Joshua 2:8

Paleo Hebrew Niqqud

RBT Hebrew Interlinear:

והמה וְהֵמָּה

None

STRONGS

Strong's Lexicon

ו

wə

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.

Source: The Aonic Nature of Biblical Hebrew Prepositions

הם

hêm

Definition

they (only used when emphatic)

Root

or (prolonged) המה; masculine plural from H1981 (הלך);

Exhaustive

or (prolonged) המה; masculine plural from הלך; they (only used when emphatic); it, like, [idiom] (how, so) many (soever, more as) they (be), (the) same, [idiom] so, [idiom] such, their, them, these, they, those, which, who, whom, withal, ye.

Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance — H1992

Fürst

Fürst Lexicon

הֵם

pronoun • Strongs / High • Page 404

Personal pronoun, third person masculine plural: they.

הֵם

pronoun • Strongs / High • Page 405

Pronoun of the 3rd person plural masculine, they. Can also be used to express the verb 'to be' or with the article הָהֵם for emphasis, 'they themselves'.

Conjunction, Pronoun personal third person masculine plural

LXX: αὐτοὶ οὗτοι εἰσιν ταῦτα ἐκείναισ

LXX Usage Statistics

H1992:

αὐτοὶ 173× (27.9%)

οὗτοι 54× (8.8%)

εἰσιν 48× (7.8%)

ταῦτα 36× (6.1%)

ἐκείναισ 34× (5.8%)

ἐστιν 25× (4.1%)

--- 20× (3.4%)

αὐτῶν 12× (2.0%)

ἦσαν 11× (1.7%)

εἰσίν 11× (1.9%)

טרם טֶרֶם

None

STRONGS

Strong's Lexicon

טרם

ṭerem

Definition

properly, non-occurrence; used adverbially, not yet or before

Root

from an unused root apparently meaning to interrupt or suspend;

Exhaustive

from an unused root apparently meaning to interrupt or suspend; properly, non-occurrence; used adverbially, not yet or before; before, ere, not yet.

Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance — H2962

Fürst

Fürst Lexicon

טֶרֶם

noun • Root טר • Strongs / High • Page 558

expectation, hope.

טֶרֶם

adverb • Root טור • Strongs / High • Page 566

Properly, expectation or hope. Used as an adverb meaning before, not yet.

Gesenius

Gesenius Lexicon

טֶרֶם

conjunction • Page 266

yet not; construed with a future (Gen. 2:5, etc.) or a preterite (1 Sam. 3:7). Forms: בְּטֶרֶם (when not yet, before, Jer. 1:5) and מִטֶּרֶם (when not yet, Hag. 2:15).

Noun common both singular absolute

LXX: πρὸ πρὶν

LXX Usage Statistics

H2962:

πρὸ 22× (48.1%)

πρὶν 20× (43.4%)

ישכבון יִשְׁכָּבוּן

their inner selves are to lie down

STRONGS

Strong's Lexicon

שכב

shâkab

Definition

to lie down (for rest, sexual connection, decease or any other purpose)

Root

a primitive root;

Exhaustive

a primitive root; to lie down (for rest, sexual connection, decease or any other purpose); [idiom] at all, cast down, (lover-)lay (self) (down), (make to) lie (down, down to sleep, still with), lodge, ravish, take rest, sleep, stay.

Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance — H7901

נ

Definition

paragogic

Root

Exhaustive

Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance — H9013

Fürst

Fürst Lexicon

שָׁכַב

verb • Root שכב • Strongs / High • Page 1417

I. To bend oneself, to lie down, to lie stiff (of one destroyed), to rest, to sleep, or metaphorically to die/be buried (e.g., שָׁכַב עִם־אֲבוֹתָיו).

שָׁכַב

verb • Strongs / High • Page 1418

Denotes the coming into Sheol. 2. To lie (sexually), commonly spoken of a man lying with a woman, or vice versa, also applied to animals.

