Judges 8:17

Paleo Hebrew Niqqud

RBT Hebrew Interlinear:

ואת וְאֶת־

and אֵת-self eternal

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

את

ʼêth

Definition

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

Root

apparent contracted from H226 (אות) in the demonstrative sense of entity;

Exhaustive

apparent contracted from אות in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely); (as such unrepresented in English).

Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance — H853

Fürst

Fürst Lexicon

אֵת

particle • Strongs_Numbers • Page 87

Particle used as a sign of the accusative, indicating the definite object of a verb; also used reflexively, or in designations of time and place. Occasionally interchangeable with other prepositions.

אֵת

substantive • Root אות • Strongs_Numbers • Page 208

I. Proper substance, being, essence, body, self, essential. It is used as the sign of an accusative, or to give prominence to a noun as subject.

אֵת

preposition • Root אנה • Strongs_Numbers • Page 208

II. With; expressing fellowship or accompaniment. Properly side, support, lean upon.

אֵת

noun masculine • Root אתה • Strongs_Numbers • Page 209

Mattock, coulter of a plough, hoe, prop. anything cutting into.

אֵת

noun masculine • Root אתה • Strongs_Numbers • Page 209

Equivalent to אֵת III., of which it is merely a collateral form.

Gesenius

Gesenius Lexicon

אוֹת or אֶת

sign of accusative case • Page 35

A sign of the accusative case.

אֶת

com. gen. chald. • Page 81

Equivalent to the Hebrew אוֹת (sign, miracle). Synonymous with תְּמַהּ. References: Dan. 3: 32, 33; 6: 28.

אַתְּ

pronoun • Page 81

Thou (fem.). In pause אָתְּ. Found in Judg. 17: 2; 1 K. 14: 2. Also sometimes appears as a masculine form (Num. 11: 15; Ezek. 28: 14).

אַתְּ

pronoun • Page 81

Thou (masc.). Equivalent to אַתָּה. Note: Judg. 17: 2; 1 K. 14: 2.

אֵת

ii. particle • Page 81

A primitive particle and sign of the accusative case (with Makk. -אֶת; with suffixes אֹתִי, אֹתָנוּ, etc.). Often denotes the definite direct object but can appear in circumstances where other languages employ the nominative (with passive verbs, neuter verbs, or before a nominative subject). References: Gen. 17: 5; Ex. 10: 8; 1 Sam. 17: 34.

אֵת

i. m. subst. • Page 81

Ploughshare. Inflected in two ways as אֵתִים and אֵתִין. References: 1 Sam. 13: 20, 21; Is. 2: 4; Joel 4: 10 [3:10]. Its etymology is suggested to be related to the word מַחֲרֶשֶׁת.

Conjunction, Direct object eternal self

LXX:

LXX Usage Statistics

H0853:

No stats available

מגדל מִגְדַּל

None

STRONGS

Strong's Lexicon

מגדל

migdâl

Definition

a tower (from its size or height); by analogy, a rostrum; figuratively, a (pyramidal) bed of flowers

Root

also (in plural) feminine מגדלה; from H1431 (גדל);

Exhaustive

also (in plural) feminine מגדלה; from גדל; a tower (from its size or height); by analogy, a rostrum; figuratively, a (pyramidal) bed of flowers; castle, flower, tower. Compare the names following.

Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance — H4026

Fürst

Fürst Lexicon

מִגְדּוֹל

noun proper • Root מגדל • Consonantal / Medium • Page 806

(tower, castle) n. p. of a city in the extreme north of Egypt, on the border of כּוּשׁ.

Matched via consonantal key only

מִגְדָּל

noun masculine • Consonantal / Medium • Page 806

prop. high, projecting upward; hence 1. a tower, fort, castle, pylon, fortification on a height; metaphorically a watch-turret, a high stage, a pulpit, protection. 2. The name of various fortifications.

Matched via consonantal key only

Gesenius

Gesenius Lexicon

מִגְדָּל

noun proper • Page 353

Variant spelling of מִגְדּוֹל, a city in Egypt.

מִגְדָּל

noun masculine • Root גדל • Page 354

1. a tower (Gen. 11:4, 5); particularly a tower for defence (Judg. 8:9, 9:46 ff). 2. a high scaffold, stage, or pulpit (Neh. 8:4). 3. an espalier (Cant. 5:13).

