עָלַף (a.laph)
a.laph
to enwrap
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 5 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb `alaph` carries the core idea of covering or enwrapping. With only five occurrences in the Old Testament, it paints a vivid picture of something being wrapped around or concealed by another layer. This physical sense of enclosure provides the foundation for its few metaphorical uses in Scripture.
In Isaiah 1:6, the word appears in the passive form to describe bodies that are "covered" or encrusted with wounds. Here, it does not suggest a protective blanket but rather a thick, damaging layer of injury that leaves no part of the skin unharmed. The imagery is stark and visceral, emphasizing the totality of the affliction.
The verb also appears in Jonah 2:6, where the prophet says he was "enclosed" or "enwrapped" by the weeds at the roots of the mountains. This usage highlights a sense of being bound or trapped by the surrounding environment. In Song of Solomon 5:7, it describes garments that are torn and covered with bruises, linking the physical act of wrapping to the experience of violence and loss.
While some lexica note a secondary meaning of fainting or swooning in certain contexts, this is likely an extension of the "enwrapping" idea—perhaps suggesting a person being overcome or enveloped by weakness. The word consistently points to a state of being surrounded, covered, or bound by an external force, whether that force is physical injury, natural debris, or personal distress.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word alaph paints a picture of being completely surrounded or covered by something external. In places like Isaiah, it describes wounds that cover the body so thoroughly that no healthy skin remains. This imagery reminds us that our deepest pains are visible to God; He sees the full extent of what we carry, even when we try to hide it.
Yet this covering is not always a sign of defeat. In Jonah’s story, being enwrapped by seaweed marks a turning point where he cries out from the depths. It suggests that sometimes we are held tightly by circumstances until we can turn our hearts back to God. Whether you feel overwhelmed by grief or trapped by anxiety, know that this word acknowledges the weight you bear without minimizing it.
There is comfort in knowing that God meets us in these moments of total enclosure. He does not ignore the layers of pain or confusion that surround us. Instead, He enters into them with us, offering a presence that holds us when we feel most bound by our struggles.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 5 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- they will become faint1×
- they have become faint1×
- covered1×
- and/ she wrapped herself up1×
- and/ he became faint1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- תִּ֠תְעַלַּפְנָה1×
- עֻלְּפ֥וּ1×
- מְעֻלֶּ֖פֶת1×
- וַ/תִּתְעַלָּ֔ף1×
- וַ/יִּתְעַלָּ֑ף1×
Key Verses
-
Isaiah 51:20
Your sons have fainted. They lie at the head of all the streets, like an antelope in a net. They are full of Yahweh’s wrath, the rebuke of your God.
This verse uses the word to describe fainting bodies covered in God's wrath, highlighting the totality of affliction.
-
Jonah 4:8
When the sun arose, God prepared a sultry east wind; and the sun beat on Jonah’s head, so that he was faint and requested for himself that he might die. He said, “It is better for me to die than to live.”
Here it describes Jonah being overcome by heat and faintness, showing how physical distress can lead to despair.
-
Amos 8:13
In that day the beautiful virgins and the young men will faint for thirst.
The term illustrates virgins fainting from thirst, emphasizing a state of being overwhelmed by lack and desperation.