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”.
1. wine press, or rather the trough in which the grapes were trodden. Joel 4:13, Neh. 13:15, Lam. 1:15. 2. proper name of one of the five princely cities of the Philistines, the birth-place of Goliath. Josh. 13:3, 1 Sam. 6:17.
BDB
Brown-Driver-Briggs Lexicon
H1661
II. גַּת (proper name, of a location) (wine-press) — Philistine city.
LXX Γεθ, Vulgate Geth, Josephus, Ant. vi. 12, 2 etc. Γιττα (ed. Niese), exact site unknown (see GASm1).
1. Historical Context and Occurrences
Named with Gaza and Ashdod Joshua 11:22 as home of remaining ‘Anakim.
Named with Ashdod, Gaza, Ashkelon and ‘Ekron 1 Samuel 6:17; with Ashkelon 1 Samuel 1:20; with Ashkelon, Jabneh and Ashdod 2 Chronicles 26:6.
Boundary described as מֵעֶקְרוֹןוְעַדגַּת1 Samuel 7:14, compare 1 Samuel 17:52b and also 1 Samuel 17:52a (read גַּת for גַּיְא per LXX, We, Dr2).
not (the qualified negation, used as a deprecative); once (Job 24:25) as a noun, nothing
Root
a negative particle (akin to H3808 (לא));
Exhaustive
a negative particle (akin to לא); not (the qualified negation, used as a deprecative); once (Job 24:25) as a noun, nothing; nay, neither, [phrase] never, no, nor, not, nothing (worth), rather than.
(I) Pronominal stem/demonstrative pronoun. A gentle reference to a thing and emphasizing of it, weaker than זֶה. Hence arises its modification into the article in Arabic, and in some Hebrew remains.
אַל
negative particle • Root לא • Strongs_Numbers • Page 126
(II) A negative word/particle expressing subjective negation, unwillingness, or prohibition (dissuasively 'do not', 'let not'). Distinct from the objective negative לֹא. Used in commands, wishes, and to denote dissuasion.
Primary preposition meaning: 1. to (sign of the dative); 2. towards, even to (Num. 24:1); 3. at, on, near (1 K. 13:20); 4. about, concerning (Gen. 20:2); 5. in, into (Gen. 8:9); 6. among (1 Sam. 10:22); 7. through (Ezek. 44:7); 8. for, on account of (1 K. 14:5); 9. in combination with other prepositions implies direction.
1. lest, that... not (Gen. 43:23). 2. not, but more rarely (Am. 5:14). 3. nay, no (Ruth 1:13). 4. nothing (Job 24:25). 5. interrogatively for הֲלֹא (1 Sam. 27:10).
BDB
Brown-Driver-Briggs Lexicon
H408
II. אַל adverb of negation (so Phoenician for example Corpus Inscriptionum Semiticarum volume 1, numbers 3, 4, 5, 8, Biblical Aramaic, Sabean (D. H. Müller Zeitschrift der Deutschen Morgenländischen Gesellschaft 1875, 596), and in the Ethiopic አማር: አልቦ, is not), denying however, not objectively as a fact (like לֹאοὐ), but subjectively as a wish (like μή), expressing therefore a deprecation or prohibition.
Cognates:
Phoenician אל (for example Corpus Inscriptionum Semiticarum volume 1, numbers 3, 4, 5, 8)
Biblical Aramaic
Sabean (D. H. Müller Zeitschrift der Deutschen Morgenländischen Gesellschaft 1875, 596)
Ethiopic አማር: አልቦ, is not
1. Usage with a Verb
With a verb, which is then always an imperfect (never an imperative), by preference in the cohortative or jussive mood, where this is in use, and may be of any person or number.
(d) In poetry אַל sometimes expresses vividly the emotion or sympathy of the poet (see Driver1 §§56-8); Isaiah 2:9וְאַל־תִּשָּׂא לָהֶם and forgive them not! (with a touch of passion), Psalm 41:3; Proverbs 3:25; Job 5:22; Psalm 34:6 (but manuscripts 5, 6 Ewald4 Cheyne5 here read וּפְנֵיכֶם, probably rightly); Psalm 50:3 a may our God come וְאַל יֶחֱשָׁרָשׁ and not be silent! (the psalmist identifying himself with a spectator of the scene Psalm 50:2, 3b-c) Psalm 121:3 (contrast Psalm 121:4לֹא) Jeremiah 46:6 +.
