מָה
𐤌𐤄
mâh
H4100 particle
SILEX Entry
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
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.
Root Family
uncertain (Baleadan) — uncertain
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H1002 | בִּירָה | the citadel |
| H105 | אֲגַרְטָל | bowls of |
| H1081 | בַּלְאֲדָן | Baladan |
| H1085 | בִּלְדַּד | Bildad |
| H1095 | בֵּלְטְשַׁאצַּר | Belteshatsar |
Word Forms
20 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4100-09 |
מַה | mah | HTi |
what | what? | what | 389 |
H4100-06 |
לָ֛/מָּה | lamah | HR/Ti |
why | for what? | why | 142 |
H4100-13 |
וּ/מַה | umah | HC/Ti |
and what | and what? | and what | 68 |
H4100-10 |
מֶ֣ה | meh | HTi |
what | what? | what | 59 |
H4100-19 |
וְ/לָ/מָה֩ | velamah | HC/R/Ti |
and why | and for what? | and why | 32 |
H4100-02 |
בַּ/מֶּ֖ה | bameh | HR/Ti |
in what | in what? | in what | 14 |
H4100-14 |
וּ/מֶ֖ה | umeh | HC/Ti |
and what | and what? | and what | 12 |
H4100-04 |
כַּ/מָּ֗ה | kamah | HR/Ti |
how long | what? | how many | 9 |
H4100-01 |
בַּ/מָּ֗ה | bamah | HR/Ti |
In what | with what? | with what | 7 |
H4100-16 |
וּ/בַ/מֶּ֗ה | uvameh | HC/R/Ti |
and with what | and with what? | and with what | 4 |
Occurrences in Scripture
750 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4100-09 |
Genesis 2:19 | מַה | mah | HTi |
what | what? | what? |
H4100-09 |
Genesis 3:13 | מַה | mah | HTi |
What | what? | what |
H4100-06 |
Genesis 4:6 | לָ֚/מָּה | lamah | HR/Ti |
Why | for what? | why |
H4100-19 |
Genesis 4:6 | וְ/לָ֖/מָּה | velamah | HC/R/Ti |
and why | and for what? | and why |
H4100-10 |
Genesis 4:10 | מֶ֣ה | meh | HTi |
What | what? | what |
H4100-09 |
Genesis 12:18 | מַה | mah | HTi |
What | what? | what |
H4100-06 |
Genesis 12:18 | לָ֚/מָּה | lamah | HR/Ti |
Why | for what? | for what |
H4100-06 |
Genesis 12:19 | לָ/מָ֤ה | lamah | HR/Ti |
Why | for what? | why |
H4100-09 |
Genesis 15:2 | מַה | mah | HTi |
What | what? | what |
H4100-01 |
Genesis 15:8 | בַּ/מָּ֥ה | bamah | HR/Ti |
how | with what? | with what |
H4100-06 |
Genesis 18:13 | לָ֣/מָּה | lamah | HR/Ti |
Why | for what? | why |
H4100-10 |
Genesis 20:9 | מֶֽה | meh | HTi |
what | what? | what |
H4100-14 |
Genesis 20:9 | וּ/מֶֽה | umeh | HC/Ti |
and what | and what? | and what |
H4100-09 |
Genesis 20:10 | מָ֣ה | mah | HTi |
what | what? | what |
H4100-09 |
Genesis 21:17 | מַה | mah | HTi |
what | what? | what? |
H4100-09 |
Genesis 21:29 | מָ֣ה | mah | HTi |
what | what? | what |
H4100-09 |
Genesis 23:15 | מַה | mah | HTi |
what | what? | what? |
H4100-06 |
Genesis 24:31 | לָ֤/מָּה | lamah | HR/Ti |
Why | for what? | why |
H4100-06 |
Genesis 25:22 | לָ֥/מָּה | lamah | HR/Ti |
why | for what? | why |
H4100-19 |
Genesis 25:32 | וְ/לָ/מָּה | velamah | HC/R/Ti |
and what profit/what good | and for what? | and for what? |
H4100-09 |
Genesis 26:10 | מַה | mah | HTi |
what | what? | what |
H4100-09 |
Genesis 27:20 | מַה | mah | HTi |
How | what? | how |
H4100-09 |
Genesis 27:37 | מָ֥ה | mah | HTi |
what | what? | what |
H4100-06 |
Genesis 27:45 | לָ/מָ֥ה | lamah | HR/Ti |
why | for what? | why |
H4100-06 |
Genesis 27:46 | לָ֥/מָּה | lamah | HR/Ti |
what good | for what? | for what? |
H4100-09 |
Genesis 28:17 | מַה | mah | HTi |
How | what? | how |
H4100-09 |
Genesis 29:15 | מַה | mah | HTi |
what | what? | what |
H4100-09 |
Genesis 29:25 | מַה | mah | HTi |
What | what? | what? |
H4100-19 |
Genesis 29:25 | וְ/לָ֖/מָּה | velamah | HC/R/Ti |
and why | and for what? | and why |
H4100-09 |
Genesis 30:31 | מָ֣ה | mah | HTi |
What | what? | what |
H4100-10 |
Genesis 31:26 | מֶ֣ה | meh | HTi |
What | what? | what |
H4100-06 |
Genesis 31:27 | לָ֤/מָּה | lamah | HR/Ti |
Why | for what? | why |
H4100-06 |
Genesis 31:30 | לָ֥/מָּה | lamah | HR/Ti |
why | for what? | why |
H4100-09 |
Genesis 31:32 | מָ֥ה | mah | HTi |
what | what? | what? |
H4100-09 |
Genesis 31:36 | מַה | mah | HTi |
what | what? | what |
H4100-09 |
Genesis 31:36 | מַ֣ה | mah-2 | HTi |
what | what? | what |
H4100-09 |
Genesis 31:37 | מַה | mah | HTi |
what | what? | what |
H4100-09 |
Genesis 31:43 | מָֽה | mah | HTi |
what | what? | what |
H4100-09 |
Genesis 32:28 | מַה | mah | HTi |
What | what? | what |
H4100-06 |
Genesis 32:30 | לָ֥/מָּה | lamah | HR/Ti |
why | for what? | why |
H4100-06 |
Genesis 33:15 | לָ֣/מָּה | lamah | HR/Ti |
why | for what? | why |
H4100-09 |
Genesis 37:10 | מָ֛ה | mah | HTi |
what | what? | what |
H4100-09 |
Genesis 37:15 | מַה | mah | HTi |
What | what? | what |
H4100-09 |
Genesis 37:20 | מַה | mah | HTi |
what | what? | what |
H4100-09 |
Genesis 37:26 | מַה | mah | HTi |
What | what? | what? |
H4100-09 |
Genesis 38:16 | מַה | mah | HTi |
what | what? | what? |
H4100-09 |
Genesis 38:18 | מָ֣ה | mah | HTi |
what | what? | what is |
H4100-09 |
Genesis 38:29 | מַה | mah | HTi |
what | what? | what |
H4100-09 |
Genesis 39:8 | מַה | mah | HTi |
what | what? | what |
H4100-06 |
Genesis 42:1 | לָ֖/מָּה | lamah | HR/Ti |
why | for what? | why |