335. ay

Lexicon

ay: Where?; Alas!

Original Word: אַי
Part of Speech: interrogative adverb
Transliteration: ay
Pronunciation: ah-ee
Phonetic Spelling: (ah'ee)
Definition: Where?; Alas!
Meaning: where?, how?

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

how, what, whence, where, whether, which way

Perhaps from 'aiyn; where? Hence how? -- how, what, whence, where, whether, which (way).

see HEBREW 'aiyn

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
a prim. adverb
Definition
where?
NASB Translation
how* (2), origin* (1), what* (3), where (28), where* (1), whether (1), which* (2), why (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

[אַי] (, in Syriac in compounds as how ? W^{SG 120-2}; compare Assyrian aiu, who? what?).

1. interrogative adverb where?

a. so with suffix אַיֶּ֫כָּה [a verbal form, see Sta^{§ 355 b. 3}] Genesis 3:9; אַיּוֺ Exodus 2:20, poetry where is he? = he is nowhere Job 14:10; Job 20:7 (Jeremiah 37:19 read Qr אַיֵּה); אַיָּם Nahum 3:17 (in indirect question) and the place thereof is not known, אַיָּם where they are. Idiomatically, with the suffix anticipating the noun to which it refers (Ew^{§ 309 c}, compare Dr^{Sm. i. 21, 14}) 2 Kings 19:13 אַיּוֺ מֶלֶחחֲֿמָת where is he, the king of Hamath? ("" Isaiah 37:13 אַיֵּה) Isaiah 19:12; Micah 7:10. When used alone, or with other adverbs (see below), it is contracted to אֵי Genesis 4:9; Deuteronomy 32:37; 1 Samuel 26:16; Proverbs 31:4 Qr. (The more usual form is אַיֵּה.)

b. strengthened by the enclitic זֶה (see זֶה, 4 אֵיזֶֿה₁₅ where, then ? (never of a person, except Esther 7:5 (late), & only once 1 Kings 22:24 [but see 2 Chronicles 18:23] with a verb) Isaiah 50:1; Isaiah 66:1 (twice in verse); Jeremiah 6:16, in indirect question 1 Samuel 9:18; in the phrase אֵיזֶֿה הַדֶּרֶח ֗֗֗ where is the way (that) . . . ? 1 Kings 13:12; 2 Kings 3:8; 2Chronicles 18:23; Job 38:19 a. 24.

2 prefixed to other adverbs or pron., אֵי imparts to them an interrogative force: thus

a. אֵיזֶֿה which (of two or more)? only Ecclesiastes 2:3; Ecclesiastes 11:6 (late), in indirect question

b. אֵימִֿזֶּה whence ? (מִזֶּה = hence; see below זֶה) Genesis 16:8 אֵימִֿזֶּה בָאתְ 1 Samuel 30:13; 2 Samuel 1:3,13; Job 2:2; in indirect question Judges 13:6; 1 Samuel 25:11; with substantive annexed 2 Samuel 15:2 אֵימִֿזֶּה עִיר אַתָּה literally whence, as regards city, art thou ? Jonah 1:8.

c. אֵילָֿזֹאת Jeremiah 5:7 upon what ground ? (ᵑ9 super quo? how? With other adverbs, אֵי coalesces into one word, see אֵיכָה, אֵיכָכָה, אֵיפֹה.

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: This word is a primitive particle in Hebrew.

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • The Greek equivalent for expressing similar interrogative concepts includes Strong's Greek Number 4226 (ποῦ, pou), which is used to ask "where?" in the New Testament. This Greek term serves a similar function in questioning location or state, as seen in passages like Matthew 2:2, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews?"

Usage: The term is used in the Hebrew Bible to inquire about the location or condition of something or someone. It often appears in contexts where the speaker is seeking information or expressing a sense of loss or absence.

