יָלַע
𐤉𐤋𐤏
yâlaʻ
H3216 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To swallow greedily, consume, or gulp down (usually food); by extension, to speak or utter hastily, thoughtlessly, or impulsively. The term is used both for the literal act of devouring with the mouth and, in extended usage, for rushing to speak without deliberation.
Semantic Range
to swallow greedily, to gulp, to devour food, to utter or blurt out hastily, to speak thoughtlessly
Root / Etymology
Root ילע (y-l-ʻ), likely carrying the core idea of forceful or uncontrolled swallowing or utterance. The root meaning relates to hasty or uncontrolled action, whether in consuming food or producing speech. The lexical form יָלַע derives directly from this root, indicating the performance of such an action.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, יָלַע appears infrequently and, when used, often signals negative qualities—such as lack of self-control, greed, or impulsiveness—whether with food or speech. The impulsive aspect is especially prominent in wisdom literature, where hasty speech is contrasted with prudent silence. The term differs from other words for 'speaking' or 'eating' in emphasizing lack of restraint or consideration. Unlike the common root אכל (to eat), ילע particularly conveys a sense of rashness or greediness. English translations typically use words like 'devour,' 'gulp,' or 'blurt out,' but these may miss the nuance of recklessness inherent in the root. Not widely attested outside Biblical usage, and meaning appears stable across extant contexts, without significant historical semantic shift.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; to blurt or utter inconsiderately; devour.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
ילע (y-l-ʿ) — to swallow greedily, to gulp, to blurt out impulsively
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3216-01 |
יָ֣לַע | yala | HVqi3ms |
to devour | he will gulp down | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3216-01 |
Proverbs 20:25 | יָ֣לַע | yala | HVqi3ms |
to devour | he will gulp down |