◄ 4310. mi ►
Strong's Lexicon mi: who, whoever, whom Original Word: מִי Part of Speech: pronoun interrogative; feminine Transliteration: miy Pronunciation: mee Phonetic Spelling: (me) Definition: who?, whoever, in oblique construction with prefix, suffix Meaning: The word "מִי" is an interrogative pronoun in Hebrew, primarily used to mean "who?" or "whoever." It is often employed in questions to inquire about identity or character. Word Origin: A primitive particle Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • G2281: θάλασσα (thalassa) • While not directly related in meaning, this Greek word for "sea" is part of the broader lexical family in Strong's Concordance. • G2949: κῆτος (kētos) • Another Greek term, meaning "sea monster" or "whale," which is part of the lexical entries but not directly related to "מִי." • G3784: ὀφείλω (opheilō) • Meaning "to owe" or "ought," this Greek word is part of the Strong's numbering system but does not correspond directly to "מִי." • G5101: τίς (tis) • This Greek interrogative pronoun means "who?" or "what?" and is the closest equivalent to the Hebrew "מִי," used similarly in questions about identity or nature. The Hebrew "מִי" and Greek "τίς" share functional similarities in their respective languages, both serving as essential tools for inquiry and exploration of identity and purpose within the biblical texts. Usage: The term "מִי" is used throughout the Hebrew Bible to ask questions about identity, often inquiring about a person or group. It can also be used in rhetorical questions or in expressions of wonder or challenge. Context: • The Hebrew word "מִי" appears frequently in the Old Testament, serving as a fundamental component of Hebrew interrogative syntax. It is used to pose direct questions, such as in Genesis 3:11, "Who told you that you were naked?" (BSB). It can also be found in rhetorical contexts, as in Exodus 32:26, "Whoever is for the LORD, come to me" (BSB), where it challenges the audience to declare their allegiance. • In poetic and prophetic literature, "מִי" often introduces questions that emphasize the majesty or incomprehensibility of God, as seen in Isaiah 40:12, "Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand?" (BSB). This usage underscores the divine attributes and the limitations of human understanding. • The word can appear in various grammatical constructions, including with prefixes and suffixes, to form compound expressions that maintain the interrogative sense. For example, in Job 38:5, "Who fixed its measurements? Surely you know!" (BSB), the word is part of a larger discourse questioning human knowledge compared to divine wisdom. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origin a prim. pronoun Definition who? NASB Translation how (4), O (1), Oh (3), Oh that someone (3), Oh* (13), someone (1), what (19), which (4), who (285), whoever (12), whoever* (4), whom (48), whom* (1), whose (16), would* (7). Brown-Driver-Briggs מִי423 pronoun interrogative who? of persons, as מָה (q. v.) of things (Ethiopic but only = What ? and How ? Assyrian mî, me (rare) JägerBAS. ii. 277, the usual Semitic form for Who? has n, namely Assyrian mannu, manu (DlHWB 419), Ethiopic man¥, Aramaic Arabic , Vulgar Arabic min, m£n, from a form resembling which, by rejection of n, probably Hebrew מִי: WSG 123 f.): — who ? (τίς; quis ?) Genesis 3:11 הִגִּיד לְךָ מִי who told thee ? Genesis 24:65 מִי הָאִישׁ הַלָּזֶה who is this man ? Genesis 27:18 מי אתה בני who art thou, my son ? Numbers 22:9; Judges 1:1; Judges 6:29; Judges 15:6; Judges 18:3; Judges 20:18; 2 Samuel 1:8 + often; Ruth 3:9 מִי אָ֑תְּ who art thou, (feminine) ? Isaiah 51:12; of more than one, מִי אֵלָּה who are these ? Genesis 33:5; Genesis 48:8; Isaiah 60:8; מי אתם 2 Kings 10:13; once, more explicitly, מִי זָמִי הַהֹלְכִים Exodus 10:8; = as who ? (i.e. in what condition, or capacity), Amos 7:2 יעקב מי יקום vAmos 7:5; Isaiah 51:19 מִי אֲנַחֲמֵךְ (but Vrss Che Lag Brd Du ׳מִי יְ, as "" מִי יָנוּד), Ruth 3:16 (Be Ke Köiii. 388). Note in particular: a. מִי is rarely used of things, and usually where persons are understood or implied: Genesis 33:8 מי לך כלהֿמחנה הזה who (or what) to thee is all this camp ? Deuteronomy 4:7; Judges 9:28 שְׁכֶם מִי who is Shechem (i.e. the Shechemites) ? Micah 1:5 מִיפֶֿשַׁע יַעֲקֹב הֲלֹא שֹׁמְרוֺן, vb Songs 3:6; Judges 13:17 מִי שְׁמֶ֑ךָ ( but מה Genesis 32:28; Exodus 3:13: with מי compare מַן in Aramaic Ezra 5:4; Genesis, Exodus ll. cc. ᵑ7; and see NöM. p. 341). On 1 Samuel 18:18, see II. חַי b. in the Genitive, בַּתמִֿי אַתְּ whose daughter art thou ? Genesis 24:23,47; 1 Samuel 12:3 (3 t. in verse); 1 Samuel 17:55; Jeremiah 44:28; Job 26:4; Job 33:28; after various prepositions, as אַחֲרֵי מִי 1 Samuel 24:15 (twice in verse); אֶלמִֿי 1 Samuel 6:20; 2 Kings 9:5 +; בְּמִי by whom ? 1 Kings 20:14, לְמִי20 to whom ? whose ? Genesis 32:18 לְמִי אַתָּה, Genesis 38:25; Proverbs 20:20 (6 t.) +; מִמִּי Ezekiel 32:19; Psalm 27:1 (twice in verse); עַלמִֿי 2 Kings 18:20; 2 Kings 19:22; Isaiah 57:4 +; אֶתמִֿי (so always in accusative), 1 Samuel 12:3 (twice in verse); 1 Samuel 28:11; Isaiah 6:8; = with whom ? Job 12:3. c. in an indirect question, as Genesis 21:26; Genesis 43:22 לא ידענו מי שׂם we do not know who put, etc., Deuteronomy 21:1; Psalm 39:7; Joshua 24:15 בַּחֲרוּ ֗֗֗ אֶתמִֿי תַעֲבֹד֑וּן choose whom ye will serve, after ראה 1 Samuel 14:17, שׁאל 1 Samuel 17:56, הגיד 1 Kings 1:20, הודיע 1 Kings 1:27. d. ׳מי ב who among ... ? 