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יָאַל

𐤉𐤀𐤋

yâʼal

H2974 verb

SILEX Entry

Root יָאַל to be willing, to show readiness, to consent, to undertake

Definition

To undertake, be willing, consent, or show readiness to do something. The verb conveys the idea of being willing or prepared to act, often with a nuance of willingly beginning or agreeing to undertake a task or course of action. In various contexts, it can suggest showing willingness, consenting, being resolved, or taking it upon oneself to act.

Semantic Range

to be willing (volitional consent), to agree, to undertake (a task), to begin or resolve (to do something), to consent willingly, to take upon oneself, to be prepared

Root / Etymology

Root is יאל (y-ʼ-l). The basic root meaning relates to willingness or intent. The derived verbal forms express notions of consent or readiness rather than weakness or yielding in a passive sense. The connection with mental weakness suggested in some older sources is no longer sustained by modern scholarship; rather, the root reflects the idea of voluntary intention or readiness to act.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, יָאַל is used predominantly in narrative texts to describe individuals agreeing, being willing, or consenting to perform an action, such as accepting a task, proposal, or invitation. It almost always appears in the Hiphil stem (causative-allowing), emphasizing a volitional or deliberate decision. The subject is often a prominent individual expressing willingness (e.g., Abraham, God, significant leaders), highlighting intentionality rather than mere acquiescence. The term is rare and tends to be literary, with limited but significant usage. Later translations, including some English versions, sometimes render the word with phrases like "be content" or "please," but these do not always capture the nuance of readiness or voluntary undertaking. The meaning is best distinguished from passive "yielding" and is better understood as an active willingness. There are no major semantic shifts from the monarchic to post-exilic periods; the word remains rare and literary throughout the textual history. It is not to be confused with similar roots or words expressing mere acceptance or passive consent (e.g., רָצָה ratzah, "to be pleased/accept").

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root (probably rather the same as יָאַל through the idea of mental weakness); properly, to yield, especially assent; hence (pos.) to undertake as an act of volition; assay, begin, be content, please, take upon, [idiom] willingly, would.

Bantu Hebrew

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

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Root Family

יאל (y-ʾ-l) — willingness, consent, readiness, undertaking

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H2973 יָאַל we have become foolish
H422 אָלָה and he undertook

Word Forms

8 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H2974-07 וַ/יּ֥וֹאֶל vayoel HC/Vhw3ms and he attempted and he undertook 6
H2974-04 הֽוֹאֶל hoel HVhv2ms be pleased Be willing! 4
H2974-05 הוֹאִ֣יל hoil HVhp3ms began he undertook willingly 3
H2974-03 הוֹאַ֨לְתִּי֙ hoaleti HVhp1cs I have ventured I consented 2
H2974-02 הוֹאַ֨לְתָּ֙ hoaleta HVhp2ms you have been pleased you undertook 1
H2974-01 הוֹאַ֣לְנוּ hoalenu HVhp1cp we had been willing we consented 1
H2974-06 הוֹאִ֣ילוּ hoilu HVhv2mp please be willing Be willing! 1
H2974-08 וְ/יֹאֵ֣ל veyoel HC/Vhj3ms and-would-be-willing and let him be willing 1

Occurrences in Scripture

19 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H2974-03 Genesis 18:27 הוֹאַ֨לְתִּי֙ hoaleti HVhp1cs I have ventured I consented
H2974-03 Genesis 18:31 הוֹאַ֨לְתִּי֙ hoaleti HVhp1cs I have ventured I consented
H2974-07 Exodus 2:21 וַ/יּ֥וֹאֶל vayoel HC/Vhw3ms And Moses was content and he undertook
H2974-05 Deuteronomy 1:5 הוֹאִ֣יל hoil HVhp3ms began he undertook willingly
H2974-01 Joshua 7:7 הוֹאַ֣לְנוּ hoalenu HVhp1cp we had been willing we consented
H2974-07 Joshua 17:12 וַ/יּ֨וֹאֶל֙ vayoel HC/Vhw3ms and-was-determined and he undertook
H2974-07 Judges 1:27 וַ/יּ֨וֹאֶל֙ vayoel HC/Vhw3ms and-was-willing and he undertook
H2974-07 Judges 1:35 וַ/יּ֤וֹאֶל vayoel HC/Vhw3ms and was determined and he undertook
H2974-07 Judges 17:11 וַ/יּ֥וֹאֶל vayoel HC/Vhw3ms And was content and he undertook
H2974-04 Judges 19:6 הֽוֹאֶל hoel HVhv2ms be willing Be willing!
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