בִּי
Transliteration
bî
Pronunciation
bee
Part of Speech
part of entreaty
Root Word (Etymology)
Perhaps from בָּעָה (H1158) (sense of asking)
Dictionary Aids

TWOT Reference: 238a

Strong’s Definitions

בִּי bîy, bee; perhaps from H1158 (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.

KJV Translation Count — Total: 12x

The KJV translates Strong's H994 in the following manner: O (7x), Oh (4x), alas (1x).

KJV Translation Count — Total: 12x
The KJV translates Strong's H994 in the following manner: O (7x), Oh (4x), alas (1x).

  1. if it please, pray excuse me, excuse me please

    1. used to introduce an entreaty or request

Strong’s Definitions [?](Strong’s Definitions Legend)
בִּי bîy, bee; perhaps from H1158 (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.
STRONGS H994: Abbreviations
† 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 , Numbers 12:13 ); 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 ( in Pentateuch and Joshua δέομαι, δεόμεθα: in other books absurdly ἐν ἐμοί).
Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon, Unabridged, Electronic Database.
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BLB Scripture Index of Brown-Driver-Briggs

Genesis

19:18; 43:20; 44:18

Exodus

4:10; 4:13

Numbers

12:11; 12:13

Joshua

7:8; 7:8

Judges

6:13; 6:15; 13:8

1 Samuel

1:26

1 Kings

3:17; 3:26