Biblical Hebrew Forum

[Irene Riegner <iriegner AT concentric.net>]

"Ken" appears in Ex 7.22:  wyya(asw kn....
--- and the Egyptian magicians did thus / likewise.....

In modern Hebrew, "ken" is understood as "yes," but the bibilical text
doesn't use it in this way.  The word is rooted in "kwn," to be
established, set up.  One of its many uses is that it points to / refers
to something that is performed and completed as in Gen 1.7 (last part of
verse---wyhey ken---and it was thus) where it affirms the separation of
the waters.  In Ex 7.22 "ken" refers to the ability of Moses to change
the water of the Nile into blood, an act which was also done by the
Egyptian priests.  I would translate "ken" as "thus" or "likewise," and
understand it as an affirmation of Moses' act.

irene