Isaiah 21:11

The burden of Dumah. He calleth to me out of Seir, Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night?
Select a Hebrew word above to see its details.

מַשָּׂ֖א
מַשָּׂ֖א
Root word burden, burdens, song, prophecy, set, …
Dictionary form: מַשָּׂא · mahs-SAW

Noun — Common, masculine singular, construct state "___ of …" — bound to the next word

In the KJV here: the burden
the burden ×22 burden ×10 a burden ×5 his burden ×4 and the burden ×2 of their burden ×2 their burdens ×2 about the song ×1
More options
oracle — Best for prophetic/divine pronouncement contexts; widely preferred today.
burden — Retain when literal weight or oppressive load is meant.
pronouncement — Formal prophetic declaration; good alternative to 'oracle'.
load — Physical carrying sense; plainer and more concrete than 'burden'.
tribute — Use when the burden is a tax or enforced payment.
proclamation — Suits public, herald-style prophetic speech contexts.

BDB5390 H4853 H4854

BDB5389 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB5391

II. מַשָּׂא noun masculinePs 38:5 load, burden, lifting, bearing, tribute; — ׳מ absolute Neh 13:19 +; construct 2Kgs 5:17 +; suffix מַשָּׂאוֺ Exod 23:5 + 2 t.; מַשַּׂאֲכֶם Deut 1:12 מַשָּׂאָם Num 4:27 + 2 t.; —

1. load, burden of ass Exod 23:5 (E), mules 2Kgs 5:17, camels 2Kgs 8:9, compare Isa 46:1; Isa 46:2 hanging on a peg Isa 22:25 (figurative); forbidden on Sabbath Jer 17:21; Jer 17:22; Jer 17:24; Jer 17:27; Neh 13:15; Neh 13:19 figurative of people as burden Num 11:11; Num 11:17 (JE), Deut 1:12, compare עַלֿ ׳הָיָה לְמ 2Sam 15:33; 2Sam 19:36 (אֶלֿ), also וָאֶהְיֶה עָלַי לְמַשָּׂא Job 7:20 of iniquities Ps 38:5. — Hos 8:10 read מְשֹׁחַ, so ᵐ5 We Now GASm.
2. verbal noun, lifting, uplifting, only נַפְשָׁם ׳מ Ezek 24:25 the uplifting of their soul, i.e. that to which they lift up their soul, their heart's desire.
3. verbal noun, bearing, carrying, Num 4:24 (+ לַעֲבֹד), 2Chr 20:25; 2Chr 35:3 (בַּכָּתֵף), so probably 1Chr 15:22 (twice in verse); 1Chr 15:27 (compare Be Kau; > singing, uplifting of voice, e.g. Öttli); especially of responsibility and duty of bearing sacred vessels (often || עֲבֹדָה, פְּקֻדָּה) Num 4:15; Num 4:19; Num 4:27 (twice in verse); Num 4:49, ׳עֲבֹדַת מ vNum 4:47, ׳מִשְׁמֶרֶת מ vNum 4:31 vNum 4:32.
4. perhaps what is carried, brought, i.e. tribute ׳כֶּסֶף מ 2Chr 17:11 silver as tribute (+ מִנְחָה; compare נשׂא Qal; others, silver by the load i.e. in great quantity). — I. מַשָּׂא see above.


BDB5391 H4853

BDB5390 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB5392

III. מַשָּׂא noun masculineIsa 14:28 utterance, oracle (compare נשׂא 1 b (6); GfJer 23:33); — ׳מ absolute Isa 14:28 +; usually construct Isa 13:1 +; — of prophetic utterance: 2Kgs 9:25; Isa 14:28; Ezek 12:10; 2Chr 24:27 (with עַל); בָבֶל ׳מ Isa 13:1, מוֺאָב ׳מ Isa 15:1, compare Isa 17:1; Isa 19:1; Isa 21:1; Isa 21:11; Isa 22:1; Isa 23:1; Isa 30:6; Nah 1:1 בערב ׳מ Isa 21:13 is later insert (Di); ׳מ = revelation, אֲשֶׁר חָזָה חֲבַקּוּק הַנָּבִיא ׳הַמּ Hab 1:1 ׳י ׳מ utterance of ׳י Jer 23:33; Jer 23:34; Jer 23:36; Jer 23:38 (3 t. in verse) (compare 2Kgs 9:25), see also v2Kgs 9:33 b (read אַתֶּם הַמַּשָּׂא), with word-play, — followed by וְנָטַשְׁתִּי v2Kgs 9:36 b; ׳דְבַר י ׳מ Zech 9:1 (+ בארץ), Zech 12:1 (+ עַליִֿשְׂרָאֵל), Mal 1:1 (+ ׳אֶליִֿשׂ). — Prov 31:1 see I. מַשָּׂא, p. 601 above; in Prov 30:1 read מִמַּשָּׂא from Massa (Mühlau, De), or הַמַּשָּׂאִי (Wild), which however is perhaps not original, but borrowed from Prov 31:1 (compare Wildon the passage FrankenbSpr. p. 5; corrupt name of Agur's home or tribe, Kau).

burden, burdens, song, prophecy, set, …
maśśāʾ
burden
a burden; specifically, tribute, or (abstractly) porterage
  • (n m) load, bearing, tribute, burden, lifting
    • load, burden
    • "lifting, uplifting, that to which the soul lifts itself up"bearing, carrying"tribute, that which is carried or brought or borne
    utterance, oracle, burden"(n pr m) a son of Ishmael

דּוּמָ֑ה
דּוּמָ֑ה
Root word a name — transliterate it ("Of dumah")
Dictionary form: דּוּמָה · doo-MAW

Noun — Proper Name

In the KJV here: of dumah
and dumah ×3 of dumah ×1
More options
Dumah — Proper name; retain for place or person references.
silence — Underlying meaning; use in poetic or thematic contexts.
stillness — Softer nuance of silence; suits contemplative passages.

dumah
dûmâ
silence
Dumah, a tribe and region of Arabia
  • (n pr m) son of Ishmael and most probably the founder of the Ishmaelite tribe of Arabia
  • "(n pr loc) a town in the mountainous district of Judah, near Hebron"a mystical name of Edom indicating death and ruin

אֵלַ י֙
אֵלַ
Preposition unto, to, into, upon, against, …
י֙
Suffix — pronoun my / me
Dictionary form: אֵל · ale

Preposition

In the KJV here: to
unto ×2370 to ×907 into ×230 upon ×112 against ×104 and to ×103 in ×63 unto him ×58
More options
to — Default directional/dative preposition; broadest everyday use.
toward — Emphasizes movement or orientation in a direction.
into — Stress entry or transition; spatial or metaphorical penetration.
against — Adversarial or oppositional context; hostility or pressure.
upon — Contact or imposition on a surface or person.
concerning — Topical/referential; use when the sense is 'about' or 'regarding'.

BDB420 H413

BDB419 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB421

אֶל (nearly always followed by Makkeph), in poetry אֱלֵי (compare עֲלֵי, עֲדֵי), but only in Job ( 1Sam 3:22; 1Sam 5:26; 1Sam 15:22; 1Sam 29:19), with suffix אֵלַי, אֵלֶיךָ, אֵלַיִךְ, etc. אֵלֵינוּ, אֲלֵיכֶם & (5 t.) אֲלֵכֶם, אֲלֵיהֶם & אֲלֵהֶם (both very often); once אֵלֵימוֺ Ps 2:5, אֲלֵיהֶן, once אֲלֵהֶן Exod 1:19 (Assyrian ilî, Arabic ), preposition denoting motion to or direction towards (whether physical or mental).

1. of motion to or unto a person or place Gen 2:19; Gen 2:22; Gen 3:19; Gen 8:9; Gen 14:22; Gen 16:9 etc., after every kind of verb expressing motion (בּוֺא, הָלַךְ, יָצָא etc.) So with נָתַן to give (though ל is here more common) Gen 21:14; Gen 35:4; Deut 13:2 +; מָכַר to sell Deut 37:36, etc. Metaph. Jer 2:19 וְלֹא פַחְדָּתִי אֵלַיִךְ and that my fear (cometh) not unto thee (compare Job 31:23). — Peculiarly Gen 6:16 אֶל אַמָּה unto the length of a cubit, etc. And metaphor in the phrase אֶלֿ(אֱלֵיֿ)גִּיל unto exultation Hos 9:11; Job 3:22. Once, exceptionally (si vera 1.) = even: Job 5:5 וְאֶלמִֿצִּגִּים יִקָּחֵהוּ and even out of thorns he taketh it. Sometimes pregnant, as Isa 66:17; Jer 41:7 זָנָה אֶל commit whoredom (by going) to Num 25:1; Ezek 16:26; Ezek 16:28; Ezek 16:29 דָּרֵשׁ אֶל seek (by resorting) to one (that is, for oracles) Deut 18:11; Isa 8:19; Isa 11:10 +; חָבַר אֶל join together (& come) unto Gen 14:3 הִשְׁכִּים אֶל rise early (and go) to Gen 19:27; Gen 24:11 הִבְרִיח אֶל made to kneel down at; Gen 47:18 תַּם אֶל i.e. has been made over to; פָּחַד אֶל to come in fear to Hos 3:5; Mic 7:17. Opposite is מִן, as מִןהַֿקָּצֶה אֶלהַֿקָּצֶה from end to end Exod 26:28 מִפֶּה אֶלפֶּֿה Ezra 9:11 (synonym 2Kgs 21:16 פֶּה לָפֶה). And of time (rare) מֵעֵת אֶלעֵֿת 1Chr 9:25 מִיּוֺם אֶליֿוֺם Num 30:15 (P) 1Chr 16:23 (in the || Ps 96:2 מִיּוֺם לְיוֺם).

2. Where the limit is actually entered, into, Gen 6:18 and thou shalt enter into the ark Gen 7:1; Gen 19:3; Gen 41:21; Gen 42:17 & so after verbs of throwing, casting, putting Gen 37:22 (הִשְׁלִיךְ) Gen 39:20 וַיִּתְּנֵהוּ אֶלבֵּֿית הַסֹּהַר put him into the prison house, Exod 28:30 (Lev 8:8) Deut 23:25 so after קָבַר to bury Gen 23:19; Gen 25:9; Gen 49:29 שָׂחַט to squeeze Gen 40:11 מָחָה to blot out Num 5:23, etc.; metaphor Gen 6:6 was pained into or unto his heart, שָׂם אֶללֵֿב, הֵשִׁיב to place, bring. into ( = lay to) heart Deut 4:39; 2Sam 19:20 and elsewhere In connection with a number or multitude into which something enters, in among: 1Sam 10:22 behold he had hid himself אֶלהַֿכֵּלִים in among the baggage, Jer 4:3 sow not אֶלקֹֿצִים in among thorns.

3. Of direction towards anything:
   (a) of physical acts or states, as Gen 30:40 נָתַן פְּנֵי הַצּאֹן אֶל, Gen 39:7 נָשָׂא עֵינָיו אֶל, Exod 25:20; Num 6:26, נָשָׂא פָנָיו אֶל (2Kgs 9:32 differently), 2Kgs 24:1 שָׁת פָּנָיו אֶל, Josh 8:18; Ps 28:2; 1Kgs 8:29; 1Kgs 8:30 (to pray towards) v1Kgs 8:38 pregnantly חָרֵד אֶל to tremble (turning) to Gen 42:28, תָּמַהּ אֶל to, wonder (turning) towards Gen 43:33; Isa 13:8, פָּחַד אֶל Jer 36:16: without a verb פָּנִים אֶלפָּֿנִים face to face Gen 32:31 +; פֶּה אֶלפֶּֿה Num 12:8 כִּיאֵֿינֶנּוּ אֵלַי Gen 31:5 the face of Laban, that he is not toward me; ׳אֶלפֿ ׳עֵינֵי י the eyes of ׳י are towards . . . Ps 34:16 (compare Ps 33:18).
   (b) with words such as אָמַרto say to Gen 3:1 + often, דִּבֶּר Gen 8:15 + often, קָרָא Gen 19:5, הִחְפַּלֵּל Gen 20:17 etc., שָׁמַע to hearken to Gen 16:11, הִלֵּל to praise to Gen 12:15 (compare Ezek 13:19 חִלֵּל אֶל to profane to), הִזְכִּיר Ezek 40:14.
   (c) with words expressing the direction of the mind, as קִוָּה to wait Ps 27:14 +; יִחַל to hope Isa 51:5 נָשָׂא נֶפֶשׁ אֶל to lift up the soul (i.e. set the desire) towards Deut 24:15; Ps 25:1 שָׂם לֵב אֶל, שָׁת to set the heart (mind) to Exod 9:21 and elsewhere; לָמַד אֶל to accustom oneself to Jer 10:2 חָרֵד אֶל to shew fear towards 2Kgs 4:13; Gen 43:30; Deut 28:32 and thy eyes כָּלוֺת אֲלֵיהֶם failing (with longing) towards them, Lam 4:17; Isa 63:15; 2Sam 3:8; 1Kgs 14:13; Ps 40:6 alone, as predicate, directed or disposed towards, Gen 3:16; Gen 4:7; 2Kgs 6:11 who of ours is towards (i.e. favours) the king of Syria? Hos 3:3 וְגַםאֲֿנִי אֵלָֽיִח׃ Ezek 36:9; Hag 2:17; Jer 15:1 (אֵין נַפְשִׁי אֶל).

4. Where the motion or direction implied appears from the context to be of a hostile character, אֶל = against: Gen 4:8 אֶלהֶֿבֶל ׳וַיָּקָם קand Cain rose up against Abel (so 1Sam 24:8) 1Sam 22:12; Exod 14:5; Num 32:14 with נִקְבַּץ Josh 10:6, הָלַךְ Judg 1:10; Judg 20:30 with בָּא of calamity, etc., coming to or upon any one Gen 42:21; Judg 9:57; 1Sam 2:34; 1Kgs 14:10 +; Isa 2:4; Isa 3:8 their tongue and doings are ׳אֶליֿ Isa 32:6 (לְדַבֵּר אֶל) Hos 7:15 (compare Nah 1:9) Hos 12:5 וַיָּשַׂר אֶלמַֿלְאָךְ and he strove against the angel. Here also belongs in particular the phrase הִנְנִי אֶל ֗֗֗ Behold I am against (thee, you, etc.) Nah 2:14; Nah 3:5; Jer 21:13 (Jer 23:30-32 על) Jer 50:31; Jer 51:25; Ezek 13:8; Ezek 13:20; Ezek 21:8; Ezek 29:10; Ezek 30:22; Ezek 34:10; Ezek 35:3; Ezek 38:3; Ezek 39:1 (Ezek 5:8; Ezek 26:3; Ezek 28:22; Ezek 29:3 על: on Ezek 36:9 see above)

5. Unto sometimes acquires from the context the sense of in addition to, as Lev 18:18 thou shalt not take אִשָּׁה אֶל אֲחוֺתָהּ a woman to, in addition to, her sister, Josh 13:22 (|| Num 31:8 על); 1Sam 14:34 at eat אֶלהַֿחָם together with the blood (1Sam 14:32 & generally עַל); 1Kgs 10:7 הוֺסִיף אֶל (generally עַל); Jer 25:26; Ezek 7:26 שְׁמוּעָה אֶל שְׁמוּעָה || (עלׅ; Ezek 44:7; Lam 3:41 let us lift up לְבָבֵנוּ אֶלכַּֿפָּ֑יִם our hearts together with the hands (compare , Qor 4:2; WAG ii. § 51 c).

6. Metaphor in regard to, concerning, on account of : thus הִתְאַבֵּל to mourn concerning 1Sam 15:35 הִנָּחֵם to repent as regards 2Sam 24:16 דָּרַשׁ to inquire 1Kgs 14:5 הִתְפַּלֵּל to pray with regard to 1Sam 1:27; 2Kgs 19:20 צָעַק to cry 2Kgs 8:3 (2Kgs 8:5 על); נֶעֳצַב be pained 1Sam 20:34 נִחַם to comfort 2Sam 10:2 more generally 1Kgs 16:13; 1Kgs 21:22 אֶלנֶֿפֶשׁ on account of, for the sake of, one's life 1Kgs 19:3; 2Kgs 7:7 (Gen 19:17 על). (עַל is more common in this sense.) And specially with verbs of saying, narrating, telling, etc. with regard to, as אָמַר Gen 20:2; Isa 29:22; Isa 37:21; Isa 37:33 +; דִּבֶּר 2Sam 7:19; Jer 40:16 b; סִפֵּר Ps 2:7; Ps 69:27 צִוָּה Isa 23:11 שָׁמַע Ezek 19:4 הַשְּׁמוּעָה אֶל the report regarding. . . 1Sam 4:19. (Not frequently, ext. in the case of אָמַר.)

7. Of rule or standard, according to (rare): אֶלפִּֿי ֗֗֗ according to the command of, Josh 15:13; Josh 17:4; Josh 21:3 (generally עַלפִּֿי); אֶלנָֿבוֺן according to what is fixed = of a certainty 1Sam 23:23; 1Sam 26:4 (see Dr): perhaps Ps 5:1; Ps 80:1 (Ps 45:1 עַל).

8. Expressing presence at a spot, against; at, by, not merely after verbs expressing or implying motion (compare 1, Gen 24:11), as Josh 11:5 and they came and encamped together אֶלמֵֿי מֵרוֺם at the waters of Merom, 1Sam 5:4 cut off (and fallen) on to the threshold, 2Sam 2:23 and elsewhere and smote him אֶלהַֿחֹמֶשׁ in or on the belly, Deut 33:28; Exod 29:12; Lev 4:7 but also in other cases, as Josh 5:3 and he circumcised the Israelites אֶל against, at the hill of the foreskins, Josh 22:11 have built an altar אֶל גְּלִילוֺת הַיַּרְדֵּן by the districts of Jordan, Judg 12:6 & 2Sam 18:4 אֶליַֿד at the side of (elsewhere לְיַד, עַל יַד), 1Kgs 13:20 as they were sitting אֶלהַֿשֻּׁלְחָן at the table, 2Kgs 11:14 אֶלהַֿמֶּלֶךְ by the king, Jer 41:12 and found him by the great waters, etc., Jer 46:10 אֶלנְֿהַר פְּרָת by the Euphrates, Ezek 3:15; Ezek 11:11; Ezek 17:8; Ezek 31:7; Ezek 40:18; Ezek 43:3; Ezek 47:7; Ezek 48:12.

9. Prefixed to other preps. it combines with them the idea of motion or direction to: thus אֶלאַֿחֲרֵי 2Sam 5:23; 2Kgs 9:18; 2Kgs 9:19 סֹב אֶלאַֿחֲרַי turn to behind me, Zech 6:5 (where אֶל is pleonastic, probably due to clerical error; note יצא אל before & after); אֶלבֵּֿין in between Ezek 31:10; Ezek 31:14 אֵלבֵּֿינוֺת similarly Ezek 10:2 ׳אֶלמִֿבֵּית לְ to (the part) within (see below בַּיִת), in within Lev 16:15; 2Kgs 11:15 || have her forth in within the ranks; אֶלמֿוּל see מוּל; ׳אֶלמִֿנֶּגֶב לְ unto the south of Josh 15:3 ׳אֶלמִֿחוּץ לְ to the outside of Lev 4:12; Lev 4:21 +; אֶלנֹֿכַח to the front of Num 19:4 אֶלתַּֿחַת Judg 6:19; 1Kgs 8:6 and elsewhere (see below תַּחַת).

Note I. — In Gen 20:13 אֶלכָּֿלהַֿמָּקוֺם אֲשֶׁר נָבוֺא ׳שָׁמָּה אִמְרִילִֿי וג; Num 33:54 ׳אֶלאֲֿשֶׁר וג; Prov 17:8 (compare Deut 16:6); — אֶל appears to be used by a species of attraction; the idea of motion involved in the relative clause influencing illogically the beginning of the sentence and causing אֶל to be used instead of בְּ. In Deut 31:14 אֵלֵיהֶם, as pointed, can only be from אַיִל III or IV (q. v.); if the word be taken as the Pronoun with suffix (Hi Ke), אֲלֵיהֶם must be read.

