Lexical Definition

‎בִּי‎ bîy (bee) please ^H:Part
perhaps from ‎בָּעָה‎ (in the sense of asking); properly, a request; used only adverbially (always with 'my Lord')

alas, O, oh.

• oh that!
• with leave, or if it please

1) if it please, pray excuse me, excuse me please
1a) used to introduce an entreaty or request

Brown-Driver-Briggs

‎בִּי‎ particle of entreaty, craving permission to address a superior, always followed by ‎אֲדֹנִי‎ (or ‎אֲדֹנָי‎), and always (except Josh 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. Gen 19:18 ᵑ7, Num 12:13 ᵑ6); but ‎ע‎ is not often elided in Hebrew) — Gen 44:18 ‎בִּי אֲדֹנִי יְדַבֶּרנָֿא‎ I pray, my lord, let thy servant speak, etc.; so Num 12:11; Judg 6:13; 1Sam 1:26; 1Kgs 3:17; 1Kgs 3:26, and following by a plural subject Gen 43:20 ‎יָרֹד יָרַדְנוּ‎ ‎׳‎‎בִּי א‎ Oh, my lord, we came down, etc.; ‎בִּי אֲדֹנָי‎ (to God) Exod 4:10; Exod 4:13; Josh 7:8; Judg 6:15; Judg 13:8 (ᵐ5 in Pentateuch and Joshua δέομαι, δεόμεθα: in other books absurdly ἐν ἐμοί).

Brown-Driver-Briggs References