Psalm 22:1:3Ps.22.1.W3TABWLC Psalms 22:2

לָמָ֣ה

lama

why

Transliteration
la-MA
Extended
laa-MAA
IPA
/laːˈmaː/

Meaning by language

English
why

Hebrew · tap a syllable to hear it

Result
לָ + מָ֣ה
la + ma
lama

Alphabet Analysis

Lamedl as in law
Qametslong 'ah'
Memm as in mother
Qametslong 'ah'
Heh as in house; silent at word end

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Vowels (Niqqud)

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The word

Word in context

  1. word

    la-MA

  2. phraseyour reading level

    E-LI E-LI la-MA a-zav-TA-NI

  3. sentence

    E-LI E-LI la-MA a-zav-TA-NI ra-KHOK mi-shu-a-TI div-RE sha-a-ga-TI

Exegesis

The interrogative lama {לָמָה | lā-māh} ‘why’ introduces the speaker’s direct question.

In contextPsalm 22:1

My God , my God, why have You forsaken me? Far from my deliverance are the words of my roaring.

About this coordinate

Psalm 22:1:3 is a BCV:P reference — Book · Chapter · Verse · Word Position. It addresses word 3 of Psalm 22:1, so the Hebrew word לָמָ֣ה (lama) can be cited, linked and studied at exactly this position rather than somewhere in the verse. In the Biblical Knowledge Coordinate System the same position is written Ps.22.1.W3, which extends further down to each syllable (Ps.22.1.W3.S1) and character.