5938. alez

Lexical Summary

alez: Exultant, joyful, jubilant

Original Word: עָלֵז
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: `alez
Pronunciation: ah-LEZ
Phonetic Spelling: (aw-laze')
KJV: that rejoiceth
NASB: jubilant
Word Origin: [from H5937 (עָלַז - exult)]

1. exultant

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

that rejoices

From alaz; exultant -- that rejoiceth.

see HEBREW alaz

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from alaz
Definition
exultant, jubilant
NASB Translation
jubilant (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

עָלֵז adjective exultant, jubilant; as

noun Isaiah 5:14.

Topical Lexicon

Overview

The adjective עָלֵז depicts a person or group caught up in noisy, self-indulgent jubilation. Scripture uses the term only once, in Isaiah 5:14, to describe revelers whose carefree arrogance blinds them to approaching judgment. The rarity of the word amplifies its rhetorical force: their celebration is so hollow that it escorts them to Sheol.

Biblical Occurrence

Isaiah 5:14: “Therefore Sheol enlarges its throat and opens wide its enormous mouth; into it will descend Zion’s splendor and nobility, her revelers and carousers.”

Historical Setting in Isaiah 5

1. Social excess. Isaiah addresses Judah’s elite, whose parties, songs, and drinking bouts (Isaiah 5:11-12) drown out prophetic warnings.
2. Moral inversion. The revelers call evil good and good evil (Isaiah 5:20), congratulating themselves while trampling justice.
3. Impending exile. Their loud mirth masks national decay that will end in foreign invasion (Isaiah 5:26-30).

Theological Significance

• False security. עָלֵז portrays celebration detached from covenant faithfulness. The revelers assume peace while ignoring God’s righteous standards (Jeremiah 6:14).
• Divine irony. The joyous noise intended to exalt the partygoers only magnifies their descent; Sheol’s “enormous mouth” mirrors their open mouths of laughter.
• Contrast with holy joy. Scripture commends rejoicing in the Lord (Psalm 32:11; Philippians 4:4). Isaiah 5 contrasts godless revelry with the gladness that flows from obedience (Isaiah 12:3-6).

Connections with Related Hebrew Concepts of Joy

• שִׂמְחָה (simchah) – legitimate gladness in worship, festivals, and family life (Deuteronomy 16:14-15).
• גִּיל (gil) – exultation that may be either righteous (Psalm 9:2) or wicked (Psalm 2:11).
• עָלַץ (alatz) – to exult; often positive (Psalm 34:2).

עָלֵז stands out because Isaiah uses it negatively, focusing on revelry devoid of reverence.

Practical Ministry Reflections

1. Discernment in celebration. Believers are encouraged to enjoy God’s gifts, yet must weigh whether an atmosphere fosters worship or numbs conscience (Ephesians 5:18-19).
2. Preaching to a culture of distraction. Like Isaiah, modern proclaimers confront societies intoxicated with entertainment. The single use of עָלֵז reminds preachers to expose the emptiness of sin-centered merrymaking and to offer Christ-centered joy.
3. Pastoral care. When counseling those enslaved by partying or substance abuse, Isaiah 5 invites a candid look at consequences while holding out repentance (Isaiah 55:7).
4. Worship planning. Songs and liturgies should express joyful reverence rather than self-focused hype, modeling a godly alternative to the revelry Isaiah condemns.

Summary

Strong’s Hebrew 5938 עָלֵז captures the hollowness of carnal jubilation at the threshold of judgment. Its lone appearance is a warning embedded in Isaiah’s vintage song of woe, urging God’s people to exchange reckless revelry for the steadfast joy found in covenant loyalty to the Holy One of Israel.

Forms and Transliterations

וְעָלֵ֥ז ועלז veaLez wə‘ālêz wə·‘ā·lêz

Englishman's Concordance

Isaiah 5:14
HEB: וַהֲמוֹנָ֛הּ וּשְׁאוֹנָ֖הּ וְעָלֵ֥ז בָּֽהּ׃
NAS: her din [of revelry] and the jubilant within her, descend
KJV: and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth, shall descend
INT: her multitude her din and the jubilant

1 Occurrence

Strong's Hebrew 5938
1 Occurrence

wə·‘ā·lêz — 1 Occ.