Note 2. — There is a tendency in Hebrew, especially manifest in Samuel Kings Jeremiah Ezekiel, to use אֶל in the sense of עַל; sometimes אֶל being used exceptionally in a phrase or construction which regularly, and in accusative with analogy, has עַל; sometimes, the two prepositions interchanging, apparently without discrimination, in the same or parallel sentences. Thus
   (a) Josh 5:14 וִיִּפֹּל אֶלפָּֿנָיו; 1Sam 13:13 אֶתמַֿמְלַכְתְּךָ אֶליִֿשְׂרָאֵל ׳הֵקִים י; 1Sam 14:34 (see below 5); 1Sam 17:3 עֹמְדִים אֶלהָֿהָר (contractee עַל Deut 11:29); Deut 19:16; 2Sam 6:3; 2Sam 20:23 (contracted 2Sam 8:16) 1Kgs 13:29; 1Kgs 18:46 (contracted 2Kgs 3:15 על) Jer 35:15; Ezek 7:18.
   (b) Judg 6:37 and upon (עַל) all the earth let there be dryness, vJudg 6:39 let there be dryness on (אֶל) the fleece; 1Sam 14:10 come up עָלֵינוּ, v1Sam 14:12 come up אֵלֵינוּ; 1Sam 16; 1Sam 18:10 צָלַח אֶל, 1Sam 10:6 and elsewhere צָלַח עַל; 1Sam 25:17 evil is determined אֶלאֲֿדֹנֵינוּ וְעַל כָּלבֵּֿיתוֺ; v1Sam 25:25; 1Sam 27:10; 2Sam 2:9 וַיַּמְלִכֵהוּ אֶל וְ֗֗֗אֶל וְ֗֗֗אֶל וְ֗֗֗עַל וְ֗֗֗עַל וְ֗֗֗עַל; 2Sam 3:29 יָחֻלוּ עַל ֗֗֗ וְאֶל ֗֗֗ 2Kgs 8:3 & 5; 2Kgs 3; Jer 19:15; Jer 25:2; Jer 26:15 ye lay innocent blood עֲלֵיכֶם וְאֶלהָֿעִיר הַזּאֹת; Jer 27:19; Jer 28:8; Jer 33:14; Jer 34:7; Jer 36:31; Jer 37:13; Jer 37:14; Ezek 18:6; Ezek 18:11 & 15; Ezek 21:12 etc. Ps 79:6 (Jer 10:25 על twice). It is probably that this interchange, at least in many cases, is not original, but due to transcribers.


[Note]

Conversely, though not with the same frequency, עַל occurs where analogy would lead us to expect אֶל, or even in juxtaposition with אֶל, as 1Sam 1:10 הִתְפַּלֵּל עַל to pray to (1Sam 1:26 אֶל); v1Sam 1:13; 1Sam 25:25 אֶלעַ֗֗֗ל; 1Kgs 20:43 וַיֵּלֶךְ עַלבֵּֿיתוֺ (1Kgs 21:4 אֶל); Isa 22:15; Jer 11:2; Jer 23:35; Jer 31:12. compare DrSm i. 13, 13; ii. 8, 7; 15, 4.

unto, to, into, upon, against, …
ʾēl
near, with or among; often in general, to
  • to, toward, unto (of motion)
  • "into (limit is actually entered)
    • in among
    toward (of direction, not necessarily physical motion)"against (motion or direction of a hostile character)"in addition to, to"concerning, in regard to, in reference to, on account of"according to (rule or standard)"at, by, against (of one's presence)"in between, in within, to within, unto (idea of motion to)

קֹרֵ֣א
קֹרֵ֣א
Root word called, call, cried, cry, read, …
Dictionary form: קָרָא · kaw-RAW

Verb — Qal, Participle Active, masculine singular, absolute state simple action — "he did" ongoing action — try "___ing" or "one who ___s"

In the KJV here: he calleth
called ×80 and called ×71 and he called ×30 call ×30 is called ×15 and she called ×14 was called ×11 and cried ×10
More options
call — Core, most versatile rendering; suits direct address or summons.
cry out — Prefer when urgency, distress, or loud exclamation is in view.
proclaim — Best for public, authoritative announcements or heralds.
read aloud — Use when the text specifies reading a scroll or document.
name — Ideal for the act of giving a name to a person or place.
invite — Suits contexts of summoning guests or extending a formal invitation.

BDB7550 H7121

BDB7549 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB7551

I. קָרָא724 verb call, proclaim, read (Late Hebrew id., read aloud, read; Phoenician קרא call; Arabic read aloud, recite (the '†or°¹n'), the †or°a¹n; Aramaic קְלרא, call, etc., so Old Aramaic קרא, Nabatean id., Palmyrene id., קרה); —

Qal655 Perfect ׳ק Gen 11:9 +, 3 feminine singular consecutive וְקָרָזת Isa 7:14 (Ges«GKC:74g»§ 74g); 2 masculine singular קָרָאתָ Judg 12:1 +, etc.; Imperfect 3 masculine singular יִקְרָא Gen 2:19 +; suffix יִקְרְאוֺ Jer 23:6, אֵהוּ- Isa 41:2 +; 1 singular אֶקְרָא Deut 32:3 +, וָאֶקְרָאֶר 1Sam 28:15 (Ges«GKC:48d»§ 48d NesMarg. 15); 3 feminine plural וַתִּקְרֶאנָה Ruth 4:17 (twice in verse), וַתִּקְרֶאןָ Num 25:2 2 feminine plural תִּקְרֶאנָה Ruth 1:20; Ruth 1:21, etc.; Imperative masculine singular קְרָא Judg 7:3 +, suffix קְרָאֵנִי Ps 50:15, etc.; Infinitive construct קְרָא 1Sam 3:6 +, קְראֹות (Baer אֹת-) Judg 8:1 (Ges«GKC:74h»§ 74h); suffix קָרְאִי Ps 4:2 +, etc.; Participle active קוֺרֵא Amos 5:8 +, קֹרֵא Jer 1:15 +; plural קֹרִאים Ps 99:6 (Ges«GKC:74i»§§ 74i; «GKC:75oo»75oo); passive קָרוּא Esth 5:12 plural קְרוּאִים 1Sam 9:22; Ezek 23:23, קְרֻאִים 1Sam 9:13 +; construct קְרוּאֵי Num 1:16 Qr (Kt קריאי), Num 26:9 Kt (Qr קְרִיאֵי, see קָרִיא); —
1. a. call, cry, utter a loud sound, Judg 9:7; 2Sam 18:25 (in v2Sam 18:28 read וַיִּקְרַב We, confirmed by ᵐ5L so Dr and all recent Comm.), Jer 4:6; Dan 8:16 (all + אמר), 2Kgs 7:11 (on text see Kit Benz), Isa 6:4 for help Gen 39:15; Gen 39:18 (J); of pleading in court Isa 59:4 (ב of manner); explicitly בְּקוֺל גְּדוֺל Gen 39:14 (J), 1Kgs 18:27; 1Kgs 18:28; 2Kgs 18:28 = Isa 36:13 = 2Chr 32:18, קוֺל גָּדוֺל Ezek 9:1 (+ בְּאָצְנֵי); with אַחֲרֵי person 1Sam 20:37 (+ אָמַר), 1Sam 24:8 (Gi; v.1Sam 24:9 van d. H. Baer; + לֵאמֹר), Jer 12:6.
  b. call cry, object in oratio recta [direct speech] Judg 7:20; 1Sam 3:4 (read שְׁמוּאֵל שְׁמוּאֵל; ᵐ5 Th We Dr Kit Bu HPS), v1Sam 3:6 (compare ᵐ5), v1Sam 3:8 (against accents), v1Sam 3:10 (see שְׁמוּאֵל), 1Sam 20:38; 2Sam 20:16; 2Kgs 11:14; Jer 20:8; Lev 13:45 = utter, speak Jer 36:18 of command Gen 45:1 (E).
2. a. call unto some one: אֶל person (often + אָמַר; sometimes with מִן local), Gen 3:9; Gen 19:5; Exod 3:4; Isa 6:3 + often; with עַל (for אֶל) of satyrs Isa 34:14 (so Vrss Ges CheComm. and others > recent Comm. from II. קָרָא or קָרָה which (in Qal) always take accusative); unto (אֶלׅ ׳י (God), in praise Ps 66:17; 1Chr 4:10, usually for help, Judg 15:18; 1Sam 12:17; 1Sam 12:18; Hos 7:7 + Hos 3:5; Hos 4:4 +, + עַל person against Deut 15:9; Deut 24:15 to (לׅ ׳י (God) Job 14:14; Ps 57:3; Ps 141:1 to (ל) a servant (for service) 2Kgs 4:36; Job 19:16, so (אֶל) 2Sam 1:15 call to (ל) one Jer 3:4 (+ oratio recta [direct speech]), Lam 4:15 (id.), Prov 2:3 (לְבִינָה); subject ׳י Mic 6:9; Jer 35:17.
  b. cry for help, absolute, (in poetry and late) Zech 7:13; Isa 58:9; Isa 65:24; Job 5:1; Job 9:16; Prov 21:13; Ps 4:2; Ps 20:10 + 10 t. Psalms (Ps 147:9 of young ravens); בֵּאָזְנֵי Ezek 8:18.
  c. ׳בְּשֵׁם י ׳ק call with name of ׳י (i.e. use it in invocation): Gen 4:26; Gen 12:8; 2Kgs 5:11; Jer 10:25 = Ps 79:6 + 16 t. (1Kgs 18:24 of specific appeal to ׳י to display his power), + Isa 65:1 (see Pu`al); with name of Baal 1Kgs 18:24; 1Kgs 18:25; 1Kgs 18:26.
  d. late, with accusative dei Isa 43:22; Ps 14:4 + 4 t. Psalms; absolute Ps 116:2.
3. proclaim:
  a. with accusative of thing procl. Amos 4:5; Gen 41:43; Deut 15:2; Jer 31:6; Lev 25:10 +; צוֺם ׳ק proclaim a fast 1Kgs 21:9; 1Kgs 21:12; Jer 36:9 +, ׳מוֺעֲדֵי י ׳ק Lev 23:2; Lev 23:4 ׳ק followed by oratio recta [direct speech] Exod 34:6, etc.; followed by ל person Jer 34:8; Jer 34:15; Jer 34:17 (twice in verse); Isa 61:1, עַל person (against, concerning) 1Kgs 13:4; 1Kgs 13:32; Jer 49:29; Lam 1:15 proclaim peace to (ל person) Judg 21:13 compare אֵלֶיהָ לְשָׁלוֺם ׳ק Deut 20:10 ׳ק with accusative of congnate meaning with verb מִקְרָא Isa 1:13, הַקְּרִיאָה Jonah 3:2 (+ אֶל).
  b. ׳שֵׁם י ׳ק Deut 32:3; Ps 99:6 so (earlier) ׳בְשֵׁם י ׳ק Exod 33:19; Exod 34:5 (JE); compare בְּשֵׁם יַעֲקֹב ׳ק Isa 44:5 (but read יִקָּרֵא, Lo Che and most).
  c. עֲלֵי׳בֵּשׁ ׳ק Ps 49:12 proclaim (with) name over landed estates, claim possession (Hup Bae); proclaim one's own name Ruth 4:11 = become famous; passive participle proclaimed, i.e. renowned Ezek 23:23.
  d. absolute make proclamation (sometimes + אָמַר, לֵאמֹר) Judg 7:3; Jer 2:2 (בְּאָוְנֵי) Zech 1:14; Zech 1:17; Jonah 3:4; Isa 40:3; Isa 40:6 +, with עַל concerning Neh 6:7, against 1Kgs 13:2; Jonah 1:3.
4. a. read aloud, often בְּאָוְבֵי, less often לפְנֵי, with ב of roll, book Jer 36:6; Jer 36:8; Jer 36:14; Neh 8:3; Neh 8:8; Neh 9:3; 2Chr 34:18, + accusative of words Jer 36:8; Jer 36:10 object omitted Exod 24:7 (E) Jer 36:15 with acc of roll, book vJer 36:15 vJer 36:21; Jer 51:63; 2Kgs 22:10; 2Chr 34:24, of letter (סֵפֶר), writing 2Kgs 5:7; Isa 29:11; Isa 29:12; Jer 29:29, columns of manuscript Jer 36:23 with accusative of words Josh 8:34; Josh 8:35; Jer 36:6; Jer 51:61; 2Kgs 23:2 = 2Chr 34:30, compare Deut 31:11.
  b. read, to oneself, in (ב) a roll, book, Deut 17:19; Neh 8:18, so of vision written on tablets Hab 2:2 with accusative of letter (סֵפֶר) 2Kgs 19:14 = Isa 37:14, book 2Kgs 22:8 absolute Isa 34:16.
  c. read, for hear read, 2Kgs 22:16.
5. summon: usually
  a. with ל person: Gen 12:18; Gen 20:8; Gen 20:9; Num 22:5; Num 22:20; Num 22:37; Judg 8:1; 1Sam 3:5; 1Sam 3:6; 1Sam 3:8 (twice in verse) + often (c. 100 t.), + ל reflexive 1Kgs 1:28; 1Kgs 1:32, + אֶל location Exod 19:20, + אֶל person 2Sam 9:2, + infinitive purpose Josh 24:9; Judg 12:1; Judg 14:16; 1Sam 28:15, + מִן local Hos 11:1; Judg 4:6 + בִּשְׁמֶ֑ךָ Isa 45:4 summon by thy name; specifically summon = invite (especially to feast) Exod 34:15; Judg 14:15 ( + infinitive purpose) 1Sam 16:3 ( + בַּזָּבַ֑ח, read probably ׳לַזּ see HPS), v1Sam 16:5 ( + ׳לַזּ), 1Kgs 19:26 + (c. 17 t.).
  b. with אֶל person Exod 10:24; Josh 4:4; Josh 10:24; 1Kgs 13:21 + (c. 20 t.); אֶל person + ל person (different persons in same relation) Exod 8:21; Jer 42:8 = call for (demand to see), with אֶל person 2Kgs 18:18 with ל of thing = demand, require Prov 18:6 compare Prov 27:16 (probably corrupt, see Toy).
  c. with accusative of person Gen 41:8; Gen 41:14; Exod 2:7 ( + ל person), vExod 2:7; Amos 5:16 ( + אֶל of thing), Isa 13:3 (ל of thing), 1Sam 3:16; 1Sam 22:11 + (c. 33 t.), insert וַיַקְרָא in this sense also 2Sam 15:12 ᵐ5L We Dr and most; + infinitive purpose Num 24:10, מִמִּוְרָח עַיִט ׳ק Isa 46:11 in weakened sense (to bring response, or bring person near) Song 5:6 specifically invite, 1Sam 9:24 (but corrupt, see especially HPS), 1Kgs 1:9 (also + ל, MT), v1Kgs 1:10; 1Kgs 12:20 (+ אֶל location), Deut 33:19 (accusative of location); אֲנִי קָרוּא לָהּ Esth 5:12, passive participle elsewhere plural, invited ones, guests 1Sam 9:13; 1Sam 9:22; 2Sam 15:11; 1Kgs 1:41; 1Kgs 1:49; Zeph 1:7; Prov 9:18 invite or summon (accusative of person) for help, succour, Hos 7:11 usually object ׳י (in poetry and late) Jer 29:12; 2Sam 22:4; 2Sam 22:7 = Ps 18:4; Ps 18:7; Isa 55:6; Lam 3:57; Job 27:10; Ps 50:15; Ps 86:5 + 8 t. Psalms, accusative ׳שֵׁם י Lam 3:55 accusative חכמה Prov 1:28.
  d. absolute call, summon Amos 7:4 (+ ל of thing), Isa 22:12 (id.), 1Sam 3:5; 1Sam 3:6; Zech 7:13 ׳י (God) Isa 52:2; Isa 65:12; Isa 66:4; Job 13:22; Job 14:15, קְרוּאֵי הָעֵדָה Num 1:17 Qr (Kt קְרִיאֵי), Num 26:9 Kt (Qr קְרִיאֵי!)
  e. call and commission, appoint, accusative of person, Isa 48:15; Isa 49:1, + בְּשֵׁם by name, specifically, Exod 31:2; Exod 35:30; Isa 43:1; Isa 45:3. feminine call and endow (with privilege) Isa 51:2; Isa 54:5; Isa 55:5.
6. call=name:
  a. (early and most common usage), call one's name (שֵׁם) so and so, 2 accusative: of person Gen 3:20; Gen 4:25; Gen 4:26; Gen 5:2; Gen 5:3; Gen 5:29 + 34 t. Genesis; Exod 2:10; Exod 2:22; Hos 1:4; Hos 1:6; Hos 1:9; Isa 7:14; Isa 8:3; Isa 9:5 + 10 t. (Jer 46:17 read קִרְאוּ שֵׁם ᵐ5 Gie and others); of places, etc., Gen 4:17; Gen 11:9 + 17 t. Genesis; Judg 1:17; Judg 1:26; Judg 2:5; Judg 15:19; Judg 18:29 + 21 t.
  b. with accusative of appellation ony, Ezek 39:11.
  c. accusative of person or location + accusative appellative Hos 2:18; Deut 3:14; Jer 23:6; Isa 58:5; Num 32:41.
  d. accusative of person + clause Ps 89:27.
  e. = give name to, accusative appellation + ל person (location, or thing): (1) person Hos 2:18; Gen 35:18; 1Sam 4:21; Jer 3:19; Jer 30:17; Jer 33:16 + 9 t.; (2) location, or thing, Judg 18:12; 2Sam 2:16; 2Sam 5:9; 2Sam 6:8; Josh 22:34 (name lost, ᵑ6 Hebrew Manuscripts Ins. עֵד; compare Di Steuern), Gen 1:5 (twice in verse); Gen 1:8; Gen 2:19 (twice in verse); Exod 33:7 + 30 t. + Job 17:14 (ל + sentence including name). feminine with בְּשֵׁם + ל Isa 40:26, compare Isa 65:11 (שֵׁם אַחֵר), Ps 147:4 (שֵׁמוֺת), Ruth 4:17 (שֵׁם + לֵאמֹר), Gen 2:20; Gen 26:18 (twice in verse) (all with שֵׁם).
  g. with ל of thing + עַלאשֵׁם 2Sam 18:16.
  h. call by ב names the names (accusative) of cities Num 32:38 call to (ב) city, + appelll., + בִּשְׁמוֺ v 42.
  i. call cities (accusative) בְּשֵׁם, i.e, specify them, Josh 21:9; 1Chr 6:50 (בְּשֵׁמוֺת). Niph`al Perfect 3 masculine singular נִקְרָא Jer 4:20 +, 1 singular נִקְרֵאתִי Esth 4:11, etc.; Imperfect 3 masculine singular יִקָּרֵא Gen 2:23 +, וַיִּקָּרֵא Ezek 20:29 +, etc.; Participle נִקְרָא Isa 43:7; Jer 44:26 plural נִקְרָאִים Isa 48:1; Esth 6:1
1. reflexive, ׳מֵעִיר הַקֹּדֶשׁ נִק Isa 48:2 from the holy city they call themselves.
2. passive be called:
  a. be proclaimed (compare Qal 3), of ׳שֵׁם י Jer 44:26 (בְּפֶה instrumental); of man's name = be famous Ruth 4:14 = be announced Jer 4:20.
  b. be read aloud compare Qal 4): impersonal with ב of book, + בְּאָוְנֵי Neh 13:1 subject records Esth 6:1 (לפְנֵי).
  c. be summoned (compare Qal 5: Isa 31:4 (עַל against); Esth 3:12; Esth 4:11 (twice in verse); 8: 9; + בְּשֵׁם, i.e. specifically, Esth 2:14,
  d. be named (compare
Qal 6.): (I) appell. subject + ל person Gen 2:23 to her shall be called 'woman', 1Sam 9:9; Isa 32:5; Isa 62:4; Isa 62:12; Prov 16:21 + ל location 2Sam 18:18; Isa 1:26; Isa 35:8; Jer 19:6. (2) ׳וְנִקְרָא שְׁמוֺ ונו Deut 25:10, so Gen 35:10; Dan 10:1; Ezek 20:29 (of place); אֶתשִֿׁמְךָ Ezek 20:29. (3) ׳וגו ׳וְנִקְרְאָה יְרוּשׁ Zech 8:3, so land Deut 3:18, temple Isa 56:7. (4) especially עַל ׳נִקְרָא שֵׁם י, denoting ownership, of person Jer 15:16, people Deut 28:10; Jer 14:9; Amos 9:12; Isa 63:19; 2Chr 7:14, ark 2Sam 6:2 (strike out 2nd שֵׁם ᵐ5 We Dr and others), = 1Chr 13:6 (adding עָלָיו Oettli Kau; > KitHpt שְׁמוֺ שָׁם), temple 1Kgs 8:43 = 2Chr 6:33; Jer 7:10; Jer 7:11; Jer 7:14; Jer 7:30; Jer 32:34; Jer 34:15, city Jer 25:29; Dan 9:18, city + people vDan 9:19 so name of man 2Sam 12:28, as given to his wife Isa 4:1 (5) be called עַל שֵׁם, i.e. reckoned to, Gen 48:6; Isa 54:5; Isa 61:6 עַלאשֵׁבֶט 1Chr 23:14, compare Ezra 2:61 = Neh 7:63. (6) be called בְּשֵׁם Isa 43:7; Isa 48:1. (7) ךְָָ זָ֑רַע ׳בְּיִצְתָק יִקּ Gen 21:12, i.e. in (through) ׳יִצ shall seed be reckoned to three; וְיִקָּרֵא בָהֶם שְׁמִי Gen 48:16 through them shall my name be called, i.e. perpetuated. (8) be named = menationed, of person Isa 14:20 (9) subject שֵׁם Eccl 6:10, i.e. thing is known. Pu`al (Ezekiel and Isa2) Perfect 3 masculine singular קֹרָא be called, subject appell. + ל person or of thing = be named, Isa 48:8; Ezek 10:13 (׳קוֺ); וְקֹרָא consecutive Isa 58:12; Isa 61:3; Isa 62:2 (שֵׁם חָדָשׁ); גּוֺי לאֹ קֹרָא בִּשְׁמִי Isa 65:1 (< קָרָא or קֹרֵא [Qal 2 c], Vrss Lo Ew Che Di and others); be called and privileged (compare Qal 5 f); Participle מְקרָאִי ׳יִש Isa 48:12.


