2982. lama

Strong's Lexicon

lama: Why

Original Word: λαμά
Part of Speech: Aramaic Transliterated Word (Indeclinable); Hebrew
Transliteration: lama
Pronunciation: lah-MAH
Phonetic Spelling: (lam-ah')
Definition: Why
Meaning: (Hebrew), why.

Word Origin: Derived from the Aramaic word לְמָה (lemá), which is a combination of the preposition לְ (le, "to" or "for") and the interrogative מָה (mah, "what" or "why").

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: - H410 (אֵל, El): God

- H4100 (מָה, mah): What, why

- H5800 (עָזַב, azab): To leave, forsake

Usage: The Greek word "λαμά" (lama) is used in the New Testament as an interjection meaning "why." It is most famously known from the cry of Jesus on the cross, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" which translates to "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" (Matthew 27:46, BSB). This expression is a direct quotation from Psalm 22:1, highlighting a moment of profound anguish and fulfillment of prophecy.

Cultural and Historical Background: In the context of the New Testament, "λαμά" is part of a phrase spoken by Jesus in Aramaic, the common language of the Jewish people in Palestine during the first century. Aramaic was widely spoken among Jews, and many of Jesus' teachings and sayings were originally delivered in this language. The use of "λαμά" in the Gospels underscores the authenticity and historical context of Jesus' crucifixion, as well as His deep connection to the Hebrew Scriptures.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
of Hebrew origin mah with preposition prefix lamed (for, to)
Definition
why
NASB Translation
lama (2).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 2982: λαμά

λαμά (R G (on the accent see Tdf. Proleg. 102)) in Matthew 27:46 and λαμμᾶ (R G) Mark 15:34 (the Hebrew word לָמָּה from Psalm 21:1 ()), why; in the former passage Lachmann reads λῆμα, in the latter λεμα, Tdf. λεμα in both, Tr WH λεμα in Matt. but λαμά in Mark; the form in ἤ or ἐ reproduces the Chaldean לְמָא or לְמָה; on the remarkable diversity of spelling in the manuscripts cf. Tdf. on each passage (WH on Matthew, the passage cited), and Fritzsche on Mark, p. 693.

STRONGS NT 2982: λαμμᾶλαμμᾶ, see λαμά.

STRONGS NT 2982: λεμα [λεμα, see λαμά.]

STRONGS NT 2982: λῆμα [λῆμα., see λαμά.]

STRONGS NT 2982: λιμάλιμά, so Tdf. edition 7, for λαμά, which see.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

lama, why

Or lamma lam-mah'; of Hebrew origin (mah with prepositional prefix); lama (i.e. Why) -- lama.

see HEBREW mah

Forms and Transliterations

λαμα λαμὰ λεμα λεμὰ lema lemà

Englishman's Concordance

Matthew 27:46 Aram
GRK: ηλι ηλι λεμὰ σαβαχθανι τοῦτ'
NAS: ELI, LAMA SABACHTHANI?
KJV: Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that
INT: Eli Eli lama sabachthani that

Mark 15:34 Aram
GRK: Ἐλωί ἐλωί λεμα σαβαχθανι ὅ
NAS: ELOI, ELOI, LAMA SABACHTHANI? which
KJV: Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which
INT: Eloi Eloi lama sabachthani which

Strong's Greek 2982
2 Occurrences

λεμὰ — 2 Occ.