See in Reader
28 KiB
Article
Biblical Hebrew contains only one primary conjunction (the prefix וְ), but a whole family of other words also function as conjunctions. A conjunction is a word that shows a relationship between two different things within a text; these "things" can be individual words or phrases, or even entire sentences or paragraphs. In Biblical Hebrew, particles are often combined with each other to form compound conjunctions. Compound conjunctions should not be considered merely as the sum of the components, but rather as a single grammatical entity with its own range of meanings which may or may not be different than the individual component words.
-וְ
Sentences in Biblical Hebrew often begin with the conjunction ו (as either a consonant or a shureq vowel). This conjunction וְ ("and") cannot stand alone as an independent word but must be connected to another word as a prefix. This can be added to a noun, a verb, a pronoun, or a particle. The shewa in וְ can lengthen to a vowel, usually pathah (when paired with the definite article) or qamets (when paired with both the article and a ה prefix), but others are also possible.
NOTE: This conjunction is often left untranslated when it begins a sentence or clause, or when it appears within the sequential verbal forms (Sequential Suffix Conjugation and Sequential Prefix Conjugation). Also, the conjunction is often added between every item of a list in Biblical Hebrew; but in English the וְ is not translated for each item.
Form
The conjunction וְ can appear either as a prefix to a word or particle, or as part of a sequential verbal form.
- ZEC 3:3 –– as a prefix to a separate word
| וְעֹמֵ֖ד לִפְנֵ֥י הַמַּלְאָֽךְ |
| **we'omed** lifne hammal'akh |
| **and-he-was-standing** to-face-of the-angel |
| **and he was standing** in front of the angel |
- GEN 1:13 –– as part of a sequential verbal form
| וַֽיְהִי־עֶ֥רֶב **וַֽיְהִי**־בֹ֖קֶר י֥וֹם שְׁלִישִֽׁי׃ |
| **wayehi**-'erev **wayehi**voqer yom shelishi |
| **And-there-was**_evening, **and-there-was**_morning, day third. |
| **This was** evening and morning, the third day. |
Function
The conjunction וְ can express any of the following connective relationships:
Copulative
This connects two similar ideas and is usually translated as "and" in English.
- GEN 1:5
| וַיִּקְרָ֨א אֱלֹהִ֤ים ׀ לָאוֹר֙ י֔וֹם **וְלַחֹ֖שֶׁךְ** קָ֣רָא לָ֑יְלָה |
| wayyiqra 'elohim la'or yom **welahoshekh** qara laylah |
| And-he-called God to-the-light day **and-to-the-darkness** he-called night |
| He named the light "day," **and** he named **the darkness** "night." |
Disjunctive
This connects two opposite ideas and is usually translated as "and" in English.
- GEN 2:17
| וּמֵעֵ֗ץ הַדַּ֙עַת֙ ט֣וֹב **וָרָ֔ע** לֹ֥א תֹאכַ֖ל מִמֶּ֑נּוּ |
| ume'ets hadda'ath tov **wara'** lo thokhal mimmennu |
| But-from-tree-of the-knowledge-of good **and-evil** not you-shall-eat from-it |
| But from the tree of the knowledge of good **and evil** you may not eat |
Adversative
This contrasts two different ideas and is usually translated as “but” in English.
- GEN 6:8
| וְנֹ֕חַ מָ֥צָא חֵ֖ן בְּעֵינֵ֥י יְהוָֽה׃ |
| **wenoah** matsa hen be'ene yehwah |
| **But-Noah** found favor in-eyes-of Yahweh. |
| **But Noah** found favor in the eyes of Yahweh. |
Alternative
This compares two ideas as potentially equivalent and is usually translated as “or” in English.
