Nehemiah 1:5

Paleo Hebrew Niqqud

RBT Hebrew Interlinear:

ואמר וָאֹמַ֗ר

and he said

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

אמר

ʼâmar

Definition

to say (used with great latitude)

Root

a primitive root;

Exhaustive

a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude); answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet.

Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance — H559

Fürst

Fürst Lexicon

אָמַר

verb • Root אמר • Strongs_Numbers • Page 155

1. (not used) to stand prominently upwards, to project upwards, hence to be elevated. 2. to say, to speak, to command; to press out sounds from within.

אָמַר

verb • Root אמר • Strongs_Numbers • Page 755

to say, speak

Gesenius

Gesenius Lexicon

אָמַר

verb • Root אמר • Page 58

1. to say (dico). Differs from דבר (to speak) in that אָמַר is almost uniformly followed by the words spoken (Lev. 1:2; Gen. 44:16). 2. to think. (Speaking and thinking).

אָמַר

verb • Root אמר • Page 59

To command (Est 1:17, 1 Chr 21:17); to praise (Ps 40:11). Niph.: to be said, to be called holy (Is 4:3). Hiph.: to declare solemnly, to promise (Deut 26:17, 18). Hithpa.: to boast one's self (Ps 94:4), or to exercise dominion.

conjunctive, Verb Qal sequential imperfect first person common singular

LXX:

LXX Usage Statistics

H0559:

No stats available

אנא אָנָּא

None

STRONGS

Strong's Lexicon

אנא

ʼânnâʼ

Definition

oh now!

Root

or אנה; apparent contracted from H160 (אהבה) and H4994 (נא);

Exhaustive

lemma אנא second vowel, corrected to אנא; or אנה; apparent contracted from אהבה and נא; oh now!; I (me) beseech (pray) thee, O.

Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance — H577

Fürst

Fürst Lexicon

אָנָּא

interjection • Root אהנא • Strongs_Numbers • Page 159

Interjection: oh now! I pray, obsecro, quaeso. Standing at the beginning of the sentence where נָא cannot usually be put.

Gesenius

Gesenius Lexicon

אָנָּא

interjection • Root אה אהה נא • Page 60

interj. of entreating, I pray you! ah, quæso. Gen. 50: 17. Dan. 9: 4. Sometimes written אָנָּה.

Particle interjection

LXX:

LXX Usage Statistics

H0577:

No stats available

יהוה יְהוָה

He Is

STRONGS

Strong's Lexicon

יהוה

Yᵉhôvâh

Definition

Jehovah, Jewish national name of God

Root

from H1961 (היה); (the) self-Existent or Eternal;

Exhaustive

from היה; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God; Jehovah, the Lord. Compare יה, יהוה.

Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance — H3068

Fürst

Fürst Lexicon

יְהֹוָה

noun masculine • Root יהה • Strongs / High • Page 590

A pre-Mosaic old Semitic name of the supreme God, which was specially revealed for the older אֵל at the establishment of the Mosaic religion, as an abstract of all divine greatness and holiness.

Gesenius

Gesenius Lexicon

יְהֹוָה

proper name • Page 275

The proper name of the deity among the ancient Hebrews. Interpreted as 'the eternal, unchangeable, true' or 'he who is as he shall be.' The text discusses various ancient pronunciations (IAΩ, IABE, IETΩ) and its derivation from the future of הָיָה.

Noun proper name

LXX: κύριοσ κυρίου κυρίῳ κύριον κύριε

LXX Usage Statistics

H3068:

κύριοσ 2605× (41.8%)

κυρίου 1742× (27.8%)

κυρίῳ 598× (8.8%)

κύριον 473× (7.1%)

κύριε 336× (5.4%)

--- 129× (2.1%)

'' 95× (1.3%)

θεὸσ 76× (1.0%)

θεοῦ 69× (0.9%)

θεῷ 28× (0.4%)

אלהי אֱלֹהֵי

mighty ones

STRONGS

Strong's Lexicon

אלהים

ʼĕlôhîym

Definition

gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative

Root

plural of H433 (אלוה);

Exhaustive

plural of אלוה; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative; angels, [idiom] exceeding, God (gods) (-dess, -ly), [idiom] (very) great, judges, [idiom] mighty.

Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance — H430

Fürst

Fürst Lexicon

אֱלֹהִים

noun masculine plural • Root אלוה • Strongs_Numbers • Page 134

God, the Deity; used most frequently as a plural of majesty for the true and most high God (Jehovah); also used for national gods or guardian deities.

אֱלֹהִים

noun masculine plural • Strongs_Numbers • Page 135

Plural in form but often used as singular. 1. The supreme and universal God, God of humanity (distinct from the national name YHWH). 2. Applied to heathen gods. 3. Applied to judges (as representatives of God's judgment). 4. Applied to angels (disputed). 5. Applied to kings or ghosts. 6. Used with other nouns to express the superlative or highest degree (e.g., 'mountain of God' for a great mountain).

אֱלֹהִים

proper name • Strongs_Numbers • Page 591

God. The vowels of this word are assigned to the Tetragrammaton (יהוה) when it is preceded by אֲדֹנָי, resulting in the form יֱהֹוִה.

Gesenius

Gesenius Lexicon

אֱלֹהִים

plur. • Root אלוה • Page 51

1. gods, in the plural number (Ex. 20:3). 2. as a pluralis excellentiae: God in the singular (Gen. 1:1, etc.). 3. בֶּן-אֱלֹהִים (son of God), applied to kings, angels, or worshippers (Ps. 2:7, Gen. 6:2, Job 1:6). 4. אִישׁ אֱלֹהִים (man of God), applied to prophets and servants of God (Judg. 13:6, 1 Sam. 2:27, Deut. 33:1). 5. Used superlatively: 'great before God' (Jon. 3:3, Gen. 23:6).

Noun common masculine plural construct

LXX:

LXX Usage Statistics

H0430:

No stats available

השמים הַשָּׁמַיִם

the Dual-Heavenly Ones

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

שמים

shâmayim

Definition

the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds move, as well as to the higher ether where the celestial bodies revolve)

Root

dual of an unused singular שמה; from an unused root meaning to be lofty;

Exhaustive

dual of an unused singular שמה; from an unused root meaning to be lofty; the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds move, as well as to the higher ether where the celestial bodies revolve); air, [idiom] astrologer, heaven(-s).

Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance — H8064

Fürst

Fürst Lexicon

שָׁמַיִם

m. pl. • Root שמה • Strongs / High • Page 1446

properly height, high district (from שָׁמָה II); or the shining one, the light-producer; the circular heaven like a thin covering (רָקִיעַ).

Gesenius

Gesenius Lexicon

שָׁמַיִם

masc. plur. const. שְׁמֵי • Root שמה , • Page 685

the heaven or heavens. Gen. 1: 1. 2: 1. 14: 19, 22. The Hebrews conceived of heaven as a solid arch resting on pillars (Job 26: 11), having foundations (2 Sam. 22: 8) and a gate (Gen. 28: 17).

Particle definite article, Noun common masculine plural absolute

LXX: οὐρανοῦ οὐρανὸν οὐρανὸσ οὐρανῷ οὐρανόν

LXX Usage Statistics

H8064:

οὐρανοῦ 201× (41.8%)

οὐρανὸν 66× (13.3%)

οὐρανὸσ 32× (6.4%)

οὐρανῷ 30× (5.5%)

οὐρανόν 28× (5.5%)

οὐρανοῦ 20× (4.2%)

οὐρανῶν 11× (2.3%)

'' 10× (2.1%)

pεἰσ 8× (2.0%)

οὐρανοὶ 8× (1.7%)

האל הָאֵל

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

אל

ʼêl

Definition

strength; as adjective, mighty; especially the Almighty (but used also of any deity)

Root

shortened from H352 (איל);

Exhaustive

shortened from איל; strength; as adjective, mighty; especially the Almighty (but used also of any deity); God (god), [idiom] goodly, [idiom] great, idol, might(-y one), power, strong. Compare names in '-el.'

Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance — H410

Fürst

Fürst Lexicon

אֵל

pronominal stem • Strongs_Numbers • Page 127

Aramaic demonstrative pronoun, same as Hebrew II. in a variety of senses.

אֵל

noun masculine • Strongs_Numbers • Page 127

God (used in proper names like טָבְאֵל).

אֵל

noun • Strongs_Numbers • Page 127

Used as a groundform for אַלִי.

אֵל

pronoun demonstrative • Root אלה • Strongs_Numbers • Page 129

Pronominal stem abridged from 'ela, a demonstrative vocable. Demonstrative pronoun plural 'these'. A stronger form than 'ela, namely 'elle. Often found with the article הָאֵל (these).

אֵל

pronoun • Root אלה • Strongs_Numbers • Page 129

Aramaic equivalent to the Hebrew אֵל II. Found only in Ezr. 5, 15 K'ri, for which the K'tib has אֵלֶּה synonymous with the Targumic אִלֵּךְ.

אֵל

noun masculine • Root איל אול • Strongs_Numbers • Page 129

A very old Semitic name of the highest deity, which already appears in the pre-historic period: God. Stands both for the God of the Hebrews (Jehovah), gods of another nation, or idols. Also means 'strong' or 'mighty'.

אֵל

noun masculine • Strongs_Numbers • Page 130

God, Deity; applied to the true God, pagan gods, or in proper names. Also denotes strength, might, or power (e.g., in the phrase 'it is in the power of my hand').

אֵל

pronom. stem • Strongs_Numbers • Page 131

Collateral form of pronoun demonstrative אֵל (these).

אֵל

pronom. stem • Strongs_Numbers • Page 131

Construct of אֶל I. (preposition 'to', 'towards').

אֵל

abbreviation • Strongs_Numbers • Page 131

An abbreviation of God in proper names, e.g. אֶלְעָלָא, אֶלְזָבָד.

Gesenius

Gesenius Lexicon

אֶל

chald. • Page 49

Chald. idem. [to Hebrew אַל]. Dan. 2: 24.

אֶל

preposition • Page 50

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.

אֵל

m. verbal / dec. i. a. • Root אול • Page 49

1. strong, mighty (Ezek. 31:11). 2. strength, power (Gen. 31:29; Prov. 3:27). 3. most frequently God, applied both to Jehovah and heathen gods (Is. 44:10).

אֵל

pronoun • Page 49

pronoun plural; i. q. אֵלֶּה [these]. Also appears in the form הָאֵל.

אֵל

chald. • Page 50

Chald. idem. Ezra 5:15 Keri.

Particle definite article, Noun common both singular absolute

LXX:

LXX Usage Statistics

H0410:

No stats available

הגדול הַגָּדוֹל

the Mega One

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

גדול

gâdôwl

Definition

great (in any sense); hence, older; also insolent

Root

or גדל; (shortened) from H1431 (גדל);

Exhaustive

or גדל; (shortened) from גדל; great (in any sense); hence, older; also insolent; [phrase] aloud, elder(-est), [phrase] exceeding(-ly), [phrase] far, (man of) great (man, matter, thing,-er,-ness), high, long, loud, mighty, more, much, noble, proud thing, [idiom] sore, ([idiom]) very.

Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance — H1419

Fürst

Fürst Lexicon

גָּדוֹל

adjective • Consonantal / Medium • Page 304

Great (opposite of קָטָן). Can refer to size, extent, number, multitude, importance, weight, violence, or power. Applied to emotions like fear, joy, and sorrow. With reference to age, it means older or oldest. With reference to might, it means distinguished, noble, powerful, rich, influential. Used in titles like 'the great king' or 'the high-priest'.

