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הוּא

𐤄𐤅𐤀

hûwʼ

H1932 pronoun

SILEX Entry

Root הוא to be (exist), to be present, to identify (pronominal use)

Definition

Third person singular independent pronoun, primarily meaning 'he' or 'it' in reference to a masculine subject; used to designate the subject of a clause, with extensions as a demonstrative ('that one, this one') or emphasizing identity ('the same one, he himself'). Less frequently employed in a copular or explanatory function, especially in later biblical prose. The feminine form is הִיא for 'she' or 'it (feminine)'.

Semantic Range

he, it (masculine), himself, itself, that one, this one, the same, pronoun subject, copula or equative particle (rare), demonstrative ('that', 'this')

Root / Etymology

From the root הוא, which in Hebrew is not clearly attested with an independent meaning apart from its pronominal use. The word functions as a basic pronoun; etymology uncertain beyond common West Semitic pronominal systems. Related forms appear in other Semitic languages (e.g., Ugaritic hw, Akkadian šû).

Historical & Contextual Notes

הוּא serves throughout the Hebrew Bible as the standard masculine singular pronoun, both personal ('he') and impersonal ('it'), and sometimes as a demonstrative ('that one'). Unlike English, it can occasionally stand in for properties normally covered by the copula (e.g., 'X is Y' becomes 'X Y הוא'), especially in later biblical and post-biblical Hebrew when equational clauses become more explicit. The Aramaic equivalent also reflects similar usage patterns. In genealogies, legal documents, or narrative, הוא is sometimes used for emphatic or contrastive purposes. The word has no theological or ethnic specificity. In English translations, 'he,' 'it,' 'the same,' or occasionally 'this/that (one)' may appear, but none fully account for Hebrew's flexible pronominal and demonstrative usage in all contexts. Pronoun gender (הוּא for masculine, הִיא for feminine) is strictly observed in biblical Hebrew; their proper use often aids in the identification of antecedents in complex narratives. Note: In later periods, particularly in post-biblical Hebrew and Aramaic, pronominal forms develop further distinctions and specialized uses.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

(Aramaic) or (feminine) הִיא; (Aramaic), corresponding to הוּא; {he (she or it); self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demonstrative) this or that; occasionally (instead of copula) as or are}; [idiom] are, it, this.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

הוא (h-w-ʾ) — he, it, that one, the same, self (intensive)

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1931 הוּא that one
H2004 הֵן like these

Word Forms

4 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H1932-02 ה֛וּא hu APp3ms are he 12
H1932-01 הִ֣יא hi APp3fs it is she 5
H1932-04 וְ֠/הוּא vehu AC/Pp3ms and-he and he 3
H1932-03 וְ/הִ֖יא vehi AC/Pp3fs and it and she 2

Occurrences in Scripture

22 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H1932-01 Daniel 2:9 הִ֣יא hi APp3fs it is she
H1932-01 Daniel 2:20 הִֽיא hi ATa it is she
H1932-04 Daniel 2:21 וְ֠/הוּא vehu AC/Pp3ms And He and he
H1932-02 Daniel 2:22 ה֛וּא hu APp3ms He he
H1932-02 Daniel 2:28 הֽוּא hu ATa is it he
H1932-02 Daniel 2:32 ה֣וּא hu APd3ms This one he
H1932-02 Daniel 2:38 ה֔וּא hu ATa are he
H1932-03 Daniel 2:44 וְ/הִ֖יא vehi AC/Pp3fs and it and she
H1932-02 Daniel 2:47 ה֣וּא hu ATa he is he
H1932-02 Daniel 3:15 ה֣וּא hu ATa is he
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