Lexical Definition

‎אוּלַי‎ ʼûwlay (oo-lah'ee) perhaps ^H:Adv
or (shortened) אֻלַי ʼulay (oo-lah'ee); from ‎אוֹ‎

if so be, may be, peradventure, unless.

• if not
• hence perhaps

1) perhaps, peradventure
2) if peradventure
3) unless
4) suppose

See Greek: ἴσως

Brown-Driver-Briggs

II. ‎אוּלַי‎₄₄ and (Gen 24:39) ‎אֻלַי‎ adverb (perhaps from ‎אוֺ‎ & ‎לַי‎ = ‎לֵי‎, ‎לֵא‎, as in ‎לוּלֵא‎, = or not ?).

1. peradventure, perhaps; usually expressing a hope, as Gen 16:2; Num 22:6; Num 22:11; Num 23:3; 1Sam 6:5; Jer 20:10 but also a fear or doubt, as Gen 27:12; Job 1:5, followed by ‎לֹא‎ Gen 24:5; Gen 24:39 in mockery Isa 47:12; Jer 51:8.

2. followed by another clause ἀσυνδέτως, it, it expresses vir-tually the protasis = if peradventure Gen 18:24; Gen 18:28 (compare vGen 18:29-32) Hos 8:7 the blade shall yield no meal; ‎אוּלַי יַעֲשֶׂה זָרִים יִבְלָעֻהוּ‎ if perchance it yield, strangers shall swallow it up.

3. in Num 22:33 ‎לוּלֵי‎ (q.v) must be read; unless she had turned aside from me, surely, etc.

Brown-Driver-Briggs References