Ekh אֵיךְ

Ekh (Hebrew אֵיךְ, Strong's H349) is a Hebrew interrogative meaning “how?”. It occurs 82 times in 74 verses of the Old Testament.

Definition

H0349A: how?

H0349B: how?

H0349C: how?

From the STEPBible Brief Lexicon of Hebrew (based on the abridged Brown-Driver-Briggs), STEPBible.org, CC BY 4.0.

Translated as

Verses

Every verse with Ekh, with the English words that translate it highlighted (KJV or BSB; other translations show the KJV here).

Genesis

• Genesis 26:9
  And Abimelech called Isaac, and said, Behold, of a surety she is thy wife: and how saidst thou, She is my sister? And Isaac said unto him, Because I said, Lest I die for her.Abimelech sent for Isaac and said, “So she is really your wife! How could you say, ‘She is my sister’?” Isaac replied, “Because I thought I might die on account of her.”
• Genesis 39:9
  There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?No one in this house is greater than I am. He has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. So how could I do such a great evil and sin against God?”
• Genesis 44:8
  Behold, the money, which we found in our sacks’ mouths, we brought again unto thee out of the land of Canaan: how then should we steal out of thy lord’s house silver or gold?We even brought back to you from the land of Canaan the silver we found in the mouths of our sacks. Why would we steal silver or gold from your master’s house?
• Genesis 44:34
  For how shall I go up to my father, and the lad be not with me? lest peradventure I see the evil that shall come on my father.For how can I go back to my father without the boy? I could not bear to see the misery that would overwhelm him.”

Exodus

• Exodus 6:12
  And Moses spake before the Lord, saying, Behold, the children of Israel have not hearkened unto me; how then shall Pharaoh hear me, who am of uncircumcised lips?But in the LORD’s presence Moses replied, “If the Israelites will not listen to me, then why would Pharaoh listen to me, since I am unskilled in speech?”
• Exodus 6:30
  And Moses said before the Lord, Behold, I am of uncircumcised lips, and how shall Pharaoh hearken unto me?But in the LORD’s presence Moses replied, “Since I am unskilled in speech, why would Pharaoh listen to me?”

Deuteronomy

• Deuteronomy 1:12
  How can I myself alone bear your cumbrance, and your burden, and your strife?But how can I bear your troubles, burdens, and disputes all by myself?
• Deuteronomy 7:17
  If thou shalt say in thine heart, These nations are more than I; how can I dispossess them?You may say in your heart, “These nations are greater than we are; how can we drive them out?”
• Deuteronomy 12:30
  Take heed to thyself that thou be not snared by following them, after that they be destroyed from before thee; and that thou enquire not after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise.be careful not to be ensnared by their ways after they have been destroyed before you. Do not inquire about their gods, asking, “How do these nations serve their gods? I will do likewise.”
• Deuteronomy 18:21
  And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the Lord hath not spoken?You may ask in your heart, “How can we recognize a message that the LORD has not spoken?”
• Deuteronomy 32:30
  How should one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, except their Rock had sold them, and the Lord had shut them up?How could one man pursue a thousand, or two put ten thousand to flight, unless their Rock had sold them, unless the LORD had given them up?

Joshua

• Joshua 9:7
  And the men of Israel said unto the Hivites, Peradventure ye dwell among us; and how shall we make a league with you?But the men of Israel said to the Hivites, “Perhaps you dwell near us. How can we make a treaty with you?”

Judges

• Judges 16:15
  And she said unto him, How canst thou say, I love thee, when thine heart is not with me? thou hast mocked me these three times, and hast not told me wherein thy great strength lieth.“How can you say, ‘I love you,’” she asked, “when your heart is not with me? This is the third time you have mocked me and failed to reveal to me the source of your great strength!”
• Judges 20:3
  (Now the children of Benjamin heard that the children of Israel were gone up to Mizpeh.) Then said the children of Israel, Tell us, how was this wickedness?(Meanwhile the Benjamites heard that the Israelites had gone up to Mizpah.) And the Israelites asked, “Tell us, how did this wicked thing happen?”

