הָיָה
to be
also: become, come to pass, exist, happen fuller range ↓
H1961
Strong's Hebrew
hâyâh
Transliteration
/haw-yaw/
Pronunciation
Usage in the Hebrew Bible
3,575
appearances
Full lexicon entry — Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)
From Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)
BDB Definition
to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out
- (Qal)
- -----
- to happen, fall out, occur, take place, come about, come to pass
- to come about, come to pass
- to come into being, become
- to arise, appear, come
- to become
- to become
- to become like
- to be instituted, be established
- to be
- to exist, be in existence
- to abide, remain, continue (with word of place or time)
- to stand, lie, be in, be at, be situated (with word of locality)
- to accompany, be with
- (Niphal)
- to occur, come to pass, be done, be brought about
- to be done, be finished, be gone
Where this word appears
See every Qal verb in the Hebrew Bible →
Grammar key — what these labels mean
Part of speech
- Verb
- An action or state-of-being word.
- Adverb
- A word that modifies a verb, adjective, or other adverb.
Stem
- Qal
- The basic, simple active stem — the plain form of the verb (“he wrote”). Here: ‘occur’
- Niphal
- Usually the simple passive or reflexive of the Qal (“he was written”). Here: ‘became c.’
Form
- Sequential Imperfect
- An imperfect with prefixed waw — the standard past-narrative form (waw-consecutive imperfect).
- Imperfect
- An incomplete, ongoing, or future action (“he will / would write”).
- Sequential Perfect
- A perfect with prefixed waw continuing a preceding imperfect or command (waw-consecutive perfect).
- Perfect
- A completed action or state — Hebrew marks aspect (completeness) more than strict tense (“he wrote”).
- Infinitive Construct
- A bound verbal noun, frequently with prepositions (“to write / in writing”).
- Jussive
- A third- or second-person volitional form expressing wish or command (“let him write”).
- Imperative
- A direct command (“write!”).
- Infinitive Absolute
- An unbound verbal noun, often intensifying or standing in for a finite verb.
- Participle Active
- A verbal adjective expressing ongoing or characteristic action (“writing / one who writes”).
State
- Absolute
- The independent form of a noun, not bound to a following word.
Person
- 3rd Person
- The one spoken about (“he / she / it / they”).
- 1st Person
- The speaker (“I / we”).
- 2nd Person
- The one addressed (“you”).
Gender
- Masculine
- Grammatically masculine.
- Common
- Either gender — not distinguished for this form.
- Feminine
- Grammatically feminine.
Number
- Singular
- One.
- Plural
- More than one (in Hebrew, generally three or more).
Grammatical forms 55 distinct
- Verb, Qal, Sequential Imperfect, 3rd Person, Masculine, Singular 784 times (22%)
- Verb, Qal, Imperfect, 3rd Person, Masculine, Singular 441 times (12%)
- Verb, Qal, Perfect, 3rd Person, Masculine, Singular 388 times (11%)
- Verb, Qal, Sequential Perfect, 3rd Person, Masculine, Singular 357 times (10%)
- Verb, Qal, Perfect, 3rd Person, Common, Plural 184 times (5%)
- Verb, Qal, Infinitive Construct 148 times (4%)
- Verb, Qal, Imperfect, 3rd Person, Feminine, Singular 140 times (4%)
- Verb, Qal, Perfect, 3rd Person, Feminine, Singular 124 times (3%)
+47 more forms (1,009 occurrences)
Parsed forms decoded from the imported morphology (morphhb / Westminster Leningrad Codex — WLC text public domain, morphhb tagging CC BY 4.0), counted across 3,575 parsed occurrences — not distinct verses.
Page 11 of 16 — showing verses 2,001–2,200 of 3,130 distinct verses where H1961 appears, across 39 books. Click any verse to open its interlinear word-by-word view. Verse text shown in the World English Bible for context — . Each verse’s Hebrew form is shown with its reference; the English is not keyword-highlighted, since the data carries no word-level English alignment. Use “Compare translations” on any verse to read it across multiple English versions. This concordance covers the Hebrew Bible; Septuagint (Greek Old Testament) occurrences are not indexed here.
Esther 17 verses
- Esther 9:21 לִ/הְי֣וֹת prep + Qal inf.cs to enjoin those who they should keep the fourteenth day of the month Adar, and the fifteenth day of the same, yearly,
- Esther 9:27 לִ/הְי֣וֹת prep + Qal inf.cs the Jews ordained, and took on them, and on their seed, and on all such as joined themselves to them, so that it should not fail, that they would keep these two days according to the writing of it, and according to the appointed time of it, every year;
Job 46 verses
- Job 1:1 הָיָ֥ה וְ/הָיָ֣ה Qal pf 3ms conj + Qal pf 3ms There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job. That man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God, and turned away from evil.
- Job 1:3 וַ/יְהִ֣י וַ/יְהִי֙ conj + Qal wimpf 3ms conj + Qal wimpf 3ms His possessions also were seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred she-donkeys, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the children of the east.
- Job 1:5 וַ/יְהִ֡י conj + Qal wimpf 3ms It was so, when the days of their feasting had run their course, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, "It may be that my sons have sinned, and renounced God in their hearts." Thus did Job continually.
- Job 1:6 וַ/יְהִ֣י conj + Qal wimpf 3ms Now it happened on the day when the sons of God came to present themselves before Yahweh, that Satan also came among them.
- Job 1:13 וַ/יְהִ֖י conj + Qal wimpf 3ms It fell on a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house,
- Job 1:14 הָי֣וּ Qal pf 3cp that there came a messenger to Job, and said, "The oxen were plowing, and the donkeys feeding beside them,
- Job 1:21 יְהִ֛י Qal impf 3ms He said, "Naked I came out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return there. Yahweh gave, and Yahweh has taken away. Blessed be the name of Yahweh."
- Job 2:1 וַ/יְהִ֣י conj + Qal wimpf 3ms Again it happened on the day when the sons of God came to present themselves before Yahweh, that Satan came also among them to present himself before Yahweh.
- Job 3:4 יְֽהִ֫י Qal juss 3ms Let that day be darkness; Don't let God from above seek for it, Neither let the light shine on it.
- Job 3:7 יְהִ֣י Qal juss 3ms Behold, let that night be barren. Let no joyful voice come therein.
- Job 3:16 אֶהְיֶ֑ה Qal impf 1cs Or as a hidden untimely birth I had not been, As infants who never saw light.
- Job 5:16 וַ/תְּהִ֣י conj + Qal wimpf 3fs So the poor has hope, And injustice shuts her mouth.
- Job 6:10 וּ֥/תְהִי conj + Qal juss 3fs Be it still my consolation, Yes, let me exult in pain that doesn't spare, That I have not denied the words of the Holy One.
- Job 6:21 הֱיִ֣יתֶם Qal pf 2mp For now you are nothing. You see a terror, and are afraid.
- Job 6:29 תְּהִ֣י Qal juss 3fs Please return. Let there be no injustice; Yes, return again, my cause is righteous.
- Job 7:20 וָ/אֶהְיֶ֖ה conj + Qal wimpf 1cs If I have sinned, what do I do to you, you watcher of men? Why have you set me as a mark for you, So that I am a burden to myself?
- Job 8:7 וְ/הָיָ֣ה conj + Qal wpf 3ms Though your beginning was small, Yet your latter end would greatly increase.
- Job 10:19 הָיִ֣יתִי אֶהְיֶ֑ה Qal pf 1cs Qal impf 1cs I should have been as though I had not been. I should have been carried from the womb to the grave.
- Job 11:4 הָיִ֥יתִי Qal pf 1cs For you say, 'My doctrine is pure, I am clean in your eyes.'
- Job 11:15 וְ/הָיִ֥יתָ conj + Qal wpf 2ms Surely then shall you lift up your face without spot; Yes, you shall be steadfast, and shall not fear:
- Job 11:17 תִּהְיֶֽה Qal impf 3fs Life shall be clearer than the noonday; Though there is darkness, it shall be as the morning.
- Job 12:4 אֶֽהְיֶ֗ה Qal impf 1cs I am like one who is a joke to his neighbor, I, who called on God, and he answered. The just, the blameless man is a joke.
- Job 13:5 וּ/תְהִ֖י conj + Qal impf 3fs Oh that you would be completely silent! Then you would be wise.
- Job 15:31 תִּהְיֶ֥ה Qal impf 3fs Let him not trust in emptiness, deceiving himself; For emptiness shall be his reward.
- Job 16:8 הָיָ֑ה Qal pf 3ms You have shriveled me up. This is a witness against me. My leanness rises up against me, It testifies to my face.
- Job 16:12 הָיִ֨יתִי Qal pf 1cs I was at ease, and he broke me apart. Yes, he has taken me by the neck, and dashed me to pieces. He has also set me up for his target.
- Job 16:18 יְהִ֥י Qal juss 3ms "Earth, don't cover my blood, Let my cry have no place to rest.
- Job 17:6 אֶֽהְיֶֽה Qal impf 1cs "But he has made me a byword of the people. They spit in my face.
- Job 18:12 יְהִי Qal impf 3ms His strength shall be famished, Calamity shall be ready at his side.
- Job 19:15 הָיִ֥יתִי Qal pf 1cs Those who dwell in my house, and my maids, count me for a stranger. I am an alien in their sight.
- Job 20:23 יְהִ֤י Qal juss 3ms When he is about to fill his belly, God will cast the fierceness of his wrath on him. It will rain on him while he is eating.
- Job 21:2 וּ/תְהִי conj + Qal juss 3fs "Listen diligently to my speech. Let this be your consolation.
- Job 21:18 יִהְי֗וּ Qal impf 3mp That they are as stubble before the wind, As chaff that the storm carries away?
- Job 22:25 וְ/הָיָ֣ה conj + Qal wpf 3ms The Almighty will be your treasure, Precious silver to you.
- Job 24:13 הָיוּ֮ Qal pf 3cp "These are of those who rebel against the light; They don't know the ways of it, Nor abide in the paths of it.
- Job 24:14 יְהִ֣י Qal juss 3ms The murderer rises with the light. He kills the poor and needy. In the night he is like a thief.
- Job 27:7 יְהִ֣י Qal impf 3ms "Let my enemy be as the wicked, Let him who rises up against me be as the unrighteous.
- Job 29:4 הָ֭יִיתִי Qal pf 1cs As I was in the ripeness of my days, When the friendship of God was in my tent;
- Job 29:15 הָ֭יִיתִי Qal pf 1cs I was eyes to the blind, And feet to the lame.
- Job 30:9 הָיִ֑יתִי וָ/אֱהִ֖י Qal pf 1cs conj + Qal wimpf 1cs "Now I have become their song. Yes, I am a byword to them.
