Strong's Lexicon

H3861

H3861 — לָהֵן

Hebrew / Aramaic entry for Bible study and original-language reference.

AramaiclawhenconjuctionOccurrences: 8TWOT: 2811

Definition / Gloss

Strong's Number:H3861
Word:לָהֵן
Part of Speech:conjuction
Etymology:(Aramaic) corresponding to H3860
Language:Aramaic
Occurrences:8
Transliteration:lawhen
Phonetic Spelling/Pronunciation:law-hane'
Meaning:1. therefore 2. also except
KJV Renderings:but, except, save, therefore, wherefore.

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Brown-Driver-Briggs Enhanced

BDB2188

הֵ֫מָּה and הֵם (without appreciable distinction in usage, except probably in so far as the longer or shorter from was better adapted to the rhythm of particular sentences: on the whole הֵמָּה (alone) is somewhat more frequently than הֵם, הָהֵם on the contrary is said regularly, הָהֵמָּה occurring only 12 t., namely Num 9:7 ( P ), Jer 14:15; Zech 14:15, and in the phrase בַּ(הַ)מִָים הָהֵמָּה 2Kgs 18:4; Jer 3:16; Jer 3:18; Jer 5:18; Jer 50:4; Joel 3:2; Joel 4:1; Zech 8:23; Neh 13:15, though בַּיָּמִים הָהֵם is much more common) pronoun 3 plural masculine (הֵמָּה used incorrectly for the feminine Zech 5:10; Ruth 1:22; Song 6:8), feminine הֵ֫נָּה [Late Hebrew also הֵן, which occurs however in Biblical Hebrew only after a prefix: see below 8], pronoun [3 plural] they (Biblical Aramaic הִמּוֺ , q. v.; [untranscribed source text 1320], [untranscribed source text 1321]; Ethiopic (one form) [untranscribed source text 1322] [untranscribed source text 1323] 'em¥n-t¥ , em¹n-t¥ ; compare also for the dissyllabic form, the suffix -œm¥ [feminine -œn ]; perhaps also Assyrian suffix šunu , šina [ ni ], compare references below הוּא). In usage not different in genl. from הוּא, הִיא (which see, under the corresponding headings, for fuller explanations), thus: —