Ruth

• Ruth 3:18
  Then said she, Sit still, my daughter, until thou know how the matter will fall: for the man will not be in rest, until he have finished the thing this day.“Wait, my daughter,” said Naomi, “until you find out how things go, for he will not rest unless he has resolved the matter today.”

1 Samuel

• 1 Samuel 16:2
  And Samuel said, How can I go? if Saul hear it, he will kill me. And the Lord said, Take an heifer with thee, and say, I am come to sacrifice to the Lord.“How can I go?” Samuel asked. “Saul will hear of it and kill me!” The LORD answered, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.’

2 Samuel

• 2 Samuel 1:5
  And David said unto the young man that told him, How knowest thou that Saul and Jonathan his son be dead?Then David asked the young man who had brought him the report, “How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?”
• 2 Samuel 1:14
  And David said unto him, How wast thou not afraid to stretch forth thine hand to destroy the Lord’s anointed?So David asked him, “Why were you not afraid to lift your hand to destroy the LORD’s anointed?”
• 2 Samuel 1:19
  The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places: how are the mighty fallen!“Your glory, O Israel, lies slain on your heights. How the mighty have fallen!
• 2 Samuel 1:25
  How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! O Jonathan, thou wast slain in thine high places.How the mighty have fallen in the thick of battle! Jonathan lies slain on your heights.
• 2 Samuel 1:27
  How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished!How the mighty have fallen and the weapons of war have perished!”
• 2 Samuel 2:22
  And Abner said again to Asahel, Turn thee aside from following me: wherefore should I smite thee to the ground? how then should I hold up my face to Joab thy brother?Once again, Abner warned Asahel, “Stop chasing me. Why should I strike you to the ground? How could I show my face to your brother Joab?”
• 2 Samuel 6:9
  And David was afraid of the Lord that day, and said, How shall the ark of the Lord come to me?That day David feared the LORD and asked, “How can the ark of the LORD ever come to me?”
• 2 Samuel 12:18
  And it came to pass on the seventh day, that the child died. And the servants of David feared to tell him that the child was dead: for they said, Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spake unto him, and he would not hearken unto our voice: how will he then vex himself, if we tell him that the child is dead?On the seventh day the child died. But David’s servants were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they said, “Look, while the child was alive, we spoke to him, and he would not listen to us. So how can we tell him the child is dead? He may even harm himself.”

1 Kings

• 1 Kings 12:6
  And king Rehoboam consulted with the old men, that stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, and said, How do ye advise that I may answer this people?Then King Rehoboam consulted with the elders who had served his father Solomon during his lifetime. “How do you advise me to respond to these people?” he asked.

2 Kings

• 2 Kings 6:15
  And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do?When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early in the morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. So he asked Elisha, “Oh, my master, what are we to do?”
• 2 Kings 10:4
  But they were exceedingly afraid, and said, Behold, two kings stood not before him: how then shall we stand?But they were terrified and reasoned, “If two kings could not stand against him, how can we?”
• 2 Kings 17:28
  Then one of the priests whom they had carried away from Samaria came and dwelt in Beth–el, and taught them how they should fear the Lord.Thus one of the priests they had carried away came and lived in Bethel, and he began to teach them how they should worship the LORD.
• 2 Kings 18:24
  How then wilt thou turn away the face of one captain of the least of my master’s servants, and put thy trust on Egypt for chariots and for horsemen?For how can you repel a single officer among the least of my master’s servants when you depend on Egypt for chariots and horsemen?

2 Chronicles

• 2 Chronicles 10:6
  And king Rehoboam took counsel with the old men that had stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, saying, What counsel give ye me to return answer to this people?Then King Rehoboam consulted with the elders who had served his father Solomon during his lifetime. “How do you advise me to respond to these people?” he asked.

