Isaiah 40:18

To whom then will ye liken God? or what likeness will ye compare unto him?
Select a Hebrew word above to see its details.

וְ אֶל
וְ
Prefix — connector and (sometimes: but, so, then)
אֶל
Preposition unto, to, into, upon, against, …
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)

מִ֖י
מִ֖י
Particle turns the sentence into a question
Dictionary form: מִי · mee

Particle — Interrogative

In the KJV here: whom
who ×209 and who ×30 whom ×29 what ×14 and what ×10 or who ×10 whose ×10 but who ×6
More options
who — Standard interrogative or relative; broadest usage.
whoever — Prefer for indefinite or universal reference (whosoever).
whom — Use in object position for formal or written registers.
whose — Use when indicating possession or attribution.
anyone who — Emphasizes indefinite, inclusive scope.
which one — Use when selecting among a defined set of options.

BDB4615 H4310

BDB4614 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB4616

מִי423 pronoun interrogative who? of persons, as מָה (q. v.) of things (Ethiopic but only = What ? and How ? Assyrian mî, me (rare) JägerBAS. ii. 277, the usual Semitic form for Who? has n, namely Assyrian mannu, manu (DlHWB 419), Ethiopic man¥, Aramaic Arabic , Vulgar Arabic min, m£n, from a form resembling which, by rejection of n, probably Hebrew מִי: WSG 123 f.): — who ? (τίς; quis ?) Gen 3:11 הִגִּיד לְךָ מִי who told thee ? Gen 24:65 מִי הָאִישׁ הַלָּזֶה who is this man ? Gen 27:18 מי אתה בני who art thou, my son ? Num 22:9; Judg 1:1; Judg 6:29; Judg 15:6; Judg 18:3; Judg 20:18; 2Sam 1:8 + often; Ruth 3:9 מִי אָ֑תְּ who art thou, (feminine) ? Isa 51:12 of more than one, מִי אֵלָּה who are these ? Gen 33:5; Gen 48:8; Isa 60:8 מי אתם 2Kgs 10:13 once, more explicitly, מִי זָמִי הַהֹלְכִים Exod 10:8 = as who ? (i.e. in what condition, or capacity), Amos 7:2 יעקב מי יקום vAmos 7:5; Isa 51:19 מִי אֲנַחֲמֵךְ (but Vrss Che Lag Brd Du ׳מִי יְ, as || מִי יָנוּד), Ruth 3:16 (Be Ke iii. 388). Note in particular:
  a. מִי is rarely used of things, and usually where persons are understood or implied: Gen 33:8 מי לך כלהֿמחנה הזה who (or what) to thee is all this camp ? Deut 4:7; Judg 9:28 שְׁכֶם מִי who is Shechem (i.e. the Shechemites) ? Mic 1:5 מִיפֶֿשַׁע יַעֲקֹב הֲלֹא שֹׁמְרוֺן, vb Song 3:6; Judg 13:17 מִי שְׁמֶ֑ךָ ( but מה Gen 32:28; Exod 3:13: with מי compare מַן in Aramaic Ezra 5:4 Genesis, Exodus ll. cc. ᵑ7; and see M. p. 341). On 1Sam 18:18, see II. חַי
  b. in the genitive, בַּתמִֿי אַתְּ whose daughter art thou ? Gen 24:23; Gen 24:47; 1Sam 12:3 (3 t. in verse); 1Sam 17:55; Jer 44:28; Job 26:4; Job 33:28 after various prepositions, as אַחֲרֵי מִי 1Sam 24:15 (twice in verse); אֶלמִֿי 1Sam 6:20; 2Kgs 9:5 +; בְּמִי by whom ? 1Kgs 20:14, לְמִי20 to whom ? whose ? Gen 32:18 לְמִי אַתָּה, Gen 38:25; Prov 20:20 (6 t.) +; מִמִּי Ezek 32:19; Ps 27:1 (twice in verse); עַלמִֿי 2Kgs 18:20; 2Kgs 19:22; Isa 57:4 +; אֶתמִֿי (so always in accusative), 1Sam 12:3 (twice in verse); 1Sam 28:11; Isa 6:8 = with whom ? Job 12:3.
  c. in an indirect question, as Gen 21:26; Gen 43:22 לא ידענו מי שׂם we do not know who put, etc., Deut 21:1; Ps 39:7; Josh 24:15 בַּחֲרוּ ֗֗֗ אֶתמִֿי תַעֲבֹד֑וּן choose whom ye will serve, after ראה 1Sam 14:17, שׁאל 1Sam 17:56, הגיד 1Kgs 1:20, הודיע v1Kgs 1:27.
  d. ׳מי ב who among ... ? 1Sam 22:14; Isa 36:20; Isa 43:9; Isa 48:14 (בהם) Isa 42:23; Isa 50:10; Hag 2:3 ( all בכם); מי מן who of ... ? Judg 21:8; 2Kgs 6:11; Isa 50:1.
  e. strengthened and emphatic forms of interrogative:
   (a) מי זה (see זה 4 b), מי הוא (see הוא 4 b β), הוא זה מי Ps 24:10; Jer 30:21; Esth 7:5 (see ibid.);
   (b) אֶחָד מִי what single one ... ? Judg 21:8, compare 2Sam 7:23 ( = 1Chr 17:21). feminine various rhetorical uses ( often repeated in || clause, as Ps 15:1; Ps 18:32; Isa 28:9; Isa 29:15): — (a) followed by imperfect it expresses a wish ( the question implying a desire that the person asked for were present ), 2Sam 15:4 מִי יְשִׂמֵנִי שֹׁפֵט who will set me judge ? i.e. would that some one would make me judge ! 2Sam 23:15 מִי יַשְׁקֵנִי מַיִם = O that one would give me to drink, etc. ! compare Num 11:4; Num 11:18; Mal 1:10; Ps 4:7; Ps 60:11; Ps 94:16; Isa 42:23, and very often in the phrase מִי יִתֵּן who will give? i.e. would that there were. . . ! as Num 11:29 נביאים ׳ומי יתן כל עם י = and would that all ׳י's people were prophets! Deut 28:67 מי יתן ערב = would it were even! Judg 9:29 + (see נָתַן). (b) it expresses contempt (who ? implying the answer no one at all), Exod 5:2 ׳אשׁר אשׁמע בקולו מי י who is ׳י that I should listen to his voice ? Judg 9:28 מִי אֲבִימֶלֶךְ וּמִי שְׁכֶם כִּי נַעַבְדֶנּוּ, vJudg 9:38; 1Sam 17:26 who is this Philistine that he should have reproached, etc.? 1Sam 25:10 מי דוד ומי בן ישׁי Isa 28:9; Job 26:4; Prov 30:9 ׳מי י; or modesty (real or assumed), Exod 3:11 מִי אָנֹכִי כִּי אֵלֵךְ אֶלפַּֿרְעֹה 1Sam 18:18 ומי חיי מי אנכי who am I, and who is my clan (חַיִּי), that I should be the king's son-in-law ? 