עוּל (ul)
ul
infant
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The noun ul refers to a very young child, specifically one who is still nursing or breastfeeding. In Hebrew thought, this stage of life represents total dependence on another for survival and nourishment. The word appears only twice in the Old Testament, both times within the book of Isaiah.
Its usage highlights the vulnerability and helplessness of the infant. When Isaiah uses ul, he evokes an image of a baby who cannot care for itself, relying entirely on its mother’s milk. This concrete reality serves as a powerful metaphor for spiritual dependence, reminding readers that just as a suckling trusts its provider completely, so too must people trust in God.
Because the term is so rare, its occurrences carry significant weight. It appears in passages where God comforts His people by promising care similar to that given to a nursing child. The word underscores the intimacy and tenderness of divine provision, showing that even the most fragile members of society are held securely in God’s hands.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word ul describes a tiny infant, completely dependent on its mother for survival. This rare term appears only twice in Scripture, both within Isaiah. It paints a picture of total vulnerability, where a child cannot provide for itself and must trust entirely in another’s care.
God uses this image to show His own tenderness toward you. In Isaiah 49:15, He asks if a mother can forget her nursing child. Even if human love fails, God promises He will not forget you. This word reminds us that our dependence on Him is natural and safe.
When life feels overwhelming or fragile, remember this promise. You are held by a Provider who notices the smallest details of your need. His compassion is deeper than any human bond, offering security even in our weakest moments.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- sucking child/ her1×
- a sucking child of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- עוּלָ֔/הּ1×
- ע֤וּל1×
Key Verses
-
Isaiah 49:15
“Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yes, these may forget, yet I will not forget you!
This verse uses ul to contrast the potential failure of human maternal love with God's unfailing memory and care for His people.
-
Isaiah 65:20
“No more will there be an infant who only lives a few days, nor an old man who has not filled his days; for the child will die one hundred years old, and the sinner being one hundred years old will be accursed.
Here ul refers to an infant dying in youth, highlighting the tragedy of brokenness that will be reversed in God's new creation.