 Qr (both Kt זכרתי), וְזָכַרְתּ consecutive Ezekiel 16:61; 3 plural זָָֽכְרוּ Judges 8:34 +, etc.; Imperfect 3 masculine singular יִזְכֹּר Hosea 8:13 +; יִזְכָּרֿ 2 Samuel 14:11; Proverbs 31:7; וַיִּזְכֹּר Genesis 8:1 +; suffix וַיִּזְכְּרֶהָ 1 Samuel 1:19; 2 feminine singular תִּזְכְּרִי Isaiah 54:4 2t.; 1 singular אֶזְכֹּר Leviticus 26:42 (twice in verse); Isaiah 43:25, אֶזְכָּרֿ Jeremiah 31:34, וָאֶזְכֹּר Exodus 6:5; suffix 2 masculine singular אֶזְכָּרְךָ Psalm 42:7, suffix 2 feminine singular אֶזְכְּרֵכִי Psalm 137:6 (see GKC3); Imperative masculine singular זְכֹר Exodus 32:13 +; זְכָרֿ Psalm 25:7 +; זָכְרָה Nehemiah 6:14 +; suffix זָכְרֵנִי Judges 16:28 2t.; masculine plural זִכְרוּ Isaiah 46:9 +, זְכֹ֑רוּ Nehemiah 4:8; Infinitive absolute זָכוֺר Exodus 13:3 +; זָכֹר Jeremiah 31:30 +; construct לִזְכֹּר Genesis 9:16; Ezekiel 23:19, etc.; suffix בְּזָכְרֵנִי Psalm 137:1; Participle active plural construct וּלְֹזכְרֵי Psalm 103:18; זָכוּר Psalm 103:14.
I. Human Subject
1. Remember, recall, call to mindUsually as affecting present feeling, thought, or action:
- a. remember past experiences (accusative) Genesis 42:9 (Elohist Source), 2 Kings 9:25; followed by clause with מִי Job 4:7; things formerly known Jeremiah 17:2; followed by clause with כִּי Judges 9:2; with implied regret Numbers 11:5 (Jehovist Source), Psalm 42:5, Psalm 137:1; so (+ בְּ) Jeremiah 3:16 ("" עלה על לב and פקד).
- b. recall past distress; object not expressed, Lamentations 3:20 (זכור זכר), Job 11:16; negative Isaiah 54:4, Proverbs 31:7.
- c. remember sins, (1) to repent of them Deuteronomy 9:7 (+ אלתֿשׁכח), Ezekiel 16:61 (+ וְנִכְלַמְתְּ), Ezekiel 20:43; (2) to renew and repeat them Ezekiel 23:19.
- d. especially remember the dealings of י׳, Deuteronomy 7:18, 8:2, 24:9, 32:7 ("" בין), Isaiah 46:9, Psalm 105:5, Psalm 143:5 ("" הגיתי, אֲשׂוֺחֵחַ); object clause with בִּי especially Deuteronomy 5:15, 15:15.
- a. to their advantage: followed by accusative Genesis 40:14 (Elohist Source), 40:23, 1 Samuel 25:31.
- b. to make use of them: Nahum 2:6.
- c. their acts: to their advantage 2 Chronicles 24:22; to their disadvantage 2 Samuel 19:20; to make vengeance Deuteronomy 25:17.
- d. remember human obligations: בְּרִית אַחִים Amos 1:9; negative Ecclesiastes 9:15, Psalm 109:16.
- a. call him to mind: 2 Samuel 14:11 (recall a specific command).
- b. keep him in mind: Deuteronomy 8:18, Jeremiah 51:50, Isaiah 64:4 ("" עשׂה צדק), Psalm 63:7 ("" אהגה), Nehemiah 4:8; remember his name Psalm 119:55.
- a. words of Moses: Joshua 1:13 (Deuteronomic Source), Malachi 3:22; through prophet Isaiah 44:21, Micah 6:5.
- b. commandments: so as to do them Numbers 15:39 (Priests' Code), Psalm 103:18 (+ לעשׂותם); his covenant 1 Chronicles 16:15.
Something present or future: issue of conduct Isaiah 47:7, Lamentations 1:9; fight with crocodile Job 40:32; coming days of darkness Ecclesiastes 11:8.
6. Observe or commemorate a dayDay of Exodus Exodus 13:3 (Jehovist Source), Deuteronomy 16:3; Sabbath Exodus 20:8 (Elohist Source; "" שׂמר Deuteronomy 5:12).
II. Subject י׳ (God)
1. Remember persons- a. individuals, with kindness: protecting, delivering etc., Genesis 30:22 (Elohist Source), 1 Samuel 1:11, 1:19, Genesis 8:1 (Priests' Code), 19:29 (Priests' Code); followed by לְ person Psalm 25:7; לְ person (dative of benefit) Nehemiah 5:19, 13:14.
- b. individuals, to punish: followed by לְ person Nehemiah 6:14, 13:29.
- c. his servants or people: (graciously) Exodus 32:13 (Jehovist-Elohist Source), Psalm 136:23, Psalm 115:12 (followed by יְבָרֵךְ).
- a. their distress: Lamentations 3:19, 5:1 ("" הַבִּיטָ֯ וּרְאֵה).
- b. their devotion: Psalm 20:4, Jeremiah 2:2, 2 Kings 20:3.
- a. his covenant: Genesis 9:15, Exodus 2:24, 6:25 (all Priests' Code); Leviticus 26:45 (+ לְ person); Ezekiel 16:60, Psalm 105:8.
- b. his mercy: Psalm 25:6, Psalm 98:3, Habakkuk 3:2.
- c. extenuating circumstances: followed by כִּי, Job 7:7, Psalm 78:39, Psalm 103:14 (זָכוּר bethinketh him).
Followed by accusative, Hosea 7:2, 8:13 ("" פקד); negative Jeremiah 44:21, Isaiah 43:25, Psalm 79:8 (+ לְ person).
Niph`al Stem
— Perfect 2 masculine plural consecutive וְנִזְכַּרְתֶּם Numbers 10:9; Imperfect 3 masculine singular יִזָּכֵר Jeremiah 11:19 +; 3 feminine singular תִּזָּכֵר Ezekiel 25:10; 3 masculine plural יִזָָּֽכְרוּ Hosea 2:19; Participle נִזְכָּרִים Esther 9:28.
- be brought to remembrance, remembered, thought of
- negative be not remembered = no longer exist
Hiph`il Stem
— Perfect 3 masculine singular הִזְכִּיר Isaiah 49:1; Imperfect 1 singular אַזְכִּיר Exodus 20:2 +; Imperative masculine plural הַזְכִּירוּ Isaiah 12:4; Participle מַזְכִּיר Genesis 41:9.
- cause to remember, remind: with accusative of person Isaiah 43:26.
