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יְלֵל

𐤉𐤋𐤋

yᵉlêl

H3214 noun

SILEX Entry

Root ילל to howl, to wail, to lament loudly

Definition

A loud, mournful cry or wail, typically expressing grief, anguish, or distress. In context, 'yelêl' refers to the sound of sorrowful lamentation, especially in response to disaster, destruction, or profound loss. Its use is often poetic or evocative, highlighting the raw emotional response to calamity.

Semantic Range

a howl, wail, shriek of anguish, mournful outcry, collective lamentation, sound of deep distress

Root / Etymology

From the root יָלַל (yalal), meaning 'to howl, wail, lament loudly.' 'יְלֵל' is a nominal form constructed from this root, denoting the act or sound of howling or wailing.

Historical & Contextual Notes

'יְלֵל' is attested primarily in poetic or prophetic passages, such as in Isaiah and Zephaniah, where it is often associated with expressions of collective suffering, mourning over destruction, or distress following catastrophic events (e.g., the devastation of cities or nations). While English translations often use 'howl' or 'howling,' these terms may not capture the intense emotional context implied in many biblical uses, where the sound is one of deep mourning, not merely animalistic noise. The term can refer to both spontaneous human crying out during mourning and the ritualized wailing of lamentation. It stands in contrast to more general terms for shouting or crying (e.g., צעק), as 'yelêl' carries a specific tone of distress or lament. Usage of the word does not refer to later ritualized forms of mourning in Jewish tradition but depicts raw, immediate reaction to tragedy or judgment. There is no evidence of significant semantic shift over time, though its poetic nature means it is less common in the narrative prose sections of the Hebrew Bible.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from יָלַל; a howl; howling.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

ילל (y-l-l) — to howl, to wail, to lament loudly

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H3213 יָלַל I will cause a wail
H3215 יְלָלָה lamenting wail
H8437 תּוֹלָל our wail-causers

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H3214-01 יְלֵ֣ל yelel HNcmsa howling mournful howl howling 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H3214-01 Deuteronomy 32:10 יְלֵ֣ל yelel HNcmsa howling mournful howl howling
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