4. Joined Closely to a Substantive
Once Proverbs 12:28 joined closely to a substantive (compare לֹא 2 b) to express with emphasis its negation: In the way of righteousness is life, and in the pathway thereof אַל־מָוֶת there is no-death! that is to say, immortality.
5. Used as a Substantive
Once Job 24:25 used in poetry as a substantive, And bring my words לְאַל to nought!
Note: 1 Samuel 27:10אַל־מִשְׁטֹתֵם הַיּוֹם, אַל with the perfect is against all analogy; and either אֵלִי (with manuscripts 5, 9), or better אָן whither? (with manuscripts 6, 7; see 1 Samuel 10:14) must be read.
1 S. R. Driver, A Treatise on the Use of the Tenses in Hebrew and Some Other Syntactical Questions, 3rd ed., Oxford, 1892.
2 O. Thenius, Die Bücher der Könige, Leipzig, 1849.
3 C. F. Keil, Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament, trans. J. Martin, Edinburgh, 1865-1872.
4 H. Ewald, Ausführliches Lehrbuch der hebräischen Sprache des alten Bundes, 8th ed., Göttingen, 1870.
5 T. K. Cheyne, The Book of Psalms, London, 1888.
Particle negative
LXX:
LXX Usage Statistics
H0408:
No stats available
תגידותַּגִּידוּ
you all are exposing/telling
STRONGS
Strong's Lexicon
נגד
nâgad
Definition
properly, to front, i.e. stand boldly out opposite; by implication (causatively), to manifest; figuratively, to announce (always by word of mouth to one present); specifically, to expose, predict, explain, praise
Root
a primitive root;
Exhaustive
a primitive root; properly, to front, i.e. stand boldly out opposite; by implication (causatively), to manifest; figuratively, to announce (always by word of mouth to one present); specifically, to expose, predict, explain, praise; bewray, [idiom] certainly, certify, declare(-ing), denounce, expound, [idiom] fully, messenger, plainly, profess, rehearse, report, shew (forth), speak, [idiom] surely, tell, utter.
To rise, swell out, be prominent (e.g., of high land or the breast); to be arched. Metaphorically: to be in front, be before, or be opposite; to be manifest, visible, clear. (The Kal form of this verb is unused).
in Kal not used. Probably literal to be before. Hiph. הִגִּיד: 1. to declare, show, make known (Gen. 3:11; 9:22; 29:12; 37:5; Ezek. 43:10; Job 26:4; 42:3). 2. to announce, publish (Ps. 111:6; 9:12; 71:17; 92:3; 75:10). 3. to betray (Job 17:5). 4. to solve a riddle (Judg. 14:19).
BDB
Brown-Driver-Briggs Lexicon
H5046
I. נָגַד (approximate number of occurrences: 363) verb — be conspicuous.
Cognates:
Late Hebrew in derivatives
Phoenician proper name, masculineנגד
Arabic نجدconquer, overcome, also be apparent, conspicuous; high land or country; be courageous, vigorous, effective, courageous, efficient
— declare, tell [usually followed by לְ of indirect object Genesis 3:11 + often; insert also 1 Samuel 12:7; 2 Samuel 13:34 (Septuagint, Thenius, Wellhausen, Klostermann, Driver, Kittel, Budde, so HPS); followed by אֶלExodus 19:9; 1 Samuel 3:15; followed by לִפְנֵי1 Samuel 17:31; Psalm 142:3; עַל־פָּנָיוJob 21:31; בְּאָזְנֵיJeremiah 36:20; followed by בְּ local (instead of indirect object) chiefly prophets Jeremiah 4:5; Jeremiah 5:20; Jeremiah 31:10 +; also 1 Samuel 4:13; 2 Samuel 1:20; 2 Kings 9:15; Micah 1:10; rarely followed by accusative of person 2 Samuel 15:31 (but read וּלְדָוִד הִגִּיד HPS, or הֻגַּד We Dr Kit, Septuagint Vulgate Th Klo Bu favour הֻגַּד), 2 Kings 7:9, 11; Ezekiel 43:10; Job 17:5; Job 26:4; Job 31:37; followed by direct object in accusative Genesis 45:13 + often; followed by clause with כִּיGenesis 3:11 + often; followed by clause with אֲשֶׁר = כִּי (late) Esther 3:4; Esther 6:2; followed by clause with מָהGenesis 29:15; Judges 16:15; Esther 8:1 +; followed by clause with מִי2 Kings 6:11; followed by clause with אֵיבָהSongs 1:7, once followed by clause with הֲGenesis 43:6, etc.; often no direct object, followed by לֵאמֹרExodus 13:8; 1 Samuel 25:14 +; followed by וַיּאֹמֶרGenesis 47:1 +; followed by עַלconcerning, 1 Samuel 27:11; Esther 6:2; often indirect object omitted 1 Samuel 24:19 +; direct object omitted Judges 13:10 +; both omitted Leviticus 5:1 +].
