אִם (im)
im
if; if: except; if: surely no; if: surely yes; if: until
H:CondQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 832 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:Cond
Word Overview
The Hebrew word im functions primarily as a conditional conjunction, introducing clauses that describe possible or hypothetical situations. With over eight hundred occurrences in the Old Testament, it appears frequently in books like Job and Jeremiah to explore uncertainty, contingency, and the boundaries of human experience. It serves as the standard marker for "if" scenarios, allowing the text to weigh outcomes against specific conditions.
Its range extends beyond simple logic into oath contexts and rhetorical questions. In some passages, it carries a negative force, meaning "no" or "not," particularly when used in exclamations of disbelief. Conversely, it can affirm a strong certainty, translating to "surely yes." This versatility allows biblical authors to shift from exploring what might happen to asserting what is undeniably true.
A notable feature is its use in paired structures such as "whether...or," which presents alternatives without requiring a choice between them. This construction emphasizes that the result holds regardless of which path is taken. Translators often render it simply as "if" or "whether," though the Hebrew word carries a weight of contingency that shapes the tone of wisdom literature and prophetic warning.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word im appears over eight hundred times in the Old Testament, anchoring our understanding of how God interacts with human choice. It introduces conditions, asking what happens if we act in a certain way or if circumstances shift. This is not a sign of divine uncertainty but an invitation to participate in a relationship where our actions matter. When Scripture uses this conjunction, it highlights that the future is shaped by the present moment.
We see this clearly in Genesis 4:7, where God warns Cain about sin crouching at the door. The condition is simple: if you do well, your offering is accepted; if not, danger looms. This structure reminds us that our spiritual posture determines our experience of God’s grace. It is a call to vigilance rather than fear.
In Genesis 18, Abraham uses this same word to negotiate with God for Sodom. He asks what will happen if fifty righteous people are found, then forty-five, down to ten. God responds to each condition, showing that mercy is available even in the midst of judgment. This word teaches us that hope persists as long as there is room for repentance and righteousness.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 832 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- if411×
- and/ if233×
- except132×
- or?78×
- <if>32×
- though15×
- and/ or?13×
- whether11×
- or8×
- and/ or7×
- <if>?7×
- and/ <if>3×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- אִם\־622×
- וְ/אִם\־197×
- אִֽם\־33×
- וְ/אִם֙11×
- אִ֥ם9×
- אִ֣ם9×
- אִ֚ם8×
- וְ/אִ֨ם\־6×
- וְ/אִ֣ם\׀6×
- וְ/אִ֣ם6×
- וְֽ/אִם\־5×
- וְ/אִֽם\־5×
Key Verses
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Genesis 4:7
If you do well, won’t it be lifted up? If you don’t do well, sin crouches at the door. Its desire is for you, but you are to rule over it.”
This verse uses im to establish a direct moral cause-and-effect, warning that sin’s desire depends on human resistance.
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Genesis 18:26
Yahweh said, “If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare the whole place for their sake.”
God sets a specific numerical condition for sparing Sodom, demonstrating that divine justice is responsive to the presence of righteousness.
-
Genesis 18:30
He said, “Oh don’t let the Lord be angry, and I will speak. What if there are thirty found there?” He said, “I will not do it if I find thirty there.”
Abraham’s repeated use of this conjunction shows persistent intercession, where each lowered threshold still triggers God’s promise not to destroy the city.
-
Genesis 24:42
I came today to the spring, and said, ‘Yahweh, the God of my master Abraham, if now you do prosper my way which I go—
The servant prays with this word to seek a sign of guidance, illustrating how believers use conditional language to discern God’s specific will in daily decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Hebrew word im mean?
Is im always used for simple conditions?
How does im appear in the story of Abraham?
Every Occurrence (832 verses across 35 books)
Genesis 64 verses
If you do well, won’t it be lifted up? If you don’t do well, sin crouches at the door. Its desire is for you, but you…
Genesis 13:9Isn’t the whole land before you? Please separate yourself from me. If you go to the left hand, then I will go to the…
Genesis 13:16I will make your offspring as the dust of the earth, so that if a man can count the dust of the earth, then your…
Genesis 14:23that I will not take a thread nor a sandal strap nor anything that is yours, lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram…
Genesis 15:4Behold, Yahweh’s word came to him, saying, “This man will not be your heir, but he who will come out of your own body…
Genesis 15:5Yahweh brought him outside, and said, “Look now toward the sky, and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” He…
Genesis 17:17Then Abraham fell on his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, “Will a child be born to him who is one hundred…
Genesis 18:3and said, “My lord, if now I have found favor in your sight, please don’t go away from your servant.
Genesis 18:21I will go down now, and see whether their deeds are as bad as the reports which have come to me. If not, I will know.”
Genesis 18:26Yahweh said, “If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare the whole place for their sake.”
Genesis 18:28What if there will lack five of the fifty righteous? Will you destroy all the city for lack of five?” He said, “I will…
Genesis 18:30He said, “Oh don’t let the Lord be angry, and I will speak. What if there are thirty found there?” He said, “I will not…
Genesis 20:7Now therefore, restore the man’s wife. For he is a prophet, and he will pray for you, and you will live. If you don’t…
Genesis 21:23Now, therefore, swear to me here by God that you will not deal falsely with me, nor with my son, nor with my son’s son.…
Genesis 23:8He talked with them, saying, “If you agree that I should bury my dead out of my sight, hear me, and entreat for me to…
Genesis 23:13He spoke to Ephron in the audience of the people of the land, saying, “But if you will, please hear me. I will give the…
Genesis 24:8If the woman isn’t willing to follow you, then you shall be clear from this oath to me. Only you shall not bring my son…
Genesis 24:19When she had finished giving him a drink, she said, “I will also draw for your camels, until they have finished…
Genesis 24:21The man looked steadfastly at her, remaining silent, to know whether Yahweh had made his journey prosperous or not.
