Lexical Summary
mah or ma- or meh: what, why, how
Original Word:מָה
Part of Speech:pronoun interrogative; indefinite; feminine
Transliteration:mah
Pronunciation:mah
Phonetic Spelling:(maw)
KJV: how (long, oft, (-soever)), (no-)thing, what (end, good, purpose, thing), whereby(-fore, -in, -to, -with), (for) why
NASB:what, why, how, whatever, how many, where, anything
Word Origin:[a primitive particle]
1. (properly, interrogative) what? (including how? why? when?)
2. (also, exclamation) what! (including how!)
3. (indefinitely) what (including whatever, and even relatively, that which)
4. often used with prefixes in various adverbial or conjunctive senses
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
how long, oft, what end, good, purpose, thing,
Or mah {mah}; or ma {maw}; or ma {mah}; also meh {meh}; a primitive particle; 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 -- how (long, oft, (- soever)), (no-)thing, what (end, good, purpose, thing), whereby(-fore, -in, -to, -with), (for) why.
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origina prim. interrogative and indefinite particle
Definitionwhat? how? anything
NASB Translationanything (2), how (93), how long (2), how many (3), how many* (2), how often (2), how* (1), if* (1), many (1), nothing* (1), reason* (2), what (405), whatever (5), whatever* (2), where (3), where* (1), which (1), which* (3), who (2), why (196), why* (14).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
, rarely (e.g.
Genesis 31:43;
Joshua 22:16;
Judges 8:1), , , , (
Exodus 4:2;
Isaiah 3:15;
Malachi 1:13;
1 Chronicles 15:13; 2Chronicles 30:3), (only in
Ezekiel 8:6 Kt., Qr. ) — on the distinction in the use of these forms, see Ges
§ 37 —
and
; used of things, as of persons (Aramaic
, , Arabic
; probably apocope from a longer form withn ornt, Assyrianminû (DlHWB 417 f.), Ethiopic
ment; compare WCG 123 ff. K?:ii. 368): —
what ?
Genesis 4:10what hast thou done ?Genesis 15:2what wilt thou give me ?Exodus 3:13 ,Exodus 12:26;Exodus 13:14 and so very often:Zechariah 5:6;Zechariah 1:9;Jeremiah 1:11;Amos 7:8 +; JlAmos 4:14 ;Judges 18:8 see Commentaries,Judges 18:24what have I still ?Isaiah 21:11what (= how much) of the night (is past) ? =as what ? (qualem ?)Haggai 2:3 (compareAmos 7:2); to express surprise,Job 9:12 who shall say to him,what doest thou ?Job 22:13;Ecclesiastes 8:4;Isaiah 45:9,10; followed by ,Genesis 20:10what hadst thou in view, that thou hast done, etc.?Genesis 31:36;Exodus 16:7 andwhat are we, that . . .?Exodus 32:21;Numbers 22:28;Habakkuk 2:18, etc. Note in particular — (a) is followed sometimes by a substantive in apposition (against Arabic usage, which does not permit this: WAG. ii. § 170), so that it becomes virtually an adjective:what profit . . .?Genesis 37:26;Psalm 30:10;Malachi 3:14;Isaiah 40:8 ,Malachi 1:13;Psalm 89:48 (inverted for ) remember (of)what (short) duration I am,Ecclesiastes 1:3;Ecclesiastes 5:10;Ecclesiastes 5:15;Ecclesiastes 6:8,11 (Da§ 8, R. 2 K?:iii. 23 f.); as exclamation,Psalm 89:48bJob 26:14. And with the substantive idiomatically at the end (in Arabic preceded then by
