Judges 16:4

Paleo Hebrew Niqqud

RBT Hebrew Interlinear:

ויהי וַיְהִי

and he is being

STRONGS

Strong's Lexicon

ו

wāw

Definition

sequential 'and'

Root

From H8505; a prefix

Exhaustive

Vav Conversive/Consecutive: The category “vav conversive / vav consecutive” is not an ancient grammatical datum; it is a modern explanatory construct, developed by early Hebraists to force Biblical Hebrew into a Latin/chronological tense model that it simply does not share.

The notion arose in early modern grammar (17th–19th c.) when scholars assumed:
- verbs must encode tense,
- narratives must advance by past → present → future,
- therefore Hebrew forms that “don’t behave” must be converted.

Source: The Aonic Nature of Biblical Hebrew Prepositions

היה

hâyâh

Definition

to exist, i.e. be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)

Root

a primitive root (compare H1933 (הוא));

Exhaustive

a primitive root (compare הוא); to exist, i.e. be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary); beacon, [idiom] altogether, be(-come), accomplished, committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint, fall, [phrase] follow, happen, [idiom] have, last, pertain, quit (one-) self, require, [idiom] use.

Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance — H1961

Fürst

Fürst Lexicon

הָיָה

verb • Root היה • Strongs / High • Page 397

To be, to exist, to live, to become. A substantive verb used to unite a subject and predicate. It can also mean to happen, to arise, or to belong to. Used in a wide variety of grammatical constructions.

הָיָה

verb • Root היה • Strongs / High • Page 591

To be, to become, to exist. The common Hebrew verb for 'to be', considered the root of the divine name.

Gesenius

Gesenius Lexicon

הַיָּה

noun feminine • Page 185

Keri הַוָּה suffering, calamity. Job 6: 2; 30: 13.

הָיָה

verb • Page 184

1. To be (Ex. 20:3, Num. 10:31, etc.); 2. to become (Ex. 4:4, Hos. 3:3, etc.); 3. to happen (Is. 19:15).

conjunctive, Verb Qal sequential imperfect third person masculine singular

LXX: ἔσται ἐγένετο ἦν ἐγενήθη ἔσονται

LXX Usage Statistics

H1961:

ἔσται 827× (22.9%)

ἐγένετο 634× (16.8%)

ἦν 280× (7.9%)

ἐγενήθη 215× (5.8%)

ἔσονται 160× (4.5%)

ἦσαν 134× (3.8%)

ἐγένοντο 83× (2.3%)

'' 74× (1.9%)

--- 73× (2.2%)

εἶναι 67× (1.7%)

אחרי אַחֲרֵי־

the behind one/backward

STRONGS

Strong's Lexicon

אחר

ʼachar

Definition

properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various senses)

Root

from H309 (אחר);

Exhaustive

from אחר; properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various senses); after (that, -ward), again, at, away from, back (from, -side), behind, beside, by, follow (after, -ing), forasmuch, from, hereafter, hinder end, [phrase] out (over) live, [phrase] persecute, posterity, pursuing, remnant, seeing, since, thence(-forth), when, with.

Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance — H310

Fürst

Fürst Lexicon

אַחַר

noun masculine / adv. / preposition • Root אחר • Strongs_Numbers • Page 103

Properly hinder, later, after. Commonly used as: 1. An adverb of time (after, then, thereupon) or place (behind). 2. A preposition (after, behind). The construct state plural אַחֲרֵי (acharei) is frequently used as an adverb of time (afterward), an adverb of place/preposition (after, behind), or in a substantive meaning (hinder part, e.g., of a spear).

Gesenius

Gesenius Lexicon

אַחֲרֵי

preposition • Root אחר • Page 41

after, as in Heb. Dan. 2:29.

אַחֲרֵי

adjective • Page 41

another. Dan. 2:39. 7:5, 6.

אַחַר

substantive / adv. / preposition • Page 40

1. originally a subst. the hinder part. 2 Sam. 2: 23. 2. adv. behind (Gen. 22: 13) or more frequently afterwards (Gen. 18: 5). 3. prep. (Plur. אַחֲרֵי) after, behind. Ex. 3: 1.

