עַי (ay)
ay
Ai
N:N--LQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 34 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--L
Word Overview
The name Ai, appearing in Hebrew as עַי, literally means "heap of ruins." It designates a specific Canaanite city located east of Bethel and near Jericho, situated within the territory later assigned to the tribe of Benjamin. The lexical sources note variant spellings such as Aija and Hai, which appear in different biblical books like Genesis, Joshua, and Nehemiah.
This location holds a prominent place in the narrative of the Israelite conquest. It is recorded as the second city taken during the initial invasion, following the detailed accounts in Joshua chapters seven and eight. The text describes the strategic military engagement there, including the ambush that led to the city's destruction and the subsequent burning of its walls.
The enduring meaning of the name as a ruin aligns with its historical fate. Isaiah later references Aiath, a form of the name, when describing an invading army’s path (Isaiah 10:28). This usage reinforces the image of the site as a place of desolation, serving as a geographical marker in prophetic literature about judgment and movement through the land.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Ai translates to "heap of ruins," a title that fits its history perfectly. It stands as a physical reminder of the consequences of disobedience and the reality of spiritual defeat. When Israel attacked without seeking God's presence, they suffered a humiliating loss. This moment in Joshua chapter seven shows how quickly confidence can turn into fear when we rely on our own strength rather than divine guidance.
Yet the story does not end in failure. After identifying and removing the sin that hindered them, God gave Joshua a clear strategy for victory in chapter eight. The subsequent burning of Ai and its transformation into an eternal heap of ruins serve as a lasting marker. It reminds us that while disobedience leads to desolation, obedience restores our footing and allows us to move forward with purpose.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 34 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- <the>/ Ai27×
- and/ <the>/ Ai3×
- to <the>/ Ai2×
- of <the>/ Ai1×
- in <the>/ Ai1×
- and/ to <the>/ Ai1×
- and/ Aija1×
- [was] in <the>/ Ai1×
- Aiath1×
- Ai1×
- <to>/ Ai1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- הָ/עָֽי\׃8×
- הָ/עָ֑י4×
- הָ/עַ֖י3×
- הָ/עַ֔י3×
- וְ/הָ/עָ֔י2×
- הָ/עַ֛י2×
- הָ/עַ֗י2×
- עַיַּ֖ת1×
- עַ֗י1×
- לָ/עָ֑י1×
- לָ/עַ֜י1×
- לָ/עַ֖י1×
Key Verses
-
Joshua 7:5
The men of Ai struck about thirty-six men of them. They chased them from before the gate even to Shebarim, and struck them at the descent. The hearts of the people melted, and became like water.
This verse captures the sudden shift from confidence to despair, showing how a single defeat can melt the hearts of an entire community when they are out of alignment with God.
-
Joshua 8:1
Yahweh said to Joshua, “Don’t be afraid, and don’t be dismayed. Take all the warriors with you, and arise, go up to Ai. Behold, I have given into your hand the king of Ai, with his people, his city, and his land.
Here God reverses the previous failure by commanding Joshua not to be afraid, offering a clear path to victory that depends on following His specific instructions rather than human strategy.
-
Joshua 8:28
So Joshua burned Ai and made it a heap forever, even a desolation, to this day.
The text records that Joshua made Ai a heap forever, fulfilling the literal meaning of its name and establishing it as a permanent geographical marker of judgment and desolation.