הֶן (hen)
hen
them
Op3fQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 36 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- Op3f
Word Overview
The Hebrew word hen functions as a third-person feminine plural object suffix, meaning "them." It attaches to verbs or prepositions to indicate that the action is directed toward a group of females or feminine nouns. With only thirty-six occurrences in the Old Testament, it is a specific grammatical tool rather than a common standalone term.
Its usage appears in diverse contexts, such as Genesis and Jeremiah, where it clarifies who receives an action. For instance, when a verb requires a direct object referring to women or feminine entities like land or nations personified as female, hen provides that necessary link. It ensures the reader knows exactly whom or what is being addressed in the sentence structure.
Translators typically render this suffix by adding "them" to the English verb, such as "saw them" or "gave them." This small grammatical marker helps maintain precision in narratives where multiple groups might be involved. Its consistent presence across books like Numbers and Jeremiah shows its role in standard Hebrew syntax for handling feminine plural objects.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word hen is a small grammatical ending that attaches to verbs or prepositions. It signals that an action is being directed toward a group of feminine nouns, such as daughters, land, or nations personified as female. In English, we simply translate this suffix as "them." While it may seem like a minor detail in the syntax, it ensures precision in the biblical narrative, clarifying exactly who receives God's commands or actions.
For your faith life, this word reminds us that Scripture is precise and personal. When the text uses hen, it is not speaking vaguely; it is pointing to specific people or places. Whether it refers to the daughters of Zelophehad receiving an inheritance or the nations being addressed by prophets, God’s word targets real recipients. This precision shows that the biblical authors cared about clarity, ensuring that no one was left out of the message.
As you read the Old Testament, notice how these small markers guide your understanding. They help you see the specific individuals involved in God's story. This attention to detail invites you to trust that the same God who directed His words with such care is attentive to your life today. You can find comfort in knowing that the biblical text is reliable and clear in its communication.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 36 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- in <the>/ them9×
- to <the>/ them5×
- with <the>/ them3×
- in/ them3×
- <to> <the>/ them3×
- on <the>/ them2×
- of/ them2×
- from/ them2×
- for/ them2×
- to/ them1×
- like/ those1×
- like/ them1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- בָּ/הֵ֖ן7×
- לָ/הֶ֔ן4×
- בָּ/הֵ֑ן3×
- מֵ/הֵ֖נָּה2×
- לָ/הֶן֙2×
- לָ/הֶ֖ן2×
- בָּ/הֵן֙2×
- מֵ/הֵֽנָּה\׃1×
- מֵ/הֵ֙נָּה֙1×
- לָ/הֶֽן\׃1×
- לָ/הֶ֥ן1×
- לָ/הֶ֗ן1×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 19:8
See now, I have two virgin daughters. Please let me bring them out to you, and you may do to them what seems good to you. Only don’t do anything to these men, because they have come under the shadow of my roof.”
This verse uses the suffix to identify the daughters as the specific recipients of Lot's offer, highlighting the gravity of his plea to protect the guests.
-
Numbers 27:7
“The daughters of Zelophehad speak right. You shall surely give them a possession of an inheritance among their father’s brothers. You shall cause the inheritance of their father to pass to them.
Here the suffix confirms that the inheritance is to be given specifically to the daughters of Zelophehad, affirming their right to receive it among their father's brothers.
-
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 served you.”
Jacob uses this form when asking for his wives and children, identifying them as the feminine plural objects he has served Laban to obtain.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Hebrew word hen mean?
How is hen different from other Hebrew pronouns?
Where does this word appear in the Bible?
Every Occurrence (36 verses across 14 books)
Genesis 7 verses
See now, I have two virgin daughters. Please let me bring them out to you, and you may do to them what seems good to…
Genesis 19:29When God destroyed the cities of the plain, God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the middle of the overthrow,…
Genesis 26:18Isaac dug again the wells of water, which they had dug in the days of Abraham his father, for the Philistines had…
Genesis 30:26Give 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 30:37Jacob took to himself rods of fresh poplar, almond, and plane tree, peeled white streaks in them, and made the white…
Genesis 31:5and said to them, “I see the expression on your father’s face, that it is not toward me as before; but the God of my…
Genesis 41:19and behold, seven other cattle came up after them, poor and very ugly and thin, such as I never saw in all the land of…