Matched via consonantal key only

Particle definite article, Adjective adjective both singular absolute

LXX: μέγασ μέγα μεγάλην μεγάλη μεγάλῃ

LXX Usage Statistics

H1419a:

μέγασ 64× (12.4%)

μέγα 56× (10.9%)

μεγάλην 54× (10.6%)

μεγάλη 49× (9.6%)

μεγάλῃ 41× (8.2%)

μέγαν 36× (6.5%)

μεγάλου 30× (5.7%)

μεγάλα 26× (5.1%)

--- 19× (3.9%)

'' 18× (3.1%)

והנורא וְהַנּוֹרָא

and the Feared-one

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

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

ירא

yârêʼ

Definition

to fear; morally, to revere; caus. to frighten

Root

a primitive root;

Exhaustive

a primitive root; to fear; morally, to revere; caus. to frighten; affright, be (make) afraid, dread(-ful), (put in) fear(-ful, -fully, -ing), (be had in) reverence(-end), [idiom] see, terrible (act, -ness, thing).

Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance — H3372

Fürst

Fürst Lexicon

יָרֵא

verb • Strongs / High • Page 642

1. To tremble, to quake, for fear or from faint-heartedness or joyous surprise. 2. To be afraid, to tremble, to be fearful. 3. To fear, with accusative of person or thing. 4. In a noble sense: to feel awe, to reverence, esteem highly, honour.

יָרֵא

verb • Root ירא • Strongs / High • Page 643

To have religious awe, fear of God; to be pious, faithful, God-fearing; to worship; to turn back or refrain.

יָרֵא

adjective • Root ירא • Strongs / High • Page 643

Fearing, anxious, faint-hearted, in a worldly sense; but usually in a religious meaning.

יָרֵא

unknown • Root ירא • Strongs / High • Page 420

belonging to Nif. נוֹרָא, see יָרֵא.

Gesenius

Gesenius Lexicon

יָרֵא

verb • Page 295

to fear, reverence. [Entry incomplete on page]

יָרֵא

verb • Page 296

1. to fear, to be afraid (Josh. 22:25, Gen. 15:1, 21:17). Construed with an accusative of the person feared (Num. 14:9), with מִפְּנֵי (Josh. 11:6), or with לְ of the person or thing for which one fears (Josh. 9:24). 2. to honour, fear, reverence, revereri; e.g. one's parents (Lev. 19:3), the sanctuary (Lev. 19:30), or an oath (1 Sam. 14:26). Hence יָרֵא אֶת אֱלֹהִים to fear God, equivalent to being virtuous or pious.

יָרֵא

verb • Root ירא • Page 296

1. fearing. Often joined with personal pronouns to form a periphrasis for the finite verb, as יָרֵא אָנֹכִי 'I fear' (Gen. 32:12). 2. more as an adj. fearful (Deut. 20:8). יָרֵא אֱלֹהִים 'fearing God' (Gen. 22:12, Job 1:1).

Conjunction, Particle definite article, Verb Niphal participle active masculine singular absolute

LXX: φοβοῦ ἐφοβήθη ἐφοβήθησαν φοβηθῇσ φοβεῖσθε

LXX Usage Statistics

H3372:

φοβοῦ 33× (11.1%)

ἐφοβήθη 27× (8.5%)

ἐφοβήθησαν 23× (6.9%)

φοβηθῇσ 16× (5.4%)

φοβεῖσθε 14× (4.7%)

φοβηθήσῃ 12× (3.8%)

φοβηθῆτε 12× (4.0%)

φοβηθήσονται 11× (3.3%)

φοβεῖσθαι 11× (3.5%)

φοβηθήσεσθε 11× (3.7%)

שמר שֹׁמֵר

None

STRONGS

Strong's Lexicon

שמר

shâmar

Definition

properly, to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e. guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc.

Root

a primitive root;

Exhaustive

a primitive root; properly, to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e. guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc.; beward, be circumspect, take heed (to self), keep(-er, self), mark, look narrowly, observe, preserve, regard, reserve, save (self), sure, (that lay) wait (for), watch(-man).

Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance — H8104

Fürst

Fürst Lexicon

שָׁמַר

verb • Root שמר • Strongs / High • Page 1452

I. (Verb) 1. To pierce, prick (of sharp points); metaphorically, to have a penetrating, sharp smell or pungent taste. 2. To be nimble or active, to act quickly, to be awake. 3. To keep, to watch (a garden, city, flock); to protect (fig., to be careful about one's speech).

