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אַתָּ֫ה (at.tah)

at.tah

you(m.s.); you(f.s.); you(m.p.); you(f.p.)

H0859 · Hebrew · Old Testament · 822 verses

H:PerP-MS

Quick Reference

Language
Biblical Hebrew
Testament
Old Testament
Occurrences
822 verses
Root
—
Part of speech
H:PerP-MS

Word Overview

The Hebrew word attah is the standard second-person pronoun, meaning "you." It appears 822 times in the Old Testament, with high frequency in books like Jeremiah, Deuteronomy, and Genesis. The term changes form to match the gender and number of the person being addressed. The masculine singular form is the most common base, while distinct endings mark the feminine singular, masculine plural, and feminine plural. This grammatical flexibility allows the text to specify exactly who is being spoken to, whether it is one man, one woman, a group of men, or a group of women.

Its usage ranges from simple identification to intense personal address. In Deuteronomy, God uses it to establish a direct covenant relationship with Israel. In Jeremiah, the prophet often employs it to confront the people individually about their actions. The pronoun serves as a linguistic anchor, pulling the listener into the immediate context of the speech or prayer. It is not merely a grammatical placeholder but a tool for creating intimacy or urgency in dialogue.

Translators consistently render attah as "you" in English. While this word is functionally similar to other Hebrew pronouns for "you," its prevalence makes it a cornerstone of biblical narrative and poetry. It ensures that the speaker's intent is clear, whether offering comfort or delivering judgment. The consistency of its meaning across centuries of Hebrew literature highlights the precision of the language in distinguishing between the speaker and the listener.

Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).

What This Word Means for Your Faith

The Hebrew word attah is simply "you." It appears over eight hundred times in the Old Testament, shifting its ending to match who is being spoken to. This small word acts as a bridge between the speaker and the listener, creating a direct line of communication. In Genesis, God uses it when speaking to Adam, Noah, or Abraham, pulling them into a personal conversation that changes their lives.

For your faith, this means God does not speak in vague generalities. He addresses you by name in spirit, inviting you into relationship. Whether the text brings judgment or promise, the use of "you" signals that the message is specific and intended for someone who can hear it. It grounds the biblical narrative in real human experience.

When you read these passages, notice how often God initiates this direct address. It is an invitation to respond. The word reminds us that our lives are not background noise but central to God's story. You are seen, known, and spoken to with intention.

How it's translated

How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 822 verses where it appears, by frequency.

  • you591×
  • and/ you211×
  • [are] you75×
  • ¿/ you5×
  • ¿/ [are] you5×
  • O you5×
  • and/ [are] you?2×
  • [will] you2×
  • [are] you?2×
  • that/ you1×

Forms in the text

The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.

  • אַתָּ֣ה74×
  • אַתָּ֖ה64×
  • אַתָּ֥ה56×
  • אַתָּה֙48×
  • אַתֶּ֣ם42×
  • וְ/אַתָּ֖ה27×
  • אַתָּ֤ה27×
  • אַתֶּם֙27×
  • אַתֶּ֥ם24×
  • וְ/אַתָּה֙21×
  • אַתֶּ֖ם21×
  • וְ/אַתָּ֣ה20×

Key Verses

  • Genesis 3:11
    God said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?”

    God uses "you" to confront Adam directly about his disobedience, establishing the personal nature of accountability.

  • Genesis 6:18
    But I will establish my covenant with you. You shall come into the ship, you, your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives with you.

    The pronoun marks the specific covenant promise made to Noah and his family, highlighting individual inclusion in divine grace.

  • Genesis 22:12
    He said, “Don’t lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him. For now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.”

    God declares that He now knows Abraham fears Him, using "you" to affirm the personal cost of obedience.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does attah mean in Hebrew?

Attah is the standard second-person pronoun meaning "you." It changes its ending to match the gender and number of the person being addressed, such as one man, one woman, or a group.

