בִּי

בִּי particle of entreaty, craving permission to address a superior, always followed by אֲדֹנִי (or אֲדֹנָי), and always (except Jos 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 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, (e.g. 1 Mos 19,18 ᵑ7, 4 Mos 12,13 ᵑ6); but ע is not often elided in Hebrew) — 1 Mos 44,18 בִּי אֲדֹנִי יְדַבֶּרנָֿא I pray, my lord, let thy servant speak, etc.; so 4 Mos 12,11; Dom 6,13; 1 Sam 1,26; 1 Kong 3,17; 1 Kong 3,26, and following by a plural subject 1 Mos 43,20 יָרֹד יָרַדְנוּ ׳בִּי א Oh, my lord, we came down, etc.; בִּי אֲדֹנָי (to God) 2 Mos 4,10; 2 Mos 4,13; Jos 7,8; Dom 6,15; Dom 13,8 (ᵐ5 in Pentateuch and Joshua δέομαι, δεόμεθα: in other books absurdly ἐν ἐμοί).