אַךְ
𐤀𐤊
akhe
only
akin to אָכֵן; a particle of affirmation, surely; hence (by limitation) only; also, in any wise, at least, but, certainly, even, howbeit, nevertheless, notwithstanding, only, save, surely, of a surety, truly, verily, [phrase] wherefore, yet (but).
H389
Genesis 7:23 · Word #21
Lexicon H389
| Lemma | אַךְ |
| Lemma (Paleo) | 𐤀𐤊 |
| Transliteration | ʼak |
| Strong's | H389 |
| In-context | only |
Morphology HTa
All morphology codes
| Part of Speech | T — Particle — Function word |
| Subtype | a — Affirmation — Affirmation particle |
SIBI-P1 H389-01
surely, only
| Root | אכן (ʾ-k-n) |
| Core Meanings | firmness, certainty, affirmation, limitation |
| Semantic Range | surely, indeed, truly, certainly; only, merely, exclusively; nevertheless, yet, however (in adversative contexts) |
| Conceptual Significance | This particle often sharpens theological statements by marking them as firm or exclusive—highlighting the certainty of YHWH’s actions or restricting claims to emphasize divine uniqueness or covenantal boundaries. |
| Morphological Notes | Indeclinable Hebrew particle (HTa); no gender, number, or person. Functions adverbially or conjunctionally to affirm, limit, or contrast. |
| Rendering Rationale | אַךְ is a particle expressing firm affirmation or restrictive limitation. Rendering it as "surely, only" preserves both its sense of certainty (from the root idea of firmness/indeedness) and its frequent restrictive force, while reflecting its function as an uninflected particle (HTa). |
AI-generated (openai/gpt-5.2-chat-latest)
Word Usage (161 occurrences of H389)
| Location | Form | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Genesis 7:23 | אַךְ | akhe | only |
| Genesis 9:4 | אַךְ | akhe | Only |
| Genesis 9:5 | וְ/אַ֨ךְ | veakhe | and surely |