Hebrew · H3588

כִּי

(By implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed

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כִּיH3588

Pronunciationkiy

What does כִּי (kiy) mean in the Bible?

כִּי (kiy): Multivalent conjunctive particle whose meaning shifts dramatically based on context and attached particles; foundational to logical and causal relationships throughout biblical discourse.

Full entry for כִּי (H3588) · Open the biblical lexicon

Questions this entry answers

What does כִּי (kiy) mean in the Bible?

How does the BSB render H3588?

The BSB source-word alignment has 4,486 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include for (1,765), that (571), because (518), . . . (302), When (192).

Where does כִּי (kiy) appear in Scripture?

The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 1:4. Its strongest book concentrations include Psalms (443), Jeremiah (433), Isaiah (332), Genesis (290).

Source Word Evidence

BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.

How English Renders It

for1,765×Genesis 2:5, Genesis 2:17, Genesis 2:23, Genesis 3:5

that571×Genesis 1:4, Genesis 1:10, Genesis 1:12, Genesis 1:18

because518×Genesis 2:3, Genesis 3:10, Genesis 3:14, Genesis 3:17

. . .302×Genesis 13:10, Genesis 19:2, Genesis 20:10, Genesis 20:11

When192×Genesis 4:12, Genesis 6:1, Genesis 12:12, Genesis 26:8

-133×Genesis 12:18, Genesis 18:20, Genesis 22:17, Genesis 31:36

If120×Genesis 4:24, Genesis 37:26, Exodus 12:19, Exodus 12:48

but117×Genesis 15:4, Genesis 18:15, Genesis 24:4, Genesis 40:14

since88×Genesis 4:25, Genesis 38:26, Genesis 42:5, Genesis 42:23

though53×Exodus 13:17, Leviticus 11:4, Leviticus 11:5, Leviticus 11:6

Surely37×Genesis 29:32, Genesis 31:16, Genesis 31:42, Exodus 4:25

Indeed36×Genesis 30:30, Genesis 32:10, Genesis 33:10, Genesis 44:32

Instead24×Genesis 35:10, Exodus 23:24, Numbers 10:30, Numbers 27:3

and21×Genesis 3:6, Genesis 45:26, Exodus 3:7, Exodus 3:11

But if21×Exodus 21:14, Leviticus 11:38, Leviticus 13:31, Leviticus 13:42

except21×Genesis 39:6, Genesis 39:9, Leviticus 21:2, Numbers 14:30

although19×Genesis 48:14, Exodus 34:9, Deuteronomy 14:7, Deuteronomy 32:52

Yet18×Genesis 21:7, Numbers 24:22, Numbers 32:19, 2 Chronicles 30:18

how14×1 Samuel 28:21, 1 Kings 21:29, 2 Kings 6:32, Job 22:12

even13×1 Samuel 14:39, 2 Samuel 5:6, 2 Chronicles 25:8, Job 8:6

vvv13×Genesis 31:31, Numbers 22:33, Deuteronomy 7:17, 2 Samuel 10:9

and that12×Genesis 49:15, Numbers 11:29, Joshua 2:9, Joshua 8:21

but only10×Exodus 12:9, Numbers 26:33, 1 Kings 22:18, 1 Chronicles 2:34

so10×Genesis 18:15, 1 Samuel 2:21, 2 Samuel 16:11, 2 Chronicles 20:10

Yes10×Ruth 3:12, 2 Samuel 14:19, Job 30:23, Psalms 38:18

so that9×Numbers 11:12, Joshua 2:9, Judges 3:22, Judges 13:17

And if8×Exodus 21:7, Exodus 22:27, Leviticus 13:51, Leviticus 24:17

