יָלַל (ya.lal)
ya.lal
to wail
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 26 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The verb yalal describes a loud, piercing cry, typically one of deep grief or mourning. In the Hebrew Bible, it appears most frequently in the prophetic books of Isaiah and Jeremiah, where it captures the sound of people lamenting disaster. The word is onomatopoetic, meaning its form mimics the harsh, wailing noise it describes, conveying a sense of raw, uncontrolled anguish rather than quiet sorrow.
While usually associated with mourning over judgment or death, the sources note a striking exception in Isaiah 52:5. There, God uses the term to describe the boisterous cries of proud conquerors who have taken Israel captive. This rare usage shows that yalal can also denote a loud, triumphant shout, adding complexity to its meaning beyond simple lamentation.
Translators often render this word as "howl" or "wail," which preserves the visceral quality of the original sound. The imagery is vivid and immediate: it is not a polite expression of sadness but a guttural outcry that signals the gravity of the situation. This linguistic choice helps modern readers feel the intensity of the prophets' warnings and the people's responses.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word yalal describes a loud, piercing cry born from deep grief or shock. It is not a quiet sigh but a guttural outcry that signals the gravity of a situation. In the prophetic books, this sound often marks the moment when people realize the weight of judgment or loss. The word’s harsh noise mirrors the raw anguish of those who have lost their security.
Yet this word carries unexpected nuance. In Isaiah 52:5, God uses it to describe the boisterous cries of proud conquerors who think they are triumphant. This shows that yalal can also denote a loud, arrogant shout. It reminds us that not all loud noise is holy or justified. Sometimes what sounds like victory is actually empty pride.
For your faith life, this word invites honesty before God. It acknowledges that some seasons demand raw expression rather than polite composure. When you face hardship, you do not need to hide your pain. You can bring your loud cries and quiet sorrows alike to the One who hears all voices. This linguistic choice helps modern readers feel the intensity of the prophets' warnings and the people's responses.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 26 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- wail14×
- they wail2×
- it will wail2×
- it is wailing2×
- and/ wail2×
- you will wail1×
- they will wail1×
- and/ they will wail1×
- and/ he will wail1×
- and/ I will wail1×
- I will wail1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- הֵילִ֙ילוּ֙3×
- הֵילִ֖ילוּ3×
- הֵילִ֣ילוּ2×
- תְּיֵלִֽילוּ\׃1×
- יְיֵלִ֥יל1×
- יְיֵלִ֖ילוּ1×
- יְיֵלִ֖יל1×
- יְיֵלִ֔יל1×
- יְיֵלִ֑יל1×
- יְהֵילִ֙ילוּ֙1×
- וְ/הֵילִ֜ילוּ1×
- וְ/הֵילִ֖לוּ1×
Key Verses
-
Isaiah 13:6
Wail, for Yahweh’s day is at hand! It will come as destruction from the Almighty.
This verse uses yalal as a direct command to wail because Yahweh’s day of destruction is near, establishing the word’s primary association with divine judgment.
-
Isaiah 52:5
“Now therefore, what do I do here,” says Yahweh, “seeing that my people are taken away for nothing? Those who rule over them mock,” says Yahweh, “and my name is blasphemed continually all day long.
Here God uses the term for the boisterous cries of proud conquerors, showing that yalal can denote a loud, triumphant shout rather than just lamentation.
-
Micah 1:8
For this I will lament and wail. I will go stripped and naked. I will howl like the jackals and mourn like the ostriches.
Micah pairs yalal with personal lament and nakedness, illustrating how the prophet embodies the raw anguish of his message through his own physical response.
-
Jeremiah 48:39
“How it is broken down! How they wail! How Moab has turned the back with shame! So will Moab become a derision and a terror to all who are around him.”
The repetition of wailing here emphasizes Moab’s complete shame and derision, using the sound to underscore the totality of its downfall.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does yalal mean in the Bible?
Is yalal always about sadness?
Where does yalal appear most often?
Every Occurrence (26 verses across 8 books)
Isaiah 10 verses
Wail, for Yahweh’s day is at hand! It will come as destruction from the Almighty.
Isaiah 14:31Howl, gate! Cry, city! You are melted away, Philistia, all of you; for smoke comes out of the north, and there is no…
Isaiah 15:2They have gone up to Bayith, and to Dibon, to the high places, to weep. Moab wails over Nebo and over Medeba. Baldness…
Isaiah 15:3In their streets, they clothe themselves in sackcloth. In their streets and on their housetops, everyone wails, weeping…
Isaiah 16:7Therefore Moab will wail for Moab. Everyone will wail. You will mourn for the raisin cakes of Kir Hareseth, utterly…
Isaiah 23:1The burden of Tyre. Howl, you ships of Tarshish! For it is laid waste, so that there is no house, no entering in. From…
Isaiah 23:6Pass over to Tarshish! Wail, you inhabitants of the coast!
Isaiah 23:14Howl, you ships of Tarshish, for your stronghold is laid waste!
Isaiah 52:5“Now therefore, what do I do here,” says Yahweh, “seeing that my people are taken away for nothing? Those who rule over…
Isaiah 65:14Behold, my servants will sing for joy of heart, but you will cry for sorrow of heart, and will wail for anguish of…