- Job 30:29 הָיִ֣יתִי Qal pf 1cs I am a brother to jackals, And a companion to ostriches.
- Job 30:31 וַ/יְהִ֣י conj + Qal wimpf 3ms Therefore is my harp turned to mourning, And my pipe into the voice of those who weep.
- Job 38:4 הָ֭יִיתָ Qal pf 2ms "Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare, if you have understanding.
- Job 42:7 וַ/יְהִ֗י conj + Qal wimpf 3ms It was so, that after Yahweh had spoken these words to Job, Yahweh said to Eliphaz the Temanite, "My wrath is kindled against you, and against your two friends; for you have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job has.
- Job 42:12 וַֽ/יְהִי conj + Qal wimpf 3ms So Yahweh blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning. He had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, one thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand female donkeys.
- Job 42:13 וַֽ/יְהִי conj + Qal wimpf 3ms He had also seven sons and three daughters.
Psalms 101 verses
- Psalms 1:3 וְֽ/הָיָ֗ה conj + Qal wpf 3ms He will be like a tree planted by the streams of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also does not wither. Whatever he does shall prosper.
- Psalms 9:9 וִ֘/יהִ֤י conj + Qal juss 3ms Yahweh will also be a high tower for the oppressed; A high tower in times of trouble.
- Psalms 10:14 הָיִ֬יתָ Qal pf 2ms But you do see trouble and grief; You consider it to take it into your hand. You help the victim and the fatherless.
- Psalms 18:18 וַֽ/יְהִי conj + Qal wimpf 3ms They came on me in the day of my calamity, But Yahweh was my support.
- Psalms 18:23 וָ/אֱהִ֣י conj + Qal wimpf 1cs I was also blameless with him. I kept myself from my iniquity.
- Psalms 19:14 יִֽהְי֥וּ Qal impf 3mp Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in your sight, Yahweh, my rock, and my redeemer.
- Psalms 22:14 הָיָ֣ה Qal pf 3ms I am poured out like water. All my bones are out of joint. My heart is like wax; It is melted within me.
- Psalms 27:9 הָיִ֑יתָ Qal pf 2ms Don't hide your face from me. Don't put your servant away in anger. You have been my help. Don't abandon me, Neither forsake me, God of my salvation.
- Psalms 30:7 הָיִ֥יתִי Qal pf 1cs You, Yahweh, when you favored me, made my mountain to stand strong. But when you hid your face, I was troubled.
- Psalms 30:10 הֱֽיֵה Qal impv 2ms Hear, Yahweh, and have mercy on me. Yahweh, be my helper."
- Psalms 31:2 הֱיֵ֤ה Qal impv 2ms Bow down your ear to me. Deliver me speedily. Be to me a strong rock, A house of defense to save me.
- Psalms 31:11 הָיִ֪יתִי Qal pf 1cs Because of all my adversaries I have become utterly contemptible to my neighbors, A fear to my acquaintances. Those who saw me on the street fled from me.
- Psalms 31:12 הָ֝יִ֗יתִי Qal pf 1cs I am forgotten from their hearts like a dead man. I am like broken pottery.
- Psalms 32:9 תִּֽהְי֤וּ Qal juss 2mp Don't be like the horse, or like the mule, which have no understanding, Who are controlled by bit and bridle, or else they will not come near to you.
- Psalms 33:9 וַ/יֶּ֑הִי conj + Qal wimpf 3ms For he spoke, and it was done. He commanded, and it stood firm.
- Psalms 33:22 יְהִֽי Qal juss 3ms Let your loving kindness be on us, Yahweh, Since we have hoped in you.
- Psalms 35:5 יִֽהְי֗וּ Qal impf 3mp Let them be as chaff before the wind, Yahweh's angel driving them on.
- Psalms 35:6 יְֽהִי Qal juss 3ms Let their way be dark and slippery, Yahweh's angel pursuing them.
- Psalms 37:18 תִּהְיֶֽה Qal impf 3fs Yahweh knows the days of the perfect. Their inheritance shall be forever.
- Psalms 37:25 הָיִ֗יתִי Qal pf 1cs I have been young, and now am old, Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his children begging for bread.
- Psalms 38:14 וָ/אֱהִ֗י conj + Qal wimpf 1cs Yes, I am as a man who doesn't hear, In whose mouth are no reproofs.
- Psalms 42:3 הָֽיְתָה Qal pf 3fs My tears have been my food day and night, While they continually ask me, "Where is your God?"
- Psalms 45:16 יִהְי֣וּ Qal impf 3mp Your sons will take the place of your fathers. You shall make them princes in all the earth.
- Psalms 50:21 הֱֽיוֹת אֶֽהְיֶ֥ה Qal inf.cs Qal impf 1cs You have done these things, and I kept silent. You thought that the "I AM" was just like you. I will rebuke you, and accuse you in front of your eyes.
- Psalms 53:5 הָ֪יָה֫ Qal pf 3ms There they were in great fear, where no fear was, For God has scattered the bones of him who encamps against you. You have put them to shame, Because God has rejected them.
- Psalms 55:18 הָי֥וּ Qal pf 3cp He has redeemed my soul in peace from the battle that was against me, Although there are many who oppose me.
- Psalms 59:16 הָיִ֣יתָ Qal pf 2ms But I will sing of your strength. Yes, I will sing aloud of your loving kindness in the morning. For you have been my high tower, A refuge in the day of my distress.
- Psalms 61:3 הָיִ֣יתָ Qal pf 2ms For you have been a refuge for me, A strong tower from the enemy.
- Psalms 63:1 בִּ֝/הְיוֹת֗/וֹ prep + Qal inf.cs + sfx pers 3ms God, you are my God. I will earnestly seek you. My soul thirsts for you, My flesh longs for you, In a dry and weary land, where there is no water.
- Psalms 63:7 הָיִ֣יתָ Qal pf 2ms For you have been my help. I will rejoice in the shadow of your wings.
- Psalms 63:10 יִהְיֽוּ Qal impf 3mp They shall be given over to the power of the sword. They shall be jackal food.
- Psalms 64:7 הָ֝י֗וּ Qal pf 3cp But God will shoot at them. They will be suddenly struck down with an arrow.
- Psalms 69:8 הָיִ֣יתִי Qal pf 1cs I have become a stranger to my brothers, An alien to my mother's children.
- Psalms 69:10 וַ/תְּהִ֖י conj + Qal wimpf 3fs When I wept and I fasted, That was to my reproach.
- Psalms 69:11 וָ/אֱהִ֖י conj + Qal wimpf 1cs When I made sackcloth my clothing, I became a byword to them.
- Psalms 69:22 יְהִֽי Qal juss 3ms Let their table before them become a snare. May it become a retribution and a trap.
- Psalms 69:25 תְּהִי יְהִ֥י Qal impf 3fs Qal juss 3ms Let their habitation be desolate. Let no one dwell in their tents.
- Psalms 71:3 הֱיֵ֤ה Qal impv 2ms Be to me a rock of refuge to which I may always go. Give the command to save me, For you are my rock and my fortress.
- Psalms 71:7 הָיִ֣יתִי Qal pf 1cs I am a marvel to many, But you are my strong refuge.
- Psalms 72:16 יְהִ֤י Qal juss 3ms There shall be abundance of grain throughout the land. Its fruit sways like Lebanon. Let it flourish, thriving like the grass of the field.
- Psalms 72:17 יְהִ֤י Qal juss 3ms His name endures forever. His name continues as long as the sun. Men shall be blessed by him. All nations will call him blessed.
- Psalms 73:14 וָ/אֱהִ֣י conj + Qal wimpf 1cs For all day long have I been plagued, And punished every morning.
- Psalms 73:19 הָי֣וּ Qal pf 3cp How they are suddenly destroyed! They are completely swept away with terrors.
- Psalms 73:22 הָיִ֥יתִי Qal pf 1cs I was so senseless and ignorant. I was a brute beast before you.
- Psalms 76:2 וַ/יְהִ֣י conj + Qal wimpf 3ms His tent is also in Salem; His dwelling place in Zion.
- Psalms 78:8 יִהְי֨וּ Qal impf 3mp And might not be as their fathers, A stubborn and rebellious generation, A generation that didn't make their hearts loyal, Whose spirit was not steadfast with God.
- Psalms 79:4 הָיִ֣ינוּ Qal pf 1cp We have become a reproach to our neighbors, A scoffing and derision to those who are around us.
- Psalms 80:17 תְּֽהִי Qal juss 3fs Let your hand be on the man of your right hand, On the son of man whom you made strong for yourself.
- Psalms 81:9 יִהְיֶ֣ה Qal impf 3ms There shall be no strange god in you, Neither shall you worship any foreign god.
- Psalms 81:15 וִ/יהִ֖י conj + Qal juss 3ms The haters of Yahweh would cringe before him, And their punishment would last forever.
- Psalms 83:8 הָ֤י֥וּ Qal pf 3cp Assyria also is joined with them. They have helped the children of Lot. Selah.
- Psalms 83:10 הָ֥יוּ Qal pf 3cp Who perished at Endor, Who became as dung for the earth.
- Psalms 88:4 הָ֝יִ֗יתִי Qal pf 1cs I am counted among those who go down into the pit. I am like a man who has no help,
- Psalms 89:36 יִהְיֶ֑ה Qal impf 3ms His seed will endure forever, His throne like the sun before me.
- Psalms 89:41 הָיָ֥ה Qal pf 3ms All who pass by the way rob him. He has become a reproach to his neighbors.
- Psalms 90:1 הָיִ֥יתָ Qal pf 2ms Lord, you have been our dwelling place for all generations.
- Psalms 90:5 יִהְי֑וּ Qal impf 3mp You sweep them away as they sleep. In the morning they sprout like new grass.
- Psalms 90:17 וִ/יהִ֤י conj + Qal juss 3ms Let the favor of the Lord our God be on us; Establish the work of our hands for us; Yes, establish the work of our hands.
- Psalms 92:14 יִהְיֽוּ Qal impf 3mp They will still bring forth fruit in old age. They will be full of sap and green,
- Psalms 94:22 וַ/יְהִ֬י conj + Qal wimpf 3ms But Yahweh has been my high tower, My God, the rock of my refuge.
- Psalms 99:8 הָיִ֣יתָ Qal pf 2ms You answered them, Yahweh our God. You are a God who forgave them, Although you took vengeance for their doings.
- Psalms 102:6 הָ֝יִ֗יתִי Qal pf 1cs I am like a pelican of the wilderness. I have become as an owl of the waste places.
- Psalms 102:7 וָ/אֶֽהְיֶ֑ה conj + Qal wimpf 1cs I watch, and have become like a sparrow that is alone on the housetop.
- Psalms 104:20 וִ֣/יהִי conj + Qal impf 3ms You make darkness, and it is night, In which all the animals of the forest prowl.