- EXO 20:10
| לֹֽ֣א־תַעֲשֶׂ֨ה כָל־מְלָאכָ֜ה אַתָּ֣ה ׀ **וּבִנְךָֽ֣־וּבִתֶּ֗ךָ** עַבְדְּךָ֤ **וַאֲמָֽתְךָ֙ וּבְהֶמְתֶּ֔ךָ וְגֵרְךָ֖** אֲשֶׁ֥ר בִּשְׁעָרֶֽיךָ׃ |
| lo-tha'aseh khol-melakhah 'attah **uvinkha-wwvittekha** 'avdekha **wa'amathekha uvehemtekha wegerekha** 'asher bish'areykha |
| Not_you-shall-do any_work you **nor-your-son_nor-your-daughter** your-male-servant **nor-your-female-servant nor-your-cattle nor-foreigner** who in-your-gates. |
| On it you must not do any work, you, **or your son, or your daughter, or your male servant, or your female servant, or your cattle, or the foreigner** who is within your gates. |
Explicative
This provides additional information about one idea and is translated “even” (or is sometimes left untranslated) in English.
- GEN 4:4
| וְהֶ֨בֶל הֵבִ֥יא גַם־ה֛וּא מִבְּכֹר֥וֹת צֹאנ֖וֹ וּמֵֽחֶלְבֵהֶ֑ן |
| wehevel hevi gam-hu mibbekhoroth tsono **umehelvehen** |
| And-Abel brought also_he from-firstborn-of his-flock **even-from-fat** |
| As for Abel, he brought some of the firstborn of his flock **and some of the fat** |
Circumstantial
This connects clauses/phrases that happen at the same time; it is usually translated as “while” or “when” in English.
- GEN 45:14
| וַיִּפֹּ֛ל עַל־צַוְּארֵ֥י בִנְיָמִֽן־אָחִ֖יו וַיֵּ֑בְךְּ **וּבִנְיָמִ֔ן** בָּכָ֖ה עַל־צַוָּארָֽיו׃ |
| wayyippol 'al-tsawwere vinyamin-'ahiw wayyevk **uvinyamin** bakhah 'al-tsawwarayw |
| And-he-fell on\_neck-of Benjamin\_his-brother and-he-wept **and-Benjamin** wept on\_his-neck. |
| He hugged his brother Benjamin's neck and wept, **while Benjamin** wept on his neck. |
ֹאו
The word אוֹ is the standard alternative conjunction in Biblical Hebrew, usually translated as "or" in English.
- EXO 21:32
| אִם־עֶ֛בֶד יִגַּ֥ח הַשּׁ֖וֹר **א֣וֹ** אָמָ֑ה׃ |
| 'im-'eved yiggah hashor **'o** 'amah |
| If_male-servant gores the-ox **or** female-servant |
| If a bull attacks and gores a male **or** female slave |
כִּי
[NOTE: כִּי is one of the most flexible words in Biblical Hebrew in terms of its meaning. It can function either as a conjunction or as a particle, with many different potential meanings. If in doubt, it is recommended to always consult a dictionary or lexicon to confirm how the word is being used in any specific instance.]
The word כִּי is the standard causal conjunction in Biblical Hebrew, and is usually translated as "for" in English. However, it is also commonly used as a conditional conjunction (usually translated, "if"). Often, כִּי is conditional when it occurs at the beginning of a sentence and causal when it occurs in the middle (or toward the end) of a sentence, but there are notable exceptions to this general rule.
Causal
This is the most common use of the word כִּי. However, sometimes it is extremely difficult to distinguish between a causal conjunction that expresses purpose and one that expresses result. When כִּי functions as a causal conjunction, it is often translated into English simply as "for", which can express either purpose or result.
Expresses purpose
This means to express the purpose, reason, or cause for an action/event. In English, this kind of causal conjunction is usually translated as "for" or "because".
- GEN 3:14
| וַיֹּאמֶר֩ יְהֹוָ֨ה אֱלֹהִ֥ים ׀ אֶֽל־הַנָּחָשׁ֮ **כִּ֣י** עָשִׂ֣יתָ זֹּאת֒ אָר֤וּר אַתָּה֙׃ |
| wayyomer yehowah 'elohim 'el-hannahash **ki** 'asitha zoth 'arur 'attah |
| And-he-said Yahweh God to_the-serpent **because** you-have-done this cursed you |
| Then Yahweh God said to the snake, "**Because** you did this, I will curse you." |
Expresses result
This means to express the result or intended outcome of an action/event. In English, this kind of causal conjunction is usually translated as "for" or “so that”.
