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מִיכָיְהוּ

𐤌𐤉𐤊𐤉𐤄𐤅

Mikhayehu

H4321 noun

SILEX Entry

Root מי-כ-יהו who, like, YHWH (the divine name as theophoric element)

Definition

Personal name meaning 'Who is like YHWH?' The name is a theophoric compound, expressing rhetorical comparison, highlighting the uniqueness or incomparability of Israel’s god, YHWH. The name is borne by several different men in the Hebrew Bible, reflecting common Israelite naming practices involving the name of the deity.

Semantic Range

personal name, 'Who is like YHWH?,' expressing rhetorical comparison for uniqueness or incomparability of YHWH; borne by multiple male Israelites; used as full or abbreviated forms depending on manuscript tradition.

Root / Etymology

From the root מִי (who) + כ (like) + יהו (abbreviated form of YHWH), itself built on the interrogative pronoun and the divine name. The name is a contracted form of מִיכָיָהוּ (Mikayahu), following common patterns of name abbreviation. The root components ask, 'Who is like YHWH?'

Historical & Contextual Notes

The personal name מִיכָיְהוּ (Mîykâyᵉhûw) appears as both a full form and in abbreviation (e.g., מִכָיְהוּ in Jeremiah 36:11). These variations are common in biblical Hebrew onomastics and do not indicate differing meanings. The name is found for several individuals in distinct monarchic-era contexts (e.g., a prophet in 1 Kings 22; a descendant of Gemariah in Jeremiah 36:11-12). The form alternates with מִיכָיָה and links to the simpler מִיכָה (Micah, 'Who is like?’). Later English Bibles render the name in various forms (Micah, Micaiah, Michaiah), sometimes leading to confusion about which biblical figure is under discussion. The name’s meaning expresses a rhetorical theological affirmation characteristic of Israelite personal names but does not specifically designate office, class, or ethnicity. In post-exilic periods, similar forms continue, but the use of personal theophoric names remains common and is not unique to priestly or prophetic circles. Note that older English translations use the term 'Jew' anachronistically for bearers of this name; in context, these would be Israelite or Judahite.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or מִכָיְהוּ; (Jeremiah 36:11), abbreviated form for מִיכָיָהוּ; Mikajah, the name of three Israelites; Micah, Micaiah, Michaiah.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

מיכיהו (m-y-k-yhw) — who, like, YHWH

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4322 מִיכָיָהוּ Who-Is-Like-YHWH?

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H4321-02 מִיכָ֖יְהוּ mikhayehu HNp Micaiah Who is like YHWH? 18
H4321-01 לְ/מִיכָ֗יְהוּ lemikhayehu HR/Np Micaiah to Who-is-like-YHWH 1

Occurrences in Scripture

19 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H4321-02 1 Kings 22:8 מִיכָ֖יְהוּ mikhayehu HNp Micaiah Who is like YHWH?
H4321-02 1 Kings 22:9 מִיכָ֥יְהוּ mikhayehu HNp Micaiah Who is like YHWH?
H4321-02 1 Kings 22:13 מִיכָ֗יְהוּ mikhayehu HNp Micaiah Who is like YHWH?
H4321-02 1 Kings 22:14 מִיכָ֑יְהוּ mikhayehu HNp Micaiah Who is like YHWH?
H4321-02 1 Kings 22:15 מִיכָ֨יְהוּ֙ mikhayehu HNp Micaiah Who is like YHWH?
H4321-02 1 Kings 22:24 מִיכָ֖יְהוּ mikhayehu HNp Micaiah Who is like YHWH?
H4321-02 1 Kings 22:25 מִיכָ֔יְהוּ mikhayehu HNp Micaiah Who is like YHWH?
H4321-02 1 Kings 22:26 מִיכָ֔יְהוּ mikhayehu HNp Micaiah Who is like YHWH?
H4321-02 1 Kings 22:28 מִיכָ֔יְהוּ mikhayehu HNp Micaiah Who is like YHWH?
H4321-02 Jeremiah 36:11 מִכָ֨יְהוּ mikhayehu HNp Micaiah Who is like YHWH?
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