הַ/כִּנָּ֔ם
𐤄/𐤊𐤍𐤌
kên
gnats
A small parasitic insect; specifically, a louse (Pediculus humanus or a similar parasitic, biting insect), almost always occurring in the plural and designating the third plague upon Egypt described in Exodus. In broader usage, refers to a minute, pernicious pest; in postbiblical Hebrew extended to refer to gnats or other tiny biting insects. Modern Hebrew and later tradition sometimes identify the term with lice in the biological sense, but in ancient usage, may have included various biting vermin of similar type.
Exodus 8:14 · Word #11
Lexicon H3654
| Lemma | כֵּן |
| Lemma (Paleo) | 𐤊𐤍 |
| Transliteration | kên |
| Strong's | H3654 |
| Definition | A small parasitic insect; specifically, a louse (Pediculus humanus or a similar parasitic, biting insect), almost always occurring in the plural and designating the third plague upon Egypt described in Exodus. In broader usage, refers to a minute, pernicious pest; in postbiblical Hebrew extended to refer to gnats or other tiny biting insects. Modern Hebrew and later tradition sometimes identify the term with lice in the biological sense, but in ancient usage, may have included various biting vermin of similar type. |
Morphology HTd/Ncmsa
All morphology codes
| Part of Speech | N — Noun — A person, place, thing, or idea |
| Subtype | c — Common — Common noun |
| Gender | m — Masculine — Masculine |
| Number | s — Singular — Singular |
| State | a — Absolute — The noun stands independently |
Common Translation
| Phrase | gnats |
SIBI-P1 Translation H3654-01
the fastening louse
| Morphological Notes | Noun, common, masculine singular absolute with definite article (הַ). |
| Rendering Rationale | The noun derives from the root idea of fastening or attaching, referring to a tiny parasitic insect that fastens itself to a host. The definite article and masculine singular absolute form are preserved in English as “the” and a singular noun. |
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