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אַל

𐤀𐤋

ʼal

H409 particle

SILEX Entry

Root אַל not, negative, prohibit

Definition

Particle of negation in Aramaic: functions as a prohibitive or deprecative 'not', usually employed to express a warning, prohibition, or negative wish. Occurs primarily in Aramaic passages of the Hebrew Bible to negate verbs, typically in jussive or imperative constructions ('do not...'). In one instance (Job 24:25), occurs as a noun meaning 'nothing'.

Semantic Range

not (prohibitive or deprecative, especially in Aramaic), do not, nothing (as a noun, rare)

Root / Etymology

From the root אל, which in Hebrew and Aramaic forms functions as a particle of negation. The root meaning is 'not'. The word ʼal (אַל) is distinct from the Hebrew negative particles לֹא (lo; 'not') and אַל (al; 'not' used in prohibitions), but identical in form to the latter, sharing cognate use in Aramaic where it is the usual negative in prohibitions.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, אַל (ʼal) as an Aramaic particle appears primarily in the Aramaic sections (e.g., Ezra, Daniel). It is distinct from the more common Hebrew negative particles: לֹא (lo) denotes simple negation in factual statements, while אַל in Hebrew is typically prohibitive, used with jussive or imperative verbs. In Aramaic, ʼal carries this prohibitive nuance as the standard negative particle for commands and requests. In post-biblical usage, and in the later development of Hebrew (e.g., Rabbinic Hebrew), the prohibitive nuance of אַל remains, but the form as an Aramaic particle is less prominent. The unique nominal occurrence in Job 24:25 (in a non-Aramaic context) reflects an archaic or poetic usage; most English translations render this as 'nothing', but the nuance as a substantive is rare. English translations often conflate the distinctions between לֹא and אַל, sometimes obscuring the more nuanced prohibitive or deprecative function of אַל in Aramaic. In comparison to later Jewish literature, where 'Jew' or 'Jewish' appears as ethno-religious terms, this word bears no such identity marker; it is a functional particle, not an identity term. No anachronistic or religious sense applies.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

(Aramaic) corresponding to אַל; {not (the qualified negation, used as a deprecative); once (Job 24:25) as a noun, nothing}; not.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

על (ʿ-l) — to go up, ascend, be high

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1167 בַּעַל and upon him
H3808 לֹא upon
H408 אַל upon / over
H413 אֵל upon / over
H516 אַל תַּשְׁחֵת upon, over

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H409-01 אַל al ATn not upon 4

Occurrences in Scripture

4 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H409-01 Daniel 2:24 אַל al-3 ATn not upon
H409-01 Daniel 4:16 אַֽל al ATn not upon
H409-01 Daniel 5:10 אַֽל al ATn not upon
H409-01 Daniel 5:10 אַל al-2 ATn not upon
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