אָלָה (a.lah)
a.lah
oath
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 20 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun alah refers to a solemn oath, often carrying the weight of a curse if broken. It appears in contexts where people bind themselves by swearing an oath or when God pronounces a curse on those who violate a covenant. The word captures both the act of swearing and the resulting binding commitment, which can be either beneficial or detrimental depending on faithfulness.
Its usage spans personal vows, national covenants, and divine judgments. For instance, in Genesis 24:41, Abraham’s servant speaks of an oath imposed upon him to find a wife for Isaac. In Jeremiah 29:18, God declares that those who disobey will become an execration—a curse pronounced against them. This duality highlights how alah bridges human agreements and divine decrees.
A notable feature is its connection to covenantal language. When Israel entered into a covenant with God, breaking it invoked the curses described in Deuteronomy 29:20-21. These passages show that alah was not just about words but carried profound consequences, reflecting the seriousness of commitments made before God.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word alah reminds us that our words carry weight before God. In ancient Israel, an oath was not a casual promise but a solemn binding commitment. When people swore by God’s name, they were calling Him to witness their truth. This teaches us to speak with integrity, knowing that God hears every vow we make.
Yet alah also carries the gravity of consequence. In Deuteronomy and Jeremiah, it describes the curse that falls when a covenant is broken. This highlights the seriousness of our relationship with God. We do not break promises lightly because He is faithful to His word and expects faithfulness from us.
For your daily life, this means your commitments matter. Whether in marriage, work, or church, let your yes be yes. Trust that God honors those who keep their vows and guides you when you stumble. His grace covers our failures, but His truth calls us to honesty.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 20 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- an oath5×
- a curse3×
- the/ curses2×
- the/ curse2×
- into/ a curse2×
- from/ oath/ my2×
- <into>/ an curse2×
- to/ put under an oath/ him1×
- the/ oaths1×
- by/ a curse1×
- [is] the/ curse1×
- <into>/ a curse1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- לְ/אָלָ֤ה2×
- אָלָה֙2×
- אָלָ֖ה2×
- מֵ/אָלָתִֽ/י\׃1×
- מֵ/אָ֣לָתִ֔/י1×
- לְ/הַֽאֲלֹת֑/וֹ1×
- לְ/אָלָ֥ה1×
- לְ/אָלָ֣ה1×
- לְ/אָלָ֖ה1×
- הָֽ/אָלָ֔ה1×
- הָ/אָלוֹת֙1×
- הָ/אָלֹ֥ת1×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 24:41
Then you will be clear from my oath, when you come to my relatives. If they don’t give her to you, you shall be clear from my oath.’
This verse shows the personal weight of an oath, as Abraham’s servant relies on a sworn promise to guide his mission for Isaac.
-
Numbers 5:21
then the priest shall cause the woman to swear with the oath of cursing, and the priest shall tell the woman, “May Yahweh make you a curse and an oath among your people, when Yahweh allows your thigh to fall away, and your body to swell;
Here the oath becomes a curse, revealing how breaking trust invokes divine judgment in the context of marital fidelity.
-
Deuteronomy 30:7
Yahweh your God will put all these curses on your enemies and on those who hate you, who persecuted you.
God promises to turn the curses against enemies, showing His ultimate justice and protection for His people.
-
Daniel 9:11
Yes, all Israel have transgressed your law, turning aside, that they should not obey your voice. “Therefore the curse and the oath written in the law of Moses the servant of God has been poured out on us, for we have sinned against him.
Daniel acknowledges that Israel’s suffering is the result of breaking the covenant oath written in Moses’ law.
-
Zechariah 5:3
Then he said to me, “This is the curse that goes out over the surface of the whole land, for everyone who steals shall be cut off according to it on the one side; and everyone who swears falsely shall be cut off according to it on the other side.
The curse goes out over the land to address specific sins like theft and false swearing, showing God’s concern for justice.