H3651c H3651c
So, thus; therefore; this, that (anaphoric); then; indeed; to such a degree — adverb of manner, cause, and reference
Derived from the demonstrative root ka- (the same root behind ki, 'because/that'), this adverb (ken) is one of Hebrew's most versatile connective words. In nearly 500 of its 734 occurrences it means simply 'so, thus,' describing manner—'God said... and it was so' (Gen 1:7). But in over 200 instances it functions as a logical connective meaning 'therefore,' introducing the consequence of what precedes. Less frequent uses include anaphoric reference ('this thing'), temporal 'then,' emphatic 'indeed,' and degree 'so much.' Its chameleon quality makes it a key word for tracing the logical architecture of Hebrew narrative and law.
2. therefore (causal inference) — Causal-inferential conjunction 'therefore, for this reason, on account of this,' typically in the compound laken (לָכֵן). Drawing logical conclusions from prior premises, it is the backbone of prophetic judgment oracles: 'therefore thus says the LORD' (Num 20:12; Isa 5:13). Spanish por tanto, French c'est pourquoi, German darum all signal inferential force. 206×
AR["لِذلِكَ","لِذَلِكَ","لِذٰلِكَ"]·ben["অতএব","তাই","সেই-কারণে","সেইজন্য"]·DE["darum"]·EN["therefore"]·FR["c'est-pourquoi"]·heb["כן","ל-כן","לכן"]·HI["इसलिए","इस्लिये","लाकेन"]·ID["Oleh-karena-itu","Oleh-sebab-itu","Sebab-itu","oleh-karena-itu","oleh-sebab-itu","sebab-itu"]·IT["percio","perciò"]·jav["Awit-punika","Mila","Pramila","mila","pramila"]·KO["그러므로"]·PT["Por-isso","Portanto","por-isso","portanto","¶ Por-isso"]·RU["Поэтому","потому","поэтому"]·ES["Por-tanto","por-tanto"]·SW["Kwa-hiyo","kwa-hivyo","kwa-hiyo"]·TR["Bu-yüzden","Bunun-için","bu-nedenle","bu-yuzden","bu-yüzden","bundan-dolayı","bundan-ötürü","bunun-için","için-buna","öyleyse"]·urd["اس-لیے","اِس-لئے","اِس-لیے","اِسی-لیے","لہٰذا"]
Gen 4:15, Exod 6:6, Num 16:11, Num 20:12, Num 25:12, Judg 8:7, Judg 10:13, Judg 11:8, 1 Sam 2:30, 1 Sam 27:6, 1 Sam 28:2, 1 Sam 28:2 (+38 more)
▼ 6 more senses below
Senses
1. so, thus (manner) — The primary adverb of manner: 'so, thus, in this way, likewise.' Describing conformity between command and execution, it pervades the Creation account—'and it was so' (Gen 1:7, 9, 11, 15, 24). Spanish así, French ainsi, German so all map cleanly. This sense answers the question 'how?' by pointing to a preceding description or standard. 495×
AR["كَانَ","كَذَلِكَ","كَذٰلِكَ","كَذٰلِكَ-","هَكَذَا","هٰكَذَا"]·ben["এইরকম","এইরূপ","এমন","তাই","তেমনি"]·DE["es-so","so"]·EN["so","so-"]·FR["ainsi","ainsi-"]·heb["כן"]·HI["ऐस-हि","ऐसा","ऐसा-ही","ऐसे","ऐसे-ही","वैसा","वैसा-ही"]·ID["begitu","demikian","demikianlah"]·IT["così","così-"]·jav["makaten","mekaten"]·KO["그러하다","그렇게","그렇다면","그렇지"]·PT["Assim","assim","assim-"]·RU["так","так-"]·ES["así"]·SW["Hivyo","hivyo","kama","kufanya","kwao","neno","yote"]·TR["böyle","böylece","Öyle","öyle","öyle-","öyleyse"]·urd["ایسا","ایسا-ہی","ایسا-ہے","ایسے-ہی","ہی"]
3. so, thus (general discourse) — A transitional discourse particle blending manner and causal nuance, advancing narrative or argument without strictly meaning either 'in this way' or 'therefore.' Found in etiological formulas like 'therefore it is called...' (Gen 10:9; 11:9; 16:14). Multilingual renderings split between manner (así, ainsi) and causal (entonces, dann), reflecting its bridging function. 18×