2Sam 7:18; 1Chr 29:14; 2Chr 2:5 or surprise, Isa 44:10; Isa 49:21. (c) in impassioned prose, and especially in poetry, implying the answer few or none, it is equivalent to a rhetorical negative, Deut 9:2 מִי יִתְיַצֵּב לִפְנֵי בְנֵי עֲנָק who can stand, etc.? Deut 30:12 מִי יַעֲלֶהלָּֿנוּ הַשָּׁמַיְמָה vDeut 30:13; 1Sam 4:8 ׳מִי יַצִּילֵנוּ וג, 1Sam 6:20; 1Sam 22:14; 1Sam 26:9; 1Sam 26:15; 2Sam 16:10 מי יאמר who shall (or can) say ? Job 9:12; Prov 20:9; Eccl 8:4 with the perfect (of experience), who has ever . . . ? Num 23:10; Deut 5:23; Isa 36:20; Isa 66:8 (twice in verse); Jer 18:13 מִי שָׁמַע כָּאֵלֶּה, Jer 23:18 (ᵑ0), Jer 30:21; Job 4:7; Job 9:4 מִי הִקְשָׁה אֵלָיו וַיִּשְׁלָ֑ם, Job 41:3; Prov 30:4; Lam 3:37 in poetry, very often, as Gen 49:9 מִי יְקִימֶנּוּ וּכְלָבִיא who can rouse him up ? (i.e. no one), Exod 15:11 (twice in verse) מִי כָמוֺךָ (so Ps 35:10 and elsewhere), Num 24:9; Num 24:23; 1Sam 2:25 מי יתפלל לו who shall intercede for him ? (i.e. no one), Isa 1:12; Isa 10:3; Isa 40:13; Isa 40:14; Isa 40:18; Isa 41:26; Isa 42:19; Isa 43:9; Isa 48:14; Isa 50:1; Isa 53:1 מִי הֶאֱמִין לִשְׁמֻעָתֵנוּ (i.e. few or none), etc.; Ps 18:32 ׳מִי אֱלוֺהַּ מִבַּלְעֲדֵי י, Ps 76:8; Ps 89:7; Ps 130:3; Job 21:31; Job 34:29; Jer 17:9; Joel 2:11; Mal 3:2 מִי לֹא ֗֗֗ Amos 3:8; Jer 10:7; Job 12:9 (compare Job 25:3; Nah 3:19); (יְשִׁיבֶנָּה) מִי יְשִׁיבֶנּוּ who shall (can) turn it back ? Job 9:12; Job 11:10; Job 23:13; Isa 14:27; Isa 43:13; Jer 2:24 implying the answer, no one but God, Isa 40:12; Isa 41:2; Isa 35:6; Isa 35:25, etc.; defiantly, Isa 50:9 מִי הוּא יַרְשִׁיעֵנִי, Jer 21:13; Jer 49:4 מִי יָבוֺא אֵלַי, vJer 49:19; Obad 1:3; Ps 12:5 מִי אָדוֺן לָנוּ, Ps 59:8; Ps 64:6; Job 9:19 מִי יוֺעִידֵנִי וְאִם לְמִשְׁפָּט, Job 13:19 מִי הוּא יָרִיב עִמָּדִי who is he that will contend with me ? Job 17:3; Job 41:2. Notice in examples of this kind the frequent order of words: Prov 20:6 ואישׁ אמוּנים מי ימצא, Prov 24:22 יודע ופיד שׁניהם מי, Prov 31:10; Nah 1:6 לפני זעמו מי יעמד, Ps 147:17 קֹרָתוֺ מי יעמד לפני, Job 4:2 וַעְצֹר בְּמִלִּין מִי יוּכ֑ל, Job 26:14; Job 38:37; Job 39:5; Job 41:5; Job 41:6; Ps 6:6 בִּשְׁאוֺל מִי יוֺדֶהלָּֿ֑ךְ, Ps 19:13 and with the nom. pendens, Jer 2:24 תַּאֲנָתָהּ מִי יְשִׁיבֶנָּה, Prov 18:14; Job 17:15 וְתִקְוָתִי מִי יְשׁוּרֶנָּה, Job 38:29 וּכְפֹר שָׁמַיִם מִי יְלָדוֺ.
   (d) מִי יוֺדֵעַ who knoweth ? (Ps 90:11; Prov 24:22), followed by a verbal clause, becomes (compare nescio an) = it may be, perchance, 2Sam 12:22 ׳מִי יוֺדֵעַ יְחָנֵּנִי י (Qr וְחַנַּנִי), Joel 2:14 ( = Jonah 3:9) מי יודע ישׁוב ונחם, Esth 4:14 יודע אם מי.
   (e) especially in poetry, a question with מי, to which the answer follows, is an effective mode of affirming a fact, or introducing a description: Ps 15:1 (twice in verse) (see vPs 15:2); Ps 24:3; Ps 24:8; Ps 24:10; Isa 23:8 מי יעץ ׳זאת וג (Isa 23:9 the answ., יְעָצָהּ ׳צ ׳י), Isa 33:14 (see vIsa 33:15f.), Isa 37:23; Isa 41:2; Isa 41:4; Isa 60:8; Isa 63:1; Jer 46:7; Song 3:6, compare Song 6:10; Song 8:3 answered by הֲלֹא Exod 4:11; Isa 42:24; Isa 45:21; Mic 1:5 (twice in verse).
  g. מִי may sometimes be rendered whosoever, though, as the examples will shew, it does not really mean it: Exod 24:14 מי בעל דברים יִגַּשׁ אליהם, literally Who hath a cause ? let him draw nigh unto them, i.e. whoso hath a cause, let him, etc., Isa 50:8b מִי בַעַל מִשְׁפָּטִי יִגַּשׁ אֵלַי, Isa 54:15; Judg 7:3 מִי יָרֵא וְחָרֵד יָשֹׁב ׳וג who is fearful and trembling ? let him return, Prov 9:4; Prov 9:16 מִיפֶֿ֖תִי יָסֻר הֵגָּה, Ezra 1:3 (compare with וְ in apodosis Jer 9:11; Hos 14:10; Ps 107:43; Zech 4:10 is dubious, on account of anomalous tense and construction); so with מי האישׁ אשׁר ֗֗֗ Deut 20:5; Deut 20:6; Deut 20:7; Judg 10:18, compare Ps 25:12. With 1 person in apodosis, Exod 32:33 חָטָא לִי אֶמְחֶגּוּ מִסִּפְרִי מִי אֲשֶׁר, Jer 49:19 ( = Jer 50:44) אֵלָיהָ אֶפְקֹד וּמִי בָחוּר and who is chosen? I will appoint him over her! Isa 50:8a; with an imperative in the apodosis Exod 32:24 (against accents; see Ra) התפרקו למי זהב who hath gold ? break it off you! Gen 19:12; 1Sam 11:12, compare Ps 34:13f.; without a verb, Exod 32:26 אלי ׳מי לי who is on J.'s side ? (let him come) to me! so 2Sam 20:11 (מי אשׁר); Eccl 5:9; Eccl 9:4 (מי אשׁר).
  h. once, following a verb (compare מָה 3), any one, 2Sam 18:12 שִׁמְרוּמִֿי בַּנַּעַר באבשׁלום Have a care, whosoever ye be, of, etc. (but ᵐ5 ᵑ6 ᵑ9 Bu לִי; compare v2Sam 18:5).


