Isaiah 1:29
- Definition
- (by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
- Root
- a primitive particle (the full form of the prepositional prefix) indicating causal relations of all kinds, antecedent or consequent;
- Exhaustive
- a primitive particle (the full form of the prepositional prefix) indicating causal relations of all kinds, antecedent or consequent; (by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed; and, + (forasmuch, inasmuch, where-) as, assured(-ly), + but, certainly, doubtless, + else, even, + except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, + nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then, therefore, + (al-) though, + till, truly, + until, when, whether, while, whom, yea, yet.
I. כִּי conjunction — that, for, when.
Cognates:
- Moabite idem
- Phoenician כ
- Aramaic דֵּךְ this1
- Latin nam
1. That
a. Prefixed to sentences depending on an active verbOccupying the place of an accusative; after verbs of seeing, knowing, telling, etc.:
- Genesis 1:10 וַיַּרְא אֱלֹהִים כִּי טוֹב (God saw that it was good)
- Genesis 3:6, Genesis 6:2, Genesis 6:5, Genesis 12:14
- Genesis 14:14, Genesis 22:12 (knowing)
- Genesis 12:18, Genesis 6:6–7 (repenting)
- Genesis 22:16 (swearing)
- Job 36:10, 24 (commanding)
- Psalm 41:12 (after a pronoun)
Like the Greek ὅτι recitativum:
- Genesis 21:30
- Genesis 29:33 and she said, כִּי שָׁמַע יְהוָה Yahweh hath heard, etc.
- Exodus 3:12
- Joshua 2:24
- 1 Samuel 10:19 and ye have said to him, כִּי מֶלֶךְ תָּשִׂים עָלֵינוּ
Introducing the fact sworn to:
- Genesis 42:16 by the life of Pharaoh, כִּי מְרַגְּלִים אַתֶּם
- Numbers 14:22
- 1 Samuel 20:3 as יְהוָה liveth, כִּי כְפֶשַׂע בֵּינִי וּבֵין הַמָּוֶת
- 1 Samuel 14:44 כֹּה יַעֲשֶׂה אֱלֹהִים וְכֹה יוֹסִיף כִּי מוֹת תָּמוּת
- אַף כִּי (see אַף)
- הֲכִי is it that...? 2 Samuel 9:1, Genesis 29:15
- אִם לֹא כִּי Deuteronomy 32:30 were it not that...
- כִּי עַתָּה (apodosis) Genesis 31:42, Genesis 43:10
Introducing a statement with emphasis: yea, surely, certainly:
- Exodus 18:11
- 1 Samuel 17:25
- Isaiah 32:13
- Lamentations 3:22 (the mercies of יְהוָה, surely they are not consumed)
Especially after a question implying surprise or deprecation:
- Genesis 20:9 what have I sinned against thee כִּי הֵבֵאתָ עָלַי that thou hast brought upon me?
- Exodus 3:11 who am I כִּי אֵלֵךְ that I should go?
- Psalm 8:5 what is man כִּי תִזְכְּרֶנּוּ?
- Genesis 40:15 (after a negative)
2. Of time
a. When- Of the past: Genesis 6:1, Genesis 26:8, 2 Samuel 6:13
- Of the present: Exodus 18:16 כִּי יִהְיֶה לָהֶם דָּבָר when they have a matter
- Of the future: Genesis 4:12 כִּי תַעֲבֹד אֶת הָאֲדָמָה, Exodus 7:9
Representing a case likely to occur (mostly with imperfect):
c. Concessive force (though)- Jeremiah 49:16 כִּי תַגְבִּיהַּ כַּנֶּשֶׁר קִנֶּךָ though thou make high like the vulture thy nest
- Micah 7:8 כִּי נָפַלְתִּי קָמְתִּי though I have fallen, I rise
3. Because, since
a. General causal- Genesis 3:14 because thou hast done this, cursed art thou
- Genesis 18:20
- In answer to a question: Genesis 27:20, Exodus 1:19
- Genesis 2:3 כִּי בוֹ שָׁבַת because on it he rested
- Psalm 6:3 heal me כִּי נִבְהֲלוּ עֲצָמָי for my bones are vexed
- Ironical: 1 Kings 18:27 for he is a god
Justifying a statement by unfolding particulars:
d. After a negative (but / sondern)- Genesis 17:15 not Sarai, כִּי שָׂרָה שְׁמָהּ but Sarah shall be her name
- Exodus 16:8 not against us... כִּי עַל יְהוָה but against Yahweh
- לֹא כִּי nay, but: Genesis 18:15 לֹא כִּי צָחָקְתְּ
4. Combined with Other Particles
a. כִּי אִם (except, but rather, surely)- Except: Genesis 32:27 כִּי אִם בֵּרַכְתָּנִי except thou bless me
- But rather: Genesis 15:4, Genesis 32:29
- Surely (after oath): 2 Kings 5:20 כִּי אִם רַצְתִּי surely I will run
1 William Wright, Lectures on the Comparative Grammar of the Semitic Languages (W. SG 110 f.).
2 S. R. Driver, A Treatise on the Use of the Tenses in Hebrew (Dr).
3 Ewald's Lehrbuch der hebräischen Sprache (Ew).
- Definition
- properly, to pale, i.e. by implication to be ashamed; also (by implication) to be disappointed or delayed
- Root
- a primitive root;
- Exhaustive
I. בּוֹשׁ (approximate number of occurrences: 109) verb be ashamed.
Cognates:
- Sabean בוס
- מהבאס = evil-doer (D. H. Müller1, Zeitschrift der Deutschen Morgenländischen Gesellschaft 1883, 375)
- Aramaic בְהַת
- Syriac ܠܐܠܗ
- Arabic عبد, ܐܒܘܢ mean disperse
Qal
Perfect בּוֹשׁ Jeremiah 48:39; בֹּשׁ Jeremiah 48:13; בּוֹשָׁה Jeremiah 15:9; בֹּשְׁתִּי Jeremiah 31:19 (25 times); Imperfect יִבּוֹשׁ Isaiah 29:22 (57 times); Infinitive absolute בּוֹשׁ Jeremiah 6:15; Jeremiah 8:12; Imperative בּוֹשִׁי Isaiah 23:4; Ezekiel 16:52, בּוֹשׁוּ Ezekiel 36:32; Participle plural בּוֹשִׁים Ezekiel 32:30.
Meanings and Uses
a. Absolute: feel shame- Jeremiah 6:15 (16 times)
- Isaiah 19:9
- Isaiah 23:4
- Isaiah 37:27
- Isaiah 42:17
- Isaiah 45:16 (14 times)
- Ezekiel 16:63
- Micah 7:16
- Joel 2:26
- Joel 2:27
- 2 Kings 19:26
- Ezekiel 9:6
- Job 6:20
- Psalm 6:11 (+ 27 times, chiefly in late Psalms)
- Jeremiah 2:36 (twice in verse)
- Jeremiah 12:13
- Jeremiah 48:13
- Isaiah 1:29
- Isaiah 20:5
- Ezekiel 32:30
- Ezekiel 36:32
- בֹּשְׁתִּי לִשְׁאוֹל I am ashamed to ask Ezekiel 8:22
- לֹא תִבּוֹשׁוּ תַּהֲכְרוּ לִי ye are not ashamed to deal hardly with me Job 19:3
- בּוֹשׁוּ וְהָכְלְמוּ they are ashamed and confounded Jeremiah 14:3; Jeremiah 22:22; Isaiah 42:17; Isaiah 45:16; Isaiah 45:17; Ezekiel 16:52; Ezekiel 36:32; Psalm 35:4; Psalm 69:7; Ezekiel 9:6
- וְבֹשׁוּ הַחֹזִים וְחָפְרוּ הַקּוֹסְמִים and the seers shall be ashamed and the diviners confounded Micah 3:7
- Compare Jeremiah 15:9; Job 6:20; Psalm 35:26; Psalm 40:15; Psalm 70:3; Psalm 71:24
- יִבּוֹשׁ מִקּוֹרוֹ be dry Hosea 13:15 (read יִיְבַשׁ)
- עַד בּוֹשׁ to the point of confusion Judges 3:25 (compare Gesenius-Fürst); 2 Kings 2:17; 2 Kings 8:11
Polel
Perfect בּוֹשֵׁשׁ delay (in shame), בּוֹשֵׁשׁ מֹשֶׁה לָרֶדֶת Moses delayed to descend Exodus 32:1 (J2), מַדּוּעַ בּוֹשֵׁשׁ רִכְבּוֹ לָבוֹא why delay his chariots to come? Judges 5:28.
Hiphil
Perfect הֹבִישׁוֹתָ Psalm 44:8; הֹבִישֹׁתָה Psalm 53:6; Imperfect 2 masculine singular suffix תְּבִישֵׁנִי Psalm 119:31; Psalm 119:116; תָּבִישׁוּ Psalm 14:6; put to shame, Participle מֵבִישׁ Proverbs 10:5; Proverbs 14:35; Proverbs 19:26; Proverbs 29:15; one causing shame or acting shamefully, parallel to מִשְׁכִּיל; עֶבֶד מַשְׁכִּיל יִמְשֹׁל בְּבֶן מֵבִישׁ a servant acting wisely will rule over a son causing shame Proverbs 17:2; מְבִישָׁה parallel to אֵשֶׁת חַיִל Proverbs 12:4.
2. הוֹבִישׁ 2 Samuel 19:6; Jeremiah 2:26; Jeremiah 6:15; Joel 1:10; Joel 1:12; הֹבִישׁ Jeremiah 10:14 (7 times); Hosea 2:7; Joel 1:12; Joel 1:17; Isaiah 30:5 (but הֲבָאִישׁ Kethibh); הֹבִשׁוּ Jeremiah 8:9; Jeremiah 8:12; Imperative הֹבִישׁוּ Joel 1:11 (all the forms in Joel derived from יָבַשׁ by ancient versions and some moderns, see Ewald §122e, Gesenius §72, 6).
Meanings and Uses
a. Put to shame b. Act shamefully c. To be put to shame- Jeremiah 2:26
- Jeremiah 6:15
- Jeremiah 46:24
- Jeremiah 48:1 (twice in verse)
- Jeremiah 48:20
- Jeremiah 50:2 (twice in verse)
- Joel 1:10
- Joel 1:12
- Joel 1:17 (?)
- Jeremiah 8:9
- Jeremiah 8:12
- Joel 1:11
- Joel 1:12 (?)
- Isaiah 30:5 (Qere)
- With מִן Jeremiah 10:14 = Jeremiah 51:17
Hithpael
Imperfect יִתְבּוֹשָׁשׁוּ ashamed before one another Genesis 2:25 (J2).
1 D. H. Müller, Zeitschrift der Deutschen Morgenländischen Gesellschaft.
2 Jehovist Source.
- Definition
- from
- Root
- Abbreviated from H4480
- Exhaustive
- (mem) — from / out of
Core value: emergence, separation, derivation
מ does not merely indicate origin in time (“after”). It marks boundary-crossing:
- source,
- differentiation,
- contrast,
- extraction.
Aonically, מ indicates transition between states.
not “after X” but “out from within X.”
This is why מ can signal both cause and contrast: both involve standing on the far side of a boundary.
- Definition
- properly, strength; hence, anything strong; specifically a chief (politically); also a ram (from his strength); a pilaster (as a strong support); an oak or other strong tree
- Root
- from the same as H193 (אול);
- Exhaustive
- from the same as אול; properly, strength; hence, anything strong; specifically a chief (politically); also a ram (from his strength); a pilaster (as a strong support); an oak or other strong tree; mighty (man), lintel, oak, post, ram, tree.
I. אַיִּל (approximate number of occurrences: 156) noun masculine Genesis 22:13 — ram (as leader of flock, Late Hebrew and Aramaic idem, Assyrian ailu 1, Phoenician איל, = אַיִּל rather than אַיָּל, compare Corpus Inscriptionum Semiticarum I. p. 231).
Cognates:
- Late Hebrew and Aramaic idem
- Assyrian ailu
- Phoenician איל
— אַיִּל absolute Genesis 15:9 +; construct אֵיל Exodus 29:22 +; plural אֵילִים (אֵילִם, אֵלִים) Genesis 32:15 +; construct אֵילֵי Genesis 31:38; Isaiah 60:7.
1. Meanings and Uses
a. Ram as food- Genesis 31:38 (Elohist Source)
- Deuteronomy 32:14 (compare ram of sacrifice, below e.g. Exodus 29:32 compare Leviticus 8:31)
- Genesis 32:15 (Elohist Source)
- Psalm 114:4 (כַּהֲרָרִים רָקְדוּ כְּאֵילִים)
- Psalm 114:6
- Daniel 8:3, 4, 6, 7 (4 times in verse); 20
- Genesis 15:9 (Jehovist Source)
- Genesis 22:13 (twice in verse) (Elohist Source)
- Numbers 23:1 5 times Numbers 23 (Jehovist Source and Elohist Source)
- In consecration ceremony of Aaron and his sons: Exodus 29:1 15 times Exodus 29 (הַמִּלֻּאִים Exodus 29:22 compare 26; 27; 31) Leviticus 8:2 8 times Leviticus 8 (הַמִּלֻּאִים הָעֹלָה Leviticus 8:22; 29 הָעֹלָה הָאַיִל 18)
- In guilt-offering: Leviticus 5:15, 16, 18; 25; 19:21, 22 compare Ezra 10:19 and הַכִּמְּרִים הָאֵיל Numbers 5:8
- In burnt-offering: Leviticus 9:2 and Numbers 15:6, 11 and Ezekiel 46:4, 5, 6, 7, 11, on day of atonement Leviticus 16:3, 5, Pentecost Leviticus 23:18
- In peace-offering: Leviticus 9:4, 18, 19; beginning of month Numbers 28:11, 12, 14; compare Numbers 29:2, 3; passover Numbers 29:19; 20 compare Ezekiel 45:23, 24; day of firstfruits Ezekiel 45:27; 28; in 7th month Ezekiel 29:8 18 times Numbers 29
- In law of Nazarite: Numbers 6:14, 17, 19
- In consecration of altar of tabernacle: Numbers 7:15 25 times Numbers 7, compare consecration of Ezekiel's temple-altar Ezekiel 43:23, 25
- More generally: 1 Samuel 15:22; Isaiah 1:11; Micah 6:7; Job 42:8; Psalm 66:15, also Isaiah 34:6; Isaiah 60:7; at bringing ark to Jerusalem 1 Chronicles 15:26; other occasions 1 Chronicles 29:21; 2 Chronicles 13:9; 29:21, 22, 32; Ezra 8:35; compare figurative Jeremiah 51:40; Ezekiel 39:18
- עֹרֹת אֵילִים מְאָדֳּמִים of covering of tabernacle Exodus 25:5; 26:14; 35:7, 23; 36:19; compare 39:34 (all Priests' Code / Narrative)
II. אַיִּל noun [masculine] projecting pillar or pilaster — הָאַיִל absolute 1 Kings 6:31 (but see below) construct idem Ezekiel 40:14 (but strike out 2):16 (2 better אֵילָיו); אֵיל Ezekiel 41:3, אֵל Ezekiel 40:48; plural אֵילִים Ezekiel 40:14 +; אֵילִם Ezekiel 40:10; suffix אֵילוֹ Ketiv Ezekiel 40:9 7 times; אֵלוֹ Ketiv Ezekiel 40:29 2 times Qere (in all) אֵילָיו, אֵלָיו; אֵלֵיהֶמָּה Ezekiel 40:16; — pilaster or projection in wall at each side of entrance (compare 3 Proben, 302; 4 927), in Solomon's temple 1 Kings 6:31 (3 4 525 reads אֵילִם), in Ezekiel's temple Ezekiel 40:9, 10 14 times Ezekiel 40..41 + Ezekiel 40:14 a 5 6 2 אֵילִם compare 7 B; Ezekiel 40:38 read אֵילִם so 8 2 compare 7; Ezekiel 40:14 b 2 strike out הָאַיִל.
