New International Dictionary of Old Testament Theology and Exegesis | NIDOTTE (5 vols.)

Top Highlights

“In addition to a temporal use, the advs. עַתָּה, now (#6964; 433×) and אָז, then, now (#255; 130×), אֲזַי‎ (#259), often have an emphatic use. In the case of עַתָּה this is especially noticeable when the combination וְעַתָּה occurs. It often denotes a new stage in an argument, though with continuity of subject. In Isa 5:3–5 this is particularly evident as the repeated וְעַתָּה serves to divide the passage into three stages.” (Volume 4, Page 1031)

“Adverbial כֵּן also occurs in the combinations לָכֵן and עַל־כֵּן‎. לָכֵן often has the meaning of ‘therefore,’ and in the prophetical books it frequently introduces a divine declaration or command (e.g., Isa 5:13, 14, 24; 7:14; 10:16; Jer 7:32; Hos 2:6 [8], 14 [16]; Amos 4:12). לָכֵן frequently forms the transition in prophetic judgment speeches from the discussion to the announcement (Amos 6:7; Mic 2:3).” (Volume 4, Page 1030)

“OT In general, the root יָשַׁע implies bringing help to people in the midst of their trouble rather than in rescuing them from it. It is almost exclusively a theological term with Yahweh as its subject and his people as its object.” (Volume 2, Page 556)

“The OT terms לֵב and לֵבָב are generally translated as ‘heart,’ ‘mind,’ and in some instances ‘chest’ and ‘conscience.’ In the OT, the words have a dominant metaphorical use in reference to the center of human psychical and spiritual life, to the entire inner life of a person.” (Volume 2, Page 749)

“Nonetheless, because some modern readers tend to associate the word happy with a superficial, circumstance-based joy, while others think of blessed in exclusively spiritual terms, the most accurate rendering of אַשְׁרֵי is probably ‘truly happy,’ although for translation purposes, how happy, or simply happy, may often be preferred.” (Volume 1, Page 571)