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הֵן

𐤄𐤍

hên

H2005 particle

SILEX Entry

Definition

An interjection and particle used to draw emphatic attention to a statement or situation, often translated as 'behold,' 'look,' or 'here is.' It introduces something noteworthy or calling for special attention. In some constructions, it functions as a conditional or asseverative particle ('if,' 'indeed,' 'surely'), but its primary sense is deictic and demonstrative, drawing the audience's focus to what follows.

Semantic Range

behold, look, see, here is, if (conditional), though, surely, indeed, introducing noteworthy information, asseverative particle

Root / Etymology

Root uncertain. הֵן is a particle; its origin is debated, possibly related to other Semitic demonstrative and interjective forms (cf. Aramaic הן, Ugaritic hn), but no clear verbal or nominal root is attested in Hebrew. Distinct from the root חנה or other similarly spelled words.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, הֵן typically introduces statements of importance or divine declarations, and is employed throughout all periods of biblical literature. In narrative, prophetic, and poetic texts, it often serves as an attention-getting device—comparable to, but more versatile than, the English 'behold.' Later biblical Hebrew uses הֵן also as a conditional particle equivalent to 'if' or 'though,' especially in formal, legal, or wisdom literature. It contrasts with the particle הִנֵּה (hinneh), which has a stronger deictic or narrative emphasis, and with אִם (’im), the primary conditional particle. Some English translations conflate הֵן with הִנֵּה ('behold'), but distinctions remain in Hebrew usage: הֵן may be more abstract or logical, while הִנֵּה is more immediate and visual. In rabbinic and post-biblical Hebrew, the usage of הֵן narrows, with preference for other particles. In modern English Bibles, its various renderings often fail to reflect its nuanced functions, particularly in conditional or asseverative statements.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive particle; lo!; also (as expressing surprise) if; behold, if, lo, though.

Bantu Hebrew

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

Root Family

uncertain (Baleadan) — uncertain

Root uncertain to point out, to indicate, to draw attention
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1002 בִּירָה the citadel
H105 אֲגַרְטָל bowls of
H1081 בַּלְאֲדָן Baladan
H1085 בִּלְדַּד Bildad
H1095 בֵּלְטְשַׁאצַּר Belteshatsar

Word Forms

15 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H2005-07 הִנְ/נִ֨י hineni HTm/Sp1cs behold I look—here I am look here I am 167
H2005-01 הֵ֣ן hen HTm Behold Look! look 97
H2005-03 הִנָּ֤/ם hinam HTm/Sp3mp behold they look at them look they 15
H2005-08 הִנְ/נ֛וּ hinenu HTj/Sp1cp Behold we Here we are look here we are 7
H2005-12 וְ/הִנָּ֧/ם vehinam HC/Tm/Sp3mp and behold they and look— them and look them 7
H2005-05 הִנְּ/ךָ֤ hinekha HTm/Sp2ms behold you look—you look you 6
H2005-02 הִנָּ֤/ךְ hinakhe HTm/Sp2fs Behold, you Look—you look you 4
H2005-13 וְ/הִנְּ/ךָ֥ vehinekha HC/Tj/Sp2ms and behold you and look—you and look you 4
H2005-15 וְ/הִנְ/נִ֣י vehineni HC/Tj/Sp1cs and behold I and behold me and look I 3
H2005-09 הִנּ֤/וֹ hino HTj/Sp3ms behold he behold him look him 2

