מִי

𐤌𐤉

mîy

H4310 particle

SILEX Entry

Root uncertain to question about identity, inquire about person, interrogate

Definition

An interrogative pronoun primarily used to ask about the identity or character of persons ('who?'), sometimes extended idiomatically to inquire about certain objects or parties when personification or rhetorical force is present. May function in both direct and indirect questions, and occasionally in indefinite or relative constructions to mean 'whoever' or 'anyone.' Rarely used in exclamatory expressions to evoke a wish or strong rhetorical question.

Semantic Range

who?; who is?; whoever; anyone; someone; he who; (occasionally) what? in personifying contexts; rhetorical or indirect interrogative pronoun

Root / Etymology

Root/Etymology: Root uncertain. The word מִי is a longstanding interrogative pronoun in Northwest Semitic languages, with close cognates in Ugaritic ('my'), Aramaic ('manu'), and Akkadian ('manu'), used for persons. It is considered etymologically distinct from מָה ('what?'), which designates non-personal entities. As מִי is not derived from a typical triliteral root, its etymology is usually listed as a frozen or primitive pronoun.

Historical & Contextual Notes

Historical & Contextual Notes: מִי occurs throughout all periods of biblical Hebrew, from early poetry (e.g., Exodus 15:11, 'Who is like you, YHWH, among the gods?') to late biblical narrative and post-exilic literature. Its primary usage remains stable: the interrogation of personal identity or character. In poetry, prophets, and wisdom literature, מִי can be used rhetorically to highlight divine uniqueness or the limits of human knowledge (Job 38:5, 'Who determined its measurements?'). On occasion, personification or idiomatic use allows מִי to refer indirectly to non-personal things (as in Isaiah 40:13, 'Who has measured the spirit of YHWH?'). The word may appear compounded or with suffixed forms (e.g., מִי־זֶה 'who is this'). Standard English versions generally render מִי as 'who,' but sometimes use 'whoever,' 'anyone,' or in exclamatory questions, 'what' or 'how.' The distinction between מִי (persons) and מָה (things) is usually maintained in Hebrew; blending occurs only in contexts of rhetorical emphasis or personification. מִי is rarely used for ethnic, geographic, or religious group identification in itself but may occur in contexts seeking the ancestral or tribal identity of individuals among Israelites, Judahites, or other groups.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

an interrogative pronoun of persons, as מָה is of things,; who? (occasionally, by a peculiar idiom, of things); also (indefinitely) whoever; often used in oblique construction with prefix or suffix; any (man), [idiom] he, [idiom] him, [phrase] O that! what, which, who(-m, -se, -soever), [phrase] would to God.

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Root Family

מי (m-y (primitive pronoun)) — question about identity, inquiry about a person, interrogative of persons

Word Forms

8 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H4310-04 מִ֚י mi HTi who who? 333
H4310-07 וּ/מִ֨י umi HC/Ti and who and who? 64
H4310-03 לְ/מִי lemi HR/Ti to whom to whom? 17
H4310-06 וּ/לְ/מִ֖י ulemi HC/R/Ti and for whom and to whom? 3
H4310-05 מִ/מִּ֖י mimi HR/Ti from whom from who? 3
H4310-02 בְּ/שֶׁ/לְּ/מִ֛י beshelemi HR/Tr/R/Ti on account of whom on account of who? 1
H4310-01 בְּ/מִ֔י bemi HR/Ti By whom? in whom? 1
H4310-08 וָ/מִ֖י vami HC/Ti and who and who? 1

Occurrences in Scripture

423 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H4310-04 Genesis 3:11 מִ֚י mi HTi who who?
H4310-04 Genesis 19:12 מִֽי mi HTi who who?
H4310-04 Genesis 21:7 מִ֤י mi HTi Who who?
H4310-04 Genesis 21:26 מִ֥י mi HTi who who?
H4310-04 Genesis 24:23 מִ֣י mi HTi whose who?
H4310-04 Genesis 24:47 מִ֣י mi HTi whose who?
H4310-04 Genesis 24:65 מִֽי mi HTi who who?
H4310-04 Genesis 27:18 מִ֥י mi HTi Who who?
H4310-04 Genesis 27:32 מִי mi HTi who who?
H4310-04 Genesis 27:33 מִֽי mi HTi who who?