BDB360
[אַי] ( [untranscribed source text 167], [untranscribed source text 168] in Syriac in compounds as [untranscribed source text 169] how ? WSG 120-2; compare Assyrian aiu , who? what?).
1.
adverb
interrogative
where?
a. so with suffix אַיֶּ֫כָּה [a verbal form, see Sta§ 355 b. 3] Gen 3:9
אַיּוֺ
Exod 2:20,
poetry
where is he? = he is nowhere Job 14:10; Job 20:7 (Jer 37:19 read
Qr
אַיֵּה); אַיָּם
Nah 3:17 (in
indirect question) and the place thereof is not known, אַיָּם
where they are. Idiomatically, with the suffix anticipating the noun to which it refers (
Ew§ 309 c, compare DrSm.
i.
21, 14) 2Kgs 19:13
אַיּוֺ מֶלֶחחֲֿמָת
where is he, the king of Hamath? (|| Isa 37:13
אַיֵּה) Isa 19:12; Mic 7:10. When used alone, or with other adverbs (see below), it is
contracted to
אֵי
Gen 4:9; Deut 32:37;
1Sam 26:16;
Prov 31:4
Qr
. (The more usual form is אַיֵּה.)
b. strengthened by the
enclitic
זֶה (see
זֶה
, 4
אֵיזֶֿה15
where, then ? (never of a person, except Esth 7:5 (late), & only once
1Kgs 22:24
[but see 2Chr
18:23
] with a verb) Isa 50:1; Isa 66:1 (twice in verse); Jer 6:16, in indirect question 1Sam 9:18 in the phrase
אֵיזֶֿה
הַדֶּרֶח ֗֗֗
where is the way (that) . . . ? 1Kgs 13:12; 2Kgs 3:8; 2Chr 18:23; Job 38:19 a. 24.
2. prefixed to other adverbs or pronouns, אֵי imparts to them an interrogative
force:
thus
a.
אֵיזֶֿה
which (of two or more)? only Eccl 2:3; Eccl 11:6 (late), in indirect question
b.
אֵימִֿזֶּה
whence ? (מִזֶּה = hence; see below זֶה
) Gen 16:8
אֵימִֿזֶּה
בָאתְ
1Sam 30:13;
2Sam 1:3; 2Sam 1:13;
Job 2:2 in
indirect
question Judg 13:6
;
1Sam 25:11
with
substantive annexed
2Sam 15:2
אֵימִֿזֶּה
עִיר אַתָּה literally whence, as regards city, art thou ? Jonah 1:8.
c.
אֵילָֿזֹאת
Jer 5:7
upon what ground ? (
ᵑ9
super quo? how? With other adverbs, אֵי coalesces into one
word,
see
אֵיכָה
, אֵיכָכָה, אֵיפֹה.