הָיִ֖ינוּ
𐤄𐤉𐤉𐤍𐤅
hâyâh
we were
To be, to exist, to happen, to take place; expresses existence, state of being, occurrence, or coming into a particular state. Used for describing the state or process of being, becoming, or coming to pass; also to indicate the occurrence of events or conditions, and, in certain syntactic contexts, serves as a linking or existential verb.
Genesis 42:31 · Word #6
Lexicon H1961
| Lemma | הָיָה |
| Lemma (Paleo) | 𐤄𐤉𐤄 |
| Transliteration | hâyâh |
| Strong's | H1961 |
| Definition | To be, to exist, to happen, to take place; expresses existence, state of being, occurrence, or coming into a particular state. Used for describing the state or process of being, becoming, or coming to pass; also to indicate the occurrence of events or conditions, and, in certain syntactic contexts, serves as a linking or existential verb. |
Morphology HVqp1cp
All morphology codes
| Part of Speech | V — Verb — An action or state |
| Binyan | q — Qal — Simple active |
| Conjugation | p — Perfect — Completed action |
| Person | 1 — 1st person — First person ("I" / "we") |
| Gender | c — Common — Common (both genders) |
| Number | p — Plural — Plural |
Common Translation
| Phrase | we were |
SIBI-P1 Translation H1961-14
we were / we became
| Morphological Notes | Verb; Qal stem; perfect (suffix conjugation); 1st person common plural. |
| Rendering Rationale | The Qal perfect 1st person common plural expresses completed existence or becoming by the speakers. The rendering preserves both core senses of היה—state of being ("were") and transition into a state ("became")—while marking first person plural. |
View full lexicon entry for H1961 →
SILEX v2
SIBI-P2 (Context-Aware)
we were
| Same as P1 | No — adjusted for context |
| Rationale | In this context, הָיִינוּ ('hayinu') signals past existence/state; 'we were' is accurate and clear. The alternative 'we became' is possible but less fitting for the context here. |