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מָלַל

𐤌𐤋𐤋

mâlal

H4448 verb

SILEX Entry

Root מַלַל to speak, to utter, to express verbally

Definition

To speak, say, or utter words—typically with a poetic, formal, or solemn nuance. The verb מָלַל often conveys the act of verbal expression, but is characteristically employed in parallelism with other speech verbs, especially in poetic literature, and may indicate expression, proclamation, or lament. The semantic range includes the act of saying, expressing, or making something known through speech, and extends to lamenting or speaking in a plaintive tone in specific contexts.

Semantic Range

to speak, to say, to utter, to declare, to lament, to complain, to make known verbally; formal address; plaintive or poetic speech

Root / Etymology

Root: מלל. The root מלל (m-l-l) generally means 'to speak' or 'to express verbally.' The verb in the piel stem (as in most occurrences) intensifies the notion of speaking or uttering. Etymologically, it is distinct from other similar roots (e.g., מלל meaning 'to wither'), and it is unrelated to verbs of casual or everyday speech such as דבר (dabar) or אמר (amar). The origin of the root emphasizes declaration or formal utterance.

Historical & Contextual Notes

The verb מָלַל is uncommon and primarily appears in poetic or archaizing contexts, such as in the books of Job and Psalms. Unlike more common verbs for speaking (אֵמַר, דִּבֵּר), מָלַל tends to suggest a marked, solemn, or plaintive kind of speech—often related to complaint, lament, or formal declaration. Its usage is rare and not found in ordinary, narrative Hebrew prose. In post-biblical Hebrew, the verb disappears in favor of other, more standard speech verbs. English renderings like 'say' or 'speak' often obscure this formal or poetic nuance. In some cases, מָלַל shows overlap with слова for 'lament' or 'utter a lamentation,' especially in parallel poetic structures. The root should be distinguished from the identically spelled but semantically separate root meaning 'to wither.'

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to speak (mostly poetical) or say; say, speak, utter.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

מלל (m-l-l) — to speak, to utter, to express verbally

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4405 מִלָּה in uttered words
H4406 מִלָּה utterance
H4413 מַלּוֹתִי to My Utterance
H4425 מְלִילָה cropped grain-heads
H4449 מְלַל he declared

Word Forms

5 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H4448-04 תְּמַלֶּל temalel HVpi2ms you speak you utter 1
H4448-01 מִלֵּל֙ milel HVpp3ms would have said he solemnly uttered 1
H4448-02 מִלֵּֽלוּ milelu HVpp3cp they speak they declared 1
H4448-03 מֹלֵ֣ל molel HVqrmsa signals uttering one 1
H4448-05 יְ֭מַלֵּל yemalel HVpi3ms can speak he will declare 1

Occurrences in Scripture

5 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H4448-01 Genesis 21:7 מִלֵּל֙ milel HVpp3ms would have said he solemnly uttered
H4448-05 Psalms 106:2 יְ֭מַלֵּל yemalel HVpi3ms can speak he will declare
H4448-03 Proverbs 6:13 מֹלֵ֣ל molel HVqrmsa signals uttering one
H4448-04 Job 8:2 תְּמַלֶּל temalel HVpi2ms you speak you utter
H4448-02 Job 33:3 מִלֵּֽלוּ milelu HVpp3cp they speak they declared
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