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ךָּ (ka)

ka

you

H9031 · Hebrew · Old Testament · 535 verses

Os2m

Quick Reference

Language
Biblical Hebrew
Testament
Old Testament
Occurrences
535 verses
Root
—
Part of speech
Os2m

Word Overview

The Hebrew word ka is a second-person masculine singular object suffix, functioning as a direct object marker meaning "you." It appears in 535 verses, particularly within Genesis, Deuteronomy, and Jeremiah. This form attaches to verbs and prepositions to indicate that the action or relationship is directed toward a male individual. For example, it might appear in phrases like "I saw you" or "to you," specifying the recipient of an action.

As a suffix, ka integrates tightly with other words rather than standing alone. Its presence clarifies who is receiving attention or command. In Deuteronomy, where God speaks directly to Israel, this form often emphasizes personal address and covenantal responsibility. The consistency of its usage across these books highlights the directness of divine-human interaction in biblical narrative.

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

What This Word Means for Your Faith

The Hebrew suffix ka is a small but powerful grammatical marker meaning "you." It attaches to verbs and prepositions to show that an action or promise is directed specifically at a male individual. In the Old Testament, this form often appears when God speaks directly to a person, making the divine address personal and immediate.

When you read passages where God says He will bless you or give you land, the ka suffix anchors that promise in a real relationship. It is not a vague general statement but a direct engagement with an individual. This linguistic detail reminds us that biblical faith is built on specific encounters between God and people.

In your own spiritual life, this word highlights the intimacy of prayer and obedience. When Scripture addresses "you," it invites a personal response rather than a distant observation. The consistency of this usage across Genesis and Deuteronomy shows that God’s covenantal love is always directed toward those who hear and respond to His voice.

How it's translated

How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 535 verses where it appears, by frequency.

  • to <the>/ you164×
  • to/ you126×
  • for <the>/ yourself63×
  • for/ yourself30×
  • for <the>/ you30×
  • for/ you22×
  • of/ you16×
  • by <the>/ you14×
  • in/ you12×
  • <for>/ yourself12×
  • [belongs] to/ you10×
  • [belongs] to <the>/ you10×

Forms in the text

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

  • לְ/ךָ֖104×
  • לְ/ךָ֙58×
  • לְ/ךָ֔37×
  • לְ/ךָ֥35×
  • לְ/ךָ֛35×
  • לְ/ךָ֣31×
  • לָ֑/ךְ24×
  • לְ/ךָ֗23×
  • לָֽ/ךְ\׃22×
  • לָ֔/ךְ20×
  • לְ/ךָ֤15×
  • לְ/ךָ֜13×

Key Verses

  • Genesis 12:1
    Now Yahweh said to Abram, “Leave your country, and your relatives, and your father’s house, and go to the land that I will show you.

    The suffix attaches to the verb 'show' to indicate that Abram is the specific recipient of God's directive, marking the beginning of a personal covenantal journey.

  • Genesis 17:7
    I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God to you and to your offspring after you.

    Here it links God's promise to be their God directly to Abraham and his offspring, establishing the enduring nature of the covenant relationship.

  • Genesis 22:2
    He said, “Now take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go into the land of Moriah. Offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains which I will tell you of.”

    It identifies Isaac as the specific son Abraham must offer, highlighting the intense personal test of faith placed upon him by God.

  • 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 this form to directly confront Adam with his actions, emphasizing personal responsibility and the immediate consequence of disobedience.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Hebrew word ka mean?

Ka is a second-person masculine singular object suffix meaning "you." It attaches to verbs and prepositions to indicate that the action or relationship is directed toward a male individual, such as in phrases like "I saw you" or "to you."

Where does this word appear most frequently?

It occurs in 535 verses, with significant presence in Genesis, Deuteronomy, and Jeremiah. These books often feature direct divine address to specific male figures or the nation of Israel as a collective entity represented by masculine grammar.

How is ka different from the standalone word for you?

Unlike the independent pronoun atta, which stands alone, ka is a suffix that attaches tightly to other words. This grammatical structure integrates the listener directly into the verb or preposition, emphasizing their role as the recipient of the action.

Every Occurrence (535 verses across 31 books)

Genesis 53 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 3:18

It will yield thorns and thistles to you; and you will eat the herb of the field.

Genesis 4:6

Yahweh said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why has the expression of your face fallen?

Genesis 4:12

From now on, when you till the ground, it won’t yield its strength to you. You will be a fugitive and a wanderer in the…

Genesis 6:14

Make a ship of gopher wood. You shall make rooms in the ship, and shall seal it inside and outside with pitch.

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 7:2

You shall take seven pairs of every clean animal with you, the male and his female. Of the animals that are not clean,…

Genesis 12:1

Now Yahweh said to Abram, “Leave your country, and your relatives, and your father’s house, and go to the land that I…

Genesis 12:3

I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who treats you with contempt. All the families of the earth will…

Genesis 13:15

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

Genesis 13:17

Arise, walk through the land in its length and in its width; for I will give it to you.”

Genesis 15:7

He said to Abram, “I am Yahweh who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give you this land to inherit it.”

