H3705 H3705
Now — Aramaic temporal adverb marking present time or logical transition
An Aramaic adverb meaning 'now,' used to anchor discourse in the present moment or to introduce the next logical step in an argument. It appears throughout Daniel and Ezra in royal decrees, prayers, and official correspondence. In Ezra it typically opens a new section of administrative directive — 'now therefore' (Ezra 4:13–14, 21; 5:17; 6:6) — while in Daniel it marks transitions in narrative and prayer (Dan 2:23; 3:15; 4:37; 5:12, 15–16; 6:8). The phrase עַד־כְּעַן 'until now' in Ezra 5:16 extends it to mark duration. Spanish 'ahora,' French 'maintenant,' and German 'jetzt/nun' all confirm the straightforward temporal meaning.
Senses
1. now — The Aramaic temporal adverb 'now' (כְּעַן), marking present time or introducing a logical transition in discourse. In official letters it functions as 'now therefore,' opening new directives (Ezra 4:13–14, 21; 5:17; 6:6). In narrative and prayer it signals the present moment: Daniel's thanksgiving (Dan 2:23), royal challenges (Dan 3:15), and Nebuchadnezzar's restoration (Dan 4:37). The phrase עַד כְּעַן ('until now,' Ezra 5:16) extends it to express temporal duration. 13×
AR["الآنَ", "وَ-الآنَ"]·ben["আর-এখন", "এখন", "এবং-এখন"]·DE["jetzt", "nun", "und-jetzt", "und-nun"]·EN["and-now", "now"]·FR["et-maintenant", "maintenant"]·heb["ו-כען", "ו-כעת", "ו-עתה", "כען", "כעת", "עתה"]·HI["अब", "अब-इसलिए", "और-अब"]·ID["Dan-sekarang", "Sekarang", "dan-sekarang", "sekarang"]·IT["e-ora", "ora"]·jav["Lan-sapunika", "Sapunika", "lan-dereng", "lan-sapunika", "sapunika"]·KO["그리고-이제", "이제"]·PT["Agora", "E-agora", "agora", "e-agora"]·RU["И-ныне", "Ныне", "и-теперь", "ныне", "теперь"]·ES["Ahora", "Y-ahora", "ahora", "y-ahora"]·SW["Na-sasa", "Sasa", "na-sasa", "sasa"]·TR["Simdi", "Ve-simdi", "simdi", "ve-şimdi", "şimdi"]·urd["اب", "اور-اب"]
Related Senses
H3117 1. day, specific time (2231×)H5704 1. until, unto, as far as (1238×)H8141 1. year, unit of time (880×)H6258 1. and now (421×)G2250 1. day (388×)H5750 1. again, more, further (288×)H5769 1. forever, to eternity (280×)H6256 1. time, period (264×)H2320 1. month, calendar period (260×)H0310a 2. after (temporal) (258×)H3915 1. night, period of darkness (234×)H1242 1. morning (214×)H5750 2. still, yet (continuative) (166×)G5119 1. then (160×)G3568 1. now (147×)G2193 1. until (143×)G3825 1. (141×)G3752 1. (123×)H6153 1. evening, time of day (123×)H0227a 1. then (122×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† כְּעַן adv. now (so Egyptian Aramaic (CISii. 137 = CookeNo. 73 RÉS 361 B S-CPap. C 5); 𝔗, e.g. Nu 22:4: עַן prob. a subst. from [עָנָה] the √ of עֵת (p. 773a), time; so כְּעַן lit. at (this) time = Heb. עַתָּה: K§ 67, 4);—Dn 2:23 וּכְעַן הוֹדַעְתַּנִי, 3:15; 4:34; 5:12, 15, 16; 6:9; Ezr 4:13, 14, 21; 5:17; 6:6; עַד־כְּעַן until now Ezr 5:16 (so 𝔗 Gn 18:22 +).