Gesenius

Gesenius Lexicon

שָׁמַר

verb • Root שמר • Page 688

1. to keep, watch, guard. 1 Sam. 26:15, Ps. 121:7. Part. שֹׁמֵר a watchman, guard, Cant. 3:3. 2. to keep, preserve, lay up. Ex. 22:6. 3. to keep or retain (anger). Amos 1:11. 4. to watch, mark, observe. 1 Sam. 1:12, Ps. 17:4. 5. to observe, keep (e.g. a covenant, commands). Gen. 17:9, 1 K. 11:10. 6. to worship, reverence. Ps. 31:7, Hos. 4:10. 7. to watch, besiege (a city). 2 Sam. 11:16. Niph. to beware of, to be guarded. Josh. 6:18, Ps. 37:28. Pi. i. q. Kal. Jon. 2:9. Hithpa. to be observed. Mic. 6:16.

Verb Qal participle active masculine singular absolute

LXX: φυλάσσειν φυλάξεσθε φυλάσσων φυλάξῃ ἐφύλαξεν

LXX Usage Statistics

H8104:

φυλάσσειν 29× (6.0%)

φυλάξεσθε 26× (5.2%)

φυλάσσων 18× (3.3%)

φυλάξῃ 16× (3.2%)

ἐφύλαξεν 14× (2.9%)

φυλάσσοντεσ 14× (2.8%)

πρόσεχε 14× (3.1%)

φυλάξω 13× (2.6%)

φυλάξασθε 12× (2.5%)

φύλαξαι 11× (2.4%)

הברית הַבְּרִית

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

ברית

bᵉrîyth

Definition

a compact (because made by passing between pieces of flesh)

Root

from H1262 (ברה) (in the sense of cutting (like H1254 (ברא)));

Exhaustive

from ברה (in the sense of cutting (like ברא)); a compact (because made by passing between pieces of flesh); confederacy, (con-) feder(-ate), covenant, league.

Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance — H1285

Fürst

Fürst Lexicon

בְּרִית

noun feminine • Consonantal / Medium • Page 278

Covenant, league (prop. cutting in pieces of the sacrificial animal).

Matched via consonantal key only

בֹּרִית

noun feminine • Root ברר • Consonantal / Medium • Page 278

Lye, vegetable kali, a material for cleansing; salt of lye from soap plants.

Matched via consonantal key only

Gesenius

Gesenius Lexicon

בְּרִית

f. dec. i. • Root ברה • Page 116

covenant, league, compact. Often denotes the person with whom the covenant is made (Lev. 26:45). In some contexts equivalent to law, such as 'the law chest' or 'ark of the covenant' (Josh. 3:6) and 'book of the law' (Ex. 24:7). Referenced in 1 Chr. 7:23, Deut. 4:31, and Mal. 3:2.

בֹּרִית

noun feminine • Root ברר • Page 116

alkali, lie, lixivium; especially vegetable alkali procured from the ashes of alkaline plants used by ancients for cleansing and washing clothes. As to its form, it is probably a denom. from בָּרַר (purification). Referenced in Jer. 2:22 and Mal. 3:2.

Particle definite article, Noun common both singular absolute

LXX: διαθήκην διαθήκησ διαθήκη '' διαθήκῃ

LXX Usage Statistics

H1285:

διαθήκην 155× (53.9%)

διαθήκησ 80× (27.7%)

διαθήκη 18× (6.0%)

'' 10× (3.2%)

διαθήκῃ 9× (2.6%)

--- 7× (2.7%)

וחסד וָחסֶד

and kind one

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

חסד

chêçêd

Definition

kindness; by implication (towards God) piety; rarely (by opposition) reproof, or (subject.) beauty

Root

from H2616 (חסד);

Exhaustive

from חסד; kindness; by implication (towards God) piety; rarely (by opposition) reproof, or (subject.) beauty; favour, good deed(-liness, -ness), kindly, (loving-) kindness, merciful (kindness), mercy, pity, reproach, wicked thing.

Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance — H2617

Fürst

Fürst Lexicon

חֶסֶד

noun masculine • Root חסד חסר • Consonantal / Medium • Page 508

1. (from root חָסַד) Kindness, benevolence, favour, love; used in contexts of men to men, man to God (piety), and God to men (grace, divine good-will). 2. (from root חָסַר) Reproach, disgrace, shame. 3. A proper name of one of Solomon's officers.

Matched via consonantal key only

חָסַד

verb • Root חסד • Consonantal / Medium • Page 507

I. (Kal unused) 1. tr. to bend, to bow, to crook. 2. intr. to incline to, to turn to; figurat. to be favourable, kind, gracious, pious.

Matched via consonantal key only

חָסַד

verb • Root חסד • Consonantal / Medium • Page 507

II. (Kal unused) tr. prop. to cut, e.g. grain; hence figurat. to cut with sharp words, to abuse, to insult.

Matched via consonantal key only

חָסַד

verb • Root חסד • Consonantal / Medium • Page 508

Piel form (חִסֵּד) means to asperse, to disgrace.

Matched via consonantal key only

חָסָד

noun masculine • Root חסד • Consonantal / Medium • Page 508

Kind, gracious; only found in the proper name חַסְדִּיָה.

Matched via consonantal key only

Conjunction, Noun common both singular absolute

LXX: ἔλεοσ ἔλεόσ ἐλέουσ ἐλέει ἐλέη

LXX Usage Statistics

H2617a:

ἔλεοσ 119× (47.8%)

ἔλεόσ 43× (16.0%)

ἐλέουσ 15× (6.0%)

ἐλέει 12× (3.9%)

ἐλέη 10× (3.8%)

πολυέλεοσ 9× (3.5%)

ἔλεον 5× (2.2%)

δικαιοσύνην 5× (1.9%)

ἐλεήμων 2× (0.9%)

ἐλεημοσύνη 2× (0.9%)

לאהביו לְאֹהֲבָיו

None

STRONGS

Strong's Lexicon

ל

lə

Definition

to, for

Root

A primitive particle; a prefix

Exhaustive

(lamed) — to / toward / for

Core value: orientation, directionality, belonging
ל is often mistranslated as purpose (“in order to”), but that smuggles in future-time. In reality, ל marks:
- movement toward,
- dedication unto,
- reference with respect to.
Aonically, ל is vectorial, not teleological.
not “for the sake of a future outcome”
but “oriented toward a locus or pole.”
This is why possession (“belongs to”) and motion (“toward”) use the same preposition: both indicate relational alignment, not time.

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

ו

Definition

him, personal pronoun - verb/prep. 3rd person masculine singular

Root

Exhaustive

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

Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance — H9033

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).

Preposition, Verb Qal participle active masculine plural construct, Suffix pronominal third person masculine singular

LXX:

LXX Usage Statistics

H0157:

No stats available

ולשמרי וּלְשֹׁמְרֵי

and to those who keep watch

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

ל

lə

Definition

to, for

Root

A primitive particle; a prefix

Exhaustive

(lamed) — to / toward / for

Core value: orientation, directionality, belonging
ל is often mistranslated as purpose (“in order to”), but that smuggles in future-time. In reality, ל marks:
- movement toward,
- dedication unto,
- reference with respect to.
Aonically, ל is vectorial, not teleological.
not “for the sake of a future outcome”
but “oriented toward a locus or pole.”
This is why possession (“belongs to”) and motion (“toward”) use the same preposition: both indicate relational alignment, not time.

Source: The Aonic Nature of Biblical Hebrew Prepositions

שמר

shâmar

Definition

properly, to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e. guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc.

Root

a primitive root;

Exhaustive

a primitive root; properly, to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e. guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc.; beward, be circumspect, take heed (to self), keep(-er, self), mark, look narrowly, observe, preserve, regard, reserve, save (self), sure, (that lay) wait (for), watch(-man).

Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance — H8104

Fürst

Fürst Lexicon

שָׁמַר

verb • Root שמר • Strongs / High • Page 1452

I. (Verb) 1. To pierce, prick (of sharp points); metaphorically, to have a penetrating, sharp smell or pungent taste. 2. To be nimble or active, to act quickly, to be awake. 3. To keep, to watch (a garden, city, flock); to protect (fig., to be careful about one's speech).

Gesenius

Gesenius Lexicon

שָׁמַר

verb • Root שמר • Page 688

1. to keep, watch, guard. 1 Sam. 26:15, Ps. 121:7. Part. שֹׁמֵר a watchman, guard, Cant. 3:3. 2. to keep, preserve, lay up. Ex. 22:6. 3. to keep or retain (anger). Amos 1:11. 4. to watch, mark, observe. 1 Sam. 1:12, Ps. 17:4. 5. to observe, keep (e.g. a covenant, commands). Gen. 17:9, 1 K. 11:10. 6. to worship, reverence. Ps. 31:7, Hos. 4:10. 7. to watch, besiege (a city). 2 Sam. 11:16. Niph. to beware of, to be guarded. Josh. 6:18, Ps. 37:28. Pi. i. q. Kal. Jon. 2:9. Hithpa. to be observed. Mic. 6:16.

Conjunction, Preposition, Verb Qal participle active masculine plural construct

LXX: φυλάσσειν φυλάξεσθε φυλάσσων φυλάξῃ ἐφύλαξεν

LXX Usage Statistics

H8104:

φυλάσσειν 29× (6.0%)

φυλάξεσθε 26× (5.2%)

φυλάσσων 18× (3.3%)

φυλάξῃ 16× (3.2%)

ἐφύλαξεν 14× (2.9%)

φυλάσσοντεσ 14× (2.8%)

πρόσεχε 14× (3.1%)

φυλάξω 13× (2.6%)

φυλάξασθε 12× (2.5%)

φύλαξαι 11× (2.4%)

מצותיו מִצְוֹתָיו׃

None

STRONGS

Strong's Lexicon

מצוה

mitsvâh

Definition

a command, whether human or divine (collectively, the Law)

Root

from H6680 (צוה);

Exhaustive

from צוה; a command, whether human or divine (collectively, the Law); (which was) commanded(-ment), law, ordinance, precept.

Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance — H4687

הו

Definition

his, personal posessive - noun suffix: 3rd person masculine singular

Root

Exhaustive

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

Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance — H9023

Fürst

Fürst Lexicon

מִצְוָה

noun feminine • Root צוה • Strongs / High • Page 894

prop. firm, appointed, hence a command, precept, prescription, law. Also used for utterance, commission, and income prescribed by law.

Gesenius

Gesenius Lexicon

מִצְוָה

f. verbal • Root צוה • Page 398

A command (2 K. 18: 36). Spoken of the commands of God (Deut. 6: 1, Lev. 4: 13).

Noun common feminine plural construct, Suffix pronominal third person masculine singular

LXX: ἐντολὰσ ἐντολάσ ἐντολῶν ἐντολὴν ἐντολήν

LXX Usage Statistics

H4687:

ἐντολὰσ 57× (31.9%)

ἐντολάσ 34× (18.8%)

ἐντολῶν 15× (8.3%)

ἐντολὴν 9× (4.8%)

ἐντολήν 8× (4.4%)

ἐντολὴ 6× (3.7%)

ἐντολαῖσ 6× (3.1%)

ἐντολαί 5× (2.8%)

--- 4× (2.7%)

ἐντολαὶ 4× (2.4%)

RBT Translation:

No verse found

RBT Paraphrase:
No verse found

Julia Smith Literal 1876 Translation:
And saying, Now O Jehovah, God of the heavens, the great and terrible God watching the covenant and mercy to those loving him, and to those watching his commands:

LITV Translation:
And I said, I beseech You, Jehovah God of Heaven, the great and awesome God, keeping the covenant and mercy to those loving Him, and to keepers of His commandments,