Lesson 36 הִנֵּה The meaning of נָא “yet”, “again”, “still”, “once more”

Lesson 36ה ֵּנ� ה�

The meaning of א ָנ�

“yet”, “again”, “still”, “once more”

ה ֵּנ� ה�

��ה is used frequently in the Hebrew Bible and may be translated as “behold, ” “here,” or ה�ֵּנ“now.” Some translators do not translate it at all in some passages.

The meaning and function of ה�� ,can be varied, but for the purposes of Hebrew 132 ה�ֵּנ“behold” is an appropriate translation.

Other words? Dr. Ricks uses, “SNAP!” “Yo Dude” “Hey” “Now” ……Listen up!.....

ה ֵּנ� ה�

Note the following forms of pronominal suffixes for ה�� . ה�ֵּנ

��ה ה�ֵּנ

1cs��י ��ֵּנ /ה�ֵּנ�י ֵּנ ה�ֵּנ

here I am

2ms �ָך ה�ֵּנ here you are

2fs ��ָך ה�ֵּנ here you are

3ms �ֹו� ה�ֵּנ here he is

3fs unattested

1cp� �ֹו ��ֵּנ /ה�ֵּנ� ֵּנֹו ה�ֵּנ

here we are

2mp �ֶכ�ם ה�ֵּנ here you are

2fp unattested

3mp ם� ה�ֵּנ here they are

3fp unattested

ה ֵּנ� ה�

There are two primary meanings and purposes of ה�� . ה�ֵּנ

Similar to ש� ��ה , י ה�ֵּנ acts as a predicator of existence. ה�� places emphasis on ה�ֵּנthe immediacy of the situation. While ש�� ,refers to a more timeless existence י��ה :defines the existence as right here, right now. For example ה�ֵּנ

��ה ��ֶל�ד ה�ֵּנ ה�י Here is the boy.

��י ��ֵּנ ה�ֵּנ Here am I.

��ה provides the same immediacy for sentences with participial, adjectival, or ה�ֵּנadverbial predicates. Note the following translational differences.

הֶע�ַב�ד ַב�ה�יֶכֶל The servant is in the temple.

��ה .Behold, the servant is now in the temple הֶע�ַב�ד ַב�ה�יֶכֶל ה�ֵּנ

��ֶל�ד .The boy is coming to the house א�ֶל־ה�ַב��ִיתַב�א ה�י

��ה ��ֶל�ד ה�ֵּנ ַב�א ה�יא�ֶל־ה�ַב��ִית

Behold, the boy is now coming to the house.

ה ֵּנ� ה�Often, ה�� ��ה is used in conversational speech. A ה�ֵּנ ,clause often precedes another clause ה�ֵּנcreating either a conjunctive or disjunctive relationship. There are three main types of

conjunctive and disjunctive ה�� .clause relationships ה�ֵּנ

��ה clause—imperative ה�ֵּנ

��ה ��ָח�ם ֶע�ֶל־ש��ֶלָחן ה�ֵּנ ה�ֶל�א�ֶכ�ֶלה ֵּנ

Behold, the food is on the table; let us eat it.

��ה הֶע�ַב�ד ָסר ה�ֵּנְצאה א�תֹו�א�מ

Behold, the servant has departed; find him.Note the lack of a vav-conjunction between the two clauses. This is a unique construction. You

may choose to subordinate the ה�� :clause to the imperative clause. For example ה�ֵּנ

��ה ��ָח�ם ֶע�ֶל־ש��ֶלָחן ה�ֵּנ ה�ֶל�א�ֶכ�ֶלה ֵּנ

Behold, the food is on the table; therefore let us eat it.

��ה הֶע�ַב�ד ָסר ה�ֵּנְצאה א�תֹו�א�מ

Behold, since the servant has departed; find him.Sometimes the imperative clause will begin withהֶע�ת� which ,(now) ֶע�ת�הor (and now) ֹוsupports the immediacy of the action.

ה ֵּנ� ה�

��ה clause—converted perfect (gives information, then narrative) ה�ֵּנ

��ה �י ה�ֵּנ ת�ת� ֵּנ ָקש�ה הֶע�ַבֹו�דה ֹורֹו�ֶע� ה ְז ֶע�ת�

Behold, the work is difficult but I will give you strength.

