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לֹא

𐤋𐤀

Lo

H3808 particle

SILEX Entry

Definition

A particle of absolute negation in Biblical Hebrew, used to indicate the simple or unqualified denial of statements, facts, or circumstances. Primarily meaning 'not' or 'no,' it negates verbs, clauses, or nouns without nuance of prohibition or temporal reference. It functions both independently and in combination with other particles for various negative constructions.

Semantic Range

not, no, never, none, nothing, neither, nor, except (in certain negative clauses), without, otherwise (in negative contexts), as part of negative idioms

Root / Etymology

From the root ל-א, though its etymology as an independent negative particle is uncertain and likely predates the standardized root system in Hebrew. It is a primary negator in Northwest Semitic languages, related to Akkadian lā, Ugaritic l’ and Aramaic lā, suggesting archaic West Semitic origins as a fundamental negative particle.

Historical & Contextual Notes

לֹא is the standard form of simple, absolute negation in Biblical Hebrew, appearing throughout all periods of the language, from the earliest texts (e.g., patriarchal narratives) through to post-exilic writings. It is distinct from the particle אַל ('al), which is used primarily for prohibitive or volitive negation (i.e., in commands, prohibitions, or wishes). לֹא refuses statements of fact, while אַל negates desired actions. לֹא occurs with imperfect, perfect, and infinitive forms, negating indicative statements, direct discourse, and non-prohibitive instructions. It frequently appears juxtaposed with other particles for emphasis or in idiomatic negative expressions (e.g., לֹא פֶּן – ‘lest not’), sometimes forming part of oath formulae (e.g., חַי־יְהוָה לֹא – 'as YHWH lives, not...'). In rare instances, forms like לוֹא or לֹה appear as variant spellings (cf. Deuteronomy 3:11); these are orthographic or dialectal variants, not evidence of distinct words. English translations regularly render לֹא simply as 'not' or 'no,' but some idiomatic uses demand more nuanced English translation (e.g. as part of ‘except’ or ‘unless’), and English often fails to mark the distinction between absolute and prohibitive negation present in Hebrew through the contrast with אַל.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or לוֹא; or לֹה; (Deuteronomy 3:11), a primitive particle; not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles; [idiom] before, [phrase] or else, ere, [phrase] except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never, no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), ([idiom] as though...,(can-), for) not (out of), of nought, otherwise, out of, [phrase] surely, [phrase] as truly as, [phrase] of a truth, [phrase] verily, for want, [phrase] whether, without.

Bantu Hebrew

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

Root Family

ל-א (Lo) — to negate, to deny, to refuse

Root ל-א to negate, to deny, to refuse

Word Forms

15 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H3808-08 לֹ֥א lo HTn not not not 3261
H3808-14 וְ/לֹֽא velo HC/Tn and not and not and not 1590
H3808-03 הֲ/לֹ֡א halo HTi/Tn are they not is it not? is it not? 271
H3808-02 בְּ/לֹ֤א belo HR/Tn without without without 27
H3808-06 לא l HTn not not not 15
H3808-07 לְ/לֹ֥א lelo HR/Tn by those who did not not not 9
H3808-15 ו/לא vl HC/Tn and not and not and not 5
H3808-09 שֶׁ/לֹּ֤א shelo HTr/Tn that not that not that not 4
H3808-10 וּ/לְ/לֹ֛א ulelo HC/R/Tn and-without and to not and without 2
H3808-13 וָ/לֹ֕א valo HC/Tn if not and not and not 2

