Lamah

Lamah (also spelled Lama) is a Hebrew and Aramaic word meaning "why." It is often used in a religious context, particularly in reference to the question posed by Jesus on the cross, as recorded in the Gospels of Matthew and Mark: "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" which translates to "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"

The word appears in Psalm 22:1, which is believed by some to have been a prophetic allusion to Jesus's crucifixion. The psalm begins with the same lament: "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish?"

The use of "Lamah" in the Gospels is significant because it highlights Jesus's humanity and his feelings of abandonment in his final moments. It also connects his suffering to the broader tradition of Jewish scripture and the suffering of the righteous.

In modern Hebrew, "Lamah" remains the standard word for "why" and is commonly used in everyday speech.