BDB360 [H335]

1. interrogative adverb where?
\ \ a. so with suffix אַיֶּ֫כָּה [a verbal form, see Sta^{§ 355 b. 3}] Gen 3:9 אַיּוֺ Exod 2:20, poetry where is he? = he is nowhere Job 14:10; Job 20:7 (Jer 37:19 read Qr אַיֵּה); אַיָּם Nah 3:17 (in indirect question) and the place thereof is not known, אַיָּם where they are. Idiomatically, with the suffix anticipating the noun to which it refers (Ew^{§ 309 c}, compare Dr^{Sm. i. 21, 14}) 2Kgs 19:13 אַיּוֺ מֶלֶחחֲֿמָת where is he, the king of Hamath? (|| Isa 37:13 אַיֵּה) Isa 19:12; Mic 7:10. When used alone, or with other adverbs (see below), it is contracted to אֵי Gen 4:9; Deut 32:37; 1Sam 26:16; Prov 31:4 Qr. (The more usual form is אַיֵּה.)
\ \ b. strengthened by the enclitic זֶה (see זֶה, 4 אֵיזֶֿה₁₅ where, then ? (never of a person, except Esth 7:5 (late), & only once 1Kgs 22:24 [but see 2Chr 18:23] with a verb) Isa 50:1; Isa 66:1 (twice in verse); Jer 6:16, in indirect question 1Sam 9:18 in the phrase אֵיזֶֿה הַדֶּרֶח ֗֗֗ where is the way (that) . . . ? 1Kgs 13:12; 2Kgs 3:8; 2Chr 18:23; Job 38:19 a. 24.

2. prefixed to other adverbs or pron., אֵי imparts to them an interrogative force: thus
\ \ a. אֵיזֶֿה which (of two or more)? only Eccl 2:3; Eccl 11:6 (late), in indirect question
\ \ b. אֵימִֿזֶּה whence ? (מִזֶּה = hence; see below זֶה) Gen 16:8 אֵימִֿזֶּה בָאתְ 1Sam 30:13; 2Sam 1:3; 2Sam 1:13; Job 2:2 in indirect question Judg 13:6; 1Sam 25:11 with substantive annexed 2Sam 15:2 אֵימִֿזֶּה עִיר אַתָּה literally whence, as regards city, art thou ? Jonah 1:8.
\ \ c. אֵילָֿזֹאת Jer 5:7 upon what ground ? (ᵑ9 super quo? how? With other adverbs, אֵי coalesces into one word, see אֵיכָה, אֵיכָכָה, אֵיפֹה.