Lexical Definition

‎/ל‎ l (l) to/for ^Prefix

• Prefix lamed: to

Brown-Driver-Briggs

‎ל‎‎ל‎, twelfth letter; used as numeral 30 in Post-Biblical Hebrew

‎לְ‎ preposition to, for, in regard to (Moabite, Phoenician ‎ל‎, Aramaic ‎לְ‎, Arabic Ethiopic Assyrian la in lapân = ‎לִפְנֵי‎, Dl^{HWB 530}), before tone-syllables usually ‎לָ‎ (Kö^{ii. 276 f.}); with suffix ‎לִי‎; ‎לְךָ‎, ‎לְכָה‎ Gen 27:37; 2Sam 18:22; Isa 3:6, ‎לָ֑ךְ‎; feminine ‎לָךְ‎, ‎לֵכִי‎ 2Kgs 4:2; Song 2:13 Kt (probably North Palestinian dialect : compare Syriac ); ‎לוֺ‎ (15 t., according to Masoretes, written incorrectly ‎לֹא‎: see ‎לֹא‎ note); ‎לָהּ‎; ‎לָהֿ‎ Num 32:42; Zech 5:11; Ruth 2:14 ‎לָ֫נוּ‎; ‎לָכֶם‎ ‎לָכֶ֫נָה‎ Ezek 13:18 (‎לָכֶן‎ does not occur); ‎לָהֶם‎, in poetry ‎לָ֫מוֺ‎ (55 t., including a few cases where, according to many, it stands for ‎לוֺ‎: compare Ges^{«GKC:103»§ 103}. 2a, n. Di^{Isa 44:15. 53, 8}), [also ‎לָהֵ֫מָּה‎ Jer 14:16]; ‎לָהֶן‎ [ ‎לָהֵן‎ (q. v.) Ruth 1:13 (twice in verse), ‎לָהֵ֫נָּה‎ 5 t., see ‎הֵמָּה‎]. Preposition denoting direction (not properly motion, as ‎אֶל‎) towards, or reference to; and hence used in many varied applications, in some of which the idea of direction predominates, in others that of reference (compare Gies^{Die Präp. Lamed, 1876}): —

1. very often, with various classes of verbs, to, towards, for: namely
a. verbs of looking, listening, attending, waiting, etc., as ‎האמין‎, ‎התחֹלל‎, ‎יחל‎, ‎הוחיל‎, ‎נכסף‎, ‎כלה‎ (Ps 84:3* + ), ‎אזן‎, ‎הטה‎, ‎שׁת) לב‎, ‎הכין‎, ‎נתן (נטה‎, ‎קִוָּה‎, ‎הקשׁיב‎, ‎שׁמע‎ (sometimes), ‎צמא‎ to thirst for (Exod 17:3; Ps 42:3*), ‎השׁתחוה‎ (to Gen 37:10, towards Ps 99:5); sometimes also with ‎האזין‎, ‎הביט‎, ‎נִבַּט‎, ‎ראה‎, ‎נפשׁ‎, ‎נשׂא‎ (see these verbs; many are also construed with other prepositions); Isa 51:6; Ps 44:21* pregnantly Isa 38:14 ‎השׁתאה ל‎ Gen 24:21, ‎החרישׁל‎ Num 30:5*; Num 30:8*: sometimes without a verb, as Judg 5:9 ‎לִבִּי לְ‎, Jer 5:3 ‎עיניך ל‎, Ps 33:18 (|| ‎אל‎), Ps 39:8* ‎תוחלתי לך היא‎, Ps 120:7 ‎המה למלחמה‎, Ps 130:6 ‎נפשׁי‎ ‎לאדני‎ (compare Isa 26:8), Isa 143:6; Dan 11:27; 2Chr 3:13; 2Chr 32:2.
b. with verbs of saying, calling, singing, vowing, sacrificing, etc., as ‎אמר‎, ‎דבר‎ (chiefly with God as subject = promise, Gen 24:7; 1Kgs 5:26* +, especially in D ‎כאשׁר דבר לְ‎ Deut 1:11 (see Dr), vDeut 1:21 etc.; with human subject Gen 49:28; Judg 14:7; 1Kgs 2:19 and elsewhere (Gie^42f.: ‎דבר אל‎ is more common), ‎זבח‎, ‎זמּר‎, ‎הודה‎, ‎הגיד‎, ‎נדר‎, ‎נשׂא יד‎ (in oath) Ezek 20:5; Ezek 20:6; Ezek 20:23; Ps 106:26, ‎קִטֵר‎, ‎הריע‎, ‎נשׁבע‎, ‎שָׁר‎ etc.
c. with verbs of giving, leaving, bringing, offering etc., as ‎הביא‎, ‎הִפִּיל‎ allot (Josh 13:6), ‎נתן‎, ‎הסגיר‎, ‎עזב‎ Ps 16:9 abandon to Sheol Isa 18:6, ‎הקריבּ‎ Lev 17:4, ‎שׁוב‎ = to be returned Deut 28:31, ‎השׁיב‎ = bring back Deut 22:1, = requite 2Sam 16:12, ‎שִׁלַּח‎, etc.
d. with verbs of dealing, acting towards (whether with friendly or hostile intent), as ‎עשׂה ל‎ Gen 19:8 + often, ‎גמל ל‎ Isa 3:9 so with ‎הֵייטִב‎, ‎הֵרַע‎, ‎הֵמַר‎, ‎חָטָא‎ to sin against (Gen 20:9 +), ‎אָשָׁם‎ to be guilty towards (Lev 5:19), ‎שַׁקֵּר‎, ‎כִּחֵשׁ‎ to lie to, ‎כִּזֵּב‎; with verbs of mocking or laughing against, at, as ‎לעג לְ‎ Ps 2:4, ‎שׂחק לְ‎ Ps 37:13, ‎שׂמח לְ‎ to rejoice over Ps 35:19; Ezek 35:15, causative ‎שִׂמַּח לְ‎ Ps 30:2*, ‎עלץ לְ‎ Ps 25:2: with other verbs denoting hostility (less common than ‎ב‎ or ‎על‎), Gen 27:42 ‎מתנחם לך להרגך‎, 2Kgs 5:7; Exod 11:7 (so Josh 10:21: compare Job 16:9), Jer 25:31; Jer 50:9; Ps 7:14*; Ps 37:12; Ps 56:3*; Ps 106:16 ‎קנא לְ‎ (usually In good sense, 5 g c)Job 20:27; Job 34:37. And with adjectives, as Ps 73:1 ‎טוב ל‎ good to, Gen 13:13 ‎׳‎‎רָעִים וְחַטָּאִים לי‎ towards ‎׳‎‎י‎ 2Sam 22:24 ‎תָּמִים לוֺ‎ (|| Ps 18:24* ‎עִמּוֺ‎), Ps 89:29* ‎נֶאֱמֶנֶת לוֺ‎; with substantive (rare) Exod 32:12; Lam 3:60 (synonym V:61 ‎על‎).
e. with words denoting what is pleasurable or the reverse, as ‎נעם לְ‎ 2Sam 1:26, ‎ערב ל‎ Hos 9:4, ‎יֵמַר לְ‎ Isa 24:7, ‎טוֺב לְ‎ (adjective) 1Sam 1:8, ‎נָקֵל לְ‎ 2Kgs 20:10, also ‎הועיל ל‎ ‎סכן ל‎ to be profitable to; and with neuter verbs, to denote the subject of a sensation or emotion, as ‎טוֺב לְ‎ to be well to (with), Deut 5:30; Deut 19:13 +, ‎מַר לְ‎ Ruth 1:13, ‎צַר לְ‎ 1Sam 13:6 + often, ‎כְּרֹב לְ‎ Hos 10:1, ‎רָוַח לְ‎ 1Sam 16:23, ‎חַם לְ‎ to be warm to, 1Kgs 1:1, ‎רַע לְ‎ Ps 106:32, ‎חָרָה לְ‎ it was hot (= anger arose) to Gen 4:6 + often, ‎חָֽשְׁכָה לְ‎ Mic 3:6. And with passive Vbs., ‎נִסְלַח לוֺ‎ it is forgiven to him=he is forgiven Lev 4:26 + often; otherwise rare, ‎נִרְצָה לְ‎ Lev 1:4, ‎נִרְפָּא לָנוּ‎ it is healed to us = we are healed Isa 53:5, ‎הוּנַח ל‎ Lam 5:5, ‎יְבֻלַּע לְ‎ 2Sam 17:16 (see Dr). feminine with verbs of reaching to, touching, attaching etc., as ‎אסר ל‎ to bind to, ‎חבשׁ‎, ‎דבק‎ Ps 44:26*, ‎מצא‎ to reach to Isa 10:10; Isa 10:14; Ps 21:9*, ‎הגיע‎ Exod 4:25, ‎נצמד‎ Num 25:5, ‎קרוב‎ (adjective) Ruth 2:20 out of connection with a verb (almost = ‎עַד‎), Josh 16:1; Ps 59:14*; Job 28:3; Neh 3:15; 2Chr 33:14, and correl. to ‎מִן‎ (see ‎מִן‎ 5).
g. with verbs of motion,as ‎הלך‎, ‎בא‎ ‎שָׁב‎ etc. (not so common as ‎אל‎, or the simple accusative with or without ‎ה‎ locative) — (a) with places, rare in early prose, Josh 1:15; Josh 8:14; Judg 1:34; Judg 20:10 (but see GFM), 1Sam 9:12; 1Sam 20:25; 2Kgs 3:27, except in particular phrases, namely ‎למקומו‎ Gen 18:33, ‎לדרכו‎ Gen 32:2*, ‎לאהליו‎ 1Sam 4:10 (also with other suffixes: all these + often, especially with ‎שׂוב‎ and ‎הלך‎, or preceded by distributive ‎אישׁ‎ ‎לאהליו(ךׅ‎, also, without verb, as exclamation, 2Sam 20:1; 1Kgs 12:16), ‎לארצו‎ Gen 30:25+, ‎אִישׁ לִירֻשָּׁתוֺ‎ Deut 3:20, ‎אישׁ לנחלתו‎ Josh 24:28 +, ‎אישׁ‎ ‎לעירו‎ 1Sam 8:22; Neh 13:10: often In late Hebrew, as Job 4:5; 1Chr 4:39; 1Chr 4:42; 1Chr 5:26; 1Chr 12:1; 1Chr 12:9*; 1Chr 22:18; 1Chr 24:19; 1Chr 2:3; 1Chr 8:17 + often Chronicles, Ezra 2:68 +, .; Esth 6:4; Ps 96:8; Ps 132:7; Ps 146:4: ‎לירושׁלם‎ Jer 3:17b (omitted by ᵐ5), Zech 1:16, and often Chronicles Ezra Nehemiah (as 2Chr 11:14; 2Chr 19:1; 2Chr 30:3; 2Chr 30:11), ‎לשׁמרון‎ 2Chr 18:2; 2Chr 28:8; 2Chr 28:9, ‎לבבל‎ Jer 51:2; Ezra 2:1; 1Chr 9:1; 2Chr 36:7 (but earlier always ‎ירושׁלם‎, ‎שׁמרון‎, ‎בבל‎ or ‎בבלה‎); and in poetry Judg 5:11; Isa 22:1; Isa 23:17; Isa 49:18; Isa 51:14 (pregnantly) ‎ימות לשׁחת‎, Isa 59:20; Isa 60:4; Isa 60:5; Isa 60:7; Isa 65:12; Jer 31:17; Jer 48:15; Jer 50:27; Mic 1:12; Zech 9:12; Ps 7:8*; Ps 68:19*; Ps 74:3; Song 4:16; Song 5:1; Song 6:2; Song 7:13* ‎נשׁכימה לכרמים‎, Job 10:19; Job 20:6 ‎הוציא לְ‎ Ps 18:20*; Ps 66:12, ‎לאור‎ Mic 7:9; Job 12:22. ‎יוּבַל ל‎ Hos 10:6 + : without a verb, Isa 23:5; Hos 7:12. Also ‎לָאָרֶץ‎, with many verbs, both in sense down to the earth, Isa 14:12; Isa 21:9; Isa 28:2; Amos 3:14; Amos 5:7; Ezek 26:11; Ps 7:6* +, with ‎חִלֵּל‎ (pregnantly) Ps 74:7; Ps 89:40*, and idiomatically with ‎ישׁב‎ to sit on the earth, Isa 3:26; Isa 47:1; Job 2:13 +, without verb Isa 26:9: so ‎לֶעָפָר‎ Job 7:21; Ps 7:6*, ‎הוריד לשׁחת‎ Ezek 28:8.
