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אָלָה

𐤀𐤋𐤄

ʼâlâh

H422 verb

SILEX Entry

Root אלה to swear, bind by oath, imprecate, pronounce a curse

Definition

To bind by oath, especially to make a solemn declaration or to invoke a curse upon oneself or others as part of an oath or agreement. The root often carries the sense of invoking a solemn pronouncement with consequences, commonly imprecatory (calling down harm upon oneself or another if an oath is broken). It is used both for binding oneself by oath and for pronouncing a curse as part of a covenant formulation.

Semantic Range

to adjure, to administer or take an oath, to invoke a curse, to pronounce a conditional sanction, to bind with consequences; to curse as a legal or ritual act

Root / Etymology

אָדָה (אלה) is a primitive Semitic root meaning fundamentally to swear or bind oneself by oath, or to pronounce a curse, especially as part of a formal or legal declaration. Derived nouns (e.g., אֵלָה, 'oath'; אָלָה, 'curse') stem from this root meaning but focus on the verbal act of invoking power or consequences conditional upon the fulfillment or violation of an oath.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, אָלָה is used in contexts of solemn oath-taking, especially where curses are invoked as consequences for breaking an agreement (e.g., legal, covenantal, or ritual contexts, see Deut 29:12, Num 5:21). In covenant scenes, an אָלָה is the pronouncement of negative consequences should vows be unkept, distinguished from a ברית (berit, 'covenant') which is the positive aspect of the agreement. While most frequently imprecatory ('curse'), the term's underlying element is the invocation of consequences by a verbal pronouncement. In late biblical and post-biblical Hebrew, the root continues to refer to adjuration and curse but shifts slightly in legal terminology. English translations like 'curse' often fail to capture the formal, legal, and ritual dimensions present in the Hebrew context. The root should be distinguished from קלל (qalal, 'to curse, treat lightly'), which more often denotes derogatory or insulting speech rather than formal pronouncement. The later translation tradition may use 'curse' or 'swear' but often misses the formal, binding element of אָלָה as a sanction within covenants or oaths.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; properly, to adjure, i.e. (usually in a bad sense) imprecate; adjure, curse, swear.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

אלה (ʾ-l-h) — to swear, bind by oath, imprecate, pronounce a curse

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H412 אֵל these
H414 אֵלָא Elah
H423 אָלָה solemn curse-oath
H424 אֵלָה her strong oak
H425 אֵלָה Elah

Word Forms

6 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H422-02 אָלִית֙ alit HVqp2fs uttered a curse you swore an oath 1
H422-01 אָלָ֖ה alah HNcfsa an oath he ascended 1
H422-05 לְ/הַֽאֲלֹת֑/וֹ lehaaloto HR/Vhc/Sp3ms to make him swear to bind him by oath 1
H422-04 אָל֥וֹת alot HVqa swearing to ascend 1
H422-03 אָלֹ֣ה aloh HVqa swearing to bind by oath 1
H422-06 וַ/יֹּאֶל֩ vayoel HC/Vhw3ms and adjured and he undertook 1

Occurrences in Scripture

6 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H422-02 Judges 17:2 אָלִית֙ alit HVqp2fs uttered a curse you swore an oath
H422-06 1 Samuel 14:24 וַ/יֹּאֶל֩ vayoel HC/Vhw3ms and adjured and he undertook
H422-05 1 Kings 8:31 לְ/הַֽאֲלֹת֑/וֹ lehaaloto HR/Vhc/Sp3ms to make him swear to bind him by oath
H422-03 Hosea 4:2 אָלֹ֣ה aloh HVqa swearing to bind by oath
H422-04 Hosea 10:4 אָל֥וֹת alot HVqa swearing to ascend
H422-01 2 Chronicles 6:22 אָלָ֖ה alah HNcfsa an oath he ascended
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