Noun common masculine plural construct

LXX:

LXX Usage Statistics

H0310a:

No stats available

כן כֵן

an upright one/stand/thus

STRONGS

Strong's Lexicon

כן

kên

Definition

properly, set upright; hence (figuratively as adjective) just; but usually (as adverb or conjunction) rightly or so (in various applications to manner, time and relation; often with other particles)

Root

from H3559 (כון);

Exhaustive

from כון; properly, set upright; hence (figuratively as adjective) just; but usually (as adverb or conjunction) rightly or so (in various applications to manner, time and relation; often with other particles); [phrase] after that (this, -ward, -wards), as... as, [phrase] (for-) asmuch as yet, [phrase] be (for which) cause, [phrase] following, howbeit, in (the) like (manner, -wise), [idiom] the more, right, (even) so, state, straightway, such (thing), surely, [phrase] there (where) -fore, this, thus, true, well, [idiom] you.

Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance — H3651

Fürst

Fürst Lexicon

כֵּן

adverb • Strongs / High • Page 681

Same as כֹּה, is only met with in the compound אֵי־כֵן (which see), 2 KINGS 6, 13 K‘ri.

כֵּן

noun / adjective / particle • Root כון • Strongs / High • Page 683

A word derived from the root כּוּן, used as a noun, adjective, and particle.

כֵּן

masculine noun / substantive / adverb / particle • Root כון • Strongs / High • Page 708

Properly, standing upright, standing firm. Figuratively: upright, honest. As a substantive or adverb: right, honestly. Also a particle of comparing and confirming: so, thus, just so; of such a nature, of such kind; so much, in such number; referring to time: so long, immediately, forthwith; with confirmation power: certainly, surely, yea; limiting: however, but, yet.

כֵּן

coll. f. • Root כנן • Strongs / High • Page 711

A collective feminine noun, same as כִּנִּים (lice, gnats). The text discusses the proper vocalization based on its defective spelling.

Gesenius

Gesenius Lexicon

כֵּן

noun • Root כון • Page 320

II. 1. a place. Gen. 40: 13, 41: 13, Dan. 11: 20, 21, 38. 2. a frame, stand, basis. Is. 33: 23, Ex. 30: 18, 28, Lev. 8: 11, 1 K. 7: 31.

כֵּן

unknown • Page 320

III. Is. 51: 6. prob. the sing. of כִּנִּים (q.v.). Others render it 'just so, in like manner'.

כֵּן

participle / adv. • Root כון • Page 319

1. Strictly a participle from כּוּן. Metaphorically: upright, honest, sincere (Gen. 42:11, 19, 31). As an adverb: right, rightly, recte (Num. 27:7, 36:5). 2. As an adverb: (1.) thus, so (Gen. 29:26, Josh. 2:21). (2.) then, therefore (Ps. 48:6).

Adverb

LXX: οὕτωσ τοῦτο ταῦτα --- ''

LXX Usage Statistics

H3651c:

οὕτωσ 299× (40.5%)

τοῦτο 278× (32.8%)

ταῦτα 44× (5.0%)

--- 29× (4.0%)

'' 19× (2.2%)

τούτου 15× (1.8%)

ἕνεκεν 11× (1.5%)

οὕτω 8× (1.1%)

ὡσαύτωσ 8× (1.1%)

εἵνεκεν 6× (0.8%)

ויאהב וַיֶּאֱהַב

None

STRONGS

Strong's Lexicon

ו

wāw

Definition

sequential 'and'

Root

From H8505; a prefix

Exhaustive

Vav Conversive/Consecutive: The category “vav conversive / vav consecutive” is not an ancient grammatical datum; it is a modern explanatory construct, developed by early Hebraists to force Biblical Hebrew into a Latin/chronological tense model that it simply does not share.

The notion arose in early modern grammar (17th–19th c.) when scholars assumed:
- verbs must encode tense,
- narratives must advance by past → present → future,
- therefore Hebrew forms that “don’t behave” must be converted.