שָׁכַב

verb • Root שכב • Strongs / High • Page 1418

II. To pour out. (The sexual meaning of שָׁכַב I. may derive from originally meaning 'to moisten, with semen').

Gesenius

Gesenius Lexicon

שָׁכַב

verb • Page 670

1. to lay one's self down, particularly for sleep (Gen. 19:4, 28:11, 1 Sam. 3:5) or in death (1 K. 2:10, 11:43). 2. to lie. Constrained with an accus. of the place, hence those that lie in the grave, Ps. 88:6; she that lieth in thy bosom, Mic. 7:5.

Verb Qal imperfect third person masculine plural, Suffix paragogic nun

LXX: ἐκοιμήθη κοιμηθῇ κοιμηθῆναι ἐκάθευδεν κοιμηθήσῃ

LXX Usage Statistics

H7901:

ἐκοιμήθη 52× (22.9%)

κοιμηθῇ 18× (8.9%)

κοιμηθῆναι 10× (4.3%)

ἐκάθευδεν 9× (4.5%)

κοιμηθήσῃ 9× (4.4%)

κοιμώμενοσ 8× (3.6%)

κοιμήθητι 8× (4.0%)

κοιμηθήσεται 7× (3.3%)

ἐκοιμήθησαν 6× (3.1%)

κοιμηθεὶσ 5× (2.5%)

והיא וְהִיא

and herself

STRONGS

Strong's Lexicon

ו

wə

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.

Source: The Aonic Nature of Biblical Hebrew Prepositions

הוא

hûwʼ

Definition

he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demonstrative) this or that; occasionally (instead of copula) as or are

Root

of which the feminine (beyond the Pentateuch) is היא; a primitive word, the third person pronoun singular;

Exhaustive

of which the feminine (beyond the Pentateuch) is היא; a primitive word, the third person pronoun singular; he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demonstrative) this or that; occasionally (instead of copula) as or are; he, as for her, him(-self), it, the same, she (herself), such, that (...it), these, they, this, those, which (is), who.

Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance — H1931

Fürst

Fürst Lexicon

הוּא

personal pronoun • Root הו • Strongs / High • Page 392

Personal pronoun, 3rd person singular masculine: he, it. It can also be used for emphasis (he himself), as a demonstrative (this, that), to indicate self, or to strengthen other pronouns (I myself, thou thyself).

הוּא

pronoun • Strongs / High • Page 393

Personal pronoun, 3rd person singular masculine: he, it. Can also mean 'the same', 'himself'. It is also used as a designation for God, and can include the verb 'to be'.

הוּא

aramaic personal pronoun (aramaic) • Strongs / High • Page 393

Aramaic personal pronoun of the 3rd person, he.

Gesenius

Gesenius Lexicon

הוּא

chald. • Page 178

idem. behold, as for as simply. So in Syr. Dan. 2:43.

הוּא

pronoun • Page 182

1. he, and as a neuter it. In the Pentateuch, used for both genders. 2. self, same, selfsame. Is. 7:14, Ps. 44:5. 3. serves as the substantive verb 'to be' (copula). Is. 43:25. Also used as 'thou (art) the same' in 2 Sam. 7:28.

הוּא

chald. pron. • Page 182

idem (the same). Dan. 2:21.

הוּא

chald. • Page 182

see הֲוָה.

הוּא

unknown • Page 217

see הָוָה.

Conjunction, Pronoun personal third person feminine singular

LXX: αὐτὸσ ἐστιν ἐκείνῃ οὗτοσ ---

LXX Usage Statistics

H1931:

αὐτὸσ 321× (16.5%)

ἐστιν 260× (13.7%)

ἐκείνῃ 197× (10.6%)

οὗτοσ 160× (8.4%)

--- 103× (5.6%)

ἐκείνῳ 67× (3.6%)

ἐστίν 54× (2.9%)

ἐστὶν 54× (2.7%)

'' 50× (2.3%)

τοῦτο 42× (2.2%)

עלתה עָלְתָה

she has climbed up

STRONGS

Strong's Lexicon

עלה

ʻâlâh

Definition

to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative

Root

a primitive root;