- cause to be remembered, keep in remembrance: a person's name 2 Samuel 18:18, Psalm 45:18.
- mention:
- recorder: noun masculine title of public officer, 2 Samuel 8:16, 2 Kings 18:18, 1 Chronicles 18:15.
1 Eberhard Schrader, Die Keilinschriften und das Alte Testament (KAT).
2 David Heinrich Müller, Epigraphische Denkmäler aus Arabien (DHM).
3 Gesenius' Hebrew Grammar, ed. E. Kautzsch, trans. A. E. Cowley, 2nd English ed., Oxford, 1910 (GKC).
- Definition
- properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
- Root
- apparent contracted from H226 (אות) in the demonstrative sense of entity;
- Exhaustive
- apparent contracted from אות in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely); (as such unrepresented in English).
- Definition
- a hoe or other digging implement
- Root
- of uncertain derivation;
- Exhaustive
- of uncertain derivation; a hoe or other digging implement; coulter, plowshare.
I. אֵת — the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite (Moabite idem, Phoenician אית i.e. אִיַּת (Schröd p. 213 f.); Aramaic יָת frequently in Targum Onkelos; 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. ܐܠܗܐ per se, reapse, ܐܠܗܐ sibi ipsi, PS 1640f., Samaritan ܢܡ; Arabic لله, only used with suffix, when it is desired to emphasize the pronoun, e.g. Qor 1:4 W AG i. § 189. [Ethiopic uses ܐܠܗܐ k£y¹ similarly, Di § 150 a; but it is dubious if this is etymologically akin.] The primitive form will have been ʾiwyaṯ, originally a substantive with following Genitive, Ol p. 432; whether ultimately a parallel development with אוּת sign from √ אוָה is uncertain: Ol W AG i. § 188 Lag M i. 226 affirm, Nö ZMG 1886, 738 doubts. In Hebrew the ground-form is אוּת; the forms with אֵת, אֶת being abbreviated. In post-Biblical Hebrew, used in combination with another preposition: thus בְּאוּתוֹ הַיּוֹם = Biblical Hebrew בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא, בְּאוּתָהּ הַשָּׁעָה; or as a nomin., e.g. אוּתוֹ הָאִישׁ = Biblical Hebrew הָאִישׁ הַהוּא).
Cognates:
- Moabite idem
- Phoenician אית i.e. אִיַּת (Schröd p. 213 f.)
- Aramaic יָת frequently in Targum Onkelos
- 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. ܐܠܗܐ per se, reapse, ܐܠܗܐ sibi ipsi, PS 1640f.
- Samaritan ܢܡ
- Arabic لله, only used with suffix, when it is desired to emphasize the pronoun, e.g. Qor 1:4 W AG i. § 189
- Ethiopic uses ܐܠܗܐ k£y¹ similarly, Di § 150 a; but it is dubious if this is etymologically akin
1. As mark of the accusative prefixed to substantives defined either by the article (or כָּל), or by a Genitive or pronominal affix, or in virtue of being proper names
- a. With transitive verbs:
- Genesis 1:1, 16, 29, 30; Genesis 2:11; Genesis 4:1, 2; Genesis 9:3 (אֶת־כָּל) etc.
- Similarly אֶת־מִי whom (in particular), Joshua 24:15; 1 Samuel 12:3; 1 Samuel 28:11; Isaiah 6:8 and elsewhere (but never אֶת־מָה); also with זֶה Genesis 29:33; Genesis 44:29; 1 Samuel 21:16; 1 Kings 22:27 +, זֹאת Genesis 29:27; 2 Samuel 13:27 +, אַחֲלֶה Genesis 46:18; Leviticus 11:18; Isaiah 49:21 +.
- So pretty uniformly in prose; but in poetry אֵת is commonly dispensed with.
- By the use of אֵת 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: Genesis 7:1; Genesis 24:14; Genesis 37:4; Leviticus 10:17; Leviticus 11:33; Numbers 22:32 thee I had slain, and her I had kept alive, Deuteronomy 4:14; Deuteronomy 6:13, 23; Deuteronomy 13:5; Judges 14:3 אוּתָהּ קַח־לִי take for me her, 1 Samuel 14:35; 1 Samuel 15:1; 1 Samuel 18:17; 1 Samuel 21:10 אִם־אֶת־הָהִיא תִּקַּח־לְךָ קַח if thou wilt take that, take it, 1 Kings 1:35; 1 Kings 14:9; Isaiah 43:22; Isaiah 57:11; Jeremiah 9:2.
- So הָאוּתִי Jeremiah 5:22; Jeremiah 7:19.
- It also sometimes enables the reflexive sense to be expressed (elsewhere נַפְשָׁם) Jeremiah 7:19; Ezekiel 34:2.
- Rarely with a substantive which is undefined (Ew § 277 d 2 Ges § 117, 1, R. 2), as Exodus 21:28; Numbers 21:9; Leviticus 20:14; 1 Samuel 24:6 (but see Dr) 2 Samuel 4:11; 2 Samuel 18:18; 2 Samuel 23:21; or which, though definite, is without the article, Genesis 21:30; 2 Samuel 15:16; Leviticus 26:5; 1 Samuel 9:3 (so Numbers 16:15) Isaiah 33:19; Isaiah 41:7; Ezekiel 43:10 (for further examples see Ew 1.c.).
- b. With a passive verb (Ges § 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 Genesis 4:18 (J) וַיִּוָּלֵד לַחֲנוֹךְ אֶת־עִירָד, Genesis 17:5 (P), לֹא יִקָּרֵא עוֹד אֶת־שִׁמְךָ אַבְרָם there shall not be called (=one shall not call) thy name Abram, Genesis 21:5 (E), Genesis 27:42; 2 Samuel 21:11; 1 Kings 18:13; Hosea 10:6 etc., to Jeremiah 35:18; Jeremiah 38:4; Jeremiah 50:20; Ezekiel 16:4, 5; Esther 2:13 (compare Dr JPh xi. 227 f.): also with passive verbs of filling (Ew § 281 b), as Exodus 1:7 +.
- c. With neuter verbs or expressions, especially such as involve the idea of regarding, or treating, appy. by a construction κατά σύνεσιν (rare): Joshua 22:17; 2 Samuel 11:25; Nehemiah 9:32 (compare 1 Samuel 20:13 Dr). Once after אֵין, Haggai 2:17; אֵין אֶתְכֶם אֲלֵי.
- d. Poet. (si vera lectio), after an abstract noun used with a verbal force: Habakkuk 3:13 (Amos 4:11; Isaiah 13:19; Jeremiah 50:40 מַהֲפֵּכָה exerts a verbal force, like the Arabic nom. verbi [see W AG i. § 196, 43]; and Numbers 10:2; Ezekiel 17:9 לְמַסַּע, לְמַשְׁאוֹת are Aramaizing infinitives: compare Ew § 239 a).
