BIBLE HEBREW WORD STUDY
Kôh (כֹּה) — Meaning & Usage in the Bible
Kôh (כֹּה) is a common Hebrew demonstrative adverb meaning 'thus,' 'so,' 'here,' or 'in this manner,' used to point to manner, place, or time.
Meaning of the word
Kôh (כֹּה) is a basic Hebrew demonstrative adverb that functions much like English 'so,' 'thus,' or 'here.' Its core sense is 'like this,' pointing the hearer back to something just said or done. By extension it covers manner ('in this way'), place ('here' or 'yonder'), and time ('now' or 'until now').
Because it is so flexible, English translations render it in very different ways depending on context. KJV usage lists forms such as 'thus,' 'so,' 'here,' 'hitherto,' 'meanwhile,' 'yonder,' and 'this manner.' The Aramaic equivalent is kāh (כָּה, H3542), showing that this demonstrative carried across the Semitic languages.
Usage in Scripture
Kôh appears roughly 316 times across 298 verses in the Hebrew Bible, making it one of the most frequent particles. It is especially common in narrative speech, where it introduces or quotes what someone has said. In Genesis 24:30, Laban reacts to Abraham's servant by noting 'Thus (כֹּה) spake the man unto me.' In Genesis 31:8, Jacob recounts how Laban said 'thus (כֹּה)' about the speckled or ringstreaked flocks — using kôh to echo repeated speech.
Beyond quoting speech, kôh sets manner or scene. In Genesis 15:5 God tells Abraham, 'So (כֹּה) shall thy seed be,' fixing the likeness being offered. In Genesis 22:5 Abraham tells his servants, 'Abide ye here with the ass… I and the lad will go yonder (כֹּה),' where the same word points to a place. Genesis 31:37 and Exodus 2:12 show the locative sense ('here,' 'this way and that way'), while Genesis 45:9 and 50:17 illustrate the reportive 'Thus saith' formula used by messengers.
The word in detail
- H3541 A highly flexible demonstrative adverb covering manner ('thus/so'), place ('here/yonder'), and time ('now/meanwhile'). Its meaning is fixed by context, so translators must judge which sense fits the verse.
Example verses
- Genesis 15:5 Kôh sets the manner of comparison: 'So shall thy seed be.'
- Genesis 22:5 Kôh marks place as Abraham directs his servants: 'go yonder.'
- Genesis 24:30 Kôh introduces quoted speech: 'Thus spake the man unto me.'
- Genesis 45:9 Kôh opens the messenger formula 'Thus saith thy son Joseph.'
Common questions
Is kôh always translated 'thus'?
No. Because kôh covers manner, place, and time, English versions render it as 'so,' 'thus,' 'here,' 'yonder,' 'meanwhile,' or 'this manner' depending on context.
How is kôh different from kěn (כֵּן)?
Both mean 'so/thus,' but kôh tends to be more demonstrative and situational, while kěn leans toward affirmation or comparison. In many passages the two are interchangeable.
Does kôh have an Aramaic equivalent?
Yes. The Aramaic counterpart is kāh (כָּה, H3542), used in post-exilic books such as Ezra and Daniel with the same 'thus/here' sense.