Lexical Summary yelel: Howling, wailing Original Word: יְלֵל Strong's Exhaustive Concordance a howl; howling From yalal; a howl; -howling. see HEBREW yalal NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom yalal Definition a howling NASB Translation howling (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs יְלֵל noun [masculine] howling (of beasts); — וּבְתֹהוּ יְלֵל יְשִׁמֹ֑ן Deuteronomy 32:10 in a waste of howling of a desert (= in the howling waste of a desert; see Dr). Topical Lexicon Imagery and Definition יְלֵל is a vivid noun rendered “howling” in Deuteronomy 32:10, evoking the shrill, mournful cries of prowling creatures and the shriek of desert winds. The single occurrence paints a picture of utter desolation—a landscape so barren that its only voice is an eerie wail. Scripture often employs such auditory images to underline spiritual emptiness and human helplessness apart from divine intervention. Scriptural Occurrence Deuteronomy 32:10 sets the term within Moses’ Song: “He found him in a desert land, and in the howling waste of the wilderness; He shielded him and cared for him; He guarded him as the apple of His eye”. Israel’s earliest corporate experience is framed by this “howling waste,” emphasizing that their national identity begins not in comfort, but in a place of forbidding barrenness that only the LORD could transform. Historical and Geographical Background The “wilderness” of the verse refers to the arid expanses east of Egypt and south of Canaan—regions such as the Sinai Peninsula and the Arabah. These areas are marked by sharp temperature swings, scarce water, and frequent winds that roar through rocky wadis. The ancients associated these sounds with jackals, hyenas, and owls, creatures that thrive where human habitation fails. Moses draws on that auditory landscape to remind his listeners of God’s mercy in guiding them through an environment that loudly testified to their vulnerability. Theological Significance 1. Divine Protection in Desolation Israel’s survival in a “howling” land underscores God’s covenant faithfulness. Where the wilderness cried out with threatening noises, the LORD spoke words of promise. The juxtaposition heightens the wonder of His care: to find, shield, and guard His people in conditions naturally hostile to life. Elsewhere, the prophetic literature uses the cognate verb “to howl” when judgment falls (Isaiah 13:6; Joel 1:5, 13). By connecting the nation’s origin account to such imagery, Deuteronomy presents a sober reminder: apart from continued dependence on God, the people could slip back into a condition as empty and lament-filled as the wilderness itself. Later promises of a blooming desert (Isaiah 35:1–2) gain depth when one remembers the earlier “howling.” Redemption involves not merely survival but the reversal of every echo of desolation. Connections with Prophetic Language Though יְלֵל itself appears only once, its linguistic root saturates prophetic pronouncements of judgment. Examples include: These texts personalize the wilderness cry, transferring it from geography to human society whenever sin invites divine wrath. Thus, the “howling” of Deuteronomy 32:10 becomes a thematic bridge between Israel’s past dependence and the prophets’ warnings. Christological Insights Jesus Christ reenacted Israel’s wilderness journey by facing Satan “in the desert” (Matthew 4:1). Where ancient Israel heard only the wilderness howl, the incarnate Son declared, “Man shall not live on bread alone” (Matthew 4:4). His victory transforms the wilderness into a place of triumph, ensuring that the desolation of sin will not have the final say for those united to Him. Practical Ministry Application • Assurance in Trials: Believers traversing seasons of emotional or spiritual barrenness can cling to the God who once guarded Israel “as the apple of His eye.” Suggested Cross-References for Study Genesis 16:7–14; Numbers 10:12; Isaiah 35:1–10; Jeremiah 31:1–6; Hosea 2:14–15; Revelation 12:6, 14. Forms and Transliterations יְלֵ֣ל ילל yə·lêl yeLel yəlêlLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Deuteronomy 32:10 HEB: מִדְבָּ֔ר וּבְתֹ֖הוּ יְלֵ֣ל יְשִׁמֹ֑ן יְסֹֽבְבֶ֙נְהוּ֙ NAS: land, And in the howling waste KJV: and in the waste howling wilderness; INT: A desert waste the howling of a wilderness encircled |
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