Source: The Aonic Nature of Biblical Hebrew Prepositions

אהב

ʼâhab

Definition

to have affection for (sexually or otherwise)

Root

or אהב ; a primitive root;

Exhaustive

or אהב ; a primitive root; to have affection for (sexually or otherwise); (be-) love(-d, -ly, -r), like, friend.

Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance — H157

Fürst

Fürst Lexicon

אָהַב

verb • Strongs_Numbers • Page 70

trans. to love; sensuously, of love between the sexes; of the love of parents, friends, virtuous or vicious love; to like, to be fond of doing.

Gesenius

Gesenius Lexicon

אָהַב

verb • Page 28

1. to love. 2. to desire, rejoice in. (Lev. 19:18, 34; Ecc. 5:9; Prov. 18:24; Ps. 40:17; 70:5; 116:1; Hos. 12:8; Is. 56:10; Jer. 14:10).

conjunctive, Verb Qal sequential imperfect third person masculine singular

LXX:

LXX Usage Statistics

H0157:

No stats available

אשה אִשָּׁה

a woman

STRONGS

Strong's Lexicon

אשה

ʼishshâh

Definition

a woman

Root

feminine of H376 (איש) or H582 (אנוש); irregular plural, נשים;(used in the same wide sense as H582 (אנוש))

Exhaustive

feminine of איש or אנוש; irregular plural, נשים;(used in the same wide sense as אנוש); a woman; (adulter) ess, each, every, female, [idiom] many, [phrase] none, one, [phrase] together, wife, woman. Often unexpressed in English.

Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance — H802

Fürst

Fürst Lexicon

אִשֶּׁה

noun masculine • Root אש • Lemma_Lookup • Page 197

Sacrificial fire, altar-flame, a burning; specifically a sacrifice.

אִשָּׁה

noun feminine • Root אנש • Lemma_Lookup • Page 197

Woman, wife, female; also applied to animals (female) and metaphorically to things with weak or feminine characteristics.

אֶשָּׁה

noun feminine • Lemma_Lookup • Page 197

Fire.

אָשָׁה

verb • Root אשה • Lemma_Lookup • Page 197

(Not used) To be firm, close, to be firmly fitted together; to support.

בָּאְשָׁה

noun feminine • Root באש • Lemma_Lookup • Page 217

a stink-weed, bad or poisonous weed.

לְאִשָּׁה

prepositional phrase • Lemma_Lookup • Page 757

Into a woman; as in 'Lord God built the rib into a woman'.

נָשָׂא אִשָּׁה

verb • Root נשא • Lemma_Lookup • Page 992

To lead home a wife, to marry.

Gesenius

Gesenius Lexicon

אִשֶּׁה

m. const. אִשֵּׁה / plur. const. אִשֵּׁי • Root אש • Page 75

Firing, something on fire, an offering. A generic word including every species of offering. Lev. 24:7, 9; Ex 29:18, 25, 41; Lev. 1:9, 13, 17, etc. Plur. אִשֵּׁי יְהוָה Lev. 2:3, 10.

אִשָּׁה

noun feminine • Root אנוש איש • Page 75

1. woman—Applied as a designation of sex, even in animals, Gen. 7:2. 2. wife, hence אֵשֶׁת אָב 'father’s wife' (stepmother), Lev. 18:8. Often with genitives denoting quality (e.g., lovely woman, Prov. 11:16). 3. with אָחוֹת or רְעוּת for 'the one... the other.' 4. some one. 5. every one. Ex. 3:22.

אֵשָׁה

noun feminine • Root אש • Page 75

i. q. (equivalent to) אֵשׁ 'fire'. This is the best explanation of the Kethib in Jer. 6:29.

Noun common feminine singular absolute

LXX:

LXX Usage Statistics

H0802:

No stats available

בנחל בְּנַחַל

in the hand

STRONGS

Strong's Lexicon

ב

bə

Definition

in, by

Root

A primitive particle; a prefix

Exhaustive

(beth) — in / within / by means of

Core value: interiority, enclosure, participation

ב does not primarily mean “in time” (“when”) or even “in space.” It marks being inside a domain, whether that domain is:
- spatial (house, land),
- conceptual (wisdom, covenant),
- modal (strength, fear),
- instrumental (by means of).
Aonically, ב marks immersion.
not “when X happened” but “within the state or field of X.”
This is why ב־יום does not need to mean “on the day (chronological)” but “within the day-realm / condition”.