BDB9869 H7123 H7121

BDB9868 | BIBLICAL ARAMAIC | BDB9870

[קְרָא] verb call, read out, aloud (see Biblical Hebrew I. קרא); —

Pe`al Imperfect 3 masculine singular יִקְרֵה Dan 5:7, 1 singular אֶקְרֵא vDan 5:17 3 masculine plural יִקְרוֺן vDan 5:15 Infinitive לְמִקְרֵא vDan 5:8 vDan 5:16 Participle active קָרֵא Dan 3:4 +; —
1. call, proclaim, בְּהַיִל: Dan 3:4; Dan 4:11; Dan 5:7
2. read out, aloud, accusative כְּתָבָא Dan 5:7; Dan 5:8; Dan 5:15; Dan 5:16; Dan 5:17 (ל person). Pe`îl (WCG 225) Perfect 3 masculine singular קֱרִי Ezra 4:18; Ezra 4:23 it was read, קֳדָם person Hithpe`el be summoned, Imperfect 3 masculine singular יִתְקְרֵי Dan 5:12.

called, call, cried, cry, read, …
qārāʾ
to call out to (i.e., properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications)
  • to call, call out, recite, read, cry out, proclaim
    • (Qal)
      • to call, cry, utter a loud sound
      • "to call unto, cry (for help), call (with name of God)"to proclaim"to read aloud, read (to oneself), read"to summon, invite, call for, call and commission, appoint, call and endow"to call, name, give name to, call by
      (Niphal)
      • to call oneself
      • "to be called, be proclaimed, be read aloud, be summoned, be named
      (Pual) to be called, be named, be called out, be chosen

מִ שֵּׂעִ֔יר
מִ
Prefix — preposition from, out of
שֵּׂעִ֔יר
Root word a name — transliterate it ("Me out of seir")
Dictionary form: שֵׂעִיר · say-EER

Noun — Proper Name

In the KJV here: me out of seir
seir ×19 of seir ×7 in seir ×6 to seir ×2 unto seir ×2 and seir ×1 from seir ×1 me out of seir ×1
More options
Seir — Standard proper noun; use as the place name consistently.
Mount Seir — Preferred when the highland region or mountain range is in view.
the region of Seir — Clarifies geographic extent for general readers.
the land of Seir — Emphasizes territorial identity; good for narrative contexts.
Seir (Edom) — Parenthetical gloss links Seir to Edom for unfamiliar readers.

BDB8289 H8165

BDB8288 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB8290

שֵׂעִיר proper name Se`îr (= שָׂעִיר, goat ? compare GrayProp.N.94; but note play in שֵׂעָר Gen 25:25, שָׂעִר Gen 27:11; Gen 27:23 ZMG xl (1886). 165; Ency. Bib. ii. 1183 compare proper name, of a mountain (the 'hairy,' i.e. 'well-wooded,' compare trees), proper name, of a people (originally proper name, of a location) ; LagBN 92 thinks ׳שׂ originally proper name, masculine, but land much earlier in OT.; perhaps = Tel Amarna land Šêri, ZimZA vi (1891), 257 JastrJBL xi (1892), 114 WklTel Am. 181, 26 BuhlEdom. 28. f.); —

1. Σηειρ: a. terr. land of Edom, south of Dead Sea, ׳אַ֫רְצָה שׂ Gen 32:4 (J; || שְׂדֵה אֱדוֺם), compare Gen 36:30 (P); ׳שׂ alone Judg 5:4 (poem; || id.), Num 24:18 (J E; || אֱדוֺם), Deut 1:44; Deut 2:4; Deut 2:8; Deut 2:12; Deut 2:22; Deut 2:29; Deut 33:2; Josh 11:19 (D), Isa 21:11; 2Chr 20:23 b; with ה locative שֵׂעִ֫ירָה Gen 33:14; Gen 33:16 (J), Josh 12:7 (D).
  b. specific mont. East of Arabah, ׳הַרשֿׂ Josh 24:4 (E), Gen 36:8; Gen 36:9 (P), Deut 1:2; Deut 2:1; Deut 21:5; Ezek 35:2; Ezek 35:3; Ezek 35:7; Ezek 35:15; 1Chr 4:42; 2Chr 20:10; 2Chr 20:22; 2Chr 20:23 compare ׳הַרֲרָם שׂ Gen 14:6 (home of הַחֹרִי; on text see BuhlEdom. 28 GunkGn). c. of a people Ezek 25:8 = Edom [van d. H. ׳שׁ]; but strike out ᵐ5B Hi Co Berthol Toy Krae.
  d. personified as masculine in ׳בְּנֵישֿׂ (see חֹרִי p. 360; compare Gen 14:6) Gen 36:20 = 1Chr 1:38; Gen 36:21 (P; + בְּאֶרֶץ אֱדוֺם); = Edomites 2Chr 25:11; 2Chr 25:14 (|| אֱדוֺמִים).
2. mont. in Judah, ׳הַרשֿׂ Josh 15:10 (P), Ασσαρ, A Σηειρ, ᵐ5L Σιειρ; Di BuhlG 91 and others compare hill-ruin Sârîs approximately 9 miles west of Jerusalem. (RobBR iii. 156).

seir
śēʿîr
hairy, shaggy
Seir, a mountain of Idumaea and its indigenous occupants, also one in Palestine
  • (n pr m) patriarch of the Horites, the inhabitants of Edom before the descendants of Esau, the Edomites
  • "(n pr terr) the land of Edom, south of the Dead Sea"(n pr mont) a mountain range in Edom extending from the Dead Sea to the Elanitic Gulf
    • apparently also called 'Mount Seir' and extending most of the distance of the mountain range itself
    a mountain in northern Judah lying westward from Kirjath-jearim

שֹׁמֵר֙
שֹׁמֵר֙
Root word keep, kept, observe, heed, keepeth, …
Dictionary form: שָׁמַר · shaw-MAHR

Verb — Qal, Participle Active, masculine singular, absolute state simple action — "he did" ongoing action — try "___ing" or "one who ___s"

In the KJV here: watchman
keep ×28 kept ×24 and keep ×23 to keep ×23 take heed ×16 and to keep ×7 observe ×7 ye shall keep ×6
More options
keep — Most versatile rendering; suits commands and ongoing obligations.
observe — Best for law/covenant contexts: observe the sabbath.
guard — Physical or protective watching over something or someone.
watch over — Caring, attentive oversight; warm, pastoral register.
heed — Prefer when the nuance is careful attention or warning.
preserve — Suits divine protection contexts: God preserves his people.

BDB8848 H8104

BDB8847 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB8849

I. שָׁמַר465 verb keep, watch, preserve (Late Hebrew id.; Phoenician שמר in proper name and (Punic) = watchman; Tel Amarna šimiru is perhaps overseer (Canaanism), WklNo. 80, i. 23; Mandean סמירא preserved M 46; compare Arabic converse by night, stay awake (see LagBN 105); BaNB 175 f.; ES 43 infers from eyelid (compare [שְׁמֻרָה] below), and Arabic support, aid, protect (l = r), that two √ √ are combined in Hebrew; but proof insufficient); —

Qal425 Perfect 3 masculine singular ׳שׁ Gen 37:11 +, etc.; Imperfect 3 masculine singular יִשְׁמֹר 1Sam 2:9 +, יִשְׁמָרֿ Jer 5:24 +, suffix 3 masculine singular יִשְׁמְרֶנּוּ Exod 21:29; Exod 21:36 3 feminine singular suffix תִּשְׁמוּרֵ֑ם Prov 14:3 (read תִּשְׁמְרוּם, see Ges«GKC:47g»§ 47g Toy), etc.; Imperative masculine singular שְׁמֹר Job 2:6 +, שָׁמְרָה 1Chr 29:18 +; masculine plural שִׁמְרוּ Josh 6:18 +, etc.; Infinitive absolute שָׁמוֺר Deut 5:12 +; construct שְׁמֹר Gen 3:24 +, suffix שָׁמְרָהּ Gen 2:15, etc.; Participle active שֹׁמֵר 1Sam 1:12 +, etc.; passive שָׁמוּר Eccl 5:12 (1Sam 9:24 see below), etc.; — [Synon. I. נָצַר, נָטַר, q. v.]:
1. a. keep, have charge of, garden Gen 2:15 (J), ark 1Sam 7:1, property in trust Exod 22:6; Exod 22:9 (E), compare 1Sam 25:31 tend flock Gen 30:31 (E), compare Zech 3:7; Num 3:8 (P); so perhaps (object omitted) Hos 12:13 (where ׳שׁ chosen for parallelism Now Marti and others); Participle הֲשֹׁמֵר אָחִי אָנֹ֑כִי Gen 4:9 (J), ׳שׁ of sheep 1Sam 17:20, הַכֵּלִים ׳שׁ v1Sam 17:22, הַכְּגָדִים ׳שׁ 2Kgs 22:14; 2Chr 34:22, הַנָּשִׁים ׳שׁ Esth 2:3; Esth 2:8; Esth 2:15, compare vEsth 2:14, etc.
  b. keep, guard, captives Josh 10:18 (J), 1Kgs 20:39, דֶּרֶךְ Gen 3:24 (J); keep watch and ward, אֶל person for whom 1Sam 26:15 (Ps 59:10 see 3 end), עַל person vPs 59:16; Prov 6:22 בַּנַּעַר 2Sam 18:12 have a care of (read לִי for מִי ᵐ5 and modern); in hostile sense, אֶל הָעִיר (in siege) 2Sam 11:16, חַטָאתִי עַל Job 14:16 (but read תַּעֲבֹר with ᵐ5 Ew Di Du and others [not Hi Bu]); absolute with מֵעַל Eccl 5:7 watcheth above, etc.; keep one's mouth, be prudent of speech Prov 21:33, compare Mic 7:5 keep = protect, save, one's life, נֶפֶשׁ Prov 13:3; Prov 16:17; Prov 19:16; Prov 22:5, another's Job 2:6 in Proverbs, accusative of person, subject wisdom, Job 4:6 she shall preserve thee, compare (+ מִן of evil) Job 6:24; Job 7:5 especially Participle watch, watchman, of city Isa 21:11 (twice in verse); Isa 21:12; Isa 62:5 (figurative), Song 3:3; Song 5:7 (twice in verse); Ps 127:1 הַמֶּלֶף ׳שׁ (in temple) Jer 35:4 + (see סַף), פֶּית הַמֶּלֶךְ ׳הַפּ 1Kgs 14:27 = 2Chr 12:10, הַשְּׁעָרִים ׳שׁ Neh 13:22, שֹׁמְרֵי הַבַּיִת (figurative) Eccl 12:3 ׳שׁ הַבַּיִתךֵסעוֺה ךֵהת פךֵךֵכ (of David's concubines) 2Sam 15:16; 2Sam 16:21; 2Sam 20:3 שֹׁמֵר הַכֵּלִים 1Sam 17:22, הַבְּגָדִים ׳שׁ 2Kgs 22:14, חַפַּרְדֵּס ׳שׁ Neh 2:8, הַנָּשִׁים ׳שׁ Esth 2:3; Esth 2:14; Esth 2:15, שֹׁמְרִים absolute Judg 7:19; Jer 51:12.
  c. hence watch for, wait for, accusative of person 1Sam 19:11 (to kill him), compare Ps 59:1 (title; accusative הַבַּיִת); with יֲקֵכַי Ps 56:7 = dog my steps, Ps 71:10; Jer 20:10 = watch (suspiciously) Job 10:14; Job 13:27; Job 33:11 absolute הַשֹּׁעמרִים Judg 1:24 wait for, נֶשֶׁף Job 24:15, לַבֹּקֶר Ps 130:6 (twice in verse).
  d. watch, observe, accusative of thing 1Sam 1:12; Eccl 11:4; Job 39:1; Jer 8:7 (of birds), with intelligence Isa 42:20; Ps 107:43 accusative of person Ps 37:37 (|| ראה), Zech 11:11 accusative of sin Ps 31:7; Ps 130:3 accusative of thing, for the purpose of avoiding, Ps 17:4.
2. a. keep, retain, of storing up (food) Gen 41:35 (E); absolute Eccl 3:6 (opposed to הִשְׁלִיךְ); treasure up (in memory) Gen 37:11 (E), compare Mal 2:7; 1Chr 29:18; Prov 4:21 (בְּתוֺךְ לְבָבֶ֑ךְ), Prov 22:18 (כְּבִטֱנ֑ךָ); retain wrath Amos 1:11 (read שָׁמֶר לָנֶצַח We Now GASm Marti; see also נָטַר 1) + (anger omitted) Jer 3:5 (|| נטר).
  b. keep within bounds, restrain, object שׁוֺר Exod 21:29; Exod 21:36 (E); with accusative hand, מִן of evil Isa 56:2 figurative keep thy foot, with temporal clause Eccl 4:17 לְֿפִי מַחְסוֺם׳אֶשׁ Ps 39:2 (ᵐ5 Du and others אָשִׁימָה); apparently reflexive (= Niph`al), Josh 6:18 (+ מִןהַֿחֵרֶס), possibly sc. גַפְשְׁכֶם Di.
3. a. observe, celebrate, accusative of festival, etc., Exod 23:15 (E), Exod 34:18 (J), Exod 12:17 of day vExod 12:17 (P), of month Deut 16:1.
  b. keep Sabbath Deut 5:12; Lev 19:3; Lev 19:30; Lev 26:2 (all H), Exod 31:13; Exod 31:14; Exod 31:16 (P), Isa 56:4, also (+ מֵחַלְּלוֺ) vIsa 56:2 vIsa 56:6.
  c. of other obligations: keep convenant Ezek 17:14, especially convenant of ׳י Deut 29:8; 1Kgs 11:11 + 5 t., ׳שְׁבֻעַת י 1Kgs 2:43, perform vow Deut 23:24 keep commands Jer 35:18; Ezek 20:18 especially מִצָוֺת, תֻקִּים, יֲבֹדָה, etc., of ׳י (sometimes || נצר), Exod 20:6 = Deut 5:10; Amos 2:4; 1Kgs 2:3; Ps 119:8; Ps 119:17; Ps 119:34 + very often (c. 120 t.); ׳דֶּרֶח י ׳שׁ Gen 18:19 (J) + 4 t., ׳דַּרְכֵי י 2Sam 22:22 = Ps 18:22, ׳י ׳ד omitted Judg 2:22 b; אָרְחוֺת צַדַּיקִים ׳שׁ Prov 2:20 (|| תֵּלֵח תְּלֵח בְּדֶרֶח טוֺבֹים), ׳שׁ דְּרָכַי (ways of wisdom) Prov 8:32 (Ps 17:4 see 1 d); keep discharge an office, כְּהֻנָּה Num 3:10; Num 18:7 (both P), absolute 2Chr 5:11 a function or duty, especially מִשְׁמֶרֶת ׳שׁ Lev 8:35; Num 1:53 + approximately 32 t. (see ׳מ below); accusative of obligation often omitted, especially D (and RD) keep and do Deut 4:6; Deut 7:12 + 8 t.; to do Deut 5:1; Deut 5:29 + 16 t. D + 3 t., etc.
  d. observe = follow dictates of (prudence, justice, kindness, wisdom) Hos 12:7 (חֶסֶד וּמִשְׁפָּט), Isa 56:1; Prov 4:4; Prov 5:2; Prov 7:1; Prov 7:2 bad sense, observe vanities Ps 31:7. — Doubtful are: לִשְׁמֹר absolute Hos 4:10, very strange (conjectures in We Now Marti); שָׁמוּר 1Sam 9:24, HPS אֵחַרְנוּ, compare Now BuComm.; Ps 59:10 read עֻוִּי אֵלֶיךָ אֲזַמֵּ֑רָה (as vPs 59:18, ᵑ6 Che Bae).
4. sometimes ׳י subject:
  a. keep, preserve, protect, accusative of person, + ב of way, etc., Gen 28:15; Gen 28:20 (J), Exod 23:20 (E; of מַלְאָח), Ps 91:11 (׳מ), Josh 24:17 (E); accusative of person (or נפשׁ) only: 1Sam 30:23; Jer 31:9; Num 6:24 (P), Job 29:2; Ps 16:1 + 10 t. Psalms; + מִן Ps 121:7 + 2 t.; accusative רַהְּלַי 1Sam 2:9, compare Prov 3:26 (מִן); Participle שֹׁמְרֶ֑ךָ Ps 121:3; Ps 121:5, compare vPs 121:4, etc.; accusative of city Ps 127:1.
  b. with accusative בְּרִית, ל person Deut 7:12, + חֶסֶד vDeut 7:7 + 5 t., אֱמֶת לְעוֺלָם ׳הַשּׁ Ps 146:6 הַשְּׁבֻעָה Deut 7:8, etc.; passive of covenant (׳י agent) עֲרוּכָה בַכֹּל וּשְׁמֻרָה 2Sam 23:5 (legal terminology, Dr).
5. keep, reserve, weeks of harvest Jer 5:24 (ל person). Niph`al36 Perfect 3 masculine singular נִשְׁמַד 2Sam 20:10, etc.; Imperfect 3 feminine singular תִּשָּׁמֵד Judg 13:13 2 masculine plural תִּשָּׁמַ֑רוּ Exod 23:13 Imperative masculine singular תִּשָּׁמֵד Isa 7:4 הִדָמשּׁ֫מֶר (לְךָׅ Gen 24:6 +; feminine singular הִשָּֽׁמְרִי Judg 13:4, etc.; —
1. be on one's guard, with בַּחֶרֶב 2Sam 20:10 by reason of the sword, i.e. against it; with ב temporal 1Sam 19:2, שָׁם 2Kgs 6:10 take heed Exod 23:13 (E) Deut 2:4 with מִן person Exod 23:21 (E), Jer 9:3 מִן of thing Judg 13:13; Deut 23:10 מִן infinitive take care not to, etc. Gen 31:29 (E), 2Kgs 6:9 infinitive without מִן Exod 19:12 (J), but read probably מֵעֲלוֺת; followed by פֶּן lest Gen 24:6 (J) + 11 t. (especially Deuteronomy); with (וְ)אַל jussive Exod 10:23 (J), Judg 13:4; Job 36:21, with Imperative coordinate Isa 7:4. — Very often Imperative (24 t.), especially in phrase הִשָּׁמֶרלְֿךָ (12 t.), הִשָּֽׁטְרוּ לָכֶם (3 t.); + לְנַפְשֹׁתֵיכֶם Deut 4:15; Josh 23:11 (RD; + infinitive); + ׳בְּנַפ Jer 17:21 apparently ב pret. on peril of your life (compare ב III. 3 a), so perhaps also בְּרוּחֲכֶם Mal 2:15; Mal 2:16 (We Now).
2. keep oneself, refrain, abstain, מֵאִשָּׁה 1Sam 21:5.
3. be kept, guarded, Hos 12:14 (compare ׳שׁ of Jacob v.Hos 12:13); be preserved (by ׳י) Ps 37:28 (לִיוֺלָם), but read probably עַוָּלִים (לְעוֺלָם) נִשְׁמָ֑דוּ Hup-Ri (Now) Che Bae Du Dr. Pi`el Participle plural מְשַׁמְּרִים הַבְלֵישָֿׁוְא Jonah 2:9 those paying regard to false vanities (compare Qal Ps 31:7). Hithpa`el Imperfect 1 singular וָאֶשְׁתַּסֵּר מֵעֲוֺנַי Ps 18:24 I kept myself from, etc. = 2Sam 22:24 (verb cohortative); 3 masculine singular וְיִשְׁתַּמֵּר חֻקּוֺת עָמְרִי Mic 6:16, but read וְתִשְׁמֹר thou keepest, observest, We Now GASm.

keep, kept, observe, heed, keepeth, …
šāmar
properly, to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e., guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc
  • to keep, guard, observe, give heed
    • (Qal)
      • to keep, have charge of
      • "to keep, guard, keep watch and ward, protect, save life
        • watch, watchman (participle)
        to watch for, wait for"to watch, observe"to keep, retain, treasure up (in memory)"to keep (within bounds), restrain"to observe, celebrate, keep (sabbath or covenant or commands), perform (vow)"to keep, preserve, protect"to keep, reserve
      (Niphal)
      • to be on one's guard, take heed, take care, beware
      • "to keep oneself, refrain, abstain"to be kept, be guarded
      (Piel) to keep, pay heed"(Hithpael) to keep oneself from

מַה
מַה
Particle turns the sentence into a question
Dictionary form: מָה · maw

Particle — Interrogative

In the KJV here: what
what ×268 why ×81 wherefore ×64 how ×44 and what ×35 wherein ×12 and why ×10 him what ×9
More options
what — Default interrogative; fits most direct questions.
why — Use when context implies reason or motive.
how — Use when manner or degree is in view.
for what reason — Formal alternative to 'why'; clarifies rhetorical force.
wherein — Replaces archaic form; for 'in what respect'.
whatever — Use for indefinite or relative pronoun contexts.

