עָלוּמִים (a.lum)
a.lum
youth
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun ʿālûmîm refers to the state or quality of youth, specifically highlighting the vigor and strength associated with young adulthood. It is an abstract plural form that describes the period of life characterized by physical prime and vitality rather than just the chronological age of a person.
This word appears only three times in the Hebrew Bible, primarily in Job and Isaiah. In Job 36:11, it contrasts those who heed God’s instruction with those who do not, linking youth to the potential for prosperity or destruction based on one’s response to divine wisdom. The usage underscores that youthful energy is a significant force, capable of leading to either flourishing or ruin.
Its limited occurrence gives it a focused weight in these texts. It serves as a reminder that the strength of youth is not merely biological but carries moral and spiritual implications. The term captures the dynamic power of early life, which must be directed rightly to yield lasting benefit.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word ʿālûmîm points to the vibrant energy and physical strength of young adulthood. It is not just about age, but about the prime of life where vitality is at its peak. This power is a gift, carrying both the potential for great achievement and the need for careful guidance.
In Job 36:11, this strength is linked to listening to instruction. The text suggests that youthful vigor can lead to prosperity when directed by wisdom, but may lead to ruin if ignored. It reminds us that our energy is significant and should be stewarded well.
Isaiah 54:4 offers a different perspective, where the 'shame of youth' is something to be forgotten in God's restoration. This shows that while our past mistakes or failures may feel heavy, God’s grace can renew us. We are invited to trust that our current strength and future hope are held securely by Him.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- youthful vigor<s>/ his1×
- youth<s>/ your1×
- youth<s>/ his1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- עֲלוּמָֽי/ו\׃1×
- עֲלוּמָ֑י/ו1×
- עֲלוּמַ֙יִ/ךְ֙1×
Key Verses
-
Isaiah 54:4
“Don’t be afraid, for you will not be ashamed. Don’t be confounded, for you will not be disappointed. For you will forget the shame of your youth. You will remember the reproach of your widowhood no more.
Here the term refers to past failures or shame that God promises to remove, offering hope for a renewed future free from former burdens.
-
Job 20:11
His bones are full of his youth, but youth will lie down with him in the dust.
This occurrence illustrates the fleeting nature of physical strength, noting that even the fullness of youth ultimately returns to dust without divine perspective.