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עָלַל

𐤏𐤋𐤋

ʻâlal

H5953 verb

SILEX Entry

Root ע-ל-ל to deal with, to act, to practice, to treat thoroughly, to maltreat

Definition

To deal with, perform an action with thoroughness or intensity; in specific contexts, to handle or treat someone or something, often with an implication of excess, abuse, or causing pain; also used for practicing or carrying out a procedure. The term conveys nuance depending on context, such as dealing harshly, maltreating, abusing, or, in legal or ritual contexts, performing or practicing. Occurs both with neutral sense (to do thoroughly, to deal with) and negative connotation (to maltreat, abuse, mock).

Semantic Range

to deal with (neutrally or repeatedly); to perform or practice thoroughly; to abuse; to maltreat; to mock; to impose upon; to pain; to affect; to do something excessively; to cause to suffer

Root / Etymology

Root: ע-ל-ל (עָלַל). The root conveys the sense of engaging intensely or thoroughly with something or someone, leading to varied lexical developments. While the core root expresses the idea of 'to act, do, deal,' the derived forms expand into meanings of thoroughness, intensity, or even excess in action.

Historical & Contextual Notes

עָלַל appears in various textual corpora of the Hebrew Bible in both neutral and pejorative senses. In early narrative and poetic contexts (e.g., Psalms, Judges), it can describe thorough or repeated action, as in 'practicing' or 'dealing with.' More often, in narrative and prophetic literature, it refers to maltreatment, abuse, or mocking, highlighting the harshness of someone's actions. The negative sense is especially prominent when the subject is afflicted or wronged (Ruth 1:21; Lam 3:1). The verb is sometimes associated with social abuse or injustice, in contrast to similar roots like עָשָׂה (to do, make) which do not carry implications of harm. English translations often resort to words like 'deal harshly,' 'abuse,' or 'maltreat,' but these may not always capture the less intense, 'to deal with' or 'to perform' usages. In some later or figurative contexts, the word may reference mocking, scoffing, or causing pain, while in legal or ritual texts, it can have a procedural nuance—practicing or performing an action thoroughly.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to effect thoroughly; specifically, to glean (also figuratively); by implication (in a bad sense) to overdo, i.e. maltreat, be saucy to, pain, impose (also literal); abuse, affect, [idiom] child, defile, do, glean, mock, practise, thoroughly, work (wonderfully).

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

עלל (ʿ-l-l) — to deal with, to act, to practice, to treat thoroughly, to maltreat

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4606 מֵעָל from sunset-enterings-of
H4611 מַעֲלָל in his deeds
H5931 עִלָּה contrived pretext
H5943 עִלַּי the Exalted One
H5948 עֲלִיל refining crucible

Word Forms

16 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H5953-13 וְ/הִתְעַלְּלוּ vehitealelu HC/Vtp3cp and abuse and they dealt harshly 3
H5953-07 עוֹלַ֛לְתָּ olaleta HVmp2ms have you done thus you dealt intensely 2
H5953-10 תְעוֹלֵ֔ל teolel HVmi2ms go over you will deal thoroughly 2
H5953-16 יְעוֹלְל֥וּ yeolelu HVmi3mp they shall glean they will deal thoroughly 1
H5953-11 וַ/יְעֹֽלְלֻ֨/הוּ֙ vayeoleluhu HC/Vmw3mp/Sp3ms and they gleaned him and they thoroughly maltreated him 1
H5953-05 מְעוֹלֵ֔ל meolel HVmrmsa deal severely dealt-with one 1
H5953-04 לְ/הִתְע֘וֹלֵ֤ל lehiteolel HR/Vrc to practice to act abusively 1
H5953-14 וְ/עֹלַ֖לְתִּי veolaleti HC/Vmp1cs and I have thrust and I dealt intensely 1
H5953-06 עוֹלַ֖ל olal HVMp3ms dealt out maltreated one 1
H5953-08 עוֹלֵ֛ל olel HVma They shall thoroughly glean to deal intensely 1

Occurrences in Scripture

20 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H5953-02 Exodus 10:2 הִתְעַלַּ֨לְתִּי֙ hitealaleti HVtp1cs I have dealt severely with I dealt intensely
H5953-10 Leviticus 19:10 תְעוֹלֵ֔ל teolel HVmi2ms you shall glean you will deal thoroughly
H5953-01 Numbers 22:29 הִתְעַלַּ֖לְתְּ hitealalete HVtp2fs you have mocked you have dealt abusively
H5953-10 Deuteronomy 24:21 תְעוֹלֵ֖ל teolel HVmi2ms go over you will deal thoroughly
H5953-12 Judges 19:25 וַ/יִּֽתְעַלְּלוּ vayitealelu HC/Vtw3mp and abused they dealt abusively
H5953-11 Judges 20:45 וַ/יְעֹֽלְלֻ֨/הוּ֙ vayeoleluhu HC/Vmw3mp/Sp3ms and they gleaned him and they thoroughly maltreated him
H5953-03 1 Samuel 6:6 הִתְעַלֵּ֣ל hitealel HVtp3ms He had dealt severely he acted abusively
H5953-13 1 Samuel 31:4 וְ/הִתְעַלְּלוּ vehitealelu HC/Vtp3cp and abuse and they dealt harshly
H5953-05 Isaiah 3:12 מְעוֹלֵ֔ל meolel HVmrmsa deal severely dealt-with one
H5953-08 Jeremiah 6:9 עוֹלֵ֛ל olel HVma They shall thoroughly glean to deal intensely
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