תַּאֲלָה (ta.a.lah)
ta.a.lah
curse
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The noun ta’alah appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, found in Lamentations 3:65. It denotes a curse or an imprecation, reflecting the deep distress and sense of divine judgment expressed in that book. The context describes God repaying those who persecute His people with a curse on their hearts.
Although rare, this word carries significant weight in its single occurrence. It highlights the severity of the situation described by the prophet, where the suffering of Jerusalem is met with a corresponding divine response against its oppressors. The term underscores the seriousness of covenantal consequences in the prophetic literature.
Translators typically render ta’alah as "curse" to convey this sense of solemn condemnation. Its solitary usage makes it a unique marker of judgment within the biblical corpus, emphasizing the gravity of the relationship between obedience and divine retribution in the Old Testament narrative.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word ta’alah appears just once in Scripture, nestled within the raw grief of Lamentations. It describes a heavy burden of judgment placed upon those who oppress God’s people. This rare term reminds us that injustice is not invisible to God, and He sees the suffering of His children with deep concern.
While the verse speaks of a curse falling on persecutors, it also points to God’s ultimate justice. We do not need to carry the weight of revenge or personal vengeance. Instead, we can trust that God handles wrongs with perfect fairness. This assurance allows us to rest in His sovereignty rather than seeking retribution ourselves.
When we face unfair treatment, this word offers a quiet comfort. It assures us that God is aware of every hurt and will right all things. Our role is to leave judgment in His hands and focus on living with integrity and peace.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- curse/ your1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- תַּאֲלָֽתְ/ךָ֖1×
Key Verses
-
Lamentations 3:65
You will give them hardness of heart, your curse to them.
This verse uses ta’alah to describe the specific divine response of hardness and condemnation against those who persecuted Jerusalem, highlighting God's active role in judgment.