BDB4521 H1767 H4078 H4100

BDB4520 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB4522

מַדַּי (i.e. מַהדַּֿי) 2Chr 30:3, see מה 1 e.


מִדֵּי see דַּי.


מִדְיָן, מְדִינָה see דין.


מִדְיָנִים see I. מדון. מְדֹכָה see דוך.


מַדְמֵן, I, II. מַדְמֵנָה, מַדְמַנָּה see דמן.


מְדָן see דין. מְדָנִים see מדון, מִדְיָנִי.


מַדַּע, מֹדַע, מֹדַ֫עַת see ידע.


[מַדְקָרָה], plural construct מַדְקְרוֺת see דקר.


מַדְרֵגָה see דרג. מְדֻרָה see דור.


[מִדְרָךְ] see דרך. [מִדְרָשׁ] see דרשׁ.


[מְדֻשָׁה] see דושׁ.


BDB4522 H4100 H4078

BDB4521 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB4523

מָה, rarely מָהֿ (e.g. Gen 31:43; Josh 22:16; Judg 8:1), מַהֿ, מַהּ , מֶה, מַּ  ( Exod 4:2; Isa 3:15; Mal 1:13; 1Chr 15:13; 2Chr 30:3), מָ (only in מָהֵם Ezek 8:6 Kt., Qr. מָה הֵם) — on the distinction in the use of these forms, see Ges«GKC:37»§ 37

pronoun interrogative and indefinite what? how? aught; used of things, as מִי of persons (Aramaic , מָא, Arabic ; probably apocope from a longer form with n or nt, Assyrian minû (DlHWB 417 f.), Ethiopic ment; compare WCG 123 ff. K?:ii. 368): —
1. interrogative what ?
  a. in a direct question, before either verbs or nouns Gen 4:10 מֶה עשׂית what hast thou done ? Gen 15:2 מהתֿתןלֿי what wilt thou give me ? Exod 3:13 מַהשְּֿׁמוֺ, Exod 12:26; Exod 13:14 and so very often: מַההִֿיא Zech 5:6 מה אלה Zech 1:9 מָה אַתָּה רֹאֶה Jer 1:11; Amos 7:8 +; Jl Amos 4:14 מה אתם לי; Judg 18:8 מה אתם see Commentaries, vJudg 18:24 מה לי עוד what have I still ? Isa 21:11 מהמֿלילה what (= how much) of the night (is past) ? = as what ? (qualem ?) Hag 2:3 (compare מִי Amos 7:2); to express surprise, Job 9:12 who shall say to him, מה תעשׂה what doest thou ? Job 22:13; Eccl 8:4; Isa 45:9; Isa 45:10 followed by כִּי, Gen 20:10 מה ראית כי עשׂית what hadst thou in view, that thou hast done, etc.? Gen 31:36; Exod 16:7 וְנַחְנוּ מָה כִּי and what are we, that . . .? Exod 32:21; Num 22:28; Hab 2:18, etc. Note in particular —
   (a) מָה is followed sometimes by a substantive in apposition (against Arabic usage, which does not permit this: WAG. ii. § 170), so that it becomes virtually an adjective: מַהבֶּֿצַע what profit . . .? Gen 37:26; Ps 30:10; Mal 3:14; Isa 40:8 מַהדְּֿמוּת, Mal 1:13; Ps 89:48 זְכָראֲֿנִי מֶה חָ֑לֶד (inverted for חֶלֶד אָ֑נִי מַה) remember (of) what (short) duration I am, Eccl 1:3; Eccl 5:10; Eccl 5:15; Eccl 6:8; Eccl 6:11 (Da§ 8, R. 2 K?:iii. 23 f.); as exclamation, Ps 89:48b Job 26:14. And with the substantive idiomatically at the end (in Arabic preceded then by : WAG. ii. § 49. 7), 1Sam 26:18 ומַהבֿידי רעה and what is there in my hand, evil ? 1Sam 20:10 (see 3), 2Sam 19:29; 2Sam 24:13; 2Sam 1:16; מהמֿצאו אבותיכם בי עָוֶל, Eccl 11:2; Esth 6:3.
   (b) מַהזֶּֿה what now ? 1Sam 10:11, contracted מַזֶּה Exod 4:2 (זֶה 4 c); Gen 3:13 מַהזּֿאֹת עָשִׂיתָ; Gen 12:18; Gen 29:25 מַהזּֿאֹת עָשִׂיתָה לִּי; similarly Gen 26:10; Gen 42:28 +, either what, now, hast thou done ? or what is this that thou hast done ? (see זֶה 4 d).
   (c) לְּךָ מַהֿ what to thee ? i.e. what aileth thee ? or what dost thou want ? Gen 21:17 מַהלָּֿךְ הָגָר; Josh 15:18; 2Sam 14:5; 1Kgs 1:16; 2Kgs 6:28; Ezek 18:2 (accents); followed by כִּי, Judg 18:23 מהלֿך כי נזעקת, Gen 20:9 (compare 1Sam 11:5 לעם כי יבכו מה), Isa 22:1 מַהלָּֿךְ כִּי עָלִיתְ (compare τί παθὼν, τοῦτο ποιεῖς;), Ps 114:5 without כִּי Isa 3:15 (compare Qor 57:8; 57:10); with a participle, Jonah 1:6 what is it to thee as a sleeper ? (accusative: Da§ 70 a cites Qor 74:50), Ezek 18:2 (if אתם be treated as strengthening לכם).
   (d) פֹה (לִי) מַהלְּֿךָ = what hast thou (have I) here ? Judg 18:3; 1Kgs 19:9; Isa 22:16; Isa 52:5.
   (e) in the genitive, Jer 8:9 וְחָכְמַתמֶֿה לָהֶם, and wisdom of what (= what kind of wisdom) is theirs ? Num 23:3 (see below 3).
  b. often in an indirect question, as after ראה, Gen 2:19 to see מהיֿקראלֿו what he would call it, Gen 37:20 וְנִרְאֶה מהיֿהיו חלֹמֹתיו to what his dreams will come, Num 13:19f.; Hab 2:1 הִכִּיר Gen 31:32 ידע Gen 39:8; Exod 2:4 לדעת מהיֵּֿעָשֶׂה לו, Exod 16:15; Exod 32:1; Job 34:4 שׁמע Num 9:8 ׳וְאשׁמעה מהיֿצוה י (compare Ps 85:9), 2Sam 17:5 פֹּרַשׁ Num 15:34 שׁאל 1Kgs 3:5; 2Kgs 2:9 הֵבִין Job 6:24; Job 23:5: Num 13:18 מה היא וראיתם את הארץ, Ps 39:5; Isa 41:22 הראשׁנות מָה הֵנָּה הַגִּידוּ. — In some such cases it approximates in meaning to the simple rel., as Jer 7:17; Jer 33:24; Mic 6:5; Mic 6:8; Job 34:33.
  c. = of what kind ? (German was für ein ... ?), with an insinuation of blame, or reproach, or contempt: Gen 37:10 מה החלום הזה what is this dream which thou hast dreamt? Gen 44:15; Josh 22:16; Judg 8:1; Judg 15:11; Judg 20:12; 1Sam 29:3 מָה הָעִבְרִים האלה, 1Kgs 9:13 מה העדים האלה אשׁר נתתה לי, 2Kgs 9:22; 2Kgs 18:19.
  d. מה is often used in questions to which the answer little, or nothing, is expected, and it thus becomes equivalent to a rhetorical negative (compare הֲ b, מִי f c):
   (a) Gen 23:15 land worth 400 shekels..., מה היא what is it ? (i.e. it is something quite insignificant), Gen 27:37; Judg 8:3 עשׂות ככם ומהיֿכלתי, Judg 14:18; Hos 9:5; Hos 10:3; Ps 30:10; Ps 56:5; Job 15:9; Job 16:6; Job 21:21; Job 22:13; Job 22:17; Lam 2:13; Song 5:9 מַהאדּוֺדֵךְ מִדּוֺד what is thy beloved (more) than a(nother) beloved ? || לא, 1Kgs 12:16 מַהלָּֿנוּ חֵלֶק בְּדָוֺד וְלֹאנַֿחֲלָה בְּבֶן יִשַׁי (2Sam 20:1 ׳אֵיןלָֿנוּ חֵלֶק וג), Job 16:6.
   (b) followed by כִּי (כִּי 1 f), Gen 20:9; Gen 37:26 מַהבֶּֿצַע כִּי נַהֲרֹג what profit (is it) that we should slay him ? Exod 16:7; Num 16:11; Hab 2:18; 2Kgs 8:13 what is thy servant, the dog, that he should do, etc.? and often in poetry, as Ps 8:5 מָה אנושׁ כי תזכרנו what is man that thou rememberest him ? Job 6:11 מַהכֹּֿחִי כִּי אֲיַחֵל, vJob 6:11 b Job 7:17; Job 15:12f; Job 15:14; Job 16:3; Job 21:15 + (compare ׳מִ f b). Hence,
   (c) in the formula of repudiation, or emphatic denial, (וְלָכֶם) מַהלִּֿי וָלָךְ what is there (common) to me and to thee ? i.e. what have I to do with thee ? Judg 11:12; 2Sam 16:10 מה לי ולכם, 2Sam 19:23; 1Kgs 17:18; 2Kgs 3:13; 2Chr 35:21 compare Josh 22:24; 2Kgs 9:18; 2Kgs 9:19 rather differently, without וְ, Jer 2:18 ׳מה לך לדרך מ what is there to thee with reference to the way to Egypt ? Hos 14:9 מַהאלּוֺ לַעֲצַבִּים, compare Ps 50:16 (לְסַפֵּר); with את, Jer 23:28 מַהלַֿתֶּבֶן אֶתהַֿבָּר beside (or in comparison with) the wheat ? compare τί ἐμοὶ(ἡμῖν)καὶ σοί; Matt 8:29; Mark 5:7; John 2:4 and Arabic
  e. = whatsoever (compare מִי g):
   (a) Judg 9:48 ראיתם עשׂיתי מהרו עשׂו כמוני מה אתם, literally what do you see (that) I have done ? hasten, and do like me (= whatever ye see, etc.), 2Sam 21:4 אעשׂה לכם מה אתם אמרים, Job 6:24 with the apodosis introduced by וְ, 1Sam 20:4 מה תאמר נפשׁך ואעשׂה לך; Esth 5:3 בַּקָּשָׁתֵךְ ֗֗֗ וְיִנָּתֵן לָךְ מַהֿ, vEsth 5:6; Esth 7:2; Esth 9:12 hence in the late and strange idiom of Chronicles, it sinks twice almost to the rel. what, 1Chr 15:13 כי לְמַבָּרִאשׁוֺנָה לא אתם because ye were not (employed) for what was at first (on the former occasion), J. etc., 2Chr 30:3 לְמַדַּי according to what was sufficient (= in sufficient numbers), compare Esth 9:26.
   (b) -מַהשֶּֿׁ (late: frequently in Mishna, etc.), whatever, what (compare מִי אֲשֶׁר, מִי
  g. end): Eccl 1:9 מַהשֶּֿׁהָיָה הוּא שֶׁיִּהְיֶה, literally what is that which hath been ? it is that which shall be (= whatever hath been, it is that which shall be), vEccl 1:9; Eccl 3:15; Eccl 3:22; Eccl 6:10; Eccl 7:24; Eccl 8:7; Eccl 10:14.
2. Used adverbially:
  a. as an interrogative:
   (a) how ? especially in expressing what is regarded as an impossibility, Gen 44:16 מַהנִּֿצְטַדָּ֑ק how shall we justify ourselves ? Num 23:8 (twice in verse); 1Sam 10:27 מַהיּֿשִׁעֵנוּ זֶה, 2Kgs 4:43; Job 9:2; Job 25:4 (twice in verse); Job 31:1 I made a covenant with my eyes, ׳וּמָה אֶתְבּוֺנֵן עַל ב and how should I look upon a maid ? (ᵐ5 οὐ, ᵑ9 non), Prov 20:24 דַּרְכּוֺ וְאָדָם מַהיָּֿבִין; in an indirect question, Exod 10:26; Ps 39:5 ֵ˜אדְעָה מֶהחָֿדֵל אָ֑נִי; מַהזֶּֿה, how, now ? (in surprise), Gen 27:20 מַהזֶּֿה מִהַרְתָּ לִמְצאֹ בְּנִי, Judg 18:24; 1Kgs 21:5; 2Kgs 1:5.
   (b) why ? Exod 14:15 אֵלַי מַה תִּצְעַק, Exod 17:2 (twice in verse); 2Kgs 6:33; 2Kgs 7:3; Ps 42:6 מַהתִּֿשְׁתּוֺחֲחִי עלי, Job 15:12 +; Song 8:4 I adjure you מַהתָּֿעִירוּ וּמַהתְּֿעוֺרֲרוּ, why will ye stir up, etc.? (i.e. do not: || אִם Song 2:7; Song 3:5). — The transition from the interrogative to the negative, to which in Hebrew there is an approximate (see above: especially 1Kgs 12:16; Job 31:1; Song 8:4), is in Arabic complete, being there used constantly in the sense of not (compare WalkerHebraica. xii. 244 ff.; iii, 478).
  b. as an exclamation, how ...! with adjectives and verbs, Gen 28:17 מַהנּֿוֺרָא הַמָּקוֺם הַזֶּה how dreadful is this place! Gen 38:29; Num 24:5 מַהטֹּֿבוּ אֹהָלֶיךָ, Isa 52:7; Ps 3:2 מה רבו, Ps 8:2 מה אדיר, Ps 21:2; Ps 36:8, etc., Song 4:10 (twice in verse); Song 7:2 ironically, 2Sam 6:20; Jer 2:33; Jer 2:36; Job 26:2; Job 26:3.
3. indefinite pronoun anything, aught, Num 23:3 וּדְבַרמַֿהיַּֿרְאֵנִי וְהִגַּדְתִּי לָ֑ךְ and he will shew me the matter of aught, and I will tell thee (= if he shew me... I will, etc., Dr§ 149), 1Sam 19:3 וְרָאִיתִי מָה וִהִגַּדְתִּי לָ֑ךְ = and if I see aught, I will, etc., 1Sam 20:10 אוֺ מַהיַּֿעַנִךָ אָבִיךָ קָשָׁה if perchance thy father shall answer thee aught that is harsh (order, 1 a a), 2Sam 18:22 וִיהִימָֿה אָרוּצָהנָּֿא but let there happen what may (literally aught), I will run, v2Sam 18:23 (compare Job 13:13 וְיַעֲבֹר עָלַי מָה), vJob 13:29 וְלֹא יָדַעְתִּי מָה (compare Prov 9:13), Prov 25:8. compare iii. § 65.
4. With prepositions:
  a. בַּמָּה9, בַּמֶּה19 wherein ? Exod 22:26; Judg 16:5; 1Sam 14:38 (indirect question; We בְּמִי); and so according to the various senses of בְּ: whereby ? Gen 15:8; Exod 33:16; Mal 1:2; Mal 1:6; Mal 1:7; Mal 2:17; Mal 3:7-8 wherewith ? 1Sam 6:2; 2Sam 21:3; Mic 6:6 by what means ? Judg 16:5 וּבַמֶּה נוּכַל לוֺ; at what (worth) ? Isa 2:22 for what ? 2Chr 7:21 (|| 1Kgs 9:8 עלמֿה).
  b. יַעַן מֶה Hag 1:9 because of what ?
  c. כַּמָּה, כַּמֶּה, properly the like of what ? (Arabic , Syriac ); hence
   (a) how much ? how many ? ׳כַּמָּה יְמֵי וגו Gen 47:8; 2Sam 19:35; Ps 119:84; Job 13:23 עַד כַּמֶּה פְעָמִים 1Kgs 22:16 (= 2Chr 18:15); כַּמָּה how often ? Job 21:17 (i.e. how seldom !); in an indirect question, how much ? Zech 2:6 (twice in verse). As an exclamation, Zech 7:3 as I have done זֶה כַמֶּה שָׁנִים now (זֶה 4 i), how many years ! Ps 78:40 כַּמָּה how often !
   (b) for how long ? Ps 35:17 כמה תראה, Job 7:19.
  d. לָ֫מָּה, לָמָ֫ה (לָמָ֫ה mostly before the gutturals א, ה, ע and ׳י [i.e. אֲדֹנָי], but twice besides, Ps 42:10; Ps 43:2 לָ֫מָּה also occurs before guttural, in five places noted by Masoretes on Ps 43:2, namely 1Sam 28:15; 2Sam 2:22; 2Sam 14:31; Ps 49:6; Jer 15:18, and before ךְ Gen 4:6; 2Sam 14:13; 2Sam 24:3; Eccl 2:15), לָ֫מָה Job 7:20, לָ֫מֶה 1Sam 1:8 (3 t. in verse), for what reason ? why? Gen 4:6 למה חרה לך why art thou angry ? Gen 24:31, etc.; often strengthened by זֶה (זֶה 4 e), Gen 18:13; Gen 32:30 (= Judg 13:18) למה זה תשׁאל לשׁמי, Judg 33:15; Exod 2:20; Exod 5:22; Exod 17:3, etc., Jer 6:20; Jer 20:18 +; Gen 25:22 זה אנכי אם כן למהֿ if so, why, then, am I ? (why do I continue to live ?); = to what purpose (followed by לִ person), Gen 27:46 למה לי חיים, Isa 1:11; Jer 6:20; Amos 5:18 למה זה ׳לכם יום י, Job 30:2 in an indirect question, 1Sam 6:3; Dan 10:20. Note especially
   (a) in expostulations, Gen 12:18 למה לא הגדת לי why didst thou not tell me, etc. ? vGen 12:19; Gen 29:25; Gen 31:27; Gen 42:1; Gen 43:6; 1Sam 21:15; 1Sam 22:13; 1Sam 24:10; Ps 22:2; Ps 44:24; Ps 44:25; Ps 74:1; Ps 74:11 + often;
   (b) with an imperfect, often deprecating, or introducing rhetorically, the reason why something should, or should not, be done, why should . . .? 1Sam 19:5; 1Sam 19:17; 1Sam 20:8 but to thy father (emphatic) למה זה תביאני, why shouldst thou bring me ? 1Sam 20:32 מה עשׂה למה יומת why should he be put to death ? 2Sam 13:26; 2Sam 16:9; 2Sam 20:19; 2Kgs 14:10, etc.: in such cases, it approximates in meaning to lest (compare Phoenician CISi. 2, 21 יסגרינם אלנם לָםָ ne tradant eos dii), and is in ᵐ5 often rendered by μήποτε, as Gen 27:45 למה אשׁכל why should I be bereaved, etc. ? Exod 32:12 יאמרו מצרים למה Neh 6:3; Ps 79:10; Ps 115:2; Eccl 7:16, μή, Jer 40:15, ἵνα μή, Gen 47:19; 2Sam 2:22; 2Chr 25:16; Eccl 5:5; Eccl 7:17, or ὅπως μή, Joel 2:17 (in 1Sam 19:17; 2Sam 13:26, paraph. by εἰ μή); and, connected with the foregoing sentence by אשׁר, or שֶׁ, in late, or dialect., Hebrew it actually has that meaning, Dan 1:10 אֲשֶׁר לָמָּה יִרְאֶה lest he see, Song 1:7 שַׁלָּמָ֫ה אֶהְיֶה lest I become (so in Aramaic לְמָה דִּי Ezra 7:23, דִּילְמָא ᵑ7, Syriac , both regularly = lest).
  e. עַדמָֿה (Ps 4:3 עַדמֶֿה) until when ? how long ? Num 24:22 (aposiop.), Ps 4:3; Ps 79:5; Ps 89:47 in indirect question, Ps 74:9 (compare עד אנה, עד מתי). feminine עַלמָֿה, and עַלמֶֿה, upon what ? Job 38:6; 2Chr 32:10 upon what ground ? wherefore ? Num 22:32 עַלמָֿה הִכִּיתָ אֶתאֲֿתֹנְךָ, Deut 29:23 (compare 1Kgs 9:8; Jer 22:8), Isa 1:5; Jer 8:14; Jer 9:11; Jer 16:10; Ezek 21:12; Ps 10:13; Job 13:14 (probably dittograph from vJob 13:13); עלמֿהזֿה Neh 2:4. In an indirect question, Job 10:2 הוֺדִיעֻנִי עַל מַהתְּֿרִיבֻנִי, Esth 4:5 לָדַעַת מַהזֶּֿה וְעַלמַֿהוֶּֿה.