1.
a. Gen 6:4; Exod 5:7 הֵם יֵָֽלְכוּ let them (emphatic) go and gather straw, Num 31:16; Isa 24:14; Hos 4:14; Hos 7:3 etc.; after כִּי Jer 5:5; Jer 34:7. (For the use in circumstantial clauses see Dr§ 160, 169.)
b. Judg 1:22 ויעלו ֗֗֗ גַם הֵם, Deut 2:11 (אַף הֵם), Deut 3:20; Josh 9:4; Ezek 30:17.
c. Exod 18:22 every small matter יִשְׁפְּטוּהֵֿם let them judge themselves, Exod 18:26; Jer 15:19; Jer 17:18; Ps 109:28 ; Esth 9:1.
d. Gen 33:6; Gen 44:3; Judg 6:5 etc.
e. compare Neh 10:38.
2.
a. (Resuming the subject with emphasis) Gen 14:24 (note accents), Deut 1:39; Ps 23:4; Ps 27:2 (accents), Ps 37:9; Ps 107:24; Ezek 36:7; Ezek 44:15 .
b. Isa 30:7; Ezek 27:13 ; Ezek 27:17 ; Ezek 27:21 compare Isa 44:11 .
c. Num 14:27 a Jer 27:9; Ezek 43:19 אֲשֶׁר הֵם מִזֶּרַע צָדוֺק, Eccl 4:2; Neh 2:13.
הֵמָּה כִּדְוֵי לַחֻמִי Job 6:7 read perhaps ׳ וַהֲמָה וגו (or זָָֽהֲמָה) it is loathesome (√ זהס ).
3.
a. Gen 3:7; Exod 5:8 כִּי נִרְפִּים הֵם for they are idle, Exod 14:3; Exod 15:23; Exod 29:33 etc. (the opposite order rare: Num 11:16; Isa 61:9, compare DePs 94:11).
b. Gen 34:21; Gen 34:23; Gen 41:26; Gen 48:5 שׁני בניך ֗֗֗ לִי הֵם thy two sons . . ., they are mine, Exod 32:16 + often: Isa 41:22 הָרִאשֹׁנוֺת מָה הֵנָּה, Isa 49:21 אֵלֶּה אֵיפֹה הֵם these — where were they? Zeph 2:12 after אַתֶּם, peculiarly (compare Dr§ 198 Obs. 2).
c. Deut 20:15 אֲשֶׁר לֹאמֵֿעָרֵי הַגֹּויִם הָאֵלֶּה הֵנָּה, Judg 19:12; 1Kgs 9:20.
d. 2Kgs 7:10 כַּאֲשֶׁר הֵמָּה. (Prov 19:7 Kt לֹאהֵֿמָּה is probably corrupt: see Commentaries)
4.
a. Prov 30:24 אַרְבָּעָה הֵם קְטַנֵּיאָֿ֑רֶץ four things are they, the little ones of the earth, Prov 30:29 (compare before a rel. clause Prov 30:15 Prov 30:18 ; Prov 6:16 ) Song 6:8; Isa 51:19 שְׁתַּיִם הֵנָּה קֹרְאֹתַיִךְ, 1Chr 9:26 (see הוא 4.a.).
b. (β) Gen 21:29 מָה הֵנָּה שֶׁבַע ֗֗֗ literally What are they — these seven sheep? Zech 1:9; Zech 4:5. (γ) אֵלֶּה ֗֗֗ הֵם Gen 25:16 (= 1Chr 1:36) Lev 23:2; Num 3:20; Num 3:21; Num 3:27; Num 3:33; 1Sam 4:8; 1Chr 8:6 ; 1Chr 12:15 (see Dr § 201, 3).
6.
a. In a neuter sense (rare), Job 6:7 הֵמָּה כִּדְוֵי לַחמִי they (i.e. such sufferings as mine) are as loathsomeness in my meat, Jer 7:4 ׳ הֵיכַל י הֵמָּה they (i.e. these buildings) are the temple of ׳ י; and in the feminine, Lev 5:22 of all that a man doeth to sin בָּהֵנָּה therein, 1Chr 21:10 מֵהֵנָּה (|| 2Sam 24:12 מֵהֶם); 2Sam 12:8; Job 23:14 כָּהֵנָּה things such as these.
7. With article הָהֵם, Gen 6:4; Exod 2:11; Num 14:38 + often; הָהֵמָּה 12 t. (see above); הָהֵנָּה 1Sam 17:28.

[Note]

N.B.Ezek 8:6 Kt מָהֵם stands for מָה הֵם (so Qr ), compare מַזֶּה for מַהזֶּֿה Exod 4:2; 2Kgs 9:18 עַדהֵֿם is irregular for עֲדֵיהֶם; 2Sam 4:6 ׳ וְהֵנָּה וג is textual error for ׳ וְהִנֵּה שֹׁעֶרֶת הַבַּיִת סֹקְלָה חִטִּים וג see We Dr ( ᵐ5 & RVm ).
8. With prepositions. (in lieu of the normal, and more usual, forms with suffixes בָּהֶם , לָהֶם, מֵהֶם etc. [כָּהֶם & כָּהֶן, however, each once only, כְּמוֺהֶם thrice: see כְּ ]) —
a. בָּהֵמָּה Exod 30:4; Exod 36:1 (both P ), Hab 1:16 כָּהֵמָּה Jer 36:32 לְהֵמָּה Jer 14:16 מֵהֵמָּה Jer 10:2; Eccl 12:12 .
b. כָּהֵם 2Sam 24:3 Yahweh add to the people כָּהֵם וְכָהֵם מֵאָה פְעָמִים the like of themselves and the like of themselves 100 times, = 1Chr 21:3 (but כָּהֵם here only once, compare Deut 1:11 בָּכֶם), 2Chr 9:11; Eccl 9:12.
c. בָּהֵנָּה Lev 5:22 ( P ) Num 13:19 ( J E ) Jer 5:17 : כָּהֵנָּה Gen 41:19 ; 2Sam 12:8 וְאֹסִפָה לְךָ כָּהֵנָּה וְכָהֵנָּה, Job 23:14: לָהֵנָּה Ezek 1:5; Ezek 1:23 (twice in verse); Ezek 42:9 ; Zech 5:9 : מֵהֵנָּה Lev 4:2 ( P ) Isa 34:16 ; Jer 5:6 ; Ezek 16:51 ; Ezek 42:5 ; Ps 34:21 ; 1Chr 21:10 (|| 2Sam 24:12 מֵהֶם).
d. בָּהֵן Gen 19:29 ( P ) Gen 30:26 ; Gen 30:37 ; Exod 25:29 ; Exod 37:16 (both P ) Lev 10:1 ; Lev 11:21 ; Lev 14:40 ; Num 10:3; Num 16:7 (all P ) Deut 28:52 ; Jer 4:29 ; Jer 48:9; Jer 51:43 (twice in verse) (בָּהֶן thrice only); כָּהֵן Ezek 18:14 (editions; Baer כָּהֶן); לָהֵן ( = therefore) Ruth 1:13 (twice in verse) (also Biblical Aramaic); מֵהֵן Ezek 16:47 ; Ezek 16:52 (editions; Baer מֵהֶן). With the exception of כָּחֵנָּה, these forms are found mostly in P and writers not earlier than Jeremiah; b and d, however, depend solely on the punctuation.)


