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Hebrew neg · H3809

לָא

lalaw

not

82 uses in the Hebrew text, one for each word STEP Bible has tagged with this key

Concordance spelling: lâʼ

Word page · Part of the concordance, one page for every word of the Hebrew and Greek text. Strong's H3809is this word's number in James Strong's 1890 index of the King James Bible.

  • 3 of 39
    Old Testament books
  • 19
    spellings

The definition in full

Strong's key (1890) · H3809

{not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no;}

The King James renders it: or even, neither, no(-ne, -r), (can-) not, as nothing, without.

James Strong, The Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890), public domain. Strong indexed the King James text, and this site quotes his entry as that index.

Summary

la is rendered "not". It stands 82 times in the Hebrew text, across three books.

  • Sixty-nine of the uses stand in Daniel, more than in any other book.
  • Its first use in canonical order opens the ledger below.Ezra 4:13Let it now be known to the king that if that city is rebuilt and its walls are restored, they will not pay tribute, duty, or toll, and the royal treasury will suffer.
  • The Greek text spells it nineteen different ways.

The first use

Let it now be known to the king that if that city is rebuilt and its walls are restored, they will not pay tribute, duty, or toll, and the royal treasury will suffer.

Ezra 4:13לָ֣א

The first use, in the order of the Old Testament's books.

Where the word stands

Sixty-nine of the word's eighty-two uses are in Daniel.

The other 36 Old Testament books never use the word.

What the word means

Each meaning, and the words it is translated by

How the Greek text is glossed, word by word

  • not67
  • and not11
  • ¿ not3
  • as not1

The words built on the same word-part

Each word below begins with the same letters this one begins with. A shared word-part shows a family. It does not settle what any one of them means, so each word carries its own uses on its own page. Scholars call that shared part the stem.

לָאָהlaahbe wearyUses19
לָאטlatsecretUses2
לָאַטlaatto coverUses1

All 82, in canonical order

Every use, in order

Every use, grouped by book, with its verse.

19 spellings and their grammar

STEP Bible tags every word of the Hebrew and Greek text with its spelling and its grammar. Both lists below count the rows printed underneath, written out in English, with the code beside each one as it was tagged.

How it is spelled

  • לָ֥א22
  • לָ֣א15
  • לָא־11
  • לָֽא־7
  • וְלָֽא־5
  • לָ֤א5
  • לָ֧א3
  • וְלָ֥א2
  • וְלָא־2
  • הֲלָא֩1
  • הֲלָ֥א1
  • הֲלָ֧א1

and 7 more spellings in the ledger below.

The grammar of each form

  • negative (“not”)67ATn
  • conjunction (“and”) + negative (“not”)11AC/Tn
  • question particle + negative (“not”)3ATi/Tn
  • preposition + negative (“not”)1AR/Tn

Ezra

twelve uses
  • Let it now be known to the king that if that city is rebuilt and its walls are restored, they will not pay tribute, duty, or toll, and the royal treasury will suffer.

    Ezra 4:13

    • לָ֣אla'negative (“not”)tagged: not
  • Now because we are in the service of the palace and it is not fitting for us to allow the king to be dishonored, we have sent to inform the king

    Ezra 4:14

    • לָ֥אla'negative (“not”)tagged: not
  • We advise the king that if this city is rebuilt and its walls are restored, you will have no dominion west of the Euphrates.

    Ezra 4:16

    • לָ֥אla'negative (“not”)tagged: not
  • Now, therefore, issue an order for these men to stop, so that this city will not be rebuilt until I so order.

    Ezra 4:21

    • לָ֣אla'negative (“not”)tagged: not
  • But the eye of their God was on the elders of the Jews, so that they were not stopped until a report was sent to Darius and written instructions about this matter were returned.

    Ezra 5:5

    • וְלָא־vela'-conjunction (“and”) + negative (“not”)tagged: and not
  • So this Sheshbazzar came and laid the foundation of the house of God in Jerusalem, and from that time until now it has been under construction, but it has not yet been completed.”

    Ezra 5:16

    • וְלָ֥אvela'conjunction (“and”) + negative (“not”)tagged: and not
  • I hereby decree what you must do for these elders of the Jews who are rebuilding this house of God: The cost is to be paid in full to these men from the royal treasury out of the taxes of the provinces west of the Euphrates, so that the work will not be hindered.

    Ezra 6:8

    • לָ֥אla'negative (“not”)tagged: not
  • Whatever is needed—young bulls, rams, and lambs for burnt offerings to the God of heaven, as well as wheat, salt, wine, and oil, as requested by the priests in Jerusalem—must be given to them daily without fail.

