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| PentecostalTheology.com
Abarim publications has the following definition and etymology for the Hebrew name Michael:
Meaning
Who Is Like God?, What Is God Like?Etymology
From (1) מי (mi), "who?", (2) כ (ke), "like", and (3) the word אל (‘el), God.
They indicate that the first word מי (mi) is an interrogative pronoun asking "who?". This then is why the name Michael is virtually always rendered as a question; "Who is like God?" However, searching through all 422 appearances of מי (mi) in the KJV reveals quite a few instances where the "who" is not a question (here are a few examples):
And other money have we brought down in our hands to buy food: we cannot tell who put our money in our sacks. – Genesis 43:22
And I said unto them, Whosoever hath any gold, let them break it off. So they gave it me: then I cast it into the fire, and there came out this calf. – Exodus 32:24
And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. – Joshua 24:15
Then said Saul unto the people that were with him, Number now, and see who is gone from us. And when they had numbered, behold, Jonathan and his armourbearer were not there. – 1 Samuel 14:17
And one of Joab’s men stood by him, and said, He that favoureth Joab, and he that is for David, let him go after Joab. – 2 Samuel 20:11
And thou, my lord, O king, the eyes of all Israel are upon thee, that thou shouldest tell them who shall sit on the throne of my lord the king after him. – 1 Kings 1:20
But oh that God would speak, and open his lips against thee; – Job 11:5
Most interesting are the following instances where מי (mi) is rendered somewhat more like a declaration of being:
Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth. – Isaiah 40:26
The LORD’S voice crieth unto the city, and the man of wisdom shall see thy name: hear ye the rod, and who hath appointed it. – Micah 6:9
This line of questioning arose from this question regarding the relationship between the Christ and the archangel Michael. The question is: Is it linguistically allowable to render the name Michael as a declaration "who is like God" rather than a question "Who is like God?"?