Genesis 17:7

I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an…

Genesis 17:8

I will give to you, and to your offspring after you, the land where you are traveling, all the land of Canaan, for an…

Genesis 17:16

I will bless her, and moreover I will give you a son by her. Yes, I will bless her, and she will be a mother of…

Genesis 17:19

God said, “No, but Sarah, your wife, will bear you a son. You shall call his name Isaac. I will establish my covenant…

Genesis 17:21

But I will establish my covenant with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you at this set time next year.”

Genesis 18:25

May it be far from you to do things like that, to kill the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be…

Genesis 19:9

They said, “Stand back!” Then they said, “This one fellow came in to live as a foreigner, and he appoints himself a…

Genesis 19:12

The men said to Lot, “Do you have anybody else here? Sons-in-law, your sons, your daughters, and whomever you have in…

Genesis 21:12

God said to Abraham, “Don’t let it be grievous in your sight because of the boy, and because of your servant. In all…

Genesis 22:2

He said, “Now take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go into the land of Moriah. Offer him there as a…

Genesis 23:11

“No, my lord, hear me. I give you the field, and I give you the cave that is in it. In the presence of the children of…

Genesis 24:6

Abraham said to him, “Beware that you don’t bring my son there again.

Genesis 26:3

Live in this land, and I will be with you, and will bless you. For I will give to you, and to your offspring, all these…

Genesis 27:28

God give you of the dew of the sky, of the fatness of the earth, and plenty of grain and new wine.

Genesis 27:29

Let peoples serve you, and nations bow down to you. Be lord over your brothers. Let your mother’s sons bow down to you.…

Genesis 27:37

Isaac answered Esau, “Behold, I have made him your lord, and all his brothers I have given to him for servants. I have…

Genesis 27:38

Esau said to his father, “Do you have just one blessing, my father? Bless me, even me also, my father.” Esau lifted up…

Genesis 27:42

The words of Esau, her elder son, were told to Rebekah. She sent and called Jacob, her younger son, and said to him,…

Genesis 27:43

Now therefore, my son, obey my voice. Arise, flee to Laban, my brother, in Haran.

Genesis 28:2

Arise, go to Paddan Aram, to the house of Bethuel your mother’s father. Take a wife from there from the daughters of…

Genesis 28:4

and give you the blessing of Abraham, to you and to your offspring with you, that you may inherit the land where you…

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 28:14

Your offspring will be as the dust of the earth, and you will spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the…

Genesis 29:27

Fulfill the week of this one, and we will give you the other also for the service which you will serve with me for…

Genesis 30:30

For it was little which you had before I came, and it has increased to a multitude. Yahweh has blessed you wherever I…

Genesis 30:31

Laban said, “What shall I give you?” Jacob said, “You shall not give me anything. If you will do this thing for me, I…

Genesis 31:24

God came to Laban the Syrian in a dream of the night, and said to him, “Be careful that you don’t speak to Jacob either…

Genesis 31:29

It is in the power of my hand to hurt you, but the God of your father spoke to me last night, saying, ‘Be careful that…

Genesis 31:32

Anyone you find your gods with shall not live. Before our relatives, discern what is yours with me, and take it.” For…

Genesis 33:8

Esau said, “What do you mean by all this company which I met?” Jacob said, “To find favor in the sight of my lord.”

Genesis 33:9

Esau said, “I have enough, my brother; let that which you have be yours.”

Genesis 35:12

The land which I gave to Abraham and Isaac, I will give it to you, and to your offspring after you I will give the…

Genesis 37:10

He told it to his father and to his brothers. His father rebuked him, and said to him, “What is this dream that you…

Genesis 43:4

If you’ll send our brother with us, we’ll go down and buy you food;

Genesis 43:9

I’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 48:5

Now your two sons, who were born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you into Egypt, are mine; Ephraim and…

Genesis 48:6

Your offspring, whom you become the father of after them, will be yours. They will be called after the name of their…

Genesis 48:20

He blessed them that day, saying, “Israel will bless in your name, saying, ‘God make you as Ephraim and as Manasseh’”…

Genesis 48:22

Moreover I have given to you one portion above your brothers, which I took out of the hand of the Amorite with my sword…

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 50:18

His brothers also went and fell down before his face; and they said, “Behold, we are your servants.”

Exodus 36 verses
Leviticus 4 verses
Numbers 20 verses
Deuteronomy 130 verses
Joshua 7 verses
Judges 7 verses
Ruth 2 verses
I Samuel 30 verses
II Samuel 23 verses
I Kings 28 verses
II Kings 15 verses
I Chronicles 20 verses
II Chronicles 18 verses
Ezra 3 verses
Nehemiah 5 verses
Job 9 verses
Psalms 25 verses
Proverbs 8 verses
Ecclesiastes 1 verse
Song of Solomon 4 verses
Isaiah 26 verses
Jeremiah 31 verses
Daniel 11 verses
Hosea 3 verses
Amos 2 verses
Obadiah 2 verses
Jonah 4 verses
Micah 4 verses
Haggai 1 verse
Zechariah 3 verses