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עוֹלֵל

𐤏𐤅𐤋𐤋

ʻôwlêl

H5768 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A very young child, typically an infant or toddler, who is not yet weaned; in some contexts, any small or dependent child. The term emphasizes extreme youth and dependence, and sometimes carries the nuance of vulnerability or lack of capability.

Semantic Range

infant, suckling, very young child, nursing baby, toddler, unweaned child, little one

Root / Etymology

Derived from the root עול, which means 'to suck' or 'to nurse at the breast.' The noun עוֹלֵל arises as a diminutive or descriptive form indicating one who nurses, hence 'infant' or 'suckling.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, עוֹלֵל frequently appears in parallel with יָלוּד (newborn) or טַף (child, children), but is more specific to those still in infancy, dependent on mother's milk. Its usage concentrates on infancy or early childhood, focusing on dependent status rather than age per se. In poetry and prophetic literature (e.g., Lamentations), עוֹלֵל highlights suffering or helplessness during crisis. While later English translations often render it as 'infant' or 'babe,' the term is broader, sometimes encompassing all non-weaned children. In ancient Israelite society, such a child would typically be distinguished from a יֶלֶד (generic child) or נַעַר (boy, youth). No direct religious or cultic significance attaches to the term; it functions descriptively throughout the First Temple and exilic periods. In later periods (Second Temple and beyond), the term does not remain current in everyday Hebrew, replaced by Aramaic or later forms. In post-biblical translation and tradition, especially the Septuagint and Vulgate, the term is often glossed as 'infant' or 'parvulus,' with subsequent influence on English renderings. Care must be taken not to confuse עוֹלֵל (infant) with עוּל ('youth,' Psalm 8:3). The English phrase 'little one' captures the sense in some contexts, but loses the specific emphasis on infancy and nursing.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or עֹלָל; from עוּל; a suckling; babe, (young) child, infant, little one.

Bantu Hebrew

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

Root Family

עול (Ula) — to act wrongfully, to do injustice, to pervert (morally)

Root עול to suck, to nurse, to be nourished at the breast
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H5760 עֲוִיל unjust man
H5763 עוּל to suckle
H5765 עֲוַל from injustice
H5766 עֶוֶל injustice
H5767 עַוָּל indeed, however

Word Forms

12 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H5768-07 עוֹלָלֶ֛י/הָ olaleyha HNcmpc/Sp3fs children-of-it her suckling infants her suckling infants 3
H5768-03 מֵֽ/עֹלֵל֙ meolel HR/Ncmsa from child suckling infant from infant 2
H5768-04 עוֹלָל֙ olal HNcmsa children nursing infant nursing infant 2
H5768-05 עֽוֹלָלַ֔יִ/ךְ olalayikhe HNcmpc/Sp2fs little ones your nursing-infants your infants 2
H5768-08 עֽוֹלָלִ֔ים olalim HNcmpa little children suckling infants children 2
H5768-09 עוֹלֵ֥ל olel HNcmsa child suckling infant infant 2
H5768-12 וְ/עֹלְלֵי/הֶ֣ם veoleleyhem HC/Ncmpc/Sp3mp and their little ones and their suckling infants and their suckling infants 2
H5768-01 כְּ֝/עֹלְלִ֗ים keolelim HR/Ncmpa as infants like nursing infants like nursing infants 1
H5768-02 לְ/עוֹלְלֵי/הֶֽם leoleleyhem HR/Ncmpc/Sp3mp to their children to their suckling-infants to their suckling infants 1
H5768-06 עֹלֲלֵ֣י olaley HNcmpc infants sucklings of sucklings of 1

Occurrences in Scripture

20 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H5768-03 1 Samuel 15:3 מֵֽ/עֹלֵל֙ meolel HR/Ncmsa from child suckling infant from infant
H5768-03 1 Samuel 22:19 מֵ/עוֹלֵ֖ל meolel HR/Ncmsa from child suckling infant suckling infant
H5768-12 2 Kings 8:12 וְ/עֹלְלֵי/הֶ֣ם veoleleyhem HC/Ncmpc/Sp3mp and their little ones and their suckling infants and their suckling infants
H5768-12 Isaiah 13:16 וְ/עֹלְלֵי/הֶ֥ם veoleleyhem HC/Ncmpc/Sp3mp their little ones and their suckling infants and their suckling infants
H5768-04 Jeremiah 6:11 עוֹלָל֙ olal HNcmsa children nursing infant nursing infant
H5768-04 Jeremiah 9:20 עוֹלָל֙ olal HNcmsa the children nursing infant the nursing infant
H5768-09 Jeremiah 44:7 עוֹלֵ֥ל olel HNcmsa child suckling infant suckling infant
H5768-10 Hosea 14:1 עֹלְלֵי/הֶ֣ם oleleyhem HNcmpc/Sp3mp their infants their suckling infants their infants
H5768-08 Joel 2:16 עֽוֹלָלִ֔ים olalim HNcmpa the children suckling infants the children
H5768-07 Micah 2:9 עֹֽלָלֶ֔י/הָ olaleyha HNcmpc/Sp3fs children-of-it her suckling infants her suckling infants
H5768-07 Nahum 3:10 עֹלָלֶ֛י/הָ olaleyha HNcmpc/Sp3fs her infants her suckling infants her suckling infants
H5768-11 Psalms 8:3 עֽוֹלְלִ֨ים olelim HNcmpa babes/children suckling infants suckling infants
H5768-02 Psalms 17:14 לְ/עוֹלְלֵי/הֶֽם leoleleyhem HR/Ncmpc/Sp3mp to their children to their suckling-infants to their suckling infants
H5768-05 Psalms 137:9 עֹ֝לָלַ֗יִ/ךְ olalayikhe HNcmpc/Sp2fs little ones your nursing-infants your little ones
H5768-01 Job 3:16 כְּ֝/עֹלְלִ֗ים keolelim HR/Ncmpa as infants like nursing infants like nursing infants
H5768-07 Lamentations 1:5 עוֹלָלֶ֛י/הָ olaleyha HNcmpc/Sp3fs her children her suckling infants her children
H5768-09 Lamentations 2:11 עוֹלֵל֙ olel HNcmsa of infants suckling infant infant
H5768-05 Lamentations 2:19 עֽוֹלָלַ֔יִ/ךְ olalayikhe HNcmpc/Sp2fs your infants your nursing-infants your infants
H5768-06 Lamentations 2:20 עֹלֲלֵ֣י olaley HNcmpc infants sucklings of sucklings of
H5768-08 Lamentations 4:4 עֽוֹלָלִים֙ olalim HNcmpa little children suckling infants children
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