III. [אַיִּל] noun masculine leader, chief (= ram, as leader of flock? compare 9 Exodus 15:15 10 §142 f 11 170 and see Ezekiel 34:17) — construct אֵל Ezekiel 31:11; plural construct אֵילֵי Exodus 15:15; Ezekiel 17:13 + 2 Kings 24:15 Qere (Ketiv אֻלִי see אוּל); אֵלֵי Ezekiel 32:21 (strike out 2, see 7). — leader, chief מוֹאַב הָאֵל Exodus 15:15; הָאָרֶץ הָאֵל Ezekiel 17:13; 2 Kings 24:15 Qere; גּוֹיִם הָאֵל Ezekiel 31:11 (אֵלִים Job 41:17 see below אַלָּה; perhaps אֵלֵיהֶם Ezekiel 31:14 but compare below IV. אַיִל and also אֵל Note 1).
IV. [אַיִּל] noun masculine terebinth (probably as prominent, lofty tree, see 9 Genesis 12:6; Genesis 14:6) — construct אֵל only proper name אֵל מָמְרֵא see below; plural אֵילִים Isaiah 1:29; אֵלִים Isaiah 57:5 construct אֵילֵי Isaiah 61:3; suffix אֵלֵיהֶם Ezekiel 31:14 (> strike out 2. see 7 12). — terebinth (compare אַלָּה); as marking idol-shrines Isaiah 1:29; Isaiah 57:5 (so 13 9 etc. > gods); figurative of ransomed ones of Zion אֵילֵי הַצֶּדֶק; perhaps of haughty ones Ezekiel 31:14.
1 Friedrich Delitzsch, Assyrisches Handwörterbuch.
2 C. H. Cornill.
3 F. Böttcher.
4 C. W. E. Nägelsbach.
5 H. Ewald.
6 J. D. Michaelis.
7 Vulgate.
8 R. Smend.
9 A. Dillmann.
10 J. Olshausen.
11 P. de Lagarde, Bildung der Nomina.
12 Arabic Versions.
13 T. K. Cheyne.
- Definition
- who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.
- Root
- a primitive relative pronoun (of every gender and number);
- Exhaustive
- a primitive relative pronoun (of every gender and number); who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.; [idiom] after, [idiom] alike, as (soon as), because, [idiom] every, for, [phrase] forasmuch, [phrase] from whence, [phrase] how(-soever), [idiom] if, (so) that ((thing) which, wherein), [idiom] though, [phrase] until, [phrase] whatsoever, when, where ([phrase] -as, -in, -of, -on, -soever, -with), which, whilst, [phrase] whither(-soever), who(-m, -soever, -se). As it is indeclinable, it is often accompanied by the personal pronoun expletively, used to show the connection.
אַשֶׁר particle of relation (Moabite idem; origin dubious: 1 according to Tsepreghi Diss. Lugd. p. 171 Mühlau Bö. Lb. ii. 79 n. Sta Morg. Forsch. 1875, 188; Lb. § 167 Hom ZMG 1878, 708 ff. Müll § 153 Sayce Hebraica. ii. 51 Lag M. i. 255 & especially Krae Hebraica. vi. 298 ff, originally a substantive 'place' = ܐܠܗܐ footstep, mark, ሀሁሂሄ (do.), אֲתָר, ܐܒܓܕ place, Assyrian ašru, used (see Kraetz.) both as a substantive 'there, where,' and as a relative of place 'where': in Hebrew this development has advanced further, and it has become a relative sign Generally. The chief objection to this explanation is that it would isolate Hebrew from the other Semitic languages, in which pronouns are formed regularly from demonstrative roots (compare also Nö ZMG 1886, 738). 2 according to Phi St. C. 73 Sperling Nota Rel. im Hebr. 1876, 15-22 for אֲשֶׁל, developed from the relative שֶׁ (q. v.) by (1) the prefixing of either a merely prosthetic א, or, better, a pronominal א (giving rise to אש, the form of the relative in Phoenician), and (2) the addition of the demonstrative root ל [found also in אֵל, אֵלָה, הָלָזֶה (q. v.), السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ he who, አማር: who (plural)]: the main objection to this explanation is the change of ל to ר, which is hardly rendered probable by the compare of Syriac ܒܝܫܐ by side of הָלְכָא. 1 seems preferable, the primitive root having acquired different significations in the different Semitic languages, and having been weakened in Hebrew to a mere particle of relation).
Cognates:
- Moabite idem
- Phoenician אש (regularly), also sometimes ש
- Syriac ܐܝܢܐ, ܕ
- Arabic الّذي
- Ethiopic ያ
- Assyrian ašru
A sign of relation, bringing the clause introduced by it into relation with an antecedent clause. As a rule אַשֶׁר is a mere connecting link, and requires to be supplemented (see the grammars) by a pronominal affix, or other word, such as שָׁם, defining the nature of the relation more precisely: e.g. Genesis 1:11 אַשֶׁר זַרְעָהּ literally as to which, its seed is in it = in which is its seed, Psalm 1:4 like the chaff אַשֶׁר תִּדְּפֶנּוּ רוּחַ as to which, the wind drives it = which the wind drives, etc.; & so אַשֶׁר שָׁם = where, אַשֶׁר מִשָּׁם = whence, Genesis 2:11; Genesis 3:23; Genesis 20:13 etc. Sometimes also (see below) the relation expressed by it is specifically temporal, local causal, etc. More particularly
1. Relative Pronoun Uses
it includes its pronominal antecedent, whether in the nominative or oblique cases, as Numbers 22:6 and he whom thou cursest is cursed, Exodus 4:12 and I will teach thee אַשֶׁר תְּדַבֵּר that which thou shalt say; and with particles or prepositions, as אֵת אַשֶׁר (according to the context) him who . . ., those who . . ., that which . . . ; לַאֲשֶׁר to him who . . . Genesis 43:16, to those who . . . Genesis 47:24, to that which Genesis 27:8; מֵאֲשֶׁר Judges 16:30; 2 Samuel 18:18 than those whom; Leviticus 27:24 לַאֲשֶׁר קָנָהוּ מֵאִתּוֹ to him from whom he bought it, Numbers 5:7; Isaiah 24:2 כַּאֲשֶׁר יֵשׁ בּוֹ like him against whom there is a creditor.
2. Pronominal Affix and Defining Adjunct
instances of אַשֶׁר followed by a pronominal affix, or by שָׁם, שָׁמָה, מִשָּׁם, are so common that the examples cited above will be sufficient. Very rarely there occurs the anomalous construction עִם אַשֶׁר Genesis 31:32 for אַשֶׁר עִמּוֹ (see Genesis 44:9), בַּאֲשֶׁר Isaiah 47:12 for אַשֶׁר בָּהֶם, לַאֲשֶׁר for אַשֶׁר לָהֶם Ezekiel 23:40: Psalm 119:49 see under עַל אַשֶׁר. It is followed by the pronoun in the nominative, in the following cases:
- (a) immediately, mostly before an adjective or participle, Genesis 9:3 all moving things אַשֶׁר הוּא חַי which are living, Leviticus 11:26; Numbers 9:13; Numbers 14:8,27; Numbers 35:31; Deuteronomy 20:20; 1 Samuel 10:19 (see Dr) 2 Kings 25:19 ("" Jeremiah 52:25 הָיָה) Jeremiah 27:9; Ezekiel 43:19; Haggai 1:9; Ruth 4:15; Nehemiah 2:18; Ecclesiastes 7:26; before a verb 2 Kings 22:13 (omitted 2 Chronicles 34:21).
- (b) in a negative sentence, at the end: Genesis 7:2; Genesis 17:12; Numbers 17:5; Deuteronomy 17:15 אַשֶׁר לֹא אָחִיךָ הוּא who is not thy brother, Deuteronomy 20:15; Judges 19:12; 1 Kings 8:41 "" 1 Kings 9:20 "".
N.B. Psalm 16:3 אַשֶׁר בָּאָרֶץ הֵמָּה is an unparalleled expression for 'who are in the land'; read אֲשֶׁר בָּאָרֶץ הֵמָּה אֲדִירִי וְגָבְהוּ 'the saints that are in the land, they (הֵמָּה) are the nobles, in whom,' etc.
3. First Person Pronouns
sometimes (though rarely) the defining adjunct is a pronoun of 1 or 2 person as well as of 3 person. In such cases it is strictly to be rendered I who . . ., thou who, etc.; Hosea 14:4 אַשֶׁר בְּךָ יְרֻחָם יָתוּם thou by whom the fatherless is compassionated! Jeremiah 31:32 I, whose covenant they brake, Jeremiah 32:19; Isaiah 49:23; Job 37:17 f. thou whose garments are warm . . ., canst thou? etc., Psalm 71:19; Psalm 71:20; Psalm 144:12 we whose sons, etc., Psalm 139:15 my frame was not hidden from thee, אֲשֶׁר עֻשִּׂיתִי בַסֵּתֶר I who was wrought in secret (= though I was wrought in secret), Exodus 14:13 for ye who have seen the Egyptians to-day, — ye shall not see them again for ever! (compare Psalm 41:9).
4. Dispensing with Defining Adjunct
the defining pron. adjunct is dispensed with — a. when אַשֶׁר represents the simple subject of a sentence, or the direct object of a verb: so constantly, as Genesis 2:1 the work אַשֶׁר עָשָׂה which he made, Genesis 3:3 the tree אַשֶׁר בְּתוֹךְ הַגָּן which is in the midst of the garden, etc. b. after words denoting time, place, or manner, so that אַשֶׁר then becomes equivalent to when, where, why:
- (α) Genesis 6:4 אֲחֲרֵי כֵן אַשֶׁר afterwards, when, etc. (compare 2 Chronicles 35:20) Genesis 45:6 there are still 5 years אַשֶׁר אֵין חָרִישׁ when there shall be no plowing, Joshua 14:10; 1 Kings 22:25; after יוֹם or הַיּוֹם Deuteronomy 4:10; Judges 4:14; 1 Samuel 24:5 (see Dr) 2 Samuel 19:25; Jeremiah 20:14 and elsewhere; similarly Genesis 40:13.
- (β) Genesis 35:13 בַּמָּקוֹם אַשֶׁר דִּבֶּר אִתּוֹ in the place where he spake with him, Genesis 35:14; Genesis 39:20; Numbers 13:27; Numbers 22:26; Deuteronomy 1:31 in the desert which thou sawest, where (accents Ke Di), Deuteronomy 8:15; 1 Kings 8:9 (unless לֻחוֹת הַבְּרִית has here fallen out: see Dr & Deuteronomy 9:9) Isaiah 55:11; Isaiah 64:10; Psalm 84:4.
- So (γ) in אֶל אַשֶׁר to (the place) which (or whither) Exodus 32:34; Ruth 1:16; אֶל כָּל אַשֶׁר to every (place) whither Joshua 1:16; Proverbs 17:8; בַּאֲשֶׁר in (the place) where Judges 5:27; Judges 17:8,9; 1 Samuel 23:13; 2 Kings 8:1; Ruth 1:16,17; Job 39:30, once only with שָׁם Genesis 21:17; בְּכָל אַשֶׁר wheresoever Joshua 1:7,9; Judges 2:15; 1 Samuel 14:47; 1 Samuel 18:5; 2 Samuel 7:7; 2 Kings 18:7; עַל אַשֶׁר to (the place) whither (or which) 2 Samuel 15:20; 1 Kings 18:12; עַל כָּל אַשֶׁר Jeremiah 1:7.
- (δ) זֶה הַדָּבָר אַשֶׁר this is the reason that or why . . . Joshua 5:4; 1 Kings 11:27.
5. Extreme Instances
c. more extreme instances Leviticus 14:22,30,31; Numbers 6:21; Deuteronomy 7:19 (wherewith), Deuteronomy 28:20; 1 Samuel 2:32 (wherein), 1 Kings 2:26; Judges 8:15 (about whom), Isaiah 8:12 (where יֹאמַר would be followed normally by לוֹ), Isaiah 31:6 turn ye to (him as to) whom they have deeply rebelled, Isaiah 47:15; Zephaniah 3:11; Ecclesiastes 3:9; 1 Kings 14:19 (= how).
6. Poetry Usage
d. it is dispensed with only in appearance after אֵת אַשֶׁר אָמַר (אָמַר תִּי followed by the words used, its place being really taken by a pronoun in the speech which follows, as Genesis 3:17 the tree as to which I commanded thee saying, Thou shalt not eat from it, Exodus 22:8; Deuteronomy 28:68; Judges 7:4 (זֶה) Judges 8:15 (where the noun repeated takes the place of the pronoun, compare Deuteronomy 9:2) 1 Samuel 9:17 (זֶה):23 +; compare 2 Samuel 11:16; 2 Kings 17:12; 2 Kings 21:4. 5 אַשֶׁר sometimes in poetry = one who, a man who (men who), ὅστις, οὗτινος, Psalm 24:4; Psalm 55:20; Psalm 95:4; Psalm 95:5; Job 4:19; Job 5:5 (Hi) Job 15:17.