- Psalms 104:31 יְהִ֤י Qal juss 3ms Let the glory of Yahweh endure forever. Let Yahweh rejoice in his works.
- Psalms 105:12 בִּֽ֭/הְיוֹתָ/ם prep + Qal inf.cs + sfx pers 3mp When they were but a few men in number, Yes, very few, and foreigners in it.
- Psalms 106:36 וַ/יִּהְי֖וּ conj + Qal wimpf 3mp They served their idols, Which became a snare to them.
- Psalms 109:7 תִּהְיֶ֥ה Qal impf 3fs When he is judged, let him come forth guilty. Let his prayer be turned into sin.
- Psalms 109:8 יִֽהְיֽוּ Qal impf 3mp Let his days be few. Let another take his office.
- Psalms 109:9 יִֽהְיוּ Qal impf 3mp Let his children be fatherless, And his wife a widow.
- Psalms 109:12 יְהִי יְהִ֥י Qal juss 3ms Qal juss 3ms Let there be none to extend kindness to him, Neither let there be any to have pity on his fatherless children.
- Psalms 109:13 יְהִֽי Qal impf 3ms Let his posterity be cut off. In the generation following let their name be blotted out.
- Psalms 109:15 יִהְי֣וּ Qal impf 3mp Let them be before Yahweh continually, That he may cut off the memory of them from the earth;
- Psalms 109:19 תְּהִי Qal impf 3fs Let it be to him as the clothing with which he covers himself, For the belt that is always around him.
- Psalms 109:25 הָיִ֣יתִי Qal pf 1cs I have also become a reproach to them. When they see me, they shake their head.
- Psalms 112:2 יִהְיֶ֣ה Qal impf 3ms His seed will be mighty in the land. The generation of the upright will be blessed.
- Psalms 112:6 יִהְיֶ֥ה Qal impf 3ms For he will never be shaken. The righteous will be remembered forever.
- Psalms 113:2 יְהִ֤י Qal impf 3ms Blessed be the name of Yahweh, From this time forth and forevermore.
- Psalms 114:2 הָיְתָ֣ה Qal pf 3fs Judah became his sanctuary, Israel his dominion.
- Psalms 115:8 יִהְי֣וּ Qal impf 3mp Those who make them will be like them; Yes, everyone who trusts in them.
- Psalms 118:14 וַֽ/יְהִי conj + Qal wimpf 3ms Yah is my strength and song. He has become my salvation.
- Psalms 118:21 וַ/תְּהִי conj + Qal wimpf 2ms I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me, And have become my salvation.
- Psalms 118:22 הָ֝יְתָ֗ה Qal pf 3fs The stone which the builders rejected has become the head of the corner.
- Psalms 118:23 הָ֣יְתָה Qal pf 3fs This is Yahweh's doing. It is marvelous in our eyes.
- Psalms 119:54 הָֽיוּ Qal pf 3cp Your statutes have been my songs, In the house where I live.
- Psalms 119:56 הָֽיְתָה Qal pf 3fs This is my way, That I keep your precepts.
- Psalms 119:76 יְהִי Qal juss 3ms Please let your loving kindness be for my comfort, According to your word to your servant.
- Psalms 119:80 יְהִֽי Qal juss 3ms Let my heart be blameless toward your decrees, That I may not be disappointed.
- Psalms 119:83 הָ֭יִיתִי Qal pf 1cs For I have become like a wineskin in the smoke. I don't forget your statutes.
- Psalms 119:173 תְּהִֽי Qal impf 3fs Let your hand be ready to help me, For I have chosen your precepts.
- Psalms 122:2 הָי֣וּ Qal pf 3cp Our feet are standing within your gates, Jerusalem;
- Psalms 122:7 יְהִֽי Qal juss 3ms Peace be within your walls, And prosperity within your palaces.
- Psalms 124:1 שֶׁ/הָ֣יָה ptcl rel + Qal pf 3ms If it had not been Yahweh who was on our side, Let Israel now say,
- Psalms 124:2 שֶׁ/הָ֣יָה ptcl rel + Qal pf 3ms If it had not been Yahweh who was on our side, When men rose up against us;
- Psalms 126:1 הָ֝יִ֗ינוּ Qal pf 1cp When Yahweh brought back those who returned to Zion, We were like those who dream.
- Psalms 126:3 הָיִ֥ינוּ Qal pf 1cp Yahweh has done great things for us, And we are glad.
- Psalms 129:6 יִ֭הְיוּ Qal impf 3mp Let them be as the grass on the housetops, Which withers before it grows up;
- Psalms 130:2 תִּהְיֶ֣ינָה Qal impf 3fp Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my petitions.
- Psalms 135:18 יִהְי֣וּ Qal impf 3mp Those who make them will be like them; Yes, everyone who trusts in them.
- Psalms 139:22 הָ֣יוּ Qal pf 3cp I hate them with perfect hatred. They have become my enemies.
- Psalms 142:1 בִּ/הְיוֹת֖/וֹ prep + Qal inf.cs + sfx pers 3ms I cry with my voice to Yahweh. With my voice, I ask Yahweh for mercy.
Proverbs 27 verses
- Proverbs 1:14 יִהְיֶ֥ה Qal impf 3ms You shall cast your lot among us. We'll all have one purse."
- Proverbs 3:7 תְּהִ֣י Qal juss 2ms Don't be wise in your own eyes. Fear Yahweh, and depart from evil.
- Proverbs 3:8 תְּהִ֣י Qal juss 3fs It will be health to your body, And nourishment to your bones.
- Proverbs 3:22 וְ/יִֽהְי֣וּ conj + Qal impf 3mp So they will be life to your soul, And grace for your neck.
- Proverbs 3:26 יִהְיֶ֣ה Qal impf 3ms For Yahweh will be your confidence, And will keep your foot from being taken.
- Proverbs 3:27 בִּ/הְי֨וֹת prep + Qal inf.cs Don't withhold good from those to whom it is due, When it is in the power of your hand to do it.
- Proverbs 4:3 הָיִ֣יתִי Qal pf 1cs For I was a son to my father, Tender and an only child in the sight of my mother.
- Proverbs 5:14 הָיִ֣יתִי Qal pf 1cs I have come to the brink of utter ruin, In the midst of the gathered assembly."
- Proverbs 5:17 יִֽהְיוּ Qal juss 3mp Let them be for yourself alone, Not for strangers with you.
- Proverbs 5:18 יְהִֽי Qal juss 3ms Let your spring be blessed. Rejoice in the wife of your youth.
- Proverbs 8:30 וָֽ/אֶהְיֶ֥ה וָֽ/אֶהְיֶ֣ה conj + Qal wimpf 1cs conj + Qal wimpf 1cs Then I was the craftsman by his side. I was a delight day by day, Always rejoicing before him,
- Proverbs 12:8 יִהְיֶ֥ה Qal impf 3ms A man shall be commended according to his wisdom, But he who has a warped mind shall be despised.
- Proverbs 12:24 תִּהְיֶ֥ה Qal impf 3fs The hands of the diligent ones shall rule, But laziness ends in slave labor.
- Proverbs 13:19 נִ֭הְיָה Niphal ptcp.act fs Longing fulfilled is sweet to the soul, But fools detest turning from evil.
- Proverbs 14:23 יִהְיֶ֣ה Qal impf 3ms In all hard work there is profit, But the talk of the lips leads only to poverty.
- Proverbs 14:26 יִהְיֶ֥ה Qal impf 3ms In the fear of Yahweh is a secure fortress, And he will be a refuge for his children.
- Proverbs 14:35 תִּהְיֶ֥ה Qal impf 3fs The king's favor is toward a servant who deals wisely, But his wrath is toward one who causes shame.
- Proverbs 22:19 לִ/הְי֣וֹת prep + Qal inf.cs That your trust may be in Yahweh, I teach you today, even you.
- Proverbs 22:26 תְּהִ֥י Qal juss 2ms Don't you be one of those who strike hands, Of those who are collateral for debts.
- Proverbs 23:20 תְּהִ֥י Qal juss 2ms Don't be among ones drinking too much wine, Or those who gorge themselves on meat:
- Proverbs 23:34 וְ֭/הָיִיתָ conj + Qal wpf 2ms Yes, you will be as he who lies down in the midst of the sea, Or as he who lies on top of the rigging:
- Proverbs 24:1 לִ/הְי֥וֹת prep + Qal inf.cs Don't be envious of evil men; Neither desire to be with them:
- Proverbs 24:20 תִהְיֶ֣ה Qal impf 3fs For there will be no reward to the evil man; And the lamp of the wicked shall be snuffed out.
- Proverbs 24:28 תְּהִ֣י Qal juss 2ms Don't be a witness against your neighbor without cause. Don't deceive with your lips.
- Proverbs 26:5 יִהְיֶ֖ה Qal impf 3ms Answer a fool according to his folly, Lest he be wise in his own eyes.
- Proverbs 29:21 יִהְיֶ֥ה Qal impf 3ms He who pampers his servant from youth Will have him become a son in the end.
- Proverbs 31:14 הָ֭יְתָה Qal pf 3fs She is like the merchant ships. She brings her bread from afar.
Ecclesiastes 35 verses
- Ecclesiastes 1:9 שֶּֽׁ/הָיָה֙ שֶׁ/יִּהְיֶ֔ה ptcl rel + Qal pf 3ms ptcl rel + Qal impf 3ms That which has been is that which shall be; and that which has been done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.
- Ecclesiastes 1:10 הָיָ֣ה הָיָ֖ה Qal pf 3ms Qal pf 3ms Is there a thing of which it may be said, "Behold, this is new?" It has been long ago, in the ages which were before us.
- Ecclesiastes 1:11 שֶׁ/יִּהְי֗וּ יִהְיֶ֤ה שֶׁ/יִּהְי֖וּ ptcl rel + Qal impf 3mp Qal impf 3ms ptcl rel + Qal impf 3mp There is no memory of the former; neither shall there be any memory of the latter that are to come, among those that shall come after.
- Ecclesiastes 1:12 הָיִ֥יתִי Qal pf 1cs I, the Preacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem.
- Ecclesiastes 1:16 הָיָ֥ה Qal pf 3ms I said to myself, "Behold, I have obtained for myself great wisdom above all who were before me in Jerusalem. Yes, my heart has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge."
- Ecclesiastes 2:7 הָ֣יָה הָ֣יָה שֶֽׁ/הָי֥וּ Qal pf 3ms Qal pf 3ms ptcl rel + Qal pf 3cp I bought men-servants and maid-servants, and had servants born in my house. I also had great possessions of herds and flocks, above all who were before me in Jerusalem;
- Ecclesiastes 2:9 שֶׁ/הָיָ֥ה ptcl rel + Qal pf 3ms So I was great, and increased more than all who were before me in Jerusalem. My wisdom also remained with me.