Noun common both singular construct

LXX: πύργου πύργουσ πύργον πύργοσ ὡσ

LXX Usage Statistics

H4026:

πύργου 15× (28.8%)

πύργουσ 7× (13.0%)

πύργον 7× (12.7%)

πύργοσ 7× (12.4%)

ὡσ 4× (8.5%)

πύργοισ 3× (4.2%)

--- 2× (4.3%)

πύργοι 2× (4.0%)

פנואל פְּנוּאֵל

None

STRONGS

Strong's Lexicon

פנואל

Pᵉnûwʼêl

Definition

Penuel or Peniel, a place East of Jordan; also (as Penuel) the name of two Israelites

Root

or (more properly,) פניאל; from H6437 (פנה) and H410 (אל); face of God;

Exhaustive

or (more properly,) פניאל; from פנה and אל; face of God; Penuel or Peniel, a place East of Jordan; also (as Penuel) the name of two Israelites; Peniel, Penuel.

Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance — H6439

Fürst

Fürst Lexicon

פְּנוּאֵל

noun proper • Root פני אל • Strongs / High • Page 1177

The vision, i. e. visibleness of El. 1. N. p. of a city. 2. N. p. m. (name of a man).

Gesenius

Gesenius Lexicon

פְּנוּאֵל

proper name • Page 546

(the face of God), proper name of a place beyond Jordan (Gen. 32:32, Judg. 8:8). Also found as פְּנִיאֵל (Gen. 32:31).

Noun proper name

LXX: φανουηλ εἶδοσ θεοῦ

LXX Usage Statistics

H6439:

φανουηλ 6× (58.2%)

εἶδοσ 2× (18.9%)

θεοῦ 2× (14.3%)

נתץ נָתָץ

None

STRONGS

Strong's Lexicon

נתץ

nâthats

Definition

to tear down

Root

a primitive root;

Exhaustive

a primitive root; to tear down; beat down, break down (out), cast down, destroy, overthrow, pull down, throw down.

Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance — H5422

Fürst

Fürst Lexicon

נָתַץ

verb • Root יתץ • Strongs / High • Page 1000

To destroy, to reduce to ruins, to tear down a house, wall, city, pillar, or altar. Metaphorically, to knock out teeth, to crush or destroy persons.

Gesenius

Gesenius Lexicon

נָתַץ

verb • Page 464

1. To tear down, to destroy (e.g., houses, statues, altars; Lev. 14:45, Judg. 6:30). 2. To destroy (e.g., persons; Job 19:10, Ps. 52:7). 3. To break or strike out (e.g., teeth; Ps. 58:7).

Verb Qal perfect third person masculine singular

LXX: κατέσκαψεν κατέσπασεν καθεῖλεν κατέσπασαν καθελεῖτε

LXX Usage Statistics

H5422:

κατέσκαψεν 5× (12.6%)

κατέσπασεν 4× (9.6%)

καθεῖλεν 4× (9.2%)

κατέσπασαν 3× (6.6%)

καθελεῖτε 2× (5.2%)

καθελεῖ 2× (5.2%)

κατασκάψετε 2× (4.8%)

καθελοῦσιν 2× (4.4%)

'' 2× (4.4%)

καθεῖλον 2× (4.4%)

ויהרג וַיַּהֲרֹג

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

הרג

hârag

Definition

to smite with deadly intent

Root

a primitive root;

Exhaustive

a primitive root; to smite with deadly intent; destroy, out of hand, kill, murder(-er), put to (death), make (slaughter), slay(-er), [idiom] surely.

Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance — H2026

Fürst

Fürst Lexicon

הָרַג

verb • Root הרג • Strongs / High • Page 412

A transitive verb meaning to kill or to murder. It can also mean to destroy, and is used for slaughtering beasts or destroying plants.

