/ב

1. strictly, of position in a place (which often is expressed more precisely by בְּקֶרֶב, בְּתוֺךְ), as בַּבַּיִת in the house, בָּעִיר in the city, בַּדּוּד in the pot, בָּאָרֶץ in the land, etc. constantly. Hebrew idiom also says בָּהָר in the mountain Exod 24:18 etc., even in cases where we could hardly avoid saying on, as 1Kgs 11:7; 1Kgs 19:11: so בְּחֹרֵב Deut 1:16 and elsewhere; בְּראֹשׁ הָהָר Exod 24:17; Ps 72:16. Preceded by a verb of motion (especially עָבַר) בְּ = through, as Gen 12:6 and Abram passed through בָּאָרֶץ in the land = passed through it, Gen 13:17; 2Sam 24:2 +; in (= through) a gate, Isa 62:10; Jer 17:19; Mic 2:13. Figurative to speak בְּאָזְנֵי in the ears of ...; to be good (or evil, etc.) בְּעֵינֵי in the eyes of ...

2. of presence in the midst of a multitude, among, Exod 14:28 there was not left בָּהֶם among them even one, Lev 26:36; 2Sam 15:31 Ahitophel בַּקֹּשְׁרִים is among the conspirators, 2Kgs 18:5 בְּכֹל מַלְכֵי יְהוּדָה. So בְּךָ in thee (of Israel, collective) Deut 7:14; Deut 15:4; Deut 15:7; Deut 18:10; Deut 23:11; Deut 28:54 (different from עִמָּ֑ח beside thee Lev 25:35). — Specifically
  a. of an individual, implying eminency among: Josh 14:15; Jer 46:18 Tabor among the mountains, Jer 49:15; Prov 30:30; Song 1:8 הַיָּפָה בַנָּשִׁים the fair one (= the fairest) among women, Lam 1:1: compare Luke 1:42. On 1Sam 17:12 see Dr.
  b. hence with some verbs, when the action refers to only a part of the object, as הִכָּהַ בְּ to smite among... i.e. to smite some of... (different from הִכָּה with accusative); הָרַג בְּ Ps 78:31 נָשָׂא בְּ to bear in, i.e. to share in bearing, Num 11:17 and elsewhere; בָּנָה בְּ to build in or at Zech 6:15; Neh 4:4 עָשָׂה בְּ Exod 5:9 עָמֵל בְּ to labour on Jonah 4:10 אָכַל בְּ, שָׁתָה בְּ to eat or drink of Judg 13:16; Prov 9:5 חָלַק בְּ to give a share in Job 39:17.
  c. specifying the parts of which a whole consists (especially in P) Gen 7:21; Gen 8:17; Gen 9:10; Gen 9:16; Gen 17:23; Exod 12:19; Num 31:11; Num 31:26; Hos 4:3.

3. with reference to the limits enclosing a space, within: Exod 20:10 בִּשְׁעָרֶיךָ within thy gates, Isa 56:5 בְּחוֺמוֺתַי within my walls.

4. often pregn. with verbs of motion, when the movement to a place results in rest in it, into: after בָּא Gen 19:8; Isa 19:23 נָתַן Gen 27:17 שָׁלַח to send Lev 16:22 in among Josh 23:7; Josh 23:12; 1Kgs 11:2. — Hos 12:7 (an extreme case) שׁוּב בְּ to return (and rest) in thy God, 1Sam 16:3 (unless לַזָּבַ֑ח should be read, as v1Sam 16:7). — עַיִן בְּעַיִן (with) eye (looking) into eye Num 14:14; Isa 52:8 פָּנִים בְּפָנִים Deut 5:4 בְּ ׳עֵינֵי פְ the eyes of ... are upon, both in favourable (Deut 11:12; Ps 101:6) and hostile (Amos 9:8; Job 7:8) sense.

