The meaning of “מָה”
Understanding mâh reveals the original theological depth often simplified in translation.
or מַה mah (mah); or מָ mâ (maw); or מַ ma (mah); also מֶה meh (meh); a primitive particle how (long, oft, (-soever)), (...
מָה
or מַה mah (mah); or מָ mâ (maw); or מַ ma (mah); also מֶה meh (meh); a primitive particle how (long, oft, (-soever)), (no-) thing, what (end, good, purpose, thing), whereby(-fore, -in, -to, -with), (for) why. - 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 interr pron 1) what, how, of what kind 1a) (interrogative) 1a1) what? 1a2) of what kind 1a3) what? (rhetorical) 1a4) whatsoever, whatever, what 1b) (adverb) 1b1) how, how now 1b2) why 1b3) how! (exclamation) 1c) (with prep) 1c1) wherein?, whereby?, wherewith?, by what means? 1c2) because of what? 1c3) the like of what? 1c3a) how much?, how many?, how often? 1c3b) for how long? 1c4) for what reason?, why?, to what purpose? 1c5) until when?, how long?, upon what?, wherefore? indef pron 2) anything, aught, what may
Occurrences in the Bible
| Reference | Text | |
|---|---|---|
| Genesis 27:45 | “Until thy brother’s anger turn away from thee, and he forget that which thou hast done to him: then I will send, and fetch thee from thence: why should I be deprived also of you both in one day?” Word: מָה (mâh) | |
| Judges 8:1 | “And the men of Ephraim said unto him, Why hast thou served us thus, that thou calledst us not, when thou wentest to fight with the Midianites? And they did chide with him sharply.” Word: מָה (mâh) | |
| Job 30:2 | “Yea, whereto might the strength of their hands profit me, in whom old age was perished?” Word: מָה (mâh) | |
| Song of Solomon 1:7 | “Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest, where thou makest thy flock to rest at noon: for why should I be as one that turneth aside by the flocks of thy companions?” Word: מָה (mâh) | |
| Amos 5:18 | “Woe unto you that desire the day of the Lord! to what end is it for you? the day of the Lord is darkness, and not light.” Word: מָה (mâh) |
Usage Statistics
Related Words
Cross-referenced Strong's numbers with semantic or etymological connections.