כַ/מַּ֨יִם֙
𐤊/𐤌𐤉𐤌
mayim
like water
Primary meaning: water, the substance essential for life in liquid form. Used for natural bodies of water—such as rivers, springs, seas, rain—materials in or with water, or as an element in rituals. Secondarily, may serve as a metonym for abundance, chaos, or danger (e.g., 'waters' of the deep, flood, or destruction), and occasionally for bodily fluids in specific contexts (semen, urine). The term may stand for any potable or environmental water, from dew to ocean; its figurative usage points to aspects of fertility, life, and chaos.
maji "water" (Sukuma) · amazzi "water" (Luganda) · amanzi "water" (Tonga) +12 moreLamentations 2:19 · Word #8
Lexicon H4325
| Lemma | מַיִם |
| Lemma (Paleo) | 𐤌𐤉𐤌 |
| Transliteration | mayim |
| Strong's | H4325 |
| Definition | Primary meaning: water, the substance essential for life in liquid form. Used for natural bodies of water—such as rivers, springs, seas, rain—materials in or with water, or as an element in rituals. Secondarily, may serve as a metonym for abundance, chaos, or danger (e.g., 'waters' of the deep, flood, or destruction), and occasionally for bodily fluids in specific contexts (semen, urine). The term may stand for any potable or environmental water, from dew to ocean; its figurative usage points to aspects of fertility, life, and chaos. |
Morphology HRd/Ncmpa
All morphology codes
| Part of Speech | N — Noun — A person, place, thing, or idea |
| Subtype | c — Common — Common noun |
| Gender | m — Masculine — Masculine |
| Number | p — Plural — Plural |
| State | a — Absolute — The noun stands independently |
Common Translation
| Phrase | like water |
SIBI-P1 Translation H4325-08
like waters
| Morphological Notes | Preposition כַ ("like/as") prefixed to masculine plural common noun מַיִם in the absolute state; formally plural/dual in form but collective in function. |
| Rendering Rationale | The prefixed כַ expresses comparison ("like/as"), and מַיִם is a formally plural masculine noun functioning as a collective for water. Rendering it "waters" preserves the morphological plural form while retaining the root sense of flowing, abundant liquid substance. |
View full lexicon entry for H4325 →
SILEX v2
SIBI-P2 (Context-Aware)
like waters
| Same as P1 | No — adjusted for context |
| Rationale | Standardized from "like water". Hebrew uses כָּמָיִם (the plural מַיִם); the plural/plural-imagery fits the context (a pouring out like torrents) and there is no grammatical or contextual need to force the English mass noun “water.” For consistency with the chosen standard, change “like water” to “like waters.” |
Bantu Hebrew
כַ/מַּ֨יִם֙ (mayim) — Primary meaning: water, the substance essential for life in liquid form. Used for natural bodies of water—such as rivers, springs, seas, rain—materials in or with water, or as an element in rituals. Secondarily, may serve as a metonym for abundance, chaos, or danger (e.g., 'waters' of the deep, flood, or destruction), and occasionally for bodily fluids in specific contexts (semen, urine). The term may stand for any potable or environmental water, from dew to ocean; its figurative usage points to aspects of fertility, life, and chaos.
| Word | Meaning | Language |
|---|---|---|
| maji | water | Sukuma |
| amazzi | water | Luganda |
| amanzi | water | Tonga |
| madzi | water | Chichewa |
| maayi | water | Tshiluba |
| mési | water | Kongo |
| Mayi | water | Lingala |
| Mae | water | Kikuyu |
| Amazi | water | Kirundi |
| Mayi | water | Swahili |
| omeya/omeva | water | Oshiwambo |
| mai | water | Kikuyu |
| Amenshi | water | Bemba |
| Mezi | Water | Lozi |
| Amanzi | water | Zulu |