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עֵת

𐤏𐤕

ʻêth

H6256 noun

SILEX Entry

Root עת to mark time, to appoint, to indicate occurrence

Definition

A point or period in time, event, or occasion; refers to a distinct moment or suitable time for a particular event or activity. Semantic range includes both specific times (such as a season, appointed time, or moment) and more general reference to duration or occurrence of events. Used in temporal expressions and as an adverbial phrase indicating 'when' or 'at the time (that)'.

Semantic Range

appointed time, moment, season, period, occasion, juncture, fitting or suitable time, event; adverbial: when, as long as, at the time that

Root / Etymology

The word עֵת is likely derived from the root עד ('ע-ת'), though the precise root meaning is debated. The general idea is 'to mark or indicate time'. However, there is no direct evidence of a verb עָתַת or similar, suggesting עֵת is an old, possibly archaic noun developed specifically to denote a time or event. Etymology uncertain beyond this point.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, עֵת is most frequently used to denote a specific or appointed time (e.g., 'at the time of the evening sacrifice'), and only more rarely for an indefinite or ongoing period. It overlaps with other words for 'time' such as זמָן (zĕmān) or מוֹעֵד (môʿēd), but עֵת is more generic and less tied to religious or cultic contexts than מוֹעֵד, and more concrete than זמָן, which often refers to a fixed period or duration. In narrative, prophetic, and poetic contexts, עֵת can denote moments of crisis or opportunity ('time of trouble', 'time of favor'). Later Biblical Hebrew and post-biblical usage partially shifts toward more abstract temporal reference, but the biblical occurrences always anchor the term in concrete moments or events. English translations sometimes render עֵת with context-dependent terms such as 'season', 'time', or 'occasion'; none fully capture the richness of its temporal nuance.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from עַד; time, especially (adverb with preposition) now, when, etc.; [phrase] after, (al-) ways, [idiom] certain, [phrase] continually, [phrase] evening, long, (due) season, so (long) as, (even-, evening-, noon-) tide, (meal-), what) time, when.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

עת (ʿ-ṭ) — marked time, appointed moment, indicated occurrence

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H5842 עֵט at appointed-time of

Word Forms

39 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H6256-08 עֵ֖ת et HNcbsc time object marker 72
H6256-01 בָּ/עֵ֣ת baet HRd/Ncbsa at the time at the appointed time 61
H6256-03 בְּ/עֵת֙ beet HR/Ncbsc in the time at time-of 28
H6256-23 לְ/עֵ֣ת leet HR/Ncbsc at the time for an appointed time 24
H6256-35 וְ/עֵֽת veet HC/Ncbsc and time and definite-object marker 18
H6256-19 כָּ/עֵ֣ת kaet HRd/Ncbsa at this time at the appointed time 16
H6256-07 בְּ/עִתּ֖/וֹ beito HR/Ncbsc/Sp3ms in its season in his appointed time 11
H6256-31 וּ/בָ/עֵ֣ת uvaet HC/Rd/Ncbsa and in time and at the appointed time 9
H6256-09 הַ/עֵ֞ת haet HTi/Ncbsa the time the appointed time 7
H6256-33 וּ/בְ/עֵ֤ת uveet HC/R/Ncbsc and at the time and at an appointed time 7

Occurrences in Scripture

296 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H6256-23 Genesis 8:11 לְ/עֵ֣ת leet HR/Ncbsc toward for an appointed time
H6256-19 Genesis 18:10 כָּ/עֵ֣ת kaet HRd/Ncbsa at this time at the appointed time
H6256-19 Genesis 18:14 כָּ/עֵ֥ת kaet HRd/Ncbsa according to the time at the appointed time
H6256-01 Genesis 21:22 בָּ/עֵ֣ת baet HRd/Ncbsa at the time at the appointed time
H6256-23 Genesis 24:11 לְ/עֵ֣ת leet HR/Ncbsc at the time for an appointed time
H6256-23 Genesis 24:11 לְ/עֵ֖ת leet-2 HR/Ncbsc the time for an appointed time
H6256-08 Genesis 29:7 עֵ֖ת et HNcbsc time object marker
H6256-03 Genesis 31:10 בְּ/עֵת֙ beet HR/Ncbsc at the time at time-of
H6256-01 Genesis 38:1 בָּ/עֵ֣ת baet HRd/Ncbsa at that at the appointed time
H6256-03 Genesis 38:27 בְּ/עֵ֣ת beet HR/Ncbsc at the time at time-of
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