1 Samuel 22:14; Isaiah 36:20; Isaiah 43:9; Isaiah 48:14 (בהם) Isaiah 42:23; Isaiah 50:10; Haggai 2:3 ( all בכם); מי מן who of ... ? Judges 21:8; 2 Kings 6:11; Isaiah 50:1. e. strengthened and emphatic forms of interrogative: (a) מי זה (see זה 4b), מי הוא (see הוא 4b β), הוא זה מי Psalm 24:10; Jeremiah 30:21; Esther 7:5 (see ibid.); (b) אֶחָד מִי what single one ... ? Judges 21:8, compare 2 Samuel 7:23 ( = 1 Chronicles 17:21). f. various rhetorical uses ( often repeated in "" clause, as Psalm 15:1; Psalm 18:32; Isaiah 28:9; Isaiah 29:15): — (a) followed by imperfect it expresses a wish ( the question implying a desire that the person asked for were present ), 2 Samuel 15:4 מִי יְשִׂמֵנִי שֹׁפֵט who will set me judge ? i.e. would that some one would make me judge ! 2 Samuel 23:15 מִי יַשְׁקֵנִי מַיִם = O that one would give me to drink, etc. ! compare Numbers 11:4,18; Malachi 1:10; Psalm 4:7; Psalm 60:11; Psalm 94:16; Isaiah 42:23, and very often in the phrase מִי יִתֵּן who will give? i.e. would that there were. . . ! as Numbers 11:29 נביאים ׳ומי יתן כל עם י = and would that all ׳יs people were prophets! Deuteronomy 28:67 מי יתן ערב = would it were even! Judges 9:29 + (see נָתַן). (b) it expresses contempt (who ? implying the answer no one at all), Exodus 5:2 ׳אשׁר אשׁמע בקולו מי י who is ׳י that I should listen to his voice ? Judges 9:28 מִי אֲבִימֶלֶךְ וּמִי שְׁכֶם כִּי נַעַבְדֶנּוּ, Judges 9:38; 1 Samuel 17:26 who is this Philistine that he should have reproached, etc.? 1 Samuel 25:10 מי דוד ומי בן ישׁי Isaiah 28:9; Job 26:4; Proverbs 30:9 ׳מי י; or modesty (real or assumed), Exodus 3:11 מִי אָנֹכִי כִּי אֵלֵךְ אֶלמַּֿרְעֹה 1 Samuel 18:18 ומי חיי מי אנכי who am I, and who is my clan (חַיִּי), that I should be the king's son-in-law ? 2 Samuel 7:18; 1 Chronicles 29:14; 2Chron 2:5; or surprise, Isaiah 44:10; Isaiah 49:21. (c) in impassioned prose, and especially in poetry, implying the answer few or none, it is equivalent to a rhetorical negative, Deuteronomy 9:2 מִי יִתְיַצֵּב לִפְנֵי בְנֵי עֲנָק who can stand, etc.? Deuteronomy 30:12 מִי יַעֲלֶהלָּֿנוּ הַשָּׁמַיְמָה Deuteronomy 30:13; 1 Samuel 4:8 ׳מִי יַצִּילֵנוּ וג, 1 Samuel 6:20; 1 Samuel 22:14; 1 Samuel 26:9,15; 2 Samuel 16:10; מי יאמר who shall (or can) say ? Job 9:12; Proverbs 20:9; Ecclesiastes 8:4; with the perfect (of experience), who has ever . . . ? Numbers 23:10; Deuteronomy 5:23; Isaiah 36:20; Isaiah 66:8 (twice in verse); Jeremiah 18:13 מִי שָׁמַע כָּאֵלֶּה, Jeremiah 23:18 (ᵑ0), Jeremiah 30:21; Job 4:7; Job 9:4 מִי הִקְשָׁה אֵלָיו וַיִּשְׁלָ֑ם, Job 41:3; Proverbs 30:4; Lamentations 3:37; in poetry, very often, as Genesis 49:9 מִי יְקִימֶנּוּ וּכְלָבִיא who can rouse him up ? (i.e. no one), Exodus 15:11 (twice in verse) מִי כָמוֺךָ (so Psalm 35:10 and elsewhere), Numbers 24:9,23; 1 Samuel 2:25 מי יתפלל לו who shall intercede for him ? (i.e. no one), Isaiah 