Lexical Summary avil: Fool Original Word: עֲוִיל Strong's Exhaustive Concordance young child, little one From uwl; a babe -- young child, little one. see HEBREW uwl NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom an unused word Definition a young boy NASB Translation little ones (1), young children (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs I. [עֲוִיל] noun masculine young boy; — plural עֲוִילִים Job 19:18; suffix עֲוִילֵיהֶם Job 21:11. — II.עֲוִיל below III. עול. below III. עול (√ of following, compare Arabic Topical Lexicon Definition and Overview The noun עֲוִיל designates very young children—those still dependent, vulnerable, and pre-adolescent. Though rare, its two appearances in Job frame a striking portrait of how a society’s treatment of its youngest members exposes deeper spiritual realities. Occurrences in Job 1. Job 19:18 – “Even young children despise me; when I rise, they speak against me.” Here, the infants’ scorn intensifies Job’s humiliation: the reversal is so complete that the least significant members of society now feel free to taunt the once-esteemed elder. Literary and Thematic Significance Job’s dialogue repeatedly contrasts true wisdom with surface appearances. By using עֲוִיל in both lament (chapter 19) and critique (chapter 21), the author highlights: Children as a Social Barometer Throughout Scripture children reveal the moral health of a community. The bitter cry in Lamentations 4:4, the rejoicing in Psalm 127:3–5, and the prophetic promise in Zechariah 8:5 (“the streets of the city shall be filled with boys and girls playing”) all echo the Job motifs. When infants are despised or endangered, covenant life has ruptured; when they thrive, blessing is evident. Moral and Theological Reflections • Human dignity extends to the youngest. Job’s anguish is sharpened because even the weak violate God’s creational order by dishonoring an elder (Leviticus 19:32). Implications for Ministry 1. Protect and honor children as image-bearers; their treatment reflects congregational health. Connections to New Testament Teaching Jesus places a child “in their midst” to redefine greatness (Matthew 18:2–6), echoing Job’s portrayal of society’s smallest as theological signposts. Paul likewise exhorts the church to nurture children “in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4), countering the misdirected priorities of Job 21. Christological Foreshadowing Job’s humiliation prefigures Christ, whom “those passing by hurled abuse” (Matthew 27:39) and who was scorned even in infancy by Herod’s murderous decree (Matthew 2:16). Yet in rising, He secures a kingdom where “infants and nursing babies” perfect praise (Psalm 8:2; Matthew 21:16), reversing the mockery Job endured. Summary עֲוִיל, though sparse in appearance, serves as a theological lens: the way children interact with and are affected by the righteous and the wicked unmasks deeper realities of honor, judgment, and covenant fidelity. For the modern believer, these texts call for vigilant discipleship of the young, discerning evaluation of apparent success, and confident hope in the final vindication of God’s servants. Forms and Transliterations עֲ֭וִילִים עֲוִילֵיהֶ֑ם עויליהם עוילים ‘ă·wî·lê·hem ‘ă·wî·lîm ‘ăwîlêhem ‘ăwîlîm avileiHem AvilimLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Job 19:18 HEB: גַּם־ עֲ֭וִילִים מָ֣אֲסוּ בִ֑י NAS: Even young children despise KJV: Yea, young children despised INT: Even young despise rise Job 21:11 2 Occurrences |
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deviate from (right course); Aramaic 
Aph`el act unjustly, and many derivatives, עַוְלָא unrighteousness; Ethiopic 
pervert, corrupt).