Genesis 42:10
- 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).
- Definition
- him, personal pronoun - verb/prep. 3rd person masculine singular
- Root
- Exhaustive
- Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 3rd person masculine 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
- not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
- Root
- or לוא; or לה; (Deuteronomy 3:11), a primitive particle;
- Exhaustive
- or לוא; or לה; (Deuteronomy 3:11), a primitive particle; not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles; [idiom] before, [phrase] or else, ere, [phrase] except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never, no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), ([idiom] as though...,(can-), for) not (out of), of nought, otherwise, out of, [phrase] surely, [phrase] as truly as, [phrase] of a truth, [phrase] verily, for want, [phrase] whether, without.
I. לֹא or לוֺא (approximate number of occurrences: 5048) adverb — not.
Cognates:
- Arabic لا
- Aramaic לָא
- Sabean לא
- Assyrian lâ
- (Not in Ethiopic: compare Kö1 ii. 1. 236; Walker2)
— לוֺא, according to Masora (Fr3), 35 times; besides בְּלוֺא 6 times, and הֲלוֺא, the orthography of which varies much, e.g. in Samuel always הֲלוֺא, in Chronicles always הֲלֹא, on the whole הֲלוֺא 141 times, הֲלֹא 128 times; twice, according to Masora, written לו (קרי לֹא), 1 Samuel 2:16; 1 Samuel 20:2, once לה Deuteronomy 3:11 כתיב: — not — denying objectively, like Greek οὐ (not μὴ = אַל).
1. In predication
a. With a verb- With finite tenses: Genesis 2:5, Genesis 4:5 (perfect); Genesis 3:4, Genesis 8:21–22 (imperfect).
- In circumstantial clauses: Genesis 44:4 לא הרחיקו, Isaiah 40:20 לֹא יִמּוֺט.
- With final force: Isaiah 41:7; Exodus 28:32 (see GKC4 §156. 3).
- Governing two verbs: Exodus 28:43 וְלֹא יִשְׂאוּ עָוֺן וָמֵתוּ, Leviticus 19:12.
- Expressing prohibition: Genesis 2:17 לֹא תאֹכַל מִמֶּנּוּ thou shall not eat of it, Exodus 20:13 לא תגנב.
- With jussive/cohortative (rare): Genesis 24:8; 1 Samuel 14:36.
Only once in בְּלֹא (4a), and with לְ, in the sense of cannot or must not:
c. Negating the word immediately following- Genesis 32:29 לֹא יַעֲקֹב יֵאָמֵר עוֺד not Jacob shall thy name be called any more.
- Genesis 45:8 לֹא אַתֶּם שְׁלַחְתֶּם אֹתִי not ye have sent me hither, but God.
- Rhetorically: 2 Kings 6:10 not once, and not twice (but repeatedly).
- אִם לֹא if not: Genesis 18:21, Genesis 42:16.
- In answer to a question (Nay): Judges 12:5 ויאמר לא, Genesis 23:11 לא אדני.
2. Not in predication
a. Coupled to an adjective (litotes) b. With a participle c. With nouns or prepositional phrases d. With a substantive forming a compound (un-)- Deuteronomy 32:21 בְּלֹא אֵל with a not-God.
- Amos 6:13 הַשְּׂמֵחִים לְלֹא דָבָר at a thing which is not.
- Isaiah 10:15 מַטֶּה לֹא עֵץ what is no wood.
3. As a substantive
Job 6:21 כִּי־עַתָּה הֱיִיתֶם לֹא for now are ye become nothing (compare Aramaic Daniel 4:32).
4. With prefixes
a. בְּלֹא — without- Jeremiah 22:13 בלא־צדק without justice.
- Job 8:11 בְּלֹא בִצָּה without mire.
- Of time: Leviticus 15:25 בלא עֶת־נִדָּתָהּ outside the time of her impurity.
Inviting an affirmative answer; often used in conversation to win assent:
- Genesis 13:9 Is not the whole land before thee?