1:12; Isaiah 10:3; Isaiah 40:13,14,18; Isaiah 41:26; Isaiah 42:19; Isaiah 43:9; Isaiah 48:14; Isaiah 50:1; Isaiah 53:1 מִי הֶאֱמִין לִשְׁמֻעָתֵנוּ (i.e. few or none), etc.; Psalm 18:32 ׳מִי אֱלוֺהַּ מִבַּלְעֲדֵי י, Psalm 76:8; Psalm 89:7; Psalm 130:3; Job 21:31; Job 34:29; Jeremiah 17:9; Joel 2:11; Malachi 3:2; מִי לֹא ֗֗֗ Amos 3:8; Jeremiah 10:7; Job 12:9 (compare Job 25:3; Nahum 3:19); (יְשִׁיבֶנָּה) מִי יְשִׁיבֶנּוּ who shall (can) turn it back ? Job 9:12; Job 11:10; Job 23:13; Isaiah 14:27; Isaiah 43:13; Jeremiah 2:24; implying the answer, no one but God, Isaiah 40:12; Isaiah 41:2; Job 38:5; Job 35:6; Job 35:25, etc.; defiantly, Isaiah 50:9 מִי הוּא יַרְשִׁיעֵנִי, Jeremiah 21:13; Jeremiah 49:4 מִי יָבוֺא אֵלַי, Jeremiah 49:19; Obadiah 3; Psalm 12:5 מִי אָדוֺן לָנוּ, Psalm 59:8; Psalm 64:6; Job 9:19 מִי יוֺעִידֵנִי וְאִם לְמִשְׁמָּט, Job 13:19 מִי הוּא יָרִיב עִמָּדִי who is he that will contend with me ? Job 17:3; Job 41:2. Notice in examples of this kind the frequent order of words: Proverbs 20:6 ואישׁ אמוּנים מי ימצא, Proverbs 24:22 יודע ופיד שׁניהם מי, Proverbs 31:10; Nahum 1:6 לפני זעמו מי יעמד, Psalm 147:17 קֹרָתוֺ מי יעמד לפני, Job 4:2 וַעְצֹר בְּמִלִּין מִי יוּכ֑ל, Job 26:14; Job 38:37; Job 39:5; Job 41:5; Job 41:6; Psalm 6:6 בִּשְׁאוֺל מִי יוֺדֶהלָּֿ֑ךְ, Psalm 19:13; and with the nom. pendens, Jeremiah 2:24 תַּאֲנָתָהּ מִי יְשִׁיבֶנָּה, Proverbs 18:14; Job 17:15 וְתִקְוָתִי מִי יְשׁוּרֶנָּה, Job 38:29 וּכְפֹר שָׁמַיִם מִי יְלָדוֺ. (d) מִי יוֺדֵעַ who knoweth ? (Psalm 90:11; Proverbs 24:22), followed by a verbal clause, becomes (compare nescio an) = it may be, perchance, 2 Samuel 12:22 ׳מִי יוֺדֵעַ יְחָנֵּנִי י (Qr וְחַנַּנִי), Joel 2:14 ( = Jonah 3:9) מי יודע ישׁוב ונחם, Esther 4:14 יודע אם מי. (e) especially in poetry, a question with מי, to which the answer follows, is an effective mode of affirming a fact, or introducing a description: Psalm 15:1 (twice in verse) (see Psalm 15:2); Psalm 24:3; Psalm 24:8; Psalm 24:10; Isaiah 23:8 מי יעץ ׳זאת וג (Isaiah 23:9 the answ., יְעָצָהּ ׳צ ׳י), Isaiah 33:14 (see Isaiah 33:15f.), Isaiah 37:23; Isaiah 41:2,4; Isaiah 60:8; Isaiah 63:1; Jeremiah 46:7; Songs 3:6, compare Songs 6:10; Songs 8:3; answered by הֲלֹא Exodus 4:11; Isaiah 42:24; Isaiah 45:21; Micah 1:5 (twice in verse). g. מִי may sometimes be rendered whosoever, though, as the examples will shew, it does not really mean it: Exodus 24:14 מי בעל דברים יִגַּשׁ אליהם, literally Who hath a cause ? let him draw nigh unto them, i.e. whoso hath a cause, let him, etc., Isaiah 50:8b מִי בַעַל מִשְׁמָּטִי יִגַּשׁ אֵלַי, Isaiah 54:15; Judges 7:3 מִי יָרֵא וְחָרֵד יָשֹׁב ׳וג who is fearful and trembling ? let him return, Proverbs 9:4,16 מִיפֶֿ֖תִי יָסֻר הֵגָּה, Ezra 1:3 (compare with וְ in apodosis Jeremiah 9:11; Hosea 14:10; Psalm 107:43; Zechariah 