Lexicon :: Strong's H408 - 'al

אַל
Transliteration
'al
Pronunciation
al
Part of Speech
adverb of negation
Root Word (Etymology)
A negative particle [akin to לֹא (H3808)]
Dictionary Aids

TWOT Reference: 90

Strong’s Definitions

אַל ʼal, al; a negative particle (akin to H3808); not (the qualified negation, used as a deprecative); once (Job 24:25) as a noun, nothing:—nay, neither, + never, no, nor, not, nothing (worth), rather than.

KJV Translation Count — Total: 12x

The KJV translates Strong's H408 in the following manner: never (2x), nay (1x), neither (1x), no (1x), none (1x), nor (1x), not (1x), nothing (1x), rather than (1x), whither (1x), nothing worth (1x).

  1. not, no, nor, neither, nothing (as wish or preference)

    1. do not, let not (with a verb)

    2. let there not be (with a verb understood)

    3. not, no (with substantive)

    4. nothing (as substantive)

Strong’s Definitions [?](Strong’s Definitions Legend)
אַל ʼal, al; a negative particle (akin to H3808); not (the qualified negation, used as a deprecative); once (Job 24:25) as a noun, nothing:—nay, neither, + never, no, nor, not, nothing (worth), rather than.
STRONGS H408: Abbreviations
II. אַל adverb of negation (so Phoenician e.g. CISi.3,4.5.8, Biblical Aramaic H409, Sabean (DHMZMG 1875, 596), and in the Ethiopic አልቦ፡ albo, is not), denying however, not objectively as a fact (like לֹא οὐ), but subjectively as a wish (like μή), expressing therefore a deprecation or prohibition:
a.
(a) with a verb, which is then always an imperfect (never an imperative), by preference in the cohortative or jussive mood, where this is in use, and may be of any person or number; Genesis 15:1 and often אַל־תִּירָא fear not! Genesis 22:12 יָֽדְךָ אַל־תִּשְׁלַח put not forth thy hand, Genesis 37:27 וְיָדֵנוּ אַל־תְּהִי־בוֺ and let not our hand be upon him, Genesis 21:16 אַל־אֶרְאֶה let me not look upon the death of the lad! Psalm 25:2 אַל־אֵבוֺשָׁה let me not be ashamed; with1st person plural (rare) 2 Samuel 13:25; Jeremiah 18:18; Jonah 1:14. In an imprecation: Genesis 49:4 אַל־תּוֺתַר have not thou the excellency! Psalm 109:12; Job 3:4, 6. Sometimes strengthened by נָא : Genesis 13:8; Genesis 18:3 and elsewhere.
(b) without a verb,
(α) 2 Samuel 1:21 let (there be) not dew & not rain upon you! Isaiah 62:6; Psalm 83:1.
(β) used absolutely, in deprecation Genesis 19:18; 2 Samuel 13:16 (see below אוֺדָה) 2 Kings 3:13; 2 Kings 4:16; 2 Kings 6:27 (see RVm: but possibly to be explained by Dr§ 152 iii; so Th Ke: hardly as Ew§ 355 b) Ruth 1:13 אַל בְּנֹתַי Nay, my daughters, compare Judges 19:23;
(γ) after a preceding imperative Amos 5:14; Joel 2:13; Proverbs 8:10, a jussive Proverbs 27:2, an infinitive absolute Proverbs 27:2.
(c) in poetry אַל sometimes expresses vividly the emotion or sympathy of the poet (see Dr§ 56-8); Isaiah 2:9 וְאַל־תִּשָּׂא לָהֶם and forgive them not! (with a touch of passion), Psalm 41:3; Proverbs 3:25; Job 5:22; Psalm 34:6 (but Ew Che here read וּפְנֵיכֶם, probably rightly); Psalm 50:3a may our God come וְאַל־ יֶ֫חֱשָרשׁ and not be silent! (the psalmist identifying himself with a spectator of the scene Psalm 50:2, Psalm 50:3b Psalm 50:3c) Psalm 121:3 (contrast Psalm 121:4 לֹא) Jeremiah 46:6 +.
b. once Proverbs 12:28 joined closely to a substantive (compare לֹא 2 b) to express with emphasis its negation: In the way of righteousness is life, and in the pathway therecf אַל־מָוֶת there is no-death! i.e. immortality.
c. once Job 24:25 used in poetry as a substantive, And bring my words לְאַל to nought! — N.B. 1 Samuel 27:10 הַיּוֺם אַל־פְּשַׁטְתֶּם אַל with the perfect is against all analogy; and either אֶל־מִי (with . ), or better אָן whither? (with : see 1 Samuel 10:14) must be read.
Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon, Unabridged, Electronic Database.
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BLB Scripture Index of Brown-Driver-Briggs

Genesis

13:8; 15:1; 18:3; 19:18; 21:16; 22:12; 37:27; 49:4

Judges

19:23

Ruth

1:13

1 Samuel

10:14; 27:10

2 Samuel

1:21; 13:16; 13:25

2 Kings

3:13; 4:16; 6:27

Job

3:4; 3:6; 5:22; 24:25

Psalms

25:2; 34:6; 41:3; 50:2; 50:3; 50:3; 50:3; 83:1; 109:12; 121:3; 121:4

Proverbs

3:25; 8:10; 12:28; 27:2; 27:2

Isaiah

2:9; 62:6

Jeremiah

18:18; 46:6

Joel

2:13

Amos

5:14

Jonah

1:14