What does עִי (ʿiy) mean in the Bible?
עִי (ʿiy): Denotes physical devastation—a place utterly destroyed and overturned, often signifying divine judgment or abandonment
Hebrew · H5856
עִי
A ruin (as if overturned)
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עִיH5856
Pronunciationʿiy
What does עִי (ʿiy) mean in the Bible?
עִי (ʿiy): Denotes physical devastation—a place utterly destroyed and overturned, often signifying divine judgment or abandonment
Full entry for עִי (H5856) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H5856?
The BSB source-word alignment has 5 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include a heap of rubble (3), against a ruined man (1), to rubble (1).
Where does עִי (ʿiy) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Job 30:24. Its strongest book concentrations include Micah (2), Jeremiah (1), Job (1), Psalms (1).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Ita heap of rubble3×Jeremiah 26:18, Micah 1:6, Micah 3:12
against a ruined man1×Job 30:24
to rubble1×Psalms 79:1
Show sample aligned rows
Job 30:24בְ֭עִיtoagainst a ruined manPreposition-b | Noun - masculine singularPsalms 79:1לְעִיִּֽים׃toto rubblePreposition-l | Noun - masculine pluralJeremiah 26:18עִיִּ֣יםtoa heap of rubbleNoun - masculine pluralMicah 1:6לְעִ֥יtoa heap of rubblePreposition-l | Noun - masculine singular constructMicah 3:12עִיִּ֣יןtoa heap of rubbleNoun - masculine plural
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowJob 30:24
Aligned rows5
Books represented4
Job1Psalms1Jeremiah1Micah2
Source forms
בְ֭עִי1xḇə·‘îJob 30:24
לְעִ֥י1xlə·‘îMicah 1:6
לְעִיִּֽים׃1xlə·‘î·yîmPsalms 79:1
עִיִּ֣ים1x‘î·yîmJeremiah 26:18
עִיִּ֣ין1x‘î·yînMicah 3:12
Parsing patterns
Noun - masculine plural2xJeremiah 26:18, Micah 3:12
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular1xJob 30:24
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural1xPsalms 79:1
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct1xMicah 1:6
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Denotes physical devastation—a place utterly destroyed and overturned, often signifying divine judgment or abandonment
Source Gloss
a ruin (as if overturned)
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Denotes physical devastation—a place utterly destroyed and overturned, often signifying divine judgment or abandonment
a ruin (as if overturned) BDB: ruin Usage: heap.
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
Selected Scripture Witness
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Old Testament Witnesses
A ruin or heap, describing a destroyed city reduced to rubble.
Showing 1 selected witness from 4 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
עִי is built from this root:
Why This Word Matters
It signals total dismantling of what was once secure and prominent, underscoring the thoroughness of divine judgment.Micah 1:6-9