2. אֵת marks an accusative in other relations than that of direct object to a verb
- a. With verbs of motion (very rare): Numbers 13:17; Deuteronomy 1:19; Deuteronomy 2:7 (to 'walk the wilderness'); denoting the goal Judges 19:18; Ezekiel 21:25 (Ew § 281 d, n., 282 a 1).
- b. Denoting time (duration), also very rare: Exodus 13:7; Leviticus 25:22; Deuteronomy 9:25.
- c. Expressing the accus. of limitation (rare): Genesis 17:11, 14; 1 Kings 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 κατά σύνεσιν), or by an anacoluthon, partly (β) as resuming loosely some other preposition
- Thus (α): Exodus 1:14; Numbers 3:26, 46; Numbers 5:10 (with הָיָה: so Ezekiel 35:10) Numbers 18:21 b Deuteronomy 11:2 (anacoluthon), Deuteronomy 14:13; Joshua 17:11; Judges 20:44, 46 (contr. Judges 20:25; Judges 20:35) 1 Samuel 17:34 (see Dr) 1 Samuel 26:16; 2 Samuel 21:22; 2 Kings 6:5; Isaiah 53:8 (probably), Isaiah 57:12; Jeremiah 23:33 (but read rather with LXX Targum אֶתֶּם הַמַּשָּׂא) Jeremiah 27:8; Jeremiah 36:22; Jeremiah 38:16 Kt, Jeremiah 45:4 b Ezekiel 16:22; Ezekiel 17:21; Ezekiel 20:16; Ezekiel 29:4; b Ezekiel 43:7 (LXX Co prefix הָרְאִיתָ) Ezekiel 44:3; Zechariah 8:17; Ecclesiastes 4:3; Daniel 9:13; Nehemiah 9:19, 34; 1 Chronicles 2:9; 2 Chronicles 31:17.
- In 1 Samuel 30:23; Haggai 2:5 probably some such word as remember is to be understood.
- (β): Jeremiah 38:9; Ezekiel 14:22; b Ezekiel 37:19 b Zechariah 12:10; סָבִיב אֵת 1 Kings 6:5; Ezekiel 43:17 strangely (in 1 Kings LXX omits the clause: so Sta ZAW 1883, 135).
- — In 1 Kings 11:1 וְ is merely and also, and especially (see וְ); 1 Kings 11:25 is corrupt (read with LXX זֹאת הָרָעָה אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה הֲדַד); Ezekiel 47:17, 18, 19 read similarly for וְאֵת, זֹאת: see Ezekiel 47:20.
— For some particulars as to the use of אֵת, see A. M. Wilson Hebraica. vi. 139 ff. 212 ff. (who, however, confuses it sometimes with II. אֵת). For denoting the pronominal object of a verb, אֵת with suffix preponderates relatively much above the verbal affix in P, as compared with J E Deuteronomy Judges Samuel Kings (see Gie ZAW 1881, 258 f.), — partly, probably, on account of the greater distinctness and precision which P loves.
יָת mark of accusative (= Biblical Hebrew I. אֵת; Palmyrene ית; Zinjirli Had. 28 with suffix ותה; Nabataean, Palmyrene with suffix יתו (Lzb 263 Cooke 170; compare RÉS 468); Targum Onkelos Samaritan יָת; Syriac ܒܪ (rare)); — Daniel 3:12 דִּי מְנִיּתָ יָתְהוֹן whom thou hast appointed.
1 Schröd: Paul Schröder, Die phönizische Sprache, Halle, 1869.
2 Lag: Paul de Lagarde, works on Semitic languages.
3 Nö: Theodor Nöldeke, Orientalische Skizzen, Berlin, 1892.
4 Ol: Julius Olshausen, Lehrbuch der hebräischen Sprache, Braunschweig, 1861.
5 W AG: Wilhelm Gesenius, Thesaurus Linguae Hebraeae, ed. by E. Rödiger, Leipzig, 1835-1858.
6 Di: August Dillmann, Ethiopic Grammar, Leipzig, 1857.
7 Targ: Targum.
8 PS: Payne Smith, Syriac Dictionary.
9 Qor: Quran.
10 Ew: Heinrich Ewald, Ausführliches Lehrbuch der hebräischen Sprache, Göttingen, 1870.
11 Ges: Wilhelm Gesenius, Hebrew Grammar, ed. E. Kautzsch, trans. A. E. Cowley, 2nd English ed., Oxford, 1910 (GKC).
12 Dr: Samuel Rolles Driver, works on Hebrew.
13 JPh: Journal of Philology.
14 LXX: Septuagint.
15 Targum: Targum.
16 Sta: Bernhard Stade, Geschichte des Volkes Israel, Berlin, 1887.
17 ZAW: Zeitschrift für die alttestamentliche Wissenschaft.
18 Gie: Friedrich Giesebrecht, works on Hebrew.
19 Lzb: Mark Lidzbarski, Handbuch der nordsemitischen Epigraphik, Weimar, 1898.
20 Cooke: George Albert Cooke, North-Semitic Inscriptions, Oxford, 1903.
21 RÉS: Revue des Études Sémitiques.
III. [אֵת] noun [masculine] a cutting instrument of iron usually translated as ploughshare.
— singular suffix אֵתוֹ 1 Samuel 13:20; plural אֵתִּים 1 Samuel 13:21, אִתִּים Isaiah 2:4 = Micah 4:3; suffix אִתֵּיכֶם Joel 4:10; according to Klo1 and others also 2 Kings 6:5 אֵת הַבַּרְזֶל, that is, the axe of iron.
1 A. Klostermann.
- Definition
- perversity, i.e. (moral) evil
- Root
- or עוון; (2 Kings 7:9; Psalm 51:5 (H7 (אבד))), from H5753 (עוה);
- Exhaustive
- or עוון; (2 Kings 7:9; Psalm 51:5 (אבד)), from עוה; perversity, i.e. (moral) evil; fault, iniquity, mischeif, punishment (of iniquity), sin.
- Definition
- my, personal posessive - noun suffix: 1st person common singular
- Root
- Exhaustive
- Personal posessive pronoun - suffix for nouns, adjectives and passive participles: 1st person singular
I. עָוֺן (עָווֺן) noun masculineIsaiah 22:14 — iniquity, guilt, or punishment of iniquity.
— עָוֺן absolute Exodus 21:43 +; עָווֺן 2 Kings 7:9; Psalm 51:7; construct עֲוֺן Genesis 15:16 +; עֲווֺן 1 Chronicles 21:8; suffix עֲוֺנִי Genesis 4:13 + (2 Samuel 16:12 read בְּעָנְיִי), עֲוֺנְךָ Hosea 9:7 +; עֲוֺנֵ֑כִי Psalm 103:3; עֲוֺ֔נָהֿ Numbers 15:31 (GKC1 § 91e), etc.; plural עֲוֺנוֺת absolute Psalm 130:3 +, construct Job 13:26 +; עַוֺנֹת absolute Psalm 65:4, construct Leviticus 16:21 +; suffix עֲוֺנֹתֶיךָ Isaiah 43:24, עֲוֺנֹתֵיכֶם Numbers 14:34 +, etc.; also עֲוֺנֶיךָ Ezekiel 28:18; עֲוֺנֵינוּ Isaiah 64:6 +, etc. (SS2 doubt all these).
