Lexical Summary ach: Ah, alas Original Word: אָח Strong's Exhaustive Concordance ah, alas A variation for 'ahahh; Oh! (expressive of grief or surprise) -- ah, alas. see HEBREW 'ahahh NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof uncertain derivation Definition ah!, alas! NASB Translation Ah (1), alas (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs III. אָח interjection (onomatopoetic) ah! alas! Ezekiel 6:11; Ezekiel 21:20. **Ezek 18:10 אָח is a vox nihili (dittograph from following אחד: see Commentaries): in Ezekiel 21:10 also dubious (ᵐ5 εὖ), read אַח Ew Hi Sm Toy, חַדָּה Co Berthol, אַתְּ Oort Krae. Topical Lexicon Overview אָח (ach) is a terse Hebrew interjection of acute distress, translated “Alas,” “Ah,” or “Woe.” Though it appears only twice, its placement in Ezekiel’s oracles of judgment gives it disproportionate theological weight, embodying the anguish of both the prophet and the covenant-keeping LORD over the sins and impending ruin of Israel. Occurrences and Literary Setting 1. Ezekiel 6:11 – “Clap your hands, stomp your feet, and cry out ‘Alas!’ because of all the wicked abominations of the house of Israel, for they will fall by sword, famine, and plague.” Both uses belong to extended judgment speeches directed against a rebellious nation on the eve of Babylonian catastrophe (circa 592-586 B.C.). The interjection functions as the prophet’s audible groan, bridging divine verdict and human emotion. Prophetic Lament and Divine Pathos Ezekiel does not merely relay information; he enters into God’s grief. The command to “cry out ‘Alas!’” (Ezekiel 6:11) shows that authentic proclamation includes felt sorrow over sin’s consequences. In Ezekiel 21:15 the interjection is fused with the imagery of a polished sword, highlighting both inevitability and sorrow. Judgment is never portrayed as capricious but as the tragic, necessary outworking of covenant justice (Leviticus 26; Deuteronomy 28). Historical Context The Northern Kingdom had fallen more than a century earlier, yet Judah persisted in idolatry. Ezekiel prophesied from exile in Babylon, addressing compatriots who still cherished hopes of swift deliverance. The sharp outcry אָח punctuates God’s announcement that such hopes were misplaced; only repentance could avert disaster. The word therefore captures the sense of shock Judah would shortly experience when Jerusalem and its temple were destroyed in 586 B.C. Theological Themes • Covenant Accountability – The exclamation accompanies the forecast of sword, famine, and plague, sanctions explicitly outlined in the Mosaic covenant. Ministry and Pastoral Application 1. Authentic Preaching – Proclamation should carry both truth and tears, mirroring the prophet’s balance of conviction and compassion. Worship and Spiritual Formation אָח encourages believers to recover the language of lament. Modern praise often neglects the minor key; yet biblical spirituality encompasses mourning as a pathway to comfort (Matthew 5:4). The brief interjection can serve as a liturgical hinge, opening space for confession before moving to assurance. Christological Echoes The sorrow encapsulated in אָח anticipates the greater grief borne by the Man of Sorrows. Jesus wept over Jerusalem (Luke 19:41-44) and lamented, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem” (Matthew 23:37), voicing the same covenant grief. At the cross, divine judgment and divine lament converge, providing ultimate atonement and the only secure escape from the sword of God’s justice. Summary Though only two syllables and two occurrences, אָח distills the prophetic heart: God’s holiness confronts human rebellion, yet His lament invites repentance. It reminds the church to speak truth drenched in tears, to lament sin with hope, and to look to the One who bore the ultimate “Alas” that His people might inherit eternal joy. Forms and Transliterations אָ֔ח אָ֛ח אח ’āḥ AchLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Ezekiel 6:11 HEB: בְּרַגְלְךָ֙ וֶֽאֱמָר־ אָ֔ח אֶ֛ל כָּל־ NAS: and say, Alas, because KJV: and say, Alas for all the evil INT: your foot and say Alas because of all Ezekiel 21:15 |
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