Source: The Aonic Nature of Biblical Hebrew Prepositions

נחל

nachal

Definition

a stream, especially a winter torrent; (by implication) a (narrow) valley (in which a brook runs); also a shaft (of a mine)

Root

or (feminine) נחלה; (Psalm 124:4), or נחלה; (Ezekiel 47:19; Ezekiel 48:28), from H5157 (נחל) in its original sense;

Exhaustive

or (feminine) נחלה; (Psalm 124:4), or נחלה; (Ezekiel 47:19; Ezekiel 48:28), from נחל in its original sense; a stream, especially a winter torrent; (by implication) a (narrow) valley (in which a brook runs); also a shaft (of a mine); brook, flood, river, stream, valley.

Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance — H5158

Fürst

Fürst Lexicon

נַחַל

noun masculine • Root נחל • Strongs / High • Page 961

A stream, brook, or wady. 1. Associated with fertility. 2. A deepened out place, ravine, or deep gorge; also applied to valleys. 3. Shaft of a mine.

Gesenius

Gesenius Lexicon

נַחַל

noun masculine • Page 436

1. a valley with a brook, i. q. Arab. واد. Gen. 26: 19. the valley of Eshcol, Num. 13: 23. 2. a brook, stream. Gen. 32: 24. Ps. 74: 15. Is. 30: 33. Particularly a torrent, raised high by showers, but dried up in summer. Job 6: 15. נַחַל מִצְרַיִם the brook of Egypt.

נַחַל (Milêl)

noun masculine • Root נחל • Page 437

i.q. נַחַל a brook. Ps. 124:4, where it is construed as a masc. of course the הָּ is paragogic.

Preposition, Noun common both singular construct

LXX: χειμάρρου χειμάρρουν χειμάρρουσ φάραγγα χειμάρρῳ

LXX Usage Statistics

H5158a:

χειμάρρου 26× (16.8%)

χειμάρρουν 18× (10.6%)

χειμάρρουσ 15× (9.6%)

φάραγγα 10× (6.4%)

χειμάρρῳ 10× (5.2%)

φάραγγι 9× (5.0%)

φάραγγοσ 8× (5.3%)

χείμαρροι 7× (4.5%)

ὡσ 5× (3.5%)

ποταμοῦ 5× (3.3%)

שרק שֹׂרֵק

None

STRONGS

Strong's Lexicon

שורק

Sôwrêq

Definition

Sorek, a valley in Palestine

Root

the same as H8321 (שרק); a vine;

Exhaustive

the same as שרק; a vine; Sorek, a valley in Palestine; Sorek.

Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance — H7796

Fürst

Fürst Lexicon

שְׁרַק

aram. (aramaic) • Root שרק • Consonantal / Medium • Page 1486

(Not used) Aramaic entry, same as Hebrew שָׁרַק.

Matched via consonantal key only

Gesenius

Gesenius Lexicon

שׁוּרָק

unknown • Root שרק • Page 636

see שֹׂרֵק.

שָׂרַק

verb • Root שרק • Page 645

To comb or hatchel, e.g., flax (Is. 19:9). Related to Syriac and Chaldee forms meaning the same.

שָׂרֹק

adjective / dec. viii. d. • Root שרק • Page 645

Reddish or fox-coloured, spoken of horses (Zech. 1:8). Related by transposition to Arab. 'ashkar' (a reddish horse).

Noun proper name

LXX:

LXX Usage Statistics

H7796:

No stats available

ושמה וּשְׁמָהּ

and her name

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

שם

shêm

Definition

an appellation, as amark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character

Root

a primitive word (perhaps rather from through the idea of definite and conspicuous position; compare H8064 (שמים));

Exhaustive

a primitive word (perhaps rather from through the idea of definite and conspicuous position; compare שמים); an appellation, as amark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character; [phrase] base, (in-) fame(-ous), named(-d), renown, report.

Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance — H8034

ה

Definition

her, personal posessive - noun suffix: 3rd person feminine singular

Root

Exhaustive

Personal posessive pronoun - suffix for nouns, adjectives and passive participles: 3rd person feminine singular

Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance — H9024

Fürst

Fürst Lexicon

שֵׁם

noun masculine • Strongs / High • Page 1442

A sign, a memorial, a token, a mark, and therefore a name. (Includes usage regarding calling or inscribing a name).

שֵׁם

noun masculine • Strongs / High • Page 1442

Metaphor: The internal essence as outwardly revealed and known as operative; hence of God (the Divine Essence, Presence, Protection, or Power).

שֵׁם

noun masculine • Strongs / High • Page 1442

Fame, renown, fama, an honourable name. Also used to denote a good name, sweet scent (assonance), bad reputation, or posterity (name after death).

שֵׁם

noun proper • Strongs / High • Page 1442

Proper noun: The oldest son of Noah (Gen. 5, 32), progenitor of the Semites.

Gesenius

Gesenius Lexicon

שֵׁם

m. constr. • Page 683

1. a name; a celebrated name, celebrity, renown. Gen. 6: 4, Num. 16: 2. 2. a rumour, report. Deut. 22: 14. 3. the name of Jehovah, particularly his praise or glory. Ps. 79: 9, Is. 48: 9.

שָׁם

adverb • Page 683

1. there. 2. thither (i.q. שָׁמָּה). 3. then (spoken of time). 4. thither/whither (with paragagic ה). Gen. 13: 3, 1 Sam. 2: 14, Ps. 14: 5, Gen. 19: 20.

שֻׁם

m. chald. • Page 684

A name. References: Dan. 4:5 [4:8]; Ezra 5:1. With suffix שֻׁמֵּהּ (from שֵׁם) Dan. 2:20, 26; 4:5 [4:8]; 5:12. Ezra 5:14: 'and they were given to Sheshbazzar, as his name was'.

Conjunction, Noun common both singular construct, Suffix pronominal third person feminine singular

LXX: ὄνομα ὄνομά ὀνόματι ὀνόματί ὀνόματα

LXX Usage Statistics

H8034:

ὄνομα 400× (45.4%)

ὄνομά 128× (14.3%)

ὀνόματι 86× (9.2%)

ὀνόματί 62× (6.4%)

ὀνόματα 50× (5.6%)

ὀνομάτων 22× (2.8%)

ὀνόματοσ 17× (1.8%)

ὀνόματόσ 15× (1.6%)

'' 15× (1.7%)

αὐτῆσ 10× (0.9%)

דלילה דְּלִילָה׃

Impoverished Night

STRONGS

Strong's Lexicon

דלילה

Dᵉlîylâh

Definition

Delilah, a Philistine woman

Root

from H1809 (דלל); languishing

Exhaustive

lemma דלילה first vowel, corrected to דלילה; from דלל; languishing; Delilah, a Philistine woman; Delilah.

Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance — H1807

Fürst

Fürst Lexicon

דְּלִילָה

proper noun / feminine • Strongs / High • Page 369

unfortunate, miserable; yet perhaps like 'languishing'. A proper name.

Gesenius

Gesenius Lexicon

דְּלִילָה

noun feminine • Page 166

Proper name of a Philistine woman, beloved of Samson. Judg. 16: 4-18.

Noun proper name feminine

LXX: δαλιλα

LXX Usage Statistics

H1807:

δαλιλα 6× (100.0%)

RBT Translation:

No verse found

RBT Paraphrase:
No verse found

Julia Smith Literal 1876 Translation:
And it will be after this, and he will love a woman in the valley of Shorek, and her name Delilah.

LITV Translation:
And it happened afterward that he loved a woman in the valley of Sorek, and her name was Delilah.

Brenton Septuagint Translation:
And it came to pass after this that he loved a woman in Al-sorek, and her name was Delilah.