Strong's Lexicon mayim: Water Original Word: מַיִם Word Origin: Derived from an unused root meaning to flow Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: - G5204 (ὕδωρ, hydōr) - water Usage: The Hebrew word "mayim" primarily refers to water in its various forms and uses. It is a fundamental element in the Bible, symbolizing life, purification, chaos, and divine provision. Water is essential for physical survival, agricultural prosperity, and ritual cleanliness in the Hebrew Scriptures. Cultural and Historical Background: In the ancient Near East, water was a precious and often scarce resource, making it a symbol of life and blessing. The Israelites, living in a largely arid region, understood the critical importance of water for survival and prosperity. Water sources such as wells, rivers, and rain were seen as divine gifts. Ritual purification with water was also a significant aspect of religious practice, symbolizing spiritual cleansing and renewal. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition waters, water NASB Translation flood (1), loins (1), pool (1), Water (5), water (373), watering (1), waterless* (1), waters (192). Brown-Driver-Briggs II. [מוֺ] = מַי water. [מַי]580 noun masculine2Samuel 14:14 only plural מַ֫יִם waters, water (Late Hebrew id.; MI23 [ין]מ; SI5 המים; Aramaic מַיָּא, מַיִּין, 1. a. water of a spring or well (עַיִן, בְּאֵר) Genesis 16:7; Genesis 24:11,13 (twice in verse); Genesis 24:43; Exodus 15:27 (twice in verse) (J), Genesis 21:19,25; Numbers 20:17; Numbers 21:16 (E), etc.; for drinking, also Amos 4:8; Amos 8:11; Jonah 3:7 + often; out of rock Exodus 17:6 (E), Numbers 20:8 (twice in verse); Numbers 20:10,11 (P), Deuteronomy 8:15 etc.; מֵי מְרִיבָה (RSSemitic i. 165; 2nd ed. 181) Numbers 20:13,24; Numbers 27:14 (P), Deuteronomy 33:8; Psalm 81:8; Psalm 106:32; compare Deuteronomy 32:51; Ezekiel 47:19; Ezekiel 48:28; for washing (hands, feet, person) Genesis 18:4; Genesis 24:32; Genesis 43:24 (J), 2 Kings 3:11; Exodus 29:4; Exodus 30:20; Leviticus 15:5,6 + (P); (victims) Leviticus 1:9,13; Leviticus 8:21 (P); (vessels) Leviticus 6:21; Leviticus 12:32; Leviticus 12:34 (P); (garments) Leviticus 15:17; Numbers 19:8 (P); for cooking Exodus 12:9 (P), compare Isaiah 64:1; Ezekiel 24:3 (symbolic); for purification Numbers 8:7 (מֵי חַטָּאת) Numbers 19:9 (מֵי נִדָּה), compare Numbers 19:13; Numbers 19:18; Numbers 19:20; Numbers 19:21; Numbers 19:31; Numbers 31:23 (twice in verse) (all P), Ezekiel 36:25 (figurative). b. of a river, Nile Exodus 2:10; Exodus 4:9 (twice in verse) (J), Jeremiah 2:18 etc.; Jordan Joshua 3:8 (D), Joshua 3:15; Joshua 3:16 (JE), etc.; Euphrates Isaiah 