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בְּמוֹ

𐤁𐤌𐤅

bᵉmôw

H1119 preposition

SILEX Entry

Root ב in, by, with (prepositional usage)

Definition

A prepositional particle meaning 'in', 'with', 'by means of', or 'through', most commonly used in poetry and archaic prose. The term functions to indicate the means, instrument, or manner by which an action is accomplished or the circumstance in which an event occurs.

Semantic Range

in, with, by means of, through, by (expression of means/instrument/manner); sometimes as 'when' or 'while' (temporal) in poetry; rarely 'for' or 'into' depending on context

Root / Etymology

From the root ב- (bet), a common Hebrew prepositional prefix meaning 'in' or 'by', plus what is likely an enclitic formative (מוֹ), possibly for emphasis or for rhythmic purposes in poetry. The exact etymology of the compound ending is uncertain.

Historical & Contextual Notes

בְּמוֹ occurs almost exclusively in poetic passages or formulaic idioms in early Hebrew (e.g., Psalms, Job, prophetic books) and rarely in straightforward narrative prose. It often carries an archaic or formal tone. The term is functionally equivalent to the more common preposition בְּ (be), yet serves a stylistic or emphatic function in context. In some cases, the meaning can border on 'by means of' or 'through', especially when paired with terms of action or agency. English translations often reduce its nuance to simple prepositions ('in', 'with'), which may obscure its poetic or emphatic aspect. This word is distinct from prepositions like עִם ('with' in a sense of company), focusing rather on instrumentality or circumstance. In later Hebrew, it falls out of regular use, supplanted by simpler prepositional forms.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

prolongation for prepositional prefix; in, with, by, etc.; for, in into, through.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

ב (b) — in, with, by

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H8055 שָׂמַח in him
H935 בּוֹא in him

Word Forms

4 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H1119-01 בְּמ֥וֹ bemo HR in by means of 7
H1119-02 בְמוֹ vemo HR in-it by means of 2
H1119-04 ב/מי vmy HR/Ncmpc in waters in, by, with 1
H1119-03 במו vmv HR with it in, by means of 1

Occurrences in Scripture

11 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H1119-04 Isaiah 25:10 ב/מי vmy HR/Ncmpc in waters in, by, with
H1119-01 Isaiah 25:10 בְּמ֥וֹ bemo HR of dung by means of
H1119-01 Isaiah 43:2 בְּמוֹ bemo HR through by means of
H1119-01 Isaiah 44:16 בְּמוֹ bemo HR in it by means of
H1119-02 Isaiah 44:19 בְמוֹ vemo HR in-it by means of
H1119-01 Psalms 11:2 בְּמוֹ bemo HR in by means of
H1119-03 Job 9:30 במו vmv HR with it in, by means of
H1119-01 Job 16:4 בְּמ֣וֹ bemo HR with-my by means of
H1119-01 Job 16:5 בְּמוֹ bemo HR with my by means of
H1119-01 Job 19:16 בְּמוֹ bemo HR with by means of
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