    Ezra 6:9

    • לָ֥אla'negative (“not”)tagged: not
  • up to a hundred talents of silver, a hundred cors of wheat, a hundred baths of wine, a hundred baths of olive oil, and salt without limit.

    Ezra 7:22

    • לָ֥אla'negative (“not”)tagged: not
  • And be advised that you have no authority to impose tribute, duty, or toll on any of the priests, Levites, singers, doorkeepers, temple servants, or other servants of this house of God.

    Ezra 7:24

    • לָ֥אla'negative (“not”)tagged: not
  • And you, Ezra, according to the wisdom of your God which you possess, are to appoint magistrates and judges to judge all the people west of the Euphrates—all who know the laws of your God. And you are to teach these laws to anyone who does not know them.

    Ezra 7:25

    • לָ֦אla'negative (“not”)tagged: not
  • If anyone does not keep the law of your God and the law of the king, let a strict judgment be executed against him, whether death, banishment, confiscation of property, or imprisonment.

    Ezra 7:26

    • לָא֩la'negative (“not”)tagged: not

Jeremiah

one use
  • Thus you are to tell them: “These gods, who have made neither the heavens nor the earth, will perish from this earth and from under these heavens.”

    Jeremiah 10:11

    • לָ֣אla'negative (“not”)tagged: not

Daniel

sixty-nine uses
  • The king replied to the astrologers, “My word is final: If you do not tell me the dream and its interpretation, you will be cut into pieces and your houses will be reduced to rubble.

    Daniel 2:5

    • לָ֤אla'negative (“not”)tagged: not
  • If you do not tell me the dream, there is only one decree for you. You have conspired to speak before me false and fraudulent words, hoping the situation will change. Therefore tell me the dream, and I will know that you can give me its interpretation.”

    Daniel 2:9

    • לָ֨אla'negative (“not”)tagged: not
  • The astrologers answered the king, “No one on earth can do what the king requests! No king, however great and powerful, has ever asked anything like this of any magician, enchanter, or astrologer.

    Daniel 2:10

    • לָֽא־la'-negative (“not”)tagged: not
    • לָ֣אla'negative (“not”)tagged: not
  • What the king requests is so difficult that no one can tell it to him except the gods, whose dwelling is not with mortals.”

    Daniel 2:11

    • לָ֣אla'negative (“not”)tagged: not
    • לָ֥אla'negative (“not”)tagged: not
  • urging them to plead for mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that Daniel and his friends would not be killed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.

    Daniel 2:18

    • לָ֤אla'negative (“not”)tagged: not
  • Daniel answered the king, “No wise man, enchanter, medium, or magician can explain to the king the mystery of which he inquires.

    Daniel 2:27

    • לָ֧אla'negative (“not”)tagged: not
  • And to me this mystery has been revealed, not because I have more wisdom than any man alive, but in order that the interpretation might be made known to the king, and that you may understand the thoughts of your mind.

    Daniel 2:30

    • לָ֤אla'negative (“not”)tagged: not
  • As you watched, a stone was cut out, but not by human hands. It struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay, and crushed them.

    Daniel 2:34

    • לָ֣אla'negative (“not”)tagged: not
  • Then the iron, clay, bronze, silver, and gold were shattered and became like chaff on the threshing floor in summer. The wind carried them away, and not a trace of them could be found. But the stone that had struck the statue became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.

    Daniel 2:35

    • לָא־la'-negative (“not”)tagged: not
  • As you saw the iron mixed with clay, so the peoples will mix with one another, but will not hold together any more than iron mixes with clay.

    Daniel 2:43

    • וְלָֽא־vela'-conjunction (“and”) + negative (“not”)tagged: and not
    • לָ֥אla'negative (“not”)tagged: not
  • In the days of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will shatter all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, but will itself stand forever.

    Daniel 2:44

    • לָ֣אla'negative (“not”)tagged: not
    • לָ֣אla'negative (“not”)tagged: not
  • And just as you saw a stone being cut out of the mountain without human hands, and it shattered the iron, bronze, clay, silver, and gold, so the great God has told the king what will happen in the future. The dream is true, and its interpretation is trustworthy.”

    Daniel 2:45

    • לָ֣אla'negative (“not”)tagged: not
  • And whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into the blazing fiery furnace.”

    Daniel 3:6

    • לָ֥אla'negative (“not”)tagged: not
  • and that whoever does not fall down and worship will be thrown into the blazing fiery furnace.

    Daniel 3:11

    • לָ֥אla'negative (“not”)tagged: not
  • But there are some Jews you have appointed to manage the province of Babylon—Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego—who have ignored you, O king, and have refused to serve your gods or worship the golden statue you have set up.”