8:7 (figurative), Jeremiah 2:18; Ezekiel's river Ezekiel 47:1 (twice in verse); Ezekiel 47:2 +, etc.; of streams, canals, etc., especially, as condition of fertility Deuteronomy 8:7; Deuteronomy 10:7; Isaiah 1:30; Proverbs 30:16; 2 Kings 3:17 +, etc. c. of sea Amos 5:8; Amos 9:6; Red Sea Exodus 15:8,10,19 (song), Exodus 14:21,22,26 + (P), Joshua 2:10 (D), etc. d. of flood Genesis 7:7,10; Genesis 8:3,7,8,9,11 (J), Genesis 6:17; Genesis 7:6,17,18 (twice in verse); Genesis 7:19; Genesis 8:5; Genesis 9:11,15 (P); so מֵינֹֿחַ Isaiah 54:9 (twice in verse) waters of Noah. e. subterranean Exodus 20:4 (E), Deuteronomy 4:18; Deuteronomy 5:8, compare Job 26:5; Psalm 136:6. f. in clouds Jeremiah 10:13; Job 26:8; Psalm 29:3 (twice in verse); Psalm 104:3; Psalm 148:4, etc. g. of rain Judges 5:4; 2 Samuel 21:10; Deuteronomy 11:11; Psalm 65:10; Job 5:10 ("" מָטָר), etc. h. of dew Judges 6:38. i. primÊval deep Genesis 1:2,6 (P). 2 with proper names, of location (q. v.), to denote springs, streams, or seas belonging to, near, such places: מֵימֵי מִצְרַיִם Exodus 7:19; Exodus 8:2; מֵי מְרִיבָה (see above 1a); מֵי מֵרוֺם Joshua 11:5,7; מֵי עֵיןשֶֿׁמֶשׁ Joshua 15:7; מֵי נֶפְתּוֺחַ Joshua 15:9; Joshua 18:15; מֵי יְרִיחוֺ Joshua 16:1; מֵי מְגִּדּוֺ Judges 5:19; מֵי נִמְרִ(י)ם Isaiah 15:6; Jeremiah 48:34; מֵי דִימוֺן Isaiah 15:9; compare מֵי הַשִּׁלֹּחַ Isaiah 8:6; מֵימֵי גִּיחוֺן הָעֶלְיוֺן2Chronicles 32:30; compare also proper name, of a location מִשְׂרְפוֺת מַיִם Joshua 11:8; Joshua 13:6. 3 special uses are: מֵי רַגְלַיִם water of the feet = urine 2 Kings 18:27 = Isaiah 36:12; compare מַדְמֵנָה בְּמֵי Isaiah 25:10 Kt in water of a dunghill (> Qr בְּמוֺ); מַיִם לַחַץ water (which is) distress, because drunk in imprisonment 1 Kings 22:27 ("" לֶחֶם לַחַץ) = 2 Chronicles 18:26; בְּמֵישָֿׁ֑לֶג in snow-water Job 9:30 Qr (Kt במו; Me Hoffm Siegf כְּמוֺ), מֵימֵי שֶׁלֶג Job 24:19; מַיִם קְדשִׁים Numbers 5:17 holy water (compare RSSem.165, 2nd ed.181, but text dubious, see Di); מֵי הַמָּרִים bitter water Numbers 5:18,19,23,24; compare Exodus 15:23 (כִּי מָרִים הֵם), opposed to וַיִּמְתְּקוּ הַמַּיִם Exodus 15:25 and the waters were sweetened; מֵי חַטָּאת, מֵי נִדָּה see above 1a; מַיִם חַיִּים living (i.e. running) water Leviticus 14:5,6,50,51,52; Numbers 19:17, also (figurative) Zechariah 14:8 (compare Ezekiel 47), and (figurative) Jeremiah 2:13; Jeremiah 17:13. See also below (compare Numbers 21:17,18; see RSSem.i.127.157; 2nd ed.135,176). 