7. Substantive Antecedent Insertion
6 אַשֶׁר occasionally receives its closer definition by a substantive following it, in other words, its logical antecedent is inserted in the relative clause: (a) in the phrase peculiar to Jeremiah, אֶל יְרוּשָׁלַיִם אֶל אַשֶׁר הָיָה דְבַר יְהוָה that which came (of) the word of יְהוָה to Jeremiah Jeremiah 14:1; Jeremiah 46:1; Jeremiah 47:1; Jeremiah 49:34 (compare Ew § 334); (b) Exodus 25:9; Numbers 33:4; 1 Samuel 25:30; 2 Kings 8:12; 2 Kings 12:6 לְכָל אַשֶׁר יִמְצָא שָׁם בַּדֶּקֶת Ezekiel 12:25; compare the Ethiopic usage Di § 201; (c) (antecedent repeated) Genesis 49:30 = Genesis 50:13, 1 Samuel 25:30 (יְהוָה repeated), Isaiah 54:9 (probably) as to which I sware that, etc., Amos 5:1 which I take up over you (as) a dirge.
8. Genitive Circumlocution
7 אֵת אַשֶׁר לְ that (belongs, belong, belonged) to, is used a. either alone or preceded by כָּל to express (all) that (belongs) to, as Genesis 14:23 מִכָּל אֲשֶׁר לְךָ of all that is thine, Genesis 31:1 מֵאֲשֶׁר לְאָבִינוּ of that which was our father's, Genesis 32:24 & sent over אֵת אֲשֶׁר לוֹ that which he had, + often b. as a circumlocution of the Genitive, as Genesis 29:9 עִם הַצֹּאן אֲשֶׁר לְאָבִיהָ with the sheep that were her father's, Genesis 40:5; Genesis 47:4; Leviticus 9:8; Judges 6:11; 1 Samuel 25:7 הָרֹעִים אֲשֶׁר לְךָ, 2 Samuel 14:31 אֵת הַחֶלְקָה אֲשֶׁר לִי, 2 Samuel 23:8; 1 Kings 1:8,33 עַל הַמִּרְכֶּבֶת אֲשֶׁר לִי upon mine own mule, 1 Kings 1:49; 1 Kings 4:2; 2 Kings 11:10; 2 Kings 16:13; Ruth 2:21; and especially in the case of a compound expression depending on a single Genitive, as Genesis 23:9; Genesis 40:5; Genesis 41:43 מִרְכֶּבֶת הַמִּשְׁנֶה אֲשֶׁר לוֹ the chariot of the second rank which he had, Exodus 38:30; Judges 3:20; Judges 6:25; 1 Samuel 17:40; 1 Samuel 21:8 אֲבִיר הָרֹעִים אֲשֶׁר לְשָׁאוּל the mightiest of Saul's herdmen, 1 Samuel 24:5 אֵת כְּנַף הַמְּעִיל אֲשֶׁר לְשָׁאוּל, 2 Samuel 2:8 Saul's captain of the host, 1 Kings 10:28; 1 Kings 15:20; 1 Kings 22:31; Jeremiah 52:17; Ruth 4:3. c. with names of places (especially such as do not readily admit the stative construct) Judges 18:28; Judges 19:14 הַגִּבְעָה אֲשֶׁר לִבְנֵי יָמִין Gibeah (the hill) of Benjamin, Judges 20:4; 1 Samuel 17:1; 1 Kings 15:27; 1 Kings 16:15; 1 Kings 17:9; 1 Kings 19:3; 2 Kings 14:11. compare שֶׁ (q. v.) which in Rabb, like the Aramaic דִּי, ܐܢܐ, is in habitual use as a mark of the Genitive. — N.B. In Aramaic also דִּי, ܕ, without לְ, expresses the Genitive relation, as מִלְּתָא דִּי מַלְכָּא, literally the word, that of the king = the word of the king. The few apparent cases of a similar use of אַשֶׁר are, however, too foreign to the general usage of the language to be regarded otherwise than as due to textual error: 1 Samuel 13:8 read אֲשֶׁר אָמַר (or שָׁם Exodus 19:5) שְׁמֻאֵל (Dr ἕπεστιν); 1 Kings 11:25 supply עָשָׂה (Dr ἠν ἀπέστειλεν); 2 Kings 25:10 supply אֵת with (as "" Jeremiah 52:14); 2 Chronicles 34:22 read וְאֲשֶׁר אָמַר הַמֶּלֶךְ (compare Dr) and those whom the king appointed (abbreviated from 2 Kings 22:14); compare Ew § 292 a, b with note.
9. Conjunction Usage
8 אַשֶׁר becomes, like Aramaic דִּי, ܕ, a conjunction approximating in usage to כִּי: thus a. = quod, ὅτι, that, subordinating an entire sentence to a verb of knowing, remembering, etc. (a) with אֵת Deuteronomy 9:7 forget not אֵת אֲשֶׁר הִקְצַפְתָּ the fact that (= how) thou provokedst, etc., Deuteronomy 29:15; Joshua 2:10; 1 Samuel 24:11; 1 Samuel 24:19; 2 Samuel 11:20 know ye not אֵת אֲשֶׁר יֹרִים how they shoot from off the wall? 2 Kings 8:12; Isaiah 38:3 #NAME? 1 Kings 14:19; 2 Kings 14:15; 2 Kings 20:20. Of time (peculiarly) 2 Samuel 14:15 עַתָּה אֲשֶׁר now (is it) that . . . Zechariah 8:20 (probably) yet (shall it be) that . . . Zechariah 8:23; compare כִּמְעַט שֶׁ Song of Solomon 3:4. (β) without אֵת (not very common, כִּי being usually employed): after יָדַע Exodus 11:7; Ezekiel 20:26 (very strange in Ezekiel: see Hi) Job 9:5 (Ew De Di) Ecclesiastes 8:12, רָאָה Deuteronomy 1:31 (RV) 1 Samuel 18:15, הִתְוַדָּה to confess Leviticus 5:5; Leviticus 26:40 b, הִשְׁבִּיעַ 1 Kings 22:16 (caused to swear that . . .); after a noun Isaiah 38:7 הָאוֹת אֲשֶׁר the sign that . . . ("" 2 Kings 20:9 כִּי): with growing frequency in late Hebrew, 2 Chronicles 2:7, and especially Nehemiah, Esther: Nehemiah 2:5,10; Nehemiah 7:65 (= Ezra 2:63) Nehemiah 8:14,15; Nehemiah 10:31; Nehemiah 13:1,19,22; Esther 1:19; Esther 2:10; Esther 3:4; Esther 6:2; Esther 8:11; Ecclesiastes 3:22 (מֵאֲשֶׁר) Ecclesiastes 5:4; Ecclesiastes 7:18 (with טוֹב: contrast Ruth 2:22) Ruth 2:22; Ruth 2:29; Ruth 8:12; Ruth 8:14; Ruth 9:1; Daniel 1:8 (twice in verse). (γ) prefixed to a direct citation, like כִּי q. v. (= ὅτι recitativum) (rare) 1 Samuel 15:20; 2 Samuel 1:4; 2 Samuel 2:4 (see Dr) Psalm 10:6 (probably), Nehemiah 4:6. b. it is resolvable into so that: Genesis 11:7 אֲשֶׁר לֹא יִשְׁמְעוּ so that they understand not, etc., Genesis 13:16; Genesis 22:14 אֲשֶׁר יֵאָמֵר so that it is said, Exodus 20:26; Deuteronomy 4:10,40 אֲשֶׁר יִיטַב לָכֶם Deuteronomy 6:3; Deuteronomy 28:27,51; 1 Kings 3:12,13; 2 Kings 9:37; Malachi 3:19. c. it has a causal force, forasmuch as, in that, since: Genesis 30:18; Genesis 31:49 and Mizpah, אֲשֶׁר אָמַר for that he said, Genesis 34:13,27; Genesis 42:21 we are guilty, אֲשֶׁר רָאִינוּ we who saw (or, in that we saw), Numbers 20:13 Meribah, because they strove there, Deuteronomy 3:24; Joshua 4:7,23; Joshua 22:31; Judges 9:17; 1 Samuel 2:23; 1 Samuel 15:15; 1 Samuel 20:42 go in peace, אֲשֶׁר נִשְׁבַּעְנוּ forasmuch as we have sworn, 1 Samuel 25:26 thou whom (= or, seeing that) יְהוָה hath withholden, 2 Samuel 2:5 blessed are ye of יְהוָה, אֲשֶׁר עֲשִׂיתֶם, who (οὗτινος) have done (or in that ye have done), 1 Kings 3:19; 1 Kings 15:5; 2 Kings 12:3; 2 Kings 17:4; 2 Kings 23:26; Jeremiah 16:13; Ecclesiastes 8:11,12 (Hi De Now). Here also belongs its use in אֲשֶׁר לָמָּה since why . . . ? (= lest) Daniel 1:10: see below לָמָּה. On אֲשֶׁר עַל כֵּן forasmuch as Job 34:27 see below כִּי עַל כֵּן. d. it expresses a condition (rare & peculiar): Leviticus 4:22 אֲשֶׁר יֶחֱטָא in (case) that = when (or if) a ruler sinneth (Leviticus 4:3; Leviticus 4:13; Leviticus 4:37 אִם), Numbers 5:29 (explained differently by Ew § 334 a), Deuteronomy 11:27 and the blessing אֲשֶׁר תִּשְׁמְעוּ if ye hearken (Deuteronomy 11:28 אִם), Deuteronomy 18:22 Ges, Joshua 4:21 אֲשֶׁר יִשְׁאָלֻן when they ask . . ., then . . . (Joshua 4:6 כִּי), Isaiah 31:4. In 1 Kings 8:33 ("" 2 Chronicles 6:24 כִּי, compare 2 Chronicles 6:35; 2 Chronicles 6:37) אֲשֶׁר may be rendered indifferently because or when. Once, similarly, אֵת אֲשֶׁר 1 Kings 8:31 ("" אִם). e. perhaps (exceptionally) = כַּאֲשֶׁר, as, Jeremiah 33:22; Isaiah 54:9 (followed by כֵּן; but כֵּן q. v. sometimes stands without כַּאֲשֶׁר, & אֲשֶׁר may in these passages connect with what precedes); according to some also Jeremiah 48:8; Psalm 106:34 (in a connection where כַּאֲשֶׁר would be more usual: אֲשֶׁר may however be the object of אָמַר). In 1 Samuel 16:7 אֲשֶׁר יִרְאֶה הָאָדָם read כַּאֲשֶׁר, see Dr. f. combined with prepositions, אֲשֶׁר converts them into conjunctions: see below, בַּאֲשֶׁר, כַּאֲשֶׁר, מֵאֲשֶׁר. On its use similarly with (אַחֲרֵי) אַחַר, מִבְּלִי, בְּעָבוּר, עַל דְּבַר, יַעַן, לְמַעַן, כְּפִי, עַד, עַל, עָקֵב, מִמִּנִּי, תַּחַת, see these words. — הָאֲשֶׁר, with ה interrogative, occurs once, 2 Kings 6:22. In Deuteronomy 15:14 also read כַּאֲשֶׁר: note בָּרַכְתָּ before. Note 1 אֲשֶׁר being a connecting link, without any perfectly corresponding equivalent in English, its force is not unfrequently capable of being represented in more than one way. See e.g. 2 Samuel 2:5 (above 8c), Isaiah 28:12 unto whom he said, or for that he said to them. Note 2. The opinion that אֲשֶׁר has an asseverative force (like כִּי, q. v.), or introduces the apodosis, is not probably, being both alien to its general usage & not required by the passages alleged. Render Isaiah 8:20 either 'Surely according to this word will those speak who have no dawn,' or '. . . will they speak when (compare above 8d Deuteronomy 11:27; Joshua 4:21) they have no dawn.'
Compounds
בַּאֲשֶׁר
19 a. in (that) which . . . Isaiah 56:4; Isaiah 65:12; Isaiah 66:4 (above 1); Ecclesiastes 3:9 in (that, in) which (4c); Isaiah 47:12 (see 2). b. adverb in (the place) where: above 4b (γ). c. conjunction in that, inasmuch as, Genesis 39:9,23; Ecclesiastes 7:2; Ecclesiastes 8:4; compare ܒܕܝܠ. d. Jonah 1:8 בַּאֲשֶׁר לְמִי on account of whom? (בַּאֲשֶׁר לְ on account of, framed on model of Aramaic בְּדִיל: see below שֶׁ).
כַּאֲשֶׁר
see below כְּ.
מֵאֲשֶׁר
17 a. from (or than) that which (him, them, etc., that . . .) Genesis 3:11; Exodus 29:27 (twice in verse); Numbers 6:11 (see Leviticus 4:26; Joshua 10:11; Judges 16:30; Isaiah 47:13 +; than that . . . Ecclesiastes 3:22; לְבַד מֵאֲשֶׁר Esther 4:11. b. adverb from (the place) where: above 4a (β). c. conjunction from (the fact) that . . ., since Isaiah 43:4.
