תּוֹלָל
𐤕𐤅𐤋𐤋
tôwlâl
H8437 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A poetic or rare term denoting one who causes lamentation or anguish, particularly an oppressor whose actions provoke public wailing or distress. The term underscores not just harm done but the emotional or agonized response elicited among victims or witnesses, especially in contexts of social injustice or devastation.
Semantic Range
one who causes wailing, oppressor producing lamentation, destroyer provoking public sorrow, figure causing distress or devastation
Root / Etymology
Root: ילל (to lament, wail, howl). תּוֹלָל appears to be a noun formed from the root, with the characteristic process of root expansion, here indicating 'one who causes to howl'—that is, one who produces the kind of distress that leads to public lamentation. The derivation is rare and poetic in form.
Historical & Contextual Notes
תּוֹלָל is an exceedingly rare term, occurring only once in the Hebrew Bible (Job 30:3), in a poetic passage describing those who suffer under oppression or calamity. The nuance of the term is stronger than simply 'destroyer' or 'waster'—it focuses on the emotional agony produced by such a figure. Unlike more common terms for oppressors (e.g., עוֹשֵׁק, לָחוּץ), תּוֹלָל uniquely draws attention to the lament or howl that results from their oppression, indicating not just physical deprivation but also psychological and social suffering. While some English versions render it as 'waster' or 'oppressor,' these may not capture the expressive, emotive force of the Hebrew. In Job’s context, this reflects the deep disorientation and sorrow brought upon communities or individuals by such figures. Later Jewish literature does not continue this usage. The connection to the root ילל helps explain the emphasis on producing public wailing—a communal acknowledgment of suffering or injustice.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from יָלַל; causing to howl, i.e. an oppressor; that wasted.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
ילל (y-l-l) — to wail, to lament, to howl
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H3213 | יָלַל | I will cause a wail |
| H3214 | יְלֵל | mournful howl |
| H3215 | יְלָלָה | lamenting wail |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8437-01 |
וְ/תוֹלָלֵ֣י/נוּ | vetolaleynu | HC/Ncmpc/Sp1cp |
our tormentors | our wail-causers | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8437-01 |
Psalms 137:3 | וְ/תוֹלָלֵ֣י/נוּ | vetolaleynu | HC/Ncmpc/Sp1cp |
our tormentors | our wail-causers |