עָלַס
𐤏𐤋𐤎
ʻâlaç
H5965 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To exult or leap for joy, to display exuberant or demonstrative joy, often with bodily movement such as leaping or skipping; by extension, to rejoice greatly. Most occurrences invoke a vivid, visible joy expressed in response to favorable circumstances or blessings.
Semantic Range
to leap for joy, to exult, to rejoice exuberantly, to solace oneself with joy, to wave or skip joyously
Root / Etymology
Root ע-ל-ס (עלס), an otherwise rare root in Biblical Hebrew probably denoting demonstrative or exuberant joy. The verb form reflects the action of joyful movement, such as leaping or skipping. The etymology is uncertain beyond the primary root and has no clear cognates in related Semitic languages; the root is rare and its semantic field is based largely on contextual uses within the Hebrew Bible.
Historical & Contextual Notes
עָלַס is a rare verb, appearing only in poetic or high literary contexts in the Hebrew Bible (e.g., Job 20:18; Proverbs 7:18; Psalms 68:4). It typically describes a highly expressive, outward demonstration of joy. The verb carries no inherent religious connotation, but may be used in both sacred and secular contexts. The associated noun form, עָלָס, does not occur in the Bible. The rendering of 'peacock' in some translation traditions derives from the Septuagint's misreading or interpretative expansion (cf. LXX 1 Kgs 10:22, 2 Chr 9:21: ταριάνδρος, a kind of exotic bird), and is not linguistically supported by the Hebrew verb. English translations often use terms like 'rejoice,' 'exult,' or 'be jubilant,' but may miss the physical, exuberant aspect present in the Hebrew term. The word is used interchangeably at times with synonyms such as שָׂמַח (samach, 'to rejoice') and גִּיל (gil, 'to exult' or 'be glad'), but עָלַס is especially associated with demonstrative celebration.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; to leap for joy, i.e. exult, wave joyously; [idiom] peacock, rejoice, solace self.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
עלס (ʿ-l-s) — leap, exult, display exuberant joy
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H1185 | בַּעֲלִיס | In-Exultation |
Word Forms
3 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5965-03 |
יַעֲלֹֽס | yaalos | HVqi3ms |
he will rejoice | he will leap for joy | 1 |
H5965-02 |
נִ֝תְעַלְּסָ֗ה | nitealesah | HVth1cp |
let us delight ourselves | let us leap for joy | 1 |
H5965-01 |
נֶעֱלָ֑סָה | neelasah | HVNp3fs |
waves-proudly | she has exulted | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
3 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5965-02 |
Proverbs 7:18 | נִ֝תְעַלְּסָ֗ה | nitealesah | HVth1cp |
let us delight ourselves | let us leap for joy |
H5965-03 |
Job 20:18 | יַעֲלֹֽס | yaalos | HVqi3ms |
he will rejoice | he will leap for joy |
H5965-01 |
Job 39:13 | נֶעֱלָ֑סָה | neelasah | HVNp3fs |
waves-proudly | she has exulted |