Gesenius

Gesenius Lexicon

הָרַג

verb • Root הרג • Page 193

to kill, slay; construed with an accus. of the person, rarely with ל, 2 Sam.3:30. Job 5:2. with ב, 2Chr.28:9 ye have slain them. Ps.78:31. Figuratively Ps. 78 : 47 וַיַּהֲרֵג בַּבָּרָד גַּפְנָם he killed their vines with hail.

conjunctive, Verb Qal sequential imperfect third person masculine singular

LXX: ἀπέκτεινεν ἀπέκτειναν ἀποκτεῖναι ἀπέκτεινα αὐτοὺσ

LXX Usage Statistics

H2026:

ἀπέκτεινεν 23× (12.2%)

ἀπέκτειναν 19× (10.9%)

ἀποκτεῖναι 8× (4.6%)

ἀπέκτεινα 7× (3.9%)

αὐτοὺσ 6× (2.6%)

ἀποκτείνατε 5× (2.9%)

ἀπέκτεινασ 5× (3.0%)

αὐτούσ 5× (2.4%)

ἀποκτενῶ 4× (2.3%)

ἀνελεῖ 4× (2.3%)

את אֶת־

את-self eternal

STRONGS

Strong's Lexicon

את

ʼêth

Definition

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

Root

apparent contracted from H226 (אות) in the demonstrative sense of entity;

Exhaustive

apparent contracted from אות in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely); (as such unrepresented in English).

Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance — H853

את

ʼêth

Definition

a hoe or other digging implement

Root

of uncertain derivation;

Exhaustive

of uncertain derivation; a hoe or other digging implement; coulter, plowshare.

Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance — H855

Fürst

Fürst Lexicon

אֵת

particle • Strongs_Numbers • Page 87

Particle used as a sign of the accusative, indicating the definite object of a verb; also used reflexively, or in designations of time and place. Occasionally interchangeable with other prepositions.

אֵת

substantive • Root אות • Strongs_Numbers • Page 208

I. Proper substance, being, essence, body, self, essential. It is used as the sign of an accusative, or to give prominence to a noun as subject.

אֵת

preposition • Root אנה • Strongs_Numbers • Page 208

II. With; expressing fellowship or accompaniment. Properly side, support, lean upon.

אֵת

noun masculine • Root אתה • Strongs_Numbers • Page 209

Mattock, coulter of a plough, hoe, prop. anything cutting into.

אֵת

noun masculine • Root אתה • Strongs_Numbers • Page 209

Equivalent to אֵת III., of which it is merely a collateral form.

Gesenius

Gesenius Lexicon

אוֹת or אֶת

sign of accusative case • Page 35

A sign of the accusative case.

אֶת

com. gen. chald. • Page 81

Equivalent to the Hebrew אוֹת (sign, miracle). Synonymous with תְּמַהּ. References: Dan. 3: 32, 33; 6: 28.

אַתְּ

pronoun • Page 81

Thou (masc.). Equivalent to אַתָּה. Note: Judg. 17: 2; 1 K. 14: 2.

אַתְּ

pronoun • Page 81

Thou (fem.). In pause אָתְּ. Found in Judg. 17: 2; 1 K. 14: 2. Also sometimes appears as a masculine form (Num. 11: 15; Ezek. 28: 14).

אֵת

ii. particle • Page 81

A primitive particle and sign of the accusative case (with Makk. -אֶת; with suffixes אֹתִי, אֹתָנוּ, etc.). Often denotes the definite direct object but can appear in circumstances where other languages employ the nominative (with passive verbs, neuter verbs, or before a nominative subject). References: Gen. 17: 5; Ex. 10: 8; 1 Sam. 17: 34.

אֵת

preposition • Page 82

1. with, together with (Gen. 4:1); 2. with, near by (Gen. 39:6); 3. in or on a place (1 Sam. 7:16); 4. besides (1 K. 11:25); 5. towards, erga (Ruth 2:20, 2 Sam. 16:17).

Direct object eternal self

LXX:

LXX Usage Statistics

H0853:

No stats available

H0855:

No stats available

אנשי אַנְשֵׁי

the mortal men

STRONGS

Strong's Lexicon

אנוש

ʼĕnôwsh

Definition

a man in general (singly or collectively)

Root

from H605 (אנש); properly, a mortal (and thus differing from the more dignified H120 (אדם)); hence,

Exhaustive

from אנש; properly, a mortal (and thus differing from the more dignified אדם); hence,; a man in general (singly or collectively); another, [idiom] (blood-) thirsty, certain, chap(-man); divers, fellow, [idiom] in the flower of their age, husband, (certain, mortal) man, people, person, servant, some ([idiom] of them), [phrase] stranger, those, [phrase] their trade. It is often unexpressed in the English versions, especially when used in apposition with another word. Compare איש.

Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance — H582

Fürst

Fürst Lexicon

אֱנוֹשׁ

noun masculine • Root אנש • Strongs_Numbers • Page 160

A poetical expression for man, collectively spoken of the human race; also denotes mortal, decaying man, or particularly low-minded, corrupt man.

אֱנוֹשׁ

noun proper • Strongs_Numbers • Page 161

Proper name of a grandson of Adam, a son of Seth; in the antediluvian tradition an original conception of the primitive man.

Gesenius

Gesenius Lexicon

אֱנוֹשׁ

m. prim. • Page 61

man, also collect. men. Found only poetically in Job, Isaiah, and the Psalms, except 2 Chr. 14:11. The prose expression is אָדָם.

Noun common masculine plural construct

LXX:

LXX Usage Statistics

H0582:

No stats available

העיר הָעִיר׃

the City

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

עיר

ʻîyr

Definition

a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post)

Root

or (in the plural) ער; or עיר; (Judges 10:4), from H5782 (עור)

Exhaustive

or (in the plural) ער; or עיר; (Judges 10:4), from עור; a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post); Ai (from margin), city, court (from margin), town.

Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance — H5892

Fürst

Fürst Lexicon

עִיר

noun proper masculine • Strongs / High • Page 1061

Proper name masculine meaning 'one setting up, strengthening'.

עִיר

noun feminine • Root עור • Strongs / High • Page 1083

1. An enclosed, fenced place, proceeding from the verb-idea 'to fence round, encircle, enclose'; hence town, city. 2. dwelling.

עִיר

noun feminine • Strongs / High • Page 1084

1. A tower, a castle, a tower of watch; 2. A city generally, also a village, hamlet, or encampment; 3. Part of a city; 4. Metaphor for the inhabitants of a city.

עִיר

noun masculine • Root עיר • Strongs / High • Page 1084

Heat, anger, wrath.

עִיר

noun proper masculine • Root עיר • Strongs / High • Page 1084

A proper name (a man mentioned in 1 Chr. 7, 12).

עִיר

noun masculine (aramaic) • Root עיר • Strongs / High • Page 1084

A watcher (Aram.), referring to archangels, good angels, or fallen ones.

Gesenius

Gesenius Lexicon

הֵעִיר

verb • Root עור • Page 498

1. To awaken from sleep. Zech. 4:1. 2. To stir up (e.g., the leviathan). Job 41:2; Deut. 32:11. 3. intrans. to awake. Ps. 35:23; Job 8:6.

עִיר

noun feminine • Page 505

I. a city. References include city of God (Ps. 46: 5), the holy city (Neh. 11: 1), and several proper names like city of salt and city of palms (Jericho).

עִיר

noun • Page 505

II. perhaps anger, hostile attack. Jer. 15:8; Hos. 11:9. Comp. Arab. med. Vav to attack, assault.

עִיר

m. chald. • Page 505

a watcher, a name of angels in the later Jewish demonology, so called because they watch over the souls of men. Dan. 4: 10, 14, 20.

Particle definite article, Noun common both singular absolute

LXX: πόλεισ πόλιν πόλεωσ πόλει πόλισ

LXX Usage Statistics

H5892b:

πόλεισ 250× (22.9%)

πόλιν 200× (17.5%)

πόλεωσ 192× (17.0%)

πόλει 120× (9.9%)

πόλισ 83× (7.5%)

πόλεσιν 76× (6.1%)

πόλεων 50× (4.4%)

'' 35× (3.1%)

--- 26× (2.7%)

pεἰσ 16× (1.7%)

RBT Translation:

No verse found

RBT Paraphrase:
No verse found

Julia Smith Literal 1876 Translation:
And he brake down the tower of Penuel, and he will kill the men of the city.

LITV Translation:
And he broke down the tower of Penuel, and killed the men of the city.

Brenton Septuagint Translation:
And he overthrew the tower of Penuel, and slew the men of the city.