    Daniel 3:12

    • לָא־la'-negative (“not”)tagged: not
    • לָ֣אla'negative (“not”)tagged: not
    • לָ֥אla'negative (“not”)tagged: not
  • and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, is it true that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden statue I have set up?

    Daniel 3:14

    • לָ֤אla'negative (“not”)tagged: not
    • לָ֥אla'negative (“not”)tagged: not
  • Now, if you are ready, as soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the statue I have made. But if you refuse to worship, you will be thrown at once into the blazing fiery furnace. Then what god will be able to deliver you from my hands?”

    Daniel 3:15

    • לָ֣אla'negative (“not”)tagged: not
  • Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter.

    Daniel 3:16

    • לָֽא־la'-negative (“not”)tagged: not
  • But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden statue you have set up.”

    Daniel 3:18

    • לָ֔אla'negative (“not”)tagged: not
    • לָא־la'-negative (“not”)tagged: not
    • לָ֥אla'negative (“not”)tagged: not
  • Suddenly King Nebuchadnezzar jumped up in amazement and asked his advisers, “Did we not throw three men, firmly bound, into the fire?” “Certainly, O king,” they replied.

    Daniel 3:24

    • הֲלָא֩hala'question particle + negative (“not”)tagged: ¿ not
  • “Look!” he exclaimed. “I see four men, unbound and unharmed, walking around in the fire—and the fourth looks like a son of the gods!”

    Daniel 3:25

    • לָא־la'-negative (“not”)tagged: not
  • and when the satraps, prefects, governors, and royal advisers had gathered around, they saw that the fire had no effect on the bodies of these men. Not a hair of their heads was singed, their robes were unaffected, and there was no smell of fire on them.

    Daniel 3:27

    • לָֽא־la'-negative (“not”)tagged: not
    • לָ֣אla'negative (“not”)tagged: not
    • לָ֣אla'negative (“not”)tagged: not
    • לָ֥אla'negative (“not”)tagged: not
  • Nebuchadnezzar declared, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent His angel and delivered His servants who trusted in Him. They violated the king’s command and risked their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.

    Daniel 3:28

    • לָֽא־la'-negative (“not”)tagged: not
    • וְלָֽא־vela'-conjunction (“and”) + negative (“not”)tagged: and not
  • Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything offensive against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego will be cut into pieces and their houses reduced to rubble. For there is no other god who can deliver in this way.”

    Daniel 3:29

    • לָ֤אla'negative (“not”)tagged: not
  • When the magicians, enchanters, astrologers, and diviners came in, I told them the dream, and they could not interpret it for me.

    Daniel 4:7

    • לָא־la'-negative (“not”)tagged: not
  • “O Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you and that no mystery baffles you. So explain to me the visions I saw in my dream, and their interpretation.

    Daniel 4:9

    • לָא־la'-negative (“not”)tagged: not
  • This is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, saw. Now, Belteshazzar, tell me the interpretation, because none of the wise men of my kingdom can interpret it for me. But you are able, because the spirit of the holy gods is in you.”

    Daniel 4:18

    • לָֽא־la'-negative (“not”)tagged: not
  • the king exclaimed, “Is this not Babylon the Great, which I myself have built by the might of my power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?”

    Daniel 4:30

    • הֲלָ֥אhala'question particle + negative (“not”)tagged: ¿ not
  • All the peoples of the earth are counted as nothing, and He does as He pleases with the army of heaven and the peoples of the earth. There is no one who can restrain His hand or say to Him, ‘What have You done?’”

    Daniel 4:35

    • כְּלָ֣הkelahpreposition + negative (“not”)tagged: as not
    • וְלָ֤אvela'conjunction (“and”) + negative (“not”)tagged: and not
  • So all the king’s wise men came in, but they could not read the inscription or interpret it for him.

    Daniel 5:8

    • וְלָֽא־vela'-conjunction (“and”) + negative (“not”)tagged: and not
  • Now the wise men and enchanters were brought before me to read this inscription and interpret it for me, but they could not give its interpretation.

    Daniel 5:15

    • וְלָֽא־vela'-conjunction (“and”) + negative (“not”)tagged: and not
  • But you his son, O Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, even though you knew all this.

    Daniel 5:22

    • לָ֥אla'negative (“not”)tagged: not
  • Instead, you have exalted yourself against the Lord of heaven. The vessels from His house were brought to you, and as you drank wine from them with your nobles, wives, and concubines, you praised your gods of silver and gold, bronze and iron, wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or understand. But you have failed to glorify the God who holds in His hand your very breath and all your ways.

