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אִם

𐤀𐤌

ʼim

H518 conjunction

SILEX Entry

Definition

A particle used to introduce a conditional clause ('if'), an interrogative clause ('whether', 'if?'), or an exclamatory wish ('Oh that!'). In certain syntactic constructions may function to introduce indirect questions or hypothetical scenarios, and in rare cases can have concessive force ('although').

Semantic Range

if (conditional), whether (interrogative), although (concessive), Oh that! (exclamatory wish), except/unless (exclusive condition), indirect question, hypothetical scenario

Root / Etymology

Root and etymology uncertain. Possibly related to other Northwest Semitic particles serving analogous conditional and interrogative functions, but direct cognates are lacking. The word is widely attested as an independent functional particle throughout Classical Hebrew.

Historical & Contextual Notes

Throughout the Hebrew Bible, אִם is used primarily to mark conditional sentences, i.e., to introduce the protasis ('if' clause) of a conditional statement. For example, in legal, ritual, or wisdom literature, it sets hypothetical situations (Exodus 21:28; Proverbs 24:10). אִם also frequently introduces indirect questions or alternatives ('whether'), as in Genesis 24:21. In poetic contexts, particularly in wishes or prayers, it expresses strong desire ('Oh that!'), e.g., Psalm 81:14. On rare occasions it functions concessively ('although'), though this use is less common. It does not independently serve as a negation, but in combination with negative particles or in certain idiomatic pairings (e.g., אִם־לֹא), it reinforces denial or assertion (see Genesis 21:23). Modern English translations often flatten the semantic nuance, rendering אִם simply as 'if' or 'whether'; ancient versions (LXX, Vulgate) similarly focus on its conditional/interrogative use. Its range distinguishes it from כִּי (ki), which also marks conditions but has a more diverse causal and explanatory function.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive particle; used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also Oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not; (and, can-, doubtless, if, that) (not), [phrase] but, either, [phrase] except, [phrase] more(-over if, than), neither, nevertheless, nor, oh that, or, [phrase] save (only, -ing), seeing, since, sith, [phrase] surely (no more, none, not), though, [phrase] of a truth, [phrase] unless, [phrase] verily, when, whereas, whether, while, [phrase] yet.

Bantu Hebrew

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

Root Family

uncertain (Baleadan) — uncertain

Root uncertain to introduce a condition, to question, to express desire or alternative
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
H518-02 אִם im HC if if / whether if 787
H518-04 וְ/אִֽם veim HC/C and if and if and if 279
H518-01 הַ/אִ֬ם haim HTi/C Is it that? whether? will 2
H518-03 אם m HC if if if 2

Occurrences in Scripture

1070 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H518-02 Genesis 4:7 אִם im HC if if / whether if
H518-04 Genesis 4:7 וְ/אִם֙ veim HC/C and if and if and if
H518-02 Genesis 13:9 אִם im HC if if / whether if
H518-04 Genesis 13:9 וְ/אִם veim HC/C or if and if and if
H518-02 Genesis 13:16 אִם im HC if if / whether if / whether
H518-02 Genesis 14:23 אִם im HC if if / whether if
H518-04 Genesis 14:23 וְ/אִם veim HC/C or if and if and if
H518-02 Genesis 15:4 אִם֙ im HC but if / whether but
H518-02 Genesis 15:5 אִם im HC if if / whether if
H518-04 Genesis 17:17 וְ/אִ֨ם veim HC/C and and if and if
H518-02 Genesis 18:3 אִם im HC if if / whether if
H518-04 Genesis 18:21 וְ/אִם veim HC/C and if and if and if
H518-02 Genesis 18:26 אִם im HC if if / whether if
H518-02 Genesis 18:28 אִם im HC if if / whether if
H518-02 Genesis 18:30 אִם im HC if if / whether if
H518-04 Genesis 20:7 וְ/אִם veim HC/C but if and if and if
H518-02 Genesis 21:23 אִם im HC that if / whether if
H518-02 Genesis 23:8 אִם im HC if if / whether if
H518-02 Genesis 23:13 אִם im HC if if / whether if
H518-04 Genesis 24:8 וְ/אִם veim HC/C and if and if and if
H518-02 Genesis 24:19 אִם im HC if if / whether if
H518-02 Genesis 24:21 אִם im HC or if / whether if
H518-02 Genesis 24:33 אִם im HC if if / whether if
H518-02 Genesis 24:38 אִם im HC but if / whether if
H518-04 Genesis 24:41 וְ/אִם veim HC/C and if and if and if
H518-02 Genesis 24:42 אִם im HC if if / whether if
H518-02 Genesis 24:49 אִם im HC if if / whether if
H518-04 Genesis 24:49 וְ/אִם veim HC/C and if and if and if
H518-02 Genesis 25:22 אִם im HC if if / whether if
H518-02 Genesis 26:29 אִם im HC if if / whether if
H518-02 Genesis 27:21 אִם im HC whether if / whether whether
H518-02 Genesis 27:46 אִם im HC if if / whether if
H518-02 Genesis 28:15 אִם im HC if / whether if
H518-02 Genesis 28:17 אִם im HC but if / whether if
H518-02 Genesis 28:20 אִם im HC if if / whether if
H518-04 Genesis 30:1 וְ/אִם veim HC/C and if and if and if
H518-02 Genesis 30:27 אִם im HC if if / whether if
H518-02 Genesis 30:31 אִם im HC if if / whether if
H518-02 Genesis 31:8 אִם im HC if if / whether if
H518-04 Genesis 31:8 וְ/אִם veim HC/C and if and if and if
H518-02 Genesis 31:50 אִם im HC If if / whether if
H518-04 Genesis 31:50 וְ/אִם veim HC/C or if and if and if
H518-02 Genesis 31:52 אִם im HC that if / whether if
H518-04 Genesis 31:52 וְ/אִם veim HC/C and that and if and if
H518-02 Genesis 32:9 אִם im HC please if / whether if
H518-02 Genesis 32:27 אִם im HC unless if / whether if
H518-02 Genesis 32:29 אִם im HC but if / whether but
H518-02 Genesis 33:10 אִם im HC if if / whether if
H518-02 Genesis 34:15 אִ֚ם im HC if if / whether if
H518-04 Genesis 34:17 וְ/אִם veim HC/C but if and if but if
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