H3861 H3861
Aramaic conjunction: except, but, however; occasionally inferential 'therefore'
An Aramaic conjunction found exclusively in Daniel and Ezra, functioning as a logical hinge in royal decrees and theological argument. Its core force is restrictive -- 'except' or 'unless' -- as when the Chaldeans protest that 'no one can reveal the king's matter except the gods' (Dan 2:11). It also serves as an adversative 'but' (Dan 2:30; Ezra 5:12), and in Daniel 4:27 stretches toward an inferential 'therefore.' Arabic lākin ('but') and Hebrew ki ʾim ('except') are its closest functional parallels, and the German rendering 'deshalb' for the inferential use confirms the logical-conclusion nuance.
1. except, unless (restrictive particle) — Restrictive particle meaning 'except' or 'unless,' introducing an exception to a preceding negative statement. Five of eight occurrences belong here, all in Daniel's court narratives: 'no one can show it except the gods' (Dan 2:11), 'they could find no ground for complaint except concerning his God' (Dan 6:5). Arabic illa and Spanish 'excepto' / 'a-menos-que' mirror this restrictive function precisely. 5×
AR["إِلاَّ","إِلَّا"]·ben["ছাড়া","যদি-না"]·DE["deshalb"]·EN["except","unless"]·FR["à-elles"]·heb["אלא-אם","מלבד"]·HI["उनके-एलाहा","जब-तक-नहीं","सिवा","सिवाय"]·ID["kecuali"]·IT["perciò"]·jav["kajawi"]·KO["다만","오직"]·PT["a-não-ser","exceto"]·RU["если-не","кроме"]·ES["a-menos-que","excepto"]·SW["isipokuwa"]·TR["ancak","hariç"]·urd["سوا-اس-کے","سوائے"]
▼ 2 more senses below
Senses
2. but, however (adversative particle) — Adversative particle meaning 'but' or 'however,' introducing a contrast without a preceding negative. In Dan 2:30 it pivots from denial ('not because of any wisdom in me') to purpose ('but so that the interpretation might be made known'). Ezra 5:12 uses it similarly: 'but because our fathers provoked God.' Spanish 'sino' and 'Pero' capture the corrective and contrastive nuances respectively. 2×
AR["لكِنْ","لٰكِنْ"]·ben["কিন্তু"]·DE["deshalb","zu-wenn"]·EN["but"]·FR["[להן]","à-elles"]·heb["להן","מלבד"]·HI["परंतु","परन्तु"]·ID["Tetapi","tetapi"]·IT["[להן]","perciò"]·jav["nanging"]·KO["그러나","오히려"]·PT["mas"]·RU["Но","но"]·ES["Pero","sino"]·SW["bali","lakini"]·TR["Fakat","ancak"]·urd["بلکہ","لیکن"]
3. therefore (inferential particle) — Inferential particle meaning 'therefore' or 'for this reason,' drawing a logical conclusion. Attested only in Dan 4:27 where Daniel urges Nebuchadnezzar: 'Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you.' Spanish 'por-tanto' and German 'deshalb' confirm the causal-inferential reading, a natural pragmatic extension from adversative contrast to logical consequence. 1×
AR["لِذَلِكَ"]·ben["অতএব"]·DE["deshalb"]·EN["therefore"]·FR["à-elles"]·heb["לכן"]·HI["इसलिए"]·ID["oleh-karena-itu"]·IT["perciò"]·jav["Pramila"]·KO["그러므로"]·PT["Portanto"]·RU["поэтому"]·ES["por-tanto"]·SW["Kwa-hiyo"]·TR["bu-nedenle"]·urd["اِس-لیے"]
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† II. לָהֵן conj. except, but (from לָא and הֵן ‘not if’ (cf. Heb. אם לא Gn 24:38); so Nab. and Egyptian Aramaic להן Cooke217, 219, 241 S-CPap. C 6, 7 +; lâinnî, however SocinArabic Dial. v. Marokko 44, Anm. 103; 𝔗 אִילָּהֵין Gn 32:28; 43:3 al.);— 1. after a neg. (= BH כִּי אִם, q.v.): a. except Dn 2:11; 3:28; 6:6, 8, 13. b. but (Germ. sondern) Dn 2:30. 2. without a neg.: however, but Ezr 5:12.