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What is the meaning and root of the verb "יְהִי" in Genesis 1:3. I want to know more about its root, its other meanings and etc. Does it mean "create?"
וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלֹהִים, יְהִי אוֹר; וַיְהִי-אוֹר.
And God said: 'Let there be light.' And there was light.
dixitque Deus fiat lux et facta est lux.
وقال الله ليكن نور فكان نور.
As I understand it the root is היה the meaning being 'to be' or 'to exist' and this is the command of GOD 'Let there be' (light).
An example of the verb in use is found in Genesis 3:1: וְהַנָּחָשׁ הָיָה עָרוּם מִכֹּל חַיַּת הַשָּׂדֶה and the serpent was (i.e. 'he was' 3rd masculine singular of the root הָיָה)more crafty than any (all) the beast of the field
From The SWORD Project for 01961:
hayah haw-yaw; a primitive root (compare 1933); to exist, i.e. be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary):--beacon, X altogether, be(-come), accomplished, committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint, fall, + follow, happen, X have, last, pertain, quit (one-)self, require, X use. see HEBREW for 01933
And for 01933:
hava' haw-vaw' or havah haw-vaw'; a primitive root (compare 183, 1961) supposed to mean properly, to breathe; to be (in the sense of existence):--be, X have. see HEBREW for 0183 see HEBREW for 01961
And for 00183:
'avah aw-vaw' a primitive root; to wish for:--covet, (greatly) desire, be desirous, long, lust (after).