Exhaustive

a primitive root; to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative; arise (up), (cause to) ascend up, at once, break (the day) (up), bring (up), (cause to) burn, carry up, cast up, [phrase] shew, climb (up), (cause to, make to) come (up), cut off, dawn, depart, exalt, excel, fall, fetch up, get up, (make to) go (away, up); grow (over) increase, lay, leap, levy, lift (self) up, light, (make) up, [idiom] mention, mount up, offer, make to pay, [phrase] perfect, prefer, put (on), raise, recover, restore, (make to) rise (up), scale, set (up), shoot forth (up), (begin to) spring (up), stir up, take away (up), work.

Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance — H5927

Fürst

Fürst Lexicon

עָלָה

verb intransitive • Strongs / High • Page 1091

I. To be high, above, aloft, to be elevated, raised high. To go to a height, to ascend, to go up (opposite יָרַד). To shoot up, of plants, to sprout. To go or come up, often applied to going from a low to a higher region.

עָלָה

verb intransitive • Strongs / High • Page 1091

II. The reverse of יָרַד; specifically used for going to Assyria, or going into a desert, or pilgrimages to holy places (usually higher).

עָלָה

verb • Root עלה • Strongs / High • Page 1092

To go up, ascend, rise. Used for: going to a higher place, overcoming, subduing, overflowing (river), spreading upwards, leading up, mounting up, increasing, prancing, springing upon, crying out, reaching, or amounting to.

עָלָה

verb • Strongs / High • Page 1093

To offer a burnt-offering (context of the usage of the verb regarding sacrifice).

עָלָה

intransitive verb • Strongs / High • Page 1093

II. 1. To glow, burn, blaze (of sacrifices, flame, anger, wrath). 2. To sprout, grow (of plants). 3. To lighten, shine (of dawn).

Gesenius

Gesenius Lexicon

עָלָה

verb • Page 508

To go up, ascend, mount. Applied to people (ascending to a country or place of judgment), things (roads leading, countries extending, lots coming up), plants (shooting or growing up), or metaphorically (rising in value, advancing, excelling, coming to mind). Includes derived forms: Niph. (to be brought up, driven away, or exalted) and Hiph. (to lead or bring up, present an offering, take away, or enroll). (Is. 14:14, Ex. 24:13, Gen. 49:4, Prov. 21:22, Gen. 13:1, Jer. 48:15, Job 36:33, Prov. 24:31, Am. 8:8, 1 K. 22:35, Deut. 28:43, Ezra 1:11, Ps. 47:10, Gen. 37:28, Is. 57:6, Lev. 14:20).

עִלָּה

chald. n.f. • Root עלל • Page 509

A cause, occasion, or pretext. Found in Dan. 6: 5, 6.

Verb Qal perfect third person feminine singular

LXX: ἀνέβη ἀνέβησαν ἀναβήσεται ἀνάβηθι ἀνήνεγκεν

LXX Usage Statistics

H5927:

ἀνέβη 144× (15.2%)

ἀνέβησαν 56× (5.8%)

ἀναβήσεται 42× (4.5%)

ἀνάβηθι 29× (3.3%)

ἀνήνεγκεν 23× (2.3%)

ἀναβῆναι 18× (1.9%)

ἀνήγαγεν 18× (1.9%)

ἀνάβητε 16× (1.8%)

--- 15× (1.7%)

ἀναβῇ 14× (1.6%)

עליהם עֲלֵיהֶם

upon themselves

STRONGS

Strong's Lexicon

על

ʻal

Definition

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

Root

properly, the same as H5920 (על) used as a preposition (in the singular or plural often with prefix, or as conjunction with a particle following);

Exhaustive

properly, the same as על used as a preposition (in the singular or plural often with prefix, or as conjunction with a particle following); above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications; above, according to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, [idiom] as, at, because of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, [idiom] both and, by (reason of), [idiom] had the charge of, concerning for, in (that), (forth, out) of, (from) (off), (up-) on, over, than, through(-out), to, touching, [idiom] with.

Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance — H5921

הם

Definition

them, personal pronoun - verb/prep. 3rd person masculine plural

Root

Exhaustive

Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 3rd person masculine plural

Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance — H9038

Fürst

Fürst Lexicon

עַל

adjective / noun • Root עלה • Strongs / High • Page 1088

Highest; same as עֶלְיוֹן. This form is abridged from עָלָה and derived from עָלַי (like יַד from יָדָה I.), serving as the construct form עֲלֵי (out of עֲלַאי).

עַל

preposition / adverb • Root עלה • Strongs / High • Page 1088

A preposition: upon, over, above, super, in the widest sense. It expresses protecting, covering, resting above upon (answering to 'where'); motion toward the upper surface (answering to 'whither?'); local direction to a more distant agency; or proximity/timing ('with, at'). Used figuratively as dat. commodi and incommodi, meaning a burden or duty upon one, or with certain verbs replacing the dative case. Also expresses motion down upon or up to, sometimes interchanging with אֶל.

עַל

preposition / adverb • Strongs / High • Page 1089

Preposition or Adverb meaning upon, over, at, above (denoting physical overtopping or mental superiority/dominion); expressing addition (to, reckoned to); proximity (by, around); suitability (according to); or occasionally used concessively (though, quanquam).

עַל

preposition / particle / conjunction • Strongs / High • Page 1090

Properly, over, upon, concerning, notwithstanding, against, towards, for the sake of, on account of. Used to express position, antithesis, or distance (away from). After certain verbs, signifies giving way, removing, or fleeing. Also forms various compound particles (e.g., עַל-מָה, עַל-כֵּן, עַל אֲשֶׁר).

עַל

preposition (aramaic) • Root אלא • Strongs / High • Page 1090

Aramaic equivalent of the Hebrew עַל. Means: Upon, over, on account of, unto, against, or dative. (Used with suffixes like עָלַי, עָלֵךְ, עֲלֵיהוֹן).

עַל

noun / prepos. • Root עלה • Strongs / High • Page 1092

Derivative of עָלָה, listed as a noun and a preposition.

Gesenius

Gesenius Lexicon

עַל

substantive / adverb / adjective • Root עלה • Page 507

Strictly a substantive meaning whatever is high or uppermost (Hos. 7:16, 11:7). Used as an adverb: (1.) 'above' (Gen. 27:39, 49:25; Ps. 50:4). Used as an adjective: (2.) 'high' (2 Sam. 23:1).

Preposition Suffix pronominal third person masculine plural

LXX: ἐπὶ ἐπ' ἐφ' τοῦτο ''

LXX Usage Statistics

H5921a:

ἐπὶ 1722× (33.1%)

ἐπ' 701× (13.4%)

ἐφ' 195× (3.7%)

τοῦτο 116× (1.9%)

'' 116× (1.9%)

περὶ 113× (2.2%)

ἀπὸ 108× (2.1%)

--- 108× (2.1%)

αὐτοὺσ 95× (1.6%)

εἰσ 93× (1.8%)

על עַל־

upon/against/yoke

STRONGS

Strong's Lexicon

על

ʻal

Definition

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

Root

properly, the same as H5920 (על) used as a preposition (in the singular or plural often with prefix, or as conjunction with a particle following);

Exhaustive

properly, the same as על used as a preposition (in the singular or plural often with prefix, or as conjunction with a particle following); above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications; above, according to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, [idiom] as, at, because of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, [idiom] both and, by (reason of), [idiom] had the charge of, concerning for, in (that), (forth, out) of, (from) (off), (up-) on, over, than, through(-out), to, touching, [idiom] with.

Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance — H5921

Fürst

Fürst Lexicon

עַל

adjective / noun • Root עלה • Strongs / High • Page 1088

Highest; same as עֶלְיוֹן. This form is abridged from עָלָה and derived from עָלַי (like יַד from יָדָה I.), serving as the construct form עֲלֵי (out of עֲלַאי).