- Ecclesiastes 2:10 הָיָ֥ה Qal pf 3ms Whatever my eyes desired, I didn't keep from them. I didn't withhold my heart from any joy, for my heart rejoiced because of all my labor, and this was my portion from all my labor.
- Ecclesiastes 2:18 שֶׁ/יִּהְיֶ֥ה ptcl rel + Qal impf 3ms I hated all my labor in which I labored under the sun, seeing that I must leave it to the man who comes after me.
- Ecclesiastes 2:19 יִהְיֶה֙ Qal impf 3ms Who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will have rule over all of my labor in which I have labored, and in which I have shown myself wise under the sun. This also is vanity.
- Ecclesiastes 3:14 יִהְיֶ֣ה Qal impf 3ms I know that whatever God does, it shall be forever. Nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it; and God has done it, that men should fear before him.
- Ecclesiastes 3:15 שֶּֽׁ/הָיָה֙ לִ/הְי֖וֹת הָיָ֑ה ptcl rel + Qal pf 3ms prep + Qal inf.cs Qal pf 3ms That which is has been long ago, and that which is to be has been long ago: and God seeks again that which is passed away.
- Ecclesiastes 3:20 הָיָ֣ה Qal pf 3ms All go to one place. All are from the dust, and all turn to dust again.
- Ecclesiastes 3:22 שֶׁ/יִּהְיֶ֥ה ptcl rel + Qal impf 3ms Therefore I saw that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his works; for that is his portion: for who can bring him to see what will be after him?
- Ecclesiastes 4:3 הָיָ֑ה Qal pf 3ms Yes, better than them both is him who has not yet been, who has not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.
- Ecclesiastes 4:16 הָיָה֙ Qal pf 3ms There was no end of all the people, even of all them over whom he was--yet those who come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a chasing after wind.
- Ecclesiastes 5:2 יִהְי֥וּ Qal juss 3mp Don't be rash with your mouth, and don't let your heart be hasty to utter anything before God; for God is in heaven, and you on earth. Therefore let your words be few.
- Ecclesiastes 6:3 שֶׁ/יִּהְי֣וּ הָ֣יְתָה ptcl rel + Qal impf 3mp Qal pf 3fs If a man fathers a hundred children, and lives many years, so that the days of his years are many, but his soul is not filled with good, and moreover he has no burial; I say, that an untimely birth is better than he:
- Ecclesiastes 6:10 שֶּֽׁ/הָיָ֗ה ptcl rel + Qal pf 3ms Whatever has been, its name was given long ago; and it is known what man is; neither can he contend with him who is mightier than he.
- Ecclesiastes 6:12 יִּהְיֶ֥ה Qal impf 3ms For who knows what is good for man in life, all the days of his vain life which he spends like a shadow? For who can tell a man what will be after him under the sun?
- Ecclesiastes 7:10 הָיָ֔ה הָי֥וּ Qal pf 3ms Qal pf 3cp Don't say, "Why were the former days better than these?" For you do not ask wisely about this.
- Ecclesiastes 7:14 הֱיֵ֣ה Qal impv 2ms In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider; yes, God has made the one side by side with the other, to the end that man should not find out anything after him.
- Ecclesiastes 7:16 תְּהִ֤י Qal juss 2ms Don't be overly righteous, neither make yourself overly wise. Why should you destroy yourself?
- Ecclesiastes 7:17 תְּהִ֣י Qal juss 2ms Don't be too wicked, neither be foolish. Why should you die before your time?
About this entry
At a glance — auto-summarized from this page’s data, not written by a person. Every figure links to its source below. This summary describes the numbers; it doesn’t interpret them.
היה (hâyâh) is a Hebrew verb most often rendered “to be.” Older and newer Bibles part ways — “shall be” in the King James Version, “will be” (Berean Standard Bible) and “was” (unfoldingWord Literal Text) in modern versions. See the renderings breakdown. It turns up in 3,130 verses across 39 books, one of the most common footprint. Scripture first uses it in Genesis 1:2. Read the stem: it spans 2 stems, including Qal and Niphal. The sections below give every sense, occurrence, and version rendering.
Gloss history
Strong's 1890 vs modern scholarship
Strong's · 1890
beacon
Modern gloss
to be
Strong's 1890 sometimes compressed multiple senses — or homonymous roots — under one number, and used 19th-century English phrasing that no longer carries the same connotation. The modern gloss reflects current BDB scholarship; open the Lexicon Entry tab for the full sense breakdown.
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About this word
Strong's H1961 catalogs a Hebrew word from the Hebrew Old Testament.
These counts are not copied from any lexicon or concordance. They are computed here, from the morphology-tagged Hebrew Old Testament. What Lemma adds →
- 3,130
- distinct verses
- The word appears in 3,130 distinct verses.
- 39 / 39
- OT books
- The word appears in 39 of 39 Old Testament books.
- #11
- by frequency
- Top 25 most frequent Hebrew words (rank 11 of 8,640 Hebrew words by occurrence).
View all 3,130 occurrences in the concordance →
By section of the Old Testament
By traditional corpus
Conventional, traditional groupings — biblical authorship is debated, so this is a traditional corpus grouping, not an authorship claim. Each share is this word’s portion of its verses in that division of the Hebrew canon. Each figure is a share of the word’s 3,130 distinct verses.
- Prophets (Nevi'im) 1,662 verses · 53%
- Torah (Pentateuch) 919 verses · 29%
- Writings (Ketuvim) 549 verses · 18%
How translations render this word
Counts come from each version’s own published word-to-Strong’s tagging or interlinear alignment — an approximate guide to how each version renders this word, not a word-level alignment the data otherwise carries. Because each total is that version’s own tagged count, the per-version totals vary from one another and need not match the appearance or distinct-verse counts above. These counts may also differ from a printed concordance because Lemma counts each distinctly tagged rendering and does not collapse phrase taggings into a single head-word total. This is a fixed set of word-tagged versions (KJV, ASV, BSB, ULT) and does not change with the reading translation you choose elsewhere. Each version’s license is shown beside its name below (and on Sources).
- King James Version: Shall be 8×, Be 5×, Was 4×
- American Standard Version: Be 7×, Shall be 4×, Was 4×
- Berean Standard Bible: Will be 265×, Was 236×, Came 159×
- unfoldingWord Literal Text: Was 497×, Will be 433×, And 354×
King James Version Public Domain
Renders H1961 across 76 tagged occurrences — most commonly:
Plus 44 renderings that appear only once — usually multi-word phrases or single function words the recovered tagging swept in, not distinct renderings.
American Standard Version Public Domain
Renders H1961 across 76 tagged occurrences — most commonly:
Plus 45 renderings that appear only once — usually multi-word phrases or single function words the recovered tagging swept in, not distinct renderings.
Berean Standard Bible Public Domain
Renders H1961 across 2,843 tagged occurrences — most commonly:
Plus other, less common renderings. Plus 474 renderings that appear only once — usually multi-word phrases or single function words the recovered tagging swept in, not distinct renderings. Not rendered by a distinct English word in 693 further occurrences.
unfoldingWord Literal Text CC BY-SA 4.0
Renders H1961 across 4,104 tagged occurrences — most commonly:
Plus other, less common renderings. Plus 160 renderings that appear only once — usually multi-word phrases or single function words the recovered tagging swept in, not distinct renderings.
34 senses and sub-senses in the full BDB
Hebrew verbs can shift meaning by stem (binyan): Qal is the basic action, Niphal is often passive or reflexive, Piel often intensifies or makes it factitive, and Hiphil is typically causative. The senses below are grouped under the stem BDB assigns to each.
What do BDB’s symbols mean?
BDB uses these scholarly abbreviations:
| Symbol | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 𝔊 | the Septuagint (the ancient Greek translation, LXX) |
| 𝔙 | the Vulgate (the Latin translation) |
| 𝔖 | the Syriac version (the Peshitta) |
| 𝔗 | the Targum (the Aramaic translation) |
| ψ | the Psalms |
| √ | root (the underlying root or stem) |
| ‖ | parallel passage (a synonymous or contrasted parallel) |
| † | the dagger: every passage where the word occurs is cited |
The 34 senses and sub-senses the full Brown-Driver-Briggs lexicon distinguishes for this word, in lexicon order (not ranked by frequency), with BDB’s own verbatim wording and sub-sense lettering. Shown in Hebrew script with BDB’s own scholarly abbreviations. The condensed entry is in the Lexicon Entry tab. See also the Forms in the corpus table below.
Qal
- Pf. 3 ms. הָיָה Gn 3:1 +; וְהָיָה consec. Gn 4:14 +; 3 fs. הָֽיְתָה Gn 1:2 +; הָיָתָ֑ה Is 14:24 + 3 times; וְהָֽיְתָה consec. Gn 9:13 +; והית 2 K 9:37 Kt (Qr וְהָיְתָה); 2 ms. הָיִיתָ Dt 5:15 +; 1 s. הָיִיתִי Gn 31:40; 3 pl. הָיוּ Gn 6:4 +; 2 mpl. הֱיִיתֶם Ex 22:20 +; וִהְיִיתֶם consec. Gn 3:5 +; 1 pl. הָיִינוּ Is 1:9 +; etc.; Impf. 3 ms. יִהְיֶה Gn 1:29 +; juss. יְהִי Gn 1:3 +; יֶהִ֑י Ez 16:15; וִיהִי Gn 1:6 +; וַיְהִי Gn 1:3 +; וַיֶּהִ֑י ψ 33:9 Ez 16:19; 3 fs. תִּהְיֶה Gn 21:30 +; 1 s. אֶהְיֶה Ex 3:12 +; וָאֶהְיֶה 2 S 7:6 + 9 times; וָאֱהִי Ju 18:4 + 12 times; 3 mpl. יִהְיוּ Gn 6:19 +; 3 fpl. תִּהְיֶינָה Is 16:2 + 19 times; תִּהְיֶיןָ Gn 41:36 + 11 times; וְתִהְיֶנָה Je 18:21; 48:6; וַתִּהְיֶינָה 2 S 20:3 + 6 times; וַתִּהְיֶיןָ Gn 26:35; 1 S 25:43; וַתִּהְיֶנָה 1 Ch 7:15; 2 mpl. תִּהְיוּ Gn 34:15 +; תִּהְיוּן Ex 22:20; 1 pl. נִהְיֶה Gn 38:23 +; וַנִּהְיֶה 2 S 11:23; Je 44:17; וַנְּהִי Nu 13:33; Is 64:5, etc.; Imv. ms. הֱיֵה Ex 18:19 +; fs. הֲיִי Gn 24:60; mpl. הֱיוּ Ex 19:15; Nu 16:16, וִהְיוּ 1 S 4:9 + 6 times; Inf. abs. הָיוֹ Gn 18:18 + 3 times; הָיֹה 1 K 13:32 Ez 1:3; cstr. הֱיוֹת Gn 2:18 +, so read prob. also for הֱיֵה Ez 21:15 cf. Sm Köi p. 600 f. (Co em. היה־לה to הָהֵל shine, glitter); with pref. בִּהְיוֹת Ex 5:13 +, בִּהְיֹת Ex 19:16 +; לִהְיוֹת Gn 10:8 +, לִהְיֹת Ex 23:1 +; sf. הֱיוֹתִי Jon 4:2; הֱיוֹתְךָ Ju 18:19(×2); לִהְיֹתְךָ Dt 26:19, etc.; Pt. f. הוֹיָה Ex 9:3. e.g. Genesis 3:1
- I.
