פֵּן (H6435) — Hebrew Lexicon

פֵּן

𐤐𐤍

pên

H6435 conjunction

SILEX Entry

Root פנה to turn, to face, to turn away

Definition

A conjunction introducing a negative purpose or precaution, meaning 'lest' (in order that not), indicating concern that a potentially undesired or harmful outcome should be avoided. The term signals preventative intention or a warning, introducing events, actions, or conditions that someone seeks to avert.

Semantic Range

lest, in order that not, for fear that, so that not, to prevent (an undesired result)

Root / Etymology

The word פֵּן (pên) is generally understood to derive from the root פנה (p-n-h), 'to turn,' derived through a process of nominal formation with a prefixed pe (פ) and suffixed nun (ן). The root meaning 'to turn' relates to the idea of turning away from something or avoiding it.

Historical & Contextual Notes

פֵּן appears across all periods of biblical Hebrew, frequently used in legal, narrative, and poetic texts. Its use is nearly always to introduce the negative consequence the speaker or actor wishes to prevent. The term does not indicate probability (unlike 'perhaps'); instead, it emphasizes precaution or the avoidance of an undesired result. In the Pentateuch, it appears in instructions, warnings, and divine commands (e.g. Exod 13:17, Deut 12:13). In prophetic and wisdom texts, פֵּן may occur in advice or admonitions. Later in Second Temple Hebrew and especially in post-biblical and Mishnaic Hebrew, פֵּן largely retains this conjunctional function, although other negative purpose expressions also develop. Standard English renderings such as 'lest' capture its functional use; other renderings (e.g. 'in case,' 'for fear that') may appear, but none introduce positive probability or neutral possibility. The word is not used as an independent noun meaning 'removal' in biblical Hebrew, but always in a conjunctive/adverbial sense. Unlike אִם ('if') which introduces a conditional and אוּלַי ('perhaps') which introduces uncertainty, פֵּן always marks preventative intent.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from פָּנָה; properly, removal; used only (in the construction) adverb as conjunction, lest; (lest) (peradventure), that...not.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

פנה (p-n-h) — to turn, to face, to turn away

Strong's	Lemma	SIBI-P1
H3312	יְפֻנֶּה	He will be turned
H3942	לִפְנַי	before me
H6434	פֵּן	the corners
H6437	פָּנָה	in their turning
H6438	פִּנָּה	structural corner
H6440	פָּנִים	in my presence
H6441	פְּנִימָה	inward
H6443	פָּנִין	precious red gemstones

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	Occurrences
`H6435-01`	פֶּן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest	128
`H6435-02`	וּ/פֶן	ufen	`HC/C`	and lest	and lest	5

