ESTUDIO DE LA PALABRA HEBREA
Hinnêh (הִנֵּה) — Behold in the Bible
Hinnêh (הִנֵּה) is a Hebrew interjection meaning 'behold, lo, see,' used to call the reader or listener to pay attention to what follows.
Significado de la palabra
Hinnêh (הִנֵּה) is an attention-getting interjection. The KJV translates it primarily as 'behold,' but also as 'lo' and 'see.' Its function is to mark what follows as significant, surprising, or worthy of notice.
Unlike a noun or verb, hinnêh has no lexical root in the usual sense; it points the audience to what is being said or shown. When God speaks (Genesis 1:29; 6:13), when an observer reports (Genesis 6:12; 8:11), or when a narrative shifts (Genesis 12:19), hinnêh frames the moment.
Uso en las Escrituras
Hinnêh appears about 563 times across roughly 530 verses, making it one of the most frequent interjections in the Hebrew Bible. It is especially common in the Pentateuch and the prophetic books, where it introduces divine speech and calls attention to signs or judgments.
In the example verses, hinnêh introduces God's gift of plants (Genesis 1:29), evaluates creation (Genesis 1:31), announces coming judgment (Genesis 6:12–13, 17), signals covenant renewal (Genesis 9:9), and marks moments of danger or revelation for the patriarchs (Genesis 12:11, 19; 15:3–4). The repeated pattern is 'behold' followed by what the speaker wants the hearer to see.
La palabra en detalle
- H2009 Hinnêh (הִנֵּה) is an interjection glossed 'lo!' in the lexicon, with extended meanings 'behold, lo, see, if.' KJV usage: 'behold, lo, see.' It has no independent lexical root and functions solely as an attention marker introducing what follows.
Versículos de ejemplo
- Genesis 1:29 Hinnêh introduces God's spoken gift of every seed-bearing plant and fruit tree to humanity.
- Genesis 1:31 After evaluating creation, hinnêh emphasizes God's assessment that everything was 'very good.'
- Genesis 6:13 God uses hinnêh to frame His announcement of the flood: 'behold, I will destroy them.'
- Genesis 8:11 Noah reports the sign of the olive leaf: 'and, lo, in her mouth an olive-leaf.'
Preguntas frecuentes
What does הִנֵּה literally mean?
It is an interjection meaning 'behold, lo, see.' It has no independent lexical root; it is a fixed attention marker pointing the listener to what follows.
How many times does hinnêh appear in the Hebrew Bible?
It appears about 563 times across roughly 530 verses, making it one of the most common interjections in the OT.
Can hinnêh be translated as 'see' or 'look'?
Yes. The lexicon entry lists 'behold, lo, see, if,' and the example verses include Genesis 12:11 where it is glossed 'look' and Genesis 12:19 where it functions as 'here/behold.'