Strong's Lexicon: H4100 מָה מַה מָ מַ מֶה

Definition / Gloss

Strong's Number:	H4100
Word:	מָה מַה מָ מַ מֶה
Part of Speech:	interrogative
Etymology:	a primitive particle
Language:	Hebrew
Occurrences:	750
Transliteration:	mah
Phonetic Spelling/Pronunciation:	maw (or mah {mah} or ma {maw}; or ma {mah}; also meh {meh};) p/i.
Meaning:	1. (properly, interrogative) what? (including how? why? when?) 2. (also, exclamation) what! (including how!) 3. (indefinitely) what (including whatever, and even relatively, that which) 4. often used with prefixes in various adverbial or conjunctive senses
KJV Renderings:	how (long, oft, (- soever)), (no-)thing, what (end, good, purpose, thing), whereby(-fore, -in, -to, -with), (for) why.

Use Strong's responsibly

Strong's is an index and starting point, not the final meaning of a word. Do not build doctrine from a gloss, root, or number. Test meaning by sentence, grammar, authorial usage, context, and the passage argument.

Read: Using Strong's Responsibly

Brown-Driver-Briggs Enhanced

BDB4521

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

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 [untranscribed source text 2887], מָא, Arabic [untranscribed source text 2888]; probably apocope from a longer form with n or nt, Assyrian minû (Dl^{HWB 417 f.}), Ethiopic [untranscribed source text 2889] ment; compare W^{CG 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, Judg 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: W^{AG. 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 [untranscribed source text 2890]: W^{AG. 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, Job 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 [untranscribed source text 2891]

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, Esth 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), Eccl 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, [untranscribed source text 2892] being there used constantly in the sense of not (compare Walker^{Hebraica. xii. 244 ff.}; Kö^{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, 2Sam 18:23 (compare Job 13:13 וְיַעֲבֹר עָלַי מָה), v Job 13:29 וְלֹא יָדַעְתִּי מָה (compare Prov 9:13), Prov 25:8. compare Kö^{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 [untranscribed source text 2893], Syriac [untranscribed source text 2894]); 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. ? Gen 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 CIS^{i.
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 [untranscribed source text 2895], 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).

f. 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 Job 13:13); עלמֿהזֿה Neh 2:4 . In an indirect question, Job 10:2 הוֺדִיעֻנִי עַל מַהתְּֿרִיבֻנִי, Esth 4:5 לָדַעַת מַהזֶּֿה וְעַלמַֿהוֶּֿה.

BDB8356

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, Ldzb^{371, 445}; Assyrian sha; Phoenician אש (regularly), also sometimes ש (Ldzb^{227 f.}): according to Ges Ew^{§ 181 b} Ol^{p. 439} Sta^{§ 176 e, abbreviated} from אֲשֶׁר; more probably (Sperling [see אֲשֶׁר], Kö^{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 Judg 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), Eccl 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 Kmp^Kau 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, Song 2:2; Song 3:2 הֲוֵי מתפלל בשׁלומהּ שׁלמֿלכות; compare [untranscribed source text 5357] in Syriac, as Luke 6:42 [untranscribed source text 5358] [untranscribed source text 5359] my words, Nö^{§ 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 ? (|| Jonah 1:8 בַּאֲשֶׁר לְמִי; probably a gloss), Jonah 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 (Cooke^{N. Semitic Inscr.
320}) = ἐπειδή).

[שֹׁא] see [ שׁוֺא ].

BDB9652

מָה (מָא Ezra 6:8) pronoun interrogative and indefinite what? (Biblical Hebrew מָה ; Nabataean מה; Zinjirli מ; ᵑ7 מא; Syriac [untranscribed source text 6068]; Arabic [untranscribed source text 6069]: compare W^{CG 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 Cooke^{320, 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 [untranscribed source text 6070] lest: and see מָה 4 d b, p. 554:a).

c. עלמֿה wherefore? Dan 2:15.

Other Resources

Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament
R. Laird Harris, Gleason L. Archer, and Bruce K. Waltke

Englishman's Hebrew Concordance

המה (hah-mah’)

Psalms 46:6

KJV: The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted.