��ה מש��ֶלה�ֵּנ �ֹו�ם ֹו .Behold, the day has come when he will rule ַב�א ה�י

��ה clause—disjunctive clause ה�ֵּנ

��ה ��ַב�ָחה�ֵּנ ��ה ה�ְז י א� ?Behold, here is the wood but where is the sacrifice הֶע�ְצ�ים ֹו

��ה �ַב ה�ֵּנ אש�ֹו ה ֶע�ַבֹו�דה ֹו� ֶל� ֶכ

Behold, though the work is finished, I will return.

This form is less common. The examples fit in the disjunctive category, since the clauses do not create a temporal timeline.

ה ֵּנ� ה�

Some instances require ה�� to be rendered as a disjunctive clause with a future completed ה�ֵּנ

sense. Translating ה�� :as “when” helps achieve a sense of future completion. For example ה�ֵּנ

��ה ה�ֵּנ א�רא�ה ַב�את�י ֹוא�ת�ה

When I come, I will see you.

��ה �א ה�ֵּנ ַבֹו�א הֹו מ�ֹות ת� ה�ַב��ִיתה

When he has died, you will come to the house.��ה is also used to introduce a circumstance, in some instances without a specified subject. For ה�ֵּנexample:

��הַב�א א�ת־ה�ַב��ִית ה�ֵּנ ֶע�מדה ֹו�ץ ָחֹו

He entered the house while she stood outside.

�ַבר�ים ��הש�'מֶעה א�ת־ה�ד ה�ֵּנ ֹויש��ַב�ת ַב��ַב��ִית

She heard the words while sitting in the house.

The Meaning of א ֵּנ

Often, א ,is translated as “please, I pray” and is attached to a cohortative, imperative ֵּנor jussive.

Generally, the use of א denotes the logical sequence of the command before or after ֵּנa particular situation is stated. א��ה is often combined with ֵּנ .ה�ֵּנ

��אמ�ר ֶל�ֹו �י ��הֹו א־ה�ֵּנ א)ֶל�ה�ים ־ א�יש�ֵּנ�ֶל�ֶכה ש��ם ה ֵּנ ��את...ֶע�ת� ַב�ֶע�יר ה�ְז

And he said to him, “Please, I pray, there is a man of God in this city…now let us go there” (1 Sam 9:6)

��אמ�ר �י אֹו� ��ה ֵּנ �־ה�ֵּנ �רֹו �י ָסֹו אא�ד�ֵּנ ֵּנ�ֶכ�ם־א�ֶל ַב��ית ֶע�ַבד ...

And he said, “Please, I pray, my lords, turn, I pray, into the house of your servant…” (Gen 19:2)

��ה and עֹו�ד י א�

עֹו�ד is used as an adverb to modify a verb in a sentence. The best translation for עֹו�ד is “again”, “yet”, “still”, “once more.” For example:

עֹו�דֶעמ�ד ��ֶל�ָך �י .He stood again and walked ֹו

��ַב�ן �י ַב��ִית א�ָח�ר עֹו�דֹו And he built still another house.

��ה and עֹו�ד י א�

The following are examples of עֹו�ד with pronominal suffixes.

עֹו�ד again, yet, still, once more

1cs��י ֵּנ /עֹו�ד�י עֹו�ד�

I am again

2ms ָך עֹו�ד you are again

2fs ָך עֹו�ד you are again

3ms � �ֹו ֵּנ עֹו�ד� he is again

3fs ה� ֵּנ עֹו�ד� she is again

1cp unattested2mp unattested

2fp unattested

3mp עֹו�דם they are again

3fp unattested

��ה and עֹו�ד י א�

Consider the following examples of sentences using עֹו�ד with a pronominal suffix.

�העֹו�דם .They are still here ֹּפ�

ה�י עֹו�ד .The king is still alive ה�מ��ֶל�ָך

?Is there yet another son ַב��ן א�ָח�רעֹו�דה�

:is also used to denote a temporal expression. For example עֹו�ד

�יםעֹו�ד yet three years, three more years ש�ֶל�ש�ת ש�ֵּנ

הַבעֹו�ד א�יש� ה�ֶל�ָך while the man was still walking

��ה and עֹו�ד י א�

��ה י Note .עֹו�ד is occasionally combined with pronominal suffixes similar to (?where) א�the following attested forms.

��ה י א� where?

1cs

2ms� ��ֶכ י א�

הwhere are you?

2fs

3ms �ֹו� י א� where is he?

3fs1cp

2mp2fp

3mp ם� י א� where are they?

3fp