אֵיכֹה
where
Definition
The Hebrew word אֵיכֹה (ʼêykôh) is an interrogative adverb meaning 'where.' It is used to inquire about the location or presence of something or someone. In its single biblical occurrence in 2 Kings 6:13, it is employed by the king of Aram, who asks his servants to find out the location of the prophet Elisha so he can capture him. This usage aligns with its basic function as a locative question, similar to its more common variant אֵיךְ (ʼêyk).
Biblical Usage
This word appears only once in the Old Testament, in 2 Kings 6:13. In this narrative context, it is used in a military setting by a foreign king seeking to locate the prophet Elisha. The usage is straightforward, serving as a direct question about physical location within a story of divine protection and revelation.
Etymology
אֵיכֹה is a variant form of the more frequent Hebrew interrogative אֵיךְ (ʼêyk, H349), which can mean 'how?' or 'where?' The addition of the ה (h) suffix may be a dialectical or stylistic variation. It derives from the same root as other interrogatives in Semitic languages, used to form questions about manner or place.
Semantic Range
While אֵיכֹה itself is a simple interrogative, its sole use in 2 Kings 6:13 is theologically significant. The question 'Where is he?'—asked by an enemy king about Elisha—sets the stage for a dramatic revelation of God's omnipresence and protective power. Elisha's servant soon sees the heavenly armies surrounding them (2 Kings 6:17), showing that God's presence and location transcend human inquiry. This contrasts with God's question to Adam, 'Where are you?' (אַיֶּכָּה, ʼayyekkâ, in Genesis 3:9), which is relational. Understanding this Hebrew term highlights how biblical narratives use simple questions to unfold profound truths about God's sovereignty and care for His people.
In ancient Near Eastern culture, locating a prophet or man of God was often tied to seeking divine guidance, oracle, or, in this hostile context, attempting to neutralize a perceived spiritual threat. The king's question reflects a common military intelligence gathering tactic.
אֵיךְ (ʼêyk, H349) — A more common interrogative meaning 'how?' or 'where?'; אַי (ʼay, H335) — Another interrogative meaning 'where?', often used in poetic or direct questions; אָן (ʼân, H575) — Meaning 'where?', 'whither?', often used in questions about direction.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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