1. Iniquity
iniquity, Job 15:5; Job 20:27; Jeremiah 11:10; Jeremiah 14:7; Jeremiah 16:17; Lamentations 2:14; Ezekiel 7:13; (+ חטאת) 1 Samuel 20:1; Job 13:23; Isaiah 5:18; Isaiah 43:24; Isaiah 59:2; Jeremiah 5:25; Jeremiah 16:10; Lamentations 4:6, 13; Daniel 9:16; Hosea 4:8; Hosea 13:12; (+ פשׁע) Job 14:17; Job 31:33; Psalm 107:17; Isaiah 50:1; Isaiah 53:5; (+ אשׁמה) Ezra 9:6, 7, 13; (+ רעה) Job 22:5; Hosea 7:1.
a. Specific phrases- ע׳ נְעוּרַי Job 13:26 iniquities of my youth
- ע׳ חֶרֶב Job 19:29 iniquities calling for the sword
- ע׳ מְּלִילִי(םׅ Job 31:11, 28 iniquity for (to be punished by) judges
- שְׁתֵּי עֲוֺנֹתָם Hosea 10:10 (so read Vrss Hi and others)
- כשׁל בע׳ stumble by iniquity Hosea 5:5; Hosea 14:2
- מִכְשׁוֺל ע׳ Ezekiel 7:19; Ezekiel 14:3, 4, 7; Ezekiel 18:30; Ezekiel 44:12
- לכל־עון Deuteronomy 19:15
- אשׁתמרה מע׳ 2 Samuel 22:24 = Psalm 18:24
- עָוֺן אֲשֶׁר־חֵטְא Hosea 12:9
- ידע ע׳ 1 Samuel 3:13; Isaiah 59:12; Jeremiah 3:13; Jeremiah 14:20
- התודה ע׳ Leviticus 16:21; Leviticus 26:40 (twice) (Priests' Code); Nehemiah 9:2
- הגיד ע׳ Psalm 38:19
- לא כסה ע׳ Psalm 32:5
- הזכיר ע׳ Numbers 5:15 (Priests' Code); 1 Kings 17:18; Ezekiel 21:28, 29; Ezekiel 29:16
- יִכָּֽלְמוּ מע׳ Ezekiel 43:10
- שׁוּב מע׳ Daniel 9:13
- השׁיב מע׳ Malachi 2:6
- (1) Phrases of punishment: פקד ע׳ על Exodus 20:5 = Deuteronomy 5:9; Exodus 34:7; Numbers 14:18 (Jehovist Source); Leviticus 18:25 (Holiness Code); 2 Samuel 3:8; Isaiah 13:11; Isaiah 26:21; Jeremiah 25:12; Jeremiah 36:31; Amos 3:2; פקד ע׳ ב Psalm 89:33; Job 11:6; יסּר על ע׳ Psalm 39:12; שַׁתָּ֯ ע׳ לנגדךָ Psalm 90:8; גמל כע׳ Psalm 103:10; שׁמר ע׳ Psalm 130:3; שׁלּם ע׳ Isaiah 65:7; Jeremiah 16:18; Jeremiah 32:18.
- (2) Of forgiveness or removal: העביר ע׳ 2 Samuel 24:10 = 1 Chronicles 21:8; Job 7:21; Zechariah 3:4; משׁתי ע׳ Zechariah 3:9; סלח לע׳ Exodus 34:9; Numbers 14:19 (Jehovist Source); Psalm 25:11; Psalm 103:3; Jeremiah 31:34; Jeremiah 33:8; נשׂא ע׳ Exodus 34:7; Numbers 14:18; Psalm 32:5; Psalm 85:3; Isaiah 33:24; Hosea 14:3; Micah 7:18; סר ע׳ Isaiah 6:7; יכבושׁ ע׳ Micah 7:19.
- (3) Of covering over: כסה על ע׳ Nehemiah 3:37; כמּר ע׳ Psalm 78:38; Proverbs 16:6; Isaiah 22:14; Isaiah 27:9; Daniel 9:24; כמּר על ע׳ Jeremiah 18:23; יתכמּר ע׳ 1 Samuel 3:14.
- (4) Of cleansing from: כבּס מע׳ Psalm 51:4; מחה ע׳ Psalm 51:11; طهר מע׳ Jeremiah 33:8; Ezekiel 36:33.
- (5) Of imputing or reckoning: חשׁב ע׳ ל 2 Samuel 19:20; Psalm 32:2; זכר ע׳ (לׅ Psalm 79:8; Isaiah 64:8; Jeremiah 14:10; Hosea 8:13; Hosea 9:9; יִזָּכֵר ע׳ Psalm 109:14.
- (6) Other: בקשׁ (ל)ע׳ Job 10:6; Jeremiah 50:20; פדה מע׳ Psalm 130:8 ransom from iniquity.
2. Guilt of iniquity
(not always easy to distinguish from 1; SS give more, Buhl3 fewer, sub 2); — (+ תועבות) Ezekiel 36:31; (+ דם) Isaiah 59:3; (+ חמס) Ezekiel 9:9; ע׳ פעור Joshua 22:17 (Priests' Code); ע׳ סדם Ezekiel 16:49; ע׳ בצעוֺ Isaiah 57:17; שְׁנֵי עונם Ezekiel 4:4; נִכְתָּם עֲוֺנֵךְ לְפָנַי Jeremiah 2:22 the guilt of thine iniquity is marked before me; מצא ע׳ Genesis 44:16 (Elohist Source) Psalm 36:3.
a. Phrases of presence- ב ע׳ guilt of iniquity upon one Numbers 15:31 (Priests' Code); 1 Samuel 20:8; 2 Samuel 14:32
- לא ע׳ לִי Job 33:9 (+ זַךְ)
- בלי־עון Psalm 59:5 without my guilt
- רֹב עָוֺן Jeremiah 13:22; Jeremiah 30:14, 15; Ezekiel 28:18; Hosea 9:7
- לֹא־שָׁלֵם ע׳ Genesis 15:16 (Jehovist Source)
- ע׳ עָֽבְרוּ ראֹשִׁי Psalm 38:5
- ע׳ עֲקֵבַי יְסוּבֵּנִי Psalm 49:6
- ע׳ הִשִּׂיגוּנִי Psalm 40:13
- ע׳ גברו מני Psalm 65:4
- עַם כֶּבֶד ע׳ Isaiah 1:4
- נלקח בע׳ Ezekiel 33:6
- בע׳ חוללתי was I brought forth Psalm 51:7
- בע׳ גָּוַע expire Joshua 22:20 (Priests' Code)
- בע׳ מות die Jeremiah 31:30; Ezekiel 3:18, 19; Ezekiel 18:17, 18; Ezekiel 33:8, 9
3. Consequence of, or punishment for, iniquity
(SS include most of these under 2; Buhl thinks this meaning rare, giving only Genesis 4:13; Isaiah 5:18); —
- אִם יִקְּ֯רֵךְ ע׳ בדבר הזה 1 Samuel 28:10 no punishment shall happen unto thee for, etc.
