The meaning of “עַי”
Understanding ʻAy reveals the original theological depth often simplified in translation.
or (feminine) עַיָּא ʻAyâʼ (ah-yaw'); (Nehemiah 11:31), or עַיָּת ʻAyâth (ah-yawth'); (Isaiah 10:28), for עִי Ai, Aija, ...
עַי
or (feminine) עַיָּא ʻAyâʼ (ah-yaw'); (Nehemiah 11:31), or עַיָּת ʻAyâth (ah-yawth'); (Isaiah 10:28), for עִי Ai, Aija, Aijath, Hai. - § Ai or Aija or Aiath or Hai = "heap of ruins" - Ai, Aja or Ajath, a place in Palestine 1) a city lying east of Bethel and beside Bethaven near Jericho and the second city taken on the invasion of Canaan 2) a city of the Ammonites on the east of the Jordan and apparently attached to Heshbon
Occurrences in the Bible
| Reference | Text | |
|---|---|---|
| Genesis 13:3 | “And he went on his journeys from the south even to Beth–el, unto the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Beth–el and Hai;” Word: עַי (ʻAy) | |
| Joshua 8:17 | “And there was not a man left in Ai or Beth–el, that went not out after Israel: and they left the city open, and pursued after Israel.” Word: עַי (ʻAy) | |
| Ezra 2:28 | “The men of Beth–el and Ai, two hundred twenty and three.” Word: עַי (ʻAy) | |
| Nehemiah 11:31 | “The children also of Benjamin from Geba dwelt at Michmash, and Aija, and Beth–el, and in their villages,” Word: עַי (ʻAy) | |
| Isaiah 10:28 | “He is come to Aiath, he is passed to Migron; at Michmash he hath laid up his carriages:” Word: עַי (ʻAy) |