4 among figurative uses are: a. of distress Isaiah 43:2; Psalm 66:12 ("" אֵשׁ), Psalm 69:2; Lamentations 3:54; usually many waters 2 Samuel 22:17 = Psalm 18:17, compare Job 22:11; Psalm 32:6; Psalm 144:7, or deep waters Psalm 69:3; Psalm 69:15, compare Psalm 69:16; also מֵירֿאֹשׁ water of gall Jeremiah 8:14; Jeremiah 9:14; Jeremiah 23:15. b. מֶּרֶץ מַיִם 2 Samuel 5:20 = 1 Chronicles 14:11 of outbursting force. c. מַיִם שְׁאוֺן Isaiah 17:12,13 of rushing nations. d. of what is impetuous, violent, overwhelming Isaiah 28:2,17; Hosea 10:7; Job 27:20; Psalm 124:4; Psalm 124:5; Psalm 88:18; simileof impetuousness מַּחַז כַּמַּיִ ם Genesis 49:4. e. (as running away) of heart in timidity Joshua 7:5, compare Psalm 22:16, of knees Ezekiel 7:17; Ezekiel 21:12. f. of transitoriness Job 11:16; Job 24:18; Psalm 58:8. g. of refreshment Isaiah 32:2; Isaiah 49:10; spiritual Isaiah 12:3. h. מֵי מְנֻחוֺת Psalm 23:2 in figure of rest and peace, compare Jeremiah 31:9. i. of reckless bloodshed (poured out like water) Psalm 79:3; compare pouring away (and not eating) blood Deuteronomy 12:16,24; Deuteronomy 15:23. j. בְּאֵר מַיִם חַיִּים Songs 4:15 figurative of bride; מַיִם מִבּוֺרֶ֑ךָ Proverbs 5:15 of enjoyment of one's own wife; of harlotry מַיִם גְּנוּבִים Proverbs 9:17 stolen waters. k. of outpoured wrath of ׳י Hosea 5:10. 1 of abundant justice Amos 5:24 masculine of outpoured feelings Job 3:24; שִׁפְכִי כַמַּיִם לִבֵךְ Lamentations 2:19. — Isaiah 48:1 read probably מִמְּעֵי for ᵑ0 מִמֵּי, so Secker Du CheHpt Skinner, compare Di. Strong's Exhaustive Concordance waste, wasting, watering, course, Dual of a primitive noun (but used in a singular sense); water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen -- + piss, wasting, water(-ing, (-course, -flood, -spring)). Forms and Transliterations בְּמֵ֣י בְּמֵ֥י בְּמֵֽי־ בְּמַ֖יִם בְּמַ֣יִם בְּמַ֤יִם בְּמַ֥יִם בַּמַּ֔יִם בַּמַּ֖֣יִם ׀ בַּמַּ֖יִם בַּמַּ֗יִם בַּמַּ֙יִם֙ בַּמַּ֛יִם בַּמַּ֣יִם בַּמַּ֧יִם בַּמַּיִם֒ בַּמַּיִם֮ בַּמָּ֑יִם בַּמָּֽיִם׃ בַמַּ֔יִם בַמַּ֖יִם בַמַּ֗יִם בַמַּ֙יִם֙ בַמָּֽיִם׃ בְּמֹ֥ו במו במי במי־ במים במים׃ הַ֝מַּ֗יִם הַ֫מָּ֥יִם הַמַּ֔יְמָה הַמַּ֔יִם הַמַּ֖יִם הַמַּ֗יִם הַמַּ֙יִם֙ הַמַּ֛יִם הַמַּ֜יִם הַמַּ֣יִם הַמַּ֤יִם הַמַּ֥יִם הַמַּ֨יִם הַמַּיִם֩ הַמָּ֑יְמָה הַמָּ֑יִם הַמָּֽיִם׃ המים המים׃ המימה וְ֝הַמַּ֗יִם וְהַמַּ֗יִם וְהַמַּ֣יִם וְהַמַּ֤יִם וְהַמַּ֥יִם וְכַמַּ֙יִם֙ וָמַ֜יִם וָמָ֑יִם וָמָֽיִם׃ וּ֝מַ֗יִם וּ֭מַיִם וּבְמַ֤יִם וּבְמַ֥יִם וּבַמַּ֑יִם וּבַמַּ֔יִם וּבַמַּ֖יִם וּבַמָּ֑יִם וּמִמֵּ֥י וּמֵ֣י וּמֵ֥י וּמֵֽימֵיהֶ֖ם וּמֵימֶ֕יךָ וּמֵימַ֔י וּמַ֕יִם וּמַ֖יִם וּמַ֗יִם וּמַ֙יִם֙ וּמַ֛יִם וּמַ֣יִם וּמַ֥יִם ובמים והמים וכמים ומי ומים ומים׃ ומימי ומימיהם ומימיך וממי כְּמַ֖יִם כְּמַ֣יִם כַ֝מַּ֗יִם כַ֭מַּיִם כַּ֭מַּיִם כַּמַּ֖יִם כַּמַּ֗יִם כַּמַּ֙יִם֙ כַּמַּ֥יִם כַּמָּֽיִם׃ כַמַּ֙יִם֙ כַמַּ֣יִם כמים כמים׃ לְמֵ֖י לְמֵ֥י לְמֵֽי־ לְמֵימֵ֣י לְמָֽיִם׃ לַמַּ֔יִם לַמַּ֣יִם