### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **lâhên**, represented by `{{H3860}}`, is a term meaning **for them**. It appears just **2 times** in a single verse, highlighting its specific and rare usage in scripture. The base definition indicates it is derived from a prepositional prefix meaning "to" or "for" and is used to signify "therefore" or, in this context, **for them**.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The sole biblical appearance of `{{H3860}}` is in the book of Ruth, where Naomi uses it twice in a rhetorical question to her daughters-in-law [[Ruth 1:13]]. She asks if they would wait **for them**—hypothetical future sons she might bear—to grow up and become their husbands. This usage emphasizes the impossibility of their situation and the depth of Naomi's argument for them to return home, as it grieveth her much for their sakes.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words from its context clarify the meaning of waiting **for them**:
* `{{H7663}}` **sâbar** (to tarry, wait): This word captures the essence of Naomi's question, asking if her daughters-in-law would **tarry** with hope for sons who do not exist [[Ruth 1:13]]. It is used elsewhere to describe how all of creation waits upon God for provision [[Psalms 104:27]].
* `{{H5702}}` **ʻâgan** (to stay): This term, meaning to debar from marriage, is used to ask if they would **stay** unmarried for these hypothetical sons [[Ruth 1:13]]. Its only appearance in the dossier is in this exact verse, underscoring the unique social predicament.
* `{{H1431}}` **gâdal** (to be grown): This word describes the condition that would need to be met for the waiting to end: the sons would need to be **grown** [[Ruth 1:13]]. The word is more broadly used to describe making something great, such as God magnifying his word [[Psalms 138:2]].
* `{{H376}}` **ʼîysh** (husband): This word defines the purpose of their waiting: to gain a **husband**. Naomi's question is whether they would wait for these future sons to become husbands for them [[Ruth 1:13]]. The term is also used to describe the foundational relationship of marriage [[Genesis 2:24]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H3860}}` is revealed in its narrative function within a moment of crisis.
* **Emptiness and Hopelessness:** The repetition of **lâhên** underscores Naomi's feeling of utter emptiness. She has no sons to offer and therefore no future **for them**. Her words reflect a state of human despair, as she believes the Lord's hand has gone out against her [[Ruth 1:13]].
* **The Limits of Human Obligation:** Naomi uses the phrase **for them** to release her daughters-in-law from any perceived obligation. It marks a moment of difficult love, where she acknowledges that waiting **for them** (the non-existent sons) is an unreasonable and bitter path that would cause them to be debarred from having husbands [[Ruth 1:13]].
* **Providence in Suffering:** The phrase is spoken at a low point where Naomi is grieved, a feeling described by the word `{{H4843}}` **mârar**. This same root word is used when she asks to be called Mara, because the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with her [[Ruth 1:20]]. The use of **lâhên** thus highlights a human perspective of bitterness that, in the broader narrative, is ultimately answered by God's providence.
### Summary
In summary, **lâhên** `{{H3860}}` is a highly specific term whose meaning is illuminated entirely by its context in [[Ruth 1:13]]. While simply meaning **for them**, its repeated use by Naomi paints a powerful picture of hopelessness, the perceived bitterness of God's hand, and the release from social obligation. It demonstrates how even a simple grammatical phrase, through its placement in the biblical narrative, can convey deep emotional and relational turmoil.
TRV