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כֵּן

𐤊𐤍

kên

H3651 particle

SILEX Entry

Definition

As an adverb and conjunction, "thus," "so," or "in such a way," referring to what follows or precedes in manner, degree, or result. As an adjective or substantive, it means "right," "correct," or "true" (something in accordance with a standard or properly established). In rarer noun usage, denotes what is established or the established state of affairs. The exact meaning depends on context and can range from indicating the manner of an action, agreement with a previous statement, confirmation, or the result of a preceding event.

Semantic Range

thus, so, in this way, as follows, as it is, right, just, true, accordingly, rightly, established, as previously stated, therefore (in phrases), confirmation, affirmation

Root / Etymology

From the root כּוּן (kun), meaning 'to be firm, established, prepared, set up.' כֵּן derives from this root with the sense of 'that which is set/established,' and came to be used adverbially for 'thus' or 'so,' and adjectivally for 'right' or 'correct.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, כֵּן functions most frequently as an adverb to connect statements or clauses, signifying that what follows is as previously stated or expected—'so,' 'thus,' 'in this manner.' When employed as an adjective, it affirms that something is established, appropriate, or correct. It can also function in idiomatic expressions alongside particles like עַל־כֵּן ('therefore,' literally 'upon this being so') or become part of temporal or causal phrases. The term retains a strong link to the concept of order or being set/fixed, traceable to its root. In post-exilic and later Hebrew, כֵּן continues its role as a confirming particle and is the basis for the modern Hebrew affirmative 'yes.' Standard English translations often flatten the nuance, rendering it simply as 'so' or 'thus,' but in context it may convey affirmation, confirmation, or an underlying sense of correctness or order. Related to כּוּן and distinct from other adverbial connectors like כָּכָה ('like this, thus'), כֵּן often has a more formal or confirmatory function.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from כּוּן; properly, set upright; hence (figuratively as adjective) just; but usually (as adverb or conjunction) rightly or so (in various applications to manner, time and relation; often with other particles); [phrase] after that (this, -ward, -wards), as... as, [phrase] (for-) asmuch as yet, [phrase] be (for which) cause, [phrase] following, howbeit, in (the) like (manner, -wise), [idiom] the more, right, (even) so, state, straightway, such (thing), surely, [phrase] there (where) -fore, this, thus, true, well, [idiom] you.

Bantu Hebrew

Language Bantu Word Transliteration Meaning
Bemba cine truth

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Root Family

כון (Yehoyakhin) — to establish, to set up, to prepare

Root כון to be firm, established, set up, fixed
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H3078 יְהוֹיָכִין YHWH establishes
H3112 יוֹיָכִין Yahweh establishes
H3199 יָכִין to He-Establishes
H3200 יָכִינִי the Yakinite
H3204 יְכׇנְיָה Yah Establishes

Word Forms

8 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H3651-01 כֵּ֥ן ken HTm so thus thus 403
H3651-05 לָ/כֵ֗ן lakhen HR/D therefore accordingly therefore 195
H3651-03 כֵ֔ן khen HD so thus thus 127
H3651-07 וְ/כֵן֙ vekhen HC/Tm and so and thus and thus 34
H3651-08 וְ/לָ/כֵ֥ן velakhen HC/R/D and therefore and accordingly and therefore 5
H3651-02 כֵּנִ֣ים kenim HAampa honest established ones honest men 3
H3651-04 כֵנִ֖ים khenim HAampa honest established ones honest ones 2
H3651-06 וּ/בְ/כֵ֡ן uvekhen HC/R/D and so and in this established way and in this established way 2