And when8×Genesis 24:41, Deuteronomy 6:10, Deuteronomy 15:13, Deuteronomy 31:21

even though7×Genesis 8:21, Deuteronomy 29:19, 1 Kings 2:26, Ezra 3:3

Now if7×Leviticus 2:4, Leviticus 13:40, Leviticus 25:35, Leviticus 27:14

to7×1 Samuel 28:22, 1 Samuel 29:8, 1 Chronicles 9:28, Job 16:3

as6×Judges 14:10, 1 Samuel 1:12, 1 Samuel 17:48, 1 Kings 20:41

Now6×Leviticus 25:20, Numbers 21:13, 2 Chronicles 5:11, 2 Chronicles 6:13

only5×Deuteronomy 12:14, 1 Kings 17:12, 2 Kings 10:23, 2 Chronicles 26:18

saying5×Genesis 4:25, Genesis 41:51, Genesis 41:52, Judges 16:24

then5×Job 9:14, Job 12:2, Ecclesiastes 6:8, Isaiah 7:9

unless5×Genesis 32:26, Leviticus 22:6, Ruth 3:18, Esther 2:14

who5×Proverbs 30:22, Proverbs 30:23, Ecclesiastes 5:1

Rather4×Exodus 34:13, Joshua 22:27, Jeremiah 43:3, Amos 7:14

Therefore4×Leviticus 18:29, 2 Chronicles 16:9, Psalms 116:10, Ecclesiastes 5:7

[or]3×1 Kings 8:37, 2 Chronicles 6:28

after3×Exodus 13:11, Numbers 15:2, Deuteronomy 4:25

And because3×Exodus 1:21, Numbers 15:34, 1 Chronicles 5:20

and since3×2 Samuel 19:32, 2 Kings 1:17, 2 Chronicles 26:10

by3×Numbers 21:7, 1 Samuel 20:34, Psalms 109:21

Even if3×Ruth 1:12, Jeremiah 51:53, Habakkuk 1:5

For when3×Exodus 15:19, Job 16:22, Ezekiel 14:7

however3×Joshua 18:7, Ecclesiastes 9:4, Ezekiel 44:25

Just because3×Genesis 29:15, 2 Samuel 10:3, 1 Chronicles 19:3

Like3×Leviticus 14:13, Isaiah 54:6, Lamentations 4:3

Nevertheless3×1 Kings 15:4, 2 Chronicles 12:8, Isaiah 9:1

Suppose3×Deuteronomy 22:13, Job 34:31, Ezekiel 33:2

than3×1 Samuel 27:1, Ecclesiastes 3:12, Ecclesiastes 8:15

Whenever3×Exodus 18:16, Judges 2:18, Judges 12:5

[who]2×2 Samuel 8:10, 1 Chronicles 18:10

about2×2 Kings 20:12, Isaiah 39:1

and how2×Exodus 18:1, Job 36:9

and indeed2×1 Kings 12:15, 2 Chronicles 10:15

As for2×Exodus 32:1, Exodus 32:23

But when2×Job 30:26, Psalms 120:7

for if2×Exodus 20:25, Numbers 32:15

For though2×Proverbs 24:16, Isaiah 30:4

From2×1 Samuel 27:8, 2 Chronicles 22:6

How then2×2 Chronicles 32:14, Isaiah 36:20

if you had not2×1 Samuel 25:34, 2 Samuel 2:27

in2×Job 31:25, Psalms 107:30

In fact2×1 Samuel 19:4, 2 Samuel 13:32

now that2×Job 32:16

then that2×Deuteronomy 6:25, Job 11:6

while2×Proverbs 23:31, Lamentations 1:19

without2×Isaiah 55:10, Amos 3:7

you2×1 Samuel 2:15, Psalms 138:2

(since1×Exodus 29:22

[and became]1×2 Chronicles 16:10

[and know] that1×Genesis 46:30

[and]1×Joshua 7:15

[and] if1×Deuteronomy 30:10

[from other duties]1×1 Chronicles 9:33

[it is]1×Numbers 11:14

[or] when1×2 Chronicles 6:28

[saying,] “Because1×1 Samuel 1:20

[there]1×Jeremiah 46:18

[We did this] because1×2 Samuel 19:42

[which was given this name] because1×1 Chronicles 4:14

After all1×Genesis 13:8

all that1×Psalms 22:31

and although1×Joshua 17:18

and being1×1 Samuel 4:18

And even if1×Jeremiah 38:15