EHCC: (7). The heathen raged, '

Jeremiah 5:22

KJV: Fear ye not me? saith the Lord: will ye not tremble at my presence, which have placed the sand for the bound of the sea by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass it: and though the waves thereof toss themselves, yet can they not prevail; though they roar, yet can they not pass over it?

EHCC: though they roar, yet can they not

Jeremiah 31:20

KJV: Is Ephraim my dear son? is he a pleasant child? for since I spake against him, I do earnestly remember him still: therefore my bowels are troubled for him; I will surely have mercy upon him, saith the Lord.are…: Heb. sound

EHCC: my bowels ure troubled (marg. sound)

Jeremiah 51:55

KJV: Because the Lord hath spoiled Babylon, and destroyed out of her the great voice; when her waves do roar like great waters, a noise of their voice is uttered:

EHCC: when her waves do roar

Zechariah 9:15

KJV: The Lord of hosts shall defend them; and they shall devour, and subdue with sling stones; and they shall drink, and make a noise as through wine; and they shall be filled like bowls, and as the corners of the altar.with…: or, the stones of the slingbe…: or, fill both the bowls, etc

EHCC: make a noise as through wine;

Isaiah 17:12

KJV: Woe to the multitude of many people, which make a noise like the noise of the seas; and to the rushing of nations, that make a rushing like the rushing of mighty waters!multitude: or, noisemighty: or, many

EHCC: like the noise of the seas;

Psalms 39:6

KJV: Surely every man walketh in a vain shew: surely they are disquieted in vain: he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them.a vain…: Heb. an image

EHCC: (7). surely they are disquieted in vain;

Psalms 46:3

KJV: Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.

EHCC: (4).the waters thereof roar

Psalms 55:17

KJV: Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.

EHCC: (18). will I pray, and cry aloud :

Psalms 59:6

KJV: They return at evening: they make a noise like a dog, and go round about the city.

EHCC: (7). they make @ noise like a dog,

Psalms 77:3

KJV: I remembered God, and was troubled: I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah.

EHCC: (4).1 remembered God, and was troubled:

Psalms 83:2

KJV: For, lo, thine enemies make a tumult: and they that hate thee have lifted up the head.

EHCC: (3).thine enemies make a tumult :

Isaiah 16:11

KJV: Wherefore my bowels shall sound like an harp for Moab, and mine inward parts for Kir–haresh.

EHCC: my bowels shall sound like an harp

Isaiah 17:12

KJV: Woe to the multitude of many people, which make a noise like the noise of the seas; and to the rushing of nations, that make a rushing like the rushing of mighty waters!multitude: or, noisemighty: or, many

EHCC: make a noise like the noise of the 8083 ;

Isaiah 51:15

KJV: But I am the Lord thy God, that divided the sea, whose waves roared: The Lord of hosts is his name.

EHCC: whose waves rvared:

Isaiah 59:11

KJV: We roar all like bears, and mourn sore like doves: we look for judgment, but there is none; for salvation, but it is far off from us.

EHCC: We roar all like bears,

Jeremiah 6:23

KJV: They shall lay hold on bow and spear; they are cruel, and have no mercy; their voice roareth like the sea; and they ride upon horses, set in array as men for war against thee, O daughter of Zion.

EHCC: their voice roareth like the sea ;

Jeremiah 81:35

EHCC: when the waves thereof roar ;

Jeremiah 48:36

KJV: Therefore mine heart shall sound for Moab like pipes, and mine heart shall sound like pipes for the men of Kir–heres: because the riches that he hath gotten are perished.

EHCC: mine heart shall sound for Mab

Jeremiah 50:42

KJV: They shall hold the bow and the lance: they are cruel, and will not shew mercy: their voice shall roar like the sea, and they shall ride upon horses, every one put in array, like a man to the battle, against thee, O daughter of Babylon.

EHCC: their voice shall roar like the sea,

Proverbs 1:21

KJV: She crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city she uttereth her words, saying,

EHCC: crieth in the chief place of concourse,

Proverbs 7:11

KJV: (She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house:

EHCC: She (is) א and stubborn ;

Proverbs 9:13

KJV: A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knoweth nothing.

EHCC: A foolish woman (is) clamorous:

Strong's Lexicon

H4100 — מָה מַה מָ מַ מֶה