Esther

• Esther 8:6
  For how can I endure to see the evil that shall come unto my people? or how can I endure to see the destruction of my kindred?For how could I bear to see the disaster that would befall my people? How could I bear to see the destruction of my kindred?”

Job

• Job 21:34
  How then comfort ye me in vain, seeing in your answers there remaineth falsehood?So how can you comfort me with empty words? For your answers remain full of falsehood.”

Psalms

• Psalm 11:1
  In the LORD put I my trust: how say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain?In the LORD I take refuge. How then can you say to me: “Flee like a bird to your mountain!
• Psalm 73:11
  And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?The wicked say, “How can God know? Does the Most High have knowledge?”
• Psalm 73:19
  How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.How suddenly they are laid waste, completely swept away by terrors!
• Psalm 137:4
  How shall we sing the LORD’s song in a strange land?How can we sing a song of the LORD in a foreign land?

Proverbs

• Proverbs 5:12
  And say, How have I hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof;and you will say, “How I hated discipline, and my heart despised reproof!

Ecclesiastes

• Ecclesiastes 2:16
  For there is no remembrance of the wise more than of the fool for ever; seeing that which now is in the days to come shall all be forgotten. And how dieth the wise man? as the fool.For there is no lasting remembrance of the wise, just as with the fool, seeing that both will be forgotten in the days to come. Alas, the wise man will die just like the fool!
• Ecclesiastes 4:11
  Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone?Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; but how can one keep warm alone?

Song of Solomon

• Song of Solomon 1:7
  Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest, where thou makest thy flock to rest at noon: for why should I be as one that turneth aside by the flocks of thy companions?Tell me, O one I love, where do you pasture your sheep? Where do you rest them at midday? Why should I be like a veiled woman beside the flocks of your companions?
• Song of Solomon 5:3
  I have put off my coat; how shall I put it on? I have washed my feet; how shall I defile them?I have taken off my robe— must I put it back on? I have washed my feet— must I soil them again?

Isaiah

• Isaiah 1:21
  How is the faithful city become an harlot! it was full of judgment; righteousness lodged in it; but now murderers.See how the faithful city has become a harlot! She once was full of justice; righteousness resided within her, but now only murderers!
• Isaiah 14:4
  That thou shalt take up this proverb against the king of Babylon, and say, How hath the oppressor ceased! the golden city ceased!you will sing this song of contempt against the king of Babylon: How the oppressor has ceased, and how his fury has ended!
• Isaiah 14:12
  How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!How you have fallen from heaven, O day star, son of the dawn! You have been cut down to the ground, O destroyer of nations.
• Isaiah 19:11
  Surely the princes of Zoan are fools, the counsel of the wise counsellors of Pharaoh is become brutish: how say ye unto Pharaoh, I am the son of the wise, the son of ancient kings?The princes of Zoan are mere fools; Pharaoh’s wise counselors give senseless advice. How can you say to Pharaoh, “I am one of the wise, a son of eastern kings”?
• Isaiah 20:6
  And the inhabitant of this isle shall say in that day, Behold, such is our expectation, whither we flee for help to be delivered from the king of Assyria: and how shall we escape?And on that day the dwellers of this coastland will say, ‘See what has happened to our source of hope, those to whom we fled for help and deliverance from the king of Assyria! How then can we escape?’”
• Isaiah 36:9
  How then wilt thou turn away the face of one captain of the least of my master’s servants, and put thy trust on Egypt for chariots and for horsemen?For how can you repel a single officer among the least of my master’s servants when you depend on Egypt for chariots and horsemen?
• Isaiah 48:11
  For mine own sake, even for mine own sake, will I do it: for how should my name be polluted? and I will not give my glory unto another.For My own sake, My very own sake, I will act; for how can I let Myself be defamed? I will not yield My glory to another.

