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כְּמוֹ

𐤊𐤌𐤅

kᵉmôw

H3644 preposition

SILEX Entry

Root כ to be like, to resemble, make a comparison

Definition

A comparative preposition meaning 'like, as, similar to,' used to introduce similes, analogies, or comparisons in narrative, poetry, and legal formulations. Used to indicate resemblance, manner, measure, or standard, frequently appearing before nouns or pronouns to mark the object of comparison. Occasionally functions adverbially to express 'in this way' or 'so.'

Semantic Range

like, as, according to, in comparison with, in the manner of, so, thus

Root / Etymology

Derived from the root כּ- (kaf prefix, also associated with כֵּן 'thus'), functioning as a standalone comparative particle rather than as a prefixed form. The base prepositional idea is 'as, like' (cf. Akkadian kī-, Ugaritic km), signifying comparison or similarity. This independent form is less frequent than the prefixed כּ-, but carries the same essential sense.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Biblical Hebrew, כְּמוֹ is used principally in poetry and archaic narrative to mark explicit rhetorical or poetic comparisons (e.g., 'like a lion,' 'as a strong man,' 'similar to the days of old'). It may appear as a more emphatic or extended form compared to the regular prepositional כְּ (k-), especially before pronominal suffixes or when emphasis is warranted. Occasionally, כְּמוֹ appears in legal or wisdom texts to set a standard or norm ('as... so...'). The English translation 'like' generally suffices, but in some contexts, 'as,' 'according to,' or 'in the manner of' may better capture nuances. In later biblical books and in post-biblical Hebrew, כְּמוֹ continues as the standard comparative preposition. Care must be taken not to confuse it with כֵּן ('thus, so, accordingly'), though there is some overlap in adverbial usage.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or כָּמוֹ; (compare כֵּן); a form of the prefix 'k-', but used separately as, thus, so; according to, (such) as (it were, well as), in comparison of, like (as, to, unto), thus, when, worth.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

כ (k) — likeness, resemblance, comparison

Word Forms

19 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H3644-07 כְּמוֹ kemo HR like like 46
H3644-03 כָּמֽוֹ/ךָ kamokha HR/Sp2ms like you like you 18
H3644-02 כָּמֹ֔/הוּ kamohu HR/Sp3ms like it like him 16
H3644-05 כָּמֹֽ/נִי kamoni HR/Sp1cs like me like me 11
H3644-12 כָמ֖וֹ/ךָ khamokha HR/Sp2ms as you like you 11
H3644-16 כְמוֹ khemo HR like like 10
H3644-14 כָמֽוֹ/נִי khamoni HR/Sp1cs like me like me 6
H3644-11 כָמֹ֨/הוּ֙ khamohu HR/Sp3ms like it like him 6
H3644-15 כָמֹ֔/נוּ khamonu HR/Sp1cp like us like us 3
H3644-01 כָּמ֖וֹ/הָ kamoha HR/Sp3fs according to it like her 3

Occurrences in Scripture

142 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H3644-18 Genesis 19:15 וּ/כְמוֹ֙ ukhemo HC/R as and like
H3644-15 Genesis 34:15 כָמֹ֔/נוּ khamonu HR/Sp1cp like us like us
H3644-03 Genesis 41:39 כָּמֽוֹ/ךָ kamokha HR/Sp2ms as you like you
H3644-05 Genesis 44:15 כָּמֹֽ/נִי kamoni HR/Sp1cs I like me
H3644-12 Genesis 44:18 כָמ֖וֹ/ךָ khamokha HR/Sp2ms you are like you
H3644-05 Exodus 9:14 כָּמֹ֖/נִי kamoni HR/Sp1cs like me like me
H3644-11 Exodus 9:18 כָמֹ֨/הוּ֙ khamohu HR/Sp3ms like it like him
H3644-11 Exodus 9:24 כָמֹ֨/הוּ֙ khamohu HR/Sp3ms like it like him
H3644-02 Exodus 10:14 כָּמֹ֔/הוּ kamohu HR/Sp3ms like it like him
H3644-02 Exodus 11:6 כָּמֹ֨/הוּ֙ kamohu HR/Sp3ms like it like him
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