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עַלְמָה

𐤏𐤋𐤌𐤄

ʻalmâh

H5959 noun

SILEX Entry

Root עלם to be hidden, concealed, to be mature, grow strong

Definition

Young woman of marriageable age, typically unmarried, with an emphasis on youth and maturity rather than explicit virginity; can denote a young woman who is physically mature but socially not yet married. In some contexts, may carry the implication of sexual innocence, but does not inherently specify virginity. The term is broader than 'virgin' and is used for girls or young women who have transitioned from childhood but are not yet married mothers.

Semantic Range

young woman of marriageable age, girl on verge of marriage, maiden, (in context) presumed unmarried woman, sometimes with implication of sexual innocence but not specifying it

Root / Etymology

From the root עלם (ʿ-l-m), which conveys the sense 'to be hidden, concealed, to be mature, to be vigorous.' The form עַלְמָה is the feminine singular noun derived from this root. While the root can imply something 'hidden' or 'covered' (possibly connected with the transitional, not-yet-public social status of the young woman), its main application is to biological and social maturity.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In Israelite society, עַלְמָה refers to a socially recognized stage: a young woman approaching or at marriageable age. The term is not strictly synonymous with בתולה (betulah, 'virgin'), which more specifically indicates sexual inexperience or ritual purity. עַלְמָה does not by itself prove virginity but is used of women presumed, by virtue of age and social status, to be unmarried and sexually inexperienced (e.g., Rebekah in Genesis 24:43; maidens in Psalm 68:26). In contexts such as Isaiah 7:14, later translations (Greek LXX, later Christian tradition) rendered the term as 'virgin' (παρθένος), influencing subsequent theological understandings, but in biblical usage the word primarily denotes 'young woman.' The nuance of 'veiled' derives from suggestive associations with modesty and social visibility for unmarried women but is not a central meaning. Use also distinguishes עַלְמָה from נַעֲרָה (na‘arah), which refers to a girl or young woman with even broader application, sometimes including female servants or girls not yet of marriageable age. Over time, especially in later Hebrew and translation traditions, עַלְמָה came to be understood as 'virgin,' but this is a secondary, interpretive meaning rather than the primary biblical sense.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

feminine of עֶלֶם; a lass (as veiled or private); damsel, maid, virgin.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

עלם (ʿ-l-m) — to be hidden, concealed, to be mature, grow strong

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

4 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H5959-03 הָֽ/עַלְמָה֙ haalemah HTd/Ncfsa the young woman the marriageable young woman 3
H5959-01 עֲ֝לָמ֗וֹת alamot HNcfpa damsels young marriageable women 2
H5959-04 וַ/עֲלָמ֖וֹת vaalamot HC/Ncfpa and young women and marriageable young women 1
H5959-02 בְּ/עַלְמָֽה bealemah HR/Ncfsa with a maiden with a young woman 1

Occurrences in Scripture

7 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H5959-03 Genesis 24:43 הָֽ/עַלְמָה֙ haalemah HTd/Ncfsa the virgin the marriageable young woman
H5959-03 Exodus 2:8 הָֽ/עַלְמָ֔ה haalemah HTd/Ncfsa the young woman the marriageable young woman
H5959-03 Isaiah 7:14 הָ/עַלְמָ֗ה haalemah HTd/Ncfsa the young woman the marriageable young woman
H5959-01 Psalms 68:26 עֲ֝לָמ֗וֹת alamot HNcfpa damsels young marriageable women
H5959-02 Proverbs 30:19 בְּ/עַלְמָֽה bealemah HR/Ncfsa with a maiden with a young woman
H5959-01 Song of Songs 1:3 עֲלָמ֥וֹת alamot HNcfpa maidens young marriageable women
H5959-04 Song of Songs 6:8 וַ/עֲלָמ֖וֹת vaalamot HC/Ncfpa and young women and marriageable young women
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