לֹא · אַל
ORIGINALBH-036
Biblical Hebrew · Pronouns and Logic Words
Two kinds of “not”
BH-036Biblical HebrewMasoretic Hebrew of Tanakh
ORIGINAL LANGUAGE FIRST
לֹא · אַל
Transliterationlo · al
Plain meaningnot · do not / negative command environment
WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING AT
Two kinds of “not”
לֹא is the broad Biblical Hebrew negator used in statements and many prohibitions. אַל is especially associated with negative wishes, commands, and jussive-like environments. Translating both merely “not” hides an important reading distinction.
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Keep the form, reading, and meaning together.
lo · al
READINGApproved transliteration
not · do not / negative command environment
MEANINGBiblical Hebrew
REMEMBER