- GEN 20:10
| מָ֣ה רָאִ֔יתָ **כִּ֥י** עָשִׂ֖יתָ אֶת־הַדָּבָ֥ר הַזֶּֽה׃ |
| mah ra'itha **ki** 'asitha 'eth-haddavar hazzeh |
| What did-you-see **so-that** you-did [dir.obj]_the-thing the-this? |
| What prompted you **to** do this thing? |
Conditional
This is also a very common use of the word כִּי in Biblical Hebrew. This conjunction can describe either a hypothetical condition or an actual condition, as determined by the context.
Expresses a hypothetical condition
A hypothetical condition expresses an imaginary action or event that has not actually happened in reality. This kind of conditional conjunction is usually translated as "if" in English. Hypothetical conditions have potential to convey many different nuances of possibility and/or desirability.
- 2KI 4:29
| כִּֽי־תִמְצָ֥א אִישׁ֙ לֹ֣א תְבָרְכֶ֔נּוּ **וְכִֽי**־יְבָרֶכְךָ֥ אִ֖ישׁ לֹ֣א תַעֲנֶנּ֑וּ |
| **ki**-thimtsa 'ish lo thevorkhennu **wekhi**-yevarekhkha 'ish lo tha'anennu |
| **If**_you-meet man not_greet-him **and-if**_greets-you man not answer-him. |
| **If** you meet any man, do not greet him, and **if** anyone greets you, do not answer him. |
Expresses an actual condition
An actual condition expresses an action or event that has actually happened in reality, and is usually translated as "when" or "while" in English. Usually, this kind of condition indicates something that is happening concurrently with the main action/event being described, or something that has happened in the past in certain circumstances.
- GEN 27:1
| וַיְהִי֙ **כִּֽי**־זָקֵ֣ן יִצְחָ֔ק וַתִּכְהֶ֥יןָ עֵינָ֖יו מֵרְאֹ֑ת |
| wayhiy **ki**-zaqen yitshaq wattikhheyna 'enayw mere'oth |
| And-it-happened **when**_old Isaac and-were-dim his-eyes from-seeing |
| **When** Isaac was old and his eyes were dim so that he could not see |
Other uses
The word כִּי can also express other conjunctive meanings, often as an adversative following a negated statement. If in doubt, it is recommended to always consult a dictionary or lexicon for the exact meaning of the word in any specific instance.
- GEN 17:15
| שָׂרַ֣י אִשְׁתְּךָ֔ לֹא־תִקְרָ֥א אֶת־שְׁמָ֖הּ שָׂרָ֑י **כִּ֥י** שָׂרָ֖ה שְׁמָֽהּ׃ |
| saray 'ishtekha lo-thiqra 'eth-shemah saray **ki** sarah shemah |
| Sarai your-wife not_call [dir.obj]_her-name Sarai **but** Sarah her-name. |
| As for Sarai your wife, do not call her Sarai any more. **Instead**, her name will be Sarah. |
אִם
NOTE: Like the word כִּי, the word אִם in Biblical Hebrew is also extremely flexible in its meaning. If in doubt, it is recommended to always consult a dictionary or lexicon for the exact meaning of the word in any specific instance.
Conditional
The word אִם is the standard conditional conjunction in Biblical Hebrew. It is most often used to describe a hypothetical condition and translated as "if" in English. However, this term can can be nuanced and translated in a variety of specific ways, and it can be joined with various other particles to form different compound conjunctions. Therefore, this word must be translated always with senstivity to the context to express the correct nuance.
Expresses a hypothetical condition
A hypothetical condition expresses an imaginary action or event that has not actually happened in reality. This kind of conditional conjunction is usually translated as "if" in English. Hypothetical conditions have potential to convey many different nuances of possibility and/or desirability.
- GEN 18:26
| אִם־אֶמְצָ֥א בִסְדֹ֛ם חֲמִשִּׁ֥ים צַדִּיקִ֖ם בְּת֣וֹךְ הָעִ֑יר |
| **'im**-'emtsa visdom hamishim tsaddiqim bethokh ha'ir |
| **If**_I-find in-Sodom fifty righteous in-place the-city |
| **If** I find fifty people in Sodom who have done nothing wrong |
- JER 15:1 –– hypothetical condition as affirmation of an actual condition
| אִם־יַעֲמֹ֨ד מֹשֶׁ֤ה וּשְׁמוּאֵל֙ לְפָנַ֔י |
| **'im**-ya'amod mosheh ushemu'el lefanay |
| **Though**_stood Moses and-Samuel before-me |
| **Even if** Moses or Samuel were standing in front of me |
Expresses an actual condition
An actual condition expresses an action or event that has actually happened in reality, and is usually translated as "when" or "while" in English. Usually, this kind of condition indicates something that is happening concurrently with the main action/event being described, or something that has happened in the past in certain circumstances.
