עֲלִילָה (a.li.lah)
a.li.lah
wantonness
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 14 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun alilah refers to a specific kind of action, typically characterized as wanton or malicious conduct. It appears fourteen times in the Old Testament, with significant usage in Psalms and Deuteronomy. The term does not describe a neutral act but rather deeds that are intentionally harmful or deceitful, often involving false accusations or unjust treatment of others.
In its most striking context, the word is used to describe the "wantonness" or malicious plots against the righteous. For example, in Psalm 109:4 and Psalm 28:3, it depicts enemies who repay David with evil for good, engaging in deceitful practices that lack any basis in justice. The sources indicate a strong association with legal or social injustice, where the "deed" is essentially a fabricated charge or an act of cruelty designed to harm an innocent person.
This word carries significant theological weight by highlighting the contrast between divine justice and human corruption. It serves as a label for the kind of behavior that God opposes—actions driven by malice rather than truth. Translators often render it as "wickedness" or "evil deeds," capturing the sense that these are not mere mistakes but deliberate violations of moral order.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word alilah describes actions driven by malice rather than truth. It points to deliberate deceit, false accusations, and unjust treatment of others. In the Old Testament, it often appears in contexts where the innocent are targeted by those seeking to harm them for no righteous reason. This is not a simple mistake or misunderstanding; it is a calculated violation of moral order designed to destroy another’s reputation or standing.
When you encounter such behavior, whether in your own life or in the stories of Scripture, remember that God sees the hidden intent behind these deeds. The Psalms frequently cry out against this kind of wantonness, trusting that divine justice will ultimately prevail over human corruption. You are not alone when facing unfair treatment; the same God who weighs actions is aware of every unjust charge.
This word reminds us to guard our own hearts against similar impulses. It invites reflection on how we treat others, especially those who cannot defend themselves. By recognizing the seriousness of deceitful conduct, we can strive for integrity and fairness in our relationships, trusting that God values truth above all else.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 14 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- deeds/ his5×
- deeds of2×
- practices/ your1×
- practices/ their1×
- practices1×
- deeds/ their1×
- deeds1×
- deed[s]1×
- deed1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- עֲלִילוֹתָֽ/ם\׃2×
- עֲלִלֽוֹת\׃1×
- עֲלִל֨וֹת\׀1×
- עֲלִילוֹתָֽי/ו\׃1×
- עֲלִילוֹתָ֑י/ו1×
- עֲלִילֽוֹתָי/ו\׃1×
- עֲלִילֹתָֽי/ו\׃1×
- עֲלִילֹתַ֔יִ/ךְ1×
- עֲלִילֹ֨ת1×
- עֲלִילֹ֣ת1×
- עֲלִילָ֗ה1×
- עֲלִֽילֹתָ֑י/ו1×
Key Verses
-
Deuteronomy 22:14
accuses her of shameful things, gives her a bad name, and says, “I took this woman, and when I came near to her, I didn’t find in her the tokens of virginity;”
This verse illustrates the word's use in describing a husband's false accusation of shamelessness against his wife, highlighting how alilah involves malicious slander that damages an innocent person's reputation.
-
Deuteronomy 22:17
Behold, he has accused her of shameful things, saying, ‘I didn’t find in your daughter the tokens of virginity;’ and yet these are the tokens of my daughter’s virginity.” They shall spread the cloth before the elders of the city.
Here the word underscores the severity of spreading false charges, as the parents present proof of virginity to counter the husband's deceitful claim and restore justice for their daughter.
-
Psalms 14:1
For the Chief Musician. By David. The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt. They have done abominable deeds. There is no one who does good.
In this context, alilah characterizes the corrupt actions of those who deny God, showing how wantonness is linked to a fundamental rejection of divine authority and moral order.
-
Psalms 141:4
Don’t incline my heart to any evil thing, to practice deeds of wickedness with men who work iniquity. Don’t let me eat of their delicacies.
The psalmist prays against being drawn into alilah, demonstrating the word's association with evil deeds committed by those who work iniquity, and the need for divine protection from such corruption.