ESTUDIO DE LA PALABRA HEBREA
Huw' (הוּא) — Meaning & Usage in the Bible
הוּא (hûwʼ, H1931) is the third-person singular Hebrew pronoun, used for he, she, or it, with emphatic, reflexive, and demonstrative senses.
Significado de la palabra
הוּא (hûwʼ) is the basic third-person singular pronoun of Biblical Hebrew. According to the lexicon, it covers 'he, she, or it' and is normally suppressed when a verb already makes the subject clear. When retained, the form often adds emphasis, either highlighting the subject itself (the man himself), resuming a previously mentioned subject with stress, or anticipating the subject before it appears in the clause.
Beyond the simple pronoun, the entry lists several derived functions: an intensive self or reflexive sense ('himself'), a demonstrative 'that' or 'this,' and occasionally a copula-like 'as' or 'are.' Some of these, such as the demonstrative force noted in Genesis 2:12 with the form הִוא (glossed 'that'), show how context and the surrounding syntax decide which nuance applies.
Uso en las Escrituras
In the supplied examples from Genesis 2–4, הוּא performs all three of its core pronominal jobs. It refers to a river or region in Genesis 2:11, 2:13, and 2:14 (glossed 'it'); it stands as a demonstrative in Genesis 2:12 and 2:19 (glossed 'that'); and it identifies a male actor in Genesis 3:15 ('he shall bruise thy head') and 3:16 ('he shall rule over thee'). These uses match the lexicon's first sense, 'he, she, it.'
The form הִוא (with a final he rather than vav) likewise functions within this set: in Genesis 3:12 and 3:20 it is glossed 'she' for the woman, while in Genesis 2:12 it carries the demonstrative 'that.' Genesis 4:4 glosses it as 'his,' reflecting its use as a possessive alongside a noun. Together, the example verses demonstrate that הוּא is not tied to a single gender or grammatical role; context and spelling together determine how each occurrence should be understood.
La palabra en detalle
- H1931 Pronoun of the third person singular; covers 'he, she, it.' Frequently dropped when the verb already identifies the subject. When retained, it typically adds emphasis, resumes a prior subject, or anticipates one. Extended uses include reflexive 'himself,' demonstrative 'that/this,' and at times a copula-like 'is/are.'
Versículos de ejemplo
- Genesis 2:11 Glossed 'it' — הוּא here refers back to 'the first' (river Pishon), serving as a plain third-person pronoun resuming the subject.
- Genesis 3:12 Glossed 'she' — the form הִוא in this clause identifies the woman as the one who gave the fruit to the man.
- Genesis 2:19 Glossed 'that' — הוּא acts as a demonstrative, pointing back to 'whatsoever the man called every living creature.'
- Genesis 4:4 Glossed as 'his' — הוּא functions alongside 'Abel' to express possession ('Abel, he also...'), as reflected in the KJV-style rendering.
Preguntas frecuentes
Does הוּא change form for he, she, and it?
The lexicon entry lists 'he, she, it' together under one pronoun, and the example verses show the same root used across genders. Context — not a different word — decides the referent in each passage.
When is הוּא dropped in a sentence?
The definition notes it is 'only expressed when emphatic or without a verb.' When a verb already identifies the subject, the pronoun is typically omitted in Hebrew.
Can הוּא mean 'that' or 'this'?
Yes. The entry includes 'this or that' (demonstrative) and at times a copula-like 'as' or 'are,' especially with the article. Genesis 2:12 and 2:19 are glossed 'that,' illustrating this demonstrative use.