- Exodus 4:11 Do not I?
- As a rhetorical affirmative: 1 Kings 11:41 הֲלֹא הֵם כְּתוּבִים are they not written...?
- Obadiah 1:16 והיו כלוא היו as though they had not been.
- 2 Chronicles 15:3; Amos 6:13.
Note on Orthography: Fifteen times, according to Masora, לא is written by error for לוֺ, e.g., Exodus 21:8; Leviticus 11:21; Isaiah 9:2; Psalm 100:3; Job 13:15 (always with קרי לוֺ).
AramaicI. לָא (לָה Daniel 4:32) adverb not (Biblical Hebrew לא).
- literally not
- with infinitive and לְ (must not / cannot)
- interrogative הֲלָא
1 Friedrich Eduard König, Historisch-kritisches Lehrgebäude der hebräischen Sprache (1881–1897).
2 Dean A. Walker, "The Semitic Negative," American Journal of Semitic Languages (1896).
3 S. Frensdorff, Die Massora Magna (1876).
4 Gesenius' Hebrew Grammar, ed. E. Kautzsch, trans. A. E. Cowley (GKC).
5 S. R. Driver, A Treatise on the Use of the Tenses in Hebrew (1892).
- Definition
- sovereign, i.e. controller (human or divine)
- Root
- or (shortened) אדן; from an unused root (meaning to rule);
- Exhaustive
- or (shortened) אדן; from an unused root (meaning to rule); sovereign, i.e. controller (human or divine); lord, master, owner. Compare also names beginning with 'Adoni-'.
- 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. אָדוֹן noun masculine Malachi 3:1 — lord.
Cognates:
- Phoenician אדן
— אָדוֹן absolute Psalm 12:5; אֲדֹנִים Joshua 3:11 +; plural אֲדֹנִים Isaiah 26:13 +; construct אֲדֹנֵי Deuteronomy 10:17 +; suffix אֲדֹנֵינוּ 1 Samuel 25:14 + etc.; (אֲדֹנִי, אֲדֹנַי, אֲדֹנָי are variations of Masoretic pointing to distinguish divine reference from human. Plural, with few exceptions an intensive plural of rank; word takes suffix as plural in all other persons; so doubtless here. Original reading probably in all cases אֲדֹנַי (see Dalman Der Gottesname Adonaj; Lag1 makes אֲדֹנָי an Aramaic formative); אֲדֹנִי now found in J 51 times; in E Genesis 31:35; Genesis 32:19; Genesis 42:10; Exodus 21:5; in P Genesis 23:6, 11, 15; Numbers 36:2 (twice in verse); often Samuel & Kings; in Chronicles only in sources, 1 Chronicles 21:3 (3 times in verse); 1 Chronicles 21:23 (= 2 Samuel 24:3, 22) 2 Chronicles 2:13; 2 Chronicles 2:14; Isaiah & Jeremiah only in historical parts Isaiah 36:8, 9, 12; Jeremiah 37:20; Jeremiah 38:9; elsewhere Daniel 1:10; Daniel 10:16, 17, 19; Daniel 12:8; Zechariah 1:9; Zechariah 4:4, 5, 13; Zechariah 6:4; Psalm 110:1; Judges 4:18; Judges 6:13; Ruth 2:13; בִּי אֲדֹנָי Exodus 4:10, 13; Joshua 7:8 (J) Judges 6:15; Judges 13:8 is referred to God, but בִּי אֲדֹנִי Genesis 43:20; Genesis 44:18; Numbers 12:11 (J) 1 Samuel 1:26; 1 Samuel 25:24; 1 Kings 3:17, 26 reference to human superiors. There is uncertainty as to אֲדֹנַי Genesis 18:3; Genesis 19:18; אֲדֹנַי Genesis 19:2).