(b) with persons, not very common, Deut 32:35; Isa 31:6; Isa 57:9; Jer 3:22 ‎אָתָנוּ לָ֑ךְ‎, Ps 45:15*; Ps 119:79; Job 18:14; 1Chr 12:16*; Neh 6:19, ‎לְעַמִּי‎ Num 24:14; Ruth 1:10: ‎בא לְ‎, especially with pronoun ‎לְךָ‎, ‎לָהּ‎ etc. (friendly) 2Sam 12:4; Zech 9:9; Amos 6:1, (hostile) 2Sam 5:23; Jer 46:22; Jer 49:9; Jer 50:26; Jer 51:48; Jer 51:53 with athing as subject Deut 33:16 (‎לראשׁ‎), 2Sam 24:13; Isa 47:9; Job 3:25 (compare Isa 66:4), Jer 4:12; Jer 22:33 ‎בְּבאֹ לָךְ‎ ‎חֲבָלִים‎ (so Hos 13:13; Isa 66:7). And with verbs of placing (where ‎עַל‎ would be more usually) Ps 21:4* ‎תָּשִׁית לְראֹשׁוֺ עֲטֶרֶת פָּז‎, Ps 22:16*; Ps 66:12, with ‎לְכִסֵּא‎ Ps 9:5*; Ps 132:11; Ps 132:12; Job 36:7: compare ‎נָפַל לְאַפָּיוּ‎, ‎הִשְׁתַּחֲוָה‎, Gen 48:12 + (also ‎׳‎‎עַל א‎).
h. expressing direction towards (without contact), ‎לאחור‎ backwards Jer 7:24, ‎לַחוּץ‎ outwards Ps 41:7*, ‎למעלה‎ upwards, ‎למטה‎ downwards; to scatter ‎לכל רוח‎ Jer 49:32 compare vJer 49:36; Ezek 5:10 +, (‎שׁמים‎ ‎לארבע רוחות‎ Ezek 42:20; Dan 8:8; Dan 11:4; 1Chr 9:24: of the points of the compass (without verb) ‎לִפְאַת ֗֗֗ ‎ towards the quarter of (the north, south, etc.) Exod 26:18 + often P (so Ezek 47:15), ‎לדרום‎ ‎למזרח‎ etc. (late: earlier ‎ממזרח‎, or ‎מזרחה‎ etc.) Ezek 40:23; Ezek 41:11; Ezek 41:14; Ezek 42:4; Neh 3:26; 1Chr 5:9; 1Chr 6:63*; 1Chr 7:28; 1Chr 12:15*; 1Chr 26:16-18; 2Chr 31:14, ‎למדבר‎ 2Chr 20:24 also (peculiarly) 1Sam 14:40; 1Kgs 20:38; 2Kgs 11:11.
i. expressing addition (rare); Isa 28:10; Isa 28:13 ‎צַו לָצַו‎ ‎קַו לָקַו‎, Isa 56:8 (resuming ‎על‎), Eccl 7:27 ‎אחת לאחת‎ (adding) one to another, Ezra 8:24; Neh 11:17 (‎על‎ is more usual in this sense).

2. Expressing locality, at, near, idiomatic in the phrases ‎לִפְנֵי‎ = before (sometimes after verbs of motion, as 1Kgs 1:23, but very often otherwise), ‎לְעֵינֵי‎ in the sight of, ‎לְיַד‎, ‎לִימִין‎, ‎לִשְׂמאֹל‎ (only Eccl 10:2), ‎לפתח‎ at the entrance (of), Gen 4:7; Num 11:10 +; in other, rarer connections, Num 20:24 ‎לְמֵי ֗֗֗ ‎ (usually ‎על‎), Judg 5:16 (|| vJudg 5:15 ‎ב‎), ‎לְחוֺף‎ Gen 49:13 (twice in verse); Judg 5:17, ‎לְפִי‎ Ps 141:7; Prov 8:3; Hos 5:1 ‎לְמִצְפָּה‎, 2Chr 35:15. ‎לִפְנִימָה‎ = within, 1Kgs 6:30; Ezek 40:16.

3. To denote the object of a verb —
a. with the Hiph`il, mostly of intransitive verbs, properly (as it seems) a dativus commodi [dative of benefit], as ‎הֵנִיחַ לְ‎ to give rest to, ‎הִרְחִיב‎ to give width to, ‎הֵצַר לְ‎, ‎הֵצִיק לְ‎, exceptionally also with other words, as ‎הִרְגִּיוּ‎, ‎הוֺכִיחַ‎, ‎הִצְדִּיק‎ to give righteousness to, Isa 53:11, ‎הֶחֱיָה‎ Gen 45:7, ‎הֵבִין‎ give understanding to (late), ‎הִצְלִיחַ‎ (do.), ‎הִרְבָּה‎ Hos 10:1, ‎הִשְׂגִּיא‎ Job 12:23, ‎הִפְתָּה‎ Gen 9:27 give breadth to.
b. with other verbs, sporadically early (if the text be sound), but mostly late, in conseq. of Aramaic influence (in Aramaic the accusative being constantly denoted by ‎ל‎), as ‎אהב‎ Lev 19:18; Lev 19:34; 2Chr 19:2, ‎הרג‎ 2Sam 3:30; Job 5:2, ‎בוּז‎ (mostly), ‎בזה‎ 2Sam 6:16, sometimes also ‎זכר‎ to remember, ‎עבד‎ to serve (work or do service for), ‎עזר‎ (2Sam 8:5, and especially late), ‎דרשׁ‎ (especially Chronicles), ‎הִלֵּל‎ (only Chronicles Ezra), ‎רפא‎ (probably the dativus commodi [dative of benefit]), ‎שִׂחֵת‎ 1Sam 23:10; Num 32:15, ‎נִדָּה‎ Amos 6:3, ‎גִּדֵּל‎ Ps 34:4*, ‎פִּתַּח‎ Ps 116:16, ‎כִּבֵּד‎ Ps 86:9; Dan 11:38, ‎חִזַּק‎ 1Chr 26:27; 1Chr 29:12, ‎בֵּרַךְ‎ 1Chr 29:20; Neh 11:2, ‎חֵרֵף‎ 2Chr 32:17 see also 1Sam 22:7; 2Kgs 8:6; Jer 16:6; Jer 40:2; Jonah 4:6; Ps 69:6*; Ps 73:18; Ps 135:11; Ps 136:19; Ps 136:20; Prov 17:26; Job 12:23b Lam 4:5; 1Chr 16:37; 1Chr 18:6 (‎הושׁיע‎, altered from 2Sam 8:6: so Ps 116:6), 1Chr 25:1; 1Chr 29:22 (twice in verse); 2Chr 5:11; 2Chr 6:42; 2Chr 17:7; 2Chr 24:5; 2Chr 34:13 (usually ‎על‎), Ezra 8:16 at the end of an enumeration, 1Chr 28:1b; 2Chr 24:12b; 2Chr 26:14b; 2Chr 28:23 marking the definite object in apposition, 1Chr 29:18; 2Chr 2:12*; 2Chr 23:1; Ps 135:11; Ps 136:19; Ps 136:20 ( = earlier ‎את‎, Gen 26:34; Judg 3:15; Isa 7:6; Isa 8:2); after a suffix (in Syriac fashion), 1Chr 5:26 ‎׳‎‎וַיַּגְלֵם ל‎, 1Chr 23:6; 2Chr 25:5; 2Chr 25:10; 2Chr 28:15, compare Neh 9:32 defining anomalously the suffix of a noun, Num 29:18; Num 29:21; Num 29:24 etc. 1Chr 7:5 ‎הִתְיַחֲשָׂם‎ ‎לַכֹּל‎, 2Chr 31:16; 2Chr 31:18; Ezra 9:1; Ezra 10:14. (But in sentences of the type ‎אֵין דּוֺרֵשׁ לְנַפְשִׁי‎ Ps 142:5* b Ps 72:12; Isa 51:18; Jer 14:16; Jer 49:5; Lam 1:7; Lam 1:9; Lam 1:17; Lam 1:21, the ‎ל‎ belongs probably to ‎׃אין‎ compare the || types ‎אֵין לִי מַכִּיר‎ Ps 142:5* a Deut 28:31; Jer 50:32; Lam 1:2, ‎דֹּרֵשׁ אֵין לָהּ‎ Jer 30:17; Lam 4:4.) compare Ges^{«GKC:117n»§ 117n}.

