Original Word: עַתָּה
Part of Speech: Adverb
Transliteration: `attah
Pronunciation: at-taw'
Phonetic Spelling: (at-taw')
Definition: now, at this time, at present
Meaning: at this time

henceforth, now, straightway, this time, whereas

From eth; at this time, whether adverb, conjunction or expletive -- henceforth, now, straightway, this time, whereas.

see HEBREW eth

Word Origin
probably from anah
Definition
now
NASB Translation
already (2), last* (1), now (411), so (1), then (5), this time (6), time (2), whereas (2), yet (1).

עַתָּ֫ה₄₃₅ (also Ezekiel 23:43; Psalm 74:6 עת Kt, Qr עַתָּה), עָ֑֫תָּה Genesis 32:5 +,

adverb of time, now (properly accusative of [`int],עֵת (Kö^{ii. 260}), at the time, in particular of the present time, i.e. now; compare German zur Zeit, Arabic at the time, i.e. now); — now:

1. a. Genesis 12:19 ועתה הנה אשׁתך and now, behold thy wife, Genesis 22:12 כי עתח ידעתי now, I know (so Exodus 18:11; Judges 17:13; 1 Kings 17:24 [עַתָּה זֶה], Psalm 20:7), Genesis 26:22,29; Genesis 27:36; Genesis 31:13,28, etc., Exodus 5:5 הך רבים עתה עם הארץ; whether in opposed to past time, as Genesis 32:11; Joshua 14:11 כְּכֹחִי אָז וּכְכֹחִי עָ֑תָּה, Judges 11:8; 1 Kings 12:4; Isaiah 1:21 ועתה מרצחים, Isaiah 16:14; Hosea 2:9 כִּי טוֺב לִי אָז מַעָ֑תָּה, Hosea 13:2, Job 30:1 +, or to future, as Numbers 24:17 אֶרְאֶנּוּ ולא עתה, Judges 8:6 חֲכַף עַתָּהכְּֿיָדֶ֑ךָ ׳זֶבַח וצ, 1 Samuel 2:16 כִּי עַתָּה תִּתֵּן; = after all Numbers 22:38; Judges 8:2; = now at last 2 Samuel 24:16; 1 Kings 19:4; 2 Kings 19:25; Hosea 7:2; Jeremiah 4:12; and in the phrase מעתה ועד עולם Isaiah 9:6; Isaiah 59:21; Micah 4:7 (see below), Psalm 113:2; Psalm 115:18; Psalm 121:8; Psalm 125:2; Psalm 131:3.

b. of the imminent or impending future: Genesis 19:9 עַתָּה נָרַע לְךָ מַהֶם. Genesis 29:32 כי עתה יאהבני אישׁי, Genesis 29:34; Exodus 6:1 עתה תראה, Numbers 11:23; Numbers 22:4; 2 Samuel 20:6; Isaiah 33:10 (Psalm 12:6), Isaiah 43:19; Isaiah 49:19; Amos 6:7 לכן עתה יִגְלוּ, Isaiah 49:19; Micah 7:4,10; Daniel 10:20; and especially ἀσυνδέτως in Hosea, introducing a punishment, Hosea 4:16 ׳וגו ׳עתה יִרְעֵם י Hosea 5:7; Hosea 8:8,13 (Jeremiah 14:10), Jeremiah 10:2.

c. of a time ideally present (= then, from our point of view): Isaiah 29:22 לא עתה יבושׁ יעקב, v^b Hosea 10:3; Micah 4:9,10,11; Micah 4:14; Micah 5:3.

d. describing a present state = as things are: 1 Samuel 8:5 thou art old, etc., עתה שִׂימָה לנו מלך, 1 Samuel 9:6; 1 Samuel 13:12; 1 Samuel 14:30; 1 Samuel 25:7b; 1 Samuel 27:1 now I shall be swept away one day, etc., 2 Kings 18:20,25; Job 6:21; Job 14:16; Job 16:7.

e. with an Imperative, as an encouragement, implying that the time has come for the exhortation or advice to be followed, Genesis 31:13 עתה קים צא, Exodus 18:19 עתה שְׁמַע בקולי, Numbers 22:11; Deuteronomy 2:13; 1 Samuel 30:8.

2 Phrases:

a. עַתָּה זֶה (זְה 4h) 1 Kings 17:24; 2 Kings 5:22.

b. ועתה and, now, or now, therefore (וְ

4), drawing a conclusion, especially (compare

1e) a practical one, from what has been stated: Genesis 3:22 and now (since man has once been disobedient), lest he put forth his hand, etc., Genesis 20:7; Genesis 20:23 וְעַתָּה הִשָּֽׁבְעָה לִי הֵ֫נָּה, Genesis 27:3,8 ועתה בני שְׁמַע בקולי, Genesis 30:30; Genesis 31:16,44; Genesis 37:20 + often, Isaiah 5:3,5; Psalm 2:10; Genesis 11:6 ׳ועתה לאֹיִֿבָּצֵר מֵהֶם וגו, Genesis 31:30; Genesis 45:8; 2 Samuel 19:11; Psalm 39:8 ועתה מַהקִּֿזִּיתִי אֲדֹנָי, Isaiah 52:5,

c. וְעַתָּה הִנֵּה stating the ground on which some conclusion or action is to be based, Exodus 3:9; Joshua 14:10 (twice in verse); 1 Samuel 12:2; 1 Samuel 24:21; 1 Kings 1:18; Jeremiah 40:4 (with ועתה usually repeated afer the הנה-clause).

