אַט
𐤀𐤈
ʼaṭ
H328 adverb
SILEX Entry
Definition
Adverb: softly, gently, quietly, with subdued sound or manner. As a noun (rare): a charmer or necromancer—one who murmurs incantations in a subdued or secretive manner. The primary sense refers to manner of movement, sound, or activity that is deliberately quiet, gentle, or secretive, often with the implication of secrecy or subtlety.
Semantic Range
softly, gently, quietly, secretively, with subdued sound; charmer, necromancer (one who murmurs softly in magical practice)
Root / Etymology
Root: אַט (אט). Most likely derives from a root meaning 'to be quiet, gentle, to work in secret; to move softly.' There is no direct verbal usage attested in the Hebrew Bible, which makes the precise root meaning uncertain. Lexical relationship with similar roots in related Semitic languages suggests connotations of softness or secrecy.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The adverbial form אַט is attested in Hebrew primarily as 'softly, gently' describing speech, movement, or behavior characterized by quietness or caution (e.g., 2 Samuel 18:5; Isaiah 8:6). The nominal form, rarely attested, refers to a 'charmer,' specifically one who whispers or murmurs incantations, reflecting the association between secretive speech and magical practices. The connection to necromancy emerges from the presumed manner of magical practitioners who spoke softly or muttered charms, but this sense is secondary and context-dependent. In later Hebrew, the noun is rare and almost exclusively associated with magic or whispering. English translations often render the adverbial usage as 'gently' or 'softly,' but the nuance of secrecy or deliberate quietness is sometimes lost. The word should not be confused with other Hebrew terms for magical practitioners, such as אוֹב (ob, 'medium') or יִדְּעֹנִי (yidde‘oni, 'spiritist'), which have distinct connotations and usages.
Translation Consistency
'Softly' best captures the primary and most common sense of אַט — manner that is quiet, gentle, or subdued (movement, sound, or action). It is natural English, covers 'gently' and 'quietly' usages, and can be applied consistently to all forms; the rare noun sense ('charmer') is exceptional and should be handled separately.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from an unused root perhaps meaning to move softly; (as a noun) a necromancer (from their soft incantations), (as an adverb) gently; charmer, gently, secret, softly.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
אט (ʾ-ṭ) — softness, gentleness, quiet action, secrecy
Word Forms
5 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H328-04 |
לְ/אַט | leat | HR/D |
gently | softly | to softly | 2 |
H328-01 |
אַֽט | at | HD |
softly | softly | softly | 1 |
H328-05 |
לְ/אִטִּ֗/י | leiti | HR/Ncmsc/Sp1cs |
at my pace | my gentleness | at my gentle pace | 1 |
H328-02 |
הָ֣/אִטִּ֔ים | haitim | HTd/Ncmpa |
the-charmers | soft-murmurers | the charmers | 1 |
H328-03 |
לָ/אַ֥ט | laat | HR/D |
spoken gently | he moved softly | gently | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
6 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H328-05 |
Genesis 33:14 | לְ/אִטִּ֗/י | leiti | HR/Ncmsc/Sp1cs |
at my pace | my gentleness | at my gentle pace |
H328-04 |
2 Samuel 18:5 | לְ/אַט | leat | HR/D |
gently | softly | to softly |
H328-01 |
1 Kings 21:27 | אַֽט | at | HD |
softly | softly | softly |
H328-04 |
Isaiah 8:6 | לְ/אַ֑ט | leat | HR/D |
gently | softly | to softly |
H328-02 |
Isaiah 19:3 | הָ֣/אִטִּ֔ים | haitim | HTd/Ncmpa |
the-charmers | soft-murmurers | the charmers |
H328-03 |
Job 15:11 | לָ/אַ֥ט | laat | HR/D |
spoken gently | he moved softly | gently |