אַיִל
𐤀𐤉𐤋
ʼayil
H352 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A male ram, particularly of the sheep species, widely used for sacrificial purposes and symbolically representing strength and leadership. By extension, refers to strong leaders or chiefs (especially tribal or military heads), and metaphorically to any strong support or structure (e.g., a pillar, post, or architectural support), and occasionally to strong trees such as oaks. Semantic range encompasses literal zoological reference (ram), metaphorical human leadership or strength, and architectural or botanical usages emphasizing might or stability.
Semantic Range
ram (male sheep), chief or leader (person of strength), strong support or pillar in architecture, strong tree (oak), literal strength, metaphorical might or leadership
Root / Etymology
Root: אול, meaning 'to be strong, powerful'. The noun אַיִל takes the abstract sense of the root 'strength' and applies it concretely both to the ram (noted for its physical vigor), and metaphorically to a leader or a prominent supporting structure. While consistently linked to the root concept of strength, the specific lexical meanings diverge by context.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, אַיִל most frequently denotes a male ram, especially as a sacrificial animal in Israelite cultic practice (Genesis 15:9; Leviticus 5:15). Rhetorically, the ram's strength led to its use as a metaphor for military or tribal leaders (e.g., Exodus 15:15, signifying 'chief'). The same term describes architectural supports (as in pillars or posts in structures, e.g., 1 Kings 6:31), and robust trees—most notably oaks—due to their strength and endurance (Isaiah 1:29). English translations often shift between 'ram', 'chief', 'pillar', or 'oak' depending on context, but the unifying thread is the quality of strength. In Late Biblical and post-biblical Hebrew, the term retains similar semantic breadth but may become more specialized in certain uses (e.g., rabbinic use for doors or posts as strong supports). Distinct from other Hebrew words for strong trees or leaders (e.g., אֵלוֹן for 'oak', נשיא for 'prince/chief'), though sometimes overlapping in usage and meaning; context is key for precise interpretation.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from the same as אוּל; properly, strength; hence, anything strong; specifically a chief (politically); also a ram (from his strength); a pilaster (as a strong support); an oak or other strong tree; mighty (man), lintel, oak, post, ram, tree.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
אול (ʾ-w-l) — strength, might, support
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H177 | אוּאֵל | and Will-of-God |
| H191 | אֱוִיל | senseless man |
| H193 | אוּל | robust-bodied ones of |
| H196 | אֱוִלִי | foolish one |
| H197 | אוּלָם | yet indeed |
Word Forms
32 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H352-13 |
אֵילִ֧ם | eylim | HNcmpa |
rams | rams | 42 |
H352-14 |
הָ/אַ֔יִל | haayil | HTd/Ncmsa |
the ram | the strong ram | 26 |
H352-01 |
אַ֔יִל | ayil | HNcmsa |
ram | mighty ram | 22 |
H352-19 |
לָ/אַ֨יִל֙ | laayil | HRd/Ncmsa |
for the ram | to a mighty ram | 15 |
H352-25 |
וְ/אַ֣יִל | veayil | HC/Ncmsa |
and a ram | and a strong ram | 10 |
H352-10 |
אֵ֥יל | eyl | HNcmsc |
ram | mighty ram | 10 |
H352-20 |
לָ/אֵילִ֧ם | laeylim | HRd/Ncmpa |
for the rams | to the rams | 8 |
H352-29 |
וְ/אֵילִ֥ים | veeylim | HC/Ncmpa |
and rams | strong rams | 7 |
H352-24 |
וָ/אַ֜יִל | vaayil | HC/Ncmsa |
and a ram | strong ram | 6 |
H352-16 |
הָ/אֵילִֽם | haeylim | HTd/Ncmpa |
rams | the mighty rams | 6 |
Occurrences in Scripture
196 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H352-25 |
Genesis 15:9 | וְ/אַ֣יִל | veayil | HC/Ncmsa |
and a ram | and a strong ram |
H352-01 |
Genesis 22:13 | אַ֔יִל | ayil | HNcmsa |
a ram | mighty ram |
H352-14 |
Genesis 22:13 | הָ/אַ֔יִל | haayil | HTd/Ncmsa |
the ram | the strong ram |
H352-28 |
Genesis 31:38 | וְ/אֵילֵ֥י | veeyley | HC/Ncmpc |
and the rams of | strong rams of |
H352-29 |
Genesis 32:15 | וְ/אֵילִ֥ים | veeylim | HC/Ncmpa |
and rams | strong rams |
H352-12 |
Exodus 15:15 | אֵילֵ֣י | eyley | HNcmpc |
leaders of | rams of |
H352-13 |
Exodus 25:5 | אֵילִ֧ם | eylim | HNcmpa |
rams' | rams |
H352-13 |
Exodus 26:14 | אֵילִ֖ם | eylim | HNcmpa |
of rams | rams |
H352-29 |
Exodus 29:1 | וְ/אֵילִ֥ם | veeylim | HC/Ncmpa |
and rams | strong rams |
H352-16 |
Exodus 29:3 | הָ/אֵילִֽם | haeylim | HTd/Ncmpa |
rams | the mighty rams |