עֲלִיצוּת (a.li.tsut)
a.li.tsut
exultation
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun alitsut conveys a sense of exultation or joyous celebration. It appears only once in the Old Testament, located in Habakkuk 3:14. In this context, it describes the delight that follows divine intervention and victory over enemies.
While the word itself is rare, its meaning aligns with broader biblical themes of rejoicing in God’s salvation. The prophet uses it to depict a moment of profound relief and happiness after describing God’s powerful march through the earth. This single instance highlights how joy is often linked to God’s acts of deliverance in Scripture.
Translators typically render alitsut as "exultation" or "joy," capturing the intense emotional response to divine action. Its scarcity in the text underscores the special nature of the celebration Habakkuk envisions, marking it as a unique expression of triumph and praise within the prophetic literature.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word for exultation appears just once in the Hebrew Bible, tucked inside Habakkuk’s prayer of awe. The prophet describes God marching to save His people, and that moment brings a deep, ringing joy. It is not a casual happiness but a relief so strong it feels like victory itself. When you face confusion or fear, this word reminds you that God’s intervention often ends in celebration.
Even when the path ahead seems dark, the promise remains that deliverance leads to light. You do not have to manufacture this joy; it rises naturally when you remember who holds history. Trusting in His power allows your heart to rest in the certainty that He fights for you. This hope anchors your soul against every storm.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- exultation/ their1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- עֲלִ֣יצֻתָ֔/ם1×
Key Verses
-
Habakkuk 3:14
You pierced the heads of his warriors with their own spears. They came as a whirlwind to scatter me, gloating as if to devour the wretched in secret.
This verse links the concept of exultation directly to God's decisive act of piercing the heads of warriors, showing that true joy follows divine victory over oppression.