לַמָּ֑יִם לָמָֽיִם׃ למי למי־ למים למים׃ למימי מִי מִמֵּ֛י מִמֵּ֣י מִמֵּימֵ֖י מִמֵּימֵ֣י מִמַּ֣יִם מִמַּ֥יִם מֵ֖י מֵ֚י מֵ֣י מֵ֤י מֵ֥י מֵ֧י מֵ֨י מֵֽי־ מֵֽימֵי־ מֵֽימֵיהֶ֔ם מֵי֙ מֵי־ מֵימֵ֙ינוּ֙ מֵימֵ֣י מֵימֵ֤י מֵימֵ֨י מֵימֵיהֶ֖ם מֵימֵיהֶ֣ם מֵימֶ֑יךָ מֵימֶ֔יהָ מֵימֶ֖יהָ מֵימֶ֤יךָ מֵימֶֽיךָ׃ מֵימַ֔י מֵימָ֑יו מֵימָ֔יו מֵימָ֖יו מֵימָֽיו׃ מַ֑יִם מַ֔יִם מַ֖יִם מַ֗יִם מַ֙יִם֙ מַ֚יִם מַ֛יִם מַ֜יִם מַ֝֗יִם מַ֝יִם מַ֣יִם מַ֤יִם מַ֥יִם מַ֧יִם מַ֨יִם מַ֨יִם ׀ מַ֭יִם מַּ֑יִם מַּ֔יִם מַּ֣יִם מַּ֨יִם ׀ מַֽיִם־ מַיִם֒ מַיִם֮ מָ֑יִם מָ֔יִם מָ֥יִם מָּ֑יִם מָּֽיִם׃ מָֽיִם׃ מי מי־ מים מים־ מים׃ מימי מימי־ מימיה מימיהם מימיו מימיו׃ מימיך מימיך׃ מימינו ממי ממים ממימי שָׁ֑לֶג שלג bam·ma·yim bam·mā·yim ḇam·ma·yim ḇam·mā·yim bammayim bammāyim ḇammayim ḇammāyim bə·ma·yim bə·mê bə·mê- bə·mōw beMayim bəmayim bəmê bəmê- beMei beMo bəmōw chamMayim ham·mā·yə·māh ham·ma·yim ham·mā·yim ham·may·māh hamMayemah hammāyəmāh hammayim hammāyim hamMaymah hammaymāh kam·ma·yim kam·mā·yim ḵam·ma·yim kammayim kammāyim ḵammayim kə·ma·yim keMayim kəmayim lā·mā·yim lam·ma·yim lam·mā·yim laMayim lāmāyim lammayim lammāyim lə·mā·yim lə·mê lə·mê- lə·mê·mê leMayim ləmāyim ləmê ləmê- leMei lemeiMei ləmêmê ma·yim mā·yim ma·yim- mayim māyim mayim- mê mê- mê·māw mê·may mê·mê mê·mê- mê·me·hā mê·mê·hem mê·me·ḵā mê·mê·nū mei meiMai meiMav meiMei meiMeicha meiMeiha meimeiHem meiMeinu mêmāw mêmay mêmê mêmê- mêmehā mêmêhem mêmeḵā mêmênū mi mî mim·ma·yim mim·mê mim·mê·mê miMayim miMei mimeiMei mimmayim mimmê mimmêmê šā·leḡ šāleḡ Shaleg ū·ḇam·ma·yim ū·ḇam·mā·yim ū·ḇə·ma·yim ū·ma·yim ū·mê ū·mê·may ū·mê·mê·hem ū·mê·me·ḵā ū·mim·mê ūḇammayim ūḇammāyim ūḇəmayim uMayim ūmayim ūmê uMei umeiMai umeiMeicha umeimeiHem ūmêmay ūmêmêhem ūmêmeḵā umiMei ūmimmê uvamMayim uveMayim vaMayim vamMayim vechamMayim vehamMayim wā·ma·yim wā·mā·yim wāmayim wāmāyim wə·ham·ma·yim wə·ḵam·ma·yim wəhammayim wəḵammayimLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 1:2 HEB: עַל־ פְּנֵ֥י הַמָּֽיִם׃ NAS: over the surface of the waters. KJV: upon the face of the waters. INT: over the surface of the waters Genesis 1:6 Genesis 1:6 Genesis 1:6 Genesis 1:7 Genesis 1:7 Genesis 1:9 Genesis 1:10 Genesis 1:20 Genesis 1:21 Genesis 1:22 Genesis 6:17 Genesis 7:6 Genesis 7:7 Genesis 7:10 Genesis 7:17 Genesis 7:18 Genesis 7:18 Genesis 7:19 Genesis 7:20 Genesis 7:24 Genesis 8:1 Genesis 8:3 Genesis 8:3 Genesis 8:5 581 Occurrences |
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Assyrian mû, plural mê, also mâmu DlHWB 394; Arabic 
Ethiopic 
, plural 
; Sabean [מו], מום plural מון, Minaean [מה], plural מהן DHM6th Or. Congr. (Leiden) ii. 1, 451 f. (see on these forms BaZMG xiii.1888, 341 ff.)); — מַ֫יִם (מָ֑יִם) 