- 1.
- a. Fall out, happen מֶה־הָיָה הַדָּבָר 1 S 4:16 how has the matter fallen out, (gone, turned out)? so 2 S 1:4; מֶה־הָיָה לוֹ Ex 32:1, 23 (both JE) what has happened to him? cf. 1 S 10:12; מִקְרֶה הוּא הָיָה לָנוּ 1 S 6:9 a chance it is that has befallen us; also וַיְהִי־לוֹ כֵּן 2 K 7:20 and so it happened to him, cf. וַיְהִי־כֵן infr. e.g. 1 Samuel 4:16
- b. occur, take place, come about, come to pass:—מַגֵּפָה גְדוֹלָה הָֽיְתָה בָּעָם 1 S 4:17 a great slaughter has taken place among the people, cf. 2 S 17:9; הַמִּלְחָמָה בְּיַעַר אֶפְרַיִם וַתְּהִי 2 S 18:6 and the battle took place in the wood of Ephraim (on אפרים cf. Klo Dr); Jos 22:17 (P; of plague); תְּהִי נָא אָלָה Gn 26:28 (J) let an oath take place (be taken) so Ju 21:5; cf. 2 K 17:7 (si vera l.), Ez 16:34; especially late, 2 Ch 29:36; 32:31; Ec 1:9, 10; 3:22; 8:7; 10:14 etc.; often of fulfilment of prediction, command, expectation, etc.:—כֵּן הָיָה Gn 41:3 (E) so it came to pass, 2 S 13:25, וַיְהִי־כֵן Ju 6:38 2 K 15:12 Is 29:5, & especially וַיְהִי־כֵן Gn 1:7, 9, 11, 15, 24, 30 (all P) +; יְהִי כִדְבָרֶ֑ךָ Gn 30:34 let it be as thou sayest, Zc 6:15, v. also לֹא תָקוּם וְלֹא יִהְיֶה Is 7:7 it shall not arise (be realized) & shall not come about, 14:24; (so often בּוֹא q.v. 2 c, p. 98 supr.) e.g. 1 Samuel 4:17
- 2. especially & very often, come about, come to pass sq. substantive (subj.) cl. almost always + modifying (usually temporal) cl. or phr.:
- a. (1) וַיְהִי and it came to pass that, most often (c. 292 times) foll. by (a) Impf. consec.: α. with Inf. c. כְּ temp. Gn 12:14; 19:17 (both J) + 75 times + Est 3:4 Qr (Hex chiefly J,—so always Gn,—& JE; P only Ex 16:10, D only Dt 5:20; 31:24 Jos 5:1; 9:1; 27 times in K),—somewhat diff. is 2 K 7:18; β. with Inf. c. בְּ Gn 4:8; 11:2 (both J) + 29 times + Est 3:4 Kt (in Hex 10 times JE; 3 times P, Gn 19:29; Ex 34:29; Nu 17:7; not in D); γ. with בְּ sq. nom. temp. (יוֹם, בֹּקֶר, etc.) Gn 21:22 (E) 26:32 (J) + 45 times (Hex 14 times JE; 3 times P, Ex 6:28; 16:13 Nu 7:1; not D); δ. לְ temp. 1 S 1:20; 2 S 13:23; 1 K 20:26; 1 Ch 20:1; ε. כְּ temp. Gn 39:11 1 S 25:38; ζ. מִן temp. viz.: מֵאָז Gn 39:5, מִיּוֹם 1 S 7:2 cf. 30:25, מִיָּמִים Ju 11:4; 15:1, מִקֵּץ Gn 4:3; 8:6 + 6 times, מִקְצֵה Jos 3:2 2 K 8:3 Ez 3:16, especially מִמָּחֳרָת Gn 19:34 Ex 18:13 + 11 times; η. כַּאֲשֶׁר temp. Gn 12:11 (J) 20:13 (E) + 31 times (Hex 13 times JE, Dt 2:16, not P), characteristic of Neh.’s memoirs, †Ne 3:33; 4:1, 6, 9; 6:1, 16; 7:1; 13:19; θ. with כִּי temp. Gn 6:1 (J) Ex 3:21 (E) + 14 times + Ju 16:25 Kt; ι. אַחֲרֵי temp. Gn 22:20 (J) + 13 times, אַחַר Gn 39:7 Jb 42:7, אַחֲרֵי־כֵן Ju 16:4 + 6 times; κ. sq. עַד temp. 1 S 14:19 (on which cf. Dr); comp. עַד־כֹּה וְעַד־כֹּה 1 K 18:45; λ. with combinations; as בְּ c. nom. temp. + בְּ Inf. Gn 34:25 Ex 19:16 1 S 25:37; בְּ Inf. + כְּ Inf. Jos 3:14; double prep. כְּמִשְּׁלשׁ חֳדָשִׁים Gn 38:24; מִקְצֵה + אַחֲרֵי אֲשֶׁר Jos 9:16; מִיָּמִים + id. 23:1; μ. other unusual constructions under this head are: those where temporal idea is expr. by a circumst. cl. Is 22:7 1 K 13:20 2 K 8:21 (Dr§ 165, & Obs.) = 2 Ch 21:9; those with indef. כֹּל 1 S 10:11; 2 S 2:23; 15:2, or with pt. = rel. cl. 1 S 11:1 (on all v. Dr§ 78 n. & Sm); quite unique is 1 K 16:31, with הֲנָקֵל לֶכְתּוֹ וגו׳ in place of temp. cl. (b) וַיְהִי sometimes sq. simple Pf., with a negative Gn 39:10 (c. כְּ Inf.), Ex 13:17 (c. בְּ Inf.) 2 K 12:7; 17:25 (both c. בְּ temp.); & without neg., Gn 8:13 (P) 14:1 +, usually c. בְּ temp. (38 times), Hex chiefly P; rarely c. other prep. & adv. as above; note especially מִדֵּי sq. Inf. 1 S 18:20 2 Ch 12:11; sometimes the subj. of foll. Pf. precedes it c. וְ, as Gn 22:1; 41:1; 1 S 18:19; 30:1; 2 K 2:9; 4:40 +; note especially 2 S 17:27 where several subj. & also several objects precede the Pf. (cf. Dr); in these cases the temporal modifier is occasionally a circumst. cl. 2 S 13:30; 1 K 8:10; 2 K 19:37 = Is 37:38; rarely subj. precedes Pf. without וְ 1 K 11:4; 21:1, comp. subj. preceding Pt. without וְ Ne 4:10; in 2 Ch 8:1 the obj. (with וְ) precedes what is appar. the principal vb. (c) וַיְהִי sq. וְהִנֵּה Gn 24:15 (J; טֶרֶם in temp. cl.), 29:25 (E), 38:27 (J, both בְּ temp.) v 29 (כְּ Pt.), 1 S 13:10 (כְּ Inf.); also 2 S 1:2; 13:36; 15:32 (circumst. cl.) 2 K 2:11 (id.), 3:20, 13:21 (circumst. cl.). (d) rarely וַיְהִי (in this sense) sq. other constructions: אָז יִתֵּן 1 K 9:10 (c. מִקְצֵה); Impf. frequentat. 14:28 (c. מִדֵּי־בֹּא, 2 K 4:8 (c. מִדֵּי עָבְרוֹ) Je 36:23 (c. כְּ Inf.); Pf. consec. frequentat. 2 Ch 24:11 (c. בְּ temp.). (2) really also Pf. c. וְ conj. וְהָיָה (cf. Dr§ 133) sq. Impf. consec. as subj. cl.: 1 S 1:12 (c. several circumst. cl.), 10:9 (c. כְּ Inf.) 2 K 3:15 (id.), 1 S 17:48 (c. כִּי), Je 37:11 (c. בְּ Inf.), Am 7:2 (c. אִם temp.); also Je 3:9 (appar. c. מִן causat., but obscure); 1 S 13:22 (c. בְּ temp.) is foll. by וְלֹא & Pf. as well as Impf. consec. e.g. Genesis 12:14
- b. less often וְהָיָה Pf. consec. and it shall come to pass, or frequentat., came to pass (repeatedly, etc.) usually (a) sq. simple Impf. (c. 100 times): α. c. בְּ temp. Dt 21:16; 25:19 + 37 times, (especially בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא Ho 2:18, 23 Is 7:18, 21, 23 + 21 times); β. c. בְּ loc. Ez 47:23 Zc 13:8 cf. also Ho 2:1 (בִּמְקוֹם אֲשֶׁר, but perhaps = instead of, cf. VB); γ. c. indef. rel. cl., or its equiv. (כֹּל indef., etc.), cf. Dr§ 121, Obs. 1: Gn 4:14; Nu 17:20; Dt 12:11; 18:19; Jos 7:14, 15; Ju 7:4; 1 S 2:36; 17:25; 2 S 15:35; 1 K 19:17; 20:6; Is 4:3; 24:18; Na 3:7; Je 27:8; 42:4; Ez 47:9; Zc 14:17; Jo 3:5; δ. c. כַּאֲשֶׁר Nu 33:56; Dt 28:63; Jos 23:15; Ju 7:17; Is 29:8; Je 31:28; Zc 8:13; ε. less often with other modif. phr.: כְּ Inf. Ex 33:8, 9 (both frequentat.), Jos 3:13; 8:8; Je 25:12; 51:63; בְּ Inf. Gn 9:14 (P) 2 K 4:10; Ez 44:17; אִם condit. Dt 20:11 (+ v 11 Dr§ 118 n.), also Jos 22:18, where the arrangement is peculiar, & the condit. is expressed without אִם (cf. Dr§ 155); לְ temp. Dt 23:12; מִקֵּץ Is 23:17; טֶרֶם Is 65:24; מִדֵּי חֹדֶשׁ בְּחָדְשׁוֹ Is 66:23, etc. (b) וְהָיָה sq. Pf. consec. (c. 85 times): α. most often + cl. c. כִּי temp. Gn 12:12; 46:33 (both J) Ex 1:10 (E) Dt 11:29; Is 8:21 + 25 times; β. c. אִם Ex 4:8, 9 Nu 15:24; Dt 11:13 + 14 times; also Gn 38:9; Nu 21:9 (both frequentat.); γ. c. בְּ temp. Gn 30:41 (frequentat.) 47:24 (but cf. Ol Di) Ex 16:5 + 11 times; δ. c. indef. rel. cl. or equivalent (Dr§ 121 Obs. 1): Gn 24:14; Nu 10:32 (Dr§ 118 n.) 21:18; Dt 21:3 Ju 11:31; 19:30; Zc 14:16; ε. occas. with other modif. phr.: כַּאֲשֶׁר Gn 27:40 +; כְּ Inf. Gn 44:31 +; בְּ Inf. Ex 33:22 +; מִקֵּץ 2 S 14:26; עֵקֶב causat. Dt 7:12; also (c) sq. וְלֹא + simple Impf. Ex 3:21 (c. כִּי temp.). (d) וְהָיָה sq. Imv. (very rare) Dt 6:10 (c. כִּי temp.), 1 S 10:7 (c. כִּי), cf. 29:10, cf. Pf. consec. in command 1 S 3:9 (c. אִם). (e) וְהָיָה sq. simple Pf. (also very rare) Dt 8:19 (c. אִם). (f) וְהָיָה sq. cl. without vb.: Gn 24:43 Jos 2:19 1 K 18:24 (all c. indef. rel. modifier, or equiv., v. (a) γ, (b) δ, supr.). (g) וְהָיָה (ו conj.) sq. Impf. consec. v. a. (e) supr. e.g. Deuteronomy 21:16
- 1.
