Lexical Definition

‎יַעַן‎ yaʻan (yah'-an) because ^H:Conj
from an unused root meaning to pay attention

because (that), forasmuch ([phrase] as), seeing then, [phrase] that, [phrase] wheras, [phrase] why.

• properly, heed
• by implication, purpose (sake or account)
• used adverbially to indicate the reason or cause

conj
1) because, therefore, because that, on account of
prep
2) because of, on account of
3) why (with interrogative pron)

Extended Information

• conj
• prep

Brown-Driver-Briggs

I. ‎יַ֫עַן‎ preposition and conjunction see below I. ‎ענה‎.

Also see: אֲשֶׁר | כִּי

‎יַעַן‎₉₆ properly substantive, purpose, intention, but always used as preposition or conjunction, on account of, because (for ‎יַעֲנֶה‎, of the form ‎יִצְהָר‎ etc., Sta^{§ 259} Kö^{ii. 403}; compare mean, intend): —

1. as preposition, rarely with a substantive, Ezek 5:9 ‎יַעַן תּוֺעֲבוֺתֵיכֶם‎, Hag 1:9 ‎יַעַן מָה‎, vHag 1:9 ‎יַעַן בֵּיתִי‎; with a participle Ezek 36:13 ‎יען אמרים‎ because of men saying to you (but read probably‎אָמְרָם‎, Co Toy Berthol); frequently with infinitive with, 1Kgs 21:20 ‎יַעַן הִתְמַכֶּרְךָ‎ on account of thy having sold thyself, Amos 5:11; Isa 30:12; Isa 37:29 (= 2Kgs 19:28) ‎יַעֵן הִתְרַגֶּזְךָ אֵלַי‎, Jer 5:14; Jer 7:13; Jer 23:38; Jer 48:7, and often. (c. 18 t.) in Ezek., as Jer 5:7 (read ‎יַעַן הַמְ˜רֹתְכֶם‎), Jer 13:8; Jer 13:22; Jer 25:3; Jer 25:6; Jer 25:8; Jer 25:12.

2. As conjunction:
a. ‎יַעַן אֲשֶׁר‎ (32 t.), usually with perfect, as Gen 22:16 ‎יען אשׁר עשׂית זאת‎ because that thou hast done this, Deut 1:36 (Josh 14:14), Judg 2:20; 1Sam 30:22; 1Kgs 3:11; 1Kgs 8:18; Jer 19:4; Jer 25:8; Jer 29:23 (not Isaiah) +; with imperfect (in frequent. sense) Ezek 44:12.
b. ‎יַען כִּי‎, Num 11:20 ‎׳‎‎יַעַן כִּי מְאַסְתֶּם אֶתיֿ‎, 1Kgs 13:21; 1Kgs 21:29; Isa 3:16; Isa 7:5; Isa 8:6; Isa 29:13.
c. ‎יַעַן‎ alone (23 t.), with perfect Num 20:12 ‎יַעַן לֹא הֶאֱמַנְתֶּם בִּי‎, 1Sam 15:23; 1Kgs 14:13; 1Kgs 20:42; 2Kgs 22:19; Hos 8:1; Isa 61:1; Isa 65:12; Isa 66:4 with imperfect (frequently) Ezek 34:21 of the future Ezek 12:12 because he shall not see, etc., (but ᵐ5 Co Kau Berthol ‎לְמַעַן אשׁר‎ ‎לא יֵרָאֶה לָעַיִן‎): usually the verb follows immediately, but Ezek. sometimes puts the object first for emphasis, Ezek 5:11 ‎יַעַן אֶתמִֿקְדָּשִׁי טִמֵּאתָ‎, Ezek 20:16; Ezek 20:24; Ezek 36:6, compare Ezek 34:21.

3. ‎יַעַן וּבְיַעַן‎, q.d. because and by the cause (that), followed by perhaps, Lev 26:43 (H) ‎יען וביען בְּמִשְׁפָּטַי‎ ‎מָאָ֔סוּ‎, Ezek 13:10 ‎יַעַן בְּיַעַז‎ followed by infinitive, Ezek 36:3. (In all, reckoning ‎יען (ו)ביען‎ once each, 93 t., of which 20 are in 1-2 Kings, 11 in Jeremiah, 38 in Ezekiel; and only 9 in Genesis—2Samuel.)

Brown-Driver-Briggs References