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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width; initial-scale=1"/><title>Strong's Greek: 2982. λαμά (lama) -- Why</title></title><link rel="canonical" href="http://biblehub.com/greek/2982.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/strongsnew2.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head> <script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-LR4HSKRP2H"></script> <script> window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'G-LR4HSKRP2H'); </script><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/interlinear/vmenus/matthew/25-20.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="//biblehu.com/bmstrongs/greek/2982.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/strongs.htm">Strong's</a> > <a href="/englishmans_greek.htm">Greek</a> > 2982</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../greek/2981.htm" title="2981">◄</a> 2982. lama <a href="../greek/2983.htm" title="2983">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheading">Strong's Lexicon</div><div align="left"><span class="toptitle2">lama: Why</span></div><p><span class="tophdg">Original Word: </span><span class="greek">λαμά</span><br><span class="tophdg">Part of Speech: </span>Aramaic Transliterated Word (Indeclinable); Hebrew<br><span class="tophdg">Transliteration: </span>lama<br><span class="tophdg">Pronunciation: </span>lah-MAH<br><span class="tophdg">Phonetic Spelling: </span>(lam-ah')<br><span class="tophdg">Definition: </span>Why<br><span class="tophdg">Meaning: </span>(Hebrew), why.<p><span class="tophdg">Word Origin: </span>Derived from the Aramaic word לְמָה (lemá), which is a combination of the preposition לְ (le, "to" or "for") and the interrogative מָה (mah, "what" or "why").<p><span class="tophdg">Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: </span> - <b>H410 (אֵל, El):</b> God<p> - <b>H4100 (מָה, mah):</b> What, why<p> - <b>H5800 (עָזַב, azab):</b> To leave, forsake<p><span class="tophdg">Usage: </span>The Greek word "λαμά" (lama) is used in the New Testament as an interjection meaning "why." It is most famously known from the cry of Jesus on the cross, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" which translates to "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" (Matthew 27:46, BSB). This expression is a direct quotation from Psalm 22:1, highlighting a moment of profound anguish and fulfillment of prophecy.<p><span class="tophdg">Cultural and Historical Background: </span>In the context of the New Testament, "λαμά" is part of a phrase spoken by Jesus in Aramaic, the common language of the Jewish people in Palestine during the first century. Aramaic was widely spoken among Jews, and many of Jesus' teachings and sayings were originally delivered in this language. The use of "λαμά" in the Gospels underscores the authenticity and historical context of Jesus' crucifixion, as well as His deep connection to the Hebrew Scriptures.<div class="vheading2">NAS Exhaustive Concordance</div><span class="hdg">Word Origin</span><br>of Hebrew origin <a href="/hebrew/4100.htm">mah</a> with preposition prefix lamed (for, to)<br><span class="hdg">Definition</span><br>why<br><span class="hdg">NASB Translation</span><br>lama (2).<p><div align="center"><span class="smalltext"><iframe width="100%" height="85" scrolling=no src="/nasec.htm" frameborder=0 cellpadding=0></iframe></span></div><div class="vheading2">Thayer's Greek Lexicon</div><span class="maintitle">STRONGS NT 2982: λαμά</span><br><br><span class="arttitle"><span class="grktitle">λαμά</span></span> (<span class="manuref">R</span> <span class="manuref">G</span> (on the accent see <span class="manuref">Tdf.</span> Proleg. 102)) in <a href="/interlinear/matthew/27-46.htm">Matthew 27:46</a> and <span class="greek2">λαμμᾶ</span> (<span class="manuref">R</span> <span class="manuref">G</span>) <a href="/interlinear/mark/15-34.htm">Mark 15:34</a> (the Hebrew word <span class="hebrew">לָמָּה</span> from <a href="/interlinear/psalms/21-1.htm">Psalm 21:1</a><FOOTNOTE:10> (<BIBLE/CHAPTER_VERSE:Ps. 22:1>)), <span class="accented">why</span>; in the former passage Lachmann reads <span class="greek2">λῆμα</span>, in the latter <span class="greek2">λεμα</span>, <span class="manuref">Tdf.