6435. pen
Strong's Lexicon
pen: Lest, otherwise, for fear that

Original Word: פֶּן
Part of Speech: conjunction
Transliteration: pen
Pronunciation: pen
Phonetic Spelling: (pane)
Definition: Lest, otherwise, for fear that
Meaning: removal, lest

Word Origin: A primitive particle

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: The Greek equivalent often used in similar contexts is μήποτε (Strong's Greek 3379), which also conveys the idea of "lest" or "for fear that."

Usage: The Hebrew word "pen" is a conjunction used to introduce a negative purpose or result clause. It is often translated as "lest" or "for fear that" in English. The word serves to express caution or concern about a potential negative outcome, indicating an action to be avoided to prevent an undesirable result.

Cultural and Historical Background: In ancient Hebrew culture, the use of "pen" reflects a mindset of caution and foresight. The Israelites, living in a covenant relationship with God, were often reminded of the consequences of disobedience and the importance of adhering to God's commandments. The word "pen" underscores the importance of vigilance and obedience to avoid divine judgment or calamity.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
of uncertain derivation
Definition
lest
NASB Translation
because (2), fear (1), might (4), no (2), none (1), or (36), or else (6), otherwise (16), otherwise you might (1), perhaps (1), so (12).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
מֶּןֿ133 (always with Makkeph **except Genesis 38:23; Genesis 44:34; Deuteronomy 7:25; Deuteronomy 32:27 [not Gi], Isaiah 27:3; Proverbs 25:8: MandelkernConc. under the word.)

conjunction (averting, or deprecating), lest (origin dubious: Thes Köii. 334 from מָּנָה, properly substantive construct in accusative for the aversion of; but פָנָה is intransitive: NöM. 474 compares the enclitic particle מּוֺן in ᵑ7, then ἄν, 'etwa,' thinking that a particle with the meaning 'es möchte etwa,' spoken in a tone of alarm, might readily acquire a deprecatory force); — lest:

1 with imperfect Genesis 3:3 ye shall not eat thereof . . . מֶּןתְּֿמֻתוּן lest ye die, Genesis 11:4 let us build a city מֶּןנָֿפוּץ lest we be scattered, Genesis 19:15,17,19; Genesis 38:23; Genesis 45: Exodus 1:10; Exodus 23:29; Exodus 23:33 etc., 2 Kings 10:23 (followed by יֵשׁ), Isaiah 6:10; Isaiah 27:3; Isaiah 28:22; Isaiah 48:5,7; Psalm 2:12; Psalm 7:3 etc.; often after הִשָׁמֶרלְֿךָ take heed to thyself Genesis 24:6; Genesis 31:24, and especially in Deuteronomy, as Deuteronomy 4:9,23; Deuteronomy 6:12; Deuteronomy 8:11 and elsewhere; after a verb of fearing Genesis 32:12, and once, even, of swearing Judges 15:12; deprecating pathetically, Genesis 44:34 how shall I go up, etc.? lest I look upon the evil that will befal my father. Once, unusually, preceding the principal clause, Proverbs 5:6 אֹרַח חַיִּים מֶּןתְּֿפַלֵּס lest she should make level the path of life, her ways are unstable, etc. (Ew Be Now; see also Toy). Note especially

a. the idiom כִּי אָמַר (אָמַרְתִּי) מֶּןֿ for he (I) said, Lest..., implying always that some precaution has been taken to avert the dreaded contingency, Genesis 26:9 for I said, Lest I die on account of her (to obviate which, Isaac had called Rebecca his sister), Genesis 31:31; Genesis 38:11; Genesis 42:4; Exodus 13:17; Numbers 16:34; 1 Samuel 13:19; 1 Samuel 27:11 (לֵאמֹר), Psalm 38:17; with כי אמר implied Genesis 26:7; compare, with an aposiop., Genesis 3:22 and now, lest he put forth his hand, etc. (implying that measures are taken to prevent this, see Genesis 3:23): compare Tob 8:9.

b. מֶּןֿ at the beginning of a sentence, with a dissuasive force, (Beware) lest: + Isaiah 36:18 מֶּןיַֿסִּית אֶתְכֶם חזקיהו (beware) lest Hezekiah deceive you, Deuteronomy 29:17 (twice in verse) (followed by יֵשׁ), Jeremiah 51:46; Job 32:13; Job 36:18.

2 with Perfect, the result feared being conceived as having possibly already taken place; 2 Samuel 20:6 pursue after him, מֶּןמָֿצָא לוֺ ֗֗֗ וְהִצִּיל lest he have found him fenced cities, etc. (but the tense of והציל makes יִמְצָא probably, Drsm Bu Köiii. 486), 2 Kings 2:16 ׳וַיַּשְׁלִכֵהוּ וגו ׳מֶּןנְֿשָׂאוֺ רוּחַ י.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
lest peradventure, that

From panah; properly, removal; used only (in the construction) adverb as conjunction, lest -- (lest) (peradventure), that...not.

see HEBREW panah

Forms and Transliterations
וּפֶֽן־ וּפֶן־ ופן־ פֶּ֖ן פֶּ֚ן פֶּ֣ן פֶּ֥ן פֶּ֨ן־ פֶּֽן־ פֶּן־ פן פן־ pen pen- ū·p̄en- ufen ūp̄en-
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Genesis 3:3
HEB: תִגְּע֖וּ בּ֑וֹ פֶּן־ תְּמֻתֽוּן׃
KJV: of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.
INT: or touch lest die