Jeremiah

• Jeremiah 2:21
  Yet I had planted thee a noble vine, wholly a right seed: how then art thou turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine unto me?I had planted you like a choice vine from the very best seed. How could you turn yourself before Me into a rotten, wild vine?
• Jeremiah 2:23
  How canst thou say, I am not polluted, I have not gone after Baalim? see thy way in the valley, know what thou hast done: thou art a swift dromedary traversing her ways;“How can you say, ‘I am not defiled; I have not run after the Baals’? Look at your behavior in the valley; acknowledge what you have done. You are a swift young she-camel galloping here and there,
• Jeremiah 3:19
  But I said, How shall I put thee among the children, and give thee a pleasant land, a goodly heritage of the hosts of nations? and I said, Thou shalt call me, My father; and shalt not turn away from me.Then I said, ‘How I long to make you My sons and give you a desirable land, the most beautiful inheritance of all the nations!’ I thought you would call Me ‘Father’ and never turn away from following Me.
• Jeremiah 8:8
  How do ye say, We are wise, and the law of the Lord is with us? Lo, certainly in vain made he it; the pen of the scribes is in vain.How can you say, ‘We are wise, and the Law of the LORD is with us,’ when in fact the lying pen of the scribes has produced a deception?
• Jeremiah 9:7
  Therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts, Behold, I will melt them, and try them; for how shall I do for the daughter of my people?Therefore this is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Behold, I will refine them and test them, for what else can I do because of the daughter of My people?
• Jeremiah 9:19
  For a voice of wailing is heard out of Zion, How are we spoiled! we are greatly confounded, because we have forsaken the land, because our dwellings have cast us out.For the sound of wailing is heard from Zion: ‘How devastated we are! How great is our shame! For we have abandoned the land because our dwellings have been torn down.’”
• Jeremiah 12:5
  If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses? and if in the land of peace, wherein thou trustedst, they wearied thee, then how wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan?“If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses? If you stumble in a peaceful land, how will you do in the thickets of the Jordan?
• Jeremiah 36:17
  And they asked Baruch, saying, Tell us now, How didst thou write all these words at his mouth?“Tell us now,” they asked Baruch, “how did you write all these words? Was it at Jeremiah’s dictation?”
• Jeremiah 47:7
  How can it be quiet, seeing the Lord hath given it a charge against Ashkelon, and against the sea shore? there hath he appointed it.How can it rest when the LORD has commanded it? He has appointed it against Ashkelon and the shore of its coastland.”
• Jeremiah 48:14
  How say ye, We are mighty and strong men for the war?How can you say, ‘We are warriors, mighty men ready for battle’?
• Jeremiah 48:17
  All ye that are about him, bemoan him; and all ye that know his name, say, How is the strong staff broken, and the beautiful rod!Mourn for him, all you who surround him, everyone who knows his name; tell how the mighty scepter is shattered— the glorious staff!
• Jeremiah 48:39
  They shall howl, saying, How is it broken down! how hath Moab turned the back with shame! so shall Moab be a derision and a dismaying to all them about him.“How shattered it is! How they wail! How Moab has turned his back in shame! Moab has become an object of ridicule and horror to all those around him.”
• Jeremiah 49:25
  How is the city of praise not left, the city of my joy!How is the city of praise not forsaken, the town that brings Me joy?
• Jeremiah 50:23
  How is the hammer of the whole earth cut asunder and broken! how is Babylon become a desolation among the nations!How the hammer of the whole earth lies broken and shattered! What a horror Babylon has become among the nations!
• Jeremiah 51:41
  How is Sheshach taken! and how is the praise of the whole earth surprised! how is Babylon become an astonishment among the nations!How Sheshach has been captured! The praise of all the earth has been seized. What a horror Babylon has become among the nations!