BDB9669 H4479 H4310

BDB9668 | BIBLICAL ARAMAIC | BDB9670

מַן (so Gi, with most MSS., supported by Syriac , Arabic ; see K§ 22, 1), מָן (Baer: see on Dan 3:6), interrogative pronoun who? (Old Aramaic, Nabataean, Palmyrene מן Lzb312 Cooke188), ᵑ7 מן, Syriac , Ethiopic Arabic WCG 123: Biblical Hebrew מִי); —

1. who? Ezra 5:3; Ezra 5:9 strengthened by הוּא, Dan 3:15 וּמַןהֿוּא אֱלָהּ דִּי who is the God who . . . ? (compare Syriac contracted from , and מַנּוּ in the Syriacizing ᵑ7 to Proverbs: also Biblical Hebrew מִי הוּא, הוּא 4 b β); so in the plural Ezra 5:4 מִןאִֿנוּן שְׁמָהָת what (literally who: compare מִי 1 a, and Gen 32:28; Exod 3:13 ᵑ7) are the names of . . .?
2. מַןדּֿי whosoever (literally who is there that . . .? see Biblical Hebrew מִי g) Dan 3:6; Dan 3:11 מִןדִּֿי לָא יִפֵּל, Dan 4:14 וּלְמִן דִּי יִצְבֵּא יִתְּנִנַּהּ to whomsoever he willeth, he giveth it, v.Dan 4:22 v.Dan 4:29; Dan 5:21 (so Nabataean מן די, Cooke241, 325 ff.; ᵑ7 מַן דְּ; Syriac ; compare Egyptian Aramaic S-CPap. K 7, 12 ולמן זי צבית תנתן).

who, whom, what, whose, which, …
who? (occasionally, by a peculiar idiom, of things); also (indefinitely) whoever; often used in oblique construction with prefix or suffix
  • who?, whose?, whom?, would that, whoever, whosoever

תְּדַמְּי֣וּ ן
תְּדַמְּי֣וּ
Root word like, liken, thought, likened, meaneth, …
ן
Suffix emphatic ending — no change in meaning
Dictionary form: דָּמָה · daw-MAW

Verb — Piel, Imperfect (Yiqtol), second person masculine plural intensive — "he really / thoroughly did" not-yet-complete action — try "he will ___" or "he ___s" the built-in subject is "you (a group)"

In the KJV here: then will ye liken
is like ×3 and be thou like ×2 then will ye liken ×2 and thought ×1 and used similitudes ×1 and we should have been like ×1 art thou like ×1 art thou thus like ×1
More options
resemble — Best for comparisons; broad and natural in modern prose.
compare — Use when the act of drawing a likeness is foregrounded.
liken — Modernized KJV form; still idiomatic in religious contexts.
imagine — Fits contexts of mental conception or devising a plan.
devise — Prefer when scheming or planning is the sense.
think — Informal; suits internal reasoning or supposition contexts.

