עָלַע (a.la)
a.la
to suck
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb ala appears only once in the Old Testament, in Job 39:30. Its basic meaning is "to suck," but its specific usage here is unusual. In this context, it describes vultures drinking blood. This rare occurrence makes the word a linguistic curiosity rather than a common term for nourishment.
Lexicographers note that the root likely refers to sucking up liquid. The form used in Job is the Piel stem, which intensifies the action to mean "to drink." Scholars agree on this general sense but acknowledge some uncertainty about whether it implies eager consumption or simply the physical act of drawing fluid. The image is stark and visceral, fitting the wild, untamed setting of Job’s discourse.
Because it occurs in such a specific context, translators often render it as "drink" to convey the action clearly. This choice avoids the potential confusion of "suck," which might sound childish or inappropriate for describing vultures. The word highlights the raw nature of survival in the wild, where even predators engage in acts that seem brutal to human sensibilities.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word ala appears just once in Scripture, describing vultures drinking blood from fallen prey. This stark image might seem harsh, yet it reveals a Creator who designed even the most intense aspects of nature with purpose. In Job’s wild landscape, survival is raw and unfiltered, reminding us that God’s creation operates with a power far beyond human control.
For your faith, this rare verb invites humility. It shows that life, in all its forms, depends on sustenance provided by the One who orders the heavens. When you face uncertainty or fear, remember that the same Sovereign who governs the fierce cycles of nature also holds your days in His hands. You are never outside His care, even when circumstances feel untamed.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- they drink1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- יְעַלְעוּ\־1×
Key Verses
-
Job 39:30
His young ones also suck up blood. Where the slain are, there he is.”
This verse uses the Piel stem to intensify the action of sucking into drinking, highlighting the vulture's role in the cycle of life and death within Job's wilderness imagery.