עַל

preposition / adverb • Root עלה • Strongs / High • Page 1088

A preposition: upon, over, above, super, in the widest sense. It expresses protecting, covering, resting above upon (answering to 'where'); motion toward the upper surface (answering to 'whither?'); local direction to a more distant agency; or proximity/timing ('with, at'). Used figuratively as dat. commodi and incommodi, meaning a burden or duty upon one, or with certain verbs replacing the dative case. Also expresses motion down upon or up to, sometimes interchanging with אֶל.

עַל

preposition / adverb • Strongs / High • Page 1089

Preposition or Adverb meaning upon, over, at, above (denoting physical overtopping or mental superiority/dominion); expressing addition (to, reckoned to); proximity (by, around); suitability (according to); or occasionally used concessively (though, quanquam).

עַל

preposition / particle / conjunction • Strongs / High • Page 1090

Properly, over, upon, concerning, notwithstanding, against, towards, for the sake of, on account of. Used to express position, antithesis, or distance (away from). After certain verbs, signifies giving way, removing, or fleeing. Also forms various compound particles (e.g., עַל-מָה, עַל-כֵּן, עַל אֲשֶׁר).

עַל

preposition (aramaic) • Root אלא • Strongs / High • Page 1090

Aramaic equivalent of the Hebrew עַל. Means: Upon, over, on account of, unto, against, or dative. (Used with suffixes like עָלַי, עָלֵךְ, עֲלֵיהוֹן).

עַל

noun / prepos. • Root עלה • Strongs / High • Page 1092

Derivative of עָלָה, listed as a noun and a preposition.

Gesenius

Gesenius Lexicon

עַל

substantive / adverb / adjective • Root עלה • Page 507

Strictly a substantive meaning whatever is high or uppermost (Hos. 7:16, 11:7). Used as an adverb: (1.) 'above' (Gen. 27:39, 49:25; Ps. 50:4). Used as an adjective: (2.) 'high' (2 Sam. 23:1).

Preposition

LXX: ἐπὶ ἐπ' ἐφ' τοῦτο ''

LXX Usage Statistics

H5921a:

ἐπὶ 1722× (33.1%)

ἐπ' 701× (13.4%)

ἐφ' 195× (3.7%)

τοῦτο 116× (1.9%)

'' 116× (1.9%)

περὶ 113× (2.2%)

ἀπὸ 108× (2.1%)

--- 108× (2.1%)

αὐτοὺσ 95× (1.6%)

εἰσ 93× (1.8%)

הגג הַגָּג׃

None

STRONGS

Strong's Lexicon

ה

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.

Source: The Aonic Nature of Biblical Hebrew Prepositions

גג

gâg

Definition

a roof; by analogy, the top of an altar

Root

probably by reduplication from H1342 (גאה);

Exhaustive

probably by reduplication from גאה; a roof; by analogy, the top of an altar; roof (of the house), (house) top (of the house).

Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance — H1406

Fürst

Fürst Lexicon

גָּג

noun masculine • Strongs / High • Page 301

That which covers or is spread out over something; hence a roof, the flat roof of Oriental houses. Metaphorically, the roof of a gate, a tower, or an apartment.

Gesenius

Gesenius Lexicon

גַּג

m.prim. • Page 128

1. flat roof or top of an oriental house. Josh. 2:6, 8. 2. surface or top of an altar. Ex. 30:3.

Particle definite article, Noun common both singular absolute

LXX: δωμάτων δώματοσ δῶμα δώματι δώματα

LXX Usage Statistics

H1406:

δωμάτων 7× (22.4%)

δώματοσ 7× (21.9%)

δῶμα 5× (14.7%)

δώματι 3× (9.2%)

δώματα 2× (6.1%)

RBT Translation:

No verse found

RBT Paraphrase:
No verse found

Julia Smith Literal 1876 Translation:
And before they will lie down; and she went up to them upon the roof;

LITV Translation:
And before they had laid down, she came up to them on the roof.

Brenton Septuagint Translation:
And it came to pass when the men who pursued after them were gone forth, and before the spies had lain down to sleep, that she came up to them on the top of the house;