BDB1961 H1819

BDB1960 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB1962

I. דָּמָה verb be like, resemble (Late Hebrew id., Aramaic דְּמֵי, דְּמָא, ; compare דמין, price, Nabataean דמי id. ( in EutNab. Inscr. p. 35); also , and likeness (whence Arabic image, effigy, as loan-word Frä272) compare דְּמוּת) —

Qal Perfect 3 masculine singular ׳ד Ezek 31:8; Ps 144:4 3 feminine singular דָּֽמְתָה Song 7:8 2 masculine singular דָּמִיתָ Ezek 31:2; Ezek 31:18 1 singular דָּמִיתִי Ps 102:7 3 plural דָּמוּ Ezek 31:8 1 plural דָּמִינוּ Isa 1:9 Imperfect 3 masculine singular יִדְמֶה Ps 89:7 1 plural וְנִדְמֶה consecutive Isa 46:5 Imperative masculine singular דְּמֵה Song 2:17; Song 8:14 Participle דּוֺמֶה Song 2:9be like, resemble, of external appearance, followed by לְ, Song 7:8; Song 2:9; Song 2:17; Song 8:14 followed by אֶלֿ Ezek 31:8 (twice in verse); Ezek 31:18 (all of tree, figurative of Pharaoh); of condition or quality followed by לְ Isa 1:9; Ps 102:7; Ps 144:4 so מִי ֗֗֗ יִדְמֶה ליהוה Ps 89:7 also absolute Isa 46:5 followed by אֶל Ezek 31:2. Pi`el Perfect דִּמָּה 2Sam 21:5, דִּמִּיתָ Ps 50:21 דִּמִּיתִי Num 33:56; Isa 14:24 suffix דִּמִּיתִיךָ Song 1:9, דִּמּוּ 2Sam 21:5 Imperfect יְדַמֶּה Isa 10:7 2 feminine singular תְּדַמִּי Esth 4:13 (jussive); אֲדַמֶּה Lam 2:13; Hos 12:11 2 masculine plural תְּדַמְּיוּן Isa 40:18 suffix תְּדַמְּיוּנִי Isa 40:25; Isa 46:5liken, compare; imagine, think, devise; —
1. liken, i.e. consider to be like, compare, causative of Qal followed by לְ of external appearance Song 1:9 of quality or condition Isa 46:5 (object ׳י) Lam 2:13 followed by אֶל of external appearance Isa 40:18; Isa 40:25 (both object God in reference to idols); absolute use comparisons or similitudes (parables, symbols, etc.) Hos 12:11 (subject ׳י).
2. imagine, form an idea, devise 2Sam 21:5 (on context compare Dr); think, intend, followed by Infinitive Num 33:56 (J or H) Judg 20:5; Esth 4:13 absolute Isa 10:7 compare Isa 14:24 think that, followed by object clause (Imperfect without conjunction) Ps 50:21 think of, followed by accusative Ps 48:10. Hithpa`el make oneself or become like; Imperfect אֶדַּמֶּה לְעֶלְיוֺן Isa 14:14 I will make myself like the Most High (on form compare Ges«GKC:54»§ 54. 2).


BDB9453 H1819 H1821

BDB9452 | BIBLICAL ARAMAIC | BDB9454

[דְּמָה] verb be like (Biblical Hebrew I. דָּמָה); —

Pe`al Participle active דָּמֵה Dan 3:25 (ל person); feminine דָּֽמְיָה Dan 7:5 (לְדֹב).

like, liken, thought, likened, meaneth, …
dāmâ
to compare; by implication, to resemble, liken, consider
  • to be like, resemble
    • (Qal) to be like, resemble
    • "(Piel)
      • to liken, compare
      • "to imagine, think
      (Hithpael) to make oneself like"(Niphal)

אֵ֑ל
אֵ֑ל
Root word god, gods, power, mighty, one, …
Dictionary form: אֵל · ale

Noun — Common, masculine singular, absolute state

In the KJV here: god
god ×112 of god ×15 a god ×8 unto god ×7 am god ×6 and god ×5 art my god ×5 my god ×4
More options
God — Preferred when referring to the God of Israel.
god — Use lowercase for foreign or generic deities.
divine being — Neutral; good for ambiguous or poetic contexts.
mighty one — Captures the power/strength nuance of the lemma.
power — Abstract sense; rare but valid in some poetic passages.
idol — Only when context clearly indicates a false or carved god.

BDB425 H410

BDB424 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB426

II. אֵל god, אֶלְדָּד, אֶלְדָּעָה etc. see I. אלה.


BDB428 H410 H1286 H416 H415

BDB427 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB429

II. אֵל noun masculine (also, in proper name אֶל, אֱלִי; Samaritan אל, Phoenician אל, אלן (i.e. probably אֵלֹן), Sabean אל, DHMOr. Congr. Leiden, 1883, Assyrian ilu, Dlw; perhaps also Arabic, Aramaic compare on the passage; on goddess אלת Phoenician, Palmyrene, Nabataean, Sabean (also אלהת) DHMl. c; Arabic (plural ) FlKl. Schr. i. 154, Assyrian Allatu Jr66, Syriac , compare also BaeRel 58, 90, 97, 271, 207) god, but with various subordinate applications to express idea of might; — hardly ever in prose except with defining word (adjective or genitive); its only suffix is יִ֯; —

1. applied to men of might and rank, אֵל גוים mighty one of the nations Ezek 31:11 (of Nebuchadnezzar; ᵐ5 ἄρχων ἔθνων, איל some MSS. Co); אֵלִים mighty men Job 41:17 (אילים, many MSS. Di); אֵלֵי גִבּוֺרִים mighty heroes Ezek 32:21 (אֵילֵי MSS. Co); אֵילֵי הָאֶרֶץ Ezek 17:13; 2Kgs 24:15 (Kt אולי); אֵילִים Exod 15:15 (probably plural of III. אַיִל, q. v.) These readings are uncertain because of an effort to distinguish these forms from the divine name. אֵל גִּבּוֺר mighty hero (as above) ordivine hero (as reflecting the divine majesty) Isa 9:6.
2. angels, בְּנֵי אֵלִים Ps 29:1; Ps 89:7 = בְּנֵי הָאֱלֹהִים.
3. gods of the nations, אֵל אֵלִים God of gods, supreme God Dan 11:36 מִי כָמֹכָה בָּאֵלִם who is like thee among the gods Exod 15:11 idols Isa 43:10; Isa 44:10; Isa 44:15; Isa 44:17; Isa 46:6 מי אל בשמים what God in heaven Deut 3:24 אֵל אחר another god Exod 34:14 (J); אֵל זר foreign god Ps 44:21; Ps 81:10 אל נכר Deut 32:12; Mal 2:11; Ps 81:10.
4. El proper name אל ברית El Berith Judg 9:46 (= בעל ברית Judg 8:33; Judg 9:4) compare also
6.
   (f) below
5. as characterizing mighty things in nature, חררי אל mighty mountains Ps 36:7 (literally mountains of El); also Ps 50:10 Ol Bi Che see below II. אלף; ארזי אל mighty cedars Ps 80:11 כוכבי אל lofty stars Isa 14:13.