- נשׂא ע׳ bear the punishment for iniquity (of others) Exodus 28:38; Leviticus 10:17; Leviticus 16:22; Numbers 30:16 (Priests' Code); Ezekiel 4:4, 5, 6; Ezekiel 18:19, 20
- (one's own) Exodus 28:43; Leviticus 5:1, 17; Leviticus 7:18; Leviticus 17:16; Leviticus 19:8; Leviticus 20:17, 19; Leviticus 22:16; Numbers 5:31; Numbers 14:34; Numbers 18:1, 23 (Priests' Code); Ezekiel 14:10; Ezekiel 44:10, 12
- גדול ע׳ מנשׂוא Genesis 4:13 (Jehovist Source) my punishment is greater than I can bear
- נִרְצָה עֲוֺנָהּ Isaiah 40:2 her punishment is accepted; compare רצה ע׳ Leviticus 26:41, 43 (Holiness Code)
- ומצאנוּ ע׳ 2 Kings 7:9 punishment will overtake us
- תנה ע׳ על ע׳ Psalm 69:28 add punishment to their punishment
- הוא יסבל ע׳ Isaiah 53:11 the consequences of their iniquities he shall bear; compare סָבָ֑לְנוּ ע׳ Lamentations 5:7
- הפגיע בו ע׳ Isaiah 53:6
- נִקָּה מע׳ freed from punishment Numbers 5:31 (Priests' Code); Job 10:14
- בי אני העון 1 Samuel 25:24 on me the punishment; עלי הע׳ 2 Samuel 14:9
- בע׳ with various verbs: Genesis 19:15 (Jehovist Source); Leviticus 26:39 (Holiness Code); Psalm 31:11; Psalm 106:43; Jeremiah 51:6; Ezekiel 4:17; Ezekiel 7:16; Ezekiel 24:23; Ezekiel 39:23
- עת ע׳ קץ Ezekiel 21:30; Ezekiel 21:34; Ezekiel 35:5
1 Gesenius' Hebrew Grammar, ed. E. Kautzsch, trans. A. E. Cowley, 2nd English ed., Oxford, 1910 (GKC).
2 Siegfried-Stade's Hebräisches Wörterbuch zum Alten Testamente (1893).
3 Frants Buhl, Wilhelm Gesenius' Hebräisches und Aramäisches Handwörterbuch über das Alte Testament.
- Definition
- and
- Root
- From H8505; a prefix
- Exhaustive
The conjunctive ו is not merely a fixed coordinator with a stable semantic value (“and/but/or/then”). Its core function is linkage, not meaning. It binds units into a single discourse field—phrases, clauses, or whole scenes—while leaving the logical relation to be inferred from aspect, word order, genre, and context.
So the variability in translation (“and / but / or / even / then”) is not polyvalence in the particle; it is underspecification by design. The language expects the reader/hearer to perceive the relation rather than have it encoded.
Crucially, conjunctive ו does not imply temporal sequence. It implies continuity of attention. Think of it as:
- “this belongs with what precedes,”
- “remain within the same frame,”
“do not reset the discourse.”
This is why Hebrew can chain dozens of clauses with ו without subordination or explicit logic markers. The text advances by accumulation, not by branching syntactic trees. Meaning arises from the interaction:
- Aspect (qatal / yiqtol / participle),
- Position (fronted elements, resumptive nouns),
- Genre (law, narrative, oracle),
- Context (who speaks, to whom).
The ו simply keeps the circuit closed so these cues can operate together. Remove tense assumptions, and the system becomes coherent.
- Definition
- to, for
- Root
- A primitive particle; a prefix
- Exhaustive
- (lamed) — to / toward / for
Core value: orientation, directionality, belonging
ל is often mistranslated as purpose (“in order to”), but that smuggles in future-time. In reality, ל marks:
- movement toward,
- dedication unto,
- reference with respect to.
Aonically, ל is vectorial, not teleological.
not “for the sake of a future outcome”
but “oriented toward a locus or pole.”
This is why possession (“belongs to”) and motion (“toward”) use the same preposition: both indicate relational alignment, not time.
- Definition
- to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill
- Root
- a primitive root;
- Exhaustive
- a primitive root; to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill; [idiom] at all, [idiom] crying, (be) dead (body, man, one), (put to, worthy of) death, destroy(-er), (cause to, be like to, must) die, kill, necro(-mancer), [idiom] must needs, slay, [idiom] surely, [idiom] very suddenly, [idiom] in (no) wise.
I. מוּת (approximate number of occurrences: 835) verb — die.
Cognates:
- Late Hebrew idem
- Assyrian mâtu1
- Arabic مات
- Ethiopic ሞተ
- Aramaic מוּת, מִית
- Nabataean מות2
- Zinjirli מת3
— מֵת 3 masculine singular absolute Genesis 42:38 +; מֵ֫תָה 3 feminine singular Genesis 35:18 +; מַתֶּה 2 masculine singular Ezekiel 28:8; וָמַ֑תִּי 1 singular Genesis 19:19; מֵ֫תוּ 3 masculine plural Genesis 7:22 +; מַתְנוּ 1 plural Numbers 14:2, 2 Kings 7:4; יָמוּת imperfect Genesis 38:11 +; וַיָּ֫מָת imperfect Genesis 11:28 +; מֻת imperative Deuteronomy 32:50; מוֺת infinitive absolute Genesis 2:17 +; מוּת construct Genesis 25:32; מֵת participle Genesis 20:3 +; מֵתִים plural Exodus 12:33 +.