Lamentations

• Lamentations 1:1
  How doth the city sit solitary, that was full of people! how is she become as a widow! she that was great among the nations, and princess among the provinces, how is she become tributary!How lonely lies the city, once so full of people! She who was great among the nations has become a widow. The princess of the provinces has become a slave.
• Lamentations 2:1
  How hath the Lord covered the daughter of Zion with a cloud in his anger, and cast down from heaven unto the earth the beauty of Israel, and remembered not his footstool in the day of his anger!How the Lord has covered the Daughter of Zion with the cloud of His anger! He has cast the glory of Israel from heaven to earth. He has abandoned His footstool in the day of His anger.
• Lamentations 4:1
  How is the gold become dim! how is the most fine gold changed! the stones of the sanctuary are poured out in the top of every street.How the gold has become tarnished, the pure gold has become dull! The gems of the temple lie scattered on every street corner.
• Lamentations 4:2
  The precious sons of Zion, comparable to fine gold, how are they esteemed as earthen pitchers, the work of the hands of the potter!How the precious sons of Zion, once worth their weight in pure gold, are now esteemed as jars of clay, the work of a potter’s hands!

Ezekiel

• Ezekiel 26:17
  And they shall take up a lamentation for thee, and say to thee, How art thou destroyed, that wast inhabited of seafaring men, the renowned city, which wast strong in the sea, she and her inhabitants, which cause their terror to be on all that haunt it!Then they will lament for you, saying, “How you have perished, O city of renown inhabited by seafaring men— she who was powerful on the sea, along with her people, who imposed terror on all peoples!
• Ezekiel 33:10
  Therefore, O thou son of man, speak unto the house of Israel; Thus ye speak, saying, If our transgressions and our sins be upon us, and we pine away in them, how should we then live?Now as for you, son of man, tell the house of Israel that this is what they have said: ‘Our transgressions and our sins are heavy upon us, and we are wasting away because of them! How can we live?’

Hosea

• Hosea 11:8
  How shall I give thee up, Ephraim? how shall I deliver thee, Israel? how shall I make thee as Admah? how shall I set thee as Zeboim? mine heart is turned within me, my repentings are kindled together.How could I give you up, O Ephraim? How could I surrender you, O Israel? How could I make you like Admah? How could I treat you like Zeboiim? My heart is turned within Me; My compassion is stirred!

Obadiah

• Obadiah 1:5
  If thieves came to thee, if robbers by night, (how art thou cut off!) would they not have stolen till they had enough? if the grapegatherers came to thee, would they not leave some grapes?“If thieves came to you, if robbers by night— oh, how you will be ruined— would they not steal only what they wanted? If grape gatherers came to you, would they not leave some gleanings?
• Obadiah 1:6
  How are the things of Esau searched out! how are his hidden things sought up!But how Esau will be pillaged, his hidden treasures sought out!

Micah

• Micah 2:4
  In that day shall one take up a parable against you, and lament with a doleful lamentation, and say, We be utterly spoiled: he hath changed the portion of my people: how hath he removed it from me! turning away he hath divided our fields.In that day they will take up a proverb against you and taunt you with this bitter lamentation: ‘We are utterly ruined! He has changed the portion of my people. How He has removed it from me! He has allotted our fields to traitors.’”

Zephaniah

• Zephaniah 2:15
  This is the rejoicing city that dwelt carelessly, that said in her heart, I am, and there is none beside me: how is she become a desolation, a place for beasts to lie down in! every one that passeth by her shall hiss, and wag his hand.This carefree city that dwells securely, that thinks to herself: “I am it, and there is none besides me,” what a ruin she has become, a resting place for beasts. Everyone who passes by her hisses and shakes his fist.

Notes

1. Definition and verse list from STEPBible's tagged Hebrew Old Testament (TAHOT) and Greek New Testament (TAGNT) and Brief Lexicons, STEPBible.org, CC BY 4.0.
2. English renderings from the public-domain KJV with Strong's numbers (eBible.org) and the Berean Standard Bible interlinear (public domain).