בִּי

part. of entreaty, craving permission to address a superior, always foll. by אֲדֹנִי (or אֲדֹנָי), and always (except Jos 7:8) at the beginning of a speech, I pray, excuse me—(not improb. from √ ביי; so that בִּי אֲדֹנִי will be literally a supplication of (i.e. to) my lord! cf. Wetzst l.c., who compares the Arabic دَخْلُ سَيِّدَى lit. a prayer to my lord! a standing formula = Pray, excuse me, used exactly as בִּי אֲדֹנִי. According to others contr. from בְּעִי, from בָּעָה to ask, and so lit. a petition! cf. Aramaic בְּבָעוּ, ܒܒܳܥܽܘ (e.g. Gn 19:18 𝔗, Nu 12:13 𝔖); but ע is not often elided in Heb.)—Gn 44:18 בִּי אֲדֹנִי יְדַבֶּר־נָא I pray, my lord, let thy servant speak, etc.; so Nu 12:11 Ju 6:13 1 S 1:26 1 K 3:17, 26, and foll. by a pl. subj. Gn 43:20 בִּי א׳ יָרֹד יָרַדְנוּ Oh, my lord, we came down, etc.; בִּי אֲדֹנָי (to God) Ex 4:10, 13 Jos 7:8 Ju 6:15; 13:8 (𝔊 in Pent. and Jos. δέομαι, δεόμεθα: in other books absurdly ἐν ἐμοί).