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אִלֵּם

𐤀𐤋𐤌

ʼillêm

H483 adjective

SILEX Entry

Root אלם to bind, to be silent, to be restrained

Definition

One who is unable to speak, a mute person, a person rendered speechless (whether by physical inability or because of circumstances). The term is primarily used to describe a physical condition of muteness, but can also refer in some contexts to one who is deliberately or temporarily rendered unable to speak.

Semantic Range

mute person, one unable to speak, speechless, physically dumb; (less commonly) rendered mute by circumstance

Root / Etymology

From the root אָלַם (ʼalam), meaning 'to bind' or 'to be silent/fettered.' The form אִלֵּם (ʼillêm) is an adjective or substantive describing a person who is mute, derived from the root’s idea of being bound or silenced, here applied specifically to speech.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, אִלֵּם refers to those who cannot speak, especially in contrast to those who might testify or communicate. It appears with clear reference to physical muteness (e.g., Exodus 4:11, Psalms 38:14). The word stands distinct from other terms for silence (such as חָרֵשׁ), which may carry connotations of intentional silence, whereas אִלֵּם is typically descriptive of incapacity rather than willful muteness. In later texts and in various translation traditions, this word came to underlie terms for 'dumb' or 'mute,' and in some English translations, becomes 'dumb man.' Care must be taken not to confuse the condition described by אִלֵּם with willful silence or deafness, which are different lexical items. There is no ethnic, geographic, or religious identity inherent to this term; it is used descriptively of any individual with this condition across all periods of Hebrew usage. Over time, the semantic focus remains consistent, denoting physical inability to speak; there is no evidence of a significant shift in meaning between the monarchic and post-exilic periods.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from אָלַם; speechless; dumb (man).

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

אלם (ʾ-l-m) — to bind, to be silent, to be restrained

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H193 אוּל bound entry-hall of
H197 אוּלָם in the entrance hall
H198 אוּלָם bound entrance-hall of
H199 אוּלָם bound entrance-hall of
H481 אָלַם those who silence

Word Forms

4 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H483-01 אִלֵּ֔ם ilem HAamsa mute mute man 2
H483-02 אִלְּמִ֔ים ilemim HAampa mute mute men 2
H483-03 לְ/אִלֵּ֑ם leilem HR/Aamsa for the mute for the mute man 1
H483-04 וּ֝/כְ/אִלֵּ֗ם ukheilem HC/R/Aamsa and like a mute mute man 1

Occurrences in Scripture

6 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H483-01 Exodus 4:11 אִלֵּ֔ם ilem HAamsa mute mute man
H483-01 Isaiah 35:6 אִלֵּ֑ם ilem HAamsa of the mute mute man
H483-02 Isaiah 56:10 אִלְּמִ֔ים ilemim HAampa mute mute men
H483-02 Habakkuk 2:18 אִלְּמִֽים ilemim HAampa mute mute men
H483-04 Psalms 38:14 וּ֝/כְ/אִלֵּ֗ם ukheilem HC/R/Aamsa and like a mute mute man
H483-03 Proverbs 31:8 לְ/אִלֵּ֑ם leilem HR/Aamsa for the mute for the mute man
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