— HophalPerfectהֻגַּדJoshua 9:24 +; ImperfectוַיֻּגַּדGenesis 22:20 +; Infinitive absoluteהֻגֵּדJoshua 9:24; Ruth 2:11; — be told, announced, reported, always followed by לְ (sometimes impersonal, logical subject in accusative, compare Genesis 27:42; 2 Samuel 21:11, with feminineIsaiah 21:2; not in Priests' Code).
a primitive root; to weep; generally to bemoan; [idiom] at all, bewail, complain, make lamentation, [idiom] more, mourn, [idiom] sore, [idiom] with tears, weep.
To weep, to weep for, to bewail. Often construed with prepositions like לְ ,אֶל ,עַל. Pi. to bewail (Ezek. 8:14). (Gen. 23:2, 37:35, 50:3; Lam. 1:16; Jer. 22:10; Num. 11:13).
BDB
Brown-Driver-Briggs Lexicon
H1058
I. בָּכָה (approximate number of occurrences: 114) verb — weep, bewail.
— ParticiplefemininesingularמְבַכָּהlamentJeremiah 31:15 (raw text cite 31:25) followed by עַל; pluralמְבַכּוֺתbewail, followed by accusative Ezekiel 8:14.
1 Heinrich Zimmern, Babylonische Busspsalmen (Zim BP 23, 56).
2 Paul Haupt, The Babylonian Nimrod Epic (Flood tablet, line 130).
3 Friedrich Delitzsch (Dl).
4 Gesenius' Hebrew Grammar, ed. E. Kautzsch, trans. A. E. Cowley (GKC / Gu § 77).
5 Beiträge zur Assyriologie und semitischen Sprachwissenschaft (BAS i. 145).
not (the qualified negation, used as a deprecative); once (Job 24:25) as a noun, nothing
Root
a negative particle (akin to H3808 (לא));
Exhaustive
a negative particle (akin to לא); not (the qualified negation, used as a deprecative); once (Job 24:25) as a noun, nothing; nay, neither, [phrase] never, no, nor, not, nothing (worth), rather than.
(I) Pronominal stem/demonstrative pronoun. A gentle reference to a thing and emphasizing of it, weaker than זֶה. Hence arises its modification into the article in Arabic, and in some Hebrew remains.
אַל
negative particle • Root לא • Strongs_Numbers • Page 126
(II) A negative word/particle expressing subjective negation, unwillingness, or prohibition (dissuasively 'do not', 'let not'). Distinct from the objective negative לֹא. Used in commands, wishes, and to denote dissuasion.
Primary preposition meaning: 1. to (sign of the dative); 2. towards, even to (Num. 24:1); 3. at, on, near (1 K. 13:20); 4. about, concerning (Gen. 20:2); 5. in, into (Gen. 8:9); 6. among (1 Sam. 10:22); 7. through (Ezek. 44:7); 8. for, on account of (1 K. 14:5); 9. in combination with other prepositions implies direction.
1. lest, that... not (Gen. 43:23). 2. not, but more rarely (Am. 5:14). 3. nay, no (Ruth 1:13). 4. nothing (Job 24:25). 5. interrogatively for הֲלֹא (1 Sam. 27:10).
BDB
Brown-Driver-Briggs Lexicon
H408
II. אַל adverb of negation (so Phoenician for example Corpus Inscriptionum Semiticarum volume 1, numbers 3, 4, 5, 8, Biblical Aramaic, Sabean (D. H. Müller Zeitschrift der Deutschen Morgenländischen Gesellschaft 1875, 596), and in the Ethiopic አማር: አልቦ, is not), denying however, not objectively as a fact (like לֹאοὐ), but subjectively as a wish (like μή), expressing therefore a deprecation or prohibition.