</span> <span class="greek2">λεμα</span> in both, <span class="manuref">Tr</span> <span class="manuref">WH</span> <span class="greek2">λεμα</span> in Matt. but <span class="greek2">λαμά</span> in Mark; the form in <span class="greek2">ἤ</span> or <span class="greek2">ἐ</span> reproduces the Chaldean <span class="hebrew">לְמָא</span> or <span class="hebrew">לְמָה</span>; on the remarkable diversity of spelling in the manuscripts cf. <span class="manuref">Tdf.</span> on each passage (<span class="manuref">WH</span> on Matthew, the passage cited), and Fritzsche on Mark, p. 693.<FOOTNOTE:1> <p><span class="maintitle">STRONGS NT 2982: λαμμᾶ</span><span class="arttitle"><span class="grktitle">λαμμᾶ</span></span>, see <span class="greek2"><span class="lexref">λαμά</span></span>. <p><span class="maintitle">STRONGS NT 2982: λεμα</span> [<span class="arttitle"><span class="grktitle">λεμα</span></span>, see <span class="greek2"><span class="lexref">λαμά</span></span>.] <p><span class="maintitle">STRONGS NT 2982: λῆμα</span> [<span class="arttitle"><span class="grktitle">λῆμα</span></span>., see <span class="greek2"><span class="lexref">λαμά</span></span>.] <p><span class="maintitle">STRONGS NT 2982: λιμά</span><span class="arttitle"><span class="grktitle">λιμά</span></span>, so <span class="manuref">Tdf.</span> edition 7, for <span class="greek2">λαμά</span>, which see. <br><br><iframe width="100%" height="85" scrolling=no src="/bsoft.htm" frameborder=0 cellpadding=0></iframe><div class="vheading2">Strong's Exhaustive Concordance</div>lama, why<p>Or lamma lam-mah'; of Hebrew origin (<a href="/hebrew/4100.htm">mah</a> with prepositional prefix); lama (i.e. Why) -- lama. <p>see HEBREW <a href="/hebrew/4100.htm">mah</a> <div class="vheading2">Forms and Transliterations</div>λαμα λαμὰ λεμα λεμὰ lema lemà<div class="vheading2">Links</div><a href="/interlinear/matthew/1-1.htm">Interlinear Greek</a> • <a href="/interlinear/genesis/1-1.htm">Interlinear Hebrew</a> • <a href="/strongs.htm">Strong's Numbers</a> • <a href="/englishmans_greek.htm">Englishman's Greek Concordance</a> • <a href="/englishmans_hebrew.htm">Englishman's Hebrew Concordance</a> • <a href="/texts/matthew/1-1.htm">Parallel Texts</a></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><div class="vheading">Englishman's Concordance</div><b><a href="/text/matthew/27-46.htm" title="Biblos Lexicon">Matthew 27:46</a> <a href="/abbrev.htm" title="Aramaic Word">Aram</a></b><br><a href="/interlinear/matthew/27.htm" title="Greek">GRK:</a> <span class="greek3">ηλι ηλι <b>λεμὰ</b> σαβαχθανι τοῦτ'</span><br><a href="http://biblehub.com/nas/matthew/27.htm" title="New American Standard Bible">NAS:</a> ELI, <span class="itali">LAMA</span> SABACHTHANI?<br><a href="/kjvs/matthew/27.htm" title="King James Bible with Strong's">KJV:</a> Eli, Eli, <span class="itali">lama</span> sabachthani? that<br><a href="/interlinear/matthew/27-46.htm" title="Biblos Interlinear Bible">INT:</a> Eli Eli <span class="itali">lama</span> sabachthani that<p><b><a href="/text/mark/15-34.htm" title="Biblos Lexicon">Mark 15:34</a> <a href="/abbrev.htm" title="Aramaic Word">Aram</a></b><br><a href="/interlinear/mark/15.htm" title="Greek">GRK:</a> <span class="greek3">Ἐλωί ἐλωί <b>λεμα</b> σαβαχθανι ὅ</span><br><a href="http://biblehub.com/nas/mark/15.htm" title="New American Standard Bible">NAS:</a> ELOI, ELOI, <span class="itali">LAMA</span> SABACHTHANI? which<br><a href="/kjvs/mark/15.htm" title="King James Bible with Strong's">KJV:</a> Eloi, Eloi, <span class="itali">lama</span> sabachthani? which<br><a href="/interlinear/mark/15-34.htm" title="Biblos Interlinear Bible">INT:</a> Eloi Eloi <span class="itali">lama</span> sabachthani which<p><b><a href="/greek/2982.htm">Strong's Greek 2982</a><br><a href="/greek/strongs_2982.htm">2 Occurrences</a></b><br><br><a href="/greek/lema_2982.htm">λεμὰ — 2 Occ.</a><br><br></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script><br /><br /> </div> <div id="left"><a href="/greek/2981.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="2981"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="2981" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/greek/2983.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="2983"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="2983" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhchap.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>