← H3540 H3542 →

כֹּה

𐤊𐤄

kôh

H3541 adverb

SILEX Entry

Definition

Demonstrative adverb meaning 'thus,' 'in this manner,' 'so,' indicating the manner, degree, or mode by which something is done, occurs, or is described. Used to introduce or emphasize direct speech, report actions, or highlight a specific way or extent of something. May express present reference ('thus, as follows'), local reference ('here, to this place'), or—as a fixed idiom—temporal reference ('until now,' 'so far,' etc.).

Semantic Range

thus, so, in this manner, as follows, here (rare), hitherto, now (idiomatically), in this way, so far, on this side, in such a manner

Root / Etymology

Root: uncertain. Traditionally understood as a compound of the prefix כְּ (ke, 'as, like') and הוּא (hu', 'he, that one'), though this derivation is possibly folk etymology. The word functions as a deictic adverb of manner or means. Although it is cognate with demonstratives in other Semitic languages, its precise morphological composition is uncertain.

Historical & Contextual Notes

Throughout the Hebrew Bible, כֹּה is used primarily as a formulaic or demonstrative adverb introducing prophetic speech ('Thus says YHWH...'), ritual instructions, or descriptions of action ('he did thus...'). In direct address, it can frame the words or deeds that follow, with a sense of immediacy in legal, prophetic, or narrative contexts. Unlike other demonstrative forms (such as זֶה 'this' or כָּזֶה 'like this'), כֹּה is restricted to adverbial use, especially to indicate manner more than identity. The temporal and spatial nuances are largely contextual or idiomatic, and rarely does כֹּה function as an independent locative or temporal adverb. In later biblical books and post-biblical Hebrew, usage narrows mainly to formulaic introduction of speech. Translations including 'so,' 'thus,' or 'in this way' generally capture the meaning, though English versions sometimes stretch it to 'here' or 'now' to fit context, which can obscure its primarily demonstrative-manner force. Its use as a prophetic formula or legal citation is distinct from narrative or descriptive functions elsewhere.

Translation Consistency

primary "thus" 44 occurrences

‘כֹּה’ is a demonstrative adverb meaning ‘in this manner’ or ‘so.’ ‘Thus’ is the most frequent and unambiguous English rendering (514 of 577 P2 occurrences), fits idiomatic uses (e.g. ‘thus says,’ ‘thus far’), and preserves the demonstrative force better than the more ambiguous ‘so’ or the deictic ‘this.’

Alternatives (6 occurrences):
"there" (2x) "here" (2x) "this way" (1x) "that way" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from the prefix k and הוּא; properly, like this, i.e. by implication, (of manner) thus (or so); also (of place) here (or hither); or (of time) now; also, here, + hitherto, like, on the other side, so (and much), such, on that manner, (on) this (manner, side, way, way and that way), + mean while, yonder.

Bantu Hebrew

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

Root Family

uncertain (Baleadan) — uncertain

Root uncertain to be like, to resemble, to be thus (demonstrative manner)
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1002 בִּירָה the citadel
H105 אֲגַרְטָל bowls of
H1081 בַּלְאֲדָן Baladan
H1085 בִּלְדַּד Bildad
H1095 בֵּלְטְשַׁאצַּר Belteshatsar

Word Forms

5 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H3541-03 כֹּ֖ה koh HD Thus in this manner thus 487
H3541-02 כֹה֩ khoh HD thus thus thus 67
H3541-05 וְ/כֹ֣ה vekhoh HC/D and thus and thus and thus 20
H3541-01 בְּ/כֹ֔ה bekhoh HR/D in that manner in this manner in this manner 2
H3541-04 וָ/כֹ֔ה vakhoh HC/D and that way and thus and that way 1

