אָזַל (a.zal)
a.zal
be gone
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 5 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb azal describes movement that results in absence or depletion. In its basic sense, it means to go away or to move about, but it carries a distinct weight when applied to resources or time. The sources highlight a specific nuance where the action leads to something being used up, exhausted, or evaporated completely.
This word appears five times in the Hebrew Bible, primarily in poetic books like Proverbs and Job. Its usage often underscores the transient nature of human effort or wealth. For instance, when describing the fate of the wicked or the fleeting quality of life, azal conveys that what was once present has simply gone, leaving nothing behind.
The theological implication lies in this finality. Unlike a simple walk that might imply a return, azal often signals a permanent departure or consumption. It reminds readers that material security and human strength are not static; they can vanish if not sustained by something enduring, a theme central to the wisdom literature where it is most frequently found.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word azal describes a movement that results in absence or depletion. It is not merely about walking away; it signifies that resources, strength, or time have been used up and are no longer available. In the wisdom literature of Job and Proverbs, this term highlights how quickly material security can vanish. When wealth or power 'goes,' it leaves a void that human effort cannot fill.
This reality invites us to look beyond temporary comforts. Deuteronomy 32:36 reminds us that God sees when our own strength is gone and turns His compassion toward those who have nothing left. The transient nature of earthly goods points us toward an enduring hope. What fades away in one season remains constant in another, offering a stable foundation for faith.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 5 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- it has been used up2×
- they disappear1×
- do you treat lightly1×
- and/ [he is] going away1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- תֵּזְלִ֥י1×
- וְ/אֹזֵ֥ל1×
- אָזַ֣ל1×
- אָֽזְלוּ\־1×
- אָ֣זְלַת1×
Key Verses
-
Deuteronomy 32:36
For Yahweh will judge his people, and have compassion on his servants, when he sees that their power is gone, that there is no one remaining, shut up or left at large.
This verse marks the turning point where human power is exhausted, prompting divine compassion and judgment.
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Job 14:11
As the waters fail from the sea, and the river wastes and dries up,
The imagery of waters failing from the sea illustrates the irreversible loss of life's vitality.
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Proverbs 20:14
“It’s no good, it’s no good,” says the buyer; but when he is gone his way, then he boasts.
Here the word captures the buyer's departure after a transaction, showing how quickly interest fades when no longer needed.