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אָזַל

𐤀𐤆𐤋

ʼâzal

H235 verb

SILEX Entry

Root אָזַל to go, depart, vanish, pass away

Definition

To go away, to depart, to move from one place to another; to pass or disappear. The verb denotes movement away from a location—either literal departure (of people or things), metaphorical disappearance, or the fading/spending of resources or time. In some contexts, the word can imply ceasing to exist, failing, or being exhausted.

Semantic Range

to go away, depart, move from one place to another, disappear, cease to exist, fail (in the sense of resources being spent or depleted), gad about (move to and fro), be gone (spent), potentially a reference to a place name or commodity in context

Root / Etymology

The verb אָזַל is from the root אזל, likely denoting the basic idea of going, moving, or passing away. It is a primary verb, with cognates in other Semitic languages (e.g., Aramaic אזל meaning 'to go'). Lexically, its usage centers on the notion of departure or vanishing.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, אָזַל occurs primarily in poetic or prophetic language, commonly describing actions of going or departing, especially in a final or irreversible sense. It can refer to physical movement (e.g., a person departing), but frequently has extended meanings—for example, an object or commodity that is spent or depleted. This extension includes transitions such as the 'failing' of resources (Isaiah 51:6, 'the earth will wear out'—תִּבְלֶה, where אָזַל is used of vanishing). In Ezekiel 27:19, there is a textual and interpretational debate: some scholars read אָזַל as a reference to the location 'Uzal,' while others treat it as a verb or associate it with a trade item ('yarn' or 'spun goods'); the grammar and context are ambiguous. English translations do not always capture the nuance between literal movement and abstract disappearance, and the term does not carry specialized cultic or legal meaning but is rather a general verb of departing or ceasing. Later in post-biblical Hebrew, the root maintains its sense of going or wearing out, and it is widely attested in Aramaic with similar senses.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to go away, hence, to disappear; fail, gad about, go to and fro (but in Ezekiel 27:19 the word is rendered by many 'from Uzal,' by others 'yarn'), be gone (spent).

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

אזל (ʾ-z-l) — to go, depart, vanish, pass away

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H236 אֲזַל he went
H237 אֶזֶל the Departure-place

Word Forms

5 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H235-04 תֵּזְלִ֥י tezeli HVqi2fs do you go about you will depart 1
H235-02 אָ֣זְלַת azelat HVqp3fs is gone she has departed 1
H235-05 וְ/אֹזֵ֥ל veozel HC/Vqrmsa and-going-away and departing one 1
H235-03 אָֽזְלוּ azelu HVqp3cp disappear they have gone away 1
H235-01 אָזַ֣ל azal HVqp3ms is gone he departed 1

Occurrences in Scripture

5 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H235-02 Deuteronomy 32:36 אָ֣זְלַת azelat HVqp3fs is gone she has departed
H235-01 1 Samuel 9:7 אָזַ֣ל azal HVqp3ms is gone he departed
H235-04 Jeremiah 2:36 תֵּזְלִ֥י tezeli HVqi2fs do you go about you will depart
H235-05 Proverbs 20:14 וְ/אֹזֵ֥ל veozel HC/Vqrmsa and-going-away and departing one
H235-03 Job 14:11 אָֽזְלוּ azelu HVqp3cp disappear they have gone away
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