- NUM 21:9
| וְהָיָ֗ה **אִם**־נָשַׁ֤ךְ הַנָּחָשׁ֙ אֶת־אִ֔ישׁ וְהִבִּ֛יט אֶל־נְחַ֥שׁ הַנְּחֹ֖שֶׁת וָחָֽי׃ |
| wehayah **'im**-nashakh hannahash 'eth-'ish wehibbit 'el-nehash hannehosheth wahay |
| And-it-happened **when**_he-had-bitten the-serpent [dir.obj]_man and-he-looked to_serpent-of the-bronze and-he-lived |
| **When** a snake bit any person, if he looked at the bronze snake, he survived. |
- GEN 31:8
| אִם־כֹּ֣ה יֹאמַ֗ר נְקֻדִּים֙ יִהְיֶ֣ה שְׂכָרֶ֔ךָ וְיָלְד֥וּ כָל־הַצֹּ֖אן נְקֻדִּ֑ים |
| **'im**-koh yomar nequddim yihyeh sekharekha weyoldu khol-hatson nequddim |
| **When**_thus he-said speckled-ones it-will-be your-wages and-they-bore all_the-flock speckled-ones |
| **If** he said, 'The speckled animals will be your wages,' then all the flock bore speckled young. |
Alternative
This use of the conjunction אִם is often found in a question and is usually translated as "or" in English.
- JOS 5:13
| הֲלָ֥נוּ אַתָּ֖ה **אִם**־לְצָרֵֽינוּ׃ |
| halanu 'attah **'im**-letsarenu |
| Are-for-us you **or**_for-our-enemies? |
| Are you for us **or** for our enemies? |
וְעַתָּה
The word עַתָּה ("now") in Biblical Hebrew often functions as an adverb in a sentence. However, when עַתָּה appears at the beginning of a sentence or clause, it usually functions not as an adverb but as a conjunction, either standing alone or as a compound conjunction (when paired with the prefix וְ or with particles such as גַּם or כִּי). In either case, the term functions as a causal conjunction, indicating that what follows is based upon what has come before. This conjunction must be translated always with great sensitivity to the context to express the correct nuance; in English, this conjunction can be translated as "now", "so", "so now", "and now", "therefore", and others. A dictionary or lexicon will indicate the specific nuance of this term in individual contexts.
- GEN 31:13 –– as a stand-alone conjunction
| עַתָּ֗ה ק֥וּם צֵא֙ מִן־הָאָ֣רֶץ הַזֹּ֔את |
| **'attah** qum tse' min-ha'arets hazzoth |
| **Now** rise-up go-out from_the-land the-this |
| **Now** rise up and leave this land |
- 1KI 8:26 –– with prefix וְ
| וְעַתָּ֖ה אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל יֵאָ֤מֶן נָא֙ דְּבָרֶיךָ אֲשֶׁ֣ר דִּבַּ֔רְתָּ לְעַבְדְּךָ֖ דָּוִ֥ד אָבִֽי |
| **we'attah** 'elohe yisra'el ye'amen na' devareykha 'asher dibbarta le'avdekha dawid 'avi |
| **And-now** God-of Israel let-it-be-true [exh.prtc] your-words that you-spoke to-your-servant David my-father |
| **Now then**, God of Israel, I pray that the promise you made to your servant David my father, will come true. |
- GEN 44:10 –– in compound conjunction with גַּם
| וַיֹּ֕אמֶר **גַּם־עַתָּ֥ה** כְדִבְרֵיכֶ֖ם כֶּן־ה֑וּא |
| wayyomer **gam-'attah** khedivrekhem ken-hu |
| And-he-said **also_now** as-your-words thus_it |
| **Now also** let it be according to your words. |
- 1SA 13:13 –– in compound conjunction with כִּי
| כִּ֣י עַתָּ֗ה הֵכִ֨ין יְהוָ֧ה אֶת־מַֽמְלַכְתְּךָ֛ |
| **ki 'attah** hekhin yehwah 'eth-mamelakhtekha |
| **For now** he-established Yahweh [dir.obj]_your-reign |
| **For then** Yahweh would have established your rule |
לֽוּ
This term is a conditional conjunction, similar to אִם but used only to express hypothetical conditions. The word can also appear in the alternate forms לוּא and לֻא. This conjunction either: 1) expresses a condition that cannot (or probably will not) happen, usually translated "if" in English; or 2) conveys a strong desire for something to happen that cannot (or probably will not) be realized, usually translated "if only" in English.
