H0199 H0199
But indeed, however, surely: a strong adversative-asseverative conjunction introducing emphatic contrast.
This conjunction (ʾûlām) introduces a sharp turn in the argument, often rendered 'but indeed' or 'howbeit.' It appears most frequently with waw (wĕʾûlām), strengthening the contrast. When God tells Pharaoh 'but in very deed for this cause have I raised you up' (Exod 9:16), the particle underscores divine sovereignty overriding human expectation. In Job it marks the sufferer's pivotal rebuttals—'but as for me, I would seek God' (Job 5:8). German 'aber' and 'doch,' Spanish 'pero' and 'ciertamente,' and French 'cependant' together capture its blend of adversative force and asseverative weight.
Senses
1. but indeed / and surely (adversative-asseverative conjunction) — An adversative-asseverative conjunction that signals a strong but or emphatic contrast, often combined with waw as wĕʾûlām. In Gen 48:19 Jacob concedes Manasseh's greatness but insists Ephraim will surpass him. In Exod 9:16 it underscores God's sovereign purpose behind Pharaoh's existence. Throughout Job (2:5; 5:8; 13:3) it introduces the speaker's defiant counterclaim. The multilingual evidence—Spanish 'pero-ciertamente,' German 'aber-gewiss'—confirms its dual adversative-asseverative function. 19×
AR["لَكِنْ", "وَ-لكِن", "وَ-لكِنْ", "وَ-لَكِنَّ", "وَ-لَكِنَّكُمْ", "وَ-لَكِنْ", "وَ-لٰكِنْ", "وَإلّا", "وَلكِنْ", "وَلَكِنْ", "وَلٰكِنَّ", "وَلٰكِنْ"]·ben["আর-অবশ্য", "আর-কিন্তু", "এবং-অবশ্য", "এবং-কিন্তু", "এবং-তবু", "কিন্তু", "কিন্তু-নিশ্চয়ই", "কিন্তু-সত্যিই", "তবু"]·DE["aber", "aber-gewiss", "doch", "jedoch", "und-aber", "und-gewiss", "und-jedoch", "und-noch"]·EN["and-but", "and-however", "and-surely", "and-yet", "but", "but-indeed", "but-surely"]·FR["et-cependant", "et-certainement", "et-encore", "et-however", "et-mais", "et-portique", "mais", "mais-certainement"]·heb["אולם", "ו-אולם"]·HI["और-परंतु", "और-परन्तु", "और-लेकिन", "और-वास्तव-में", "परंतु", "परन्तु", "लेकिन"]·ID["Dan-namun", "Dan-sesungguhnya", "Namun", "Tetapi", "Tetapi-sesungguhnya", "dan-sungguh", "dan-tetapi", "namun", "tetapi"]·IT["e-ancora", "e-certamente", "e-however", "e-ma", "e-tuttavia", "e-vestibolo", "ma", "ma-certamente", "tuttavia"]·jav["Lan-saestu", "Lan-sayektosipun", "Nanging", "Nanging-saestunipun", "Nanging-saèstu", "ananging", "nanging", "nanging-mangké"]·KO["그러나", "그러나-오", "그러나-참으로"]·PT["E-certamente", "E-contudo", "E-mas", "E-porém", "Mas", "e-contudo", "e-porém", "mas", "porém"]·RU["Но", "Но-именно", "а-прежде", "и-однако", "но", "но-клянусь", "но-однако", "но-теперь"]·ES["Ciertamente", "Pero", "Pero-ciertamente", "Pero-en-verdad", "Pero-ojalá", "Sin-embargo", "Y-ciertamente", "pero", "pero-ciertamente", "y-ciertamente", "y-pero"]·SW["Lakini", "lakini", "na-hata-hivyo"]·TR["Ama", "Ve-ama", "Ve-ancak", "Ve-gerçekten", "ama", "fakat", "ve-ama", "ve-ancak", "ve-fakat"]·urd["اور-لیکن", "لیکن", "لیکن-بیشک", "لیکن-کاش"]
Gen 28:19, Gen 48:19, Exod 9:16, Num 14:21, Judg 18:29, 1 Sam 20:3, 1 Sam 25:34, 1 Kgs 20:23, Job 1:11, Job 2:5, Job 5:8, Job 11:5 (+7 more)
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
† III. אוּלָם and (Jb 17:10, perhaps for sake of assonance with following כֻּלָּם) אֻלָּם adv. but, but indeed, a strong adversative Jb 2:5; 5:8; 13:3 (where 𝔊 excellently οὐ μὴν δὲ ἀλλά). More usually with וְ, וְאוּלָם Gn 28:19 (cf. Ju 18:29) 48:19 howbeit his younger brother shall be greater than he, Ex 9:16 but in very deed, Nu 14:21 (cf. 1 S 20:3; 25:34) 1 K 20:23 Mic 3:8 Jb 1:11; 11:5; 12:7; 13:4; 14:18; 17:10; 33:1.