ἀλαλάζω (alalazō)
alalazō
to wail
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb alalazō describes a loud, piercing cry, originally functioning as a battle shout or a war-cry raised by soldiers entering combat. Its onomatopoeic root suggests a sound that is itself the object of the action—a repetitive "alala" cry used to signal triumph or intimidate enemies in ancient warfare.
In Scripture, this intense vocalization appears in two distinct contexts. Mark 5:38 records it as the wailing of mourners at Jairus’ daughter’s death, capturing the chaotic grief of the crowd. Conversely, 1 Corinthians 13:1 uses a related form to describe the loud clanging of cymbals, emphasizing that without love, even the most spectacular display is merely noise.
The word bridges the gap between martial aggression and deep sorrow, relying on volume and raw emotion rather than articulate speech. Translators often render it as "wail" or "clang," preserving the sense of a sound that demands attention through sheer force.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word alalazō describes a raw, piercing cry, originally used as a battle shout to intimidate enemies or signal triumph in ancient warfare. In Scripture, this intense vocalization appears in two distinct contexts that highlight the power of sound without substance. Mark 5:38 records it as the wailing of mourners at Jairus’ daughter’s death, capturing the chaotic grief of the crowd. Conversely, 1 Corinthians 13:1 uses a related form to describe the loud clanging of cymbals, emphasizing that without love, even the most spectacular display is merely noise.
This word bridges the gap between martial aggression and deep sorrow, relying on volume and raw emotion rather than articulate speech. It reminds us that true connection does not come from the force of our voice or the complexity of our words. When we lack love, our efforts to communicate can become as empty as a battle cry in a time of peace or cymbals crashing without music.
For your faith, this offers a gentle invitation to examine the heart behind your actions and words. Are you seeking to be heard through sheer volume, or are you building connection through love? The Bible encourages us to let our lives speak with the quiet strength of compassion rather than the loud noise of self-importance. May you find peace in knowing that God values the sincerity of your heart above the clamor of your efforts.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- wailing1×
- clanging.1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἀλαλάζοντας1×
- ἀλαλάζον.1×
Key Verses
-
Mark 5:38
He came to the synagogue ruler’s house, and he saw an uproar, weeping, and great wailing.
This occurrence captures the chaotic grief of mourners, showing how the word describes a loud, unarticulated cry of sorrow rather than a structured lament.
-
I Corinthians 13:1
If I speak with the languages of men and of angels, but don’t have love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.
Here the related form emphasizes that spiritual gifts without love are merely empty noise, like clanging cymbals that demand attention but convey no meaning.