Genesis 24:33Food was set before him to eat, but he said, “I will not eat until I have told my message.” Laban said, “Speak on.”
Genesis 24:38but you shall go to my father’s house, and to my relatives, and take a wife for my son.’
Genesis 24:41Then you will be clear from my oath, when you come to my relatives. If they don’t give her to you, you shall be clear…
Genesis 24:42I came today to the spring, and said, ‘Yahweh, the God of my master Abraham, if now you do prosper my way which I go—
Genesis 24:49Now if you will deal kindly and truly with my master, tell me. If not, tell me, that I may turn to the right hand, or…
Genesis 25:22The children struggled together within her. She said, “If it is like this, why do I live?” She went to inquire of…
Genesis 26:29that you will do us no harm, as we have not touched you, and as we have done to you nothing but good, and have sent you…
Genesis 27:21Isaac said to Jacob, “Please come near, that I may feel you, my son, whether you are really my son Esau or not.”
Genesis 27:46Rebekah said to Isaac, “I am weary of my life because of the daughters of Heth. If Jacob takes a wife of the daughters…
Genesis 28:15Behold, I am with you, and will keep you, wherever you go, and will bring you again into this land. For I will not…
Genesis 28:17He was afraid, and said, “How awesome this place is! This is none other than God’s house, and this is the gate of…
Genesis 28:20Jacob vowed a vow, saying, “If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to…
Genesis 30:1When Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister. She said to Jacob, “Give me children, or…
Genesis 30:27Laban said to him, “If now I have found favor in your eyes, stay here, for I have divined that Yahweh has blessed me…
Genesis 30:31Laban said, “What shall I give you?” Jacob said, “You shall not give me anything. If you will do this thing for me, I…
Genesis 31:8If he said, ‘The speckled will be your wages,’ then all the flock bore speckled. If he said, ‘The streaked will be your…
Genesis 31:50If you afflict my daughters, or if you take wives in addition to my daughters, no man is with us; behold, God is…
Genesis 31:52May this heap be a witness, and the pillar be a witness, that I will not pass over this heap to you, and that you will…
Genesis 33:10Jacob said, “Please, no, if I have now found favor in your sight, then receive my present at my hand, because I have…
Genesis 34:15Only on this condition will we consent to you. If you will be as we are, that every male of you be circumcised,
Genesis 34:17But if you will not listen to us and be circumcised, then we will take our sister, and we will be gone.”
Genesis 35:10God said to him, “Your name is Jacob. Your name shall not be Jacob any more, but your name will be Israel.” He named…
Genesis 37:8His brothers asked him, “Will you indeed reign over us? Will you indeed have dominion over us?” They hated him all the…
Genesis 37:32They took the tunic of many colors, and they brought it to their father, and said, “We have found this. Examine it,…
Genesis 38:9Onan knew that the offspring wouldn’t be his; and when he went in to his brother’s wife, he spilled his semen on the…
Genesis 38:17He said, “I will send you a young goat from the flock.” She said, “Will you give me a pledge, until you send it?”
Genesis 39:6He left all that he had in Joseph’s hand. He didn’t concern himself with anything, except for the food which he ate.…
Genesis 39:9No one is greater in this house than I am, and he has not kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife.…
Genesis 40:14But remember me when it is well with you. Please show kindness to me, and make mention of me to Pharaoh, and bring me…
Genesis 42:15By this you shall be tested. By the life of Pharaoh, you shall not go out from here, unless your youngest brother comes…
Genesis 42:16Send one of you, and let him get your brother, and you shall be bound, that your words may be tested, whether there is…
Genesis 42:19If you are honest men, then let one of your brothers be bound in your prison; but you go, carry grain for the famine of…
Genesis 42:37Reuben spoke to his father, saying, “Kill my two sons, if I don’t bring him to you. Entrust him to my care, and I will…
Genesis 43:4If you’ll send our brother with us, we’ll go down and buy you food;
Genesis 43:5but if you don’t send him, we won’t go down, for the man said to us, ‘You shall not see my face, unless your brother is…
Genesis 43:9I’ll be collateral for him. From my hand will you require him. If I don’t bring him to you, and set him before you,…
Genesis 43:11Their father, Israel, said to them, “If it must be so, then do this: Take from the choice fruits of the land in your…
Genesis 44:23You said to your servants, ‘Unless your youngest brother comes down with you, you will see my face no more.’
Genesis 44:26We said, ‘We can’t go down. If our youngest brother is with us, then we will go down: for we may not see the man’s…
Genesis 44:32For your servant became collateral for the boy to my father, saying, ‘If I don’t bring him to you, then I will bear the…
Genesis 47:6The land of Egypt is before you. Make your father and your brothers dwell in the best of the land. Let them dwell in…
Genesis 47:16Joseph said, “Give me your livestock; and I will give you food for your livestock, if your money is gone.”
Genesis 47:18When that year was ended, they came to him the second year, and said to him, “We will not hide from my lord how our…
Genesis 47:29The time came near that Israel must die, and he called his son Joseph, and said to him, “If now I have found favor in…
Genesis 50:4When the days of weeping for him were past, Joseph spoke to Pharaoh’s staff, saying, “If now I have found favor in your…