Cognates:
Phoenician אל (for example Corpus Inscriptionum Semiticarum volume 1, numbers 3, 4, 5, 8)
Biblical Aramaic
Sabean (D. H. Müller Zeitschrift der Deutschen Morgenländischen Gesellschaft 1875, 596)
Ethiopic አማር: አልቦ, is not
1. Usage with a Verb
With a verb, which is then always an imperfect (never an imperative), by preference in the cohortative or jussive mood, where this is in use, and may be of any person or number.
(d) In poetry אַל sometimes expresses vividly the emotion or sympathy of the poet (see Driver1 §§56-8); Isaiah 2:9וְאַל־תִּשָּׂא לָהֶם and forgive them not! (with a touch of passion), Psalm 41:3; Proverbs 3:25; Job 5:22; Psalm 34:6 (but manuscripts 5, 6 Ewald4 Cheyne5 here read וּפְנֵיכֶם, probably rightly); Psalm 50:3 a may our God come וְאַל יֶחֱשָׁרָשׁ and not be silent! (the psalmist identifying himself with a spectator of the scene Psalm 50:2, 3b-c) Psalm 121:3 (contrast Psalm 121:4לֹא) Jeremiah 46:6 +.
4. Joined Closely to a Substantive
Once Proverbs 12:28 joined closely to a substantive (compare לֹא 2 b) to express with emphasis its negation: In the way of righteousness is life, and in the pathway thereof אַל־מָוֶת there is no-death! that is to say, immortality.
5. Used as a Substantive
Once Job 24:25 used in poetry as a substantive, And bring my words לְאַל to nought!
Note: 1 Samuel 27:10אַל־מִשְׁטֹתֵם הַיּוֹם, אַל with the perfect is against all analogy; and either אֵלִי (with manuscripts 5, 9), or better אָן whither? (with manuscripts 6, 7; see 1 Samuel 10:14) must be read.
1 S. R. Driver, A Treatise on the Use of the Tenses in Hebrew and Some Other Syntactical Questions, 3rd ed., Oxford, 1892.
2 O. Thenius, Die Bücher der Könige, Leipzig, 1849.
3 C. F. Keil, Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament, trans. J. Martin, Edinburgh, 1865-1872.
4 H. Ewald, Ausführliches Lehrbuch der hebräischen Sprache des alten Bundes, 8th ed., Göttingen, 1870.
5 T. K. Cheyne, The Book of Psalms, London, 1888.
Particle negative
LXX:
LXX Usage Statistics
H0408:
No stats available
תבכותִּבְכּוּ
you all are weeping
STRONGS
Strong's Lexicon
בכה
bâkâh
Definition
to weep; generally to bemoan
Root
a primitive root;
Exhaustive
a primitive root; to weep; generally to bemoan; [idiom] at all, bewail, complain, make lamentation, [idiom] more, mourn, [idiom] sore, [idiom] with tears, weep.
To weep, to weep for, to bewail. Often construed with prepositions like לְ ,אֶל ,עַל. Pi. to bewail (Ezek. 8:14). (Gen. 23:2, 37:35, 50:3; Lam. 1:16; Jer. 22:10; Num. 11:13).
BDB
Brown-Driver-Briggs Lexicon
H1058
I. בָּכָה (approximate number of occurrences: 114) verb — weep, bewail.
— ParticiplefemininesingularמְבַכָּהlamentJeremiah 31:15 (raw text cite 31:25) followed by עַל; pluralמְבַכּוֺתbewail, followed by accusative Ezekiel 8:14.
1 Heinrich Zimmern, Babylonische Busspsalmen (Zim BP 23, 56).
2 Paul Haupt, The Babylonian Nimrod Epic (Flood tablet, line 130).
3 Friedrich Delitzsch (Dl).
4 Gesenius' Hebrew Grammar, ed. E. Kautzsch, trans. A. E. Cowley (GKC / Gu § 77).
5 Beiträge zur Assyriologie und semitischen Sprachwissenschaft (BAS i. 145).
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”.
A preposition with various meanings: 4. by (swearing, Gen. 22:16); 5. through (Num. 12:2); 6. upon (Num. 14:10); 7. to a place or thing (Judg. 6:35); 8. against (Gen. 16:12); 9. concerning (after 'to speak'); 10. out of, from (Gen. 44:5); 11. among; 12. before (Gen. 23:18); 13. for (Deut. 19:21); 14. on account of (Gen. 18:28); 15. after, according to (Gen. 1:26); 16. as (Job 34:36); 17. used with verbs of sense; 18. Beth essentiae (Jehovah is among my helpers, Ps. 118:7); 19. before an infinitive: when, while, after, since (Gen. 2:4).
