The Hebrew pronouns hem (הֵם) and hemma (הֵמָּה) are the masculine plural third-person pronouns meaning 'they' or 'them.' While grammatically common, they appear in crucial theological texts identifying the people of God, enemies of God, and pivotal declarations about humanity.
Though primarily a grammatical function word, hem/hemma occurs in some of Scripture's most moving passages. In Zechariah 13:9, God declares of the refined remnant: They will call on my name and I will answer them; I will say They are my people, and they will say The LORD is our God. The pronoun underscores the communal nature of covenant — God's relationship with His people is both individual and corporate. The blessed ones in Matthew 5:3–12 begin with Blessed are they — the meek, the merciful, the pure in heart.