Hebrew

Alternative forms

• לָמָּה־זֶּה

Adverb

לָמָּה זֶה • ‎(láma zé)

1. (archaic) why
   • Exodus 2:20, with translation of the King James Version:

     לָמָּה זֶּה עֲזַבְתֶּן אֶת־הָאִישׁ‎

     láma zé 'azavtén 'et-ha'ísh
     lā́mmā zze ʿăzaḇten ʾeṯ-hāʾīš

     why is it that ye have left the man?

   • Joshua 7:10, with translation of the King James Version:

     קֻם לָךְ לָמָּה זֶּה אַתָּה נֹפֵל עַל־פָּנֶיךָ‎

     kúm lách láma zé 'atá nofél 'al-panécha
     kū lāḵ lā́mmā zze ʾattā nōp̄ēl ʿal-pānéḵā

     Get thee up; wherefore liest thou thus upon thy face?

Synonyms

• למה
• מדוע