BDB8356 H834 H7945 H4100

BDB8355 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB8357

שֶׁ, also ( Gen 6:3 [? see 4 a], Judg 5:7 (twice in verse); Song 1:7; Job 19:29 [?]) שַּׁ , שָׁ in שָׁאַתָּה Judg 6:17, and שְׁ in שְׁהוּא Eccl 2:22, שְׁהֵם Eccl 3:18 (elsewhere before guttural שֶׁ, as שֶׁאֲנִי Song 1:6; Eccl 2:18, שֶׁאֵין Ps 146:3, שֶׁהֵם Song 6:5; Lam 4:9, שֶׁעַל Judg 7:12; Judg 8:26, שֶׁרּאֹשִׁי Song 5:2), relative particle who, which, that, etc. (constantly in Late Hebrew; Aramaic of Nerab, Ldzb371, 445; Assyrian sha; Phoenician אש (regularly), also sometimes ש (Ldzb227 f.): according to Ges Ew§ 181 b Olp. 439 Sta§ 176 e, abbreviated from אֲשֶׁר; more probably (Sperling [see אֲשֶׁר], ii. 323 f.) an original demonstrative particle), synonym with אֲשֶׁר, but in usage limited to late Hebrew, and passages with north Palestinian colouring, namely Judg 5:7 (twice in verse) [אֲשֶׁר vJudg 5:27], Judg 6:17; Judg 7:12; Judg 8:26; 2Kgs 6:11 (see 4 c), Jonah 1:7; Jonah 1:12; Jonah 4:10 [אֲשֶׁר 11 t.], Ps 122:3; Ps 122:4; Ps 123:2; Ps 124:1; Ps 124:2; Ps 124:6; Ps 129:6; Ps 129:7; Ps 133:2; Ps 133:3; Ps 135:2; Ps 135:8; Ps 135:10; Ps 136:23; Ps 137:8; Ps 137:9; Ps 144:15; Ps 146:3; Ps 146:5; Lam 2:15; Lam 2:16; Lam 4:9; Lam 5:18; Ezra 8:20; 1Chr 5:20; 1Chr 27:27 Canticles (uniformly, except in title Song 1:1); Ecclesiastes (68 t.; אֲשֶׁא 89 t.); also (dubious) Gen 6:3; Gen 49:10 (שֶׁלֹּה ᵐ5 ᵑ6 ᵑ7), Job 19:29 and in the proper name (q. v.) מִישָׁאֵל and מְתוּשָׁאֵל. — In usage, שֶּׁ  is in the main parallel with אֲשֶׁר, namely

1. as pronoun who, which, whom, Judg 7:12 כַּהוֺל שֶׁעַל שְׂפַת הַיָּם (compare חוֺל c), Ps 122:3; Ps 124:6 etc.; him whom, that which, etc., Song 1:7; Song 3:1; 1Chr 27:27; Eccl 1:11; Eccl 6:3 וְרַב שֶׁיִּהְיוּ יְמֵי חַיָּיו and much (verb) is that which his days amount to (Hi De and others), vEccl 6:10 הוּא שֶּׁ  that which Eccl 1:9 (twice in verse); in the genitive, אַשְׁרֵי שֶּׁ  Ps 137:8; Ps 137:9; Ps 146:5. — On מַהשֶּּֿׁ  in Eccl = whatever, what, see מָה 1 e b.
2. as a connecting link; = where (compare אֲשֶׁר p. 81, and 4 b β), מְקוֺם שֶּׁ  Eccl 1:7; Eccl 11:3 (compare מְקוֺם אֲשֶׁר Gen 39:20 +: Ges«GKC:130c»§ 130c), whither Ps 122:4 (שֶׁשָּׁם ֗֗֗ ), when Song 8:8; Eccl 12:3 בַּיּוֺם שֶּׁ  (compare ib. 4 b a).
3.as a conjunction (compare אֲשֶׁר 8); —
  a. that, after רָאָה Eccl 2:13; Eccl 3:18, יָרַע Eccl 1:17; Eccl 2:14; Eccl 9:5; Job 19:19 (?), דִּבֶּר Eccl 2:15, אָמַר Eccl 8:14, עָשָׂה אוֺת Judg 6:17 as subject of sentence, Eccl 3:13; Eccl 5:15 also in the phrases, (a) what is ... that ? Song 5:9 (usually כִּי; see מָךְ 1 d b), מֶה הָיָה שֶּׁ  how comes it that ... ? Eccl 7:10
   (b) Song 3:4 כִּמְעַט שֶׁעָבַרְתּת מֵהֶם hardly (was it) that (German kaum dass) I had passed, etc., Eccl 7:14 עַל דִּדבְרַת שֶׁלּאֹ יִמְצָא to the intent that ..., Eccl 5:15 כָּלעֻֿמַּת שֶׁבֶּא exactly as ..., Eccl 12:9 תֵר שֶׁ besides that, עַד שֶּׁ  (עַד ּ Judg 5:7) until that Ps 123:2; Song 2:7; Song 2:17 + (see III. עַד II 1 a a and b; compare Late Hebrew Yoma Song 5:1), while Song 1:12 (ib. 2 d); עָשָׂהשֶּׁ  to make or cause that ..., Eccl 3:14 (compare Ezek 36:27).
  b. involving a reason (compare אֲשֶׁר 8 c), because, since, Song 1:6 (twice in verse); Song 5:2; Eccl 2:18 b. Hence שֵׁלָּמָה Song 1:7 since why ? = lest (see מָה 4 d b).
4. compounds:
  a. בְּשֶּׁ , i. q. בַּאֲשֶׁר c (p. 84a) in that, seeing that, Eccl 2:16 also (according to ᵑ0 ᵐ5 ᵑ6 Hu De) Gen 6:3 בְּשַׁגַּם הוּא בָשָׂר because that he also is flesh; but see שָׁגַג.
  b. ˜כּשֶּׁ , i. q. כַּאֲשֶׁר p. 455: — (a) according as Eccl 5:14; Eccl 12:7 (b) when (so often in Late Hebrew, as Ab Eccl 1:8 (3 t. in verse); Eccl 1:14) Eccl 9:12; Eccl 10:3.
  c. מִשֶּּׁ , i. q. מֵאֲשֶׁר a (p. 84:a), 2Kgs 6:12 מִי מִשֶּׁלָּנוּ who of those that are ours ? (but Klo KmpKau Benz מְגַלֵּנוּ who betrays us ? compare ᵐ5); Eccl 5:4 than that (compare מֵאֲשֶׁר Eccl 3:22), + Eccl 2:24 (read מִשֶּׁיּאֹכַל with Ew De, etc.; compare Eccl 3:22).
  d. שֶׁל, like אֲשֶׁרלְ (אֲשֶׁר 7 b), a mark of the genitive: thrice, adding slight emphasis to the suffix, Song 1:6 = Song 8:12 כַּרְמִי שֶׁלִּי my vineyard (literally my vineyard, which is mine), Song 3:7 מִטָּתוֺ שֶׁלִּשְׁלֹמֹה (so often in Late Hebrew, but without any special emphasis, as Aboth Song 1:12 הֲוֵי מתלמידיווּ שׁלאֿהרן be of Aaron's disciples, Song 2:1 שְׂכָרָן שֶׁלמִֿצְוֺת, vSong 2:2; Song 3:2 הֲוֵי מתפלל בשׁלומהּ שׁלמֿלכות; compare in Syriac, as Luke 6:42 my words, § 225). And with בְּ, בְּשֶׁל literally through that which belongs to or concerns, pleonastic for on account of (a late, unidiomatic translation of Aramaic בְּרִיל, from בְּ, דִּי, and לְ, as in Onk Gen 12:13 בדילי on my account, Gen 30:27; Gen 39:5 בְּדִיל יוֺסֵף, בְּדִיל מָא on account of what ? Judg 8:1; 2Sam 9:1; 1Kgs 11:12; 1Kgs 11:39, etc.), Jonah 1:7 בְּשֶׁלְּמִי on account of whom ? (|| vJonah 1:8 בַּאֲשֶׁר לְמִי; probably a gloss), vJonah 1:12 בְּשֶׁלִּי an account of me (ᵑ7 בְּדִיל מַן, בְּדִילִי); Eccl 8:17 בְּשֶׁל אֲשֶׁר יַעֲמֹל הָאָדָם לְבַקֵּשׁ on account of (the fact) that (= seeing that) man labours, etc. (unidiomatic translation of Aramaic בְּדִיל דְּ because that, as Gen 6:3 בְּדִיל דְּאִינוּן בִּסְרָא, Gen 39:9 בְּרִיל דְּאַתְּ אִיתְּתֵיהּ [for Hebrew בַּאֲשֶׁר אַתְּ אִשְׁתּוֺ]; Palmyrene בדיל די Ldzb233, — in Tariff Gen 1:4 (CookeN. Semitic Inscr. 320) = ἐπειδή).


[שֹׁא] see [ שׁוֺא].


BDB9652 H3964 H4101 H4100

BDB9651 | BIBLICAL ARAMAIC | BDB9653

מָה (מָא Ezra 6:8) pronoun interrogative and indefinite what? (Biblical Hebrew מָה; Nabataean מה; Zinjirli מ; ᵑ7 מא; Syriac ; Arabic : compare WCG 124 f.); —

1. what ? Dan 4:32 מה עבדת.
2. whatever, what (compare Biblical Hebrew 1 b end) Dan 2:22 ידע מח בחשׁוכא knoweth what is in darkness, Ezra 6:9: so מָה דִּי (compare דִּי 1 b: so Nabataean; Palmyrene מא די, מדי, Lzb306 Cooke320, 332) Dan 2:28; Dan 2:29 (twice in verse); Dan 2:45; Ezra 6:8 למא די תעבדון with regard to what ye shall do, Ezra 7:18 (= whatsoever).
3. with prefixes:
  a. כְּמָה how! Dan 3:33 (twice in verse).
  b. לְמָה why? (compare Biblical Hebrew לָמָּה) Ezra 4:22 be not slack herein: why should damage grow, etc., virtually = lest damage grow (ᵐ5 μή ποτε), Ezra 7:23 די למה להוא קצף for why should there be wrath ? = lest [ᵐ5 μή ποτε] there be wrath (compare ᵑ7 דִּילְמָא, Syriac lest: and see מָה 4 d b, p. 554:a).
  c. עלמֿה wherefore? Dan 2:15.

what, why, wherefore, how, wherein, …
properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and even relatively, that which); often used with prefixes in various adverbial or conjunctive senses
  • (interr pron) what, how, of what kind
    • (interrogative)
      • what?
      • "of what kind"what? (rhetorical)"whatsoever, whatever, what
      (adverb)
      • how, how now
      • "why"how! (exclamation)
      (with prep)
      • wherein?, whereby?, wherewith?, by what means?
      • "because of what?"the like of what?
        • how much?, how many?, how often?
        • "for how long?
        for what reason?, why?, to what purpose?"until when?, how long?, upon what?, wherefore? indef pron
    anything, aught, what may

מִ לַּ֔יְלָה
מִ
Prefix — preposition from, out of
לַּ֔יְלָה
Root word night, nights, season, seasons, midnight
Dictionary form: לַיִל · la-YIL

Noun — Common, masculine singular, absolute state

In the KJV here: of the night
night ×45 by night ×39 and night ×21 in the night ×19 nights ×15 the night ×12 of the night ×8 this night ×8
More options
night — Default rendering; fits nearly every context.
nighttime — Emphasizes the time period rather than a single night.
darkness — Poetic contexts where night symbolizes obscurity or threat.
midnight — Use when context specifies the deep or middle of night.
after dark — Idiomatic; suits narrative action happening under cover of night.
season of night — Rare; captures the plural/cyclical sense of recurring nights.

BDB4409 H3915

BDB4408 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB4410

לַ֫יְלָה, לַ֫יִל242 noun masculineGen 40:5 night (Late Hebrew id.; MI15 (ב)ללה; Aramaic לֵילָא, , ; Arabic , ; Ethiopic all = night; Assyrian lîlâtu, evening DlHWB; meaning of √ dubious; form probably לילי, and ending הָ֯ radical, and not ה locative, M 127 DlProl. 128 Ges«GKC:90»§ 90, 2. with R. ii. p. 57, R. 1); — absolute לַ֫יְלָה Gen 19:33 + 214 t. + 2 t. Qr. (see below); לָ֑יְלָה Gen 1:5 + 3 t.; לַ֫יִל Isa 16:3 + Prov 31:18; Lam 2:19 Kt (Qr לַיְלָה); לֵיל Isa 15:1 (twice in verse); Isa 21:1 construct לֵיל Exod 12:42; Isa 30:29 plural absolute לֵילוֺת 1Sam 30:12 + 4 t.; construct id., Isa 21:8 + 5 t.; —

1. literally night, opposed to day, Gen 8:22 (J), Deut 1:33 + very often (see יוֺם); alternation of day and night divinely ordained Gen 1:5 (P), Jer 33:20 (twice in verse); Jer 33:25 +; ׳מִיּוֺם עַדלֿ Isa 38:12; Isa 38:18 i.e within one whole day; as close of day, ׳עַדלֿ 2Chr 35:14 as time of sacred (לֵיל) חָג Isa 30:29 of suffering and weeping לֵילוֺת עָמָל Job 7:3, compare Ps 6:7; Ps 77:3 etc.; of pious desires, prayer, praise, meditation, etc (sometimes || by day) Isa 26:9; Job 35:10; Ps 1:2; Ps 22:3; Ps 42:9; Ps 77:7; Ps 88:2; Ps 92:3; Ps 119:5 (twice in verse), compare Ps 16:7; Ps 17:8 of night-service in Temple Ps 134:1 of sudden assault, or destruction, Isa 15:1; Jer 6:5; Obad 1:5; Job 27:20; Job 34:20; Job 34:25; Job 36:20 divided into watches Ps 90:4 לֵיל שִׁמֻּרִים Exod 12:42 see below שׁמר; with number, denoting duration of time, forty days and forty nights Gen 7:4; Gen 7:12; Exod 24:18; Exod 34:28; Deut 9:9; Deut 9:11; Deut 9:18; Deut 9:25; Deut 10:10; 1Kgs 19:8 three days and three nights (שְׁלשָׁה לֵילוֺת) 1Sam 30:12; Jonah 2:1 seven days and seven nights (שִׁבְעַת לֵילוֺת) Job 2:13 ; ׳חֲלוֺם הַלּ Gen 20:3; Gen 31:24 (both E), 1Kgs 3:5 ׳מַרְאֹת הַלּ Gen 46:2 (E); ׳חֶזְיוֺן ל Job 20:8; Job 33:15, ׳חֶזְיֹנוֺת ל Job 4:13, ׳חֲלוֺם חֲזוֺן ל Isa 29:7 (compare Mic 3:6 below) ; ׳בִּןלֿ Jonah 4:10 (twice in verse) see בֵּן
8. b. Chiefly in adverb. phrase: — ׳בַּחֲצִי הַלּ at midnight Exod 12:29 + (see חֲצִי, חָצוֺת b), compare ׳בְּתוֺךְ הַלּ 1Kgs 3:20, ׳בְּאִישׁוֺן ל Prov 7:9 ; הַזֶּה ׳בַּלּ Exod 12:8; Exod 12:12 on this night (P; the night of which one is speaking); הַהוּא ׳בַּלּ on that night Gen 19:35 (J) + often, (P only Num 14:1); הוּא ׳בַּל Gen 19:33; Gen 30:16 so ׳הַלּ alone 1Sam 14:34, but strike out ᵐ5 We Kit, compare Dr; Klo Bu read ליהוה; ׳הַלּ to-night Gen 19:5; Gen 19:34; Gen 30:15 (all J), Num 22:8; Num 22:19 (E), Josh 2:2; Josh 4:3 (both J E), 2Sam 17:1; 2Sam 17:16; 2Sam 19:8; Ruth 1:12; Ruth 3:2; Ruth 3:13, opposed to מָחָר tomorrow 1Sam 19:11 ׳הַלּ = this night just past, last night 1Sam 15:16 (compare Dr); ׳כָּלהַֿלּ all night Hos 7:6 (opposed to בֹּקֶר), Exod 14:20; Exod 14:21 (J), Num 11:32; Josh 10:9 (both J E), Judg 16:2 (twice in verse); Judg 19:25; 1Sam 15:11; 1Sam 31:12; 2Sam 2:29; 2Sam 2:32; 2Sam 4:7 opposed to כלהֿיום ההוא (of continuous action) 1Sam 19:24; 1Sam 28:20; Isa 62:6, opposed to יומם Ps 78:14 ׳בְּכָללֿ Ps 6:7 every night (probably); compare כָּלהַֿלֵּילוֺת Isa 21:8 all the nights (opposed to יוֺמָם) ; especially לַיְלָה by night Num 22:20 (E) Josh 8:3 (JE), Deut 16:1; Num 9:16 (P) + 51 t.; of these Gen 14:15 and Exod 13:21; Exod 13:22 (J) + 25 t. opposed to יוֺמָם, covering all the time; otherwise Judg 6:27 (opposed to יוֺמָם); לַיְלָה וָיוֺם night and day 1Kgs 8:29; Isa 27:3; Esth 4:16 less often לֵילוֺת Ps 16:17 ׳הַלּ by night 2Kgs 25:4 (׳ל in || Jer 52:7), Zech 1:8; Neh 4:16 (opposed to הַיּוֺם) ; ׳בַּלּ id., Jer 6:5 + 18 t. (chiefly late; often opposed to בַּיּוֺם, יוֺמָם, etc.); בַּלֵּילוֺת Ps 92:3 (opposed to בַּבֹּקֶר, Ps 134:1; Song 3:1; Song 3:8 בְּלַיְלָה Neh 9:19 (opposed to בְּיוֺמָם ); בְּלֵיל Isa 15:1 (twice in verse) ׳כַּל as at night Job 5:14 (opposed to צָהֳרָ֑יִם ).
2. figurative שִׁיתִי כַּלַיִל צִלֵּךְ Isa 16:8 simile of shadow of Zion as protection; more often in gloomy sense, of avenging calamity without divine guidance or comfort לַיְלָה מֵחָזוֺן Mic 3:6 personal distress Job 35:10 judgment perhaps also Job 36:20 (Ew De Di Da; night of death Bu; 'unintelligible' Siegf); מַהמִּֿלַּיְלָה מַהמִּֿלֵּיל Isa 21:11 i.e. what hour of the night of calamity is it? compare vIsa 21:12 (opposed to בֹּקֶר).


BDB9645 H3915 H3916

BDB9644 | BIBLICAL ARAMAIC | BDB9646

[לֵילָא] noun [masculine] night (see Biblical Hebrew לַ֫יְלָה); — emphatic לֵילְיָא Dan 2:19; Dan 5:30; Dan 7:2; Dan 7:7; Dan 7:13.

night, nights, season, seasons, midnight
layil
properly, a twist (away of the light), i.e., night; figuratively, adversity
  • night
    • night (as opposed to day)
    • "of gloom, protective shadow (figuratively)

שֹׁמֵ֖ר
שֹׁמֵ֖ר
Root word keep, kept, observe, heed, keepeth, …
Dictionary form: שָׁמַר · shaw-MAHR

Verb — Qal, Participle Active, masculine singular, absolute state simple action — "he did" ongoing action — try "___ing" or "one who ___s"

In the KJV here: watchman
keep ×28 kept ×24 and keep ×23 to keep ×23 take heed ×16 and to keep ×7 observe ×7 ye shall keep ×6
More options
keep — Most versatile rendering; suits commands and ongoing obligations.
observe — Best for law/covenant contexts: observe the sabbath.
guard — Physical or protective watching over something or someone.
watch over — Caring, attentive oversight; warm, pastoral register.
heed — Prefer when the nuance is careful attention or warning.
preserve — Suits divine protection contexts: God preserves his people.

