אוֹ320 H0176a
Or — disjunctive conjunction presenting alternatives or introducing particular cases
The Hebrew conjunction 'o functions as the standard disjunctive 'or,' connecting alternatives in legal codes, narratives, and everyday speech. Across its 320 occurrences it ranges from simple either/or choices (Gen 24:49) to the technical legal formula 'or if' that introduces subcases under a general rule (Exod 21:31; Lev 4:23). It can also imply preference — 'or rather' — as in Gen 24:55. Every major target language renders it with a single basic word: Spanish 'o,' French 'ou,' German 'oder,' confirming its stable, universal function.
Senses
1. sense 1 — A disjunctive conjunction that presents two or more alternatives, functioning like English 'or.' In legislative contexts (Leviticus, Exodus), it frequently introduces a particular case under a broader statute — 'or if he gore a son' (Exod 21:31). Occasionally it carries the nuance of 'or rather,' suggesting preference between options, as in Gen 24:55 ('days or ten'). The uniform cross-linguistic rendering (spa: 'o,' fra: 'ou,' deu: 'oder') reflects its straightforward semantic role. 320×
AR["أَو", "أَو-", "أَوْ", "أَوْ-"]·ben["অথবা", "অথবা-", "বা", "বা-"]·DE["oder", "oder-"]·EN["or", "or-"]·FR["ou", "ou-"]·heb["או", "או-"]·HI["या", "या-"]·ID["atau", "atau-"]·IT["o", "o-"]·jav["utawi", "utawi-"]·KO["또는"]·PT["ou", "ou-"]·RU["или", "или-"]·ES["o", "o-"]·SW["au", "kwa"]·TR["veya", "veya-", "ya-da", "ya-da-"]·urd["یا"]
Related Senses
G3588 1. definite article (18298×)H0853 1. definite direct object marker (10915×)G2532 1. (8312×)H3068 1. YHWH (the divine name) (6522×)H0834a 1. relative pronoun (who/which/that) (4839×)H3588a 1. causal: because, for (3498×)G1161 1. and (2806×)H3478 1. Israel (proper name and nation) (2507×)G4771 1. you (plural address) (1853×)H1931 1. personal pronoun he/she/it (1431×)G3739 1. relative pronoun who/which/that (1149×)H1732 1. David (proper name) (1075×)H2088 1. this, this one (demonstrative) (1059×)G1063 1. (1047×)G3778 1. this thing, these things (1003×)H???? 2. (1002×)G2424 1. (924×)G3754 1. that (content clause) (881×)H2009 1. presentative particle: behold, look (881×)H0589 1. I (first person singular pronoun) (874×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
אוֹ320 (أَوْ, ܐܰܘ, አው ), conj. or (whether aut or vel). 1. Gn 24:49; 31:43 Ex 4:11 Ct 2:9 Lv 13:24 Nu 5:30 + often (especially in laws); sometimes implying a preference, nearly = or rather Gn 24:55 יָמִים אוֹ עָשׂוֹר a few days or ten Ju 18:19 1 S 29:3. Prefixed to the first as well as to the second alternative (rare) either (whether) … or Lv 5:1; 13:48, 51; = or, if not Ez 21:15 (si vera l.) Ke…