2006. hen

Lexical Summary

hen: if, case, or

Original Word: הֵן
Part of Speech: Interjection
Transliteration: hen
Pronunciation: hane
Phonetic Spelling: (hane)
NASB: if, case, or, whether for or
Word Origin: [(Aramaic) corresponding to H2005 (הֵן - behold)]

1. (that) if, or, whether

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

that if, or, whether

(Aramaic) corresponding to hen: lo! Also there(-fore), (un-)less, whether, but, if -- (that) if, or, whether.

see HEBREW hen

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
(Aramaic) corresponding to hen
Definition
if, whether
NASB Translation
case (1), if (12), or (1), whether for or (1).

Topical Lexicon

Semantic and Stylistic Profile

הֵן operates as a demonstrative particle that draws attention, sets conditions, or reinforces certainty. In English it most often appears as “behold,” “now,” or “if,” depending on context. The word therefore functions both emphatically (“behold”) and hypothetically (“if”), linking a statement either to an announcement of fact or to a contingency that must be considered as fact for argument’s sake.

Post-Exilic Civil Correspondence (Ezra 4–7)

The particle punctuates the Aramaic letters preserved in Ezra, signaling formal notification to Persian authorities. Three themes emerge:

1. Political warning – “Now be it known to the king” (Ezra 4:13, 4:16, 5:17) alerts Artaxerxes and Darius to potential loss of tribute. The writers present their report as an incontrovertible reality that demands royal action.
2. Judicial deference – “If it seems good to the king” (Ezra 5:17) submits to the king’s sovereignty while urging archival research.
3. Firm legal consequence – Ezra 7:26 repeats הֵן three times to declare swift judgment against anyone who violates the newly issued Law-court edict: “Whoever will not obey the law of your God and the law of the king, let judgment be executed swiftly upon him…”. The particle underscores the immediacy and certainty of punishment, reflecting a theocratic worldview in which divine and imperial laws converge.

Court Narratives in Babylon (Daniel 2–5)

In Daniel the word frames high-stakes confrontations between human authority and divine sovereignty.
• Testing of revelation – Nebuchadnezzar warns the astrologers, “If you do not tell me the dream and its interpretation, you will be torn limb from limb” (Daniel 2:5, 2:9). הֵן introduces the ultimatum and magnifies the impossibility of the task apart from divine intervention.
• Promise of reward – “But if you declare the dream and its interpretation, you will receive gifts and rewards and great honor” (Daniel 2:6). The conditional particle balances threat with incentive, setting the stage for Daniel’s God-given revelation.
• Trial by fire – In Daniel 3:15 the king taunts the Hebrews: “Now if you are ready… worship the image I have made.” Their reply employs the same particle: “If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us… But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods” (Daniel 3:17-18). הֵן becomes a verbal fulcrum on which faith outweighs coercion.
• Prophetic counsel – Daniel pleads with Nebuchadnezzar, “Therefore, may my counsel be pleasing to you” (Daniel 4:27). The particle softens the admonition yet conveys urgency: repentance is not optional.
• Final evaluation – Belshazzar offers rewards to anyone who can read the handwriting: “But if you can read the inscription and give me its interpretation, you shall be clothed in purple” (Daniel 5:16). The irony is complete when only God’s prophet meets the condition.

Theological Emphases

1. Divine Certainty versus Human Contingency – הֵן distinguishes between what is irrevocably decreed by God and what is merely proposed by rulers.
2. Covenant Faithfulness – In Daniel 3 the particle frames an “if… but if not” statement that models unwavering allegiance, foreshadowing Christian confession under persecution.
3. Accountability of Nations – Ezra’s correspondence shows that even imperial courts must reckon with God’s purposes; הֵן marks the points at which heaven’s interests intersect earthly politics.

Christological Echoes

The definitive “Behold, the Lamb of God” of John 1:29 mirrors the Old Testament use of הֵן as a heralding particle. As in Daniel and Ezra, the New Testament “behold” introduces a decisive revelation, this time the incarnate Son whose authority surpasses kings and empires.

Ministry Applications

• Preaching – Use הֵן-texts to illustrate how Scripture confronts listeners with non-negotiable truth (“behold”) while also presenting life-and-death alternatives (“if”).
• Pastoral counseling – Daniel 3:17-18 offers a model prayer: trust God for deliverance yet resolve to remain faithful even if He chooses another path.
• Leadership – Ezra 7:26 demonstrates the necessity of clear consequences in governance, whether civil or ecclesial, for the maintenance of order under God.

Summary

Strong’s Hebrew 2006 הֵן functions as a spotlight and a hinge: it illumines God’s sure word and turns human hearts toward decisive response. Whether introducing an imperial decree, challenging idolatry, or offering prophetic counsel, the particle consistently affirms that the Lord’s purposes stand while human obedience or rebellion determines temporal outcomes.