4. Into (εἰς), of a transition into a new state or condition, or into a new character or office: —
a. Gen 2:22 ‎וַיִּבֶן אֶתהַֿצֵּלָע לְאִשָּׁה‎ into a woman, Gen 12:2 ‎וְאֶעֶשְׂךָ לְגוֺי גָּדוֺל‎ into a great nation, and very often with this and similar verbs, as Exod 26:7; Isa 44:17; Isa 44:19, ‎שָׂם‎ Gen 46:3; Isa 5:20 make bitter into sweet etc., Isa 28:17, ‎נָתַן‎ Isa 42:6, also in such phrases as ‎לְשַׁמָּהשָׂם‎ to make into a desolation Isa 13:9; Jer 4:7 etc. Jer 19:8 ‎הפך ל‎ to change into Exod 7:15; Deut 23:6* +, to cut or divide into Gen 32:8*; Judg 19:29; Isa 11:15 +, ‎שָׂרַף לְ‎ to burn into Amos 2:1; Deut 9:21 ‎דַּק לְעָפָר‎ ‎פעל‎ Ps 7:14* maketh into (or to be) flaming ones; ‎היה ל‎ to become, in many different connections, as Gen 2:7 ‎ויהי האדם לנפשׁ חיה‎ became a living soul (see ‎היה‎ II. 2 e, p. 226 a); ‎משׁח למלך (לנגיד ׅ‎ to anoint so as to be king, as king (German 'zum Konig': compare Old English to, as Judg 17:13 and 'We have Abraham to our father'), 1Sam 9:16; 1Sam 15:1 etc., ‎צִוָּה לְ‎ to appoint as 1Sam 13:14; 1Sam 25:30 ‎שׁת לְ‎ Ps 45:17* even more freely, as ‎דִּבֶּר עָלַי לְמֶלֶךְ‎ 1Kgs 14:2, compare 2Sam 3:17; 1Chr 29:23 ‎חשׁב ל‎ to count for (or as) Gen 38:15 + often; Exod 21:7 when a man sells his daughter ‎לְאָמָה‎ for, as, a female slave, Deut 6:8 to bind ‎לְאוֺת‎ for, as, a sign, ‎הִתְיַצֵּב‎ ‎(יָצָא) לְשָׂטָן‎ so as to be an adversary Num 22:22; Num 22:32, ‎קום (הקים) לְאֹרֵב‎ 1Sam 22:8; 1Sam 22:13, ‎עמד לְ‎ Isa 11:10; Dan 11:1, ‎יצא לַחָפְשִׁי‎ to go forth into the state of one free Exod 21:2 (compare vExod 21:26 vExod 21:27 after ‎שׁלח‎), 2Kgs 25:12; Isa 14:2; Jer 34:11; Ps 48:4* ‎נודע לְ‎ hath made himself known as, Ps 87:4 ‎הזכיר לְ‎ to mention as, Ezek 13:20 in poetry Job 39:16 ‎הִקְשִׁיחַ בָּנֶיהָ לְלֹאלָֿהּ‎ treats her young ones hardly (turning them) into none of hers: without a verb (poetry, or late prose) Mic 1:14; Nah 1:7; Hab 1:11 ‎זוֺ כֹחוֺ לֵאלֹהוֺ‎, Zech 4:7; Lam 4:3; Job 13:12; Hag 1:9; 1Chr 21:12; 1Chr 26:29; 1Chr 28:18b 2Chr 23:4.
b. this usage is also combined idiomatically, with great frequency, with a 2nd ‎לְ‎, of reference (5 a d), giving rise to such phrases as Gen 1:29 ‎לָכֶם יִהְיֶה לְאָכְלָה‎ to you it shall be for food (see ‎היה‎ II. 2 f, p. 226 b), Gen 45:8 ‎וַיְשִׂימֵנִי‎ ‎לְאָב לְפַרְעֹה‎, Gen 47:26; Deut 28:9; Deut 28:25; Judg 1:33; 1Sam 2:28; Isa 21:4; Isa 28:18b ‎וִהְיִיתֶם לוֺ לְמִרְמָס‎, Isa 49:5 ‎יֹצְרִי מִבֶּטֶן לְעֶבֶד לוֺ‎, Isa 63:8; Isa 63:10 ‎וַיֵּהָפֵךְ לָהֶם לְאוֺיֵב‎ (Job 30:21), Jer 15:4; Jer 15:20; Jer 20:4; Jer 21:9; Hab 2:7; Ps 33:12; Ps 94:22; Ps 132:13; Ps 139:22; Job 13:24 ‎ותחשׁבני‎ ‎לאויב לך‎, Job 16:12 etc.

5. With reference to, namely
a. defining those in reference to whom a predicate is affirmed, hence often = belonging to, of:
(a) Deut 23:3* ‎דור‎ ‎עשׂירי לא יבא לו‎, v.Deut 23:4* v.Deut 23:9*; Lam 1:10 ‎הכרית לְ‎ 1Sam 2:33; 1Kgs 14:10 +; ‎השׁבית לְ‎ Jer 48:35 ‎לֹא יִכָּרֵת אִישׁ לְ‎ 1Kgs 2:4; 1Kgs 8:25 +; 1Sam 25:34 ‎אִם נוֺתַר לְ‎, Gen 17:10 ‎המול‎ ‎לכם כל בשׂר‎, Gen 34:15; Gen 34:22; Exod 12:48; 1Sam 11:2; 1Kgs 14:13 ‎ישׁב על כסא לְ‎ 2Kgs 10:30; 2Kgs 15:12; Jer 13:13; Jer 22:4; Ps 132:12 compare vPs 132:11 ‎ראה בנים לְ‎ Gen 50:23; Ps 128:6 ‎אבד לְ‎ to perish belonging to 1Sam 9:3; 1Sam 9:20; Isa 26:14 ‎מצא לְ‎ to find belonging to Deut 22:14; 1Sam 13:22; Gen 23:16 money ‎עֹבֵר לַסֹּחֵר‎ current to ( = with) the merchant, Num 9:10; Amos 9:1; Isa 33:14; Job 12:6: note further the pronoun in Exod 10:5 ‎הַצֹּמֵחַ לכם מן השׂדה‎, Exod 12:2; Exod 12:5; Exod 26:33; Lev 11:29 ‎וְזֶה לָכֶם הַטָּמֵא‎ (compare vLev 11:4-8), Lev 19:23; Lev 25:30; Lev 26:5; Lev 26:26 ‎בְּשִׁבְרִי לָכֶם מַטֵּה לֶחֶם‎ (Ezek 14:13), Num 28:19; Num 32:21; Num 34:4; Deut 28:66; Josh 2:6 ‎הָעֲרֻכוֺת לָהּ עַל הַגָּג‎, Judg 16:9; Judg 19:14 (compare ‎זָרַח לְ‎ Gen 32:32* +), 1Sam 5:9; 2Sam 15:30; 2Kgs 4:27b ‎נַפְשָׁהּ‎ ‎מָרָהלָֿהּ‎ (compare Isa 15:4; Jer 4:19), Isa 23:7; Jer 2:21; Mic 2:4 ‎איך ימישׁ לי‎, Ezek 16:14; Ezek 29:7; Ps 110:3 also Ps 40:7* ears hast thou digged to (or for) me, Ps 51:12* (compare 1Sam 10:9), Isa 50:4; Isa 50:5 ‎יעיר לי אזן‎.
(b) in such phrases as Num 1:4 ‎אִישׁ אִישׁ לְמַטֶּה‎ a man for (or of) a tribe, Num 7:11; Num 31:4, Deut 1:23; Josh 3:12; Josh 18:4; Judg 20:10 ten men ‎לַמֵּאָה‎ of 100, 100 of 1000 etc.; ‎רִאשׁוֺן לְ‎ = first of Exod 12:2; 2Sam 19:21*.
(c) specifically of relationship, to define a man's family or tribe, especially in genealogies, Num 1:6 ‎לראובן אליצור‎, vNum 1:7 vNum 1:8 etc., vNum 1:22 vNum 1:24 etc., Num 3:21; Num 3:27; 1Chr 24:20; 1Chr 24:21 etc., 1Chr 26:23; 1Chr 26:25 etc. + often; in the opposite order Exod 31:2; Lev 24:11; Num 17:23* ‎אהרן לבית לוי‎ 1Kgs 15:27 etc., compare 2Sam 3:2; 2Sam 3:3; 2Sam 3:5, also 2Sam 9:3 a Gen 20:18; Gen 46:26; Gen 46:27 similarly ‎הנשׁארים לְ‎ 2Kgs 10:11; 2Kgs 10:17, ‎הַמֵּת לְ‎ 1Kgs 14:11; 1Kgs 16:4 +.
(d) denoting relation (to be to or towards one in a particular regard or capacity) Exod 19:5 ‎והייתם לי סְגֻלָּה‎ ye shall be to me a special possession, Exod 22:30* ‎אנשׁי קדשׁ תהיון לי‎, 1Sam 18:18; 2Sam 19:29*; 1Kgs 5:15*; 2Kgs 19:15; Jer 12:9; Jer 15:8; Jer 22:6 ‎גלעד אתה לי‎, Jer 51:20; Isa 54:9; Ezek 24:19; Ps 12:5* ‎מִי אָדוֺן לָנוּ‎, Ps 35:14 ‎כְּרֵעַ כְּאָח לִי‎, Ps 99:8; Job 24:17; Job 30:29; Neh 6:18 with a participle Num 10:25; Num 25:18; Num 35:23; Deut 4:22; Deut 19:4; Deut 19:6; Isa 11:9; Isa 14:2 (Dr^{§ 135, 7} Obs.); ‎מלך לְ‎ Num 22:4 ‎רַב לָכֶם‎ it is (too) much to you, ‎מְעַט לְ‎ (too) little to . . .; in the phrase ‎מִי (מָהׅ‎ ‎אֵלֶּה לְךָ‎ who (what) are these to thee ? = what meanest thou by these things ? Gen 33:5; Gen 33:8; 2Sam 16:2; Ezek 37:18, compare Exod 12:26; Josh 4:6; Ezek 12:22 ‎חלילה לי‎ away be it to (or for) me ! ‎למה לי‎ to what purpose to me is . . . ? Gen 27:46; Isa 1:11; Jer 6:20; Job 30:2: often also in such phrases as ‎מָגֵן לְ‎ a shield to Gen 15:1; Ps 18:31*, a strength to Ps 28:8, an abomination to Gen 43:32; Isa 1:13 +, a grief to Prov 10:1; Prov 17:21 compare Jer 15:10; Mal 2:9; Ps 89:28* etc.: note also Jonah 3:3 ‎לאלהים עיר גדולה‎ a city great to God (i.e. in his estimation: compare Acts 7:20 ἀστεῖος τῷ θεῷ, and ‎לפני‎ Gen 10:9), Esth 10:3. And with ‎כְּ‎ Judg 17:11; 2Sam 12:3 ‎וַתְּהִי לוֺ כְּבַת‎, Exod 22:24* (compare 4 b), Amos 9:7 ‎כבני כֻשִׁיים אַתֶּם לי‎ Hos 11:4; Isa 29:2; Job 33:6 ‎הֵןאֲֿנִי לָאֵל כְּפִיךָ‎ lo, I am to God as thou art, etc.
b. denoting possession, belonging to; —
(a) as predicate, in ‎הָיָה לְ‎ (compare Latin est mihi), ‎יֵשׁ לְ‎ ‎אֵין לְ‎ constantly (see these words); also alone, as Gen 31:16; Gen 31:43 ‎לִי הוּא‎ it is mine, Gen 48:5 ‎לי הם‎, Exod 19:5b ‎כי לי כל הארץ‎, 1Kgs 20:3; 1Kgs 20:4; Isa 43:1 ‎לי אתה‎, Isa 44:5 ‎אני‎ ‎׳‎‎לי‎, Ezek 29:3; Ps 47:10*; Ps 50:10; Ps 50:12; Job 12:13; Job 12:16; Song 2:16; Song 6:3; 1Sam 1:2 ‎ולו שׁתי נשׁים‎ and he had two wives, 1Sam 25:7; 1Sam 25:36; Judg 3:16; Judg 17:5; Job 22:8; 2Sam 17:18; Hos 6:10, + often; with ‎לאֹ‎, 1Kgs 22:17; Isa 53:2 ‎לא הדר לו‎, Jer 5:10 +; with a neuter adjective (rare) Isa 63:2; Jer 30:10 ‎אָנוּשׁ לְשִׁבְרֵךְ‎; note also such phrases as 2Kgs 10:19 ‎זבח גדול לי לבעל‎, Isa 2:12 ‎׳‎‎כִּי יוֺם לי‎ ‎׳‎‎על וג‎ for ‎׳‎‎י‎ hath a day against etc., Isa 22:5; Isa 28:2 ‎׳‎‎הִנֵּה חָזָק וְאַמִּץ לי‎ ‎׳‎‎י‎ hath a strong and mighty one (that is, at his disposal), Isa 34:2 ‎׳‎‎על וג‎‎׳‎‎קצף לי‎, vIsa 34:6 b. 8; Hos 4:1 . . . ‎עם‎ ‎׳‎‎כִּי רִיב לי‎, Hos 12:3*; Mic 6:2: ‎מַהלִּֿי וָלָךְ‎ what is there to me and to thee (?) (i.e. what have we to do with each other (?)), see ‎שׁלום לך מָה‎ peace be to thee ! Of that which pertains to one as a right, Lev 25:31; Lev 25:48; Deut 1:17 ‎כי המשׁפט לאלהים הוא‎, Deut 21:17; 1Sam 17:47; Jer 10:23; Jer 32:7; Jer 32:8; Ezek 21:32*; Ps 3:9* ‎הישׁועה‎ ‎׳‎‎לי‎, Jonah 2:10* with an infinitive 1Sam 23:20 ‎וְלָנוּ הַסְגִּירוֺ‎ and it shall be for us (or our place) to deliver him, Mic 3:1 ‎הלא לכם לדעת‎, Ezra 4:3; 2Chr 13:5; 2Chr 20:17; 2Chr 26:18, compare Ps 50:16 ‎מַהלְּֿךָ לְ‎.