Context: • The Hebrew particle אַי (ay) is primarily used in the Old Testament to pose questions regarding location or state. It is a versatile term that can express a range of inquiries from the physical location of an object or person to more abstract questions about circumstances or conditions.
• In Genesis 3:9, God uses אַי when He calls to Adam, "Where are you?" This usage highlights the relational aspect of the term, as it is not merely a request for physical location but also an inquiry into Adam's spiritual state.
• In Job 14:10, the term is used in a rhetorical question about the finality of death: "But a man dies and is laid low; he breathes his last, and where is he?" This reflects the existential and philosophical depth that the term can convey.
• The word is also found in poetic and prophetic literature, often used to emphasize the absence or disappearance of something once present, as seen in Isaiah 33:18: "Where is he who counts? Where is he who weighs? Where is he who counts the towers?"
• The usage of אַי in these contexts underscores its function as a tool for expressing inquiry, loss, and sometimes lamentation, making it a significant term in the Hebrew lexicon for understanding human interaction with the divine and the world.

Forms and Transliterations

אֵ֖י אֵ֣י אֵ֤י אֵ֥י אֵֽי־ אֵי־ אַ֭יֵּה אַיֶּֽכָּה׃ אַיָּֽם׃ אַיָּם֙ אַיּ֤וֹ אַיּֽוֹ׃ אי אי־ איה איו איו׃ איכה׃ אים אים׃ וְאֵ֥י וְאֵֽי־ וְאֵי־ ואי ואי־ ’ay·yām ’ay·yêh ’ay·yek·kāh ’ay·yōw ’ayyām ’ayyêh ’ayyekkāh ’ayyōw ’ê ’ê- aiYam Aiyeh aiYekkah aiYo ei veEi wə’ê wə’ê- wə·’ê wə·’ê-

Englishman's Concordance

Genesis 3:9
HEB: וַיֹּ֥אמֶר ל֖וֹ אַיֶּֽכָּה׃
NAS: and said to him, Where are you?
KJV: and said unto him, Where [art] thou?
INT: Adam and said Where

Genesis 4:9
HEB: אֶל־ קַ֔יִן אֵ֖י הֶ֣בֶל אָחִ֑יךָ
NAS: to Cain, Where is Abel
KJV: unto Cain, Where [is] Abel
INT: to Cain Where is Abel my brother's

Genesis 16:8
HEB: שִׁפְחַ֥ת שָׂרַ֛י אֵֽי־ מִזֶּ֥ה בָ֖את
NAS: maid, where have you come
KJV: maid, whence camest thou?
INT: maid Sarai's whence have you come

Deuteronomy 32:37
HEB: וְאָמַ֖ר אֵ֣י אֱלֹהֵ֑ימוֹ צ֖וּר
NAS: And He will say, Where are their gods,
INT: will say Where are their gods the rock

Judges 13:6
HEB: וְלֹ֤א שְׁאִלְתִּ֙יהוּ֙ אֵֽי־ מִזֶּ֣ה ה֔וּא
NAS: And I did not ask him where he [came] from, nor
INT: nor ask where he he

1 Samuel 9:18
HEB: נָּ֣א לִ֔י אֵי־ זֶ֖ה בֵּ֥ית
NAS: Please tell me where the seer's house
KJV: Tell me, I pray thee, where the seer's
INT: tell Please where he house

1 Samuel 25:11
HEB: לֹ֣א יָדַ֔עְתִּי אֵ֥י מִזֶּ֖ה הֵֽמָּה׃
INT: not know how he like

1 Samuel 26:16
HEB: וְעַתָּ֣ה ׀ רְאֵ֗ה אֵֽי־ חֲנִ֥ית הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ
NAS: And now, see where the king's spear
INT: and now see where spear the king's

1 Samuel 30:13
HEB: לְֽמִי־ אַ֔תָּה וְאֵ֥י מִזֶּ֖ה אָ֑תָּה
NAS: to him, To whom do you belong? And where are you from? And he said,
INT: to whom you and where he and he

