H0370 H0370
From where? Whence? An interrogative adverb of origin or source, often with rhetorical or poetic force.
The compound מֵאַיִן (from מִן 'from' and אַיִן 'where') asks about origin or source. While the prosaic synonym אֵי־מִזֶּה serves the same function in everyday speech, מֵאַיִן carries a more elevated, often rhetorical or poetic tone. Jacob asks the shepherds 'From where are you?' (Gen 29:4), Joseph confronts his brothers with 'From where have you come?' (Gen 42:7), and Moses cries out in frustration, 'From where am I to get meat for all this people?' (Num 11:13). In wisdom literature the question becomes profoundly theological: 'From where does wisdom come?' (Job 28:12, 20). The Psalmist asks, 'From where does my help come?' and answers, 'from the LORD' (Ps 121:1-2).
Senses
1. from where — An interrogative adverb asking about origin or source — 'from where?' or 'whence?' Used both in practical inquiries about a person's homeland (Gen 29:4; Gen 42:7; Judg 17:9; 19:17) and in elevated rhetorical or poetic questions that probe deeper realities: Moses' exasperated 'From where am I to get meat?' (Num 11:13), Job's profound 'From where does wisdom come?' (Job 28:12, 20), and the Psalmist's trustful 'From where does my help come?' (Ps 121:1). French 'de-où' and Spanish 'de-dónde' reflect the compound prepositional structure. 17×
AR["مِن-أينَ", "مِن-أَينَ", "مِن-أَيْنَ", "مِنْ-أَيْنَ", "وَ-مِن-أَينَ", "وَ-مِن-أَيْنَ", "وَ-مِنْ-أَيْنَ", "وَمِنْ-أَيْنَ"]·ben["এবং-কোথা-থেকে", "কোথা-থেকে"]·DE["[ומאין]", "und-von-es-ist-nicht", "und-von-wo", "von-es-ist-nicht", "von-wo", "woher"]·EN["and-from-where", "from-where"]·FR["[ומאין]", "de-il-n'y-a-pas", "de-où", "de-où?", "et-de-il-n'y-a-pas", "et-de-où"]·heb["ו-מ-אין", "ו-מאין", "מ-אין", "מ-איפה"]·HI["ऊ-मे-कहाँ-से", "और-कहाँ-से", "और-कहां-से", "कहाँ-से", "कहां-से", "मेआयिन", "वे-आते-हैं"]·ID["Dari-mana", "dan-dari-mana", "dari mana", "dari-mana"]·IT["[ומאין]", "[מאין]", "da-da-dove", "da-dove", "da-non-c'e'", "e-da-dove"]·jav["Saking-pundi", "lan-saking-pundi", "saking-pundi"]·KO["그리고-어디로부터", "그리고-어디서", "그리고-어디에서", "어디-에서", "어디서", "어디에서"]·PT["De-onde", "de-onde", "e-de-onde"]·RU["Откуда", "и-откуда", "откуда"]·ES["De-dónde", "de-dónde", "y-de-donde", "y-de-dónde", "¿De-dónde", "¿Y-de-dónde", "¿de-dónde", "¿y-de-dónde?"]·SW["Unatoka-wapi", "kutoka-wapi", "kwa", "na-kutoka-wapi", "na-unatoka-wapi", "umetoka-wapi"]·TR["-den-nereden", "Nereden", "nereden", "ve-nereden"]·urd["اور-کہاں-سے", "کہاں-سے"]
Gen 29:4, Gen 42:7, Num 11:13, Josh 2:4, Josh 9:8, Judg 17:9, Judg 19:17, 2 Kgs 5:25, 2 Kgs 6:27, 2 Kgs 20:14, Job 1:7, Job 28:12 (+5 more)
Related Senses
H8033 1. There (locative adverb) (835×)H7760a 1. put, place, set physically (444×)H8064 1. heavens / sky (329×)H5439 1. around, all around (spatial) (319×)H4057b 1. wilderness, desert region (270×)H3220 1. sea, body of water (269×)H0520a 1. cubit (unit of length) (246×)H0127 1. ground, land (territory) (210×)H3383 1. Jordan River (proper noun) (183×)G1093 1. earth, the world (176×)H5800a 1. forsake, abandon (Qal active) (166×)H8121 1. sun (celestial body) (133×)H7126 1. offer, present sacrificially (122×)H6828 1. north, cardinal direction (120×)H2351 1. outside, exterior space (119×)H5104 1. river, stream (119×)H7341 1. width, breadth (101×)G1563 1. there (95×)H7126 2. draw near, approach (95×)G2281 1. sea, large body of water (91×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
I. [אַ֫יִן] adv. (from אַי; Ass. aina, ainu, Ara. أَيْنَ where? مِنْ أَيْنَ whence?) only in the compound מֵאַ֫יִן17 whence? Gn 29:4; 42:7 (syn. אֵי־מִזֶּה e.g. Gn 16:8 1 S 30:13) Ju 17:9; 19:17 Jb 1:7 (2:2 אֵי־מִזֶּה); used in a rhet. or poet. style (where אֵי־מִזֶּה would be too prosaic) Nu 11:13 מֵאַיִן לִי בָּשָׂר whence have I flesh etc.? 2 K 6:27 Je 30:7 Alas! for that day is great; מֵאַיִן…