(b) here also belongs the so-called Lamed auctoris, Isa 38:9 ‎מִכְתָּב לְחִזְקִיָּהוּ‎ a writing belonging to, of, or by H., Hab 3:1; Ps 3:1* and often ‎מזמור לדוד‎ a Psalm of or by David (but possibly denoting originally, at least in some cases, a Psalm belonging to a collection known as David's: so certainly in ‎לבני קרח‎ Ps 42:1* and elsewhere, and probably also in ‎לאסף‎ Ps 50:1 and elsewhere); so ‎לדוד מזמור‎ Ps 24:1 +, ‎לדוד‎ alone Ps 10:1; Ps 14:1 +. compare on Phoenician coins ‎לצדנם‎ of the Sidonians, i.e. belonging to them, ‎לצור‎ (= Greek Σιδονιων, Τύρου). Hebrew idiom also uses the ‎ל‎ of possession where we should write the simple name, as Ezek 38:16 (written on a stick) ‎ליהּודה‎, vEzek 38:17 ‎ליוסף‎, in English 'Judah,' 'Joseph,' Isa 8:1 ‎למהרשֿׁללחֿשׁבֿז‎ 'Maher-shalal-hash-baz.'
c. as periph. for the stative with —
(a) ‎אשׁר לְ‎, as Exod 29:29; Exod 39:1; Exod 39:39; Lev 7:20; Lev 7:21; Lev 16:6; Lev 16:15 (see further examples below ‎אשׁר‎ 7); so ‎שֶׁלִּי‎ Song 1:6; Song 8:12, ‎שֶׁלָּנוּ‎ 2Kgs 6:11.
(b) without ‎אשׁר‎ —
(a) where it is desired to keep the first noun indeterm., 1Sam 16:18 ‎ראיתי בן לישׁי‎ a son to or of Jesse, 1Sam 22:20; Gen 41:12; Num 1:4; Num 7:24; 1Kgs 2:39 ‎שׁני עבדים לשׁמעי‎, 1Kgs 18:22; 2Kgs 3:11; Ruth 2:1 etc.; (β) where the genitive is a compound term, to avoid a series of nouns in the stative with Num 1:4 ‎ראשׂ לבית אבותיו‎, Num 7:24; Num 7:30; Num 7:36 etc., Num 1:21 ‎פקֻדיהם‎ ‎למטה ראובן‎ vNum 1:23 vNum 1:25 etc., Num 2:9; Num 2:16 etc., Josh 21:38; 1Chr 9:23 ‎׳‎‎הַשְּׁעָרִים לְבֵית י‎ 1Chr 27:3 ‎הראשׁ לְ‎, 2Chr 19:11; Neh 10:39* etc., occas. also besides, as 1Sam 14:16 ‎הצופים לשׁאול‎, Exod 31:7 (usually ‎ארון העדות‎); (γ) where the regens is a proper name, or a compound term, which does not readily admit of being placed in the stative with as (‎יהודה‎) ‎דברי הימים למלכי ישׂראל‎ 1Kgs 14:19; 1Kgs 14:29 + often, 1Kgs 5:30* ‎שׂרי הנצבים לְ‎, 2Kgs 11:4 ‎שׂרי המאות לְ‎ ‎ראשׁי האבות לְ‎ Num 36:1; Josh 19:51; 1Chr 8:13 + often Chronicles Nehemiah Ezra; in dates, as ‎באחד לחדשׁ‎ Gen 8:5; Gen 8:14; Exod 12:3; Exod 12:6; Gen 7:11 ‎בשׁנת ֗֗֗ לחיי נח‎, Gen 16:3; Exod 19:1 . . . ‎בחדשׁ השׁלישׁי לצאת‎ ‎בשׁנת שׁתים לאסא‎ 1Kgs 15:25; 1Kgs 15:28; 1Kgs 16:8 (all + often); other cases, Exod 20:5; Exod 20:6; Lev 13:48; Num 16:22 ( = Num 27:16) Num 18:15; Judg 20:10; 2Kgs 5:9; Ezek 45:19; Ruth 2:3; 1Chr 4:43; 1Chr 9:19; 1Chr 9:21; 1Chr 26:19; 2Chr 22:10; 2Chr 23:4 (δ) with a negative, Gen 15:13 ‎כארץ לא לכם‎, Jer 5:19; Prov 26:17; Hab 1:6, poetic even alone, Hab 2:6 who increaseth ‎לֹא‎ ‎לוֺ‎ (that which is) not his, Job 18:15 ‎בְּלִי לוֺ‎, Job 39:16 ‎לְאֹלָהּ‎ as (4) those which are not hers; (ε) in poetry, Isa 16:2; Isa 26:7 ‎ארח לצדיק‎ Jer 47:3; Hos 9:6; Ps 37:16; Ps 49:14*; Ps 55:19* (Hi De Ch), Ps 58:5*; Ps 73:6; Ps 105:36; Ps 116:15 ‎המותה‎ ‎לחסידיו‎, Ps 123:4; Jonah 2:3*; Eccl 5:11* compare also ‎מלך לְ‎ Josh 12:18 (but see ᵐ5 Di), 2Kgs 19:13 (compare Aramaic Ezra 5:11): see further Ew^{§ 292}, Ges^{«GKC:129»§ 129}, Gies^{§ 19}.
c. attached to adverbs, especially those compounded with ‎מִן‎, it forms prepositions, as ‎מִקֶּדֶם לְ‎ Gen 3:24 literally off the front with reference to (or of) = in front of: so ‎מִבֵּית לְ‎ = within, ‎מִחוּץ לְ‎ = without, ‎מִמַּעַל לְ‎, ‎מֵעַל לְ‎,‎מֵעֵבֶר לְ‎, ‎מֵהָֽלְאָה לְ‎, ‎מִצְּפוֺן לְ‎, ‎סָבִֹיב לְ‎ (all often); more rarely, ‎מֵאַחֲרֵי לְ‎, ‎מִבַּעַד לְ‎, ‎מִבֵּינוֺת לְ‎, ‎אֶל בֵּינוֺת לְ‎, ‎מִזֶּה וּמִזֶּה לְ‎ Exod 38:15, ‎הֵנָּה לְ‎, Dan 12:5 (twice in verse), ‎מִזְרָח לְ‎, ‎מִימִין לְ‎, ‎מִנֶּגֶד לְ‎, ‎מִסָּבִיב לְ‎, ‎תַּחַת לְ‎, in poetry ‎נֶגְדָּהנָּֿא לְ‎, Ps 116:14; Ps 116:18. see ‎בית‎, ‎חוץ‎, etc.; and compare Judg 7:1; Judg 7:8.
d. construed with passive verbs, the ‎ל‎ of reference notifies the agent, as ‎בָּרוּךְ לְ‎ blessed by, Gen 14:17 + often; otherwise not very common, Gen 14:17 + often; otherwise not very common, Gen 31:15 ‎נֶחְשַׁב לְ‎ to be reckoned by (so Isa 40:17), Exod 12:16 ‎אַךְ אֲשֶׁר יֵאָכֵל לְכָלנֶֿפֶשׁ חוּא לְבַדּוֺ‎, ‎יֵעָשֶׂה לָכם‎, 1Sam 2:3; 1Sam 25:7; 2Sam 19:43*; Jer 8:3 ‎נִבְחַר לְ‎ (Prov 21:3), Prov 29:22; Ps 73:10; Ps 111:2; Prov 13:13 ‎יֵחָבֶללֿוֺ‎ is pledged by it, Prov 14:20; Neh 6:1; Neh 6:7 ‎נִשְׁמַע לְ‎, Neh 13:26 ‎אָהוּב לְ‎, Esth 4:3; Esth 5:12; Eccl 5:12* ‎שָׁמוּר לְ‎. So with ‎נִרְאָה‎ Exod 13:7 ( = Deut 16:4), ‎נוֺדַע‎ 1Sam 6:3; Ezek 36:32; Neh 4:9* (but usually with these words ‎לְ‎ is rather the dativus commodi [dative of benefit] be known, appear, to), ‎נעתר‎ Gen 25:21 +, ‎נדרשׁ‎ and ‎נמצא‎ Isa 65:1 + to let oneself be entreated, sought, found, by, ‎נוֺסַר‎ Lev 26:23, ‎נענה‎ Ezek 14:4; Ezek 14:7 (?). (compare in Syriac Nö^{§ 247}, especially with passive participle:§ 279 (so Talmud, Luz^{§ 90}), which in Mandean and New Syriac even unites with the ‎ל‎ to form a new tense, see Nö^{M § 263}; NS § 104.) Analogously Gen 38:15 ‎וַתַּהַר לוֺ‎ and was pregnant by, vGen 38:18 ‎הָרָה לְ‎ (adjective) pregnant by (literally to).
e. regarding, in respect of, namely
(a) with verbs of speaking, commanding, hearing, etc.; concerning, about (synonym ‎עַל‎, which is more usually); so with ‎אָמַר‎ Gen 20:13; Deut 33:12; Deut 33:13 + Judg 9:54; Isa 41:7; Ps 3:3*; Ps 41:6* +, ‎דִּבֶּר‎ Ezek 44:5, ‎סִפֵּר‎ Ps 22:31*, ‎דרשׁ‎ Deut 12:30; 2Sam 11:3, ‎חָלַם‎ Gen 42:9, ‎הִטִּיף‎ Mic 2:6, ‎צִוָּה‎ Num 8:20; Ps 91:11 +, ‎שָׁמַע‎ Gen 17:20, and often in the adjunct . . . ‎לכל אשׁר ֗֗֗ לאשׁר‎ Gen 27:8; Josh 1:18; Josh 22:2 +; ‎שׁאל‎ Gen 26:7 +, especially in phrase ‎לְשָׁלוֺם‎ ‎׳‎‎שׁאל לפ‎ to ask about any one with reference to (his) welfare; in the phrase ‎לַדָּבָר הַזֶּה‎ in regard to this thing (idiomatic), Gen 19:21; 1Sam 30:24 +, Judg 21:5; Judg 21:7 ‎לנשׁים‎, 1Kgs 20:7 without a verb, Lev 7:37; Lev 14:54; Deut 33:7, and in titles Jer 23:9; Jer 46:2; Jer 48:1; Jer 49:1; Jer 49:7; Jer 49:23; Jer 49:28.