Occurrences in Scripture

133 total occurrences

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1
`H6435-01`	Genesis 3:3	פֶּן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	Genesis 3:22	פֶּן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	Genesis 11:4	פֶּן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	Genesis 19:15	פֶּן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	Genesis 19:17	פֶּן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	Genesis 19:19	פֶּן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	Genesis 24:6	פֶּן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	Genesis 26:7	פֶּן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	Genesis 26:9	פֶּן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	Genesis 31:24	פֶּן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	Genesis 31:31	פֶּן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	Genesis 32:12	פֶּן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	Genesis 38:11	פֶּן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	Genesis 38:23	פֶּ֖ן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	Genesis 42:4	פֶּן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	Genesis 44:34	פֶּ֚ן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	Genesis 45:11	פֶּן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	Exodus 1:10	פֶּן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	Exodus 5:3	פֶּ֨ן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	Exodus 13:17	פֶּֽן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	Exodus 19:21	פֶּן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	Exodus 19:22	פֶּן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	Exodus 19:24	פֶּן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	Exodus 20:19	פֶּן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	Exodus 23:29	פֶּן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	Exodus 23:33	פֶּן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	Exodus 33:3	פֶּן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	Exodus 34:12	פֶּן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	Exodus 34:12	פֶּן	pen-2	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	Exodus 34:15	פֶּן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	Leviticus 10:7	פֶּן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	Numbers 16:26	פֶּן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	Numbers 16:34	פֶּן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	Numbers 20:18	פֶּן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	Deuteronomy 4:9	פֶּן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-02`	Deuteronomy 4:9	וּ/פֶן	ufen	`HC/C`	and lest	and lest
`H6435-01`	Deuteronomy 4:16	פֶּ֨ן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-02`	Deuteronomy 4:19	וּ/פֶן	ufen	`HC/C`	and lest	and lest
`H6435-01`	Deuteronomy 4:23	פֶּֽן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	Deuteronomy 6:12	פֶּן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	Deuteronomy 6:15	פֶּן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	Deuteronomy 7:22	פֶּן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	Deuteronomy 7:25	פֶּ֚ן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	Deuteronomy 8:11	פֶּן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	Deuteronomy 8:12	פֶּן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	Deuteronomy 9:28	פֶּן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	Deuteronomy 11:16	פֶּ֥ן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	Deuteronomy 12:13	פֶּֽן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	Deuteronomy 12:19	פֶּֽן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	Deuteronomy 12:30	פֶּן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-02`	Deuteronomy 12:30	וּ/פֶן	ufen	`HC/C`	and lest	and lest
`H6435-01`	Deuteronomy 15:9	פֶּן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	Deuteronomy 19:6	פֶּן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	Deuteronomy 20:5	פֶּן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	Deuteronomy 20:6	פֶּן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	Deuteronomy 20:7	פֶּן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	Deuteronomy 22:9	פֶּן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	Deuteronomy 25:3	פֶּן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	Deuteronomy 29:17	פֶּן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	Deuteronomy 29:17	פֶּן	pen-2	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	Deuteronomy 32:27	פֶּֽן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	Deuteronomy 32:27	פֶּן	pen-2	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	Joshua 2:16	פֶּֽן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	Joshua 6:18	פֶּֽן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	Joshua 24:27	פֶּֽן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	Judges 7:2	פֶּן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	Judges 9:54	פֶּן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	Judges 14:15	פֶּן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	Judges 15:12	פֶּֽן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	Judges 18:25	פֶּֽן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	1 Samuel 4:9	פֶּ֚ן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	1 Samuel 9:5	פֶּן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	1 Samuel 13:19	פֶּ֚ן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	1 Samuel 15:6	פֶּן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	1 Samuel 20:3	פֶּן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	1 Samuel 27:11	פֶּן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	1 Samuel 31:4	פֶּן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	2 Samuel 1:20	פֶּן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	2 Samuel 1:20	פֶּֽן	pen-2	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	2 Samuel 12:28	פֶּן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	2 Samuel 15:14	פֶּן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	2 Samuel 17:16	פֶּ֚ן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	2 Samuel 20:6	פֶּן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	2 Kings 2:16	פֶּן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	2 Kings 10:23	פֶּן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	Isaiah 6:10	פֶּן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	Isaiah 27:3	פֶּ֚ן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	Isaiah 28:22	פֶּֽן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	Isaiah 36:18	פֶּן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	Isaiah 48:5	פֶּן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	Isaiah 48:7	פֶּן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	Jeremiah 1:17	פֶּֽן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	Jeremiah 4:4	פֶּן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	Jeremiah 6:8	פֶּן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	Jeremiah 6:8	פֶּן	pen-2	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	Jeremiah 10:24	פֶּן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	Jeremiah 21:12	פֶּן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	Jeremiah 38:19	פֶּֽן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-02`	Jeremiah 51:46	וּ/פֶן	ufen	`HC/C`	and-lest	and lest
`H6435-01`	Hosea 2:5	פֶּן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	Amos 5:6	פֶּן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	Malachi 3:24	פֶּן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	Psalms 2:12	פֶּן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	Psalms 7:3	פֶּן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	Psalms 13:4	פֶּן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	Psalms 13:5	פֶּן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	Psalms 28:1	פֶּן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	Psalms 38:17	פֶּן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	Psalms 50:22	פֶּן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	Psalms 59:12	פֶּֽן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	Psalms 91:12	פֶּן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	Proverbs 5:6	פֶּן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	Proverbs 5:9	פֶּן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	Proverbs 5:10	פֶּֽן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	Proverbs 9:8	פֶּן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	Proverbs 20:13	פֶּן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	Proverbs 22:25	פֶּן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	Proverbs 24:18	פֶּן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	Proverbs 25:8	פֶּ֣ן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	Proverbs 25:10	פֶּֽן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	Proverbs 25:16	פֶּן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	Proverbs 25:17	פֶּן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	Proverbs 26:4	פֶּֽן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	Proverbs 26:5	פֶּן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	Proverbs 30:6	פֶּן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	Proverbs 30:9	פֶּ֥ן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-02`	Proverbs 30:9	וּ/פֶֽן	ufen	`HC/C`	or lest	and lest
`H6435-01`	Proverbs 30:10	פֶּֽן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	Proverbs 31:5	פֶּן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	Job 32:13	פֶּן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	Job 36:18	פֶּן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	Ruth 4:6	פֶּן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest
`H6435-01`	1 Chronicles 10:4	פֶּן	pen	`HC`	lest	lest

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