← H2008 H2010 →

הִנֵּה

𐤄𐤍𐤄

hinnêh

H2009 particle

SILEX Entry

Root הן to point out, to present, to draw attention

Definition

An interjection introducing something to be attentively regarded or emphasizing immediacy and significance; often translated as 'behold,' 'look,' 'see,' but also used to alert the listener to something important, imminent, or surprising. In narrative and direct speech, it highlights noteworthy events, persons, states, or actions.

Semantic Range

lo!, behold!, see!, look!, now, take notice, here is, here are, this is, emphasizing immediacy or importance, presentational marker

Root / Etymology

From the root הן, which expresses the act of pointing out or calling attention to something ('to see' or 'to look'). הִנֵּה (hinnêh) is an extended and emphasized form of הֵן (hēn), itself functioning as a deictic particle of presentation or emphasis.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In biblical Hebrew, הִנֵּה is employed frequently in both prose and poetry to mark the beginning of new narrative developments, direct divine speech, prophetic announcements, or shifts in discourse. It draws the audience's attention to what follows and may signal surprise, change, or the fulfillment of a previous word. The force of the term is often reduced in English translations, and equivalents such as 'behold' or 'lo' may sound archaic or fail to capture the immediacy and vigor of the original. In later Hebrew, use of the particle becomes less common. הִנֵּה is distinct fromהֵן, which may have a slightly weaker presentational force and can sometimes function adverbially. Related terms include נָא (na), which softens or renders requests polite. In translation tradition, especially in older English bibles, 'behold' is standard, but this does not always reflect its plain force in biblical texts, particularly in narrative or speech.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

prolongation for הֵן; lo!; behold, lo, see.

Bantu Hebrew

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

+ Add Bantu Hebrew Word

Root Family

הן (h-n) — to point out, to present, to draw attention

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H2005 הֵן Look—you
H2006 הֵן Look!
H2007 הֵנָּה in these
H2008 הֵנָּה to here
H3860 לָהֵן therefore

Word Forms

12 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H2009-03 הִנֵּה֩ hineh HTm Behold Look! 448
H2009-09 וְ/הִנֵּה vehineh HC/Tm and behold and look! 359
H2009-05 הִנְ/נִי֩ hineni HTm/Sp1cs Here I am Here I am 11
H2009-02 הִנָּ֣/ם hinam HTm/Sp3mp behold they Look— them! 8
H2009-08 וְ/הִנָּ֨/ם vehinam HC/Tm/Sp3mp and behold they and look at them! 7
H2009-01 הִנָּ֥/ךְ hinakhe HTm/Sp2fs behold you Look—you! 3
H2009-04 הִנְּ/ךָ֥ hinekha HTm/Sp2ms Behold, you Look—here you are 2
H2009-07 וְ/הְנֵּ֛ה veheneh HC/Tm and behold and look! 1
H2009-10 וְ/הִנְּ/כֶ֣ם vehinekhem HC/Tm/Sp2mp and behold you and look—you all 1
H2009-11 וְ/הִנּ֤/וֹ vehino HC/Tm/Sp3ms and behold him and look—him 1

Occurrences in Scripture

843 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H2009-03 Genesis 1:29 הִנֵּה֩ hineh HTm Behold Look!
H2009-09 Genesis 1:31 וְ/הִנֵּה vehineh HC/Tm and behold/and wow and look!
H2009-09 Genesis 6:12 וְ/הִנֵּ֣ה vehineh HC/Tm and behold and look!
H2009-05 Genesis 6:17 הִנְ/נִי֩ hineni HTm/Sp1cs behold Here I am
H2009-09 Genesis 8:11 וְ/הִנֵּ֥ה vehineh HC/Tm and behold and look!
H2009-09 Genesis 8:13 וְ/הִנֵּ֥ה vehineh HC/Tm and behold and look!
H2009-03 Genesis 12:11 הִנֵּה hineh HTm Behold Look!
H2009-03 Genesis 12:19 הִנֵּ֥ה hineh HTm here is Look!
H2009-09 Genesis 15:3 וְ/הִנֵּ֥ה vehineh HC/Tm and behold and look!
H2009-09 Genesis 15:4 וְ/הִנֵּ֨ה vehineh HC/Tm And behold and look!
← H2008 Hebrew Lexicon H2010 →