- II. Come into being, become:—
- 1.
- a. abs., in lively narrative, arise, appear, come וַתְּהִי צְעָקָה גְדֹלָה Ex 12:30 (J) and there arose a great cry in Egypt; וַיְהִי־קוֹל Ez 1:25 (del. Co cf. Da), 37:7 (del. קוֹל 𝔊 Co); כִּי הָֽיְתָה הָֽרְוָחָה Ex 8:11 (J) Pharaoh saw that respite had come; Mi 7:4 now shall come their confusion (‖ בוא); also of concrete objects וְהָֽיְתָה הַקֶּשֶׁת בֶּעָנָן Gn 9:16 (P) and the bow shall appear in the clouds (‖ וְנִרְאֲתָה); וְרִמָּה לֹא הָֽיְתָה בּוֹ Ex 16:24 (P) and worms did not appear in it; of condition or action begun & continuing, as: famine Gn 12:10; 26:1, 1 (all J), 41:54 (E), Ru 1:1; 2 S 21:1; 2 K 6:25; strife Gn 13:7, 8 (J), Hb 1:3 (‖ מָדוֹן יִשָּׂא); often of action of the elements, as the coming of hail Ex 9:18, 24, 26 (all J), thunder & lightning, etc., Ex 19:16 (E), rain 1 K 18:45, storm Jon 1:4; especially of creative fiats יְהִי אוֹר וַיְהִי אוֹר Gn 1:3 let light appear, and light appeared, cf. v 5, 8, 13, 19, 23, 31 (all P); also arise, come on the stage or scene, וְאַחֲרָיו הָיָה שַׁמְגַּר Ju 3:31 and after him arose Shamgar (= וַיָּקָם 10:1); further וַעֲלָטָה הָיָה Gn 15:17 (JE) and darkness came on; הַבֹּקֶר הָיָה Ex 10:13 (J) the morning came, 19:16 (E); וַיְהִי הַיּוֹם †1 S 1:4 and the day came, when (v. Dr), 14:1 2 K 4:8, 11, 18 Jb 1:6, 13; 2:1. e.g. Exodus 12:30
- b. sq. prep.: בְּ, וְיָדֵנוּ אַל־תְּהִי־בוֹ (Gn 37:27 (J) but out hand, let it not come upon him, of hand of י׳ 1 S 5:9; 7:13; 12:15 + (all in hostile sense); וַיְהִי בִּרְכַּת י׳ בְּכָל־אֲשֶׁר יֶשׁ־לוֹ Gn 39:5 (J) and the blessing of י׳ came into (on) all that he had; but also of plague Ex 12:13 (P); sq. עַל, וּמֵי הַמַּבּוּל הָיוּ עַל־הָאָרֶץ Gn 7:10 (J) that the waters of the flood came upon the earth; עָלַי הָיוּ כֻלָּ֑נָה Gn 42:36 (E) Gn 9:2 (P) fear shall come upon, cf. 35:5 (P) 2 Ch 14:13; 17:10; 20:29 +; of wrath Jos 22:20 1 K 3:27; so of Saul’s evil spirit from God 1 S 16:16, 23; 19:9 (אֶל); but sq. עַל also in good sense וַתְּהִי עָלָיו רוּחַ י׳ conferring strength & efficiency Ju 3:10; 11:29 (היה = צלח Ju 14:6 + often), cf. Nu 24:2 (JE) of prophetic power; (on וַתְּהִי עָלָיו יַד י׳ 2 K 3:15 Ez 3:22 and the like, vid. יָד); יַד אֱלֹהֵינוּ הָֽיְתָה עָלֵינוּ Ezr 8:31, so ψ 80:18; even וַתְּהִי עַל־רֹאשׁ דָּוִד 2 S 12:30 and it (the crown, עֲטֶרֶת) came (i.e. was put, set) on David’s head; with a diff. meaning וַנִּהְיֶה עֲלֵיהֶם עַד־פֶּתַח הַשָּׁ֑עַר 2 S 11:23 and we were close upon them even to the gateway (cf. We Dr); come, go, follow (sq. אַחֲרֵי) i.e. take the side of, adhere to, Ex 23:2 (JE) 1 S 12:14 2 S 2:10 1 K 12:20; 16:21; sq. לְ, of blessings Gn 49:26 (poem); of judgment, punishment Je 40:3; especially ויהי דבר … אֶל and the word of … came unto: word of Samuel 1 S 4:1; usually word of God (or י׳) Gn 15:1 1 S 15:10 +; constantly in prophets: Ho 1:1 Mi 1:1 etc.; especially Je & Ez: Je 1:4, 11, 13; 2:1; 13:8 +; Ez 3:16; 6:1; 7:1; 11:14, 17, 21, 26, 12:1, 8;+; so also abs. הָיָה הַמַּשָּׂא הַזֶּה Is 14:28 in the death-year of king Ahaz came this utterance; also sq. מִן; מַלְכֵי עַמִּים מִמֶּנָּה יִהְיוּ Gn 17:16 (P), וּקְהַל גּוֹיִם יִהְיֶה מִמֶּ֑ךָּ 35:11 (P), וְהָיָה אַדִּירוֹ מִמֶּנּוּ Je 30:21 (‖ מִקִּרְבּוֹ יֵצֵא); הַכֹּל הָיָה מִן־הֶעָפָר וְהַכֹּל שָׁב אֶל הֶעָפָר Ec 3:20 all came from the dust, & all return unto the dust; וַיְהִי קֶצֶף גָּדוֹל מֵאֵת י׳ צְבָאוֹת Zc 7:12. e.g. Genesis 37:27
- 2. become:
- a. sq. pred. noun (to be viewed as implicit accus. Dr§ 161, 3 n. according to the Arabic usage WAG ii, § 41.44.74): הִוא הָֽיְתָה אֵם כָּל־חָ֑י Gn 3:20 (J) it was she that became the mother of all living; וַיְהִי הֶבֶל רֹעֵה צֹאן וְקַיִן הָיָה עֹבֵד אֲדָמָה 4:2 (J) and Abel became a shepherd of flocks, while Cain became a tiller of ground; 2 S 8:14 Mi 2:11 + often e.g. Genesis 3:20
- b. sq. pred. adj. Gn 38:7; Ex 36:13 +; cf. Gn 37:20 let us see what his dream will become (turn out to be, signify); e.g. Genesis 38:7
- c. become like (כְּ), וִהְיִיתֶם כֵּאלֹהִים Gn 3:5 and ye shall become like gods cf. v 22, Nu 11:1 (JE), Ho 2:1; 7:11; Is 9:18; 1 K 7:8; Zc 9:7 +; cf. Gn 15:5 so (כֹּה) shall thy seed become; specif. of likeness in punishment Is 1:9 1 S 17:36 +; also with כְּ repeated וְהָיָה כָעָם כַּכֹּהֵן Ho 4:9 and the people shall become like the priest (lit., and the like of the people shall become the like of the priest), so especially Is 24:2 (6 pairs of words as above); וְהָיָה כַצַּדִּיק כָּרָשָׁע Gn 18:25 (J), v. כְּ. b + c Gn 27:23 his hands had become like the hands of Esau his brother, hairy. e.g. Genesis 3:5
- d. sq. pred. + לְ pers. וּתְהִי אִשָּׁה לְבֶן־אֲדֹנֶיךָ Gn 24:51 (J) and let her become wife to the son of thy lord, 1 S 16:21; 1 K 11:25 ψ 89:42; 1 Ch 18:6 +; = be instituted, established, וְהָיָה לָהֶם חָק־עוֹלָם Ex 30:21 (P) and it shall be established for them as a perpetual ordinance (cf. f infr.). e.g. Genesis 24:51
- e. sq. לְ pred.: וַיְהִי הָאָדָם לְנֶפֶשׁ חַיָּה Gn 2:7 (J) and the man became a living soul; וְהָיָה לְאַרְבָּעָה רָאשִׁים Gn 2:10 (J) and it became four heads; גַּם־הוּא יִהְיֶה־לְעָם Gn 48:19 (J) he too shall become a people; וִהְיוּ לַאֲנָשִׁים 1 S 4:9 and become (shew yourselves to be) men (‖ הִתְחַזְּקוּ; cf. with double לְ, f infr.); Zp 1:13; Ez 17:6; 47:12; Jb 16:8; וְהָיָה י׳ לְמֶלֶךְ עַל־כָּל־הָאָרֶץ Zc 14:9; וַיְהִי לְמַס עֹבֵד †Gn 49:15; Jos 16:10; so often; also in sense of turn into, be changed so as to become, וַיְהִי לְנָחָשׁ Ex 4:3 and it became a serpent, v 4; 7:10; Is 1:22; Dt 26:5 +; fig. וַיְהִי לְמָ֑יִם Jos 7:5 and it (their heart) turned to water, so וְהוּא הָיָה לְאֶבֶן 1 S 25:37; or, serve as וְהָיוּ לִמְאוֹרֹת Gn 1:15 (P) and they shall become (fulfil the function of, serve as) luminaries, cf. v 14; וְהָיָה לְאוֹת בְּרִית Gn 9:13; 17:11 (both P). e.g. Genesis 2:7
- f. often c. לְ pred. + לְ pers.: וַתְּהִי לָהֶם הַלְּבֵנָה לְאָ֑בֶן Gn 11:3 (J) and the bricks became (served as) stone for them; וַתְּהִי לִי לְאִשָּׁה Gn 20:12 (E) cf. 24:67 (J) +, וַתִּהְיֶינָה מַחְלָה וְחָגְלָה … לַבְנֵי דֹדֵיהֶן לְנָשִׁים Nu 36:11; וְהָיָה לְךָ וְלָהֶם לְאָכְלָה 6:21 (P), Ex 2:10; 15:2 Ju 8:27; וְהָיָה י׳ לִי לֵאלֹהִים Gn 28:21 (E); אֲנִי אֶהְיֶה לוֹ לְאָב וְהוּא יִהְיֶה־לִי לְבֵן 1 Ch 17:3 +; = shew or prove oneself as הֱיֵה־לִי לְבֶן־חַיִל 1 S 18:17 shew thyself for me a valiant man (cf. 1 S 4:9 e supr.); = be instituted, established (cf. e supr.) וְהָיָה לְאַהֲרֹן וּלְבָנָיו לְחָק־עוֹלָם Ex 29:28 and it shall be instituted for Aaron and his sons as a perpetual ordinance; cf. v 9 Lv 10:15; וְהָֽיְתָה לִהְיֹת לָהֶם מָשְׁחָתָם לִכְהֻנַּת עוֹלָם לְדֹרֹתָם Ex 40:15 (all P). e.g. Genesis 11:3
- g. with עַל and לְ 1 S 22:2 וַיְהִי עֲלֵיהֶם לְשָׂר and he became over them prince. e.g. 1 Samuel 22:2
- h. sometimes c. לְ pers. only = become the property of, come into the possession of וַיְהִי־לוֹ צֹאן־וּבָקָר וְגו׳ Gn 12:16 (J), and he came to have flocks and herds etc., 26:14; 30:43; לֹא לוֹ יִהְיֶה הַזָּ֑רַע Gn 38:9 not his should the seed become; וְהָיָה לי׳ Ju 11:31 it shall become Yahweh’s; Dt 10:9; Jos 13:29; 1 K 10:26; 11:3 + often; so of a woman, as wife תְּהִי־נָא לְךָ Ju 15:2 pray let her become thine, cf. also וַתְּהִי אֵשֶׁת שִׁמְשׁוֹן לְמֵרֵעֵהוּ 14:20, Ho 3:3 Ru 1:13 Lv 21:3; Dt 24:2; Je 3:1; Ez 16:8 (and also + לְאִשָּׁה, לְנָשִׁים v. f supr.) e.g. Genesis 12:16
- 1.
