Original Word: בִּי
Part of Speech: particle of entreaty
Transliteration: biy
Pronunciation: bee
Phonetic Spelling: (bee)
Definition: "Oh!" or "Alas!"
Meaning: oh that!, with leave, if it please

alas, O, oh

Perhaps from ba'ah (in the sense of asking); properly, a request; used only adverbially (always with "my Lord"); Oh that!; with leave, or if it please -- alas, O, oh.

see HEBREW ba'ah

בִּי particle of entreaty, craving permission to address a superior, always followed by אֲדֹנִי (or אֲדֹנָי), and always (except Joshua 7:8) at the beginning of a speech, I pray, excuse me — (not improbable from √ ביי; so that בִּי אֲדֹנִי will be literally a supplication of (i.e. to my lord! compare Wetzst l.c., who compares the Arabic literally a prayer to my lord! a standing formula = Pray, excuse me, used exactly as בֹּי אֲדֹנִי. According to other contracted from בְּעִי, from בָּעָה to ask, and so literally a petition! compare Aramaic בְּבָעוּ, (e.g. Genesis 19:18 ᵑ7, Numbers 12:13 ᵑ6); but ע is not often elided in Hebrew) — Genesis 44:18 בִּי אֲדֹנִי יְדַבֶּרנָֿא I pray, my lord, let thy servant speak, etc.; so Numbers 12:11; Judges 6:13; 1 Samuel 1:26; 1 Kings 3:17,26, and following by a plural subject Genesis 43:20 יָרֹד יָרַדְנוּ ׳בִּי א Oh, my lord, we came down, etc.; בִּי אֲדֹנָי (to God) Exodus 4:10,13; Joshua 7:8; Judges 6:15; Judges 13:8 (ᵐ5 in Pentateuch and Joshua δέομαι, δεόμεθα: in other books absurdly ἐν ἐμοί).

Word Origin: Derived from the preposition בְּ (be), meaning "in" or "with," combined with the pronoun י (i), meaning "me" or "my."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: There is no direct equivalent in the Greek Strong's Concordance for the Hebrew interjection בִּי, as it is a specific Hebrew idiomatic expression. However, similar expressions of entreaty or polite request can be found in Greek, often using terms like δέομαι (deomai, Strong's Greek 1189) or παρακαλέω (parakaleo, Strong's Greek 3870), which convey a sense of asking or beseeching.

Usage: This expression is used in the Hebrew Bible to convey a sense of earnest entreaty or polite request. It is often found in contexts where a speaker is appealing to another for permission or favor.

Context: The Hebrew interjection בִּי appears in several Old Testament passages, serving as a linguistic tool to express a humble or earnest request. It is typically used in dialogue, where a speaker seeks to gain the favor or consent of another party. The term is often translated into English as "oh that!" or "if it please," capturing the speaker's desire for a favorable response. For example, in Genesis 23:13, Abraham uses this expression when negotiating with Ephron for the purchase of a burial site for Sarah: "And he spoke to Ephron in their hearing, saying, 'If it please you, please listen to me. I will pay you the price of the field. Accept it from me, so that I may bury my dead there.'" (BSB). This usage highlights the respectful and deferential tone that בִּי conveys in biblical narratives.

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