BDB8848 H8104

BDB8847 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB8849

I. שָׁמַר465 verb keep, watch, preserve (Late Hebrew id.; Phoenician שמר in proper name and (Punic) = watchman; Tel Amarna šimiru is perhaps overseer (Canaanism), WklNo. 80, i. 23; Mandean סמירא preserved M 46; compare Arabic converse by night, stay awake (see LagBN 105); BaNB 175 f.; ES 43 infers from eyelid (compare [שְׁמֻרָה] below), and Arabic support, aid, protect (l = r), that two √ √ are combined in Hebrew; but proof insufficient); —

Qal425 Perfect 3 masculine singular ׳שׁ Gen 37:11 +, etc.; Imperfect 3 masculine singular יִשְׁמֹר 1Sam 2:9 +, יִשְׁמָרֿ Jer 5:24 +, suffix 3 masculine singular יִשְׁמְרֶנּוּ Exod 21:29; Exod 21:36 3 feminine singular suffix תִּשְׁמוּרֵ֑ם Prov 14:3 (read תִּשְׁמְרוּם, see Ges«GKC:47g»§ 47g Toy), etc.; Imperative masculine singular שְׁמֹר Job 2:6 +, שָׁמְרָה 1Chr 29:18 +; masculine plural שִׁמְרוּ Josh 6:18 +, etc.; Infinitive absolute שָׁמוֺר Deut 5:12 +; construct שְׁמֹר Gen 3:24 +, suffix שָׁמְרָהּ Gen 2:15, etc.; Participle active שֹׁמֵר 1Sam 1:12 +, etc.; passive שָׁמוּר Eccl 5:12 (1Sam 9:24 see below), etc.; — [Synon. I. נָצַר, נָטַר, q. v.]:
1. a. keep, have charge of, garden Gen 2:15 (J), ark 1Sam 7:1, property in trust Exod 22:6; Exod 22:9 (E), compare 1Sam 25:31 tend flock Gen 30:31 (E), compare Zech 3:7; Num 3:8 (P); so perhaps (object omitted) Hos 12:13 (where ׳שׁ chosen for parallelism Now Marti and others); Participle הֲשֹׁמֵר אָחִי אָנֹ֑כִי Gen 4:9 (J), ׳שׁ of sheep 1Sam 17:20, הַכֵּלִים ׳שׁ v1Sam 17:22, הַכְּגָדִים ׳שׁ 2Kgs 22:14; 2Chr 34:22, הַנָּשִׁים ׳שׁ Esth 2:3; Esth 2:8; Esth 2:15, compare vEsth 2:14, etc.
  b. keep, guard, captives Josh 10:18 (J), 1Kgs 20:39, דֶּרֶךְ Gen 3:24 (J); keep watch and ward, אֶל person for whom 1Sam 26:15 (Ps 59:10 see 3 end), עַל person vPs 59:16; Prov 6:22 בַּנַּעַר 2Sam 18:12 have a care of (read לִי for מִי ᵐ5 and modern); in hostile sense, אֶל הָעִיר (in siege) 2Sam 11:16, חַטָאתִי עַל Job 14:16 (but read תַּעֲבֹר with ᵐ5 Ew Di Du and others [not Hi Bu]); absolute with מֵעַל Eccl 5:7 watcheth above, etc.; keep one's mouth, be prudent of speech Prov 21:33, compare Mic 7:5 keep = protect, save, one's life, נֶפֶשׁ Prov 13:3; Prov 16:17; Prov 19:16; Prov 22:5, another's Job 2:6 in Proverbs, accusative of person, subject wisdom, Job 4:6 she shall preserve thee, compare (+ מִן of evil) Job 6:24; Job 7:5 especially Participle watch, watchman, of city Isa 21:11 (twice in verse); Isa 21:12; Isa 62:5 (figurative), Song 3:3; Song 5:7 (twice in verse); Ps 127:1 הַמֶּלֶף ׳שׁ (in temple) Jer 35:4 + (see סַף), פֶּית הַמֶּלֶךְ ׳הַפּ 1Kgs 14:27 = 2Chr 12:10, הַשְּׁעָרִים ׳שׁ Neh 13:22, שֹׁמְרֵי הַבַּיִת (figurative) Eccl 12:3 ׳שׁ הַבַּיִתךֵסעוֺה ךֵהת פךֵךֵכ (of David's concubines) 2Sam 15:16; 2Sam 16:21; 2Sam 20:3 שֹׁמֵר הַכֵּלִים 1Sam 17:22, הַבְּגָדִים ׳שׁ 2Kgs 22:14, חַפַּרְדֵּס ׳שׁ Neh 2:8, הַנָּשִׁים ׳שׁ Esth 2:3; Esth 2:14; Esth 2:15, שֹׁמְרִים absolute Judg 7:19; Jer 51:12.
  c. hence watch for, wait for, accusative of person 1Sam 19:11 (to kill him), compare Ps 59:1 (title; accusative הַבַּיִת); with יֲקֵכַי Ps 56:7 = dog my steps, Ps 71:10; Jer 20:10 = watch (suspiciously) Job 10:14; Job 13:27; Job 33:11 absolute הַשֹּׁעמרִים Judg 1:24 wait for, נֶשֶׁף Job 24:15, לַבֹּקֶר Ps 130:6 (twice in verse).
  d. watch, observe, accusative of thing 1Sam 1:12; Eccl 11:4; Job 39:1; Jer 8:7 (of birds), with intelligence Isa 42:20; Ps 107:43 accusative of person Ps 37:37 (|| ראה), Zech 11:11 accusative of sin Ps 31:7; Ps 130:3 accusative of thing, for the purpose of avoiding, Ps 17:4.
2. a. keep, retain, of storing up (food) Gen 41:35 (E); absolute Eccl 3:6 (opposed to הִשְׁלִיךְ); treasure up (in memory) Gen 37:11 (E), compare Mal 2:7; 1Chr 29:18; Prov 4:21 (בְּתוֺךְ לְבָבֶ֑ךְ), Prov 22:18 (כְּבִטֱנ֑ךָ); retain wrath Amos 1:11 (read שָׁמֶר לָנֶצַח We Now GASm Marti; see also נָטַר 1) + (anger omitted) Jer 3:5 (|| נטר).
  b. keep within bounds, restrain, object שׁוֺר Exod 21:29; Exod 21:36 (E); with accusative hand, מִן of evil Isa 56:2 figurative keep thy foot, with temporal clause Eccl 4:17 לְֿפִי מַחְסוֺם׳אֶשׁ Ps 39:2 (ᵐ5 Du and others אָשִׁימָה); apparently reflexive (= Niph`al), Josh 6:18 (+ מִןהַֿחֵרֶס), possibly sc. גַפְשְׁכֶם Di.
3. a. observe, celebrate, accusative of festival, etc., Exod 23:15 (E), Exod 34:18 (J), Exod 12:17 of day vExod 12:17 (P), of month Deut 16:1.
  b. keep Sabbath Deut 5:12; Lev 19:3; Lev 19:30; Lev 26:2 (all H), Exod 31:13; Exod 31:14; Exod 31:16 (P), Isa 56:4, also (+ מֵחַלְּלוֺ) vIsa 56:2 vIsa 56:6.
  c. of other obligations: keep convenant Ezek 17:14, especially convenant of ׳י Deut 29:8; 1Kgs 11:11 + 5 t., ׳שְׁבֻעַת י 1Kgs 2:43, perform vow Deut 23:24 keep commands Jer 35:18; Ezek 20:18 especially מִצָוֺת, תֻקִּים, יֲבֹדָה, etc., of ׳י (sometimes || נצר), Exod 20:6 = Deut 5:10; Amos 2:4; 1Kgs 2:3; Ps 119:8; Ps 119:17; Ps 119:34 + very often (c. 120 t.); ׳דֶּרֶח י ׳שׁ Gen 18:19 (J) + 4 t., ׳דַּרְכֵי י 2Sam 22:22 = Ps 18:22, ׳י ׳ד omitted Judg 2:22 b; אָרְחוֺת צַדַּיקִים ׳שׁ Prov 2:20 (|| תֵּלֵח תְּלֵח בְּדֶרֶח טוֺבֹים), ׳שׁ דְּרָכַי (ways of wisdom) Prov 8:32 (Ps 17:4 see 1 d); keep discharge an office, כְּהֻנָּה Num 3:10; Num 18:7 (both P), absolute 2Chr 5:11 a function or duty, especially מִשְׁמֶרֶת ׳שׁ Lev 8:35; Num 1:53 + approximately 32 t. (see ׳מ below); accusative of obligation often omitted, especially D (and RD) keep and do Deut 4:6; Deut 7:12 + 8 t.; to do Deut 5:1; Deut 5:29 + 16 t. D + 3 t., etc.
  d. observe = follow dictates of (prudence, justice, kindness, wisdom) Hos 12:7 (חֶסֶד וּמִשְׁפָּט), Isa 56:1; Prov 4:4; Prov 5:2; Prov 7:1; Prov 7:2 bad sense, observe vanities Ps 31:7. — Doubtful are: לִשְׁמֹר absolute Hos 4:10, very strange (conjectures in We Now Marti); שָׁמוּר 1Sam 9:24, HPS אֵחַרְנוּ, compare Now BuComm.; Ps 59:10 read עֻוִּי אֵלֶיךָ אֲזַמֵּ֑רָה (as vPs 59:18, ᵑ6 Che Bae).
4. sometimes ׳י subject:
  a. keep, preserve, protect, accusative of person, + ב of way, etc., Gen 28:15; Gen 28:20 (J), Exod 23:20 (E; of מַלְאָח), Ps 91:11 (׳מ), Josh 24:17 (E); accusative of person (or נפשׁ) only: 1Sam 30:23; Jer 31:9; Num 6:24 (P), Job 29:2; Ps 16:1 + 10 t. Psalms; + מִן Ps 121:7 + 2 t.; accusative רַהְּלַי 1Sam 2:9, compare Prov 3:26 (מִן); Participle שֹׁמְרֶ֑ךָ Ps 121:3; Ps 121:5, compare vPs 121:4, etc.; accusative of city Ps 127:1.
  b. with accusative בְּרִית, ל person Deut 7:12, + חֶסֶד vDeut 7:7 + 5 t., אֱמֶת לְעוֺלָם ׳הַשּׁ Ps 146:6 הַשְּׁבֻעָה Deut 7:8, etc.; passive of covenant (׳י agent) עֲרוּכָה בַכֹּל וּשְׁמֻרָה 2Sam 23:5 (legal terminology, Dr).
5. keep, reserve, weeks of harvest Jer 5:24 (ל person). Niph`al36 Perfect 3 masculine singular נִשְׁמַד 2Sam 20:10, etc.; Imperfect 3 feminine singular תִּשָּׁמֵד Judg 13:13 2 masculine plural תִּשָּׁמַ֑רוּ Exod 23:13 Imperative masculine singular תִּשָּׁמֵד Isa 7:4 הִדָמשּׁ֫מֶר (לְךָׅ Gen 24:6 +; feminine singular הִשָּֽׁמְרִי Judg 13:4, etc.; —
1. be on one's guard, with בַּחֶרֶב 2Sam 20:10 by reason of the sword, i.e. against it; with ב temporal 1Sam 19:2, שָׁם 2Kgs 6:10 take heed Exod 23:13 (E) Deut 2:4 with מִן person Exod 23:21 (E), Jer 9:3 מִן of thing Judg 13:13; Deut 23:10 מִן infinitive take care not to, etc. Gen 31:29 (E), 2Kgs 6:9 infinitive without מִן Exod 19:12 (J), but read probably מֵעֲלוֺת; followed by פֶּן lest Gen 24:6 (J) + 11 t. (especially Deuteronomy); with (וְ)אַל jussive Exod 10:23 (J), Judg 13:4; Job 36:21, with Imperative coordinate Isa 7:4. — Very often Imperative (24 t.), especially in phrase הִשָּׁמֶרלְֿךָ (12 t.), הִשָּֽׁטְרוּ לָכֶם (3 t.); + לְנַפְשֹׁתֵיכֶם Deut 4:15; Josh 23:11 (RD; + infinitive); + ׳בְּנַפ Jer 17:21 apparently ב pret. on peril of your life (compare ב III. 3 a), so perhaps also בְּרוּחֲכֶם Mal 2:15; Mal 2:16 (We Now).
2. keep oneself, refrain, abstain, מֵאִשָּׁה 1Sam 21:5.
3. be kept, guarded, Hos 12:14 (compare ׳שׁ of Jacob v.Hos 12:13); be preserved (by ׳י) Ps 37:28 (לִיוֺלָם), but read probably עַוָּלִים (לְעוֺלָם) נִשְׁמָ֑דוּ Hup-Ri (Now) Che Bae Du Dr. Pi`el Participle plural מְשַׁמְּרִים הַבְלֵישָֿׁוְא Jonah 2:9 those paying regard to false vanities (compare Qal Ps 31:7). Hithpa`el Imperfect 1 singular וָאֶשְׁתַּסֵּר מֵעֲוֺנַי Ps 18:24 I kept myself from, etc. = 2Sam 22:24 (verb cohortative); 3 masculine singular וְיִשְׁתַּמֵּר חֻקּוֺת עָמְרִי Mic 6:16, but read וְתִשְׁמֹר thou keepest, observest, We Now GASm.

keep, kept, observe, heed, keepeth, …
šāmar
properly, to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e., guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc
  • to keep, guard, observe, give heed
    • (Qal)
      • to keep, have charge of
      • "to keep, guard, keep watch and ward, protect, save life
        • watch, watchman (participle)
        to watch for, wait for"to watch, observe"to keep, retain, treasure up (in memory)"to keep (within bounds), restrain"to observe, celebrate, keep (sabbath or covenant or commands), perform (vow)"to keep, preserve, protect"to keep, reserve
      (Niphal)
      • to be on one's guard, take heed, take care, beware
      • "to keep oneself, refrain, abstain"to be kept, be guarded
      (Piel) to keep, pay heed"(Hithpael) to keep oneself from

מַה
מַה
Particle turns the sentence into a question
Dictionary form: מָה · maw

Particle — Interrogative

In the KJV here: what
what ×268 why ×81 wherefore ×64 how ×44 and what ×35 wherein ×12 and why ×10 him what ×9
More options
what — Default interrogative; fits most direct questions.
why — Use when context implies reason or motive.
how — Use when manner or degree is in view.
for what reason — Formal alternative to 'why'; clarifies rhetorical force.
wherein — Replaces archaic form; for 'in what respect'.
whatever — Use for indefinite or relative pronoun contexts.

BDB4521 H1767 H4078 H4100

BDB4520 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB4522

מַדַּי (i.e. מַהדַּֿי) 2Chr 30:3, see מה 1 e.


מִדֵּי see דַּי.


מִדְיָן, מְדִינָה see דין.


מִדְיָנִים see I. מדון. מְדֹכָה see דוך.


מַדְמֵן, I, II. מַדְמֵנָה, מַדְמַנָּה see דמן.


מְדָן see דין. מְדָנִים see מדון, מִדְיָנִי.


מַדַּע, מֹדַע, מֹדַ֫עַת see ידע.


[מַדְקָרָה], plural construct מַדְקְרוֺת see דקר.


מַדְרֵגָה see דרג. מְדֻרָה see דור.


[מִדְרָךְ] see דרך. [מִדְרָשׁ] see דרשׁ.


[מְדֻשָׁה] see דושׁ.


BDB4522 H4100 H4078

BDB4521 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB4523

מָה, rarely מָהֿ (e.g. Gen 31:43; Josh 22:16; Judg 8:1), מַהֿ, מַהּ , מֶה, מַּ  ( Exod 4:2; Isa 3:15; Mal 1:13; 1Chr 15:13; 2Chr 30:3), מָ (only in מָהֵם Ezek 8:6 Kt., Qr. מָה הֵם) — on the distinction in the use of these forms, see Ges«GKC:37»§ 37