Genesis 3:22
HEB: וָרָ֑ע וְעַתָּ֣ה ׀ פֶּן־ יִשְׁלַ֣ח יָד֗וֹ
NAS: and now, he might stretch
INT: and evil and now might stretch his hand

Genesis 11:4
HEB: לָּ֖נוּ שֵׁ֑ם פֶּן־ נָפ֖וּץ עַל־
NAS: for ourselves a name, otherwise we will be scattered
INT: make A name otherwise will be scattered over

Genesis 19:15
HEB: בְנֹתֶ֙יךָ֙ הַנִּמְצָאֹ֔ת פֶּן־ תִּסָּפֶ֖ה בַּעֲוֹ֥ן
NAS: who are here, or you will be swept away
INT: daughters are here or will be swept the punishment

Genesis 19:17
HEB: הָהָ֥רָה הִמָּלֵ֖ט פֶּן־ תִּסָּפֶֽה׃
NAS: to the mountains, or you will be swept away.
INT: to the mountains escape or will be swept

Genesis 19:19
HEB: לְהִמָּלֵ֣ט הָהָ֔רָה פֶּן־ תִּדְבָּקַ֥נִי הָרָעָ֖ה
INT: escape to the mountains lest will overtake evil

Genesis 24:6
HEB: הִשָּׁ֣מֶר לְךָ֔ פֶּן־ תָּשִׁ֥יב אֶת־
KJV: thou that thou bring not my son
INT: Abraham Beware not take my son

Genesis 26:7
HEB: לֵאמֹ֣ר אִשְׁתִּ֔י פֶּן־ יַֽהַרְגֻ֜נִי אַנְשֵׁ֤י
INT: to say my wife might kill the men

Genesis 26:9
HEB: כִּ֣י אָמַ֔רְתִּי פֶּן־ אָמ֖וּת עָלֶֽיהָ׃
NAS: I said, 'I might die
INT: Because said might die account

Genesis 31:24
HEB: הִשָּׁ֧מֶר לְךָ֛ פֶּן־ תְּדַבֵּ֥ר עִֽם־
INT: and said to him be careful not speak to

Genesis 31:31
HEB: כִּ֣י אָמַ֔רְתִּי פֶּן־ תִּגְזֹ֥ל אֶת־
KJV: for I said, Peradventure thou wouldest take by force
INT: Because thought Peradventure take your daughters

Genesis 32:11
HEB: אָנֹכִי֙ אֹת֔וֹ פֶּן־ יָב֣וֹא וְהִכַּ֔נִי
INT: fear I he will come and attack

Genesis 38:11
HEB: כִּ֣י אָמַ֔ר פֶּן־ יָמ֥וּת גַּם־
INT: for thought lest may die too

Genesis 38:23
HEB: תִּֽקַּֽח־ לָ֔הּ פֶּ֖ן נִהְיֶ֣ה לָב֑וּז
NAS: Let her keep them, otherwise we will become
INT: Judah her keep otherwise will become A laughingstock

Genesis 42:4
HEB: כִּ֣י אָמַ֔ר פֶּן־ יִקְרָאֶ֖נּוּ אָסֽוֹן׃
KJV: for he said, Lest peradventure mischief
INT: for said peradventure may befall harm

Genesis 44:34
HEB: אֵינֶ֣נּוּ אִתִּ֑י פֶּ֚ן אֶרְאֶ֣ה בָרָ֔ע
NAS: if the lad is not with me -- for fear that I see
INT: else for fear see the evil

Genesis 45:11
HEB: שָׁנִ֖ים רָעָ֑ב פֶּן־ תִּוָּרֵ֛שׁ אַתָּ֥ה
INT: years of famine come to poverty you

Exodus 1:10
HEB: נִֽתְחַכְּמָ֖ה ל֑וֹ פֶּן־ יִרְבֶּ֗ה וְהָיָ֞ה
NAS: let us deal wisely with them, or else they will multiply
INT: Come deal or will multiply become

Exodus 5:3
HEB: לַֽיהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵ֔ינוּ פֶּ֨ן־ יִפְגָּעֵ֔נוּ בַּדֶּ֖בֶר
NAS: our God, otherwise He will fall
INT: to the LORD our God otherwise will fall pestilence

Exodus 13:17
HEB: אָמַ֣ר אֱלֹהִ֗ים פֶּֽן־ יִנָּחֵ֥ם הָעָ֛ם
NAS: The people might change their minds
INT: said God might change the people

Exodus 19:21
HEB: הָעֵ֣ד בָּעָ֑ם פֶּן־ יֶהֶרְס֤וּ אֶל־
NAS: the people, so that they do not break through
INT: warn the people so break to

Exodus 19:22
HEB: יְהוָ֖ה יִתְקַדָּ֑שׁוּ פֶּן־ יִפְרֹ֥ץ בָּהֶ֖ם
NAS: consecrate themselves, or else the LORD
INT: the LORD consecrate or will break the LORD

Exodus 19:24
HEB: אֶל־ יְהוָ֖ה פֶּן־ יִפְרָץ־ בָּֽם׃
NAS: up to the LORD, or He will break forth
INT: to the LORD or will break

Exodus 20:19
HEB: עִמָּ֛נוּ אֱלֹהִ֖ים פֶּן־ נָמֽוּת׃
NAS: speak to us, or we will die.
INT: not God or will die

Exodus 23:29
HEB: בְּשָׁנָ֣ה אֶחָ֑ת פֶּן־ תִּהְיֶ֤ה הָאָ֙רֶץ֙
INT: year A single may not become the land

133 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 6435
133 Occurrences


pen- — 128 Occ.
ū·p̄en- — 5 Occ.
















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