אֵיכֹה
𐤀𐤉𐤊𐤄
ʼêykôh
H351 particle
SILEX Entry
Definition
An adverb meaning 'where?' used in interrogative contexts to ask about location, situation, or position. Found in Hebrew poetry and rhetorical questions, often expressing inquiry about the whereabouts or state of a person or thing.
Semantic Range
where? (the location of someone or something), in what place or state?, in what situation?, rhetorical inquiry about existence or presence
Root / Etymology
From the root איכ (uncertain root, but likely related to the interrogative base used in several Hebrew terms of inquiry), 'how', 'where', or as a variation of אֵיךְ (ʼêyk), the standard interrogative 'how?', with the suffix -ה (local ending or exclamatory/emphatic). Thus, אֵיכֹה strengthens or nuances the interrogative sense present in אֵיךְ.
Historical & Contextual Notes
אֵיכֹה appears primarily in poetic or elevated narrative discourse, notably in rhetorical contexts (e.g., Genesis 3:9: 'Where are you?'), often connoting both literal location and situational existential inquiry. The form is a morphologically extended version of אֵיךְ, possibly for emphasis or euphony. Strong's gloss considers it 'not as an interrogative', but this is dated and does not align with actual usage; the particle is clearly interrogative, with the nuance often shaped by context. Usage is not limited to only geographical inquiry; it can extend to the state or condition of someone or something. Translation into English as 'where' is generally accurate but sometimes misses the nuanced existential or emotional inquiry present in context.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
probably a variation for אֵיךְ, but not as an interogative; where; where.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
איכ (ʾ-y-k) — inquire, ask where, question location or situation
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H1963 | הֵיךְ | How? |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H351-01 |
אֵיכֹ֣ה | eykhoh | HTi |
where | where? | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H351-01 |
2 Kings 6:13 | אֵיכֹ֣ה | eykhoh | HTi |
where | where? |