מַ֖יִם
𐤌𐤉𐤌
mayim
for the congregation
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.
Mae "water" (Kikuyu) · mai "water" (Kikuyu) · omeya/omeva "water" (Oshiwambo) +5 moreNumbers 20:2 · Word #3
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 HNcmpa
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 | for the congregation |
SIBI-P1 Translation H4325-13
waters
| Morphological Notes | Masculine common noun, plural form (formally dual in origin), absolute state; functions as a collective noun. |
| Rendering Rationale | The form is morphologically masculine plural absolute, so the rendering preserves the plural form as "waters," while reflecting the root sense of flowing, life-sustaining liquid abundance. Though often functioning as a collective singular, the Hebrew form itself is plural in shape. |
View full lexicon entry for H4325 →
SILEX v2
SIBI-P2 (Context-Aware)
water
| Same as P1 | No — adjusted for context |
| Rationale | Although the Hebrew is plural, the context refers to the lack of water for everyone, so the singular 'water' is idiomatic and contextually correct in English; this is a standard adjustment. |
Bantu Hebrew
מַ֖יִם (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.