1. Singular Lord, Master
- Reference to men:
- Superintendent of household, or of affairs Genesis 45:8, 9 (E) = Psalm 105:21
- Master Psalm 12:5
- King Jeremiah 22:18; Jeremiah 34:5
- Reference to God:
- הָאָדוֹן יְהוָה the Lord Yahweh (see יְהוָה) Exodus 23:17; Exodus 34:23 (Covenant codes)
- אֲדוֹן כָּל־הָאָרֶץ Lord of the whole earth Joshua 3:11, 13 (J) Psalm 97:5; Zechariah 4:14; Zechariah 6:5; Micah 4:13
- צְבָאוֹת יְהוָה הָאָדוֹן earlier Isaiah 1:24; Isaiah 3:1; Isaiah 10:33; Isaiah 19:4 (אֲדֹנָי Isaiah 10:16 in common MT; not Massora, doubtless scribal error)
- יְהוָה הָאָדוֹן Malachi 3:1
- אָדוֹן Psalm 114:7
2. Plural Lords, Kings
- Lords, kings Deuteronomy 10:17 = Psalm 136:3; Isaiah 26:13
- Elsewhere intensive plural of rank, lord, master
- Reference to men:
- Proprietor of hill Samaria 1 Kings 16:24
- Master Genesis 40:7 (E) Exodus 21:4 (twice in verse); Exodus 21:6, 8, 32 (Covenant code) Genesis 24:9 + (J, 11 times) Deuteronomy 23:16; Judges 19:11, 12 13 times Samuel & Kings; Job 3:19; Psalm 123:2; Proverbs 25:13; Proverbs 27:18; Proverbs 30:10; Isaiah 24:2; Amos 4:1; Zephaniah 1:9; Malachi 1:6 (twice in verse)
- Husband Judges 19:26, 27; Psalm 45:12
- Prophet 2 Kings 2:3, 5, 16
- Governor Nehemiah 3:5
- Prince Genesis 42:10, 30, 33 (E) Genesis 44:8 (J) 1 Samuel 29:10
- King Genesis 40:1 (E) Judges 3:25 40 times Samuel & Kings; Chronicles only in sources 1 Chronicles 12:19 compare 1 Samuel 29:4; 2 Chronicles 13:6; 2 Chronicles 18:16 = 1 Kings 22:17; Isaiah 19:4; Isaiah 22:18; Isaiah 36:12; Isaiah 37:4, 6; Jeremiah 27:4
- Reference to God: Malachi 1:6; אֲדֹנֵי הָאֲדֹנִים Lord of lords Deuteronomy 10:17 = Psalm 136:3; אֲדֹנֵינוּ Psalm 135:5; Psalm 147:5; Nehemiah 8:10; אֲדֹנֵינוּ יְהוָה Psalm 8:2; Psalm 8:10; Nehemiah 10:30; אֲדֹנַיִּךְ יְהוָה Isaiah 51:22 (probably = thy husband, Yahweh); אֲדֹנָיו Hosea 12:15 (possibly error for אֲדֹנָי)
- Reference to men:
3. Suffix 1 Singular (אֲדֹנַי) אֲדֹנִי
- Reference to men: my lord, my master
- Master Exodus 21:5 (Covenant code) Genesis 24:12 +, Genesis 44:5 (J, 20 times) 1 Samuel 30:13, 15; 2 Kings 5:3, 20, 22; 2 Kings 6:15
- Husband Genesis 18:12 (J)
- Prophet 1 Kings 18:7, 13; 2 Kings 2:19; 2 Kings 4:16, 28; 2 Kings 6:5; 2 Kings 8:5
