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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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כִּי H3588
Pronunciation kiy

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?

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

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
for 1,765× Genesis 2:5, Genesis 2:17, Genesis 2:23, Genesis 3:5
that 571× Genesis 1:4, Genesis 1:10, Genesis 1:12, Genesis 1:18
because 518× 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
When 192× 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
If 120× Genesis 4:24, Genesis 37:26, Exodus 12:19, Exodus 12:48
but 117× Genesis 15:4, Genesis 18:15, Genesis 24:4, Genesis 40:14
since 88× Genesis 4:25, Genesis 38:26, Genesis 42:5, Genesis 42:23
though 53× Exodus 13:17, Leviticus 11:4, Leviticus 11:5, Leviticus 11:6
Surely 37× Genesis 29:32, Genesis 31:16, Genesis 31:42, Exodus 4:25
Indeed 36× Genesis 30:30, Genesis 32:10, Genesis 33:10, Genesis 44:32
Instead 24× Genesis 35:10, Exodus 23:24, Numbers 10:30, Numbers 27:3
and 21× Genesis 3:6, Genesis 45:26, Exodus 3:7, Exodus 3:11
But if 21× Exodus 21:14, Leviticus 11:38, Leviticus 13:31, Leviticus 13:42
except 21× Genesis 39:6, Genesis 39:9, Leviticus 21:2, Numbers 14:30
although 19× Genesis 48:14, Exodus 34:9, Deuteronomy 14:7, Deuteronomy 32:52
Yet 18× Genesis 21:7, Numbers 24:22, Numbers 32:19, 2 Chronicles 30:18
how 14× 1 Samuel 28:21, 1 Kings 21:29, 2 Kings 6:32, Job 22:12
even 13× 1 Samuel 14:39, 2 Samuel 5:6, 2 Chronicles 25:8, Job 8:6
vvv 13× Genesis 31:31, Numbers 22:33, Deuteronomy 7:17, 2 Samuel 10:9
and that 12× Genesis 49:15, Numbers 11:29, Joshua 2:9, Joshua 8:21
but only 10× Exodus 12:9, Numbers 26:33, 1 Kings 22:18, 1 Chronicles 2:34
so 10× Genesis 18:15, 1 Samuel 2:21, 2 Samuel 16:11, 2 Chronicles 20:10
Yes 10× Ruth 3:12, 2 Samuel 14:19, Job 30:23, Psalms 38:18
so that 9× Numbers 11:12, Joshua 2:9, Judges 3:22, Judges 13:17
And if 8× Exodus 21:7, Exodus 22:27, Leviticus 13:51, Leviticus 24:17
And when 8× Genesis 24:41, Deuteronomy 6:10, Deuteronomy 15:13, Deuteronomy 31:21
even though 7× Genesis 8:21, Deuteronomy 29:19, 1 Kings 2:26, Ezra 3:3
Now if 7× Leviticus 2:4, Leviticus 13:40, Leviticus 25:35, Leviticus 27:14
to 7× 1 Samuel 28:22, 1 Samuel 29:8, 1 Chronicles 9:28, Job 16:3
as 6× Judges 14:10, 1 Samuel 1:12, 1 Samuel 17:48, 1 Kings 20:41
Now 6× Leviticus 25:20, Numbers 21:13, 2 Chronicles 5:11, 2 Chronicles 6:13
only 5× Deuteronomy 12:14, 1 Kings 17:12, 2 Kings 10:23, 2 Chronicles 26:18
saying 5× Genesis 4:25, Genesis 41:51, Genesis 41:52, Judges 16:24
then 5× Job 9:14, Job 12:2, Ecclesiastes 6:8, Isaiah 7:9
unless 5× Genesis 32:26, Leviticus 22:6, Ruth 3:18, Esther 2:14
who 5× Proverbs 30:22, Proverbs 30:23, Ecclesiastes 5:1
Rather 4× Exodus 34:13, Joshua 22:27, Jeremiah 43:3, Amos 7:14
Therefore 4× Leviticus 18:29, 2 Chronicles 16:9, Psalms 116:10, Ecclesiastes 5:7
[or] 3× 1 Kings 8:37, 2 Chronicles 6:28
after 3× Exodus 13:11, Numbers 15:2, Deuteronomy 4:25
And because 3× Exodus 1:21, Numbers 15:34, 1 Chronicles 5:20
and since 3× 2 Samuel 19:32, 2 Kings 1:17, 2 Chronicles 26:10
by 3× Numbers 21:7, 1 Samuel 20:34, Psalms 109:21
Even if 3× Ruth 1:12, Jeremiah 51:53, Habakkuk 1:5
For when 3× Exodus 15:19, Job 16:22, Ezekiel 14:7
however 3× Joshua 18:7, Ecclesiastes 9:4, Ezekiel 44:25
Just because 3× Genesis 29:15, 2 Samuel 10:3, 1 Chronicles 19:3
Like 3× Leviticus 14:13, Isaiah 54:6, Lamentations 4:3
Nevertheless 3× 1 Kings 15:4, 2 Chronicles 12:8, Isaiah 9:1
Suppose 3× Deuteronomy 22:13, Job 34:31, Ezekiel 33:2
than 3× 1 Samuel 27:1, Ecclesiastes 3:12, Ecclesiastes 8:15
Whenever 3× Exodus 18:16, Judges 2:18, Judges 12:5
[who] 2× 2 Samuel 8:10, 1 Chronicles 18:10
about 2× 2 Kings 20:12, Isaiah 39:1
and how 2× Exodus 18:1, Job 36:9
and indeed 2× 1 Kings 12:15, 2 Chronicles 10:15
As for 2× Exodus 32:1, Exodus 32:23
But when 2× Job 30:26, Psalms 120:7
for if 2× Exodus 20:25, Numbers 32:15
For though 2× Proverbs 24:16, Isaiah 30:4
From 2× 1 Samuel 27:8, 2 Chronicles 22:6
How then 2× 2 Chronicles 32:14, Isaiah 36:20
if you had not 2× 1 Samuel 25:34, 2 Samuel 2:27
in 2× Job 31:25, Psalms 107:30
In fact 2× 1 Samuel 19:4, 2 Samuel 13:32
now that 2× Job 32:16
then that 2× Deuteronomy 6:25, Job 11:6
while 2× Proverbs 23:31, Lamentations 1:19
