Lexical Definition

‎אַךְ‎ ʼak (ak) surely ^H:Adv
akin to ‎אָכֵן‎

also, in any wise, at least, but, certainly, even, howbeit, nevertheless, notwithstanding, only, save, surely, of a surety, truly, verily, [phrase] wherefore, yet (but).

• a particle of affirmation, surely
• hence (by limitation) only

1) indeed, surely (emphatic)
2) howbeit, only, but, yet (restrictive)

See Greek: ἴσως · μόνον · μόνος · νῦν · ὄντως · ὁράω · οὗτος · πλήν

Brown-Driver-Briggs

‎אַךְ‎₁₅₉ adverb (perhaps from the same demonstr, root found also in ‎כִּי‎, ‎כֹּה‎, ‎כֵּן‎).

1. surely.

2. with a restrictive force, emphasizing what follows:
a. in contrast to what precedes, howbeit;
b. in contrast with other ideas generally, only

1. asseverative, often introducing with emphasis the expression of a truth (or supposed truth) newly perceived, especially in colloquial language, surely, no doubt (doch wohl); Gen 26:9 ‎אַךְ הִנֵּה אִשְׁתְּךָ הִוא‎ of a surety, lo, she is thy wife ! Gen 29:14; Gen 44:28; Judg 3:24; Judg 20:39; 1Sam 16:6 surely the anointed of ‎׳‎‎י‎ is before him ! 1Sam 25:21; Jer 5:4; Ps 58:12*; Ps 73:1; Ps 73:13 but also in other cases, though rarely, Isa 34:14; Isa 34:15; Zeph 3:7; Ps 23:6; Ps 139:11; Ps 140:14*; Job 16:7; Job 18:21 & rather singularly Exod 12:15; Exod 31:13; Lev 23:27; Lev 23:39 (all P).

2. restrictive:
a. in contrast to what precedes, howbeit, yet, but : Gen 9:4 howbeit, flesh with the life thereof . . . ye shall not eat, Gen 20:12; Exod 21:21; Lev 21:23; Lev 27:26; Num 18:15; Num 18:17; 2Sam 3:13; Jer 10:24 correct me, ‎אַךְ בְּמִשְׁפָּט‎ but with judgment, Job 2:6; Job 13:15 sometimes with an adversative force, as Isa 14:15; Isa 43:24 before an imperative (minimizing the request), Gen 23:13 only, if thou wilt, I pray thee, hear me ! Gen 27:13; Judg 10:15; 1Sam 18:17; 1Kgs 17:13 and elsewhere So 1Sam 8:9 ‎אַךְ כִּי‎ (see ‎כִּי‎; and compare πλὴν ὅτι).
b. in contrast to other ideas generally : — (α) Gen 7:23; Gen 18:32 ‎אַךְ‎ ‎הַפַּעַם‎ only this once (so Exod 10:17 and elsewhere) Exod 34:15; Exod 12:16 (note accents), 1Sam 18:8 ‎וְעוֺד לוֺ אַךְ תַמְּלוּכָה‎ and there yet remains for him only the kingdom, 1Sam 21:5*; Isa 45:14 ‎אַךָ בְּךָ אֵל‎ only in thee is God! Ps 62:2* etc. Job 14:22; Ps 37:8 fret not thyself ‎אַךְ‎ ‎לְהָרֵעַ‎ (which leadeth) only to do evil, Prov 11:24 he that withholdeth more than is meet ‎אַךְ‎ ‎לְמַחְסוֺר‎ (tendeth) only to penury, Prov 14:23; Prov 21:5; Prov 22:16 (β) attaching itself closely to the following word (usually an adjective, rarely a verb), only, i.e. exclusively, altogether, utterly Deut 16:15 and thou shalt be ‎אַךְ שָׂמֵחַ‎ altogether rejoicing, Deut 28:29 (compare vDeut 28:33 ‎רַק‎) Isa 16:7 ‎אַךְ נְכָאִים‎ utterly stricken, Isa 19:11; Jer 16:19 nought but lies, Jer 32:30; Hos 12:12*; Job 19:13 ‎אַךְ זָרוּ‎ are wholly estranged (with play on ‎אַכְזָר‎ cruel).
c. as an adverb of time (with infinitive absolute), twice: Gen 27:30 ‎אַךְ יָצאֹ יָצָא יַעֲקֹבוְ֗֗֗עֵשָׂו בָּא‎ only just (or scarcely) had Jacob gone out, . . . and (= when) Esau came in, Judg 7:19. — ‎וְאַח‎ thrice : Gen 9:5 and only (second limitation of vGen 9:3); Num 22:20 but only; Josh 22:19 but howbeit.

Note. — In some passages the affirmative and restrictive senses agree equally with the context; and authorities read the Hebrew differently. Thus only = nought but, altogether, is adopted by Ges Ew Hi De in Ps 23:6; Ps 62:10*; Ps 73:1; Ps 73:13 by Ew Hi De in Ps 39:6*; Ps 39:7* (Che surely); by Ges Ew De in Ps 39:12* (but Hi Che surely); by Ew Hi in Ps 73:18 (De Che surely); by Ges Hi De in Ps 139:11 (Ew doch). Isa 45:14 Ges Ew Hi Di only; but De Che of a truth.

Brown-Driver-Briggs References