6. God217, the one only and true God of Israel:
   (a) הָאֵל the God, the true God Gen 31:13; Gen 35:1; Gen 35:3; Gen 46:3 (E) 2Sam 22:31; 2Sam 22:33; 2Sam 22:48 (= Ps 18:31; Ps 18:33; Ps 18:48) Ps 68:20; Ps 68:21; Ps 77:15 הָאֵל הַנֶּאֱמָן the faithful God Deut 7:9 האל הגדול the great God Deut 10:17 = Jer 32:18; Dan 9:4; Neh 1:5; Neh 9:32 האל הקדשׁ the holy God Isa 5:17 האל יהוה the God Yahweh Isa 42:5; Ps 85:9.
   (b) אֵלִי my God Exod 15:2 (poetry) Ps 18:3; Ps 22:2 (twice in verse); Ps 22:11; Ps 63:2; Ps 68:25; Ps 89:27; Ps 102:25; Ps 118:28; Ps 140:7; Isa 44:17.
   (c) construct אל בית אל the God of Bethel, who had his seat there Gen 35:7 (E); אל אביך God of thy fathers Gen 49:25 (poetry); אל ישראל Ps 68:36 אל יעקב Ps 146:5 אל השמים the God of heaven Ps 136:26 אל סלעי the God who is my rock Ps 42:10 אל שמחת גילי the God who is the joy of my exultation Ps 43:4 אֵל רֳאִי the God who lets himself be seen Gen 16:13 (J); אל הכבוד the God of glory Ps 29:3 אל דעות the all-knowing God 1Sam 2:3 (poetry); אֵל עוֺלָם the everlasting God Gen 21:33 (J); אל ישועתי Isa 12:2 אל חַיָּ֑י Ps 42:9 אל אמת Ps 31:6 = אל אֱמוּנָה Deut 32:4 (poetry); אל נקמות Ps 94:1 (twice in verse); אל גְּמֻלוֺת Jer 51:56.
   (d) אל אֶחָד one God Mal 2:10 אל גדול a great God Deut 7:21; Ps 77:14; Ps 95:3 אל מסתתר a God hiding himself Isa 45:15 אל רחום a compassionate God Exod 34:6 (J) Deut 4:31; Ps 86:15 אל נשא a forgiving God Ps 99:8 אל חַנּוּן a gracious God Neh 9:31; Jonah 4:2 אל קנא a jealous God Exod 20:5; Exod 34:14 (J) Deut 4:24; Deut 5:9; Deut 6:15; Josh 24:19 (D) = אל קנוא Nah 1:2 אֵל חי a living God Josh 3:10 (J) Hos 2:1; Ps 42:3; Ps 84:3 אל צדיק Isa 45:21 לא אֵל חפץ רשע Ps 5:5 לא אֵל Deut 32:21 (poetry) Isa 31:3; Ezek 28:2 (twice in verse); Ezek 28:9 מי אל כמוךָ Mic 7:18 (compare Exod 15:11).
   (e) God (the only true God, needing no article or predicate to define him) Num 12:13 (E read אַל Di) always in poetry, Job 5:8 + (55 t. Job), Ps 7:12; Ps 10:11; Ps 10:12; Ps 16:1; Ps 17:6; Ps 19:1; Ps 52:3; Ps 52:7; Ps 55:20; Ps 57:3; Ps 73:11; Ps 73:17; Ps 74:8; Ps 77:10; Ps 78:7; Ps 78:8; Ps 78:18; Ps 78:19; Ps 78:34; Ps 78:41; Ps 82:1; Ps 83:2; Ps 90:2; Ps 104:21; Ps 106:14; Ps 106:21; Ps 107:11; Ps 118:27; Ps 139:17; Ps 139:23; Ps 149:6; Ps 150:1; Isa 40:18; Isa 43:12; Isa 45:14; Isa 45:20; Isa 46:9; Lam 3:41; Hos 11:9; Hos 12:1; Mal 1:9 עִמָּנוּאל God is with us, as name of child in prediction Isa 7:14 compare Isa 8:8; Isa 8:10.
   (f) El, a divine name אל אלהי ישראל Gen 33:20 (E); אל אלהי הרוחות Num 16:22 (P = יהוה אלהי הרוחות Num 27:16); אל אלהים יהוה Josh 22:22 (P) Ps 50:1. This is probable also in the ancient poems, Num 23:8; Num 23:19; Num 23:22; Num 23:23; Num 24:4; Num 24:8; Num 24:16; Num 24:23 (poetry Balaam || שדּי & עליון) Deut 32:18; Deut 33:26 (poetry Moses || צוּר & אֱלֹהֵי קֶדֶם) 2Sam 22:32; 2Sam 23:5 (poetry David || צוּר) and in the combinations אל עליון (5 t.; see עליון) & אל שדּי (10 t.; see שַׁדַּי).

7. אֵל strength, power (on connection with I. אָלָה compare Di Gen 1:1; Gen 31:29) in יֶשׁלְֿאֵל יָדִי it is according to the power of my hand = it is in my power, etc. Gen 31:29 (E; followed by לְ + Infinitive); בִּהְיוֺת לְאֵל יָדְ֯יךָ Prov 3:27 (followed by id.); יֶשׁלְֿאֵל יָדָם Mic 2:1 (absolute); negative וְאֵין לְאֵל יָדֶ֑ךָ Deut 28:32 (absolute) = thou shalt be powerless, so Neh 5:5.
**See also BrockZAW xxvi (1906). 29 ff. (meaning 'might' very dubious: renders belongs to the god of (my) hand, supposing phrase a survival, with original meaning forgotten, of ancient idea, found also among other nations, of spirits conferring powers upon particular members of body).