(b) limiting the application of a term, especially with ‎כְּ‎ to denote the tertium comparationis, as Gen 41:19 ‎לאֹ רָאִיתִי כָהֵנָּה ֗֗֗ לָרֹעַ‎ as regards, in respect of (in our idiom, simply in or for) badness, Exod 24:10 ‎כְּעֶצֶם הַשָּׁמַיִם לָטֹהַר‎ in brightness, Deut 34:11; Deut 34:12; Ezek 3:3 (read ‎לְמֹתֶק‎) Prov 25:3; 1Chr 24:4 with an infinitive, Gen 3:22 ‎היה כאחד ממנו‎ ‎לדעת‎ in respect of knowing etc., Gen 34:15; Isa 21:1 ‎כַּסּוּפוֺת לַחֲלוֺף‎ as whirlwinds in respect of sweeping through, Josh 10:14; 2Sam 14:17; 2Sam 14:25; Ezek 38:9; Ezek 38:16; Prov 26:2 ‎כצפור לָנוּד כדרור לָעוּף‎, 1Chr 12:9* ‎כצבאים לְמַהֵר‎; with ‎לָרֹב‎ in multitude, Deut 1:10 ‎ככוכבי השׁמים לרב‎ Judg 7:12 (twice in verse) + often; less frequently in comparisons with ‎מִן‎, 1Kgs 10:23 ‎וַיִּגְדַּל ֗֗֗ מִכֹּל ֗֗֗ לְעשֶׁר וּלְחָכְמָה‎, Song 1:2; Job 30:1 ‎צעירים ממני לימים‎ (compare the accusative Job 15:10), Job 32:4; Job 32:6, compare Job 11:6 ‎כִּפְלַיִם לְתוּשִׁיָּה‎; rarely after substantives, 2Chr 16:8; 2Chr 21:3; 2Chr 3:8 ‎לְכִכָּרִים‎, v2Chr 3:9 v2Chr 3:11; Ezra 8:26 (where the earlier language would use apposition, or the accusative of specification, Dr^{§ 194}).
(c) somewhat differently, Lev 5:4b and be guilty ‎לְאַחַת מֵאֵלָּה‎ as regards one of these things, vLev 5:5; Lev 22:5b; Num 18:7 (compare 1Chr 26:32; 1Chr 27:1; 2Chr 19:11 (twice in verse)) Jer 2:37 (peculiar) thou shalt not prosper ‎להם‎ as regards them, Ezek 44:14, compare Job 9:19 after substantive Gen 47:26 ‎לַחֹמֶשׁ‎ (but compare ᵐ5 Di) with reference to the fifth, Lev 7:26; Lev 11:46b Num 19:11; Num 29:39; Num 30:13*; Deut 19:15; Deut 23:19*; Ezra 8:34; 1Chr 27:1 (‎׳‎‎לכל ח‎), 2Chr 8:15; Neh 11:24.
(d) ‎לְכָלֿׅ לְכֹל ֗֗֗ ‎), at the close of a description or enumeration, with a generalizing force, as regards all . . . = namely, in brief (Ew^{§ 310 a} ), chiefly in P and Chronicles (probably a juristic usage): Gen 9:10b all that go out of the ark ‎לְכֹל חַיַּת הָאָרֶץ‎ as regards ( = namely, even) all beasts of the earth, Gen 23:10b; Exod 14:28 (compare vExod 14:9 ‎וְ‎), Exod 27:3; Exod 27:19; Exod 28:38; Exod 30:1b; Lev 5:3; Lev 5:4 (compare Lev 13:51) Lev 11:42; Lev 16:16; Lev 16:21; Lev 22:18; Num 3:26b (Num 3:31 vNum 3:36 ‎וְ‎), Num 4:27; Num 4:31; Num 4:32; Num 5:9; Num 18:4; Num 18:8; Num 18:9; Num 18:11 (all P), 2Kgs 12:6*; Jer 19:13; Ezek 44:9; 1Chr 13:1; 2Chr 5:12 (‎לְכֻלָּם‎), 2Chr 25:5; 2Chr 31:16; 2Chr 33:8 b (|| 2Kgs 21:8 ‎ולכל‎) Ezra 1:5.
(e) introducing a new subject (rare, and text sometimes dubious; chiefly Chronicles), as regards . . ., Isa 32:1 ‎ולשׂרים‎ (read probably ‎וְשָׂרִים‎ ‎ל‎ by error from following ‎למשׁפט‎), Lev 11:26; 1Chr 3:2 (read probably ‎אבשׁלום‎), 1Chr 5:2 ( ? see Ke), 1Chr 7:1 (Ke ‎ובני‎), v1Chr 7:5 a (?), 1Chr 24:1; 1Chr 26:1; 1Chr 26:23; 1Chr 26:25; 1Chr 26:26; 1Chr 26:31 a B 2Chr 5:12; 2Chr 7:21 ‎לְכָלע־ֹבֵר עליו ישׁרק‎ (|| 1Kgs 9:8 ‎כָּלעֹֿבֵר‎), compare Deut 24:5 (peculiar); Eccl 9:4 ‎בִּי לְכֶלֶב חַי הוא‎ ‎׳‎‎טוב וג‎; compare Ps 17:4 (on Ps 16:3 see Commentaries). In Chronicles sometimes used peculiarly as a periphrase, 1Chr 28:1 b. 21 ‎לכל נדיב‎ as regards every liberal man = every liberal man (compare Ke), 1Chr 29:5 a. 6 b; compare Ezra 6:7 (Aramaic), Ezra 7:28. feminine in connection with terms designating a cause or occasion, with referenceto or in view of (German auf. . .hin) becomes nearly equivalent to on account of, through (not common): so to cut oneself ‎לָנֶפֶשׁ‎ Lev 19:28 on account of a (dead) person, Deut 14:1; Jer 16:6b, Lev 11:24 ‎לְאֵלֶּה תִּטַּמָּ֑אוּ‎ on account of these ye shall become unclean, Lev 21:1; Lev 21:2; Lev 21:3 +, Ezek 20:31 ‎נִטְמָא לְ‎, Num 5:2 ‎כָּלטָֿמֵא לָנֶפֶשׁ‎ Num 9:6; Num 9:7; Num 9:10, compare 2Chr 23:19 ‎׳‎‎לְשֵׁם י‎ in view of (i.e. determined by), because of ‎׳‎‎י‎'s name, Joel 2Chr 9:9; Jer 3:17; Isa 55:5 (|| ‎לְמַעַן‎), Ezek 36:22 (do.); Gen 4:23 a I have slain a man ‎לְפִצְעִי‎ because of my wound, vGen 4:23 b Exod 4:26 ‎לַמּוּלוֺת‎, Num 35:33 ‎לַדָּם‎ ‎לָכֵן‎ = therefore (synonym ‎עַל כֵּן‎), constantly (see ‎כֵּן‎); Job 30:24 (si vera lectio) ‎לָהֶן‎: of the cause of an emotion, Isa 15:5 ‎לִבִּי לְמוֺאָב‎ ‎יִזְעַק‎ because of Moab Isa 16:7; Isa 16:11; Jer 31:20 ‎הָמוּ מֵעַי לוֺ‎ (‎עַלּ‎ Song 5:4), Hos 10:5, ‎לְזֹאת‎ Job 37:1. compare Num 16:34 ‎נסו לקולם‎ fled at the sound of them, Ezek 27:28; Hab 3:16; Ps 42:8.
g. marking the aim, object, or consequence of an action or thing, in view of, for, unto:
(a) Gen 1:16 ‎לממשׁלת היום‎ for the rule of the day, Gen 22:7 where is the sheep ‎לְעוֺלָה‎? Gen 42:25 provision ‎לַדָּ֑רֶךְ‎ for the way; Exod 20:7 ‎לַשָּׁוְא‎ i.e. for a vain or frivolous purpose, similarly ‎לָרִיק‎ and ‎לַשֶּׁקֶר‎; Lev 1:3 + ‎לִרְצֹּנוֺ‎ for his acceptance; Num 21:23 and often ‎יצא‎ ‎למלחמה‎ for battle; ‎יָשַׁב לְ‎ to sit (wait) for, Exod 24:14; Hos 3:3; Jer 3:2; 1Sam 8:16 to use ‎לִמְלַאכְתּוֺ‎ for his business; 2Sam 15:2 + ‎בָּא לַמִּשְׁפָּט‎ for judgment; Ps 69:22 ‎לִצְמָאִי‎ for (i.e. to quench) my thirst, Neh 9:15; Exod 29:36 + ‎לַיּוֺם‎ for each day; Isa 4:3 ‎כָּלכָּֿתוכ‎ ‎לַחַיִּים‎ for life; Hos 9:4 ‎לַחְמָם לְנַפְשָׁם‎; ‎לרעה‎ and ‎לטובה‎ Jer 21:10 +; Isa 58:4; Ps 63:10 ‎׃לְשׁוֺאָה יבקשׁו נפשׁי‎ in the sense of to secure, compass, Gen 41:55 cried to Phoenician ‎לַלָּ֑חֶם‎ for bread, 1Sam 2:36; Amos 8:11; Job 15:23; Isa 10:3: so in ‎לִמַעַן‎ for the purpose of; and with an infinitive often (see 7 a).
(b) corresponding to the Latin dativus commodi [dative of benefit],
(a) with verbs, Gen 2:18 ‎אעשׂה לו‎ I will make for him, etc., vGen 2:20; Gen 3:21, etc., absolute ‎עָשָׂה לְ‎ 1Sam 14:6; Isa 64:3, ‎פָּעַל לְ‎ Ps 68:29 ‎מָצָא לְ‎ Gen 8:9 ‎לָקַח לְ‎ Gen 24:3; Gen 24:4 + often; ‎סָפַד לְ‎, ‎נוּד‎ Jer 16:5; Jer 16:6, ‎בָּכָה לְ‎ Jer 22:10, etc.; Judg 16:25 ‎וִישַׂחֶקלָֿנוּ‎ to sport for us (for our pleasure); Hos 2:25; Mic 5:1, etc.; with a pronoun of the same person as the verb, as 1Kgs 20:34 ‎תשׂים לך‎, 2Kgs 6:7; 2Kgs 10:24; Zech 9:13, leading on to h a, below; often with pronouns and imperative, Num 11:16 ‎אֶסְפָהלִּֿי‎ gather me 70 men, Num 22:6 ‎אָרָהלִּֿי‎ curse me this people, Num 23:1 ‎בְּנֵה לִי‎, 1Kgs 1:28 ‎קראו לי לבתשֿׁבע‎ call me B., 1Kgs 3:24; 1Kgs 13:13; 1Kgs 17:10; Song 2:15 ‎אֶחֱזוּ לָנוּ‎ catch us the foxes, Isa 49:20 ‎גְּשָׁהלִּֿי‎ retire for me, that I may dwell, 2Sam 18:5 ‎לְאַט לִי לַנַּעַר‎ (act) gently (5 i b) for my sake towards the young man, 2Kgs 4:24 ‎אַלתַּֿעֲצָרלִֿי לִרְכֹּב‎ AV slacken me not the riding; (β) with substantives, e.g. in such phrases as ‎פסח‎ ‎׳‎‎הוא לי‎ Exod 12:11 a passover is it unto ‎׳‎‎י‎, Exod 13:6 ‎׳‎‎חַג לי‎, Exod 16:25 ‎׳‎‎שַׁבָּת לי‎, Isa 23:18 + ‎׳‎‎קֹדֶשׁ לי‎, Lev 1:9 and often ‎׳‎‎אִשֵּׂה רֵיחַ נִיחוֺחַ לי‎, 1Sam 1:3 ‎׳‎‎כהנים לי‎, etc.; (γ) also as a dativus incommodi [dative of harm], as to lie in wait, lay snares, dig a pit, etc., for any one, Judg 9:25; Judg 16:2; Ps 35:7; Ps 57:7 etc.; with verbs of withholding or removing (rare), Judg 17:2 ‎לֻקַּח לָךְ‎ 1Sam 21:6 (compare ) Ps 40:11; Ps 84:12; Job 12:20 note also the phrase ‎לָכַד הַמַּיִם (הַמַּעְבָּרוֺת) לְ‎ Judg 3:28 (RV), Judg 7:24; Judg 12:5: ‎זכר ל‎, in both senses, to remember for (in one's favour) Jer 2:2 +, against Ps 137:7 +, compare ‎גער לְ‎ Mal 3:11 and Mal 2:3.