How many times does attah appear in the Old Testament?

It appears approximately 822 times. It is most frequent in books like Jeremiah, Deuteronomy, and Genesis, where direct dialogue between God and people is central.

Why is this word important for understanding biblical prayer?

Because it creates a direct address, attah helps readers see that prayer is personal. When the psalmist says "you," they are speaking directly to God, not about Him in the third person.

Every Occurrence (822 verses across 36 books)

Genesis 64 verses
Genesis 3:11

God said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?”

Genesis 3:14

Yahweh God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, you are cursed above all livestock, and above every animal…

Genesis 3:15

I will put hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will bruise your head,…

Genesis 3:19

You will eat bread by the sweat of your face until you return to the ground, for you were taken out of it. For you are…

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…

Genesis 4:11

Now you are cursed because of the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand.

Genesis 6:18

But I will establish my covenant with you. You shall come into the ship, you, your sons, your wife, and your sons’…

Genesis 6:21

Take with you some of all food that is eaten, and gather it to yourself; and it will be for food for you, and for them.”

Genesis 7:1

Yahweh said to Noah, “Come with all of your household into the ship, for I have seen your righteousness before me in…

Genesis 8:16

“Go out of the ship, you, your wife, your sons, and your sons’ wives with you.

Genesis 9:7

Be fruitful and multiply. Increase abundantly in the earth, and multiply in it.”

Genesis 12:11

When he had come near to enter Egypt, he said to Sarai his wife, “See now, I know that you are a beautiful woman to…

Genesis 12:13

Please say that you are my sister, that it may be well with me for your sake, and that my soul may live because of you.”

Genesis 13:14

Yahweh said to Abram, after Lot was separated from him, “Now, lift up your eyes, and look from the place where you are,…

Genesis 13:15

for I will give all the land which you see to you and to your offspring forever.

Genesis 15:15

but you will go to your fathers in peace. You will be buried at a good old age.

Genesis 16:13

She called the name of Yahweh who spoke to her, “You are a God who sees,” for she said, “Have I even stayed alive after…

Genesis 17:9

God said to Abraham, “As for you, you shall keep my covenant, you and your offspring after you throughout their…

Genesis 20:7

Now 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 21:22

At that time, Abimelech and Phicol the captain of his army spoke to Abraham, saying, “God is with you in all that you…

Genesis 21:26

Abimelech said, “I don’t know who has done this thing. You didn’t tell me, and I didn’t hear of it until today.”

Genesis 22:12

He said, “Don’t lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him. For now I know that you fear God, since you have not…

Genesis 23:6

“Hear us, my lord. You are a prince of God among us. Bury your dead in the best of our tombs. None of us will withhold…

Genesis 23:13

He 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 24:23

and said, “Whose daughter are you? Please tell me. Is there room in your father’s house for us to stay?”

Genesis 24:44

then she tells me, “Drink, and I will also draw for your camels,”—let her be the woman whom Yahweh has appointed for my…

Genesis 24:47

I asked her, and said, ‘Whose daughter are you?’ She said, ‘The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor’s son, whom Milcah bore to…

Genesis 24:60

They blessed Rebekah, and said to her, “Our sister, may you be the mother of thousands of ten thousands, and let your…

Genesis 26:27

Isaac said to them, “Why have you come to me, since you hate me, and have sent me away from you?”

Genesis 26:29

that 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 27:18

He came to his father, and said, “My father?” He said, “Here I am. Who are you, my son?”

Genesis 27:21

Isaac said to Jacob, “Please come near, that I may feel you, my son, whether you are really my son Esau or not.”

Genesis 27:24

He said, “Are you really my son Esau?” He said, “I am.”

Genesis 27:32

Isaac his father said to him, “Who are you?” He said, “I am your son, your firstborn, Esau.”

