אֶתְמוֹל
𐤀𐤕𐤌𐤅𐤋
ʼethmôwl
H865 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Adverb indicating temporal reference to the immediate past, typically 'yesterday' or, more broadly, 'previously' or 'in the past.' The word denotes a point of time one day prior, but can sometimes refer more generally to recent past events, especially in parallel with similar Hebrew temporal terms.
Semantic Range
yesterday, the day before, previously, formerly, heretofore, in times past, recently
Root / Etymology
The term appears to be derived from the root אֵת ('time, occasion') and מוּל ('opposite, in front of'), with the compound sense indicating the moment just preceding the present, i.e., 'the day before.' However, the morphological formation is partly opaque, and the precise relationship between its components is debated; the root sense pertains to opposition or precedence in time.
Historical & Contextual Notes
אֶתְמוֹל is frequently used for direct reference to 'yesterday,' but in some contexts can indicate a less precise reference to a recent, but not strictly defined, past (e.g., 'formerly'). It appears in both prose and poetry, and is found in early narratives (e.g., Pentateuch) and later writings. In some passages (e.g., alongside שִׁלְשׁוֹם 'the day before yesterday'), it helps construct a sequence of days in the past. English translations typically render the term as 'yesterday,' but this can occasionally obscure its use for more indefinite past references; context sometimes demands 'formerly,' 'heretofore,' or similar expressions. The term does not carry legal or idiomatic significance beyond its temporal meaning. In post-biblical usage, its function as a temporal adverb remains consistent.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
or אִתְמוֹל; or אֶתְמוּל; probably from אֵת or אֵת and מוּל; heretofore; definitely yesterday; [phrase] before (that) time, [phrase] heretofore, of late (old), [phrase] times past, yester(day).
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
אתמול (ʾ-t-m-w-l) — previousness, prior time, time before, immediate past
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H8543 | תְּמוֹל | like yesterday |
Word Forms
5 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H865-01 |
אֶתְמ֥וֹל | etemol | HNcmsa |
yesterday | the prior day | 3 |
H865-02 |
כְּ/אֶתְמ֣וֹל | keetemol | HR/Ncmsa |
as yesterday | as previous day | 2 |
H865-05 |
וְ/אֶתְמ֗וּל | veetemul | HC/D |
even of late | and previously | 1 |
H865-03 |
מֵֽ/אֶתְמוּל֙ | meetemul | HR/Ncmsa |
of old | from yesterday | 1 |
H865-04 |
מֵ/אִתְּמ֣וֹל | meitemol | HR/Ncmsa |
from yesterday | from yesterday | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
8 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H865-01 |
1 Samuel 4:7 | אֶתְמ֥וֹל | etemol | HNcmsa |
yesterday | the prior day |
H865-04 |
1 Samuel 10:11 | מֵ/אִתְּמ֣וֹל | meitemol | HR/Ncmsa |
from yesterday | from yesterday |
H865-02 |
1 Samuel 14:21 | כְּ/אֶתְמ֣וֹל | keetemol | HR/Ncmsa |
as-yesterday | as previous day |
H865-02 |
1 Samuel 19:7 | כְּ/אֶתְמ֥וֹל | keetemol | HR/Ncmsa |
as yesterday | as previous day |
H865-01 |
2 Samuel 5:2 | אֶתְמ֣וֹל | etemol | HNcmsa |
yesterday | the prior day |
H865-03 |
Isaiah 30:33 | מֵֽ/אֶתְמוּל֙ | meetemul | HR/Ncmsa |
of old | from yesterday |
H865-05 |
Micah 2:8 | וְ/אֶתְמ֗וּל | veetemul | HC/D |
even of late | and previously |
H865-01 |
Psalms 90:4 | אֶ֭תְמוֹל | etemol | HNcmsa |
yesterday | the prior day |