pronoun interrogative and indefinite what? how? aught; used of things, as מִי of persons (Aramaic , מָא, Arabic ; probably apocope from a longer form with n or nt, Assyrian minû (DlHWB 417 f.), Ethiopic ment; compare WCG 123 ff. K?:ii. 368): —
1. interrogative what ?
  a. in a direct question, before either verbs or nouns Gen 4:10 מֶה עשׂית what hast thou done ? Gen 15:2 מהתֿתןלֿי what wilt thou give me ? Exod 3:13 מַהשְּֿׁמוֺ, Exod 12:26; Exod 13:14 and so very often: מַההִֿיא Zech 5:6 מה אלה Zech 1:9 מָה אַתָּה רֹאֶה Jer 1:11; Amos 7:8 +; Jl Amos 4:14 מה אתם לי; Judg 18:8 מה אתם see Commentaries, vJudg 18:24 מה לי עוד what have I still ? Isa 21:11 מהמֿלילה what (= how much) of the night (is past) ? = as what ? (qualem ?) Hag 2:3 (compare מִי Amos 7:2); to express surprise, Job 9:12 who shall say to him, מה תעשׂה what doest thou ? Job 22:13; Eccl 8:4; Isa 45:9; Isa 45:10 followed by כִּי, Gen 20:10 מה ראית כי עשׂית what hadst thou in view, that thou hast done, etc.? Gen 31:36; Exod 16:7 וְנַחְנוּ מָה כִּי and what are we, that . . .? Exod 32:21; Num 22:28; Hab 2:18, etc. Note in particular —
   (a) מָה is followed sometimes by a substantive in apposition (against Arabic usage, which does not permit this: WAG. ii. § 170), so that it becomes virtually an adjective: מַהבֶּֿצַע what profit . . .? Gen 37:26; Ps 30:10; Mal 3:14; Isa 40:8 מַהדְּֿמוּת, Mal 1:13; Ps 89:48 זְכָראֲֿנִי מֶה חָ֑לֶד (inverted for חֶלֶד אָ֑נִי מַה) remember (of) what (short) duration I am, Eccl 1:3; Eccl 5:10; Eccl 5:15; Eccl 6:8; Eccl 6:11 (Da§ 8, R. 2 K?:iii. 23 f.); as exclamation, Ps 89:48b Job 26:14. And with the substantive idiomatically at the end (in Arabic preceded then by : WAG. ii. § 49. 7), 1Sam 26:18 ומַהבֿידי רעה and what is there in my hand, evil ? 1Sam 20:10 (see 3), 2Sam 19:29; 2Sam 24:13; 2Sam 1:16; מהמֿצאו אבותיכם בי עָוֶל, Eccl 11:2; Esth 6:3.
   (b) מַהזֶּֿה what now ? 1Sam 10:11, contracted מַזֶּה Exod 4:2 (זֶה 4 c); Gen 3:13 מַהזּֿאֹת עָשִׂיתָ; Gen 12:18; Gen 29:25 מַהזּֿאֹת עָשִׂיתָה לִּי; similarly Gen 26:10; Gen 42:28 +, either what, now, hast thou done ? or what is this that thou hast done ? (see זֶה 4 d).
   (c) לְּךָ מַהֿ what to thee ? i.e. what aileth thee ? or what dost thou want ? Gen 21:17 מַהלָּֿךְ הָגָר; Josh 15:18; 2Sam 14:5; 1Kgs 1:16; 2Kgs 6:28; Ezek 18:2 (accents); followed by כִּי, Judg 18:23 מהלֿך כי נזעקת, Gen 20:9 (compare 1Sam 11:5 לעם כי יבכו מה), Isa 22:1 מַהלָּֿךְ כִּי עָלִיתְ (compare τί παθὼν, τοῦτο ποιεῖς;), Ps 114:5 without כִּי Isa 3:15 (compare Qor 57:8; 57:10); with a participle, Jonah 1:6 what is it to thee as a sleeper ? (accusative: Da§ 70 a cites Qor 74:50), Ezek 18:2 (if אתם be treated as strengthening לכם).
   (d) פֹה (לִי) מַהלְּֿךָ = what hast thou (have I) here ? Judg 18:3; 1Kgs 19:9; Isa 22:16; Isa 52:5.
   (e) in the genitive, Jer 8:9 וְחָכְמַתמֶֿה לָהֶם, and wisdom of what (= what kind of wisdom) is theirs ? Num 23:3 (see below 3).
  b. often in an indirect question, as after ראה, Gen 2:19 to see מהיֿקראלֿו what he would call it, Gen 37:20 וְנִרְאֶה מהיֿהיו חלֹמֹתיו to what his dreams will come, Num 13:19f.; Hab 2:1 הִכִּיר Gen 31:32 ידע Gen 39:8; Exod 2:4 לדעת מהיֵּֿעָשֶׂה לו, Exod 16:15; Exod 32:1; Job 34:4 שׁמע Num 9:8 ׳וְאשׁמעה מהיֿצוה י (compare Ps 85:9), 2Sam 17:5 פֹּרַשׁ Num 15:34 שׁאל 1Kgs 3:5; 2Kgs 2:9 הֵבִין Job 6:24; Job 23:5: Num 13:18 מה היא וראיתם את הארץ, Ps 39:5; Isa 41:22 הראשׁנות מָה הֵנָּה הַגִּידוּ. — In some such cases it approximates in meaning to the simple rel., as Jer 7:17; Jer 33:24; Mic 6:5; Mic 6:8; Job 34:33.
  c. = of what kind ? (German was für ein ... ?), with an insinuation of blame, or reproach, or contempt: Gen 37:10 מה החלום הזה what is this dream which thou hast dreamt? Gen 44:15; Josh 22:16; Judg 8:1; Judg 15:11; Judg 20:12; 1Sam 29:3 מָה הָעִבְרִים האלה, 1Kgs 9:13 מה העדים האלה אשׁר נתתה לי, 2Kgs 9:22; 2Kgs 18:19.
  d. מה is often used in questions to which the answer little, or nothing, is expected, and it thus becomes equivalent to a rhetorical negative (compare הֲ b, מִי f c):
   (a) Gen 23:15 land worth 400 shekels..., מה היא what is it ? (i.e. it is something quite insignificant), Gen 27:37; Judg 8:3 עשׂות ככם ומהיֿכלתי, Judg 14:18; Hos 9:5; Hos 10:3; Ps 30:10; Ps 56:5; Job 15:9; Job 16:6; Job 21:21; Job 22:13; Job 22:17; Lam 2:13; Song 5:9 מַהאדּוֺדֵךְ מִדּוֺד what is thy beloved (more) than a(nother) beloved ? || לא, 1Kgs 12:16 מַהלָּֿנוּ חֵלֶק בְּדָוֺד וְלֹאנַֿחֲלָה בְּבֶן יִשַׁי (2Sam 20:1 ׳אֵיןלָֿנוּ חֵלֶק וג), Job 16:6.
   (b) followed by כִּי (כִּי 1 f), Gen 20:9; Gen 37:26 מַהבֶּֿצַע כִּי נַהֲרֹג what profit (is it) that we should slay him ? Exod 16:7; Num 16:11; Hab 2:18; 2Kgs 8:13 what is thy servant, the dog, that he should do, etc.? and often in poetry, as Ps 8:5 מָה אנושׁ כי תזכרנו what is man that thou rememberest him ? Job 6:11 מַהכֹּֿחִי כִּי אֲיַחֵל, vJob 6:11 b Job 7:17; Job 15:12f; Job 15:14; Job 16:3; Job 21:15 + (compare ׳מִ f b). Hence,
   (c) in the formula of repudiation, or emphatic denial, (וְלָכֶם) מַהלִּֿי וָלָךְ what is there (common) to me and to thee ? i.e. what have I to do with thee ? Judg 11:12; 2Sam 16:10 מה לי ולכם, 2Sam 19:23; 1Kgs 17:18; 2Kgs 3:13; 2Chr 35:21 compare Josh 22:24; 2Kgs 9:18; 2Kgs 9:19 rather differently, without וְ, Jer 2:18 ׳מה לך לדרך מ what is there to thee with reference to the way to Egypt ? Hos 14:9 מַהאלּוֺ לַעֲצַבִּים, compare Ps 50:16 (לְסַפֵּר); with את, Jer 23:28 מַהלַֿתֶּבֶן אֶתהַֿבָּר beside (or in comparison with) the wheat ? compare τί ἐμοὶ(ἡμῖν)καὶ σοί; Matt 8:29; Mark 5:7; John 2:4 and Arabic
  e. = whatsoever (compare מִי g):
   (a) Judg 9:48 ראיתם עשׂיתי מהרו עשׂו כמוני מה אתם, literally what do you see (that) I have done ? hasten, and do like me (= whatever ye see, etc.), 2Sam 21:4 אעשׂה לכם מה אתם אמרים, Job 6:24 with the apodosis introduced by וְ, 1Sam 20:4 מה תאמר נפשׁך ואעשׂה לך; Esth 5:3 בַּקָּשָׁתֵךְ ֗֗֗ וְיִנָּתֵן לָךְ מַהֿ, vEsth 5:6; Esth 7:2; Esth 9:12 hence in the late and strange idiom of Chronicles, it sinks twice almost to the rel. what, 1Chr 15:13 כי לְמַבָּרִאשׁוֺנָה לא אתם because ye were not (employed) for what was at first (on the former occasion), J. etc., 2Chr 30:3 לְמַדַּי according to what was sufficient (= in sufficient numbers), compare Esth 9:26.
   (b) -מַהשֶּֿׁ (late: frequently in Mishna, etc.), whatever, what (compare מִי אֲשֶׁר, מִי
  g. end): Eccl 1:9 מַהשֶּֿׁהָיָה הוּא שֶׁיִּהְיֶה, literally what is that which hath been ? it is that which shall be (= whatever hath been, it is that which shall be), vEccl 1:9; Eccl 3:15; Eccl 3:22; Eccl 6:10; Eccl 7:24; Eccl 8:7; Eccl 10:14.
2. Used adverbially:
  a. as an interrogative:
   (a) how ? especially in expressing what is regarded as an impossibility, Gen 44:16 מַהנִּֿצְטַדָּ֑ק how shall we justify ourselves ? Num 23:8 (twice in verse); 1Sam 10:27 מַהיּֿשִׁעֵנוּ זֶה, 2Kgs 4:43; Job 9:2; Job 25:4 (twice in verse); Job 31:1 I made a covenant with my eyes, ׳וּמָה אֶתְבּוֺנֵן עַל ב and how should I look upon a maid ? (ᵐ5 οὐ, ᵑ9 non), Prov 20:24 דַּרְכּוֺ וְאָדָם מַהיָּֿבִין; in an indirect question, Exod 10:26; Ps 39:5 ֵ˜אדְעָה מֶהחָֿדֵל אָ֑נִי; מַהזֶּֿה, how, now ? (in surprise), Gen 27:20 מַהזֶּֿה מִהַרְתָּ לִמְצאֹ בְּנִי, Judg 18:24; 1Kgs 21:5; 2Kgs 1:5.
   (b) why ? Exod 14:15 אֵלַי מַה תִּצְעַק, Exod 17:2 (twice in verse); 2Kgs 6:33; 2Kgs 7:3; Ps 42:6 מַהתִּֿשְׁתּוֺחֲחִי עלי, Job 15:12 +; Song 8:4 I adjure you מַהתָּֿעִירוּ וּמַהתְּֿעוֺרֲרוּ, why will ye stir up, etc.? (i.e. do not: || אִם Song 2:7; Song 3:5). — The transition from the interrogative to the negative, to which in Hebrew there is an approximate (see above: especially 1Kgs 12:16; Job 31:1; Song 8:4), is in Arabic complete, being there used constantly in the sense of not (compare WalkerHebraica. xii. 244 ff.; iii, 478).
  b. as an exclamation, how ...! with adjectives and verbs, Gen 28:17 מַהנּֿוֺרָא הַמָּקוֺם הַזֶּה how dreadful is this place! Gen 38:29; Num 24:5 מַהטֹּֿבוּ אֹהָלֶיךָ, Isa 52:7; Ps 3:2 מה רבו, Ps 8:2 מה אדיר, Ps 21:2; Ps 36:8, etc., Song 4:10 (twice in verse); Song 7:2 ironically, 2Sam 6:20; Jer 2:33; Jer 2:36; Job 26:2; Job 26:3.
3. indefinite pronoun anything, aught, Num 23:3 וּדְבַרמַֿהיַּֿרְאֵנִי וְהִגַּדְתִּי לָ֑ךְ and he will shew me the matter of aught, and I will tell thee (= if he shew me... I will, etc., Dr§ 149), 1Sam 19:3 וְרָאִיתִי מָה וִהִגַּדְתִּי לָ֑ךְ = and if I see aught, I will, etc., 1Sam 20:10 אוֺ מַהיַּֿעַנִךָ אָבִיךָ קָשָׁה if perchance thy father shall answer thee aught that is harsh (order, 1 a a), 2Sam 18:22 וִיהִימָֿה אָרוּצָהנָּֿא but let there happen what may (literally aught), I will run, v2Sam 18:23 (compare Job 13:13 וְיַעֲבֹר עָלַי מָה), vJob 13:29 וְלֹא יָדַעְתִּי מָה (compare Prov 9:13), Prov 25:8. compare iii. § 65.
4. With prepositions:
  a. בַּמָּה9, בַּמֶּה19 wherein ? Exod 22:26; Judg 16:5; 1Sam 14:38 (indirect question; We בְּמִי); and so according to the various senses of בְּ: whereby ? Gen 15:8; Exod 33:16; Mal 1:2; Mal 1:6; Mal 1:7; Mal 2:17; Mal 3:7-8 wherewith ? 1Sam 6:2; 2Sam 21:3; Mic 6:6 by what means ? Judg 16:5 וּבַמֶּה נוּכַל לוֺ; at what (worth) ? Isa 2:22 for what ? 2Chr 7:21 (|| 1Kgs 9:8 עלמֿה).
  b. יַעַן מֶה Hag 1:9 because of what ?
  c. כַּמָּה, כַּמֶּה, properly the like of what ? (Arabic , Syriac ); hence
   (a) how much ? how many ? ׳כַּמָּה יְמֵי וגו Gen 47:8; 2Sam 19:35; Ps 119:84; Job 13:23 עַד כַּמֶּה פְעָמִים 1Kgs 22:16 (= 2Chr 18:15); כַּמָּה how often ? Job 21:17 (i.e. how seldom !); in an indirect question, how much ? Zech 2:6 (twice in verse). As an exclamation, Zech 7:3 as I have done זֶה כַמֶּה שָׁנִים now (זֶה 4 i), how many years ! Ps 78:40 כַּמָּה how often !
   (b) for how long ? Ps 35:17 כמה תראה, Job 7:19.
  d. לָ֫מָּה, לָמָ֫ה (לָמָ֫ה mostly before the gutturals א, ה, ע and ׳י [i.e. אֲדֹנָי], but twice besides, Ps 42:10; Ps 43:2 לָ֫מָּה also occurs before guttural, in five places noted by Masoretes on Ps 43:2, namely 1Sam 28:15; 2Sam 2:22; 2Sam 14:31; Ps 49:6; Jer 15:18, and before ךְ Gen 4:6; 2Sam 14:13; 2Sam 24:3; Eccl 2:15), לָ֫מָה Job 7:20, לָ֫מֶה 1Sam 1:8 (3 t. in verse), for what reason ? why? Gen 4:6 למה חרה לך why art thou angry ? Gen 24:31, etc.; often strengthened by זֶה (זֶה 4 e), Gen 18:13; Gen 32:30 (= Judg 13:18) למה זה תשׁאל לשׁמי, Judg 33:15; Exod 2:20; Exod 5:22; Exod 17:3, etc., Jer 6:20; Jer 20:18 +; Gen 25:22 זה אנכי אם כן למהֿ if so, why, then, am I ? (why do I continue to live ?); = to what purpose (followed by לִ person), Gen 27:46 למה לי חיים, Isa 1:11; Jer 6:20; Amos 5:18 למה זה ׳לכם יום י, Job 30:2 in an indirect question, 1Sam 6:3; Dan 10:20. Note especially
   (a) in expostulations, Gen 12:18 למה לא הגדת לי why didst thou not tell me, etc. ? vGen 12:19; Gen 29:25; Gen 31:27; Gen 42:1; Gen 43:6; 1Sam 21:15; 1Sam 22:13; 1Sam 24:10; Ps 22:2; Ps 44:24; Ps 44:25; Ps 74:1; Ps 74:11 + often;
   (b) with an imperfect, often deprecating, or introducing rhetorically, the reason why something should, or should not, be done, why should . . .? 1Sam 19:5; 1Sam 19:17; 1Sam 20:8 but to thy father (emphatic) למה זה תביאני, why shouldst thou bring me ? 1Sam 20:32 מה עשׂה למה יומת why should he be put to death ? 2Sam 13:26; 2Sam 16:9; 2Sam 20:19; 2Kgs 14:10, etc.: in such cases, it approximates in meaning to lest (compare Phoenician CISi. 2, 21 יסגרינם אלנם לָםָ ne tradant eos dii), and is in ᵐ5 often rendered by μήποτε, as Gen 27:45 למה אשׁכל why should I be bereaved, etc. ? Exod 32:12 יאמרו מצרים למה Neh 6:3; Ps 79:10; Ps 115:2; Eccl 7:16, μή, Jer 40:15, ἵνα μή, Gen 47:19; 2Sam 2:22; 2Chr 25:16; Eccl 5:5; Eccl 7:17, or ὅπως μή, Joel 2:17 (in 1Sam 19:17; 2Sam 13:26, paraph. by εἰ μή); and, connected with the foregoing sentence by אשׁר, or שֶׁ, in late, or dialect., Hebrew it actually has that meaning, Dan 1:10 אֲשֶׁר לָמָּה יִרְאֶה lest he see, Song 1:7 שַׁלָּמָ֫ה אֶהְיֶה lest I become (so in Aramaic לְמָה דִּי Ezra 7:23, דִּילְמָא ᵑ7, Syriac , both regularly = lest).
  e. עַדמָֿה (Ps 4:3 עַדמֶֿה) until when ? how long ? Num 24:22 (aposiop.), Ps 4:3; Ps 79:5; Ps 89:47 in indirect question, Ps 74:9 (compare עד אנה, עד מתי). feminine עַלמָֿה, and עַלמֶֿה, upon what ? Job 38:6; 2Chr 32:10 upon what ground ? wherefore ? Num 22:32 עַלמָֿה הִכִּיתָ אֶתאֲֿתֹנְךָ, Deut 29:23 (compare 1Kgs 9:8; Jer 22:8), Isa 1:5; Jer 8:14; Jer 9:11; Jer 16:10; Ezek 21:12; Ps 10:13; Job 13:14 (probably dittograph from vJob 13:13); עלמֿהזֿה Neh 2:4. In an indirect question, Job 10:2 הוֺדִיעֻנִי עַל מַהתְּֿרִיבֻנִי, Esth 4:5 לָדַעַת מַהזֶּֿה וְעַלמַֿהוֶּֿה.


BDB8356 H834 H7945 H4100

BDB8355 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB8357

שֶׁ, also ( Gen 6:3 [? see 4 a], Judg 5:7 (twice in verse); Song 1:7; Job 19:29 [?]) שַּׁ , שָׁ in שָׁאַתָּה Judg 6:17, and שְׁ in שְׁהוּא Eccl 2:22, שְׁהֵם Eccl 3:18 (elsewhere before guttural שֶׁ, as שֶׁאֲנִי Song 1:6; Eccl 2:18, שֶׁאֵין Ps 146:3, שֶׁהֵם Song 6:5; Lam 4:9, שֶׁעַל Judg 7:12; Judg 8:26, שֶׁרּאֹשִׁי Song 5:2), relative particle who, which, that, etc. (constantly in Late Hebrew; Aramaic of Nerab, Ldzb371, 445; Assyrian sha; Phoenician אש (regularly), also sometimes ש (Ldzb227 f.): according to Ges Ew§ 181 b Olp. 439 Sta§ 176 e, abbreviated from אֲשֶׁר; more probably (Sperling [see אֲשֶׁר], ii. 323 f.) an original demonstrative particle), synonym with אֲשֶׁר, but in usage limited to late Hebrew, and passages with north Palestinian colouring, namely Judg 5:7 (twice in verse) [אֲשֶׁר vJudg 5:27], Judg 6:17; Judg 7:12; Judg 8:26; 2Kgs 6:11 (see 4 c), Jonah 1:7; Jonah 1:12; Jonah 4:10 [אֲשֶׁר 11 t.], Ps 122:3; Ps 122:4; Ps 123:2; Ps 124:1; Ps 124:2; Ps 124:6; Ps 129:6; Ps 129:7; Ps 133:2; Ps 133:3; Ps 135:2; Ps 135:8; Ps 135:10; Ps 136:23; Ps 137:8; Ps 137:9; Ps 144:15; Ps 146:3; Ps 146:5; Lam 2:15; Lam 2:16; Lam 4:9; Lam 5:18; Ezra 8:20; 1Chr 5:20; 1Chr 27:27 Canticles (uniformly, except in title Song 1:1); Ecclesiastes (68 t.; אֲשֶׁא 89 t.); also (dubious) Gen 6:3; Gen 49:10 (שֶׁלֹּה ᵐ5 ᵑ6 ᵑ7), Job 19:29 and in the proper name (q. v.) מִישָׁאֵל and מְתוּשָׁאֵל. — In usage, שֶּׁ  is in the main parallel with אֲשֶׁר, namely

1. as pronoun who, which, whom, Judg 7:12 כַּהוֺל שֶׁעַל שְׂפַת הַיָּם (compare חוֺל c), Ps 122:3; Ps 124:6 etc.; him whom, that which, etc., Song 1:7; Song 3:1; 1Chr 27:27; Eccl 1:11; Eccl 6:3 וְרַב שֶׁיִּהְיוּ יְמֵי חַיָּיו and much (verb) is that which his days amount to (Hi De and others), vEccl 6:10 הוּא שֶּׁ  that which Eccl 1:9 (twice in verse); in the genitive, אַשְׁרֵי שֶּׁ  Ps 137:8; Ps 137:9; Ps 146:5. — On מַהשֶּּֿׁ  in Eccl = whatever, what, see מָה 1 e b.
2. as a connecting link; = where (compare אֲשֶׁר p. 81, and 4 b β), מְקוֺם שֶּׁ  Eccl 1:7; Eccl 11:3 (compare מְקוֺם אֲשֶׁר Gen 39:20 +: Ges«GKC:130c»§ 130c), whither Ps 122:4 (שֶׁשָּׁם ֗֗֗ ), when Song 8:8; Eccl 12:3 בַּיּוֺם שֶּׁ  (compare ib. 4 b a).
3.as a conjunction (compare אֲשֶׁר 8); —
  a. that, after רָאָה Eccl 2:13; Eccl 3:18, יָרַע Eccl 1:17; Eccl 2:14; Eccl 9:5; Job 19:19 (?), דִּבֶּר Eccl 2:15, אָמַר Eccl 8:14, עָשָׂה אוֺת Judg 6:17 as subject of sentence, Eccl 3:13; Eccl 5:15 also in the phrases, (a) what is ... that ? Song 5:9 (usually כִּי; see מָךְ 1 d b), מֶה הָיָה שֶּׁ  how comes it that ... ? Eccl 7:10
   (b) Song 3:4 כִּמְעַט שֶׁעָבַרְתּת מֵהֶם hardly (was it) that (German kaum dass) I had passed, etc., Eccl 7:14 עַל דִּדבְרַת שֶׁלּאֹ יִמְצָא to the intent that ..., Eccl 5:15 כָּלעֻֿמַּת שֶׁבֶּא exactly as ..., Eccl 12:9 תֵר שֶׁ besides that, עַד שֶּׁ  (עַד ּ Judg 5:7) until that Ps 123:2; Song 2:7; Song 2:17 + (see III. עַד II 1 a a and b; compare Late Hebrew Yoma Song 5:1), while Song 1:12 (ib. 2 d); עָשָׂהשֶּׁ  to make or cause that ..., Eccl 3:14 (compare Ezek 36:27).
  b. involving a reason (compare אֲשֶׁר 8 c), because, since, Song 1:6 (twice in verse); Song 5:2; Eccl 2:18 b. Hence שֵׁלָּמָה Song 1:7 since why ? = lest (see מָה 4 d b).
4. compounds:
  a. בְּשֶּׁ , i. q. בַּאֲשֶׁר c (p. 84a) in that, seeing that, Eccl 2:16 also (according to ᵑ0 ᵐ5 ᵑ6 Hu De) Gen 6:3 בְּשַׁגַּם הוּא בָשָׂר because that he also is flesh; but see שָׁגַג.
  b. ˜כּשֶּׁ , i. q. כַּאֲשֶׁר p. 455: — (a) according as Eccl 5:14; Eccl 12:7 (b) when (so often in Late Hebrew, as Ab Eccl 1:8 (3 t. in verse); Eccl 1:14) Eccl 9:12; Eccl 10:3.
  c. מִשֶּּׁ , i. q. מֵאֲשֶׁר a (p. 84:a), 2Kgs 6:12 מִי מִשֶּׁלָּנוּ who of those that are ours ? (but Klo KmpKau Benz מְגַלֵּנוּ who betrays us ? compare ᵐ5); Eccl 5:4 than that (compare מֵאֲשֶׁר Eccl 3:22), + Eccl 2:24 (read מִשֶּׁיּאֹכַל with Ew De, etc.; compare Eccl 3:22).
  d. שֶׁל, like אֲשֶׁרלְ (אֲשֶׁר 7 b), a mark of the genitive: thrice, adding slight emphasis to the suffix, Song 1:6 = Song 8:12 כַּרְמִי שֶׁלִּי my vineyard (literally my vineyard, which is mine), Song 3:7 מִטָּתוֺ שֶׁלִּשְׁלֹמֹה (so often in Late Hebrew, but without any special emphasis, as Aboth Song 1:12 הֲוֵי מתלמידיווּ שׁלאֿהרן be of Aaron's disciples, Song 2:1 שְׂכָרָן שֶׁלמִֿצְוֺת, vSong 2:2; Song 3:2 הֲוֵי מתפלל בשׁלומהּ שׁלמֿלכות; compare in Syriac, as Luke 6:42 my words, § 225). And with בְּ, בְּשֶׁל literally through that which belongs to or concerns, pleonastic for on account of (a late, unidiomatic translation of Aramaic בְּרִיל, from בְּ, דִּי, and לְ, as in Onk Gen 12:13 בדילי on my account, Gen 30:27; Gen 39:5 בְּדִיל יוֺסֵף, בְּדִיל מָא on account of what ? Judg 8:1; 2Sam 9:1; 1Kgs 11:12; 1Kgs 11:39, etc.), Jonah 1:7 בְּשֶׁלְּמִי on account of whom ? (|| vJonah 1:8 בַּאֲשֶׁר לְמִי; probably a gloss), vJonah 1:12 בְּשֶׁלִּי an account of me (ᵑ7 בְּדִיל מַן, בְּדִילִי); Eccl 8:17 בְּשֶׁל אֲשֶׁר יַעֲמֹל הָאָדָם לְבַקֵּשׁ on account of (the fact) that (= seeing that) man labours, etc. (unidiomatic translation of Aramaic בְּדִיל דְּ because that, as Gen 6:3 בְּדִיל דְּאִינוּן בִּסְרָא, Gen 39:9 בְּרִיל דְּאַתְּ אִיתְּתֵיהּ [for Hebrew בַּאֲשֶׁר אַתְּ אִשְׁתּוֺ]; Palmyrene בדיל די Ldzb233, — in Tariff Gen 1:4 (CookeN. Semitic Inscr. 320) = ἐπειδή).


