לְ/מַ
𐤋/𐤌
lema
in
or מַה; or מָ; or מַ; also מֶה; a primitive particle; 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; how (long, oft, (-soever)), (no-) thing, what (end, good, purpose, thing), whereby(-fore, -in, -to, -with), (for) why.
2 Chronicles 30:3 · Word #11
Lexicon H4100
| Lemma | מָה |
| Lemma (Paleo) | 𐤌𐤄 |
| Transliteration | mâh |
| Strong's | H4100 |
| In-context | in |
Morphology HR/Ti
All morphology codes
| Part of Speech | T — Particle — Function word |
| Subtype | i — Interrogative — Interrogative |
SIBI-P1 H4100-08
for-what?
| Root | מה (m-h) |
| Core Meanings | what, interrogation, inquiry, specification, indefiniteness |
| Semantic Range | for what?, why?, to what end?, for what purpose?, sometimes expressing protest or astonishment ("why indeed?", "for what reason?") |
| Conceptual Significance | This interrogative form introduces questions of purpose, motive, and meaning in biblical discourse. It often frames theological reflection, lament, or moral challenge, pressing the issue of divine or human intent and highlighting Israel’s dialogical relationship with יהוה. |
| Morphological Notes | Composed of the inseparable preposition לְ ("to, for") plus the interrogative particle מָה (HR/Ti). One occurrence reflects an Aramaic-prefixed form (AR/Pfxcs), but functionally equivalent: a prepositional prefix attached to the interrogative particle. |
| Rendering Rationale | The base lexeme מָה is the interrogative particle "what?". With the prefixed preposition לְ ("to/for"), the form לְמָה literally means "for what?", preserving both the core interrogative force of the root and the prefixed prepositional nuance. As an interrogative particle (HR/Ti), it carries no gender or number, so the rendering reflects its function rather than inflection. |
AI-generated (openai/gpt-5.2-chat-latest)
Words from Root מה (what, interrogation, inquiry, specification, indefiniteness)
| SILEX Code | Transliteration | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
H4100-01 |
bamah | with what? |
H3964-01 |
bamah | with what? |
H1117-01 |
bamah | with what? |
Word Usage (750 occurrences of H4100)
| Location | Form | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Genesis 2:19 | מַה | mah | what |
| Genesis 3:13 | מַה | mah | What |
| Genesis 4:6 | לָ֚/מָּה | lamah | Why |