BDB6146 H6005 H410 H5973

BDB6145 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB6147

עִמָּנוּאֵל proper name, masculine Immanuel (with us is God); — ׳י Isa 7:14 van d. H. Baer; עִמָּנוּ אֵל Gi; — name of child, symbolizing presence of ׳י to deliver his people (on interpret. see Commentaries) — עִמָּנוּ אֵל Isa 8:8; Isa 8:10 is declaration of trust and confidence, with us is God ! (compare Ps 46:8; Ps 46:12); see עִם.

god, gods, power, mighty, one, …
ʾēl
strength; as adjective, mighty; especially the Almighty (but used also of any deity)
  • god, god-like one, mighty one
    • mighty men, men of rank, mighty heroes
    • "angels"god, false god, (demons, imaginations)"God, the one true God, Jehovah
    mighty things in nature"strength, power

וּ מַה
וּ
Prefix — connector and (sometimes: but, so, then)
מַה
Particle turns the sentence into a question
Dictionary form: מָה · maw

Particle — Interrogative

In the KJV here: or 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

דְּמ֖וּת
דְּמ֖וּת
Root word likeness, like, similitude, manner, fashion
Dictionary form: דְּמוּת · deh-MOOT

Noun — Common, feminine singular, absolute state

In the KJV here: likeness
and the likeness ×3 likeness ×3 as for the likeness ×2 of the likeness ×2 was the likeness ×2 a likeness ×1 a son in his own likeness ×1 after our likeness ×1
More options
likeness — Most natural modern equivalent; broadly applicable.
resemblance — Emphasizes visible or structural similarity between things.
form — Preferred when shape or outward appearance is in view.
image — Useful when theological or representational sense is strong.
figure — Good for visionary or symbolic contexts, e.g. Ezekiel.
appearance — Use when the observer's perception is being emphasized.

BDB1962 H1823

BDB1961 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB1963

דְּמוּת noun feminine likeness, similitude (mostly late) (according to LagBN 12. 147 ff. mispunct. for דִּמְוַת from דִּמְוָה; according to WeProl. 413. Eng. Tr. 389 an Aramaic Loan-word, but see Di Gen 5:1, DrJPh xi. 216 CheOP. 474) — absolute ׳ד Isa 40:18 + 3 t.; construct ׳ד Gen 5:1 + 16 t.; suffix דְּמוּתוֺ Gen 5:3 דְּמוּתֵנוּ Gen 1:26

1. likeness, similitude, of external appearance, chiefly in Ezek.: Ezek 1:5 (likeness, i.e. something that appeared like) so vEzek 1:26; Ezek 8:2 דְּמוּת כְּמַרְאֵה (אֵשׁׅ (compare Co), Ezek 10:1 כִּסֵּא ׳כְּמַרְאֵה ד; compare also Dan 10:16 כִּדְמוּת בְּנֵי אָדָם i.e. one like the sons of man; similitude, resemblance Ezek 1:5; Ezek 1:10; Ezek 1:16; Ezek 1:22; Ezek 1:26; Ezek 10:10; Ezek 10:21; Ezek 10:22 דְּמוּת כְּמַרְאֵה אָדָם Ezek 1:26 ׳מַרְאֵה ד ׳כְּבוֺד י vEzek 1:28 also 2Kgs 16:10 (pattern of altar), 2Chr 4:3 (images of oxen); of son in likeness of father Gen 5:3 (P); so also of man in likeness of God Gen 1:26 (|| צֶלֶם) Gen 5:1 (both P); compare Isa 40:18 what ׳ד will ye compare to him (אֵל) ? || דִּמָּה q. v.
2. adverbially, in likeness of, like as Isa 13:4 compare Ezek 23:15 & ׳כִּד Ps 58:5. — Ezek 1:13 read וּבֵינוֺת, see בֵּין and J P PetersJBL 1892 40. 42. On דְּמוּת אֶחָד Ezek 1:16; Ezek 10:10 (apparently masculine) compare Thes & Sm who translate the likeness of one had they all four; Co reads אחת.

likeness, like, similitude, manner, fashion
dĕmût
resemblance; concretely, model, shape; adverbially, like
  • (n f) likeness, similitude
  • "(adv) in the likeness of, like as

תַּ֥עַרְכוּ
תַּ֥עַרְכוּ
Root word array, order, value, expert, estimate, …
Dictionary form: עָרַךְ · aw-RAHK

Verb — Qal, Imperfect (Yiqtol), second person masculine plural simple action — "he did" not-yet-complete action — try "he will ___" or "he ___s" the built-in subject is "you (a group)"

In the KJV here: will ye compare unto him
in array ×7 in order ×5 expert ×3 order ×3 and put them in array ×2 and put themselves in array ×2 equal ×2 put themselves in array ×2
More options
arrange — Best general choice; covers ordering troops or objects.
set in order — Slightly more formal; good for ritual or liturgical contexts.
draw up — Preferred for military deployment of forces.
prepare — Use when the focus is readiness rather than sequence.
assess — Best when the sense is valuing or estimating worth.
compare — Use when two things are being set alongside each other.

BDB6381 H6186

BDB6380 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB6382

עָרַךְ verb arrange or set in order (Late Hebrew id.; also roll dough, ᵑ7 עֲרַךְ id.; Phoenician ערכת CIS No. 132, 4 valuation, Bloch, but dubious; Arabic III. contend in battle, , battleground); —