1. Qal: Die, of natural or other causes
a. Of man- וַיִּגְוִע וַיָּמָת and he expired and died Genesis 25:8, Genesis 25:17, Genesis 35:29 (Priests' Code)
- וַיָּמָת וַיִּקָּבֵר Judges 10:2, 5, Judges 8:32, 2 Samuel 17:23
- Succession formula: וימלך תַּחְתָּיו וימת Genesis 36:33–39 (Priests' Code), 2 Samuel 10:1, 2 Kings 1:17
- In good old age: וימת בְּשֵׂיבָה טוֺבָה 1 Chronicles 29:28
- By violence or disaster: הכה (smiting) Exodus 21:18 (Elohist Source); במלחמה (war) Deuteronomy 20:5; בַּחֶרֶב (sword) Jeremiah 11:22; ברעב (famine) Jeremiah 11:22; בְּדֶבֶר (pestilence) Jeremiah 21:6; בַּמַּגֵּפָה (plague) Numbers 14:37
- figurative of wisdom: תָּמוּת חָכְמָה עִמָּכֶם Job 12:2; of courage: וַיָּמָת לִבּוֺ בְּקִרְבּוֺ 1 Samuel 25:37
- Leviticus 11:39; Genesis 33:13 (Jehovist Source); Exodus 7:18 (Elohist Source)
- Proverbial dead dog: כֶּלֶב מֵת 1 Samuel 24:14, 2 Samuel 9:8, 2 Samuel 16:9
2. Qal: Die as a penalty (be put to death)
a. By human authority- Genesis 42:20, Exodus 21:14, Deuteronomy 17:6
- Phrase מוֺת יָּמּוּת shall surely be put to death (capital punishment): 1 Samuel 14:39, 1 Samuel 22:16, 1 Kings 2:37, Jeremiah 26:8
- Legal codes (violent death): מוֺת יוּמַת Exodus 21:12, Leviticus 20:2, Numbers 15:35
- Genesis 38:7, Exodus 28:35, Leviticus 10:2, 2 Samuel 6:7
- For sin/guilt: בחטא Leviticus 22:9, Numbers 27:3; במעל 1 Chronicles 10:13
- Of a nation: Moab Amos 2:2, Ephraim Hosea 13:1
- Prematurely (for lack of wisdom): Proverbs 5:23, Proverbs 10:21, Ecclesiastes 7:17
3. Po‘lel: Kill, put to death, despatch
— מֹתַתִּי perfect 2 Samuel 1:16; יְמֹתְתֵהוּ imperfect 1 Samuel 17:51; מוֺתְתֵנִי imperative Judges 9:54; מְמוֺתֵת participle 1 Samuel 14:13.
4. Hiph‘il: Kill, put to death
— הֵמִית perfect Judges 16:30 +; וַיָּ֫מֶת imperfect Genesis 38:10 +; הָמֵת infinitive absolute 2 Kings 11:15; מֵמִית participle 1 Samuel 2:6.
- Subject man: In war Joshua 10:26; by authority Exodus 1:16, 2 Kings 14:6
- Subject God: Deuteronomy 32:39, Genesis 38:7, 1 Samuel 2:6
- Executioners (angels of death): מְמִיתִים Job 33:22
5. Hoph‘al: Be killed, put to death
— הוּמָ֑ת perfect 2 Kings 11:2; יוּמַת imperfect Leviticus 20:10; מוּמָת participle 1 Samuel 19:11.
- By conspiracy: 2 Kings 11:2, 8
- By capital punishment: Exodus 21:29, Leviticus 24:16, Deuteronomy 24:16
I. מוֺת noun masculine — death (Biblical Hebrew מָ֫וֶת).
- absolute Ezra 7:26
1 Friedrich Delitzsch, Assyrisches Handwörterbuch (HWB), 395.
2 Julius Euting, Nabatäische Inschriften aus Arabien (1885), 14, 6.
3 D.H. Müller, Sendschirli Glossary.
- Definition
- properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
- Root
- apparent contracted from H226 (אות) in the demonstrative sense of entity;
- Exhaustive
- apparent contracted from אות in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely); (as such unrepresented in English).
- Definition
- a hoe or other digging implement
- Root
- of uncertain derivation;
- Exhaustive
- of uncertain derivation; a hoe or other digging implement; coulter, plowshare.
I. אֵת — the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite (Moabite idem, Phoenician אית i.e. אִיַּת (Schröd p. 213 f.); Aramaic יָת frequently in Targum Onkelos; 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. ܐܠܗܐ per se, reapse, ܐܠܗܐ sibi ipsi, PS 1640f., Samaritan ܢܡ; Arabic لله, only used with suffix, when it is desired to emphasize the pronoun, e.g. Qor 1:4 W AG i. § 189. [Ethiopic uses ܐܠܗܐ k£y¹ similarly, Di § 150 a; but it is dubious if this is etymologically akin.] The primitive form will have been ʾiwyaṯ, originally a substantive with following Genitive, Ol p. 432; whether ultimately a parallel development with אוּת sign from √ אוָה is uncertain: Ol W AG i. § 188 Lag M i. 226 affirm, Nö ZMG 1886, 738 doubts. In Hebrew the ground-form is אוּת; the forms with אֵת, אֶת being abbreviated. In post-Biblical Hebrew, used in combination with another preposition: thus בְּאוּתוֹ הַיּוֹם = Biblical Hebrew בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא, בְּאוּתָהּ הַשָּׁעָה; or as a nomin., e.g. אוּתוֹ הָאִישׁ = Biblical Hebrew הָאִישׁ הַהוּא).
Cognates:
- Moabite idem
- Phoenician אית i.e. אִיַּת (Schröd p. 213 f.)
- Aramaic יָת frequently in Targum Onkelos
- 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. ܐܠܗܐ per se, reapse, ܐܠܗܐ sibi ipsi, PS 1640f.
- Samaritan ܢܡ
- Arabic لله, only used with suffix, when it is desired to emphasize the pronoun, e.g. Qor 1:4 W AG i. § 189
- Ethiopic uses ܐܠܗܐ k£y¹ similarly, Di § 150 a; but it is dubious if this is etymologically akin
1. As mark of the accusative prefixed to substantives defined either by the article (or כָּל), or by a Genitive or pronominal affix, or in virtue of being proper names
- a. With transitive verbs:
- Genesis 1:1, 16, 29, 30; Genesis 2:11; Genesis 4:1, 2; Genesis 9:3 (אֶת־כָּל) etc.
- Similarly אֶת־מִי whom (in particular), Joshua 24:15; 1 Samuel 12:3; 1 Samuel 28:11; Isaiah 6:8 and elsewhere (but never אֶת־מָה); also with זֶה Genesis 29:33; Genesis 44:29; 1 Samuel 21:16; 1 Kings 22:27 +, זֹאת Genesis 29:27; 2 Samuel 13:27 +, אַחֲלֶה Genesis 46:18; Leviticus 11:18; Isaiah 49:21 +.
- So pretty uniformly in prose; but in poetry אֵת is commonly dispensed with.