Forms and Transliterations

הֵ֛ן הֵ֣ן הֵ֤ן הֵ֧ן הֵן֩ הֵן־ הן הן־ וְהֵ֣ן וְהֵ֨ן וְהֵן֙ והן לָהֵ֕ן לָהֵ֗ן להן hen hên hên- lā·hên laHen lāhên veHen wə·hên wəhên

Englishman's Concordance

Ezra 4:13
HEB: לְמַלְכָּ֔א דִּ֠י הֵ֣ן קִרְיְתָ֥א דָךְ֙
NAS: to the king, that if that city
KJV: now unto the king, that, if this city
INT: to the king that if city this

Ezra 4:16
HEB: לְמַלְכָּ֔א דִּ֠י הֵ֣ן קִרְיְתָ֥א דָךְ֙
NAS: the king that if that city
KJV: certify the king that, if this city
INT: the king that if city this

Ezra 5:17
HEB: וּכְעַ֞ן הֵ֧ן עַל־ מַלְכָּ֣א
NAS: Now if it pleases the king,
KJV: Now therefore, if [it seem] good to
INT: Now if concerning the king

Ezra 5:17
HEB: דִּ֣י בְּבָבֶל֒ הֵ֣ן אִיתַ֗י דִּֽי־
NAS: in Babylon, if it be that a decree
KJV: at Babylon, whether it be
INT: which Babylon if be which

Ezra 7:26
HEB: מִתְעֲבֵ֖ד מִנֵּ֑הּ הֵ֤ן לְמוֹת֙ הֵ֣ן
NAS: upon him strictly, whether for death
KJV: upon him, whether [it be] unto death,
INT: be executed him whether death or

Ezra 7:26
HEB: הֵ֤ן לְמוֹת֙ הֵ֣ן [לִשְׁרֹשׁוּ כ]
NAS: whether for death or for banishment or
KJV: [it be] unto death, or to banishment,
INT: whether death or banishment or

Ezra 7:26
HEB: (לִשְׁרֹשִׁ֔י ק) הֵן־ לַעֲנָ֥שׁ נִכְסִ֖ין
NAS: for banishment or for confiscation
KJV: to banishment, or to confiscation
INT: or banishment or confiscation of goods

Daniel 2:5
HEB: מִנִּ֣י אַזְדָּ֑א הֵ֣ן לָ֤א תְהֽוֹדְעוּנַּ֙נִי֙
NAS: from me is firm: if you do not make known
KJV: from me: if ye will not
INT: me is firm if will not make

Daniel 2:6
HEB: וְהֵ֨ן חֶלְמָ֤א וּפִשְׁרֵהּ֙
NAS: But if you declare the dream
KJV: But if ye shew the dream,
INT: if the dream interpretation

Daniel 2:6
HEB: מִן־ קֳדָמָ֑י לָהֵ֕ן חֶלְמָ֥א וּפִשְׁרֵ֖הּ
INT: of me if the dream interpretation

Daniel 2:9
HEB: דִּ֣י הֵן־ חֶלְמָא֩ לָ֨א
NAS: that if you do not make the dream
KJV: But if ye will not make known
INT: that if the dream will not

Daniel 2:9
HEB: עִדָּנָ֖א יִשְׁתַּנֵּ֑א לָהֵ֗ן חֶלְמָא֙ אֱמַ֣רוּ
INT: the situation is changed if the dream tell

Daniel 3:15
HEB: כְּעַ֞ן הֵ֧ן אִֽיתֵיכ֣וֹן עֲתִידִ֗ין
NAS: Now if you are ready, at the moment
KJV: up?Now if ye be ready
INT: Now if be are ready

Daniel 3:15
HEB: דִֽי־ עַבְדֵת֒ וְהֵן֙ לָ֣א תִסְגְּד֔וּן
NAS: that I have made, [very well]. But if you do not worship,
KJV: which I have made; [well]: but if ye worship
INT: who have made if not worship

Daniel 3:17
HEB: הֵ֣ן אִיתַ֗י אֱלָהַ֙נָא֙
NAS: If it be [so], our God whom
KJV: If it be [so], our God whom we
INT: If is it be our God

Daniel 3:18
HEB: וְהֵ֣ן לָ֔א יְדִ֥יעַ
NAS: But [even] if [He does] not, let it be known
KJV: But if not, be it
INT: But if not it be known

Daniel 4:27
HEB: בְּמִחַ֣ן עֲנָ֑יִן הֵ֛ן תֶּהֱוֵ֥א אַרְכָ֖ה
NAS: to [the] poor, in case there may be a prolonging
KJV: to the poor; if it may be
INT: showing to the poor case may be prolonging

Daniel 5:16
HEB: לְמִשְׁרֵ֑א כְּעַ֡ן הֵן֩ [תּוּכַל כ]
NAS: Now if you are able
KJV: doubts: now if thou canst read
INT: and solve Now if be able the inscription

18 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 2006
18 Occurrences

hên — 13 Occ.
lā·hên — 2 Occ.
wə·hên — 3 Occ.