: WAG. ii. § 49. 7),1 Samuel 26:18 and what is there in my hand, evil ?1 Samuel 20:10 (see
),2 Samuel 19:29;2 Samuel 24:13;1 Kings 12:16;Jeremiah 2:5 ,Ecclesiastes 11:2;Esther 6:3. (b)what now ?1 Samuel 10:11, contractedExodus 4:2 ( );Genesis 3:13 ;Genesis 12:18;Genesis 29:25 ; similarlyGenesis 26:10;Genesis 42:28 +, eitherwhat, now, hast thou done ? orwhat is this that thou hast done ? (see
). (c)what to thee ? i.e.what aileth thee ? orwhat dost thou want ?Genesis 21:17 ;Joshua 15:18;2 Samuel 14:5;1 Kings 1:16;2 Kings 6:28;Ezekiel 18:2 (accents); followed by ,Judges 18:23 ,Genesis 20:9 (compare1 Samuel 11:5 ),Isaiah 22:1 (compare , ;),Psalm 114:5; withoutIsaiah 3:15 (compare Qor 57:8; 57:10); with a participle,Jonah 1:6what is it to thee as a sleeper ? (accusative: Da§ 70 a cites Qor 74:50),Ezekiel 18:2 (if be treated as strengthening ). (d) () =what hast thou (have I) here ?Judges 18:3;1 Kings 19:9;Isaiah 22:16;Isaiah 52:5. (e) in the Genitive,Jeremiah 8:9 , and wisdom ofwhat (= what kind of wisdom) is theirs ?Numbers 23:3 (see below ).
indirect question, as after ,Genesis 2:19 to seewhat he would call it,Genesis 37:20to what his dreams will come,Numbers 13:19f.;Habakkuk 2:1;Genesis 31:32;Genesis 39:8;Exodus 2:4 ,Exodus 16:15;Exodus 32:1;Job 34:4;Numbers 9:8 (comparePsalm 85:9),2 Samuel 17:5;Numbers 15:34;1 Kings 3:5;2 Kings 2:9;Job 6:24;Job 23:5:Numbers 13:18 ,Psalm 39:5;Isaiah 41:22 . — In some such cases it approximates in meaning to the simple rel., asJeremiah 7:17;Jeremiah 33:24;Micah 6:5,8;Job 34:33.
=of what kind ? (Germanwas für ein ... ?), with an insinuation of blame, or reproach, or contempt:Genesis 37:10what is this dream which thou hast dreamt?Genesis 44:15;Joshua 22:16;Judges 8:1;Judges 15:11;Judges 20:12;1 Samuel 29:3 ,1 Kings 9:13 ,2 Kings 9:22;2 Kings 18:19.
is often used in questions to which the answerlittle, ornothing, is expected, and it thus becomes equivalent to arhetorical negative (compare ,
c): (a)Genesis 23:15 land worth 400 shekels...,what is it ? (i.e. it is something quite insignificant),Genesis 27:37;Judges 8:3 ,Judges 14:18;Hosea 9:5;Hosea 10:3;Psalm 30:10;Psalm 56:5;Job 15:9;Job 16:6;Job 21:21;Job 22:13,17;Lamentations 2:13;Songs 5:9what is thy beloved (more) than a(nother) beloved ? "" ,1 Kings 12:16 (2 Samuel 20:1 ),Job 16:6. (b) followed by ( ),Genesis 20:9;Genesis 37:26what profit (is it) that we should slay him ?Exodus 16:7;Numbers 16:11;Habakkuk 2:18;2 Kings 8:13what is thy servant, the dog,that he should do, etc.? and often in poetry, asPsalm 8:5what is manthat thou rememberest him ?Job 6:11 ,Job 6:11; bJob 7:17;Job 15:12f;Job 15:14;Job 16:3;Job 21:15 + (compare
b). Hence, (c) in the formula of repudiation, or emphatic denial, ()what is there (common) to me and to thee ? i.e. what have I to do with thee ?Judges 11:12;2 Samuel 16:10 ,2 Samuel 19:23;1 Kings 17:18;2 Kings 3:13; 2Chronicles 35:21; compareJoshua 22:24;2 Kings 9:18,19; rather differently, without ,Jeremiah 2:18what is there to theewith reference to the way to Egypt ?Hosea 14:9 , comparePsalm 50:16 (); with ,Jeremiah 23:28beside (orin comparison with) the wheat ? compare () ; Matthew 8:29; Mark 5:7; John 2:4; and Arabic
