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אֵפוֹ

𐤀𐤐𐤅

ʼêphôw

H645 adverb

SILEX Entry

Root פה to be here, to be present, to indicate place

Definition

A demonstrative and interrogative particle indicating location or present moment, often used to introduce questions about place ('where?') or time ('now?'). In some contexts, it can serve as a logical particle indicating inference or transition, facilitating a shift in discourse ('so now', 'therefore'). The term commonly functions to direct attention to a place, situation, or moment being referenced.

Semantic Range

where?, here, now, then, in this place, in this situation, at this moment, logical/inferential particle ('so now', 'therefore')

Root / Etymology

From the prepositional particle פֹּה (po), meaning 'here'. The addition of the א enclitic is likely for phonetic emphasis or to form an interrogative or emphatic sense, though the exact morphological process is debated. The final aleph is often viewed as a particle of discourse. Root is פה – to be here, location, but אֵפוֹ itself is a particle form.

Historical & Contextual Notes

אֵפוֹ occurs primarily as a particle within narrative and legal contexts, often introducing questions ('where?') or marking logical or temporal transitions ('now then'). Its usage is especially common when seeking information about a person's location or about a developing situation ('Where is he?', 'Now, what...'). In later biblical Hebrew (e.g., post-exilic books), its frequency diminishes, and other demonstratives often take its place. The term is distinct from איכה (aykha, 'how?') or אי (ay, 'where?'), being more situational and immediate in context. English translations sometimes render it as 'where?', 'now', or 'then', but these may lose the particle's nuanced function as a discourse marker or its role in narrative flow. Its use as an inferential ('so then') or transitional ('now', 'therefore') particle, though occasional, highlights its versatility in biblical Hebrew discourse.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or אֵפוֹא; from פֹּה; strictly a demonstrative particle, here; but used of time, now or then; here, now, where?

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

פה (p-h) — presence, here-ness, location, immediate situation

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H6311 פֹּה here
H6366 פֵּיָה edges
H6433 פֻּם in mouth of

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H645-01 אֵפ֡וֹא efo HD then where now? 15

Occurrences in Scripture

15 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H645-01 Genesis 27:33 אֵפ֡וֹא efo HD then where now?
H645-01 Genesis 27:37 אֵפ֔וֹא efo HD then where now?
H645-01 Genesis 43:11 אֵפוֹא֮ efo HD then where now?
H645-01 Exodus 33:16 אֵפ֗וֹא efo HD then where now?
H645-01 Judges 9:38 אֵפ֥וֹא efo HD is where now?
H645-01 2 Kings 10:10 אֵפ֗וֹא efo HD therefore where now?
H645-01 Isaiah 19:12 אֵפ֣וֹא efo HD then where now?
H645-01 Isaiah 22:1 אֵפ֔וֹא efo HD now where now?
H645-01 Hosea 13:10 אֵפ֔וֹא efo HD then/where where now?
H645-01 Proverbs 6:3 אֵפ֪וֹא efo HD then where now?
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