5. applied to time, as Gen 1:1 בְּרֵאשִׁית in the beginning; Gen 2:2 בַּיּוֺם הַשְּׁבִיעִי on the seventh day; Judg 10:8 בַּשָּׁנָה הַהִיא in that year; & constantly.

6. of a state or condition, whether material or mental, in which an action takes place: so often, בְּשָׁלוֺם in peace Gen 15:15 בַּצָּרָה in distress Ps 91:15 הָלַךְ בְּתֻמּוֺ to walk in his integrity; Exod 5:19 בְּרָע in evil case.

7. בְּ introduces the predicate, denoting it as that in which the subject consists, or in which it shews itself (the Beth essentiae, — common in Arabic, especially with a participle or adjective and in a negative sentence: Qor 2:79 and God (appears) not as one remiss; 2:7 and they are not believers [compare French en — en honnête homme]; see W^{AG ii. § 56 a}): namely
  a. a primary predicate, Exod 18:4 the God of my fathers בְּעֶזְרִי was my help, Ps 146:5; Hos 13:9 (read כִּי מִי בְעֶזְֶ˜רךָ׃ with ᵐ5 ᵑ6 Che and others); Ps 68:5 בְּיָהּ שְׁמוֺ his name consists in Yah, Job 23:13; Job 37:10. With the predicate in the plural (as plural of majesty) Ps 118:7 בְּעֹזְרָ֑י ׳י J. is my great helper, Ps 54:6 (see Che), Judg 11:35.
  b. a secondary predicate, Exod 6:3 and I appeared unto them בְּאֵל שַׁדָּ֑י as God Almighty, Num 26:53 בְּנַחֲלָה as an inheritance, Num 34:2; Ezek 46:16; Ezek 47:14; Deut 10:22; Deut 26:14 I have not put away therefrom בְּטָמֵא as one unclean = while unclean, Deut 28:62; Isa 40:10 בְּחָזָק יָבוֺא he cometh as a strong one, Ps 35:2 (where see De) and rise up as my help, vPs 35:16, Ps 39:7; Ps 55:19; Prov 3:26; Job 36:32 (De).
  c. a predicate as accusative, Isa 48:10 I have refined thee וְלֹא בְכָ֑סֶף but not as though silver, Ezek 20:41; Num 18:26; Num 36:2; Josh 13:6; Josh 13:7; Josh 23:4; Ezek 45:1; Ezek 47:22 (twice in verse) (read יַפִּלוּ) Ezek 48:29 (see ᵐ5 Co) all בְּנַחֲלָה (compare
  b.), Ps 78:55 & allotted it בְּחֶבֶל נַחֲלָה as a line of inheritance (i.e. as a measured inheritance). Isa 26:4 ׳כִּי בְּיָהּ יהוה צוּר עוֺלָמִים י is different — for in Yah there is a rock of ages (compare Qor 4:7; 4:47 there is sufficiency in God as a patron).
  d. in comparisons, Ps 37:20 consume away בֶּעָשָׁן in the form of, as, smoke Ps 78:33; Ps 102:4; Job 34:36; Job 36:14.

1. at, by (not very common): 1Sam 29:1 בָּעַיִן by the spring; Ezek 10:15; Ezek 10:20 בִּנְהַר כְּבָר by the river Chebar (Ezek 1:3 עַל).

2. on: Gen 8:20; Num 23:2 בַּמִּזְבֵּחַ on the altar; Judg 8:21 on the necks of the camels; 1Kgs 2:5 and elsewhere בְּמָתְנָיו on his loins; Isa 59:17 a helmet בְּראֹשׁוֺ on his head.

3. often with verbs of touching, approaching, taking hold of, cleaving, etc., as אָחַז, דָּבֵק, חָשַׁק, נָגַע, נָגַשׁ, קָרַב, פָּגַּע, תָּמַךְ, תָּפַשׂ (see these words).

