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עוֹלֵל

𐤏𐤅𐤋𐤋

ʻôwlêl

H5768 noun

SILEX Entry

Root עול to suck, to nurse, to be nourished at the breast

Definition

A very young child, typically an infant or toddler, who is not yet weaned; in some contexts, any small or dependent child. The term emphasizes extreme youth and dependence, and sometimes carries the nuance of vulnerability or lack of capability.

Semantic Range

infant, suckling, very young child, nursing baby, toddler, unweaned child, little one

Root / Etymology

Derived from the root עול, which means 'to suck' or 'to nurse at the breast.' The noun עוֹלֵל arises as a diminutive or descriptive form indicating one who nurses, hence 'infant' or 'suckling.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, עוֹלֵל frequently appears in parallel with יָלוּד (newborn) or טַף (child, children), but is more specific to those still in infancy, dependent on mother's milk. Its usage concentrates on infancy or early childhood, focusing on dependent status rather than age per se. In poetry and prophetic literature (e.g., Lamentations), עוֹלֵל highlights suffering or helplessness during crisis. While later English translations often render it as 'infant' or 'babe,' the term is broader, sometimes encompassing all non-weaned children. In ancient Israelite society, such a child would typically be distinguished from a יֶלֶד (generic child) or נַעַר (boy, youth). No direct religious or cultic significance attaches to the term; it functions descriptively throughout the First Temple and exilic periods. In later periods (Second Temple and beyond), the term does not remain current in everyday Hebrew, replaced by Aramaic or later forms. In post-biblical translation and tradition, especially the Septuagint and Vulgate, the term is often glossed as 'infant' or 'parvulus,' with subsequent influence on English renderings. Care must be taken not to confuse עוֹלֵל (infant) with עוּל ('youth,' Psalm 8:3). The English phrase 'little one' captures the sense in some contexts, but loses the specific emphasis on infancy and nursing.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or עֹלָל; from עוּל; a suckling; babe, (young) child, infant, little one.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

עול (ʿ-w-l) — to suck, to nurse, to be nourished at the breast

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H5759 עֲוִיל their nursing infants
H5760 עֲוִיל unjust man
H5763 עוּל to suckle
H5764 עוּל nursing infant of
H5765 עֲוַל from injustice

Word Forms

12 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H5768-07 עֹֽלָלֶ֔י/הָ olaleyha HNcmpc/Sp3fs children-of-it her suckling infants 3
H5768-05 עֹ֝לָלַ֗יִ/ךְ olalayikhe HNcmpc/Sp2fs little ones your nursing-infants 2
H5768-03 מֵֽ/עֹלֵל֙ meolel HR/Ncmsa from child suckling infant 2
H5768-12 וְ/עֹלְלֵי/הֶ֣ם veoleleyhem HC/Ncmpc/Sp3mp and their little ones and their suckling infants 2
H5768-04 עוֹלָל֙ olal HNcmsa children nursing infant 2
H5768-09 עוֹלֵ֥ל olel HNcmsa child suckling infant 2
H5768-08 עֽוֹלָלִ֔ים olalim HNcmpa little children suckling infants 2
H5768-10 עֹלְלֵי/הֶ֣ם oleleyhem HNcmpc/Sp3mp their infants their suckling infants 1
H5768-06 עֹלֲלֵ֣י olaley HNcmpc infants sucklings of 1
H5768-02 לְ/עוֹלְלֵי/הֶֽם leoleleyhem HR/Ncmpc/Sp3mp to their children to their suckling-infants 1

Occurrences in Scripture

20 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H5768-03 1 Samuel 15:3 מֵֽ/עֹלֵל֙ meolel HR/Ncmsa from child suckling infant
H5768-03 1 Samuel 22:19 מֵ/עוֹלֵ֖ל meolel HR/Ncmsa from child suckling infant
H5768-12 2 Kings 8:12 וְ/עֹלְלֵי/הֶ֣ם veoleleyhem HC/Ncmpc/Sp3mp and their little ones and their suckling infants
H5768-12 Isaiah 13:16 וְ/עֹלְלֵי/הֶ֥ם veoleleyhem HC/Ncmpc/Sp3mp their little ones and their suckling infants
H5768-04 Jeremiah 6:11 עוֹלָל֙ olal HNcmsa children nursing infant
H5768-04 Jeremiah 9:20 עוֹלָל֙ olal HNcmsa the children nursing infant
H5768-09 Jeremiah 44:7 עוֹלֵ֥ל olel HNcmsa child suckling infant
H5768-10 Hosea 14:1 עֹלְלֵי/הֶ֣ם oleleyhem HNcmpc/Sp3mp their infants their suckling infants
H5768-08 Joel 2:16 עֽוֹלָלִ֔ים olalim HNcmpa the children suckling infants
H5768-07 Micah 2:9 עֹֽלָלֶ֔י/הָ olaleyha HNcmpc/Sp3fs children-of-it her suckling infants
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