AR["ذلِكَ","ذٰلِكَ","فَإنَّهُ","كذلِكَ","لِذٰلِكَ","هٰذَا","∅"]·ben["এই","এই-জন্য","কেন","তাই","নাম","সেই","সেই-কারণে"]·DE["-","dann","deshalb","habe","nannte-man","so"]·EN["so","thus"]·FR["ainsi"]·heb["כן"]·HI["इस","इसलिए","इसी-कारण","इस्के","करन","कारण","वह"]·ID["demikian","itu","karena-itu","sebab","sebab itu"]·IT["cosi","cosi'","così"]·jav["makaten","mila","mula","punika"]·KO["그래서","그러므로","그렇게","까닭에"]·PT["assim","isso","isto","nome-de","portanto"]·RU["-","-сей","-этому","так","то","того","тому","это"]·ES["así","eso","tanto"]·SW["akamkita","hivyo","kwa","kwa-hiyo"]·TR["bu-yüzden","öyle"]·urd["اس","اس-لیے","اِس","اِس-لِیے","اِس-لیے","اِسی-لیے"]
4. this, that (anaphoric reference) — Anaphoric demonstrative use pointing back to a previously mentioned situation: 'this thing, that matter, such.' In Josh 7:26 and 8:34 ken refers to 'all that was written,' and in Ps 42:6 the psalmist recalls 'this' about his soul. Spanish eso/esto, French ce, and German dies confirm the demonstrative rather than manner reading. 12×
AR["ذلِكَ","كَذٰلِكَ","كَنَّ"]·ben["এইজন্য","এইজন্য-","এজন্য","তাই","সেইজন্য"]·DE["dies","so"]·EN["so","this"]·FR["ainsi","ce"]·heb["כן"]·HI["इस","इसलिए","उसके"]·ID["demikian","itu"]·IT["cosi'","questo"]·jav["makaten","menika","mula","punika"]·KO["그러므로","그러하다","모든","미워하였나이다","사랑하였나이다","지켰나이다-그것들-을"]·PT["assim","isso"]·RU["кен","так","того","том","это"]·ES["así","eso","esto"]·SW["hii","hivyo","sababu-hiyo"]·TR["Bunun-için","bu","bunun-için","böyle","böylece"]·urd["اس-وجہ-سے","اسی-وجہ-سے","اِس-لئے","کےن"]
5. then, at that time — Temporal adverb meaning 'then, at that time,' attested once in Neh 2:16 where Nehemiah reports 'the officials did not yet know where I had gone or what I had been doing; until then (ad ken) I had told nothing.' Spanish entonces and German dann signal temporal rather than manner or causal force. 1×
AR["ذٰلِكَ"]·ben["তখন"]·DE["so"]·EN["thus"]·FR["ainsi"]·heb["כן"]·HI["अभी"]·ID["demikian"]·IT["così"]·jav["makaten"]·KO["그때"]·PT["então"]·RU["того-момента"]·ES["entonces"]·SW["wakati-huo"]·TR["o-zaman"]·urd["اب"]
6. indeed, yes (affirmative) — Affirmative particle meaning 'indeed, yes, truly,' used to confirm or assent. In Ezra 10:12 the assembly responds 'ken!—so it is, as you have said!' Cross-linguistically rendered with affirmative markers (Spanish así [confirming], German so [assenting]), this sense functions pragmatically as agreement rather than description. 1×
AR["نَعَمْ"]·ben["হ্যাঁ"]·DE["so"]·EN["so"]·FR["ainsi"]·heb["כן"]·HI["हाँ"]·ID["demikianlah"]·IT["così"]·jav["inggih"]·KO["그렇다"]·PT["sim"]·RU["да"]·ES["así"]·SW["ndiyo"]·TR["Evet"]·urd["ہاں"]
7. so much, to such degree — Degree adverb meaning 'so much, to such a degree, enough,' quantifying rather than describing manner. Attested in Judg 21:14 where the women of Jabesh-gilead 'did not suffice' (lo matse'u ken). French assez and German genug ('enough') confirm the quantitative reading, distinguishing it from the manner or causal senses. 1×
AR["كَذَلِكَ"]·ben["কেন"]·DE["genug"]·EN["enough"]·FR["assez"]·heb["כן"]·HI["इतनी"]·ID["demikian"]·IT["enough"]·jav["mekaten"]·KO["그렇게"]·PT["assim"]·RU["так"]·ES["así"]·SW["wote"]·TR["yeterli"]·urd["کافی"]
BDB / Lexicon Reference
I. כֵּן adv. so, thus (Ph. NH 𝔗 id.; Syriac ܟܶܢ is then, Arabic لٰكِنْ, لٰكِنَّ, but: prob. from the demonstr. √ ka, found in כִּי etc., Köii 1, 254); (הִיא) כֶּן־הוּא Gn 44:10 + 4 times: so thus (i.e. usually, as has been described or commanded, with ref. to what has preceded), mostly of manner, but sometimes also of quantity, quality, or degree: 1. a. Ju 5:31 כן יאבדו so perish thy enemies, Jb…