עָמָל (a.mal)
a.mal
trouble
H:NQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 47 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun amal describes heavy, wearing effort that brings trouble or vexation. It covers both physical toil and the mental anguish that often accompanies it. In Genesis 41:51, Joseph names his firstborn Manasseh, meaning "God has made me forget all my toil," linking the word directly to exhausting labor and the desire for relief.
Its range extends beyond simple work to include mischief or wickedness, as seen in Job 4:8 where it parallels the consequences of one's actions. Ecclesiastes uses it frequently to highlight the vanity of human striving, noting that a person has no advantage over the beast in their toil (Ecclesiastes 2:14). Translators often render it as trouble, labor, or mischief depending on whether the context emphasizes the effort itself or its painful results.
The word captures the dual nature of human struggle: the sweat of the brow and the sorrow of the heart. It reminds readers that effort in a fallen world often yields weariness rather than satisfaction, a theme central to the wisdom literature where it appears most frequently.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word amal captures the heavy, wearing effort that often leads to trouble or vexation. It describes not just physical toil but the mental anguish that accompanies it. In Genesis 41:51, Joseph names his son Manasseh, meaning "God has made me forget all my toil," linking this word directly to exhausting labor and the desire for relief.
Ecclesiastes uses amal frequently to highlight the vanity of human striving. It reminds us that effort in a fallen world often yields weariness rather than satisfaction. This theme is central to wisdom literature, where it appears most frequently, showing the dual nature of human struggle: the sweat of the brow and the sorrow of the heart.
Yet, this word also points to our need for God. In Psalms 90:10, we see that life’s days are but labor and sorrow. However, Psalm 10:14 assures us that God sees trouble and grief, taking it into His hand to help the victim. This offers hope that our struggles are seen and carried by Him.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 47 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- trouble8×
- mischief6×
- toil/ my4×
- toil/ his4×
- in/ toil/ his2×
- [the] toil of2×
- with <the>/ trouble1×
- who/ toil/ his1×
- trouble/ my1×
- toil/ our1×
- toil1×
- to/ trouble1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- עָמָ֖ל7×
- עָמָ֣ל5×
- עֲמָלִ֔/י4×
- עֲמָל֔/וֹ3×
- עָ֝מָ֗ל2×
- עֲמַ֥ל2×
- שֶׁ/עֲמָל֛/וֹ1×
- עָמָֽל\׃1×
- עָמָ֥ל1×
- עָמָ֗ל1×
- עָ֭מָל1×
- עָ֘מָ֤ל1×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 41:51
Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh, “For”, he said, “God has made me forget all my toil, and all my father’s house.”
Joseph uses this word to express how God provided relief from his exhausting labor and family troubles.
-
Ecclesiastes 1:3
What does man gain from all his labor in which he labors under the sun?
The Preacher questions what lasting gain comes from the heavy toil that characterizes life under the sun.
-
Psalms 10:14
But you do see trouble and grief. You consider it to take it into your hand. You help the victim and the fatherless.
This verse highlights God’s attentive care, as He sees trouble and grief and takes action to help the vulnerable.
-
Job 5:7
but man is born to trouble, as the sparks fly upward.
Eliphaz observes that human beings are born into trouble just as naturally as sparks fly upward from a fire.