עִלֵּג
𐤏𐤋𐤂
ʻillêg
H5926 adjective
SILEX Entry
Definition
A person who speaks with difficulty, specifically exhibiting stammering or stuttering speech characterized by interruption, repetition, or an inability to articulate words clearly. The term describes a speech impediment and, by extension, can denote someone whose speech is incomprehensible or difficult to understand.
Semantic Range
stammerer, person with speech impediment, one who speaks with difficulty, incomprehensible speaker
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root עלג (ʻ-l-g), though the root is not otherwise attested in Biblical Hebrew. The root likely conveys the idea of faltering or hindrance in speech, but direct lexical evidence for the root in Hebrew is lacking, making the etymology uncertain.
Historical & Contextual Notes
עִלֵּג appears rarely in the Hebrew Bible (e.g., Isaiah 32:4) and is used in contexts describing individuals whose speech is impaired or obstructed, possibly pointing to physical or neurological conditions affecting articulation. In some ancient Near Eastern contexts, similar words refer either to speech impairment or, metaphorically, to foreign or unintelligible language. The term should be differentiated from לָעֵג (la‘ēg, 'mocker'), which refers to derisive speech rather than impeded speech. English translations typically render עִלֵּג as 'stammerer' or 'stutterer', which adequately conveys its primary sense, though the figurative possibility of 'incomprehensible speaker' may be relevant in poetic or prophetic texts. No significant development in meaning is attested through Israelite history, as the word is not widely used. Later Hebrew retains related forms with similar meaning.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from an unused root meaning to stutter; stuttering; stammerer.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
עלג (ʿ-l-g) — to speak with difficulty, to stammer, to falter in speech
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5926-01 |
עִלְּגִ֔ים | ilegim | HAampa |
the stammerers | stammering ones | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5926-01 |
Isaiah 32:4 | עִלְּגִ֔ים | ilegim | HAampa |
the stammerers | stammering ones |