4. with words expressing or implying an act of hostility —
  a. against: Gen 16:12 יָדוֺ בַכֹּל וְיַד כֹּל בּוֺ his hand against all, and the hand of all against him; בּ ׳הָֽיְתָה יַד פְּ Deut 13:10; 1Sam 5:9; 1Sam 18:17 + often Hence after verbs (q. v.) of fighting (נִלְחַם, רִיב), going up to invade (עָלָה), being angry (הִתְעַבֵּר, אָנַף, חָרָה אַף), sinning or acting treacherously (חָטָא, בָּגַד, מָרַד, מָרָה, מָעַל, פָּשַׁע, שִׁקֵּר, כִּזֵּב, כִּחֵשׁ), testifying (עָנָה, הֵעִיד), mocking (הִלְעִיג, הֵתֵל), feeling loathing (קוּץ), rebuking (גָּעַר: properly to protest loudly), speaking (דִּבֶּר: Num 12:8b), etc., & even (an extreme case) Hos 7:14 יָסוּרוּ בִי they turn aside (so as to be) against me. In a weaker sense מַשְׁתִּין בַּקִּיר mingens ad parietem 1Sam 25:22 and elsewhere
  b. down to, upon (super with accusative), especially in such phrases as דָּמָיו בּוֺ Lev 20:9 and elsewhere his blood be upon him; דָּמוֺ בְראֹשׁוֺ his blood be upon his head Josh 2:19 ) בְּראֹשׁוֺ׳שׁוּב (הֵשִׁיב י Judg 8:57 (רָעָה), 1Kgs 2:33 (דָּם), v1Kgs 2:44 (רָעָה), Ps 7:17 (עֲמָלוֺ); ׳בְּראֹשׁוֺ נָתַן דֶּרֶךְ פּ 1Kgs 8:32 & often in Ezekiel, as Ezek 9:10; Ezek 11:21.

III. 1. With —
  a. of accompaniment: Num 20:20 בְּעַם כָּבֵד with much people, Josh 22:8; Judg 11:34; 1Kgs 10:2; 2Kgs 5:9; Jer 41:15; Exod 21:22 and he shall give בִּפְלִלִים with arbitrators (arbitrators being employed), Isa 8:16 בְּלִמֻּדָֽי׃ with my disciples, i.e. having them present; Exod 8:1; Exod 8:13; Jer 11:19 עֵץ בְּלַחְמוֺ a tree with its sap; 1Kgs 19:19 וְהוּא בִּשְׁנֵים הֶעָשָׂר and he with the 12th.
  b. often of what one takes or brings with one: Gen 32:11 בְּמַקְלִי with my staff I passed over Jordan, Judg 11:34; Judg 15:1; 1Sam 1:24; Isa 7:24; Mic 6:6 and elsewhere קִדֵּם בְּ to go to meet with; בָּא בְּ to come with Lev 16:3; Ps 66:13; Ps 71:16. (In Arabic this usage is developed more fully than in Hebrew, and literally to come with, literally to go away with, are used idiomatically in the sense of to bring, and to take away respectively: W^{AG ii. § 56 b}.) Hence בְּאֵין, בְּאֶפֶס, בִּבְלִי, בְּלֹא = without.
  c. of concomitant (or surrounding) conditions, as בְּחִפָּזוֺן with (or in) haste; בְּצֶדֶק with (or in) righteousness; בִּשְׁגָגָה in error; בִּתְרוּעָה וּבְקוֺל שׁוֺפָר 2Sam 6:15 often in such phrases as בְּצִדְקָֽתְךָ Ps 31:2 in thy righteousness; בְּחַסְדְּךָ in thy mercy Exod 15:13 — בְּאָשְׁרִי with my happiness! = happy am I Gen 30:13; Ps 29:4 the voice of ׳י is בַּכֹּחַ with power = is powerful; Exod 32:12 בְּרָעָה with evil purpose; Ps 73:8 בְרָע in wickedness; Ps 90:10 בִּגְבוּרֹת with strength.

