The Hebrew form הִנֵּה (root: נ־ה־ה or variant from ה־י־נ) is not a verb in the strict grammatical sense like other action verbs—it functions primarily as an interjection or demonstrative particle. It means “behold,” “look,” “see,” or “here is / here are.” It introduces attention to something presently visible, about to occur, or dramatically revealed.
Although derived from older verbal roots (possibly היה or ננה), in biblical Hebrew it functions grammatically as a particle of immediacy or emphasis, not as a fully conjugating verb.
Grammatical Characteristics
- Form: Fixed – הִנֵּה does not conjugate.
- Usage: Used before nouns, pronouns, or clauses to direct attention.
- Translation: “Behold,” “Here is,” “See now,” “Lo!” (in older English style).
- Modern Hebrew: Used similarly—הִנֵּה הוּא (“here he is”), הִנֵּה הֵם (“there they are”).
Usage in Scripture
- Genesis 22:7 – וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו אַבְרָהָם… הִנֵּנִי
“And he said to him, ‘Avraham!’ and he said, ‘Here I am.’” — the form הִנֵּנִי (“behold me”) is a first-person emphatic. - Genesis 6:13 – וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלֹהִים לְנֹחַ קֵץ כָּל־בָּשָׂר בָּא לְפָנַי… הִנְנִי מַשְׁחִיתָם
“Behold, I am about to destroy them.” — used to announce divine action. - Isaiah 7:14 – הִנֵּה הָעַלְמָה הָרָה וְיֹלֶדֶת בֵּן
“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son.” — highlights dramatic revelation.
Common Extended Forms
| Form | Meaning |
|---|---|
| הִנֵּה | Behold / Look / Here is |
| הִנֵּנִי | Behold me / Here I am (1st person singular) |
| הִנֵּנוּ | Behold us / Here we are (1st person plural) |
| הִנֵּם | Behold them (masculine) |
| הִנֵּהוּ | Behold him |
Summary
The word הִנֵּה functions as an attention-getting particle meaning “behold,” “look,” or “here is.” It does not conjugate like other verbs and is best understood as a fixed demonstrative form. It is deeply woven into the rhetoric of biblical speech, marking moments of revelation, warning, or divine speech. While not a verb by strict grammatical definition, it is central to biblical narrative and prophetic literature.