- III. Be (often with subordinate idea of becoming);—
- 1. exist, be in existence (i.e. orig. have come into existence), כָּל־הַיָּמִים אֲשֶׁר הָיָה 1 S 1:28 all the days which he shall have been (lived, = חַי Gn 5:5 etc., cf. DrSm), Jb 3:16, Is 23:13; often c. בְּ loc. וְכֹל שִׂיחַ הַשָּׂדֶה טֶרֶם יִהְיֶה בָאָרֶץ Gn 2:5 (J) and there was not yet in the earth any shrub of the field; וּבְאֵלֶּה לֹא הָיָה אִישׁ וגו׳ Nu 26:64 (P) and among them there was not a man to be found, etc.; also וְלֹא הָיָה כַּיּוֹם הַהוּא לְפָנָיו וְאַחֲרָיו Jos 10:14 (JE) & there hath not been a day like that before it nor since, cf. 2 S 14:25; 1 K 18:5; 21:25; 2 K 23:25; Ne 13:26 +; somewhat weaker, in the freq. introductory clause וַיְהִי אִישׁ now there was a man Ju 13:2; 1 S 1:1; 9:1; Nu 9:6 (P), Jb 1:1 +; on אֶהְיֶה אֲשֶׁר אֶהְיֶה Ex 3:14 v. יהוֹה. e.g. 1 Samuel 1:28
- 2. abide, remain, continue (with word of place or time) וַיְהִי מֹשֶׁה בָּהָר Ex 24:18 and Moses remained in the mount forty days, etc., so 34:28 (both JE), Ju 17:4, 12 1 S 6:1 1 K 11:20 2 K 11:3 = 2 Ch 22:12 +; also Lv 22:27; 25:28 (both H), etc.; sq. עַד temp. remain until Dt 22:2 1 K 11:40; 2 K 15:5; 2 Ch 5:9; 26:21; Dn 1:21 etc.; cf. הוּא יִהְיֶה לְעוֹלָם Ec 3:14; so also of space sq. עַד extend unto, as far as, Jos 19:10: of net beneath altar, Ex 27:5 shall reach as far as (עַד) the middle of the altar. e.g. Exodus 24:18
- 3. with word of locality, be in or at a place, be situated, stand, lie; בִּהְיוֹתָם בַּשָּׂדֶה Gn 4:8 (J) when they were in the field, הַמָּקוֹם אֲשֶׁר־הָיָה שָׁם אָהֳלֹה בַּתְּחִלָּה 13:3 (J) the place where his tent had stood at first; וְהָאָרֶץ תִּהְיֶה לִפְנֵיכֶם 34:10 and the land, it lieth before you; cf. Jos 19:1; Ju 7:1, 8; Mi 5:6, 7; sq. עַל be, be found or situated upon Is 30:25 and there shall be upon every high mountain etc., streams, water-courses; Ez 37:27 and my dwelling-place shall be over them; fig. of guilt וְהָיָה עָלָיךָ דָּמִים Dt 19:10 and blood (-guilt) be upon thee. e.g. Genesis 4:8
- 4. as copula, joining subj. & pred.:—
- a. sq. pred. adj. וַיִּהְיוּ שְׁנֵיהֶם עֲרוּמִּים Gn 2:25, וְהַנָּחָשׁ הָיָה עָרוּם 3:1, בִּהְיוֹתָם כֹּאֲבִים 34:25, וַיְהִי יוֹסֵף יְפֵה־תֹאַר 39:6; Dt 23:15; Jos 19:9; Ju 11:1; Jb 1:1, 3b 2 Ch 7:21. e.g. Genesis 2:25
- b. sq. pred. noun Gn 1:2; 9:18; 25:3; 36:14; 40:13; 1 S 17:34, 42 2 S 8:10; 20:26; 1 K 10:6; 2 K 3:4; 5:1(×2) 1 Ch 9:20; 11:20; 18:10; 26:10; 2 Ch 13:7; כִּי לֹא־הָיָה מֶלֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל 2 Ch 18:32 (‖ 1 K 22:33 כִּי־לֹא־מֶלֶךְ ישׂראל הוּא) +; often of age: וַיְהִי אַבְרָם בֶּן־תִּשְׁעִים שָׁנָה וְתֵשַׁע שָׁנִים Gn 17:1 (P) 2 K 8:17; 14:2; 15:2, 33; 18:2; 2 Ch 21:20; 27:8 +; sq. pred. Inf. abs. (very anomal.) וְהַמַּיִם הָיוּ הָלוֹךְ וְחָסוֹר Gn 8:5; = amount to, come to, in enum. of days of life, number of people, amounts of money, etc.: Gn 5:4, 5, 8, 11, 14; 9:29; 11:32; 23:1 +; Ex 38:24 Nu 1:46, etc. e.g. Genesis 1:2
- c. sq. adv. & adverbial phr.: לֹא־טוֹב הֱיוֹת הָאָדָם לְבַדּוֹ Gn 2:18 (J) it is not good that the man be alone; חָדַל לִהְיוֹת לְשָׂרָה אֹרַח כַּנָּשִׁים 18:11 (J). e.g. Genesis 2:18
- d. sq. prep.: (a) be with, accompany c. עִם, subj. most often י׳ or אלהים with added idea of protection, aid Gn 26:3; 31:3; 39:10; 48:21 Jos 1:3; 6:27; Ju 1:19; 2:18; 1 S 3:19; 18:12; 20:13; 1 K 1:37; 1 Ch 11:13; 2 Ch 17:3; sq. עִמָּדִי Gn 28:20; 31:5; 35:3; sq. עִם, human subj., of accompaniment וְהָיָה הַכֹּהֵן בֶּן־אַהֲרֹן עִם־הַלְוִיִּם Ne 10:39; 1 Ch 11:12, read also in ‖ 2 S 23:9 (Th We Dr); = be on the side of 1 K 1:8; c. עִם also = be near וּמַלְאַךְ י׳ הָיָה עִם־גֹּרֶן האורנה 2 S 24:16 (cf. Dr); also 2 S 13:20 implying sexual intercourse, so Gn 39:10 (perhaps gloss, cf. Di); peculiar uses with עִם are: וּדְבַר־אַבְנֵר הָיָה עִם־זִקְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל 2 S 3:17 and the speech of A. had been with the elders of Isr., cf. 1 K 1:7; וַיְהִי עִם־לְבַב דָּוִד אָבִי לִבְנוֹת 1 K 8:17 and it was with (i.e. in) the heart of David my father to build, = 2 Ch 6:7 cf. 1 K 8:18(×2) 1 Ch 22:7; 2 Ch 6:8(×2); 24:4; also 1 K 10:2 = 2 Ch 9:1; (b) be with, sq. אֶת, subj. י׳, אלהים, Gn 21:20; 39:2, 21 but also c. human subj. וּבָנָיו הָיוּ אֶת־מִקְנֵהוּ Gn 34:5, cf. 1 S 29:3 +; (c) sq. לְ of possessor כֶּרֶם הָיָה לִידִדִי Is 5:1 a vineyard had my beloved, Gn 30:30 cf. Ex 20:3 = Dt 5:7, Ju 18:27; 1 S 9:2; 1 K 5:6 + often (cf. I. 2 d, f, h); (d) sq. לְ + other prep.: of boundary וַיְהִי לָהֶם הַגְּבוּל מֵעֲרוֹעֵר Jos 13:16, cf. וַיְהִי גְבוּלָם מִמַּחֲנַיִם v 30; וַיְהִי לָהֶם הַגְּבוּל לִפְאַת צָפוֹנָה מִיַּרְדֵּן 18:12, etc.; (e) sq. בְּ be among, or of, Am 1:1 who was one of the herdsmen, 1 K 2:7 let them be among those eating, Pr 22:26; 23:20. e.g. Genesis 26:3
- 5. periphrastic conjug.:
- a. היה + pt., of continuous state, or condition, sometimes, especially late (cf. NH), of habit, c. וַיְהִי also of beginning and continuance (cf. Dr§ 135, (5)): pt. act. Gn 39:22 (J), Ex 3:1 (E), 1 S 2:11; 7:10; 18:9 (cf. Dr) v 14, 29 2 S 8:15 = 1 Ch 18:14, Dt 28:29; Is 30:20; 1 K 5:1, 15, 24 2 K 6:5; 9:14; 2 Ch 9:26; Ezr 4:4; Ne 1:4, 2:13; Dn 1:16 +; Gn 1:6 (P); הָיָה יָרֵא אֶת־י׳ 1 K 18:3; 2 K 4:1; 2 Ch 26:1; pt. pass. Jos 10:26; 1 K 13:24; 22:35 וְהַמֶּלֶךְ הָיָה מָעֳמָד בַּמֶּרְכָּבָה (‖ 2 Ch 18:34 הָיָה מַעֲמִיד), Is 2:2 = Mi 4:1, וְהָיָה סָגוּר Ez 44:2, ה׳ נַעֲשֶׂה Ne 5:18, וְאָהוּב לֵאלֹהָיו ה׳ 13:26;—on 2 S 13:32 cf. Dr e.g. Genesis 39:22
- b. sq. Inf. c. לְ (Dr§ 203, 204): וְהָיָה לְבָעֵר Is 5:5 and it shall be to burn (is to be, is destined to be burned) etc.; וַיְהִי הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ לָבוֹא Gn 15:12 and the sun was about to set; וַיְהִי הַשַּׁעַר לִסְגּוֹר Jos 2:5 and the gate was about to be shut; but also וַיְהִי לִדְרשׁ אֱלֹהִים 2 Ch 26:5 (nearly = וַיְהִי + Pt.) e.g. Isaiah 5:5
Niphal
- Pf. נִהְיָה 1 K 1:27 + 6 times + Mi 2:4 (cf. infr. ad fin.); 3 fs. נִהְיְתָה Ju 19:30 + 5 times, נִהְיָ֑תָה Ex 11:6 Je 48:19, וְנִהְיָ֑תָה consec. Ez 39:8 + 21:12 (del. B Codd 𝔊 Co); 2 ms. נִהְיֵיתָ Dt 27:9; 1 s. נִהְיֵיתִי Dn 8:27; Pt. fs. נִהְיָה Pr 13:19;— e.g. 1 Kings 1:27
- 1. became c. ל Dt 27:9. e.g. Deuteronomy 27:9