כַּאֲשֶׁר
conjunction according as, as, when (compare for the combined Aramaic כְּדִי, כַּד) — 1 according to that which, according as, as: a. Genesis 34:12 I will give כַּאֲשֶׁר תֹּאמְרוּ אֵלַי according as ye shall (or may) say unto me, Genesis 44:1; Exodus 8:23; Numbers 22:8; 1 Samuel 2:16; Genesis 34:22 if we are circumcised כַּאֲשֶׁר הֵמָּה נְמוֹלִים; Genesis 41:21 כַּאֲשֶׁר בַּתְּחִלָּה as at the beginning, so כֵּן בְּרָאשִׁית Joshua 8:5,6; 2 Samuel 7:10; Exodus 5:13 כַּאֲשֶׁר בִּהְיוֹת הַתָּבֶן Genesis 7:9 they came in two by two כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוָּה אֱלֹהִים אֶת נֹחַ, as God commanded Noah; so, or similarly, very often, especially in P, Genesis 7:16; Genesis 8:21; Genesis 12:4; Genesis 17:23; Genesis 21:1 (twice in verse); Exodus 16:24; Exodus 39:1,5,7; Numbers 3:16,42 etc.; כֵּן כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר Deuteronomy 1:21; Deuteronomy 2:1; Deuteronomy 6:3,19 #NAME? Deuteronomy 1:21. b. answered, for increased emphasis, by כֵּן (compare כְּ 2d), Genesis 50:12 וַיַּעֲשׂוּ כֵּן כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוָּם, Exodus 7:10,20; Genesis 18:5 (J) כֵּן חַי כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבַּרְתָּ, Exodus 10:10 (iron.), Amos 5:14 (do.); in opposed to order, Judges 1:7 כַּאֲשֶׁר עָשִׂיתִי, כֵּן שִׁלַּמְתִּי לִי, Exodus 7:6 כֵּן עָשׂוּ כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוָּה יְהוָה, compare Exodus 12:28,50; Exodus 39:43; Numbers 5:4; Numbers 17:26; Numbers 36:10 (all P); with imperfect (frequently) Numbers 2:17 (P) כַּאֲשֶׁר יַחֲנוּ כֵּן יִסָּעוּ; of degree = the more . . . the more, Exodus 1:12 וְכַאֲשֶׁר יְעַנּוּ אֹתוֹ כֵּן יִרְבֶּה וְכֵן יִפְרֹץ, compare Exodus 17:11 (JE) כַּאֲשֶׁר יָרִים מֹשֶׁה יָדוֹ according as he held up, etc., Israel prevailed; in an oath or solemn promise, Numbers 14:28 אִם לֹא כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבַּרְתֶּם כֵּן אֶעֱשֶׂה, Deuteronomy 28:63 (Jeremiah 31:28), 1 Kings 1:30; Isaiah 10:11; Isaiah 14:24; Isaiah 52:14 f. (see כֵּן 2b). c. answered by וְ (Dr § 127 γ) Exodus 16:34; Numbers 1:19. d. often in similes (followed by imperfect of habit) Exodus 33:11 כַּאֲשֶׁר יְדַבֵּר אִישׁ אֶל רֵעֵהוּ, Numbers 11:12; Deuteronomy 1:44; Isaiah 9:2; Isaiah 66:20 +, answered by כֵּן Isaiah 31:4; Isaiah 55:10; Isaiah 66:22; Amos 3:12 +; a second verb is, in such cases, in the perfect with וְ consecutive (Dr § 115) Deuteronomy 22:26; Isaiah 29:8 כַּאֲשֶׁר יַחֲלֹם הָרָעֵב וְהִנֵּה אֹכֵל, Isaiah 65:8; Amos 5:19. e. הָיָה כַּאֲשֶׁר (compare הָיָה כְּ) to be as if, Job 10:19 כַּאֲשֶׁר לֹא הָיִיתִי כֵּן אֶהְיֶה, Zechariah 10:6 וְהָיָה כַּאֲשֶׁר לֹא זְנַחְתִּים. 2 with a casual force, in so far as, since (German demgemäss dass), Genesis 26:29 if thou doest us no harm כַּאֲשֶׁר לֹא נְגַעֲנוּךָ according as, in so far as, we have not touched thee; Numbers 27:14 כַּאֲשֶׁר מְרִיתֶם פִּי inasmuch as ye have defied my mouth, Judges 6:27; 1 Samuel 28:18 (answered by עַל כֵּן), 2 Kings 17:26; Micah 3:4. 3 with a temporal force, when, Genesis 18:33 and יְהוָה went away כַּאֲשֶׁר כִּלָּה when he had finished, etc., Genesis 32:3; Genesis 32:32; 1 Samuel 8:6; 2 Samuel 12:21 +; answered by וְ (Dr § 127 β), 1 Samuel 6:6; 1 Samuel 12:8; וַיְהִי כַּאֲשֶׁר and it came to pass, when . . . Genesis 12:11; Genesis 20:13; Genesis 24:22,52; Exodus 32:19 + often; Genesis 43:14 כַּאֲשֶׁר שָׁכַלְתִּי שָׁכָלְתִּי when I am bereaved, I am bereaved! an expression of resignation, so Esther 4:16 כַּאֲשֶׁר אָבַדְתִּי אָבָדְתִּי. Joshua 2:7 אַחֲרֵי כַּאֲשֶׁר is a 'conflate' reading, omit either אַחֲרֵי or כַּאֲשֶׁר. Of future time, Genesis 27:40; Genesis 40:14 כַּאֲשֶׁר יִיטַב לִי, Hosea 7:12; Ecclesiastes 4:17; Ecclesiastes 5:3, and without a verb Isaiah 23:5 כַּאֲשֶׁר שָׁמַע לְמִצְרַיִם. — Micah 3:3 כַּאֲשֶׁר is simply as that which, Job 29:25 as one who.
שֶׁ, also (Genesis 6:3 [? see 4a], Judges 5:7 (twice in verse); Song of Solomon 1:7; Job 19:29 [?]) שַׁ, שָׁ in שָׁאַתָּה Judges 6:17, and שְׁ in שְׁהוּא Ecclesiastes 2:22, שְׁהֵם Ecclesiastes 3:18 (elsewhere before guttural שֶׁ, as שֶׁאֲנִי Song of Solomon 1:6; Ecclesiastes 2:18, שֶׁאֲהֵבִים Psalm 146:3, שֶׁעָל Judges 7:12; Judges 8:26, שֶׁרְאֹשִׁי Song of Solomon 5:2), relative particle who, which, that, etc. (constantly in Late Hebrew; Aramaic of Nerab, Ldzb 371, 445; Assyrian sha; Phoenician אש (regularly), also sometimes ש (Ldzb 227f.): according to Ges Ew § 181 b Ol p. 439 Sta § 176 e, abbreviated from אַשֶׁר; more probably (Sperling [see אַשֶׁר], Kö ii. 323 f.) an original demonstrative particle), synonym with אַשֶׁר, but in usage limited to late Hebrew, and passages with north Palestinian colouring, namely Judges 5:7 (twice in verse) [אַשֶׁר Judges 5:27], Judges 6:17; Judges 7:12; Judges 8:26; 2 Kings 6:11 (see 4c), Jonah 1:7,12; Jonah 4:10 [אַשֶׁר 11t.], Psalm 122:3; Psalm 122:4; Psalm 123:2; Psalm 124:1; Psalm 124:2; Psalm 124:6; Psalm 129:6; Psalm 129:7; Psalm 133:2; Psalm 133:3; Psalm 135:2; Psalm 135:8; Psalm 135:10; Psalm 136:23; Psalm 137:8; Psalm 137:9; Psalm 144:15; Psalm 146:3; Psalm 146:5; Lamentations 2:15,16; Lamentations 4:9; Lamentations 5:18; Ezra 8:20; 1 Chronicles 5:20; 1 Chronicles 27:27; Canticles (uniformly, except in title Song of Solomon 1:1); Ecclesiastes (68 t.; אֲשֶׁא 89t.); also (dubious) Genesis 6:3; Genesis 49:10 (שִׁלֹה Dr § 176 e), Job 19:29; and in the proper name (מִי שָׁאֵל and מְתוּשָׁאֵל). — In usage, שֶׁ is in the main parallel with אַשֶׁר, namely 1 as pronoun who, which, whom, Judges 7:12 כָּהוּל שֶׁעָל שְׁפָת הַיָּם (compare חוּל c), Psalm 122:3; Psalm 124:6 etc.; him whom, that which, etc., Song of Solomon 1:7; Song of Solomon 3:1; 1 Chronicles 27:27; Ecclesiastes 1:11; Ecclesiastes 6:3 וְרַב שֶׁיִּהְיֶה לִימָיו and much (verb) is that which his days amount to (Hi De and others), Ecclesiastes 6:10; הוּא שֶׁ that which Ecclesiastes 1:9 (twice in verse); in the Genitive, אֲשֶׁרִי שֶׁ Psalm 137:8; Psalm 137:9; Psalm 146:5. — On מַה שֶׁ in Eccl = whatever, what, see מָה 1e b. 2 as a connecting link; = where (compare אַשֶׁר p. 81, and 4b β), מְקוֹם שֶׁ Ecclesiastes 1:7; Ecclesiastes 11:3 (compare מְקוֹם אַשֶׁר Genesis 39:20 +: Ges § 130c), whither Psalm 122:4 (שֶׁשָׁמָּה Dr § 176 e), when Song of Solomon 8:8; Ecclesiastes 12:3 בַּיּוֹם שֶׁ (compare ib. 4b a). 3 as a conjunction (compare אַשֶׁר 8); — a. that, after רָאָה Ecclesiastes 2:13; Ecclesiastes 3:18, יָרַע Ecclesiastes 1:17; Ecclesiastes 2:14; Ecclesiastes 9:5; Job 19:19 (?), דִּבֵּר Ecclesiastes 2:15, אָמַר Ecclesiastes 8:14, עָשָׂה אוֹת Judges 6:17; as subject of sentence, Ecclesiastes 3:13; Ecclesiastes 5:15; also in the phrases, (a) what is ... that? Song of Solomon 5:9 (usually כִּי; see מָה 1d b), מֶה הָיָה שֶׁ how comes it that ...? Ecclesiastes 7:10; (b) Song of Solomon 3:4 כִּמְעַט שֶׁעָבַרְתִּי hardly (was it) that (German kaum dass) I had passed, etc., Ecclesiastes 7:14 עַל דִּבַּר שֶׁלֹּא יִמְצָא to the intent that ..., Ecclesiastes 5:15 כָּל עֻמָּת שֶׁבָּא exactly as ..., Ecclesiastes 12:9 תּוֹר שֶׁ besides that, עַד שֶׁ (עַד Dr § 176 e Judges 5:7) until that Psalm 123:2; Song of Solomon 2:7,17 + (see III. עַד II 1 a a and b; compare Late Hebrew Yoma Song of Solomon 5:1), while Song of Solomon 1:12 (ib. 2d); עָשָׂה שֶׁ to make or cause that ..., Ecclesiastes 3:14 (compare Ezekiel 36:27). b. involving a reason (compare אַשֶׁר 8c), because, since, Song of Solomon 1:6 (twice in verse); Song of Solomon 5:2; Ecclesiastes 2:18 b. Hence שֶׁלָּמָּה Song of Solomon 1:7 since why? = lest (see מָה 4d b). 4 compounds: a. בְּשֶׁ, i. q. בַּאֲשֶׁר c (p. 84a) in that, seeing that, Ecclesiastes 2:16; also (according to Dr § 176 e Hu De) Genesis 6:3 בְּשֶׁגָּם הוּא בָשָׂר because that he also is flesh; but see שָׁגָג. b. כְּשֶׁ, i. q. כַּאֲשֶׁר p. 455: — (a) according as Ecclesiastes 5:14; Ecclesiastes 12:7; (b) when (so often in Late Hebrew, as Ab Ecclesiastes 1:8 (3 t. in verse); Ecclesiastes 1:14) Ecclesiastes 9:12; Ecclesiastes 10:3. c. מִשֶׁ, i. q. מֵאֲשֶׁר a (p. 84:a), 2 Kings 6:12 מִי מִשֶׁלָּנוּ who of those that are ours? (but Klo Kmp Kau Benz מְגַלֶּה לָנוּ who betrays us? compare Dr § 176 e); Ecclesiastes 5:4 than that (compare מֵאֲשֶׁר Ecclesiastes 3:22), + Ecclesiastes 2:24 (read מִשֶׁיֹּאכַל with Ew De, etc.; compare Ecclesiastes 3:22). d. שֶׁל, like אַשֶׁר לְ (אַשֶׁר 7b), a mark of the Genitive: thrice, adding slight emphasis to the suffix, Song of Solomon 1:6 = Song of Solomon 8:12 כַּרְמִי שֶׁלִּי my vineyard (literally my vineyard, which is mine), Song of Solomon 3:7 מִטָּתוֹ שֶׁלִּשְׁלֹמֹה (so often in Late Hebrew, but without any special emphasis, as Aboth Song of Solomon 1:12 הוֹי מְתַלְמִידֵי שֶׁלְאַהֲרֹן be of Aaron's disciples, Song of Solomon 2:1 הוֹי מְתַפַּלֵּל בְּשֶׁלּוֹ, Song of Solomon 2:2; Song of Solomon 3:2 הוֹי מִתְפַּלֵּל בְּשֶׁלָּהֶם; compare ܐܠܗܐ in Syriac, as Luke 6:42 ܒܪܐܠܗܐ my words, Nö § 225). And with בְּ, בְּשֶׁל literally through that which belongs to or concerns, pleonastic for on account of (a late, unidiomatic translation of Aramaic בְּדִיל, from בְּ, דִּי, and לְ, as in Onk Genesis 12:13 בְּדִילִי on my account, Genesis 30:27; Genesis 39:5 בְּדִיל יוֹסֵף, בְּדִיל מָא on account of what? Judges 8:1; 2 Samuel 9:1; 1 Kings 11:12,39, etc.), Jonah 1:7 בְּשֶׁלְּמִי on account of whom? ("" Jonah 1:8 בַּאֲשֶׁר לְמִי; probably a gloss), Jonah 1:12 בְּשֶׁלִּי on account of me (Dr § 176 e בְּדִיל מַן, בְּדִילִי); Ecclesiastes 8:17 בְּשֶׁל אֲשֶׁר יַעֲמֹל הָאָדָם on account of (the fact) that (= seeing that) man labours, etc. (unidiomatic translation of Aramaic בְּדִיל דִּי because that, as Genesis 6:3 בְּדִיל דִּי אִינּוּן בִסְרָא, Genesis 39:9 בְּדִיל דִּי אִיתֵית לִי [for Hebrew בַּאֲשֶׁר אֵת אִשְׁתּוֹ]; Palmyrene בדיל די Ldzb 233, — in Tariff Genesis 1:4 (Cooke N. Semitic Inscr. 320) = ἐπίδη). [שֹׁא] see [שׁוּא].
1 Tsepreghi Diss. Lugd. p. 171 Mühlau Bö. Lb. ii. 79 n. Sta Morg. Forsch. 1875, 188; Lb. § 167 Hom ZMG 1878, 708 ff. Müll § 153 Sayce Hebraica. ii. 51 Lag M. i. 255 & especially Krae Hebraica. vi. 298 ff.
