IV . בְּ is used also with certain classes of verbs, though the explanation of its use may be sometimes doubtful: viz. a. with verbs of taking refuge, trusting, relying , as הֶאֱמִין , בָּטַח , חָסָה , נִשְׁעַן . b. with verbs of ruling, governing, restraining , as מָלַךְ , מָשַׁל , נָגַשׂ , עָצַר , רָדָה , שָׁלַט . c. with verbs of rejoicing, feeling pleasure or satisfaction , etc., as גִּיל , עָלַץ , שׂוּשׂ , שָׂמֵחַ , חָפֵץ , רָצָה , שָׂבַע (but with this verb מִן is more common). [Prob. a case of

III . 5. ] d. with verbs expressive of sensible perception, to denote the pleasurable or attentive exercise of the faculty concerned, as שָׁמַע בְּ to listen to , הִבִּיט בְּ , רָאָה , חָזָה , to look upon , הֵרִיחַ בְּ to smell at (see these words). e. occasionally also with verbs of speaking, thinking, mentioning, knowing , to denote the object of the action, as דִּבֶּר בְּ to speak about Dt 6:7 ψ 87:3 al. ( v. sub דִּבֶּר ); הִלֵּל בְּ , הָגָה , שִׂיחַ ψ 44:9 ; 63:7 ; 69:13 ; יָדַע Je 38:2 4; זָכַר once Je 3:16 , הִזְכִּיר often; ψ 71:6 בְּךָ תְהִלָּתִי of thee is my praise.

V . Followed by an inf. c. , בְּ forms a periphrasis for the gerund, though in English it is commonly to be rendered by a verb and conj. , viz.:— 1. as a temporal conj. , as Gn 2:4 בְּהִבָּֽרְאָם in their being created = when they were created, ^4:8 בִּהְיֹותָם in their being ( = when they were ) in the field; and constantly. Sometimes it has in appearance the force of after that , as Gn 33:18 Ex 3:1 2; 13:17 ; but as a rule this is really due to the action denoted by the inf. being treated as extending over a period within which the action of the principal verb takes place: so especially in the phrase מִמִּצְרַיִם בְּצֵאת יִשְׂרָאֵל , even of events at the close of the 40 years, Dt 4:45 ; 23:5 Jos 5: 4; the whole period being treated as that in which Egypt was left ( comp. 2 K 2: 1, where the time included is future). Cases, however, occur in which this explanation will hardly apply, as Dt 27:4 , 12 . 2. as a causal conj. ( cf. above III . 5), as Gn 19:16 עָלָיו בְּחֶמְלַת י׳ through J.’s having compassion upon him, Ex 16:7 ; 33:16 ; 34:29 Dt 1:27 בְּשִׂנְאַת י׳ אֹתָנוּ through J.’s hating us, etc. (9:28 similarly מִן ), 1 K 18:18 ( = in that ye have …) Ez 9:8 ; 43:8 ; 44:7 2 Ch 28: 6. 3. as a concessive conj ., when = though: Is 1:15 ψ 46:3 בְּהָמִיר אָ˜רֶץ though the earth do change.

Note .— Ex 10:12 בָּאַרְבֶּה can only be rendered ‘ with the locusts,’ the locusts being conceived as implicit in Moses’ uplifted hand: but prob. לָאַרְבֶּה should be read. Thrice in late Heb. בְּ is used peculiarly: 1 Ch 7:23 f or with misfortune was it in his house ( בְּרָעָה chosen for the purpose of explaining בְּרִיעָה ); 9:33 עֲלֵיהֶם בַּמְּלָאכָה it devolved upon them with the work;

inf. Infinitive.
c. circa , about; also cum , with. conj. conjecture(s); also conjection.