מָא
𐤌𐤀
mâʼ
H3964 particle
SILEX Entry
Definition
Interrogative particle indicating a question about identity, nature, or value; introduces inquiries into what something is, or what kind, analogous to 'what?' or 'which?' in English. Depending on context, can indicate request for specification, explanation, or introduction of indefinite or relative clauses.
Semantic Range
what?, which?, whatever, that which, anything, something, as an indefinite or interrogative pronoun
Root / Etymology
From the Aramaic root מ־א, directly corresponding to the Hebrew interrogative מָה (mah); derived as an interrogative pronoun. The root regularly conveys the idea of inquiry or eliciting information.
Historical & Contextual Notes
מָא occurs in Biblical Aramaic sections of the Hebrew Bible (such as Daniel and Ezra) where it functions identically to its Hebrew counterpart מָה. In both direct and indirect questions, it seeks to identify, specify, or inquire about the kind, nature, or quantity of an object or matter. Unlike the Hebrew מָה, the Aramaic form is exclusive to Aramaic portions and reflects common Northwest Semitic interrogative formation. In translations, often simply rendered 'what' or 'which', but the contextual nuance may shift to 'anything', 'something', or remain part of a relative clause. The usage does not overlap with later religious or ethnic designations. No substantive semantic shift is observed in its occurrences from biblical through later Aramaic usage, but its precise syntactic role may be influenced by surrounding grammatical structure.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
(Aramaic) corresponding to מָה; (as indefinitely) that; [phrase] what.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
מא (m-ʾ) — to ask, to question, to inquire
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H3967 | מֵאָה | in one hundred |
| H3969 | מְאָה | one hundred |
| H4591 | מָעַט | hundreds |
| H4592 | מְעַט | and hundred-of |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3964-02 |
לְ/מָ֣א | lema | AR/Pfxcs |
for-what | to what? | 1 |
H3964-01 |
בַּ/מָּֽה | bamah | HR/Ti |
Wherewith? | in what? | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3964-01 |
1 Kings 22:21 | בַּ/מָּֽה | bamah | HR/Ti |
Wherewith? | in what? |
H3964-02 |
Ezra 6:8 | לְ/מָ֣א | lema | AR/Pfxcs |
for-what | to what? |