2 Phi St. C. 73 Sperling Nota Rel. im Hebr. 1876, 15-22.
3 Nö ZMG 1886, 738.
4 Ew § 334.
5 Dr.
6 Hi.
7 Ew De Di.
8 Ew De.
9 Ew § 334 a.
10 Hu De.
11 Dr § 176 e.
12 Kö ii. 323 f.
13 Ges Ew § 181 b Ol p. 439 Sta § 176 e.
14 Dr § 176 e.
15 Hi De and others.
16 Dr § 176 e.
17 Klo Kmp Kau Benz.
18 Ew De, etc.
19 Nö § 225.
20 Cooke N. Semitic Inscr. 320.
- Definition
- to delight in
- Root
- a primitive root;
- Exhaustive
- a primitive root; to delight in; beauty, greatly beloved, covet, delectable thing, ([idiom] great) delight, desire, goodly, lust, (be) pleasant (thing), precious (thing).
I. חָמַד verb — desire, take pleasure in.
Cognates:
- Aramaic חֲמַד
- Arabic حمد praise, eulogize, approve of
- Sabean חמדם in gratitude1
— חָמַד Qal Perfect חָמַד Psalm 68:17, Proverbs 12:12; חָֽמְדוּ Proverbs 1:22; וְחָֽמְדוּ consecutive Micah 2:2; חֲמַדְתֶּם Isaiah 1:29; Imperfect יַחְמֹד Exodus 34:24; 2 masculine singular תַּחְמֹד Exodus 20:17 (twice) + 3 times (including Proverbs 6:25 jussive); suffix וָאֶחְמְדֵם Joshua 7:21; וְנֶחְמְדֵ֫הוּ Isaiah 53:2; Passive participle חֲמוּדוֺ Psalm 39:12, Job 20:20, חֲמוּדֵיהֶם Isaiah 44:9; — desire:
1. Meanings and Uses
a. In bad sense of inordinate, ungoverned, selfish desire- Exodus 20:17 (twice) (Elohist Source) = Deuteronomy 5:18 (Deuteronomy 5:18b has תִּתְאַוֶּה)
- Exodus 34:24 (Jehovist Source)
- Deuteronomy 7:25
- Joshua 7:21 (Jehovist Source)
- Micah 2:2
- Proverbs 12:12
- Of lustful desire Proverbs 6:25
- Isaiah 1:29, so participle plural חֲמוּדֵיהֵם Isaiah 44:9 their delightful things (things in which they delight2)
- לֵצִים לָצוֺן חָֽמְדוּ Proverbs 1:22 how long do scorners delight in scorning?
- Said of God הָהָר חָמַד אֱלֹהִים לְשִׁבְתּוֺ poetic Psalm 68:17
- Object the suffering servant of Yahweh, Isaiah 53:2 no beauty in him, that we should desire him (choose him, be drawn toward him)
- Passive participle collective חֲמוּדוֺ Psalm 39:12 his desired things, i.e. chosen, choice, desirable (see Niphal); so probably Job 20:20
Niphal Participle נֶחְמָד Genesis 2:9 2 times; הַנֶּחֱמָדִים Psalm 19:11; — desirable:
- עֵץ נֶחְמָד לְמַרְאֶה Genesis 2:9
- נֶחְמָד לְהַשְׂכִּיל Genesis 3:6
- הַנֶּחֱמָדִים מִזָּהָב Psalm 19:11 which are more desirable than gold
- אוֺצָר נֶחְמָד Proverbs 21:20 desirable, i.e. costly treasure
Piel Perfect 1 singular delight greatly בְּצִלּוֺ חִמַּדְתִּי וְיָשַׁ֫בְתִּי Songs 2:3 in his shadow I greatly delighted and sate, i.e. sate with great delight.
[חֲמוּדָה] noun feminine — desirableness, preciousness — Plural absolute חֲמוּדוֺת Daniel 9:23; חֲמוּדֹת Ezra 8:27; חֲמֻדוֺת 2 Chronicles 20:25 4 times; חֲמֻדֹת Genesis 27:15; construct חֲמֻדוֺת Daniel 11:43; — desirable, choice things:
- Garments Genesis 27:15 (+ בגדים)
- Compare Daniel 11:38 (+ אֶבֶן יְקָרָה), Daniel 11:43 (חֲמֻדוֺת מִצְרַיִם)
- Precious things Ezra 8:27 (as gold)
- כְּלִי חֲמֻדוֺת 2 Chronicles 20:25
- לֶחֶם חֲמֻדוֺת Daniel 10:3
- Of man only אִישׁ חֲמוּדוֺת Daniel 10:11, 19, and, without אִישׁ, אָ֫תָּה חֲמוּדוֺת Daniel 9:23 thou art a precious treasure3.
1 D.H. Müller, Zeitschrift der Deutschen Morgenländischen Gesellschaft (ZMG) 1875, 595; 1876, 686.
2 A.A. Bevan, Journal of Philology (JPhoenician) xvii. 1888. p. 126.
3 S.R. Driver, A Treatise on the Use of the Tenses in Hebrew, § 189, 2.
- 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 blush; figuratively, to be ashamed, disappointed; causatively, to shame, reproach
- Root
- a primitive root (perhaps rather the same as H2658 (חפר) through the idea of detection);
- Exhaustive
- a primitive root (perhaps rather the same as חפר through the idea of detection); to blush; figuratively, to be ashamed, disappointed; causatively, to shame, reproach; be ashamed, be confounded, be brought to confusion (unto shame), come (be put to) shame, bring reproach.
II. חָפֵר verb — be abashed, ashamed.
Cognates:
— Perfect 3 feminine singular חָֽפְרָה Jeremiah 50:12; וְחָֽפְרָה consecutive Isaiah 24:23; וְחָפֵ֑רָה Jeremiah 15:9; plural חָֽפְרוּ Psalm 71:24; וְחָֽפְרוּ consecutive Micah 3:7; Imperfect יַחְמְּרוּ Psalm 35:4 (4 times); יֶחְמָּ֑רוּ Psalm 34:6; וַיֶּחְמָּ֑רוּ Job 6:20; תַּחְמְּרוּ Isaiah 1:29.
1. Qal: Be abashed, ashamed
a. Said of the face- Psalm 34:6 (avoided by looking to י׳)
- Of enemies of righteousness: Psalm 71:24; Psalm 35:4; Psalm 35:26; Psalm 40:15 = Psalm 70:3; Psalm 83:18
- Of idolaters: Isaiah 1:29
- Of diviners: Micah 3:7
- Of distressed Jerusalem: Jeremiah 15:9
- Of Babylon: Jeremiah 50:12
- Of moon: Isaiah 24:23
- Of caravans looking for water: Job 6:20
2. Hiphil: Display or cause shame
— Perfect הֶחְמִּיר Isaiah 33:9; Imperfect יַחְמִּיר Proverbs 13:5; תַּחְמִּ֫ירִי Isaiah 54:4; Participle מַחְמִּיר Proverbs 19:26.
a. Display shame (figurative) b. Cause shame- Of an unfilial son: Proverbs 19:26 ("" מֵבִישׁ)
- Of the wicked: Proverbs 13:5 ("" יַבְאִישׁ: see באשׁ Hiphil)
1 T.K. Cheyne, The Prophecies of Isaiah (1880).
- Definition
- from
- Root
- Abbreviated from H4480
- Exhaustive
- (mem) — from / out of
Core value: emergence, separation, derivation
מ does not merely indicate origin in time (“after”). It marks boundary-crossing:
- source,
- differentiation,
- contrast,
- extraction.
Aonically, מ indicates transition between states.
not “after X” but “out from within X.”
This is why מ can signal both cause and contrast: both involve standing on the far side of a boundary.
- 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
- a garden
- Root
- feminine of H1588 (גן);
- Exhaustive
- feminine of גן; a garden; garden.
I. גַּנָּה (compare foregoing) noun feminine — garden.
— גַּנָּה absolute Isaiah 1:30; Isaiah 61:11; construct גִּנַּת Songs 6:11 (3 times); suffix גַּנָּתוֹ Job 8:16; plural גַּנֹּת Numbers 24:6, גַּנּוֹת Ecclesiastes 2:5 (6 times); suffix גַּנּוֹתֵיכֶם Amos 4:9.
1. Garden, orchard
- Amos 4:9 (+ כֶּרֶם, תְּאֵנָה, זַיִת)
- Amos 9:14 (fruit-garden; + כֶּרֶם)
- Jeremiah 29:5, 28
- Ecclesiastes 2:5 (+ מַּרְדֵּס)
- גִּנַּת אֱגוֹז Songs 6:11 nut-garden
- Compare גִּנַּת בִּיתָן Esther 1:5; Esther 7:7–8
2. In simile and figure
a. Of prosperity and blessing- Numbers 24:6 (JE Source1; גַּנֹּת עֲלֵי נָהָר)
- Isaiah 61:11
- Job 8:16 (עַל־גַּנּוֹ) in figure of prosperity of wicked, as a luxuriant plant
- Isaiah 1:30 (גַּנָּה אֲשֶׁר מַיִם אֵין לָהּ)
3. Places of idolatrous worship
1 JE Source: Yahwist (J) and Elohist (E) sources.
- Definition
- who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.
- Root
- a primitive relative pronoun (of every gender and number);
- Exhaustive
- a primitive relative pronoun (of every gender and number); who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.; [idiom] after, [idiom] alike, as (soon as), because, [idiom] every, for, [phrase] forasmuch, [phrase] from whence, [phrase] how(-soever), [idiom] if, (so) that ((thing) which, wherein), [idiom] though, [phrase] until, [phrase] whatsoever, when, where ([phrase] -as, -in, -of, -on, -soever, -with), which, whilst, [phrase] whither(-soever), who(-m, -soever, -se). As it is indeclinable, it is often accompanied by the personal pronoun expletively, used to show the connection.
אַשֶׁר particle of relation (Moabite idem; origin dubious: 1 according to Tsepreghi Diss. Lugd. p. 171 Mühlau Bö. Lb. ii. 79 n. Sta Morg. Forsch. 1875, 188; Lb. § 167 Hom ZMG 1878, 708 ff. Müll § 153 Sayce Hebraica. ii. 51 Lag M. i. 255 & especially Krae Hebraica. vi. 298 ff, originally a substantive 'place' = ܐܠܗܐ footstep, mark, ሀሁሂሄ (do.), אֲתָר, ܐܒܓܕ place, Assyrian ašru, used (see Kraetz.) both as a substantive 'there, where,' and as a relative of place 'where': in Hebrew this development has advanced further, and it has become a relative sign Generally. The chief objection to this explanation is that it would isolate Hebrew from the other Semitic languages, in which pronouns are formed regularly from demonstrative roots (compare also Nö ZMG 1886, 738). 2 according to Phi St. C. 73 Sperling Nota Rel. im Hebr. 1876, 15-22 for אֲשֶׁל, developed from the relative שֶׁ (q. v.) by (1) the prefixing of either a merely prosthetic א, or, better, a pronominal א (giving rise to אש, the form of the relative in Phoenician), and (2) the addition of the demonstrative root ל [found also in אֵל, אֵלָה, הָלָזֶה (q. v.), السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ he who, አማር: who (plural)]: the main objection to this explanation is the change of ל to ר, which is hardly rendered probable by the compare of Syriac ܒܝܫܐ by side of הָלְכָא. 1 seems preferable, the primitive root having acquired different significations in the different Semitic languages, and having been weakened in Hebrew to a mere particle of relation).
Cognates:
- Moabite idem
- Phoenician אש (regularly), also sometimes ש
- Syriac ܐܝܢܐ, ܕ
- Arabic الّذي
- Ethiopic ያ
- Assyrian ašru
A sign of relation, bringing the clause introduced by it into relation with an antecedent clause. As a rule אַשֶׁר is a mere connecting link, and requires to be supplemented (see the grammars) by a pronominal affix, or other word, such as שָׁם, defining the nature of the relation more precisely: e.g. Genesis 1:11 אַשֶׁר זַרְעָהּ literally as to which, its seed is in it = in which is its seed, Psalm 1:4 like the chaff אַשֶׁר תִּדְּפֶנּוּ רוּחַ as to which, the wind drives it = which the wind drives, etc.; & so אַשֶׁר שָׁם = where, אַשֶׁר מִשָּׁם = whence, Genesis 2:11; Genesis 3:23; Genesis 20:13 etc. Sometimes also (see below) the relation expressed by it is specifically temporal, local causal, etc. More particularly
1. Relative Pronoun Uses
it includes its pronominal antecedent, whether in the nominative or oblique cases, as Numbers 22:6 and he whom thou cursest is cursed, Exodus 4:12 and I will teach thee אַשֶׁר תְּדַבֵּר that which thou shalt say; and with particles or prepositions, as אֵת אַשֶׁר (according to the context) him who . . ., those who . . ., that which . . . ; לַאֲשֶׁר to him who . . . Genesis 43:16, to those who . . . Genesis 47:24, to that which Genesis 27:8; מֵאֲשֶׁר Judges 16:30; 2 Samuel 18:18 than those whom; Leviticus 27:24 לַאֲשֶׁר קָנָהוּ מֵאִתּוֹ to him from whom he bought it, Numbers 5:7; Isaiah 24:2 כַּאֲשֶׁר יֵשׁ בּוֹ like him against whom there is a creditor.
2. Pronominal Affix and Defining Adjunct
instances of אַשֶׁר followed by a pronominal affix, or by שָׁם, שָׁמָה, מִשָּׁם, are so common that the examples cited above will be sufficient. Very rarely there occurs the anomalous construction עִם אַשֶׁר Genesis 31:32 for אַשֶׁר עִמּוֹ (see Genesis 44:9), בַּאֲשֶׁר Isaiah 47:12 for אַשֶׁר בָּהֶם, לַאֲשֶׁר for אַשֶׁר לָהֶם Ezekiel 23:40: Psalm 119:49 see under עַל אַשֶׁר. It is followed by the pronoun in the nominative, in the following cases:
- (a) immediately, mostly before an adjective or participle, Genesis 9:3 all moving things אַשֶׁר הוּא חַי which are living, Leviticus 11:26; Numbers 9:13; Numbers 14:8,27; Numbers 35:31; Deuteronomy 20:20; 1 Samuel 10:19 (see Dr) 2 Kings 25:19 ("" Jeremiah 52:25 הָיָה) Jeremiah 27:9; Ezekiel 43:19; Haggai 1:9; Ruth 4:15; Nehemiah 2:18; Ecclesiastes 7:26; before a verb 2 Kings 22:13 (omitted 2 Chronicles 34:21).