(c) more distinctly on behalf of, as with ‎קִנֵּא‎ to be jealous for, Num 11:29 +, ‎נִלְחַם‎ Deut 3:22 +, ‎שָׁמֶר‎ Deut 7:12 +, ‎רָב לְ‎ to contend for Judg 6:31, ‎יָרֵא‎ Josh 9:24, ‎הִתְפַּלֵּל‎ 1Sam 2:25 +, ‎דִּבֶּר‎ to speak for one 2Kgs 4:13; Job 13:7 ‎תְּדַבְּרוּ עַוְלָה הַלְאֵל‎ will ye speak wickedness on God's behalf ? ‎שָׁאַל‎ to ask 1Sam 22:13 +, ‎עָבַר‎ to pass over for ( = to pardon) Amos 7:8; Deut 30:12 ‎מי יעלה לנו‎, vDeut 30:13; Judg 1:1; Judg 20:18; Isa 6:8 ‎מִי יֵלֶךְלָֿנוּ‎; see also Exod 2:19; Exod 4:16 a Num 35:31; Deut 23:6; Josh 18:6; Judg 5:13; Judg 7:4; Judg 7:20; 2Sam 15:34b Isa 33:21; Prov 16:26; Prov 31:8, etc.; Ps 94:16 ‎מִי יָקוּם לִי עִם מְרֵעִים‎; ‎׳‎‎היה ל‎ to be on one's side, Hos 1:9 ‎ואנכי לא אהיה‎ ‎לכם‎, Ps 124:1; Ps 124:2, and without ‎היה‎ Gen 31:42; , ‎אֵלַי‎ ‎׳‎‎מִי ל‎ who is on ‎׳‎‎י‎'s side ? (let him come) to me ! Josh 5:13b 2Sam 20:11; 2Kgs 10:6 ‎אִם לִי אַתֶּם‎ (synonym ‎אִתִּי‎ 2Kgs 9:32), Ps 56:10 ‎לי‎ ‎׳‎‎זה ידעתי כי י‎, Ps 118:6; Ps 118:7 ‎לִי‎ ‎׳‎‎י‎.
h. used reflexively (the 'ethical' dative, or dative of feeling), throwing the action back upon the subject, and expressing with some pathos the interest, or satisfaction, or completeness, with which it is (or is to be) accomplished, especially (but not exclusively) with imperative and I person imperfect (often not expressible in English, sometimes to be expressed by a paraphrase); —
(a) with transitive verbs (a choice idiom, a development of g b a, common, especially with imperative, in best prose), ‎עֲשֵׂה לְךָ‎ Gen 6:14; Num 21:8 + often, ‎עֲשִׂיתֶם לָכֶם‎ Deut 4:16; Deut 4:23; Deut 9:16; Amos 5:26, ‎וַיַּעֲשׂוּ לָהֶם‎ Gen 3:7; Exod 32:31; Hos 13:2; Jer 11:17 the evil which ‎עשׂו להם‎ they have loved to do (compare Hi), Gen 11:4; Judg 3:16; 2Sam 15:1, etc.; ‎קַחלְֿךָ‎, ‎קְחוּ לָכֶם‎ Gen 6:21 + often, ‎ויקח לו‎ Gen 15:10, etc.; ‎בָּזַז לוֺ‎ Deut 2:35; Deut 20:14 +; ‎תְּנוּ לָכֶם‎ Exod 7:9; Josh 20:2 ‎הָבוּ לָכֶם‎ Deut 1:13 (compare Dr) +, ‎שִׂימוּ‎ ‎לָכֶם‎ Judg 19:30, compare 2Kgs 10:24; Hos 2:2 ‎בָּחַר לוֺ‎, ‎בַּחֲרוּ לָכֶם‎, etc Gen 13:11; 2Sam 17:1 ᵐ5 (see Dr) + often; ‎קְנֵה לְךָ‎ Jer 32:7 +, ‎דַּע לְךָ‎ Job 5:27, compare Song 1:8; Deut 10:1 (twice in verse); Deut 16:9; Deut 16:13; Deut 16:18; Deut 19:2; Deut 19:3; Deut 19:9, Josh 22:23 ‎לִבְנוֺת לָנוּ‎, 1Sam 20:20 ‎לְשַׁלַּח לִי לְמַטָּרָה‎, 2Kgs 4:3 ‎שַׁאֲלִי לָךְ‎ (compare Isa 7:11), Isa 18:23; Isa 44:7 ‎יַגִּידוּ לָמוֺ‎, Isa 59:8 ‎עִקְּשׁוּ לָהֶם‎, Jer 2:13; Jer 22:14 ‎אֶבְנֶהלִּֿי‎, Jer 31:21; Jer 46:14; Hos 10:1 ‎פְּרִי יְשַׁוֶּהלּֿוֺ‎ maketh fruit freely, vHos 10:11 vHos 10:12 vHos 10:12; Amos 6:5; Amos 6:13; Ps 44:11 ‎שָׁסוּ לָמוֺ‎ = plunder at their will, Ps 64:6; Ps 83:13; Prov 1:22; Eccl 8:12 ‎מַאֲרִיךְ לוֺ‎ (denoting satisfaction), Job 7:3 ‎הָנְחַלְתִּי לִי‎, Job 12:11 ‎יִטְעַם לוֺ‎, Job 13:1 ‎וַתָּבֶןלָֿהּ‎, Job 24:16, etc.: rarely separated from the verb, Hos 12:9; Prov 23:20; Job 3:14.
(b) with verbs of motion, Gen 12:1; Gen 22:2 ‎לֶךְלְֿךָ‎ get thee away, Gen 27:43 ‎בְרַח לְךָ‎ Amos 7:12; Num 22:34 ‎אשׁובה לי‎ literally I will return for myself, Deut 1:7 (compare Dr) ‎סְעוּ לָכֶם‎, vDeut 1:40; Deut 2:13 ‎עברו לכם‎, Deut 5:27 ‎שׁובו לכם‎, 1Sam 22:5; 1Sam 26:11 ‎וְנֵָֽלְכָה לָנוּ‎, v1Sam 26:12 ‎וַיֵּ˜לְכוּ לָהֶם‎, 2Sam 2:21 ‎נְטֵה לְךָ‎, v2Sam 2:22; 1Kgs 17:3; Isa 31:8 ‎נָס לוֺ‎, Isa 40:9 ‎עֲלִי לָךְ‎ Jer 5:5 ‎ֵ˜אלְכָה לִי‎, Hos 8:9 a wild ass ‎כֹּדֵד לוֺ‎ going alone at its pleasure, Mic 1:11; Ps 58:8 ‎כמים יתהלכו למו‎ that run apace, Prov 20:14 ‎אֹזֵל לִוֺ‎ = goeth his way, Job 39:4; Song 1:8 b Song 2:10; Song 2:11; Song 2:13; Song 4:6.
(c) with neuter verbs, especially those signifying a state of mind or feeling (chiefly in poetry), Ps 66:7 ‎אל ירומו למו‎, Ps 80:7 ‎ילעגו למו‎ mock as they please, Ps 120:6 ‎רַבַּת שָֽׁכְנָה לָהּ נַפְשִׁי‎ has had her dwelling with, etc., Ps 122:3 ‎שֶׁחֻבְּרָה לָהּ‎ is well compacted, Ps 123:4 ‎שָֽׂבְעָה לָהּ‎ is but too full, Isa 2:22 ‎חִדְלוּ לָכֶם‎, 2Chr 25:16; 2Chr 35:21; Jer 7:4 ‎אַלתִּֿבְטְחוּ‎ ‎לָכֶם‎, vJer 7:8; 2Kgs 18:21; Ezek 37:11 ‎נִגְזַרְנוּ לָנוּ‎ we are quite cut off, Job 6:19 ‎קִוּוּ לָמוֺ‎ (implying that they fed themselves on hope), Job 15:28 ‎יֵ ˜שְׁבוּ לָמוֺ‎ which should not sit (be inhabited), Job 19:29 ‎גּוּרוּ לָכֶם‎, Song 2:17; Song 8:14 ‎דְּמֵה לְךָ‎, and the frequent ‎הִשָּׁמֶרלְֿךָ‎ take heed to thyself Gen 24:6 +; with an adjective, Amos 2:13 ‎הַמְּלֵאָה‎ ‎לָהּ עָמִיר‎. (compare Ew^{§ 315 a. Very common in} Syriac, especially b: Nö^{§ 224}.)
i. of reference to a norm or standard, according to, after, by: —
(a) Gen 1:11 + often P ‎לְמִינוֺ‎ according to its kinds, Gen 8:19 + ‎לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתֵיהֶם‎ according to their families, Gen 10:5 ‎נִישׁ לִלְשֹׁנוֺ‎, vGen 10:31 vGen 10:32, Exod 30:12 + ‎לִפְפְקֻדֵיהֶם‎ according to them that are numbered of them, Num 1:2 ‎לְבֵית אֲבוֺתָם‎ by their fathers' houses, vNum 1:2 ‎לְגֻלְגְּלֹתָם‎ vNum 1:3 ‎לְצִבְאֹתָם‎, vNum 1:20 + often, especially in enumerations and classifications; Gen 13:3 Abram went ‎לְמַסָּעָיו‎ by his journeyings (stages), so ‎לְמַסְעֵיהֶם‎ Exod 17:1 +; Gen 13:17 go through the land ‎לְאָרְכָּהּ וּלְרָחְבָּהּ‎ according to (i.e. to the full extent of) its length and breadth (compare Hab 1:6); Hab 41:47 ‎לִקְמָצִים‎ by handfuls, Num 24:2 + ‎לִשְׁבָטָיו‎ by its tribes, 1Sam 29:2 ‎עברים למאות ולאלפים‎ by hundreds and thousands, 2Sam 18:4, ‎לְעָרֶיהָ‎ Num 32:33; Josh 18:9; Judg 19:19 ‎לַעֲצָמֶיהָ‎ according to her bones (i.e. limb by limb), Ezek 24:6 ‎לִנְתָחֶיהָ‎ piece by piece; Ps 140:12 to hunt ‎לְמַדְחֵפוֺת‎ thrust-wise, with thrust upon thrust, Isa 27:12 ‎לְאַחַד אֶחָד‎ (Ges Ew) by one, one (i.e. one by one); hence, especially with plurals, it acquires sometimes a distributive force, as ‎לִבְקָרִים‎ Isa 33:2 by mornings = every morning (compare 6), so ‎לַבְּקָרִים‎ Ps 73:14; Ps 101:8 +, ‎לִרְגָעִים‎ Isa 27:3 + every moment, ‎לֶחֳדָשִׁים‎ Isa 47:13 every month, Ezek 47:12; 1Kgs 10:22 ‎אַחַת לְשָׁלוֺשׁ שָׁנִים‎ once every three years, Amos 4:4 ‎לשׁלשׁת ימים‎ every three days (but see We), 1Chr 9:25 in Chronicles ‎לשׁער ושׁער‎ ‎לעיר ועיר‎, 2Chr 8:14; 2Chr 19:5; 2Chr 26:11.
