Like a wordy exclamation point, the two defining words in “lo and behold” mean basically the same thing. Specifically, the word lo!, meaning “look!” first appeared in Middle English (1100-1500 AD) in the 1200s, and essentially was clipped from the early English imperative word for “look,” lok.
QuoteAn even older variant meaning Oh!, derived from an Old English (500-1100 AD) expression of surprise la, is said by some to have appeared as far back as Beowulf (approximately 800 AD), although this is somewhat up for debate.
QuoteBehold is likewise a child of Old English, with early iterations of bihaldan and behealdan meaning both “give regard to,” and “to belong to.” Although the word is related to Old Saxon and Old German words, including bihaldan and behalten; only in English do any of these words refer to watching and looking.
Sorry you asked? LOL!