432. illu
Strong's Lexicon
illu: If, though, unless

Original Word: אִלּוּ
Part of Speech: Conjunction
Transliteration: illu
Pronunciation: eel-loo
Phonetic Spelling: (il-loo')
Definition: If, though, unless
Meaning: nay, if

Word Origin: Derived from the Hebrew root אִם (im), meaning "if" or "though."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: The Greek equivalent for conditional statements is often expressed with the conjunction εἰ (ei), Strong's Greek #1487, which also means "if" or "though."

Usage: The Hebrew word "illu" is used as a conditional conjunction, often introducing hypothetical or contrary-to-fact statements. It is employed to express conditions or situations that are not real but are imagined for the sake of argument or illustration. In Biblical Hebrew, it serves to set the stage for discussions about potential outcomes or divine interventions that did not occur.

Cultural and Historical Background: In ancient Hebrew culture, conditional statements were a common rhetorical device used in teaching, legal discourse, and storytelling. They allowed speakers and writers to explore moral, theological, and philosophical ideas by considering "what if" scenarios. This method of argumentation was particularly useful in a culture that valued oral tradition and the transmission of wisdom through narrative.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
of uncertain derivation
Definition
if, though
NASB Translation
if (2).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
אִלּוּ conjunction (often in Mishnah; Aramaic אִילּוּ, , from אִין, , and לוּ) if, though, only in late Hebrew, Ecclesiastes 6:6; Esther 7:4.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
but if, yea though

Probably from 'al; nay, i.e. (softened) if -- but if, yea though.

see HEBREW 'al

Forms and Transliterations
וְ֠אִלּוּ וְאִלּ֣וּ ואלו Veillu wə’illū wə·’il·lū
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Esther 7:4
HEB: לַהֲר֣וֹג וּלְאַבֵּ֑ד וְ֠אִלּוּ לַעֲבָדִ֨ים וְלִשְׁפָח֤וֹת
NAS: and to be annihilated. Now if we had only been sold
KJV: and to perish. But if we had been sold
INT: to be killed and to be annihilated now if bondmen and women

Ecclesiastes 6:6
HEB: וְאִלּ֣וּ חָיָ֗ה אֶ֤לֶף
NAS: Even if the [other] man lives
KJV: Yea, though he live a thousand
INT: if lives A thousand

2 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 432
2 Occurrences


wə·’il·lū — 2 Occ.
















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