Lexical Definition
אַי ʼay (ah'ee) where? H:Intg
perhaps from אַיִן
how, what, whence, where, whether, which (way).
- where? hence how?
1) where?, whence?
2) which?, how? (in prefix with other adverb)
| Form | Translated As | In Verse(s) |
|---|---|---|
| וְאַיּֽוֹ | and where he | Job.14.10 |
| וְאַיּ֑וֹ | and where he | Exod.2.20 |
| וְאֵי | and where | Isa.66.1 |
| וְאֵֽי | and where | Esth.7.5 • Jonah.1.8 |
| וְאֵ֥י | and where | 1Sam.30.13 • Job.28.12 • Job.28.20 |
| אַיּֽוֹ | where he | Job.20.7 |
| אַיּ֤וֹ | where he | 2Kgs.19.13 |
| אַיּ֖וֹ | where he | Mic.7.10 |
| אַיָּם֙ | where they | Isa.19.12 |
| אַיָּֽם | where they | Nah.3.17 |
| אַיֶּֽכָּה | where you | Gen.3.9 |
| אֵי | where | 1Sam.9.18 • 1Kgs.22.24 • 2Kgs.3.8 • Job.38.19 • Job.38.19 • Job.38.24 • Eccl.2.3 • Isa.66.1 • Jer.6.16 |
| אֵֽי | where | Gen.16.8 • Judg.13.6 • 1Sam.26.16 • 2Sam.15.2 • 1Kgs.13.12 |
| אֵ֥י | where | 1Sam.25.11 • 2Sam.1.3 • 2Sam.1.13 • Job.2.2 |
| אֵ֤י | where | Jer.5.7 |
| אֵ֣י | where | Deut.32.37 • 2Chr.18.23 • Prov.31.4 • Eccl.11.6 • Isa.50.1 |
| אֵ֖י | where | Gen.4.9 |
Brown-Driver-Briggs
[אַי] (
, 
in Syriac in compounds as 
how ? WSG 120-2; compare Assyrian aiu, who? what?).
1. interrogative adverb where?
a. so with suffix אַיֶּ֫כָּה [a verbal form, see Sta§ 355 b. 3] Gen 3:9 אַיּוֺ Exod 2:20, poetry where is he? = he is nowhere Job 14:10; Job 20:7 (Jer 37:19 read Qr אַיֵּה); אַיָּם Nah 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 DrSm. i. 21, 14) 2Kgs 19:13 אַיּוֺ מֶלֶחחֲֿמָת where is he, the king of Hamath? (|| Isa 37:13 אַיֵּה) Isa 19:12; Mic 7:10. When used alone, or with other adverbs (see below), it is contracted to אֵי Gen 4:9; Deut 32:37; 1Sam 26:16; Prov 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 Esth 7:5 (late), & only once 1Kgs 22:24 [but see 2Chr 18:23] with a verb) Isa 50:1; Isa 66:1 (twice in verse); Jer 6:16, in indirect question 1Sam 9:18 in the phrase אֵיזֶֿה הַדֶּרֶח ֗֗֗ where is the way (that) . . . ? 1Kgs 13:12; 2Kgs 3:8; 2Chr 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 Eccl 2:3; Eccl 11:6 (late), in indirect question
b. אֵימִֿזֶּה whence ? (מִזֶּה = hence; see below זֶה) Gen 16:8 אֵימִֿזֶּה בָאתְ 1Sam 30:13; 2Sam 1:3; 2Sam 1:13; Job 2:2 in indirect question Judg 13:6; 1Sam 25:11 with substantive annexed 2Sam 15:2 אֵימִֿזֶּה עִיר אַתָּה literally whence, as regards city, art thou ? Jonah 1:8.
c. אֵילָֿזֹאת Jer 5:7 upon what ground ? (ᵑ9 super quo? how? With other adverbs, אֵי coalesces into one word, see אֵיכָה, אֵיכָכָה, אֵיפֹה.
Brown-Driver-Briggs References
| Book | Refs |
|---|---|
| Genesis | 3:9 · 4:9 · 16:8 |
| Exodus | 2:20 |
| Deuteronomy | 32:37 |
| Judges | 13:6 |
| 1 Samuel | 9:18 · 25:11 · 26:16 · 30:13 |
| 2 Samuel | 1:3 · 1:13 · 15:2 |
| 1 Kings | 13:12 · 22:24 |
| 2 Kings | 3:8 · 19:13 |
| 2 Chronicles | 18:23 |
| Esther | 7:5 |
| Job | 2:2 · 14:10 · 20:7 · 38:19 |
| Proverbs | 31:4 |
| Ecclesiastes | 2:3 · 11:6 |
| Isaiah | 19:12 · 37:13 · 50:1 · 66:1 |
| Jeremiah | 5:7 · 6:16 · 37:19 |
| Jonah | 1:8 |
| Micah | 7:10 |
| Nahum | 3:17 |