- By the use of אֵת 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: Genesis 7:1; Genesis 24:14; Genesis 37:4; Leviticus 10:17; Leviticus 11:33; Numbers 22:32 thee I had slain, and her I had kept alive, Deuteronomy 4:14; Deuteronomy 6:13, 23; Deuteronomy 13:5; Judges 14:3 אוּתָהּ קַח־לִי take for me her, 1 Samuel 14:35; 1 Samuel 15:1; 1 Samuel 18:17; 1 Samuel 21:10 אִם־אֶת־הָהִיא תִּקַּח־לְךָ קַח if thou wilt take that, take it, 1 Kings 1:35; 1 Kings 14:9; Isaiah 43:22; Isaiah 57:11; Jeremiah 9:2.
- So הָאוּתִי Jeremiah 5:22; Jeremiah 7:19.
- It also sometimes enables the reflexive sense to be expressed (elsewhere נַפְשָׁם) Jeremiah 7:19; Ezekiel 34:2.
- Rarely with a substantive which is undefined (Ew § 277 d 2 Ges § 117, 1, R. 2), as Exodus 21:28; Numbers 21:9; Leviticus 20:14; 1 Samuel 24:6 (but see Dr) 2 Samuel 4:11; 2 Samuel 18:18; 2 Samuel 23:21; or which, though definite, is without the article, Genesis 21:30; 2 Samuel 15:16; Leviticus 26:5; 1 Samuel 9:3 (so Numbers 16:15) Isaiah 33:19; Isaiah 41:7; Ezekiel 43:10 (for further examples see Ew 1.c.).
- b. With a passive verb (Ges § 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 Genesis 4:18 (J) וַיִּוָּלֵד לַחֲנוֹךְ אֶת־עִירָד, Genesis 17:5 (P), לֹא יִקָּרֵא עוֹד אֶת־שִׁמְךָ אַבְרָם there shall not be called (=one shall not call) thy name Abram, Genesis 21:5 (E), Genesis 27:42; 2 Samuel 21:11; 1 Kings 18:13; Hosea 10:6 etc., to Jeremiah 35:18; Jeremiah 38:4; Jeremiah 50:20; Ezekiel 16:4, 5; Esther 2:13 (compare Dr JPh xi. 227 f.): also with passive verbs of filling (Ew § 281 b), as Exodus 1:7 +.
- c. With neuter verbs or expressions, especially such as involve the idea of regarding, or treating, appy. by a construction κατά σύνεσιν (rare): Joshua 22:17; 2 Samuel 11:25; Nehemiah 9:32 (compare 1 Samuel 20:13 Dr). Once after אֵין, Haggai 2:17; אֵין אֶתְכֶם אֲלֵי.
- d. Poet. (si vera lectio), after an abstract noun used with a verbal force: Habakkuk 3:13 (Amos 4:11; Isaiah 13:19; Jeremiah 50:40 מַהֲפֵּכָה exerts a verbal force, like the Arabic nom. verbi [see W AG i. § 196, 43]; and Numbers 10:2; Ezekiel 17:9 לְמַסַּע, לְמַשְׁאוֹת are Aramaizing infinitives: compare Ew § 239 a).
2. אֵת marks an accusative in other relations than that of direct object to a verb
- a. With verbs of motion (very rare): Numbers 13:17; Deuteronomy 1:19; Deuteronomy 2:7 (to 'walk the wilderness'); denoting the goal Judges 19:18; Ezekiel 21:25 (Ew § 281 d, n., 282 a 1).
- b. Denoting time (duration), also very rare: Exodus 13:7; Leviticus 25:22; Deuteronomy 9:25.
- c. Expressing the accus. of limitation (rare): Genesis 17:11, 14; 1 Kings 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 κατά σύνεσιν), or by an anacoluthon, partly (β) as resuming loosely some other preposition
- Thus (α): Exodus 1:14; Numbers 3:26, 46; Numbers 5:10 (with הָיָה: so Ezekiel 35:10) Numbers 18:21 b Deuteronomy 11:2 (anacoluthon), Deuteronomy 14:13; Joshua 17:11; Judges 20:44, 46 (contr. Judges 20:25; Judges 20:35) 1 Samuel 17:34 (see Dr) 1 Samuel 26:16; 2 Samuel 21:22; 2 Kings 6:5; Isaiah 53:8 (probably), Isaiah 57:12; Jeremiah 23:33 (but read rather with LXX Targum אֶתֶּם הַמַּשָּׂא) Jeremiah 27:8; Jeremiah 36:22; Jeremiah 38:16 Kt, Jeremiah 45:4 b Ezekiel 16:22; Ezekiel 17:21; Ezekiel 20:16; Ezekiel 29:4; b Ezekiel 43:7 (LXX Co prefix הָרְאִיתָ) Ezekiel 44:3; Zechariah 8:17; Ecclesiastes 4:3; Daniel 9:13; Nehemiah 9:19, 34; 1 Chronicles 2:9; 2 Chronicles 31:17.
- In 1 Samuel 30:23; Haggai 2:5 probably some such word as remember is to be understood.
- (β): Jeremiah 38:9; Ezekiel 14:22; b Ezekiel 37:19 b Zechariah 12:10; סָבִיב אֵת 1 Kings 6:5; Ezekiel 43:17 strangely (in 1 Kings LXX omits the clause: so Sta ZAW 1883, 135).
- — In 1 Kings 11:1 וְ is merely and also, and especially (see וְ); 1 Kings 11:25 is corrupt (read with LXX זֹאת הָרָעָה אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה הֲדַד); Ezekiel 47:17, 18, 19 read similarly for וְאֵת, זֹאת: see Ezekiel 47:20.
— For some particulars as to the use of אֵת, see A. M. Wilson Hebraica. vi. 139 ff. 212 ff. (who, however, confuses it sometimes with II. אֵת). For denoting the pronominal object of a verb, אֵת with suffix preponderates relatively much above the verbal affix in P, as compared with J E Deuteronomy Judges Samuel Kings (see Gie ZAW 1881, 258 f.), — partly, probably, on account of the greater distinctness and precision which P loves.
יָת mark of accusative (= Biblical Hebrew I. אֵת; Palmyrene ית; Zinjirli Had. 28 with suffix ותה; Nabataean, Palmyrene with suffix יתו (Lzb 263 Cooke 170; compare RÉS 468); Targum Onkelos Samaritan יָת; Syriac ܒܪ (rare)); — Daniel 3:12 דִּי מְנִיּתָ יָתְהוֹן whom thou hast appointed.
1 Schröd: Paul Schröder, Die phönizische Sprache, Halle, 1869.
2 Lag: Paul de Lagarde, works on Semitic languages.
3 Nö: Theodor Nöldeke, Orientalische Skizzen, Berlin, 1892.
4 Ol: Julius Olshausen, Lehrbuch der hebräischen Sprache, Braunschweig, 1861.
5 W AG: Wilhelm Gesenius, Thesaurus Linguae Hebraeae, ed. by E. Rödiger, Leipzig, 1835-1858.
6 Di: August Dillmann, Ethiopic Grammar, Leipzig, 1857.
7 Targ: Targum.
8 PS: Payne Smith, Syriac Dictionary.
9 Qor: Quran.
10 Ew: Heinrich Ewald, Ausführliches Lehrbuch der hebräischen Sprache, Göttingen, 1870.
11 Ges: Wilhelm Gesenius, Hebrew Grammar, ed. E. Kautzsch, trans. A. E. Cowley, 2nd English ed., Oxford, 1910 (GKC).
12 Dr: Samuel Rolles Driver, works on Hebrew.
13 JPh: Journal of Philology.
14 LXX: Septuagint.
15 Targum: Targum.
16 Sta: Bernhard Stade, Geschichte des Volkes Israel, Berlin, 1887.
17 ZAW: Zeitschrift für die alttestamentliche Wissenschaft.
18 Gie: Friedrich Giesebrecht, works on Hebrew.
19 Lzb: Mark Lidzbarski, Handbuch der nordsemitischen Epigraphik, Weimar, 1898.
20 Cooke: George Albert Cooke, North-Semitic Inscriptions, Oxford, 1903.
21 RÉS: Revue des Études Sémitiques.
III. [אֵת] noun [masculine] a cutting instrument of iron usually translated as ploughshare.
— singular suffix אֵתוֹ 1 Samuel 13:20; plural אֵתִּים 1 Samuel 13:21, אִתִּים Isaiah 2:4 = Micah 4:3; suffix אִתֵּיכֶם Joel 4:10; according to Klo1 and others also 2 Kings 6:5 אֵת הַבַּרְזֶל, that is, the axe of iron.
1 A. Klostermann.
- Definition
- a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)
- Root
- from H1129 (בנה);
- Exhaustive
- from בנה; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.); [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth.
- Definition
- my, personal posessive - noun suffix: 1st person common singular
- Root
- Exhaustive
- Personal posessive pronoun - suffix for nouns, adjectives and passive participles: 1st person singular
I. בֵּן (approximate number of occurrences: 4870) noun masculine — son.
Cognates:
- Phoenician בן
- Sabean בני
- Arabic ٱבْن
- Assyrian binu
- Aramaic בַּר (plural בְּנִין)
- Possibly connected with בנה (build), compare Assyrian bânu (begetter).
— בֵּן absolute Genesis 4:25 +; בֵּןֿ Ezekiel 18:10; construct בֵּן Genesis 49:22; בֶּןֿ Genesis 5:32 +; suffix בְּנוֹ Numbers 23:18; בְּנִי Genesis 49:11; בִּן Deuteronomy 25:2 (32 times); plural בָּנִים Genesis 3:16 +; construct בְּנֵי Genesis 6:2 +; suffix בָּנַי Genesis 31:43 + etc.
1. Son, male child
Born of a woman Genesis 4:25; Genesis 16:11; Isaiah 49:15; begotten by a man Genesis 5:4; often contrasted with בַּת (daughter) Genesis 5:4; Exodus 20:10; Job 1:2.
a. Brotherבֶּן־אִמּוֹ son of his mother, i.e. uterine brother:
b. Cousins- Numbers 36:11 (בְּנֵי דֹדֵיהֶן)
Used of kindliness by Eli to Samuel 1 Samuel 3:6, 16. Expressing intimate relation with God:
- Exodus 4:22 (Israel as בְּנִי בְכֹרִי)
- Hosea 11:1
- Deuteronomy 14:1
- 2 Samuel 7:14 (of Davidic king)
- Genesis 6:2, 4 (בְּנֵי הָאֱלֹהִים)
- Job 1:6; Job 38:7
- Exodus 10:2 (בֶּן־בִּנְךָ)
- Genesis 29:5 (Laban son [grandson] of Nahor)
- Ruth 4:17 (of Naomi)
- Numbers 14:30 (כָּלֵב בֶּן־יְפֻנֶּה)
- 1 Samuel 20:27 (בֶּן־יִשַׁי often with contempt)
- Ecclesiastes 10:17 (בֶּן־חוֹרִים son of nobles)
- Exodus 1:7 (613 times בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל)
- Genesis 19:38 (בְּנֵי־עַמּוֹן)
- Exodus 32:26 (בְּנֵי לֵוִי)
2. Children (male and female)
- Genesis 3:16
- Exodus 21:5
- Joshua 17:2 (+ זְכָרִים for male children)
3. Youth, young men
4. The young of animals
5. Of plant-shoots
- Genesis 49:22 (בֵּן פֹּרָת)
- Psalm 80:16
6. Figurative of lifeless things
- Job 5:7 (בְּנֵי רֶשֶׁף sparks)
- Job 41:20 (בֶּן־קָשֶׁת arrows)
- Isaiah 21:10 (בֶּן־גָּרְנִי corn of threshing-floor)
7. Member of a guild, order, or class
- 1 Kings 20:35 (בְּנֵי הַנְּבִיאִים prophetic order)
- Ezra 4:1 (בְּנֵי הַגּוֹלָה exiles)
- Genesis 17:12 (בֶּן־נֵכָר foreigner)
- Exodus 29:1 (בֶּן־בָּקָר one of the herd)
8. As relative noun of quality
- 1 Samuel 14:52 (בֶּן־חַיִל mighty man)
- 2 Samuel 12:5 (בֶּן־מָוֶת worthy of death)
- Numbers 17:25 (בְּנֵי מֶרִי rebels)
9. Noun relative of age
- Genesis 5:32 (בֶּן־חֲמֵשׁ מֵאוֹת שָׁנָה five hundred years old)
- Exodus 30:14 (מִבֶּן עֶשְׂרִים שָׁנָה וָמָעְלָה from twenty years old and upward)
- Exodus 12:5 (בֶּן־שָׁנָה a year old)
1 Bernhard Stade, Lehrbuch der hebräischen Grammatik (1879), § 183.
2 Friedrich Delitzsch, Prolegomena eines neuen hebräisch-aramäischen Wörterbuchs zum Alten Testament (1886).
3 Jakob Barth, Zeitschrift der Deutschen Morgenländischen Gesellschaft (ZDMG), 1887, 638 ff.
4 Paul de Lagarde, Übersicht über die im Aramäischen, Arabischen und Hebräischen übliche Bildung der Nomina (1889), 75.
No verse found
And she will say to Elijah, What to me and to thee, thou man of God? camest thou to me to bring to remembrance mine iniquity, and to kill my son?
And she said to Elijah, What have I to do with you, O man of God? Have you come to me to cause my iniquity to be remembered, and to put my son to death?
And she said to Elijah, What have I to do with thee, O man of God? hast thou come in to me to bring my sins to remembrance, and to slay my son?