2. of the instrument or means: as
  a. בַּחֶרֶב with the sword Exod 5:3 etc.; בְּרַגְלַיִם with the feet Isa 28:3 . . . בְּיַד by the hand of ... (see below יָד); to stone בְּאֶבֶן or בָּֽאֲבָנִים with stones Lev 20:2; Num 14:10 etc.; שָׁתָה בְּ to drink with a cup Gen 44:5; Amos 6:6 (compare in Aramaic Dan 5:2); to cry בְּגָרוֺן with the throat Isa 58:1 to burn בָּאֵשׁ in or with fire (often); to slay or to perish בָּרָעָב through hunger or בַּדֶּבֶר through pestilence Exod 16:3; Jer 21:9 + often (compare Job 27:15 בַּמָּוֶת יִקָּבֵ֑רוּ); to save with or by Judg 7:7; 1Sam 14:6.
  b. idiomatic, with certain verbs, as שָׁחַק בְּ to play with Job 40:29 עָבַד בְּ to labour with a person (as with an instrument), i.e. to use him as a slave Exod 1:14; Jer 22:13; Jer 27:7 and elsewhere; עָשָׂה בְּ Jer 18:23; Neh 9:24; Dan 11:7; Esth 1:15; Esth 2:11; Esth 3:11; Esth 6:6 & perhaps דִּבֶּר בְּ (of God) to speak with one Num 12:2; Num 12:8a and elsewhere (see Ew^{§ 217 f.} (3); Dr^{Sm ii. 23, 2}). Further בַּבַּעַל, הִתְנַבֵּא ביהוה to prophesy with or by ׳י or Baal, ׳י or Baal being the inspirer; שָׁאַל בְּ, דָּרַשׁ to inquire or ask by means of a god (or oracle).
  c. ביהוה through ׳י (= by His aid) in many connections, as Ps 18:30; Ps 44:6; Ps 56:5; Ps 56:11; Ps 60:14; Isa 26:13; Isa 45:25; Hos 1:7; Zech 10:12 with passive verbs Deut 33:29; Isa 45:17 (to be saved): and even of the immediate cause Num 36:2 to be commanded ביהוה by ׳י, Gen 9:6 בָּאָדָם by man shall his blood be shed (both unusual), Hos 14:4.
  d. allied is the use of בְּ in such phrases as to bless, swear, speak, prophesy, etc., בְּשֵׁם in the name of ... (i.e. the name being used or appealed to in the act) Deut 6:13; Jer 11:21, etc. (so to swear ביהוה by ׳י Josh 2:12 etc.,בִּימִינוֺ Isa 62:8 to bless בְּךָ with thee Gen 48:20, to swear with me Ps 102:9, i.e. using my name in oath, Jer 29:22); almost = in the authority and power of 1Sam 17:45; 1Sam 25:5; 1Kgs 21:8; Mic 4:5; Zech 10:12; Ps 20:6; Ps 44:6; Ps 89:25.
  e. בַּמָּה or בַּמֶּה by means of what? how? Gen 15:8; Judg 6:15; Judg 16:5; Judg 16:6; Judg 16:10; 1Kgs 22:21; Mal 2:17. בְּזֹאת by means of this Gen 42:15; Gen 42:33. Exod 7:17; Num 16:28 with this = on this condition Gen 34:15; Gen 34:22; 1Sam 11:2; Isa 27:9.

