What does אִי (ʾiy) mean in the Bible?
אִי (ʾiy): Habitable land conceptualized as desirable territory—emphasizes livability and human settlement potential, not mere geography
Hebrew · H339
אִי
Properly, a habitable spot (as desirable); dry land , a coast , an island
Reading a lexicon entry
What this page is: Each lexicon entry shows the original Hebrew or Greek word behind the English translation: its meaning, its range of use, and where it appears in Scripture.
Strong's number: The Strong's code (H- or G-) is the standard reference number for this word. It connects this entry to chapter and passage language tabs.
Where it appears: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
This lexicon entry is part of our ongoing editorial review. If you notice missing content, unclear wording, or a possible correction, please send us a note through theConnect page. Screenshots are helpful.
אִיH339
Pronunciationʾiy
What does אִי (ʾiy) mean in the Bible?
אִי (ʾiy): Habitable land conceptualized as desirable territory—emphasizes livability and human settlement potential, not mere geography
Full entry for אִי (H339) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H339?
The BSB source-word alignment has 36 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include the islands (6), coastlands (2), from the coasts (2), in the islands (2), O islands (2).
Where does אִי (ʾiy) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 10:5. Its strongest book concentrations include Isaiah (17), Ezekiel (9), Jeremiah (4), Psalms (2).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itthe islands6×Isaiah 40:15, Isaiah 41:5, Isaiah 42:4, Isaiah 51:5
coastlands2×Jeremiah 31:10, Ezekiel 27:15
from the coasts2×Jeremiah 47:4, Ezekiel 27:7
in the islands2×Isaiah 24:15, Isaiah 42:12
O islands2×Isaiah 41:1, Isaiah 49:1
of the coastland2×Isaiah 23:2, Isaiah 23:6
of the coastlands2×Jeremiah 25:22, Ezekiel 27:35
the coastlands2×Ezekiel 26:15, Ezekiel 26:18
and distant shores1×Psalms 72:10
and from the islands1×Isaiah 11:11
and the islands1×Isaiah 66:19
coastland1×Isaiah 20:6
coasts1×Ezekiel 27:3
even to its farthest shores1×Esther 10:1
in the coastlands1×Ezekiel 39:6
into dry land1×Isaiah 42:15
of wood from the coasts1×Ezekiel 27:6
shore1×Zephaniah 2:11
shores1×Psalms 97:1
the maritime1×Genesis 10:5
to the coastlands1×Daniel 11:18
to the coasts1×Jeremiah 2:10
to the islands1×Isaiah 59:18
you islands1×Isaiah 42:10
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 10:5אִיֵּ֤יtothe maritimeNoun - masculine plural constructEsther 10:1וְאִיֵּ֥יtoeven to its farthest shoresConjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural constructPsalms 72:10וְ֭אִיִּיםtoand distant shoresConjunctive waw | Noun - masculine pluralPsalms 97:1אִיִּ֥יםtoshoresNoun - masculine pluralIsaiah 11:11וּמֵאִיֵּ֖יtoand from the islandsConjunctive waw, Preposition-m | Noun - masculine plural constructIsaiah 20:6הָאִ֣יtocoastlandArticle | Noun - masculine singularIsaiah 23:2אִ֑יtoof the coastlandNoun - masculine singularIsaiah 23:6אִֽי׃toof the coastlandNoun - masculine singularIsaiah 24:15בְּאִיֵּ֣יtoin the islandsPreposition-b | Noun - masculine plural constructIsaiah 40:15אִיִּ֖יםtothe islandsNoun - masculine plural
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowGenesis 10:5
Aligned rows36
Books represented8
Genesis1Esther1Psalms2Isaiah17Jeremiah4Ezekiel9Daniel1Zephaniah1
Source forms
אִיִּ֥ים3x’î·yîmPsalms 97:1, Isaiah 42:4, Ezekiel 27:15
אִיִּ֖ים3x’î·yîmIsaiah 40:15, Isaiah 42:10, Ezekiel 27:3
אִיֵּ֤י2x’î·yêGenesis 10:5, Jeremiah 2:10
אִיִּים֙2x’î·yîmIsaiah 41:5, Isaiah 49:1
אִיִּ֣ים2x’î·yîmIsaiah 51:5, Isaiah 60:9
אִ֑י1x’îIsaiah 23:2
אִ֥י1x’îJeremiah 47:4
אִֽי׃1x’îIsaiah 23:6
Parsing patterns
Noun - masculine plural11xPsalms 97:1, Isaiah 40:15, Isaiah 41:1, Isaiah 41:5
Article | Noun - masculine plural6xIsaiah 66:19, Ezekiel 26:15, Ezekiel 26:18, Ezekiel 27:35
Noun - masculine plural construct3xGenesis 10:5, Jeremiah 2:10, Zephaniah 2:11
Article | Noun - masculine singular2xIsaiah 20:6, Jeremiah 25:22
Noun - masculine singular2xIsaiah 23:2, Isaiah 23:6
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine plural2xIsaiah 42:12, Jeremiah 31:10
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine plural2xIsaiah 42:15, Isaiah 59:18
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine plural construct2xEzekiel 27:6, Ezekiel 27:7
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Habitable land conceptualized as desirable territory—emphasizes livability and human settlement potential, not mere geography
Source Gloss
properly, a habitable spot (as desirable); dry land , a coast , an island
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Habitable land conceptualized as desirable territory—emphasizes livability and human settlement potential, not mere geography
properly, a habitable spot (as desirable); dry land, a coast, an island BDB: coast Usage: country, isle, island.
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
Selected Scripture Witnesses
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Biblical Witnesses
Distant coastal regions from which voices of praise arise
Remote lands and coastal peoples bringing wealth and glory to Zion
Showing 2 selected witnesses from 36 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
אִי is built from this root:
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.