(b) denoting the principle, with regard to which an act is done, ‎לְמִסְפַּר‎ according to the number of . . . Deut 32:8; Judg 21:23 +, Isa 11:3 to judge ‎לְמַרְאֵה עֵינָיו‎ ‎לְמִשְׁמַע אָזְנָיו‎ according to that which his eyes see, his ears hear (compare Lev 13:12; Job 42:5), Job 28:26; Job 32:1 a king will regin ‎לְצֶדֶק‎ according to justice (|| ‎לְמשׁפט‎), Job 42:3 ‎לֶאֱמֶת‎ = faithfully, Jer 9:2 ‎לֶאֱמוּנָה‎ = honestly, Jer 15:15; Jer 30:11 (= Jer 46:28) ‎וְיִסַּרְתִּיךָ לַמִּשְׁפָּט‎ (synonym Jer 10:24 ‎בְּמשׁפט‎), Hos 2:12 (|| ‎לְפִי‎), Joel 2:23 ‎לִצֶדָקָה‎; Gen 38:24 pregnant ‎לִזְנוּנִים‎ = unchastely, Num 15:24 ‎לשׁגגה‎ by error (elsewhere ‎בשׁגגה‎), 2Chr 30:3; 2Chr 35:8; Song 7:10 flowing down ‎למישׁרים‎ straightly (Prov 23:31 ‎׳‎‎ב‎), ‎לָרֹב‎ Job 26:3; 2Chr 14:14, in poetry ‎לְמַכְבִּיר‎ Job 36:31 in abundance, ‎לְאַט‎ = gently 2Sam 18:5 +; Exod 16:3; Ps 78:25 ‎לָשׂבַע‎ according to satiety; ‎לְרֶגֶל‎ according to the foot (pace) of Gen 33:14 + (see ‎רֶגֶל‎); 1Sam 23:20 ‎לְכָלאַֿוַּת נַפְשְׁךָ‎ (Deut 12:15 and elsewhere ‎׳‎‎בְּ‎), 2Sam 15:11 ‎לְתֻמָּם‎ according to their simplicity, i.e. unsuspectingly (so 1Kgs 22:34), 1Kgs 9:11 ‎לְכָלחֶֿפְצוֺ‎, Isa 54:16; Ezek 22:6 ‎לִזְרֹעוֺ‎, Job 12:5; Ps 119:91; Ps 119:154 ‎לְאִמְִ˜רתְךָ‎ (|| ‎׳‎‎כְּ‎ vPs 119:58 vPs 119:116 vPs 119:170), Eccl 1:10 long ago ‎לְעולמים‎ according to (measured by) the ages etc. (see Hi): so also in the phrase ‎לְפִי חֶרֶב‎ according to a sword's mouth, i.e. as the sword would devour, without quarter, Josh 6:21 + often; ‎לְפִי ֗֗֗ ‎ itself also, in various figurative applications, has the force of according to, Gen 47:12, etc. (see ‎פֶּה‎); and in ‎יֵשׁ (אֵין) לְאֵל יָ˜דְךָ‎ it is (not) according to the power of thy hand. Similarly Deut 11:11 ‎לִמְטַר הַשָּׁמַיִם‎ after the manner of the rain of heaven, i.e. as the rain permits (opposed to the artificial irrigation of vDeut 11:10), Judg 21:12 + ‎לְמִשְׁכַּב‎ ‎זָכָר‎, Ezek 12:12 ‎לַעַיִן‎ i.e. as the eye sees it.
j. designating a condition or state: ‎לָבֶטַח‎ in a state of confidence = confidently, Lev 25:18 + often; ‎לְבָדָד‎, ‎לְבַד‎, in a state of separation ( = a part), so ‎לְבַדּוֺ‎ (see pp. 94, 95); ‎לְשָׁלוֺם‎ Gen 44:17 +, ‎לְפֶתַע‎ suddenly Isa 29:5; Isa 30:13 ‎לִבְלִי‎ in a condition of no . . . = without, Isa 5:14 + (see ‎בלי‎), so ‎לְאֵין ֗֗֗ ‎ (late), ‎לְלֹא‎ 2Chr 15:3 further Isa 1:5 ‎לָחֳלִי‎ in a state of sickness, Isa 50:11 ‎לְמַעֲצֵבָה‎, Ps 45:15 ‎לִרְקָמוֺת‎, Ezra 2:63 = Neh 7:65 a priest ‎לאורים ולתמים‎ having relation to (i.e. with) Urim and Thummim, 2Chr 20:21 ‎לְהַדְרַת קֹדֶשׁ‎ = in holy adornment (compare ‎׳‎‎בְּ‎ Ps 29:2; Ps 96:9). And of a concomitant circumstance (German bei), in presence of, at, Job 29:3 ‎לְאוֺרוֺ‎, Hab 3:11, ‎לקול ֗֗֗ ‎ Job 21:12; Ezra 3:13.

6. Of time:
a. towards, against, sometimes with collateral idea of in view of, much rarer than ‎בְּ‎, but expressing concurrence (at) rather than duration (in): Gen 3:8 ‎לְרוּחַ הַיּוֺם‎ at the breeze of the day, ‎לְעֵת‎ in various connections, as ‎לְעֵת עֶרֶב‎ Gen 8:11 + (see ‎עֵת‎); ‎לְעִתִּים מְזֻמָּנִים‎ Ezra 10:14; Neh 10:35 ‎לְעִתּוֺת בַּצָּרָה‎ Ps 9:10; Ps 10:1 ‎לְיוֺם ֗֗֗ ‎ at, on the day of, Ps 81:4; Prov 7:20 +, ‎מה תעשׂו לְיוֺם ֗֗֗ ‎ Isa 10:3; Hos 9:5 (compare Jer 5:31); ‎לַיָּמִים אֲשֶׁר ֗֗֗ ‎ Ezek 22:14 ‎לַיּוֺם אֲשֶׁר ֗֗֗ ‎ Mal 3:17 ‎לתשׁובת השׁנה‎ 2Sam 11:1 +; ‎לתקופת‎ ‎הימים‎ 1Sam 1:20, ‎לתקופת השׁנה‎ 2Chr 24:23 (Exod 34:22 without ‎לְ‎), ‎לְקֵץ שָׁנִים (יָמִיםׅ‎ (late) 2Chr 18:2; Neh 13:6; Dan 11:6; Dan 11:13 (in early Hebrew ‎מִקֵּץ יָמִים‎); ‎לשׁנת ֗֗֗ ‎ 2Chr 15:10 ‎לַבֹּקֶר‎ Ps 30:6; Ps 49:15 + (Exod 34:2 after ‎הֱיֵה‎ ‎נָכוֺן‎ = against, for; compare Exod 19:11; Prov 21:31); (‎לַבְּקָרִים‎ Isa 33:2, see 5 i); ‎לערב‎ Gen 49:27 (|| ‎בבקר‎) +; ‎לְמָחָר‎ Exod 8:6 (in answer to v.Exod 8:5 ‎לְמָתַי‎), v.Exod 8:19; Esth 5:12 (Num 11:18; Josh 7:13 after ‎הִתְקַדְּשׁוּ‎ = against), ‎לַמָּחֳרָת‎ Jonah 4:7 (compare 1Chr 29:21); ‎לָאוֺר‎ Job 24:14 ‎לַמּוֺעֵד‎, ‎לְמוֺעֵד ֗֗֗ ‎, Gen 17:21; Exod 23:15 +; ‎לְפָנִים‎ and ‎לִפְנֵי‎ before (often); ‎לְאָחוֺר‎ hereafter, Isa 41:23; Isa 42:23; Ps 32:6 b; with infinitive (rare), in the phrase ‎לִפְנוֺת (הַ)בֹּקֶר (עֶרֶבׅ‎ Gen 24:63 +, 2Sam 18:29; Isa 7:15 ‎לְדַעְתּוֺ‎ when he knoweth.
b. to denote the close of a period (rare), Gen 7:4 ‎לימים‎ ‎עוד שׁבעה‎, vGen 7:10; Exod 19:15; 2Sam 13:23; Amos 4:4 ‎לשׁלשׁת ימים‎ (We); Ezra 10:8; Ezra 10:9; Neh 6:15; Dan 12:7 (compare ‎עַד‎ Dan 7:25) 2Chr 21:19 (so Syriac: see PS 5).
c. towards, to, Exod 34:25 ‎לא ילין לַבֹּקֶר‎ (usually ‎עַד‎, as Exod 23:18), Deut 16:4; 1Sam 13:8 (after ‎נוֺחַל‎), Amos 4:7 ‎בעוד שׁלשׁה חדשׁים לַקָּצִיר‎ to the harvest; often in the expressions ‎לְעוֺלָם‎, ‎לָנֶצַח‎, ‎לְדוֺר וָדוֺר‎, ‎לְדֹר דֹּר‎; rather differently in ‎מִיּוֺם לְיוֺם‎ Ps 96:2 (|| 1Chr 16:23 ‎אל‎), Esth 3:7 (i.e. passing from day to day), compare 2Sam 14:26 (Gie^{30 f.}).
d. for, during, Isa 63:18 ‎לַמִּצְעָר‎ (si vera lectio), 2Chr 11:17 ‎לשׁנים שׁלושׁ‎, 2Chr 29:17.

