481. alam

Lexicon

alam: To conceal, hide, be hidden, be secret

Original Word: אָלַם
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: alam
Pronunciation: ah-lahm
Phonetic Spelling: (aw-lam')
Definition: To conceal, hide, be hidden, be secret
Meaning: to tie fast, to be tongue-tied

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

bind, be dumb, put to silence

A primitive root; to tie fast; hence (of the mouth) to be tongue-tied -- bind, be dumb, put to silence.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
of uncertain derivation
Definition
to bind
NASB Translation
became speechless (1), become mute (1), binding (1), mute (4), silent (1), speechless (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

[אָלַם] verb bind (perhaps compare Assyrian [al¹mu], almattu, fortress Dl in Zim^{BP 114} & in BD^Ezek.:xi; Arabic be in pain, Aramaic retain anger).

Niph`al (be bound =) be dumb, Perfect3feminine singular נֶאֱלָ֑מָה Isaiah 53:7; וְנֶאֱלַמְתָּ֫ Ezekiel 3:26, etc.; Imperfect2masculine singular תֵּאָלֵם Ezekiel 24:27; 3feminine plural תֵּאָלַמְנָה Psalm 31:19. — 1 be dumb, i.e. silent Psalm 39:3 דוּמִיָּה ׳נ ("" הֶחֱשֵׁיתִי); compare Psalm 39:10 ("" לֹא אֶפְתַּחמִּֿי); simile of sheep Isaiah 53:7 ("" id.); be dumb, i.e. unable to speak Ezekiel 3:26 (result of וּלְשׁוֺנְךָ אַדְבִּיק אֶלחִֿכָּ֑ךָ) compare Ezekiel 24:27 יִמָּתַח מִּיךָ ֗֗֗ וּתְדַבֵּר וְלֹא תֵאָלֵם עוֺד; Ezekiel 33:22 וַיִּפְתַּח מִּי וְלֹא נֶאֱלַמְתִּי עוֺד; also Daniel 10:15 (compare Daniel 10:16); be made dumb subject שִׂפְתֵי שָׁ֑קֶר lying lips Psalm 31:19 ("" יִדְּמוּ לִשְׁאוֺל Psalm 31:18).

Pi`el Participle bind Genesis 37:7 (E) מְאַלְּמִים אֲלֻמִּים binding sheaves.

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: A primitive root

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: The corresponding Greek entry in Strong's Concordance is G1195 (δεσμεύω, desmeuō), which means to bind or tie. While not a direct translation of the concept of being tongue-tied, it shares the idea of being restrained or bound, reflecting a similar theme of limitation or control.

Usage: The verb אָלַם (alam) is used in the Hebrew Bible to describe the act of being silenced or rendered speechless, often in the context of being struck dumb or unable to speak due to awe, fear, or divine intervention.

Context: The Hebrew verb אָלַם (alam) appears in various contexts within the Old Testament, primarily conveying the idea of being silenced or made speechless. This term is often used metaphorically to describe a state of being unable to speak, whether due to physical inability or emotional overwhelm. In some instances, it reflects a divine action where God causes individuals to be silent, highlighting His power and authority.

For example, in Ezekiel 3:26, the prophet Ezekiel is rendered mute by God: "I will make your tongue stick to the roof of your mouth, and you will be silent and unable to rebuke them, though they are a rebellious house." This illustrates the use of אָלַם in a prophetic context, where silence serves a specific divine purpose.

The term also appears in contexts of judgment or awe, where individuals are struck silent by the presence or actions of God. In Job 29:10, the term is used to describe the respect and awe Job commanded: "The voices of the nobles were hushed, and their tongues stuck to the roof of their mouths."

The concept of being tongue-tied or silenced is significant in biblical literature, often symbolizing a lack of power or the overwhelming presence of the divine. It serves as a reminder of human limitations in the face of God's majesty and authority.

