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עָלֶה

𐤏𐤋𐤄

ʻâleh

H5929 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A leaf, particularly the foliage that emerges or grows on a plant or tree. In some contexts, refers more generally to plant growth or greenery, including a single leaf or collective foliage. The term can also occasionally denote a tender shoot or fresh sprout, but its primary reference is to a leaf as a botanical part of a plant.

Semantic Range

leaf, foliage, greenery, plant shoot, sprout, tender growth

Root / Etymology

Derived from the root עָלָה (ʻ-l-h), meaning 'to go up, ascend, rise.' The noun עָלֶה (ʻâleh) designates the part of the plant or tree that comes up or grows out — the leaf. There is a direct semantic connection between the action of ascending or emerging and the appearance of leaves in plant growth.

Historical & Contextual Notes

עָלֶה is attested throughout the Hebrew Bible to describe the botanical leaf—whether of trees or other plants (e.g., Gen 8:11 for the olive leaf brought by the dove). In poetry and prophecy (Isaiah, Ezekiel), עָלֶה can symbolize vitality, freshness, or blessing, and leaves or foliage may represent health, beauty, or lack thereof (as in descriptions of dried or withering leaves symbolizing fading or judgment). The word is distinct from נֵצֶר (branch/shoot), or פֶּרַח (flower/blossom), though sometimes translation traditions render עָלֶה with broader terms like 'branch' or 'foliage.' In ancient Israelite culture, leaves could have significance in ritual, as in the use of 'branches of leafy trees' in Leviticus 23:40. The translation 'leaf' is generally accurate, but in some contexts, 'foliage' may better convey the collective or general sense. In later Jewish tradition and translation, particular leaves (e.g., olive) gained symbolic value, but in biblical usage, the term remains primarily botanical. There is no religious or identity-based connotation in biblical usage; the association with later Jewish symbolism (such as the olive leaf as a peace symbol) developed post-biblically.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from עָלָה; a leaf (as coming up on a tree); collectively, foliage; branch, leaf.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.

Root Family

עלה (ʿ-l-h) — go up, ascend, rise

Root עלה to go up, ascend, rise
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H421 אָלָה Lofty One
H422 אָלָה he ascended
H4605 מַעַל upward
H4607 מֹעַל in hand-raising
H4608 מַעֲלֶה at the ascent

Word Forms

10 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H5929-01 עֲלֵ֣ה aleh HNcmsc of a leaf leaf-of leaves of 4
H5929-07 וַ/עֲלֵי vaaley HC/Ncmpc and branches of leaves of branches of 4
H5929-08 וְ/עָלֵ֖/הוּ vealehu HC/Ncmsc/Sp3ms and its leaf and his leaf and its leaf 2
H5929-03 עָלֵ֖/הוּ alehu HNcmsc/Sp3ms its leaf his leaf its leaf 2
H5929-09 וְ/הֶֽ/עָלֶה֙ vehealeh HC/Td/Ncmsa and the leaf and the rising leaf and the leaf 1
H5929-06 כֶּֽ/עָלֶה֙ kealeh HRd/Ncmsa like a leaf leaf like a leaf 1
H5929-10 וְ֝/כֶ/עָלֶ֗ה vekhealeh HC/Rd/Ncmsa but like a leaf leaf like a leaf 1
H5929-05 הֶ/עָלֶ֣ה healeh HTi/Ncmsa a driven leaf leaf leaf 1
H5929-02 עָלֶ֑/הָ aleha HNcmsc/Sp3fs its leaf her leaf her leaf 1
H5929-04 עֲלֵי aley HNcmpc branches of upon branches of 1

Occurrences in Scripture

18 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H5929-01 Genesis 3:7 עֲלֵ֣ה aleh HNcmsc leaves leaf-of leaves of
H5929-01 Genesis 8:11 עֲלֵה aleh HNcmsc leaf leaf-of leaf
H5929-01 Leviticus 26:36 עָלֶ֣ה aleh HNcmsa of a leaf leaf-of leaf-of
H5929-02 Isaiah 1:30 עָלֶ֑/הָ aleha HNcmsc/Sp3fs its leaf her leaf her leaf
H5929-01 Isaiah 34:4 עָלֶה֙ aleh HNcmsa a leaf leaf-of leaf of
H5929-06 Isaiah 64:5 כֶּֽ/עָלֶה֙ kealeh HRd/Ncmsa like a leaf leaf like a leaf
H5929-09 Jeremiah 8:13 וְ/הֶֽ/עָלֶה֙ vehealeh HC/Td/Ncmsa and the leaf and the rising leaf and the leaf
H5929-03 Jeremiah 17:8 עָלֵ֖/הוּ alehu HNcmsc/Sp3ms its leaf his leaf its leaf
H5929-03 Ezekiel 47:12 עָלֵ֜/הוּ alehu HNcmsc/Sp3ms its leaf his leaf its leaf
H5929-08 Ezekiel 47:12 וְ/עָלֵ֖/הוּ vealehu HC/Ncmsc/Sp3ms and its leaf and his leaf and its leaf
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