לָא
𐤋𐤀
lâʼ
H3809 particle
SILEX Entry
Definition
A particle of absolute negation in Aramaic, functioning to deny the truth of a statement, existence, or action. Used to assert that something is not the case, to reject a possibility, or to express 'no' as a negative response. The core function is simple, objective negation.
Semantic Range
not (absolute negation), no, none, nothing, neither, nor, cannot, without
Root / Etymology
From the root לא ('lʼ), directly corresponding to the Hebrew negation particle לֹא. The word לָא is strictly Aramaic in biblical usage and serves an identical grammatical function as Hebrew לֹא. The root simply conveys the negative concept, not tied to a broader lexical derivation.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Aramaic sections of Daniel and Ezra, לָא serves as the consistent marker of absolute negation, supplanting Hebrew לֹא in those contexts. Its use is always in constructing negative clauses or responses, never as a modifying prefix (as in Hebrew א- privative or negative). Where לֹא in Hebrew expresses objective or declarative negation (as opposed to אַל, used for prohibitions/wishes), לָא operates only in this less volitional sense, aligning syntactically and semantically with לֹא. In translation history, both terms are typically rendered as 'not' or 'no'; however, nuances can be lost if English does not reflect the distinct stylistic edge marked by Aramaic usage. Unlike Hebrew, where negation may shift between לֹא and אַל depending on mood, Aramaic employs לָא exclusively for standard negation, with other forms (such as negative commands) constructed differently. The term remains unchanged across the few centuries its biblical usage covers, with no discernible semantic development in the biblical corpus. In post-biblical Aramaic (e.g., Targums), לָא retained its absolute nature. For documentation, see Dan 2:7, Ezra 4:14, where it governs indicative negatives, and note the clear distinction from contextually volitional or prohibitive negation.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
(Aramaic) or לָה; (Aramaic) (Daniel 4:32), corresponding to לֹא; {not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no;}; or even, neither, no(-ne, -r), (can-) not, as nothing, without.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
לא (l-ʾ) — not, negate, deny
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H1093 | בְּלוֹ | and not |
| H3789 | כָּתַב | not |
| H3808 | לֹא | without |
| H3810 | לֹא דְבַר | not |
| H3818 | לֹא עַמִּי | not |
Word Forms
4 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3809-03 |
לָ֣א | la | ATn |
not | not | 67 |
H3809-04 |
וְ/לָֽא | vela | AC/Tn |
and not | and not | 11 |
H3809-01 |
הֲ/לָא֩ | hala | ATi/Tn |
Is not | is it not? | 3 |
H3809-02 |
כְּ/לָ֣ה | kelah | AR/Tn |
as | not | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
82 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3809-03 |
Jeremiah 10:11 | לָ֣א | la | ATn |
not | not |
H3809-03 |
Daniel 2:5 | לָ֤א | la | ATn |
not | not |
H3809-03 |
Daniel 2:9 | לָ֨א | la | ATn |
not | not |
H3809-03 |
Daniel 2:10 | לָֽא | la | ATn |
not | not |
H3809-03 |
Daniel 2:10 | לָ֣א | la-2 | ATn |
not | not |
H3809-03 |
Daniel 2:11 | לָ֣א | la | ATn |
not | not |
H3809-03 |
Daniel 2:11 | לָ֥א | la-2 | ATn |
not | not |
H3809-03 |
Daniel 2:18 | לָ֤א | la | ATn |
not | not |
H3809-03 |
Daniel 2:27 | לָ֧א | la | ATn |
no | not |
H3809-03 |
Daniel 2:30 | לָ֤א | la | ATn |
not | not |