A prefix preposition with various meanings: 1. In or into a place/subject. 2. With, denoting an instrument, aid, or concomitance. 3. On, at, or near.
BDB
Brown-Driver-Briggs Lexicon
H1036
I. בֵּית לְעַפְרָה (approximate number of occurrences: 1) proper name, of a location — Beth Leaphrah; apparently in Philistine territory Micah 1:10; site unknown, & text dubious.
בֵּית מִלּוֺא see מִלּוֺא below מלא.
בֵּית מְעוֺן see בֵּית בַּעַל מְעוֺן above.
Preposition, Noun common both singular construct
LXX:
LXX Usage Statistics
H1036:
No stats available
לעפרהלְעַפְרָה
To Dust
STRONGS
Strong's Lexicon
בית לעפרה
Bêyth lᵉ-ʻAphrâh
Definition
Beth-le-Aphrah, a place in Palestine
Root
from H1004 (בית) and the feminine of H6083 (עפר) (with preposition interposed); house to (i.e. of) dust;
Exhaustive
from בית and the feminine of עפר (with preposition interposed); house to (i.e. of) dust; Beth-le-Aphrah, a place in Palestine; house of Aphrah.
Aramaic masculine word, also in the weakened form יַת, meaning person, body, essence, or being. Used as a sign of the accusative case.
Matched after stripping common prefixes
BDB
Brown-Driver-Briggs Lexicon
H1036
I. בֵּית לְעַפְרָה (approximate number of occurrences: 1) proper name, of a location — Beth Leaphrah; apparently in Philistine territory Micah 1:10; site unknown, & text dubious.
בֵּית מִלּוֺא see מִלּוֺא below מלא.
בֵּית מְעוֺן see בֵּית בַּעַל מְעוֺן above.
Noun proper name
LXX:
LXX Usage Statistics
H1036:
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עפרעָפָר
dust
STRONGS
Strong's Lexicon
עפר
ʻâphâr
Definition
dust (as powdered or gray); hence, clay, earth, mud
Root
from H6080 (עפר);
Exhaustive
from עפר; dust (as powdered or gray); hence, clay, earth, mud; ashes, dust, earth, ground, morter, powder, rubbish.
Dust, a dry, bruised, crushed part of earth (out of which the body of the first man was formed); hence 1. dust; 2. dry earth, clay; 3. sand; 4. earth generally; 5. something earthly, transitory, or a corpse.
dust, earth. Gen. 2:7. 26:15. Lev. 14:42. Used for the grave (to lie in the dust). Gen. 3:19. Ps. 104:29. figurative for humility or frailty, Gen. 18:27.
Verb Hithpael perfect first person common singular
LXX:
LXX Usage Statistics
H6428:
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RBT Translation:
In Winepress a god/dont/toward you all are exposing/telling in Akku a god/dont/toward you all are weeping within house To Dust dust I have rolled myself
None
RBT Paraphrase:
In Winepress ("Gath") do not expose/announce in Fortified/Harbor ("Akkū")2 do not weep within the House of To DustI have wallowed/rolled myself in dust.
Julia Smith Literal 1876 Translation: Ye shall not announce in Gath; weeping, ye shall not weep: in the house of dust roll thyself in dust.
LITV Translation: Do not declare it in Gath; do not sorely weep. In the house of Leaphrah wallow in dust.
Brenton Septuagint Translation: Ye that are in Gath, exalt not yourselves, and ye Enakim, do not rebuild from the ruins of the house in derision: sprinkle dust in the place of your laughter.
Footnotes
Mic. 1:10
Mic. 1:10
The name ʿAkkū (or עַכּוֹ in Hebrew) is typically interpreted as referring to the ancient city of Akko (Acre). As for the meaning of the name ʿAkkū, it is believed to be of Semitic origin, and scholars suggest a few possible meanings:
"The strong" or "the fortified": The name may come from a root related to strength or fortification, reflecting the city's strategic coastal location and its well-defended position. This interpretation aligns with the city’s role throughout history as a fortified stronghold.
"The place of the tide" or "the place of the bay": Some interpretations focus on the geographical features of Akko, suggesting that ʿAkkū may refer to a location near the sea or a bay, possibly alluding to the tidal nature of the area or the harbor.
Micah 1:10
