אׇהֳלָה
𐤀𐤄𐤋𐤄
Holah
H170 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Proper name, feminine: Oholah—used symbolically in prophetic literature for the northern Israelite kingdom (Samaria). The name means 'her tent' and is employed to personify Samaria, conveying a metaphorical image of independence or illicit sanctuaries. The term draws on the imagery of a tent to evoke associations with dwelling, establishment, or religious center, particularly in the context of idolatrous practice.
Semantic Range
Oholah (symbolic name for Samaria); her tent (metaphorically, independent sanctuary or religious center); personification of the northern kingdom of Israel; used allegorically of collective apostasy.
Root / Etymology
From the root אהל (ʼ-h-l), meaning 'tent' or 'dwelling.' אׇהֳלָה (‘Oholah) is a feminine form, literally 'her tent'—the third person feminine singular possessive of אֹהֶל (‘ohel, 'tent'). The form is constructed either as a direct possessive—אֹהֶל + -ָה—or as a poetic or symbolic adaptation per prophetic usage.
Historical & Contextual Notes
אׇהֳלָה appears exclusively in Ezekiel (ch. 23) as an allegorical name for Samaria, representing the northern kingdom of Israel in comparison to her 'sister' Oholibah (Jerusalem/Judah). This metaphorical usage develops the symbol of a tent—possibly referencing either the northern kingdom's separate places of worship following the division from Judah, or their independent existence. This differs from the common use of אֹהֶל ('tent') elsewhere in the Hebrew Bible, which usually refers to a physical dwelling or the Tabernacle. The translation 'her tent' captures the immediate sense but does not always reflect the metaphorical content, as the term does not refer to a literal tent but to the personified political/religious community. Later English Bible translations, such as the King James Version, transliterate the name as 'Aholah,' without conveying its meaning. In the context of Ezekiel, Oholah is contrasted with Oholibah to represent the two divided kingdoms and their respective apostasies. No evidence suggests historical individuals named Oholah; it is strictly a prophetic literary device.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
in form a feminine of אֹהֶל, but in fact for אׇהֳלָהּ; from אֹהֶל; her tent (i.e. idolatrous sanctuary); Oholah, a symbolic name for Samaria; Aholah.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
אהל (ʾ-h-l) — to pitch a tent, to dwell, to cover
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H166 | אָהַל | he will cause to shine |
| H167 | אָהַל | and he pitched a tent |
| H168 | אֹהֶל | your tent |
| H169 | אֹהֶל | Ohel |
| H172 | אׇהֳלִיבָה | My Tent in Her |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H170-01 |
אָהֳלָ֤ה | aholah | HNp |
Oholah | Her Tent | 5 |
Occurrences in Scripture
5 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H170-01 |
Ezekiel 23:4 | אָהֳלָ֤ה | aholah | HNp |
Oholah | Her Tent |
H170-01 |
Ezekiel 23:4 | אָהֳלָ֔ה | aholah-2 | HNp |
Oholah | Her Tent |
H170-01 |
Ezekiel 23:5 | אָהֳלָ֖ה | aholah | HNp |
Oholah | Her Tent |
H170-01 |
Ezekiel 23:36 | אָהֳלָ֖ה | aholah | HNp |
Oholah | Her Tent |
H170-01 |
Ezekiel 23:44 | אָֽהֳלָה֙ | aholah | HNp |
Oholah | Her Tent |