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עָלַם

𐤏𐤋𐤌

ʻâlam

H5956 verb

SILEX Entry

Root עַלַם to conceal, to hide, to cover, to be hidden

Definition

To conceal or hide; to cover something so as to keep it from view or knowledge, whether physically (as in hiding objects or individuals) or metaphorically (as in concealing information or intentions). The verb conveys actions related to keeping something secret, obscured, or invisible to others, either purposefully or by circumstance. Contexts range from concealing oneself, to hiding truth, or obscuring understanding.

Semantic Range

to hide, to conceal, to cover, to keep secret, to be hidden, to obscure, to be unnoticed, to act in secret

Root / Etymology

Root: ע-ל-ם. The root fundamentally carries the notion of covering or hiding. From this core meaning, it develops into senses of concealment, literal or figurative, such as secrecy, hiddenness, and obscuration. The word עָלַם is a primary verb form from this root, signifying the act of hiding or being hidden.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In biblical usage, עָלַם is most frequently used to describe both physical and non-physical concealment. It can refer to hiding people or objects (e.g., Exodus 3:6, 'Moses hid his face'), as well as more abstract senses such as hiding knowledge, intentions, or truth (e.g., Job 28:21). The verb can be employed reflexively (to hide oneself) and passively (to be concealed or hidden). In later Hebrew, derived forms from this root (such as noun עֹלָם, 'eternity; world; that which is hidden or indefinite') reflect an extension of the semantic field from concealment to the notion of something unseen, distant, or time unmeasured. English versions often render עָלַם with verbs like 'to hide,' 'to conceal,' or 'to cover,' but these translations can fail to capture the nuance of intentionality or the metaphoric richness, especially in poetic and wisdom literature. The related verb סָתַר (satar, 'to hide') is sometimes more strongly associated with physical concealment, while עָלַם is more often used for metaphorical or intangible aspects of hiding. In post-biblical Hebrew, further derivations expand the semantic field even into cosmological and temporal concepts.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to veil from sight, i.e. conceal (literally or figuratively); [idiom] any ways, blind, dissembler, hide (self), secret (thing).

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

עלם (ʿ-l-m) — to conceal, to hide, to cover, to be hidden

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H3281 יַעְלָם Yaʿlam
H492 אַלְמֹנִי anonymous one
H5769 עוֹלָם for the hidden age
H5867 עֵילָם in Elam
H5934 עָלוּם your youthful years

Word Forms

20 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H5956-17 וְ/נֶעְלַ֣ם veneelam HC/VNq3ms and it is hidden and was hidden 5
H5956-10 נֶעְלָ֣ם neelam HVNrmsa hidden hidden one 3
H5956-16 וְ/הִתְעַלַּמְתָּ֖ vehitealameta HC/Vtq2ms and hide yourself and you concealed yourself 2
H5956-13 תִתְעַלָּֽם titealam HVti2ms hide yourself you hide yourself 2
H5956-05 הֶעְלִ֣ימוּ heelimu HVhp3cp they have hidden they concealed 1
H5956-14 וּ/מַעְלִ֥ים umaelim HC/Vhrmsa but he who hides concealing one 1
H5956-19 יַעְלִימֽוּ֩ yaelimu HVhi3mp they hide they will conceal 1
H5956-01 אַעְלִ֤ים aelim HVhi1cs I will hide I will conceal 1
H5956-07 מַעְלִ֥ים maelim HVhrmsc hides one who conceals 1
H5956-08 נַֽעֲלָמָ֑ה naalamah HVNsfsa hidden hidden one 1

Occurrences in Scripture

28 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H5956-17 Leviticus 4:13 וְ/נֶעְלַ֣ם veneelam HC/VNq3ms is hidden and was hidden
H5956-17 Leviticus 5:2 וְ/נֶעְלַ֣ם veneelam HC/VNq3ms and it is hidden and was hidden
H5956-17 Leviticus 5:3 וְ/נֶעְלַ֣ם veneelam HC/VNq3ms and it is hidden and was hidden
H5956-17 Leviticus 5:4 וְ/נֶעְלַ֣ם veneelam HC/VNq3ms and it is hidden and was hidden
H5956-03 Leviticus 20:4 הַעְלֵ֣ם haelem HVha the people hide to cause to conceal
H5956-19 Leviticus 20:4 יַעְלִימֽוּ֩ yaelimu HVhi3mp they hide they will conceal
H5956-17 Numbers 5:13 וְ/נֶעְלַם֙ veneelam HC/VNq3ms and is hidden and was hidden
H5956-16 Deuteronomy 22:1 וְ/הִתְעַלַּמְתָּ֖ vehitealameta HC/Vtq2ms and hide yourself and you concealed yourself
H5956-06 Deuteronomy 22:3 לְ/הִתְעַלֵּֽם lehitealem HR/Vtc hide yourself to conceal oneself
H5956-16 Deuteronomy 22:4 וְ/הִתְעַלַּמְתָּ֖ vehitealameta HC/Vtq2ms and ignore and you concealed yourself
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