תּוֹלָל (to.lal)
to.lal
tormentor
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun tolal appears only once in the Bible, in Psalm 137:3, where it describes those who demand songs from the exiled Israelites. Lexicons translate it as "tormentor" or "plunderer," capturing the aggressive and oppressive nature of the Babylonian captors who sought to mock the people’s grief.
Despite its clear contextual role, the word’s precise etymology remains uncertain. Scholars classify it as a term with doubtful meaning, suggesting that its exact linguistic roots are lost to time. This uncertainty highlights how some Hebrew vocabulary resists definitive explanation, leaving readers to rely on the surrounding narrative for clarity.
In this verse, tolal is part of a stark image: the captors forcing prisoners to sing joyful songs in a land of mourning. The word underscores the cruelty of the situation, emphasizing that the oppressors were not just conquerors but active agents of humiliation. Its rarity makes it a unique marker of intense suffering in the Psalter.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word tolal appears only once in Scripture, found in Psalm 137:3. It describes the Babylonian captors who demanded joyful songs from grieving exiles. This single occurrence captures a moment of deep humiliation, where oppressors mocked the people’s sorrow by forcing them to sing Zion’s praises.
When you face those who seem indifferent to your pain or even exploit it, this word reminds you that such cruelty is seen and recorded. God does not ignore the weight of unjust demands placed on His people. The psalmist brings this harsh reality before the Lord, trusting that justice belongs to Him alone.
In times when you feel pressured to perform happiness while carrying heavy burdens, remember that your grief is valid. You are not alone in feeling misunderstood by those around you. Bring your honest feelings to God, for He sees the tormentors and cares for the afflicted.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ mockers/ our1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וְ/תוֹלָלֵ֣י/נוּ1×
Key Verses
-
Psalms 137:3
For there, those who led us captive asked us for songs. Those who tormented us demanded songs of joy: “Sing us one of the songs of Zion!”
This verse uses tolal to describe captors who aggressively demanded joyful songs from grieving exiles, highlighting their role as active agents of humiliation rather than mere conquerors.