אֻמְלַל
𐤀𐤌𐤋𐤋
ʼumlal
H536 adjective
SILEX Entry
Definition
Reduced in vitality or strength, languishing, feeble. Used primarily to describe a physical or emotional state of depletion often resulting from adversity, grief, or misfortune. The term can refer to sickliness or faintness, but extends to broader senses of being worn out—physically, mentally, or spiritually.
Semantic Range
to be made feeble, to be weakened, to languish, to wither, to lose vitality, to be emotionally or physically exhausted, to be devastated
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root אָמַל (amal), which conveys the sense of withering, fading, or coming to naught due to destruction, exhaustion, or grief. אֻמְלַל is the passive participle form (pu‘al) indicating being acted upon—thus meaning 'made weak, caused to wither, languished.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
The passive/pual form is relatively rare in the Hebrew Bible and typically describes a person, group, or even land rendered languid or feeble by adverse circumstances (Psalm 77:4, Joel 1:10). In early periods (monarchic, exilic), this form tends to appear in poetic or lament contexts, emphasizing powerlessness or decline, particularly after calamity. In later Hebrew poetry and prophetic texts, אֻמְלַל may be used metaphorically, signifying the devastating effects of judgment or loss, not just physiological weakness. The nuance often extends beyond physical sickness to include emotional exhaustion, grief, and a sense of fading vitality. Translators sometimes render it as 'faint,' 'weak,' or 'languished,' but such translations may not capture the full depth of emotional and existential depletion implied. In contrast to related roots such as חלה (to be sick) and דלל (to be brought low), אֻמְלַל often highlights the process or outcome of being made feeble through hardship, though all can overlap in meaning.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from אָמַל; sick; weak.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
אמל (ʾ-m-l) — to wither, fade, languish
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H536-01 |
אֻמְלַ֫ל | umelal | HAamsa |
I am languishing | was made feeble | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H536-01 |
Psalms 6:3 | אֻמְלַ֫ל | umelal | HAamsa |
I am languishing | was made feeble |