1887. he
Lexical Summary
he: Behold, lo

Original Word: הֵא
Part of Speech: Interjection
Transliteration: he'
Pronunciation: hay
Phonetic Spelling: (hay)
KJV: behold, lo
NASB: behold, now
Word Origin: [a primitive particle]

1. lo!

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
behold, lo

A primitive particle; lo! -- behold, lo.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
a prim. interj.
Definition
lo! behold!
NASB Translation
behold (1), now (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
הֵא interjection (Aramaic הָא, Daniel 2:43 הֵא (q. v.), ; Arabic ) lo, behold! Genesis 47:23; Ezekiel 16:43.

Topical Lexicon
Overview

An emphatic attention-getter that appears only twice in the Hebrew canon, the word signals a pivotal moment in speech where the speaker demands immediate focus upon what follows. Whether issuing mercy or judgment, the term punctuates statements whose consequences shape covenant history.

Biblical Occurrences

1. Genesis 47:23 – Joseph addresses the famine-stricken Egyptians: “Now behold, I have bought you and your land today for Pharaoh; here is seed for you so that you may sow the land”.
2. Ezekiel 16:43 – The LORD confronts Jerusalem’s apostasy: “Because you did not remember the days of your youth, but enraged Me with all these things, behold, I will also bring your conduct upon your head, declares the Lord GOD…”.

Literary Function

• Calls the listener to attention before a decisive act: in Genesis, it introduces Joseph’s provision; in Ezekiel, divine retribution.
• Marks transition from narration to application: a shift from describing conditions to prescribing outcomes.
• Heightens emotional weight: conveys urgency whether gracious (“Here is seed”) or severe (“I will also bring your conduct upon your head”).

Contrast with Other Hebrew Attention-Formulas

While the more common “hinneh” often frames prophetic vision, this rarer interjection appears in direct, real-time speech. It is shorter, sharper, and functions like a verbal pointing finger, underscoring immediacy more than contemplation.

Historical Setting

• Genesis context: the word punctuates Pharaoh’s economic policy administered by Joseph in the wake of a catastrophic famine. The provision of seed after purchase avoids perpetual enslavement and anticipates Israel’s later exodus by reminding readers that Egypt’s power once preserved, not only oppressed, the patriarchal family.
• Ezekiel context: centuries later, the same interjection introduces an indictment against Jerusalem’s spiritual adultery. The historical arc—from foreign mercy to national apostasy—frames the word as a literary bookend, testifying to God’s consistent concern that His people heed His voice.

Theological Significance

• Divine sovereignty: both uses affirm that human livelihood and destiny pivot on words the LORD ratifies.
• Covenant accountability: blessing (seed) and judgment (recompense) flow from the same authoritative address; the term underscores that grace ignored becomes grounds for discipline.
• Prophetic urgency: illustrates the pattern that God warns before He acts, inviting repentance even when declaring sentence.

Implications for Ministry and Personal Devotion

• Preaching: model sermons after the interjection’s function—capture attention early, then press home application.
• Discipleship: encourage believers to respond swiftly to God’s promptings; procrastination turns a “behold” of blessing into a “behold” of correction.
• Prayer: ask the Spirit to cultivate alertness, that every divine “look here” would find obedient hearts.

Echoes in Later Revelation

The Greek Scriptures frequently employ “idou” (“behold”) in a similar role (for example, Matthew 3:17; Revelation 21:5), showing continuity in God’s communicative style. The rarity of the Hebrew term never diminishes its force; rather, it anticipates the New Testament pattern where decisive salvation acts are introduced with an identical summons to attention.

Summary

Although occurring only twice, this pointed interjection functions as a divine exclamation mark. It gathers attention at moments when lives are bought out of famine and when sin is called to account. In both mercy and judgment, Scripture uses the term to command hearers: “Look here—this word concerns your life.”

Forms and Transliterations
הֵ֜א הֵֽא־ הא הא־ he hê hê-
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Genesis 47:23
HEB: אַדְמַתְכֶ֖ם לְפַרְעֹ֑ה הֵֽא־ לָכֶ֣ם זֶ֔רַע
NAS: for Pharaoh; now, [here] is seed
KJV: for Pharaoh: lo, [here is] seed
INT: and your land Pharaoh now is seed may sow

Ezekiel 16:43
HEB: וְגַם־ אֲנִ֨י הֵ֜א דַּרְכֵּ֣ךְ ׀ בְּרֹ֣אשׁ
NAS: these things, behold, I in turn
KJV: but hast fretted me in all these [things]; behold, therefore I also will recompense
INT: turn I behold your conduct head

2 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 1887
2 Occurrences


hê- — 2 Occ.

1886
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