← H6418 H6420 →

פָּלַל

𐤐𐤋𐤋

pâlal

H6419 verb

SILEX Entry

Root פלל to intervene, mediate, judge, decide

Definition

To intervene or intercede, primarily by verbal address to a higher authority; to pray or make a petition, especially directed toward a deity. The word can indicate the act of judicially interceding, deciding, or arbitrating disputes, but in most biblical occurrences, it denotes speaking to the deity with a request, petition, or supplication. The semantic range includes petitionary prayer, intercessory prayer, and formal appeals for divine intervention, as well as, in limited contexts, forms of judicial decision or argumentation.

Semantic Range

to pray, to intercede, to entreat, to make a petition to a deity, to arbitrate, to judge, to make a legal decision

Root / Etymology

From the Hebrew root פלל, which carries the idea of intervening or mediating as an arbiter or judge. The root meaning 'to make a decision' or 'to act as an arbiter' underlies both legal/judicial and petitionary uses. The derived verb פָּלַל developed the additional sense of making an appeal, especially to a deity, thus 'to pray' or 'to intercede.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

While early uses of פָּלַל may carry the sense of judicial intervention or assessment, in the vast majority of biblical occurrences, especially from the monarchic period onward, the verb refers to the act of prayer—presented as an intercessory, formal, or urgent request to the deity by an individual or leader on behalf of oneself or others. Notably, the act of prayer in Israelite tradition is less formulaic than in some surrounding ancient Near Eastern cultures, often depicted as a legitimate, direct address to the deity. The term is distinct from other Hebrew words like עתר (to entreat, to appeal strongly) or חלל (to beseech), which may express different kinds of petitions or forms of address. English translations often render פָּלַל as 'pray,' 'intercede,' or 'make supplication,' but this can obscure its roots in the concept of mediation or judgment. In poetic or prophetic texts, the term may carry theological implications of judgment or arbitration as the deity assesses the intercessor's request. In post-exilic and later contexts, the word becomes more exclusively associated with prescribed acts of prayer. The term should not be confused with later fixed liturgical practices; biblical usage emphasizes directness and relational quality in prayer.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to judge (officially or mentally); by extension, to intercede, pray; intreat, judge(-ment), (make) pray(-er, -ing), make supplication.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.

+ Add Bantu Hebrew Word

Root Family

פלל (p-l-l) — intervene, mediate, judge, decide

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H6414 פָּלִיל by arbiters
H6415 פְּלִילָה judicial proceeding
H6416 פְּלִילִי judicial
H6417 פְּלִילִיָּה judicial proceeding
H6420 פָּלָל Palal

Word Forms

29 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H6419-20 וַ/יִּתְפַּלֵּ֥ל vayitepalel HC/Vtw3ms and prayed and he interceded himself 16
H6419-24 וְ/הִֽתְפַּֽלְל֧וּ vehitepalelu HC/Vtq3cp and they pray and they interceded 10
H6419-07 לְ/הִתְפַּלֵּ֖ל lehitepalel HR/Vtc to pray to intercede oneself 8
H6419-28 יִתְפַּלֶּל yitepalel HVti3ms prays he will intercede 5
H6419-06 הִתְפַּלֵּל֙ hitepalel HVtv2ms pray Intercede yourself 5
H6419-15 וָֽ/אֶתְפַּלֵּ֛ל vaetepalel HC/Vtw1cs and I prayed and I interceded 4
H6419-08 מִתְפַּלֵּ֥ל mitepalel HVtrmsa am praying the one interceding 4
H6419-25 וְ/יִתְפַּלֵּ֥ל veyitepalel HC/Vti3ms and he prays and he will intercede 3
H6419-23 וְ/הִתְפַּלֵּ֖ל vehitepalel HC/Vtq3ms and pray and he interceded 3
H6419-10 תִּתְפַּלֵּ֣ל titepalel HVtj2ms pray may you intercede 3

Occurrences in Scripture

84 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H6419-25 Genesis 20:7 וְ/יִתְפַּלֵּ֥ל veyitepalel HC/Vti3ms and he will pray and he will intercede
H6419-20 Genesis 20:17 וַ/יִּתְפַּלֵּ֥ל vayitepalel HC/Vtw3ms prayed and he interceded himself
H6419-03 Genesis 48:11 פִלָּ֑לְתִּי filaleti HVpp1cs I had thought I interceded
H6419-20 Numbers 11:2 וַ/יִּתְפַּלֵּ֤ל vayitepalel HC/Vtw3ms and prayed and he interceded himself
H6419-06 Numbers 21:7 הִתְפַּלֵּל֙ hitepalel HVtv2ms intercede Intercede yourself
H6419-20 Numbers 21:7 וַ/יִּתְפַּלֵּ֥ל vayitepalel HC/Vtw3ms and prayed and he interceded himself
H6419-15 Deuteronomy 9:20 וָֽ/אֶתְפַּלֵּ֛ל vaetepalel HC/Vtw1cs and I prayed and I interceded
H6419-15 Deuteronomy 9:26 וָ/אֶתְפַּלֵּ֣ל vaetepalel HC/Vtw1cs and I prayed and I interceded
H6419-18 1 Samuel 1:10 וַ/תִּתְפַּלֵּ֥ל vatitepalel HC/Vtw3fs and prayed and she interceded
H6419-07 1 Samuel 1:12 לְ/הִתְפַּלֵּ֖ל lehitepalel HR/Vtc to pray to intercede oneself
← H6418 Hebrew Lexicon H6420 →