עָלַף
𐤏𐤋𐤐
ʻâlaph
H5968 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To cover or envelop, typically with a garment or cloth; by extension, to become weak, faint, or lose consciousness due to physical or emotional exhaustion. It may refer to either the literal act of covering or wrapping, or, more commonly in the Hebrew Bible, to the figurative state of fainting or growing weak.
Semantic Range
to cover, to wrap (with a garment), to envelop, to become faint, to swoon, to grow weak or languid
Root / Etymology
Root עָלַף (ʿ-l-p) means 'to wrap, envelop, cover.' The verb עָלַף is derived from this root, emphasizing the idea of being clothed or covered, with secondary development toward describing the result of being 'overcome,' thus to faint or become weak, as if mentally covered or enveloped. There is no clear connection to cognate Semitic roots outside Hebrew. Distinct from עָלַף as a plant term in later rabbinic Hebrew.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In Biblical Hebrew, עָלַף commonly describes a physical or emotional state of weakness or fainting—e.g., due to exhaustion, fear, or distress—found especially in poetic and prophetic texts. The connection to literal 'covering' is likely metaphorical: 'to be enveloped' by weakness. Some English translations render this as 'faint' or 'languish,' but the underlying imagery is of collapse, covering, or being overcome. In some rarer contexts, it may refer more concretely to physical wrapping or covering with a garment. The semantic shift from physical to metaphorical covering ('veiled by weakness') is attested across various biblical periods, though the sense of fainting dominates in the later prophetic and poetic literature. Related to but distinct from other terms for weakness or fainting, such as עָנָה (to be bowed down) or דָּוָה (to be unwell). The sense 'to be faint' or 'to swoon' better reflects the word's primary usage than the simple gloss 'to cover.' No evidence connects this verb with ritual veiling or specific ceremonial coverings in the Hebrew Bible.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; to veil or cover; figuratively, to be languid; faint, overlaid, wrap self.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
עלף (ʿ-l-p) — to cover, wrap, envelop
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H5969 | עֻלְפֶּה | mourning shroud |
Word Forms
5 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5968-01 |
מְעֻלֶּ֖פֶת | meulefet | HVPsfsa |
overlaid with | one being enveloped | 1 |
H5968-05 |
וַ/יִּתְעַלָּ֑ף | vayitealaf | HC/Vtw3ms |
and he fainted | and he enveloped himself | 1 |
H5968-04 |
וַ/תִּתְעַלָּ֔ף | vatitealaf | HC/Vtw3fs |
and wrapped herself | and she enveloped herself | 1 |
H5968-02 |
תִּ֠תְעַלַּפְנָה | titealafenah | HVti3fp |
will faint | they will envelop themselves | 1 |
H5968-03 |
עֻלְּפ֥וּ | ulefu | HVPp3cp |
have fainted | they were enveloped | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
5 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5968-04 |
Genesis 38:14 | וַ/תִּתְעַלָּ֔ף | vatitealaf | HC/Vtw3fs |
and wrapped herself | and she enveloped herself |
H5968-03 |
Isaiah 51:20 | עֻלְּפ֥וּ | ulefu | HVPp3cp |
have fainted | they were enveloped |
H5968-02 |
Amos 8:13 | תִּ֠תְעַלַּפְנָה | titealafenah | HVti3fp |
will faint | they will envelop themselves |
H5968-05 |
Jonah 4:8 | וַ/יִּתְעַלָּ֑ף | vayitealaf | HC/Vtw3ms |
and he fainted | and he enveloped himself |
H5968-01 |
Song of Songs 5:14 | מְעֻלֶּ֖פֶת | meulefet | HVPsfsa |
overlaid with | one being enveloped |