    Daniel 5:23

    • לָֽא־la'-negative (“not”)tagged: not
    • וְלָא־vela'-conjunction (“and”) + negative (“not”)tagged: and not
    • וְלָ֥אvela'conjunction (“and”) + negative (“not”)tagged: and not
    • לָ֥אla'negative (“not”)tagged: not
  • and over them three administrators, including Daniel, to whom these satraps were accountable so that the king would not suffer loss.

    Daniel 6:2

    • לָֽא־la'-negative (“not”)tagged: not
  • Thus the administrators and satraps sought a charge against Daniel concerning the kingdom, but they could find no charge or corruption, because he was trustworthy, and no negligence or corruption was found in him.

    Daniel 6:4

    • לָא־la'-negative (“not”)tagged: not
    • לָ֥אla'negative (“not”)tagged: not
  • Finally these men said, “We will never find any charge against this Daniel, unless we find something against him concerning the law of his God.”

    Daniel 6:5

    • לָ֧אla'negative (“not”)tagged: not
  • Therefore, O king, establish the decree and sign the document so that it cannot be changed—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.”

    Daniel 6:8

    • לָ֧אla'negative (“not”)tagged: not
    • לָ֥אla'negative (“not”)tagged: not
  • So they approached the king and asked about his royal decree: “Did you not sign a decree that for thirty days any man who petitions any god or man except you, O king, will be thrown into the den of lions?” The king replied, “According to the law of the Medes and Persians the order stands, and it cannot be repealed.”

    Daniel 6:12

    • הֲלָ֧אhala'question particle + negative (“not”)tagged: ¿ not
    • לָ֥אla'negative (“not”)tagged: not
  • Then they told the king, “Daniel, one of the exiles from Judah, shows no regard for you, O king, or for the decree that you have signed. He still makes his petition three times a day.”

    Daniel 6:13

    • לָא־la'-negative (“not”)tagged: not
  • Then the men approached the king together and said to him, “Remember, O king, that by the law of the Medes and Persians no decree or ordinance established by the king can be changed.”

    Daniel 6:15

    • לָ֥אla'negative (“not”)tagged: not
  • A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the rings of his nobles, so that nothing concerning Daniel could be changed.

    Daniel 6:17

    • לָא־la'-negative (“not”)tagged: not
  • Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting. No entertainment was brought before him, and sleep fled from him.

    Daniel 6:18

    • לָא־la'-negative (“not”)tagged: not
  • My God sent His angel and shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, for I was found innocent in His sight, and I have done no wrong against you, O king.”

    Daniel 6:22

    • וְלָ֣אvela'conjunction (“and”) + negative (“not”)tagged: and not
    • לָ֥אla'negative (“not”)tagged: not
  • The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den, and when Daniel was lifted out of the den, no wounds whatsoever were found on him, because he had trusted in his God.

    Daniel 6:23

    • לָא־la'-negative (“not”)tagged: not
  • At the command of the king, the men who had falsely accused Daniel were brought and thrown into the den of lions—they and their children and wives. And before they had reached the bottom of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.

    Daniel 6:24

    • וְלָֽא־vela'-conjunction (“and”) + negative (“not”)tagged: and not
  • I hereby decree that in every part of my kingdom, men are to tremble in fear before the God of Daniel: For He is the living God, and He endures forever; His kingdom will never be destroyed, and His dominion will never end.

    Daniel 6:26

    • לָ֣אla'negative (“not”)tagged: not
  • And He was given dominion, glory, and kingship, that the people of every nation and language should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and His kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.

    Daniel 7:14

    • לָ֣אla'negative (“not”)tagged: not
    • לָ֥אla'negative (“not”)tagged: not

The letters

Where it leads

How the numbers are counted

Every count on this page comes from STEP Bible's tagged Hebrew and Greek text, the same text the ledger prints. A use is counted once each time the tagging marks a word with this key.

Spellings are counted as the Greek text spells them, with the sentence's own punctuation taken off the word first, so a form that ends a clause is not counted as a second spelling.

The words it stands beside are the nouns, verbs and adjectives immediately before or after it, counted in every verse where the word stands. The article, the conjunctions and the prepositions are left out, because they stand beside every word.

The family is read from the lexicon by the stem the two words share, with the accents off, and a person or a place named on the stem is left out.

Hebrew and Greek text, word tagging and grammar: STEP Bible (www.STEPBible.org), Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0. Their grammar codes are written out in English here and shown as tagged beside each one.

Meaning and senses: STEP Bible TBESH gloss (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Dictionary key: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890, public domain). English verse text: Berean Standard Bible (public domain, 2023).

Revised 2026-09-05. Every cited work, the sources registry →