מָא (ma)
ma
what
A:PartQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- A:Part
Word Overview
The Aramaic interrogative pronoun ma functions as a simple question word meaning "what." It appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, specifically in Ezra 4:11, where officials writing to King Artaxerxes ask what legal authority justifies the rebuilding of Jerusalem. In this context, it serves a direct, factual purpose, seeking clarification on the basis of the Jews' actions.
While the supplied data notes that Aramaic forms like ma can occasionally carry indefinite or extended meanings such as "whatever" or "why" when combined with prefixes, its primary role here is straightforward inquiry. The word lacks the complex theological weight found in other biblical terms; instead, it highlights a moment of political and legal scrutiny. Translators consistently render it simply as "what," reflecting its unadorned nature as a tool for basic questioning.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word ma is a simple Aramaic term meaning "what." It appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, in Ezra 4:11, where officials ask King Artaxerxes what legal authority justifies the rebuilding of Jerusalem. This single occurrence highlights how language serves as a tool for seeking clarity in moments of political scrutiny.
While this word lacks deep theological weight, it reminds us that asking questions is a natural part of life. Whether we are facing legal challenges or personal uncertainties, seeking understanding is a valid and necessary step. The Bible does not shy away from these practical inquiries, showing that faith and reason can coexist in our daily walk.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- to/ whatever1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- לְ/מָ֣א1×