Forms and Transliterations

וְנֶֽאֱלַ֔מְתָּ וְנֶאֱלָֽמְתִּי׃ ונאלמת ונאלמתי׃ מְאַלְּמִ֤ים מאלמים נֶ֭אֱלַמְתִּי נֶאֱלַ֖מְתִּי נֶאֱלַ֣מְתִּי נֶאֱלָ֑מָה נאלמה נאלמתי תֵּ֥אָלַ֗מְנָה תֵֽאָלֵ֖ם תאלם תאלמנה mə’alləmîm mə·’al·lə·mîm mealleMim ne’ĕlāmāh ne’ĕlamtî ne·’ĕ·lā·māh ne·’ĕ·lam·tî neeLamah neeLamti tê’ālamnāh ṯê’ālêm tê·’ā·lam·nāh ṯê·’ā·lêm teaLamnah teaLem veneeLameti veneeLamta wə·ne·’ĕ·lā·mə·tî wə·ne·’ĕ·lam·tā wəne’ĕlāmətî wəne’ĕlamtā

Englishman's Concordance

Genesis 37:7
HEB: וְ֠הִנֵּה אֲנַ֜חְנוּ מְאַלְּמִ֤ים אֲלֻמִּים֙ בְּת֣וֹךְ
NAS: for behold, we were binding sheaves
KJV: For, behold, we [were] binding sheaves
INT: behold we were binding sheaves hope

Psalm 31:18
HEB: תֵּ֥אָלַ֗מְנָה שִׂפְתֵ֫י שָׁ֥קֶר
NAS: lips be mute, Which speak
KJV: lips be put to silence; which speak
INT: be mute lips the lying

Psalm 39:2
HEB: נֶאֱלַ֣מְתִּי ד֭וּמִיָּה הֶחֱשֵׁ֣יתִי
NAS: I was mute and silent, I refrained
KJV: I was dumb with silence,
INT: was mute and silent refrained

Psalm 39:9
HEB: נֶ֭אֱלַמְתִּי לֹ֣א אֶפְתַּח־
NAS: I have become mute, I do not open
KJV: I was dumb, I opened not my mouth;
INT: have become not open

Isaiah 53:7
HEB: לִפְנֵ֥י גֹזְזֶ֖יהָ נֶאֱלָ֑מָה וְלֹ֥א יִפְתַּ֖ח
NAS: And like a sheep that is silent before
KJV: her shearers is dumb, so he openeth
INT: before shearers is silent did not open

Ezekiel 3:26
HEB: אֶל־ חִכֶּ֔ךָ וְנֶֽאֱלַ֔מְתָּ וְלֹא־ תִֽהְיֶ֥ה
NAS: to the roof of your mouth so that you will be mute and cannot
KJV: to the roof of thy mouth, that thou shalt be dumb, and shalt not be to them a reprover:
INT: to the roof you will be mute and cannot become

Ezekiel 24:27
HEB: וּתְדַבֵּ֕ר וְלֹ֥א תֵֽאָלֵ֖ם ע֑וֹד וְהָיִ֤יתָ
NAS: and you will speak and be mute no
KJV: and thou shalt speak, and be no more dumb: and thou shalt be a sign
INT: will speak no and be mute longer become

Ezekiel 33:22
HEB: פִּ֔י וְלֹ֥א נֶאֱלַ֖מְתִּי עֽוֹד׃ פ
NAS: and I was no longer speechless.
KJV: was opened, and I was no more dumb.
INT: my mouth was no speechless longer

Daniel 10:15
HEB: פָנַ֛י אַ֖רְצָה וְנֶאֱלָֽמְתִּי׃
NAS: toward the ground and became speechless.
KJV: toward the ground, and I became dumb.
INT: my face the ground and became

9 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 481
9 Occurrences

mə·’al·lə·mîm — 1 Occ.
ne·’ĕ·lā·māh — 1 Occ.
ne·’ĕ·lam·tî — 3 Occ.
tê·’ā·lam·nāh — 1 Occ.
ṯê·’ā·lêm — 1 Occ.
wə·ne·’ĕ·lā·mə·tî — 1 Occ.
wə·ne·’ĕ·lam·tā — 1 Occ.