Occurrences in Scripture

577 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H3541-03 Genesis 15:5 כֹּ֥ה koh HD So in this manner thus
H3541-03 Genesis 22:5 כֹּ֑ה koh HD there in this manner there
H3541-03 Genesis 24:30 כֹּֽה koh HD thus in this manner thus
H3541-03 Genesis 31:8 כֹּ֣ה koh HD thus in this manner thus
H3541-03 Genesis 31:8 כֹּ֣ה koh-2 HD thus in this manner thus
H3541-03 Genesis 31:37 כֹּ֔ה koh HD it here in this manner here
H3541-03 Genesis 32:5 כֹּ֣ה koh HD Thus in this manner thus
H3541-03 Genesis 32:5 כֹּ֤ה koh-2 HD Thus in this manner thus
H3541-03 Genesis 45:9 כֹּ֤ה koh HD thus in this manner thus
H3541-03 Genesis 50:17 כֹּֽה koh HD Thus in this manner thus
H3541-03 Exodus 2:12 כֹּה֙ koh HD this way in this manner this way
H3541-04 Exodus 2:12 וָ/כֹ֔ה vakhoh HC/D and that way and thus and that way
H3541-03 Exodus 3:14 כֹּ֤ה koh HD Thus in this manner thus
H3541-03 Exodus 3:15 כֹּֽה koh HD Thus in this manner thus
H3541-03 Exodus 4:22 כֹּ֚ה koh HD thus in this manner thus
H3541-03 Exodus 5:1 כֹּֽה koh HD Thus in this manner thus
H3541-03 Exodus 5:10 כֹּ֚ה koh HD Thus in this manner thus
H3541-02 Exodus 5:15 כֹ֖ה khoh HD thus thus thus
H3541-03 Exodus 7:16 כֹּֽה koh HD now in this manner thus
H3541-03 Exodus 7:17 כֹּ֚ה koh HD Thus in this manner thus
H3541-03 Exodus 7:26 כֹּ֚ה koh HD Thus in this manner thus
H3541-03 Exodus 8:16 כֹּ֚ה koh HD Thus in this manner thus
H3541-03 Exodus 9:1 כֹּֽה koh HD Thus in this manner thus
H3541-03 Exodus 9:13 כֹּֽה koh HD Thus in this manner thus
H3541-03 Exodus 10:3 כֹּֽה koh HD Thus in this manner thus
H3541-03 Exodus 11:4 כֹּ֖ה koh HD Thus in this manner thus
H3541-03 Exodus 19:3 כֹּ֤ה koh HD Thus in this manner thus
H3541-03 Exodus 20:22 כֹּ֥ה koh HD Thus in this manner thus
H3541-03 Exodus 32:27 כֹּֽה koh HD thus in this manner thus
H3541-03 Numbers 6:23 כֹּ֥ה koh HD Thus in this manner thus
H3541-05 Numbers 8:7 וְ/כֹֽה vekhoh HC/D and-thus and thus and thus
H3541-03 Numbers 11:31 כֹּ֗ה koh HD thus in this manner thus
H3541-03 Numbers 11:31 כֹּ֔ה koh-2 HD thus in this manner thus
H3541-03 Numbers 20:14 כֹּ֤ה koh HD Thus in this manner thus
H3541-03 Numbers 22:16 כֹּ֤ה koh HD thus in this manner thus
H3541-03 Numbers 22:30 כֹּ֑ה koh HD so in this manner thus
H3541-05 Numbers 23:5 וְ/כֹ֥ה vekhoh HC/D and thus and thus and thus
H3541-03 Numbers 23:15 כֹּ֖ה koh HD here in this manner here
H3541-03 Numbers 23:15 כֹּֽה koh-2 HD there in this manner there
H3541-05 Numbers 23:16 וְ/כֹ֥ה vekhoh HC/D and-thus and thus and thus
H3541-03 Numbers 32:8 כֹּ֥ה koh HD Thus in this manner thus
H3541-03 Deuteronomy 7:5 כֹּ֤ה koh HD thus in this manner thus
H3541-03 Joshua 6:3 כֹּ֥ה koh HD thus in this manner thus
H3541-03 Joshua 6:14 כֹּ֥ה koh HD so in this manner thus
H3541-02 Joshua 7:13 כֹה֩ khoh HD thus thus thus
H3541-03 Joshua 17:14 כֹּ֖ה koh HD thus in this manner thus
H3541-03 Joshua 22:16 כֹּ֣ה koh HD thus in this manner thus
H3541-03 Joshua 24:2 כֹּֽה koh HD thus in this manner thus
H3541-03 Judges 6:8 כֹּה koh HD thus in this manner thus
H3541-03 Judges 11:15 כֹּ֖ה koh HD thus in this manner thus
← H3540 Hebrew Lexicon H3542 →