4:10 is dubious, on account of anomalous tense and construction); so with מי האישׁ אשׁר ֗֗֗ Deuteronomy 20:5,6,7; Judges 10:18, compare Psalm 25:12. With 1person in apodosis, Exodus 32:33 חָטָא לִי אֶמְחֶגּוּ מִסִּפְרִי מִי אֲשֶׁר, Jeremiah 49:19 ( = Jeremiah 50:44) אֵלָיהָ אֶפְקֹד וּמִי בָחוּר and who is chosen? I will appoint him over her! Isaiah 50:8a; with an imperative in the apodosis Exodus 32:24 (against accents; see Ra) התפרקו למי זהב who hath gold ? break it off you! Genesis 19:12; 1 Samuel 11:12, compare Psalm 34:13f.; without a verb, Exodus 32:26 אלי ׳מי לי who is on J.'s side ? (let him come) to me! so 2 Samuel 20:11 (מי אשׁר); Ecclesiastes 5:9; Ecclesiastes 9:4 (מי אשׁר). h. once, following a verb (compare מָה 3), any one, 2 Samuel 18:12 שִׁמְרוּמִֿי בַּנַּעַר באבשׁלום Have a care, whosoever ye be, of, etc. (but ᵐ5 ᵑ6 ᵑ9 Bu לִי; compare 2 Samuel 18:5). Strong's Exhaustive Concordance any man, he, him, O that! What, which, whom would to God An interrogative pronoun of persons, as mah is of things, who? (occasionally, by a peculiar idiom, of things); also (indefinitely) whoever; often used in oblique construction with prefix or suffix -- any (man), X he, X him, + O that! What, which, who(-m, -se, -soever), + would to God. see HEBREW mah Forms and Transliterations בְּמִ֔י במי וָמִ֖י וּלְמִ֖י וּלְמִ֣י ׀ וּלְמִי֙ וּמִ֖י וּמִ֣י וּמִ֤י וּמִ֥י וּמִ֨י וּמִֽי־ וּמִי֙ וּמִי־ ולמי ומי ומי־ לְ֝מִ֗י לְ֭מִי לְֽמִי־ לְמִ֖י לְמִ֞י לְמִ֣י לְמִ֤י לְמִ֥י לְמִ֨י לְמִ֪י לְמִי֙ לְמִי־ למי למי־ מִ֑י מִ֕י מִ֖י מִ֗י מִ֚י מִ֛י מִ֝֗י מִ֝י מִ֞י מִ֠י מִ֣י מִ֣י ׀ מִ֤י מִ֥י מִ֨י מִ֭י מִֽי מִֽי־ מִי֙ מִי֩ מִי־ מִמִּ֖י מִמִּ֣י מִמִּ֥י מי מי־ ממי bə·mî beMi bəmî lə·mî lə·mî- lemi ləmî ləmî- mi mî mî- mim·mî miMi mimmî miSha ū·lə·mî ū·mî ū·mî- uleMi ūləmî uMi ūmî ūmî- vaMi wā·mî wāmî Links Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts Englishman's Concordance Genesis 3:11 HEB: וַיֹּ֕אמֶר מִ֚י הִגִּ֣יד לְךָ֔ NAS: And He said, Who told KJV: And he said, Who told INT: said Who told for Genesis 19:12 HEB: ל֗וֹט עֹ֚ד מִֽי־ לְךָ֣ פֹ֔ה NAS: said to Lot, Whom else have you here? KJV: Hast thou here any besides? son in law, INT: Lot else Whom here law Genesis 21:7 HEB: וַתֹּ֗אמֶר מִ֤י מִלֵּל֙ לְאַבְרָהָ֔ם NAS: And she said, Who would have said INT: said Who have said to Abraham Genesis 21:26 HEB: לֹ֣א יָדַ֔עְתִּי מִ֥י עָשָׂ֖ה אֶת־ NAS: said, I do not know who has done this INT: neither know who has done thing Genesis 24:23 HEB: וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ בַּת־ מִ֣י אַ֔תְּ הַגִּ֥ידִי NAS: and said, Whose daughter KJV: And said, Whose daughter [art] thou? INT: and said daughter Whose you tell Genesis 24:47 HEB: וָאֹמַר֮ בַּת־ מִ֣י אַתְּ֒ וַתֹּ֗אמֶר NAS: her, and said, 'Whose daughter INT: her and said daughter Whose and she