- JDG 13:23
| לוּ֩ חָפֵ֨ץ יְהוָ֤ה לַהֲמִיתֵ֙נוּ֙ |
| **lu** hafets yehwah lahamithenu |
| **If** he-wanted Yahweh to-kill-us |
| **If** Yahweh intended to kill us |
- NUM 14:2
| לוּ֩־מַ֙תְנוּ֙ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרַ֔יִם |
| **lu**-mathnu be'erets mitsrayim |
| **If-only** we-had-died in-the-land-of Egypt |
| **We wish** we had died in the land of Egypt |
פֶּן
This term is also a conditional conjunction, and it expresses a certain kind of hypothetical condition. The word can be used in two different ways: either 1) in warnings to express a potential condition that will take place if the warning is not heeded, usually translated "lest" in English; or 2) to express the reason for a certain action to prevent a possible condition from taking place, usually translated as "so that...not" (or similar phrasing) in English.
- GEN 3:3
| וְלֹ֥א תִגְּע֖וּ בּ֑וֹ **פֶּן**־תְּמֻתֽוּן׃ |
| welo thigge'u bo **pen**-temuthun |
| and-not you-will-touch in-it **so-that-not**_you-will-die |
| nor may you touch it, **or** you will die. |
- GEN 31:24
| הִשָּׁ֧מֶר לְךָ֛ **פֶּן**־תְּדַבֵּ֥ר עִֽם־יַעֲקֹ֖ב מִטּ֥וֹב עַד־רָֽע |
| hishamer lekha **pen**-tedabber 'im-ya'aqov mittov 'ad-ra' |
| Be-guarded to-you **so-that-not**_you-speak with_Jacob from-good until_bad. |
| Be careful **that** you speak to Jacob **neither** good **nor** bad. |
Compound conjunctions
כִּי אִם
This compound conjunction functions most often as a strong adversative or a strong concessive. In English, it is usually translated as "but", "but if", or "except". It is recommended to always consult a dictionary or lexicon for the exact meaning of any specific occurrence of this compound conjunction.
- 2KI 23:9
| כִּ֛י אִם־אָכְל֥וּ מַצֹּ֖ות בְּתֹ֥וךְ אֲחֵיהֶֽם׃ |
| **ki 'im**-'okhlu matsowth bethowkh 'ahehem |
| **but if**_they-ate unleavened-bread in-midst-of their-brothers. |
| **but** they ate unleavened bread among their brothers. |
אַף כִּי
Sometimes the words אַף and כִּי are paired together to form a compound conjunction that functions much like an ַaffirmation particle, conveying a strong sense of affirmation or addition. This compound conjunction can appear with or without the prefix conjunction וְ ("and").
NOTE: Like other particles, the words אַף and כִּי sometimes appear together but do NOT form a compound conjunction; in such cases, each word retains its individual meaning, usually as an affirmation particle (אַף) and a conditional conjunction (כִּי). These instances must be determined from the context. If in doubt, consult a dictionary or lexicon for the exact meaning of any specific occurrence.
- GEN 3:1
| אַ֚ף כִּֽי־אָמַ֣ר אֱלֹהִ֔ים |
| **'af ki**-'amar 'elohim |
| **indeed** he-has-said God |
| Has God **really** said |
- EZK 23:40
| וְאַ֗ף כִּ֤י־אַחֲרֵ֥י מוֹתִֽי׃ |
| **we'af ki**-'ahare mothi |
| **and-more** after my-death |
| **how much more** after my death? |