5959. almah
Strong's Lexicon
almah: Young woman, maiden

Original Word: עַלְמָה
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: `almah
Pronunciation: al-MAH
Phonetic Spelling: (al-maw')
Definition: Young woman, maiden
Meaning: a lass

Word Origin: Derived from the root עָלַם (alam), meaning "to hide" or "to conceal."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: The Greek equivalent often associated with "almah" is παρθένος (parthenos), which explicitly means "virgin." This is notably used in the Septuagint translation of Isaiah 7:14 and in the New Testament, such as in Matthew 1:23.

Usage: The term "almah" refers to a young woman of marriageable age, often implying virginity, though not explicitly stating it. In the context of ancient Hebrew culture, an "almah" would typically be a young, unmarried woman who is presumed to be a virgin, though the term itself does not exclusively mean "virgin."

Cultural and Historical Background: In ancient Israelite society, the status of a young woman was closely tied to her family and community. The term "almah" reflects a stage in a woman's life before marriage, where she is seen as pure and eligible for marriage. The cultural expectation was that an "almah" would be a virgin, as premarital chastity was highly valued.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
fem. of elem
Definition
a young woman, a virgin
NASB Translation
girl (1), maid (1), maiden (1), maidens (3), virgin (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
עַלְמָה noun feminine young woman (ripe sexually; maid or newly married); — ׳ע Genesis 24:43 (J), Exodus 2:8 (E), Proverbs 30:19; Isaiah 7:14; plural עֲלָמוֺת Psalm 68:26; Songs 1:3; Songs 6:8; עַלעֲֿלָמוֺת to (the voice of) young women, either literally, or of soprano or falsetto of boys: 1 Chronicles 15:20; Psalm 9:1 (read עַלעֲֿלָמוֺת לַבֵּן [for עַלמֿוּת לַבֵּן], 'voce virginea a pueris decantandum,' Thes), Psalm 46:1; Psalm 48:15 (read עַלעֲֿלָמוֺת [for עַלמֿוּת]; translated probably to Psalm 49:1).

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
damsel, maid, virgin

Feminine of elem; a lass (as veiled or private) -- damsel, maid, virgin.

see HEBREW elem

Forms and Transliterations
בְּעַלְמָֽה׃ בעלמה׃ הָֽעַלְמָ֔ה הָֽעַלְמָה֙ הָעַלְמָ֗ה העלמה וַעֲלָמ֖וֹת ועלמות עֲ֝לָמ֗וֹת עֲלָמ֥וֹת עלמות ‘ă·lā·mō·wṯ ‘ălāmōwṯ alaMot bə‘almāh bə·‘al·māh bealMah hā‘almāh hā·‘al·māh haalMah vaalaMot wa‘ălāmōwṯ wa·‘ă·lā·mō·wṯ
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Englishman's Concordance
Genesis 24:43
HEB: הַמָּ֑יִם וְהָיָ֤ה הָֽעַלְמָה֙ הַיֹּצֵ֣את לִשְׁאֹ֔ב
NAS: by the spring, and may it be that the maiden who comes
KJV: of water; and it shall come to pass, that when the virgin cometh forth
INT: water become the maiden comes to draw

Exodus 2:8
HEB: לֵ֑כִי וַתֵּ֙לֶךְ֙ הָֽעַלְמָ֔ה וַתִּקְרָ֖א אֶת־
NAS: to her, Go [ahead]. So the girl went
KJV: to her, Go. And the maid went
INT: to her Go went the girl and called mother

Psalm 68:25
HEB: נֹגְנִ֑ים בְּת֥וֹךְ עֲ֝לָמ֗וֹת תּוֹפֵפֽוֹת׃
NAS: [them], In the midst of the maidens beating tambourines.
KJV: among [them were] the damsels playing with timbrels.
INT: the musicians the midst of the maidens beating

Proverbs 30:19
HEB: וְדֶ֖רֶךְ גֶּ֣בֶר בְּעַלְמָֽה׃
NAS: And the way of a man with a maid.
KJV: and the way of a man with a maid.
INT: and the way of a man A maid

Songs 1:3
HEB: עַל־ כֵּ֖ן עֲלָמ֥וֹת אֲהֵבֽוּךָ׃
NAS: oil; Therefore the maidens love you.
KJV: poured forth, therefore do the virgins love
INT: and after that the maidens love

Songs 6:8
HEB: וּשְׁמֹנִ֖ים פִּֽילַגְשִׁ֑ים וַעֲלָמ֖וֹת אֵ֥ין מִסְפָּֽר׃
NAS: concubines, And maidens without
KJV: concubines, and virgins without number.
INT: and eighty concubines and maidens without number

Isaiah 7:14
HEB: א֑וֹת הִנֵּ֣ה הָעַלְמָ֗ה הָרָה֙ וְיֹלֶ֣דֶת
NAS: Behold, a virgin will be with child
KJV: you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive,
INT: A sign Behold A virgin child and bear

7 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 5959
7 Occurrences


‘ă·lā·mō·wṯ — 2 Occ.
bə·‘al·māh — 1 Occ.
hā·‘al·māh — 3 Occ.
wa·‘ă·lā·mō·wṯ — 1 Occ.















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