without 2× Isaiah 55:10, Amos 3:7
you 2× 1 Samuel 2:15, Psalms 138:2
(since 1× Exodus 29:22
[and became] 1× 2 Chronicles 16:10
[and know] that 1× Genesis 46:30
[and] 1× Joshua 7:15
[and] if 1× Deuteronomy 30:10
[from other duties] 1× 1 Chronicles 9:33
[it is] 1× Numbers 11:14
[or] when 1× 2 Chronicles 6:28
[saying,] “Because 1× 1 Samuel 1:20
[there] 1× Jeremiah 46:18
[We did this] because 1× 2 Samuel 19:42
[which was given this name] because 1× 1 Chronicles 4:14
After all 1× Genesis 13:8
all that 1× Psalms 22:31
and although 1× Joshua 17:18
and being 1× 1 Samuel 4:18
And even if 1× Jeremiah 38:15
and so 1× Esther 1:20
And though 1× 1 Chronicles 5:2
And whether 1× Isaiah 30:21
are indeed 1× Isaiah 59:12
As surely as 1× 1 Samuel 14:39
as to 1× Job 41:10
as well 1× Ezra 10:1
at how 1× 1 Samuel 14:29
At last 1× Genesis 26:22
At least 1× Isaiah 39:8
because [of what] 1× Psalms 39:9
because [You] 1× Psalms 59:9
Because of 1× Lamentations 3:22
because this will mean that 1× 1 Chronicles 14:15
because you are 1× Hosea 13:9
behalf 1× 1 Samuel 14:6
but [a famine] 1× Amos 8:11
but [acted] 1× 2 Chronicles 25:4
but [it is] because 1× Deuteronomy 9:5
But because 1× 2 Chronicles 32:25
but I will punish you for 1× Ezekiel 7:4
but rather 1× Ezekiel 33:11
Can even 1× Job 22:2
do as follows 1× Leviticus 4:2
do not 1× 1 Samuel 14:44
even when 1× Job 36:13
exactly 1× 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 as 1× Ecclesiastes 5:7
for even 1× Ecclesiastes 9:4
for in that 1× Proverbs 19:18
for it was 1× Esther 1:13
For surely 1× Psalms 5:12
for their 1× 1 Chronicles 12:39
for then 1× Ecclesiastes 12:5
for we have indeed 1× Judges 10:10
for which 1× Genesis 40:15
Forsaking Me 1× Isaiah 57:8
from You 1× Psalms 73:27
has surely 1× Joshua 2:24
Have 1× 2 Samuel 13:28
Have I ever 1× Job 6:22
he had only 1× 1 Chronicles 23:22
Him 1× Deuteronomy 4:29
How much more 1× 2 Samuel 16:11
I even 1× Psalms 102:4
I will surely 1× Exodus 3:12
If they ever 1× Joshua 22:28
If we had not 1× Genesis 43:10
If, however 1× Deuteronomy 19:11
in Egypt 1× Exodus 12:30
Indeed, 1× Deuteronomy 30:9
Instead [they will say] 1× Jeremiah 16:15
Is he not rightly 1× Genesis 27:36
Is that 1× 1 Samuel 22:8
It was 1× Psalms 44:3
It was because 1× 1 Chronicles 15:13
it will surely 1× Exodus 23:33
man because 1× Proverbs 22:22
more so 1× 1 Samuel 21:5
Moreover,” [said the women,] “when 1× Jeremiah 44:19
No 1× 1 Samuel 10:19
Not only 1× Genesis 31:15
Now suppose 1× Ezekiel 18:5
Now when 1× Jeremiah 23:33
of him who 1× Proverbs 27:13
of it 1× Numbers 14:13
of the abomination 1× Jeremiah 8:12
of the one 1× Proverbs 20:16
once 1× Leviticus 6:4
one 1× Esther 5:12
one but 1× 1 Chronicles 15:2
or 1× 2 Samuel 15:14
Or if 1× Leviticus 25:26
other than 1× Genesis 28:17
Otherwise 1× Exodus 9:14
out because 1× Genesis 43:30
place unless 1× Genesis 42:15
really 1× Genesis 3:1
saying, “Indeed 1× Genesis 32:30
Shall 1× Isaiah 29:16
So since 1× Deuteronomy 4:15
So when 1× Isaiah 10:12
spring from 1× Ecclesiastes 4:4
that if 1× 2 Samuel 19:7
that it was I 1× Hosea 11:3
that this 1× Psalms 109:27
that when 1× Exodus 3:21
that with which 1× Deuteronomy 14:24
The only 1× Nehemiah 2:12
then surely 1× 1 Samuel 25:34
then, when 1× Job 35:14
They even 1× Deuteronomy 12:31
This is what 1× Amos 5:3
This is why 1× Genesis 18:5
to have this 1× 2 Chronicles 6:8
to him because 1× Deuteronomy 24:1
to listen 1× Ezekiel 2:7
too 1× Ecclesiastes 4:16
too great 1× 1 Chronicles 22:14
truly 1× Proverbs 2:3
until 1× Judges 15:7
was from 1× Judges 14:4
Was he not 1× 2 Samuel 23:19
what was happening 1× 1 Samuel 5:7
whether 1× Genesis 42:33
who are indeed 1× Zechariah 3:8
who indeed 1× Isaiah 48:2
Why 1× 1 Samuel 11:5
will it be when 1× Ezekiel 14:21
will surely 1× Ezekiel 7:13
with 1× Judges 6:31
with them 1× Isaiah 3:10
You must only 1× Deuteronomy 16:6
you that 1× Numbers 16:9
you when 1× Psalms 49:18
You will indeed 1× Isaiah 55:12
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 1:4 כִּי־ to that Conjunction Genesis 1:10 כִּי־ to that Conjunction Genesis 1:12 כִּי־ to that Conjunction Genesis 1:18 כִּי־ to that Conjunction Genesis 1:21 כִּי־ to that Conjunction Genesis 1:25 כִּי־ to that Conjunction Genesis 2:3 כִּ֣י to because Conjunction Genesis 2:5 כִּי֩ to for Conjunction Genesis 2:17 כִּ֗י to for Conjunction Genesis 2:23 כִּ֥י to for Conjunction
Usage map

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

First aligned row Genesis 1:4
Aligned rows 4,486
Books represented 39
Genesis 290 Exodus 198 Leviticus 146 Numbers 130 Deuteronomy 276 Joshua 103 Judges 113 Ruth 28 1 Samuel 254 2 Samuel 163 1 Kings 145 2 Kings 110 1 Chronicles 105 2 Chronicles 189 Ezra 24 Nehemiah 41 Esther 33 Job 192 Psalms 443 Proverbs 102 Ecclesiastes 87 Song Of Solomon 5 Isaiah 332 Jeremiah 433 Lamentations 29 Ezekiel 202 Daniel 24 Hosea 69 Joel 32 Amos 26 Obadiah 3 Jonah 13 Micah 33 Nahum 6 Habakkuk 16 Zephaniah 17 Haggai 3 Zechariah 50 Malachi 21
Source forms
כִּֽי־ 1,423x kî- Genesis 3:1, Genesis 3:10, Genesis 3:17, Genesis 3:19
כִּ֣י 765x kî Genesis 2:3, Genesis 3:6, Genesis 3:14, Genesis 4:23
כִּ֥י 543x kî Genesis 2:23, Genesis 3:7, Genesis 3:11, Genesis 3:19
כִּ֤י 398x kî Genesis 4:12, Genesis 10:25, Genesis 20:6, Genesis 26:7
כִּי־ 394x kî- Genesis 1:4, Genesis 1:10, Genesis 1:12, Genesis 1:18
כִּ֛י 179x kî Genesis 3:20, Genesis 12:11, Genesis 17:5, Genesis 21:31
כִּ֚י 149x kî Genesis 3:5, Genesis 9:6, Genesis 21:30, Genesis 28:15
כִּי֩ 104x kî Genesis 2:5, Genesis 7:4, Genesis 43:32, Genesis 47:22
Parsing patterns
Conjunction 4,480x Genesis 1:4, Genesis 1:10, Genesis 1:12, Genesis 1:18
Adverb 1x 2 Samuel 16:10
Noun - masculine singular construct 1x Deuteronomy 4:3
Preposition 1x Judges 16:25
Preposition | third person masculine plural 1x 1 Chronicles 12:39
Preposition, Article | Noun - masculine singular 1x 1 Chronicles 12:40
Punctuation 1x 1 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