- Prince Genesis 42:10 (E), Genesis 23:6, 11, 15 (P), Genesis 43:20; Genesis 44:18 +, Genesis 47:18 + (J, 12 times); Judges 4:18
- King 1 Samuel 22:12 + (Samuel & Kings 75 times)
- Father Genesis 31:35 (E)
- Moses Exodus 32:22; Numbers 11:28; Numbers 12:11; Numbers 32:26, 27 (J); Numbers 36:2 (twice in verse) (P)
- Priest 1 Samuel 1:15, 26 (twice in verse)
- Theophanic angel Joshua 5:14; Judges 6:13
- Captain 2 Samuel 11:11
- General recognition of superiority Genesis 24:18; Genesis 32:5 + Genesis 33:8 +; Genesis 44:7 + (J, 13 times), Ruth 2:13; 1 Samuel 25:24 + (15 times)
- Reference to God: אֲדֹנָי
- my Lord Genesis 20:4 (? E) Exodus 15:17 (Samaritan יְהוָה) elsewhere in Hexateuch, J; Genesis 18:3 (?); Genesis 18:27, 30, 31, 32; Genesis 19:2, 18 (?) Exodus 4:10; Exodus 4:13; Exodus 5:22; Exodus 34:9; Numbers 14:17; Joshua 7:8; also Judges 6:15; Judges 13:8; not Samuel; 1 Kings 22:6; 2 Kings 19:23; not Chron. except memorials Ezra 10:3 (reference to Ezra) Nehemiah 1:11; Nehemiah 4:8; Wisdom Literature only Job 28:28 (doubtless scribal error for יְהוָה of many manuscripts); not Hosea; Isaiah 37:24; Isaiah 38:14, 16 (historical part); exile Isaiah 49:14 (compare Isaiah 51:22); Micah 1:2; Psalm 16:2 + (47 times, chiefly this sense, except below b.; compare אֱלֹהַי וְאֲדֹנָי my Lord and my God Psalm 35:23; (writers that use אֱלֹהִים seldom use אֲדֹנָי))
- Adonay proper name of God, parallel with Yahweh, substitution for it often by scribal error, & eventually supplanting it. In earlier Isaiah Isaiah 3:17 + (19 times seeming to belong here), Amos 7:7, 8; Amos 9:1; Ezekiel 18:25, 29; Ezekiel 33:17, 20; Ezekiel 21:14 (probably יְהוָה אֲדֹנָי as in usual phrase); Zechariah 9:4; Malachi 1:12, 14; Lamentations 1:14 + (14 times) Psalm 2:4; Psalm 37:13; Psalm 78:65; Psalm 90:17 (? יְהוָה) Psalm 110:5 (Dalman puts most of these below (a); many cases are doubtful); 1 Kings 3:10, 15 (Masoretic אֲדֹנִי for יְהוָה compare Dalman 2 Kings 7:6; Dalman rightly questions; he reads יְהוָה). The phrases אֲדֹנָי אֱלֹהַי Adonay my God; אֲדֹנָי הָאֱלֹהִים Daniel 9:3, אֱלֹהֵינוּ יְהוָה אֲדֹנָי Daniel 9:9, 15, הָאֵל יְהוָה אֲדֹנָי Daniel 9:4 favour taking יְהוָה אֲדֹנָי Daniel 1:2; Daniel 9:7, 8 (יְהוָה ?) Daniel 9:16; Daniel 9:17; Daniel 9:19 as the divine name.
