הִי

הִי

lamentation

Definition

The Hebrew word הִי (hîy) is a noun meaning 'lamentation' or 'woe.' It denotes a cry of grief, mourning, or distress. In its sole biblical occurrence in Ezekiel 2:10, it is part of the phrase 'lamentations, mourning, and woe' written on the scroll given to the prophet, describing the content of the prophetic message against Israel. This word is a poetic variant of the more common noun for lament, נְהִי (nᵉhîy, H5092).

Biblical Usage

This word is used only once in the entire Old Testament, in Ezekiel 2:10. It appears in a list with other terms for mourning ('lamentations and mourning and woe') on the scroll Ezekiel is commanded to eat, symbolizing the somber and judgmental nature of the prophecies he must deliver to the rebellious house of Israel. Its usage is entirely within a prophetic context of divine warning.

Etymology

The word הִי (hîy) is a byform or a shortened, poetic variant of the noun נְהִי (nᵉhîy, H5092), which also means 'lamentation' or 'wailing.' It derives from the root נָהָה (nāhâ), meaning 'to wail' or 'to lament.' This connection shows it is part of the semantic field of mourning and grief expressions in Hebrew.

Semantic Range

Though used only once, this word is theologically significant as it encapsulates the tone of God's message through Ezekiel. It represents the inevitable sorrow and calamity that result from covenant rebellion. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches the reading of Ezekiel by emphasizing that the prophet's message was not merely information but an embodiment of the grief of both God and the coming suffering of the people. In ancient Israelite culture, formal lamentation was a profound social and religious practice for expressing grief over death, disaster, or national tragedy. The word הִי, though rare, fits within this context. Its appearance on a written scroll in a prophetic vision (Ezekiel 2:10) uniquely merges the cultural practice of lament with the literary form of a divine judgment oracle. נְהִי (nᵉhîy, H5092) — The more standard and frequently used term for 'lamentation' or 'wailing.' מִסְפֵּד (mispēd, H4553) — A lament or mourning ceremony, often public. קִינָה (qînâ, H7015) — A dirge or elegy, a poetic song of lament.

Word Details