[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/befall/)

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# befall

verb (befall, befalls, befell, befallen) (old use)

«befall» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

To happen to someone, often something bad: «If you do ill, ill will befall you.» [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/befall/#m1)

### In the lessons

in fairy tales, a warning that trouble will come to a person

### Examples

- Bad luck befell the farmer's sheep. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/befall/#x1)
- Be careful, or harm may befall you. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/befall/#x2)
- What will befall us if we stay here? [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/befall/#x3)

### Note

nothing for maths

## In Jewish tradition

Old word meaning to happen to someone, often harm or fate.

**Interpretation.** Jacob's fear of harm to Benjamin shows his grief for Joseph. His blessing about "the end of days" is read by tradition as a glimpse of the future of the tribes.

### Examples

- But Benjamin, Joseph's brother, Jacob sent not with his brethren; for he said: 'Lest peradventure harm befall him.' (Torah GEN.42.4, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/befall/#x1)
- and if ye take this one also from me, and harm befall him, ye will bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave. (Torah GEN.44.29, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/befall/#x2)
- And Jacob called unto his sons, and said: 'Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the end of days. (Torah GEN.49.1, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/befall/#x3)
- Shall evil befall a city, and the LORD hath not done it? (Prophets AMO.3.6, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/befall/#x4)
- There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy tent. (Writings PSA.91.10, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/befall/#x5)
- There shall no mischief befall the righteous; but the wicked are filled with evil. (Writings PRO.12.21, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/befall/#x6)

### Note

nothing for maths

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «befall» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/befall/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«befall» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/befall.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «befall» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/befall/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«befall» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/befall.html) on Mova free.