=whatsoever (compare
): (a)Judges 9:48 , literallywhat do you see (that) I have done ? hasten, and do like me (=whatever ye see, etc.),2 Samuel 21:4 ,Job 6:24; with the apodosis introduced by ,1 Samuel 20:4 ;Esther 5:3 ,Esther 5:6;Esther 7:2;Esther 9:12; hence in the late and strange idiom of Chronicles, it sinks twice almost to the rel.what,1 Chronicles 15:13 because ye were not (employed) forwhat was at first (on the former occasion), J. etc., 2 Chronicles 30:3 according towhat was sufficient (= in sufficient numbers), compareEsther 9:26. (b) - (late: frequently in Mishna, etc.),whatever, what (compare ,
end):Ecclesiastes 1:9 , literallywhat is that which hath been ? it is that which shall be (=whatever hath been, it is that which shall be),Ecclesiastes 1:9;Ecclesiastes 3:15,22;Ecclesiastes 6:10;Ecclesiastes 7:24;Ecclesiastes 8:7;Ecclesiastes 10:14.
interrogative: (a)how ? especially in expressing what is regarded as an impossibility,Genesis 44:16how shall we justify ourselves ?Numbers 23:8 (twice in verse);1 Samuel 10:27 ,2 Kings 4:43;Job 9:2;Job 25:4 (twice in verse);Job 31:1 I made a covenant with my eyes, andhow should I look upon a maid ? ( ,non),Proverbs 20:24 ; in an indirect question,Exodus 10:26;Psalm 39:5 ; ,how, now ? (in surprise),Genesis 27:20 ,Judges 18:24;1 Kings 21:5;2 Kings 1:5. (b)why ?Exodus 14:15 ,Exodus 17:2 (twice in verse);2 Kings 6:33;2 Kings 7:3;Psalm 42:6 ,Job 15:12 +;Songs 8:4 I adjure you ,why will ye stir up, etc.? (i.e.do not: ""Songs 2:7;Songs 3:5). — The transition from the interrogative to the negative, to which in Hebrew there is an approximate (see above: especially1 Kings 12:16;Job 31:1;Songs 8:4), is in Arabic complete,
being there used constantly in the sense ofnot (compare WalkerHebraica. xii. 244 ff.; Köiii, 478).
exclamation, how ...! with adjectives and verbs,Genesis 28:17how dreadful is this place!Genesis 38:29;Numbers 24:5 ,Isaiah 52:7;Psalm 3:2 ,Psalm 8:2 ,Psalm 21:2;Psalm 36:8, etc.,Songs 4:10 (twice in verse);Songs 7:2; ironically,2 Samuel 6:20;Jeremiah 2:33,36;Job 26:2,3.
indefinite pronounanything, aught,Numbers 23:3 and he will shew me the matter ofaught, and I will tell thee (= if he shew me... I will, etc., Dr§ 149),1 Samuel 19:3 = and if I see aught, I will, etc.,1 Samuel 20:10 if perchance thy father shall answer theeaught that is harsh (order,
a),2 Samuel 18:22 but let there happenwhat may (literallyaught), I will run,2 Samuel 18:23 (compareJob 13:13 ),Job 13:29 (compareProverbs 9:13),Proverbs 25:8. compare Köiii. § 65. With prepositions:
9,19wherein ?Exodus 22:26;Judges 16:5;1 Samuel 14:38 (indirect question; We ); and so according to the various senses of :whereby ?Genesis 15:8;Exodus 33:16;Malachi 1:2,6,7;Malachi 2:17;Malachi 3:7-8;wherewith ?1 Samuel 6:2;2 Samuel 21:3;Micah 6:6;by what means ?Judges 16:5 ;at what (worth) ?Isaiah 2:22;for what ?2Chronicles 7:21 (""1 Kings 9:8 ).
Haggai 1:9because of what ?
