אֵ֣י — Proverbs 31:4 Hebrew Word Study

אֵ֣י

𐤀𐤉

where

perhaps from אַיִן; where? hence how?; how, what, whence, where, whether, which (way).

H335

Proverbs 31:4 · Word #10

Lexicon `H335`

Part of Speech	`T` — Particle — Function word
Subtype	`i` — Interrogative — Interrogative

where?

Root	אי (ʾ-y)
Core Meanings	absence, non-existence, where?, whence?
Semantic Range	where?, whence?, how?, in what place?, where is? (often implying absence or loss)
Conceptual Significance	Often used in rhetorical questions highlighting loss, divine judgment, abandonment, or the apparent absence of help or power (e.g., "Where is...?" concerning idols or enemies). It can underscore themes of absence, accountability, and the search for what has vanished or failed.
Morphological Notes	Interrogative particle (HTi); indeclinable; no gender, number, or person distinctions.
Rendering Rationale	The particle אַי functions as an interrogative asking about the location or whereabouts of someone or something. Its likely connection to אַיִן ("non-existence") preserves the sense of seeking what is absent or not immediately present, captured concisely by "where?" The form is an indeclinable interrogative particle, so no gender, number, or person marking is reflected.

AI-generated (openai/gpt-5.2-chat-latest)

Location	Form	Transliteration	Meaning
Genesis 3:9	אַיֶּֽ/כָּה	ayekah	Where are you?
Genesis 4:9	אֵ֖י	ey	Where
Genesis 16:8	אֵֽי	ey	where
Deuteronomy 32:37	אֵ֣י	ey	Where
Judges 13:6	אֵֽי	ey	where
1 Samuel 9:18	אֵי	ey	where
1 Samuel 25:11	אֵ֥י	ey	where
1 Samuel 26:16	אֵֽי	ey	where
1 Samuel 30:13	וְ/אֵ֥י	veey	And where
2 Samuel 1:3	אֵ֥י	ey	Where
2 Samuel 1:13	אֵ֥י	ey	Where
2 Samuel 15:2	אֵֽי	ey	Of what
1 Kings 13:12	אֵֽי	ey	where
1 Kings 22:24	אֵי	ey	which way
2 Kings 3:8	אֵי	ey	By what
2 Kings 19:13	אַיּ֤/וֹ	ayo	Where
Isaiah 19:12	אַיָּ/ם֙	ayam	Where are they
Isaiah 50:1	אֵ֣י	ey	Where
Isaiah 66:1	אֵי	ey	Where
Isaiah 66:1	וְ/אֵי	veey	And where
Jeremiah 5:7	אֵ֤י	ey	How
Jeremiah 6:16	אֵי	ey	where
Jeremiah 37:19	ו/אי/ו	vyv	and-where-[are]-they
Jonah 1:8	וְ/אֵֽי	veey	and what
Nahum 3:17	אַיָּֽ/ם	ayam	where are they
Proverbs 31:4	אֵ֣י	ey	where
Job 2:2	אֵ֥י	ey	From where
Job 20:7	אַיּֽ/וֹ	ayo	Where is he?
Job 28:12	וְ/אֵ֥י	veey	and where
Job 28:20	וְ/אֵ֥י	veey	and where
Job 35:10	אַ֭יֵּה	ayeh	Where
Job 38:19	אֵי	ey	where
Job 38:19	אֵי	ey-2	where
Job 38:24	אֵי	ey	Where
Ecclesiastes 2:3	אֵי	ey
Ecclesiastes 11:6	אֵ֣י	ey	whether
Esther 7:5	וְ/אֵֽי	veey	and where
2 Chronicles 18:23	אֵ֣י	ey	which way

אֵ֣י (ʼay) — perhaps from אַיִן; where? hence how?; how, what, whence, where, whether, which (way).

Word	Meaning	Language
kai	Where	Lozi