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'''ἰδοὺ'''  (transliteration: '''idou''') is the second person singular [[aorist]] active imperative  of the [[Greek]] verb οἶδα ('''eido'''), which is similar to an exclamation mark or an underline in modern English.  The reason for the emphasis -- and the precise translation of the word -- varies depending on context.  The [[King James Version]] typically translated it as "behold", but that is archaic today.  Other anachronistic translations include "lo" or "see", but that merely translates how the word calls attention to what follows from it.<ref>Danker, Frederick W.: ''A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature''. 3d ed. University of Chicago Press.</ref>  A more precise translation also captures ''the intended reason'' for the emphasis.

'''ἰδοὺ'''  (transliteration: '''idou''') is the second person singular [[aorist]] active imperative  of the [[Greek]] verb οἶδα ('''eido''': to see), literally meaning: '''See! Lo! Behold! Look!''' It ''especially calls attention to what follows from it.''<ref>Danker, Frederick W.: ''A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature''. 3d ed. University of Chicago Press.</ref>   

== Usage in the Bible ==

== Usage in the Bible ==

== Translating ἰδοὺ ==

== Translating ἰδοὺ ==

In the [[King James Bible]], ἰδοὺ is generally translated as ''behold''. Modern translations have various strategies to cope with this word which they regard as anachronistic: The [[New International Version]] and the [[New English Translation]] both tend to omit the word, the latter usually stating in a footnote that ''“the Greek word ἰδοὺ (idou) has not been translated because it has no exact English equivalent here but adds interest and emphasis.”''

In the [[King James Bible]], ἰδοὺ is generally translated as ''behold'', which seems to be archaic today. Modern translations have various strategies to cope with this word which they regard as anachronistic: The [[New International Version]] and the [[New English Translation]] both tend to omit the word, the latter usually stating in a footnote that ''“the Greek word ἰδοὺ (idou) has not been translated because it has no exact English equivalent here but adds interest and emphasis.”'' In this way it fulfills the function of modern English's  exclamation mark or underline of text.

However, in the preface to the [[English Standard Version]], the translators state:

However, in the preface to the [[English Standard Version]], the translators state:

The [[Conservapedia Bible Project]] has no uniform approach: E.g, in [[Matthew 1-9 (Translated)]], the word has to be translated 21 times. Thirteen times, it is omitted, three times ''behold'' is used, twice ''then'' and ''suddenly'', and once even ''to their great surprise''. At Matthew 5:23, it is argued that ''at the moment'' is a nuance of ἰδού, but no scholarly source is given yet.

The [[Conservapedia Bible Project]] has no uniform approach: E.g, in [[Matthew 1-9 (Translated)]], the word has to be translated 21 times. Thirteen times, it is omitted, three times ''behold'' is used, twice ''then'' and ''suddenly'', and once even ''to their great surprise'', following the line that a less literal translation also captures ''the intended reason'' for the emphasis. At Matthew 5:23, it is argued that ''at the moment'' is a nuance of ἰδού, but no scholarly source is given yet.

== References ==

== References ==

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