4. אֲדֹנָי יְהוָה
- my Lord Yahweh (see יְהוָה) Genesis 15:2, 8 (JE) Joshua 7:7 (J, omit יְהוָה) Deuteronomy 3:24; Deuteronomy 9:26; Judges 6:22; Judges 16:28; 2 Samuel 7:1 (6 times) 1 Kings 2:26; 1 Kings 8:53; probably Amos 3:7, 8; Amos 7:2, 4, 5; Amos 9:8; Jeremiah 1:6; Jeremiah 4:10; Jeremiah 14:13; Jeremiah 32:17, 25; Ezekiel 4:14; Ezekiel 8:1; Ezekiel 9:6; Ezekiel 11:13; Ezekiel 20:49; Ezekiel 37:3 (יָדַעְתִּי כִּי אַתָּה יְהוָה אֲדֹנָי) Ezekiel 13:9; Ezekiel 23:49; Ezekiel 24:24; Ezekiel 28:24; Ezekiel 29:16 inappropriate in mouth of God; strike out אֲדֹנָי (Co) or read אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה (Dalman); Micah 1:2; Zephaniah 1:7; Obadiah 1:1; Zechariah 9:14; Psalm 71:5; Psalm 71:16; Psalm 73:28
- apparently proper name Adonay Yahweh Isaiah 25:8; Jeremiah 44:26; exile Isaiah 40:10 + (10 times, but Isaiah 61:1, 11 read יְהוָה, omit יְהוָה)
- uncertain whether (a) or (b) in prophetic formula אָמַר יְהוָה אֲדֹנָי Isaiah 7:7; Isaiah 28:16; Isaiah 30:15; Isaiah 49:22; Isaiah 51:4; Isaiah 65:13; Jeremiah 7:20; Amos 1:8; Amos 3:11; Amos 5:3; Amos 7:6; Obadiah 1:1; Ezekiel 1:1 (131 times); יְהוָה אֲדֹנָי נְאֻם Isaiah 56:8; Jeremiah 2:22; Amos 3:13; Amos 4:5; Amos 8:3, 9, 11; Ezekiel 1:1 (80 times); יְהוָה אֲדֹנָי דִּבֶּר Ezekiel 6:3; Ezekiel 25:3; Ezekiel 36:4; יְהוָה אֲדֹנָי כֹּה Amos 7:1, 4; Amos 8:1
5. יְהוָה אֲדֹנָי
- Yahweh my Lord Psalm 68:21; Psalm 109:21; Psalm 140:8; Psalm 141:8; Habakkuk 3:9
6. אֲדֹנָי יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת
- my Lord Yahweh of Hosts (see צְבָאוֹת) Psalm 69:7; Amos 9:5; Isaiah 10:23; Isaiah 22:5, 12; compare יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵי הַצְּבָאוֹת אֲדֹנָי, Yahweh, the God of Hosts my Lord Amos 5:16
- a divine name, Adonay, Yahweh of Hosts Jeremiah 46:10 (twice in verse); Jeremiah 50:25
- uncertain are צְבָאוֹת יְהוָה אֲדֹנָי כֹּה אָמַר Isaiah 10:24; Isaiah 22:14, 15; נְאֻם יְהוָה אֲדֹנָי צְבָאוֹת Isaiah 3:15; Jeremiah 2:19; Jeremiah 49:5; Jeremiah 50:31
1 Paul de Lagarde, Bildung der Nomina im Hebräischen und Aramäischen, Göttingen, 1889.
- 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
- a servant
- Root
- from H5647 (עבד);
- Exhaustive
- from עבד; a servant; [idiom] bondage, bondman, (bond-) servant, (man-) servant.
- Definition
- your, personal posessive - noun suffix: 2nd person masculine singular
- Root
- Exhaustive
- Personal posessive pronoun - suffix for nouns, adjectives and passive participles: 2nd person masculine singular
I. עֶ֫בֶד (approximate number of occurrences: 799) noun masculine1 — slave, servant.
— עֶ֫בֶד Genesis 9:25 +, עָ֑בֶד Genesis 44:10 +; suffix עַבְדִּי Genesis 26:24 +; עַבְדְּךָ Genesis 19:19 +; עַבְדֶּ֫ךָ Genesis 18:3 +; plural עֲבָדִים Genesis 9:25 +, construct עַבְדֵי Genesis 21:25 +, suffix עֲבָדַי Leviticus 25:42 +, עַבְדֵיכֶם Joshua 9:11 +, etc.