and so1×Esther 1:20

And though1×1 Chronicles 5:2

And whether1×Isaiah 30:21

are indeed1×Isaiah 59:12

As surely as1×1 Samuel 14:39

as to1×Job 41:10

as well1×Ezra 10:1

at how1×1 Samuel 14:29

At last1×Genesis 26:22

At least1×Isaiah 39:8

because [of what]1×Psalms 39:9

because [You]1×Psalms 59:9

Because of1×Lamentations 3:22

because this will mean that1×1 Chronicles 14:15

because you are1×Hosea 13:9

behalf1×1 Samuel 14:6

but [a famine]1×Amos 8:11

but [acted]1×2 Chronicles 25:4

but [it is] because1×Deuteronomy 9:5

But because1×2 Chronicles 32:25

but I will punish you for1×Ezekiel 7:4

but rather1×Ezekiel 33:11

Can even1×Job 22:2

do as follows1×Leviticus 4:2

do not1×1 Samuel 14:44

even when1×Job 36:13

exactly1×1 Kings 1:30

except [as a place]1×2 Chronicles 2:6

For [in so doing]1×Proverbs 25:22

For [it is]1×Deuteronomy 11:7

for [Moses had said]1×Exodus 18:4

For [otherwise]1×Exodus 12:33

For [they hear]1×Isaiah 28:10

for [they said]1×Joshua 22:34

For as1×Ecclesiastes 5:7

for even1×Ecclesiastes 9:4

for in that1×Proverbs 19:18

for it was1×Esther 1:13

For surely1×Psalms 5:12

for their1×1 Chronicles 12:39

for then1×Ecclesiastes 12:5

for we have indeed1×Judges 10:10

for which1×Genesis 40:15

Forsaking Me1×Isaiah 57:8

from You1×Psalms 73:27

has surely1×Joshua 2:24

Have1×2 Samuel 13:28

Have I ever1×Job 6:22

he had only1×1 Chronicles 23:22

Him1×Deuteronomy 4:29

How much more1×2 Samuel 16:11

I even1×Psalms 102:4

I will surely1×Exodus 3:12

If they ever1×Joshua 22:28

If we had not1×Genesis 43:10

If, however1×Deuteronomy 19:11

in Egypt1×Exodus 12:30

Indeed,1×Deuteronomy 30:9

Instead [they will say]1×Jeremiah 16:15

Is he not rightly1×Genesis 27:36

Is that1×1 Samuel 22:8

It was1×Psalms 44:3

It was because1×1 Chronicles 15:13

it will surely1×Exodus 23:33

man because1×Proverbs 22:22

more so1×1 Samuel 21:5

Moreover,” [said the women,] “when1×Jeremiah 44:19

No1×1 Samuel 10:19

Not only1×Genesis 31:15

Now suppose1×Ezekiel 18:5

Now when1×Jeremiah 23:33

of him who1×Proverbs 27:13

of it1×Numbers 14:13

of the abomination1×Jeremiah 8:12

of the one1×Proverbs 20:16

once1×Leviticus 6:4

one1×Esther 5:12

one but1×1 Chronicles 15:2

or1×2 Samuel 15:14

Or if1×Leviticus 25:26

other than1×Genesis 28:17

Otherwise1×Exodus 9:14

out because1×Genesis 43:30

place unless1×Genesis 42:15

really1×Genesis 3:1

saying, “Indeed1×Genesis 32:30

Shall1×Isaiah 29:16

So since1×Deuteronomy 4:15

So when1×Isaiah 10:12

spring from1×Ecclesiastes 4:4

that if1×2 Samuel 19:7

that it was I1×Hosea 11:3

that this1×Psalms 109:27

that when1×Exodus 3:21

that with which1×Deuteronomy 14:24

The only1×Nehemiah 2:12

then surely1×1 Samuel 25:34

then, when1×Job 35:14

They even1×Deuteronomy 12:31

This is what1×Amos 5:3

This is why1×Genesis 18:5

to have this1×2 Chronicles 6:8

