Lexical Summary yalal: To wail, to lament, to howl Original Word: יָלַל Strong's Exhaustive Concordance make to howl, be howling A primitive root; to howl (with a wailing tone) or yell (with a boisterous one) -- (make to) howl, be howling. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to howl, make a howling NASB Translation howl (1), turn to wailing (1), wail (25), wailed (1), wailing (2), wails (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [יָלַל] verb Hiph`il howl, make a howling (onomatopoetic) — Hiph`il Perfect וְהֵילִל consecutive Jeremiah 47:2; וְהֵילִיל֫וּ consecutive Amos 8:3; Imperfect יְיֵלִיל Isaiah 15:2 3t. (Ges§ 70. 2, R. 2 Köi. 437, 421); אֲיֵלִיל Jeremiah 48:31; וְאֵילִי֫לָה Micah 1:8; יְיֵלִיל֫וּ Hosea 7:14 (Köi. 421); יְהֵילִי֫לוּ Isaiah 52:5; תִּיִלִי֫לוּ Isaiah 65:14; Imperative הֵילֵל Ezekiel 21:17; Zechariah 11:2; הֵילִי֫לִי Isaiah 14:31; Isaiah 49:3 + Jeremiah 48:20 Kt; הֵילִי֫לוּ Isaiah 13:6 13t. + Jeremiah 48:20 Qr, + Ezekiel 30:2 (strike out ᵐ5 Co); — utter or make a howling, give a howl, in distress, "" זעק Hosea 7:14; Jeremiah 47:2; Isaiah 14:31; Jeremiah 25:34; Jeremiah 48:20,31 (followed by על), Ezekiel 21:17; "" צעק Isaiah 65:14 (followed by מִן of occasion, source); "" ספד Micah 1:8; Jeremiah 4:8; Joel 1:13; "" הֹבִישׁ Joel 1:11; "" בכה Joel 1:5 (compare Isaiah 15:2,3+ בֶּ֑כִי); followed by על Jeremiah 51:8; Isaiah 15:2,3; We proposes ילילו for יגילו Hosea 10:5 (others יחילו, see גיל above); followed by לְ Isaiah 16:7; absolute והילילו שׁירות היכל Amos 8:3 and palace-songs shall become howlings, Isaiah 13:6; Isaiah 16:7; Isaiah 23:1,6,14; Jeremiah 48:39; Jeremiah 49:3 (Ezekiel 30:2 see above), Zephaniah 1:11; Zechariah 11:2 (twice in verse); in cruel exultation Isaiah 52:5 compare De Che di. — On הֵילֵל בֶּןשָֿׁ֑חַר Isaiah 14:12 compare below I. הלל above. Topical Lexicon Semantic Range A piercing, sustained cry of grief or terror—expressed corporately or individually—marking moments of bereavement, national catastrophe, or impending divine judgment. Distribution and Literary Context About thirty appearances concentrate in the Prophets (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Joel, Amos, Zephaniah, Zechariah, Hosea, Micah) with scattered use in poetic laments (Job, Lamentations). It commonly stands in parallel with “weep,” “lament,” or ritual acts such as sackcloth and ashes, framing a full–bodied response to covenant crisis. Representative Texts • Isaiah 13:6 “Wail, for the Day of the LORD is near; it will come as destruction from the Almighty.” Prophetic Function 1. Herald of Judgment: Commands to wail often precede oracles of ruin (Isaiah 14:31; Jeremiah 48:31; Ezekiel 30:2). The sound itself becomes a prophetic sign, forcing listeners to confront the reality of divine wrath. Cultic and Liturgical Relevance Joel 1:13 places the verb on the lips of priests, legitimizing loud lament within temple worship. Post-exilic liturgies (Zechariah 12:10–12) preserve the pattern, integrating vocal grief into national days of fasting. The practice informs Christian disciplines of corporate confession and Holy Week observances. Historical Background Ancient Near Eastern funeral customs involved professional mourners who emitted rhythmic howls. The Prophets harness that familiar soundscape, transposing it into the key of covenant violation. Thus the fall of cities (Isaiah 23; Jeremiah 51) or collapse of economies (Zechariah 11) is narrated as one extended funeral dirge. Pastoral Application • Validating Grief: Scripture portrays unrestrained wailing as an acceptable, even commanded, response to loss and sin. Eschatological Echoes Isaiah’s “Day of the LORD” wails foreshadow Revelation’s lament over fallen Babylon (Revelation 18:9–19). The motif assures that final judgment will likewise provoke global mourning among the unrepentant while promising comfort to those who heed the warning. Christological Trajectory Although the root is Hebrew, its substance appears when Jesus weeps over Jerusalem (Luke 19:41) and in Gethsemane’s loud cries (Hebrews 5:7). He embodies—and ultimately absorbs—the grief announced by the Prophets, turning wailing into everlasting joy (John 16:20; Revelation 21:4). Summary יָלַל frames the raw, audible anguish of a world under judgment yet not without hope. It calls God’s people to honest lament, deep repentance, and confident expectation that the One who hears their wail will one day wipe every tear from their eyes. Forms and Transliterations אֲיֵלִ֔יל איליל הֵילִ֔ילוּ הֵילִ֕ילוּ הֵילִ֖ילוּ הֵילִ֙ילוּ֙ הֵילִ֣ילוּ הֵילִ֣ילוּ ׀ הֵילִ֤ילִֽי הֵילִ֨ילִי הֵילִ֨ילוּ הֵילֵ֤ל הילילו הילילי הילל וְאֵילִ֔ילָה וְהֵילִ֑ילוּ וְהֵילִ֕ל וְהֵילִ֖לוּ וְהֵילִ֜ילוּ וְהֵילֵל֙ ואילילה והילילו והילל והיללו יְהֵילִ֙ילוּ֙ יְיֵלִ֑יל יְיֵלִ֔יל יְיֵלִ֖יל יְיֵלִ֖ילוּ יְיֵלִ֥יל יהילילו ייליל יילילו תְּיֵלִֽילוּ׃ תילילו׃ ’ă·yê·lîl ’ăyêlîl ayeLil hê·lêl hê·lî·lî hê·lî·lū heiLel heiLili heiLilu hêlêl hêlîlî hêlîlū tə·yê·lî·lū teyeLilu təyêlîlū veeiLilah veheiLel veheiLil veheiLilu wə’êlîlāh wə·’ê·lî·lāh wə·hê·lêl wə·hê·li·lū wə·hê·lî·lū wə·hê·lil wəhêlêl wəhêlil wəhêlilū wəhêlîlū yə·hê·lî·lū yə·yê·lî·lū yə·yê·lîl yeheiLilu yəhêlîlū yeyeLil yəyêlîl yeyeLilu yəyêlîlūLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Isaiah 13:6 HEB: הֵילִ֕ילוּ כִּ֥י קָר֖וֹב NAS: Wail, for the day of the LORD KJV: Howl ye; for the day of the LORD INT: Wail for is near Isaiah 14:31 Isaiah 15:2 Isaiah 15:3 Isaiah 16:7 Isaiah 16:7 Isaiah 23:1 Isaiah 23:6 Isaiah 23:14 Isaiah 52:5 Isaiah 65:14 Jeremiah 4:8 Jeremiah 25:34 Jeremiah 47:2 Jeremiah 48:20 Jeremiah 48:31 Jeremiah 48:39 Jeremiah 49:3 Jeremiah 51:8 Ezekiel 21:12 Ezekiel 30:2 Hosea 7:14 Joel 1:5 Joel 1:11 Joel 1:13 30 Occurrences |
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