Lexical Definition

‎אֵיךְ‎ ʼêyk (ake) how? ^H:Intg
also אֵיכָה ʼêykâh (ay-kaw') ; and אֵיכָכָה ʼêykâkâh (ay-kaw'-kah) ; prolonged from ‎אַי‎

how, what.

• how? or how!
• also where

interrog adv
1) how?
interj
2) how! (in lamentation)
3) expression of satisfaction

See Greek: τίς

Extended Information

• interrog adv

Brown-Driver-Briggs

‎אֵיךְ‎₅₉ (Aramaic ‎אֵיךְ‎, [pronounced âch]) adverb 1. interrogative How? Gen 26:9; 2Sam 1:5; 2Sam 1:14; 1Kgs 12:6; Isa 20:6 and elsewhere; often with imperfect (especially in 1 person) in an expostulation Gen 39:9; Gen 44:8; Gen 44:34; Josh 9:7; 2Sam 2:22; 2Sam 12:18; Ps 137:4; Isa 48:11 for howshould it be profaned ? ‎איך תאמר(וׅ‎ how canst or dost thou (do you) say . . . ? Judg 16:15; Isa 19:11; Jer 2:23 (compare Jer 8:8 ‎אֵיכָה‎) Jer 48:14; Ps 11:1 in an indirect sentence 2Kgs 17:28; Jer 36:17; Ruth 3:18.

2. as an exclamation How! whether of lamentation 2Sam 1:19; Jer 2:21; Jer 9:18*; Mic 2:4 or of satisfaction Isa 14:4; Isa 14:12; Jer 48:39; Jer 51:41; Obad 1:5 and elsewhere; with intensive force = how gladly! Jer 3:19, how terribly! Jer 9:6* (but others render here 'for how [else] should I do'? etc.) **Hos 11:8 according to Hi Ke We Marti and others.

Also see: אֵיכֹה

‎אֵיכָה‎ (from ‎אַי‎ and ‎כָּה‎ = ‎כֹּה‎; compare Assyrian ekiam) adverb 1. interrogative In what manner? τίνι τρόπῳ; (rather more definite than ‎אֵיח‎ = πῶς); Deut 1:12; Deut 7:17; Deut 12:30; Deut 18:21; Deut 32:30; Judg 20:3 (indirect sentence) 2Kgs 6:15; Jer 8:8; Ps 73:11.

2. exclamation How! (slightly more emphatic than ‎אֵיח‎) Isa 1:21; Jer 48:17; Lam 1:1; Lam 2:1; Lam 4:1; Lam 4:2.

3. Where? (properly north-Israel; compare Aramaic ‎אֵיכָא‎, where ? compare Dr^{Intr. 178, 421}) only 2Kgs 6:13 Kt Song 1:7 (twice in verse), — each time in an indirect sentence.

‎אֵיכָ֫כָה‎ (Canticles) ‎ֵ˜איכָכָ֫ה‎ (Esther) (from ‎אַי‎ & ‎כָּ֫כָה‎ thus) How? only Song 5:3 (twice in verse); Esth 8:6 (twice in verse).

Brown-Driver-Briggs References