BDB4342

לָהֵן conjunction on this account, therefore, Ruth 1:13 (twice in verse) (either from לְ and הֵן (see below הֵ֫מָּה); or the Aramaic לָהֵן Dan 2:6; Dan 2:9; Dan 4:24: see the Aramaic Lexicon)


BDB9477

הֵן conjunction if, whether (Biblical Hebrew הֵן , q. v.: Zenjirli, Egyptian Aramaic (S-CPap. A 7 +), Palmyrene, Nabataean הן, Mandean הין if [ ᵑ7 Onk Jon use אם, ᵑ7 Jer אין, Syriac [untranscribed source text 5998]]); —

1. if, Dan 2:6; Dan 3:15; Dan 3:17; Dan 4:24; Dan 5:16; Dan 5:17, הֵן לָא ֗֗֗ Dan 2:5; Dan 2:9; Dan 3:15 Dan 3:18 הֵן לָ֔א if not.
2. repeated, הֵן ֗֗֗ הֵן sive … sive, whether … or (compare Biblical Hebrew אִם, 1 b 1), Ezra 7:26 (so Palmyrene Tariff ii.c.19 ).
3. in indirect question, whether (compare אִם, 2.b.), Ezra 5:17b יִתְבַּקַּר ֗֗֗ הֵן אִיתַי ֗֗֗ . — See also לָהֵן. p. 50, 243, 1099


הַסִּק etc., see סלק Haph`el


BDB9639

I. לָהֵן conjunction therefore (Biblical Hebrew לָהֵן Ruth 1:13 (twice in verse), Aramaic of Têma להן CISii. 113 = Cooke195), Dan 2:6; Dan 2:9; Dan 4:24 (LambertRÉJ. 1904. 273 denies I. לָהֵן, taking Biblical Aramaic always as = רַק).


BDB9640

II. לָהֵן conjunction except, but (from לָא and הֵן 'not if' (compare Hebrew אם לא Gen 24:38); so Nabataean and Egyptian Aramaic להן Cooke217, 219, 241 S-CPap. C 6, 7 +; lâinnî, however SocArab. Dial. see Marokko 44, Anm. 103; ᵑ7 אִילָּהֵין Gen 32:28; Gen 43:3 and elsewhere); —

1. after a negative (= Biblical Hebrew כִּי אִם, q. v.):
a. except Dan 2:11; Dan 3:28; Dan 6:6; Dan 6:8.
b. but (German sondern) Dan 2:30.
2. without a negative: however, but Ezra 5:12.


Other Resources

Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament
R. Laird Harris, Gleason L. Archer, and Bruce K. Waltke

Englishman's Hebrew Concordance

להן (lah-h)

Daniel 2:6

KJV: But if ye shew the dream, and the interpretation thereof, ye shall receive of me gifts and rewards and great honour: therefore shew me the dream, and the interpretation thereof.rewards: or, fee
EHCC: therefore shew me the dream,

Daniel 3:28

KJV: Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed–nego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God.
EHCC: except their own God.

Daniel 4:27

KJV: Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity.a lengthening…: or, an healing of thine error
EHCC: (24). Wherefore, O king, let my conn
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