, , properlythe like of what ? (Arabic
, Syriac
); hence (a)how much ? how many ?Genesis 47:8;2 Samuel 19:35;Psalm 119:84;Job 13:23;1 Kings 22:16 (= 2 Chronicles 18:15);how often ?Job 21:17 (i.e. how seldom !); in an indirect question,how much ?Zechariah 2:6 (twice in verse). As an exclamation,Zechariah 7:3 as I have done now (
),how many years !Psalm 78:40how often ! (b)for how long ?Psalm 35:17 ,Job 7:19.
, ( mostly before the gutturals , , and [i.e. ], but twice besides,Psalm 42:10;Psalm 43:2; also occurs before guttural, in five places noted by Masoretes onPsalm 43:2, namely1 Samuel 28:15;2 Samuel 2:22;2 Samuel 14:31;Psalm 49:6;Jeremiah 15:18, and beforeGenesis 4:6;2 Samuel 14:13;2 Samuel 24:3;Ecclesiastes 2:15),Job 7:20,1 Samuel 1:8 (3 t. in verse),for what reason ? why?Genesis 4:6why art thou angry ?Genesis 24:31, etc.; often strengthened by ( ),Genesis 18:13;Genesis 32:30 (=Judges 13:18) , Judg 33:15;Exodus 2:20;Exodus 5:22;Exodus 17:3, etc.,Jeremiah 6:20;Jeremiah 20:18 +;Genesis 25:22 if so,why, then, am I ? (why do I continue to live ?); =to what purpose (followed by person),Genesis 27:46 ,Isaiah 1:11;Jeremiah 6:20;Amos 5:18 ,Job 30:2; in an indirect question,1 Samuel 6:3;Daniel 10:20. Note especially (a) in expostulations,Genesis 12:18why didst thou not tell me, etc. ?Genesis 12:19;Genesis 29:25;Genesis 31:27;Genesis 42:1;Genesis 43:6;1 Samuel 21:15;1 Samuel 22:13;1 Samuel 24:10;Psalm 22:2;Psalm 44:24;Psalm 44:25;Psalm 74:1;Psalm 74:11 + often; (b) with an imperfect, often deprecating, or introducing rhetorically, the reason why something should, or should not, be done,why should . . .?1 Samuel 19:5,17;1 Samuel 20:8 but to thy father (emphatic) ,why shouldst thou bring me ?1 Samuel 20:32why should he be put to death ?2 Samuel 13:26;2 Samuel 16:9;2 Samuel 20:19;2 Kings 14:10, etc.: in such cases, it approximates in meaning tolest (compare Phoenician CISi. 2, 21ne tradant eos dii), and is in often rendered by , asGenesis 27:45why should I be bereaved, etc. ?Exodus 32:12Nehemiah 6:3;Psalm 79:10;Psalm 115:2;Ecclesiastes 7:16, ,Jeremiah 40:15, ,Genesis 47:19;2 Samuel 2:22; 2Chronicles 25:16;Ecclesiastes 5:5;Ecclesiastes 7:17, or ,Joel 2:17 (in1 Samuel 19:17;2 Samuel 13:26, paraph. by ); and, connected with the foregoing sentence by , or , in late, or dialect., Hebrew it actually has that meaning,Daniel 1:10lest he see,Songs 1:7lest I become (so in AramaicEzra 7:23, , Syriac
, both regularly =lest).
(Psalm 4:3 )until when ? how long ?Numbers 24:22 (aposiop.),Psalm 4:3;Psalm 79:5;Psalm 89:47; in indirect question,Psalm 74:9 (compare , ).
, and ,upon what ?Job 38:6; 2Chronicles 32:10;upon what ground ? wherefore ?Numbers 22:32 ,Deuteronomy 29:23 (compare1 Kings 9:8;Jeremiah 22:8),Isaiah 1:5;Jeremiah 8:14;Jeremiah 9:11;Jeremiah 16:10;Ezekiel 21:12;Psalm 10:13;Job 13:14 (probably dittograph fromJob 13:13);Nehemiah 2:4. In an indirect question,Job 10:2 ,Esther 4:5 .