1. Slave or servant
- of household Genesis 39:17, 19; Genesis 41:12; Genesis 50:2; Exodus 21:2 +
- man-servant, "" אמה Exodus 20:10; Leviticus 25:6; Deuteronomy 5:14; Job 31:13 +; "" שׁפחה Genesis 12:16; Genesis 32:6; Jeremiah 34:11; Isaiah 14:2 +; + אדון Deuteronomy 23:16; Isaiah 24:2; Malachi 1:6 +
- מִקְנַת כֶּסֶף Exodus 12:44 or יְלִיד בַּיִת Jeremiah 2:14
- עֶבֶד עֲבָדִים servant of servants, humblest servant, Genesis 9:25
- בֵּית עֲבָדִים house of slaves, especially Israel in Egypt Exodus 13:3, 14 (Deuteronomic Source ?) Deuteronomy 5:6; Deuteronomy 6:12; Deuteronomy 7:8; Deuteronomy 8:14; Deuteronomy 13:6; Deuteronomy 13:11; Joshua 24:17; Judges 6:8; Jeremiah 34:13; Micah 6:4
- וזכרת כי עבד היית ב(ארץׅ מצרים and thou shalt remember that thou wast a slave in (the land of) Egypt Deuteronomy 5:15; Deuteronomy 15:15; Deuteronomy 16:12; Deuteronomy 24:18, 22
- King of Babylon is slave to יהוה Jeremiah 25:9; Jeremiah 27:6; Jeremiah 43:10; the borrower to the lender Proverbs 22:7; figurative of beast Job 40:28; of things Genesis 47:19
2. Subjects
- of chief Genesis 26:15, 19, 25, 32; Genesis 27:37; Genesis 32:17 (twice) +
- of king Genesis 21:25; Exodus 7:28; Exodus 7:29; 1 Kings 9:27; Deuteronomy 29:1 +
- vassal kings 2 Samuel 10:19; tributary nations 2 Samuel 8:2, 6, 14 = 1 Chronicles 18:2, 6, 13
- specifically officers of king 1 Samuel 19:1; 1 Samuel 21:8; 2 Samuel 11:13; Proverbs 14:35 +; עַבְדֵי פַרְעֹה Genesis 40:20; Genesis 41:10; שָׁאוּל ע׳ 1 Samuel 16:17; 1 Samuel 18:22; 1 Samuel 28:7; הַמֶּלֶךְ ע׳ 1 Kings 1:47; Esther 3:3 +; עֶבֶד הַמֶּלֶךְ 2 Kings 22:12 (2 Chronicles 34:20) (a court official)
- opposed to שַׂר Proverbs 19:10; Ecclesiastes 10:7; מֶלֶךְ Proverbs 30:22
- ambassadors Numbers 22:18; 2 Samuel 10:2; soldiers of army 1 Samuel 17:8; 1 Samuel 25:10; 2 Samuel 2:12, + officers of army 1 Samuel 29:3; 1 Kings 11:26; 2 Kings 25:8; Isaiah 36:9
3. Servants, worshippers of God
- עַבְדֵי יהוה 2 Kings 9:7; 2 Kings 10:23; Isaiah 54:17, compare Genesis 50:17; Isaiah 56:6
- עֲבָדָיו Deuteronomy 32:36 = Psalm 135:14; Isaiah 65:15; Isaiah 66:14; Psalm 34:23; Psalm 69:37; Nehemiah 2:20; "" עַמּוֺ Psalm 105:25 compare Deuteronomy 32:43; עֲבָּדַי Isaiah 65:8, 9, 13 (twice)
- specifically angels Job 4:18
- ancient worthies, patriarchs Exodus 32:13 (Jehovist Source), Deuteronomy 9:27; Abraham Genesis 26:24 (Jehovist Source), Psalm 105:6, 42; Isaac Genesis 24:14 (Jehovist Source); Jacob, Israel Ezekiel 28:25; Ezekiel 37:25; 1 Chronicles 16:13
- Moses Exodus 14:31; Joshua 18:7 (Jehovist Source), Numbers 12:7, 8 (Elohist Source), Deuteronomy 34:5, Joshua 1:1, 2, 7, 13, 15 (all Deuteronomic Source), 1 Kings 8:53, 56; Nehemiah 1:8; Malachi 3:22; Daniel 9:11
- Joshua Joshua 24:29 (Elohist Source); Caleb Numbers 14:24 (Jehovist Source); Job Job 1:8; Job 2:3; Job 42:7, 8; David 2 Samuel 3:18; 2 Samuel 7:5, 8, 26; Zerubbabel Haggai 2:23; Eliakim Isaiah 22:20
- The צֶמַח Zechariah 3:8; compare Zechariah 6:12 is also servant of יהוה as Messianic builder of temple2
4. Servant of יהוה, in a special sense
- of Levitical singers Psalm 113:1; Psalm 134:1; Psalm 135:1
- usually of prophets, עֲבָדַי הַנְּבִיאִים my servants the prophets 2 Kings 9:7; 2 Kings 17:13; Jeremiah 7:25; Jeremiah 26:5; Jeremiah 29:19; Jeremiah 35:15; Jeremiah 44:4; Ezekiel 38:17; Zechariah 1:6
- specifically Ahia 1 Kings 14:18; Elijah 2 Kings 9:36; Jonah 2 Kings 14:25; Isaiah Isaiah 20:3; עַבְדּוֺ, "" מלאכיו Isaiah 44:26
5. Israel as a people is servant of יהוה
- יִשְׂרָאֵל Isaiah 41:8, 9; Isaiah 44:21; Isaiah 49:3; Psalm 136:22; יעקב Isaiah 44:1, 2; Isaiah 45:4; Isaiah 48:20; Jeremiah 30:10; Jeremiah 46:27
- עַבְדִּי = עֶבֶד יהוה, as having a mission to the nations Isaiah 42:19; and witness of יהוה Isaiah 43:10
- Ideal servant chosen to be a covenant of Israel and a light of the nations Isaiah 42:1 (compare Isaiah 42:2–6); formed to bring back Jacob Isaiah 49:5, 6; interposing martyr Isaiah 52:13; Isaiah 53:11. [Messianic, see Matthew 8:16–17; 12:16–21; Luke 4:17–22; Philippians 2:5–11]
6. In polite address
Of equals or superiors the Hebrews used עַבְדְּךָ thy servant = 1 person singular, I:
- Genesis 18:3; 1 Samuel 20:7, 8; 2 Kings 8:13 +; עֲבָדֶיךָ thy servants = we Genesis 42:11; Isaiah 36:11
- Also עַבְדּוֺ his servant = I, 1 Samuel 26:18, 19; 2 Samuel 14:22; 2 Samuel 24:21 +
- Addressing God in prayer: Exodus 4:10; Numbers 11:11; Judges 15:18; 1 Samuel 3:9, 10; 2 Samuel 24:10; Psalm 19:12, 14; Psalm 31:17; Psalm 143:2 +
7. Phrases
- עבד (היה), with לְ person, become servant to Genesis 9:26, 27; Genesis 44:10, 16, 17, 33; Genesis 47:19, 26 (Jehovist Source)
- היה לעבד, with לְ person, Genesis 44:9 (Jehovist Source) Genesis 50:18 (Elohist Source) 1 Samuel 8:17; 1 Samuel 17:9
- כבשׁ לעבדים Nehemiah 5:5; Jeremiah 34:11; לקח לע׳ Genesis 43:18 (Jehovist Source) 2 Kings 4:1; Job 40:28
1 Lagarde, Bildung der Nomina (1889) (LagBN 77).
2 Briggs, Messianic Prophecy, 1886 (BrMP 442 ff).
- 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
- 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 deal in grain
- Root
- denominative from H7668 (שבר);
- Exhaustive
- denominative from שבר; to deal in grain; buy, sell.