3. of cost or price (the Beth pretii), the price, whether given or received, being treated as the instrumental means by which the act is accomplished, with, for, at the cost of: thus regularly
  a. with שָׂכַר hire Gen 30:16, פָּדָה redeem Exod 34:20, אֵרֵשׂ betroth 2Sam 3:14, קָנָה buy 2Sam 24:24; 1Kgs 2:23 בְּנַפְשׁוֺ at the cost of his life hath A. spoken this word, 2Sam 23:17 who went בְּנַפְשׂוֺתָם at peril of their lives, Prov 7:23; Lam 5:9; Josh 6:26 בִּבְכֹרוֺ יְיַסְּדֶנָּה at the price of his firstborn shall he lay its foundations, 1Chr 12:19 בְּרָאשֵׁינוּ to the jeopardy of our heads he will fall away, etc.
  b. with מָכַר sell Deut 21:14 עָבַד serve Gen 29:18; Gen 29:20; Hos 12:13 הֵמִיר exchange Lev 27:10; Hos 4:7 their glory I will exchange for ignominy, Ps 106:20 נָתַן בְּנֶשֶׁךְ to give for interest Lev 25:37; Ps 15:5 in other connections Gen 23:9; Gen 47:16f.; Isa 45:13; Lam 1:11; Song 8:7; Song 8:11; Deut 19:21 נֶפֶשׁ בְּנֶפֶשׁ עַיִן בְּעַיִן life for life, eye for eye; Isa 2:22 בַּמֶּה נֶחְשָׁב הוּא at what is he to be accounted? Isa 7:23 a thousand vines בְּאֶלֶף כָּ֑סֶף at a thousand (shekels of) silver. — Hence (perhaps) the idiomatic usages שָׁנָה בְשָׁנָה year for year, one year like another, annually Deut 15:20 and elsewhere; יוֺם בְּיוֺם (late), כְּיוֺם בְּיוֺם 1Sam 18:10 כְּפַעַם בְּפַעַם (see יוֺם, פַּעַם); חֹדֶשׁ בְּחֹדֶשׁ 1Chr 27:1.

4. rather peculiarly, in certain cases where the object of an action may be treated as the instrument by which it is accomplished: as הֵנַיעַ בְּראֹשׁ to shake with the head Jer 18:6; Job 16:4 (as well as הֵנִיעַ ראֹשׁ Ps 22:8); to open with the mouth Job 16:10, with the lips Ps 22:8 to gnash with the teeth Job 16:9 (to gnash the teeth Ps 35:16); to wink with the eye Prov 6:13 (to wink the eye, ib. Prov 10:10); נָתַן בְּקוֺל to utter with the voice Ps 46:7; Ps 68:34; Jer 12:8 (but נָתַן קוֺל is more common); to stretch out with the hand Lam 1:17 הֵרִים בַּמַּטֶּה (unusual) Exod 7:20. So קָרָא בְּשֵׁם to call with the name — in different senses, according to the context, namely, to proclaim Exod 33:19; Exod 34:5; Isa 44:5; Ps 49:12 to invoke Gen 4:26; Gen 12:8; 1Kgs 18:24-26; Isa 12:4 to name honourably Isa 43:1; Isa 45:3. compare Ew^{§ 282 d} Ges^{«GKC:119»§ 119}. 3 b R. W^{AG ii. § 56 b} β De^{Job 31:12}; Prov 20:30.

5. with a causal force, through, on account of: Gen 18:28 הֲתַשְׁחִית בַּחֲמִשָּׁה wilt thou destroy on account of five the whole city? Lev 26:39; Num 16:26; Deut 9:4; Deut 9:5; Deut 24:16 אִישׁ בְּחֶטְאוֺ יוּמָֽתוּ׃ they shall be put to death, each because of his own sin (compare Jer 31:30; Ezek 3:18, see Ezek 18:17) 2Sam 3:27; 2Sam 14:7 (compare Jonah 1:14) Isa 7:4 (|| מִן) Isa 28:7 (|| מִן) Isa 50:1; Isa 53:5; Isa 57:17; Jer 51:46; Ps 5:8; Ps 5:11; Ps 6:8 (|| מִן) Ps 31:10; Ps 32:3; Ps 42:10; Ps 90:9; Ps 94:23. So in בַּאֲשֶׁר, בִּגְלַל (see אֲשֶׁר, גָּלָל), & (sometimes) in בִּדְבַר at, through, the word of ....

6. of the material with which a work is wrought, both absolute עָשָׁה בַזָּהָב to work with gold Exod 31:4; 1Kgs 7:14 and to make a thing with (in our idiom, of) gold Exod 38:8; Ezek 7:20; 1Kgs 15:22 (בָּנָה). Without a verb Lev 13:52; 2Chr 9:18.