Qal Perfect 3 masculine singular ׳ע Job 32:14; 2Chr 13:3, ׳וְע consecutive Lev 1:12; Lev 6:5 עָרַכְתִּי Num 23:4 +, etc.; Imperfect 3 masculine singular יַעֲרֹךְ Exod 27:21 +, etc.; Imperative עֶרְכָה Job 33:5, עִרְכוּ Jer 46:3; Jer 50:14 Infinitive absolute עָרֹךְ Isa 21:5 construct עֲרֹךָ Judg 20:22 +; Participle active plural עֹרְכִים Isa 65:11, etc.; passive עָרוּךְ Jer 6:23 +, construct עֱרוּךְ Joel 2:5, etc.; — not in D; —
1. a. arrange in order, seven altars Num 23:4, i.e. I have built seven altars in a row (compare בנה vNum 23:1), flax-stalks Josh 2:6 (both J E); especially
  b. set or lay in order, as wood Gen 22:9 (E), 1Kgs 18:33, compare Tophet Isa 30:33; Lev 1:7 offerings Lev 1:8; Lev 1:12; Lev 6:5 lamp(s) Exod 27:21; Lev 24:3; Lev 24:4 (all P), lamp (figurative of dynasty) Ps 132:17 'shew'-bread Exod 40:4; Exod 40:23 (upon [עַל] sacred שֻׁלְחָן both with accusative of congnate meaning with verb), Lev 24:8 (P).
  c. in common life (compare RS Sem i. 189 f., 2nd ed. 200 f.), arrange a table (i.e. dishes in order upon it), שֻׁלְחָן Isa 21:5; Prov 9:2 (figurative of wisdom), Ezek 23:41 (of Jerusalem in figure); Ps 23:5; Ps 78:19 (figurative; subject God); in idolatrous worship Isa 65:11.
  d. arrange a battle, i.e. draw up in battle order, מִלְחָמָה Judg 20:22; 1Sam 17:8 2 Sam 10:8> = 1Chr 19:9; 1Chr 12:37 (van d. H. v.1Chr 12:36), 2Chr 14:9, עֹרְכֵי מִלְחָמָה 1Chr 12:34; 1Chr 12:36 (van d. H. v.1Chr 12:33 v.1Chr 12:35); ׳עֱרוּךְ מ Joel 2:5 + אֵת with, i.e. against Judg 20:20; Gen 14:8, עִם 2Chr 13:8 + לִקְרַאת 1Sam 17:2; 1Chr 19:17 b; מַעֲרָכָה לִקְרַאת ׳ע 1Sam 17:21 לַמִּלְחָמָה עָרוּךְ כְּאִישׁ Jer 6:23; Jer 50:42 object omitted Judg 20:22; Judg 20:23, + לִקְרַאת 1Sam 4:2; 2Sam 10:9; 2Sam 10:10 = 1Chr 19:10; 1Chr 19:11; 2Sam 10:17 + אֶל against Judg 20:30; Jer 50:14; 1Chr 19:17 a, לְ against Jer 50:9>; — Job 6:4 read יַעַכְרוּנִי Di Bu Du.
  e. arrange weapons of army in order for battle Jer 46:3; 1Chr 12:9 (van d. H. v.1Chr 12:8). feminine arrange words (מִלִּין) Job 32:14 ( + אֶל against), so (object omitted) Job 33:5 ( + לְפָנַי), Job 37:19; Ps 5:4 (probably; > of arranging a sacrifice); compare recount things in order, יַעְרְכֶהָ לִי Isa 44:7.
  g. state in order, set forth a legal case Job 13:18; Job 23:4, so probably (object omitted) of God Ps 50:21 ( + לְעֵינֶיךָ), and (passive of בְּרִית) 2Sam 23:5 (compare Dr). — הֲיַעֲרֹךְ שׁועך Job 36:19 is difficult: Di will he set thy cry (שַׁוְעֲךָ) in order? Bi (for לֹא) לוֺ ׳הֲיֵעָרֵךְ שׁ shall thy cry be set in order unto him? (sense good, although Niph`al not found); see al. in Di.
2. a. compare (as result of arranging in order): לֿוֺ׳מַהדְּֿמוּת תַּע Isa 40:18 what likeness will ye compare to him? אֵין עֲרֹךְ אֵלֶיךָ Ps 40:6.
  b. intransitive be comparable, with לְ, Ps 89:7 (|| דָּמָה), with suffix of thing compared Job 28:17; Job 28:19.


BDB6383 H6186

BDB6382 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB6384

[עָרַךְ] verb denominative Hiph`il value (for taxation), tax (from עֵרֶח

2.); — Perfect 3 masculine singular הֶעֶרִיח אֶתהָֿאָרֶץ 2Kgs 23:35 in P, ׳וְהֶע consecutive, with accusative of person Lev 27:8; Lev 27:12 with suffix vLev 27:14 Imperfect. יַעֲרִיח vLev 27:14 suffix יַעֲרִיכֶנּוּ vLev 27:8.

array, order, value, expert, estimate, …
ʿārak
to set in a row, i.e., arrange, put in order (in a very wide variety of applications)
  • to arrange, set or put or lay in order, set in array, prepare, order, ordain, handle, furnish, esteem, equal, direct, compare
    • (Qal)
      • to arrange or set or lay in order, arrange, state in order, set forth (a legal case), set in place
      • "to compare, be comparable
    (Hiphil) to value, tax

לֽ וֹ
לֽ
Preposition to, for
וֹ
Suffix — pronoun his / him / it

Preposition

it ×144 him ×95 them ×83 thee ×59 me ×53 unto him ×35 you ×28 he ×22

The cantillation accents are the Masoretes' punctuation: each group below ends at a pausing accent. Translate a group as one unit.
וְאֶל מִ֖י Tipeha — a lesser break תְּדַמְּי֣וּן אֵ֑ל Etnahta — the verse's main pause — take a breath here וּמַה דְּמ֖וּת Tipeha — a lesser break תַּ֥עַרְכוּ לֽוֹ Silluq — end of the verse

וְאֶל-מִי תְּדַמְּיוּן אֵל וּמַה-דְּמוּת תַּעַרְכוּ לֽוֹ׃
18
To whom then will ye liken God? or what likeness will ye compare unto him?
Cross References

Isaiah 46:5

לְמִי תְדַמְיוּנִי וְתַשְׁווּ וְתַמְשִׁלוּנִי וְנִדְמֶֽה׃
5
To whom will ye liken me, and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be like?

1 Samuel 2:2

אֵין-קָדוֹשׁ כַּֽיהוָה כִּי אֵין בִּלְתֶּךָ וְאֵין צוּר כֵּֽאלֹהֵֽינוּ׃
2
There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God.