Occurrences in Scripture

5191 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H3808-08 Genesis 2:5 לֹ֨א lo HTn not not not
H3808-08 Genesis 2:17 לֹ֥א lo HTn not not not
H3808-08 Genesis 2:18 לֹא lo HTn not not not
H3808-08 Genesis 2:20 לֹֽא lo HTn not not not
H3808-14 Genesis 2:25 וְ/לֹ֖א velo HC/Tn and not and not and not
H3808-08 Genesis 3:1 לֹ֣א lo HTn not not not
H3808-08 Genesis 3:3 לֹ֤א lo HTn not not not
H3808-14 Genesis 3:3 וְ/לֹ֥א velo HC/Tn nor and not and not
H3808-08 Genesis 3:4 לֹֽא lo HTn Not not not
H3808-08 Genesis 3:17 לֹ֥א lo HTn not not not
H3808-08 Genesis 4:5 לֹ֣א lo HTn not not not
H3808-03 Genesis 4:7 הֲ/ל֤וֹא halo HTi/Tn will you not? is it not? is it not?
H3808-08 Genesis 4:7 לֹ֣א lo HTn not not not
H3808-08 Genesis 4:9 לֹ֣א lo HTn not not not
H3808-08 Genesis 4:12 לֹֽא lo HTn not not not
H3808-08 Genesis 6:3 לֹֽא lo HTn not not not
H3808-08 Genesis 7:2 לֹ֣א lo HTn not not not
H3808-14 Genesis 8:9 וְ/לֹֽא velo HC/Tn but and not and not
H3808-14 Genesis 8:12 וְ/לֹֽא velo HC/Tn but and not and not
H3808-08 Genesis 8:21 לֹֽא lo HTn not not not
H3808-14 Genesis 8:21 וְ/לֹֽא velo HC/Tn and not and not and not
H3808-08 Genesis 8:22 לֹ֥א lo HTn not not not
H3808-08 Genesis 9:4 לֹ֥א lo HTn not not not
H3808-14 Genesis 9:11 וְ/לֹֽא velo HC/Tn and not and not and not
H3808-14 Genesis 9:11 וְ/לֹֽא velo-2 HC/Tn and not and not and not
H3808-14 Genesis 9:15 וְ/לֹֽא velo HC/Tn and not and not and not
H3808-08 Genesis 9:23 לֹ֥א lo HTn not not not
H3808-08 Genesis 11:6 לֹֽא lo HTn not not not
H3808-08 Genesis 11:7 לֹ֣א lo HTn not not not
H3808-08 Genesis 12:18 לֹא lo HTn not not not
H3808-14 Genesis 13:6 וְ/לֹא velo HC/Tn and not and not and not
H3808-14 Genesis 13:6 וְ/לֹ֥א velo-2 HC/Tn and not and not and not
H3808-03 Genesis 13:9 הֲ/לֹ֤א halo HTi/Tn Is not is it not? is it not
H3808-14 Genesis 14:23 וְ/לֹ֣א velo HC/Tn lest and not and not
H3808-08 Genesis 15:3 לֹ֥א lo HTn not not not
H3808-08 Genesis 15:4 לֹ֥א lo HTn not not not
H3808-08 Genesis 15:10 לֹ֥א lo-2 HTn not not not
H3808-08 Genesis 15:13 לֹ֣א lo HTn not not not
H3808-08 Genesis 15:16 לֹא lo HTn not not not
H3808-08 Genesis 16:1 לֹ֥א lo HTn no not not
H3808-14 Genesis 16:10 וְ/לֹ֥א velo HC/Tn and not and not and not
H3808-14 Genesis 17:5 וְ/לֹא velo HC/Tn no longer and not no longer
H3808-08 Genesis 17:12 לֹ֥א lo HTn not not not
H3808-08 Genesis 17:14 לֹֽא lo HTn not not not
H3808-08 Genesis 17:15 לֹא lo HTn not not not
H3808-08 Genesis 18:15 לֹ֥א lo HTn No not not
H3808-08 Genesis 18:15 לֹ֖א lo-2 HTn No not not
H3808-08 Genesis 18:21 לֹ֖א lo HTn not not not
H3808-14 Genesis 18:24 וְ/לֹא velo HC/Tn and not and not and not
H3808-08 Genesis 18:25 לֹ֥א lo HTn not not not
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