Occurrences in Scripture

318 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H2005-01 Genesis 3:22 הֵ֤ן hen HTm Behold Look! look
H2005-01 Genesis 4:14 הֵן֩ hen HTm Behold Look! look
H2005-15 Genesis 6:13 וְ/הִנְ/נִ֥י vehineni HC/Tj/Sp1cs and behold I and behold me and look I
H2005-07 Genesis 9:9 הִנְנִ֥/י hineni HTj/Sp1cs behold, I look—here I am look here I am
H2005-01 Genesis 11:6 הֵ֣ן hen HTm Behold Look! look
H2005-01 Genesis 15:3 הֵ֣ן hen HTm Behold Look! look
H2005-01 Genesis 19:34 הֵן hen HTm Behold Look! look
H2005-01 Genesis 27:11 הֵ֣ן hen HTm Behold Look! look
H2005-01 Genesis 27:37 הֵ֣ן hen HTm behold Look! look
H2005-01 Genesis 29:7 הֵ֥ן hen HTm Behold Look! look
H2005-01 Genesis 30:34 הֵ֑ן hen HTm Behold Look! look
H2005-01 Genesis 39:8 הֵ֣ן hen HTm behold Look! look
H2005-12 Genesis 40:6 וְ/הִנָּ֖/ם vehinam HC/Tm/Sp3mp and behold they and look— them and look they
H2005-07 Genesis 41:17 הִנְ/נִ֥י hineni HTm/Sp1cs behold I look—here I am look here I am
H2005-01 Genesis 44:8 הֵ֣ן hen HTm Behold Look! look
H2005-08 Genesis 44:16 הִנֶּ/נּ֤וּ hinenu HTm/Sp1cp behold we Here we are look here we are
H2005-12 Genesis 47:1 וְ/הִנָּ֖/ם vehinam HC/Tm/Sp3mp and behold they and look— them and look them
H2005-01 Genesis 47:23 הֵן֩ hen HTm Behold Look! look
H2005-07 Genesis 48:4 הִנְ/נִ֤י hineni HTm/Sp1cs Behold, I look—here I am look here I am
H2005-11 Exodus 4:1 וְ/הֵן֙ vehen HC/Tj but behold and behold and look
H2005-01 Exodus 5:5 הֵן hen HTm Behold Look! look
H2005-01 Exodus 6:12 הֵ֤ן hen HTm Behold Look! look
H2005-01 Exodus 6:30 הֵ֤ן hen HTm Behold Look! look
H2005-07 Exodus 8:17 הִנְ/נִי֩ hineni HTm/Sp1cs behold I am look—here I am look here I am
H2005-01 Exodus 8:22 הֵ֣ן hen HTm If Look! look
H2005-07 Exodus 9:18 הִנְ/נִ֤י hineni HTm/Sp1cs Behold, I am about look—here I am look here I am
H2005-07 Exodus 10:4 הִנְ/נִ֨י hineni HTm/Sp1cs behold I look—here I am look here I am
H2005-07 Exodus 14:17 הִנְ/נִ֤י hineni HTm/Sp1cs behold I look—here I am look here I am
H2005-07 Exodus 16:4 הִנְ/נִ֨י hineni HTm/Sp1cs behold I look—here I am look here I am
H2005-07 Exodus 17:6 הִנְ/נִ֣י hineni HTm/Sp1cs Behold, I look—here I am look I
H2005-07 Exodus 34:11 הִנְ/נִ֧י hineni HTm/Sp1cs behold I look—here I am look I
H2005-01 Leviticus 10:18 הֵ֚ן hen HTm Behold Look! look
H2005-01 Leviticus 10:19 הֵ֣ן hen HTm Behold Look! look
H2005-01 Leviticus 25:20 הֵ֚ן hen HTm Behold Look! look
H2005-08 Numbers 14:40 הִנֶּ֗/נּוּ hinenu HTm/Sp1cp Here we are Here we are look here we are
H2005-01 Numbers 17:27 הֵ֥ן hen HTm Behold Look! look
H2005-01 Numbers 23:9 הֶן hen HTj Behold Look! look
H2005-01 Numbers 23:24 הֶן hen HTj Behold Look! look
H2005-07 Numbers 24:14 הִנְנִ֥/י hineni HTj/Sp1cs behold I look—here I am look here I am
H2005-07 Numbers 25:12 הִנְנִ֨/י hineni HTj/Sp1cs Behold I look—here I am look I
H2005-01 Numbers 31:16 הֵ֣ן hen HTm Behold Look! look
H2005-01 Deuteronomy 5:24 הֵ֣ן hen HTm behold Look! look
H2005-01 Deuteronomy 10:14 הֵ֚ן hen HTm Behold Look! look
H2005-01 Deuteronomy 31:14 הֵ֣ן hen HTm behold Look! look
H2005-01 Deuteronomy 31:27 הֵ֣ן hen HTm behold Look! look
H2005-08 Joshua 9:25 הִנְ/נ֣וּ hinenu HTj/Sp1cp behold-we Here we are look here we are
H2005-07 1 Samuel 3:4 הִנֵּֽ/נִי hineni HTm/Sp1cs Here I am look—here I am look here I am
H2005-07 1 Samuel 3:5 הִנְ/נִי֙ hineni HTm/Sp1cs Here I am look—here I am look here I am
H2005-07 1 Samuel 3:6 הִנְ/נִ֔י hineni HTm/Sp1cs here I am look—here I am look here I am
H2005-07 1 Samuel 3:8 הִנְ/נִ֔י hineni HTm/Sp1cs here I am look—here I am look here I am
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