עָלֶה (a.leh)
a.leh
leaf
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 11 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Definition
Definition
Brown-Driver-Briggs
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
What This Word Means for Your Faith
In Genesis, Adam and Eve tried to cover their shame with fig leaves, but those dried up quickly. This word reminds us that human efforts to hide our flaws are temporary. We often build fragile defenses against criticism or guilt, yet they cannot provide lasting security. The Bible shows us that true covering comes from God alone, not from our own patchwork solutions.
Contrast this with the image in Psalms 1 of a tree whose leaf does not wither. This picture speaks to stability rooted in divine provision. When we stay connected to God’s wisdom, we find a resilience that outlasts seasons of drought or heat. It is a quiet strength that does not depend on external circumstances.
Even when life feels like a driven leaf, tossed by the wind of anxiety or fear, there is hope. God promises to plant us near living waters. This word invites us to trade our fragile self-reliance for a rooted faith that remains green even when the world around us changes.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 11 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ leaves of4×
- ¿/ a leaf1×
- leaves of1×
- leafage/ its1×
- leafage of1×
- leafage1×
- and/ the/ leafage1×
- and/ like <the>/ leaf1×
- and/ leafage/ its1×
- a leaf of1×
- a leaf1×
- <of> leafage/ its1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- עָלֶה֙1×
- עָלֶ֣ה1×
- עָלֶ֑/הָ1×
- עָלֵ֖/הוּ1×
- עֲלֵי\־1×
- עֲלֵה\־1×
- עֲלֵ֣ה1×
- וַ/עֲלֵי\־1×
- וַ/עֲלֵ֤י1×
- וַ/עֲלֵ֣י1×
- וַ/עֲלֵ֖י1×
- וְ֝/כֶ/עָלֶ֗ה1×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 3:7
Their eyes were opened, and they both knew that they were naked. They sewed fig leaves together, and made coverings for themselves.
This verse shows the inadequacy of human-made coverings, as fig leaves quickly fail to address the deeper issue of shame.
-
Psalms 1:3
He will be like a tree planted by the streams of water, that produces its fruit in its season, whose leaf also does not wither. Whatever he does shall prosper.
Here the leaf symbolizes enduring vitality and prosperity that comes from being deeply rooted in God's instruction rather than self-sufficiency.
-
Job 13:25
Will you harass a driven leaf? Will you pursue the dry stubble?
Job uses the image of a driven leaf to express how fragile and harassed he feels under divine scrutiny, highlighting his sense of powerlessness.
-
Jeremiah 17:8
For he will be as a tree planted by the waters, who spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes, but its leaf will be green, and will not be concerned in the year of drought. It won’t cease from yielding fruit.
This promise contrasts the withering of self-reliance with the green, unfailing leaf of one who trusts in Yahweh and draws from deep waters.