hen · if, whether

What it means

hen (הֵן) is an Aramaic word of the Bible that means “if, whether”.

If (Aramaic): introduces a condition; also "whether".

How to say it

Approximate pronunciation. Vowels sound as in Spanish (a as in father, e as in bed, i as in machine, o as in note, u as in rule); the syllable in bold is stressed. The voice is your device's.

Its senses in the Bible

1. Introduces a condition or a doubt: in case (Aramaic).
2. Repeated, presents several possibilities one after another (Aramaic).
3. Draws the consequence of what was said: then, accordingly (Aramaic).

From Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906)

How it is translated

The words this translation uses for it, most frequent first.

• if ×11
• Therefore ×2
• or ×2
• whether ×2
• perhaps ×1

Where it appears

• Ezra×7
• Daniel×11

• Ezra 4:13

  Now let it be known to the king that if that city is built and the walls are finished, they will not pay tribute, tax, or toll, and it will cause harm to the treasury of kings.

• Ezra 4:16

  We inform the king that if that city is built and the walls are finished, as a result you will have no portion in the other side of the river.”

• Ezra 5:17

  And now, if to the king it seems good, let it be investigated in the house of the treasures of the king there in Babylon, whether it is so that by Cyrus the king an order was given to build that house of Elah in Jerusalem; and let the will of the king concerning this be sent to us.”

• Ezra 7:26

  And whoever does not carry out the law of your Elah and the law of the king, with diligence let judgment be executed on him, whether for death, or for uprooting, or for a fine of goods, or for imprisonment.”

• Daniel 2:5

  The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, “The word from me is firm: if you do not make known to me the dream and its interpretation, you will be made into pieces, and your houses will be made a dunghill.

• Daniel 2:6

  But if you declare the dream and its interpretation, gifts and a reward and great honor you will receive from before me. Therefore declare to me the dream and its interpretation.”

• Daniel 2:9

  that if you do not make known to me the dream, there is one law for you; and a lying word and corrupt you have agreed to speak before me until the time changes. Therefore tell me the dream, and I will know that you can declare to me its interpretation.”

• Daniel 3:15

  Now if you are ready at the moment that you hear the sound of the horn, the flute, the zither, the sambuca, the psaltery, and the bagpipe, and every kind of music, to fall down and bow down to the image that I made, good; but if you do not bow down, at that very moment you will be thrown into the midst of the furnace of fire blazing; and who is the Elah who will deliver you from my hands?”

• Daniel 3:17

  If it is so, our Elah whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of fire blazing, and from your hand, O king, he will deliver us.

• Daniel 3:18

  But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that your gods we do not serve, and to the image of gold that you set up we will not bow down.”

• Daniel 4:27

  Therefore, O king, may my counsel be pleasing to you: break off your sins by righteousness and your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor; perhaps there may be a lengthening of your prosperity.”

• Daniel 5:16

  But I have heard of you that you can give interpretations and loosen knots. Now if you can read the writing and make known to me its interpretation, you will be clothed with purple, and a necklace of gold will be on your neck, and as third in the kingdom you will rule.”

And 6 more times.