Lexical Summary
hu or hi: Himself, itself, this
Original Word:הוּא
Part of Speech:pronoun masculine; pronoun feminine
Transliteration:huw
Pronunciation:hoo / hee
Phonetic Spelling:(hoo)
KJV: X are, it, this
NASB:Himself, itself, this, which
Word Origin:[corresponding toH193 (אוּל - Mighty)1]
1. (the third person pronoun singular) he, she, or it
2. (sometimes, as demonstrative) this or that
3. (occasionally, instead of copula) as or are
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
it, this
(Aramaic) or (feminine) hiyo (Aramaic) {he}; corresponding tohuw' -- X are, it, this.
see HEBREWhuw'
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin(Aramaic) corresponding to
huDefinitionhe, she, it
NASB TranslationHimself (1), itself (1), this (1), which (1).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
147 (= Biblical Hebrew , ; Zinjirli and Palmyrene (once) , Palmyrene (usually), Nabataean, Egyptian Aramaic , feminine , Lzb257, S-CPap. A 1, 12+; A 4, C 9 +. The plural is , q. v.); —he, she, it,Daniel 2:21 andhe will change, etc.,Daniel 2:22;Daniel 2:44;Daniel 6:5;Daniel 7:7,24;Ezra 5:8;Daniel 2:32that image (nom. pend. ['hanging' noun clause]);Daniel 4:19 thou artit. Resuming the subject with emphatic (Biblical Hebrew )Daniel 2:47;Daniel 6:17; resuming the subject in predication (ib. )Daniel 2:20it is his,Daniel 2:28. Anticipating the subject (ib. )Daniel 2:9 ; with a pronoun (ib. )Daniel 2:38thou art the head of goldDaniel 5:13;Daniel 3:15who is the god . . . ? (so pluralEzra 5:4);Ezra 4:27 (ib. );Ezra 6:27who is . . . (ib. ),Ezra 6:15 (soDaniel 7:17). [compare inExodus 14:25;Exodus 15:11;2 Samuel 20:19;2 Samuel 24:17;Psalm 43:2;Psalm 63:4;Psalm 66:3 +.] Affirming existence (Biblical Hebrew )Daniel 4:21. compare Dr §§ 198-201, K§ 87, 3.
Topical Lexicon
Meaning and FunctionStrong’s 1932 functions as an emphatic demonstrative or personal pronoun in the Aramaic portions of the Old Testament. It draws special attention to the subject—“he,” “she,” “it,” or “that”—thereby highlighting identity, authority, or ownership. When the Biblical writers choose this form, they are signaling that the person or thing in view must not be missed, for it carries divine, historical, or theological weight.
Occurrences in Ezra: Spotlight on the Second Temple
Ezra 5:8 andEzra 6:15 appear in an imperial report and its sequel. The builders’ diligence—“and the work goes on diligently and prospers in their hands” (Ezra 5:8)—is underscored by the pronoun, directing Artaxerxes’ court to recognize that the temple itself is the object of YHWH’s favor. InEzra 6:15 the text records, “And this house was completed” on a precise date. The emphatic “this” celebrates the fulfillment of prophetic promises (Haggai 2:9) and God’s faithfulness during the restoration era.
Occurrences in Daniel: Affirming Divine Sovereignty
1. Divine wisdom and might (Daniel 2:20-22). Daniel’s hymn exalts God: “wisdom and power belong to Him” (2:20). The pronoun heightens every clause—He changes, He removes, He reveals—stressing the Lord as the only true Source of governance over history.
2. Revelation of mysteries (Daniel 2:28, 2:32, 2:44, 2:47). “But there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries” (2:28). By pointing emphatically to “this” God, the text discloses that the dream is not Babylonian lore but divine unveiling, culminating in “a kingdom that will never be destroyed” (2:44), foreshadowing Messiah’s reign.
3. Confrontation with idolatry (Daniel 3:15). Nebuchadnezzar’s taunt—“then what god will be able to deliver you from my hand?”—is met in chapter 3 by the living God who alone is worthy of the emphatic pronoun.
4. Humbling of kings (Daniel 4:24, 4:30). The decree “is the decree of the Most High” (4:24). Later the self-exalting “Is this not Babylon the Great, which I myself have built?” (4:30) is framed by the same pronoun, contrasting human pride with God’s ultimate authority.
5. Integrity of God’s servant (Daniel 6:4, 6:10, 6:16, 6:26). The administrators “could find no charge” because “he was faithful” (6:4). Repetition of the pronoun keeps the spotlight on Daniel’s unwavering allegiance. Darius then testifies, “He is the living God, and He endures forever” (6:26).
6. Eschatological vision (Daniel 7:7, 7:24). The terrifying fourth beast “was different from all the beasts before it” (7:7). The pronoun isolates the final empire and its horns, steering readers toward the climactic intervention of the Son of Man (7:13-14).
Theological and Christological Reflections
Because the pronoun singles out decisive agents and acts, its repeated attachment to God’s person and kingdom in Daniel subtly draws a line to the New Testament revelation of Jesus Christ. The eternal dominion granted to the Son of Man inDaniel 7 parallels the everlasting kingdom of Jesus proclaimed inLuke 1:33 andRevelation 11:15. Thus, each emphatic “He” in Daniel anticipates the greater “He” who will fulfill every promise.
Application for Ministry and Faith
1. Confidence in God’s Unchanging Authority. The emphatic “He” reminds believers that world events, personal trials, and ministry challenges rest under the sovereign hand of the same God who “changes times and seasons” (Daniel 2:21).
2. Call to Visible Faithfulness. Daniel’s life shows that an emphatic life of integrity points others to an emphatic God. Whether facing a lions’ den or cultural pressure, faithfulness testifies that “He is the living God” (Daniel 6:26).
3. Encouragement in Kingdom Work. Just as the Second Temple “was completed” (Ezra 6:15), God brings His projects to completion today; the pronoun invites workers to expect tangible fulfillment of divine promises.
Key Reference Index
Ezra 5:8;Ezra 6:15
Daniel 2:9, 2:20-22, 2:28, 2:32, 2:44, 2:47
Daniel 3:15
Daniel 4:24, 4:30
Daniel 6:4, 6:10, 6:16, 6:26
Daniel 7:7, 7:24
Forms and Transliterations
ה֔וּא ה֖וּא ה֛וּא ה֣וּא ה֣וּא ׀ הִ֔יא הִ֖יא הִ֣יא הִֽיא׃ הֽוּא׃ הוא הוא׃ היא היא׃ וְ֠הוּא וְה֤וּא וְהִ֖יא וְהִ֣יא והוא והיא hi hî hu hū veHi veHu wə·hî wə·hū wəhî wəhū
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