Isaiah 40:25

וְאֶל-מִי תְדַמְּיוּנִי וְאֶשְׁוֶה יֹאמַר קָדֽוֹשׁ׃
25
To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One.

Exodus 15:11

מִֽי-כָמֹכָה בָּֽאֵלִם יְהוָה מִי כָּמֹכָה נֶאְדָּר בַּקֹּדֶשׁ נוֹרָא תְהִלֹּת עֹשֵׂה פֶֽלֶא׃
11
Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?

Acts 17:29

γένος οὖν ὑπάρχοντες τοῦ θεοῦ οὐκ ὀφείλομεν νομίζειν χρυσῷ ἀργύρῳ λίθῳ χαράγματι τέχνης καὶ ἐνθυμήσεως ἀνθρώπου τὸ θεῖον εἶναι ὅμοιον
29
Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.

Psalms 89:6

כִּי מִי בַשַּׁחַק יַעֲרֹךְ לַיהוָה יִדְמֶה לַיהוָה בִּבְנֵי אֵלִים׃
6
For who in the heaven can be compared unto the LORD? who among the sons of the mighty can be likened unto the LORD?

Jeremiah 10:6

מֵאֵין כָּמוֹךָ יְהוָה גָּדוֹל אַתָּה וְגָדוֹל שִׁמְךָ בִּגְבוּרָֽה׃
6
Forasmuch as there is none like unto thee, O LORD; thou art great, and thy name is great in might.

Micah 7:18

מִי-אֵל כָּמוֹךָ נֹשֵׂא עָוֹן וְעֹבֵר עַל-פֶּשַׁע לִשְׁאֵרִית נַחֲלָתוֹ לֹא-הֶחֱזִיק לָעַד אַפּוֹ כִּֽי-חָפֵץ חֶסֶד הֽוּא׃
18
Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy.

Job 40:9

וְאִם-זְרוֹעַ כָּאֵל׀ לָךְ וּבְקוֹל כָּמֹהוּ תַרְעֵֽם׃
9
Hast thou an arm like God? or canst thou thunder with a voice like him?

Exodus 8:10

וַיֹּאמֶר לְמָחָר וַיֹּאמֶר כִּדְבָרְךָ לְמַעַן תֵּדַע כִּי-אֵין כַּֽיהוָה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ׃
10
And he said, To morrow. And he said, Be it according to thy word: that thou mayest know that there is none like unto the LORD our God.

Psalms 89:8

יְהוָה׀ אֱלֹהֵי צְבָאוֹת מִֽי-כָֽמוֹךָ חֲסִין׀ יָהּ וֶאֱמֽוּנָתְךָ סְבִיבוֹתֶֽיךָ׃
8
O LORD God of hosts, who is a strong LORD like unto thee? or to thy faithfulness round about thee?

Exodus 9:14

כִּי׀ בַּפַּעַם הַזֹּאת אֲנִי שֹׁלֵחַ אֶת-כָּל-מַגֵּֽפֹתַי אֶֽל-לִבְּךָ וּבַֽעֲבָדֶיךָ וּבְעַמֶּךָ בַּֽעֲבוּר תֵּדַע כִּי אֵין כָּמֹנִי בְּכָל-הָאָֽרֶץ׃
14
For I will at this time send all my plagues upon thine heart, and upon thy servants, and upon thy people; that thou mayest know that there is none like me in all the earth.

Psalms 86:8

אֵין-כָּמוֹךָ בָאֱלֹהִים׀ אֲדֹנָי וְאֵין כְּֽמַעֲשֶֽׂיךָ׃
8
Among the gods there is none like unto thee, O Lord; neither are there any works like unto thy works.

Exodus 20:4

לֹֽא-תַֽעֲשֶׂה לְךָ פֶסֶל׀ וְכָל-תְּמוּנָה אֲשֶׁר בַּשָּׁמַיִם׀ מִמַּעַל וַֽאֲשֶׁר בָּאָרֶץ מִתַָּחַת וַֽאֲשֶׁר בַּמַּיִם׀ מִתַּחַת לָאָֽרֶץ׃
4
Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:

Deuteronomy 33:26

אֵין כָּאֵל יְשֻׁרוּן רֹכֵב שָׁמַיִם בְעֶזְרֶךָ וּבְגַֽאֲוָתוֹ שְׁחָקִֽים׃
26
There is none like unto the God of Jeshurun, who rideth upon the heaven in thy help, and in his excellency on the sky.

Isaiah 46:9

זִכְרוּ רִאשֹׁנוֹת מֵעוֹלָם כִּי אָנֹכִי אֵל וְאֵין עוֹד אֱלֹהִים וְאֶפֶס כָּמֽוֹנִי׃
9
Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me,

Hebrews 1:3

ὃς ὢν ἀπαύγασμα τῆς δόξης καὶ χαρακτὴρ τῆς ὑποστάσεως αὐτοῦ φέρων τε τὰ πάντα τῷ ῥήματι τῆς δυνάμεως αὐτοῦ δι' εαυτοῦ καθαρισμὸν ποιησάμενος τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν ημῶν ἐκάθισεν ἐν δεξιᾷ τῆς μεγαλωσύνης ἐν ὑψηλοῖς
3
Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

Colossians 1:15

ὅς ἐστιν εἰκὼν τοῦ θεοῦ τοῦ ἀοράτου πρωτότοκος πάσης κτίσεως
15
Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:

Psalms 113:5

מִי כַּיהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ הַֽמַּגְבִּיהִי לָשָֽׁבֶת׃
5
Who is like unto the LORD our God, who dwelleth on high,

Jeremiah 10:16

לֹֽא-כְאֵלֶּה חֵלֶק יַעֲקֹב כִּֽי-יוֹצֵר הַכֹּל הוּא וְיִשְׂרָאֵל שֵׁבֶט נַֽחֲלָתוֹ יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת שְׁמֽוֹ׃
16
The portion of Jacob is not like them: for he is the former of all things; and Israel is the rod of his inheritance: The LORD of hosts is his name.