- 2. either, be done, or, come to pass: in the strong expressions אֲשֶׁר כָּמֹהוּ לֹא נ׳ וְכָמֹהוּ לֹא תֹסִף Ex 11:6 (J) a cry such as hath not occurred (been raised), and will not be again, cf. Dt 4:32 (be done; ‖ נִשְׁמַע), & Ju 19:30 (‖ נִרְאֲתָה);—but simply intrans. Jo 2:2; Dn 12:1 & appar. Ez 21:12 (‖ בָּאָ֫ה; on text, however, v. supr.) 39:8 (‖ id.);—also אֵיכָה נִהְיְתָה הָרָעָה הַזֹּאת Ju 20:3 how hath this wickedness been done? cf. v 12 Je 5:30; 48:19 also Ne 6:8; c. לֹא, existence denied לֹא נ׳ Zc 8:10 (‖ אֵינֶ֑נָּה); in all the above (except Jo 2:2; Dn 12:1 & Ez 21:12; 39:8) personal agency is clearly implied; it is expressed מֵאֵת אֲדֹנִי הַמֶּלֶךְ נ׳ הַדָּבָר הַזֶּה 1 K 1:27, so of divine agency (מֵאִתִּי) 1 K 12:24 = 2 Ch 11:4; further be attained, secured, of wages Zc 8:10 (c. לֹא, ‖ אֵינֶ֑נָּה); תַּאֲוָה נִהְיָה Pr 13:19 a desire come to pass, realized. e.g. Exodus 11:6
- 3. be done, finished, gone, only Dn וּשְׁנָתוֹ נִהְיְתָה עָלָיו Dn 2:1 and his sleep was finished upon him, i.e. left him (cf. Aramaic Dn 6:19); נִהְיֵיתִי 8:27 I came to an end, was exhausted (si vera l., del. 𝔊; ‖ נֶחֱלֵיתִי); נִהְיָה, in וְנָהָה נְהִי נִהְיָה Mi 2:4, is dub.; it is done, over, the ruin is come RobGes Ew Hi Ca Che RVm;? ZAW 1866, 122 f. cf. JBL1890, 74.77. e.g. Daniel 2:1
Senses from the full Brown-Driver-Briggs lexicon (Brown, Driver, Briggs; Oxford 1906 — public domain), digitized via Sefaria, supplemented by the OpenScriptures HebrewLexicon (CC BY 4.0). Full attribution on Sources.
Word origin
vb. fall out, come to pass, become, be (SI 1.6 היה, ib.3 הית; parallel form of הוה, Arabic هَوَى, Aramaic הֲוָא, ܗܘܳܐ; v. הָוָה supr.)—
— Brown-Driver-Briggs (Oxford 1906, public domain), digitized via Sefaria, supplemented by the OpenScriptures HebrewLexicon (CC BY 4.0). See Sources.
Derived from הוא (hâvâʼ) (H1933) — to be.
Jastrow Dictionary
A second Hebrew/Aramaic lexicon for comparison, covering Aramaic and post-biblical (Talmudic, Targumic, Midrashic) usage that the biblical-Hebrew BDB does not. Matched by lemma rather than by Strong’s number, so a lemma may carry more than one Jastrow headword (shown separately below), and the entries cover usage well beyond the Bible.
הוי
- (b. h.) to exist; to be, become; to occur, come to pass.—With part. ה׳ מביט he looked; ה׳ אומר he said, freq. used to say. Gen. R. s. 1, beg. אני הָיִיתִי וכ׳ I was the implement &c. Ib. ה׳ הקב"ה מביט וכ׳ the Lord looked into the Law (as often as a thing was to be created). Ab. I, 13 הוא ה׳ אומר the same used to say. Gen. R. s. 2 ה׳ ללמה ולא כלום became a nothing; a. v. fr.—Apocopate forms: אֱהִי, אֱהֵא, תְּהִי, תְּהֵא, יְהִי, יְהֵא; תְּהוּ (= תִּהְיוּ), יְהוּ (= יִהְיוּ). Yoma 66ᵇ אהא בשלום אני נכ׳ (Tosef. ib. IV (III), 14 נִהְיֶה) may I and you be as well; Y. ib. VI, 43ᶜ bot. כן תהו וכ׳ so may ye be well. B. Mets. 35ᵃ תהא במאמינו let this be (speak of a case) when he accepts his opponent’s statement; a. v. fr.—Part. הוֶֹה, הוֶֹוה
- 1. frequent, usual. Sabb. VI, 6 דברו חכמים בה׳ the scholars (in using the words ‘Arabian women’) speak of the ordinary custom (not to the exclusion of other people); a. fr.
- 2. existing, enduring. Pesik. R. s. 11, end הם הווִֹים ודומים [להקב"ה] they shall be existing for themselves (not merely as an attachment) and resembling [the Lord]; ib. אף הם הווים אש וכ׳ they, too, shall endure as a consuming fire.—Cant. R. to II, 13 עניות ירבה ויוקר הווה (read תרבה) poverty shall increase, and prices remain high (different in Snh. 97ᵃ a. Sot. 49ᵇ, v. אָמַר II). Imper. הֱוֵי, הֱוֵא; pl. הֱווּ. Ab. I, 4. Ib. II, 3; a. fr.—הֱוֵי אוֹמֵר, also elliptically הֱוֵי say, i.e. you must admit, this proves, that is meant by saying. Taan. 2ᵃ which is the service of the heart? ה׳ אומר זו תפלה you must admit, it is prayer. Tosef. Nidd. I, 6 ה׳ לא אמרום וכ׳ that is to say, the scholars have spoken &c. Cant. R. to I, 6 ה׳ כרמי שלי וכ׳ this is meant by ‘my vineyard &c.’—Y. Shebu. VII, 38ᶜ top הווי לא צורכה וכ׳ it is evident that it would not have been necessary &c.; a. fr.
- (v. הְוָיָה
- 1. to change one’s legal status, to dispose of. Keth. 40ᵇ (ref. to תהיה Deut. XXII, 19) במְהַוָּה עצמה וכ׳ the text speaks of a woman who can dispose of herself. e.g. Deuteronomy 22:19
- 2. to produce, make. Kidd. 58ᵃ (ref. to והיית, Deut. VII, 26) כל שאתה מְהַיֶּיה הימנה whatever thou makest out of it; Tem. 30ᵇ מְהַיֶּה ממנה; a. e. e.g. Deuteronomy 7:26
A Dictionary of the Targumim, the Talmud Babli and Yerushalmi, and the Midrashic Literature (Marcus Jastrow; London, Luzac, 1903) — Public Domain. Digitized via Sefaria. Digitized via Sefaria. Full attribution on Sources.
Forms in the corpus
The 681 distinct written forms H1961 takes in the Hebrew Bible, most frequent first — each parse links to that stem’s occurrences in the concordance. Hebrew forms include their vowel points and cantillation, so a single lemma takes many written forms.
The 60 most common forms are shown; 621 rarer forms follow in the full concordance.
Same root — word family
Other BDB entries built from the same root as H1961, grouped by Strong’s listed origin. These share a root / origin per the lexicon — not necessarily a shared meaning. Each links to that word’s own entry.
Derives from
Shares the same root
Proper names from this root
People and places named from this root — a name, not an additional meaning of the word.
Compare all same-root words → Showing 4 of 5 — not the complete family. 1 of the same-root words is a proper name (a person or place). They share a root, not necessarily a meaning.
Septuagint verse parallels
Most of the 3,130 Hebrew verses this word occurs in also exist in the Greek Old Testament (Septuagint), so the same passages can be read in Greek by switching the Old Testament edition to the Septuagint.
Read these verses in the Septuagint
- Genesis 1:2
- Exodus 1:5
- Leviticus 2:1
- Numbers 1:4
- Deuteronomy 1:3
- Joshua 1:1
- Judges 1:1
- Ruth 1:1
- 1 Samuel 1:1
- 2 Samuel 1:1
- 1 Kings 1:2
- 2 Kings 1:17
This is a verse-level parallel only — the same verses exist in both the Hebrew and Greek Old Testaments. No word-level Hebrew↔Greek correspondence is claimed: the data carries no such alignment, so no Greek word is shown as this Hebrew word’s translation. Coverage is not total — the Septuagint omits the deuterocanon and renumbers the Psalms, so some Hebrew verses have no direct Greek parallel.
