וּ/מַֽה
𐤅/𐤌𐤄
umah
And what
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.
H4100
Proverbs 31:2 · Word #3
Lexicon H4100
| Lemma | מָה |
| Lemma (Paleo) | 𐤌𐤄 |
| Transliteration | mâh |
| Strong's | H4100 |
| In-context | And what |
Morphology HC/Ti
All morphology codes
| Part of Speech | T — Particle — Function word |
| Subtype | i — Interrogative — Interrogative |
SIBI-P1 H4100-13
and what?
| Root | מה (m-h) |
| Core Meanings | interrogation, inquiry, whatness, questioning of manner, reason, or identity |
| Semantic Range | what?, how?, why?, for what purpose?, whatever, that which; used in direct questions, rhetorical questions, exclamations, and relative or indefinite expressions when combined with other particles. |
| Conceptual Significance | מָה gives voice to human inquiry, whether seeking information, expressing astonishment, or questioning purpose. In Scripture it often frames profound theological reflection—"What is man?"—highlighting human limitation before divine wisdom and inviting contemplation of identity, purpose, and the acts of Elohim. |
| Morphological Notes | HC/Ti: conjunction (וּ) + interrogative particle (מָה). Indeclinable particle with prefixed conjunction; no gender, number, or person marking. |
| Rendering Rationale | The form consists of the conjunction וּ ("and") prefixed to the interrogative particle מָה ("what?"). The rendering "and what?" preserves both the conjunctive force of the prefixed וּ and the direct interrogative sense inherent in the particle, without adding gender or number distinctions that are not present in the Hebrew. |
AI-generated (openai/gpt-5.2-chat-latest)
Words from Root מה (interrogation, inquiry, whatness, questioning of manner, reason, or identity)
| SILEX Code | Transliteration | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
H4100-01 |
bamah | with what? |
H4100-02 |
bameh | in what? |
H4100-03 |
bemeh | in what? |
H4100-04 |
kamah | what? |
H4100-05 |
kameh | as-what-amount? |
H4101-01 |
kemah | as-what? |
H4100-06 |
lamah | for-what? |
H4100-07 |
lameh | for what? |
H4100-08 |
lema | for-what? |
H4101-02 |
lemah | for what? |
H4100-09 |
mah | what? |
H4478-01 |
man | What-thing |
H4100-10 |
meh | what? |
|
mhm | what are they? |
|
mlkhm | What is it to you (men)? |
H4100-11 |
my | what? |
H4100-12 |
shalamah | for-what? |
H4479-01 |
uleman | and to whom? |
H4479-02 |
uman | and who? |
|
umanekha | and your what-is-it |
H4100-14 |
umeh | and what? |
H4100-15 |
uvamah | and in-what? |
H4100-16 |
uvameh | and in what? |
H4100-17 |
vameh | in what? |
H4100-18 |
vekhamah | and how much? |
H4100-19 |
velamah | and for-what? |
H4100-20 |
velameh | and to 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 |