יְלָלָה (ye.la.lah)
ye.la.lah
wailing
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 4 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The noun yĕlālâ describes a sharp, piercing cry of distress or agony. It is not a quiet sigh but an audible expression of deep pain, often associated with impending judgment or personal tragedy. In the Hebrew Bible, this word appears only four times, concentrated in prophetic literature where it underscores the severity of divine warning.
Its usage creates a vivid auditory image of grief that demands attention. Prophets like Isaiah and Zephaniah employ it to depict the reaction of cities facing destruction, capturing the raw human response to catastrophe. The term conveys a sense of helplessness, as those who wail have no power to stop the calamity unfolding before them.
Translators typically render yĕlālâ as "wailing" or "howling," preserving its emotional intensity. By limiting its occurrence to moments of crisis, the text ensures that this sound stands out as a marker of significant loss. The word serves as a literary device to heighten the reader’s awareness of the stakes involved in the prophetic message.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word yĕlālâ captures a sound that goes beyond simple sadness. It describes a sharp, piercing cry born from deep distress or impending loss. In the biblical text, this is not a quiet sigh but an audible expression of agony that demands attention. When prophets used this term, they painted a vivid picture of communities facing catastrophe, where people felt helpless against unfolding events.
For your faith journey, this word reminds us that grief has a voice. It validates the raw human response to tragedy without demanding we hide our pain. Scripture shows us that even in moments of severe warning or judgment, the reality of suffering is acknowledged honestly. This honesty invites us to bring our own deepest fears and sorrows to God, knowing He hears the full weight of our cries.
Ultimately, this term points to a God who does not ignore human pain. While the context often involves divine warning, the presence of such intense lament in the Bible assures us that our distress is seen. We are invited to trust in a Creator who understands the depth of loss and offers hope beyond the immediate crisis.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 4 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- wailing/ its2×
- and/ wailing1×
- and/ [the] wailing of1×
- [the] wailing of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- יִלְלָתָֽ/הּ\׃1×
- יִלְלָתָ֔/הּ1×
- יִֽלְלַ֣ת1×
- וִֽ/ילָלָ֖ה1×
- וִֽ/ילְלַ֖ת1×
Key Verses
-
Isaiah 15:8
For the cry has gone around the borders of Moab, its wailing to Eglaim, and its wailing to Beer Elim.
This verse shows the word describing widespread mourning that spans entire borders, emphasizing how collective grief can ripple through a community.
-
Jeremiah 25:36
A voice of the cry of the shepherds, and the wailing of the leader of the flock, for Yahweh destroys their pasture.
Here the wailing comes specifically from leaders of the flock, highlighting the unique anguish felt by those responsible for others when their protection fails.
-
Zephaniah 1:10
In that day, says Yahweh, there will be the noise of a cry from the fish gate, a wailing from the second quarter, and a great crashing from the hills.
The text locates this cry in specific city gates and quarters, grounding the abstract concept of judgment in the tangible reality of urban destruction.