מָהַהּ mâhahh — properly, to question or hesitate, i.e. (by implication) to be reluctant
Translated in the KJV as delay, linger, stay selves, tarry.
apparently a denominative from H4100; properly, to question or hesitate, i.e. (by implication) to be reluctant.
mâhahh in each stem
Hitpalpel
Perfect (qatal) 2Infinitive construct 2Wayyiqtol 1Participle (active) 1Imperative 1Imperfect (yiqtol) 1
And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the Lord being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city.
For except we had lingered, surely now we had returned this second time.
And they baked unleavened cakes of the dough which they brought forth out of Egypt, for it was not leavened; because they were thrust out of Egypt, and could not tarry, neither had they prepared for themselves any victual.
Hitpa'el
Imperative 1
And he arose early in the morning on the fifth day to depart: and the damsel’s father said, Comfort thine heart, I pray thee. And they tarried until afternoon, and they did eat both of them.
What the stems mean
A Hebrew verb is its root letters set into a pattern. The pattern — the binyan — is the grammar's way of saying three things at once: whether the action is simple, intensive or causative, and whether its subject is active, passive or reflexive. That is why one Hebrew word can need six English ones. All seven binyanim, explained ›