BDB520 [H517]

1. literal (human) mother, as parent Gen 20:12; Gen 32:12; Gen 44:20; Exod 2:8; Ps 51:7; Ps 113:9 ( opposed to עֲקֶרֶת) Jer 15:8; Jer 15:10; Jer 20:14; Jer 22:26; Jer 50:12; 1Chr 4:9; Song 6:9; Song 8:5 +; hence of Eve אֵם כָּלחָֿ֑י Gen 3:20 in poetry of birth, יָצָא מִבֶּטֶן אֵם Job 1:21; Eccl 5:14 יָצָא מֵרֶחֶם אֵם Num 12:12 compare Ps 139:13 (Jer 20:18 &) מִמְּעֵי אִמִּי גּוֺזִי Ps 71:6 (subject ׳י, compare גחה Ps 22:10 > גּוֺזִי = my benefactor from birth Thes Ew Hup Pe); also וַתְּהִי אִמִּי קִבְרִי Jer 20:17 מִבֶּטֶן אֵם = from earliest existence Judg 16:17; Job 31:18; Ps 22:11 so מִמְּעֵי אֵם Isa 49:1 as giving suck Song 8:1 (שְׁדֵי אֵם) Ps 22:10 compare Ps 131:2 (see Exod 2:9 compare vExod 2:8); as exercising authority Gen 21:21; Gen 24:28; Gen 27:11; Gen 27:13; Gen 27:14; Judg 17:2 f Ruth 1:8; Song 3:4; Song 8:2 etc.; especially of queen-mother as possessing dignity & influence 1Kgs 1:11; 1Kgs 2:13; 1Kgs 2:19; 1Kgs 2:20; 2Chr 22:2; 2Chr 22:3; Song 3:11; Prov 31:1 compare names of mo-thers of kings of Judah 1Kgs 14:21; 1Kgs 14:31; 1Kgs 15:2; 1Kgs 15:10; 1Kgs 15:13 +; as shewing love & care 1Sam 2:19; 1Kgs 3:27; 1Kgs 17:23; 2Kgs 4:30; Isa 66:13 (simile of ׳י's comforting his people; compare also Gen 27:45); as beloved & lamented 1Kgs 19:20 (|| אָב) Gen 24:67; Ps 35:14 בֶּןאִֿמּוֺ = own (uterine) brother Gen 43:29 & || אָח Gen 27:29; Deut 13:7; Judg 8:19; Ps 50:20; Ps 69:9; Song 1:6 compare Song 8:1 so בַּתאִֿמּוֺ Lev 18:9; Lev 20:17; Deut 27:22 (|| בַּתאָֿבִיו) Gen 20:12 often with אָב, as parentes Jer 16:3; Zech 13:3 (twice in verse); Isa 8:4 as rightfully claiming honour, authority, etc., compare above, Gen 28:7 (P) compare Gen 37:10 (E) Judg 14:2 f, so in precept Prov 1:8; Prov 6:20; Prov 10:1; Prov 15:20 etc. compare Ezek 22:7 laws enjoining these Exod 20:12 = Deut 5:16; Lev 19:3 compare Deut 22:15 laws prohib. contrary Exod 21:15; Exod 21:17 (E) Lev 20:9 (twice in verse) (H) Deut 21:18; Deut 21:19; Deut 27:16 laws as to mourning for Lev 21:2; Lev 21:11 (H) Num 6:7 (P) compare Jer 16:7; Ezek 44:25 left for wife Gen 2:24 for mother-in-law Ruth 2:24 for husband Deut 21:13 (law for captive women); compare Deut 33:9 (of devoted service of Levites); loving, caring for children Prov 4:3 (on the opposite compare Ps 27:10); loved, cared for Josh 2:13 compare vJosh 2:18; Josh 6:23. 1Sam 22:3; 1Kgs 19:20 compare 2Sam 19:38.

2. figurative of Deborah as caring for her people אֵם בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל Judg 5:7 (compare אָב Isa 22:21; Job 29:16); so of a city 2Sam 20:19 ('stock, race, community' RS^{K 28 compare Proph. iv. n 8}); of Israel Hos 2:4; Hos 2:7; Hos 4:5 compare Hos 10:14 of Judah Isa 50:1 (twice in verse); of Hittite as mother of Jerusalem אָבִיךְ הָאֱמֹרִי וְאִמֵּךְ חִתִּית Ezek 16:3; Ezek 16:45 compare vEzek 16:44 vEzek 16:45 also Ezek 19:2; Ezek 19:10 & see Ezek 23:2.

3. of animals, dam Exod 22:29 (of ox & sheep) Lev 22:27 (of bullock, sheep, or goat); Exod 23:19 = Exod 34:26 = Deut 14:21 (of kid); mother-bird Deut 22:6 (twice in verse); Deut 22:7 figurative Job 17:14 לַשַּׁחַת קָרָאתִי אָבִי אָ֑תָּה אִמִּי וַאֲחֹתִי לָרִמָּֽה ׃.

4. = point of departure or division אֵם הַדֶּרֶךְ Ezek 21:26. (|| ראֹשׁ שְׁנֵי הַדְּרָכִים).