מָה
Definition
The Hebrew word מָה (mâh) is an interrogative pronoun meaning 'what?' or 'how?', used to ask questions about identity, nature, quantity, or reason. In its Aramaic occurrences in the books of Ezra and Daniel, it often functions to inquire about specific objects or matters, as in Ezra 4:22 ('whatsoever is commanded'), or to express astonishment at magnitude, as in Daniel 2:15 ('why is the decree so hasty?'). It can also introduce indirect questions about the content or cause of something, such as in Daniel 2:22 ('he knoweth what is in the darkness').
Biblical Usage
This word appears exclusively in the Aramaic portions of the Old Testament (Ezra 4:22, 6:9, 7:18, 7:23; Daniel 2:15, 2:22, 2:28, 2:29). It is used in royal decrees and divine revelations to specify required items, question motives, or describe the content of knowledge. For example, it specifies provisions in Ezra 6:9 ('whatsoever they have need of') and introduces the revelation of Nebuchadnezzar's dream in Daniel 2:28 ('what shall be in the latter days').
Etymology
This is the Aramaic form corresponding to the Hebrew interrogative מָה (H4100). It derives from a common Semitic root for questioning. The Aramaic usage in the biblical texts reflects the language of the Persian administrative context and court narratives where it was employed.
Semantic Range
Though primarily a grammatical function word, מָה in its Aramaic context appears in key passages about God's sovereign revelation and provision. In Daniel 2, it is used in contexts highlighting God's exclusive knowledge of 'what' will happen in the future (Daniel 2:28-29) and 'what' is in darkness (Daniel 2:22), emphasizing divine omniscience. In Ezra, its use in royal decrees (Ezra 6:9, 7:18-23) underlines God's providential provision for the rebuilding of the temple through pagan authorities.
In the Aramaic of the Persian Empire, this was a standard interrogative word used in official documents and dialogue. Its appearance in biblical Aramaic sections reflects the historical setting of the Jewish exile and restoration, where Aramaic was the language of international administration and communication.
מָה (mâh, H4100) — The direct Hebrew equivalent, used throughout the Hebrew Old Testament. מִי (mî, H4310) — The interrogative 'who?', used for persons rather than things or concepts.
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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