7. With an infinitive (Ges^{«GKC:114»§ 114}, 2), ‎ל‎ denotes
a. most commonly the end or purpose of an action ( = the Latin Gerund with ad, e.g. ad faciendum, to do): Gen 1:17 and he placed them in the firmament ‎לְהָאִיר וְלִמְשֹׁלוּ֗֗֗לְהַבְדִּיל‎ to give light . . ., and to rule . . ., and todivide, etc., Gen 2:15 set him in the garden ‎לְעָבְדָהּ וּלְשָׁמְרָהּ‎ to till it, and to keep it, vGen 2:9 brought them to Adam ‎לִרְאוֺת‎ to see, etc., + very often; Gen 19:20 ‎קְרֹבָה לָנוּס שָׁ֑מָּה‎ near for fleeing thither, Eccl 3:2 ‎עֵת לָלֶדֶת‎ a time for bringing forth. The negative is expressed by ‎לְבִלְתִּי‎, q. v.
b. with reference to, limiting or qualifying the idea expressed by the principal verb, and so resolvable sometimes into so as to, to, sometimes into in respect of, in: —
(a) so as to, to, Deut 8:6 and keep the commands of ‎׳‎‎לָלֶכֶת בִּדְרָכָיו וּלְיִרְאָה אֹתוֺ י‎ to walk in his ways, and to fear him, Deut 10:15; Deut 11:22; Deut 19:9; 1Kgs 2:3; 1Kgs 2:4; 1Kgs 11:2; 1Sam 20:20; 1Sam 20:36; Joel 2:26 ‎אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה עִמָּכֶם לְהַפְלִיא‎ so as to do wondrously, Ezek 5:6; Judg 5:18 ‎עַם חֵרֵף נַפְשׁוֺ לָמוּת‎ so as to die, for dying [not 'unto death'], Judg 16:16; 2Kgs 20:1 ‎חָלָה לָמוּת‎; Gen 2:3 ‎לַעֲשׂוֺת‎ so as to make (or in making) which, he created; and in the very frequently ‎לֵאמֹר‎, introducing the words spoken, so as to say = saying (German indem er sagte), Gen 1:22, etc.
(b) in respect of, in (compare 5 e
(b)) Gen 34:7; 1Sam 12:17 your evil is great that ye have done ‎לִשְׁאוֺל לכם מלך‎ in asking for yourselves a king, v1Sam 12:29; 1Sam 14:33 the people sin against J. ‎לאכל‎ ‎עלהֿדם‎ in eating with the blood, 1Sam 19:5; 2Sam 19:7; 2Kgs 4:24; Jer 44:18; Ps 36:3; Ps 63:3; Ps 78:18; Ps 101:8; Ps 103:20; Neh 13:18. And with the tert. compare., above 5 e
(b). Especially with verbs expressing what with us would be denoted by an adverb adjunct, but in Hebrew idiom forms the principal idea, as 1Sam 1:12 ‎הִרְבְּתָה לְהִתְפַּלֵּל‎ literally did much in respect of praying ( = prayed long or much), Isa 55:7 ‎כִּי יַרְבֶּה לִסְלוֺחַ‎ +; 2Kgs 2:10 ‎הִקְשִׁיתָ לִשְׁאוֺל‎ thou hast done hardly in respect of asking ( = asked a hard thing), 1Kgs 14:9 ‎הֵרַע‎ ‎לַעֲשׂוֺת‎; so with ‎הקריב‎ Gen 12:11, ‎מִהַר‎ Gen 27:20, ‎הרחיק‎ Exod 8:24 ‎הֶעְפִּיל‎ Num 14:44, ‎הֵהִין‎ Deut 1:41, ‎בּשֵׁשׁ‎ Judg 5:28, ‎הפליא‎ Judg 13:19; 2Chr 26:15 (with passive verb), ‎שׁוּב‎ 1Kgs 13:17; Ezra 9:14, ‎היטיב‎ Jer 1:12 + (without ‎לְ‎ 1Sam 16:17), ‎העמיק‎ Isa 29:15 +, ‎קֵרֵב‎ Ezek 36:9, ‎הגדיל‎ Joel 2:20 +, ‎קִדַּמְתִּי לִבְרֹחַ‎ Jonah 4:2, ‎הגביהּ‎ Ps 113:5, ‎השׁפיל‎ vPs 113:6; Gen 31:27 ‎נַחְבֵּאתָ‎ ‎לִבְרֹחַ‎ hast hidden thyself in regard to fleeing = hast fled secretly, 2Sam 19:4 ‎וַיִּתְגַּנֵּב לָבוֺא‎ = come in stealthily. (c.) by an extension of
(b), the infinitive with ‎לְ‎ so forms the complement of a verb that, if the verb be transitive, it becomes virtually its object: so very often with such verbs as ‎הוסיף‎ to add Gen 4:2; Gen 4:12, ‎הֵחֵל‎ to begin Gen 6:1, ‎חדל‎ Gen 11:8, ‎יכל‎ Gen 13:6, ‎מִהַר‎ Gen 18:7, ‎נתן‎ to permit Gen 20:6, ‎אבה‎ Gen 24:5, ‎בקשׁ‎ Exod 2:15, ‎מֵאֵן‎ Exod 7:14, ‎למד‎ Deut 14:23, ‎חפץ‎ Deut 25:8, ‎ידע‎ 1Kgs 5:20 (these all occur also without ‎לְ‎); ‎הואיל‎ to undertake, consent, Gen 18:17; Gen 18:31, ‎כִּלָּה‎ to finish, ‎תָּמַם‎ Deut 2:16 (to come to an end in respect of), ‎קִוָּה‎ Isa 5:2 also ‎צִוָּה‎ Gen 50:2, ‎אָמַר‎ Exod 2:14, ‎דִּמָּה‎ Num 33:56, ‎חשׁב‎ 1Sam 18:25, ‎יעץ‎ Ps 62:5, ‎לִמֵּד‎ Jer 12:16, ‎אָהֵב‎ Hos 12:8: Deut 10:12 what doth ‎׳‎‎י‎ ask of thee ‎כי אם ליראה‎ except to fear etc. ? (compare Mic 6:8 after ‎דרשׁ‎ without ‎ל‎).
(d) as the subject of a sentence (rare): Isa 10:7 ‎להשׁמיד‎ ‎בלבבו‎, 1Chr 29:12 with ‎טוב‎ 1Sam 15:22; Ps 118:8; Ps 118:9; Eccl 7:2; Eccl 7:5; Prov 21:9 (usually without ‎לְ‎, as vProv 21:19; Prov 25:24; Exod 14:12); compare Exod 8:22 ‎לא נכון לעשׂות כן‎; 2Sam 18:11 ‎וְעָלַי לָתֵת‎, Neh 13:13; Ezra 10:12; Mic 3:1 ‎הלא לכם לדעת‎, Ezra 4:3; 2Chr 13:5; 2Chr 20:17; 2Chr 26:18.
(e) with ‎יֵשׁ‎, ‎אֵין‎ (late), and (more rarely) ‎לֹא‎, in sense of it is (not) possible to . . ., or (sometimes) there is no need to . . . : see ‎יֵשׁ‎ 2 c c (p. 442); ‎אַיִן‎ 5 (p. 34 b), adding Hag 1:6; Esth 8:8; 2Chr 22:9 ‎לֹא‎ 1 a b (p. 518): and compare Dr^{§ 202} Ges^{«GKC:114l»§ 114l} Dav^{§ 94 b, 95 b}.
(f) with ‎הָיָה‎, to express the idea of destination, as Num 24:22 ‎וקין יהיה‎ ‎לְבָעֵר‎ shall be for consuming, Deut 31:17; Isa 5:5; Isa 6:13; Isa 37:26; Ezek 30:16; Ps 109:13 +. compare ‎מֶה לַעֲשׂוֺת‎ what is (was) to be done? Isa 5:4; 2Kgs 4:13; 2Chr 25:9 + (Dr^{§ 203}).
(g) expressing (according to the context) tendency, intention, or obligation (the 'periphrastic' future): — Hos 9:13 ‎וְאֶפְרַיִם לְהוֺצִיא אֶל הוֺרֵג בָּנָיו‎ is for bringing forth (= must bring forth), Isa 10:32 ‎עוד היום בנֹב לעמד‎ is he for tarrying (must he tarry), Isa 38:20 ‎להושׁיעני‎ ‎׳‎‎י‎, ‎׳‎‎י‎ is (ready) to save me, Isa 44:14 (si vera lectio), Jer 51:49; Hab 1:17; Ps 32:9; Ps 49:15 ‎צוּרָם‎ ‎לְבַלּוֺת שְׁאוֺל‎ = must Sheol waste away, Ps 62:10 ‎בְּמאֹזְנַיִם לַעֲלוֺת‎, Prov 18:24; Prov 19:8 ‎שׁומר תבונה למצא טוב‎ will be finding prosperity, Prov 20:25; Job 30:6; 1Chr 22:5 (‎לִבְנוֺת‎), Eccl 3:15: of past time, Gen 15:12 ‎ויהי השׁמשׁ‎ ‎לבוא‎ was about to go down, Josh 2:5; 1Sam 14:21b (text dubious: Dr^{§ 206} Obs.), 2Chr 26:5 (strangely) ‎ויהי‎ ‎לדרשׁ אלהים‎ RV set himself to seek; usually without ‎היה‎, 2Sam 4:10 ‎אֲשֶׁר לְתִתִּי לוֺ‎ to whom it was for my giving (I ought to have given), 2Kgs 13:19 ‎לְהַכּוֺת‎ percutiendum erat, 1Chr 9:25, and more freely 2Chr 11:22 ‎כי להמליבו‎ for (he was) for making him king, 2Chr 12:12 ‎ולא להשׁחית‎ and was no longer for destroying him, 2Chr 36:19 (?): in a question, Gen 30:15 ‎וְלָקַחַת‎ and art thou for taking ? Esth 7:8; 2Chr 19:2 ‎הֲלָרָשָׁע לַעְזֹּר‎ wilt thou help the wicked ? compare Dr^{§ 204}, Ges^{158; 114 h-k}, Dav^{§ 94}.
(h) with ‎וְ‎, in contin. (mostly) of a finite verb or participle, Exod 32:29 ‎מַלְאוּ יֶדְכֶם ֗֗֗ וְלָתֵת‎ and be for placing etc. Lev 10:10f. (?), 1Sam 8:12 ‎יִקַּח ֗֗֗ וְלָשׂוּם‎, Jer 19:12 ‎אעשׂה ֗֗֗ ‎ ‎וְלָתֵת‎, Jer 44:14; Hos 12:3; Ps 25:14; Ps 109:16; Job 34:8; Eccl 7:25; Eccl 9:1 (si vera lectio), Dan 12:11; Neh 8:13; 1Chr 10:13; 2Chr 2:8; 2Chr 7:17; 2Chr 8:13; 2Chr 30:9; ‎׳‎‎הַשֹּׁאֲפִים אֶבְיוֺן וְלַשְׁבִּית וג‎ and (that are) for making the poor to cease, Isa 44:28 ‎הָאוֺמֵר ֗֗֗ וְלֵאמֹר‎, Isa 56:6; Ps 104:21; Jer 17:10; Jer 44:19; 1Chr 6:34 (compare Dr^{§ 206 Dav:§ 96 R. 4}). — On ‎לְמִן‎, see ‎מִן‎.

Note. — 1Kgs 6:19 ‎לְתִתֵּן שָׁם‎, the supposition that ‎לְ‎ is a conjunction (= ‎למען‎) is too alien to Hebrew usage to be justified by the Arabic for , and the view that ‎תִתֵּן‎ here and 1Kgs 17:14 is an anomalous form for ‎תֵת‎ (Ew^{§ 238 c} Kö^{i. 305}) is against analogy: read with Ol^{§ 224 d}, Ges^{«GKC:67»§ 67} A. 3, Klo, ‎לָתֵת‎ (as 1Kgs 17:14 Qr).

Brown-Driver-Briggs References