7. with for although, in spite of (compare German bei alle dem): Lev 26:27; Num 14:11 בְּכֹל הָאֹתוֺת in spite of all the signs that I have wrought, Deut 1:32; Isa 47:9; Ps 27:3 especially in the phrase בְּכָלזֿאת for all this Isa 5:25; Isa 9:11; Isa 9:16; Isa 9:20; Isa 10:4; Ps 78:32 and elsewhere (compare in Arabic Qor 9:25.)

8. of a standard of measurement or computation, with, by: Exod 12:4 בְּמִכְסַת נְפָשֹׁת by the computation of souls; Lev 5:25 and elsewhere בְּעֶרְכְּךָ by thy reckoning; Ezek 4:10 בְּמִסְפָּר by number Deut 25:2 +; . . . בְּמִסְפַּר by the number of ... Lev 25:15; Lev 25:50; Num 1:2, etc.; בְּשֶׁקֶל הַקֹּדֶשׁ Exod 30:13 and elsewhere (in P); בָּאַמָּה often (see אַמָּה); Deut 3:11 בְּאַמַּת אִישׁ by the cubit of a man; 2Sam 14:26 בְּאֶבֶן הַמֶּלֶךְ. Of a model, Gen 1:26 בְּצַלְמֵנוּ in our image, Gen 5:1; Gen 5:3; Exod 25:40 בְּדֶרֶךְ with the way (= in the manner) of ... Isa 10:24; Isa 10:26; Amos 4:10.

III. 5.]
  d. with verbs expressive of sensible perception, to denote the pleasurable or attentive exercise of the faculty concerned, as שָׁמַע בְּ to listen to, הִבִּיט בְּ, רָאָה, חָזָה, to look upon, הֵרִיחַ בְּ to smell at (see these words).
  e. occasionally also with verbs of speaking, thinking, mentioning, knowing, to denote the object of the action, as דִּבֶּר בְּ to speak about Deut 6:7; Ps 87:3 and elsewhere (see below דִּבֶּר); הִלֵּל בְּ, הָגָה, שִׂיחַ Ps 44:9; Ps 63:7; Ps 69:13 יָדַע Jer 38:24 זָכַר once Jer 3:16, הִזְכִּיר often; Ps 71:6 בְּךָ תְהִלָּתִי of thee is my praise.

1. as a temporal conjunction, as Gen 2:4 בְּהִבָּֽרְאָם in their being created = when they were created, Gen 4:8 בִּהְיוֺתָם in their being (= when they were) in the field; and constantly. Sometimes it has in appearance the force of after that, as Gen 33:18; Exod 3:12; Exod 13:17 but as a rule this is really due to the action denoted by the infinitive being treated as extending over a period within which the action of the principal verb takes place: so especially in the phrase בְּצֵאת יִשְׂרָאֵל מִמִּצְרַיִם, even of events at the close of the 40 years, Deut 4:45; Deut 23:5; Josh 5:4, the whole period being treated as that in which Egypt was left (compare 2Kgs 2:1, where the time included is future). Cases, however, occur in which this explanation will hardly apply, as Deut 27:4; Deut 24:12.

2. as a causal conjunction (compare above III. 5), as Gen 19:16 ׳בְּחֶמְלַת י עָלָיו through J.'s having compassion upon him, Exod 16:7; Exod 33:16; Exod 34:29; Deut 1:27 אֹתָנוּ ׳בְּשִׂנְאַת י through J.'s hating us, etc. (Deut 9:28 similarly מִן), 1Kgs 18:18 (= in that ye have ...) Ezek 9:8; Ezek 43:8; Ezek 44:7; 2Chr 28:6.

3. as a concessive conjunction, when = though: Isa 1:15; Ps 46:3 בְּהָמִיר אָ֑רֶץ though the earth do change.