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
![](//cdn.bibliatodo.com/assets/img/bdb/bdb010605.gif)
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,
![](//cdn.bibliatodo.com/assets/img/bdb/bdb010606.gif)
(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).
Strong's Hebrew: 994. בִּי (biy) — 12 Occurrences
Genesis 43:20
HEB: וַיֹּאמְר֖וּ בִּ֣י אֲדֹנִ֑י יָרֹ֥ד
NAS: and said, Oh, my lord, we indeed
KJV: And said, O sir, we came indeed
INT: and said Oh my lord indeed
Genesis 44:18
HEB: יְהוּדָ֗ה וַיֹּאמֶר֮ בִּ֣י אֲדֹנִי֒ יְדַבֶּר־
NAS: him, and said, Oh my lord,
KJV: unto him, and said, Oh my lord,
INT: Judah and said Oh my lord speak
Exodus 4:10
HEB: אֶל־ יְהוָה֮ בִּ֣י אֲדֹנָי֒ לֹא֩
NAS: to the LORD, Please, Lord,
KJV: said unto the LORD, O my Lord, I
INT: to the LORD Please Lord have never
Exodus 4:13
HEB: וַיֹּ֖אמֶר בִּ֣י אֲדֹנָ֑י שְֽׁלַֽח־
NAS: But he said, Please, Lord, now
KJV: And he said, O my Lord, send,
INT: said Please Lord send
Numbers 12:11
HEB: אֶל־ מֹשֶׁ֑ה בִּ֣י אֲדֹנִ֔י אַל־
NAS: said to Moses, Oh, my lord, I beg
KJV: unto Moses, Alas, my lord,
INT: to Moses Oh my lord nay
Joshua 7:8
HEB: בִּ֖י אֲדֹנָ֑י מָ֣ה
NAS: O Lord, what
KJV: O Lord, what shall I say,
INT: O Lord what
Judges 6:13
HEB: אֵלָ֤יו גִּדְעוֹן֙ בִּ֣י אֲדֹנִ֔י וְיֵ֤שׁ
NAS: said to him, O my lord,
KJV: said unto him, Oh my Lord,
INT: then Gideon O my lord if
Judges 6:15
HEB: וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֵלָיו֙ בִּ֣י אֲדֹנָ֔י בַּמָּ֥ה
NAS: He said to Him, O Lord, how
KJV: And he said unto him, Oh my Lord,
INT: said to him O Lord how
Judges 13:8
HEB: יְהוָ֖ה וַיֹּאמַ֑ר בִּ֣י אֲדוֹנָ֔י אִ֣ישׁ
NAS: the LORD and said, O Lord, please
KJV: the LORD, and said, O my Lord, let
INT: the LORD and said O Lord the man
1 Samuel 1:26
HEB: וַתֹּ֙אמֶר֙ בִּ֣י אֲדֹנִ֔י חֵ֥י
NAS: She said, Oh, my lord! As your soul
KJV: And she said, Oh my lord,
INT: said Oh my lord lives
1 Kings 3:17
HEB: הָאִשָּׁ֤ה הָֽאַחַת֙ בִּ֣י אֲדֹנִ֔י אֲנִי֙
NAS: woman said, Oh, my lord, this
KJV: said, O my lord,
INT: woman the one Oh my lord I
1 Kings 3:26
HEB: בְּנָהּ֒ וַתֹּ֣אמֶר ׀ בִּ֣י אֲדֹנִ֗י תְּנוּ־
NAS: her son and said, Oh, my lord, give
KJV: and she said, O my lord,
INT: her son and said Oh my lord give