[שֹׁא] see [ שׁוֺא].


BDB9652 H3964 H4101 H4100

BDB9651 | BIBLICAL ARAMAIC | BDB9653

מָה (מָא Ezra 6:8) pronoun interrogative and indefinite what? (Biblical Hebrew מָה; Nabataean מה; Zinjirli מ; ᵑ7 מא; Syriac ; Arabic : compare WCG 124 f.); —

1. what ? Dan 4:32 מה עבדת.
2. whatever, what (compare Biblical Hebrew 1 b end) Dan 2:22 ידע מח בחשׁוכא knoweth what is in darkness, Ezra 6:9: so מָה דִּי (compare דִּי 1 b: so Nabataean; Palmyrene מא די, מדי, Lzb306 Cooke320, 332) Dan 2:28; Dan 2:29 (twice in verse); Dan 2:45; Ezra 6:8 למא די תעבדון with regard to what ye shall do, Ezra 7:18 (= whatsoever).
3. with prefixes:
  a. כְּמָה how! Dan 3:33 (twice in verse).
  b. לְמָה why? (compare Biblical Hebrew לָמָּה) Ezra 4:22 be not slack herein: why should damage grow, etc., virtually = lest damage grow (ᵐ5 μή ποτε), Ezra 7:23 די למה להוא קצף for why should there be wrath ? = lest [ᵐ5 μή ποτε] there be wrath (compare ᵑ7 דִּילְמָא, Syriac lest: and see מָה 4 d b, p. 554:a).
  c. עלמֿה wherefore? Dan 2:15.

what, why, wherefore, how, wherein, …
properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and even relatively, that which); often used with prefixes in various adverbial or conjunctive senses
  • (interr pron) what, how, of what kind
    • (interrogative)
      • what?
      • "of what kind"what? (rhetorical)"whatsoever, whatever, what
      (adverb)
      • how, how now
      • "why"how! (exclamation)
      (with prep)
      • wherein?, whereby?, wherewith?, by what means?
      • "because of what?"the like of what?
        • how much?, how many?, how often?
        • "for how long?
        for what reason?, why?, to what purpose?"until when?, how long?, upon what?, wherefore? indef pron
    anything, aught, what may

מִ לֵּֽיל
מִ
Prefix — preposition from, out of
לֵּֽיל
Root word night, nights, season, seasons, midnight
Dictionary form: לַיִל · la-YIL

Noun — Common, masculine singular, construct state "___ of …" — bound to the next word

In the KJV here: of the night
night ×45 by night ×39 and night ×21 in the night ×19 nights ×15 the night ×12 of the night ×8 this night ×8
More options
night — Default rendering; fits nearly every context.
nighttime — Emphasizes the time period rather than a single night.
darkness — Poetic contexts where night symbolizes obscurity or threat.
midnight — Use when context specifies the deep or middle of night.
after dark — Idiomatic; suits narrative action happening under cover of night.
season of night — Rare; captures the plural/cyclical sense of recurring nights.

BDB4409 H3915

BDB4408 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB4410

לַ֫יְלָה, לַ֫יִל242 noun masculineGen 40:5 night (Late Hebrew id.; MI15 (ב)ללה; Aramaic לֵילָא, , ; Arabic , ; Ethiopic all = night; Assyrian lîlâtu, evening DlHWB; meaning of √ dubious; form probably לילי, and ending הָ֯ radical, and not ה locative, M 127 DlProl. 128 Ges«GKC:90»§ 90, 2. with R. ii. p. 57, R. 1); — absolute לַ֫יְלָה Gen 19:33 + 214 t. + 2 t. Qr. (see below); לָ֑יְלָה Gen 1:5 + 3 t.; לַ֫יִל Isa 16:3 + Prov 31:18; Lam 2:19 Kt (Qr לַיְלָה); לֵיל Isa 15:1 (twice in verse); Isa 21:1 construct לֵיל Exod 12:42; Isa 30:29 plural absolute לֵילוֺת 1Sam 30:12 + 4 t.; construct id., Isa 21:8 + 5 t.; —

1. literally night, opposed to day, Gen 8:22 (J), Deut 1:33 + very often (see יוֺם); alternation of day and night divinely ordained Gen 1:5 (P), Jer 33:20 (twice in verse); Jer 33:25 +; ׳מִיּוֺם עַדלֿ Isa 38:12; Isa 38:18 i.e within one whole day; as close of day, ׳עַדלֿ 2Chr 35:14 as time of sacred (לֵיל) חָג Isa 30:29 of suffering and weeping לֵילוֺת עָמָל Job 7:3, compare Ps 6:7; Ps 77:3 etc.; of pious desires, prayer, praise, meditation, etc (sometimes || by day) Isa 26:9; Job 35:10; Ps 1:2; Ps 22:3; Ps 42:9; Ps 77:7; Ps 88:2; Ps 92:3; Ps 119:5 (twice in verse), compare Ps 16:7; Ps 17:8 of night-service in Temple Ps 134:1 of sudden assault, or destruction, Isa 15:1; Jer 6:5; Obad 1:5; Job 27:20; Job 34:20; Job 34:25; Job 36:20 divided into watches Ps 90:4 לֵיל שִׁמֻּרִים Exod 12:42 see below שׁמר; with number, denoting duration of time, forty days and forty nights Gen 7:4; Gen 7:12; Exod 24:18; Exod 34:28; Deut 9:9; Deut 9:11; Deut 9:18; Deut 9:25; Deut 10:10; 1Kgs 19:8 three days and three nights (שְׁלשָׁה לֵילוֺת) 1Sam 30:12; Jonah 2:1 seven days and seven nights (שִׁבְעַת לֵילוֺת) Job 2:13 ; ׳חֲלוֺם הַלּ Gen 20:3; Gen 31:24 (both E), 1Kgs 3:5 ׳מַרְאֹת הַלּ Gen 46:2 (E); ׳חֶזְיוֺן ל Job 20:8; Job 33:15, ׳חֶזְיֹנוֺת ל Job 4:13, ׳חֲלוֺם חֲזוֺן ל Isa 29:7 (compare Mic 3:6 below) ; ׳בִּןלֿ Jonah 4:10 (twice in verse) see בֵּן
8. b. Chiefly in adverb. phrase: — ׳בַּחֲצִי הַלּ at midnight Exod 12:29 + (see חֲצִי, חָצוֺת b), compare ׳בְּתוֺךְ הַלּ 1Kgs 3:20, ׳בְּאִישׁוֺן ל Prov 7:9 ; הַזֶּה ׳בַּלּ Exod 12:8; Exod 12:12 on this night (P; the night of which one is speaking); הַהוּא ׳בַּלּ on that night Gen 19:35 (J) + often, (P only Num 14:1); הוּא ׳בַּל Gen 19:33; Gen 30:16 so ׳הַלּ alone 1Sam 14:34, but strike out ᵐ5 We Kit, compare Dr; Klo Bu read ליהוה; ׳הַלּ to-night Gen 19:5; Gen 19:34; Gen 30:15 (all J), Num 22:8; Num 22:19 (E), Josh 2:2; Josh 4:3 (both J E), 2Sam 17:1; 2Sam 17:16; 2Sam 19:8; Ruth 1:12; Ruth 3:2; Ruth 3:13, opposed to מָחָר tomorrow 1Sam 19:11 ׳הַלּ = this night just past, last night 1Sam 15:16 (compare Dr); ׳כָּלהַֿלּ all night Hos 7:6 (opposed to בֹּקֶר), Exod 14:20; Exod 14:21 (J), Num 11:32; Josh 10:9 (both J E), Judg 16:2 (twice in verse); Judg 19:25; 1Sam 15:11; 1Sam 31:12; 2Sam 2:29; 2Sam 2:32; 2Sam 4:7 opposed to כלהֿיום ההוא (of continuous action) 1Sam 19:24; 1Sam 28:20; Isa 62:6, opposed to יומם Ps 78:14 ׳בְּכָללֿ Ps 6:7 every night (probably); compare כָּלהַֿלֵּילוֺת Isa 21:8 all the nights (opposed to יוֺמָם) ; especially לַיְלָה by night Num 22:20 (E) Josh 8:3 (JE), Deut 16:1; Num 9:16 (P) + 51 t.; of these Gen 14:15 and Exod 13:21; Exod 13:22 (J) + 25 t. opposed to יוֺמָם, covering all the time; otherwise Judg 6:27 (opposed to יוֺמָם); לַיְלָה וָיוֺם night and day 1Kgs 8:29; Isa 27:3; Esth 4:16 less often לֵילוֺת Ps 16:17 ׳הַלּ by night 2Kgs 25:4 (׳ל in || Jer 52:7), Zech 1:8; Neh 4:16 (opposed to הַיּוֺם) ; ׳בַּלּ id., Jer 6:5 + 18 t. (chiefly late; often opposed to בַּיּוֺם, יוֺמָם, etc.); בַּלֵּילוֺת Ps 92:3 (opposed to בַּבֹּקֶר, Ps 134:1; Song 3:1; Song 3:8 בְּלַיְלָה Neh 9:19 (opposed to בְּיוֺמָם ); בְּלֵיל Isa 15:1 (twice in verse) ׳כַּל as at night Job 5:14 (opposed to צָהֳרָ֑יִם ).
2. figurative שִׁיתִי כַּלַיִל צִלֵּךְ Isa 16:8 simile of shadow of Zion as protection; more often in gloomy sense, of avenging calamity without divine guidance or comfort לַיְלָה מֵחָזוֺן Mic 3:6 personal distress Job 35:10 judgment perhaps also Job 36:20 (Ew De Di Da; night of death Bu; 'unintelligible' Siegf); מַהמִּֿלַּיְלָה מַהמִּֿלֵּיל Isa 21:11 i.e. what hour of the night of calamity is it? compare vIsa 21:12 (opposed to בֹּקֶר).


BDB9645 H3915 H3916

BDB9644 | BIBLICAL ARAMAIC | BDB9646

[לֵילָא] noun [masculine] night (see Biblical Hebrew לַ֫יְלָה); — emphatic לֵילְיָא Dan 2:19; Dan 5:30; Dan 7:2; Dan 7:7; Dan 7:13.

night, nights, season, seasons, midnight
layil
properly, a twist (away of the light), i.e., night; figuratively, adversity
  • night
    • night (as opposed to day)
    • "of gloom, protective shadow (figuratively)

The cantillation accents are the Masoretes' punctuation: each group below ends at a pausing accent. Translate a group as one unit.
מַשָּׂ֖א Tipeha — a lesser break דּוּמָ֑ה Etnahta — the verse's main pause — take a breath here אֵלַי֙ Pashta — a lesser break קֹרֵ֣א מִשֵּׂעִ֔יר Zaqef Qatan — a strong break שֹׁמֵר֙ Pashta — a lesser break מַה מִלַּ֔יְלָה Zaqef Qatan — a strong break שֹׁמֵ֖ר Tipeha — a lesser break מַה מִלֵּֽיל Silluq — end of the verse

מַשָּׂא דּוּמָה אֵלַי קֹרֵא מִשֵּׂעִיר שֹׁמֵר מַה-מִלַּיְלָה שֹׁמֵר מַה-מִלֵּֽיל׃
11
The burden of Dumah. He calleth to me out of Seir, Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night?
Cross References

Genesis 25:14

וּמִשְׁמָע וְדוּמָה וּמַשָּֽׂא׃
14
And Mishma, and Dumah, and Massa,

Obadiah 1:1

חֲזוֹן עֹֽבַדְיָה כֹּֽה-אָמַר אֲדֹנָי יְהוִה לֶאֱדוֹם שְׁמוּעָה שָׁמַעְנוּ מֵאֵת יְהוָה וְצִיר בַּגּוֹיִם שֻׁלָּח קוּמוּ וְנָקוּמָה עָלֶיהָ לַמִּלְחָמָֽה׃
1
The vision of Obadiah. Thus saith the Lord GOD concerning Edom; We have heard a rumour from the LORD, and an ambassador is sent among the heathen, Arise ye, and let us rise up against her in battle.

Amos 1:6

כֹּה אָמַר יְהוָה עַל-שְׁלֹשָׁה פִּשְׁעֵי עַזָּה וְעַל-אַרְבָּעָה לֹא אֲשִׁיבֶנּוּ עַל-הַגְלוֹתָם גָּלוּת שְׁלֵמָה לְהַסְגִּיר לֶאֱדֽוֹם׃
6
Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Gaza, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they carried away captive the whole captivity, to deliver them up to Edom:

Joel 3:19

מִצְרַיִם לִשְׁמָמָה תִֽהְיֶה וֶאֱדוֹם לְמִדְבַּר שְׁמָמָה תִּֽהְיֶה מֵֽחֲמַס בְּנֵי יְהוּדָה אֲשֶׁר-שָׁפְכוּ דָם-נָקִיא בְּאַרְצָֽם׃
19
Egypt shall be a desolation, and Edom shall be a desolate wilderness, for the violence against the children of Judah, because they have shed innocent blood in their land.

Isaiah 21:6

כִּי כֹה אָמַר אֵלַי אֲדֹנָי לֵךְ הַעֲמֵד הַֽמְצַפֶּה אֲשֶׁר יִרְאֶה יַגִּֽיד׃
6
For thus hath the Lord said unto me, Go, set a watchman, let him declare what he seeth.

Malachi 1:2

אָהַבְתִּי אֶתְכֶם אָמַר יְהוָה וַאֲמַרְתֶּם בַּמָּה אֲהַבְתָּנוּ הֲלוֹא-אָח עֵשָׂו לְיַֽעֲקֹב נְאֻם-יְהוָה וָאֹהַב אֶֽת-יַעֲקֹֽב׃
2
I have loved you, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us? Was not Esau Jacob's brother? saith the LORD: yet I loved Jacob,

Psalms 137:7

זְכֹר יְהוָה׀ לִבְנֵי אֱדוֹם אֵת יוֹם יְֽרוּשָׁלִָם הָאֹמְרִים עָרוּ׀ עָרוּ עַד הַיְסוֹד בָּֽהּ׃
7
Remember, O LORD, the children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem; who said, Rase it, rase it, even to the foundation thereof.

1 Chronicles 1:30

מִשְׁמָע וְדוּמָה מַשָּׂא חֲדַד וְתֵימָֽא׃
30
Mishma, and Dumah, Massa, Hadad, and Tema,

Ezekiel 35:1

וַיְהִי דְבַר-יְהוָה אֵלַי לֵאמֹֽר׃
1
Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

Isaiah 63:1

מִי-זֶה׀ בָּא מֵאֱדוֹם חֲמוּץ בְּגָדִים מִבָּצְרָה זֶה הָדוּר בִּלְבוּשׁוֹ צֹעֶה בְּרֹב כֹּחוֹ אֲנִי מְדַבֵּר בִּצְדָקָה רַב לְהוֹשִֽׁיעַ׃
1
Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save.

Isaiah 34:1

קִרְבוּ גוֹיִם לִשְׁמֹעַ וּלְאֻמִּים הַקְשִׁיבוּ תִּשְׁמַע הָאָרֶץ וּמְלֹאָהּ תֵּבֵל וְכָל-צֶאֱצָאֶֽיהָ׃
1
Come near, ye nations, to hear; and hearken, ye people: let the earth hear, and all that is therein; the world, and all things that come forth of it.

Deuteronomy 2:5

אַל-תִּתְגָּרוּ בָם כִּי לֹֽא-אֶתֵּן לָכֶם מֵֽאַרְצָם עַד מִדְרַךְ כַּף-רָגֶל כִּֽי-יְרֻשָּׁה לְעֵשָׂו נָתַתִּי אֶת-הַר שֵׂעִֽיר׃
5
Meddle not with them; for I will not give you of their land, no, not so much as a foot breadth; because I have given mount Seir unto Esau for a possession.

Genesis 32:3

וַיִּשְׁלַח יַֽעֲקֹב מַלְאָכִים לְפָנָיו אֶל-עֵשָׂו אָחִיו אַרְצָה שֵׂעִיר שְׂדֵה אֱדֽוֹם׃
3
And Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother unto the land of Seir, the country of Edom.

Jeremiah 37:17

וַיִּשְׁלַח הַמֶּלֶךְ צִדְקִיָּהוּ וַיִּקָּחֵהוּ וַיִּשְׁאָלֵהוּ הַמֶּלֶךְ בְּבֵיתוֹ בַּסֵּתֶר וַיֹּאמֶר הֲיֵשׁ דָּבָר מֵאֵת יְהוָה וַיֹּאמֶר יִרְמְיָהוּ יֵשׁ וַיֹּאמֶר בְּיַד מֶֽלֶךְ-בָּבֶל תִּנָּתֵֽן׃
17
Then Zedekiah the king sent, and took out: him and the king asked him secretly in his house, and said, Is there any word from the LORD? And Jeremiah said, There is: for, said he, thou shalt be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon.

Numbers 24:18

וְהָיָה אֱדוֹם יְרֵשָׁה וְהָיָה יְרֵשָׁה שֵׂעִיר אֹֽיְבָיו וְיִשְׂרָאֵל עֹשֶׂה חָֽיִל׃
18
And Edom shall be a possession, Seir also shall be a possession for his enemies; and Israel shall do valiantly.

Jeremiah 49:7

לֶאֱדוֹם כֹּה אָמַר יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת הַאֵין עוֹד חָכְמָה בְּתֵימָן אָבְדָה עֵצָה מִבָּנִים נִסְרְחָה חָכְמָתָֽם׃
7
Concerning Edom, thus saith the LORD of hosts; Is wisdom no more in Teman? is counsel perished from the prudent? is their wisdom vanished?

Amos 1:11

כֹּה אָמַר יְהוָה עַל-שְׁלֹשָׁה פִּשְׁעֵי אֱדוֹם וְעַל-אַרְבָּעָה לֹא אֲשִׁיבֶנּוּ עַל-רָדְפוֹ בַחֶרֶב אָחִיו וְשִׁחֵת רַחֲמָיו וַיִּטְרֹף לָעַד אַפּוֹ וְעֶבְרָתוֹ שְׁמָרָה נֶֽצַח׃
11
Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Edom, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because he did pursue his brother with the sword, and did cast off all pity, and his anger did tear perpetually, and he kept his wrath for ever: