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Lexicon :: Strong's H389 - 'aḵ

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אַךְ
Transliteration
'aḵ
Pronunciation
ak
Part of Speech
adverb
Root Word (Etymology)
Akin to אָכֵן (H403)
Dictionary Aids

TWOT Reference: 84

Strong’s Definitions

אַךְ ʼak, ak; akin to H403; a particle of affirmation, surely; hence (by limitation) only:—also, in any wise, at least, but, certainly, even, howbeit, nevertheless, notwithstanding, only, save, surely, of a surety, truly, verily, wherefore, yet (but).

KJV Translation Count — Total: 22x

The KJV translates Strong's H389 in the following manner: also, but, certainly, even, howbeit, least, nevertheless, notwithstanding, only, save, scarce, surely, surety, truly, verily, wherefore, yet.

  1. indeed, surely (emphatic)

  2. howbeit, only, but, yet (restrictive)

Strong’s Definitions [?](Strong’s Definitions Legend)
אַךְ ʼak, ak; akin to H403; a particle of affirmation, surely; hence (by limitation) only:—also, in any wise, at least, but, certainly, even, howbeit, nevertheless, notwithstanding, only, save, surely, of a surety, truly, verily, wherefore, yet (but).
STRONGS H389: Abbreviations
אַךְ 159 adverb (perhaps from the same demonstrative, root found also in כִּי, כֹּה, כֵּן).
1. surely.
2. with a restrictive force, emphasizing what follows:
a. in contrast to what precedes, howbeit;
b. in contrast with other ideas generally, only.
1. asseverative, often introducing with emphasis the expression of a truth (or supposed truth) newly perceived, especially in colloquial language, surely, no doubt (doch wohl); Genesis 26:9 אַךְ הִנֵּה אִשְׁתְּךָ הִוא of a surety, lo, she is thy wife ! Genesis 29:14; Genesis 44:28; Judges 3:24; Judges 20:39; 1 Samuel 16:6 surely the anointed of י׳ is before him ! 1 Samuel 25:21; Jeremiah 5:4; Psalm 58:12; Psalm 73:1; Psalm 73:13; but also in other cases, though rarely, Isaiah 34:14, 15; Zephaniah 3:7; Psalm 23:6; Psalm 139:11; Psalm 140:14; Job 16:7; Job 18:21; & rather singularly Exodus 12:15; Exodus 31:13; Leviticus 23:27, 39 (all P).
2. restrictive:
a. in contrast to what precedes, howbeit, yet, but : Genesis 9:4 howbeit, flesh with the life thereof... ye shall not eat, Genesis 20:12; Exodus 21:21; Leviticus 21:23; Leviticus 27:26; Numbers 18:15, 17; 2 Samuel 3:13; Jeremiah 10:24 correct me, בְּמִשְׁפָּט אַךְ but with judgment, Job 2:6; Job 13:15; sometimes with an adversative force, as Isaiah 14:15; Isaiah 43:24; before an imperative (minimizing the request), Genesis 23:13 only, if thou wilt, I pray thee, hear me ! Genesis 27:13; Judges 10:15; 1 Samuel 18:17; 1 Kings 17:13 and elsewhere So 1 Samuel 8:9 אַךְ כִּי (see כִּי; and compare πλὴν ὅτι).
b. in contrast to other ideas generally : —
(α) Genesis 7:23; Genesis 18:32 אַךְ הַפַּעַם only this once (so Exodus 10:17 and elsewhere) Exodus 34:15; Exodus 12:16 (note accents), 1 Samuel 18:8 וְעוֺד לוֺ אַךְ תַמְּלוּכָה and there yet remains for him only the kingdom, 1 Samuel 21:5; Isaiah 45:14 אַךָ בְּךָ אֵל only in thee is God! Psalm 62:2 etc. Job 14:22; Psalm 37:8 fret not thyself אַךְ לְהָרֵעַ (which leadeth) only to do evil, Proverbs 11:24 he that withholdeth more than is meet אַךְ לְמַחְסוֺר (tendeth) only to penury, Proverbs 14:23; Proverbs 21:5; Proverbs 22:16;
(β) attaching itself closely to the following word (usually an adjective, rarely a verb), only, i.e. exclusively, altogether, utterly Deuteronomy 16:15 and thou shalt be אַךְ שָׂמֵחַ altogether rejoicing, Deuteronomy 28:29 (compare Deuteronomy 28:33 רַק) Isaiah 16:7 אַךְ נְכָאִים utterly stricken, Isaiah 19:11; Jeremiah 16:19 nought but lies, Jeremiah 32:30; Hosea 12:12; Job 19:13 אַךְ זָרוּ are wholly estranged (with play on אַכְזָר cruel).
c. as an adverb of time (with infinitive absolute), twice: Genesis 27:30 בָּא וְעֵשָׂו⬩⬩⬩יַצֲקֹב יָצָא יָצא אַךְ only just (or scarcely) had Jacob gone out,... and (= when) Esau came in, Judges 7:19. — וְאַח thrice : Genesis 9:5 and only (second limitation of Genesis 9:3); Numbers 22:20 but only; Joshua 22:19 but howbeit.
Note. — In some passages the affirmative and restrictive senses agree equally with the context; and authorities read the Hebrew differently. Thus only = nought but, altogether, is adopted by Ges Ew Hi De in Psalm 23:6; Psalm 62:10; Psalm 73:1; Psalm 73:13; by Ew Hi De in Psalm 39:6; Psalm 39:7 (Che surely); by Ges Ew De in Psalm 39:12 (but Hi Che surely); by Ew Hi in Psalm 73:18 (De Che surely); by Ges Hi De in Psalm 139:11 (Ew doch). Isaiah 45:14 Ges Ew Hi Di only; but De Che of a truth.
Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon, Unabridged, Electronic Database.
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BLB Scripture Index of Brown-Driver-Briggs

Genesis

7:23; 9:3; 9:4; 9:5; 18:32; 20:12; 23:13; 26:9; 27:13; 27:30; 29:14; 44:28

Exodus

10:17; 12:15; 12:16; 21:21; 31:13; 34:15

Leviticus

21:23; 23:27; 23:39; 27:26

Numbers

18:15; 18:17; 22:20

Deuteronomy

16:15; 28:29; 28:33

Joshua

22:19

Judges

3:24; 7:19; 10:15; 20:39

1 Samuel

8:9; 16:6; 18:8; 18:17; 21:5; 25:21

2 Samuel

3:13

1 Kings

17:13

Job

2:6; 13:15; 14:22; 16:7; 18:21; 19:13

Psalms

23:6; 23:6; 37:8; 39:6; 39:7; 39:12; 62:2; 62:10; 73:1; 73:1; 73:13; 73:13; 73:18; 139:11; 139:11

Proverbs

11:24; 14:23; 21:5; 22:16

Isaiah

14:15; 16:7; 19:11; 34:14; 34:15; 43:24; 45:14; 45:14

Jeremiah

5:4; 10:24; 16:19; 32:30

Hosea

12:12

Zephaniah

3:7