d. גם עתה Genesis 44:10; 1 Samuel 12:16; 1 Kings 14:14; Joel 2:12; Job 16:19.

e. מֵעַתָּה from now, henceforth, Jeremiah 3:4; Isaiah 48:6; Daniel 10:17 (according to some, here = from just now), 2 Chronicles 16:9; מעתה ועד עוּלּסּ, see above

1a end.

f. עַדעַֿתָּה until now, Genesis 32:5, ׳וֶאֵחַר עדעֿ, Deuteronomy 12:9 ׳אל הנחלה לא באתם עד ע (opposed to the future), 2 Kings 13:23; especially after clause with מִן, 2Ki 46:34 ׳מִנְּעוּרֵינוּ וְעַדעֿ (2 Sam 19:8; Ezekiel 4:14), Exodus 9:18; 2 Kings 8:6; Ruth 2:7.

g. כִּי עַתָּה for in this case, in our idiom, for them (עתה pointing to a condition assumed as a possible contingency: compare Dr^{§ 141, 142}); (a) Exodus 9:15 כי עתה ׳שׁלחתי וגו for then (if the intention expressed in Exodus 9:14 had not existed) I should have put forth my hand, etc., Numbers 22:29 כי עתה הֲרַגְתִּיךְ, 1 Samuel 13:13; Job 3:13; followed by imperfect Job 6:3 for then (if it were weighed, Job 6:2) it would be heavier, etc., Job 13:19 for then would I be silent and die; (b) after a protasis, surely then Genesis 31:42 + (see כִּי

1d b, p. 472). — Note. Read כְּמוֺ עַתָּ) (ᵐ5 ᵑ9) as now, for כְּמוֺ עֵת Ezekiel 16:57, עַתָּ נִשְׁבַּרְתְּ (ᵐ5 ᵑ6 ᵑ9) now art thou broken ! for עֵת נִשְׁבֶּרֶת Ezekiel 27:34, and probably עַתָּ בָּא (Hi We Kö Now, compare ᵐ5 ᵑ6) for עֶתבּֿאֹ Haggai 1:2; also עַתָּה for אַתָּה 1 Kings 1:20, and אַתָּה for עַתָּה 1 Kings 1:18b 2 Samuel 18:3.

Word Origin: Derived from an unused root meaning to now or at this time.

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: The Greek equivalent of the Hebrew "ʿattâh" is often represented by Strong's Greek Number G737, ἄρτι (arti), which also means "now" or "at this time." This Greek term is used in the New Testament to convey a similar sense of immediacy or present relevance, as seen in passages like John 13:7: "Jesus replied, 'You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand'" (BSB). Here, "now" emphasizes the current lack of understanding that will be clarified in the future.

Usage: The word "ʿattâh" is used throughout the Hebrew Bible to denote the present time or an immediate context. It often introduces a statement or command that is relevant to the current situation.

Context: The Hebrew word עַתָּה (ʿattâh) is a common adverb found in the Old Testament, appearing in various contexts to emphasize the immediacy or current relevance of an action or statement. It is frequently used in narrative and prophetic literature to transition from past events to present circumstances or to highlight the urgency of a command or decision. For example, in Genesis 3:22, the word is used to mark a significant moment: "And the LORD God said, 'Behold, the man has become like one of Us, knowing good and evil. And now, lest he reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life, and eat, and live forever...'" (BSB). Here, "now" underscores the immediacy of God's concern following the fall of man. Similarly, in Exodus 3:9, God speaks to Moses, saying, "And now the cry of the Israelites has reached Me, and I have seen how severely the Egyptians are oppressing them" (BSB), indicating the present moment of divine intervention. The use of "ʿattâh" is pivotal in conveying the transition from past to present, often setting the stage for divine action or human response.

וְ֝עַתָּ֗ה וְ֠עַתָּה וְ֭עַתָּה וְעַתָּ֕ה וְעַתָּ֖ה וְעַתָּ֗ה וְעַתָּ֛ה וְעַתָּ֞ה וְעַתָּ֡ה וְעַתָּ֣ה וְעַתָּ֣ה ׀ וְעַתָּ֤ה וְעַתָּ֤ה ׀ וְעַתָּ֥ה וְעַתָּ֨ה וְעַתָּה֙ וְעַתָּה֩ ועתה מֵ֝עַתָּ֗ה מֵֽ֝עַתָּ֗ה מֵֽעַתָּ֥ה מֵעַ֔תָּה מֵעַ֙תָּה֙ מֵעַתָּ֖ה מֵעַתָּה֙ מֵעָֽתָּה׃ מעתה מעתה׃ עַ֔תָּה עַ֠תָּה עַ֭תָּה עַתָּ֔ה עַתָּ֕ה עַתָּ֖ה עַתָּ֗ה עַתָּ֛ה עַתָּ֜ה עַתָּ֞ה עַתָּ֡ה עַתָּ֣ה עַתָּ֤ה עַתָּ֥ה עַתָּ֨ה עַתָּ֨ה ׀ עַתָּה֙ עַתָּה֩ עַתָּה֮ עָ֑תָּה עָֽתָּה׃ עתה עתה׃ ‘at·tāh ‘āt·tāh ‘attāh ‘āttāh atTah mê‘attāh mê‘āttāh mê·‘at·tāh mê·‘āt·tāh meAttah veatTah wə‘attāh wə·‘at·tāhInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts