אַךְ

adv. (perh. from the same demonstr. root found also in כִּי, כֹּה, כֵּן). 1. surely. 2. with a restrictive force, emphasizing what follows: a. in contrast to what precedes, howbeit; b. in contrast with other ideas generally, only. asseverative, often introducing with emphasis the expression of a truth (or supposed truth) newly perceived, especially in colloquial language, surely, no doubt; Gn 26:9 אַךְ הִנֵּה אִשְׁתְּךָ הִוא of a surety, lo, she is thy wife! 29:14; 44:28 Ju 3:24; 20:39 1 S 16:6 surely the anointed of י׳ is before him! 25:21 Je 5:4 ψ 58:12; 73:1, 13; but also in other cases, though rarely, Is 34:14, 15 Zp 3:7 ψ 23:6; 139:11; 140:14 Jb 16:7; 18:21; & rather singularly Ex 12:15; 31:13 Lv 23:27, 39 (all P). restrictive: in contrast to what precedes, howbeit, yet, but: Gn 9:4 howbeit, flesh with the life thereof … ye shall not eat, 20:12 Ex 21:21 Lv 21:23; 27:26 Nu 18:15, 17 2 S 3:13; Je 10:24 correct me, אַךְ בְּמִשְׁפָּט but with judgment, Jb 2:6; 13:15; sts. with an advers. force, as Is 14:15; 43:24; before an imper. (minimizing the request), Gn 23:13 only, if thou wilt, I pray thee, hear me! 27:13 Ju 10:15 1 S 18:17 1 K 17:13 al. So 1 S 8:9 אַךְ כִּי (v. כִּי 1 d; and cf. πλὴν ὅτι). in contrast to other ideas generally:—(α) Gn 7:23; 18:32 אַךְ הַפַּעַם only this once (so Ex 10:17 al.) 34:15 Ex 12:16 (note accents), 1 S 18:8 וְעוֹד לוֹ אַךְ הַמְּלוּכָה and there yet remains for him only the kingdom, 21:5 Isa 45:14 אַךְ בְּךָ אֵל only in thee is God! ψ 62:2 etc. Jb 14:22; ψ 37:8 fret not thyself אַךְ לְהָרֵעַ (which leadeth) only to do evil, Pr 11:24 he that withholdeth more than is meet אַךְ לְמַחְסוֹר (tendeth) only to penury, 14:23; 21:5; 22:16; (β) attaching itself closely to the foll. word (usually an adj., rarely a verb), only, i.e. exclusively, altogether, utterly Dt 16:15 and thou shalt be אַךְ שָׂמֵחַ altogether rejoicing, 28:29 (cf. v 33 רַק) Isa 16:7 אַךְ נְכָאִים utterly stricken, 19:11 Je 16:19 nought but lies, 32:30 Ho 12:12 Jb 19:13 אַךְ זָרוּ are wholly estranged (with play on אַכְזָר cruel). as an adv. of time (with inf. abs.), twice: Gn 27:30 אַךְ יָצֹא יָצָא יַעֲקֹב … וְעֵשָׂו בָּא only just (or scarcely) had Jacob gone out, … and (= when) Esau came in, Ju 7:19.—וְאַךְ thrice: Gn 9:5 and only (second limitation of v 3); Nu 22:20 but only; Jos 22:19 but howbeit. —In some passages the affirmative and restrictive senses agree equally with the context; and authorities read the Hebrew differently. Thus only = nought but, altogether, is adopted by Ges Ew Hi De in ψ 23:6; 62:10; 73:1, 13; by Ew Hi De in 39:6, 7 (Che surely); by Ges Ew De in 39:12 (but Hi Che surely); by Ew Hi in 73:18 (De Che surely); by Ges Hi De in 139:11 (Ew doch). Isa 45:14 Ges Ew Hi Di only; but De Che of a truth.