מִי
𐤌𐤉
mîy
H4310 particle
SILEX Entry
Definition
An interrogative pronoun primarily used to ask about the identity or character of persons ('who?'), sometimes extended idiomatically to inquire about certain objects or parties when personification or rhetorical force is present. May function in both direct and indirect questions, and occasionally in indefinite or relative constructions to mean 'whoever' or 'anyone.' Rarely used in exclamatory expressions to evoke a wish or strong rhetorical question.
Semantic Range
who?; who is?; whoever; anyone; someone; he who; (occasionally) what? in personifying contexts; rhetorical or indirect interrogative pronoun
Root / Etymology
Root/Etymology: Root uncertain. The word מִי is a longstanding interrogative pronoun in Northwest Semitic languages, with close cognates in Ugaritic ('my'), Aramaic ('manu'), and Akkadian ('manu'), used for persons. It is considered etymologically distinct from מָה ('what?'), which designates non-personal entities. As מִי is not derived from a typical triliteral root, its etymology is usually listed as a frozen or primitive pronoun.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Historical & Contextual Notes: מִי occurs throughout all periods of biblical Hebrew, from early poetry (e.g., Exodus 15:11, 'Who is like you, YHWH, among the gods?') to late biblical narrative and post-exilic literature. Its primary usage remains stable: the interrogation of personal identity or character. In poetry, prophets, and wisdom literature, מִי can be used rhetorically to highlight divine uniqueness or the limits of human knowledge (Job 38:5, 'Who determined its measurements?'). On occasion, personification or idiomatic use allows מִי to refer indirectly to non-personal things (as in Isaiah 40:13, 'Who has measured the spirit of YHWH?'). The word may appear compounded or with suffixed forms (e.g., מִי־זֶה 'who is this'). Standard English versions generally render מִי as 'who,' but sometimes use 'whoever,' 'anyone,' or in exclamatory questions, 'what' or 'how.' The distinction between מִי (persons) and מָה (things) is usually maintained in Hebrew; blending occurs only in contexts of rhetorical emphasis or personification. מִי is rarely used for ethnic, geographic, or religious group identification in itself but may occur in contexts seeking the ancestral or tribal identity of individuals among Israelites, Judahites, or other groups.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
an interrogative pronoun of persons, as מָה 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), [idiom] he, [idiom] him, [phrase] O that! what, which, who(-m, -se, -soever), [phrase] would to God.
Bantu Hebrew
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מי (m-y (primitive pronoun)) — question about identity, inquiry about a person, interrogative of persons
Word Forms
8 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4310-04 |
מִ֚י | mi | HTi |
who | who? | 333 |
H4310-07 |
וּ/מִ֨י | umi | HC/Ti |
and who | and who? | 64 |
H4310-03 |
לְ/מִי | lemi | HR/Ti |
to whom | to whom? | 17 |
H4310-06 |
וּ/לְ/מִ֖י | ulemi | HC/R/Ti |
and for whom | and to whom? | 3 |
H4310-05 |
מִ/מִּ֖י | mimi | HR/Ti |
from whom | from who? | 3 |
H4310-02 |
בְּ/שֶׁ/לְּ/מִ֛י | beshelemi | HR/Tr/R/Ti |
on account of whom | on account of who? | 1 |
H4310-01 |
בְּ/מִ֔י | bemi | HR/Ti |
By whom? | in whom? | 1 |
H4310-08 |
וָ/מִ֖י | vami | HC/Ti |
and who | and who? | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
423 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4310-04 |
Genesis 3:11 | מִ֚י | mi | HTi |
who | who? |
H4310-04 |
Genesis 19:12 | מִֽי | mi | HTi |
who | who? |
H4310-04 |
Genesis 21:7 | מִ֤י | mi | HTi |
Who | who? |
H4310-04 |
Genesis 21:26 | מִ֥י | mi | HTi |
who | who? |
H4310-04 |
Genesis 24:23 | מִ֣י | mi | HTi |
whose | who? |
H4310-04 |
Genesis 24:47 | מִ֣י | mi | HTi |
whose | who? |
H4310-04 |
Genesis 24:65 | מִֽי | mi | HTi |
who | who? |
H4310-04 |
Genesis 27:18 | מִ֥י | mi | HTi |
Who | who? |
H4310-04 |
Genesis 27:32 | מִי | mi | HTi |
who | who? |
H4310-04 |
Genesis 27:33 | מִֽי | mi | HTi |
who | who? |