BIBLE HEBREW WORD STUDY
Mah (מָה) — Meaning & Usage in the Bible
מָה (mah-) is the basic Hebrew interrogative word for 'what,' also extending to 'how,' 'why,' and 'when,' and at times functioning as an exclamation or indefinite relative pronoun.
Meaning of the word
The lexicon defines מָה as 'properly, interrogative what?' It is the most common Hebrew word for asking 'what,' and its sense stretches to cover related questions such as 'how?,' 'why?,' and 'when?' depending on what follows it in the clause. The same word can also be turned into an exclamation—'what!' or 'how!'—when it introduces a striking observation.
Beyond questions and exclamations, מָה functions as an indefinite or generalizing word. In this relative use it can mean 'whatever,' 'whatever thing,' or even 'that which,' referring back to something already described. The supplied verses show this range: in Ecclesiastes 3:15 מָה is glossed 'that,' introducing a relative clause rather than a true question.
Usage in Scripture
In the early chapters of Genesis, מָה appears in foundational scenes. Adam names the animals by deciding 'what he would call them' (Gen 2:19), and the Lord confronts Eve with 'What is this thou hast done?' (Gen 3:13). Pharaoh echoes the same construction in Gen 12:18, showing that מָה is the standard form for both genuine inquiry and accusation. The same phrase 'what is this we have done' resurfaces in Exod 14:5 as Israel flees, demonstrating how the interrogative carries both confusion and self-reproach.
The word also takes on causal force. Gen 12:19 glosses מָה as 'why?', and Exod 14:11, 14:15 use it to press Moses about the purpose behind Israel's plight. In reflective contexts מָה becomes 'how': 'How precious also are thy thoughts unto me' (Ps 139:17). Ecclesiastes uses the term philosophically—'What profit hath he that worketh?' (3:9)—pressing the reader to weigh meaning and outcome.
The word in detail
- H4100 מָה (mah-) is the fundamental Hebrew interrogative pronoun, glossed 'what' but extending to 'how,' 'why,' 'when,' and—as shown in Ecclesiastes 3:15—'that' in a relative sense. With prefixes it forms numerous adverbial and conjunctive expressions.
Example verses
- Genesis 2:19 מָה introduces the indirect question of what name Adam would give each creature, showing its basic 'what' sense in a neutral inquiry.
- Genesis 3:13 The Lord uses מָה to confront Eve, turning the interrogative into an accusation: 'What is this thou hast done?'
- Exodus 14:5 Pharaoh and his servants cry 'What is this we have done?'—מָה expressing both bewilderment and regret.
- Ecclesiastes 3:15 Here מָה shifts from a question to a relative word meaning 'that which,' glossed 'that' in the verse.
Common questions
Is מָה only a question word?
No. While its primary force is 'what?', the lexicon notes it can also mean 'how?,' 'why?,' 'when?,' act as an exclamation ('what!'), or function as a relative ('that which'), as seen in Ecclesiastes 3:15.
How do I tell whether מָה means 'what' or 'why'?
Context governs the translation. When the clause expects an explanation of motive or reason, as in Genesis 12:19 and Exodus 14:15, 'why' fits; when an action or object is being identified, 'what' is appropriate, as in Genesis 3:13.
Does מָה ever function like a relative pronoun?
Yes. The lexicon notes its use as an indefinite or relative pronoun meaning 'whatever' or 'that which.' Ecclesiastes 3:15 is given as an example where it is glossed 'that.'