Topical Lexicon
Overviewמָה (mah) is the principal Hebrew interrogative meaning “what?” and, by extension, “how?” or “why?” in certain constructions. Appearing some 745 times, it threads through every division of the Old Testament, shaping dialogue between God and humankind, prompting confession, reflection, and worship.
Range of Usage
• Direct questions:Genesis 3:13;1 Samuel 17:29
• Indirect questions:Genesis 32:29;Exodus 3:13
• Compound prepositional phrases—“for what” (לָמָּה), “from what” (מִמָּה), “as what” (כְּמָה)
• Exclamatory amazement:Exodus 15:11;Psalm 116:12
• Rhetorical rebuke or lament:Isaiah 5:4;Jeremiah 2:5
• Idiomatic negatives (“nothing”):2 Samuel 18:13
• Formulaic contrasts (“What is man?”):Job 7:17;Psalm 8:4
Divine Inquiry and Human Accountability
The first divine use—“What have you done?” (Genesis 4:10)—sets a paradigm: God’s questions are never for His information but to expose the heart. Similar confrontations occur inGenesis 18:13,Joshua 7:19, andIsaiah 5:4, each demanding repentance or deeper trust.
Human Wonder at God’s Grace
Psalms turns the word back toward God in awe: “What is man that You are mindful of him?” (Psalm 8:4) and “What shall I repay the LORD for all His goodness to me?” (Psalm 116:12). Such usage nurtures humility and gratitude in worship.
Prophetic Challenge
Prophets employ מָה to uncover covenant infidelity: “My people, what have I done to you?” (Micah 6:3) and “What wrong did your fathers find in Me?” (Jeremiah 2:5). The interrogative heightens the moral force of prophetic preaching and calls Israel to account.
Quest for Wisdom
Ecclesiastes centers existential inquiry around מָה: “What does a man gain for all his labor…?” (Ecclesiastes 1:3; 6:12). Job’s dialogues echo the same search (Job 7:17; 10:2), ultimately directing the reader to fear God (Ecclesiastes 12:13).
Messianic and Eschatological Glimpses
Zechariah 13:6 prophetically asks, “What are these wounds on your chest?”—a question fulfilled in Christ’s crucifixion scars (John 20:27).Hebrews 2:6 citesPsalm 8:4, linking מָה to the incarnation and exaltation of Jesus.
Representative Passages
Genesis 4:10;Exodus 3:13;1 Samuel 12:24;Job 7:17;Psalm 8:4;Proverbs 31:2;Micah 6:8;Zechariah 4:10;Malachi 1:6.
Liturgical and Devotional Implications
By framing worshipers’ questions, מָה guides confession (Psalm 51:14), thanksgiving (Psalm 116:12), and submission (1 Chronicles 17:16). In prayer it becomes a tool for self-examination: “Search me, O God… and see if there is any offensive way in me” (Psalm 139:23–24).
Comparative Linguistic Notes
The Septuagint usually renders מָה with τί, preserving interrogative force across covenants. New Testament writers retain the pattern: “What then shall we say?” (Romans 8:31), mirroring Old Testament usage and reinforcing canonical unity.
Pastoral Applications
1. Employ questions in teaching, following God’s model (Genesis 3:9;Matthew 16:15).
2. Encourage believers to ask, “What does the LORD require of me?” (Micah 6:8) leading to actionable obedience.
3. Use rhetorical inquiry in preaching to expose sin and point to Christ, echoing prophetic practice.
Summary
More than a grammatical tool, מָה shapes redemptive history—drawing sinners into the light, stirring saints to wonder, and foreshadowing the ultimate answer in Jesus Christ. Its pervasive presence in Scripture invites every reader to engage honestly with God’s searching questions and respond in humble faith.
