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אָז

𐤀𐤆

ʼâz

H227 adverb

SILEX Entry

Definition

A demonstrative adverb primarily indicating a specific point in time, usually past, meaning 'then' or 'at that time.' אָז functions to situate actions or events temporally in relation to a previously mentioned or implied context. In some constructions, it serves a logical or inferential function ('thus', 'thereupon'). Rarely, it may introduce a consequence or development, especially in poetic texts or parallelism.

Semantic Range

then, at that time, thereupon, thus, consequently, thereafter, once, at which time

Root / Etymology

Root uncertain. The word אָז is likely archaic and not transparently derived from any common Hebrew root. Some suggest a connection to a primitive Semitic adverbial demonstrative or temporal particle, but the etymology remains uncertain.

Historical & Contextual Notes

אָז occurs primarily in narrative and poetic contexts, marking a sequence of events—often transitions of importance, climactic moments, or shifts in narrative focus (e.g., Exodus 15:1, 'Then Moses and the Israelites sang...'). Its function is distinct from temporal prepositions like בְּ (in, at) or כְּ (as, like), as it points specifically to a moment in the narrative fabric. In post-exilic and later Hebrew, אָז retains its temporal nuance but sometimes further develops inferential or conjunctional uses (paralleling Aramaic and later usage). English translations often render אָז as 'then,' though this can miss subtle connections to rhetorical emphasis or signal of causal resolution in poetic structures. Unlike later Hebrew or English adverbial usage, אָז does not refer to the present or future unless situated within a narrative that already frames those as past events. While the English term 'now' may sometimes appear in translations, it is contextually tied to the sequence of prior events, not to immediate present experience. There is no ethnic or geographic connotation associated with the word. The basic sense is consistent over time, but context determines whether emphasis falls on temporal sequence, climax, or consequence.

Translation Consistency

primary "then" 50 occurrences

אָז is primarily a temporal demonstrative adverb meaning 'then'/'at that time.' 'Then' is by far the most frequent and natural English rendering, fits the usual temporal and inferential senses (thereupon, consequently) without sounding formal or awkward, and ensures consistent, idiomatic translation across all occurrences.

✓ All renderings match approved senses

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a demonstrative adverb; at that time or place; also as a conjunction, therefore; beginning, for, from, hitherto, now, of old, once, since, then, at which time, yet.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.

Root Family

uncertain (Baleadan) — uncertain

Root uncertain to signal a specific time, to situate an event in sequence
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1002 בִּירָה the citadel
H105 אֲגַרְטָל bowls of
H1081 בַּלְאֲדָן Baladan
H1085 בִּלְדַּד Bildad
H1095 בֵּלְטְשַׁאצַּר Belteshatsar

Word Forms

4 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H227-01 אָ֣ז az HD then at that time then 119
H227-02 מֵ/אָ֔ז meaz HR/D from then from then from then 17
H227-04 וְ/אָז֙ veaz HC/D and then and then and then 4
H227-03 וּ/מֵ/אָ֞ז umeaz HC/R/D For since and from that time and from then 1

Occurrences in Scripture

141 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H227-01 Genesis 4:26 אָ֣ז az HD then at that time then
H227-01 Genesis 12:6 אָ֥ז az HD then at that time then
H227-01 Genesis 13:7 אָ֖ז az HD then at that time then
H227-01 Genesis 24:41 אָ֤ז az HD then at that time then
H227-02 Genesis 39:5 מֵ/אָז֩ meaz HR/D from then from then from then
H227-01 Genesis 49:4 אָ֥ז az HD then at that time then
H227-02 Exodus 4:10 מֵ/אָ֥ז meaz HR/D since from then from then
H227-01 Exodus 4:26 אָ֚ז az HD then at that time then
H227-03 Exodus 5:23 וּ/מֵ/אָ֞ז umeaz HC/R/D For since and from that time and from then
H227-02 Exodus 9:24 מֵ/אָ֖ז meaz HR/D since from then from then
H227-01 Exodus 12:44 אָ֖ז az HD then at that time then
H227-04 Exodus 12:48 וְ/אָז֙ veaz HC/D and then and then and then
H227-01 Exodus 15:1 אָ֣ז az HD then at that time then
H227-01 Exodus 15:15 אָ֤ז az HD Then at that time then
H227-01 Leviticus 26:34 אָז֩ az HD then at that time then
H227-01 Leviticus 26:34 אָ֚ז az-2 HD then at that time then
H227-01 Leviticus 26:41 אָ֣ז az HD then at that time then
H227-04 Leviticus 26:41 וְ/אָ֖ז veaz HC/D and then and then and then
H227-01 Numbers 21:17 אָ֚ז az HD Then at that time then
H227-01 Deuteronomy 4:41 אָ֣ז az HD then at that time then
H227-01 Deuteronomy 29:19 אָ֠ז az HD then at that time then
H227-01 Joshua 1:8 אָ֛ז az HD then at that time then
H227-04 Joshua 1:8 וְ/אָ֥ז veaz HC/D and then and then and then
H227-01 Joshua 8:30 אָ֣ז az HD Then at that time then
H227-01 Joshua 10:12 אָ֣ז az HD then at that time then
H227-01 Joshua 10:33 אָ֣ז az HD then at that time then
H227-02 Joshua 14:10 מֵ֠/אָז meaz HR/D from-then from then from then
H227-01 Joshua 14:11 אָ֖ז az HD then at that time then
H227-01 Joshua 20:6 אָ֣ז az HD then at that time then
H227-01 Joshua 22:1 אָ֚ז az HD Then at that time then
H227-01 Joshua 22:31 אָ֗ז az HD now at that time then
H227-01 Judges 5:8 אָ֖ז az HD then at that time then
H227-01 Judges 5:11 אָ֛ז az HD then at that time then
H227-01 Judges 5:13 אָ֚ז az HD then at that time then
H227-01 Judges 5:19 אָ֤ז az HD then at that time then
H227-01 Judges 5:22 אָ֥ז az HD then at that time then
H227-01 Judges 8:3 אָ֗ז az HD then at that time then
H227-01 Judges 13:21 אָ֚ז az HD then at that time then
H227-01 1 Samuel 6:3 אָ֤ז az HD then at that time then
H227-01 1 Samuel 20:12 אָז֙ az HD then at that time then
H227-01 2 Samuel 2:27 אָ֤ז az HD then at that time then
H227-01 2 Samuel 5:24 אָ֣ז az HD then at that time then
H227-01 2 Samuel 5:24 אָ֗ז az-2 HD then at that time then
H227-02 2 Samuel 15:34 מֵ/אָ֔ז meaz HR/D from then from then from then
H227-01 2 Samuel 19:7 אָ֖ז az HD then at that time then
H227-01 2 Samuel 21:17 אָ֣ז az HD then at that time then
H227-01 2 Samuel 21:18 אָ֣ז az HD then at that time then
H227-01 2 Samuel 23:14 אָ֣ז az HD was then at that time then
H227-01 2 Samuel 23:14 אָ֖ז az-2 HD was then at that time then
H227-01 1 Kings 3:16 אָ֣ז az HD then at that time then
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