עַי, H5857
Ai — the ancient Canaanite city near Bethel, destroyed by Joshua; also a variant form Ayyah in post-exilic lists.
A place name most famously associated with the Israelite conquest narrative in Joshua 7-8, where Ai's initial defeat of Israel exposed Achan's sin and its subsequent destruction demonstrated divine judgment and restoration. The name always appears with the definite article (ha-Ai, 'the ruin'), suggesting it may preserve an older common noun meaning 'ruin heap.' French 'le Ai' and German 'der Ai' faithfully reproduce this article, while Spanish 'Hai' contracts it. A single late occurrence as 'Ayyah' (Neh 11:31) appears in a post-exilic settlement list for Benjamin, likely referring to a resettlement near or on the ancient site.
Senses
1. Ai (Canaanite city) — The Canaanite city near Bethel, central to the conquest narrative. Always with the article ha-Ai ('the ruin'), appearing in Genesis as a geographic marker (Gen 12:8; 13:3 — Abraham pitched his tent between Bethel and Ai) and then dominating Joshua 7-8 with the failed first attack, Achan's sin, and the successful ambush. Also listed in the returnee census (Ezra 2:28; Neh 7:32). French 'le Aï' and German 'der Ai' preserve the distinctive article that sets this toponym apart from ordinary place names. 39×
AR["العايَ", "العايِ", "الْ-عَايِ"]·ben["আয়", "আয়-কে", "আয়-তে", "আয়ের"]·DE["Ai", "der-Ai", "von-der-Ai", "zu-der-Ai"]·EN["of-the-Ai", "the-Ai", "to-the-Ai"]·FR["de-le-Aï", "le-Ai", "le-Aï", "à-le-Aï"]·heb["ה-עי", "ל-עי"]·HI["अय", "अय-का", "अय-के", "ऐ"]·ID["Ai", "Ai-itu"]·IT["a-il-Ai", "di-il-Ai", "il-Ai"]·jav["Ai", "punika"]·KO["아이", "아이로", "아이를", "아이의"]·PT["(a) Ha'Ai", "Ay", "Ha'Ai"]·RU["-Гаем", "Гаем", "Гай", "Гаю", "Гая", "в-Гай", "на-Гай", "от-Гая"]·ES["Hai"]·SW["Ai"]·TR["-Ay'ın", "Ay'a", "Ay'ı", "Ay'ın", "için-Ay'ın"]·urd["عائی", "عائی-کو", "عائی-کی", "عائی-کے"]
2. Ayyah (settlement in Nehemiah) — The variant spelling Ayyah (עַיָּה), appearing once in Neh 11:31 among Benjaminite settlements of the post-exilic resettlement. Without the article and with a different vowel pattern, this form may represent a later pronunciation or a distinct nearby settlement. Most translations leave it untranslated or bracket it, as seen in the French and German renderings ([ועיה]), reflecting uncertainty about whether this is simply Ai by another name or a separate locale. 1×
AR["وَ-عَيَّا"]·ben["আর-অয়ায়"]·DE["[ועיה]"]·EN["and-Ayyah"]·FR["[ועיה]"]·heb["ו-עיה"]·HI["और-अय्याह-में"]·ID["dan-Aya"]·IT["[ועיה]"]·jav["lan-Aya"]·KO["그리고-아야"]·PT["e-Ayah"]·RU["и-Айя"]·ES["y-Aja"]·SW["na-Aiya"]·TR["ve-Ayya"]·urd["اور-عیا"]
Related Senses
G3588 1. definite article (18298×)H0853 1. definite direct object marker (10915×)G2532 1. (8312×)H3068 1. YHWH (the divine name) (6522×)H0834a 1. relative pronoun (who/which/that) (4839×)H3588a 1. causal: because, for (3498×)G1161 1. and (2806×)H3478 1. Israel (proper name and nation) (2507×)G4771 1. you (plural address) (1853×)H1931 1. personal pronoun he/she/it (1431×)G3739 1. relative pronoun who/which/that (1149×)H1732 1. David (proper name) (1075×)H2088 1. this, this one (demonstrative) (1059×)G1063 1. (1047×)G3778 1. this thing, these things (1003×)H???? 2. (1002×)G2424 1. (924×)G3754 1. that (content clause) (881×)H2009 1. presentative particle: behold, look (881×)H0589 1. I (first person singular pronoun) (874×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
עַי, עַיָּ֑ת, עַיָּה n.pr.loc. Αγγαι (Gn), Γαι: 1. old Canaanit. city, עַי always c. art. הָעַי (הָעָ֑י Gn 13:3 +), near Bethel to the SE. (exact site unknown, cf. Di Jos. 7:2 BuhlGeogr. 177), Gn 12:8 (J), 13:3 (J), Jos 7:2(×2), 3, 4, 5; 8:1(×2), 2, 3 + 18 times Jos 8 (+ Qr v 12, 16, but improb., Kt עיר, cf. Di), 9:3; 10:1(×2), 2 (all JE), 12:9 (D), Ezr 2:28 = Ne 7:32; = עַיָּת Is 10:28; עַיָּה…