305. achalay

Lexicon

achalay: "Oh that," "Would that," "If only"

Original Word: אַחֲלַי
Part of Speech: Interjection
Transliteration: achalay
Pronunciation: akh-al-lah'ee
Phonetic Spelling: (akh-al-ah'ee)
Definition: "Oh that," "Would that," "If only"
Meaning: would that!

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

O that, would God

Or achaley {akh-al-ay'}; prob from 'ach and a variation of luw'; would that! -- O that, would God.

see HEBREW 'ach

see HEBREW luw'

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
of uncertain derivation
Definition
O! would that!
NASB Translation
Oh (1), wish (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

אַחְלַי Psalm 119:5 and אַחֲלֵי 2 Kings 5:3 (perhaps from אָח III. and לַי = Aramaic לְוַי = ׃לוּ the varying punctuation is due doubtless to the word being treated by the punctuators as a substantive = wish, with suffix & in construct stative, 'my wish is that,' etc.; compare Ki on Psalm 119 תְּחִנּוֺתַי וּבַקָּשׁוֺתַי), ah that! (ᵐ5 ο[φελον).

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Derived from the Hebrew root חָלָה (chalah), which can mean to be weak, sick, or to entreat.

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • The Greek equivalent that captures a similar sense of obligation or necessity is Strong's Greek Number G3784, ὀφείλω (opheilō), which means "to owe" or "ought." While not a direct translation, ὀφείλω conveys a sense of duty or necessity, which can parallel the earnest desire or wish expressed by אַחֲלַי in certain contexts.

Usage: This interjection is used in the Hebrew Bible to express a strong desire or wish, often in a context of longing or lamentation.

Context: • The Hebrew word אַחֲלַי (achalay) appears in the Old Testament as an expression of deep yearning or wishful thinking. It is a rare term, found in contexts where the speaker is expressing a heartfelt desire for a different reality or outcome. The root חָלָה (chalah) from which it is derived suggests a sense of weakness or entreaty, indicating that the wish is often born out of a situation of distress or need.
• In the Berean Standard Bible, this term is translated to capture the essence of longing or desire, reflecting the emotional intensity behind the expression. The usage of אַחֲלַי is typically poetic or rhetorical, emphasizing the speaker's emotional state and the gravity of their wish.
• The term is not frequently used in the Hebrew Bible, which underscores its intensity and the specific contexts in which it appears. It serves as a linguistic tool to convey the depth of human emotion and the universal experience of longing for change or relief.

Forms and Transliterations

אַ֭חֲלַי אַחֲלֵ֣י אחלי ’a·ḥă·lay ’a·ḥă·lê ’aḥălay ’aḥălê Achalai achaLei

Englishman's Concordance

2 Kings 5:3
HEB: אֶל־ גְּבִרְתָּ֔הּ אַחֲלֵ֣י אֲדֹנִ֔י לִפְנֵ֥י
NAS: to her mistress, I wish that my master
KJV: unto her mistress, Would God my lord
INT: to her mistress wish my master with

Psalm 119:5
HEB: אַ֭חֲלַי יִכֹּ֥נוּ דְרָכָ֗י
NAS: Oh that my ways may be established
KJV: O that my ways were directed
INT: Oh may be established my ways

2 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 305
2 Occurrences

’a·ḥă·lay — 1 Occ.
’a·ḥă·lê — 1 Occ.