- (b) in a negative sentence, at the end: Genesis 7:2; Genesis 17:12; Numbers 17:5; Deuteronomy 17:15 אַשֶׁר לֹא אָחִיךָ הוּא who is not thy brother, Deuteronomy 20:15; Judges 19:12; 1 Kings 8:41 "" 1 Kings 9:20 "".
N.B. Psalm 16:3 אַשֶׁר בָּאָרֶץ הֵמָּה is an unparalleled expression for 'who are in the land'; read אֲשֶׁר בָּאָרֶץ הֵמָּה אֲדִירִי וְגָבְהוּ 'the saints that are in the land, they (הֵמָּה) are the nobles, in whom,' etc.
3. First Person Pronouns
sometimes (though rarely) the defining adjunct is a pronoun of 1 or 2 person as well as of 3 person. In such cases it is strictly to be rendered I who . . ., thou who, etc.; Hosea 14:4 אַשֶׁר בְּךָ יְרֻחָם יָתוּם thou by whom the fatherless is compassionated! Jeremiah 31:32 I, whose covenant they brake, Jeremiah 32:19; Isaiah 49:23; Job 37:17 f. thou whose garments are warm . . ., canst thou? etc., Psalm 71:19; Psalm 71:20; Psalm 144:12 we whose sons, etc., Psalm 139:15 my frame was not hidden from thee, אֲשֶׁר עֻשִּׂיתִי בַסֵּתֶר I who was wrought in secret (= though I was wrought in secret), Exodus 14:13 for ye who have seen the Egyptians to-day, — ye shall not see them again for ever! (compare Psalm 41:9).
4. Dispensing with Defining Adjunct
the defining pron. adjunct is dispensed with — a. when אַשֶׁר represents the simple subject of a sentence, or the direct object of a verb: so constantly, as Genesis 2:1 the work אַשֶׁר עָשָׂה which he made, Genesis 3:3 the tree אַשֶׁר בְּתוֹךְ הַגָּן which is in the midst of the garden, etc. b. after words denoting time, place, or manner, so that אַשֶׁר then becomes equivalent to when, where, why:
- (α) Genesis 6:4 אֲחֲרֵי כֵן אַשֶׁר afterwards, when, etc. (compare 2 Chronicles 35:20) Genesis 45:6 there are still 5 years אַשֶׁר אֵין חָרִישׁ when there shall be no plowing, Joshua 14:10; 1 Kings 22:25; after יוֹם or הַיּוֹם Deuteronomy 4:10; Judges 4:14; 1 Samuel 24:5 (see Dr) 2 Samuel 19:25; Jeremiah 20:14 and elsewhere; similarly Genesis 40:13.
- (β) Genesis 35:13 בַּמָּקוֹם אַשֶׁר דִּבֶּר אִתּוֹ in the place where he spake with him, Genesis 35:14; Genesis 39:20; Numbers 13:27; Numbers 22:26; Deuteronomy 1:31 in the desert which thou sawest, where (accents Ke Di), Deuteronomy 8:15; 1 Kings 8:9 (unless לֻחוֹת הַבְּרִית has here fallen out: see Dr & Deuteronomy 9:9) Isaiah 55:11; Isaiah 64:10; Psalm 84:4.
- So (γ) in אֶל אַשֶׁר to (the place) which (or whither) Exodus 32:34; Ruth 1:16; אֶל כָּל אַשֶׁר to every (place) whither Joshua 1:16; Proverbs 17:8; בַּאֲשֶׁר in (the place) where Judges 5:27; Judges 17:8,9; 1 Samuel 23:13; 2 Kings 8:1; Ruth 1:16,17; Job 39:30, once only with שָׁם Genesis 21:17; בְּכָל אַשֶׁר wheresoever Joshua 1:7,9; Judges 2:15; 1 Samuel 14:47; 1 Samuel 18:5; 2 Samuel 7:7; 2 Kings 18:7; עַל אַשֶׁר to (the place) whither (or which) 2 Samuel 15:20; 1 Kings 18:12; עַל כָּל אַשֶׁר Jeremiah 1:7.
- (δ) זֶה הַדָּבָר אַשֶׁר this is the reason that or why . . . Joshua 5:4; 1 Kings 11:27.
5. Extreme Instances
c. more extreme instances Leviticus 14:22,30,31; Numbers 6:21; Deuteronomy 7:19 (wherewith), Deuteronomy 28:20; 1 Samuel 2:32 (wherein), 1 Kings 2:26; Judges 8:15 (about whom), Isaiah 8:12 (where יֹאמַר would be followed normally by לוֹ), Isaiah 31:6 turn ye to (him as to) whom they have deeply rebelled, Isaiah 47:15; Zephaniah 3:11; Ecclesiastes 3:9; 1 Kings 14:19 (= how).
6. Poetry Usage
d. it is dispensed with only in appearance after אֵת אַשֶׁר אָמַר (אָמַר תִּי followed by the words used, its place being really taken by a pronoun in the speech which follows, as Genesis 3:17 the tree as to which I commanded thee saying, Thou shalt not eat from it, Exodus 22:8; Deuteronomy 28:68; Judges 7:4 (זֶה) Judges 8:15 (where the noun repeated takes the place of the pronoun, compare Deuteronomy 9:2) 1 Samuel 9:17 (זֶה):23 +; compare 2 Samuel 11:16; 2 Kings 17:12; 2 Kings 21:4. 5 אַשֶׁר sometimes in poetry = one who, a man who (men who), ὅστις, οὗτινος, Psalm 24:4; Psalm 55:20; Psalm 95:4; Psalm 95:5; Job 4:19; Job 5:5 (Hi) Job 15:17.
7. Substantive Antecedent Insertion
6 אַשֶׁר occasionally receives its closer definition by a substantive following it, in other words, its logical antecedent is inserted in the relative clause: (a) in the phrase peculiar to Jeremiah, אֶל יְרוּשָׁלַיִם אֶל אַשֶׁר הָיָה דְבַר יְהוָה that which came (of) the word of יְהוָה to Jeremiah Jeremiah 14:1; Jeremiah 46:1; Jeremiah 47:1; Jeremiah 49:34 (compare Ew § 334); (b) Exodus 25:9; Numbers 33:4; 1 Samuel 25:30; 2 Kings 8:12; 2 Kings 12:6 לְכָל אַשֶׁר יִמְצָא שָׁם בַּדֶּקֶת Ezekiel 12:25; compare the Ethiopic usage Di § 201; (c) (antecedent repeated) Genesis 49:30 = Genesis 50:13, 1 Samuel 25:30 (יְהוָה repeated), Isaiah 54:9 (probably) as to which I sware that, etc., Amos 5:1 which I take up over you (as) a dirge.
8. Genitive Circumlocution
7 אֵת אַשֶׁר לְ that (belongs, belong, belonged) to, is used a. either alone or preceded by כָּל to express (all) that (belongs) to, as Genesis 14:23 מִכָּל אֲשֶׁר לְךָ of all that is thine, Genesis 31:1 מֵאֲשֶׁר לְאָבִינוּ of that which was our father's, Genesis 32:24 & sent over אֵת אֲשֶׁר לוֹ that which he had, + often b. as a circumlocution of the Genitive, as Genesis 29:9 עִם הַצֹּאן אֲשֶׁר לְאָבִיהָ with the sheep that were her father's, Genesis 40:5; Genesis 47:4; Leviticus 9:8; Judges 6:11; 1 Samuel 25:7 הָרֹעִים אֲשֶׁר לְךָ, 2 Samuel 14:31 אֵת הַחֶלְקָה אֲשֶׁר לִי, 2 Samuel 23:8; 1 Kings 1:8,33 עַל הַמִּרְכֶּבֶת אֲשֶׁר לִי upon mine own mule, 1 Kings 1:49; 1 Kings 4:2; 2 Kings 11:10; 2 Kings 16:13; Ruth 2:21; and especially in the case of a compound expression depending on a single Genitive, as Genesis 23:9; Genesis 40:5; Genesis 41:43 מִרְכֶּבֶת הַמִּשְׁנֶה אֲשֶׁר לוֹ the chariot of the second rank which he had, Exodus 38:30; Judges 3:20; Judges 6:25; 1 Samuel 17:40; 1 Samuel 21:8 אֲבִיר הָרֹעִים אֲשֶׁר לְשָׁאוּל the mightiest of Saul's herdmen, 1 Samuel 24:5 אֵת כְּנַף הַמְּעִיל אֲשֶׁר לְשָׁאוּל, 2 Samuel 2:8 Saul's captain of the host, 1 Kings 10:28; 1 Kings 15:20; 1 Kings 22:31; Jeremiah 52:17; Ruth 4:3. c. with names of places (especially such as do not readily admit the stative construct) Judges 18:28; Judges 19:14 הַגִּבְעָה אֲשֶׁר לִבְנֵי יָמִין Gibeah (the hill) of Benjamin, Judges 20:4; 1 Samuel 17:1; 1 Kings 15:27; 1 Kings 16:15; 1 Kings 17:9; 1 Kings 19:3; 2 Kings 14:11. compare שֶׁ (q. v.) which in Rabb, like the Aramaic דִּי, ܐܢܐ, is in habitual use as a mark of the Genitive. — N.B. In Aramaic also דִּי, ܕ, without לְ, expresses the Genitive relation, as מִלְּתָא דִּי מַלְכָּא, literally the word, that of the king = the word of the king. The few apparent cases of a similar use of אַשֶׁר are, however, too foreign to the general usage of the language to be regarded otherwise than as due to textual error: 1 Samuel 13:8 read אֲשֶׁר אָמַר (or שָׁם Exodus 19:5) שְׁמֻאֵל (Dr ἕπεστιν); 1 Kings 11:25 supply עָשָׂה (Dr ἠν ἀπέστειλεν); 2 Kings 25:10 supply אֵת with (as "" Jeremiah 52:14); 2 Chronicles 34:22 read וְאֲשֶׁר אָמַר הַמֶּלֶךְ (compare Dr) and those whom the king appointed (abbreviated from 2 Kings 22:14); compare Ew § 292 a, b with note.
9. Conjunction Usage
8 אַשֶׁר becomes, like Aramaic דִּי, ܕ, a conjunction approximating in usage to כִּי: thus a. = quod, ὅτι, that, subordinating an entire sentence to a verb of knowing, remembering, etc. (a) with אֵת Deuteronomy 9:7 forget not אֵת אֲשֶׁר הִקְצַפְתָּ the fact that (= how) thou provokedst, etc., Deuteronomy 29:15; Joshua 2:10; 1 Samuel 24:11; 1 Samuel 24:19; 2 Samuel 11:20 know ye not אֵת אֲשֶׁר יֹרִים how they shoot from off the wall? 2 Kings 8:12; Isaiah 38:3 #NAME? 1 Kings 14:19; 2 Kings 14:15; 2 Kings 20:20. Of time (peculiarly) 2 Samuel 14:15 עַתָּה אֲשֶׁר now (is it) that . . . Zechariah 8:20 (probably) yet (shall it be) that . . . Zechariah 8:23; compare כִּמְעַט שֶׁ Song of Solomon 3:4. (β) without אֵת (not very common, כִּי being usually employed): after יָדַע Exodus 11:7; Ezekiel 20:26 (very strange in Ezekiel: see Hi) Job 9:5 (Ew De Di) Ecclesiastes 8:12, רָאָה Deuteronomy 1:31 (RV) 1 Samuel 18:15, הִתְוַדָּה to confess Leviticus 5:5; Leviticus 26:40 b, הִשְׁבִּיעַ 1 Kings 22:16 (caused to swear that . . .); after a noun Isaiah 38:7 הָאוֹת אֲשֶׁר the sign that . . . ("" 2 Kings 20:9 כִּי): with growing frequency in late Hebrew, 2 Chronicles 2:7, and especially Nehemiah, Esther: Nehemiah 2:5,10; Nehemiah 7:65 (= Ezra 2:63) Nehemiah 8:14,15; Nehemiah 10:31; Nehemiah 13:1,19,22; Esther 1:19; Esther 2:10; Esther 3:4; Esther 6:2; Esther 8:11; Ecclesiastes 3:22 (מֵאֲשֶׁר) Ecclesiastes 5:4; Ecclesiastes 7:18 (with טוֹב: contrast Ruth 2:22) Ruth 2:22; Ruth 2:29; Ruth 8:12; Ruth 8:14; Ruth 9:1; Daniel 1:8 (twice in verse). (γ) prefixed to a direct citation, like כִּי q. v. (= ὅτι recitativum) (rare) 1 Samuel 15:20; 2 Samuel 1:4; 2 Samuel 2:4 (see Dr) Psalm 10:6 (probably), Nehemiah 4:6. b. it is resolvable into so that: Genesis 11:7 אֲשֶׁר לֹא יִשְׁמְעוּ so that they understand not, etc., Genesis 13:16; Genesis 22:14 אֲשֶׁר יֵאָמֵר so that it is said, Exodus 20:26; Deuteronomy 4:10,40 אֲשֶׁר יִיטַב לָכֶם Deuteronomy 6:3; Deuteronomy 28:27,51; 1 Kings 3:12,13; 2 Kings 9:37; Malachi 3:19. c. it has a causal force, forasmuch as, in that, since: Genesis 30:18; Genesis 31:49 and Mizpah, אֲשֶׁר אָמַר for that he said, Genesis 34:13,27; Genesis 42:21 we are guilty, אֲשֶׁר רָאִינוּ we who saw (or, in that we saw), Numbers 20:13 Meribah, because they strove there, Deuteronomy 3:24; Joshua 4:7,23; Joshua 22:31; Judges 9:17; 1 Samuel 2:23; 1 Samuel 15:15; 1 Samuel 20:42 go in peace, אֲשֶׁר נִשְׁבַּעְנוּ forasmuch as we have sworn, 1 Samuel 25:26 thou whom (= or, seeing that) יְהוָה hath withholden, 2 Samuel 2:5 blessed are ye of יְהוָה, אֲשֶׁר עֲשִׂיתֶם, who (οὗτινος) have done (or in that ye have done), 1 Kings 3:19; 1 Kings 15:5; 2 Kings 12:3; 2 Kings 17:4; 2 Kings 23:26; Jeremiah 16:13; Ecclesiastes 8:11,12 (Hi De Now). Here also belongs its use in אֲשֶׁר לָמָּה since why . . . ? (= lest) Daniel 1:10: see below לָמָּה. On אֲשֶׁר עַל כֵּן forasmuch as Job 34:27 see below כִּי עַל כֵּן. d. it expresses a condition (rare & peculiar): Leviticus 4:22 אֲשֶׁר יֶחֱטָא in (case) that = when (or if) a ruler sinneth (Leviticus 4:3; Leviticus 4:13; Leviticus 4:37 אִם), Numbers 5:29 (explained differently by Ew § 334 a), Deuteronomy 11:27 and the blessing אֲשֶׁר תִּשְׁמְעוּ if ye hearken (Deuteronomy 11:28 אִם), Deuteronomy 18:22 Ges, Joshua 4:21 אֲשֶׁר יִשְׁאָלֻן when they ask . . ., then . . . (Joshua 4:6 כִּי), Isaiah 31:4. In 1 Kings 8:33 ("" 2 Chronicles 6:24 כִּי, compare 2 Chronicles 6:35; 2 Chronicles 6:37) אֲשֶׁר may be rendered indifferently because or when. Once, similarly, אֵת אֲשֶׁר 1 Kings 8:31 ("" אִם). e. perhaps (exceptionally) = כַּאֲשֶׁר, as, Jeremiah 33:22; Isaiah 54:9 (followed by כֵּן; but כֵּן q. v. sometimes stands without כַּאֲשֶׁר, & אֲשֶׁר may in these passages connect with what precedes); according to some also Jeremiah 48:8; Psalm 106:34 (in a connection where כַּאֲשֶׁר would be more usual: אֲשֶׁר may however be the object of אָמַר). In 1 Samuel 16:7 אֲשֶׁר יִרְאֶה הָאָדָם read כַּאֲשֶׁר, see Dr. f. combined with prepositions, אֲשֶׁר converts them into conjunctions: see below, בַּאֲשֶׁר, כַּאֲשֶׁר, מֵאֲשֶׁר. On its use similarly with (אַחֲרֵי) אַחַר, מִבְּלִי, בְּעָבוּר, עַל דְּבַר, יַעַן, לְמַעַן, כְּפִי, עַד, עַל, עָקֵב, מִמִּנִּי, תַּחַת, see these words. — הָאֲשֶׁר, with ה interrogative, occurs once, 2 Kings 6:22. In Deuteronomy 15:14 also read כַּאֲשֶׁר: note בָּרַכְתָּ before. Note 1 אֲשֶׁר being a connecting link, without any perfectly corresponding equivalent in English, its force is not unfrequently capable of being represented in more than one way. See e.g. 2 Samuel 2:5 (above 8c), Isaiah 28:12 unto whom he said, or for that he said to them. Note 2. The opinion that אֲשֶׁר has an asseverative force (like כִּי, q. v.), or introduces the apodosis, is not probably, being both alien to its general usage & not required by the passages alleged. Render Isaiah 8:20 either 'Surely according to this word will those speak who have no dawn,' or '. . . will they speak when (compare above 8d Deuteronomy 11:27; Joshua 4:21) they have no dawn.'
