לוּא
𐤋𐤅𐤀
lûwʼ
H3863 conjunction
SILEX Entry
Definition
A conditional or optative particle, primarily signaling a hypothetical or unrealized condition or expressing a wish or longing. In most contexts, לּוּא introduces statements that are contrary to fact (i.e., unrealized wishes or hypothetical situations), corresponding in English to 'if only,' 'would that,' 'oh that.' Less commonly, it occurs as a conditional 'if' in sentences expressing hope or possibility, distinct from the usual conditional אִם ('if').
Semantic Range
if only, would that, O that, oh that, if (occasionally as a possibility or hope)
Root / Etymology
Root and etymological development unclear; no securely identified Hebrew root. The particle functions independently and is not transparently derived from a known verb or nominal form. Some link לּוּא to cognate Northwest Semitic particles serving similar optative or conditional functions, but precise origin remains uncertain.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, לּוּא appears most often in the context of lament, wish, or longing, introducing statements that the speaker desires but knows are not true or are unlikely (Gen 17:18; Num 14:2). Its use is concentrated in poetic and elevated discourse, and it is less common than the more straightforward conditional אִם ('if'). לּוּא typically signals unreality or unattainable hopes rather than real conditions. In some cases (more rarely), it may introduce a real or possible condition, but this function is secondary. The English rendering 'would God that' in some translations reflects older idiomatic use; modern renderings prefer 'if only,' 'would that,' or simply 'O that.' The particle stands in contrast to לו (lo), 'to him,' or לא (lo), 'no, not,' which are written alike but function completely differently. The function and lexical nuance of לּוּא are largely consistent throughout the corpus, with little variation between earlier and later biblical texts.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
or לֻא; or לוּ; a conditional particle; if; by implication (interj. as a wish) would that!; if (haply), peradventure, I pray thee, though, I would, would God (that).
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
לא (l-ʾ) — negation, denial, refusal
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H1093 | בְּלוֹ | and not |
| H3789 | כָּתַב | not |
| H3808 | לֹא | without |
| H3809 | לָא | is it not? |
| H3810 | לֹא דְבַר | not |
Word Forms
5 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3863-03 |
ל֥וּ | lu | HC |
would that | if only | 19 |
H3863-04 |
וְ/ל֥וּ | velu | HC/C |
and if only | and if only | 3 |
H3863-02 |
לֹ֣א | lo | HTn |
no | not | 1 |
H3863-01 |
לא | l | HTn |
not | not | 1 |
H3863-05 |
ו/לא | vl | HC/C |
even if not | if only | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
25 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3863-03 |
Genesis 17:18 | ל֥וּ | lu | HC |
Oh that | if only |
H3863-03 |
Genesis 23:13 | ל֖וּ | lu | HC |
please | if only |
H3863-03 |
Genesis 30:34 | ל֖וּ | lu | HC |
would that | if only |
H3863-03 |
Genesis 50:15 | ל֥וּ | lu | HC |
perhaps | if only |
H3863-03 |
Numbers 14:2 | לוּ | lu | HC |
would that | if only |
H3863-03 |
Numbers 14:2 | לוּ | lu-2 | HC |
would that | if only |
H3863-04 |
Numbers 20:3 | וְ/ל֥וּ | velu | HC/C |
and-oh-that | and if only |
H3863-03 |
Numbers 22:29 | ל֤וּ | lu | HC |
if only | if only |
H3863-03 |
Deuteronomy 32:29 | ל֥וּ | lu | HC |
O that | if only |
H3863-04 |
Joshua 7:7 | וְ/לוּ֙ | velu | HC/C |
and if only | and if only |