לוּא

1. if (stating a case which has not been, or is not likely to be, realized):
\ \ a. followed by perfect (so mostly), 5 Mos 32,29 לו חכמו ישׂכילו זאת if they had been wise (which they are not), they would understand this; Mik 2,11 (apodosis וְהָיָה); Dom 8,19; Dom 13,23 להמיתנו לא לקח לו ׳חפץ י if J. had desired to slay us, he would not have taken, &c.; 1 Sam 14,30; 2 Sam 19,7.
\ \ b. followed by imperfect Ezk 14,15 if I were to send, &c. (but read probably אוֺ, compare vEzk 14,17 vEzk 14,19).
\ \ c. followed by participle, 2 Sam 18,12 וְלֻא אָנֹכִי שֹׁקֵל and though I should be weighing 1000 pieces of silver upon my hand, I would not, &c.; Sl 81,14-17 לו עמי שֹׁמֵעַ לי if my people were hearkening to me, . . . quickly would I bow down, &c.
\ \ d. followed by יֵשׁ Job 16,4. — With the apodosis omitted, 1 Mos 50,15 לוּ יִשְׂטְמֵנוּ if Joseph were to hate us (how should we fare then ?).

2. If only ...! i.e. O that! would that! (compare εἰ γάρ, εἴθε) usually followed by perf., as 4 Mos 14,2 (twice in verse) לוּ מַתְנוּ if only we had died in the land of Egypt! 4 Mos 20,3; Jos 7,7 וְלוּ הוֺאַלְנוּ וַנֵּשֶׁב Es 48,18; Es 63,19 followed by יֵשׁ 4 Mos 22,29 followed by imperfect 1 Mos 17,18 לו יחיה O that Ishmael might live before thee! Job 6,2 followed by jussive 1 Mos 30,34 כדברך לו יהי; followed by imperative 1 Mos 23,13 אם אתה לוּ שׁמעני if thou — O that thou wouldst hear me! (+ probably v1 Mos 23,5 לאמר ׃ לוּ שׁמעני for ׳לאמרֹ לוֺ ׃ שׁ, and similarly v1 Mos 23,15). — Read also probably לֻא for Masoretic לֹא Dom 21,22 (with כִּי עַתָּה), 1 Sam 13,13; 1 Sam 20,14 (twice in verse); Job 9,33 (followed by יֵשׁ); and perhaps Job 14,4 (Ew Kö).