Lexical Summary yaal: To profit, to gain, to benefit, to avail Original Word: יָאַל Strong's Exhaustive Concordance assay, begin, be content, please, take upon, willingly, would A primitive root (probably rather the same as ya'al through the idea of mental weakness); properly, to yield, especially assent; hence (pos.) To undertake as an act of volition -- assay, begin, be content, please, take upon, X willingly, would. see HEBREW ya'al NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to show willingness, be pleased, determine, undertake (to do anything) NASB Translation agreed (1), determined (1), persisted (3), please (2), pleased (2), pleased* (1), tried (1), undertook (1), ventured (2), willing (5). Brown-Driver-Briggs II. [יָאַל] verb only Hiph`il shew willingness, be pleased, determine, undertake to do anything (and do it) (see Ki Thes; Arabic Hiph`il Perfect3masculine singular הוֺאִיל Hosea 5:11 2t.; 2 masculine singular הוֺאַלְתָּ 1 Chronicles 17:27; 1singular הוֺאַלְתִּי Genesis 18:27,31; 1plural הוֺאַלְנוּ Joshua 7:7; Imperfect וְיֹאֵל Job 6:9 (jussive); וַיּ֫וֺאֶל Exodus 2:21 4t.; וַיֹאֶל 1 Samuel 17:39 (but see below); Imperative הוֺאֵל 2 Samuel 7:29; 2 Kings 5:23; הוֺאֶלנָֿא Judges 19:6; ה֫וֺאֶל נָא 2 Kings 6:3; הוֺאִ֫ילוּ Job 6:28; — 1 shew willingness to do anything, accept an invitation, acquiesce, followed by infinitive וַי֫וֺאֶל משֶׁה לָשֶׁבֶת אֶתהָֿאִישׁ Exodus 2:21 (JE) and Moses was willing to dwell with the man (and did so), = Judges 17:11 (of Levite); elsewhere following by finite verb; וְלוּ הוֺאַלְנוּ וַנֵּשֶׁב Joshua 7:7 and would that we had been willing and had stayed; especially imperative, followed by imperative: הוֺאֶלנָֿא וְלִין Judges 19:6 be willing and spend the night (kindly accept my invitation) see Ges§ 110. 2 a, R 2; 120. 2 a, 2 Kings 6:3 and (no וְ) 2 Kings 5:23; הוֺאִילוּ פְֿנוּבִֿי Job 6:28 i.e. be good enough to look upon me. 2 more actively, voluntarily undertake to do anything (and do it), followed by infinitive: Genesis 18:27 I have undertaken to speak = Genesis 18:31 (both J); so 1 Samuel 17:39 ᵑ0, but read וַ֫יֵּלֶא, and he laboured vainly, for וַיֹאֶל, so ᵐ5, GeiUrschrift, 377 We Dr (compare also vb לֹא אוּכַל לָלֶכֶת בָּאֵלֶּה); followed by finite verb הוֺאִיל משֶׁה בֵּאֵר Deuteronomy 1:5 i.e. Moses took upon himself to expound the law. 3 more actively still, be pleased, determine on one's own responsibility, resolve, followed by infinitive: Joshua 17:12 (JE) = Judges 1:27 but the Canaanites were determined (shewed a determination) to remain in this territory (= persisted in dwelling there); Judges 1:35 the Amorites persisted in dwelling in Har-Heres, etc.; followed by finite verb, of irreligious action, הואיל הָלַךְ Hosea 5:11 Ephraim persisted, he walked after vanity (read שׁוא for צו, see Che); elsewhere only of the divine good pleasure: followed by infinitive 1 Samuel 12:22 ׳י hath been pleased to make you a people for himself; 1 Chronicles 17:27; followed by finite verb הוֺאֵל וּבָרֵךְ 2 Samuel 7:29 be pleased and bless the house of thy servant; וְיֹאֵל אֱלוֺהַּ וִידַכְּאֵנִי Job 6:9 and that Eloah would be pleased and crush me! (see Ges§ 120, 2 a DaSynt. § 83 b). Topical Lexicon Scope and Nuances of UsageThe verb יָאַל occurs nineteen times and gathers several shades of meaning around the idea of a settled willingness: to venture a request, to consent to a proposal, to undertake a task, or to persist in a chosen way—whether righteous or rebellious. Each appearance highlights the interplay between human resolve and the larger purposes of God. Reverent Boldness in Intercession (Genesis 18:27, 18:31) Twice in Abraham’s plea for Sodom the verb introduces his self–deprecating yet daring petitions: “I have ventured to speak to the Lord, though I am but dust and ashes” (Genesis 18:27). Abraham’s repeated “let not the Lord be angry, but let me speak” (18:31) models a faith that is humble yet unafraid to press near. The occurrences teach the Church that holy boldness is not presumption when it rests on covenant friendship with God. Pastoral Consent and Instruction (Exodus 2:21; Deuteronomy 1:5) Moses “consented to stay with the man” (Exodus 2:21) in Midian, a quiet affirmation of God’s hidden shaping of His servant. Decades later, on the plains of Moab, “Moses took it upon himself to expound this law” (Deuteronomy 1:5). The same root frames both private consent