(Aramaic) or הָא; (Aramaic), corresponding to הֵא; {lo!}; even, lo.
Transliteration:hêʼ
Pronunciation:hay
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
`{{H1888}}` (hêʼ or hāʼ) is an Aramaic interjection primarily functioning as an exclamation of attention or surprise. Its core meaning translates to "behold!" or "lo!" It serves to draw the listener's or reader's immediate focus to something significant, often introducing a new observation, a crucial piece of information, or an unexpected event. Beyond its role as an attention-getter, `{{H1888}}` can also function as an intensifier, conveying the sense of "even" or "indeed," depending on the specific context. It is the Aramaic counterpart to the more frequently occurring Hebrew interjections `{{H2005}}` (hēʼ) and `{{H2009}}` (hinneh).
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
As an Aramaic word, `{{H1888}}` is found exclusively in the Aramaic sections of the Old Testament, specifically in the books of Ezra and Daniel.
In Ezra, `{{H1888}}` typically introduces a list or a significant piece of communication:
* In [[Ezra 4:10]], it precedes a list of peoples, "and now, behold, the men beyond the River..." (וְכְעַן הֵא).
* Similarly, [[Ezra 4:11]] uses it to introduce the copy of a letter, "and now, behold, this is the copy..." (וּכְעַן הֵא דְנָה).
* In [[Ezra 5:4]], it introduces a direct question seeking specific information: "Behold, what are the names of the men that make this building?" (הֵא מָא שְׁמָהָת). Here, it functions to emphasize the request for details.
In Daniel, `{{H1888}}` takes on a more profound role, often preceding the revelation of visions or miraculous events, thereby underscoring their divine origin and certainty:
* [[Daniel 2:43]] uses it in a more emphatic or illustrative sense: "...even as iron is not mixed with clay," (הֵא מִתְעָרְבִין) emphasizing the futility of the mingling.
* In [[Daniel 3:25]], Nebuchadnezzar exclaims, "Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire..." (הֵא חָזֵה אֲנָה אַרְבְּעָה גֻּבְרִין), highlighting the miraculous preservation of the three men and the appearance of the fourth figure.
* In Daniel's prophetic visions (Chapter 7), `{{H1888}}` repeatedly introduces new elements of the vision, drawing the reader's attention to the unfolding of God's sovereign plan:
* [[Daniel 7:5]]: "And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear..." (וַאֲרוּ הֵא אָחֳרִי חֵיוָה).
* [[Daniel 7:6]]: "After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard..." (וַאֲרוּ הֵא אָחֳרִי כְּנָמֵר).
* [[Daniel 7:7]]: "After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible..." (וַאֲרוּ הֵא חֵיוָה רְבִיעָיָה).
* [[Daniel 7:13]]: This verse features a climactic use of `{{H1888}}` to introduce the glorious advent of the Son of Man: "I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven..." (הֵא אָתֵה).
### Related Words & Concepts
The Aramaic `{{H1888}}` is semantically parallel to the Hebrew `{{H2009}}` (hinneh), which is extensively used throughout the Hebrew Bible to draw attention, introduce new information, or signal a significant divine utterance. Both particles function to engage the audience, creating a sense of immediacy and importance for what follows. Other related concepts include the idea of revelation, divine disclosure, and the prophetic mode of communication, where the speaker or visionary often uses such exclamations to invite the audience into the experience of seeing or understanding. The use of `{{H1888}}` also aligns with the broader biblical emphasis on attentiveness to God's word and actions.
### Theological Significance
While `{{H1888}}` is a grammatical particle, its consistent deployment within the Aramaic prophetic texts imbues it with theological weight. In the book of Daniel, `{{H1888}}` serves as a linguistic beacon, signaling moments of divine unveiling. When Daniel says "behold," he is inviting the reader to witness the unfolding of God's preordained historical and eschatological plan. This particle underscores the *certainty* and *immediacy* of God's revelation, emphasizing that these events are not mere possibilities but divinely decreed realities.
The repeated use of `{{H1888}}` in [[Daniel 7]] highlights the sovereign control of God over world empires and the ultimate triumph of His kingdom, personified by the Son of Man. The interjection thus reinforces the divine authorship and infallible nature of the prophecy. In [[Daniel 3:25]], Nebuchadnezzar's "lo, I see" marks a moment of profound recognition of God's miraculous intervention, serving as a testament to His power to deliver. Thus, `{{H1888}}` contributes to the overall theological message of divine sovereignty, the reliability of prophecy, and the active presence of God in human affairs.
### Summary
`{{H1888}}` (hêʼ / hāʼ) is an Aramaic interjection meaning "behold!" or "lo!", serving to draw immediate attention to what is being stated or revealed. Found in the Aramaic sections of Ezra and Daniel, it functions in Ezra to introduce lists or communications. In Daniel, particularly within the prophetic visions, `{{H1888}}` takes on significant theological weight, emphasizing the certainty, immediacy, and divine origin of the unfolding revelations. It parallels the Hebrew `{{H2009}}` (hinneh) in its capacity to underscore divine action, prophetic insight, and the undeniable reality of God's sovereign plan throughout history and into the eschatological future.
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