Forms and Transliterations
בְּמֶ֖ה בַּמֶּ֖ה בַּמֶּ֣ה בַּמֶּ֥ה בַּמֶּ֨ה בַּמֶּה֙ בַּמָּ֗ה בַּמָּ֣ה בַּמָּ֥ה בַּמָּֽה׃ בַּמָּה֙ בַמֶּ֥ה במה במה׃ וְכַמָּ֥ה וְלָ֖מֶה וְלָ֖מָּה וְלָ֙מֶה֙ וְלָ֙מָּה֙ וְלָ֛מָּה וְלָ֣מָּה וְלָ֤מָּה וְלָ֥מָּה וְלָ֧מָּה וְלָ֨מָּה וְלָמָ֞ה וְלָמָ֣ה וְלָמָ֤ה וְלָמָ֥ה וְלָמָּה֩ וְלָמָּה־ וְלָמָה֩ וּ֝מֶה וּֽמַה־ וּבַמֶּ֗ה וּבַמֶּ֣ה ׀ וּבַמֶּ֥ה וּבַמֶּה֙ וּבַמָּ֣ה וּמֶ֖ה וּמֶ֛ה וּמֶ֣ה וּמֶ֤ה וּמֶ֤ה ׀ וּמֶ֥ה וּמֶֽה־ וּמֶה־ וּמַֽה־ וּמַה־ וּמָ֕ה וּמָ֖ה וּמָ֣ה וּמָ֥ה וּמָ֨ה וּמָֽה־ וּמָה֙ ובמה וכמה ולמה ולמה־ ומה ומה־ כַּ֭מָּה כַּמֶּ֥ה כַּמָּ֕ה כַּמָּ֗ה כַּמָּ֣ה כַּמָּ֤ה ׀ כַּמָּ֥ה כַּמָּ֪ה כַּמָּֽה־ כמה כמה־ לָ֖מָּה לָ֚מָּה לָ֛מָּה לָ֠מָה לָ֣מֶה לָ֣מָּה לָ֤מָּה לָ֤מָּה ׀ לָ֤מָה לָ֥מָּה לָ֧מָּה לָ֭מָּה לָֽמָּה־ לָמָ֖ה לָמָ֗ה לָמָ֣ה לָמָ֤ה לָמָ֥ה לָמָ֪ה לָמָּה֩ לָמָּה־ לָמָה֩ למה למה־ מֶ֖ה מֶ֗ה מֶ֚ה מֶ֛ה מֶ֠ה מֶ֣ה מֶ֤ה מֶ֤ה ׀ מֶ֥ה מֶ֨ה מֶ֬ה מֶֽה־ מֶה֩ מֶה־ מַ֣ה מַ֥ה מַֽה־ מַה־ מָ֑ה מָ֔ה מָ֖ה מָ֗ה מָ֚ה מָ֛ה מָ֣ה מָ֤ה מָ֤ה ׀ מָ֥ה מָ֧ה מָ֭ה מָּֽה׃ מָֽה־ מָֽה׃ מָה֙ מָה־ מה מה־ מה׃ שַׁלָּמָ֤ה שלמה bam·māh bam·meh ḇam·meh bamMah bammāh bammeh ḇammeh bə·meh beMeh bəmeh kam·māh kam·māh- kam·meh kamMah kammāh kammāh- kammeh lā·māh lā·meh lām·māh lām·māh- laMah lāmāh Lameh lāmeh Lammah lāmmāh lāmmāh- mah māh mah- māh- mahoSha meh meh- šal·lā·māh šallāmāh shallaMah ū·ḇam·māh ū·ḇam·meh ū·māh ū·mah- ū·māh- ū·meh ū·meh- ūḇammāh ūḇammeh umah ūmāh ūmah- ūmāh- umahoSha umeh ūmeh ūmeh- uvamMah uvamMeh vamMeh vechamMah velaMah veLameh veLammah wə·ḵam·māh wə·lā·māh wə·lā·meh wə·lām·māh wə·lām·māh- wəḵammāh wəlāmāh wəlāmeh wəlāmmāh wəlāmmāh-
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