to be
ha.yah marks events and states of affairs, including becoming a leader, being a servant, or a promised future relationship.
Across the supplied verses, the verb most often marks a state or development within a narrative: people hold offices, groups stand in a stated relationship, and circumstances arise. It also frames anticipated outcomes, including future roles and relationships, and can introduce the occurrence of an event or situation.
Senses in use
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Narrative occurrence or ensuing situation · dominant
In sequential-imperfect forms, the verb introduces or advances a narrated situation. In 1 Chronicles 17:1 the APB renders the clause “It came about,” while 1 Chronicles 18:1 and 1 Chronicles 20:1 likewise place the following action after a narrated development.
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Being in a role, identity, or relation · common
The verb describes a person's or group's stated status. In 1 Chronicles 11:20 the APB renders Abishai as “head of the three”; in 1 Chronicles 18:6, Aram “became servants to David”; and 1 Chronicles 17:13 presents the father-and-son relationship in the clause rendered “I will be a father to him, and he will be a son to me.”
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Future appointment or resulting state · common
Imperfect forms occur in declarations of what a person or matter will become. In 1 Chronicles 11:6, the first attacker is to be “head and commander”; in 1 Chronicles 22:9 the son to be born is rendered “a man of rest”; and 1 Chronicles 21:3 asks why the matter should “become guilt for Israel.”
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A present or past circumstance · occasional
The verb identifies conditions surrounding a scene or report. In 1 Chronicles 12:22 the APB renders “there was a great camp,” in 1 Chronicles 12:40 “there was joy in Israel,” and in 1 Chronicles 22:14 the prepared materials are described as “in abundance.”
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Coming to pass · rare
In 1 Kings 13:32, an infinitive absolute and an imperfect occur in the pronouncement concerning the altar and the high places. The APB renders the predicted result as “will surely come to pass,” showing an announced event reaching fulfillment.
In the Anselm Project Bible: The APB variously renders the clauses with expressions such as “It came about,” “became,” “was,” “will be,” and “will surely come to pass.” These renderings show the verse-level presentation rather than fixed English equivalents for each form.