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Balak summoned Balaam twice in Nu 22. On the second try (ESV):
אִם־ (’im-)
Conjunction
Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not
Strong's Hebrew: 518. אּם (im) — 1070 Occurrences
H518 was a very frequent word with a wide variety of usages. NASB Translation:
BDB:
Now consider the statement: Since P then Q. Statement P is asserted to be true.
NIV decided to translate H518 more narrowly:
HELPS Word-studies:
If20 God came to Balaam at night and said to him, “If the men have come to call you, rise, go with them; but only do what I tell you.”
אִם־ (’im-)
Conjunction
Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not
Strong's Hebrew: 518. אּם (im) — 1070 Occurrences
H518 was a very frequent word with a wide variety of usages. NASB Translation:
By far, most of the times NASB translated H518 as 'if' and rarely as 'since'.although (2), although* (1), certainly (1), either (1), either an or (1), either their or (2), else* (1), except* (22), however* (1), if (588), if* (1), indeed (1), less than* (1), more of her than* (1), more than* (1), most assuredly* (1), never (2), never* (1), nevertheless* (1), no (6), no means (1), none (1), nor (7), nothing (1), O (1), Oh (2), only (4), only* (7), or (75), rather* (11), should (1), since (4), surely (6), surely there shall be neither (1), surely* (35), than* (2), though (35), though* (2), truly (1), truly* (2), unless* (16), until* (7), when (17), whether (16), whether for or (1), whether it is or (1), whether they or (3), whether* (1), without* (2).
BDB:
- hypothetical particle if.
- Interrogative particle
Now consider the statement: Since P then Q. Statement P is asserted to be true.
NIV decided to translate H518 more narrowly:
LXX used the conjunction εἰ. In the NT, G1487 appeared 508 times.That night God came to Balaam and said, “Since these men have come to summon you, go with them, but do only what I tell you.”
HELPS Word-studies:
NASB never translated G1487 as 'since':1487 expresses "a condition, thought of as real, or to denote assumptions" (i.e. viewed as factual. for the sake of argument) (BAGD). Accordingly, 1487 (ei) should not be translated "since," but rather always "if"
On Biblehub, 24 versions used 'if' and 6 used 'since'.although* (1), if (341), no (1), only (1), only* (11), suppose* (1), though (7), though* (5), unless (2), unless* (5), until* (1), whatever* (1), whether (19), whoever* (3).