said Genesis 24:65 HEB: אֶל־ הָעֶ֗בֶד מִֽי־ הָאִ֤ישׁ הַלָּזֶה֙ NAS: to the servant, Who is that man KJV: unto the servant, What man INT: to the servant Who man this Genesis 27:18 HEB: וַיֹּ֣אמֶר הִנֶּ֔נִּי מִ֥י אַתָּ֖ה בְּנִֽי׃ NAS: Here I am. Who are you, my son? INT: said Here I am Who you afflicted Genesis 27:32 HEB: יִצְחָ֥ק אָבִ֖יו מִי־ אָ֑תָּה וַיֹּ֕אמֶר NAS: said to him, Who are you? And he said, INT: Isaac his father Who and he said Genesis 27:33 HEB: מְאֹד֒ וַיֹּ֡אמֶר מִֽי־ אֵפ֡וֹא ה֣וּא NAS: and said, Who was he then INT: diligently and said Who then that Genesis 32:17 HEB: וִשְׁאֵֽלְךָ֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר לְמִי־ אַ֙תָּה֙ וְאָ֣נָה NAS: you, saying, 'To whom do you belong, and where INT: and asks saying to whom you and where Genesis 32:17 HEB: וְאָ֣נָה תֵלֵ֔ךְ וּלְמִ֖י אֵ֥לֶּה לְפָנֶֽיךָ׃ NAS: are you going, and to whom do these INT: and where going whom these front Genesis 33:5 HEB: הַיְלָדִ֔ים וַיֹּ֖אמֶר מִי־ אֵ֣לֶּה לָּ֑ךְ NAS: and said, Who are these INT: and the children and said Who are these said Genesis 33:8 HEB: וַיֹּ֕אמֶר מִ֥י לְךָ֛ כָּל־ NAS: And he said, What do you mean by all INT: said What all company Genesis 38:25 HEB: הַכֶּר־ נָ֔א לְמִ֞י הַחֹתֶ֧מֶת וְהַפְּתִילִ֛ים NAS: examine and see, whose signet INT: examine Please whose ring and cords Genesis 43:22 HEB: לֹ֣א יָדַ֔עְנוּ מִי־ שָׂ֥ם כַּסְפֵּ֖נוּ NAS: food; we do not know who put our money INT: not know who put our money Genesis 48:8 HEB: יוֹסֵ֑ף וַיֹּ֖אמֶר מִי־ אֵֽלֶּה׃ NAS: sons, he said, Who are these? INT: Joseph's said Who another Genesis 49:9 HEB: כְּאַרְיֵ֛ה וּכְלָבִ֖יא מִ֥י יְקִימֶֽנּוּ׃ NAS: And as a lion, who dares rouse INT: A lion A lion who rouse Exodus 2:14 HEB: וַ֠יֹּאמֶר מִ֣י שָֽׂמְךָ֞ לְאִ֨ישׁ NAS: But he said, Who made you a prince INT: said Who made thee Exodus 3:11 HEB: אֶל־ הָ֣אֱלֹהִ֔ים מִ֣י אָנֹ֔כִי כִּ֥י NAS: to God, Who am I, that I should go INT: to God Who I should Exodus 4:11 HEB: יְהוָ֜ה אֵלָ֗יו מִ֣י שָׂ֣ם פֶּה֮ NAS: said to him, Who has made INT: the LORD to him Who has made according Exodus 4:11 HEB: לָֽאָדָם֒ א֚וֹ מִֽי־ יָשׂ֣וּם אִלֵּ֔ם NAS: mouth? Or who makes [him] mute INT: man's or who makes mute Exodus 5:2 HEB: וַיֹּ֣אמֶר פַּרְעֹ֔ה מִ֤י יְהוָה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר NAS: said, Who is the LORD INT: said Pharaoh Who is the LORD i Exodus 10:8 HEB: יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶ֑ם מִ֥י וָמִ֖י הַהֹלְכִֽים׃ NAS: your God! Who are the ones that are going? INT: the LORD your God Who Who Go Exodus 10:8 HEB: אֱלֹהֵיכֶ֑ם מִ֥י וָמִ֖י הַהֹלְכִֽים׃ INT: your God Who Who Go 422 Occurrences Strong's Hebrew 4310 422 Occurrences bə·mî — 1 Occ. lə·mî- — 17 Occ. mî — 332 Occ. mim·mî — 3 Occ. mî·šā- — 1 Occ. ū·lə·mî — 3 Occ. ū·mî — 64 Occ. wā·mî — 1 Occ.