994. biy
Lexicon
biy: "Oh!" or "Alas!"

Original Word: בִּי
Part of Speech: particle of entreaty
Transliteration: biy
Pronunciation: bee
Phonetic Spelling: (bee)
Definition: "Oh!" or "Alas!"
Meaning: oh that!, with leave, if it please

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
alas, O, oh

Perhaps from ba'ah (in the sense of asking); properly, a request; used only adverbially (always with "my Lord"); Oh that!; with leave, or if it please -- alas, O, oh.

see HEBREW ba'ah

Brown-Driver-Briggs
בִּי particle of entreaty, craving permission to address a superior, always followed by אֲדֹנִי (or אֲדֹנָי), and always (except Joshua 7:8) at the beginning of a speech, I pray, excuse me — (not improbable from √ ביי; so that בִּי אֲדֹנִי will be literally a supplication of (i.e. to my lord! compare Wetzst l.c., who compares the Arabic literally a prayer to my lord! a standing formula = Pray, excuse me, used exactly as בֹּי אֲדֹנִי. According to other contracted from בְּעִי, from בָּעָה to ask, and so literally a petition! compare Aramaic בְּבָעוּ, (e.g. Genesis 19:18 ᵑ7, Numbers 12:13 ᵑ6); but ע is not often elided in Hebrew) — Genesis 44:18 בִּי אֲדֹנִי יְדַבֶּרנָֿא I pray, my lord, let thy servant speak, etc.; so Numbers 12:11; Judges 6:13; 1 Samuel 1:26; 1 Kings 3:17,26, and following by a plural subject Genesis 43:20 יָרֹד יָרַדְנוּ ׳בִּי א Oh, my lord, we came down, etc.; בִּי אֲדֹנָי (to God) Exodus 4:10,13; Joshua 7:8; Judges 6:15; Judges 13:8 (ᵐ5 in Pentateuch and Joshua δέομαι, δεόμεθα: in other books absurdly ἐν ἐμοί).

Topical Lexicon
Word Origin: Derived from the preposition בְּ (be), meaning "in" or "with," combined with the pronoun י (i), meaning "me" or "my."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: There is no direct equivalent in the Greek Strong's Concordance for the Hebrew interjection בִּי, as it is a specific Hebrew idiomatic expression. However, similar expressions of entreaty or polite request can be found in Greek, often using terms like δέομαι (deomai, Strong's Greek 1189) or παρακαλέω (parakaleo, Strong's Greek 3870), which convey a sense of asking or beseeching.

Usage: This expression is used in the Hebrew Bible to convey a sense of earnest entreaty or polite request. It is often found in contexts where a speaker is appealing to another for permission or favor.

Context: The Hebrew interjection בִּי appears in several Old Testament passages, serving as a linguistic tool to express a humble or earnest request. It is typically used in dialogue, where a speaker seeks to gain the favor or consent of another party. The term is often translated into English as "oh that!" or "if it please," capturing the speaker's desire for a favorable response. For example, in Genesis 23:13, Abraham uses this expression when negotiating with Ephron for the purchase of a burial site for Sarah: "And he spoke to Ephron in their hearing, saying, 'If it please you, please listen to me. I will pay you the price of the field. Accept it from me, so that I may bury my dead there.'" (BSB). This usage highlights the respectful and deferential tone that בִּי conveys in biblical narratives.

Forms and Transliterations
בִּ֖י בִּ֣י בי bi bî
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Genesis 43:20
HEB: וַיֹּאמְר֖וּ בִּ֣י אֲדֹנִ֑י יָרֹ֥ד
NAS: and said, Oh, my lord, we indeed
KJV: And said, O sir, we came indeed
INT: and said Oh my lord indeed

Genesis 44:18
HEB: יְהוּדָ֗ה וַיֹּאמֶר֮ בִּ֣י אֲדֹנִי֒ יְדַבֶּר־
NAS: him, and said, Oh my lord,
KJV: unto him, and said, Oh my lord,
INT: Judah and said Oh my lord speak

Exodus 4:10
HEB: אֶל־ יְהוָה֮ בִּ֣י אֲדֹנָי֒ לֹא֩
NAS: to the LORD, Please, Lord,
KJV: said unto the LORD, O my Lord, I
INT: to the LORD Please Lord have never

Exodus 4:13
HEB: וַיֹּ֖אמֶר בִּ֣י אֲדֹנָ֑י שְֽׁלַֽח־
NAS: But he said, Please, Lord, now
KJV: And he said, O my Lord, send,
INT: said Please Lord send

Numbers 12:11
HEB: אֶל־ מֹשֶׁ֑ה בִּ֣י אֲדֹנִ֔י אַל־
NAS: said to Moses, Oh, my lord, I beg
KJV: unto Moses, Alas, my lord,
INT: to Moses Oh my lord nay

Joshua 7:8
HEB: בִּ֖י אֲדֹנָ֑י מָ֣ה
NAS: O Lord, what
KJV: O Lord, what shall I say,
INT: O Lord what

Judges 6:13
HEB: אֵלָ֤יו גִּדְעוֹן֙ בִּ֣י אֲדֹנִ֔י וְיֵ֤שׁ
NAS: said to him, O my lord,
KJV: said unto him, Oh my Lord,
INT: then Gideon O my lord if

Judges 6:15
HEB: וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֵלָיו֙ בִּ֣י אֲדֹנָ֔י בַּמָּ֥ה
NAS: He said to Him, O Lord, how
KJV: And he said unto him, Oh my Lord,
INT: said to him O Lord how

Judges 13:8
HEB: יְהוָ֖ה וַיֹּאמַ֑ר בִּ֣י אֲדוֹנָ֔י אִ֣ישׁ
NAS: the LORD and said, O Lord, please
KJV: the LORD, and said, O my Lord, let
INT: the LORD and said O Lord the man

1 Samuel 1:26
HEB: וַתֹּ֙אמֶר֙ בִּ֣י אֲדֹנִ֔י חֵ֥י
NAS: She said, Oh, my lord! As your soul
KJV: And she said, Oh my lord,
INT: said Oh my lord lives

1 Kings 3:17
HEB: הָאִשָּׁ֤ה הָֽאַחַת֙ בִּ֣י אֲדֹנִ֔י אֲנִי֙
NAS: woman said, Oh, my lord, this
KJV: said, O my lord,
INT: woman the one Oh my lord I

1 Kings 3:26
HEB: בְּנָהּ֒ וַתֹּ֣אמֶר ׀ בִּ֣י אֲדֹנִ֗י תְּנוּ־
NAS: her son and said, Oh, my lord, give
KJV: and she said, O my lord,
INT: her son and said Oh my lord give

12 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 994
12 Occurrences


bî — 12 Occ.















993
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