Compounds
בַּאֲשֶׁר
19 a. in (that) which . . . Isaiah 56:4; Isaiah 65:12; Isaiah 66:4 (above 1); Ecclesiastes 3:9 in (that, in) which (4c); Isaiah 47:12 (see 2). b. adverb in (the place) where: above 4b (γ). c. conjunction in that, inasmuch as, Genesis 39:9,23; Ecclesiastes 7:2; Ecclesiastes 8:4; compare ܒܕܝܠ. d. Jonah 1:8 בַּאֲשֶׁר לְמִי on account of whom? (בַּאֲשֶׁר לְ on account of, framed on model of Aramaic בְּדִיל: see below שֶׁ).
כַּאֲשֶׁר
see below כְּ.
מֵאֲשֶׁר
17 a. from (or than) that which (him, them, etc., that . . .) Genesis 3:11; Exodus 29:27 (twice in verse); Numbers 6:11 (see Leviticus 4:26; Joshua 10:11; Judges 16:30; Isaiah 47:13 +; than that . . . Ecclesiastes 3:22; לְבַד מֵאֲשֶׁר Esther 4:11. b. adverb from (the place) where: above 4a (β). c. conjunction from (the fact) that . . ., since Isaiah 43:4.
כַּאֲשֶׁר
conjunction according as, as, when (compare for the combined Aramaic כְּדִי, כַּד) — 1 according to that which, according as, as: a. Genesis 34:12 I will give כַּאֲשֶׁר תֹּאמְרוּ אֵלַי according as ye shall (or may) say unto me, Genesis 44:1; Exodus 8:23; Numbers 22:8; 1 Samuel 2:16; Genesis 34:22 if we are circumcised כַּאֲשֶׁר הֵמָּה נְמוֹלִים; Genesis 41:21 כַּאֲשֶׁר בַּתְּחִלָּה as at the beginning, so כֵּן בְּרָאשִׁית Joshua 8:5,6; 2 Samuel 7:10; Exodus 5:13 כַּאֲשֶׁר בִּהְיוֹת הַתָּבֶן Genesis 7:9 they came in two by two כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוָּה אֱלֹהִים אֶת נֹחַ, as God commanded Noah; so, or similarly, very often, especially in P, Genesis 7:16; Genesis 8:21; Genesis 12:4; Genesis 17:23; Genesis 21:1 (twice in verse); Exodus 16:24; Exodus 39:1,5,7; Numbers 3:16,42 etc.; כֵּן כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר Deuteronomy 1:21; Deuteronomy 2:1; Deuteronomy 6:3,19 #NAME? Deuteronomy 1:21. b. answered, for increased emphasis, by כֵּן (compare כְּ 2d), Genesis 50:12 וַיַּעֲשׂוּ כֵּן כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוָּם, Exodus 7:10,20; Genesis 18:5 (J) כֵּן חַי כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבַּרְתָּ, Exodus 10:10 (iron.), Amos 5:14 (do.); in opposed to order, Judges 1:7 כַּאֲשֶׁר עָשִׂיתִי, כֵּן שִׁלַּמְתִּי לִי, Exodus 7:6 כֵּן עָשׂוּ כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוָּה יְהוָה, compare Exodus 12:28,50; Exodus 39:43; Numbers 5:4; Numbers 17:26; Numbers 36:10 (all P); with imperfect (frequently) Numbers 2:17 (P) כַּאֲשֶׁר יַחֲנוּ כֵּן יִסָּעוּ; of degree = the more . . . the more, Exodus 1:12 וְכַאֲשֶׁר יְעַנּוּ אֹתוֹ כֵּן יִרְבֶּה וְכֵן יִפְרֹץ, compare Exodus 17:11 (JE) כַּאֲשֶׁר יָרִים מֹשֶׁה יָדוֹ according as he held up, etc., Israel prevailed; in an oath or solemn promise, Numbers 14:28 אִם לֹא כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבַּרְתֶּם כֵּן אֶעֱשֶׂה, Deuteronomy 28:63 (Jeremiah 31:28), 1 Kings 1:30; Isaiah 10:11; Isaiah 14:24; Isaiah 52:14 f. (see כֵּן 2b). c. answered by וְ (Dr § 127 γ) Exodus 16:34; Numbers 1:19. d. often in similes (followed by imperfect of habit) Exodus 33:11 כַּאֲשֶׁר יְדַבֵּר אִישׁ אֶל רֵעֵהוּ, Numbers 11:12; Deuteronomy 1:44; Isaiah 9:2; Isaiah 66:20 +, answered by כֵּן Isaiah 31:4; Isaiah 55:10; Isaiah 66:22; Amos 3:12 +; a second verb is, in such cases, in the perfect with וְ consecutive (Dr § 115) Deuteronomy 22:26; Isaiah 29:8 כַּאֲשֶׁר יַחֲלֹם הָרָעֵב וְהִנֵּה אֹכֵל, Isaiah 65:8; Amos 5:19. e. הָיָה כַּאֲשֶׁר (compare הָיָה כְּ) to be as if, Job 10:19 כַּאֲשֶׁר לֹא הָיִיתִי כֵּן אֶהְיֶה, Zechariah 10:6 וְהָיָה כַּאֲשֶׁר לֹא זְנַחְתִּים. 2 with a casual force, in so far as, since (German demgemäss dass), Genesis 26:29 if thou doest us no harm כַּאֲשֶׁר לֹא נְגַעֲנוּךָ according as, in so far as, we have not touched thee; Numbers 27:14 כַּאֲשֶׁר מְרִיתֶם פִּי inasmuch as ye have defied my mouth, Judges 6:27; 1 Samuel 28:18 (answered by עַל כֵּן), 2 Kings 17:26; Micah 3:4. 3 with a temporal force, when, Genesis 18:33 and יְהוָה went away כַּאֲשֶׁר כִּלָּה when he had finished, etc., Genesis 32:3; Genesis 32:32; 1 Samuel 8:6; 2 Samuel 12:21 +; answered by וְ (Dr § 127 β), 1 Samuel 6:6; 1 Samuel 12:8; וַיְהִי כַּאֲשֶׁר and it came to pass, when . . . Genesis 12:11; Genesis 20:13; Genesis 24:22,52; Exodus 32:19 + often; Genesis 43:14 כַּאֲשֶׁר שָׁכַלְתִּי שָׁכָלְתִּי when I am bereaved, I am bereaved! an expression of resignation, so Esther 4:16 כַּאֲשֶׁר אָבַדְתִּי אָבָדְתִּי. Joshua 2:7 אַחֲרֵי כַּאֲשֶׁר is a 'conflate' reading, omit either אַחֲרֵי or כַּאֲשֶׁר. Of future time, Genesis 27:40; Genesis 40:14 כַּאֲשֶׁר יִיטַב לִי, Hosea 7:12; Ecclesiastes 4:17; Ecclesiastes 5:3, and without a verb Isaiah 23:5 כַּאֲשֶׁר שָׁמַע לְמִצְרַיִם. — Micah 3:3 כַּאֲשֶׁר is simply as that which, Job 29:25 as one who.
שֶׁ, also (Genesis 6:3 [? see 4a], Judges 5:7 (twice in verse); Song of Solomon 1:7; Job 19:29 [?]) שַׁ, שָׁ in שָׁאַתָּה Judges 6:17, and שְׁ in שְׁהוּא Ecclesiastes 2:22, שְׁהֵם Ecclesiastes 3:18 (elsewhere before guttural שֶׁ, as שֶׁאֲנִי Song of Solomon 1:6; Ecclesiastes 2:18, שֶׁאֲהֵבִים Psalm 146:3, שֶׁעָל Judges 7:12; Judges 8:26, שֶׁרְאֹשִׁי Song of Solomon 5:2), relative particle who, which, that, etc. (constantly in Late Hebrew; Aramaic of Nerab, Ldzb 371, 445; Assyrian sha; Phoenician אש (regularly), also sometimes ש (Ldzb 227f.): according to Ges Ew § 181 b Ol p. 439 Sta § 176 e, abbreviated from אַשֶׁר; more probably (Sperling [see אַשֶׁר], Kö ii. 323 f.) an original demonstrative particle), synonym with אַשֶׁר, but in usage limited to late Hebrew, and passages with north Palestinian colouring, namely Judges 5:7 (twice in verse) [אַשֶׁר Judges 5:27], Judges 6:17; Judges 7:12; Judges 8:26; 2 Kings 6:11 (see 4c), Jonah 1:7,12; Jonah 4:10 [אַשֶׁר 11t.], Psalm 122:3; Psalm 122:4; Psalm 123:2; Psalm 124:1; Psalm 124:2; Psalm 124:6; Psalm 129:6; Psalm 129:7; Psalm 133:2; Psalm 133:3; Psalm 135:2; Psalm 135:8; Psalm 135:10; Psalm 136:23; Psalm 137:8; Psalm 137:9; Psalm 144:15; Psalm 146:3; Psalm 146:5; Lamentations 2:15,16; Lamentations 4:9; Lamentations 5:18; Ezra 8:20; 1 Chronicles 5:20; 1 Chronicles 27:27; Canticles (uniformly, except in title Song of Solomon 1:1); Ecclesiastes (68 t.; אֲשֶׁא 89t.); also (dubious) Genesis 6:3; Genesis 49:10 (שִׁלֹה Dr § 176 e), Job 19:29; and in the proper name (מִי שָׁאֵל and מְתוּשָׁאֵל). — In usage, שֶׁ is in the main parallel with אַשֶׁר, namely 1 as pronoun who, which, whom, Judges 7:12 כָּהוּל שֶׁעָל שְׁפָת הַיָּם (compare חוּל c), Psalm 122:3; Psalm 124:6 etc.; him whom, that which, etc., Song of Solomon 1:7; Song of Solomon 3:1; 1 Chronicles 27:27; Ecclesiastes 1:11; Ecclesiastes 6:3 וְרַב שֶׁיִּהְיֶה לִימָיו and much (verb) is that which his days amount to (Hi De and others), Ecclesiastes 6:10; הוּא שֶׁ that which Ecclesiastes 1:9 (twice in verse); in the Genitive, אֲשֶׁרִי שֶׁ Psalm 137:8; Psalm 137:9; Psalm 146:5. — On מַה שֶׁ in Eccl = whatever, what, see מָה 1e b. 2 as a connecting link; = where (compare אַשֶׁר p. 81, and 4b β), מְקוֹם שֶׁ Ecclesiastes 1:7; Ecclesiastes 11:3 (compare מְקוֹם אַשֶׁר Genesis 39:20 +: Ges § 130c), whither Psalm 122:4 (שֶׁשָׁמָּה Dr § 176 e), when Song of Solomon 8:8; Ecclesiastes 12:3 בַּיּוֹם שֶׁ (compare ib. 4b a). 3 as a conjunction (compare אַשֶׁר 8); — a. that, after רָאָה Ecclesiastes 2:13; Ecclesiastes 3:18, יָרַע Ecclesiastes 1:17; Ecclesiastes 2:14; Ecclesiastes 9:5; Job 19:19 (?), דִּבֵּר Ecclesiastes 2:15, אָמַר Ecclesiastes 8:14, עָשָׂה אוֹת Judges 6:17; as subject of sentence, Ecclesiastes 3:13; Ecclesiastes 5:15; also in the phrases, (a) what is ... that? Song of Solomon 5:9 (usually כִּי; see מָה 1d b), מֶה הָיָה שֶׁ how comes it that ...? Ecclesiastes 7:10; (b) Song of Solomon 3:4 כִּמְעַט שֶׁעָבַרְתִּי hardly (was it) that (German kaum dass) I had passed, etc., Ecclesiastes 7:14 עַל דִּבַּר שֶׁלֹּא יִמְצָא to the intent that ..., Ecclesiastes 5:15 כָּל עֻמָּת שֶׁבָּא exactly as ..., Ecclesiastes 12:9 תּוֹר שֶׁ besides that, עַד שֶׁ (עַד Dr § 176 e Judges 5:7) until that Psalm 123:2; Song of Solomon 2:7,17 + (see III. עַד II 1 a a and b; compare Late Hebrew Yoma Song of Solomon 5:1), while Song of Solomon 1:12 (ib. 2d); עָשָׂה שֶׁ to make or cause that ..., Ecclesiastes 3:14 (compare Ezekiel 36:27). b. involving a reason (compare אַשֶׁר 8c), because, since, Song of Solomon 1:6 (twice in verse); Song of Solomon 5:2; Ecclesiastes 2:18 b. Hence שֶׁלָּמָּה Song of Solomon 1:7 since why? = lest (see מָה 4d b). 