Lexical Definition

‎אָז‎ ʼâz (awz) then ^H:Conj
a demonstrative adverb

beginning, for, from, hitherto, now, of old, once, since, then, at which time, yet.

• at that time or place
• also as a conjunction, therefore

1) then, at that time
1a) temporal expressions
1a1) then (past)
1a2) then, if...then (future)
1a3) earlier
1b) logical expressions
1b1) in that case
1b2) that (being so)

See Greek: πάλαι · παλαιός

Extended Information

spelling of: אָז

Brown-Driver-Briggs

‎אָז‎ adverb (compare , also Biblical Aramaic ‎אֱדַיִן‎ properly a substantive = time; see ‎מֵאָז‎) at that time, then, whether expressing duration, or inception (= thereupon).

1. strictly temporal:
a. of past time: — without a verb Gen 12:6; Gen 13:7; Josh 14:11; 2Sam 23:14 with a perfect Gen 4:26; Exod 4:26; Josh 10:33; Judg 8:3; Judg 13:21; Jer 22:15 ‎אָז טוֺב לוֺ‎ then was it well to him (compare vJer 22:16; Hos 2:9*); more usually (especially when = thereupon) with an imperfect (see Dr^{§ 27}) Exod 15:1; Num 21:17; Josh 8:30; Josh 10:12; Josh 22:1; 1Kgs 3:16; 1Kgs 8:1; 1Kgs 9:11 (see Dr^Intr.192) and elsewhere.
b. of future time (usually where some emphasis is intended), with imperfect Isa 35:5; Isa 35:6; Isa 60:5; Mic 3:4, rather differently Lev 26:41; 1Sam 20:12 rarely with perfect 2Sam 5:24b (will have gone forth) Isa 33:23: with an accompanying logical force, implying the fulfilment of a condition, then = if or when this has been done (with the imperfect) Gen 24:41; Exod 12:44; Exod 12:48; Deut 29:19*; Josh 1:8; 1Sam 6:3; Isa 58:8; Isa 58:9; Jer 11:15 Hi Ke Ps 19:14*; Ps 51:21*; Prov 3:23; Job 11:15; Job 13:20; Job 22:26.
c. in poetry ‎אז‎ is sometimes used to throw emphasis on a particular feature of the description Gen 49:4; Exod 15:15; Judg 5:8; Judg 5:11; Judg 5:13; Judg 5:19; Judg 5:22; Isa 33:23; Isa 41:1; Hab 1:11; Ps 2:5; Ps 96:12.
d. it points back with emphasis to an infinitive with ‎בּ‎ 2Sam 5:24 a Ps 126:2 (twice in verse); Job 28:27; Job 33:16 to ‎בַּיּוֺם הַהוּא‎ (anomalously) 1Chr 16:7.

2. expressing logical sequence strictlyd: in the apodosis: — after ‎אם‎ (rare) for sake of special emphasis Isa 58:14; Prov 2:5; Job 9:31 = in that case, after ‎לוּ‎ or ‎לוּלֵא‎ 2Sam 2:27 hadst thou not spoken, ‎כִּי אָז‎ surely then had the people, etc. 2Sam 19:7*; Ps 119:92 after ‎אחלי‎ 2Kgs 5:3; Ps 119:6 after a suppressed protasis 2Kgs 13:19; Job 3:13 ‎יָשַׁנְתִּי אָז יָנוּחַ לִי‎ I had slept, then were there rest for me; Josh 22:31 (strangely) = now, as things are; Eccl 2:15 = that being so. (122 t., besides ‎מאז‎ and ‎מןאֿז‎. Seldom used except where some special emphasis is de-sired. 'Then' of AV RV more commonly repre-sents ‎וְ‎, especially in the apodosis.)

Brown-Driver-Briggs References