I. [שָׁבַר] (approximate number of occurrences: 21) verb denominative — buy grain.
1. Qal
— תִּשְׁבְּרוּ Imperfect 2 masculine plural Deuteronomy 2:6; נִשְׁבְּרָה 1 plural Genesis 43:4; שִׁבְרוּ Imperative masculine plural Genesis 42:2 +; לִשְׁבֹּר construct Genesis 42:3 +, לִשְׁבָּרֿ Genesis 42:7 +; שֹׁבְרִים masculine plural Genesis 47:14.
a. buy grain for food b. with accusative אֹכֶל- Genesis 42:7; Genesis 42:10
- Genesis 43:2, 4, 20
- Genesis 40:22
- Genesis 44:25
- Deuteronomy 2:6 (מִן person)
2. Hiphil
— נַשְׁבִּיר Imperfect 1 plural Amos 8:6, etc.; מַשְׁבִּיר Participle Genesis 42:6; Proverbs 11:26.
sell grain (properly cause to buy grain)- with ל person Genesis 42:6 + Genesis 42:56 (read וַיַּשְׁבֵּר for 1 וַיִּשְׁבֹּר 2,3,4)
- with accusative שֶׁבֶר Amos 8:5
- with מַמַּל בָּר Amos 8:6, compare Proverbs 11:26
- with suffix person + accusative אֹכֶל + ב pret. Deuteronomy 2:28
1 Masoretic Text (MT).
2 Justus Olshausen.
3 August Dillmann.
4 Hermann Gunkel.
- Definition
- food
- Root
- from H398 (אכל);
- Exhaustive
- from אכל; food; eating, food, meal(-time), meat, prey, victuals.
I. אֹ֫כֶל (approximate number of occurrences: 40) noun masculine Genesis 41:36 — food.
Cognates:
- Arabic أكل
- Aramaic אֻכְלָא
- Syriac ܐܟܠܐ
- Assyrian akalu (Friedrich Delitzsch1; W. Wright2)
- Ethiopic አክል (D. H. Müller3)
— אֹ֫כֶל absolute Genesis 41:35 +; construct Genesis 41:35, Genesis 41:48; suffix אָכְלֵךָ Leviticus 25:37; אָכְלוֹ Malachi 1:12, etc.; — Hexateuch mostly J4 E5 D6, not Ezekiel.
1. Forms and Grammar
- Absolute: אֹ֫כֶל — Genesis 41:35 +
- Construct: אָכְלֵי — Genesis 41:35, Genesis 41:48
- With pronominal endings:
- אָכְלֵךָ — Leviticus 25:37
- אָכְלוֹ — Malachi 1:12 +
2. Meanings and Uses
a. Food-supply, especially cereals stored in Egypt- Genesis 41:35 (twice in verse) + 12 times Genesis 41:36-Genesis 44:44
- Genesis 47:24
- Compare Genesis 14:11 (J4E5)
- Also Leviticus 11:34; Leviticus 25:37 (P7); Deuteronomy 2:6, Deuteronomy 2:28 (D6)
- נֶשֶׁךְ אָכְלֵי usury of food Deuteronomy 23:20 (D6) (parallel to כֶּסֶף and שֶׁבֶר, etc.)
- לְעֵת הָאֹכֶל at meal-time Ruth 2:14
- Psalm 107:18
- Of offerings Malachi 1:12
- Particular food Job 12:11 (as tasted); Job 36:31 (as given by God) so Psalm 145:15
- לְהַשִּׁיב נֶפֶשׁ אֹכֶל Lamentations 1:11 compare Lamentations 1:19
- Especially cereals Proverbs 13:23; Joel 1:16; Habakkuk 3:17
- But also flesh Psalm 78:18; Psalm 78:30
- Of food (prey) of wild animals Psalm 104:21 (parallel to טֶרֶף); Psalm 104:27
- Of prey of eagles Job 9:26; Job 39:29
- Ravens Job 38:41
1 Friedrich Delitzsch, Assyrisches Handwörterbuch.
2 W. Wright, A Grammar of the Arabic Language.
3 D. H. Müller, Die Mehri- und Soqotri-Sprache.
4 Jehovist (Yahwist) Source.
5 Elohist Source.
6 Deuteronomist Source.
7 Priests' Code / Narrative.
And they will say to him, Nay my lord, and thy servants came to buy food.
And they said to him, No, my lord, but your servants have come to buy food.
But they said, Nay, Sir, we thy servants are come to buy food;