Genesis 28:13

Behold, Yahweh stood above it, and said, “I am Yahweh, the God of Abraham your father, and the God of Isaac. I will…

Genesis 29:4

Jacob said to them, “My relatives, where are you from?” They said, “We are from Haran.”

Genesis 29:14

Laban said to him, “Surely you are my bone and my flesh.” Jacob stayed with him for a month.

Genesis 29:15

Laban said to Jacob, “Because you are my relative, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what will your…

Genesis 30:26

Give me my wives and my children for whom I have served you, and let me go; for you know my service with which I have…

Genesis 30:29

Jacob said to him, “You know how I have served you, and how your livestock have fared with me.

Genesis 31:6

You know that I have served your father with all of my strength.

Genesis 31:43

Laban answered Jacob, “The daughters are my daughters, the children are my children, the flocks are my flocks, and all…

Genesis 31:44

Now come, let’s make a covenant, you and I. Let it be for a witness between me and you.”

Genesis 31:52

May 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 38:23

Judah said, “Let her keep it, lest we be shamed. Behold, I sent this young goat, and you haven’t found her.”

Genesis 39:9

No 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 41:40

You shall be over my house. All my people will be ruled according to your word. Only in the throne I will be greater…

Genesis 42:9

Joseph remembered the dreams which he dreamed about them, and said to them, “You are spies! You have come to see the…

Genesis 42:14

Joseph said to them, “It is like I told you, saying, ‘You are spies!’

Genesis 42:16

Send one of you, and let him get your brother, and you shall be bound, that your words may be tested, whether there is…

Genesis 42:19

If 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 42:33

The man, the lord of the land, said to us, ‘By this I will know that you are honest men: leave one of your brothers…

Genesis 42:34

Bring your youngest brother to me. Then I will know that you are not spies, but that you are honest men. So I will…

Genesis 43:8

Judah said to Israel, his father, “Send the boy with me, and we’ll get up and go, so that we may live, and not die,…

Genesis 44:10

He said, “Now also let it be according to your words. He with whom it is found will be my slave; and you will be…

Genesis 44:17

He said, “Far be it from me that I should do so. The man in whose hand the cup is found, he will be my slave; but as…

Genesis 44:27

Your servant, my father, said to us, ‘You know that my wife bore me two sons.

Genesis 45:8

So now it wasn’t you who sent me here, but God, and he has made me a father to Pharaoh, lord of all his house, and…

Genesis 45:10

You shall dwell in the land of Goshen, and you will be near to me, you, your children, your children’s children, your…

Genesis 45:11

There I will provide for you; for there are yet five years of famine; lest you come to poverty, you, and your…

Genesis 45:19

Now you are commanded to do this: Take wagons out of the land of Egypt for your little ones, and for your wives, and…

Genesis 49:3

“Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, excelling in dignity, and excelling in power.

Genesis 49:8

“Judah, your brothers will praise you. Your hand will be on the neck of your enemies. Your father’s sons will bow down…

Genesis 50:20

As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to save many people alive, as is happening today.

Exodus 49 verses
Leviticus 7 verses
Numbers 36 verses
Deuteronomy 76 verses
Joshua 33 verses
Judges 40 verses
Ruth 7 verses
I Samuel 48 verses
II Samuel 37 verses
I Kings 51 verses
II Kings 20 verses
I Chronicles 14 verses
II Chronicles 35 verses
Ezra 5 verses
Nehemiah 24 verses
Esther 3 verses
Job 16 verses
Psalms 53 verses
Proverbs 9 verses
Ecclesiastes 3 verses
Song of Solomon 1 verse
Isaiah 43 verses
Jeremiah 98 verses
Lamentations 3 verses
Daniel 4 verses
Hosea 3 verses
Amos 5 verses
Obadiah 3 verses
Jonah 4 verses
Micah 3 verses
Habakkuk 3 verses
Zephaniah 1 verse
Haggai 3 verses
Zechariah 9 verses
Malachi 9 verses