יְלֵל (ye.lel)
ye.lel
howling
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun yelel describes a sharp, piercing cry, specifically the howling of wild animals. In the biblical text, it is not used for human mourning but captures the eerie, unsettling sounds made by beasts in the wilderness or during times of desolation.
This term appears only once in the Old Testament, in Deuteronomy 32:10. There, Moses uses the image to depict God’s protective care over Israel in the desert. The verse suggests that God found His people in a barren place, shielding them within the shadow of His wings amidst the howling creatures, highlighting divine preservation in hostile environments.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word yelel captures the sharp, unsettling cry of wild animals in a barren place. It is not a sound of human grief, but rather the eerie noise of a desolate wilderness where danger lurks in the shadows. This imagery paints a vivid picture of isolation and vulnerability, reminding us that some seasons of life feel like empty wastes where safety seems impossible.
Yet this word appears in one of the most comforting passages about God’s care. In Deuteronomy 32:10, Moses describes how God found His people in this very 'howling wilderness.' Instead of abandoning them to the wild beasts, He surrounded them, cared for them, and kept them as the apple of His eye. The presence of danger only highlights the intensity of divine protection.
When you feel exposed or alone in difficult circumstances, remember that God’s care is not diminished by your environment. He does not wait for the howling to stop before He acts; rather, He shields you precisely within it. His watchful eye remains fixed on you, offering peace even when the surroundings are loud with fear.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- howling of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- יְלֵ֣ל1×
Key Verses
-
Deuteronomy 32:10
He found him in a desert land, in the waste howling wilderness. He surrounded him. He cared for him. He kept him as the apple of his eye.
This is the only occurrence of the word, where it describes the hostile environment that God actively protects His people from.