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אֲכַל

𐤀𐤊𐤋

ʼăkal

H399 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To eat, consume, or devour, both in the literal sense of ingesting food and in figurative senses such as consuming, destroying, or eroding. In Aramaic biblical texts, it most often refers to the physical act of eating, but is also used metaphorically for destruction or accusation—as when harm or injustice 'devours' someone or when accusations 'consume' one's standing.

Semantic Range

to eat (food), to consume, to devour (in the sense of destruction), to accuse (figurative), to bring harm or erode (figurative)

Root / Etymology

Aramaic form of the root אכל, which in Hebrew means 'to eat, consume, devour.' The word derives directly from this common Semitic root, with the Aramaic spelling and phonology (אֲכַל) reflecting its Aramaic development. The root is widely attested in various Semitic languages (Ugaritic, Akkadian, Arabic) with the basic meaning of 'to eat.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

The word appears in biblical Aramaic passages, such as Daniel and Ezra, where it functions nearly identically to its Hebrew counterpart אָכַל, denoting ordinary acts of eating (Dan 4:30) but also used figuratively (Dan 7:5) for devouring or causing destruction. In some instances, particularly in combination with prepositions, the word can mean 'to accuse,' reflecting the idea of consuming one’s reputation or standing—this is a more idiomatic Aramaic usage, seen also in Rabbinic literature. English translations often render the figurative sense as 'devour' or 'destroy,' but sometimes obscure idiomatic figurative senses. The word does not denote any religious or ceremonial eating distinct from Hebrew usage, and the semantic range is essentially continuous from earlier Israelite traditions into the post-exilic context where Aramaic was widely used.

Translation Consistency

primary "eat" 3 occurrences

The primary and most natural sense across the Aramaic/Hebrew occurrences is literal ingestion; "eat" naturally covers the literal meaning and works idiomatically for the common figurative senses (consume, devour, be consumed by, bring harm). It is simple, widely understood, and can be inflected consistently for all forms of H399.

Alternatives (4 occurrences):
"devoured" (2x) "accused" (1x) "devour" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

(Aramaic) corresponding to אָכַל; {to eat (literally or figuratively)}; [phrase] accuse, devour, eat.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.

Root Family

אכל (Ukhal) — to eat, consume, devour

Root אכל to eat, consume, devour
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H396 אֲכִילָה the edible provision
H3978 מַאֲכָל for food
H3979 מַאֲכֶלֶת the slaughter-knife
H398 אָכַל to eat
H3980 מַאֲכֹלֶת like an eating-implement of

Word Forms

6 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H399-02 אָֽכְלָ֣ה akhelah AVqrfsa devoured she consumed devoured 2
H399-01 אֲכַ֤לוּ akhalu AVqp3mp [Daniel] they ate devoured 1
H399-03 אֲכֻ֖לִי akhuli AVqv2fs devour Eat! Eat 1
H399-04 וַ/אֲכַ֥לוּ vaakhalu AC/Vqp3mp and accused and they ate and accused 1
H399-05 וְ/תֵאכֻל֙ vetekhul AC/Vqi3fs and will devour and she will consume and it will devour 1
H399-06 יֵאכֻ֔ל yekhul AVqi3ms he-eats he eats he ate 1

Occurrences in Scripture

7 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H399-04 Daniel 3:8 וַ/אֲכַ֥לוּ vaakhalu AC/Vqp3mp and accused and they ate and accused
H399-06 Daniel 4:30 יֵאכֻ֔ל yekhul AVqi3ms he-eats he eats he ate
H399-01 Daniel 6:25 אֲכַ֤לוּ akhalu AVqp3mp [Daniel] they ate devoured
H399-03 Daniel 7:5 אֲכֻ֖לִי akhuli AVqv2fs devour Eat! Eat
H399-02 Daniel 7:7 אָֽכְלָ֣ה akhelah AVqrfsa it devoured she consumed she ate
H399-02 Daniel 7:19 אָֽכְלָ֣ה akhelah AVqrfsa devoured she consumed devoured
H399-05 Daniel 7:23 וְ/תֵאכֻל֙ vetekhul AC/Vqi3fs and will devour and she will consume and it will devour
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