4 compounds: a. בְּשֶׁ, i. q. בַּאֲשֶׁר c (p. 84a) in that, seeing that, Ecclesiastes 2:16; also (according to Dr § 176 e Hu De) Genesis 6:3 בְּשֶׁגָּם הוּא בָשָׂר because that he also is flesh; but see שָׁגָג. b. כְּשֶׁ, i. q. כַּאֲשֶׁר p. 455: — (a) according as Ecclesiastes 5:14; Ecclesiastes 12:7; (b) when (so often in Late Hebrew, as Ab Ecclesiastes 1:8 (3 t. in verse); Ecclesiastes 1:14) Ecclesiastes 9:12; Ecclesiastes 10:3. c. מִשֶׁ, i. q. מֵאֲשֶׁר a (p. 84:a), 2 Kings 6:12 מִי מִשֶׁלָּנוּ who of those that are ours? (but Klo Kmp Kau Benz מְגַלֶּה לָנוּ who betrays us? compare Dr § 176 e); Ecclesiastes 5:4 than that (compare מֵאֲשֶׁר Ecclesiastes 3:22), + Ecclesiastes 2:24 (read מִשֶׁיֹּאכַל with Ew De, etc.; compare Ecclesiastes 3:22). d. שֶׁל, like אַשֶׁר לְ (אַשֶׁר 7b), a mark of the Genitive: thrice, adding slight emphasis to the suffix, Song of Solomon 1:6 = Song of Solomon 8:12 כַּרְמִי שֶׁלִּי my vineyard (literally my vineyard, which is mine), Song of Solomon 3:7 מִטָּתוֹ שֶׁלִּשְׁלֹמֹה (so often in Late Hebrew, but without any special emphasis, as Aboth Song of Solomon 1:12 הוֹי מְתַלְמִידֵי שֶׁלְאַהֲרֹן be of Aaron's disciples, Song of Solomon 2:1 הוֹי מְתַפַּלֵּל בְּשֶׁלּוֹ, Song of Solomon 2:2; Song of Solomon 3:2 הוֹי מִתְפַּלֵּל בְּשֶׁלָּהֶם; compare ܐܠܗܐ in Syriac, as Luke 6:42 ܒܪܐܠܗܐ my words, Nö § 225). And with בְּ, בְּשֶׁל literally through that which belongs to or concerns, pleonastic for on account of (a late, unidiomatic translation of Aramaic בְּדִיל, from בְּ, דִּי, and לְ, as in Onk Genesis 12:13 בְּדִילִי on my account, Genesis 30:27; Genesis 39:5 בְּדִיל יוֹסֵף, בְּדִיל מָא on account of what? Judges 8:1; 2 Samuel 9:1; 1 Kings 11:12,39, etc.), Jonah 1:7 בְּשֶׁלְּמִי on account of whom? ("" Jonah 1:8 בַּאֲשֶׁר לְמִי; probably a gloss), Jonah 1:12 בְּשֶׁלִּי on account of me (Dr § 176 e בְּדִיל מַן, בְּדִילִי); Ecclesiastes 8:17 בְּשֶׁל אֲשֶׁר יַעֲמֹל הָאָדָם on account of (the fact) that (= seeing that) man labours, etc. (unidiomatic translation of Aramaic בְּדִיל דִּי because that, as Genesis 6:3 בְּדִיל דִּי אִינּוּן בִסְרָא, Genesis 39:9 בְּדִיל דִּי אִיתֵית לִי [for Hebrew בַּאֲשֶׁר אֵת אִשְׁתּוֹ]; Palmyrene בדיל די Ldzb 233, — in Tariff Genesis 1:4 (Cooke N. Semitic Inscr. 320) = ἐπίδη). [שֹׁא] see [שׁוּא].
1 Tsepreghi Diss. Lugd. p. 171 Mühlau Bö. Lb. ii. 79 n. Sta Morg. Forsch. 1875, 188; Lb. § 167 Hom ZMG 1878, 708 ff. Müll § 153 Sayce Hebraica. ii. 51 Lag M. i. 255 & especially Krae Hebraica. vi. 298 ff.
2 Phi St. C. 73 Sperling Nota Rel. im Hebr. 1876, 15-22.
3 Nö ZMG 1886, 738.
4 Ew § 334.
5 Dr.
6 Hi.
7 Ew De Di.
8 Ew De.
9 Ew § 334 a.
10 Hu De.
11 Dr § 176 e.
12 Kö ii. 323 f.
13 Ges Ew § 181 b Ol p. 439 Sta § 176 e.
14 Dr § 176 e.
15 Hi De and others.
16 Dr § 176 e.
17 Klo Kmp Kau Benz.
18 Ew De, etc.
19 Nö § 225.
20 Cooke N. Semitic Inscr. 320.
- Definition
- properly, to try, i.e. (by implication) select
- Root
- a primitive root;
- Exhaustive
בָּחַר verb choose (compare Aramaic בְּחַר, Syriac ܒܚܪ, Assyrian bēru (√ בּאַר)1).
Cognates:
- Aramaic בְּחַר
- Syriac ܒܚܪ
- Assyrian bēru (√ בּאַר)1
Qal
Perfect בָּחַר Deuteronomy 7:6 (66 times); יִבְחַר Isaiah 41:24 (60 times); אֶבְחַר Job 29:25 (Baer); Imperative בְּחַר Exodus 17:9 (5 times); Infinitive absolute בָּחֹר 1 Samuel 2:28; Isaiah 7:15, 16; Infinitive construct suffix בָּחֳרִי Ezekiel 20:5; Participle בֹּחֵר 1 Samuel 20:30; Zechariah 3:2; passive בָּחוּר Exodus 14:7 (18 times).
1. With בְּ (in)
a. Divine choice
- Of Abraham Nehemiah 9:7
- Israel Deuteronomy 7:7; Isaiah 44:1; Ezekiel 20:5; to become his people Deuteronomy 7:6; 14:2; Jeshurun Isaiah 44:2
- The seed of the patriarchs Deuteronomy 4:37; 10:15
- Levites Deuteronomy 18:5; 21:5; 1 Chronicles 15:2; 2 Chronicles 29:11
- Aaron Psalm 105:26
- Judah 1 Chronicles 28:4 not Ephraim Psalm 78:67
- Levi and Judah Jeremiah 33:24
- The king Deuteronomy 17:15, especially David 1 Samuel 10:24; 16:8, 9, 10; 2 Samuel 6:21; 1 Kings 8:16 (= 2 Chronicles 6:6) 1 Chronicles 28:4, 5; 29:1; 6:5; Psalm 78:70
- Others Numbers 16:5; 17:20 (P) Haggai 2:23
- Place of sacrifice Deuteronomy 12:18; 14:25; 16:7, 15; 17:8; 2 Chronicles 7:12
- The city 1 Kings 8:16, 44 (= 2 Chronicles 6:5, 34) 1 Kings 11:32; Jerusalem 2 Chronicles 6:6; Isaiah 14:1; Zechariah 1:17; 2:16; Zechariah 3:2; Zion Psalm 132:13; delusions Isaiah 66:4
b. Man's choice
- Of ways Proverbs 3:31; Isaiah 66:3
- Good things Isaiah 7:15, 16
- Life Deuteronomy 30:19
- Gods Judges 10:14; Isaiah 41:24
- God's pleasure Isaiah 56:4; 65:12; 66:4
2. With אֲשֶׁר (which)
a. Divine choice
- Israel Isaiah 41:8 יַעֲקֹב אֲשֶׁר בָּחַרְתִּיךָ, 43:10
- The people 1 Kings 3:8; Psalm 33:12
- Men Numbers 16:7 (P) Psalm 65:5
- King 2 Samuel 16:18; 1 Kings 11:34
- Place of sacrifice Deuteronomy 12:14, 26; 15:20; 17:10; 31:11 (D) Joshua 9:27 (P), especially לָשֻׁם שְׁמוֹ שָׁם Deuteronomy 12:5, 21; 14:24, לְשַׁכֵּן שְׁמוֹ שָׁם 12:11; 14:23; 16:2, 6, 11; Nehemiah 1:9
- The city 1 Kings 8:48 (= 2 Chronicles 6:38), לָשֻׁם שְׁמִי שָׁם 1 Kings 11:36; 14:21 (= 2 Chronicles 12:13); Jerusalem 1 Kings 11:13; 2 Kings 21:7 (= 2 Chronicles 33:7) 2 Kings 23:27
- Fast Isaiah 58:5, 6
- Way Psalm 25:12
b. Man's choice
- Place to dwell in Deuteronomy 23:7
- Gardens Isaiah 1:29
- King 1 Samuel 12:13
- Wives Genesis 6:2 (J)
- What to do 2 Samuel 15:15
3. With accusative and לְ (to)
Choose someone or something for:
a. Divine choice
- Of Levi 1 Samuel 2:28
- Jacob Psalm 135:4; 135:5
- Inheritance Psalm 47:5
b. Human choice
- Persons Exodus 17:9; Joshua 24:15, 22 (E) 1 Samuel 8:18; 13:12; 2 Samuel 24:12 (= 1 Chronicles 21:20)
- Things Genesis 13:11 (J) 1 Samuel 17:40; 1 Kings 18:23, 25; Job 34:4
4. With accusative and מִן (from)
Choose, select from 2 Samuel 10:9 (= 1 Chronicles 19:10).
5. With accusative
a. Divine choice
- Temple 2 Chronicles 7:16
- Judah Psalm 78:68
- Servant Isaiah 41:9; 49:7
b. Man's choice
- Persons Exodus 18:28 (E) Judges 5:8; Joshua 8:3 (J) 2 Samuel 17:1
- Things Job 7:15; 9:14; 15:5; 29:25; 34:33; Psalm 119:30; 119:173; Proverbs 1:29; Isaiah 40:20
6. With עַל (upon)
כִּי עַל זֶה בָּחַרְתָּ מַעֲנִי for this thou hast chosen rather than affliction Job 36:21; with accusative and עַל pregnantly כָּל אֲשֶׁר תִּבְחַר עָלַי all that thou choosest (to lay) upon me 2 Samuel 19:39.
7. With לְ (to) of accusative
1 Samuel 20:30 (many manuscripts have בְּ; but חָבֵר companion2).
The participle בָּחוּר chosen, of a ruler Psalm 89:20, warrior Jeremiah 49:19 (= 50:44); as cedars Song of Solomon 5:15; collective רֶכֶב בָּחוּר chosen chariots Exodus 14:7 (E); אִישׁ בָּחוּר chosen men, warriors Judges 20:15, 16, 34; 1 Samuel 24:3; 2 Chronicles 13:3, 17, for which בָּחוּר alone 1 Kings 12:21 2 Chronicles 11:1; 25:5; בְּחוּרֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל 1 Samuel 26:2; Psalm 78:31; 2 Samuel 10:9 בְּחוּרֵי בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל (|| 1 Chronicles 19:10 בָּחוּר בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל, doubtless the true reading, as 2 Samuel 6:1).
8. Test, try
(Aramaic = בְּחַן) בְּחַרְתִּיךָ בְּכוּר עֹנִי I have tested thee in the furnace of affliction Isaiah 48:103.
Niphal
נִבְחַר Jeremiah 8:3; Participle נִבְחָר Proverbs 8:10 (5 times).
To be chosen.
a. Absolute chosen, choice Proverbs 8:10, 19; 10:20.
b. Construct מִן, וְנִבְחַר מוּת מֵחַיִּים death will be chosen rather than life Jeremiah 8:3; choicer than Proverbs 16:16; 22:1; נִבְחַר לַיהוָה מִזֶּבַח choicer (more acceptable) to Yahweh than peace-offering Proverbs 21:3.
Pual
יֻבְחַר chosen, selected Ecclesiastes 9:4 (יֻחְבַּר Qr).
1 Friedrich Delitzsch, Prolegomena eines neuen hebräisch-aramäischen Wörterbuchs zum Alten Testament, Leipzig, 1886.
2 Many manuscripts have בְּ; but חָבֵר companion (compare Julius Wellhausen, Die Composition des Hexateuchs, Berlin, 1876; Samuel Rolles Driver, Notes on the Hebrew Text of the Books of Samuel, Oxford, 1890).
3 I have tested thee in the furnace of affliction (compare Wilhelm Gesenius, Hebrew Grammar, ed. E. Kautzsch, trans. A. E. Cowley, 2nd English ed., Oxford, 1910 §§ 90, 3b, 96; Heinrich Ewald, Commentary on the Prophets of the Old Testament; Franz Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Prophecies of Isaiah; Thomas Kelly Cheyne, The Prophecies of Isaiah; Samuel Rolles Driver, Isaiah: His Life and Times), but chosen (compare Rashi, Commentary on Isaiah; John Calvin, Commentary on Isaiah; Authorized Version).
For they are becoming ashamed because of the leaders whom you all have delighted in, and you are excavating7 from the Gardens which you all have chosen.
For they shall be ashamed of their mighty ones which ye desired, and ye shall blush for the gardens which ye chose.
For they shall be ashamed of the trees which you lusted after; and you shall be ashamed of the gardens that you have chosen.
For they shall be ashamed of their idols, which they delighted in, and they are made ashamed of the gardens which they coveted.
Footnotes
| Isa. 1:29 | Isa. 1:29 Strongs #2658 תחפרו you all are digging. From the verb חפר As in digging pit wells, digging for something hidden, "pawing in the valley", etc. The similar word #2659 חפר to blush, be confounded does not fit as well in the context of a garden. |