Occurrences in Scripture

771 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H3651-03 Genesis 1:7 כֵֽן khen HD so thus thus
H3651-03 Genesis 1:9 כֵֽן khen HD so thus thus
H3651-03 Genesis 1:11 כֵֽן khen HD so thus thus
H3651-03 Genesis 1:15 כֵֽן khen HD so thus so
H3651-03 Genesis 1:24 כֵֽן khen HD so thus thus
H3651-03 Genesis 1:30 כֵֽן khen HD so thus thus
H3651-01 Genesis 2:24 כֵּן֙ ken HTm therefore thus thus
H3651-05 Genesis 4:15 לָ/כֵן֙ lakhen HR/D therefore accordingly therefore
H3651-03 Genesis 6:4 כֵ֗ן khen HD that thus thus
H3651-01 Genesis 6:22 כֵּ֥ן ken HTm so thus so
H3651-01 Genesis 10:9 כֵּן֙ ken HTm thus thus thus
H3651-01 Genesis 11:9 כֵּ֞ן ken HTm therefore thus thus
H3651-03 Genesis 15:14 כֵ֥ן khen HD so thus thus
H3651-01 Genesis 16:14 כֵּן֙ ken HTm so thus thus
H3651-01 Genesis 18:5 כֵּ֥ן ken HTm therefore thus thus
H3651-01 Genesis 18:5 כֵּ֥ן ken-2 HTm Yes thus thus
H3651-01 Genesis 19:8 כֵּ֥ן ken HTm therefore thus thus
H3651-01 Genesis 19:22 כֵּ֛ן ken HTm therefore thus thus
H3651-01 Genesis 20:6 כֵּ֥ן ken HTm so thus thus
H3651-01 Genesis 21:31 כֵּ֗ן ken HTm therefore thus thus
H3651-03 Genesis 23:19 כֵן֩ khen HD this thus thus
H3651-01 Genesis 25:22 כֵּ֔ן ken HTm thus thus thus
H3651-03 Genesis 25:26 כֵ֞ן khen HD so thus thus
H3651-01 Genesis 25:30 כֵּ֥ן ken HTm thus thus thus
H3651-01 Genesis 26:33 כֵּ֤ן ken HTm therefore thus thus
H3651-03 Genesis 29:26 כֵ֖ן khen HD so thus thus
H3651-01 Genesis 29:28 כֵּ֔ן ken HTm so thus so
H3651-01 Genesis 29:34 כֵּ֥ן ken HTm thus thus thus
H3651-01 Genesis 29:35 כֵּ֛ן ken HTm therefore thus therefore
H3651-01 Genesis 30:6 כֵּ֛ן ken HTm so thus so
H3651-05 Genesis 30:15 לָ/כֵן֙ lakhen HR/D therefore accordingly accordingly
H3651-01 Genesis 31:48 כֵּ֥ן ken HTm thus thus thus
H3651-03 Genesis 32:21 כֵן֙ khen HD then thus thus
H3651-01 Genesis 32:33 כֵּ֡ן ken HTm thus thus thus
H3651-01 Genesis 33:10 כֵּ֞ן ken HTm therefore thus therefore
H3651-01 Genesis 33:17 כֵּ֛ן ken HTm therefore thus therefore
H3651-07 Genesis 34:7 וְ/כֵ֖ן vekhen HC/Tm and so and thus and thus
H3651-01 Genesis 38:26 כֵּ֥ן ken HTm of that thus this
H3651-01 Genesis 41:13 כֵּ֣ן ken HTm so thus so
H3651-03 Genesis 41:31 כֵ֑ן khen HD it thus thus
H3651-02 Genesis 42:11 כֵּנִ֣ים kenim HAampa honest established ones honest
H3651-02 Genesis 42:19 כֵּנִ֣ים kenim HAampa honest established ones honest men
H3651-03 Genesis 42:20 כֵֽן khen HD so thus so
H3651-01 Genesis 42:21 כֵּן֙ ken HTm this thus thus
H3651-01 Genesis 42:25 כֵּֽן ken HTm so thus so
H3651-02 Genesis 42:31 כֵּנִ֣ים kenim HAampa honest men established ones honest men
H3651-04 Genesis 42:33 כֵנִ֖ים khenim HAampa honest men established ones honest ones
H3651-04 Genesis 42:34 כֵנִ֖ים khenim HAampa honest established ones honest ones
H3651-01 Genesis 43:11 כֵּ֣ן ken HTm so thus so
H3651-01 Genesis 44:10 כֶּן ken HD so thus thus
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