Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Ibn Ezra · Torah
Ibn Ezra on Genesis 20:9/אבן עזרא על בראשית כ׳:ט׳
אמה עשית לנו, בפתח קטן תחת "מה" בעבור אות הגרון. הבא אחריו וכן המשפט:
1WHAT HAST THOU DONE UNTO US? Meh (what) is vocalized with a segol because it precedes a guttural.16 of asita (thou hast done) is vocalized with a kamatz. I.E. points out that the Hebrew word for “what” is always vocalized with a segol, (meh) whenever it comes before an ayin vocalized with a kamatz. The usual vocalization of “what” is with a pattach (mah), hence I.E.’s comment. This is the rule in Hebrew grammar.