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מָה

𐤌𐤄

mâh

H4100 particle

SILEX Entry

Root uncertain to question, to seek specification, to inquire

Definition

An interrogative particle used principally to ask about the nature, identity, quantity, or quality of entities or actions, often translated as 'what?' or 'how?'. Also functions in exclamations and indefinite or relative senses (e.g., 'whatever', 'that which'). The precise meaning is heavily context-dependent, ranging from direct questions ('what is this?'), to expressions of astonishment ('how mighty!'), to indirect questions or statements ('whatever you do').

Semantic Range

what?, how?, why?, what!, how!, whatever, that which, something, nothing, in indirect or relative clauses, with prefixed prepositions (e.g., whereby, wherefore, wherewith), as part of adverbial or conjunctive constructions

Root / Etymology

The form מָה (or מַה, מֶה, מָ) is considered a primitive interrogative particle with no clear, reconstructible root; it is an ancient Semitic pronoun preserved in cognate languages (e.g., Ugaritic mh, Aramaic מָא, Arabic mā).

Historical & Contextual Notes

מָה functions as the standard interrogative particle in Biblical Hebrew, frequently introducing direct and indirect questions, and found with both animate and inanimate referents. Its various forms are partially determined by subsequent letters (for euphony), and it regularly appears with prefixes (e.g., לָמָּה 'why', מַדּוּעַ 'why', מֶה־זֶּה 'what is this', כַּמָּה 'how much'). In exclamatory constructions it communicates wonder, surprise, or emphasis. It occasionally assumes an indefinite or relative function ('whatever', 'that which'). In post-exilic and later Hebrew, מָה continues as the basic term for 'what', while usage in Aramaic and other dialects further highlights its broad Semitic pedigree. Translation traditions often conflate what, how, and why, but in Hebrew, context determines nuance and grammatical role. It is distinct from מִי ('who?'), which refers specifically to personal identity.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

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.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

מה (m-h) — questioning, specification, inquiry

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1099 בְּלִימָה what?
H1117 בָּמָה in what?
H4101 מָה for what?
H4478 מָן the what-is-it
H4479 מָן what-substance

Word Forms

20 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H4100-09 מַה mah HTi what what? 389
H4100-06 לָ֚/מָּה lamah HR/Ti why for what? 142
H4100-13 וּ/מַה umah HC/Ti and what and what? 68
H4100-10 מֶ֣ה meh HTi what what? 59
H4100-19 וְ/לָ֖/מָּה velamah HC/R/Ti and why and for what? 32
H4100-02 בַּ/מֶּ֣ה bameh HR/Ti in what in what? 14
H4100-14 וּ/מֶֽה umeh HC/Ti and what and what? 12
H4100-04 כַּ/מָּ֕ה kamah HR/Ti how long what? 9
H4100-01 בַּ/מָּ֥ה bamah HR/Ti In what with what? 7
H4100-16 וּ/בַ/מֶּ֣ה uvameh HC/R/Ti and with what and with what? 4

Occurrences in Scripture

750 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H4100-09 Genesis 2:19 מַה mah HTi what what?
H4100-09 Genesis 3:13 מַה mah HTi What what?
H4100-06 Genesis 4:6 לָ֚/מָּה lamah HR/Ti Why for what?
H4100-19 Genesis 4:6 וְ/לָ֖/מָּה velamah HC/R/Ti and why and for what?
H4100-10 Genesis 4:10 מֶ֣ה meh HTi What what?
H4100-09 Genesis 12:18 מַה mah HTi What what?
H4100-06 Genesis 12:18 לָ֚/מָּה lamah HR/Ti Why for what?
H4100-06 Genesis 12:19 לָ/מָ֤ה lamah HR/Ti Why for what?
H4100-09 Genesis 15:2 מַה mah HTi What what?
H4100-01 Genesis 15:8 בַּ/מָּ֥ה bamah HR/Ti how with what?
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