to him because1×Deuteronomy 24:1

to listen1×Ezekiel 2:7

too1×Ecclesiastes 4:16

too great1×1 Chronicles 22:14

truly1×Proverbs 2:3

until1×Judges 15:7

was from1×Judges 14:4

Was he not1×2 Samuel 23:19

what was happening1×1 Samuel 5:7

whether1×Genesis 42:33

who are indeed1×Zechariah 3:8

who indeed1×Isaiah 48:2

Why1×1 Samuel 11:5

will it be when1×Ezekiel 14:21

will surely1×Ezekiel 7:13

with1×Judges 6:31

with them1×Isaiah 3:10

You must only1×Deuteronomy 16:6

you that1×Numbers 16:9

you when1×Psalms 49:18

You will indeed1×Isaiah 55:12

Show sample aligned rows

Genesis 1:4כִּי־tothatConjunction Genesis 1:10כִּי־tothatConjunction Genesis 1:12כִּי־tothatConjunction Genesis 1:18כִּי־tothatConjunction Genesis 1:21כִּי־tothatConjunction Genesis 1:25כִּי־tothatConjunction Genesis 2:3כִּ֣יtobecauseConjunction Genesis 2:5כִּי֩toforConjunction Genesis 2:17כִּ֗יtoforConjunction Genesis 2:23כִּ֥יtoforConjunction

Usage map

A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.

First aligned rowGenesis 1:4

Aligned rows4,486

Books represented39

Genesis290Exodus198Leviticus146Numbers130Deuteronomy276Joshua103Judges113Ruth281 Samuel2542 Samuel1631 Kings1452 Kings1101 Chronicles1052 Chronicles189Ezra24Nehemiah41Esther33Job192Psalms443Proverbs102Ecclesiastes87Song Of Solomon5Isaiah332Jeremiah433Lamentations29Ezekiel202Daniel24Hosea69Joel32Amos26Obadiah3Jonah13Micah33Nahum6Habakkuk16Zephaniah17Haggai3Zechariah50Malachi21

Source forms

כִּֽי־1,423xkî-Genesis 3:1, Genesis 3:10, Genesis 3:17, Genesis 3:19

כִּ֣י765xkîGenesis 2:3, Genesis 3:6, Genesis 3:14, Genesis 4:23

כִּ֥י543xkîGenesis 2:23, Genesis 3:7, Genesis 3:11, Genesis 3:19

כִּ֤י398xkîGenesis 4:12, Genesis 10:25, Genesis 20:6, Genesis 26:7

כִּי־394xkî-Genesis 1:4, Genesis 1:10, Genesis 1:12, Genesis 1:18

כִּ֛י179xkîGenesis 3:20, Genesis 12:11, Genesis 17:5, Genesis 21:31

כִּ֚י149xkîGenesis 3:5, Genesis 9:6, Genesis 21:30, Genesis 28:15

כִּי֩104xkîGenesis 2:5, Genesis 7:4, Genesis 43:32, Genesis 47:22

Parsing patterns

Conjunction4,480xGenesis 1:4, Genesis 1:10, Genesis 1:12, Genesis 1:18

Adverb1x2 Samuel 16:10

Noun - masculine singular construct1xDeuteronomy 4:3

Preposition1xJudges 16:25

Preposition | third person masculine plural1x1 Chronicles 12:39

Preposition, Article | Noun - masculine singular1x1 Chronicles 12:40

Punctuation1x1 Samuel 21:4

Sources

MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain

Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0

Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0

STEPBible Data — CC BY 4.0

Berean Standard Bible (BSB) source-word alignment - CC0 Public Domain

Full license details

כִּי

What does כִּי (kiy) mean in the Bible?

What does כִּי (kiy) mean in the Bible?

How does the BSB render H3588?

Where does כִּי (kiy) appear in Scripture?

Evidence Summary

Source Gloss