עַתָּ֫ה
at.tah (H6258)
now
AI Word Study
# The Hebrew Word עַתָּה (attah): "Now" The Hebrew word *attah* is one of the most frequently used temporal markers in the Bible, appearing 433 times throughout the biblical text. Its primary definition—"now"—indicates a function as an adverb of present time, marking immediate or current moments within narrative, speech, and instruction. The high frequency of occurrence suggests that biblical writers relied heavily on this word to anchor events and statements in the present moment, making it essential for understanding how biblical narratives establish temporal perspective. Beyond its basic temporal sense, *attah* likely functions as a discourse marker that signals shifts in attention or emphasis within passages. When a biblical speaker or narrator uses this word, it often introduces a transition—from past events to present circumstances, from a previous topic to a new one, or from description to direct address. This multivalent use explains its widespread distribution across different genres and contexts in Scripture, from narrative accounts to prophetic declarations to legal instructions, where "now" serves simultaneously as a time marker and a rhetorical pivot point. The sheer prevalence of *attah* in the biblical corpus underscores how central the concept of the present moment is to biblical communication. Rather than remaining abstract, the repeated invocation of "now" grounds the reader in immediate relevance, whether in commands that demand present obedience, prophecies that claim current applicability,
AI synthesis uses only provided lexicon data -- never training knowledge.
Yahweh God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of us, knowing good and evil. Now, lest he reach out his hand, and also take of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever—”
Now you are cursed because of the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand.
Yahweh said, “Behold, they are one people, and they all have one language, and this is what they begin to do. Now nothing will be withheld from them, which they intend to do.
Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ so that I took her to be my wife? Now therefore, see your wife, take her, and go your way.”
They said, “Stand back!” Then they said, “This one fellow came in to live as a foreigner, and he appoints himself a judge. Now we will deal worse with you than with them!” They pressed hard on the man Lot, and came near to break the door.
Now therefore, restore the man’s wife. For he is a prophet, and he will pray for you, and you will live. If you don’t restore her, know for sure that you will die, you, and all who are yours.”
Now, therefore, swear to me here by God that you will not deal falsely with me, nor with my son, nor with my son’s son. But according to the kindness that I have done to you, you shall do to me, and to the land in which you have lived as a foreigner.”
He said, “Don’t lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him. For now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.”
Now if you will deal kindly and truly with my master, tell me. If not, tell me, that I may turn to the right hand, or to the left.”
He left that place, and dug another well. They didn’t argue over that one. He called it Rehoboth. He said, “For now Yahweh has made room for us, and we will be fruitful in the land.”
that you will do us no harm, as we have not touched you, and as we have done to you nothing but good, and have sent you away in peace.’ You are now the blessed of Yahweh.”
Now therefore, please take your weapons, your quiver and your bow, and go out to the field, and get me venison.
Now therefore, my son, obey my voice according to that which I command you.
He said, “Isn’t he rightly named Jacob? For he has supplanted me these two times. He took away my birthright. See, now he has taken away my blessing.” He said, “Haven’t you reserved a blessing for me?”
Now therefore, my son, obey my voice. Arise, flee to Laban, my brother, in Haran.
Leah conceived, and bore a son, and she named him Reuben. For she said, “Because Yahweh has looked at my affliction; for now my husband will love me.”
She conceived again, and bore a son. She said, “Now this time my husband will be joined to me, because I have borne him three sons.” Therefore his name was called Levi.
For it was little which you had before I came, and it has increased to a multitude. Yahweh has blessed you wherever I turned. Now when will I provide for my own house also?”
I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed a pillar, where you vowed a vow to me. Now arise, get out from this land, and return to the land of your birth.’ ”
For all the riches which God has taken away from our father are ours and our children’s. Now then, whatever God has said to you, do.”
and didn’t allow me to kiss my sons and my daughters? Now have you done foolishly.
Now, you want to be gone, because you greatly longed for your father’s house, but why have you stolen my gods?”
Unless the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the fear of Isaac, had been with me, surely now you would have sent me away empty. God has seen my affliction and the labor of my hands, and rebuked you last night.”
Now come, let’s make a covenant, you and I. Let it be for a witness between me and you.”
He commanded them, saying, “This is what you shall tell my lord, Esau: ‘This is what your servant, Jacob, says. I have lived as a foreigner with Laban, and stayed until now.
I am not worthy of the least of all the loving kindnesses, and of all the truth, which you have shown to your servant; for with just my staff I crossed over this Jordan; and now I have become two companies.
Come now therefore, and let’s kill him, and cast him into one of the pits, and we will say, ‘An evil animal has devoured him.’ We will see what will become of his dreams.”
“Now therefore let Pharaoh look for a discreet and wise man, and set him over the land of Egypt.
for if we hadn’t delayed, surely we would have returned a second time by now.”
He said, “Now also let it be according to your words. He with whom it is found will be my slave; and you will be blameless.”
Now therefore when I come to your servant my father, and the boy is not with us; since his life is bound up in the boy’s life;
Now therefore, please let your servant stay instead of the boy, my lord’s slave; and let the boy go up with his brothers.
Now don’t be grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life.
So now it wasn’t you who sent me here, but God, and he has made me a father to Pharaoh, lord of all his house, and ruler over all the land of Egypt.
that you shall say, ‘Your servants have been keepers of livestock from our youth even until now, both we, and our fathers:’ that you may dwell in the land of Goshen; for every shepherd is an abomination to the Egyptians.”
They also said to Pharaoh, “We have come to live as foreigners in the land, for there is no pasture for your servants’ flocks. For the famine is severe in the land of Canaan. Now therefore, please let your servants dwell in the land of Goshen.”
Now your two sons, who were born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you into Egypt, are mine; Ephraim and Manasseh, even as Reuben and Simeon, will be mine.
‘My father made me swear, saying, “Behold, I am dying. Bury me in my grave which I have dug for myself in the land of Canaan.” Now therefore, please let me go up and bury my father, and I will come again.’ ”
‘You shall tell Joseph, “Now please forgive the disobedience of your brothers, and their sin, because they did evil to you.” ’ Now, please forgive the disobedience of the servants of the God of your father.” Joseph wept when they spoke to him.
Now therefore don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your little ones.” He comforted them, and spoke kindly to them.
Now, behold, the cry of the children of Israel has come to me. Moreover I have seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them.
Come now therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh, that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.”
They will listen to your voice. You shall come, you and the elders of Israel, to the king of Egypt, and you shall tell him, ‘Yahweh, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us. Now please let us go three days’ journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to Yahweh, our God.’
Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth, and teach you what you shall speak.”
Pharaoh said, “Behold, the people of the land are now many, and you make them rest from their burdens.”
Go therefore now, and work; for no straw shall be given to you; yet you shall deliver the same number of bricks!”
Yahweh said to Moses, “Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh, for by a strong hand he shall let them go, and by a strong hand he shall drive them out of his land.”
For now I would have stretched out my hand, and struck you and your people with pestilence, and you would have been cut off from the earth;
Behold, tomorrow about this time I will cause it to rain a very grievous hail, such as has not been in Egypt since the day it was founded even until now.
Now therefore command that all of your livestock and all that you have in the field be brought into shelter. The hail will come down on every man and animal that is found in the field, and isn’t brought home, and they will die.” ’ ”
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