and public proclamation, reminding ministers that willingness in obscurity is often the seed of later fruitfulness in ministry. Covenant Assurance in Dynastic Promises (2 Samuel 7:29; 1 Chronicles 17:27) When David hears the everlasting covenant, he prays, “Now be pleased to bless the house of Your servant, that it may continue forever before You” (2 Samuel 7:29). The Chronicler repeats the scene (1 Chronicles 17:27). David’s use of יָאַל signals confident reception of God’s promise; he ventures to ask because God has ventured to speak. The passages encourage believers to claim divine pledges with similar assurance. Willing Determination in Conquest Narratives (Joshua 7:7; 17:12; Judges 1:27, 1:35) In Joshua’s lament after the defeat at Ai, he declares, “Why did You ever bring this people across the Jordan?” (Joshua 7:7). His words confess that Israel had undertaken the crossing by God’s lead. By contrast, the Canaanites “were determined to remain” in the land (Joshua 17:12; Judges 1:27, 1:35). The same verb exposes a stubborn will opposing God’s purposes. Scripture thus sets willingness toward God over against determination against Him. Household Agreements and Hospitality (Judges 17:11; Judges 19:6) Micah’s Levite “was content to dwell with the man” (Judges 17:11), and the Benjamite host of Gibeah urged his guest, “Be pleased to spend the night” (Judges 19:6). In both, יָאַל underscores voluntary covenants at the household level—one leading to idolatrous compromise, the other to a tragic civil war. The episodes caution that human agreements cannot sanctify what contradicts God’s revealed will. National Grace and Prophetic Instruction (1 Samuel 12:22; 1 Samuel 17:39; 2 Kings 5:23; 2 Kings 6:3) Samuel consoles the nation, “The LORD was pleased to make you His own” (1 Samuel 12:22), rooting Israel’s security in divine willingness. Saul’s ill-fitting armor on David (“he was not used to them,” 1 Samuel 17:39) shows that even a willing attempt can hinder when it is out of harmony with God’s equipping. Elisha’s accounts of Naaman and the borrowed axe (2 Kings 5:23; 6:3) reveal that prophetic ministry gladly receives practical help yet never traffics in personal gain. Willing generosity belongs to the people of God, willing glory to God alone. Personal Anguish and Plea (Job 6:9, 6:28) Job longs that God “would be willing to crush me” (Job 6:9) and begs his friends to “be willing to look at me” (Job 6:28). The verb lays bare a sufferer’s desire for decisive divine action and compassionate human attention. It validates the believer’s honest cry while guiding it toward submission. Prophetic Indictment of Perverse Will (Hosea 5:11) “Ephraim is oppressed, trampled in judgment, because he willingly followed human command” (Hosea 5:11). The last biblical use of יָאַל condemns a people whose determined pursuit of man-made decrees eclipsed obedience to the covenant. The text warns that willingness divorced from truth invites oppression. Theological and Ministry Reflections 1. Human willingness is real but never autonomous. Throughout Scripture יָאַל is meaningful only in relation to God’s overarching will. Forms and Transliterations ה֥וֹאֶל הֽוֹאֶל־ הוֹאִ֔יל הוֹאִ֣יל הוֹאִ֣ילוּ הוֹאֵ֖ל הוֹאֵל֙ הוֹאַ֙לְתִּי֙ הוֹאַ֙לְתָּ֙ הוֹאַ֣לְנוּ הואיל הואילו הואל הואל־ הואלנו הואלת הואלתי וְיֹאֵ֣ל וַיֹּ֣אֶל וַיּ֙וֹאֶל֙ וַיּ֤וֹאֶל וַיּ֥וֹאֶל ויאל ויואל hō·w·’al·nū hō·w·’al·tā hō·w·’al·tî hō·w·’el hō·w·’êl hō·w·’el- hō·w·’î·lū hō·w·’îl hoAlnu hoAlta hoAlti hoel hoIl hoIlu hōw’alnū hōw’altā hōw’altî hōw’el hōw’êl hōw’el- hōw’îl hōw’îlū vaiYoel veyoEl way·yō·’el way·yō·w·’el wayyō’el wayyōw’el wə·yō·’êl wəyō’êlLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 18:27 HEB: הִנֵּה־ נָ֤א הוֹאַ֙לְתִּי֙ לְדַבֵּ֣ר אֶל־ NAS: behold, I have ventured to speak KJV: and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak INT: behold Now have ventured to speak to Genesis 18:31 Exodus 2:21 Deuteronomy 1:5 Joshua 7:7 Joshua 17:12 Judges 1:27 Judges 1:35 Judges 17:11 Judges 19:6 1 Samuel 12:22 1 Samuel 17:39 2 Samuel 7:29 2 Kings 5:23 2 Kings 6:3 1 Chronicles 17:27 Job 6:9 Job 6:28 Hosea 5:11 19 Occurrences |
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is take refuge with, escape, hasten to a place; compare II. אול be in front of, NöMBAK 1880. 775; Sabean ואל in proper name מואלת DHMEpigr. Denkm. 53; perhaps As âlû, accept, LyonSargontexte 72) —