← H8585 H8587 →

תַּעֲלוּל

𐤕𐤏𐤋𐤅𐤋

taʻălûwl

H8586 noun

SILEX Entry

Root עלל to act wantonly, to behave like a child, to play, to exploit

Definition

Act, deed—especially in the sense of an exploit, action, or enterprise that may carry the nuance of mischievousness, recklessness, or even perversity. The term can connote daring action, often with an implication of boastfulness or impudence, but may also refer more neutrally to a feat or undertaking.

Semantic Range

exploit, feat, mischievous action, wanton act, reckless deed, caprice, mischievous behavior, perverse deed, act of impudence, childish prank

Root / Etymology

From the root עָלַל (ʻ-l-l), meaning 'to act wantonly, to deal severely, to behave like a child, or to play.' תַּעֲלוּל is a noun formation (pattern תַקְטוּל) indicating 'that which is done,' i.e., an act or exploit, typically with a negative or mischievous sense derived from the root.

Historical & Contextual Notes

תַּעֲלוּל occurs rarely in the Hebrew Bible (e.g., Isaiah 3:4; Hosea 11:6), with usage shaped by context. In Isaiah 3:4, it refers to the exploits or capricious actions of children or unqualified rulers—a negative development that conveys societal instability or lack of wisdom. In Hosea 11:6, the sense extends to perverse or harmful deeds, possibly suggestive of rebellion or misguided action. Later translations and traditions sometimes render this as 'delusions,' 'caprices,' 'follies,' or personify it in the sense of a child (paralleled by the connotation of childishness or immaturity). Targumic and later Hebrew generally maintain the nuance of mischievous action. The Strong's gloss connects this with 'babe' and 'tyrant,' but the actual semantic center is mischievous, reckless, or impudent action, rather than a specific person. This term differs from עֲוֹן (ʻāwōn, iniquity) or גְּבוּרָה (gᵉvurāh, mighty deed) by focusing on the quality of caprice or recklessness, not on moral evaluation or heroism per se. In post-biblical Hebrew, the root עָלַל continues to generate terms associated with childishness, trickery, or malice. English translations often select contextually-driven renderings (e.g., 'caprices,' 'delusions,' 'follies'), none of which always capture the dynamic, sometimes boastful undertone of the Hebrew word itself.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from עָלַל; caprice (as a fit coming on), i.e. vexation; concretely a tyrant; babe, delusion.

Bantu Hebrew

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

+ Add Bantu Hebrew Word

Root Family

עלל (ʿ-l-l) — to act wantonly, to behave like a child, to play, to exploit

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4606 מֵעָל from sunset-enterings-of
H4611 מַעֲלָל in his deeds
H5931 עִלָּה contrived pretext
H5943 עִלַּי the Exalted One
H5948 עֲלִיל refining crucible

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H8586-02 וְ/תַעֲלוּלִ֖ים vetaalulim HC/Ncmpa babes wanton deeds 1
H8586-01 בְּ/תַעֲלֻלֵי/הֶ֗ם betaaluleyhem HR/Ncmpc/Sp3mp their delusions in their wanton acts 1

Occurrences in Scripture

2 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H8586-02 Isaiah 3:4 וְ/תַעֲלוּלִ֖ים vetaalulim HC/Ncmpa babes wanton deeds
H8586-01 Isaiah 66:4 בְּ/תַעֲלֻלֵי/הֶ֗ם betaaluleyhem HR/Ncmpc/Sp3mp their delusions in their wanton acts
← H8585 Hebrew Lexicon H8587 →