2 Samuel 1:3
HEB: לוֹ֙ דָּוִ֔ד אֵ֥י מִזֶּ֖ה תָּב֑וֹא
NAS: said to him, From where do you come?
INT: said David where he comest

2 Samuel 1:13
HEB: הַמַּגִּ֣יד ל֔וֹ אֵ֥י מִזֶּ֖ה אָ֑תָּה
NAS: who told him, Where are you from? And he answered,
INT: the young told Where he and he

2 Samuel 15:2
HEB: אֵלָיו֙ וַיֹּ֗אמֶר אֵֽי־ מִזֶּ֥ה עִיר֙
KJV: unto him, and said, Of what city
INT: to him say of what he city

1 Kings 13:12
HEB: אֲלֵהֶם֙ אֲבִיהֶ֔ם אֵֽי־ זֶ֥ה הַדֶּ֖רֶךְ
NAS: said to them, Which way
KJV: had seen what way
INT: about their father what he way

1 Kings 22:24
HEB: הַלֶּ֑חִי וַיֹּ֕אמֶר אֵי־ זֶ֨ה עָבַ֧ר
NAS: and said, How did the Spirit
KJV: and said, Which way went
INT: the cheek and said way he pass

2 Kings 3:8
HEB: וַיֹּ֕אמֶר אֵי־ זֶ֥ה הַדֶּ֖רֶךְ
NAS: He said, Which way shall we go
INT: said how he way

2 Kings 19:13
HEB: אַיּ֤וֹ מֶֽלֶךְ־ חֲמָת֙
NAS: Where is the king of Hamath,
INT: Where is the king of Hamath

2 Chronicles 18:23
HEB: הַלֶּ֑חִי וַיֹּ֗אמֶר אֵ֣י זֶ֤ה הַדֶּ֙רֶךְ֙
NAS: and said, How did the Spirit
KJV: and said, Which way
INT: the cheek and said Which he way

Esther 7:5
HEB: ה֥וּא זֶה֙ וְאֵֽי־ זֶ֣ה ה֔וּא
NAS: Who is he, and where is he, who
INT: he is he and where he is he

Job 2:2
HEB: אֶל־ הַשָּׂטָ֔ן אֵ֥י מִזֶּ֖ה תָּבֹ֑א
NAS: to Satan, Where have you come
KJV: unto Satan, From whence comest
INT: to Satan Where have you come

Job 20:7
HEB: רֹ֝אָ֗יו יֹאמְר֥וּ אַיּֽוֹ׃
NAS: him will say, 'Where is he?'
KJV: him shall say, Where [is] he?
INT: have seen will say Where

Job 28:12
HEB: מֵאַ֣יִן תִּמָּצֵ֑א וְאֵ֥י זֶ֝ה מְק֣וֹם
NAS: be found? And where is the place
INT: where be found how he is the place

Job 28:20
HEB: מֵאַ֣יִן תָּב֑וֹא וְאֵ֥י זֶ֝֗ה מְק֣וֹם
NAS: come from? And where is the place
INT: Where come and where he is the place

Job 35:10
HEB: וְֽלֹא־ אָמַ֗ר אַ֭יֵּה אֱל֣וֹהַּ עֹשָׂ֑י
INT: no says how is God my Maker

Job 38:19
HEB: אֵי־ זֶ֣ה הַ֭דֶּרֶךְ
NAS: Where is the way to the dwelling
INT: Where he is the way

Job 38:19
HEB: א֑וֹר וְ֝חֹ֗שֶׁךְ אֵי־ זֶ֥ה מְקֹמֽוֹ׃
NAS: And darkness, where is its place,
INT: light darkness where is its place

36 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 335
36 Occurrences

’ay·yām — 2 Occ.
’ay·yêh — 1 Occ.
’ay·yek·kāh — 1 Occ.
’ay·yōw — 2 Occ.
’ê — 24 Occ.
wə·’ê — 6 Occ.